Newspaper Page Text
Smrfjjmt Christian
MACON, GA., FEBRUARY 9, 1866.
THE MISSIOH OF THE X. E. CHURCH,
SOUTH.
We hold, that notwithstanding the perils
that now environ our church, the way is
opened to,it by Providence to enter upon a
new mission—one as glorious and of as high
utility as any ever heretofore entrusted to
Methodism, livery surrounding calls for a
reconstruction of Methodism, North and
South, purified from the political madness
that seized upon one section of it some thir
ty years ago, dismembered the church, drove
the nation into war, and is now pushing for
ward radical measures, with all the influ
ence of a powerful organization. This, re
construction can never be effected on the
basis of the Northern Methodist Church,
unless it first destroys the Southern Church,
and to that we cannot consent. It may take
place on the basis of Southern Methodism,
if we wisely seize this opportunity to revise
our polity, and to make it so distinct from
that of the other communion, that they shall
not appear to be rivals, identical in form as
they now are; but, contrariwise, may pre
sent such differences, that there will be a
real and tangible ground for choice between
them. Methodism heretofore has been
known as a system of aggression in new
fields, but has not held its own as the coun
try advanced in years. Let it be now put
under the form of a church, combining the
power of growth and expansion from with
in, under a well-adjusted pastorate, with the
ability of conquest, that belongs more to the
doctrines, than to the polity of Methodism.
It seems to us, that Providence now calls
our church to this work.
1. We are no longer confined by circum
stances to a section of our broad land. The
way is open to us, North and South, and it
is our duty to make ourselves a church co
terminous with our nation. If we satisfy
ourselves merely with existing in the South—
if we adopt and avow the policy of only en
deavoring to hold our sectional position—
this fact itself will furnish one of the strong
est arguments used against our church.
The generations of Methodists coming after
us would have enough to do, to maintain our
church against the pressure of a powerful
rival of similar name,, identical in iorm, na
tional in extent, vast as to numbers and of
unlimited resources, without, at the same
time, having to bear the reproach of main
taining their position from political animosity*
If there is to be a true union, this feeling
must be eradicated—not cultivated; and the
church that does not learn this fact will by
and by fail. We must cease to be a seo
tional church, or else when two or three
generations have passed, we shall not exist
at all.
2. The way is everywhere open to such
expansion, provided we so change our polity
as to move forward not in antagonism to any
church already occupying the field, but as
having embodied the essence of Methodism —
her dootrines—in anew form. If this new
form be such as to ensure thorough work and
•permanent results, this alone will give us a
powerful advantage over any church, even
though it have the same doctrines, which
holds by the old policy of gaining, but not
keeping its gains. Let Southern Methodism
lay aside the antiquated garb brought over
from England a century ago, and work out
for itself anew destiny, as a church adapted
to anew order of things—in which it shall
seek for permanency and growth and en
largement through generations, rather than,
as heretofore, be content with startling re
sults, popular for a time, but as evanescent
as they are exciting and wonderful. Let
her so remodel her plans, that where once
planted she may always flourish, and new
prepare for being the church of our child
ren’s children to the latest generations, by
becoming one which combines with her own
peculiar excellence every real excellence of
every church, that now attracts them from
her fold. Let us giVe her a pastorate
will “edify,” and arrange for her a system,
that will make every congregation a self
developing centre for aggression. For Meth
odism under this iorm the world is prepared
and the way is open. For years, thousands
of Methodists throughout the country have
been wishing their church thus to adapt it
self to the wants of the times. There are
perhaps more of them in the North, than in
the South. * *
It has long been felt that the absence of
the laity from the councils of the church
has been disastrous—that but for this, Meth
odism would not have been driven to a sep
aration j and many of the very best of the
laity do not sympathise with their ministry
who are responsible—for the projected cru
sade against the South. The sympathies of
thousands are with us—especially as all
who are well informed know that politics
carried into Ihe church courts drove us off;
and that while their preachers have been
propagandists of political opinions', we have
been steadily preaching the gospel—and to
this day, prefcch only the gospel. If we
adhere to the Scripture rule of leaving to
Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and allow
no political tests of church membership, we
shall ultimately fiqd multitudes even at the
North to bid us welcome. At first, the as
perities of the hour may make some our en
emies; but when these are eradicate!, as
they sooner or later will be in both sections,
and we come to be understood, Methodism
under this proposed new and enduring form
will steadily advance in all the land. Our
doctrines , in which reside our power and the
excellence of Wesleyanisin—‘free grace,
universal redemption, the direct witness of
the Spirit, an assurance of pardoned sin,
personal holiness; and the fervor and zeal
and urgency to instant salvation, that neces
sarily grow out of these doctrines, will dis
tinguish us from all communions but the M.
E. Church; and our polity will distinguish
us wholly from that church.
There are somp exceptions; but these are
in our favor. The Methodist Protestant
Church has taken some steps in the direc
tion we indicate; but recent signs evince
that there would be little or no hindrance
to a union with that church. The “Chris*
tian Union’’ churches, now numbering
scores, if not hundreds, of growing congre
gations—most of whom were Methodists,
leaving in disgust a church turned into a po
litical club—are moving on the satne line,
and they seek fraternity with us. Some of
the leading Methodist churches in Balti
more are now Independent; and a recent
writer says that* the time has come in Mary
land “when Methodism must cease to be a
power for good, or must change her ref
lations to tae two great rival Methodist
bodies.),’ The same may be said, doubtless,
of Methodism in many other places. The
people want once more to hear an unmixed
gospel—to have the cross, not the flag, of
fered from the pulpit—to hear more of
Christ and less of the negro. And our
style of preaching will suit this appetite. —
The way is open and invites us.
3. There has been a most marvellous rev
olution in the opinions of Southern Meth
odists withiu a very few years upon many
points of church polity—that we can but
look upon as designed, in the Providence of
God, to prepare our communion for such
changes as will adapt her for entering a
new field of labor, under new and better
conditions, ior more .thorough and perma
nent work, than heretofore. There have
been but few discussions of these proposed
amendments—but little interchange of opin
ion on these subjects. Our preachers have
been very much separated from each other
in the different Conferences, and our two or
three papers had but a limited circulation.—
Four years ago, in the Georgia Conference,
only some thirty odd votes could be had for
the extension of the pastorate to three years,
and until now the subject has not been men
tioned in this paper; yet, we believe, the
majority of the preachers favor a change in
this respect. And So with other changes
that have been mooted. Several of the Con- •
ferences have specified alterations in our pol
ity that they wish made—and in none, we
believe, have the propositions to carry these
questions of change to the General Confer
' ence been voted down. And all thjs revo
lution in sentiment has teen, as ikwere,
spontaneous. There have been no dis
cussions—but men in every section seem
to have reached similar conclusions from
their own quiet thinking. As we believe
that God presides constantly over ihe inter
ests of his church, and seeks to shape its
ends to His own glory, we must believe that
He has put this spirit upbn His servants to
lead them to secure, by a change in our pol
ity, anew development of the power and
excellence of the doctrines of Methodism.
Methodism lives in its doctrines and will
continue to live in them, no matter what
garb it may put on. The Great Head of
the Church now moves those who have
preached these doctrines and no others un
der an organization adapted chiefly to ag
gressive movements, to put the same doc
trines into the form of a more permanent
and enduring pastoral church, that what has
been gained may be conserved; and that
hereafter, religion as they embody its teach
ings, may, by an outward growth and ex
pansion of the church irom the central life
of every congregation, reach every sinner
dwelling within the shadow of our temples.
4. On account of the aggressive purposes
of Northern Methodism, a change in our
polity would advance the interests of reli
gion. When all the bitterness of the pres
ent shall die out, and anew generation shall
succeed, two churches so nearly alike, occu
pying the same field, will be a waste of
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. *
Christian effort —and in the nature of things
they can remain distinct communions only
for reasons essentially anti-christian.
We must absorb a church so similar to
our own, or it must absorb .us; or else hoth
will be only belligerents, doing nothing for
Christ. But which will be soonest absorb
ed—the impoverished sectional church, or
the ecumenical body, abounding in all the
resources of power ?
Yet Methodist ‘doctrines, embodied in two
distinct churches, wholly differing in polity
can live and fraternize, flourish and do good,
even in the same sections. The value of
the doctrines taught and their influence will
not depend upon the church forms —wheth-
er they be one or two —and many more sin
ners will be reached, when these forms so
vary as that all tastes and opinions as to
modes of worship and church government
have been met. To use a familiar illustration,
two churches identical in all but name can
not run on the same track. One Qr other
must be thrown off. But if we construct a
new track of different guage, it can be laid
North and iSouth, and there will be no dan
ger of collision. Let us make haste and
build with a guage so broad that there shall
be no such danger. There is work enough
in the land for both to do, each in its dif
ferent line of policy. Let the Southern
church, in this auspicious moment, seize
the opportunity of setting out on anew
mission, and her future career will be more
illustrious than her past. But if she hesi
tates —because she cannot rid herself of old
ideas, she must count upon a flight for life
itself, and we say it sadly, we believe an
ultimate extinction.
Dr. Whedon, writing in the Methodist
Quarterly, of July, 1865, of the probable
union of the two churches, and of the im
practicability of one General Conference
legislating for so immense a church, says:
“Will not two or three General Conferences,
united by some federal bond, be necessary ?’’
The same idea was advanced by Dr, Elliott,
in the General Conference of 1844, while
discussing the division of the chureh. We
take up the idea, and put it in a different
shape. Wesleyan doctrines have been de
veloped under the itinerant form—but they
have not maintained their position against a
more settled pastorate, and where full scope
is given to the self-developing power of
congregations, as in other communions. Let
Wesleyan doctriuoS, under the polity of the
past for those who prefer it—and also un
der anew and more stable policy for those
who would choose that, divide the country,
between them, but not by sectional lines—
and in harmony and fraternity, each move on
in its high mission. Thus there will be two
great Methodist Churches. There is room
for both—the world demands both systems —-
and, we believe, God’s providence indicates
that it is the mission now of Southern
Methodism to inaugurate the new polity, or
else to surrender its commission.
We have something yet to say, as to the
time and manner of inaugurating this im
portant work.
■ ——• ♦♦
SEAT OP THE GENERAL CON
FERENCE.
We hope that the Bishops will say some
thing soon, to settle the minds of the Dele
gates on the subject above named. We
have no doubt that they have authority to
call the Conference where they will; and
consequently, if teasons sufficient to justify
appear, to change it from the place where
they have appointed it to meet, to another.
If there are such reasons, it ought to be
moved —but not otherwise. The Georgia
delegation, so far as we know, are willing to
trust the entire question with the Bishops;
but hope they will say soon whether or not
they receive or decline the propositions to
change the placa of meeting. Drs. Smith
and Shipp and Rev. W. 11. Fleming have
addressed a letter to the Richmond Advo
cate on the subject. They think the change
absolutely necessary. They deem the com
ing session oneof vast importance, and that
every conferenje should be fully represent
ed; and there should be no disturbing
causes to hindar calm and patient delibera
tion. A smaller city than New Orleans
would offer this advantage. The history of
the St. Louis Conference shows the effect
the sudden appearance of an epidemic might
have; and it s thought that the cholera is
more likely t« appear ia New Orleans, as
early as April than in higher latitudes, and
perhaps it 'will first appear there when it
reaches this c rnntry. The interestsrtff the
church, they think, require that all risks of
a premature a Ijournment from this cause be
avoided. Tlisy give another reason, which
we hope evfry Methodist will read and
weigh well; for it is a powerful argument
for a liberal [Contribution, in every congrega
tion, of money to pay th£ expenses of the
delegates. [They say:
“ There is, however, another reason of
great Weight with some of us. The desola
tiqps of the late war have fallen upon the
people east of the Mississippi with, perhaps,
vastly greater severity than upon those to
the west of it. We are impoverished and
so are our people. The question, how are
we to get the means to go so far, is a very
serious one. Collections in the churches to
defray the expenses of the delegates have
been ordered, but we know something of the
character of our collections in these times.
It is seriously to be feared that many of us
who have been elected to the General Con
ference, cannot get there if the place is not
changed. The private resources of many of
us have been swept away—the Book-Room
cannot defray our expenses—the collections
cannot be anticipated with any certainty—
and pray, how are we to get there ?”
They finally suggest that the Conference
be held at some point in Georgia or Ala
bama, which might be accessible to all.
THE PROGRAMME.
“ The Methodist, ’’ in rejoicing over the
appropriation of more than $300,000 for
missionary work in the South, uses the fol
lowing language:
“ Methodism is now evidently to take ec
clesiastical guardianship of hundreds of thou
sands, perhaps we should say of millions, of the
ireedmen of the South. But this ecclesiastical
oversight will necessarily involve the guardian
ship of most, if not all, their rights and wels
fare. We confess that this is, to us, one of the
most impressive recommendations of the re
vised m : ssionary plan. By it, our Church will
stand up, throughout all the above “depart
ments,” the protector of the negroes against
whatever disguised slavery, serfdom, or other
wrong the only semi-reclaimed whites may at
tempt to impose upon them. Our preachers
will be there^; they will be there chiefly, if not
solely, for the freedmen; they will be there as
our representatives; they will be correspond
deats not only of the central authorities of the
Missionary Society, but of our public journals;
they will be a grand corps of not only local
protectors of the colored population, but also
of reporters to the North, to the National Gov
ernment, and more or less to the whole world,
of the treatment of these injured people. If
for no other consideration, yet for this should
the whole Methodist North Bustain the scheme
of the Missionary Society."
Has Christianity fallen so low ? Is Jesuit
ism revived in a Protestant Church ? What
a confession have we here—missionaries to
be sentlamong us to play the noble part of
spies and informers. How tenderly must
the “semi-reclaimed whites’’ feel toward
them; how highly must we appreciate the
religion they have come to teach, and the
church which sends them. What gentle
man will accept such a mission; what Chris
tian can do it? Who, with any self-respect,
can place himself in the social position of a
pretended missionary, creeping about to pick
up lying gossip and kitchen scandal, and re
tailing it with the malignity that one must
feel who is “ tabood ” in all decent society,
who, if an unmarried miscegenator, is the fa
miliar friend of some Dinah and coal-black
Rose. But suppose him to have a decent
family. To what degradation does his con
temptible purpose of espionage and his self
assumed negro protectorate reduce them—
with only sooty bucks and ebon maids for
their friends and companions, and with the
pleasant prospect before him and them of
being confined to this color in his selection
of sons and daughters-in-law. Bah! the
subject is offensive—to treat of it is dis
gusting—but they who can stoop to do this
work of hired piofessional informers, and
they who can make a boast of it, have put
themselves the pale of respectful
treatment!
THE NEW MISSION.
We have received from a correspondent,
the following list of appointments, made
recently at Atlanta, by Bishop Clarke on
the mission of the M* E. Church (North,)
for “Western Georgia and Alabama.”
Superintendent —James F. Chalfant.
Troup and Harris counties, Georgia, and
Alabama—Jno. H. Caldwell; Campbell,
Carroll and Cobb countiss—Jno. Murphy;
Atlanta, David Rutledge; Clayton, Henry,
parts of Spaulding and Fayette counties—
R. H. Waters, J. P. Powell assistant; Grif
fin, Thomaston and Forsyth—C. W Par
ker ; Haralson, Paulding and Polk coun
ties—to be supplied; Hall, White and Lump
kin counties—Wm. Brewer; Newton, Mor
gan and Walton counties—to be supplied ;
Palmetto--Jno. O’Donelly; Coweta, Mer
riwether and west part of Fayette county
—C. M. Caldwell; Huntsville, Ala.—A. S.
Lakin.
The same writer thinks this people are
corresponding with several preachers here
and there in our Conference; and that
some may for the “ loaves and fishes ’’ be
ready to confess their sins of rebellion and
embrace the doctrine of suffrage
negro equality and all other political dog
mas, now urged upon the nation by the
leaders of Northern Methodism. It may
be so, but we can very well spare any whose
principles are in the market—who can be
bought for money.
Another correspondent asks to know
whether our pulpits are to be opened to
them. Os course not. They are not at
the pains to recognize our church; they
came as marauders upon our Conferences,
and congregations; they wish to introduce
schisms among our people; and they aud all
who join them from our ministerial ranks are
using all their influence to destroy us; and>
while the church, North, holds its present po.
sition not even Christian charity requires us to
offer them our pulpits, or to fraternize with
them in auy way. Their political and so
cial doctrines antagonize every instinct of
true Southerners —and they deserve no fa
vors at our hands. Let them take care of
themselves.
METHODISM IN THE CITIES.
The Rev. S. W. Coggeshall has written a
carefully prepared article *in the Methodist
to corroborate an assertion lately made by
Bishop Simpson, that “ he has ascertained
by careful observation, that Methodism does
not exert that influence, socially, profession
ally and officially, in the cities, that it does
in the rural districts of the land.”
Mr. C. gives some figures respecting
Methodism in certain American cities, em
bracing the two decades from 1844 to 1864.
From these we quote :
In Bangor, Me., in 1844, one strong
church, 371 members. In 1864, two weak
churches, 456 members —a gain of 85 in
20 years. In Portland 904 members in
1864— a gain of 254 members. The city
has doubled its population iu that time. In
Portsmouth, N. H., in 1864, there were 332
members — the gain 22 in 20 years. In
Boston, where population has largely in
creased, during the time, the churches
have been added, and the membership is
now 2,550 —an increase of 578 only. In
New London and Norwich, the losses have
been heavy.
In New York city in 1844 there were
10,474 members, in 1864, 11,121 —a gain
of 647, enough only to make two decent city
churches, though the population of the city
has trebled. Philadelphia does much better,
showing 18,238 in 1864, against 10,498 in
1844 —a gain of 2,743 ; though but about
one-half of the ratio of increase in the popu
lation. Baltimore, in 1844, shows 12,402
members; in 1864,12,737 —a gain of 335
only, for the twenty years. Albany in 1844
had 1,434 in 1864,1613— a gain of 179 for
the twenty years. Buffalo shows 681 iu
1864, against 480 in 1844 —a gain of 201,
though the population has about doubled.
Even in Cincinnati, the Queen city of the
West, Once so famous for its Methodism,
though the seat of the Western Book De
pository with its immense business, the seat
of a Wesleyan Female College, and the resi
dence of a bishop, in 1864 shows but 3,658,
against 2,855 in 1844 —a gain of but 803,
and this gain mostly consists of the three
German churches with 681 members. The
gain in the English congregations for the
twenty years is but little more than nominal.
But it is a remarkable fact that, notwithg
standing these small showings in the matter
of members, in all these cities there has
been a great increase in the number of
churches. For instance, Cincinnati, not
withstanding her small gain of members—
but enough for two good metropolitan
churches—yet has increased her charges
from five to sixteen !
Washington, with three churches and
1,421 members in 1844, in 1864 shows
twelve churches and 3,171 members —an
increase of 1,752 in the twenty years.
The writer estimates the gain of Northern
Methodism since 1844 to be about 40 per
cent., while the increase of the population,
in that time, has been about 70 per cent.
He adds: •
“|From the General Conference of 1860
to that of 1864, we lost 50,000 members;
and this year, as the result of the labors of
10,000 churches, of 15,000 travelling and
local preachers, of 100 schools of learning,
of our numerous and powerful presses in all
parts of our wide country, and of the expen
diture of $626,000 of missionary money, our
whole work in all parts of the vrorld shows
an increase of less than 1,000 souls. Our
fathers conducted a much more flourishing
work upon far less capital.
“ From the immense multitude of proba
tioners which we report from year to year,
we find that our actual gain amounts to but
about one-fifth, or twenty per'cent, of the
whole number. Thus, among our converts,
apostacy is still the rule and perseverance
the exception, as it has ever been in all
ages of the Christian Church. We yet
show a powerfully aggressive force, but sad
ly lack the conservative. Ours is the most
awakening ministry on earth, but we sadly
fail in the power of culture , by which alone
the fruits of our labors can be conserved.
Who can show us how to stop this great
leak—to prevent this mighty loss, and which
still keeps us down ?”
General Conference Paper. —The
New Orleans Christian Advocate, Metho
dist Episcopal Church, South, is going to
publish a Daily during the sitting of the
General Conference in that city. It will com
mence on the first of April next, and con
tinue during the sitting of the Conference,
which will probably be from four to six
weeks. Price, one dollar for the term.
Address Rev; J. G. Keener, D. D. It will
give a full account of the proceedings, and
be very interesting.