Newspaper Page Text
jsoutljcni (fjmsluit
MACUN GA„ MAR'JII 23, 18GG.
THE FIRST FRIDAY IN APRIL.
This is the day set apart by the Georgia
Conference as a day of lasting, with humilia
tion and prayer, for the members of Christ’s
Church, who are under its care. The ap
pointment was made under circumstances
peculiarly solemn. The Conference had
just been glancing at the past; but more
particularly had studied the aspect of pres
ent affubs, and the prospects of the future.
They saw many signs of evil, many new and
strange conditions in their work, many hin
drances lying before them. r ihey saw r that
if they would redeem the church from the
wreck that had stranded the country, then;
was need for such devotion as they had
never before evinced, for such laborious zeal
as had never before impelled them to work.
Solemnly impressed with a sense of their
responsibility, and yet of their insufficiency,
they have turned to the church for help.
They cannot bear their burdens alone. They
have a right to expect that the ransomed of
the Lord will give them not only sympathy
hut active assistance in the attempt to save
society from ruin. Arid they cull upon
their colaborer3 to meet with them, and lay
the foundation of their work of regenera
tion in prayer.
To this end, the Conference sent its af
fectionate greetings to the flock under its
care. It would have the members of the
church feel, hat they are recognized —that
not the humblest among them is forgotten.
None can be spared from the work before
us, without its suffering. All—every one
is requested to come cut on this appointed
day, and renew his vows of fidelity to God
and duty, and to enter upon a higher Chris
tian life.
And that this opportunity may be afferded
to all, it is desired that all the working pow
er of the church be employed; that every
member of every clas3 of those who ever
had in worship may engage in so distribu
ting the services of that day to every local
ity in our extensive communion, that the
means of grace may reach every neighbor
hood. The Conference desired that service
be held at every appointment—or wherever
the people can be reached, by class and
prayer leader?, exhorters and local and trav
eling preachers. It also hoped that this
general effort to give its members a religious
iervicc would be met by a universal assem
bling of the membership to engage in acts
of solemn devotion, accompanied by fasting.
The Conference also designated some top
ics to be particularly borne in mind.
1. Confession of sin comes first. Wc
shall never get rid of our sins till we see and
confess them. Wo should study them out
one by one; should not be content with the
general assertion that we aro sinners, but
Bhould probe our hearts to the bottom and
pray that whatever wicked way may be
found in us, that God would remove it far
away. And some have many and grievous
gins to confess. If there were none other,
the faint-heartedness, the paralysis of faith,
and the general decay of interest in the
church and the institutions of religion are
enough to make the day one of bitter lamen
tation.
2. Pardon should be implored. To be
pardoned, reinstated to divine favor, to feel
once more the current of a. new life sweep
ing through regenerated hearts, should be
the great purpose of this solemn convoca
tion of the church. In tears, with contri
tion, confession and agonizing prayer, each
member who feels that sin is on his con
science, should besiege the mercy-scat, until
pardon is sealed to the prostrate soul. A
church filled with members whose hearts arc
rebaptized by the Spirit, to whom adoption
into sonship is not a memory o! the past or a
dim hope of the luture, but a blessed, pres
ent reality, is more needed than any other
agency for the preservation of what of good
remains to us, and for the conversion of the
tinners around us. Let us seek pardon, with
its divine witness —the assuring Spirit.
3. And we should intercede that pros
perity may be restored to our distracted
country. We can carry our cause to no bet
ter tribunal than to that of the Almighty
Ruler. lie has not left us without witness
that He cares for us. In 11 is hand arc the
hearts of men. lie only can bring order
out of chaos, light out of darkness. Let us
trust Him, rather than parties or policies or
men. He is greater than all of them ; and
if we come to Him, as a people, in the spirit
of true worshipers, we cannot come in vain.
What now taxes our faith will be demonstra
ted by the unfolding of His mysterious
plans, to be a source of future and unparal
leled blessing.
4. The day was of design selected as
being about the time that our General Con
ference is entering upon the most important
session it has ever held. Many grave, vital
questions will be before it. Those who are
to settle them will need to have ambition,
pride of opinion, selfishness, prejudice, and
passion refined out of their hearts. They
need the spirit of patience, humility, for
bearance and brotherly love. They need
the “single eye,” and such a measure of
wisdom as God always vouchsafes to His
servants when sincerely, honestly seeking
His glory. Will the church, with united
voice, ask it in their behalf? Will it entreat
that their deliberations may result in adopt,
ing such wise and wholesome measures as
shall make our church long felt as a power
in the earth, for advancing the kingdom of
God? Will they thus intercede, not only
on tuat day, but in their private and votions
and at the family altar, and in the sanctua
ry, from this time until the work to be done
has been accomplished ?
5. The day is set apart for the communion
of saints. The church in a body is in sack
cloth before the throne. Her own deep
wants must be felt—not those of the indi
vidual members merely, but those of the j
aggregate community. Her impotence as I
an aggressive body, her faithlessness as the j
Bride of Christ to her marriage vows, her ■
concessions to the world, her unfruitfulncss— [
these are all grounds for deep humiliation. I
That this condition of barrenness may cease, I
the blessing es God upon the chuicli and i
on her prayers and labors must be implored. |
He is passing her through the furnace. If
her prayers mingle with the cries of agony j
which her afflictions extort, she may come j
forth puiified as gold tried in the fire. With !
God’s blessing on her, she need not fear the :
malice off men. Let us not forget Jerusa
lem—jet her prosperity be our chief joy.
G. And what can the ministry accomplish
unless they have that aid from the lloly
Spirit, which uses all human endowments
for the salvation of men, and without which
even the highest intellectual gifts avail j
nothing ? The anointing of the Holy Ghost
must be sought for the ministry. That di
vine Agent must sanctify learning, elo
quence, character, personal attractiveness,
every human element of success with which
a preacher may be gifted, or he is power
less—he cannot convert souls. Let the
church pray for a sanctified ministry —fora
ministry all whose efforts to preach and
teach shall be accompanied by that bapti.-m
of fire, which perpetuates the pcntccostal j
marvels. Then shall Zion travail and bring !
° I
forth sons and daughters.
D i
These few paragraphs embrace the several j
topics set forth in the resolutions of the Con- i
ference as the objects of special prayer. It
were well that they be borne in mind iii
conducting the services of the day. They
form an appropriate groundwork ior sermon j
or exhortation. They should be the staple I
of all the prayers offered. The mind should j
be turned to their contemplation and the
spirit burdened with the thought of them,
until the stale and steereotyped prayers of a
formal worship shall be forgotten, and the
lips grow fervid with burning words rising ;
from a heart yearning to have its longings
for these blessings speedily satisfied.
One word to those Christians whoso cir
cumstances may not allow the opportunity
of meeting with their fellow-members on
that day. They may meet their brethren in
spirit, at the throne of grace, if not in the
house of God, and it may be counted as a
happy day for the church, if all our mem
bers, without respect to Conference resolu
tions or public services, shall scrupulously
keep the sny, by fasting, humiliation and
prayer, invoking especially the divine direc
tion on those assembled in the General Con
ference.
THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE.
The Methodist thus takes comfort to it
self respecting the withdrawal of the hun
dred ministers and 12,000 members of the
Bal imore Conference, who have recently
allied themselves to Southern Metis jdism.
There is one sufficient comfort, however,
and that is that the Methodist Episcopal
Caurch South will be the purer and stronger
for the loss of every sympathizer with trea
son and slavery. Every such person trans
ferred from us to them, is so much gravel ta
ken out of our Church machinery, making
it work more harmoniously ; it is another
growler gone. The rebel Conference at
Alexandria is therefore mistaken when they
suppose us to wish it to remain independent.
It it could not heartily adopt our loyal and
anti slavery platform, an l return to its alle
giance, subdued, penitent, wiser, and betler,
it was our opinion it should go wheie it lias
gone. We agree with them that, in coming
to us, rebel and pro-slavery at heart, they
would have lost their honor, whatever they
might have saved, and that, in going to the
Church, South, they have saved such hon
or as comes from consistent devotion and
adherence to the most monstrous rebellion
known to history. We therefore cordially
agree to the transfer of the valley seceders
to Bishop Early and his church.
'We learn here what is necessary, in the
estimation cf The Methodist , in one who joins
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
the M. E. Church, if he would save his hon
or. He must adopt the “loyal and anti
slavery, platform” of the radicals, and re
turn, “sutdued, penitent, wiser,” confessing
whatever share he had in “the most mon
strous rebellion known to history.”
CHANGES-WHAT IS SAID OF
THEM.
The Richmond Advocate writing on this
subject, says:
What changes will Southern Methodism
make in its economy?
We think it probable that several very
important modifications will be adopted.
The name of the Church icill probably be
relieved of the unnecessary affix '‘South,”
which it received only as a convenient term
of and not at all as sectional or
necessarily local. We attach no impo; tance to
it particularly, and feel very little concerned
whether it is removed or not. But, if it is
dropped, as doubtless it will be, we are in
favor of letting the name of the church re
main as it is, Metholist Episcopal
Church, in contradistinction from Metho
dist Episcopal Church in the United States.
We are opposed to abandoning our claims
as the genuine Methodist Episcopal Church;
though willing to part with the affix South,
if our many friends in the North specially
desire it.
The Pastoral Term will be probably ex
tended. How far, of course, it is impossi
ble to anticipate.
The Bench of Bishops will be largely
strengthened, no doubt; but it seems to us
not probable that there will be a Bishop for
every State or Conference.
The introduction of a lay clement into the
General Conference has been warmly de
bated, but it is still a question about which
the church seems by no means settled in
opinion. We think a moderate lay cle
ment in that body very desirable and per
fectly practicable.
One tiling on which v r e nuiy congratulate
! the friends of Methodism, and that
| is, that it is now fully alive to this itnpor
: tant hour in its history, is intently looking
1 into the whole depth and length and breadth
| of iis spiritual and temporal interest, end
j re collecting its energies, re-adjusting its
I machinery, re-consecrating its whole strength
to the work, enters upon this centennial
| epoch, not with large wealth, nor loud words
i of self glorification, but in a humble depen
j donee on God, resolved to do its duty faith
| fully and with all its might.
The Episcopal Methodist gives the fol
lowing, as the result of much consideration
given to the subject:
What we suggest ns the remedy for all
the evils and abuses ol a specified number of
years, is, to make it the duty of the bishops
to appoint the preachers annually to their
| respective charges. appointment should
j be made for one year. t a time, and for but
| one year. Jt net be considered as
constructive*iy*'or conventionally made for
a longer time than one year. At the expi
ration of a year, let the appointment be
revised, and if it should be found mutually
agreeable and desirable, on the part, of the
preacher and his charge, that he should be
re-appointed for another year, let it bo done,
provided it shall appear from all the sources
of information at the command of the Bish
op and his advisory council, that the high
est and best interests of the church are likely
to be subserved by the continuance of the
relation ; and thus on, from year to year,
g iverned by the same principles. This
arrangement would make the continuance of
the pastor for a longer time than one year
dependent upon his personal exertions, in
Lis high and holy calling, to make himself
useful and acceptable, and to render tho
continuance of .desirable. It
would operate nT stimulus to study; to
exertion in buiklx,, up the church; to pas
toral visitation, and to the adoption of all
those plans, for the improvement of his
charge, that would most likely render his
services desirable—nay more, indispensable
to the continued prosperity of the church.
This stimulus is wanting in any system that
fixes definitely an allowable term of so many
years. The limitation, beyond which a re
appointment is not allowable, by a sort of
tacit consent and implication, makes that
period, whether two, three or four years,
the pastoral term. The pastor receives the
appointment as such, and works up to that,
but not beyond that period, in his plans,
purposes and expectations. Such a restric
tion lacks the stimulus that is found in a
settled pastorate. But, with the limitation,
as to the number of years, removed, the pas
torate in our church would have all the in
centives to labor, and to prospective useful
ness to the church, that are found in the
pastoral relation in 'other churches. In a
word, it would obviate the difficulties which
experience has shown us necessarily at
tend a rigidly limited term, beyond which a
re-appointmcnt is disallowed; and at the
same time give to our church all the advan
tages, without any of the evils, real or im
aginary, of a settled ministry. Such, at
least, are our present convictions with the
lights of experience, observation, and reflec
tion before us.
A correspondent, “Gin tbe same paper,
says :
Wo may either slavishly copy tho work of
Wesley and cur fathers, or we may catch
their spirit. He dared to innovate on long
established customs, more intent on saving
souls and spreading scriptural holiness than
on conforming to precedents. Efficiency,
success, the measures that in his day promised
the largest usefulness —those were the things
he sought.. The flexibility of Methodism
wa3 once its glory; that it was not cramped
by antiquated and effete forms; that it
studied the openings and indications of
Providence. Mr. Watson saw and regret
ted one departure from this liberty and wise
adaptation of expedients to the demands of
changing circumstances, in the law lhat
bound the Wesleyan Conference not to send
a minister to the same society fora longer pe
riod than three years. Methodism in America
has not shackled her free movement by any
such fetters. No provision is made for any
change in our Articles of Faith. But the
General Conference may, by a bare majori
ty, extend to any length the pastoral term :
and even the itinerancy may be abolished by
the concurrence of three-fourths of the mem
bers of all the Annual Conferences and of
two-thirds of the General Conference!
A writer in the N. 0. Christian Advocate,
signing himself “M,’’ who upon good author
ity we believe to be one of the leading preach
ers in our church beyond the Mississippi,
says:
No change must bo so radical as to clash
with our general system. This much is due
to conservatism. All modifications of the
system must be in keeping with its charac
ter. If we get the wheels within the wheels
to running in the reverse direction to each
other, something must break. We musj
preserve the due balance between conser
vatism and progress. This premised, I sug
gest : «*
1. Let the Episcopal General Superin
tendency remain untouched. We need no
innovation there. More than any other one
thing, it is the controlling fact of our sys
tem. Let it remain as it is.
2. Remove the limit of the pastoral term.
I am clear that there ought to be no limit.
Let the appointing power act freely. Let
men be liable to removal at any time, but
only for good cause.
3. Require the young preachers to remain
unmarried eight or ten years, to “ do the
work of evangelism.” And if any choose
to remain unmarried always, and devote
themselves to this work, let the sacrifice be
accepted. It shall be a sacrifice of a sweet
savor, an odor well pleasing to God.
4. If possible, let the preachers be com-
polled to avoid secularization. I know this
is a delicate and intricate subject, and per
haps a strong moral force is all that can
be brought to bear in the ease. Every
preacher ought to be made to feel that ju.-t
to the extent in which he becomes a man of
business lie violates his ordination vows, and
damages the church.
5. I do not see that we need to meddle
with the Presiding Eldership. It seems to
be a very good institution—only that some
of the incumbents seem to be men who have
been solemnly ordained to the office and
work of planters, and who have taken up
Presiding Eldering a little occasionally for
variety and recreation.
The second and third of the foregoing
suggestions imply a difference in the office
o [pastor and that of evangelist. The differ
ence is real. And the distinction will come
out of its own accord in the practical working
of the system if these changes should be made.
The mature men will fall into these positions
where the presence of the pastor is needed,
and the younger and available men will bo
kept actively itinerating. Untimutely as the
changing character of the work may require,
the two classes may be somewhat interpersed
among each other in the same territory, co
operating with each other and aiding each
other in various ways.
This system will place heavy responsibili
ty upon the Bishops, and will depend, for
success, largely upon their firmness and sa
gacity. But, although some other plans
have been suggested in'my thoughts, this
seems to me to be the best L can devise. I
do not expect it to command univeisal fa
vor. Perhaps but few may approve it.
Yet I doubt not something will be done in
this direction very soon. And lam satisfied
that both the pastoral and evangelistic
characters must concur in the ministry, in
order to the largest success.
WHOLESALE FROM
THE CHURCH.
The Rev. George W. Langkorce, in the
Richmond Advocate, is out upon the bishops
ar.dDr. A.L I*. Green, and those who think
with him. Hear him :
“It teems to me, Mr. Editor, that those
who entertain and promulgate such ultra radi
cal views ehculd withdraw from the church
and seek c mmuni m in other associations more
congenial with their views and fidirg?. Tcey
are not Methodists; there is not an element cf
M thodism in them ; and to hold to the name
whi e they sr) opposed to every distinct f ature
of our economy, is in n.y judgment, wholly in
compatible with truth and moral honesty.
L :t these malcontents cease their madness, or
and port; tbe (.lurch can do without them. hiho
lived and flourished be ora they were born, and
will, if let alor.o, continue to live and prosper
when they are dead ar and forgotten.
“ Tbe p a i proposed by Dr Green, would, if
adopted, bo the destruction of our itinerant
system ; its inauguration would be the death
kne.lcq our ecclesiastical economy. I have as
much reverence and respect for our bishops as
the most men, but I could not consent to in
vest them with such power. They are but
men, and the last few years Lave taught us a
lesson of terrible import. Some of them have
laid vio’ent hands on tho very vitals of cur
system, and prostrated to the dust the bulwarks
of our economy. Such being the fact—with tho
law staring them in the face, viz : “Ho shall
r.ot allow any preacher to remain in the same
circuit or station more than two years succes
eively”—a law which had heretofore been ad
hered to wi h commendable fidelity, and which
has written its efficiency on every page of our
history, it they dared to violate it, what might
wo not expect if their opinion were to become
the only rule of action. Better restore the
church to the supervision of her original episco
pi—the elders—than to place her under the
guidance of such an irresponsible episcopacy.
“ ‘Aye, thou art shunned !
Rome, thou hast lo t thy bieedof noble bloods.’ ”
Leaving the bishops to defend them.elves, wo
wish to tay a word or two respecting the sug
gestion made to Dr. Green and a good many
more of us, in the first of the above para
graphs.
It strikes us, that cur good Brother Lang
horno would be contest witi a very small
ehurcb, if he prefers that all those who a-ein fa*
ver of some of the “ radical change*,” u> which
ho objects, should leave the Mel odist Episco
pal Church. II i reminds us of the man who
coolly lit hts egar in the lad it s' car and re
marked that he believed ihero was a car on tlio
train for ail to whom smoking wr.s offensive.
, intended to smoke—all such nvght with
draw.
The most prominent changes new proposed
are: 1. Giving each Conference a bhliop. 2.
Extending the pastoral ttrm 3. Giv ng semo
place to laymsn in our councils 4. Making the
cla;a meeting a ptiv.leged meetirg—attend
ance not a condition of members. 6. Abol
ishing the probationary rysVm. These par
ticulars are all embmc and in Dr. Green’s Mc
m trial. Me reuv mb( r this was before three
Conferences, and its suggestions wnc not con
demned. (nor indeed endorsed ) but it wa< refer
red to the General Conference to set upon it,
&'d other Conferer ces may havo done the sama.
Wc have forgotten.
And more. We happen to know the opin
ions of so many eminent men in our church,
either by oral or written statements from them,
selves, that we can salely say that the day
which sees them taking our aggriered broth
er’s advice wiil be a day r f grief to the church,
Sure y he is not prepared to dismiss summat ily
from his church such men as Lee, Doggett,
Edwards, Duncan,. Shipp, Wuitefoord Smith,
Gamewell, Dr. Pierce, Parks, Evan?, Mann,
Mcfycire, Summers, Hamilton, Keener. .Mar
vin, Richardson, Anderson, McPerrin, Green f
Mar hall and De rn-, together with Piskcp*.
Andrew, Paine, and Pierce.
Now', we have either conversed with a’l these
brethren, or have seen their written opinions
on some or all of these topics—and we namo
only ttiose whom wo thii k Pro. Langhorno
knows personally. If we were to narno all
who think with them, the list wou’d be very
long. And we know that all of tb.(S> named
favor at least (no, at. el some more, and soma
all of thesa “radical” changes, unless the discus
sion respecting them has te. ed their opinions.
No ; there arc too many of u? to dost rt U c old
ship. Sha will be ovorhhuled and set out on a
new and more prosperous voyage. To change
the liguro, if Pro L will have a separation ho
must “ take the other car.”
AN OMISSION RECTIFIED.
By an oversight ia republishing the list
of Delegates to the General Confer
ence, we neglected to add the following from
the
Baltimore Conference. —Samuel Reg
ister, Norval Wilson, S. S. Rozzell, Jno. S.
Martin, E. R. Yeitcli, and W. G. Eggle
ston.
Reserves— J. S. Gardner, J. Poisall, and
S. Rogers.
W offord Collegf., S. C—A letter from
Dr. Shipp in the Record, says, “Wofford
College is gradually improving in patronage.
We have about sixty in attendance and more
will probably yet come; but this number is
wholly inadequate to support our Faculty.
If, however, we can get through this year
the prospect for the future may be good I
have had the hardest time I ever experi
enced in my life, but still I am inclined not
to give up the interest if we can keep soul
and body together this year.” From the
Carolina Spartan we learn that the Rev.
A. 11. Lester, of the South Carolina Con
ference, has been elected to fill the Chair ol
Professor of Hebrew and other Oriental
Languages. That paper adds : “We are
pleased to hear of the selection, and think
there is none better qualified in every par
ticular, for the efficient discharge of the du
ties of this honorable position. Mr. Lester
has been a close student all his life, and the
last few years he has devoted to the study
of those languages, of which he is made
•Professor, under the tuition of one of tho
ablest oriental teachers in this country. His
mental culture and intellectual acquirements
being of the highest order when he com
menced those studies, he made rapid pro
gress in mastering them. Mr. Lester is a
Christian man and scholar of the highest
intellectual endowments. With such addi
tions to the present able faculty of Wofford
College (in which are some of the* noble si
specimens of mankind) we have good reason
to hope it may soon again witness that pros
perity and patronage which it enj ycd pre
vious to the war.”
“Layman.” —Although we have received
several letters from laymen briefly stating
their opinions respecting the questions now
mooted in the church, yet none of them
havo written at length until this week. We
present now the first of two articles from a
gent{eman whose name would add weight to
his opinions. For near or quite forty years
a Methodist—an official member in the
church—a friend of the preachers, keeping
open doors for them, and made familiar with
them, by his large hospitalities —singular-
ly backward in expressing his views where
it is not a duty—a patient and closc thinker,
hold’ng high official position which gives
him opportunity for wide observation of men
and things, his opinions are entitled to grave
consideration by the General Conference,
We hope they will be read and pondered.