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X-

\AA.HrAj,V"

E BASIS OF METHODIST UNION!

What it Is, and What it Involves.

••

> <»> < -

BY THE BEV. A. SUTHERLAND, D.D., ;ji. w ,

•■ A'- . , -■ - ■• :. ■ : -^ ■■

.,, ' _ - Secretary 0/ the Union CommitUf.

■''' ■":■ " -■'^■■■■.- -.^

V . ■ . - ■ I. . . >■■ .. ■ ■.

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■■ ■ • ■ ■.■■ . ■..■•:: - ■■•■>;■■, ■ ; •-. ■.■"■.'

"the Bugles Somy T^'^e" ^^

The bugles of the Methodist hosts have sounded a parley.
The thunder of the cannonade and the rattle of small arm? is
hushed for a time. A conviction has been gaining ground that
"some one bas blundered," and that theire has been a mistake
iii the plan of the campaign. Some of the regiments/it would
seem, have occasioually mistaken friends for foes, and instead
of kegping up a steady fire against the common enemy, have
poured volleys into ea;ch other*s ranks. Even when the mistake
has been pointed out, the captains have been slow' to acknow-
ledge that any. wrong h&s been done; and some haVe gone so
far as to declare that this style of warfare is part of the.^en>ral
plan, and that the glory of the great Commander will be mpre
effectually promoted thereby, than if each wete employed ex-
dusivedy in fighting the "world, the flesh, and the devil."

Shall the Blunder he Repeated?

But others (a large majority, I venture to think|,) are of a
different opinion. Td them it seems clear that a great mistake
has been made. They have beat asking <and at l^the ques-
, tion is heard above the din oirbattTe); " What have we been
fighting about r We listen for an answer, but there is none.
What we have been fighting about, no one cg,n telL Now that

'^^l

^:.

1b-

2 The Bash vf Methodist Union : -

a truce is proclaimed, another question is lieartl: "Shall we
perpetuAto the old mistake f" nnd in many lieartH i^he answer
. is becoming a fixed purpose, "It must not be porpctuk^od !". Of
^sall kinds of war, civil war is the worst, ^ndpf civir^^nrs none
S« so bad as wh6n regiments of i the same grand rti*my turn
thfeW, weapons against each other. As in the case of ihe
Midianitish host, the result must be disaster and defeat, ^.^

"What are the Facts?
Dropping figure, let us turn to fact. ; For fifty years, in the "
Western part of the Dominion, two Mefhodist Churches have
confronted ea<;h other. For a. eonsiderftble part of that time,:
five such Churches have been in the field.lnot always fighting
against a common foe. bu^somctimes quarreling about the spoil.
Eight years ago two of these ChurcKl'sliftited their forces, and
although some prophesied disaster; the results of that Union
have been most blessed. To-day tli is united Church and three
others are consulting as to the possibility of: a wider Union that
shall embrace all the partfT, and combine tlic divided Methodisms
of thfe Dominion iiito one solid, compact body, mighty tor good
• through the power of the Holy Ghost. Some eighty ininistem
and laymen from the several bodies have met iii Council, and
after much thought and earnest prayer have reached connnon
ground. A Basis of ' Union— each part of which was adopted
by an almost unanimous vote— has been prepared, and will
shortly be laid before the various Quarterly Meetings and Gon-
ferencesT That Basis presents the only ground on wlwch it
seems possible for the various bodies to meet ; and if it be
rejected as a whole, alhthought of Union must be abandoned
for at least a generation to come. In fact the conviction Was
almost unanimous in the Joint Committee, that Union must be
now or never. - ^

Gravity of. the Question.

This question of the hour is grave ; the issues are momentous ;
the responsibilities of Quarterly Meetings and Conferences are
of the weightiest kind. That theSiii^ion,is one of absorbing
interest in the circles of Canadian Methodism, we all know;
but if h a s pass e d f a r bey o nd th a t limi^t . The Methodist press

,:„t;-

''/

"Tti

■:4 ;

.-■>

i'~->V^

Tw'.

What it Is, aiki What it Involves,

of two heinlsphores is watching the movement; the daily press
of Toronto— secoml to none on this ('ontiliynt-^^devoted large
space to a report of the Committee'^ procoftliii^M ; un<l even
such a paper as the New York Herald wrote to ^ Toronto cor-
respomlent, asking to he put in possession of "full particu-
lars of the movement." All this shows that the progress of
MethOilist Unification in the Dominion has an interest for mul-
titudes outside of Methodist circles. The eyes of the Christian
world are upon us ; and this of itself .should he sullicient to
lad those who have to decide the question, to ap]>roach it in
)he Spirit of the awakened Saul of Tarsus— " Lord, what
would'at Thou ha<^ me to do ?"^ ' * 7

■■■'•■■■ ■ -^^'v ■■-■'•' • ■ " '■ ' "V ' ■' .■'/• ■ • ''■-'"

The W<yfJiy and Spirit of me Committee.

It should be borne in mind that the Joint Committee was ap'-^
•poiwiQ^ to prepare a lidsia of Unioii, and not to propo-se a
method by which one Church might absorb all the rest. To
make Union possible, there had to be mutual concwjj^ns, and
an important part of the Committee's business was PRfeeertain *
how far, in the matter of conce.s.sions, the various homes were "•
ready to approach one another. «The)) wisely decided to ascer-
tain, first of all, the points of agreen ent, that they ujight the
more readily determine whether the r imaining points presented
insuperable barriers to Union. The vork, it mu.st be confessed,
was begun with some misgivings. The estrangements of the
past seemed very wide; and to Some it was doubtful if the;
separating giilfs could be bridged over. But these very mis-
givings and doubts led to increased piayerfulness ; and this re-
sulted.in a firm purpose to prosecute the work in such a spirit
that whether a Basis were found or not, the members of the
Committee would part as brethren. This spirit, with scarce an
exception, ^as maintained to the close\: and to this, more than
anything else, may be- attributed the-\harmony of the Com-

mittee's proceedings, and^e success of

its work.

The Doctrinal Bdsi».

..~y

/ Asiiad been anticipated, no difficulty wm experienced in
regard to matters of doctrine and usage. On these points it

■»-: .

.'..:* ■■

.4 The Basis of Methodist Union: '

wasfoundt}# absolute unity alreRtly cxiHted ; atwl ho after
brief conversation, and without discnssion, the first thirty-threo
pa^es of the J)i.si;ii)line of the Methodist Church of Canada,
CQvering Standards of l)i)ctrine, Articles of Religion, General
Rules, Ordinances, Reception of Menihers, and Means of (Jrace,
were adopte«hcn Uoc, no change being hecessary to harmonize
them with the utterances of the other uniting Churches On the
same points. This fact is. Of itself, most significant, and fur-
nishes one of the strongest possible argunients in favour of
Union. In fact it changes the aspect of the whole question. -
Hitherto some have bt?en asking " Is there any good rc'ftson why
the Methodist Churches of this (Country should unite ?" But
in view of the fact above stated, they are now asking," Is there
any longer a good rea.son why they should not unite?" llmt
Churches which are absolutely one in doctrine, general rules,
and usages, sliould remain apart, is an anomoly which I, for one
cannot even attempt to justify.

■ "' ' "' ■' • • ■■ ■ ■ ■■ '■■ ' ■. ": 'I' ' ■■

, Tivo Teat Points. ,.

The qui^stion of a Doctrinal Basis being scttled.the Committee
, prepared to grapple with what .some considered the real diffi-
culties, namely,— General Superintendency , and Lay Representa-
tion in the Annual Conferences. There seemed to be a con-
viction, general though unexpressed, that if common ground
could be rpached on tbe«e two points, all the rest would be
compafatively easy. Now came the time for concession, and the
time, moreover, to test the sincerity Of prof essed Unioriists. In
, the discussions in our own General Conference only one man , so
far as I remember, openly declared himself opposed to, Union ;
but not a few who felt it necessary to declare that they were
Union men, argued strongly against it; while others, declaring
themselves in favour of Union, indicate<l plainly enough that
they were prepared to be dissatisfied rwith any basis that might
# be proposed. They were in favour of Union in the abstract,
but they would concede nothing. The :same thing, substan-
tially, K^H^rue in regard {o the other bodies. Like ourselves,
they had Unionists and— Unionists. But when the Committees
met face to face these Union-in-the-abstract brethren found

< '

» . '

H^Aai U li, and What it Involves.

themsoIvcH in a .lili«nmi^. If tl.oy dcclariMl UumusoIvom oppmc*!
>r Union, th«iy wouM not only havo to faci^ a voiy strong
countor-curirnt of opinion, Imt wouM put tluMnsrlvos in antaj,'-
onisni to tho plainly-c^pifssiMj scntinunts <»l* tlu-ir n'spinrtivi!
Cont'orcnccs. If tlu-y .helaml in favour of Tnion, tiny were
at once met with the (jucry— "Well, what are you willing to
concedo iu onler to promote it :*"

y ■<.

The Stthathm. '
(jetieral Supeiinten<leney was the only (piestion oii whieh «>// ;
the uniting Ixxliea ha.l something toeun'^e<le., This will he Letter
understood if wo briefly review the attitud.; of eaeh h.)dy in
regard to this (|uestion. On the right of theline stood tho
Methodist Episcopal Church, with her systeu^ of Kpiscopacy
both in name and in fact. On the left wore the Primitive
Methodists and Hihle Christians, the former, at least, so far re-
moved from Episcopacy thiit a layman miglit preside, and some- :
times has presided, in their Annual Conferences: In the centre
was Uio Methodist Church of Canada, with a well-detined
Superintendency runninj^nftugh her Circuit, Di.strict, and
Confe'reiHjc organi/^tionjBlrrt' with a constitutionaltimidity
that prevented her from^alUng a spade a spade, and with an-
unaccountahlo dread lest a systenj that had Worked so admirably
in the sev.eral parts, might become an element of danger when^
extended over the whole Connexion; ^.l*-- .

' "., Solution of Uie Pwhlem. . - ^;

Haw were these seemingly diverse ^sterns to be harmonized t.
Only by mu^Jt't^ concessions; there was no other way. Thfe
General Conference of the Methodist Church of CanadjjKimd
expressed its -willinghess, in order to promote Union, to^ accept
an Itinerant General Superintondency, provided^ did not
interfere with the duties of Annual Confer«jncb O^ieers. Home
regarded thi> as a limit put upon the action of /the representa-
tives of that Conference in the Connjutteei^hers regarded it
simply as an expression of the judgment apd preference of the
Conference at the time, and not as a t^a,lity ; still, if the re-
presentatives of the Mdthodist Epi.scQpal Church would accept
is as satisfactory, so much the betitt)r: The reply of the Mctho-

« ' 11

•^.

.''4.

6 . ' The Basit of Methodist Union:

'•■'.•■' .■■■ ■ ■ ■ ": : \ ■ ■■: ■■> ■•: ■ ' / . \j ■ ■

dist EfJiMcopdl Dcputioit wan in pflfect fts folIowH : " Brtthren. we
J are (luito willing to uuM^t you half-way, but wo canixot ahan.lon
our ch«rishe(l Mystoni for a Huporinten<l.!ncy ho liinitod a;^ the
onoyou piopoHo, iKicaust* hy th») v<<ry constitution/t)! our (Jhurch,
wearo proliibite<l fvoin tloing any thing to destroy th« jilan of
our Itinerant General Suporinttjn.loncy. W^ are willing, for
'the sake of Union, to modifu our HyHtoni. bi^ we cannot con»ent
to dAtilroy it ; ami we ask no uioro of you/ ,^

fi^at idl/ yme Conadef

/• WoU. what will you concede ; and what do you ask ?" " We v
would much prefer," the Methodist Episcopal Delegates said.
" to keep our system just as it is ; hui knowing that, if Union -is
to take place, this cannot be, we will concede two things,— the
life appointment and the separate consecration. But we ask that
the Itinerant General Superintendent, whom it is proposed to .
appoint, shall be a reality,, and not a mere figure-head ; an.l
that he shall have such a i^ecognized place in the Annual Con-
ferences e» will constitute a real connection between these
bodies and the General Conference."

What did the Primitive Methodist and Bible Christian breth-
ren think of this? Well, they had been accustomed only to
such Superintendency as is exercised by the Chairihen of Dis-
tricts and the Presidents of Annual Conferences ; but in such a
Superintendency as was now proposed they coi4d see no harm,
and, indeed, they thought a little more Superintendency than
they had been accustomed to might be a good -thing for the
Church. At all events, that no bar to Union might arise from

their side, they were willing* to accept the proposal of the

Methodist Episcopal brethren.

\'' ', \ ■'.[■■■.. '^'C ■■-''''■'.■■-■ J -'Tfie. Vote. ' '■':''■.,'■■"■■

' Long and patiently the proposition was discussed, and oppdv-
tunity^was given to every man to say all that was in his heart.
The more fully the question was considered the clearer it .
became that the Methodist Episcopal delegation was meetiftg ^
the other Churches fuUy half way. At length a vote was!
tftlrftn, and out of a committee of some seventy members there
Were^^b^^^^ nine dissentients, at least three of. whom were

•^;■

'", ir/uU it Is, ami 'll'/iat illnvolves. ^ / 7

■ ■ ■ ■ "'",■■'• . " • ■"'.■•■

MrtlHMlist Ki»i>^M.pal .l.^U'«atrs Wlu'u tlio conrltislon wftH ;
.vaduMl.a i.n.foun.l so«h^ pf rcUuf wus oxiMHitiici-l. N«. o\w
reKanl.'.l tlu^ v.»U' as. in any H.-nsi'. a iKMs.nial oi- party trminpli.
hut each Hiu.ni.Ml to r.-K'anl it as a-ckcisioii to wliicli tlicy had
hocn UmI in th.. f.-ar .»r < Jo.l. Thrn, w.vh mo noisy applause ; hut ,
pent-ui. ..n...ti<»us foun.l vQut in the .strains of the «ran.l ohl
Doxology, un<l then the Counuittee adjouruiMl for the night.

On the cpiestion of Lay Ri-presontation in the Annual (\)n-
ferences/it seen.ea netjessary that three out of tlie four unitu.g
Churches shoul.l change fr.mt a little. The Metho.list (M.urch
I. of Oana.la an.l the Metho.list Episcopal Church have each lay
representation in thi» Ceneral Conference, lait n.>ne m the
Annual; the Bihlo Christians have ministers aiul laymen in
Ci|ual n.nnhers in the Annual ( ^.nfereiice ; while th'J I'rnuitrve
Methodists have two laymen for each minister in tlJat assemhly.
Where a Ceneral Conference exists, th<^ functions of aji Annual
C(mf(^rence are t.ecessarlly very limited. It has no authority to
legislate, and a large part of its husines* is of a routine sojt,
dialling with tuatters of niinisterial character^ .lUalitication,
and \\")rk. In view of these facts, there was a soiiiewliat
general opinion in the Committee that ky representation in
the Annual Conferences would be a douhtful gocyl, and would
be lightly esteemed by-tlie laymen themselves. But the laymj^V .
in two of the Churches had been accusti)me<l to .sit in the
Annual Conferences, an<l there was reason to fear that in thesti
twQ Churches Union could not be carrie<imdess lay.represen-
■ tation, in some form, was Conceded. At first it was propose!
that the representation shouhl be vt^'y limited-two or thn-c
from a District, but it wan felt that this was merely playing
with the (piestion. and if there was toHrt/ Wy representation at
all it must be in^ciiial niiinbeis with ministers. In this torm-
the recommendation eventually carried, / ,

i Chiivch Fandsk

The only otlier question of serious moment was that relating .
t o Ch urch funds. Som e of these were (|uickly settled. The,

ajakfe

TMe Basis of Methodist Union :

Children's Fund, having no invested capital in any of the
Churches, was relegated to the first General Conference, to
make such arrangements as might "be deemed expedient. In
regard to tlie ;Contingent Fund, the Methodist Church of
Canada alone has invested capital, and as this belongs to the
three Westerik° Conferences of that Church, it was left to those
Conferences to decide what should be done with it; and any
, other action was referred to the first Ganeral Conference. The
Missionary Fund was not so easily adjusted, as in one' case there
was a defict of $10,000, dnd in another of over $18,000 It was
agreed, however, that in both cases the debt should be paid
before the Union was consummated, and thus the obstacle was
removed.:,;, ■.■■■■'■,; "■:.;.•.■..

As 'might have been expected, the Superannuation Fund
J>resented;the most serious difficultie.s. That men should be
very sensitive in regard to a fund that made provision— scant,
it is true, but feal—|or their old age, was but natural ; and the
most exhaustive discussions took place before a basis was
reached. Sub-Committees met, and .pondered, and reported,
but their reports did not seem to meet the case; proposition
after proposition was made, discussed, and laid on the table;
but at" length the -Cbhimittee' saw, with tolerable clearness, all
thftt the discus.sion involved, and embodied its judgriient in a
series of resolutions iihat for comprehensiveness and fairness
must- comlnend theriiselves to every unbiased mind. The.se
resolutions require that the other uniting Churches shall provide
an amount of invested capital equal, in proportion, to that now
held by the Methodist Church of Canada ; that income arising
from (feoHeictions and subscriptions in the' congregations-, and the
annual subscriptions of nnriisters, shall be used in meeting
payments to all claimants ; that income arising from the
invested capital how held byythe Methodist Churcli of Canada
for this fund, and from the Toronto Book Room, shall be used
exclusively, for the benefit of superannuates of thiat Church,
until such' time as the other uniting Churches equalize their
Book Room ^ssets an<l Superannuation Fund securities with
those of th6 said Methodist Church" of , Canada ; that no change
shall be made in regard to the claims of any minister how
-holding a permanent superannuated relation ; and that if in any!

;.:«

IVhai it Is, and What it Inyotves. 9

year the incotne sliall not be Hufficicnt to ineet the claiiuH iii
full, then all claimants shall share in tlte Uejficiency in propor-.
tion to the amount of their respective claims., . *

■ -■ ■ ^■■' ■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ..". ■ • ■ . ^ '■^■■'- y;. ^''vvv

Lot us now enquire Just what changes iind concessions are
involved in the Biusis of Union as finally /adopted, so that we
niay be in a position to determine whether they are of such a
character as to call for an advjy|we vote /from any Quarterly
Meeting or t'onference. , I am jP^uaded/that uiost people will
be surprised that the concessions, as a ruli?. are so small, afid the
changes so few. During the sessibjns of/the Union Committee,
a great inany proposals were made and published that were not
finally adopted, while, some things carried at an early stage
were afterwards rescinded. From this circunistahce, many
have received an erroneous impression/of '^vhat was really done,
and it is the more desirable, therefore/, that a distinct sunimary
should be presented. It should be jindei-stood, moreover, feliat'
part of what is contained in the Basis is little more than a
statement of what has been the Practice in all thenniling
Churches in the past, and \5rhich Miey agree shall continue in
the future, the; changes being so .^ight as to cali for no com--
ment; while another part, referring to Church Funds, and .
Educational, Publishing, and Church Property Institutions,
contains simply proposal? for/ adjusting certain financial
interests, and involves no particular " concessions " on either
vside. Divested of all extraneous matter, we get the following
■points: — ,.; ' . ■,'/..."•:•;. / ,:•,■.-'■/'/

}. BodrhWy etG.~~In StsindkrdiS of Doctrine, Articles of
Religion, General Rules, C)rdihinces, Reception of Members, and
M^ans of Grace, no changes ow concessions are necessary, i

.2. The Oeneml Conference.l-^^o change is proposed in^ the
composition or functions of t)l)is body as it has existed in the
Methodist Church of Canada!, and in the Methodist Episcopal
Ciiurqh. But the Primitive tMethodists and Bible Christians,
in ^mihg into the Union, doncede the transfer pf legislative
au^iority frorii the Annual to tlie General Conference.
«. General lSuperintendefci/.--On {\m yo'mt, ^^^i^^ Basisis

: confirmed, all the uniting Cliurches will make concessions. The

♦ •

•r

ffWfW

•i^-

' 7>^^ Basts of Methodist Union :

^Methodist Episcopal GJmrch si^iTehders the life appointment and
■ tlie separate ordination, or, as thoy prefei' to call it, consecration-

The Methodist Church of Canada concedes an eij?ht yearn' term

of office and an extension of authority, whereby sucli Superin-
^ tendeni may preside, in turn, with the President . elected by

an Annual Conference, and conduct an ordination service.
, The Primitive Methodist and Bible Christian Churches accept

this arrangelnent as a necessary part of a general Union scheme.

4. Annu'd OonferenceH. — The Methodist Church of Canada
and the Methodist Episcopal Church concede the introduction
of lay representatives in equal numbers with ministers. The
Primitive Methodist Church consents to oije lay representative
for each minister, instead of two. Equal lay representation
being already the practice in the Bibl« Christian Church, no
concession was necessary on their part. The iwo latter
Churches also concede that certain questions shall be dealtwith
by ministers only, and that the Stationing Committee shall be
composed entirely of ministens. The above cliange in the com-
position of Annual Conferences involves a change in the.
election of laymen to the General Conference. If the Basis is
confirmed, they will henceforth be elected by the laymen in
the Annual Conferences, instead of in the District Meetings.

5. Ordiimiion of Preai}ltei's:— The Methodist Episcopal
Church relinquishes the ordination of deacons as a distinct
office, and the ordination local preachers ; but Annual Gpn-
ferences are to have authority "to ordain probationers of les9

■ than four yiears standing, when the necessities of the work
. require it ; no change worth mentioning takes place in either
the District or Quarterly Meetings; and all preacher.'i who
have been ordained in any of th;0 uniting bodies, and are in
good standing at the time of the Union, are to retain all rights
ah^l privileges conferred by such ordination.
r Gy District Mefitings.-— No ch&rigG worth mention is made in
the composition or functions of District Meetings, and no con-
cessions wer^. necessary.

T> District Ghair7rian.—\i is proposed that tliis officer shall
be in name what he is i n f act,-^District Superintendent. The
• Methodist Episcopal Church relinquishes her plan of travelling
Chairinen.

.' #.

■iaffSi-i^SliV.-

Sis*-* ,

What U Is, and What it Involves.

. 11 .

H. Quartertij Jfeelivgs. — No changes are proposed in the
composition ot functions of Quarterly Meetings, but the Priiui-
tive Methodist Ghurch agrees that the Circuit Superintendent
shall bo ra-q//ic to Chainuan of the Quarterly Meeting, as is now
the practiciB' in the other Churches.

S^. Ghurch Property. — No concessions are necessary ; biit a
plan is proposed of dealing with property that may not be re-
quired after the Union.

r. 10. Church Funds. — In regard to these, the work of the
Committee was simply to protect vested interests, and to prepare
an equitable basis on which to adjust the various claims.
Whether they have succeeded in thi.s, the Church at large mu.st
judges :.■■.- .■■.^■; -,; -. -^.-V. . . •;■ - .'•■

11. Book and Puhl'whing Intereds.— The Halifax antl Toronto
Publishing Interests of the Methodist Church of Cana<la are to
be maintained, and no difficulty is apprehended in the way of
consolidating the other publishing interests at an early date
after Union.

12, EJucatiomd Interests.-— The EducsLtionaX Institutions in
the Maritime Provinces are to remain unehanged. Those in the
west having University powers, will be -consolidated.

. Points that ivill be 02}posed.

Such, in: brief, is the Basis of Union agreed upon by the
Joint Committee. Much of it will be accepted without contro-
versy ;- but there are three points that may elicit opposition.
These are, 1. General Superintendency ; 2. Lay Representation
in the Annual Conferences; 8 The Superannuation Fund.
On the first point some opposition may arise from two of
the uniting bodies, namely, the Methodist Churcli of Canada,
and the Methodist Episcopal Church ; but in neither case is it
likely to come from the laity. Ministers in the former body
•may possibly oppose it because of their dislike of Superinten-
dency in any form, especially in a form that will in any way
interfere with the absolute independence of Annual Conferences..
Mii^isters in the lattty;- body may possibly oppose "it from a
conviction that, in giving up the life appointment and the
separate consecration, they are yielding the essentials of Super-
intendency. But both shauld remember that without mutual

-f

■•■- '.Tm'

. 'i

The Basis of Methodist Union :'

/ . .

compromise there could be no Union at all ; and» therefore, if
each tenaciously maintains the groun(lVindicatecl above, they
must be content to be understood as saying-7-" We want no
Union with the other party on tiny terms whatever^"

In the matter' of Lay Rcpresefitation in the Anftual Con-
ferences, the opposition, if any, will probably come f roni Min-
isters of the Methodist Church . of Canada. The Primitive
Methodist and Bible Christian Churches have always had it,
and will not object to it now. The Methodist Episcopal Church
has not had it, but, so far as I can learn, they do hot object to,
its introduction. The laity of the Methodist Church of Canada
have shown no special desire for ij;; butas it will increase rather
than restrict their privileges, it is not likely they will (^pose it.
Ministers of the latter body may object, no^ because they are
averse to laymen taking an equal share with themselves in the
business of the Church, but because they see no good likely to
accrue from the measure, while on the oth^r hand it will neces-
sitate further divisions of Annual Conferences, or greatly
increase the difficulties of ■ billeting. I

In regard to the Superannuation Fund, h is not easy to tell
from what source oppositioii may arise. Some may regard the
proposed basis as unsatisfactory ; but let them sit down and
endeavour to draft something better, and they will probably
find that the plan submitted by the Committee is as fair and
equitable as any that can be devised.

r[\''. Surplus Men. '■■■■' ^:'-:'-'' ''\ ■■"''"'■"

One very common objection urged against Union is, that in
the unavoidable readjustment of the work a large numb^ of
ministers v^ill be on the hands of the various Stationinjj Com-
mitt^es for whom there will he no circuits. But I am persuaded
this difficulty is greatly over-stated. The number of " surplus
men" will be found to be much smaller than many suppos0.
A short time ago a minister of the London Conference (who, by
the way, is anything but favourable to Union), referred to this
point. He said some argued for Unioh on the ground that it
would effect a great saving in men and money, "but," he con-
tinued, "I have been tooking over the Londrin Conference, and
I can call up but twopr three jplaces where, if Union were oon-

,-■■<'

■\

IV/ta/ til h, and IVhat it Involves.

f .. ■

■\

sumniBted; it would bo necessary to close a churcli or ir(iinove a
minister." Inlikeirianner, a stib-Cominittce of the Union Gom-
' mitee, appointed -to consider this very" subject, reported that,
in their judgment, not only would all the men now in the work
be required, but mote. I do not know on what data their eon-r .
• . elusion was baaed, and am inclined to think that, like the min-

• ; ister above referred to, they took a too favourable view ; but

yet if the work of readjustment is carefully and conscien-

si» tioasly performed, and the rapidly 'gjrowing needs of the North-

West ai-e fairly met, the entire force now in the active work of .
the Uniting Churches will be quickly absorbed. At the time

. of the former Union there was the same outcry about "surplus

men," and yet, after the Union, not one of the Conferences
paused^ even for a single year, in taking out new men ; and
even then the entries in' the lists of stations of -' one wanted,*
were heither few nor far between.

' • ' ^ Economy in Worldng. - ^

• Suppose it to be true that, after Union, a certain number of

>.• men wjll not be needed on fields where they are now laboring,

this difficulty will be met by a corresponding advantage jn -

■'- another direction. Let us suppose a case— a real one — whete

ministers of three Methodist Churches occupy nearly the same

. ground, each leceiving aid from the Missionary Fund of his

.' - Church. In the re-:arrangement of the work two men arefpund

to be vsuffieient. But two men can be supported on the ground,

and the v(»hol'e missionary grant thus saved will be sufficient

** to support the third man on a new field! This may be called

an extreme case, or an extreme way of putting it, but it illus-

t; ,.. '^ trates a state of things that will be found in varying degrees

on not a few circuits. That the rivalries of the past have

. caused an unnecessary multiplication of men in the samefield:^,

^ no ope conversant with the facts will attempt to deny. How

often in Stationing Committees have we heard the appointment

of additional men urged solely on the ground that " we vnu8t

, give the people a preaching service every Sunday ;" and when

^ ' the question was asked, "Why^must^we^o this ?" the answer

#as isure to be', "If we don't, the -, — — s will coaie^mliildiatkir-

■>•

•"^^Sf^^-

l-:

♦

i^/^^Me

the j?round." And so, for ft reasioli that we should have been
ashamed to confess, men were multiplied, and missionary money
that had been given to send the Gospel to the destitute was
spent in increasing the privileges of those who were quite able to
support their own ministers, and who would have supported them
but for those wretched divisions that set altar against altar, and
sometimes separated chief friends. As the Methodist Churches
by their unwise, not to say unchristian, policy, have brought
these evils upon themselves, they should not complain if some
temporary inconveiiience is experienced in getting rid of
them. ■■■ ; •.. ■:■;•■,-"'' -^ , ': i'//- '■^ \-

Some Rsal Diffidultiea.
While in some quarters there may be a disposition to Tfiag-
nify dilHcuities, and even to conjure up ghosts wherewith to
frighten the people, I am not ignorant of the fact that there are
real difficulties to be (encountered— difficulties that will require
time and patience to overcome. The amalgamation of congre-
gations, the division of circuits, tlie euiployment of all the men,
the. sale of surplus property, the finances necessary to- carry on
the missionary work of the Church, an<l meet the claims of her'
superannuated iiajnisters— these are all questions aftected by
Union, and they must be grasped with a vigorous and steady;
hand. But our worst difficulties will be of another kind,
groiving out of the passions and prejudices of men. Old
wounds may break out afresh, local jealousies may hamper the
work of re-adjustment, covetousness inay make the difficulties
of the position an e:«;uso for witholding the necessary supplies,
personal rightS' — rearer supposed— may clamour for recogni-
tion ; and all this will tend to embarrass the work of unification.
If, therefore, the work is t<Kbe brought to a successful issue, it
must 'be carried on with a cahnness that no irritating word can
ruffle, a patience that no delav can tire, a courage that no
opposition can affiright; above ati, with a sublime faith that
sees God's hand in the darkness, and a singleness of purpose
in which self shall have no place.

* Let Officials Inform TheniselveB.
As the Quarterly Meetings are to ^*^nounce upon the Basis
in February, 1883; it is of the utmost importance that every

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hai it Is, ana tVhdi it Invohes.

official member hIiouUI inform himself of the real, merits of the
case without delay, so that he may be in a position to give an
independent find intelligent vote. Let every such member care-
fully read the basis as tinally adopted and published, until he
thoroughly unt^rstanda just what chaftges are proposed, and
what thevetfectbt" those changes is likely to be. The final effect
of the vot« to be given no man can fully foresee. But this
mucb we know, that he who votes for Unions does what in him
lies to remove a standing reproach from Methodism and a hind-
rance from the cause of God; while he who votes adversely,
votes to perpetuate the estrangements, the rivalrii's,''the Waste
of m^n f^d money, that has characterized |hd past. It would
be folly to suppose that any basis could be/prepared that would
fully meet the views of every one. The (Question is not, there-
fore. Is the present basis perfect? but, Ar^ the objections to it of
sufficient weight to lead us to rejejct it ^altogether ? Let it be
clearly understood, the. basis now before the Church cannot be
accepted or rejected iw ipaH ;— as a whole it stands or falls, and
upon its adoption or Rejection by the Ghurches depends the fate
of Union. , Some will think otherwise. They will say. If the
^present basis if? i-ejected, another can be formed; Doubtless
another Cfm be formed, but no one for a moment believes that

\^\vill, ■-- ; "'■.::':\. '■.■".■:■' '--^ ..■■;■■■'.■' ;

■■.-.'' ''■■..' ^ .- . . ■'■■■'' ' ■ ' -.■' ^ '-'■: ■. ' . • . ■ . ■ '

/On Whom Rests the Chief liesponsihility 1

Although the Basis of Union is to be <liscussed and voted
upon in the various Quarterly Meetings, there caii be nO doubt,
that the chief responsibility rests upon the Ministry of the
uniting Churches, because upon the attitude they assumti^. the
fate of the Union movement largely deperids. There is nothing
in the Basis of Union which ilifringes upon the rights and
privileges of the laity, and hence hothffig to which they are
likely tp take strong excej^'tion. But as we have heard promi-^
nent laymen remark rhore than once, much will depend on the
way in which the jsubject is brought before the Quarterly Meet-
ings. If the Minister takes a. hostile attitude, it. will greatly
kifluence the vote. Out* official members, as a,\ rule, treat the
opinions and wishes, of their Ministers with respect, and it

•^

:K-

9, ,

T/i€ Basts of Methodist Union.

would be an exceptional case in which a Quarterly Meeting
would carry a measure to which the niembersjcnew the minister
was strongly opposed. All this but serves to show how great
are the re8ponai])ilities of the hour. We are making history.
Let it be a history of which we shall not be ashamed in the
Coming time. • * .

Imparting Word. ^

I cannot close this pAper without a word to those brethren,
lay and clerical, in th6 various Churches, who through evil and
good report have stood calmly and unflinchingly ^y the princi-
ples of Union. I do not mean the class who with very unneces-
sary emphasis declare on every possible occasion that they
^.re Unioji men, a,nd then proceed to argue vehemently against
Union ; but Fspeak tox^^be men who by voice, and vote, and
pen, have steadily maintiiinea that the Methbdists are— or oi^ht
to be— one all over the world. Brethren, yours has been no
easy task. Those from whom you had a right to expect support
have tried to weaken your hands, and have not been sloiv to
attribute to yoh sinister motives and selfish aims. Be it so.
You can afford to wait. History will do you justice. jBut
should it not,— should your motives fail of just recO^niJtion
from contemporaries, or even from posterity, you mdy rely ^ith
certainty iipon what is far better,— the voice of an approving
conscience, and the benediction of Him who said.-*- - i •

" Blessed are the peagemakers: for they shall be caiJled
THE Children OF God." ^ )

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