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' ^ I ^ '•y \'. METHODIST UNION. nY.ni:v. a. a. hkown, •ANII TlIK ULonV Wjmu TIIOU (iAMSi' ME I MAVIJ \,\\V.X TIliv.M ; VIM ; .'i '" '•. ■ . maV BR o\e/evkn AS wi: ARB oNn.'-JiiJiii \vrt.''J->. •. T- ../•^ -'1^1 .-■ • :'■::,:■ OTTAWA: :•; ■-■■; ;. -■ r.'IUM'1-I) BY T, E. LEWJfi, LITTLK ,^:^St^EX sTKIJ/l. ■ .■■■ 186^. ■ * 4 r V ' *li&l^i » : ^' \f'. sail :ffii*«arafe«<^2s - / A. -^/' »<.. -si f\' • . KOV 4196S t ;■■ I- i- "4-^. S4,S%^« \> . I ;■■ I- ^■ VUKVACE. In |>rosontiiJtj tliU >york tr> .>f*'tlMi(lists of iill donoMii- lull ions, t^uToaiv, «l(nil)tk'ss, «Iiio frorii u^ a low words of <.'X|>lun!itiou. pur only uiH)l<»<;jy is the heart -rcndiriic «Vivisiot>s which now oxfKi in llu' Methodist Family in' Cantida. in wrllini; thin work, wo huvi- hoon actuated only V»y rt'eVnuiS of kindest sy?n|»tithy and hrotherly atVoetion toward all I\Iethodists, whateNor nvuy he tlicir name or dislin^uishin;jC featnr(etweentlien\^an ■ ■.•1 ■.■; ■, 1 ' 1 l>. Im VI' not, a 'invt's IV \ iiol /(iK'titi(.iif«], f<»r the ji'IiMulc rcafoti tlrvf \vt' li!iv<' cliMlt ac<|i!;Ui|(:iiU't' W ItU tlirlVi to C'lfiMc Us (.) tiufitt' fairly llic dilU't'cju'cM wfji -li ni.iy v\U\ hc- twci'ii flii'in ami us. il<;\\ ever, il'aiiy slioiild reel rculy to ^im'i' into tlu! coMiiMvtiMtsc j»roj»o i.'d, v. r simll haJ! llu'iiif w itii tli(! o;n'atost Joy. NN'o lio|j',' ii'«im' will rlcfUjic till' /|)ro|).)st'(l l.'juoii, v\!i> lijv a lioart to it, tiicrt'ly Ix'aiust' tlicy art' not ('^|l'•<•i:l!ly iiaiiwil iji ifiii-t proposi'. Xy( iloul'it soiao may I'MtJ IliiiH, v. Iiji tiiis Id-in;."; writtcM 1>T (V |H;rso|i oi" only wix or st'v>'M yi^ai's islaiiilia.; in tlu- uonliM'cnci'. Our JiiitillcatiAn is, tli:it, no utlicr Hi'omi'liou|«l, tho j/rcjutlici' ol'ojtl uu'ii,<'?i'.;<'Utl('re(l ')y |ins.sla;4;. lliroui^h the ,couiniotionH whifh have orin'iiiat'Hl these rotH, wouhl, In a ufreat nif'asiiirc, unlit Ihcni IVtr llic task, We havc! proviou^ly j»ul>lislu'(l a j»ortion oi' this wiU'k in the "Ctnatla Christ i, in A'lvoc.'.li'," over the siii'nature of Anu>rirus. At th;* tiinc nc t'(»iMU4i'nct'(t writiui', we only iiitendeil a soj'ics ot'n<'\vsj>:i)k^',';* corrospouilent'O, but, siil)scMiu('.nt!y. ('<)iu-lii(l"tl to ■.. ' ■ : • i,: .■•• .^•>-.., ...0;:: -: ; -- .' -.V ■" . ■ ; ■ _. ■* ' •. ■■■..•^ -■■■" .>i: . ■ '.'■" ■ .• .■ ■-'"■'" 7- ':■] ■ , ■ h ■■ '■ :■■ - ■ %. '%^ IIXION i)il^ MI^TIIODISM. KCTIUN I. ITS DEMHABl-I^NHSS ANf) AI)VANTA(fKS; W'WAT wv lu'licvc to lie tlii' luinci'cssarv •liviNioii,*' in ('jiUii(H:u» Ml'llKHlism, havi' for :i Nuil; tiiii(M'ir;^M-o, inoH' i\\Av tl'.rm otirsclt', to iiiHltM'takc tin* a<;itatl<°)n of tlic hiihjcct, Imt an U') such ixTson appears, wo have reKolved u/ (h» \vh;U Uf <',Mii. With thc^ ]»r,esont e!eini*tits <'orii- liliied inCunihlian Mcthodisin, we can see fio reason for there beinir lour jjB|a-inioii on any o/ the /<^s. (|fiit)itnii:tlioiiH tolU)w llu' iitil)le (>\:uii|tlu of tln' l''iv« Cliun'li Mul ilu'.l'nitt'il I'lTHbytoiijiiiM, iinil llio work in (lom*. In nilvonitinu; rniuii, ^\^> hIuiII ihiI Mt(M)|i to tliiit niiir«>\viicMH wlii«'ii ii'tiuirvH alt to iinitt* with ii'<, atiuh»|)t- in;4 that which is hcst aii reter«'(| to, viz.: th«' New ('omifction, the Primitive .MethotlisI, ainl the .Mtftho«listj Kpiseopal (.'hun-h. Theso i)0(lleH are alike iiheral iu their t'orins of Church (ioveru- iiient, and have nothinj;; t^ lose, and every tiling lO(j;aiu hy Union ; aiid wc believe the time has fully conu; when the subject should be tlioroU}j;hly ventilate«d» to j^reater zeal in this noble workV We expect opposition, also, from ofHce-scekors, in idl of these denomijiations, for they will conclude that to increase the number of men in / \ / rW miiiUtry, \vuul4 iiu'i* u***- «Miu|iirnu»ii, aiitl iluivlty iliii'iUHi' iIh'Ii- ilunuH'H of Hiu'tH'M. Wv lio|K', liowovrr, lliiil tills ^•lH>^i•ot'liu'Il in I'vrViMliii^ly hiiiuII^ Uut rtpil«ti«»ii uill,«louWtU'H»«, IVVI'hI U r»'W n|»|M»IU'lltH, fVl'llol'lhJHflaM*. Uut aiv tluw llu' Worn- iiiul >*iiU'W of \U(^ I'linrcli— rUi- iiU'ii ulio toil iiihl InlMHir for Uvv iut* iVtttK, by whohi- . twirH hIic is wjitcrtMl, ana by .wIioho pmyoiN ^rir »acliK'VOH lu'i- vi('t<^ru's? TImt M»inr iiiuiia^'iimJ-y >*acni- lit'i'i* will Imvc to hv umU^ wc arc iVi.' to ||L">''<' U»ut, in return, an amount of roal ln-m-Ht wm Imv • U'rivcii, which will u tliouf»aiHl tiuicH coin|icnHat«' tor jill that is loHt. The a«lvanta^^. to he derived front I'nion wouhl be indeed great. There in liardly an interest but woidd be etduuiced. Ah we procwMl, we nluill try to net fi»rth thoMc ftdvuntiijreH in U8 (^leur ^ ligbt ftii pOBHibU'. Tin* nrHt,iind one of the moat iinportunt benefitw, would be the removal <»f petty miHunderHtandingH, wliich, in many inHtances, exint between them, and at thcHamotimt^ 1o remove all posnibility of tlu^ir again oeetirrjng. jTNy occupy, in many instan first meeting of these societies as one^ after so long a sepai'- ation; and we have b"een reminded of the occasion, when Joseph met his brethren after so long a sepaj^ation from them: when, after having restrained his fe(>Hngs for so long a period, •he made himself known, in the use of that simple, yet touch- ing language— "I am Joseph; docs my father yet live?'' ,\ / \ mmm Mt^tlKxlihtn iri tlif iiMitlici ciiuutry, wi* wy ii jrrnit want of that rHIowHhip which sUouiil exint amoii;^ (^hriHtianw of diffiTonf •h-noniiiuilMnw pw^^a^od of the wimo crw«l. Rm-h tvy^nrtU the other as e>wijntiully wmnjr, and conmsijuontly unworthy of tlieir .wnfidt'fici! liiid fi'llow«hlp ;, and what in htrtuip'st of nil U. thit thfw dononiinntjoii« ncrrw on nil imints of d<«:trhMMUid on lu'iny ixiiiils ofchujrh jrovenimont — tlio dlffurcnoo conHrHtinjj •*>nl) in opinion on a fi!w.^)lnt.H of tho Inttor— and Htlll thtiy ftJirard one^anf»tlier, nhnost ns li«rctic;.i and outliiw*. nivi.Hi«)nH in Motho«llnni are tho same' tho world over. In Jho Hnrtdd StatfM tho tlirt'.Mvnt Methodist ChurchcHaro hostiK> 1.0 each othcr.y Vl^itln!: dph'gatcji /roni ono to tho other i« a thing not knoM^i. and oach MOcm>i to rcgnrd the other* as iin antagonist, and, nlthough miiny profess friendnhip. it hns uVwf tdkcn thnt forni whtih alone can moke it apparent. .Vinong MothodintH in Canada we 8cc the same Hpirit nmnj- .■. ■ / ■ .. ■■ . .- ... ^\ ^:a;-..|'- ,\ so foolish as to continue separated so long ; and, also, tnat uo« -:lia8 been BO kind as to bring them together at hist. It will be sublime, indeed, to see qW gray haired pilgrims, who havf always looked upon each other as only half-brothers at mosf, i becpse separated in name, now kneeling together around the same altar, responding to the same prayers, having the saihe aspirations, and called by the sanje name. You may, perhaps, accuse me of coloring too highly, but all colorinj^ falls below 1 the reality No Christian,^ho is a ^ethodist, can look with 'candor on the divided state of the church, and not feel that dsnominationalism has, to a great extent^ blinded the eyes of , ohristiana, so that it is hard for most men to see any real good outside qflus own sect, or to find any person who is a real pattern of piety, except they are such as pronounce his own- peculiar sectarian shiboleth. Now, brethren, this ought not so to be. A little more intercourse with other Methodist ai5^ bodies, w ill teach us that they have less horns than we re ; Upposed, and that they are really possessed of some exelences, ,nd that even in their mode of church govemment, there are ' \ 1 cited fttctn rcvcul clearly the necejwtity of Motlnulixt t'uioii; for, in our opinion, they nre not nn iihuHo of dlviMioiij*, hut their Icgitlniato n^ult — ^a^rexuU wliicli cunn^ily \n* uvohiefl by removing the eaiwe* Many of the ndv»K»uteH of divlt'louM, tell u« that u higher Htundrtrd of piety would olrviato this difficulty ; but the most pious (MirtMtianN of the paHt, it would iM](»ni, hnve failed to attain to H^ch a standard. The great n;forinerH, Luther. Mclnncthim, /iwingle. and evoti the imniortiil W('?*ley. failed to reach thin i4'' y-.'.-"! '; should not be confined in our labours to Canada, but we should be able to push our conquests into British Columbia and the. Lower Provinces. Justin proportion as we feel it our duty to preach the Gospel to every creature, we should feel it our duty to unite, that, by a careful husbanding of mem and means, we may be enabled to send the Gospel to every neighborhood in our own country, and then to foreign lands. ■ The present indebtcdnes»of these societies, not only cripple their operations, but it cripples the Missionaries. They enter upon th^ir mis- sions, with an appropriation just as small as the Gomwittee on appropriations can have a conscience to put it, and struggling , hard with want, they get through, the year, only to find their appropriation cut down, from twenty-five to fifty per cent, leaving them in debt, and in want, to grappel with the same labour, and the same hopes, and doomed, at the dose of the . year, to a like disappointment. All of this sacrifice is borne to perpetuate separate interests— \lrhich interest and duty would teach us to amalgamate. . It is strange what hardships wc will endure, and what privations we will put up with, vA^ i tionn, we claim that lh.7 Hhoum only eii« wmr^ v». .»».. o,»ce in dcKJtrino ami polity in .uch that it oann<»t bo n^ucM or uH.nlgamaU«l. Neither Would wo winh U) dincour^^o proper dtMu.n.iimtional attachment in the memb«^rHhip of any church ; but thoir ai.non.i.mtional diHtincli«)nH should bo founded on real, and not^*.. innn-.^itinary, differonco«. That thoro arc H«.n.o real difforcncoi in the foru. of govornnicnt adopted by the dcnomimitionH under conHidorution. in a fact which we do not wiKh to disguiHC, but that they form real barrierH to Union we are not willing.' to admit. So far from thin, wo bol.ovo, if tho Hubiect wan once fairly taken in hand, an amalganiHtion could be formed, which w Ood, ihut th«m5 el!i)rti« h«v«iiot bwn in vain. ThouwimU pt' tho heathen hnvo been brought tn know (?hri»t,.»nd ninny of ' th«!m who lire now ringing the praim«nof (Iml on high, but for theiHJ luUiurs would bo lifting up their cyoji in toniient. Nor huM Hho lH!«n losH HUwoMHful ut honio. To xprottd tlie doc- trine and priu'tice o^ holiness, wuh tho avowed «}b)o(t of tho founder of Mothof time, to bring «lK)ut this ho much desired end, than any other agency. For more than a rentury hor altarM have Imumj crowded with pviuitont*, and lier ranks have Iwen constantly augmented by the accc«sion of new recruits, until hor nunn- berwhip is coinputed by the million, and her pul|»it.s nnd scIiooIh are exerfciMing an untold influence in uMnilding the public mind. Hh« has followed the adventurecms pioneer to his home in the new regions of the far west, antT where notliing has « ..■■■■ • . - — ^" ■ ■ ■ : ' '■,■■■ ■1 '<' i having borne with us until his wrath is kmdlod, Will allow us to be carrieilinto mjitivUi/, only to be restored at the mUlm- ium. Our denonunational schools, also demand our carctul attention.. As all desire an intelligent piety, it becomes the duty of all to assist in educating the masses. The theory, that education is the exclusive work of the state is, in our opinion, a fj^lse one.'' That it becoi^es the duty of the state, to .educate her subjects, we freely admit ; but that it u equally the duty of the church, we steadtastly aver. As the church is engaged to look after the spiritual welfare of the people, and as their welfare is endangered by ignorance, it be- comes her absolute duty to engage in, and provide for their education. The eyidetico of this is clearly set forth in the history of the dark ages. ■ As learning died out, and ignorance began to prevail — the church commenced sliding off into sujier^ s t itiou and semi-idolat r 3\ As ignorance hicrcaRod, s uperstition also iiicreased, until Christendom was almost entirely darken- ed, and the institutions of the cliurch turned into unmeaning inumnieries. When the rcfo/rriation of the sixteenth century ■^Ti, / '^ look with vxtrumu jtsalou-H)' on ult tluU would invuUu tbum ; nud beiioving hor pruetico of rc<|uirin}j; lior mvuilxirM toobMorfethe outward rule;* uf rvligiouM ducoruni, uU) to bo f(»niidtid cm tho proceptM of Scripture, we look with c«|,u»l jealoiiMy <»n nuy tliinj; wliicli iri likely to iiiiider the impartial udminiMtrution of liir di.Htiiplino. |[Tnncce?tMiiry diviMioMH in the MethodiMt (^linrch, doubtlcMMri Fiuvo u tendeney to Knbvert kucIi proper iidminiMt ra- tion, by placing burrierariri thc way of itH uceonipliHlimcnt. It \H 11 fact patent U> ajl candid obwrvern, that to have two or ,moro denominationM a^^roeing in doctrine, und^Himilur in ^rovernment, occupying tk(T\^suiuo territory, in, In u jrreot mcanuro, to defeat tho cmlHof dinciplino, vi«, : the rcforinalion of offondcrs, and the peace and purity of the chureh. E.K- peiienco teachcH u^, that to deal impartially with offenders i* a difficult ta.sk under any circuniHtanccx, and more cHpeciully m, wh>n denominations come in contact an cited above. If nn offender h tried, and^ expelled I'roUi the church liy one of >'• I ■■ to her gcuius, is striding to direct, iu a moagurt), the current ^ of puhiiQ education. Of the necessity of an educated ministry, there cau be hardly any difference of opinion ; lor if the uiia- istry is to be cowposdentirely of ignorant men, what guarantee - have we, that, like^the church in tlie dark ages of Christendom, we, too, -shall not settle into the grossest nigtit. In order to tin educated ministry, it becomes a necessity lor every denonii^ nation to have a school under its own control ; for secular schools, ia general, exercise no moral restraint lipon their pupils, but, trequently, arc the nurseries otNcico and infidelity. In such schools, the young men of the churchxare not sale. On the other hand, if they are sent to institutions under the ^ control of other denominations, they are in danger, to some extent, of imbibing sentiments out of keephig with our own view and practices ; thus returning to us, if they return at all. ■*^ s ", more or less biassedWn favour of another denomination. Kor . the above reasons, with others, most Christian ch^^rches are Ibundiagschools to be under their own control. The M. E. ■/.- y^i>",v -/■. '-/■. ■^^kn^aiBiMiMBidailB^iiliSiaSBttafSM laxity of dii«cipUne, and the rvudincj"* of iho thurvh, or at Icmit of wild local pruaclicr, to rccolvo |»iWinM who have h*%i\ vx- IwIIimI fVoni othor braiiphei* .of tho tmnio chiircli. Thoro l?<, — , nl.s4», a cliiMH of |K!rw>n.<» who uro strongly att.tiihrd to Mi thodixt ^ doctrine, but Hro miwllilng to Ih< govenjod by the nn»'M of any ' , of Uu» denominntiouM of Mothwlicni. TIiom' ihthoiih >thlfl y itlNiut iw lircumMtnncoH may rrntiire, (•iirrym-x dlwoutiMit, and Mowing di.'^ccjrd. whcrevi'f tluvy go. TtiCfo piTwmH ha vt,ui strong jrttuchniont to MothodiHtn in gimcral, and did there not t inHuoucti, U^loniKiii}; 10 My of Iho exwling IkhIi*?* «f M«thwiiiiti», Hh«U ihhik th« ruk* of uttch imeicty defccli?©, wiU con g«t a iraftciont nuniWr I.) jojn Iheiii, Ihcy inny net ttf>for thoniNjWoH, •w\ the doiioini nation fnmi whlv'h th«iy Hcporme h«w no ri^ht (o my au^ht af^iMi It. Tru«; thoy rony wiy there wo* no jui»t cuu»to for Kuch a conrm ; hut who In to liyi the jUilK© 'f If it »»• ««• ^' «I"' now faction, th«y havo o«dy to refer to the uuiny precetlentH «)• the ground of lhei;r juntifica^ion ; and |wrh8|w the denomina- tion from which they are w^^aratinj? «>won itn own oxlutence U) a Hiniilur not— for mont of the existing Methodlnt \>ndkr* owe their existence to like KepiwiHionH. But if- the donomina tion from which the w^paration in taking place, iu to be the ju(igo, and the KCparatijig party is hound to uhido hy MBch judgment, no w'pnration would ever take place; for in etefy inntanco of RecewHrn, it ha** not only taken place without the nanction, but under the direct protCMt of the denomination fron* • ,'i!sWfsa*ii»^_ t I f ■ to bo derived from Union. Tliat there are other advan- tages is a fact, but those ah'eaidy/t'nume rated are among the greatest. The general good feeling which would pervade all hcarta, jmI the rereptionof the news, that the old difRcnlties, wli^Bbave so long; seemed insurmount- Lirelv ( able, had been entirely overcome, would animat« all of ufi with a fresh zciil and ardou|^ which would cause us to work more energetically in the vineyard of our Divine Master. Old barriers being taken out of the way, the love of God would flow' more freely,' brotherly affection gloriously revive, our coffimunrions would become sweeter, and, no doubt, we shouhl step farther out into the pool of salvation than we hav3 been wont to go. Should this result 4)e obtained, we will command the respect and con- 4^ fldcnce pf the public at large to a greater extent than wo have ever done. It is our greatest; reproach, that wo have so long allowed these mere trifles to keep us apart. The world has remarked the utter want of sympathy be- tween us ;, and the enemies of the cross have rejoiced in i. • bjf relorrintJ l«> unjr »\ Ui« (NirUrulur riuwjt wiiirh onurmUtl' «,»xi«tiii^ tUviMioit«: whnluvi'r Uiimm wi«n% thi)' huvit |My«(Hl ftway wUh their thiim, himI ihor«« tiow cxihIm u ^'n?iili?f t:i»uw for i'lilim Ihaii ovt»r wmUl huvu »uii*U»l for wpimlUm. Wo iMlkvtf ihttt llu! efllfitmry of McthiKtiHiii «l<>tiiiuiiiM rui*»it- iltu Mii)#lioii vf huiKlrvdM iif our fullow itu ii dciuHtulH it ; iiiul wu btiUuVi) iFmt tJlo biwl iiiltfnintii of llu; New (•uiiiuvtiuii Millu*. dwt, the Primllivo MethiMllHt, mul \\w M. K. I'lumh iii Caimdit duuluiicl it. Another fifuturu uf CmIoii, which would ur^e ItM e(»ti>«UHnni»tmii, in the udvitiit:tgi> it wuuM ^ivc f'i>r enrryiiijjf on the work of cvihirelixtitioii, mul i»|.r«'ailiiij' tin- pnu'tice of" liotlneiM over tho'K) itiiidi*," It would rcmovt* thi; niHJCMxliy of employing n lar^o iiuiiibi.'r of iniiiihtcr?< In iin \ iihiitwt u<4t>h'Mt lutinuer, am (it prcMmt. In lURBy liintuneeK, »1| i , thnK} ^f thcHti denouilimtionx, to^nt her with other .^U'lhiHlint I. IxMlie^, lire (teeupyiiiK tlie miiiiu t^^rouiid. The iiiiiiil»er of )>er- wmH in Honio of tht»He iocHlitii*^ accexNihJu to .MelliodiHi!i in hat few, aiiil divid»'f tlio church. It given hut very vtiudl eonj^n*u'»tl'*»'^i ''^'•^ " ''''l' ^^. '~-^'^-^ decide to glum such a late? Unc ot our cavamai aoc- triucs is, tluit miuistlers Bhoubl marry at their own dis- cretion— that dcacofns and l)ishops fil«ouhl he husbands, ruling their own houses well— being not only patterns of piety to tlieir flocks, but also patterns of domestic order and virtue. In i^ccordance Vith this doctrine, most Methodist preachers take wives, and ryar families, and as >^ He that waroth, entanglcth himself not with the things of this Hie," in oBer that he ma,y give himself more fully to the work pf his calling, he has to depend for sup- port entirely oiv those whom he serves. With the present divided, j^fttfi. of M^^^^ him nothing but privation and wa^ This might do for himself, but his \vife and children must share in his pri- vations and hardships. The Methodist preacher loves ■| * k. ..+ -.—■. his family as well as any other person can ; but at present he is compelled, for waint- of nieans, to allow his childrerr to grow up with btit a partial education, and that ob- ■■:/-■- -r V. '■:'■■'::::-■''■' .V.-,; ■■■■■■-" thcMo of Ui« vup(»rantMl««l prwwliwr*. and iIm Mimiiuiiiiry Ho* eiity. TbiM unitad, tlMjr wtmM iMttitKi « ptwltlofi of iiillit#ti<^, lo which Ihvy nttver ooutlU atUiin to thi^ir prtnuml ilividMt ^Utc In Moh of thoMi Mvaml divi«l»W *n> Mf- |»y «ii tad mmiy of ihtm cmly prtUlly twcupU'a. ftnr wwl of wen anil msttn; wmW h0 mtm ihomuffhly w«Mrke4. ^fpmtm nltie* ftif opwlim new t^UU mi m\j iriinl, Iml llw Mtflt- aonUn cry i* h«»»^ ff*»«^ **»«»«, md •!! lb»l hlndirw lh«lr m^ tfupuiey, ta • Will ot mm wd moww. K«w, bwlUroii, wo •fek Infill wwidSr, li*ll HrIiI u> |w^«« 1«tt««' 1^'* *^>""* "' M(itatiJ«rltH( our Lord'i monoy, when Iherw ar« ••> waiiy opjw- liwitiM lo iip«fi4 U 00 d«»iiiuu i»«iKfilK.rhiiiHl« wH*f« lhi» |w„plQ aro pcrUhliiK for Iwk of kiiowl«a«e. «?•« wa Uittgor iiegltict utaktiiK ft ninglo cff'»ri l« r«moto Uw efll. Kftffow iiiliia«a lMM«»tn •.ttw?«»t, ihftl ill order lo ft^JiuH lbl« dlflUmlly. ttU .MitUtHlian RlM)uld wlUidrftW from iho ft«UI but ihnmiwlfwi, thuM Uf lii« thtjBi full coolrol. Th»iy mma to forg.>i thii each of lh«M«) moiMm of the uiothodi-l ftmillj haii lu fHwdn mid iiilfrcMU U> c«m»all, and all haro an wiunl right lo llial whioh iM coinuum ground. With all our dwiiro lo rcmoft dl- fyon froitt lUo MoUKKliat Church, WO nhould ullorly rojocl Muoh Usrma of noUkmcnt, and wo ihiuk ovory miniator, ■tM • V- / . UUUiUUb UX IlilkUlUI HUim^) BIHIUIU \iiy lU IIIIU BUIUU UlUUti, AAJ labour for God, where lie would have loss of privations and sufferings — a place where, instead of bein<; deprived of the common necessaries of life, he. can obtain a share of its com- forts and its luxuries. Now who is to blame for this state of things? Wo answer, the preachers themselves arc primarily to blame. They have educated* the people in division, )uy magnifying one another's defects, and undcrrateing their excellencies. Wo do not mean to say, that preachers have taught the people to look uncharitably on Christians of other denominations as individuals, but, that with their strong de- sire to make the members of their own church feel that theirs is the best church organization in the world, theyhave magni- fied the denominational defects of their 8istcr churches, and have underestimated their denominational excellencies ; while ' /■ they have covered up their own faultSj and extolled their own virtues and excellencies. This unwise course has reverted upon the ministers themselves ; by stimulating the people with a strong denominational feeling, thereby perpetuating divisions, which lead) in a natural channel, to the oppressively low fiup- f, • . ' y^' • -, the mmter Iw ailjimutl f Ait mUf^hu tir.l rhriiUMiiijr mmmtn, aU iMttAl m%ke cimiiuiHi mef^im by niulttiil nmi^r^ftUMui, ui4 mmo to ait (i{rtr«i*ttit>iii in ronlia«l ««»m|>nHitliMi. Wbro to hoftmt ir rrM|i«m»il>itity tm ihb ImmI ; ind that (l«iK»ailM<' UoQ whkk oan hat« tko hanlihcMMl lo n»p#l inch eibri, by ra* f^«ittg to «nivr into a ciHii|if(»iulii«, will Niatt«| oui on tbo p^ of biatory aa ft iiionnttHint of iiarfo«-iiiiitil«<] blffolrj. Ttit pnmni timoa am oilkimHti. All ikttominatioiw ae rliMely allied to ntft- tow uiidor pn^wmt connidoratlon. Tb«» fimria, tha foar IbH^ in thnenmtof rnlcm, timrt) will bo a MurpluN of wlniulura,'* «on>KH]a«ntly mntw w.mUi bafo U» looale, ami tli«y f«ar lout tho lot ahotid fall upon Ihvm. Am Ikr aa wo arc iudifidually ooo- 'i. •i». • J^,* rf *.* i . ki^^M » . > ' ^ ~ ""■'^ "».i-«;u uii mirj Huujcol 18 true, and ym admit our conclusions to bo correct, duty dcn.ahdH tliat m effort should bo made to conBummatc Union. If wo can be of more service to the world united, than wo can be separated then It becomes our absolute duty to go to work to promote' tliiscnd. As to the fact of our being able to do more good If wo were all one, than we can in our present isolated con- dition, we think 00 sane person will di.sputc it. Then let all who think thus, go to work heartily to cultivate feelings of christian charity, and to promote Union. By every possible taeans ygitate the subject as you do that of the sinner's salva- tion, and give it no rest night or day, until your prayers ate Hnswered, ttnd your object attained. What if some do talk discourageingly, or even insinuate that you arc disturbin.^ the peace of the church- what reform was evor accomplished with> ,♦ -f * out such discouragements. If you feel that to unite these branches of Methodism will promote the ends of the gospel we would exhort you to do your best, by your prayers and per- suasions, to promote this end. Go forward in the discharge of your duty, and God shall direct the aright Wn-HWy, •"»' W>»'»» » »y, ■» » — — » ^UbM »•» Um dMwUwH tnU •Un to ihtg |«r.r|,i«. A|C»tn. w«a| of4||l ^m>ui mMrtii lel^wimUl hm^rttm mHtuMAini^, iMMittry, TUU »o«il4 |»»ii U bio l|||H^»»«r *>t ll» >l lioekiy 10 o|wtt «»p «»** mWon MiU, mA, Ui m»nf toVfMiM tiM UUmttfn on llio*» •Hf^y wii«bli«lM»3:"Tl ^ jJ^i^tlLa {^4 •iniittiil of Ubmr lo l>* |»«»ffMrwi««l on »««* of tlMil^H^' y^ **»" i|l»iUly of ibu numlwr of |Nr«Mh#« BwiplovUMijy^*" (^"" '* *• '"^^^ ******* "^"'*^ Maimm iiii««»'rtiafi«i» hati^ U» Uub lo d«» Willi an iMrtM« of m«o, w»a •» liHiftM* of «••«•. *i»»> •»»»«<» 10 mtpporl Uwm, oar mWooii wotild be«!om« nm«U m«»r« «ftMliv«. The ittomlww on lh«m would h« «ncMuraipj4 lo lulmiir. iiwf*«tnKnH| fof muiotm. On mwh of ««' »ni-«^«» work, 'hi' •iil'l"'»H Htv.n »•» »hi' iiiUMl.nnr ' » IH| propor- ^M'4 iM llw ftM»o«iit 'ii' Ut'wr wbi. Ii I* • ted ©f hl», hi* ^4 i a oxiat between the New Connection, the Primitive, aftd the M. E. Church, wo arc frpo to admit; and difficulties, tbo, of no ordinary character. But so far from thoso difficulties arisijig from the nature of the differences existing between us, wo feel them to be in the dispositions of the parties concerped. There will, doubtless, bo some who will want the concessions at the expense of all but themselves. They will think small concessions, made by the party to ffhich they belong, to be of more consequence than much greater sacrifices made by the others. This we shall expect to meet with from all who ^mako self the great point in every thing. 1 Another class who may be disuffijctcd, is that 'class of per- sons whose religion has been of that n"arrow kind, which looks at none as true Christians but those who belong to their par- ticular church. These will fear lest Union will let some bad people into the church ; but wo have no fears of either denomi- nation being made worse by contact with the other. . Still another class may object, because some thing must bo giveh up to which they have long been accustomed ; and they will Ml m ■ •''i •__/_ U«fi Kr>tt t»^ IM (VHifirr«n««, M Ui«m, tl ihm mme tip* Hf^ fHkM^o fWlitinn tMrlUmeiil A»r in ntl, hy mhkh th« |>rfft. flr%(^uiiiNiy he mtnw4 l» lH« nnwly t*fv;utkmd chnrm. Wl»ii|pl^>Un nf TniiKl U iWbmilliHl tn tlm Mvtrd <|itartrr^ |>i#if«fwwtm, «f lli# dilfef**!!! pirtiw ki tiwh Ifnlon, l«»i Uiri« <|tt«r«»ri| C«iif«f«««»«. lUiWJ iWc anil ihim, {wUliim f»»r iIm MiiiM rnd, m^ «her« wHl W Art kifiU »f UnDK*^ of lli« pr<»party MuK IimI. a 4«eldMl iidvanl«Ki» wcNtId h« K«innrin|Alh«| wbl«b ii \mi ttUpUul to our wantnand eotivwil- HH!v, Tbit i>roc«tidi of Mueb m\c» wuuld coniMittttc a fuofl ■ " •• Vi ■ - ■■■■ ' ^ '■ A^ * i I / I i,\ 32 with which to pay the debts on encumbered property, to huM churches in destitute localities, or for any other purpose to which the proper authorities might see fit to apply it. 80 fari then, as a surplus of chapels is concerned, instead of there being an impediment to Union, their very cxistancc is an argunifefit in its favour. They shdw that, in our present divi- ded state, we have a largo amount oroapital uselessly invested ; and the sooner we can make a proper adjustuieut of it, the better : and the only means of making such adjustment, is to become united in heart and name, so that wo can worship under the same roof, and encircled by the same walls. 0' what a wide chasm has existed between us for so many years. We have not regarded one another ais brethren, or rather, we have looked one on the other, muQji in the same light as that in which wff regard a natural brother who has discarded' the parental roof, who has so far strayed as to. cause a brotherly sympathy to bo turned into pity for the erring. As we could ■ have but little happiness in conuuuniou with such a brother ; so ' has our communion with our brethren of the several ^lethodist todies, sudli as it has been, yielded us but little real happiness and comfort. We long to see the day when such a state of thiugs shall cease-—when brother shall again meet brother, feeling that no separating walls or denomiuatiorial cliasiils are divid- ing us. We shall then feel that flow of love, that bond of Union, which is experienced alone by those who are cemented togethei^'by the ties of spirituarkiiidred. We are sometimes drawn out to contemplate the scene which will be presented at the consummation of Union, botw(?cn the denominations under consideration; for Union there will be, sooner or later. In our immaginatiou, we have often becn-led to the scene of tlie 'first meeting of these societies as one^ after so long a sepai'-, ation ; and we have b"een reminded of the occasion, when ' Joseph met his brethren after so long a scpajj,ation from them: '^ when, after having restrained his feelings for so long a period, he made himself known, in the use of that simple, yet touch- ing language—" I am Joseph ; does ujy f\ither yet live ? ■ ' ,\ r5»s^»»y?r^" 23 ,\ O wh»t could appear so sublime, and yet so affectionate, a« this touching atmounoement, accompained, as ifr was, by such a fillial inquiry. Joseph and his brethren had been long separated— each knew not but the other was in the grave. His father, who had long mourned him as dead, he had not yet seen, but his heart gave vent io its deep feeling, not only by the above touching language, but also in embracing bin long lost kindred. And how similar to this will be the first meeting of these long separated societies around the commu- nion-board. As they think on the long separation, and rie- meraber that, as far as church communion has been concerned, they have been lost to each other, " they will^ doubtless, feel to exclaim that they are brethren. Although parents and chil- dren have been separated by a denominational line, here thejf will once more embracfi, and while receiving together, perhaps fb^the first tim^, the elements of the Lord's Supper, each will bow hi« hSid' and weep : first of all, that they have been / so foolish as to continue separated so long ; and, also, that God y "^^has been so kind as to bring them together at last. It will be; sublime, indeed, to see oW gray haired pilgrims, who hav^ always looked upon each other as only half-brothers at niosf, ; because separated in name, now kneeling together around the same altar, responding to the same prayers, having the saiiie aspirations, and called by the sanje name. You may, perhaps, accuse me of coloring too highly, but all coloringi falls below the reality No Christian,! ^bo is a ^ethodist, can look with 'candor on the divided state of the church, and not feel that :-denominationalism has, to a great extent, blinded the eyes of christians, so that it is hard for most men to sec any real good outside of his own sect, or to find any person who is a real pattern of piety, except they are such as pronounce his own- I peculiar sectarian shiboleth . Now, brethren , this ought not Iso to be. A little more intercourse with other Methodist 'bodies, will teach us that they have less horns than we really supposed, and that they are really possessed of some exelences, and that even in their mode of church government, there are . M t [ i i. J \ :/l \. some tliings commendablo/ The advantage's arising from Union are so numerous, as to ba beyond the scope of this small work. We shall, therefore, only glance at those which would seem to us of greatest ilagnitude. The beneficial re- sult which would secure to our connectional finances, should not be overlooked. The finances in connection with all the institutions of these several denominations, are in a more or les» embarassed condition. To commence with, the Missionary Society of each of those bodies is considerably involved, conse- quently more or less embarassment is experienced in carrying on the missionary work. The call for aid in men and means, and especially the latter^ is greater than the resource of the societies, and, as a consequence, gi-eat difiiculty is experienced. Were Union to take place, as we have ^already seen, the Mis- sionary Societies would be relieved of a heavy burden, enabl- ing them to pay their present indebtedness, and to send Mis- sionaries into fields hitherto unoccupied by any of them. We should not be confined in our labours to Canada, but we should be able to push our conquests into British Columbia and the. Lower Provinces. Justin proportion as we feel it our duty U> preach the Gospel to every creature, we should feel it our duty to unite, that, by a careful husbanding of mep and means, we may be enabled to send the Gospel to every neighborhood in our own country, and then to foreign lands. • The present indebtednestof these societies, not only cripple their operations, but it cripples the Missionaries. They enter upon th^ir mis- sions, with an appropriation just as small as the Committee on appropriations can have a conscience to put it, and struggling hard with want, they get through, the year, only to find their appropriation cut down, from twenty-five to fifty per cent, leaving them in debt, and in want, to grappel with the same labour, and the same hopes, and doomed, at the close of the , year, to a like disappointment. All of this sacrifice is borne to perpetuate separate interests— which interest and duty would teach us to amalgamate. , It is strange what Kardshipt* we will endure, and what privations we will put up with, ^ -i— ■yr- K''^^ without murinering, father than seek an honorable Union with our neighboring churches, for foar some one will say he i» iueing for peace. We hope, 'however, that "The night is far spont^ and the day is at hand "—the day of our emanoipatioii from the thick darkness of pride and bigotry. WJien thit takes place fully, we shall b^ ready to join hands, hearts, in- terests and all, and march on together, toward our port of dcp- : tmation. Not oijy are our Missionary Societies embarassed, but our church papers are in debt. A denonrinational paper is conceded to be a necessity. No church can carry on the business of its own connection without a conncctional period- ical, which must be the exponent of her principles, the advo- catc/of her policy, and the medium of her advertising'. Nearly every denomination has adopted this theoty, and reduced it to 'practice, by establishing a denominational paper. Each of these denominations are struggling to support one. ^ The re. suit is, that the limited patronage consequent on limited mem- bership, keeps all of them constantly embarassed. With these dcnouynations united, one ipaper would do for all, and, with the united patronage, it would not only become self-supporting, but would yield a handsome revenue, to be applied in support of supcranuated preachers, or whateveT else is thought proper. It is certain that n^rly, or quite two-thirds of U»e amount paid out by these denominations for newspaper publishing, could be saved in the event of Union. The entire subscrip- tioh list could not only be amalgamated, but the paper c6\x\d be so far improved, that the circulation could be greatly increased. It is frequently /asked of us, hoW it is, that among the metho- dista in Canada, periodicals cannot be made to pay just as well they can in the United States. Now the reason js^simply this : they get larger. lists of subscribers than we can possibly obtain. The Methodist Episcopal Church is not only numerous, but wealthy, aid consequently able to drive such an enterprise with profit. For instance, « The Northern Christian Advo- cate," publi8hedinAubem,New York, is supported by five patronising conferences, with a meMership which, in num- -p ■ . ' .. ■ I 11 I i;'! bcrs and wealth, is superior to all the Methodisls of all denomi- - nations in Canada. Yet we are trying to support four differ- ent, weekly/ Methodist periodicals. Thus divided, is, it a wonder that our publishing houses ace in debt. In our opinion, they mufit ever rei»ain in debt, so long as there are so many different interests to keep up. Indeed, we see no chance of success in this department of our work, unless, likewise, Ohrjs- tijin men we unite together, and thus combine strength with our Keal. It is perfectly right to bo zealauHly nffected in a good cause, but it is never safe to have a greater amount of zeal than we haye of ability to, carry it into effect. However, we believe God has had to do with bringing these several denominations into financial difficulty. He has taken this method of making us feel the right, and if Ave profit by it, we shall be blessed by him ; but if we continue to cherish our individuality as denominations, it is hard to say what may be the consequence. Perhaps, like ancient Israel--Godj after having borne with us until his wratli is kindled, Will allow us to be mrriedinto mi>tlvlty, only to be restored at the mUleii- ium. Our denominational schools, also demand our careful attention.. As all desire au intelligent piety, it becomes thv duty of all to assist in educating the masses. The theory, that education is the exclusive work of the state is, in our opniion, a fi^lse one.'' That it beeoiiies the duty of the state, to V educate her subjects, we freely admit ; but that it is equally the duty of the church, we steadfastly aver. As tlu; church is engaged to look after the spiritual welfare of the people, and as their welfare is end:ingered by ignorance, it be- comes her absolute duty to engage in, and pvovide for their education. The evidence of this is clearly set forth in the history of the dark ages. As learning died out, and ignoninee began to prevail— the church commenced sliding off in t^su]K;r^ stitiou and semi-idolatry. As ignorance hicreascd, superstition also increased, until Christendom was almost entirely darken- ed, and the institutions of the church turned into unmeaning otWr^Tl;ition of t he sixteenth century T ■*c '¥ ooinmeuced, it waa by the revival of loariiiup?. As the refarin advancetl, learning advtoceil tilso : the moat pious of the re- formors being 'the most absiduous in advunciuj? eduoation. If the ehurch is to depend entirely on the state for the education of her communioants and toachors, shv will bu subjcet, at any period, to relapse into a state of ignorance; for the state has no moral status, except whitt hIic derives from tjie church. If we would hjive a pure government, one which will legislate for | the greatest good of the people, we niust have a people highly versed in education, and well tau«i;ht in the docti-kies of an onlightened Ghristianity. So linnly tixtid uik»u society, ai-e these truths, that no church can riHO t*> any degree of emi- nence, without engaging in this great work. So forceubly has • this truth been applied, that every denomination having any pretence to respectability, is i^rying to do something in this direction. None are doing more, in this direction, than Methodists. In England and the United States their schools . are multiplying on every side. In Canada, .Methodism, true to her genius, is striving to direct, in a measure, the current ^. of pubiic education. Of tlic necessity of an educated ministry, there can be hardly any difference of opinion ; for if the min- istry is to be composd entirely of ignorant men, what guarantee iiave we, that, liko^ the church in the dark agiisni' Christendom, we, too, shall not settle into the grossest nJgtit. In order to :in educated ministry, it beci.mcs a necessity ior every denomi- nation to have a school itn dor its own control ; for secular schools, in general, exercise no- moral restraint upon their pupils, but, irequently, are the nurseries ot\ice and infidelity. In such schools, the young men of. the churclKare not saie. On the other hand, if they are sent to institutions under the ^ control of other denominations, they are in danger, to some extent, of imbibing sentiments out of keephig with pur own view and practices ; thus returning to us, if they return at all. ' more or less hiassed^n favour of another denomination. For the above reasons, with others, niostObristian clinches are founding schools to be under their own control. The ME. A-t'-.'^ ■ . '»)" ,-~» i '■■■■■ ^^ ■ :-:■ Chtirch has such a school ; the Now Connection hare an unmatured plan of oduoating^ their candidates for the ministry ; and the Primitives are taking measures to estahlish a school. (The Belleville College, which is under the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is aipply sufficient to accommo- date all ; and with the patronage of all three of these Metho- dist bodies!, would be second to no institution in the-province. ltd affiliation with the Toroto University, which is the stan- dard institution in this province, for granting degrees in arts, medicine, and law, places the Belleville College beyond tho reproach of giving its students only an inferior training. With the combined patronage proposed, the facilities for ao- quiring the professions oflaw and medicine, could be greatly improverfj and a theological chair could be established ; thus enabling our ministers to obtain a divinity title, without, tho necessity of resorting to the institutions of other den omitia- tions, or to another country. We should then occupy an independent position as to educational advantages, /and our own people, as well as the people at large, would have a degree *of confidence in our educational institutions, which cannot be acquired in our present divided state. At present, the Belle- ville College is groaning under indebtedness, which exceedingly militates against its prosperity. If the New Connection establishes a school of any considerable pretentions, they must run heavily into debt; and the Primitives likewise. So, that for these three denominations to have each a ischotfl, which would have any considerable pretentions^ to respectabity, they must all be heavily involved in debt. With this indebtedness , vid the limtecj patronage which each must receive, they miist .continue to struggle with debts and perplexities which will, for time to come, keep these institutions in an inefficient state. With this inefficiency, the numlSer of students will become .yearly les.s— the running expences will increase the indebted- ness, until the institutions are sunk by its awful weight. Wo do not wish to harp upon dark pictures, but, whep we take iiito account the relative strength of these deiioittiiiationii. f Vr :/-^- Vr kacompari8onofeach,witirtW weight otthe eoter- prise refered to, a cool and dispasmonate view ot the matter, we think, is Bumdent to convert any righi- minded man to our views. ■ . ■ . . Canada is but comparatively small-Its predominating element is not Methodist, but .entirely antagonistic to our doctrines and views. This considered, together with the • fact that we have no vast tracts of superior land ot congenial climate" yet unoccupied, to which iinmigratiou is likely to flow, to augment our numbers, makes it almost certain that we can never attain to that emmonce to which the Methodist chutch has arrived in the L nited States Ad|l to this the deplorable tkct, that Methodism in Canada is so exceedingly split up, and we must con- fess that we arc unable to see that bright future lor Methodism in Canada, that many effect to see, unless an infinite God shall be pleased to bring about a means ot healing the many breaches which now exist; and we believe the time at hand, which shall, witness the cc»n- mencement of the return of the several sections of Metho- . dismtothat oneness which should characterise her in this country. It seems as though CanHda, above all , o^her countiries, has been made tlie centre of Mctliodist controversy. In no other country of its magnitude, hat so many denominations of Methodists appeared. It seems as though every division J)f the Metbodist cliurch in the mother country had be^jit 'strangely directed to Canada. We know of but one such division, whiclr Im ' not got missions here. It must be, either that these de. nondnations at home, think this to be a wonderiuV country ; or that they think it inhabited by a people of a very degenerated religious st^te: or perhaps, which i. most likely, God has permitted this state of thmgs,iu ■ order to brmg out of these divisions a more congepial church governinent for Methodists in this country. Feel- in rr this latter to be the case, we pray for, and expect, 80 thi« result to make its nppcsirance almost at once. Utir dcr God, wo holiove J,ho wisdom and experience of these several denominations arc capaMo, out of theaojscveral s^yfiteniB, of formlncj a cluirch !;xf>vernmcnt Ruperiortoany which exists anioncf us. Then If we love IMctliodiHm, would see it prosper, its doctrines taupfht, and its influ- ence felt, let U8 make one honest effort to lay aside all our differing on trifles, and unite onr forces. Let us come together, and in the si)irit of Union, and christian sympathy, let us examine our points of diflTcrencej and, guidcR hy reason and experience, let us adopt what ia l>est in all of our church politics, and* cast the rest to th(? winds: and launching our craft anew, we shall command the confidence and admiration of our frienc[s, and, no douht, the envy of those who would have us fail, and our divisions perpetuated. \ -The foregoing we consider among th'c main advantages to 1)0 derived from Union. Tliat tliere are Other advan- tages is a fact, but those alreaifly/t'numerated are among the grcatef«t. The general good feeling which would pervade all hearts, Qtt the recei>tionof the news, that the old difficulties, whl^B^ave so long seemed insurmount- Lirelv < able, had been entirely overcome, would animate all of ns with a fresh zcil and ardoun, which would cause ns to work more energetically in the vineyard of our Divine Master. Old barriers being taken out of the way, the love of God would flow* more freely,' brotherly affection gloriously revive, our conamumons would become sweeter, and, no doubt, we should step farther out into the pool of salvation thaii we have been Wont to go. Should this result 4)6 Obtained, we will command the respect and con- flidence of the public at lai-ge to a greater extent than m'c have ever done. It is our greatest; reproach, that we have so long allowed these mere trifles to keep us apart. The w orld has remarked the u tter w an t of sym pat hy b o- r tween us: and the enemies of the cross have re m .-X "i ■ t Wj,J fj^v 81 :J our division. They IlWc nrgucd wisely, when they have Haid, that " Half of our Btren^tli in npf nt in comhating on« another." With thccstaMliHliment of public confulcHt'c, will cdiMca large nhare of fmblio patronage toouv inntihitions— both educational and oLherwiHe^whieh will enable uh to support them in a msi.nner whieh will bring to them greater |»,roHi)ority ; as also to do much more good. " With Union fairly eitabliHhed, and our fuith and con- fidcnce fixed oa God, ^v shall proceed steadily toward prosperity aad success^ the same as the great river flows unbounded toward th<|? mighty deep. Our ministry will ;^ speedily bo compose 1 of young men of intellectual powers.far surpassingj those of to^lay. It is a lament- able fact, that many kour young men, whom God calls to the ministry, hesitiite, and many ofthc more promis- ing refuse to go. And who dare repi'oach them for actin"- thus? They' can see nothing before them, but ' poverty and want, knd is it a-^vonder that they finally decide to shun suchj a iate? One of our cardinal doc- trines is, that ministers should many at their own dis- cretion— that dcacoms and bishops sltould be husbands, ruling their own l^buses well— being not only patterns of piety to their flot'ks, init also patterns of domestic order and virtue. In [accordance Vith this doctrine, most Methodist preachers take wives, and rear families, and as '^ lie that wareth, entanglcth himself not with the things of this life," in order that he may give himself more fully to the work pf his calling, he has to depend for sup- port entirely on those whom he serves. With the present divided gtJ^tfi.oi: Metliodiam^^^ hinrnothing but privation a^^ This might do for himsGilf, but his wife and children must j^hj^i-c in his pri- vations and hardships. The Methodist preacher loves his family as well as any other person can; but at present he is compelled,ior waintof nieans, to allow his childrerr-s to grow up with bnt a partial education, and that ob- ■V I \ ■;v- ',T^^^'W^* «' •\W^' 89 ( i T? ' f tfaineti by other privations which are hard to bo l)oru«. We know that people arc fond of arguing that poverty Is necessary to keep the preacher hnmble; but, for our part, wo are quite willing others should try this way of humbling themHolves, Again, we are told that this kind ^ of poverty is good to assist us in our religious growth; • "^iv but wo could never see how starving the body, was ;^|^ going to feed the soul. Although we always prized fasting, yet we never thought there was any virtue in a "forced abstinence. The doctrine of the Gospel is, that the "Labourer is worthy of his hire; but what kind of a hit'e is it that ministers, of these donomlnations frc- quentlV receive. Three or four hundred doHi^bA is the commitn salary— for although more than thiM W'^amo- times vetoed, les^ than this is frequently piiul— while the same person with the same time spent to (pialify himself for some other calling, would be able to nuike from eiglit hundred to a thousand dollars per annum. Js it a won- der then, that young men who have the mental calibre, and who are possessed of the ability to qualify them to occupy a prominei^t \)\n(iQ in the ministry, When called to that work, should hesitate to comply, and either go to another churrth, or another country, or, perhaps, finally decide to choose soriie other calling. We know that it is argued against this, that we want no one in the minis- try who is not willing to sacratice all for the work. Thi« arcrument is good when not misapplied, but in the present case it can have but little bearing. If we were labour- ing to establish a principle which was dissimilar to those taught by -all other denominations around us, and we felt that* upon this principle "depended the future weal of tho church, and the salvation of souls, then we would be ready to. sacrifice aU to this end, and, we pre- sume, those young men refered to, would at once buckle on the/armour, and enter the cbtftest. Or if the situation •? of o»y country was that of the west, where those pioneers y,: :// -• ..r J» ■1 /.• 83 Inboured, of whodo fiimo wo ha,yo heard mo much, then w« dhuuld bo Jiril ling to labour on ut OoU'h command, expecting the next generation to reap the lH»nefit of our lubourn. But^ OH it ia, Micro in no rapid |Omigration to follow up, on which may ha fcjuilt a great religious ntructure, counting the aoccn- >it)nH to tjlio church by teuH of thouHundri annually. Ho fur from thieij tho inhabitiints of our country ore cxtenHively di- vided into religiouH Hcots. In many pluccH wo >aro entirely b^irred out, udIchh we, by preaching the pure goHiKjl, got fiomo of those, who wore formal church members, to »co their danger^ tUey then, Hometimes, unite with u» ; and thuH we obtain a footing, but it i» only by a slow and toilHomc progress. Under , . much circuniMtanccHj^ With the fact constantly before uh, that we are bo badly Hplit up into parties, each one of whicli teach the samo doctrine, and embrace, to Home extent, the Bamo great truths and principles in our church governments, is it a wonder that a man with any discernment, and with any grout amount of natural ability, should try to find some place, to labour for God, where ho would have less of privations and suiferings — a place where, instead of being deprived of the common necessaries of life, he can obtain a sliaro of its com- forts and its luxuries. Now who is to blame for this state of things? Wo answer, the preachers themselves are primarily to blame. They have educated tho people in division, jjy magnifying one another's defects, and undcrratcing their excellencies. Wo do not mean to say, that preachers huve taught the people to look uncharitably on Christians of other denominations us individuals, but, that with their strong de- sire to make the members of their own chureh feel that theirs is the best chtirch organization in the world, thcyliavc magni- fied the denominational defects of their sister chuvchcs, and have underestimated their denominational excellencies ; while ' they have covered up their own faultSj and extolled their own virtues and excellencies. This unwise course has reverted upon the ministers themselves ; by stimulating the people with a strong denominational feeling, thereby perpetuating divisions, which lead, in a natural channel, to the oppressively low sup- ■/•/ ' V . V 84 jKirl whi«h thfly now obtain, and undor which, In many inutanown, th«y are Buffcsrlng flnanoiul ciiibarrufwinwnt, and their lUinllioB in want. In the Hocond piaco, wo donnldtir th« people to blanjo, for groaning' under thoHo opprewivo difficuitioH, in nupporting tho church, when thoromody in «OHlinploand«a*iy. Wo Hay K'roaninR under thoHO difKcukitH; becauHo wo believe the membership are an a whole, doinjr all they can bo expected to do for the Hupport of the go«pel. Th/it there are oa«eH of niRKardlinejjH in Hupjwrting the church i.s true, but wo con- ^ Mdw thoflo thiJ exception, and^not the rule. Wo iinid tho 4^^ remedy U simple md ca«y. In this we a.s.su.nc the expectation that the members of all the»o denominatiotiH Will act in unison ; and if tho ministry do not appear disposed to load in thin im' |K)rtiint matter, let the laity take it in hand, and bring a prc«- Bure to bear on tho inini.«try which they cannot renist. If even the laity should moyo in this matter, they would find many of tho ministry ready to move with them. Now, if what we have written on this subject is true, and you admit our conclusions to bo correct, duty demands that aa effort should bo made to consummate Union. If wo can be of more service to tho world united, than wo can be separated then It becomes our absolute duty to go to work to promote' t lis end. As to the fact of our being able to do more good If wc wore all one, thau wo can in our present isolated con- dition, we think no saiio person will dispute it. Then let all who think thus, go to work heartily to cultivate feelings of ehristian charity, and to promote Union. By every possible means vgitate the subject as you do that of the sinner's salva- tion, and givo it no rest night or day, until your prayers age answered, and your object attained. What if some do talk discourageingly, or even insinuate that you are disturbing the " peace of the church-what reform was over accomplished with- • out such discouragements. If you feel «iat to unite these branehesofMethodismwillpromoto the ends of the gospel w^ would exhort you to do your best, by your prayers and ^r. suasions ,^ promote this end. Go fbnvanl irr the discharge of your duty, and God shall direct the aright -1 ■■ ^ m m '*•! »,» "* • ''^^ ■ ^Mi««''.'T^^.' t \ SECTION IL . ■* ■'*.■-■ A GENERAL PLAN OF UNION. In approaching this piift of our IuhIc, wo can but foci it to bo un arduouH pno. With rof^ard to tho doHifablcncsi) d. Union, and the advunttigCH uriHing thorofroni, thoro is hardly any ground for uit opp«)Hing argument ; but on tho general plan of that (Joion, our opinions will doubtlens vary. Wo do not for one moment cherish tho thought of meeting all of those varied opinions. To do this would re({uire more nkill than wo protend to poftHCBS. That there are difficulties in tho wAy of a fair adjustment of all differences in church polity, which exist between the New Connection, the Primitive, aftd tho M. E. Church, we are froo to admit ; and difficulties, tbo, of no ordinary character. But so far from these difficulties arising from the nature of tho diffi}renocs existing between us, wo feel them to be in the dispositions of the parties conccrpcd. There will, doubtless, bo some who will want tho concessions at the expense of all but themselves. They will think small conccBsions, made by the party to ffhich they belong, to be of more consequence than nmch greai;pr sacrifices made by tho ^ others. This we shall expect to meet with from all who j^mako self the groat point in every thing. Another class who may be di.saffijcted, is that 'class of per- sons whose religion has been of that narrow kind, which looks at none as true Christians but those who belong to their par- ticular church. These will fear lest Union will let some bad people into the church; but wo have no fears of cither denomi- nation being made worse by contact with the other. . Still anothor class may object, because some thing must bo givch up to which they have long been accustomed ; and they will '5K > , / /.■/;■■. •■''■J 86 I 1^ I s r exceodingly fear lest bo much change be introcluoed as to ru!n the church. We are not much given to cliange, and have but little affinity with the plan of changing things from year td year. But at the same time, we are not in sympathy with that conservatism which admits of. no reform. Reformationa have never been accomplished without changes. This would be impossible in the nature of things as they are constituted in this lower world. Then if reformation cannot be obtained without change, and'ag such reformajtion is necessgiry, we be- come willing to submit to such chiBnge. uV 1 In examining this question, as given at the head of this sec- tion, we shall try to be as impartial as possible, and if We are ; found fault with by all parties, we shall at once conclude that our plan is pretty nearly correct. ' In laying down these general terms of Union, we want all to understand that we do not consider them binding on either of the parties to such Union, but ijierely as a hiisis i'rom which to argue, not only the possibility, but also the feasibility of Union. Iii our arguments we shall proceed on the hypothesis, that in church government the New Testament gives some rules which are of divine a{>pointment, and leaves others to the judgment and discretion of the church. A great deal of bigotry arises in church government, from not discerning rightly between what is of Divine appointment, and wh^t is only of human origin. Those rules which are of pivine ap- pointment cannot be changed, either by councils, or otherwise ; and those which are human, can only be made binding by mutual consent. Of the former is the ordelr of tile ministry, i|^ the adnfinistration of the sacraments, the preaching of God's word, and the institution of prayer. It is only the human portion of the laws of the church that we propose to adjust. These have been wisely left to the decision of the church her- self, so that she may adapt her rtiles to her circumstances of country or society; or circumstances of any other nature. Although these laws have been left ta the enactment of the church, yet are they binding on all who become, by a vbluntary C .■ftte ^^ 87 t act, members of such churcli. Civil laws are of human enact- ment, and still WO are taught of God, " to be subject to the > powers that be. So, also, in respect to ecclesiastical laws enacted by the church, we are instructed to '• obey those who have the rule over us, not, it is true, from any Divine right, but from appointment of the church ; so that he that offends by disobeying the constituted authority of«i,tfae church, sins against the church; and he who offends against the church, offends against God— for the church exists by Divine appoint- ment. , If this position be correct, persons make a great mistake when they takcHhe liberty, which the gospel gives, to bo license. H aying thus examined the ground of authority by which the various laws of the church are constituted, we shall proceed ta notice the points of coincidence, and. also the points of divergence in the government of these several dcnomitiations. , - %^ By the church we would be understood to convey the same idea which is conveyed by the Thirteenth Article of Faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church as it occurs in the pointed discipline of that denomination. That article teaches us, that " the visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacra- ments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are. requisite to the same." In accordance with this article, the authority of the church cannot be vested in the ministry, because they do not compose the church; neither can it be vested in the laity, because they of a necessity cannot compose the church ; for there m)ist not only be a company " of faithful men," but " the pure word of God must be preadhed, and the sacraments duly administered." Are We then to conclude, that because the government of the church is vested neither in the mmistry or the laity, that it is vested no where ? By no means. For While neither the ministry or laity have the governing of the church, its gofernment is vested in them jointly, so that they are requiredf to act conjointly with each other, in order to the m ''■W' as t.7 ♦ ^1 •I », right government of the church, This we believe to be the only sensible cgnplusion which c^n be drawn from the above named Article of Faith as endorsed by the M. E. Church. And not, Only do we think this view supported by the above named Article of Faith, but we also believe it to be suJ)ported by Scripture, and als circuits and stations are again united into districts, and these ^ districts into annual conferences; and in thte Methodist y Episieopal Church these annual conferences- are joined- by a general conference, which isthe highest earthly tribunal of tHe- churoh. All of "these confederate divisions, except tlie general' conference, we belieye, are common > to all ' M9thodist' bodies, and especially to those denominations more particularly under consideration. • ". , ' Haying thus se^lbefor our rea^ders the several divisions in . the organism of the New/Connection Methodist, the Primitive Methodist, and the Methodist Episcopal Churehos, we shall ^ proceed to ^aminfei the points of coincidence and divergence ifa the composition and j)owers of each of these divisions, corii- , mencing with^the lowest, ana proceeding to the highest con- ' federate court of each,- and then proceed to examine the general suporintendeiiey of the whole. . •'.' • -* ' As the felass-ineeting is commonr to all, an^^^s its compor sitioa and powers ate nearly thd same in each, we shall not make fattiher mentiQn of its-duties, but proceed to consider the lowest^ j^oper ^.court of any tif these denominations. The leader's meeting is held by both the New Connection and the Primitive, but has become obsolete in the Methodist -.Epiacopal Chijrch in Canada, although it is still one of the •r^Ur institutions of the M. E. Churcli in theUnitedStates, /and, we think, is well adapted t(6 eixsure order in the carrying out of the general rules of the church, and, therefore, should never be abandoned. The leader's meeting in the 'New Con- . ' nectidn CiurQ^) '^ copiposed of the preachers stationed on the \ I ^r M '*... -^ •/I ■./ 40 drtuit, together Vith the class leaders and stewards pf the society where the/meeting is held. Its duties are to regulate all matters pertaining to the place .of Worship where the societj meets — to attend to the regular payment of class-money into the- hands of the stewards— to direct and sanction all dis- bursements^ — ^^to examine the. class-books^make inquiry for^ the", sick — tb fill up vacancies in the staff of leaders — arrange notices for the pulpit^and^cijje all matters of dis- satisfaction' occurring between any member of a class and the leader of ^ch class. .The leader's irieeting is also expected to assist t^e minister in carrying out all the fulcs of the connec- - tioq, asalsoali resolutions of the annual or quarterly conferences. In the Primitive Methodist Church, the leader's meeting is composed^ of the stationed preachers, and the class leaders and steward^ of the sdcietyt The leader's meeting constitutes a ' oourtjdf appeals from the decisions of leaders on any misunder- standings which may have occurred between members, or between members and leaders. It is the province of this meeting to appoint all leaders and assistant leaders^— to examine the class books — and*to.prepare accounts for quarterly meetings. It will be seen by the ijjove, that the leader's meeting is veijy nearly the same in the government of those two denomi- nation, bdth as to its composition, dttties, and powers; so thatub.great difficulty would be experienced in alnlagamating tlie two. . :; .- , ■^: .;■. ' ■■■ : ■, . In case 6f an Union; we would propose to incorporate Ihe. leader's meeting, ^ith composition and powers, nearlj^the same as now exist in the New Connection. We would propose that the leaders should be appointed .by the classes, but sub- ject to the sanction of the leader's rtieeting: reserving tp the leader's meeting the power to remove any leadei* who. shquld prove incompetent, or unwilling to pferform'his duty.. We* would, also, make the duty.oftheleader.'ff 'meeting to appoint one of t^e stewards? in such society^a; chapel treasurer, whcilac (diity it should, be to" take charge cir aii collections* taken in the coDCTBg ation.'paying them ovei^ to the party des^ated in the v-v -» » * i • •-■ / /. -:-■■ I / -.• .L. ■ v-J ■ ■ ;•■ i , '.' ,X V ■■■■/■ ■ •/■■ ■•/. ■■■^: ■a 41 t * / % -x:. ^■ • •-■ / Drder for Buch collection— to take charge of wanning and lighting the ^lace of worship, together with the funds raised for such purpose- — an^ to prepare the requisites for the proper adminfatration of the Sa^araments when required. This system, thoroughly carried ojat, would save a great deal of that loose- ness which we now Experience. In the M. Ef. Church, nearly all this is left on the niiniBter, andhaving no regularly organized courjt to look after these matters, if the preacher is slack in ^Jiis duty, nothipg' is looked after; hut if a leader's meeting should tak^pla^e. once a month— say on the first Monday of each month— v^e might look for a more systematic idministra- tiott of the rules of the church. We were for some years con- nected with /the M.E. Church in the United States, ' ppscd of the circuit preachers, circuit stewards, and Secretary of the local preacher's' meeting. These take their seats ex- oflSeio. iVilded to these arc representatives of the people, choiifjn at the society meetings^ The powers and duties arc principally the same as those of the same court in the M. E. CJburcli, except the appointing of stewards, which is done by thesocictlej^except two, who .are called circuit stewards. This court, in the* New Connection Church, also appoints the ' lay delegates who are. to attend the annual conference. In the Primitive Methodist Church the composition of the ' quarterly conference is thp sfime as that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with the addition of superintendents of Sabbath Schools, £^nd members of aeircuit committee,' which v is appointed to carry out the measured of the quarterly coft- fercncoj and to provide for afiy emergency during the intervals ^ of ^Ije same. The powers and duties of the quarterly confer- ence in the Pwmitive Methodist 'Church are the same as . tho^ of the same court in the M. E. Church, wfth^ thft / additional power of employing preachers to travel, on branches,/ when they see proper to do so, and to appoint delegates to the district meeting;, ti wijtl be seen thiit in tMs instance, again, tlvere is no essentijil diflferenibe between these denominations. The compositiori of thia court,'and its powers, are so nearly, the same in esich, that there would be no troublVin amalga- mating them so , as to preserve all that is essential in eaph. We would propose as a basis on which to unite the three, let the quarterfy conference be co^nposed, aa at present iji the M. E. Church and the Primitive Church, of the, preacher stationed on. the circuit or station, all the local preachSrs, exhorters, class-leaders, stewards,' Sabbath School superinten- dents, and trustees of chapels, when there is to be action tAken which is to effect ^the property they.hold in trust. Let the duties of this court be about the same as at present in all J ^i y> ■J- 48 .::i J J • k these churches cwnbiiiod, with the exception of the power to employ preachers on brunches, or make any urrangenieut with preachers f()r their appointment to their circuits, leaving these . matters entirely to tlie manageniont of the stationing commit- tee and the chairm»j^pf tlie district. Lot the genera] busi- ues!? J)e to maniige al^mmciaV matters in the circuit, originate local prCilchers, untl renew licenses of exhortcrs; elect the stewards of tl 10 circuit and Hocictles; appoint all boardsj of trustees for holding cliurch'property j recommend local preach- ers to admission into the afniuul conference as preachers on trial; and to elect all lay ' delegates, to attend the district-^ meeting, tt would also coH^tituto a court of appeals from all other courts or committees of the Circuit, and have power to recommend local prcaeliers fo;* orders in Certain cases. Let thcprcaclier In charge of the circuit be chairman- of the quar- , teriy conference, ex-o^cio. The business of the pircuit com- liiittee as incorporated in th(? economy of the Primitives, we think would be much more efficiently done by the loader's meeting, t)ian it can possibly be 4onc by such coinmitlee, and thereby save another wheej in/ the machinery, which orily s^Vves to incroase tlie friction, and thcl-eby decrease the power uud motion. With regard to 'the society meetings, as held by the New Connection, we would advise their continuance ias a social and spiritual advantage, but disiJense with their busi- i^ess cfearaeter, as we believe their business could be much more efficiently done by the leader's meeting and the quarterly conference. Our reasons for thinking thus, are, first, there can be a greater degree of deliberatioia in a leader's meeting,- composed, as we propose, of the cla^s loaders and stewards of the society, than there could possibly be in an open society, meeting; and as deliberation is an absdiute necessity to right concli\sioTi^ and right action, \yc tan but think that the lead- ers meeting would have a- decided advantage over that of the society in ^^ business point of view. Then again, as to the rigiits of the society, they would be amply protectqii, from |he fact, that the mfebers of the leader's meeting are the repre- '!S'* i . i A ■■■ A ^1- \.; .u' 44 / \:fy i ,- \ ■ •■ ■' L ■-;■ « ,..:,^ , . -■ . ■ - ■J ■■• 1 €*■ u icnfc&tivcs of the sooiotics. The loftdera are chosen out of the •lasflca, and by the classes, and the stewards are momberB of the society. The next feature in the government of these several denomi- nations, is the union of the several circuits and stations into districts. This feature, us we previously stated, is one com- mon to Methodism; but in the internal arrangement and management of these districts there is a wide difFerenoC between them. ^ . In the Methodist Episco|)al Church the distfiots are nmn'-- aged almost exclusively, by the presiding elder. This office was established in the M. E. Church at an early day, and was found not only advantageous, but necessary. When Mctho- ^ dism WHS first being cstablish'ed in the New World, tho societies were very much scattered, the preachers few and i nexporienced — very frequently local preachers being employed . for want of men in the regular work. These things, together with the fact, that many of the circuits were hundrqds of miles apart, made it an absolute necessity that some competent person should travel at large through the entire work- taking the oversight of the same, and providing for all exigencies -which -might arise from time to time. This office has been perpetuated among us until the present. The quarterly, meetings are appointed by this officer of the church, and the quarterly conferences convened by him. He has the authority , to fill all vacancies which may ociJur on his district, and advise with the bishop in the stationing of the preachers. He is, also, chairman of all quarterly conferences, when present and the fountain pt law and order for the time being : an appeal, . " however, can be made frpm his decisions. If it is on a point of order, the appeal cau be taken directly to the quarterly ^ oonferehce ; but if it id on a point of law, it must go to the Minual conferehce^ In that case, . the appellant requires his exception to their ruling recorded on the quarterly conference ' journal, and then, carries hi« appeal to the annual conference. In other denominations of Methodists, the districts are man- ^■1^. ^ "^ I;- :#■ .. i ■ 'm- ^■1^. ' t. 46 ^ ttod" entirely by district moetinKS m confcrenccB. In the asouomy of tho Primitive McthodiHt CTiurch the diHtrict nicei- ^4 coniposea of delegates se^t from the w^vcrul circuits and jtaiiona by the ajf)pointment of ^ir scvorul ((uarterly confer- enccH. They elect u president and Bccretary, and all ofliccr* of the district Its principal powets aro to manage tho dis- ' trict finances, receive thb contributitjns t» the several church funds, examine the reports of sta^io^s ;:-to hear, complaint* and try appeals from the quarterly (JOnferenccs, and other lower courts ;— to- examine candidates tdopmmended from the circuits to tho regular ministry ;— to receiS^ reports from the - examiners of'probutions ;— to decide on theii? probation ;—atul to elicit the members of the stationing committcJe, the general committee delegates, and the lay delegates wbo are to attend the annual conference. We would remark here, that, in our " opinion, work left to a suceeshion of committees to porforni, is not generally as well done as when onp man can be made responsible for tho same work : provided always, that sufficient safeguards, are thrown around such officer, - In th6 New Connection we findj what wo think to be, a better plan of regulating and managing the district work. Their district meeting is composed of all traveling preachers on the district, and of an equal number of lay delegates ap- pointed by the quarterly conferences held next preceding such ^ district meeting: each circui^4nd station sending a number of delegates corresponding to 4c number of preachers stationed on tLem respectively. The annual conference appoints a chair- man to each district, who is «c-q^cio chairman of the dis- trict meeting, unless the general or assistant superintendent is presen1>^in that case he presides. The ordinary diities and powers of these district meetings are to maintain discipline in^' the district/— to hear and deci4e appeals from circuit courts to take cognizance of the personal and official conduct of the ministers in the district— to enquire into the conducj studies, and general qualifications of all probationers, andarranj for all missiona r y servioco and to hear appeals from pre a ' '■i ».|. •7,1 ; ( A ;1 ■itmi ■0%; 46 or cireuitH, where the pronch«r_ from any oauso haw been HUHpen imike firmm?oiiu'nt<^ fbr hoM'mg nil mlMHlonai-y Ht'i-viccM in till' f>/««Ho chairman of the diHtrict meeting ami ot' all t|u.iruu'fy confereneeH when jn'of^eiit. In.cano^a^ vacaiu'y from any can«o oeeurn on a circuit or Htation it Hhall Bt' the duty of the diHtrict chairman, as far an poH- nlblui to provide formujli vacancy Huhject to the approval of the diHtrict nleetinj;. In <;aHO of any difficulty occur- in j^^ oil a circuit, which iB like to involve the preacher with the quarterly conference, it hIuvII be the duty of the <',hairnuui, on application from the preacher or recording steward, to attend Huch quarterly confereno(j, and act afl chairman. No donbt we Bhair l)e accused of being oppoHcd to the office of presidijig elder. Ah far as that is concerned with ou/ present arrangements for managing the district, no doubt this officii is a necessity, but at the same time we believe we might adopt the plan above described without any coi)8i-.. '. s I-. < f V. whidh wo pro|>oH« to vent iit a diMtriot imfoting and chiuniian, vvMtvd in Honuithiii^ of itinornnt proportionii. T\w pri'Midin^ (»ldc'r*H oftict; wuft tlmt which prt^Hcntud itm^tf aH i\w moni tbiiHilUi; iind convunituit arrangmncMit for inveting tlui mio^^MMitioH of tho I'liHO, and wi) think the fttthePH of thi> church have Itjtl uh an evidvncu of thuir wimloni in chooHiug an inHtruinontality ho well oalculatt'd to promote tho I'Yid for which it wuh doMigncd. But bccuuHC tliiM oflicc iri itH itinorunt character wa^ once * noccHfiity, does lit follow tliiil It cannot now- b«* chan};r(Ml witlvout involvinlg n neriouH Iohh? Wc arc n<> . Btrong advoimtu for ohaiij^o, unloHK by nucli crhange wc ,ari) to acconiplinh a grcrat uinount of good in Hoinc other direction. / Wo think/ it very doubtful if the ehungoi* which w«) would propoMU would repay the trouble when conHideved merely m changes, Imt as wo connider there would /i)o Uttlo to/lose in tho oxchaiigeR of tho preiading elder /for a district chairman and district meeting, wi- woula be heartily willing to make the compromise. It is worthy of note, however, that the support «f the office oypresiding elder is considerable. The M, K. Church in anada pay-out an amount anually sufficient to support * minister in a half dozen of the towns and cities of this province. / We complun of not being able to support a caui^ inythe towns and cities for want of men adapted ^ to Jthe/work, and funds to support them, and yet we •pend/more money on the presiding elder's office than wouta be sufficient to support a minister in every town of any considerable importance in the province in which we are now unable to support a cause. If the office is of , iriifficient acoouat to justify its expense, then of course ,/1;he expense is !» argument for changing it, but if we "7 are not deriving as much benefit from it, as we would from employing the mme amount of men and mon^y in the regular pastoral work, it is wise for us to enquire — into the expediency of making a change. If we can 1- SS' — J 49 i , * <« k • / 1 . . '* f * i. •, • M. ^ .;" '^' . .# • t*fft!ci thn Having, ftti of <}(m1, nntl tho inten^MtH of the chnreli, w«> nuint have «»ur bent men t^i flU the |K>Hition; nnd we iirc not over Ktoeked with thnt oIiimh of |)re«u!h«r»i. . , *«> 1 It iH ort<»n nMMt»rtje n by tbe representations of particular individuals as presiding »_^_ . -'^-z/ y '^ ■ y 50 m '-*•' |- •;".'■ -v-: ■ A 4 _ , i V \M !;:■■• i ! ■- ■ * . • .■ . - ■ - elders can be expected to bo. ' By this means the chairman, who would be a member of the appointinjj; cabinet, would be able to judge pretty correctly of the wants of the circuits on his district, and the ability of his men to meet such wants. For a proof of the pdsitioh which" we have t^ken, wo would , refcfr you to the practical workings of the Weslbyan Methodist plan of making appointments ; and without designing to extol the polity of any other church above ' that of \our own, we would enquire if their appointments are not as advantageously made as those of pur Own (Jhurch. If they are, ai\d we believe * it cannot be safely contradicted, it proves that the itinerant presiding elder is not a necessity to the successful prosecution of the general work. V Our difficulty has always, been, that we have algued ttc Necessity of this office as our polity is now constituti^, forget- ing that we could, by adopting something in its stea^, prose- cute our work without it. It requires the very best\men wfc • have, and we have so many places which demand su6h men. that, in many instances, men of the right stamp sa-e not appointed to that office. If we cannot spare the very bi^st we have got for that office, it at once becomes insupportable. As one of our venerable bishops said, on a certain occasion, "if . we have got to take incompetent men for presiding elder|i; it would be a great deal better to do it away at once, and not bring it into disrepute by the appointment of inefficient men to the office." . It will be seen then, that not only is the mpnitary interest against the continuance of the office in its present form, but the very class of men which it reqiures to make the office efficient is an argument against it ; in as much as we need all the men we have of that stamp to fill important station and circuit work, and are not fully able to spare them from it, ; /Any person who has beep^on the advisery committee, will ; at once comprehend the difficulties to which we refej*. But it will be enquired, canive have any assurance that it would be easier to get men of the right stamp for district chairmen ? 4 ♦ : '^. jW t 51 « > We think we have such iissuVance, in the fuCt that we arc not takin<»- them out of the reguhir work to make chairmen of them, and certainly there will be I'THeu^t one circuit or stt^tion in every district whicW will demand a stronj; man, and whilo he tills such appointment he can at the same time attend to the office of chairman. The next link in the connectitmal chahi, is that by which all the districts arc united i^ an annual conference. This annual court is common to all Methodist denominationH. . although its composition and powers considerably vary. • I^ the M. E. Church all ordained travelinjr preiichevs. and ■ uon^ else, are memJbers of the annual conference. This Con- ference is an executive body, and has no power to legislate. It attends to the internal management of all the aiFairs of the church within its own territories. ^ In the Primitive Methodist Church the annuiil conference is a delegated body, composed of two laymen to one mimster. It is both a legislative and executive assembly. The annual conference of the New Connection-is, also, both executive and legislative, not only executhig the lawof thv church, anS attending' to the management , of all its internal affairs, but making and changing laws, fi-oln year to year, as \nay seem best to those who i«iiiy be members of such confer- ences. With them, this court is composed of one minister and one layman from each circuit and station throughout the connection, who are appointed by the several circuits, some- times by the quarterly meeting cojifei-encei and sometimes by the several society meetings. _^ ., ];t will be seen by the above, that the only difference between the 'anuual conferences of the Primitives and.J^ew Connectito, is in their composition. Both of them have % delegatidn; but while ihe New Connection have an equality in their representation, the Primitives have two laymen to one ■ ..minister.-, y^': -;—-;;;-_ y.^'r..-: ■..--•,-::. .^--^ -.;■■■' - .;-r. ;i.. — .;.--. . The difference bctweija the Episcopal Methodists aiiH the ./' *■ J / I 52 \ otheiM, in this purticulur, is j^reater. With them the lay ele« inent is entirely Jgnored in th6 icomposition of the annual and general conferences. * « We would propose the following compromise, whicll, in our opinion, would be a better arrangement, than either of those «>bove referred to. Let the annyial conference be composed «>f all the. ordained preachers in connection with it, and say three or four laymen from each district, to . be appointed by the district meeting he,ld just previous to the session of con- ference, and appointed from among, the lay delegates who may be members of such disfa^ict meeting. Let the powers of the annual conference be the' same as tfiose now conferred on that body -by the constitution of the .M. E. Church, artd let all legislation be confined to a general confertnce occurring 4|uadrenially. Aj* this proposition,- if acted upon, Avill materi- ally change ihenU)dmopemndioi'etuih of these denominations, ifr will be necessary for /Us to examine at length the changes : . • 1 ■ ■ *. ' '■" ' ■■■■ .. ■■■■-■ we propose to make. , „ . ' That which will first ciemiind pur attention, is the matter of lay delegation. - No" doubt some of pur Episcopal brethren will take exceptions to liaymen being alloiired a representation in the annual and ^neral conferences at all, while others, who are^vouroble to Iky delegation, may not fall in with our plan i?f appointing such del^ates. As fiir as our New Connection and Primitive friends are concerhed, they will not demur as to the efficiency of laymen as members of conference, but may hot fall in with our views as to the proper manner of appointr meht. We simply ask them to weigh candidly what we hav^ to say on thib subje^fibefore condemning our theory. Thfen as to the principle of By delegation, we are of the opinion that it cannot be successfully controverted. In the Thirteenth • Article of Faith, as set' down in the Book of Discipline; of the M> B. Church, to which reference has already been made, we aj^e told that the visible church consists of a congregation of faithful men, in which the word of God, is preached, and to 7 T: •/'■ ft«1 whom the siaorameatH aro duly adHUjiistcro«i Wo firiiil.\ believe this \k\ be the'cKHstrme of tjie Brble; and, eoiiseiiuentlv. shall found our first argument ftjr l«y 46leg«V ^P*^n it. All, except those wlvn hold to the suceessor iV*' Hnint I'etii . hold that the church haH .poyirer to regulate all h^-n- intdrji4«l aififairs as seeiheth best to herself, and nit/fct advantageous t<) thi- cftiise^f Christianity, HO t'liat nothing beincoriwrated in h(v . polity which is contrary to the laws of liod or the rules <»r His Word; lu such internal organism we are to talce jnt<» account the state of society i» which we live, the laws of tlir by w;hich we are governed, together with all the con'- circumstances. by which wc «rc (Surrounded. Tin; . «S desigried for all i^ople, and hence its great Authui- ' IwHeii ulKchuKcli regulation to the Ohureti itself, subject to tfie great ruling princij)ies wl»ich Ho has lain ^owu,: ^ that no denoiiiinJition has a right to call another hetrodox uuh;-!* some of the doctrines of the Bible are denied,. (>verunient as hiid down in . Uod*8 Word are ignored. When we set) pi&rsons interdictinu all but themselves, while nothing dis,tinguishch tliein froui othersj^xqept a few inessential ptmtts of g(»VQmuiont. we h.iv*' t« consider their religious education very defective. Thr question being settled, as to; the right of tlie olmrcli to legii-- lateo/all points of polity, excepting thost^ cxpi'es.-^ly (Totim-U by the word of God, it bfehoves us to enquiiV for the puwerof legislation: Is it vested in the ministry or. in the laity, ov iu these combined. We are strongly inclined, ro the latt.i-. opinion> for if the clmi'ch is to legislate, and execute tli«t iegislationj the power umt be vested jointly in the niinistn ' anj^lnity* for the ministry are not the church, neither are thr laity the chureh— few* \U two otynihined. Tf.^ho df tctrinc -"i forth in the above named article be correct, no legislation r.Mi be said to W that of the church, unless the legislative^>dy hi' a mixed siembly ■ • I know n^y Episcopal brethren will mott me here, by sayitig that the restrictive rule, by which the Isiity te^^ n tixc d A -^. ha v e; t ho right to >^to certain moasuros. constitute A', ■ y '.m ipi ■ i .1 ■-'" -' :::: - m »■_ ..II IV "" 'J -'—^ r . 64 i ■/ / ^ lej^slation ; bijt wS^re unable to Sfo the point for the follow- inj; reasons h-^T he restnctive iilles' are properly tsonfined to five, points only, so tUij^thc p;cneral conference. may lej^islate as it pleaBBS on all maittcrs except those especially referred to,; and no layinnn hag^ii rij^ht to say why do ye so. And then again, we denjr that the 'Wistrictive ry|b j^'ives the luity .any power to legislate. That thoy have a powef over legislation *on those points is * fact ; but that power is sbput the sanie aflv the veto power which. the Qovernor Generftl exercises over the 'legislation of the province. If there is any advantage in their .relation, it i#on iho side of the Governor, for^ he has thic r^ht, when h^6 delivers his niegsagp at the opening of Parlia- ment, to ask for whatever legislation he may thinld best calctf* lated to serv^fiie interests ^of the country. In this way l^e is , enabled not on^to set, before the members of ^arliamei^t his ^'view^ but to" set tliem equally befor^. the vcojaniry; whil^ the laity ofHhe church enjoy no such i)rivilege. The contititu- tibn does not .give the people a right to send a message td the vgeneral conference, setting forth their views of the legislation required to meet the necessities of the church, but simply, to iicquiesce in that which does not conflict with t^ restrictive rulfr, and to Veto that which does-. So far from this plan uniting the l^ity and ministry in a legislative point of view, it merely secures the laity aWinst oppressive legislation on the part of the ministry, without giving them the slightest degree of power or, liberty in originating legislatfon. This has, to some extent, arrayed the laity and ministry against each othet in matters of .legislation.. Several instances have fallen under our own observation, which serve to con|irm us in this matter, one of which is very fresh j|u our memory, and no dStibt is in the memory of all the ministers who have a, care for these ^matters. The last? General Conference past a law for the adoptio^srf a systematic plan for the reception of, members into full connection, by which much disorder would be prei vented. As it- eflfected the conditions of i^^mbership it had r^ ■!,■* t^ to go before the quarterly conferences for their sanction. As" ^' - r r U * k^ ir"..;-1^ ^ N \*^' ■V-- V A/- ,'..>. 0.> / ■ 'X ■■*i- ■ i' ^ tlic uicasiiru liaiJ i'^r its object tjlio bcntifit^f tlu? laity, wiil not thc,rt/i«istry, no anxiety, was felt, ^hh to the result ; bil; epn- trary to all expectation it waH vetoed. .W.e hav€ conyertsed with, several Jeading laymen on the mibject, and found iione|of thoih avevHC^to the pi'incipi<5slnv«i»lvdd in tin? chan«rowHsed, ■■ than to. the orig^ation^of^ise laws; and rules, c- Perhaps some "^ jjcrj^ii'. wjll berre^dy. to, charge us *MTfh a Yiraiit^^ ■'toward thie * laity \\\ aMUming the above position', but so far ■ from this wei^make full allowance' for adl the con^dcilici? the laityrrepose in' the .ministry, which,^ doubtless, "is Ircry consid-' .; V'irabic; but lis self presetyati^nis'undeatstood to be the first ^ law of nature, we.beHeve -wfere the ministry placed in the same rektion to legislatiohnvhi^li the laity how occupy, they woutd , " Iji^veii mofe^carefttl -audvjealoup of. their rights, and njore ' ' ingenious in .defending thein, 'thau 4|ie laity now are. Not ■ only do we cAaim that laymen have a right ta be re|)rescnted in legislative aini executive assemblies of the church, but we ' cliiinvit tobie for the, best interests of jiU concerned to aduiit / such i'epresesntation. We believe that nothing would have so • good an eftect on the *j;enerar jfinai^6s of the'cliurch, as the proper association of laymen in. their managelnent. It is a ' notable fact that ministers ai-6 not generally/ financial meif. That there are some good financiers among niiriistors wc' arc free to admit; but^we, at the sainc tiij^-are^iVee t^j assume* % '■ > . • n . >>:■>- ' •• '--K f -. -a- Y ' I that it is but ii small proportion of thciii wlio can lay claim tf» such ft reputation. Many men, who i^rd now successful inini.s- ters of the Gospel ^ have proven themselves to bo utterly incapablcjsf transjicting temporal business': some there aro among us whT)8c faili;ro8 Have been signal, and yet it s(» happens that theseJjiaYO the mpst'to say and do In the nianagc ment of the financial affiairsf of tlie church, A It is bur candid opinion that if our laymen 'had more cont(roll^in,bur church finances they would bd in a more healthy condition than they now are; for it is 'a fact, that many of the laymen of the church are the best financiers the country affords. Thfen tfgain, if the laymen had a representtCtion, and a voice in the management of the church, the^ would be more ready to respond, to,' her calls for pecuniary afd, As it is, the confer^ ence lays certain amounts on the cireuita, to be raised by ". them for connectiohal purposes. The. members de. not think * themselves properly assessed, rtnd as they had no hand in the ■'.'. assessment, by representation or otherwise, they do not feel ; so strongly bound to assiil in making lip the amount. In proof of the correctness of this position, we would just refer to the fact, that denominations having laymen extensively con- nected with the ministers in the management of their finances, raise the most money for the support of their various institu' tioBLS. Should any person doubt the correctness of this asser- tion, we just invite them to examine the statistics of denomi- nations having a mixture of lay element, and take those . statistics as their guide in forming Jheir conclusions. We are sometimes met with the objectiony that ihe introduction o| laymen into our conferences, will have a tendency /to lower the ii^tellectual status of that assembly, We do/ not for a moment contend that as a w|iole the laity are equal to the; ; ministry in intellect and educatioir; for the ministry is taken ■; from the higher class inteltectuully, and receiv^ an education v quite superior to the average of the laity. ,Bu^ while we are r free to admit the superiority of the minist^ to the average of"* ::! the masses, we at the same" time claim many men in the lait) 'J- 'I: ■1;,. X :^ ^-M- -■'/ yt^ ■^^ i' \ who arc quite equal, both uh to uatunil ability- nud oilucutiMi, . to any Ave have in the ministry. - Inileetl, we have men in the Ittity at whoHO feet many, if not all of us^ can nit and learn, , / - not onlynn temporal matterH, but also in xpirituali Then tho '' " above objection cnn have little ^yeight, except on the 8Upp)- Hition that only an ayc^'age of the laity, an to ability, can l>o dclejjjated to the confercncv. AJl that is necessarj, thorefare, is to lidopi some measure for the appointment of lay dele«»;ate« that will seei^re the selection of the best men for that office. • As «»ur brethren, in the laity are Jis nmch interested in tho ^:^selcctipu of proper (ijelc;^atcs arfniinisters can be, it cannot bo I supposed that, as a general thinp;, wronj^ men will be appointed to represent tlicm, if a proper i^ielhod for tl^c election of such delegates can be adopted.' \^ that va reThe electiou of delegates by tire se^ej-al societies on the , respective circuits, and sending one layman; from eitch circuit ' and station, must Jiaye IV teiVdCMcy to increase this sectional feeling. Every deleguto lias his instructi^yns from the circuit " *■ *or kation yrhich he roprosents, and is expected to do all in his • ' power to get such measures adopted as tWir ins^truc^ions s©t V tbrth. 0f course these measures ha,vc bc^i settled ui)on bef*)ro the apppintment .of the delegate, and, consequently, tho 7^ societies look 'for a matt whom they can trust to manage such :: ; matters. The result is, the ^im iC^ ca<3h jlolcgatc is more to secure action suited to the peculiarities of his own constitu-* ency, than to secure the adoption of mrfsures best suited- 1» — .ill, and, as a consequence, a great dcali of the practice of i'i^vi_ SfA .r ^ &H r hclpiripr oacli (»thcr im roHortctl to. in (irJor towucetWM:' But nil tliiH can, doubtloHH, bo uvoidud. by apiKtiiitinp: the lay tlelo^atos ill a proper manner. Wo have already proj)o.scd to have thbm api)otnted by the dintVict ntecting. und t<» have about three or four iVoui eaeh diNtriet : howevtjr, the nund)«:!r may bo frraduated by the number ofcircuitH uii||^; Htationn .on the diatrictH. Ah the Annual C'onterenee has no pse business it niay be to see aftet, and report upoii. the temporalities of the cliurcli! This moi^ner ()f appointinBHi^l« plan of governing the- church Hhouhl demand our attention, we cnive h careful invest i«rat ion of tht' foregolnji^ thoujijitM. "W^ believe, Crom what lijrht we have Iwen ^ible to objain on the nubject of ch^rch^jMilitv. that thii^i only truo method of procedure is by jnixed It^'iwlationv rSVe have alrerdy referred to the (Jeneral Conference as « lc};isfativc body. TW« auMcmbly Hhouhi, we. thitik^coiltiniie lobe held onc«, in four yearn, as at prcsnt in the'^Icthodist Kpiacopal CMutrch, at such tnne aiid such phice as shall be fixed ui>oif by an act ok its laAt sessitm. The adyantajica of this court are not stranuic to.all Methodi.sts'of otbcr bTal»'ehc*i of the church, but, doubtless, are to many, if not uiost of thcin, 'As a c'onsccjuence, it will be necessary for us to wet JbrtlUts compt»8iti6n, powers, aud f, ~^th^^K^1C^Ci^Irch-a^G^o^lyL^e^ possess no laK making powers, but all their actsjffe coulnccre^xecjitiw}^ the law^of the General Confercn|.e. and the transactinjj: of business in conformity therewith. ()nc prominent advanta}re , (if qaudrcnnial legislation is the securing of the chutTcbaprainst tliat excessive le^slation whtcli is ho* periiicious in its effects. and to which anmjal legislution has so greut i tendonCV. Frcfiucnt chatiges in the rules and rogulations of Any organ)- ' '/ation are always injurious in their cifiicts,—thp public always .fearing that association which. is alway.s changih|j;; so that what' we fincV them to be to-day, we caii haver no expectation of finding t]vem to-morrow. Again, w'heli such favourable f> ppni-fiinWi.-»ti for frnq iiont Ift crlHliitinn preseiVt, thcms^clvcs. thcro !•■ ■ -:■ -f will never be wanting t^josc who are anxious to distinguisli ^ tlu!rn8ulvc« «K l«j,n»lutoi'H. The (Joneral Confercuw) pluii of K'j;islati<)ii Hccuroh the cUurcli n;,'uiiifit nil thcHc, by nll<)wiiirtaiit enactniehts without having to await tho return of a quadrennial Conference, (iood lawn, it \h true, can never be obtained too soon, and bad ouch can never bo deferred too long. A» human judgment is weak, and extonHivoJy liable to urr, it becQn»es prudent to weigh well every wubject u|)ou which wo are called to take action. Wo therefore couj^idcr the (General Conference plan \^11 adapted to our natures and circumstances. As there is far more danger in too precipitate .notion, than there is in too groat delay, we conclude the weight «f argument is in favour of the four yeai-s plan. Again, new laws always require more caro in their execution than old ones, and therefore, at fir.Kt, are seldom as well executed. This loads many to suppose them to bo inferior to those pre- viously in force, and, if the opportunity is^presentetl^innjfFort will be made to effect mother change, tins cbirdemning a measure without givingJtan impartial trial. We are decidedly opposed to any change in ecclesiastical polity, excepting on mature reflection it is considered for the best ; and then when such changoji are made, we arc of the opinion they should have a fair trial, by continuing theni in existence long enough to tept fairly their utility. : The wisdom of this plan of legislation may be farther seen in tho fact, that tho M. :K. Church in the United States, although as large, numerically, as all the non-Episcopai M^thodi^t Churches in the world, and properly the oldest of rtil in a separate existence, has had only about one-half tho ■X ^ number of secessions from her ranks that the Wesleyaiis have suffered ; and yet she has multiplied with more astonishing J ^ ■ ■ . ' ^'; v^fVv. ■.■■■■ I i*ii|»i of the minister of all the Anilual Conferences as members '^., jof tjie Creneral Conference. If it is thoi^ht that with Unioii i t 09 » 1" mnvH'i lly n i till' tUln ii^P M'()ul(t (NHii|M)K(>^# ttii'jLrc tiiiiT toit* iH'*', tlio" ratio may Im' (leoivuHCMl to Kuii the |H«('uliui* «'ii-«'unix|niiocM. In tlic'riiU«!intuient ; for i^thelX^L|l.to be but a huiall nunther of % men appointed from eaeh Annual X^^onferenee, the nu'm- . Iier» Vieeome m^ore tlesirous and eurefui that the ri<^ht kind of men shouhl obtain the appointment. Whatever tlie ratio may be, h't the delej^ateH from tlic Annual ' % iNmferenee be appointed by ballot from uinon|j^ tlio elders wJio may be inemberH of said C'oiiferen<*eK. lA't there be also an eviuid- number of* laymen eliosen by tho * Anniutl Conferences from ainolijjf. those who nnvy bo niembei"H of that body, to be chosen at the Maine time and ill tlit» same manner as tho ministerial delejyates. • 'JMns would Hecui*e the lay delegates agiunst the Hection- alism of which we have alwady spoken. Their appoint- , 'ment by the Annual Conference would have a tendency t,o cause them to feel that they wore the repVeHentfttives .of the church, and not the representatives of iiolated sections' of it. This plan foi; the jfjipointment of lay ilelegates would also have the advantage of securing the very best men as representatives of the laity in the ' . (leneral Conference. This, in our estimation, would constitute a (iejieral Conference adequate to any emer- gency of the church. This assembly would fonuacourt ^" of appeals from the decisions of Annual Confercuces-*- would be the highest earthly court of the church, and ' it er only le gi sl ative as se mbly. This (/Oiiference woidd - 9, i-^f' V ■^t; »;«, ./ '■^^ j)osses» the sole right of appointing editors and book MkiB*' 'WHk'MtiMMMiwHMMl T W r* ft-; :i i. ) «(l s>*"' ■» f I u^ntM, uiul iiiivc orlKiiiitl juriHitictioii of* all niuttortt coiiiiootod with tliu ^ciioral liiKtitutioiift of tho oliui^ub. In it would bo vi'Htud tho |M>wcr of np|M)iiitiii)4; bit^hopH or ^oiionil t4ti|K>rinl(Mi* •UtiiU, 1111(1 t(t this court thi^y would be ortj^Muidly ri>K|M)nHtblc. I »i ord(sr to iiiottt auy (Miiorguiicy that utiy tivlnc in tin; iiiail'ligo* iiH'iit of tho printitK^f]|i|iUd)liMhuitMit duriiijii; thu iutcrval of the skt. ■■■ -f r « i ,;■:■::;;,•;■■ ,; ■; . vv ■ -m;- , ,:;. /•■./'; ■■ :.;:^ •;• ■ (»f the work tlttriii;? the Interval of Conference is vcstod in u (General Supcnntendent iind aii Annual Cojnmittec appointoil by the Citnforcncc. These jointly liave the superintendcney of all mal^ters connected with the church. Their powers arc "I'lbout the same as those of the coniniittees above referred to. Tn tlRi Methodist Episcopal Church, the superintendency is vested in u General Supcrintundciit or Bishop, lie is, bv virtue of his office, chtwrnan of all Annual and General Coii- torences, unless there Should be more than one Bishop; in that J?aso ths work is either arraniced between them, oV parcelled out to them respectively by the General Con- ference..; Thin officer, by and with, the advice of the Adviserv Committeo. forms the districts, and appoints the IVesidin^^ Klder!*: and by «nd with the advice of the Prestdin<* Elders the Bishop sta ions the preachers. This officer has, al^o, th full oversi}2;ht r f the entire work during the interval of th Annual Gonfei^ence.. The i»Vcr to station preachei-s is not :• power vested ika Methodist Bishop by virtue of his ordina- tion, but by ai|pointraent of the General Conference. T\\U court has always been understood, by us, to station the preachers, and the Bishop only to exercise that prerogative by virtue of authority delegated to him by that body-— an authority whijh the General Conference has a right to with- draw from the Bishop whenever that* body shall see it- expedient to do so. ^ The Dc^ of Settlem^t of the M, K.' Church scGureb the occupancy of her pulpits to such preachers as- the Annual or General Conference shall authorize. This shows conclusively,, that the authorizing or appointing power is vested in the Conference alone, aiid although exercised bv the Bisho|) or General Superintendent, the right to exerciw^ such power isperived al^e from, the suiFeragesof the General Conferfence. This position is farther established by the fact, that the Bisho|p has no power to punish a preacher for"refusing to ga to the w^rk assigned him in the plan^ of appointments. The power, to thus deal with a delinquent, is vested solely in ' the Conferencel This shows conclusively that the power of •* \ itysatjjtg artl i ' i wi iO i i j >ii » I ■■•%;■ I • X . ■ ■ •. U.-:: ;X;-'"^i? -;•- . \! •■ " , „ I--- ■-, -;' ■ -■.: . - -.--s^" ^1:::.: .'','. ■'. *■'':■/ ■ \ ' *■ , ■-•.■• --•■^--" ..... H - r ■■«■ ■ •* ^ippoiiitDKMit is veKte«I ill the ('onfijrencc aiul not • in tin; (Jeneral Supenntendcnt, that officer only poHWswing an •xccutive authority. T hat such a Huj)erintendeney is iiecesHiuatt ^ to the succcHsful manaf^oment of the ehureh, in our |»iii rainiot be Hueccsrtiully controverted. Oui-m is an itinerant system of government. .Ni>t only is idneraney considered computable with Methodism, but it is coftwdered one of its liistiiiguishing features; Without the itinerant plan, Mejtho- dism would have Jong- since become dwar.fed"i>i its proportions, if it had not been entirely absorbed by other interests. By the workings of her plan of appointment she has beun«enabletl successfully to occupy territory, lo build up u cltise, aiid Tncn to make it permanent. No one nian can be found who posficsses traits of elMU-aeter Avhich eminently qualify him' ior all. of tliis work. <;)ne jiian is well adapted to obtain an open- ing for the establishnjcut of a new ap]H)intment, another is just (jualifi^ to break up the ground, get the people converted, ami organize societies,, leaving the poinnancnt cstabl^shinent of such societies to. a* niihiste'r «f still difFetent .- ^ ■■• ■'■»■ • ■'„■ ■..; '*■■■'■;■ *»T. ■:^''i: ..•■;;■ -...j, ■ -^ '-^ an inferior ckss of circuits will ttlwitys have a vpry inforioT class of pveaclicrs. . This iservos tb defeat the ends of itinerancy, .by lis eflFectutilly sterotypint? the work as Cohj^rt- pitionalism ctm possibly do it. B^ this course, the Stationinj: ; Committee bccouies-ai pigmy, on.|y mAinj]^ appointments for ;. those circuits which are so inferior as to be unable to obtain a preacher, and for those preachers wUo arc of such infcviitr talents as to be unable to nej^otiiite for themselves, ^bk* .*»ystem has the effect to destroy the beneficial results derV'eri from an interchanfio of preachers; for while there is achtmuv it precludes that change of variety, which is the main advaiir" tagc of ItinertAicy. A compulsory itinerancy cannot be huc- cessfuUy practiced witho\it a (rencral Supcrintcndcncy. Snch i Suporintendency the M, K. Church now possesses, arid wo shall endeavour to show it to bo the least liable to objection of any system ever established. While it serves to prevent Congregationalism, and to cement the| different portions of thfl church into one consoli- dated body )^h€re are sufficient saft)guards thrown around the office to prevent all usurpation. The Episcopacy of the IM. . K. Church in the United States is the .same as that of the same church in Canada, and they have never si^ored from their Bishops usurping too great authority; As we have already noticed, tlu^- are accountable to tlie General Confei> ence for tlie proper discharge of their duty ; and for neglect or abuse of their authority, are subject to removal from office by that body. It will be remembered that this Conference is not composed of a^bench of Bishops, like the English hierarchy, but of Elders of the church, and in the arrangii* ments proposed, in gase of LTnion, of ciders and an e^ual nnm- ber of laymen associated Vith then* This cfFectuajlly secures the church against any abuse of the authority vested in an Episcopal Methodist Bishop. In our view of Episcopacy, any minister who may be vested with the office of overseer or superintendent is really a Christian bishop. This view we siiall t ry to establish from Scriptu r e, and the practice of the "\ i-: I iS it; ' "■'■':' ^ ■^ "a: \:n 1 t i 1, *, ■■■-.' v> ■ ..■ ■■■■ * • ' ^ .■■ ■ ■ ■ '■■ - i ■ ' •• . ■■ • ■; ; ■'.' i **■■-■ . i ■ ■/■ ^ M I'liurch. TKc »loHv;;n of (Ills work Ih i»H> liruiU'il to. allow pr our entcriiig into the Kpiscoixil controversy at lull hnijuth,— eoHSKjho(lfi' > '^ 1 I -:/ omeacT \ * -MMfctM^ I ■ « <> II « I ta J'\ :#";- ■.^ nft rrtlief, whoii tlicy nrc . mcn.tioncd tof^ellter, "^irortbytors mid bi^ihops, or ciders and 'bishops, arc never iiidividirally nann*d " ' ''^it the siunc time, as |;hottj:;h thfty were two Hcpurat<; c^rder^< olV ' -> inlniHters,4-But on thocontnity, the unfiles of eUler, or pres* ^ byter and brshoi\arc uscit altcrnf^ly to dcyifrnato the slSne \ in-iler. .Am a sample of sneh alternate 'iisii of these naines, \fo Would direct attention to thd Kpi«tle to TituM, i.. r)-'Y, wbieh rea^ as follows:--" bV>if tbit< tauso left I thee in Octc. tluiT thou shoulds set in ordt\r the things that arc" wautin*!;. and , ordain ciders in every eit^^ag I had appointed thee, if any }>«> ; bhnnelcss/tbe husband of orte wife, havintr faithttil childreiu not accused ivf riot or ufirulv. For a bishop must l»o blanudess. as . the gtewardof, (lod, , " not self-willed, fiot soo!i anjrry. not jL^ivcn to wine, «o striker, not ;;iven to filthy lucre— Kut a lover of hospitality, etc." Xotbing I3 more evident' than that Elders and Bishops mcjicne spoken of ^Jis m^ and the same order. /' I'o say ordain presbyters, for a blsliop inui arate thcrsc orders (which we liavc nt) sanction in i^cripturo dping), fprthie presbyters alone are-sajd to havp practiced fjnation. It may be asked, then, if presbyters JK iyC' the same ■-sf w^i 'M m ^ powler to ordain . w'liioh are vested in a bishop by- virtue of their ■:1 ■.■■',■ \ .. ■■ ■•-;\. ■ /- , ... ■ ';~ I ■■ ■> ■■■ * ^ ,' ■ . ; ''..-A-:-:'^ ■' ' " ' ' ■ ■ . ' - . ■;,'l(A-.>Jy- M- n '.'-.: beiiV MlUt' r: .;;i;i;':':. ^ y jivlfiic ffl i^t, . fe ■■ ''■• ■ ■ ■ . • f^ ■' m n Hi' ^'i.' fr '5', ■i;.i;. •*• . V iii; Tov officers of tiie cliipchw *• ^t;|v:og^:^ar^3e:|^^ transactitij; the busfHoJ^.otf^^ '-'' ■^^^^^l*^^*^^'-^"'^*^^ Sjiie^t'^liijerj^^^Hi save '.uS'/il^oMj^ife^ ' sta^^fefeii'attaix^iy. it i» couHn^n t^»R chi^ia^itoirchQs .with '^rd, t«]f ^lamhnstry^ -Irt eyovy^^ • tob)T^ to offieos willful!' mf|te;; jtjieirt |}cIw^^h' siboya tl4b8e^tny(>iy^»(l •% tljeir ,t)i^tl^|^t:.^^ '^iiS'M^^r;.^^^ the.- iivei-e *1i^t of their ::bem^||>^ ^P|)p(M|gli hii^^c^ntesced Hi the i^ratioe. ■ :^veH the Prini^iMii: ;iinl^\j|owt Cpimectioii Churdies have isitlen iiito ^i^v . [ ■ )«'iwfcfe t)f ■ e^ of tlif iv ininisters to officeA; M, U AV'lii^^givetlu^ni power above ^ho^iT of tlieiv bretJl^ " uJl Jfi tW ^postdlie agi?, all presbyters #ere. AVoiit to oi-f y': at.tlioii^o\^iit;^'" '.n. '», if ***€ i \. •f ■i V*' n r tlie early church, as miiy be writiiisiH oftlie futherH. Je: Keen l)y; retereiicc to the I'ome, in hirt note on the first chapter of TitUH,HuyH, "PreshyterH aiul bis) lops Mere ft^riiierly the same. Ami before the Devir iiicitelving upon him, the seeds of division might be takdn aAyay. 8hould any one suppose this opinion, viz. : thafe- bishops nnd presbyters are the same, and that one is the denoniination of age, and the other of office, is not (ieterinined by the 8crii>- .tures, but is only a private opinion, let him read over " again the Apostle's words, to the Philippians, sayhig *' Paul iind Timoth^Hs,thc servants of Jesus Christ w hich are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons, grace be ^ unto^u||a»d peace, from God.oiir Father, and from the Lord Jesus 'Christ." Philippi" is one of the cities of Macedonia: and certliinly as to those who are now ^^gteem^cl bishops, aiot^ni6re thau one at a time can be in jme and the si^me city. But because bishops at thflit kU^*^\»^ »"^1 subMSJ^ ; for they watch lor^j t ^ i ^^il^lt^ i^^cy who ■\-' I? s»^ i*y that Hhall be revealed; feed the flock, of (lod uhich in ftuionj; yfui, takiiiV( the oversight thereof, not W con- tstraint, but wilIinj»ly.'V These patssaijes we have brouirlit forward to 8ho>v, that, with the ancients, preHbyters Mere the same as biMhojjs. IJutJ that the roots of disigieii.-i tion misfht be plucke, a usai?e gradually took i>lace, that, the chief care should devolve upon one. Thtjrefoi't', as the presbyters know that it is by the custom of the church that they are to be subject to. them who ure^ placed over them ; so let the bishops know that they are above presbyters rather bv custom than l>v (livinc appointment, and that thechurch ouiijht to be ruled in common," There can be no doubt, but Jerom^' Hi>eak> the laniifuaije of the ancients on thjs niaher. In formity then with this view of this custom of the church, the M. E. Church has ftdoptcd a system of general Buperinten- dency, founded not on the divine risjht of an order, but on the human right of chuTch appointment to an oflSce, and in con- formity with the practice of the early church', as given us by the fathers, and not inconsistent with the teachings of ScripA ture, but sanctioned by them. The only means of securing uniformity in the adroihistration of the rules of the church, is^ by the employment of some general executive oflSeer, wl shall have the general oversight of the church. To ni^tet^ii this constitutional necessity, which not only existed anciently v ^'• but exists now, the M. K. Church has adopted theAbove-*^ ^ superintendency in the form of what she un'derstands/to be uW' kScriptural Plpifteepacy. It is our opinion, that most of the opposition which has been shown to this mode' of /maBaging conS^ r ■ ' • I ■ i -' ^1 • ■ ' « [■':' ■-■■ ■' "'"'[ ' • - l^ra^ the uffuirs of the church, is owing to a niisapprehension of the peculiarities of the oflice of bishop as it exists ani6ng \is. In ' • A '/■/■ ■r im lmm:Tn'' , y , veimmti,»a j iL,2'.it^ i>ai*~aiir» 'xi. 't t tt i • i- t - a,^ V. r ■ ■ 11 .; but an apoiitolio uniutcrruptcut Hueewmion e;in pogHibly confine ■ the ri|i^ht of episcopacy tfMiny pariicular church. The idea of au" apostolic HUCccHfiion beinjj; exploded, it folloWs that the Methodist ohuf4h hnn cveiy thing which is Hefipturiil and essontiarto justify its episcopaQy*/' '* NorJiuHt wo omit to^'^ obscirve that each diocaso had a coHeu;e of elders or prcHbyters, in i^hich the bishop presided. So that the *;bi8hop t>y no ^ irieans superhitended his diocese in a despotic numner, but' was rather the chief executor of those rc^gUlutions whifttw^re ' made in the college of presbyte»l:"—Kd. 1798; pp.Z" 7^^ •' Here, then, lies the grand difference bjptwe|)p Mr. Woslflip^'' authority, in the present inslancc, and that of <^n r American * bishops. The fornier, as (under Ood) the fjither of thff con- nection, was allowed^ to have the sole, If gal, ihdppendant nomi- nation of preachers to all the chapels; %ho latter arc entirely dependant on the General Conference.—'' Biit why does the General Conference lodge thepow^er of stationing.the preach- ers in th^ episcopacy ? We answer, on account of tlj^^ntire confideull in it. If ever, through improper condue^J|Hptis , that confidence in any considei'-able degi'ec, the General Con- ference will, upon evidence given, in a pr«)portiouablc' degree^, take from it this branch of its authority. But if ever it .;betray8 a spirit of tyranny or partiality, and this can be proved b«|fc«h0^encral Conference, the whole wiU be taken from tne|p| ^nd we pray God that in such case the p)wer may be vested^in other hands......... And we believe that if our episco- pacy should at any time, through tyrannical or immoral con- J .dw, coine under the severe cciviuve of the General Coi>fereno^/ : .thlinei^bers the*eof wOuldi»e it highly for the glory of God , to preserve the present forni, H^l onlmp change the men. . . .:,^. , Mr. Wcsl'ey, as the venera blllib ltadKK'undcr God) of the y/ -A .li: "77 A-^- %I. «•• '*. % '.^ t,.^fe- ■ft whole »llttiodt«t m^Wff, ftovoroed without any *rcM»jK)nHiblirty,,%^ whiitover ;t—bttt the Aiuerioan bishops are us responsible us uiiy of the proaehers. They are P^^^IUIjikMllM^^ ^" ^^^*' (leiiernl Contj^roiice. "Wo have Wpwi^his^c0tlfpftris5»i *' iKUween our yoiikeniblu futher and the Aworionn bishops, tfr show to tliofllgfrld that they possess not, and, we may udd. > v, they n\m n(}mm possess, that power which he exercised, ami ' , had a riphtjn Exercise, an the father of the connection 5-— Jhat, on fc|f contrary, they are perfectly dependent ; that their _^,_i power, tliefr usefulness, thcuwolvos, are entirely at the mercy of the General Conf>renco." — Ibid, 40-44, Wo have given ^ 'the above extracts If) convince the readcij that, in the estab- lishment of Methodist Episcopacy, the bishops themselves did not consider theirui i| perpetual divine order, but an oflSce which conferreclJlin them a^degreC of authority, which was subject to belossbnod at any tiMe, and from which they were subject to be removed by the Goncrar?Conforence, should that body see it expedient fur the welfare o^lh^church, Hoyr, in the face of the statemcuts ofjy)iscoij^cyi nt^adb; by the |hc bishop>« themselves, any person JKiaVmhe ha^Khood to charpje tho first bishops with urpoj]f>iting to themselves despotic and arBitrary^owers, wo are^(h||4)lo to comprehend, j^o must conclude^lhat those who make such .a8»ei''BS|n8, do iF without oxatni||ing the subject, dt^ what is worso,^^!!? they •uiearfno ' revile' ajttd vilify honest men. -^ ^^%Mt!' ^^wi'^^f which w<'' tlquoted Irbm the notes of the BiscipHp uflst for ever put to rest the'^^Kuserfei^n, that Pp^ Ooke diqSpot luisider his an epis- eopjJ|pfdinal^ion. The bishops of Iflde Methodist Episcopal Chvu*ch liave no cqptrol over" the decisions of either an Annual or dfenerftl Conference— not so mueh as a veto power or even a casting vote. K there is'a tie on any question, the bishop^ 7^ must decide k lostrfor want of a majority. Another evidenc oftih^i^ entire dependence is the fact, that if they cease t 4^ travel without the consent of the General Conference, they forfeit iheir episcopal functions, or, in other words, they must fraveluntil the General Conference is please^ to pronotimce ■''T/ „ ^i>' . ■ ■■ ■ .'■.»». n .1 /ikd^ them suporatmitod, — which tho Coiiferenco \\m & rijnditionH, but only whcm Homo valid olbjectioD is luf^j and then only until ttuoh timoH afl tho cu^ has been inve«tigat«j'd. On this point tho venm-atod bishop Hodinip;, whoso authority none will dispute, says: — "The •uperiii tendon ts now have no ppwtir in tho chttrch above that d^jrs, exeopt what is connected with presidinj? in tho Con- ces, fixing the appointments of the p,roacherH, and ordain- h^. They have no voice in any t be on the ministry, for Methodist Bishops have no t_ t I ■ .m-. eonncotlon with the ntltnin1»»triltidn «f tho laity. Ami nin imy Honnlbio pcrwMi Imi brought to bcUovo that a McthoaUt HiHhop would dare to h^^ tynuinicol with lliowj on whom he d«p«ndi for the coiltimuuic(5 of bin offi«o and it« powcm? Conirnon H«nw) aiiHWovH no — rniikhiiiically no! Under thcuo circuinHtuncci*, where im the danger from MethfH»iMt Kpisccv pacy? Kntirely Hubjcct to the Oonernl ('onferenoe, limited and rej^uliitcd by H|)ecific ultttutcs, unr 1 ■ ^ ; ■• ■ ■ ' ; '^^ - • 4 ■ • V :• . ^ ■ ■ ] . ■■i ■ ■■■ • - 1. . ■ * , . ' 1 t. ■ • -■ , - . . -• tioh of the General Gonference ; for his authority is not b virtue of his ordination elc- .— ^«£Lj«. f i( w >. MMiMa . • ■■ ■ , k. 1 V V .^ L •W- . ; h( '^^ .f.: Vftiecl by the nuflnijyw* of thoVondToiiCf, niiil coiiNoqiivUtly wihjcct to itH «U>ctHioni«. In tliv Oi-wt plnri*, it prcvoiiti tho >ip{)(»tntniviit of nny, oxcept triod iikmi. For tlio con- IVrt'iic* twin the ren| ions U»i lit y anil hnpoiianco vho "Ih tliUH oU'vati'd to thu office of a hiMhop, will make it \\\n i»tu<1y to (pialify hiinm-lf for the diMcharjre of hin tluty. Kvei'v year a», lw)th to hin oxperientro and kuowlctlfxtv thuH incw>aMintj hlw rapacity for the ortiiM*: It in in thitj May that MtatcHnion pain their ahitity, windy to U'jjfi«hitv nnil to govern; and it in the only means of conihinin;/ practical wixdom in the admiuiHtrationH of thC church. Htill another object iVm iH rained airalnHt Mcthodiwt IJishopH, heeaune tlu*y uecido law (roints. And we would empiire, who are better (ptnlilied to decide thenu They have made the Dincipliiie their constant ntudy-^ have had opportunity of converHing with the wiweHt and bent of men on the varioun pointH of the same, niid lUre lesM liable to be intlueneed by sectional tcelinp:!*, or petty intereHts, than anv other ofticer of the cliurth. Woiild you vent the power in an Anniial Conference V — Woidtl ihey he likely to decide such questions more comectly than a bishop? On intricate law points not out^-half of the men, who ooniposo such conference, would be able :to give you JtSTtiiTifv^ at all, and still, without a porscmal jcnowledire. oi^m/^ law, they become, its expouudert*. Again, thin plan stdrfects un to a variety of decisions on %hc name point, as it may come uiion ditfercnt occasimm. But with the bishops, the.*e decisions are neccsnarily uniform, and if a^iy member of an Annual Conference els himnelf aggrieved by such decision, he has a right -ti t'.Sra^ " ■ 'l to an appeal to the General Conference, whore the case- may be argued at length, and the combined y isdom of '^' ■•■.*■ _• that body brought to bear in a decision. For oiir own part, as an iu lividual, we can see nothing dangerous in «. • ^U ''K.../ 7$ I , ^ t ), ,. Methoilwt EpiHCopacy, but much wMch is eoniiiieiKluble and of the Idghest utility j and we trust that the reader, whosb mind heretofore has been biassed aj^aiHSt it, will be enabled to take another view of the case. Finn% we remark, this system lias been m6re .successful than all others put together in tlie propagation of the Gospel- there being more than one and three-fourths millions of Episcopal Methodists in the world, while tliere is less than one million of all others combined. Tliis fact is ominous, Avhen we take into account that all preach the same doctrine, and hold to the same great tenets; while, doubtless, the muiistera .of all^ have been equally pious and zealous.: • ' .^^^- ^^^,.:--^. ,.-:\^^^_^^^^::^ '■ Wq pome now to notice the last point, Avhieh is one of some Lportance. We refer to ordination. Jietween^ tiie Eplscopnls and the/ Ji^w Connection we see i\o g^e^t ' /difficulty. They have always acknowledged our ordi- mationsl and we have acknowledged theirs. The New Connection ordain alone to the office of presbyter, and • consequently^ are Us high in orders as Episcop*ls can dalm. In the case of the Primitives there is a greater diiferehcc. However,'we appreliend no great difficulty in so far reconciling^ those difterences as to make theuj in a maimer satisfjictory to all concerned. We have ■ thus noticed the^ leading differences between those denomhiations nnier consideration, and have «et forth ^ ' what, from our standpoint, AVe think to be the best and -'mostipaslblenieansofadjiistingthein, .We say farther on this point, that an Union can never be effected unlesn ■ each denojiiinatiph' can retain its great distinctive feature^ That, With the iie.w Conjaectjon and Primitives, is lay dejfegfttion.. For thii they have battled long aiia hard. To s'urrender it now,, would be >t% inglOriously qui^^% field— sun-endering all they have ac^. past. To suppose they will do this, is^.suppOjSJMliiot-c than will be realized— iviless' they become conv^^that ^1 V >'■+■■■■" ,...:---:.^.,,. 4 . "^i^ ( 1 ,"■ .'■ -V, ■ '" ' OK." > > ■4 / ^ . Ax^, K- .•.i'.^#)! ■■■■ t)- :''■;:■'■■'■ ^^■' - ■'■■'■'■■■ ^.. . ■■•- ., f.t- ■• .. lay delegation is a failm-e; anJ wo apprehend that this Vill never happen. They may eubinlt to fc modification of it :, withbutanycomptpmiseofprinciple, and, doubtless, will bo ready to do go, as far us can be shown to^be for the better regulation of the church, but they will never surrender it. ' On thp other hand, Epiecopacy and the General Conferenct^ plan of legislation f\Ye the distinctive feature* of the M: K. Church— these slie cannot and willnot abandon. - She has contended long and earnestly for their maintenance, meeting With subtle oppofiitioji, and still she has triumphed. Kvery jear has. conHrmed her in a belief of their utility, and we think we can safely say, that members and ministers have n stronger attachment to these peculiar institutions than they have had at any previous season. To surrender them now, would be to give up an institution upcondemned, fiw which \she has laboured and toiled for near foi^ky years. If these have got to be given up in order to Union, it would be quite as^Well to drop the object at ence; I'oi-; from what we know of the sentiment oTtheM.-K. Church, both in the mi*ry ' "and laity, we are convinced that she wiir surrender any thir' olso sooner than these. «he may submit to their ij^iodificatioi)^ but willj in our opinion, never surrender them. VWe think all other differences cdn be compromised witliout difl^ulty, but the peculiarities of these several churehes must be I'btained. As to the name, there is no lieed of uaeasihess on that score A convention properly formed would soon settle bn what is best to be done in^ that 4-efepect. If it is thought best tQ ' retain one of the old names, amalgamate the two, or take aii . entire new o^e, it can be done .accordingly. Finally, as a means of getting properly at work in this matter we .would recommend the visitation of eac>i othe^-s conferences in order to bring us into closer proximity, A wore extended acWa- tanee m, desirable, and we should make ns^ of bvery possible , means for its cultivation. Thjc exchange of pulpits would 'no . Jottbt, have a beneficial tendency,, as a means of cultivating an ac(fuatntatice^betweeii the ministeis . and people /)f thos? " ■ ' '■ ■' ^- ■ '■ '^^ ■ : , ' ■- ■. ■ - . ■ ■■'8 ■'Vi ■'M ^ '"^4 ,1 ' I i^; - fc sf^sjy^BraP* 80 1 '■/i- .'■ - „ ,> • severiil denominations. We would farther recommend t1»i> appointment of delega^s by these denominations, to visit the conferences of each, and to bear proper expressions of tho sentiments of each of the several denominations on this ^ subject: If any two, or more, are favourable, then let the conference of each appoint delegates to a general Convention, held at such time and place as may be fixed upon, which shall be empowered ia strike out aVplan of Union, which; can then be submite^ tb the proper 'courts of the several denomi- nations, for their riitification. We can see no difficulty in a committee, composed of a few wise and gooft men, chosen out , of the several churches, devising a feasible plan of Union—* one which thiC people of these several churches would sanction, if properly laid before them. .We cannot make up our mind that the majority of Methodists are bigqjts, and,- consequently, cannot believe they would reject a fair and equitable plan by \yrhich all breaches may be healed, an^ faiuch scandal wiped away^ As-the General Conference of the 31. E. Church docs 4 not mfeet until one year from this sumnier, we would reconi- mend, as a means of facilitating the object we have in view, the appointment of delegates to that body, by all Methodi>t bodies who feel favourable to Union. Let the ministers and ihembers. Who feel favourable to the movement, agitate, by all lawful, means, this question— keeping the matter before the _^ople until opinion is sufficiently -revolu^tionized to admit of the compromise^^ssary. It is not only a laudable move ■*;s:: [)in^ ] B xnat '\ input, :bu't one^St w4ll recommend itself to every man's judgment. Then what if some difficulties do arise, and some clouds threatenj^feeling the importance of our cause wc* should go-forwjird. in thd strength of grace. Unlawful and violent agitation will accoiiiplish nothing. Let us liave strong arguments couched in soft words, -, and strong effi5<|« ♦ ' ■A ■put forth in a quiet mtoner^v and we shall soon see the. accom-, '; pf ishment of our hearts desire* The basis which y^ have laui • ^d%n may not be the ptily one on whu;h Union can be accom- »", piishedi or even the best oi^e th^t caff be deviled, but vye have^ ^ '« .arf^ t U4m M" 'TTJW* ■ >/5V ■% irf « . v> XIPk « 4 »' given it as, in our opinion, the niost fea&iblo. If a botteT eau bo hit upon, we are ready to give it our support. What we have written on this subject has been dictated.by the Vindest of feelings, and if any of our more prudent brethren shall pro- nounce u« rash, we shall find no fault With thew,— our only apology being the heart-rending divisions^hich exist /in Methodism; and if this pamphlet serves as an instrument, by which to wake up a general desire for Union, we shall feel amply repaid for all our trouble. We have d(ii-«^ to break the ice on this subject, and in doing so, we expect to " arouse some opposition, esploially from the ignorant and: bigoted; but we have little fear of enlightened christians ' opposing the measure in the abstract. True, we may differ as to the proper manner of bringing about the desired object, but if we are actuated by a proper spirit we can overcome all these, and these denominations long" separated in name and heart may be one. * | ^ y w •:. ■♦:; VfT. V '• >- % f(M. 5^ W « . ■"*'' ? V.s-.. »Y - 1/ '> KRRATA. 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