Newspapers / The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, … / Sept. 20, 1855, edition 1 / Page 1
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.(4 . VOLUME i I s THE BIBLICAL RECORDER a Acugtuusouu uiboiary .trap ex: Fublishedwreekly at; Raledgh, H.. C, at $2 OQ pet gjiaain, payable in all cases vx adtascx. - , , , . '' ' All letters on- business should be directed to . "G..MactTH Cori RaleighiVW. C. t. : All letters containing communications; or in : any vr&y relating to the editorial department, should t be addressed to Rev J. J. Jaxss, or Editor of the Biblical Rwordsr: i "V M .pS AU corrim anications, to insure attention, roust : be directed to Raleigh, N. C pott-paid. , :. ' ' p Tot further particulars see last page. , -i THE tAW OF,NEWSPAPERS v 7 l . - I Subscribers 'who do. not give express notice to " tb contrary are considered wishing to continue their aubttriptioa. ' . .' ; " " ', ' .. 2. If - the v subscribers order the discontinuance of , . their papers, tne puDiisiters may continue to send , . them till all cash charges are paid. ; .: . , 3. If subscribers'neglect or refuse to take their ia- pars from the office to which they are directed, they 1. nl .1 .nAitilA ma:i WA V u.1 1 .1 fit mro uu ijnnm uum fcixcj u4vo 9euteu, weir DUlt ad order their paper discontinued.- . , : - 4. If subscribers remove to' otbr .places without Informing the publisher, and the fa per is sent to the lormer direction, they are held responsible.. - . 5. The courts have decided that refusing to take ft paper or periodical irom the omce, or removing and leaving it uncalled for,' it "prima facie" evidence of intentional fraud. i i th i Published by Request. The Elements and Means of Chnrcb Pros- V:';VPerJ ';-: ' :' Tie Introductory Sermon tht Flrt As$ociatinnddiverHiat angt county i N. C.i Aug 10 ;1B55 by It, I, Devin. - Publiihtd by request tf Iht As- . octotioni:'-; y "hj 4:' "c;1 ' n : ' -' : "'x . ' : ' " " ' ' '": - "Jlnd the VDord of tlU Lord increased, and the number oj the disciples multiplied, in Jerusalem greatly." Acts 6, 1 7. , ' . C on eluded. ' Jl. .Secondly, we will now consider sonJe of the means .to. be eiu'plojed in promoting the ef-, . ficiencj and success of a church. .; 1. An Intelligent and pious ministry. The preachin of the - gospel, is the great instrumentality to be used in the edification of believers," and the salvation of sinners. Christ gave apostles, propbet3, evangelists, pastors and ' teachers ; for'the perfecting of the saints, and for the edii'ying of the body of Christ. "r Eph. 4: ll,1 12. ; : - 44 It pleased God by the foolishness of preach- ing to save them that believe " 1 Cor. I ; 21. No church can flourish without the labors of a pastor ; and the niore able, active and pious, he be, the more H will prosper under bis charge. If a church would sink into a low, cold condi , tion, and then disband and become extinct, let'' them dispense with the pastorate. Occ of the most important concerns which claim the atten tion of anj cburefi, is theselection of a pastor.. The first ana only question witu many is, is ue a great man, Or, is he a great preacher ? Learning and- ability are important qualifica--. tioris ; but ouly so far as they are subservient , to piety and the desire of doing good. We advocate' ministerial education ; but we also be lieve piety to be indupensable to the preacher of the everlasting gospel, " . r- The embassadors of Christ, should be truly pious faithful men t able to teach others also They must read, meditate, and study to show -themselves approved to God, workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly- dividing the wbrd df truth lTim. 4 : 13-15- .2 Tim. 2 : a; - ; , : ' t . . : . i,' j Ministers ought, tolgive themselves wholly to tne wont oi '11 tno auty oi xne cuurcuc iu euppmn uicw.. . There is no ddtv more clearly taught in the RibleL than ministerial support. 44 The Lord bath ordained" that they who - preach the gos- ' el shall livVof the gospel."' The apostle ranl tells the church at Corinth44. 1 robbed other churches Xa1dngJDage of tbenTto do you ser- V1CC . . . . -. . . o , - - In this connexion w'e will mention a subject t ....t. ';.nnrtanfl 'to our Zion r it is the VI LU U V U w - . m . Trflfttia"of rtturaVtv vastorahipi-. r. ----- . r - . r u - MnRt of our ministers.- u pastors au, we pastors of, from two to four- churches each, at the same time. ;. The system of having preach- UUl Y .vuwv m-w 7 w i nna & mnnth. is ceriaimv a verv imu . .... . - i one. tists , cans ua ryViA n.tinr nnlv once in thirtr. da vs. 7 How much lareer wbu dJje the amount of good ac rnmrtliRhed. - were all r our,-: churches to hater .KW evervK Sabbath and? abandon these ir romrnnQdr)astorshiDS.v The s excuse is either txivertv or a scarcity of ministers. ItU true ' some churches are too . poor r to supporf. a pas tor: and it is also true, that ministers are scarce; i but whose, tauit is min Ma's covetousnfss bave f muen w uo, wuu u ptc W MrBffff Kverv. church, if possible; ought to have a pastor whose whole; time may be de moted Jo her welfare and prosperity. ; Were the firA 'adont this plan: we bave reason to would so flourish.-as.to be able to ?tiir'. rAstors and weaI80believeV; God would send out :i sufficient number of la- r v . :ii,wmpvard. so twit tnere-wouia i?ifSftnltv in pettinz a snppiy.j f . 2 The choice of deacons, hasan important f y bearing mpon the welfare of a cnurcn, . . i kian nmflt! next iu luu uaotv . ' erice aridresponfibility. The deacons will be ' iu4,vA fnr information, arid their exam-' 1 pie will have great weight with the member-. i: ishipXi The Jerusalem church in. selecting the k -1? tevhL sought for men f honest Report, fuU f: tlie ms -JZhost?, .wisdom he : apostle 2 c ..PauL in writing : toTimotlij concerniDg-the, character' anU, qualiScaiions of Uie;deacons. ' " savs, they" must, be gratC wt;lf nJ greedy cfJMhy lucre, X bat church jr wi :A TACAv-rlftaftnns are active and ren tor tne oace vi ucuw--.,,, - ttcJi, to do with the prosperity of a-church ; . r -. j Ahnm hmnib.rfrv V. , BtT-fiKd. that our preiureu uc4r not attach as much importance to .this subject as it i demands. : - -. '; b ; VL? y 3. The adminutration ot . ocnpiura . .. . line will promote tho.eGcieccv of . a church..; . A ehcrch which neSIects C ' .:ne, is; like a -V,:- rardsn vritbout walls, or a : . about magw-. ' 5- . . - '. A -1 NUAOll tnj:3 t- 1 hvrs. tio .vever excicui. m COtfu.i ;iTanJ wretcnea- , - 7 rc2rly cr:rci3-: 1," U a All tiat is Eec::ry to Is w ' " .vm .We plain teachings of the Ui--ble. 1 he; Bible is the best book of discipline we ever saw;- But; there is a'disposition man ifested by some of our Uaptist breib'reo tocopy atter other : religious societies around thm.--Ihia is wrong.. s- . j v . t,31 n6' fir8t StllWishinS of the christian Church, till now, unworthy persons havo sought . and found admission within its pale, , mo&i nl examinations have , Jailed to prevent the f reception - of hypocrites and unworthy members. ' No .community of christians can flourish; unless they. enforce their J8" erring christian "must, bu brougtit backh and the wicked offender excluded. ' Far setter lor any church to hav W k l.,k. t ful, pious members,- than 1 a large 'number of V j , iuiol nuuau uves are are proach to the eospeL'-i- -i vt-,,; ' i&i -y 4- Another very important mens of hurcV emciency, is regular attendance, ooihapublio worship of s God. .-The sacred injunction , is, . forsake not the assembling of yourselves togetkA err as the manner of some is,; Tno, preaebin ,of the gospel is the" most effective means bt en!' couraging christians and SAvinjmriers:; l'hat a churchy may prosper, tb members must be punctual in ttendingpon'-divinworip.--Listen to the overflowings ot" a pious heart, that loved; the public -worship of God; ' w I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into tlw house of the Lord. Ona thing have r I desired of theLord, that will 1 seek after ; that I may dwell in the house, oi the, Lord all.the dys of mj life td.behold t lie beauty of the Lord, and enquire in his temple- , A day in thy courts w, better than a thousand. I had rather be , a door-keeper in tfid hous-s of my'God. tliaa to dwell in the tents o wickedness.' ; A -. My brethren, if you. Jove thi churdr, evince it by regularly at tendiog-your stated meetings. ' Every member hs an' important part to act in the salvation of eoald. ' oq ucitls. gem-cully expected from misusters. They can'aeeomplish very . little without the co operation ot tfieir brethren. . V hen they act alone, unaided by , the prayers and effrt3-fof tbe'menibers of the churcii, their labm s ara nearly lostc j The Sabbath hcbool aud tho prayer meet- -ing, afford oppoi tuuities of usefulness, which ought not Jo ba negltcti d, . , -2. ,, . . 5- Christians must pray, for the prosperity . ofZion. 4 Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not sileucej aud give him no r. st. till bo make Jernsalem a praise in the e irtli." ' Tlie people of God should daHy approach the throne of grace, and h sepch the Lord to appsar for bis cause, and build up his church in tin world. VVhenZism travails she wilt bring forth chil dren. Kxcept the Lord build the house, thv labor in vain who build it" All out- he In ruust co Hie from God- iVe. must look to him for his bles-ings upon the church. H can dis pel the dark clou i which mav hao 6vj?r Zion, oiia cau5cra-moruiTig-7uirp-jniueicti jjngiuars to dawn upon her He can remove the death like coldness that too often paralizs the ener gies of a church, and cause her to break tbith into songs of rejoicing and praises. "' If wu'wouhl see religion flourishing 'and sinners in ' crowds. -flocking to Zion ; let the prayer of. fith nscend to the Lord of babaotb, and be will opn the windows of heaven, and pour out blessing. that there shall not be room enough to receive it. . - . ' -. v. -------i : . 6. In the last place, if a churph would flour ish, it must put toith efforts to spread, the gos- : pel over the earth. . , 41 he great worfe of converting the world un- strumentally) has been entrusted to the church., Xbo offortsb arc Iua(fe for the salvation of the benighted heathen,: however Temoto, will react' upon the churches at home, j 1 he re flex benefits Vinoved byt those who engagu in the missionary cause, tniiy be - illustrated by tbe4 happy influence it produced on the -Baptist churches in bngiand. ? 4 1 ho eUie ot. many ot the churches before the revival of .therinedern ..missionary enterprise, ; was lO'leed depioraok'. But when Alesjis Carey, Jjuller, Kylaml, and others n aed in the groat , work of preaching" the gospel to the heathen, the .churches aroused v from their, .coldness, ana enjoyed sucu pros neritv as tbev had riot realized before. . I .X ? "41; The writer of ' the : Ba pi fet M isswns , says, The .thought of having done something ; to wards enlarging the" boundaries of omf Savior Vt warus em. .-under Sal under Satan's yoke, rejoiced our hearts.' Sftmftf who -had backslidden from God were restored and others who had " long been po- rin over, their unfHithtuiness ' and questioning therealit v ,of Vtheir? personal religion,- hsiving . their attention directed to Christ and j bis king dom, lost their f;avs and found, peace which in. other, pursuits thy sought in vain. - " -In ahorVour hearts were enlarged ; and if no other good, had arisen from the undertaking, than the.effect produced upon our own minds and the minds . of Christians in our own coun-' trvlt was more than "eqrial to tho expense." ; 44 The liberal soul shall -D6 made lati and ne that watcreth shall r be, watered himself. I He rtha tTsoweth if sparingly shall ', reap sparingly and-h6 that 'sowcth bountifully, shall reap alto : Dountifullyrx,0 1 .;. .DCr V ' . ijri conclusion.- We always judge ofa man's -love for an object by the interest he tnanifests : for its success. . My brethren, do yon feel mor t interest for -ihcrprosperity of the, church than ifor'any other objecfcjdU it dearer to yon than any other, thing -on rearth. v IJo. jjou ; mourn when its gates are esolateandnjicevvAcn j St flonri'slies. - 05' that christians lovedi the- cburch'morefbVtharthey would abor.more,y tiav more, ana sacnuce mure w " vancemcnU . ? v . ' .. ; V .- P ' ' -nTr A V.rJ -It Is riot well that1 ar man ihould always IabaK His tern poral s well a spiritual V interest demand a cessation in the decline of 'ifet' &'me years of quiet find rem-cuon are neeew.irj ft r lifrt f inrlostrv and activity. There: is. more to concern him . in life than lucessant oc cupation, .and its product wealtli." He who has been a drudge all his days to one monoto .nou mechanical pursuit can hardly ;be fit fr nnthpr world. I he release from toil in old age 'most men have the prospective pleasure of; and, in the reality, it w as pleasin- as it is useiui aua V lutary to the mind. Such radvarUsge-, how ever, can only be gained by priidence and ecorio rT in youth ; Ve rnuit 6.ive, liko the ai.t,befo:e we can hope to Lave .3j; r:?: in t;.j ' r c Thft rft'itrssf." 4 Ths Contrast Bstwksn Methodist Epis! . CpPACT AND AM6BICAW KKPUSLlCANrSM ' Synopsis and Application' or thk. Ar gument Conclusion; ' ' i 4 4 Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles ; exercise dominion over; them, And they; that' . are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be sc i awonj7 you."- Jesus Christ f: 'Sometimes it: is !aid , that mm cannot Ve trusted vtUkJke goyernnnl ofiotsef. . Can he then be f rusted with the government of oth ers. fUr nave we found angels in the form of kings', to govern' hioa7, Let " history . answer this question." Thomas Jefferson, the Apostle of American Republicanism.7 338 h i - 44As long as I KwTth iPfiOPte shall have" no share in choosing either stewards or leaders ' among5 the f MethodistsWe- have not, nor' ever had, any such , custom. - We are n jRe- publicans and never intend to Je' Johii iVVRLEY,Uhe ApOstb of American. Method ism 'j " . ...J ...... ; ' We come now to' the interesting t&skot trac ing ihQjwulrast between ; our republican insti .tutions and MctbodLn Kpucopacy. sBro. Hatn 11, has given us the 'striking . analogy "-two propse presenting the opposite side. And let us again begin at the beginning. ' ""' i! First H Tha i Constitution of the United States, arid the Constitutions of each State of tno oontcdi?racy, were tormed by ' represent a- i ves chosen by the People in their sovereign capacity. " The Constitutions or book of 4 Dis- cipline and Doctrines" of the Methjdist !E. Church was formed by sixty clergymenappoin- ? ted and summoned to their work by two En glish man,. Asbury and Coko , There was riot a single layman, or a layman's representative in the Conference of 1784, that drafted it. TtUy-aWmittvvi wn4iUii " TAey -rrrrr absolutely an aristverary' " j Secondly. The foristt utions of the United States, and of each. State, whe.ii drafted by their several conventions of "rrpreacntativfs from the; people wore '. by special ordinances, submitted back directly to the people for their ratification. The Constitution of Methodist Episcopacy was adopted and. forced upon their (we wish we could say constituency,'? but by tne decision of the United States Circuit Court ihjy haver no constituency,") .meiubhip with out even the form of a voluntary rccognUun of such power as was assumed by said Confer ence. No layman was ever asked to east his suffrages by way of adopting that docum2nt. Thirdly. " Amendments to the Consttution of the Uhitfd Statps," and of the several States beiore they are considered binding, nre submit ted to their respective constituencies fur tacit; ratification : AmentLnents to the Constitution of them are made at . every general Cnrjrne wu b'-lieve. are foisted unun thcvuurcti .wlemf volcns, by the mere prerogative of thi3 body. In this also, 'they admit no constituency- they Lave no constituency.' . " Fourthly. The President and Vice Presi dent of the United States, and the Governor of each State, the highest- officers recoguiz.-d by the General aud State governments, are euosen directly by the people every two,-three and four years, thereby sucuring a frequent rec oning with tbes0 officers and preventing an abue of the power thus delegated to them .The Biahops .oi the : Methodist ,r Episcopal Church are chosen for life, or during good bet havior. bv the clercv who compose the Gena- ral Conference, aud who assembled "nprcsenl -Jhemselvesland haveno eonslituetits.'1 , They i are "responsible, only tol their own" conscien ces1 for the manner in which they exercise their "unlimited 'ecclesiastical and temporal .power." t . -. " .. 4 i . Fifthly The Congress of the Unite j States, and the .Legislatures of th e several States, are composed of delegates elected by the suffrages of the several States, and bold their offices one, ' two, three, and six -years, and, aro therefore, .responsible directly to the people for their of ficial conduct : the annual and quadrenul Con ferences of "the Methodist Episcopal, ChuroBi are cotti posed, ex " officio,' of tUo liishops and, travelling preacbers,,, and r their representa tives. -No layman of the Methodist EpiscopaV Church ever east a sioglo ballot for a repretenj-i' tative to either a State or ft General Confer-j ence' ; vy.-n ' ; r ' L-'. Sixthly." In our civil f institutions th basis of repreberitation is the .entire population of the j . TT.(aj1 CAn. .ti l F AAlft .jiAnnAflBA . J4ka'T I except Jn the ..Seaato of the Uuitcd States, in which, for wise purposes, , ib ipvereignty of . each State is represented 4 Jn thef Methodist "Episcopal- Church, the basti of ' representation, is the'travelling' dergy in the bounds of eaoh - Seventhly.' - the Congress of the United States and iheVLegislature'of eachC; respe tive! Sute7 admit and represent a ' constituency, to' whom they ara responsible for tbeir acts and .. doings But tho Bishop and travelling preach ers in tne Metnodist tpiscoDaJ jnurcu coini prise the embodiment ot. its rower. eccleti&stt- tal and temporal i and when asseriibied in Gen-; eral Conference. according to. the usace and discipliue of the Church, represent themselves AND HAVE NO CONSTITUENTS. 00 amrmS Judge NtLso.N, iu property case. Eighthly : " Our civil . Constitutions rcco; nize'chetks and balanccs" tribunals" to eor- -n.ni rrnr reat(v wrrinca'fr ihtiH 'nfTikrilinir m- lief td the ioiured arid oPDresscd sufferer t In . WW " - I . T , . .v - . n the Coristithtion of " the v M ethodisE 1 Episcopal Church, "the will of the circuit rider,' of el der, or bishop,' in removing an officer; 44is om nipotent in the premises'-'r'-if s an . incumbent, ; 4'isinjustly removed Aew5tt'-i-sinoe:i Ji there is no, tribunal to cure the error or reo-; Itify the wrong So affirms , cx-bishop Ham-1 iif Ninthly. ti In eur Statu and National CoVi ernroents, the people possess-arid exercise the,. right, diree'ly or indirectlyi to choose every of-1 ficcr. Lrgislative, Executive and Judicial, to ! I s exact; expound and administer law frotri the" Fresident oi tne unuea states aown to? tne most humble functionary recognized iu our civil ' kamtW' r i r Tiiu svif ni Air aid nnn ar w n urnn.ii ct. the t;s:ors and travellin? treachersnpftoint1 C.r4l.:-;r. :'.:-:yt3tLc:rcncor::i- to svrallo 4to c:L-ccracy !' ' Ptct B3'- : i,t V" : Mi'.y.toUw r-, if.r V.e c-.l;? u vLich tLU i-critj is that it is tcLilla W a man to ban bu bve for -economy cf wc . iu.1 Lav to be com exercised. - Their 'will : is omnipotent ' In th premises.V 4 j " "V Tent hi v. The riffhtof netition for rudrpM of grievances is clearlv recoeoized bv the Con 1 si 1 1 . .' ' stitution of the United States and of each State. But when sneh a right is attempted to be exer cised by the local', preachers and private mem bers of the Methodist Episcopal . Church, thV; least privilege which any form of , government cau recognize the bishops of that .church an 8 frfardoii vt if we know no such rxghlt ij k? comprehend no privilige.l ' i ' r ' -Eleventhly. -Tho' government of the ' Uni- 1 ted States and of each State is a governuient S? 'a.C " ill'.. .-1 - - r r . - oi me peopio and toeir cnosen representatives a democratic republio :; The Methodist Epis copal Church, i4'as regards its igOTerriment" says the Hon. R ' Johnson, in hU.- speech in the "Church nroDertv Case ?L4ha' bten uha. lutelysince.the daysof iWesleyi AN ARlSikdi8Posed,of bJ 'o clergy, ! Even ;,the trustees lUCUACi: I laymen, have .f had. and now Artt?e,no voice in it If there is a layrnan witl -in the sound of my voice,'.' coatinues Mr. J.,. "H KNOWS H5 HAS NO VOICE NOW J ' Prop-: erty Caso,?p 331 , 5 " " Twelth.' Congress and our Sta'to'Legisla tares are bodies of limited powers they have! no authority whatever, to change or modify our present forms of civil government : The Gener al Conference of the - Methodist E- Clmrch, is 'the source andCouataiuf- all its temporal powerr" says Judge Nels,qW nay, it "com prises the vuibodtuicnt of its power, ecdes'unli' cat and temporal,' It is !a body unlimited in ,tho authority to create says Mr. Johnson, and "equally unlimited, in tlie authority to destroy, responsible only to their consciencies for the ruauuer iu which either authority is exercised " "if that body had chosen to become b'ociNiAN." oays iwr. aord, one or the counsel for the claimants ; ' if it bad chosen to. adopt tho PRESBYTEKIAN or Baptist forms, either of governuient or dvetrinvit m i it to. ' duit. Thebe were the Church I ho laity were liot knowu in the governing i body. Matters of doctrine, discipline, and everything were in tho governing body, w If that was so up to ISOa, what was that body, alter that period ? it was lbe same General Conference-" Property Case, p. 163. Thirteenth'. The fiwt paragraph" .of the Constitution of the "United States slledges that "we the people of the United States, in or der to form a perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, pro vide for the com mon defence ; promote the general welfare, and Secure the busings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Con stitution for the United States :ot America I he first section of the "Book of Discipline" .alleges, that a. 'Mr... Wesley "preferred the v episcopal lavas ot, cuurcu,t governuieut to any - oiuer iuer uv soicmuiy set apart, oy the imposition : I' ; i. I . l i . . - . . " I Ljiigijuu, iur iuc ejjiacupai uuice , ana naving delivered to him letters of episcopal orders, com missioned aud directed him to set apart Francis Asbury, . . . for the? same episcopal effifni. 1'hat is, the people of the United States eitiblisuevl tleir .form of gverniuent : ; One man Jobu Wesley, according to ihe Disciptin , authorized the establishment of tho government .ot',. the Melbodisl,- Episcopal Church. The truth of this statement in regard to Mr. Wesiey ordjioing Dr. Coke "to tbe episcopal . office,"' we have already exaiuiued, and as we think proved it to be entirely' inexaet j but as the governmental economy of 'that church is to be 'ascertained by the Discipline, it is right and proper, that we should refer to all its statements in this connection, as if they were true. " b ourteenthly , In the government of the . United States, and of each, separate State, the legislative, executive and judicial departments ot.govetnmentittre placed in tho hands of, three distipct classes pt officers, each, operating as'tv; check. upon the others. 'i'bus the President of tbe United States, and tbe Goveruir of each State, being elected by the people, and there fore, representing tneir sovereignty,' possess tne veto power to check hasty . or uncou8titutionjl legislation. Aud Congress arid Statu Legisla- tures possess the power of passing aJLiw by a two tnird vote, notwithstanding the veto of -the Chief 'Executive, thus interposing a Balutary check upon this prerogative. ' And tho Judici ary, being the exponent of. the Constitutionally tty.of all laws becomes another check upon the r I..:'.. li !...: I- - .. .'JJ... iegwiabivu ueprfcmeuw: Au iu tue- lutfcuouiai Episcopal Church, tlie. h:gilatiye, ( executive aud judicial departments of government are all in the sam e bauds. . And thU body of men are not the representatives pf the people, but, as J udge Nelson dociai es, 44 when assembled in 1 Couterenoe, represent themselves aud have no constituent.'? Whore rsuch!' a body of men,", says the late bisuo'rj Biiscouib, 4tfirstl make the ' laws, then execute them, 1 and finally are the sole judges of their own acts, there in no hber5 ty ; ,the people are .virtually enslaved, and . lia ble to be i ruined at anytime'-Rights, &c.!,; j 'ArUrt6Vtln t a worot all power legislative, exi icutivo and judicial,' known in the goverriuieri-f tal economy of that church, is lodged' in fthei hand of its clergy ? Not a modicum' of pow ; cr, sayi MrJonnson 4'was left lse where. MiifteenthlyJi tThe ' great fundamental princi' )l4 which lies at the. basis of oar 'civd govem - uicnu, State and National, is; Tit at th tx k re" Ueprtseuta'tives : In the Methodist Episcopal' ' Church, in 4824;and4828, an effort was made by numerou rpetitioners,i local preachers jand4 . private members, to modify their; form of gov- ernmentt so as to, faaake! it, representative, arid the memoralist were sternly rebuked by the, bishops .ot ''"thai church, in the very language of 4 despotism itself. ; Pardon ua if4 we kuow no such rights : if we com prehend no J such privi leges I"tilhe ouly:efiorts whien-nave ever Dcen uiaae to incorporate into tuis economy mc essential clement of republicanism; ' have been and are now denouuocd a schismatical, and its promoters suspended and expelled, from . the ; ministry i and butch ; and yet 'there is a most : striking analogy between .Al ethotfist t.pisaopa ov.and our Uenublican form of Government !1 ay,iurtucr, w a man aouois is . repuoinj"-,; tsrii, be is to be denounced as a 'bigot "dema'oirue.,,'arid suridry other amiable epv thcts'must be applied to him by tho cbampions Now, we Mo solemrily ' : -t n v,rn oi : wis liierarcuy i n ow, we protest that a nun's chrutiari charity lriaiiaa ihis fcllpw christians upon the some other " points: ot union!; bvsides this system, oftsurpasing ! energy that ho mav love their virtues with-' .fnn)..:... .1..:. : j. 1 piety may bo one thing, arid, clerical absolutist ihay bo different thing C . - V Tr 1 u ! Sixteenthly. Our civil constitutions. State arid j National,'? recognise J the principle,- uTbat all powir U inherent in the people In the Meth ' dist economy, all , power, is- inherent; in thb;' jCirgy-U they hal chosen, to become SocmU aothey could havodorie sb. Tbere was rio i.id.;MrJjdrrF I63.t 1 ' Seventeen thlf "In ;pur civil gsVerriment, the? property is held 'by the'p'eoplo'attd "even the small pituric5 which b tised for State arid Na-" tional purposes, is; subject to the direction at their representatives . Hn the 3 Methodist 15ris-s copal Church, nhe choreh property is held aud ; who hold the property, are to be appointed by the44 preacher in charse. or tha nresidinsr elder of the district,' all of whom are to be memberi of the M fcthodist Epis&pal Church ' Dis-' ; 'cipline last edition, p. he appointment1 bt these trustees is the amorint of j" lay repre sentation and layjrianagement of which our ; brother so frequently boasts. This ?4 lay rep4 resentation and lay management " amounts to- about as much, as 4 he f representation and management " of ordinary clerks in a mercan tile.;stablUbmcnt. . Thpy can only executc.tbe orders of the bishops and clergy of thcGeneral or State Conferences.1 This everyreader can see by turning to the Discipline, ppl 209' 1 14," auu i6oor tot t-t. -;v . a. :. We could trace this contrasts much further; but the foregoing points are deemed sufficient tor- our present purpose.. We will only add; iu closing this part .of the -subject. .That the Methodist Episcopal Church, is the only.de- nomination of Protestants . on .this continent;? from whose' ecclesiastical counsels all laymen '" ire excmded "X.yonsTlrmi.iiaf raw.tTIf a Km were drawn upon the subject , of- Church Gov- erumeuc oeiween alt professing ijnristiatis in tLis country, on one side of it would be array ed the M ethodist, Episcopal. and th? Roman Catholic communions on- the otherall other . Protestant denominations: To ' what extent Methodists ; are charmed with their company tand how long they will keep it, the future must "show.. We have not placid Methodism there. This was the work of its first, apostles. We ' have only hung" the lainp of truth " over the arcam of the system, and are not responsible,. ror its reveiatious-. utner uanas must- appl? the corrective. s ! '-"K ";J ' -.. The reader will observe, that not one fact that we ! bave" alleged in connection with ;the origin and history of Episcopal Methodism in this country, has ever 'been contested bv broth- r . ... r ... , : - , , - ' . r . cr; tiamiii- ne nas .attemptea to Jshow' thai meet. He has occupied the most. of his time . and space iu deploring in quite pathetic terms ; the 44, Munster insulrection. , 44 Close Com munion," and 44 Baptist Anarchy ? f Of coui-se,' if he thus, permits judgment to go by default " if, having of his own free will taken' issue with us1 upon a plain, practical question, he sees proper to leave us to discuss that question; and busies himself upon 'other' issues, which have no more to do with tbe one he set out to discuss than the Eastern war has to do with the weathcr-r it is not our concern . It only shows- the ut tor impossibility of harmoniairigj M ethoy dist Episcopacy with the genius of our free iu , stitutions. : And now if .the,4 democratic elo-'f merit " really docs exist in the govern mental economy; of Methodism,, it must exist in. that system,' notwithstanding .'all these facfsThat is to say! i riiust exist in a system" of jgoyenii irient, the : basis pf whose representation in its ecclesiastical councils is riot ' the numerical strength of the rnfirrilershin'. the IravolHag clergy --w hose '-constitution f. was adopted whol- ly by the ministry, without so much as submit ting it to its membership--whose ruleraj 44 rwheri assembled in General Conference; according to the; usage and discipline of tho. Church, repref sent themselvesj.and have no constituents tthiih i ahsolntel v an aristocracv-U-whose functionaries can remove , all; inferior, officers without the forms of tnal, "the' removed party, having no alterriative but subtnission their; be- iris? 4 no tribunal-toure "the ' error of rectify, -the' wrririff wHoso' bishops, mar swer to.1 re- know no such rights, if we comprehend rio such j)rivueges wnoe- ecciesiasucAi .-councils are unlimited Ju the authority f: tau creaf c, " arid - J' t V ; i'll.-'l --it"- ':' cqully nn limitea in tne .auinoriiy ;esirojr responsible only ' to " their o wn con sciences for the manner in which" either is "exercised Vr- whose legislitors r prissess the power according to Mr. Iiord, to 'change tne wnoie metnoaist denomination into a ' Sociniati " body- whose government according to thedictpline;origiri- r ated with! one man7 Mr Wesley---whos legisA lative, executive and judicial powers are vested in the same men, there not beiag 44 st modicum of power, left else wherewho, in direct contra vention of that vial principle which lieS ot the. DaslS 01 our gOTcrumeufc, ; Auab au uuncr w and temporal powCT-'? m the hands of iho traV-d ellm?? cleriry whos lerjwhe tnicf 'office;tbe bisho possess the power of sending six thousand mtri- istert to anv and. every part or tne - country, from Maine to California, and from Florida to Oregon,; fwlent volcns, regaroUess too,k as to whether such arbitrary appointments shall com port with the wishes of those who are to sup-; .-...:-..--'''' .tt 1 . A. J - - ' J - port them ana, onauy wuwe , iuuus auu pro perty are under the supremo control of the sariie 'ecclesiastical bodies, composed entirety of tbe 'clerey o' 'sajr;rtbe " democratic dement(1l "mnstexuit in this system if it has an exist ence at all iu it, notwithstanding all these facts ! No brother llamill ; the system tt Episcopal Methodism may, like some forms s of govern-, fmeni in Europe, be 44 a system;-pfs surpassing r energy l" : And to those who" look upon- 4 cn rerffV " as the 44 tine qua non of government it may be ?4 worthy of all eulogy !'.' .. Whatever ' other virtues 44 our episcopacy may possess and we shall not undertake to say but what t they are many, mocracy ana we da think that fara44de- 44 rerullicaui ua " are Tirxues, .7. . -.. i ... - t it is wei'uea ia uj l 3 r.r.i.uuaa wanv . , . prpmitted, to hango'tfus governrneni iriio; aallj f aristocracy, orcven monarchy f Suppose our ' legislntors, State apd Nationals should take it ;upon themselves to form our civil goverumest;- arter the . model, of "Episcopal - MethodisnvJs S there one "man in" si. million who would pretend1 V-f w ;xemocrauc ;KepuDiican .liovera-M ment ??..;' A' system of government which 44 ad-- mits no constituentswhich ' has - tin eonxtirnV nts-J-which ; is absotutelv ancrarisloera -.-. l arfeh st systemTaerrtdcratie f epublicatf govern-: V'htmntJ for jftfttK Wh K if goddess of ; American liberty rynng tip cnl:-. : off thai ysteta worildbe the greatest monstro city that ever i haunted "the "distortod '"fanV oromer tjamm sw y piumeater tl e who can. " evolve aemocracy from such a system of polity, -vrbuld findtitf difScultywe npinel irr lifting thai ----- '-. I ?. - , 'T'-r', piuiuuutl, irolliniJtdLilhiorl DwahalanriV . p i We have accomplished ioW iikth"wlat success; it becomes nstnol 'trf .iy. We hW .V not adduced rriglel fact Ibut'wliat has beet!S w "J s'i"vo fcua muai conclusive UOf ;bave we rised 4 'ngle;argariient which1 was inr S ' tended to harft any more weight with thereaderv I than it baa on ourwn inmdTruth, nof viq orjr,hVbeen.onr aim; Arid as irrith is always: corisist en t with ilfs y "r, h i.. ..5 -, ' ..jv u maguanuaOuS; . f ;r-.w;; havp ;fr$elyt aCcheerfully opened ourv 1 "columns ' for, tlie full and unreserved discussion? D I jof the governnT htalouomy of 4he3Iethodist ; TEpiscopaU Church Cntroversyconducteol in'.' t- t. .... ; . ful method of developing I ind establishing th?" v? truths for thr)hvious :"tso4( That the stated ,inent8of ibeparUes iriterested'are eachfub, jcted a the most jrigid scrutiny j andwhateve . a.ka 0UI1 IN : AO UT - liir A.I1R III flXI. ailPfPfiBV i survives csnctty an iProeaiu recognized br tha -t s i histonan v as ,reluble, matf rial forhis workii M any 4f the important facts which are c6nnect-S Methodism in this country, "- never ..would bi - brought out hefore the public mind, but for dis- ' iussions of thii kind ; WeTdisclaim all svmnai J ihy with that sicklycarit ariiong many professiM mg curiaiiaus woicu mrms tnit . religious con trpversy is essentially and 'always an Til JinC as we do not belieTe . thatiMetbodist Episcopa- , h-s any higher claims upon implicit popular ' rsdulity than totheH systemsTof ecclesiastical ' polity of ualjpretensionsj andXage,? we hay 4 uol fought it :iaciege iodisctiss its claims to the cojdenceanlsupporitl: of CAmericanxitP zens. 5 Tbi Wei have done to -the best of onp '!: .1.. ' : . . .. ' -' . , j -. jsrq, and it. L. Mayes i " tit?-, bonon-d pastor. -: which ? uu2' this diocussion. ability, Sincerely wishing; that the cause of -truth andighteousriess may" be 'subserved j '; tins discussion, Where lay down oar penJ t ' ' yTj will excuse me for'th; lib srty la ke 'in id - dlssirig yoo aew wl'ii ItSjnclusiori.-- , On - reading that r-communication; -1 would not - ( regard itJnariy aatbbrtiight than m formal de: 'i niand tliat I should either repudiate the article ; from the Western Waichpian, or defend U. W due to myself 4o state, ..that , the article wasV, ; selected and published In the paper by my jats .worthy associate, several days before Jt sawifc' . I ndecd up to the ti me of Ihe recnipt of youri , cvimmunication, I bad not read. it, being absenit. ;- , from homey iQtdancepon -the Georgia .BaptisConveriiioD after readinglihei arcle I. id.;repudiatethair. 'J' v portion of itwhich I deemed justly offerisiveV :; tol your denominatiori;Cl3utia Lcoujd riot -exi' tehdi this reprehcLsmritOjirtbat portio'u I of it ; which referred to the governmental economy o0'4 jioiaf'charebes.'sarlnV.i jsios' I ehoser f the later ternative-r-l chose ioTV ; fxlefcxririt.i ra care Tur brethreni - wilt cot. . . blame me, for: using such facts" in this coutroVj t versy as your'owri history has furnished id tar -s v band. True; ! have TbeeU - abused, - misreprV' sen ted and slandered by some member of your .1 i Cburch; in the publio printslarid otherwiso;fbr :: : daring to diseuss ?this Vsubjact. But 1 be ; assure you,- mat i , ao not ioia jon, nor th' largei intelligerit. and. pious denomination of. Christians to which yorj ;'; belong responsible fdf - this unkind treatment; Indeed, 'your worthy " Pastor has expressed lime and again; his decid- - disapprobation ?xf iochconducti? And "afiofds me pleasure' thus" publicfy'to bear testis mdriy to the excellerit Spirit Jwhieh has. marked ?hiscouTSff throfgh this discusfion. I Shall evetv r 'chrishtfor bim, the" kindest aridrbestof chri tiari feelings, 1-1 trust i have: juot been wan tins in reciprrical courtesy.' It would be indelicate in me: to a ppcal to yott -to decide how -faf baver'succeeded'ln main 3 '2 .'mX.?:"?' i sl-:: J-HJTL! n:1t '-t-i-fj f n --- '; "C----: -r . laming toe proposmor upon wnico your rastor "tooVMssne withTmeTB result Ais 6eforeav1 ' much' more nnerrinsr and" sunst tribunal than f either party immediately jicteres ted ,in" the dis- k-cussioo-- an -4njighteneo;4 aea . generous publwt -- avpipiou." iiu t no wu u iua tnounai, is , would be madness in.me not to aerruiesce Permit iue to sav in g conclusions that I wil"- nnwillin to take fhej position"! did in the openi Vingof this controversy ithout susUisirg itT! by What J believed to be ample testim ony dra w& from the most authentic sourcov: This 1 ; could boS andkind.of testiriionyjwhich believed rould ft, eustuin my; allegation ; and haying reached that " ' r j point,' the discussson, so,;far as I am cc-cerii eds closed.; Wishing5 you grace,' mercy asi.; - , . peac; . ; . -1 ; - , I 1 am, brethren; without any abatemest; "v -'JkhW ' 'i- Your friend and brother in Chriii, . - - SAM'Ii HRNDERSOIf-'-' 4 -j-A'BxArniTt Mrrrr.- We read in Orii tbxf the ; mulberry :; derives its fine color f. c:n ths" . -l-blood of-the two suufortunate ' lovers,. Pyrui 'anaiiiisDe" xxe teiwjis .ww it -was originally, snow-white,' but that when Pyranus; in clascair sriair-. upon tlie supposed death of his mistress, killed 'himself with his own' sword, hs fell und?r ttf $ shade of this tree.u Thisbe, fading Lina in tL:s 4 situation; followed example; and their Llopdi "jfiowing about'the trc : s v;: slccitid ty.thea jand'gave color to tlj f, -: a ; : : -Dirk in r! -'-7 t!'3 i',3 XAr. 1, v,-h'!.3 l j iS. :t, tec' ' Eat t;i ..;rc if,.' trrr:;3 gnwy '.. ; f.ua t.'.a ; our cwjs.- .very v'
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 20, 1855, edition 1
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