History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

METHODIST REFORM
Edward J. Drinkhouse, M.D., D.D.
Volume I
CHAPTER 14
1825 to 1859, the centenary of English Methodism — Its hierarchal system compared with liberal
forms — Stevens' astronomic figure defective — Perpetual warfare of the two systems in both
Church and State — Ultimate result not problematical — The English Conference propagandism —
The defection under Dr. Warren; merits of the case — Policy of expelling first, and then granting
concessions accounted for — Early American fraternal delegates to the Wesleyan Conference —
Growth of the body — Thomas Vasey; a sketch — The centenary of Methodism celebrated on both
continents — Clerical pretensions of English preachers; examples — Priesthood of the people
claimed for the Parent Methodisms; how not illustrated — What a hundred years of protest has
accomplished.
The division of Stevens is so good a one that it may be followed for the next period, or from 1825
to 1839, the centenary year of English Methodism. He extols the Wesleyan system, or what remained
after the numerous and quite radical emendations of it in some matters, in a trend to a more liberal
polity, and he uses a scientific figure for illustration, which unhappily proves too much as a parallel.
The Wesleyan polity of the Conference, he says, underwent no material revision in this period except
in a single instance. It will be seen that it was a very important instance. Then he eulogizes it: "It was
found to be thoroughly organized, and effective for the great moral ends of the denomination.
Disturbances under it could arise only from such cases of personal discontent, ambition, or caprice
as must attend the best devised schemes of government; but it proved itself capable, by the regularity
and energy of its operation, of readily expelling all causes of serious discord; for, with a centripetal
force which gave it unity and power, it had also a centrifugal tendency, which, while continually
enlarging its range, speedily threw off incompatible men and measures." Nothing could be more apt
as an illustration of the oligarchic system, but it is untrue to the law of nature, the principle of
magnetic gravitation. In the starry heavens and the solar systems the centripetal force holds all the
planets of the system to its central sun, and thus secures unity and power; but its centrifugal force
is intended by an exact balance of attraction to hold the planets in their orbits at their respective
distances from the sun. It is never exercised to "throw off" planets of the system. It represents exactly
the civil code of a well-balanced republic, like that of the American Union, in secular government,
or of the New Connection Methodists of England, or the Methodist Protestant Church of America,
in ecclesiastical government. An autocratic or oligarchic system would promote its own destruction
but for this power, found in this case in its conferential authority based upon proprietary rights, both
elements of expulsive energy. It has been described as a great iron wheel, of wheels within wheels,
which work smoothly enough, cog fitting to cog, until a foreign substance comes between, and then
they crush and throw off the incompatible matter. It is effective and potential, it may be emphasized,
but at what cost let the divisions in Wesleyan and Asburyan Methodism record. This whole History
will be a frequently recurring illustration, while the successes of Church polity, which are true
exponents of the balance of the spheres, centripetal and centrifugal working in coordination, stand
as evidential beyond question that the paternal, autocratic, aristocratic, or oligarchic systems were
never either necessary or expedient to the highest development of doctrinal, operative Methodism.