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History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

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disputed. It never has been called in question. He misses the point, shall it be said adroitly ? No<br />

system is "enjoined" in the New Testament, but will he be bold enough to affirm that no system is<br />

exemplified by the ministry and Church of that day, or that the <strong>Methodist</strong> Episcopal system can be<br />

found in what is thus exemplified? That is the point, Messrs. Emory, Buckley, and the ilk! It is not<br />

so wonderful that Dr. Tigert should be carried away with this infatuation and fallacy, for his Church<br />

is the exponent, since 1844, of the Asbury-McKendree-Soule theory. Hear him define terms,<br />

"'Episcopal' is the chief word in the title of the two <strong>Methodist</strong> Episcopal Churches, and '<strong>Methodist</strong>'<br />

is a qualifying term to point out the kind of Episcopalians we are. The grammar and the logic as well<br />

as the history of our name make Episcopal the genus and <strong>Methodist</strong> the species;" and much more to<br />

the same purpose. The definition is not at fault, and it serves to remind the brethren of their press and<br />

histories that in the title of The <strong>Methodist</strong> Protestant Church, Protestant is the genus, and <strong>Methodist</strong><br />

the species or qualifying term, and that the "grammar and the logic and the history of our name"<br />

forbid the transposing of the terms into Protestant <strong>Methodist</strong>s, and to remind such that whether in<br />

every case it is intended so or not, that the grammar and the logic and the history as the terms are<br />

thus transposed, implicate at least covertly that instead of <strong>Methodist</strong>s who protest against<br />

Episcopacy, they protest against Methodism. Let it be disavowed once for all, and let there be no<br />

more of this ecclesiastical slur: "We be brethren."<br />

While upon this subject it is opportune to notice that Tigert suavely delivers the opinion and wish<br />

— in these days of nonepiscopal successes in Methodism — That lies so near the heart of the<br />

dominating bodies of the Episcopal regime, that, "If the English Wesleyans, and all other bodies of<br />

<strong>Methodist</strong>s throughout the world, could be brought to adopt the Episcopal form of church<br />

government, we should have universal Methodism conforming to Mr. Wesley's ideal and plan, in<br />

respect of both doctrine and polity. It is not likely to be misunderstood if we venture to add that there<br />

can be little doubt that the <strong>Methodist</strong> Episcopal Churches are truer exponents and examples of Mr.<br />

Wesley's views and intentions respecting the constitution of the Church and the government of his<br />

followers than the non-episcopal bodies."<br />

Here is expressed a fallacy and a misunderstanding. The fallacy is, as exposed in these pages<br />

already, and to be demonstrated by further cumulation of evidence, that the Episcopacy of the type<br />

of Wesley and Asbury can ever be made a unifying force in Methodism. The marvelous fact of its<br />

doctrinal unity is here admitted for the thousandth time, and it is as marvelous that it is not seen that<br />

there must be something radically wrong and inexpedient in a polity which has so utterly destroyed<br />

the unity of governmental Methodism. It is equally marvelous that such writers do not further see<br />

that the trend of all the Methodisms mark, it is said of the Wesley-Asbury type of polity — is away<br />

from that system. Observe the equal lay-delegation system of the Wesleyan Conference so far as the<br />

unfortunate Deed of Declaration makes it possible without a disarrangement of its legal property<br />

holdings and other features tied up with it; as well as the sturdy resistance of the laity and the less<br />

ambitious section of the ministry against all attempts open or covert to make it Episcopal. Observe<br />

that the "<strong>Methodist</strong>" Church of Canada under the consolidation of its various branches is a <strong>Methodist</strong><br />

Protestant, and not a <strong>Methodist</strong> Episcopal, polity — it is a nonepiscopal Methodism in every<br />

essential of it. Before the union could be accomplished the Episcopal branch of its Methodism<br />

consented to the obliteration of the term from the new Church title, and while it has a "General<br />

Superintendency," of a four-year elective type, and of as limited powers as a <strong>Methodist</strong> Protestant<br />

Annual Conference President, the very latest attempt to call that Superintendent a "Bishop," was

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