Nazarite review of the Pastoral address of the Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church

Nazarite review of the Pastoral address of the Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church

Attributed B J. Bowman

First Fruits Press Wilmore, Kentucky c2017

Nazarite review of the Pastoral address of the Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church.

Attributed to J. Bowman.

First Fruits Press, Š2017 Previously published 1858?

ISBN: 9781621716495 (print), 9781621716501 (digital), 9781621716518 (kindle) Digital version at http://place.asburyseminary.edu/freemethodistbooks/27/ First Fruits Press is a digital imprint of the Asbury Theological Seminary, B.L. Fisher Library.

Asbury Theological Seminary is the legal owner of the material previously published by the Pentecostal Publishing Co. and reserves the right to release new editions of this material as well as new material produced by Asbury Theological Seminary. Its publications are available for noncommercial and educational uses, such as research, teaching and private study. First Fruits Press has licensed the digital version of this work under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/.

For all other uses, contact: First Fruits Press B.L. Fisher Library Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Ave. Wilmore, KY 40390 http://place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits Bowman, J. Nazarite review of the Pastoral address of the Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church [electronic resource] / [J. Bowman].--Wilmore, Kentucky : First Fruits Press, Š2017.

1 online resource (14 pages; 21 cm.) : digital.

Reprint. Previously published: Buffalo, [New York] : [publisher not identified], [1858?]

ISBN - 13:9781621716501 (electronic) 1. Chamberlayne, Israel, 1795-1875.--!Pastoral address of the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 2. Church controversies--Methodist Episcopal Church. 3. Methodist Episcopal Church--Doctrines--Controversial literature. 4.

Free Methodist Church of North America--History. 5. Methodist Episcopal Church.

Genesee Conference--History. I. Title. II. Methodist Episcopal Church. Genesee Conference.

BX8235.C525 2017eb Cover design by Jon Ramsay

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First Fruits Press The Academic Open Press of Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Ave., Wilmore, KY 40390 859-858-2236 first.fruits@asburyseminary.edu asbury.to/firstfruits

NAZ!RITE· REVIE\\1 OF TlIE PASTORAL ADDRESS 01" THE

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Pope_e, whilon;ie, in extraordinary emergen- doomed to become immortal as the WORD of a cies, have been known to deliver themselves of religious dispensation, t-0 be uttered in a sty le public bulls, such as dec1·etals, interdicts, dis- so cabalistic, as to require a tenfold comment pensalions, indulgencies, admonitions, and what to make their dim religious light (or darkness) not of that sort of thing; to quicken the .fl.deli- visible to the eye of common mortals. '11 hia is ty of the faithful; and to tenify the refractory the case with the various Hhis, Khis, Ongs an<l. of the flock into submission to the behests of Engs, of old China; with the 8ybilline Oracle8 ancient Peterdom. And even Protestant Bish of old Rome; and last not least. with this faOptl, have been wont, in times of great ala.rm for mous and immortal Hence we have the safety of the flock, to issue Pastorals to the also, as a collateral subject of rev:iew, the laclergy of thei.).· dioceses, to warn them of im· bored commentai·y of the Rev. and pending danger, an.d stir them up to extraordi- Vindicator D. D.;-from which persons of mor& nary vigilance. Several such Episcopal.Pastoracuteness might infer, or suspect a.la were put forth in Mr. Wesley's day, warning at least, that 'there ia something in said Pa.ston.1. the people against Methodism as heretical and -or ought to be-provided men of common ,fanatical. 'l'he V aticau has often thunde1·ed, sense could be made to see it. 'l'his comment and Lambeth has often growled, in this way;- the Venerable author had a pe1·fect l"ight to inand why should not the i·enowned Genesee Con- flict on all who chose to endure it. He had & ference of the Methodist Episcopal church make pe1·fect right to vindicate his own production. itself magnificent by a following of 'these ilus- And besides this, we think it needed vindica--: t;l'ious tlxarnples 2 J?actum est:-it has been tion. The more the better. Dust to dust-done. The conference had a perfect right to do ashes to ashes-mud to mud. this, and it did it. So we do not expose ourself 1{" The authors and abettors of the Addresa to a of .. unchristian and immo1·al con- calculated upon impunity from i·eview and proJuct," by denying the right of the conference test, so far as members of the Genesee conferto a Pa:;toral Address. The 1·ight is con- ence were concerned. After the exhibition of cededf We wish they issue othets, till their powe1· in the trial and expulsion of Bro. they mAke a clean breast of it. We knew the Roberts and Mccreery, fo1· the publication and stutf was in there, and the sooner it comes out circulation. of the pamphlet entitled N xw· the better. Said one "'I doubted the truth of ScaooL METHODISM, (which every body now Bro. Roberts' 'New School Methodism,'-but knows to be true to the letter), it was thoughi the Pa.st.oral .A.ddxess has convinced me. We that a sufficient warning had been given of thehavc two kinds of .Methodism ·among us."- unsafeness of attempting a. vindication of MethThere iJ:l enough o! the same kind of ma- odism in the Genesee conference from the slanterial in the Genesee conference for a dozen Pas· derous insinuations of the Address. The toral Addrcsses:-and we are looking for one ·ority of the conference, instructed by their hereafter. leaders, Carlton, Robie & Co., might deem it 1f But, alas, it is the fate of all superhuman policy to construe a protest into '' productions, especially t:>uch as al'e 01· 1• unchristian and immoral rondud,' or 1.011.1$ 0

ot.her Rl1t1.1n ehmiµ:e lllJidtT cov0r of whieh to rote' 1J&J' (Jf one uf tl1e ca..-,tern 1.hc of the rmricwer at pleasure; having must be something behind all this; it is .. the tools to do it with.' 1 It can hardly be ex- sible that any body of ministers Laving· the peeted that he who has a head to lose, or an ap- least carefortheirreputn.tion,conld have expelled pointment to gain fmm the :,wuthors of th!3 Pas- its me1nbers, nnd dis.ocmtimwd its probationforal, will have the teme1·ity to answer it as its on fdtolO'Us gtounds forth;-there demerits demand. Few have the courage to must be something behind.' 1 We have been_ the devil when he com.es having the loaves informed by a member of the Philadelphia confishes in his claws, offering them as a re-' ference, that a Missionary Secretary, quoting ward for pointless shafts. rl'he alternative is. one of the Book Agents as authority, has beeu therefore left us either to see the cause of Meth· , wont to amuse in that region with odism suffer, or to stand forth a wounded and marvellous stories of the N aza.rites, calculated to enfeebled soldier of the cross-in her defence convey impressions of the wilde:st fanaticism against the insidious opposition of those who and the grossest immoralities, as their distinh1de their mutiny agaiui:;t her principles and guishing . .Also, .a member of one usages, under the dissimulation of loyalty ; of the Western conferences informs us that the and who stab her to the heart while i11quirii1g, same stories are afloat there, from the same prowith ostentatiot;ts col)cern, after her healtn. We lific source. So much for oral defamation in shall stand, as usual, without any flinching or high places in the chlll'ch; which, without do:ubt., hiding of the truth; and fearlesslyreview, at the · has had an effect correspondent with the indussame time, the Address and its Vindication. In try and show of godly gra-vity with which it has doing this, we shall hardly fail to otfend the been uttered. And the extraordinarv ado made tiasy charity of some who :have fallen into the· the matter by the three in the. snare of allowing for Satan a conside1;a- State of N. York, at the instigatiCHi- ,of one of tion and a softer treatment, wb.en,tiHed .H.ever- . the Book agents, has confirmed the delusion in. ened; orDocto1·, and clothed in sacredotal robes many minds abroad. Nothing better could be of light, he comes and sits as Hod in the tern_ expected of the Buffalo Advocate. It is the ple of God; and in heaveuly tones ofiicial, dis- ''home orga1i" of the Book Agent, on which he 1-'cnses the de>ctrines of devils, in the language chiefly relies for puffing him up, and on, fa his of the angels of the churches. A1.id we are characteristically loyal aspirations to "st.rength1nore confirmed in the purpose to do a whole en the 'Episcopacy,"-with the next dnty to this Pastoral, wnile rernem.bel'ing the Genei"al conference: and which is t!J be reward·words of the Lord Jesus, how he said: " . ed, in part, by publishing the "daily" ·during :;oever therefore shall be ashamed of me-and my ·the session of that body. The editor o.f the words in this adu1tem,i1s and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be Christian Advocate and Journal, has heel) re ... he com.et.ti in the glory of hi& F<;1.ther with peatedly infonned of the true state the ca8e the holy angels." God. uo 80 to us, a;id more and of the falsity of these representations, by· also in that.day, through cow,ard,ice, we fail to laymen whose judgement and veracity are be<.iefeud th.e pure testiip.ouy .of fo this its . yond question; men who are on the spot, and w1·estling ''with principalities aad. powers and know whereof they affirm. Notwithstanding spiritual wickedness in places. 1 ' this, he has persisted iu gi¥ing currency to these 1f So far as public sentiment within the. false reports- and insinuations, prepared for him bounds of the Genesee conferen.ce is concerned, by the .Book .A,.gent's clique in Western Newit does not .need to be rectified by any review York. In our judgeme11t, it is almost as wickof Address. 11here is ouly '011e un.iversal ed to lie editorially and religiously, as any how opinion of its sinister falseneF:.s and else. But the most astnuuding of all is, that uut it not :So auroad. We have rcu:5un to be- the editor of the Northern Clu·isti.:i.u Advocate, lie\:e that the _Address, and· itB puifi- who, not many years ago was pronounced "in11 catwn, have, to some extent, mu.uufactureu aii sane on the subject ofl1olincss .arid cn.rricatured abroad, that something dread.fol, ( uo- n.nd ridicul(!d as a fanatic, by these same clerical I.Jody knows cxj:),cil y what, the ren.l thiug beiiw opposer:s of God and Methodism; and was, beRtuuiuuf'ly concealed;) has infected the c:J.use .thereof, denfod certain appointment, U'J and membel'ship m the Geu.esec " by tlns same Aut11orof tlns Address, then a prewith such viruleuce, and in such numbers .t_,, I siding e]der;-That this editor should suffer 0 CL1ll forth this i;;olemn O'hostly d · t, a:s .. himself t.o be dragooned into the list against o. · ocumea as a I . . N . . d .. . .

8aaitory exorcism of the m et, "d . " the . . an p.rost1tnte lus. pape1· t0 9 ]. . . "'-..a, y. i-Jtl.l a. . l r2pch.tton of the current seaudal agamst them, 1

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is incredible-: B.iit when a man is once · S'pfritual Teregrn.p1i, &'tJ of the AJd1·cas; s<'ld, it is· hard whl'll:t w0rk his owne,1:;> they fullv concur with the MetJ:w,_ maiy at. .And moTe· astonishing) do.es dist Advocates.

U niyersalist Mornin(l' Stru· h.i.s to us, we. This public and foreign ca,i-rlcature and look u.pon. his s0lemn. wntten. promise not to 1•8 ·.!Jl ·chr··ef· 1·n.Juncement.· t o th·· · · s ure1v . . . . . • ·. ·: · . 1s 1'ev1e-w. allow the use these i,.... + 1 . dof dfoe; columns agamst · · them · · Nazru·ites · ..uu.ve .J.east. one an.t'ique pecu 1.-i-Vety strong m ee ,, have beeti .the;.· + • th . h · · · i· d t J. h' ·. · · an1.1y, ey are '"a sect everyw ere spokens1-ves. t' ie · , do taJ..J;job ve "f1'ai'ns·t··" . ·d· ·.i.. ,,., . .._,.,, · · h k · · Tlll. h' from this volunteer . "o · · , a.n hi. anv one w o ·no,wa. obliga ion, an ·o. ·ring ·1m a.round mto the ... . .. . " ·. . . , line of ()pposition to tha,t doctrine and experi- any good of them m to s&y :1:t, ii he enoe,of holiness whose reproach he once endured.

In our Judgment ioo true ground T<>· such folly does th.e silly. dogma o.f official of. m the Gene.see eonference is aad conference infa.llibillity lead. With such First, there is a strong secret sooiety element, men, all Satan need do, to becom.e infallible, and which certain enteIJ>rising leaders ha.ve-pe:rverted rule without is to get either an office, or and made subservient to their plans of personal amajority.. And here we might.noteincide,ntal- p1·efer1nent, irrespective of the religions intei'ly,.a,lSo, that tb.e streng of patronage reof the· church. Secondly, these leaders, by tention m:ust have been ove,\'co1n,e by this pres- . certain moderate anti-slavery professions, well sme of evil influence. Thotisands afreliable kne.wn to be entirely a.gainst subsocrihers, with pi·epense cunsi.deration, wei·B evil, and uttered only because demanded by sacrifi.Ged, in t:P,is breach of promise and confi- the latitude of our location, have succedud. in deace to which felt compelled:-while the getting ·themselves put in trust, either a.s prosicad.Be of Old School Method.ism was thereby ding elders or their dictators, of the confo:·ent!e placed in jeopardy of ruin, by being identified patronage, and its con.sequent conforeuce with,.anJ. into th.eecclesif)istico-political · 11 hirdly, these leaders, thns armed with elei:.:1.a.nt: All these reveal the and power, while their position compels a pro-· extraordin. eff01·t$ .ma.d0.to corrnpt the chur({h fession of godly concern for the welfare of t.ht' press into a Vl.lh.iclP to d0i'a1n<.lotion church, become corrupteJ, and led n'i\,.,tl..\'" abroad through 'iihe land. The extract by these secular n.nd political a'Jsociations from thl3 .Miarniug :::Ital', a Umvei-.sa.ust named, silently and industriously engagecl not only shows who are the admirers of the d1;>e- in undermining the distinctive doctrinces, nsatrincs of the Pastoral .Address, but reveals, also, ges, and spirit of original Methodism; and imthe tact of its authors and abettors in obtaining proving and modernizing the church into a mote incidental commendation ffom beyond the pale appendage to this Secret Society Pro-sla\ery·of the ehurch;-the regions of "outer darkness.'' Know-Nothing Power, or<lcr to do ''In nearly every section of the Methodist spiritual a.nd religious element in the chtuch denomination, there is an element, which in musteither be seduced into allegiance, or crushed so,me sections, is called N azru:itisrn; which is out by persecution and proscription. For sev _ causing no su:1al1 distraction 'in the societies. eral years past, those thus assuming the control 'l1hese N azarites prof0ss superior sanctity, of the conference, deemed it necessary fo l1ave m.uc,h to.say about the baptism of th0 ffoly the maintainance of their suprenmcy, to vietimG:Q.ost; they pray for the holy fire, roll Qn ize a few of the more formidable of those op .. the floor, leap, jump, and shout; and believe themselves to· be unaer the immediate direction posed to their schemes, in orde.r to; st1·ike a salof the .Spirit of God. 'l1 hey claim to be acting titary terror into the rest and quicken, their serafter the pa.tte1;n of primitive forbid vility. These conference leaders, being all jewelry and omameht.s of dress; aud spend a society meu, command the sympathy of large share of their time in boisterous meetings of The Genesee conference, located in only a select portion of the. people, and those western New York, }u:i,ve taken up this matter the least pious of the church, and consequently in ,good ea.:mest; and h:we turned the full foree were reduced tq depend almost solely ori cou of their against the whqlc affo.ir. We ference management for tho of th.eir prin have recefred t1' copy of'their "Oircul;,J.r Lettei·", ciples, and upon conference ri.nthority, aud tlrn whieh be-.trs upon this subject; and is an able, ecclesiastical fictions of church order ahd re(fu .. logical, and dignified doctitnent, to which the . 0 societies will do well to take 4ecd. We ru·e lal'ity, to impose their scherMs, and thcnHcl\le,.,, glad t0 see such a Lette1: emanate fr<>m a body . upon the people. But, after all authority n.:r·t of n:1inisters of so much to.lent m1d .i.nfluence, as were exhausted, it was foLind th.tt M1.1 compose the Genesee . . people in large majoiities " ...

We haye :n,ot ·yet seen what the Boston 1 against them. The sympathies of the pcl"lpfo Chronotyp0, or the Boston Investigator, or the I were the other w;1y, aud ran in thu cL.au ncl uf

and

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:spiritual Methodism; .in opposition to this worldly-policy ¥ethodism, sought to be introduced. 11 his advel'se popular current could not escape observation. it was the mighty :flow of almost the entire religious element in the and must be arrested at all hazards.rrherefore, desperate expedients, more so than herctofore employed,. were i·C"solved upon..Months in advance of the session of conference the decree went forth frorn a secret conclave held in Buffalo, that certain lent fellows, movers-of sedition, and ringleaders of the sect of the N a.zarenes," u.s they were called-were to be put out of the way; and a plan of active electioneering was set on foot among the members of the cvnference to :majority of them up to the mortal point of voting ·· d t' d · Th . t he1r con emna ion an eJi..""PU1srnn. us, in· th f' t , s tea.d of usmg e power o pa c1:onage as a • sa1h - k to ant'-i-s1a.very u ltra1sm · ·,, as, was llWl-TY c ec .. ' :je1gned wh.en demanded, and expected of them _ . when bestowe d, they have used it as a check to .1· • •· M th d' d f urntii1ctrve . e · o ism, an as a means o per· d· d ·' t · · t 't + . an es ruction agams 1 s moslJ zea1itl'l.S supporters in the ministry and membership. ;\ is · usua1 in · sueh. b od'ies, tlie .iew c · th in ' e con... d d th .c Th ..1.orence 1ea , an · e many .io 11ow. ese pro. . ·d· h" - t 1 .A c th 1ogy .ior em, an t is Pas onu · po . . . were conspired J;n sectet conclave at Buffalo June by the Jew, and duly voted at Perry, in October, by the many;_,....incited by the skilful rattling of the fish-and-bread .. baskets in the hands of the presiding elders, accompanied with well .timed thteats of starvation appoint.. ments; inteTlarded with sanctimonious inte1jections of, "strife/" ''division!" ":>ecession/1' and such like words of godly guile, Sltited to the partiei11ar temperament of each voter. 'l1he chief open argument used to produce theconspi.. red sanguina1-y result, was that of .. fanaticism and division". A well simulated concern for the pence of Jerusalem, was agreed upon, as the w.ain argument for :filling her streets with blood, 11J.ld,

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this address the grenie1· weight (If oificial -sane"' tion, it was conspii'ed to have it adopted by the conference. Hence, for the first time in the history of the present Genesee confere:nce, It. committee on a Pastora.I Address was appointed.

This committee, with the exception of one member, was purely partisan; selected in secret conclave, and nominated by partisan presiding elders, as in,structed by the ruling faction. So notoriously partisan was the committee, that their :1;1ames are not appended to the document.

They were evidently ashamed of the Address, or of or desirnus that partisan co.mnot have the public confirmation of signatures.. The member of had. merely a nommal with it, and. bemg absent on account of sickness when it was reported and adopted, never . . . . .. . . saw it till it appeared in pnnt; and IS m no .. . d . . wise responsible for the pro . uct10n. So stnk. . mgly partISan was the commrttee, that a motion ·. · . · was mad e ( c_h.iefl y t o test the rn1qu1ty of t h e th' ) t . dd: S L k .A Ab 11 J p K mg o a . uc ey, . . e , . . . ent A H d d J W y . h t th · ·t ' ar , an • . aug n o e commit .ee.

Th' t' tl 1 "d th tabl b is mown, was Y ai on e e Y the usual .party .maJonty. If candor and truth were the rntention, why were those men voted f h . . · . rom t e committee l There is but one answer t o the quest'ion. .

The Pastoral the Genesee conference

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of the maJority of is PARTISA::i, SLA.:iDERous,

AND FALSJi:.

It is partisan.-,-.The movement to publish it originated with a party. '1 he committee who 1

drafted it were all of them, except one, violent party men; and it was adopted in conference by a strict party vote-the fifty who did what. ever was done. Through its whole length, it gives the view of things as pretended to be seen from the stand-point of one of the of the conference. It was written by one of the dominant faction, and expresses his views, as endorsed by his party in the conference, and

of the conspirators, of more than the comparatively few of the same party in the ordinary influence in the company, had prepared membership. .

It is slanderous.-The g1·eat bulk of the un address as an &pology for the meditated pro_ well calctllated to convince the cred- documen:t is made up of accusations, expressed ·ulous, that such were the evils introduced of late chfofly by insinuation, against our people, of into the church by the so called N azarite move- things that do not exist and never did exist.·ment, that the most extreme measures were justi- It. begins with a solemn exhortation to unity. fiabletosecure their removal. The indefiniteness. as though somebody was causing division; was and obscurity of the address, avoiding · going to divide the church; or some dreadful all spcciticatfon, and dealing in geIJ.eralinnuendo, thing. in that direction. There is no mistaking was considered as not its least mexlt to produce the design of this. It is aimed at the leaders of the desil'ed impression; without jeopardy of con- what is called the N azarite party; and the im-viction of direct and palpable fabeh<wd. To give pre8sion is sougiji to be snadc in the outset, that

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·h

!hey can.

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u.n<ler it, or ftS they sJiaTl fint1 fl most convenfont. .

"DISUNION.'·' - '' DrnsrnN. "- \\-e admit there is disun·ion. and division in the ehurch.-·There are New School Methodists and Old School Metho.dists iu the Metho'di'st Episcopal Church. .And it is sheer nonsense to pret.end that they a;_re united in doctrine, spirit •. 01:. ·pra..ctice. It has ceased to be "unchristian and .iJnmoral conduct" to affirm. thi.s,. now .fact. In some societies there are no class meetings; in others there are. . In some there are no prayer meetings; in others there are. In some of worship the are sold, or in others they are m.part.at least.. some, th.e members sit upright m. prayer, ;m others they . . k;neel. . . In some t.he chmr . . monopo. . lize the mothers the sm?.

In some the people are as mute as mummies; m others, some say "amen," and bles.q the Lord.S · . t-. ·e •"'l>tly oppo· general o.me socie ies ru grVQ =- LU love-feasts, and ca.mp-meetings; others arc largc1 · f . f tl..em. indulge in word] v Y m a.vol 0 '" • u "' dress and other refrain. In fim•, some societies, and individuals, observes the rules and usages of the church; while others ignore them more or less. Where all are Old-School Methodiet..s there is union, and life, and salvat' Where· a.re New .,School Methodists ion. there is union, and death, and darnnation.Where there is a mixture of both, there i5 disunion and division. Some will observe the rules of the chui·ch, and en.joy religiOn as our fatbel'S did, while others consider it antiquated and unfashionable to do so; ansl this makes the troubh•, All the commotion, at which the authors of the Address prerend so much alarm,. a.nd labor so much to alarm with, but the rattle of the chy bones, by the living crawling out from under them. That is all. Therefore. let no be frightened 'into fits. A live N azarite, roaring, and kicking up a dust in a. is no such dreadful thing after all. .. A live dog is better than a dead, lion," There is a divisio11 ... So:me are in reality, others in name only. Who is responsible for this division? Of course they who divided in spirit and practice from the constitution, laws, and usages of the church; and· not they who adhere to them. The N azarites p.ever been known to find fault with Methodism oi· Methodists. The very contrary is their chief offense. And all true' Methodists instantly and spontaneously unite with them whereve.r they find them. If, therefore, the authors of the Ad· dress are sincere in their deprecations of dfaunion, they can v.ery easily avoid it in the followThey can either stand it, or lie down ing way:- First; let them get int<> the of

they, a few fanatic:M. preach· ers, are making all this distUl'bau.ee in the confe1·ence; and, by theirel'l'a.tic conduct, and heretfoal tendencies, have c1·eated a necessity for this .Address and congenial antecedents, to save the church. {rom. division and ruin. This impression is ma.de for the foreign market. It is well known in the Genesee conference, that those preachers against whom this whole Document is aimed, are neither heretical nor fanatical. On the contrary, they are proverbial for cool, delibdetermined Methodism, They have purmued no course other than has always been approved by all genuine Methodists of the olden f;it.am, Neither have they, for a moment, entertafned a thou()' ht of a division in the chmch.

0 · thewo1 . ·ld tha There are no truer M'eth od'.ist sm .n A d this was the trouble:-their Methot ey. ·n . . . dism was .found tnal, t? mvulneiable JJecret society, anti-Methodistic craft and poweI. ·a·· ,, d 'ts 'l'hey "bowed not, nor di : an 1, vengeance demanded then sacufice. So long · d th · k t d · f, d as they quietly vote e t1c e an per orme the other duties assigned them by these. secret was W:ell; was nothing agamst 'lhey weie neit.hei unchristian nor fro.m the moment they refused allegiance to. this evil power, they · · 1f b · were doomed. Then immo a wu ecame a political uecessity;-it must be But there waa a difficulty ahead. _The people these men as true and faithful, a,nd must be done to keep the people at; the sight of their blood. The people, if possible, must be misled to believe ?uilt:y of something, that their might .some show as an act of JUStice, of gency policy. Hence 'I hat. is its chief purpose. 'I1he whole thing 18 one mgenious tissue of suggestive slander, as an apology for the iniquitous of the late conference, and, as an argument, m Yance, for t'lle "crushing out'' process, determmed those of .the laity who_ should 9-uestfon the,n· conduct m the How W:ell ai:;i.d $Wers that end, let the .Albion descl'ted churches, mgs of the New-School pa.stois answer.

1f Such being the history and design of. the Address, we shall feel free to treat its dactrmes with that contumacy, the whole a1iimus of the thing deserves. We shall neithe1· hew blocks with a razor, nor split hali'S with a broad-axe:-and if •the dignity of the fathers of the Pastoral shall .to be offended .against, they must get aloug with it the best

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the spirit of God, n."Q<l this will bring into spiritual union, with all true "believers. 'ly; .let them come back to the b bservti.nce of the rules and proper usages of the church; and this will bring them into i,mion with all true Methodists; particularly the N azarites.

In our o-pinion this will be found a much easier way to produce union among brethren, than the '"mending 01° erulin9" process, of this lamb-like heavenly minded PastoraL It is time this matter of divisiOn in the Genesee conference,, were better understood abroad. Much has been said and wl'itten about the N azarites, yet no one has had the honest manliness to publish their Practical Propositions. It would spoil all the tragedy of the thing to do so. It would show the factiousness and division to be all on the side of their persecutors. It was so in We$ley's day; his enemies always gave his doctrines in their own words, and then made a valorous display in demolishing their own fabricated nonsense, as though it were his. Let us just see what "fanatic.a.l.n "enthusiastic" "censorious'' "vituperous11 "obstreperous" Proposals they entertain.

Here they are. Let all eyes be opened wide to bee the monster:"PRACTICAL PROPOSITIONS" 1. To restore the observance of the Rules re. quiring attendance on Class.

2. To i·est-01·e the observance of the Rules 1·equiring family prayet\ 3. To :resto:re. the observance of the Rules i·equil'ing Qual1iel'ly Fasts.

4. To resto1·e the custom of free seats in onr houses of WOl'ship.

5. To restore tb.e observance of the ·Rules requiring singing by the congregation.

6. To restore the custom of General Love. feast.a among us.

7. T<> restore ·the custom of Field, or Caropm:eetmgs among us.

8. To i·est-Qre the· observance of the Rules prohibiting wol'ldly Dress and Amusements.

9. To testore the obsei-vance of the Rules pro. hi biting Dram-drinking;-Sabbath-breaking;and IO'. 'l1o restore the obse1·vance of the Band .;Rules and Directions.

11, To l'estore and, maintain the Wesleyan doctrine of Entire · Sanctification as distinct Work, to Justification.

12. 'l1o restore genei·ally, simplicity and spirituq,lity in Ol.lr worship.

Tfo1t is all: and we ask; can men of common sense be sincere in all this outcry abou:t di7ision 'c Will it the church to have its members observe and kee.p its rules?- But say t;he editors, ''you must keep them, under the lead of the pastors: it and irregular to do so otherwise." J3ut, suppose the pastors take a notion to lead in another dir.ection? What then? Suppose the pastors t8'ke a fancy to introduce things contrary to the rules, or variant from them? What then? Where rests the responsibility of division? Does i.t rest on the rules, and on th9se who observe them; or on the pastors with their New-School mal-administration? It is d.ue to the readers of the Adv'? ocates which ha.ve published this Pastoral and its immense Vindication, to show the true target at which all this park of artillery has been fu·ed off. It would hardly fill two Bquares in a newsp aper column; and yet they have left their readers in the dai·k as to what the Pastoral is thundel'ing at. This absence of any real thing in sight, caused one of ·our ft;J.Cetious friends to remark at Vindicator's "he is firing at nothing, and he hits it every time ! 't. These N azarites are quiet, orderly, God-fearing Methodists; and are utterly astonished at their own notoriety, and the fuss that is made over them.

F01·ty years ago, people served the Lord according to the Discipline, and nobody took fright at it;- and they wonder why all this commotion now. Some of the blind shepherds have mistaken a woodchuck for a wolf, and have given a false alarm.

1J The Pastoral Address is pleased to admit that the disagreement which it complains of " is not on essential points; but on modes, and accidents, and circumstantial forms." Is that all? Then it is verily a small matter that such a commotion is raised about: hardly sufficient, we should think, to immolate several preachers for, and produce a labored Pastoral in apology.

Is it so indeed? are the majo1·i ty of the confer.: ence genuine Methodists in sentiment, in everythin,g, save the mere mqde, accident, and circumstance of the thing1 Why then all this ala,rm, and w:rath, and tribulation, and anguish, over the matter? No l there is a greater difference than all this; a differencs that the Addresa does not see fit to name-the greatest of all diffdf/ference in This is the real thing after all. While 8ome desfre to promote deep, sensible spirituality and holiness among us; there are others who have no real sympathy with it. They are satisfied with the mere forinality of i·eligion,. They labor as zealously to repress whatever goes beyond a mere formalism,

a:e tne others <lo to promote 3.n earnest spiritual l'eligfon; and thus we work against each other in the vineyard of God. While some believe our doctl'in-es with a hearty faith, aud labor to realize theni in experience; others are di.s()"usted . with any advance beyond a mere intellectual assent ta them as a ci-ced, and a mere cold profession of them as such. They not only es,chew a high religious e.x;perie:nce themselves, but are displeased with all who go beyond their own They profess to believe in the witness of the Sph·it, but if any on.e receives the Spirit $0 as to fill him with joy, a,nd cause an .exclamation of praise, they are disgusted with it as fanatical and enthusiastic. These things are a matter of continued nmong us, and prove beyond a doubt that the real difference is in spirit.

1J There is also a difference in doctrine. No man can live a great whiJe with his spirit opposed to his without tinding fault with its doctrines. Such results are ali·eady among us. '!'here are several preachers in the Genesee conference who deny the attainment of holiness in any other way than by a. gradual progress toward perfection iu love, without ever attaining to it;-a.ccordiug to the " growing up into it " theory of the A<ldress. Say not then there is little or no difference among There is indeed a dltference, not only in outward things, but also in the very spirit 9f our religion; the hea.rt work of it. In pJaces the prediction of Wesley is fulfilled;-" Farewell to Methodist discipline, if not to Methpdist doctrine alsQ.''

The Address, in its clemency, is pleased to allow '' the practice o.f encouraging those to come to the altar for prayers, who desire the blessing of a clean hea.rt;-provided it be done without reflecting directly or indirectly upon those who do not chose to come; a.nd provided, finally, that every such prooeeding be under pastoral dfrection." But tbe so gra.•·iously allowed, it will be perceived, is eo meled with res.trictions as to entirE4y nuga:tory. The fifty w h_o were led to reject Br. Warner for the sole Qf inviting of holiness to the altar for pr:J..yer; who conspired tQ locate C. Kendall, chiefly for the same offense and its glorious accompaniments, will hardly follow thei.J.' example of proceeding in the case; even this P&Storal permission so graciously and reluctantly given.

Besides this, in almost all congregations, some peevish backslider, lay or clerical, will be preto fancy himself reflected upon by such invittition.

Such persons are prorerbially

s1>lenetic; anti the w l e.fft:t:r i G·n c1u be casr upon them is to ask them to seek rdigiun.The la.st clause of the quotation, limiting tlw invitation emphatically "11,nder pastural di1·e<:tion,'' is designed as a final extinguisher of thi::; matter of seeking entire sanctification as a tinct "second bless.i:ng''-as held bv the fathel's and argued at present by a).l true )lethodists._: Why should persons be Invited to seek instantly the blessing. by who believe in obtaining it only by gi·owing up into it'?"The design of this doctrine o( the Pastoral is obvio.usly to check all efforts to build up the church in holiness; and to shield worldly or heterodox. professors, priests and people, in their backslidden state, from the pressure of the pure testimony of the living, and Methodistic portion of the church. It is an ilnportant part of the plan of the Address, and of the. faction it represents, to reduce the church to. the entire dominion of formalism ..

The Address also gives a v.ery ingenious criticism on physical demonstrations; and insinuates, rather than says, that there are agances in this line, among us, that call for correction. Whatever irregularities could be fished up from the Wesleyan period, together with ainmadversions upon them are set forth as being. re-enacted now and here, to the woful scandal of the church. This is the impression, a stranoutside of the Genesee conference, woukl. gather from the Address; anc.l this is the impression sought to be ma.de everywhere. Suffice it to say, that there is nothing, in any pa.rt of the Genesee conference, to which the garbled quotations given, can, with any fairness of constructiQn, be applied, The para.de of them is only in §.Ccorda.nce with the general design of the whole document, to represent some kind of fanaticism or disorder iq. the church, as an apology for the preposterous conduct of the late conference. We a.re relieved from the trouble of a historical and psychological review of this·subject, by the able and candid review written by aev. W. Reddy of ilie Oneida. conference; anJ. also an able review written by a,ev. L. Stiles of the Genesee cqnference. These reviews ought to receive the greate1· credit !or candor; coming as they do from a conservative soUl'ce:-neither of the authors being N azm·ites -further thau N azaritism and Methodism {D.ay be identical.

What may seem extravag&nt as physica1 demonstrations to clerical dandie8, or those venerable grandams in the ministry, whose religion has been Doctored up from the heart into head, may soom very different to surh

s a 13 :ri·f> out in the work of souls, who do nothing are generally growlers at those who do. You can never work to suit r1,he ring of the sickles in the harvest of God, sets their canine teeth on edge every time; and the best way to drown. their howling and barking, is to sing and w01·k on. Our members are ·as orderly in theit acts of worship, as living ·:Methodists are any where; and far more ·so th.an chdstians were on the day of Pentooost. We say it boldly, and we know whereof we affirm, (for we have been among this so called fanaticism everywhere), there has been nothing among us as yet, to call for an application of these strictures. We challenge the facts in the case-not the hearsay stories of Book A.gents--but the /acts. Who has done anything in worship that we have n9t seen done a thousand time in forty years past in the M. E. 'ChUl'ch? Who?-Nobody.-And all this trash published over the matter "is of a piece with that published against the Methodists in Wesley1s day, and by the cold-blooded Calvinists of New-England,. on the introduction of .Methodism there.

11 The N azarites allow every body, fools, nervous persons, and all, to get religion among them;andarenotsilly enough toexpectthatsalvation will make a uniformity of temperament, or an equality of intelligence in each. One thing is certain, they are no.t so gifted with a ••discernment of spirits'" as to tell in advance how loud men and women will "holler iu meetin9,'' till they get religion; and when the shouting, clapping, and falling," as described by the Pastoral Address, comes, they endure the disorder, we suppose, about as they did on the day of Pentecost; or when a certain "lame· man" broke up a prayei· meeting in the temple, byobst1·eperously '"walking,and leaping, and praising God." It is astoniBhing how tame this. wild-fire is where one gets it into his own heart; and the greatest (especially .New-School Methodist backsliders) always make the greatest ado, when they get it.

They are invariably the most vociferous subjects pf this salvation; and we always give them glorious latitude. correspondent, in contrast, with their former constriction.

As yet, it only to be as it was in the days of the fathers.

John Wesley, John Nclsott, '.rhoma.s Olivers, Bradburn, Johu Smith, William Mc Kendree, Enoch George, Jesse Lee, Benjamin Abbott, a _host of others of th,t stamp, m1e fortunate m bemg beyond the reach of the rufartion in the Genesee conference. Were.:

either rA them members of that body, we might confidently look for their expulsfon, on charges of "unchristian and immoral conduct," for the crime of preaching the truth, and of exciting the people to fanaticism by their ministrations.

Only think of Bishop George jumping up nnd down in the pulpit twenty times; and shouting ''glory!" at every leap.. Only think of Bishop McKendree preaching in Baltimore, before the Gene1·al Conference, and hundreds falling under the power of God, and the whole lifting up their voices in praise like the sound of many watersl-And here a miserable clique of secret society inquisitors, conspfring to expel. and actually doing it, fo1· less than a tithe of the same conduct, several members of the Genesee Conference; and producing this labored al in apology !-Tell it not in Gath ?

1T There has been cold and dry formalism enough in the church in certain quarters, to call for a volume of quotations from the fathers of Methodism against it; and to be fair the Pastoral ought to have given the 8ti:ll side of the question. We have no space to enlarge here. Let the dead bury the dead. The Adru:ess makes a strong appeal to our •• sense of propriety," in respect to these alleged extravagancies. By this sense of prnpriety the Address doubtless means, mistakenly, the carnal mind, which is enmity against God, and will not be subject to his Spirit. Of course, everything that savors of the life and power of religion, offends against this ,, innate sense of propriety." and especially the joy of salvation, has come to be a great impropriety in these days. Dead men never act with impropriety. But if a live man or woman, filled with joy in the Holy Ghost, as in the days of our fathers, ventures to give utterance to an exclamation of praise, it is a great impropriety, and, accordingi.o this Pa.storal, those who do so must either be "mended or ended.'' After considerable tinkering and Doctoring in the mendins line, the work of ending is fail'ly begun; and we w:ait to see ho-w this ending will We have known some jobs, in our day, more easily begun than finished; aud we shall be grandly misW.ken if this is not one of that sol't.

Tlie Pa8toral Address is fil 80 falsc.-It declares the existence of fanaticism among us; and charges upon some, indefinitely of course• "the supposition of being under the immediate guidance of the Holy Spirit in matters of duty; and particulal'ly as to conduct in seasons of worship." If the above means to insinuate that there a.;re any umong us who profess tc have Sf)('(:ial revrla'tions of truth..

as the Adc.lrt·3.S com_phins, ;•1n..'tny art: Ir2 tb.l1 habit of pronouncing any thing but decisions upon the piety and integrity of their brethr.en.,. who bave fallen int-0 the later ha.bit o,f doling out yards of written fooJ.s,,,ca.p in their ministrations, instead of the warm and living gospel of God. Every body, saint. or sinner, has more or less, this power of discernment, and moreover, will exercise every time he finds occasion. There can be no help fo:r those claim to be injured by its exercise, but to get a better spirit;-one they are not afraid of having "discerned" It is the current report everywhere that these New-School pastors propht"SJ as if with a bag over their head;- their secret meetings for "the promotion of holiness" by the dicial butchery of their brethren, seems to have increased either their sweetness of spirit. or the unction of their ministrations. Tho crr1ilty are always sensitive,· and it is but natnrn.I t> that, conscious of the absence of the Spirit, they of tne Bpi1·it of God, to put om· hearts in should suspect every body of discerning it, rmd the right fra)u0 to worship him acceptably; and should set up a lamentable.! ho"Wling over the that fa just what a.ti orthodox christians believe. matt.er.

As to this chsµ.·ge of claiming the power Inasmuch this charge of bdng led by pf the dfacemment of 8pirit8, so elaborately set the Spirit, and of being discerners of in forth in the Audl'ess, wu flatly deny the charge a fanatical sense, bas been laboriously circulated jn the seuse, it is attempted, by the most sneak- in other forms than this Paators.4 "'e oonceh--e kinJ of to be applied. If the it proper to introduce a few quotations from .,Aut.'ior-anJ.-Vindicutor of the A.ddress knows documents published a centary ago, to. show o! a sinLYle casG, let him specify it, ::>lander is . tha.t such scandal is nothing new. From these cheap wholesale,. o.nd general defamation is extracts, it will appear that the boasted "origmuch safor than particubr lying. Let us have inaiity" of the .A.ddreos, in this part of i4 confhe specifications to sustaill the charge. Cer- sists rather in form of expression, than in libel· Wnly, one so accustomed to the work of lous substance. In a pamphlet published by sia.'3tical prosecutioas, ought to lf:uow the order the Rev, Mr. Do-WUs, then Rector of St. Mio! his better than all this. Give us the cha.els; in 1759, early in Mr. Wesley's day who;-:-wken.;-: and ,_w_here,;_- he says as follows:of this mattel· of spi,nts. I",.lB -with "All ancient heresies have, in a manner, .utreme shame ami rell.lctance taat we a.e com- c ce11 ti·ated in the Methodists.''--"The£:ihaYe ' on · pelloo to the conviction, that t h e a.urn.ors of th J .e <ltJ.rkeued religion with many n'd"iculous cres 1 hJ.ve incial:ltnously perpetrated this I tending to confound the head and corrupt fa.lsehood kao\Viu,,ly, so mnch "They to get to the the nurp· of IJartisan scandal. shortest way, andt the leastpe·""t:tonralue prm" · .. _. . . .

•'They represen 13.1 .as a su ... .._._ fJ" .All men have some kmd of a. discen;iment ciple, altogether precludmg the JUdgem4:nt and of the temper, spirit, or state of mrnd others, imderstanding, and some internal from the ov i\.iences given. By their fruits, men si&'ns;. not as 'a firm persuas;ion. onb the k w Men will form a notion when ev1dence·of reason, and dISCermble : 1Y ya are no n. ' h h aol'formity of life and manners to su a per· they hear a man pray, or exho 11t., w- et .- suas10n.

• · "--"'"hey· talk of in• ev. ,,1. . er be does it in the Spint or it ery christiau, as it was as su den and llll.raccomes from the baa.rt or not. Eve11 srnners ulous as that of St. and first can do Professilw to have only common to Christianity; and as if the mgne it were aenee, IDUSt .P'!ople to be able to 0 mm · 1. · · · guish a col d hear tl sermon, rcad , or rcc1 ted mes the most peevish and spiteful invectives in academic sty le, from one that comes from a the clergy, the. rude and be.art warm with the love of God. They can and t.he most mv1d1ons calummes - - Tlwrefore, we d ;ano•·n a difference' at least, in the two; and h · f 'th mki ta.ncv the l.n""' 1&:0e·. 1.&1wt we must a.dmit that this is the true w Y , mg a.i •• over a.n.d above the Bible, n.nd spooia.l dircc-' tions in matters of duty a.a distinct and peculi&r revelations; we answer; it is false. We flatly contra.diet the slander. No such thing has ever oocured among us; with possibly the bare exeeption of the writer of the Address himself; and if he ever received any special directions from those of the departed" with which from time to time, he has been in the habit. of holding he has had the discretion not to Il}&ko a public matte1· of it; his example has boon harmless. A quondam table-rapper rea.ding a .homily to sane people against spiritual manifestations, is quite a novelty, to be sure; but we congratulate him on his recovery from hii delusion; v;rhile we regret that bis sickness lj.O.d shame over it, should have driven him into the oppQsite extreme, of rejecting all spiritual influence; eveu that of God's Spirit. Of course, :the N tes, as true believe in the

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aJJ.ing blasphemy to enthusiasm." ] Also, in 1758. Just a century ago, a Rev, Mr. Potter, and a Doctor of Divinity· withal, published a pamphlet, (about the size ofthis Pastoral) "On the pretended inspiration of the Methodists:,. in wmch he valiantly charges them o.n thiB wise:[ ••They confidently and pres.urqptuouslf claim a and immediate inspiration.''--•'Under these pretended impressions, thefr next advance is to a call to preach the word themselves; and forth they issue, as under the immediate inspiration of God's ·Spirit, with the language of apostles, and the ze8.l of martyrs, to publish the gospel."-- ''Thus have I expose<f their boasted claim to a particular and immediate inspiration." ]

And so has this famous Pastoral! Thus one hundred yef.Ll's ago, men Wl'Ote carricatures against primifare Methodism; and thus they begin to wi'ite i}.gQ.in. ;I>ity SllCh stuff should be repeated by her own P0ctors of Divinity, and Ey conference au:thorityt 1f But the most remarkable doctrine set forth in this Pastoral, is the novel one of supreme and exclusive jurisdiction within the territory of his charge, by the incumbent pastor. Here is a decision, so far as such adocunent is authority that the people have no right to hold religious meetings. without the pastoral authority. It is well we have not the. civil power, or we might .have a Conventicle Aci in nineteen.th century. The denial of this right is the strong hold of every system of ecclesiastical despotism.""""'.9' .N" 0 man may buy or sell without the mark of the beast; or the sanction of the number of his Harne. 'rhe pope's great objection to Protestantism was, it was not under his ·The high church Bishop's chief objection against John Wesley was, th,at he would not worship icnder his direction. ·The descendapts of the Puritans in ij"ew England used to punish their children for goillg to meetings which were not 'uru.ler the-ir direotio.n. The· is to be the case in the Gene.see Qonference. H the shepherd happens to get BBieep. the poor must gnaw the ground around him, or stai·ve till he sees fit to awa.)re up and feed them, They must o.ot forage any where else, but must stay home to be starved and sheared urider his direction. There in all this. Suppose is a little too much the the preacher takes a notion into his head not to appoint any p1·ayer meeting, what then?

Shall there be no prayer meetings? Suppose the p-i:-esiding elder takes a fancy not to appoint a camp-meeting? Whn.t then? Shall we ghre up our camp-meetings to his official whim? Is it disorderly for the people to hold one? So it The 11otion i3 law. '£his is the

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doctrine oJ the Address. And jt was applied to the case of the Bergen, and the Niagara camp· meetings last year. The people wanted and demanded these meetings; the pastors, unable to pervert them to New-School purposes, did not want them, and so refused to appoint them.

They were held nevertheless, without pastoral authority; and were, at the same time, owned and blessed of Goa, a.nd disowned and cursed by the pastors-. Sueh was success, (owing chiefly to this- pastoral opposition and absenee) that they have resolved to patronize them hereafter, as the most effeetual way to use them up.

1f Instances 3.1'0 common where meetings are purposely conducted by the pastor in such manner, a.., to quench any zeal or spirit that may appear. The people, some of them, will pray,. and sing, and serve God as their fathers did, wherever they find it the popish doctrine of the Pastoral Address notwithsta.ndstanding. In the present state of in the Genesee Conference, the people must either hQld and co-nduet their own meetings-, or submit to the most unreasonable clerieal and domination - an icy constriction --effectually preventing the free course of God's spiiit among them. Of course in many places they have too much religion to submit to this pastoral impertinence; and where annoyed by it. beyond endurance, they will seek a place of worship, safe fmm its intrusions; until a pastor of better manners and more i·eligion, ie supplied them.

1f S.uppo.se one of the Genesee conference New School pastors should. be transferred to the Iowa confel.·ence and sUitioned at Mount Pleasant, the residence of BishQp Suppose he would take with him the notiQnJ. with such here1 that the Bishop is a. UtUe u fa .. on the of holiness; eepeciaUy in respect to its being "second blessing." to be sought by instant faith instead of being gradually grown up into; and should not see _fit to sanction t}ie weekly meetings held at the Bishop's house for seeking that Must he desist, and discontinue those meetsuppose a Boo}_{ Agent, or some other official, should deem it policy to be almost tQ distractiqn for the unity and order of the church; and should frightmi nll the Episcopp.cy half the Book-Room, and some of the preachers, and a few of the peo· ple, with a terrible outery against Sister .Palmer's weekly ba.nd meetings in New York: pre• tending to sec in them the nucleu$ of a gre.at scisJ;D.:-must she therefore discontinue them, and abrogate her vigilance bands, and reciUl them from the irregular WOl'k af saving souJ!I!?-..,..

11 To such i·idiculous absurditiea will the devil from the Lord is ta.Ll°'1 to wL.id1_, tiU uow. t.l1e...dl"ive men, when the light in theh- hearts be- had no desire to approach. T4ey preached ail come:5 darkness, a.nd their heads have become :nanner of evil against them, openly cursing them Jwelled with such lunatic notions of clerical - m the name of Lord. They turned many . of them out of their work, and persuaded others l . The effort now seems to be to to do so too; and harrassed them in all manner drive, by clerical tyranny and suppression, the of ways. The event was, that some were wea"'. people into the streets and private houses to ried out, i;md so turned back to vomit ngain; worship God, and then charge them with disor- and then those good pastors gloried over them. der and scism for going where they are thus .. to shake others by their examdriven: This is not a new of the devil.

Early ip. Mr. Wesley 1s day, the bishop of Sodor and Man wrote a. patoral charge to the clergy of his diocese, to warn their flocks against Methodism, as fanatic.al and disorderly- charging . . .' . them to repe.l eveiy pxeacher from the con:miumon. Also the bishop of Gloucester charged Mr. Wesley with H invading the province of the parochial clergy," by preaching in the open v.il:, aud holding cl4ss band meet. . . . rngs houses; fo1:bade him to Bo w1thm the bounds of his But did be desist? Not he. He went on, contumaeiously preaching wherever he could get a chance and increasinO' his pands and classes· 0 •

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_leaving the poo1 bishop to mourn and lament over the mfatuaticm of the people who were drawn in such vast nurnbe1· int() Methodist delusion and fan$ticism. And so it 'vill be ith the fathers of this Pastoral Address.-

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Peoplc- will contmue to pray, and smg, and shout, and get saved; orderly if they can, disorderly if they must, in spite of all these ghostly admonitions and lamentatious.

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It would seem as though ongmal Metho· d.ism, with all its assaults and defences, was in a fair way to be enacted over again in these days-with this striking difference, that the op.· . . . . .

1s now witb11: .he1 and <'lue:fly from her own mm1stry. Formalism is the in _all ages; and by turning to the ifth Volume of Wesley's Works, and noting the slanders published against early Methodism, on comparing them with this you will find an astonishing similarity. The ages bring t.heir like again; and here, after a century, we are driven to fight the battle Qf Methodism over again against her 0 wn degeucrate sons. The same caITicattires are repeated; calling for the repetition of the same answers;-some of which we will allow Mr. Wesley to give fo1· us, in his own language of a hundred years ago..And especially to the charge- of " reviling and calumniating the ministry," as his pointed preaching and writing was called, he says:"And how did they watch over the sinnel'8latelyreformed? Evenasaleopard watcheth c,.-er L".'r prPy. Th<'y drow some of them away

AlSC> to the charge of heresy and scis.m, he One ask.ed, •in what points then do you differ from the other clergy of the church of England?' I &nswered; in none from !Jiat part of the qlergy who adhere to the doc?"1nes of the church; from that part who dissent from the church, (though they own. it not). I differ in the points followlng;-They speak of justification either as the sa.rne with sanctificatioi;i, or. as consequent it. I to be fro:n sanct1fication, and to 1t'!\ They speak of sanctification or holiness as if it were an outward thing; as if it consisood chiefl v if not wholly in these two points• first, tho no harm; the doing good as it 19 that usmg t110 mc;a.ns c;f grace, and helpmg our neighbor. I believe it to be au inward thing, namely, the lifo of' God in the soul of man; a participation of the divfoe natur('; the mind that was in Christ; or the ncnewa.l of our heart after the image of Him that is 8: wide, essqntial, fun<lament.al, irreconcilable difference between us:so that if they speak the truth as it. is in .Jesus; I am found a false witness before God. But if I tea.cP. the way of God in truth, they arc blind leaders of the blind." 1f *. it About seven. years a.go we began prea.chm('J' inward salvation attainal:ilc by faith alone. Fot· preaching this doctrine we were forbidden 1o in the churche.a. .we then preached in private as offered; and. when the h9usea could not contnm the people, m the open air. For this many of the clergy preached or printed against us as heretics and scismatics. 1 ' 1f From the scope and tenor of the Pastoral Address it is evident that a regular system of proscription against the life and power of godliness has been conspired e.nd determined Qpo.n.

The .A.ddi·ess is the conference death-warrant of the reviving spirit of original Methodism. You may expect to be excluded from all church if not indeed from the church itself. Having vehemently prophesied secession -braying it from shore to shore; they will use every' means to fulfil their own predictions.Every artifice, and threat will be applied to make you "loyal," or to drive you to leave the The dread of expulsion will be a strong temptation for yQu to withdraw, with the outcry of'' iecei&icrnl" and braying niter you. Of qourse the bills of cha.rgf:::t 8€'ainst you, will be the fitere-otyped onea wh.ic!.t.

spee.k o! (.f nnchristian and immoral conduct"- against everything that ha.s life. One would but the real crime will be that same perpetual think, th.at in this free country, if we were not .o-ne of confessing Christ. For this you will be allowed to wo1'Ship God in our own churehea; in oost out of the synagogue. The action of the accol'dance with the spirit and usages of our late conference is designed as exemplary. It is fathers, no one would complain if we should do to be followed up against the official and pri- so elsewhere. But even in this, occasion will be vate membership. This work has ali·eauy com- sought against us. It is a however;, to menced. One man in a certain charge has been know that Methodism was bred in the open air. turned out for getting in his soul so as to In her normal condition,she ha8 lungs; dist.urb the order of tile meetiug a.nd embarrn.ss and we donbt not is still able even in these de-i the preacher in i·eadfog his sermon.;-and another I generate days to repeat her poor brother was turned out from the leadership ton Common, and Epworth church-yard mili:isand denied the renewal of his license as an ex- trations. But not only are the churches to be h-Orter, crime of losing his strength un- shut; prayer meetings, even in private bouees, dey the· power of God in a praym; meetiug. · He are to be forbidden; campmeetings, and field committed the. unpardona61e offense of meetings are to be denounced, and preachers and blest beyond the '' innate sense of propriety ,, of and people expelled foi· attending them. Nothwhich the speaks.• and was'' rnuled," &s ing is to be.acknowledged as orthodox or regut.o h.i,s e:x:hortership. In one charge, where about lar but the death's-.head and cross-bones of im-fifty had been converted, as usual, thl'Ough the mo.late Methodism. Life is contrnband. Dt!8d labors of the Nazarite portion of the society, 1formalism is to be deified; and the litany of this (the .an°: his few officials keeping away ,. N cw School Metj:iodism is this Pastoral Adfrom, and nd1culmg the work) the preacher re- dress. fused t.o admit the converts on probation. This 'if For several years past it has. been thesame preachei· was t.4e one whose name was ap- tom at confe1·ence for a portion of the members, pended to the bill of charges against Bro. Rob- chiefly secret society men, and some others,su&e1-ts. In another charge, Rov. C. Brahuc·d, a ceptible of p1·esiding elder influence in the artilocal elder of thirty years standing in the ticle of appointments, to meet in secret conclave church, of unsullied i·eputation as a clu·istian nightly, during the session, and conspire to inminisw1·; a m:;t.n professing a.ud enjoying perfect troduce New School Methodism, and to destroy love, was expelleu fur refusing to ·endorse the those who stand most in the way of their late conference p1·osc1·iptio11s, and this Pastoral So secret were those meetings, and so confident Address, and foi· the ad<litional crime of uid.ing the conspirators in the impossib:Uity of expo8-' in the support of the two martyr preachers; with ure, that 'their existence wa.s boldly denied by whom he was personally acquaiute<l, and whom those concerned in them, and Br. Roberts WS8 he knew to be true and faitniul men. In the formally charged, tried and condemed for same charge, Bro. T. a man who had ch.ristian and immoral conduct" for having af. largely subscribed fol" the building of the church·, fhmed the fact of their existel,lce, and exposing was expelled for the sa1ile offouce, while the some of the purposes for which they were held.. trustees held his subscription note for several o·n the trial of Br. Robe1·ts at Perry, it was with hundred dollars of his sub8cri:ptiou hereaftet due. the utmost difficulty that the fact of Stlch se..

At. Yates, the church was dosed against the fu- sret conclaves was brought to light. Methodist neral -0f one of the most aged and wealthy mem- preachers professing holineBB, stood on the wit· because he R.ob.erts nesses stand by the hour, equivocating, prevari· to ofilcrn.W. on the occasion. Little did he thmk, catingJ disremembering, and finally confessing while dic"OO.ting a. few months previous, a con- the fact of sucl1 meetings formally held, undu Biderable legacy and an annuity to the church, pretense of "promoting holinesa,' 1 with cJmir. that it would be denied him for his own funeral. man, secretary, and door-keeper; opened withal 'I1his mean and aqt, pel'fo.rmed as an with prayer, and a vote, as pledge of hi· endorsement of the. conference proceedings, re- violable secrecy; and continued with proeoript.. ooiii:ed the J>Ublic coru.men<latio11 of the author ive consultations, as to the surest way to eubof this The locking. out the five o'clock vert the distinctive usc;i.ges of Methodism, and momiog. prayer me(;tiugs. at the Medina con- destroy its most incorrupt and determined foren{'.e, and of Bro. W. 0. Kendall (of blessed defenders in the conference. There originaIQemory) at Broc£<port are notorious factfl.- ted the chlµ·ges against Br. Kendall,. Rob-.

Thus e:xcluaion and suppression are order of erts, McCreery, and Hard·; and there also origday; and the churchoo are to . be closed iD:J.tOO this Pastoral Addrefllt aB a I

13

<lof·ume:at, A.nd theae same me-n are a.b1·o:iu \ sinn by rle1·ical sud1 ;:1::; _a.re HHJ'r('d in among the. people as public teachers of religion this Pa.storol Addressf Some of vou will he :1'nd reading from 'the pulpit and extol- disheartened int-0 inactivity and d.eRpai.r <.it tJie mg this Pastoral Address·; and mp.king vehe- smallness of the number around mu who will ment ·professions of sanctity of motives, and stand up for Jesus. Some of will vield t'> eionscientiousness of. purpose in ali their partic- the aeductive arguments and to jpation in these Should you make draw you int-0 w01·ldly conformities. But. jn allti'Sion to these atrocities; you will be gravely either case, whether intimidated, disheartened. :and tenderly_ admonished n,ot to meddle with or seduced; you will lose the light of God out coucro·na above you, but. to be quiet and mind of your sou.ls. It will first become dim, tben your own business of serving the_ Lord and extinguished. The whole range of religieus pastors, and ta1dng the right kiQ.d soeiables, they are called; fairs and festivals of especially the Buffalo, Advocate:- and parties without number or name, ostensibly a.nd they will be exceedingly afflicted,- nay even instituted to secure the co-operation of the persecuted, if' you do not do so. You may ex-. world to advance _the cause of God; with all the mo.st fel'vent pi-ayers for union and the modem improvements in religious worship peace and order, mingled with pfous intrG<luced for.the same purpose; you will fin4 thereto; and. even transcenderit you:rselves unable to B;lnc;,tion, witboµt feeling p1'.ofe&lions of holiness, from these men in pro· ·within you a confusion of soul, a withpo:r'tion to. the thickness of innocent blood drawing of God's Spirit. Whatever others may gathered u.pon from the; judicial preach or practice in their blindness, you "W,ill butcheries,. :perpetrated at the last the truth of God's word, that Christ The:i.i; profession ofrespect for the and Belia! can have no concord. While, under .

Address will ;in exact p1:oportion t-0 specioll.ij guise ofreligious necessities of the nHcessity to them.as an apology for their partic- age, all manner of worldly practices are intr<.)in. theee conftwen.ce iniquities. You_ duced into the church, you will be constrained will be expected to. receive the bread of llfe to utter a faithful testimony against them aB frQm hands rooking with the blood of your abominations of de.solation in the house of Go<l. martyred a.ncl to fox the privilege You must do this at the ,peril of yolJ.I souls; of d9ing so1 without any show of reluctu.ucc, else darkness will come upon :For uqder penalty of having ql10ted to you from you will be stigmatized as undl.'lritablf., ccnSIJthis godly document the charge " of excitng l"ious, fanatical. Some of you w:ill be cxc-orn·· · insubordination q.nd enjqying religon." Every municatod. 'rhe sen-a-qt IB not a.hove his artifice will be resorted to, in order to get your ter; and you will find that yuu inust wt:U.k money in pay for these ministrations and in.. thro.ugh the shadow of the c.ro..o;;s . the duce you ·t<> - receive the ordinances, at their kingdom of God. You will find that in hands; and then, when they get together in conever, men mu_st all to follow they will breaktheirbn1taljests,and boa.Sf. Chnst m the and share the of the success of those artifices to overcome or reproach of H1m who was desp1ood and reavoid yow· pious prejudices against their deeds of men. As below, and pilof darknes8 and blood. Such, b1·ethten will be gnms to Mount Zion, your pathway t,he conduct among you of those ghostly leaders through enchanted ground; and you ·wm do who, with a Book Agent at their he.ad and the well t-o gird your garb ab-Out you· closely, and Author of this Pastoral .Address in their midst, hasten your passage aaaempled night after night at the Medina, and We advise you finally, brethren, not to be Leroy, and Pen'Y conferences, in secret conspir- discouraged· or frightened to leave the church acy against the work and men of God, under by this formidable army of oppc>"'.' pretence of" select meettings for the p1·omotion sition. Let the1·e be· no cowardly flight.of holiness,,___ "Wherefore the sin of the Wait till you are tumed out; and then turn 1oung men was ve1'Y gi·eat before the Lord; for around and walk in again. Do not shun the men abhored the offering of the 1 Sam. honorable reproach of expulsion. It is Christ's 2 : l 7. promise to his faithful confessors. Let the light 1f Tbercfo1-e we forewarn you- brethren, that shine. Let the...qe threatened proscriptions be u uncommon efforts are ·about to be put forth to ,-public &a may be. .Remember; the Master euf.. induce your abandonment of the distinctive _fe1-ed at the sixth hour and in the of flpirit. and usages of original Wesleyanism.- all. God -may be as much a.nd his j cause advanced by your persecutions, Some <Yf you will be intimidated into

I 4,

your prcforment.s. lt i.s all thC' SJ\n:e to ,sou.

If yod · betu· in your body, the dymg of tho Lord Jesus, none ofthesa things will move you. 'fue joyfully the spoiling of your 1·eputation; and when it comes to that, the spoiling ·of you:t· goods. You can well afford to lose both, rather than lose your soul, by ?omp1·omisi$.n.g God's truth and righteousness. If yol1 excommunicated offer to join on trial ut every opportunity. No matter for Q.gain. Attend prayer meeting a,nd class meeting. Use your liberty a.cco1·di11g to, and not be.yond the of the fathers; and if yon are driven out con:ie ih &gain. If doors are closed tQ, keep you <;mt, S(}Jllething at least will be gained in that retum to a custom of primitive :Methodism. Make of those· who croak aoout divisioµ and secession, by keeping in the ·church. Methodists have a better right th.ere than nny body else. Gather in ba,nd$ in W ealey's day, and there stand in solid phalanx, in the centre of the church. This is I1tunanuel's land, and must be redeemed uhto Him,,, '.rrust ye in the Lord Jehovah; for in the Lqrd Jehovah iB evel'lasting strength."

JONA.DAB.

that many mcrnbe1·s of the Fra.tcrnrty are also beginning t-0 be disgusted with this perversion. They have sense , enough to see tha,t evil distrust, in tbe great body of the church, must be the result of embroiling the confe1'ence with the subject.

.Also, these )fasonic pa.st.ors are beginning to be looked Upon as a lot of genteel paupers, chargeable upqn thQir funds, in the style of subscriptiol)s, donations, surprise parties, and such like honorable beggary; on the lament.able plea, pirec;rnsly whined? and false to boot; that the N:;LZal'ites are starving them out solely because o.f their to the ·ord'e11.' ·They claim s.uppo·rt as martyrs insteaQ. of prodigals.

In many placee, most ofthe quarterly collection comes from ·secret society men and those under their influence, deceived into liberality by the false cateh-penny pretense of being for the -Order's sake. Said a master Mason lately ;-"The Lodge is no place for the preachers.

We have more than a supply. They are al'Wnys claiming the highest consideration, while doing the least· service. They are always playing dead-head, and beggar-ma-n. On a.11: our thoroughfares, none are so ready ·to ''show a sign, to save a sh:pence.'-' They are drones, seveN •..,....Jt is a disgrace both to Metho::lism i·.aJ sizes"la1·ger tht\.n common; who never bring and Mnsonry,, th'at we have heei1 cornpelled to any .-honey to the hive, but consume a double speak of them in the conuectio.1 we J1a.ve .. Peo-. share. We are getting tired of it. You com· ple ha\1e a right to belong to the lYfoth-0drnt E. nfo.in that you have too many masons among the the Masqns; the OclJ ....F'Bllo'\vs, the l we retum the compliment by saySons of Te:mperence, or the Volun>\'ary Order iug we have t.oo many preachers among the maof Naza:riteS. There is nothing in the discipline sons: and. some of us are with you in your 'prohibitory against any or all of We efforts to rid us of them; or at least, to cure only, of of the thing to,j_ of mixing it _with chur_c_h affairs. Let purposes of intr1iue. .And we every tub stand on its own bottom:"

.APPE:fDIX. It;. h::tB boon suggei?ted, that some part'i of this · a.re too severe upon pnst.o.rs of . Qucs. by T. Genesee Innocence never com- ln favor of earnest piety and of The ening and guilty only by the Methodist chnrch ?

t11C're a';(1-.•ern<""r1r a" ta1wl1t Cert a v.

fault_ w1_:th her severity.. .A. few extracts Ques. by T. Carlton:-Was the test,1.mony given .on the trial of aro... among the brethren composing that meeting.

Robe._rts at Perry, will fully wan-ant aU th.a to the means of promoting spirituai rdig-ion. soventy of the R0view: and the of holiness among the people .Rev. Sa:1ford Hunt called; I was (Lt the .Me- Ans.- I dlBCovered no difference of scntirnent, conference. *-. if.

I was present u.t m.eet- am&ng those present. .at the house of John Ryan. ., • ,, .. I aev.

Carlton called:-! attended t.hink there was a chairman and secret.a.ry at of a.t the house of John mooting. ri1here wel'e generally twenty qr yan dm mg the session of the Medina conferthirty &t the meetinge. We had abQUt three I attended some of the select !neet.in (.,. 8 m.ootings; do not know who was chair.man: if I at Leroy; not all. t t t My ·impression is d1d, should decline to tell." a: one Qf our meetings there was a persoi\t Rev. W. 0. Willing testified ''l did not atlayman or preacher, I do. not. recollect tend any secret meeting8"' during the session of which, not a memher of our conforencc.• who the Medina conference. * * * I was there was spoken to by a. brother and requested to three :imca only. t t t There I think; leave, because we were talking of conference and it was not proper he should be a Chairman and Secretary at those meetings. t t y I was present at select meetings at the with us. He spoke to him, and he went out.Leroy conference. 'I1hey were held over Bry- I should think there might hav-e been 60 at one ant's stox-e. I think there was a Chairman at of those meetings; at another about 40; thev those meetings. I cmild not say positively who ranged from 30 to 60." · · was Chairman: I think Bro. Parsons. I have So if any one fools bad over the £revcritv of this not. the Blightest who was Secrefary.

Review, let him relieve himself by a pe;·u93l of The case of W. 0. Kendall Wtll? b1"0ugbt before testinwny of the conspirators themsehes. the meeting. t t I think the name of B. gh-ing roluctant. an.d mo.lli(viT\.g a.cl'ount or '1'. H.obcrts was there, I have been their select mceting8 for the promotion of holi-. present at select rn(}etings at the present session nesg by the judicial mlll'der <.>f tlH'ir brethren in of mu conference," the ministry. . · Question by T. Ca.rlton:- Urothcr Willing, at meeti11gs &t Medina :were the spiritual There arc nve in thr autl inMrests of the chnrch freely talked of, and it is a memomblc inst.a.nee of Epii><:'opa.l <.."b.aritv suggestions made as to the best, means of pro- and moderation towards no\d manner moting revivals of religion ?-Ans, they were. promoting holiness. that only three of the most, . Qucs. byhyT. Oa.rlton:...-Whatwasthe opinof these promoters-a.dhi>ring seeret su1on expressed a.s to the means.to be used to pro- ciety :nen-and only two of their most effective m.ot.e spiritual religion, and the enforcement of co-tldJutors and support.crs, were appointed the ntles of discipline ?-A.ns.-There was a siding elders a.t the late conference. Ct-rtn.illl.v. hearty and unanimous expression of love to the these so fond of promoting as to sit up church, and to the cause of God. nights to do it, in this pious manner, ought not Rev. D. F. Parsons called:- I was chairman to lose their reward;-and they did not. And .of those meetings held at Leroy. TheTe was a in this conn_ection it is proper to say that it i!S a. who kept brief minutes of the meetings; matter of suprise, a8 well as regret, to our most, I do not know whether he was called se,cretary judicious ment that our chief e-0uncil of or not. t t t There was conversation before the Episcopal, in their anxiety to reduce the meeting concerning Bro. Kendall. I think the of slavery-or which the brethren pledged themselves by rising vote, to body ecclesiastical lil inflamed, should nnt h:we keep to themselves the proceedings oft.he meet- hit so·m:e ?th.er mode of :1·eatment._ uot iufogs. I do not remember a motion or vote that . v?lv1?g this mcident.al oorros.wn. scarwill not let the character of B. T. Roberts Lfication, and general deb1htat.10n ot paas until he has a fair trial; I do not remembe; iism. The a.ttack of disease oft.en a light nfcompared with the atta.c k of Hat as his case was before the meeting in form of <1 immy patients have almust miraculous snrv ivt,L motio-11". There was consultation _concerning his both. God it ma.v hr "\I) in t2 j.; l':\'"-t>,

t;s

I

J,Uso what is eaid in the .Review concerning the power of and of promises:, to influ· ence votes, ma.y seem severe to some; especially to such feeble pastors as yielded to them. This power, not only to. influence gen,eral action, b11t )n a specific case, to- suppl:·ess testimony, by giv ... ing a temporary obliviousness of: memory, for the occasion; may be demonstrated by· the £ollowing testimony that was given on Rro. Rob .arts trial, compared with an extract from a letter previously ·written by the deponent to a member of the Genesee Conference. Here they are:;......

0

Rev. John Bowman called.-Were yon presellt at the Medina conference ?-Ans., yes.

Ques.-Do you remember making a speech on the floo1· of conference in favor of Bro. Kingsley?

A.ns.-In reply to remarks I stated he WSB not entirely destitute of things that might be· praiseworthy.

him. After this, I was notified that I must, in open conference, take baek all I had said for Bra. K.--, or I must forever be proscribed. Th€S0 threats settled me, and 1 remain settled. A certain minister who has ·been statio-n-ed in Medina more than three yeara, . approached me soon after conference closed, and $aid, " you have kindled a fire about your ears which will 'hot be easily extinguished." The exterior of his head i'S not very prolific, and the interior is not any better, with the exception of a superabundance of froth. Shortly after ference this same dignitary appeared among cettain nominal members of my ehurchw ho.have not even pretended to discharge any religfoug dnty fo1· many years past; o.r sca.rceiy .Again he was found lurking about here, but neither time did he call upon me. Gf the dead fessors are all alive to the great evil of the " N azarites. 1 ' t t t

BOWMAN.

Qu€Stion.-l)id any one come to you out of The following extract from the minutes of one conference and say, you must. take back what of these "select meetings for the promotion of you said in his favor. o.r you would me. it? holiness"-,-,shows the manner in which they .Ans.--It appears I was misl.mderstood in my proposed such promotion:remarks; aftel'. my it was made "LEROY, 3d. 1857. satisfactory.

MtJeting convened accoxding to adjournment Question.-W threat made to you?

Bro. Parsons in the chair.

Ans.- I cannot say that there was."

Prayer by Bro. Fuller.

Brethren. present pledged themselvoo .by ris"M:tDlt?U, April 23d, 1857. ing; to keep to themselves the proceedings of DEAR Bn.o:- • .,. * * It is evident that there this meeting. was a certain fo:rmed prior to otu· last Moved that we will not allow the conference, for the purpose of e:ffecting certain of B. T. Roberts to pass, until he has had a fair changes in the cabinet, But ! was not invited ti·ia,i. rassed. to attend any of their meetings till during the Moved that we will.not pass the.character of session of confe1·enee. It was said that that Rev. W. C. Kendall, until he has had a fa.ir meeting was a " peace measure," and the names trial. Passed. cpf W.--, D . - - - , and F o - - - , Moved that Bro. Carlton be added the were to be presented to the Bishop as committee on Bro. Kendall's case.

Pall80d!" suitable persons for the office of P. Elder.In. a thoughtless moment I put my name to To cover the iniquities indicated by the aboV(i said paper. That fatal. transaction, I have i·ea- extracts, by the false issue of fanaticism nnd dis son to regard as the great mistake of my life. 01·der, is the main purpose of the Pastoral .Ad· ... • * The case of Bro. K.-.-came up in con- dress. And we have dealt with it aooordingly4 ference, I felt called upon to i·epel some of We are sorry we c.annot do it better and eeverer which were' thrust against justice.