METHODISTS, FREE
188
METHODISTS, FREE
thfir jii(l;:ment, more fully carry out the purposes and designs of .Alciliodism.*
II. (>/■'/. iiiizdlion, JJoclrines, etc. — In the formation of thi' new ( liurch, while everything calculated to sustain and cherish the original spirit of Metliodism has been carefully retained, care has been taken to incorporate into its modes f)f crovernmcnt everything shown by the prou;rcss <iC Mcthndisin for a century past to be nec- essary. Ihc l'.|u-r(,|,.iry is aliandoned. and general sii- ])criiitcnd(ii(y Mili>iitiitcd : th(' incumbents of the office are elected every four years. (Quadrennial, Annual, and (^>uarterly Conferences are retained as in the parent body, while the last addition to the maciiinery of the Meiliodist ICpiscopal government, viz. the District Con- fcreiuc. ailiipied in 1872, has been in use among the Free ^lelhodists from their beginning. In all the be- fore-named Church courts a number of laymen, equal to the ministry, are admitted, and their right to speak and vote is fully guaranteed. The official board is retained, and there is provision for annual meetings of all mem- bers of the societies for the a])pointment of delegates to the Annual Conferences, and stewards. Class-meetings are held, and attendance is a condition of memljership in the Church. The preachers in charge nominate and the classes elect the class-leaders. The office of presid- ing elder is retained, but the name of the officer is dis- trict clxitrnutn.
Tlic ,niirl( s (if faiih adopted are the same p.s those (ilihc M.ihn liM r;|ii~riipal Church, with two additions, doi^iK d 1(1 sciirc iniiloruiityof belief, and guard against the iiitniiUutidii of errors on the imjiortant points to which liny relate. The first is on entire sanctification, and tiie lirst [lart is in the words of John Wesley, viz. : " Justilied persons, while they do not outwardly commit sin, are nevertheless conscious of sin still remaining in the heart. They feel a natural tendency to evil, a proneness to depart from God, and cleave to the things of earth. Those that are sanctified wholly are saved from ail inward sin — from evil thoughts and evil tem- pers. No wrong temjier, none contrary to love remains in the soul. All their thoughts, words, and actions are governed by pure love. Entire sanctification takes place 8ul)se(picntly to justification, and is the work of God wrought instantaneously upon the consecrated, believing ."^otd. After a soul is cleansed from all sin, it is then fully prepared to grow in grace" (Discipline, "Articles of li'eligion," ch. i, § I, p. 23). This doctrine is regarded {IS of so much importance that no person is admitted to the Adl membership of the Church who does not endorse il, and ]dedgc himself delinilely to seek diligently the experience thereof. No minister woidd be tolerated in the body who could be truthfully regarded as out of accordance in views or teaching therewith.
The second new article of faith is on future reward and punishment, and reads as follows: "(iod has aji- pointed a day in which he will jiulge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, according to the Go.spel. 'J'he righteous shall have in heaven an inheritance in-
* III adherence to our rule res])ecliii'_' denomiuatlonnl articles, we liave i)ern)itted our coiili'ibutor to state his case ill liis (iwii wav. Jusiice to all parlies concerned, however, ie<i\iires ii"s to add that ^evel•al of the above Btaleiiieiils i-elative to ll:e origin nf tlie C'liurch in ques- tion are iiiaile from a partisan point of view, and eoii- peciueiitlv fail to L'ive a fair represeiilation of ihe trrouiids of coiilr(".ver-v. This is true, at least, in Ilie following' particulars: (Ii 'I! •• in! .!illi(ailly ltcw out of a spir- it of censorion-i i li iliordiiiation exhiliited by the parlies in (iiK- , n. i he exjiulsion ofllie niinis"- ters from the Aniiiid t ..hlci ciice was in accordanee with the re-nlar firms of ee.leMasi ieal discipline ; and the pri- vale nieml.ers were drdi.i.cl, in acc(n-(lance wilh an epis- copal decision, afler lliev had re.illv aliandcned Ih.dr for- liier coiiiiiiuiii.in. di ■|'lic apicd l. ilc (..ncial ('(infer- ciiee was disniissfd. as Ih-ikl' u -;-i,i,i.,i 1i\ adeonale
corrujitible, imdefiled. and that fadeth not away. The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched"
{Discipline. "Articles of lieligion," ch. i, §
p. m.
It of seif-
thev were exclnd.'d acied in il:c - .. !.■
defence, and ils le-ilimale am Imri; ics ,, ere the ultimate
jndL'es <if the iiecessily and proiiriely of the course piir-
iio.iii<l caii-eto complain of the action taken, however se- veie it might seem to them.— Eu.
A noteworthy ditference of polity exists between this and all other Methodist bodies in respect to admitting members on probation. None are received simply on ex|)iessing "a desire to flee from the wrath to come," but all are required to give evidence of such a desire by confessing a " saving faith in Christ." In other words, none are added to the Church, even on probation, unless it is believed that they "are saved." Free ^Methodists claim that much of the defection alleged to have taken place in the jSIethodist Episcojial and other churches is due to the fact that multitudes have joined the Church as seekers of salvation, but have gone no further spirit- ually.
It is also definitely required of all who join the Free Methodist Church that thej' shall lay aside all superflu- ous ornaments in dress, "laying aside gold, pearls, and costly array" (Discipline, ch. i, § 3, f 4). That they shall keep free from connection with all societies requir- ing an oath, affirmation, or promise of secresy as a con- dition of membership therein (ihid. ^[ 5). ALso that the}' shall refrain from the use of all intoxicating liquors, and from the use of tobacco, except as medicine (iiid. p. 31, % 4).