Southern Christian Advocate

From the Christian Advocate and Journal.

THE GENIUS OF METHODISM.

We have heretofore quoted a line from Goldsmith's Village Pastor as applicable to Mr. Wesley believing it to be strictly true, and that he also was

"More bent to raise the wicked, than to rise."

We think this holds good in regard to the genius of Methodism as well as to Mr. Wesley.— For look at the facts in the case. When Methodism enters a village, or town, or city, or new settlement, what is the course she takes? Is it to build a splendid place of worship first, in the centre of the village or settlement, and to organize a society, whether there be any Church members or not, and to appoint A, B. and C trustees, &c., whether converted or not, in order to give character to the society and influence to the place? Is it to gather around the wealthy, the learned, the influential? Quite the reverse! In her "available apparatus of means" she sends out, perhaps, a prayer leader, a class leader, an exhorter, or one of her itinerants, to reconnoiter, who inquires, first, if "the poor have the Gospel preached unto them," or, if not, whether they are willing to hear it. So did Wesley among the colliers, and miners, and day-laborers, and manufacturers of England. And what is the result? Why, the Methodists in that country, gathered up originally from that class for whose souls no man cared, have become a rich and influential body. See what they have contributed to the centenary fund, (upward of one million of dollars,) besides $400,000 for the missionary cause, and their proportion to the national Bible society, and supporting their own preachers, and paying their full share, in common with others, of Church dues, government taxes, and poor's rates. And besides all this they own about 3000 chapels, many of them costly and elegant. They also support their own Sabbath schools, which now number between three and four hundred thousand scholars, and contribute largely to the wants of the poor, and to strangers, by means of "the Strangers' Friend Society." From these facts it is evident that it is the genius of Methodism to make men industrious, frugal, and consequently wealthy. But what is the moral effect? Where Methodism has not been suffered to exert its heaven-born influence, not only pauperism but crime abounds to a fearful extent. Intemperance, insubordination, and rioting are quite common as it is, and would be much more so were it not for the redeeming, regenerating, and saving influences of that godlike system which, in derision, a thankless world has been pleased to call Methodism.

It was said by the excellent Dr. Bond, of Baltimore, at the first centenary meeting in this city, that it was the opinion of some that Mr. Asbury was to the Church in this country what Washington was to the nation—the greatest friend she ever had! and that Methodism has done full as much to promote the spiritual interests of the people as the commander-in-chief and his faithful allies to secure their civil rights and liberties. And who can doubt it, when the necessurily destitute condition of the people is considered. In possession of an extent of territory nearly as large as all Europe, scattered over its surface, from New-Brunswick to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to beyond the Mississippi, and still settling in groups in every direction on spots unbroken by the plough, forming settlements and villages on every hand, who was to look up these wandering sheep, if the Methodist itinerancy had not sought them, and found them, and opened to them a well spring of life in the desert? This they have done, and the result is 740,000 members in society this day. Is it too much to say they are, as a community, good citizens, virtuous, peaceable, happy?—Christian Adv. and Jour.