Discipline in the M. E. Church.
A Methodist minister proposes that a “Memorial” be addressed to the “Bishops and Members of the General Conference of the M. E. Church, to be holden at Brooklyn, N. Y., May 1, 1872. From the form which he suggests we take the following paragraphs: “Second: On the other hand, it is obvious to your memorialists that there has been a marked decline in the observance of the original and time-honored rules of the Church both in receiving members and in administering the Discipline among them. On account of this, many are made weak, and, it is to be feared, either have never attained, or have lost the evidence of acceptance with God; while their tolerated delinquencies, and their self-indulgent violation of their baptismal covenant, by a superfluity and fashionable display in dress and costly apparel, justly expose us to the reproach of a gainsaying world, and tend to make the Church powerless for good among men.” “Your memorialists would earnestly pray the General Conference, in its great love for the essential landmarks of Methodism, prayerfully to look into this grave subject, and to take such discreet and decided action as will, by the blessing of God, arrest the evil complained of, and restore the administration of discipline to its primitive standard. And to aid in attaining to so great a result, the undersigned would be in favor of appealing to the God of our Fathers in a day of fasting and prayer, designated by your venerable body. And, as in duty bound, we will ever pray, etc., etc.”