WESLEYAN METHODIST CENSUS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 9

WESLEYAN METHODIST CENSUS.

THE QUESTION OF CHURCH MEMBERThe "Methodist Recorder" has published its annual consus of Wesloyan. Methodist mombers. Thero is agaiii a slight decrease of 1262. Tho total number of'full members is 490,744. In all the""three'. London. districts thero is a good increase, but there are small decreases in'many of'the provinces. It must bo bornp,;in, mind that the Wesleyans have a peculiar way' of "testing Church membership" (says tho "British Weekly"). "We do not venture tb explain it in our own words, but-we tako from the leader in tho 'Methodist. Recorder'.' the!;fok lowing: 'The hypocrisy of :tho:.prcsentr situation is' becoming yearly 'more intolerable. Wo have so altered oup-system ; of'" Church finance as to draw a very large proportion of our Church . support from'men'whorare" not recognised, and cannot be ", recognised, as mombers ~ under. our . present system They come;te'our'spreading of the Lord's Table,, tiipy support our ministry, they agree with "our doctrine, they express onr general type of '.'Christian character, but because they will'not..or: do not fall into line with our class attendance test, they are left outside our Church life, and deprived of tho exercise of any rights in Christ's Church as far as that Church is represented by tho only form- they care for.' "' ,'...

"But no doubt there' aro deeper' reasons" (adds the "British Weokjy!').-.-;'|jhe .tendency to decrease is found in other Christian churches r.tihe present moment.,' Wo believe this is leading to great searchings of heart, and we have no doubt that tho good result' of this discipline will in.due time appear." Tho "Methodist Recorder" declares that "It is a sad story, and a detailed examination of the figures presents few mitigating features."

. aro now considering whether any form of membership can be ?v°^ d ofc iV 6r . ttan that pf attendance at the Class Meeting founded by John ;Wesley, fvKf- P the. only'test of membership. Wwtis now suggested is a Society Meetiug. which (says the "Recorder") ''is. not to Be something as far removed from : the Class Meeting- as possible, so that the .objectors shall have nothing of which they can possibly bo afraid; but .the-aim-is'to make ,the Class Meeting stronger, by' means of the Society Meeting, bo to show, the joys and the graces of Christian communion in the Society Meeting, that those spiritually-minded persons who have gone to it, aione, shall be moved to try the more intimate and sustained fellowship of the Class Meeting. That was in mind; and we are convinced that there is a good deal to be hoped from it, if the matter he properly carried through. Really the germ-cell of the Society Meeting and tho Class Meeting is identical."