Dissent
discussed schemes of church government, as if the salvation of the
world depended upon certain forms; Methodism had one object, to save
souls and inculcate personal holiness. Dissent boldly separated herself
from the Church; Methodism clung with loving affection to her mother.
Her separation was gradual, and accompanied with fond regrets."
"I like that reasoning, Miss Fontaine."
"Do not give me credit for it; it comes from those who have authority
to speak upon such matters. But ought not a young lady to know as much
about the origin and constitution of her Church as of her country?"
"I suppose she ought. What do you say, Miss Hallam?"
"That I will begin and study the history of my Church. I am ashamed
to say I know nothing about it."
"And I say that I will look into Methodism a little. John Wesley, as
a man, has always possessed a great attraction to me. It was a pity
he left the Church."
"But he never did leave it. Just as St. Peter and St. Paul and St.
John went up to the temple at Jerusalem to pray, so Wesley, until the
very last, frequented the Church ordinances. I think he was really
a very High-Churchman. He was even prejudiced against Presbyterians;
and a very careless reader of his works must see that he was deeply
impressed with the importance of Episcopacy, and that he regarded it
as an apostolic institution.
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