Smyrna times., 1866-01-03
Written for the Smyrna Times.
The Centenary of Meth0dism.

Tn6 GentendrV Vi motnouASnA'
In 1866 the first class of Methodists on the
continent was organized in the city OF New
York, consisting OF five perons. There are now
flowing from this lite fountain, in North Amer
lea alone, l,e72,77O church members, 1860
itincrant preachers, Is, 900 local preachers, and
in,the congregations served by these preachers,
Including church members, eight millions OF
people! Our educational, missionary and
Sunday School success is quite equal to our
numerical progress. In view of these facts,
the General Conference, in May last recon-
nlended that this year be celebrated as the
Centenial year of our ecclesiastical existence,
ly grateful religious services in all our churches
and generous thanks-offerings by all our peo-
n. Complying with this advice, there will
be two sermons, appropriate to the occasion,
n-.,ched in the Methodist Church in Smyrna
One on Sunday morning next, and the other
the Sabbath morning following.
Uniting in the concert Of prayer for the con-
version of the world, with the Church of Christ
Everywhere the intermediate evenings will be
employed in religious devotions at the church,
10 commence at o'clock each evening.
MONDAY EVENING. SG.-ThankSgiving for the
gift of Gods Son to redeem the world, and
payer for the outpouring of his Spirit in order
A tue continued success of his mission.
AY.-Thanksgiving for Divine Rev
ea,ion, and prayer for the overthrow of inf
delisy; for "kings and all that are in authori-
b.. that the Bible may be respected in high
Z IL
the basis of national peace and prosperity, may
Everywhere abound.
WKDNRsDAY.-Th -Thansgiving for a living min
iatry, and prayer that their number and eff
esncy may be increased as the necessities of
the world demand and that through their
Faithful teaching every kind Of vice, especially
intemperance, may be banished from the earth
TuuRsDAY.-Thanksgiving for the Holy
Sabbath, as day of rest and of religious de-
yotion; and prayer that It's claims may be uni
ver.ally respected.
FRIDAY- Thanksgiving for the success Of
Missions in heathen lands, and among the
Jews; and prayer that they may be more and
more efficient, till the Jews with the fulness of
the Gentiles shall be brought in.
ATURDAY-IIumiliation and confession Of
sns-national, family aud personal Thanks
giving for the success of the Church, and all
her auxiliaries, especially the Sunday School;
and prayer for pardon and grace, and the great
benevolent Societies may continue to be eff
rent in aiding the people as the great power
Ot God unto salvation, until the wilderness
and solitary place shall be glad and till all
our children shall be taught of God"
In all these prayers and thanksgivings it is
recommended to our members and friends,
vii, TIA ir views and thoughts embrace all the
topi lame in their largest reference, that they
have special, though not exclusive, reference
to the banner under which We have lived and
I labored-the Banner of the Cross as exhibited
I in the history and success Of .Methodtsm.
h In view ofall these facts, the following hymns
will he sung: "A Hun{red Yedrs Ago" on
Sunday the eth, and "A Hundred Years t.
Cos,>, on the following Lord day. The for
mer, composed by Montgomery, Moraviar
poet, vas sung at the Centenary meetings il
ls39-the hundredth year of Methodism from
Its first development in England, in 1885,
the latter is composed for the present celebra