The Portland daily press., 1866-01-18
H1ethodisrn in America.

Ii is now one hundred years since the first
estaohshment Of Methodism in this country
IL mad previously fourished in England, from
which country it was transrlan to these
snofes. IL Is now one of the most widely
spread and influential denominations in the
land, as full Of life, zeal and earnestness 40
when struggling wit h the unholy opposition
against which for many years it had to fight
its way, every inch of its progress having been
hotly contended by some of the more staid
and less demonstrative denominations which
preoccupied the field. On the first Sab
bath in this month the centenarian anniversa-
ry of this church was generally noticed in the
pulpits of the denomination, and we transfer
to our columns the following interesting sketch,
given in Park street church, Worcester, Mass,
by the pastor, Rev. J. II. Mansfield, as we find
him reported in the Spy of that city:
In 1765 pious mother in Israel, Barbara
Heck, who had been Methodist in The Old
world, went to Philip Embury, who had been a
local preacher in Ireland, but at that time re-
sided in New York city, and urged him to be-
gin to preach the Word forthwith. He con-
: sented to commence in his own hou e, and
she Immediately went out and invited in four
persons, who, with herself, constituted hi, first
Congregation. In 1896 Mr.. Embury formed
the first Methodist church in this country
Wesley sent over preachers from England, and
the denomination soon spread from New York
TO Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk The
first conference was held 1773, consisting of
ten preachers, and the membership was then
1160. The first general conference was held
in 17S4. And now behold what God hath
wrought!@ r
In the United States north there are now 60
conferences, 6S21 itinerant preachers, s2O5 To-
cal preachers, and 92S,320 members. 1he
church south has 2600 itinerant preach, rs.
5000 local preachers, and 100000 Members
The Wesleyan church in Canada sprung
from those in New York, and connected
with the church in the states, now reports $50
itinerant preachers and $4,000 men bers. The
other Methodist bodies of this country, the
Protestant, African and Wesleyan, have 3725
i,inerant preachers and 294, ,450 members, ms k
ing in all an itinerant ministry Of 1850 and a
local ministry of $4,000, and with the preachers
a membership of 1,986,120.
Allowing three non-communicant mem
bers of the Methodist concentrations to
one communicate there, we have row in
rounnd numbers under the infue ICE of
the church about 100000 OF the people
in this country, or one fourth ofits 10 Jula-
tiOu' AuOWlHS lue Roman Catholics and
those under the influence of no religious body
to be one-fourth of the people, the Methodists
are half as large as all the other Protestant
churches. Its book establishment at New
York has capital of sS3700O, five hundred
publishing agents, editors, clerks and opera
tives; with 80 cylinder power presses in con-
stant operation, and about 2000 different books
on its catalogue. Its Missionary society has
1859 circuits and stations, 112S paid missiona-
ries, and 105,675 communicates. 1t raised
100000 last year for the support of missions
and proposes to raise S1,000,000 this year. 1t
has 200 colleges and academies; and more
than 80 periodical publications with circula-
tion Of about 100000 per month. Its Sun
day School Union comprises 134OO schools,
more than 10000 instructors, nearly 91S,OO0
pupils andmore than 2,500,O00 library books.
The power OF such an ecclesiastical body upon
the world cannot be measured, and the respon-
sibility OF the church is commensurate with
her power. She stands upon the threshold of
her second century, mightier than ever in all
the elements and resources requisite for still
/ greater history. Let us never forget our duty
and the great Head Of the Church viii never
fail us.