Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-01-04
Established in 1918.
The Centenary Of American
.'. d. Methodism.

l., ,IE Metn0dlSm.
| 1866 TO lie .Devoted to Service and Contri6,i
i,ons-The Order ofthe General Confer
Wcthod;s@mED ny " Wihcdeld~ Me.iodism I,
Nep. York. Ofgin of Card Players :
The FHst Church an Park Row tn,
Church on ,Shosnnker's Ground-7h,
Predclaer's House-The Gro,cth Of Meth
odtsn,AT The Order for the Centenary
7co millions ,oanfed-Ddniel DreW Sub
scr7bes Tioo Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Order of the Serrices-- What is to b,
Done ,oith the Mony-Fmdle
THE ECENTENARYo oFTHE METHeDIsTcHURcH
In the month Of October, 1866, the founda
tion of the Metodist Church was laid in this
country, in faeblehess and little promise of
greatness. 1t has swollen to gigantic FRO
portions, and outstripped all its fellow
churches in the land perhaps in the world
Methedists are well disciplined army, from
the commanding generals down to the small
est squad They follow the same flag; keep
step to the same music; observe the sa me
manuel are governed by the same discip'
line and have the same end in view. Metho.
dists in one place are Methodists in all
places They belong to the Episcopal
Church Methodzed. 1t was proposed by
the General Conference of 1864 10 celebrate
the Centenary Of American Methodisln.
The Board of Bishops appointed twelve
travelling preachers aud twelve laymen, with
their own Board, to carry the designs ofthe
Conference into effect.
The CehtenafyI is to he celebrated by
special religious services and liberal thanks
offerings; the offerings to be devoted to
some monumental purpose, and for local OBJ
jects. Each annual Conference is to have
a-memorial sermon delivered before its
own body some time preceding October,
1866. and the Bishops ask donation OF not
less than 50 600 600 to carry out the great
purpose they have in view. .t....
.>... WESLEY THE FOUNDER.
Wesley was born at Epworth, England,
l7th of June, l703 He was one of a fam.
ily of nineteen children. He descended
from stock famous for Independence and
love of liberty. His grandfather was four
times in prison for the crime of preaching
the gospel to the poor without the permis-
sion of the beadle and justice. His means
of support were taken from his family By
the heavy fines he was compelled to pay,
and his life was shortened by the severity
of his Imprisonment. Wesley's father was
bold preacher, striking his heaviest blows
at the sins OF his age. His fidelity nearly
cost him his life Miscreants, offended with
his bold attacks on these vices, fired his
house. One man stood on the shoulders
of another and pulled John out Of the burn
ing building inst as the roof tell in. This
incident affected his whole life. He felt
that he was saved for some great work
Under his early portraits was this motto
is not this brand plucked out of tht
burning ?"
The mother of John Wesley was re
markable woman. The wife of an Episco
pal clergyman, she seemed to have been, IL
.spirity Methodist fran the start. In tht
absence Of her husband shs conducted re
Aigious service. H. did not regard this. con
duct as quite regular, and requested her t
desist. She replied in spirit worthy, OF
her son, when in after years he was forhId
to preach by the Oxford faculty: Senc
me your command" she wrote. in suct
full and express terms as to absolve me iron
guilt and punishment for neg Letting this op
portunity to do good. | value no censur.t
on this account. have long since shook
hands with the world, and | heartily wish
had never given them more reason tC
sneak evil OI iflc. ..- Nt lHt dSC VI i N'"t
Wesley was found at Oxford, celebrated fol
his devotion to study, his logical powers
and his seriousness. He read kenpls!
Incarnation of Christ, Taylor's Holy Living
and Diving, aud laws Serious Call to the
Unconverted. These books stamped hi.
character, and induced him to resolve to hi
real whole hearted Christian, At tht
age Of "a he was ordained deacon by the
Bishop of Oxford In one year he wa
elected Fellow Of Lincoln College --choser
| Greek Lecurer aud Moderator otOlssses
| His decided religious character became ap
parent to all He was earnest and mucf
| in prayer. His strict religious, principles
| exnosed him to ridicule. He resolved Il
shun the world and grow in holiness. A re
lirious young man rescued hinl "Slr. yot
wish to serve God and Ito Heaven. Re
member YOU canuot serve Him alone. Yo,
must fad companions or make them. III,
Bible knows nothing solitary in religion,
.rn4 -..,,.-, ORIGIN OF METHoDIsM.
T The first Society was founded at Oxford
It created a great sensation. The name or
4 iginated with it, foes. Ii was NOT new bu
was applied to GLASS Of menin 1903 who's
method "oof sctinn was peculiar In
new society had what they called the "rui
| and method. ""'',g The outside world mad
themselves merry with the peculiarties Of
| the new sect It's members were cale,
Sanra,nentarian-;" " Bible .Bigots
.sBible Moths;n' Aud the Cody az Hol
! Club "what was the rise Of Method
ism ?" ask ID Wesley, in his conference o
1865 H answered:.. T." Tn 1929 my brotbe
and read to o,Biblc; saw nTsrd and GU
ward holiness therein followel aiterit, an
incited others so to do. ip 1877 we sa'
that this holiness comes by faith. In i73
We saw we must be justified before we ar
sanctifad;j But still holiness was our point
inward pad outward holiness. God the
thurst us out to raise holy people"
At the start, Wesley began the rus
j ,aanong tho pser and destitute, which hay
distinguished his sect to the present tim
=. Hs,allowed no one to join his society, VIII
% traf6cked in rum, OF who bought. sold,
held slaves, regarding Slavery as the ..su
lsof Mi yillainies. " The little band of Met
r odists visited the jails taught the infam,ou
relieved the poor, visited the sick, and e'
tered the abodes of the a1tcast with me
ssges of love They yielded up the smpe
n ttl l.s r. A. I.a . n ,aliauA Ire T0OF w hi