The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-26

mGSunmR AZ Ste FouIo M0gY1O0tBy 6pt0cO.
pal CAureh-spsschssb ~ sStrsc~ry Har-
DIR. McClintock. -.
The frs. Of series Of pvAlls centennial meetings,
commemorative OF tho introduction u Ne,hodsm into
America, was hc'd ssst eveang in thest Pauis hetho
dist Episcopal church, Pourh avenue. Although the
weather WAS unpropitaous the spacious edincs WIS
crowded IN every PEI. long befc,e tho hour appointed
for opening the exercises. Every Methodist church IN
New York and Brooklyn was represented by number
OF ladies' and gentlemen and y host Of distinguished
ministers also In attendance This gathering has
been lsoked forward 10 with great interest by enc men,
bers,r this influential denomination, a. It was expected
that the first centenary meeting would strike Key
whose vibrations would be heard throughout the coun-
try and materially conrbute the success q the great
anniversary The Centenary Committee, which is COM
posed of Distinguished ministers ana aymon were
chos Of the city under tho direction OF M Jonn Ss
phenson. ,1.r As :.
Crooks who Said that he had the pleasure TO announce
the audience that the chair would DO occupied by the
Hon. James Harlan OF Iowa. Secretary Of the Interior
A large number Of gentlemen were appointed vice
presidents, snd the audience then sang" Before Jeho
vah's awful THRONE" to the well known tune OF Old
Hundred aud venture to assert that such cOngre
gatonal ngng was ever heard before within the walls
OF that Methodist church. II hearty and melodious
OF the church from their long sumbe and ought TO lead
their descendants to pray in cid fashioned Methodist
style Tor q revival OF congregational singing.
The Rev. DR. DURTN, the missionary secretary Of the
church, made AN appropriate prayer after which the
chairman Hon. JAMES HAEtN Secretary OF the interior,
addressed the audience rs follows
SPEECH OF SECRETARY HARLAN.
Tho Churchand the congregations represented here To-
night entering the second century Of their exist
in this country and the desire has been manifested
In your great CITY, we'll throughout the land to
commence with renewed energy and enlarged beralty,
prses Of the Church with wow Of fastening the evan
gezaton Of the people OF our own country and OF the
word. The motives for this appeal strongly not only
the members OF tho churches themselves but 10 all
those who have enjoyed that type Of civilization that has
ever followed in It's wake All those who believe in the
immortal y of tho SOUL and that life here in this world is
but probation from which the good and pure are to be
translated to the regions Of neiablc bliss there to con-
tnuc for amending and the bad and impure to be
cast down in utter darkness, with unending an
guish, and who believe that by tho adoption Of the
Observation-Disclosures now intrusted to tho churches all
strong desire to aid the Church in this gigantic work OF
the worlds And all those outside OF the
vance and civilization established with the wses of cri-
mna and civil Jurisprudence which introduces the most
desirable social relations Of f and stimulates industry
and those activities which secure, wherever fairly tried,
the highest at ailments In literature in the knowledge oil
the arts and sciences and in tho attainment Of wealth
and power, cannot, think, as philanthr0psts feel
otherw Sc alan strong desire and wish to add their in
uencc in pushing on these enterprises II is not neces
sary for me tonight to state gentlemen and ladies'
residing In the great commercial metropolis Of OF the
first nations OF the cafh that the wealth aud tho power
of the world to-day is in the hands o. Christian nations
this continent overshadows every other people
III side OF tho Atlantic. England perhaps tho greatest
sidcred, stands at Che head Of the Protestant nations
OH tho ohcr side OF the Atlantic. France which,
with her form of civilization, perhaps exceeds all
the others ands at tho head of the Catholic nations
Russia the head Of tho Greek church and these ma
lions combined, will doubt who have observed care
fully the present condition o. mankind control the dcs
TIMES of the world SO it 49, think that none can Lc
without motive TO add their influence in aid ne the
churchesn their efforts to Chrs,,anize mankind Whist
The Ia naV mt IN ato
that We have the means In Thu country with q popu-
la,ion probably of about thirty four mniona, We
twenty thousand millions. o. lhis population It may
b, wrong for mo 70 state tonight this presence
represented tonight These chiefly adults and there
fore represent population OF than three proba
OF the entire population OF the United States IL IS not
think untrue that this mart OF the population OF tho
Lnitcd States arc equal. a. least. TO tho average
or the people .. tho country in intelligence aud
In tho possession IL tho wealth OF the country and
thcrcee responsible N that extent for the proper
OF the asgregased wealth a the nation But adj.
rcscshal NE wealth OF Che people Of this country Is
ever existed in the world doubling in amount a5or. each
years hst not improbable that al tho end OF
the present century tho wealth which viii he controlled
by the people OF the United States will be much iess
than one hundred thouand m llions And tho popua-
ton Is Ike ping pare with this vast increase Of wealth
Youare about thirtcth part OF tho people OF
the Whole earth but you arc Increasing In population az
the rate Of about thee per cent each year. that those
who have attained tho m IDLE Of life will probably
in tn scountry not much short OF hundred mions
Of people, about one tenth part OF tho people that
now live on the earth SO that W, not without
whclming mo, 10 effort. We have vast means pruyi
dcntiaiy placed under our control and IL interpret,
correctly She aPrasent indications OF Providence,
We shau have an opportunity, within the
limits OF The United Stairs curing tn prcscnt
cent of 4aslrucng tenth o. the nhab tans o. the
slor. I may have occupied too much OF your time
already. @Lries OF go on, 60 - feel that II would
wrong foolish IL would DO send coa.s 10 New
castle sos SAFE for me In the prcscn OF bsopr and