, 1866-02-02

Meeting at ST. Pnui'a Methodist Epis-
eopnl Church, New Tork-Specchea by
Secretary Harlan, Bi-hops simpson
and Juucss and Or. McClinkbck.

l Secretary Hnr1nn, Bf~HOpS simpson
| and Jaucss and Dr. McCIinthck-
rFpak New York Herald, Jan- 81
The afsf Of series Of public centennial
meetings, commemorative OF the Introduction
| Of Mcthodism into America, was held last
evening IN the ST. Paups Methodist Episcopal
church, Fourth ayenuc. Although the wealth
er IVES unpropitious the spacious ediace was
| CROW le1 ii every part long before the hour
| appointed for opening the exercises. Every
Methodist church in Ncw York and Brooklyn
| WIS REPRESENTED By number Of 1adfea and
| gentlemen, and host Of distinguished minis
| ters we're slso In attendance This gathering
has been locked forward to with great inter
est br tho members Of this influential deuoul-
inatiou, as 1t was expected that the first cen
tenary meeting would strike ICY whose VI
brations would be heard throughout the coun-
OF tho great anniversary.
The meeting was called to order by the Rev.
G. l. Crooks, who said he had the pleasure to
announce to the audience that the chair would
/ be occupied By the Hon. james Harlan, Of
/ Iowa, Secretary Of the Interior.
A large lumber Of gentlemen were Eppotnt-
cd vice presidents, and the audience then snuss
Eefore Iehoynh'4 awful throne" to the
| we'll known tune of Old Hundred, estd We
| venture to assert that no such cong regationa1
singing was ever heard before within the walls
Of that Methodist church, It Was hearty and
| me1odtous enough to almost awaken thGold
tnthers and mothers of the church from their
long slumber, and ought to lead their de-
scendants to pray in old fashioned Methodist
style for revival Of congregational singing.
| The Rev. Dr.. Durein, the missionary secre-
tary Of the church, made an appropriate
prayer, after which the chairman, Hon. James
4 Harlan, Secretary Of tie interior, addressed
| the audience Us follows:
ADDRESS OF SECRETARY HARLAN.
The chairman said the first century Of the
17fe Met kcfffsTn in fhfq rffv WOO
| md the people who belonged to that denoml:
nation were determined to increase their zeal
in the work Of evangelizing the world. All
who believed in the Immortality Of the soul
md that human life ID not , probation from
which the souls OF men are to be translated to
world Of eternity, cauuot but feel rs Chris
tiaus to aid the church in the gigantic work.
All those outside Of the churches, too, who
have observed that a system Of civilization
has been established BY Christianity more
feel otherwise tnan q strong ysish to aid In
pushing On this grand enterprise.
The wealth md the power Of the World
to-day orc In the hands Of the Christian na-
tions. England~ perhaps, the greatest
nation in existence, stands ut the head Of the
and Russin Of the Greek Church. and these
rations control the destinies Of the world.
The United States possess an aggregate
wealth Of twenty thousand millions. Nearly
ono million Of our population belong to the
Methodist Church, and these are nearly oil
of the entire population. It Is proper to 70.
feet that the wealth Of the country Is aug
menlirg at n rate unprecedented In the his
tory OF nations. At Inc end Of the century
amount to one hundred millions: Our popu-
lation will probably then be one hundred mil
liens Of people-ahout one-tenth Of tho pres
ent entire population Of the globe.
At the conclusion Of Mr. Har1an's remarks
Bishop james was introduced to the audience.
- Address OF BISHOP JAMES.
1t was proposed to make the centennial
celebration OF the church spiritual matter,
but also an affair Of q financial character.
| The committee desired him to refer to the
| matter. Our mission in Germany WIS estab-
conference there In 1852. Elyht ministers had
been sent there from this country, On: Of
whom was deceased. There aEe at present
thirty-1ye Methodist ministers there. In Nor
way and Denmark there are eleven Missions
riet. In Germany there are now eiyhty-three
Sunday schools, With 1000 scholars Over
etD, ,Coo books, Bibles and Testauents, have
been distributed among the people, and also
over {, ,0oo. COO Of tracts. The Mission Instf7
Twentysfx young men have gone forth
from 1t to enter the pastoral work
There are in 1t three classes of very
interesting youug men. 1t receives Institutes
who are not already licensed to preach This
institute Is regarded as essential to the, pros
the only place in Germany, where Mstho-
dist education can be obtained. Several Of
its students hare offered themselves to enter
upon the foreign missionary service, The In
stltutton promises great usefulness In Ger.
mnny: IN that country, Methodist expert:
Of the Methodist Church. There are, un-
donhtedly, godly men In the other churches
which are found in Germany, and these are
beginning to see that there isn need for u
spiritual reformation in their country. The
progress already made by the mission there
the Methodist Church there in carving for i
ward the great work. The institute is now
about $4,000 in debt. 1t viii cost about
$4,000 TO erect new building, which is to
b. done; and It Is required that an endow
ment Of at least s10.odo should be bestowed
upon It to make it the great success It Is de-
aigued to accomplish. Bishop James also
spoke Of the Irish Wesleyan Church. 4 cou-
siderable fund was found to be necessary to
enable the church to attain the prosperity 1t
church made IN appeal to the churches Of
this country for IN amount Of money to ena-
bic It to continue tho great work It Is doing
in ireland. A-portion Of the S100, GOO was
rai=cd At that time: and It Is now proposed to
c.31ste ~ noEa ~ +h;s ~ G5r1H+ .n,-;e, -
~ VosIs ;p ~ 1naAs ap 1nis amount, saynS taas
tne 3[1sa Mssle{an Cnalea was tae mother OF
inc Aetaooist Cnnea n Amstica'
r.aat Gan,as a,,;,ss ), ,1ea liz 80 n Iow
gleai g p!lh name saspnes " WIS lhen sung, aMer
"nten nsnop oluipson WIS presented 70 tue
aut1euee. --..-
Ue assumed that all present felt deerr in
terest IN Nelhodism, and were in sympathy
with its purpose and objects. He referred to
meeting OF aix persons held In New York
one hundred years ago. From that meeting
the present Methodist Church had grown
It was BY the Spirit OF the Lord, aud not by
might or power, that the work had been ac-
complished. The speaker reviewed at con-
siderable length the history Of the prosperity
Ut Methol1Ism In the United States, and also
to the missionary work Of that Church In es-
tablishing conferences in Asia, Africa and
India, and nearly every section Of the
globe. The parish of the Church