The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-05
CITY INTELLIGENCE
For additional oty Intelligence see Fun Page.

THE OPENING OF THE CENTENARY
MOVEMENT centenary movement OF the
Methodist Church was inaugurated last evening
oy meeting at Union Church. The church was
filled, the principal ministers of the Philadelphia
Conference occupying seats in the pulpit.
Bishops james and Simpson, and Rev. G. ID.
Chennewick, from the East BalUmore Confer
ence, and j. B. Dobbns, of the New Jersey Con-
ference, were present
DR.. Nadal, OF Trinity Church, opened the meet
ing with PRAYER, the audience Staging the hymn,
Gan hail the power Jesus name"
Bishop James then addressed the congrega-
tion. He said that the Methodist Church has
always been happy Church. In trial and con.
fiCt the people have been cheerful, happy,
contented people, The doctrine Of the Church,
thai the Saviour tasted death for every man,
and that through His ylcarlOus sutferings unlVer-
sal redemption has been offered to the world,
with such doctrine the gospel could not but
inspire Joy and gladness IN all who heard It,
The Church has always preached practical
religion. Presenting to the people the conscious
experience, the verify of the divine life in their
hearts, II is not strange that this people has been
a happy and successful people. The Sun OF
the Church has lived in 1t. 1t has penetrated
its llfe sustained ITS children in trial, and
ried them over the flood when they came down
to the river side. ~ have mighty comfort with
the Holy Ghost" SAID Hedding, before he
iell stricken down without warning or
suffering. In its hundred years OF expert
ence it has been characterized the Church. Nor
will thus general happiness cease. The
present year will be the happest OF the long line
of yeals in which the Church has hourshed. The
year cannot but Oe marked by signal success If
the recommendations OF the General Conference
be carried out They recommended that all the
services OF the centennial year should be
spiritual, and that in the celebration we do it
with thanksgiving and with benevolent Offering.
Had they intended TO increase the happiness of
the Church to its fullest measure, or had they
intended to make the happiness OF the people
lust as full as it could be in the body, they
could not have adopted a more perfect plan for
the tulhment of TINS result But the General
Conference advises that the Church manifest
ite gratitude by its beneVoence, by contributing
OF It's substance sustain the temporal interests
of the Church. The exercise Of DeneVSlence Is
the most pleasing OF all the emotions of
the heart. The following out of the Confer.
enCe recommendations Will secure year OF
universal happiness. But the year must not
alone be one OF happiness. IC must be made
the most useful OF the Churchs history. The
promise OF this Is seen already The Conferences
are gaining strength. Revival is agitatng the
Church. From lne north and the south, the
east and the west, the Church is penetrated by
active effort, and blessed with special success.
Never before were conversions so many. Never
before we're churches so strong IN numbers, so
tervent in faith, so signal IN prosperity. The
charity of the Church, if freely given, will be
a lesson to influence It's character and d rect
its future conduct Virtue Is strengthened by
exercise, and every grace is improved by em-
plOyment. II the Church, in ITS centenary
year, will give i've millions 10 purposes of
practical OeneVOlenCe, the progress ana career
OF the future wears OF the Church will be
affected tor powerful good. Then all the
Church debt could be paid. The literary and
publication interests of the Church could be ad-
Vanced, and it would clear the decks for ac-
tion. 1t would remove tne old incubuses that
have crushed tue Church and stopped its pro-
gress. The Irish Evangelical Fund is one Of
the crippled agencies. Several years ago the
Irish people appealed for aid to educate their
children. They expected to obtain $780, 600
from the American people. The church autho-
rites here promised this sum- and YET only one
half has been furnished, and the remainder is
needed. The people OF America will understand
the difficulty of the Irish Conference when we
state hat it's ent re bounds only contain one.
halt the number OF members OF the Philadelphia
Conference, aud out of these sparseiy settled
Methodlsts 800 to 1000 COMMITMENTS and 1000
attendants annually emiprate to America.
What a power to influence the character of
American em'grants Another institution is
the Mission Institution in Bremen, Germany.
Here is one of the best institutions
OF the Church. In the students educaJed
there IS the true spirit OF the mis- 'ionary work.
The institution has been sustained by the people
al Bremen But they are now $4,000 in debt
and need additional buildings, aud the Church
here should handsomely endoW the Bremen In
stitute. The mission business of the Church Is
growing apace. This year 81 600, 900 will bC
exDenced. The General Conference recon
mended, as third special object Of consldera
tion m this centenary year. the endowment of