The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-23
Nea so las.


Methodist Episcopal Church occupies
a high place among the religio His
torical Literature of the world. 1t
is a, faithful and, to a great extent,
unimpassioned account of the origin,
operations, and success of a Church
that, to-day, numbers more commu-
nicants than any other Protestant de-
nomination in the country From
the smallest beginnings, and appar-
-ently by the most Insignificant instru
mentalities, American Methodism has
grown and expanded, until her itin-
Grants are now preaching the . glad
tidings of great JOY" in nearly every
land and tongue, and in one year her
contributions have swelled to over
seven millions of dollars, and her in
crease of membership more than one
hundred and fifty thousand. Not
only are MethOdists interested in
tracing this most remarkable growth
and prosperity of their Church, but
Christians of other denominations,
also, derive pleasure in studying the
peculiar Church economy and adj
ministration that have resulted 10
such wonderful triumphs. We trust
the day Of narrow sectarian bigotry has
passed, and that Christians recognize
the success of the cause of Christ
whenever a revival occurs in any de-
nomination. or church. lo..a
The history of the Methodist Epis.
copal Church, filling four large vol
umes, is too lengthy for the great
mass of the people to read. Much
of it, too, is devoted to philosophical,
discussions and investigations which
are mainly interesting to students of
church literature. We are glad,
therefore, that DR.. STEVENS has seen
proper to publish an abridged his
tory of Methodism, especially as it
relates to the Church in America. In
this latter work he has confined him.
self to a plain, yet intensely inter
esting, recital Of the facts connected
with the establishment. growth, and
success of the Church in this coun-
try. The indignant remonstrance of
Barbara Heck-that noble Christian
woman-to her. kinsman Embury,
which induced him to begin preach
ing the Gospel, was seemingly little
matter, but it kindled religious fire,
ndfervor that is still sweeping onward
and promises to be limited only by
the boundaries of the world. In this
history many Of the inciden are so
strange and apparently unaceonntab BILE
that, we're it not for the absolute sim
plicity and absence of all attempt on
the part of the author to intensity
them by sensational writing, our be-
lief would be staggered and reason
itself discard them But the digni-
fed, lucid, teree, and yet powerful
style of the author challenges belief
where the circumstances. narrated al
most oVerwhelm it. :ts III. aad,
The pioneers Of the Methodist
Church in this country were remark
able men. Most of them, like the
first twelve collected by the Saviour,
were illiterate and without marked
personal influence until they began
the work Of preaching. Once entered
upon the work, they knew neither
fear, WEAKNESS nor Encouragement.
Wherever they could collect a few in
the towns, cities or country places to-
gether, they preached and then went
their way to organize yet others into
classes and proclaim to them she
unsearchable riches of the Cos
pei. The itinerants preached no
morose religion. 1t was glad tidings,"
II accepted, and a SAVIOUR of death
unto death if rejected. Placing
life and death before the people, they
appealed to their consciences with a
pathos and power that were irresist-
ible. One Of these itinerants, bv the
name of ABBOTT, rarely preached, in
which some in the congregation did
not fall to the floor as dead men.
overcome by the power of the convic
ton of sin, that took possession Of
them. 1t was, emphatically, killing
and making alive" DR.. SrEvGSs
6arrates the trials and labors of
Bishops AsBURY and WHATooAT
with charm that Is truly captiva-