Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-11-24

SMYRNA Del, Nov. 16.
the meeting reassembled this morning in the
church, and after half an hour spent in devo.
tional services, the Convention proceeded to
business. The committee on rules reported.
communication was received from Rev. s. q.
Matlack, recently member of the Wilmington
Conference, but now residing in New Orleans,
which was referred to the business committee.
The finance committce was ordered, after which
the subject for this mornings discussion wa.
taken up as follows The M. E. Church on the
Peninsula, its active and relative growth, and it's
present position on the Peninsula. Paper read
by Rev. ]. B. Quigg, chairman Of the committee,
presenting many interesting facts. from which
we make the following selection of facts:
"The Centenary of Wesleyan Methodism was
celebrated in 1888, and the Centenary of Ameri-
can Methodsm in 1866, and this year 1870 is the
Centenary year of Methodism in this Peninsula,
it is with peculiar propliety that we hold this
Convention in the present year. 1t was planted
here in two places about the same time, that iB
in 1863 and ITO in Delaware at New Castle, and
in Kent county, Nd, at the house of John
was formed and the whole ground covered by six
preachers. In 1850 Dorchester Circuit was Or
ganized. In 1883 there were - charges, 23
preachers, and 1856 members. At the end of the
beconu uecaue alter Blk years uurln6 WHICH no
increase was reported, glorious revival occur
red, and an accession Of 1000 members was OBJ
tanned in one year. Then followed ten years of
declension 30 that in 1900 we have only $685.
At the beginning OF the 18th century our mem
bers numbered 5523. The Philadelphia confer
ence had only 975. The greatest actual increase
in one year was in 1903, when ,l36 accessions
are reported. The greatest relative increase
was in 1881, when the number was multiplied
three times. In 1910 the number of members
DILL asa1x, 4
343s members. For the next three years no
permanent increase is obtained, but no disaster
or failure was allowed to interfere with All ex-
tension OF plans. or enlargement of the work.
Indeed these figures remind us of great conflicts
of history. 1t is now a promise of victory, then
defeat and gloom ensiiea for season, but the
struggle goes on, and little ground is gained,
and again the arm of the Lord ID revealed in
great power and the tide of victory rolls up, and
on it goes. bearing thousands to the haven of
redemption, and the church to-day shouts VIC
tory, and gives glory to jesus.
1n 1774 there was one charge, with one preach-
er, and 150 members. In 1910 there we're 33
charges, 81 preachers, and 17,047 members.
The collection for the various schemes Of
bene6cence supported by the church is most
encouraging. In 1850 the average Of contribu-
tions was 23 cents mills In 1860 it was Al
cents mill in 1870, "a cents mills to the
member The Increased value Of church prop
erty is also matter for congratulation.
The average value per member WAS in 1850,
$15. rs in 1860, S21.0l in 1870 it is S42 49,
The white population of tile Peninsula was in
1890 about 100000. Our church then had an
average membership of one member to every
1874 of the population. In 1900 our average was
only one in 1871 In 1910 and down to 1889 the
average was one member in of population. In
1850 the white population OF Delaware was II, ,169
the Eastern Shore Of Maryland had I7,I3I, the
Eastern Shore of Virginia IL, 713, making total
of 1859. Our average membership then was
one in 8.41. The total population in 1860 was
1856 142 making a little more, beiu,, one member
for every 81 of population. In 1910 wo have SO
charges in the bounds of the Conference with
ia ministers, "a, 734 members, with All average
membership Of one in nine
We believe a comparative view OF the churches
Of the Peninsula will show thai there are, Bap-
lists, 81 churches; Protestant Episcopal, SO;
Friends, 10; Presbyterian, 50; Roman Catholic,
10; Methodist Protestant, 10; Methodist
churches, South, 20-Total 229.
The whole number of NJ. Il. Churches is not
less than 800. Allowing them average of 200
sittings we have 45 300 sittiiigs provided by all
give us 10000 sittings. Thus, it will he seen a
very large share Of the population are under the
the religious care and instruction of the NJ Il.
Church.
Interesting remarks were made by Bros Ken
A committee on publication of proceedings was
ordered, consisting of DIR. Collins, c. II. b. Day
and f. A. Ellis.
The second question. that OF Education, was
taken up and discussed in essays. by Rev. John
Wilson, President of Wesleyan College, Rev. G.
+. Buoy and others.
Each essayist was requested to furnish a
copy of the paper offered b. him for publication.
The debates OH the several topics we're parti.
cipated in with great interest and the essays and
addresses indicated breadth of tllous sit AMI
thoroughness of investigation
At least two hundred nemters were present
in the Convention this NOR iins and ii must tend
lI..A A. 4
with great enthusiasm in their chu'c interest.
WEDNESDAY aFfruSnoN.
The Convention reassen'tlc at O'Clock. Rev.
J. d. Curtis presiding. Vie opening services
were conducted by Rev. 7 5. Tomknson.
The business committee presented the letter
of Rev. s. G. Matlack recently member of the
Wilmington Conference, but now laboring in
New Orleans La, expressive Of his interest in
the Methodist Church of this territory, and con-
veying his greeting to the Convention. COM
mittee of three were ordered to respond to the
communication. The subject assigned to the
hour was then taken up, viz, "The working
forces of the Church, and very able essays were
read by Rev. Wesley Kenney, ON "Denomination-
alism;" by H. White Draper, ESD. on the
,.Lay Element in the Church." and by Rev. ].
| H. Lightbourn, OH "Womans Work in the
| Church !" the consideration of which occupied
| the remainder of the session.
The extra evening session was spent in the
| consideration of the "Relation of the Church to
| the Temperance Question
An able essay was read by Rev. T. L. Poulson,
which presented several radical resolutions,
which were discussed with great interest and
| ability when, after some modification, the fol-
lowing were adopted by the convention :
| WHEREAS, The traffic in and use Of alcoholic
drinks is the most formidable and dangerous
element Of opposition to the canse OF Christ /;
therefore
facture, sale and use Of all Intoxicating liquors,
| as beverage, including beer, wine, cider and
| bitters, is the only safe and seriptura ground OF
occupancy for the church.
Resolred, That there ought to be temperance
| society in every church, especially among the
children, who should be early pledged to tota
| abstinence.
Resolued, That the use of tobacco is needless
and injurious indulgence Of which members O
the church, especially ministers of the gospel
ought not to be guilty.
Resolued, That the church should give he
sympathy and assistance to all proper temper
ance organizations, and uncompromisngly con
denim intemperance from the pulpits.
Resolved, That the traffic in intoxicating bev
erages is dishonor to Christian civilization ant
imperatively demands for its suppression effec
tive legal prohibition, both by State and Natona
legislation.
THURSDAY MORNING.
This morning, the convention re-assemble
at 81 o'clock, and after spending half an hour i
devotional services, Chancellor Bates called tn
convention to order for the transaction of busi
ness. The question on the relation of the Churc
to the moral questions Of the day was then take
up, when Rev. 7. P McCauley addressed tn
} convention oD the ''relation of the church to tn
! Bible," and presented a series of Resolution
which awakened considerable discussion, whic
were participated in by Rev. Dr. Morsell, of tn
P. E. Church, whose Catholic spirit awakene
the heartiest response from the Convention. Th
committee having in charge the subject
family religion also reported, by an essay frol
, Rev. Z. Miller.
/. The question Of the Christian Sabbath W,
then discussed in an essay by DR.. Coclazer an
the resolutions presented by him occupied Il
attention of the convention for the balance
the morning.
. AFTERNOON SESSION.
r At 2, p. NJ, the convention reassembled, al
l | took up for consideration the subject of pub
! cation of proceedings, and received subscriptit
) for shares. The following persons were appoir
. ed committee to make arrangements for esta
t fishing first class boys academy within Il