The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-17
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Tbs METHODIST CONFERENCE CENTENNIAL
IN PHILADELPHIA. Baltimore San. 1.-The
centennial celebration of the First Methodist
annual Conference, now being held in Phil.
adelphia, Is a very interesting gathering.
The first Methodist Conference was held IN
81. Georges church. Philadelphia, on the
18th, 18th, and 10th days Of July, 1913. The
Conference was called for the 18th OF July,
1T73. but on account OF the absence OF many
OF the preachers no business was transacted
until the following day. The committee
having the centennial celebration In charge
determined to include the 18th as well AZ
the I4th, 10Th, and 18th days Of July. Ihe
general committee recommended that on the
first of these days, Sunday, the assemoiingoi
the Conference be commemorated III an
Methodist churches of the land. IL was mol.
however, so observed to any consideraoie
extent except in Philadelphia ana within the
bounds OF the old Philadelphia Conference,
where sermons were preached having refer
ence to the subject Of the early history and
rapid growth OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
1t is stated that the conference of one hun
dred years ago was the first assembly oil
Methodist preachers in America for the nur-
pose of consultation in regard to their work;
bat it was not a conference" in the sense
in which the word is now used, nor did the
preachers belong to distinct church as now.
The Methodist Episcopal Church " did not
exist until the winter of 1854, eleven years
later than the Philadelphia Conference.
Previous to that time Methodi>ts bad con-
sidered themselves members OF the Eplsco-
INA, Church, and had received the sacraments
i'm the churches and from the ministers OF the
establishment. ALI the Methodist preachers
who bad not been ordained as regular Church
of England clergymen were simply "lay
preachers" and performed no church func-
tions but in 1854 there were in America
eigbty-four Methodist preachers and 10000
Methodist laymen. They were scattered all
over the country, and the Episcopal
churches being few and inaccessible to
many, this large body of Christians were de-
plived of all "church" relationship and OF pur-
ticipation in the sacramentS. Representations
OF their needs were made from time to time
to Wesley, and notably by the convention OF
preachers which met in Philadelphia in li'o.
He, plying their condition, and yet Wishing
10 avoid irregular action, beSought the
Bishop of London to ordain ministers who
should administer the sacraments among the
American Methodists. The request being
refused, he thought himself authorized 10y
the necessities of the case to himself ordaln
Thomus Coke, already presbyter in the
English Church, a superintendent or bishop
tor America. On Christmas day, 1854, as
many as possible of the Methodist preachers
in America met in Baltimore, Bishop Coke
presiding, and the Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized. He ordained the
preachers as ministers, :.and during the same
session ordained Francis Asbury (who had
been elected to the office bishop OF the new
church. il will thus be seen that the Aletho-
dist Episcopal Church, AS Il distinct ecclesi-
asticaI body, lacks eleven years OF being u
hundred years old.