New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-15
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS
rpp urTuoDIsT CENTENARY.

CELEBRATION IN PHILADELPHIA OF THE o"E "o'D
RFTH ANNIVERSARY or THE FIRST Ahi'op'0I
CONFERENCE.-THE CHURCH AS DsIfHol
ECCLESIASTICAL BoDYa NOT A HUNDRED fEAi3'
OLD.
PHILADELPHIA, July 1L-The Methodists OF
this city and vicinity yesterday, began the eehtehp',
celebration OF the meeting OF the fret Methous, A"u
Conference in America. which was held In ST. "e"iSo
Church. Phiadeph on the lb 18th, and l6tb days OF
July. 1773 The Conference was called Tor the lSn "a
July l73 but on account Of absence OF many OF tho
preachers business transacted until the iono"-
ing day. The committee having the centennial csieDr%
ton in charge determined include the 18th as vel "a
the lltb 15th aud 10th DAYS OF July The general com
mtee recommended thar the first Of these days, sun
day the assembling Of the Conference be commemoratei
in all Methodist Churches OF the land. 1t was not how
ever so observed 10 any considerable extent except IN
PHILADELPHIA and within the bounds Of the old Philade-
nbia Conference where sermons preached having
reference TO tho subject Of the early history and rapid
growth Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
The Committee OF Arrangements, consisting OF IL
ministers and 10 laymen Effected permanent organza
ton on Apri o. and have since been laborng to maze
the celebration complete They proposed that
essays aud addresses should be delivered embracing an
outline OF history OF the organized Methodist thureh
for the century, including such topics as hethods ia
America before First Annual Conference tue fTsb
Annual Conference-its Men and their Deeds; the Frst
Principal Historic Events the Preaching Of the Oden
Times, and the General Operations OF the Church ln
accordance with this design, programme was com
peted for the three days following the opening Sunday
The sessions which opened to-day will all be held in
st. Georges Church. and the proceedings OF principal
interest will be the reading Of the following papers,
carefully prepared each by gentleman who has made
the subject a special study:
.Metlodism I'm America before the first Annual Con-
ference" by the Rev. j. b. wakeley. d. D.; "The first
Annual Conference.-The Men and their Deeds by tho
Rev. c. H. Fowler President OF Northwestern Uniyer-
sty Evanston H.; Z" The First Churches"-as Johnst'
New-York St. Georges, Philadelphia, and strawbrdse,
Batimore-by the Rev r. II. Pattison d. d. Phlladel-
phia; "Tho Conferences Formed during tho
Century, giving their Boundaries Statistics, and
Incidents Of Historic Interest, and answer
ing ihe question, Which Is the Oldest e1-
estinc Annual Conference =" By the Rev. George A.
Phoebus of the Wilmington Conference The principal
historic events oforganzed Methodsm America during
the Century, Notifications Of its Economy" &C., by tho
Rev Bishop Bowman. 1.-THE Preaching OF the oden
time by the Rev. F. Hodgson OF the Central Pennsy-
yapia Conference. 1.-THE Mission Work OF American
Methodism during the Century" by the Rev. T. NJ
Eddy d. D., Secretary Of the Mission Board OF the NJ f.
Church. The Educational Work OF the Church." by
the Rev. +. o. Haven, D. D. secretary OF the Educa'
tional Society Of the NJ E. Church. The Sunday
school Work." by the Rcv. ]. NJ. Freeman, Assistant
Editor OF the NJ Z. sunday-schoOl Publications; and
1.-THE Church Extension Work." by the Rev. A. J.
Kynett D. D.. Corresponding Secretary OF the Church
Extension Society Of the NJ. E. Church.
Besides the above formal exercises others OF an I'M
pronptu character will be introduced and leading min
sters and aymen from all parts OF the country arc ex-
pected to participate On Wednesday evening the cei-
bratlon will close with Jubilee Meeting at the Academy
OF Music when grafton will be delivered by the Rev.
Bishop Simpson and addresses BY other prominent
clergymen Children from the Methodist Sunday schools
OF this cityi and selections from the Methodist ehos
will furnish music. This Is looked forward 10 as the
grand event of the celebration. Invitations have been
sent by the Committee leading members Of the differ
ent bodies OF MethOdism in the country not connected
with the Episcopal Church. and IL is thought
that all OF them will be represented throughout the Cen
tennlal Celebration.
This Conference Of 100 was the first Assem-
bly, of Methodist preachers in America for the purpose
OF consultation in regard 20 their work. but was not
a Conference" in the IN which the word Is now
used nor did the preachers belong TO distinct church
as now. The Methodist Episcopal Church did Doi
exist until the Winter of l7sii1 years later than tho
Philadelphia Conference When John Wesley. in 1879.
at the solicitation OF White1ed who had preceded him
in the work. began his ministries as heldpreaohcr,
I'm England he hal design Of organizing
an ecclesiastical system outside aud indepen'
dent Of the English Church, OF which he him
self lived and died a member. He proposed
10 institute a society egangehznS suppl ement "a
nothing which would look like dsoyaty 20 that church,
except when he thought himself compelled 10 do so by
the exigencies Of the 10 which he felt called IL
was not until 1854 that Wesley took the first step toward
the organization Of "church" Previous to that time
MethOdsts had considered themselves members OF the
Episcopal Church. and had received the sacraments IN
the churches aud from the ministers Of the establish
ment. All the Methodist preachers, who had not been
ordained regular Church of England cersymen wero
simply clay preachers" aud performed no church
functions; but in 1884 there were. IN America
"a Methodist preachers and 1900 Methodist laymen
They were scattered ali the country, and the Eps
copa churches being few and inaccessible 10 many TN.
large body OF Christians deprived OF all chirch
relationship and Of participation IN tue sacramento
Representations OF their needs were made from time 10
time TO Wesley and notably by the convention oi
preachers which met N Philadelphia in 1913. He pity
ing condition, and yet wishing 20 avoid irregular
action besought the Bishop of London TO Ordaln minis
who should administer the sacraments among the
thought himself authorized by the necessities OF the
himself ordain Thomas Coke already presbytel
in the English Church, superintendent or Bishop ioi
America On Christmas day, 1854, a. many ~ possible
OF the Methodist preachers in America met IN Baltimore,
Bishop Coke presiding, aud the Methodist Episcopal
Church organized. He ordained the preachers As
minister's and during the session ordained Francis
OF the new church. IL will thus lie that the Methu-
dist Episcopal Church distinct eecleslasteal body,
lacks years OF being hundred years old ana IN 1884
the MethOdsts OF Baltimore will without doubt celebrate
the centenary Of Methodsm.
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