New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-17
THE METHODIST CENTENARY.
A RrIJGIous JUBILEE IN PHILADELPHIA


FOUNDERS OF AMERICAN METloDIsM
PHLApELPmA, July 16.-The celebration OF
the centennial of the first annual conference OF the
kethodist Episcopal Church brought to close 10
night ny grand Jubilee meeting held at the Academy
Of Music The exercises Of the day began az ESQ p H.
at St Georges Church. in Fonrthst near Nlnei where
The first conference took place. and In when all the ex
ercises Of the celebration have been held except the
closing meeting. The Rev T. Sovereign OF the New
Jersey Conference presided this afternoon. and the Rev
H. C. Lippncott Of the same conference led in devo-
Mons The Rev. Dr. 7. II. Eddy Secretary Of the Mis-
ion Board read the first paper the subject Of The
Mission Work OF the Methodist Episcopal Church"
PROPOSE said he to sketch ~ the origin and subsequent
changes i'm the Missionary Society; O the progress OF
the work. and CD missionary growth as indicated IN
the offerings Of the church. The theology Of our churen
logically compelled Il 10 make all possible efforts Tor INC
salvation Of each man, woman and child; Tor u w.
that FOR each actual atOnemeDt had been maui, ~
that the Gospel OF that substitutonal onerlnS "a
placed with the churches in trust for those i - 4.
is provisions, hailed by its invitations aSsulou 30
promises. on the Jth OF April 1879 IarSo num-
ministers and laymen gathered together IN -,
act upon the draft OF charter made by Nathan bangs
and approved 10y the pastors OF the o''y' A -, -,
adopted a constitution, and an associaOon oao
Nssiopary and Bible Society OF the Methouls' EplS0or
Church IN America was formed us ougoc' ooinS ~ Guy
III, tho destitute with Bibles to enable Iho
,-,l conferences 10 extend their missionary
- Rc The President was Bishop VIM. McKendree.
se ce-Presidents were Enoch George Robert H. koo-
erts and Nathan Bangs. or all the managers hrsV
chosen VIM B. ssidmore is the only one now answering
Ia rolcal on the third Tuesday Of each month Nine
Years later separate organization the Bible Society
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, formed by
the General Conference Of 1928. In 1885 the
Chief Council dissolved the organization, and merged
II into the American Bible Society The changes made
by successive General Conferences were OF Importance
hui an Of detail The charter Of the Society was granted
by tie NewYork Legislature April 1899. The Society
sh exists in legal FORM but most of It's powers nave
been transferred to the General Conference and the
Board of Managers While yet scantily supplied with
means the church organized for the conversion OF the
world The work was carried on among our
ewn people, foreigners IN the country ana
in foreign lands, the foreign work De-
ginning with the establishment OF the African Mission III
ls2 The Foreign Missions Of to-day mean multitude
OF educated men and women sent out from home ana
strong array Of native helpers and preachers In 1878
our Missions are in almost every land. In 1920 tho
Church contributed $500 OF which 1t could expend only
ts5 76 In is the receipts S2S2s 6 expenditures
n7a 40 The contributions steadily increased until
1874 but in 1852 the Church rallied and eight years AFTER
the separation report Of sl524s2 4S p contributions
was made more than given by the entire Church be-
fore the rupture. To up: The missionary cause has
grown in confidence and prestige; it has seen great
advance IN its appliances: It has witnessed multitude
Of Young men and women deyoting themselves upon
the altar of missionary cOnseoration has recorded
large growth the offerings OF her peoples has seen the
ranverts Of her missions hoCkng as doves to her win
dows; and has her General Conference made eco
nomical by presence Of missionary abor and con
verts.
The missionary hymn. From Greenands Icy Noun
faius was sung by the congregation, after which adj
dresses on the missionary theme made. Dr. j. b.
wakely OF New-YOrk spoke OF missionary society
which was formed by the Mehodsts OF Philadelphia one
year before the organization of the society now in ex'
istence and which started in NewYOrk He also said
thai the womens Missionary Society, now Incorporated
in the General Society dates back further than the Gen
eral Methodist Missionary Society. DR.. RyerSon OF
Canada spoke OF the mission work Of the Methodist
churches the Dominion. He said the aggregate mis-
sion receipts his church amounted during the past
year, TO sO5OOO. while the membership is only 10000,
making an average OF about 81 80 per member The
mission gifts Of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the
United states average only 50 cents per member
METHODIST sUNDAYsCHOOL WORK
paper on the SUNDAY schoOl work OF the Methodist
Church" was then read by the Rev. J. b. Freeman as
sisant editor the sundaysehool publications of the
church the early days Of the church. said he. this
was a WORK unthought Of It is our pleasant task to
trace its GIN growth. When Robert Rlkes asked
the question, what shall do with the neglected
children Of London sit Methodist young woman
who answered Teach them to read and wre" and who
was the plan Of Mr. Rakes to pay the teachers of these
schools It was Wesley who insisted upon free insruc
ton Prom the earliest organization of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, OF the questions asked in the
conference was What shall be done for the rising, gen
eratiOni Two years after the Christmas Conference
the first Sunday IN America established by
Bishop AsDury In 1877 classes Of children organ
lied by rule Of the church, and little later Sunday
schools were authortatively formed by tho church in
order 70 teach Children white and black, to read and
write This was only six years after the organization
of the church and the first ecclesiastical body 70
give official recognition 70 the institution. The General
Conference OF 1896 also took Official action on the sub
Iect and from that time onward the Sundayschool idea
was constantly growing
The General Conference Of 1924 passed three resolu
lions on the subject Of Sunday Schools making
duty OF each travelling preacher TO attend to their
formation and conduct another in relation 20 the
preparation OF catechsm for use in the Sunday
April D. 1871 the American sundayschool Union or
gained in NewYork. Ia 1925 the General Conference
made it a part Of the organic law OF the Church
Tor pastors TO form Sunday schools in the churches
over which they have charge. From this
time each General Conference took advanced
aion on the subject and gradually the Sunday
ceased 10 be considered only for children, and youths
began 20 be included in its plans In 1874 Sunday
school Convention was held in NewYork, and petitOned
te General Conference TO appoint special editor for
Sunday school publications This granted and the
Rev. Dr. d. p. KIdder appointed such editor. He
retained position for u years. during which time
Sunday school interests were greatly advanced.
The same Convention Of 1874 asked the General Con-
ference to make sundaysehoOl superintendent MEN,
bers OF the Quarterly Conference. This not fully
granted until 1856 This for the first time made the Sun
dayschool part of the Church. Here its periods Of
formation and organization ended and the period Of
expansion began In 1861 Sunday teachers ins
tuies were formed and Sunday school education was
placed on the footing with secular education. The
FIRST institute held IN FreepOrt Illinois, under the
direction Of the Rev Dr. Vincent now Secretary OF the
Ennday-schoo Board OF the Church. In 1868 the Gen
sr Conference established special department Of Sun