Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-15
THE MEFHODIsT.

| l1Ae - AcdCucA lAic AoOO Ao9NO VIII NAoe'R
pear from American politics.
THE METHODIST,
Brother johnson, Of the Western Meth
odist, has our thanks for his kinds word
about the APPEAL. He is right in as
serting that "the old and able journa
will maintain its high position-its sue
cess is an accomplished fact"-fOr tn
APPEAL, during the thirty-four years o
its long and eventful career, has neve
been so prosperous as now. 1t has tri
umphed over the accumulated misfor
tunes that visited Memphis in rapid sue
cession, and is now on the high road Il
a still more prosperous and useful career
q compliment from an organ Of th'
grest Methodist church is highly sppre
cisted. This denomination is now hold
ing its annual conferences Throughout
the country, and the proceedings SHOW
that the church is IN 8 most prosperous
condition. 1t is no disparsgement tt
other religious sects to say that Meth
odism has accomplished q great evangel
istic work since its organization. When
compared with other denominations, the
progress Of Methodism will be found tc
have no parallel. Through all the &C.
cessible regions Of Asia and Africa,
through all Of North and South Amer
lea, excepting Mexico, and al Europe,
it is generally established. In Scotland,
it should be stated, the Methodist church
is not encouraged. The Methodist
Church North hiss 10000 preachers and
1900, 600 members, according to the most
reliable statistics. The Methodist Church
South has $500 ministers and 200, 900
members. In addition TO these
there are 5000 preachers and 50O,-
600 members allied to other branches Of
the church, all Of whom, together with
missionaries and their converts, will
make up total Of 4O, 900 preachers, and
4, 2O0, 900 members. These figBres are
reliable. Estimate the Sundsy-school
scholars at one for each church member,
and the hearers Of preaching at two
for each member, and we have a grand
total Of nearly Il, 600, 600 of people who
listen to the teaching Of Methodist
christians Other denominations also
receive valuable aid from the Metho-
dists, and then, too, the Sunday-schooI
is a Wesleyan institution. Seventeen
years before Robert Rsikes opened his
Ssbbath-school at Gloucester, a devout
Methodist woman named Hannah Ball
had established and maintained a SINH
lar school for children. The first Ameri-
can missionary society was founded by
the followers Of John Wesley. The tenn
Piles Of this church are in every part Of
the habitsble globe. Methodism
is the dominant, popular religion in this
country; her church spires glitter in
every village, and are being reared to
heaven at the rate Of two a day. Orig
mating in the university Of Oxford,
Methodism has ever kept pace with the
highest forms of education, and has
founded more schools and educational
institutions than any other organization
of religious character. Without its con-
ferences and anniversaries, without its
annual conclaves Of bishops, elders, dea-
cons and preachers, without its love
fessts and social feasts, and without its
periodical oDlRi,Gm gdtheruDas of all de-
Methodism would be like a
park Of artillery without an smmuni-
ton train. Being among the most sg-
gressive of the sects, it depends to some
extent for its momentum upon neces-
sary explosions and interior enthusiasm,
and with these it manages to keep sup
piled without stint. From a purely
neutral point of view, this denOmina-
ton appears equipped for its work with
as effective a machinery as any Of the
bodies, and if it happens to
run q trifle ahead IL its enterprises, its
success must be attributed TO the large
amount OF lubricating oil it congresses
out Of its prolific membership.
These stated annual occasions
such as the conferences now
holding their respective ses-
sions throughout the Union-furnish the
secret motive power to this church.
These conferences always close and /
separate with their needed supply OF
for the battle against sin
IND the devil and 3 renewed spirit to
,lant the banner Of the Methodist de-
upon the battlements Of the
.nemy. There Is one thing about the
Methodist church which the world ad-
hires: it is their sublime devotion to
be memory and virtues Of John Yves
ey. Other denominations have their
and apostles; the politicians
lever weary in dwelling upon the states
and patriotism Of Jackson,
lay, Webster and Calhoun, and the
Methodists look to the teachings Of John
Wesley with the same abiding faith that
-he worshippers Of the sun look to the
twilight. And this admira-
Jon is not unworthily bestowed. The
character Of this great and good man
vas recently illustrated by an eloquent
ecturer rs follows: 1.-THE greatest work
# Phidias was his statue Of Jupiter, a
colossal figure of gold and ivory, forty
eet in hight, seated on a throne in the
'estibule OF the Grecian temple. Into
40 other statue did human genius ever
hrOw such perfection Of form and
majesty Of mein. When the priests, on
tate occasions, drew aside the veil
which ordinarily shrouded it from the
public gaze, and permitted the populsce
o look upon its wondrous beauty,
he multitudes were inspired with the
dea that it was the veritsble Jove de-
cended from Olympus, and rent the air
With scelRmatiOns Of delight. What
his matches statue was among works
II art, John Wesley was among the men
4 the eighteenth century. He was not
wrought ofthe ores Of the earth, but was
made up Of such qualities of mind as
nee in century render a man the won-
Ter Of his age. History is made up Of ,
he biographies Of great men, Snd that !