New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-29
1776-THE CHURCHES-1S76.

The General conference OI tno hct""i''
Episcopal Church viii meet for Its twenyfourth qu
rcnnia session at Baltimore on Monday next i's i"e'
meeting was held IN Brooklyn in 1872 when st. LOUIS
WAS selected as the OF the present Conference Dut
Baltimore has been substituted by general consent Tue
occasion proper one for review f the progreSSoi
the denomination during the century which mas esu
since Philip Embury began to preach In Scw-fofk.
In 1923, four devout colegans OF Oxford England,
formed a Holy CluJ" FOR religious exercises ana
the study OF divinity the Greek Scriptures ana the
classics They met often, and were so rgidly system
ATTIC especially in their religious obseryances mat tne
feow-students contemptuously called them 'he "e'n
odiss" This the beginning OF Methodisn althouSu
IL was not dentvely organized until ten years AFTER
The leading minds OF the Holy Club, when soon ih-
creased In numbers the brothers J0hn ana Chaies
Wesley Te former gave Methodsm its distinctive form
and polity and the latter was It's hymhoio 5ist
They were born at the Epworth Rcctory Linconshre'
EnrlanI-Joln In 1903 and Charles In lIOo' mo"
mother Susanna Wesley, was celebrated ior Der pe'!'
intelligence and sound Judgment From her the brothers
received good ira ming, both intellectual ana reeouS.
Having conviction that the elder brother was called
70 some high destiny IN life, Mrs. Wesley exercised
spccial care In bis education, and the eheets
of her counsels are frequently seen Ill tho
life OF tle founder Of Methodism. In 1875 young man
who had been common drawer In an Inn IN brisloi
Joined the "Holy Club" and became subsequently Tic
chief evangelist Of Mehodsn. stirring tho United KING
awakening the greatest revival ever known IN those
countries In the course OF his ministry George White
field crossed the Atlantic ID times, travelling through he
American Colonies, and preaching Win "oh'eriu
effect lie was Calvnst and the fruits OF Ills work III
America were gathered mainly into the Congregational
Presbyterian and Baptist Churches In 1873 the Yves
leys Georgia on mission to the Indians, Dut
Charles soon returned and John followed him In 173S,
both regarding this enterprise as failure After their
return they attended meetings OF tho Noravians under
teachings they professcd personal conversion III
1888. The brothers then gave themselves up to the
preaching Of salvation by faith, ana when the pupils
OF the Anglican Church closed against then they
held open-ar meetings. travelling through England scot
land, and Wales with WhteGcld.
FIRST SERVICES IN AMERICA.
Mehodsm was brought to America by party OF irish
cmgrauts In 1860 They descendants Of those Ger
man Protestants who, when driven from the Palanale
BIZ Louis XIV. settled in Limerick County, Ireland For
six years after their arrival IN NewYOrk they made no
efforts to propagate their doctrines but in l7GG Barbara
Heck urged upon Philip Embury, who had been licensed
~ local preach in Ireland. the duty ana necessity OF
establishing Methodist worship and discipline for the
benefit of their associates and for tine conversion OF sin
ners Embury accordingly began to preach In his own
house. his hrst audience consisting oil four persons Dc
sides MIS-. Heck. He formed a class which met weekly
hired room to accommodate his increased congrega-
ton and preached the anhouso and Other places IN
tie Spring of 1867 the little society was REINFORCED Nv
Capt Thomas Webb OF tho British Army who had been
converted under Wcleys preaching IN Bristol England
and had been licensed by him local preacher rs-
ging loft In wiam-st was hired. and En-
bury and Webb preached there thrice a week
10 largo and curious crowds, Webb preaching
In hs uniform, with his sword lyin; on the desk
In front Of him. by Mrs. Hcck's advice site for
chapel was secured JOhn-st, and stone building %
by AZ feet put up Embury one of the chief work
men upon It, and he had the satisfaction Of making the
m, H. dedication
sermon in IT, Oct 30. 1863. This the first Methodist
Church IN America. 4 more modern building nQT Occur
pies It's site aud the Od Church" is held
sacred "cradle OF American Methodsm."
THE REVOLUTION.
The Revolution. which dss rous 10 other churches
also brought suffering TO the Methods s. AT the first
outbreak nearly all the EIgi sh preachers quit tbs coun
try; some th,t remained ndiscrcct, AMI this, To-
gclher with the fact that Wesley hostile 10 the cause
OF the colonies brought suspicion on the Methodlsts'
aud they were subjected to great prosecutions They
were mohbed beaten. thrown into Jail, driven from heir
circuits, and visited with indignitles Asbnry.
who mad decided to stay IN America forced into con
cealnent for ye wcexs Subsequently Wesley modified
his sentiments, AMI instructed tho Mehodsts 10 take
sides with neither party hut To he united among them
selves and act pclccmakcrs. When II became known
that the native ethodsts not hostile to the Col
onie they were better treated and theirs In fact
about the only denomination that made progress during
the war They pushed their labors in tho South. and
when peace more than 1000 out OF $4,000 mem
bcrs reported were south of Philadelphia.
Wesley seeing the embarrassing position In which the
American societies placed concerning the admins
traton the sacrsment and recognizing also that they
cond maintain a connection with the Church of
England, decided Ia give them separate orgauzlton
He accordingly ordained DR. Coke-a presbycr Of the
Church OF England vino had been driven from the curacy
OF PcthcrOn his alleged Methodist eIchings-iO be
superintendent OF the American societies. and Thomas
yasey and Rchird Whatcoat prcsbers to accompany
him. The ordination took place Bristol In september
1854 and In November Coke and his companions landed
in New-York. After consultation with Asbury and
others at Baltimore conference of all the preachers
called to meet in that city Dec "a 1884,
TIE FIRST CONFERENCE.
Sixty ministers attended DIR. Coke took the chair and
presented le ter from Wesley, appointing him and AS
bury joint superinendents OF tho American societies
The letter concluded follows: AS our American
brethren are now totally discntanglcd, both from the
State and from the English hierarchy. we dare not en-
taugle them Thoy ut full liDerty simply
follow the Scriptures and tho primitive Church Tho
Conference thcreupon proceeded 10 organize the Meth
odis Episcopal Church OF the United ates OF America,
providing for superintendent, elders and deacons. The
nomination OF Coke and Asbury To be Supcrniendents
was confirmed by election, and the latter was couse-
Grated To the Office of bishop by Dr. Coke The Conner
ence In ten days Discipline. together with
liturgy compiled by Wesley, was adopted and the next
the whole published, with collection OF psalms
aud hymns. ana % articles OF religion, chiefly formed
from the XXXlX. Articles OF the English ChaIuh.
No further General Conferences provided for but
Il was found necessary call In 1892 at Baltimore,
to provide proper system OF general lep -lation. At
this session the General Conference adopted as part
Of the governmental system OF the Church and regular
sessions appointed to be held every four years Tho
General Conference OF 1896 which also held In Balti
more, established six annual conferences
GROWTH or TIE CHURCH.