Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-04-08

members, actual communicates. For
every decade since 1870 it has grown by
a greater percentage than the whole
population of the country. And what
| Is even more remarkable about this
growth is its diffusiveness-the denom-
iniilon has its members and its churches
everywhere. 1t seems to take root and
thrive in every soii.- In numbers it is
badly second to orthodox Congrega-
tioaa.ism ia New England itself-where
it was so late in being planted, and
wliere it has had hard struggle, side
byfside, with the older, more wealthy
and iniuentia. churches; while here in
Ohio, Indiana. and Illinois, the great
Middle Wesi, it far exceeds in members
and property any other evangelical de-
animation. Ii the population of the
country increases in the same ratio
a., It has for the last twenty years, the
Inhabitants will number In 1900 one
hundred millions of people; and In 1850
two hundred and forty-six millions. 1t
is,net likely that the progress will be so
great, as counter currents will be apt to
set In which will stay somewhat the in-
coming tide of immis .ants. But admit
ting that approximately this ratio is
maintained, and that the Methodist
Episcopal Church having hitherto
grown more rapidly than The nation,
shall maintain its ratio, to what proper
tions must this Chuicl attainl And is 1t
not OF vital Importance to the nation
that it shall maintain its equable 81 giowth
-and not 1t only, but all the Protestant
churches of the land2 What moral and
reiis ious power shall be abreast with the
vast ever moving millions Of our peO-
pie westwofd, moi itheasGward, and south
westward, if the Methodist Churcn be
not there? 1t has heretofore advanced
With lne settlements OF our new States
and Territories ss no other denomina-
tion aas.
Then, it must be acknowledged to the
credit of the Method SITS that large num-
bers and wide ey pansiOn IS not their only
merit. The doctrines which they preach
apart, their system is a vast educational
scheme. Wherever rude Jog church is
erected process OF education begins.
The itinerant preacher carries in his
saddlebags good books which he scatters
among the people; We y speedily semi
nary of lesrning is founded, and lis doors
q opened 10 the more thoughtful and
ente,prising youth of both sexes, and
there sem'na4.es qu::kly-all too quick
liz. perhaps-grow lnto colleges and uni
versities, ~ e Inducements for a higher
education d omered. Tue Methodist
Book Conce4n, East and Wess, consti-
tutes -posaioly exsepllg one in Paris
-sile largest demon ns ioaal publishing
inter st in the wo Id. Its & Owth l'rom
almost nothing, $500 borrowed money,
to is presens net capital, Sl,S26,939 81,
certainly shows botn enterprise aud Ca
pacity. The first publiJied catalogue
conta.ned tweaty-s,x voiunes, large and
small; the present one contains 1851
besides the SUNDAY school ard t-acC pub
licatioDs. Tne concern Issues daily 1876
900 .s. To these must be added all its
pc iodica.s and more ephemeral litera-
ture. The educational INSTITUTIONS of
the Methodist Episcopal Church now
number forty-five colleges and theolog-
ical schools, and ninety seminaies,
academies, and female colleges under i,s
supervision, with about 21,O00 students
and S11; 5000 endowment funds. The
The missionary, Sunday, tract, church
extension. Freedman's aid, ana educa-
tional societies Show relatively the same
vigor and prog ess; the contributions to
their treasures; and the expansion of 4
the work assigned to them severally, |
keeping pace with the multiplication of |
the organization of this Church that
there & no, a single phase of religious
and philanvhropic work ior which it is
not equipped; nor is there phase of So
ciety wilicn IL does not touch and mOce
o, less impress. Success may not be
sulliciens d. gumeDt for the vindication
of an instisution. We. It is one which ali
and candid minds are bound
to respect, and waich in The absence of
moral delinquency tney must accept as
evidencing wisdom ald virrue in its
founders and supporters. -[Cin. Gaz.