Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-08-06

ing men the world over toward Method
ism and the history of the different
church organizations which owe their
origin to the teachings andthe influence
OF the brothers John and Charles Wes-
ley. OF course the first place aus be
given to the elder brother John. 1t is
no e%xaggeratlon to say that no religious
movement since the reformation has
been attended with success at all pro.
portioned to that which has attended
the movement connected with the names,
of the Wesleys. It is ten years short Of!
u century since John Wesley died. It
was only in 1889, and toward the close
oil that year that John Wesley organized
in London the first Methodist united go
ciety. 1t consisted OF some eight or ten
persons. In 17A vas held in London
the first Methodist conference. It con-
sisted of John and Charles Wesley, tour
other ordained elergymen Of the church
OF England and tour lay preachers.
Such were the beginnings OF the Metho-
dists-a name which was originally -ap-
piled to the Wesleys and their ~associa-
tes by their fellow students al . tarm Qf
reproach. The reproach has become m
honor and the name promises to hold q
permanent place in christian history
and christian literature. When John
Wesley died his societies had spread
over the United Kingdom, the continent
Of Europe, the states OF America ard
the West Indies, and they could boast of
some eighty thousand members, In
1889 was held the centennial anniversary
when the continued and growing pros
perity of the Methodist cause was evin-
ced by the magnitude of the offerings,
$1,000 600 having been contributed by
the British Wesleyan Connection and
$600,0O 0 by the societies in the United
States. Ia this ecumenlcal year Method
ism is still faourishing, going on, pros
pering and to prosper, and nowhere
more than in these United States. In
spite OF divisions and secesslons both in
the British Isles and on this continent
divisions and secessions into the history
OF which we cannot now enter-the
numbers have been rapidly increasing.
1t is roughly estimated that the total
Methodist population OF the world is not
under "a. 900 900. A carefully prepared
table published in the wesley Memo
rial" volume gives the total of Metho-
dists in 1880 as tollows:-Itinerant min
listers. 31,240; local preachers, 85,460;
lay members. IL, 688, O93. This OF course
leaves out OF account the younger men,
bers OF, families, and the large numbers
who, though attached to the cause OF
Methodism, are not church members.
Of these large figures nearly two.thirds
belong to the United States. In the
states. with the exception of the Baptists
no other body Of christians at all APP
proaches them, and eve the Baptists
TALL behind them in ministers over three
thousand, and lay members about one
million. The Presbyterians, next in
cess. especially such continued success,
is to be &C, ounted for 1t is not easy to
say. Much must no doubt be laid TO the
plainness and general a~daptability Of the
system. 1t is orthodox; but it leaves
out the stern dogmatic elements OF the
Genevan creed. Much also must be at
tributed to the Importance which has
always been attached to the lay element.
Much also to the TACT that it Is now and
always has. been q missionary church
a church of the people. And much Of
all that isIbest in Methodism must be
traced back to the wisdom. the foresight
and the sweet evangelical piety Of John
Wesley. To a system of religious
thought and action which, it 10 now or
all hands admitted, saved the religious
lite OF England in the eighteenth century
AM which constitutes not q little Of the
preserving element in that Kingdom
even now-a system which has done
such good work and which is doing
such good work. even now, in these new
lands of the west-t0 such q system nj
section OF u people eau afford to b.
Indifferent. The "Ecumeuical" counel
will command universal attention; ant
it becomes us all to wish 1t such success
as shall render it a benefit not only K
Methodlsm but to the christian world