The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-11-29
The Centenary or Mcthodism.

We have obtained some facts in refer
ence to the Centennial Conference of the
Methodists of the United States, to be
held in 1854, which will be read with in.
| tcrcst:
The irst Methodist conference in
America was held in Baltimore, near
Christmas, 1884, and the Centennial Con.
ference will be held in that city. 1t is
expected the ninety-two conferences of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. and
the thirty. eight conferences of the Meth
odisi Episcopal Church, South, and The
various other church organizations Of
| Methodism, would each he represented
by one clerical and one lay delegate,
making in all probably five hund ed del.
| egates.
The General Conference of the Meth.
| odist Episcopal Church South, in 1882,
provided for the celebration of this Cen.
tennial of American Methodism. A
Central Committee was appointed with
Rev. T.. Il. Hendrix, ID. d.. President of
Central College, Missouri, as Chairman.
and Rev. Wm. Z. Harrison, ID. d., of
Nashville, as Secretary. There will be
each Centenary Committee appointed
in annual Conference, composed of two
ministers aud ono layman for each Pre-.
siding Elders district. These commit
tees will meet at their respective confer.
ences and provide for the proper cele-
bration of the occasion throughout the
conference. The Central Committee
have recommended that centennial
.and bs raised throughout the Southern
| 81. r. Church, to be devoted mainly to
assisting the educational institutions of
the church. Fraternal delegates have
been appointed by the Bishops of the
General Conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church which meets in 1884,
at which time they will unite with the
Northern Methodist Church in celebra.
ting the centenary of Methodism.
In this connection we have deemed il
proper TO give short synopsis of the
origin and growth Of Methodism in
America. The Wesley brothers came to
| Georgia in 1895, and, as is we'll known,
preached in Christ Church, on johnson
square. This was after organizing in
England, in company with George Whit
| field, band of associates for their mu.
tual and moral improvement. The rigid
exactness of their lives attracted general
attention among their fellows in England.
They were the objects of ridcule and
contempt, and received various desisna.
tons, but tho tarm "Methodists" was ap.
piled to them Dy student of Christ
Church College, Oxford, on account of
their methodical life and work. Howev-
er, alter the departure of the Wesleys for
Georgia, the organization was dissolved,
but the new religious life enkindled
manifested itself in the forming of
"Godly Club" who were more Jealous in
their ministrations. On Wcsley's return
to London lie pursued his great object,
that of bringing the church to pure
| anu holy life. he was soon debarred the
pulpits. Whitfield took TO open air
| preaching, which was at first not ap-
proved by the Wesleys, but who after
wards followed his example. Their
efforts were continued until Melhodism
had extended into Scotland, Ireland and
Wales through John and Charles Wes-
| ley's teachings, while Whitfield cnme to
America and aroused the religious CON.
| sciousness OF the people from Maine to
Georgia. Whitfield made other visits
here, and afterwards visited Bermuda,
| where he preached the gospel of the
! Mc:hodists and gaired many adhcrcn,s.
| The nucleus Of the frat Mot!odis: church
III America was composed of immigrants
from Ireland, who had been members of
| Wesley's societies. During tho revolu-
tionary war the ministers of English
descent, except Asbury, returned to the
mother country, the English church in
America was nearly extinguished, and
| the dependence upon that church nearly
failed them. This caused majority of
the Methodsts to provide for their ad-
minis.ration Independent Of the English
clerry, which threatened disruption of
the peace and harmony of the church.
| Under these circumstances Wesley up.
piled in 1880 to the Bishop Of London to
ordain ut least one presbyter to admins
ter tho sacraments, but ne refused. In
1854, Wesley, assisted by Rev. Thomas
Creighton aud Richard Waisccat, pres.
by,ers, ordained by Rov. Thomas Coke,
LII. d., as superintendent Of the AIetho.
| dist churches in America, with Asburv
as assistaE: On COke's arrival general
conference Of ministers was held in Bal
timore, December a, 1884, and approved
the appointments. This conference also
adopted the Episcopal form of govern
ment, made the Episcopal office effective,
and held the superinteadents amendable
to the body ot minister anI preachers.
Thus the church first assumed organic
form, and from that slime the progress of
Methodism has been onward, until now
it is one Of the largest religious denomi-
nations in the country, aud yields pow
erful influence for good Chronicle and
C0nstitutionaHst.