Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-12
rur crNrrNARY oF MErRoDIsM
Arranging for a Conference IN 1851
The Origin of the Word tMethodlsts
~, froxvth of the Church.

Arranging for a Conference in 1884
Tbe Origin of the Word "Methodists'
The Growth of the Church.
We have obtained some facts in refer
once to the Centennial Conference Of the
Methodists Of the United States to he
held in 1884, which will be read with IN
terest.
The first Methodist conference IN
America was held in Baltimore near
Christmas, 1884, and the Centennial Con
ference will be held in that city. III Is
expected the niDety-twO conferences oil
the Methodist Episcopal Church, the
thirtv-eigfit conferences Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church south, and the various
other church organizations Of Methodlsm,
would each be represented by one clerlcal
and one lay delegate, making in all pro0a-
bly, 5O0 delegates.
The General Conference Of the Metno-
dist Episcopal Church south in ISL pro-
vided for the celebration Of TINS Centen-
NAL of American MethOdism. a Central
Committee was appointed, with keN. +.
X. Hendrix, u. d., President OF central
College. Missouri. as Chairman, and Rev.
Wm. =. Harrison. ID. D.. Of Nashville, as
Secretary. There will be a Centenary
Committee appointed in each annual con-
ference. composed OF two ministers and
one lavman for each Presiding Elder
district These committees viii meet at
their respective conferences and
provide for the proper eel
ebration Of the occasion throughout
the conference. The Central Committee
have recommended that centennial fund
be raised throughout the Southern NJ. T..
Church. TO be devoted mainly to assisting
the educational institutions Of the church.
Fraternal delegates have been appointed
by the Bishops 10 the General Conference
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church which
meets in ISL at which time they VIII
unite with the Northern Methodist
! Church in celebrating the centenary OF
MethOdism.
In this connection We have deemed II
proper to give a short synopsis OF the
origin and growth Of MethOdlsm IN
America. The Wesley brothers came 10
Georgia in 1875. and. as is well known.
preached in Christ Church. on johnson
square. This was after organizing IN
England, in company with George mt
field a band of associates for their mutual
and moral improvement. The rigid eX-
actness Of their lives attracted general
attention among their fellows in England.
They were the objects of ridicule and con-
tempt. and received various desig-
nations but the term MethOdists "
was applied TO them BY a
student Of Christ Church College,
oxford. on account Of their methOdical
life and work. However, after the de
parture Of the Wesleys for Georgia the
organization was dissolved. but the new
religious life enkindled manifested itself
in the forming of a "GOdly Club, VINO
We're more Jealous in their ministrations.
On Wesley's return to London he pursued
his great object. that of bringing the
church TO a pure and holy life. lie was
soon debarred the pulpits. Whitfield took
TO open air preaching, which was at first
not approved bv the Wesleys. but who
afterwards followed his example. Their
efforts We're continued until MethOdism
had extended into Scotland, Ireland and
Wales through John and Charles IVES
I ley's teachings. while Whitfield
came to America. and aroused the
religious consciousness of the people from
Maine To Georgia. Whitfield made other
visits here. and afterwards visited Ber-
muda. where lac preached the gospel of
the MethOdists and gained many adheT-
I ents. The nucleus of the first Methodist
Church i'm America was composed Of i'm
migrants from Ireland. who had been
members of WeSley'S societies. During
the Revolutionary war the ministers OF
English descent, except Asbury. returned
tOthe mother country. the English Church
III -AlAitlitd W a. utdAls tAlAA- ulSuCN. anu
the dependence upon that church nearly
failed them. This caused majority of the
Methodists To provide for their admins
tratiOn independent OF the English clergy,
which threatened a disruption of the
peace and harmony of the church. Under
/ these circumstances Wesley applied in
/ l7SO 10 the Bishop Of London to ordain at
/ least one presbyter 10 administer the
/ sacraments. but he refused. In 11N4.
I Wesley assisted by Rev. Thomas Creigh-
/ tom and Richard Waiscoat. preshyters,
ordained Rev. Thomas Coke. IL. d., as
superintendent of the Methodist churches
in America. with Asbury as assistant.
( ON Coke's arrival a general conference Of
ministers was held in Baltimore. Deem
! Der II, 1874. and approved the appoint
ments. This conference also adopted the
/ episcopal form Of government, made the
episcopal office elective. and held the
superintendent amenable to the body of
ministers and preachers. Thus the
church first assumed organic form. and
from that time the progress OF MethOdism
has been onward. until now it is one OF
the largest religious denominations in the
country, and yields powerful influence
for good.