National Republican., 1883-10-09
THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
Assembling OF the General Conference nt
Allentown, History OF the Associn-
tlon-Its Organization and Growth.

Assembling OF the General Conference at
Allentown, Pn.-History OF the Associn-
tIon-Its Organization and Growth.
Special Letter.
ALLENTOWN, PA, Oct 5.--The general
conference of the Evangelical association met
in this city yesterday aud will likely con-
tinue in session about two weeks. 1t is COM
posed of eighty-seven delegates and nine ex-
oficio members, making ninety-six in all, and
is the lawmaking body of the church. 1tmeets
quadrennially. The Evangelical association,
sometimes incorrectly called the "German
Methodist church." Evangelical Association
of Methodists," &c, was organized in Penn
sylvania about eighty-throe years ago, under
the influence and labors of Rev. Jacob Al
bright one of the best men that ever pro-
claimed the truth, who became its first bishop.
The theological character and complexion
of tho church is thoroughly orthodox and
evangelical. 1t adheres closely to tho prac-
tical, fundamental, and experimental in its
system of teaching, and thus succeeds in pre-
serving the life and power OF religion, without
which the matter of public and private wor-
ship Is mere performance" l know the
doctrines o, the church are sound because the
fact Is beautifully exemplifed in the lives of
the members They are q good people. The
polity of the church is q modified episcopaCy,
and bears striking resemblance to that of
the church of the UNITED Brethren in
Christ" The ministers are divided into two
classes, elders and deacons, and the bishops
are elected by the general conference for
four years Notwithstanding the bitter OPP
position with which it was met in its
carly history, because, among other things.
of its anti-slavery proclivities the Evangeli-
cal association has succeeded in establishing
flourishing congregations of earnest and ex-
collent Christians all ovor the north and
west, and now has communicant member
ship of 100000, and breaks the bread Of life
to about 100000 people every Sabbath. 1t
has conference in Germany and another in
Switzerland each containing membership
of about 5000. There is also a strong con
ference in Canada and prosperous mission
| in Japan. The increase in the membership
of the church in the last four years is
| 10000, which shows that its labors are not
in vain. The church has, among other institu-
tions oflearniug n fourishing college at Plain
| field, ILL.,; twenty-five annual conferences,
| 1,552 ministers 622 churches, 500 parson-
ages 135,000 Sabbath school scholars, and
| publishes a large amount of first class re-
ligious literature, consisting of weekly,
monthly, and quarterly periodicals, besides
books. These publications are in tho German
and English languages The publishing
house of the denomination is located at Cleve-
land, Ohio, and is in q very prosperous con-
dition. Messrs. Lauer u Eost are the pub
fishers The total value of the property OF
the church, including churches, parsonages
college and seminary buildings, is certainly
over $4,000 900. The church also has an
orphans home, the value of which is not in
cluded in tho above calculation. Tho mis-
sionary contributions of the church last year
amounted to Sill $3.50, which is n fraction
over 80 cents per member. Thus you see
these people pay as well as pray.
| Tho personnel of the conference is exceed
] lfrfr int hut hnr
put on paper Among the ninety-six dele
gates there is, perhaps, not one who cannot
and does not speak the German language.
| In the earlier history of the church the
preaching was exclusively German, and that
language is still spoken in many of its pull
| pits. In this city the German language is
spoken more extensively, if not so correctly,
| than in any other city in tho United States,
and the Evangelical association mas four coz
gregatons here, and n membership of about
1000. About sevonty-five years ago the
church began to preach hero in the house of
an old coOred man, which beginning was
both significant and Insignificant The
old colored man, Judging from the life
he led, is firmly and comfortably established
| in Heaven; and the Evangelical association,
because of the worthy and efficient character
of its conduct, is equally well established, in
an earthly sense, in Allentown. But ! in
tended to refer to some of these ministers.
| Among tho eX oflicio members of the confer
ence arc three bishOps--J j. Esher, of Chicago;
r. Dubbs of Cleveland, and Bowman, of this
city. The first named is the senior bishop OF
the church. and has served in that capacity
about sixteen years. He is the smallest OF
the bishops, and usually speaks in German
He is n sharp looking, dark complexioned
man, about 60 years old, and weighs about
140 pounds.
Mr.. Dubbs, respecting the length of his
service as q member of the board of bishops
is sandwiched between Revs Esher and Bow.
man, the latter being the junior member
Bishop Dubbs is an excellent speaker. He j:
u large, fine looking man, and weighs,
should think, not less than 225 pounds. He
has dark hair and beautiful whiskers.
Bishop Bowman is younger man thar
either of the others, and is medium in sizt
and talent He has a bald head and wears
sandy whiskers.
DIR. Hartzler, the editor of the EUangelica
Messenger the English organ of the denomina
ton, is prominent member of tho body, ant
is deservcdly esteemed for his ability and in
tegrity. He is one of tho most promising
men in the church. He is a smooth an,
elegant talker, and wields ready and grace
full pen.
The conference is not fairly settled dow
to business yet. G. l. b. BRANE.