Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-09
The Triumphs of STethodism.

/ The TriumphS OF methOuishh'
The Centennial Conference Of the Meth
/ odist Episcopal Church Of the United
States begins in Baltimore today. 1t Is
1 the purpose OF the church to make this
conference memorable. The first general
/ Methodist conference in this country met
in Baltimore on Dec. "a, 17S4. The con-
/ ditions under which the present confer
/ ence meets and those under which the
conference Of a century ago met
/ are very different Then the church
was small and poor. 1t had only about
/ 50 ministers and not more than lo,OOO
/ members. Now it is great and rich. 1t
I has in the branch represented by this
| conference many thousands Of devoted
| and successful ministers, and millions Of
communicates. Its churches are to be
| found everywhere in the country where
/ there is a possibility of gathering a cOngre-
/ cation. its growth may justly be called
/ marvellous. John Wesley's letter an
I nouncing that he had appointed Dr.. Coke
I and Mr.. Francis Asbury 70 be superinten-
dents of the interests Of MethOdism IN
/ America was written on Septic, 11o4. On
/ DR.. Coke's arrival in America confer
ence Of Methodist preachers was appoint
ed for Christmas week, 17s4, at Baltimore.
| At this conference the Methodist EpIseo-
pal Church in this country was organized.
on Christmas day Mr.. Asbury was or
dained a deacon; on the following day he
was promoted to the Office Of Elder. and on
the third day was elected to the office OF
Bishop. Mr.. AsbuFy was ordained by Dr.
Coke. who had received his letters OF Epls-
copal orders from John Wesley. This
conference then unanimously re-
ceived DR.. Coke and Mr.. Asbury as
their Bishops, and the organization OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church in
America was declared accomplished
The church from the beginning had
nothing TO help it beyond its own merits.
These were great, however, and II grew
and prospered. 1t satisfied the heart
hunger Of the people. The men who car
ried its standard in the cities and on the
= frontier were earnest, sincere and self
sacrificing. Their hearts were in then
work. and although they held out
no smooth promises, but preached
that eternal happiness was tC
I be obtained only by thorough
repentance. they made converts every
where and in eatnumbers. Their deter
minatiOn to succeed oyercame all obsta
cles. aud what a splendid success the!
had! The preachers Of to-day know little
BY actual experience, of what the pioneer
preachers Of MelbOdism in this cOuntT!
suffered and the sacrifices they made fol
F the cause they championed; but they
know. from the results Of their work, thai
the world has never seen a class Of grand
er, nObler and greater men.
There is no word, however, to be SAID
derogat0ry 10 the men who are guiding
= the destinies Of the Methodist Church to
= day. They are well fitted for the worA
they have to do. That work is as impor
; tant as the work already done. The
= foundations of the Methodist Church were
l laid so deeply and firmly that they vii
; support the supersructure, however
great it may grow. 1t is the duty of those
who succeed the great pioneers to direct
the church's growth and make it conform
, to the needs of the gradually and con
, stantly changing conditions Of society.
What thoughts must ill the minds O
, | LlOSe WHO meet III CoblSASiiOS Al De'4'-
more to-day as they glance back through
the century and realize what wonderful
work has been accomplished! The deed;
OF those who have gone before them anC
, the fruits Of their work everywhere Sc
e prominently apparent must not only stil
e their hearts with profound feelings o.
: gratitude. but inspire them with deter
e mnation 10 DO all they can 10 make the
S achievements the church in the century
, about opening as splendid as those Of the
I | nnnf1lrr ahnnf clnsin0