The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-06
THE METHODIST ENTENNIAL.
Approaching Anniversary of the Organization
of MethOdism One Hundred Years Ago.

VI Va hHN AhNhA
BALTIMORE, Dec. $50 the Methodists are
celebrating another centennial-did they not
observe one eighteen years ago7o True, but
then it was the one hundredth anniversary of
the holding in America of the first Methodist
services which was c-ommemorated, whereas the
present observances mark the one hundredth
year since American Methodism took on an or
ganized form, and became independent, in its
government, of the mother church in Great
Britain Philip Embury, an Irish local preacher,
was really the father of American Method
ism, and its mother was grand old Barbara
Heck, Embury's cousin, who persuaded
him to call the first meeting, and who, therefore,
like many another better hall, " deserves a high
er place than the father in the affection and graf
itude of the numerous progeny. The first
church, old John-street meeting house-the
Mecca of American Methodism-was erected in
1903. In III Francis Asbury came over as a mis-
sionary, and the following year he was commits
stoned by John Wesley as his general assistant"
in the control of the work here. Twelve years
later DR.. Coke came with enlarged powers, and,
at what is known in history as the Christmas
Conference" which convened in Baltimore, Md,
in the latter part Of December, 1854. THE Meth
odist Episcopal Church In the United States
was formed, with Coke and Asbury as it's gen
eral superintendent, or bishops, this last named
event being that which Methodists have particu-
larly in view in their present centennial observ-
ances.
The organization Of Methodism is to be com
memorated this year in two general ways. In
the first place strenuous efforts are to be made
to raise money for benevolent purposes. Such
efforts have, indeed, been in progress since the
year opened, but during the present month they
will become more general, and will call forth,
it is hoped, a more liberal response. In the be-
nevolent objects pressed upon the notice of the
people as being worthy of the centennial gifts,
the leading place is accorded in education.
Whatever may have been the shortcomings of
the early Methodists in the matter of learning. it
must certainly be admitted that the centenary
of their organization finds them not only
alive to the Importance of this subject, but witt
a history and a prospect with reference thereto
which entitle them to rank with any church in
the country. The proposition is to s~ignalize the
present year by liquidating debts which have ac-
cumulated upon the educational institutions Of
the church, and by providing these schools with
liberal endowments. Church debts are also to
receive the proper kind of attention, and no
doubt many a venerable spectre of this kind
will, in the next few weeks, melt into thin air
before the liberality of rich laymen as the first
snow OF winter Is melting whist L write under
the genial rays of an autumn sun.
But the most interesting feature of this cen
tennial, if not the most profitable. will be the
great conference which will assemble in Balti-
more on Tuesday next, in of the
historic christmas conference" which met in
that city a hundred years ago. The conference will
consist of about 600 delegates and will continue
in session eight days. The following table shows
the bodies which will be represented, and indi-
Gates also their numerical strength:
. 4 -l.nA Ff-sa.--.I nm EnD
Methodist Episcopal, South ............... 1874. 1872
African Methodist Episeopsl. ....---...... 391 ,044
African Methodist Episcopal tZi1u) .-...-. 100000
ColoTed Methodist Episeopal......-.-..... 1G9, SO3
Primitive Methodist. 3,7l6
Independent Methodist. 5000
,7I8, 28s
Some of these figures, it should be said, though
the latest obtainable, are two or three years old,
and hence, the aggregate of Methodists who will
be represented in the conference will be eonsid-
erably in excess of what the above table indi-
Gates. 1t should be remembered, too, that the
above footings represent the bona fde communi
cants of tine different churches, not the attend
ants of the Methodist plaeeso of worship. Allow
ing three adherents for each member, which is a
very reasonable estimate, it will thus be seen
that the actual Methodist constituency repre-
scented in the approaching conference will APP
proximate closely to fifteen millions.
The Methodist bodies of the United States
which will not be repr Sented in the Centennial
Conference, but all of whom, with two excep-
tons. are off shoots, Immediately or remoteiy,
from the tree planted ON our soil q hundred
years ago, are the following: Methodist Protest
ant Church, which has 123, 04 members: United
Brethren, 1854 members; Evangelical AS
ISOLATION, 1l9, 1873; American Wesleyan Church,
%, $50; Congregational Methodists, 20, 900; Free
Methodist Church, II, 7l9; Union American
Methodist Church, $500. These swell the gra,,d
total of American MethOdists, according to the
latest statistics, to over four millions, and ON the
basis previously announced, would make the
Methodist population of the country not much
less than sixteen millions and a half.
The conference will be a deliberative, not a
legislative body. 1t will be made up of picked
men from all the churches participating, and the
greatest care has been taken in the selection of
e~ssayists. Questions OF government are not to
be considered, but doctrines are to have n place
in the discussions, which is another proof that
the Methodist families are agreed upon the fun
damentals of their faith though they differ
widely in regard to methods and forms. Tho
regular sessions will be held in Mount Vernon
place Church, but the evenings will witness large
representative gatherings in many other
churches; the opening exercises, in which lead
ing parts will be taken by Bishop Andrews, of
the NJ. E. Church and Bishop Wilson, of the NJ.
L. Church South, occurring on Tuesday evening
at the First NJ. E.. Church.
The topics to be considered on the different
days are as follows:
First day-Work of the Christmas Confer
ence; Personnel of the Christmas. Conference.
Second day-The SUPPLEMENTARY of Asbnry
and what it did for Methodism; The Relations of
John Wesley to American Methodism; Stats
teal Results; Membership. etc; Educational and
Financial. Third dsy-Methodism in 1884 and
its Outlook; Methodism in 1884 and its Outlook;
Causes of the Success of Methodism; Possible
Dangers to Future Methodism. Fourth day
Rise and Progress of Methodism in Canada;
Methodist Pioneers and their Work; Is Method
ism Losing its Power over the Massesl Fifth
day-The Aim and Character of Methodist
Preaching; Methodist Means of Grace; The Doc
trinal Unity of Methodism; Guards to the Purity
of Our Doctrinal Teaching. Sixth Da y-The
-Four Points of MethOdism Heart Conversion,
Assurance, Christian Experience and Sanctifca-
ton; The Influence of Methodisn on Other De-
nominations; Value of the Press to Methodism;
Value of the Periodical Press to Methodism.