Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-03-01

How tine Church, south, Proposes
20 Celebrate the Event.
The following circular letter was
issued to-day by DIR. w. p. Harri-
son, secretary of the central cente-
nary committee:
This year, 1884, is a great and
notable one in the annals of Amer
lean Methodism. 1t will witness
the celebration of the one hun
dredth anniversary of the Meth
odist Episcopal church on this con-
tinent, and is certain to prove a
year Of unusual activity and pro-
found interest throughout the wide
extended borders of that powerful
denomination of Christians. The
grand historic facts relating to the
beneficient character and wonderful
achievements of Christianity
through the organized plans and
the doctrines of Methodism during
its pathway through this century of
its existence in America, are truly
phenomenal, as acknowledged by
the worlds leading minds, and is
VIC vi tiC ; latOCct RAOOACAAlo VI eHS
ages. With more communicates
than any other religious body in
America, it is matter of interest
to briefly review some of the facts
of the general interest connected
with the history of the Methodist
church. Beginning in obscurity
and feebleness, it has achieved for
itself everywhere most wonderful
success. This great religious move
ment has, Immediately or remotely,
so given an impulse to Christian
feeling and profession, on all sides,
that it has come to present itself as
the starting-point of our modern
religious history.
The Methodist Episcopal church,
south. has prepared to join in the
celebration of "the centennial an
niversary of the organization of the
Methodist Episcopal church in
America" which will occur in Bal
timore on December ", and propo-
ses to commemorate the great event
throughout its entire bounds with
suitable services and by raising
funds for educational purposes,
church extentiOn, and missions
three noble objects to which the
liberality of the church will GER
tainly respond. Two millions of
dollars is the amount proposed to
be raised for these objects, and that
this purpose can be accomplished
there should be no doubt; it certain
Iy will not exhaust the treasury of
this strong church, with its nearly
nine hundred thousand members.
1t may be interesting to our read
ers to recount what American
Methodism has hitherto accomplish
ed on her centenary occasions. We
first revert to the centennial of 1889.
AS the first Methodist society was
formed In London in the month of
November, 1879, so 1889 became
properly the one hundredtfl year of
Methodism. 1t was accordingly
celebrated IN Europe and America.
During that centenary year, with
a membership of 749, ZIG members,
including colored members and In
dams, the Methodist church in |
America raised $600,Q for miss
ions, educational pur. oses, and for
the support of the worn out preach
ers, and the widows, children, and |
orphans of preachers. The Wesley |
an Methodists of Great Britain rails |
ed over one million dollars for SINH
lar objects.
The next Methodist centennial
event was in 1866. 1t was in com.
memoratiOn of the first Methodist |
preaching services held in this |
country in 1866, and was celebrated |
by the Methodist Episcopal church |
in 1866. Education and church |
extt ntion were the great objects OF
their benevolence, and $2,OO0,0O0 |
was suggested as the amount to be |
raised. The result was magnifi-
cent one, the thank-Offerings |
amounting to $S,709, 1909, or more |
than four times the amount propos- |
ed at the outset.
The successful celebration of these |
two former centenary events should |
certainly encourage our Southern
Methodist friends to the accom-
plishment of the noble deeds they
have essayed. Such past ought to
be an inspiration.
Able and competent committees
have this work in hand, and will
spare no effort to successfully con-
sumnate it. The central centenary
committee, with headquarters at
Nashville, Tenn, is composed as
follows: E. r. Hendrix, ID. D., of
Missouri, chairman w. p. Harri-
son, d. D., secretary; Wills. Will
liams, assistant secretary; Judge
James Whitworth, treasurer; Bish-
OPP FL. n. McTyeire, L. ID. Palmer
Esq, of Nashville, and James q.
Carter, Esq, of Louisville, KY.
The following is the centenary COM
mittee for the GAINESVILLE District
J. a. Orman, presiding elder; Rev.
t. l.. Moody, B. w. Macrae, Clarks-
vile.