Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-08
A Century of MethOdism,

The twenty-fourth quadrennial session
of the General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, met in Philadel-
phia on last Thursday. This body meets
every four years, and is the great legis>
Iatiye body of the denomination, framing
its laws, electing its bishops, choosing
heads for its important publication de.
partments, and, in short. exercising su
preme control over all matters pertaining
to the church at large. The present
General Conference is composed of $50
delegates from ninety mine annual con-
ferences. representing about 4,349 itin
Grant and more than 12,O26 local, minis
tsrs. and about 100000 lay members.
The session will continue about a
month and among its interesting features
will be the election of number of
officers to take charge of special branches
of religious work at good salaries, and
to elect bishops as successors to Bishops
Scott, Haven and Peck, who have died
since the last General Conference. The
discussion of the itineracy question, the
proposed increase in the number of
bishops, the choice of colored bishop
for the special supervision of the colOred
conferences, the admission of lay dele
gates to the annual conferences, will add
interest to the present meeting.
The New York Tribune in referring
to the meeting Of this conference, says
It ''fitly marks an important epoch in
he history of American Msthodism
Tor it precedes by only few months
the completion of the first centenary Of
The corporate life of the Methodist
church in the United States. The first
General Conference met at Baltimore,
on December "A, IVA, and is popularly
known as the Christmas Conference.
Methodism was not strong In those days !;
even its name was stigma fixed upon
ii by its enemies. But its leaders were
men of large faith and iDdOmitable
pluck; and the organization which they
then perfected has proved to be one of
the most marvellous agencies of modern
CETistendom.
CtUluTy vi Iilt VIII SLO-
ries of apostolic zeal and heroic self
denial. Its evangelists and colporteurs
have penetrated to every portion of the
land, and its missionary societies have
heen lavish in their contributions to the
cause of the church. No Other body of
Christians has done more to commend
itself to the American people. From
the days when Wesley and Whitefeld,
Asbury and Coke arose with such power
to proclaim the necessity of vital relig-
ion, until the present time, Methedism
has been great moral force in the world
leading men up to homely but real con-
ceptions of righteousness.
"And it is no disparagement to other
communions to say that Methodism in
some respects is the truest reflex of the
religious thought of the common people
in America. 1t represents the great body
of the people-the farmer, the artisan
and the workingman. Its simple Gospel
message, its fervid enthusiasm, its prac-
tical ways of expressing itself in its
eVangelistic work, the elasticity of its
services, and the prominent part which
it gives to its laity in those services
all these features have endeared the
Methodist communion to the people 1t
is but fair to add that it has been indie
fatigible in bringing its message of
mercy to the homes of the poor and the
lowly throughout the land. AS guar
dian and teacher Of morality, as a preach
er of gospel of peace and good will
toward men, it justly takes an honorable
place in the ranks of evangelical Chris
tendom."