The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-03-06
METHODIST CENTENNIAL.
This Year TO Witness the Centenary OF
American Methodisn.

This Year TO Witness tho Centenary OF
American Methodism.
This year, 1884, is q great and notable
one in the annals of American Meth.
odism. 1t will witness the celebration
of the one hundredth anniversary of the
Methodist Episcopal Church on this con
tincnt, and is certain to prove year OF
| unusual activity and profound interest
throughout the wide extended borders of
that powerful denomination of Chris.
tians. The grand historic facts relating
TO the beneficent character and wonder.
| iul achievements Of Christianity through
the organized plans and the doctrines of
Aethodism during its pathway through
this century of its existence in America.
are truly pheuominal, as acknowledged
by the worlds leading minds, and is one
OF the grandest problems of the ages.
With more communicates than any other
religious body in America, it is q matter
of interest to briefly review some Of the
facts of general interest connected with
the history of the Methodist Church.
Beginning in obscurity and feebleness,
it has achieved for itself everywhere n
most wonderful success. This great re-.
ligious movement has, Immediately or
remotely, so given an impulse to Chris.
tlan feeling and profession, on all sides,
that it has come TO present itself as the
starting. point of our modern religious
history.
In 1854, the year when the Methodist
Church was organized in Baltimore.
when Coke and hsibury were acknowi.
edged and set apart as Superintendent,
OF bishops, there were only Ii,SSS mem.
bsfs, 83 preachers, 81 church: buildings,
no missionaries, and no institution Of
learning within the bounds of the demon.
ination. But from that time until the
present the growth of Methodism has
been almost incalculable. This result
was achieved by men who can we'll be
denominated heroes in the loftiest sense
Of the word. Accepting the motto of
John Wesley-their Church's founder
The World is my Parish" these men OF
God traversed every State and Territory
of our great country, preaching the COS.
pei with power and in denomination OF
the Spirit-building up the Church.
Their entire singleness of purpose in
spreading the gospel has been their
prominent characteristic, and to-day
American Methodism numbers within
her various branches 1898, ,724 members:
25,s39 travelling preachers, and 34,7l4
local preachers; $4,000 church. edifices
valued at 100000, 900; 258 institutions
OF learning, embracing universiiies.
colleges, seminaries and high schools
in 1882 had 433 missionaries in foreign
fields sent from America, besides l 900
native helpers and durins that year
contributed for the cause of foreign miss.
ions the gllm Of 2551 dd7 IA
The NJ. =. Church, South, has prepared
to join N the celebration of "the Cen.
tennial Anniversary of the Organization
OF the b1ethodist Epi. copal Church in
America" which viii, occur in Baltimore
on Dec. q, and proposes TO commemorate
tho great event throughout its entire
Bounds with suitable services and by rails
ing funds for Educational purposes,
Church Extension, and Missions-three
noble objects to which the liberality of
the Church viii certainly respond. Two
millions of dollars is the amount propos.
ed to be raised for these objects, and that
this purpose can be accomplished there
should be no doubt; it will certainly not
exhaust the treasury of this strong
Church with ia nearly nine hundred
thousand members.
1t may be interesting to our readers to
recount what American Methodism has
hitherto accomplished on her Centenary
occasions. We first revert to the Centen-
nipl of 1889. AS the first Methodist
Society was formed in London In the
month of November, 1889, 80 1889 be-
come properly the one hundredth year
Of Methodism. It was accordingly cele-
brated in Europe and America. During
that Centenary year, with membership
of 749, PIG members, including colored
members and Indians, the Methodist
Church in America raised 5000 900 for
missions, educational purposes, and for
the support Of the worn.ont preachers,
and the widows, children, and orphans Of
preachers. The Wesleyan Methodists of
Great Britain raised over one million
dollars for similar objects.
The next Methodist Centennial event
yas in 1866. It was in commemoration
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
Extension were the great objects of their
benevolence, and $4,000, 900 was suggest
ed as the amount to be raised. The re-
suit was magnificent one, the thank.
offerings amounting to $8,70S, ,498.39, 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 accomplishment of the noble deeds
they have essayed. Such past ought to
be an inspiration.
Able ard comT s...,nt committees hsve
this work in hand, and will spare no eff.
fort to successfully consunmate it. Tho
Central Centenary Committee, with head.
quarters at Nashville, Tenn, il composed
as follows: e. R. Hendrix, d. d., Of
Missouri, Chairman; w. 2. Harrison,
d. d., Secretary; Wills. Williams, Assist.
ant Secretary; Judge James Whitworth,
Treasurer Bishop H. N. McTyeire, L.
d. Palmer, Esq, Of Nashville, and James
g. Carter, Esq, of Louisville, KY.
The following is the Centenary Com.
mittee Of the GreenviIle District: Y. @.
Herbert, P. E., Greenville; Rev. 8. Ian.
der, Williamson Miles Sitton, Seneca
City.
Confronted with us y.llAIny.