The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1884-04-03
METHODIST CENTENNIAL.
IhiS Year to Witness the Gem
tenary of American Meth
OdISnl.
How the NJ. E. Church, South.
Proposes to Celebrate the
Great Event.

' O1' 40 Il S5IGdU dlQ
notable one in the annals of Amer
lean Methodlsm. It will witness
the celebration of the hundredtb
anniversary Of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church on this continent
and 1t IS certain to prove year of
unusual activity and profound
interest throughout the wide-ex-
tended borders of that powerful
denomination of Christians. The
grand historic facts relating to
the benefcent character and Won
derful achievements Of Christiani-
ty through the organized plans
and the doctrines Of Methodism
during its pathway through this
century Of its existence in Ameri-
ca, are truly phenomenal, as ac-
knowledged by the worlds lead
ing minds, and is one fthe grand
est problems Of the age. With
more communicates than any 9TH
er religious body in America, it
is matter Of interest to briefly
review some of the facts of gener-
al interest connected with the
history of the Methodist Church.
Beginning in obscurity end fee
bleness, it has achieved for itself
everywhere a most wonderful sue
cess. The great religious move
ment has, immediately or remote
ly, so gwen an impulse to Chris
tan feeling and profession, on all
sides, that 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 Asbu-
ry were acknowledged and set
apart as Superintendents, or
Bishops, there were only 1883
members, SO preachers, "a church
buildings, and no missionaries,
and no institution Of learning
within the bounds of the denomi-
nation. But from that time until
the present the growth of Meth
odism has been almost incalcula-
bic. This result was achieved by
men who can well be denominated
heroes in the Hottest sense of the
word. Accepting the motto of
John Wesley-their Church's
founder-"The World is my Par
ish," these men of God traversed
every State and Territory Of our
great country, preaching the gos-
pei with power and in damonstra-
ton of the Spirit-building up the
Church. Their entire singleness
Of purpose in spreading the gospel
has been their prominent charac-
teristic, and to-day American
Methodism numbers within her
various branches 3,993,724 mem
bers; $3.50 travelling preachers,
and 34,6l4 local preachers; $4,000
church-edifices valued at 800, 900,
coo, 259 institutions Of learning,
embracing universities, colleges,
seminarieS and HIGH schools: in
1882 had 433 missionaries in for
eign fields sent from America, be-
sides 1906, native helpers; and
during the year contributed for
the cause Of foreign missions the
sum of 1851 ,44I.44.
The NJ. E. Church, South, has
prepared to join in the celebration
Of "The Centennial Anniversary
Of the Organization of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church in Ameri-
CO." which will occur in Baltimore
on Dec. q, and propose to com
memorate the greatevent through
out its entire bounds with suitable
services and by raising funds for
Educational purposes, Church
Extension, and Missions-three
noble objects to which the liber-
atty Of the Church will certainly
respond. Two millions Of dollars
is the amount proposed to be
raised for these objects, and that
this purpose can be accomplished
their should be no doubt; it will
certainly not exhaust the treasury
OF this strong Church with its
nearly nine hundred thousand
members.
1t may be interesting to our
readers to recount what American
Methodism has hitherto accom-
plished on her Centenary occas-
ions. We first revert to the Cen
tennial of 1889. As the first
Methodist Society was formed in
London in the month of Novem-
Der, 1899, so 1889 became proper
ly the one hundredth year Of
Methodism. 1t was accordingly
celebrated in Europe aud Ameri-
ca. During that Centenary year,
with membership of 749,216
members, including coior2d mem
bers and Indians, the Methodist
Church in America raised $780,
600 for missions, educational pur-
poses, and for the support of the
WORKOUT preachers, and the wild
ows, children, and orphans Of
preachers. The Wesleyan Meth.
odists OF Great Britain raised ovel