Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-04
METHODIST CENTENNIAL.
AMERICA TO WITNESS 1T THIS YEAR

AMERICA TO WITNESS 1T THIS YEAR.
HOW THE n. E. CHURCH, SOUTH, PROPOSE
/ TO CELEBRATE THE GREAT EvENT-CEN
4 TEN AIRY COMMITTEE OF THE vIRGrNIl
CONFERENCE.
This year, 1884, is great and notable on,
in tho annals of American Methodism. /
will witness the celebration of the one hun
dredth anniversary of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church on this continent and is Ger.
tain to prove year of unusual activity and
profound interest throughout the wide.ex.
tended borders of that powerful denomins-
tion of Christians. The grand historic facts
relating to the benefcent character and
wonderful achievements of christianity
through the organized plans and the doc.
trnes Of Methodi>nI during its pathway
through this century of its existence in
America, are truly phenomenal, as acknowl.
edged by The worlds leading minds, and is
one of the gtandest problems of the. ages
With more communicates than any other
religious body in America, it is a matter of
interest to briefly review some of the facts
of general interest connected with the his.
tory of tho Methodist Church. Beginning
in obscurity and feebleness, it has achieved
for itself everywhere most wonderful sue
cess. This great religious movement has,
Immediately or remotely, so given an impulse
to christian feeling and profession. on all
sides, that 1t has come to present itself as
the starting-point of our modern religious
history.
I. In 1854, the year when the Methodist
church was organized in Baltimore, when
Coke and Asbury were acknowledged and
set apart as superintendents, or bishops,
there were only IA, 9SS members, SO preach
ers, "a church buildings, no missionaries,
and no institutions eff learning within the
bounds of the denomination. Bot from that
time until the present the growth of Method
ism has been almost incalculable, The re-
suit was achieved by men who can well be
dsnominated heroes in the lOftiest sense of
the word. Accepting the motto of John
We-ley-their ehnroh's gfnunder-"The |
World is my Parrish" these men of God |
traversed every state and territory of our
great country, preaching the gospel with |
power and in demonstration of the spirit
building up the church. Their entire sin.
glehess of purpose in spreading the gospel |
has been their prominent characteristic, and |
to day American Methodism numbers with
in her various branches s, 1893, 793 members;
%, S39 travelling preachers, and 81, ia local
preachers; 32, 0G0 church edilices valued at
S1O0, ,O00, 900; 25S institutions of learning
embracing universities. colleges, seminaries
and high schools; in 1882 had 433 mission
aries in foreign fields sent from America,
besides ], 300 native helpers; and during that
year contributed for the cause of foreign
missions the sum of $j51, ,44744.
The NJ E. Church, South, has prepared
to join i'll Jhe celebration of ''the centennial
of the organization of the
Methodist Episcopal church in America"
y hich will occur in Baltimore, December
u, and proposes to commemorate the great
event throughout its entire bounds with
suitable services and by raising funds for
educational purposes, church extension and
noble objects to which the
liberaliiy of the church will certainly re-
spond. Two million of dollars is the amount
to be raised for these objects, and
that this purpose can be accomplished there
should be no doubt; it will certainly not ex-
haust tue treasury Of this strong church
with its nearly nine hundred thousand men,
bers.
1t may be interesting to eur readers to re-
count what American Methodism has hith-
erto accomplished on her centenary occa-
sions. We first revert to the centennial of |
1899. AS the first Methodist society was |
formed III London in the month of Novem-
her, 1873, 20 1899 became pro, erly the one |
hundredLh yclr of Methndism. 1t was ac-
cordingly celebrated in Europe and Amer. |
ica. During that centenary year, with a |
membership of 749, ZIG members, including |
colored members and Indis ms. the Methodist |
church in America raised s600.000 for mis-
sinns, educational purposes, and for the sup
p 'rt of worn-out preachers, and the widows.
and orphans of preachers The
Wesleyan Melhodists of Great Britain rails
ed over one million dollars for similar objects. |
The next Methodist Centennial ev, mt was
in 1866 1t was in cnmmemoration of the
first Methodist preaching services held in
this country in 1866. and WAS celebrated by |
the Methodist Episcopal church in 1865 =
Education and church extension were the
grett objects of their benevolence, and So
000, 900 was suggested as the amount to be
raised. The result was a magnificent one,
the thank offerings amounted to SS, 709. 49S.-
80. or more than four times the amount pro-
posed 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
oO all liojlidtlOus
Able aud competent committees have this
work in hand, and will spare no eff rt to
successfully consummate it. The central
centenary committee, with headquarters at
Nashville, Tenn,s is composed as follows:
E. r. Hendrix. DID,, of Missouri, chair.
man; w. P. Harrison, DID,, secretary:
Wills Williams, assistant secretary; Judge
Jamts Whitw"rth. treasurer; Bishop H. N.
McTye;re, L. D Palmer. Esq, of Nashville,
and James G. Carter, Esq, of Louisville,
Ky. The foil wing is the centenary CON-
mit'ee of the Baltimore Conferences:
Baltimore District.-Thomas E. Carson,
P. E., Rev w. D. II. Harper, E. B. Pretty
man.
East Baltimore District R. r. Hough,
P. E.. Rev. Nelson Head, T. j. Magruder.
Washington District j S. Gardner, P.
E.. Rev W. X. Boyle, George r. Head.
Winchester District.-P. II. Whisner. P.
E.. Rev. W. G. Eggleston. Richard Mccoy.
Rockingham Dist ict.-J. G. Dice, P. E.,
Rev. + Smithson, j. w. f Allemoug.
Roanoke District &C. II. Zimmerman,
P. E Rev. William o. Ross, Jas. Chalmers. |
Lowisburg District ct-David Rush, P. E.,
Rev. A. o. Armstrong, Hon. Frank Here |
fuId.
Moorefield District.-W G.. Hammond, |
r. R.u I}nhort S,,;tb 1T ,,n;l