Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-07

baltimore SUM-
On Tuesday night next the Centennial
Conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church will begin in this city. coutlnuiDgin
session for week. The number OF delegates
who will take part in its proceedings will
be about five hundred. and will include the
Methodist Episcopal Church, the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South, the Colorcd
Mcthodists, the Methodists OF Canada. and
the Independent and Primitive Melho-
dists, who are also supporters OF the epis-
copal system. Ii is computed that the Con-
ference will represent four millions OF
members belonging TO the several branches
OF this religious denomination, and es-
timated as a community OF twenty mil.
lions OF persons. This estimate does not
take into account that branch OF
the denomination which is known
as the Methodist Protestant, and which
does not recognize episcopacy in Method
ism. Nevertheless, from a sentiment OF
fraternal regard. these also will send four
delegates, two ministerial and two lay. TO
be present at the Conference in token OF
goodwill. Methodism was founded at
oxford, England, in 1929 by John add
Charles Wesley, who drew around them
few persons, and thus started the new
the vigorous and eloquent preaching OF
John Wesley. through all parts Of Eng
land In 1886 the tenets OF Methodsmlwere
introduced for the first time in this coun-
try by John Wesley in person, during
the two years he resided in Georgia
as a missionary OF the Propagation Society.
At fist the Wesleys moved on lines
which enabled them to work within the
Church Of England, but John Wesley, I'M
der the influence oi the teachings Of Peter
Boiler, MonIavian, was converted in 1888
10 more pronounced evangelism. II has
been said Of him he had forgotten gospel
to prcach-thc gospel by which men were
TO lie converted as he had been. and to he
made "Dew creatures" TO raiScu up such
Il bodyo of converted men to help him IN bis
ORGANIZING IabOrs, TO arrange them into
classes and societies, to combine the teach
ing in the pulpit with the private and
personal influence of the class-meetiDg,
became the work OF his life. In a
country like the United States annual
camp-mcotings took The place OF the
open.air meetings OF Methodist preachers
in England, and eXerted a powerful .ntlu-
ence in adding TO the membership OF what
was at first a simple religious association.
but which has now grown into vast pro-
portions. 1t is not. therefore. without rea-
son that the Methodists OF this country and
OF Cana Ia will meet together on Tuesday
to celebrate in this city. by a grand re-
union Of representative men. the centen-
na anniversary OF the organization OF
Episcopal Methodism. The proceedings
for the ensuing week. rs laid down in the
published programme, do not include any
Change OF policy in the Church or anv new
departure in doctrine. They will be
principally historical, explanatory, and sta
tisiical. and will include grand sabbath
school jubilee, in which all the schools Of
affiliated Methodism in Baltimore, number
ing about thirty-fye thousand persons. will
participate. The occasion will mark the
close Of one century OF successful religious
work and the beg inning OF another. in
which the ministers will doubtless labor
with the same earnestLess and zeal for
which the leading spirits Of this denomina-
ton have been distinguished in the past.
There is n peculiar appropriateness in the
selection OF Baltimore as the place for the
meeting of the Centennial Conference, IN
view OF the fact that the first Methodist
Conference was held In this city in Deem
Der, 17S4.