The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-01
METHODIST CENTENNIAL.
now the NJ. e. Church, south, Propos.
este Celebrate the Great Event

J0"'' 1901, Is great aud no
tsole one IN the annals of American
methodism. 1t will witness the cell.
oraiion OF the one hundreth anniver.
sary OF the Methodist Episcopal
church on this continent, and is Ger.
cain TO prove year of unusual activ-
!. ity and profound interest throughout
the wide.extended serders Of that
powerful denomination OF Christians.
with more communicates than any
other religious body in America, it is
= matter of interest to briefly review
some OF the facts of general interest
connected with the history of the
Methodist church. Beginning in
ohscurity aud feebleness. it has
achieved for itself everywhere most
wonderful success.
La 1854, the year when the Metho>
dist Church was organized in Balti,
more, when Coke aud Asbury were ac-
kn wledged and set apart as Superin
tendents, or Bishops, there we're only
i4,9oo memners, SO preachers, "a
church,nulidngs, no missionaries, aud
~ Insutuliol Or learning within the
bounds of the denomination. Accept
any the motto of John W esley-their
church founder-"The World is NV
Par!sh,' these men of God trlversed
every State and Territory Of our great
country, preaching The gospel with
Tpower and in demonstration of the
spirit--ouilding up the church. Their
entire slngleneso of purpose i'll spreads
ing the gospel has been their promi-
nent characteristic, and to day Amer.
ican Methodism numners within her
various branches 1898, 724 mem bers;
1889 travelling preachers, and 3D.
VA local preachers; $1,000 church
edItces valued at 500, 900, 900; 258
institutions of learning, embracing
universities, colleges, seminaries and
high schools; in 1882 had 433 mis-,
sionaries in foreign fields sent from
america, besides 1906 native he pers;
and during the year contributed for
the cause Of foreign missions the sum
of ,S55l, 447. A
The NJ. f. Church, South, has
prepared to join in the celebration of
.'Ihe Centennial Anniversary OF the
Organization of the Methodist Epis.
copal Church in America" which will
occur in Baltimore on Dec. 9th, and
Propose to commemorate the great
event throughoutits entire bounds with
suitable services and by raising funds
for Educational purposes, Church
Extension, and Missions-three noble
objects to which the liberality of the
church will certainly respond. Two
millions of dollars is the amount pro-
posed TO be raised for these objects,
and that this purpose can be accom-
plished there should he no doubt; it
will certainly not exhaust the treasu-
nv of this strong Church with its near
ly nine hundred thousand members.
1t may be interesting to our read
efs to recount what American Metho
dism has hitherto accomplished on
her Centenary occasions. We first
revert to the Centennial of 1899. As
the first Methodist Society Was formed
in London 10 the month of November,
1899, so 1889 became properly the
one hundreth year of Methodism. It
was accordingly celebrated in Europe
and America. During the centenary
year, with a membership of 1922
mem bers, including colored members
and Indians, the Methodist Church in
America raised $500, 900 for missions,
educational purposes, and for the sup
port of the worn-out preachers, and
the widows, children, and orphans of
preachers. ;,
The next Methodist Centennial
event was in 1866. 1t was in COM
memoration of the first Methodist
preaching services held in this coun-
try in 1866, and was celebrated by
the Methodist Episcopal Church liz
1865. Education and Church Elk
tension were the great objects of their
benevolence, and $4,000, 600 was sug-
uested as the amount to he raised.
The result was a magnificent one, tine
thank offerings amounting to ~, 709,-
498 80. or more than four times the
amount proposed at the outset.
The successful celebration of these
two former Centenary events should
certainly encourage our Southern
Methodist friends to the accomplish
ment of the noble deeds they have
assayed. Such a psst ought to be an
inspiration.
|. Able and competent committees
haya this work in hand, and will
no effort to successfully consum-