Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-12
TIE oENrENARY OF srErHoDIsM

OENIE-N AK VI
The Observance OF ChIIdren's Day-The
Celebration at Trinity Church by the
Methodist Sunday Schools of Savannah.
The last General Conference Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, in appointing the
celebration Of the Centenary of Methodism.
called for the sacred and benevolent OBJ
servanca Of a 'sChildren's Day." The
Annual Conferences, by specific action,
appointed such days as would secure the
most auspicious celebrations, the second
Sunday in May being fixed upon by the
South Georgia Conference. The service
in Savannah was held at Trinity Church
Yesterday afternoon, aud was partlcl-
pated in by all the Methodist sunday
schools Of the city, including Trinity,
Wesley Monumental. New Houston
street and Marvin. The programme
suggested by the sunday. school
Department Of the Methodist
Church South was adopted and combined
a deeplv interesting and attractive ser
vice. The church was filed with child
ren. the Marvin sunday school occupy
ing the pews on the north aisle, the New
Houston street school next, Trinity
an the south aisle. those on
the main being reserved for the Wesley
Monumental school which marched IN
body 10 the church, accompanied by its
Superintendent. officers and teachers.
There were few floral decorations. a
couple Of vases Of beautiful lilies stand
lng upon the pulpit being the only
display. The pastors Of the various
Methodist Churches. with Rev. ;. y.
Tucker. Of Irwinton, and Rev. B. ;. Sen
tell. visiting clergymen, and the Superln-
tnndents Of the various schools, were
seated inside the altar rail. The service
was conducted by r. B. Reppard.
Esq. and opened with the cOro-
nation hymn, ''An Hail the
Power OF Jesus Name" by the
schools. led by Mr.. A. 7. Miller. PRAYER
was offered by Rev. b. ;. Sentell, after
which the song Children Of the Heavenly
King was sung. Appropriate scriptural
selections were read by Rev. ;. \.
Tucker, when the school and cOngrega-
ton sang "Glory to God in the Highest"
The responsive service indicating the de-
sign. objects and methods Of the Centen-
AIRY Observances was read by the leader
and the school,
What DO we mean by the Centenary Of
American MethOdism>
/ Church was organized in America.
81 what place did this organization occur:
At Baltimore, Maryland
The Christmas Conference Of Methodist
preachers. beginning December q. Isl.
Who were elected Bishops at tins confer
euces
Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury.
Was that the beginning Of MethOdIsm in
l this country.
Il was not: Robert Strawbridge, MethO-
dist. began to preach IN Maryland a. early as
1904 and Philip Embury in New York in l766.
Did MethOdlsm have its origin IN America.
II did not: John Wesley organized the first
I Methodist society IN London, England ID the
latter part OF the year l'Ss.
Did the church celebrate the centenary Of
the first Methodist societies.
The Wesleyan MeJhOdists Of England oh
served this Centenary in 1899.
Did the church observe the Centenary OF
the beginning Of MethOdism in American
The Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated
this Centenary 10 lsd5 by raising over $4,000
090.
How do we propose 10 celebrate this Cente-
nary Of American MethOdlsm:
Bv liberal thank Offerings to God for foreign
missions, church extension. education, ana
the sunday school cause.
How much Is the Southern Methodist Church
| asked to contribute during the year as Cen
tenarY fund.
Two million dollars.
How many Methodist preachers were there
in America in 1882
EiEhty-One.
How many members
Fifteen thousand.
How many preachers and members now, il
1851
over four millions in the United state.
o. these now many belong to the Methodist
Episcopal Church SOUTH
500. 81.
How many men and women have we now
engaged in foreign mission work:
ThiTty-Oue-
Where are they laborings
In china, Mexico. and Brazil.
How many Sunday schools were there IN
America in I7sis
None.
How many Methodist schools are there now
I IN the nitcd states and Canada
There are 1885 schools. with 3s9,67s officers
and teachers. and 3.llS.162 scholars.
What D. the sunday school strength OF
southern MethOdisms
schools. $3.50: officers and teachers, 65,514;
and scholars, J09.g3f.
At the conclusion Of this interesting
service. Rev @. W. Matthews, pastor Of
New Houston street Church, in a brief
address reYieWedthe history of MethOdism
and the work it has accomplished, refer
/ Ing especially to the efforts Of Wesley in
Savannah. and his organization of a sun
dav school here in 1896. 40 years before
Robert Raikes conceived his great idea OF
SUNDAY schools. Of which he is accorded
/ the honor as founder.
Rev. ". NJ. Hayes. Of Wesley MOnu-
mental Church, ahd Rev. I. L. Christian,
/ Of Trinity, followed with interesting ad-
7 dresses bearing upon the great event
I which the church is called upon to cele-
/ brate and which viii be observed by over
/ 100000 Of people in the United States
/ alone.
I Mr.. Reppard. in an interesting black
/ board exercise. showed the great strength
/ Of the church and its growth from feeble
/ and humble few to the largest and one of
/ the most powerful church organizations
/ in the country. At the conclusion of this
I part Of the programme "The Ship OF Zion
I was sung. and the collections to be APP
1 Piled to a fund to aid in establishing
mission Sunday schools were reported.
[ The collection from New Houston street
I was Sl0l SO. and from Trinity 1920 y.
/ Wesley Monumental school had embodied
ITS collection in its general mission fund
and made no report. The school then
sang the hymn:
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion. city of our God.
He. whose word can ne'er be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode;
on the rock Of ages founded
What can shake thy sure repOse:
With saNation's walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
Closing with the doXoIogy, after which
the schools were dismissed with the bene-
dictiOn by Rev. I. T. Christian.