Smyrna times., 1884-04-30
For The Smyrna Times.
Tne General Conference.

This body meets Thursday, May LIST, IN
Philadelphia. Rev. Dr. Caldwell, Rev. j.
r Oui0g and Rev. Chas Hill, are the min
isterial delegates from the Wilmington |
Conference and f. A. Ellis, Esq, OF Elk
ton and A. g. Cox, Esq, of Middletown,
are the lay delegates. 1t is expected the
session will last about month Two OF
three new bishops will probably be elected
and sundry questions of church polity VIII
be acted upon. AS the Methodist Eplsco-
pal Church has become Worldwide Or
Plantation, and will have delegates present
from Europe Asia and Africa in this great
uuadrennial conference, so many matters
of great Importance will come up for con-
sideration.
The one thing Of particular local interest
will be the centenary celebration. The en-
suing Christ mas will complete the hun
dreth year since the organization of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. From 1776
to 1784 the Methodist Church in America
was held by Mr.. Wesley in a subordinate
relation to the established church of Eng
land. But when Great Britain acknOwl-
edged the independence of the United
States, he took immediate steps for the Or
ganization of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Assisted by other presbyters of
the Anglican Church, Mr.. Wesley ordained
| Thomas Coke, LII. D., bishop, and Mr..
| Whatcoat and Mr. Vasey, elders, and sent
them here duly authorized, as far us his
authority went for their mission. They
came here, landing in New York city. Sep
tember Is, 1854, just enc year after peace
was made with the mother country. With
out delay, probably on horseback, they
started for "Barratt's Chapel" where they
arrived on Sunday, November l4th, ensu-
ing. Here the meeting between Asbury
| and Coke took place, which is one of the
events to be celebrated.
At that time about One-third of the en-
tire membership of the Methodist Epsco-
pal Church was on this Peninsula, South OF
| Wilmington. The country between New
York and Philadelphia was wilderness
and it is probable the country population
in Delaware, as far down rs Barratt' Chape
was as dense, or more 50, than any Othel
they saw in their ride. Arrangement
were made between these distinguished
men for II meeting of all the Metho dis
preachers in Baltimore on the following
Christmas day.
Freeborn GarretsOn was sent out rs
courier to notify the preachers, and COX
and Asbury accompanied by others also
went frsm place to place on the route t
Baltimore giving notice of the conference
and preaching the gospel to crowds of pee
pie. On Christmas, sixty of the eighty-fUu
preachers met in Baltimore. They adOpte
. Mr.. Wesley's plan, became the Methods
, | Episcopal Church, ana they clecteu COk
and Asbury bishops, and thus gave form
the Methodist movement in Americi
= This Christmas conference decreed in tn
g name of the golden rule, the declaration {
: independence and every principle of tn
. Revolution, that slavery should be extirp'
! ted
, They also declared that Methods
: should not be permitted to make spiritor
> liquors, sell or drink them, and cOmmant
v ed the preachers to put away the evil /
n precept and example Thus, at its begi
9 ming the NJ. +. Church put itself on Il
: ground of uncompromising hostility
n these great evils, and to-day cOntinu
= where she ever has stood. We anticipa
y some forward movement on the tempe
C ance question at this session in Philadt
, phia. Some are in favor of putting tt
movement on the same footing with Il
e other great benevolent movements Of t
4 church.