Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-23
DAILY POST. INTElLlcENcER.
TaG METHODIST EPisoorAI
cQrgCM

Methodist Epaecopel Ns2
ssssion In this city. IL vas created OF
ses apart at the last general eonfefenos
Of the church, held in May last, and sns
Il liz erys annual meeting. The intro
ductiou. rise and spread Of Methodisn
In the United States form rernsrkao's
chapter Of church history. The nseseos
Of the firss Methodist Church IN Ane'-
iea was composed Of enigrants ffo"
I,a,snd. who had been members OF NJ
wesIsy's societies In lT7s these we're
formed into q class and taught BY rhhhp
Embury and Capt. Thomas "eoo' an
ossesy of the British army. The trst
Hsshodis. Church In this country was
erected in Philsdelphia IN ITO Inc
Arst American conference vas held IN
177s. and consisted Of ten preachers,
representing q church membership OF
lle0. During tie war Of the revolution
nearly all the preachers Of English de-
scent. except Asbury. syDp@thized with
the mother country and returned home
which greatly retarded tbs work OF the
church. The first general conferences
was held az Baltimore 10 17s4, at which
Thomas Coke and Francis Asbory we're
unanimously elected Superintendenss-
At this conferences the episcopal form
of government vas assumed. the episco-
gal ofioe made elective, and the twenty
Ave Articles Of Religion" adopted,
thus for the first time giving organic
form 20 the Methodist Church In Amer
ies.
The growth Of the church has been
rapid. From the date Of its orgsHiza-
ton il snsrenchsd itself in the affections
Of the people, and its e!srgymsn and
laynen have ever been ardent champ
ons Of it's doctrines and polity. IL vas
the frs. church 10 officially recognize
the constitution of the L nited States
and pledge its loyalty 10 tbs Govern
ment. Before the end of the eighteenth
century its churches and congregations
we're scattered as far west 40 the Missis-
sippi valley, and were TO be found in
the Eastern British Provinces and Can
ala. During the first sixteen years OF
its organization, the territory was d.
vided into annual conferences, the sun
day school system had been instituted.
and church Publishing house had been
established. The Msthodist Church
was from the first the foe Of slavery In
the United States, and before the year
1900 had taken positive ground In de-
claring the general incompatibility Of
slave holding with membership in Its
communion. The first general confer
encs of the church in this country,
composed Of delegates elected by the
annual conferences, was held in 1872, at
which time the church numbered 6SS
ministers and nearly 10000 members.
In 1915 the Methodist Church was d.
vided upon the question Of slavery, and
Q new organization, comprising dele
gates from thirteen annual conferences
In the South, WAS held At Louisville. XIV.
The separation was amicably effected,
and, under decision Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, the church
property was divided.
Nethodism holds to NO inspired or
divinely imposed church polity. IL be-
iieves that certain types Of church or
Ranization are found in the New Testa-
ment IL teaches that mo uniformity
Of church government Ia obligatory,
bat that church IL at liberty 10 adapt
Its polity and government 10 its varying
sxigenoies." Ii adjusts its polity 10 the
demands Of its work, but in all its vari-
ous branches. both government and
ussges are essentially similar. The
Methodist church has been Jealous in
missionary work and earnest in advo-
eating reforms. As body il has been
intoierant Of slavery and q friend Of
universal liberty. It's strength, aside
from that inhering in Its religious teach
ingx 10 In its perfect orgsnization, the
adaptation Of its polity 10 circum-
stances, its diffusion Of church litera-
ture. the strong convictions and earnest
support Of its membership. and, above
all, 20 the self-denying zeal Of lis clergy.
There are no men in this nation who,
In honest lsbCr. in self denial, in open
generous effort, in devotion 10 duty, in
6dslity 10 principle, In affection for
their church and It's members. surpass
the ministers Of the Methodist church.
They are pionsers In all reform. a. their
predecessor we're pioneers OF the coun-
ny. fhsy are self sacrificing. devoted
10 their faith and uncompromising enc
mics Of oppression In all lis phases.
Asthodism 10 . powerful force In our
governmental, religious and social fab
nc, and never since the organization Of
this church In America has its groxth
besn e. rapid AZ nov. We cannot bets
tar close this brief article than by quot
ing from an editorial comment on Col.
Robert Ineersoll's lecture, in q recent
issue Of the 0rego.ias
when We read the story which one of
ths early missionaries Of Methodism
tells Of himself. but story Which hun
drsds doubtless might have repeated
We cannot help contrasting II VITA the
diary Of Col. Inesrsoll, Who travels in
palace cars and 10 paid 5000 q night
10 lecture on the ghosts that have been
long since lain. ltraversed," he said,
sthe mountains and valleys, frequently
on foot, With my knapsack on my back,
guided by Indian paths In the wilder
ness where IL was not expedient 10 take
horse; and ] had often TO wade
through the morasses half leg deep In
mud and water; frequently satisfying
my hunger with q piece of bread and
pork from my knapeack, quenching my
shirst from . brook, and resting my
weary limbs on the leaves Of trees. =
The early triumphs Of Methsdism wers
not achieved by learning nor culture,
bot BY sppeals 10 the :. soft whisper oi
God In man." which the most eloquent
skeptic cannot stife or suppress. And
no one can review the remarkable
growth Of this church foe hundred
years without recocnixine the truth OF
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