Smyrna times., 1884-03-05
WHOLE NO. 1896.
Methodist Centennial.
HOW THE NJ. f. CHURCH so1-Tu ppo-
POSES TO CELEBRATE THE
EVENT.

ms year will witness the colebro.
ton of the one hundredth annivprs,rv
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church On
thls continent, and will doubtless nrovo
year OF unusual activity and profound
interest throughout the wide extended
ooruerS OF that large denomination
III I'o4, the year when the Netbodist
Ohurch was organized in Baltimoro
"hen Coke and Asbury were acknowl-
euScd and set apart as supcrintepdents
or bishops, there were only 14oss
members, 63 preachers, Ga church
oulIningS, no missionaries and M in
S'l'utlon of learning within the bounds
OF the denomination. But from tL,t
tllho until the present the growth of
Mcthodlsm has deem remarkable To.
day American Mcthodism nur,L,n-
"l'hln her various branches 1892 7o4
iie,iioers; 2',S39 travelling preachers
anu "i,1l4 local preachers. 3oOoo
church ediiices valued at 500 900 oOo.
800 iNS'Itutons of learning, embracing
universities, colleges, seminarics and
hish schools; in lSS2 had 4}& mission.
aries IN foreign fields sent from Ameri-
ca besides l,90G native helpers. and
during that year contributed for tbo
.'u"o oI lorclgn missions the sum of
SOL ,447.44.
Inc NJ. +, Church South has prepar-
ed 10 join in the celebration of the
centennial anniversary of the organiza-
lioh OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
IN America" which will occur in RaIt;.
more on December 9th, and proposes
TO commemorate the great evept
throughout its entire bounds with suit-
able services and by raising funds for
educational purposes, church exten.
SION and missions. Two millions of
dollars IS the amount proposed to he
raised for these objects.
1t is interesting to revert to what
-hNOloulSm mas hitherto
on centenary occasions.
the ilrst OF which was in 1889. As The
hrst Methodist society was formed in
London IN the month of November
'o9' SO 1859 became properly the one
year Of MethOdism II r,s
accordingly celebrated in Europe and
During that centenary year.
with a membership of 749, ,2l6 members
including colored members and Indians.
me Methodist Church in America
raised 5000, 900 for missions, educational
purposes, and for the support of the
"orn-out preachers, and the widows
and orphans of preachers
The Wesleyan Methodists of Great
Britain raised over one million dollars
or similar objects. The next Netho-
list centennial event was in 1866. Il
vas i'll cOmmemoration of the first
Methodist preaching services held in
his country in 1766, and was celebrat-
ID by the Methodist Episcopal Church
II 1866. Education and church exten.
ION were the great objects of their
'enevolcnce, and $2,O0O,OOO was sug-
,ested rs the amount to be raised.
he result WAS magnificent one.
ne taank-ofterings amounting TO
S,TO9, ,49S.39, or more than four times
he amount proposed at the outset.
competent committees have this
FORK in hand, and will spare no effort
successfully consummate it. The
ehtral centenary committee, with
eadquarters at Nashville, Tenn. is
omposed as follows: T. r. Hendrix
}. d., of Missouri, chairman; w. p.
Iarrison, D. D., secretary; Willis
assistant secretary; Judge
lmes WhitwOrth, treasurer; Bishop
!. \, McTyeire, L. d. Palmer, Esq.
Nashville, and James G.. Carter. ESD.
Louisville, KY.