Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-13
CENTENARY SERVICE AT THE M. E.
CHURCH.

The First NJ. Z. Church Of Martins
burg held a Centenary Service on Sun
day, 18th. The service was opened by
an anthem, 1.-THE Year Of Jubilee. ],
Rev. John w. Hedges delivered a
very interesting and carefully prepar-
eu address on the Hundred Years of
Methodism, taking as text the as
Psalm. He spoke of the small Begin
ming of the Jewish people, and their
growth under the influence and direc-
ton of God until in the reigns Of
David and Solomon the Kingdom of
Israel had reached the zenith of its
grandeur and glory 1000 years before
Christ, and now in the 10Th century
5000 years from that tine-the grand
scheme of God for the salvation of
man has rolled on like great tempest
until it has filled the whole world.
Methodism, as some one has said,
burns like the day of Pentecost and
glows like fire. In 1886, two or three
persons met in Europe to consider
the best mode of promulgating and
advancing soul salvation. This grew
until Europe was ablaze, and in 1866
Philip Embury settled in New York
and through him the fire reached
America. He preached his first SER
mon to an audience of five persons,
who afterwards became the founders
of Methodism in America. About
the same time, Frederick Co., Nd,
was set on fire of God by the preach
ing of Robert Strawbridge, farmer
living on Sands Creek in that County.
He also erected the first Methodist
temple of God on the banks of Sands
Creek, built on the American CONT
nent. In I'LL, a great many men
came over to preach but could not
confer orders, and all the ministers
were what we now call local preachers.
In 1913, the first conference met at
Philadelphia at which 10 preachers
were present and the churcll:: then
numbered 1l60 members. Wm.-
Waters, the first native American
preacher, was a member of this CON
ference, and from this small begin
ming grew the great organization of
Methodism in this country. At that
time Maryland and Virginia contain
ed more than half the whole member
ship in America, ana in 1851 the
membership had grown to IA, 9SS, and
its preachers numbered SO, all without
orders-none of the ordinances of the
church could be administered In
1854, John Wesley consecrated and
set apOrt DR.. Cook as Bishop and Su-
perintendent of the church of America,
and on Christmas. 1884, a conference
was held at Baltimore at which among
other orders conferred was that of
Bishop on Francis Asbury. In 1873,
Edward Bailey was placed in charge
or the Berkeley Circuit, aud the year
following the membership of the cir
cult was stated as 1871. From the
labors of these men many Of the best
families were attracted to Metho-
dism. This entire territory had been
occupied by other denominations
Methodism spread out and became
what it is to-day at the expiration of
100 years. In America there are four
million members with twenty million
persons under its direct influence Its
preachers were men who started out
without salaries and often in patches
and faded garm ents, fearing neither
the world, the flesh nor the devil, but
pleading with the spirit, believing
that it was by the spirit of the Lord
they could succeed, and crying behold,
behold the Lamb. May God fill the
people with their spirit to-day. The
discourse throughout was learned,
able and eloquent.