The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-02
METHODIsM.
Celebration of the One Hundredth Year
Since Its Organization In Amerlca-The
Raltimore Conference

L Hc nctuOulSlS are HOW ccleDTdllHS
the one hundredth year since American
Methodism took an organized form and
became independent in its government
OF the mother church i'll Great Britain.
Philip Embury, an Irish local preacher,
was really the father of American
Methodism, and its mother was grand
old Barbara Heck, Embury's cousin,
who persuaded him to call the first
meeting, and who, therefore, like
many another "better-half.n deserves a
higher place than the father in the af-
lection and gratitude of the numerous
progeny. The first church, old John
street meeting-house-the Mecca of
American Methodism-was erected in
l76S. In 177l Francis Asbury came
over as missionary, and the year fol-
lowing he was commissioned by Wes-
ley as his general assistant in the
work here. Twelve years later DR..
Coke came with enlarged powers, and,
at what is known in history as the
"Christmas conference" which con-
vened in Baltimore, Md, in the latter
part of December, IVA, The Meth
odist Episcopal church in the United
States" was formed, with Coke and
Asbury as its general superintendent
or bishops, this last-named event be-
ing that which Methodists have par
ticularly in view in their present CEN
tennial observances.
The organization of Methodism is to
be COMMUNICATED this year in two
general ways. In the first place siren
uous efforts are to be made to raise
money for benevolent purposes. Such
efforts have, indeed, been in progress
since the year opened, but during the
present month they will become more
general, and will call forth, it is be-
lieved, a more liberal response. In
the benevolent objects pressed upon
the notice of the people as being wor-
thy of their centennial gifts, the lead
ing place is accorded to education.
Whatever may have been the short
comings of the early Methodists in
the matter of learning, it must GER
tainly be admitted that the centenary
OF their organization finds them not
only alive to the Importance of this
subject, but with history and pros
pect with reference thereto which en-
title them to rank with any church in
the country. The proposition is to
signalize the present year by ilquidat-
ing debts which have accumulated
upon the educational interests of the
church, and by providing these schools
with liberal endowlnents. Church
debts are also to receive the proper
kind of attention, and no doubt many
a venerable specter of this kind will,
in the next few weeks, melt into thin
air before the liberality of rich laymen.
But the most interesting feature of
this centennial, if not the most profit
able, will be the great conference
Tuesday next in commemoration of
the historic christmas conference"
which met in that city a hundred
years ago. The conference will con-
sist of about 600 delegates, and will
continue in session eight days. The
following table shows the bodies which
will he represented, and indicates their
numerical strength.
Methodist Episcopal. ................1,79 100, 1913
Methodist Episcopal south. .......... 1914, 1872
African Methodist Episcopal. ....... 391, 044
African Methodist Episcopal (zion).. 100000
Colored Methodist Episcopal. ........ 1863, SOB
Primitive Methodist. ............ 3716
Independent Methodist. ......... 5000
Total. BIS 2Se
Some of these figures, it should be
said, though the latest obtainable, are
two or three years old, and hence the
aggregate of Methodists who will be
represented in the conference will be
considerably in excess of what the
above table indicates. 1t should be
too, that the above foot
ings represent the bona fide commune
cants of the different churches, not the
of Methodist places of wor-
ship. Allowing three adherents for
each member, which is a very reason
able estimate, it will thus be seen that
the actual Methodist constituency, rep
resented in the approaching confer
ence will approximate closely to fif-
teen millions.
The Methodist bodies of the United
States which will not be represented
in the centennial conference, but all of
which, with two exceptions, are off
shoots, Immediately or remotely, from
the tree planted on our soil Il hundred
years ago, are the following Metho-
dist Protestant church, which has 1885,
D54 members United Brethren, 159.-
547 members 4; Evangelical association,
l19, 1858 American Wesleyan church,
90, 800; Congregational Methodists,
Free Methodist church, II, 719
Union American Methodist church,
$500. These swell the grand total of
American Methodists, according to
he latest statistics, to over 1000, 900,
md, on the basis previously ANNOUNCE
ID, would make the Methodist popu-
alton of the country not much less
han 16, 100000.
The conference will be a delibera-
i've, not legislative body. 1t will be
made up of picked men from all the
hurches participating, and the great
st care has been taken in the selec-
ion of essayists. Questions of govern
nent are not to be considered, but the
doctrines are to have place in the
discussions, which is another proof |
hat the Methodist families are agreed |
pom the fundamentals of their faith
hough they differ widely in regard to
nethods and forms.