Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-09
THE M. E. CHURCH.
THE WONDERFUL GROWTH OF
METHoDIsM IN THIS COUNTRY.
Old Time Methoaist Frsachers- Pen
Pictures OF Few OF the Present
Day

Day.
The growth OF Methodism in this
country, since its introduction one hun.
dred and twenty years ago is wonder
ful. In 1866 this sect numbered but q
handful In New York City, and many
OF those who attended their meetings
came to scof at their peculiar methods
of worship; now there is not o city, town
or village In these United States where
there Is not q Methodist church and the
mem bers are numbered by millions,
while It's ministers are scattered In
every land, from the frigid regions oi
the north to the torrld deserts OF Africa,
planting the banner of the cross and
proclaiming free salvation to al who
will accept.
A century ago the ministry OF the NJ.
E Church were illiterate and unlearned,
and when man felt that he Was called
upon 10 become "a fisher of men" he
secured horse able to stand privation
and long journeys, and with bis library
,consisting OF Bible, hymn-book and
discipline, started out to preach the
gospel. sin this way he went through
storms Of wind, hail. snow and rain
climbed hills and mountains, traversed
valleys, plunged throug b swamps, swan
swollen streams, lay out all night wet
weary and hungry, held his horse by
/ the bride all night, or tied him 10 9
limb, slept with his saddle. blanket fol
bod, his saddle or saddle bags for hii
pillow, and his old big coat or blanket
II he had any, for covering. OfCen h,
slept IN dirty cabins Oh earthen floor
| before the fire; ate roasting ears fol
| bread, drank buttermilk for coffee, OF
sage tea for imperial; took with hearty
zesC deer or bear meat or wild turkey
for breakfast, dinner aud supper, IL ht
could get IT, And this WAS the old
fashioned Methodist preachers fare ant
fortune"
But now how changed; the ministers
OF the Methodist Church of the pre- sen
day are msn of education and refine.
ment. Aabury, McKendree, Cart
wright, Walker and the other pioneer
OF Methodism have passed away, ant
the men of this generation are building
on that foundation which they laid &c
well. A fair sample Of the present
workers can now be seen in the Viii
| miugton Conference, which is holding
its eighteenth annual session ut Elkton
Md. There may be other conference
who can boast of men Of greater learn
ing, but there are none who can produc,
more thorough, earnest workers, o
those more devoted 10 the cause.
First Is Bishop Mallalieu, who al.
though not u member of this confer
ence il for the present part of it. III,
is q native of Sutton, Mass, and wa.
born In 1925. When but IL years o
age he became member OF the Nj. E
Church, and after he had finished hi
preliminary education at Greenwich
X, l., went TO the Wesleyan Universit!
at Middletown, Conn, where he gradu
ated In 1857.
He entered the New England Confer
ence the next year, and was presiding
elder of the Boston district wheI
ELECTED Bishop by the General Confer
ence, which commenced at Philadelphi
in May, 1884. He is man of deeI
Ipiety, mild spoken, and a thorouR
Methodist, as has been shown ON seve
raj occasions dnrluR the present session
when he has suddenly called out, "Eo'
brethren, let uR sing that old good IA
Imiliar hymn" Then naming som
hymn that all knew he would join i
tho singing IN manner which shove
that he felt what the words expressed
"I like that" said an old gray heade'
minister on one OF these occasions, a.
Iputs me in mind of some of the confe
ences many years ago. when singir
was frequently interjected. " Th
Bishop is tall, with dark hair and fu
beard, and, although persuasive
speech, shows a gentle tirmness under
meath, which eminently fits him 70
the very responsible position which b
lnow fills.
Although he was q stranger to moi
of the members when he came TO con
ference, he has already won their bear
and made hosts Of friends. His inv
tation in the opening address for a
who had anything to say TO come
him and open their hearts, met with
hearty response from all, causing the
10 feel that they had kind teache
instead Of q rigid discipllnarian for
l lpresiding officer.