The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-01
THE NIGHT SESSION.
Eloquent Address of I:cv. DIR. Spencer q
Church Extension.

Eloquent Address of Rev. DR.. Spencer on
Church Extension.
Last evening the members OF the
conference and a number OF others
gathered in the Fourth street church to
hear the address on "Church Extcn-
sion" by Rev. DR.. W. A. Spencer, OF
Philadelphia, assistant secretary OF the
Board OF Church Extension. DR..
Spencer said:
Ours is peculiarly a time OF oppor-
tunity. Never were there so many
white fields rs now. Every Protestant
church in America is beggared by its
opportunities and defeated by its vic
tories. trust l shall not be accused OF
bigotry il l confine myself to the facts
OF our OWN church, rs l am not for u
moment forGetiul OF tho great work
being accomplished by other branches
OF the Christian church, notably by our
Baptist brethren, who have honorcd
and g%laddened your beautiful city by
their presence. Again, l regret that l
cannot do justice to all the branches OF
Methodism. Not every one knows that
there are eighteen denominations con-
shutting the Mcthodism OF the United
States. OF these there arc nearly $780,
OOO commandments, our one branch OF
the Methodist Episcopal church having
100000 members, or about three.
sevenths OF the entire Methodist family
in the United States. l must coniine
myself, however, to the growth and
opportunities OF this single branch, in
whose interest l travel 10000 miles a
year, having a parish covering every
State and territory except Alaska.
Let me say
First--Our church is growing moro
rapidly than ever before. l was present
at the centennial OF Kentucky Method
ism in May OF last year at Lexington,
NY. One hundred years before, Bishop
Asbury, with an escort OF twenty rifle
men, came through the mountains of
Virginia to the bloody lands OF Ken
lucky to plant a conference west OF the
mountains. Six miles out from licking
ton, in an old log cabin, Bishop Asbury
and six Methodist preachers knclt down
and began the organization OF tho old
Western Methodist conference, which
had for its eastern boundary the Ale
chany mountains and forits western
boundary unset or the Pacific ocean.
Watch the growth OF 4 century.
Where then there were six ministers
there are now 1000 pastors and presid-
ing elders in the territory of tho old
Western Conference. Where then there
were forty or fifty communicates there
are now 1900 900 members west OF the
Alleghenies. Whore then there were
no Sunday schools and church buildings
there are now $4,000 900 OF church
property and $4,000 Sunday schools be.
longing to n single branch OF the
Methodist family OF churches.
Surely we are growing. In the entire
United States the Methodist Episcopal
church has $1,000 Sunday schools. II
you put one on every mile ior a diamond
on the golden gird!e around the world
at the equator, there will still be left
1000 miles for a double bow-knot to tho
girdle. Placed equal distance from each
other they will span the continent with
a Sunday school Tor every furlong. Wo
have infant class scholars enough to
make a skirmish line from Boston to
Tacoma, with the little dots near enough
together SO that they might, in. the
| prattling tones OF childhood, pass the