davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28
VII.

In tho spring Of 1850 Asbury emerged from his
compulsory retirement, which had lasted moro
than two years, and. after meeting with the
preachers In conference at Baltimore, made a
tour through Virginia for the purpose of set-
Ting the differences concerning tho ordinances.
There were at this time no fewer than twenty
preachers and 5000 members affected by tho
difference regarding tho method OF administer
ing the sacraments. The Conference OF 1881 be.
gan at Choptank. in Delaware, but was present
ly adjourned TO Baltimore. Hero thirty-nine of
tho preachers agreed to enforce strictly the dis
cipline rs fixed by Mr.. Wesley, and to preach
the old Methodist doctrines touching the neces-
sity of receiving tho sacramcnts from clergy
men of the Church OF England. II appears that
a great revival OF religion had recently taken
place on the eastern shore OF Maryland, and in
some parts OF Delaware. Tho aggregate mum
Der OF members was now 10, $50, n gain of 2,O35,
and the number OF preachers was 81, a gain OF
IL. The tenth Annual Conference was held In
Sussex county, Va. April II, 1882, and ad-
journod to Baltimorei in May. 1t had now become
necessary to have two conferences, one In tho
South and another in tho North. To the latter,
being OF longer standing and composed Of older
preachers, greater privileges were allowed than
to that in the South, especially in forming regu-
lations for tho society. Accordingly, when
anything was agreed to in tho Yir-
ginia Conference and afterward disapproved
OF in tho Baltimore Conference, 1t was
dropped; but II any rule was determined
upon at tho latter the preachers In tho
South wero held bound to abide by 1t. There
were now II 1855 members, exclusive Of the UNI
reported number in New York. With reference
to the future Of Methodism the most important
question debated at this time was the follow
Ing: DO tho brethren In conference unani-
mously choose Brother Asbury according to Mr..
Wesley's original appointment and in view OF his
whole work T. The answer returned was. "Yes."
In the minutes OF the eleventh Annual Confor-
ence. which assembled in May, 1888, the phrase
United States" appears for the first time.
Congress had issued Il proclamation enjoining
the cessation OF warfare on land and sea, and
already persons claiming to be Methodists.
and asking to DO recognized as preach
ers, began to como from Europe. The
Conference Of l7s3 found 1t necessary TO
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

There Is no reference to America In Weslcy's
list OF appointments until 1870. when the names
OF Boardman, Pilmoor, Robert Williams, and
John Kane appear. In l77l they reported $40
members OF Methodist societies. Wesley, al
though ut that time immersed in trouble
growing out OF tho separation OF the Cnlvlnists
from the Arminians. said to the English con-
ference: Our brethren in America call aloud
for help. Who are willing to 20 over to help
thsni" Five offered, OF whom but two could be
spared. One OF these was Francis Asbury, the
son of an English farmer and gardener,
whose wife was an intensely religious woman.
Tho boy Francis, when bat seven years of
age, was nm interested reader of the Bible.
AT thirteen and a half he began to learn
a trade. Before he was fourteen he had tho
opportunity OF listening to tho noted Cal
whistle Methodists ana Of reading their books,
especially the sermons Of Whitefeld. He began
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

Asbury. That preacher possessed spcwsr Of nov
ing an audience which, at that time, was sur
passed only by Wesley himself. Az they were
departing, ono Of his friends said 10 Cough:
what nonsense II "No," replied he, IT IL the
truth; the truth as It is In Jesus" Entering his
house he said TO his wife: IL will never again
hinder you from hearing the Methodists." His
seriousness Increased until he was on the verge
OF suicide. Visiting by chance ono Of his planta-
lions, he heard the voice Of prayer appraised in a
cabin. and found that q slave from q neighbor-
ing plantation was engaged In prayer with his
own negroes. land Offering fcrvent thanksgiv-
ings for tho blessings OF their lowly lot" Cough
was moved to the depths Of his heart, and cried
out: Alas o Lord, l have my tens Of thou
sands, and yet, ungrnteful wretch that I am, i
never thanked Thee as does this poor slave, who
has scarcely clothes to put on. or food to satisfy
his hunger A few days later he left the dinner
table and retired to his room to pray. desiring
to find peace II possible. Returning presently TO
his family and guests ho exclaimed: II have
found the Mcthodist's blessing; ] have found
the Methodist's God :"
The third Methodist Conference met in Phila-
delphia in May, 1878. simultaneously with the
second Continental Congress. An increase was
noted in the number OF members Of the society.
which would have been surprising in any case.
but which, in tho distracted condition OF the
public mind, was astonishing. There were now
returned BIAS, OF whom about 700 were
registered in New York, New Jersey and Phila-
dclphia, while the largo remainder. some
2.450. belonged to tho country south OF
Pennsylvania. Methodism was progressing
with much rapidity In Baltimore, there being
$40 members In the city and suburbs; there were
also 800 In Brunswick county, Va. II should
here DO mentioned that during the ensuing
Revolutionary war the intense dislike felt for
England throughout the colonies, the foreign
relations maintained by Methodism, and tho
ers were EnxlishIncn, and that the connection
acknowledged the authority OF John Wesley,
exposed the mentors Of the Methodist society to
a prejudice speedily transformed into hostility
whenever they preached against the immortality
which always accompanies war, and when, as
most believed IL TO he their duty to 10, they con-
dcninod the prevalence of the war spirit. Dur
ing the whole OF the ycnr 1915 no Methodist
preacher. especially no European, arose any
whore in the colonies without immediately
dividing the congregation into the sympathetic
and tho suspicious. The opposition which
Methodist preaching had everywhere excited on
doctrinal grounds was now liable at any mo-
ment TO DO transformed into partisan fury or
patriotic indignation, according to the tempcra-
ment OF those who perceived, or thought they
perceived. any question Of tho rightfulncss Of
the attitude OF tho colonies.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

protect itself, and voted that such newcomers
should not be received unless they were pro
vided with q letter OF recommendation which
there was no reason to discredit. In October,
1883, Wesley sent a letter warning tho Metho-
dist connection against preachers coming from
Great Britain or ireland withouta recommends
ton from himself, and expressing the wish that
the American brethren would receive none who
made any difficulty about receiving Francis
Asbury az the general assistant. That the OPP
position Of Methodists to slavery was sincere
was proved at the Conference OF 1884. when 1t
was provided that converts who should buy and
sell slaves should be expelled from the connec-
ton. At the same time local preachers who.
In tho States where the laws permitted
slavery, refused to emancipate their slaves.
were to be borne with another year. but to be
suspended In Maryland, Delaware, Pcnnsylva-
mia. and New Jersey. As to travelling preach
ers who persisted in retaining slaves, they were
to be employed no more. The distribution OF tho
members OF tho connection at this time, com.
pared with the subsequent growth OF tho Ge-
nomination, was peculiar. The whole number
of members reported was 14.yss; of these, about
IL per cent. were north Of Mason and Dixon's
line, and s9 per cent. south Of IL; eighty.three
persons called themselves preachers, but none,
as yet, dared to style himself n minister. The
term pastor was not In use among Methodists.
nor were the now familiar words, deacon and
elder, heard, except in an ecclesiastical contro-
versy. A large proportion OF the members had
not been baptized; they were without the sacrc-
ments. except as they received them from clergy.
men OF the Church Of England, who sometimes
them with Indifference or contempt.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28
H..

1t will DO observed that the now church was
established on a liturgical basis. Tho Sunday
Service Of the Mcthodists in North America"
sent over by Weslsy was adopted by the Con.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

religious situation OF the New World a still
more serious complication was produced for the
American Mcthodists by the avowed hostility Of
John Wesley TO the measures taken by tho colo
nists In their struggle against the exactions OF
the British Government. This hostility was the
more offensive to the American people because,
while the struggle had been confined wholly to
the realm OF discussion. Wesley had appeared to
sympathizc with them rather than with the Min
listers OF the Crown and the acts OF Parliament.
In l775, however, there appeared. TO tho grati1.
cation OF every Tory on both sides OF the Atlantic,
" calm address to our American colonists BY
IT, i;cv. Mr.. John Wesley, NJ. A." The
view put forward In this address" was
that the Americans were tho descend
ants of men who either had no votes
or had resigned them by emigration; they. there
fore, possessed exactly what their ancestors had
left thcm, to wit: not n vote In making laws and
choosing Legislators, but the happiness of being
protected by laws, and the duty Of obcying them.
Wesley undertook to show that tho late acts OF
Parliament were the pretext. but not the real
cause Of the outbreak. and said: Forty years
ago, when my brother was In New England, It
was the general language there. We must shake
Off the yoke; we shall never be a free people
till we shake of the English yoke"
Tho calm address" was little moro than
o"'
teo iaiatoh no tyranny Out IL must % 70
memoered tnat 'ohh wesley was no" one OF the
most conspicuous men in England, and that,
perhaps no ecciesiasticai parsonage ihthe realm
exercised a weishtier influence over the masses
on questions involving religious interests-
Hence the puoheation OF MS address pro
ducod an unparalleled sensation. Dr' Johnson
wrote to him, thanking him "for tho
addition OF your important suffrage to my argu.
meht on inc american question: 10 nave
gained such d man 40 yourson may justly
cohnrm mo IN my own OPINION what e.
iect my paper ms upon tho puohc 1
know NOT Out nave no reason 10 90 discour-
ased. Inc lecturer was surely IN the risht who'
though ne saw MS audience SINKING away, re-
Iused 10 quit tho chair "hile fiato stayed Dr.
buckley Is not one oil the Methodist writers who
nave attempted oy mothoas capapie OF absolute
disprooi' 10 rehe'o inc memory OF 1ohh wesley
from tho charge or hostillty 10 the cause OF the
coionists during the Revolutionary struggle.
Inc address, mas Dcen contrasted with the EN-
phatio letter on oehaif OF the coionists written
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28
ference which formed the church. and was or
dered TO be read. It included a form Of public
prayer, a form for making and ordnining super

ference which formed the church. and was or
dered TO be read. Il included a form Of public
prayer, q form for making and ordnining super
intendonts, elders and deacons, and twonty-four
OF the thirty-nino articles OF tho Church OF Ems
land. Wesley omitted the third. eighth. thir-
teonth, fifteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, TWEEN
ticth, twcnty-irst, twenty.third. twcnty-sixth,
twenty.ninth. thirty.third, and thirty-scventh
articles OF tho Anglican Greed. Some OF tho
others were changed merely In phrascology or In
unimportant points; but others to such an extent
as to convey a meaning radically different; for
instance, in the twelfth article, Justification was
substituted for baptism. BY ihc,c omissions and
changes. all traces OF Calvinism, Romanisin.
and ritualiJm wcrS eliminated. The Methodist
articles of religion arc. therefore. strictly Ar
minian in Gil points which distinguish c%vangol-
ical ArminianiSm from Calvlnisin. Curiously
enough, they contain no statement Of the doc
trlnos which Wesley emphasized, notably that OF
the witness OF tho Spirit and that Of Christian
perfection.
The organization Of the church met with al
most universal approval among Mcthodists. al
though some who had been communicate Of tho
Episcopal Church withdrew their sympathy and
attendance. The liturgy ordered to BIO read was
less favorably regarded. Methodist, indeed,
who had been reared in the Church OF England
were willing to use tho prayer book. but q largo
majority OF the members, consisting OF those
who had had no education in liturgical forms.
exhibited dislike for them. For some time, in
obedience to tho rulo promulgated by the Confer
ence. the preachers generally read prayers on
the Lords Day. and In "somo cases the preach.
es read part Of the morning service on Wedncs-
Days md Fridays, but others, who had been long
accustomed to pray extompore, were unwilling
to adopt tho new plan, being fully satisfied that
they could pray better and with moro devotion
where their eyes were shut than they could with
their eyes open" After n few years the prayer
book was laid aside, and never since has been
used by the Nothodlsts In public worship.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

rrethod,.rn In the United states.

In . previous notice wo referred TO that part
Of the first volume OF DIR. JAMES NJ. BUcK-
LEy's Historv Of Aftthodism the Christian
Literature Company which deals with the life
Of John Wesley. and with the religious work
which no accomplished in the United Kingdom.
The main purpose Of the book, however. is to de-
scribe the growth Of Mcthodism in the United
States. and the remarkable Importance Of the
sect in this country %justitles n separate treat
mont Of the subject. American Methodism may
be said TO have begun in the year 1889, and the
story of its evolution is carried, In the volume
before us, us far as the General Conference Of
1910. when the exceptional success Of the move
ment In tho United States was already assured.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20

Mrs. MONTE and was rendered beautiru''y.
The wedding chorus from l'ohe.s, The
sung as the bridal party eh'''e'
church.
The ushers were Messrs Bas'i yo
Douglas Macon, Armistead H. m0" w
John 8. White. Allan Perkins, Jonh w
F'ishburne, John Kelley. ana - W.
Rogers A.
Immediately after the ceremony '"'
young couple left for the North.
The bride Is the daughter of Mr.. George
Perkins. OF the Albemarie oar. ,
Niche Is manager of the Chario',esVi,,'
Printing Company. and was Formerly CUT
tor Of the Charlottesville Chrohicle.
A mass-meetlng was held IN thls Guy
last evening. and the questions OF aug
menting the citys water supply ana ap-
propriatlne for that purpose 10000, were
debated The meeting was under lhe
auspices Of the Chamber OF Commerce
and the president Of that body was chalr-
man. Speeches were made by Moses
Leterman, j. $. McCue, c. ID. carter
+. NJ. Wills. John S. Patron. III. 1. Nell
son. George Perkins, Walter ID. Dabney'
b. Oberderfer, and DR.. w. {. y. Ran
dolph.
1t is certain that great crowd VIII
attend the University finals TINS year
drawn hlther to hear the speech or the
Hon. w. j. Bryan. AS there Is mere no
hall that could possibly contain the
gathering, he will speak from platform
In the centre of the lawn.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20
THEY CALLED IT WRESTLING.
Two Brothers Tear Clothing, bring
uIood. and Are Fined-Other Cnses.

There were not many callers on Jus
tice John yesterday morning, but those
who came went away well supplied with
Justice. and decidedly impressed with the
bestower of this perfect gift.
s. f. Garner and ID. r. Garner were
charged with fighting in the street, and
were fined $3.50 and costs each. The two
men. who are brothers. claimed that
they We're not in the street. and were not
fighting. but only wrestling. But when
the officers who made the arrest first
saw them one had the greater part OF
his clothes torn off from his body. and
the other was bleeding Justice John
had been a wrestler himself in his
Younger days. and not one fellow in a
score could make him bite the dust. but
he said that in his days. when clothing
was thrown to the breeze and blood
smiled upon the ground. it was a hght.
And so he fined them.
In the case of Joseph Taylor (colored)'
charged with being a suspicious charac-
ter the accused was required &c give
security for his good behavior for thirty
DAYS. He was also charged with striking
Alice Christian, but the case was con-
tinued until the 22d.
The case of Walter Wallace (colored)'
charged with betrayal of Bernice Walsh
which has been pending in the Police
Court for some weeks, was again called
Yesterday, and dismissed.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20
RALEIGH'S BUDGET.
His voice for Wnr-Churcb Improve
mcnt-Dricfs.

RALEIGH. n. c., May 19.-(Special)-
J. c. L. Harris, confidential advisor
10 Governor Russell. declared to-day his
readiness 'to 90 to any party which
recognizes the independence Of Cuba"
He says Mckinley. like Cleveland, favors
peace with dlshOnOr Mr.. Harris was
asked if Governor Russell shared his
views, and he replied that he thought he
did
Inquiry was made to-day of an official
what were the charges against any ofii-
Ger Of the State Farmers Alliance. He
replied that the only complaint was that
goods were not shipped at the prices
quoted by the business agency in its
price-lists, but that this was due to
fluctuations.
The First Baptist church here, recent
~ reftted. as TO its interior at cost Of
81 500 is now being reprinted.
President Richard II. Battle. OF the
State Agricultural Society, tenders the
position of chief marshal to Eugene Holt
of Burlington. There is no doubt that
he will accept.
The officials of this county state that
its debt approximates $4,000. 1t was in
CURED not by reason of any extrava-
gance
There was frost at some points in the
Piedmont section Monday morning. This
has been a cool May.
Mrs. Judge Brock, of Mecklenburg. is
a lucky woman. Monday she found a
1-2-pound nugget Of gold on her farm.
1t is decided that the Ravencroft High
School. OF Asheville. is the property Of
the Episcopal Missionary Diocese OF
Ashevile, and not of the Diocese of
North Carolina.
Weather Observer Won Hermann is at
Clarksvile, placing in position new
river gauges. These are of iron, and
will mark the stage of the water in
the Roanoke, that being very impor-
tant point
Rex Hospital here, which is the City
Hospital. is closed for thirty days. In
order to allow necessary repairs to be
made.
Charles f. Johnson, leading cotton
buyer here. left for London to-day. ac-
companled by his daughter. Miss Mary.
and Miss Eleanor Vass, daughter of the
late Major w. w. Vass.
Charles ID. Heartt. Chief OF Police here
for seventeen years. who was recently
given two months leave OF absence with
pay. goes to Seven Springs TO recruit
his health. which is very poor.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20
SAMI ]. YOUNG DEAD.
roptlA,; INSTRUCTOR IN ELoCU-
TroN PASSES AWAY.
TAKEN I'LL ON HIS BIRTHDAY.
A severe Cold Develops Into /" F"fni
Case of rgeurisy--A Polished Young
Nan with Hosts of Devoted
Friends-scvernI Funerals.

AIR. samuel J. Young, Instructor IN eio-
cation at Richmond College. anra young
man Of decided talent and wide popular
itv. died at the Retreat for the SICK yes
,erday morning at 9:t5 O'Clock after an
illness tina, dated back to January is'h'
which was his birthday.
The friends OF Mr.. Young knew that he
was al the Retreat. but not until a few
DAVIS ago did they realize that the strong
,,e Of affection which had been welded
IN the course Of years would soon be
forever broken. He was attacked on the
18th OF January with pleurisy, and from
a sight appa.tnt cold the disease found
inception. This was his birthday. and IN
the 10Y of IL he had exposed himself m&e
than usual. and contracted cold. For
weeks he was confined to his residence
No. Cs west Grace. but recovering, he
again assumed his duties as instructor OF
clocuton al Richmond COLLEGE.
In April he was again attacked with
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20
The Art Club Exhibition.

The exhibition rooms last night were in
charge of Miss Mary NJ. Il. Newton. as
sisted bv Mesdames Lyons. Bentley, Hurt,
Valentine Dashiell. and others. quite
a number of visitors were present, VINO
exhibited great interest in the productions
of he club. :. 49,,
student work of the Art Club, there Is
nerhaDs nothing in the exhibit more at
iractiVe than the drawings in black ana
white. OF these, the fine drawings from
casts have been already noticed IN ms
paper. noteworthy portion OF TINS de-
Dartment comprises the sketches made III
no class taught by Miss Adele Williams
These sketches from Ire We're requliet
to be done i'm ten minutes. No enort az
Dortraiture was attempted, but the chle'
object was 10 train the eye 10 quick
conn rehension of form, and the hand 10
= ready rendition of il on paper Most OF
the members OF the class had had Dul
little exDerience in this kind OF work. ana
some Of them none at all. The quaIly
Of the drawings exhibited is highly credit
able to the members OF me ciass, an, am
very satisfactory TO the ciub IN general
,rbet such an accomplished and conscien-
tious artist as Miss Williams should say
ebe was greatly pleased with the pro-
ross made IS in itself a sufficient en-
comium. Among the members or TINS
class who exhibit are Mrs. J. =. Dashiell,
Aiiss Nav Jones. Miss julia ). Wooldlidge'
Mrs James Lyons, Mrs NJ. c. Patterson
and others. $50,
The exhibition viii be open, as usual
this morning afternoon. and to-nlght,
md ali who are interested in the cult
WALTON of art and the establishment on "A
permanent basis of an art scnool IN
Richmond should attend and judge for
themselves.