The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-15

ministration of the sacrament of the Lords
supper: a few of whom imbibed the skep-
the great race courses and mingled freely
In resorts which were unfriendly to the
churchly life Against this Mr.. Wesley re-
VOTED and became open in his deunciation.
Being excluded from the pulpits OF the es-
tablished church. he sought the
where vast multitudes gathered TO hear the
OF preachers. George Whitefield. Thus be-
gan the great revival of the eighteenth cen,
,sry known as Methodism. 1t spread
that time, included Wales. Scotland, Eng
land and Ireland. The greatest influence
was In England and Ireland. Som of the
earliest Methodist workers were from Ire
land. such as Barbara Heck and Philip En-
buty. The New World at that time being
eonspicuously in the eyes of the English
these new shores. Mr.. Wesley was urged TO
send workers here, which he did. and for fif-
ty years in the New England and Southern
States and afterwards in the far West,
which at that time included such territories
as Indiana and Ohio and Pennsylvania.
great r~evivals followed in the wake of the
Methodist pioneer preachers. Campmeet-
ings were held in the native
forests. and these were the occasion of
great Methodist multitudes gathering for
weeks at a time and under the inspiration
or song and the fervency OF a gospel which
possessed these truly heroic souls. ii was
no uncommon thing for scores Of people to
be brought into the new life.
The growth of Methodism has been phe-
nomenal, increasing since 1913, when there
was a membership in the Methodist Episco-
pal Church of 1.16o members, to the present
time when there is very nearly a member
ship OF 100000. This does not include Ca
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The
year 1864 was a great revival year, when
10000 people were united to the church:
The year 1892 was also one of great revival
power. We are now closing the most won
derful century in the history of Christen-
dom. and it is the belief of many of the
Ornnf NV ~ ffzrn fAA4 ~
Protestant churches, and ii is our special
hope that the Methodist Church, will enter
the new century under the greatest revival
OF enthusiasm which has yet possessed the
church.
LAST OF THE CENTURY.
1T is, therefore, matter of momentous con-
Germ and one over which every Methodist
In Indiana and especially in indianapolis
should rejoice, that they lived to see in their
own midst the last great mass convention
of Methodists which will meet before the
dawnine of the new century. What, then,
Is clearly our duty in the premises? Surely
this, to make ii from a spiritual standpoint
worthy in every respect OF the most wonder
full century of Christendom. To this end
the general local committee has sent out a
call to the $1,000 leaguers of Indiana, and
the 100000 Methodists that on next Sabbath
morning ten minutes in the public service
be set apart for special prayer for the out
pouring OF the Holy Spirit upon these hosts.
and In order that there may be a deepening
and spreading of religious fervor throughout
the whole city and State and Nation the
Rev. L. w: Munhall, d. D., of Philadelphia.
and ID. w. Potter, of Chicago. will hold
special rentecostal services each day of the
convention at 4 o'clock in the tent and in
Tomlinson Hall. The first great duty of
each Lacquer will be to see TO 1t that both
his intellectual and spiritual life be quick
ened and that he return 10 his local chapter
with a holier and broader enthusiasm for
right living and Christ's work. This is the
first and the second and the third and the
only purpose of the convention. Literary
but the enthusiasm which makes for right
ecusness surely must be gotten here while
we all know II could be gotten in any of the
churches, but whoever has stood in the
midst of the multitudes Of people and has
heard the voice of the people as the voice
of many waters alone knows the moral
power of the multitude.
I'm the Edwin Ray NJ. f. Church, Of this
city. on next Wednesday afternoon. at 2:3c
o'clock the ladies of the church will meet
for a special occasion of prayer for the out
pouring of the Holy Spirit upon all of the
people, and II would not be amiss If every
Methodist Church in the city would hold a
similar meeting.
Should IL come to pass that 10000 bright
young men and women should return to
their homes with an intelligent and strong
conviction regarding some srecial feature OF
church work who could estimate the result
Our colleges and universities and great phil
anthropic organizations. and deaconess
homes. and besides this. the outlying
masses, churchless and sinful. surely are
calling for some special manifestation OF
genuine goodness and large giving and de-
may we hope. from this international Ep'
worth League convention