The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10
WORK OF METnODIsTS.
This Sect viii Begin the New Century with
Religious Revival,
IT DESIRES TWO MILLION CONVERTS
Rnpid Growth of Religion During
Past Hundred Ycnrs-Doublc Menu
bcrship In Three Years.


per was celebrated on the American con-
tinent under the auspices OF the Metho-
dists. 1t was in little Methodist colony
down in Virginia that the feeble stem
sprouted. which in little more than a cen
fury has become the giant oak among
Protestant religious bodies. 1t was shortly
after this first institution of the Metho-
dist sacraments on American soil that
John Wesley himself came over to spread
the gospel of Methodism throughout the
new American union OF States. And it
was but few years later when the elo-
quence of Whitfield inspired renewed con-
secration among the early Methodist pio-
neers and swept the new world with u
fervor OF evangelism.
Present day Methodist speakers and
writer's recall the fact that the Nineteenth
century was ushered in on two continents
with a revival of heart religion as dis
tinguished from intellectual polemics.
Though small in numbers at the opening OF
this century. the Methodists had already
become a moral power. Looking back over
century of accomplishment, the present
DAY Methodists, judging from the utter
ances of their leading bishops and lay
writer's. have come to the unanimous con-
cluslon that the Twentieth century must
be ushered in by n similar wave of relig
ious fervor and moral power. In the Ian
guage of Bishop Fowler two million con-
verts and 500 900, 600" is the least the
Methodist church can offer at the turn of
the century mark as a thank Offering !
pledge,
In round numbers the Methodist Episco-
pal church now has 1000 900 communicates I
in the United States. The pledge that has
been nailed at the masthead of Methodism |
means that every loyal Methodist commu- |
meant must bring in at least one new
convert to redeem the pledge. Two mil |
lion new converts means that the mem
bershp of the church is to be doubled
within the next three years. Beginning
with January /. 1900. the count is to be-
gin, and the harvest Is to be reaped dnt
ing 1900, 1901 and 1902 The commission
that has charge Of details is already ac-
lively at work arranging for the, syste-
matte stimulation of individual confer
ences and church congregations to special
/ activity in gathering in new members,
Bishop Fowler, who is d ChicagoSn. has
written an appeal for the redemption OF
the Twentieth century thank Offering
pledge that las been circulated wherever
the Methodist Episcopal church has foot
hold on Eve continents. Bishop Fowler
calls the pledge an electric engine that will
iun either end forward. He says With
the converts the money will come, and
with the money the converts viii come.
Again he says:
"Methodism Is losing parts of her do
main on each side. Like an island in
divided current. she must protect herself
on both sides with piers and breakwaters.
On one side workers in the submerged
tenth are doing the work that once made
Methodism rich in converts and saints. On
the other side, in the upper tenth, many
clever souls are satisfied with system
that seems to have but little of the cross
in its Christianity, and are thus drifting
from our affairs. Some new baptism of
power Is needed for these souls that would
satisfy every want of the heart with the
fulness of a perfect redemption and a per-
feet Redeemer Some new baptism of
labor IS needed to so push our member
ship out into all fields that there would
remain no unreached. submerged tenth.
Methodism must not allow her candle to
be burned at both ends
At the beginning of this century Meth
/ odism had few worldly possessions and
was meager in scholarship. Il had les;
than 300 ministers. less than $1,000 mem
? bers very little church property and no
colleges at all. At the close of the Nine
i teenth century Methodism in the worli at
9 large has sixteen separate sects o. de-
nominations. nearly 10000 travelling min
: listers, over 100000 members, with num-
r berless universities, theological semina-
ries and colleges. It's church property !;
/
/ branch of Methodism known as the Meth
:. odist Episcopal church CT the United State:
u has about 10000 ministers and about one
: third of the total Methodist membership
n of the world.
= The raising of s2O.OooOOo by United
}, States Methodists during tho next tire
g years is to be over and above all ordinar,
e expenditures and benevolences. 1t is PRO
Il posed to apply s10,OO0.o0o OF the fund TO
the enlargement and maintenance OF tn
universities, semInarios and colleges c
the church The other $40 600 Is TO b
applied to hospitals. ophanages, home
e for the aged and similar institutions,
church extension and home missions an
to the payment of existing debts on churc
= properties The exlngulshment OF churc
debts by individual congregations VIII !
> counted in making up the total OF "
,e thank offering. Donors may also desi!
nate to what object their special ben
IN factions may be applied and, provide
!. these are above ordinary yearly contrlbl
~ tions. they will be counted as part OF Il
al $40 900 thank offering.