The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-01
METHoDIsTs' WATCH NIGHT.
Passing of the 10th Century Marked
by Imposing scenes.

Passing of the 10th Century Marked
by Imposing scenes.
The union meeting of Methodists at
Grace Church was a most notable one in
many respects. 1t would have been an ex-
ceptionally large one held at any time,
but, lasting as it did until after midnight.
the crowd that packed the church until
there were no further seats to be had,
made it an exceptional one indeed.
The programme. the same as that in
all Methodist churches throughout the
connection. lasted from 10 o'clock until
after midnight 1t consisted of hymns,
prayer and scripture readings, and a
brief review by Rev Bascom Anthony of
the educational and missionary facts Of
the century, In this review the follow
ing statement is of particular interest:
1.-THE first foreign missionary society on
this continent was organized in 1S1O-the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions. There are now $50 such
societies throughout Christendom. The
receipts for the first year Of missionary
effort were $415. These various societies
including independent and cooperative eff
fort, now receive annually more than
$4,000, 600. The first Woman's Foreign Mis-
sionary Society was organized in 1884 in
England, there are to-day 100 such or
ganizations, forty of them being in Amer
lea. The century has been one of re-
markable growth in evangelstic effort
From the small beginnings made upon
its threshold. there are now 1900 900 ma
tive communicates, with 1890 Protestant
missionaries on the foreign field. assist
ed by more than 1890 native laborers,
who are daily engaged in pointing the
heather to Christ In this effort the mis-
sionaries have been ably seconded by the
Bible societies, which began the century
with only forty-seven versions of the
Scriptures Since that time $780, 600 GO
copies and portions have been issued in
4n languages, which include nine-t enths
of the human race.
MIR. Anthony's address was followed by
personal experiences, expressions of
thanks for mercies past, and reasons for
a century thank offering; many OF the
congregation taking part In this feature
of she service. After a hymn had been
sung, the second part of the service a
sermon by Bishop Hendrix, was begun.
Bishop Hendrix spoke on Cod Grow
ing Confidence in Men" taking his text
from John 1915, I'VE have not chosen me.
but have chosen you, and ordained you,
that We should go and bring forth fruit,
and that your fruit should remain; that
whatsoever We shall ask of the Father in
my name, He may give II you"
The Bishop spoke Of the Revolution
that the Christian religion had created Ia
the world of the missionaries, and the
results of their efforts, particularly in the
light Of their probable results in the CEN
fury 20 come.
OF Gods growing confidence in man.
the visible results, he said, were to be
seen In the number of discoveries made
during the dying century which were
nearly twice as many as had been made
during all the previous eighteen centu-
ries. All these. he said. were ordained
for the furtherance of his teachings.
zone hundred years ago tonight there
was another watch night service when
countless thousands of Christians on their
knees begged God to open the doors OF
heathendom to the teachings of
his servants. Tonight there is
no closed door to that teaching.
THE last century was one Of prayer,
this is one OF preparation, and the next
will be one Of occupancy. expect by the
beginning of the next century the Chris
! tian religion will have thrown down and
destroyed all the idols OF heathendom as
completely as It has overthrow and de-
stroyed those Of Greece and Rome
In the eighteenth century Voltaire said