The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-04
STATE WIDE CELEBRATIONS Plans for Honoring Cen tennial of Methodism. TO ASSUME MANY FORMS Ministers Asked for Historical Sermon on April P. . sunday school. of Metheaist Church Hsye Been Asked te Observe
 The A.niversary ea April sS,
 in Formal Way.
 

The plans of the special committee Of the AIabama Conference Historical Society appointed to arrange for the commemoration of, the one hundredth anniversary of the advent of Meefo- dism into the present bounds of Ala bama have been outlined in circular just issued by that committee.
 The plans. involve a series of com memorative exercises in every depart ment of the Methodist Church in the State this year. including the Annual Conference, the Conference Board of Missions, the several District Confer ences, the educational and benevolent institutions under the control of the Conference, the several pastoral charges, the Sunday Schools and Ep- worth Leagues in the Conference.
 The plans also advise the appropriate marking or monumenting of such his toric spots or places associeted "itn Alabama Methodism as ought to be commemorated by tablet, memorial stone or otherwise. and the issuance Of commemorative medal.
 It is also proposed to collect and organize materials for the history of the church and It's several auxiliary bodies. including relics of Alabama Methodism and Methodists, and the actual compilation of histories of all 
 Mission efforts and kindred depart nients of the church, as far as may be possible. S..r = .
 The outline of iplans for the. com memorative celebrations this year, as issued by the committee. is as fol lows: [
 It is expected that appropriate com memorative exercises will be held by the Annual Conference, by the Confer ence Historical Society. by the Confer ence Board of Missions, and by the Epworth League Convention of the State. The anniversary of the last named will be held at Selma. on the evening of June 2. 1908. Details for other exercises will be announced later.
 District Conferences.
 All presiding elders are asked to ar range anniversary exercises for some day or evening during the 1908 ses- sions of their several District Confer ences. The details of the program are left to them. but it is suggested that an anniversary discourse be delivered, a souvenir program be printed. and that due and proper! emphasis be laid upon the importance of the work and collections of the Alabama Confer encee Historical Society. and also upon the anniversary thank offerings here- matter noted. The preachers of the district should be asked to bring to the Conference some contributions of an historical. character for the Society.
 All educational and benevolent in- stitutions maintained by or under the control of the Conference are expected to hold commemorative exercises, in which the history of the denomination will be. emphasized with particular reference to its support of the cause of education and .benevolence. It Is hoped that such institutions in the North Alabama Conference will also have appropriate celebrations. Their value can hardly be overestimated. The medication of a love of the history of the church in the minds of the children will be of incalcu1able value in holding them for useful service in the Masters cause in the future. Churches, Sunday Schools and Epw0rth
 .-.-, Leagues.
 The 12th of April has been, named as the day on which all preachers in the Conference are asked to deliver an anniversary discourse. Tn the event more than one church is in the ftiner- ary of any of the preachers, they are expected to repeat the sermons until they have been delivered over the en- tire charge. The individual tastes and feelings of the preachers will govern in the selection of topics, but 1t is suggested by the committee that, if possible, the discourse be devoted to a careful presentation of a general review of Methodism. Tn its prepara- tion the preacher would he forced to examine. anew, and in sympathetic way, the historical origin, the growth and development. and the influence Of the Methodist Church, as representing a body of denomina tional doctrine If preferred the discourse could be fsa6 tA .NaN 1Rk kl, ter and work of John Wesley, or the genesis of Methodism, the planting of Methodism in the new World. the doc trinal value<o of Methodism, the mission work of the Methodists,' the Methodist Church and the negroes the Methodist Church and the Indians, the Methodist Church and the young people, Metho- dism in Alabama, the great names Of Methodism. etc, etc
 The Sunday Schools are asked to celebrate the anniversary in a formal way on April 26. This should be done irrespective of any services that may be held, in the church at another time or for other purposes. Whether the exercises are held at the school hour. or at the preaching hour, is left to supertntendents and pastors No suR- gestion is made. The cooperation Of all superintendents is urged. The Committee will be glad to make suR- gestions as to a suitable program on request therefor.
 The Epworth Leagues are invited and expected to join in these seasons of rejoicing and worship, and also to formally observe date convenient to them locally. It is suggested that a Sunday evening service be appropriated by them during the latter half of the year, in asmuch, as the other anniver. saries are to be held during the first part of the year.
 The Centenary Committee of the Ala bama Conference Historical Society is composed of the following:
 Dr. Thomas Nj. owen. of Montgomery. Montgomery; Hon. J. A. Wilkinson of Montgomery; Rev. E. L. Crawford of Union Springs; Rev. Frank Seav Of Mobile: Judge W. ii. Thomas of Mont gomery; and Rev. Charles H Motlev 'ot