The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-10
n Notable Way Methodists
Observe Their Centenary

charge OF and provide for the proper
celebration OF the said one hundredth
anniversary; and that the cooperation
OF all members Of the Society IL here
by pledged to the said Committee In
carrying out the spirit and intent OF
these resolutions.
Resolved. further. That the mem
bers Of the Conference. be earnestly
urged to compile, for the Society,
sketches and histories of their several
churches; to collect incidents in the
life of the denomination in the state;
and to gather and forward to the Cura-
tor. DR.. Thomas NJ. owen. at Montgom-
cry, for permanent preservation. all
historical source material desirable for
it's collections"
And as we begin our exercises. 1t
IL fitting that we should have the mes
sage which our sister churches ana
their organizations bring to US, the
messages Of greeting. and of feiecita-
ton and of congratulation. In the
evolution Of the Christian sentiment OF
Fellowship and fraternity, IL IL peculiar
" appropriate that we should welcome
the presence Of these representatives
Of other churches. l feel and we all
feel that their rejoicing is genuine and
/ heartfelt.
now have pleasure in presenting
Judge J. r. Tyson. Of the First Baptist
Church.
Judge Tyson then responded:
Responding IN behalf Of the Baptists
of this city, bring to you their fra
ternal greetings. and their best wishes
that the great work done by you In
this city and the State may be as po-
tential in the future. for the accom-
plishment OF good, as II has been In
the past and bid you God-speed in
every good word and work.
.t.x ia =
great work in the State In the past
hundred years. and the Baptists, who
have been one among your allies in
the great cause during that period or
time, extend to you their most cordial
congratulations.
These two denominations, since the
beginning Of their organized existence
in this State century ago. have been
in the forefront in the battle waged
against vice and ignorance; and for
the propagation and perpetuation OF
religious doctrine and education. They
were the pioneers Of Christian evan
| gelism in Alabama. Hand In hand,
during this long period, they have
stormed and carried many citadels OF
| iniquity, and planted upon their ratn-
parts the dag Of JOY. peace and good
VIII to men. AS organizations, they
have been potent factors in the adj
vancement and elevation Of the citizen
ship of the State.
In view of the past history Of these
| two great denominations and OF their
centennial organized existence in this
State. to be celebrated by each OF III EN-
| during this year, and for the promo
ton and advancement OF the cause OF
religion, It is important that the bonds
| Of fraternal sympathy and cooperation
heretofore and now existing between
| them should be cherished and MAIN
| tanned.
Methodists, you have a right indeed
| to be proud OF your church, OF its
work and of your people--of the In
fiuence you have exerted in shaping
| the destiny of the State and of the Ma
ton: and the Baptists. assure you.
rejoice with you In all that you have
accomplished.
Dr. -=ley then introduced Or. B. J..
Baldwin as the fraternaI delegate OF
the Episcopal Church. and DIR. Baldwin
| responded in a few words, congratulat-
| ing the Methodist Church on its SPLEEN
| did record in Alabama during the past
| 100 years.
Professor III. y. wilIingham, repre-
senting the Alabama Baptist Historical
| Society. responded:
II esteem it an honor to have part
| in this meeting. But a greater honor
| ID theirs who made this meeting pos
4
and the thousands who came after them
have wrought In Gods name far better
than they knew.
"The Alabama Baptist Historical So
ciety, which have the honor to rep
resent, and which sends you greetings
today, IL making ready to celebrate the
| Tooth anniversary Of that denomina-
tons entry upon territory which now
constitutes the great State Of Ala
bama.
'It Is fitting that the centennial cele-
bration OF the Methodists and Of the
Baptists should fall upon the same
year. Have they not struggled, side by
side, since evidences OF civilization be-
came manifest in this country? Wher-
ever a Methodist preacher has been
sent q Baptist preacher has been
called Whenever a band OF Baptists
organized q church and began erecting
their house Of worship, the worxmen
could look out and see the Methodist
brethren engaged IN a similar under
taking. II the Baptists built closer to
streams and had q little stronger re-
lance in the unchanging grace Of God.
the Methodists probably surpassed them
in zeal and service for the Master.
THE Baptists OF Alabama rejoice
with you, my brethren of the Methodist
Church, In your glorious achievements
during the last hundred years. Your
great denomination has done well it's
part in all that makes for civic righte-
BUSINESS and in promoting the spiritual
welfare OF the children OF men. Let
the record Of these achievements be
preserved as q heritage for future gem
erations.
MAY you and those who are to fol-
low in your places be as Jealous and
earnest in the cause OF the Master as
were those sainted spirits in pioneer
days and in the days of our fathers.
May there be as much, and even
more, cause for congratulatton and for
rejoicing among Gods people when tn ey
shall assemble In celebration of an
other anniversary one hundred years
hence"
The occasion meant much to the
Methodists of Montgomery. marking,
as It did. 100 years history of the
church in Alabama.
In an organized way, the Metho .st
Church in Alabama has it's beginning
on Jan. 2, 1908. with the appointment
OF Matthew p. Sturdlvant as a preacher
for the '"Tombigbee Settlements The
church grew with the expansion of pop
ulation and settlement, new charges
were made. presiding elders districts
were set OFF, and from 1893 to 1892 the
local organizations had at various
Carolina, the Tennessee. the Mississippi.
On Dec. 10, 1889. in the town of Tus-
caIoosa, the Alabama Conference was
organized. Bishop ]. o. Andrew pre-
sided. Eight thousand one hundred
and ninety-six white members, and
0 7g0 coiored m ernhera uepa ranorfa5