The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-08

" ~~~~ DaO'o Ct6S& VI the MetnOdlJ(
Hpiscopal Church. South. In order to
e'eetnsuiAh II from other denomina-
elonas classes. such as the 'Berean.' g
tSdoits." Of tho Southern Baptist
ehurch. and others of other church.
- The name Wesley was given to
p - honor Of John Wesley. the found
60 - tho church. The adult Bible
'elnss department Of the church was
- aohshed by the general conference
49, mot in Ashevilie In 1910. DR..
Choa ID. Bulla, OF the Baltimore con-
s9rence was elected superintendent of
~ aduls Bible class department and
eu<ored upon his duties In December
. 90 that year. During his administer
R Don raore than 5000 classes have been
. .>eGaniusd In tho church. and the most
eonarkable development of .he work
\ e now taking place. AZ
1As orxanize,i Bible cmssa. a.move-
pasnt h : pro,identiai us1l| Il that
~ done much In reachins. Whining
80 holding mcn and women q the
@nrrch. Of bringing them into 4. miro
<10o1 tnterest with the ideals. plslk.
T: tr1 work Of tho church. Of afrordisi
lruction, inspiration. and enthus.
oou, % bringing them into a closer
+ >@loowshtp with zach other; of fur
ntrn1os that fraternity Of spirit that
- BEEN top often found only in the
oscular organizations Of the day.
Tho Grst wesley Bible class Of the
ostth Caroline conference was organ
insd At Bethel Church. Charleston.
1hess had been other organized class
- IN Methodist churches. but these
I'D been Baraca or some other inde-
Dendent CLASSES when the Wesley
D1o>e class department OF the church
vos established. most OF these class
- realised the necessity and the 10y
an Of uniting with their own tlenoni-
nn>1oual movement though there was
- oomand for their disavowing their
a9lAtlon with the outside movements
l1ooe Of these classes have found "at
nemg' an the fslk,wship they needed
~ ars today loylliy supporting the
nuD> The crsatization of classes
II - 1psgH fopids There are NJ orc than
6o hundred In he state now. and
- t)l1n s.coe Ia the entire church
51161 G. pllnes ke6xA -
NJ ~ &tf<ntion ~ cAuso Of the large
- g orsaAissd cIasyss. There
~ ~ reportsd At the annual con-
1850 cf that year. and durinG tho
{ ~ ysar thcre were 174 more orgau-
\ n q. bringing the total number up to
aus. The next yeai. saw q stin fur.
tier increase of fss classes. At the
Iast Federation there were more than
sts classes organiz,d. and there are
NOW more than 700 In the two South
Carolina conferences.
The nfst Federation meeting of
tbsss cia~es was formed In October.
1e1o. Under the lea dership OF Mr.. j.
4 -. way. field secretary. there was a
eal1 ssnt out over the state asking for
. meeting Of the presiding elders.
pozecrs and Bible class members. both
meu and women. More than 400 OF
ths representative men and women
sa<hessd there Mt the time. Az a re-
suit % this meeting. the Federation
was organized. and II did much to in
sp@rs the movement to greater suc-
60 Nj taSn nW
VA March. 1914. the second meeting
was held again In Columbia. and the
Attendance was larger than at that
nrst meeting. The federation had
Drcvsd Its value In the meantime. and
a. result Of these meetings, the
South Carolina Wesley Bible class
Fedsration Is placed permanently
among the meetings of the South
Carolina Methodists.
The third meeting was held In
spartanburg. July 10. 20. 81. 1916.
Nearly 1000 people attended. and
nearly thousand registered. This
third meeting placed. South Carolina
away head Of anything that had ev-
- btsen held In the whole church.
The strongest aggregation Of speakers
svsr brought together under the aus
picss Of the Methodist church In
soutl' Carolina were heard with a
grest deal Of interest by the assem-
bIed hundreds Of enthusiastic Bible
class men and women.
The fourth meeting will be held In
Sumter. July s-5. 1915 All indica-
lions are that this VIII be the great
est meeting Of all An exceedingly
strons. stirring program has been
wxxn - -