Evening star., 1916-07-09

and friendly communications" back and
forth, but no action was taken.
Feeling ran high and the south, beat
en- on the field of battle, was broken
in property and was being ruled by
carpet baggers." The northern church
did not recognize the southern church
officially until 1872. Up to that year
the southern church was merely looked
upon as a secessionist. The publishing
house of the denomination. founded at
the close of the eighteenth century
with $500 that had been borrowed. had
developed into valuable property.
The southern church. on its separa-
tion from the church at the north,
asked for it's share of the assets of the
publishing house. A rebel. 1t was de-
cided, had no rights in the church it
had tried to destroy. nor. logically. in
its property. The United States Su-
preme Court. however. took contrary
view of the case and equitable par
tition was ordered. In the end, cash
settlement was made.
During the last forty-four years the
church Of the north has regarded the
church of the south as free and In
dependent body, and in 1875, four years
after this recognition. commissioners
representing both branches of Meth
odsm met at Cape May and unanimous
ly agreed to what they called a "decla-
ration and basis of fraternity"
Each of the churches, 1t was assert
ed, "is legitimate branch of Epis-
copal Methodism in the United States.
having common origin in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church organized In
1884.
Since the organization of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South was con-
summated in 1S45," read the declaration
and basis, by the voluntary exercise
of the right of the southern annual
conferences, ministers and members, to
adhere to that communion. 1t has been
an evangelical church, reared on scrip
tural foundations, and her ministers
nd h.
odist Episcopal Church, have consti-
tuted one Methodist family. though in
distinct ecclesiastical connections"
Thus 1876 became a year of Jubilee
among Methodists all over the land.
Negotiations went on for common
hymnal, a common catechIsm and the
same order of worship in both churches,
as well as for a coordination Of mis-
sionary operations in foreign lands.
There were more conferences from year
to year over unification but minor vari-
ances kept the churches apart.
Now, in 1916, there seems to be a
unanimity of desire for physical con-
solidation of Methodism throughout
the nation. The names. the Methodist
aMethodist Church in America" have
been suggested for the merged branches
when the reunion has become fact.
Six is a historic numeral among the
followers of John Wesley in the United
States. A great event. as has been
shown, occurred at Cape May in 1875.
In 1915 the quadrennial conference at
Saratoga arose as one man and cheered
Bishop Cranston as he said: up goes
the flag of a reunited, revitalized, re-
habilitated world-mobilized American
Methodism.'
One hundred and fifty years ago. in
1855, Philip Embury began holding
Methodist services at his home. in what
is now Park place. New York. EN-
bury. of German blood, was born in
Ireland. He learned the carpenters
trade and. Christmas day. 1852. being
twenty-three years old. was converted
at one of John Wesley's meetings.
After coming to New York. in 1850,
where he worked at his trade. Embury
lost interest In religion. sermon he
heard preached by Barbara Heck, the
"foundress of American Methodism,"
brought him back to the church and in
1856 he began to preach. The five per-
sons who met at his house constitRtea