Year: 1860

The last number of the Methodist Quarterly
Review has an interesting article on Early
Methodism, from which we copy the following
passage concerning the increase of the denomi-
nation in the United States:


Contempt has given place to respect, preju-
dice to candor, neglect to deeply interested
attention. So complete has been the revolu-
tiOn that Methodist preacher of respectable
talents and attainments would now find q cor
dial welcome and a comfortable support in
almost any neighborhOod within the geOgraphi-
cal area comprehended by the history before
US. The aetual increase in the number of min
isterial laborers is wonderful. Some idea may
be formed Of the rapid extension of the work
when it is stated that what DR. Peck denomi-
mates The Old Genesee Conference compre-
hended the whole of the two CanAdas, and the
territory now included in the Black River, the
0neida, the Wyoming, the East Genesee and
the Genssee Conferences, together with con-
siderable fractions of the present Erie, Balti
more, Philadelphia and New York Confer
ences Where less than fifty ministers were
employed half century since, there are now
from nine hundred TO one thousand; and yet
tho actual demand is far from being supplied.
Nor Is this Increase In the number Of laborers
wholly attribute ble, by any means, to the in
crease of population, great as this unquestion-
ably Is; but quite as much, perhaps even more,
to the change in public sentiment touching
MethOdism and its authorized teachers. The
tatVer are no longer regarded as q set of lg
norant and fanatieal propagandists, but as
men capable of instfucting and blessing the
public. They have been found not only honest
ard piOus, but competent and eminently effec-
tive. To aver that all the moral
teaching and moral influence which may be
regarded as the basis Of this extraordinary
prosperity, as well material as intellectual,
should be credited to Methodistic agencies,
would be the sheerest bigotry. Others have
toiled nobly, and are entitled to q large share
of honor. But that the itinerancy of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church has opened the way,
and laid the foundation for those other work.
men, win probably be questioned by few who
know anything about the facts in the case
Settled pastors could do nothing till the country
was somewhat opened and populated, and the
means Of supporting them had been accumu-
lated MethOdism was under no necessity of
waiting for either. Her economy enabled her
to occupy the very outpOsts. Ere the cabin
was completed or the first acre enclosed the
itinerart was on hand. He could lodge in the
loft, and subsist upon the cheapest fare In
quest of souls, he thought little of anything
else. No matter what were his privations or
suferings so long as his chief objects were
being accomplished. Living among the people,
very small salary would suffice for him. A
single man thought himself amply supported
if he obtained his disciplinary allowance
from eighty to q hundred dollars per annum-
thing that rarely occurred. More frequently
he had to live on a moiety of that sum Nor
did the man Of family get much more. The
people gave what they could, and upon that
the preacher had to subsist, whether married
or otherwise. But they were glorious men,
and their memorial shall not perish"