Year: 1866

Its Observance in this Cify-Eentenary
Watch Night Meeting at Exeter Street
Church.


With the close of the year 1865 was completed the
first century of American Methodism. The event
was solemnly commemorated at the Exeter street
Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday night by
what is termed Centenary Watch Night Meeting
The occasion was intended to gather together in
Christian reunion the congregations worshiping at
High street. Monument street. Hartford avenue and
Exeter street. the last named or Green street as it
commonly called being the parent church. of
which the three former have within the last few
years become branches. Few churches in the Metho-
dist connection command larger attendance, or
more intelligent membership. Out of them have
graduated in years gone by men who are to-day
preachers of acknowledged great ability, and some
of very best citizens have here their spiritual
birthplace. Such men as Thomas K elso and VIM E.
Hooper, at High street; DR.. George Merryman SamI
Maccubbin and John F. Plummer, at Exeter street.
Samuel Hindes. John B. Seidenstrcker and Thomas
X Turner, at Monument street; and James F. Purvis
and the late venerable Sterling Thomas. at Hartford
Avenue, arc tower of strength in any community.
The meeting was grand success. The large
church edifce too small to accommodate the vast
crowd which wended its way thither as the hour of
meeting approached, and many compelled to
linger about the doorways and in the vestibule for
want Of more eligible site.


At half past eight o'clock the services were COM
menced with singing the 1859 hymn, commencing.


20 God. our help in ages past,


Our hope for years to come,


Our shelter from the stormy blast


And our eternal home"


Prayer was offered by Rev. Jabez Loane. after
which the beautiful hymn was sung, entitled "Our
Fathers, where are they?" the whole congregation
joining the choir leading under the direction of Prof
Hunt Rev. James II. Brown. who was engaged to
preach with special reference to the cente-
nary services here and announced that passage
of Scripture found in the Ninetieth Psalm, 18th
verse. 80 teach to number our days that we may
apply our hearts unto wisdom


lie directed the attention of his hearers mainly to
a consideration of the brevty of human life and the
Importance of preparation for the issues of eternity
Gan allusion by the speaker to the sudden demise Of
our late most eminent citizen, Hon. Henry Winter
Davis, produced visible effect upon the cOngrega
tion) Mr.. Brown spoke of the early establishment
of MethodiSm upon this continent, and its dissent
nation by the agency of such men as Bishop Asbury
and his noble coadjutors. AS instance Of the her
culean labor performed by Bishop Asbury, it was
stated that in the execution of his episcopal duties
he Travelled distance of six thousand miles in eight
months, performing most of the journey on horse
back NJ. Brown spoke for about threc-quarters of
an hour, and closed his discourse with aluson to
his early ministerial career, and the host of his CO.
temporaries who have passed to their reward. The
reverend gentleman is of the oldest ministers of
the East Baltimore Conferen ce. The sermon was
well received. and very successful in preparing
the congregation for the


GENERAL EXPERIENCE MEETING
which followed.


Rev. Samuel Barnes, pastor fthe Monument street
Church. said he glad to take part in such meet
ing. They lmeaning the visiting eharge9 had come
home their mother to join with her in celebrating
the accomplishment of the first century of American
Methodism. It was truly an occasion for congratu-
lation He stated that he had been a member of the
Methodist Church for period of twenty years.
and give interesting details of his personal reli
gious history.


Rev. Leonard NJ Gardner, pastor of the Exeter
street Church, extended maternal greetings to the
visiting congregations and bade them hearty well
come to participation in the solemn and impressive
services.


An opportunity being offered for any persons in the
congregation to speak, several availed themselves of
il.


member of Monument street Church gave q brief
and interesting account of early Methodism in the
section of the city embraced within the territorial
limits of one church. Green Exetor street Church
Now several churches Embrace the same territory.
Other persons made brief remarks, which were lis
tened to with deep feeling of interest. As the
clock marked the last hour of the waning year. all
the interest of the meeting concentrated in the
solemn ordinance of the


LORDS SUPPER


which was administered by the attending clergy,
and partaken of by large number of the vast con-
gregation with feeling of reverential ave. induced
by the impressiveness of the evenings exercises and
in token of the broken body and shed blood" of
Christ, the Great Head of the Church.


With the advent of the New Year the vast congre-
cation was dismissed, and retired to their homes,
doubtless with new and better resolutions inspired
by the incidents of the first centennial anniversary OF
American Methodism.


The 7th of January instant, will be Centenary
Sabbath, and we presume that special service will
mark the observance of the day in the churches of
Baltimore. The Christian Adyocdte and Journal the
official organ of the NJ. Z. Church. in its last issue,
speaking Of the year just closed, the following
language: In the Church has been year steady
and diligent lahors attended with good degree of
success. Throughout the length and breadth of the
land in the local churches there peace not without
a good share of religious prosperity with large ma
terial increase The Of missions has been espe
cally favored, and the notes of preparation for the
coming Centenary everywhere joyful and full of
promise. The ante-centenpial closes upon the
Church most hopefully