THE

METHODIST QUARTERLY REVIEW.

APRIL, 1866.

ART. I.-THE CENTENARY OF AMERICAN METHODISM. Journals of the General Conference, held in Philadelphia, May, 1864. New York: Carlton & Porter.

Proceedings of the General Centenary Committee, held in Cleveland, Ohio, February 22, 1865. Published by Authority, etc. The Centenary of American Methodism: A Sketch of its History, Theology, Practical System, and Success. Prepared by order of the Centenary Committee of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By ABEL STEVENS, LL.D. With a Statement of the Plan of the Centenary Celebration of 1866. By JOHN M'CLINTOCK, D.D. 12mo., pp. 287. New York : Carlton & Porter.

MEASURED by the duration of the mountain, the cedar, the oak, or the rock-pine, a hundred years is but a brief space. Occasionally we find a man or woman whose life has spanned a century, who has seen the hoar-frost of a hundred winters, felt the heat of twice fifty summers, and tasted the autumnal fruits of twenty lustrums. Yet such, though as yesterday compared with nature, or with rock-built piles, are a wonder to us, for they have lived through three full lives, and generations, not monuments, make history.

One of the most numerous of American Churches is just closing its first century, and preparing for a proper commemoration and thanksgiving. Its century has been a remarkable one. Within it was fought the battle for independence which FOURTH SERIES, VOL. XVIII.—11

placed the United States of America on the roll of nations. As its excitements subsided came on the French Revolution, inaugurated with the meeting of the States-General, May 5, 1789, terminating its first stage with the overthrow of the throne and the execution of the king. Its second began with the strife of the Girondists and Jacobins, and advanced through the ghastly scenes of the "reign of terror," closing with the ascendancy of organized military power in 1795. During this was the campaign of 1793, the gallant struggle in La Vendée, the ineffectual effort for Polish independence under Kosciusko, the conquest of Flanders and Holland, and the scientific maneuvers of the campaign of 1795.

The single word NAPOLEON characterizes the next two epochs of that period. The first includes his rise to eminence as the great captain of his age, and terminates with the peace of Amiens. It is like the brilliant stories of fiction to trace the simple facts and names of those few years. There were the Italian campaigns of Napoleon and the German marches of the gallant Archduke Charles. The names of St. Vincent, Camperdown, the Nile, and Egypt suggest wonderful bravery and unsurpassed brilliancy in conducting war. Suwarrow bathed his sword in blood in Italy, Massena won fame amid the fastnesses of the Alps, while Marengo and Hohenlinden are incapable of being forgotten. The Northern coalition was formed, to be melted like snow by the victory of Copenhagen. England was consummating her conquests in India, and establishing there the new empire destined to sway its millions. The triumphant career of the French army was checked and it compelled to retire from Egypt,while in France cruelty and imbecility had prepared the people to welcome the return of their victorious chieftain and invest him with power. The next was the era of Napoleon the ruler, and France arose to such greatness as to alarm Europe and call for new coalitions. It embraced Austerlitz, Jena, and Friedland; it saw the overthrow of the French naval power by the genius and bravery of NELSON at Trafalgar; "the rise of the desperate struggle in Spain; the gallant though abortive efforts of Austria in 1809; the degradation and extinction of the Papal authority; the slow but steady growth of the English military power in the Peninsula, and the splendid career of Welling

ton; the general suffering under the despotism of France; the memorable invasion of Russia; the convulsive efforts of Germany in 1813; the last campaign of Napoleon, the capture of Paris, and his final overthrow at Waterloo." *

That, both in Europe and America, was a period of conflict between democratic ideas and old privileges, and the struggle has lasted through the century.

Crowding upon the drama of the French Revolution came other historic events. The Bourbons restored, never forgetting and never learning, are again overthrown, and a Napoleon returns to the throne of the empire. The battles of the Crimea have agitated the world. The "Kingdom of Italy" has changed the political status of that beautiful portion of the earth. England's sway in India has been disturbed by a revolt widespread and dangerous, suppressed at great cost and punished with extreme rigor. Russia has emancipated its serfs. The American Republic has passed through a war for magnitude and expensiveness before unknown, has maintained the unity of its government, vindicated its paramount authority, and closed the struggle by the constitutional emancipation of four millions of slaves.

It has been characterized by remarkable physical progress. The steam-engine, the telegraph, the railway, the photograph, iron-armored ships, throwing projectiles of astounding weight, the power-press, the sewing machine, agricultural machinery, these and other inventions mark the century in which American Methodism has made its history.

It has been an era of intellectual freedom, in which unbelief has been free to assail Christianity to its utmost content. In the morning of the century, Voltaire and his school; since then assaults of all kinds have been made, terminating with the Zuluized arithmetic of Colenso, and the prettinesses of Rénan. Hence the century which began with such grand events, and goes to its grave amid the thunders of "Five Forks" and music of breaking chains, has not been one of torpor. Whatever Methodism may have done, has been wrought amid intense excitement and under lynx-eyed observation.

Its completed century dates from a humble service conducted by Philip Embury in the city of New York. It will chant its * See Preface to Alison's History of Europe; Thiers's Consulate and Empire, etc.

commemoration songs in great states not then surveyed, in cities then and for long after unplanted, and will endow its colleges where then stood the wigwam of the original "native American." It has shared the unexampled physical growth of the country, and much of that it has fostered if not occasioned.

The commemoration of the centenary engaged the atten tion of the General Conference meeting in Philadelphia in May, 1864. A committee of ministers of learning and experience was appointed. The report fixed October, 1866, as marking the termination of the first century, and set forth the fact that Methodism during that period has exercised a salutary influence upon popular theology, and has been honored with signal usefulness, and therefore it is deemed "right to observe the closing period of this first centenary with special' solemnities and pious offerings, which shall present before God some humble expression of our devout gratitude, and lead to a renewed consecration of ourselves, our services, and means to the glory of our divine Master."

Fitly joined to the above were resolutions ordering the public celebration of the occasion with special religious services and devout thank-offerings, commencing on the first Tuesday in October, 1866, and continuing through the month; that "the primary object shall be the spiritual improvement of the membership, especially by reviewing the great things God has wrought for us, the cultivating of feelings of gratitude for the blessings received through the agency of Methodism."

From their importance, as well as for convenience of reference, we reproduce the remaining resolutions:

4. As the gratitude of the heart ever seeks expression in outward acts, we invite as a spontaneous offering to Almighty God on this occasion pecuniary contributious from each " according as God hath prospered him," to be so appropriated as to render more efficient in the century to come those institutions and agencies to which the Church has been so deeply indebted in the century past.

5. Two departments of Christian enterprise shall be placed before our people, one connectional, central, and monumental, the other local and distributive, and all shall be urged to make liberal appropriations to both according to their own discretion.

6. The Board of Bishops shall appoint twelve traveling preachers and twelve laymen, who, in connection with the members of their own Board, shall be a committee to determine to what

objects and in what proportions the moneys raised as connectional funds shall be appropriated, and have power to take all steps necessary to their proper distribution.

7. The local funds shall be appropriated to the cause of education and church extension under the direction, of a committee, consisting of an equal number of ministers and laymen, appointed by the several Annual Conferences within the bounds of which they are raised.

8. Each Annual Conference shall provide for the delivery of a memorial sermon before its own body at the session next preceding the centennial celebration, and also appoint a committee of an equal number of ministers and laymen to give advice and direction for the appropriate celebration of the centennial in our principal churches.

The second step was the appointment of the committee; and the judgment of the bishops represented in it all sections of the country, and the various Church interests, leaving room for the single regret that, from inadvertence, no direct representative of the great German element of American Methodism was selected. The constitution of the committee was approved by the Church as eminently fitting, and there was a general feeling that it was safe to repose with ministers so distinguished, so eminent for learning, so venerable from past service, and so thoroughly versed in the practical details of Methodism, and with laymen of such financial ability, practical sense, and Methodist devotion, the management of the entire interest.

The third stage was the meeting of the General Committee, convened by the bishops in Cleveland, Ohio, February 22, 1865. The venerable senior bishop, T. A. Morris, D.D., was elected president, and Hon. J. M. Bishop vice-president. Rev. J. F. Chalfant, of Ohio, was made secretary. The proceedings were fully reported by the denominational press, and were subsequently published in pamphlet. Thus came the policy of the General Committee before the Church, and was fully discussed, the general tone of sentiment being approbatory.

Before adjourning, a Central Committee, with head-quarters in New York, was appointed, of which Dr. M'Clintock is chairman, and Rev. W. C. Hoyt secretary. Branch committees in the principal cities were appointed at Cleveland, and district committees by the Central Committee, and thus as general and thorough an organization as possible was effected.