DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 DURHAM, N. C. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
4 
 
STATISTICAL HISTORY 
 
 M 
 
 OF THE 
 
 OF 
 
 AMERICAN METHODISM: 
 
 "WITH 
 
 A SUJIMAEY OP THE ORIGIN AND PRESENT OPERATIONS 
 OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 By Be v. C. C. GOSS. 
 
 The Church— Esto Perpetua. 
 
 139372 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 
 
 SOO HULBEBBT-BTBEKT. 
 
 1866. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, 
 
 BY CARLTON & PORTER, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for 
 the Southern District of New- York. 
 

 ;2- 
 
 "Qi^ Sch.R. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 -^♦^♦- 
 
 The object of this volume is to present, in a con- 
 densed form, the statistics and important events 
 connected with the origin, growth, and legislation 
 of Methodism in the United States during its first 
 century. 
 
 While it is not intended exactly as a history, 
 yet it is the outlines of history— a manual or hand- 
 book of the denomination. Our plan in preparing 
 it has been to follow events in chronological order, 
 in connection with each Annual Conference to the 
 year 1792; after that, in connection with each 
 Genera^ Conference, including the last in 1864. 
 A minute detail at the present time is also given, 
 including its ministry, membership, Sunday-schools,' 
 Bible and Tract distribution. Home and Foreign 
 Missions, publishing operations, institutions of 
 learning, and benevolent contributions, the whole 
 forming a complete record of Methodism from the 
 beginning to the end of the century. 
 In connection with each department of effort, 
 
 139372 
 
4 PREFAC». 
 
 the statistics of other denominations are also pre- 
 sented. This has not been done invidiously, as 
 will readily be seen ; but with a view of learning 
 the true relation of Methodism to other denomina- 
 tions, as well as to present the strength of American 
 Christianity in each department of Christian effort. 
 The fact of this being the first Centennial Anni- 
 versary of American Methodism, justifies us in 
 seeking to ascertam its relative position in the sis- 
 terhood of Churches. It is presumable that all 
 denominations are mterested in learning the exact 
 relation which exist between each other, as well as 
 the efforts put forth by all for the salvation of the 
 world. The statistics of the various denominations 
 are not as complete in each particular as those of 
 the Methodists. In many cases we were unable to 
 obtain them. Denominations are often too lax in 
 respect to statistics. 
 
 No pains have been spared to make the work 
 accurate and reliable. Most of the historfc works 
 on Methodism have been consulted. Among them 
 we may mention the " Minutes of the Annual Con- 
 ferences ; " " Journals of the General Conference ; " 
 " History of the Methodist Episcopal Church," by 
 the late Rev. Dr. Bangs ; the exhaustive " History 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church," now passing 
 through the press, by the Rev. Dr. Abel Stevens ; 
 
PREFACE. 5 
 
 " Lost Chapters of Methodism," by the Rev. J. B. 
 Wakeley; "Compendium of Methodism," by the 
 Rev. Dr. Porter ; besides files of the " Christian 
 Advocate and Journal," etc. For the historic facts 
 contained in the first chapter we are mainly in- 
 debted to " Rupp's History of all Denominations," 
 a work of great merit ; History of the " Society 
 for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; " 
 " Religion in America," by Dr. Baird ; the " Great 
 Awakening," and "Benedict's History of the 
 Baptists." The statistics of the present operations 
 of Methodism, as well as of the other denomina- 
 tions, have been collected from the published Re- 
 ports of 1866.. They are on this account the latest 
 authority, as well as the most reliable. In many 
 instances also we have consulted with the leading 
 men of the denominations in order to insure accu- 
 racy of statement. With all the care that has been 
 taken, it is impossible to prepare a work of this 
 kind without some errors finding, their way into it, 
 or, at least, some one being able to find fault with 
 some of its statements. 
 
 In collecting the matter for it, free use has been 
 made of the works of others. We have seized on 
 such facts and statistics as were needed, wherever 
 found, and pressed them into service in the order 
 of chronology. As the entire work is in one sense 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 a compilation, it would be unfavorable to typo- 
 graphical beauty to fill the margin with numerous 
 references, hence we have omitted them altogether. 
 Throughout these pages we have indulged in 
 very little comment, however tempting it was at 
 times to have done so. Brevity has been studied 
 at the expense of matter which might have been 
 acceptable to the general reader, and which would 
 have afforded us much pleasure at least to have 
 recorded. As our only object was to present the 
 facts of history in a systematic and condensed 
 form, so as to render them convenient for refer- 
 ence, of course all disquisition was precluded. 
 How well we have succeeded in the object attempted 
 we leave for others to determine. 
 
 C. C. Goss. 
 
 New Toek, August 1, 1866. 
 
EBBATA. 
 
 Page 83, Thomas Morris should read Thomas A, Morris 
 
 Page 88, read some who favored, instead of those who favored. 
 
 J. Colhns, page 91, should read John D. Collins 
 
 For Missionary Committee, page 93, reBAlishops. 
 
 The ratio of delegates, page 94. should read, The second restric 
 tive rule- was now changed to read one in 45 instead of one in 30 
 
 Slavery having been abolished, etc, page 98, should read, Slav- 
 ery not having been abolished. 
 
 The name of Dr. Trimble should be left out, pages 90 and 125 
 tie not having been elected until 1864. ' 
 
 For David Wesgatt Clark, page 97, 'read Davis Wasgott Clark 
 
 For Ohio, 590, page 103, read, Ohio, 750 
 
 *«I!;'..T^Jf ^ '*°'^ '^ ^^^' ^'^ ^"^^ ^^^k <^«°^^"^^ stated at 
 $852,531 55, page 135, should be, $552,531 55. 
 
 The capital stock of both Concerns, given at $1,213,327, p 136 
 should read, $913,327 55. "*^ ' ' > f , 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FBIOB TO THE 
 INTRODUCTION OP METHODISM. 
 
 Early Settlements — Origin of Denominations— Episcopalians 
 — Congregationalists —Reformed Dutch— Presbyterians — Lu- 
 therans—German Reformed— Roman CathoUcs— Baptists- 
 Friends — Jews — Other Denominations — Churches in New 
 '^^^^ Page9 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 FBOM THE INTEODUCrnON OF METHODISM INTO THE 
 UNITED STATES TO THE PIB8T GENEBAL CONFER- 
 ENCE IN 1792. 
 
 Philip Embury— Captain "Webb — First Church Edifice — 
 First Missionaries— First Annual Conference — Conference of 
 
 nu— nis — itTG- nn— lYTs- 1719— 1780— nsi — 
 
 1782 — 1783 — 1784 — Special Conference — Conference of 
 1785 — 1786 — 1787 — 1788 — 1789 — 1790 — 1791 35 
 
 CHAPTER ni. 
 
 FROM THE BEOINNINO OF THE FIRST GENERAL CONFER- 
 ENCE, IN 1792, TO THE CLOSE OP THE LAST, IN 1864. 
 General Conference, 1792 — 1796 — 1800 — 1804 — 1808 — 
 1812 — 1816 — 1820 — 1824 — 1828 — 1832 — 1836 — 1840 — 
 1844 — 1848—1852 — 1856 — 1860 — 1864 64 
 
8 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FBESENT STATISTICS OF METHODISM, AND OTHEB DE- 
 NOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, IN BACH 
 DEPARTMENT OP CHEISTIAN EPPOBT. 
 
 Ministers — Members — Sunday- Schools — Tract Distribution 
 
 — Bible Distribution — Home Missions — Foreign Missions — 
 Book Concern — Church Periodicals — Institutions of Learning v^ 
 
 — Benevolent Contributions Page 100 
 
 f' 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE SUCCESS OP METHODISM IN THE UNITED STATES, 
 AND THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED THERE- 
 TO. 
 
 General Remarks — Success in Numbers — Success in Effort 
 
 — Causes of Success — Mode of Preaching — Self-sacrificing 
 Spirit of the Ministry — System of Free Churches — Frequent 
 Revivals — Missionary Spirit — Positive Christian Experience 
 
 — Doctrine of Sanctification 144 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 Chubch Edifices 187 
 
 Bishops op the Methodist Episcopal Church 188 
 
STATISTICAL HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 AMERICAN METHODISM. 
 
 » ■♦•» * 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES PEIOR TO 
 THE INTRODUCTION OP METHODISM, 
 
 Methodism was introduced into the United States 
 two hundred and seventy-four years after the dis- 
 covery of America by Columbus, one hundred and 
 fifty-seven years after the landing of Henry Hud- 
 son, ten years before the immortal Declaration, 
 two years after the Dutch had surrendered the 
 province to the English, and twenty-eight after 
 the birth of Methodism in England. 
 
 The first permanent settlement in the country 
 was made by the Spaniards, September 7th, 1565, 
 two centuries anterior to Methodism. Melendez 
 then took possession of Florida in the name of 
 Spain, and founded the town of St. Augustine. The 
 next settlement was made by Captain John Smith, 
 and others, in 1607, on James River, and was called 
 Jamestown, in honor of James I. of England. 
 December 11th, 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Ply- 
 
10 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 mouth, and immediately laid the foundations of their 
 civil and religious institutions. In 1634, the colony 
 of Maryland was commenced by the descendants of 
 Lord Baltimore. June, 1636, Roger Williams, an 
 exile from Massachusetts, with five others, took 
 possession of what is now called Rhode Island. 
 As early as 1615 settlements were made by the 
 Dutch at New Amsterdam, now New York. 
 Delaware was settled by emigrants from Holland 
 in 1631. North Carolina was colonized in 1660, 
 by adventurers from New England ; Pennsylvania, 
 by William Penn, and others, in 1682; and Georgia 
 in 1733, under the patronage of General Ogle- 
 thorpe, mostly by Englishmen. 
 
 Most of these settlements inclined to some par- 
 ticular type of religion. Congregationalism was 
 the established system of New England; and 
 although many things occurred which are to be de- 
 plored, but which are attributable to the circum- 
 stances of the times, yet we naturally turn our 
 eyes to the East as the nursery of morals and re- 
 ligion. In New Amsterdam the Reformed Dutch, 
 German Reformed, and Lutherans — Reformers 
 from Germany — ^laid deep the foundations of those 
 principles imbibed from Luther and his coadjutors. 
 The Quakers were found in Pennsylvania, the 
 Catholics in Maryland, the Anglicans in Virginia 
 and the Carolinas, and the Baptists in Rhode 
 Island. In the provinces embracing New York, 
 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, although 
 there were, as Governor Dongan said, " some of 
 almost every belief, and most of none at all ; " yet 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 11 
 
 the prevailing sentiments were those peculiar to the 
 Reformed Dutch, Presbyterians, and Churchmen. 
 In the more southern colonies, Virginia, North and 
 South Carolina, and Georgia, where all sects were 
 generally tolerated, the settlers were mostly ad- 
 herents of the English Church, and the clergy 
 were under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lon- 
 don. When Methodism appeared, all these settle- 
 ments, of various customs and belief, were firmly 
 intrenched, and zealously engaged in propagating 
 their respective systems. With some of these 
 systems it was considered not only sacrilegious, but 
 extremely hazardous to interfere. 
 
 EPISCOPALIANISM. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church of this coimtry 
 descended from the Church of England. Its origin 
 commences with the Virginia colony under Captain 
 John Smith, and other Episcopalians, in 1607. The 
 charter for this colony, granted by James I., en- 
 joined that the mode of worship should " conform 
 to that of the Established Church of England." 
 
 With the first settlers came the Rev. Robert 
 Hunt, who preached, it is said, the first sermon in 
 English on the American continent. He was fol- 
 lowed by Rev. Alexander Whitaker and Rev. 
 James Blair. The former was styled the " Apostle 
 of Virginia." 
 
 In 1619 the first legislature of Virginia, chosen 
 by the people, divided the colony into eleven par- 
 ishes. The number of ministers was five, and the 
 
12 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 population three thousand. In 1661 the ministers 
 of this colony had increased to ten, and the churches 
 to fifty. In 1693 the College of William and Mary 
 was established for the education of youth. In 
 1722 there were fifty-four parishes, some of which 
 were quite large. Each had a substantial church 
 edifice, and some of the larger ones smaller chapels 
 also, making the churches, in all, about seventy in 
 number. To each church there was also attached 
 a parsonage, and to many of them two hundred 
 and fifty acres of land. About half of these 
 churches were supplied with regular ordained min- 
 isters, while the others had to put up with " lay 
 readers " and " neighboring ministers." The num- 
 ber of Episcopal ministers in this colony alone was 
 about one hundred in 1766. 
 
 The Maryland colony passed from the Catholics to 
 the Episcopalians in 1692, fifty-eight years after its 
 settlement under the charter of Lord Baltimore. 
 From this time until the Revolution, the Episcopal 
 was the established religion, and most of the time 
 the clergy were supported by a direct tax. 
 
 South Carolina began to be peopled in 1670, but 
 no Episcopal minister was settled there until 1702. 
 At that time Rev. John Talbot and a Rev. Mr. 
 Keith were sent out to travel at large and examine 
 into the necessities of the work. Their number 
 was increased the following year by Rev. Samuel 
 Thomas. In North Carolina the first minister was 
 settled in 1703, and the first church edifice erected 
 in 1705. In both of the Carolinas about one hund- 
 red and thirty Episcopal Churches existed in 1766. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 1 
 
 o 
 
 At that time Episcopalianism was the flavored 
 religion, south of New England, from New York 
 to Georgia, except, perhaps, in Pennsylvania. 
 In New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, and 
 Georgia the Church was established by law as 
 firmly as circumstances would permit; while in 
 South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New 
 York the power of the Establishment was, as 
 Dr. Baird says, " powerfully influential," if not 
 supreme. 
 
 Thus from 1607 to 1766 the Episcopalian Church 
 had the advantage over Methodism of one hundred 
 and fifty-nine years. It had also the English 
 Establishment behind it, Avith all the inflences of 
 civil* and religious power. Most of the clergy 
 during this period were supported by the Church 
 of England Society for Propagating the Gospel in 
 Foreign Parts. There were at least two hundi-ed 
 and fifty ministers and three hundred Churches of 
 the Episcopal order in these colonies when Meth- 
 odism lifted its humble head in Barrack-street 
 basement. New York. 
 
 CONGREGAnONAJLISM. 
 
 Congregationalism dates from Robert Browne, 
 of England, who formed a Church on the principles 
 of that order in 1583. Its origin in the United 
 States was in the year 1620, one hundred and 
 forty-seven years anterior to Methodism. The 
 first Church came over in the Mayflower, and landed 
 at Plymouth, Massachusetts — a Church and colony 
 
14 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 fraught with historic recollections. In 1629 
 another colony was' commenced at Salem, and a 
 Church formed. The first regular ministers of 
 these Churches, Rev. Mr. Skelton and Rev. Mr. 
 Higgmson, had previously been ordained by the 
 Bishop of London. On July 30, 1630, another Church 
 was organized at Charlestown, and a Mr. Wilson 
 chosen minister. Although he also had been ordain- 
 . ed by one of the bishops in England, yet he was re- 
 ordained when he took charge of the Church. This 
 fact shows that they considered themselves sep- 
 arated from the English Establishment. In 1632 
 a company went out from the Plymouth colony, 
 and set up for themselves at Duxbury. Colonies 
 also from Massachusetts Bay went mto Connecticut 
 in 1635. Thus, as the population increased, new 
 settlements were formed, and the tenets of Con- 
 gregationalism disseminated. 
 
 Most of the ministers of that early day were 
 those who had fled to this country to escape the 
 persecutions occasioned by their refusmg to con- 
 form to what they considered the wrongs of the 
 English hierarchy. Hence they wei^e caUed 
 *| Nonconformists," or "Puritans." These, being 
 ^" hunted from one diocese to another, at last 
 chose the wilderness for their retreat." Mr. Neale, 
 their historian, speaks of seventy-seven divines 
 " who became pastors of sundry little Churches and 
 congregations in America before 1640, all of whom 
 were in orders in the Church of England " Sep- 
 arated as they were from an Establishment which 
 they deemed oppressive, they adopted the other 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 15 
 
 extreme — a congregational form of ministry and 
 government. Of com'se they looked with a jealous 
 eye also on all the movements of "motherland" 
 on this side the water. Here was the germ of the 
 Revolution. 
 
 In 1648, at the adoption of the famous Cam- 
 bridge Platform, there existed forty-six Congrega- 
 tional Churches in New England. The population at 
 that time numbered about thirty thousand, which 
 was one place of worship for each six hundred and 
 fifty-two souls. Up to 1664 there was no Church 
 in Massachusetts but what was Congregational. 
 In 1696, seventy years after the lauding of the 
 Pilgi'ims, there were in that state one Episcopal 
 Church, one Baptist, and seventy-four Congrega- 
 tional. At this time there were also thu'ty-six in 
 Connecticut, five in New Hampshire, and three in 
 Maine, making one hundred and seventeen in the 
 New England states. In 1770, four years after 
 Methodism began in New York, the Congrega- 
 tional Churches were mostly confined to New 
 England, and numbered in Massachusetts two 
 hundred and sixty, in Connecticut one hundred 
 and fifty-three, in New Hampshire 'forty, in Maine 
 twenty, and in Rhode Island ten, making a total 
 of four hundred and eighty-three. 
 
 In a sermon on Christian Union, in 1760, Rev. 
 Ezra Styles, of Newport, thinks that the Congrega- 
 tional Churches in New England could not be less 
 than five hundred and thirty. The population then 
 numbered five hundred and one thousand nine 
 hundred and nine. During the great awakening. 
 
16 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 which commenced about 1740, Dr. Cogswell is 
 of the opinion that twenty-five thousand souls were 
 added to the Churches. Trumbull, however, says 
 that the number was nearer forty thousand. Over 
 one hundred and fifty new Churches were formed, 
 besides existing ones greatly increased. The prob- 
 ability is that there were about six hundred 
 churches and five hundred pastors in 1766. 
 
 During the period of one hundred and forty- 
 seven years prior to the Methodist movement, not 
 only had Congregationalism enjoyed a monopoly 
 of aU this eastern region, but the whole land was 
 open before it. Its ministers had been supported 
 by a direct tax, so that their minds were free from 
 financial anxiety. Several institutions of the higher 
 grade, as well as the common schools, had imbued 
 the youthful mind with its principles. Cambridge 
 and Saybrook Platforms had been matured and di- 
 gested; while prominent educated minds had been 
 the expounders and defenders of the faith. Not 
 only had the intellect been enlightened, but the 
 powerful revival that swept over all that region 
 in 1740 had softened and subdued the heart. In 
 short, no denomination could ask better advantages 
 for the dissemination of its principles than Con- 
 gregationalism has enjoyed in the United States. 
 
 REFORMED DUTCH. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church of this country is 
 a branch of the National Church of Holland, and 
 formed exactly after its model. The term " Re- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 17 
 
 formed," as applicable to this Church, and to some 
 others, comes from the Refonnation, which took 
 place under Luther, Zwingel, and others, in the 
 sixteenth century. Soon after the landing of Hud- 
 son, in 1609, a few Dutch adventurers landed on the 
 island of Manhattan. Motives of gain brought 
 others, until quite a settlement was formed. Re- 
 ligious services were held from the first Rev, 
 Dr. Brownlee states, on the authority of Rev. Dr. 
 Livmgston, that a document existed, bearing date 
 1622, which contained the names of the members 
 of the first Church formed in New York. A Dutch 
 Church was also formed in Albany about the same 
 time. Other Churches were also commenced around 
 New York and Albany soon after. This was at 
 least one hundred and forty-four years earlier than 
 Methodism. 
 
 The Dutch first held religious services in such 
 rooms as could be provided. Thdr meetings were 
 first presided over by the schoolmaster sent out 
 by the Dutch West India Company. His business 
 was "to instruct the children, lead the devotions, 
 and read a sermon, until the regular ministry 
 should be established." These men were often 
 selected on account of their qualifications as zick- 
 e7itroosters, or comforters of the sick. The proba-' 
 bility is that this class of men ofliciated here until 
 the arrival of the first Dutch minister, Jonas Mi- 
 chaelius, in 1628. The first regular Dutch minister 
 was the Rev. Everardus Bogardus, who arrived in 
 1633. 
 
 The first church edifice erected by the Reformed 
 
 2 
 
18 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Dutch was a little frame building on the East 
 River, New York, near the place now known as 
 Old Slip. Adjoining was a dwelling-house for the 
 dominie, and a stable for his horse. Soon after the 
 arrival of Mr. Bogardus a substantial edifice was 
 errected within the fort, near the Battery, which 
 was used as a church edifice both by the Dutch and 
 English until 1741, when it was destroyed by fire. 
 In 1693 the Dutch built another church edifice on 
 Garden-street, now Exchange Place ; and another, 
 in 1729, on Nassau-street, now the New York Post- 
 Office. "When the John-street Methodist Church 
 was dedicated, another Dutch church was being 
 built on Fulton-street. This building has been ren- 
 dered famous of late by the " Fulton-street Prayer- 
 Meeting." Thus the church edifices of this denom- 
 ination increased until about the time of the intro- 
 duction of Methodism, when they numbered eighty 
 in the state of New York, and forty in New Jersey, 
 besides a few others in Pennsylvania, probably one 
 hundred and thirty in all. The number of minis- 
 ters and congregations was somewhat larger. 
 Says Rev. Mr. Demarest, in his history of the 
 Church: "The Dutch Church at this time (1764) 
 Avas comparatively small. She numbers about three 
 hundred and sixty-four congregations and nearly 
 as many ministers." Up to this time the Dutch 
 Churches were mostly confined to the states of New 
 York and New Jersey, with a few in Pennsylvania. 
 But now they began to multiply in the latter 
 state, and to extend themselves into the western 
 states. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 19 
 
 PEESBYTEEIANS. 
 
 Presbyterianism is one of the effects of the Ref- 
 ormation. It differs from the Reformed Dutch, 
 German Reformed and Lutheran, mainly in its 
 administration of ecclesiastical affairs and the par- 
 ity of the Christian ministry. 
 
 The Presbyterian Church in the United States 
 derives its lineage from the Presbyterians both of 
 Scotland and Ireland. The Church, however, is 
 modeled after that of Scotland. 
 
 During the dark days of Scottish history, from 
 1660 to 1685, Woodrow, the historian, informs us 
 that persons professing the Presbyterian faith were 
 transplanted to the American colonies as slaves, to 
 the number of three thousand. To many of these, 
 especially in New Jersey, it is said that a Rev. Mr. 
 Frazer preached the gospel. No evidence, how- 
 ever, is left of any organized effort. 
 
 As early as 1688 Presbyterians had left their 
 homes in the old world, and settled in the various 
 provinces of North America, especially in Eastern 
 Pennsylvania. About the year 1700 Churches 
 were formed in and around Philadelphia. The 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia, the first in the country, 
 was organized in 1706, consisting of seven mem- 
 bers. Rev. Francis M'Kenzie, one of the number, 
 was the first regular Presbyterian minister on the 
 western continent. He was sent out to the new 
 settlement by the Presbyterian and Congregational 
 Union of Great Britain. According to an official 
 statement of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, made 
 
20 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 to the Presbytery of Dublin in 1710, there were 
 one Presbyterian congregation in Virginia, four in 
 3Iaryland, five in Pennsylvania, two in New Jer- 
 sey, and others in New York. In 1717 the Pres- 
 bytery of Philadelphia was divided into four. The 
 first Synod was formed in Philadelphia, September 
 17, 1717. In 1745 this was divided, and New 
 York Synod was formed. 
 
 As to numbers, there were at the time of hold- 
 ing a primary meeting in 1751, to consider a " Plan 
 of Union," ninety-four ministers belonging to the 
 two Synods ; forty-three of these were present at 
 this meeting. The number of Churches was much 
 larger, as forty-one were destitute of pastors in 
 the single state of Pennsylvania in 1789. A few 
 years after the introduction of Methodism the 
 number of Presbyterian ministers was one hund- 
 red and eighty-eight, and of Churches four hundred 
 and nineteen. As Presbyterianism suffered much 
 through the war, the probability is that about one 
 hundred ministers and three hundred Churches 
 existed in 1766, when Methodism first appeared. 
 
 Associate Presbyterians. — This is a branch of 
 the Presbyterian Church of that name in Scotland. 
 About 1647, persons of this particular faith set- 
 tled in this country. In 1751 Rev. Alexander 
 Craighead, and others, petitioned the Anti-Burgher 
 Associate Synod of Scotland for a minister of 
 their faith and order. The Synod sympathized 
 with these brethren in the wilderness, and sent 
 out the following year Rev. Alexander Gellat- 
 ley and Rev. Andrew Arnot, to organize congre- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 21 
 
 gations and form themselves into a presbytery. 
 The latter was done in November of the same 
 year, under the name of the " Associate Presbytery 
 of Pennsylvania." Their numbers were increased 
 in 1753 by the arrival of the Rev. James Proudfit; 
 in 1758 by Rev. Matthew Henderson; in 1761 
 by Rev. John Mason, (afterward famous in New 
 York,) Rev. Robert Annan, and Rev. John Smart ; 
 and in 1762 by Rev. William Marshall. Although 
 this branch of Presbyterianism was not large, yet 
 it was actively engaged in the propagation of its dis- 
 tinctive views. When Methodism was introduced 
 it had about ten ministers and eighteen churches. 
 
 Reformed Presbyterians. — The Reformed Pres- 
 byterians, or Covenanters, of this country derive 
 their origin from a branch of the Presbyterian 
 family by that name in Scotland. In 1752 Rev. 
 Mr. Cuthbertson was sent to America by the 
 Reformed Presbytery of Scotland. He labored 
 faithfully, forming congregations and preaching to 
 them for several years, when others arrived of the 
 same persuasion from the Presbytery of Ireland. 
 Thus the Old School or regular Presbyterians, the 
 Associate Presbyterians, and the Reformed or 
 Covenanters were here, and at work, before the 
 introduction of Methodism. The former had been 
 here since 1688; and the first Church was formed 
 at least sixty-six years before the Church in John- 
 street. 
 
 Although it does not fall within our plan to 
 sketch the denominations that originated after 
 Methodism, yet, as a matter of reference, it may 
 
22 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 not be out of place to say, the " Associate Re- 
 formed Presbyterian Church" in this country is 
 made up of many of the " Associated " and " Re- 
 formed," which united under that name in 1782. 
 The " Cumberland Presbyterians " went out from 
 the parent body in 1810, and the "New School" 
 in 1838. The "United Presbyterians" are com- 
 posed of the " Associate Reformed " and the " As- 
 sociated," the latter being those who did not unite 
 with the Associate Reformed in 1T82, and who 
 had since increased in numbers. There are also the 
 Pj*esbyterians of the Southern States, who styled 
 themselves, during the rebellion, the "Presbyte- 
 rian Church of the Confederate States of America," 
 but who have since changed the name to the 
 " Presbyterian Church in the United States." Be- 
 sides this, there are two or three little synods who 
 stand aloof from the various unions that have been 
 formed, but whose numbers are very small. 
 
 LTJTHERAlfS. 
 
 The Lutherans of this country are the follow- 
 ers of Luther, the hero of the Reformation. The 
 earliest settlement of Lutherans in this country 
 was made in New York, by emigrants from Hol- 
 land, soon after the establishment of the Dutch 
 West India Company. At first they held their 
 meetings in private, but after British rule was estab- 
 lished all restraint was removed, and a petition sent 
 to Germany for a regular pastor. In response, 
 Rev. Jacob Fabricus arrived in 1669, and labored 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 28 
 
 with them for eight yeafs. In 1671 a small log 
 building was put up for church purposes, and in 
 1702 a small stone edifice, which existed until the 
 Revolution. This latter building was situated on 
 the corner of Rector-street and Broadway. 
 
 This settlement was succeeded by another on the 
 Delaware in 1636. These were Swedish followers 
 of Luther ; but receiving scarcely any accessions 
 from the parent body, they soon began to show 
 signs of decline, and became absorbed into the Epis- 
 copal Church. Another settlement of over three 
 thousand Germans, mostly Lutherans, was made in 
 Pennsylvania about 1710. These in time spread 
 over Virginia, Maryland, and New York. In 1733 
 a settlement was commenced in Georgia, which 
 greatly flourished. They were largely assisted, 
 especially in their Orphan-house, by that eminent 
 man, George Whitefield. Other settlements were 
 made in various parts of the country, but none 
 flourished like those in the Middle States — New 
 York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. 
 
 In 1743 Naesseman, a Lutheran minister, re- 
 ported to Sweden that there were twenty German 
 Lutheran congregations in America. 
 
 In 1742 a very prominent educated Lutheran 
 minister arrived, Henry M. Muhlenberg. He was 
 to Lutheranism what Asbury was to Methodism — 
 the leader of the phalanx. The first synod of this 
 Church was held in 1748. In 1751 the number of 
 Lutheran congregations was forty, and the adher- 
 ents of the faith sixty thousand. Under the zeal- 
 ous and faithful efforts of Father Muhlenberg, the 
 
24 STATISTICAL HISTOEY OF 
 
 denomination increased to twenty-five ministers 
 and sixty churches in 1766. 
 
 GERMAN EEFORMED. 
 
 The German Reformed Church of this country 
 dates its origin to the Reformation Chuj-ches of 
 Germany. and the German part of Switzerland. It 
 is distinguished from the Reformed Dutch and 
 French Reformed mainly by its use of the German 
 language. Zwingli, one of the great lights of the 
 Reformation, was its founder; but it flourished 
 most after his death, under the lead of the professor, 
 preacher, and writer, John Calvin. 
 
 As early as 1700 some of the inhabitants of Ger- 
 many and Switzerland emigrated to this country 
 and settled in Eastern Pennsylvania. Settlements 
 were also made prior to 1740 in Virginia, Mary- 
 land, Kew Jersey, and New York. Previous to 
 1758, in New York city, that portion of the Ger- 
 man Reformers who understood the Low Dutch 
 language attended the services of the Reformed 
 Dutch Church, while the others went to the 
 Lutheran Church. Their numbers, however, in- 
 creasing, about 1759 they estabhshed a meeting of 
 their own, and bought a building on Nassau-street, 
 between John-street and Maiden Lane, formerly 
 used as a theater, and fitted it up as a place of 
 worship. The first minister was a Mr. Rosencrantz, 
 who had previously labored on the Mohawk. In 
 1763 the Church attached themselves to the Classis 
 of Amsterdam, and thus brought themselves in 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 25 
 
 sympathy and official connection with the Collegiate 
 Reformed Dutch Church. In 1765, a year previ- 
 ous to Methodism, this Church laid the corner- 
 stone, on the same spot, of a large and substantial 
 edifice. Other Churches were permanently estab- 
 lished in various parts of the country, 
 
 EOMAK CATHOLIC. 
 
 The first j)ermanent settlement of Roman Cath- 
 olics in this country was made in 1634. Two years 
 previous Lord Baltimore obtained from Charles I. 
 a charter for the colony now known as Maryland, 
 and appointed his brother, Leonard Calvert, gov- 
 ernor. Soon afterward the governor sailed from 
 England with about two hundred emigrants, many 
 of whom were persons of considerable wealth. He 
 made satisfactory terms with the Indians, and be- 
 gan immediately to lay the foundations of both 
 Church and State. The first mass was said March 
 23, 1634, on St. Clement's Island, in the River 
 Potomac, by Father Althaus. This was on the 
 occasion of the festival of the Annunciation of the 
 Virgin Mary. 
 
 This colony was named Maryland, not after 
 Queen Mary, as is usually supposed, (she had de- 
 parted this life sixty-six years previously,) but in 
 honor of Henriette Marie, consort of King Charles 
 I., in whose name the country was taken. 
 
 From this time to 1687 Catholic priests had 
 pierced the extremes of the far west. No less 
 than sixty at this time were in the country. In 
 
26 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 the Lake Superior region, among the Hurons, they 
 were quite numerous. The noted Marquette was 
 one of these, of whom Bancroft says, " the people 
 of the West will yet build his monument." Joliet, 
 also, for his self-sacrificing efforts among the natives 
 at that early day, deserves a monument more en- 
 during than marble. Few Catholics had done 
 more to spread the principles of the sect in this 
 country, prior to Methodism, than Farmer in 
 Pennsylvania, Basle in Maine, Cheveriis in Boston, 
 and Carroll in Baltimore. "Father Carroll," as 
 he is called, was constituted the first bishop of the 
 Catholic Church in this country in 1793. 
 
 We have no exact data of the number of Cath- 
 olics in the United States in 1766, nor scarcely at 
 any other period. To be a Catholic, and to be in 
 the communion of the Catholic Church, are very 
 different things. The number of the former is not 
 known with any degree of certainty by even the 
 priests themselves, any more than Methodist minis- 
 ters know the number of persons who incline toward 
 Methodism. In respect to the number of the latter, 
 there is no doubt by those having the spiritual 
 oversight. But as this country is regarded as a 
 missionary country — a country for the propagation 
 of the faith — the numbers are reported directly^ to 
 Kome, and not made public here. In 1783, a few 
 years after the origin of Methodism, Bishop Car- 
 roll's investigations led him to conclude that there 
 were sixteen thousand Catholics in Maryland, seven 
 thousand in Pennsylvania, and fiifteen thousand in 
 other states, making a total of thirty-eight thou- 
 
AMERICAN Methodism:. 27 
 
 sand. This estimate did not include the North- 
 west, where there was quite a number of Catholics ; 
 Louisiana, whose population was mainly Catholic ; 
 nor Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and California. 
 All these districts, at that time, were subject to 
 the Bishop of Quebec, and not enumerated in the 
 Maryland or Eastern District. The probability is, 
 that within the bounds of the United States, in 
 1766, there were from twenty-five thousand to 
 thirty thousand persons who adhered, more or 
 less, to the Catholic faith. 
 
 BAPTISTS. 
 
 The Baptist Churches of this country commenced 
 with Koger Williams. Having been a Noncon- 
 formist in the old world, he sought this land of 
 freedom as an asylum to worship God. On his 
 arrival he preached in Salem, Massachusetts, then 
 in Plymouth, and then again in Salem. The per- 
 secution which soon overtook him, drove him 
 from this Christian colony to Narragansett Bay, 
 where a savage chief received him, and gave him 
 all the territory now known as Rhode Island, " to 
 sit down in peace, and enjoy it forever." Re- 
 ceiving it as from God, he called it " Providence." 
 This is the origin of the name of the city of Prov- 
 idence, Rhode Island. Here he laid the founda- 
 tions of the State, and also of the Church. Being 
 a believer in immersion as the only scriptural 
 mode of baptism, he induced others, by his teach- 
 ings, to adopt the same views. There being no 
 
28 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 one in all that region who had been immersed on 
 j3rofession of faith, in March, 1639, Ezekiel Halle- 
 man, the deputy governor, immersed Roger Will- 
 iams, the governor, who in tm*n immersed 
 Halleman and ten others. This was the first Bap- 
 tist Chm'ch in this country. A year earlier a 
 Rev. Hanserd Knollys, an Episcopal minister from 
 England, came to Dover, New Hampshire, and 
 preached the doctrine of immersion. No Church, 
 however, was formed. Although there were Bap- 
 tists in Boston as early as 1639, no Church was 
 formed until 1665, a hundred years prior to 
 Methodism in New York. In 1684 a Church was 
 organized in Cold Spring, Pennsylvania. Pene- 
 puck Church, near Philadelphia, was formed about 
 the same time. The views of the Baptists soon 
 spread into the surrounding region, and even to 
 Virginia. In 1669 the Baptists began to preach in 
 New York city, and in 1762 the first Church was 
 formed. Brown University, in Providence, Rhode 
 Island, was commenced the same year ; and in 
 1756 a literary and theological school in Hope- 
 well, New Jersey. 
 
 According to Morgan Edwards, the number of 
 Churches in 1768 was as follows: New Hamp- 
 shire 1, Massachusetts 30, Connecticut 12, Rhode 
 Island 36, New York 4, New Jersey 15, Pennsyl- 
 vania 10, Maryland 1, Virginia 10, North Caroli- 
 na 8, and South Carolina 8 : total 135. At that 
 time there were supposed to be 28,497 communi- 
 cants connected with the Baptist Churches in this 
 country. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 29 
 
 Seventh-Day Baptists. — These derive their ori- 
 gin from the Seventh-Day Baptists in England. 
 About the year 1665 Stephen Mumford came from 
 England to Newport, Rhode Island^ and there, 
 through his efforts, several members of the Baptist 
 persuasion embraced his views. Although they 
 suffered from contention within and persecution 
 without, a Church was formed in 1681, and Will- 
 iam Hiscox was appointed the first pastor. In 
 course of time they began to increase. A Church 
 was formed at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, in 1708 ; 
 another in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1705. 
 "We are unable to learn their number in 1766 ; but 
 there were five in and around Philadelphia. There 
 is also a German branch of the Seventh-Day Bap- 
 tists, but they scarcely differ from those above. 
 
 Baptist Brethren. — These are called by various 
 names, such as Disciples, Brethren, Tunkers, and 
 Dunkers. They usually call themselves Brethren. 
 They hold to certain peculiar views, but are usually 
 considered a harmless, pious people. They began 
 in Germany in 1708, and some of them emigrated 
 to this country in 1719. As they keep no statis- 
 tics very little is known respecting them. 
 
 There are some other small branches who hold 
 to immersion, but as they came into existence after 
 Methodism, it does not fall within our scope to 
 notice them. The Freewill Baptists, however, 
 commenced in 1780; the Disciples commenced 
 with Alexander Campbell in 1810, and the Anti- 
 Mission Baptists in 1832. 
 
80 STATISTICAL HISTORY OP 
 
 FEIENDS. 
 
 The Society of Friends, commonly called Qua- 
 kers, first appeared in England about the middle 
 of the seventeenth century. Their peculiar views 
 began to be advanced by George Fox in 1647, and 
 soon found adherents among all classes, especially 
 among the most respectable. In 1655 several of 
 the converts began to preach on the continent ; 
 and in process of time, in Africa, Asia, and Amer- 
 ica. Persecution also drove some to the port of 
 Boston to endure increased cruelty and' even death. 
 In 1682 they came into the province of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and founded a colony under the patronage 
 of William Penn. Soon meetings were held along 
 the Atlantic provinces, from North Carolina to 
 Boston. 
 
 As early as 1656 Robert Hodgson, a Quaker 
 minister, with several others, landed at New York, 
 but did not deem it expedient or safe to remain. 
 In 1672 George Fox, the founder of the sect, land- 
 ed in this coimtry, and preached on Long Island 
 and in Rhode Island ; but, according to Primes 
 History of Long Island^ he seems to have avoided 
 New York. In 1670 a yearly meeting was estab- 
 lished on Long Island, which shows that societies 
 must have existed in that region. About the 
 year 1690 the first Friends' Meeting-house in New 
 York was erected. It was located on a little street 
 running from Maiden Lane to Liberty-street, called 
 Little Green-street, now Liberty Place. This was 
 the only place of worship the Friends had in New 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 31 
 
 York when Methodism commenced. Their exact 
 number in the country at the time is unknown, but 
 their origin was at least a hundred years anterior 
 to Methodism. The Friends' Meeting-house in 
 Boston was built in 1710. 
 
 JEWS. 
 
 The seed of Abraham were among the early set- 
 tlers of Manhattan Island. There are traces of* 
 Spanish and Portuguese Jews as early as 1660. 
 These, like many others, fled from the severe cruel- 
 ties of the Old World. But while they were not 
 actually persecuted on these shores, yet in 1685 the 
 authorities refused to allow them to hold syna- 
 gogue service according to their ancient custom. 
 Before the close of the century, however, this de- 
 cision was either revoked or fell into disuse, and 
 the Jews assembled without restraint. 
 
 As early as 1672 they procured a piece of ground 
 on the west side of Oliver-street, New York, which 
 was used as a burial-ground. When the first Jew- 
 ish congregation was formed it is difficult to ascer- 
 tain. The first Minutes that can be found are dated 
 1729, and are written in Spanish and English. In 
 them reference is made to Minutes which bear date 
 1706, which renders it probable that a congrega- 
 tion existed at the beginning of the century. 
 
 Probably about 1706 the first synagogue was 
 erected. This was in Mill-street, New York, and 
 was a small frame building, which stood until 
 1729, when it was taken down, and a neat stone 
 
82 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 edifice, thirty-six feet by fifty-eight, erected. This 
 existed as their place of worship when John-street 
 Church was built. 
 
 At the time Methodism was commenced, besides 
 the synagogue in New York, there were congre- 
 gations in Newport, Rhode Island, and in Charles- 
 ton, South Carolina. A synagogue existed in 
 Savannah, Georgia, where the Jews arrived soon 
 after General Oglethorpe, in 1733. Besides these, 
 the believers in this ancient faith were scattered 
 in the various states then in existence. 
 
 OTHER DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 Other smaller denominations existed in the United 
 States when Methodism commenced ; but as they 
 never assumed much importance, we will only 
 glance at them. 
 
 The Moravians, or, as they are sometimes called, 
 United Brethren, existed as early as 1632. Soon 
 after this Bishops Spangenberg and Witschman 
 landed in New York, and preached several times ; 
 but it was not until 1748 that a Church organiza- 
 tion was effected in that city. Churches existed 
 earlier than this, however, in other places. 
 
 The United Brethren in Christ is altogether a 
 distinct organization from the Moravian United 
 Brethren. They sprang from William Otter- 
 bein, a German divine, who came to this country 
 in 1752, and who was afterward a warm friend of 
 Mr. Asbury, and assisted Dr. Coke in Asbury's 
 ordination. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. S3 
 
 Thus we find that the leading denominations of 
 this country, as well as many of the smaller ones, 
 were firmly intrenched, and had made considerable 
 progress, before Methodism was known. Some of 
 them had the advantage in time of one hundred 
 and fifty years. The population of the country 
 was scarcely three millions, while there was an 
 aggregate of at least fifteen hundred ministers and 
 two thousand churches, with a fair proportion of 
 communicants. 
 
 CHUECHES IN NEW YORK. 
 
 As Methodism originated in New York, it seems 
 proper to show the number of church edifices ex- 
 isting in that city at that time. 
 
 Of the Reformed Dutch church edifices, there 
 was one on Garden-street, now Exchange Place, 
 called the South Church, .built in 1693; another 
 was on Nassau-street, between Cedar and Liberty, 
 built in 1729, and for many years was called the 
 Middle Dutch Church. The North Dutch Church 
 was in process of erection, the corner-stone having 
 being laid July 2, 1767. It was opened May 25, 
 1769. Of the Episcopal churches, there was St. 
 George's Chapel, corner of Cliff and Beekman 
 streets, built 1752 ; also St. Paul's Chapel, between 
 Fulton and Vesey streets, on Broadway, dedicated 
 October 30, 1766; and Trinity Church, on Broad- 
 way, then called the English Church, erected 1696. 
 There was also a Presbyterian Church on Wall- 
 street, near Broadway, built in 1719; and the 
 
84 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Second Presbyterian — the Brick Church — on the 
 corner of Beekman and Nassau streets. The Friends 
 also had a Meeting-house on a little street running 
 from Maiden Lane to Liberty-street, then called 
 Crown-street ; the Jewish Synagogue stood on Mill- 
 street, built about the year 1706; the Moravian 
 Church, on Fulton-street, between William and 
 Dutch-streets, was. commenced June 16, 1751. 
 There was also the Baptist Church on Gold-street, 
 between Fulton and John, built about the year 
 1759 ; the Lutheran Church on the corner of Rector 
 and Broadway, a small edifice erected in 1702 ; 
 and also the German Reformed on Nassau-street, 
 between John-street and Maiden Lane. Thus the 
 number of church edifices at that time was four- 
 teen, belonging to nine distinct denominations. 
 The city was in the hands of the English, having 
 been surrendered by the Dutch two years previous ; 
 and although the latter were still numerous, English 
 customs greatly prevailed, and the Church of 
 England services were established. The popula- 
 tion numbered about eighteen thousand, made up 
 of almost all nationalities. The population of the 
 country was about three millions; the aggregate 
 number of churches of the various denominations 
 was two thousand, and the ministers fifteen hund- 
 red, with a fair proportion of communicants. Such 
 was the condition of this country, denomination- 
 ally, when Methodism began to proclaim the prin- 
 ciples of a free Gospel. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 85 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 PROM THE rNTRODUCnON OF METHODISM INTO THE 
 UNITED STATES, TO THE FIRST GENERAL CONFER- 
 ENCE IN IT92. 
 
 Philip Embury, the founder of American Meth- 
 odism, was bom in Ireland in 1728, converted 
 December 25th, 1752, licensed as a local preacher, 
 and arrived in New York August 10, 1760. His 
 vocation was that of a carpenter. His first sermon 
 in this country, so far as we have any knowledge, 
 was preached in his own hired house, in Barrack- 
 street, now City Hall Place, New York, October, 
 1766, to a congregation of four persons. These 
 were Barbara Heck, and her husband Paul Heck, 
 John Lawrence, a hired man, and Betty, a colored 
 servant. This was done at the earnest solicitation 
 of this old mother in Israel, Barbara Heck. After 
 preaching he organized them into a class, of which 
 he himself was leader. 
 
 Embury's apartments soon became too strait 
 for his increasing congregation, and a sail-loft was 
 rented and fitted up on Horse-and-Cart street, 
 now 120 William-street. This was eighteen feet 
 by sixty. It was demolished in 1854. 
 
 About this time Robert Strawbridge, a local 
 preacher from Ireland, introduced Methodism into 
 the South. His first sermon was preached near 
 
3B STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Pipe Creek, Frederick county, Maryland. Soon a 
 log-house was constructed twenty-two feet square, 
 in which meetings were held. The exact date of 
 this first effort of Strawbridge has never been 
 definitely ascertained. It is evident, however, that 
 it must have been very near the time of the New 
 York movement. Asbury thinks the first preach- 
 ing was in Maryland, but that the first edifice was 
 built in New York. One thing is certain, that 
 New York has the advantage of the first organized 
 permanent effort. Here the class was organized, 
 and continued from week to week ; here meetings 
 were held every Sabbath as well as during the 
 week, and here a durable church edifice was erected 
 and dedicated to the worship of God. 
 
 Soon after Embury had commenced his work in 
 New York, Providence interposed in his behalf. 
 Captain Webb, an ofllcer in the British army, who 
 had identified himself with the Methodists in Bristol, 
 England, in 1*765, and. who had been licensed as a 
 local preacher, was sent to this country by the 
 government, to take charge of the barracks in 
 Albany. Hearing of the little Methodist class in 
 New York, he hastened to unite himself with it, 
 and immediately began to preach the Gospel. The 
 scarlet coat and other regimentals with which he 
 was attired, as well as the divine power which 
 attended his message, drew together large numbers 
 of people, many of whom were brought to a saving 
 knowledge of the truth. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 37 
 
 FIRST CHUECH EDIFICE. 
 
 It was soon found that the sail-loft was unsuited 
 in many respects to a place of worship. After 
 much deliberation and prayer, it was resolved to 
 attempt the erection of a Methodist Meeting-house. 
 Mrs. Heck, Philip Embury, and Captain Webb 
 were foremost in the work ; the latter subscribed 
 thirty pounds to the undertaking, his name stand- 
 ing first on the subscription list. Some two hund- 
 red and fifty other names followed, from the highest 
 to the lowest of the inhabitants. A lot was leased 
 on "Golden Hill," now John-street, in 1V68, and 
 purchased in 1770. The building was dedicated 
 October 30, 1768, by Philip Embury. His text 
 was Hosea x, 12. During its erection Embury 
 had wrought with his own hands, and Mrs. Heck 
 solicited subscriptions, and actually assisted in 
 whitewashing its walls. As Dissenters were not 
 allowed to build churches in the colony, this 
 house was supplied with a fireplace and chimney, 
 so as to avoid the difllculty of the law. In size it 
 was sixty feet by forty-two, and was called " Wes- 
 ley Chapel" — a name that never ought to have 
 been changed. 
 
 At this time the city and province were in pos- 
 session of the English, having been surrendered by 
 the Dutch some four years previous. The popula- 
 tion numbered eighteen thousand, and the church 
 edifices, as we have seen, were thirteen in number. 
 
38 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 FIRST MISSIONARIES. 
 
 While the church edifice in New York was in 
 process of construction, the little society, through 
 Thomas Taylor, one of its members, appealed to 
 Mr. Wesley for a preacher " whose heart and soul 
 were in the work." The letter was dated April 
 11, 1768. No one, however, came until the fol- 
 lowing year, when Robert Williams, one of Wes- 
 ley's preachers, arrived and took charge of the 
 infant Church. He came in company with his 
 friend, Thomas Ashton, a layman from Dublin. 
 At the English Conference, which met at Leeds in 
 1766, Mr. Williams was appointed to the "North 
 East Circuit," Ireland. In 1767 he was sent to the 
 "Castlebar Circuit," Ireland, and returned to the 
 same circuit in 1768. Before the Conference of 
 1769, which was held in August, he must have 
 sailed for America, as on the old records of John- 
 street Church, in New York, there are entries of 
 payments "for Mr. Williams " in the months of Sep- 
 tember and October of that year. That he left his 
 work to come to this country by the consent of Mr. 
 Wesley, is evident from the relation he sustained to 
 him as one of his " helpers." This is strengthened 
 also from the fact that Mr. Wesley was in Ireland that 
 year, from March 21 to July 24, during which 
 time Mr. Williams must have left. The John-street 
 Church also received him as their pastor, and pay- 
 ments were made to him by the regular church 
 oflicers. A love-feast ticket also was given to 
 "Hannah Dean," afterward Mrs. Paful Heck, 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 89 
 
 signed "Robert Williams," which bore the date of 
 "October 1, 1769." Thus the place usually as- 
 signed Mr. Williams in history, of being a mere 
 local preacher, of coming to this country of his own 
 accord, and of succeeding Boardman and Pilmoor, 
 does him great injustice. He was the first regular 
 Methodist itinerant to this country. 
 
 At the conference held in Leeds, August, 1769, 
 Mr. Wesley presented the pressing needs of the 
 work in America, and Richard Boardman and Jo- 
 seph Pilmoor, members of the conference, volun- 
 teered their services. A collection was taken up 
 to defray their expenses, with a surplus, which 
 was sent to aid the Church in New York. These 
 missionaries, after a stormy passage, landed at 
 Gloucester Point, New Jersey, October 24, and 
 proceeded directly to Philadelphia. This was just 
 one year after the dedication of the Church in New 
 York. The former having been appointed by Mr. 
 Wesley as superintendent of the Church in Amer- 
 ica, took charge of the Church in New York, and the 
 latter remained in Philadelphia. Mr. Wesley sent 
 with them twenty -five pounds in money, and about 
 the same amount in books, consisting of his Notes 
 and Sermons, to aid the infant Church. Very soon 
 John King, a local preacher, arrived, and began to 
 preach. In the minutes of the British Conference 
 for 1110 the appointments for America are: Pil- 
 moor, Boardman, Williams, and King. Early in 
 October, 1771, Mr. Wesley sent over Francis As- 
 bury and Richard Wright. The former was 
 designated by Mr. Wesley as his " assistant " in 
 
40 STATISTICAL.HISTOR'i' OF 
 
 America. Nearly two years after, June, 17T3, 
 Thomas Rankin and George Shadford arrived from 
 England, the former superseding Mr. Asbury as 
 Mr. Wesley's assistant, probably, because he was 
 much older in the work. 
 
 Through the efforts of these missionaries Meth- 
 odism began to spread. Captain Webb preached 
 in various places on Long Island, Philadelphia, New 
 Jersey, and Delaware. His first sermon in Philadel- 
 phia was in a sail-loft, in 1768. The first class con- 
 'sisted of seven in number, of whom James Emerson 
 was leader. Through the efforts of Captain Webb 
 St. George's Church was secured to the Methodists. 
 This edifice is to Philadelphia what *' old John- 
 street " is to New York. Robert Williams intro- 
 duced Methodism into Virginia and North Carolina, 
 and labored extensively in Delaware and Mary- 
 land. John King was the apostle of Methodism in 
 Baltimore. His first sermon was delivered from 
 the block of a blacksmith's shop, at the intersec- 
 tion of Front and French streets in 1771. The first 
 organized effort, however, in Baltimore, was by 
 Mr. Asbury, January 3, 1773, when the first class 
 was formed. The following November, a lot was 
 secured in Strawberry Alley, on which a brick 
 edifice was erected forty-one feet by thirty. Love- 
 ly Lane Chapel was commenced April 18 of the 
 following year, and was the edifice in which the 
 "Methodist Episcopal Church" was organized in 
 1784. Mr. Pilmoor visited Maryland, and aided Mr. 
 Strawbridge in his work. Mr. Boardman preached 
 and formed a class in Boston. All these men were 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 41 
 
 incessant in labor, preaching Christ and him cruci- 
 fied on week days as well as Sundays. The number 
 of members for America, reported in the Minutes 
 of the English Conference in 1771, was three 
 hundred and sixteen. When Mr. Asbury arrived 
 he found, as he says in his Journal, " about three 
 hundred in New York, two hundred and fifty in 
 Philadelphia, and a few in New Jersey." But, as 
 Dr. Bangs says, " there must have been some in 
 Maryland," making the number at least six hmidred. 
 
 FIRST ANNUAL CONTEEENCE. 
 
 July 14, 1773, the first Annual Conference in 
 this country met in Philadelphia. It was called by 
 Mr. Rankin at the request of Mr. Wesley. This 
 was twenty-nine years after the first Methodist 
 Conference in England. All the members of 
 this conference were foreigners except William 
 Watters. Ten preachers received appointments 
 this year, namely: Thomas Rankin, Francis As- 
 bury, George Shadford, Robert Williams, John 
 King, Richard Wright, Robert Strawbridge, Will- 
 iam Watters, Joseph Yearbry, and Abraham 
 Whitworth. The number of members was as 
 follows : 
 
 Maryland 500 
 
 New Jersey ; ■. 200 
 
 New York 180 
 
 Philadelphia 180 
 
 Virginia 100 
 
 Total 1,160 
 
42 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 All the preachers agreed to labor under the 
 authority of Mr. Wesley, and to abide by his doc- 
 trine and discipline, and not to administer the 
 ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, h yfJ^ 
 Thomas Rankin and George Shadford were sta- 
 tioned in New York and Philadelphia, and were to 
 alternate once in four months. The others were to 
 remain for a year. They were stationed as fol- 
 lows : New Jersey, John King and Wm. Watters ; 
 Baltimore, F. Asbury, R. Strawbridge, A. White- 
 worth, J. Yearbry; Norfolk, R. Wright; Peters- 
 burg, R. Williams. Each of these were to report 
 to Mr. Wesley's assistant, Mr. Rankin, once in six 
 months. William Watters was the first American 
 preacher received into the conference on trial. 
 
 CONFERENCE OF 17U. 
 
 May 25, the Second Annual Conference met in 
 Philadelphia, Mr. Rankin presiding. 
 
 Members, 2,0*73: Increase, 913. 
 Preachers, IT : Increase, 7. 
 
 Some 1,063 of these members were in Maryland, 
 291 in Virginia, 222 in New York, 257 in New 
 Jersey, 204 in Philadelphia. A great revival oc- 
 curred in the South, which accounts for so large an 
 increase in that quarter. Boardman, Pilmoor, and 
 Wright returned to England, hence their names do 
 not appear on the Minutes. 
 
 The Conference resolved that each preacher 
 should change his appointment once in six months ; 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 43 
 
 that each preacher in full connection should have 
 the use and property of the horse furnished him 
 by his circuit; that each preacher should be al- 
 lowed 864 a year for his support, besides traveling 
 expenses ; and that each should take a collection 
 at Easter to relieve the preachers in want. During 
 the year four circuits were added to the work, 
 making ten in number. 
 
 CONPEEENCE OF 11 "Z 5. 
 
 May 17, the Third Annual Conference was held 
 in Philadelphia, Mr. Rankin presiding. 
 
 Members, 3,148: Increase, 1,073. 
 Preachers, 19: Increase, 2. 
 
 Six probationers were admitted to membership 
 in the Conference, and three received on trial. 
 The number of circuits was eleven. 
 
 As the tempest of war was brewing, scarcely 
 any business was transacted except to station the 
 preachers. The time was mostly taken up in 
 friendly conversation and prayer. A fast was 
 agreed upon, to be held July 18, "for the pros- 
 perity of the work and the peace of the country." 
 Of this Conference Mr. Asbury says that it sat 
 from Wednesday to Friday, " with great harmony 
 and sweetness of temper." 
 
 Two deaths occurred this year which deserve 
 notice. The first was Philip Embury, the founder 
 of American Methodism. In April, 1770, five 
 months after the arrival of Boardman and Pilmoor, 
 
44 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Embury left New York and took up his residence 
 in Salem, Washington county, N. Y., near Ash- 
 grove. His death was occasioned by overdoing, 
 while cutting grass in the field, which ended in 
 pleurisy, of which he died, at the age of forty-five. 
 He was a humble and sincere Christian. 
 
 The other was Robert Williams, the first itiner- 
 ant Methodist that crossed, the ocean to labor for 
 Christ in the new world. He was the pioneer of 
 Methodism in Virginia and North Carolina, and 
 the first to use the press in spreading Methodist 
 doctrines in this country. Pie died near Norfolk, 
 Virginia, September 26, IV 75, at his residence, 
 having previously located. Mr. Williams was the 
 spiritual father of Jesse Lee. Bishop Asbury, in a 
 eulogy over his remains, said, "Probably no one 
 man in America has been the instrument of awak- 
 ening so many souls as he." 
 
 CONFEKENCB OP IT'TS. 
 
 May 21, the Fourth Annual Conference met in 
 Lovely Lane Chapel, Baltimore, Mr. Rankin pre- 
 sidino:. 
 
 'O' 
 
 Members, 4,921: Increase, IjltS. 
 Preachers, 24: Increase, 5. 
 
 On account of the excitement of war there was 
 a decrease of members in the northern part of the 
 work. The revival spirit, however, had been kept 
 alive in the South. Baltimore alone reported 900 
 members, and North Carolina 683. Four new 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 45 
 
 circuits were added. Freeborn GarrettsoD, after- 
 ward of much note, was admitted on trial at this 
 Conference. 
 
 This year the colonies declared themselves, on 
 the 4th day of July, " free and independent states." 
 
 CONTEEENCE OP 1111. 
 
 May 20, the Fifth Annual Conference was held 
 in "the Preaching-house," Deer Creek, Hartford 
 county, Maryland, Mr. Rankin presiding. 
 
 Members, 6,968: Increase, 2,047. 
 Preachers, 38: Increase, 14. 
 
 Eight preachers were received into full member- 
 ship, and fourteen on trial. The question respect- 
 ing the right and expediency of administering the 
 ordinances elicited some discussion. Many of the 
 preachers, on account of the war, had left the 
 country, and others were in great anxiety. The 
 Conference appointed a committee to deliberate 
 during the year as to the best cpurse to be pursued. 
 Mr. Asbury, having refused to take the oath of 
 allegiance, on account of its peculiar phraseology, 
 had retired to his friend. Judge White's, in Dela- 
 ware, for protection. 
 
 The Conference resolved to preach funeral ser- 
 mons " only for those who died in the fear and love'^ 
 of God." 
 
 No preacher this year was sent to New York. 
 
46 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 CONFERENCE OF 1118. 
 
 May 19, the Sixth Annual Conference met 
 in Leesburgh, Virginia. Mr. Kankin, as was 
 feared, had left for England. Mr. Asbury was 
 still in seclusion ; and William Watters, the old- 
 est American preacher, was elected as presiding 
 officer. 
 
 Members, 6,095: Decrease, 8'73. 
 Preachers, 29: Decrease, 9. 
 
 All the English preachers, except Mr. Asbury, 
 had gone home. Many of the Others were greatly 
 persecuted on account of unjust suspicions of loy- 
 alty. The question of the ordinances was again 
 discussed. At the first Conference in IVYS it was 
 agreed to " exhort the people among whom we la- 
 bor, to attend the Church, and to receive the ordi- 
 nances there." This action, although the wish of 
 Mr. Wesley, and strenuously adhered to by his 
 assistants, was never satisfactory to many of the 
 preachers or people. The Virginia preachers espe- 
 cially desired to administer the sacraments, which 
 kept up a continual agitation. The subject was 
 laid over until the next Conference. 
 
 « 
 
 CONFERENCE OF 1119. 
 
 May 18, the Seventh Annual Conference was held 
 in Broken-back Church, Fluvanna county, Vir- 
 ginia. Mr. Asbury still made Judge White's, in 
 Delaware, his head-quarters, where several brethren 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 47 
 
 met him in an informal conference the month 
 previous, April 28. 
 
 Members, 8,577: Increase, 2,428. 
 Preachers, 44: Increase, 15. 
 
 Most of these members were in the South- 
 ern region. Only 1,114 were reported north 
 of Maryland. There were 1,900 within that 
 state. Virginia contained 3,800, and North Car- 
 olina, 1,500. 
 
 The Conference resolved that the term of proba- 
 tion in the Conference for preachers should be 
 changed from one to two years. Also that the 
 preachers should meet the children once in two 
 weeks for religious instruction, and also examine 
 their parents in respect to their conduct toward 
 them. 
 
 The ordinance question, which had hitherto di- 
 vided the northern and southern preachers, again 
 came up. As the war had driven all the English 
 preachers away except Mr. Asbury, and as most 
 of the ministers of the English Church had left, so 
 that children were left unbaptized, and the people 
 destitute of the Lord's Supper, the arguments in 
 favor of administering the ordinances came with 
 greater force. After much discussion, a committee 
 of four of the oldest members was appointed to 
 ordain ministers. They first ordained each other, 
 and then some of the other members of the Confer- 
 ence. Those thus ordained administered the ordi- 
 nances of baptism and the Lord's Supper during 
 the year, which made quite a break between tho 
 
48 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 two parties. This was the first schism in the 
 Church. 
 
 At this Conference, Mr. Rankin having re- 
 turned to England, Mr. Asbury was elected gen- 
 eral assistant. This was done, first, on account of 
 his age ; and second, because originally appointed 
 by Mr. Wesley. 
 
 COISTFERENCE OF 1780. 
 
 April 24, the Eighth Annual Conference met 
 in Baltimore, Mr. Asbury presiding. A session 
 also was held May 8, at Manakintown, Virginia, 
 for the convenience of the preachers in the south- 
 ern region. This latter, however, was considered 
 merely informal. 
 
 Members, 8,504: Decrease, "73. 
 Preachers, 43: Decrease, 1. 
 
 This Conference recommended that the wives of 
 married preachers should receive an allowance 
 equivalent with their husbands if they needed it. 
 This was simply advisory. Vlt resolved to disown 
 all who would not renounce the practice of distill- 
 ing grain into liquor. This was the first step in 
 the temperance reform in this countryv It also re- 
 quired those traveling preachers who held slaves 
 to give promise to set them free, and declared in 
 the strongest terms that slavery is contrary to the 
 laws of God and man, and hurtful to society. 
 This step was in advance of the times. 
 
 Local preachers and exhorters were required to 
 have their license renewed quarterly. A proposal 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 49 
 
 to suspend the administration of the ordinances for 
 one year was agreed to. This was secured through 
 the influence of Asbury and Garrettson. 
 
 The war was still raging. Jesse Lee was drafted 
 into the army, but for conscientious reasons refused 
 to fight. He was detailed to drive a baggage- 
 wagon ; but after four months was discharged. 
 
 CONFERENCE OF 1781. 
 
 April 24, the Ninth Annual Conference assem- 
 bled in Baltimore, an informal session having been 
 held at Choptank, Delaware, on March 1-6, for 
 the accommodation of those who could not go to 
 Baltimore. 
 
 Members, 10,539: Increase, 2,036. 
 Preachers, 55: Increase, 12. 
 
 Some 9,666 of these membei*s were below the 
 south line of Pennsylvania. The circuits now 
 numbered twenty-five. 
 
 The Conference ordered that probationers for 
 church membership should remain on trial three 
 months ; that no excluded person should be re- 
 admitted without evidence of repentance ; that the 
 preachers should read the General Rules before the 
 societies frequently. 
 
 As differences of opinion existed among the 
 preachers respecting the ordinances and the au- 
 thority of Mr. Wesley, thirty-nine out of fifty-five 
 set their names to a paper, agreeing to " preach the 
 old Methodist doctrine and enforce the discipline as 
 
 4 
 
50 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 contained in the Notes, Sermons, and Minutes by- 
 Mr. Wesley," and " to discountenance a separation 
 among either preachers or people." 
 
 This year Robert Wooster, a local preacher, in- 
 troduced Methodism into Western Pennsylvania 
 and the Valley of the Ohio. 
 
 This year the British army was captured at 
 Yorktown, which greatly inspired the preachers 
 and people with hope. 
 
 CONFERENCE OP 1*782. 
 
 April IV, the Tenth Annual Conference met in 
 Ellis's Chapel, Sussex county, Virginia, and ad- 
 journed to Baltimore May 21st. Nothing, how- 
 ever, done at the first conference was considered 
 binding, unless sanctioned by the latter. 
 
 Members, 11,185: Increase, 1,246. 
 Preachers, 60: Increase, 5. 
 
 ''■' The Conference resolved that certificates of 
 membership should be required of laymen remov- 
 ing from one place to another ; also to abide by 
 the former decision not to administer the ordinan- 
 ces. A Mr. Jarratt, an Episcopal minister, did 
 good service in attending quarterly meetings and 
 administering the sacraments. The Conference 
 formally acknowledged his services, and advised 
 the preachers in the South to consult him in the 
 absence of Mr. Asbury. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 51 
 
 CONFERENCE OP 1*783. 
 
 May 7, the Eleventh Annual Conference met 
 in Ellis's Chapel, Virginia, and adjourned to Bal- 
 timore on the 27th, Mr. Asbury presiding. 
 
 Members, 13,740: Increase, 1,955. 
 Preachers, 82: Increase, 22. 
 
 Over 12,000 of these members were south of the 
 state of Pennsylvania. Of the 82 preachers VI 
 were unmarried. 
 
 •^The Conference declared that the manufacture 
 and sale of ardent spirits was morally wrong.^/ 
 Local preachers were admonished to emancipate 
 their slaves. All the members of the Conference, 
 and those to be received into full connection, were 
 hereafter to attend the sessions of that body. 
 This is the first record of any rule as to who 
 should attend Conference. 
 
 This year Jeremiah Lambert was sent to the 
 Holstein country, west of the Alleghanies ; and 
 Jesse Lee, the hero of Methodism in New En- 
 gland, was received on trial in the Conference. 
 
 CONFERENCE OF 1784. 
 
 April 30, the Twelfth Annual Conference met 
 in Ellis's Chapel, Virginia, and closed its session 
 at Baltimore May 28th, Mr. Asbury presiding. 
 
 Members, 14,988: Increase, 1,248. 
 Preachers, 84: Increase, 2. 
 
V 
 
 52 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 The circuits numbered forty-six. The Redstone 
 circuit, the first beyond the Alleghanies, in Pennsyl- 
 vania, was this year established, although Robert 
 Wooster preached there as early as 1781. 
 
 The Conference fixed the salary of Mr. Asbury 
 at $60 a year, the same as other preachers, besides 
 his horses and the expense of keeping them. ISTo- 
 tices of the death of preachers were inserted in the 
 Minutes this year for the first time. A letter was 
 received from Mr. Wesley, exhorting the preachers 
 to abide by the Methodist doctrine and discipline, 
 and to beware of preachers who came from En- 
 gland, unless they had full recommendation 
 from him. 
 
 The war was now ended, New York having 
 been evacuated on the 25th of November j^revious. 
 Although the march of armies had greatly hin- 
 dered the work, yet Methodism during the war 
 made a net gain of over 12,000. We have now 
 arrived at the period of the organization of the 
 " Methodist Episcopal Church." 
 
 SPECIAL CONFERENCE. 
 
 The Conference which organized the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church was not one of the regular An- 
 nual Conferences ; and, as the Church was not yet 
 formed, it cannot be considered a General Confer- 
 ence in the technical sense of the term. Neither 
 was it convened by the Annual Conferences, but 
 called in a hasty and extraordinary manner, and 
 under peculiar circumstances. It was not called. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 53 
 
 either, as the first of a series that were to follow. 
 It adjourned also without making provision for 
 any other. The preachers of that day did not re- 
 gard it as the first General Conference. They 
 spoke of the Conference of 1792 as the first. The 
 Annual Conferences also went on as usual, as if no 
 such Conference had been held. 
 
 While, then, the preachers generally were con- 
 vened it was not a General Conference in the 
 present Methodist sense. It was more properly a 
 special Conference, a providential occasion. As 
 this country had separated itself from England, it 
 was evident that something must be done to adapt 
 the religious societies to the new condition of civil 
 affairs. That this could not be done as societies 
 belonging to the English Church, was evident to 
 Mr. Wesley. This appears from his letter of 
 September 10, 1784, as well as from the extra- 
 ordinary but provi(^ntial means resorted to in 
 setting apart Dr. Coke to the office of General 
 Superintendent for the work in America. The di- 
 versity of views, both among preachers and people, 
 in regard to the sacraments, and some other ques- 
 tions, could never have been harmonized as socie- 
 ties acting under the authority of Mr. Wesley, and 
 claiming to belong to the English Church. Hence 
 this was a special occasion, designed by Providence 
 for the formation of a separate and independent 
 Church. 
 
 ,y Dr. Coke having been set apart by Mr. Wesley 
 for this special purpose, arrived on the 3d of No- 
 vember, 1784, and summoned all the preachers to 
 
54 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 meet him in Baltimore on the 24th of the ensuing 
 month. Garrettson traveled over twelve hundred 
 miles notifying the preachers. At the Conference 
 sixty of the eighty were present. Dr. Coke pre- 
 sented his credentials furnished by Mr. Wesley, 
 and also a letter addressed to " Dr. Coke, Mr. As- 
 bury, and our brethren in North America." After 
 some deliberation " it was agreed," says Asbury, 
 " to form ourselves into an episcopal Church." 
 Whatcoat says : " We agreed to form a Methodist 
 Episcopal Church." Rev. William Watters says, 
 "We became, instead of a religious society, a 
 separate Church." Rev. Jesse Lee says, "The 
 Methodists were generally pleased at our becoming 
 a Church, and heartily united together in the plan 
 which the Conference had adopted. From this 
 time religion greatly revived." Other authorities 
 might be given to show that the organization of the 
 Church gave great satisfaction both to preachers 
 and people, and was followed with the happiest 
 results. 
 
 The " Methodist Episcopal Church " now began 
 to adopt rules for its government and Church 
 order. " We agreed," says Mr. Asbury, " to have 
 superintendents, elders, and deacons." Dr. Coke 
 and Mr. Asbury were elected sujjerintendents. 
 ; Dr. Coke was already in orders ; and Mr. Asbury, 
 y on Saturday, was made deacon ; on Sunday, elder ; 
 ^ and on Monday, superintendent. Three deacons 
 and twelve elders were also elected and ordained. 
 Previously only twenty-four ordained preachers be- 
 longed to the Conference. The duties of each 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 55 
 
 class of preachers were defined, and provision 
 made for their temporal wants. Articles of Re- 
 ligion were adopted ; Wesley's Abridgment of the 
 Thirty -nine Articles of the Church of England ; 
 also a Liturgy or Sunday service, and a collection 
 of Psalms and Hymns. Thus the Church, fully 
 organized, took its place among the other denom- 
 inations, and has grown into importance and re- 
 spectability. This special Conference, a parenthesis 
 in history, lasted ten days, closing January 2, 1785. 
 
 CONFERENCES OF ll85. 
 
 Three Annual Conferences were held this year, 
 in the following places : April 20, at Green Hill, 
 in North Carolina ; May 1, at Mason's, Bruns- 
 wick county, in Virginia; and June 1, at Balti- 
 more, in Maryland. At the first two Bishops 
 Coke and Asbury presided ; on the second morn- 
 ing of the third Dr. Coke sailed for England. 
 
 Members, 18,000: Increase, 3,012, 
 Preachers, 104: Increase, 20. 
 
 In respect to authority, the concurrent action of 
 all the Conferences was necessary to make rules 
 of a binding character. 
 
 The origin of " Presiding Elder " may be traced ' 
 to this year, although they were not so denomina- 
 ted until 1789. As there were only twelve or- 
 dained elders in the Conference, several of the 
 circuits, supplied with unordained preachers, were 
 linked together and placed in charge of an elder, 
 
66 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 to administer the ordinances and perform such 
 other duties as could not be performed by the un- 
 ordained preacher. Hence the presiding elder- 
 ship, as well as most of the forms of Methodism, 
 grew out of the circumstances of the occasion. 
 
 This year, not only the names of those who had 
 died were inserted in the Minutes, but also, for the 
 first time, short sketches of their character. 
 
 In January Coke and Asbury issued a plan for 
 a college, and immediately after the session of the 
 Conference in Baltimore, Bishop Asbury laid the 
 foundation of the same. It was located on the 
 Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, and was called " Cokes- 
 bury College," in honor of its founders. Coke and 
 Asbury. It was 108 feet by 40, and cost $40,000. 
 
 This year Bishop Asbury and Jesse Lee intro- 
 dued Methodism into Charleston, South Carolina ; 
 and John Cooper and Samuel Breeze were appoint- 
 ed to the Redstone Circuit, west of the Alleghany 
 Mountains. 
 
 Lovely Lane Chapel, in Baltimore, was sold, and 
 the celebrated Light-street Church erected. 
 
 CONFERENCES OP 1786. 
 
 Three Conferences were held this year also : 
 the first at Salisbury, in North Carolina, Febru- 
 ary 21 ; the second in Lane's Chapel, Virginia, 
 April 18 ; and the last in Baltimore, May 8. 
 
 Members, 20,681 : Increase, 2,681. 
 Preachers, 117: Increase, 13. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 67 
 
 This year the colored members began to be re- 
 ported separately. They now numbered 1,890. 
 Five new circuits were added. One of these was 
 in what is now the state of Kentucky. James 
 Shaw and Benjamin Ogden were sent there as itin- 
 erants. This year the first church edifice in 
 Charleston, South Carolina, was commenced. 
 
 Bishop Asbury was incessant in labors, attend- 
 ing conferences, preaching, forming classes, and 
 encouraging the preachers. He is said to have 
 organized this year the first Sunday-school in this 
 country, in the house of Thomas Crenshaw, Han- 
 over county, Virginia. 
 
 Methodism was this year introduced into Geor- 
 gia by Thomas Humphries and John Major, who 
 oflered themselves at the Conference for this pur- 
 pose, in response to a call of the Conference. 
 Several societies were formed during the year. 
 
 CONFEEENCES OF 1181. 
 
 Three Conferences were held this year : one in 
 Salisbury, North Carolina, March 1 7 ; another 
 at Rough Creek Church, Virginia, April 19 ; and 
 the other in Baltimore, May 1. Bishops Asbury 
 and Coke presided. 
 
 Members, 25,842: Increase, 5,161. 
 Preachers, 133: Increase, 16. 
 
 Dr. Coke arrived from the West Indies Febru- 
 aiy 10, and sailed for Europe June 25. At 
 the Conference in Baltimore he was restricted 
 
58 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 from interfering with the arrangements of the 
 work at home while he was out of the country. 
 This was done because he had changed the time 
 and place of one of the Conferences that had 
 been fixed by the Conference. 
 
 The Conference determined that children should 
 be formed into classes, and their spiritual instruc- 
 tion attended to, with a view of receiving them 
 into the Church. 
 
 The subject of a Church literature was discuss- 
 ed, and resulted in a resolution to print such books 
 as the Conference might designate. 
 
 The term "superintendent " was changed to that 
 of "bishop," although the latter term had been 
 printed in the Minutes since the organization of the 
 Church. No new powers, however, were given to 
 the office. 
 
 Provision was made for the spiritual instruction 
 of colored people, also for the proper registration 
 of births and marriages. 
 
 A great revival occurred this year in the South. 
 The church edifice commenced last year at Charles- 
 ton was dedicated by Bishops Coke and Asbury. 
 
 CONFERENCES OP 1788. 
 
 Eight Conferences were held this year, in the fol- 
 lowing places : March 12, in Charleston, South 
 Carolina ; April 9, at the forks of Broad River, 
 Georgia — the first in that state ; it consisted of six 
 members and four probationers; May 19, in 
 Holstein, Tennessee — the first beyond the AUe- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 59 
 
 ghanies ; June 17, in Amelia county, Virginia; 
 July 22, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania ; September 
 10, in Baltimore; September 25, in Philadelphia ; 
 and September 30, in New York — the first held 
 in that city. 
 
 Members, 37,354: Increase, 11,512. 
 Preachers, 166 : Increase, 49 
 
 The circuits now numbered 85 ; this year 19 
 were added. Pittsburgh first appears in the Min- 
 utes this year. Mr. Garrettson, assisted by sever- 
 al zealous young men, penetrated the country north 
 of New York, with instructions from Bishop As- 
 bury, and formed several societies. The next Con- 
 ference nearly six hundred members were reported 
 as the result of their efibrts. Bishop Asbury crossed 
 the Alleghany Mountains, and, as his Journal shows, 
 penetrated remote settlements, preaching the Gospel 
 and in every possible way laboring to save souls. 
 
 March 29 of this year, Charles Wesley, the 
 poet as well as preacher of Methodism, died, aged 
 seventy-nine. 
 
 CONFERENCES OF 1189. 
 
 Eleven Conferences were held this year, as 
 follows: On March 9, in Georgia; March 17, 
 in Charleston, South Carolina; April 11, at 
 M'Knight's Meeting-house, on the Yadkin River, 
 North Carolina; April 18, at Petersburgh, Vir- 
 ginia; May 4, at Baltimore, Maryland; May 
 9, at Cokesbury, Maryland; May '13, at Ches- 
 tertown; May 18, at Philadelphia; May 23, 
 
60 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 at Trenton, New Jersey, the first held in that 
 state ; and May 28 in the city of New York. 
 
 Members, 43,262: Increase, 5,808. 
 Preachers, 196: Increase, 30. 
 
 This year Jesse Lee began his efforts in behalf 
 of Methodism in New England. His first sermon 
 was preached in New Haven, Connecticut, June 
 17. The first society formed was in Stratford, 
 in the same state, September 26, consisting of 
 three females. The next was in the town of Red- 
 ding, consisting of two members, a male and fe- 
 male. The first Methodist church edifice was 
 built in the town of Weston, on the Stratford Cir- 
 cuit, and was called " Lee's Chapel." 
 
 This year the Conference changed the term of 
 probation in the Church from three months to six. 
 This remains unchanged. The Book Concern was 
 established, and John Dickins appointed " Book 
 Steward." The first book published was a devo- 
 tional one, " The Christian Pattern," by Thomas 
 a Kempis. 
 
 Bishop Asbury held this year a council of elders, 
 to consult in respect to the interests of the Church. 
 This was done by authority of the Conference, in 
 consequence of the extension of the work. 
 
 Dr. Coke returned this year from England, and 
 sailed again before the year closed. 
 
 CONPEEENCES OP 1V90. 
 
 Fourteen Conferences were held this year : Feb- 
 ruary 10, Charleston, South Carolina; March 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 61 
 
 2, in Georgia ; April 26, in Kentucky ; May 
 17, in Holstein; May 24, in North Carolina; 
 June 14, in Lane's Church ; July 29, in Union- 
 town, Pennsylvania ; August 26, in Leesbnrg, 
 Virginia ; September 6, in Baltimore ; Septem- 
 ber 11, in Cokesbury, Maryland; September 16, 
 at Duck's Creek ; September 22, in Philadelphia ; 
 September 28, in Burlington, New Jersey; and 
 October 4, in New York city. 
 
 Members, 5*7,631: Increase, 14,369. 
 Preachers, 227: Increase, 31. 
 
 Bishop Asbury held this year another council of 
 elders. This was the last of the kind. The term 
 "presiding elder" was this year printed in the 
 Minutes for the first time, although it had pre- 
 viously been used. For some reasons, however, it 
 was again dropped for a time. 
 
 Sunday-schools were established this year to 
 teach "p'oor children, white and black, to read." 
 Persons were to be appointed to teach gratuitously 
 all that would attend, from six in the morning till 
 ten, and from two in the afternoon till six. 
 
 Methodism was this year permanently estab- 
 lished in Boston by Jesse Lee. His first sermon 
 was delivered under one of the old elms on Boston 
 Common. A small society was formed July 13, 
 1792, and the corner-stone of the first church edi- 
 fice was laid August 28, 1795. As early as 
 1772 Mr. Boardman preached there, and formed a 
 small society, bnt it had become extinct. Mr. 
 Garrettson also passed through Boston on his way 
 
62 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 to Nova Scotia, in 1V87, and preached several 
 sermons. 
 
 Lee also introduced Methodism into Lynn, Sa- 
 lem, and various other places in New England 
 this year. 
 
 CONPEKEKCES OP 1T91. 
 
 Fourteen Conferences were held this year also. 
 One was held February 22, at Charleston ; on 
 the 16th of the same month, in Georgia ; April 
 2, at M'Knight's, North Carolina; April 20, 
 Petersburgh, Virginia ; April 26, at Hanover ; 
 May 2, in Alexandria, D. C. ; May 6, Baltimore ; 
 May 13, Duck Creek ; May 18, Philadelphia ; May 
 26, New York; July 23, Connecticut; July 28, 
 Uniontown ; and August 23, at Albany, the first 
 north of New York. 
 
 Members, 63,269: Increase, 5,638. 
 Preachers, 259: Increase, 32. 
 
 Ten new circuits were added, one of which was 
 Kingston, Upper Canada. William Losee, a mem- 
 ber of the New York Conference, formed the first 
 circuit there. Methodism also was extended to 
 the Wyoming Valley in New York. Bishop As- 
 bury this year visited New England for the first 
 time. His Journal shows that he was not received 
 as warmly as in the South. " Should I ever have 
 an opportunity," he said, " I will requite their 
 behavior by treating them as friends, brethren, and 
 gentlemen." 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 63 
 
 This year is noted for the death of John Wesley, 
 the founder of Methodism. His last words were, 
 " The best of all is God is, with us." He died in his 
 own house in London, in the eighty-eighth year of 
 his age, having preached the Gospel for sixty-four 
 years. In 1784, when the Church was organized, 
 the Conference declared that " during the lifetime 
 of the Rev. John Wesley we acknowledge our- 
 selves his sons in the Gospel, and ready, in matters 
 of Church government, to obey his commands." 
 Although this was somewhat modified in 1787, on 
 account of some peculiar circumstance, yet they 
 always regarded him as their spiritual father, and 
 adhered to his doctrines and discipline. The year 
 succeeding his death, assembled the first General 
 Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 this country, the supreme judicatory of the denom- 
 ination. Hereafter we shall trace the history of the 
 Church quadrennially in connection with these con- 
 ferences, instead of annually, as heretofore. 
 
64: STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST GENERAL CON- 
 FERENCE, IN 1*^92, TO THE CLOSE OF THE LAST, IN 
 
 1864. 
 
 The first General Conference of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church met in Baltimore, November 1, 
 Bishops Coke and Asbury, presiding. For nine- 
 teen years conferences had been held annually ; for 
 nine years they had been increasing in number, 
 •until this year they reached eighteen. As the 
 work extended over such a vast region ; as the 
 Bishop's Council of Elders had failed ; as it was 
 impossible to get the consent of all the conferences 
 to any important measure, there seemed a neces- 
 sity for a General Conference. 
 
 The calling of this first conference was the result 
 V of deliberate action on the part of the preachers — 
 all the Annual Conferences of that year recom- 
 mended it. Provision was also made at this first ses- 
 sion for having another. Thus the action of that 
 body, as well as all the circumstances connected 
 therewith, point to this as the first General Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Members, 65,980: Increase, 2,711. 
 Preachers, 266: Increase, 7. 
 
 Methodism had existed in this country twenty- 
 six years, and now numbered in its communion, 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 65 
 
 preachers and people, 66,246 souls. The popula- 
 tion of the country at that time was about 
 4,000,000. 
 
 At this Conference rules were adopted respecting 
 the election, responsibility, and duties of bishops. 
 The Conference also authorized the appointment of 
 presiding elders by the bishops. They were not,- 
 however, to remain on a district over four years. 
 .Elders had presided over districts since the organ- 
 ization of the Church in 1784. The custom, as 
 we have seen, grew out of the fact of so many un- 
 ordained preachers. A rule was passed giving the 
 wife of a traveling preacher a claim upon the funds 
 of the Church. The sum was $64, an amount equal 
 to that of her husband, except his traveling ex- 
 penses. The form of recommendation for members 
 removing from one circuit to another was also 
 adopted, as follows : "A. B, the bearer, has been 
 an acceptable member in C." 
 
 At this Conference the first secession from the 
 Church took place, under the leadership of the Rev. ^ 
 James O'Kelly. He was strongly opposed to giv- 
 ing the bishops absolute power in StatToning the 
 preachers. Because he could not carry his point he 
 withdrew, and organized a society under the name 
 of " Republican Methodists." Som-e nine years after 
 he changed the name to " The Christian Church," 
 and the Christian sect in the South now claim to be 
 that Church. O'Kelly drew off many with him, 
 especially in Virginia and North Carolina. All 
 the preachers, however, but one, who followed him, 
 
 returned. 
 
 5 
 
66 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 GENERAL CONPEEENCE, 119Q. y 
 
 The second General Conference met in Baltimore, 
 October 20th. Bishops Coke and Asbury were 
 present, and 120 preachers. The Annual Confer- 
 ences numbered 19. 
 
 Members, 56,664: Decrease, 9,316. 
 Preachers, 294: Increase, 33. 
 
 The cause of this decrease in the membership 
 was the late secession of Rev. James O'Kelly, his 
 influence being somewhat extended in Virginia and 
 North Carolina. 
 
 At this Conference a fund was authorized 
 for the benefit of worn-out preachers and their 
 families, called the "Chartered Fund," so called 
 because it was chartered, or legally incorporated. 
 The bishops issued an appeal to the people in its 
 behalf. It never, however, assumed the prominence 
 that it should. 
 
 The boundaries of the Annual Conferences were 
 defined, and their number reduced to six. They 
 were called the New England, Philadelphia, Balti- 
 more, Virginia, South Carolina, and Western. 
 
 Methodism during the four years made some 
 progress. John Hill had introduced it into New 
 Hampshire, and Jesse Lee into Maine ; while As- 
 bury, Watters, Cooper, Garrettson, Roberts, and 
 their fellow-laborers, penetrated the remotest in- 
 habited regions of the country. In every state 
 then existing Methodism had intrenched itself. 
 
 The Conference ordered that local preachers 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 67 
 
 were to receive a license, after being recommended 
 by a Quarterly Conference ; to be eligible to the 
 office of deacon in four years ; to be remunerated 
 for their services when they filled the place of the 
 traveling preacher ; and to be amenable to their peers 
 for Christian character. 
 
 At this Conference the 4eed of settlement in 
 respect to Church property was drawn up and in- 
 serted in the Discipline. It has, however, been 
 modified from time to time, as the laws of states 
 have been changed. 
 
 The first literary institution — Cokesbury Col- 
 lege — was destroyed by fire about a year previous 
 to this Conference, having existed about ten years. 
 The text of Bishop Asbury at the dedication was 
 quite ominous, " O thou man of God, there is 
 death in the pot." 
 
 This year Captain "Webb, the military preacher, 
 struck his tent on earth, to pitch it in a brighter 
 clime. 
 
 GENERAIi CONFERENCE, 1800. 
 
 The third General Conference met in Baltimore, 
 May 6. Bishops Coke and Asbury preside. 
 
 Members, 64,894: Increase, 8,230. 
 Preachers, 287: Decrease, 12. 
 
 New York Conference was added, making seven 
 in number. 
 
 In consequence of the failing health of Bishop 
 Asbury, Richard Whatcoat was elected and 
 ordained bishop. He entered the British Confer- 
 
68 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 ence in 1769, and came to this countrjr with Dr. 
 Coke in 1784. 
 
 The Conference fixed J bhe salary o f_[hej)reacher8 
 at $80 instead of $64 ; children under seven years of 
 age were to receive |16, and those between seven 
 and fourteen, $24. A preacher's wife was to receive 
 the same as her husband. This amount was ex- 
 clusive of traveling expenses. The same provision 
 was made for supernumerary and superannuated 
 preachers, their wives, widows, and orphans. Par- 
 sonages also were recommended to be built for the 
 preachers, and " furnished at least with heavy fur- 
 niture." 
 
 The bishops were authorized to Ordain African 
 preachers for colored congregations. Richard 
 'Allen, of Philadelphia, was the first to receive 
 orders under this rule. 
 
 Up to this time all the preachers had been mem- 
 bers of the General Conference ; but it was now 
 agreed that " no preacher should have a seat in 
 the General Conference hereafter unless he had 
 traveled four years, and was in full connection at 
 the time." 
 
 John Dickins, the first book-steward, died 
 September 27, 1798, of the yellow fever. The 
 " Short Scriptural Catechism," published for many 
 years at the Book Concern, was written by him. 
 He was an Englishman, and admitted into the 
 Conference here in 1777. 
 
 Methodism about this time was introduced into 
 the state o f Oh io. In 1796 Francis M'Cormick, a 
 local preacher, settled on the Little Miami, and 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 69 
 
 formed several classes in that region. Soon after, 
 Philip Gatch, formerly an itinerant, but now a 
 local preacher, followed. These were soon suc- 
 ceeded by others. This was before Ohio was re- 
 ceived into the Union, which was in 1802. In 1799 
 Tobias Gibson volunteered his services as mission- 
 ary to Natchez, in the Mississippi Territory. In 
 1800 Natchez appears on the Minutes with eighty 
 members. This was seventeen years before Mis- 
 sissippi was admitted as a state. 
 
 The African Methodist Zion Church originated 
 this year in New York. Some dissatisfaction hav- 
 ing arisen among the colored members of the John- 
 street Church, they separated themselves therefrom, 
 and managed their own affairs in mutual agree- 
 ment with the mother Church. As time passed, 
 and societies increased, they were known as the 
 Zion and Asbury Churches of the city of New 
 York. According to certain articles of agreement, 
 entered into April 10, 1810, they became a separ- 
 ate and distinct Church of Methodism. There is 
 scarcely any difference in government and usage 
 from the parent body. Their present statistics 
 will be given in their proper place. 
 
 The Evangelical Association, sometimes known 
 as "Albright Methodists," also had their origin 
 about this time in the state of Pennsylvania. 
 Jacob Albright, a German, became the subject of 
 awakening grace in 1790. In 1796, after a severe 
 conflict in mind respecting his call to the ministry, 
 he began to travel at large, proclaiming the word of 
 life to his countrymen. Asbury esteemed him as a 
 
70 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 brother beloved. In 1800 he united himself with 
 others, who had been converted through his instru- 
 mentality, into a society with the above name. In 
 1803, as their numbers increased and other preach- 
 ers were raised up, Mr. Albright was elected pre- 
 siding elder. The first General Conference of this 
 association was held in 1816. They have quarter- 
 ly, annual, and general conferences, and all other 
 usages and customs of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, as well as the Articles of Religion, which 
 were adopted by them entire. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1804. 
 
 The fourth General Conference met in Balti- 
 more May 7. Bishops Coke, Asbury, and What- 
 coat were present, and 107 preachers. 
 
 Members, 113,134: Increase, 48,240. 
 Preachers, 400: Increase, 113. 
 
 ; At this conference the bishops were prohibited 
 jfrom allowing a preacher to remain atrone~place 
 longer than two years. This remained unchanged 
 to 1864, when the time was extended to three 
 years. Provision was made for the trial of a 
 bishop in the interim of a General Conference. 
 The arrangement of the Discipline was changed so 
 as to embrace two parts, the temporal and spir- 
 itual. The conference boundaries were this year 
 printed in the Discipline. 
 
 Camp-meetings originated about this time, Meth- 
 odists and Presbyterians participatmg equally in 
 
AMERICAN METHODrSM. 71 
 
 them. Much good was accomplished by them at 
 that early day, despite the wild excesses often con- 
 nected therewith. 
 
 Th^Book-XuDjoC-^ra was ordered tQ_bea'£mo^^^ 
 to New Yorki and Rev. Ezekiel Cooper elected 
 steward. 
 
 Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat made their tour 
 of the continent several times during the four years, 
 incessant in labors for their Lord and Master. 
 This year Benjamin Young was sent to Illinois, 
 and next year sixty-seven members were returned 
 on the Minutes. This was fourteen years before i^' 
 this territory was admitted as a state. Nathan 
 Bangs also received the appointment of missionary 
 to the new settlement on the River Thames, in 
 Upper Canada. The field of labor was a hard one, 
 but good results followed. 
 
 GENEEAL CONFEEENCE, 1808. 
 
 The fifth General Conference assembled in Bal- 
 timore, May 6. Bishop Asbury was present and 
 129 delegates. 
 
 Members, 151,995: Increase, 38,861. 
 Preachers, 540: Increase 140. 
 
 Bishop Coke was in England, and Bishop What- 
 coat had departed this life July 5, 1806, in Dela- 
 ware, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. Rev. 
 Wm. M'Kendree was duly elected and conse- 
 crated. He joined the Church in 1788. 
 
 It was agreed that hereafter the General Confer- 
 
72 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 ence should be composed of one delegatefor each 
 five inembers of each Annual Conference, instead 
 of every member in full connection. Also, that 
 the General Conference shall meet each four years, 
 on the first day of May. The rules in the Disci- 
 pline called "the Restrictive Rules" were also 
 adopted. 
 
 The capital stock of the Book Concern had in- 
 creased to $45,000. Rev. John Wilson was elected 
 its steward or agent. He, however, lived but two 
 years, when Rev. Daniel Hitt was appointed in his 
 place. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1812. 
 
 The sixth General Conference met in the city 
 of New York on May 1. Bishops Asbury and 
 M'Kendree were present, and 90 delegates. 
 
 Members, 195,357 : Increase, 43,362. 
 Preachers, 678: Increase, 138. 
 
 I This Conference is usually termed the first dele- 
 gated conference. But there had been limitations 
 previous to this. At first all the preachers were 
 members; but at the Conference of 1800 it was 
 resolved that only those who had traveled four 
 years, and were in full connection, should be eligi- 
 ble to a seat as members. 
 
 " Genesee " was added to the list of conferences, 
 making the number nine. It embraced the whole 
 of Central and Western ISTew York, and the prov- 
 ince of Upper Canada. Its territory now includes 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 78 
 
 only that portion of the state of New York west 
 of the Genesee River. 
 
 Previous to this time the stewards in the Church 
 were appointed by the preachers; but now it wasi^ 
 -resolved that the preachers should nominate and 
 the Quarterly Conference confirm. 
 
 The domestic mission work of the Church was 
 comnieiiced about tHi"tImeram6ng''fhe'^'American 
 or, English-speaking population in the destitute 
 regions of our country. Although no missionary 
 society was formed, yet Bishop Asbury and others 
 -were in the habit of soliciting subscriptions and 
 taking collections to sustain men in new and un- 
 tried fields of labor. The mission work among the 
 Indians was commenced in 1814. 
 
 GENERAL CONFEEENCE, 1816. 
 
 The seventh General Conference met in Balti- 
 more, May 1. Bishop M'Kendree was present, 
 and 104 delegates. 
 
 Members, 214,235: Increase, 18, 8*7 8. 
 Preachers, 695 : Increase, 17. 
 
 During the past four years events of a sorrow, 
 ful nature had transpired. Bishop Coke, while on 
 his way from the British Conference to establish a 
 mission in India, was seized with a fit of apoplexy 
 in his berth, and fell a corpse upon the floor. This 
 occurred May 3, 1814. He was sixty-seven years 
 of age. 
 
 Bishop Asbury also, his co-laborer in toil, was 
 
74 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 called to his reward one month previous to the 
 Conference, March 31, in the seventy-first year of 
 his age and forty-fifth of his ministry. He was 
 the apostle of Methodism in this country ; and, im- 
 pelled onward with a sense of duty, and nerved 
 with anxious and intense solicitude in its behalf, 
 he considered no work too hard, and no sacrifice 
 too great, to establish it upon a firm foundation 
 throughout the length and breadth of the land. 
 To this end he traveled nearly 300,000 miles, 
 preached 20,000 sermons, attended 224 confer- 
 ences, and ordained 4,000 preachers. Taking his 
 stand for Christ upon the American soil, no influ- 
 ence, either at home or abroad, could divert him 
 from his purpose. He was incessant in labor, a 
 loyal citizen, a thorough Methodist, and a mature 
 Christian. He joined the English Conference in 
 1766, the same year that Methodism originated in 
 this country. 
 
 The vacancy occasioned by the deaths of these 
 two bishops was filled by Rev. Enoch George and 
 Rev. Robert R. Roberts. The former joined the 
 Church in 1790, and the latter the Baltimore Con- 
 ference in 1802. 
 
 The Conference adopted rules respectin^the 
 license of local preachers and exhorters. Circuit 
 stewards also were made responsible to the Quar- 
 terly Conference "for the faithful performance of 
 their duty." The building of " pewed churches " 
 also was denounced. A course of study was 
 recommended for candidates for the ministry, 
 "District stewards" were created to provide for 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 75 
 
 the temporal interest of the "Presiding Elder." 
 The "allowance" of preachers, their wives and 
 widows, was raised from $80 a year to $100. That 
 of children remained unchanged. 
 
 Some of the societies in Canada desiring to con- 
 nect themselves with the English Conference, a 
 letter was received from the English Committee in 
 London seconding their wishes. The Conference, 
 after an investigation of the matter, came to the 
 conclusion not. to give up any part of the work or 
 any of the chapels to the British connection. 
 
 In April, 1816, a secession of colored members 
 from the Church took place, under the lead of 
 Richard Allen, the first colored preacher ordained 
 elder. This resulted in the formation of the 
 "African Methodist Episcopal Church." This 
 Church adopted the doctrines and, with slight 
 alteration, the discipline of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. This occurred just half a century ago. 
 
 Rev. Joshua Soule and Rev. Thomas Mason 
 were elected agents for the Book Concern. The 
 Couference also authorized the publication of the 
 Methodist Magazine, but it was not commenced 
 till 1818. 
 
 GENERAL COKFEKENCE, 1820. 
 
 The eighth General Conference met in the 
 city of Baltimore, May 1. Bishops M'Kendree, 
 George, and Roberts were present, and 89 
 delegates. 
 
 Members, 259,890: Increase, 34,555. 
 Preachers, 896: Increase, 201. 
 
76 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 y^ The Conference recommended the Annual Con- 
 ferences to establish seminaries of learning within 
 their bounds. An academy had been established 
 in Newmarket, New Hampshire, under the patron- 
 age of the New England Conference in 1817 ; and 
 another in New York, under the patronage of the 
 New York Conference, in 1819. Asbury College 
 also had been put in operation in Baltimore, but 
 \ soon disappeared. 
 
 In 1819 the Missionary Society of the Methodist 
 EpiscopaljCh^j^^ Was organi^red-iimaig^u ^e effo rts 
 of^ Rev. Drs. Bangs, Boule^ Imd others. It was 
 adopted by the Conference, and was located in New 
 York, in connection with the Book Concern. The 
 missionary work among the French was also com- 
 menced. 
 
 In 1817 the Tract Society of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church was formed, for the purpose of fur- 
 nishing the poorer classes with religious reading. 
 Much of this work had been previously done by a 
 few pious females ; but now it w^as systematized, 
 and greatly extended. 
 
 Rev. Nathan Bangs and Rev. Thomas Mason 
 were elected agents of the Book Concern. A 
 branch was established by the Conference in Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, and . Martin Ruter was appointed 
 agent. 
 
 An improved edition of the Hymn Book was 
 ordered to be published. This edition was pre- 
 pared by a committee appointed by the New York 
 Conference in 1819, in conjunction with the book 
 agents. The names of the tunes at the head of 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 77 
 
 each hymn were afterward inserted ; and in 1836 a 
 supplement was added, which was recommended 
 by the Conference of 1832. This was the only 
 change until 1848, when the edition now in use 
 was authorized by the General Conference. 
 
 Up to this time no tune-book had been published 
 adapted to the various meters of the hymns, and 
 the General Conference ordered the editors to sup- 
 ply this deficiency, which was done the following 
 year. This book was revised in 1832, and again 
 in 1836. In 1857 the present edition of Hymns 
 and Tunes was issued by the agents. 
 
 This Conference sent Rev. John Emory as del- 
 egate to the English Conference. As the result of 
 his mission. Lower Canada was to be identified 
 with the English Conference, and Upper Canada to 
 remain in connection with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church gf the United States. 
 
 A " District Conference " was created for local 
 preachers, but was repealed in- 1836. 
 
 The Conference adjourned May 27. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1824. 
 
 The ninth General Conference convened in Balti- 
 more, May 1. Bishops M'Kendree, George, and 
 Roberts were present, and 125 delegates. 
 
 Members, 328,523: Increase, 68,633. 
 Preachers, 1,272: Increase, 376. 
 
 Two new bishops were elected. Rev. Joshua Soule 
 and Rev. Elijah Hcdding. The former joined the 
 
78 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 N"ew York Conference in 1799, and the latter the 
 New England Conference in 1801. 
 
 The receipts of the Missionary Society during 
 the past four years were as follows : 
 
 1820 $823 1822 $2,547 
 
 1821 2,328 1823 5,427 
 
 A mission was established among the Creek 
 Indians in Georgia and Alabama in 1822. The 
 year previous a new mission had been commenced 
 in the Southwest, on what was called Jackson's 
 Purchase, embracing parts of Tennessee and Ken- 
 tucky. In 1822- a mission was opened among the 
 Mohawks in Upper Canada, and another in 1823 
 among the Pottawatamie Indians, on Fox River, in 
 the state of Illinois. 
 
 At this Conference Rev. Richard Reece and 
 Rev. John Hannah were present, as delegates from 
 the English Conference. This is the first time this 
 Conference had been favored with representatives 
 from the English body. 
 
 The Conference declared that no slaveholder 
 hereafter should be eligible to any official station 
 in the Church, where the laws of the state will 
 admit of emancipation. 
 
 The preachers laboring in Upper Canada were, 
 at their own request, set off into an Annual 
 Conference. This, however, did not satisfy them, 
 as their object was to become an independent body; 
 which afterward was accomplished, as we shall 
 hereafter see. 
 
 The Book Concern this year secured premises 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 79 
 
 of its own for the first time. The location was in 
 Crosby, near Howard-street. Rev. Nathan Bangs 
 and Rev. John Emory were elected agents. 
 
 Locations among the preachers at an early day 
 were frequent. During the past four years no 
 less than one hundred and sixty-five took that 
 relation. 
 
 There were now seventeen Annual Conferences. 
 
 GENERAL CONEEKENCE, 1828. 
 
 The tenth General Conference met on May 1, in 
 Pittsburgh. Bishops M'Kendree, Roberts, George, 
 Hedding, and Soule were present, and 125 delegates. 
 
 Members, 418,92*1 : Increase, 90,404. 
 Preachers, 1,642: Increase, 370. 
 
 The most important act of the Conference was 
 yielding to the wishes of the delegates from Upper 
 Canada, and severing the relation that existed be- 
 jtween them. The resolution read, " That the com- 
 pact existing between the Canada Annual Conference 
 (and the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United 
 States be, and is hereby dissolved." Provision 
 iwas made for one of the bishops to visit their 
 Conference, and set apart one of they.- number to 
 the episcopal office. 
 
 Much time was taken up in discussion, and in 
 receiving petitions from the " Union Societies," as 
 they were called, in respect to admitting local 
 preachers and lay delegates into the councils of the 
 Church. This was demanded on the ground of 
 
so 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 natural rights. Those who took the lead styled 
 themselves "Reformers." 
 The receipts of the Missionary Society were in 
 
 f24 $3,589 1826 $4,964 
 
 1^2^ 4,140 1827 6,812 
 
 This year the Missionary Society commenced 
 work among the Welsh of this country, and grea^ 
 extended it among the missions already in existenc 
 1/ April 2, 1827, the Sunday-SchooI Union of th 
 Methodist Church was organized. Its object \ 
 to foster Sunday-schools in destitute localities. Thi. 
 was the first denominational organization of the 
 kmd in the country. 
 
 A Bible Society also was authorized by thi- 
 Conference. When the Missionary Society wa 
 formed in 1819 it was called the "Missionary ai 
 Bible Society," and contemplated the circulatin 
 of Bibles and Testaments. But this Conferenc 
 separated the two, by forming a distinct Methodis 
 Bible Society. After a few years of experimer 
 the operations of the Tract, Bible, and Sundi . 
 school Societies were transferred to the Book Co 
 cern, and for a time conducted as a part of th 
 establishment. When each of these were revive 
 as separate and distinct organizations, will b 
 noticed as we proceed. 
 1/ September, 1820, the "Christian Advocate," ii 
 New York, first made its appearance. Its name 
 was afterward changed to the " Christian Advocate 
 and Journal." In January, 1866, it was changed tc 
 ihe Christian Advocate." "Zion's Herald " in 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 81 
 
 Boston, made its appearance a little earlier than the 
 'Christian Advocate. 
 About this time " Madison College " was com- 
 lenced by the Pittsburgh Annual Conference, 
 lev. Dr. Bascom was president. Augusta College, 
 •- Kentucky, and several seminaries, also sprang 
 o existence about this time. 
 Rev. John Emory and Rev. Beverly Waugh 
 iere elected book agents. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1832. 
 
 The .eleventh General Conference met, May 1, 
 
 Philadelphia. Bishops Roberts, Hedding, and 
 
 ,;Oule were present, and 199 delegates. Bishop 
 
 I'Kendree was in the city, but not able to attend 
 
 <■ e Conference. 
 
 Members, 548,595: Increase, 129,666. 
 Preachers, 2,200: Increase, 558. 
 
 Three years previous, August 23, 1828, Bishop 
 eorge was called to his reward, in the sixtieth 
 ^ ar of his age. Two new bishops were elected: 
 ■jev. James O. Andrew and Rev. John Emory, 
 le former joined the South Carolina Conference 
 .1813, and the latter the Philadelphia Conference 
 I 1810. 
 
 The receipts of the Missionary Society were as 
 ollows: ' • 
 
 1828f $6,245 1830 $13,128 
 
 1829 14,170 1831 9,950" 
 
 ' This year the foreign missionary work was com- 
 menced among the blacks in Western Africa. Rev. 
 
 6 
 
82 STATISTICAL HISTOEY OF 
 
 Melville B. Cox was sent out as the first mission- 
 ary. He sailed in the month of October, and fell 
 a victim to the malaria the following year. His 
 last words were, " Let a thousand fall before Africa 
 be given up." 
 
 During the past four years several institutions 
 of learning had been established. There was the 
 " Wesleyan University," located at Middletown, 
 Connecticut, with Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D.D., as pres- 
 ident; the "Randolph Macon College," at Boyd- 
 ton, Mecklenburgh county, Virginia, president, 
 Rev. Stephen OUn, D.D. ; and " Lagrange Col- 
 lege," in Alabama, with Robert Paine as presi- 
 dent. Several academies also were commenced. 
 Among these the Wilbraham in Massachusetts, and 
 the Cazenovia in Central New York, 
 
 A secession also occurred during the past four 
 
 years. The " Reformers," previously mentioned, 
 
 on the 2d day of November, 1830, held a conven- 
 
 ;^ion in the city of Baltimore, and organized " The 
 
 Methodist Protestant Church." They abolished the 
 
 \ offices of bishops and presiding elders. They have 
 
 \ both Annual and General Conferences, and admit 
 
 fi lay delegates into their legislative councils. 
 
 The Conference instructed the bishops not to 
 leave effective preachers without appointments at 
 their own request. Previously this had been done. 
 Rev. Beverly Waugh and Rev. Thomas Mason 
 were elected book agents. » 
 
 The Annual Conferences numbered twenty-two. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 83 
 
 GENERAL COXEEKENCE, 1836. 
 
 The twelfth General Conference met in Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, May 2. Bishops Roberts, Bed- 
 ding, Soule, and Andrew were present, and 145 
 delegates. 
 
 Members, 650.24 5: Increase, 102,652 
 Preachers , 2,92 ; Increase? 720L 
 
 The senior bishop, M'Kendree, and the junior, 
 Emory,* had been called to their reward. The for- 
 mer died in Tennessee, March 5, 1835, aged 78. 
 His last words were, " All is well." Emory died 
 in Maryland, December 16, 1835, aged 47. His 
 last word on earth was, " Amen." 
 
 Three new bishops were elected, Rev. Beverly 
 Waugh, Rev. Thomas Morris, and Rev. Wilbur 
 Fisk. The former joined the Baltimore Confer- 
 ence in 1809; the second, the Ohio Conference in 
 1816. Rev. Dr. Fisk, then in Europe, declined 
 the office on his return, on account of his interest 
 in the Wesley an University. 
 
 The Conference advised the dissolution of the 
 Methodist Bible Society, with the view of co-oper- 
 ation with the American Bible Society. 
 
 Preachers were no longer permitted to drop 
 members who neglected class-meetings. They 
 were to be heard in their own defense before 
 a committee. 
 
 Power was given to an Annual Conference to 
 locate any of its members " unacceptable as travel- 
 ing preachers." 
 
84 STATISTICAL fllSTOKY OF 
 
 The Missionary Society received during the four 
 years the following amounts : 
 
 1832 $10,691 1834 $35,700 
 
 1833 11,097 1835 20,402 
 
 The missionary work among the Germans in 
 this country was commenced this year. A mis- 
 sion in South America had been authorized by 
 the Society in 1832, and Rev. F. A. Pitts ap- 
 pointed the first missionary. He was succeeded 
 by the Rev. Dr. Dempster, in October, 183S. The 
 Liberia Mission was formed into an Annual Con- 
 ference. The General Conference having resolved 
 to elect a Corresponding Secretary for the Mis- 
 sionary Society, Rev. Dr. Bangs, who had served 
 in this relation from the first, almost gratuitously, 
 was elected by a very large vote to that office. 
 
 September, 1833, the Book Concern was re- 
 moved from Crosby-street to its new quarters, 200 
 Mulberry-street. Just before the Conference of 
 1836, it was destroyed by fire. Arrangements were 
 made at the Conference, and soon the building 
 went up, more extensive, durable, and desirable 
 than before. 
 
 The subject of slavery greatly agitated the Con- 
 ference. The chief combatants were Rev. Orange 
 Scott, of the New England Conference, and Rev. 
 William Win an s, of the Mississippi. After much 
 debate the Conference resolved that "it wholly 
 disclaimed any right, wisli, or intention of inter- 
 fering in the civil and political relations between 
 master and slave, as it exists in the slaveholding 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 85 
 
 states in this Union." This, as we shall hereafter 
 sec, did not end the controversy. 
 
 Several institutions of learning had been estab- 
 lished during the past four years. One was 
 "Dickinson College," in Carlisle, another "Alle- 
 ghany College," in Meadville, both in the state of 
 Pennsylvania ; also, the flourishing " Genesee 
 Wesleyan Seminary," located at Lima, Livingston 
 county. New York. Rev. Dr. Luckey was the first 
 principal of the latter. 
 
 At this time there were eight periodicals belong- 
 ing to the Church. These were issued at the fol- 
 lowing points : New York, Cincinnati, Charles- 
 ton, Nashville, Boston, Portland, Richmond, and 
 Auburn. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Mason and Rev. George Lane 
 were elected agents of the Book Concern. 
 
 Soon after the session of Conference the Rev. 
 Edmund S. Janes, now a bishop, was appointed 
 one of the Secretaries of the American Bible So- 
 ciety. 
 
 There were twenty-two Annual Conferences. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1840. 
 
 The thirteenth General Conference met. May 1, 
 in Baltimore. Bishops Roberts, Hedding, Waugh, 
 and Morris were present, and 143 delegates. 
 
 Members, 801,184: Increase, 151,439. 
 Preachers, 3,687 : Increase, t6T. 
 
 Rev. Robert Newton was present as a represent- 
 ative of the English Conference, and Rev. Joseph 
 
86 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Stinson, President of the Canada Conference. 
 These gentlemen were introduced, and made 
 addresses. 
 
 ^Several questions of Church polity were agreed 
 upon by the Conference. The president of a 
 Quarterly Conference was to decide all questions 
 of law, subject to the president of the next Annual 
 Conference. Ministers from other denominations 
 were to be received without the usual period of 
 probation, provided that they take the ordination 
 vows, and agree in doctrine, discipline, and govern- 
 ment. Members also from other Churches were to 
 be received without the usual period of probation. 
 Candidates, however, who had served their proba- 
 tion, were required to pass an examination in the 
 doctrines of the Church, and signify their willingness 
 to be governed by its rules before admission. Be- 
 fore this the recommendation of a leader with 
 whom they had met six months was sufficient. 
 
 The Missionary Society received the following 
 amounts : 
 
 1836 $61,33*7 1838 $96,087 
 
 1837 62,748 1839 135,521 
 
 Since the last Conference the missionary work 
 had been extended, and existing missions reinforced. 
 Rev. John Dempster was doing good service in 
 Buenos Ayres, the capital of the Argentine repub- 
 lic. A mission was opened in Texas by Rev. Dr. 
 Ruter, who resigned the office of President of the 
 Alleghany College to penetrate that remote region. 
 Rev. Justin Spaulding and Rev. Daniel P. Kidder 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 87 
 
 had been hard at work in Rio de Janeiro, the capital 
 of the Brazilian empire. Rev. William Nast, also, a 
 German of piety and learning, was deeply impress- 
 ing the hearts of his countrymen in and around 
 
 Cincinnati. 
 
 The Sunday-School Union of the Church, whose 
 operations had mostly been carried on in connection 
 with the Book Concern, was revived by this Con- 
 ference as a distinct organization, and maintamed 
 as such until the present time. 
 
 The American Bible Society was also adopted by 
 the Conference as the channel for the funds of the 
 Church, collected for Bibles and Testaments. 
 
 Theological Seminaries were also inaugurated^ 
 about this time by the Methodists of New England. 
 In 1839 a convention was called in Boston, and the 
 result was, an institution was agreed upon, adapted 
 to training young men for the ministry, under the 
 name of the » Biblical Institute." It was at first 
 located in connection with the Wesleyan Univer- 
 sity, then with the Methodist Seminary at New- 
 bury, Vermont. For the past fifteen years it has 
 been located in Concord, New Hampshire ; but 
 arrangements are now being made to locate it m 
 or near the city of Boston. 
 
 Six Annual Conferences had been added, making 
 twenty-eight in number. 
 
 The intense discussion on slavery, which pre- 
 vailed all through this period, was anything but 
 favorable to the peace of the Church. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Mason and Rev. George Lane were 
 elected agents of the Book Concern. 
 
88 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 GENEEAL CONFERENCE, 1844. 
 
 The fourteenth General Conference met in the 
 city of New York on May 1 . Bishops Souje, Hed- 
 ding, Waugh, Morris, and Andrew were present, 
 and 179 delegates, 
 
 • Members, 1,115,314: Increase, 373,530. 
 Preachers, 4,627: Increase, 940. 
 
 Bishop Roberts had been removed by death on 
 March 28, 1843, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, 
 and forty-second of his ministry. Two new bishops 
 were added : Rev. Leonidas Lent Hamline and 
 Rev. Edmund Storer Janes. The former joined 
 the Ohio Conference in 1833, and the latter the 
 Philadelphia Conference in 1830. 
 
 The Missionary Society had received from the 
 Churches in 
 
 1840 $148,801 1842 $139,473 
 
 1841 134,204 , 1843 146,482 
 
 The receipts of the Sunday-School Union, since 
 1840 averaged about $100 a year. Rev. Dr. Kid- 
 der was elected its Corresponding Secretary. 
 / One year previous to the Conference a secession 
 from the Church took place, resulting in the 
 "Wesleyan Methodist Church." Those who fa- 
 vored a rule extirpating all slaveholders from the 
 Church, called a convention of "abolitionists who 
 were favorable to a Methodist Church without 
 slavery or episcopacy," to meet in Utica, May 1, 
 1843. The moving spirits were Revs. La Roy 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. B9 
 
 Sunderland, Orange Scott, George Storrs Luther 
 Lee, and C. Prindle. After several ^^Y^' f ^f ^;^; 
 tion the "DiscipUne of the Wesleyan Methodis 
 Church in America" was formed. Six Annual 
 Conferences were organized, chiefly in the North- 
 ern and Eastern states. ^. 
 
 About this time we date the permanent estab- 
 lishment of the Primitive Methodist Church in this 
 country. Societies, however, existed as early as 
 1830 In 1829 four Primitive Methodist preachers, 
 fromEngland, came to the United States, and com- 
 menced preaching in New York, Philadelphia, Al- 
 bany, and some other places. Although Churches 
 were organized, for some reason they failed to 
 thrive and the ministers identified themselves with 
 other denominations. Rev. B. Evans, Rev. Thomas 
 Morris, and some others, joined the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 In 1842. this branch of Methodism took a more 
 permanent start in the West. Several local preach- 
 ers and laymen came from England to this country 
 in a bodv, and settled in Illinois. At the close of 
 1842 a Jlass of ten persons was formed; and the 
 next year a circuit, at Grant Hill, in the above 
 state ' They still exist in connection with the 
 Primitive Methodists of England. They are mostly 
 found in Illinois and Wisconsin. 
 \ The Southern secession from the Church took 
 place at this Conference. Rev. Mr. Harding had 
 been suspended from the Baltimore Conference for 
 holding slaves. Early in the session he presented 
 an appeal, and the Conference after much dehbera- 
 
90 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 tion sustained the action of the Baltimore Confer- 
 ence. A complaint was then presented against 
 Bishop Andrew for holding slaves. This brought 
 the question to a direct issue. After much solici- 
 tude and earnest debate, it was voted that the 
 bishop "desist from the functions of his office 
 until he had relieved himself from this embarrass' 
 ment." Against this action Dr. Bascom presented 
 a spirited protest, signed by fifty-three Southern 
 delegates, and seven from the middle states. This • 
 protest demanded that the bishop be uncondition- 
 ally reinstated. An able reply was presented on 
 the part of the I^orth by Drs. Durbin, Peck, and 
 Elhott. Finally, there being no hope of reconcilia- 
 tion, a plan of separation was agreed upon, which 
 resulted in the formation of the "Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, South." In this organization no 
 change was made in the doctrines, polity, or usages 
 of Methodism. In the General Conference of that 
 Church, just held, some changes have been intro- 
 duced. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1848. 
 
 The fifteenth General Conference was held. May 
 1, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bishops Heddin^, 
 Waugh, Morris, Hamline, and Janes, and 150 dele- 
 gates, were present. 
 
 Preachers, 3,841: Decrease,/' 786. 
 The cause of this decrease in numbers was the 
 late secession. It took all the Southern states, and 
 a large portion of those on the border. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 
 
 91 
 
 The Conference decided, when a member of an 
 Annual Conference locates, he is entitled to a certi- 
 ficate of the fact, signed by the president of the 
 conference, and that he should be amenable to the 
 Quarterly Conference where he resides. 
 
 Also, that when a member of a Church requests 
 his certificate of membership, in order to remove 
 to another Church, he is entitled to the same, un- 
 less there are sufficient reasons for withholding it. 
 In such a case it is the duty of the preacher to 
 place such member on trial, or render himself guilty 
 of mal-administration. ^ 
 
 Up to this time the estimating committee decid- 
 ed what amount was necessary for the preacher 
 and his family during the year ; but now the report 
 of this committee was made subject to the action 
 of the ensuing Quarterly Conference. 
 
 It was also decided that a presiding elder had no 
 right to employ a local preacher without a recom- 
 mendation from a Quarterly Conference. 
 
 The Missionary Society received from the 
 Churches in 
 
 1844 $112,040 1846.' $89,528 
 
 1845 99,632 1847 104,011 
 
 Amid the tumults of the times, occasioned by so 
 large a secession, the missionary work was not ne- 
 glected. In 1845 a mission was commenced among 
 the Scandinavians of this country. In 1847 another 
 was organized in China, and Revs. J. Collins and 
 M. C.White sent out as missionaries. In 1849 the 
 German mission was commenced, and Rev. L. S. 
 
92 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTOKY OF 
 
 Jacoby was the first missionary. Wilbur also had 
 been sent to California, and Gary and Roberts to 
 Oregon. 
 
 The receipts of the Sunday-School Union, to aid 
 feunday-schools in destitute localities, were as follows: 
 
 ]lf, ^I'^O 1846 $2,336 
 
 ^'^^ 285 1847 3;Y88 
 
 Rev. Dr. George Peck was elected editor of the 
 Christian Advocate and Journal ; Rev. Dr. M'Clin- 
 tock, of the Quarterly Review; and Rev Dr 
 Tefft, of the Ladies' Repository. Rev. Dr. Pitman 
 was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Mis- 
 sionary Society; and Rev. Dr. Kidder editor of 
 feunday-School books and Corresponding Secretary 
 of the Sunday-School Union. Rev. George Lane 
 and Rev. Levi Scott were elected Book Agents for 
 New York. "^ 
 
 The number of Annual Conferences was twenty- 
 three. A conference was authorized on the Pacific 
 coast, embracing "Oregon, California, and New 
 Mexico." 
 
 There were at this time eight colleges and 
 thirty.four seminaries under the patronage of the 
 Church. 
 
 GENERAL CONPEKENCE, 1852. 
 
 The sixteenth General Conference met in Bos- 
 ton, May 1. Bishops Waugh, Morris, and Janes 
 were present, and 178 delegates. 
 
 Members, '728,700: Increase, 89,634. 
 Preachers, 4,513: Increase, 672. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 93 
 
 Just before the Conference, April 9, Bishop 
 Hedding departed this life, in the seventy-second 
 year of his age. Four new bishops were elected : 
 Rev. Levi Scott, Rev. Matthew Simpson, Rev. 
 Osmond Oleander Baker, and Rev. Edward Ray- 
 mond Ames. The first joined the Philadelphia 
 Oonference in 1826; the second, the Pittsburgh 
 Oonference in 1833 ; the third, the New Hamp- 
 shire Oonference in 1839; and the fourth, the Illi- 
 nois Oonference in 1831. 
 
 Bishop Hamline tendered his resignation, on ac- 
 count of ill health, as bishop of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Ohurch, which was accepted. 
 
 The Missionary Society received in 
 
 1848 $108,876 1850. . .• .$10t,835 
 
 1849 106,196 1851 138,989 
 
 Rev. John P. Durbin, D. D., was elected Oorre- 
 sponding Secretary of the Society. Two years pre- 
 vious, at the death of Dr. Pitman, he received the 
 appointment from the Missionary Committee. 
 
 The Sunday-School Union received in 
 
 1848 $4,6'76 1850 $5,008 
 
 1849 4^058 1851 6,561 
 
 The General Conference revived the Tract Soci- 
 ety of the Ohurch, and Rev. Dr. Abel Stevens was 
 elected its Corresponding Secretary. For years it 
 had been managed, as had the Bible and Sunday- 
 school Societies, in connection with the Book Con- 
 cern. 
 
94 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 A weekly periodical was authorized in San Fran- 
 cisco, another in St. Louis, a third in Chicago, and 
 a monthly magazine in New York. This latter 
 was published for about eight years, under the 
 name of the "National Magazine," when it was 
 discontinued. 
 
 Kev. Thomas Carlton and Rev. Zebulon Phillips 
 were elected agents of the Book Concern. Rev. 
 Dr. Thomas E. Bond was elected editor of the 
 Christian Advocate and Journal; Rev. Dr. John 
 M'Clintock editor of the Quarterly Review ; Rev. 
 Dr. Abel Stevens editor of the Monthly Magazine 
 and Tracts; Rev. Dr. Daniel P. Kidder editor 
 of Sunday-school books, and Corresponding Sec- 
 retary of the Sunday-School Union; and Rev. 
 Dr. William C. Larrabee editor of the Ladies' 
 Repository. 
 
 Eight colleges and forty-six seminaries existed 
 under the patronage of the Church. 
 
 GENEEAL CONFERENCE, 1856. 
 
 The seventeenth General Conference met, May 
 1, in Indianapolis. Bishops Waugh, Morris, Janes, 
 Scott, Simpson, Baker, and Aqies were present, 
 and 218 delegates. 
 
 Members, 800,32*7: Increase, 11,627. 
 - Preachers, 5,877: Increase, ],364. 
 
 The ratio of delegates to the General Conference 
 was now changed from one in thirty to one in forty- 
 five. The lawsuit between the Methodist Episcopal 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 95 
 
 Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
 in respect to a division of the property, had been 
 decided in favor of the latter, and a division ordered. 
 The Missionary Society received in 
 
 1852 $152,282 1854 $229,049 
 
 1853 210,447 1855 197,973 
 
 The Liberia Annual Mission Conference was 
 authorized to elect a missionary bishop, who should 
 be set apart to the work in Liberia, by the bishops 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this country. 
 The India mission was authorized, and the Rev. 
 William Butler was sent out as superintendent. 
 
 The Sunday-School Union received in 
 
 1852 $7,258 1854 $10,170 
 
 1853 9,584 1855 11,381 
 
 The Conference decided that all young children 
 are entitled to baptism, and are under the special 
 watch care of the Church. Provision was made for 
 their more perfect training and nurture. 
 
 The Tract Society received in 
 
 1854 $8,062 1855 $7,479 
 
 Rev. Dr. Floy was elected Corresponding Secre- 
 tary of the Tract Society. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Carlton, D. D., and Rev. James 
 Porter, D. D., were elected agents of the Book 
 Concern. 
 
 Rev. Abel Stevens, LL.D., was elected editor 
 of the Christian Advocate and Journal, and Rev. 
 Dr. Whedon, editor of the Quarterly Review. 
 
r 
 
 96 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 The colleges had increased to nineteen, and the 
 seminaries to sixty-nine. 
 
 Rev. Drs. Hannah and Jobson were present as 
 delegates from the parent body in England. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1860. 
 
 The eighteenth General Conference met, JMay 
 1, in Buffalo. Bishops Morris, Janes, Scott, 
 Simpson, Baker, and Ames were present, and 221 
 delegates. 
 
 Members, 994,44*7: Increase, 194,120. 
 Preachers, 6,981: Increase, 1,110. 
 
 Bishop Waugh, two years previous to the Con- 
 ference, Feb. 9, 1858, entered into rest, in the sixty- 
 ninth year of his age. 
 
 The Conference voted that it was the duty of 
 the Presiding Elders to renew the license of a 
 local preacher after a Quarterly Conference had 
 ordered it. 
 
 The bishops were instructed to present the ques- 
 tion of Lay Delegation to the Annual Conferences ; 
 and the preachers to secure the votes of aU the 
 male members of the Church over twenty-one years 
 of age. 
 
 The Missionary Society received in 
 
 1856. $200,970 1858 $298,390 
 
 1857 220,697 1859 248,333 
 
 Rev. Drs. Harris and Trimble were elected As- 
 sistant Secretaries of the Missionary Society. The 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 97 
 
 Bulgarian mission was established. Rev. Francis 
 Burns, having been elected by the Liberia Annual 
 Conference, was set apart to the office of Mission- 
 ary Bishop soon after the session of the General 
 Conference. 
 The Sunday-School Union received in 
 
 1856 $12,316 1858 $11,299 
 
 185T 11,268 1859 12,796 
 
 Rev. Dr. Wise was still continued as its Corre- 
 sponding Secretary. 
 
 The Tract Society received during the four years 
 the following amounts : 
 
 1856 $3,388 1858 $4,021 
 
 1857 5,849 1859 4,148 
 
 Rev. Dr. Wise was also elected Secretary of this 
 Society. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Thomson, now bishop, was elected 
 editor of the Christian Advocate and Journal. 
 
 GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1864. 
 
 The nineteenth General Conference met in Phil- 
 adelphia, May 2. Bishops Morris, Janes, Scott, 
 Simpson, Baker, and Ames were present, and 216 
 delegates. 
 
 Mem bers, 928,340 : Decrease, 66,107 . 
 I*reacEers] 6,821 : IncreasGj 116. 
 
 The Annual Conferences numbered fifty-nine. 
 
 Three new bishops were added, making a Bench 
 of nine, all of whom are still living. These were 
 Rev. Edward Thomson, Rev. David Wesgatt 
 Clark, and Rev. Calvin Kingsley. The first joined 
 
 1 
 
98 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 the Ohio Conference in 1833, the second the New 
 York Conference in 1843, and the latter the Erie 
 Conference in 1841. 
 
 At this Conference the German work in the 
 West was organized into separate Annual Confer- 
 ences, and a German hymn book ordered to be 
 published. Trustees of Churches were made 
 members of the Quarterly Conference. A Church 
 Extension Society was organized, and Rev. S. Y. 
 Monroe elected Corresponding Secretary. A Board 
 of Trustees was elected, to hold in trust all prop- 
 erty bequeathed or donated to the Church, not 
 specified for any particular object. The bishops 
 were permitted to allow preachers to remain on 
 circuits and stations three years if the interest of 
 the work require it. The bishops reported that 
 the question of Lay Delegation had been presented 
 ' to the preachers and people with the following re- 
 sults : Preachers in favor, 1,338 ; against, 3,069. 
 Laymen in favor, 28,884 ; against, 47,855. A vote 
 was then taken declaring that the Conference was 
 ready to admit lay delegates to the councils of the 
 Church as soon as the Church shall indicate such 
 a desire. Slavery having been abolished by the. 
 issues of war, the Conference passed a rule pro- 
 hibiting " the buying or selling of slaves " by any 
 member of the Church. 
 
 The Missionary Society received in 
 
 1^60 $258,849 1862 $239,340 
 
 1861 225,084 1863 429,768 
 
 Rev. Dr. Durbin was again elected Secretary of 
 the Missionary Society ; Rev. Dr. Harris was also 
 
AMERICAN MEtHODISM. 99 
 
 elected First Assistant Secretary, and Rev. Dr. 
 Trimble Second Assistant. 
 
 The receipts of the Sunday-School Union were 
 as follows : 
 
 I860 $12,000 1862 $9,595 
 
 1861 11,214 1863 12,918 
 
 Rev. Dr. Wise was re-elected its* Corresponding 
 Secretary. 
 
 The Tract Society received from the Churches 
 the following amounts : 
 
 I860 $2,803 1862 $4,T56 
 
 1861 4,042 1863 8,718 
 
 Dr. Wise was again itiade Secretary of this 
 Society. 
 
 Dr. Curry was elected editor of the Christian 
 Advocate, and Dr. Whedon editor of the Quarterly 
 Review. 
 
 Rev. Drs. Carlton and Porter were retunied as 
 agents of the Book Room. 
 
 We have now given a summary of the important 
 facts connected with each General Conference from 
 the first in 1792, including the last in 1864. The 
 next chapter will contain a detail of the present 
 operations of the Church in each department of 
 effort, together with the statistics of other denom- 
 inations. 
 
100 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PRESENT STATISTICS OF METHODISM AND OTHER 
 DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 
 EACH DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN EFFORT. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 The Minutes of the Annual Conferences of 1865 
 report 6,014 effective or regular preachers belong- 
 ing to the Methodist Episcopal Church. These 
 devote their whole time to the work of doing good. 
 There are also reported 8,493 local preachers. 
 Many of these have been connected with the reg- 
 ular work, and although located, often preach 
 once or twice a week. The 294 supernumerary 
 preachers, although, for various reasons, without a 
 regular appointment, nevertheless perform a vast 
 amount of labor both on week-days and Sundays. 
 The superannuated preachers, of whom there are 
 867, labor as their strength permits and opportu- 
 nity offers. These various classes of preachers 
 number 16,668, and belong to the various Annual 
 Conferences as follows : 
 
 CJoNFEKENCES. EflFectivc. Local. Sup'y. Sup'd. 
 
 Baltimore 69 93 6 21 
 
 Black River 164 162 14 33 
 
 Califoriiia 11 8S 1 1 
 
 Central German. ... 74 86 . . 11 
 
 Central HHnois IBI 247 4 13 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 
 
 GoKFEBEKCBS. Effective. Local 
 
 Central Ohio 90 156 
 
 Cincinnati 138 209 
 
 Colorado 14 8 
 
 Delaware 33 94 
 
 Des Moines 64 144 
 
 Detroit 90 112 
 
 East Baltimore . 191 155 
 
 East Genesee 157 141 
 
 East Maine 70 79 
 
 Erie 201 278 
 
 Genesee 105 81 
 
 Germany and Switz . 41 27 
 
 Holston ;.. 38 55 
 
 Illinois 149 371 
 
 India Mission 26 9 
 
 Indiana 100 217 
 
 Iowa 89 192 
 
 Kansas 60 112 
 
 Kentucky 30 27 
 
 Liberia Mission 21 42 
 
 Maine 95 83 
 
 Michigan 125 190 
 
 Minnesota 74 108 
 
 Missouri and Ark's. 68 143 
 
 Nebraska 21 16 
 
 Nevada 11 11 
 
 Newark 131 93 
 
 New England 164 101 
 
 New Hampshire.. . . 95 93 
 
 New Jersey 132 156 
 
 New York 242 202 
 
 New York East 160 200 
 
 North Indiana 108 268 
 
 North Ohio 97 131 
 
 N. W. German 70 49 
 
 N.W.Indiana 101 161 
 
 N. W. Wisconsin. . . 35 41 
 
 101 
 
 .Sup'y. 
 
 Sup'd. 
 
 9 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 . 2 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 28 
 
 6 
 
 26 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 
 13 
 
 31 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 20 
 
 • -• 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 .9 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 . . 
 
 4 
 
 27 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 •• 
 
 •• 
 
 » • 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 29 
 
 2 
 
 27 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 41 
 
 3 
 
 35 
 
 3 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
102 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Conferences. 
 
 Ohio , 
 
 Oneida 
 
 Oregon 
 
 Eflfective. 
 150 
 141 
 41 
 
 Philadelphia 241 
 
 Pittsburgh 204 
 
 Providence 
 
 Rock River 
 
 S. E. Indiana 
 
 Southern Illinois. . . 
 
 S.W. German 
 
 Troy 
 
 Upper Iowa 106 
 
 116 
 
 141 
 
 U 
 
 100 
 
 Vermont 
 
 "Washington , 
 
 West Virginia 
 
 West Wisconsin. . . 
 "Wisconsin. . . M , . .. 
 Wyoming 
 
 115 
 45 
 13 
 68 
 
 115 
 93 
 
 Total 6,014 
 
 Local. 
 426 
 128 
 
 66 
 352 
 225 
 
 81 
 212 
 133 
 338 
 101 
 126 
 1'72 
 
 89" 
 
 •70 
 155 
 114 
 156 
 136 
 
 8,493 
 
 Sup'y. 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 . 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 3 
 1 
 
 4 
 5 
 
 10 
 2 
 
 294 
 
 Sup'd. 
 23 
 39 
 
 8 
 11 
 22 
 12 
 29 
 15 
 10 
 
 5 
 34 
 15 
 IT 
 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 11 
 
 15 
 
 867 
 
 As other denominations collect their statistics by 
 states, the following classification of the regular 
 preachers has been made for convenience. It may 
 not be exactly accurate in each particular, but near 
 enough for all practical purposes. 
 
 Arkansas 9 
 
 California. 84 
 
 Colorado 13 
 
 Connecticut 130 
 
 Delaware 29 
 
 District of Columbia.. IT 
 
 Kansas TO 
 
 Kentucky 29 
 
 Illinois 559 
 
 Indiana 449 
 
 Iowa 
 
 . 2T0 
 
 Maine 
 
 . 1T4 
 
 Maryland 
 
 . 181 
 
 Massachusetts 
 
 . 249 
 
 Michigan 
 
 . 219 
 
 Minnesota 
 
 .. 9T 
 
 Missouri 
 
 . 66 
 
 Nebraska 
 
 31 
 
 Nevada 
 
 . 13 
 
 New Hampshire. . . 
 
 . 89 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 
 
 103 
 
 New York 1,129 
 
 New Jersey 237 
 
 Ohio 590 
 
 Oregon 37 
 
 Pennsylvania 629 
 
 Rhode Island 29 
 
 Vermont 147 
 
 Virginia 19 
 
 West Virginia 79 
 
 Wisconsin 249 
 
 The following table shows the number of ef- 
 fective .or regular preachers connected with the 
 Methodist Church in the United States fr©m 1773, 
 the first reported, to 1866 : 
 
 Years. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Preachers, 
 
 Years. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 1773. 
 
 ... 10 
 
 1799... 
 
 . 272 
 
 1825. 
 
 . .. 1,314 
 
 1774. 
 
 ... 17 
 
 1800... 
 
 287 
 
 1826. 
 
 . .. 1,406 
 
 1775. 
 
 ... 19 
 
 1801... 
 
 307 
 
 1827. 
 
 ... 1,576 
 
 1776. 
 
 ... 24 
 
 1802... 
 
 358 
 
 1828. 
 
 ... 1,642 
 
 1777. 
 
 ... 38 
 
 1803... 
 
 . '383 
 
 1829. 
 
 ... 1,817 
 
 1778. 
 
 ... 29 
 
 1804. . . 
 
 . 400 
 
 1830. 
 
 ... 1,900 
 
 1779. 
 
 ... 44 
 
 1805..., 
 
 433 
 
 1831. 
 
 ... 2,010 
 
 1780. 
 
 ... 43 
 
 1806. . . 
 
 452 
 
 1832. 
 
 ... 2,200 
 
 1781. 
 
 ... 55 
 
 1807... 
 
 516 
 
 1833. 
 
 ... 2,400 
 
 1782. 
 
 ... 60 
 
 1808... 
 
 540 
 
 1834. 
 
 ... 2,625 
 
 1783 
 
 ... 82 
 
 1809. . . 
 
 597 
 
 1835. 
 
 ... 2,748 
 
 1784. 
 
 ... 84 
 
 1810... 
 
 636 
 
 1836. 
 
 ... 2,920 
 
 1785. 
 
 ... 104 
 
 1811... 
 
 668 
 
 1837. 
 
 ... 3,147 
 
 1786. 
 
 ... 117 
 
 1812... 
 
 678 
 
 1838. 
 
 ... 3,332 
 
 1787. 
 
 ... 133 
 
 1813... 
 
 700 
 
 1839. 
 
 . .. 3,557 
 
 1788 
 
 ... 166 
 
 1814... 
 
 687 
 
 1840. 
 
 ... 3,687 
 
 1789. 
 
 . .. 196 
 
 1815... 
 
 . 704 
 
 1841. 
 
 . .. 3,865 
 
 1790. 
 
 ... 227 
 
 1816... 
 
 695 
 
 1842. 
 
 . .. 4,044 
 
 1791. 
 
 . .. 259 
 
 1817... 
 
 716 
 
 1843. 
 
 . .. 4,286 
 
 1792. 
 
 . .. 266 
 
 1818... 
 
 748 
 
 1844. 
 
 ... 4,627 
 
 1793. 
 
 . .. 269 
 
 1819.... 
 
 812 
 
 1845. 
 
 . .. 4,828 
 
 1794 
 
 ... 301 
 
 1820... 
 
 896 
 
 1846. 
 
 . .. 3,280 
 
 1795. 
 
 ... 313 
 
 1821... 
 
 977 
 
 1847. 
 
 ... 3,642 
 
 1796. 
 
 ... 293 
 
 1822... 
 
 1,106 
 
 1848. 
 
 ... 3,341 
 
 1797. 
 
 ... 262 
 
 1823... 
 
 1,226 
 
 1849. 
 
 ... 3,781 
 
 1798. 
 
 ... 267 
 
 1824... 
 
 1,270 
 
 1850. 
 
 ... 4,129 
 
104 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Years. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 1851.. 
 
 .. 4,450 
 
 1856.. 
 
 .. 5,877 
 
 1861. 
 
 . .. 6,634 
 
 1852.. 
 
 .. 4,513 
 
 1857.. 
 
 .. 6,134 
 
 1862. 
 
 ... 6,655 
 
 1853.. 
 
 .. 5,408 
 
 1858.. 
 
 .. 6,502 
 
 1863. 
 
 . .. 6,788 
 
 1854.. 
 
 .. 5,483 
 
 1859.. 
 
 .. 6,877 
 
 1864. 
 
 ... 6,821 
 
 1855. . 
 
 .. 5,408 
 
 I860.. 
 
 .. 6,987 
 
 1865. 
 
 ... 7,175 
 
 In the United States there are eight distinct 
 branches of Methodism, besides the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. All of these left the parent body 
 except the Primitive Methodists, who descended 
 from the Primitives of England, and the Evangeli- 
 cal Association, which originated, as we have seen, 
 with Jacob Albright in this country. The number 
 of preachers connected with these various bodies 
 is as follows : 
 
 Efifect, 
 
 Methodist Epis. Church, South 2,591 
 
 Protestant Methodist Church 810 
 
 African M. E. Church 513 
 
 EvangeUcal Association 405 
 
 "Wesleyan Methodists 236 
 
 African if. E. Church, (Zion) 217 
 
 Free Methodist Church 67 
 
 Primitive Methodist Church 20 
 
 Local. 
 
 Total 
 
 4,904 
 
 7,495 
 
 750 
 
 1,560 
 
 2.100 
 
 2,613 
 
 323 
 
 . 727 
 
 164 
 
 400 
 
 444 
 
 661 
 
 69 
 
 136 
 
 34 
 
 64 
 
 Total for 1865 4,859 8,788 
 
 13,656 
 
 The number of ministers belonging to all the 
 Methodist bodies in the United States, in all of 
 their grades, is as follows : 
 
 Regular or effective Preachers 10,873 
 
 Local Preachers 17,288 
 
 Superannuated 867 
 
 Supernumerary 294 
 
 Total 29,322 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 106 
 
 As there are superannuated and supernumerary 
 preachers belonging to several of these branches, 
 whose numbers we could not obtain, .it is evident 
 that the entire ministerial force of Methodism is 
 not far from 30,000, besides class-leaders and ex- 
 horters by thousands, who perform a vast amount 
 of labor. 
 
 The number of ministers of other denominations 
 is as follows : 
 
 Regular Baptists. . . 3,859 Tunkers 100 
 
 Southern Baptists.. 4,010 Six Principle Bapt. 72 
 
 Free Will Baptists. 1,052 Seventh-Day Bapt. 62 
 
 Campbellites 1,000 
 
 Anti-mission Bapt. . 720 Total 11,148 
 
 Winebrennerians . . . 273 
 
 The Presbyterians, Old School and New, in the 
 following table, include regular pastors, licentiates, 
 stated supplies, editors, and teachers : - 
 
 Old School 2,346 Associated 41 
 
 New School 1,779 Reformed 119 
 
 Cumberland 1,150 * Assoc. Reformed. . . 91 
 
 Southern (0. S.) . . . 840 
 
 United 660 Total 6,705 
 
 The " Associate Reformed " include the Associate 
 Reformed Synod of New York and the Associate 
 Reformed Synod of the South, the latter being 
 much the larger. The "Reformed" embraces two 
 wings, sometimes called the Old School and New. 
 The "United" include the United Presbyterians 
 and the United Synod. Some of these small 
 branches are so mixed that the numbers may not 
 be exactly accurate. 
 
106 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 The ministers of the remaining denominations 
 are as follows : 
 
 Congregational 2, 119 Reformed Dutch . . . 436 
 
 Episcopalian 2,689 Unitarian 235 
 
 Roman Catholic 2,541 Jews 240 
 
 Lutheran 2,533 Moravian 44 
 
 United Brethren.... 1,671, 
 
 Universalists 725* Total 14,344 
 
 German Reformed. . 505 
 
 In the above table all the orders of the Romish 
 clergy are included ; bishops, priests, and deacons 
 of the Episcopalians; and pastors, "acting pas- 
 tors," "not specified," and "other ministers," of 
 the Congregational body. The total number of 
 ministers of all denominations is as follows:' 
 
 Methodists, all branches and grades 29,322 
 
 Baptists, aU branches 11,148 
 
 Presbyterians, all branches 6,705 
 
 All others ' 14,344 
 
 Total of ministers 61,517 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 According to the Minutes of the Annual Con- 
 ferences for 1865, the number of probationers con- 
 nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church was 
 106,548, and the number of members in full con- 
 nection 822,711, making a total of 929,259. * The 
 7,1 75 itinerant preachers added to these make the 
 entire membership of the Church at the close of 1865 
 936,434. As the Centennial year does not close 
 until October, 1866, the sweeping revivals that 
 have passed over the country will have increased 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 107 
 
 the number without doubt, by that time, to full 
 1,000,000. ^ 
 
 The following table shows the nur&ber of mem- 
 bers and probationers belonging to the various 
 Conferences in 1865 : 
 
 GoNFEBENCES. Members. 
 
 Baltimore 12,031 
 
 Black River 19,953 
 
 California 3,912 
 
 Central German .... 1,826 
 
 Central Illinois 16,652 
 
 Central Ohio 15,322 
 
 Cincinnati. , 25,105 
 
 Colorado 214 
 
 Delaware, colored 6,504 
 
 Des Moines 8,422 
 
 Detroit 14,559 
 
 East Baltimore 29,246 
 
 East Genesee 19,492 
 
 East Maine 8,115 
 
 'Erie 25,523 
 
 Genesee 1,366 
 
 German Mission 3,465 
 
 Holston 5,199 
 
 Illinois 26,029 
 
 India Mission Ill 
 
 Indiana 21,936 
 
 Iowa 14,966 
 
 Kansas 4,086 
 
 Kentucky 2,489 
 
 Liberia Mission 1,350 
 
 Maine 10,503 
 
 Michigan 12,148 
 
 Minnesota 5,996 
 
 Missouri and Arkansas. . 1,161 
 
 Nebraska 1,309 
 
 Probationers. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1,693 
 
 13,130 
 
 1,941, 
 
 21,894 
 
 538 
 
 4,450 
 
 1,063 
 
 8,889 
 
 1,465 
 
 18,111 
 
 1,536 
 
 16,858 
 
 2,115 
 
 21,220 
 
 15 
 
 229 
 
 328 
 
 6,832 
 
 1,311 
 
 9,133 
 
 1,519 
 
 16,138 
 
 4,296 
 
 33,542 
 
 1,615 
 
 21,101 
 
 1,901 
 
 10,622 
 
 2,284 
 
 21,801 
 
 638 
 
 8,004 
 
 1,151 
 
 4,616 
 
 695 
 
 6,494 
 
 2,495 
 
 28,914 
 
 92 
 
 209 
 
 2,160 
 
 24,696 
 
 1,450 
 
 16,416 
 
 1,331 
 
 5,423 
 
 411 
 
 •2,900 
 
 102 
 
 1,452 
 
 1,109 
 
 12,212 
 
 1,139 
 
 14,481 
 
 1,033 
 
 1,029 
 
 1,464 
 
 8,625 
 
 320 
 
 1,629 
 
108 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Conferences. Members. Probationers. Total. 
 
 Nevada 267 26 293 
 
 Newark 20,68^ 2,513 23,199 
 
 New England..! 18,070 2,044 20,114 
 
 New Hampshire 10,567 1,550 12,117 
 
 New Jersey 22,703 3,652 26,365 
 
 New York 32,807 4,422 37,229 
 
 New York East 28,218 3,404 31,622 
 
 North Indiana 20,269 5,023 25,292 
 
 North Ohio 13,282 862 14,144 
 
 Northwest German 4,636 1,047 5,683 
 
 Northwest Indiana 15,562 1,376 16,938 
 
 North west Wisconsin... 2,260 445 2,705 
 
 Ohio 27,034 2,069 29,103 
 
 Oneida 16,884 1,914 18,798 
 
 Oregon 2,592 43^ 3^8 
 
 Philadelphia 45,970 6,179 52,149 
 
 Pittsburgh 34,889 5,365 40,254 
 
 Providence 14,353 1,608 15,961 
 
 Rock River 16,910 1,590 18,500 
 
 Southeast Indiana 15,370 1,307 16,677 
 
 Southern lUinois 17,311 3,167 20,478 
 
 Southwest German 5,624 776 6,400 
 
 Troy 22,381 2,053 24,434 
 
 Upper Iowa 12,010 1,486 13,496 
 
 Vermont 11,826 1,476 13,302 
 
 "Washington, colored 7,877 317 8,194 
 
 West Virginia 12,303 2,497 14,810 
 
 West Wisconsin 6,177 743 6,920 
 
 Wisconsin. 10,186 1,496 11,682 
 
 Wyoming 13,295 2,068 15,363 
 
 Total 822,711 106,548 929,259 
 
 The following table shows the number of mem- 
 bers in each of the various states, as near as can 
 be ascertained. It may be convenient, as other 
 denominations compute by states. 
 
AMEEICAN METHODISM. 
 
 109 
 
 States. Members, 
 
 Arkansas 262 
 
 California 4,269 
 
 Colorado Territory. 265 
 
 Connecticut 18,179 
 
 Delaware 12,389 
 
 Dist. of Columbia. 4,459 
 
 Illinois 89,181 
 
 Indiana 87,963 
 
 Iowa 37,527 
 
 Kansas 5,574 
 
 Kentucky 3,205 
 
 Maine 23,144 
 
 Maryland 56,575 
 
 Massachusetts.... 30,316 
 
 Michigan 32,403 
 
 Minnesota 7,773 
 
 States. Members, 
 
 Missouri 9,361 
 
 Nebraska 1,557 
 
 Nevada 281 
 
 New Hampshire... 10,155 
 
 New Jersey 45,816 
 
 New York 160,386 
 
 Ohio 115,689 
 
 Oregon 2,685 
 
 Pennsylvania 105,533 
 
 Rhode Island 3,208 
 
 Tennessee 6,107 
 
 Yermont 14,525 
 
 Virginia 658 
 
 "Washington Ter. . . 321 
 West Virginia 15,348 
 
 Wisconsin 23,495 
 
 The following table gives the number of mem- 
 bers and probationers connected with the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church in the United States from 
 1773, the first reported, to 1866 : 
 
 Tears, 
 
 Members. 
 
 Tears. 
 
 Members. 
 
 , Tears. 
 
 Members. 
 
 1773.. 
 
 . . 1,160 
 
 1788. 
 
 ... 37,354 
 
 1803. 
 
 ...104,070 
 
 1774. . 
 
 . . 2,073 
 
 1789. 
 
 ... 43,262 
 
 1804. 
 
 ...113,134 
 
 1775.. 
 
 . . 3,148 
 
 1790. 
 
 .. 57,631 
 
 1805. 
 
 ...119,945 
 
 1776.. 
 
 . . 4,921 
 
 1791. 
 
 ... 63,269 
 
 1806. 
 
 ...130,570 
 
 1777.. 
 
 . 6,968 
 
 1792. 
 
 ... 65,980 
 
 1807. 
 
 ...144,590 
 
 1778.. 
 
 . 6,095 
 
 1793. 
 
 . .. 67,643 
 
 1808. 
 
 ...151,995 
 
 1779.. 
 
 8,577 
 
 1794. 
 
 ... 66,608 
 
 1809. 
 
 . . .163,038 
 
 1780.., 
 
 . 8,504 
 
 1795. 
 
 ... 60,291 
 
 1810. 
 
 ...174,560 
 
 1781... 
 
 . 10,539 
 
 1796. 
 
 ... 56,664 
 
 1811. 
 
 ...184,567 
 
 1782... 
 
 . 11,785 
 
 1797. 
 
 ... 58,663 
 
 .1812. 
 
 ...195,357 
 
 1783... 
 
 . 13,740 
 
 1798. 
 
 . .. 60,169 
 
 1813. 
 
 ...214,307 
 
 1784... 
 
 . 14,988 
 
 1799. 
 
 . .. 61,351 
 
 1814. 
 
 ...211,129 
 
 1785... 
 
 . ^8,000 
 
 1800. 
 
 . .. 64,894 
 
 1815. 
 
 ...211,165 
 
 1786... 
 
 . 20,681 
 
 1801. 
 
 ... 72,874 
 
 1816. 
 
 ...214,235 
 
 1787... 
 
 . 25,842 
 
 1802. 
 
 ... 86,784 
 
 1817. 
 
 ...224,858 
 
110 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Tears. Members. Year?. Members. Years. Members. 
 
 1818 229,627 1834 638,784 1850 689,682 
 
 1819 240,924 1835 652,528 1851 721,804 
 
 1820 259,890 1836 650,245 1852 728,700 
 
 1821 281,146 1837 654,756 1853 752,626 
 
 1822 297,022 1838 702,332 1854 783,358 
 
 1823 312,540 1839 746,315 1855 799,431 
 
 1824 328,623 1840 ...801,784 1856 800,327 
 
 1825 347,195 1841 859,811 1857 820,519 
 
 1826 360,889 1842 921,045 1858 956,555 
 
 1827 381,997 1843. . 1,176,255 1859 974,345 
 
 1828 418,927 1844. . 1,175,314 1860 994,447 
 
 1829 447,743 1845. . 1,147,696 1861 988,523 
 
 1830 476,153 1846 649,344 1862 942,906 
 
 1831 513,114 1847 636,471 1863 923,394 
 
 1832 548,595 1848 639,066 1864 928,340 
 
 1833 599,396 1849 667,469 1865.-. . .929,259 
 
 The number of members belonging to the eight 
 branches of Methodism, outside the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, at the close of 1865, was as 
 follows : 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, South 708,949 
 
 Methodist Protestant Church 105,120 
 
 African Methodist Episcopal Church 53,670 
 
 Evangehcal Association 51,185 
 
 African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 30,600 
 
 Wesleyan Methodist Church 25,620 
 
 Free Methodist Church 3,655 
 
 Primitive Methodist Church ^ 1,805 
 
 Whole number 980,604 
 
 By adding the 4,859 traveling preachers of these 
 bodies to the membership, the number is 985,463 — 
 a little short of 1,000,000. Before the centennial 
 year shall close, in all probability it will be fully 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. Ill 
 
 that number. Thus the aggregate membership of 
 these various branches number about the same as 
 the parent body. The grand total of Methodism 
 in all of its branches, in the United States, is 
 1,939,981 — in round numbers 2,000,000. 
 
 It may not be out of place here, as a matter of 
 reference, to give the number of members belong- 
 ing to the various Methodist bodies throughout 
 the world. 
 
 In England there are six distinct branches of 
 Methodism. The Wesleyans, founded by John 
 Wesley, are the most numerous. All the others 
 have, at various times, separated themselves from 
 the Wesleyans. Their number is as follows : 
 
 "Wesleyan Methodists 351,410 
 
 Primitive Methodists 159, '794 
 
 United Free Methodists 65,958 
 
 Bible Christians 26,059 
 
 New Connection 24,438 
 
 Reformed Union 9,768 
 
 Total in -England 63'7,42'7 
 
 In Canada there are four branches of the Meth- 
 odist family, of which the Wesleyans are the most 
 numerous : 
 
 "Wesleyan Methodists 56,986 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church 19,746 
 
 New Connection 8,028 
 
 Primitive Methodists 5,854 
 
 Total in Canada 90,614 
 
 The number of Methodists in other parts of the 
 
112 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 world, according to the best information we can 
 derive, is as follows : 
 
 Australia 42,194 
 
 West Indies 41,592 
 
 Ireland 29,060 
 
 Africa..- 19,403 
 
 British Provinces . . 15,297 
 
 Germany '7,620 
 
 France 1,884 
 
 Ceylon 1,661 
 
 Norway 1,200 
 
 India 1,000 
 
 China 336 
 
 South America. . . 1 93 
 
 Turkey 75 
 
 Total 152,515 
 
 The whole number of Methodists in the world 
 at the close of 1865 stood thus: United States, 
 1,921,897; England, 637,427; Canada, 90,614; all 
 others, 152,515 : total, 2,800,443. The number at 
 the present time must be fully 3,000,000, two 
 thirds of whom are in the United States, 
 
 The number of members of other denominations 
 in the United States is as follows : 
 
 Regular Baptists . 400,197 
 Southern Baptists 640,806 
 
 Campbellites 200,000 
 
 Free Will 56,738 
 
 Anti-Mission 50,000 
 
 Winebrennerians . 23, 800 
 
 Tunkers 20,000 
 
 Seventh-Day ... 6, 7 9 6 
 
 Six Principles . . 3,000 
 
 Total 1,399,637 
 
 Of the " Southern Baptists," the above statistics 
 are those of 1862. None have been reported since, 
 and they must have been considerably lessened 
 during the war. The " Campbellites " and several 
 others are mere estimates, but considered by many 
 as far too large. They are, however, estimates of 
 their own, except the Campbellites, which we have 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 113 
 
 reduced from 300,000 to 200,000, which is thought 
 to be a more correct estimate. 
 
 The various branches of the Presbyterians are as 
 follows : 
 
 Old School 281,360 Assoc. Reformed . 2,581 
 
 New School 138,074 Associated 1,000 
 
 Cumberland 103,062 
 
 United 67,900 Total 616,637 
 
 Reformed 16,660 
 
 The numbers of the " Old School " include 55,400 
 in the South who have separated from the North. 
 The "United" includes 10,105 belonging to the 
 United Synod. The " Associate Reformed " are 
 composed of the Associate Reformed Synod of the 
 South and the Associate Reformed Synod of New 
 York. The former numbers 950, and the latter 
 1,631. The "Reformed" include two branches 
 called the Old School and New. 
 
 The remaining denominations are as follows : 
 
 Lutherans 269,985 Reformed Dutch 54,268 
 
 Congregationalists 268,015 Friends 94,672 
 
 Episcopalians.... 154,118 Unitarians 31,670 
 
 Universahsts . . . . 140,000 Moravians 5,859 
 
 Israelites 142,120 
 
 United Brethren . 102,983 Total 1,354,890 
 
 German Reformed 91,200 
 
 In the above table the "Israelites" and "Uni- 
 versahsts" are estimated, as there is no way of 
 knowing the exact numbers. The number given 
 has the approval of their leading men. There 
 are a few other small bodies in the country, but 
 nothing definite being known as to their numbers, 
 
 8 
 
114 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 we have omitted them. The total number of com- 
 municants in the United States, as given above, is 
 as follows : 
 
 Methodists, all branches 1,921,89'? 
 
 Baptists, all branches ' 1,399,63'? 
 
 Presbyterians, all branches 609, 9 '7'? 
 
 All others 1,354,890 
 
 Total in United States 5,286,401 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 
 
 This institution has grown to be one of the most 
 important departments of the M. E. Church, as 
 well as one of the most powerful agencies for the 
 spread of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 
 As early as 1779 the Conference ordered that 
 preachers should meet the children once in two 
 weeks for rehgious instruction; also that they 
 should examine their parents in respect to their 
 conduct toward them. Would it not be well if 
 this were practiced at the present time ? This is 
 the first action respecting the spiritual instruction 
 of children, so far as we can find, in this country. 
 This was the germ of the Sunday-school system, 
 now so prevalent, and was earlier than the efforts 
 of Raikes in England. In 1786 Mr. Asbury organ- 
 ized a school for children upon the Sabbath at the 
 house of Thomas Crenshaw, Hanover county, Vir- 
 ginia. This is said to be the first Sunday-school 
 in this country. In 1787 the Conference, doubtr- 
 less from the example set by Asbury the year pre- 
 vious, ordered the preachers to form the children 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 116 
 
 into classes, and in their absence provide proper 
 persons to instruct them. These efforts in respect 
 to children had reference to their spiritual instruc- 
 tion, and were intended as preparatory to admission 
 into the Church. 
 
 In 1790 the Conference authorized the formation 
 of schools upon the Sabbath for the mental as well 
 as moral instruction of poor children^ white and 
 hlacTc. Persons were to be appointed who would 
 teach gratuitously from six in the morning until 
 ten, and from two in the afternoon until six. A 
 school book also was ordered to be compiled, em- 
 bracing " learning and piety." Here we find the 
 germ of home mission efforts, beginning with neg- 
 lected children. 
 
 The Sunday-School Union of the M. E. Church 
 was organized April 2, 1827, and for some time 
 was very successful. It lost much of its efficiency, 
 however, by an injudicious union with, the Bible 
 and Tract Societies, managed by the agents 
 of the Book Concern. It remained in this condi- 
 tion until 1840, when it was revived as a distinct 
 organization by the General Conference. In 1844 
 Rev. Dr. Kidder was elected secretary, and contin- 
 ued until 1856, when the present incumbent, the 
 Rev. Dr. Wise, was elected. 
 
 From 1840 to the present time the receipts of 
 the Union were $194,573 30. Last year they 
 were $17,738 17, and the expenditures $18,698 85. 
 These funds are used to aid Sunday-schools in des- 
 titute localities. The annual receipts of the Union 
 since 1840 have been as follows : 
 
116 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 From 1840, to May... 1845 $685 22 
 
 In 1846 2,336 88 
 
 " 1847 3, 788 66 
 
 «» 1848 4,676 79 
 
 " 1849 4,058 74 
 
 «« 1850 5,008 60 
 
 " 1851 6,561 80 
 
 « 1852 7,258 09 
 
 « 1853 9,584 17 
 
 «« 1854 10,170 28 
 
 «« 1855 11,381 54 
 
 «« 1856 12,316 37 
 
 « 1857 ' 11,268 88 
 
 " 1858 11,299 57 
 
 «♦ 1859 12,796 74 
 
 " 1860 12,007 32 
 
 " 1861 11,214 64 
 
 " 1862 9,595 89 
 
 *< 1863 12,978 48 
 
 " 1864 17,839 47 
 
 " 1865 17,738 17 
 
 Total $194,573 30 
 
 The Union publishes four periodicals, two in 
 English and two in German, for the benefit of 
 teachers and scholars. One of these, the Sunday- 
 School Advocate, a semi-monthly, reached last 
 year a total maximum circulation of 304,500. Its 
 average circulation for the year was 274,750, On 
 the catalogue of the Book Concern there are 1,574 
 bound volumes adapted to Sunday-schools. Re- 
 ducing the Sunday-school papers distributed to 
 book pages, the number of pages distributed 
 amounted to 477,598,250. The amount of good 
 resulting from such a circulation of religious 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 117 
 
 literature among the rising race can scarcely be 
 estimated. 
 
 The Sunday-schools belonging to the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church last year, according to the 
 Minutes of the Annual Conferences, numbered 
 13,948 ; officers and teachers, 153,696 ; and the 
 scholars, 931, T24: making the total of officers, 
 teachers, and scholars, 1,085,423. The scholars alone 
 by this time must number a round million. The cost 
 of sustaining these schools last year was $245,000, 
 the number of volumes in the libraries was 
 2,401,315, and the number of conversions 18,892. 
 
 The annual increase of Sunday-schools, officers, 
 teachers, and scholars, together with the number of 
 conversions for each year since 1846, are as follows : 
 
 Tears. Schools. OflQ'rs, & Teachers. Scholars. Conversions. 
 
 1847 457 4,056 19,600 4,118 
 
 1848 190 5,118 16,802 8,240 
 
 1849 5T6 3,610 35,201 9,014 
 
 1850 687 10,966 37,356 11,398 
 
 1851 685 8,721 43,722 14,557 
 
 1852 368 4,470 31,368 13,243 
 
 1853 364 4,701 20,329 16,916 
 
 1854 470 4,917 28,057 17,494 
 
 1855 561 5,510 26,061 17,443 
 
 1856 131 1,160 24,987 16,775 
 
 1857 629 6,102 35,007 14,669 
 
 1858 605 10,923 56,182 32,315 
 
 1859 975 9,183 51,846 20,580 
 
 1860 638 8,105 60,840 19,517 
 
 1861 153 1,073 18,251 17,498 
 
 1862.. dec. 293 dec. 1,889 dec. 9,306 12,828 
 
 1863.. dec. 219 766 24,773 20,233 
 
 1864 125 • 995 19,778 18,892 
 
 1865 152 3,462 53,103 " 25,122 
 
118 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Of the Sunday-school operations of the other 
 branches of Methodism we are not fully apprised. 
 Methodists, however, are a Sunday-school people, 
 and each branch of the Church is engaged in the 
 Sunday-school work. It is estimated that the Sun- 
 day-school scholars, officers, and teachers of the 
 Church, South, number at least 250,000, which is 
 much less than before the war. Besides these, 
 which are in connection with their Church schools, 
 there are 138 schools, with 5,798 scholars in, des- 
 titute portions of the regular work; also 19,553 
 colored scholars, 1,102 Indian, and 476 German, 
 making 26,929 scholars connected with their Mis- 
 sion schools. These added to the above, make at 
 least 275,000 scholars connected with the Meth- 
 odist Sunday-schools in the South. 
 
 The schools of the Evangelical Association num- 
 ber 644, scholars 28,854, officers and teachers 6,472, 
 with 76,816 volumes in their libraries. The total 
 number of officers, teachers, and scholars is 35,326. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal Church have 
 21,000 in their schools, and 18,000 volumes in their 
 libraries. The officers, teachers, and scholars of 
 the African Zion Methodist Episcopal Church num- 
 ber 19,240, Free Methodist Church 3,230, Wes- 
 leyans, Protestants and Primitives, at least 85^000; 
 making the total working force of Methodism in 
 its Sunday-school department 1,518,519 — over a 
 million and a half. 
 
 The following are the numbers connected with 
 the Sunday-schools of some of the other denomina- 
 tions. In each case the figures given are taken 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 119 
 
 from their own reports, except the Baptists, which 
 are estimated. In this case we have given one 
 scholar for each member of the Church, which is 
 greater than the ratio of the Methodists, Congrega- 
 tionalists, and Episcopalians. 
 
 Regular Baptists 400,197 
 
 Congregatioualists 283,798 
 
 Episcopalians 150,400 
 
 Presbyterians (0. S.) 161,574 
 
 Presbyterians (N. S.) 112,789 
 
 Reformed Dutch 40,250 
 
 Total 1,149,008 
 
 Thus it will be seen that the numbers connected 
 with the Sunday-schools of the above six leading 
 denominations are only a little beyond those con- 
 nected with the Sunday-schools of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. In other words, to say nothing 
 of the other branches of Methodism, the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church nearly equals the above six de- 
 nominations in Sunday-school efforts. 
 
 TRACT DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 The first tract society in the world, so far as we 
 have any knowledge, was founded by John Wes- 
 ley, in January, 1782. Its object was to " distribute 
 religious tracts among the poor." Every member 
 was expected to subscribe half a guinea annually 
 toward its object. There were thirty tracts at that 
 time upon the list, mostly of an awakening char- 
 acter. With the early Methodist missionaries that 
 came to this country, Mr. Wesley sent $25 w^orth 
 
120 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 of books. The saddle-bags of the early preachers 
 were filled with books and tracts. The first book 
 published by the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
 1789, was a devotional one, the "Christian Pat- 
 tern," by Thomas a Kempis; In 1819 the Tract 
 Society of the Church was formed. Its afiairs for 
 some time, however, were carried on in connection 
 with the Bible and Sunday-School Society. In 
 1852 it was revived as a distinct organization, and 
 Rev. Dr. Stevens elected Secretary. In 1856 the 
 late Rev. Dr. Floy was elected; and in 1860 the 
 present indefatigable incumbent, the Rev. Dr. 
 Wise. 
 
 The kind of literature circulated is tracts, bound 
 volumes, and a monthly journal, called the " Good 
 News." This is purchased from the Book Con- 
 cern, hence none of the funds of the Society are 
 absorbed by machinery. The circulation of the 
 Good News during the last summer reached 99,000. 
 Its average monthly circulation for the year was 
 74,000. The total number of copies circulated 
 during the year was 894,000. As each number 
 contains the equivalent of thirty tract pages, the 
 reading matter circulated in the Good News was 
 equal to .26,820,000 tract pages. The number of 
 pages of tracts circulated was 10,544,000. These, 
 added to the number contained in the Good News, 
 make the total circulation of the year 37,364,000 
 pages. Besides these, half a million pages of tracts 
 were shipped to California, and a quarter of a 
 million to Oregon, making a total of SS,1 14,000 
 pages. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 121 
 
 Grants were made to feeble Churches, Southern 
 states, army and navy, to prisons, hospitals, and to 
 foreign mission stations. 
 
 The receipts of the Society last year were 
 $13,566 61, and the disbursements $13,606. The 
 total receipts since 1854 have been $63,905 48. 
 The annual receipts have been as follows : 
 
 1856 $3,388 39 1862 $4,756 82 
 
 1857 5,849 26 1863 8,718 25 
 
 1858 4,02130 1864 12,610 91 
 
 1859 4,148 12 1865 13,566 61 
 
 1860 2,803 60 
 
 1861 4,042 42 Total 63,905 48 
 
 These annual amounts are what are actually re- 
 ceived by the Treasurer in New York. The re- 
 ceipts of the auxiliary treasurers of the several 
 Annual Conferences, especially for the first few 
 years, would swell the amounts from $20,000 to 
 $30,000. One thing is noticeable in the operations 
 of this Society : each year the grants about equal 
 the receipts. Last year they were a little in ad- 
 vance. 
 
 The following are the operations of some of the 
 other denominations in respect to the gratuitous cir- 
 culation of tracts and other religious literature. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church, as the report 
 of its Tract Society shows, distributed during last 
 year $4,678 worth. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church circulated, through 
 its Publication Society, books and tracts to the 
 amount of $5,415. 
 
 The Baptist Churches distributed, through their 
 
122 STATISTICAL HISTORY OP 
 
 colporteurs and otherwise, 3,470 bound volumes 
 and 108,596 pages of tracts, valued at $22,051. 
 
 The Old School Presbyterians circulated, through 
 their Publication Society, $4,051 worth of tracts 
 gratuitously. The amount donated by the New 
 School is not given. 
 
 The Boston Tract Society received during the 
 year, in collections from all sources, $64,333 ; the 
 books and tracts donated amounted to $36,258. 
 At the usual mode of reckoning, fifteen hundred 
 pages for one dollar, the aggregate number of 
 pages distributed was 54,387,840. 
 
 BIBLE DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 The M. E. Church has always recognized the 
 duty of circulating the Holy Scriptures. From the 
 first the Bible has been chief among the publica- 
 tions of its Book Concern. On the catalogue at 
 the present time there are two styles of the impe- 
 rial quarto Bible, ten of the quarto, seven of the 
 royal octavo, five of the octavo, and four of Testa- 
 ments, making a total of twenty-eight of various 
 styles and prices. There are also ten difierent 
 Commentaries on the whole or a part of the Scrip- 
 tures, besides forty-four other works, such as dic- 
 tionaries and question books, all tending to an 
 explanation of the sacred text. 
 
 In 1819 the Missionary Society was formed. 
 Its name was " The Missionary and Bible Society 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Its object 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 123 
 
 was " To supply the destitute with Bibles gratui- 
 tously, and to afford a cheap supply to those who 
 may have the means to purchase," as well as " to 
 extend missionary labors in the United States and 
 elsewhere." The society existed in this twofold 
 character until 1838, when it was dissolved by the 
 General Conference, and a Bible Society, as a dis- 
 tinct organization for the M. E. Church, was put 
 in operation. This society continued its efforts 
 until 1836, when it was disbanded by the General 
 Conference. This was done with the view of co- 
 operating with the American Bible Society. In 
 1840 this latter society was formally recognized 
 by the General Conference, and since that time the 
 Church has heartily co-operated with it. Since 
 that time also one of the prominent offices of the 
 society has been filled by a member of the Meth- 
 odist persuasion. In 1840 Rev. Edmund S. Janes, 
 now bishop, received the appointment of financial 
 secretary. When he was elected bishop, Rev. 
 Noah Levings was appointed ; and when he was 
 called to his reward, the present incumbent. Rev. 
 Dr. Holdich, received the appointment of corre- 
 sponding secretary. 
 
 The Minutes of the Annual Conferences for the 
 last seven years have reported the amounts paid 
 into the treasury of this society. Last year it was 
 $101,743. This amount was exclusive of legacies 
 and donations, which go directly to the treasury 
 of the society. It should also be stated that much 
 of the amount reported at the Annual Conferences 
 does not go directly to the treasury of the society. 
 
124 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 It is often paid to the auxiliaries, and by them ex- 
 pended for Bibles and Testaments, to be distrib- 
 uted in the localities where the money is collected. 
 The object, however, for which the money was 
 contributed is, in this way, realized. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church circulates the 
 Scriptures through its " Bible and Prayer Book 
 Society." Last year $5,204 worth of Bibles and 
 Prayer Books were distributed gratuitously ; but 
 what proportion of each the report does not show. 
 
 The Baptist Churches operate through their 
 own organization, the American and Foreign Bible 
 Society. Last year |4,870 worth of Bibles and 
 Testaments were given away. 
 
 The Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Re- 
 formed Dutch co-operate with the American Bible 
 Society ; but there is no way of ascertaining defi- 
 nitely the amount contributed. 
 
 HOME MISSIONS. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church has always 
 been regarded as the " pioneer Church." Its mis- 
 sionary operations, however, assumed distinct form 
 in 1819, when the Missionary Society was organ- 
 ized. The mover in that organization was the late 
 Rev. Dr. Nathan Bangs. From its origin, down to 
 1836, most of its business was transacted by him. 
 He wrote each of the Annual Reports down to 
 1841. In 1836, when the General Conference re- 
 solved to elect a corresponding secretary as a sal- 
 
AMEKICAN METHODISM. 125 
 
 aried officer, he was almost its unanimous choice. 
 In 1840 Rev. Charles Pitman, Rev. William Ca- 
 pers, D. D., and Rev. Edward Ames, were elected 
 secretaries. In 1844 Rev. Charles Pitman was 
 again elected, and was continued in office until 
 his death in 1850, when Rev. J. P. Durbin, D. D., 
 was appointed by the Missionary Committee. In 
 1852 he was elected by the General Conference, 
 and has been continued in that office until the 
 present time. The increasing magnitude of the 
 work induced the General Conference of 1860 to 
 elect Rev. William L. Harris, D. D., and Rev. J. M. 
 Trimble, D. D., Assistant Secretaries. 
 
 The whole amount paid into the treasury of the 
 Society since its organization has been $5, 940,793. 
 The amount in 1865 was $625,903, an average of 
 seventy-eight cents a member. For the present 
 year the Missionary Committee have appropriated 
 $1,000,000, with the expectation that it will be 
 raised by the Church. 
 
 This Society embraces in its plan of operations 
 both the home and foreign work. Both of these 
 departments are under one board of management, 
 and the funds are paid into a common treasury. 
 The amount contributed is divided between the 
 two, as the judgment of the Committee determines. 
 
 The Home Department comprises six distinct 
 classes, in Avhich the gospel is preached in as many 
 different languages. These classes are the Ameri- 
 can, or English-speaking population, the Germans, 
 Scandinavians, French, Welsh, and Indians. 
 
 The American, or English-speaking department, 
 
126 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 was commenced in 1812, and embraces destitute 
 neighborhoods wherein missionary labor promises 
 to raise up self-supporting Churches. Ministers in 
 connection with feeble Churches are supported in 
 whole or in part by this society. Last year there 
 were 1,124 missions, with as many missionaries, 
 connected with this department. These mission- 
 aries, as well as the members connected with the 
 missions, are enumerated in connection with the 
 regular work. 
 
 The German mission was begun in 1836, and 
 organized into Annual Conferences in 1864. The 
 work now comprises 4 conferences, besides the 
 missions in California. There are also 17 presid- 
 ing elders, 246 preachers, 255 local preachers, 374 
 churches, and 20,167 members. There are also 
 463 Sunday-schools, and 20,491 scholars. 
 
 The Scandinavian mission was commenced in 
 1845. It embraces the Norwegian, Swede, and 
 Dane, located mostly in the states of Illinois, Wis- 
 consin, Iowa, and Minnesota. There are connected 
 with these missions 23 preachers, 30 local preachers, 
 and 2,160 members. 
 
 The Indian missions were commenced in 1814. 
 They are found in the states of New York, Michi- 
 gan, and Wisconsin. Connected with them are 11 
 preachers, 25 local preachers, and 1,270 members. 
 
 The Welsh missions were begun in 1828. They 
 are located in New York and Wisconsin. There 
 are 4 preachers, 7 churches, and 182 members. 
 
 The French mission was commenced in 1820, 
 and has 1 preacher and 55 members. 
 
AMERICAN" METHODISM. 127 
 
 Missions have also been commenced among the 
 Chinese in California, and also in the South, which 
 promise good results. Already several Annual Con- 
 ferences have been formed in the South. 
 
 The number of preachers, traveling and local, 
 connected with the home mission work is 1,932. 
 The amount expended last year in its support was 
 $254,675. The amount expended yearly, since 
 1850, in behalf of the home mission work, has been 
 as follows : 
 
 Tear. Amount. Year. Amount. 
 
 1850 $84,200 1858 $129,812 
 
 1851 9Y,600 1859 131,490 
 
 1852 104,050 I860 148,980 
 
 1853 141,941 1861 156,735 
 
 1854 182,090 1862 109,850 
 
 1855 181,035 1863 128,450 
 
 1856 1'74,875 1864 192,250 
 
 185Y 166,100 1865 254,675 
 
 The home mission operations of other denomina- 
 tions last year were as follows : 
 
 The Old School Presbyterians sustained 603 mis- 
 sionaries, at an expense of $116,489. The New 
 School Presbyterians, 321, at a cost of $93,477. 
 The United Presbyterians, 187, at an expense of 
 $12,083. These three branches unitedly sustained 
 1,011 missionaries, at an expense of $222,051. 
 
 The domestic boards of the Baptist Churches 
 sustained 246 missionaries in the states and terri- 
 tories, for which the Churches contributed $93,027. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church, in the two 
 branches of its home mission work, employed 112 
 
128 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 missionaries in the South and West, at a cost of 
 $96,514. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church had 75 missions and 
 64 missionaries, to the support of which the Church 
 contributed $24,315. The mission Sunday-school 
 work of this Church is embraced in the operations 
 of this society. 
 
 The American Home Missionary Society sus- 
 tained last year 802 missionaries, at an expense of 
 $90,525. Its operations are confined principally to 
 the Congregationalists. 
 
 The Unitarians sustained 20 missions in the prin- 
 cipal cities. They also have 25 ministers at large 
 in the South and West. 
 
 All these denominations together sustain 2,359 
 missionaries, at a cost of $526,432 ; while the M. E. 
 Church sustains 1,932, at an expense of $254,675. 
 
 FOEEIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 Although the Missionary Society was organized 
 in 1819, nothing was done in the foreign field until 
 1832. The first twelve years of its operations was 
 devoted to the frontier settlements of this country. 
 It has, however, at present, seven foreign mission 
 stations under its care. 
 
 The Liberia mission was commenced in 1832, 
 and organized into an Annual Conference in 1836. 
 There are now connected with this conference 23 
 preachers and 36 local preachers, making a total of 
 59. The members number 1,351, probationers 142, 
 total 1,493. There are also 20 church edifices, 20 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 129 
 
 Sunday-schools and 1,500 scholars, 2 academies, 
 and several public schools. All the preachers and 
 members are of African descent. The area over 
 which the Conference extends is from Cape Mount, 
 on the north, to Cape Palmas, on the south, a dis- 
 tance of six hundred miles ; it extends into the 
 interior from fifteen to fifty miles ; and covers all 
 the Republic of Liberia. This year the committee 
 appropriated $14,580 toward its support. 
 
 The South American mission was established in 
 1836. Last year there were connected with this 
 mission 10 ordained preachers and 3 assistants, 
 with 130 members. The Sunday-school numbered 
 ITO teachers and scholars, and the daj-school over 
 100 scholars. About half of these are charity 
 scholars. The appropriation to this work last year 
 was $37,650. 
 
 The China mission was commenced in 1847. It 
 has at present 4 ordained preachers, 6 female assist- 
 ants, and 31 native helpers, total 41. Tlie mem- 
 bers number 160, and the Sunday-school scholars 
 140. It has two boarding-schools, one for boys 
 and another for girls ; a day-school with 75 schol- 
 ars, and a foundling asylum with 30 inmates. There 
 is a press connected with the mission, and last year 
 one million and a half of pages of tracts were 
 printed and distributed. The property of the mis- 
 sion is valued at 150,000. The appropriation for 
 its support was $37,064. 
 
 The mission in Germany was begun in 1 849, and 
 formed into an Annual Conference in 1852. The 
 number of preachers in the regular work is 34, 
 
 9 
 
180 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 local preachers 8, total 42. There are also 12 
 theological students, who preach as circumstances 
 demand. The members number 3,550, proba- 
 tioners 1,100, total 4,650. The preaching stations 
 numbers 237. There is a publishing house in 
 connection with the Conference, which printed 
 and distributed last year 2,000,000 pages of read- 
 ing. Two periodicals are published, one for adults, 
 the other for children, with an aggregate circula- 
 tion of 7,000 a month. A theological institute is 
 also in operation, where young men are prepared 
 to preach the gospel. The mission raised last year, 
 for all purposes, $16,593. The committee appro- 
 priated toward its support $63,910. 
 
 The Scandinavian Mission was established in 
 1854. It embraces missions in Norway and Den- 
 mark. It has 15 preachers, 8 local preachers, and 
 792 members; also, 11 Sunday-schools and 234 
 scholars. A large and substantial church edifice 
 was dedicated last year in Copenhagen. This year 
 the Missionary Committee appropriated $38,803 to 
 this field. 
 
 The India Mission was commenced in 1856, 
 and was formed into a Conference in 1864. Its 
 working force consists of 19 ordained preachers, 10 
 assistant male missionaries, 19 exhorters, and 16 
 female laborers. There are 239 members, and 400 
 Sunday-school scholars. The property of the mis- 
 sions consist of 19 mission-houses, 10 chapels, 16 
 school-houses, 2 orphan asylums, and a printing 
 press, the total value of which is $85,188. The 
 committee appropriated for India this year $75,773. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 131 
 
 Rev. Dr. Butler, the Superintendent, has lately 
 been returned to the New England Conference. 
 
 The Bulgarian Mission was begun in 1857. 
 Connected with it are two ordained preachers, one 
 at Constantinople and the other at Tultcha. These 
 missionaries are engaged in preaching the Gospel, 
 scattering religious reading, and translating the 
 New Testament into the Bulgarian tongue. The 
 appropriation is $7,841. 
 
 The total number of laborers connected with 
 these seven missions is 256, members 7,473, and 
 Sunday-school scholars 2,355. The Church con- 
 tributed last year to the support of these missions 
 $275,657. The annual appropriations since 1850 
 has been as follows : 
 
 Years. Amount. Tears. Amount. 
 
 May 1850-51 $65,200 April 1858 $84,059 
 
 " 1851-52 69,000 " 1859 104,159 
 
 April 1852-53.... 77,572 " 1860 119,994 
 
 Nov. 1852-53 67,750 " • 1861 100,297 
 
 " 1853 77,457 » 1862 131,032 
 
 " 1854 75,907 " 1863 203,734 
 
 " 1855 78,900 " 1864 315,228 
 
 " 1856 73,757 " 1865 275,657 
 
 " 1857 60,081 
 
 The annual receipts of the Missionary Society 
 since its organization, for both the Home and For- 
 eign work, with the average amount for each 
 member, are as follows: 
 
 Year. Amount. Aver. Year. Amount. Aver. 
 
 1820 $823 04 -3 1823 $5,427 14 11 
 
 1821 2,328 76 '8 1824 3,589 92 I'l 
 
 1822 . 2,547 39 '8 1825 4,140 16 12 
 
132 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Year. 
 1826 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831 
 1832 
 1833 
 1834 
 1835 
 1836 
 1837 
 1838 
 1839 
 1840 
 1841 
 1842 
 1843 
 1844 
 1845 
 
 Amount. 
 
 $4,964 11 
 
 6,812 49 
 
 6,245 n 
 
 14,176 11 
 
 13,128 63 
 
 9,950 57 
 
 10,697 48 
 
 17,097 05 
 
 35,700 15 
 
 30,492 21 
 
 61,337 81 
 
 62,748 01 
 
 96,087 44 
 
 135,521 94 
 
 148,801 16 
 
 134,204 68 
 
 139,473 25 
 
 146,482 17 
 
 112,040 68 
 
 99,632 97 
 
 Aver. 
 
 1-3 
 
 1-7 
 
 1-5 
 
 31 
 
 2-7 
 
 2- 
 
 2- • 
 
 2.8 
 
 5-6 
 
 4-6 
 
 9-4 
 
 9-5 
 
 13-8 
 
 18-3 
 
 18-7 
 
 15-7 
 
 15-2 
 
 13-7 
 
 9-6 
 
 8-7 
 
 Year. 
 
 Amount. 
 
 Aver. 
 
 1846 
 
 $89,528 26 
 
 14- 
 
 1847 
 
 104,011 45 
 
 16-4 
 
 1848 
 
 108,876 44 
 
 17- 
 
 1849 
 
 106,196 09 
 
 16-3 
 
 1850 
 
 107,835 73 
 
 15-6 
 
 1851 
 
 138,989 00 
 
 19-7 
 
 1852 
 
 152,382 00 
 
 20-9 
 
 1853 
 
 210,447 00 
 
 27-3 
 
 1854 
 
 229,049 00 
 
 29-2 
 
 1855 
 
 197,973 00 
 
 25-5 
 
 1856 
 
 200,970 00 
 
 25- 
 
 1857 
 
 226,697 00 
 
 27-9 
 
 1858 
 
 298,390 48 
 
 31-1 
 
 1859 
 
 248,333 00 
 
 25-5 
 
 1860 
 
 258,849 00 
 
 25- 
 
 1861 
 
 225,084 00 
 
 22-7 
 
 1862 
 
 239,340 00 
 
 24-2 
 
 1863 
 
 429,768 75 
 
 46-5 
 
 1864 
 
 558,993 26 
 
 60-2 
 
 1865 
 
 642,740 67 
 
 78-1 
 
 The Foreign Mission work of other denomina- 
 tions is as follows : 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church sustains a mis- 
 sion in Liberia, with 10 missionaries and 27 lay- 
 assistants ; one in China, with 6 missionaries and 4 
 lay assistants ; one in Greece, with 1 missionary 
 and 2 lay assistants ; one in Japan and one in Mex- 
 ico, each with 1 missionary ; making a total of 
 laborers in the foreign field of 52, sustained at an 
 expense of 178,309. 
 
 The Baptist Churches, through their two For- 
 eign Missionary Societies — the American Baptist 
 Missionary Union, and the American Baptist Free 
 Mission Society — sustain 670 missionaries in Bur- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 133 
 
 mah, Japan, Europe, and other points. About 
 seventy-five of this number are ordained ministers, 
 native and foreign ; the others are mostly lay native 
 helpers, male and female. Last year $179,826 
 were expended in its support, 
 
 The Old School Presbyterian Church sustained 
 last year 67 ordained ministers, 16 male and 76 
 female teachers, and 50 native helpers in China, 
 Japan, India, Africa, and South America ; total 
 211. The contributions to the work were $268,442. 
 
 The New School Presbyterians maintained 58 
 ordained missionaries in Asia, Africa, China, Tur- 
 key, and the Sandwich Islands, at an expense of 
 $112,296. This was done through the American 
 Board. 
 
 The United Presbyterians had 5 ordained mis- 
 sionaries in the foreign field, at a cost of $16,039. 
 
 The Congregationalists, through the American 
 Board, sustained 90 ministers in various foreign 
 fields, besides male and female helpers. 
 
 The . Reformed Dutch Church has missions in 
 India, Japan, and China. It sustained last year 
 17 ministers and 43 native helpers, at a cost of 
 $82,000. 
 
 BOOK CONCERN". 
 
 The publishing house of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, called the "Book Concern," was com- 
 menced in Philadelphia in 1789. It was removed 
 to New York in 1804 by order of the General 
 Conference. In 1824 it began to occupy its own 
 premises in Crosby-street, and in September, 1833, 
 
134 
 
 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 moved into its new and more extensive quarters, 
 200 Mulberry-street. In 1836 the entire establish- 
 ment was destroyed by fire ; but rebuilt the same 
 year, and much enlarged. 
 
 The agents elected by the General Conference 
 to manage its business during its existence have 
 been as follows : 
 
 1789. 
 
 Rev 
 
 . John Dickins. 
 
 1832. 
 
 Rev. 
 
 , Thomas Mason. 
 
 1799. 
 
 <i 
 
 Ezekiel Cooper. 
 
 1836. 
 
 (( 
 
 Thomas Mason. 
 
 1804. 
 
 (( 
 
 Ezekiel Cooper. 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 Greorge Lane. . 
 
 (( 
 
 (< 
 
 John "Wilson. 
 
 1840. 
 
 « 
 
 Thomas Mason. 
 
 1808. 
 
 (( 
 
 John Wilson. 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 George Lane. 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 Daniel Hitt. 
 
 1844. 
 
 (( 
 
 George Lane. 
 
 1812. 
 
 (( 
 
 Daniel Hitt. 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 C. B. Tippett. 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 
 Thomas Ware. 
 
 1848. 
 
 (( 
 
 George Lane. 
 
 1816. 
 
 (t 
 
 Joshua Soule. 
 
 (i 
 
 (( 
 
 Levi Scott. 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 
 Thomas Mason. 
 
 1852. 
 
 (( 
 
 Thomas Carlton. 
 
 1820. 
 
 u 
 
 Nathan Bangs. 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 
 Zebulon Phillips. 
 
 u 
 
 (1 
 
 Thomas Mason, 
 
 1856. 
 
 (( 
 
 Thomas Carlton. 
 
 1824. 
 
 « 
 
 Nathan Bangs. 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 James Porter. 
 
 <( 
 
 (( 
 
 John Emory. 
 
 1860. 
 
 (( 
 
 Thomas Carlton. 
 
 1828. 
 
 (( 
 
 John Emory. 
 
 u 
 
 (( 
 
 James Porter. 
 
 (1 
 
 (( 
 
 Beverly Waugh. 
 
 1864. 
 
 <( 
 
 Thomas Carlton. 
 
 1832. 
 
 (( 
 
 Beverly Waugh. 
 
 (( 
 
 (t 
 
 James Porter. 
 
 John Dickins, the first agent, remained faithful 
 at his post for ten years, until removed by death. 
 Mr. Cooper was appointed by Bishop Asbury to 
 take his place; and was elected, together with 
 Mr. Wilson, by the ensuing General Conference of 
 1804. The two last named agents are still at their 
 post, discharging their duty with great efficiency. 
 
 The sales of the Concern from 1848 to 1852 
 amounted to $653,190 78. Previous to this we 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 185 
 
 have been unable to gather them. Since that 
 period they have been as follows : 
 
 Tears. Amount, Tears. Amount. 
 
 1852 $182,757 80 1859 $322,087 58 
 
 1853 256,911 78 1860 381,680 94 
 
 1854 300,655 44 1861 270,989 86 
 
 1855 260,409 16 1862 315,732 66 
 
 1856 282,929 84 1863 539,469 42 
 
 1837 280,174 31 1864 
 
 1858 .... 290,675 56 1865 626,535 49 
 
 The profits of the Concern, which last year 
 amounted to 1.30,281 42, constitute a fund for the 
 support of the bishops, aged and worn-out preach- 
 ers, their widows and orphans. 
 
 The net proceeds, or capital stock, is valued at 
 $852,531 55. 
 
 The publications of the Book Concern consist 
 of 637 volumes of a general religious character; 
 1,574 Sunday-school volumes ; 312 volumes adapted 
 to the uses of the Ti*act Society, in various lan- 
 guages ; six different editions of the hymn book ; 
 six different editions of the Scriptures ; Clark and 
 Benson's Commentaries, in five different styles of 
 binding, besides eight other Commentaries on a part 
 or a whole of the Scriptures ; making the total num- 
 ber of bound volumes 2,548. There are also 1,037 
 Tracts, of various sizes and in different tongues, 
 which makes the total number of publications on 
 catalogue 3,548, besides Church requisites, cards, 
 and portraits of the prominent men of the denom- 
 ination. Besides this, it publishes several journals, 
 which will be mentioned hereafter. The working 
 
186 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 force of the Concern consist of two agents, under 
 whose firm name the business is managed ; four 
 editors, and from 250 to 300 others in the various 
 departments of the estabUshment. Over one million 
 bound volumes are manufactured yearly, and almost 
 double that number of tracts. It is acknowledged 
 to be the most extensive denominational publishing 
 house in the world. 
 
 Besides this, the Church has another publishing 
 bouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, called the " Western 
 Book Concern," established by the General Confer- 
 ence of 1820 as a Branch Concern. Its capital 
 stock amounts to $360,796. Its sales last year 
 amounted to 8618,'735. The sales of both Con- 
 cerns last year amounted to $1,245,270, the 
 profits to $76,031, and the net proceeds, or capital 
 Btock, to $1,213,327. There are also seven de- 
 positories connected with these Concerns, in various 
 parts of the country. Their sales, however, are 
 included in those of the Concerns. 
 
 There are also several publishing establishments 
 connected with the other branches of Methodism. 
 The Protestant Methodists have one in Baltimore, 
 and another in Springfield, Ohio, both of which do 
 a fair business. The Wesleyans have one in Syr- 
 acuse, New York ; and the Evangelical Association, 
 one in Cleveland, Ohio. The African Church, as 
 well as the Zion's, publishes a few books. The • 
 literature of all these Concerns is of the Arminian 
 school of theology, and 'thoroughly evangelical in 
 its tendency. 
 
 The operations of other denominational publish- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 137 
 
 ing houses, as well as several Union Societies, are 
 reported as follows : 
 
 The sales of the American Sunday-School Union 
 last year amounted to $203,149. This includes the 
 sales of its branch in New York, as well as the 
 books disposed of by its missionaries in the South 
 and West. The number of books on catalogue 
 is 1,793, besides two monthly periodicals. 
 
 The American Tract Society publishes 691 bound 
 volumes, and 2,822 tracts and cards. Its sales last 
 year, including $54,922 for periodicals, amounted 
 to $293,338. 
 
 The sales of the Boston Tract Society, including 
 books and periodicals, were $104,933. This was 
 45 per cent, advance upon the sales of the year 
 previous. Its capital stock is $120,678. 
 
 The publishing department of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church embraces the Bible and 
 I^-ayer-Book Society, the Evangelical Knowledge 
 Society, the Sunday-School Union and Church 
 Book Society, and Bishop White Prayer-Book 
 Society. Besides these there are some small 
 publishing houses connected with several of the 
 dioceses. 
 
 The Baptist Churches have a publishing house, 
 whose sales last year amounted to $118,361. The 
 number of new publications, including tracts, was 
 29. But the total number of publications is not 
 reported. 
 
 The publishing house of the Reformed Dutch 
 Church has on its catalogue 90 bound volumes and 
 100 tracts. Its sales last year were $13,000. 
 
138 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 The number of books on the Universalist cata- 
 logue is 129, and on the Unitarian 38. The amount 
 of sales is not given. 
 
 CHURCH PERIODICALS. 
 
 There are at present nine official weekly peri- 
 odicals connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. These are the Christian Advocate, West- 
 ern Christian Advocate, Northern Christian Advo- 
 cate, Northwestern Christian Advocate, California 
 Christian Advocate, Central Christian Advocate, 
 Pittsburgh Christian Advocate, Pacific Christian 
 Advocate, and Christian Apologist (German.) The 
 aggregate circulation of these is 147,500. 
 
 There are also six other weekly papers, unofficial, 
 published either by individuals or committees. 
 These are the Methodist, Zion's Herald, Bufialo 
 Advocate, Northern Independent, Vermont Chris- 
 tian Messenger, and the New Orleans Advocate. 
 The aggregate circulation of these is 62,320. 
 
 Connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 South, are ten weekly papers, with an aggregate 
 circulation of 30,000 ; in the other Methodist bodies 
 there are four others, with an aggregate circulation 
 of 12,500; making the total number of Methodist 
 weekly periodicals 30, and their aggregate circula- 
 tion 252,320. 
 
 There are also four official monthly journals con- 
 nected with the Church. These are the Good 
 News, Ladies' Repository, Missionary Advocate, 
 and Teachers' Journal, with an aggregate circula- 
 tion of 1*71,600. The unofficial monthly journals of 
 
AMERICAN" METHODISM. 139 
 
 the Church, as well as those connected with the 
 other branches of Methodism, are five in number, 
 with an aggregate circulation of 24,200; making 
 the total number of monthly Methodist journals 9, 
 and their aggregate circulation 195,800. 
 
 There is also a semi-monthly official paper called 
 the Sunday-School Advocate. Its aggregate circu- 
 lation last year was 274,750. It closed up its last 
 volume with 304,000 — the largest circulation of 
 any Sunday-school paper in the world. 
 
 There is also an official Quarterly Review, a 
 periodical of high literary and theological excel- 
 lence, with a circulation of 3,500. 
 
 The whole number of Methodist periodicals at 
 the present time in the United States is 42, and 
 their aggregate monthly circulation 1,756,046, or 
 20,072,552 yearly. 
 
 The periodicals of the other denominations, as 
 near as can be ascertained, are as follows : 
 
 The Old School Presbyterians have 11 weeklies, 
 4 monthlies, and two quarterlies. The New 
 School, 11 weeklies, 10 monthlies, 1 semi-monthly, 
 and 1 quarterly. Of the number of papers of the 
 minor Presbyterian bodies we have no knowledge. 
 
 The Episcopalians have 10 weeklies, 5 monthlies, 
 and 1 quarterly. 
 
 The Congregationalists have 5 weeklies and 3 
 quarterlies. 
 
 The Baptists have 14 weeklies, 7 monthlies, 1 
 semi-monthly, and 1 quarterly. 
 
 The Universalists have 6 weeklies, 3 monthlies, 
 and 1 quarterly. 
 
140 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 The Unitarians have 4 weeklies, 3 monthlies, 
 and 1 bi-monthly. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch have 1 weekly and 1 
 monthly. 
 
 INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church has under its 
 patronage and control 23 colleges and universities, 
 with 4,226 students and 144 instructors. The 
 "value of real estate, buildings, endowments, appa- 
 ratus, and other property, is $5,805,239. ' 
 
 It also has two theological seminaries, with 125 
 students and 9 instructors. One is located at Con- 
 cord, New Hampshire, and the other at Evanston, 
 Illinois. The buildings, legacies, and other prop- 
 erty are valued at 1450,000. 
 
 There are also 84 seminaries and academies 
 under the patronage of the Church. Connected 
 with these are 617 instructors, and 17,954 students. 
 The estimated value of property is $1,643,000. 
 
 The total number of institutions of learning con- 
 nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church is 
 109, instructors 770, and students 22,305. The 
 total value of property connected with them is 
 $7,898,239. 
 
 In the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church at 
 last reports there were 12 colleges and 17 acade- 
 mies; and connected with the other Methodist 
 bodies there are 27 institutions of various grades ; 
 making the total number of Mterary institutions 
 identified with Methodism, in the United States, 
 225, and the aggregate number of students 35,305. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 141 
 
 The following comprises the number of some of 
 the other denominations : 
 
 The Baptists report 32 colleges, 14 of which ex- 
 isted in the South previous to the war; 12 theo- 
 logical seminaries, 5 of which were also in the 
 South ; and 158 academies, 88 of which once existed 
 in the South. Of course there is nothing certain 
 about the present existence of institutions reported 
 from the South prior to the war. Omitting these, 
 both from the Methodists and Baptists, the present 
 number of institutions belonging to each of the 
 denominations is as follows: Methodists 23 col- 
 leges, 2 theological seminaries, and 84 academies; 
 total 109. Baptists 18 colleges, 7 theological semi- 
 naries, and 70 academies; total 95. 
 
 The Episcopalians have 14 colleges, 9 theologi- 
 cal seminaries, and 24 academies. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch have 3 colleges, 1 theo- 
 logical seminary, and 11 academies. 
 
 The Universalists have 3 colleges, 1 theological 
 school, and 8 academies. 
 
 Of the number of institutions belonging to each 
 of the Presbyterian bodies we have no knowledge. 
 The Old School report 24 colleges, half of which 
 are in the South; 6 theological seminaries, 3 of 
 which are in the same region. 
 
 BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church contributed 
 last year for the spread of the gospel the following 
 amounts : 
 
142 STATISTICAL HISTORY OP 
 
 Salaries of Ministers $4,284,700 
 
 Collections for Congregational purposes. . 3,126,000 
 
 Miscellaneous Collections 1,523,500 
 
 Missionary "Work, Home and Foreign. . . . 642,740 
 
 Support of Church Sunday-Schools 254,000 
 
 American Bible Society 101,743 
 
 Aged and Destitute Preachers. 93,149 
 
 Church Extension .'. 50,000 
 
 Sunday-School Union 17,738 
 
 Tract Society 13,566 
 
 Total $10,106,136 
 
 The Baptist Churches contributed as follows :• 
 
 -Missionary Union $153,195 
 
 Home Missions 122,519 
 
 Publication Fund 153,954 
 
 American and Foreign Bible Society 31,652 
 
 Free Mission Society 26,639 
 
 Historical Society 301 
 
 Total, as far as-reported $488,260 
 
 The Presbyterians, Old School and New, con 
 tributed the following amounts : 
 
 Congregational Purposes $3,204,233 
 
 Miscellaneous Collections 839,468 
 
 Foreign Missions 292,008 
 
 Home Missions 199,890 
 
 Educational Purposes 154,706 
 
 Publication Fund 77,426 
 
 Church Extension 55,814 
 
 Support of destitute Ministers 26,618 
 
 Total $4,850,223 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church reported fo- 
 missionary and charitable purposes, $2,700,004, 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 143 
 
 This is understood to include contributions for 
 home and foreign missions, as well as contribu- 
 tions, public and private, for the relief of the poor 
 in the various parishes. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church reported for relig- 
 ious .and benevolent purposes $225,410, but what 
 this includes we have no means of knowing. Other 
 denominations collect no statistics as to benevo- 
 lent contributions. One thing is evident, the 
 Methodists contribute nearly double as much as 
 any other denomination in this country for the 
 spiritual elevation of the race. 
 
144 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE SUCCESS OF METHODISM IN THE Ul^ITED 
 STATES, AND THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE CON- 
 TRIBUTED THERETO. 
 
 N"o one can read the history of Methodism with- 
 out the impression that it has reached its present 
 position through the toil, hardship, and self-sacrifice 
 of many of its adherents. Sacrifice and self-de- 
 nying eifort, essential to success in everything, 
 are specially applicable to Methodism in its early 
 history. The Church, now eloquent with its 
 past successes and future prospects, should chant 
 its songs of triumph over the resting-places of 
 those who, with weary steps and painful anxiety, 
 nourished and defended it while in the cradle of 
 its infancy. To them, under God, the Church 
 owes a debt of gratitude that no marble slab can 
 repay, and which demands nothing less than the 
 same unwearied devotion and anxious solicitude, 
 with the same object, and for the same end. 
 
 In tJ'acing the events of the century we find the 
 names of many, eminent for self-sacrificing toil, of 
 whom it would have given us great pleasure to have 
 made honorable mention ; but we have been com- 
 pelled reluctantly to pass them by, with the con- 
 solation that "their record is on high," and that 
 " their works do follow them." 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 145 
 
 In the preceding pages we have endeavored to 
 give the number of members connected with the 
 Church militant during the progress of the century. 
 But what are the numbers of those who have 
 joined the Church triumphant ? While there is no 
 way of ascertaining this definitely, yet an approx- 
 imation may be made. Adding the increase of 
 members for each year to the first number re- 
 ported, and subtracting therefrom the present 
 number, leaves the whole number who have died. 
 Some joined the Church probably, and died during 
 the same year, and hence are not computed in the 
 yearly increase; but these may be considered a 
 fair offset to those who are counted, but who made 
 shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. This 
 mode of computation gives about half a million of 
 members who have entered into rest during the 
 century from the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 But, as the other branches of Methodism are, to- 
 gether, as numerous as the parent body, although 
 not so old, it is safe to estimate a quarter of a 
 million or more for them, making at least three 
 quarters of a million of souls in the Church above, 
 who were known on earth by the appellation of 
 American Methodists. 
 
 Many also left the communion of the Church at 
 different periods during the centuiy, and formed 
 themselves into other Methodist organizations. 
 The first of these were the followers of O'Kelly, 
 who styled themselves Reformers. They, however, 
 never assumed much importance, and are now most- 
 ly absorbed in oth«r bodies. Th« Pfotestanjts and 
 
 10 
 
146 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Wesleyans left, principally, on the ground of 
 slavery and lay representation. But God has 
 destroyed the one, and the Church has virtu- 
 ally conceded the other ; so that, practically, there 
 is nothing in the way of a visible reunion. In the 
 case of the two branches of the African Methodist 
 Church there never was really any cause of sepa- 
 ration, except that growing out of the prejudices of 
 color. The events of Providence, however, are 
 removing all such wicked distinctions, and teaching 
 us that Christians of every name and color are one 
 in Christ Jesus. The Southern secession in 1844 
 caused the greatest diminution in numbers to the 
 parent body. The separation, however, was un- 
 avoidable, as we are to have no fellowship with 
 the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to 
 reprove them. God has, however, removed the 
 stumblingblock out of the way, and in his 
 own time will heal the angry wounds of feel- 
 ing, and impart new vigor to the united body. 
 While these several disruptions diminished the 
 numbere of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
 greatly detracted from the moral force of the 
 whole, yet in the general classification they can 
 be counted only as members of the Methodist 
 family. While the steps taken were prompted by 
 various motives, in no case was it hostility to 
 what are known as the peculiarities of Methodism. 
 The seceders were Methodists still, in name, in 
 doctrine, and in everything peculiar to the sys- 
 tem. And as the great Head of the Church has 
 in his own way removed the obstacles which 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 147 
 
 caused the separation, the spirit of harmony is 
 fast increasing, and steps toward visible unity- 
 are being taken by leading members of the various 
 branches. 
 
 There is no valid reason — none that can answer 
 a good conscience — why the first year of the 
 second century should not witness the complete 
 union of all branches of the same family ; except, 
 perhaps, the Southern branch, which, so far as we 
 now see, may require a longer period. And in 
 view of the increased moral power of such a unity 
 in the great work of salvation, how dare the Church 
 longer remain in such a divided and disrupted con- 
 dition ? The responsible heads of these various 
 branches should immediately take advantage of the 
 openings of Providence, and devise plans for a 
 speedy union. The Methodist Episcopal Church 
 can afford, nay, it is its duty, to take the initiatory 
 steps promptly and urgently in this matter. 
 
 In the preceding pages we have given the numbers 
 of each branch of Methodism separately, as well as 
 the aggregate of the whole, so that no one might 
 be led into error in making comparisons with 
 other denominations. 
 
 SUCCESS IN NUMBERS. 
 
 In spite of the adverse influences with which 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church has had to con- 
 tend, no one can read the preceding pages with- 
 out being convinced that the movement known as 
 Methodism is one of the greatest moral achieve- 
 
148 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 ments of the past century. If occasionally there 
 has been a decrease numerically, it has been only 
 temporary, and easily explained by existing cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 In the first place the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 has been relatively in advance of the population. 
 As the basis of calculation we have prepared the 
 following table, showing the population, increase, 
 and ratio of increase of the country for each decade, 
 from 1790 to the present time : 
 
 Years. 
 
 Population. 
 
 Increase. 
 
 Ratio of Increase. 
 
 1190.. 
 
 . . 3,929,821 
 
 
 .... 
 
 
 1800.. 
 
 .. 5,305,931 
 
 1,316,110 
 
 35-02 
 
 per cent. 
 
 1810.. 
 
 .. 1,239,814 
 
 1,933,881 
 
 36-45 
 
 
 1820.. 
 
 .. 9,638,191 
 
 2,398,311 
 
 33-12 
 
 
 1830.. 
 
 ..12,866,020 
 
 3,221,829 ■ 
 
 33-49 
 
 
 1840.. 
 
 ..11,069,453 
 
 4,203,433 
 
 32-61 
 
 
 1850.. 
 
 ..23,191,816 
 
 6,122,423 
 
 35-81 
 
 
 I860.. 
 
 ..31,489,561 
 
 8,291,685 
 
 31-11 
 
 
 1865.. 
 
 . .31,126,631 
 
 5,631,016 
 
 30-32 
 
 
 This table shows that the average ratio of in- 
 crease of the population for each ten years has 
 been 35.82 per cent. 
 
 The following table shows the number of 
 Church members, the increase, and the ratio of 
 increase of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 
 the same period : 
 
 Tears. Membership. Increase. Ratio of Increase. 
 
 1190 51,631 ' 
 
 1800 y . . 64,894 1,263 12-60 per cent. 
 
 1810 114,560 109,665 168-96 " 
 
 1820 259,890 85,330 48-81 " 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 149 
 
 Tears. Membership. Increase. Ratio of Increase. 
 
 1830 476,153 216,263 83-21 per cent. 
 
 1840 801,784 325,631 68-38 » 
 
 1850 689,682 112,102* 13-08* " 
 
 1860 994,447 304,765 44-20 " 
 
 1866 929,259 65,188* 06-55* " 
 
 * Decrease. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that the ratio of increase of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church has been far in 
 advance of the population, except for the years 
 1850 and 1865. The first was occasioned by the 
 Southern secession, and the last by the state of the 
 country and the secession of numerous Churches 
 on the border. With all these drawbacks the 
 average ratio of increase of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church during the period in question has been 
 56.85 per cent, for each ten years, while that of 
 the population has been only 35.82 per cent. In 
 other words, the ratio of increase of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, despite its numerous secessions, 
 has led the population 23 per cent, each ten years 
 since 1790. 
 
 The increase of the Church also is simply the 
 natural growth, with very few accessions from 
 abroad, while a large proportion of the population 
 is imported. From 1820 to 1830 the importa- 
 tions were 182,502; from 1830 to 1840, 538,382; 
 from 1840 to 1850, 1,427,337; and from 1850 to 
 1860, 2,968,194. By subtracting these each year 
 from the increase of the population, leaving only 
 its natural growth, the ratio of increase of the 
 Church would be a much larger advance upon 
 that of the population than it has been. For 
 
150 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 while the population has been greatly increasd by 
 accessions from abroad, and the Church dimin- 
 ished by various secessions, the latter has steadily 
 gained upon the former at the rate of 23 per 
 cent, for each decade during the past seventy-five 
 years. 
 
 In the next place the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church has kept, relatively, in advance of other 
 deno'minations. In order to show this we have 
 prepared statistical tables of several of the leading 
 denominations similar to those above. The fol- 
 lowing table presents the number of members, in- 
 crease, and ratio of increase of the regular Bap- 
 tist Churches: 
 
 Years. Members. 
 
 1790 10,011 
 
 1800 129,681 
 
 1810 189,345 
 
 1820 287,104 
 
 1830 384,859 
 
 1840 587,423 
 
 1850 332,885 
 
 1860 389,165 
 
 1865 400,197 
 
 In respect to the number of members in the pre- 
 ceding table, for one or two years, not being able 
 to procure any numbers of the denomination, we 
 filled the blank with the same ratio as the ten years 
 preceding. In one or two instances, also, the num- 
 bers given are those of the preceding or succeed- 
 ing instead of the even decade. This, however, 
 
 Increase. 
 
 Ratio of Increase. 
 
 59,664 
 
 85-21 per cent. 
 
 59,664 
 
 46-00 
 
 
 97,759 
 
 51-63 
 
 
 97,755 
 
 34-05 
 
 
 202,564 
 
 52-63 
 
 
 244,538* 
 
 43-33* 
 
 
 56,280 
 
 16.90 
 
 u 
 
 11,032 
 
 2-83 
 
 i( 
 
 Decrease. 
 
 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 151 
 
 makes but little difference, as the table extends 
 over a period of seventy-five years. The decrease 
 in 1850 was occasioned by the withdrawal of the 
 Southern Churches, in 1845, from all participation 
 with those of the North. It would be hardly just 
 to count the Baptist members of the South as 
 regular Baptists, especially as they formally with- 
 drew from the Convention in Philadelphia in the 
 above named year, and organized the missionary 
 and other agencies of the Church in the South, 
 equally with the Methodists. As one has not been 
 counted since the separation the other should not be ; 
 hence, we have given, since 1850, only the numbers 
 belonging to the associations which adhered to the 
 North, and which are fully reported in the Annual 
 Register. 
 
 By comparing the above table of the Baptists 
 with that of the Methodists, it will be seen that 
 the ratio of increase of the latter is 56.85 per 
 cent., while that of the former is 38.70 per cent, 
 during the same period. In other words, the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church has been 18 per cent, 
 in advance of the Baptists in the ratio of its 
 increase, each decade, for the last seventy-five 
 years. 
 
 A further comparison of the Regular Baptists 
 with the Methodist Episcopal Church will show 
 that the latter is much in advance in numbers at 
 the present time. In the following table the num- 
 ber of Baptists are those given in their Annual 
 Register of 1866, and comprise all the associations 
 there reported : 
 
152 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 States. Baptists. Methodists. 
 
 California 1,985 4,269 
 
 Connecticut. 17,484^ 18,179 
 
 Illinois 35,384' 89,181 
 
 Indiana 26,779 87,963 
 
 Iowa 12,555 37,527 
 
 Kansas 1,231 5,574 
 
 Maine 20,113 23,144 
 
 Maryland 4,315 56,575 
 
 Massachusetts 35,358 30,316 
 
 Michigan 13,949 32,403 
 
 Minnesota 2,955 7,773 
 
 Nebraska 228 1,557 
 
 New Hampshire 7,905 10,155 
 
 New Jersey 18,786 45,816 
 
 New York 89,074 160,386 
 
 Oregon 1,372 2,685 
 
 Ohio 32,839 115,639 
 
 Pennsylvania ' 42,030 105,533 
 
 Rhode Island 8,515 3,268 
 
 Yermont '7,969 14,625 
 
 Wisconsin 8,556 23,495 
 
 Total 389,382 875,963 
 
 By adding to the column of the Baptists about 
 10,000 for the District of Columbia, New Mexico, 
 Indian Territory, and the German, Swedish, and 
 Welsh Churches, it will give about 400,000; 
 the same number as found in the preceding 
 chapter. 
 
 This is about the actual number of regular Bap- 
 tists now in the country, not including the minor 
 branches, or those who have set up for themselves 
 in the Southern States. 
 
 By adding to the colunm of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church the number of members found in 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 153 
 
 Colorado, "Washington, Nevada, and other terri- 
 tories, also in West Virginia and various other 
 border and Southern states, where members 
 are found and conferences organized, it will 
 give a total of 929,259, as seen in the preceding 
 chapter. 
 
 By comparing the two columns also, in the above 
 table, extending over the same territory^ it will be 
 seen that the members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church outnumber those of the regular Baptists 
 by over two to one. The number of the one is 
 389,382, while that of the other is 875,963. The 
 number of Southern Methodists also is a fair offset 
 to the Southern Baptists. Before the war the 
 former numbered 708,949, and the latter 640,806 ; 
 both, however, have been somewhat reduced. 
 
 Thus, in the North, the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church has more than double the number of mem- 
 bers of the regular Baptists ; while, in the South, 
 the Methodists have about 75,000 majority. In- 
 cluding all the branches of Methodism, and all the 
 branches of the Baptists, as enumerated in the 
 preceding chapter, the former numbers 1,939,981, 
 and the latter 1,399,637, a majority of 440,344 in 
 favor of Methodism, nearly half a million. 
 
 Besides, the Methodist Episcopal Church has 
 had a larger proportion of the population as mem- 
 bers of its communion than the Baptists. This 
 will be seen by an examination of the following 
 tables. The first shows the number of inhabitants, 
 number of members, and the percentage of members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
164 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Year. Population. Members. Percentage. 
 
 1790 3,929,827 57,631 1-47 
 
 1800 5,305,937 64,894 1-22 
 
 1810 7,239,814. 174,560 2-41 
 
 1820 9,638,191 259,890 2*70 
 
 1830 12,866,020 476,153 3-70 
 
 1840 17,069,453 801,784 4-70 
 
 1850 23,191,876 . 689,682 3'00 
 
 1860 31,489,561 994,447 3'15 
 
 1865 37,120,637 929,259 2-50 
 
 The average proportion of membership to the 
 population, for each of the above named decades, 
 has been 2*92 per cent. The following table shows 
 the population, membership, and percentage of 
 members of the regular Baptists : 
 
 Year. Population. Members. Percentage. 
 
 1790 3,929,827 70,017 1-77 
 
 1800 5,305,937 129,681 2-44 
 
 1810 7,239,814 189,345 2-61 
 
 1820 9,638,191 287,104 2-98 
 
 1830 12,866,020 384,859 2-21 
 
 1840 17,069,453 587,423 3-44 
 
 1850 23,191,876 332,885 1*44 
 
 1860 31,489,561 389,165 1-23 
 
 1865 37,120,637 400,197 1*07 
 
 Thus, while the average proportion of member- 
 ship of the Methodist Episcopal Church has been 
 2*92 per cent., that of the Baptists has been 2*28 
 per cent. Including all the branches of the Bap- 
 tists, at' the present time, as enumerated in the 
 preceding chapter, the aggregate membership com- 
 pose 3* 77 per cent, of the entire population, while 
 the aggregate membership of all the branches of 
 Methodism make 5*22 per cent, of the population. 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 155 
 
 Such is the relative condition of the two largest 
 denominations of the country. 
 
 Methodism is relatively also in advance of Pres- 
 byterianism. As no authorized statistics can be 
 obtained of the number of this denomination earlier 
 than 1820, our comparisons will only extend to that 
 date. The tables below include only the regular, 
 or Old School Presbyterians. The first shows the 
 number of members, increase, and ratio of increase. 
 
 Year. Members. Increase. Katio of Increase. 
 
 1820..- 122,382 
 
 1830 173,329 50,947 41 '62 per cent. 
 
 1840 134,433 38,893* 22-45* " 
 
 1850 207,254 72,821 54-18 " 
 
 I860..' 292,927 90,613 43-73 *' 
 
 1865 287,360 5,567* 19-00* " 
 
 • Decrease. 
 
 The decrease in the above table for 1840 was 
 occasioned by the separation of the New School in 
 1838. In 1865 there is a decrease also, although 
 we have added the 55,400 who withdrew and set 
 up for themselves in the South. It was probably 
 the result of the state of the country, as in the case 
 of some other denominations. The average ratio 
 of increase for each ten years, as will be seen, has 
 been 31*00 per cent, during the past forty-five 
 years, while that of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 has been 56*85 for the past seventy-five. In other 
 words, the Methodist Episcopal Church has led the 
 Presbyterian over 25-85 per cent, for each decade. 
 The ratio of increase of the Presbyterian Church 
 has been a little in advance of the population. 
 The average of the former has been 31*00, that of 
 
156 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 the latter 35*82 ; while that of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church has been 56'85. 
 
 The following table shows the proportion of 
 Presbyterian members to the population : 
 
 Year. Population. Members. Percentage. 
 
 1820 9,638,191 122,382 1-27 
 
 1830 12,866,020 173,329 1-35 
 
 1840 , 17,069,453 134,433 0-78 
 
 1850 23,191,876 207,254 0-90 
 
 1860 31,489,561 292,927 0-93 
 
 1865 37,120,637 287,360 0-87 
 
 The average percentage of the Presbyterian 
 membership to the population for each decade, as 
 will be seen, has been I'lO per cent., while that 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church has been 2*92 
 per cent. 
 
 Including all the Presbyterian bodies, as enu- 
 merated in the preceding chapter, the aggregate 
 number of members is 1*61 per cent, of the popu- 
 lation at the present time, while the aggregate of 
 the various Methodist bodies is 5*22 per cent. 
 
 Methodism is also in advance of Episcopalian- 
 ism. Episcopalians, not being divided in various 
 branches, are all enumerated in the tables below. 
 As reliable statistics of numbers cannot be found 
 prior to 1820, our comparisons must be limited to 
 the period since that date. The following table 
 gives the number of members, increase, and ratio 
 of increase, of the communicants ; 
 
 Tear. Members. Increase. Ratio of Increase. 
 
 1820 24,538 
 
 1830 30,939 1,401 26-37 per cent 
 
 1840 65,477 24,538 79-31 " 
 
Increase. 
 
 Ratio of Increase 
 
 34,630 
 
 62-24 per cent 
 
 39,504 
 
 54-93 
 
 14.507 
 
 10-43 » 
 
 AMERICAN METHODISM. 157 
 
 Year. Members. 
 
 1850 90,107 
 
 1860 139,611 
 
 1865 154,118 
 
 The average ratio of increase for each ten years 
 has been 51' 84 per cent. This is an advance upon 
 the Baptists and Presbyterians, as well as upon the 
 population, but less than the Methodists, which is 
 56"85 per cent. The proportion of Episcopalians 
 to the whole population, as well as to Methodism, 
 is quite small, as seen by the following table : 
 
 Tear. Population. Members. Percentage. 
 
 1820 9,638,191 24,538 0-25 
 
 1830 12,866,020 30,939 0-24 
 
 1840 17,069,453 55,477 0*32 
 
 1850 23,191,876 90,107 0-38 
 
 1860 31,489,561 139,611 044 
 
 1865 37,120,639 154,118 0-41 
 
 The average proportion of Episcopalians for each 
 ten years since 1820, as shown by the above table, 
 is 0*36 per cent, of the population, while that of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church is 2*92 per cent. 
 
 The following table shows at a glance the ratio 
 of increase of the population, and of each of the 
 following denominations, together with the average 
 ratio of increase : 
 
 Tear. 
 
 1790... 
 
 
 .... 
 
 
 
 
 1800... 
 
 .. 35-02 
 
 12-60 
 
 85-21 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 1810... 
 
 .. 36-45 
 
 168-99 
 
 46-00 
 
 .... 
 
 • . . . 
 
 1820... 
 
 ... 33-12 
 
 48-89 
 
 51-63 
 
 .... 
 
 .... 
 
 1830... 
 
 .. 33-49 
 
 83-21 
 
 3405 
 
 41-62 
 
 26-37 
 
 1840... 
 
 ... 32-67 
 
 68-38 
 
 52-63 
 
 22-45 
 
 79-31 
 
158 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Year. Population. Methodists. Baptists. Presby'ns. Episcop'ns. 
 
 1850 35-87 1308 4333 54-16 62-24 
 
 1860 31-'77 44-20 16-90 4373 54-93 
 
 1865 30*32 6'55 2-83 1900 10-43 
 
 Average. 35-82 56-85 38*70 3100 61'84 
 
 The following table shows the percentage of 
 membership to the population of each of the follow- 
 ing denominations, as well as the average per- 
 centage ! 
 
 Year. Methodiets. Baptists. Presby'ns. Episcop'na. 
 
 1790 1-47 1-78 
 
 1800 1-22 2-44 
 
 1810 2-41 2-61 
 
 1820 2-70 2-98 1-27 0*25 
 
 1830 3-70 2-21 1*35 0.24 
 
 1840 4-70 3-44 0-78 0-32 
 
 1850 3-00 1-44 0-90 038 
 
 I860 315 1-23 0-93 0*44 
 
 1865 2-50 1-07 0-87 0-41 
 
 Average 2-92 2-28 1*10 0*36 
 
 It was our intention to have prepared tables of 
 the Congregational body, but several unsuccessful 
 attempts to obtain the number of members as far 
 back as 1820 led us to abandon it. The number 
 for 1865 is 268,015, or 0.'72 per cent of the popu- 
 lation. 
 
 Taking all the branches of the Methodists, Bap- 
 tists, and Presbyterians combined, together w^ith 
 the Congregationalists and Episcopalians, and the 
 adherents of Methodism number 44.58 per cent, of 
 the whole number. 
 
 The total number of members of all the denomi- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 159 
 
 nations in the country, in all their branches, as 
 enumerated in the preceding chapter, is 5,304,485, 
 of which the Methodists number 1,939,981, or 
 36*60 per cent. Oner one third of the whole num- 
 ber of communicants are Methodists. When we 
 consider that the ground had been preoccupied by 
 other denominations from one hundred to one hund- 
 red and fifty years ; when we take into account 
 the feeling of intense denominationalism* with which 
 they had to contend ; and when we look at their 
 relative strength at the close of the first century, 
 we are compelled to admit that Methodism has in 
 it elements of success unknown to other denomi- 
 nations. 
 
 SUCCESS IN EFFORT. 
 
 The moral influence of Methodism is at least 
 commensurate with its numerical strength. In no 
 department of Christian eflbrt are Methodists be- 
 hind their sister denominations. This will appear 
 by a reference to each of the activities of the Church. 
 
 In Sunday-school efforts, the Methodists lead the 
 van. The Methodist Episcopal Church alone has 
 over a million of persons in connection with its 
 schools, while the other branches number at least 
 half a million. The Regular Baptists, Congrega- 
 tionalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, (Old School 
 and New,) and the Reformed Dutch Church, are 
 about equal, in the combined number of their Sun- 
 day-school attendance, to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Well may it be said, " This is the Society 
 that takes care of the children." 
 
160 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 In gratuitous Tract distribution the efforts of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church will compare favor- 
 ably. Last year it distributed 37,364,000 pages 
 in various destitute localities in the East, and sent 
 1,250,000 pages to California and Oregon, to be 
 distributed by the committee there: making the 
 total number of pages for the year 38,614,000, 
 valued at $13,566 61. This was more than twice 
 as much as either the Episcopalians, Old or New 
 School Presbyterians, or the Reformed Dutch 
 Church, distributed; and is only 15,000,000 pages 
 less than that distributed by the American Tract 
 Society, Boston, although that Society received in 
 collections during the year $64,633. 
 
 For the circulation of the Holy Scriptures the 
 Methodists last year contributed $101,000, while 
 the Episcopalians reported for the same object 
 $5,204, and the Baptists $4,870. Of the operations 
 of other denominations on this point we have no 
 knowledge ; but it is safe to assume, judging from 
 other operations, that the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church nearly doubles the amount contributed by 
 any other denomination. 
 
 In Home Mission efforts the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church is truly the " pioneer Church." Last 
 year the Old School, New School, and United 
 Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, Reformed 
 Dutch, and Unitarians, sustained 1,457 missionaries, 
 while the Methodist Episcopal Church sustained 
 1,932. The American Home Missionary Society 
 had in the field only about half the number of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. The receipts 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 161 
 
 also of this Society were only $90,525, while those 
 of our Church were $254,675. The other branches 
 of Methodism also are engaged in the work of 
 home missions, and it is safe to estimate that 
 Methodism has 2,500 missionaries in the destitute 
 portions of this country;, sustained at an annual 
 expense of 1300,000. 
 
 In the Foreign Mission work, although the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church did not commence 
 operations until 1832, it sustains more ordained 
 missionaries than any other denomination. While 
 the Baptist Churches report the total num- 
 ber of missionaries much larger than the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, their ordained mission- 
 aries are less than those of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. A large number of missionaries of 
 the former Churches are native helpers, who sustain 
 themselves, to a great extent, by their own indus- 
 try. Especially is this the case in the Karen Mis- 
 sion. This is evident also from the fact that the 
 receipts of the Baptist Missionary Union and the 
 Baptist Free Mission Society combined, last year 
 only amounted to $179,826, while those of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church were $275,657. The 
 total amount expended last year on the home and 
 foreign fields was $642,740, a much larger amount 
 than that of any other denomination. This year 
 $1,000,000 has been appropriated to the two 
 departments of the missionary work. 
 
 The publishing operations of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church are much more extensive than those 
 of any other denominational publishing house in the 
 
 11 
 
162 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 world; and far exceed those of the publishing houses 
 of all the denominations of this country together. 
 Last year the sales of the Confcern in New York, and 
 its branch in Cincinnati, amounted to $1,245,270 30, 
 the profits to $76,031, and the net proceeds to 
 11,213,327 62. Besides this, each branch of Meth- 
 odism has its own Concern, which transacts a fair 
 amount of business. 
 
 The periodical literature of the Church, its liter- 
 ary institutions, and its benevolent contributions, 
 exceed those of any other denomination, as will be 
 seen by referring to the preceding chapter. As to 
 benevolent contributions, the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church collects for the spread of the Gospel in 
 various ways nearly double the amount of any 
 other Church. Last year it exceeded $10,000,000. 
 
 Thus the record of Methodism at the close of 
 its first century, in respect to all the activities of 
 the Church, is much in advance of either of its 
 sister denominations ; in some departments of 
 effort it is scarcely behind all of them combined. 
 Surely to God ought to be all the glory for such 
 abundant grace. 
 
 CAUSES OP SUCCESS. 
 
 The causes contributing to the success of Meth- 
 odism in the United States are occupying more or 
 less the attention of the Christian public. This 
 poor depised people, called Methodists, celebrating 
 their first centennial, head and shoulders above the 
 older denominations of the country, the question 
 naturally arises, What has conduced to such a rapid 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 163 
 
 growth ? While comparative denominationalism 
 seeks to solve the question, there are higher 
 motives lying at the base of all inquiry. For, 
 after all, the growth of either branch of the Church 
 is only the measure of Christian expansion, the 
 diffusion of the principles of the Gospel. The 
 question as to the best mode of the conversion of 
 the world should quicken inquiry in respect to the 
 success of any denomination, rather than relative 
 denominationalism. It is true, the Gospel of Christ 
 is the divinely appointed agency for the uplifting 
 of man ; but the best means or mode of dissem- 
 inating this Gospel should become the subject of 
 thought, of intense solicitude. Each branch of the 
 Church having its own mode of effort, it is perti- 
 nent to ask if each is not too set in its own plans to 
 look carefully and patiently into those of others. 
 As the Church is only an agent for the diffusion 
 of Christ's Gospel, it is in duty bound to adopt 
 such plans as are best adapted for its diffusion. 
 That some agencies are better adapted than others, 
 there can be no doubt; and the only way of determ- 
 ining these is by their results. In this light 
 the success of Methodism becomes a question of 
 importance evangelically rather than denomina- 
 tionally. If there are in this system elements of 
 success unknown to other systems, and if these are 
 better adapted to the evangelization of the world, 
 then they ought to be seized and pressed into the 
 service of Christ. 
 
 As to what the success of this movement during 
 the past century may be attributed, there are many 
 
164 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 and various opinions. The Calvinists attribnte it 
 to the laxity of its doctrines. They represent them 
 as being less scriptural than their own, and hence 
 not as distasteful to the unregenerate heart. Of 
 course this is unsatisfactory to an Arrainian, while 
 it is quite modest on the part of the Calvinist. If 
 this is the case, of course it will soon come to 
 naught. Others attribute it to the zeal of its ad- 
 herents. This being scriptural, no fault can be 
 found with it. Others ascribe it to the tyranny of 
 the system. This is an impeachment of each of 
 its ministers, if not of its members. Others speak 
 of the unity or connectionalism of the Church. 
 This, doubtless, has its advantages ; but some other 
 Churches are also connectional. The secret of its 
 success must be sought elsewhere. 
 
 To look at the subject negatively, its success is 
 not the result of its learning. Some learned men 
 have connected themselves with it, and others have 
 grown up in its communion ; but the great mass 
 have not been distinguished in this respect. It is 
 not attributed to its wealth ; mostly, it has had to 
 do with the middle classes, some of whom have 
 grown wealthy within its communion. Neither can 
 it be ascribed to its talent. Other denominations 
 have been equal, to say the least, in this respect. 
 It has had no peculiar advantages. The reverse 
 of this was the fact, especially in its early history. 
 There is nothing peculiar either in the expression 
 of its Articles of Faith. They are simply a conden- 
 sation of the Thirty-Nine Articles of tlie Episcopal 
 Church. Its ecclesiastical polity, while it is epis- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 165 
 
 copal, centers nothing in one head; and regards 
 the bishops simply as elders, although elected to 
 fill an important office. In none of these causes, 
 nor in any one specific cause, can we find a solu- 
 tion of the question under consideration. 
 
 Positively considered, then, the success of Meth- 
 odism is due to those things which are peculiar 
 to it as a system. To these, whatever they may 
 be, must be ascribed the secret of its power and 
 success. If an individual be noted for any peculiar 
 achievement, the power which enabled him to 
 accomplish it lay in his natural peculiarity. Rob 
 him of this, or bind him to. some other mode of 
 action, and, like Samson, he is shorn of his strength. 
 God raises up systems, as well as men, for the ac- 
 complisliment of a particular work ; he endows 
 those also whom he identifies with these systems 
 with peculiar gifts and modes of action, adapted 
 to the mission the system was intended to accom- 
 plish. * This has been the case, emphatically, with 
 Methodism ; and woe be to it when those peculiar 
 agencies by which it has been so signally pros- 
 pered shall be ignored. 
 
 One of the peculiarities by which this success 
 has been achieved has been 
 
 rrS MODE OF PREACHING. 
 
 Wher^compared with most of the leading denom- 
 inations, the style of a Methodist preacher is 
 peculiar, both as to matter and manner. Although 
 it is not quite so marked as in days gone by, yet 
 it is sufficiently discernible at the present. The 
 
166 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 best description that we can give on this point is the 
 remark of a Presbyterian friend a few years since, 
 after he had heard a sermon from the Rev. Dr. 
 Styles. " Why," said he, " the doctor preached 
 right at the heart, just like a Methodist preacher." 
 As a rule, a Methodist addresses himself directly 
 to the heart, while many others appeal to the in- 
 tellect. The one makes you feel, the other think. 
 The happy medium is to make the hearer both 
 think and feel; then his soul is fed. Methodist 
 preachers never converted the pulpit into a pro- 
 fessor's chair; but with earnestness have urged 
 and beseeched men to flee the wrath to come. In 
 this respect they have followed the examples of 
 men in other vocations. If their desire is to move 
 men to immediate action, they address themselves 
 to the emotional department of their natures. So 
 with a Methodist, who always preaches for imme- 
 diate efiect. To him the mathematical, qy dry 
 Scotch mode of working out the problem of salva- 
 tion, is too slow a process. With earnestness, 
 seeing the sinful condition of his hearers, he so 
 addresses them as to move them immediately to 
 Christ, without regard as to whether he is doing it 
 in accordance with the rules of polite etiquette. 
 
 As a general rule, a Methodist preacher comes 
 directly from the people. His former life was 
 spent in the workshop, or in some other way 
 where he was called to mingle with his fellow-man. 
 Although many of them are highly educated, yet 
 they are not generally shut out from intercourse 
 with their kind for eight or ten years in the clois- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 167 
 
 ters of the seminary and college. They go direct- 
 ly from the people to the pulpit. Having men to 
 address, they are acquainted with men. In this 
 way they know how to address the various tem- 
 peraments and phases of experience, thereby giving 
 to each a portion in due season. This knowledge 
 of human nature has given great efficiency to the 
 Methodist pulpit of this country. 
 
 The sermons, too, of these men have been most- 
 ly extemporaneous. This, in connection with the 
 fact of earnestness and sympathy, was admirably 
 adapted to produce effect. The barrister, the 
 politician, desiring to speak effectively, speak ex- 
 temporaneously, and why not the preacher? Of 
 course such a discourse does not preclude the most 
 thorough preparation ; and with it, the extempore 
 delivery is by far the most effective. 
 
 These sermons also have been delivered in plain, 
 simple language — ^the language of the people. 
 Technical terms, not understood by the people and 
 scarcely by the preacher, have found no place in 
 the earnest appeals of Methodism. Book language 
 has not been so much used as the common lan- 
 guage, hence the people have known where to say 
 Amen. I do not say that violence has not some- 
 times been done to the rules of rhetoric, and per- 
 chance of grammar ; but there was usually a direct- 
 ness, a force, a simplicity to such discourses that 
 rendered them as intelligent to the listening child 
 as to the thoughtful adult. Simplicity of language 
 is compatible with the highest attainments ; and 
 while violence to any of the rules of language 
 
168 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 would be unpardonable at the present day, yet not 
 more so than the contemptible and wicked custom 
 of pedantry so frequent in many of our pulpits. 
 This mystifying God's truth with a mass of un- 
 meaning verbiage, never yet made a soul feel the 
 exceeding sinfulness of sin, or inspired it with aspi- 
 rations for a higher and purer life. * Methodism 
 has achieved much of its success by " great plain- 
 ness of speech," and a Methodist preacher cannot 
 deviate from the use of simple and plain language 
 without insulting the majesty of the past, and 
 greatly impairing his efficiency and usefulness in the 
 present. 
 
 Another cause of the success of Methodism 
 must be attributed to the 
 
 SELF-SACEIFICING SPIRIT OF ITS MINISTRY. 
 
 The spirit of self-sacrifice lies at the foundation 
 of all moral achievement. The example presented 
 by Christ in his life, as well as in his death ; the 
 experience of the great and good in all ages of the 
 Church, show that the greater the manifestation of 
 this spirit, the greater and more sublime the results. 
 As no class is more identified with Christ in effort 
 for the salvation of the lost than the ministry, so 
 no class are called upon to make greater sacrifices. 
 'The Methodist ministry are perhaps sharers with 
 Christ in this respect to a greater degree than 
 others. It is a part of the system with which they 
 are identified. As they have no certain dwelling- 
 place, they are rightfully styled itinerants. For 
 while the rule on this point allows of a three years' 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 169 
 
 pastorate, (this is the maximum period,) every 
 preacher is subject to removal at the end of each 
 year. A presiding elder travels the length and 
 breadth of his district four times a year, for at 
 most four years in succession, and may be removed 
 at any time. The bishops or general superintend- 
 ents traverse the nation from center to circumfer- 
 ence annually. On those who have strong local 
 attachments, social dispositions, and domestic ties 
 and associations, such a system bears hard and 
 
 heavy. 
 
 When a man takes upon himself the obligations 
 of a Methodist preacher he identifies himself with 
 the system. The question is not, then, whether he 
 will go to this or that appointment, but whether 
 he will hereafter obey the voice of the Chur^jh, and 
 go to such fields of labor as the judgment of its 
 constituted authorities may determine. This step, 
 although involving the surrender of all the endear- 
 ments of home and home associations, is taken 
 voluntarily and deliberately, and under a deep im- 
 peUing conviction that the system which requires 
 it is the one best adapted to the diffusion of the 
 principles of the Gospel. 
 
 This peculiarity of Methodism, one of the prom- 
 inent causes of its steady growth, has been coeval 
 with its history. Wesley started out under God 
 to wake up the slumbering energies of the Church. 
 When persons desired to co-operate with him, he 
 received them as helpers, and continued tbe illa- 
 tion as long as they continued as such. When, 
 however, they began to pull down his work, or 
 
170 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 contended that it should be put up in some other 
 way, he severed the relation. That this was wise, 
 every originating mind will admit. Before his 
 death he transferred this power of receiving and 
 dismissing preachers to the "legal hundred," as 
 they are called, a body of preachers of his own 
 creation. When Methodism began on this side 
 of the water he intrusted the same power to his 
 assistants. This power was vested in the bishops 
 at the organization of the Church, and has never 
 been revoked. 
 
 This plan of stationing the preachers is not arbi- 
 trary^ as some suppose. They are usually stationed 
 on account of peculiar adaptation to a special work. 
 The bishop and presiding elders have their eye on 
 each locality of a given district, and they have 
 their reasons for each appointment made. It is 
 usually the case, also, that each aggrieved preacher 
 finds out before the close of the year that his ap- 
 pointment to that place was one of the greatest 
 blessings of his life. This is on the principle of the 
 divine economy, that the greater the sacrifice the 
 greater the blessing. 
 
 This mode of making appointments is called by 
 some the tyranny of the system. If so, it is a tyranny 
 that each one voluntarily assumes, and with which 
 he voluntarily remains. He is always provided 
 with a place, and sustained as long as he remains. 
 All systems have their disadvantages; and these 
 are very apt to be magnified, while the other side 
 is entirely overlooked. This is one of the frailties 
 of our poor humanity, applicable to all the phases 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 171 
 
 of life. If those who^are so often talking about the 
 tyranny of the system would subject themselves to 
 as great sacrifices as Methodist preachers, they 
 might perhaps be the means of the salvation of a 
 much greater number of souls. It might also give 
 a little more expansion and force to the machin- 
 ery with which they are identified. At any rate 
 they ought to thank God that there are men will- 
 ing, for Christ's sake, to make sacrifices from 
 which they themselves shrink. 
 
 The success of Methodism must be attributed 
 also to its 
 
 SYSTEM OP FREE CHURCHES. 
 
 This system was not only necessary in the out- 
 set, in order to secure an attendance, but it was as 
 providential as it was necessary. As Methodism 
 was raised up to meet the spiritual wants of a large 
 class, not blessed with an abundance of this world's 
 goods, it was important that they should not be 
 debarred by any financial considerations. Besides, 
 there is somewhat of a connection between a " free 
 gospel " and " free seats." 
 
 The early fathers of Methodism felt that as God 
 had made of one blood all nations of men to dwell 
 on the earth, as his sun shines on all, as Christ died 
 for all, and as heaven is free to all, so the Church 
 on earth should be the living exemplification of 
 God's universal love; and that in it the rich and 
 poor should meet together, the Lord being the 
 maker of them all. Hence the uppermost seat in 
 the synagogues was as free to one man as another. 
 
172 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 The first come were the first ^rved. This was the 
 case in the "Rigging Loft," which was fitted up 
 as a free preaching station for the people. The 
 subscription paper for the first Methodist Church 
 edifice in thi^ country asked for funds to erect a 
 house " where the gospel of Jesus Christ might be 
 preached without distinction of sect or party." 
 This free, broad system has been adhered to with 
 few exceptions until the present, and has contrib- 
 uted much to the prosperity of the denomination. 
 
 The system of renting the pews in the house of 
 God, or of selling them, is not only a modern in- 
 vention, but is very deleterious to the spread of the 
 gospel. Few persons obtrude themselves into a 
 private pew any more than into a private house. 
 Few, also, love to be put there, especially when 
 they see the hesitancy with which it is done ; and 
 knowing also the sensitiveness of most owners of 
 pews on that point, they stay away. A large 
 class of persons also are migratory in their habits. 
 They stay in one place as long as business or other 
 circumstances warrant. While settled, they usual- 
 ly avoid all "pewed churches," unless they happen 
 to be members of one of them. And, as Methodist 
 churches are known to be free, they find their way 
 there if anywhere, and in process of time are con- 
 verted to God. The Methodist free seat system 
 has saved thousands to the Church of God who 
 otherwise would have been lost. 
 
 The system of pewed churches is usually ad- 
 vocated on the ground of convenience and comfort. 
 It is so much more agreeable, it is said, to have 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 173 
 
 one's own pew fitted up in style, than to sit here 
 and there with everybody. This argument is simply 
 a selfish one, not to be weighed for a moment if it 
 interferes in any way with' the undying interests of 
 an immortal soul. Methodism has yielded this point 
 of personal comfort for Christ's sake, and thrown 
 open its pew doors to every class and condition. 
 
 Pewed churches are often advocated on financial 
 grounds. It is the only way we have, says one, of 
 supporting the minister and defraying the other ex- 
 penses of the church. Methodism has managed to 
 live, until it collects nearly double the amount of 
 any other denomination in the land, without resort- 
 ing to the tricks and traps so frequent in the renting 
 and selling of pews. Besides, if a man pays $50 a 
 year for his pew, he pays that for his own comfort, 
 as much so as for his house, and not directly for 
 the support of the gospel. That his pew rent goes 
 to the support of the minister I admit, but no 
 thanks to him ; he paid it for his own comfort or 
 convenience. Methodist families sacrifice such com- 
 forts, and contribute just as much for the direct 
 object of sustaining the gospel. That this free seat 
 system has worked well in practice, an experience 
 of a hundred years has fully demonstrated. 
 
 The success of Methodism must also be attrib- 
 uted to 
 
 ITS FREQUENT REVIVALS. 
 
 Methodism originated with revivals; its life- 
 power has been drawn from them, it can only exist 
 by their continued use. Scarcely a Methodist miu- 
 
174 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 ister passes a winter without a revival. Camp-meet- 
 ings also tend to keep the revival spirit alive during 
 the summer. Scarcely is there a prayer offered by 
 a Methodist, whether minister or layman, without 
 the use of the scriptural expression, " O Lord, re- 
 vive thy work." Every sermon is intended to lead 
 souls immediately to Christ. Thus the work of 
 Methodism, the year round, is soul saving. Its 
 altar, or anxious seat, is always ready ; and there 
 is no lack of invitation on the part of the min- 
 ister for persons to " come forward and give their 
 hearts to Christ." If as much effort were put forth 
 to instruct and nourish as to convert, the Church 
 would have been much more successful than it has 
 been. In the future, its energies should be put 
 forth in the twofold work of conversion and con- 
 firmation. 
 
 It is often said, and said sometimes jestingly, if 
 not reproachfully, that "Methodists believe in re- 
 vivals." Most certainly they do, and so did Habak- 
 kuk, and so ought every Christian who believes in 
 the degeneracy of the race. The teachings of the 
 Scriptures, as well as the wants of our nature, show 
 the need, not simply of reformation, but of revival^ 
 oi renewal. The truth is, all denominations believe 
 in them more or less, but the Methodists are true 
 to their convictions in practice. In addition, they 
 not only believe in them, but are willing to work 
 for them, which is no small matter. To preach 
 during the Sabbath, as well as every evening of the 
 week; to attend inquiry-meetings, class-meetings, 
 prayer-meetings ; to visit inquirers at their homes, 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 175 
 
 and to encourage the new-born soul, besides all 
 the regular duties of the pastorate, for months in 
 succession, devolves work on a minister that the 
 infirmities of human nature shrink from in some 
 Methodist ministers, much more those of other de- 
 nominations. 
 
 Methodism assumes that God is ready at all 
 times to pardon the sinner. Hence these frequent 
 revival seasons are intended to brins: him to a feel- 
 ing sense of his condition. Knowing the natural 
 tendency to resist the striving of the Spirit, their 
 object is to persuade the sinner to yield assent to its 
 influence. If religion were simply a change of pur- 
 pose, there can be none too many helps to induce 
 men to change. But knowing the treachery of the 
 heart, and the wiles of Satan, the object of revivals 
 is to induce men, under the pressure of deep con- 
 viction, to take the first step in coming to Christ 
 to receive the remission of their sins. Believing in 
 a present salvation, they press the subject right 
 home to the conscience, and urge the acquiescence 
 of the will. Through the influence of such efibrt, 
 thousands yield to the Spirit's power, and are born 
 into the kingdom, who without such effort would 
 have remained impenitent. The great want of the 
 world is increased effort in the work of salvation, 
 and it is to be hoped that the revival spirit will not 
 only be continued in this communion, but that it 
 will be extended to others. 
 
 Among the causes which have contributed to 
 the success of Methodism must be mentioned 
 
176 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 ITS LAY EFFORTS. 
 
 That every member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church is a working member we do not pretend; 
 that there are many of such also in other Churches 
 we admit; but what is asserted is, that the growth 
 of the denomination has been in proportion to its 
 activity, and, in a special sense, may be attributed 
 to its efficient system of lay operations. 
 
 When a person unites with the Church he is 
 immediately placed in one of the classes, under the 
 care of a person of experience and discrimination. 
 It is soon ascertained in what the talents of the 
 young convert consist, and he is soon assigned a 
 place on one of the Church Committees, where they 
 can be developed. This may be on the Tract Com- 
 mittee, to visit from house to house with the print- 
 ed page, and to drop a word of exhortation or com- 
 fort. It may be on the Sunday-school Committee, 
 to " gather the children in," to be instructed in the 
 truths of the Bible. If he is sufficiently skilled 
 he may be placed over a class of young immortals, 
 to train them up for Christ. He may find his place 
 in the Clothing Committee, to provide and dispense 
 garments to the naked and destitute ; or, as a mem- 
 ber of the Relief Committee, assist in feeding the 
 hungry, and otherwise caring for their temj^oral 
 wants. On the Missionary or Bible Committee, 
 he may be assigned a j^lace to solicit means to aid 
 in sending the living minister and the inspired 
 word to distant, destitute regions. If he has 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 177 
 
 financial tact, he will be made a steward, to 
 use his talent in connection with the temporal- 
 ities of the Church; or he may be elected to fill 
 a vacancy in the Trustee Board. If God has 
 honored him with a deep spiritual experience, he 
 is made a class-leader, to help on the younger and 
 weaker disciple in the heavenly way. If he has 
 the gift of speech, he is licensed to exhort, under 
 the direction of the pastor; and if, in addition, he 
 is a person of experience, and versed in Bible 
 truth, be licensed as a local preacher, to dispense 
 the word of life to his fellow-man as often as op- 
 portunity shall ofiTer. The women, too, are eligible 
 to many of these committees, and ought to be to 
 more ; and although the Church has no " Sisters 
 of Charity," as such, yet they are all engaged in 
 works of charity and mercy in the way best adapted 
 to the talent God has given them. In no Church 
 is the lay element more recognized, better system- 
 atized, and more efficient. Indeed, an idler has no 
 business in the Methodist Church. If such a one 
 is in it, he is not of it. He is a drone in the hive, 
 and ought, if not exactly to be stung out, to be 
 made to feel so very uncomfortable as voluntarily 
 to retire. The Methodist Episcopal Church is not 
 a spiritual lounging place, in which members can 
 simply take comfort ; it is not a spiritual restaurant, 
 where persons enter to feast upon the good things 
 of the kingdom ; but it is a spiritual workshop, 
 where persons who enter are expected to work for 
 Christ. It will be a fatal day for Methodism if its 
 members ever get too proud or too indolent to 
 
 12 
 
178 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 work for Christ. Its activity has been its life, the 
 law of its growth, and it can only exist and prosper 
 by its continued operation. 
 
 This is seen from general principles. Effort is the 
 secret of success in everything. Systems as well 
 as individuals prosper in proportion to effort. In- 
 ward growth also is the exact measure of well- 
 directed Christian effort ; hence a blessed experi- 
 ence may be realized in proportion as we mete out 
 blessings to others. On this principle it is no 
 wonder that the moment Saul's eyes were open and 
 he saw duty staring him in the face, he inquired, 
 " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? " If con- 
 version is not simply a call to work, as some have 
 asserted, every conversion includes such a call; 
 and while one person is called to preach, every 
 other person is equally called to do something. 
 The Methodist system recognizes this principle 
 and sets all to work, and that, too, in the way 
 adapted to the peculiar talents with which they 
 are endowed. 
 
 Another of the elements of success in Method- 
 ism is 
 
 ITS MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 
 
 Methodism, as a branch of the Church of Christ, 
 is not the result of human contrivance. While its 
 founder knew that organization was inseparable 
 from well-conducted Christian effort, yet he never 
 contemplated a new denomination. Indeed, he 
 took no step in organization until compelled by the 
 force of existing circumstances. The idea upper- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 179 
 
 most in his mind was the diffusing of a new life 
 through the dead body of ecclesiastical formalism, 
 the spread of holiness through the land, the con- 
 version of the world to Christ. This was the 
 sublime idea which gave birth to the new move- 
 ment, and this has ever been its inspiring theme. 
 And, although the efforts of the Wesleys were so 
 systematic and methodical that they Avere called 
 Methodists, after a certain sect of ancient phy- 
 sicians, yet they were never anxious or concerned 
 in respect to plans or systems of organization. In 
 all of then* discourses you hear no denunciation of 
 existing sects, no arguments in favor of a new one. 
 Christ and his salvation were the burden of their 
 souls and the theme of their discourses. The 
 helpers that gathered about Wesley did not labor 
 for sect, but for Christ. For this object they min- 
 gled, preached, and prayed with the colliers of 
 Kingswood, and the masses in the fields, markets, 
 and streets. Thus the spirit which gave birth to 
 Methodism was a missionary spirit ; a spirit which 
 thinks more of Christ and the souls redeemed by 
 him, than of denomination or sect. It was the 
 same spirit which moved the bosom of the Saviour 
 to tenderness and compassion, when he saw the 
 multitudes about him as sheep without a shep- 
 herd. 
 
 The same missionary spirit has been infused into 
 the heart and soul of Methodism in this country. 
 Look at Francis Asbury, the apostle of American 
 Methodism, the memory of whom will be more 
 and more cherished as time advances. In his 
 
180 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 annual round he traverses the country in true 
 apostolic style, beseeching men to become reconciled 
 to God. Even earlier than this, the devoted Bar- 
 bara Heck, with the salvation of the soul upper- 
 most in her mind, urges Embury to stand up for 
 Jesus, lest they should " all go to hell together." 
 Garrettson and Lee, and others in the Methodist 
 succession, rose above mere naiTow denomination- 
 al motives, and planted themselves upon the broad 
 platform of Christian catholicity and earnest ag- 
 gressive effort. Methodist preachers have always 
 acted upon the presumption that they were in- 
 cluded in the call, to " go and preach the Gospel 
 to every creature," hence they have gone whether 
 invited or not ; and sometimes have gone when 
 they were invited in a very emphatic manner to 
 leave. This missionary spirit has given to the 
 Church the epithet, " the pioneer Church," and to 
 its ministry, " the circuit-riders." 
 
 While the mission of some other Churches may 
 be to settle, the peculiar prerogative of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church is to push out into destitute 
 regions, to break new ground, to urge upon the 
 masses generally the saving truths of the Gospel. 
 Whether those who are arrested by the Spirit 
 through these efforts unite with the Methodist 
 Church or some other, is a question of little im- 
 portance so long as they join where they can grow 
 in grace and be instrumental in effort for Christ. 
 The union of the soul to Christ, and not to this or 
 that ism, is true Methodism. And there is not a 
 Methodist to-day but what would say, " Let Meth- 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 181 
 
 odism go, if thereby the cause of Christ can be 
 subserved." 
 
 The success of this denomination in the future 
 depends upon adherence to the same broad prin- 
 ciples of catholicity, the same earnest aggressive 
 efforts. The first and paramount duty of the min- 
 isters of Methodism in their pastoral relation, in 
 their preachers' meetings, quarterly, annual, and 
 general conferences, is not how Methodism can best 
 be advanced, but how the machinery of Methodism 
 caiT be made more effective in the spread of the 
 Redeemer's kingdom. Let the great heart of Meth- 
 odism be inspired with such a sublime idea, and 
 every pulsation will be quickened with new vigor 
 and accelerated force. With such a motive im- 
 pelling its every act, the growth of the Church 
 during the century on which it is soon to enter 
 will be greatly in advance of the past. "He 
 that watereth others shall himself also be 
 watered." 
 Another element of success in Methodism, is its 
 
 POSITIVE CHRISTIAN EXPEEIENCE. 
 
 In all ages of the Church the doctrine of assurance 
 has been, to some extent; believed. It was taught by 
 Origen, Clemens, and others of the ante-Nicene fa- 
 thers. Arguments in its behalf were used by some of 
 the Reformers. Luther says, that faith is spewed out 
 without assurance; while Melancthon maintains, 
 that it is the line of cliscrimination between hea- 
 thenism and Christianity, The writings of these 
 
182 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 men however show, that all they had was a mere 
 theological belief on the subject. A clear, practi- 
 cal definition of this truth was reserved for Wesley. 
 " By it," says he, " I mean an inward impression 
 on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God immediately 
 and directly witnesses to my spirit that I am a 
 child of God ; that Jesus hath loved me and given 
 himself for me ; that all my sins are blotted out, 
 and I, even I, am reconciled to God." Such an 
 experimental definition was never before given, 
 simply because it was but very little realized. In 
 this inwai'd realization, this heartfelt experience, 
 consists its peculiarity to Methodism, and not in 
 the intellectual assent of its scriptural existence. 
 It is the experimental application of this doctrine 
 that has called forth the opposition of others, and 
 which the Church has felt it to be its duty to defend. 
 This key-note of a positive, practical theology, 
 struck by Wesley, has been vibrating through the 
 heart of the Church until the present time. It has 
 been proclaimed theoretically and experimentally 
 both by preacher and people. The young convert, 
 with the first buddings of a new life, has shouted 
 out from the innermost depths of his soul the doc- 
 trine of a conscious positive assurance. With the 
 poetry of Charles "Wesley the Church has been 
 made to resound with the same positive strains of 
 heavenly melody. Thus while others had been 
 hoping that they were Christians, and hanging in 
 suspense between hope and fear, the most unpleasant 
 of all conditions, the Methodists, with an inward 
 conviction, were enabled to speak of sins forgiven, 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 183 
 
 and love and joy abiding, with much definiteness 
 and clearness. " The Spirit beareth witness with 
 our spirits that we are the children of God." 
 
 Such a positive theology, such an inward satis- 
 faction, was what the world had long needed. It 
 had been hungering and thirsting for it, and it is 
 no wonder that it found willing adherents. The 
 very profession of such an indwelling experience 
 has led thousands to a more careful examination of 
 their condition, accompanied with earnest prayer 
 for the same conscious blessed experience. Said a 
 person once, who had through many struggles en- 
 tered into the assurance of faith, " That I loved my 
 partner in life I knew, because I fdt it ; and now, 
 blessed be God ! I know that I love Him because I 
 feel it." This was an argumentum ad hominem 
 that none could resist, and resulted, then and there, 
 in several others pressing into the same positive 
 experience. The love of Christ in the soul, enjoyed 
 and confessed, has given Methodism much of its 
 efficiency. Its success in the future will be in pro- 
 portion to its faithfulness in this respect. 
 
 Another element to be enumerarted, in connec- 
 tion with the success of Methodism, is its 
 
 DOCTEINE OF SANCTIFICATION. 
 
 This doctrine, as taught by Methodists, has held 
 such an inferior place in the theology, preaching, 
 and experience of other denominations, that it has 
 long since been regarded as peculiar to Methodism. 
 That there have been persons in other communions 
 
184 STATISTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 who have both experienced and taught it, is evi- 
 dent from the works of Professor Upham and the 
 Rev. Dr. Boardman. The " Interior Life " of the 
 former, and the " Higher Life " of the latter, show 
 that these men had more than a mere theoretical 
 knowledge on the subject. In many of the denomi- 
 nations there are clergymen who both enjoy and 
 preach it, while communicants in great numbers 
 are its living epistles. 
 
 In Methodism this doctrine has occupied a prom- 
 inent place. No matter what the theme presented, 
 the object was to lead the soul to a higher experi- 
 ence. No matter what the terms used, whether 
 sanctification, perfection, consecration, resignation, 
 or any other, the meaning was " holiness of heart, 
 without which no man shall see the Lord." It has 
 not been regarded simply as an appendage of 
 Christianity; neither as something which a Chris- 
 tian may accept or reject at pleasure, but as the 
 vital element of the system, its sine qua non. Rev. 
 Dr. Jesse T. Peck hit the point in the title of a 
 work on this subject, when he called it " The Cen- 
 tral Idea of Christianity." With this belief, to- 
 gether with the higher Christian experience which 
 it teaches, Methodism has been eminently successful. 
 
 The apostolic period of the Church was a period 
 of spiritual life, of practical effort. With the pass- 
 ing away of this period the Church began to settle 
 down into a dead formalism. Its unity was not 
 the unity of the Spirit, but of outward conformity, 
 enforced by fagot, rack, and sword. The Refor- 
 mation was a step in the right direction, but it was 
 
AMERICAN METHODISM. 185 
 
 rightly named a reformation. While justification 
 by faith was taught as a doctrine, it was reserved 
 for Wesley and his coadjutors to teach and illus- 
 trate a . justification that was felt, a renewal of 
 nature, a sanQtification through the Spirit. All 
 these terms were vitalized by experience into a 
 significance and force before unknown. The former 
 was the letter which killeth, while the latter was 
 the spirit which giveth life. The revival of the 
 spiritual life of the Church was also the revival of 
 its practical operations. Never did Bible, mission- 
 ary, and Sunday-school societies, together with 
 charitable and benevolent institutions, flourish as 
 since the infusion of this new life. No wonder 
 that Methodism has been styled "the sublimest 
 achievement of the nineteenth century." 
 
 This doctrine is the great want of the world to- 
 day. Tossed as it is on the waves of conflicting 
 opinions ; bcAvildered as it is, amid a multitude of 
 counselors, it needs, as Noah's dove, some spot 
 on which to rest in peace and security. The age 
 on which we are entering is to be marked emphati- 
 cally by a deep inward experience, an intensified 
 spiritual life ; and, as a necessary consequence, earn- 
 est, active, aggressive efibrt in all those agencies 
 which tend to the comfort of the body as well as 
 the elevation of the soul. The unity consequent 
 thereon is not to be the unity of conformity, which 
 has so stained the pages of the past ; but the unity 
 of Christian catholicity, of earnest efibrt, of the in- 
 dwelling of the same Spirit. The preparation for 
 this is not studied formulas of faith, on which all 
 
186 STATISTICAL HISTORY, ETC. 
 
 can agree, but the saiictification of the Spirit, con- 
 secration to God, resignation to the Divine will, 
 and love and charity to our neighbor. This is not 
 needed simply as a doctrine believed and preached, . 
 but inwardly experienced ; then it will be preached 
 both in the pulpit and in the life. This higher 
 Christian experience, I remark again, is the great 
 want of the world to-day. In its restlessness it is 
 beginning to tear itself loose from outward un- 
 necessary forms and restraints, while yearning after 
 a higher and divine inward life. While to the Jewish 
 Church were committed the oracles of God, to the 
 Christian Church has been committed the unfold- 
 ing of its higher spiritual truths. The language of 
 the Bible is simply the garb thrown around the 
 spiritual truth intended by the Spirit to be con- 
 veyed. It is this spiritual essence that satisfies 
 the spiritual nature, and for which thousands are 
 hungering and thirsting. And with inward spiritual 
 power and outward aggressive effort sufficient to 
 meet this felt want, Methodism may be the means 
 under God, during its second century, of lifting 
 this wicked, disquieted world into a purer, serener, 
 and diviner region. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CHURCH EDIFICES. 
 
 UNITED STATES CENSUS 1860. 
 
 Denominations. Churches, Accommodation. Value. 
 
 Methodists 19,883 6,259,799 $33,093,311 
 
 Baptists 11,221 3,749,553 . 19,799,378 
 
 Presbyterians 5,061 2,088,838 24,227,359 
 
 Roman Catholics 2,550 1,404,437 26,774,119 
 
 Congregationalists 2,334 956,351 13,327,511 
 
 EpiscopaUans 2,145 847,296 21,665,698 
 
 Lutherans 2,128 757,637 5,385,179 
 
 Christians 2,068 681,016 2,518,045 
 
 Union 1,366 371,899 1,370,212 
 
 Cumb. Presbyterians. 820 262,978 914,256 
 
 German Reformed.... 676 273,697 2,422,670 
 
 Universahsts 664 235,219 2,856,095 
 
 Freewill Baptists 530 148,693 2,789,295 
 
 Friends 765 269,084 2,544,507 
 
 Reformed Dutch 440 211,068 4,453,850 
 
 United Presbyterians. 389 165,236 1,312,275 
 
 Unitarians 264 138,213 4,338,316 
 
 Tunkers 163 67,995 162,956 
 
 Ref Presbyterians. . . 136 48,897 386,635 
 
 Mennonites 109 36,425 137,960 
 
 Jewish 77 34,412 1,135,300 
 
 A"dventists 70 17,120 101,170 
 
 Winebrennerians 65 27,700 74,175 
 
 Swedenborgians 58 15,395 321,200 
 
 Seventh-Day Baptists. 53 17,864 107,200 
 
 Moravians 49 20,316 227,450 
 
 Spirituahsts 17 6,275 7,500 
 
 Shakers 12 5,200 41,000 
 
 Six-Principle Baptists. 9 1,990 8,150 
 
 Minor Sects 26 14,150 895,100 
 
 Total 54,009 19,128,751 $171,398,432 
 
188 APPENDIX. 
 
 The followiug are the Census returns of 1850, of the 
 leading denominations : 
 
 Denominations. Churches. Accommodation. Value. 
 
 Methodists 13,280 4,343,579 $14,822,870 
 
 Baptists 9,375 3,247,029 11,020,855 
 
 Presbyterians 4,824 2,079,690 14,543,789 
 
 Episcopahans 1,459 ' 643,598 11,375,010 
 
 Roman CathoHcs 1,121 667,823 9,256,758 
 
 The increase of Methodist churches from 1850 to 1860, 
 as shown by the Census, is 6,603 ; Baptists, 1,846 ; Cath- 
 olics, 1,429 ; Episcopalians, 685 ; Presbyterians, 237. The 
 increase of the Methodists is 2,406 more than the four 
 denominations above-named. 
 
 BISHOPS OF THE M. E. CHUECH. 
 
 Thomas Coke. . . 
 Francis Asbury. 
 R. Whatcoat. . . 
 Wm. M'Kendree 
 Enoch George. . 
 R. R. Roberts. . 
 Joshua Soule . . . 
 Elijah Hedding. 
 J. 0. Andrews. . 
 John Emory. . . . 
 Beverly Waugh. 
 Thos. A. Morris. 
 L. L. Hamline. . 
 
 E. S. Janes 
 
 Levi Scott 
 
 M. Simpson .... 
 
 0. C. Baker 
 
 E R. A.mes. . . . 
 Davis W.Clark. 
 
 E. Thomson 
 
 Calvin Kngsley. 
 
 1784 
 1784 
 1800 
 1808 
 181G 
 1816 
 1824 
 1824 
 1832 
 1832 
 1836 
 1836 
 1844 
 1844 
 1852 
 1852 
 1852 
 1852 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 BEUARES. 
 
 Died at sea, May 3, 1814, aged 67. 
 Died in Va., March 31, 1816, aged 71. 
 Died in Delaware, July 5, 1806, aged 71. 
 Died in Tenn., March 5, 1835, aged 73. 
 Died in Ya., Aug. 23, 1828, aged 60. 
 Died in Indiana, March 28, '43, aged 65. 
 Entered M. E. Church, South, 1846. 
 Died in Po'keepsie, Apr. 9, '52, aged 72. 
 Bishop of M. E. Church, South, 1846. 
 Died in Md., Dec. 16, 1835, aged 47. 
 Died m Md., Feb. 9, 1858, aged 69. 
 Residence, Springfield, Ohio. 
 Resigned '52; died in Iowa, Mar. 22, *65. 
 Residence. New York. 
 Residence, Odessa, Del. 
 Residence, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 Residence, Concord, N. H. 
 Residence, Baltimore. 
 Residence, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Residence, 
 
 Residence, Cleveland, Ohio, 
 
BOOKS FOU YOUNG PEOPLE. 
 
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 PLEASANT PATHWAYS ; 
 
 Or, Persuasives to Early Piety: containing Explanations and 
 Illustrations of the Beauty, Safety, and Pleasantness of a Rf lig 
 ious Life : being an Attempt to persuade Young People of both 
 Sexes to seek Happiness in the Love and Service of Jesus Christ 
 By Daxiel Wisk, author of " The Path of Life," " Young Man's 
 Counselor," etc., etc. Tvro Illustrations. ^Vide 16mo. 
 
 The -vorks of this authot have secured him the reputation of one of th« 
 most eloquent and fascinating religious writers of the day. As a writei 
 for youth we know of no one whom we should regard as his eqTial. The 
 book b-^fore us will be found more fascinating than a novel : once com 
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 thoughts which shall tend to noble aspirations for a Christian life. - 
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 blessing of God, win many to Christ. Praise God for such works.— 
 Beauty of Uoliness. 
 
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 the good, the beautiful, and the true. — Northwestern Christian Advocate. 
 
 Will be read with lively interest by youth who are even uninterested in 
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 with the assurance that it will prove a delight to them, while they cannot 
 fall to learn its great lessons. — Christian Advocate. 
 
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 PAIilSSY THE POTTER; 
 
 Or, the Huguenot, Artist, and Martyr. A true Narrative. By 
 C. L. Brightwell. Eighteen Illustrations. Wide 16m6. 
 
 Bernard de Palissy Is the most perfect model of the workman. It is by 
 his example, rather than by his works, that he has exercised an influence 
 upon civilization, and that he has deserved a place to himself among the 
 men who have ennobled humanity. Though he had reuiained unknown 
 and listless, making tiles in his father's pottery ; though he had never 
 purified, molded, or enameled his handful of clay; though his hving 
 eroups, his crnwling reptiles, his slimy snails, his slippery frogs, his lively 
 Uzards., and his damp herbs and dripping mosses had never »{lorned those 
 dishes, eware, and salt-cellars — those quaint and elaborate oriiaments of 
 the tables and cupboards of the sixteenth century; it Is true nctfaing 
 «irould have been wanting to the art of Phidias or of Michael Angelo — to 
 <^he porcelain of Sevres, of China, of Florence, or Japan ; but we should 
 not have had his life for the operative to admire and imitate. — Lamartine. 
 
 THE RAINBOW SIDE: 
 
 A Sequel to " The Itinerant." By Mrs. C. M. Edwards, Fom 
 liluatrations. Wido IGmo. 
 
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BOOKS PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER* 
 
 200 Mulberry-street, I¥ew YoA. 
 
 Whedon's Commentary, 
 
 A Commeiitary of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark; 
 Intended for Popular Use. By D. D. Whedon, D.D.. 
 12mo. 
 
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 pages, embracing a fine map of Palestine, and <Jther valuable illustrations. 
 It is the cheapest book for the price that we have issued in many years. 
 The two volumes which are to follow will be announced in due time. All 
 the notices we have seen, as well as the remarks we have heard, go to the 
 effect that this book is a timely, able, and valuable addition to our literature. 
 
 Dr. Whedon has furnished the people with the results of critical study, 
 modern travels and Christian reflection, in brief and pithy comments on the 
 difficult or obscure words and phrases in the first two evangelists, enlarging 
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BOOKS PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 
 
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 "With a Portrait and Vignette. 12mo. 
 
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 Moral and Eeligious Quotations 
 
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 luuUy, the Bible class and the \\\!cQ\\^—EvangeUcal Witness, 
 

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