of the publishers, among themselves, that the proposed book must not exceed in contents the Methodist Ecumenical volume of 1881. A careful estimate showed that they could not publish every thing connected with the Conference. The discussions in the Conference, which, on some accounts, it was desirable to include, were omitted, and still the estimate overran the limits. It was, therefore, deemed necessary to have the evening addresses reduced. The Business Committee had passed a resolution recommending that this be done, and the Editors decided to allow a maximum of two thousand words for each address arranged for by the Executive Committee. They addressed a circular letter to each speaker, asking him to reduce his address to this limit. The summaries, printed are the result. They may be regarded as containing the best and most valuable thoughts of the addresses as delivered. The Editors have felt most fully the weight of their responsibility. They would have been relieved of much of it if they had been directed and expected to publish every thing, as in the case of the Ecumenical Conference; but they have finished their task with the consciousness of having exercised their best judgment and acted with impartiality. They have been deeply impressed in the course of their editorial labors with the value of the literature which the essays and other papers in this volume constitute. The facts, history, thoughts, and statistics presented, as well as the survey of the past, and the outlook into the future, are worthy of careful study, and the editors venture to express the hope that the readers of this volume will be roused to new efforts for the extension of the Lord's Kingdom; that new zeal will be kindled by the Holy Spirit in all hearts, and that our beloved Methodism will be preserved in the coming centuries in humility and entire dependence upon God, in spiritual strength and devotion to the divine purpose, and in efficiency as the instrument of salvation to all classes. H. K. CARROLL, HISTORICAL STATEMENT. THE proposal to celebrate the Centenary of the Christmas Conference of 1784 raised in some minds the question whether Methodism was not exhausting the possibilities of centennial anniversaries. There had been one, it was recalled, in 1839, another in 1866, and now a third was suggested-all within a period of fifty years. Would it not minister to confusion and vainglorying to have centenaries so frequently? The best reply, perhaps, to these doubts is to point to the fact and character of the Conference held last December, in Baltimore, and to add that if Methodism, brief as is its history, is pregnant with epochs as with results, no apology is necessary for the multiplication of centennial observances. The justification is in the importance of the events commemorated, each of which is charged with great historical significance. The first signalizes the rise of a movement which has profoundly affected the English-speaking peoples; the second marks the introduction of that movement into America, where it has had free course; the third indicates its escape from entangling alliances, and its entrance upon its God-given work as an independent, efficient, and unique organization. The Centenary of 1839, though belonging to all Methodists, was, in a special sense, an English Wesleyan anniversary, though it was observed quite generally in America. The Centenary of 1866, distinguishing an event of great importance to Methodism on this continent, was celebrated with enthusiasm by the Methodist Episcopal Church; but, owing to circumstances which it is not necessary to describe, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, took no part in the celebration. It is not singular, therefore, that the centenary of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church should seem to brethren, North and South, East and West, an eminently appropriate occasion for the gathering of the members of the numerous denominational family, at the place where the parent Church was organized, to review the work of the century, to enjoy a season of fellowship, to draw closer to one another in fraternal intercourse, and to seek inspiration for the work of the coming century. To the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, belongs the honor of having first proposed a centennial celebration for 1884. The General Conference of that body, which met in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1878, adopted resolutions suggesting that the centenary of the Christmas Conference of 1784 be observed by a conference in which all branches of American Methodism should be invited to participate, and appointing the Board of Bishops a committee to open the subject to the other members of the Methodist brotherhood by correspondence. It does not appear, however, that such correspondence was begun. Doubtless the preparations for the Ecumenical Conference, which was held in the last year of that quadrennium, suggested delay. The real beginning of the movement was at the Ecumenical Conference in London. The great success of that historic gathering in City Road Chapel led a delegate, who was not then aware of the previous action of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to propose a conference of American Methodism at the expiration of the first hundred years of its organized existence, in December, 1884. Accordingly a short paper† in the handwriting of Dr. John M. Walden-now Bishop Walden-was presented to the American delegates for signature. It simply recommended the holding of such a conference. Eighty delegates put their names to it, all the Episcopal branches, including the Evangelical Association and the United Brethren in Christ, being represented in the list of names. Near the end of the year the paper was given wide circulation by the Methodist press of this country, and its suggestion was received with much favor. So general and hearty was the approval expressed, no objections being urged from any quarter, that it was deemed proper and advisable to take some preparatory steps. A number of signers of the paper, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and living in and near New York City, were called together, March 22, 1882, at the Mission Rooms, 805 Broadway, and after consultation an unofficial committee was formed, with the object of obtaining an expression of opinion from annual conferences and preachers' meetings, and their co-operation in securing the appointment of a semi-official committee for the Methodist Episcopal Church. As the result of the work of this preliminary committee, a Provisional Committee was constituted, which in turn prepared the way for the organization of a Joint Committee, consisting of delegates from several annual conferences and from the Methodist preachers' meetings of Philadelphia and Baltimore, and of the members of the Provisional Committee. The meeting of the Joint Committee was held in the Mission Rooms, in New York, May 3, 1882. Two letters, presented in draft, were adopted, and ordered to be signed and dispatched, one to the Board of Bishops, the other to *See Document I. †Document II. Document III. the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which was then in session in Nashville, Tennessee. The letter to the Board of Bishops stated what steps had already been taken toward a Centennial Conference, the favor with which the proposal had been received, and the necessity of early action to carry it forward, and prayed the Bishops to name a committee of twenty-five, including three Bishops, on behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Bishops complied with the request, and announced the committee. The letter to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, gave an account of what had been done by the committee, and expressed the belief that if the Conference should decide to appoint a committee of correspondence, a similar committee would be named on the part of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Quadrennial Address of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, brought the subject before the General Conference at Nashville, and it was referred to a special committee. The report * of this committee recommended that the centennial year be observed by raising a fund of two million dollars for the cause of education, of missions, and of Church extension, and that a committee of twentyfour be constituted to devise plans for the collecting and administering of this fund, and also to represent the Church in the preparations for the proposed Centennial Conference. This committee, as appointed by the Bishops, met in Nashville, Tennessee, May 4, 1883, and organized by electing E. R. Hendrix, D. D., chairman, and O. P. Fitzgerald, D. D., secretary. A sub-committee of five-Bishop A. W. Wilson (chairman), John S. Martin, D. D. (secretary), Samuel Rodgers, D. D., T. J. Magruder, Esq., and Charles Shipley, Esq.-was appointed to deal with all questions concerning the Centennial Conference. Meanwhile, the committee of twenty-six, appointed by the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, had met (at the Mission Rooms, New York, in November, 1882) and chosen a Committee of Counsel and Correspondence-Bishop M. Simpson (chairman), H. K. Carroll (secretary), D. A. Goodsell, D. D., the Rev. John F. Goucher, and A. Longacre, D. D.-which was charged with the duty of opening correspondence with all the Methodist Churches in the United States and Canada, to ascertain if they would participate in the proposed ConferA circular-letter,† signed by the chairman and secretary, was accordingly sent to the various Methodist Churches late in December, 1882. ence. The responses to this circular-letter showed that all the episcopal, with two or three non-episcopal, Methodist bodies in the United States, • Document IV. † Document V. and the Methodists of Canada, desired to take part in the Conference; but there was some delay in the appointment of committees, and it was not until March, 1884, that the first conference of representatives of the various bodies was held. An informal exchange of views between the committees of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, had taken place in January of that year, in Baltimore, and several preliminary questions were considered, in order to save time and correspondence. The way having thus been prepared, a joint meeting of committees was called at the Methodist Episcopal Book Rooms, on Arch Street, Philadelphia, March 25, 1884. Delegates from two Churches only were presentthe Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Episcopal, South. Bishop A. W. Wilson, of the latter body, was chosen chairman, and the Rev. Dr. D. A. Goodsell, of the former, secretary. Several important matters were decided at this session.* It was resolved, on invitation † of the Methodist Churches in Baltimore, that (1) the Conference be held in that city; that (2) it be held in the month of December, 1884, opening Tuesday evening, December 9th, and closing Wednesday afternoon, December 17th; that (3) the basis of representation should be two delegates for every fifteen thousand communicants (subsequently it was made two to every ten thousand); and that (4) an executive committee be appointed by the participating Churches to complete all necessary arrangements for the Conference. The committee also fixed the number of sessions, the hours of opening and closing, adopted a list of topics for essays, and chose the subjects for the evening platform meetings. The committee adjourned with the understanding that no further action be taken until the Executive Committee, which was to complete the arrangements for the Conference, should be organized. The representatives who were acting on behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the nomination of the Board of Bishops, deemed it necessary on their part to await the action of the General Conference, which was to meet in May. They presented to the Board of Bishops a statement of what they had done,‡ and the General Conference, on the recommendation § of its Centennial Committee, approved the action of the bishops and of the Committee of Counsel and Correspondence, and directed that members for the Executive Committee and delegates to the Conference be appointed by the bishops. The first meeting of the Executive Committee was held in Philadelphia, June 26th, representatives of the Methodist Episcopal, *Document VI. Document VII. † See Document VI. Document VIII. |