USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Methodist Episcopal churches of Norwich, Conn. > Part 7
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Methodism repeats the word of command through all her ranks first issued by the great Lord and Captain of the 'sacramental host,' 'Go ye into all the world,' and, blessed be God, her sons obey and march.
" If then, Sir, this be a true version of Methodism, and I am still pressed with the question, 'What is the grand characteristic, the distinctive peculiarity of Methodism?' I would answer, it is to be found in one single word-ITINERANCY. Yes, this, under God, is. the mighty spring of our motive power, the true secret of our un- paralleled success. Stop the itinerancy, let Congregationalism pre- vail for only twelve months, Sampson is shorn of his locks, and we become as other men. Here I would make a central position, here lay the utmost stress. This is a vital point. In the establishment of this position, allow me to borrow the light of an illustration. * * Referring to 'the vision of Ezekiel's wheels,' you will perceive there are 'wheels within wheels.' First, there is the great outer wheel of Episcopacy, which accomplishes its entire revolution once in four years. To this there are attached twenty-eight smaller wheels, styled Annual Conferences, moving around once a year ; to these are attached one hundred wheels, designated Presiding Elders, moving twelve hundred other wheels, termed Quarterly Conferences, every three months ; to these are attached four thousand wheels, styled Traveling Preachers, moving round once a month, and com- municating motion to thirty thousand wheels, called Class Leaders, moving round once a week, and who, in turn, being attached to between seven and eight hundred thousand wheels, called Members, give a sufficient impulse to whirl them round every day. ..
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"Here let us, then, raise our Ebenezer : here let us build our centenary monument of gratitude in the sight of Heaven, to be admired by generations yet unborn. Let its base be Itinerancy ; and on that broad, deep pedestal, let us inscribe the words of Wesley : ' The best of all is, God is with us.' Let its columns be education ; let their architecture be classically chaste ; and on its lofty summit rekindle the hallowed flame of missionary zeal, which, as a beacon. light, flashing its bright beams across the deep dark sea of this apostate and tempestuous world, may guide many a forlorn wan- derer safe home to the land of rest and peace."
The objects for contribution were, parsonage, missions, preachers' aid, education, and church debt; of which the first and last were local in cha- racter. One hundred and fifty dollars and eighty- two cents were subscribed, the amounts varying from five cents to twenty dollars .*
The following hymn was preserved amid the archives, composed by J. Montgomery, Esq., for the Centenary of Wesleyan Methodism, entitled " A Hundred Years Ago."
"One song of Praise, one voice of Prayer, Around, above, below ; Ye winds and waves, the burden bear, 'A Hundred Years ago !'
"' A Hundred Years ago?' What then ? There rose, the world to bless, A little band of faithful men- .A cloud of witnesses.
"It looked but like a human hand : Few welcomed it, none feared ; Yet, as it opened o'er the land, The hand of God appeared.
* For names of donors, see Appendix D.
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"The Lord made bare His holy arm, In sight of earth and hell ; Fiends fled before it with alarm, And alien armies fell.
"One song of Praise for mercies past, Through all our courts resound- One voice of Prayer, that, to the last, Grace may much more abound.
"God gave the word, and great hath been The preacher's company ; What wonders have our fathers seen ! What signs their children see!
" All hail 'a Hundred Years ago!' And when our lips are dumb, Be millions heard rejoicing so, A Hundred Years to come !"
The Centennial of American Methodism was celebrated by the New London District of the Providence Conference in this city, September 26, 1866. The following will serve to indicate the general features of the occasion :*
The New London District Centenary Convention met in the Free Church at 10} A. M., the first service being an old-fashioned love-feast, held after the pattern of Auld Lang Syne. The church was crowded to repletion. Rev. P. T. Kenney, Presiding Elder for this district, opened the service by reading the 711th hymn. . Prayer was offered by Rev. William H. Stetson, of Danielsonville, and the bread and water wore then distributed.
The Presiding Elder gave some interesting reminiscences and statistics of early Methodism in this city and in New London District, after which some fifty or more followed with remarks in the usual style of a love-feast.
The writer is greatly indebted to the " Bulletin," of Norwich, for the account.
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HISTORY OF MAIN STREET M. E. CHURCH.
The singing by the choir of the Willimantic Church, led by Lieut. Harry Wilson, assisted by the Jordan Family, was excel- lent, and most satisfactory to the audience.
The following list of officers were nominated :
President .- Joseph Cummings, D. D., LL. D., President of the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Vice Presidents .- Revs. P. T. Kinney, P. E., Williamantic ; I. M. Bidwell, Norwich; W. Emerson, West Thompson ; H. S. Ramsdell, Vernon ; E. Benton, Rockville; B. M. Walker, Tolland; L. D. Blood, Fisherville; E. B. Bradford, South Manchester ; J. Mather, North Manchester; W. J. Robinson, New London ; S. S. Cum- mings, South Coventry; N. Goodrich, Staffordville; L. Pierce, East Haddam; and Messrs. D. N. Bentley, C. D. Filmore, N. G. Lippitt, Norwich; Stephen Hammond, Danielsonville; Josiah Morgan, New London; Otis Perrin, West Woodstock; J. F. Brooks, Stafford; George W. Mallory, Mystic Bridge ; Timothy Keeney, West Manchester; Silas White, Rockville; Ashmun Pease, Hazardville ; Jonathan Skinner, Eastford; Thomas Turner, Willimantic; Nehemiah Upham, Norwich; Erastus Standish, Colchester ; Capt. Nelson Brown, Westerly, R. I .; John Mitchell, Norwich.
Secretaries .- Rev. E. F. Clark, Norwich; Rev. William T. Worth, Stafford Springs.
Committee on Resolutions .- Revs. H. W. Conant, Uncasville; G. W. Brewster, Willimantic; W. H. Stetson, Danielsonville ..
. AFTERNOON.
The Convention met at the East Main Street Church at 2 P. M. Rev. Dr. Cummings in the chair. The house was crowded.
The following original hymn, by Rev. George Lansing Taylor was sung by the choir :
"Great God of Israel ! lo! to thee Adoring millions bow the knee, And bless, with rapturous shouts and tears, Thy goodness through a hundred years ..
"Since first our sires this New World trod, What wonders hast thou wrought, O God!
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A nation vast, from sea to sea, A church whose myriads worship thee.
"God of Elijah, flash thy fire Responsive, while our prayers aspire, Till hearts and holocausts shall flame A sacrifice to Jesus' name.
" Pour forth thy spirit from on high ! Convert, illumine, sanctify ! Till millions more, with Israel's host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost !"
Prayer was then offered by Rev. D. H. Ela, of Providence, R. I.
Rev. Edgar F. Clark, of the Sachem Street Church, delivered the address of welcome in behalf of the denomination in Norwich. In welcoming the Convention to the " Rose of New England," as he termed it, he said :
" BROTHERS, AND FRIENDS OF THE CONVENTION :
"In behalf of Methodism in Norwich, I extend to you a hearty welcome. The amenities and hospitalities of our city are as gen- erously tendered, as, we are confident, they will be felicitously enjoyed. Welcome to our city, -- we are glad for your sakes it is beautiful. Welcome to our homes,-ready hands will throw open the doors. Welcome to our halls and churches,-if they are too limited, we are consoled in the trust that the hall is not the mea- sure of the heart.
" How opportune is the hour in which we have gathered. Meth- odism, as a system, is no longer an experiment. She is now a century-plant, whose healing fragrance is wafted to a thousand climes. Prejudice against her resides only in the bosom of igno- rance and bigotry. Opposition, of the most inimical character, has been converted into general favor. The arm that was lifted with harmful missiles, is now upheld in benedictions.on the cause. The mob has become the devout audience, and the pen of calumny is now employed in atoning for the past. Modern theology has paid tribute to many of her tenets, while philosophy evinces a pleasing recognition. The elm and the school-house are supplanted by stately temples whose spires are yearly mounting higher and
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higher. Poverty, though welcomed, sits not alone in the sanc- tuary, while literature finds better than royal repose in her arms.
" It is well for us to pause a moment on the field, and, while the angels of hope wipe away the sweat of battle, pay our respects to our foremost but fallen ranks, who, by their sacrifices and labors, have pioneered the way to present victory. It is full time that the shades of the faithful dead were committed to their merited sepulchre, and a requiem as broad as the nation, chronicles the mortality of the church. The man who can forget his mother is fit to betray his country, or murder his friend. Moreover, in the urns of the past will be found many a thing of value.
' In no spirit of invidious glorification are we assembled for our Centenary. We are met to bless the God of all the churches, and to lay up in the repository of a common Christianity our timo- honored banners. Before we meet again for Centenary reminis- cence, we trust the soldier of Christ will be a unity, and the whole earth be filled with millennial glory.
" And while we linger in the churchyard, our thoughts and time will not be only consumed in the retrospective. On the marble are fingers pointing upward and onward. Higher than the shout of victory from the past is the battle-cry, 'Forward! 'March.' Pausing to catch the benedictions of the bygone, and read the inscriptions on stony flags, under which the dead are filing into a joyful eternity, let us gird on our armor anew, until we too, after having lived in the service and bliss of churchhood on. carth,. shall join the Centenary bands who have passed on so gloriously before us."
Rev. Dr. Cummings was then introduced. He said, in com- mencing:
"Fitting is it that the church should select this year as a festival occasion. We rejoice that this year of remembrance and rejoicing comes to us under circumstances so favorable. It is a year of Peace. Had it occurred earlier, during the dark and bloody years of war, under how different circumstances would we have met ! The sad events, also, which would have affected us had it been held soon after, have been tempered by time. How close is the history of this church to that of the country.
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Older than the nation is our church. It has ever been closely connected with all that conduced to the nation's prosperity. It has grown with its growth, and strengthened with its strength. This church was the first to congratulate Washington on his inauguration, the first to put a formal recognition of the govern- ment into its articles of faith. It was declared by this church in the troublous times, when the question was agitated, that the United States was a sovereign nation."
The speaker then went on to argue that this church was espe- cially adapted to this nation's peculiar circumstances and growth, the system best adapted to the principle of self-government. He then described its formation and organization into circuits, districts, and conferences. This system of church organization, he argued, could not be bettered for a new country and scattered population. To it we owe our success.
" A second point of the adaptation of the church to the nation is the unity of the church. All who are admitted to the church are members and recognized members everywhere. The natural result of this one church has been to prevent sectionalism, and it was rightly considered one of the greatest blows to the nation when the Methodist Church was divided, for which rebel plotters had toiled as one of their most important ends.
"The church by its principle of unity tended to produce the feel- ing of equality. In our church the principle of unity most effectu- ally repels that utterly abominable feeling-offensive to God-the feeling of caste. The organization of our church is best calculated to drown this feeling-repugnant to a republican government.
"Closely connected with the unity of this church is its liberality, its unsectarian charity. The only condition of admission is solely a desire to flee from the wrath to come. It is a cheering sigu to us, that at this age there is less disposition to discuss the abstract doctrines over which thinkers have puzzled, and which Milton, I know not on what authority, represented the fallen angels as discussing.
"The great principles first enumerated in this church are those you most often hear set forth in the pulpits of the day. With our church, unlike others, the doctrines are unchanged. The princi- 5*
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ples set forth by our pioneers in the wilderness are our principles to-day. And if there is more agreement with other churches to. day, it is not the Methodist Church that has changed-the others have come to it.
"One more point-the adaptation of our church to a people like ours, because of the interest this church has always taken in the education of its youth. Methodism has been incorrectly reported as opposed to education. It had its origin in the most aristocratic. college in the world. Instead of being opposed to educational institutions, the church has of late years been disposed to organize too many new ones. Now it seems wisely to have resolved to place its present institutions on a sound footing before planning new ones." The speaker then cited the history of Wesleyan Uni- versity as an evidence of the interest manifested by the church in education. At the same time he gave his hearers a gentle reminder that unless this University was sustained, and endowed by them sufficiently to offer the same advantages as any other college, the youth would not be sent there, and thus we lose the religious con- trol over them. . The good done by the University and the char- acter of its graduates were cited to strengthen the appeal which he made at this time, as the University was one of the objects of the Centennial contributions-the sum of $250,000 being asked for.
Another hymn was then sung by the choir.
An address was then delivered by Rev. Dr. Erastus Wentworth, of Troy, N. Y., late missionary to China, and a former resident of this city-a native of Stonington.
Dr. Wentworth announced his topic as, "The relation of Metho- dism to Missions." "As Christianity was a mission, and Christ a missionary, so Methodism would not be Christianity if it was not a mission. The first missionary ever sent out by the first Protestant missionary society was John Wesley-sent to this country in 1735. The second missionary society in England, in 1794, was the Bap- tists. The London missionary society came the next year.
"Christianity and commerce go hand in hand-so our first ques- tion is, has Christianity kept up with the advanee of commerce ? ' I answer, no; but this topic I have not time to discuss to-day. The second question is, has the Methodist Church done its full
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share of the missionary work of the world ? This is the point I propose to discuss. Our church started in mission labor, on an average, at about the same time as other missions. Our compara- tive work is what we are to consider-what we have done in com- . parison with other denominations. By the last missionary report (1864), I find that we have raised one-eleventh of all the funds contributed for forty-eight missionary societies there reported. And we have raised one-third of what was raised for sixteen societies in the United States. This year we purpose to raise $1,000,000, which will be one-fifth of the whole amount raised by the whole world for missionary labor."
The speaker then alluded briefly to the way in which laborers volunteered in this work, and to the work in the West.
"Now, then, we have spoken of the past, what shall we say of the future? In the first place, we offer a great stimulus by pro- mising to raise a million dollars this year-it will inspire other denominations to do likewise. But while the world is doing busi- ness on the wholesale, Christianity is still kept in the small retail grocery way. We make a great ado about raising a million dollars. Why, there are three men in New York worth $10,000,000 each.
"The effect of our itinerant system has also been carried into other churches. You don't see instances now like that of the church up-town, where Dr. Lord and Dr. Strong were the pastors for one hundred years. They change now nearly as often as we do.
" Another thing we want is a magnificent Methodist denomina- tional Mission-house in New York. We want it because moral enterprise will revolve about material centres.
"Finally, our record as a missionary society is one of which we need not be ashamed. The names of scores of noble workers in this, as in other denominations, are immortal. Africa and China boast a list of historic missionary martyrs. The dying words of Dudley Tyng, 'Stand up for Jesus!' which have been immortalized, have a parallel in the words of that young Methodist, Martin, dying at Foochau of Cholera last year. When a friend approached his bedside and said, 'What word shall I send home for you?' 'Tell them,' said the dying man, 'it pays to be a Christian.'
.
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Words worthy to be emblazoned over your Young Men's Institutes and all your schools of learning. Yes, it pays to be a Christian ; the interest is richer than that of your five-twenties and seven- thirties.
"Months ago I held the skull of Philip Embury, when it was about to be removed to another cemetery, and I reflected on the work he had done. What growth from a small beginning. The great hindrance to our work is caste. It was with difficulty that the caste feeling was rooted out of the Apostles themselves. ' I wish we had Paul here to-day, to send him all over the country to preach the doctrines that he preached on Mars Hill. Remember, when we are afraid of the 'dirty Irish,' or 'greasy negroes,' what God said to Peter in a vision : 'What God has cleansed, call not thou common.' But the spirit of caste is dying out, thank God ! When St. John saw the vision, and prided himself on the number of Jews sealed, then he saw a great multitude that no man can number, more than the Episcopalians ever ordained; than the Baptists ever put under water; than the Methodists ever saved by shouting and singing. But, in conclusion, let us remember that we are all missionaries, and wherever we may lay our bones, may we all meet in heaven around the throne of the Lamb, praising Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
The closing part of Dr. Wentworth's address was very impas- sioned, and completely carried away his audience.
EVENING.
The Convention, at 5 o'clock, adjourned from the East Main Street Church to Breed Hall. The exercises were then opened with singing another original hymn, entitled " A Hundred Years to Come," by the Willimantic Choir, the praise of whose rendering was on every tongue. It is not too much to say, perhaps, of this really fine choir of singers, that they have few equals in the State, in their special department of Church music, and as a "Glee Club," also, have won the encomiums of many an admiring audi- ence in other places.
Divine thanks were returned by Rev. P. T. Kenny, the popular Presiding Elder of the District, after which a most bountiful colla-
HISTORY OF MAIN STREET M. E. CHURCH. 109.
tion followed, which seemed at least to put the audience in the best of humor, and happy condition to enjoy the rich and varied intellectual repast served up under the direction of President Cum- mings, whose urbanity as a presiding officer was beyond all com- ment.
At the close of the collation, and before the intellectual part, the remaining cake was sold at auction by Mr. P. B. Green, the last loaf of which, sold to John Mitchell, Esq., of this city, for $33 .* Another song; prayer by Rev. G. W. Brewster, of Willimantic, and the ball was opened by the introduction of the following reso- lutions :
" Resolved, first, That we recognize the hand of Almighty God in the inception, organization, and growth of the Methodist Epis- copal Church in the United States.
" Resolved, secondly, We cherish the memory of the 'fathers and mothers' of Methodism, who have toiled early and late in the cultivation of this field, sowing beside all waters, literally 'going forth weeping, bearing precious seed,' hoping against hope, amid persecutions and trials, but laying the foundation of our Zion upon the broad platform of a free, present, and full salvation; and as we are now entered into their labors, we will strive to emulate their glorious examples of fidelity and faith.
" Resolved, thirdly, That in celebrating the first centennial of the church of our choice, we extend the fraternal hand to all bodies of evangelical Christians.
" Resolved, fourthly, That in view of the exceeding great mer- cies of the past, we earnestly beseech the ministry and members of our church to renewedly consecrate themselves to the service of God; and, in gratitude for his many benefactions, to make a special Thanksgiving, in accordance with the recommendation of the authorities of the church.
" Resolved, fifthly, That while we recognize the Sunday-school as one of the agencies for scriptural instruction, the time has fully come when it should be considered and used as a divinely com- missioned agency for the immediate conversion of the children of Christ.
* This loaf was furnished by Frank Grant, Esq., of South Windsor.
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" Resolved, sixthly, That while we believe the Methodist Church is doing its full share of the great missionary work of the nine- teenth century, it behooves us to keep up the missionary spirit that has characterized our efforts from the beginning, and to labor on until every obstacle is overcome, and we realize the glorious vision of our present faith, a world converted and saved in heaven.
" Resolved, seventhly, That whilst we harmonize in our feelings with all the objects presented for our benefactions by the General Conference, we recommend to the Church in New London District, for especial consideration in their Centenary benefactions, the Biblical Institute to be located near Boston, the Wesleyan Univer- sity, the Mission House at New York, and the Providence Confer- ence Seminary.
" Resolved, eighthly, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to the speakers, the choir, the citizens of Nor- wich, and all others who have contributed for our entertainment."
The President now introduced Rev. D. H. Ela, of Providence, who excused himself for want of preparation, being called upon quite unexpectedly to fill the place of another, who failed, through domestic affliction, to meet his engagement here. His address, though not lengthy, was well received. He spoke briefly of the secret sources of Methodistic success, attributing it mostly to the doctrine of a conscious salvation and communion with God, closing with a fitting reference to other churches who inscribe the same doctrine upon their banners, and unite in the same glorious expe- rience.
Another song was sung by the choir, and Rev. Dr. Wise, of New York, editor of Sunday-school books and papers, made a represen- tation of the Sunday-school work of the church. He began by saying that Methodism had always loved the children. It was natural she should do so. She early learned this from the example of her founder, John Wesley, who was passionately fond of the children. A touching incident illustrating this love of Wesley was related, and another concerning Bishop Asbury, of this country, who, though a bachelor, took great delight in teaching and instruct- ing the little ones wherever he went. Ile affirmed that the idea of Sunday-schools originated in the mind and heart of a Methodist
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woman, to whom Robert Raikes refers, and admits his indebted- ness for his first conception of this glorious idea, and by whose advice he opened his first school among the poor children of the village where he dwelt, in the year 1781. For a few years this school was unknown and unnoticed beyond the circle of his own village, but in 1785 Mr. Wesley incorporated it into the require- ments of his societies, and recommended its general adoption. Thus Methodism claims the honor of introducing this institution to the church, and making it a nursery of piety and revival, Mr. Wesley declaring that this was one of the best institutions given to the Church for centuries. The idea of gratuitous instruction also was originated and introduced by the venerable founder of Methodism, in the year 1786. In America the same great fact may be noted, viz .: that the Sunday-school owes its organization and introduction to American Methodism, Biskop Asbury starting a school in 1786, in the house of Thomas Renshaw, in Virginia, in which a boy was converted, and some time after became a travel- ing preacher in the Methodist connection. Many other facts were related, all going to prove the same claim, but which time and space fail to afford room for a full report. Interesting statistics were presented, showing that nearly a million of children were now in the Sunday-schools of the M. E. Church, and a literature unrivaled in its variety, adapted to the use of these schools-the reading-books alone amounting to over 2,000 volumes.
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