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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 CENTENARY OF METHODISM 
 
 IN 
 
 EASTERN BRITISH AMERICA, 
 
 1782-1882. 
 
 -i^'E^^'^X'-W'Mi^.i- 
 
 The best of all is God is with us.— Wcshij. 
 
 -9 i'^'St'^'^^^^mM •:««- 
 
 HALIFAX, N'.S. 
 S. F. IILEHTIS. 
 
 TdllONTo : 
 AVILLIA.M BKUajS.
 
 — «^*&-*e--a«»<"e- " 
 
 ^ublis^tb nnbtr birtttion of l^t Ctnttnnial Commithe.
 
 ■3y 
 
 CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. 
 
 NOVA SCOTIA CONFEEEXCE. 
 
 Rev. VV. C. Brown, President of Con t ere nee, 
 
 " John Cassidy, 
 
 " \V. H. Evans, 
 
 " Thomas Rogers, a.m , 
 
 " Cranswick Jost, a.m., 
 
 " Richard Smith, 
 
 " John McMurray, d.d., 
 
 '• R. A. Temple, 
 
 " S. F. HUESTIS, 
 
 " T. Watson Smitei, 
 
 " I. E. Thurlow, 
 
 " VV. n. Heartz, 
 
 " Joseph Gaetz, 
 
 '' S. B. Dunn, 
 
 " John TjAthern, Secretary, 
 J. W. Smith, Esq., Treasurer. 
 
 NEW BRUNSWICK CONFERENCE. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Pickard, 
 
 " " Stewart, 
 
 " H. Daniel, 
 
 " F. Sm.\llwood, 
 J. R. Inch, ll.d. 
 
 1290224
 
 CONTEXTS. 
 
 ce^:tenary memorial. 
 
 I— Introduction by Rev. Dr. McINIurray. 
 
 11 — God with us ; the s:reat work wrought througli 
 the instrumentality oi Rev. William Black, 
 his co-adjutors and successors, during the 
 first hundred years of Methodism in Eastero 
 British America, by Rev. John Lathern. 
 
 Ill — Conference Centenary Meetings, by Rev. T. 
 Watson Smith. 
 
 IV — Some instructive aspects of the Historical itnd 
 Doctrinal Development of Methodism ; Cen- 
 tennial Address by Rev. George Douglas^ 
 LL.D. , President of General Conference, 
 Principal of the Montreal Methodist Tlito- 
 logical College. 
 
 V — Jubilee Reminiscences, the latter half of the 
 Century ; Centennial Speech by Rev. Ing- 
 ham Sutclitfe. 
 
 VI — Our Responsibilities in reference to the Cen- 
 tennial movement, by Rev. S. F. Huestis. 
 
 VII — Presidential Appeal ; and Centennial Reso- 
 lutions of the Nova Scotia and New Bruns- 
 wick and P. E. Island Conferences. 
 
 "Vm — Concl usion.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 By Rev. J. McMurray, d.i>. 
 
 One Hcndred years ago the Rev. William 
 Black, of venerated memory, then in the vigor of 
 •arly manhood, with the fire of Divine love newly 
 and strongly burning in his heart, with (juenchless 
 zeal for the glory of God, and with compassionate 
 yearning over the spiritual condition of the people 
 of this Province — for what was subsequently 
 constituted the Province of New Brunswick was 
 then part of Nova Scotia — went forth, at the call 
 •f God, a youthful evangelist, to publish in the 
 tovns, villages and settlements scattered over the 
 land, the glad tidings of salvation. His errand 
 was not a needless one, for great spiritual destitu- 
 tion prevailed. The inhabitants, for the most part, 
 were without religious ordinances ; while those 
 ■who knew anything of the Scripture way of peace 
 ■irith God. or of the Gospel demands for holy living, 
 were very few, — the great proportion being envelop- 
 ed in the darkness of spiritual death, and in urgent 
 need of evangelistic teaching. But the toiJa and 
 kardships of Mr. Black were attended by signally
 
 vm INTRODUCTION. 
 
 blessed consequences in the conversion of siimera, 
 so that in tlie different sections of the Provinoe, 
 where his way was directed, there was made widely 
 known the savour of the knowledge of Christ. 
 
 The mighty work the Lord hath wroogUfc 
 throughout our land during the century past, ia 
 the salvation of multitudes taken home to hea\ren, 
 and in the fruits of moral and spiritual culture uow 
 everywhere to be witnessed, may well call fuctli 
 grateful acknowledgment from every devout heart. 
 As prime factors employed by the Head of the 
 Church in accomplishing these results must cer- 
 tainly be included the itinerant Ministers and 
 other workers of the Methodist body. 
 
 It is especially fitting that there should be 
 some appropriate commemoration of the Ceuteaacy 
 of Methodistic history in these Provinces, ia 
 recognition of the guidance and prosperity wh.Ldi 
 the Divine Hand has afforded this branch of the 
 Church, that by the retrospect we may be prompted 
 to new consecration in the Lord'sservice, and to en- 
 larged and zealous efforts in our denominational work 
 — calls to which are now so pressing, — and that by 
 a Thanksgiving Memorial there may be given some 
 tangible and permanent testimony that " Hithert« 
 hath the Lord helped us. " The idea of the Cen- 
 tennial celebration originated at a meeting of Mia-
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 isters composing the Nova Scotia Conference 
 Special Committea, held in Grafton Street Church, 
 Halifax, on the tenth of November last, it being 
 then ascertained that it was One Hundred years on 
 that day since the honored William Black left hia 
 father's house in Cumberland to enter upon his 
 evangelistic ministry; and it is an interesting 
 coincidence worthy of note that this Centennial 
 project should have had its beginning in close 
 proximity to the spot, — but a few feet distant — 
 where lies sleeping the dust of the sainted Apostle 
 of our Provincial Methodism, and of the beloved 
 companion of his earlier years. The purpose was 
 then entertained to set apart the year, reckoning 
 from that day to the 10th of November, 1882, as 
 the Centenary of our history, and to make arrange- 
 ments for the formal inauguration of the celebra- 
 tion at the next session of Conference, to be held 
 in Windsor, by a Centennial discourse as the 
 Conference Sermon, and by other appropriate 
 services at that time. A sub-committee was ap- 
 pointed to prepare resolutions and suggestions, and 
 the report of the Conference Special Committee 
 embodying the proposal was cordially entertained 
 by the Conference. The Centennial Discourse by 
 the ex-President, the Rev. .John Lathern, delivered 
 before the Conference, and to a large and deeply
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "interested audience, on Sunday morning, June 
 25th, 1882, was highly appropriate to the occasion. 
 On the Tuesday following services were held, in 
 which were given by several senior ministers, 
 reminiscences of other years, and an address of 
 masterly eloquence and power by the Rev. George 
 Douglas, LL.D., President of the General Confer- 
 ence. The Conference passed a resolution of thanks 
 to the ex-President for his Conference Sermon, 
 and also to Dr. Douglas for his Memorial Address, 
 and requested that these be furnished fur publi- 
 catiim in a Centennial volume. A copy of the 
 resolutions of the Nova Scotia Conference relating 
 to the Centenary was transmitted to the New 
 Brunswick and P. E. Island Conference, and the 
 proposal was heartily entertained by that body ; 
 so that we have the gratification of a union of the 
 two sister Conferences in the celebration of this 
 Centennial Thanksgivijtg. In order that all our 
 people might have the opportunity of participating 
 in the privileges and gladness of this memorable 
 occasion, it was resolved by the Nova Scotia Con- 
 ference, that at each of the Financial District 
 Meeting in the month of August ensuing, a Central 
 Centennial celebration of a religious and social 
 ■character be held, and that arrangements then be 
 anade for the remaining centennial services to be
 
 INTRODrCTrON. xi 
 
 held in October next. Similar arrangements were 
 made for the celebration in the Conference of 
 New Brunswick and P. Ei Island. 
 
 This volume will be found to contain the 
 Centennial discourse by the Rev. John Lathern, 
 the Memorial Address by the Rev. Dr. Douglas, a 
 synopsis of addresses by Rev. I. Sutcliffo and S. F. 
 Huestis, a letter read at the Conference Centennial 
 Meeting, received from the venerable Dr. Richey, 
 together with other appropriate documents, and 
 also an Appeal in relation to the practical issues 
 which, it is strongly hoped, the movement will 
 indicate and promote, that thereby the Methodists 
 of these Provinces may gratefully acknowledge the 
 goodness of the Lord toward our Church in the 
 century past, cherishing the hope of vastly more 
 abundant blessing upon those who may succeed us 
 in the century to come. 
 
 We commend this Centennial Memorial volume 
 to careful perusal by all our people, praying that 
 the effectual blessing of the Lord may so crown the 
 Centennial services, and all the work of our church 
 during this year, that thousands may have occa- 
 sion to regard it as the most memoraljle period of 
 their life, because of the rich measures of converting 
 and sanctifying power slied down upon Methodism in 
 these Provinces during this Centenary of our history.
 
 CENTENARY OF METHODISM, 
 
 1782-1882. 
 
 GOD WITH US ; THE CENTURY CROW]S'EI> 
 WITH BLESSING : 
 
 A Discourse in commemoration of the Centenary of 
 Methodism in the Eastern Provinces, by the 
 Rev. John Lathern, Ex-President ; preached 
 at Windsor during the meeting of the Nova 
 Scotia Conference, Sabbath, June 25th, 1882. 
 
 " Which we hare heard and known, and our fathers 
 hare told vx. We will not hide them from their cldldren, 
 shetrinff to thr (jeiwrution to come the praixex of the Lord, 
 and hix strenijth, and his uonderful works (hat he hath, 
 wrought — PsJilm Ixxviii : 3, 4, 
 
 The dominant note of this noble Psahn is the 
 inerc}' of God to his people, from the infancy 
 of the nation and Church on to a pei'iod of 
 consolidation and strength. Marvellous things 
 which God did in the sight of their fathers, 
 their captivit}' broken, the cleft sea, the night 
 march through the midst of the deep, the pil- 
 lar of cloud and of flame foi" guidance by day 
 and by uight, the crystal fountain opened in
 
 14 CEMTENARY OF METHODISM. • 
 
 :i burning desert, the manjia i-iiined down from 
 heaven, and the triumphant entrance into the 
 promised land, are told in stirring and storied 
 strain and speech, "Prophets, priests, le- 
 vites, the tabernacle ;" says Bonar, in his ex- 
 position of this passage, all are implied, and 
 all are meant to make permanent among them 
 the knowledge and love of the glorious Jeho- 
 vah." It was also the purpo-se of the Psalmist, 
 in accordance with established method for the 
 transmi>sion of truth and testimony, that the 
 knowledge of God's dealings with his church 
 and people, should be communicated to distant 
 and bucceeding ages : " Which we have heard 
 and known and our fathers have told us. We 
 will not hide them from their children, shew- 
 ing to the generation to come the praises of 
 the Lord, and his strength and his wonderful 
 works that he hath done. For he established 
 a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in 
 Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that 
 they should make them known to their chil- 
 dren : That the generation to come might 
 know them, even the children that should be 
 born ; who should arise and declare them to 
 their children : That they might set their 
 hope in God, and not fbi-get the works, but 
 Jceep his commandments." 
 
 Prom the standpoint of this Psalm, the
 
 GOD WITH US. 15 
 
 spirit and purpose of which are in jjerfect ac- 
 cord Avith the memorial character and design 
 of this Centennial service, we gladly comme- 
 morate the goodness of God to onr fathers in 
 the days of their pioneer toil, and the raeicy 
 which has crowned u century of denomina- 
 tional life and growth. 
 
 For the f^ake of an adequate perspective,, 
 taking as our stalling point the 3'ear 1782, it 
 may be expedient to glance at the Wesleyan 
 movement in England, the extension of evan- 
 gelical enterprise to the American Continent, 
 and the distinctive and denominational land- 
 marks of the period. 
 
 In 1782, a century ago, the venerable 
 Founder of Methodism had already achieved a 
 great Avork in the British Isles. An Oxford 
 scholar of the first rank, he was regarded by 
 Southey as the most influential mind of the 
 last centur}^; and, according to Lord Macaulay,, 
 his genius for government was not inferior 
 to that of Eichelieu. From the press his 
 productions, scattered through the land, fell 
 
 " Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks 
 In Vallouibrosa." 
 
 But the special mission of John Wesley 
 was that of an Evangelist, lie preached forty 
 thousand sermons, and his itinerancy only
 
 1 G CEXTENA U Y OF ME THODISJT: 
 
 ceased with his life. " If," said a writer in 
 Ihe Athowum, "under the horse-hoof of Attihi 
 the grass never grew ; so the grass never grew 
 under the tread of Wesley." The world was 
 his parish. It has heen said that he never left 
 the National Church, and in some technical 
 sense this may be true ; but, as represented by 
 surpliced and mitred dignitaries, the Church 
 left him. At the Conference of 1782, the main 
 question under consideration -was that of 
 denominational oi-ganization ; and two years 
 later, in 1*784, a '' Deed of Dechu-ation," for 
 securing legal statu-, was enrolled in "the 
 High Court of Chancery." Thus a path for the 
 perpetuation of Methodism as an independent 
 Church was at once "])aved and perfected;" 
 and, to use Wesley's own phi-ase, it was placed 
 upon a foundation where it is " likely to last 
 as long as the sun and moon endure." Soon 
 after the completion of that decade, the dying 
 words of this venerable servant of G-od — "the 
 best of all is God is with us" — were caught up 
 as the inspiring watch-word of a grand sacra- 
 itiental host. A tab'et of sculptured marble, 
 in Westminster Abbey, on which I have 
 recently looked, bears the name, and has been 
 inscribed to the niemorj', of England's great 
 Apostle. But the thought of another memo- 
 rial and of the trophied temp'e at once returns
 
 GOD WITH US. J 7 
 
 to us : '-Do you aslc for lu^ inomiincnt ? Lnol: 
 PioumlyoH !" 
 
 In 1782, Methodism ou this .side of the 
 Athintic was still at its formative stage. The 
 first Methodist sermon, to a congregation of 
 five ].crsoiis in XeAV York, was preached bv 
 Philii) Junbury in iTOb". Boardman and Pill- 
 moor, the first Weslej'an missionaries, Avere 
 f^cnt out in ITGU; and, in allusion to tiiis 
 mission, a metropolitan journal suceringty 
 announced that John AVesley was about to b'> 
 declared the Bishop of Pennsylvania, and 
 Charles AVeslej- promoted to the diocese (»f 
 Kova Scotia. Ihe Conlinent of America, as 
 one circuit, was put u])on the English Minutes 
 in 17(50, ajid the following year a membership 
 of :]l(j was reported. In 171^2 the number of 
 comniiniicants was onl}' a little over eleven 
 th(Misand. 
 
 Jn that same year. H^--'. one hundi'cd years 
 .ngo, while this country wa> still sparsel}- set- 
 tled, and the entiie population was not sup- 
 posed to e.xcced twelve thousand, the now 
 venei-atcd AVilliam IJlacIc comnienccd his ]ni>- 
 sion in Xovu .Scotia. 
 
 Amongst Knglish emigrants, who a. little 
 prior to that date, purchased farjiis in (,'iini- 
 berland County of this Province, was the 
 Black family from iluddcrsHeld, Vorsk-hin'.
 
 18 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 They came out in 1775. The English settlers, 
 mostly a superior class of people, comprised 
 a Methodist element. They had been in con- 
 tact with the Wesleyan movement at home. 
 Embers of revival fires were brought out with 
 them. Prayer-meetings were established by 
 Mr. Newton in 1779. The spark was quick- 
 ened to a flame. Many people were led to a 
 genuine concern for the salvation of their 
 souls; and, after the manner of genuine York- 
 shire Methodism, clashes were organized and 
 Love feasts were held. Wm. Black, then 
 nineteen years of age, of simny ftice and genial 
 temper, at home with his parents near 
 Amherst, came under that influence. He was 
 thoroughly converted to Cxod ; and, through 
 that great spiritual change, he was uncon- 
 sciously led along into a new history. As in 
 the case of St. Paul, Martin Luther, John 
 Wesley, and other leaders of the Church, that 
 great experimental fact of conversion to God, 
 contained the germ of all that followed ; and, 
 over a career which might have been other- 
 wise inexplicable, it throws the luminous light 
 of heavenly law. 
 
 " My distress," he sa^-s in reference to that 
 momentous and memorable event, " was great. 
 I thought that if I were in hell, I could not be 
 more miserable. All the time, I felt an awfuJ
 
 GOD Willi US. 1» 
 
 sense of God and of ray lost condition, without 
 help from heaven. At Mr. Oxley's we con- 
 tinaed praying about two hours, when it 
 j)leased the Lord to reveal his suitableness, 
 ability and willingness to save nie. I could 
 cast my soul on hini. and aixy, I am thine and 
 thou art mim'. While our frieadi wore sing.ng, 
 
 " Tliy piirdoii r claim, 
 Fur a siniivr [ am, 
 A sinncT helicviii^ in Jesus' n:ime," 
 
 I could claim m}' interest in His bloo;l. lav 
 fast hold on the hope set before me. The Lord 
 teas my righteousness. Instantly my burden 
 dropped otf — guilt was washed away, condem- 
 nation was renijved, sweet peace and gladness 
 were diffu-<ed through my soul. Mourning 
 was lurne I int) joy. My countenance told of 
 deliverance. AU n\y song was. 
 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 
 The first impulse of a genuine convert, 
 emphasized in our noble experimental hymns, 
 is to make known to others the fact and the 
 fulness of pardoning mercy : 
 
 " Wliere sliall my wanderinfr soul begin ? 
 
 How f hall I all to lieaven aspire ? 
 
 A slave rfdcem'd from deatli and sin, 
 
 A brand pluck'd from eternal fire, 
 How liliall I e(]iial triumphs raise, 
 Or sing my great Deliverer's praise." 
 
 The fact of conversion must tind immodi-
 
 20 CA\\T£X. I U Y OF M K rifODISM: 
 
 ate attestation. aii<l unfolds itself in varied 
 forms of Christian activity. It is not therefore 
 an_y matter for sur^^risc that the gifts of 
 William Black were at once exercised in 
 testimony, prayer, and exhortation. In the 
 persuasive power and" abundant grace which 
 marked and accompanied these earliest efibrts, 
 it soon became manifest that he was destined 
 for special woi'k'. The country was new, and 
 spiritual destitution M'as great. Fi'oni many 
 a solitaiy settlement, and from manj^ a wood- 
 man's dwelling, came the Macedonian cry. 
 The appeal Avas in'esistible. He confei-red not 
 with ilesh and blood. Iicsponse was immediate 
 and absolute. 
 
 On the 10th day of November, 1781, in 
 the spirit of consecration, constrained by the 
 love of Christ, with the whole land before him, 
 lie went forth as a messenger of salvation to 
 his ccmntiymen. There was no Conference to 
 depute, no Quarterly Board to provide, and no 
 companions to cheer him on his wa}-; but 
 there was the commission burning in his 
 heart, and the inspii'ation of promise : ''' Lo, 
 I am with yow alway.'' 
 
 The first excursion of Wm. Blaclc aci-oss 
 the broad marsh of Tantramar, was to settle- 
 ments lying between Amherst and the Pcti- 
 codiac rivci' — to Fort Lawrence. Sackvillc, and
 
 GOD WITH rs. 21 
 
 tlic region of Dorchester. But, in Paulino 
 spirit and purpose, he looked iihnost at once 
 to centres fro]u which li<^ht might radiate to 
 extremities of the land. The rising town of 
 Windsoi", we are told, attracted his special 
 attention. But, failing to obtain direct com- 
 munication by way of the Avon, he landed 
 at Cornwallis. The Baptists of that fine 
 Township welcomed him to the pulpit of their 
 Church. On Sabbath the^ 26th of May, the 
 youthfid Evangelist there opened his commis- 
 sion. Themes of profound and inexhaustible 
 interest and importance were announced on 
 that day. His first text — the first also of 
 Fiancis Asbury on this continent — was the 
 emphatic utterance of Paul the Apostle of 
 Jesus Christ : '' For I determined not to know 
 anything among you, save Jesus Christ and 
 liim crucified." The ideal and aim of mission 
 and ministry were also very fully indicated in 
 the second theme of that day : •• For God .so 
 loved the world, that he gave his on\y begotten 
 .Son, that wiiosoever believeth in him shoukl 
 not perish, but have everlasting life."' 
 
 Four days latei-, with fi-eeJom and po\vei\ 
 Mr. Black pleached at Ilorton. Many cried 
 for mercy, and others shouted Hosanna to the 
 Son of l)avid. Windsor was reached on the 
 iith of June. On tlie evening of that day ho
 
 2'J CEXTEN. [RY OF ME inODISM : 
 
 preached in tlie house of Mrs. Henry Scott. 
 It stood "on the Franklin Farm," and was 
 already hallowed by the gathering of a group 
 for prayer. The theme of that first Methodist 
 sermon in this toH'n, Fight the good fight of 
 faith, was a militant one. There was the clear 
 ring of Christian courage, and of lofty resolve. 
 The consecrated standard was raised, and the 
 work of enlisting soldiers for the cro.ss at once 
 began. As the nnshrinl;^ing avowal of the 
 preacher's own loyalty to Christ, the stirring 
 stanza must have found a place in that opening 
 service — 
 
 " What though a thousand hosts cnorage ! 
 A thousand worUls my soul to sliake ! 
 I have a shield shall quell their rage, 
 
 And drive the alien armies back; 
 Portrayed it bears a bleeding lamb : 
 I dare believe in Jesu's name." 
 
 There was great liberty in that opening 
 service. Emotion was contagious. Man}^ were 
 in tears. Thursday was spent at Newport, 
 where the preaching was not without some 
 profit to the people, and the day after Mr, 
 Black was again at "Windsor. The few Metho- 
 dists, mostly from the North of England^ 
 where the Wesleyan revival had been richest 
 m result, who had welcomed him to the village 
 were formed into a Ciass ; and John Smith of
 
 GOD WIT:I us. 2,1 
 
 Messed memory,* who before leaving his 
 Yoi'kshire homo had acted as piecen'oi* for 
 Wesley, and had held prayer meetings pre- 
 vious to the arrival of a pi-eacher, was 
 appointed Leader. The following Sunday, 
 June 9th, was a day of memorable interest to 
 the little compan}^ of worshippers. The 
 speaker continued in urgent appeal until 
 almost exhausted. After a visit to Halifax, 
 where he preached on three successive days, 
 and where the people manifested a spirit of 
 utter inditference to religion, on Sabbath of 
 June the 16th, Mr. Black was again at W ind- 
 8or. The house was not large enough to 
 contain the people. An afternoon service was 
 held in Mr. Chandler's orchard, not fai- away 
 from where this Church now stands, and where 
 we meet for worship to-day. That same eve- 
 ning the first love feast was held. 
 
 In tracing a river to the place of its 
 origin, we not unfrequently find numerous 
 springs and streams, and it is not always easy 
 to determine what is the main source and 
 which are the tributaries. And so in regard 
 to the rise of Methodism in Nova Scotia — 
 then inclusive of Now Brunswick, forming 
 
 * Numerous families in and around Windsor, 
 descendents of this honored man, perpetuate his name 
 and worth.
 
 24 CEXTEX. IRY OF MI- THODISM: 
 
 ai the time the county of Sunbury — \vc en- 
 counter u similar diliiculty. Meetings for 
 prayer and spiritual fellowship were first held 
 in Cumberland. But at Windsor we stand at 
 the fountain head of a definite and permanent- 
 ly organized movement. Tlie work of (iod 
 to )k shape as a society of '' the people called 
 Methodists," so as to comniand the a])proval 
 of John Wesley ; and, in much the sanie form, 
 it has been perpetuated to this day. It is 
 therefore a providential coincidence that we 
 are called to celebrate the Centenary in this 
 Town. 
 
 liefreshed and invigorated by the services 
 of a blessed Sabbath, a second attempt was 
 made in Halifax. The prospect was not, by 
 tiny means, an encouraging one. There were 
 godly people in the town at that time. St. 
 Paul's had an influential ministry. The 
 Presbyterians had a church. Quakers, 
 Sandemanians, and Svvedenborgians had each 
 a small congregation. lUit owing to the naval 
 and military position of Halifax, during the 
 Pevolutionary War. there were great laxity of 
 morals and prevalence of irreligious feeling. 
 The teachings of Paine and Voltaire had just 
 then passed the zenith of their vaunted and 
 baleiul power and influence. Excessive world- 
 liuess, extreme formalism, the opposition of
 
 GOD WITH US. 2ri 
 
 an u 1100 m pro mi slug intidelit}', and the rude 
 inlcrniptioii of the baser soi-t, had in turn to 
 he encounte:'ed. lint the pit}', patience, and 
 power of the preacher triumphed over apathy, 
 unbelief and contumely. The services of that 
 Sabbath and those of two following daj^s, in 
 a measure that could scarcely have been anti- 
 cipated, were signalized by gracious influence 
 and gave presage of better days. 
 
 Alter a ride on horse-back of .some fort^'-five 
 miles, thi'ough an almost unbroken forest^ 
 with scarcely a habitation to break the mono- 
 tony of the way, Mr. Black again preached at 
 Windsor. The voice of the Lord was heard. 
 There were exhibitions of the saving, sancti- 
 fying grace of God. Many trembled, wept, 
 and cried for mercy. 
 
 The reflection of that Windsor revival, 
 like a beacon-light, or a pillar of tire suddenlv 
 kindled in a dark place, was caught by 
 watcliers in distant settlements. The sphere 
 of operations, in response to urgent invitation, 
 began to enlarge. We lind the preacher at 
 Cornwallis. There at a watch-night service 
 was a shaking of dry bones, as in the valley of 
 ])rophetic vision. To one of the largest con- 
 gi'egation.> ever seen in that township, he 
 expatiated on the glorious jjassage, aj)positc 
 enough io its adaptation, '• The Spirit of the
 
 ii6 CENTENARY OF METHODISM. 
 
 Lord is upon me ; because tlie Lord hath 
 
 anointed me to preach ghid tidings to the 
 
 meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken 
 
 hearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive." 
 
 Apparently without much of previous 
 
 plan, following- the guidance of Providence, 
 
 the labors of that siimmer were extended to 
 
 Granville and Annapolis. During the second 
 
 3'ears' itinerancy, taking Halifax for a starting 
 
 point, coasting a part of the Province, 
 
 " Around whose rocky sliore 
 The forests murmur, and the surges roar," 
 
 he visited La Have, Liverpool, andShelburne. 
 At Liverpool the seed sown fell into a good 
 and jDrepared soil. Methodism took early and 
 firm root in that attractive town and commu- 
 nity, and was fruitful of good, blessed results. 
 But at Shelburne the wi-ath of the adversary 
 was aroused. The loyalists were then building 
 up the town, and amongst them was an 
 element of Tory and high ecclesiastic exclu- 
 siveness. A ponderous stone from the outskirts 
 ol the congregation, hurled with violent force, 
 was narrowly avoided, and vengeance was 
 threatened upon the preacher. In addition to 
 the coast, repeated journeys through the 
 Annapolis Valley, and to the Cumberland 
 • congregations, we find that in the autumn of 
 Ihat year, 1783, Mr. Black crossed the Gulf to
 
 GOD WITH US. 27 
 
 Prince Edward Island — thou known as the 
 Island of St. John — a visit that Avas repeated 
 to more decided advantage a few j'ears later. 
 Thus from the surf-beat of the Atl-antic 
 to the mouth of the majestic St. Lawrence, a 
 vast space was conipi-ised within the circuit 
 of that second year. The exposure and fatigue 
 of such a charge must have been very great. 
 Reminiscences of old j)eople attbrd an occa- 
 sional glimpse of settlement in a new country. 
 But in these days of easy and rapid travel, by 
 rail and b}' boat, it is hard to undei'stand the 
 real difficulties of an early pioneer Missionary. 
 Most of the roads through the iiiterioi-, if they 
 existed at all, were rough and almost impas- 
 sable. The shore was frequently skirted by 
 dense woods, down to the water's edge. The 
 hospitality of a log-built cabin secluded in the 
 shadow}' depth of the forest, was eagerly and 
 gratefully welcomed. It was not alwuya that 
 a single log could bo found to bridge the rapid 
 and swollen stream. The first English mis- 
 sionary, who was sent out to occupy a part of 
 this territory, found himself a solitary wan- 
 derer in a strange country ; pondering at the 
 edge of a floating bridge, as to how he might 
 pass over in safety; musing in the heart of 
 the forest, wondering which of the obscure 
 paths might lead him in safety to his desti-
 
 -''S CEy TEX. I U Y OF ME TirODISM: 
 
 iialioii ; sitting in a fruil canoo, while his horse 
 with saddle bags and paraphernalia of study, 
 swam alongside. The heroism and the hardship 
 of an early itinerant find striking ilhistratioa 
 in occasional entries of Mr. Black's joui-nal. 
 in order to fulfil his Sabbath appointments at 
 Windsor, lie left Halifax on the Saturday 
 morning, blistered his feet, and in weariness 
 and pain completed the journey. But the 
 aspirations of this intrepid and tireless evan- 
 gelist were scarcely bounded by the limits of 
 a single Province. It was necessary for 
 Wesley, with whom at this time he had 
 frequent correspondence, and who much prized 
 the exhibition of an indomitable energy, to 
 remind him that Nova Scotia and Newfound- 
 land were sufticient for one circuit, and that it 
 was not expedient to include any i^art of the 
 United States ; for they had preachers enough 
 ali'oady on that side of the line, and might 
 rather spare one or two for the Provinces.* 
 In the early part of 1784, while on a visit 
 
 * Mr. Black liad written urgently to Mr. Wesley 
 for one or more preachers to take charge of the work 
 in Nova Scotia, and he had also expressed a wish for 
 classical and theological study in regular course. 
 "The school at Kingswood is exceedingly full," 
 wrote Wesley, " nevertiieless there shall be room fur 
 you. Audit is very probable, ifyonsliould live to 
 return to Halifax, you may carry one or two preachers 
 with you."
 
 GOD WITH VS. 29 
 
 to settlements along the Atlantic coast, Mr. 
 Eiaek made his way to Birchtowii, adjacent to 
 Shelhiune — a large community of colored 
 jjcople, mosth' liberated slaves and refugees. 
 He found tliat chieHj" through the agency of 
 an aged negro, a good and genuine revival of 
 religion was being can-ied on, and several 
 classes organized. That movement attracted 
 the attention of Wesley ; as, with the eye of a 
 vigilant leader, he looked to every part of tiiat 
 wide tield, which constituted his parish. Ho 
 wished those poor souls in the wihlerness to 
 be cared for. Soon after, hy the British O^ov- 
 ennncnt, they were shipped awaj' to Sierra 
 Leone, and they carried their Christianity and 
 religious fervor with them. Here v/e touch 
 one of those extraordinary Unc^ of tntfuenrc 
 which at that eaily period went out from this 
 Province to the ends of the earth. From that 
 now di-eary and dclapidated loolcing bash 
 settlement of liirchiown, near Shelburne. 
 having at that time a dense pojjulation of 
 dusky dwellers, Methodism was inlroduced to 
 the Western Coast of Africa; and. in aColon\- 
 of the dark Continent, the simple souls lo 
 whom ,Mr. Black preached, and whom he mel 
 in class during this visit, became the nuclens 
 of the largest Missionary Church of modern 
 times-'-i^ 
 
 * Tlif first Wtsleyan Missionary, Kcv. Gcoriro
 
 30 CEXTEXARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 It had been hinted by Mr. Wesley that 
 the United Stales might " t<paie one or two 
 preachers for the Provinces ;" and acting upon 
 tlie suggestion, having but little prospect of 
 any immediate ministerial supply from Eng- 
 land, Mr. Black made his way to Baltimore. 
 The now historical '' Christmas Conference" 
 was about to be held in that city. Fi-eeborn 
 Garretson had been "sent off like an arrow" 
 to summon the brethren from their distant 
 fields. An Episcopal form of oiganization had 
 been determined upon for the Societies in the 
 United States. The venerable Wesle}^, whose 
 authority Avas recognized throughout the 
 Avorld of Methodism, had ordained the Eev. 
 Dr. Coke as an overseer of the Flock ; and 
 Francis Asbury, the tireless and intrepid 
 itinerant, henceforth to be known as the 
 pioneer Bishop and the representative cha- 
 racter of American Methodism, was also 
 designated and ordained to episcopal office 
 and administration. At that Christmas 
 Conference of 1784, the Centennial of which 
 is near at hand, the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 Warren, accompanied by three teachers, sent out by 
 the Englisli Conference, in 1811, found tliat about one 
 hundred of the nefrroes from Nova Scotia were still 
 in the habit of meeting together for religious worship. 
 They had built a chapel, called themselves .Metliodists, 
 and had repeatedly requested thai a VVesleyan Mis- 
 fiioiiary might be sent out to them.
 
 GOB WITH US. 31 
 
 Church of the United States was foi-raallj and 
 fully oi-ganized. 
 
 At the Baltimoi'e Conference two brethren 
 of mark, Freeborn Garrettson and James O. 
 Cromwell, volunteered for the work in the 
 British Provinces. This was not the only result 
 of Mr. Blacks' visit at that time. Through his 
 earnest and eloquent appeal in behalf of this 
 mission field, the heart of Dr, Coke was 
 profoundly moved ; who, at the close of the 
 Conference, spent three or four days in 
 collecting funds for the sustentation of the 
 enterprise. Here again we trace one of those 
 lines of influence which at that eai-ly day went 
 out from this Province, and which connect 
 this work with the great evangelistic move- 
 ments of the time. Dr. Coke was the founder 
 of that grand Missionary enterprise, which 
 has constituted the crowning glory of Metho- 
 dism. As, under God. we are indebted to 
 John Wesley, for lile and organization, to 
 Charles Wesley ibr an incomparable psalmody, 
 to Fletcher, of Madely, for vindication of theo- 
 logical tenets, so we are indebted to Coke for 
 the magnificent conception of a universal evan- 
 gelization. " I want the wings of an angel," 
 he said, on his first ocean voyage, "and the 
 voice of a trumpet, that I may proclaim the 
 Gospel east and west, north and south." The
 
 ,72 CEXTEyA U T OF ME TllDDISM: 
 
 fire 80on uftcr l)lnzod out fioni ]ms mis- 
 sionary f<oul, willi u !>])!oinlor tliat caught the 
 eye of the Cliri.stiau woi-ld : to tlic htfst it con- 
 tinued to burn witli ceaseless, (juencliless 
 flame; but it was through the glowing en- 
 thusiasm of that Daltimoi'c ajipeal — for the 
 work of God in these Provinces — that the 
 light of heavenly zeal first flashed into the 
 brightness and activity of holy and unexam- 
 pled enter])rize. The private fortune of Dr. 
 Coke was ungj-udgingly consecrated to the 
 cause of Missions ; and. for the pur])0<e of ob- 
 taining funds, he '' stoo2)ed to the very drudg- 
 ery of charity."' J3ut it Avas in solicitation 
 for Nova Scotia, that he began that extraordi- 
 nary career of personal appeal. -•- 
 
 Throughout the yeai* that followed the Bal- 
 timore (conference, and aitei- his return to 
 England, though luirdencd with the cares of 
 all the churches, the mission of Xova Scotia 
 was not foi-gotten by Coke. It Avas in his 
 burning and intrepid heart to visit tlic Pro- 
 
 *Tlic afTeotionatc solicitude of Mr. Wesley, also 
 deserves special renieinhrance at tins time. " I am 
 greatly concerned for the {irosperity of the work of 
 'God in Novii Scotia," lie wrote in 187S. "It seems 
 some way to be nearer to my heart than even that in 
 tlie United State.- ; many of our brethren there, are, 
 we may hope strong in the power of his miglit; but 
 I look ui on tliose in the northern provinces to be 
 jounger, and more tender children, and consequently 
 to stand in need ut our utmost care.
 
 GOD WITH US. 33 
 
 vinces. For this purpose, he em barked in 
 the latter jjart of 1876. The Atlantic voyage 
 proved to be a tempestons one. Storm-strain- 
 ed and leak}', the vessel became almost a 
 wj-eck. Under the impression that he had "a 
 Jonah on board,"' the captain paced the deck 
 in angry and (.listui-bed mood. The doctoi-'s 
 books and manuscripts wci'e tossed overboard 
 into the sea; and he was at the same time 
 threatened that, unless pi-aying wore abaiid- 
 ened, he should be thiown alter them. Bat 
 all would not avail. At the distance of three 
 day's sail from these shores, the vessel drift- 
 ed ctt" to the West Indies. But that ship was 
 freighted with human destiny. Here wo 
 have another of those lines of Injiuence^ which 
 we have delighted to trace. The loss of Nova 
 Scotia was the gain of the West Indies, and 
 led to oi-gaiiized mission efforts in those 
 beautiful, but siaveiy-blighted Isles, where 
 
 " Evi-ry prospect pleases, 
 Only iiiau is vile." 
 
 The pi-cachers who accompanied Dr. Coke 
 intended for Newloundhmd :ind Xova Scotia 
 Warrener, Ilammett, and (Jlaik, were station- 
 ed at Antigua, St. Chi istopher's and St. Yin- 
 cent's ; and, sooner than might have been 
 looked for, the favorite text of Coke, " Ethio- 
 pia slall stretch out her hands unto God," and
 
 :34 C EN TEX A RY OF ME THODISM: 
 
 that on which he delighted most to preach, 
 vras beginning to find its accomplishment. 
 On his return to Nova Scotia, with the fire 
 of the Baltimore Conference burning in hi8 
 heart, and lips touched with pure baptismal 
 flame, Mr. Black halted at Boston. No Amer- 
 ican itinerant had yet ventured within the 
 precincts of that puritan City. Charles Wes- 
 ley on his way home from Geoi'gia had held 
 a short service; but, with that exception, no 
 methodist sermon had ever been preached 
 there. To a rigidly orthodox people, the ad- 
 vent of a bush preacher cou'd be a matter for 
 indiiference only, or of scorn. The pulpits of 
 che several charges were securely fenced. 
 Earlier services had to be held in a private 
 house. But the calm and persuasive state- 
 ments and appeals of the preacher, and the 
 proclammation o^ a 2'>resent, free and full salva- 
 tion, accompanied by the manifest power 
 and influence of the Holy Ghost, Avrought an 
 immediate change. Congregations commenc- 
 ed to overflow. Thousands thronged to hear 
 the word from lips of burning earnestness. 
 The largest Churches in the City were otfer- 
 ed and accepted for service. A great revival 
 of religion swept through the community. 
 It was estimated that not less than three 
 thousand people were present at the closing
 
 GOD WITH US. Srt 
 
 service. Thus once again -vve touch a line of 
 extraordinary influence reaching out from those 
 Provinces to the metropolis of New England. 
 Through the agency of the Nova Scotia pio- 
 neer, Methodism was introduced to the cultur- 
 ed people of Boston. 
 
 On the return of Mr. Black to the Provii>- 
 ees, he was^ no longer an isolated laborer. He 
 found himself in refreshing association with 
 men of kindred and consecrated spirit and 
 purpose : 
 
 " Bold to take up, firm to sustain, 
 The consecrated cross. 
 
 The first meeting of the Halifax District or 
 Conference, which, it was hoped would have 
 been signalized by the presence of Dr. Coke, 
 was held at Halifax in the Autumn of 1786. 
 In aJdition to the two brethren from Balti- 
 more, three others had been added to tlie 
 pioneer staff. Two of these, John Mann, con- 
 verted to God under the ministry of Board- 
 man in New York, a leader and local preach- 
 er in that city, and James Mann, who^e name 
 is still fragrant along the southern shore, and 
 whose dust f jund sepulture bem'ath the \>\\\- 
 pit of the Shelburne Methodist Church, had 
 recently ari-ived with the loyalists, William 
 (•rrandin, of New Jersey, traditions of whose 
 ministiy still linger around Wallace, Bcdcquc,
 
 36 CESTEXAJiY OF METllOmSM: 
 
 and iilong the banks of the Nashwaak, where 
 through his ministry many worthy families 
 were brought into association Avith Metho- 
 dism, was also present, and was stationed in 
 Cumborlaiid County. The kind of work to be 
 done and dared, by itinerants in that day, has 
 been indicated in the graphic narrative of 
 Freeborn Garrettson. Though still a young 
 man, Garrettson was a seasoned veteran in 
 the service, and he was as heavenly minded 
 as heroic. His lot, he wrote to Wesley soon 
 after his arrival in Nova Scotia, had been 
 mostly oast in new fields. He had been per- 
 secuted, beaten, stoned, shot and surrounded by 
 fierce mobs; and, in one case, by sudden light- 
 ning, he had been saved fi-om the fury of arm- 
 ed assailants. On his arrival at Halifax, iu 
 February, 1875, a small preaching place was 
 obtained in the Town. But he visited other 
 towns — ti-aversed mountains and valleys, fre- 
 quently on fijot, and the knapsack at his back 
 — threaded Indian paths up and down through 
 the wilderness, where it was not expedient 
 to take a horse — waded through morasses of 
 wood and water — satisfied hunger fi-om the 
 kuapsack, drank of the brook by the way, 
 atid at night rested his weary limbs on a bed 
 of forest leaves. But there was a side of com- 
 pensation. Souls were won for Christ. At the
 
 GOT) WITH US. 37 
 
 end of two years, the aggregate of little socie- 
 ties scattered through the Province, a mem- 
 bership of three or four hundred was report- 
 ed.* 
 
 The varied experiences of llr. "Slack's spirit- 
 ed life, the secret and source of endurance 
 and strength, and that which gave vitality 
 and success to his ministrj^, are indicated by 
 copious entries in his journal. " I rose eail- 
 icr than common this morning,'" he wrote in 
 1788, " and spent ttco hours in devotional ex- 
 ercises. M\' heart was drawn out somewhat 
 after God. But alas ! 
 
 " How far from thee I lie ! 
 Dear Jesus, raise me higher." 
 
 Two hours of the early morning set apart 
 
 *At tlie end of two years, Garrettson and Cromwell 
 returned to the United States. In addition to the 
 names already mentioned, William .Tesso]) came from 
 the United States in 1788; Whitehead, Cooper, Ke- 
 gan, Early, Fisher, Boyd, Ilockett, Fidler, Wilson, 
 Luoisden, durinjj the last decade of the century. 
 " The year 171)9," says llev. T. Watson Smith in 
 his History, "forms an era in the Methodism of the 
 Lower Provinces. The last of the American preach- 
 ers, who labored for a short time in Nova Scotia and 
 Kew Brunswick, and tiien returned to tlie work in 
 the United States, had taken Ids departure." In con- 
 sequence, possibly, of the dominant loyalist feeling of 
 the lime, the stay of those preaclicrs on this side of 
 the line was transient and uncertain ; hence it became 
 expedient to look to the English Conference for re- 
 quisite ministerial supply.
 
 3S CENTENA liY OF ME THODISM: 
 
 for devotion ! Was he not sure to be brought 
 out into ti hirgc and wealthy place ? His soul 
 began to exult in a sense of God's unutterable 
 love and mercy. The thought of a great and 
 infinite glory tilled his vision of love and re- 
 verence. " O how wonderful,"' he exclaims, 
 '• how wonderful the process of redeeming 
 love and mercy !" January 1st, 18*79, was a 
 memorable day. " Thy mercies O my soul," 
 lie says, " have been many, and thankfulness 
 to God ought to be proportionately great. 
 By the gi-ace of God 1 devote my body and 
 soul to Him." There was sacred resolve, the 
 breathing of an ardent desire : 
 
 " If so poor a worm as I 
 
 May to Thy great glory live, 
 All my actions sanctify, 
 
 All my words and thoughts receive ; 
 Claim me for Tliy service, claim 
 
 All I have, and all I am." 
 
 "I had uncommon libert}^^ in preaching 
 to-day," he was able to testify a few days lat- 
 er, — " my soul refreshed — faith invigorated, 
 — confidence in the atonement strengthened — 
 Jesus felt at times to be inexpressibly pre- 
 cious. I long for holiness, and for full con- 
 formity to the Divine will." 
 
 In May, 1789, after seven years of faithful 
 service, having made full proof his ministry,
 
 GOD WITH VS. 3(k 
 
 Mr. Black was ordained at Philadelphia, *and 
 liis ordination parchment received the signa- 
 tures of Coke and Asbury — men whom he 
 venerated for their Apostolic spirit and labors. 
 Through urgent solicitaiion, and because of 
 special qualification, he was induced to un- 
 dertake Ihe oversight of the work in the Pro- 
 vinces. Having obtained ordination to the 
 office of a presbyter, he was at once summon- 
 ed to the discharge of episcopal functions. 
 Eut there was nothing anomalous in this ar- 
 rangement. It was in strict accordance with 
 Apostolic action and injunction. St. Paul 
 directed Titus to ordain elders in every city;, 
 and, at once, he speaks of them as bishops. 
 The Apostle Peter enjoined the elders or pres- 
 />i/fe/-s of his time to exercise oversight, and 
 not as bishops to lord it over God's heritage, 
 but to be examples to the flock. The inspir- 
 ed distinction is not one of rank or of order, 
 but of office and of service. The case under 
 consideration conformed to New Testament 
 precedent. The Xova Scotia evangelist was 
 ordained a presbyter, but episcopal duties, 
 devolved upon him ; and, for many years, as. 
 prhnus inter pares, he wasbishoj) in more than. 
 uamc. The name of Bishop Black, in this. 
 
 *Jolin and James Mann were ordained at tlie- 
 .same time.
 
 40 CENTEXARY OF METHODIS^T: 
 
 Province, quite beyond the limits of his own 
 denonxiaatioD, and durinLij the later years of 
 his ministr}'', was familiar and greatl}' rever- 
 ed. 
 
 By arrangement, doubtless, with Dr. Coke, 
 Mr. B. paid a visit to Newfoundland. Metho- 
 dism in that Colony was then in a deplorable 
 condition. Tlie results of Coughlin's labors, 
 and those of others, had been mostly scatter- 
 ed.* John Geary held an isolated post, and 
 he was about to abandon the Island. He was 
 weeping befoi'e God over bis lonely situation, 
 and the darkness of the people. But the ar- 
 rival of an earnest and experienced evangel- 
 ist was felt to be " like life from the dead." 
 An extraordinary- revival was the immediate 
 
 *Laurence Coughlin landed on the shores of Con- 
 ception Bay, Newfoundland, and began his ministry 
 there, in ITOo— one year before Philip Enibur;- 
 X)reached in New York. The labors of Coughlin ana 
 his immediate suecessors are graphically narrated in 
 the "History of Aletliodism in Eastern British Amer- 
 ica." Following the visit of Mr. Black, the names of 
 William Ellis, Samuel McDouell, George Cubitt, 
 •John Pickavant, John Haiuh, Adam Nightingale, 
 George EUidge, William Faulkner, the brethren 
 Thomas and James Hickson, John Smithies who 
 went to Australia, .John Tomkins and William Mar- 
 shall, and several others, in addition to the esteemed 
 ministers who have come from that Colony to the 
 Provinces, have been intimately and blessedly identi- 
 fied with the establishment and extension of Metho- 
 ■dism in Newfoundland.
 
 GOD WITH rs. 41 
 
 result. At Carbonear there was a cry for 
 mercy. Men and women wei-e pierced to the 
 heart, as at Pentecost. There were penitents 
 in almost every pew. The preacher left the 
 2iulpit and went up and down the aisle to pray 
 with the weeping ones. There were like ex- 
 hibitions of saving power at Harbor Grace. 
 The Holy Ghost fell on the congregation at 
 Black Head ; first in poignant conviction, then 
 as the spirit of liberty and love. Two hun- 
 dred souls were thought to have been saving- 
 ly converted to God, during that brief visit to 
 the fishing settlements around Conception 
 Bay. A. bright day dawned upon the Island 
 mission. Methodism I'eceived an impulse 
 which has continued to this day. In turning 
 away from such triumphant scenes of saving 
 mercy, the feeling found expression : 
 
 " 'Tis wortli living for tliis, 
 
 To administer bliss. 
 
 And salvation in Jesus's name." 
 
 Returning to Halifax, where he had perma- 
 nent residence, Mr. Black was summoned to 
 enterprise of another kind. The erection of 
 a place of worship was felt to be an impera- 
 tive necessity. The foundations of the old 
 Ai-gyle St. Chapel, were dug b3' Methodist 
 Soldiers, and by strenous exertions of preacher 
 and people the building was rapidly complet- 
 ed. Tliat sanctuary, — Zoar it was called, a
 
 42 CENTEXARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 place of refuge — had for many years a grand 
 history. It was what James Montgomery, as ■ 
 in the case of Carver St. in his own Sheffield, 
 would have designated " a converting fur- 
 nace ;" and it became the spiritual home of as 
 goodly a band of men and women as any com- 
 munity could ever boast. " The Lord shall 
 count, when he writeth up the people, that 
 this man was born there."* 
 
 In that same year, 1791, under the thrill 
 and incentive of Newfoundland success, and 
 with a sacred ambition to win new spoils 
 for Christ, and larger teiTitory for the Church, 
 Mr. Black crossed the Bay of Fundy to the 
 loyalist city of St. John. An unexpected ex- 
 hibition of ecclesiastical exclusiveness, and 
 the intolerence of extreme toryism, blocked 
 his way for a time. But every man in his 
 own order ! Eminently' qualified men were 
 just then raised up for pioneer work in that 
 Province. Abraham John Bishop. — a native 
 of the Island of Jersey — a man of most bless- 
 ed memory, and a rare saintliness of charac- 
 
 *A cenotaph, placed in that Arnryle St. Chapel, 
 — since removed to Grafton St. Church — " Sacred to 
 the memory of the Reverend William Black," testi- 
 fies that " to his labors, prudence, and paternal care, 
 is the Church in this place much indebted for its rise, 
 increase and prosperity : with its history will his 
 name be associated; and his memory revered during, 
 its continuance."
 
 GOD WITH US. 43 
 
 ter — who, in seraphic devotion and holiness 
 of life, seems to have as much resembled John 
 Fletcher as any man who ever lived, had 
 raised the standard of Methodism in St. John. 
 The Episcopalians had just completed Trinity- 
 Church, and the building which they had va- 
 cated was purchased by Mr. B. for Wesleyan 
 serNace. Under his ministry a congregation 
 was gathered, souls were converted, and class 
 es were immediately organized.* He made 
 
 * Amongst the loyalists who, on the 18th of May, 
 1783, landed on the rocky shore ot what is now the 
 Market Slip of St. John, was Stephen Humbert, a 
 New Jersey Methodist. Through his solicitation the 
 earliest Methodist preachers visited the new town. 
 Mr. Bishop reached tiiere on September 28th, 1791, 
 prejiched the following Sunday; and a week later, 
 the first Sabbath in October, on the corner of Char- 
 lotte and princess streets, in a house owned by a 
 Mr. Kelly, the first class-meeting was organized. 
 Mr. Black's visit was in November of the same year. 
 He expected to preach atonce; but, to his great per- 
 plexity, was threatened by the Chief Magistrate with 
 imprisonment in the County Gaol, if he should dare 
 to officiate without special permission of the Governor. 
 The builuing purciiased in the early part of 1792, 
 which stood on the West side of Germain St., be- 
 tween Duke and Queen Sts., continued to be used; 
 until the erection of Germain St. Chapel in 1807-8. 
 The erection of tliat second place of worship in the 
 loyalist citv, — laid in ashes at the last great fire, — 
 was n)ainly due to the exertions of Rev. Joshua 
 Marsden. His labors during the years 1805-8, with 
 Bome considerable interruption, were eminently suc- 
 cessful. The first api)ointment to St. John, as a 
 circuit, reported in the Jinglish Minutes is that of 
 Rev. Wm. Black in 1809.
 
 44 CEy TEN. iRY OF ME THODl SM : 
 
 excursions tip the river, as far as Sheffield 
 and Fredericton, and eveiywherc was wel- 
 comed as a herald of salvation. Abundantly- 
 productive labor was crowded into the brief 
 space of a few months. To the regret of very 
 many, he left for the West Indies, caught the 
 fatal yellow fever, was laid in a missionary 
 gi-ave, and was moiirned by his brelhi'en as 
 " one of the holiest men upon earth." At St. 
 Stephen's, in the Westei-n part of New Bruns- 
 wick, Duncan McCdII, a brave Scotchman, a 
 soldier of the British army, and often under 
 fire dui ing the revolutionary war. converted in 
 Bermuda, and now located along the line, had 
 made himself thoroughly acquainted with 
 Wesley's writings, had preached to the 
 people, had organized classes and com- 
 menced the erection of a chapel.* For 
 the conservation ani expansion of the work 
 which had been commenced by Bishop in St. 
 John, and for the counsel which McColl felt 
 that he sui-ely needed as well as for the occu- 
 pancy of new fields in that Province, Mr. 
 Black possessed qualifications of no oidinary 
 kind ; and for many years, under his direction, 
 
 *Mr. McColl was subsequently lionor'd by a 
 visit from the renowned Jesse Lee, was ordained by 
 Bishop Asbury, in 1795; but he continued to residte 
 in the same place, and for nearly forty years fulfilled 
 a faithful ministry in that western part of New Bruns- 
 '.wick.
 
 GOD M'lTR US. 43' 
 
 the work of God in Xew Brunswick was suc- 
 cessfully administered. 
 
 It will be impossible for me, Avithin the 
 limits of this service, to attempt any descrii)- 
 tion, of the years and the itineration which 
 followed — an excursion to several VVest India 
 Islands, in association with the Rev, Dr. Coke 
 — rei)eate(l visits to the United States' Con- 
 ference, chiefly loi- the puijjose of procuring 
 preachers fur these Provinces ; but on one oc- 
 casion charged with matters of weighty re- 
 sponsibility, having reference to Canadian 
 Methodism — a visit to the British Conference; 
 where four brethren, including Bennett and 
 Marsden, were deputed to accompany him 
 on his return to is'ova Scotia — an aj)point- 
 nient to Bermuda as successor to the heroic 
 John Stephenson ; an appointment which he 
 was compelled to I'elinquish ; for, on arrival 
 at Xew Yurk, it was found that no Captiiin 
 with Bermudians on board his vessel, could 
 receive a Missionary; — reference to numerous 
 correspondent"', including John Wesle^', Dr. 
 Coke, Jabez Bunting, and others, whose man- 
 uscript communicati(jns it has been a great 
 gratitication to peruse.* 
 
 • Vide Rev. Dr. Richi'j's memoir, and Rev, 
 T. Watcon Smith's "History of Methodism in East- 
 ern Brilisii America" — the second volume of whicli 
 we await with great interest.
 
 4 6 GENTENA R Y OF ME THODISM: 
 
 In 1812, Mr. Black took a supernumerary 
 relation ; but, to the last, he continued to bo 
 active in the work he loved so well. In Sept- 
 ember 1834 came the final scene. Serene 
 and pure was the azure of the evening sky. 
 " All is well," he said, with a wonted smile, 
 and a light that sweetly suft'used his face. " Ail 
 is peace, no fear, no doubt. " A dying bless- 
 ing was bequeathed to the Church, and his 
 last words were " All is veil.'' 
 
 " What words ot holy comfort! 
 
 Tlieir sweetness wlio can tell? 
 Within the vale and o'er the flood 
 
 "lis with the righteous well. 'Tis well." 
 
 The dust of this honored and sainted servant 
 of Grod, committed to the dust in sure and 
 certain hope of glorious resurrection, lies 
 sleeping in the burial ground of the Grafton 
 Street Methodist Church, hard b}- the en- 
 trance to vestry and pulpit ; where the tomb- 
 stone inscription has met the ej-e and thrill- 
 ed the soul of many a preacher, about to en- 
 ter that edifice for the deliver}^ of a sacred 
 message : " Being dead, he yet speaketh." 
 Lingering at that spot, during incumbency 
 there, many of us have been reminded of the 
 solemn trust which has been bequeathed to 
 us. " Bring it back, or l)e brought back upon 
 it," was the charge of a heroic Spartan moth-
 
 GOD WITH US. 47 
 
 er to her son, as she handed to him the shield 
 of his fatlier. An untarnished shield, borne 
 bravely in many a conflict, has been committ- 
 ed to out trust. Oh that we may be able to 
 say, at the last, I too have kept the faith. 
 
 ir. WE HAVE TO RECORD OUR SENSE OF THE 
 <4REAT MERCY WHICH HAS CROWNED AND 
 CLOSED A CENTURY OF DENOMINATIONAL 
 HISTORY AND PROGRESS. 
 
 We have to be grateful for continued 
 ministerial succession, for the conservation of 
 fundamental and foi-mative doctrine and priu" 
 ciple, and for abundant spiritual results. Our 
 monument of commemoration must therefore 
 be raised and inscribed to the praise and glory 
 of God. " Which we have heard and known,' 
 says the Psalmist, "and our fathers have told 
 us: we will not hide from their children, 
 shewing to the generation to come the praises 
 of the Lord :" 
 
 "Tell it out beneath the heaven, 
 
 To each kindred, tribe, and tongue, 
 Tell it from morn till even 
 
 In your unexhausted sonsf : 
 Wiien we made our supplication, 
 
 When our voice in prayer was strong ; 
 Tlien we found his glad salvation. 
 
 And his mercy fills our tongue. 
 
 1. Continued viinititerial surcesmn. 
 Tt was evidence of God's goodness to the 
 OM Testament Church, that men wei-c called
 
 48 CENTENA B Y OF ME THODISM : 
 
 luid qualified for every department of service. 
 The people of a former dispensation had 
 Moses for a lawgiver, Aaron for a priest, 
 ■ Joshua for leader of the embattled host, David 
 raised from the sheep-fold to the throne, 
 Asaph for choir-song, and the goodly fellow- 
 ship of the prophets for religious instruction. 
 Thus the continuity of testimony was unbrok- 
 en. 
 
 The Christian Church in like manner has 
 had her God-given men. It is the prero- 
 gative of the exalted Eedeemer, through 
 the agency and unction of the Holy Ghost, 
 to call and qualif^^ men for the sacred office 
 and work of the ministry: 
 
 "The Snvinur wlien to heaven he rose, 
 
 In splenflid triumph o'er his foes, 
 
 Scattered his gifts on men helow, 
 
 And wide his royal bounties flow: 
 
 Hence sprung the Apostles' honored name, 
 
 Sacred beyond heroic fame ; 
 
 In lowlier forms before our eyes, 
 
 Pastors from hence, and teachers rise." 
 
 " And he gave some, apostles ; and some, 
 prophets; and some, evangelists ; and some, pas- 
 tors aud teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, 
 for the icork of the ministry, for the edifying of 
 the body of Christ. 
 
 The doctrine of apostolical succession, of 
 rank and order, as sometimes propounded ; a
 
 GOD WITH US. 49 
 
 scheme requiring priestly intervention be- 
 tween the soul and the Saviour, contingent 
 upon uncertain and arbitrary ecclesiastical ar- 
 rangements, without the shadow or semblance 
 of a foundation in the word of God ; an un- 
 warranted assumption, an offence to the com- 
 mon sense of ordinary life, an insult to the 
 genius of our divine Christianity; we at once, 
 and by common consent, repudiate — '• a fable 
 which no man ever did or can prove.'* 
 
 But have not ministers of ihe Lord Jesus 
 Christ, designated to their office "by the laying 
 on of the hands of the presbytery," supremely 
 consecrated to their work, embued with the 
 spirit of apostolic zeal, inspired by an intense 
 passion for the glory of God, instrumental 
 in the salvation of -multitudes of souls, re- 
 ceived the seal of their commission and of 
 their apostleship in the Lord ? Have we 
 not abundant cause to magnify the goodness 
 and the grace of God for men who, in suc- 
 cession, have thus made full proof of their 
 ministry ? 
 
 In English Methodism, to which so manj' 
 of us have been deeply indebted, and the 
 memories and traditions of which we sacredly 
 ehorish, the advent of eminent and illustrious 
 men has ever indicated the interposition of a 
 special and benign providence : 
 
 ♦ Wesley.
 
 50 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 Oiu" venerable Founder, apostolic in lab- 
 ors and successes — Charles Wesley, " sweetest 
 of all the sweet singers in our whole christian 
 Israel " — John Fletcher, saint and polemic, set 
 for the defence of the truth, and a check to 
 Antinomianism, — Joseph Benson, skilled divine, 
 .standard commentator, and powerful preach- 
 er — Adam Clarke, linguist and accomplished 
 Oriental scholar, to whom the foremost of 
 Oxford and Cambridge men looked Tip with 
 i-espect — Richard Watson, peerless tneologian, 
 whose philosophic and penetrating genius en- 
 abled him, with clear vision and steady wing 
 to soar away to the loftiest regions of thought 
 and intellect — Jahez Bunting, born ruler of as- 
 semblies, a matchless debater, the incarna- 
 tion of practical wisdom and commanding 
 common sense, of unrivalled administrative 
 ability — Rohert Neicton, whose stately pre- 
 sence, '■'• large front and eye sublime" trans- 
 parent nobility of soul, and magnificence of 
 pulpit aud platform effort, charmed and sway- 
 ed metropolitan and rural masses for nearly 
 half a century — Joseph Beaumont, who at the 
 oiitset, as a speaker, had to struggle with 
 physical impediment; once referred to in Im- 
 perial parliament as the supreme orator of the 
 nation ; whose wondrous and impassioned elo- 
 quence, in higher and more impetuous mood
 
 GOD WITH rS. SI 
 
 swept like a whirlwind over his audiences. 
 Such were the men who, in critical and tiy- 
 ing times, were sent to meet and to mould 
 the exigencies and potent foi'ces of a great 
 religious movement. 
 
 But we have, in these Provinces, to ac- 
 knowledge also the goodness of God, and the 
 favor vouchsafed to us as a people, for the 
 men who have been providentially raised up 
 to promote and to perpetuate the work tf 
 Methodism. Through the course of this roll- 
 ing century, as in a line of light, many de- 
 parted Avoithies pass befoi-e us. But, in addi- 
 tion to an attempted sketch of Wm. Black & 
 pioneer labois, the brief visits of an early in- 
 trepid race of preachers from the United 
 States, the accession of John and James Mann, 
 the enterprise of Bishop at Saint John and of 
 McCoU at Saint Stephen — without venturing 
 to include the iianies of venerated ministers 
 who are still spared to lis : several of whom 
 entered the itinerancy dui-ing the life-time of 
 Mr.Black, and link us in succession to the j^ast* 
 
 ♦ Uevs. Dr. Matthew Kicliey, Dr. Enoch Wood, 
 James Henni-^iir, Joseph F. Bent, Henry Daniel, 
 Tntjliani SutcliHe, Thoni is An^^win, and Dr. J. Me- 
 Murray liad all entered the ministry, prior to the de- 
 parture of Mr. IJIaek. .As Dr. Kichey was received 
 in 1821, his superb and almost incomparable pulpit 
 eloquence must even then have been passing from its 
 morning of bright promise to a richer and more 
 splendid noon.
 
 ^•jH CENTENA RY of me THODISM : 
 
 — •not having reference to honored lay mom- 
 hers of our Church, many of whom have be- 
 queathed to us the legacy of a blessed memory; 
 for, perhaps, no denomination has been more 
 signally distinguished in this respect — it 
 may be expedient to mention only the names 
 of the fallen standard-bearers in our minister- 
 ial ranks, and to weave a passing and grateful 
 tribute to the memories of 
 
 THE SAINTED DEAD :* 
 
 James Wray, the first mmister ordained by 
 Wesley for the Provinces, who soon after 
 sought a more congenial sphere in the "West In- 
 dies — Wm. Bennett, who came out with Mr. 
 Black in 1800, the first English Missionary who 
 permanentl}^ identified himself with the work 
 in this country, a man of great unction and 
 power in prayer, simple and evangelical in 
 lus ministry, a trusted overseer of the church- 
 es, — Joshua Marsden, also of 1800 the poet- 
 preacher, the builder of the St. John Germain 
 Street Chapel, of 1807, on the walls and roof 
 
 *The list of names that follow, are those which 
 remained to the last upon the Conference roll. The 
 names of Mr. Priestley— traditions of whose persuas- 
 ive and melodious pulpit speech still linger in St. 
 John : where at one time he was the cause of no 
 small stir, — of Dr. Robert Alder — remembered as a 
 princely preacher, afterwards a magnate of the Brit- 
 ish Conference; who, in consequence of an unfortun- 
 ate habit, resigned his position and became Dean of 
 Gibralter — and of a few others, have been omitted.
 
 GOD WITH US. 5S 
 
 of which for some weeks he wrought with his 
 own hands ; from the foundation stone ot 
 wliich he preached : " ujjon this rock I wilj 
 build my Church, and the gates of hell shall 
 not prevail against it ;" the story of whose 
 mission can be still read in his published let- 
 ters — Win. Sutvliffe, W'hose eari}^ labors at 
 Liverpool, in Queen's County, were signalizedi 
 by an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 
 and large increase to the Church — Stephen- 
 Bamford, a man of varied eccentricity of 
 thought and action, but of unquestioned; 
 piety; whose discharge from militaiy duty at 
 the garrison in Halifax, where he proved, 
 liimself a brave and faithful soldier for his 
 country and for Christ, was jiurchased by the 
 Methodist people of that place for the purpose 
 of enabling him to enter the itinerant ranks — 
 James Knowlan, of eminent ability asajireach- 
 er, well posted in constitutional questions, 
 full of the courage of his convictions ; whose-, 
 vigorous strength succumbed to fever in the- 
 Jamaica Mission, and who was therefore 
 ti-anKferred to the extreme cold of Bi-itish 
 North America — Wm. Croacomhe, who com- 
 bined rare sweetness of temper and aftability. 
 of manner with dignity of deportment and ai^ 
 firm discharge of duty, an agent in numer- 
 ous revivals, esteemed and houcu-ed by hi».
 
 54 CENTENA R Y OF ME TEODISM: 
 
 brethren, much beloved by the people of his 
 charge — Joltn Bass Strong, the first minister 
 ^ent out by the British Conference, in 1814, 
 to what was then known as Canada ; a superb 
 Finger of Charles Wesley's hymns, enthusias- 
 tically attached to the doctrine and discipline 
 of Methodism, and a good exponent of its 
 spirit and teachings — George Miller, of Pala- 
 tine descent, a workman that needed not to be 
 ashamed, who supplied beaten oil for the 
 sanctuary ; and whose published sermon, on 
 " Awake, O Lord," is worthy of a permanent 
 place in our theological literatui-e — Richard 
 Williams, a man of sound judgement and in 
 flexible will, of commanding pulpit ability, 
 and a born disciplinarian — Adam Clarke 
 Avard, who exchanged legal studies for the 
 ministry, into whose brief life a good deal of 
 productive work was crowded, and whose 
 dust mingles with the dust in the old burial 
 ground at Fredoricton — Albert Desbrisay, the 
 son of the first Charlotte Town Eector, re- 
 membered for the sweetness and spiritual unc- 
 tion of his speech and ministry, and for the 
 rare saintliness of his life — John Marshall, a 
 man of meek and quiet spirit, but softly tena- 
 cious in regard to all that pertained to duty 
 and to conscience ; the motto of whose life and 
 work, In Christ, has been chiselled upon hia
 
 GOD WITH US, 55 
 
 tombstone in the Lunenbercr burial icround-- 
 John Snowball, an English local preachei- who 
 came out to this country with a view to a, 
 business career, but who entered the itiner-^ 
 ancy in 1818 ; a sensible and forcible preacher, 
 a prudent and efficient pastor, and a shrewd 
 and economical manager of circuit and con- 
 nexional finance — Henry Pope, Sr., who with 
 his brother Eichard first landed in Quebec, 
 an intrepid pioneer, of bright and buoyant 
 spirit and temi^er, ingenious and facile in 
 thought and speech — John Pope, who early 
 returned to England, a rarely gifted 
 exegete, the father of the accomplished 
 Didsbury Professor of Theology (born at Ilor- 
 ton) — Wm. Burt, a good specimen of the class 
 of Cornish preachers, eloquent and full of force 
 and fire, remembered for his able ministry in 
 such places as Fredcricton and Charlotte Town; 
 whom I can best think of, after his return to 
 England, from the associations of eai-lyyeai's, 
 as the honored Chaii-man of the Xewcastle 
 District — Sampson Bushy, ordained by Dr. 
 Coke, a man of goodly pi-esence, affable man- 
 ner, attractive speech, marked transparency of 
 character, and of tried ministerial efficiency 
 — Win. Temple, moulded in metropolitan 
 Methodism, thoroughly versed in every de- 
 partment of work ; racy and vigorous in pul-
 
 ild CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 pit style, and of indomitable will and energy 
 — Richard Kniqht^ for many years the vener- 
 able Nestor of this Eastern Conference, with 
 a good deal of the massiveness and strength 
 of granite in his composition; but whose ten- 
 derness of feeling, welling up from the depths 
 of his nature, was like a pure spring gushing 
 from the heart of a mountain rock — Wm. 
 Wilson, a student who intermeddled with all 
 knowledge, successful in the acquisition of in- 
 tellectual treasures, a fearless controversialist, 
 and for fifty years an indefatigable toiler iu 
 this field ; until, at the close of a Sunday after- 
 noon service, while riding home in a carriage, 
 his head su idenly drooped, and he proved 
 
 " How bright are the realms of lis'it 
 Bursting at once upon the sight!" 
 
 — George Jackson, a skilled and tempered pole- 
 mic, not easily to be worsted in the ai'ena, whose 
 discussion of baptismal questions was eminent- 
 ly satisfactory to many inquirers — Matthew 
 Cransrvick, whose fine presence was sufficient 
 introduction to any community, gifted with 
 the wisdom that winneth souls, affection- 
 ately remembered in the region of Guysboi'o 
 and Cape Breton, where he had numerous 
 seals to his ministry — Robert Lusher, of refin- 
 ed and classic taste and expression ; whose 
 sentences were exquisite in balance and finish,
 
 GOD WITH US. 5 7 
 
 and whose style of pulpit eloquence had 
 special attraction for men of culture ; to whos e 
 memory a marble tablet, in the Montreal St. 
 James' Street Methodist Church, has been 
 affectionately inscribed — Robert Young, who 
 occupied two circuit* in Xova Scotia, in later 
 days a raemoriter j^reacher of great power, a 
 revivalist with no tinge of sensationalism in his 
 movements, honored subsequently by elevation 
 to the Presidency of the British Conference;, 
 widely known through his '• Southern World ;" 
 Avhose son, Eobert N. Young, was at one timC 
 a valued contributor to the Wesleyan — James 
 Dunbar, who, in the spirit of patience and 
 fidelity, prosecuted an earnest and unostenta- 
 tious course, beloved for his works' sake — 
 John P. Hetherin<jton, rich and luminous in 
 thought and exegesis, of uncompromising in- 
 tegrity, and ranking with the ablest preach- 
 ers of his time — Win. Smith, gifted in prayer,, 
 original in exposition, and a theologian of no 
 mean attainment — Wni. Webb, whose minis- 
 tiy, bearing an intellectual impress, is re- 
 membered with interest at Charlotte town, 
 ■where his last triumphant testimony flashed 
 out from the lethargy of death, and where he 
 early fell at hia post — Michael Fickles, mild 
 and unobtrusive in demeanour, yet keenly 
 tenacious ol principle; entitled to the ap|X>lla-
 
 38 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 tion, which he sometimes received, of the be- 
 loved disciple — Wm. Smit/ison, in whom there 
 was no guile, whose last theme in the Freder- 
 icton pulpit, the " great salvation," was the 
 substance of his ministry; whose lips Avere 
 sealed by a fatal paralytic stroke, as he pro- 
 nounced the benediction of the Monday eve- 
 ning pra^'er meeting — Arthur McNiitt, of noble 
 form, unswerving integrity, powerful appeal, 
 fearless rebuke, tender solicitude for the 
 spiritual welfare of his people ; more than con- 
 queror at last, for he exclaimed " Hallelujah, 
 the star of Bethlehem shines brightly upon 
 me!" 
 
 " May we triumph so 
 
 When all our warfare's past—" 
 
 Thomas H. Bavies, whose Conference Love 
 Feast testimonies were wont to light up his 
 face with rapture, to find expression in an ex- 
 ultant shout, and to kindle a holy fire in many 
 hearts — Richard Weddall^ im]:)assioned in sup- 
 plication, always in his element in revival 
 scenes and services, a successful gatherer of 
 golden sheaves — Wm. McDonald, whose ideal 
 of heaven, "no night theie," and the golden 
 blaze of everlasting light, has been realized in 
 the full blessedness of the beatific vision — ■ 
 John B. Brownell, the son of an English Mis- 
 ;sionaryj a man of scholarly attainments and
 
 GOD WITH US, 39 
 
 of consuming zeal, exceedingly methodical in 
 all preparation for the pulpit, and a conscien- 
 tiou^ expositor of the Holy Scriptures— C/trts. 
 Bewolfe, a silver-tongued orator, whose polish- 
 ed wit, classic speech, and splendid corrusca- 
 tions of genius brightened many a Conference 
 discussion ; a lawyer, who for the sake of the 
 Christian ministry, freely gave up prospects 
 of professional emolument and distinction — 
 James England, a genuir.e son of Wesley, loy- 
 al to principle, immovable in his sense of dutj-, 
 a faithful friend, and an able minister of the 
 New Testament— T/wmos Smith, thoughtful, 
 unassuming, painstaking in his search for 
 truth, and an instructive preacher — Robert H. 
 Crane, who died in the West Indies, just as he 
 had received permission to return to the Pro- 
 vinces — Robert E. Crane, genial and pleasant 
 in intercourse, with many qualitications for 
 usefulness, but early laid aside from active 
 work — Wm. T. Cardy, who after many years 
 spent in the enervating climate of a tropical 
 mission, came to us in all the fervor of an un- 
 diminished zeal — Robert Cooney, educated as a 
 Eoman Catholic, advanced to the order of an 
 Acolyth, and converted to Protestantism in bin 
 thirtieth year ; endowed with intellectual gifts 
 that were nearly allied to genius, especially 
 popular upon the platform — Thomas M,
 
 ■€0 CENTENA R Y OF ME THODISM: 
 
 Albrighton, whose exuberance of rhetoric was 
 chastened by the great themes oq which he 
 delighted to expatiate ; who, after leaving us^ 
 took an influential position in the British Con- 
 fei'ence, who has fallen in the midst of years 
 and usefulness — Joseph Hart, sanguine, stu- 
 dious, persistent, with immense capacity for 
 work, ititimately identified with almost every 
 form of chui-ch enterprise ; whom we have re- 
 cently missed and mourned — Elias Brettle, to 
 whose conference obituary, accompanied by 
 the loving testimonies of many brethren, we 
 have just listened ; a man of great sweetness 
 of spirit and temper, rare symmetry of christ- 
 ian character, and of supreme devotion to 
 duty ; he has bequeathed to us the precious 
 legacy of a model ministry, and the fragrant 
 memories of a blameless and beautiful life. 
 
 Time fails to tell of others, as fain I would,. 
 John Hicks and Samuel Joll, Wm. Murray and 
 Wm. Dowson, Whitefield and Jesse Wheelock 
 and Peter Sleep, Samuel McMaster's and W.. 
 E. Shenstone, George M. Barratt and William 
 McCarty, Eobert A. Chesley and William. 
 JVIcKinnon, Thomas Gaetz and Charles Gas- 
 kin, Samuel Avery and Henry Holland, Alex., 
 and Albert Desbrisay, Alfred W. Turner and 
 Wra. Sargent, Samuel Martin, John Winter- 
 botham, and John Ellis. These have all died.
 
 GOD WITH US. 61 
 
 in the faith. They live for evermore. " They 
 shall shine as the bn<i;htness of heaven, and avS 
 the stars in the firmament for ever and ever." 
 
 But while Grod buries His workmen, Ho 
 •«aiTie3 on His work. The bright succession 
 still runs on. Who can be baptized for the 
 dead ? AVho, in the strength of a holy resolve, 
 ehall aspire to tread in the steps of the saint- 
 ed ones. It is a glorious thing for the Church 
 of Christ when young men of christian fami- 
 lies, educated at the best seats of learning, 
 endowed with intellectual gifts and culture, 
 that might enable them to win distinction and 
 applause at the Bar or in the Legislature, im- 
 pelled and constrained by sense of duty and 
 supreme love to Christ, turn aside from the 
 attractions and emoluments of professional and 
 mercantile life; and, seeing "a hand that 
 others do not see," hearing "a voice that 
 ■others do not hear," pledge all the possibili- 
 ties of a redeemed being upon the altar of a 
 high and hallowed purpose. 
 
 for the blessed response to sacred ap- 
 peal, " He)-e am I, send me ! 
 
 " Loud andlong the Master calleth, 
 Rich reward, he offers free ; 
 
 Who will answer, gladly saying, 
 Here am I, O Lord send me."
 
 62 CENTE^VA RT OF ME T HOD IS M : 
 
 2 Conservation and perpetuation offunda- 
 mental and formative doctrine and pjrinciple. 
 
 There was gladness in the heart of the 
 Psalmist because of strength and stability. 
 Testimony and law were ap])ointedand estab- 
 lished in Israel, and the various interests of 
 the Church were consolidated. Have we not 
 warrant for the same note of gladness ? It is 
 recorded of the New Testament Church, in 
 pure days, while the flame and fulness of Pen- 
 tecostal ba2)tism still rested upon the followers 
 of Jesus, that " they continued steadfastly in 
 the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in 
 breaking of bread, and in prayers." Sound 
 and scriptural doctrine, " the communion of 
 saints," sacramental observance, and meet- 
 ings tor prayer, formed the main constituents 
 of the Apostolic Church. To Jerusalem and 
 to Antioch, we must look for the model of or 
 ganized Christianity, Upon that primitive 
 basis, as upon an immovable rock, our fathers 
 began their structure. Have the foundations 
 been at all disturbed? Has there been any 
 marked divergence from the old lines ? Does 
 development of doctrine, as we stand upon 
 the threshold of another century of denomi- 
 national existence, demand any new depar- 
 
 tUl'C ? 
 
 The first theme of the Apostle of Metho-
 
 GOD WITH US. 63 
 
 dism in this land, as we have seen, "vvag 
 "Christ crucified." In allusion to later doc- 
 trinal discourse-:, Mr. Black speaks of having 
 taken a view of man in his primitive state, of 
 the fall — consequences of the apostacy — the 
 interposition of a Mediator — the offices, incar- 
 nation, life, death, resurrection, ascension — 
 the session at the right hand of the Father, 
 These were themes which in sequence he un- 
 folded and applied. A stanza from the favorite 
 hymn of early Methodist preachers, might 
 well have furnished the motto for his ministry : 
 
 *' His only righteousness I shew, 
 His saving truth proclaim : 
 'Tis all my business here below, 
 To cry, Rehold the Lamb." 
 
 Have we, in an age of unsettled heliefs 
 adhered to the doctrinal system bequeathed 
 to us by our fathers ? Can we claim that the 
 current teachings of oui- pulpits, and that 
 which saturates the mind and moulds the 
 theological thought of our people, is in stric^ 
 and substantial accord with accepted standards 
 of the Church ; that it rests squarely upon 
 the expositions of Wesley, the polemics of 
 Fletcher, thelnstitutes of Watson, treasured, 
 doctrinal hymns, and other acknowledged 
 formulas of New Testament doctrine ? It is 
 not without an emotion of unutterable joy,
 
 •6'4 CENTENARY OF METHODISM:: 
 
 that we think of fidelit}' to doctrinal trust. 
 The theolog}- of Methodism is still a unit. 
 Throughout the world, with exceptions only 
 that prove the rule, we have one faith.* 
 
 The communion of saints was an essential 
 requisite of early Christianity; and, following 
 the example of the primitive church, our 
 fathers adopted methods and appointed means 
 for the promotion of spiritual life. Do we, as 
 in the days of the Apostles, and of Wesley at 
 the Foundry, attach importance to steadfast- 
 ness in fellowship ? What of the Class 
 Meeting ? In matters of conventional form 
 and usage, demanded by the exigencies of 
 changed conditions, there has doubtless been 
 somewhat of modification, and of prudential 
 adaptation. But, in all integrity ^of principle, 
 I'ooted deeply as ever in christian conviction, 
 this means of grace is retained and perpetu- 
 ated as a distinctive feature of oui' church life. 
 'Open Communion at the Sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper, the Love Feast, — the Agapa; of 
 the Primitive Cliurch — watchnight and cove- 
 
 * A Compendium of Christian doctrine by Prof. 
 Pope of Didsbury Methodist College is unquestion- 
 ably one of the most scholarly, and in many respects 
 the most magnificent, of modern contributions to the 
 Science of Theology. While stamped with the impress 
 and freshness of individual mind and of independent 
 investigation, it is in thorough accord with, and nobly 
 vindicates, the accepted standards of Methodist 
 ■doctrine.
 
 GOD WITH us. 65 
 
 nant sei'viccs still hold their distinctive place, 
 and conform to ancient landmarks. To God 
 be all the praise ! 
 
 The rai&on d'etre of Methodism, in its 
 origin, was found quite as much in facts of 
 experience as in formulas of doctrine. What 
 of great experimental veritie>, justification by 
 faith, peace with God, the witness of the 
 Spirit, full salvation, the cleansing power of 
 the Eedeemer"s blood, and of " spreading 
 scri^itural holiness through tlie laud," — which 
 Wesley deemed to be his distinctive mission? 
 Never, as it has seemed to me, has testimony 
 in regard to Christian experience, and the ful- 
 ness of spiritual blessing, been more explicit 
 than now. The utterances to whicli we have 
 become accustomed at recent Conference Love 
 Feasts, and at the Saturday night meetings 
 for the promotion of holiness, have breathed 
 the spirit of Primitive Methodism. There has 
 been the earnest supplication, 
 
 " Send us the Spirit of tliy Son, 
 To niJike tlie iU'|)tli.s of Godlioad known, 
 
 To make us share the life divine; 
 Send him the sprinkled hlood to apply, 
 Send him our souls to sanctity, 
 
 And shew and seal iis ever thine," 
 
 an<l we have in our midst living witnesses lo 
 the lact of this full salvation. Together we 
 have lelt the thrill and power of treasured
 
 66 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 experimental hymns and passages, which our 
 fathers loved so well, which still constitute a 
 noble testimony : 
 
 " Spirit of faith, come down, 
 Reveal tlie thinij:s of God; 
 Anfl make to us the Godhead known, 
 
 And witness witli the hlood : 
 'Tis tliine the hlood to apply, 
 
 And ^ive us eyes to see. 
 
 Who did for every sinner die, 
 
 Hath surely died for me. 
 
 No man can truly say 
 
 That Jesus is the Lord, 
 Unless thou take the veil away. 
 
 And breathe the living word ; 
 Then, only then, we feel 
 
 Our interest in his blood. 
 And cry, with joy unspeakable, 
 
 'Thou art my Lord, my God.' " 
 
 " That which was from the beginning." says 
 John the Divine, "which we have heard, 
 which we have seen with our eyo-s, which wo 
 have looked upon, and our hands have handled 
 of the word of life ; that which we have seen 
 and heard dechire we unto you that ye also 
 may have fellowship with us ; and truly our 
 fellowship is with the Father, and with his 
 Hon Jesns Christ. If we say that avc have 
 fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, 
 we lie, and do not the tiuth : Bat if we walk 
 in the light, as he is in the light, we have 
 fellowship one with another, and the blood of 
 Jesu? Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
 
 GOD WITH US. 67 
 
 3. Abundant spiritual results. 
 
 As in the days of the Psalmist, we have 
 ample cause for making known " the praises 
 of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonder- 
 ful works which he hath done." A centuiy 
 of ceaseless toil has been crowned with 
 ghidness and triumph. While some have been 
 phmling, and others watering, it has pleased 
 God to grant the increase. 
 
 One hundi-ed years ago. in what now con- 
 gtitutes the Dominion of Canada, William 
 Black i-cpreseuted the only active agency of 
 an organized evangelical movement.* But 
 since then Methodism has conquei-ed its way 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It numbers 
 about filteen hundi-cd ministers, some one 
 hundred and seventy thousand communicants, 
 
 * In the year 1780, Mr. Tuffy, a local preacher 
 COnrn'ctC'd with thu cuniniissariat of tlie 4-ttli Ut^i^t., 
 preached in Quohec. He laid religious meetings for 
 the soldiers, tjut probably did not attempt to reacli 
 the civilians. 'J'liu first Methodist Society, and tiiat 
 a very leeble one, as late as ISOU, was (jrganized un 
 der tlie able ministry of Kev. Nuthan Banjis. The 
 ecceniricLorenzcj Dow is tiioughtto have been the first 
 Metluidist minister appointed U) labor in Lower Can- 
 ada. The first Methodist sermon in Ontario, in ITSG, 
 was jireached by a Major Neal, ot the British army, 
 a local i)reacher. But the regular Methodist Iiiner- 
 ancy in 17!)1, the year in which, by Imperial enact- 
 ment, that noble Province received its constitution, 
 began witli Ki-v. Wm. Losee. The first .Methodist 
 place of worship in Upper Canada was erected in 
 1792.
 
 68 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 over seven linndrcd and twenty thousand 
 adherents ; and, accordini^; to re?ent Census 
 returns, during the last decade of the centu vy 
 has an increase of thirty per cent— certainly 
 the hirgest in its history, so lar as this part 
 of the continent is concerned. 
 
 Have we not abundant cause to tliauk 
 God and take courage ? " For what is our 
 hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?" Data 
 fail by which to attempt any computation of 
 the infinite value of souls saved forever; now 
 numbered with the white-robed and blood- 
 washed multilude, before the throne of God 
 and the Lamb. But the aggregate of ascer- 
 tained result, as tabulated and authenticated 
 in recently published departmental statistics, 
 has surpassed our most eager and sanguine 
 hope and anticipation. Incentive has been 
 furnished to sustained enterprise, and a legiti- 
 mate grour.d for large expectation. Toilers on 
 many a hard field have been cheered by tidings 
 of success, and self-sacrifice has been gloi-iously 
 rewarded. We are treading where our fathers 
 trod. Shall we not still strive to move along- 
 the same lines ? How heart and feeling exult 
 and expand beneath the thought and thrill of 
 what another hundred years may accomplish! 
 "Waft, waft 3'e winds the story ; and j-ou, ye 
 waters roll !" From the rivers of Acadia, the-
 
 GOD WITH US. 60 
 
 tidal deeps of the Bay of Fundy, and the rolling 
 floods of the St. Lawrence, the jubilant strain 
 shall vise. It shall blend with the raptures of 
 Ontario, break the silence of Lake Huron and 
 of Algoma, gather strength and volume from 
 the peopled plains and prairies of Manitoba 
 and the Xorthwest, swell and sweep to the 
 soui ces and summits of the Saskatchewan and 
 the Rocky Mountains, and receive tribute from 
 the valleys of British Columbia. " As the 
 voice of many waters," or the fulness of the 
 sea, the gladness of salvation shall sound and 
 spread from shore to shore. 
 
 Ill the United States, there has been a 
 still more marvellous growth. Where, at the 
 commencement of the century, thousands were 
 reported, they now compute hj millions. It 
 was my privilege to attend one General Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 North. Two churches each day, upon an 
 average, had been erected during the previous 
 quadiennium, and forty thousand communi- 
 cants were reported as the increase of 
 membership. But in that land to-day, North 
 and South, Methodism comprises an aggregate 
 of nearly four millions of communicants, 
 five millions of Sunday-school scholars, and 
 probably not loss than twelve millions of 
 adherents.
 
 70 GEN TEN A K Y OF ME THODISM 
 
 At the General Conference to vvhich I 
 have referred, tlie magnetic oratory ot Morley 
 Punshoii thrilled and roused the great audience 
 to an uncontrollable excitement, until minis- 
 ters and people wept and shouted for joy. He 
 claimed to know something of their work, and 
 of their march of conquest. Ho had gone 
 through their boixlers from Maine to Califor- 
 nia, f i-om where the Father of waters laves the 
 fair City of St. Louis to where the dark forests 
 of the far North wave on Puget's Sound — jiad 
 seen them everywhere engaged in the same 
 holy toil, planting the same blessed civiliza- 
 tion, uplifting the same consecrated cross — • 
 had chronicled their marches and successes, 
 the muniticence of a zeal which had crossed 
 the continent and made the world a neighbor- 
 hood ; and his heart had throbbed with 
 thanksgiving that God had ever raised them 
 up to be such a power in the land. In almost 
 seraphic strain, which 
 
 "Thrilled, as if an angel spoke, 
 Or Ariel's finger touch'd the string," 
 
 Dr. Punshon — who since then has had a like 
 blessed euthanasia — alluded to the recent 
 departure of the sainted Cookman : " who 
 went home like the plumed warrior, for whom 
 the everlasting doors were lifted, as he was 
 stricken into victory in his prime, and who
 
 GOD WITH US 71 
 
 had nothing to do at the last but to mount 
 into the chariot of Israel and to go sweeping 
 through the gates washed in the blood of the 
 Lamb." It may not be too much to affirm 
 that were the Spirit of God to be poured out 
 upon all flesh, — during the next hundred 
 years — the Gospel preached to all nations, 
 and the world evangelized, the ratio of 
 increase might not be greater than in the past, 
 or the facts of enterprise of a more niagiiificent 
 character than those which have been chron- 
 icled during the first century of Methodism 
 on this continent: '' According to this time 
 it shall be said of Jacob and of Isi'ael, 
 
 WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT ?" 
 
 In the month of September last — turning 
 to the other side of the Atlantic — in the his- 
 toric London City Road Chapel, the first Ecu- 
 menical Council of MethoJism was held. From 
 the civilized nations of Europe, from the Do- 
 minion of Canada and from the United States, 
 trom the sunny isles of the Western Main, 
 from India's golden strand, from the populous 
 empire of China, fi-om the mission churches 
 of Africa, from the Soutliern world, the sons 
 of Methodism gathered at the o!d Homestead. 
 The four hundred delegates who foimied 
 that Ecumenical Conference represented an 
 influential constituency. They had behind
 
 72 CENTENARY OF METHODISM : 
 
 them a force of some twenty thousand minis- 
 ters, five millions of communicants, and at 
 east twenty millions of adherents ; the largest 
 and perhaps the most aggressive Protestant 
 denomination on the face of the globe, " a liv- 
 ing testimony to the worth of the work which 
 our fathers wrought." 
 
 In such a gathering as that of the City 
 Hoad Conference, there must have been invis- 
 ible spectators. From the " great cloud of 
 witnesses," by which they were encompassed, 
 the glorified spirit of Wesley may have gazed 
 ujjon the scene. A characteristic stanza might 
 well have been repeated: 
 
 " Who I ask in amaze hath begotten me these? 
 
 And inquire from what quarter they came ? 
 My full heart, it replies. They are born from the 
 skies. 
 
 And gives glory to God and the Lamb." 
 
 The facts of past successes are fraught 
 with encouragement and full of hope for the 
 future. With abundant resources, education- 
 al and evangelical agencies, the advantage of 
 sti'ategic position, the prestige of past achieve- 
 ment, inspiration and stimulus from the 
 memories and lives of consecrated men, the 
 continuance of revival power and blessing ; 
 never were the possibilities or the prospects 
 of expansion and of conquest more hoj)eful or 
 assuring than now.
 
 GOD WITH ITS. 75 
 
 But. commensurate with our hopes are 
 •our duties. AVe are summoned to renewed 
 enterprise. Great things are expected from 
 God. But we must attempt groat things for 
 God, A main object of the Britisli Centenary 
 of Methodism, it Avill be remembered, was 
 that of " religious and devotional improve- 
 ment." But that nobly consummated move- 
 ment had al^o financial aim and j)urpose. It 
 compi'ised several connexional interests, the 
 first of which was the equipment of a Theolo- 
 gical Institution. In view of past and assur- 
 ed success and position, it was felt that " some- 
 thing should he done.'' That generous resolve 
 was wrought out to a most magnificent result. 
 And ought not the Centenary of Methodism 
 in these Eastern British Provinces to contem- 
 j)late permanent testimonial, and contribu- 
 tions as a thank offering to Almighty God? 
 -A margin for difference of judgment there 
 may be, as to the direction and purpose of 
 monumental effort. But, unquestionably, the 
 occasion should be suitably signalized. With 
 our fathers and brethren in the parent land, 
 we feel that " something should be done ; 
 something worthy of the sacred cause ; some- 
 thing that may serve effectually to promote 
 • and to perpetuate the blessings we enjoy; 
 something that a future generation may con-
 
 74 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 template when a second century of Metho- 
 dism shall be accomplished." 
 
 One of the earliest and most laudable as- 
 pirations of Eev. Wm. Black was to secure a 
 I'egular and thorough course of classical and 
 theological training for the sacred work of the 
 Christian ministry. In that direction the 
 guiding pillar seems to lead the church. The 
 erection of a Theological Hall, with increased 
 facilities for the prosecution of special study,. 
 in connection with the College at Mount Alli- 
 son, might form a most valuable and appro 
 priate centennial memorial. For the revered. 
 Apostle of Methodism in these lands, and for 
 his honored co-adjutors, such a structure would 
 constitute a monument more beautiful and 
 enduring than Parian marble or Corinthian 
 brass. 
 
 In closing this commemorative service, 
 the thought turns to a characteristic and im- 
 mortal hymn : 
 
 " See how great a flame aspires !" 
 
 Commemoration would be incomplete without 
 the fire and force of Charles Wesley's burning 
 and exulting lyric. Already it has had a bap- 
 tismal coni^ecration. It was the keynote of 
 the first Centenary meeting at Manchester,. 
 more potent than the singing of a cathredral.
 
 GOD WITH US 15 
 
 chorus. The great congregation was fired 
 with un enthusiasm of holy feeling. That 
 historic hymn, has the same adaptation to 
 our own movement. It incarnates the genius 
 and spirit and ieeliiig of the oct-asion. Strik- 
 ing and spiritual facts and phenomena, by 
 which the century has been signalised, here 
 find an adequate explanation ; for 
 
 " Jesus' love tlie nations fires, 
 
 Sets the kingdoms on a blaze." 
 
 O for more of the energy of that living 
 baptismal flame ! O for tongues of fire ! Spirit . 
 of burning come ! We have also monumental 
 strain. '*Thc praises of the Lord, and his 
 wonderful works that ho hath done," challenge 
 grateful acknowledgment : 
 
 " Sons of God your Saviour praise, 
 He alone tlie work hath wrought; 
 Worthy is the work of Him, 
 Him who spake a world irom nought" 
 
 THE BEST OP ALL IS GOD IS WITH US.
 
 '. jre CEKTENA R Y OF ME THODISM: 
 
 HYMN FOB THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 The hymn, 739, on " the spread of Christ's 
 kingdom," quoted at the close of the Ex -President's 
 sermon, suntf by choir and cono;regation with a tine 
 glow of sympathetic and devotional feeling, was 
 published by Charles Wesley in 1749. It was 
 written during a season of extraordinary revival at 
 Newcastle upon Tyne, and its neighborhood. The 
 Wesleyan Bard was accustomed to weave into verse 
 varied incidents of his ministry. The lurid glow 
 of many a tiery furnace, as the writer has witnessed 
 it in the night, and the light of burning pit-heaps, 
 .may be seen far and wide over the adjacent 
 country. To the poet's mind, that scene vividly 
 represented the spread of a great salvation. With 
 felicitous application of imagery, and a rare splendor 
 of coloring, that exulting strain was composed. In 
 the closing stanza, by an easy transition of thought, 
 there is allusion to the Carmel scene, and the 
 -aound of an abundance of rain. 
 
 See how great a flame aspires, 
 
 Kindled by a spark of grace ! 
 Jesus' love the nations fires. 
 
 Sets the kingdoms on a blaze; 
 To bring lire on earth he came, 
 
 Kindled in some hearts it is ; 
 O tliat all might catch the flame, 
 
 All partake the glorious bliss ! 
 
 When he first the work begun, 
 
 Small and feeble was his day; 
 Now the word, doth swiftly run 
 
 Now it wins its widening way; 
 More and more it spreads and grows, 
 
 Ever mighty to prevail, 
 .Sin's strongholds it now o'erthrows. 
 
 Shakes the trembling gates of hell.
 
 GOD WITH US. 7X" 
 
 Sons of GoJ, your Saviour praise ! 
 
 He the door hath opened wide; 
 He hath jjiven the word of grace, 
 
 Jesus' word is glorified : 
 Jesus, niiglity to redeem, 
 
 He alone tlie work hath wrought; 
 Worthy is the work of Him, 
 
 Hiiu who spake a world from nougiit^ 
 
 Saw ye not the cloud arise, 
 
 Little as a human hand? 
 Now it spreads along the skies, 
 
 Hangs o'er all the thirsty land r 
 Lo ! the promise of a shower 
 
 Drops already from above; 
 But the Lord will sliortly pour 
 
 All the spirit of his love I
 
 S 7 CEXTEXA K Y OF ME TIWDISM: 
 
 CENTENARY MEETING, 
 
 AND OTHER COMMEMORATIVE SERVICES OP THE 
 
 NOVA SCOTIA CONFERENCE, HELD AT 
 
 WIND.>>OR, JUNE 27TII, 1882. 
 
 BV REV. T. WATSON SMITH. 
 
 Several circumstances, quite unpremeditat- 
 ed, combined to render the sei-vices connected 
 with the Centennial of Methodism vei-y plea- 
 sant and prufitahle. With Windsor, one of 
 the most clearly delined of William Black's 
 early halting'-placcs, as the seat of the Con- 
 ference ; with an ex-Pi'Csident, whom both 
 taste and ability qualify for an ofRcial sermon 
 of an historical character ; wilh a President, 
 a native of the Conference town ; and also the 
 presence of the gifted President of the G-on- 
 eral Conference, the services could not well 
 ha otherwise. A good kej-note was struck 
 by the ex President in his fine historical 
 sketch on Sunday morning. In the early 
 morning prayer meeting of Tuesday thanks- 
 fi-ivina" was offered for a hundred vears of 
 .Methodist history in Nova Scotia. What a 
 I'clation should we have were heaven to lay
 
 COXFSREyCE JIEETIXGS. 79 
 
 the pages before us and give us a seraph's 
 vision to scan them ! In ihe aftei-noon breth- 
 ren told, each other of the way in which the 
 Lord their God had led them, and called up 
 hallowed recollections of the fathers of our 
 church . An etfective ajjpcal by Eev. W. II. 
 Heartz bi'ought out the definite and practical 
 purpose of the centennial movement. In the 
 evening lengthy personal reminiscences by 
 Eev. Ingham Sutcliffe were followed by an 
 address of rare jDOwer and beauty by Di-. 
 Douglas. Eev. S. F. Hucstis then referred to 
 the regretted absence of the Eev. James Cf. 
 Hennigar, and read a letter from the Eev. Dr. 
 Eichcy, expressive of his continued intei-est 
 in his brethren and of his earnest Avish and 
 prayer for the prosperity of this and all other 
 efforts of the Church in which he had spent 
 j-o many active years. His letter Avas listen- 
 ed to with much satisfaction. The financial 
 part of the movement was then inaugurated 
 by the gitt of 8100 from a laj-man of Windsoi-, 
 to which an equal sum was added by a minis- 
 ter of the Conference, other contributions 
 raising the total amount to the suni exceeding 
 thi'ee hundred and fifty dollars. The resolu- 
 tions passed dui'ing the da}' will aj^jiear in our 
 Conference report. — Wedeyan, June 30th, 
 1882.
 
 80 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 HISTORICAL AND DOCTRINAL 
 
 DEVELOPMENT OF METHODISM : 
 
 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS 
 
 BY THE REV. GEO. DOUGLAS, LL.D., 
 
 Eev. W. C. Brown, President of the 
 Conference, in the chair. 
 
 Mr. President and Christian Friends : 
 
 I sincerely con,i!;ratulate j'on, inbcini^ per- 
 mitted to celebrate the Centennial of Metho- 
 dism in these Maritime Provinces of our 
 Dominion. 
 
 I regard myself as happy in I'cing with 
 you to record oui- ti'ibute of thanks for the 
 status which God has given to oui- Church in 
 this land. 
 
 If we accepted the dictum of some, 
 Methodism has largely fulfilled her mission 
 and should be relegated out of existence by 
 absorption into the great historic churches 
 which have been evoked through the ages,
 
 HISTORICAL AXD DOCTRINAL 81 
 
 but, we are not willing to accept this dictum, 
 and to be thu.s relegated. 
 
 We plant ourselves upon the premises, 
 that Methodisna had a great mission in the 
 past, and holds a still greater in the future ; 
 and it is for us, this hour, out of our history 
 of the past, totind inspiration and instruction 
 to win grander triumplis in the future. 
 
 And here observe what inspiration comes 
 to every minister and member of Metbodism, 
 from a review of the lite work of our illustri- 
 ous founder. 
 
 If we walk the galleries of the past, and 
 stand betore those historic niches in which 
 are enshrined the records of those mighty 
 reformator}' spirits Avhich God hath given to 
 the ages and the Church, in every instance 
 they are marked by an individualitj- and those 
 distinctive attributes, which adjusted them to 
 their great work. 
 
 Thus in Judas Maccabeus, we liave the 
 military hero, who repelled to the death those 
 Vandal hordes, who sought to pollute the 
 temple and altar of God. 
 
 Thus when the Post-Apostolic and Patris- 
 tic ages declined in their spiritual life, when 
 aqueous baptism was declared to be the con- 
 dition and instiumeiit of pneumatic baptism. 
 "When the genuflects held that posture
 
 82 CENTEX A R Y OF ME TIIODLSM: 
 
 was alter dant to grace, Montanus, mystical, 
 fanatical but tnio to the uoctrine of Divine 
 Indwelling, rang out over the orient this 
 truth : — the life of God in the life of man. 
 
 When the church was advancing in powei', 
 Pope Innocent III, mistaken though sincere, 
 aspii-ed to subjugate all kingly power and win 
 for her an empire tempoi-al as well as spirit- 
 iital over universal humanity. 
 
 When the decadence of the Papacy had 
 begun, and its brilliant assumptions were 
 defeated, Pope Boniface VIII, of whom it is 
 said that he grasped power like the fox, 
 wielded it like the lion, and resigned it like 
 the defeated dog, held that his commission 
 was to restore the Papacy to the splendor 
 of the times of Ilildebrand. All uncon- 
 
 scious of the grandeur of their mission, 
 Petrarch, Boccaccio and Dante climbed, with 
 adventurous step, the mountain heights, that 
 first catch and kiss the morning light and 
 sighted from afar the coming day of intellec- 
 tual and spiritmil emancipation. 
 
 Erasmus, the recluse, organizing the 
 first Greek Testament. Zwingli, the True, 
 witnessing for the simplicities of Christian 
 worship. JMelancthon, formulating the 
 consensus of evangelical truth. Luther, the
 
 HISTORICAL AXT) DOr TRIBAL. .v.-j 
 
 aggressive herald, who flashed iipon the age 
 the old truth of Justification. Wycliti", loyal 
 to the Scriptures. How the brilliant array 
 pass before us in their lustrous individuality'. 
 And what was the commanding power, which 
 lifted the founder of Methodism to an eleva- 
 tion which finds scarcely a parallel along the 
 Christian ages? Wesley was the scholar, logi- 
 cal and classical, but he was more. Wesley, 
 saya Macaulay. had the genius of a Eichiliou 
 for government ; but he was more. Wesley, 
 observed Southey, could gather and hold the 
 elements of ))Ower ; but he was nujre. AVesley, 
 writes Sir AValter Scott, had but few equals 
 in power of popular address ; but he was moi'c, 
 We.sley, had the soul of an adventurer, that 
 like Columbus would seek out new continents, 
 but he was more. Wesley had a will power 
 that would look defiant in the face of difficulty 
 and never beat a retreat; but he was more. 
 What constituted the triumphant power, 
 which lifted Wesley to preeminence ? It vns, 
 his profound, rntire, and ahsohite ronsernition to 
 God. Wesley as the Oxford ascetic was 
 impotent, as the adventurer of Geoigia a 
 visionaiy, who returned from his bootless 
 journey with the imjn-ess of failui-e. Jhit 
 from the hour when he became a consecrated 
 man, kindled into enthusiasm by the power
 
 S4 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 and love of an indwelling Christ, every ele- 
 ment of his great character opened out and 
 made him one of the most potential factors 
 which the centuries have given to the world. 
 And is there not an inspiration in this thought 
 to every minister and member of Methodism. 
 
 What lesson do I read on this Centennial 
 occasion from the history of Methodism ? 
 Give Wesley's consecration to every minister 
 and member, and their manhood and woman- 
 hood will be lifted to their highest possibilities, 
 by opening up the intellectual powers to 
 nobler conceptions and giving to the emotional 
 nature, the enthusiasm of a Diviner love, 
 impelling to the better accomplishment of 
 God's great work among men. By this we do 
 BOt mean that any consecration will give to 
 rustic ignorance the resources of scholarship, 
 or to prosaic dullness the magnetic power of 
 genius in its plenary endowments. But it 
 gives the highest spiritual power "to every 
 man according to his several ability." 
 
 Give Wesley's consecration to every 
 minister and it will send us back to our circuits 
 with a passion to save men, and bajDtize all 
 our churches with a new life, that will carry 
 us along the coming centur}^, to a more preg- 
 nant spiritual destiny, that holds within it 
 the assurance and acclaims of ultimate victory^
 
 HISTORICAL AXD DOCTRINAL. *,> 
 
 And then again, what instruction comes 
 to us from our historical development, as a 
 church ? 
 
 Of all epochs in the history of England, 
 one of the most stagnant and utterly hopeless, 
 was that which marked the opening of the 
 18th centur}'. 
 
 Whether you read the charming page of 
 Green the massive notations of Locky, or the 
 caustic and searching critiques of Leslie 
 Stephens, all unite in depicting a state of 
 moral degradation and blasphemous impiety 
 well-nigh surpassing belief. 
 
 With the brilliant Marlborough, corrupt- 
 ing the higher life of the nations. With 
 Horace Walpole, reducing all politics to a 
 game of bribes. With Congreve and Wycherly 
 the dramatists of the Restoration for a polite 
 literature; with a poetry without exaltation; 
 a philosophy without insight and tribunals 
 without justice. With an insolent infidelity, 
 which from the days of Stillingflect to 
 Bolingbroke, last of the deists, held captive, 
 the leading intellects of the nation, while it 
 smote with paralysis an effete clergy. With 
 a universal wasf-ail and riot and profanity, 
 sinking the lower classes into nameless depths 
 of infamy. What pen can adequately pic- 
 ture the repellent features of this repulsive
 
 so CENTENARY OF METHODISM. 
 
 a2;o ? Like the voice of one cryiiiL!; in the 
 wilderness, the ministiy of Wesley begun to 
 be heard. It gathered to itself ihe elements of 
 power, it multiplied its forces till Avith ten 
 thousand tongues, it rang out the gospel in 
 every nook and corner of the motherhmd. 
 
 What Johnson the moralist could not do ; 
 what Hogarth the caricaturist of vice could 
 not do ; what Dean Swift, the satirist could 
 not do ; what the philoso])hy of Berkeley, the 
 ethics of Butler, the evidences of Paley 
 could not do; what the men of lawn sleeves 
 and stately ritualisms could not do, in refoi-m- 
 ing the age, that John Wesley with his grand 
 evangelism ; that Charles Wesley, with his 
 hymns, sobbing in penitence, weeping in joy, 
 ringing the battle-cry of advance, along the 
 line, springing triumphant on ecstatic wings 
 to the Heavens at the thought that Jesus 
 shall reign ; that John and Charles Wesley 
 accomplished, in the name and by the grace 
 of God. 
 
 It has been well said by a recent writer 
 that the unbelief of the 18th century was not 
 arrested and overthrown b3^ Butler's analogy 
 of religion, the twelve witnesses of Paley or 
 the didactics of the day, but by the power of 
 God authenticating the divinity of that Christ-
 
 HISTORICAL AXD DOCTEIXAL SI 
 
 ianity as expressed by the early preachers of 
 Methodism, which broke with a mighty res- 
 ui-j-ec'tion, the barbaric toilers in coal-pits of 
 the north, ploughing their grimy faces with 
 the tears of penitence ; the wasted multitude* 
 in the dens of London, cleansing their foulness;, 
 and the Cornish miners, in their deep galler- 
 ies, where in the intervals of toil they could 
 hear above them the sobbings of the sea. 
 Now, if there is one lesson more impressive 
 than another which the history of our church 
 reads us, it is to lay hold of every means to 
 ensure success. Wesley, in early life was a 
 churchman, an intolerant and bigoted church- 
 man, but when God led him out, he was will- 
 ing to go into unLi'ied paths and to employ 
 the agencies of which the history of the 
 Cliurch supplied no parallel. 
 
 He invoked the splendor of scholarship 
 and seraphic culture, as in the case of Fletcher, 
 but he did more. lie took John Nelson, the 
 mason; Alexander Mather the baker; Thomas 
 Oliver, the shoemaker ; John Ilaime, the pri- 
 vate soldier, and Pawson the draper, all uncul- 
 tured, and in the name of God commissioned 
 them to go with homel}'' speech, to the perish- 
 ing masses, justifying the utterance of the 
 historian that as by speech, the nation was 
 governed, by speech freighted with gospel 
 truth, the nation was morally regenerated.
 
 SS CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 The genius of Methodism not only commis- 
 sioned man, but it vindicates the ministry of 
 woman. 
 
 I have stood before the sepulchi'es of states- 
 men, orators, poets and divines, whose names 
 and fome have filled the world, but I never 
 felt a deeper emotion than when standing by 
 the tomb of Susannah Wesley. In that pre- 
 sence, the orator is dumb, poetry has no lines 
 and music no notes to tell the grandeur of 
 her womanhood. Conservative, yet radical 
 and aggressive. Deferential to authority, yet 
 firm in her God-like purpose. No mystic was 
 she though gifted with a depth of insight sel- 
 dom surpassed. Graceful in person, her tender 
 eyes looked love ; wise in her motherhood. 
 It has been well said that if John Wesley 
 ruled Methodism, his mother ruled John 
 Wesley, and revealed to him the poAver of 
 womanhood, as an agency gentle and jjer- 
 sistent in building up the spiritual church of 
 God. 
 
 And now, out of this histor}^ what lesson 
 do I read ? Conservative in essentials, yet 
 radical and aggressive in action, I would 
 have every minister remember that he is 
 ordained for victory and should command 
 success. " Now thanks be unto God, which 
 always causeth us to triumph in Christ and
 
 HISTOIilCAL AND DOCTEIXAL. 89 
 
 maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge 
 by us in every place," 
 
 I would commission every son and 
 daughter to prophesy in the name of the 
 Lord. Methodism has no greater danger, 
 than a decorous respectibility that resists all 
 innovation. If ordinary appliances fail to draw 
 the people to Christ, I would invoke the very 
 forces of the Salvation Army ; I would put 
 trumpets in men's hands to call the people to 
 repentance, anything ! anything ! The spirit 
 of Methodism, aggressive, it shall live — stag- 
 nant, it shall die, dishonored, an anachronism 
 amongst men. 
 
 And then look at the sweep of this Metho- 
 dism of ours. If we go back one hundred 
 and twenty years wesee a man in clerical 
 attire, passing under the arch that led into the 
 quadrangle of the old Glasgow university. 
 Above the arch, in a little room sits a 
 homely toiler, engaged in sketching a design. 
 What prophet of destiny could have predicted 
 that more than kings, statesmen and con- 
 gresses, these two men, John Wesley and 
 James Watt would shape the destinies of this 
 American continent? It was the genius of 
 James Watt, which harnessed the forces that 
 slumbered in the water, and gave steamboats 
 to every river and steam cars to every valley
 
 00 CENTENA R Y OF ME TIIODISM: 
 
 and prairie on this continent, thus giving to it 
 in a single century, a degree of civilization 
 that otlierwise would have demanded a t lous- 
 and years and more. It was the genius of John 
 Wesley, to project on this continent his origi- 
 nal conception of an itinerant ministry, which 
 would follow the tidal waves of humanity 
 that have diffused themselves from Atlantic 
 to Pacific, and but for this would have sunk 
 into a degradation, vandal and destructive, as 
 those that followed in the train of Alaric and 
 Genseric, of old. 
 
 Before his eyes closed in death he had 
 sent Laurence Coughlin to the misty isle of 
 K'ewfouridland ; Strawbridge to the sunny 
 south; Asbury, beyond the AUeghanies; 
 Webb, along the valley of the St, Lawrence 
 and your own William Black to be the stand- 
 ard bearer of Methodism along the valleys 
 and bays of fair Acadia, While the rolling 
 tides of the ocean sing their thunders along 
 your coast and toss their crested spray against 
 the granite cliffs, corruscating into perpetual 
 brilliance, the name of Black shall be held in 
 honor througout this land. 
 
 Men of Nova Scotia, you will stand 
 true to the traditions and spirit of these men, 
 and with your brethren in the West advance 
 with £i;lad endeavor till this Dominion of
 
 HISTORICAL AXD DOCTRINAL. 01 
 
 Canada is possesed b}' Christian forces, and 
 given as a gem to adorn the crown of the 
 JRedeemer. 
 
 And then once again what inspiration- 
 comes to us from the full orbed theology which 
 is our heritage and the foundation of our 
 power. 
 
 In our time of pretentious, specuhitive 
 and unsettling thought, a damaging impeach- 
 ment is laid at the door of Dogmatic Theology. 
 
 It is held by some that he who enters 
 here abandons hope of progressive re- 
 search, since its dogmas are immutable, and 
 its spirit in antagonism to the life and pro- 
 gress of the ages ; but, never was impeach- 
 ment more false. 
 
 What is the liistory of religious thought 
 but one of sublimest evolution ? Look at tho 
 record. The oriental or Greek Church for- 
 mulated the doctrines of the Trinity and the 
 Person of Christ and established them for all 
 time. The early Latin Chuich revealed this- 
 humanity of ours and formulated at once the 
 doctrine of sin and gi-ace. It was the honor 
 of the Mystics and Port Poyalists to unfold 
 the possibilities of Communion with the 
 Divine, and was it not the glory of the Refor- 
 matory age, that it educated the conscience 
 and brouiiht out broad and clear the doctnneis^.
 
 92 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 ■of forgiveness and divine acceptance, while 
 the Remonstrants affirmed the universality of 
 atonement. 
 
 Thus from age to age the evolution of 
 Christian dogma has gone forward, and the 
 eternities shall never see its consummation. 
 'Theology a stagnant science ! I affirm it is 
 the most progressive on the ftice of this earth, 
 for is not the truth of God infinite, and will 
 not the finite intellect be ascending forever 
 more in the apprehending of its wondrous 
 "harmonies ? 
 
 And, now, what constituted the cen- 
 tral truth which John Wesley published in 
 advance of all others and which has rallied 
 the million? I answer the radical existence 
 of a free spirit as the crown of our humanity. 
 
 When Wesley appeared, the intuitional 
 philosophy of DesCartes, of Spinoza, and 
 afterward of Kant and Coleridge had gone 
 into an eclipse, while the Materialist' c philos- 
 phy of Hobbes, and Locke, and Hume, and 
 Berkeley, and Priestly, which asserted that 
 the world without controlled the world witliin 
 the man, wasevery where triumphant. The vin- 
 ■'dication of the universality of atonement, and 
 the freedom of will, and spiritual witness, by 
 'God to man's inner consciousness smote 
 iio the death this philosphy of necedsity, that 
 still languishes in Buckle and Tyndal, while
 
 HISTORICAL AND DOCTRINAL. 98. 
 
 it uplifted this intuitional philosophy which 
 stands by the truth that man is a prima poten- 
 tia, an originating will force, while God is 
 no respecter of persons. And so it comes to 
 pass that the theology of Methodism is on the 
 ascendant all over this earth. I think the 
 sublimest event in the late Ecumenical Con- 
 ference was the attestation of this truth.. 
 There were gathered men, who had come from 
 beneath almost every sky. They had come 
 from the fields and steppes of Scandinavia ;. 
 they had come from the Confederated EmjDii-e 
 of Germany; they had come from the vine- 
 clad hills and sunny vales of France and from 
 the mountain passes of Switzerland ; they had 
 come from the wildering fragrance of Auda- 
 lusian Spain and from beneath the shadow of' 
 theQuirinal, the Horse of Praxiteles and the 
 Vatican of Rome ; they had come from where 
 Stamboul proudly overlooks the Hellespont, 
 they liad come from the death dealing malar- 
 ial coasts of Western Africa and the arid 
 plains of Kaffraria, they had come from the 
 shadow of the Himalay as where the cactus and 
 magnolia fling their fragrance at the feet of 
 those colossal heights which bear upon their 
 brow the crystal crown of an eternal winter, 
 they had come from the ancient lands of 
 Northern and Southern China, whose standing
 
 94 CENTEJSFARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 wonder is the multiplied millions of men ; 
 the}' had come from the isles of Japan, where 
 Destlino- flowers adorn the creviced hciirhts of 
 volcanic desolation, and from every Colony of 
 great Australia; from Tasmania and the fern 
 valle3's of New Zealand; the}' had come from 
 the isles of the south, that, like emeralds set 
 in cameos of coi-al whiteness, gem the bosom 
 of the great Pacific ; thc}^ had come from the 
 cooling shades of the palms that skirt the 
 pampas of South Amei"ica; they had come from 
 the tropic isles of the West Indies, and from 
 the silver canj'ons of Mexico ; from almost 
 every state in the gieat Eepublic, and from 
 most of the Provinces of our Dominion, and 
 what was their testimony? 
 
 That the Gospel, which your Black one 
 bundred j'cars ago, began to sound througli- 
 out this land is the Gospel which has brought 
 salvation to uncounted thousands and to 
 which 25,000,000 within the bounds of Ecu- 
 menical Methodism, jiay homage, while 
 thousands without, accept it as their faith. 
 
 " When tlie work it first begun, 
 Small and feeble was tlie clay; 
 Now, the work ilnih swiftly run, 
 Now, it wins its widening way." 
 
 Isles of the 8outh ! when my cj'c was 
 undimmed and the dew of youth was on my
 
 HISTOIilCAL AXD DOCTL'IXAL. 0') 
 
 brow, and, standing on their hills, I watched 
 the tropic sun as he grandly marched to his 
 seeming rest. Dipping into darkness, refract- 
 ing his light, like a magic builder, in a mo- 
 ment he thi-ew up a triumphal arch wide as 
 the cano])}' of heaven, garnished with gold, 
 festooned with Ijrilliant blue, while far along 
 the vista, there seemed a glorj- yonder, too 
 great for mortal eye to behold. Symbol of 
 our future ! As we bid farewell to the century 
 that is gone, tender in its mcmoides, rich in 
 its inheritance of history, I believe we are 
 inarching as through a triumphal arch and into 
 a century of moi-c resplendent triumph upon 
 earth. Be it oui's to avcU perform our work, 
 serve our generation and then rejoin that 
 blissful com pan}', whose eyes once mot our 
 glances, whose voices fell ujion our ears, but 
 who arc now enthroned as victors forever.
 
 96 CENTENA RY OF ME TIIODISM : 
 
 JUBILEE EEMINISCENCES : 
 
 AN ADDRESS GIVEN AT THE CENTENARY MEET- 
 ING BY THE 
 
 REV. INGHAM SUTCLIFFE. 
 
 Mr. Sutcliffe, on being called upon, said : — 
 It is perhaps befitting that I should bear some 
 testimony on this interesting occasion, being 
 one of the four living links that unite the first 
 with the second half of the centenary which 
 by the Providence of God we are now privi- 
 leged to celebrate. It will not be out of place 
 briefly, to refer to some circumstances con- 
 nected with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 
 when my own ministry began in 1832, just 
 shortly previous to the time when the Eev. 
 William Black closed his earthly coui'se, and 
 entered upon his heavenly reward, saying 
 "All is well! All is well!" 
 
 The men who guided the helm of Metho- 
 dism at that time were perhaps the most 
 eminent for talents, learning and far-seeing 
 abilit}' that our Church has ever had, either 
 before or sincethat period. I may mention Dr. 
 Adam Clarke, Dr. Bunting, Richard Watson,
 
 JUBILEE REMINISCENCES. 91 
 
 Eichard Eeece, Eichard Treifry, Dr. Newton, 
 Dr. Tovvnley, Theophilus Lessey, John James, 
 and a number of other prominent men who 
 guarded carefully the body, and who efficient- 
 ly labored to promote its peace and prosperity. 
 Bat the death roll of the year 1832 was, per- 
 haps, the longest and the most painful that 
 our Methodism has ever had, including some of 
 its most honored and useful ministers. On 
 that list we find Dr. Adam Clarke, one of the 
 most learned men of that day ; Eichard 
 Watson, who for brilliancy and strength of 
 intellect, has never been surpassed, and whose 
 place in the Church has, perhaps, never 
 yet been supplied; John James, the faithful 
 and eloquent advocate of Christian Missions, 
 and a judicious member of the Missionary 
 Board ; Thomas Stanley, a devoted minister 
 of Christ; Eichard Pop-s, the faithful laborer 
 in Canada Ea.st, and brother of our own 
 venei-ated Henry Pope, who came to his end 
 a short time ago as a shook of corn cometh in 
 its season, fully ripe tor the garner of God; 
 and William Sutcliffe, one of the pioneers of 
 Methodism in Xova Scotia, Canada and Ber- 
 muda. These and all the rest of the long 
 death list of that year left a noble record in 
 the Church. 
 
 Jri that year the total membership of the
 
 98 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 Wesleyati Mei.hodist Church in Nova Scotia, 
 New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Can- 
 ada East, and NewfoiindLand was Y383, under 
 the pastoral care of 59 ministers, employed by 
 the London Wesleyan Missionary Committee. 
 These ministers of Christ were faithful to labor 
 and willing to suffer in the cause of Christ. 
 They counted not their lives dear unto them- 
 selves, so that they might finish their course 
 with joy, and the ministry they had received 
 of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the 
 grace of God. Fortj'-nine of these have pass- 
 ed to the Church above. They have lound 
 the rest we toil to find. May the mantle of 
 these fathers rest upon their successors in 
 these Conferences of Eastern British A.merica. 
 Nine or ten of those who were cotem- 
 porary with the Eev. Wm. Black in his latest 
 years are living to-day. They are standing on 
 the border of the spirit world, waiting for the 
 coming of the Master. Among these we find 
 the Eev. Dr. Wood, now of Toronto, but 
 formerly a highly successful and influential 
 minister with us. His' labors were productive 
 of great good in Miiamichi, Fredcricton, 
 Portland, and St. John, N. B. Among the 
 many souls brought to God through his 
 instrumentality I may mention two; tke 
 Eev. Eobert Cooney, who was rescued irom
 
 / 
 
 JUBILEE REMINISCENCES. 9'J 
 
 Romanism, when on the eve of entering the 
 priesthood of that Chureh. He Avas engaged 
 with a prie.it in collecling Protestant JUbles 
 that had found their way into Eoniaiiist fami- 
 lies. They had obtained quite a number, and. 
 stowed them away in a large Canadian stove, 
 for what jiurpose may be ea^ih' surmised. One 
 of these Bibles, better bound than the others, 
 arrested the attention of young Cooney. He 
 took it home without the knowledge of the 
 priest, and this vohime, and the instruction 
 atibrded by D.-. Wood, led to his conversion to 
 God, and to his subsequent consecration to the 
 work of the ministry in the Methodist Church 
 in which he continued to the end of life. 
 
 The next I would mention as one of the 
 fruits of Dr. Wood's ministry, is the late 
 Hon. Judge Wilmot, who was brought to God 
 when a young man, during the ministry of 
 Dr. Wood in Fredericton, and at once united 
 with the Methodist Church, and who main- 
 tained his Christian consistency and steadfast- 
 ness through his whole course, as a Barrister, 
 as a member of the Assembly and Leader of 
 the Government, as a Judge of the Supreme 
 Court, and as Governor of his native Province. 
 In all these positions he displayed talents of 
 the highest order, and often invited the 
 attention of vast masses by his thrilling and
 
 100 CENTER A RY OF ME TIIODISM: 
 
 ovorwhelming eloquence. In the midst of 
 all his public duties ho remained faithful as 
 a Methodist class leader and Sabbath School 
 superiYitcndent ; and doubtless many from the 
 Sabbath School, as well as the members of 
 his class, who passed on before tiim, would 
 be ready to bid him welcome when at length 
 he went through the gates into the city. These 
 with many others will be brilliant stars that 
 will one day shine in the crown of Enoch 
 Wood. Since his i-emoval to Ontario Dr. 
 Wood has, by his faithful and eloquent minis- 
 try, his able advocacy of our mission work, 
 his sound judgment and his wise counsel, 
 aided greatly in promoting the consolidation 
 and enlargement of the Methodist Church of 
 Canada. On looking back over the fifty-six 
 years of his public ministry, Avhile so many 
 have gone on before, he is able to say to-day, 
 "All the days of my apj^ointed time will I 
 wait till my change come." 
 
 Another of Mr. Black's cotemporaries is 
 the Eev. Matthew Eichey, d.d., of Halifax, one 
 of the oldest living ministers of our Church, 
 having a record in our ministiy of over sixty- 
 years. He has been, perhaps, the most 
 eloquent minister in Canada, and of him it 
 is said that in preaching he never made a 
 mistake. His brilliant abilities have been
 
 JUBILEE BEMINISCENCES. 101 
 
 emploj-ed in all the great centres of our 
 church, and thousands have listened to his 
 eloquent utterances and powerful appeals with 
 breathless attention. I regret to say that for 
 some years his silver trumpet has been laid 
 down ; and he is now waiting with the quiet- 
 ness and docilit}' of a child to hear the Great 
 Father call him to his home in heaven. 
 
 Another name to be mentioned is that of 
 Dr. A. W. McLeod, now of Baltimore, U. S., 
 but for sevei'al years a useful minister among 
 us, who wrote in defence of our doctrines, and 
 was the popular editor of our paper. He is 
 nearing the end, and ripening for the climes 
 of bliss. 
 
 Then there is George Johnson, who for 
 more than half a century has preached the 
 Gospel, and. lived the Gospel; and Joseph 
 Fletcher Bent,, whose head is almost as white 
 as the driven snow, to him a ciown of glory, 
 being found in the way of righteousness; 
 James G. Plentiigar, whose kindly spirit, 
 genial, cheerful countenance, and faithful and 
 clfective labors have made him a special 
 favorite on every circuit ; and John McMurray, 
 the recipient of ecclesiastical honours justly 
 desei-ved by a long life of an unblemished 
 character as a Christian minister. A successful 
 co-laborer with many of the sainted dead, Dr.
 
 102 CENTENARY OF METnODISM: 
 
 McMurray will leave footprints for good upon 
 the sands of time. — Heniy Daniel, of St. John, 
 N. B., the vigorous orthodox and earnest 
 Methodist preacher, whose trumpet has never 
 failed to give a clear and correct sound upon 
 the walls of Zion for more than fifty years. — 
 Thos. Angwin, whose life has been blameless, 
 and his ministry successful, esjjecially in his 
 earlier labors, when he was strong to work 
 for God. He had many seals to his ministry 
 in Newfoundland.— Jno, 8. Addy treads closely 
 upon the track of his bi-ethren in age, and for 
 honor and usefulness in the cause of God. 
 These brethren, some of them cotemporaries, 
 and others successors of the founder of 
 Methodism in this land, are endeavoring so to 
 live as to be complete in Chi'ist, — they are 
 standing on the banks of the river, and looking 
 •over to the other side. I see the venerable 
 Father Bent looking up with tearful ej'e, and 
 I fancy 1 hear him, — and others are ready to 
 join with him, as with Moses he says, "I pray, 
 let me go over, and see the good land that is 
 beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain and 
 ZLebanon." For myself, as one of the number, 
 I thank God I can say, I see the streaks of 
 light on the top of the mountains, and that 
 light reaches over to the other shore, and
 
 JUBILEE REMIXISCEXCES 103 
 
 *• For me ray elder brethren stay, 
 And angels beckon nie away, 
 And Jesus bids me come." 
 
 Even now by faith we join our hands with 
 those who have gone before, and ere long we 
 shall, yes, by the grace of God, we will 
 
 " Greet the blood besprinkled bands 
 On the eternal shore." 
 
 In looking back over the past, and 
 contemplating the future, we have abundant 
 cause to thank God, and to take courage. In 
 Nova Scotia alone w^e have in the field, to do 
 work for the Master, over 100 ministers, 
 having the oversight of 10,000 members, aided 
 by 41 local preachers, 200 houses of woi'ship, 
 and 40,000 hearers. In New Brunswick and 
 P. E. Island we have about the same number 
 of ministers and local preachers, and nearly 
 the same number of church members and 
 adherents. In Newfoundland we have over 
 50 ministers with nearly 8000 members and 
 about 40,000 hearers. Of course we have no 
 arithmetic by which to reckon the countless 
 multitude gathered to the heavenly country 
 through Methodist instrumentality during the 
 century. But what may we expect for the 
 future, not only in these Provinces, but 
 throughout this wide Dominion, and through- 
 out the world by the blessing of God upon
 
 104 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 Methodist labour ? We anticipate the period 
 not far distant, when 
 
 " As the depth of the ocejin the blue waters cover, 
 So fully shall God among mortals be known, 
 ,Wlien His word like the sunbeams shall range the 
 
 world over, 
 The earth his vast temple, and mercy his throne." 
 
 The year 1832 was eventful to me, as the 
 commencement ot my ministerial life. This is 
 my Jubilee year, as fifty years ago, on the 
 23rd of April last, I took passage in London, 
 in company with the Eev. George Newlove, 
 for Canada, invested with the authority of the 
 British Conference to preach the Gospel. 
 Bro. Newlove died of cholera in Montreal on 
 the 26th of June following. My first appoint- 
 ment was St. Armand's, a large and extensive 
 circuit, with a membership of 3^0, which soon 
 increased to 400. 
 
 My next sphere was Montreal, under the 
 dii'cction of the Eev. Wm. Croscombe, one of 
 the most useful and valued missionaries ever 
 employed by our Missionary Committee. In 
 the changes then occurring I was transferred 
 to Little York, now Toronto. There T became 
 acquainted with some of the men of Western 
 Methodism, including Elder Case and James 
 Evans; the former of whom was the father of 
 the Indian Missions, and was very successful 
 in his labours among the red men of the far
 
 JUBILEE REMINISCENCES. lOS 
 
 West. James Evans spent some years in the 
 Hudson's Bay Territory, and with very blessed 
 results. The good he was instrumental in 
 effecting will never die out. He was the 
 inventof of the syllabic character, no\v in use 
 so generally among the Indian tribes in the 
 translation of the Scriptures, and which has 
 proved so great a boon in enabling the natives 
 with comparative ease to read in their own 
 tongue the wonderful works of God. His 
 missionary hardships hastened him home to 
 God. 
 
 "While I was stationed at Little York I 
 came to know the Eev. Egerton Eyerson, thei> 
 editor of the Christian Gxtardian, and a star of 
 Ihe first magnitude in the Methodist Church 
 of Canada, — but lately passed away, to shine 
 with greater glory in the firmament of heaven. 
 M}' labors in Little York were owned of God 
 in the salvation of many souls. In the following 
 year great changes took place in Canadian 
 Methodism. The District Meeting was held 
 in Montreal, Mr. Alder presiding. John Barry 
 was removed to Bei muda ; J. P. Hetherington 
 to Charlottetown, V. E. I. and I was sent to 
 Gji'and Bank, Newfoundland. I spent eleven 
 years on that Island, and had the pleasure of 
 seeing hundreds of souls made savingly ac- 
 quainted with Christ.
 
 106 CEXTENARY OF METHODISM : 
 
 The meetings for the celebration of 
 British Methodism in 1839, were, perhaps, as 
 -well attended in Newfoundland, and, according 
 to the ability of the people, were supported 
 iis well there as in any other place. In 
 Carbonear we have our largest church, which 
 on that occasion was crowded, a number of 
 Eoman Catholics being present. The Eev. 
 John Pickavant was in the chair, and Rev. 
 Wm. Faulkner, and Eev. John McMurray 
 and others were on ihe platfoi-m. The speeches 
 -were all good, and the meeting was highly 
 interesting. An incident occurred during the 
 meeting, which could not readily be forgotten, 
 -and which I will be pardoned for relating. I 
 had been speaking of the progress made by 
 Methodism in various parts of the world, — in 
 •Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, and 
 in the foreign field, — and that vast numbers 
 formerly in great spiritual darknessj had been 
 brought into the glorious gospel light, and that 
 the light was spreading notwithstanding all 
 the opposition which the Church had been 
 called to meet. In illustration I mentioned 
 'having seen a picture referring to the time of 
 the Eeformation, in which a number of Cardi- 
 nals were seen sitting around a large table. 
 On this table were several candles burning, 
 representing the light of the Eeformation,
 
 JUBILEE REMINISCENCES. 107 
 
 "while the Cardinals were doing their best to 
 j3ut out the lights ; — but their efforts were 
 vain, — the candles still burned brightly. 
 Imitating the action of the Cardinals, I lifted 
 a candle from the table before which the 
 Chairman was seated, and began to puff. In 
 my eagerness to set forth the determination 
 •of the Cai'dinals to extinguish the light, I 
 puffed a little too hard and my candle went 
 out. My condition was perfectly awful. I 
 felt as if the roof of the church was falling on 
 my head, when I heard the cry from the 
 gallery, '• That's out, anyhow." But Provi- 
 dence favored me in that predicament. I gave 
 one more gentle puff, and my candle broke 
 -out again into flame, and I cried at the top of 
 my voice, "It's not out. It's not out." The 
 effect of the occurrence was electrifying, and 
 I continued : '• See, it burns all the brighter. 
 -Just so, persecution may be the lot of the 
 Church, and there may come obscurity ; but 
 she will come forth into clearer light. So the 
 light of the Methodist Church shall never be 
 put out. It has been burning for a hundred 
 years, and it burns as brightly now as ever, 
 and will continue to give light to those in 
 darkness. The gates of hell shall never, no 
 -never prevail against it."
 
 1 08 CENTENA RY OF ME THODISM: 
 
 " Nor shall this spreading Gospel rest 
 
 Till through the world the truth has run ; 
 Till Christ has all the nations blest 
 That see the light or feel the sun." 
 
 Methodism has been prospering in Newfound- 
 land, and never more than at the present. 
 The seed sown by the Eev, William Black, 
 and by many others, has produced and is still 
 producing, abundant fruit to the glory of 
 God. May the Lord God of our fathers make 
 his people there a thousand times as many 
 more than they are, and bless them as He^ 
 hath promised ! — Amen.
 
 OUR RESPOA'SIBILITILS. 109 
 
 OUR RESPONSIBILITIES 
 
 I.V REFERENCE TO THE CENTENNIAL MOVEMENT, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. S. P. HUESTIS. 
 
 Mr, President : — 
 
 It seems like presumption for me to sj^eak 
 at this late hour, and especially after the most 
 eloquent addresses to which we have just 
 listened. I shall however detain you but a 
 few minutes. 
 
 The Nova Scotia Conference is favored in 
 having among its members the oldest surviving 
 ministers of the late Conference of Eastern 
 British America. Some of these honored 
 fathers are present at this session of our 
 Conference, and have greatly edified us by 
 their addresses and " experiences" in relation 
 to former times. There are others who are 
 unavoidably absent. One of these, the Rev. 
 James CI. Ilcnnigai-, I met in Halifax but a 
 few days before the opening of Couference. 
 At that time he was anticipating the pleasure 
 of once more meeting his brethren in ouj* 
 annual gatjiering, and of taking some part in 
 these Centennial services. In that expectation
 
 110 CENTENARY OF METHODISM : 
 
 he has been disappointed, and I am sure we 
 all share in that disappointment. His presence 
 and addresses would have added much to the 
 interest of this occasion. 
 
 The other minister of whom I desire to 
 speak is the venerable Kev. Dr. Eichey, who 
 for upwards of sixty years has been connected 
 with the ministry of the Methodist Churchy 
 As the biographer of the Eev. Wm. Black, 
 and as the eldest minister of our C()nference 
 now living, and in view of the honorable and 
 responsible positions he has filled in the 
 history of our Church, it is most fitting that 
 sj)ecial reference should be made to him at 
 this Centennial meeting. At the late Annual 
 Meeting of the Halifax District a resolution^ 
 was unanimously adopted, a copy of which was. 
 forwarded to Dr. Eichey, expressing the high 
 esteem in which he was held b^^ his brethren, 
 and congratulating him that he had lived to- 
 see the Centenary year of Methodism in these 
 Maritime Provinces. 
 
 In reply to our communication we have 
 received the following letter, which with your 
 permission I will read : — 
 
 Halifax, N. S., 17/A June, 1882. 
 To the Weshyan Methodist Ministers of the Halifax 
 
 District : — 
 Reverend and Bear Brethren : — 
 
 In acknowledging the resolution adopted at your 
 recent annual meeting, of which a copy has been,
 
 OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. Ill 
 
 communicated to me, I cannot but express my grate- 
 ful appreciation of the sentiments whicii it embodies 
 toward myself personally; while I deej)ly sympathize 
 with the announced purpose of marking the Centen- 
 nial of Methodism in Nova Scotia with appropriate 
 commemorative and devotional exercises, although 
 my physical infirmities preclude the hope of being 
 able to participate in the pleasure and privilege of 
 their observance. I deem it among the highest honors 
 of my life to have discharged, however imperfectly, 
 the office of the biographer of the Reverend William. 
 Black : and the revival and perpetuation of the 
 memory ot so exemplary and eminent an evangelist 
 cannot fail to diffuse salutary and quickening influence 
 as widely as it is known. 
 
 It is my earnest prayer that the contemplated, 
 celebration may be productive of much spiritual 
 benefit to all concerned, and that its fruit may remain. 
 May the coming century of Methodism in these- 
 Provinces and throughout Canada be signalised by- 
 the increasing depth and progression of this Agency 
 in the fulfilment of its high and holy mission. 
 
 Believe me, beloved Brethren, to remain. 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 Matthew Richey. 
 It in pleasing to fii)d this venerable- 
 servant of God so deeply interested in our 
 present movement, and I trust the sentiments 
 expressed in his letter will stimulate us in 
 our ettorts to celebrate this centenary in a 
 proper and profitable manner. 
 
 I would like to add a few more words 
 before I resume my seat. I mwy claim to 
 j-epresent on this occasion a class of men 
 belonging to this Confei'cnce who should bo- 
 especially interested in this centenary move-
 
 112 CEyTFNAEY OF METHODISM: 
 
 ment. I refer to those who like myself were 
 born in these Pi'ovinces. We have been 
 brought to God, and into fellowship with His 
 Church through the agency of Metliodism, 
 and it is impossible to estimate how much we 
 owe, and how much this country owes, to the 
 ■noble men who toiled so faithfully in laying 
 the foundations of Methodism in this country. 
 They were godly men, devoted to their work 
 — they " endured hardness" as good soldiers 
 of the cross. " Other men have labored and 
 we have entered into their labors." They 
 orii^inated the various connexional funds 
 — or financial schemes of our Church — founded 
 our Education Institutions, and legislated most 
 wisely in the interests of our beloved 3Ietho- 
 dism. Upon us, their sons and successors, 
 rests the responsibility of carrying forward 
 in all its dej)artments the great work which 
 lias been committed to us by om- fathers. 
 
 It has therefore been suggested that we 
 inaugurate with this centenary celebration a 
 fund to be known as the " Centennial Thanks- 
 giving Fund" — ihe object of which shall be 
 the promotion of the work of God through 
 evangelistic agency, and the more efficient 
 maintenance or support of our College and 
 Theological Institutions at Sackville. And is 
 it not most fitting that we should do so-?
 
 OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. 113 
 
 Surely we cannot review our histoiy without 
 leelings of gratitude to God. What then shall 
 we render to Him for all his bent>fits ? Let 
 us mark this epoch in our history by erecting 
 some monument which will not only be a 
 tangible expression of the gi-atitude we feel, 
 but will help to maintain and advance in all 
 their integrity and efficiency the doctrines, 
 discipline and institutions of Methodism. To 
 do this will require an effort, perhaps some 
 considerable sacrifice; but were we to refuse 
 to maUe such an effort, or tos brink from such 
 sacrifice, we certainly would prove ourselves 
 the unworthy sons of a noble ancestry. I 
 cannot think it possible that we should let 
 this interesting period in our history pass 
 without giving bome such tangible expression 
 of our sense of obligation to God for all His 
 past mercies. 
 
 We have resolved, therefore, to appeal to 
 all our people to present their thank offerings 
 to God during this Centenary year. We hope 
 the response will be general, cheerful and 
 characterized by that liberality which has 
 always distingui.-hed the Methodists of Xova- 
 Scotia. The objects specified are in every 
 sense worthy the support of our friends. I 
 need not dwell upon their importance. I 
 propose that here and now we take up the first.
 
 3.:}4 CEN TEN A If Y OF ME THODISM: 
 
 collection for this Centenary fund. At the 
 meeting this afternoon, a brother, always 
 ready for every good woi'k, stated that some 
 person belonging to Windsor had offered One 
 Hundred Dollars, and he would be glad to 
 contribute a like sum as a centennial offering. 
 Mr. President, that is a good beginning, and 
 while many of us are notable to give largely, 
 yet we can all give something, and we can 
 give willingly, remembering that *' the Lord 
 loveth a cheerful giver." 
 
 May the Lord lift upon us the light of 
 His countenance, and prosper us in this our 
 undertaking, so that this Centenary year may 
 be one of the most memorable in all our 
 history.
 
 APPEAL ASD RESOLUTIONS, Hi 
 
 PRESIDENTIAL APPEAL; 
 
 AND CENTENNIAL RESOLUTIONS OF THE NOVA 
 SCOTIA, AND NEW BRUNSWICK AND P. E. 
 
 ISLAND CONFERENCES. 
 
 Tu thri Members of the Methodist Church in these 
 Provinces. 
 
 D'.ar Brethren : — The Conferences which 
 recently assembled at Windsor and Frederictou 
 jud^'ed that our Church should, in a fitting manner, 
 celebrate ♦'he hundredth anniversary of its intro- 
 duction into these Provinces. After careful 
 consideration it was determined that our gratitude 
 to Almighty God for his preserving and fostering 
 care during those years should take^a tangible form, 
 and become a lasting and useful memorial before 
 him ; and the resolutions below were accordingly 
 prepared, di'-ecting the ministers in charge of 
 circuits to hold public meetings, and to receive 
 subscriptions for the purpose mentioned therein. 
 
 We trust that you will enter upon this work 
 with a zeal commensurate with its importance, and 
 tliat the services to be held in ccmnection with the 
 approaching Financial District meetings will justify 
 us in expecting that a thank ottering would be 
 presented to God worthy of the occasion and 
 uutiicient for the purposes contemplated. 
 
 We have reached a stage in our history, and a
 
 116 CENTENA RY OF ME THODISM : 
 
 position among the Churches, when, if we judge 
 that there is any reason for our existence as a 
 Church, there is also reason for deep gratitude. 
 One hundred years of the divine blessing ha\'o 
 lifted our Church to a position which we may 
 survey with satisfaction, and we have been enabled 
 to take no unimportant part in the work of main- 
 taining evangelical religion in this land. The little 
 band which Mr. Black at 6rst gathered lias grown 
 into many thousands, and these thfiusands are now 
 called upon to offer thanks to God for the divine 
 help through which they have increased and 
 triumphed. We are sure that you will not be 
 backward in your offerings of praise, or that more 
 practical and substantial expression of your feelings 
 suggested by the resolutions of the Conferences. 
 Our Ebenezer should be, not merely the passing 
 voice of praise, but an enduring monument which 
 shall speak to our children ; and we can think of 
 nothing more intimately connected with our future 
 usefulness and continued success than the objects 
 pointed out in the accompanying resolutions. 
 
 We are, dear brethren, 
 
 Yours in Christ, 
 
 John S. Phinney,,;,--. 
 President of N. B. and P. E. I. Conf. 
 William C. Brown, 
 
 Pres. of N. S. Conf-
 
 APPEAL AND REHOLU'IIONS. 117 
 
 The following resolutions on iliis subject were 
 passed at the recent session of the Nova Scotia 
 Conference : — 
 
 1. That this Conference regards with no ordinary 
 interest the present period in our history, it being 
 now just one hundred years since the Rev. William 
 Black entered upon his self denying, evangelistic 
 labors in preaching a present, tree and full salvation, 
 in the towns, villages, and sparsely settled districts 
 of these Provinces, he and his co-adjutors being 
 instrumental, by the doctrines, discipline and Chris- 
 tian fellowship of Methodism, in laying broad and 
 deep the foundations of a Church which proved the 
 spiritual home of multitudes wiio have passed into the 
 hkies — as it has been and still is to thousands who 
 value its ordinances and privileges. 
 
 2. That in the judgment of this Conference it is 
 eminently proper in our Centennial to review devoutly 
 and gratefully our past history, that by the reminis- 
 cences that may be gathered, and by tracing the 
 operations of the Divine hand in connection with the 
 labors of God's servants, there may be awakened a 
 deeper sense of obligation for the goodness and grate 
 of Christ our Ssviour, leading our ministers and 
 people generally to new consecration in the service 
 of the Lord. 
 
 3. That this Conference accordingly resolves 
 upon the inauguration of measures for a suitable 
 Centennial celebration, commencing with the services 
 of this natuie appointed to be held during the 
 Conference, and to be followed by such other religious 
 and social services on our circuits at large, as the 
 Conference may deem advisable. 
 
 4. That in grateful acknowledgment of the 
 Lord's signal blessing upon our Church du'^ing the 
 Jiundred years past, the Conference would view with 
 satisfaction any suitable measures to ensure some 
 tangible memorial of our sense of obligation and 
 responsibility, and would regard the following as 
 quite appropriate, viz: the formation of a Centennial
 
 118 CENTENARY OF METHODISM : 
 
 Thanksgiving Fund, the objects of which sliall be 
 first, to secure in connection with our new College 
 building at Sackville, a Theological Memorial Hall, 
 as a tribute to the memory of the late venerable AVni. 
 Black, and to bear his name; secondly, Clnucli 
 Extension, comprising evangelistic work and parson- 
 age aid. 
 
 5. That the donors to the Thanksgiving Fund 
 have t'.ie opt'on of indicating to which of the above 
 objects their benevolence may be applied. 
 
 G. That in order that all our people may 
 participate in the joy of this glad occasion, and may 
 share in furthering the objects contemplated, tliis 
 Conference recommends that religious and social 
 centennial services be held in all our circuits, in the 
 month of October next, and that arrangements be 
 niade at the approaching Financial District meetings 
 to render successful such Centennial celebration. 
 
 The N. B. and P. E. I. Conference also passed 
 resolutions as follows : 
 
 The Committee appointed upon the Commemo- 
 ration of the Centenary of Methodism beg leave to 
 report : 
 
 1. That in yiew of the completion of the first 
 hundred years of Methodism in these Maritime 
 Provinces, they recommend to this Conference the 
 adoption of similar measures for tiie commemoration 
 of this event, to those adopted by the Nova Scotia 
 Conference, for the purpose of acknowledging the 
 good hand of our God in the history of our Church 
 during the past century. 
 
 2. That the Conference be requested to set apart 
 Thursday morning for an open session of Conference 
 to which our friends in this city be invited for the 
 purpose of reviewing the work of God among us, and 
 initiating a movement which may at once express our 
 gratitude for the past, and tend to the promotion of 
 the interests of Methodism within the bounds of our 
 Conference for the future.
 
 APPEAL AXD RESOLUTIOXS. 119 
 
 3. That tlie Conference order that arrangements 
 be made at the ensuing Financial District Meetings 
 to give effect to these resolutions by the holdm^ of 
 Centennial Memorial services, and the talSng up of 
 subscriptions in all the circuits ot the Conference as 
 a Thanksgiving Fund. 
 
 4. That the objects contemplated by the move- 
 ment be, 1st, the erection of a Centennial Memorial 
 College Hall at Mt. Allison, and 2nd, the extension 
 of our work, increasing the resources of the Parsonage 
 Aid Fund, two-thirds of the contributions to be 
 assigned to the former, and one-third to the latter, 
 except where the donors otherwise desire. 
 
 Though the financial part of the move- 
 ment was not formally inaugurated at the 
 Fredericton Conference Centenary Meeting; 
 yet amounts, which have been announced as 
 voluntary contributions, on that occasion, may 
 be regarded as the pledge of a generous pur- 
 pose on the part of Methodist communities in 
 New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
 
 120 CENTENA EY OF HE THODISM : 
 
 CONCLUSION". 
 
 To the Methodists of these Lower 
 Provinces, who enter heartily into this 
 Centennial celebration, the occasion will be 
 one of such hallowed gladness as will certainly 
 ensure a heritage of rich spiritual blessing 
 that will be of life-long continuance. The 
 multitudinous reminiscences which crowd 
 upon the thoughtful Christian heart under 
 these circumstailces are, in themselves, inex- 
 pressibly worthy of being cherished. They 
 connect us with a long succession of the pious 
 dead to whom we stand inseparably linked. 
 The names of numei-ous ministerial worthies 
 are mentioned in the foregoing pages. But as 
 we pen these concluding lines a host of sainted 
 ones, of very precious memory, who lived in 
 various parts of these Piovinces, come troop- 
 ing to our recollection, and we can scai'ce 
 refrain from making distinct reference to 
 them and to their valuable services. But even 
 a brief reference would occupy moie space 
 than is at all at our command ; and we can
 
 CONCLUSION. 121 
 
 only recommend that in each locality, at the 
 approaching Centennial meetings, there shall 
 hQ a careful gathering of memories of the 
 past, and such honorable mention made of 
 those long since removed, and of their labors 
 in the Church, as shall deepen in memory the 
 impression of their holy example, and shall 
 lead many to glorify God in them. Such a 
 retrospect cannot fail to evoke increased 
 gratitude to God for his great goodness to our 
 branch of the Church of Christ during the 
 -century past, and to inspire confidence that 
 this God will be the God of our successors 
 during the centuries to come. 
 
 Now for the practical result of this Cen- 
 tennial movement. What will it be ? We 
 strongly hope that one grand fruit will be that 
 of higher personal consecration to God on tbe 
 pax't of a large portion of our beloved people 
 in these Maritime Provinces, and, as a neces- 
 sary consequence, a higher tone of religious 
 experience, and a purer type of practical 
 godliness in our Church at large. If this 
 result be gained we shall have reason for 
 exultant praise to our redeeming Lord, that 
 we were privileged to celebrate this Centen- 
 nial. But while spiritual results engage 
 largely our earnest consideration, wo cannot 
 ■overlook the material and the tangible. In
 
 J22 CENTENARY OF METHODISM: 
 
 the resolutions of the two Conferences on this- 
 matter, as previously given, it will be noticed 
 that importance is attached to the practical 
 evidences to be aftorded of our hallowed glad- 
 ness and devout gratitude ; and that certain 
 objects are specified as especially appropriate 
 to be remembered at this time, viz : the 
 interests of theological education, in making 
 better preparation for the higher education of 
 our young ministers ; and also furnishing 
 enlarged facilities for evangelistic eflfort 
 within the bounds of these Conferences at the 
 present juncture. We need not press the high 
 importance of these objects uj)on the attention 
 of our people : nor will we dwell upon their 
 entire appropriateness in connection with this- 
 movement. We cannot doubt that were it 
 possible for the venerated AVm. Black, and 
 his coadjutors and successors who have 
 entered upon their reward — as well as the 
 vast number of the sainted brethren of 
 our Church — to be consulted as tothe most, 
 fitting objects of our giateful benevolence 
 at this time, the purpose we now contem- 
 plate would by them be recommended to 
 our loving and liberal support. If our gifts 
 upon the Lord's altar on this grand occasioa 
 be at all commensurate with the gratitude we 
 owe, then will our Christian gladness be
 
 COXCLUSIOX. 
 
 123- 
 
 intensified and sweetencdv astW by this memo- 
 rial occasion. " Tliine, O Lord, is the 
 greatness, and the powei-, and the glory, and 
 the vx'tor}', and the Majesty; for all that is in 
 the heaven an I in the earth is thine. And of 
 thine own have we triven Thee." 
 
 PRINTED BY WM. THEAKSTOS, 
 
 AT THE "wESLEYAN" OF! ICE, 141 GRANVILLE KT. ^ 
 
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