Evening Star Newspaper, March 1, 1884, Page 2

> THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C.. SATURDAY, ¢ MARCH 1, 1884—D OUBLE SHEET. @¥bat Figures Show and Physicians Say on the Subject. HED STATEMENT THAT THIS CITY 18 A YAVORITR FIELD FOR CONSUMPTION DECLARED HEALTH OFFICER SHOWS THAT FAVORALY WITH OTHER WITH WELI-FOSTED PHYSI- 1k TEMPORARY CAUSES OF AN INCREASE IN PATH RATE, &C. nent Was pubilshed fn a city paper a few in connection with an article referring to nt increased percentage of deaths from con- this city, that Washington has had the from its earliest history of being a jon, and the percentage Iways been larger er he sald: ys an in- tt nertality. ‘This by special atiention U fact anly he subject of vital statis Whs the *ingiisia Lite trustworthy id Lo exhiti Sone mitlie able, ar: mpuen * wh | Hol Warrant Its a these hont ex- and a great ts about 12 per | Pistrict Is not more tion along wn,” continued the rm zyn A great many tit is generally Wit 1s Based are “. S. Lincoln tn ention was Ushed statement that | of Washington con- T have only had one case this r. We have a large float athlon, Witch ee of their winters: nave & class cf people who, incapacttated ment ebx Te, seek guvernment po- . K@ class Who, tn ‘sant place to reside. and ortions of their lives here. choses are Invarlably affected before : kere, and their deaths are chronteled in our records, but’ they should not be held up as exam- the fatality of our climate. My expe- ee here fs fo the effect that the natives of aaily free from pulmonary dis- y instances where people troubles have come ‘they could not have hern homes snuimpt winter of Ing por here: need tn their ni stelement fs uy this clty are spect eases, SUCb SiAceuent MGBON GENERAL # FIGTR! fate In different cites, which I had prepared in my oMice from statistics at hand: Deaths from Consumption tn Several Cities, Pop'la'n. 3 * District and) Washingtor (804) 1882) 1 death Baltimore. 1,272) : S StOn.. 1, if Cineinnatt, "oe 1 <r Phiiadelphia.. 2,682/ 1880) 1 New Orleans. 900, 1881) 1 63,600 a7) ism) 1 + San Francisco) 233,959 cy ey 14 ‘ashington has @ ‘hs from consumption ‘The secret of it is, great many cases of consumption fatally in Washington are im- her and more northern cities, You sumplives seek a Warmer climate, of Washington have a great attraction yhave contracted the disease further - and many are led to try them. They are rally in such an advanced stage that their 3 estion of Comparatively short time. ok here from the north, fucreases our death that of boston. Now, if we nd from Jacksonville, Mobile would find the constunpticn death ours, because consumptives seek those Still milder climates and rgely increasing their rate by Known cases. of consumption . e compared uported one: Id, damp climates are tual for Originatiug the disease. MPLAINTS AGAINST THE CLIMATE. © best KBown practitioners In the north- jon gave the res of bis experience to rhe inferenc mublicanart pest-hole for the production of that is all wrong. y predispe nter the departments andeT mest named. Which t te of Washing. o with it pmie here and canvas- around i when they are ‘The climate 1s don’t take care of Weather when the: Among the white resi- piion is of rare occurrence. estion IS poppy cock and DEATH KATE AMONG THE WHITES. P eOp ud blame Ui > to blame, dent poputatt The arucie tn cians in the here are many cases of ‘athisis in Washington, It is true. but they cannot be ascribed to the locality. Among the resident white population the percentage of pulmonary dis- “sis very small Indeed, when we leave the col worid whlch has a smaller deat ashington, and that is Edinburgh, une here from the north with the disease ened upon them, and when they dte we ler Thera on our records, Dub 1.13 Not At to say the Washington climate caused their would have died at home in ss tlie than here. ‘The Republican article 13 en- Urely Wrong in its assminptions, and the facts do sertions.” DR. JAS. E. MORGAN. Dr. James E. Morgan, one of the oldest practl- Hohers in the District, suid that he had no doubt that the statistics would show that the elimate ere Was not productive of disease of any sort. The ithtuiness of this section of the country-could be demonstrated by retlable tigures. If Washing- ton Las a reputation” for the prevalence of con- sumption he has yet to learn of it. Certainly his Practice during all these years had not discov- ered 1 er Aquae Kegina. Written for Tue EvEstya Stax. qmerutnne s > stuir UL Ing Uns he fell asleep amie wild stanza, Where seu A dream: owd If was he rong therm ain and Je ound, resent; 1 to think, Tre’ Ani then with hope to rouse once more ‘A spleit bithe an ‘The stra And muri “DU take a ti XU. ! the noisy welkin rang, ‘Till, rousing from his shyness, AS shouts he heard, He ought to hang?” He eyed the king and louder ss in fizz, Your mighty highn XUL But quickly judged they didn’t keep A subterranean geyser, “Mighty Kuler of the deep,” Py ‘ll take some rock and rye, str.” XIV. Whereat the curious reveiry Shook ail the ocean's fixtures, And broke again fn furious giee When His sudaqueous majesty Denounced the vile adinixtures, xv. nger’s Drain began to reel, ise his trembitng body; 4 Known Wonid thi From claret up to golden seal ‘Or down tw common toddy. . XVL ‘Then sald the King, “ts getting late, And more delay is risky; Who dines with us must irrigate: ” ‘The guest then answered, desperate, “Well then, some bourbon whisky!” XVII. Again the ocean seemed to sway Amid the weird upheaval, ‘With shonts, and with a trumpet’s bray, As if the word he'd chanced to say Had joosed Ube imps of evi XVIIL And then the princess spoke: “I think Tt settle (hts commotion,” She said, and with a pleasant wink, “The young man knows not what we drink Down in the nether ocean.” xIX. “Here, waiter,” then the princess said, And something like instanter; “There's wine we drink when gods are wed, *Twill heal the sick, and raise the dead; Brihg me yon white decanter.” xx. "Twas like a flash the servant came And brought the wondrous fluid, And as the angel poured the same ‘She added, as she called his name, “Drink deep, my noble Druid!” y reveal, xXL ‘With beart elate he sipped and quaffed Like some old naval cruiser ‘When back to port he’s brought his craft; ‘The gentle princess said, and laughed, “ Twill make a god of you, sir.” Xx, ‘Then answer fair aloud he spoke ‘To her, the King’s own Gaughter, ‘When lo! his votce the vision broke, He only found, as he awoke He'd bad a glass of water! Venous BURNET, THE METHODIST CENTENNIAL. Early of the M. E. Church in meer Ceuntry. THE EVENT TO BE CELEBRATED DURING TRE PRESENT YEAR—MEETING OF THE FIRST CON- FERENCE AND THE FIRST GENERAL CONFER- ENCE—THE ORIGIN OF THE ITINERACY—THE LABOR® OF JOHN WESLEY AND WHITFIELD ON THIS BIDE OF THE ATLANTIC—THE CONDITION OF THE CHURCH AT THE DAWN OF THIS CEN- TURY. The present year isthe centennial of Metho- dism in America, or rather of the organization of the first general conference of the church held in this country, which met in Baltimore, Decem- ber 24th, 1784, and adjourned January 2d. Meth- odist preaching had been heardin America some Sears before this general conference, and eleven years before the date given the first conference had been held in Philadelphia. The year willbe observed by the several branches of Episcopal Methodism in this country, but as yet no gen- eral plan has been agreed upon. It is expected that the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church—the largest branch of the de- nomination, which will convene in Philadelphia on the 4th of May, will recommend some gen- eral observance. The Baltimore conference of the M. E. church at its last session took action looking toa proper observance of the year. At the session which will convene at McKen- dree M. E. church, in this city, onthe first Wed- in March, action will be takento carry fect the propositions made last year to ie suitable memorials of an event ot such est and importance to the church. The objects proposed are: ist. The founding and endowment of a female seminary (for which Rey. Dr. Goucher, of Baltimore, has started the subscription with $25,000.) 2d. The en- largement of the endowment of Dickinson Col- i at Carlisle, Pa., and 3d. The elevation of ‘dinan’s Centenary Institute to a college plane and its endowment. The M. E. Church South has prepared to Join in the celebration of “the centennial anni- versary of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal chureh in America,” and will com- memorate the great event throughout its en- tire bounds with suitable services and by rais- ing funds foreducational purposes, church ex- tension and missions. Two millions of dollars is the amount proposed to be raised for these objects. The Wesleys, the founders of the Methodist chureb. preached in America as early as 1738. The tamous Whitfleld subsequently preached In various parts ofthe country. The first regu- lar Methodist preaching was, however, in New York, when, in 1766, Philip Embury, a local preacher from Ireland, formed a society, and Capt. Thomas Webb (who came here as a quar- termaster of Braddock’s army, and was at the j time in question barrack master at Albany) preached there in a sail loft. About this time Robert Strawbridge. a local preacher from Ireland, settled in Frederick county, Md., and preached there, forming some societies. THE FIRST CHURCH established in this country was John street church, New York, erected In 1768. Mr. Embury had charge of this church, and did much of the work upon it with his own hands, dedicating it on Uctober 30th of that year. Mr. Embury served this church, assisted by Capt. Webb, and was followed by Robert Willlams in 1769. ' Mr. Embury left New York city in 1770, and died in Washington county, N, Y., five years afterwards. John King arrived in 1770. Richard Boardman, Joseph Pillmoor, Mr. Asbury (super- intendent and bishop) and Richard Wright came over in 1771. In the meantime St. George’s church, in Phil- adelphia, was purchased of the German Reformed congregation for the Methodist society there, Capt. Webb diding in the enterprise. Mr. Pill- moor was probably the. first pastor of this chureh. THE FIRST CONFERENCE, In 1773 ReveThomas Rankin, who had been appointed by Mr. Wesley as superintendent for Aterica, arrived with George Shadford. Mr. Rankin, upon bis arrival, called the firet confer- ence which met at St. George's church, Phila- delphia. July 14th, This was attended by eight preachers, one of them, Rey. Wm. Watters, be- ing the first native bora preacher in the confer- ence. Mr. Watters was a native of Virginia, and serve when Georgetown At this conference the membership was reported. as 1.10). The next conterence was held at the same place in May, 1774. THE MINUTES OF EARLY CONFERENCH The records of these early gatherings have been preserved ina volume entitled, “Minutes of the Methodist conferences, annu: vbeld in Prederick circuit ppointments. for some 3 uring four by seyen inches. ever, incomplete, the minutes of 1773 and most of those for 1774 not being included in it. On the 11th page (1774) appear the following rule: “1. Every preacher who ts received into ful connection is to have the use and property of his horse, which any of the circuits may furnish i 2. E preache pr quarter 3. For every fon at Easter they jabor, to be applied the debts on the hous in want. 4. Where-J ends his time he is to be The printed pr finutes of some con- preachers in connection r. John Wes The 3 show that the Lions be the tes dward Drum- Spragz, and per, Rob- Hendenning. The names of Thomas Rankin, Francis Asbury and seven others appear istants. » unmbers in Were reported at 3,143—200 in New 100 in Philadelphia, $40 in Baltimore, 336 K in Fairfax. ‘The appoin e ‘ew York, Philadelphia, Tre recnwich, Chester, Kent, Baltimore, derick, Norfolk and Brunswick—Francis Asbury going to Norfolk and Wm. Watters and Robert Strawbridge to Frederick. A general fast for the prosperity of the work and for the peace ot America was ordered for Tuesday, the isth of July. * ae records of these eariy conferences show e STEADY AND RAPID GROWTH ot the denomination. ‘They are especially inter- esting as showing the questions that then per- plexed the preachers, and were regarded as of sufficient importance to be determined by con- ference and formally entered into the minutes. They are valuable also in the fact that they give an insight into the privations endured and the sacrifices made by these early pioneers and mis- sionaries, who laid the foundations for one of the most powerful denominations in this land of churches. - The conference of 1777 was held “at a preach- ing house near Deer Creek. in Harford county, Md.” In 1778 the conference was held at Lees- burg, Va; in 1779,in Kent county, Del., and Flavianna, Va.; in 1780, at Baltimore; in 1781, at Choptank, Del., and Baltimore; in 1782, at Ellis’ aching house, Sussex county, Va.; In 1783- 1754, at Ellis’ preaching house and Baltimore. At the conference which ended in Baltimore May 28th, 1784, four preachers were admitted, eighteen remained on trial, eleven were re- ceived on trial and forty-four appointments were filled. The membership reported in 1776 as 4,921 had grown to 14,988, The question as to the characters of the Preachers, which has been continued to tne present day, appears in the minutes tor the first time in 1777, in the following form: ‘‘Are there any objections to any of the preachers?” following question and answer appear in the minutes of the same year: juestion.—Has not the preaching of funeral sermons been carried so far as to prostitute that venerable custom, and in some sort to render it contemptible? Answer.—Yes; therefore let all the preachers inform every society that we will not preach any but tor those who we have reason to believe dled in the fear and favor of God. The conference of 1779 declared that they should view those preachers who received mone’ by subscription as excluded from the Methodist connection. The conference of 1780 decided hers should make conscience of rising at four, and it not. yet at five,” and that it was “a shame for a preacher to be in bed till six in the morning.” ‘The minutes of the conference of 1784 enjoin preachers, in to superflulty of dress among thelr people, to ‘carefully avoid every- thing of this kind ia themselves, and speak fre- quently and faithfully against it in all our socie- ties,” and, to reform the singing, the same minutes say: “ Let ajl our preachers who have any knowledge in the notes improve It by learn- ing to sing true themselves, and keeping close to Mr. Wesley's tunes and hymns.” THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE ot the Methodist Episcopal church was held at Baltimore, December 24, 1784, to January 2d, 1785. The minutes open with a declaration of the reasons for unanimously agreeing “that from 1 * bearing the imprint * : printed by Henry Backniss, No. 2 Alley, and sold by | John Dickins, No. 44, north 2d street, near Arch street. MDC Oh a book of 2} to be allowed | circumstances made it expedient for us to be- come a fermnaiae: der the denomination of the Met! eburch.” A letter from Rev. John y ia then i as an ex] This letter, dated at ples which had deterred him from ordaining preachers in En; id, where there were bishops with legal juri jon, he held, were at an end as regards America. He conceived himeelf, then, at full liberty to appoint and send laborers to the harvest, and he ne accordingly, appoint- ed Dr. Coke and Mr. Francis Asbury to be joint superintendents ‘over, our brethren in North America.” and Kichard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey to act as elders among them, by baptizing and administering the Lord’s supper. In the letter Mr. Wesley przesas an objection to having the English bishops ordain preachers for North America that if they ordained them they would expect to govern them, which would cause grievous entaabien si The conterence decided to adopt the word “bishop.” in- stead of “superintendent.” as more scriptural, and recorded the following in the minutes: “Therefore at this conference we formed our- selves into an Independent church; and follow- ing the counsel of Mr. John Wesley, who recom- mended the Episcopal mode of church govern- ment, we thought it best to become an Episco- pal church, making the Episcopal office elective, and the elected superintendent or bishop amen- able to the body of ministers and preachers.” The minutes show that there were 20 elders, 4 deacons, 10 admitted in full connection, 14 re- maining on trial, and 20 admitted on’ trial. There were 52 appointments, and they are arranged from 2to4to an elder. The number in society was reported at 18,000. All the suc- ceeding sessions of the general conference till 1812 were held in Baltimore. The first report of a fund for superannuated preachers and widows and orphans appeared in 1786. The sum reported was 384, 5a, and 4d. The first collection for missionaries, amounting to 54£, 17s, was also made at this conference. At the general conference of 170 fifteen boys were reported at Cokesbury college, and thir- teen conferences were appointed for the year. Under the question, “What can be done tor the instruction of poor children feites and blacks) to read?” {a the answer, ‘Let us labor as the heart and soul or one man to establish Sunday schools in or near the places of public worship. Let persons be appointed by the bishops, elders, deacons or preachers to teach (gratis) all that will attend and haye acapacity to learn, from six in the morning till ten, and from two o'clock in the afternoon till six, when it does not interfere with public worship.” ITINERACY TO THE MINISTERS OF 1798. A note is added as follows: “The bishop and conference desire that the preachers would gen- erally change every six months, by the order of the president elder, whenever it can be made convenient.” It will be seen that the preachers of those days were itinerants indeed, and an examina- tlon of the lists of appointments show that in No Case Was a preacher given a second succes- sive appointment to the same circuig, Fre- quently were the preachers ordered to change in six months, and there are numbers of {n- stances of changes ogeurring at the end of each quarter. ae THE APPOINTMENTS for 1775 were New York, with 200 in society; Philadelphia, with 190; Trenton, N.J., 300; Ches- ter, 74; Kent, 258; Baltimore, 840; Frederick din whioh Georgetown was included), 336; Fairfax, 30; Norfolk, 125, and Branswick, 800. Frederick at that time embraced nearly all the territory of Maryland west of Baltimore; Kent, included nearly the entire Eastern Shore, but in 1781 Somerset, Dorset and Talbot apy as algo Calvert. At the generat conference of 1734, St. Mary's, Calvert, Frederick and Baltimore are the Maryland (West Shore) appointmenta, but in 1786, the last three oyly are given, and on the Eastern Shore there are 8 appointments (includ- ing Delaware). In 1789 the appointments in Maryland west of the bay, embraced Calvert, Annapolis, Baltimore, ‘8 Point, gomery, Frederick, Buth, Huntingdon, Lit- tle York, Harford and Baltimore circuit. In 1790 South River appears in addition to the aboye, and the following year Baltimore county and Severn appear. In 1793 Prince George’s is added, and in 1794 Severn is dropped and Fede- | Tal substituted. This; latter circuit took ite name from what was kuown as Federal Meeting House, and the fact of its proximity to the feae- Tal district. Its name being changed again to Severn, for a series of years it embraced the eastern part of Montgomery county, Howard district (now county) anda large portion of Prince ¢ " nty—a territory now con- taining f uits. Annapolis appears in the minutes of '$3 with 60 whites and 70 blacks; in "89, with 128 whites and 141 Diacks; and in “9, 120 whites and 120 blacks. In ‘90 rn reperted 663 whites, 300 blacks whites and 414 blacks; in "3, 918 whites and 46 blacks; and Federal in 1794, 732 whites and blacks. Prince George’s circuit appears in 1742 with a membership of 40. Andrew Nichols was appointed preacher in 1798, when 61 whites and 243 blacks were reported. The next year the circuit reported 110 whites and 205 blacks— Rey. S. Sharp being appointed that year. Fair- fax cireuit appears on the minutes of 1775, and in "76 350 members were reported. It peared from the minutes of ’78, appearing in 1779 with 309 members. 775 whites and 125 blacks. Alexandria appear, Mont- in In 1799 it reported In 1791 Stafford and Fairfax reporting 657 whites ana 141 bla Ezekiel Cooper was ap- | pointed to Alexandria. In 1794 60 whites and | 40 blacks are reported in Alexandria. A con- ference was held at Alexandria in 1793. ACTION REGARDING SLAVERY. Mr. Wesley’s rules prohibited the buying and selling of men, women and children with the intention of enslaving them. The preachers, in the olden time, not only looked on slavery with abhorrence, but also paid attention to the Spir- itual needs of the black man. The conference of 1780 declared the assistant should “meet the negroes himself, and appoint as helpers in his absence proper white persons, and not sutler them to stay late and meet by themselves.” It decided that traveling preachers who hold es, should give promises to set them free; “that slaveholding is contrary to the laws of God, | man and nature, and lurtfal to society, con- | trary to the dictates of conscience and pure re- ligion, and doing that which we would not others should do to us and ours; * * * pass our disapprobation on all our friends who keep | slaves, and advise their freedom.” At the meet- ing of 1783 the question is recorded, “What shall be done with our local preachers who hold slaves contrary to the laws which authorize their freedom in any of the United States?” also the answer, ‘We will try them another year. In the meantime let every assistant deal faithfully and plainly with every one, and report at the next conference. It may then be necessary to suspend them.” ‘ In the conference of April, 1784, as to what shall be done with those triends who will buy and sell slaves the minutes say, “If they buy with no other designthan to hold them as slaves, and have been previously warned, they shall be turned out; and permitted to seil on no consid- eration,” And, as to local preachers who will not emancipate their slaves in the states where the laws admit of It, the minutes say, “Try those in Virginia another year, and suspend the preachers in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.” Trayeling preachers who were possessed of slaves and refused to manu- mit them where the law permitted, were to be employed no mote. The minutes of the general conference of 1784 contain the following: “It is recommended to all our brethren to suspend the execution of the minutes on slavery till the de- liberations of a future conference; and that equal space of time be allowed all our members for consideration, when the minutes shall be put in force. N. B.—We do hdld in the deepest abhor- rence the practice of slavery; and shall not cease to seek its destruction by all wise and prudent means.” < As may be supposed, although the growth of the church has een phenomenal, theses been diversity of opinion at times on doctrinal points and rules and the manner of enforcing the dis- pins: For various causes there have been withdrawals from the main body, and the forma- tion of other bodies of Methodists has resulted. EARLY. SCHISMB. Nine years before the general conference held by Mr. Asbury in Baltimore there was difficulty among the preachers. Rey. Robert Straw of Frederick county, Md., took exception to some of the rules adopted, and claimed the right to administer the Lord's Supper and baptism. Moving from Frederjck county to Baltimore county, he took charge of the societies of Sam’s Creek and Bush Forest, and served them about five ye: though he did not recognize the sntnoet nee conference. an . in ‘irginia | supe id not attend the conference, and their action in attempting to ordain race bral la was dis- approved conference, w them, and voted, ‘We no Tonger look ey as Methodists in ton with Mr. We until they come bask.” ‘Their suspension oe however. but temporary. The next schism was that of Rev. James O’Kelley, presiding elder of the south es district, which took place in 1792. 0”! elley sought to change the economy of the cg and in the conference-offered a resolution “ if any preacher felt himself ae de or op- pressed by the appointment m: by the bishop he should have the privilege of appealing to the conference.” This being defeated, he with- drew, and with three traveling and a number of local preachers formed the Republican Methoe dist clurch, and fur a time, in the lower part of in 193, vi it seemed destined to be a success, but lao twenty years it died. 4 WITHDRAWAL OF COLORED MEMBERS. _ Singularly enough in a denomination whose discipline and rules provided for the spiritual welfare of the black man and discouraged slay- ery. the first withdrawal to form a separate or ganization was by the blacks. This withdrawal was by colored members of St. George's church, Philadelphia. Both colors were in the habit of worshiping in the same congregation, but the blacks had special seats. When the gailery was erected in St. George's church, in 1786, there Was some dissatisfaction, and some of the col- ored members left, but subsequently returned. In 1794 they, however, under the lead of Rich- ard Allen, erected a separate place of worship. | Allen was ordained by Bishop Asbury, and this | congregation remained under the supervision of | the pastor of St. George's till 1815, when new difficulties having arjeen a convention was held | in Philadelphia in 1816, and the African M. E. church formed—the discipline being precisely like that of the M. E. church, excepting that no ponaca was made for a presiding eldership. hough of not very rapid growth; yet the Atri- ean M. E. church has constantly grown, and it is thought now numbers 11,000 ministers and 400,000 members. The Evangelical Association, originally called New Methodists, holding doc- trives similar to the M. E. church, was formed in 1300, and the Union American M. E. church in 1813. The United Brethren church, which {s closely allied to the Methodist family, became a well-defined organization in 1815; the A. M. E. Zion connection dates from 1820. TRE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH Was not a secession from the M. E. church, but took form from the fact that a number of mem- bers had been expelled pecause they advocated or favored lay representation, and it dates from November 12, 1823, when a general convention was held at St. John’s church, Baltimore. The oficial organ of this denomination the ‘Mutual Rights and Methodist Protestant,” was, in 1831, edited by Dr, Gamaliel Bailey, who subsequent- ly became noted as_the editor of the National Era, the pioneer anti-slavery paper at the Capi- tal. The Wesleyan Methodist church was formed by the withdrawal from the M. E. church in 1839 to 1841 ofa number of ministers and lay- men of churches in Ohio, Michigan and western New York, because of the toleration of slave holding. They also declared it to be inconsistent for a Christian to join secret oath-bound so- cieties. The M. E. Church South dates from May Ast, 1845, when a convention of delegates from fourteen annual conferences of the M. E.church, presided over by Bishops Soule and Andrew, was held ut Louisville, Ky. This was caused by the strong anti-slavery stand taken by the pre- ceding general conference in suspending Bishop Andrew and Rev. Mr. Harding tor reiusing to manumit slaves. The main features of the dis- cipline are retained, and the old church has found that the Church South isa formidable rival, having now over 5,000 ministers and nearly 1,000,000 members. eee Methodists date from August 23d, The Colored M. E. church was organized in 1874 by the M. E. Church South and isa protege of that church. . Besides these denominations there are inde- pendent or Congregational Methodists to be found in various parts of the country. 4 CENTUBY'S GROWTH. In 1784 the returns showed that there were then inthe Methodist church in this country one superintendent or bishep, 83 itinerant preachers and 14,986 members. In 1883 there were in the M. E. church 10 bishops, 12,654 itin- erant preachers and 12,837 local preachers in ninety-nine conferences (including fifteen col- ored) with 1,799,593 lay members. In 1883 there were 18,159 churches, valued at $65,467,082, re- Ported, with 21,153 Sunday schools, 236,702 offi- cers and teachers and 1,638,895 scholars. The contributions for the year 1883 are estimated at $16,968,010.66. In round numbers the number ot membership of the various branches of the Methodist church in this country may be stated at 4,000,000, with 26.000 traveling preaciiers, | 35,000 local preachers, 32,600 churches, valued at 100,000,000; over 350 universities, colleges, seminaries, &c,, and 438 missionaries in foreign ands. THE CENTENARY COMMITTEE The following isthe centenary committee ot the Baltimore Conference: Baltimore district— Thomas E. Carson, P. E., Rey. W. D. H. Har- | per, E. B. Prettyman. East Baltimore district— . R. Hough, P.E., Rev. Nelson Head, T J. Magruder. “Washington district—J. S. Gard- ner, P.E., Rev. W. K. Boyle, Geo. R. Head. Winchester district—P. H. Whisner, P. E., Rev. WwW. Eggleston, Richard MeCoy. Rockingham distriet—J. C. Dice, P. E., Rev. R. Smithson. J. W. F. Allemong. Roanoke district—G. H. Zim- merman, P. E., Rey. Wm. 0. Ross, James Chal- mers. Lewisburg district—David Rush, P. B., Rev. A. Ov -Armetrong, Hon. Frank Hereford. Moorefield district—W. G. Hammond, P. E., Rey. Robert Smith, P. Hamill. THE CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE. At the last session of the Baltimore confer- ence of the M. E. church a committee on the celebration made a report, which was adopted, recommending that a preacher be appointed to deliver a discourse at the coming session of the conference; inviting the Centennial conference to hold its sessions in Baltimore; calling on the membership to rejoice, and recommending to them to present thank offerings to establish a Bal- timore Conference Seminary; to generously en- dow Dickinson college; also the Centenary Bibli- cal Institute of Baltimore, and recommending steps be taken tor the proper celebration of the event in all circuits and stations. Rev. Dr. L. F. Morgan was appointed to preach the ser- ‘The following committee have charge of the ject: Revs. L. F. Morgan, J. M Reiley, J. H. Dashiel, G. W. Hobbs and W. clerical, and W. J. Hooper, W. J. Sibley, Corner and Bentley Kern, laymen. , The Sad Condition of a Veteran Author. ‘To the Kaitor of Tar Evesino Sai Concerning Mr. Louis F. Tasistro, an accom- plished writer and scholar, the chief translator ofthe State Departinent in the days of Everett and Webster, but now impovished and iil, Mr. Charles H. Brainard say “I knew Mr. Tasistro in his prime. He wasa man of very noble appearance, fascinating in conversation, and of pure and refined personal tastes and habits, even down to his handwrit- ing. This was exquisitely neat and elegant. It is legible even now, when he writes struggling in his old age with asthma, paralysis, and blind- ness.” Mr. Brainard lately visited Mr. Tasistro, and was warmly greeted by the isolated scholar, who seemed overjoyed to renew acquaintance with an old friend of congenial tastes ani pur- suits. I asked Mr. Brainard if he had heard the report that Mr. Tasistro enjoys an annuity that places the necessaries and some of the com- forts of life at his disposal. Said Mr. Brainard: “It may baye been true at one time, but it is certainly not true now. Why!” exclaimed Mr. B., impetuously, “do you sup- | pose @ man of Tasistro’s genius and elegant habits would live as he lives, would be ill for waut of suitable medicines, would be without needful personal attendance, would be laboring away at his manuscript with his poor paralyzed hands and his deficient sight, when he could- hire an amanuensis at fifty cents a day—unless he weré wholly without means? “He has known,” continued Mr. B., “the most brilliant men and women of his day. His liter- ary style is clear and graceful, and this book of his reminiscenses will be an uisition to us all. We ail ought to turn to and help him with the means to finish it; but if we do not act quickly it may be too late.” Daniel Webster's playful pet name for Mr. Tasistro, “Mr. Disaster,” seems now sadly pro- hetic. c Piso do these’ lines trom Tasistro’s youthful poem “‘Agathe:” “And few they were that bade him to their board, ‘His fortunes now were over, and the sword Of his proud ancestry dishonored.” Vers. ———— The Gas Tar Nuisance. . _ 18 THERE NO REMEDY FOR IT? ‘To the Editor of Tae EvENIxe Star: As nothing has been done to abate the nuis- ‘ance of running coal tar into the river, and, as I hear many complaints among river men about this nuisance, I think the attention of the pub- Ue should be called to this matter again. Du- Ting the freshet this coal tar could be seen sweeping down the river with the current, and HOW TO MAKE A LAWN. An Interesting Paper by Saunders Read Before the tural Seciety—The Time to the Time to Mew—The Best Grasses rr. We. Hertical- Atthe meeting of the District Horticultural Society, Wednesday evening, the following paper ‘upon “Making, Keeping and Furnishing J.awns,” prepared by Mr. Wm. Saunders, of the Agricul- tural department, was read: A fine lawn ts the most beautiful of external ornaments. Soft, velvety, elastic turf, smoothly trimmed and of fine color, is always beautitul, and is looked upon with pleasure when attained. Lord Bacon, nearly three centuries ago, said that ‘nothing ts more pleasant to the eye than green grass kept finely shorn.” Much bas been sald about the emeyald lawns ot Europe, and of their superiority as compared with the lawns of other countries. It was long said that nothing approaching to their beauty could be similarly realized in thiscountry of fervid suns and scorch- drouths, but it has been sufficiently demon- strated that wecan produce and maintain lawns as fine as those to be found in any country. The foundation of a lawn is in THE PREPARATION OF THE SOIT. Unless this is thorongh, failure may be prob- able; but if the ground is fitted in a proper manner at the outset, success Is almost a cer- tainty, provided it is under intelligent manage- ment. The foundation for all successful culture, | whether for grass or for any otflercrop, depends | upon the plysicalor mechanical, and the chem- ical enrichment of the soil. If it is wet it must | be drained, it hard and compact it must be trenched and loosened, and if poor it must be epriched. In small lawns the spade and digging fork will effect this purpose of culture, but where the space is sufficiently extensive to allow the operations of culture to be executed with a plow and other similar implements, the work can be done more rapidly, and with equal thoroughness under proper direction. It a depth of eighteen inches is well loosened, and the surface enriched as fora corn crop, it may be considered as ample preparation ‘for producing a good crop of grass, and that is all that is wanted in a permanent lawn. It must be remembered, however, that nothing less will suffice, there are no half-way compromises in this matter, it must be genuine and complete, otherwise a few weeks of dry weather in sum- mer will tell the tale in a way not to be mis- taken. The final preparation 1s to procure a smooth and regular surface. Careful plowing and harrowing can do much towards making a smooth surface, but if more than these are needed, or whatever expense may be re- quired to procure a perfect finish before sow- ing the grass seed, should be allowed as a matter of economy; inequalities of surface can- not so well be remedied after the grass nas vegetated. THE SEASONS FOR SOWING. ‘There are two seasons in this section for sow- ing the seed—autumn and spring. Either will be appropriate, and the choice will depend upon circumstances, and is of secondary consideration towing, whichis the great polat infkarnue wn. hone happensthat lawne are injured by not cutting them soon in spring. This ine fault to which we are all liable; we like to see the grasa growing as soon as we feel the influence of the season, and before weare aware it becomes thick and long, too long it may be tor the mowing machine, when it either has to be cut with a sesthe, or imperfectly shorn by going ‘over It several times with the mower; fn either case It is likely to expose @ yellowish surface whieh is browned by the exposure: and may take weeks before it assumes its normal color. MOW EARLY AND OFTEN 188 good rule. Even on newly seeded lawne the mower should be passed over it as soon as Any portion of the grasses become long enough tobe caught by the machine; this will prevent the stronger plaats from undue vigor, and tend to thicken the sward. In the case of newly made lawns, it may be necessary to go over them o the first summer and cradt- cate docks, dandelions, and other weeds of like character, but this will seldom be necessary after the first summer. It has been advised toleave the grass cuttings on the lawn to wither up amd act as a tertilizer to the roots of the plants. Dur first year, when the toppings are not very ti this practice may be allowed, and during th hottest and driest portion of the summer be practiced without injury old but mny experien: witices Ime that it is note good plan to follow, a8 it soon becomes #o matted as to injure the grasses very materially In this locality onr lawns are su | injury fro al grasses which overspr them in summer, during rainy periods, or where tion 18 practiced. These y smother out the lawn grasse when frosts occur they are entirely aving patches, more or less exten- sive, of bare surface. The only remedy is to throw some loose soil over these patches, alter Taking off the dead grass, aud reseed early in spring. TOP DRESSING. Most lawns'will be the better with a top dress- ing once in three or four years. The best appill- cation 1s a compost of rotted stable manure mixed with any good surface soll. If stable manure alone is used, It should be specially pre- pared by tugping and breaking untl it can be spread evenly without throwing it Into lumps. Nothing distigures a lawn more than throwing over it an unsightly covering of strawy litter in the fall, which remains all winter jike a barn yard. When properly rotted manure ts used, it should be spread over the grass after the frost has hardened the surface. It ehould be raked in among the roots, taking advantage of frost to assist in the work of disintegration, and it will soon disappear. Next to manure we have found the greatest benefit from a sprink- ling of fine earth applied any time during winter. THE PAPER DISCUSSED. In the discussion which followed the reading ofthe paper Mr. Saul remarked that twenty as compared to the preparation of the ground. If the soil is compact, or of @ clayey character, making it dificult to obtain a finely comminu- ted and level surface, it will be advisable to pre- pare it Just before winter. Clay soils are al- ‘ways improved by draining, and where practica- ble, drains should be made to carry off surplus water; then subsoiling should not be omitted, not bringing up the poor subsoil to the immedi- ate surface, but stirring it with a proper subsoil plow. Then use the common plow and turn the ground over, leaving it rough, so as to expose the greatest part to the action of the frosts and thaws of winter. This will cause a fri: of surface, which it is hardly ible te obtain by mechanical means on tenacious soils, In spring, by taking advantage when the ground is in the proper condition of dryness, the surface will crumble as fine as powder under the harrow. The only criterion as to the best time to sow the seeds is when the ground isin good condition, Nothing will be gained, but everything which has been secured by the action of the weather upon the land, will be lost by tramping on It be- fore it is as dry and clean to walk over asa bed of sand, It is better to delay sowing uutil the middie of April, or even later. than toattemptto work upon the land beiore it is dry. During the Centennial year Ighad occasion to prepare afew acres of lawn around the government building in Fairmount park, but owing to the wetness of the spring and the naturally low, wet, tenacious and muddy condition of the ground, it was well up in April, if my memory is not at fault, before I considered it in a fit con- years ago it was said that there could be no such lawn grown in this country as in Europe, but he had seen some which were fully equal to any English lawns. Mr. Robinson, of the Bon- don Gardener, who was here a few years ago, in Auyust, commented on the beauty of some or the lawns here, which hesaid were greener than those of London. Mr. T. L. Riggs said that promiscuons manur- ing will Kill any lawn, and he referred to La- fayette square, which a few years ago was @ mass of velvet and now has large bare splotches which he thought was owing to the injudicious use of manure. Mr. J.T. C. Clark said it would be well to fol- tow the admonition of Mr. Saunders against Sowing oats with wrassseed,forabout two-thirds of the lawns here were composed largely of eats. He thought that as much of the manure used in public parks was coinposed of the sweepings of the streets, there was enough of the asphalt dust in it to make the bare spote spoken of. nan Fiy-Leaf Verses. Written for Tae Evexrxe Stan, Por arlisth ad ‘The pen which hi Was reintu 90 feebly by the hearts ‘The subtile soul-spark of poetic thought Lies dead beneath (he ashes of Lis ark ly wrought BYRON. dition to sow, and even when sown it was not covered for several days afterwards, and then by passing a light roller over it only.’ Notwith- standing all the disadvantages under which the work was done, the seeds soon vegetated, and before a month had elapsed after seeding, it was necessary to run over it with a mowing ma- chine. This attracted considerable attention, because of its contrast with other lawns around it, which were sown weeks before, and other- wise under more auspicious circumstances 80 far as preparation of the soil was concerned. This lawn wags awarded a premium as the quickest made and the best kept lawn on the grounds. A good preparation can also be given by cropping the ground with early potatees. In ordinary loamy sofis this crop, if fairly culti- vated, will soon cover the ground with leaves and stems, which prevents thegrowth of weeds, and the operation of digging up the crop tends to talon and prepare the soil for the grass seed. The potatoes can be removed and the grasses sown from the middle of ust tothe middie of September. Ina tew weeks the surtace will become green, and if a thin sprinkling of manure is thrown over the surface before freez- ing weather a good, weil-set lawn will be cured early during the following summer. THE BEST LAWN GRass for this climate is the Poa pratensis, variously known as green meadow grass, June grass, common spear grassyand Kentucky blue grass. This is the most comrion of all grasses on the road-sides or in pasture flelds that have been in grass for years. The finest lawns I have seen were made with this grass alone, but as the seed vegetates somewhat slowly and the ground may become hard and baked before it germinates it is safer to mix it with other grasses. For thirty years I have used about the follow- ing mixture, and always produce fine lawns: For one acre take two bushels of the biue grass, one busliel of red top Agrostis vuigaris, and one quart of timothy grass. Where unusual rapid- ity is required, add one bushel of Poa annua, the annual spear grass, which will give a green lawn within two weeks after sowing if the weather is favorable. - These different grasses should be very thor- oughly mixed before sowing. This will appear to be very heavy seeding, but experiments have proved that a good lawn can only be quickly se- cured by seeding heavily. The timothy seed is added on account of its quick and robust germ- inating qualities, as it breaks the ground, and facilitates the progress of the weaker germinat- ing kinds; It soon disappears trom the lawn. Some persons add two pounee of white clover to the acre, but clover, in my opinion, destroys a lawn; it is an aggressive plant, and kills out the finergrass, and whenit is in flower it detracts from the verdant beauty of a well-kept lawn. A RUINOUS PRACTICE. The common practice of sowing oata, bar- ley, or other grains with the grasses under the impression that they will protect the young grass plants from the sun, is altogether wrong, and is ruinous toa lawn. To carry out this principle of protection, consistency would sug- gest the planting of corn to shade the oats, and castor beans, or some similar plant to shade the corn. Grass seed or young grass plants no more need protection than does oats, and no good lawn was ever made the first gl when the seeds have been mixed with oats. I have seen examples inthis city where lawns sown with ed into bare it has spread for miles over grommd where fish deposit their spawn. As itis about the year, and they are sure it ts this foul stuff! that destroys th The government is ling a large amount of m every ing and here is a gas company d ying more fish in caats Watea's oe id still, it 5 nothing in an ean be done to remed the evil. Iam told t! this same kind of tar destroyed the oyster beds in Staten Island sound. Gentlemen who own and boats near the gas works are continually complaining. They have to oll the bottoms and sides of their boats, so the tar can be wi off. The gas company Is all-pow- pile, jaeecone emit be ussiens ice ety tempt to be made to suppress nuisance, : Tuos. Lucas, 8] of spad That soul but vain'y strives to simulate Postic splendor or poetic balm, In which Wiutry storms do not precede ‘The magte wartath of arvscreative calm, Ah me! no rhymer unimpassionate, No soul untroubled by life's sickening Jars, Shall ever stand where Byron, with a pen Of tire, translates the gossip of the stare —Wa. T. Tavsorr. ee The Highest Possible Hands at Crib- bage. Cribbage players have been trying to find out the largest possible hands at that interesting game, and have finally ran the limit up to a score of 75, in this way: Give one partner two fives, two sixes. and two sevens, and the other one five, two sixes, two seven. the jack of spades. Let them then discard for the eribbage the three fives and the jack,and turn up a five By beginning with t “n and it, you: wil ni ze ya total of A higher baud thaa the Fone huni and ten (110), made in the following manner: Give one player one five. one jack, two trays, and two fours. Give his opponent two fives, two t and two fours. then let the jack and three fives be diseanded for the evi, and the turn-up card to be the five of the same suit as the jack in the crib. Then let one man play ® four his opponent pairs, scoring two points. ig six points; ; Not . 2 a tray, scoring two pointa; Atray, scoring six points; No.2 a tray, scoriny thirteen poiuts—making forty-one points pegged. Then each hand counts twenty points, and theerib tweuty-nine—makiag a total of 110. Yours, &€,, J.J. Beran. Seventeen Points More at Cribbage. ‘To the Editor of Tas Evestxe Star: After reading the count of 73 in Stan of the 26th instant an investigation was made with the following results: A dealt B two twos, two threes and two fives, and a like hand to him- self. Each discarded his two fives to the crib. B cut, A turned up Jack, for which he pegged two holes. Bledatwo. A paired it, counting two. B played his other two, counting six. A played his other or the fourth two, scori twelve. A like course was followed with the four threes, A playing the last and taking 12 and 1 for his go, thus scoring for A with his hand 43 points; for B 24 points; tor orib (four fives and Jack) 28 points, making a total couat of ninety-sive.’ Can it be beaten? AMATEUR. “Crib’s” Seventy-Kight Points, To the Editor of Tar Evexrvo Stan. We do not quite understand “Crib” in last evening's Star. He says that thecards he names will score 78 points, but does not really say how. We have tried them, and by playing the hands, ing our play, and then conuting hands and crib, soored, for both players. inclu- sive, 110 pels merely counting bands and crib, could make only 69; thet is, 20 In each hand and 29 in crib, including the Jack. Where — the 9 puints. E.aJ. ‘The Proper Time for Hising. From the London Lancet. The proper time torise is when¢leep, properly so-called, ens. Dozing is not admissibic from ‘any reasonable or health point of view. The brain falls into the state we call sleep, an@ the other organs of the body follow it. True sleep isa state which consists in the sleeping or rest of all the several parts of the organtem. bome- and weary several of as to give them a equal need of rest at the = F cagcine or mit sense 0} murcular Tasted sevaner Sut theeeaees Secs tapethor) sd (os far as may be oy STateewisee ots aioe a fine lawn caunot be pro- ise, is start acc oer jon, it is| of the sleepers should be secured; and the wise ly true that afine lawn cannot be main- | self-manager should not allow a drowsy feeling tained without frequent Siping 2 Thanks to | of the consciousness or weary senses, oran ex- the manufactures of lawa mowing ed muscular system, to begaile him into machines, the keeping of a lawn is merely a | the fully of going to sleep again when once hig mechanical It required skill inthe | conscioussess has been aroused. After avery use of the scythe to keep lawns closely cut with = mg the man whe resolves that iy ‘dove’ allow some introduction of cheap lawn mowers has iy of his body to keep him in bed ian oeeis copaen ta tan Tacronas othoslawen hin box has once awakened will dnd hese, which beve become so apparent during the past | without knewing how, au “early riser.”