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CHAPTER XIX.

REVIEW.

REVIEW of the events connected with the

Churches of the last century shows that, when compared with other Church organizations, Methodism has been pre-eminently successful. In the United States, the Congregationalist, Church of England, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Dutch Reformed Churches were all strong in 1775. Each of them had colleges and seminaries in successful operation, training some young men for their ministry, and educating others for the professional walks of life. Some of these Churches, as the Congregational and the Church of England, were supported by systems of taxation levied upon the people of the different States. Methodism was not at that time a separate Church, its members receiving the sacraments chiefly from the ministers of the Church of England.

To-day it ranks first among all the religious bodies in the number of its communicants, in the numbei and capacity of its church buildings, and in the value of its Church property, as shown in the following census tables published by the Government.

All the branches of the leading denominations are

included under the generic name:—

UNITED STATES DENOMINATIONAL STATISTICS. CENSUS 1870.

Christian.

8,578

Episcopal (Protestant).

2,835

2,601

Evangelical Association.

Lutheran.

8,032

2,776

977,332

14.917.747

Methodist

25,278

21,887

6,528,209

69,854,121

According to these tables, more than one third of the Church organizations and buildings belonged (1870) to the Methodist Churches, nearly one third of the sittings, and not quite one fifth in value of the property. The numbers of communicants, as given by the leading denominations in 1875, are as follows: Methodists, all branches....

If we inquire why the Methodist Churches have thus, in their increase, exceeded all other denominations, and have grown from an insignificant body to the first in rank, we answer, First, It is not because of any government aid or assistance. Methodism has never received special favors from any human government. Other denominations have been established by law, and have thus gained rank and prestige. This is the case with the Episcopalians in England, with the Presbyterians in Scotland, and with the Lutherans in Germany and Scandinavia. Of the leading Churches, the Baptists alone, besides the Methodists, have never received governmental favors. The idea of prestige, as derived from the Government, was early transferred to America. In New England the Congregationalists, being the dominant body, were supported in part by taxation long after the close of the revolutionary struggle. Even as late as the present century the Church law was so strictly enforced, that the only cow of a poor Methodist preacher was sold to pay the tax to support the Congregationalist parson.*

In New York, Pennsylvania, and the Southern States generally, the Episcopal Church succeeded to the rank and position of the Church of England. Though the Church and State connection was severed by the adoption of the Federal Constitution, *Merritt's "Letters."

yet, General Washington having been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the early presidents being chiefly from Virginia, where that Church was strong and where they had been educated under its shadow, the chaplains of the army and navy, and the chief professors at West Point and Annapolis, were, with but few exceptions, appointed from the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal service was introduced into the national institutions, favored by the army officers, and was exclusively used on board the national ships. As late as 1844 the regulations of the navy required the chaplain to wear the gown. Thus the young men in the army and the navy, educated at the public expense, were drawn almost wholly under the influence of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

The same tendency has been manifested in the selection of men for high official position, and for the management of public trusts. Such is the power of precedent, and so easily can men in office perpetuate their influence, that to this day the leading offices in the gift of the Federal Government are filled by adherents of the Protestant Episcopal Church far beyond the ratio of their membership. The same remark applies, in part, to the Congregationalists and Presbyterians, who, in certain sections of the Union, early occupied prominent positions. So, too, institutions and trusts founded by the State

or supported by general contributions, and legiti mately belonging to the whole people, have by the constitution of the trustees passed virtually under denominational control. In this way the public moneys have been indirectly applied to advance sec tarian interests.

Secondly. Methodism has not grown, as in com parison with other denominations, by immigration In 1775 there were but thirty-five thousand Methodists in the world, except the few in America. Hence the immigration from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany, was almost wholly composed of those who had been brought up under the influence of other denominations. These were divided chiefly among the Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and German Reformed. Up to the present period, while Methodism has been gaining ground in England, yet, as compared with the whole population in England, Ireland, and Scotland, not one in ten, probably not more than one in fifteen, of the immigrants would be a Methodist. Thus the increase through immigration has been overwhelmingly in favor of the other principal denominations. As in reference to government favor, so in this, the Bap, tists have gained less proportionally than others.

Thirdly. It has not been through superior educa tional facilities that Methodism has influenced the public mind. As we have already seen, the early