Faith and Census of Some American Churches.

WE have received from the United States Census Office in Washington the following, prepared by Henry K. Carroll, LL.D.:

THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

This branch of Methodism was organized in 1830 by ministers and members who had been expelled, or had seceded from the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the outcome of a movement for a change in certain features of the government of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1824 a Union Society was formed in Baltimore having this object in view, and a periodical called The Mutual Rights was established to advocate it. The chief reform insisted upon was the admission of the laity to a share in the government of the Church. The Annual and General Conferences were composed entirely of ministers, and the laymen had no place or voice in either. A convention, held in 1827, resolved to present a petition to the General Conference of 1828 asking for lay representation. The Conference returned an unfavorable reply to the petitioners. This only served to intensify the feeling. The Union Society entered into a campaign for "equal rights;" and so great an agitation resulted that the leaders of the movement came to be regarded as disturbers of the peace. Some of them were brought to trial and expelled from the Church. All efforts to have them restored having failed, many sympathizers withdrew from the Church, and in 1828 a convention of the disaffected was held in Baltimore, and a provisional organization formed. Two years later (November 2, 1830) another convention was held, and the Methodist Protestant Church was constituted. It began its separate existence with 83 ministers and about 5,000 members. In the first four years it increased its membership enormously. While equal rights were insisted upon in the new constitution as between ministers and laymen, the right of suffrage and eligibility to office was restricted to the whites.

When

the antislavery agitation began in the new branch some years later the Northern and Western Conferences raised an objection to the retention of the word "white" in the constitution. They also protested against any toleration of slavery by the Church. Failing to secure such changes as they desired they held a convention in Springfield, Ill., in 1858, and resolved to suspend all relations with the Methodist Protestant Church. Later they united with a number of Wesleyan Methodists and formed the Methodist Church. After the close of the war negotiations for a reunion were begun, and in 1877 the two branches-the Methodist and the Methodist Protestant-were made one under the old title

The Methodist Protestant Church is strongest numerically in the States of Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, and West Virginia. It is represented in most of the border and Southern States, but is not widely diffused among the Northern and Western States. At the reunion in 1877 there were in the Methodist branch 58,072 communicants; in the Methodist Protestant branch 58,470, making a total of 116,542. The increase since then has amounted to 25,447, the membership in 1800 aggregating 141,989.

In doctrine the Methodist Protestant does not differ from the Methodist Episcopal Church, except that it has twenty-nine, instead of twenty-six, Articles of Religion. The General Conference of 1888 appointed a committee to revise the doctrinal symbol. The committee made the revision in 1890, adding five new articles with the following titles: "Free Grace," "Freedom of the Will," "Regeneration," "Sanctification," and "Witness of the Spirit." The revised articles were submitted to the Annual Conferences for amendment and approval. Few of the Conferences, however, took action, and the revision failed by default.

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probation simply on the expression of "a desire to flee from the wrath to come," but are required to give evidence of conversion. Members are required to "lay aside gold, pearls, and costly array" and dress plainly, and are forbidden to join secret societies or to indulge in the use of intoxicants and tobacco. Attendance at class meeting is a condition of membership. Church choirs and the pew system are not approved.

Two new numbers were added to the Articles of Religion, one setting forth the doctrine of entire sanctification, which is described as salvation "from all inward sin, from evil thoughts and evil tempers," and as taking place instantaneously subsequently to justification. The second pertains to future rewards and punishment.

The Free Methodists have Quarterly, District, Annual, and General Conferences. Laymen are admitted to all on equal terms with ministers.

There are 27 Annual Conferences, with 1,102 organizations, which have 620 edifices, valued at $805,085, and furnishing accommodations for 165,004 persons. Besides these edifices, 439 halls, etc., are occupied for worship, which have an aggregate seating capacity of 48,285. The stronghold of the Church is in Michigan, where it has 4,592 communi. cants. In New York it has 3,751, and in Illinois it has 3,395. It is represented in 28 States, etc., chiefly the Northern and Western. The aggregate of communicants is 22,110. The average seating capacity of the church edifices is 266, and the average value $1,299.

SUMMARY BY STATES AND TERRITORIES.

THE FREE METHODISTS.

This body was organized in 1860 at Pekin, New York, at a convention of ministers and members who had been expelled or had withdrawn from the Methodist Episcopal Church. The movement arose within the bounds of the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, over differences concerning membership in secret societies, other questions of discipline, and the emphasis to be placed in preaching on certain doctrines, particularly sanctification. In the course of the controversy several ministers were tried and expelled from the Church on charges of contumacy. A number of laymen were also excluded.

The new organization adopted the Discipline of the mother Church with important changes. There are no bishops, but general superintendents are elected every four years. District chairmen take the place of presiding elders. Persons are not received on

REV. F. W. FLOCKEN, formerly one of our missionaries in Bulgaria, died in Brooklyn on February 21. He was sent as a missionary to Bulgaria in 1858, and afterward became the superintendent of the mission. Dr. Y. K. Tsao, of our North China Mission, has been spending several years in this country perfecting his medical education, and is soon to return to China to resume his work there. He is highly esteemed both here and in China.

On the third page of the cover of the Annual Report of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church there is a mistake as to the subscription price of THE GOSPEL IN ALL LANDS. The correct price will be found on the second page of the cover of this magazine.

Dr. W. R. Halstead writes: "The motive power of the modern age is in Christian truth. Christianity has asserted its right to leadership by the work it has done; and as long as it keeps at work it will not have to enter into a defense of itself. Not quietism, but activity, is the Christian spirit."

Provision has been made for the sending to Korea of Dr. Busteed, of New York city, where he will assist Dr. Hall. This is done by the earnest request of Dr. Hall and Rev. W. A. Noble, who make themselves responsible for the payment of the outgoing expenses and support to the close of 1893 of Dr. Busteed.

If the comparative statistics found on page 174 were brought down to date they would place the Methodist rank much higher. These statistics are for the close of 1890. During 1891-92 the advances of our missions in India have been very great and our increase unparalleled in the history of Protestant missions in India, save in the Baptist missions among the Telugu in Assam.

Our missions are becoming undermanned by the sickness and return of missionaries. Rev. C. W. Miller and Rev. J. F. Thomson are expected to return from our South American Mission, Rev. F. D. Tubbs and Rev. J. W. Butler from our Mexico Mission, Dr. N. S. Hopkins from our North China Mission, Rev. George B. Norton from our Japan Mission, Rev. W. L. King from the South India Mission.

It is a law of human nature and of the kingdom of heaven that gifts without love, and that cannot inspire gratitude, curse both the giver and the receiver. the one Teacher who knew man through and through, and loved him infinitely, with a love uo degradation could destroy, promised gracious rewards to such as "give even a cup of cold water." He says nothing of those who hire an agent, or appoint a committee to bear the refreshing cup to fevered lips. The greatest lack, the sorest neglect of our times, is the lack, the neglect of personal, helpful, brotherly service.-Bishop Haygood.

" A

A Methodist pastor in Kansas City lately said: church is a company of men and women, banded together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to do whatever he would do if he were here. The one chief object of their existence is to bring dying men into contact with a living Christ. The church that does not do that is a failure."

"Figures do not tell everything," says a writer in the Missionary Herald, "but they do tell this: that the Chinese Christians in America give more than American Christians." The figures to which he refers are these: With a membership of 161 in the various churches of California, the Chinese have raised during the past year $6,290.40 for all benevolences, or $39.07 for each member.

Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church, New York city, Dr. C. W. Millard, pastor, and Mr. John D. Slayback, Sunday school superintendent, continues at the head of all the churches of the Methodist Episcopal Church in its contributions to the missionary cause. On the first Sunday of March its contributions through the church and Sunday school were over six thousand dollars. Well done!

Miss Gertrude Howe, a missionary of the Woman's Society, on her return lately from China brought with her several Chinese young people to enjoy the educational facilities to be obtained in the United States. She writes to Dr. Baldwin from Ann Arbor, Mich., March 6: "One of the three boys, who is only sixteen years old, is a fairly good Chinese scholar and is making a fine record in the literary department of the university. The other two are in the high school. One of our girls, nineteen last December, was read out to-day as among the first twelve in the half-yearly examinations of the medical department in a class of about two hundred. I presume the other might well fall in the same roll."

Paul said he was a debtor. What he owed was the Gospel of Christ. He had it, and it belonged "both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians." How he gave it to them we know. Have we the same Gospel? We owe it to others. Our family, our friends, should feel its sweetness and power. Our town and city should become better because of it. But this is not enough. "Both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians." As much foreign as home missions.

"I am a debtor and I owe three classes of people: 1. Those who are rich in everything this world calls valuable, yet have not Jesus. 2. All those nations that are the fountains of earthly wisdom, yet have not the knowledge of God. 3. Those who are low, foolish, defiled, I owe them the Gospel of Christ. They need it. Without it they are lost. We are called heirs of Christ, and the heathen are his inheritance.

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For Jesus Christ's sake
I will do all the good I can,
To all the people I can,
In all the places I can,
As long as ever I can,
For I am a debtor."

The Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church reports a steady advance. The receipts of the past year were $5,370.39, of which $4,933.66 came from friends in this country. Busrah, in Northeastern Arabia, has been occupied as the headquarters of the mission. Busrah is a city of sixty thousand inhabitants, situated at the mouth of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, and has through them and their tributaries, and along the coast of the Persian Gulf, direct water communication with large and densely populated regions, wholly destitute heretofore of the preaching of the Gospel. Three missionaries are now employed.

At the North India Conference, Miss Rowe, in giv ing an account of her work, narrated an incident that ought to awaken Christians to a sense of their duty. On entering a certain village an old man came to her and asked if she could not send a teacher, that Christian instruction might be given to the children who, he said, were "growing up wild." She told him it was impossible—no men and no money—but he followed her around, and four different times pleaded for a teacher. The last time she refused him he, shaking his finger warningly at her, said, "Very well, I will meet you at the judgment seat, and you will give an answer to God for refusing us the knowledge of Christ."

The Board of Managers of the Missionary Society at its February meeting added Bishop Foss to the Committee on the Adjustment of the Salaries of Missionaries. Dr. Goucher is the chairman of the committee, and the Board unanimously adopted the following:

Whereas, We are informed that one of our number, the Rev. J. F. Goucher, D.D., proposes to spend some months abroad, and will visit some of our mission fields during his absence; therefore,

Resolved, That we respectfully request Dr. Goucher to gather facts, so far as he has opportunity, relating to the financial affairs of our missions, especially the purchasing power of money in the different flelds, with a view to a comparison and equalization of salaries.

Among the churches in New York city deserving of special honor because of their works, the Brick Presbyterian Church may be specially noted. For ten years Rev. Henry Van Dyke, D.D., has been its pastor. During the ten years four hundred members have been added to the roli, the church has been repaired and renovated at a cost of forty thousand dollars, there are two Sunday schools with eight hundred and fifty members, there are eight active working societies. a missionary in China and in the city mission, and two visitors among the poor, connected with the church; while the contributions for the support and extension of the Gospel and the

work of Christ at home and abroad have amounted to nearly four hundred thousand dollars in the decade."

Bishop Mallalien, who presided on January 14 at the dedication of the "William Butler Hall," connected with the Theological Seminary at Bareilly, India, pays the following tribute to Dr. Butler: "It is a great thing to have one's name honorably identified with a movement fraught with untold blessings to the millions of coming generations. Rev. William Butler, D.D., is one of the few that will be remembered in India for all time. His name stands along with Clive and Hastings, with Carey, Ward, and Marshman, and it will no more, and no sooner, be blotted out from the pages of Indian history than the names of the illustrious men just mentioned. It was given to Dr. Butler to be the pioneer of the missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church among the nearly three hundred millions of India, and it is demonstrably certain that unless all present indications are misleading, and unless all visible signs fail, the Church planted by Dr. Butler is to become the great Protestant and evangelical Church of India.”

Contributions of the Methodist Episcopal Church to Foreign Missions.

THE Christian Union, in its issue of March 4, quotes from the Examiner a table showing the contributions of various Churches for missions, and the Methodist Episcopal Church is quoted as giving $725,367 for foreign missions. The American Board Almanac for 1893 credits the Methodist Episcopal Church with $892.000 for foreign missions. The Report of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 1892, page 17, shows that the Methodist Episcopal Church, through its General Missionary Society, Woman's Societies, and Bishop Taylor's work, gives a grand total of $1,672,330 for home and foreign missions, and that the total appropriations for foreign missions for 1893 is $1,041,393.

The Methodist Episcopal Church in 1892 raised $1,019,726.68 for foreign missions. This amount was received through the following sources:

The General Missionary Society...... $688,932 80
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society..
Bishop Taylor, for Africa..
Bishop Taylor's work in India..
Bishop Taylor's work in South America
Board of Education...

Sunday School and Tract Societies....

Total....

265,342 15

26,728 00

4,795 00

18,300 00

3,000 00

12,628 73

. $1,019,726 68

The sums credited to Bishop Taylor's work, to the Board of Education, and the Sunday School and Tract Societies, are those expended for foreign missions. That of the General Missionary Society represents the sum sent to the foreign field and the proportionate amount of the money received for missions, charged to the expenses connected with the collection and disbursements of the moneys for the foreign missions.

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The Annual Report.

THE Seventy-fourth Annual Report of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was edited by Dr. S. L. Baldwin, Recording Secretary, and printed ready for mailing the first week in March. It is the report for the year 1892, and contains four hundred and thirty pages. Here is a very complete statement of the present condition of our missions both at home and abroad. The introduction to the Report says:

Many of our mission flelds have been blessed with gracious revivals. All are prosperous. The Pentecost in India continues with unabated power. An average of twelve hundred converts has been reported there every month for the past two years.

The contributions of our congregations in foreign lands for self-support, for building orphanages, hospitals, churches, and for evangelistic work have reached the splendid sum of $257,507. All of this, with the exception of about $12,000, which came to our treasury in missionary collections, was raised and spent upon the field.

The only limit to our work is the money limit. The missionaries are ready to go. If all the nongivers in the Methodist Episcopal Church would only consent in 1893 to give us each one dollar, we could speedily add a thousand voices to those which are crying in the moral deserts of this world, "Behold, behold the Lamb!"

China 95, Switzerland 50, Norway 427, Sweden and Finland 5, South India 693, Bengal 871-North India the same figures as in the last report; all the others report an increase.

The figures respecting India are surprising when we have heard for two years of the marvellous progress made. The figures printed are those compiled and sent last fall from the missions. The figures for North India are those reported to the Conference a year ago last January, and the India compiler of the statistics did not gather fresh statistics and forward. The great loss in the South India and Bengal Conferences arises from the fact that, the General Conference last year having divided these Conferences, the compiler of the statistics probably forwarded only those belonging to the territory now embraced in these Conferences, when he should havesent the statistics for the entire territory, as the new Conferences were not organized until the last week of last December, and in January of this year. Hence our statistics as printed omit several thousand members and probationers in India. We hope to give the correct statistics next month.

The statistics so far as reported show that in the North India, Northwest India, and Bombay Confer ences in 1892 there were 19,592 baptisms. In the North India and Northwest India Conferences there are 14,914 members and 25,965 probationers, an increase of over twelve thousand.

depths. A new erusade will begin. The miracles of missions will be repeated over and over.

We turn with interest to the summary of the Foreign Missions on pages 384 and 385. There are 210 foreign male missionaries, an advance of 25. Their names will be found on pages 402, 403, 404, and 405 by omitting those of the seven unmarried ladies in the employ of the Society, that of Dr. A. L. Long, of Constantinople, Dr. L. N. Wheeler, of Shanghai, and Bishop Thoburn. Dr. Long was formerly con nected with our Bulgarian Mission, and is now doing excellent missionary work in Robert College. Dr. Wheeler was formerly of our China Mission, and as agent of the American Bible Society is helping on the mission work in China. Bishop Thoburn, though a missionary, cannot be classified as belonging to any one of the India Conferences, being in charge of all of them.

There is a loss reported of 28 foreign missionaries of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, but this is a mistake. The figures should show a gain of 17. The names of the 145 missionaries are given on pages 406, 407, 408.

We are disappointed in the totals of members and probationers, as there is a gain of only 385 members and a loss of 920 probationers, a net loss of 535. We examine each mission, and uniting the members and probationers, find a loss in Africa of 294, Central

Missions.

BY REV. J. O. PECK, D.D.

TO-DAY I received the letter below, which has touched my heart as no communication has in a long time. It breathes the spirit of Christ and of sacrifice to a degree that is rarely seen in our Church. I am forbidden to give the name, but I give the letter anonymously. I know the dear heart that inspired it will not object to my making it do service for Christ. It is as follows.

PHILADELPHIA, March 3, 1893.

REV. J.O. PECK: You preached in our church a few weeks ago, Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church. It was a missionary sermon. You spoke about the great need of money to carry on the work in heathen lands and how eager they were to receive the word of God where it is preached. If I mistake not, you said it required fifty dollars to buy material to build a shelter (chapel) for them to worship in. I often thought of the many blessings I enjoyed in our enlightened land and how happy I was in the enjoyment of this glorious religion. And what could I do? I then and there promised God if he would give me health and strength to do it, I would save all of my earnings I possibly could, depriving myself of everything I could, and save the fifty dollars required to build a chapel for the heathen brought into the light of the Gospel. I am working hard to raise it. and find it a pleasure, when I think what I am doing it for. If I have continued work, I think I can have it ready by the first of April, or perhaps a little later. I do not want my name mentioned in connection with this act, as I only mean to do some good by it, which I owe to God and humanity. If more money is needed for this special purpose