their own country, landed in this city. Among their number was Mr. Philip Embury, a local preacher. Coming among strangers, and finding no pious associates with whom they could confer, they came very near making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.' In this state of religious declension they were found the next year on the arrival of another family from Ireland, among whom was a pious mother in Israel,' to whose zeal in the cause of God, they were all indebted for the re

added the edifices, bearing the Wesley- | members of the Methodist Society in an name, at Sheffield and Taunton, colleges of the London University, for more general learning: also, the Schools of New-Kingswood, Bath, and Woodhouse-Grove, near Bradford, Yorkshire, -in which the sons of ministers are educated also, the large Normal Training Institution, Westminster, which is fitted to receive 100 students, and 1000 children. Several academical establishments are, in like manner, sustained abroad; particularly in Canada, Western Africa, New Zealand, and the eastern dependencies of the British Em-vival of the spirit of piety among them, pire.

Embury was especially roused; and he preached his first sermon, in his own hired house,' to five persons only. This, it is believed, was the first Methodist sermon ever preached in America.

The Methodist Book-Room is situated in City-Road, London. Its publications, great and small, are issued by hundreds of thousands monthly. Considering the magnitude of the body, some will think "As they continued to assemble its eminent names in theological litera- together for mutual edification, so ture few. The explanation is, in part, their numbers were gradually inthat active exertions of another class creased, and they were comforted and have well nigh absorbed its energies; strengthened by 'exhorting one another and preaching has always been con- daily. They were led to rent a room of sidered the greatest work of its minis- larger dimensions in the neighbourhood, ters. Yet, it may not be inconsistent the expense of which was paid by vowith humility to say, a few names arise luntary contributions. An event hapto illuminate the record of a people pened soon after they began to assemble whose first century has but lately clos- in this place, which brought them into ed. The Wesleys, Fletcher, Benson, more public notice. This was the arClarke, Moore, Watson, Drew, Ed-rival of Captain Webb, an officer of the mondson, Sutcliffe, Jackson, Treffry, Rule, Nichols, Smith, Etheridge, and other writers, are not unknown to readers of English divinity.

In the United States of America, this body is styled "The Methodist Episcopal Church." Its rise and progress there may be ascertained, in a degree sufficient for our immediate purpose, if we avail ourselves of a sketch furnished some time ago, by Dr. Bangs of New York, for a Cyclopædia like this. Such information as we gather from that paper, we may take the liberty of compressing. The main particulars are these:

"The first Methodist Society in America was established in the city of New York, in the year 1766. A few pious emigrants from Ireland, who, previously to their removal, had been

British army, at that time stationed in Albany, in the State of New York. He had been brought to the knowledge of the truth, under the searching ministry of the Rev. John Wesley, in the city of Bristol, England, about the year 1765; and, though a military man, such was his thirst for the salvation of immortal souls, that he was constrained to declare unto them the loving kindness of God.

"His first appearance as a stranger among the 'little flock' in the city of New York, in his military costume, gave them some uneasiness, as they feared that he had come to interrupt them in their solemn assemblies; but when they saw him kneel in prayer, their fears were exchanged for joy, and on a further acquaintance they found

Captain Webb had 'partaken of like | words, felling the trees on Long Isprecious faith' with themselves. He land,' Mr. Robert Strawbridge, another was accordingly invited to preach. local preacher from Ireland, settled in The novelty excited no little surprise. Frederick county, Maryland, and comThis, together with the energy with menced preaching Christ and Him which he spoke in the name of the crucified' with success, many sinners Lord Jesus, drew many to the place, of being reclaimed from the error of their worship; and hence the room in which ways by his instrumentality. After they now assembled, soon became too spending some time in Philadelphia, small to accommodate all who wished preaching with great fervour and accepto assemble. But what greatly en-tance to the people, Mr. Pillmoor paid a couraged them was, that sinners were visit to Mr. Strawbridge, in Maryland, awakened and converted to God, and and endeavoured to strengthen his hands added to the little society.

in the Lord. He also went into som"Captain Webb made excursions parts of Virginia and North Carolina; and upon Long Island, and even went as far wherever he went he found the people as Philadelphia, preaching, wherever he eager to hear the Gospel On his return could find an opening, the Gospel of the to Philadelphia, under date of October Son of God; and success attended his 31, 1769, he addressed an encouraging labours. letter to Mr. Wesley, in which he states "The first meeting-house was erect-that there were about one hundred ed for a Methodist congregation in members in society in that city. America in the year 1768; and the first sermon was preached in it, Oct. 30, 1768, by Mr. Embury.

"Mr. Boardman, on his arrival in New York, found the society in a prosperous state under the labours of Mr. "While this house was in progress, Embury. On the 24th of April, 1770, feeling the necessity of a more compe- he addressed a letter to Mr. Wesley, in tent preacher, they addressed a letter to which he informs him that the house' Mr. Wesley, urging upon him the pro- would contain about 700 people, and priety of sending them the needful help. that he had found a most willing people "Mr. Wesley immediately adopted to hear, and the prospect every where measures for complying with their re-brightening before him. Other local quest; and two preachers, namely, preachers occasionally came over, and Richard Boardman and Joseph Pill- were employed with various degrees of moor, volunteered their services for usefulness. America. Mr. Wesley sent with them "From this encouraging representafifty pounds as a token of our brotherly tion of things, Mr. Wesley was induced love.' These were the first regular to adopt measures for furnishing addiitinerant preachers who visited this tional labourers in this part of the country. They immediately entered Lord's vineyard. Accordingly, the upon their Master's work, Mr. Board- next year, 1771, Mr. Francis Asbury man taking his station in New York, and Mr. Richard Wright offered themand Mr. Pillmoor in Philadelphia, occa-selves for this work, were accepted by sionally exchanging with one another, Mr. Wesley, and sent with the blessing and sometimes making excursions into of God to the help of their brethren in the country. Wherever they went, America. multitudes flocked to hear the word, and many were induced to seek an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"On his arrival, Mr. Asbury, who had been appointed by Mr. Wesley to the general charge of the work, com"About the same time that Mr. Em-menced a more extended method of bury was thus laying the foundation for preaching the Gospel, by itinerating this spiritual edifice in New York, and through the country, as well as preachCaptain Webb was, to use his own ing in the cities.

"In the year 1776, after the revolu- "In organizing the Methodist Epistionary contest had commenced, perse-copal Church, the parties did not sepation against the Methodist missionaries rate from the English or the Protestant found a pretext in the fact, that most Episcopal Church; for the former had of them were from England, and that no existence in America, and the Mesome of them had manifested a par- thodist Episcopal Church was organised tiality for their king and country, and three years before the Protestant Epismoreover that they were all under the copal Church in the United States. direction of a leader who had written "In 1819, the Missionary Society of against the American principles and the Methodist Episcopal Church was measures. In consequence of this, all formed. Its object was 'to assist the the English preachers, except Mr. As- several annual conferences to extend bury, returned home before the close their missionary labours throughout the of the year 1777; and, early in the year United States and elsewhere.' This So1778, he was obliged to seclude him-ciety has contributed much to diffuse self from public observation, which he the work of God, in the poor and destidid by retiring to the house of Judge tute portions of our own country, among White, a pious member of the society, the aboriginal tribes of the United States in the State of Delaware, where he re- and territories, and among the slaves of mained, occasionally preaching privately. the south and south-west. It has sent "During the war of the revolution, its missionaries to Africa, South Ameas might be expected, the preachers and rica, and beyond the Rocky Mountains; people had to contend with a variety of and latterly to China, &c. difficulties; some places, particularly New York and Norfolk, had to be abandoned entirely, and others were but partially supplied. Yet they held on their way, and God owned and blessed their pious efforts; so that at the conference of 1783, at the close of this conflict, they had 43 preachers, and 13,740 private members.

"The Book Establishment is under the control of the General Conference, who elect the agents and editors, and appoint the Book Committee. Here are published a great variety of books on theological, historical, scientific, and philosophical subjects, Bibles, commentaries upon the Holy Scriptures, a quarterly review, and a weekly religious journal, Sunday School books, and tracts,-all of which have an extensive circulation throughout the United States and territories.

"There is also a branch at Cincinnati, Ohio, where all the works issued at New York are sold, and some of them re-published.

"We come now, in 1784, to a very important era in the history of Methodism. The independence of the United States had been achieved, and acknowledged by the powers of Europe; and the churches in this country had become totally separated from all connexion with England. Mr. Wesley now felt himself at full liberty to set apart men "There are many weekly papers. whom he judged well qualified for that These, it is believed, are exerting a highly work, to administer the sacraments to favourable influence on the community." the Methodists in America. Accord- The great object of this Book Estaingly, on September 2, 1784, assisted by blishment, as of the one in England, is other presbyters, he appointed Thomas to spread the knowledge of Christ; and Coke, LL.D., a presbyter in the Church the profits of both are devoted to sacred of England, as a superintendent, and objects. Transatlantic Methodism has a ordained Richard Whatcoat and Thomas university, many colleges and schools, Vasey to the office of elders, and sent several thousands of ordained ministers, them over to America, with instructions and far above a million of churchto organize the Societies there into a members. separate and independent church.

THE UNITAS FRATRUM, OR UNITED BRETHREN,

COMMONLY CALLED MORAVIANS.

BY L. D. VON SCHWEINITZ,

LATE SENIOR CIVILIS OF THE CHURCH OF U. F., IN N. AMERICA.

Revised and enlarged by Rev. P. LA TROBE, Secretary to the Brethren's Church in England.

cient church of the Moravian Brethren, and intended to form a society in some degree such as the primitive churches are represented to have been.

In the course of the year 1727, all the inhabitants of Herrnhut, after mature consideration, adopted this social scheme and these statutes, under the name of "The brotherly agreement," and pledged themselves mutually to its observance, and thus formed the first stock of the present society of United Brethren. Count Zinzendorf is often

THE Church of the UNITAS FRATRUM, or United Brethren, commonly called Moravians, was formed by the descendants of the Bohemian and Moravian Brethren, who, being persecuted in their native country for their religious tenets, founded a colony, under the patronage of Count Zinzendorf, on an estate of his called Berthelsdorf, in Upper Lusatia, in the year 1722. To this colony the name of Herrnhut was given, on account of its situation on the southern declivity of a hill called the Hutberg. It was not until the number of emi-spoken of as the founder of the society, grants from Bohemia and Moravia, who though he is properly to be regardedthere found an asylum, had consider- and is so regarded, and gratefully, by ably increased, and many religious per- the Brethren themselves-rather as the sons from other quarters, attracted by instrument, in the hand of God, for the the report of their piety and their suf- renewal of the ancient Unity of the ferings, had settled among them, that Brethren, and the restoration of its printhe diversity of sentiments, perceptible ciples, usages, and ecclesiastical orders, among so many zealous Christians, ori- with such modifications as providential ginally of different denominations, sug- circumstances and past experience could gested to them the propriety of some not fail to suggest. Nor will the Brethgeneral agreement concerning faith and ren ever forget that to the advancement rules of conduct. Accordingly, under of its best interests, and the extension of the guidance of Count Zinzendorf, who its usefulness, both at home and abroad, from an early age had entertained an he devoted his whole life, his property, idea of forming a Christian community and his great and varied talents. It will on the model of the primitive apostolic be readily conceived, however, more congregations, certain articles of union especially after observing that further were proposed to them, which, leaving emigrations from Bohemia and Moraall the distinctive doctrines of the via were checked by the Saxon govarious Protestant denominations en- vernment at an early period, that tirely out of question, recognized as the descendants of the emigrants, at articles of faith only those fundamen- this day, constitute but a small portion tal Scripture truths in which they all of the present society. Individuals agree. At the same time, a system of from almost every Protestant denomisocial compact and church-discipline nation, coinciding in the fundamental was framed, resembling that of the an- doctrines of Christianity common to all,

and professing a desire to lead a truly God in Christ as intended to be the Christian life, as members of such a most beneficent revelation of the Deity community, under its peculiar regulations, were from the beginning admitted among them, without renouncing the church and creed of their fathers. On the contrary, to facilitate the maintenance of their connection with their original churches, the society expressly includes three different tropes or modifications within its pale: the Lutheran, the Reformed, and the Moravian, which latter comprises all other Protestant denominations. Experience has proved that these differences, among persons so intimately associated, vanish of themselves to such a degree, that the original idea of these tropes is now maintained only as an evidence of the principle of their union, while its practical | consequences have become almost imperceptible.

to the human race; and in consequence, they make the life, merits, acts, words, sufferings and death of the Saviour, the principal theme of their doctrine, while they carefully avoid entering into any theoretical disquisitions on the mysterious essence of the Godhead, simply adhering to the words of Scripture. Admitting the Sacred Scriptures as the only source of Divine Revelation, they nevertheless believe that the Spirit of God continues to lead those who believe in Christ into all truth; not by revealing new doctrines, but by teaching those, who sincerely desire to learn, daily better to understand and apply the truths which the Scriptures contain. They believe that, to live conformably to the Gospel, it is essential to aim in all things to fulfil the will of God. Even The United Brethren, however, con- in their temporal concerns they endeatinue strenuously to object to being vour to ascertain the will of the Lord. considered a mere sect or denomina- They do not, indeed, expect any miracution, because their union is exclusively lous manifestation of his will, but only founded on general Christian doctrines, endeavour to test the purity of their and their peculiarities relate solely to purposes by the light of the Divine their social organization, which is in- Word. Nothing of consequence is done tended only to facilitate their joint pur- by them, as a society, until such an expose of reducing to practice truly Chris- amination has taken place: and, in tian principles of life and conduct. cases of difficulty, the question is decidThey consequently subscribe to no pecu-ed by lot, to avoid the undue preponliar articles of faith, confining themselves mainly to regulations of conduct and discipline. As a body, they have at all times, when required by governments to point out their creed, professed gen- In former times, the marriages of the eral adherence to the Confession of members of the society were, in some Augsburg, as most congenial to the respects, regarded as a concern of the views of the majority; and, although Church, as it was part of their social they do not pledge their ministers to an agreement, that none should take place express adoption of every article, it is without the approval of the elders; and agreed among them not to insist upon the elders' consent or refusal was usually any doctrines entirely repugnant thereto. determined by lot. But this custom They avoid discussions respecting the has been gradually abandoned; and speculative truths of religion, and insist nothing is now requisite to obtain the upon individual experience of the prac- consent of the elders, but a Christian tical efficacy of the Gospel, in produc- profession and propriety of conduct in ing a real change of sentiment and the parties. They consider none of conduct, as the only essentials in reli- their peculiar regulations essential, but gion. all liable to be altered or abandoned They consider the manifestation of whenever it is found necessary or de

derance of influential men, and in the humble hope, that God will guide them rightly by its decision, where their limited understanding fails them.