duties, and John Wilson appointed to the office, with Daniel Hitt for an assistant. Two years from that time, Mr. Wilson was taken to his great reward, and was succeeded by Mr. Hitt, assisted by Thomas Ware. Since then, the Concern has been managed by the following agents: When Elected. 1812. D. Hitt & T. Ware. When Elected. 1844. G. Lane & C. B. Tippett. The Cincinnati branch house was established in 1820, and has been managed by the following agents: 1820. Martin Ruter. 1824. Martin Ruter. 1828. Charles Halliday. 1832. C. Halliday & J. F. Wright. 1836. J. F. Wright & L. Swormstedt. 1840. J. F. Wright & L. Swormstedt. 1844. L. Swormstedt & J.T. Mitchell. 1848. L. Swormstedt & J. Power. But the Concern has not been entirely exempt from mis fortunes. Based on benevolence, it has been governed, perhaps, by a too liberal policy for its financial interests. Its losses, by bad debts, have been considerable; but its greatest loss was occasioned by fire, in the month of February, 1836, when the new buildings in Mulberry street, and nearly all the property, were consumed, amounting to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, at least. This created a powerful sensation throughout the church, and many contributed to rebuild and put the establishment again in operation. About ninety thousand dollars were realized in donations for this object, which, with some twenty-five thou sand dollars that was insured upon it, enabled the agents to start anew with encouraging prospects. Since then, the Concern has been scattering its various and interesting publications broadcast, though with less profit than formerly. But still, the capital stock has been gradually increasing, and the profits have met liabilities that could not have been discharged by subscription without considerable difficulty. Its capital stock at New York is estimated at $867,599,01, and at Cincinnati, Ohio, $484, 948, 11, and its facilities for usefulness, in the diffusion of books, tracts and periodicals, are much greater, therefore, than formerly. No friend of the church can but rejoice in the improvement that has been made in the several departments of the Concern within a few years past. Yet in all these years, and in all this complication of business, the Concern has been managed with unwavering integrity. An opposite opinion obtaining, to some extent, in the year 1868, led to a most searching investigation, which the General Conference of 1872 concluded by affirming the integrity of the Agents, and an entire absence of fraud save in the bindery, implicating the foreman who had at that time already been dismissed. So far as we know, this verdict is generally accepted, and the administration approved. To obtain the results indicated by the foregoing references has required an immense sacrifice. But the cause has been more embarrassed by internal differences than from all outward hindrances together. Whether they have been overruled for good, is a question we are unable to decide. They have generally exerted an unhappy influence for a time, but still may have provoked some to love and good works, who would have done little under other circumstances. We will refer to a few of them. In the year 1813, one Pliny Brett, whose reception into the Conference had been delayed a year beyond the ordinary time, withdrew from the church, and placed himself at the head of party pretending to peculiar attainments in holiness, and went about tc infect others with the disease of his own heart, and rally for a new organization. The project was successful. Several local preachers, and others, soon displayed unmistakable symptoms of disaffection, and united with Mr. Brett to form a "" "bran-new church, under the name of "Reformed Methodists." With this specious title they went forth, berating their old friends as backsliders and formalists, and calling upon all who loved the power of religion to come to the new standard. Ranters, and others who were impatient of discipline, and particularly such as saw more in the name than they afterwards realized, heeded the call. Several societies on Cape Cod and in Vermont were greatly agitated, and some of the younger and smaller ones broken up, by which means the church lost several worthy members; but were amply indemnified for the loss by being relieved of a much larger number which had been borne with as a burden. The new party being thus organized, and having spent their first love in scattering the old church, a project in which they were particularly united, found that they had gathered of "every kind," and some that were not so easily managed. Later experience taught them that it is easier to make divisions than to maintain peace, and to tear down than to build up and consolidate. The highest number of members we recollect of their reporting was about two thou sand; and the most of those who remained in 1843 united with the church organized about that time under the leadership of Rev. Orange Scott, since which we have heard little of the Reformers, except in connection with the "Wesley ans," whose history will be sketched hereafter. The "African Methodist Episcopal Church" was organized in the year 1816. Richard Allen, of Philadelphia, a local elder, and a man of good character, and considerable wealth and influence, separated himself from the church in consequence of some local difficulties between the two races. A considerable number of others followed his example, and united to form an independent church under the above. title. They made no change in doctrine, nor even in discipline, farther than to accommodate their new circumstances. The object of the movement was to govern themselves, and not be subject to a government in which they had no part, on account of their color. At their first Conference Allen was elected bishop, and ordained by the imposition of hands, since which others have been inducted into the same office. They hold Annual and General Conferences, and maintain a system of itinerancy with considerable success. These transactions created some excitement among the colored people in the city of New York, and they declared for independence. But not having all confidence in Allen, or his new scheme, they struck out a little different plan, and organized another "African Methodist Episcopal Church," to be governed by elders of their own choosing, one of whom was to be annually elected to superintend, but not to be set apart by the usual forms of ordination. They now claim to number about 694 ministers and 164,000 church members in the United States and Canada. But they are much divided and scattered. The truth is, they lack acknowledged leaders. There is too much of a disposition to rule among them, and too little capacity to do it with discretion. While we can hardly blame them for coveting a separate existence on account of public prejudice against color, we doubt the policy of trying to maintain it, especially in those places where they are not numerous. Their object can be better gained by association with their white brethren. The year following, New York experienced another slight explosion. In rebuilding John street church the Trustees and other members fell into some differences. A part, per haps, wished to have the finishing a little nicer than the others fancied, or could conscientiously approve. One thing led to another, till the contest became very sharp, and resulted in the secession of William M. Stillwell, a travelling preacher, three Trustees, and about three hundred members of the church. The disaffection was communicated to several local preachers and others in the vicinity, and Stillwellite; multiplied for a time with considerable rapidity. But a second sober thought turned the tables again, and most of the seceders returned from whence they went out, more than ever convinced that it is easier to destroy a good church than to establish a better one. Those who remained soon laid aside all pretensions to itinerancy, and settled down on the congregational plan, with the father of the movement for their pastor; since which little has been heard of them. We mention this case to show how easy it is to make a division in the church of God, and how little it avails, compared with the expectations of its promoters. It was, no doubt, believed in this case, that the secession would shake the church to its foundations, and bring about a glorious state of things, in which the seceders would be eminently popular, if not canonized. But how disappointed! It was only as a pebble falling into the ocean. You hear the sound thereof, and mark a circular ripple upon the wave, and pass along as though nothing had happened. The Methodist Church is not to be overturned so easily. But such beacons of warning are of little use, after all. Adventurers will not learn by the experience of others. They are wiser, or their idol scheme has some advantage that ensures it success. on they go to the same oblivion that covers their predecessors, the wreck of whose darling visions should have deterred them from such presumption. Still, it is our duty to admonish them of their danger. So |