This Church, the youngest of the large denominations, and last to enter
the foreign field, has done some effective service. A few weeks since
some fears were entertained that from a single point where success
was not satisfactory, the partially defeated forces might be, for a
time, withdrawn. Such fears were groundless, and the orders are for
an advance all along the lines. The little company in Bulgaria have
struggled under many disadvantages, but will be reinforced, and the
work go on.
At the late meeting of the General Committee, in New York, the annual
appropriations were advanced to $750,000, in the confidence that the
church will meet the demand.
The Home Missions of this church are numerous. There are reported 2,381
missionaries in the home fields, and more could be profitably employed
in communities unable of themselves to furnish an adequate support. The
aggregate of the border missions shows an increase in membership, and
of church property. The missionary aid given to feeble churches and
to establish churches where none existed, combined with the efforts
of other organizations, is doing a work whose value can hardly be
over-estimated.
The Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church are in fifteen
nations. A larger number of missionaries are in India than in any other
country.
The summarized statistics show:
Foreign missionaries and wives 225
Native ordained preachers 246
Native preachers not ordained 187
Native local preachers 317
Native workers in Woman’s For. Mis. Society 291
Foreign teachers 34
Native teachers 521
Members 29,095
Probationers 9,984
The school system, both for secular and theological education is
well organized, and doing a good work. Churches and conferences are
organized as in this country.