History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

itinerants he said, "See that every society is supplied with books, some of which ought to be in every
house." In addition to his collected works, (fourteen octavo volumes in the English edition, and
seven in the American,) his Biblical "Notes" and abridgments make a catalogue of one hundred and
eighteen prose productions, (a single one of which, "The Christian Library," contains fifty volumes,)
forty-nine poetical publications by himself and his brother, and five distinct works on music. Not
content with books and tracts, Wesley projected, in August, 1777, the Arminian Magazine, and
issued the first number at the beginning of 1778. It was one of the first four religious magazines
which sprung from the resuscitated religion of the age, and which began this species of periodical
publications in the Protestant world. It is now the oldest religious periodical. It may be questioned
whether any English writer of the last or the present century has equaled Wesley in the number of
his productions.
American Methodism has always been true to this example of English Methodism, and in fact has
far transcended it. Its "Book Concern" is now the largest religious publishing house in the world.
We have seen the beginnings of this literary agency in the printing and circulation of Wesley's
sermons by Robert Williams, one of the earliest lay evangelists, who, according to Lee's history of
the Church, "spread them through the country, to the great advantage of religion, opening the way
for the preachers where these had never been before." But as early as the first Conference (1778) this
individual or independent publishing was prohibited, the "consent of the brethren" being required,
because, as Lee writes, "it now became necessary for all the preachers to be united in the same
course, so that the profits ensuing therefrom might be divided among them, or applied to some
charitable purpose." "Be active," commanded the Church to its ministry at its organization of 1784,
"be active in the diffusion of Mr. Wesley's books. Every 'assistant' may beg money of the rich to buy
'books for the poor;' " and it was ordained at the same time that "they should take care that every
society be duly supplied with books." The Conferences of 1787 made further provisions for the
purpose, and "from this time," says Lee, "we began to publish more of our own books than ever
before, and the principal part of the business was carried on in New York." No publisher or "Book
Agent" was yet named, however; but, two years later, we find Philip Cox and John Dickins
designated to that office in the Minutes. The former acted as a sort of colporteur at large for three
years, the first American example of that useful office, and died in it, "after circulating, says his
obituary in the Minutes, "many hundred books of religious instruction." Dickins, the only Methodist
preacher in Philadelphia in 1789, began there, at that time, the "Methodist Book Concern," in
addition to his pastoral labors. The first volume issued by him was the "Christian Pattern," Wesley's
translation of Kempis' celebrated "Imitation." The Methodist Discipline, the Hymn Book, Wesley's
Primitive Physic, and reprints of the first volume of the Arminian Magazine, and Baxter's Saint's
Rest, followed. The only capital of the Concern was about six hundred dollars, lent to it by Dickins
himself. In 1790 portions of Fletcher's "Checks" were reprinted. In 1797 a "Book Committee" was
appointed, to whom all books were to be submitted before their publication. In 1804 the Concern
was removed from Philadelphia to the city of New York. As early as 1796 the General Conference
ordained the publication of a "Methodist magazine," in imitation of Wesley's periodical; it was not
successfully attempted till 1818. It still prosperously continues, under the title of the Methodist
quarterly Review. Western Methodism had, however, anticipated it by the publication of
Beauchamp's "Christian Monitor," at Chilicothe, Ohio, in 1815. In 1824 the Concern secured
premises of its own on Crosby Street, with presses, bindery, etc. In 1823 the "Youth's Instructor,"