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

even romantic record, but our limits admit but this passing allusion to them, after the account lately
given of their singular origin by Stewart, the African. Their subsequent progress belongs to the
historian of the ensuing periods of Methodism, and will afford some of his most thrilling facts,
The year 1819 is memorable as the epoch of the formal organization of the American Methodist
missionary work. Nathan Bangs, long distinguished as its secretary and chief representative, was also
its chief founder. He made it the theme of much preliminary conversation with his colleagues and
the principal Methodist laymen of New York city. Laban Clark introduced it by a resolution to the
attention of the metropolitan preachers at their weekly meeting, "consisting," says Bangs, "of
Freeborn Garrettson, Samuel Merwin, Laban Clark, Samuel Howe, Seth Crowell, Thomas Thorp,
Joshua Soule, Thomas Mason, and myself. After an interchange of thoughts the resolution was
adopted, and Garrettson, Clark, and myself were appointed a committee to draft a constitution. When
this committee met we agreed to write, each, a constitution, then come together, compare them, and
adopt the one which should be considered the most suitable. The one prepared by myself was
adopted, submitted to the Preachers' Meeting, and, after some slight verbal alterations, was finally
approved. We then agreed to both a public meeting in the Forsyth Street Church on the evening of
the fifth of April, 1819, which was accordingly done. I was called to the chair, and, after the reading
of the constitution, Joshua Soule moved its adoption, and supported his motion by a powerful
speech, concluding by an appeal to the people to come forward and subscribe it. He was seconded
by Freeborn Garrettson, who also pleaded in favor of the scheme from his experience in the itinerant
field from Virginia to Nova Scotia."
The constitution was unanimously adopted, and the following officers were chosen: Bishop
McKendree, President; Bishops George and Roberts, and Nathan Bangs, Vice-presidents; Thomas
Mason, Corresponding Secretary; Joshua Soule, Treasurer; Francis Hall, Clerk; Daniel Ayres,
Recording Secretary. The following managers were also chosen: Joseph Smith, Robert Mathison,
Joseph Sandford, George Suckley, Samuel L. Waldo, Stephen Dando, Samuel B. Harper, Lancaster
S. Burling, William Duval, Paul Hick; John Westfield, Thomas Roby, Benjamin Disbrow, James B.
Gascoigne, William A. Mercein, Philip J. Arcularius, James B. Oakley, George Caines, Dr. Seaman,
Dr. Gregory, John Boyd, I. H. Smith, Nathaniel Jarvis, Robert Snow, Andrew Mercein, Joseph
Moses, John Paradise, William Myers, William B. Skidmore, Nicholas Schureman, James Wood,
Abraham Paul.
The historian of the society says: "It is obvious that almost its entire business was conducted by
Dr. Bangs for many years. In addition to writing the constitution, the address and circular, he was
the author of every Annual Report, with but one exception, from the organization of the society
down to the year 1841, a period of twenty-two years. He filled the offices of corresponding secretary
and treasurer for sixteen years, without a salary or compensation of any kind, until his appointment
to the first named office by the General Conference of 1836. That he has contributed more than any
other man living to give character to our missionary operations, by the productions of his pen and
his laborious personal efforts, is a well authenticated fact, which the history of the Church fully
attests."
In this single instance of his manifold public life he was to be identified with a grand religious
history. He was to see the annual receipts of the society enlarged from the $823 of its first year to