tionately to the number of Sunday-school children under its care. (4.) That the beneficiaries within the bounds of each annual conference be selected in such manner as each conference shall direct.

2. Each Sunday-school scholar who shall contribute one dollar to the Children's Fund, and each one who shall collect five dollars for the same, and pay that amount into the treasury, shall be entitled to receive a medal as hereinafter described.

These medals will have the head of Rev. John Wesley on one side, and that of Bishop Asbury, the pioneer Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the other. The inscriptions will be: on one side, "Children's Medal;" and on the other, "Centenary of American Methodism, 1866."

It is recommended that a special service be set apart in each of our societies where there is a Sunday-school, in October, 1866, for a children's celebration of the centenary festival, and that suitable arrangements be made in due time by the branch committees, in concert with the pastors and Sundayschool officers. We think this subject as it is here presented cannot fail to secure the hearty co-operation of all our Sunday-schools-officers, teachers, scholars, and friends.

CENTENARY DOCUMENTS.

The Central Committee has commenced the publi cation of a series of Centenary Documents, which

will be issued from time to time. Among these documents will be found the Resolutions of the General Conference, the Address of the Bishops, the Address of the Central Committee, Instructions to Branch Committees, and several tracts explanatory of the Centenary movement, and of its objects. These documents may be obtained of the Branch Committees, of the Book Agents at New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, and the Depositories generally, or upon application in writing to the Secretary of the Central Committee, 200 Mulberry-street, New York.

CONCLUSION.

The General Conference of 1864, after setting forth the two great channels of contribution, Connectional and Local, for the gifts of the people, appealed to the Church in the following stirring words:

As the highest authority of the Methodist Episcopal Church, we commend this whole subject to the prayerful consideration of every minister, traveling and local, and every official and private member of the Church, calling for the most systematic and energetic efforts everywhere to carry out in their true spirit these noble plans; and after due consideration, we deem it right to ask for and to expect not less than two millions of dollars for achievements which will be worthy of our great and honored Church, and which shall show to our descendants to the latest generations the gratitude we feel for the wonderful Providence which originated and has so largely blessed and prospered our beloved Church.

The sum of two millions is here named as the lowest mark at which the Church should aim in its Centenary offerings of gratitude. It is believed that this minimum will be largely transcended; and, indeed, that the final summing up will be nearer four millions than two. And without pretending to dictate to the ministry or the membership of the Church, we feel it our duty to make the following concluding suggestions:

1. One great object of the Centenary movement should be to promote the Connectional spirit of Methodism, and to bind anew, in cords of fraternal love and of devotion to the common cause, the East, the West, the North, and the South. So let us rebuke, by the grand unity of our vast societies, the spirit of secession, whether in Church or State. Unity in Christ is one of the needful marks of the true Church, and to promote the unity of the American people is one of the obvious functions of the Church in this country. We trust that this mark and function of the Church will be dwelt on in every pulpit of Methodism at some period of the Centenary celebration.

2. One of the most signal and obvious ways of showing our Connectional spirit will be to contribute to the Centenary Educational Permanent Fund, and to the other Connectional objects named by the General Conference and its committees. As we

have said, the whole Church, and at the same time every locality within its bounds, is interested in these objects.

Local objects will doubtless be urged, with earnestness and pertinacity, by those interested in them. We do not wish to overshadow these objects so as to hinder their success. At the same time let us remember that these objects are always with us, always at our doors, and therefore always likely to be taken care of. But our Permanent Fund is to be the great mark and proof of our connectional feeling as demonstrated by our Centenary gifts. Let the Centenary year be our Sabbath of Church fellowship; one year, at least, out of the century, in which we shall rise above all local and sectional thoughts, feelings, and interests, into the higher atmosphere of our Unity in the Church, and in Christ the Head of the Church.

GENERAL TREASURERS, CARLTON & PORTER, 200 Mulberrystreet, New York.

LOCAL TREASURERS will be appointed by each Branch Committee.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

THE GENERAL RULES.

THE NATURE, DESIGN, AND GENERAL RULES OF OUR UNITED SOCIETIES.

(1) IN the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to Mr. Wesley in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired (as did two or three more the next day) that he would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come; which they saw continually hanging over their heads. That he might have more time for this great work, he appointed a day when they might all come together; which from thenceforward they did every week, namely, on Thursday, in the evening. To these, and as many more as desired to join with them, (for their number increased daily,) he gave those advices from time to time which he judged most needful for them; and they always concluded their meeting with prayer suited to their several necessities.

(2) This was the rise of the UNITED SOCIETY, first in Europe, and then in America. Such a society is no other than "a company of men having the form and seeking