ening their road beds, and in other improve

ments.

Among the reports presented to the Legislature of 1863, was one containing the census returns of 1860, and a synopsis of every other census that has been taken in the State. From this it appears that the increase in the population of the State, from 1850 to 1860, was 23.70 per cent. The largest county increase was in Norfolk, being no less than 38.36 per cent. The largest town or city increase was in Somerville, being 126.67 per cent. Six towns, Somerville, Lawrence, Brookline, Marlborough, Melrose, and Natick, exhibit an increase of 100 per cent. Massachusetts ranks as the thirtieth State in the Union in respect to its area, but ranks as the first in the number of inhabitants to the square mile, first in the absolute increase of population per square mile from 1790 to 1860, and also first in the same from 1850 to 1860. While there is a large percentage of excess of males over females in all the Western States, the females outnumber the males in Massachusetts by more than 37,000; a fact of great importance in determining the causes which have made recruiting more active in the Eastern than in the Western States.

MASTERMAN, STILLMAN, an American physicist, born in Weld, Franklin county, Maine, January 28th, 1831, died in that town July 19th, 1863. His early opportunities of education were very scanty, but from childhood he manifested an intense interest in physical seience, and spent every leisure moment from the severe toil of a farmer's boy in the study of whatever could aid him in forming an acquaintance with it. At the age of twenty he had managed to collect a number of scientific and classical works, and had thus become familiar with the elements of physics and chemistry; making such apparatus as the materials at hand would permit, grinding and polishing small lenses, and constructing prisms for experiments on fluid media. He had also taught himself Latin enough to read with some ease, and had become familiar with algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. He removed, in 1851, to Minnesota, but returned after a little more than a year, with his health greatly impaired by the influence of that climate. His first publication was a paper in the Smithsonian Reports for 1855, entitled "Observations on Thunder and Lightning," in which he gave the results of three hundred and four observations on thunder storms occurring from 1850 to 1854, in relation to the character, duration of the thunder peal, and interval between the flash and report, with other curious allied data. From this time he became a frequent contributor to scientific journals, and nearly twenty papers from his pen, on astronomy, meteorolory, and physical science, appeared in the Smithsonian Reports, "The American Journal of Science," and the "Astronomical Journal." Though generally without instruments, his observations were remarkable for their accuracy

and faithfulness. During the last two years of his life, and until his disease (pulmonary consumption) compelled him to desist from all labor, he was engaged in the reduction of the observations made at the Washington Observatory during the fifteen years previous to Superintendent Maury's departure, which that official had left unreduced.

METHODISTS. The most numerous body of American Methodists, the Methodist Episcopal Church, suffered during the past year a considerable decrease of membership, the number of members and probationers being reduced from 942,906, in 1862, to 923,394, in 1863. This loss was chiefly caused by the omission, in the Baltimore Conference, to report the statistics of the membership of the Virginia congregations. In fact, the temporary loss thus suffered by the Baltimore Conference (21,065) exceeds the total loss of the Church, thus leaving for the remainder of the conferences a small gain. Heavy losses were also sustained by the Cincinnati (3,000), Southern Illinois (2,747), and Western Virginia (2,229) Conferences; while the greatest gains were recorded in Northwest Indiana (2,555), Missouri and Arkansas (2,230), East Genesco (1,741), Vermont (1,317), and Foreign German (1,194).

In 1862 the members were divided between the States and Territories as follows:

The Church, at the end of 1863, had 6 bishops-Morris, elected 1836; Janes, 1814; Scott, Simpson, Baker, and Ames, all elected in 1852. The number of effective travelling preachers was 5,885; of superannuated, 903-total, 6,788; the number of local preachers, 8,156. The contributions to the great Societies were reported as follows: Missionary Society, $391,073; Sunday-school Union, $11,633; Tract Society, $12,534. The Church had two biblical institutes, 22 colleges, 96 seminaries, female colleges, and academies. The Book Concern of the Church publishes, at New York, a Quarterly Review, "The Christian Advocate and Journal" (weekly); the "Sunday-School Advocate " (circulation 228,400 copies); "Sunday-School Teachers' Journal (15,000); "Good News" (50,000 copies); the "Missionary Ad

*These totals include the statistics of the Mission Conference in Germany, and the Liberia Conference in Africa. The membership of the former increased from 2.181, in 1862, to 3,375, in 1863, being a gain of 1,194. The statistics of the

Liberia Conference were not received in time for the publi cation of general minutes; the membership in 1862 was 1,869.

vocate," at Cincinnati; the "Ladies' Repository" (monthly); "Western Christian Advocate;" and two German papers, "Apologist and "Sonntagsglocke;" besides weekly papers at Auburn, Pittsburg, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Salem (Oregon). There are, besides, independent denominational papers published, at New York (2), Auburn, Buffalo, Boston (2), Montpelier (Vt)., Rockford, Ill., (in Swedish). The Missionary Society supported 237 missionaries in the foreign, and 1,082 in the domestic missions.

Nearly all the annual conferences again passed strong resolutions expressive of loyalty to the Government of the United States, as well as of their wish for the speedy abolition of slavery. In most instances these resolutions were passed with entire unanimity. Of the conferences lying in, or partly extending into the slave States, those of West Virginia, Missouri, East Baltimore and Philadelphia were very emphatic in the expression of their loyalty. In the Baltimore Conference only a strong opposition manifested itself to the passage of any resolutions of this kind, and all the majority of the conference was willing to grant consisted in the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the President of the United States of America be respectfully requested to appoint a day of national fasting and prayer to Almighty God, that it may please Him to bring our civil war to an end, and restore to us unity, peace, and prosperity.

The question of lay delegation continued to be discussed throughout the Church with great animation. On May 13th, a convention of lay

members to consider "the question of lay delegation in the general conference" was opened in New York city. The convention was largely attended from all parts of the Union, and organized by electing Governor Cannon, of Delaware, temporary president. After the organization of the convention ex-Governor Wright, of Indiana, was elected to preside. There was a large attendance of Methodist laymen from all parts of the Union. A series of resolutions were adopted, of which the following are the most important:

Resolved, 1. That in the judgment of this convention, the time has fully come when the laymen of the Meth odist E. Church should be more intimately united with the ministry in the management of its general interests, and that the proper mode of securing this would be by providing for an equal representation of the laity in the general conference.

Resolved, 6. That a convention of lay delegates be held in the city of Philadelphia on the 17th day of May, 1864, to take such action on the subject of lay delega tion as may then be proper; such delegates to be chosen in accordance with a plan to be devised by a committee of seven, to be appointed with power by

this convention.

Resolved, 7. That another committee of fifteen be appointed, with power to add to their number, to present these resolutions and the entire subject of lay representation to the consideration of the ensuing general conference; and the said committee are hereby instructed to confer with any committee upon lay rep resentation that may be appointed by the general conference, and to report to the delegate convention provided for by the preceding resolution.

Subsequently the committee of fifteen was increased to twenty-five, in order that all portions of the Church might be represented. Among the members of this committee are exGov. Wright, of Indiana; Professor Strong, Hon. Moses Odell, a member of Congress for Brooklyn; Gen. Fisk, of Missouri; U. S. Senator Willey, of West Virginia; U. S. Senator Harlan, of Iowa Gov. Evans, of Colorado Territory; W. H. Allen, formerly President of Girard College. Among those who addressed the convention were Bishop Simpson, Gov. Cannon, Gov. Wright, Judge Bond, of Baltimore; Rev. Dr. Eddy, Rev. R. M. Hatfield, Rev. Dr. Nadal.

In Missouri, the Church continued to receive accessions from the Methodist Episcopal Church, south. The most notable instance of this kind was the coming over of eighty-five members of the Southern Church in Louisiana, who thus explained the step taken by them:

We hereby declare our relations as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south, forever severed severed by the treasonable acts and conduct of that rights and of the purity of our church-and that by official body that should have been the guardian of our this conduct on their part they have absolved us from all obligation or allegiance to them as a body, and that every member of the church has full right to attach himself or herself to such other church organization as may receive him or her, and whose doctrines and practices may be consonant with his or her views, without any ground of censure therefor. Therefore,

Resolved, That we hereby recommend to the members of this church as a body to apply to the proper authorities of the Methodist Episcopal Church for connection with that ecclesiastical organization.

From many places of the State, the Union dist Episcopal Church to send them Methodist men applied to the authorities of the Methopreachers. In order to facilitate the extension of the Church, and, in particular, to supply every village and every town in the State with a minister, and organize churches in the State $7,000, and in St. Louis an organizathem, the Missionary Board appropriated for tion was formed, for inviting and encouraging the emigration of Methodists to the State. In Kentucky, many leading men of the Southern Methodist Church expressed the opinion that after the restoration of the Union, and the prospective cessation of slavery, the reunion of the Kentucky conferences of the Southern Methodist Church with the Methodist Episcopal Church would not present great difficulties.

On November 30th, the following important order was given by the Secretary of War, permitting the occupation of Southern Methodist churches, and placing them temporarily at the disposal of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJ'T-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, November 30th, 1863. To the Generals commanding the Departments of the Missouri, the Tennessee and the Gulf, and all Generals and Officers Commanding Armies, Detachments and Posts, and all Officers in the service of the United States in the above mentioned Departments:

You are hereby directed to place at the disposal of the Rev. Bishop Ames, all houses of worship belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church south, in which

You are expected to give him all the aid, countenance and support practicable in the execution of his important mission. You are also authorized to furnish Bishop Ames and his clerk with transportation and subsistence when it can be done without prejudice to the service, and you will afford them courtesy, assistance and protection.

By order of the Secretary of War,

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

The Missionary Board of the Church appropriated $35,000 for reorganizing the Church in the reoccupied slave States, and two of the bishops were to this end sent south.

The Evangelical Association, also called German Methodists or Albrights, had, according to their almanac (Kalender der Evang. Gemeinschaft) for 1864, 47,388 members in nine conferences (East Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania, Pittsburg, Illinois, New York, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana), 386 travelling preachers, 589 Sunday schools with 27,070 scholars and 6,046 teachers and officers, 549 churches, of an estimated value of $630,300 and 131 parsonages, of an estimated value of $69,822. The denomination has 3 literary institutions: Greensburg Seminary, at Greensburg, Summit co., O.; Union Seminary, at New Berlin, Union co., Pa.; and Plainfield Seminary, at Plainfield, Will co., Ill. Another one was in the course of construction near Buffalo, N. Y. The Evangelical Association held in 1863 its quadrennial General Conference, which began on Oct. 1st at Buffalo.

The Wesleyan Methodists of England held, in 1863, their 120th Annual Conference, in Sheffield, on July 30th, and the following days. Rev. Dr. Osborn was elected president and Rev. J. Farrar, secretary. Of the "Legal Hundred" ministers who form the Conference, two had died and eight had retired.

The Missionary Society, according to the last annual report, sustains 4,618 chapels and other preaching places, 889 missionaries, 17,035 subordinate agents, and has in the missionary congregation 142,789 members, besides 13,804 on trial, and 146,457 scholars in schools.

The most important event in the history of British Methodism is the movement toward a union of the several "liberal Methodist bodies," meaning all the Methodist organizations except the main branch, the Wesleyan Methodists. This movement was inaugurated by the New Connection Methodists, at the annual conference, where a resolution was introduced and carried with acclamation, in which the hope was expressed "that the day may not be far distant when the several sections of

liberal Methodism shall become united in more intimate relations." The proposition was well received and cordially seconded by the Primitive Methodist Conference. The Conference of the United Methodists adopted by acclamation a resolution, that a union of the various liberal Methodist communities, founded on a mutually satisfactory basis, would be productive of great advantages to themselves and promote the cause of ecclesiastical freedom and the diffusion of evangelical truth; and at the same time authorized the Connectional Committee to confer with any of the liberal Methodist bodies who might be willing to enter into negotiations, with a view to give effect to the preceding resolution. The Conference of the Bible Christians expressed high gratification "that the Methodist New Connection Conference had shown an earnest disposition to fraternize" with them and the other branches of the Methodist Church, yet in reply to resolutions from the London and Portsmouth districts, recommending the Annual Conference to consider the propriety of effecting an amalgamation with the Methodist New Connection, expressed the conviction that "for the present we had better persevere in the work allotted to us by Providence in our separate capacity, but, should the hand of Providence, at any future period, appear to lead us into closer binding with that estimable denomination, we shall be prepared to deliberate seriously on the subject." The Wesleyan Reform Union also declared they had heard with pleasure the resolution of the New Connection Conference, but in view of the fact that the Union is composed of self-governing churches, united more upon the model of the Independent and Baptist Unions than as a Connection governed by a Conference or annual assembly, the essential principles which govern the churches of the Union would be violated by any attempt to amalgamate them with any other body.

At the same time, when the Union movement was inagurated in England by the New Connection Conference, it was started by the Canada Conferonce of the same denomination in British North America. The organ of the Canadian New Connection Methodists suggested that the different Methodist bodies of Canada might unite in establishing a General Conference, to be held every four years, or that the executive committees of the several bodies might meet to deliberate on the execution of this plan. The hope for a union between the liberal branches of Methodism was generally shared by the Methodist denominations of Canada.

In the United States, the Methodist Protestants generally signified their willingness to unite with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as soon as lay delegation should be introduced. The prospective abolition of slavery is moreover expected to remove the most important obstacle to a reunion of the Wesleyan Methodists with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The 12th French Conference began in Paris June 19th, 1863, and elected Rev. James Hocart, of Lausanne, president. The present statistics of the Conference are: Districts, 2; Circuits, 13; Chapels and Preaching-rooms, 182; Ministers and Probationers, 24; Colporteurs and Day Schoolmasters, 15; Local Preachers, 85; Members, 1,522; on trial, 123; Day Schools, 7; Sunday Schools, 41; Sunday-School Teachers, 227; Scholars, 1,821. One preacher on trial was admitted into full connection.

The progress of Methodism in Italy is encouraging. The congregation at Parma, at the anniversary of the first sermon preached there, numbered 91 communicants, with 30 on trial. Methodist service has also been opened in the city of Asola.

The German Annual Conference reported for 1863 the following summary of their statistics: Missionaries members of Conference, 18; missionaries probationers, 6; helpers not yet admitted, 14; colporteurs, 2; members in full connection, 2,126; members on trial, 1,249; chapels with parsonages, 13; preaching places, 156; hearers, 12,725; contributions for Missionary Society, $1,196.77; church property, real worth, with Book Concern, $47,400.00; general contribution of all members for all purposes, $8,625.73.

The Book Concern at Bremen publishes three Methodist periodicals. The Missionary Institute, in the same city, had five students.

The Scandinavian missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church had, in 1862, 4 churches, 911 members, 5 Sunday schools with 193 children. In Spain (Gibraltar), the Wesleyan Methodists of England had, in 1863, 2 circuits, 1 chapel, 1 other preaching place, 3 missionaries, 20 subordinate agents, 40 members, 6 on trial, 295 scholars in schools, 600 attendants on public worship.

MEXICO. The progress of events in Mexico during 1863 having developed with unexpected clearness the motives of the Church or reactionary party in bringing about European intervention, a few words respecting the origin and history of that party seem necessary, by way of preface, before proceeding to the record of the year. During the long period of Spanish ascendancy Mexico was subjected to numerous injurious and degrading restrictions, and her native population systematically excluded from important administrative and ecclesiastical offices, which were regularly sold in Madrid to the highest bidder, or filled by appointment of the viceroys. This policy was especially marked in the government of the Mexican Church, and resulted, in the course of three centuries, in rendering the clergy in many respects an alien body, having few associations or feelings in common with the people; and, like the majority of Spanish officials, occupied with building up and perpetuating a material and moral power, which, in proportion as it became greater, became dearer to them. Thus churches, chapels and religious

houses dotted the surface of the more populous and civilized provinces, and not a little of the vast mineral wealth of the country was employed in the embellishment of these buildings, until some of them, as the cathedral in the city of Mexico and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, became the receptacles of almost fabulous treasures in the precious metals and gems.

The first revolution under Hidalgo and Morelos in 1810-'11 found the church in undisturbed possession of its wealth, and, in the enjoyment of revenues far beyond the necessities of religious culture. Neither in Mexico nor in the mother country had the immunities enjoyed by the clergy since the time of the inquisition been interfered with, and the partial reaction from the radical reforms inaugurated by the French revolution seemed to indicate the preservation of things as they were. Hence the clergy, intent upon protecting their property and privileges, and not displeased probably by the restoration of absolute goverment and the inquisition under Ferdinand VII., lent no sympathy to the popular movement, which degenerated in a few years into a partisan contest, and by the commencement of 1820 seemed thoroughly repressed in all parts of the country. In that year, however, the despotism of Ferdinand and the inquisition were both overthrown in Spain, and the restoration of the constitution of 1812, together with the suppression of convents and other liberal measures, foreshadowed a policy, which, if applied to the colonies, would inevitably lead to the sequestration of Church property and the decline of ecclesiastical authority. Hence the Church par ty, though eminently conservative, and sympathizing with the absolutist party of Spain, felt constrained in self-defence to lend its influence in favor of the revolution under Iturbide, preferring, after a nice calculation of probabilities, to cast its lot with an independent government, rather than subject itself to despoilment at the hands of the Spanish Cortes.

The revolution proving successful, it immediately became the object of the clergy to control the government which they had aided in forming, and thus prevent interference with their immunities. This, with the resources possessed by them, was not a difficult matter, and among a population made up of such conflicting elements as the Mexican, it has always been possible by a judicious expenditure of money and an appeal to prejudices or class interests, to form a strong party in favor of the Church. To the efforts of this party may be ascribed most of the revolutions that have distracted the country down to the present time, and the defeat of every liberal measure; and the apparent anarchy of the last forty years, which the Church party has for its own interests represented as incurable, has been in fact a struggle between the ideas of progress inaugurated during the present century, and that reactionary policy which would restore the in

quisition and other institutions of a past age. Wherever the Church could not control it has sought to destroy, and not a few of the "pronunciamentos" and "plans" aimed at existing administrations, and the number of which perplexes the reader of Mexican history, have had their origin in the selfish desire to hold and increase property and power at the sacrifice of national peace and stability. Administration after administration has been overthrown upon any appearance of an intention to nationalize Church, property or even to promote liberal measures, and the crowning effort of the party is seen in its scheme to destroy by the aid of foreign intervention the independence which it aided in securing, and to fasten upon Mexico the reproach of being the only Catholic country in the world, in which the temporal affairs of the Church have remained unchanged during the revolutious of the last half century.

It speaks volumes in favor of the energy and influence of the Church party that from the revolutions of 1820 down to 1860, with some few exceptions, no president, however hard pressed, has ever ventured to encroach upon what is commonly regarded as consecrated property. Congress indeed, in 1833, abolished the compulsory payment of tithes, including a tenth part of the first fruits which grew upon the soil of the republic and the firstlings of the cattle; but so many persons, for conscientious reasons or for other causes, continued to pay this tax that the revenue of the Church suffered no serious diminution. In fact, by the partial separation of the Church from the State in that year, the former gained a more complete independence than it had ever before enjoyed, and in consequence a greater degree of power, the bishops thenceforth exercising control over all ecclesiastical property as quasi corporations sole. When the Government went further, and proposed in 1835, at the suggestion of President Gomez Farrias, to appropriate the property of the Church to the payment of the public debt, the proposition was promptly met by a revolution, which led to the conversion of the confederation of States into a consolidated republic, with Santa Anna as dictator. Eighteen years later, after a dreary interval of constantly recurring revolutions, the same man found himself again in the presidential chair with unlimited powers. A combination of liberals drove him from the country, and, under the presidency of Comonfort, decrees were promulgated confiscating the property of the Church and forbidding the clergy to hold real estate. Revolutionary outbreaks prevented the enforcement of these, and a civil war of unexampled duration and fury between the liberals, under Juarez, and the Church party led by Zuloaga and Miramon, followed, resulting in 1860 in the triumph of the former.

The contest by this time had become narrowed down to a struggle between the ultra liberals and ultra conservatives. There was

no longer any middle party; and almost the sole question involved was whether the enormous unemployed wealth in the hands of the clergy should remain with them, or should be appropriated to discharge the claims of foreign nations, engendered during many years of anarchy and confusion, and to the payment of the constantly increasing national debt. This was practically decided by the abolition, in 1860, under the administration of Juarez, of all the special privileges of the clergy, and the sequestration of the Church property which was sold to the people at a low nominal price. As a last resort, the Church party, in despair of their ability to regain the influence they once wielded, determined to solicit foreign intervention, hoping, by some fortunate turn in affairs, to build up a monarchy upon the ruins of the republic, and place upon the throne a European prince of absolutist tendencies, under whom they might obtain a respite from the attacks of their enemies. A tolerable pretext for such intervention was afforded by claims for injuries to persons or property. This, however, was not considered sufficient to justify, in the estimation of the world, such a change in their government as they desired, and profiting by their superior means of moulding foreign opinion, they labored to create the belief that Mexico was unfitted for free institutions and utterly incapable of self-government.

As if enough had not been done by them during the previous forty years to bring their country into discredit with foreign nations, they forthwith commenced a series of unparalleled excesses in all parts of the republic, sparing neither native nor foreign born, and murdering, robbing and destroying, until Europe should be worked up to the proper pitch of indignation, and "in the interests of civilization" claim to interfere. Almonte, Miramon and other agents abroad, meanwhile, from time to time laid this unhappy state of things before the tribunal of public opinion, and thus skilfully prepared the way for intervention.* How that was finally brought about has been related in the preceding volumes of this work. The object of this preface is to show that the Church party has systematically provoked the calamities which it now seeks to cure by intervention; and it will be seen further on, that, after two years of hostilities, and the nearly complete overthrow of the liberal party and destruction of the republic, the elements of disturbance remain in full vigor, and that the proper remedy has not yet been applied.

May 27th, 1862, "the origin of the whole affair. The mon"We now understand," says the "London Times" of archy, with the Archduke Maximilian for emperor, was the idea of certain Mexican refugees, members of the ReacMarquez and other ruffians, whose misdeeds have been tionary or Clerical party in Mexico, and partisans of among the principal causes of our intervention. If Ferdi

nand Maximilian goes to Mexico, he will find his most active friends among the men who have shot, tortured and robbed, until Europe has at last lost patience." A remarkable confirmation of this statement is afforded in a speech delivered by Signor Romero, the Mexican Minister to Washington, at a dinner in the city of New York, Dec. 16th, 1863.