UMMen History
The Heritage of United Methodist Men's Work
The heritage of United Methodist Men is a most glorious one. The roots of Methodist Men are buried deep down in the heart of Methodism and find their source in the life and work of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. From the Holy Club at Oxford University to the societies and classes formed among Methodist Men in the ranks of the British army and navy to the Naval and Military Bible Society organized in 1779 by two men in Wesley's West Street Chapel to the impact of John Wesley's work among men and, especially the men of the British army was profound. Organized brotherhood groups began to spring up among the men of the army. Many of these men later chose ordained ministry as their vocation. Some of Wesley's earliest preachers were former soldiers.
In an old Gentleman's Magazine a British naval officer declared that at sea it was impossible to get efficient work out of the men without the use of profanity, with one remarkable exception. He said, "I never knew but one exception and that was extraordinary, I declare, believe me it is true, there were a group of men called Methodists on board the Victory, Lord Nelson's ship, and these men never wanted swearing at. They were the best seamen on board. Every man knew his duty. Every man did his duty. They used to meet together and sing hymns, and nobody dared to molest them. The commander would not have suffered it, even if they had attempted it. They were allowed a mess to themselves. I have often heard them singing away myself. And, incredible as it sounds, not one of them was either killed or wounded at the battle of Trafalgar, though they did their duty as well as any man. Not one of them was even hurt. These are the only seamen that I ever knew to do their duty without swearing, and I will do them the justice to say that they do it."
In the United States, work among men of The Methodist Church began with the formation of various independent societies from 1875 to the turn of the century. Available records refer to an organization in 1894 known as the Brotherhood of Saint Paul. It held what may have been the first National Conference of Methodist Men in 1898.
At this same time, another organization call the Mizpah Brotherhood took shape. After undergoing several re-organizations with several changes in name, it finally formed itself into a group called the Wesley Brotherhood.
In 1907 the Brotherhood of St. Paul united with the Wesley Brotherhood and named itself The Methodist Brotherhood. It also formed a separate group for boys called the Knights of Methodism, an organization that continued until church unification in 1939. It had an outstanding slogan: A Mission Methodist Men Making The Mind Of The Master Their Main Motive And Mission.
In 1924 another organization called the Wesley Brotherhoods arose in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Key leaders were Dr. George L. Morelock, Edgar Welch, founder of the Welch Grape Juice Company, and Branch Rickey a professional baseball manager and league executive.
In 1928, a meeting was held in the Brown Hotel in Louisville for the unification of men's work in the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South after unification. The Joint Committee on Men's Work was the result. Among the men who contributed to this work were Dow Bancroft, Edgar Welch, Harry Denman, Jamie Houston, George Morelock, Ray Nichols and J. M. Sullivan. When the Uniting Conference was held in 1939, all legislation regarding men's work was ready. Through Dr. Morelock's influence, the men's work of Lay Activities was lifted out of the former Methodist Episcopal Church, South and made an integral part of the program of Lay Activities of the Methodist Church.
The first General Conference of the Methodist Church, held in Atlantic City in 1940, established the General Board of Lay Activities, headquartered in Chicago. Edgar Welch became the first President and Ray Nichols its first vice-president. Dr. Morelock was named Executive Secretary and Dow Bancroft its first Associate Secretary. Two years later, a program of men's work was launched. Authority to grant charters was given and in the week ending September 29, 1942, 6 charters were granted. Three of these original 6 chartered units are active today.
The name Methodist Men was adopted in 1942, along with the present objectives, purposes, and program. The work has spread beyond the borders of the United States. We now have chartered fellowships in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Chile, Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska and Liberia. Correspondence has been exchanged with men in Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Germany.