Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South

The leaders of the southern geographical group of the Methodist Episcopal Church established this church in 1845. It was due to differences in thought regarding slavery. It rejoined the northern churches: Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Protestant Church to establish The Methodist Church in 1939.

The publishing arm of the church was headed by various agents over the years. Beginning in 1887 J. D. Barbee was the agent. In 1890 and throughout the 1890’s J. D. Smith worked as an assistant agent (Barbee & Smith).

1895 postcard

Back of a postcard sent to a customer in 1893.

Previous other agents:
1846-1853 John Early
1854-1857 Stephenson and Owen
1856 E. Stevenson & J. E. Evans
1858-1865 , 1878-1887 J. B. McFerrin
1866-1877 A. H. Redford

With Barbee and then with Barbee & Smith this firm published a number of Sunday School Libraries. This included Standard Sunday School Libraries No. 1-9 and Standard Primary Sunday School Libraries A-D. There were also several series of books which were also included within the libraries but were series unto themselves.