ferent, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren. Every particular church may ordain, change or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.

23. The president, the Congress, the General Assemblies, the Governor, the Councils of State, as the delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to them by the Constitution of the United States, and by the constitutions of their respective states. And the said states are a sovereign and independent nation and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction.

a two-thirds vote of the membership in 1869, after having agitated the church more or less for forty years, and having been the basis of one or two secessions. The General Conference governs and controls the entire Church, but is restricted by its constitution on certain points relative to its doctrines, polity, and distribution of its funds.

The Annual Conferences consist of all the traveling preachers, deacons, and presiding elders of a certain portion of country, usually comprising several districts, each under the charge of a presiding elder. There are now also admitted to these conferences delegations of the laity equal in number to the clerical representation. Each conference is presided over by a bishop. The main business transacted at these conferences is the admission and ordination of preachers; an examination of the character and official administration of the ministers belonging to the Conference; a review of the missionary, educational, and publishing interests; the apportionment of the Conference funds to infirm and superannuated preachers, and to the widows and orphans of such within the 24. The riches and goods of Christians Conference; and the assignment of the minare not common, as touching the right, title, isters to their several stations and circuits and possession of the same, as some do falsely for the year ensuing. In each district there boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, is held a quarterly conference, composed of of such things as he possesseth, liberally to the traveling and local ministers, the exhortgive alms to the poor, according to his ability.ers, stewards, class-leaders, and superintend25. As we confess that vain and rash ants of Sunday Schools. These conferences swearing is forbidden Christian men, by are presided over by the presiding elder of our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his apos- the district, and manage the details of local tle, so we judge that the Christian religion interests connected with the stations or cirdoth not prohibit, but that a man may swear cuits; serve as courts of appeal in the trial when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of of church members; grant licenses to preach, faith and charity, so it be done according to and recommend suitable candidates for adthe prophet's teaching, 'in justice, judgment, mission into the Annual Conference. and truth."" theory of the itinerancy in the Methodist church as defined by Wesley, was, that it incited the preachers to a greater measure of zeal and enthusiasm as they addressed new congregations so often; that it made the congregations or churches more attentive to the gospel and less attached to the persons of those who proclaimed it; that by this method of distributing the various classes of gifts the smaller and poorer locations were sure of receiving a share of the best gifts of which they would otherwise be deprived; and that, not being influenced by local attachments, the preachers would be better fitted to act as pioneers on the frontiers, where, otherwise, they might be less willing to go. In its practical working other advan.

It is proper to notice that as the Methodist church, founded by Wesley, was really an offshoot from the Church of England, much of the phraseology of these articles is taken from the doctrinal standards of that Church.

The legislative power of the church resides in its General Conference, which meets every four years, and to which the 72 annual conferences are subject. This General Conference has hitherto been composed of clerical delegates appointed by the several Annual Conferences. The General Conference of 1872 will, however, have a proportion of lay delegates, as do now the Annual Conferences; lay representation having been approved by

The

II. THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SoUTH. This body seceded from the "Methodist Episcopal Church" in 1844, on the following grounds: It was well known that

tages and disadvantages have been developed; | 614,591; value of parsonages, $7,293,513; and while in a new section of country, it number of sunday schools, 16.912; number proves successful and has accomplished great of sunday school teachers, 189,412; number good, it is every year becoming more dis- of sunday school scholars, 1,221,393; amount tasteful to the clergymen and churches in of benevolent collections, (aside from church the more densely populated portions of the expenses,) $967,862. country. In the cities and larger towns the circuit feature has almost entirely disap peared; the ministers are pastors of single churches, the only difference being that their stay is limited with a single church. This John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, limit was formerly two years, but the Conference of 1868 made it three years. The more eloquent and popular preachers, how ever, often manage to evado this limit by securing an appointment in the same city in some different capacity, which will allow them to remain as practical pastors of the churches to which they are attached. With indolent and half educated ministers it is alleged that the itinerancy encourages idle ness, as it renders any considerable study, beyond the preparation of plans of sermons for the first year or two years, unnecessary; but the Methodist ministry has but a small proportion of drones. To be eligible to full connection in an annual Conference and the office of deacon, a preacher must have traveled two years as a probationer and stood suitable examinations. He is eligible to elders' or ministers' orders after two years further service and another examination. Preachers-i. e., licensed exhorters and deacons- -are not authorized to baptize or administer the Lord's Supper. Elders or ministers are ordained by the bishops, and may administer all the ordinances. Stewards are persons chosen by the Quarterly Conferences to take charge of and disburse all funds collected for the poor, the support of the ministry, and sacramental purposes. Class-leaders are appointed by the ministers; their duty is to see all the members of their respective classes once a week, to learn their spiritual condition, and to receive their contributions for church purposes. Classes usually con

In

was opposed to slavery, declaring it to be "the sum of all villanies;" but the Methodist Episcopal Church having a large membership in the Southern states, had grown lax on the subject, and as for many years there was very little agitation on the question, many slaveholders became members and a considerable number ministers of the church. In 1828, one of these latter, known to be a slaveholder, was sent as the representative of the Methodist Episcopal Church to the British Wesleyan Conference. In 1840, the General Conference declared by formal resolution, that "the mere ownership of slave property, in states or territories where the laws do not admit of emancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom, constitutes no legal barrier to the election or ordination of ministers to the various grades of office known in the ministry of the "Methodist Episcopal Church.” 1844, however, the feeling of opposition to slavery began to be renewed in the General Conference, which was held in New York City, and proceedings not assuming judicial form, and unaccompanied with any regular impeachment, were instituted against Rev. James O. Andrew, D. D., who had been one of the bishops since 1832, a citizen of Georgia, who had married a lady possessing many slaves. These proceedings, after a protracted debate, were terminated by an act passed by a majority of the Conference requiring the bishop to desist from his functions, on account of this connection with slavery. Theresist of twelve or more persons. upon the representatives of thirteen of the The statistics of the Methodist Episcopal thirty-three annual conferences of which the Church, in 1870, were as follows: Bishops church was then composed, (being those em8; travelling preachers, 9,193; local preach- braced in the slaveholding states,) presented ers, 11,404; total preachers, 21,234; mem-a declaration which set forth their solemn bers in full connection, 1,173,099; members conviction that a continuance of the jurison probation, 194,035; total lay members, diction of the General Conference over the 1,367,134; adult baptisms, 66,481; infant annual conferences thus represented, would baptisms, 50,453; total baptisms, 116,934; be inconsistent with the success of the number of churches, 13.373; number of par- Methodist ministry in the slaveholding states, sonages, 4,179; value of church edifices, $52,- | The declaration was accompanied by a for.

repel all overtures looking to such a measure, with considerable bitterness. Their doctrinal views are identical with those of the "Methodist Episcopal Church," and there is no difference in their polity or discipline. They have now when the board of bishops is full, nine, but Bishop Andrew having recently deceased, there are but eight now acting; there are 30 conferences, 2,646 traveling and 187 superannuated preachers, 4,753 local peachers, 540,820 white members, 19,616 colored members, (only one tenth of what they had in 1829,) 3,149 Indians; a total of 571,241.

mal protest against the action of the majority in Bishop Andrew's case, and thus led to the adoption by the General Conference of a plan of separation, according to which there was contemplated an amicable adjustment of boundary lines, and a fair division of property, should the annual conferences in the slaveholding states find it necessary to unite in an ecclesiastical connection distinct from that of the North. The church in the South and South-west, in primary assemblies, and in quarterly and annual conferences, sustained the declaration of the delegates, and measures were immediately adopted for the assembling of a convention. III, and IV. The two AFRICAN METHThis was held in May, 1845, at Louisville, ODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. The A. M. Ky. Acting under the provisions of the E. Church proper, and the Zion A. M. E. plan of separation, and in pursuance of the Church may perhaps with propriety be conformal instructions of the annual conferences, sidered together, inasmuch as overtures are the convention dissolved the jurisdiction of now pending for their consolidation. Both the General Conference over the conferences profess to be identical in their doctrinal there represented, and created a separate views with the Methodist Episcopal Church, ecclesiastical connection under the title of and their polity and government differ but "The Methodist Episcopal Church, South." slightly. The first has bishops, but permits The first General Conference of this organ- lay representation to a limited extent in its ization was held at Petersburg, Va., in 1846. General Conference from the ranks of the There was some difficulty in arranging all local preachers, and gives in its annual conthe details for the separation, and owing to ferences equal privileges to the travel ng and the repudiation of the plan of separation local preachers. The Zion Church has no by the General Conference of the "Metho- bishops, but general superintendents in their dist Episcopal Church" in 1848, the division place, elected every four years. Its General of the property of the Book concern, pro Conference is composed of all the traveling rata, was only accomplished after a lawsuit ministers in the connection, but no lay delein 1853. In 1845 the statistics of the gation is allowed. An African church seMethodist Episcopal Church, South, were: 5 ceded in 1787, under the name of the Bethel bishops, 13 annual conferences, 1,384 trav- African M. E. Church, but this was subseeling preachers, 90 superannuated preachers, quently absorbed into the Methodist Episco2,550 local preachers, 330,710 white mem- pal Church. In 1816, however, some of the bers, 124,811 colored members, 2,978 In- more eminent of the colored Methodist dians; total 462,428. This was almost one-ministers believing that they could be freer half of the whole membership of the Meth- and more useful in a separate communion, odist Episcopal Church before the division. called a convention in Philadelphia, and In 1859, there were six bishops, 24 annual organized the "African Methodist Episcopal preachers, 1,661 traveling preachers, 5,177 local preachers,. 511,601 white members, 197,348 colored members, 4,236 Indians; total, 721,023. They continued to increase until the war, when they lost a large number of their colored members, who preferred the African organizations, and after the emancipation proclamation, and the ratification of the XIVth and XVth amendments to the constitution of the United States, the basis on which they had made their separation was removed. The twenty-seven years of separate organization have however, made them indisposed for a reunion, and they

Church. Its growth has been moderate but steady until the emancipation proclamation in 1863, which has led to a great increase in its membership. It has now ten conferences, seven bishops, over 600 traveling and 1200 local preachers, 586 churches, 200,000 communicants, over 500 Sunday Schools, and more than 1200 day schools. Its adherent population is not less than 600,000. The property of the Church, in schools, colleges, and church edifices, exceeds four million dollars. It owns Wilberforce University, near Xenia, Green Co., Ohio, and four seminaries of a high class at Baltimore,

Md.; Columbus, Ohio; Alleghany, and Pitts- | higher rank or privilege than an elder after burgh, Pa. They have a Book concern at their term of service is expired. The annual Philadelphia, and issue a weekly and a month- conferences elect their presiding elders for ly religious periodical. the same term, and these return to the itinThe "African Methodist Episcopal Zion erancy at the expiration of their term of Church" seceded from the Methodist Episco- service. There are also quarterly couferpal Church in 182, and held its first annual ences, in which a lay delegation is allowed, conference in New York, in 1821. Its se- but not in the Annual or General Confercession was in consequence of some differences. The statistics of the "Evangelical ences of opinion in regard to church govern- Association" in 1869 were as follows: Two ment. Its growth was slow until the war, bishops, fourteen annual conferences, 798 when it shared with the African M. E. churches, 500 itinerant, and 377 local preachChurch, in the large influx of colored Meth- ers, 65,691 members, 863 Sunday Schools, odists previously connected with the church with 45,175 scholars, 153 mission stations south, and in a very large accession of new in America, and Europe; a full complement converts. Being very much straitened for of Missionary, Sunday School, Tract, and means for the support of their schools and Charitable societies, a publishing house at churches just after the war, they appealed to Cleveland; four periodicals, a college, an Congregationalists, to Unitarians, and to orphan institution, several seminaries, 207 Friends for assistance, and received a consid- parsonages, and church property to the value erable amount from each. They had ex- of about $2,000,000. pected to consummate a union with the African M. E. Church in 1868, but from some cause the union has been delayed, but will probably be completed in 1872. They have six general superintendents (answering to bishops, but elected for four years), 694 traveling and about 1300 local preachers, nearly 700 churches, and about 164,000

members.

V. THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, called also Albright Methodists, from the name of their founder, is an ecclesiastical body of great energy and activity, which took its rise in Eastern Pennsylvania, about 1790, from the labors of Rev. Jacob Albright, a German Methodist minister, who sought to promote a religious reform among the Germans of that region. It was not organized as a church till about 1800, when Mr. Albright was unanimously elected and ordained as their pastor and bishop.

Sixteen years later they had become so numerous as to organize a general conference. For the first thirty years of their existence, the Evangelical Association met with violent opposition, but since 1830 it has made rapid progress. In doctrines and theology the association is substantially one with the Methodist Episcopal Church; and its mode of worship and usages are essentially methodistic; in its church government it has a General Conference meeting every four years, and constituting its highest legislative and judicial authority. The General Conference elects its bishops for four years; they may be re-elected, but if not, hold no

PROTESTANT

VI. THE " METHODIST CHURCH," an organization which was formed of seceders from the "Methodist Episcopal Church" in 1830, the secession being based on the grounds of dissatisfaction with the Episcopate, and the refusal of lay representation. In doctrinal views, they accept the standards of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but have no bishops. Their general conference, which meets once in seven years, and is composed of one ministerial and one lay delegate for every thousand communicants, is the governing body; and in the interim of its sessions, its president and the officers of the different committees and societies created by it, exercise administrative authority to a limited extent. The annual conferences, composed of ministers only, elect their own presidents, and possess authority within their own bounds. Its quarterly conferences, exhorters, class-leaders, stewards, etc., are copied after the Methodist Episcopal pattern. The church had in 1870 423 itinerant, and about 860 local preachers, nearly 900 churches, and about 72,000 communicants. It does not seem to be growing, for its statistics in 1858 were considerably larger than these figures. It has seven collegiate institutions, three of them for females; two other literary institutions; small book concerns at Baltimore, Md., and Springfield, Ohio, and four periodicals.

VII. "THE METHODIST CHURCH," is another branch of the Methodist family, of which we only know that it reported in 1870 624 preachers, and 49,030 members. Its