Methodism
one of the leading religious systems of English-speaking races. A religious society existed at Oxford in the year 1727, among the members of which were John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield, young men studying for orders. They and their associates were half derisively called the "Godly," or the "Sacramentarian Club" (because they went through a mocking crowd to communicate at St. Mary's), and, finally, Methodists, from the methodical way in which they performed their religious duties. The first Methodist meeting house was built in Bristol, England, in 1740; later the Foundry in Moorfields, London, hired for a term of years, was fitted up as a preaching house. In 1744 the first conference was held; it was attended by six persons, all clergymen. At the conference held at Leeds in 1755, the separation between itinerant and local preachers was made broader; the former were to be supported by the contributions of the societies; the latter to support themselves by their ordinary callings, preaching during hours of leisure. By 1767 there were 32 of the former and some hundreds of the latter; in 1791 the former numbered 312.
Charles Wesley, who had rendered the Methodists, and the English Churches generally, great service by his hymns, died in 1788, and John, at the age of nearly 88, on March 2, 1791. In the United States the government of the churches is generally Episcopal, though some of the bodies adhere to the primitive method of control. The two domi. nant bodies are the Methodist Episcopal METHUEN Branches. Ministers. Churches. Members.
Other white (5 bodies) African Methodist Episcopal Zion..
Colored Methodist Episcopal Other colored (6 bodies) 2,184 2,505 79,334 8,175 6,454 552,265 2,738 258,433 2,621 245,749 256 16,875 3,962 3,402 598 The ministry is itinerant, the term of incumbency being limited, and the appointments made by the bishops and their councils (composed of presiding elders or sub-bishops). In doctrinal points they coincide with the Wesleyan Church, with but few minor differences, and may properly be regarded as an integral part of the great body of Wesleyans. In 1784 John Wesley had executed a deed poll in Chancery, which, reserving his rights and those of his brother, provided that on his death his place should be supplied by a permanent body of 100 ministers, meeting at the conference, and called the Legal Hundred. They still constitute the supreme governing body of the Wesleyan Methodists. When it meets, it fills up by co-optation all vacancies which may have arisen during the year. The annual conference, during the consideration of spiritual questions, is composed of ministers only; but during the discussion of financial matters it consists of 240 ministers and 240 laymen.