IV. Subdivisions.— The different branches of the great Methodistic body are as follows :
1. The Wesleyan Methodists, or main and original body of the Methodists in Great Britain, often spoken of above. See Wesleyans.
METHODISM
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METHODISM
2. The Calvin'istic Methodists date from a dis- pute between Wliitefield and the Wesleys on doctrinal I)iiiiits. The former, with his assuiiatrs. uinUr the spe- cial patronage of the countess <]!" iluiiiiii-dMii. and great- ly aided by her liberal contribiiiiiui-. ..r-ani/cil .societies and built chapels in various parts of England, Scotland, and Wales. For their particidar doctrinal tenets, see Calvinism. After tlie death of Whitelield they were divided into three separate sects. (1.) The first was known as IakI;/ Jluiiliiir/don's Connection, ■which observed strictly the liturgical forms of the English Established Cinirch, with a settled pastorate instead of an itinerant ministry. They have not increased with much rapidity since her death, having at the present time less than a hundred ministers, and between sixty and seventy cha])- els. They have maintained from the beginning a the- ological school for the education of ministers, now known as Cheshunt College, in Hertfordshire, England. See Iluxrixunox. iVlthough the name "connection" con- tiiHies to be used, the Congregational polity is practi- cally adopted ; and, of late years, several of the congre- gations have become, in name as well as virtually, Con- gregational Churches. The number of chajjcls, men- tioned in the census of 1851, as belonging to this con- nection, was 109, containing accommodations for 38,727 persons, and the attendance on the census Saturday was 10,151. (2.) The second of these divisions was called I tlie Tabernacle Connection, or Whitejicld Metho(li.iti<. They had no connectional bond after the death of their founder, and each separate society regarding itself as in- dci)cndent, they are now lost as a distinctive sect, and foiuiil only among the churches known as ( 'imgrcgal ion- alist or Independent. (.3.) The Welsh C<i!rliu.<t!r M<lh- (>(lis/.i, the third of these branches, was (irgani/od in 1743. They have continued to increase and prosper un- til the present day, being confined, however, mostly to the ])rincipality ofWales, where thej'at present number about GO.OOO communicants. In the United States there are about 4000 members of this denomination, with four annual Conferences, one in each of the states of New York, Pennsj'lv^ania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The mem- bers are mostly Welsh, or of Welsh descent, and their religious services are generally celebrated in the Welsh language.
3. The Wesleyan jNIetiiodist New Connection was the result of the first secession from the [larent bodj' after the death of Wesley. It originated in 1797, under the leadership of Alexander Kilham, after whom they are siinu-limrs called Kil/i'iniiti-s (q.v.). He had been a ]irca;lKr anions; the Wcsleyans, and was expelled from llie Coiircnui'c in 17'.H). His olfenco was a publication in winch he criticised severely the then present order of things, and submitted proposals for what he deemed reform. In accordance with his sentiments a secession Ciinivli was orgifnized, and the New Connection sprang into existence with about 5000 members. Their Con- ference is constituted upon the representative system, laymen having an eipial voice with the clergy in the govenmient of the Church, while in doctrine and gen- eral usage they differ not at all from the old connection. Their history has not been marked by any great success. Tiuy have a few chapels in Ireland, and in Canada tliere are from 8000 to 10,000 members. Of late years they have decreased in the immber of membership. In 1874 the l)ndy contained 33,563 members.
4. TiiK Uand-Kooji JIetiioihsts originated in "Man- chcster in I8()(i. The name is derived from the /iaiid Room in North Street, ^Manchester, where a class of over- zealous revivalists used to gather, and, contrary to the rules of the Connection, admitted parties not members, riiey were also guilty of acting independently of leaders' me, lings, and when remonstrated with, withdrew and forjoid an independent body. Tlie Uand-Hoom Meth- odists still exist; but are now called The United Free (j().<lhl t'hurches. They diflFer from the "parent" body in having no paid ministers. They have, however, an- nual confereuces.
5. The Primitive Methodists are, next to the Wes- leyans, the largest jMethodist body in England. They date from the year 1810. A few regidar Wesleyan preachers introduced, on their circuits, the American practice of holding camp-meetings. These were disap- ])roved by the Conference, and denounced as "highly improper." Other tpiestions entered into the contro- vers\-, and the result was the formation of the new sect. Their discipline and theology are strictly Wesleyan, but they go beyond any other denomination in committing the duty of Church government to the laity. Their Conference is comjwsed of one third preachers and two thirds laymen. From the stir they make in their re- ligious services, they liave been called Ranters. They allow women to j)reach. They have several missions in foreign lands, and in England and Wales, according to the last official report of 1874, the connection had 104,772 members. In the United States, also, they have secured a footing; they here count a membership of some 2000. See Primitive Methodists.
6. The Brvanites, or Biiu.e Christians, are a sect of Methodists very similar to the preceding. They date from 1815. Their leader was a Wesleyan local preacher of considerable talent, by the name of O'Bryan (q. v.). Among them, as among the Primitive Methodists, fe- males are regularls licensed to preach in public. They principally exist in ( oiinvall and the West of England, but also have njis-imi siaiions in the Channel Islands, the United States. Canada, Prince Edv.ard's Island, and Australia. They had, according to their report of 1873, 20,427 fidl and accredited Church members.