13. The Wesleyan Methodist Church was formed by a convention of clerical and lay delegates which met in the city of Utica, N. Y., m 1843. The principal part of the delegates in attendance were ministers or mem- bers of the :Methodist Episcopal Church, and the main reason for the establishment of the new body was their hostility to slavery. At their organization as a Church they adopted a Discipline and plan of Church govern- ment, and divided the connection into six Annual Con- ferences, having about 300 ministers and preachers (most- ly local), and a reported membership of about GOOO. Their Articles of Faith are the same as those of the ISIeihodist Episcopal Church, and their General Pules are similar, with the exception that they are more stringent on the subject of slavery. They discard epis- copacy and presiding elders, but, like the English Wes- leyans, they have chairmen of districts, and elect the presidents of their Annual Conferences at each succes- sive session. Ministers are appointed to their respective fields of labor by a stationing committee, the decisions of said committee being subject to approval by the Con- ference. Societies and churches are permitted to nego- tiate beforehand with any minister for his services; but sucli engagements, if made, must receive the sanc- tion of the Conference. Both (ieneral and Annual Con- ferences are composed fif ministers and lay delegates, the local preachers also having a representation.
14. The African Methodist F^riscorAi- CniRcii was formed by a party of colored members, under the leadc rship of Pichard Allen, hence sometimes called .4/- liuitis, who seceded from their white brethren at Phila- delphia ill 1810. They adopted, in the main, the doc- trines anil usages of the body from which they seceded. Mr. Allen was elected to the office of bishoj). aiul ordained by four elders of their Church, assisted by a colored pres- l)yter of the Protestant Episcopal denomination. They are found in various parts of the states of Pennsylvania, New York. Xew .hrsey. Delaware, and ^laryland. There are also souie in the Western States, and a few in Upper Canada, their congregations l)eing largest and most in- fluential in the city of Philadelphia. The Methodist Aliixnnic of 1873 assigns them 7 bishops, GOO preachers, and 'iOO.OOO members.
15. The Ai'-RicAN Methodist Episcopal (Zion)
Church was formed by another secession of colored members in the city of New York in 1819. They elect annually one of their elders as general superintendent, but do not ordain or set him apart to that office by the imposition of hands. The MethodUt Almanac of 1873 credits them with 7 bishops, 694 preachers, and 104,000 members.
10. The United Brethren in Christ is the desig- nation of a body of Christians, sometimes called German Methodists. They must not be confounded with the Moravians, or Unitas Fratrum, who are sometimes called the United Brethren. " The United Brethren in Christ," although mostly consisting of Germans and tlieir imme- diate descendants, are of American origin, and date as a distinct sect from the year 1800, when their first Annual Conference was held. F"rom that time they have con- tinued to increase in Pennsylvania, ilaryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and other portions of the United States. They have four bishops, nine Annual Conferences, and a General Conference, which meets ever\' fourth year. In doctrines and Church government they are, with few unimportant variations, the same as the Methodist Epis- copalians.
17. The Evangelical Association are in doctrine and Church government nearly allied to the Ivpisco- pal IMethodists. They date from the year 1800, and are sometimes called -4 Ibric/hts, after one of the founders of the sect. They elect bishops from the body of the elders, and have several Annual Conferences, and a General Conference, the supreme law-making authority, which meets ()uadrcnnially. The members are mostly Germans or of German descent, and are numerous only in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. The Methodht A l- manac of 1873 reports 1 bishop, 623 preachers, 428 local preachers, and 78,716 members.
18. The Free Methodist Church was organized by former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Aug. 23, 18(50. The main occasion for the establishment of this body was the expulsion of two ministers from the (Jenesee Conference. The Free Methodists rigidly en- force the rule for simplicity of dress ; the ]irivilege of free seats in all houses of worship ; congregational singing, without the aid of choir or musical instrument ; extem- poraneous preaching. In doctrine they are one with other Jlethodist bodies, but adhere strictly to Wesley's \'iews on sanctif cation, and teach everlastinij torment. They have abandoned the episcopacy, but have one su- perintejident, who is elected everj' four years at the meet- ing of their General Conference. They report, in 1872. 165 preachers and 71.')5 members. See Methodists, Free.
19. The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church IN Ameiuca was organized by order of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, December IG, 1870. The new Church consists of the colored preachers and members heretofore belonging to the ]\Iethodist I-Ipiscopal Church, South. Two bishops were elected — Pev. WiUiam II. Allies, of Kentucky, and I!ev. P. II. Vandcrhorst, of Georgia. The Christian In- dex, edited by Pev. Samuel Watson, at Jlemphis, Tenn., was adojited as the organ of the new Churcli, and Pev. L. J. Scurlock was elected assistant editor and book agent. The structure of the new Church, counting about 13.0(10 members, conforms in all essential jiarticu- lars to that of the Methodist ICpiscojial Church, Soiiih, viz. in doctrine, discipline, and economy, but is entirely independent of that organization, though in sympathy with and fostered by it. White people are not admitted to membership.