There are a few other minor subdivisions of the Jlethodist family, e. g. the Independent (or Congrega- tional) ^lethodist Church, the names and statistics of which are given in the talndar summary below. In connection with one or other of the larger bodies, ^Melh- odists are found not only in England and North Amer- ica, but they have ''Conferences" in France, Germany, Africa, and Australia. They have missionary stations (for more particulars conceruinj; which, sec section VI).
METHODISM
159
METHODISM
20. Defunct Methodist Bodies. — Of these, the most important are :
(«) The Kkforjied Methodist Church. This bod\^, which is now merged into the Wesleyan Method- ist Church (see 13), originated in a secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 181-1. The seceders considered themselves restricted under the episcopal form of government, and, with a view to obtain redress of their grievances, petitioned the General Conference. Their representations met with no favorable reception, and in consequence they withdrew from the member- ship of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their formal separation from that body took place Jan. 16, 181-1. In the leading doctrines of Christianity they agreed with the Church which they left ; but as to the government of the Church, they conducted their affairs on the Con- gregational principle. They held peculiar views re- garding the efficacy of faith. They believed that all blessings given in answer to prayer are in consequence of faith ; and in cases of sickness and distress, faith ex- ercised is the restoring principle. They also taught moral perfection in the present state. They admitted to membership all who simply exhibited clear evidence that their sins were forgiven, and that their hearts were renewed. They held that subscription to any record of Christian principles is altogether unnecessary. In 1818 they spread in Upper Canada, and there made great progress. For some time after the organization of the Wesleyan IMethodist Church they united with that body in publishing a magazine — a circumstance which ultimately led to a union between the two bodies.
(6) The Methodist Society, a body which origina- ted in a secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York in 1820, in consequence of wliat was deemed an undue interference on the part of the ruling preacher with the temporalities of the Church. In Church doctrine the new body adhered to the rules of the '-parent" society, but in the gov-ernment of the Cluirch there was a considerable difference. 1. No bishop was allowed, but a president of each Annual Con- ference was chosen yearly by ballot from the members thereof. 2. All ordained ministers, whether travelling or not, were allowed a seat in the Annual Conference. " The property of the societies to be vested in trustees of their own choice, and the minister to have no over- sight of the temporal affairs of the Church." After the
organization of the Methodist Protestant Church (see 12), the Methodist Society was merged in the former.
21. Methodists in Canada and other British Dominions in A merica, — A little more than sixty years ago Meth- odism was for the first time represented in those parts by William Losee, whom the sainted Asbury had appointed as a worker of the Gospel, " to range at large." The work has prospered there as elsewhere, and there are now five large bodies, presided over by no less than 900 itinerant ministers. Four of these large bodies, viz. the Wesley ans, Primitives, Neio Connectionists, and Bible Christians, are either an offspring of like associa- tions in the United Kingdom, or in intimate relations at present.* But the fifth of them is an independent or- ganization, like the great Methodist body of the United States, from which it sprang, and after wliich it is named the Methodist £piscop(d Church of Canada, dating its origin as a separate body in 1828. The Canada Wesley- ans, though adhering to the polity of the English Wes- leyans, are now agitating the adoption of lay-represen- tation, in order to effect a union of all the Jlethodist bodies in Canada ; their aggregate membership amounts at present to a little over 100,000, their preachers to over GOO in all the different bodies. See Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada; Wesleyan Meth- odists; Primitive Methodists; New-Connection Methodists; etc.
V. A(igre(]ate. — Not reckoning the Band-Room Meth- odists, nor the countess of Huntingdon's Connection, and making a moderate estimate of the Sunday-school schol- ars belonging to the W^elsh Calvinistic Methodists and to the Primitive IMethodists in Ireland, we arrive at the results given in the table below. Ileckoning two addi- tional hearers for each Church member and Sunday- school scholar, we make a total of more than twelve millions of persons receiving Methodist instruction, and from week to week meeting together in Methodist build- ings for the purpose of worshipping Almighty God. The statement is startling, but the statistics given en- title it to the fullest consideration.
But rightly to estimate the results of Methodism dur- ing the last hundred and thirty years, there are other facts to be remembered.
" Who will deny, for instance, that Methodism has
* The Canada Wesleyan CImrch was not only founded by, but for many years belonged to the Methodist Episco- pal CImrch of the United States.
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
Denomination.
D.iie of Organization.
Number of Ministers.
Number of
Church Members.
Number of
Sunday-school
Scholars.