Add to these the travelling preachers (4266), which are not included in the above enumeration, and the grand total is 1,072811.

The above facts are taken from Wesley's Works, 7 vols. 8vo.; More's Life of Wesley, 1 vol. 8vo.; History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 4 vols. 12mo.; Asbury's Journal, 3 vols. 8vo.; Minutes of Conferences, 2 vols. 8vo.; Methodist Discipline, 1 vol. 24mo; and Original Church of Christ, 1 vol. 12mo.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

BY THE REV. JAMES R. WILLIAMS,

OF

BALTIMORE.

AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

THE Methodist Protestant Church comprises all the associated Methodist churches in these United States, and numbers, at the present time, Nov. 1843, sixty thousand communicants, thirteen hundred ministers and preachers, twenty-two annual conference districts, and possesses upwards of a half million of church property, acquired since her organization.

Her first General Convention, at which the church was regularly organized, was held in 1830, in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland. There were in attendance at the convention eighty-three ministerial, and lay representatives, from the following states: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. These represented about five thousand members of the respective associated Methodist churches, a large majority of whom had withdrawn from the Methodist Episcopal Church, on account of her government and hostility to a lay representation; she not only having withheld representation from the people, but actually denied that they have any right to representation. Moreover she had claimed for her itinerant ministry, exclusively, as of divine right, and without any authoritative control from the church, not merely the administration, but the sole right of expounding and maintaining, 1. Gospel doctrines, that is, a right to preach, and teach whatever they may please to admit into their creed as gospel doctrines. 2. Ordinances, that is, to set up whatever worship, sacraments, and services, they may deem conformable to the gospel; and 3. Moral discipline, that is, to admit and expel, censure and suspend, whomsoever they please in the church of God, and for whatever causes to them shall seem

meet. These unwarrantable claims were preceded and followed by the expulsion of nearly eighty ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in different parts of the United States, who advocated a change in the church government, and opposed the Popish claims of the itinerant ministers and bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The above cited claims and expulsions produced numerous secessions in different parts of the United States, and the organization of several annual conferences, of associated churches. These, respectively, elected their representatives, who assembled as above stated in the city of Baltimore, and framed a constitution and discipline for the government of the entire association. The basis on which the government is founded, embraces two very important particulars: First "The Lord Jesus Christ is the only HEAD of the Church, and the word of God is the sufficient rule of faith and practice, in all things pertaining to godliness." Secondly-" A written constitution establishing the form of government, and securing to the ministers and members of the church, their rights and privileges, on an equitable plan of representation, is essential to, and the best safeguard of Christian liberty."

The constitution is preceded by a set of elementary principles, which may be viewed as a bill of rights. These bind the church to the laws of Christ; secure the rights of private judgment and the expression of opinion; protect church membership; declare the principles on which church trials shall be conducted, and guard against unrighteous excommunications; point out the residence of legitimate authority to make and enforce rules and regulations, for the proper and wholesome government of the church. The constitution recognises the rights and secures the interests of both ministers and laymen, and grants an equal representation to both. By this provision, made permanent under constitutional law, the entire association is fairly represented in the General Conference, which is the legislative department of the church. The executive, legislative, and judicial departments are kept distinct, and in each and all of them, the laity have their due weight, and equal power with the ministers. The government is, therefore, representative, and admirably balanced in all its parts.

The General Conference is assembled every fourth year, and consists of an equal number of ministers and laymen. The ratio of representation from each annual conference district, is, one minister and one layman for every thousand persons in full membership. This

body, when assembled, possesses power, under certain restrictions, to make such rules and regulations for the government of the whole church, as may be necessary to carry into effect the laws of Christ; to fix the compensation and duties of the itinerant ministers and preachers, and the allowance of their wives, widows, and children; and also the compensation and duties of the book agent, editor, &c., and to devise ways and means for raising funds, and to define and regulate the boundaries of the respective annual conference districts.

The respective annual conferences assemble annually, and are composed of all the ordained itinerant ministers; that is, all ministers properly under the stationing authority of the conference; and of one delegate from each circuit and station, within the bounds of the district, for each of its itinerant ministers. The annual conferences respectively are invested with power to elect a president annually— to examine into the official conduct of all their members-to receive by vote such ministers and preachers into the conference as come properly recommended by the quarterly conference of their circuit or station to elect to orders those who are eligible and competent to the pastoral office-to hear and decide on appeals from the decisions of committees, appointed to try ministers-to define and regulate the boundaries of circuits and stations-to station the ministers, preachers, and missionaries-to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the itinerant ministers and preachers and their families. The annual conferences, respectively, have authority to perform the following additional duties: 1st. To make such special rules and regulations as the peculiarities of the district may require; provided, however, that no rule be made inconsistent with the constitution-the General Conference to have power to annul any such rule. 2d. To prescribe and regulate the mode of stationing the ministers and preachers within the district; provided always, that they grant to each minister or preacher stationed, an appeal, during the sitting of the conference. And no minister or preacher to be stationed longer than three years, successively, in the same circuit, and two years, successively, in the same station. 3d. Each annual conference is clothed with power to make its own rules and regulations for the admission and government of coloured members within its district; and to make for them such terms of suffrage as the conferences may respectively deem proper. Each annual conference is required to keep a journal of its proceedings, and to send a copy to the General Conference.

The quarterly conferences are the immediate official meetings of the circuits and stations, and assemble quarterly, for the purposes of examining the official character of all the members, consisting of the trustees, ministers, preachers, exhorters, leaders and stewards of the circuit or station; to grant to persons properly qualified, and recommended by the class of which he is a member, license to exhort or preach; to recommend ministers and preachers to the annual conference to travel, and for ordination; and to hear and decide on appeals made by laymen from the decision of committees of trial.

The leaders' meeting is peculiar to stations, and is composed of the superintendent of the station, the stewards and the leaders. The superintendent is the minister who has the charge of the station. The stewards are appointed by the male members of the station to receive and disburse the collections made in the classes and the church. The leaders are elected by their respective classes, and represent them in the leaders' meeting. This meeting is the organ of reception of members into the church, and the dispenser of relief to the poor through the hands of the stewards. In the circuits, persons are received into full membership by vote of the society. Class leaders, stewards, trustees, exhorters, and private members, when charged with immorality or neglect of Christian duty, are duly notified by the superintendent, sufficient time being allowed to make preparation for their defence, and the right of challenge is granted to extend to any number of the committee not exceeding the whole number originally appointed. The committee of trial is appointed in the following manner. The superintendent nominates two persons in full membership and good standing, over the age of twenty-one years. The class, of which the accused is a member, nominates two more male members in like standing, those four persons select a fifth, and the five persons thus chosen, constitute a competent court of trial.

The above particulars constitute a brief sketch of the origin and system of the Methodist Protestant Church. She has progressed with an even steady pace, maintained peace in all her borders, and has contributed her share of usefulness towards the general good. As a seceding church from the Methodist Episcopal, she entertains no unfriendly feelings to that denomination of Christians. The doctrines taught by both churches, the means of grace and mode of worship being similar, the only difference lies in government: the Methodist Episcopal Church rejecting lay representation and adopting an unlimited episcopacy; while the Methodist Protestant Church admits lay representation and a parity in the ministry. These points