The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-09-21
THE M. r. CHURCH.

THE M. r. CHURCH.
sketch OF the Denomination.
There are twenty-five branches OF
Methodism, differing In church gov
ernnent, but agreeing in doctrinal uni
ty. This branch of the church has
about 10000 members In the United
States. Its origin was In this wise:-
From the organization of the NJ. Z.
church there was a minority dissatis-
fed with the epIscOpacy and there were
various secessions. The episcopal board
was designed to have a general super
vision of all the churches, but as Meth
odism spread this became impossible.
Bishop Coke favored a diocesan episco-
pacy, but Bishop Asbury favored a
general superintendency, and appoint
ed deputies In each conference, who
afterwaId were called Presiding Ed
ers. These deputies constituted the
advisory council OF the B Bishop, and
assisted him In making the appoint
ments In secret cabinet session. Some
complained that they thus became q
self-perpetuating, semi-irresponsible,
autocratic oligarchy, and the general
conference of 1920 ordered that the
plan should be changed, and that the
conference should elect their T. Els
Bishop Soule, who had been elect
ed to the episcopal bench, refused con-
secratlon, on this account, and the ac-
ton of the conference was not enl0rc-
ed. In l724 the p. Els constituted
majority OF the general conference,
and they repealed the action of their
predecessors.
It was now complained that every
preacher who was opposed to the presi-
ding eldership, was oppressed In his
appointments, and moYed yearly from
one extreme point to another, and that
liberty of speech was practically pro-
hibIted. This, and the exclusion of the
laIty from the councils OF the Bishops,
and the business Of, and participation
In the conferences, caused meeting OF
the liberals, in Baltimore, In 1924, who
formed union society for the purpose
OF agitatiug the question Ola change
of government, and a periodical was
established called The Mutual Rights
Of the Ministers and members of the
NJ. f. Church."
In 1928 they petitioned the General
Conference for general representation,
but received an unfaVorable reply, and
La ~ hn w
summarily expelled from the church
A convention met in Baltimore, Nov.
II, 1923, and drew up provisional arti-
cles OF association, and on Nov. 2, 1S-
80. another convention regularly or
ganized the Methodist Protestant
Chuch, with the Rev. F. Waters, d. D.,
rs Its first President
The general conference met at first
septennially, but now meets quadrien-
nially, and Is composed of an equal
number of ministers and laymen, who
are elected by the annual conferences,
at the ratio Of one delegate Of each or
der for every thousand communicates.
Tho general conference has authority,
under certain restrictions, to make
such rules for the government OF the
church as may be necessary to carry
into effect the laws of Christ. The
annual conference consists of all the
ordained itinerant ministers of the dis
trict and delegates from the charges
having power to elect to orders station
ministers, preachers, and missionaries /;
make rules for defraying the expenses
OF their support, and for the bounda-
rias OF circuits and stations. 1t elects
Its president annually.
The quarterly conference Is compos-
ed of the ministers, preachers, exhOrt-
ers, leaders and stewards In the circuit.
The slavery question divided the
body for a time, the head quarters of
the north being at Plttsburg, where
the organ of the church, the Methodist
Recorder is published. The editor is
the venerable Alexander Clark, D. d.
The methodist Protestant" Is pub
nshed in Baltimore, with DR.. Drink
house as editor. They have four or
five colleges, and considerable denOm-
national literature. The celebrated
DIR. T. II. Stocton belonged to this
chuch. He was several times elected
chaplain OF Congress, also chaplain of
the u. s. Senate. This branch of the
chuch flourishes in all the old seats of
MethOuism where the most interest Is
taken In eccleastical affairs. 1t desires
to be known more by its spiritual pow
er than by the wealth, pomp, or at
fractions of this world. Seven yea RS
ago the first session of the Kansas an
nual conference was organized, and
held at Xenia, Bourbon Co., with Rev.
F. d. 10y, President, and seven active
ministers in attendance. 1t has now
fifty-one itinerAnt elders in the work
OF the ministry.