Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-19
THE METHODIST ORGANI-
ZATION.

of the NJ. E. church, which closed Tues
day, has given many of our readers
fresh inside view of the great Metho-
dist machine. 1t is very powerful
machine-second in strength and efici-
encysonly to that of the Roman Catho-
lic church. 1t is not. however, very |
complicated mechanism. The candi- |
date for orders in the church is first ad-
mitted as a licentiate on trial. The
next step is to be ordained as deacon,
and then as an elder. The churches or
charges are aggregated in districts, each
district being under the charge of a pre-
siding elder, appointed for four years,
who devotes himself to the supervision
III the churches Of the district. Half a
dozen districts, more or less, form con-
ference The conference holds annual
sessions presided over by bishop.
Each licentiate, deacon and elder is a
member of the conference and is requir-
ed to attend its sessions, in the course
of which the character and work of each
pass under review. Once in four years
the conferences elect delegates to a gen
eral conference, In which of late years
the lalty are also represented by dele
gates, one-third in number of the cleri-
cal delegates, chosen by representative
bodies which meet during the sessions
of the conferences. The general con-
ference is the sole and supreme legisla-
tive body of the church. 1t sits once in
four years, its session lasting month
or more. 1t elects the bishops, fixes
the number of them, and settles all
questions relating to boundary lines of
districts and conferences, all rules Of
discipline. all matters of polity. The
bishops differ from the Catholic and
Episcopal hierarchy. in that they are
not assigned to separate sees or bishop
RIGS. Each bishop-there were twelve
of them year ago, and there are nine
now, three having died within year
is bishop of the whole church. with
equal authority throughout its bound
aries. Practically they allot their work
among themselves each year-a certain
number of conferences being assigned to
each bishop. at the annual sessions of
which he presides and which are under
his supervision throughout the year,
until new allotment takes place. The
finances of the church are managed by
stewards. Each church or charge elects
a board of warts-often nine in num-
ber-who fix the minister's salary and
collect the money. A board of district
stewards fixes the salary of the presid-
ing elder, and oppOrtions among the
churches the amounts to be raised by
them for it. The conference stewards
in like manner assess upon the districts
their respective shares of the amount
which the conference must raise for the
assistance of the superannuated minis
ters and destitute widows of deceased
ministers, and for the Episcopal fund
for the support of the bishops. 4 COM
mittee of the National conference deter
mines the total amount to be raised for
this fund, and assesses the annual con-
ferences for their several shares of the
same. The salaries of the bishops are,
we believe, $4,000 a year, with their
travelling expenses The presiding eld-
ers are paid in this region from $1,000
to 1000 year. The salaries of the
ministers of course vary according to
the size and ability of the churches, as
in other denominations.
The power of the bishop is very
great. At each annual conference,
through reports from the presiding eld-
ers, the character and work of each min
lister is reviewed by the bishoop in de-
tail, and he then assigns to each his
field of labor for the year following.
This power is commonly exercised only
after much consultation with the pre-
siding elders, and with due regard to
the wishes of the churches and of the
ministers but the formal authority in
the matter rests with the bishop. He
may take minister from large and
prosperous church and assign him to a
hamlet He may take him from the
list of active ministers and make him a
supernumerary, without work or pay.
He may transfer him from one confer
ence to another; or may send him as a
missionary to Africa or Turkey.
This itineracy Of their ministry is a
great distinguishing feature of the Meth
odist church. Its founder, Wesley,
wished the preachers to stay but a week
IN place. AS late as 1894 the preach
ers were required to change as often as
once in six months. The term is now a
year with a usage which permits its ex-
tension, by annual appointments, to
three years. The chief advantage of
this movable condition and entire sub
ordination of their clergy, is that it Sc
cures ministers for all the churches,
large and small. Free Press.
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