The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-27
TIE Msthodiutg = the United States

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The total number OF. Methodists in
the United States is about $500, 900.
They are divided into fifteen branches.
all of which agree in doctrine, and in
most respects in practice.
The largest branch is the Methodist
Episcopal Church. This was organized
at conference of Methodist ministers
called by Thomas Coke, and held in
Baltimore, December "a, 1874. This
branch has now 95 conferences, II
Bishops. L, 096 travelling preachers and
1,742, 922 members, and church proper
ty valued at about $73. 000, 900.
The Methodist Episcopal ChnrchI
South, the second in size, was organ
lied by seceders from the Methodist
Episcopal Church, at Louisville, May q
1916. The occasion of the secessionI
was the action of the General Confer
ence of 1914, requesting Bishop An
drew to Withdraw from the exercisel
of his Office until certain slaves owned
by his wife were emancipated. At
the time of the secession this church,
had about $50, 600 mem bers. 1t now
has SO conferences. Bishops, 3,S60l
ministers and 522. 900 members.
The Methodist Protestant Church.
was organized in Baltimore in 1880 by
certain seceders who favored lay repre-
sentation in the conferences, and thel
abolition of the presiding elders. This
branch has no Bishops. 1t has /, 314I
members.
The United Brethren Church was
founded by Philip w. Otterhein. It'll
has five Bishops, forty-seven confer
ences, 2,196 ministers, and 157, 1885,
members.
The Evangelical Association was
founded in 1900 by Jacob Albright. and
is composed mainly of Germans. 1t has
three Bishops, twenty-one conferences,
1913 ministers and 112. 1877 members.
The Free Methodist Church was Or
ganized at Pekin, N. Y. 1t is especial!
" devoted to the preaching and prac-l
tice of the doctrine of sanctiication,
and is opposed to the putting on of gold
and jewels, and the wearing of costly
apparel and the secret societies. 1t hasE
neither Bishops nor presiding elders.
1t has thirteen conferences, 271 preach;
ers and II, 642 members.
The American Wesleyan Church wasI
organized at Utica, N. Y, in 1S43, andI
grew out of the anti-slavery agitation.
It has no Bishops or presiding elders,
and admits no one belonging to secretI
societies to membership. 1t has 250l
ministers and $4,000 members.
The Congregational MethodistC church,
was organized in 1852. Its adherentsl
are mainly to be found in Georgia andI
adjoining States. 1t has about 1901
ministers 10000 members.
There are four colored MethodistI
Churches in the United States, all hav-I
ing had their origin in the social diff
ference between the whites and blacksi
being in former years made too ap-|
parent.
The African Methodist Church was!
organized in 1860. 1t has nine Bishops,
1,418 ministers and PA S08 members
The African Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized in 1919. ThisI
body is particularly strong in theSouth.
1t has seven Bishops; about 1900 min
listers and 1870, 900 members. TheG
Union Methodist Episcopal Church was
founded at Wilmington, Del, in 1913,
and was originally known as the ''Afri-
can Union" 1t has five conferences,
121 preachers and 1000 members. The
Colored Methodist Episcopal Church
was organized in 1870. under the direc-
ton of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, but is entirely distinct from that
church in its jurisdiction. 1t has four
Bishops, $50 ministers and 112, 800
members. There are also q large num-
Der of colored members in the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church.
Besides these organized bodies there
are independent Methodist churches,
the total membership of which is about