Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-26
ne osT-IMTEllIcEMcER Pys. CO.



recently published, contains much o.
IN interesting character relating 10 thii
great and growing denomination, anc
from II We gather the following:
The first Msthodist society vas found
"a in New York in l76s by Eve English
Wesleyan Methodists, Who had emi.
gated to this country, and in 17S6 thsy
"a increased 10 III travelling preach.
= and O,6s9 members. The first
h1bop was DIR. Coke, who was ordained
b hat Office In England and sest 10
nh country In 17s4 by John Wesley
ssd on his arrival here he ordained
Francis Ashbury to the same sffioe. Ia
lss4 disputes on the question Of slavery
id TO disruption and she formation
of the Methodist Episcopal Chorch
South and the division Of the church
property between the tive bodies. The
Tssr Book is issued by the Methodist
Episcopal Church North, and gives full
psstieulars respecting that body, and
aiso much respecting their Southern
brethren and other smaller bodies Who
sss regarded a. part Of the Methodist
fYstsrnity.
In the Northern body there are new
I06 annual Conferences and 16 mission
districts. There are IA bishops, 4SS pre-
siding elders, 1881 itinerant preachers,
l2,2ii local prcaehers, 1,604,4l2 mem
bers In foil connection and 1872 ,927 on
pFobstion. As the ministers are count
"a distinct from the lay members. this
gives q total Of 1872 .S63 persons In this
branch Of the Methodists. There are
lS,065 houses Of worship and 6S46 par
souages. The amount contributed dur
ine the last year for ministerial support
uas 81 .627 ga. and for general mission
" vork t765, ,157, besides much for
slhsr objects. There are n ,l5O Sunday
schools, with 232 $40 officers and teach.
On, and ,737. 1856 scholars. Two Bishops,
Simpson and Wiley, and 16l itinerant
ministers died In 1884.
The Annual Conference appoints del
sQates 10 the General Conference, which
meets once in four years, the last being
hsId in 1884 10 Philadelphia. This
General Conference, in addition 10 its
0tker business, fills vacancies In the
spiseopate, decides where the several
Bishope shall reside, thus distributinR
them over the country, and the Book
Committee decides on the amount 10 be
raised by each Annual Conferenoe for
the support of the Bishops. The Bish-
ops preside af the Annual Conferences,
and decide on the stations Of preachers,
and unlike Bishops among the Episeo-
palians, they have not separate diocesss,
hut decide each year among themselves
what Annual Conferences each one shall
Wait. The next General Conference Is
70 DO held in Boston In May. 1893. An
Rsumenical Conference was held in Lon
don In 1881, and IL is proposed to hold
another In the United States In 1887.
The pabhshing business OF the M. h.
Church North u very extensive. The
hnt appoiHtee 10 the office Of editor
and book agent was Rev. John Dickens,
who was appointed in 1888. and com
menced business by losning $500 Of bis
sun money. They have two establish
nents, ono ia Nev York and the other
In Cinctnnati, and there are six deposit
aries In various parts Of the country.
The net profits of the business the last
year we're &I23. 124, the sales amounting
10 81 ,68I .o87. The number Of copies Of
books and tracts issued during the year
vas Isl ,298. containing 235, ,1i9,7 pa
ess. The Chrisfiap Advocate 10 the old
ct Asehodist weekly, its hrst issue be-
ine o. October 3. 1896. There are nov
eight GArisfian advocates Issued In diff.
fefeut parts Of the country. % we'll ~
pnmefOus other papers, the total mum
~ u periodicals. Issued In four yearp
1eln9 9f1l9.7l6 copies. The whole
Dook Concern" 10 ths property Of the
General Conference, which appoints the
book agents and the editors, and also a
committee OF thirteen persons who have
the general supervision OF affairs In the
intervals between the meetings Of the
Conferences.
There are Q theological schools, 43
colleges and universities, and rs female
summaries and colleges. There are also
= ne scuth q educational institutions
y various grades for the freedmen,
dsnts.
The total statistics for the Episcopal
nethodists In the United Statcs, eight
diaersnt bodies. IL stated a. 2, ,626 itin-
sfsnt ministers, 32.s75 local preachers,
md S,762, ,sS7 lay members, and Of the
noo- Episcopal Msthodisss. six different
nscies, $50 intinsrent ministers, lI65
local preachers and 1876. $50 lay mem-
eess. making total Of fourteen dtffer
~ bodies, 25.706 itinerapt ministers,
49, local preachers and s,s6s. .iS6
ny members.