HISTORICAL SKETCH

of the Origin of the

Methodist Protestant Church.

The Methodist Protestant Church, instituted in 1828, and organized under its present title in 1830, traces its origin through the Methodist Episcopal

Church, back to that Evangelical Reformation begun in England by John and Charles Wesley, of Oxford University and Presbyters of the Church of England.

The rise of Methodism is described by Mr. John Wesley as follows: "In

RISE OF METHODISM

1729, two young men reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness, followed after it, and incited others so to do. In 1737. they saw holiness comes by faith. They saw likewise that men are justified before they are sanctified; but still holiness was their point. God then thrust them out, utterly against their will, to raise a holy people.

In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to me in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired (as did two or three more the next day) that I would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come, which they

saw

heads.

continually hanging over their

That we might have more time for this great work, I appointed a day when they might all come together, which, from thenceforward, they did every week, namely, on Thursday, in the evening. To these, and as many more as desired to join them (for their number increased daily). I gave those advices from time to time, which I judged most needful to them, and we always concluded our meeting with prayer suited to their several necessities.

This was the rise of the United Society, first in London and then in other places. Such a society is no other than a company of men, having the form, and seeking the power of Godliness, united in order to pray together; to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love; that they may help each other to work out their own salvation."

John and Charles Wesley came to America in 1736 and remained nearly

GROWTH

two years, but this was before the Methodist movement had taken defORGANIZATION inite shape even in their

AND

IN AMERICA

practical result.

own minds, and their labors here were without

Methodism began in America with the coming of Philip Embury, of Ireland, to New York City, and of Robert Strawbridge, of Ireland, to Frederick county, Maryland, in 1766. In 1769, Mr. Wesley sent Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor, and in 1771, Francis Asbury and Richard Wright.

These and others traveled constantly, and labored so abundantly that in 1784,

although the work had been seriously interrupted by the Revolutionary War, the number of traveling preachers in America was about eighty, and of members about fifteen thousand.

Up to this time no Methodist Church had been organized. Methodist preachers, and members of Methodist societies in America, as in England, were mostly members of the Church of England. But as this church ceased to exist in America, it became necessary to organize the Methodists into a church, for they were as sheep having no shepherd.

Mr. Wesley, although refusing to the last to consent to a separation from the Church in England, saw the necessity in America, and gave his consent in the following words: "As our American brethren are now totally disentangled, both from the State and the English hierarchy, we dare not entangle them again, either with the one or the other. They are now at full liberty simply to follow the Scriptures and the primitive Church. And we judge it best that they should stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has so strangely set them free."

The letter containing this permission was sent over by Doctor Thomas Coke, he and Francis Asbury being designated Joint Superintendents over the work in America.

Accordingly, on Dr. Coke's arrival, a conference of the traveling preachers was called to meet in Baltimore, Maryland, in December, 1784. About sixty were present, who proceeded to organize an independent church under the title of "The Methodist Episcopal Church." and to elect Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury Bishops.

The church thus organized was pecu

liar in several respects, but its most remarkable feature was that the unlimited exercise of the legislative, executive and judicial powers of the church were vested by these traveling preachers in themselves and their successors, to the entire exclusion of all the members of the church, no provision being made for any layman to vote as such and directly upon any question in any church meeting.

This fact explains the origin of the Methodist Protestant Church, and fixes its date as well. For, although some forty years intervened before the Methodist Protestant Church emerged into historical fact, yet, Methodists began to protest against the kind of government established in 1784 almost before the Conference adjourned, and the protest gathered volume and intensity with every succeeding Conference. In ten years it resulted in a secession on the question of giving preachers an appeal from the stationing authority. In twenty years it produced a delegated General Conference with restrictions upon the legislative power; and in thirty-six years it grew into an overwhelming, although ineffective, majority of the General Conference in favor of electing presiding elders by the annual Conferences.

The particular protest made by those who finally organized the Methodist Protestant Church. was ORIGIN OF THE aimed at the feature of the government, which was regarded as the real cause of all the dissatisfaction among Meth

METHODIST PROTESTANT

CHURCH

odists, viz., the exclusion of laymen

from the councils of the Church, and withholding from them the right of suffrage.

After years of desultory discussion of this point, William S. Stockton, a layman, of Philadelphia, Pa.,

DISCUSSION

began in 1821 the publication of a periodical called the "Wesleyan Repository," which was intended to provide a medium for the more formal examination of what began to be called "the mutual rights of the ministry and laity," and also to spread abroad the views of leading ministers and laymen on this subject.

This publication was superseded in 1824 by "The Mutual Rights of Ministers and Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church," published at Baltimore, Maryland, with the same general object in view. A large number of pamphlets also, privately printed, contributed to the stream of discussion, which continued to spread over the Church. When the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church met in

1824, a large number of pePETITION titions were presented, pray

ing a representation of ministers and laymen in the law-making department, but no change was promised, and the only answer vouchsafed was: "If by 'rights and privileges' it is intended to signify something foreign from the institutions of the Church as we received them from our fathers, pardon us if we know no such rights; if we do not comprehend such privileges."

Immediately after the close of the General Conference, a meeting was held, composed of distinguished members of the Conference, and others from different parts of the country, to consider