Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/470

 456 METHODISM trict Conference," and the " Quarterly confer- ence." Prior to 1872 the general conference was composed exclusively of preachers elected by annual conferences, also composed exclu- sively of preachers, so that the constituent body and the delegated body were both wholly clerical. In 1872 a plan was completed for the introduction of a lay element. The general conference now consists of one minister for every 45 members of each annual conference, chosen by ballot by the ministers themselves, and two laymen, chosen by lay electors from the several quarterly conferences within the territory of the annual conference. It meets quadrennially on the first day of May, and is presided over by the bishops. The ministerial and lay delegates meet as one body, though a separate vote can be had provided one third of the ministers or laymen demand it. In case of a separate vote, a majority of both orders is necessary to pass a measure. It is the sole legislative body of the church, limited by cer- tain " Restrictive Rules," all of which rules are subject to revision except the first, which for- bids the conference to revoke, alter, or change the articles of religion, or to establish any new standards or rules of doctrine contrary to the present existing and established standards. It elects bishops, missionary and educational sec- retaries, book agents, and editors of its period- icals, and is also the court of final appeal. The judicial conference is composed of "triers of appeals," seven of whom are elected by each annual conference. It tries bishops who may be accused, and also appeals of members con- victed in an annual conference. To try the latter cases, the triers of three conferences must unite; to try the former, the triers of five conferences are required. Their decision is final, except that law questions may be re- viewed by the general conference. The annu- al conference consists of travelling preachers. A bishop is the presiding officer, or in his ab- sence the conference may appoint its president. Its powers are simply administrative. It holds its members responsible, passing their charac- ter under examination each year. Its action is subject to review by the general conference. The district conference is composed of the presiding elder of the district, pastors, local preachers, exhorters, and one steward and Sun- day school superintendent from each pastoral charge. It licenses local preachers, and recom- mends them to the annual conference for ad- mission or for ordination. The local preach- ers are amenable to this body, which also cares for the general financial, benevolent, and edu- cational interests of the district. The quar- terly conference consists of the pastor, local preachers, exhorters, stewards, class leaders, and trustees and Sunday school superinten- dent (if members of the church) of a single pastoral charge, over which it exercises super- vision. The leaders and stewards' meeting, composed of the pastor, class leaders, and stew- ards, cares for the sick and needy, guards the discipline of the members, and has power to recommend for membership and for license tt> exhort or preach. In common with the Wes- leyans, the M. E. church divides its members into classes under appropriate leaders. This church recognizes two orders in the ministry. Its bishops are not diocesan, but have a joint jurisdiction over the whole church. They are, however, since 1872, required to reside sever- ally within certain districts into which the ter- ritory was then divided. They preside over the annual and missionary conferences, arrange the presiding elders' districts, station the preachers annually, and exercise a general superinten- dence over the spiritual and temporal interests of the church. The ministry is itinerant, the ministers not being allowed to remain in the same pastoral charge more than three consecu- tive years. Admission to the annual confer- ence is preceded by a probation of two years, and the completion of a prescribed course of study. The local preachers are usually lay preachers who are helpers of the regular pas- tor. Admission to membership is preceded by a probation of six months, to give the candi- date time to acquaint himself with the doctrine and discipline of the church ; but members of other churches in regular standing are received without probation. The Methodist Episcopal church has rapidly developed its educational and benevolent institutions. It discussed plans of education as early as 1780, and in 1787 it dedicated its first college. In 1817 it opened its first permanent academy, and in 1820 the general conference recommended that each an- nual conference establish and maintain a semi- nary. Its first Biblical school, projected in 1839, established at Concord, K H., in 1847, was removed to Boston in 1867, and now forms a school of the Boston university. In 1874 it had under its supervision and control 27 uni- versities and colleges, with 5,250 students; 69 seminaries and academies, with about 14,500 students ; and 5 theological schools, one in Germany and one in India, with 428 students. The total value of school property is about $8,500,000. Its publishing interests received early attention. Its book concern, begun in 1789 on a borrowed capital of $600, has be- come the largest publishing house in America. The New York concern in 1873 had a capital of $1,052,448, and the Western Methodist book concern at Cincinnati a capital of $467,419. Besides these there are depositories in nearly every chief city of the United States. It pub- lishes a quarterly review, and 5 monthly and 13 weekly periodicals. The missionary society, organized in 1819, superintends both the do- mestic and foreign missionary work. In 1873 it appropriated $843,149. Its board of church extension was established in 1 864 ; its receipts in 1873 were $115,296 05. The Sunday school union and tract society manage its immense Sunday school and tract interests. It has also a woman's foreign missionary society, and a board of education. Its statistical returns for