Wesley, in his Short History of Methodism, gives the names of four Oxford students who, in Nov., 1729, began to spend certain evenings in a week in reading together, chiefly the New Testament in Greek. The number slowly increased and, in 1735, George Whitefield affiliated with them. " The exact regularity of their lives and studies occasioned s gen-
Government and Activities (¢ 3). Representatives and Results (§ 4). 3. The Methodist Protestant Church.4. Wesleyan Methodist Connection or Church of America.
b. The Free Methodist Church.8. The African Methodist Episcopal Church.
7. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
8· The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church.
9. Minor Methodist Churches.10· In Canada end the Maritime Provinces.
Beginnings (§ 1).Division sad Denominations (§ 2). Unification (¢ 3).
V. The Doctrinal Standards of Methodism.
Doctrinal Bases (6 1). Distinctive Doctrinal Features American Position (¢ 3). Purpose and Results (§ 4).tleman of Christ Church to say, ` Here is spnmg up a new sect of Methodists.' "
The undisputed founder of Wesleyan Methodism, John Wesley (q.v.), was the great-grandson of Bartholomew Wesley, a clergyman educated at Oxford, and one of 2,000 ministers ejected from their pulpits in 1662 under the Act of Uniformity (see UNl>rox>afi'x, ACTS or). His son John also studied
America ib. 1896; J. W. Lee, N. Lucxock, and J. M. Dixon Illustrated Mist. of Methodism, St. Louis. 1900; J. F. Hurst, British Methodism, 3 vols., London, 1901 ; W. J. Townsend, A New Mist. of Methodism, 2 vols., ib., 1901.
Works on various Methodist bodies are: G. Smith, Mist, of Wesleyan Methodists, 3 vols., London, 1857 -61; H. Smith, Sketches of Methodist New Connexion Ministers, ib. 1893; G. Packer, The Centenary of the Methodist New Connexion 1797-1897 ib. 1897; T. Colhouer, Sketches of the Founders of the Methodist Protestant Church and its Bibliography, Pittsburg, 1880; A. H. Bassett, Concise Mist. of the Methodist Protestant Church, Baltimore, 1882; E. J. Drinkhouse Mist. of Methodist Reform and the Methodist Protestant Church, 2 vols., Baltimore, 1899; E. Bowen Mist. of the Origin of the Free Methodist Church, North Chili, New York, n.d.; F. W. Bourne, The Bible Christians: Origin and History, London, 1905 ; J. Petty, Mist, of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, ib. 1861; W. Williams, Welsh Calvinistic Methodism. A Historical Sketch, its. 1884; D. Young, The Origin and Mist. of MetAodism in Wales and the Borders, ib. 1893· J. B. MeeGeary, The Free Methodist Church. Chicago, 1909.
For the Methodist Episcopal Church North and South consult: Mist. of the Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Comprehending all the Official Proceedinge of the General Conferences, ate., Nashville, 1845; A. Stevens, Memorials of the Introduction of Methodism into the Eastern States, 2 vols., Boston, 1848-52; idem, Mist. of the M. E. Chuch in U. S. A., 4 vols., New York, 1864· idem Centenary of American Methodism, ib. 1866; C. Elliott, History of the Great Secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 18/,6, Eventuating in the Organization of the New Church Entitled " The Methodist Episcopal Church South," Cincinnati, 1855 ; J. Lednum, A History of the Rise of Methodism in America. Containing Sketches of Methodist itinerant Preachers, 1738-86, Philadelphia, 1859; N. Bangs, Hilt. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 4 vols., New York, 1860; L. C. Matlack, Antislavery Struggle and Triumph in the M. E. Church, ib. 1881; H. N. MeTyeire, Mist. of Methodism, Nashville, 1886; J. G. Jones, A Complete Mist. of Methodism as Connected with the Mississippi Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Vol. i., 178P-1817, Nashville, 1887; G. Alexander, in American History Series, vol. u., New York, 1894; J. M. Buckley, in American Church History Series, vol. v., New York 1897.
For Methodism among the African races consult: J. B. Wakeley, Lost Chapters Recovered from the Early History of African Methodism, New York, 1889; L. M. Hagood, The Colored Man in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, 1890; D. A. Payne, Mist. of as A. M. E. Church, Nashville 1891; J. W. Hood, One Hundred Years of the African M. E. Zion Church, New York, 1895; 1. L. Butt Mist, of African Methodism in Virginia; or, four Decades in the Old Dominion, Eastville, Va., 1908.
Books dealing with special topics are: J. Emory, Defense of Our Fathers, New York, 1827; D. W. Clark, Life and Times of Elijah Madding, ib. 1855; R. Paine, Life of W. MaKendree 2 vols., Nashville, 1869; E. H. Myers, Description of the M. E. Church, 1844-lB: comprising a 3o Years' History of the Relations of the two Methodism, Nashville, Tenn., 1875; T. L. Flood and J. W. Hamilton, Lives of Methodist Bishops, New York, 1882; F. A. Arehibald, Methodism and Literature, Cincinnati, 1883 ; A. W. Cummings, Early Schools of Methodism, New York, 1886; W. J. Townsend, The Story of Methodist Union, London, 1906; D. B. Brummitt, Epworth League Methods, Cincin nati, 1906; H. K. Carroll, Missionary Growth of the M. E. Church, Cincinnati, 1907 ; J. Telfond, Wesley's Veterans. Lives of Early Methodist Preachers told by Themselves. With Additions and Annotations, London, 1909 .
On Methodism in various, countries consult: G. H. Cornish, Cyclopedia of Methodism in Canada, Toronto, 1881; E. Ryerson, Canadian Methodism; its Epochs and Characteristics, ib. 1882; A. Sutherland, Methodism in Canada, London, 1903 J. E. Sanderson, First Century of Metodism in Canada, vol i., Toronto, 1908; C, H. Crookshank History of Methodism in Ireland, vol. i., Wesley and his Time, vol. ii., The Middle Age, Belfast, 18851886; E. Thomas, Irish Methodist Reminiscences, ondon, 1889; R- C. Phillips, Irish Methodism, ib. 1897; H. B. Foster, Wesleyan Methodism in Jamaica. ib. 1881; J. Colwell, Illustrated Mist. of Methodism in Australia, New South Wales. and Polynesia, Sydney, 1904; H. Adams,
Methodism in the West Indies, London, 1908 ; J. M. Erikson, Metodismen i Sverige, Stockholm, 1895; J. Jiingst, Der Methodismus in Deutschland, Giessen, 1906.
On the polity, constitution, doctrines, and discipline of Methodism consult: R. Emory, Mist. of the Discipline of the M. E. Church, New York, 1843; T. E. Bond, The Economy of Methoism Illustrated and Defended, ib. 1852; T. E. Bond Economy of Methodism, ib. 1852; E. Grindrod A Compendium of the Laws and Regulations of Weskyan Methodism, London, 1858 ; B. Hawley, Manual of Methodism, or he Doctrines, General Rules and Usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church, New York, 1868; J. H. Rigg, Connexional Economy of Wesleyan Methodism, Lon don, 1879· idem, Church Organizations, its. 1896; . W. Willisms, Constitution and Polity of Wesleyan Methodism, London, 1881 S. M. Merrill A Digest of Methodist Law; or, Helps in the Administration of the Discipline of the M. E. Church, Cincinnati, 1885 ; D. Sherman, Mist. of the Revisions of te Discipline of the M. E. Church, New York, 1890 T. B. Neely, Evolution of Episcopacy and Organic Methodism, ib. 1888; idem, Mist. of the Origin and Dovelopment of the Governing Conference in Methodism, Cincinnati, 1892; B. Gregory, Side Lights on the Conflicts of Methodism, 18.27-6.E, London, 1898 ; D. J. Waller, Constitution ad Polity of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, ib. 1898; W. F. Barclay, Constitution of Methodist Episcopal Churches inAmerica, Nashville, Tenn., 1902; G. F. Oliver, Our Lay O47ce Bearers, Cincinnati, 1902 ; J. J. Tigert, Doctrines of h1. E. Church in America, ib. 1902; idem, Constitutional Mist. of American Episcopal Methodism, Nashville, 1903; Doctrines and Discipline of the M. E. Church South, ed. Alexander, ib. 1906; D. A. Goodsell, J. B. Hingeley and J. M. Buckley, The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, 1908 ; H. Wheeler, Mist. and Exposition of the Twenty-five Articles of Religion of the M. E. Church, New York, 1908; H. T. Hudson, Methodist Armor; or, A Popular Exposition of the Doctrines, Peculiar Usages and Ecclesiastical Machin ery of the M. E. Church South, Nashville, n.d.