Methodists

(-istz.) (Eccl. Hist.) A term originally applied to a sect of physicians at Rome, who, under the name of method ici, practised only by theory. It is now used to designate the followers of Wesley and Whit field, the former profe ing the doctrines of Arm in i us, and the latter those of Calvin; and also several sects of Christians who have seceded from the Wesley an denomination. In 1729, after the revolution, the brothers John and Charles Wesley, believing they perceived great lukewarmne in matters of religion, formed an a ociation for the observance of more strict and rigid rules regarding the regulation of their time and studies, and the practice of religious exercises. John Wesley, who took the most active part in this religious movement, having been ordained, officiated for some time in England, then visited this country. But, on his return, giving offence to some of the higher ranks of the clergy by his enthusiastic and declamatory mode of preaching, the churches were generally shut against him, which led him to become the founder of a new cla of di enters, without having at first intended it. He preached in di enting chapels in London and elsewhere, and great succe attended his exertions. Having had recourse to lay preachers, who proved most efficient in forwarding his views, he was enabled to exercise superintendence over all his congregations. He required his followers to attend the Established Church when they had no opportunity of hearing his preachers; but he differed in many points from what is generally considered to be the doctrines of the thirty-nine articles. According to his system of church government, each society is divided into cla es of from twelve to twenty persons, one of whom is termed a leader. Each society has stewards, whose office is somewhat similar to that of deacons in the Established Church. The leaders, stewards, and minister hold once a week what is called the leader's meeting. A number of these societies constitute a circuit, of which one of the ministers of the district is superintendent. The ministers, leaders, and stewards in the circuit hold a quarterly meeting, on which occasion the stewards deliver their collections to a civil steward. From five to fifteen circuits form a district, the ministers of which hold an annual district meeting. This a embly tries ministers, and suspends those whose conduct is proved to be immoral, whose doctrine is erroneous, or who are deficient in ability, and performs a number of other important duties. The conference, whose decisions are final, should consist, strictly speaking, of a hundred of the senior itinerant preachers; but it is generally composed of preachers elected at the previous district meetings, and of all the ministers who choose to attend, every one present at it having a right to vote. All regulations are framed by this body; funds are levied in its name; it appoints ministers to the stations they are to occupy; it appoints superintendents, . The American Methodist denomination may be summed up as follows: 1. The Methodist Episcopal Church,by far the most numerous, was established in New York, and had, in 1870, 3,665,880 members, of whom 2,623,201 were citizens of the U States. 2. The METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH, had, in 1870, 535,040 members. 3. The TRUE WESLEY AN METHODIST CHURCH has in this country abt. 20,000 members. 4. The AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH reports, in 1870, 350,000 communicants and 25,000 probationers. 5. The FREE METHODIST CHURCH, and 6. The PRIMITIVE M. are, as to membership, unimportant. The M. in U. S., in 1878, numbered 3,315,312 members. (me-thu'ze-lah.) (Script.) A patriarch, son of Enoch, lived before the Deluge, and reached the amazing age of 969 years! 1, (meth'il.) (From Gr. me thu, wine, and yle, wood.] (Chem.) An hypothetical compound radical, the constituents of which are two atoms of carbon and three of hydrogen. It is the base of a large number of spirits and ethers, of which the best known is the hydrated oxide, wood naphtha, or pyroxilic spirit. This was first obtained by the destructive distillation of wood. It is a volatile inflammable liquid, resembling spirit of wine. -Methylated Spirit is pure spirit of wine to which one tenth of its volume of wood naphtha, otherwise pyroxilic spirit, has been added. (See the last article.) This, on account of its offensive odor and taste, prevents the compound being drunk, while it can still be employed in many of the useful arts. (-a-min.) (Chem.) Ammonia in which one atom of hydrogen is replaced by methyl. It is an inflammable gas, greatly resembling ammonia in its chemical character. Cycle, (-si'kl.) (Chron.) The period of 19 years, or rather of 6,940 days, in which the lunations of the moon return to the same days of the month; so named from its discoverer, Meton, an A then i an, who lived abt. 400 B. c. See GOLDEN NUMBER. [s. 596]