Corner-Stones of Faith; Or, the Origin and Characteristics of the Christian Denominations of the United States (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ... but the several overtures to that end have as yet been unsuccessful. See, further, "History of the Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church South," A. H. Bedford (Nashville, 1871); "History of the Methodist Episcopal Church South," Professor Gross Alexander, D.D. (1896). THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH THE cause of the expulsion of some from the Methodist Episcopal Church, which led to the formation of this body, was the opposition of many to the office of bishop, and the desire for lay representation in the conferences of the church, which did not obtain in the parent body until 1872. The first steps toward the organization of the Methodist Protestant Church were taken in 1828. Two years later, in convention at Baltimore, a constitution and Book of Discipline were adopted, also the name. A secession occurred among them in 1858 on account of slavery, but a reunion was effected in 1877. The differences between the Methodist Protestant Church and the parent body are in the government for the most part, there being no appreciable difference in teaching, worship, and discipline. The differences are chiefly these: 1. They have no bishops chosen for life, but each annual conference elects its own president. 2. Ministers are appointed by the annual conferences, usually through some smaller delegated agency, and not by a bishop. The limit of the itinerancy is fixed by the conference. If appointments are not satisfactory, churches and ministers have the right of appeal to a board selected for that purpose. Classleaders are chosen by the classes, and not appointed by the minister. 3. Lay representation in the conferences is an important feature. The General Conference is composed of equal numbers of ministers and laymen....