EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION (ante), called sometimes, incorrectly, the German Methodist church, is a sect of American Christians, originally of German descent, formed under the influence of the Rev. Jacob Albright, who, looking with regret on certain doctrines and habits prevalent among the German churches of eastern Pennsylvania, endeavored to reform them. A meeting of his converts in 1800 chose him as their pas tor or bishop, and gave him jurisdiction as such over the members of the association. Subsequently annual conferences were established, and in 1816 a general conference, consisting of all the elders, met in Union county, Penn. Since 1843, general con ferences, consisting of delegates from the annual conferences, have been held every four years. During its earlier years the E. A. was violently opposed, but for the last half century it has been quiet and prosperous. As it denounced slavery it made no progress in the southern states, but it has spread over the n., into Canada and even Germany.
In theological doctrine it is described as endeavoring to blend Calvinistic and Arminian views; in polity, worship, and plans of work it resembles the Methodist Episcopal church; the ministers are divided into elders and deacons; the bishops (elected by the general conference) and the presiding elders (elected by the annual conference) continue in office four years, and may be re-elected. At first, preaching and other public services were conducted almost exclusively in the German language; now, however, the English also is employed. The denomination has a flourishing college at Plainfield, Ill. In 1878, it, reported 19 annual conferences, 1400 preachers (itinerant and local), 1422 houses of worship, 401 parsonages, 108,000 church-members, 1846 Sunday-schools with 132,625 teachers and scholars, $85,400 contributed to missions and other departments of benevolent work.