POLITY. The polity of early Methodism was suggested by exigencies in the growth of the re vival of which it was the outcome. Methodism as an organization dates from 1739, the loosest possible in form. A few Christians met together weekly in 'classes' (the 'class meeting') to pray and to talk concerning the things of God, over whom a leader (a layman) was appointed. whose duty it was to watch over their souls and to give spiritual counsel. The societies were independent of each other, except as they were held together by the itinerating Wesley. who appointed their leaders. and to whom these leaders were re sponsible. In 17 13 Wesley drew up the rules for the United Societies, which have remained the ethical and almost theological standard of teach ing and practice from that day to this. As the work extended, preachers were appointed. They were of two kinds: clergymen of the Church of England who affiliated with the movement, and who were permanent pastors: and laymen, who were 'itinerants,' moving at first every six months and then every year. In its inception Methodism was preitininently nn episcopal movement. over sight, as in the Society of Jesus, being reduced to an exact science. Over the classes were the lead ers, Orel* both Were the preachers assisted in out appointments by `local preachers,' who were lay men with the gift of public address. and from whom the itinerants were recruited. Each preacher had his 'circuit and several circuit preachers were under a head (whence arose the 'district,' and, in North America, the 'presiding (-Mee). There were 'quarterly' and 'district con ferences.' and, after 174 1. the 'animal conference,' computed of both clergymen and lay preachers. Finally over the wVltol0 movement was Wesley himself. giving it vitality. depth of impression, and breadth of view, saving it from fanaticism dm the one hand. and laxity on the other, ever guiding and really, though not otlieially and narrowly, dominating it. A 'general conference.' meeting every four years, arose in the United States after 1792, owing to the great extent of the country.
The relation of the movement to the Church of England is not hard to define. Wesley was a sincere lover of the Church of his fathers, and hoped that the bishops would ordain his preach ers and in some way articulate his results into the normal ecclesiastical life of the country. in
this he was disappointed. but nothing daunted he went on his way independently. holding that he was justified in this by the unique position he as the providential leader of the move ment, and consolidating what became a vast ee clesiasticism. Wesley tried to be a loyal church man as far as circumstances allowed. lint Eng land's call always sounded louder than the Church's, so that he came to feel that he was serving the Church best when disregarding her most.
After Wesley's death in 1791 'the people called Methodists' were governed by the Annual Con ference, composed of the Legal as the law making hotly, and all the itinerant preachers as advisory and co;;perative. The new ion—as it has been legally since 17 St. when Wesley entered it deed into the Court of Chancery constituting the Conference, and as it has been practically since 1711i, when the movement sep• arated from both Moravianism and Calvinism— came to be called the NVesleyall COO fleetion Or rhilreh. The territory was divided into districts for more efficient supervision, whose interests were looked after by the district meet ing. and subdivided into circuits whose affairs were governed by a quarterly meeting composed of ministers. local preachers. and stewards, of o loon the two last were by the super intending pastor. Various efforts were made to tone clown the hierarchical spirit and constitutidal of the Church by introducing laymen into the Annual Conference and by giving the local church the right to elect its own officers, hut these ef forts were successful only at the cost of numerous divisions. Finally. in 1878. the Wesleyan Meth odist Church introduced the principle of lay representation thus far: that it allowed laymen to sit in the Annual Conference and deliberate with the ministers on all financial and benevo lent causes. those of at pastoral nature being re served to the clergy. In all the Methodist churches of Great Britain and her colonies there is only one order of ministers.