BIBLE, SUNDAY SCHOOL, AND TEMPERANCE CAUSES.

In these benevolent enterprises, this church has taken an active part. She has a Sunday School Union of her own, in which she endeavours to do what she may in training up the youth entrusted to her care in the knowledge of the holy scriptures, and in the practice of piety and virtue. In addition to Sunday school books and tracts, and a Sunday school library, in which are found some of the choicest books in the English language in the various departments of knowledge, particularly adapted to youth, she prints The Sunday School Advocate, a semi-monthly periodical, well calculated to attract and instruct the youthful mind, and containing lessons suited to teachers and superintendents of sabbath schools.

In the great Bible cause, she unites her energies with the American Bible Society, many of her ministers being agents of this catholic and truly benevolent institution, and they have free access to her pulpits for the purpose of pleading its cause, and taking up collections for its support.

In the temperance reformation, as a church, she stands foremost in the ranks, always having made it a term of church-fellowship to abstain from "intoxicating liquors, unless in cases of necessity." And though this rule was somewhat relaxed in its practical effects, when the temperance reformation commenced, and though she did not immediately see the necessity of uniting with the American Temperance Society in all its plans of operation: yet, no sooner did she perceive that many of her members were indulging in moderate drinking, and that therefore there was a danger of their " running into the same excess of riot" with those who were gratifying their appetites with intoxicating drinks, than she lifted up her warning voice against the deadly poison, and united with all those who declared in favour of a total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage; and it is believed that the pernicious practice is now nearly banished from the church, and hopes are entertained that soon it will be so entirely.

From the facts contained in the above brief view of the history, the doctrines, the government, and the usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church, it will be seen, I humbly trust, that she has contributed much towards the conversion of the world, and that, if permitted to go on in her career of usefulness to the souls and bodies of men, her ministers and members shall not be wanting, in that day when God shall "come to make up his jewels," in some share of that glory which shall be given to those "who turn many to righteousness."

STATISTICS.

The following table will show the increase or decrease, from year to year, of ministers and members, since the first conference held in America, in the year 1773. The number of travelling preachers includes the superannuated as well as effective.

After this year

the white and coloured members were returned in separate columns, and then the whole were added together, to make the sum total, which method will be followed hereafter.

This year and the subsequent years the number of local preachers were returned in the minutes of the conferences, and they are accordingly set down in a separate column in the years which follow:

* The number of Christian Indians are included in this and the subsequent number of coloured members.

Add to these the travelling preachers (4266), which are not included in the above enumeration, and the grand total is 1,072811.

The above facts are taken from Wesley's Works, 7 vols. 8vo.; More's Life of Wesley, 1 vol. 8vo.; History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 4 vols. 12mo.; Asbury's Journal, 3 vols. 8vo.; Minutes of Conferences, 2 vols. 8vo.; Methodist Discipline, 1 vol. 24mo; and Original Church of Christ, 1 vol. 12mo.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

BY THE REV. JAMES R. WILLIAMS,

OF

BALTIMORE.

AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

THE Methodist Protestant Church comprises all the associated Methodist churches in these United States, and numbers, at the present time, Nov. 1843, sixty thousand communicants, thirteen hundred ministers and preachers, twenty-two annual conference districts, and possesses upwards of a half million of church property, acquired since her organization.

Her first General Convention, at which the church was regularly organized, was held in 1830, in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland. There were in attendance at the convention eighty-three ministerial, and lay representatives, from the following states: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. These represented about five thousand members of the respective associated Methodist churches, a large majority of whom had withdrawn from the Methodist Episcopal Church, on account of her government and hostility to a lay representation; she not only having withheld representation from the people, but actually denied that they have any right to representation. Moreover she had claimed for her itinerant ministry, exclusively, as of divine right, and without any authoritative control from the church, not merely the administration, but the sole right of expounding and maintaining, 1. Gospel doctrines, that is, a right to preach, and teach whatever they may please to admit into their creed as gospel doctrines. 2. Ordinances, that is, to set up whatever worship, sacraments, and services, they may deem conformable to the gospel; and 3. Moral discipline, that is, to admit and expel, censure and suspend, whomsoever they please in the church of God, and for whatever causes to them shall seem