government. This Society is now joined with the _Wesleyan Reform
Association_, and with the Protestant Methodists, the union being
effected in 1857. The amalgamation is known by the name of "_The
United Methodist Free Churches_." They number--

Ministers. 377
Lay Preachers. 3,134
Members. 66,297
Sunday Scholars 8,599
On Probation. 1,233
Chapels. 186,254

METHODISTS, CALVINISTIC. Up to 1751, John Wesley and George
Whitefield had worked in harmony, but then arose a difference of
opinion between them on the doctrine of election, which resulted
in their separation. Whitefield held the Calvinistic view, Wesley
the Arminian.

After Whitefield's death, in 1769, his followers gradually settled
into two separate religious bodies, one being the _Lady Huntingdon's
Connexion_, or, as it is sometimes called, the _English Calvinistic
Methodists_, and the other the _Welsh Calvinistic Methodists_.

Whitefield was chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon, and it was
by his advice she became the patroness of his followers, and founded
a college for the education of Calvinistic preachers. The doctrines
of this connexion are almost identical with those of the Church of
England, interpreted, of course, in a Calvinistic sense, and her
liturgy is generally employed. They have no general ecclesiastical
government, and have become virtually Congregational Societies.

The _Welsh Calvinistic Methodists_ owe their origin in a great
degree to a Mr. Harris, who did for Wales much what Wesley
and Whitefield did for England. He instituted "Private Societies"
in 1736, but it was not till 1811 that the connexion separated
from the Church. Their Church government differs slightly from
Wesleyanism, and their doctrines are said to be in accordance with
the 39 Articles, interpreted in a Calvinistic sense.

Chapels 1,343
Ministers and Preachers 981
Deacons 4,317
Members 5,029
On probation 177,383
Sunday Scholars 119,358

During the year 1881-82, L163,875 was collected for various
religious purposes.

METHODIST, NEW CONNEXION. This party, under a Mr. Kilham, split
off from the Wesleyans in 1795, four years after the Wesleyans
had left the Church of England. In doctrines, and in all essential
and distinctive features, it remains the same as its parent society.
The grand distinction rests upon the different d