egrees of power
allowed in each communion to the laity, the _Methodist New
Connexion_ allowing them to participate in Church government,
whereas the Wesleyans leave Church government in the hands of
the ministers.

Ministers 179
Lay Preachers 1,225
Members 418,229
On probation 442
Chapels 79,697
Sunday Scholars 4,277

METHODISTS, PRIMITIVE. The "Primitives," or "Ranters," as they are
sometimes called, represent more truly the original genius of
Wesleyan Methodism than any other of the various bodies into which
the original secession from the Church of England has split up.
Some still kept to camp-meetings and the like, after the original
connexion had given them up. This practice was condemned by the
Conference of 1807, and the consequence was the birth of the
_Primitive Methodist Connexion_ in 1810. Messrs. Hugh Bourne and
William Clowes may be looked upon as the fathers of this body.
Their doctrines are precisely the same as those of the original
connexion.

Ministers 1,152
Lay Preachers 15,728
Members 191,329
Chapels 4,397
Sunday Scholars 394,238

METHODIST REFORMERS. In 1849 certain points in Methodist procedure
were attacked in anonymous pamphlets called "Fly Sheets," which
resulted in the expulsion of many ministers from the original
Society. They, with those sympathising with them, have set up a
distinct machinery of methodism, although still regarding themselves
as Wesleyan Methodists, illegally expelled.

METROPOLITAN. A Bishop who presides over a province is called a
Metropolitan.

MICHAEL (St.) & ALL ANGELS. A festival observed on the 29th of
September. St. Michael is described in the Old Testament as the
guardian angel of the Jewish people; and in the New Testament he
is the great archangel fighting for God and His Church against the
devil. (See _Angel_.)

MILITANT, THE CHURCH. The name given to the Church on earth in the
Prayer following the Offertory. _Militant_ means _fighting_, and
is used of the Church on earth in contra-distinction to the Church
Triumphant, the Church above.

MILLENNIUM. Latin, _a thousand years_. Certain people look for a
return of Christ to the earth before the end of the world, and hold
that there will be a first or particular resurrection limited to
the good, and a reign of Christ with all the saints upon the earth
for a thousand