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Overview
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Preferred Citation
Restrictions on Access
Restrictions on Use
Related Material
Subject Terms
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| Record Creator: | Methodist Episcopal Church |
| Title: | Methodist Certificates and Licenses |
| Title: | Certificates and Licenses |
| Date Span: | 1778-1895 |
| Abstract: | This small collection contains various documents related to church membership, marriage and clergy licenses. The membership records range from the late 18th century to the late 19th century. |
| Extent: | 0.23 cubic feet |
| Resource ID: | drew.rg.5248 |
When early Methodist Societies were formed, they made no claim to be churches, but simply associations of Christians which enabled persons who belonged to them to increase their piety and usefulness. John Wesley stated that there wages of the meetings, though was only one condition “previously required” for those who desired admission into these Societies. Admission into the Society was gained by showing a proper spirit, and by being approved by a minister or class leader after undergoing a system of probationary trial.
Under this method of probation, the person was allowed all the privileges of the meetings, though was not received into full fellowship until after a period of six months or so while being on trial. In the early days of the Societies and indeed during the formative days of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the manner of receiving members into the Church was exceedingly simple. Those who wished to unite with the church gave their names to the ministers and were placed in classes, and if at the end of six months these were recommended by the class leader or by the pastor who had charge of training them, they were eligible to be received by the church as full members.
This small collection contains a sample of documents related to church membership, marriage and clergy licenses. The membership records range from the late 18th century to the late 19th century. Many of these documents are either in the form of handwritten notes or simple certificates. The clergy licenses deal primarily with local preachers as well as recommendations to annual conference for admission. The last segment contains three printed marriage licenses.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Material is arranged by record type.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Methodist Church Certificates, Methodist Collection - Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
No restrictions.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Index Terms |
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| Subject Topics | ||
| Church membership | ||
| Clergy | ||
| Marriage | ||
| Subject Geographic | ||
| Great Britain | ||
| United States | ||
| Genre | ||
| Certificates | ||
| Additional Creators - Corporate Names | ||
| Wesleyan Methodist Society | ||
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 2141-4-6: 1 | Local Preacher's Licenses | 1803-1895 |
| 2141-4-6: 2 | Itinerancy - Manuscripts | 1778-1895 |
| 2141-4-6: 3 | Marriage Certificates | 1830-1866 |
| 2141-4-6: 4 | Recommendations to Conference for Preachers | 1802-1840 |
| 2141-4-6: 5 | Certificates of Church Membership | 1778-1891 |
