Originating from a Protestant sect organized under John Wesley, 1744, including all religious bodies which came into existence through the efforts of John and Charles Wesley. They formulated their Articles of Religion from the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England. The Apostles Creed is the only accepted formal creed. The Methodists rejected the "stricter doctrines of Calvinism, predestination, and reprobation," and accepted "the milder emphasis of Arminianism on repentance, faith, and holiness." In America the church government emphasized the superintendency, which was a form of episcopacy. The different Methodist bodies are as follows:
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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