TITLE PAGE

DEDICATION

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. BISHOP SIMPSON ON THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

"The Cyclopedia of Methodism"—Letter to Bishop Simpson His Reply—Reply examined—The Cyclopedia article on " The Free Methodists,"

CHAPTER II. NAZARITE ORGANIZATION.

Did it exist in reality ?—Denial of its existence—" Genesee Conference Matters," quoted from the Northern Independent—Who the Seventeen Signers of this Article were—Their Character estimated—Asa Abell—J. P. Kent—Samuel C. Church—Charles D. Burlingham—Amos Hard—Statements of Joseph McCreery— Infallibility of Genesee Conference questioned—Value of a Con­ference Vote,. 

CHAPTER III. FACTS IN THE CASE.

Transition State of the M. E. Church—The Slavery Question—Two Parties—Rise of Northern Independent—Masonry a disturbing Element—Conference at Buffalo, 1848—The Crisis—Promoters of Holiness—Asa Abell—Eleazer Thomas—William C. Kendall—Loren Stiles—Isaac C. Kingsley—Charles D. Burlingham—Bishop Hamline—Attacks by the Buffalo Advocate,

CHAPTER IV. SECRET MEETINGS.

The Secret Society. men in secret Meeting—Original Minutes of one Meeting—Testimony that Secret Meetings were held—Of Sanford Hunt—Of Thomas Carlton Of D. F. Parsons—Acts of the Association—Sketch of William C. Kendall—His Labors and Death‑Letter from Seymour Coleman,  

CHAPTER V. RELIGION OF THE MAJORITY.

New School Methodists—Article on "New School Methodism," in full—Buffalo Advocate on " Religious Interests in Buffalo"—Comments of the Northern Independent upon the report on " The State of the Work," in 1865 — Report of Conference Minutes for 1858 and 1878, contrasted—Jesse T. Peek on the religious condition of the M. E. Church at that time—Dr. Newman,

CHAPTER VI. 'THE PROSCRIBED RELIGION.

Accounts of it by its Opposers—Favorable Testimony of its Character by Rev. Wm. Reddy—By Rev. B. I. Ives, in his account of the " Bergen Camp—meeting " in 1858 By Rev. J. T. Crawford, in published account of Bergen Camp Meeting, 1859—By Rev. Ira A. Weaver, J. Palmer and others,

CHAPTER VII.  CHURCH TRIALS.

Joseph McCreery—Complaints of Enoch Pease against three Preachers—Genesee Conference covering Fraud—Desperation of the Regency—Charges against B. T. Roberts and William C. Kendall—Trial of B. T. Roberts—He is Admonished—Work on the Pekin Circuit, 

CHAPTER VIII. TWO EXPULSIONS.

The Estes Pamphlet—George W. Estes responsible for it — Charges against B. T. Roberts——Counsel refused—Change of Venue refused—Trial by Committee refused—Testimony in the matter of the Estes Pamphlet—C. D. Burlingham on the Verdict for Expulsion—Trial of Joseph McCreery—His account of his Trial—Appeals to the General Conference—B. T. Roberts and Joseph McCreery join on Probation

CHAPTER IX. LAYMEN'S CONVENTION.

Convention called by. One Hundred Laymen meets at Albion, 1858—Resolutions adopted Course of the Northern Christian Advocate,

CHAPTER X. WAR AGAINST THE MEMBERS.

Arraigned for Praying—The Case of Claudius Brainard—Expelled for attending the Lay—men's Convention—His Appeal disregarded Reason for voting against his appeal—Others expelled at Chili—Trial of Thomas B. Catton—Of Jonathan Handley—Of Jas. H. Brooks—Second Laymen's Convention called,

CHAPTER XI. MORE PREACHERS EXPELLED.

Powers of a Conference—Charges against Rev. L. Stiles—Expelled for keeping the rules of the Discipline—Case of Charles D. Burlingham—Case of Rev. William Cooley—Appeal of Rev. John A. Wells—Northern Independent on the Expulsion of these Ministers—Death of Rev. L. Stiles—Funeral Sermon by Rev. W. Hosmer—Notice of the career of some of the Expelled Ministers in years subsequent to their Expulsion—Second Lay—men's Convention at Albion, March, 1859—Its Proceedings—Encouragement to the Regency,

CHAPTER XII. EXPULSION BY WHOLESALE..

Speech of Thomas Carlton at Brockport Conference—How a Preacher can get a majority in a Quarterly Conference—Rev. A. L.Chapin's career at East Otto—Proceedings of' S. M. Hopkins at be Roy—B. F. McNeal, on the Tonawanda and Ridgeville Circuit, adopts a similar policy—Case of Rev. Henry Hornsby—The Work in Illinois—Dr. Redfield at St. Charles—Expulsions in Illinois—What came of them.

CHAPTER XIII. THE APPEALS.

General Conference of 1860—A Resolution to investigate Genesee Conference matters opposed by James M. Fuller—Loyalty defined—Court of Appeals—The Appeals not entertained—Final Appeal—Bishop Simpson's Statement denied—Provisions of the M. E. Discipline examined—Rev. William Hosmer on the Appeal Cases—Appeal of Rev. C. D. Burlingham—Remarkable decision—Action of the General Conference reviewed—Expedients of Thomas Carlton—" Official Exposition of Law,

CHAPTER XIV. REVIEWS.

Bishop Simpson's Article on " The Free Methodists " reviewed—Untrue statements—Conable's " History of the Genesee Conference—A Remarkable Book—False Statements alleged and proved—History of the Bergen Camp Ground—Measures of the Regency to obtain possession—Result of a suit—at—law,

CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION.

Summary of the Points Proved against the Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church—against the M. E. Church at large—and its Historians—Personal Attitude of the Author,

APPENDIX.

Facts and Statistics relative to the "Free Methodist Church," from its organization in 1860, to the General Conference in 1878.