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This denomination first assumed its present name at the conference held 1784. Previous to that time the scattered followers of this belief had met in societies, like those established in Great Britain by Rev. John Wesley. At the same conference the church was organized for missionary and pioneer work under charge of bishops sent to this country by Mr. Wesley, who was recognized as the spiritual father of the denomination. Its success during the next few years was remarkable. The zeal and energy of its preachers and the work of the lay members brought about within sixteen years an increase of membership and preachers almost fourfold. This church was the first officially to acknowledge the U.S. Constitution, and was very active in every anti-slavery movement. The first session of its general conference was held in 1812, at which time the membership was about 195,000. In 1843 the anti-slavery party in the church withdrew in dissatisfaction and founded the Wesleyan Methodist connection. Two years later the Southern Methodists, dissatisfied in their turn, seceded and formed the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Northern church, however, maintained its power and now has one and a half million members. In literature, education and mission work it has always displayed great energy. In 1890 it numbered 2,240,000 members.