Religion: FOUR CHURCHES, 17.8 MILLION BELIEVERS

These are the four Protestant denominations that the executive head of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the Rev. Dr. Eugene Blake, proposes to unite into one church:

Methodists number 9.2 million, divided into six districts, governed by bishops who are elected by jurisdictional conferences. Founded in the 18th century in reaction to the Church of England, Methodism stresses personal religious experience and love of God rather than doctrine, though Methodists believe in the Trinity, recite the Apostles' Creed, and observe the sacraments of baptism and communion. But they regard communion as only commemorative of the Last Supper.

Episcopalians number 3.2 million...

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