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A circular letter from John Wesley to Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury, and the North American Methodists addressing the issue of church leadership and appointing Dr. Coke and Francis Asbury, along with Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, as leaders of the Methodists in North America.

A circular letter from John Wesley to Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury, and the North American Methodists addressing the issue of church leadership and appointing Dr. Coke and Francis Asbury, along with Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, as leaders of the Methodists in North America.

An engraving created after a painting by Thomas Coke Ruckle depicting the ordination of Bishop Francis Ashbury Pratt in Baltimore, Maryland.

An engraving created after a painting by Thomas Coke Ruckle depicting the ordination of Bishop Francis Ashbury Pratt in Baltimore, Maryland.

A woodcut depicting the rite of laying on of hands. The bishop places his hands on the head of the ordainee, who kneels before him, holding vestments folded over his arms. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs holding rings and kneeling atop helmets. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the rite of laying on of hands. The bishop places his hands on the head of the ordainee, who kneels before him, holding vestments folded over his arms. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs holding rings and kneeling atop helmets. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A letter from Christopher Hopper to Charles Wesley asking Wesley to refer Hopper to someone who could ordain him. Hopper also asks about what the life of a Methodist preacher is like.

A letter from Christopher Hopper to Charles Wesley asking Wesley to refer Hopper to someone who could ordain him. Hopper also asks about what the life of a Methodist preacher is like.

A letter from George F. Pierce to Robert Paine asking about when to implement a new rule regarding ordination which would limit who qualified, particularly in light of the need for preachers.

A letter from George F. Pierce to Robert Paine asking about when to implement a new rule regarding ordination which would limit who qualified, particularly in light of the need for preachers.

A letter from Holland Nimmons McTyeire to Robert Paine asking for some of Paine's personal details so that McTyeire can submit a full and accurate entry for inclusion in the New American Encyclopedia, and reporting on the departure of missionaries from New York.

A letter from Holland Nimmons McTyeire to Robert Paine asking for some of Paine's personal details so that McTyeire can submit a full and accurate entry for inclusion in the New American Encyclopedia, and reporting on the departure of missionaries from New York.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine discussing the preparation of missionaries for the China Mission, including where to transfer new preachers in the meantime so they can be best prepared for the work.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine discussing the preparation of missionaries for the China Mission, including where to transfer new preachers in the meantime so they can be best prepared for the work.

A letter from John Wesley to his brother, Charles, stating that several men could not join their society, nor could they serve as preachers or clergymen.

A letter from John Wesley to his brother, Charles, stating that several men could not join their society, nor could they serve as preachers or clergymen.

A woodcut depicting a bishop ordinating a group of priests. The bishop sits on a riased dias, an attendant beside him, as the men waiting to be ordained kneel before him. The scene is flanked by ornamental scroll work featuring pelicans and snails. This woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting a bishop ordinating a group of priests. The bishop sits on a riased dias, an attendant beside him, as the men waiting to be ordained kneel before him. The scene is flanked by ornamental scroll work featuring pelicans and snails. This woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the ordination of priests. A bishop sits, flanked by attendatns, holds out a chalice and plate to a kneeling priest. The scene is flanked by a pair of decorative tiles. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the ordination of priests. A bishop sits, flanked by attendatns, holds out a chalice and plate to a kneeling priest. The scene is flanked by a pair of decorative tiles. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the ordination of sub-deacons. A bishop sits on a dias offering a chalice to an ordinee as the bishop's assistants bring forward additional vessels used in the ordination process. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs standing atop eagles and holding bags of snakes. This woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the ordination of sub-deacons. A bishop sits on a dias offering a chalice to an ordinee as the bishop's assistants bring forward additional vessels used in the ordination process. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs standing atop eagles and holding bags of snakes. This woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A series of six engravings depicting a Roman Catholic cleric receiving tonsure (top left) and a surplice (top right), and the ordination of a sexton (middle left), a lector (middle right), an exorcist (bottom left), and an acolyte (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting a Roman Catholic cleric receiving tonsure (top left) and a surplice (top right), and the ordination of a sexton (middle left), a lector (middle right), an exorcist (bottom left), and an acolyte (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting elements of the process of ordaining nuns. The bishop gives the nuns their rings (top left), the bishop crowns the nuns with wreaths (top right), the reading of the anathema (middle left), nuns present their candles (middle right), the bishop celebrates communion with the nuns (bottom left) and the bishop gives the nuns their breviaries (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting elements of the process of ordaining nuns. The bishop gives the nuns their rings (top left), the bishop crowns the nuns with wreaths (top right), the reading of the anathema (middle left), nuns present their candles (middle right), the bishop celebrates communion with the nuns (bottom left) and the bishop gives the nuns their breviaries (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting elements of the process of ordaining a Roman Catholic bishop, including his presentation (top left), his oath (top right), his bowing before the altar (middle left) anointing (middle right), the anointing of his hands, (bottom left), and the bestowal of his crosier (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting elements of the process of ordaining a Roman Catholic bishop, including his presentation (top left), his oath (top right), his bowing before the altar (middle left) anointing (middle right), the anointing of his hands, (bottom left), and the bestowal of his crosier (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting elements of the process of ordaining a Roman Catholic bishop: including the bestowal of his ring (top left), bestowal of a book of the gospels (top right), presenting the torches, the bread and the wine (middle left), dressing in his miter (middle right), receiving his crosier (bottom left), and dressing in his pallium (lower right).

A series of six engravings depicting elements of the process of ordaining a Roman Catholic bishop: including the bestowal of his ring (top left), bestowal of a book of the gospels (top right), presenting the torches, the bread and the wine (middle left), dressing in his miter (middle right), receiving his crosier (bottom left), and dressing in his pallium (lower right).

A series of six engravings depicting Elements of the processes of ordaining abbots, abbesses, and nuns: the abbot receiving his ecclesiastical habit (top left), the laying on of hands (top right), the abbess receiving her veil (middle left), nuns being consecrated (middle right), blessing the habits of the nuns (bottom left), and nuns receiving their veils (bottom right).

A series of six engravings depicting Elements of the processes of ordaining abbots, abbesses, and nuns: the abbot receiving his ecclesiastical habit (top left), the laying on of hands (top right), the abbess receiving her veil (middle left), nuns being consecrated (middle right), blessing the habits of the nuns (bottom left), and nuns receiving their veils (bottom right).