I know the "MEC" stands for Methodist Episcopal Church. I'm trying to decide what that letter in front of the word "Minister" is and what it stands for.
This is part of the 1850 census enumeration of John Rhodus in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. He may have a connection to a William Rhodus on whom I'm been working, but I'm curious about the occupation he has in 1850. The complete image is below.
10 comments:
It might be an "L" for Lay Minister.
Could it be "S" for stated -- recognized or official?
I think it's an L - look at the Lucretia on line 31 - can't help with what it might stand for though!
I've seen an obituary for a retired minister that stated he had served as a "supply minister" in his later years. I think this means he substituted whenever needed.
Could it be "S" for Senior? Just thought.
Could it stand for "Senior" minister? Usually indicating the top in command if there are more Ministers in the congregation
Could it be a "S"...... for Slave Minister?
Could be Senior Minister, but that doesn't sound like Kentucky in the 1850's!
The "S" may mean he was a "salaried" minister. The early M.E. Church had many unpaid ministers, who held fulltime paying jobs outside the church and volunteered their time to the church. Typically the circuit riders of the M.E.C. received a salary. So this may indicate that John Rhodus was a Methodist Circuit Rider.
Looking at Laborer, Lewis, Lucretia and Lyons elsewhere on the page, I'd say that the letter is an L - it has more of a base loop than the way S is written here. So I think it probably stands for Lay (ie unordained preacher)
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