Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus./Irish) a Methodist.

1828		W. Carr Dialect of Craven II 312: Methodies say, how yower prayers er tiresome.
1859		‘George Eliot’ Adam Bede (1873) 94: I reckon it’s wi’ bein’ a Methody.
1864		Cheshire Obs. 19 Mar. 2/4: Complainant [...] had a discussion with defendant upon the sinfulness of dancing [...] lost his temper and called defendant a ‘Methody’.
1868		Dly Ohio Statesman 13 June 1/4: I got hitched as fast as a little wizen-looking methody could do the job.
1874		Western Gaz. 16 Oct. 8/1: I went to Jem Spikes as is a bit of a Methody an tuld in mi drem.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 12/1: The tar said, ‘O Lord, save us poor beggars afloat. I never asked anything from you in my life before, and if you help us this time I’ll never trouble you again. I’m not a going to be like those crawling Methodies, bothering you every day.’.
1899		C.J.C. Hyne Further Adventures of Captain Kettle 190: Skipper’s a bit of a methody.
1903		Bulletin (Sydney) 2 July 13/2: The Methodies all reunited again, and let the Salvarmy (Boss Booth was a Methody, too) shiver at the street corners.
1912		J. London Smoke Bellew (1926) 208: ‘Hello, Spike; hello, Methody,’ she greeted.
1931		S.F. Bullock After Sixty Years n.p.: What religion Mr Bean and his family observed I cannot say. Perhaps they were Methodys [BS].
1937		Nottingham Eve. Post 24 Sept. 6/4: I think he must be a bit of a Methody, for he keeps them old saints days.
1946		J. Cary Moonlight (1995) 245: Phyllis is a Methody, a touchy maid.