nity, its members and leaders being represented as factious: but they increased; and in 1814 they reported as follows: Travelling Local Chapels. Societies. Preachers. Preachers. Members. Circuits. 23 Circuits. 59 101 44 8,292 Members. 492 11,777 This connection, like the Old Methodists, appears to succeed most in the manufacturing districts, where they are generally most numerous. They have succeeded also in their "mission" to Ireland: so that in 1837 their conference reported as follows: : 2. PRIMITIVE METHODISTS, vulgarly called Ranters. These affirm that they are preserving the original spirit of Methodism they are generally illiterate, and allow women to preach in their assemblies, where they are rather noisy, especially in their responses to the prayers offered by their ministers. Primitive Methodists abound among the colliers in the north of England: but it is impossible to accurately ascertain their numbers. Several years ago they reported 403 chapels, 2,700 local preachers, and 33,720 members. 3. BRYANITES. These have been so denominated from their connection with a zealous preacher, a Mr. Bryan; and they reported, a few years ago, 13,000 members. They are found chiefly in the western counties of England; and they may be regarded as identified with the Primitive Methodists. 4. INDEPENDENT METHODISTS. These are principally found in Yorkshire, and the 5. WESLEYAN PROTESTANT METHODISTS. These also are found chiefly in Yorkshire, being seceders from the old Wesleyan body, in consequence of what they deem acts of arbitrary power, by an assumed authority at variance with the institutes of Christianity in the New Testament. These classes seem to have at present no ecclesiastical organization; and their numbers, as sometimes given, are entitled to little regard; otherwise the "Independent Methodists" were said to have comprised several years ago upwards of 100 local preachers, and about 4,000 members, chiefly in the vicinity of Leeds, but many in and about London. 6. WARRENITES. They are so called from Dr. Warren, one of the Wesleyan preachers of considerable talents and influence, who seceded, or was expelled, from the old connection, after a protracted and bitter controversy, in 1834 and 1835, arising partly from circumstances in the establishment of the Wesleyan Theological Institution, and the alleged arbitrary and oppressive proceedings of Conference. Great numbers of the members, local preachers, and other officers, took part with Dr. Warren in his complaints, in most of the populous districts in England. This body is at present in an unorganized state: it is said to include great numbers, who have several new chapels. Orthodox Christianity, so far at least as relates to the divinity and atonement of Christ, the influences of the Holy Spirit in regeneration and sanctification of the heart, and personal holiness, is believed to be cherished by all these classes of New Methodists, and they generally make their final appeal, in proof of their doctrines, to the Holy Scriptures. The METHODIST NEW CONNECTION is an increasingly respectable body; and though various indiscretions and unseemly extravagances have characterized some of the proceedings of the minor sects, labouring, as they generally do, amongst the lowest classes of the working population, there exist the most satisfactory evidences, in the reformed lives and exemplary holiness of many of their converts, that their services have been auxiliary to Christianity, crowned with the special blessing of God. Section XI. Unitarians, or Socinians. Unitarians call themselves Presbyterians, to retain trust property- Eminent Unitarians - Number of Unitarian congregations Manner of their gaining possession of the property of Christians- Dr. Henderson's account - Rev. R. W. Hamilton's appeal to Dr. Hutton Amount of the unrighteously-retained trusts Lady Hewley's property in Chancery Decision against the Unitarian Trustees-State of the Unitarian congregations Their secession from the Three Denominations. Unitarians sometimes call themselves Presbyterians, as a matter of policy, for the purpose of retaining certain trust property, especially chapel endowments, which they unrighteously hold, contrary to the well-known will of the original donors. Various circumstances, some of them of recent occurrence, render it necessary to give a somewhat extended account of this small body of professed Christians. Unitarian is a title assumed by those who deny the glory and attributes of Divinity being possessed by the Son of God and the Holy Spirit, limiting them exclusively to the Father. As they do not distinctly hold the unity of the Godhead, which is held by Trinitarians, the legitimate use of the term has never been conceded to them. Socinians is their more appropriate title, as the peculiar doctrine of most of the Unitarians is the distinguishing article of the creed of Socinus, the simple and mere humanity of Christ. Dr. Priestly, Mr. Belsham, and Dr. Carpenter, are the most celebrated names connected with modern Socinianism in England: but notwithstanding their reputation and zeal, the denomination is seen to decline. "This denomination has, in England, Scotland, and Wales, about 223 meeting houses; of this number about 171 have been built by persons most decidedly orthodox; and as many of this number as are endowed, and many of them are plentifully endowed, were enriched by the orthodox also. The remaining 52 were built by the Socinians *." Many serious persons have very confused notions respect * Lectures on Ecclesiastical History and Nonconformity, by J. Mann, p. 309. ing the Unitarians, and the manner of their having obtained possession of so many chapels of orthodox Christians. Dr. Henderson thus explains the way in which the property fell into their hands : "Arminianism and Arianism having increased at the beginning of the last century among the Presbyterians, ministers of lax sentiments were at first associated as lecturers, or co-pastors, with older ministers of orthodox views; and as these died, they naturally came to be possessed of the entire charge of the congregations. Trustees of Arian or Socinian opinions appointed such ministers over orthodox congregations, and many therefore left them and joined the Independents. Endowments that were founded expressly with the view of maintaining the preaching of the doctrines of our Lord's deity and atonement - the doctrines of the Assembly's Confessions and Catechisms-were appointed to the support of a system which the founders held in utter abhorrence. In this way have upwards of one hundred and seventy chapels come into the hands of the present generation of Socinians, who, in order to retain them, most disingenuously arrogate to themselves the name of Presbyterians; though they have nothing in the shape of Presbyterian church government; and not so much as a shred of those doctrinal principles, to transmit which to posterity, the pious endowed these chapels. These endowments, and charities which have been similarly alienated from their original purpose, the Socinians retain to an annual amount of not less than 7,000l., besides the proceeds of 50,000l. left by Dr. Williams for the support of orthodox sentiments. Yet, notwithstanding all this temporal provision, pseudo-Presbyterianism is struggling for its existence, disturbed as it is on the one hand by the influence of enlightened criticism, and the zealous promulgation of Christian doctrine; and, on the other, paralyzed by the torpedo touch of infidelity Socinian trustees and ministers are certainly guilty of misappropriation of a large amount of property, which they thus hold in violation of every principle of religion, morality, and honour. "I would rest all here," says Rev. R. W. Hamilton * Dr. Henderson's Buck's Theological Dictionary, p. 776. of Leeds, to Dr. Hutton, a Sucinian minister in that town, "acting in agreement with your best and soundest impressions of the covenants and trusts for whose operation you are responsible. But all special pleading and pettyfogging must be debarred. What does such agreement call you to do? Not to inquire how you may escape censure—not how you may keep within the particular law-not how you may boast that the very letter is on your side; but what is the construction of the bond? What is the intention of the founder? It is a curious fact, that no chapel which the Socinians build do they call Presbyterian-no, it is Unitarian. If there were no Presbyterian endowments and edifices, our Socinian friends would quickly renounce any unpleasant remembrances of the Puritans and first Nonconformists *.' Orthodox Presbyterian property, as held by the Socinians in this unjust manner, has been thus estimated : £. 8. d. Chapel endowments which are ascertained 3,017 0 0 Lady Hewley's Fund, about .......... 4,000 0 0 Funds of Chamberlain, Hull; of Butterworth, Dr. Williams's, about Total per annum 183 0 0 2,000 0 0 £.9,200 0 0 Lady Hewley's property, it is right to state, is now in Chancery: both the Vice-Chancellor and the Lord Chancellor have decided against the present Trustees, as being Anti-Trinitarian; but the final decision is to be pronounced in the House of Lords. Socinianism exists among several denominations of Christians; but the Unitarians, as forming its distinct religious body, is declining; their congregations do not average more than about thirty persons, except in a few large towns, and scarcely six of their chapels are crowded or well attended. Lady Hewley's cause having been decided against the Uninitarian Trustees, the ministers of that denomination in *Hamilton's Animadversion, &c. |