Chapels; Children's Fund; Contingent Fund; Worn out Ministers' and Ministers' Widows' Auxiliary Fund; Wesleyan Theological Institution; Education; United Committees of Privileges and Education; Catechumen Classes, and Pastoral care of the Young: Home Missions; Attendance of Ministers at the Conference; Spiritual State of the Connexion; Miscellaneous Resolutions; and Standing Orders," the Conference makes many necessary appointments, passes a great number of resolutions, and adopts an abundance of rules and regulations.

1849. There was at this period, much internal strife, ill feeling, and discord in the Methodist Society. A small, but persevering clique of dissatisfied ministers were exerting all their energies to damage, and, if possible, to destroy the fair reputation of some of their more honoured brethren in the ministry; and great numbers of laymen either openly assisted them, or looked with gratification upon their exertions. There was

much latent radicalism and disaffection in the societies, and it was obvious to every observer of the signs of the times, that the affairs of Methodism were approaching a most serious crisis.

On January 1st, the Rev. Samuel Dunn, one of the most inveterate and violent of the ministerial agitators, commenced the publication of a monthly periodical, entitled "The Wesley Banner, and Revival Record," wherein he thought proper to insert articles and statements calculated to seriously affect the peace and prosperity of the Methodist Society. A fresh weekly newspaper,

called the "Wesleyan Times," having for its object the degradation of the Wesleyan ministry, and the revolution of Wesleyan discipline, usages, and laws, was likewise at the same time started.

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This notorious print far excelled all its liberal predecessors in the vulgarity of its language, and virulence of its falsehoods. In the year 1834, there was the "Christian Advocate," and since that period, we have seen the successive rise and fall of the Wesleyan Record," the "Wesleyan Chronicle," and the " Wesleyan;" but none of these organs displayed such an utter contempt, not only of the requirements of christianity and of truth, but of the common civilities of life, as the "Wesleyan Times" has done.

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Through the unceasing and unscrupulous exertions of this flagitious newspaper, and of the Wesley Banner," and other publications, the Wesleyan Connexion was kept in a continual ferment, and all parties looked forward with intense anxiety for the assembling of the Wesleyan Conference.

On July 25th, the one hundred and sixth Conference commenced in Manchester. The Rev. Thomas Jackson was chosen president, and the Rev. John Hannah, secretary.

The Rev. James Everett, who was universally believed to be the chief writer of the "Fly Sheets," the "Anonymous Papers" condemned by the Conference of 1847, was officially required to inform his brethren whether he was the author of those clandestine and slanderous publications, but he sternly, and in "a tone and manner justly

considered offensive," refused to satisfy them upon the subject, and was consequently expelled from the Connexion.

The Rev. Samuel Dunn and the Rev. William Griffith, having resolved in opposition to the will of the Conference, not to discontinue the "Wesley Banner," and refusing to give their brethren a pledge to abstain from all divisive proceedings in the future, were likewise of necessity expelled.

The three expelled ministers, Messrs. Everett, Dunn, and Griffith, immediately after their expulsion, began to hold meetings in different parts of the country; and, before large and excited assemblies, composed of all parties, they delivered long and violent addresses upon the injustice and tyranny of the Wesleyan Conference. Then followed one of the most disgraceful agitations that ever disturbed the peace of a religious community. The meek and lowly trio of ministerial agitators employed every means within their power to disgrace the Wesleyan ministry, and injure Wesleyanism. No language was too vulgar, and no comparisons too degrading to accomplish this purpose. The Conference was represented as being excessively tyrannical and despotic, and Methodism " as it is," as being as bad, or worse than Popery. Numbers of laymen joined hand and heart with the expelled ministers, and a regular, systematic, and extensive crusade was perseveringly carried on against our ministry, our laws, our usages, our institutions, and everything belonging to the Wesleyan Connexion. And it must be confessed, that a large measure of success

crowned the exertions of these so-called Reformers,* for vast numbers of persons left our societies, and either sought other spiritual homes, or went back into the world. But Methodism still retains its vitality, vigour, and expansiveness, and shall retain them, notwithstanding all the efforts of its enemies to wither, to blast, and to destroy it; for it is the cause of God, and if he be for it, who can be effectively against it? Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall: the archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob."

At the Conference of 1849, the number of preachers and members in the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion stood as follows::

Preachers.

In Great Britain, (including the regular ministers, preachers on trial, and those

who are supernumary and superannuated) 1207

In Ireland

In our Foreign Stations

Total number of preachers in connexion) tal of in

163

400

1770

*REVOLTERS Would be a more appropriate designation. "They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters." Jeremiah vi, 28.

Total number of members under the care of the British and Irish Conferences

468,241

Preachers.

Belonging to the Wesleyan Conference in Canada, in connexion with the British Conference

......

136

Under the care of the Wesleyan Conference in Canada, in connexion with the British Conference...

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

Members.

24,268

1850.

On July 31st, the Conference assembled in London. John Beecham, D.D. was chosen president, and John Hannah, D.D., secretary.

The brethren had to record the death of the venerable Richard Reece, who with unwearied zeal, and unswerving fidelity, had laboured in the work of the ministry during the protracted period of sixty-three years. He was twice elected president of the Conference, and it is said, he nobly redeemed the pledge he uttered, Methodism shall never deteriorate in my hands." He died