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number of candidates, but all who may appear to them to need it. To two things the Committee cannot shrink from pledging themselves,-to the strictest economy in the expenditure of whatever sums may be entrusted to their care,-and to unremitting watchfulness in reference to the objects and proceedings of the Institution, whatever may be the number of Students placed in it. They believe they are not unacquainted with the wishes of the Wesleyan Connexion respecting the Wesleyan ministry; and their constant care will be, in the execution of the trust reposed in them, as far as in them lies, to labour for their accomplishment.

They cannot conclude without again expressing their humble and hearty thanksgivings to Almighty God for his goodness and lovingkindness to them in the work which they have had to perform. The Institution was commenced in his fear, and from first to last its supporters and friends have only sought to promote his glory in the conversion of sinners and the edification of his church; and this end they have endeavoured to accomplish by the means of a more effi. cient course of training and instruction for those whom he had himself called to the work of the Christian ministry, and whose call had been recognised by that branch of his church with which they were connected. With such an object as this, they have always felt the utmost freedom in approaching the throne of grace, and seeking the divine blessing. And that blessing has not been withheld. Many are the seasons of gracious visitation

which the members of the Institution-family enjoy, so that they have often to say, with Jacob, "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" Numerous and important as re the advantages which the Students enjoy, the Committee are persuaded, that if they were called to point out the chief, they would reply in the dying language of one whose name they revere, and whose memory they cherish, and say, "THE BEST OF ALL IS, GOD IS WITH US."

Nor can the Committee lose sight of the earnest wishes and prayers of the venerable Wesley, as recorded by him in his own Hymn-book. To say that he preferred genuine piety, even when associated with ignorance, to irreligion, though adorned with learning, is only saying that he had, in spirit, sat at Jesus's feet, and heard his word. But he saw no necessity for either; and therefore he prayed himself, and, by putting the words into his Hymn-book, instructed his societies to pray,—

"Unite the pair so long disjoin'd,
Knowledge and vital piety:
Learning and holiness combined,

And truth and love, let all men see
In those whom up to thee we give,

Thine, wholly thine, to die and live."

The Committee cannot for a moment entertain the apprehension that an Institution which seeks, by the blessing of God, to effect such an important combination, shall not be supported on a scale every way commensurate with the wants of the Connexion.

METHODISM IN CHEETHAM-HILL. To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.

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lished, which has continued to this day.

This excellent man, finding further accommodations were necessary for those who were disposed "to hear words whereby they might be saved," fitted up, at his own expense, a large upper room. Here the society and congregation continued to worship for several years. But this place at length becoming "too strait to accommodate those who flocked to hear, a piece of ground was purchased by a few friends, who came forward to act as Trustees, and a chapel built sufficient to accommodate three hundred persons. This chapel was opened in the year 1815, by the late venerable Dr. Adam Clarke.

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Since this period Methodism has con

tinued with various degrees of success. Not a few have been "turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," who have been "added to the church," and, have "adorned the doctrine of God their Saviour; ""but some are fallen asleep" in Jesus.

In the course of the last year, it having been ascertained that several applications were made for sittings in this chapel, which could not be supplied, a meeting of the Trustees and other friends was called, for the purpose of considering what could be done to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing population of the village; when it was resolved that a new chapel should forthwith be erected; and that, in order to secure a more eligible site, a plot of land adjoining the burialground, in connexion with the old premises, the property of W. F. Johnson, Esq., one of the Trustees, should be purchased, if possible. This resolution was hailed with general satisfaction; subscriptions were immediately opened, and the work commenced in the fear of the Lord, which has been happily completed.

The present chapel, for which we are indebted to the benevolent, active, and indefatigable exertions of several devoted friends of Methodism in the village, is generally considered as a commodious, chaste, and elegant structure; and an ornament to the neighbourhood in which it is erected. It is sixty-seven feet in length, by fifty-two in breadth, on the outside. It has a handsome gallery all round; there being as many seats behind the pulpit as are necessary to accommodate the choir. This place of worship was solemnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God on Friday the 15th, Sunday the 17th, and Monday the 18th, of September last. The Ministers who officiated on this occasion were the Rev. Messrs. Robert Newton, Dr. M'All, James Dixon, Robert Wood, William M. Bunting, and Theophilus Lessey. The sermons, which were addressed to highly-respectable and numerous congregations, were rich in evangelical truth, and accompanied by "the demonstration

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Since the opening of this chapel, which forms a new era in the history of Methodism in Cheetham-hill, our prospects have been most encouraging. The greater part of the seats have been let; the congregations are very considerably increased; and, what is best of all, a few souls have been brought to the knowledge of the truth. From the lively interest which our friends continue to take in the good cause, there is reason to believe that still greater prosperity awaits us. The number of members in the society at this place is about one hundred and fifty; the greater part of whom are "walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost;" and have long been distinguished by their attachment to Wesleyan Methodism. When other societies in this Circuit, during the late agitations, were well nigh desolated, this continued steadfast, maintaining "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;" and God has made them to prosper. We thank God for a general improvement throughout the Circuit. Though this Circuit suffered much in the late painful events which disturbed the peace of our Connexion, we have cause to bless God that we live to see "Zion, the city of our solemnities, a quiet habi tation." Our brethren are "joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment." And since our "churches" have "had rest," we have had an accession of upwards of three hundred members to our societies in the Circuit. To God be all the glory!

ALEXANDER BELL.

Manchester, Dec. 8th, 1837.

FUND FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESSED CHAPELS. THE following is an extract from "the Nineteenth Report of the Fund for the Relief of Distressed Chapels in the Wesleyan-Methodist Connexion,"

THE Committee of the General Chapel Fund would have rejoiced had they been able to report an increase in the

VOL. XVII. Third Series.

amount of contributions to this Fund during the past year; but peculiar circumstances, and especially the general prevalence of the influenza at the period when the collections were made throughout the kingdom, will, they believe, account for the defalcation. The amount of subscriptions, collections, and donations, JANUARY, 1838.

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And to the Trustees of the following chapels, for their annual subscriptions of £5

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Paid since the Conference of 1837, and of the sums raised by the Trustees, in each case respectively, up to the last Conference:

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The Committee are greatly rejoiced to be able to state that the actual debt upon chapels now extinguished by the operation of the present Loan Fund is £95,398; which, added to £51,000 liquidated by the former loan system, makes a grand • In carefully examining the former statements, an error has been discovered in the case of Cromer, entered in the Sixteenth Report. The amount raised by the Trustees is there stated to be £135, and it should have been £100. The gross sum of that column is, however, stated to be £34,913, being £15 less than the real amount; and this taken from the £35, will leave the £20 here

deducted.

It may also be well here to notice two typocraphical errors; one in the list of grants inserted in the Sixteenth Report: "Pilling, £140 for £50,"

should be £120 for £50; and one in the list en. tered in the Seventeenth Report: "Ickornshaw, £150 for £50," should be £100 for £50.

total of £147,398. For the removal of so great impediments as most of these debts were found to be to the prosperity of the work of God, by the general and steady efforts of the friends of Wesleyan Methodism, the Committee cannot but express their gratitude to the Great Head of the Church, who has so graciously disposed the hearts of his people to devise liberal things.

It must, however, be remembered, that although the above amount of chapeltrust debt has been liquidated, a large portion of the responsibility is transferred to the Committee, who, entirely on the good faith of the Connexion, have anticipated and expended a large proportion of the income of the Chapel-Fund for several years to come. The contributions of the friends of Methodism are

therefore still required, to an amount even exceeding that of former years; for notwithstanding one hundred and sixtyfour cases have been relieved by the present Loan Fund, there are upwards of eighty cases of distressed chapels, the only effectual relief for which must be by final grants. Some of these are cases of peculiar distress, and of great urgency. In some instances, there are only two or three Trustees living. In others, the offer of considerable sums of money, as donations from very aged persons, is contingent upon speedy help being afforded by the Committee. In some cases, in order to secure immediate and effectual relief, large offers are made by individuals who have already sacrificed and contributed towards the exigencies of their trusts, even beyond their power. In several instances, the Trustees are threatened with the loss of their chapel; and in others, with imprisonment. The Committee are obliged, however, to postpone these applications, until the liberality of the Connexion shall enable them to relieve the most necessitous. In the mean time, such cases are continually urged upon the attention and sympathies of the Committee, as are the occasion of the most painful solicitude and perplexity. Some of the smaller ones they hope may be soon relieved by donations, legacies, or surplus income from the General Fund; and the Committee trust that, by a general effort in the subscriptions and collections of the current year, they will be able by annual grants to save the heavier cases from sinking into irretrievable difficulties. With their present responsibilities it would be obviously improper for the Committee to take up further loans: if there were no other consideration, justice to the present holders of certificates would forbid it. The Conference have accordingly placed restrictions, for the present, upon the operations of the Loan Fund Sub-Committee, by which they find it necessary strictly to abide, since, if once disregarded, the pressure of distress might urge them to such steps as would hazard the well-working of the present system. The Committee have, however, a confident expectation that ultimately all the cases of embarrassment will be relieved. The following is an extract from the Minutes of Conference, respecting the future regulation of the Fund, and the hopes of unrelieved cases :

"12. That the Conference has heard with great satisfaction the Financial Report of the Chapel Loan Fund Sub-Committee; and offers its best thanks to the Committee for their judicious and faith

ful conduct in the execution of the trust confided to them; and approves and adopts the following Resolutions of their last Meeting; viz.,

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(1.) That this Sub-Committee has gone to the utmost extent of the commission with which it was originally entrusted, as to the obtaining of loans, and the giving of final grants therefrom.

(2.) That in order to the honourable redemption of the engagements into which the Sub-Committee has entered with the parties who have furnished loans, the sum of at least £4,750 per annum will be absolutely necessary. And,

(3.) That it now remains for the Sub-Committee to see to the due working of the scheme laid down in the Financial Report for the re-payment of the loans.

"The Sub-Committee therefore propose the following Resolutions; viz.,-

"(1.) That, according to the present income and actual liabilities of the Chapel Fund, no further applications for relief by final grants can be entertained for some years to come; and that cases claiming relief in that way, unless in the mean time the income of that Fund be considerably augmented, must necessarily be deferred until the greater part of the loans already furnished shall have been repaid.

(2.) That in order to the due and regular repayment of those loans, in conformity with the conditions on which they have been furnished, the sum of £4,750 be annually paid to the Treasurers of the Loan Fund, to the end of the term for which they are responsible.'

"13. That while the Conference rejoice in the efficiency of the operations of the Chapel Loan Fund, they view with great sympathy those cases which are still unrelieved; and especially as some of them are in the peculiar circumstances of having sums offered to them upon the condition of their early receiving help from the Loan Fund. In order to afford encouragement to some of these cases of embarrassment, the Sub-Committee are requested to consider whether any plan can be devised for their immediate help. It is also resolved, that legacies and donations to the General Chapel Fund, unless otherwise specially directed, shall in future be devoted entirely to the purpose of relieving the most urgent cases of distress by final grants, under the direction of the Loan Fund Sub-Committee."

The Secretaries have recently, according to the direction of Conference, issued a circular to the Trustees gene

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