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not a paragraph, not a sentence, not a clause, not a word, has been knowingly "omitted," either on that or any other subject whatever. Had I been guilty of the baseness and infidelity which the letter of "G. R. P." implies, never durst I again have looked" the Wesleyan Conference" in the face; for nothing would that body of honest men more indignantly resent than any such unwarrantable liberties taken with the writings of JOHN WESLEY. They would as soon submit to see his tomb ransacked, and his honoured remains treated with open contempt. Will you allow me, in addition, to say, that what have now stated concerning Mr. Wesley's Journal is equally true in respect of every other production of his pen, contained in his collected Works, as they are now on sale "under the authority of the Wesleyan Conference?" On this subject I speak with confidence, for I speak from personal knowledge, derived from long experience and patient labour.

might now fairly call upon "G. R. P." to disprove these averments, or to withdraw his most offensive and injurious charge; but I have seen too much of controversialists to expect him to do either the one or the other. It is one of the unhappy effects of controversy on questions of religious party, that it invariably tends to weaken, even in the purest and most upright minds, that sacred regard for truth between man and man which the precepts of the Gospel enjoin as matter of indispensable duty.

In conclusion, I am happy to say that on one subject I entirely agree with my accuser. He thinks "that a reprint of Mr. Wesley's Journal would be a very valuable addition to our theological library." I think so too, although there are two correct and complete reprints of it in the book-market; yet another reprint, sent forth by a different agency, might secure its wider circulation; and a careful perusal of it could not fail to be useful in this age of party strife. If, therefore, "G. R. P." will disclose his real name, and will undertake, in good faith, to conduct another reprint of Mr. Wesley's Journal through the press, pledging himself that the work shall not be mutilated in his hands,—that is, if he be sincere in the proposal which he makes,-I will engage to supply him gratis with "a copy" of any "original edition" which he may prefer.

I am, Sir, yours, with great respect,
THOMAS JACKSON.

Wesleyan Theological Institution, Richmond, September 24th, 1851.

THE REPLY OF G. R. P.

(To the Editor of" The Guardian.")

SIR,-I am not surprised at the indignant tone of Mr. Jackson's note in your paper of last week, and, in justice to that gentleman, lose no time in writing to say that I have compared the tract to which I alluded with the copy of Wesley's Journal in circulation, and find that no mutilation has taken place. In justice to myself I must state, that I had trusted to the accuracy of an intelligent and respectable tradesman to whom I had lent the tract, and who told me the quotations in it were untrue, and did not exist in the Journal itself. Upon examining the matter myself, however, I find that they do exist, and that my informant had most strangely got hold of the wrong volume of the Journal, and was actually trying to verify entries made in 1748, in a volume that only went up to 1745. I must again express my regret at having trusted to my informant, and thereby been led into making a charge which was, I am happy to say, quite unfounded.

Your obedient servant,

G. R. P.

*** WE had prepared a somewhat extended notice of the two very able Lectures on the Polity of Wesleyan Methodism, recently delivered and published by George Smith, Esq., F.S.A., of Camborne. We are forced, by stress of circumstances, to withhold it for this month; but we cannot allow the opportunity to pass without saying to our readers, If you want a clear historical review of Wesleyan Methodism, which shall prove that its successive legislative enactments have been for the benefit of the "people," and not for the aggrandisement of ministerial power; and if you want proof that it is scriptural, in its constitutional principles and Connexional arrangements; purchase, without delay, this very important and cheap publication, and advise all your friends to do the same.

LONDON PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.

THE

WESLEYAN VINDICATOR

AND

CONSTITUTIONAL METHODIST.

EDITED BY THE REV. SAMUEL JACKSON,

AND A SUB-COMMITTEE.

DECEMBER, 1851.

“LOCAL PREACHERS' MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION.”

WE approach this subject with considerable reluctance; and nothing but a sense of duty could compel us to notice it in the pages of this periodical. But we are persuaded, that we owe it to our brethren, the Local Preachers of the Connexion, to lay before them the present character of this " Association," and to point out some of those false steps which will eventually lead to its own destruction. We know that, for doing this, we may be called many hard names, and shall be charged with being no friends to those "hard-working and gratuitous labourers," whom God has been pleased to render useful in building up the Methodist church. But we are prepared for this undeserved reproach; and, simply reminding our readers of the great respect and kindness with which we, and every other constitutional organ in Methodism, have invariably spoken of Local Preachers, we address ourselves at once to the task.

The "Association" was formed in July, 1849, and shortly afterwards held its first "Aggregate Meeting" in London. Its object professedly was, to give pecuniary relief to Wesleyan-Methodist Local Preachers, being members of the "Association," whom sickness or age had incapacitated for their regular daily avocations. So benevolent and praiseworthy an intention could hardly fail to win the hearts of Christian people. But it was a matter for grave consideration, whether, in a Connexion like our own, the project could be satisfactorily carried out; especially commencing, as it did, just at the time when the Societies began to be agitated by the visits of the expelled Ministers; and when it was known that many Local Preachers, who were the patrons of the " Association," had already committed themselves to overt acts of hostility against the Conference. But the London Ministers-whatever may have been their private views respecting

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MASON, 14, CITY. ROAD;
AND SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW.

the merits of the "Association"-behaved with the greatest tenderness to its members; and, before the first "Aggregate Meeting” broke up, the great bulk of the Local Preachers who had visited London partook of the Lord's Supper together in City-road chapel-a special service having been appointed for that purpose, and some of the Ministers stationed in the Circuit officiating on the occasion.

The following year the Meeting was held in Birmingham, and was but thinly attended. About £1,200, however, had been collected for the "Association," nearly the whole of which was invested in the Funds. At this second "Aggregate Meeting,” a discussion arose as to the propriety of altering the rule, which provided that all the officers of the "Association" should be "accredited Local Preachers;" but it was agreed to waive the consideration of the question for that year. And, on the application of a Mr. Curnock, of Bristol, (who had been prominent among the parties heading the riot in that city,) that certain persons, who had been expelled from the Society there, should be enrolled as members of the "Association," they were pronounced ineligible. On this occasion, Cherry-street chapel having been placed at the disposal of the "Association," the Rev. Dr. Dixon and Dr. Melson preached before the members; the sermon of the latter being an attempt to show the great superiority of unpaid and lay Preachers to the regular ordained Pastors of the church.

The "Association" has recently held its third “ Aggregate Meeting" in Sheffield; when, it appears, according to the printed list, one hundred and seventy-five Local Preachers were appointed to be present. How many actually came together, we know not; but, of those reported to be "appointed," a very large proportion-probably more than one-half-have no connexion whatever with the WesleyanMethodist Societies, having leagued themselves with the party who have resolved, either to "revolutionise or annihilate Methodism." No one, therefore, can be surprised at the Resolution which, in one stage of their proceedings, was "adopted with an almost unexampled unanimity; there being only two brethren who voted against it." That Resolution was as follows:

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"That the words, Wesleyan-Methodist Local Preachers,' and 'accredited Local Preachers,' occurring in the Rules, shall not be taken in such sense as to exclude those persons who, in the present afflicted state of Methodism, are connected with the Branch Societies."

In the course of the discussion which preceded the adoption of this Resolution, Mr. Martin said: "The word accredited was the one they wished to get rid of; and he did not see how they could do so, unless they declared that they would not tolerate the exercise of spiritual despotism in the case of those Local Preachers who had been expelled." Alderman Schofield added: "There should be some provision made for those Local Preachers who were continually being received on the Plans of the Branch Societies.”

Both these suggestions are met by the Resolution; so that expelled Local Preachers who have connected themselves with what are called

on

"Branch Societies," and persons who never were Local Preachers in our Society, but who have been received by "Branch Societies their Plans, are not to be "excluded "—that is, they are to be received, if they desire it—as members of the "Association." It is not difficult to perceive what the "Association" will consist of, ere long. Its own Resolution-deliberately canvassed, "adopted with almost unexampled unanimity," and, according to the conviction of the President, Mr. W. B. Carter, the "hand of God" being in "the decision "—shows that it no longer regards itself as Wesleyan Methodist, but that it will hail as a "brother beloved" the man who is assiduously labouring to destroy all that others of his Local brethren are seeking to accomplish.

an

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Now we have not much fear that, with such evidence before them, many of our faithful and sound-hearted friends will consent to uphold Association" which so directly and intentionally countenances the present assault upon Methodism. But as we know that several honoured and greatly-respected names are to be found on the list of subscribers, and as we perceive that an inducement is held out to Local Preachers to enrol themselves as members before the 10th of January, 1852, by threatening that "after that time the fees will be nearly double," we think it right still further to state that, in our judgment, the "Association" has failed in its professedly benevolent object, and that its funds have been but very scantily applied to the relief of its members.

From the very queer Cash Account published in their Magazine for November, and whose credit side we defy any one to add up without making it at least £300 more than it appears in the total, we find that, including a balance from last year of £138. Os. 8d., the “Association" has received for the year ending September 15th, 1851, in subscriptions, entrance-fees, &c., £1,357. 14s. 1d.; out of which there has been paid-in "annuities," to "sick" members, and in cases of "death"—the sum of £338. 3s. 2d., rather less than one-fourth of the amount subscribed. Of the residue, £500 have been invested, £165 have been expended in working the Society, and £150 have been voted for the support of the Magazine. This last sum, it is true, is set down in the General Balance as a "loan." But that is a mere fiction; for the Magazine is now declared to be not only the " organ," but the "property," of the "Association," having been adopted as such at the late "Aggregate Meeting" in Sheffield. If then the Magazine should fail, we should like to know who is to repay this "loan?” We say, If it should fail; not that we have any doubt about it. From the first, knowing how much the Editor was engaged in his business, we expected but little; and when we read some of its earlier articles, such, for instance, as the attempt to show that the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job, were Local Preachers,-we saw at once that a verdict would soon have to be returned,—“ Died from natural causes." Even the Editor of Kaye's "Times," who never sees anything but beauty, and eloquence, and intellectual power, and logical inferences, in whatever rubbish "Reformers" may happen

to utter or write, thought that the "Magazine needed improvement;" and, with his usual liberality in dealing with other men's contributions, proposed that £100 of the "Association's" money should be abstracted for that purpose. But this was wisely negatived; though, at the same time, it was resolved that Mr. Harris, the former Editor, who also carries on business as a tailor at Islington, should be continued as Editor with a salary of £150 per annum !

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We now call the attention of our readers to these facts. Here is an Association," whose avowed object is the pecuniary relief of distressed Local Preachers. It has been established two years, and in that time has received in subscriptions, collections, and the like, £2,615. 2s. 9d. Of this amount £1,542. 7s. 6d. have been invested in the funds, about £400 have been applied to the proper objects of the "Association," while a similar sum has been paid in expenses connected with the working of the Society. We ask, whether such management does credit to the Committee, and whether the "Association," which has funded the greater portion of its income,— having devoted in two years only about one-sixth of that income to the relief of its members,—has fulfilled the design for which it was professedly established. We think not; nor do we see any prospect of that design being fulfilled in time to come.

Presuming that the receipts of the Society for the next year will be about £1,000, (and if they decline at the same rate as they did last year, they will be no more,) and that the working expenses will be about the same, we have the following results :—

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Dividends, &c. (General Balance)...... 57 15 6

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leaving a balance of £476. 14s. 9d. for the "funds” and relief."

66 cases of

Now, according to the Report, we find that the number of members has increased from 1,260, in October, 1850, to 1,806, in October, 1851; and, by a decision of the "Aggregate Meeting," it was determined, that superannuated members should have their allowance increased from 2s. 6d. per week to 4s. Bearing these two things in mind, the probable demands for "relief" upon the funds, before the next October, will be,—

Annuities

Sick Members

Deaths

.£133 1 7

275 1 8
125 0 0

Total..

£533 3 3

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