66

New Connexion, that the latter Body has reported to Conference a decrease of about 100 members! Messrs. Allin and Co. have authority, should they deem it necessary, from the very important events which are transpiring around them, and which are so interesting to the Connexion," to call a special meeting of the "Heads of Houses." And to smooth the way for Dr. Warren and Co. into the "peaceful asylum," the late Conference has resolved to proceed no further with the Theological Institution! Conference of 1834 agreed to have one; the committee appointed to draw up the plan declared it "indispensable," but now it is given up! So much for the weathercock legislation of lay delegation!

The

There is one prominent fact in the proselyting labours of the New Connexion which Wesleyan Methodists will do well to mark-that the theology of John Wesley is not safe in the care of lay delegation. It is our decided conviction, that, in the New Community, his doctrines are giving way. The Conference may call it "a peacefulasylum for the oppressed and persecuted;" but we must designate it, a refuge for the heterodox. And to all Wesleyan Methodists we would say-if you wish the doctrines of our venerable founder to be preserved in all their simplicity and unison, then do your utmost to maintain his system of church discipline in all its integrity. We fully believe that, if the Wesleyan polity be radicalized, then Wesleyan divinity will ultimately undergo a "reform backward."-EPSILON.

PROCEEDINGS AT WHITEHAVEN.

Notwithstanding the disgraceful opposition to Methodism and the Missionary cause of certain unprincipled agitators in Whitehaven, the anniversary of the Wesleyan Missionary Branch Society was held in that town on Monday, 13th instant. The preparatory sermons were preached on the preceding Sunday, by the Rev. Messrs. Squance and Lusher, from Manchester. The Rev. Joseph Taylor, President of the Conference, happily arrived from Carlisle in time to take the chair at the meeting, which was very numerously attended, the chapel being quite filled. From the well known violent character of the men who have there engaged in the work of revolutionizing or destroying Methodism, and their threats to prevent the holding of the Missionary meeting, it was judged expedient to obtain the protection of the police; and the meeting was permitted to proceed without interruption until the collection was made, which several individuals rudely endeavoured, as much as possible, to prevent.

The venerable chairman opened the meeting by a lucid and comprehensive statement of the extent and operations of the Parent Society throughout the world. The local report was then read, and the meeting was subsequently addressed by Messrs. Lusher and Squance, at considerable length; and notwithstanding the arts and violence used to prevent or injure the meeting, the collections amounted to more than last year. Messrs. Squance and Lusher met with similar encouragement from the friends of missions in other parts of the circuit, and especially at Workington. The services there, both on the Sunday and at the public meeting, were attended with a delightful influence, and the collections were more than four times the amount of last year.

On Sunday morning, the 14th, the President, attended by the circuit preachers and Messrs. Squance and Lusher, met the official members of the Society in Whitehaven, for the purpose of hearing any complaints which any of them had to make, and if possible, to bring them to a better mind. But notwithstanding the mild and apostolic manner in which he conducted himself towards all present in that meeting, some of them scarcely refrained from offering him insult; one of the leaders of the faction furiously denouncing the proceedings and laws of the Conference as "villainous.". Although every objection was fairly and fully met by the excellent President, the meeting broke up without any satisfactory result, except to the few who remain attached to genuine Methodism, and who were confirmed in that attachment by what they heard that morning.

As Dr. Warren had, a few days before, summoned the Society together in the Independent's chapel for the purpose of laying before them a statement of his case in the form of a lecture, on which occasion-although it was known by several persons present that he was indulging in misrepresentation and falsehood, concerning the Confe

rence and the special District Meeting-he had an uninterrupted hearing, confirming many in their opposition and unsettling the minds of others; the superintendent, Mr. Cattereck, with the advice of the President, requested Messrs. Squance and Lusher to address the Society in the chapel on the Tuesday evening, for the purpose of communicating correct information and allaying as much as possible the dissatisfaction and turbulent spirit which was abroad among the people. The scene, however, which took place on that occasion in the Wesleyan chapel can never be forgotten by any who witnessed it. The meeting was commenced with singing and prayer by Messrs. Cattereck and Barrett; but upon Messrs. Lusher and Squance being introduced, according to notice given the evening previous, the most tremendous uproar immediately took place, occasioned by two or three of the most violent of the agitators roaring out to the people not to hear the preachers unless free disscussion were allowed, that is, unless they were permitted to interrupt the preachers in their addresses whenever they pleased, fearing lest Dr. Warren and themselves should be exposed as they deserved to the meeting. This was for some time resisted. At last Messrs. Squance and Lusher agreed that if they might be allowed to speak, their opponents should be permitted to reply. But a hearing was not to be obtained on any terms. Hissing, stamping, groans, yells, and huzzas, from every part of the chapel, rendered it impossible for them to be heard, except by the few by whom they were immediately surrounded. The preachers were reviled as mercenaries, inquisitors, as members of the Pope's Legion, the Devil's Legion, &c. Amidst this strife of tongues" and bedlam uproar, Mr. Squance and Lusher happily preserved their temper and self-possession, though they every moment expected to have to meet the argumentum baculinum from two of their opponents. To terminate this disgraceful scene of confusion and impiety, the preachers declared the meeting dissolved and retired from the chapel.

July 15th.

(Further particulars may be expected in our next.)

MR. WOOD'S LETTER TO DR. WARREN.

We have been favoured with a copy of the following letter, addressed by the Rev. James Wood to Dr. Warren. We present it to our readers as a specimen of the spirit by which Methodist preachers ought to be, and in general are, actuaied. Well would it have been for Dr. W. if he had either imitated the example, or followed the advice of its venerable writer. The opponents of the Theological Institution have repeatedly, and with a feeling of triumph, quoted the name and opinions of Mr. Wood as favourable to their cause. When they read the statement of his

mode of acting, let them learn to "go and do likewise.”

"Bristol, November 20, 1834. "My Dear Sir-My view of the Theological Institution is exactly the same as it was at the late Conference; and I am thankful that I had an opportunity of bearing my dying testimony against it. But when the vote of the Conference had decidedly passed in its favour, I thought it right to submit and be passive, and this has marked my conduct ever since. Without submission, in similar cases, on the part of the minority, anarchy and confusion must predominate. This has already appeared in your circuit; and extremely sorry am I to find that you have placed yourself at the head of a party. The waters of strife are let out; wrangling and contention are promoted; and the leven of malice and wickedness is cast into the lump. The subject of conversation is, I fear, greatly changed-instead of grateful acknowledgements of past mercies, murmurings and complainings-instead of provoking one another to love and good works, too many are employed in sowing the seeds of jealousy and suspicion. Alienation of affection from the Saviour and from one another is the bitter fruit of a party spirit." A house divided against itself cannot" possibly "stand." I cannot, my dear sir, but view the evils which are now produced among the Methodists in your neighbourhood as the effects of your publication soon after the last Conference.

And I do from my heart assure you that I would not have the responsibility which attaches to your conduct for all the wealth of Manchester; nó, nor for all the wealth of the world.

"Yet, far as the evil has extended, it may be cured. If my friend, Dr. Warren, will but humbly acknowledge that he has done wrong, and cease at once to be a party

man, the waters of strife will recede; and the streams of peace and Christian kindness again flow through all our Societies. Feeble as I am in body,* if you will give me any ground to hope, I will take coach for Manchester, and kneel at your feet to gain this point. To this point you must come, or be MISERABLE. Suffer me in one of the last acts of my life, to be a peacemaker. How would my heart rejoice to be so employed!

"With kindest love to Mrs. Warren, I am,

"Your ever affectionate brother,

"To Dr. Warren."

"J. WOOD.

VISIT OF THE ASSOCIATION TO THE ISLE OF MAN.
(Extracted from Private Correspondence.)

"I have delayed writing until now, being desirous of furnishing you with the results of the visit of the 'Grand Central' to this isolated spot. You have probably heard that Messrs. Squance and Lusher were on the Island, on a Missionary deputation in Ramsay. These gentlemen arrived in Douglas, on their return to England, as the Association clique were commencing their mischievous operations. Mr. Lamb (wolf?) preached on Wednesday evening in Mr. Heaning's chapel, which was lent to this quondam member of the Preacher's Annuitant Society, not so much from kindness to the factious demagogues who compose the friends of the Association in Douglas, as from hatred and jealousy toward Methodism in the Isle of Man. We wish Mr. Heaning all the joy he may feel on thus mixing himself up with a faction in a town where he assumes the character of a minister of the Gospel of Peace. A public meeting was announced to be held on the evening of Friday. This was the appointed quarterly fast day of the Methodist Society; their meetings for prayer were held in the chapel, and much of the Divine presence was enjoyed; the services were numerously attended by those who were grieved at the assurance of those mischievous and misled men, attempting to throw the torch of discord into that hitherto peaceful Society. On account of those meetings for prayer, the designs of the Association were frustrated; and the public meeting was postponed until the following week. Tickets of admission were issued by one John Cain, who was recently (for the well being of the body politic) very opportunely removed out of the Methodist Society. The speakers were from the choice heroes of the 'Grand Central.' Wallace, who, in Staffordshire, speaking of the preachers, told an assembly of Kilhamites, &c., who were met to further the designs of the faction, that he had a little Scotch blood in his viens, and that he had taken hold of the broadsword, and that he would never sheath it until the tyrants' heads were brought low.' You will perceive, Mr. Editor, that this valiant hero of the Association is not so genteel in his way of despatching Methodist preachers as the chairman of the Liverpool Association. Thompson, of Northwich, was also present, who was in no way inferior to Wallace in his invectives against Methodism and its preachers. Those, with a man of the name of Cruickshanks, and James Lamb, poured forth such a torrent of calumny and falsehood as disgusted the greater part of the auditory, and confirmed the faith of a few waverers, who, by reason of the slanderous proceedings of the factions, were led to doubt the stability and usefulness of Methodism as it is,' Omenously enough, owing to the giving way of the legs of one of the benches on which some persons were seated, a cry was raised, and many imagined the floor of the room was falling, and a general rush to the doors and windows was the result. Happily, no persons were seriously injured, only the collection suffered; it amounted to twenty-three shillings, leaving those strolling orators minus the travelling expenses, which will doubtless be made up by the pennies of the poor deluded private members of that Association.

6

"A few of the trustees of the Castletown chapel resident in that town, traiterously, and during the absence of the resident preacher, gave consent to James Lamb occupying that place, both by preaching and holding a public meeting. Those deluded men were baffled in their iniquitous designs by some of the trustees of the chapel, resident in Douglas, who speedily brought those disaffected trustees to alter their conduct; so that James Lamb and his coadjutors were glad to take shelter first in the Markethouse, and afterwards to resort to the Primitive Methodist chapel, after taking a sort of forcible possession of it. This visit, like many others of the same kind which you have announced in your increasingly popular periodical, was a complete failure."

* When this letter was written, Mr. Wood was in the 84th year of his age, had travelled, as a Methodist Preacher, 53 years, and been a supernumerary 9 more. He came to the Sheffield Conference chiefly to uphold, once more, by his voice and vote, the principles of Wesleyan Methodism.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ILLUMINATOR.

SIR-A question of serious importance must often suggest itself to every lover of our Zion, in the midst of the confusion of the times and the evils of division-it is: how may these mischiefs be most successfully counteracted? If you judge the following thoughts worthy a place in the Illuminator, they are much at your service.

1. In the itinerant agitations with which the Connexion is threatened, it is natural to suppose, that great numbers of the well-affected Members of Society may be induced, from motives of curiosity, to attend meetings convened for the purpose of disturbance. Would it not be well for all such persons conscientiously to abstain from all such attendance, lest, by their presence, they should be considered as giving them countenance, and bidding them "God speed?" Moral weight is acquired, and impression made on the public mind, by the numbers frequenting public meetings of such description, and pious and peaceful Christians should guard against heightening the effect.

2.-From the excitement kept up by these agitations, it is to be feared, that the general conversation of our people is too much absorbed by these topics, instead of improving the opportunities of private and friendly intercourse for purposes of general spiritual edification. Religious experience the great themes of the gospel-plans for the improvement of our youth, and the general good-together with the prospects of the world, and the great missionary cause, are too much forgotten, and the little and irritating subjects of the present controversy introduced in their place. Is it not extremely desirable to attempt to remedy this evil; and, at least, to soften and sweeten the intercourse of private life, by conversation which may tend to elevate the mind and improve the heart. Indirectly, this would stop the plague of angry debate, and tend to unite our beloved brethren in the bond of fraternal affection, a feeling likely to be greatly lessened, and in the loss of which many of our evils originate.

3. As there can be no question, but these agitations are a great and sore affliction to our Zion, ought they not to be considered as a call to deep humiliation before God? The reformers are calling our attention to what they affect to consider connexional evils; ought we not to take occasion from this, to humble ourselves on account of our personal sins in reference to Methodism? Have we been as thankful for its privileges as we ought? Have we been as true to its spiritual interests as was our duty --by a devout and holy spirit-by employing its means to attain the elevated experience of the gospelby conscientiously attending its ordinances by an entire and habitual separation from the world, and consecration of our talents to the purposes of true religion-by training our families in the fear of God, and a respect for the Society for which we profess to be attached-and by a cordial and hearty co-operation with its ministers and faithful members in carrying out its triumphs? Have we been careful, by no loose and careless expressions to injure its interests, and excite, in the minds of the weak, suspicions and dislike; or, what is even worse, supported it by a carnal zeal, or left it to the tender mercies of its enemies, undefended by us at all? In times of personal affliction we are naturally led to examine our state, humble our souls, and confess our sins; and, in the present afflictions of our church, a similar spirit and conduct is most proper in itself, and must tend to stop the plague and heal the breach.

4.-It is always found that personal influence is very great, both for good and evil, and especially as regards the young and the feeble. Should not the danger to which these characters are exposed cause both the preachers and the leaders to be particularly assiduous in pastoral attention? Not that it is at all desirable to keep up a constant conversation with the people, except in suspected cases of alienation on the matters in dispute; but to manifest sympathy with them, to direct their attention to spiritual objects, and to unite them more closely to the church.

5. In consequence of the divisions occasioned in some places, and the dangers to which others are exposed, it is obviously the duty of all official persons, and, indeed, of the private members too, more diligently to attend the calls of duty and never to be absent from any of the services of the house of God, except from necessity. When a storm rages, the captain is never found snugly sleeping in his cabin; but is constantly on deck himself, and all hands are at the post of duty. Every Member of the Connexion is now called upon to stand firmly in the breach, and, by all the means in his power, to show that Methodism is "religion in earnest."

6. As the present movement amongst the Societies has manifested a strange looseness of principle on the part of great numbers, involving questions of religious duty and obligation of the highest importance; would it not be proper to attempt the supply of this defect, by drawing the attention of the people, not convulsively, by violent means-but gently, through the press and the pulpit, by a re-publication of some of Mr. Wesley's writings, or original productions; and by the preachers making their ministry more pointed and specific on questions of church communion, and moral obligation? If a good foundation on these points cannot be laid in the minds of the Members of Society, they will be exposed to a shaking similar to the present on every subsequent agitation.

7.-But, above all, as religion is most emphatically the work of God, it is now the unquestionable duty of all the lovers of our Zion to be found diligent in prayer for the copious effusions of the Holy Spirit, to give effect to the word and ordinances, to establish those who do stand and rouse those who are "dead in trespasses and sins."-Hoping these brief hints may awaken attention, and call forth the thoughts of yourself and correspondents in general.-I am, yours, &c., URBANE.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Communications have been received from "Epsilon,"-" Philalethes,"-" A Local Preacher of the Huddersfield Circuit," &c. &c. Our correspondent Tyro's extracts have already been inserted in the Illuminator.-We must apologise to our other correspondents whose valuable articles we have not been yet able to insert. They shall have our earliest attention.

Printed and Published by R. DICKINSON, 67, Pool-lane, Liverpool, to whom all communications (post paid) to the editor, are to be addressed; Sold also by J. MASON, 14, City-road, J. HUTTON, 16, City road, and WHITTAKER and Co., Ave Maria-lane, London; Love and BARTON, Manchester; SPINK and CULLINGWORTH, Leeds; DEARDEN, Nottingham; ATKINSON, Bradford; SAXTON and CHALONER, Sheffield; the CHRONICLE OFFICE, Chester; PEART, Birmingham; OGLE, Bolton; WILSON, Whitehaven; JEFFERSON, Carlisle; DICKINSON, Workington; and may be obtained, by means of the Methodist Preachers, or respectable Booksellers, in any part of Great Britain and Ireland.

ILLUMINATOR;

DESIGNED

TO EXHIBIT THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF THE WESLEYAN CONSTITUTION; TO VINDICATE THE CHARACTER OF ITS AUTHORITIES; TO GUARD THE MEMBERS AGAINST THE ATTEMPTS MADE TO SEDUCE THEM FROM THE SOCIETY; AND EXPOSE THE SPIRIT AND OBJECTS OF THE SO CALLED GRAND CENTRAL ASSOCIATION."

66

TO BE PUBLISHED EVERY FORTNIGHT.

No. 18.

LIVERPOOL, OCT. 7, 1835.

THE AGITATORS.

Price 2d.

In the remarks we feel it our duty to address to our friends on the agitators now perambulating the nation, for the purpose of sowing strife and discord amongst our Societies, we beg to remind them that these men were the original assailants. As might be expected, the opposition they have met with—the small amount of success, compared with the calculations they had made and the firm and noble stand set up in all parts of the Connexion, in support of good old Methodism, have united to exasperate their feelings; and the agitation is becoming, like the expiring furies of a storm, more loud and angry as it pours forth the peals of its last year. When the question was asked in the late Delegate Meeting in Sheffield, what the causes of their want of success in their past exertions to rouse and revolutionize the Connexion could be, the conclusion to which the grave assembly came, was, as we have been credibly informed, that it was IGNORANCE on the part of the Wesleyan Body! Mark that, ye doltish Methodists! Your minds are too obtuse at present to perceive and comprehend the vast advantages of the Association and its schemes; and so, just to enlighten this ignorance, they forthwith determined to send certain agents, hired and paid, for that purpose, to deliver lectures through the country. Now on this office of Christian agitator, and the objects it proposes, we have a few words to say.

1.—This mission to agitate the Wesleyan Societies is calculated to injure the general interests of Christianity, and is directly sinful on that

account.

No man, or class of men, can have the right to make their own personal grievances—supposing them to be real-an occasion of reproach or scandal to the religion of Jesus Christ. Every professor, be his opinions what they may, is bound, on the ground of his avowed allegiance to Christianity, to do nothing to injure its general features of purity, union, and love. The division of the church into sects cannot annul this obvious rule. This diversity of profession may, indeed, be convenient as a means to facilitate this most desirable end, but it cannot set aside the obligation. Men can never be brought to judge