did not allude to any supposed tyranny of the Conference, the doleful ditty of every contemptible pamphlet and speech with which those disaffected men have treated the public. Mr. Pawson is referring to circumstances which transpired in the Conference of 1795, and of which those scribblers in behalf of the association appear as ignorant as the untutored hottentot hunting in his native glens. The all-absorbing topic of that day, and which so much engaged the attention of the people, was an apprehended departure from the established church, manifested by the introduction of the Lord's supper into our chapels-a measure which was hailed with joy by some, and as firmly resisted by others. The matters in dispute were not between the Conference and the people, as the ignoramuses of the "association" foolishly assert, but between the people and several of the trustees, who made their appeal to the Conference. It is, therefore, a most barefaced perversion of truth to say, that the language of Mr. Pawson is directed against the tyranny of the Conference, of which he was one of the oldest and most influential members. If these wild and destructive men of the illegal "association" will recklessly tear the venerable Pawson out of his grave-place him with a Fergie in the jury-box, and give to his words a meaning which the good man never intended, in order to answer their sinister and interested designs, nothing is too base-nothing too dishonourable for them to attempt. Conduct of the character which they have been following is, however, in perfect keeping with the principles which the "association" proposes to follow, and which they have embodied in the anti-methodistical and unscriptural address to the members of the Wesleyan societies-a principle which, notwithstanding their ravings against popery,* would, if carried out in practice, convey us with the velocity of a first-class railway carriage, into the superstitions and ignorance of the middle ages! Hear part of this affectionate address of the "association":-" In "the mean time, permit us to state, as the subject which, after all, "is of paramount importance, our great anxiety lest any thing "should, for a moment, lead any of our beloved brethren (!) or

*The editor of the DARK Lantern, referring to the language of one of the members of that rotten fraternity, the late leaders' meeting in Leeds-street, says "he said in substance that the reign of Popery was reviving"! Pity, indeed, we were not favoured with a specimen of his infuriated ebullitions on that memorable occasion. If opportunity serves, we will supply this lack of service, provided our readers will peruse this precious document with their minds divested of the idea of a man in a strait-jacket before them, and all fear for the safety of his majesty's liege subjects being taken away, while this individual is at large. Such being expressive of that strange association of leaders () our readers will no longer be surprised that they should commit a Methodistical act of felo de se. Poor souls! Requiescant in pace!

"sisters (!) to lose sight of those high spiritual interests, which "alone can sanctify WHATEVER MEANS MAY BE EMPLOYED for the "reformation of abuses;" or, in other words, the end contemplated will fully justify whatever steps are taken towards its accomplishment.

We are not, therefore, surprised, that after having exhibited Mr. Pawson as a man at variance with the proceedings of the Conference of his day, the leaders of the "association" should lay hold upon the name and character of the Rev. Joshua Marsden, and, for the purpose of coaxing him over to their sinister purposes and objects, present him with a vote of thanks, forsooth, and for doing that of which he was perfectly innocent, and of this the "association" was aware. The vote was as follows:-" That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Rev. P. Garrett, to the Rev. Joshua Marsden, and others (where are they?) for a similar conduct at their respective quarterly meetings." In what did this conduct consist? Why, Dr. Warren first advocated and then suffered the following resolutions to be put and carried in the quarterly meeting of the first Manchester circuit :-" I. That this meeting requires nothing new in the constitution of Methodism (!) 2. That the preachers in Conference come to their decisions by the use of the ballot (!!) 3. That in future the Conference be open to the laity (!!!)" To assert almost in so many words that Messrs. Garrett and Marsden suffered such resolutions to be entertained in their respective quarterly meetings is a glaring falsehood. If the persons composing that unhallowed combination had been desirous of stating the truth, there was sufficient time from the celebrated quarterly meeting to the publication of the circular, to obtain correct information. This, however, was never sought. Mr. Garrett resided only within twelve miles of Manchester, and two days would have conveyed a letter to Sheerness, so that by a little caution of this nature, the "association" might have been preserved from the guilt of publishing another falsehood to the many with which, we are well aware, they have already disgraced the church.

At conduct so base, and unwarrantable, Mr. Marsden felt, as every man of honour would feel under such an imputation, which reflected so powerfully and injuriously upon his personal and ministerial character; and, therefore, published the following letter, which, because it will answer our purpose of exposing "the spirit of the faction," which is now agitating certain parts of the Wesleyan connexion, we present it in full to our readers:

TO THE EDITOR.

Sheerness, 15th Dec. 1834. SIR-Sometime since I learned from the public papers, that a number of persons,

calling themselves "The Wesleyan Methodist Association," did me the unasked and unmerited honour of a vote of thanks for what never existed, and what never can exist, with my present views and feelings.

Sir, I have not the ambition, like the incendiary who burned the temple of Ephesus, to be gibbeted to infamy. I detest schism from my very soul, and the unauthorised insertion of my name in a certain paper, was a most dishonourable trick, without my knowledge, privity or consent. All I said at that quarterly meeting was, (when at the end of it, two or three individuals mooted the subject) that if the subject was left to lie over till the spring quarter, I would carry any representation made by a lawful majority to the district meeting, and there the matter rested.

Now, sir, have I not cause to reject the vote of thanks, assumed upon that bold, daring, and unauthorized use of my name?-I deserve a vote of thanks for promoting the demolition of one of the finest fabrics in the world!-I, who have laboured fourteen years in foreign parts to help to rear it up, and twenty-one years at home to promote it!-I, who have been a Wesleyan Methodist from eighteen years of age-not a new fangled, but a true Methodist! Sir, I abhor the thought; and I can call the searcher of hearts to witness, that it has been as far from my thoughts

the utmost pole."

66

as from the centre to

But I have no fear as to the ultimate result. Methodism has weathered many a storm, and it will weather this also. At any rate, should things come to the worst, and we have to realize that frightful conflict for which the enemies of our Zion seem to be preparing-I, for one, will nail my colours to the mast, and perish in the last wreck of Methodism, rather than strike to those who are endeavouring to sink the gallant vessel.

You may be told, sir, that I write this to clear myself with my brethren; I have nothing to hope or fear from that quarter; 1 am, sir, neither tory nor radical; but I love order. Besides, I owe my all to Methodism-I mean, my dearest hopes, my truest comforts, and my purest light. By its ministers, I was tutored, watched, and brought to salvation―l have known some of its mighty pillars-the giants of other days—I have sat with delight under Mather, Taylor, Thompson, Hopper-I have wept at the appeals of Benson, Coke, Bradburn, and many others-I have spent my vigour in its missionary service have grown old and grey in its ranks, and shall I leave Methodism? Rather let my right hand forget its cunning

"Be my tongue mute, my fancy paint no more,
And dead to joy, my heart forget to beat."

I love its doctrines, its discipline, its ordinances, its ministry, and its ministers; and there are few earthly considerations but I would rather relinquish than my name in its society, and my ministry in its pulpits.

You will observe, sir, that I have said nothing about the theological institution, that has been ably defended by others. Nothing about the unprincipled and undeserved abuse poured so plentifully upon the heads of many excellent ministers of Christ. That speaks for itself, and is proof (if any were needed) that truth and charity have been banished from the party who wish to govern the helm of Methodism. Nothing respecting the wide, sweeping reform in perspective-a reform utterly destructive of every vestige of the Wesleyan polity; and by whom? By men who, to gain their ends, would cripple our missions-send our worn-out preachers a-begging-bring ruin upon our trustees and chapels-desolate our schools, and deprive poor circuits of the means of having the gospel preached. But where is the end of this chain of mischief? And what do its authors contemplate?' "My soul come not thou into their secret, mine honour unto their assembly be not thou united."

And these things are to be brought about, sir, by slander, defamation, duplicity, backbiting, tale-bearing, evil-surmising, letter-stealing, name-forging, and dishonourable espionage." By their fruits ye shall know them." I will conclude with an anecdote, the truth of which came under my own knowledge, and the application of it in reference to the Wesleyan Methodism, I shall apply to my own case.

When, twenty-two years ago, I was detained a prisoner of war, in New York, a friend of mine-a worthy Englishman-who had been in that city some years, and in good business, wished to get naturalized. He applied to the mayor, De Witt Clinton, who read to him the form, as preliminary to the oath of naturalization-the pre

amble of which is to the following effect :-" You swear to renounce allegiance to all foreign princes, potentates, and powers; but especially to his majesty, king George the third, his heirs and successors, for ever:" Stop! stop!" said the indignant old Briton-"I will rot in jail first.' -I am, sir, yours respectfully,

66

JOS. MARSDEN.*

Mr. Garrett published a similar address, and in his own style, in which he declares, that the prominence which this "most antimethodistical" association gave to him "was as grateful to his feelings as a bottle of vitriol poured upon his head, and worse, by ten thousand times, than being placed for half a year in the most exalted pillory that could be erected.†

MR. POOLEY AND THE LANTERN.

An account of the expulsion of this gentleman, has been given to the public, furnished by the sufferer himself. According to his own account, he is a very eminent Methodistical lawyer, and abundantly more than a match for all his opponents; but, although he charges them with breaking the rules, he says nothing of bringing them to justice, being perhaps aware, that his great skill in law, though splendid in the Lantern, might possibly fail him before one of the constituted tribunals of Methodism.

Finding, from the experience of his brethren, that nothing was to be gained by quibbling and evasion, he thought it best to tell the truth, and so admitted, on his trial, that he was a member of the "association;" and this avowal, which, under all the circumstances of the case, scarcely amounted to an act of common honesty, he considers to be such a piece of heroism in virtue, as entitles him to the appellation of Martin Luther the Second!

His admirer, Mr. Geo. Pennell, thinks that wisdom and piety might have devised some way of settling these disputes, without having recourse to expulsion. We must leave the matter to his "piety," and Mr. Pooley's "wisdom," as we have no hope of finding another pair equal to themselves. The conduct of the superintendent preacher, Mr. Pooley declares to be

* A "Thomas Taylor, trustee and local preacher in the Manchester first circuit,' has stepped forward to inform us that the "association" only sent a vote of thanks to Mr. Marsden for his able and impartial conduct in the chair of the Sheerness quarterly meeting; and would insinuate that this expression of opinion only refers to the fact of impartiality, abstractedly considered. This is pitiful sophistry! If words have any meaning at all, the idea intended to be conveyed by the "association" is this-(and which is actually embraced wherever the circular of that combination has arrived) :That Messrs. Marsden and Garrett followed the same able and impartial conduct of Dr. Warren, who was so wonderfully impartial as to trample upon the laws and usages of Methodism, for the sake of pleasing a party with whom he wished to curry favour, and whose avowed objects are to revolutionize and destroy the Methodist constitution. Mr. Marsden's charges against the "association" are fully corroborated by this document. This "Thomas Taylor" may be a very good man; he is certainly a very weak man; and most assuredly the words which the association's Lantern wildly applied to "good farmer Dawson," are strictly applicable to him-"Be not again tempted to tread the thorny paths of controversy. In it lieth not thy forte."-ED.

† See "Work for Dr. Warren," second edition, p. 23.

"jesuitical and dishonest," and adds, that a member of his class, to wit, Mr. C. Fergie, is ready to prove upon oath, that his Rev. pastor has told a lie, and yet Mr. Pooley thinks, this self same superintendent, as if not bad enough already, should have done an act of hypocrisy by giving him a ticket, as he was wishful, notwithstanding, to keep up the hollow profession of a religious brotherhood.

When matters are come to this pass among professedly religious people the necessity of a separation must be obvious to all mankind; but yet, it must not be made by the preachers expelling the leaders, as that, it seems, is quite illegal. Perhaps we shall be told in the next number how far it is " legal" for the leaders to expel the preacher, as was done at Leedsstreet, because if that mode of settling matters will please the faction better, it may, perhaps, be found mutually agreeable, as we can assure Mr. Pooley, that, by certain parties in the society, and some of these, too, persons whom he professes to respect, expulsion, or any thing else which would end in a separation from himself and his brethren, instead of being complained of as an injury, would be hailed as a great deliverance.*

Miscellanea.

CASTLE DONNINGTON & THE SO CALLED METHODIST ASSOCIATION. Prosecuting his wild and reckless schemes of agitation and discord, the infatuated Dr. Warren forwarded one of his inflammatory circulars to the above town, addressed to a highly respectable and influential gentleman, to whom the Doctor was a perfect stranger, except by character. The adulatory powers of the learned divine, however, were in this instance, as in many others, employed to no purpose. The firm and determined spirit which has been manifested by the true friends of Methodism in every part of the connexion has had the effect of a "chilling frost" on the blooming expectations of the disaffected-ultimately revolutionizing the Methodist body. A few insignificant, and altogether uninfluential, members of society may be found in every circuit, ready for any enterprise in which they have nothing to lose; men of no responsibility, and-from the fruits they present,

*The case of Henry Pooley is pitiable. We regret that he should find it necessary to drag in to his aid such supporters! When an individual comes forward to give evidence intended to impugn the veracity of his minister and pastor (a very painful task, no doubt!) we are in duty bound to examine how much the evidence is worth. We therefore ask Mr. Pooley, "Is it he, who feels so little repugnance in using other and more common oaths than the one he offers to take in the case of the Rev. S. Jackson ? Is it he, whose glorying consists in maliciously defaming the character of the preachers, and speaking all manner of evil against them with greediness? Is it the same man whose strenuous efforts are used in poisoning the mind, and consequently hardening the hearts, of his partners in folly, not only against Methodism, but against religion itself? Is it the same convivial and accomplished person who, to crown all his energies, gives vent to his vocal powers in songs of triumph, to receive the adulations of his bacchanalian associates? Ask the late faithful and confidential (!) ser vant of a respectable bootmaker in Islington, Liverpool! Ask the spirit-vaults of Sharp's, Richmond Row, and the visitors of Yates' public-house, Circus-street. Ask the late hours of a Saturday night, or the more sacred hours of a Sabbath morn. Ask -but we forbear, and wish Mr. Pooley all the joy he can realize from such friends and counsellors.-ED.