A letter on church Methodism addressed to John Curry ...

Front matter

A

LETTER

ON

Preface

The author of the following Letter is quite aware that some readers, who are unacquainted with all the circumstances of the case, may suppose that the proper time for its publication has been suffered to pass by, and that it is now too late to introduce i t to the public. He is free to acknowledge, that had he followed his own judgment, he should have published it at the time it was written, as he was afraid that the parties he had to contend with, would endeavour to make their own impression by an exparte statement, which he now finds to be the case. The trustees, so frequently named in the following Letter, know that the author repeatedly urged the propriety of keeping nothing of importance, connected with the controversy, secret ; and that he repeatedly offered to meet Mr. M'Afee in public, that the merits of the questions at issue between the Primitive Wesleyan Methodist preachers from Ireland, and the Church Methodists in England, might be fairly discussed. This, however, Mr. M'Afee refused ; and some of the trustees were very desirous that as little publicity as possible should be given to the differences unhappily existing between them and the Irish preachers, as detailed in the following pages. In these sentiments the writer confesses he could not coincide, though he did not then think himself called on to publish any thing contrary to their wishes ; but he has not seen reason to alter the opinions he expressed at large on this subject, in his introduction to 2nd edition of his ' Observations on the System of Wesleyan Methodism' ; believing that it is always best to proceed in a direct open way, without fearing the consequences which may arise from any evils purely accidental) and which, he conceives, can never warrant any one in choosing an eccentric course.

To those readers who are totally unacquainted with the rise of Church Methodism, it may be necessary to state, that most of those who are now Church Methodists, were' a few years a£o, members of the Dissenting or Conference Methodist Connexion, which they left in consequence of two things.

J. That the Methodist travelling preachers meet together once a year, in what they term Conference, and there make whatever laws they glease for the government of the Methodist Connexion, and that without the consent or control of the members of the Society, thereby establishing an aristocratical form of government, so much at variance with the excellent and long-tried principles of the English Government in Chore!) :md Slate ; and by this means reserving to themselves a power, which no body of preachers or ministers in Christendom possess. *

» * Even the best I'riemW of Methodism have allowed this, when they felt themselves ;it liberty to express their undisguised sentiments. Of this we have a direct and striking instance in the case of Sir. Richard Watson, the present President of the Methodist Conference, who, when he had lefttlie Dissenting Conference Connexion, and joined the New Connexion, (the. Society of which the late Mr. Alexander Kilham u ;i» the founder,) olv.en ., when writing the .Memoir of a Mr. Cash, in the New Methodist Magazine for — " He discovered a radical defect in the old- system " (Methodism) y a power assumed, not dbltoatbd — and exercised without limit " and without accountadieneaa, A power which, in the hands <tf infallible virtue, "ipquld have produced the must beneficial qffectaj but in the hands vf'fbHUbBs iv

2. The Church Methodists left the Conference Connexion, hecause the latter had departed so entirely from the simple pure anti-sectarian spirit of the first Methodists, in having separated from the Church of England, and sought to establish a kind of~ rival Church, contrary to their solemn promise, as a body of people, to the country at large, and in direct opposition to the principles professed by those preachers and their friends, who collected immense sums of money, with which to build chapels. Besides, the Church Methodists considered the attempt, which the preachers had several times made, to introduce a kind of episcopal ordination into Conference, by which certain leading preachers were to be called bishops, — the introduccion of baptism and the Lord's supper into their chapels, and burial of the dead, sufficiently indicative of the deviation which Methodism has made from its original course.

It is unnecessary, however, at present to enter further into an account of the constitution of the Dissenting Conference Connexion, as it has been pretty fully discussed already, as may be seen by reference to the Appendix, No. I. (See note, page 42.)

When the Church Methodists separated from the Conference Connexion, tbey applied for assistance to the Primitive Wesleyan Methodists of Ireland, and with what success the following pages will shew. This brings the reader to the Letter itself, which the author addressed to a highly respectable and valued correspondent in Dublin, J ohsi Curry, Esq. Rogerson's Quay. As the Letter was drawn up at the request of the trustees of the Church Methodist Chapel in this town, they all carefully examined it before they signed it, Should any of the trustees who have become discouraged as to the success of Church Methodism, in consequence of the difficulties which have presented themselves, feel tempted for a moment to listen to those advocates of Irish Methodism, who are stating that the agreement entered into by the writer and Mr. Atkinson, at the Dublin Conference, was different to what it is represented to be in the following Letter, let them remember that they were present when Mr. M'Afee and Mr. M'Conkey, the Irish preachers, were met face to face, and several hours spent in

"men, is often made the instrument of degradation oil the one part, and the

"■support of illegal and unchristian authority on the other." The late excellent

Mr. Joseph Benson, who was many times President of the Conference, and a personal friend of Mr. Wesley's, in writing to a friend respecting the settlement of the Methodist chapels, says — / find our Lord and his Apostles and Evangelists, " preaching every where, wherever a door was open, without making any " objections on account of the place they might preach in not being settled as " they recommended. This power, and together with it all our influence in spiri- " tual matters, we are depriving ourselves of as fast as we can; by these violent " measures we are prejudicing our people against us, we are filling their minds " with jealousies and suspicions concerning us, that we are selfish designing men, " aiming not so much to do our hearers spiritual good, as to establish ourselves in " temporal power and authority; thus the way being blocked up to do them good, " our usefulness is obstructed among them, their love is lessened towards us, and " our authority over them is at an end. But as a recompence for this loss, hu- " man laws have given us power over the brichs and timber of an house, and we " can, let who will hinder, send preachers to preach, where by and bye it may be,

" none will be present to hear ; poor recompence .'" The late Doctor Coke, when

writing to a friend of his in Ireland, says — "Hitherto we have seen, since the death " of Mr. fVesley, the most perfect aristocracy existing, perhaps upon earth. The " people have no power, we the whole, in the fullest sense which can be con-

" ceived." Another leading preacher, who lived and died in the Connexion, Mr.

JohpPawson, remarks — "Remember, O ye Methodists ! that the reign of popery

V the discussion of the subject, that they heard all these two preachers (who were also present at the Irish Conference,) could state ; they heard Mr. Atkinson's and the writer's reply, and that they then and there expressed their unanimous approval of what the writer and Mr. Atkinson had done, and refused Mr. M'Afee's proposal, as the following Letter to -Mr. Curry, signed by all the trustees-, shews.

The author of the following Letter has been induced to publish it, more especially because he learns that the Irish preachers and their friends are indefatigable in endeavouring to make an impression on those to whom they have access, which is injurious to the character of himself and Mr. Atkinson, who, they say, have acted unfairly tqward the Irish Conference ; and as he knows that there is no foundation whatever for such statements, he feels himself compelled to furnish that part of the public who may feel interested in the matter, with a fair and true statement of the whole business.

The writer is encouraged also to publish this Letter, because it has obtained the approval of some of the very ablest judges. To shew how it has been received by two or three of those, he subjoins two excellent notes he received from them at the time they read the MS.; and a letter from a third, containing some original and very able remarks on the principal question at issue. (See Appendix, No. XIII.)

The reader will perceive that it was the very ardent wish of the author and his friends, to avoid any open breach with the Irish Connexion ; and that they pressed it upon the Irish Conference, to maintain a friendly relation to them : fearing if that should not be the case, that both Connexions might eventually suffer. However, in spite of all remonstrance, the Irish Connexion gave permission to Mr. M'Conkey to remain in Beverley to oppose them j and afterwards .they sent another preacher (Mr. Ford) to his assistance. In consequence of the opposition made by them, and the proceedings of another Irish preacher, (Mr. West) the very evil has happened, respecting which the author expressed his fears at the conclusion of the following Letter. — First one member of Society, and then another, becoming discouraged by the unexpected opposition thus given to Church Methodism, and by learning that the trustees had to contend with considerable debt on their chapels, stepped aside till the Society became greatly reduced in number, and the Congregation itself, from this and similar causes, has also greatly decreased.

" is past and gone, let it never be restored to you under any shape or name. In " the name of Him who bought you with His blood, maintain the rights and liber-

" ties of your own consciences." And Mr. Bramwell, a preacher held equally

high in the estimation of the Connexion, says — "As ministers of Christ, we are too " much upon the money system; and from "thai, by some determined act, we ought " to effect an immediate deliverance." The leaders and stewards in many Societies have deeply felt the oppressive power of the Conference. Take the following as a specimen— " fVant of deliberation with the people, is the great source of all M those evils that exM among us; it has already greatly shaken the confidence of " many." Address from a large and respectable meeting at Newcastle, Wm. Smith,

Esq. in the chair, J Nth Feb. 1796. Indeed the fact is so notorious, that it has not

escaped the observation of both Churchmen and Dissenters. The Christian Observer for 1819 remarks — " The inherent and universal popery of the human mind, per- "petually gravitating, under any religious establishment, toward spiritual des- "polistn, will devclope itself in Edinburgh as well as in Rome and elsewhere; and " in projtortion as general assemblies, conclaves, convocations,— yes, and metho- " DisT conferences, shrink from publicity in their proceedings, will they several I >/ vi

Those, however, who remain united together, are not willing that a religious cause, which both on abstract principles and practical utility, seems to promise so much good to the country, if once firmly established, should be hastily abandoned. They bear in mind, too, that it has now become pretty well known through the country, and has already obtained a degree of approval, which very few religious attempts ever did in their commencement. (See Appendix, No I. page 50.) The check which those unfriendly measures have given to it, directly and indirectly, though considerable as it relates to Beverley, yet can be of little consequence to any other part of the country where it may become established, as the same difficulties cannot occur again. If ever it was true, that Church Methodism can render important service to the Established Church, it is true still; and it is hoped, that when an appeal is once fully and fairly made to the benevolence of the British public, sufficient means will be found for giving it a fair trial.

It will be perceived by the attentive reader, that though the principal cause of difference between the writer and his friends, and the Irish Methodists, related to discipdne ; yet in one particular, that indirectly concerned the doctrines the respective parties professed, as may be seen at page 6. The Church Methodists are as far from adopting a latitudinarian course "carried about with every wind of doctrine" as they are trom the opposite error of " teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." — They desire that Church Methodism may, in its nature, be truly Catholic — that while they remain faithful to sound doctrines, and maintain a humble adherence to them, they may yet be charitable and comprehensive in construing them.

The writer has been under the necessity of repeating much that had been before published, in order to give a faithful account of all that related to the subject ; but this has been unavoidable. He has also to apologize for the want of a more correct style of writing, since he has been subject to continual interruptions in proceeding ; and he should not be surprised, as it has been written at different intervals, if some facts be stated twice.

The reader will please to bear in mind, that the writer alone is accountable for whatever is introduced in the form of Notes and Appendix ; as the Letter was independent of both, when the trustees signed it.

" approach the secret chambers of the inquisition itself." The principle is

ably observed upon by Dr. Southey— " The person (says he) whose moral nature is " not injured by the possession of absolute power, m ust even be more elevated above

" his fellow-creatures in wisdom and virtue than in authority." 11 Were Mr.

" Wesley (says the Christian Guardian) to return to the world, he would not know « his own children, so far have they departed from the Methodism of his day. " Much of this change has been, produced by the unchecked domination of the " preachers, which might perhaps have been prevented, had some of the lay members " been of the Conference; and the Methodists might, at this day, have been in close "alliance with that Church, from the bosom of which their greatest glory, Mr.

" Wesley sprung." An eminent Dissenting minister some time ago observed to a

friend of the writer's, that " The Dissenting ministers were astonished that the Me- " thodists would submit to such an arbitrary mode of government, as that formed

"by the Conference." And another, who is one of the most eminent Dissenting

ministers now living, speaking of the preachers refusing to admit Representatives into the Conference, says— "they may resist the claims of justice, and the

" VOICE Or THE PEOPLE FOR A TIME, BUT THEY MUST YIELD AT LAST,"

Contents

Letter to John Curry, Esq 1