The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-01 00:00:00

IRENICIIM WESLEYANITM.

Under the above title the Bishop of Lincoln on
Monday issued some proposals for union which he had
made to some leading Wesleyan Methodists at an
amicable interview arranged by a former president
of the Wesleyan conference. His lordship said
that he was not authorised to speak for the
Church of England; but that having considered the
principles and history of Methodism, he cherished a
hope and entertained a persuasion that it might be
possible to heal the breach and unite Methodism with
the Church. He expressed his conviction that
the Rev. John Wesley intended that Methodism
should be a religious society within the Church
of England, and that he had endeavoured to organise
a society in such a manner, particularly by the deed
poll of Feb. 28, 1784, that it might stimulate and
invigorate the Church. For example, it was enacted
( Art. 11) that no one should be appointed to any
Wesleyan chapel for more than three years succes-
sively, except ordained ministers of the Church of
England, and in that clame alone the words minister
occurs. After showing how both John and Charles
Wesley desired the preachers of the society to seek
ordination, and that many clergy co-operated with the
preachers in the lifetime of the founder, his lordship
says The question now arises whether, under
existing circumstance, and on what terms, such inter.
communion can be restored, extended, and
strengthened." The right reverend prelite says
Ministrations in the Church of England are of two
kiuds—(l), public reading of the Holy Bcriptures, public
prayer and praise, catechising, preaching; (2), ministra-
tion of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, and of the
Lord's Supper. As unordained parsons are allowed,
under certain conditions, to read the Holy Scriptures,
and in some churches (as in Lincoln Cathedral) to say the
Litany, to lead the chanting of the psalms, and the sing-
ing of hymns, the Bishop thinks that ashnilar permission
under the bishop's licence might be extended farther,
so that laymen might catechise, read homilies, and
deliver lectures and sermons in the Church. The
canons of 1603, the Act of Uniformity Amendment
Act (1.872) and the practice of the ancient Church, as
stated by Bingham, seem to point in this direction.
John Wesley always wished his followers to attend the
parish churches for Communion, and the right reverend
prelate therefore urges that as learned Presbyterians
(like Robert Leighton and Simon Patrick) sought
episcopal ordination, so Wesleyan ministers should do
the same, a declaration being added to their letters of
orders that such ordination was not intended to imply
the expression of any judgment on such orders that
might be supposed by some to have been previously.
conferred. His lordship asked (1), Whether any Wes-
leyan ministers so ordained need be prevented remain-
ing members of the conference? (2), Would the Wes-
leyan Conference, if the bishops, recognising the vested
rights of the chapels, licensed their ministers, allow
the ministers and congregations of such chapels to re-
main in connection with the Wesleyan body? (3),
Would the Wesleyan Conference recognise such
chapels as places of public assembly for preaching
according to the deed of declaration of 1784, and
allow the congregations to resort to their respective
parish churches for Holy Communion? If these ques-
tions were answered in the affirmative, the Bishop
believes that the Church of England would be willing
to encourage friendly relations between herself and
the members of the Wesleyan Conference, while
Wesleyan preachers might co-operate in the formation
of an order of preachers in the Church, Wesleyan
chapels becoming either district churches or chapels of
nase.—Tuesday's Evening Standard.