The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-13 00:00:00

'WESLEYAN REFORM.

Last night a meeting was held in St. Martin's
Hall for the furtherance of the reform movement in the
Wesleyan body Mr. JUSIIII CHILD iu the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said that the present meeting was held
in connexion with the district conference committee, which
had been held for the last two days, for the promotion of
reform in the church of God. He was happy to tell they
were united as one man on that committee for the promo-
tion of Wesleyan reform, and the spread of true scriptural
Christianity. (Hear, hear.) He would read for them a
few statistics to shew how they were progressing. There
were in the London district 48 reform chapels, 78 local
preachers, 5 local preachers on trial, 141 leaders, 165 classes,
198 prayer leaders, 2,298 members, and 5 tract societies and
sunday schools. (Cheers.) The hand of God, then, was
with the reformers. (Hear, hear.) It had often been
asked what it was they wanted. They repeated over and
over again what they wanted, and yet the same question
was as often repeated. The Wesleyan Conference mounted a
domination to which they were not entitled. He was surprised
at the audacity and effrontery of that body. (Hear, hear.)
What the reforms wanted was to overthrow a a domination
that was not founded in truth or scripture. He should like
to say a few words about the ticket system. (Hear, hear.)
The 'Wesleyan Conference actually mutilated the scripture
in that ticket, for the purpose of frightening the people.
(Hear, hear.) The ticket system was calculated to give an
immense power to one man, and he did not know if it would
not be right to adopt the American system of giving the
tickets to the stewards, who would hand thorn to the readers
to be distributed by them to the classes. (Hear, hear.) It
was clear to him that the Wesleyans of their own times
were not the same self-sacrificing men they were in the time
IA John Wesley. (Hear, hear.) The conference was now
a wealthy body, they might afford to lose a thousand pounds,
but there was one thing which they could not afford to lose,
and that was the people, who were fast slipping away from
them. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CHIPCHASE moved the first resolution, recording
the gratitude of the meeting to the head of the church for
the success which attended the reform movement. Ile said
that it was found necessary fur them to have an organisa-
tion to meet the organisation on the other side. (Hear,
hear.) In this necessity, originated the district meetings
and he was happy to say that the movement had progressed
in every circuit, except perhaps the eighth, which was the
stronghold of the aristocracy of Wesleyanism. In every
circuit of the London district, meetings would be held and
tracts circulated. (Hear.) The people only needed light,
and the light would be afforded them. The conference did
all things in secret. There was a report, however, that
the Rev. Dr. Beaumont was to be suspended by them. If
they did so it would create a deep and profound feeling
throughout the length and breadth of the land. (Hear,
hear.) He believed that there was not a circuit in England
into which reform principles had no• penetrated. (Hear,
hear.) With the dissemination of these principles he
rejoices' to say that there went likewise a revival of sound
and true religion, and it was for that reason that he
co-operated heart and soul in the movement. (Hear.)
It was a favourable sign and prognostication of success that
the younger portion of the Wesleyan body was in favour of
the reform movement. (Hear, hear.) The conference
body were asking them to produce a report, but they were
not in existence as yet six months, so that it would be diffi-
cult for them to produce a report. (Hear, hear.) lie
hoped the Centenary-hall people would show them the way
to make a report. (Hear, hear.) If that body allowed
them to get a peep at their books, they tihuuld have an en-
tire inspection of the books of the reform body. (Hear,
hear.) The chairman had referred to the mutilation of the
text of scripture, which was inscribed in the Conference
ticket. The text as printed on the ticket was, " Murk
them which cause divisions and offences, and avoid them."
But the true words were, " Now I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to
the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them."
(Hear, hear.) Now it was the Wesleyan Conference
and not the reformers who cause divisions and offences.
(Hear, hear.) They had not inscribed secession on their
banners, and he believed that gave more concern to the
Conference than anything else. (Hear.) lie believed the
Conference body would be glad to WC them unite with some
other body, but they would hold ou to the skirts of the
Conference till they had effected a reform. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. 11. LEAKE seconded the resolution. He believed
that a domination existed in the Wesleyan body which de-
stroyed all liberty of action and expression. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BROWNING supported the resolution. Ile be-
hosed that the Wesleyan reform movement was proceeding
with success; that it was founded, not in excited feeling,
but in sober judgment, good sense, and scriptural Chris-
tianity. It appeared to him that the movement was of
God, and that its end would be to collect all the scattered
elements of piety amongst the Wesleyan body for the pro-
motion of God's glory. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. HARRISON, the secretary, said that a report of their
proceedings, and of the distribution of the funds, would be
published at the proper time. But he denied the right of
persons, who were not subscribers, to ask a report. (Hear,
hear.) Every person who subscribed a penny to their funds
had a right of asking to see the accounts. He wished the
hotly who sat in Centenary-hall would allow the same.
They had collected 4,000/. for the expelled preachers, but
those excellent men received that money. A report of the
distribution of the other money would be made, he hoped,
in a short time, but when it was made there would be no
items for cab hire or luncheons at Centenary-hall.

The Rev. JAMES BROMLEY moved the next resolu-
tion to the effect, that in the opinion of the meeting the
principle involved in the reformed movement was scriptural,
and calculated to promote the interests of Christianity.
He said that the Conference had acted as a close and exclu-
sive body, and they possessed that desire which was so
strong in the breasts of all men, of making laws to bind all
others. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. speaker then entered into
a long history of the origin of the Wesleyan connexion, and
remarked on the negligent and slovenly way in which the
proceedings of the body had been carried on.
Mr. LANORISH seconded the motion.

Mr.GROSSJEAN supported the resolution, which was
put and carried unanimously.
The meeting then separated.

CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH REPRESENTATION. The
Cambridge tories have begun to bestir themselves. There is
an impression here that the election is not far distant; and,
as the conservative party long ago disbanded itself is de-
spair, they have now beat to arms, finding that there is dis-
union in the whig camp. There is a large section of re-
formers in Cambridge determined to oppose the re election
of Mr. Campbell, he having voted against many popular
measures; and Mr. Roberts will be put in nomination
against him. Last week the conservatives formed them-
selves into a society, and a committee was appointed to
select and invite two candidates. Mr. Pemberton,
nephew of the late C. Pemberton, Esq., and Mr.
Hicks, of Wilbraham, have been named. But Mr. Pember-
ton has already declined to stand for the county, though
earnestly solicited, and where his chance of success would
be certain; therefore it is not very probable that he will
consent to be nominated for the town, where his defeat
would be unquestionable. The feeling of the public gene.
rally is strong towards free trade candidates ; and in proof
I of the operation of free trade in the populous and poor dis-
trict of Barnwell, we can state that one baker, n Fitzroy-
street, who has been in business 18 years, baked last Christ-
mas-day 220 dinners. On previous years his numbers neve
exceeded 60; and the joints on the last occasion were much
larger than heretofore. He now sells more than double
the flour he did three years ago, and bakes double the quan-
tity of bread. The labourers in Barnwell (thme who will
work) have breni u constant employment the whole winter,
and never were fewer cases of robbery brought before the
Police Court than within the last twelvemonth,—Bury Pose.

AILCIIITECIS• BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Yesterday the first annual meeting of the members
of this institution took place at the Freemasiins' Tavern,
Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-field,. Mr. STONEY
`Surat: r:, the president, in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed,
Mr. Jottx TURNER, the honorary secretary, read the re-
port, which stated that since the 211 h November last, when
the society commenced its legal existence, the council had
been chiefly occupied in the preparation of the bye-laws,
upon the Mims and propriety of which the success of the
institution greatly depenleil. In order to mike these bye-
laws they had availed themselves of analogous societies,
more especially of the " Artists' General Benevolent,"
whose objects were similar to those of the present
institution. The treasurer's statement of accounts
was extremely satisCaetory, considering the very short
time the society had been in existence. The coun-
cil were happy to announce that the institution was
already in such a position that, although they had in-
vested 3001., a fair balance still remained to meet the
charitable purposes of the society. The report (which was
very brief) concluded by an earnest appeal to the members
of the profession for their co-operation tad assistance its
promoting the objects of so excellent an institution.
The motion fur the adoption of the report having been
carried unanimously, the secretary announced that the total
amount of receipts to the 31st December, 1840, was
3871. 81. and that of the expenditure 81)1. 35., leaving a ba-
lance of 3371. ss. Daring Cie present year this balance
had been increased to 3801., which had been still further
augmented by subscriptions and donations announced at this
meeting.
. . .

A short discussion tank place respecting the rules end
regulations of the society, and certain modifications and
improvements were agreed to. A resolution was then
passed eontirtning the bye laws, and, some formal business
havibg been gone through, the meeting separated.