The Sun.
London, England, 1835-11-19 00:00:00

LONDON WESLEYAN METHODIST -7
ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday evening a most numerous and highly respec-
table
meeting was held in the Brunswick Chapel, Dovor-
road, in order to hear the leaders of the above Association
explain the views whiCh actuated them in its formation.
The Chair was taken by Mr. R. BAILFORD at half-past
six o'clock, when the business of the meeting was opened
by prayer, and the singing of a Hymn.
The CHAIRMAN then congratulated the meeting in having
so commodious a place for their purpose ;, and he felt grate-
ful to God for the blessing which he had conferred upon the
new connexion. He had given them peace and rest, so
that after years of toil and trouble they had been enabled
to sit down in rest and quiet in that place. The CoMmittee
thanked them most kindly for the use of their Chapel, for
their own was denied them for any purpose such as theirs.
He cast himself upon the indulgence of that respectable
audience, and he hoped he would be enabled so to discharge
his duty, as to give satisfaction to the meeting, and give
furtherance to the cause in which they were engaged. He
congratulated them upon the result of the meeting lately
held in Mr. Fletcher's Chapel. Many persons, in conse-
quence of it had come forward and joined the Association, and
he trusted they would be equally successful that evening.
He denied that they were even in the slightest degree fac-
tious ; but the usurpatior.s and tyranny of their Ministers had
driven them to resistance. Their rights had been torn from
them—their Christian privileges were not safe in the hands
of the preachers—(Cheers)—their characters and their
property, as trustees of chapels, were in jeopardy in their
hands.—( Cheers.) Their Christian privileges were not `-'°
safe—for the ministers had claimed the sole right to expel jO,
members at his own caprice, and without the interference ,
of the church in any way. Privileges held in such a te-
nu re were utterly without value, and he thought they would
be better without them, and be a mere attendant on the,
chapel, in place of being a member of the Society. Their
characters were not safe. The most of them would be aware
of the factious, artful, designing way in which their
preachers threw out mere insinuations, the moment they
found one of the body stirring himself to complain of •
abuses. They were very artful, and dealt in mere insinua-
tions, which they could explain away when put to the proof,
but still many a man's good name and character had suffered
in that way. Nay, even the pulpit had of late been turned
into a vehicle for disseminating vile calumnies. Their
property as trustees was not safe—for they all knew that
a trustee's private property was liable for the debts upon
the chapels. By the unconstitutional conduct—the tyrau--
nical conduct of the preachers in expelling members from-g,
the Society—in expelling local preachers, and all who or' c'
posed them—by these illegal acts they had driven away
nearly one half of the connection, and of course the half of
their income was gone. He had shown good grounds for these
three positions, and such being the state of things, he as a
conscientious man could not advise any one to become a
member of the society, or a trustee of a chapel ; for
neither privilege, character, nor property, was safe under
the present system—for men had been expelled flow.
chapel ; which were built by their own exertions, for
the glory of God and the great benefit of the nation ;
and ,they were so driven nut, not for a breach of any
law of Christ, but for breaking some tyrannical conferential
law.—(Shame.) All these shameful acts were done by
men in whom the Methodists had placed unlimited con-
fidence ; but he would say, " Christ forgive them, they know
not what they do." That was not all, for when they ex-
pressed their extreme concern for the welfare of the 50'
ciety, they were insulted by being told they were actuated
by no higher motives than a desire for effect, and that their
anxiety was all assumed—and then, to finish in character
with the rest of their proceedings, they tell us, " If you do
not like Methodism, you may leave it. We have a righ,,
to the chapels, but you must pay the debt upon them.
He trusted they would give an impartial hearing to all wllO
might address them. He would then call upon Mr. Stanley,
who bad been interrupted when speaking at a former meeting.
Mr. STANLEY then came forward. Though he had
been interrupted at the last meeting, he could assure thou
that he would soon have concluded had he been allowed to

_ .
go on ; and even now he could assure them that in what
he had to say, he would not detain them long ; but in his •
heart he felt very much engaged in the good work. He
had most seriously thought of the objects of the Associa-
tion
before he joined it ; as a matter of course he began
by inquiring of what it was they complained? These things
then weighed and pressed upon his mind, and he came to
the conclusion that they were of that serious character,
that they interfered with the scriptural and religious rights, ,
and that they ought, as men, as Christians, and office'
bearers, to make the attempt to regain those privileges
which they formerly enjoyed. They complained that they
had been deprived of their religious privileges, granted and
confirmed to them in 1797. The Conference party denies
that any privileges were then ceded to them. They ap-
peared to feel very sore when they were pressed
upon that point, which was a convincing proof that
the position of the Association, was the correct
one. They could not bear that point in any shape,
and therefore they denied it, and that with great asperity—
saying
that the object of the Association was to overturn
the very principles of Methodism. That appeared to be
their first commandment, for it was thrown at them every
where. It was also said that they wanted to introduce
new and novel things into the connexion, and that therefore
their righteous wrath and indignation rise against us. If
it were righteous at all, he wished they would spew their jf
indignation in a righteous manner.—(Cheers.) But their
case was so bad a one, that it was impossible for them to ryr!
urge or defend it in a civil or quiet manner. He had that
day ken seriously thinking what he now was, and he must
]l',lt'o
confess that he was very much puzzled to know whether 091
he were a Methodist or not.—(Laughter.) He had bad
11/,
his trial, such as it was, last night, and even then the
threatening rod was hanging over his head. He was still
allowed a chance, if he would most humbly express regret
for what he bad done, and promise not to be connected :db
with the Association in future, he might even yet not ••:
meet that doom he expected. That, however, he would
never do—(Cheers)—and he fully expected that very
soon, perhaps in an hour or two, he would be
joined to the new army of martyrs to their cause.
He used these words, for in one sense the expelled
were martyrs, and he thanked God that if he were sacri- •
ficed he would not give up the cause one jot or tittle-110
was willing to suffer more than the preachers could inflict'
(and certain he was they would do all in their power), if
the cause he loved so well could by his suffering be ad-
vanced one single step.—(Cheers.) They asked Scriptural
reform—he felt great pleasure in avowing that he was a re'
former in principle when it was not so fashionable as it was
now, and he felt certain that soon, very soon, there twill"
be a hundred reformers for every one there was now. He
was content to bear all the odium of reform, if it was only
to be a true Reform.—(Cheers.) They asked that which
.;
they firmly believed, and of which they had proofs to offer,
~ •
which was their right. First, that the official meet— L•
ings should determine not only the amount of guilt'
but also of punishment to be awarded for the guilt.
Was it just or was it right that the brotherhood
might be expelled at the sole fiat, the sole option, or caprics
of the preacher ? That was their next demand—that such
power should rest with the representatives of the brother' •
hood. It was according to the Scriptures that all the men'
hers of the Society should determine upon such subjects'
Then again, they thought they ought to have the free and
unrestricted and unfettered right of memorializing the Con'
ference, and of shewing to them what they considred to be
existing evils, in order to have them altered or amended, et
that other laws might be made which might be conducive
to the general weal of the body. Most of those present,
were aware that the great body of officers were excluac°
from that privilege, but he wished then to tell them, that
by the minutes of the last Conference, they were altogether
precluded from expressing any opinion upon any subject, or
upon any law which the Conference might choose to malt'
He thought than that it was their bounden duty to attempt
to burst these fetters—he was sure that many of those pre-
sent never would wear them.—(Cheers.) One thing ‘,..14
certain, they never would be rivetted upon him. 11. e
thought they were right, and he called upon them to mallP.
tain their position. If the other side could convince hint
that their usurpations were scriptural, or that the detnantls •
of the Association were unscripturLd, he would that night
give up all opposition.—(Cheers.) The efforts made h •
the Preacher party, if read in English, would exactly be
this "If you do not retire we will force you out." Nume'
ricallv at present they were strongest, but very shortly there
would be such a lustre of light shed forth, that wheal°r
they were old or new, they would not by any pos§ibill
obtain those majorities which they now command, a°,
they would find it hard work to get those packeu
juries, •
he was going to say, with which they now
commanded every thing. The great majority of we
wealth and influence was on their side, and very soon the
neutrals, seeing them getting the upper hand, would .0,7
them, and render their triumph complete.—,-(Cheers.)
required a great deal of nerve to speak one's mind at ell
official meeting, for the preacher presided, and by sly ins"
nuations a inan's character was gone at once, if he opcons.e,,,
them. Were never was any outspeaking, but the dev"
work was as effectually done by the means alluded to. fie
was sorry to detain the meeting, but would now conclude,
as lie had to attend elsewhere, in order to receive sentence'
He trusted, as all their demands were scriptural, the other
party would grant them, and once more receive them into
their arms. Such conduct would be highly honourable to
them.
Mr. H. B. KING, one of the trustees of Brunswick Or
the pct, Islington, lately expelled, was then called upon by t',10,„,
Chairman to address the meeting. He said he should n°
detain them, but would merely detail a few facts from au*' 0'
thentic documents. The facts he should bring before tbal) jo,
meeting would, be was sure, have all that weight which deli/

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