Star.
London, England, 1816-09-13 00:00:00

,

'METHODISM—No.

•:.-

•

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE OLD METHODIST
CONNEXION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

(to Continuation from the STAIL of September 3.)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The first observation I shall make is, that I am
far from being singtsine in my expectations, that any
important consequences will immediately result from
this appeal to your coasistency. No I tor experience
teaches ns, that it is always found much more diffi-
cult to correct abuses, which an unnatural powerbab
created, and that it requires greater exertions to pnt
them down than it did to establish them s and in this

iestance it is particularly so. To prove which, it is
only necessary to observe, that the Preachers are, to
a man, coalesced together ; the senior Preachers by
an initiation into the plans and views of the Confer-
ence, and affected by regular and uniform attendance
there; and the junior brethren, who do not attend,
from being accustomed to hear nothing but the doc-
trine of passive obedience and non-resistance, join
the holy league. Some, therefore, from motives I
'do not pretend to assign, and the rest, I hope from
no mayor a all, unite in saying as Saul said to Jona-
than, 4, Is not mine heart as thine heart 1"
Wirat chance of success then has any individual,
or even a hundred individuals, it scattered up and
down throughout the Connexion, and who neither
possess the advantages which an annual meeting
would give them, nor yet unity of design or concen-
tration of force ? Certainly nut any, when put in
array against the Preachers. They may be compared
to Bonaparte, from his Consulship to the year 1812,
who composed, in his own person, the general, the
suresitan, and the monarch ; and who, by this union,
laid the foundation of a power, which for a series of
years was found sufficient to overturn empires, to
pull down Kings and Potentates from their thrones,
or raise them up again by his nod ! and nothing but'
his unheard-of cruelty, villainous tyranny, and bound-
less ambition, could have united the confederated
forces of Europe against him. But no sooner was
this contederacy glowed together by woe interest, at-
tooted by the same views, audited with a determina-
tion eithtr to conquer or perish, than lo heTalls like
all other tyrants. Ye Methodists ! be persuaded to
be cemented in one bond ; let one object regulate your
proceedings ; let pi udence guide your transactions ;
in a word, be yourselves, and the conquest is your's.
Is any thing more common, any thing more natural,
than that a power which has lung been maintained
(it tuatttrs nut how attained) should be con-
strued by those who possess it, into a tight, which
ought net to be disputed ? Or any thing marvellous
that thol;:: who have been accustomed io submit (like
eleir fore!, t'.ct 5) should deem that submission no bor.
een ? Cet tainiy not ! But from which facts we may
draw this inference, that it one class are justly liable
to the censure of the wise, for withholding what is
another's the uthyr has an equal claim to their
pity, fur the it iaconsistenc) ! But if only one indivi-
dual in each circuit, thtougirout the Methodist Con-
nexion, is influenced by these animadversions, so as
to induce them for the future to act the part of men
and Christians, I shall consider myself well repaid,
for both ray trouble and expense, and which has not
barn smell ; because the little leaven may in time
leaven the whole lump ; particularly it occasional
appeals are made to your judgments, and those ap-
peals are founded on matter which none can dispute,
but at the expense of those whose characters they
may not wish to impugn.

In all other cliaritible instituti'ns, two things are
judged indispensable, tn which, to found a cl.iim to
the benevokoce of the public, viz neces►ity, and an
account nt firmer contributions, as to the manner of
their distribution. Any thing short of these essential
matters, I presume, would render the applicants
justly suspnted, net of philanthropy, but of

Bat has any n.-cessitoos case been made out, to jus-
tify the bold and unblushing applications which are
annually made, for your support to the Preachers'
Fund ; or any clue given, by which you might be
airured that the poor were not relieving the arch, in-
stead of the rich *viewing the poor ? Have they ever
urged their requests by presenting you with accounts
evidently calculated to convince you that the fund in
question stood in need of support? Never, lam bold
to aver. Let me then urge it again and again upon
you to cease your donations, as the only probable and
efficacious method to obtain what all men allow is so
just and reasonable. It is whispered that the Preachers
mean to publish an account or this fund ; it will save
me some trouble and expense too, if at the same time,
they will deign to touch upon the Missionary and
Book room Funds also. Whatever they publish, I
trust it will be done in such a manner, that it will
not be merely free from errors, but trey from suspicion
also; and by a manly exposition of their affairs, lay
a lasting claim on the confidence and support of their
Rocks, 1f it is done in a manner calculated to satisfy
such of you as are competent to judge of such a state-
ment, 1 for one, shall hail the attempt, as the har-
binger of brighter days. But I conjure the Preachers,
that they instantly wipe off this deadly stain on their'
characters; and this unoecessary and undeserved re-
proach from the Methodist Church. What should
we say, my brethren ? What would the creditors of
a man say, if artyr be had declared himself insolvent,
be refused to slits+, his accounts, or if he did drew
them, could net, or rather would not account for
more ditto one-s,xth of what he had manifestly re-
teived ? Why, they would very justly term him a
di.bonest 111/11 ; and he would, in a case of bank.'
ruptcy, oe sent to jail, where all such men ought to
be sent. Would jou, I speak to men of business,
who subscribe to this fund, entrust the custody of
your daily receipts of cash to one whom you could
not by any means prevail upcn to balance his ac-
counts but once in sixteen years; and afterwards keep
him in your service, it on his attempt to heroine, he
'could not, or would not account for five-sixths of his
receipts ? Impossible 1 Yet if you continue to sup-
port the Preachers' Fund, under circumstances which
I deem exactly similar, will not you render yourselves
as ridiculously inconsistent as it is possible for men
to d. ? I cannot, I will not believe that you will 1
Be awned, that whatever compliment: the foolish men
of this gent-rati(in may pay you for your kveofpeace,
ea it is childishly called; posttray will pronounce you
`.:caeca Latritics of Methodism, if you do not,

41►

by a timely interference, arrest this growing On, in
its matchless progress.'
• lam at. a loss to conceive what apology can be
made by the few men, who thus unnaessarily dis-
grace the Methodist community. Irreligious men are
ready enough to censure you, without any cause for
so doing ; bet when they are invited to do so by the
improper condnct of its Ministers, whatever conse-
quences may ensue, none but the men who have bees
the cause of such calumny, can or will be blamed.
Religious bodies have no need to foster enemies in,
their own bosoins ; they grow up spontaneously,
without culture and without art.
If, in the observations I have deemed it my duty
to call your attention to, any remarks have escaped ,
my pen, which appear to border on the severe, I can
only say, they have not been intentional ; but I flatter
myself that I have avoided what, in publications of
this description, all men unite in condemning, viz.
defamation. Should, however, motives be imputed to
me in this business, other than those with which every
honourable and consistent man would wish to adorn
hts christiao character, I beg leave to assure my
Readers, that I believe Methodism has not a more
ardent admirer, or sincere well-wisher within her
bosom ; one more ready to defend her interests, or
shield her from calumny or reproach; and quite con-
fident that there are tew, if any, more willing to Mr
rally support her Ministers, than

FRENCH PAPLRS.

PARIS, SEPTEMBER'S.