Star.
London, England, 1816-08-06 00:00:00

" TO THE METHODISTS OF MISCHESTSR--,

a The approaching Conference of the old Metho.
dist Body in this town, preients an opportunity
which peldom.occurs, to offer some remarks ea the
future prospects of the Methodists. review of•
Metlindifdp offers matter of importance, bogs lot
our censure and our approbation. Prejudice and
malice united Cannot deny the important benefits it
has inspired to thousandss nor c.tn oigotry itself
refuse its consent to the valuable character el the

csaisi---teat Methodist. It Attest be teciniidtd. uIA. ;
tiler, that though Nkthodisrn is, what it always was.
it. profesiiis of the present day cannot be conceived
to piaintaia the character of their ancestc • Nei
needs so lamentable a circumstance mate surprise
in the minds of those who can thscriininate, it we
take into account the nambers which compose that
body. A.body so numerous cannot be as well re.
gulated in its discipline, or exact in the admission of
its Members ; nor by any means so consistent inks
conduct as when in its infancy. Then it was pos-
sible for its loimder, not only minutely to inspect,
but assure himself of the propriety of every official
appointment. When its interests became more renta-
-1 lied, though possessed of strength both of body and
mind, no doubt greater than that which has fallen
to the lot iit any of his successors, lie found himself
unequal to the task of cl?se investigation : lie had,
iu coas-equence, to delegate his power, and could he
have delegated his prudence and.discernment
mischiefs so extensive had not been ready to burst on
the heads of its supporters. But it is the list of all
human establishments, whether civil, or religious, to
fall into decay ; and mankind have, only done their'
duty when they feel conscious of having done their
utmost to present it. Your attention is called to
some matters which the Methodists generally admit
to stand in need of collection ; but as their constitu-
tion is now formed, no man or number of. men, or
Society such, as that in London or Manchester, nor
AB the tioci4tirs in the Connexion united, can obtaW
admittance, either into :the District Meeting, or the
Conferences ; and
,yet -from. this priestly aristocracy,
tin:wale 14w:. and resulartions, !or the government
of nearly. S(0,000 Membeis : and what is more mt.
prising, this policy has exitted nearlylfty years I !
Ttie first and most..important Matter which"
clainis-your attention it the Preachers' Fuad. Now
it must be eviden:, to the meanest understanding, that
a plan well ars inged is a.scheme half accomplished ,
and when the keen eye of suspicion cannot peuetrate
it, nor those acquainted with its secret springs deve-
lope.its windings; can we err in concluding, . that
were all naked and unseen, it would disclose what
either needs correction, or it would cease to have the
support of the people, who, notwithstanding its name,
have contributed largely thereto d This fund is as
mytterious iri its amount, as it it big with important
consequences : it is walking in stately majesty, and
taking huge strides towards the destruction of the in.
,dependence (if there is any left) of . the Methodist
Body. The amount of this fund is known to few;
.aind though unwearied applications have been made
for information on this head, they have been. totally
ineffectual. In the minutes which are printed MOO-
ally, the amount of every other fund.is stated, and
its expenditures particularised I. but on the subjectof
the Preachers' Fund, a total silence is observed
'This perhaps is the ark which is not to be touched !
Supposing it, however, to be-stated at Abe very MO*.
'CIL:Tate sum of one hundred thousand. posed., sad the
principle of only. applying the ennui) subscriptions Is
adhered Co, and suffering the principal and interest-
-to accumulate; it will in less than 00.. years -support
every Preacher in the. connexion, without a single
penny being added to it-,-snal• it aeill =eke tie
feriae* as ladopeadttit.of the Body, es the Pope is

•

the. Meanest 4. Watt . Romisk, Cbuttlt.
The diatrifiutinit'fritip fga std'. bran ."61117
ilk objectionable ai ift:kikerge,„ the, fund
The =baritone of 'rule od i head is—' If a
Pre pier dies and 'es a widow,'. she is. lezalgt enti.
sled to. rut many poinids per annum at her husbaqd-
.
bad travelled years ip theConnezion ; sn that:a:widow
*doves a ):.!vily can legally claim £4O or 800 per
annum. Contrast This case with another *1094 9e.
cuffed in 17g.5. A Preicher, who had a wife and
three or four children, was unfortunately draxined in
crossing the river at Sunderland, and he had only
ti a Minister. Ainit twelve years; her pittance would
Incerteding tp this merciful rule be £l2ll But in
reply it way be urged that some year's after that cir-
cumstance, a contingent fund, or fund of mercykNeas
established ; from which cases of .peculiar harhip
were to be relieved. **withstanding this, however,
qo widow, can claim as mover of right (as in the
Preachers' Fund) any thing from that lund ; she
stands of course a solicitor, and not a claimant ; and
if the annual donations were to cease, . as there is. no
fend, her expectations would cease also.. So much
for this notable fund, which appears to have been in.
stituted with no other view than to protect the other
fund, for all their regulations seem to tend to one
end, viz. the consolidation of their power.
!` Connected with these Fuhds, there Is another
circumstance which, if. rightly viewed, is sufficient to
appal the.stoutest heart that feels the leastinterest
for the prosperity of Methodism, viz. the legal C
piney of every Chapel int the Connexion ; this re-
quires some explanation. I
A Deed, tailed the Poll Deed, was many years
ego enrolled in chancery, in order to make the Me-
thodist Annual Conference, a lawful Assembly.) ac-
according to which Peed, 100 Preachers annually
assembling are -declared the Conference.
"' The connexion which this deed has with the
Chapels erected throughout the kidgdom. for the use
Of the MethOdists, is, that whei iChapel is built, the
property. is vested, in trustees, *lto are responsible
for the money borrowed to erect it, &c. Sec. and in
which trust deed there :s a clause, that no person
Shall be allowed to preach in such Chapel but those
who are appointed by, the Conference ; nor Can the
Trusteti dispose of it foi a valuables consideration;
even thought it does not pay interest for the principal,
without the consent of Conference : and it is not•
probable they will consent, when they are_ net ac-
countable for the money. Who does Rot see in this,
that in a very few years, every Chaf4l. in the Con-
nexion will in effect be in their power ilenCe ‘tith
eatraurdinary exertions, to frei theM friifirt their'fitt-
cuitibrances, '4
“ When the Preachers find themselves secure flohi
temporal wants, by•the operation rif their fund:and
the command of every Chapel combined with it i.r
would it not be ins.nity itself to suppose that they
will net then let the peoille know and feel theiy *au.
'thority Unchnibtedly they will. Let the members
of that body then look as intently on their own inte-
rests, as'thetr Miniiters do on theirs; arid in due time
also ; for every yeses delay will render them More
diffieult to prt.ser ve ; and a very few more years will
tender it impossible t.t p ward them with. effect., A
question here arises, lloX ai.,these interests, so nes
Gr 3161 y t.) the iadependcnce the pious Methodist,
I to be se.:ured ? It is entirely at rhe option,of the St-
,
aad of the vistrict Meetings and
eitnference, w hethzr any complai•a or representation
shell make its appearance in those places ; and those
Geudemen.take care th it the authority with which
they are invested is duly acknowledged. And is this
Christian liberty? Yes, what is so called among
Methodists.' Nothing perhaps probes. a man more
wnsibly than a calling in question his understanding;
yet the Preachers have repeatedly represented the
people as unfit to sit in their assemblies, or take a
part hi their, affairs. 'lt' these' Priests wee to mea-
sure other men's" understanding by their own, some
around for their judgment might appear ; but sorely,
there are thousands of welt-informed 'turd respectable
members of' the Methodist COnnexion, whose talents
would be sufficient far the transaction of'any business
which the Conference eau transact. Let all those
therefore who feel an interest in the welfare of Me-
thodism, act as thnugh they felt it—let them, assert
'their rights—let them act as men who will think for
theinselvet ; and instead of being led by the nose' by
a hierarchy almost worse than papal; let them take
the reasonable management of thetraffairs into their
' own hands. Then wilt the evils of which we com-
plain be remedied ;—they will disappear like the dew
of the morning. But it indolence, fear of reproith*
or an unmanly calculation of consequences should
deter them, the time will perhaps soon come, when
every remnant of religious liberty will disappear f
among them, and they will be consigned-to the
glootity domination of priestcraftr and hypocrisy.' ' •
4, As Methodists you will prohably'be soon fa-
voured with a prospectlievfew Of what-wilLte Fe-
quired at your hands for thesupport of the Preachers'
children till they arrive at ,the age of twenty years.•
Should you trick that the law passed last Conference
to this effect be unjust aid unseasonable, you will
render it nugatory by withholding from it your sup.
port; and thus opposing in.a manner which will be
much mere elfectttal than by remonstrances and com-
plaints, which would only excite the contempt and
the ridicule of their oppressors. -
" r'is to be hoped that the Conference will roll
away -the reproach brought upon the Methodists, by
appointing some Banker,• or person at acknowledged
property, to be the Treasurer of their Minh:wary
Fund. The annual receipts of this fund, which retest
amount to many thousands, would seem to *hew the
necessity of appointing a Treasurer, who, by his
property and respectability would gain the confidence
of the public.—The strange appointment of a Me-
thodist Preacher to this office, is an anomaly in
practice.
6. To conclude: it is recommended to the Metho-
dists, and particularly to those in official situations,
to copy the noble example of our renowned Barons
in the reign of Sohn; who, when• he wanted money,
Made the signature of Magna'Charta, the foundation
*lime liberties, die weed of their compliance. .
" OSSERVM”
The following Leply appeartdin the same Paper
the week after: Ailum Me se.
01 ATTACK UPON THE OLD METHODIsTS.
• a To the Printers of the lifersthesier Cluvaide
" Having noticed in your Paper of last week, some
mamas by a person who" subscribes himself s Ob..
wiTex: an lb. subject cl 24004411. Way
•

.. • • .. • .. •• . !•.. .0' •`° t:1
which are tototinusly incorrect. The miter of th
article pledges himsetr VS WO kg .tbig.:PS..l
obserteri shall leave the shades fry which 11e h..
coliceA,; himielf, by giving his nattld and the Plice
@Chit arsidynce to the public, his glaring thista'Aes
ilialldikeive a cbuip:ete refutation. , , •
P. Far be it from me to attribute. his norterrins erg
Tors' to mal:gnancy of disi osimlon I slarild iatl•er
consider them as oceasionedby a want of better in.
formation. In the mean time I beg leave to request
his attention to the following Anecdott4 :thrinK that I •
it will prodUce a salutary effect upon lam :—Wheri
Doctor Halley was throwing out upon a time some
indecent reflections against Christianity, his friend
(Sir Isaac Newton) stopt him short, at d addressed
him in dose words :••••••• Dr. Halley, I am always glad
to hear you wKen you speak abontAstrom my, or rrtmer
parts of the Mathematics, because that is a semiect
you have studied .and will understand ; but yott
should dot talk of Christianity, lot, you have not
studied it : I have; and am certain you know nothing
of the matter'
If, after this challenge, g Observer' should declMe
to come farward, and stew himself as an honest niar ,
who is not ashamed of his intentions, .outtht to do, a
can4d and discerning public will well know how to
judge of his principles and motives.--For this time I
subscribe myself, , 111 A LOVka OF OLD :tlETtiurnsm."
The above dissatisfactory reply to the remarks of
Observer, and signed .6 A Lover of Old :c.,iethint,o,"
einnot escape your notice; and the fait 'cif its being.
a-reply, sain by the Conference, is n•,t by any
'means caleulated to lessen, but tither to ilicleaie thst
dissatisfaction ; for, when we d.sdusrer men' *ho
fill the priestly office, a conanet systoro4ca4reservetl,
and that on subjects where frankness Intl trigeniose•
nest ought to be the ptcminiat tharacte:istizoi.
whatever practical. duties :Christians have to die-
charge, or mental virtues to cherish; you will ewer
be required to exercise the one, or nourish the othesi
at the expense, and in opposition to the pl4inest
tales of your understanding.
Let us apply these observations thee, to the cast
I amsoing to present to your notice; and if, after
the indisputable proofs 1 shall give, and which I call
indisputable, because they are taken from the mi.
nutes of Conference; any one presumes to dispute
the correctness of the tollowing • statement of the
Preached' Fund, I shall expect, and the Methodists
will expect it too, that it be done oa authority. As
good (it ought to be better to gain converts) as that,
on which the .statements in question is founded :.but
let us have no more mere assertions;.'no more pontitle
-declarants:, that these things are not so; but give us
plain proofs, such as nserr ot common underetantlin,..e
.calrefathom, and then we will believe. Shottld it
brkever happen, that a few men can be found, who
:will give 'ctctlence usser 'ions, b.dure plain matter
of fact, such characters, I think, may in point of in.
mike( and piejudice, be tanked with tie wile of a
man, of whom the. following story i; rained
circumstance occurted,•on which the oni&ous of the
husband and wife were at issue; the husband could
not believe (few can) in opposition to his senses; his
wife however appears to have possessedtheatnaccoun-
sable faculty of so doing—time dispute cominued i at
last she became quite cam aged at:the imifielible firm.
nets of her husband, and broke out into the following
exclamation—.. What I and wilt •
you ;!dices
own eyes, before your own ,lea• *Wife,"
PHiL6-911SERVER.
(re be conCaoed) •

About Mur.o'clock yeuerday.afternoon, as'a putt
man, lately from sea, and following the businesiut
say.wer, was returning from work, he fell down and
instantly expired.
Coleraine Church was broken into an the night of
the,l6th ul!irno, by same sacrilegious villains, who
carried off two gowns, and as much of the coveting.
of the pew seats as they could detach, together with
a stand of colours deposited there by. Colonel Baoece,
of.the.44th Regiment. Some part of the plunder was
found the next morning in an adjoining wood. •
.A new 'comic Operetta, iQ one act, called Old
Cuateer 4tr, IYecti Year', Gifts, was produced last
night sat the Lyceum Theatre. It is a translation
bone a French piece, entitled L'Hournix
the Happy Mistake, and has been well executed by
Mr. BEAZI.SY, the successful translator of he Jea-
lous t. It was announced for a second represent:l6.as
-withstood and genetal applause.. • .In the Siejs of,
grads, swhich followed, Mr. I-lana displayed his ac-
customed ability. The home was numerously and
elegantly, attended.
.Margate Theatre is well attended this season,
'MIDAS'S Comedy of The Rivals has been acted.
nior_r_g the principal performers were C. Kesesta,
Mrs. FAMSTT, and Miss SYDNSTy*the litter of whom
sustained the character of Lystar.Lerfolai with eacyl-
lent effect. •
Mr. Kean played Rickard the Third at Manchester,
on Saturday. .
Mr. SINGLADI .engaged-for the new Theatre at
Limerick.
• Imams performed on .Tbursclay at the Evenings
haul Theatre, and, after singing- a number of his
must popular songs, addressed the mid ience, stating,
that in all- probability it *Wild be the last time tie
would ever appear bafore,thanso as he was about to
proceed to America.
.Baaxar, the Ewa Pedestrian, this morning co:n•
plated his'99oth mile.
A Groom of the name of Youtecmats, for a wafer
of five guineas, did a mile in four annut-s and tiny-
five seconds yealrrdayi in Hyde-Park, at two start..
On Wednesday last an excellent contested .iota
race took place near Brayton, on the road leading
from Baggeray to Aspatria, for a considerable Can
of money, between JAMS HOOO, a nimble-looted Ca-
ledonian, and Thomas DALEY, an honest Yorkshire
man, distance of one mile. At starting, '2 to 1, arid
in returning 10 to 1, in favour of Sandy, who, how..
ever, unforturiately broke down within twenty yards
of the winning post ; when the Yorkshireman came an.
The distance wai run in the short period of four mi-
nutes and a few seconds.
STATE OF THE ODDE.—.IIIETTOIG ROOM, At/ODV' g.
'1 Great Protium Stakes at Yoe*, on the Rid of ittrtto4.
7 to 4 the field aping Captain CaridiJ.,
Oa thew:se day, Aid at the same Ozer, a Sweertakeruf Stilts
• for bales.—S to I spina Wedmore Lass.
H Tat DO24CAATER ST. LEGER.
to 1 ace Resplog 9 to l eget captain Cia.l.l
tl to, 1 jen Ld Detby's toff it to l *apt Wateduo
7 to 1 sot Lucifer 12 to I aria Tom Th.
Tilt NEWMARIat ST. LIDOCIS.
tit. I'. Lectofs; ayst any two, I 5 to 4 the 01114 apt 1. Lee:
•

• 1

. ~~