The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-20 00:00:00

THE WESLEYAN CENTENARY MEETING IN

➢IANC HESTER.

(From the Manchester Guardian.)

In the Guardian of Saturday last, we briefly noticed the
holding of a meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Society.
preachers and laymen, in ibis town, during the Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday, in last week, and the fact that nearly
£30,000 had been pledged as donations, liv parties present, to
the great fund for celebrating next year the centenary of
methodism by founding institutions, and in other ways contri-
buting to the extension of that "form of Christianity promul-
gatedby John Wesley and his followers in the ministry. We
also stated a few of the donors' names- and the amounts given,
being all that could be then ascertained for publication. As
the circumstances under which such large amounts were
given may excite some curiosity. especially as this meeting
.was to be knower] up by others-held in Liverpool, (this week).
in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Hull,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Dublin, we subjoin a few particulars
relating to it, which we derive from the published resolutions
of the Manchester meetings, and from other sources.
The meeting was in Oldham-street Chapel,- commencing,
on Wednesday, the 7th inst.: the Rev. Thomas Jackson,
president of conference, in the chair; the Rev. Robert New-
ton officiating as secretary of the conference. There were
present no fewer than seven ex-presidents of conference, viz.,
the Revs. Richard Rece, Joseph Entwistle, G. Morley, G.
Marsden, Dr. Bunting, Joseph Taylor, and Edmund (.;rim-
drod •' and about 230 other ministers and gentlemen con-
nected with the societies and congregations in London, Man-
chester, and Salford, and all the neighbouring towns, Liver-
pool. Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Sneffield, Newcastle-
on-'Tyne, 11 uI 1, York, Dublin, &c. &c. The resolutions
of a previous committee of ministers and gentlemen held in
Bristol in July last, on the subject of a proposed celebration
ni 1839 of the centenary of Wesleyan Methodism, and also,
the subsequemt resolutions on the subject of the conference
recently held in Bristol, having been read and considered,
the meeting, after some discussion, chiefly as to the several
modes of application of the fund, passed a series of twentv -
six resolutions, of which we now proceed to give "an ab-
stract:—

The Ist expresses cordial approval of "the proposed cele-
bration, in 1839, of the formation of the Wesleyan Methodist
Society in the year 1739, under the providential instrumenta-
lity of the ever-to-be-revered- and venerated John Wesley;
and deeply feels that the primary object of such celebration
should be the religious and devotional improvement of the
centenary, by solemn public services in all our chapels,
both at home and the various missionary stations abroad."
The 21, on the motion of Mr. James Wood, - expresseS the
opinion " that it is eminently right and expedient, that there
sham Id also be a general pecuniary contributien, by means
both of individual and family donations, and of public collec-
tions, through all our societies and congregations at home and
abroad," as "a practical thank-affering to Almighty God,
for the personal, Gomestic, and public benefits derived, by his
blessing, from the labours of Mr. Wesley, and of his coadju-
tors and successors, during the last hundred years, and from
the direct and indirect influences of the various ministrations
and agencies of Wesleyan methodism, not merely on Our own
religious community, but also on the Christian church at large,
and on the spiritual interests of the world. " The 3tl concurs
in the judgment of the Bristol committee, unanimously sanc-
tioned' by conference, that the connectionail.fund, to he raised
on occasion of the centenary, should be applied; 1. to the
erection and preparation of premises_for the accommodation•
of students in the Wesleyan theologicaiin4itution ; •2: to the
provision of commodious premises in London for the use of
the Wesleyan missionary society. [These objects are stated
to be recommended by their monumental and connectional
character.] The 4th, on the motion of the Rev. Dr. Bunting,
declares, that, while concurring in the pre-eminent claims of
these two objects, the meeting is "satisfied.of the duty and
disposition of the members and friends to raise, on this special
and extraordinary occasion (which to them can never again
occur,) a much larger sutn than that which these objects alone
will require; and pledges itself, individually and collectively,
to the most zealous exertions fur that purpose." The 5th, on
the motion of Mr. G. R. Chappell, of this toWn, gives the tot
lowing "conclusions:"—" 1. That the sum of £BO,OOO is
considered as the very, lowe,t which meat be raised, by the
universal effort now contemplated, for the centenary mud.
2. That, after a liberal reserve tor the purposes of the theo-
logical institution and for the new mission house, the remain-
der of the £80,003 should be employed as follows: (1. ) In
Providing a Wesleyan missionary ship, for the purpose of
forwarding missionaries and missionary stores from New
South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, to our mission sta-
tions in New Zealand, in the Friendly Islands, and in other
Polynesian groupes. (2.) In finally liquidating a building-
debt of about £5OOO, yet remaining, on the premises of our
two connectional schools at Kingswood amid Woodhouse
Grove ; thus liberating, for the use of the Methodist
Preachers' Annuity Society, a considerable sum now an-
nually payable for interest on that debt, and for its gradual
reduction, and restoring such sum at once to its origi-
nal and proper use, as part of the incistne applicable to
the support of preachers compelled through age or infirmity
to retire from their regular labours in the ministry, and of
the widows of our deceased ministers and pastors. (3.) In
placing at the disposal of the chapel loan funds committee
(which committee, we understand, in conjunction with cha-
pel trustees, have been the-means of liquidatingsl:lso,ooo.of
debt upon various chapels]
.a considerable stun, sufficient to
enable it to continue, without material interruption, its most
beneficial and important operations (which must be otherwise
for a while wholly suspended, owing to the entire exhaustion
of its present resources), and thus to relieve many cases of
distressed trustees and over-burdened chapels from the pies-
sure of debt and difficulty, and also to enable that committee
to accelerate, by judicious arrangements, the period at which
the interest, and eventually the, principal, of the loans al-
ready so usefully expended, will be fully discharged; so that.
the annual incotve of the regular chapel fund may become
more 'speedily available." [ln a note, it is stated that the
five appropriations above enumerated will require thatat least
the minimum of £BO,OOO should be provided.] The 6th reso-
lution expresses the hope that that minimum tnay be very
considerably exceeded, and declares, that whatever surplus.
shall he actually realized, shall be devoted to some one or
more of the objects named above (under rime ditectiun of a
committee, to be appointed from among the principal sub-
scrittera), iu such-proportions as the claims ad(rnecessities of
each particuler objectstrall-seeM tri require. The 7th, that
the subscriptions be now commenced, and that James Wood,
Esq.., of MancheSter, be appointed the general treasurer of
the Wesleyan centenary fund. 8:h. That, to meet the wishes
and convenience of some classes of subset liters, the donations
of those who desire it shall become due by three annual in-
stalments; namely, in the week iininediately preceding the
conferences of July 1839. 1840, and 1841. 9th, That a gene-
ral centenary sub-committee be appointed, to meet from time
to time in Manchester, to promote the contribution, and take
measures to engage the co-operation of all the preachers,
trustees, class-leaders, and peopie, in every circuit of Geeat
Britain and Ireland, The 10111 gives the names of the com-
mittee, including the treasurers, a number of ministers, and
gentlemen of Manchester, Liverpool, and Stockport, with
power to add to their number. The 11th names five secreta
lies to this sub-eommittee, one minister anti four gentlemen,
all of thiS town. The 12th recommends the appointment of
local sub-committees and sub-treasurers in every circuit rn
the united kingdom. The 13th recommends that. one or more
public meetings of friends be' held in every circuit, as early
in 18.32 as convenient, fur the purpose of obtaining donations
in each locality. 14th. That the valuable help of the ladies
be solicited, by the formation, in each circuit, of a ladle,'
committee; 1. to promote the private and • faintly donations
to the general fund; 2. to carry into effect the recommenda7
non of the Bristol comniiitee, that local arrangements should
be made for enabling the children of the tainlay and day
schools and the poor members of the society to, participate
and enjoy the pleasure and benefit of the intended eele-
bration, on one of the days set apart, -but so as not to in-
terfere with the public religious services of the occasion.
15. That the missionary committee and secretaries be re-
quested to adopt early means fur obtaining the concurrence
of societies and congregations at the foreign stations, in the
religious celebration of the centenary, and in the accompany-
ing contribution. The 16th recommends that the volume
which the president of conference is preparing on the occa-
sion of the centenary (on the rise Ad progress of Methodism)
be published as speedily as practicable; and that a eheap
edition, as little abridged as possible, he printed for sale or
distribution 'among the poorer members, and in the Sunday
and day schools. The 17th a poroves of the resolutions of con-
ference as to the time of celelbrating the centenary, viz.:—
That the official discourse to be delivered before- the con-
ference at Liverpool, in 1839, IN the Rev. Thomas Jackson,
-hall be considered as the centenary sermon; that one day
be set apart during the session of that conference, for religi-
ous services; that, in all other place's, the month of October,-
18.39, is deemed the-most suitabte period fur the centenary
services; and in consideration of the.univereal congregational
collections then to be made fur the i;entepary fund, nO col-
lection for ordinary local pitypPies Rate made in hat month;
and the school collections tisnally Made in October, be next.
year made in September. The !sleeting recommends that
conference should direct, that, on Friday, the 25th October,
1839, meetings be held in every chapel, early in the morning,
and also in the evening, for united prayer and thanksgiving;
and that, where 'cotrienient, the same day be elected for
public discourses and worship in the congregations; and,
where local circumstances preventathis, the. 25th .to be uni-
formly adopted 'for the early morning and evening services.
rhe 18th approves of the appointment of special deputations
from conference, to visit teu large towns at the time of the
centenary, in order to assist the preachers stationed there, in
the religious services of the occasion; and recommends.that
Dublin and Edinburgh be added to the list. The 19th re-
commends an arrangement at the next conference by an ade-
quate increase of the auxiliary preachers' fund, forthe regu-
lar and permanent provision for the better support of minis-
ters on the supernumary list, and of the widows of deceased
•ilo'rhaee
r 2011.11 at.
cap rioyi n
jsu
ta
tsit,teb -.o76tencint iot treteh
et oltisithi nrers!loahll--
chesler, in ministers.
.
mil. The 21st requests three ministers and six gentleman
(several of the Litter ship-btiilders) to meet the treasurers and
ionary Society in
tp
c*is,o;:tig.siriliee,n.nt::.raftlattiles of i
in ~olisttict the the
ritissiang'
eethod of l,r,ividiusg. nert. s)d ~,rietabls:'.
of,ths arne.etinetet thb falinWine •
".'tpiLeseeasd.,4. 7.ruirrittrarstek4itnss, known .and explaining `the plantsulalafinedd
ipt,l)rVnerealil4C reference
ft 01
ceeenn:eennaarryy.
fund :—Liverpool, littripnoionig:
wgeneralanetosinalyi-.
November 21, ISIS:. for the Liverpool, Macclesfield, North
Wales, and Isle uf Man districts.— London, Friday, Decem-
ber 7; for the. Southern and South-eastern districts.e-Bristol,
Monday, December 10: for the West of England anal South
Wales. —Birmingham, Wednesday, December 12; for the
Contiguous midland districts.— Sheffield, -Friday, December
14; fur the Sheffield and the Nottingham and Derby dis-
tricts.— Leeds, Monday, December 17; for all the West
Riding districts.—Hull, Wednesday, December 19; for the
H uI I, Lincolnshire, York, and Whitby disti icts.—Newcastle-
on-Tyne, Friday, December 21 ; for all the northern districts
February 27, 1839 ; fur
and cirniits.—Dublin,' Wednesday,
all Ireland. The president and secretary of conference,
Bunting, Mr. James Wood, a number of other gentlemen
named, and as many other members of time committee, both
ministers anti laymen, as conveniently can, are requested to
attend these !peelings. Further adjournments to be fixed, if
necessary, at any future :meeting in the course of the year ;
and the final adjournment for business, to lie fixed for Liver-
pool, in connexion with the ensuingcoinufen:iegnhattey on such cfilrdtahye
as the president may appoint. The 23d resolution is expres-
sive of most devout thanksgivings to
extraordinary tokens of his presence and blessing;" and of a
firm persuasion " that the approaching centenary will obtain
a permament memorial from Ileaven.—the memorial of a
great and extensive revival of pure and primitive Christi-
anity." The 24th is one of thanks from the members from
distant places, to the friends. in Manchester and its neigh-
bourhood, for their great hospitality and Christian kindness,
and for their exemplary zeal in promoting the important ob-
ject which had brought the meeting together. The 25th re-
cords the sense of the lay members of the committee, of the
valuable services rendered to the centenary cause by the
Rev. Robert Newton, secretary of conference, and the
other respected ministers in attendance.—The Rev Thomas
Jackson, president of conference. having vacated the chair,
thanks were voted to him, "fors the distinguished ability,
affection, and piety, with which he has conducted the various
trusiness -at-ibis most happy and interesting week; and for
his very edifying and acceptable communications, connected
with the history of Mr. Wesley and of methedism."—The
"three days" of this great meeting terminated on the Friday
evening, at a late hour.

At and since this meeting we understand that eleven indi-
viduals or families have subscribed ZINO, or one thousand
rguineas each, and among them, we are informed, thera are
hree ladies; about fourteen have subscribed five hundred
guineas each, and a great number one hundred guineas each.
The total amount of subscriptions, up to yesterday, was
£36,01445., averaging about £lOOO per day since the termi-
nation of the meeting yesterday week:
--The first of the adjourned meetings eo,romeneedat -Liver-
pool on Wednesday last ; b. t hitherto have not heard
any thing of its proceedings.
•

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