The Warrington Examiner. — 1870-05-14 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

PRIMITIVE METHODIST DISTRICT  MEETING.  The Manchester district meeting of the Primitive Connexion commenced its sittings at Douglas, Isle of Man, on Friday, and clased on Wednesday. The Rev. W. Hall, the district committee delegate, prepared and presented a synoptical account of the number and state of the chapels in the district. From the report it appears the total number of chapels is 259, furnishing accommodation in pews and free seats for 67,585 persons; their original cost amounting to £109,400 6s. 11d., leaving a total debt when finished of £70,495 12s. sd. The present debt is £63,518 Os. ld. The estimated value of the property is £142,348 Is. 4d. The total income for the year is £12,331 2s. 21c1., and the working expenses D. 770 4s. 21d. On Saturday morning J. Lees Buckley, Esq., of of Stockport, was called to the chair pro tent., and proceeded, under the direction of the general committee delegate, to form the district meeting according to rule. Amongst the delegates received were :—Travelling preacher delegates ;—John Slater, Manchester fourth; Matthew Shorrock, Chester; David T. Maylott, Lynam; Thomas H. Hunt, Northwich. Lay delegates :—Henry Pettinger, Manchester first; John Wright, Manchester second; Thomas Stringfellow, Preston Brook. The delegates having been received, the reports of the various circuits were then received, and their numerical, financial, and spiritual condition enquired into. It was found that in several circuits there had been heavy decreases, arising in some cases from removals, and in others from disaffection amongst the officials. _  On Sunday, open-air services were held in different parts of the tJwii. A large procession was formed from the chapel, to a large field, where a monster camp meeting was held, at which some 4,000 to 5,000 persons were present. The Revs. J. Slater, T. H. Hunt, and D, T. Maylott, took part in the services. The various dissenting chapels in the town were very kindly placed at the disposal of the committee, and their pulpits occupied by the delegates as follows: —Primitive Methodist Chapel was occupied by the Revs. D. T. Maylott and J. Slater in the evening. The Independent pulpits were occupied by the Rev. J. Macpherson, F. H. Hunt, and J. Vaughan. On Tuesday morning the delegates met at eight o'clock, the proceedings of the day being the stationing of the preachers, The following are amongst the stations :—Manchester first L:D.—William Hall, 1; William Topkin, Stephenson Stobbs, sup. Manchester second, L.D.—Themas Hindley, Thomas Meakin, Henry Heys, sup. Manchester third, L.D.—John Mould, William Ball. Manchester fourth, L.D.—John Slater, Joseph Yearsley, Eiward Bishop, sup. Bolton, T.P.D.—David T. Maylott, William Smith. Preston Brook, L.D,— Ambrose Kirkland, George Merrie. Lymm, L.D.— William Thornley. Northwich, L.D.—Thomas H. Hunt. At ten o'clock on Tuesday morning an influential deputation from the Manx Union of Temperance Societies was received. The deputation presented a memorial in which they expressed their gratitude to the Primitive Methodists as a body, and to Primitive ‘.,ethodist ministers particularly, for the interest they had taken in this movement. In the evening a tea meeting was held, and afterwards a public temperance meeting, at which about 1,000 persons were present, presided over by J. Lees Buckley, of Stockport. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. T. H. Hunt, D. T. Maylott, W. Rowe, J. Travis, S. Smith, J. Vaughan, J. Slater, and. J. Graham. The following are amongst the delegates to the ensuing conference at Nottingham :—Mr. J. Thomason Lymin, and Mr. J. Lawless, St. Helens. The next district meeting is appointed to he held at Woadley, May Ist, 1871. Statistics of the district :—Travelling preachers, 70 ; local preachers, 1076; class leaders, 922; connexional chapels, 259; rented chapels' rooms, &c., 152; Sabbath schools, 288; Sabbath school teachers, 5,533; Sabbath school scholars, 35,290; members in society, 14,755 • deaths, 260; increase of members for the district, 216:  It is stated that nearly 250 persons have been left homeless, all the furniture and stock of their houses and shops being almost totally destroyed by the recent fire at Broadclist. in Devonshire.  A bullock trampled and gored to death a boy named Duff, who was keeping the gate of the Ayr inLiret, on Tuesday, while the infuriated animal was being driven into the auction mart.  Mr. Macfarland, the American lawyer, who shot in the New York, Tribune office, Mr. Richardson, journalist, for having enticed Mrs. Macfarland from her home, has, after a trial extending over some days, been found "not guilty " of murder.  A large meeting of the working classes, held at Leeds on Monday, adopted a resolution condemning the Government Education Bill as perpetuating the denominational system, and in favour of free, unsectarian, schools, with compulsory attendance.