us, to remind one another, and to state to the public, in the most open and undisguised manner, what our real principles are; that those of our own persuasion may be rationally and firmly attached to them; and that others may see that we are not the dangerous people we are supposed to be. Our principles, as Dissenters, my friends, we have no reason to be ashamed either of holding or of avowing." The whole discourse is animated with a courageous, yet loyal spirit, maintains, with dignity, the just claims of the Dissenters, and concludes with the following spirited contention and fair appeal :— "Is there any thing in our principles which can give just occasion to others to consider us as dangerous members of society? Loyalty to our King, attachment to our civil constitution, a determined resolution to do violence to no one, but rather suffer than occasion civil insults and confusion. Do those who maintain such principles as these deserve to be regarded as enemies to the State? Ye Powers of the world, dismiss your needless suspicions and apprepensions. We consider and why cannot you consider our duty to God as no way inconsistent with obedience to the law and the King in every thing they have a right to enjoin. We have neither inclination nor inducement to disturb the public tranquilty. Treat us with confidence, with kindness, and you will engage our affections. At all events, we will endeavour to adhere to our rule, ' Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's.' CHAPTER XX. WILLIAM ALLARD. NINTH MINISTER, 1788-1793. [b. 1767; ed. Daventry Academy, 1783- by Rev. Thomas Bel sham; ord. 17th July, 1788; min. Rotherham, 1788-1793; Stockport, 1793; Peak, 1793-1798; Coseley, 1798-1802; Bury, 1803-1831; m. Susanna (d. 1831 aet. 63) dau. of John Bingley, of Rotherham ; issue, Mary (b. 1793), Elizabeth (b. 1794), Thomas Barnes (b. 1798; d. 1813), and others; d. 10th June, 1831; bur. Bury, Bank Street Chapel Yard. LLARD was educated at Daventry Academy, near Artha mate, ainda of Dissenting College, first settled at Northampton, when it became eminent for the training of students of divinity under the charge of the celebrated Dr. Doddridge, during the period 1729-1751. The wide adoption of Dr. Doddridge's characteristic hymns, showed a disinclination on the part of congregations and ministers to adhere to the "Psalmes" of Sternhold and Hopkins and the dogmas of the Westminster Catechism. Dr. Julian in his Dictionary of Hymnology-a work of marvellous interest and inexhaustible information, published while he was vicar of Wincobank, near Rotherham-says of a later period of these old congregations, that "Doddridge's hymns are largely used by Unitarians both in G. Britain and America." According to the record in the old Registers, "the congregation invited Mr. William Allard, of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire, to take the parochial care of them, who accepted their invitation 9th May, 1788, and was ordained 17th of July following." He only remained minister about five years, though at the outset of his pastorate he evidently prided himself in bringing back some "principal members," whom Mr. Townsend had caused to depart, for a time, from the Meetinghouse. In 1793, the last year of Mr. Allard's ministry, the list of subscribers is tabulated as eighteen heads of families, giving, it may be estimated, with others who would attend free of pew rent, a congregation, say, of a hundred or so worshippers. Among those paying subscriptions the following names occur :-Robt. Wylde Moult, Esq., £5 5s.; Mr. John Hatfield, £2 2s.; Mr. Wm. Favell, £1 8s.; Joseph Ramsbottom (the schoolmaster), 16s.; John Aldred, 4s.; James Wilkinson, 8s.; Mrs. Swallow, 10s.; Mr. Elliott, 16s. ; names of other seat-holders paying 4s., 5s., 6s., are Smith (Sheep Market), Wild, Smith (Wellgate), Naylor, Taylor, Arnold, Lockwood, Downs. Total received for the year, £14 15s. 6d. In addition there were rents from several properties, along with the occupation of the Parsonage in Westgate. Altogether, Mr. Allard, if not actually reduced to the condition of Goldsmith's vicar, "passing rich on forty pounds a year," had certainly to pass as rich, as he could, on about £70 to £80 a year. THE RE-BUILDING OF HOLLIS SCHOOL. During his short ministry Mr. Allard was instrumental in the erection of what was called the "Hollis School." Already, reference has been made to the foundation of a school in 1702 by Thomas Hollis, Senr., as stated on the stone tablet. The inscription further states :-" And in 1789 THIS BUILDING was erected, and the school further endowed for the same purpose by the contributions of several of the trustees and other Protestant Dissenters." The financial statement of this, at the time, considerable undertaking is headed: Subscriptions received for the purpose of purchasing the Oil Mill Yard in Rotherham and for building a new school, &c., as follows, viz. : To Jas. Mills, Esqr. (Milnes), Wakefield To Mrs. Rhodes, Long Houghton .. .. N.B.-they following Gentlemen have agreed to make up their subscriptions from pounds to Guineas, viz. :— Timothy Hollis, Esqr. 270 0 0 550 5 5 0 10 10 0 5 5 10 10 0 10 10 0 500 Saml. Shore, Senr., Esqr. Rt. Wyld Moult, Esqr. To Mr. Wm. Favell, Rotherham To Jonathan Mellor, Ickles.. Sheffield subscriptions, from 5s. to £1 1s., including the names of To the Congregation, Manchester To Mr. Loyd, Stourbridge To Mrs. Sandercock, York To Mr. Badcliffe, London To Jno. Sparrow, Esqr., Wincobank Fenton, 10s. 6d. each 1 1 0 To Iona Walker, Red To Thos. Walker, Red Nov. 2, 1790-To Timy. Hollis, Esqr. By cash paid Mr. Rimmington for the Oil Mill Yard by the hands of Mr. Jno. Shore Various tradesmen for building materials, workmen, &c.[specified] 51 14 0 66 6 0 54 6 0 Various items 0 15 0 [specified] 8 9 7 481 10 7 Note. In after petty expenses occur the following interesting chester Jan. 19, 1789-By cash pd. postg. of a Letter to and from Man Dec. 19, by Mr. Allard, exps. to Wakefield By Do. do. to Nottingham The schoolmaster of this Hollis School was the worthy Joseph Ramsbottom, who had a most unpromising pupil, of whom a sketch will be given, namely, the after celebrated "Corn Law Rhymer," Ebenezer Elliott. THE RULES OF THE SCHOOL. A copy of the Rules was usually given to the parents of the children admitted on the free list. The Rules serve to show, how, along with the secular instruction, the moral and religious training of the children was carefully attended to. i. The time for the children remaining on this charity shall be three years; during which they shall attend regularly at the school, clean, and in as decent apparel as the circumstances of their parents will admit of. If any child is absent from the school more than thirteen days in a quarter (except that in which the harvest falls), unless a sufficient reason is assigned at the time by the parents, they shall be excluded. ii. The children shall attend the Sunday school and public worship every Lord's day, both in the morning and afternoon. If any of them are absent more than three Sabbaths, unless their parents assign a sufficient reason for it, they shall be excluded. iii. It being the design of this institution "to train up a child in the way he should go," the managers will pay attention to the moral conduct of the children out of the school hours; and if any of them are found guilty of profane swearng, lying, pilfering, or playing about in the streets or fields during any part of the Lord's day, &c., they shall undergo such chastisement as their crime appears to the master or governors to deserve. It is hoped that parents will attentively observe the foregoing rules; and cheerfully lend their assistance to the master and manager of the school in forming their children to those habits of regularity and goodness which they are intended to produce. The minister of the chapel is the governor of the school. Allard resigned his Rotherham ministry on the 12th May, 1793, and in the same month removed to Stockport, where he remained but a few months. Mr. Allard afterwards removed to Great Hucklow, where he built the present substantial stone chapel. There is an interesting chapel trust of this district, providing about £25 per ann. for the benefit of Dissenting ministers, left by the testator, Robert Newton, Esquire, of Norton House, Norton, near Sheffield, who died |