pages of the Conference minutes as having travelled one year. He had been brought up with the old body, but entered into fellowship with the New Connexion, professedly on account of preferring its church polity. The Annual Committee needed a supply for Liverpool during the year, and sent him there, the following Conference receiving him, and appointing him to Newcastle-on-Tyne circuit. From the very first he manifested vagaries which were annoying to most, but in the minds of some created strong distrust of his integrity, and painful forebodings as to the character of his future career. Not a Conference came, but he had to answer for acts of insubordination, or satisfy doubts respecting his doctrinal orthodoxy. Despite these occurrences, however, such was his energy and industry, and such his popular style of address, that he drew the hearts of both people and preachers after him, and by many was regarded as a noble champion of freedom and of truth. With some the illusion was transitory. It soon became evident to the thoughtful, and the unblinded by prejudice, that his freedom was licentiousness, and the truth he diffused, not purely the truth as in Jesus. Ultimately, he underwent a solemn trial for heresy and unfaithfulness to the Connexion, and was expelled by an almost unanimous vote. For this expulsion he sought to take his revenge, avowing that he would scatter the denomination as dust to the four winds of heaven, so that none should gather it again. Nor did he leave anything undone that he could do to fulfil his prediction. Most fearful havoc was made of the churches, and when at the following Conference the returns were taken, it was found that we had lost 29 societies, and 4,348 members. Several chapels too, were alienated from the denomination, teaching its members by bitter experience how necessary was a legal settlement of the body for its permanency.

At the Dudley Conference, 1849, a rather important change took place in the executive of the Connexion. For the enforcement of the rules and laws of the Connexion, and the transaction of its business generally, a committee of five persons was appointed by the Conference, of which it was required that the President of Conference should be one, and another should be chosen for the corresponding member, to have a colleague associated with him in the same circuit. In many instances in the earlier period of the Connexion's history, the office of corresponding member was held by a layman, while the president of the preceding Conference had no other position in the committee than that of an ordinary member. In 1834, however, the Rev. Thomas Allin was appointed to that office, and held

it uninterruptedly for fifteen years. This long retention of the most influential and important office in the Connexion by one individual, however able and personally respected he might be, did not give universal satisfaction; hence the change referred to, which invested the President for the time being with this office, and made him the representative and chief administrator of the body. The number of the Annual Committee is also enlarged, and at present consists of six ministers and six laymen, all—except the president and ex-president-are elected by ballot.

As the Connexion enlarged in its geographical area, and increased in numbers, it was found desirable, in order to relieve Conference of some of its business, and likewise for the purpose of bringing neighbouring circuits together, and affording them opportunity for direct and profitable intercourse with each other, to establish District Meetings. Their introduction, however, was not received with universal approval, the Nottingham circuit, especially, seeking to organize an opposition to them in all parts of the Connexion. The Conference made its appeal to the circuits, and the response evoked was all but unanimous in favour of their establishment. They are consequently now incorporated with the constitution, and their working has been as advantageous as their promoters anticipated.

For nearly forty years, the Methodist New Connexion used in its worship the Hymn Book of Mr. Wesley, adding to it a small appendix. In 1834, a new Hymn Book was brought out for the distinctive use of the body. In this book most of the hymns in the appendix were incorporated, but many of Mr. Wesleys were omitted, and of those admitted, not a few were considerably abridged, or had their phraseology altered. Some of the alterations had their basis in doctrinal sentiment, or were intended to express doctrinal views with more correctness of speech than it was deemed Mr. Wesley had employed. On the ground of taste and literary honesty, these clippings and changes were to be earnestly deprecated. It is to be questioned whether they ever gave anything like general satisfaction in the Community, for where are the Methodists who can be satisfied with a mutilated copy of Wesley's Hymn Book? For a quarter of a century however it was tolerated, when at the Hanley Conference of 1860, a committe was appointed to consider the propriety and practicability of its revision and improvement. The result was a recommendation to procure a new book altogether. This recommendation the Conference adopted, and the responsible task of performing the work was committed chiefly into the hands of the Rev. Henry Piggin.

The total of moneys for various objects, exclusive of Book Room Amounts, paid in at the Conference of 1867, amounted to upwards of £12,000.

We now proceed to consider the progress of the Methodist New Connexion in a more sectional manner. The denomination is not generally or widely diffused throughout the country; from the first there have been particular centres from which it has radiated to certain distances and then ceased to exist.

The

principal of these are Leeds, the centre of the West Riding of Yorkshire; Hanley, the centre of the Staffordshire Potteries; Manchester, the centre of Lancashire; Dudley the centre of the Black Country, as it is now called; and Newcastle-on-Tyne, the centre of the north of England. To the remaining places which do not include so wide an area we may give a briefer notice.

The new itinerancy planted its standard at Leeds, and in 1798 the Minutes of Conference report 1,050 members in connection with it, and, as no other town in the West Riding, save Sheffield, is named, it may be presumed that this number includes the entire membership of the district. In 1832, within the same area were included the circuits of Leeds, Barnsley, Halifax, and Huddersfield, having 37 chapels, 10 circuit preachers, 110 local preachers, 47 societies, and 3,250 members. The moneys raised for the different Connexional Funds were, Yearly Collection, £76 2s. 2d.; Paternal Fund, £112 14s. 6d.; Beneficent Fund, £27 8s. 6d.; Chapel Fund, £17 8s. 10d.; Missions, £123 6s. 9d.; total, £357 Os. 9d.

In 1867, on the same ground were 11 circuits, namely, Leeds (First and Second), Halifax (North and South), Barnsley, Bradford, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Ripon, and York, with Wakefield as a Home Mission Station. These circuits contain 63 chapels, 24 circuit preachers, 177 local preachers, 65 societies, 4,856 members, with 348 probationers. The sums raised for Connexional Funds were, Contingent, £64 9s. 6d.; Paternal, £211 18s. 6d.; Beneficent, £152 5s. 10d.; Chapel, £116 8s. 8d.;

*The Contingent Fund, as stated, has just displaced the Yearly Collection Fund, and to it not yet being fully understood by the people may be attributed the small amount given.

College, £479 1s.; Home Missions, £170 2s. 7d.; Foreign and Colonial, £1,284 12s. 6d.; total, £1,999 17s. 7d. Showing an increase of 26 chapels, 14 circuit preachers, 67 local preachers, 18 societies, 1,854 members, and £2,121 17s. 10d. of moneys contributed to Connexional institutions.

In the Staffordshire Potteries, with Hanley as head quarters, the Methodist New Connexion in its earliest years took an important position. Men of intelligence, social influence, pecuniary means, and large-hearted enterprize, entered its communion and rendered it loyal service. The district in 1832 contained two circuits, Hanley and Longton. These circuits had 23 chapel, 24 societies, 6 circuit preachers, 47 local preachers, 1,484 members. There were subscribed to the Connexional Funds, Yearly Collection, £66 5s. 6d.; Paternal, £85 7s. 4d.; Beneficent, £31; Chapel, £14 6s.; Missions, £105 2s. 10d.; total £302 2s. 2d.

The returns for the same territory in 1867 were, 3 circuits, Hanley, Longton, and Burslem; with 31 chapels, 32 societies, 12 circuit preachers, 75 local preachers, 2,125 members, and 343 probationers. Moneys raised, Contingent, £28 9s. 7d.; Paternal, £104 10s.; Beneficent, £7 1s. 2d.; Chapel, £81 12s. 5d. College, £32 4s. Home Mission, £74 18s. 10d., Foreign and Colonial, £403 7s. Total, £167 19s. Increase-8 chapels, 8 societies, 6 circuit preachers, 28 local preachers, 843 members, and moneys contributed, £498 Os. 10d.

The Manchester district in 1832, contained four circuits; Manchester, Ashton, Bolton, and Stockport. These circuits returned 21 chapels, 24 societies, 8 circuit preachers, 70 local preachers, and 1,918 members. The moneys contributed were-yearly collection, £40 10s. 3d., Paternal, £89 12s. 5d., beneficent, £25 16s. 10d., missions, £109 11s. 11d. Total, £263 11s. 5d.

In 1867, the district returned ten circuits; namely, Manchester, 1st and 2nd, Ashton, Bolton, Hurst, Oldham, Rochdale, Stalybridge, Stockport, with Home Mission Stations at Bury, Blackburn, and Southport. These circuits contained 47 chapels, 44 societies, 28 circuit preachers, 117 local preachers, 3,760 members, with 389 probationers. Moneys contributed-Contingent, £71 4s. 6d.; Paternal, £168 15s. 1d.; Beneficent, £133; Chapel, £105 16s. 5d.; College, £280 13s. 6d.; Home Mission, £247 2s. 1d.; Foreign and Colonial, £1,102 11s. 5d. Total, £2,109 3s.

Increase-26 chapels, 20 societies, 20 circuit preachers, 47 local preachers, 2,231 members, and moneys contributed £1,845 11s. 7d.

The North of England district in 1832, contained four circuits :-Newcastle, Alnwick, North Shields, and Sunderland. They had 15 chapels, 22 societies, 7 circuit preachers, 48 local preachers, and 1,041 members. There were contributed to Connexional Funds, Yearly Collection, £23 3s. 1d.; Paternal, £34 18s. 6d.; Beneficent, £7 13s; Chapel, £5 19s. 6d.; Mission, £85 4s. 7d. Total, £156 18s. 8d.

In 1867, the district had eight circuits:-Newcastle, Alnwick, Blyth, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, North Shields, and Sunderland. In them were 57 chapels, 61 societies, 16 circuit preachers, 133 local preachers, 2,588 members, and 292 probationers. Contributed to the funds-Contingent, £57 12s. 6d.; Paternal, £94 10s.; Beneficent, £58 13s. 5d.; Chapel, £67 7s.; College, £8 11s.; Home Mission, £75 18s. 6d.; Foreign and Colonial, £443 1s. 4d. Total, £805 13s. 7d.

Increase 42 chapels, 39 societies, 9 circuit preachers, 85 local preachers, 1,839 members. Moneys contributed, £640

3s. 11d.

The Dudley district, extending from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, included three circuits :-Dudley, Birmingham, and Dawley Green, with 11 chapels, 16 societies, 4 circuit preachers, 45 local preachers, and 518 members. Moneys contributed, Yearly Collection, £15 3s.; Paternal, £18 10s. 2d.; Beneficent, £2 2s.; Chapel, £1 1s.; Missions, £30 5s. 10d. Total, £67 2.

In 1867, there were seven circuits in the district :-Dudley Bilston, Birmingham, Dawley, Oldbury, Stourbridge, and Wolverhampton, with 59 chapels, 62 societies, 16 circuit preachers. 172 local preachers, and 3,004 members, with 295 probationers,

Moneys contributed :-Contingent, £41; Paternal, £115 2s.; Beneficent, £52 2s. 5d.; Chapel, £59 14s. 2d.; College, £27; Home Mission, £88 10s.; Foreign and Colonial, £384 16s. Total, £768 4s. 7d.

Increase 48 chapels, 46 societies, 12 circuit preachers, 127 local preachers, and 2,781 members. Moneys contributed, £701 2s. 7d.

The Nottingham circuit in 1832, contained 18 chapels, 19 societies, 3 circuit preachers, 48 local preachers, and 963 members. It contributed to the Connexional funds, Yearly Collection, £28 11s 7d.; Paternal, £47 0s. 4d.; Beneficent, £12 16s.; Missions, £62 6s. Total, £150 13s. 11d.

In 1867, it had branched into two circuits, Derby being the head of the second, and they contained 23 chapels, 23 societies. 5 circuit preachers, 71 local preachers, with 1,275 members, and 21 probationers. Money's contributed were-Contingent, £12 13s. 9d.; Paternal, £49 5s. 5d.; Beneficent, £33 15s. 5d.;