noisy people. And it certainly is the duty of every right-minded member of the Methodist family to sustain the paternal authority of the Conference, by discountenancing all disorderly proceedings; so that the lovers of peace may be able to perform their respective duties, and quietly to enjoy their exalted privileges.

ONE OF THE FAMILY.

NOTICE OF PUBLICATIONS.

The Doctrine of the Pastorate: or, the Divine Institution, Religious Responsibilities, and Scriptural Claims of the Christian Ministry, considered with special Reference to Wesleyan Methodism. By George Smith, F.A.S., &c., &c. London. Mason. It is not our province to write formal reviews of publications: we give merely brief notices of such of them as relate to the subjects which our periodical is designed to set forth. The book before us is wholly devoted to a subject which lies in the very heart of Constitutional Methodism, and would tempt us, more than any publication we have read, to break out from our general plan, and write at length upon its character and contents, if it were not for the assurance we have, that such a book will not be left with a brief notice merely, in more permanent Wesleyan periodicals and journals than our own. There are some parts of it which we may in future Numbers give to our readers, in the form of extracts; for they are such as should be repeatedly read and pondered by Methodists, everywhere; but, in the mean time, we most earnestly entreat our friends to read the whole book, and then to recommend it to others. Its statements and arguments rest firmly on the grounds of Scripture and reason. They are most ably and judiciously set forth by an earnest lover of truth, and by an experienced Local Preacher, who has, from his youth up, been devoted to the practical working of Methodism, amidst increasing thousands of the most intelligent and most zealous of its people. The subject on which he has here written is one which, at the present time, is, more than any other, engaging the attention of the Christian church in general, as well as of our own community; and we have no doubt the book will be one of interest and usefulness with the members of the church of Christ generally; but the parts of the subject of the Christian Pastorate which are in it most prominent, and which are discussed at the greatest length, are those which of late have been made the occasion of fierce and angry controversy by men who have organized themselves to "agitate the Connexion." The treatment of the several topics is fearless, but calm and dispassionate; and we congratulate Mr. Smith on the exercise of the great Christian wisdom which he has evinced in his writing on questions that require the most delicate handling, so as not to intrench on rights and prerogatives on the one side or the other. Such a question, for instance, is that of "the relative position of Local Preachers to the Christian ministry." We are not of those who undervalue, or who would have depreciated, either in writing or in speaking, the lay-officers of Methodism. We know their importance, and we shall ever be ready gratefully to acknowledge it. Nor shall we be driven by the agitations of a few aspiring spirits, who, like Diotrephes, desire to have the pre-eminence, to class indiscriminately with them the thousands of self-denying, laborious, and humble-minded Local Preachers, who are acceptably and efficiently exercising their gifts, according to their opportunities in Methodism. It is a slanderous falsehood, uttered by malevolent men against Wesleyan Ministers, to say, that they despise or undervalue Local Preachers. It is employed to excite suspicion, and to produce distrust, in the minds of Christian brethren. But such a wicked design will be frustrated; and not a little, we believe, by the efforts of the judicious and powerful writer of this seasonable publication. Other topics, such as the Divine appointment of a separated and unsecular ministry, the responsibility of Christian Ministers for the exercise of godly discipline, and the

administration of church-government, are discussed; and, as realised in Wesleyan Methodism, are shown to be scriptural and reasonable, and with equal ability and prudence. The book, throughout, bears decided marks of deep practical wisdom, and should be read by every Methodist in the world. Friends of Methodism, buy it, read it, lend it, and recommend all your acquaintances in the church of Christ to do the same.

The Practices of certain Wesleyan-Methodist Reformers, examined by the Principles of Protestantism, of Voluntaryism, and of Christian Morality: a Case of Church Discipline tried before the Leaders' Meeting of Cherry-street Chapel, Birmingham, January 2d and 3d, 1851. By the Rev. George Browne Macdonald. London. Mason.—Mr. Macdonald is deservedly a popular speaker and writer with the people. We admire his tact and talent, in adapting what he has to communicate to the mind of the multitude; and we hope his useful life will long be spared to Methodism. The pamphlet before us is a clear and full statement of the proceedings he has lately been painfully called to institute at Birmingham against unruly members of the Society, who had, in public meetings, and otherwise, allied themselves with Christian agitators. It is chiefly valuable, as supplying to Christian Ministers an example for the scriptural and rational treatment of such as cause divisions in the Wesleyan section of the church of Christ; and in this respect, as well as in the character of an interesting record of the anti-Wesleyan events of the present time, we recommend it to our readers.

Remarks, in Self-Defence, on an Article in the "Wesleyan Vindicator and Constitutional Methodist," for September, 1850. By the Rev. Thomas Rowland.This small pamphlet, which it has taken several months to bring forth, is just that kind of rambling attempt at self-justification which we expected from the mental character of the writer. It has in it everything in general, and nothing in particular, except that it asserts, in substance, that Mr. Rowland is right, and nearly all his brethren are wrong. He is now the champion-defender of Messrs. Everett, Dunn, Griffith, and Bromley; though, as he shows his readers, he was, at least, silent concerning them when their cases were before the Conference. He pretends to defend himself against the statement, that his conduct had been mischievous in Norfolk; but, in doing so, he makes it evident, to every thinking mind, that he has been, in most places where stationed, a querulous and disorderly Minister. We are sorry to find that, after having time for reflection, he repeats his condemnation of Conference acts, to which, when performed, he was a consenting party; and that, in doing so, he has aggravated his offence by picking up from Kaye's "Times," and other slanderous publications, unfounded surmisings, accusations, and calumnies against his brethren. We were intentionally forbearing in our review of Conference proceedings towards Mr. Rowland, hoping that, in his comparative retirement, he would see his error, and seek to recover his place in the "full work" of the ministry; but this pamphlet aggravates his offence, and seems rather to look for the favour of hostile parties. His chief complaint against us, as far as we can understand him, is, that we have left out some words which were included in his nine or ten "reasons," as he calls them. We copied from what was published at the time, and do not see that the words he now includes materially alter, or in the least relieve, his position. He evidently makes our review the occasion of putting out a pamphlet in these times of agitation and abuse. We feel that we can afford to let it pass; for his brethren, who were present at the Conference, and heard the proceedings in his case, will be ready to testify that we were substantially correct, and very lenient towards him, in our report of it. With his friends, as we fear we must now call them, the assailants of Constitutional Methodism, and the censors of Wesleyan Ministers,—there will be nothing new to gratify them. The old charges of Popery and tyranny, against the Conference and the StationingCommittee, and of undue influence by leading Ministers, are here repeated, but

without the vulgarity which renders them savoury to coarse-minded readers. Great stress is laid on the hardship of his banishment from Yarmouth to Leeds; but we question whether it will excite the practical sympathy shown to others, who have received some £1,100 each. Mr. Rowland may try to represent himself as a martyr for principle; but we would remind him of the proverb, known, we suppose, by his godmother's grandfather, applicable to a man, who, in shuffling from one seat to another, falls to the ground between two stools.

Letter (No. II.) by a Reformer who hates Bamboozling. This is a second earnest letter by one who demands a report in detail from the Corresponding Committee of professed Reformers of their income and expenditure for the last eighteen months, so that he may know how his subscription to the fund has been appropriated. It appears, that considerable dissatisfaction is felt by subscribers to the fund, that no financial report whatever has been published by the Committee, such as could be examined by the public; and that, from the suspected extravagance on the ExeterHall rooms on supplies from London to meetings and services in the country-and on the distribution of anti-Wesleyan journals and periodicals-the time has come when a full report of all receipts and expenses is demanded; such as may be submitted to the most searching scrutiny. Open account-books are required, for the personal inspection of subscribers—after the manner advocated by the disaffected concerning Mission-House expenditure; and soon it will be seen if the result of inquiry and examination will prove as satisfactory to the supporters of the professed Wesleyan Reform Committee as the examination of the Missionary Society accounts proved to its subscribers. We have noticed, of late, incidental complaints by the Committee that moneys subscribed were expended in the localities where they were collected, and not sent to the general fund. We have seen, also, gentle intimations of the costliness of Exeter-Hall rooms,-of the paid Secretary,—and of the large amount of money that would be necessarily expended in the payment of itinerant agitators, and in the gratuitous circulation of revolutionary publications. A private Circuit account has, also, just been published, as a sample of the manner in which the public accounts at Exeter-Hall are kept, as if that would be likely to satisfy the dissatisfied parties who had been previously encouraged to examine all financial reports for themselves. These, it is supposed by some, are intended to prepare the way for the publication of items of expenditure, which, without them, would startle the subscribers. Whether this supposition is correct, or not, will be seen when the long-promised, and long-expected, report shall really appear.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

BRISTOL.-On a more mature consideration of the entire contents of your communication, we feel that we should not be justified in making our periodical the vehicle of the party misrepresentations of men separated from Methodism. We can thankfully give your letter.

LAMBETH.-The Model Methodist Reformer is, alas! a true likeness; but, as set forth in the bold and unsoftened manner of your communication, it is too disgraceful and revolting to be exhibited to the church of Christ.

LOUGHBOROUGH.-Thanks for your ingenious composition; but we have not room in our periodical for poetic effusions.

DANIEL ISAAC's Letter received. We are obliged to our friend for it.

The article we promised-" WHAT THE AGITATION HAS NOT DONE"will appear in our next Number.

THE POPERY OF WESLEYAN REFORM is deferred for want of space.

LONDON-PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.

THE

WESLEYAN VINDICATOR

AND

CONSTITUTIONAL METHODIST.

EDITED BY THE REV. SAMUEL JACKSON,
AND A SUB-COMMITTEE.

APRIL, 1851.

LETTERS TO YOUNG MEN. (No. III.)

THE CONFERENCE.

YOUNG MEN OF METHODISM,-You have heard much of late concerning the Wesleyan Conference, which was designed to render it odious to your minds. It has been set forth as a most fearful engine of absolute and irresponsible power, by which Methodist Ministers recklessly drive over the scriptural rights and privileges of the people; sacrificing them, in its destructive course, to priestly rule and domination. Names and titles from the most despotic and oppressive courts and deeds mentioned in church history, which, when read or heard by English Protestants, immediately kindle within them the strongest indignation; and terms the most revolting that vulgar ridicule could possibly invent, have been most abundantly applied to it. It has been described as "The Secret Court of Inquisitors," ""The Star-Chamber Assembly," "The Vatican Conclave," &c., &c.; its selected victims have been depicted as tortured on the rack while interrogated as to suspected conduct; and the Ministers composing it have been represented as plotting together, for the destruction of the liberties and interests of the entire Methodist community. Such representations are known by the parties who make them to be false, and are used, as will be seen by you, and by all intelligent and thoughtful persons, as substitutes for argument in the evil cause they have espoused; and they can be received only by ignorant minds, which are governed by prejudice rather than by true reason.

Mr. Wesley evidently considered that the annual assembly of Methodist Ministers, which by law he established and confined to

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MASON, 14, CITY. ROAD;
AND SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW.

E

them, exclusively, was for the support and promotion of the best interests of the people. The unassuming title given by him to that assembly, in the Deed of Declaration which he enrolled in the High Court of Chancery, most significantly declares this. It is therein described as "The Yearly Conference of the people called Methodists, composed of Preachers and Expounders of God's holy word, who shall have been, at least, twelve months in ministerial connexion with it." He considered not only what was stated in my last letter, that the government of Christian churches is mainly committed to Christian Ministers, but also that no persons were more likely to be concerned for the interests of the people, than they who had been the instruments of their conversion to God, and who were anticipating, in them, crowns of rejoicing in the day of the Lord. He considered that itinerant Ministers would be less partial,-being less under local influence,-than any other class of the Methodist community. His sagacious and far-seeing mind perceived, that an assembly of Ministers would be more practicable, and more safe to Methodist unity, than a mixed assembly. Suppose that, as demanded by some persons, layrepresentatives were to go with Ministers from all the Societies to the Conference, there would be, at least, twice as many persons in attendance as there are now; and from that very circumstance would arise insurmountable difficulties, both as to lodging-accommodation in the towns where the Conference should be held, and in the deliberations within the Conference itself. An assembly composed of eight hundred, or a thousand persons, could no longer be regarded as a deliberative assembly. The travelling and other expenses would necessarily be increased to a most burdensome extent. And if, as others have proposed, elections should be made in the several Districts of Delegates who should bear their own expenses, then they only could be elected who were entirely free from business, or who could afford to leave it entirely for three or four weeks; and, if so, the influence infused into the Conference would be wholly that of a lay-aristocracy: and, in most cases, there would be inadequate knowledge of most of the Circuits of the respective Districts from which they came; for they could not be expected to be intimately acquainted with any other Circuits than their own.. And, further, they could not with propriety take part in the inquiries concerning ministerial character, or in the examinations and reception of candidates for the ministerial office; and, if not, nearly the whole of their employment within the Conference would be to assist in the stationing of the Ministers; but how unseemly, and how injurious, in many cases, would it be to hear lay-gentlemen discussing the comparative merits and abilities of Ministers, and their adaptation to the Circuits for which they were proposed! If it were to be a popular lay-representation, as contended for, it must be annually changed; and, if so, instability would be the characteristic of Methodist laws and of Methodist discipline; for, the men of one year not knowing what the