ous support. If any of us who have been saved by means of this system should now attempt to overthrow it, by our opposition or cowardice, we should be guilty of more than the folly and wickedness of a man, who, in a state of peril and destitution, had been protected and nourished by the kind hand of benevolence, and should afterwards forsake and betray the preserver of his life. If our great Founder and his coadjutors were, indeed, divinely appointed to their calling, those who oppose themselves to the work in which these blessed men were engaged, ought to ponder their course, "lest haply they be found fight ing against God." To them, if our position be true, and it is true, if there is any reality in the religion which they themselves have professed, to them belongs the fearful responsibility of putting themselves in direct opposition to the work of the Saviour's love, and of the Spirit's grace. It is dangerous to be neutral at a time like the present. Νο one can be indifferent to evils of this magnitude without being half undone. Truth and piety are so evident and obligatory, as to make it binding on every man to place himself positively, avowedly, and fully, on their side, and under their influence. The difference is broad and marked, between an avowed purpose to sow discord, and rend the church, and the gentle, meek, peaceful, holy, and benevolent religion of Jesus Christ; the two can never be united; and it is the plain and positive duty of all who intend to continue in our societies, to plight their fealty to the constitution, communion, and spiritual objects of Methodism.

Regarding themselves as stewards, to whom, in the order of divine Providence, an important trust has been committed, the Conference, after most mature deliberation, have firmly, and in the fear of God, determined to support the great principles of the Wesleyan economy entire. They feel that they owe much to the memory of their venerated Founder. His opinions are recorded in his writings; his principles live and breathe in the institutions of the system which he established; and as it came to us from him, we feel that we ought sacredly to guard that which bears his name from becoming any thing which is in opposition to his sentiments.

But

besides this consideration, the providence of God has, from time to time, so remarkably interposed for the conservation of the Connexion, in its periods of trial, that we judge we should palpably disregard the plainest indications of His

will, if, at the threatenings of man, we should betray the deposit committed to our trust. The Conference cannot but consider the decisions of the Courts of Chancery, in the course of the past year, as an instance of the special kindness and interposition of divine Providence. By that decision, Mr. Wesley's Deed of Declaration, constituting and defining the Conference, is admitted to be valid in law; the chapels of the Connexion are now secure against the aggressions of unfaithful

It

men; the doctrinal system of Mr. Wesley is ascertained to be under the guardianship of the Civil Courts, so that if heresy be palmed upon our congregations, they have an instant and easy redress; the pastoral superintendency of the Conference, through the medium of District Committees, is recognised; and the shield of protection is thrown around the entire system. This is an advantage which the Connexion could not know it possessed, till the question itself was tried. would ill become men so deeply interested in the points at issue, to regard the decisions as a common and ordinary event. Methodism, in the vital and essential principles of its polity, was placed at the bar of an earthly judicature; and without any impeachment of the integrity of the legal profession, or doubts respecting the pure current of British justice, the case was in itself so novel, and the interests involved so truly religious, and deeply interesting to our common Christianity, that, as men professing to believe that "the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord," we are compelled devoutly to acknowledge His goodness, and consider our security as from Him. We cannot be unmindful of a circumstance so strikingly pointing out the will of God, and furnishing so strong and urgent a motive to faithfulness.

But while we are truly thankful for the preservation of the discipline of Methodism, we are sensible it is only the means to an end; a system of ordinances for the carrying on of the work of God in the nation, and through the world. The Conference are sensible that two things are necessary to this,the confidence of the societies, and the blessing of God. They hope to secure the first by a wise, just, and Christian attention to the duties of their pastoral office, as defined by the rules of the Connexion, by additional care and attention to the spiritual interests of their charge, and by more abundant labours in the word and doctrine.

The Conference have taken into their serious consideration, as fully as the extraordinary press of business would allow, various regulations respecting the finances of the Connexion, so as to complete certain arrangements, long in progress, to place our different Funds under the joint management and control of Committees composed of Preachers and laymen. Explanations of the rules which relate to the exclusion of members of society are now given, and certain additional securities afforded to our people in this respect. We have also modified the rules which secure to our people the liberty of addressing memorials to the Conference; and have increased the facilities by which they may express their wishes, or find a redress of any grievance of which they may be disposed to complain. On the whole of these subjects we refer you to the Minutes of Conference for the present year, and to other published documents, for ample

information.

On reviewing the whole of our affairs, the Conference are grateful to God for the marked blessings of his Providence and mercy to themselves and their people in the time of their trial; and also for the degree of success granted in many Circuits during the year. We consider this as a token for good; and trust that, by the return of confidence, peace, and union, within the Connexion, the blessing of God will be richly vouchsafed, and revivals of his work ensue.

To those numerous officers and friends who have nobly come forward to express their loyal attachment to our system, to stem the torrent of revolution, to uphold the discipline of the Connexion in the hour of its peril, to assist the Funds by additional contributions, when the supplies were threatened to be stopped, to give a more effectual and public countenance to the great Missionary cause by their presence and advocacy, the Conference feel that they owe their most sincere thanks. And, if it were possible for their confidence and love to their flocks to be increased, they also feel, that to the great body of their people, who have in this cloudy and dark day shown the fixedness of their principles, the fervour of their love, the uniformity of their piety, and their entire dévotedness, first to the Lord, and then unto his church, they owe increasing affection. Brethren, ye are in our hearts to live and to die with

guilt. With some that secession is the error of a moment of excitement; and it is hoped that calm reflection, a more perfect knowledge of the matters in dispute, a recollection of their former privileges and blessings, together with humble and fervent prayer, will tend to produce a better state of feeling, and induce them to abandon a region of strife and discord, which cannot but be dangerous to their peace and piety, and cause them to return to their former fold. To this class of separatists, the Conference holds out the welcome to return; and, on the condition of a peaceful adherence to the rules of the Connexion, will heartily embrace them as their brethren in Christ, and rejoice to see them in their ranks as fellow-pilgrims to the kingdom of God. Above all, it is most desirable, that all parties should, as much as possible, return to the genuine purposes and objects of their religious profession. The Preachers forming this Conference would fail in their duty to themselves, and to their beloved brethren, if they did not determine, on their own behalf, and earnestly entreat their people, to abstain from the secular, party, violent, and agitating spirit of the times; to cultivate the truth, candour, gentleness, and purity of the Gospel; to guard against a narrow, bigoted, sectarian state of feeling; to cherish more constantly the habit of retirement, prayer, and attention to the religion of the heart; to rise above the little irritations and sordid state of mind prone to indulge in murmuring and discontent; and thus ascend to the holy path of those who walk with God.

Fidelity to the cause of Christ, under the form of Methodism, is the bounden duty of all who connect themselves with it; but this fidelity, to be truly useful, must be associated with brotherly love and fervent piety. "Neither pray I for these alone," said our Saviour, speaking of his ministering servants, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

It was this spirit of vital Christianity which gave existence to the disciplinary arrangements of Wesleyan Methodism ; and, without the spirit and life of religion, circulating through the Connexion, its whole system of laws would be like a sapless tree, retaining its form, but stripped of its foliage and fruit. Our purity is our strength; and, as long

The foreign Stations have again rendered important assistance to the Fund; and to the Missionaries who have sought, and the friends abroad who have generously given their aid, the Committee beg to present their respectful thanks.

Though the income is less than in the former year, the expenditure is less also, and by more than the amount of deficiency in income. It will be observed that in one of the schools the cost of maintaining the boys has fallen considerably below the usual average: this, however, in great part, is owing to a diminution of the stock regularly kept on hand, of certain articles of household consumption, the new supply not having been received in time to be included in the year's account. The two schools have expended £4122. 4s.; and the average cost of supporting and educating each boy is £20. 12s. 2d.

Two hundred boys are receiving education in the schools. Of these, five are the sons of Missionaries now labouring at foreign Stations; thirty are orphans and sons of Supernumerary Preachers; and the remainder are the sons of Preach ers now engaged in the work at home. From the reports of the two Committees appointed to direct the general management of the schools, it appears that great order has been preserved among the boys; and the gentlemen who have conducted the several examinations through the year have given pleasing testimony to their industry and advancement in useful learning. To their religious instruction every attention is paid by the Governors, and also by the Preachers stationed in the Circuits where the schools are situated; and seeds are thus sown, the Committee confidently hope, which will in future spring up into distinguished virtue and

usefulness. One boy at Kingswood died during the year: his state of mind gave the cheering hope that, though, for the present lost to his friends on earth, he has found an early place in heaven.

One hundred and fifty-five boys remain, whom the schools are not large enough to accommodate: these have had the usual allowance for education at home; the usual sum has been also paid for the edu cation of three hundred and forty-eight Preachers' daughters.

Having made these statements, the Committee once more cheerfully commend this Fund to the support of the friends of Methodism throughout the Connexion. The annual application in its aid will be made to them again in a few weeks, with a success, the Committee trust, equal to the most favourable of former years. Attempts will undoubtedly be made to prejudice the interests of this Institution, in common with all things else affecting the temporal interests, the comfort of mind, the religious and even moral character, of the Preachers; for, in the warfare lately carried on against them, nothing has been held sacred from attack; no weapon too coarse or fell to be employed; no mode of conflict has been proscribed, from a respect to fairness and honour, to religion, or even humanity; all has been deemed allowable, if they could be prostrated and dishonoured. But if they have been "made manifest in the conscience" of those, in whose service their lives are spent, as men who "seck not theirs but them," as assuredly they have been so "made manifest to God," then little heed will be given to the gross calumnies, the open misrepresentations or viler insinuations, of men publicly pledged to agitate a peaceful, and disaffect a well-attached, people. The number of persons in the several Circuits of Methodism who yet hold the Methodist Ministers in respect and honour, and

esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake," has not been lessened, the Committee believe, during a year of great reproach; while the very means taken to destroy it has rendered the affection ever borne towards them, by great multitudes of their people, more deep and cordial. These, feeling it to be right that the children of their Ministers should be supplied with an education suitable to the station which their fathers hold in society, and which will fit them for useful. ness in the church and the world, will render their contributions for the purpose, worthy of a pious and generous people.