History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

METHODIST REFORM
Edward J. Drinkhouse, M.D., D.D.
Volume I
CHAPTER 5
Wesley's effort to unite with him the evangelical clergy of the National Church — Its failure —
Twenty-second Conference at Manchester, 1765 — "Feoffees," or trustees of chapels property
question — General Booth's Salvation Army and its property tenure akin to Wesley's, and open to
abuse — Prediction fulfilled — Wesley seeks a closer union with Whitefield — Wesley's objection
to the Leeds' chapel deed — Explains the origin of his power — The first missionary collection at
Newcastle, 1767 — Perfection theory — Appeal from America 1769 — Steps in anticipation of the
Deed of Declaration — Led into it by Dr. Coke — Characteristics of Wesley — America in the
minutes, 1770 — Calvinistic discussion revived — Asbury and Wright to America, 1771 — Joseph
Benson — Women preachers.
1740-65. About a quarter of a century had now elapsed since the Fetter Lane separation and the
independent career of Wesley as the organizer of United Societies, within, but not of, the National
Church. In 1764 he made an earnest effort to unite with him in his single-eyed work of spreading
scriptural holiness over the land all the evangelical clergymen. To this end he addressed a circular
to thirty-four of them, including such notable persons as Romaine, Newton, Shirley, Stillingfleet,
Fletcher, Venn, Burnet, and Berridge. Three only condescended to answer. Had he succeeded it
would have bound the Societies more closely to the National Church and greatly strengthened him
in his efforts to resist the growing clamor for ordination and separation. It threw him back upon his
lay-preachers and such clergymen as were willing to continue their cooperation. Wesley was now
sixty-two years of age, and there remained to him another quarter of a century of life. A few chapters
will cover its salient events. The twenty-second Conference was held at Manchester, August 20,
1765. There were now twenty-five circuits in England, nearly a fourth of them in Yorkshire; four
circuits in Scotland, two in Wales, and eight in Ireland. These were served by ninety-two itinerants,
twelve of whom were admitted at this Conference.
Twelve pounds, or about $60, was the salary of the preachers. About $500 were collected for the
Kingswood school, and the subscriptions in the classes amounted to some $3500, of which $3000
was devoted to chapel debts, $150 to law expenses, and about $500 divided among preachers in
want.
When the Bristol chapel was built, in 1739, Wesley had appointed "eleven feoffees," or trustees,
to relieve him in directing the work and the financial responsibility. But friends in London,
Whitefield in particular, objected, insisting that "he do everything in his own name." Among the
reasons they gave, and which were decisive with Wesley, Stevens thus expresses: "That such
feoffees would always have it in their power to control him, and if he preached not as they liked to
turn him out of the house he had built." "In this manner," Stevens continues, was it that the property
of all his chapels became vested solely in himself during the early part of his career; a responsibility
which was necessary in his peculiar circumstances; which he never abused, and which he transferred,
in prospect of his death, by a 'deed of settlement' to his Legal Conference. Decisions in the Court of