The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine

of verdant hills, and smiling lakes neither did MR.WESLEY find in its neighbourhood men of polished manners, and literary acquirements. Yet were there considerations of a moral nature, which, even in the absence of many others, would have been sufficient to justify his decision. Kingswood, within the memory of our Fathers, was the haunt of "every unclean bird, and every ravenous beast; "violence" was "heard in its borders," and it was "full of the habitations of cruelty." Can we wonder then, that as soon as the influence of religion had spread over part of its deserts a moral beauty, our revered Founder should select one of the cultivated spots for the scite of his intended building? He proposed to erect a monument of the power of the Gospel. He did wisely in elevating it where the displays of that power were most conspicuous, and its trophies most illustrious. He wished to fix a memorial of the mercy of the Gospel. If mercy appear most condescending when its objects are most debased, and then peculiarly tender, when the misery it relieves is peculiarly distressing; and if its memorials should be raised in the scenes which most brightly reflect its glories;-then no situation could have been more appropriately chosen for Kingswood School than that on which we stand. The youths to be educated were the sons of Methodist Preachers. He placed his Institution where it would forcibly remind all on whom the mantle of their fathers might drop, that the legitimate objects of their ministrations are "the people that" sit" in darkness," and "in the shadow of death;" that Christianity offers its hopes to the most destitute, and sends its consolations to the most distressed; making those the choicest specimens of its excellency whom the pride of philosophy disdains to notice, because it has no mercy to pity, and no power to relieve them. Since the erection of that building, many generations have successively flowed through it, like wave following wave, to mingle in the ocean of human society, and give their colouring to its waters. For more than seventy years the sun has shed on it his daily beams; and perhaps not once has he reached his meridian height, without first witnessing the offering up of the morning sacrifice within its walls, or descended below those hills on a single evening, which has been unblessed with religious services. From Kingswood School, the prayers of the saints have often ascended to heaven; and the GOD who heareth prayer has not withheld the indications of his favour. It has been a field which the LORD has blessed;

clothed each spring with blooming verdure, and producing every autumn a pleasing quantity of fruit. Yet it will not be invidious to wish that the returns it has hitherto yielded may, when compared with its future produce, be but in the proportions of the first-fruits to the abundant harvest. The glory of this latter house will, we trust, exceed the glory of the former. The degree of its superiority much depends on the race of youths who have to-day entered it. On us it devolves to fix that standard of attainments and character, below which it shall be unlawful for our successors to fall, though at liberty to exceed our measure by a far greater distance than that which may separate us, and our predecessors. From this day our School starts afresh in the path of progressive improvement. We are to determine the velocity with which it shall proceed, by giving the first impetus to its movements. May this newly erected Room always contain within its walls many who shall add to the beauties of religion the ornaments of learning; who, while they may not be unworthy of having their brows adorned with Parnassian laurel, shall be more solicitous to obtain a crown of glory that fadeth not away! May it prove a secure asylum from the contagious influence of a polluting world, and may the healthful SPIRIT of Grace impart a salutary and saving quality to its instructions and discipline! May the GOD of WESLEY guard it "from the pestilence that walketh in darkness," and "the destruction that wasteth at noon-day;" and may it each successive year present to GoD and the Church its annual tribute of pious and well educated youth, in whom, as chosen vessels, shall be deposited the Gospel of CHRIST! Never may the day arrive, when that Tablet, which our revered Founder fixed to the front of Kingswood School, can no longer with propriety be continued there: for of this we are confident, that while we can with truth inscribe on our walls, "In gloriam DEI Optimi Maximi, in usum Ecclesiæ et Reipublicæ,"-" To the glory of GoD and the benefit of Church and State," -so long will the finger of GoD add to the motto, ", "The LORD will provide."

These Speeches were followed by a Poctical Address from the REV. THOMAS ROBERTS, of Bath, which he had been solicited to compose for the occasion, and with a copy of which he has obligingly favoured us."

The REV. J. STANLEY, after some interesting observations, in the course of

It will be found in the Poetical Department of this Number: see p. 697.

which he stated the pleasing fact, that eighteen of the Preachers now itinerating in our Connexion, received their education in our own Schools, gave an affectionate address to the youths present. The Meeting was then concluded with singing and prayer; and we must not

forget to add, that our Bristol and Bath friends, who are known to be so exemplary for their generosity that it will excite no surprise to learn that they hardly needed a hint on the subject, contributed handsomely towards defraying the expenses of the newly-erected building.

EXEMPTION FROM SUNDAY TOLLS.

THE General Turnpike Act, passed during the last Session of Parliament, completely sets at rest the question of Dissenters being exempt from paying Toll on Sundays, when proceeding to their usual places of worship. The Act states, (sect. 32,) that tolls shall not be demanded or taken" of or from any person or persons going to, or returning from, his, her, or their usual places of religious worship, tolerated by law, on

SUNDAYS, or any day on which Divine Service is, by authority, ordered to be celebrated." There is, however, we understand, a subsequent clause, which limits this general enactment, by providing that the "Exemption from toll, on Sundays, &c. for persons going to and returning from any place of worship, shall not extend to any turnpike within the distance of five miles of London, &c."

EAST LOTHIAN ITINERATING LIBRARIES. THE object of this institution is to furnish the towns and villages of East Lothian with libraries of useful books; chiefly such as are calculated to promote the knowledge and influence of religion. In order to keep up a constant supply, the books are arranged in divisions of fifty volumes each, which are removed from station to station every second year. A second period has arrived for removing the different divisions; and the following is the result of the experiment.

since which time the issues have been, first year, 1313; second year, 928, Other libraries have subsequently been established, making in all thirteen, containing 650 volumes.

In the year 1817, libraries, of 50 yolumes each, were stationed at four villages. The issues of books at these stations were, first year, 1461; second year, 733. In 1819, new divisions of the libraries were sent to the same places;

The managers of the North Berwick Evangelical Library, finding that of late years there had been very few applications for books by the subscribers, resolved to imitate the plan of the Itinerating Libraries, and accordingly sent off two divisions of books to villages in that neighbourhood, where they were immediately brought into active circulation. Much benefit is stated to have arisen from the managers of these institutions agreeing to unite their libraries, so as to afford larger supplies than either can afford separately.

THE ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE CONFERENCE TO THE METHODIST SOCIETIES IN GREAT BRITAIN,

IN THE CONNEXION ESTABLISHED BY THE LATE REV. JOHN WESLEY, M. A.

AUGUST, 1822.

Ir is with gratitude to GOD that we review his mercy and goodness to us, as a body, during the past year. Our Societies have in general been in a state of prosperity; a gracious influence has rested on the people; and we have much cause of thankfulness, that the good effects of that influence appear to have been experienced in almost every part of the kingdom. When it pleases the MOST HIGH to pour out his HOLY SPIRIT on any particular Society, or in any part of his vineyard, such special visitations are causes of rejoicing: but when the prosperity of the work of GOD is general, we consider it as a signal proof of the divine favour. The number of members added to our Societies this

year, in this kingdom, is Eleven Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-eight, and in the Missionary Stations, One Thousand and Eighty; and we confidently hope, from the steady and growing work which is now carrying on, that it is the prelude of a glorious ingathering of souls to SHILOн.

During the year, it has pleased the LORD to call home Seventeen of the Preachers, seven of whom were employed in the Missionary department; but though we have to lament the loss sustained by the Church of GOD, in their removal, we have cause to acknowledge the divine goodness in enabling our dear Brethren to rejoice in their affliction, and to triumph in the prospect

of eternal glory. The LORD is also graciously raising up a number of faithful labourers to enter into the vineyard; and he who has qualified them for the work, will be with them in it, and crown their exertions with success.

From the time when it pleased GoD first to raise up the Methodists as a religious body, they have been an active and a zealous people; but never did we know them more willing to labour in the cause of our REDEEMER, than at this time. Wherever the love of CHRIST is experienced, there will be an ardent desire that others may be brought to the knowledge of salvation through the blood of the everlasting covenant; and all true Christians, while they look for present acceptance and eternal life solely through the merit of the SAVIOUR'S death, will, at the same time, deeply feel the necessity and importance of being actively employed in the service of GOD, and of showing their faith by their works.

We hope that our Class-Leaders will endeavour to watch over the souls committed to their care, as those who are to give an account to the Great Shepherd. Their charge is of the highest importance; and if in the spirit of prayer they endeavour to lead forward the members into all the salvation procured for them through the blood of the REDEEMER, their labours will continue to be crowned with success. GOD surely will be with them and bless them, if they are diligent and faithful in the work to which they have been appointed. Our Local Preachers also are ployed in a glorious work,-in helping us to carry the glad tidings of salvation to the inhabitants of the towns and villages, in the Circuits where they reside. The LORD has long blessed their labours; and considering the large portion of our population who are yet living without GOD, and some of whom are daily dropping into eternity, there is evidently a wide field before them, in which they may expect to reap a still more glorious harvest.

In some parts of the kingdom our people have been diligently employed in establishing Prayer-meetings in villages, and in the poor and neglected parts of large towns, in addition to those Meetings which had been long in existence, and had been much owned of GOD. We hope that such Meetings will yet be more generally established, both in towns and villages. Notwithstanding the great exertions of the various denominations of Christians to spread the savour of the knowlege of CHRIST throughout the kingdom, it is to be feared that thousands of our countrymen seldom or never attend any place of worship: were

prayer-meetings established near thei dwellings they might be induced to attend, and thus be reclaimed from the paths of sin, and brought to a saving acquaintance with GOD. We have full proof that those of our Members, who are employed in conducting these prayermeetings, have received much spiritual good to their own souls; and as GOD heareth prayer," we trust that the supplications of the thousands of our people who are thus engaged, will be answered in the great enlargement of the REDEEMER'S kingdom.

The Circulation of Religious Tracts has also, through the blessing of GOD, been productive of much good; and we cannot too strongly urge it on our people, wherever it is at all practicable, to adopt a regular plan of Distribution, by lending Tracts from house to house, and to endeavour in the most extensive manner to disseminate the knowledge of divine truth. The enemies of religion and of social order have been actively employed in spreading the poison of immorality and infidelity; and we are desirous that our friends, in every part of the kingdom, should zealously counteract the leaven of evil, by carrying the doctrines of the Gospel into all the habitations of ungodliness, and labouring to rescue from the dominion of darkness those who have been led captive by the Devil at his will. If the Sermons of MR. WESLEY, and those Tracts which are most weighty and impressive, be widely circulated, we have no doubt they will be the instruments of leading multitudes of souls to an eternity of happiness.

We cordially approve of the exertions of many of our people, in instructing the Children of the Poor in SundaySchools; and we are desirous that such exertions should be continued, and that this system of instruction should become more general and extensive. At the same time, we strongly urge it on our friends who are engaged in that good work, to have respect, in an es pecial manner, to the spiritual good of the children. All the Managers and Teachers should consider the eternal salvation of the children as their grand object in those institutions; and should be careful that every part of the instruction given to them is such as may, through the blessing of GOD, lead them to the knowledge of the SAVIOUR, and finally to eternal glory. We must also strongly urge the attendance of the children at public worship on the LORD's Day, in order that they may be trained up in a love of the regular ordinances of GOD's house, which we consider as es sential in the christian Church.

At the same time that we, in the

strongest manner, press on our people the necessity of active exertions in the cause of GOD, we would earnestly enforce the great importance of their living in the spirit of their high and holy calling. We are especially called to be a holy and spiritually-minded people, and we should be careful not to rest below our exalted privileges.

It is the privilege of all the followers of our blessed LORD, to enjoy a clear and an abiding evidence of the favour of God. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with GoD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST." That peace may ever dwell in our hearts,--the HOLY SPIRIT bearing witness with our spirits, that we are the children of GOD; and we may walk in the unclouded light of his countenance. We are also called to enter into the holiest by the blood of JESUS, and to know by happy experience that the HOLY SPIRIT purities the heart from all pollution; and we exhort those among you who have tasted that the LORD is gracious, to "go on to perfection." Let none of us be satisfied to live below that entire sanctification, which we are called to enjoy. We remember the remark of our venerable Founder, that God raised up the Methodists "to spread scriptural holiness over the land; and we are anxious that our Societies should be patterns of eminent piety and christian purity.

We hope that our people are careful to appoint suitable times for family prayer, and for reading the word of GOD in their houses. Every morning and every evening the whole of the family should (if possible) be collected together, and, before prayer, a portion of the Sacred Volume should be read; for whatever excellence there may be in other writings, they ought not to supersede the regular and stated reading of GOD's word.

We also exhort our people to pay particular attention to the spiritual instruction of their servants. Proper opportunities should be allowed for their attendance on the public worship of GoD, and suitable time for reading the Bible, and for other religious duties. Servants who reside with families ought to be considered as a part of the charge of those persons who employ them, upon whom devolve the important duties of endeavouring to lead them to the knowledge of GOD, and of promoting their eternal salvation.

Though the religious education of the children of our friends is a topic which has been frequently mentioned, we again affectionately recommend an increased attention to their instruction

in sound christian principles, and the adoption of some regular plan for that purpose. If a system of Catechetical Instruction were constantly pursued, we have no doubt it would be attended with much and lasting good. Parents should appoint stated times for that necessary and important work, and endeavour to render then as profitable as possible. They should also make it a point of conscience to take their children with them to the public worship of GOD. Families should appear together before the LORD; for even before children are capable of fully understanding the sermons which are delivered, it is of importance to train them up in the habit of regular attendance on public worship, that a love to divine ordinances may grow up and strengthen as they rise to years of maturity. We likewise deem it necessary to caution Parents against permitting their children to read those books which have a tendency to demoralize all who peruse them, and especially young persons. The press teems with Novels, and other corrupt publications, many of which are written in such an artful and specious manner, that particular vigilance ought to be exercised on the part of Parents and Guardians, to prevent their admission into their families. When once the youthful mind is tainted with the poison of such publications, works of a serious tendency are generally slighted, if not despised; and if the natural depravity of the human heart be fed by books of that description, profligacy and immorality of conduct will be the almost certain consequences. In selecting suitable works for young people, close attention should be given to soundness of principle, that while their minds are expanded by useful knowledge, they may be preserved from the snares of vice and infidelity.

We earnestly advise our people to make themselves well acquainted with the writings of the venerable Founder of Methodism, the REV. JOHN WESLEY. His Sermons, Journals, and other Works, are invaluable; and we hope that all our friends, who have it in their power to procure them, will make them standard books in their families. Every Methodist should be familiar with them. In soundness of doctrine, clearness of statement, and close and powerful application, we believe his Sermons have never been excelled. Our Magazine, also, is valuable and important, as it continues to show, from year to year, the progress of the work of GoD among us. We consider that periodical publication as highly deserving of at

tention from the religious world at large, and especially from our own people. The accounts of Christian Experience, and the sound Divinity, inserted in its pages, are such as even the aged Christian may read with much profit; while the notices of the enlargement of the REDEEMER'S kingdom, both at home and abroad, and the literary and miscellaneous information which it contains, must render it additionally interesting to our young people. If the minds of our members, and especially of those who are just rising into life, be well stored with sound and scriptural knowledge, their principles will become firm, and through divine grace they will be prepared to meet the attacks of infidelity and error, without falling in the time of trial. In this day of blasphemy and rebuke, it becomes highly necessary thus to fortify them against temptation. We feel it our duty most affectionately to remind those of our dear people who are engaged in commercial affairs, that it is their duty to abstain from those speculations in business, which may involve them in difficulties, and by oppressing their minds with worldly care, unfit them for spiritual duties, and prevent that communion with GOD in which alone they can enjoy permanent happiness. There is great danger lest persons in trading or mercantile life should be induced, by the hope of larger gains, to push their business to an extent beyond their capital, and, in the end, should entangle themselves and their friends in perplexity and trouble. We also advise all our friends to be careful to live within their income; to avoid all extravagance and unbecoming expensiveness in their mode of living; and to let their moderation be known unto all men. And we exhort them in every thing, by prayer and supplication, to make their requests known unto GoD; so that in temporal, as well as in spiritual affairs, every thing may be conducted in the fear of the LORD, and with a single eye to his glory.

We cannot omit this opportunity of acknowledging the goodness of Gon in causing peace and tranquillity to dwell within our land. The days of tumult are passed away; and we are thankful that our people so generally evinced, in times of disorder, loyalty to our Sovereign, and attachment to his Government. We trust that the same scriptural principles will ever be firmly maintained by our Societies. The Methodists have from the beginning been a loyal people and we ought now to be more than ever grateful to ALMIGHTY GOD for the privileges which we enjoy. By

the wise and righteous laws of our land, our religious liberties at home are securely guarded; and our Missionaries, who are employed in preaching the Gospel of CHRIST in various British Colonies, are not only preserved from public persecution, but receive countenance and encouragement from many of the Governors of those Colonies, and from other persons of high station and influence.

On reviewing all the mercies which GOD has showed to us as a people, we are constrained to acknowledge that nothing has failed of all that the LORD had promised, and that he has blessed us abundantly, above all that we or our fathers expected. He hath made us a people who were not a people; and called us to become the partakers and witnesses of his great salvation. May our conduct ever evidence that we have received the grace of GoD in truth! Let us live in the spirit of deep piety, and of entire devotedness to GOD, remembering that the shadows of this world will soon pass away, and that the grand business of life is to secure an eternity of happiness. The day is at hand when every thing of a merely temporal nature will fade from our view; and when the solemn realities of the invisible world will open before Then CHRIST will be all in all to the believer; who, resting on his atoning blood and almighty love, will be enabled to triumph over the last enemy, and enter into the joy of the LORD.

us.

Our Conference, which is now drawing to a close, has been conducted in peace and harmony, and the presence of GOD has been graciously manifested in our assembly. In some of our Public Meetings we have been favoured with much divine influence, particularly at the time when the young Preachers, who have finished their probation, were solemnly received into full connexion with the Conference. These seasons of heavenly visitation we receive as tokens for good, and trust that all our people will unite with us in fervent prayer for a more general and copious outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT. If the thousands of our Israel will earnestly plead with GoD for that promised and all-comprehensive blessing, the glory of the LORD will more than ever rest upon us; our holiness and usefulness will be increased; we shall rejoice together in his salvation on earth; and finally meet in his eternal joy.

Signed by order of the Conference,
ADAM CLARKE, President.
ROBERT NEWTON, Secretary.

London, Aug, 14, 1822.

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