| Circuits | Itinerant Preachers | Members | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wesley’s conference in 1767, twenty-eight years after Methodism was founded | 41 | 104 | 25,911 |
| Clowes’s conference in 1823, only thirteen years after he began his labours[706] | 45 | 202 | 29,472 |
The conference of 1767, in several respects, deserves remark. 1. Besides the itinerant preachers, there were present “many stewards and local preachers,” showing that Wesley was wise enough to avail himself of the counsels of laymen, as well as of those who were wholly devoted to the ministerial work. 2. Whitefield and Howel Harris were also present, showing the harmony that existed among the leaders of the three sections into which Methodism had been divided,—the Wesleys at the head of the largest body, Whitefield the chief of the Countess of Huntingdon’s connexion, and Howel Harris the prince of the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales. 3. It was at this conference, that Francis Asbury, afterwards the renowned Methodist bishop in the United States, was received on trial. 4. It was decided that, in future, there should be a general fast in all the societies once a quarter. 5. Steps were to be taken to put an end to smuggling. 6. As many circuits had sustained serious loss by the absence of preachers during the conference, it was resolved that, henceforth, it should be a rule, that not all the preachers in any circuit should come to conference; that those who did come should set out as late, and return as soon, as possible; and that none of those left in the circuits should go out of them while the conference lasted.
It was Wesley’s intention to have it determined whether all the preachers or none should continually insist upon Christian perfection;[707] but, if this matter was discussed, the result is not recorded. Still practical religion and relative duties were the subject of conversation; and Wesley concludes his minutes with a sentence which all Methodist preachers to the end of time will do well to bear in mind: “Let us all be men of one business. We live only for this, to save our own souls, and them that hear us.”
It has been previously stated, that the debt upon the Methodist meeting-houses throughout the kingdom was £11,383. The sum sounds small in modern days, when, in some instances, there has been more than that upon a single chapel; but, to Wesley, it was a burden heavy to be borne. He was no friend to chapel debts, and wished to be rid of them entirely. He asks his conference,—“Can we make a push toward paying the whole debt?” Answer. “I will state the case in writing, to the most substantial men of our society.” According to Myles, there were, at this period, eighty-four chapels in England, one in Wales, two in Scotland, and thirteen in Ireland,—a total of exactly one hundred, which, when used as a divisor, gives an average of £113 debt upon each chapel of the connexion.
Wesley was determined to be freed from this encumbrance. For this purpose, he had instituted the yearly collection; but, hitherto, it had not been adequate. He now adopted a scheme, proposed to him, soon after the conference of 1767, by a friend who wrote as follows:—
“I suppose the societies in Great Britain and Ireland contain 24,000 members: one fourth part of these, if they subscribe according to the following scheme, will discharge the whole debt in two years.
| 1000 | Subscribers | at two Guineas | in two years | £4,200 |
| 1000 | ” | at one and a half Guineas | ” | 3,150 |
| 1000 | ” | at one Guinea | ” | 2,100 |
| 1000 | ” | at three quarters | ” | 1,575 |
| 1000 | ” | at half | ” | 1,050 |
| 1000 | ” | at a quarter | ” | 525 |
| In all | £12,600 |
“This may be paid either yearly, quarterly, or in any such manner as the subscribers please. The grand objection is, there are not so many persons in our societies who are able to contribute so much. Perhaps so. But are there not some who are both able and willing to contribute more? Are there none who clear several hundreds a year? or who are two or three thousand beforehand? And will none of these give ten, twenty, perhaps fifty guineas, in such a case as this? a case of so general concern, and that can occur but once in their lives? By this method, the poor will be quite excused, unless any of them choose to throw in their mite.”
The circular, from which the above is extracted, was widely circulated, and was often accompanied by a short letter, in Wesley’s own handwriting, like the following:—
“I think you love me, and the cause wherein I am engaged. You wish to ease me of any burden you can. You sincerely desire the salvation of souls and the prosperity of the work of God. Will you not then exert yourself on such an occasion as this? Surely you will not be straitened in your own bowels. Do according as God has prospered you; and do it willingly, not of necessity, knowing God loveth a cheerful giver.”[708]