IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I '- m |50 '""^^ M IM 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 "^ 6" — ^ — ► VI A,vittentiori to several subjects of the highest importance in accomplishing the design of our Saviour, who wills the sal- vation of an men. And first, we would mention Sunday Schools Nothing is of so great importencc as early to apply the proper antidote to the inherent and overflowing corruptions of our fallen nature. . It is much better and i^.v.s,ev Xo prevent a disease, than to «/rc ono-to restrain evil propensities, than to reform vices. How important then that the scriptural remedy be earlv applied to the moral diseases of the human soul— that children be earlv made acquainted with that word which is able to make hem wise unto salvation. To do this, let Sunday Schools be every where established. These interesting institutions have been the happy means of converting thousands from tac error ot their ways, and of raising hundreds to the work of the ministry. Let there not be a family without' such means of religious instruction. In every neighbour, hood whoTe SIX or a dozen children can be collected, let a ^Sunday School be established under the care of the most judicious persons that will consent to employ their time »»nd talents m this benevolent and most useful (department of chi'h&dii labour, and let evcri/ one contribute his mit^ to purchase u lihmry lor the eiicourapeiiiont and instruc- tion of the pupils; as albo of tho faniiii<;.'i to which tho\ respectively belong. We hope that every preacher, on h[^ «;ircuit, will be attentive to this,— thjt every Presiding Elder will use tho most effectual means of carrying it into successful operation — that every -father of a 'faniilv will feel its importance and act accordinijly — and that no friend to the welfare of the risin«? generation will withhold his co- operating labours. Then, when we are sleeping with our fathers, our children, trained un in the nurture and admo- nition of the Lord, will behave themselves wisely in a per- fect way, will fill their respective stations in society with respectability, and be useful in their day and generation. In the next place, the subject of education should com- raancl the attention of our brethren more generally than it has hitherto done. It cannot be denied, that while many of our brethren have felt the importance of educating their children, and have afforded them such advantages to ac- quire an education as their circumstances would allow, others, ;md not a few, are ciimmully negligent in this res- pect. We hope that such will no longer indulge tiiis fatal indifference, which will leave tlniir cliildrcn half barbarians. >vlien they might be respectable and useful members of the connnunity. Let such remember that " a good education is better than a great portion"— -that " it is not good for the soul, to be without knowledge" — that ♦"Tis cddcation forms the youthful mind; Just as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined." Jvet such read Mr. Wesley's sermon " On the Education of Children:' And it is hoped the time is not far distant, when a Seminary of learning will be established for the special purpose of religiously educating the children of the members of our church and such others as may be disposed to attend it. In the mean time, after much deliberation and every possible precaution, we have resolved upon the establishment of a weekly paper, which, we hope, will leceive the patronage of every one that wishes well to our church, and to Christianity generally. Such a periodical has long been wanted, and frequently called for. For want^ .(J *■ • . • •f it, our doctrines, Economy, character^ and operations have frequently #boen mistaken and misrepresented to our injury, and our brethren and t' lends have been deprived of much useful information. But it must now be pcculiar- Jv gratifying to our friends to learn that a medium of com- iiiunication^will soon be established, through which the doctrines, economy, character, rights, and privileges of our church may be vindicated — the victories of our Saviour's grace published abroad — and the cause of Missions, Sunday Schools, and Education, advocated and proraoied. And whatever oxpenc«s may be^ incurred, and demands made in commencing such an establishment, we trust they will meet with liberal receptions and receive an ample supply from the treasuries of those whom the Great Master has intrusted with a stewardship over many talents of this world's goods. The cause of Missions should also, at all times, engage ihe attention, the prayers, and the liberality of the friends of the destitute and miserable. Many, whosq names it is not proper to mention in this place, have contributed libe- rally towards the christianization and improvement of the Indian tribes. Their labour has not been in vain. It is recorded in the Bbok of God*s remembrance above ; and their shillings have gained pounds, and their pence, dollars, on earth below. Let such not be weary in well-doing; and let not others sleep, when they ought to be active and diligent in bringing other gentiles ** to build in the templo of the Lord." The field is large and white for harvest— the labourers are few — and our means are small. O pray and assist, brethren, that under the blessing of the Lord our means may be increased — faithful labourers multiplied — and the thirsty land be made springs of water. But especially, dear brethren, let the flame of divine love be preserved and increased in your own sotils. " Let the love of Christ^ direll in you richly itt all holy conver- sation and godliness. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be pat away from you with all malice." Let the using, distilling, and mer- chandising of ardent spirits, be abominated in your habi- tation^. Let your buildings be put up, and your bees (if you Ii ivc uuy) bo comlurtcvl wlilioiu tli- ji-odlcss aml'(v,lnt * a groat pliysici:in ca^l^<) " heavcn-dunnir i^m] soul-dostiov- nur" practice of using spii'iuious liquors. Itc provoked to tins good work ot* sobriety apd toiiiprraiuo by tbf ox- ample ot'tbo converted natives. ' Tbev have put up a lariro biMlding at Grape Waml; imollier atHicr Lake, anotber at Lake Simroo, two very lieavy buildings at tiie ( redit, and a 1 nge Cha])el at (be Grand Kivor, uilbout using a drop of ardent spirits. May sucb wolthy exam- plos be imitated by every inhnbilfuU of tins province ! *' But above all tilings, bretbren, put on c/iaritu, which IS the bond of pcrfectncss. Be kindly alfectioned one to another with brotherly lovo. Love as brethren. For ihis IS the message that ye have lieard from the beginning that yo sliould love one another." • Dear B-ethreji, *' ye are in our hearts ta live and die with you." We rejoice when you rcjoice—we weep when you weep-^if you live, we live also. Pray for us, that we may minister, as of the ability which God giveth ; behavjriir ouiselves holily, and justly, and unblamcably among ihein that believe ; and w.dkine in wisdom towards ihoui that are without; that God in Ml things may be glo- rifled through Jesus Christ. We beseech you, brethren, to kno;v them tliat labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; and to esteem them very higlily in love for their work's sake ; and be at peace among yourselvf^s. And now may the God of peace and con!?olalion grant you to be like-minded one towards art- other, according to Christ Jesus ; that ye may, with one mihd, and one month, glorify God, eyeii the Father of rtiir Lord .Jesus Christ. We are. Dear Brethren, .Your affectionate Ministers And Servants in the Gospel of Jesus Chrilt, our Saviour, WILLIAM CASE, JAMES RICHARDSON, Jtnr^. ^ Svc7rfary„ By ordei' of the Conference. Anrasff7\ Sfntembfr 4th 18?9, REPORT OF TUE COMMITTEE ON ALLEGATIONS, 6lc. &c. &c^ The Committee appointed to examine into Allegation^ against the Conference, Economy and Government of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, beg leave to re- port as follows : (which report they recommended to be pub- lished in connexion with the pastoral addreps:) In looking over the first section of the disciphne of cer- tain person;^ who stylo themselves " Canadian VVesleyan Methodists," your committee regret to find indirect but gross impeachments against this Conference— most unfair representations of the government of our church— and most cruel calumnies against those laborious, faithful and long- ijufiering servants of the church, the late venerable Dr. Coko apd Mr. Francis Asbury. , In their sixth "reason" for secession, it is indirect- ly stated, that the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this Province, are " under a foreign jurisdictioa and controul."— Than such a statement, nothing can b» jpore untrue: for it is well known to almost every member of our church, that during the session of our last Annud Conference in Earnestown, 1828, we organized ourselves into a separate independent church, adopting almost unani- mously, the following preamble and resolution: "Whereas the jurisdiction of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America', has heretofore extended over the Ministers and Members in connexion with said church in the Province of Upper Canada, by mutual agreement, ^nd by the consent of our brethren in this Province; and whereas it has been and is the general wish of the minister^ and aembers of the Methodist Episcopal Chupch in Uppeu Canada, to Lo organized into a srpniate And indcpen many other judicial acts, suspended and expelled persons from society, without any committee to try them. k It is the indispensible duty of every " itinerant prea- cher" to take heed to the flock, circuit or society over which God, in his Providence, bs made him overseer. 4. So far from the ** itinerant p eichers managing the societies and administering the discipline, exclusive of the class-leaders, local preachers, and lay members," the " itin- erant preachers" have not th© power to administer a single rule of the discipline, either in receiving persons in, sus- pending Of expelling them from the socict}^ exclusive of the local preachers, class-leaders, or lay members. No person is received into our scciety without the consent of tho class before which ho presents himself; no mcnxber can be expelled or suspended from our society, otherwise tlian by a committee of, or the society to which he be- longs ; and whenever such suspended or expelled person appeals^ he cannot be deprived of his membership, until thar suspension or expulsion is sanctioned by the Quartcrh/ Conference^ which is composed of local preachers^ cxhortrs ers, class-leaders f and lay members » 5^ Equally untrue is it, that the " itiaernnt preachers exercise and engross all the power in revising, repealing, and miking i iws." The conference, possessing a dispo- sition directly opposed to any thing like despotism^ and wishing to recognise and establish, in its fullest extent, the importfint, inherent, unalienable principle of natural right, that the " governed of any community should have a voice molrinnr fm-ionl iv»nr nnrl nl*oiMnnf ilii-kco I'lTVa Vw' \»'Ki.'li 4*« tiiey are governed," passed at its last session in Ernes- town, 1828, the tollowing resolution, which is an estu- blishod rule in our discipline : " No new rule or regulation, or alieration of any rule or regulation now in force, respecting our temporal economy ; such as the biiilding of meeting houses, the order to be ob- served in them ; the allowances to the ministers and prea- chers, their widows and children ; the raising annual sup- plies for the propagation of the Gospel, (the missions ex- cepted) ; the making up the allowances of the preachers, &c., shall be considered of any force or a\ithority, until such rule, regulation or alteration, shall have been laid before the several Quarter!}' Conferences throughout the whole connexion, and shall have received the consent and advice of a majority of the members (who may be present at the time of laying said rule, regulation or alteration be- fore them) of two thirds of said Conferences.— Nor shall' any new rule, regulation or alteration, respecting the doc- trines of our church, the rights and privileges of its mem- bers ; Such as, the receiving persons on trial and into full connexion ; the condition on which they shall retain their membership ; the manner of bringing to trial, finding guil- ty, and reproving, suspending or excluding disorderly per- sons from society and church privileges, have any force or authority, until laid before the Quarterly Conferences and approved of as aforesaid." 6. These constitutional rights, vested in the severjil Quar- terly Conferences, give a much greater balaisce of power to the ** lay members" of the church, than lay delegation would grv« them. For, in the first place, according to the cHscipline of those who call themselves " Canadian Wes- leyan Methodistife," the conference is composed of an equal mimber of lay delegates and preachers. In order to msike the lay delegates equal in number to the preachers, there cannot be more thai) one or two elected to represent ec^'^h ciix:uit ; whereas there are from fifteen to sixty members of the Quarterly Conference on each circuit, all of whom are directly or indirectly elected by the societies to which they belong. Secondly, in those Conferem:es which, are partly composed of " lay members," the *' itinerant Drea* 12 chers'* can easily carry almost any measore they please, contrary to the voice of the great majority of the societies* representatives ; for if all the lay delegates except one, are opposed to a measure advocated by the "preachers,'* the measure of course, will be decided in favour of the *^prea'* chers" So that if the *' itinerant preachers" should wish to raise their salaries, or increase their power to any ex- tent, they could do it by getting one single delegate to sup- port them — which they would find very little difficulty in doing. But, according to the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, should all the ** itinerant preachers" wish and vote for such measures, they could never be of any force or authority, until they had been sanctioned by a majority of two thirds of the Quarterly Conferences throughout the whole connexion, 7. In addition to the above considerations. Your Com- mittee would farther observe that no person can become a member of the itinerant connexion, until after he has been recommended by the class of which he is a member — ^by the Quarterly Conference of the circuit to which be be- longs, and by the Local Conference of the District in which he resides. Yet it is affirmed by those " who have gone out from us," that the local preachers, class-leaders, and lay members are excluded from the councils of the church ! ! Among other impeachments against our church govern- ment, the ** manner of trying members is" said to be "pro- ductive of great injustice*" Your Committee are not a- ware that there has ever been a fondness on the part of our " itinerant preachers" for expelling any blameless person from our communion. They have frequently been charg- ed, even by those that have gone from us, with an exorbi- tant desire to proselyte, rather than thin the ranks of our societies — wi*h negligence in executing the discipline, ra- ther than unjustly excommunicating innocent* persons. — Your Committee know of no person more proper and fit, to select a committee to examine into cases of dispute or dissatisfcvction than the preacher in charge of a circuit or station, who from the shortness of his residence (let alone his supposed principles of piety and justice) must be more i*reefi:o6ii ^vCal prejudices and 'individual partialities than s dissatisfied with the decision af the committee or sodeW hat has examined into his c:isc, he has in all cases a ri2 to an appeal to the Quarterly Conference, which is un^ questionably composed of disinterested persons-land k any such cases, if the preacher is suspected of actins cor ruptly he ,s Ikble to a charge for mal-administra^n! a^d to be tried and judged accordingly. But, that persons Sd under disciplinary censures should com^lain-perhap « noIX F^r ' ^ '="'"'""" "' ''-y"" com'mittJh" •'No ttiaii e'er felt the halter draw, With gooa opinion of the law." That objections and anathemas from any source should begmvely thrown out against our ecclesiastical economy, J^iich has already been instrumental in the hands of God in transraming thousands from the blossoming wilderness of this mfant Province, to the celestial regions of eternal blessedness—may appear strange and unaccountable to any reflectmgmmd; that such objections should be made bv persons who have themselves been through its instrumen- tality, raised from a state of ignorance and impiety, to all the knowledge, respectability and influence they ever pos- sessed must appear still more strange and unaccountable But what must be the feelings of every christian, and espe- cially of every Methodist, when he sees the ashes of de- parted worth disturbed in their silent repose— when he sees the graces of those who are resting in Abraham's bosom blackened with the vituperating tongue of calumny— when the characters of such self-denying heralds of the love of God, as Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury, are forced through the ordea of insulting accusation, and that by persons who might well count it an honour to sit at their feet and learn the plainest sentiments of humility— the first principles of charity— and the most uncompromising obligations of gra- titude. If " our Fathers" are not allowed even benfath the clods of the valley to rest from the tongue of slander what may not their less worthy sons expect? * What other object could have been aimed at than to de. ^rade the namps nf fir Pftb«> r,«j iwr- A_k.: i .. . — ^., -,--f^^ „j.^ J.T4S, ^ksuiiry^nRQ nte|r successors in office, in denying that Mr. Wesley was the aXr° oar Episcopacy, and to support tins denial by a«i a ktterfromM:-: Wesley to Mr. Asbury and ap. «lvin"itto purposes en-irely foreign from those ot its ven- & »thor. 'in this letter Mr. Wesley, by w'.yof Re- proof, prefers a general charge "f "•^» »;• ^"^^ ''^^,,^;y Asburv, vi7,: aspiring to be great. Bat that Mr. yvesiey h^ been misinformed or was mistaken on this point, has «Tt only loTg since been proved by the humble, uaassummg ^odlv conduct of Dr. Goke and Mr. Asbury to the day ot fheir dea"h but is now admitted by the most violent of their K enemies. Where is the honest man who, at this day will asSrt that Dr. Coke and Mr As^bury-men who to^'thetoelvesfrom their parents, friends and country, trlve^ed the uncultivated wilderness of America to preach he Gospel to the poor-Where is the honest man we say, who will now assert, that such " strangers and pilgrims I'died "to begrea;," "strutted »»»»g ' "-"f.^rMr" something," " assumed a power superior to that which Mr. wX Wmself professed to possess t" Have not the hves. labotti's, and triumphant deaths of Dr. Coke and Mr. As- burrmore than shown that Mr. Wesley was mistaken m hisitahression; and what but the most pitiable prejudice, if notVhe most unprincipled injustice, would now apply to L"e deceased "Fathers" of the church—reproaches which wrong information or erroneous impressions first tow forth-^roaches which the humble toil, sweat and blood of Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury have long since wi- "^^B^rSls tetter is perverted to the stUl worse purpose, if possibte, of showing thM Dr. Coke a*^ Bftr. Anbury thrust kiemselies into an office to which they had not been called ; an office with which they had no business. But does it answer this purpose 1 Your Committee think not- Does Mr. Wesley blame Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury for fiHing the office, discharging «ie;" and he assured them that 'mm shewid never witft" ms censi^ai caiii"i« ;j^^«^- — n Weslev*s objection to the title bishop (says his biographer Mr. Moore) arose from his hatred of all display/' But did not Mr. Wesley, upon tl»is occasion (in wririnj? to Mr. Asbury) a little forget what he hid written in his address to the societies in America after their separation from the M Jther Country ! " They nre now at full liberty simply to follow the scriptures and the primitive church ; and wo jud(Te it best that they should stand fist in the liberty where- wirh God has so stranj^cly set them free." But the asso- ciation in Mr. Wesley's mind (confinucs Mr. Moore) be- tween the assumed title (bishop) and tlie displmj connect- ed with it in the later ages of the church wus too stronj^. He could not at that moment (when he wrote to M.'. As- biiry) separate the plain laborious bishop of the American societies, where there is no legal establishment, from the dignified Prelates of the Mighty Empire of Great Britain.'* (Life of Wesley, Vol. 2nd, p. 2 and 3, Amer. Ed.) Although your committee readily admit, that in respect to Bpiritml Authority, there are but iwo orders H» !he Apostolic Church— but two orders in the Methodist Epis- copal Church; yet, in respect to ecclesiastical JMm(;?:^«io??, there are three, corresponding to those in the New Testa* raent, called Deacons, Elders, and Evangelists, That the power of ordination is vested in the hands of elders, the fourth section of our discipline acknowledges; but tliat Mr, W'"es%ap|)olnted persons to fill an office in our church distinct from, and the jurisdiction of which is more exten« sive than that of an ordinary elder, cannot be conscientious- ly denied by any person acquainted with the early history of Methodism, In a letter addressed to the American So- cieties in the year r784, Mr. Wesley observes, "I have unpointed Dr, Coke and Mr. Francis Asbury to be joint Superintendents over our brethren in North America ; as also Richard Whatcoat, and Thomas Vasey to act && elders unions; them by baptizing and administering the Lord's Sup- per." (Moore's life of Wesley, Vol, IL p. 194.) From this it is evident thi- Mr. Weslej^ considered the duties aijd charges of a Superintendent and an elder to be very differ^ ent, or he would not have distinguished them in the manner ho has in the above extract, Tiie truth arid {propriety of 16 ill Ais remark will appear still more obvious from tho follow- ing testimony of Mr. Wesley's intimate friend and fellow- labourer^ ^he Rev. Henry Moore. ^ " At the Conference held in Loeds in 1784, Mr. Wesley declared his intention of spridiuij iDr. Coke and some other fTieachers to America. Mr. Richird Wh. tfoat and Mr. Thomns Tasey offered themselves as Missionaries for thnt purpose and were ac- cepted. Before they sailed Mr. Wesley abridged the com- mon nrnyer book of the Church of England and wro^e to Dr. Colio, then in London, desiring him to meet him in Bristol, to receive fuller powers ; and to bring with him the- Rev. Mr. Creighton. The Doctor and M^. Creighton ac- tordingly met him in Bristol ; when, with their assistance, he ordained Mr. Richard Whatcoat and Mr. Thomas Va- sey, Preshyiers for America ; and being peculiarly attach- ed to every rijrhtof the Church of England, he afterwards ordained Dr. Coke a Superintendent, givifig him letters of CKDiNATioN umler his own band and seal," (Life of W^es- ioy, Vol. 1 1, p. 193.) These letters of ordination may be seen in the Rev. S. Drew's life of Dn Coke^ p* 66. To the abdvCi your committee would add the authorita-* tive testimony of the English Wesleyah Methodist Maga- zine for 1825, "Mr. Wesley in point of fact did ordain Bishops for the American Societies ; though he intended them to be called Superintendents. Whether the name (Bishop) had or had not the sanction of Mr. Wesley is now of tho least possible consequence, as ttie Episcopacy itself was of H's OWN CRT. ATiNo,'''-( English Wesleyan Metho- dist Magazine for 1825, p. 183.) From these indubitable testimonies it is abundantly evident, that notwhhstanding the contradictory assertion of certain individuals, the Epis^ copal Office of the Methodist Church in America was ere, ated by Mr, Wesley himself. It now remains for yoyr committee to show that the " authority attached to that of* fice was the same when Mr. W^esley lirst created it as it is now." For this purpose your commhtee would refer to Dr. Cojke's biographer, a Wesleyan Methodist minister in Eng^ larvl, of talent, learning and piety, Mr. Drew f)bserves; that ** Dr. Coke in conjunction with Mr. Asbury publish* 1^, duripg the visit te Englaad ^)^ whick lie wa# soleniiily 17 ^irdiunccl by Mr. Wesley to the office of a Supcrmtendcat, a sniiU volume respecting * the doctrines and discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.*" In the fourth section of this book, the ordinations, powers, duties and responsibility of Bishops or Superintendents are clears !y pointed out and explained. From this it appears that the authority vested in the hands of Dr. Coke and Mr. As- bury by Mr. Wesley, by and with the consent of the Ame- rican Conference, was precisely the same with that which is possessed by the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America at the present time. Fully to ascertain this 3'our committee recommend a comparison to be instil tuted between the authority of Bishops, as stated in the discipline of 1784 published at the time of Dr. Coke's or- dination, (an analysis of which is given on p. 109, of Dr« Coke's liJb) and the authority of Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the present time, as stated in the fourth section of our discipline ; and your committee feel assured that such an examination will result in the full conviction that the authority of Bishops has always been the same, from the time of Dr. Coke's ordination, by Mr. Wesley, to the present day. To the above unquestionable evidence may be added thok testimony of one of the oldest and most faithful, pious, and useful fellow-labourers of Mr. Asbury, the late venerablo Wm. Waters. In a letter to a friend he states ihe follow- ing fact. " All must know that names do not alter the nar ture of things. We have from the beginning had one among us who has superintended the whole work. At first this person was solely appointed by Mr. Wesley ; and called the General Assistant at a time when there was none but European preachers on the continent. But why was the name of General Assistant ever changed ? All that will open their eyes may know why. The Methodists in Eng- land and in America formerly did not call themselves a parti- cular church ; but a religious society in connexion with differ- fint churches, but mostly with the Episcopal Church. Af- ter the revolutionary war the Episcopal Clergy became very scarce, and in far the greatest number of our societies, weJaoiA no WHV of roceivin? the nrdinanceei of bantism and 18 i .1,1 ;ll the Lord's Supper. It was this that loJ many of out ])rcachcrs to take upon them the udministration of the or-^ dinances. Mr. Rankin, who was our first Gtnicral Assis- tant, after staying the time in this country he came for (four years,) returned. This was at a time when we had no intercourse with Enj^hmd ; and Mr. Ashury, the only ohl preacher that detcrniined, in those perihms times, to jrive up his parents, country, and connexions. Was final- ly and unanimously chosen (hy the preachers assembhul in conference) our General Assistant. He continued such until the year 1784 whea Dr. Coke came over; and not only the name of General Assistant was changed to that of Superin- tendent, but we formed ourselves into a separate church. This change was proposed to us by 3Ir. Wcslcij after v,'6 hnd craved his advice on the subject ; but could not take effect till adopted by us ; which was done in a deliberate formal manner, at a conference called for the purpose, in which there was not a dissentin