them, and come to some decision that would end the con troversy for ever, if possible.

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It was first agreed to refer the whole matter to a com mittee of nine," to be chosen by ballot. This was the fairest way to choose them, and yet it was to be feared that in this way they would all be on one side, as it was evident the conference was not equally balanced. But no; there was too much magnanimity in the body for this. All seemed to feel that both sides ought to be represented, and that minorities are to be respected. The ballotings resulted in the appointment of a mixed committee, consisting of Rev. Joseph Bradford, John Pawson, Alexander Mather, Thomas Coke, William Thompson, Samuel Bradburn, Joseph Ben son, Henry Moore, and Adam Clarke. After sitting six evenings, three and a half hours each evening, in close deliberation, the committee presented a "Plan of Pacification,” so accommodating all parties, and requiring conces sions from all, that it was difficult to tell which party in the committee had prevailed. The truth was, (be it said to the praise of God, and to the credit of their hearts as well as their heads,) both prevailed. Their paramount interest was to save the cause; and the matter in dispute being rather a prudential arrangement than a positive duty, they acquiesced in a compromise that required concessions both ways, and still gave both sides their own way to an important extent. The Conference adopted the report with great unanimity, by slightly altering one article, after which it very harmoniously appended two or three more, and sent it forth among the societies. Few could say it was just what they wanted; but nearly all the real Methodists, embracing the trustees, stewards, and private members, acquiesced in it as a plan of peculiar wisdom, dropped their controversies, and united anew in the work of God. There was, however,

a small secession about this time, to which we shall refer hereafter.

It is not necessary to state all the provisions of this plan. It is enough to say, that baptism and the Lord's supper, together with service in the chapels during the time of church service, were provided for on the condition that a majority of the stewards and leaders should approve of it. But it did not bind the conscience of any one. If a majority should favor the sacraments, &c., according to the "plan," it lid not bind the minority to attend upon them. Members could go to church as before, and those who preferred it might receive baptism and the sacrament at chapel. Was not this kind? Was it not just? And was it not Wesleyan, too? We have not a doubt of it. Mr. Wesley loved the church, but he loved the souls of men better. He would not separate from her any further than he found it necessary to the work of God. The church was not his God. In a letter to Mr. Walker, he says, "Nor have we taken one step further than we were convinced was our bounden duty. It is from a full conviction of this, that we have, 1. Preached abroad. 2. Prayed extempore. 3. Formed societies; and, 4. Permitted preachers who were not episcopally ordained. And were we pushed on this side, were there no alternative allowed, we should judge it our bounden duty rather wholly to separate from the church, than to give up ANY ONE of these points. Therefore, if we cannot stop a separation without stopping lay preachers, the case is clear—we cannot stop it at all.”

But the desire of the Conference to avoid all appearance of separation from the church, led them to qualify their preachers to administer the sacraments without the imposition of hands. This was not satisfactory to some, though they knew that the imposition of hands was a mere

ceremony, which added nothing to the validity of the ministry. But custom had invested it with so much importance, they were sure many people would never regard them as regular ministers of the gospel unless they had been ordained in the usual way. Therefore they wished the Conference to avail. itself of a venerable custom, which, while it would add nothing to their authority, nor subtract any thing from the authority of the Church, would give them an influence over some minds that could not be otherwise obtained. This measure, however, was delayed till 1836, when the Conference adopted it as a "standing rule."

From the year 1752 to the year previous to his death, Mr. Wesley held an annual Conference with the preachers in Ireland; and provided in his poll-deed for such gatherings as often as the British Conference should judge expedient The Irish Conference is now held annually under the presidency of some one appointed for the purpose. It embraces 97 circuits, 152 travelling preachers, and 0,740 members. The missionary work was for many years carried on under the direction of Dr. Coke, who travelled through the kingdom and took collections for its support. His labors in this department were very extensive and successful. He was

probably instrumental in sowing the seed in the West Indies, which has since brought forth so abundantly. The redeemed sons of Africa, in those islands, owe more to him than they will ever realize till they meet him in glory. He was a whole man, and gave himself entirely to the work.

"At the Conference of 1813, Dr. Coke, then in the sixty-seventh year of his age, expressed an earnest desire to proceed to the East Indies, for the purpose of establishing a mission there. Eighteen times had he crossed the Atlantic for missionary objects; yet his godly ardor was unabated, and his conviction of the truth of Christianity and of

its importance to mankind was increasingly strong and influential. Some of the brethren, recollecting his advanced age, the difficulties connected with the undertaking, and the serious inconvenience the missions already in existence would experience in consequence of his departure, attempted to dissuade him from the enterprise, desirable as they confessed it to be. He heard their reasonings and remonstrances, and then, bursting into tears, he exclaimed, in a manner which they could not resist, If you will not let me go, you will break my heart.' His brethren withdrew their opposition, and this honored patron and friend of missions, accompanied by seven others, embarked for the East, in December, 1813. On the third day of May following he was found dead in his cabin, having expired, it was believed, in a fit of apoplexy. Thus ended the life and labors of this estimable man, whose name will ever be remembered in honorable association with modern missions. Next to Mr. Wesley, no man was ever connected with the Methodist body who contributed more to extend the blessings of Christianity among mankind."- Centenary of Methodism, p. 162.

This calamity, however, did not frustrate the enterprise. The body of Dr. Coke was committed to the deep; but his associates continued their voyage, and laid the foundation of the mission at Ceylon, and on the continent of India, which has since attracted so much attention. And, strange as it may seem, the missionary spirit received a new impulse at The connection had been relying upon one man; but now that he was no more, all seemed to feel their responsi bility, and rallied in support of the cause for which their venerated father and friend had given his fortune and his life. And here we find the opening of a new era in the history of Wesleyan missions. The necessities of the cause suggested to Rev. George Morley, superintendent of the

nome.

Leeds circuit, the idea of a missionary society in that town, by means of a public meeting. Rev. Richard Watson and James Buckley were appointed to preach, and Thomas Thompson, Esq., a member of Parliament, to preside. The meeting attracted general attention, and gave a powerful impulse to the cause. Similar meetings were now the order of the day, and followed each other in quick succession, "till the Methodist congregations, from the Land's End to the Tweed, caught the sacred flame. Collectors offered their services in all directions, the hearts of the people were every where impressed and opened by the state of the heathen, and the communication of authentic missionary intelligence; and money was, from year to year, poured into the sacred treasury beyond all precedent."

From that time the work has gone steadily on, command ing the affections of preachers and people, and having the superintendency of the greatest minds and noblest hearts that ever graced the world. While the society was yet mourning for Dr. Coke, and fearing that they should never see his like again, God not only suggested a new plan, by which to make up in a measure for the loss they had sustained, but raised up a man, peculiarly endowed in all respects, to operate that plan with wonderful effect. We refer to Rev. Richard Watson, than whom, perhaps, the cause of missions never had a warmer friend or an abler advocate. During his activity the missions flourished beyond what they had ever done before, and gave fresh encourage ment to effort. This may be seen in the South Seas, “where the savage inhabitants of whole islands have abandoned the idols of their fathers, and where the people, by thousands, have become the spiritual worshippers of God. Civilization there walks hand in hand with Christianity; children and even old people are gathered together in