WESLEYAN CONFERENCE IN PLYMOUTH. [To TER EDITOR OP THE "Si
SCLIITOR.'] SIR,—The 170th "Yearly Conference of the people celled Methodists, in the connexion established by the late Rev. John Wesley, A.M."—for so runs the legal title of the Wesleyan Methodist Church—will meet in Plymouth on Wednesday, July 16th. It has met in the same town only once before, namely, in the year 1895. A formal vote, con- firming the nomination of the Liverpool Conference twelve months ago, will place the Rev. Samuel F. Collier, of Manchester, in the presidential chair. As head of the Manchester Mission, Mr. Collier is known and esteemed wherever evangelistic and social Christianity is a subject of interest One troublous question awaits the Conference. Some difference of opinion exists as to the advisability of consum- mating the appointment of a certain minister to a position of responsibility in one of the Theological Colleges. Particular views lie has expressed, or the way in which be has expressed them, not any question of character or general capability, have created a difficulty which the Conference may be trusted to treat with discrimination and goodwill. Apart from this passing cloud, the Conference has not met :beneath so fair a sky for several years past. Numerically the situation is encouraging. After a succession of steep descents, the figures this year, whilst not registering an increase, set things in a far more favourable light. On a membership in Great Britain of 482,343 the decrease is only 505. The number of members on trial is 28,870, an increase of 544, and there are 101,220 junior members, an increase of 1,-807. These figures, in a period when, as all the Churches are finding, devout Christians seem singularly reluctant to accept the privileges and responsibilities of Church member- ship, are full of promise. The improved numerical situation is the least auspicious sign of the times. On all hands there are indications of a new spirit of expestation and confidence. The retiring President, the Rev. F. L. Wiseman, B.A., said a few days ago that thousands of Wesleyan Methodists all over the country felt that they were on the eve of a great spiritual advance. This general feeling has focused itself in a series of recommendations to the Conference, prepared by a large committee composed of representative ministers and laymen from all parts of Great Britain. It is more than probable that the New Year will witness a simultaneous attempt to evangelize the people. But the best proof of widespread and reinforced vitality was in the various Synods last May. These number thirty-five. They are held in as many different centres, and they bring under review the material and spiritual condition of every one of the 8,427 churches and 7,565 Sunday schools which bear Wesley's name. The synods are really preparatory committees of the Conference. What they are the Conference is. Judged by this test, Plymouth should become memorable as the meeting. place of the most buoyant and resolute and spiritually aggressive Conference of recent years.
In Wesleyan Methodism the present is a great missionary year. It is just a hundred years since the Foreign Missionary Society was founded. To celebrate the centenary it is hoped that a thank-offering of about 2250,000 will be raised for purposes of missionary expansion. The Plymouth Conference will give directions as to the way in which the centenary should be observed at home and abroad. The scene of the chief celebration will probably be the great Central Buildings opened during the year at Westminster. It is not unlikely that some attention will be given at Plymouth to the subject of Methodist inter-relationship. First, there is a growing wonder whether the reunion of the several sections of Methodism is within measurable distance. Second, a quickened con- science is abrcad in all branches of Methodism with reference to overlapping. It is felt that a little foresight and co-operation might prevent the waste which is involved where two Methodist chapels exist when one would meet the spiritual necessities of the neighbourhood.-1 am, Sir, &c.,
.30 Cauldwell Street, Bedford. J. EDWARD HARLOW.
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