A Sect that Moved the World. By John Telford, RA.
(Charles H. Kelly. 25. 6d.)—The sub-title of Mr. Telford's book is" Three Generations of Clapham Sainte and Philanthropists." He begins With Henry Venn, who took up a curacy at Clapham in 1754, begging before he did so for a strengthening "charge" from John Wesley. (The church in which he served is not the present parish church, but one occupying the site of one dedicated to St. Paul.) It is indicative of the ecclesiastical manners of the time that Venn held also three Lectureships in London, and that he preached five sermons in the week. He left Clapham for Hudders- field in 1759, and went thence in 1771 to Yelling, in Huntingdon- shire; but he always remained in communication with his Clapham friends. Doctrinally he moved away from Wesley in later years, the direction being towards Calvinism. His last years were spent at Clapham, where the "sect" was in its most flourish- ing state. Mr. Telford has much to say about the great men and women of this circle, and says it in an interesting way.
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