Another English divine of the same name flourished about the same time in Warwickshire. He died in 1617, and is the author of a work entitled Burthen of a load- cned Conscience (1616, 8vo ; often reprinted). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biofjr. Diet, xxvii, 720 ; Allibone, Diet, of English and A merican A uthors, vol. ii, s. v.
Kildare, an ancient church in central Ireland, found- ed A.I). 481), derived its name from the Irish celle, church, and deiir, the oak, and ■Nvas at lirst estabUshed by St. Bridget as a Christian school, and afterwards called a imnnerj^, for the purpose of teaching pagan women, married or single, the doctrines and duties ol Christian- ity. Soon a town or city grew up around it, and in la- ter times it formed an extensive diocese. In the early period of Ireland's history it is nothing remarkable to
find woman assuming the position of public instructor ; Druidism, the former religion of Ireland, assigned ofHces to females. In the early history of the Irish Church we have several intimations that Christian women were employed in its services. St. Patrick, in his Confession, sect, xviii, writes about a woman of noble birth, of the daughters of tlie minor king, and even handmaids in servitude, who were active in the cause of Cliristianity. The Book of Armagh, an accredited manuscript of the 7tli century, in speaking of an earlier period, says ex- pressly, " The early Irish Christians did not reject the fellowship and help of woman, for they were founded on the rock, and did not fear the blast of temptation." St, Bridget, the founder of this church and female semi- nar}', tradition says, died about A.D. 515, at an advanced age, loved in life and lamented in death. In honor of her memory, through an extent of fourteen centuries, in different countries and in different languages, millions have been called by her name ; more children, perhaps, than after any other Christian woman whose name is not in the inspired records. Her memory was cherish- ed by the Picts and the British Scots, but in no ]ilace except Kildare was it more honored than in the Heb- rides, where at a later and less pure age she became the patroness of their churches. Several lives of her have been M'ritten by foreigners and in different lan- guages, but the best and the fullest is said to Ije that by St.Ultan, the materials for which he obtained from a manuscript in the monastery of Katisbon, Germany. See j\Ioore. Hist, of Ireland; Ware's Dish Antiquities ; Todd, Irish Church,]-). "18. (D.D.)
Kilham, Alex.vnder, one of the most celebrated characters in the history of Methodism, the founder of the "New Connection of Wesleyan JNIethodists," fre- quently called simply " Kilhamites," and really the first man in the Methodist connection who advocated the representation of the lay element in the government of the Chiu-ch, was born at Eiiworth, England, Jidy 10, 1762. His parents were Methodists, and he enjoyed a training strictly in accordance with their own religious convictions. Vacillating in character and impetuous in temper in his youthful days, he struggled hard against aU religious impressions, Ibut was finally converted at the age of eighteen, and shortly after began preaching. Brackenbury, one of Wesley's right-hand men, met yomig Kilham one day at Epworth whUe himself on a preaching excursion, and engaged him at once as his travelling companion. In Brackenbury's missionary visit to the Channel Islands, Kilham jjroved himself an able assistant. In 1785, shortly after their return from the islands, Wesley received Kilham into the regular itinerant ministry. Like aU other laborers of early Methodism, his ministrations frequently met with op- position, and an encounter with a mob was almost a daily experience. At Bolton his chapel was stoned ; at Afford market-place he was attacked by a clergyman and a constable ; at Spilsby he was assailed with dirt and eggs. In another place gunpowder was laid under the spot where he expected to preach, with a train ex- tending some distance, but without effect, for he took his stand elsewhere and escaped the danger. It was amid such difficulties and trials that Kilham zealously labored for the cause of his Slaster. In 1791 the found- er of INIethodism expired. During the life of Wesley there had been no actual separation of the Weslcyans from the Established Church. He had been careful to avoid religious meetings during the hours for public worship in the Establisliment. He had never allowed the celebration of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Su]iper by his own preachers ; his jieojde received these at the hands of the ministers of the Established Church. Frequently a voice dissenting from this course was heard from among the AVesleyan ministers. Kil- ham himself had dared, three years before the death of Weslej', to record the wish, " Let us have the lilterty of Englishmen, and give the Lonl's Supper to our socie- ties." About the time of Wesley's death he wrote, " I
KILHAM
T9
KILIAN