After the peace of 1814, some evangelists again com- menced to labor in Normandy; but the return of Bona- parte from Elba caused them to fiee for safety, leaving a small society of fourteen members, which was increased to twenty- five during the year. After the battle of Waterloo, and the return home of prisoners, the Rev. William Toase went to France, and had Richard Ro- barts and Benjamin Fraukland as his colleagues. In 1818 Charles Cook followed them. He studied the lan- guage, and so thoroughly interested himself in tlie peo- ple that for forty years he devoted all his time, strength, and energy to promoting Methodism among them.
WESLEYAN CONR, FRENCH 922 WESLEYAN CONF., FRENCH
He is consiilcred the chief founder of Methodism in that country, giving not only his own life, but the lives of liis two sons, to the same work, both of whom are as well known in America as in France. Mr. Cook became a doctor of divinity ; and when lie died, in July, 1858, jMerlc d'Aubigne wrote concerning him, "The work which John Wesley did in (Jrcat Britain Charles Cook has done, though on a smaller scale, on the Conti- nent." The English Conference of 1824 appointed Mr. Cook to commence a Jlethodist mission in Palestine; but the dilliculties being so great, and fiuids not avail- able, Mr. Cook did not leave France. lie preached his first sermon in that country in December, 1818. The first district meeting was held in April, 1820, when there were present five preachers — brethren Toase, Ollivier, Hawtrey, Cook, and Henry de Jersey. The first love- feast was held the week after the district meeting, and it proved to be an occasion of much good, and was long remembered.
Up to the year 1832 the progress was slow and dis- couraging ; but the surrounding circumstances sufficient- ly accounted for that state of things. The Conference of 1833 sent the Eev. Robert Newstcad to give the mis- sion a new start, and the members were nearly doubled the first year. In 1834: James Ilocart joined the mis- sion, and he has since devoted his whole life to the work. He still survives; and at the English Confer- ence of 1880 he made a powerful and impressive appeal on behalf of the extension of Methodism in France. In 1835 Matthew Gallienne joined the mission; he devot- ed manj' j'ears of valuable service to the cause, and his son is at the present time tutor in theology of the j'oung men preparing for the ministry. The reinvigorated mission soon showed signs of the new power infused into it. Kobert Newstead found in 1833 a total mem- bership of one hundred and eleven; in eight years just one thousand were added. Eight years after came an- other Revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy, which, followed by increased ditTiculties in conducting religious worship, soon resulted in the loss of nearly three hundred members. Peaceful times followed, and Dr. Cook lived to see the number of ministers raised from 4 to 30, and the members from 29 to 144G — prog- ress wliich would have been thought small in anj' coimtry excepting Catholic France.
In 1852 France was organized into a separate con- ference, and affiliated with England. It had then 17 preachers and 77G members. F'rance was divided into two districts; and in 1853 Jean Paul Cook joined the mission as a catechist. He has since been one of the most devoted and successful of its pastors. There were then only nine circuits in all France. It had long been imder consideration to make the older missions of Meth- odism self-sustaining, while at the same time the Mis- sionary Society in London desired to be relieved of the management of its operations, and tliereby give the Frcncli people greater facilities for uscfid and extended operations. The Rev. Ur. Beecham, one of the general secretaries, assisted in completing the arrangements; and with the presence and sanction of the Rev. Dr. Chas. Cook, the Conference of 1852 adopted the recommenda- tion of the Missionary Committee, and France has ever since managed her own agencies, care having been tak- en for the maintenance and security of Jlethodist doc- trine and discipline, while the operations may take a wider scope. Two years after the change, eight more preachers were at work and three hundred members added to the society. The largest number of members ever recorded in one year was in 1870, when they were reported at 2049. Tlien came the Franco-German war and the Commune, which caused a loss of over two hun- dred members throughout the country. In 1880, owing mainly to the want of financial support — all the societies being poor — the total membership is onh' 1789, being about one hundred less than at the end of the last war.
Many special efforts have been made during the pe- riod of the present republic to encourage and advance
Jlethodism in France. Ten thousand dollars a year more would give the cause an impulse such as it has never had before. There is more eagerness shown, by both men and women, to hear the (Jospel and read relig- ious books than ever before. Tlie Rev. William Gibson, A.B., has for some years been using his utmost elibrts, chiefly in evangelistic labors; but wliat is one in so great a city as Paris? There is a bright day dawning for Jlethodism in France if only the small sum named could for a few years be guaranteed to aid the work. The Rev. Dr. Jobson, Rev. William Arthur, AM., and other leading Methodists from England have rendered some help; but such help guaranteed for three or five years would work wonders at the present time. Doors are open everj'where for preaching the Gospel; and for some years the preachers have continued their labors for only a bare pittance for food and clothing. The French Conference owns a newspaper and a book-room ; but both are languishing for want of patronage. In no country in the world, not even Ireland, have there been greater obstaclesin the way of making progress than have existed in France; but now financial help is all that is required to make Methodism in France a great power for good.