Fh'st, That instead of the preachers having; the sole power to admit and expel members, these acts shoidd be done with consent of the people.
Second, That the members should have a voice in choosing their own leaders.
Third, That local preacliers, instead of being appointed by the circuit preacher, should be examined ai)d approved by the leaders' and quarterly meetings ; with which meet- ings also should rest the power of receiving and dismiss- ing them.
Fourth, That as it was impossible to allow the people to choose their own ministers on account of the itinerant plan, yet the quarterly meetings should have a voice in recommending preachers to travel.
Fifth, That lay delegates appointed by the quarterly meetings should attend the district meetings.
And, lastly, he proposes, "with submission to the preachers and the Connection at lari;e, to ai)|)oint one or two lay delegates from every district meeting to at- tend the Conference."
Such were the propositions of Mr. Kilham, and such were the principles adopted as elements of the consti- tution of the New Connection at its origin, and such remain its essential and distinguishing features at the present day. Many of them have since been substan- tially adopted in the other Methodist bodies. Never- theless, for publishing the pamphlet advocating these principles of freedom, Mr. Kilham was tried and ex- pelled from the ministry at the ensuing conference (1796). Being left without a circuit, Mr. Kilham pub- lished a detailed account of his trial and expulsion, which sold extensively and was read eagerly. It cre- ated a strong feeling of sympathy towards the expelled, who was welcomed in many circuits to preach to and address the people. Several large societies expressed their adhesion to the principles Mr. Kilham advocated, and in May, 1797, a chapel was purchased in Leeds, where he gathered large congregations and preached to them.
The Methodist Conference of 1797 was occupied dur- ing its session with the altered circumstances arising from their refusal of the liberties which had been asked by deputations from the people. A Plan of Pacifica- tion was drawn up and published by the Conference, which was one of the most important proceedings con- nected with the history of Methodism. As, however, that plan did not concede all that the people desired, three of the preachers resigned — William Thorn, Ste- phen Eversfield, and Alexander Cummins — and united with Mr. Kilham. These brethren, with a number of delegates from the people, met together in Ebenezer Chapel, Leeds, on Aug. 9, 1797, when Mr. Thorn was elected president and Mr. Kilham secretary, and the basis of a constitution was adopted in conformity with X.— N N X
the principles which had been publicly advocated. The full development and formal statement of these principles were reserved until the ensuing conference. The most important places in which friends declared for the New Itinerancy were Alnwick, Ashton, Bolton, Chester, Hanley, Leeds, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Man- chester, Nottingham, Newcastle, and Stockport, which betfame the nuclei of distinct circuits, consisting alto- gether of over 5000 members.
IE. Doctrines. — The Methodist New Connection has a creed; the doctrines it teaches are Arminian, purely Methodistic. No written creed was considered neces- sary at the time the Connection was commenced, its founders being all Methodists who held by Mr. Wesley's writings; they retained his hymn-book, and avowed their iniabated attachment to the doctrines he taught. False reports on this head having been circulated in the early years, the Conference of 1800 made a spe- cific declaration of their doctrines, which were briefly summed up under the f<jllowing heads: namely, first, the fall of man ; second, redemption by the death of Christ; third, justification by faith; fourth, the com- plete sanctification of believers; fifth, perseverance in the divine life, or the necessity of continuing in faith and good works to the end, in order to final salvation.
The Conference of 1816 reviewed the whole question of doctrines, and embodied them in twelve articles or propositions, with Scripture references to each. These are the same as those held by the parent society,
III. Church Orr/anization and Polity. — The founders of the Methodist New Connection renounced all connec- tion with the Established Cluirch, and as avowed Dis- senters added the administration of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper to the regular duties of the ministry, and laid down as fundamental this prin- ciple : " That the Church itself is entitled, either col- lectively, in the persons of its members, or representa- tively, by persons chosen out of and by itself, to a voice and influence in all the acts of legislation and govern- ment." That principle is embodied in the entire sys- tem of government of the Connection. This will be seen from the following statement of the constitution and functions of the official meetings, briefly sunnneil up under five heads.
1. Conference. — Tliis is held annualh', and is com- posed of an equal number of preachers and laymen, each circuit sending one of its preachers and one of its lay members. When only one representative is sent, the circuit selects a preacher and layman in alternate years. Should any circuit be unable to send a representative, a letter accompanied by the required docuinents, details, and collections is sufficient. The treasurer of the Con- nection, the corresponding member of the annual com- mittee, the steward and treasurer of the book-room, the general secretary of the missions, the superintendent of the Irish mission, a deputed minister or layman, alter- nately, from the Irish Conference, and the guardians of the Connection, under the deed executed in 1816, are, by virtue of oflice, members of Conference, without inter- fering in any way with the privilege of the circuits in which such individuals may reside. The business of Conference is to make laws for the government of the Connection ; to decide impartially on charges affecting the character of preachers or other officers, and on ap- peals referred to it by the quarterly meetings ; to dis- burse the various fimds of the Connection ; to station the preachers for the year ensuing; to investigate the condition of each circuit; to adjust differences, and to promote, by friendlj' co-operation and advice, harmony and love throughout the community; and to devise and put into operation means for the more extensive spread of the Gospel both at home and abroad. Its sittings are open to members of the Connection, subject to the judg- ment of the president.