The Conference of 1799 recognised a society' in Ireland, and the Rev. John JMcClure commenced a cause at Lis- burn. The same year the few preachers then associated agreed to contribute ten shillings and sixpence yearlv to found a fund for the support of aged ministers.
The Conference of 1803 commenced what is known as the Paternal Fund. It is sustained by public collections in the chapels and private subscriptions. Allowances are made from it towards the support of the children of the preachers in their early years. The Beneficent Fund was originated at the same Conference by Mr. Samuel Higginbottom, of Manchester, who gave fiftj' pounds as a benefaction, and became the first treasurer of the fund. The resources are obtained from public collections and
(WESL.) M NEW COXNECTION 931 (WESL.) M. NEW CONNECTION
subscriptions, and its objects are the relief of aged and infirm ministers and their -widows. In 1880 the Pater- nal Fund produced £2698 ; tlie Beneficent Fund, £5303.
The year 1804 was made memorable by the celebrated IJev. Richard Watsou joining the ranks of the New Con- nection. He travelled for eight years in that body, and they claim the honor of bringing that extraordinary man out of obscurity. Two of the sermons in his pub- lished works were first preached in New Connection chapels. During his itinerancy with them he was a member of the Annual Committee, and three times sec- retary of the Conference. Dr. Bunting reintroduced him into tlie Wesleyan body, but he ever held in very high esteem his brethren in the New Connection.
In 1808 the law was made which requires preachers, at the end of their probation, to answer in public ques- tions relating to their religious experience, call to the ministry, their doctrinal views, etc.
It will be instructive to the present race of Methodists to read the financial conditions on which Methodist preachers consented in 1812 to devote themselves whol- ly to the ministry. Serious complaints had been made respecting the inadequacy of the income of the preachers to meet their necessities. A committee was appointed by the Conference of 1812 to examine and report there- on. After a candid consideration of the subject, it was resolved that, in addition to the use of a house and furni- ture at the expense of the circuit, every married preach- er in full connection should receive, for himself and wife, £12 per quarter; "not less than £2 per quarter for a servant;" and, in addition to these items, "not less than Us. per week for board." The allowance from the Pa- ternal Fund for boys under eight years of age, and for girls under twelve, to be £G per annum ; then they retire from the fund. Charge for medical attendance and trav- elling expenses are to be paid by the quarterly meeting. Considerable uneasiness and anxiety was felt in many parts of the Connection in the j'ears ISH-IG with re- gard to the legal safety of some of the chapels which had belonged to the parent society before tlie year 1797. Those anxieties were not favorable to the spread of the word of God.
In 1818 a Home Mission was established to introduce Methodism into new localities. The sum of £424 was given by the circuits to aid that mission. In 1824 the mission was relinquished, and Ireland was selected as the place on which to concentrate their efforts, and one of the English preachers was appointed to superintend the work. It has continued with varying success to the present time. In 1880 there were seven stations in Ire- land, with a total membership of 71.5, being only an av- erage of 102 members per station. The home missionary operations were resumed some j-ears afterwards, and in 1880 tliey occupied eleven stations in England, with a membership of 1249, and for their support the circuits contributed £1158 during the year 1879-80.
In 1823 the general rules of the Connection were con- sidered, amended, and published, with the sanction of the Conference.
The same Conference ordered tlie publication of a monthly magazine for Sunday scholars at tlie price of 2d. The Conference of 1827 ordered the publication of a Catechism for the use of children, which was prepared by the Rev. Abraham Scott. A larger Catechism for the use of elder children was written by the Rev. William Cooke, D.D., and published about tlie year 1848. The same minister is preparing a new and enlarged edition of tiiat Catechism to be published in 1881.
A Connectional magazine was commenced in Janu- ary, 1798, at the price of 6(/. monthly. It has been con- tinued to tiie present time. To promote the circulation of these several publications, a book-room and an editor were indispensable. Tlie former was located at Ilanley from 1798 to 1832, when it was removed to Jlanchester. In 1827 the Rev. W. Shuttleworth was appointed editor and steward, and the business rapidly advanced. In 1827 the capital stock amounted to £1305, and the
annual profits to £113. Five years afterwards the cap- ital was £2500, and the yearly profits over £500, while the magazine was greatly improved; the third series was commenced in 1833. lu 1844 it was found expe- dient to remove the book-room to London, \vhere it has since remained, and the Rev. John Bakewell was ap- pointed editor. In 1848 the Rev. William Cooke, the eminent theologian and divine, was the editor of the magazine, and in that capacity and as book-steward he has rendered more valuable service to the Connec- tion than any other minister. The Rev. Charles De- wick Ward, D.D., was appointed editor and book-stew- ard in 1880; the capital stock that year was £2980, and the profits £243.