(G.J.S.) "Wesleyan Methodists. See Weslkyans. Wesleyan Reform Union. This organization had its origin in the cxpidsion of the Revs. James Ev- erett, Samuel Dunn, and William (Griffith from the Weslevan Conference, in August, 1840. These expul-
WESLEYAN REFORM UXION 934 WESLEYAN REFORM UNION
sions took the people of England, and the jNIethodist people in particular, so entirely by snrprise that the whole press of the country, exceiJting only two or three pajiers, took the part of the expelled ministers. Meetings of Methodists were held in many of the great centres in England, and the popular feeling, fanned by the voice of the press, was in a few months manifested by tens of thousands of members and ofHce-bearers signing me- morials to the Conference against the expulsions. In response thereto, the Conference onlcred the preachers to withhold society tickets from all wlio signed such memorials, whether oflicers or members, and that policy was continued for about two years, until the funds of the Connection became so embarrassed that the expul- sion policy had to be abandoned.
Seeing the desolation which prevailed in so many societies, all the efforts made by members for redress being repulsed by the Conference, another effort was made in December, 1851, by a large number of influen- tial lay officers in the Connection who had not been ex- pelled, who drew up a memorial to the Conference under twelve heads, asking for the cessation of the severe dis- ciplinary action of the preachers, and also for some form of lay representation in the chief courts of Jlethodism. This was known as the Mediation Movement, and their memorial was in a short time signed by over two thou- sand Methodists, chiefly official persons.
The Conference of IHb'l declined to receive or negoti- ate with any deputation with regard to the said memo- rial, and in reply thereto "indulged in rancorous invec- tive against many of the memorialists." Every effort at reconciliation with the Conference having been made liy the people, and resistance being the only replj-, it became necessary to take care of the tliousands of members who, by the withholding of their society tick- ets, had been cut off from membership.
Not wishing to establish a separate body, early in the year 1850 a large meeting was hold in Finsbury, London, of delegates from all parts of England, about four Iiundred in number, all of whom less than a year Ijefore hold office in Methodist societies. After several (lays' deliberation a form of constitution was agreed upon, and the best arrangements made for keeping the members united, till all negotiations were found to be of no avail, when it was resolved, first, that they should exist as the Ueform Union, and afterwards as the United Methodist Keformers.
The details of the various steps taken for several years to reform the constitution of the Wesleyan Con- ference so as to admit laymen into the higher Church courts, and so open the way for the return of thousands into fellowship, having all failed, to avoid, if possible, making another separate body, the Conference of the New Connection was applied to, but that body did not feel disposed to make the concessions asked, so as to open the door for union. Had they done so, their mem- bership might have been doubled immediately. Some local societies did unite with them. Ultimately, in 185G, a meeting was held in Exeter Hall of appointed representatives from the Wesleyan IMethodist Associa- tion (of 1835) and the Wesleyan Keformers (of 1849), when terms of union were agreed upon which resulted in the amalgamation of the two bodies under the name of " United :Mcthodist Free Churches."
At the eighth meeting of the delegates of the Re- formers, held at Bristol in August, 1856, the statistics of their society were as follows:
Chapels 1,3.S3
Lay preachers 2,.525
Mihistera i;!9
Class-leaders 2,8T3
Members 46,609
Members on trial 2,170
Sunday-schools 706
Teachers 12,118
Scholars 71,175
Although most of' the leading societies belonging to the Reformers resolved on amalgamation, yet during
the first year onlj' 19,113 took action ; and as there was a strong feeling of independence existing in many places, so long as they were able to maintain the minis- ter of their choice, these societies kept a separate exist- ence, in consequence of which action some members of the Reform Union determined not to amalgamate. In 1857 more than 20.800 members adhered to their orig- inal principles. That number was, however, soon con- siderably reduced. In 1858 nearly 2000 united with the Free Churches; and in 1859 over 5500 acted in the same way, and so the process went on, year by year several separate societies uniting in a body with the Free Churches, still leaving a few who maintained a separate existence as the Reform Union.
This body has had its headquarters at Exeter Hall from its origin. It established a book-room there, and commenced the publication of a monthly magazine in 1851, as The Wesleyan lieformer, the first editor being Mr. Robert Bulman, its second Mr. N. T. Langridge, its third Mr. Nichols. In 1853 its title was changed to the Wesleyan ]\feihodist Penny Marjazine. The committee also established a monthly magazine for the scholars in the Sunday-schools. Owing to its gradually dimin- ished numbers, chiefly by amalgamation, it has for more than ten years past been the smallest section of the Methodist family, and its continued existence as a sep- arate body has been a source of regret for some years, seeing that decadence has marked its course almost continuously from the time its members declined to amalgamate. The statistics of the past four years will be sufficient to indicate its position and influence.