The year 1745 was memorable for the inquiry made in the Conference, Is Episcopal, Presbyterian, or Inde- pendent Church government most reasonable? The unrest of Mr. Wesley's mind was deepened by corre- spondence with the Kev. Westley Hall, who had urged him to renounce the Church of England. At that time, IMr. Wesley believed in apostolical succession and the offering of an outward sacrifice by the priest. These dogmas were soon afterwards given up by him. On his journey to Bristol, in January, 1746, ]\Ir. Wesley read lonl King's Inquiry into the Constitution, Discipline,
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Unitij, and M'oisJiip of the Primilice Church. As the result of the discussion held in the Conference of 1745, Mr. Wesley considered his lay helpers as deacons and presbyters, and himself as a scriptural bishop. Lord King's book continued those opinions. He took time to consider the whole question; and at the Conference of 1747, in a series of nine questions and answers, he states plainly his acceptance and adoption of a Presby- terian form of Church government, lie renounced all his High-Church notions, and his legislation in Confer- ence after that date was based upon the convictions wrought in his mind by lord King's work. Even apos- tolical succession had to go. Of that, some j'ears after- wards, he wrote, " I never could see it proved, and I am persuaded I never shall." His preference for the Church of England remained, but his jjractice was in accordance with the Dissenters in Church polity. Although Mr. Wesley did not for forty years after that period resort to the imposition of iiands in ordination, yet the preach- ers he employed were solemnly set apart to the pastoral office ; and the fact of his laying-on of hands shortly be- fore his death was more a matter of form than the con- ferring of any special grace or qualification. He found- ed societies or churches all over the land, and he sol- emnly set apart godly men as their pastors. If there was some inconsistency in Mr. Wesley's adhesion to the Cliurch of England, and his establishing a separate Church in the land, it was more the. result of necessity than design.
In 174G England was divided into seven circuits, for the better carrying-on of the itinerancy and the sys- tematic government of the societies. Circuit stewards were that j'ear first appointed and quarterly meetings first held. At that meeting all the finances of the cir- cuit were reported, receipts and expenses, and those re- ports were carried up to the yearly Conference.
In 1747 a tract society was commenced in Method- ism. Mr. Weslej' had himself written and published a dozen tracts, the wide distribution of which was made a blessing to many people.
The wisdom and forethought of Mr. Wesley were clear- ly shown in June, 1748, when he opened a large school on the top of Kingswood Hill, Bristol, for the education of the children of his preachers. That school still ex- ists; but nearly a quarter of a century since it was changed in its character to a Reformatory School, and a much larger and more convenient establishment was erected near Bath as the School for Methodist Preach- ers' Children, which is known as New Kingswood. In 1813 a second school for the same purpose was pur- chased and opened at Woodhouse Grove, near Leeds, Yorkshire. For some years, the latter has been the juvenile school and New Kingswood the finishing school, and it has taken high rank among the first-class classical and mathematical schools in England. There is a scheme under consideration for the union of these schools, or for some enlargement which will admit of the larger number of preachers' sons, owing to the greatly increased number of Methodist preachers. These schools have each a history full of interest, at least to Methodists; but no friendly hand has yet undertaken to be the chronicler of their instructive records. From those schools have gone forth youths who have risen to the highest positions in law, theology, and medicine; while in commercial life Methodist preachers' sons take rank with the best in the land. In the present j'ears (1880-81), the son of an Irish IMethodist preacher is the lord major of London, he having been also sheriff of London and ISIiddlesex. Among the senators in the House of Commons are sons of Methodist preachers, who are distinguished as accomplished speakers and able legislators. No less than ten sons of Methodist preachers have been presidents of the Methodist Con- ference. While much of this distinction is doubtless due to natural genius and persevering effort, vet these owe their inception, growth, and success largelj' to the excellent training obtained in the schools for preachers'
children. A public collection is made through all the societies once in the year for these schools. It was appointed by Mr. Weslev when the first school was opened, and it has been continued ever since. The col- lection was instituted when the salarj- of a preacher was not more than £i'2 a j'ear.
In Januarj', 1750, a union took place between Mr. Whitefield and Mr. Wesley. Doctrinal differences sep- arated them ten years previouslj- ; but they began this year bj' preaching in each other's chapels, and so, re- cords Mr. Weslej', " one more stumbling-block is re- moved."
In 1751 the first disruption in Methodism took place. John Bennett, who had been a preacher for eight years, separated from Mr. Weslej', charging him with being a pope and preaching poperj'. During the same j"ear, James Wheatlej-, another preacher, was expelkd bv the united voice of both John and Charles Weslej'. Both these men for a time created prejudice against the Wes- levs, but the societies soon recovered their lost ground.