At the Conference of 1854 the Wesleyan Chapel Fund was established on a new and separate basis. The com- mittee has to consider and determine all matters relat- ing to the trust property of Methodism, and it carries out as far as possible the recommendations of the Ex- tension Fund committee.
An important change in the management of the great sectional departments of ]\lelhodism was inaugurated when affiliated conferences were introduced. The first action was taken in 1847, when the two sections of the Methodist family in Canada were united and made into an independent Conference, but affiliated with the Brit- ish Conference. The New Connection Methodists of Canada have since joined with them so as to make one united family in Canada. The French Methodist Church was made into an independent ecclesiastical organiza- tion in 1852, but affiliated to the British Conference. Australia, including New Zealand, Polynesia, and the islands of the Pacific, was in 1854 created an indepen- dent Conference, but affiliated to the British Confer- ence. The provinces of Eastern British North America were created into a separate Conference in 1854, but affiliated to the British Conference.
In 18G1 the Jlctropolitan Chapel Building Fund was inaugurated for the purpose of securing the erection of fifty new Methodist churches in and ivear London with- in the period of twenty years. Sir Francis Lycett (then Mr. Lycett) gave the princely sum of £50,000 to commence the fund, with the proviso that a similar amount should be contributed throughout the Connection for the same object. The full number of fifty were not erected within the period specified, but the good work was so far advanced that Sir Francis generousl}' gave a further £5000, shortly before his sudden death, Oct. 29, 1880, for securing the erection of five more chapels. One
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condition was that at least one thousand sittings were to be provided in. each chapel.
The Conference of 1873 received under its fostering care an institution called the Children's Home, which was originated in Lambeth in 18G9 by the Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson, A.B., and which had steadily de- veloped into a large establishment for the education and training of destitute children. Its origin and his- tory abound in interesting incidents. Having been originated by a Wesleyan minister, and supported main- ly by the benevolence of the Methodist people, it began to be considered as a great Methodist orphanage, or home for the destitute. As an independent organiza- tion, it had expanded into four separate establishments — the Central Home, in Bethnal Green, London ; a train- ing institution at Gravesend ; a farm school in Lanca- shire; and a Home in Canada, to which the children, when trained, are sent to be placed in service, and to get a good start in life. The Conference of 187,3 recog- nised the institution as belonging to Methodism. Its Report is yearly presented to the Conference, and the same body appoints its officers. Tiiere wore 489 chil- dren in the Homes at the Conference of 1880, and a new branch was to be opened at Birmingham. Its proper designation now is the Children's Home and Orphanage.
At the Conference of 1873 the Committee for the Pro- motion of Higher Education in Methodism was instruct- ed to taivC the requisite steps for founding a college for Methodist children in the university city of Cambridge. The institution has been successful]}' founded, under the management of the Rev. W. F. Moulton, D.D.,with the modest designation at present of the Leys School. It reported 100 pupils at the school in 1880, and its pros- perity was most satisfactory.
Arrangements were made by the Conference of 1875 for the founding of a Wesleyan Methodist Sunday- school Union. The varied advantages of such an in- stitution were recognised by the Conference, and during the year following the Union was formed, which estab- lished itself in 1876 in new premises in Ludgate Circus, London. At the Conference of 1880, the committee re- ported 6376 Methodist Sunday-schools in the Union — an increase of fifteen per cent, in ten years; 119,911 officers and teachers — twelve per cent, increase; and 787,143 scholars — an increase of twenty-four per cent. in ten years. It is in contemplation to erect larger and more convenient premises for the Union at an early date. The Rev. Charles K. Kelley is the clerical secre- tary of the Union, and its chief advocate and represent- ative.
The most important historical event of the present generation of Methodists is the introduction of lay rep- resentation into the Conference. That was first deter- mined upon by the Conference of 1877, and the whole scheme of the new arrangement occupies nineteen pages of the Minutes of that year. The Conference cannot • legally extend beyond twenty-one days yearly. The first fourteen days are to be devoted to the Ministerial Conference, and, the six week-days following, the Con- ference is to consist of 240 ministers and 240 laymen. All the members of the legal hundred are entitled to be present, and also secretaries of departments in Meth- odism, some chairmen of districts, and others. The lay representatives are to be all members of society and members of a circuit quarterly meeting. The condi- tions are specified with great care and minuteness. Fifteen subjects are reserved for the consideration of the ministerial conference only, and sixteen other sub- jects, chiefly of a financial character, are reserved for the consideration and determination of the Mixed Con- ference. The order and form of business are agreed upon, which embraces all the subjects likely to come under their consideration. The Conference of 1878 was the first at which the new plan was adopted. The har- mony was complete. The experiment of ministers and laymen working together was a success of the highest character. As a mark of gratitude to God for the suc- X.— 0 o o