and richly merited all that affection you have so madly lavished on this beggarly world, he will not reject the sacrifice you now present, if that sacrifice be sincere and complete. Go now, therefore, to that holy, loving, Lamb of God; go and nail your carnality and sin to the cross he died upon to save you, resolved to be no more the bond-slaves of the world, but the humble and devoted disciples of Him who bought you with his blood. HISTORIC SKETCH OF THE METHODIST NEW METHODISM, at an early period of its history, obtained a footing in the town and county of Nottingham; and, as introductory to some account of our Nottingham Circuit, it may not be uninteresting briefly to advert to the state of Methodism in that town, prior to the division in 1797. It is now more than a century since the formation of the first Methodist society in Nottingham. Betwixt the years 1740 and 1747, Messrs. J. and C. Wesley, Thomas Westall, and the valianthearted John Nelson, all preached the word of life in Nottingham, principally in the Market place, at the Malt Cross. They had not, for some time, the proper protection of the civil authorities; and hence these heralds of salvation had to suffer from ungoverned mobs. The Rev. C. Wesley visited the town in February, 1744, and when on his way with some friends to the Market place, for the purpose of preaching near to the mayor's house, he writes, "The mob assaulted us with dirt and stones, making us as the filth and offscouring of all things." In the month following, Thomas Westall, one of the earliest of Mr. Wesley's preachers, was driven out of Nottingham by the MOB and the MAYOR. The persecution which John Nelson suffered more than once in the same town, and his interview with Alderman H, may be found recorded in his interesting Journal, and which shows him to have had wit at hand, as well as courage:-"You might, (said the alderman,) be convinced by this time that the mob at Nottingham will never let you preach quietly in this town;" to which the faithful preacher replied, "I beg pardon, sir, I did not know before now that this town was governed by a mob, for most such towns are governed by magistrates." Happily, such conduct does not now apply to the civil authorities of the town; nor did it continue long after this period. From what is recorded in Mr. Wesley's Journal, of a visit he paid to Nottingham in 1741, it is evident that a society then existed; but the members of it appear to have been Moravians, rather than Methodists, and his brother Charles denominates them "Mr. Howe's Society." Mr. C. Wesley met his brother John at Nottingham, June 24th, 1743, on which day both of them preached in the Market place, and it is added, "We began a society of nine members." Under this date, therefore, must be placed the formation of the first society of real Methodists in Nottingham. In 1766, the number of members amounted to just 100, by the addition to it in that year of Mr. James Roe, who died at Gonerby in 1831, aged eighty-three years, and who used to say, that he made the one lost sheep that was added to the ninety and nine. Nottingham was not made the head of a circuit until the year 1770. It previously belonged to what was usually called the "Derbyshire Round," which included not only Nottingham, Loughborough, and Leicester, but several which are now circuits to the north of Derby. In the early minutes, the circuit is termed "Derbyshire," and which contained 1125 members at the Conference of 1776, when it was divided, Leicester being made the head of one part of it, and Nottingham of the other; the latter having attached to it Newark, Mansfield, and Derby, as well as the principal villages between Nottingham and these important towns. The first appointed preachers to the circuit were R. Costerdine, R. Swan, and W. Severn; and in the same year (1776) was erected the first Methodist chapel in Nottingham, called the Tabernacle," and sometimes the "Octagon" chapel, from its having eight sides. It was built between Milton street and Mount East street, and the cost of it was £128 2s. 7d. In 1782, Hockley chapel was erected, and the "Tabernacle" sold to the General Baptists. It is now many years since the "Octagon" was taken down; but the writer remembers, when a boy, to have heard the late Rev. Robert Smith preach within its walls, where once worshipped what might be called the mother church of all the Methodist churches in the county of Nottingham. At the time of the division, in 1797, the number of members returned to the Leeds Conference was 1400; at which period, Derby and Newark had for some years ceased to make a part of the Nottingham Circuit. The circuit, however, had then chapels at Basford, Bingham, Bulwell, Bridgford, Carlton, Calverton, Farnsfield, Mansfield, Ilkistone, Oxton, Stapleford, &c. The exact number of members in the circuit who separated from the Old Connexion, to form what was then called the NEW ITINERANCY, cannot now be correctly ascertained; but in the following year (1798) the number returned for the circuit was 710; our ministers preaching at nearly all the above places, as well as at Arnold, Chilwell, and Hucknell. In several parts of the circuit chapels were soon erected, while in the town our friends retained, as they thought they had a right to do, the occupancy of Hockley chapel, with the preachers' houses adjoining, until the erection of a handsome chapel in Parliament Street, in 1817; and which was greatly enlarged in 1825-6. The circuit, also, has commodious chapels at Stapleford, Hucknell, Newark, New Radford, and Mansfield; with neat and convenient chapels at Beeston, Chilwell, Kimberley, Bulwell, Basford, and Clay Cross, &c. Interesting accounts have been given in the Magazine of the rise and progress of our cause at some of these places, particularly at Stapleford and Hucknell. The general progress of the circuit, in regard to members, stands as follows: In 1808, there were 807 members; in 1828, 1009; and in 1849, 1208; but betwixt the two last-mentioned years, Derby, with Breason and other places forming the Derby Circuit, have been detached from Nottingham. On the subject of the FUNDS, it may be stated, that every circuit is liable from various causes to fluctuations in its pecuniary income, as well as in the number of its members. With the exception, however, of some particular years, the funds of the Nottingham Circuit have regularly progressed in amount. It is desirable that the Paternal and Beneficent funds should at least equal the sum raised for them by the circuit in 1840; yet, taking the aggregate of all the five collections and subscriptions, and referring back to a period of five years, we shall find that the circuit raised last year near eleven pounds more than in 1844, making a total of £191 3s.; the total in 1844 being £178 5s. 9d. The amount for the Chapel Fund in the latter year, was £8 1s. 2d.; while in 1849, it was £27 8s. 91d. The following statements will briefly show the progress of the other funds : In 1798, the first year after the separation, there was raised by the circuit for the YEARLY COLLECTION, £19 3s. 6d.; in 1815, £21 19s.; in 1844, £31 2s. 7d.; and in 1849, £32 13s. 10d. For the PATERNAL FUND, in 1804 was raised £11 17s.; in 1824, £25 17s.; and in 1849, £44 16s. 6d. In 1803-4, the BENEFICENT FUND was commenced, and for the establishment of it, a special effort was made in the way of benefactions by the friends of the Connexion; and next to the effort made by the Manchester Circuit, stands Nottingham, which raised £62 9s., a considerable, if not the greater part of which, it is believed, should be placed to the credit and kindness of the late R. Hall, Esq. In 1824, the annual subscriptions of the circuit to the same fund amounted to £5 14s. 6d.; and last year to £13 1s. For the MISSIONS, the circuit raised £48 6s. 1d. in 1834; and last year, £73 2s. 11d. In an historic notice of the circuit, it is but just to place upon record the names of some of the founders and early friends of the Methodist New Itinerancy in Nottingham and its neighbourhood. In May, 1796, a meeting of delegates, from various societies of the Nottingham district, assembled in the town, for the purpose of consulting on their felt grievances, and presenting a memorial to the district meeting, then and there also assembled, praying for the redress of such grievances by the admission of lay representatives into district meetings and into the Conference. The names of those more immediately connected with the Nottingham Circuit, and appended to the memorial, are the following:Samual Barlow, Thomas Tatham, Joseph Woodhouse, Charles Sutton,† Nottingham; Robert Hall, Basford; Joseph Finch, Mansfield; and William Huddlestone, Arnold. The second of these, Mr. Tatham, at the time of the division, decided to continue in the original body; the rest, with a few coadjutors, might be considered as the founders of our community in the Nottingham Circuit. The names of others also, now deceased, deserve to be had in remembrance; some of whom were members and official characters before the separation, and the remainder were amongst its early supporters and friends, viz. :-Salthouse, Peet, Kirk, Manlove, Bassett, Bond, Aldred, Ingham, Chambers, Wells, James, Anderson, Potter, Roberts, N. and Joseph Barnsdell, Cresswell, Upton, Garton, J. and W. Thompson, Broadhurst, Bosworth; and, of the sisterhood in the town, should be recorded the names of Sutton, Bassett, Salthouse, Oldknow, and Amy Wells. In the country parts of the circuit must not be forgotten the names of Posnett, of Stanton; Isaac Atkin and Mrs. Streets, of Stapleford; Spencer, of Adbolton; Porter and Chambers, of Wilne. All honour to the memory of these workers at and supporters of our Zion during its early progress towards its present state of permanency and prosperity; and though a few of them * Father of the writer of this article. † Father of R. Sutton, Esq., and one of the Guardian Representatives of our Connexion. F did not die in church-fellowship with us, they continued to be our friends and well-wishers. The circuit has furnished the Connexion with twenty-five ministers. The following is a list of their names, and the order in which they were taken out:-W. Farmer, T. Shore, G. Wall, G. Hendley, P. Collins, G. Taylor, R. Watson, J. Crisp, S. Woodhouse, W. Salt, J. Manners, Jun., F. Newbery, G. Goodall, W. Burrows, H. Watts, B. Severn, H. Seals, W. Thompson, J. Hudston, W. Pacey, J. Flather, J. Poxon, L. Saxton, W. Brogdale, and H. Piggin. The late Rev. Richard Watson, after he left the Old Connexion, settled for a time at Castle Donington, in the Nottingham Circuit, where he obtained an acquaintance with Mr. Driver, then stationed at Nottingham, and by whose recommendation that eminently-gifted man was introduced into our Connexion. On this account, it was deemed right to place his name in the list. The writer remembers to have heard him preach in Hockley chapel just before he repaired to Stockport, in the Manchester Circuit.* The statistical returns to last Conference, in reference to members and the funds, having been given in this article, it only remains to say, that from the tabular statement of the Connexion, as given in the last year's minutes, it appears that in the Nottingham Circuit there are 19 chapels, 21 societies, 4 circuit (married) ministers, 51 local preachers, 23 Sabbath schools, 448 teachers, and 2217 scholars. Long may the great Head of the Church vouchsafe to this part of his vineyard the choicest blessings of his grace! Mossley, Jan. 9th, 1850. Amen. As but few persons possess a complete copy of the minutes from the commencement of the Connexion to the present time, it will no doubt be interesting to the friends in the Nottingham Circuit, as well as serve for the purpose of reference, to have a list of the annual appointments of the ministers who have laboured amongst them in “word and doctrine." The appointments stand as follows:-In 1797, J. Grundell, J. Revill; 1798, A. Kilham, G. Matthewson; 1799, W. Thom, J. Winstanley, J. Jones; 1800, W. Thom, W. Haslam, C. Donald; 1801, A. Cumming, W. Driver; 1802, W. Driver, J. Mallinson; 1803, W. Driver, J. Mallinson, J. Revill in part, and partly at Leicester; 1804, G. Wall, T. Bosker; 1805, J. Mort, G. Beaumont; 1806, J. Mort, G. Beaumont; 1807, W. Driver, T. Waterhouse; 1808, A. Scott, A. Jackson; 1809, W. Styan, A. Jackson; 1810, W. Styan, T. Allin; 1811, J. Manners, T. Allin; 1812, J. Manners, S. Barrowclough; 1813, T. Shore, A. Jackson; 1814, T. Shore, C. Atkinson; 1815, W. Chapman, C. Atkinson, W. Jones; 1816, W. Haslam, W. Chapman, W. Jones; 1817, W. Haslam. W. Wood, J. Atherton; 1818, W. Haslam, W. Wood, D. Barker; 1819, W. Shuttleworth, T. Scattergood, D. Barker; 1820, W. Shuttleworth, T. Scattergood, T. Robinson; 1821, J. Ousey, T. Batty, W. Shuttleworth, supernumerary; 1822, W. Styan, J. Ousey, J. Curtis; 1823, W. Styan, S. Woodhouse, W. Seaton; 1824, S. Woodhouse, J. Davies, J. Straw; 1825, S. Woodhouse, J. Davies, W. Hughes; 1826, B. Earnshaw, J. Dawson, H. Seals; 1827, B. Earnshaw, J. Dawson, J. Martin; 1828, W. Ford, J. Henshaw, J. Bott; 1829, W. Ford, W. Salt, J. Bott; 1830, W. Salt, J. Wilson, P. W. Greaves; 1831, J. Wilson, J. Hillock, S. Hulme; 1832, J. Bakewell, J. Hillock, W. Baggaly; 1833, J. Bakewell, T. Robinson, W. Baggaly; 1834, J. Livingstone, T. Robinson, A. Lynn, J. Manners, supernumerary at Derby; 1835, J. Livingstone, W. Jones, A. Lynn, C. Robe; 1836, J. Livingstone, W. Jones, A. Lynn, J. Townend; 1837, S. Woodhouse, W. Hughes, L. Stoney, W. Reynolds; 1838, S. Woodhouse, W. Hughes, L. Stoney, W. Reynolds; 1839, S. Woodhouse, C. Atkinson, S. Smith, T. Coxon; 1840, J. Wilson, J. Wynn, S. Smith, B. Earnshaw, supernumerary; 1841, B. Earnshaw, J. Wynn, S. Mellor; 1842, P. T. Gilton, C. Donald, S. Mellor; 1843, P. T. Gilton, C. Donald, J. Bensley; 1844, W. Mills, W. Innocent, J. Bensley, J. Ramsden; 1845, W. Mills, T. Ridge, S. Jones, T. Boycott; 1846, W. Mills, T. Ridge, S. Jones, T. Boycott; 1847, T. Mills, W. Jones, J. Wilson, T. Boycott; 1848, T. Mills, J. Wilson, G. Grundy, J. Wright; 1849, T. Mills, J. Nelson, G. Grundy, J. Wright. ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE HISTORY OF OUR CAUSE IN NOTTINGHAM. As Nottingham was one of the scenes where a number of faithful men of the past generation nobly struggled for those rational and scriptural principles of religious freedom which distinguish our denomination, and which principles must ultimately be incorporated in every Methodist community, it will not be unacceptable to give a few extracts from the letters of one or two of those worthy men. We have many of these original documents lying before us, but our space will admit of only a few. The pious Robert Hall, of Basford, was a frequent correspondent with Mr. Kilham, both before and after the origin of our Community. It was indeed Mr. Hall who opened the correspondence with Mr. Kilham, and introduced him to the Nottingham reformers. The original letter now lies before us. It is sensible, judicious, and breathes a spirit of genuine liberality, combined with a love for all that is good. We give the following extract:— "Basford, 16th April, 1796. "DEAR SIR,-I am desired by a committee of Methodists at Nottingham, formed for the purpose of carrying forward the plan recommended by our Newcastle friends, to write to you and desire you to give me a line as soon as convenient, respecting the present situation of your affairs; and, at the same time, to inform us in what manner we can give you any assistance against the many enemies that you will no doubt find on the present occasion, and particularly at the time of your trial at the approaching district meeting. Whatever aspersions may have been cast on us by the tongues of slander and ignorance, there is nothing more certain to all who are well acquainted with us, that we are firmly attached to every part of rational Methodism. We highly revere the itinerant plan in particular, and certainly will do all in our power to support it; but, at the same time, as your conduct and publications do, for the most part, agree with our sentiments, we should think ourselves very remiss not to give you all the support in our power, even though this should further draw on us the calumny of your and our enemies, and should cause us more fully to be represented as factious and disobedient. There never was a time when we laboured under greater pecuniary embarrassments than at present; but that shall not prevent us giving you some assistance of that kind, if you are in want of it, which, if it be the case, you will please to mention it in your answer, and, at the same time, say whether you would have us write in your behalf to the district meeting that is to sit in judgment upon you. If you advise this, you must inform us when and where it is to be held. "We hope we shall ever revere good men and good laws; but those that will no longer listen to the dictates of wisdom and justice, will certainly become the objects of our just reprehension and indignation. "I am, dear sir, with prayers for your prosperity, "ROBERT HALL.” Mr. Kilham having answered this letter, another was sent by Mr. Hall about a month afterwards, giving practical evidence that the Nottingham reformers were not friends in profession merely, but in deed and in truth. In this letter we find, too, the mode of address is changed from "dear sir," into that more emphatically expressive of English cordiality and Christian affection-" dear friend." "Basford, 30th April, 1796. "DEAR FRIEND,-The committee of the Methodists at Nottingham have desired me to remit you five guineas, for which they expect you to send them such pamphlets as you judge best calculated to forward the cause of liberty amongst us. They do not expect you to balance this by value in books, but leave it to your discretion, and will give you further assistance if you want it. With respect to our affairs here, we have written letters to most of the principal societies in the district, requesting them to send delegates to meet at Nottingham to |
