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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, 11 est film* A partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imeges ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 noi wo ■sm^ "'I' WESLEYAN MEl'HODIST CONFERENCE I: ITS UNION WITH THE CONFERENCE OF THE WESLEYAN METHODI/.' CHURCH IN CANADA, IN AUGUST, 1833, AND ITS Sia'ARATION FROM ( ANADA CONFERENCE, IN AUGUST, \»i(): fONSISTINC: OF THE OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS AND CORRESPONDENCE OF BOTH BODIES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. BY W. AND E. RYERSON, RErRESENTATlVES UF THE f.V.NABA CONFERENCE. PUBLISHEO IN CONSEQUENCK OF THE PUDLICATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENGLISH CONFERENCE :N THE PRINTED MINUTES. "While you are in search after truth in questions of a doubtf\il nature, or such as you have not yet thoroughly examined, keep up a just indiffprence to either side of the question, if you would be led honestly into the truth."— Dr. Watts. ¥ LONDON : « THOMAS TEGG, 73, CHEAPSIDE. PRINTED BY J. HADDON, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY, 1840. ADVERTISEMENT. The Representatives of the Canada Conference had made arrangements to return to their native country, and there publislt the results of their mission to England, when the Secretary of the English Conference waited upon them on Tuesday, the 25th instant, and delivered to them a copy of the Proceedings of the Conference lately held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Canaditui affairs, stating, in the course of conversation, that a copy of those proceedings had betn sent to the printer for publication in the printed minutes. After examining the Report of those Proceedings, the Representatives of the Canada Conference felt convinced that it was calculated to convey a very defective and erroneous impression of the nature and merits of the questions stateid. They have therefore con- sidered it due to themselves, to tho Church they represent, and to the British public, to publish in England, as well as in Canada, all the proceedings and correspondence which have transpired on both sides., in regard to this important affair. The present publica- tion has passed through the press in four day*. Had more time been allowed them, previously to their embarkation, they miglit have added a copious ' table of contents, and several additional explanatory notes and documents of importance. London., Monday., Auf/ust 31, 1840. w PREFACE. The proceedings and correspondence published in the follow- ing pages deeply involve the character of Wesleyan Methodism, and are, therefore, of deep interest to its friends. Up to the present moment, there is no instance of two bodies of Methodists, regularly descended from the venerable Wesley, existing in the same country. The Wesleyan Conferences, both in England and America, have hitherto illustrated, &,s well as professed, the principle enjoined by Mr. Wesley, in p* letter written to Amer^'ca, about six weeks before his death, that, " the Methodists are one people in all the world, and it is their full determination so to continue, * Though mountains rise and occana roll, > . ' . " ■ • To sever us in vain.'" " -. • •. : •" To prevent an anomaly, as unreasonable as it would have been disgraceful and sinful, a very numerously attended Wesleyan Conference, held at Manchester, in 1833, unanimously agreed to a union with the Wesleyan Conference in Canada. At the close of the session of the Conference lately held in Newcastle-upon- Tyne, a majority of about seventy ministers, who remained after the departure to their Circuits of upwards of three hundred ministers, (before whom the Representatives of the Canada Con- ference earnestly entreated that the questions pending might be investigated) have decided to break off that union ; and a Com- mittee appointed by them have since determined to commence Operations in Upper Canada, separate from the body established in that Province, since 1 7^7 ; — thus erecting altar against altar in the great and hitherto united family of Methodism. The Rev. Peter Jones, Indian chief and Missionary, has expressed his determination, in any alternative, to adhere to the Canadian IV rUEKACE. Conference, whicli was the means of his conversion and that of his people. Of course, all the Indians, under his influence, will do the same. It is possible that some of the Indian converts may be induced to join the agents of the Lond Hivtton Garden, London. April 30th, l«40. r Extract of a Letter from R. Vernon Smith, M.P., Under Colonial Secretary ^ dated Downing Street, l^tk of April, 1840. . Sib, I am directed hy Lord John Ru8seli< to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, requesting, on behalf of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, an interview with his lord- ship on matters affecting the operations of the Society in Upper Canada, and requesting his lordship's attention more especially to the claim of the Society's annual grant of c£70C, which they have hitherto enjoyed from the revenue of that province. His lordship desires me in reply to inform you, that he has already received from the Governor General, a despatch on the subject to which your letter relates, accompanied by a represen- tation from Mr. Ryerson, explaining the nature of the financial relations between the British Wesleyan Conference in England, and the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodists in Upper Ca- nada, and urging the claim of the latter to the exclusive manage- ment of the yearly grant. Under these circumstances it appears to his lordship that the most convenient course will be to afford the British Wesleyan Conference in England, the opportunity of discussing the pro. posal which Mr. Ryerson has made. He has, therefore, directed me to furnish you with a copy of that gentleman's communica- tion, and to acquaint you that he will be ready to consider any objections which the Wesleyan Missionary Society may have to urge to a compliance with the proposal which it contains. ' ' I have the honour to be, &c. (signed) R. Vernon Smith. To the Rev. R. Alder, Wesleyan Mission House, 77, Hatton Garden. Cupij of a Letter, addressed to the Governor General of Canada, by the Rev. Kgerton Ri/erson, dated Toronto, Jan. 17, 1840. May it pleark your Exckllencv, I proceed to state in as few words as possible, the nature of the financial relations which exist between the British Wesleyan Conference in England and the Conference of the Wesleyan Me- thodist Church in Upper Canada. In the year 1704, the late Rev. J. Wesley recommended the formation of the Methodist Societies in America into a distinct and independent Body, with the attributes and style of a Church — he having appointed general Suj)erin- tendants, or Bishops, to perform Ordinaticm, il'c, among them. It was by persons who had been ordained and appointed by these American Bishops, that the JNIethodist Church was established in Upper Canada. Down to 183!i, the Methodist Church in this Province had no more ecclesiastical connexion with the Wesleyan Conference in England, than exists between the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the United States and the Established Church of England. In l833, an arrangement was agreed upon by the Wesleyan Conference in this Province and that in England, by which a co-operation was to take place in the labors of the two bodies in Upper Canada. That arrangement consists of certain regulations, called 'Articles of Union.' These Articles, provide that the Conference in England may, when they see fit, appoint a person to preside over the Canada Conference, the same as the Crown appoints a Commissioner to preside in the General Assem- bly of the Church of Scotland ; but, that the Canadian Preachers shall have no claim upon the funds of the British Conference. It was also agreed, that the British Conference should assume the responsibility of supporting the Indian Missions, which had been, or might thereafter be, established in Upper Canada. They have also agreed to employ Canadian Preachers on those missions; but the Conference in England is the judge of the amount to be expended in each and every year ; and the moment any preacher is disabled for the mission work, or ceases to be actively employed in it, he can receive nothing from the funds of the British Con- ference, but is entirely dependent upon the Canadian Conference. It will therefore be observed, that there are two departments of wn 6 the work, in connexion with the Wesleyan cause in this Province ; namely — what we call, the regular or circuit work, and the mission work. In carrying on'the former, no claim can be made upon the funds of the British Conference ; in carrying on the latter, the British Conference has agreed to assume the pecuniary responsibility, and is the sole judge of the extent of it and the amount of expenditure. The former embraces 47 circuits, and the latter embraces 14 circuits— ^ue among the New Settlements, and nine amongst the Aboriginal Indian Tribes. On many of the regular circuits, the conj^^regations are unable to pay more than two-thirds, and in some instances not more than one-half, of the disciplinary salary or alloAvance of the Preachers. The loss of such deficiencies must be endured by the Preachers concerned, unless, as in the case of Mr. Richey, they happen to be members of the British Conference; as we have not as yev any funds to supply them, and have no claims upon the funds of the British Conference for that purpose. ;■',. ', ■ ■ -<;■■ i -■ -, >-:.--'... The same remark applies to chapels that are in embarrassed circumstances, and also to places where chapels are needed, but where the inhabitants are not able to pay more than a part of the amount necessary to build them. It may also be observed, that, in addition to doing all that is done towards supporting the regular circuit work,'and building all the chapels that are built in connexion with it, annual collections and subscriptions are made throughout all our congregations, in aid of the funds of the British Wesleyan Missionary Society. These collections and subscriptions amount to from one thousand to fifteen hundred pounds per annum. It is therefore perfectly clear, that a Government grant to the British Wesleyan Conference, and a grant to the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church i:i Canada, are two very difierent things. That the latter is not in any way benefited by grants to the former, will appear obvious, for the following reasons : — 1. The Canadian Conference collects more than the sum necessary to support the five missions to the New Settlements, and the nine Indian missions "; ore established previously to 1 833, when the British Conferenct ag^- jed to assume the responsibility of supporting them. 3. The Government grants were discontinued for two or three years, but it did not in the least affect tlie Canadian missions ; although if the society in England had had additional sums equal to those grants at their disposal those years, they would have ex- tended their missionary operations in other parts of the world in a corresponding ratio, as they are multiplying their various missions (except in Upper Canada) in proportion to the increase of their funds. 3. The Government grants are not acknowledged in any reports of the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, but in the annual reports of the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London. The annual appropriations for the Canadian missions are made in June of each year, and should a dissolution of the Union take place between the bodies, as intimated to your Erccellency by Messrs. Stinson and Richey, the Conference in England would claim the missions in this Province — notwithstanding their original establishment by the Canadian Conference, and the annual collections made to support them. But I apprehend no disposition on the part of the British Conference to dissolve the Union, unless they can get Government aid independent of the Canadian Conference to prosecute their views. I conceive therefore that any grants intended to benefit the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, ought undoubtedly to be placed at the disposal of the Conference of that Church.* I have, &c. [Signed] Egeeton Ryekson. * Note by E. Ryerson, — When I wrote the foregoing letter, I had not the remotest idcatliat it would ever be laid before Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonics ; and, therefore, it could not have been an application to liis Lordship on any subject, Mr. Vernon Smith has inadvertently attributed to me what was recommended liy His Excellency, the Governor General of Canada. The recommendation was also spontaneous on the part of His Excellency, and flowed from his own sense of justice and soimd policy, after the most thorough investigation of the subjec*^ My letter was also dictated to a considerable degree by certain communications which Mr. Stinson and Mr. Richey had made tc His Excellency. A full explanation of the circumstances under which I wrote the above letter will be found in the former part of the letter addressed by the Representatives of the Wesleyan Conference in Canada to Lord Jolm Rus- aell, in reply to Dr. Alder,— pp. 24—27. I 8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADA CONFERENCE. Extracts from the Journal of the Conference of the Wesley an Methodist Church in CanadUy assembled at Belleville, Upper Canada, June, 1840. Friday Morning, June I2th. "Resumed the question in relation to the examination of character. " On the name of Egerton Ryerson being called, the President of the Conference presented certain documents from a committee of the British Wesleyan Conference. The documents were read, headed as follows, viz. ; — *' 1. Extract of a letter from R. Vernon Smith, M.P. Under Colonial Secretary, addressed to Dr. Alder, 15 April, 1840. " 2. A copy of a letter addressed to the Governor General of Canada, by the Rev. E. Ryerson, dated Toronto, 17 January, 1840. ■ - - - ** 3. Copy of the resolutions of a committee appointed by the British Conference of 1839 to decide finally on all matters re- lating to the Union existing between the British Conference and the Upper Canada Conference, and the Indian missions in Upper Canada, 77, Hatton Garden, Wednesday, 29 April, 1840. '' Resolved, — That these documents be taken into considera- tion on Monday morning, the 15th instant. Monday, June l^th. , "Proceeded to take up the documents transmitted from the committee of the British Wesleyan Conference in England, in relation to Egerton Ryerson. " The Assistant Secretary read, first the letter of the Rev. E. Ryerson to the Governor General of Canada ; secondly, extract of a letter from R. Vernon Smith, Esq. M.P. to Dr. Alder ; thirdly, resolutions of a committee of the British Wesleyan Conference in London, dated, 77, Hatton Garden, April 29, 1840, and signed ' Elijah Hoole.' Mr. Richey appeared as the accuser in behalf of the London Committee. After a lengthened address M. Richey moved, se- conded by E. Evans, that it be Resolved — " That this Conference has heard with great sur- prise and regret, of Brother Egerton Ryerson's attempt to de- prive the British Wesleyan Missionary Committee, of the annual grant received by them from the imperial government, to enable them to extend their missions in this province ; and that they utterly repudiate such proceedings on the part of Mr. Ryerson, not only as irregular and unauthorised, but directly opposed to a resolution adopted by this Conference at its last session, re- scinding the second, fifth, and sixth resolutions, passed by this Conference in June, 1837, on the subject of the grants in ques- tion, because those resolutions were represented by Mr. Alder as interfering with the usages of the British brethren, and calcula- ted materially to retard their interests." Tuesday, June \Qth. Met at 8 a. m., reading, singing, and prayer. Resumed the consideration of the documents relative to E. Ryerson. "The memorial of the Rev. Joseph Stinson, President of the Conference, and the Rev. Matthew Richey, Superintendent of Toronto city circuit to his Excellency the Right Hon. Charles Poulett Thompson, Governor General of Canada, on the subject of the Clergy Reserves was read. Mr. E. Ryerson proceeded to address the Conference. Adjourned. Conference met at 2 o'clock p. m., singing and prayer. Mr. E. Ryerson proceeded in and closed his address. Adjourned. Wednesday i June Vith. Conference met at 8 a. m., reading, singing, and prayer. Re- sumed the consideration of the resolutions of the London Com- mittee. After considerable discusvsion the resolution introduced by Mr. Richey was put, when the yeas and nays were ordered to be taken. Yeas. — A. Prindel, M. Richey, M. Lang, J. Norris, William Scott, E. Evans, J. Douse, and Benjamin Slight — 8 Nays.—^. Belton, E. Stoney, H. Biggar, T. Fawcett, W. Case, R. Heyland, C. R. Allison, J. Musgrove, E. Shepherd, J. Scott, C. Flummerfelt, J. M'Intire, R. Jones, J. Black, E. Heally, William Haw, B. Nankeville, S. Hurlburt, William Willoughby, P. Jones, C. Vandusen, L. Warner, A. Green, J. Ryerson, J. G. Manly, J. Brock, J. Beatty, S. Rose, J. Carrol, H I I I m 10 D. Berny, D. Hardy, V. B. Howard, G. Miller, H. Wilkinson, R. Corson, Edvvy Ryerson, H. Shaler, D. Wright, W. H. Wil- liams, D. M'MuUen, W. Ryerson, A. M'Nabb, T. Bevitt, H. Montgomery, A. Hurlburt, Ezra Adams, M. luting, A. Adams, J. Baxter, J. Messmore, S. Waldron, W. Young, J. Law, G. Pool, T. M'Mullen, P. Ker, G. H. Playter, H. Dean, and J. Lever — 59. ' ■ The resolution of Mr. Richey was therefore negatived by a majority of fifty-one. S. Miles and S. Huntingdon were excused from voting, as they had not been able, in consequence of indisposition, to attend during the whole investigation of the matter. Brother Steer was excused "from voting on the ground of con- scientious scruples, as he could not make up his judgment. Adjourned. Friday, June I9th. After the most mature consideration of the several subjects referred to in the resolutions of the Committee of the English Wesleyan Conference, dated, 77^ Hatton Garden, London, 29th April, 1840, the following resolutions were adopted. Resolved — s L That we cannot recognize any right on the part of the Com- mittee, to interfere with the Canada Conference in the manage- ment of our own internal affairs (except as provided for by the Articles of Union), and especially with our views and proceed- ings Oil the question of the Clergy Reserves ; as we are preclu* ded by the articles of union with the English Conference from all claims upon its funds, and as our o\vn uncontrolled action and interests have always been reserved and admitted in relation to the question of the Clergy Reserves. ' • II. That, as the articles of union between thfe English and Canada conferences expressly secure to the Canadian preachers all their rights and privileges inviolate, we consider it at variance with the letter and spirit of those articles and an anomalous and alarming precedent, for the committee in London to accuse and condemn a member of this conference, and then to enjoin upon us to carry their sentence into execution on pain of a dissolution of the union. III. That whilst we have always maintained, and are resolved 11 to maintain, to the fullest extent, the dignity and authority of the office of president as provided for in our Rules and in the Articles of Union, we are impelled by an imperative sense of duty, to de- cline acceding to the claim put forth by the Committee in Lon. don, that the President appointed in England is to be regarded by virtue of his office as " the Agent and Representative of the Wesleyan body in Upper Canada" in the transaction of affiiirs with the Government, in which the interests of our Church are involved ; as we have always, in anticipation of such transactions, appointed a Committee or Representative to guard and represent the views and interests of our Church ; especially as this Con- ference, at its last session, appointed the Rev. Egerton Ryerson as its special Representative to confer with the Government on matters affecting our civil and religious rights and interests ; and we can discover no good reason to depart from an established and proper usage. IV. That it appears to this Conference, that a proper regard to the rights and interests of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, rendered it the imperative duty of the Rev. Egerton Ryerson to confer and correspond with His Excellency the Go- vernor General of Canada on our financial affairs ; and we fully concur in the exposition which Mr. Ryerson has given of the financial relations between the English and Canadian conferences in his letter to the Governor General, dated Toronto, Jan. 1 7, 1840. And whilst we disclaim any wish to interfere with the legitimate claims of the Wesleyan Missionary Society upon the faith and liberality of Her Majesty's Government, we learn with feelings of gratitude, that the rights and interests of the Wesleyan body in this province have been brought under the consideration of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies by His Ex- cellency the Governor General ; and we are prepared to submit to the decision of the proper authorities respecting them. V. That in reference to the last Resolution of the Committee in London, declaring their intention, under any circumstances, to claim, and, if possible, to secure the possession of the Indian missions in Upper Canada; this Conference, considering that those Missions, with two or three exceptions, were established by our exertions prior to 1833 (when the Articles of Union were agreed to) and that they have, in a great measure, been supported by funds obtained in this province, and sustained chiefly by the 12 r V' Ministrations and labours of Canadian preachers and teachers, we cannot regard it as reasonable, or our providential duty, under any circumstances, to relinquish our pastoral connexion with those missions which were established previously to the Union. VI. That firmly believing, as we do, that the resolutions of the Committee in London have been adopted upon errciieous im- pressions ; and being satisfied that our fathers and brethren in England have not intended, nor could intend, any thing unkind, towards the members of this connexion, or unjust to its interests ; and deeply anxious as we are to maintain inviolate and unim- paired the principles and Articles of Union between the English and Canadian Conferences ; and being determined to do all in our power to prevent the dissolution of the Union, therefore resolved. That a delegation be sent to the Wesleyan Conference in England, to lay all the matters referred to in these resolutions before that venerable body, and to use all proper means to pre- vent collision between the two connexions. Resolved, That the delegation to be sent to England on the subjects of the foregoing resolutions consist of two, Proceeded to ballot for representatives to England, — Votes Egerton Ryerson, 51 ; William Ryerson, 43 ; several scattering votes. Egerton and William Ryerson were declared duly elected. Moved by W. Case, seconded by Egerton Ryerson, and Resolved, That our respected brother, the Rev. Joseph Stin- son, be requested to accompany our delegation to England, to confer upon the matters pending between the British and Cana- dian connexions. To the President and Members of the British Wesleyan Conference, Reverend and very dear Fathers Aimd Brethren, While we sincerely regret that we have not received your usual parental and welcome address, we cannot omit renewing our assurances of respect and afi^ection, and acquainting you with our interests and affairs. We desire to maintain, with undiminished interest, and uninterrupted regularity, the pleasure and profit of 13 frank and confidential intercourse in the true spirit of Curistian and Methodistic unity and love. We desire to feel grateful to Almighty God for the mercies anfl blessings of the past year. Notwithstanding the excitement and fluctuations of society in general, the Head of the Church has graciously preserved and blessed us, and given us an acces- sion of one thousand one hundred and sixty-four members. The cultivation of the INIission field continues to advance and improve ; and encouraging openings in difl^erent directions demand at once renewed exertions, and the exercise of lively and cheering hope. In connexion with the various branches of the Methodist family throughout the world, we have joyously and profitably engaged in the celebration of the centenary of Methodism. Con- tributions have been made to our Funds, in memorial of the in- stitution and first centenary of Methodism, and as an humble thank-offering to Almighty God, which we trust will materially contribute to the extension and prosperity of our Zion ; and information has been difl^used, and holy emotions awakened, which cannot fail to result in the most cheering and permanent benefit. We have great pleasure in again expressing our very high es- teem and earnest affection for our respected president and the superintendent of Missions, the Rev. Joseph Stinson. We have the fullest confidence in his piety, integrity, and abilities, after an acquaintance of several years ; we cherish a deep sense of his indefatigable and useful exertions in the important situations in which he has been placed ; and we earnestly request his appoint- ment to the presidency of our Conference for the ensuing year. We are truly thankful for the increasing efiliciency of the Upper Canada Academy. In the several departments of govern- ment, tuition, and general management, the institution has ex- perienced a decided improvement, and aflforded us sincere satis- faction during the past year ; and we confidently look forward to its still greater success in elevating and forming iii- intellec- tual and moral character of the province. In parting with our excellent friend and brother, the Rev. Matthew Richey, A.M. who, since the opening of the Institution, has held the office of Principal, we desire to express our high and affectionate estimate of his piety, learning, and abilities. We have been greatly de- lighted and edified by his pulpit ministrations and labors ; and 14 m ,1. 4 we devoutly pray, that wherever his lot may be cast, he may largely partake of the divine benediction, and be abundantly prospered in his work of faith and love. We deeply regret that we have not been favored with a visit from your highly-esteemed Representative to the American Ge- neral Conference, the Reverend R. Newton. We have felt greatly disappointed in his return to England, without attending our Conference, and affording us the very peculiar profit and delight of his intercourse and counsels. We also deeply regret that any misapprehensions have arisen, or any diversity of opinion obtained, to threaten the harmony and cordial co-operation of the British and Canadian connexions. We most anxiously desire to strengthen and perpetuate the union which now happily exists, and to adjust, satisfactorily, all points of difference between us ; and to accomplish these ends we have appointed the Rev. Egorton Ryerson, and the Rev. William Ryerson, Representatives to attend your approaching session of Conference. We repose the fullest confidence in their character and abilities, and cherish a strong hope that all things may be settled on a sure and permanent foundation. We are also happy to add that our respected and beloved President kindly consents to accompany them for co-operation and aid, in compliance with our earnest and unanimous request. And now, dear Fathers and Brethren, we are about to repair to our respective fields of labour, determined to devote ourselves afresh to God ; fervently praying that we all may be enabled to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, and to co-ope- rate with the utmost cordiality, diligence, and success, in the great and glorious work which God hath given us to do. And " to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, do- minion and power, both now and ever." Amen. Signed by ord^r, and in behalf of the Conference of the Wes- leyan Methodist Church in Canada, assembled at Belleville this twentieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and forty. Egerton Ryerson, Secretary. 15 Letter from the Rev. R. Aider to Lord John Russell. Wesley an Mission House, 'J'J, Hattim Garden, London, 29th April, 1840. My Lopd, I have the honour to acknowledge, on behalf of the Com- mittee of the Wc'sleyan Missionary Society, the receipt of a communication from Mr. Under-Secretary Smith, in reply to a communication addressed to your Lordship by me on the 8tli instant, on matters affecting the interests of the Society in Upper Canada. It is stated by Mr. Smith, that your Lordship will be ready to consider any objections which the Wesleyan Missionary Society may hav^e to urge, to a compliance with certain propo- sals contained in a communication addressed by the Rev. E. Ryergon to his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, respecting the appropriation of the annual grant of seven hundred pounds, now paid to the Wesleyan Missionary Society from the casual and territorial revenue of Canada. Before I proceed to examine ]Mr. Ryerson's proposal, I beg permission to convey to your Lordship the cordial thanks of the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, for the prompt and courteous manner in which you have caused to be commu- nicated to them a copy of Mr. Ryerson's letter, and for the op- portunity which your. Lordship has thus afforded them for dis- cussing the subject to which that letter relates. While they regret that any occasion should have arisen for such a discussion, they are of opinion with your Lordship, that the course pointed out in Mr. Smith's communication is, under all circumstances, the most convenient. At all events, it cannot fail to bring out the important facts connected with the annual grant made to the Society ; and, in the judgment of the Committee, nothing more will be necessary to show your Lordship that the arrangement in question is one with which Mr. Ryerson should not have inter- fered, and that the interference of that individual should not induce your Lordship to permit it to be disturbed. As I am well aware of the value of your Lordship's time, oc- cupied as it is with the cares and duties connected with the important department of her Majesty's Government over which your Lordship presides, I am anxious to compress my statements 16 as much us is consistent with what is due to your Lordship and to the Society which, on this occasion, I liave tlie honour to repre- sent. I must, however, crave permission to advert to some of tlie general statements contained in Mr. Ryerson's letter, lest they should make an erroneous impression on your Lordship's mind, and therchy operate to our disadvantage. It is not correct, as stated by Mr. llyerson, that the late Rev. John Wesley recommended the formation of the Methodist Hiu cieties iii America into a distinct and independent body, with the attributes and style of a Church. Tt is true, indeed, that at the close of the American revolutionary war, Mr. Wesley formed the Methodist Societies in the United States into a distinct religious community, and placed them under an episcoj)al form of govern- ment, and his reason for doing so was, that the thirteen colonies having become free and independent states, they were thereby politically and ecclesiastically separated from the mother country, and had renounced their allegiance to the British crown. But Mr. Wesley never intended that his arrangement in reference to the methodist societies in that republic should affect, in any degree, the relative position of his societies in the British pro- vinces of North America, either to himself or to the British Con- ference, to which he bequeathed his supreme pastoral authority over all the Methodist societies in the United Kingdom, and throughout the colonial possessions of the empire. Hence, at the present time, all the Wesleyan ministers and members of the Society in Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, as well as in all her Ma- jesty's colonial possessions, with one exception, are integral parts of the great religious community under the care of the British Conference, and are subject to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of that body ; an arrangement which, I may be permitted to observe, is calculated to promote the perpetuity of our united empire, inasmuch as permission to ecclesiastical authority resident in the parent state, in matters pertaining to religion, cannot fail to strengthen the political and civil ties by which the colonies are united to the mother country, and to secure loyal and constitu- tional obedience to the imperial government in all the colonial dependencies of the Crown. The one exception to which I have referred is that of Upper Canada, which province, in consequence of its contiguity to the 17 United States, wus first supplied with Methodist IMiiiisters from thence, and the societies organised in the C()h)ny were regarded as forming a part of the Methodist Church in the neighbouring Repul)lic, and as such were placed under foreign ecclesiastical jurisdiction. This was felt to be a very undesirable state of things. The General Conference of the United States eiulea- voured, with great tenacity, to retain their hold of the Methodist Society in Upper Canada. Various representations were made to the home government on this subject, and at length, in 1814, the British Conference determined to send missionaries into that province from home, who should act under their own direction. From that period down to the year 1832, the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Committee maintained a distinct position in Upper Ca- nada, and I believe that the [British Wesleyan Missionaries are recognised in the Provincial Marriage Act. In consequence of proposals which were made in tlie year 1832, by the Earl of Ripon, then Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee, to induce them to extend their missionary operations in Upper Canada, they resolved to do so, and arrangements were immediately made for carrying that reso- lution into effect. My Lord, the Government of Earl Grey was moved to make this offer to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee by Patriotic as well as by religious considerations ; and if the testimony of Lord Seaton, and other distinguished individuals, may be depended upon, a wiser arrangement could not have been proposed. On the ground of this arrangement an annual grant is secured, on the faith of the Royal word, to the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Committee, to assist them in meeting the expense which it necessarily involves. The union which now exists between the British Conference and the Conference in Upper Canada, took place about a year after I had, as the representative of the Wesleyan ^ 'Missionary Committee, completed at Toronto, with Lord Seaton, all the ar. rangements connected with the offer made by Lord Goderich to the Committee, having proceeded from England to Canada for that purpose. It is more than doubtful, my Lord, whether that union can be maintained much longer by us ; but it is not doubtful whether we shall or shall not prosecute our missionary operations in Upper Canada, for the benefit of the Aborigines as well as of the c 18 Colonists. My Lord, the Wesloyan Missionary Committco will not abai\(lon missions which thfy were instninu'iital in saving from rtiin ; hut, relying upon the royul promise and the benevo- lence of the Christian public of this country, they will d(» their part to teach tlie objects of their charge in Upper Canada to •♦fear God and honour the Queen." It is to me most unaccountable, that Mr. K. Ryerson should have submitted such a proposal as he appears to have done ; and I cannot but express deep regret, that his Excellency the Go- venior-General should have forwarded to your Lordship a des- patch which must, to a great extent, be founded on the ex parte statements contained in Mr. R.*s letter to his Excellency, inas- much as we liave reason to believe that no communications on the subject of that letter were held with our duly accredited representatives in Upper Canada, or even with the President of the Upper Canada Conference. Your Lordship's sense of jus- tice has, however, afforded us an opportunity for laying before you the objections felt by the Wesleyan Missionary Committee to the proposal now made for alienating, in wh(de or in part, from them, the annual grant, and transferring it to the Upper Canadian Wesleyan Methodist Conference. In the first place, my Lord, Mr. E. Ryerson has acted without due authority, in making such a proposal. He is not officially empowered to do so. Such a proposal, if made at all, should be made either by the Conference itself, or by the President of that body, who is the only functionary authorized to act in such a case, during the interim of its sittings. Mr. Ryerson is merely the secretary of the Conference, and, as such, he has no more au- thority for acting as he appears to have done, than the Provin- cial Secretary of Upper Canada has, as such, to assume and exercise the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Pro- vince. Secondly, — The grant was offered to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee, and accepted before the union between the British Conference, and the Upper Canadian Conference was contem- plated ; and all the arrangements connected with it were made be- fore that event took place. Mr. Ryerson is pleased to state that he apprehends that there will be " no disposition on the part of the British Conference to dissolve the union, unless they can get government aid, independent of the Canadian Conference." 19 Now the fact is, we have, from the hef^innin^, ofuained the aid of Government, htdcpcnde.u of the Canadian Cmference, uiid the dittictilty that has sometimeH heeii experienced in obtaining pay- ment of the grant, has leen owinj;, in a {^reat measure, to our union with that l)ody — a body which haN ulways protested against receiving government aid for religions purposes. Thirdly. — At the time that the union t(n>k place, it was stated most distinctly to Mr. E. Uyerson himself, who came to Eng. land in 1H33, as the representative of the Upper Canadian Con- ference, to negociate the union, that it must be clearly under, stood that the union could not he permitted by m.v to interfere in any wai/ with (he arrangements that then existed between his late Majesty* s government and the Commitlee, especially with the receipt and appropriation of the grant, which fact must be in the recollection of Mr. Ryerson. Fourthly. — This view of the case has always been taken and acted upon by the Conference of Upper Canada, which body adopted a series of resolutions on the subject of religious grants, in the year 1837, iu the second and fifth of which it is distinctly stated that the annual grant was made to the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Committee in London ; " and in the sixth of the said re- solutions it is affirmed, " that the annual grant was made to the Wesleya' Missionary Committee in aid of the religious instruction and improvement of the Indian tribes, and is one of the condi- tions * upon which his Majesty's government has consented to cede the control of the said revenue to the provincial legisl.turf,." As the resolutions in question are founded on what is called the voluntary principle, the Missionary Committee, fearing that some parts of them might be so understood and explained as to interfere with their claim to the grant, I brought ^ matter be- fore the last Conference in Upper Canada, and required that they should be rescinded, upon which occasion the following re- solution was adopted. *' Resolved, — That the Rev. Mr. Alder having represented that the second, fifth, and sixth resolutions passed by this Conference * Note by E. /?y«rson:— This is a misquotation. The Canada Conference did not " affirm " that it " is one of the conditions," &c. The Canada Confer- ence stated that it had been represented (by Sir F. Head) as " one of the con- ditions," &c. ^ c 2 i J 20 r I in June, 1837, on the subject of certain grants made by his late Majesty to the Wesleynn Missionary Committee, out of the ca- sual and territorial revenue, interferes with the usages of our British brethren, and materially retards their interests, this Con- ference rescind the same. * Here, my Lord, I am under the necessity of pointing out the marked inconsistency which exists between the conduct of Mr. Ryerson and the proceedings of the last Upper Canadian Confer- ence. In the middle of the month of June last, the above minute was adopted, for the purpose of removing, as far as the Upper Canadian Conference was concerned, all doubt as to the just claim of the Wesleyan Missionary Society to the annual grant, and yet within a few brief months, Mr. Ryerson takes upon himself to contravene the decision of the Ecclesiastical >ody of which he is a member, and by so doing to contradict his own repeated and recorded opinions, that it is wrong for churches to receive aid for religious purposes from the state. Nay, my Lord, so far did he and the Upper Canadian Conference carry out the voluntary principle, that the very fact of the Bri- tish Conference having sanctioned the arrangements entered into between his late Majesty's government and the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Committee, by virtue of which the annual grant was made to the latter, occasioned no little difficulty Avhen the union between the British and Canadian Conferences was first pro- posed, from the objections officially expressed by the Upper Ca- nadian Conference to the acceptance of such grants for such purposes ; objections which were only removed by causing it to he clearly understood that the latter were in no sense parties to that arrangement, and that they were to hav^. no connexion with, or control over the appropriation of the government grant. * Note by E. Ryerson. — There were adopted at the same time three other resolutions on the subject of the grant, as also several resolutions on the ques- tion of the clergy reserves, which v-ere not rescinded. The resolutions respect- ing the grant were adopted to remove erroneous impressions t A even pr«ju- dicea, which had been created by « message of Sir F. Head to the House of Assembly on the subject. That object having been accomplished, and it hav- ing been ascertained that the Wesleyan Committee in Lo.-^^on took exception to three of those resolutions, the Cr-ada Conference rejidily rescinded them ; but it did not rescind any resolutions wh'ch related to its own claims and in- terests aiid general views. 21 The union was first sought by Mr. Ryerson and his friends, and so far from that arrangement having been sought by us for the purpose of enabling the Wesleyan Missionary Committee to receive the government grant, your Lordship will perceive that the union between the two Conferences took place after the Wesleyan Missionary Committee hnd accepted the aid offered by government, and had pledged itself to extend its missionary operations in Upper Canada, and the fact is, that one argument employed by Mr. Ryerson and others to persuade his brethren the members of the Uppt" Canadian Conference to agree to a union was, that tjiat Conference did not possess the means to support the Indian missions, and that unless the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Committee took the charge of them, they would be ut- terly ruined. Monies had been collected in the United States for them, an^^ in this way her Majesty's Indian subjects were led to look for support to a foreign power, instead of looking for it from the mother country. But even this plan was found to be ineffectual. There were not found so many religious as the/e are political sympathizers in the union ; and in consequence of the small amount of the aid thus obtained, and other causes, when the Wesleyan Missionary Committee took upon itself the responsibility of supporting those missions, the buildings were found to be to a great extent in a dilapidated state, — debts were due upon them, the agency was too limited; and very large sums were of necessity expended in placing them in any thing like a state of efficiency. The financial views of the case furnished by Mr. Ryerson, is equally partial a^id erroneous with other of his statements to the Governor in Chief. But without entering into particulars, as I am anxious to save your lordship's time, I shall simply submit xlie following facts, which I am prepared to prove, for your lord- ship's consideration. '; » 1 . That when the Wesleyan Missionary Committee took upon itself to support the ludian Mi'^sions, tlie monies raised by the Upper Canada Conference amounted to the small sum of c€177 18s. Id. sterling, since which time they have gradually in^-x eased to £1304 14s. lid. ; the largest sum ever raised during one year, an advance which is chiefly to be ascribed to two causes. First, the zeal and activity of the General Superintendent of Missions sent to Upper Canada by the Wesleyan Missionary 22 H I) • f in I :•■!! Committee ; and, secondly, to the fact that many individuals have since the Union contributed towards the support of the Missions, because they are now the Missions of the Wesleyan Missionary Society in England, and as such under the care of the British Conference, who would not have contributed towards their sup- port if they had not been placed under the direction and control of British Methodism^ and who continue to support them only for that reason. 2. The suspension of the Government Grant for two or three years did affect our Canadian Missions, as we were thereby pre- vented from increasing the number of our agents amongst the Indians and destitute settlers. Mr. Ryerson, indeed, who could know but little of the intentions of the Wesleyan Missionar} Committee, states " that it did not," and insinuates in his letter to the Governor- General, that if the Committee had received the sums which were withheld from them, ihat they would have expended such monies granted for the Upper Canadian Missions, in extending their missionary operations elsewhere. My Lord, I have only to state in reply to such an insinuation, that whoever else may be capable of receiving money for one purpose, and ap- propriating it to other uses and purposes, such is not the practice ri£ the Wesleyan Missionary Committee. They engaged not only to expend all the monies that they might ceive from the Govern- ment for missionary purposes connected with Upper Canada, but also a portion of their own funds, and I cannot better show your Lordship with what fidelity they have adhered to their engage- ments than by laying before you the following statement : — Total amount of Government grants received from the year 1832 to the 31st December, 1839 3,670 Total amount of missionary money raised in ^ Upper Canada for missionary purposes . 4,989 >6 5 Monies expended by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in connexion with the missions in Upper (exclusive of Lower) Canada, from August 1 833, to December 31st, 1839 . 8,659 16 5 17,806 18 11 8,659 16 5 9,147 2 6 83 Showing, as your Lordship will perceive, that the Wesleyah INIissionary Committee have actually expended on the Upper Canadian Missions during six years no less than nine thousand one hundred and forty. seven pounds two shillings and sixpence of its own funds ; and yet it is proposed to alienate from them the annual grant, and to throw the entire responsibility of sup- porting these missions upon the Society ; and, indeed, to violate a Royal pledge for the purpose of inflicting a wrong upon a Society which has so faithfully fulfilled its engagements. Under such circumstances I feel that the rights of the Society are safe in the hands of your Lordship. I forbear, therefore, urging on your Lordship's attention the consideration that the objections which I have stated are greatly strengthened by the fact that although ere long Upper and Lower Canada will, it is expected, constitute one province, after the union of the provinces the ministers and congregations of Wesleyan Methodists in Lower Canada will remain, as they ever have done, distinct from and independent of, the Upper Canada Conference, and under the direction of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee. The plan recommended by Mr,, Ryerson, or in fact any alteration in the present arrangements respecting the grant, would therefore occasion great dissatisfaction amongst our Societies in the lojjjer province. Nor is this all, my Lord, the entire IMethodist Con- nexion in the United Kingdom has its attention directed to this matter ; and, feeling as they cei . ly would, that any such alteration would be a reflection upon their character, as if they were unworthy of the continued pavment of a grant so solemnly pledged to them ; they would feel it to be their duty publicly and formally to object to it, and the more so because of circum- stances in Canada connected with the proposition of which the Wesleyan Missionary Society are not ignorant. I beg leave to conclude by again appealing to your Lordship with confidence, that 1 have shown cause why Mr. Ryerson's proposal should be rejected ; and under such circumstances I am sure that you will not adopt a course which, however it might gratify Mr. Ryerson and his friends in Upper Canada, would grieve and oflfend the Wesleyan community in every other part of her Majesty's dominions, not so much from pecuniary consi- derations as for the reason I have stated above. I have the honour to be, &c.. Lord John Russell. (Signed) R. Alder, Sec. Wes. Miss. Soc 24 'i 5 (J ) 5 I' ). i m Letter from the Rev. W. and E. Ryerson to Lord John Russellf in reply to Mr. Alder, 22, Cecil Street, Strand, August 20th, 1840. My Lord, We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Under Secretary Vernon Smith's letter of the 29th ult., en- closing a copy of the Rev. Robert Alder's letter to your Lord- ship, dated 29th April last, purporting to be a reply to a letter from the Rev. Egerton Ryerson to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada, dated January l7th, 1840, respecting the financial relations of the Wesleyan Conferences in England and in Canada. We beg, on behalf of the Conference of the Wesleyan Me- thodist Church in Canada, to express to your Lordship our sincere thanks for the opportunity which your Lordship has thus afforded us of discussing the several subjects of Mr. Alder's letter, and of vindicating the character and interests of the Wes- leyan Methodist Church in Upper Canada from the erroneous statements and imputations contained in that letter. As the circumstances under which Mr. Ryerson wrote to His Excellency the Governor- General of Canada the letter referred to have been misunderstood, it may be worth while to state them. His Excellency, having determined to undertake the settlement of the long agitated question of the Clergy Reserves in Upper Canada, sent, during the last week in December and the first week in January last, for ministers and influential mem- bers of various religious denominations, in order to ascertain their opinions and wisies on that subject. Amongst others he sent for Mr. Ryerson, and also for the Rev. Messrs. Stinson and Richey, the former President of the Upper Canada Conference, and representative of the London Wesleyan Missionary Com- mittee, the latter a member of the Wesleyan Conference in England, but temporarily connected with the Wesleyan Metho- dist Church in Upper Canada by a special vote of the Canadian Conference. As the Governor-General proposeu to transf3r, all the religious grants which had been paid out of the casual and and territorial revenues, as first charges upon the Clergy Re- serve fund ; and as those charges woujd for some years absorb the entire fund, Mr. Ryerson submitted to his Excellency the justice and reasonableness of making a grant to the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, in aid of the Upper Canada Academy, and of transferring that with the other religious grants to the Clergy Reserve fund. His Excellency objected upon the ground that several hundred pounds per annum had already been granted in aid of the Wesleyan body in Upper Canada. Mr. Ryerson assured his Excellency that he was mistaken, and laid before his Excellency several documents to satisfy him that the grant refe d to had not been made to the Wesleyan body in Canada, nor in aid of its funds. His Excellency considered the matter of sufficient importance to require a thorough investigation, and requested Mr. Ryerson to recapitulate in writing the substance of what he had stated ver- bally. Mr. Ryerson did so in a letter dated January 2nd, 1840, a copy of which is herewith transmitted, marked A. On the same day (January 2, 1840), Messrs. Stinson and Richey had an interview with his Excellency, during which they informed his Excellency that the union between the English and Canadian Conferences was expected to be dissolved (a measure the most remote from the thoughts of the members of the Canadian Con- ference), and desired his Excellency so to frame his bill as to secure that portion of the proceeds of the Reserves, to the con- trol of which the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada would be entitled, to the control of the Wesleyan Conference in England, for the benefit of those who should adhere to it on the dissolution of the union with the Canadian Conference. On the day following Messrs. Stinson and Richey embodied their views in a memorial to his Excellency, a copy of which is herewith enclosed, marked B. In that memorial it will be seen, that the Wesleyan Conference in Canada is superseded by the Wesleyan Conference in England, and that when one of the articles of union between 'lie two bodies provided that the former should have no claim u;^)on the funds of the latter. There is reason to believe that m the interview above alluded to, his Excellency gave Messrs. Stinson and Richey no reason to expect countenance from him to a proposition so obviously unjust and impolitic. Their views and statements furnished his Excel- lency with additional reasons for examining into all the existing relations and interests of the Wesleyan bodies in Canada and in JEngland. His Excellency examined all the despatches and 26 i< ' I other documents which related to the subject, and sought for information from official persons, and from other quarters. The result of the investigation was, a strong conviction in the mind of his Excellency that the Canada Conference should alone be regarded as the head and representative of the Wesleyan Me- thodist Church in Canada ; that the grant which had been made to the London Wesleyan Missionary Committee out of the Cana- dian casual and territorial revenue, operated injuriously rather than beneficially to the interests of the Cot'^erence of the Wesley an Me- thodist Church in Canada, and was not distributed in a manner, and did not accomplish the objects contemplated by the Imperial Government when that grant was made, and ought to be distri- buted in a different manner hereafter. His Excellency, there- fore, determined to write to your Lordship on the subject. His Excellency informed Mr. Ryerson of the result of his investiga- tions and inquiries, and requested Mr. Ryerson to prepare a statement in writing of the financial relations between the Wesleyan Conference in England and the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada. In proof of the correctness of this statement we refer your Lordship to the accompanying memorial of Messrs. Stinson and Richey to his Excellency the Governor-General ; to his Excel- lency's despatch on the subject, addressed to your Lordship in February last ; and to the following extract of a letter from Mr. Chief Secretary Murdoch, addressed to Mr. Ryerson in reply to applications which Mr. R. had made to his Excellency the Governor-General on ""'le subject. i . l\ -J ,T" " Government Houses Montreal, June 12, 1840. Sir, " I am commanded by the Governor-General to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letters of the 5th and 6th inst. : the first enclosing a copy of certain Resolutions adopted by the Committee of the British Wesleyan Conference with reference to your conduct on the 29th April last ; the second, requesting a copy of the despatch respecting the grant for the support of the Wesleyan Missions in Upper Canada, which his Excellency addressed to Lord John Russell in the month of Fer/ruary last. These letters having unfortunately arrived during his Excel- m lency's temporary absence from Montreal, the answer to them has been unavoidably delayed. " His Excellency desires me to say, that as he cannot gather from the Resolutions of the British Conference, that his despatch to the Secretary of State had been communicated to them, as you suppose, and as he has reason to think from other circum- stances that such a proceeding would not be adopted, it would be irregular in him to furnish you with a copy of that despatch, however much he may regret his being unable to do so; because, had he been able to send it to you, it would not only have fully explained his views, and the grounds upon which he is of opinion that the grant should be distributed in a manner different from that which has of late been followed, but would have afforded the most conclusive evidence on some of the points noticed in your letter of the 5th inst. It would have shown, for instance, that his Excellency's communication with the Secretary of State originated in an examination of the whole of the circumstances of the Wesleyan body in Upper Canada, and of the documents relative to the union between the British and Canadian Con- ferences, which were submitted to him — and upon this point I am directed to add, in reply to your question, that this examina- tion did not proceed from any request of yours, and that the letter drawn up by you in explanation of the financial relations of the two bodies, was prepared at his Excellency's request. It would also further show, that it was from the Rev. Mr. Stinson that his Excellency first heard of the probable dissolution of the two Societies." " (Signed) T. W. C. Murdoch, Chief Secretary." Having stated the circumstances and objects of JMr. Ryerson's letter to the ^Governor- General, we will now address ourselves with all possible brevity to the leading objections which Mr. Alder has brought against that letter. Mr. Alder has not attempted to refute, nor even ventured to deny, the correctness of Mr. Ryerson's general statement re- specting the financial relations between the Wesleyan Conference in England and in Canada. A Committee of the English Con- ference has adopted the leading views of Mr. Alder's letter, in a series of resolutions, a copy of which is herewith annexed, marked C. In reply to these resolutions, and to Mr. Alder's M 28 t.' statements that Mr. Ryerson's letter was ^vritten without juithorityj and contains partial and erroneous representations, we beg to refer your Lordship to the accompanying resolutions of the Wesleyan Conference in Canada, marked E, adopted in June last, with a unanimity almost unparalleled, As to whether or not the late Rev. John Wesley intended the regulations which he adopted in 1784, in reference to the Me- thodist Societies in the United States, to extend to the British North American provinces, it is not material to the objects of the present letter to decide. Respecting Mr. Alder's denial of the correctness of Mr. Ryerson's statement on that subject, three remarks may be made, 1. Mr. Wesley's address on that occasion was directed not to the Methodist Societies in the United States of America, but to the Methodist Societies in North America. 2. In 1787> Mr. Wesley, as well as Dr. Coke, recommended the setting apart by ordination of the Rev. F. Garretson as superintendent, or bishop, over the Societies in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the West Indies, the same as he himself had in 1784, set apart by ordination the Rev. Dr. Coke, as superin- tendent, or bishop, over the societies in North America. And at that period, during the life of Mr. Wesley, preachers in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, were stationed at the Methodist Conferences in the United States. The early ofhcial printed minutes of the Conferences of the Methodist Church in the United States, and the 1st volume of the history of that church, by the Rev. Dr. Bangs, of New York, furnish ample evidence on this point. 3. In 1820, the English Con- ference agreed with the American Methodist Conference, to leave Upper Canada to be wholly supplied by ministers employed under the direction of the latter ; which would not have been done, had it not been perfectly well known that such an arrange- ment was in accordance with the views and principles upon which Mr. Wesley acted. Mr. Alder's statement, that •* the General Conference of the United States endeavoured, with great tenacity, to retain their hold of the Methodist Society in Upper Canada," is equally in- correct with the one just noticed. The ecclesiastical connexion which formerly existed between the Methodist church in the United States and in Upper Canada, down to 1828, never did exert any influence over the ministers or members of the latter. 29 in relation to civil affairs, as is apparent from the fact, that, (lur- ing the war with the United States, and on all occasions which put their principles to the test, the Methodist Church in Upper Canada has always given the strongewt proofs of its loyalty. The history of Upper Canada does not furnish an instance of a mem- ber of the Methodist Church being implicated in rebellion or conspiracy against his Sovereign. But the great majority of the ministers as well as members of the Methodist Church in that province, being British born subjects, desired, from personal feel- ing, as well as from deference to the understood wishes of the government, to dissolve all ecclesiastical connexion with the Me- thodist Church in the United States, and therefore applied to the General Conference of that church in 1824, for a friendly sepa- ration ; but the represenlative of the British Wesley an Confer- ence, the Rev. Richard Reece, opposed the application, upon the ground that the Wesleyan body in Canada was too feeble and inexperienced to manage its own affairs, and stated to the Ameri- can Conference, that if they complied with the application from Canada, he should feel it his duty, on his return to England, to recommend the British Conference to send a sufficient number of missionaries from England into Upper Canada to supply the whole work. At the next quadrennial General Conference of the Methodist Church in the United States, in 1828, the appli- cation for a separation, on the part of the Methodist Conference in Canada, was renewed, and readily granted ; after which time, down to 1833, when certain articles of union with the Wesleyan Conference in England were agreed to, the Methodist Church in Canada existed as an independent body, established several missions amongst the Aboriginal Indian tribes, and had an acces- sion of more than 6,000 communicants, and procured subscrip- tions to the amount of nearly £6,000, towards the erection of the buildings for the Upper Canada Academy. Mr. Alder also states, that the Wesleyan Missionary Com. mittee have maintained a distinct position in Upper Canada ever since 1814. This statement is likewise calculated to mislead your Lordship. Between the years 1814 and 1820, the Wes- leyan Missionary Committee sent missionaries into Upper Ca- nada, between whom and the ministers of the Methodist Church already established in that province, collisions ensued ; in conse- quence of which, the British Conference agreed to withdraw all 30 [• \~L. .j,i, its missioniiries from Upper Canada, provided the American Conference would withdraw its missionaries from Lower Canada. But the town of Kingston, in Upper Canada, being a militari/ station, and a number of the military being connected with the Wesleyan Society, the Missionary Committee urged it as an ex~ ccption to the general arrangement with the American Confer, ence. The existence of this arrangement is referred to and admitted by the Wesleyan Missionary Committee, in its corres- pondence with the Wesleyan Board of Missions in Upper Ca- nada, in 1H32, as may be seen in the appendix to the accompa- nying printed Report of a Committee of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada on Religious Grants, adoi)ted April, 183G, p. 3J, Ist col. 4th paragraph. . Mr. Alder states again, that the " union was first sought by Mr. Ryerson and his friends," and that *'one argument employed by Mr. Ryerson and others, to persuade his brethren, the mem- bers of the Upper Canada Conference, to agree to a union was, that that Conference did not possess the means to support the Indian Missions, and that unless the Wesleyan Missionary Com- mittee took the charge of them, they would be utterly ruined." Now, in reply to this, and kindred ex parte and unsup- ported assertions, we beg to refer your Lordship to the official correspondence which took place between the Wesleyan Mission- ary Committee in London, and the Wesleyan Missionary Board in Upper Canada, in the years 1831 and 1832, and which re- sulted in proposals of union between the two bodies. This cor- respondence will be found in the appendix to the accompanying printed Report of a Select Committee of the Upper Canadian House of Assembly, in 1836, on Religious Grants, pp. 28 — 32. We solicit your Lordship's particular attention to this correspon- dence, as proving, beyond the possibility of successful contradic- tion, 1. That the Society in Upper Canada declined transfevring the Indian missions to the London Missionary Committee, when the latter proposed it. 2- That the former employed every pos- sible argument to dissuade the latter from extending its opera- tions into Upper Canada at all, as likely to be productive of disastrous consequences, but, at the same time, offered assistance to the London Society in the establishment of missions amongst the Aboriginal Indian tribes, west and north of Lake Huron, and in the Hudson's Bay territory. 3. That the Canada Society ^ 31 maintained its ability, not merely to support the missions tlienii established, but to supply the reli};ious wants (tf the Indian tribe* \ in Upper Canada, stating, that "tliere is little doubt but the ' funds of our own society can be increased to a sufficient sum to meet the wants of the Indian tribes within the present, bounda- ries of our Conference," and expostulating with the London Committee as follows: — '* Upon the whole, it may be submitted to your Committee, whether, under existing circumstances, your mission funds could not be more advantageously applied to the furtherance of the work of human salvation, than in the esta- blishment of a mission in this province — other circumstances aside — at an expense far greater than would be necessary for the Methodist Missionary Society here, to impart the same doctrines, the same feelings, the same blessings, and effect the same im- provements." 4. That it was not until after the Canada Mis- sionary Board had fruitlessly employed every possible argument to induce the London Missionary Committee not to interfere with Upper Canada, that it invited Mr. Alder to consult on the pro. priety of a coalition between the Wesleyan Conferences in Eng- land and in Upper Canada, and that that measure was proposed, not from the pressure of necessity, in order to save the " Indian missions from utter ruin," but primarily to ""prevent misun- derstandings," and " to preserve peace and harmony in the so- cieties." We invite your Lordship's attention, also, to the candid, and honorable, and Christian spirit in which the whole correspond- ence alluded to was c(mducted on the part of the Wesleyan Missionary Board of Upper Canada. Again, Mr. Alder informs your Lordship " that when the Wesleyan Missionary Committee took upon itself to support the Indian Missions, the various sums raised by the Upper Canada Conference amounted to the small sum of £177 18s. Id. ster- ling, since which time they have gradually increased to J6 1 ,304 14s. lid." Now, my Lord, in reference to this, as well as in respect to the statements of Mr. Alder above noticed, and those which we shall hereafter notice, we appeal, not to any authority got up for the occasion, but to official papers, and documents, and reports which were prepared and published at the time the occurrences referred to took place. We herewith enclose the printed annual 32 reports of tlio Wosleyan MiHsionury Society of Upper ('uiiiuin from IH'.\2 to IH3!) iiicluMive. These reports, 8ince \W>V,\, liiive ])een prepared by and printed under the supervision of the Itev. Mr. StiuNiui, the Lo 'don Society's representative and agent in Upper ('ana(hi. The VVesleyan Missionary Coniniittee assumed the responsi- bility of supportiii}; the Missions in Upper Canada in October UVMi. Uy the accojnpanyinf;])rinted report for the year endiiijjj Oct. lHn3(p. l({),it will be se^.. that, so far from Mr. Alder's statement having the slij^htest foundation in fact, the '' various sums raised by the Upper ('anada (Conference for n\issionary purposes" that year ii mounted to. t'l,:i2*i l!)s. 4d. ; I'l, ().*»{ 18s. .'')d. of which were collected in Upper ("anada, and the remainin}^.£2}{4 ()s. lid. were collected in varitms parts of the United States — at a time when a more neighbourly feeling existed between the two c(»un- tries than at present. During the next year (the first year of the union between the British and Canadian Conferences) the missionary subscripticms and collections in Upper Canada fell off from £1,038 IRs. 5d. to Sim 5s. H^d. (see Report ending October 1834, p. 18). This falling off was caused by dissatis- factions which grew out of the union — a falling off of more than five hundred pA* cent, instead of an increase, as most erroneously stated by Mr. Alder. And in exact proportion as the ministers and official organ of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada succeeded to reconcile their* congregations to the union, did the missionary funds collected in that province revive again and increase. Hence, by the accompanying printed reports, it will be seen thai i;i 1835, the amount raised in Upper Canada for missionary p.rposes was ^512 3s. 2fd. ; in 1836, .3C1,192 9s. Id. ; in 1837, 361,205 2s. O^d. ; in 1838, £959 19s. 3d. ; in 1839, £1,449 I4s. ll|d. It was during this last missionary year that Mr. Ryerson conducted the Weekly organ of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Upper Canada — exerted the most influence over the views and feelings of its members — and excited most strongly the opposition of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee in London. Mr. Alder attributes whatever increase has of late years taken place in the missionary funds raised in Upper Canada, to the exertions of the London Society's representative, and the peculiar and exclusive influence of the Wesleyan Conference in England. 33 How much credit is due to this Htatcmont may bo judged from the facts, thiit the VVesK'yiiu (>«uifereuce iu Kii^huid and its Iteprcsentiitive in Upper Canada, existed in U{,'14 and 11135, as well aH in 1H:3(), 1H37, UUH, and IHMU; that the ministers of the Methodist Church in Upper Canada have been the treasurers and promoters of the funds of the Missionary Society ; that the nnnual IMissituiary meetin<;s, ike, liave been held in the chxMels and congregations established by the Canadian Conference ; and that the collectors and principal contributors are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada. Mr. Alweii furthermore adds, " that the Wesleyan Mission- ary Society were instrumental in saving the Indian Missions in Upper (Canada from ruin ;" that " when the Wesleyan Missionary committee took upon itself the responsibility of supporting those Missions, the buildings were found to be to a great extent in a dilapidated state, debts were due on them ; and very large sums were of necessity expended iu placing them in any thing like a state of efficiency." It is true, that when the Wesleyan Missionary Society in Canada became Auxiliary to the Society in London, it was in debt iE295 I4s. Gd. currency. But is it any thing new for a benevo- lent Society to be i : its operations in advance of its funds ? The I/.'!iaon Wesleyan Missionary Society is at this moment in ad- vance of its funds to the amount of .£20,000 sterling. By the accompanying printed Missionary reports, it will be seen, that in 1831, the Wesleyan Missionary Society in Upper Canada was £204 Is. 9d. in advance of its funds; but that in 1832 it not only paid off its debts, but had a surplus of i^l29 78. 5^d; though in 1833, it was again in advance of its funds to the amount of £295 14s. 6d., at which time it became auxiliary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London. In respect to the " dilapidated state of the buildings," and " the very large sums which were necessary to put them in any thing like a state of efficiency," a reference to the Report of the Lon- don Society's Agent for 1834, will satisfy your lordship whether there is any reason for this statement of Mr. Alder, any more than for those already adverted to. From that Report it appears, that, during the first year after the London Society assumed the responsibility of supporting the Missions in Upper Canada, there was expended in repairing Mission and school-houses, £41 48. 2d. V I 34 i-:n currency ; in fir ' hing one Mission- House, and one chapel already commenced, i. 14y 8s. 5d.; for materials for two new school-houses, ^18 (is. 0; materials for one new Mission-house, £19. 10s. By reierring to the Rep(»rts for the two years immediately pre- ceding, it will be seen that there was expended, under the same lieads, a larger sum than is made by Mr, Aider the ground of imputation and of self-exaltation. As to the results of the management of the Indian Missions in Upper Ca'-ida by the London Society, it may be observed, that all thos^ missions, except the one at St. Clair, had been estab- lished by the Canada Conference during the eight years preced- ing the Union in 1833, at which time there were upwards of 1000 Indians ''n church-communion ; and about 400 children in the Mibuion-schools. Nov/ there are only about 850 Indians in Upper Canada in church-communion, and about 250 children in the Mission-schools. (See Reports.) In the Wesleyan Me- thodist Church in Canada at large, there was, during the seven years immediately preceding the Union an increase of 9,164 members ; during the seven years since the Union there has been an increase of only 3] 6 members. Mr. Alder says, •'* The suspension of the government gm- t for two or three yef?rs did aiFect our Canadian Missions, as we were thereby prevented from increasing the number of our agents amongst the Indians lind destitute settlers." On this point also, my Lord, we appeal to the printed Reports of th? Society's ager.t, ui-id the stations ol Missionaries in Upper Canada. The grant was reduced in 1834, anH wholly ".uspended during the years 1835 — 37. By the official reports of the stations or mis- sionaries in Upper Canada, it appears there were stationed in 1833, at the time the grant of £900 was made, 11 missionaries; in 1834, 13 J in 18^5, 14; in 183G, 16; in 1837, 17 ; in 1838, 18; in 1839, 17; in 1840, 16. So that the number of mission, aries now employed in Upper Canada is precisely the same as it wa^s In 1836, before the grant was restored, and two less than it was in lour. Mr. Alder informs your lord'^Iup that from August, 1833, to December, 1839, there has been expended by the Wesleyan Missionary Society (including £8,659 16s. 5d. obtained in Upper Canada) in connexion -rith the Missions in Upper Canada, the sum of £17,806 18s. Md. sterling. 35 ■• Now, in the printed Reports of the Society's agent in Upper Canad.tj embracing the same period, the total amount reported to have been expended in that Province, in connexion witli .,he Miisions, is £13,475 Is. 4d. sterling; £4,331 17s. 7d. /ess than tht sum stated by Mr. Alder. The manner in which this sum of £4,331 l7s. 7d. sterling has been expended has not been stated in the Society's Reports, either in Loudon or in Canada. It remains for Mr. Alder to explain. The agent of the London Society in Uppei- Canada states, in his printed Annual Reports, the expenditure of £13,475 Is. 4d. sterling. From Mr. Alder's own showing, £8059 IGs. 5d, ster- ling of that amount have been obtained in that Province — £3,070 from the Government, and £4,989 16s. 5d. from the members and friends of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada. In addition to this, let it be observed, my Lord, that there have been built by the ministers and members of the Wc ' yan Me- thodist Church in Canada during the same period to which Mr. Alder refers, upwards of 40 chapels, and 20 parsonage houses, besides the support of the ministry. The entire amount of expenditure during that period cannot be stated or ascertained ; but your lordship may form some tolerable conception of it, when we state, from offici il returns, thjit during the last year, there has been raised for the support of the Methodist ministry in Upper Canada the sum of £5,006 lis. 6|d. exclusive of iEl,449 14s. ll|d. for micsionan/ purposes, and large sums for the building of chapels anu parsonages, keeping chapels and parsonages in repair, warmed, lighted, &c. The amount of deficiencies in mak'ng up the moderate disciplinary salaries and allowances of the Wesleyan ministers in Upper Canada during the year is ^1,119 lis. 6|d. The loss of the amount of all such deficiencies must be endured by the individual ministers concerned, until the funds of the Ciiurch in Canada are sufficient to supply them. The Wesleyan Missionary Society is not responsible for them. It is also worthy of remark, that, whilst there are only sixteen Missionaries stationed in Upper Canada, there are 111 stationed preachers on circuits, who are excluded, by the Articles of Union, from all claims upon the funds of the Wesleyan Conference in Englanl, and in whosf; congregations imis'sionary subscriptions and collections are annually raised in aid of the fyls of the London Society, d2 M \)'' 9\ 36 In reply to Mr. Alder's oft-repeated statement, that both Mr. Ryerson and the Canada Conference had repeatedly declared " that it is wrong for churches to receive aid for religious pur- poses from the state," we may observe, that it is utterly unsup- ported by evidence, and contradicted by numerous facts. In 1834 and 1835, Mr. Ryerson, as the editor of the official organ of the Wesleyan Conference in Canada, defended, at large, the right of the crown to appropriate, and the right of churches to receive aid from the casual and territorial revenue. In 1838, 1839, and 1840, Mr. Ryerson, in the same capacity, defended and supported measures for the division of the annual proceeds of the Clergy Reserves amongst various Christian denominations in Upper Canada. In June, 1837, the Wesleyan Conference in Canada adopted resolutions with a view to the divisioi! of the proceeds of the Reserves; in January, 1838, tlu m ♦ers of the Wesleyan Methodist church in Canada publisii..d a plan of conciliation and concession for the settlement of the Clergy Re- serve question, from which we quote the following passages : — " With a view to an equitable division of the Reserves among different denominations, for purposes of religious and moral in- piruction in such a way as will not contravene the disciplinary regulations of any religious body, we most respectfully submit, that the most equitable method would be, to allow the claims of each denomination in proportion to the sums which they raise and expend, in the province, annually, for religious purposes. Hav- ing thus, after the example of the clergy of the churches of Eng- land and Scotland, and without any desire to dictate, expre . ^J our views on this im ^ortant question, we deem it but jui.1 ourselves and the public, to explain, in conclusion, the position which we, as a body of ministers, occupy in respect to it. We stand upon common ground, and possess a common interest with the mei^bers of our church generally ; and purpose to apply whatever public aid may be acquired, by a fair and honourable division of the Reserves, to assist the members of our community in erecting chapels and parsonages, and in bringing the ^ans of a sound reliyious and literary education within the r* . ;i^ of the largest possible number of the youth of our congregaLlods. lii tl^us continuing to content ourselves with the limited support which arises from the free-wil' offerings of Christian li^'erality, and availing ourselves of every means which Providence may 37 place at our disposal, to aid the beloved subjects of our pastoral care, and to promote the religious and moral instruction of the country, we believe the claims of the Wesleyan JNIethodist church Avill not suffer from a comparison with those of any other church in the Province." It is true that the Wesleyan Conference in Canada have al- ways preferred the appropriation of the Reser^ ys to purposes of education on Christian principles ; but they have done so, not on any theoretical grounds, as stated by Mr. Alder, but upon grounds arising out of the peculiar circumstances and the divided state of puolic opinion in Upper Canada ; and they have always manifested a readiness to accede to, to support and defend any equitable division of the Reserves whenever it has been pro- posed by the authorities of the country. It will be observed from the above-quoted passages, that the Wesleyan ministers in Canada have expressed their intention of applying whatever portion of the proceeds of the Clergy Re- ser\es may be placed at their disposal -to other religious pur- poses than their own individual support. They have done so, not from mere theory, but — 1. Because it accords most with the prevailing views and feelings of the members of the Wesleyan Methodist church in Canada, 2. Because it is in perfect har- mony with the opinions expressed by the imperial government when the grants were first made to the religious bodies in 1832, as will appear in the sequel. Mr. Alder states that Earl Grey's government was induced by patriotic as well as religious considerations, to offer aid to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee, in 1832, in order to promote their operations in Upper Canada. Whatever feelings may have been excited in the minds of his late Majesty's government by misrepresentations against the ministers of the Methodist church in Upper Canada, the conduct of those devoted men has long since furnished an ample refutation of the calumnies which had for many years been insinuated b}" the tongue of jealousy and selfishness, into the ear of Royalty against them. Such an insin- uation comes with an exceedingly ill grace from Mr. Alder, after the manner in which he has been treated by them, and after he himself has been compelled, in a communication which was pub- lished in the Upper Canada Christian Guardian, 29th of May, 1839, to bear the following testimony to their character and la- I ' 38 tours : — ** I admire the zeal and self-denial of those noble men belonging to your connexion in Upper Canada, who, from the first settlement of the country, have been ' in labours more abun- dant,' and to whom that Province owes a debt of gratitude, which it can never repay, for their untiring efforts to evangelize that portion of the vineyard of the Lord of hosts." * U' ■ i rrit'- I '\ * * Note by E. Ryerson. — The following extract of a communication, dated, London, July 27, 1840, addressed by the representatives of the Confer ice in Canada to Lord John Russell, while the Canada Clergy Reserve Bill was under consideration of Parliament, deserves insertion in this place, and is not unworthy of an attentive perusal : — " 8. The observations we have made are general, and apply to other denomi- ,j 9 jqually with the members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. We beg to draw your Lordship's attention to a few remarks in reference ex- clusively to the Body which we have the honour to represent. The Protestant character and orthodoxy of that Body will probably be disputed by none. It commenced its labours in what was^ubsequently called Upper Canada, as early as 1787, before any Episcopal clergyman was settled in that province. Down to the close of the late war between Great Britain and the United States, in 1815, there were but four resident Episcopal clergymen or missionaries, in Up- per Canada ; whilst Methodist ministers, from the earliest settlement of the Province, followed the influx of emigration into every part of it. In regard both to the labours and loyalty of the Methodists in Upper Canada, ample and unquestionable evidence is found in the journals of the Upper Canada House of Assembly, as well as in the history of that province. The present Bishop of Toronto, when in England in 1827, addressed a letter to the Secretary of State for the colo-ies, in which he impugned the character for loyalty, &c., of the Methodists in Upper Canada, with a view of obtaining an increased endow- ment for the Episcopal clergy. The Upper Canada House of Assembly was petitioned in 1828, to investigate the charges and statements contained in that letter. Fifty-two witnesses — mostly membeio of the church of England — were examined before a select committee. Not a shadow of evidence appearrjd against the ministers or members of the Methodist church. On the contrary, the most honourable and abundant testimony was given in tnoir favour. The Hon. William Dixon, a member of the Church of England, and a high Conser- vative, then resident in the Niagara district, which was the principal field of battle during the war with the United States, stated in his evidence before that Committee, " that the Methodists as a religious sect prompted and encouraged their hearers in defence of the Province, and in repelling invasions, during the late war, in that part of the Province where I resided." In the report of the . Committee, which was adopted by the House by a majority of 22 to 8, we have the following statement : — The insinuations in the letter against the Methodist clergymen, the Com- mittee have noticed with peculiar regret. To the disinterested and indefatigable exertions of these pious men, this Province owes much. At an early period of 39 Mr. Alder has again and again assumed and stated, that the Royal word is pledged to the continuance of the Government grant in its present form to the Wesleyan committee. On this its history when it waa thinly settled, and its inhabitants were scattered througli the wilderness, and destitute of all other means of religious instruction, these ministers of the gospel, animated by Christian zeal and benevolence, at the sa- crifice of health and interest and comfort, carried among the people the bless- ings and consolations and sanctions of our holy religion. Their influence and instruction, far from having (as is represented in the letter) a tendency hostile to our institutions, have been conducive, in a degree which cannot easily be estimated, to the reformation of their hearers from licentiousness, and the dif- fiision of correct morals, the foundation of all sound loyalty and social order. There js no reason to ))elieve that, as a body, they have failed to inculcate, by precept and example, as a Christian duty, an attachment to the Sovereign, and a cheerful and conscientious obedience to the laws of the country. More than thirty-five years have elapsed since they commenced their labours in the colo- nies. In that time the province has i)a8sed through a war which put to the proof the loyalty of the people. If their influence and instructions have the tendency mentioned, the effects by this time must be manifest ; yet no one doubts that the Methodists are as loyal as any of his Majesty's subjects." The same House of Assembly, in an address to liis Late Majesty George IV,, founded on the report above quoted, and adopted by a majority of 21 to 9, state as follows : — We humbly beg leave to assure your Majesty that the insinuations in the letter against the Methodist preachers in this province, do much injustice to a body of pious and deserving men, who justly enjoy the confidence, and are the spiritual instmctors of a large portion of your Majesty's subjects in this pro- vince. We are convinced that the tendency of their influence and instruction is n^ hostile to our institutions, but on the contrary is eminently favourable to religion and morality ; and their labours are calculated to make their peojjle better men and better subjects ; and have already produced, in this province, the happiest effects." In 1834, when W. L. Mackenzie and others in Upper Canada began to ad- vor ite theoretical changes in the constitution and government of Canada, in- stead of the removal of practical grievances, the organ of the Methodist church was the first to. warn the people against such a transition, and such " revolu- tionary symptoms ; " and it is admitted upon all hands that the organ and members of the Wesleyan Methodist church turned the eventful elections of 1836, in favour of the government and the esttiblished constitution. In the insurrection of 1837, not a single member of the Wesleyan Methodist church was implicated ; but, on the contrary, they everywhere rallied to the defence of the laws and the government. The first of the undersigned was then pastor of the Methodist congregation in the city of Toronto. The city was straitened for accommodations for the volunteers, who flocked from various parts of the country during the week of the insiurection ; when the large lecture room of I 40 point the Earl of Ripon, in his letter to Lord Glenelg, dated Carlton Gardens, 4th April, 1836, states— *' of course I could give them no specific pledge as to the duration of such assis- B ■ut. ■ m his chapel was, voluntarily and unasked, opened for the accommodation of the militia volunteers, and provisions provided and cooked for one hundred and fifty men for several days, at the expense of the members of the Methodist church in that city. And the second of the imdersigned was marked as a vic- tim of summary vengeance by the rebels, had they succeeded. Our venerable fiither before us joined the British standard in the commencement of the Ame- rican revolution, and served his King as a lieutenant during the whole seven years' war that followed, and was engaged, with all his sons (including the eldest of the undersigned), who were old enough to bear arms, in defence of Upper Canada, during the late war with the United States. And of the mem- bers of the church generally, of which we are the representatives, his Excel- lency the Governor-General, in reply to a respectful address of its ministera, presented about a month since, speaks as follows :— " During my administration of the affairs of Upper Canada, it was my anxious desire to make myself ac- quainted with the opinions, with the conduct, and with the affairs of that por- tion of the people of the provhice, of whom you are the spiritufil leaders ; and I have been most happy in being able to bear my testimony to their loyalty and good conduct, not less than to your zeal, energy, and self-devotion." " Whilst I administer the affairs of the Canadas, it is my duty to look to the wishes and to the feelings oi the people of that country ; and you will find me ever ready and willing, whenever any question connected with the executive government may arise, to support the reasonable views and maintain the just rights of your Society, as expressed through your recognised authorities within these provinces." There are in Upper Canada in connexion with the Wesleyan Methodist church, 127 itinerant ministers, upwards of 200 lay or local preachers, an4 845 congregations, including not far from 100,000 hearers. Such, my Lord, are the labours and character and extent of the Wesleyan Methodist church in Upper Canada. In everj' time of danger or hazard its influence has been exerted on the side of the constitution and government of the country ; and its only sin has been, that it has advocated, not the infringe- ment of any prerogative of the crown, not the alteration of any feature of the established constitution, not any patronage or privilege unenjoyed by other classes of Christians, but equal rights and advantages with the Episcopal church ■ — " equal rights upon equal conditions amongst all denominations." In reply to these reasonable views and avowed fundamental principles of the Governor- General's government, the advocates of an exclusive system have found it more easy and convenient to employ the epithets " radical," and " republican," than to answer facts, or yield to the claims of justice. It will be seen, my Lord, that the members of the Wesleyan Methodist church in Upper Canadi ., do not stand in the relation or position of dissenters from the church of England ; they existed in that province before the church 41 tance, which might be affected by various considerations beyond my control." His Lordship, however, adds, that it was his im- pression at the time the grant was made to the missionary com- mittee, " that the same motivea of polictj which dictated the original grant, would recommend its continuance." If those " motives of policy" were the strengthening of the adminis- tration of government in Canada, they have by no means been realised, and, least of all, are they realised at the present time; for the Secretaries of the Wesley an Missionary Society are known to be opposed to the Canadian, as well as the domesticpolicy of Her Majesty's Government ; the " Watchman" newspaper,* which is conducted under the supervision of the Missionary Secretaries and other leading Wesleyan ministers in London, excites any thing but a respectful and friendly feeling towards the Government in the minds of all those persons in Canada who are in any way influenced by the opinions of the of England ; thej supplied the religious wants of the inhabitants when they were neglected by the church of England ; they have confessedly contributed more than any other one church or religious denomination in Upper Ct ada, to elevate the inhabitants to their acknowledged high character for morality and intelligence ; and we submit to your lordship, upon what ground of labours, or numbers, or usefulness, or character, or reason, or justice, or sound policy, the Wesleyan Methodist church in Canada ought to be excluded from privileges and advantages equal to those enjoyed by any church in the province." * Note by E. Ryerson. — I never said the Watchman was the organ of the Wesleyan Conference, as the resolutions of the London Committee would inti- mate. 1 have stated that it was published under the supervision of the leading members of the Wesleyan Conference. When the Watchman was started, it was introduced to the public by the Editor of the Wesleyan Methodist Maga- zine as an " organ" of the Wesleyan Connexion ; (see " Christian Retrospect" in the Magazine for February, 1835 ;) and,the circumstances relative to its pub- lication and management are, as T have reason to know, as follows. 1 . The means to establish and carry it on have been furnished by laymen, 2. But in the articles of their association, it is provided, (1) That the profits of the paper, after paying the interest of the money invested in its publication, shall be ap- plied to Methodist Connexional Funds ; (2) That the Missionary Secretaries, Editor of the Magazine, e id, I believe, the members of the Wesleyan Book Committee generally, shall be ex officio members of the Committee to superin- tend the publication of the Watchman. By mutual agreement, certain mem- bers of that Committee have been wont to meet weekly to revise the editorial and selected articles of the Watchman ; and they have not unfrequently written editorial articles for it, as well as modified at their pleasure those which had been written by the ostensible lay-editors. How far, therefore, the Watchman is official, or not official in its character, every man can judge for himself. 42 London committee ; and the Representatives of the committee (the Rev. Messrs. Stinson and Richey) in Canada have, in tlu5 entire circle of their pers'mal intercourse and influence, opposed the policy and measures of the Governor General of Canada, and have not even spared His Excellency's personal character — facts which consist within the knowledge of the undersigned, and in proof of which abundant evidence is adducible. Indeed we are able to state, upon unquestionable authority, that the district meeting, or conference of Wesleyan Missionaries in Lower Canada, from opposition to the character and policy of the Governor General, desisted, at their last annual meeting, from presenting to His Excellency the usual respectful and loyal ad- dress which they had been accustomed to present to each of his predecessors on their assumption of the Government of Canada. At the same time, it is not unknown to your Lordship, that His Excellency the Governor General has received every support and aid it was in the power of the organ and ministers and friends of the Wesleyan Methodist church to give him in his noble and untiring efforts to tranquillize the public mind in Canada — to break down party spirit and party distinctions — and to carry out the policy of Her Majesty's ministers, witli the view of establishing an improved and more liberal and moie efficient system of Government in Canada. The objects for which this grant was originally made to the Missionary Committee deserve special notice. Whatever arrange- ments may have been made with the St. Governors of Upper Canada, it is clear that the Imperial Government intended this grant to be applied, not for the payment of the salaries of mis- sionaries, but for the erection of chapels and parsonages. The Earl of Ripon, in his Despatch to Sir John Colborue, dated 25th of October, 1832, says — " With this view, I am to request that you will transmit to me at the beginning of each year, a statement of the mode in which you would propose that the money which it is intended to apply to religious purposes should be distributed; and in preparing such a scheme you will of course bear in mind the principles on which you have already been directed to act, namely, that you will endeavour to give assistance to the reli- gious denominations as much as possible, by building for them in situations where they can command congregations, chapels, and parsoiutges houses, as I am of opinion that money may be 43 iinwh more advantaffeousli/ applied to these ohjecis than in paying salaries." And in the very despatch, dated Nov. 12, \V.[\2, in which his Lordship anthorised Sir John Colborne to make the first grant of X'UOO to tlie Missionary Committee, Lord Ripon says — " I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 5th Septend)er last, proposing an arrangement for the payment of the church of Phigland missionaries in the pro- vince of U])per Canada, and for affording aid to the Presbyterians, Wesleyan Methodists, and Roman Catholics, to build churches and chapels." Believing such to have been the design of tlie grant, the Wesleyan Conference in Canada have more than once applied for aid in behalf of poor and needy chapels erecting or in debt, but their applications have been as often rejected by the agents of the Committee, Mr. Alder has stated several times, very emphatically, that the grant was made to the Missionary Committee before the union between the English and Canada Conferences was contemplated, and wholly independent of that arrangement. Of the prelimi- nary and private conversations which may have taken place be- tween Members of Government and members of the Missionary Committee, we know nothing ; our appeal is to official documents ; and we presume that neither the Earl of Ripon nor Lord Seaton will contradict what they themselves have stated some years since on this subject. During the years 1834 and 1835, much discussion took place in Upper Canada relative to this appropriation to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee. A Wesleyan minister in Upper Canada — the Rev. A. Green — addressed a letter to Sir John Colborne, inquiring whether it was intended for the Wesleyan body in England or in Canada. His Excellency's answer, through his Secretary Colonel Rowan, will be found in the Appendix to the accompanying printed Report on Religious Grants, p. 28, dated *• Government House, Toronto, 30th June, 1835." Sir John Colborne directs Colonel Rowan to state to Mr. Green — " A.t the time the appropriation alluded to in your communication was made, His Majesty's Govei-nment supposed the Wesleyan Methodists in this Province were under the control of the British Conference." In reply to a letter from Lord Glenelg on this subject, the Earl of Ripon, in a letter dated Carlton Gar- dens, 4th April, 1836, states as follows : — " It is correctly stated 44 m ■ II' m that I had various communications with tlie Wcsleyan Metliodist Society in this country in the year 1M32, upon the subject of their operations in Upper Canada, and of the desire ( ttertaincd by the IVcslcyaua in that Province to plack themselves in dose and conlimioiis connection with the Parent Society in Enyland. In the course of tliese c ^mmunications I became so impressed with the importance of the objects which the Society, both at Home and in Canada had in view, that I thought it expedient to encourage their exertions, and to iiislruct the Governor to give them some pecuniary assistance from those funds which were legally at the disposal of the Crown." We know not, my Lord, how language can be more explicit, and testimony more conclusive than this. It is perfectly clear, therefore, that when the appropriation was made, the Govern- ment supposed there was or would be an identity of interest as well as of administration between the Wesleyan bodies in Upper Canada and in England. Mr. Alder says, indeed, that the arrangements with Lord Seaton in respect to the grant were completed at Toronto "about a year before the Union between the British Conference and the Conference in Upper Canada took place." This we do not dispute ; but Mr. Alder withholdsfrom your Lordship essential parts of that affair. The union was agreed to on the part of the British Conference in August 1833, and on the part of *'ie Conference in Upper Canada in the following October. But the Canada Conference had proposed certain Articles of Union in August 1832. Those proposed articles of union contemplated a unity of interest as well as of jurisdiction, between the two bodies. They were published in Toronto on the 29th of August, 1832, in the official organ of the Canada Conference ; Sir John Col- borne 's despatch to Lord Ripon, recommending this very grant, was dated the 5th September following. And that Mr. Alder himself, at that time, not only contemplated a union between the two bodies, but such a union as would give the Canada Con- ference a claim upon the funds of the British Conference, will appear obvious from the following extract of a communication, which (on leaving) Mr. Alder addressed to the Canada Confer- ence on the several points respecting which he conceived their then appointed representative to England should be instructed to confer and decide. Mr, Alder's communication is dated M " Kingston (U. C.) August 10, 1832." The passage relating to the subject now under discussion is as follows — "That the [London] Coninnttee shall be at lilu'rty to appoint such persons to labour in connexion with this QCanadii] Con- ference, as they may deem to he properly qualified for the sacred office, and that the Conference will not multiply preachers or circuits within its boundaries until they shall have corresponded with the Committee. This is asked on the ground, as the Com. mittee is expected to grant an annuul sum of moiieij for the sitp- port and extension of the work in Canada, they ought to be associated with the Conference in determining how tnam/ preach- ers shall be ernphi/ed, that their funds may not be embarrassed, nor the necessary comforts of the preaehers be diminished by the employment of a greater number of ministers than the means placed at your disposal will justify." Here, your Lordship will observe, that, independent of the Aboriginal Indian Missions, Mr. Alder not only did contemplate a union between the Wesleyan Conferences in England and in Canada, but such a union as would place at the disposal of the Canada Conference an annual sum commensurate with the wants of the Canadian preachers on the circuits ; but subsequently to this, and subsequent to the arrangement with the Government above alluded to in the extracts of letters from Lords Ripon and Seaton, Mr. Alder and his friends in London introduced a preli- minary clause into the articles of union, previously to their adoption by the British Conference in August 1833, to " secure the funds of the English Conference against any claims on the part of the Canadian preachers." It was this anomalous peculiarity in the Articles of Union which, we have reason to believe, attracted the particular atten- tion of the Governor-General of Canada, and convinced His Excellency, in connexion with other circumstances, that the grant to the Committee, in its present mode of control and application, was not only invidious and unjust to the Wesleyan Conference in Canada, but at variance with the comprehensive objects contemplated by the Government when it was made, and calculated to excite dissatisfaction and opposition on the part of the ministers and members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada against the Government, rather than to secure their grateful esteem and aft'ectionate support. 46 i) \: Si m Mr. Aldor dwells much upon tho circumstance tlmt l)<»th the Ciuiiulu (Jonferonce ami Mr. RyersdU Imd always admitted the exclusive rijfht of the Missionary Ciisrepresented several resolutions and pro. coedinj^s of the Wesleyan (Conference in C/anada ; but after so louf? an intrusion upon your Lonlship's tinu' and attention, we fee' that it would be improper for us I,, detain your Lordship any hinger with the discussion of the minor details of Mr. Alder's letter. We deem it our duty, however, in conclusion, to an* —i' (u: Lordship that, since we received frcmi Mr. Under 'cyc .r'^ Smith a copy of Mr. Alder's letter, the Wesleyan Cor.teienci iii England has (on Friday last) rescinded, as far us its own act could do it, the Articles of Union which have heretofore, since 18U2, existed between the Conference in England and the Con- ference in Upper Canada. Until the dissolution shall have been agreed to by the Canada Conference, the English Conference in Upper Canada must stand in the relation of a seceding body. All the itinerant minister^kin Upper Canada, both in the Mis- sions and on the circuits, with one exception, are members of the Canada Conference, and not of the British Conference. All the Aboriginal Indian Missions in trpper Canada, with one excep- tion, were established by the Canada Conference before the union. By the 5th of the accompanying resolutions, marked E, your Lordship will perceive that the Canada Conference has resolved to retain the direction of those missions. Whether the Conference in England will prosecute its operations in Upper Canada hereafter, or leave that Province to the Canada Confer, ence, we are not yet apprised. In either alternative the con- clusion appears to us to be the same — that the body whose pas- toral headship is in the country, whose feelings, and interests, and hopes are bound up in it, are entitled to the protection and consideration of the Government of the country. We have the honour to be, (Signed) William Ryerson, Egerton Ryerson, Rcjiresentatives of the Conference of the Wesleyan % Methodist Church in Canada. 48 W^i ir ii' :'• :.:.i_ Documents REFF.RREn to in the roREOoho Communication, and NOT PttlNTED IN THE PRECEDING PAGEP. E. llyerson to His Excellency the Goverror-Generui, res- pecting the Government Grant to the British Conference. Toronto, January 2, 1840. May it please ■your Fxcellency, In accordance with your Excellency's reqirest, I recapitulate in writing the leading facts relative to the Government grant to the British Conference. I know not that I can do it more satis- factorily than hy making the following references : I refer your Excellency to the Earl of Ripon's letter to L;^rd Glenelg (dated Carlton Gardens, 4th April, 1836) and Lord Glenelg's dispatch to his Excellencv the Governor. General, to Sir F. ^. Head (dated April 15, 183G) for a statement of the circumstances under which this grant was originally made, and subsequently revived. These documents ave contained in the panted paper that I left wi*^^h your Excellei cy The only material point is, as to ^vliether this grant is mad:^ in aid of the funds of a body in England, or in Upper Canada. On this point I beg to direct your Excellency's attention to the following ofllcial docime.its: — 1. Mr. Secretary Rowa^i's letter to " The British Wesleyan and Canadian Wesleyan Con- ference," dated '^ Government House, Marc\ 15, 1833;" 2. Letter from Mr. Secretary Rowan to " The Wesleyan Methodist Conference," dated «' Government House, Toronto, July 4, 1834 ;" 3. Letter from the Rev. Joseph Stinscn to his Excellency Sir John Colborne, dated " City of Tronto, July 7, 1834." These documents, will be found in the accompanying book, entitled, *' Seventh Report of the CommittP: on Grievances " (the volume immortalized by Sir F. Flead in ''his Narrative )pp. 153 — 155. As to the light in which this grMut has always been viewed by the Conference of the Wesleyan ?Tethodist Church in this Pro- vince, see the Resolutions adopted in 1837, in the accompanying printed minutes, pp. 24 — 2? As to the relation in which the Conference in Canada stands to ;hy Conference in Enghx;i;l and its funds, see^the Articles of Union between the two bodies, in the accompanying book, enti- tied, " Doctrines and Discipline of the Wesleyan Alethclist Chu-ch in Canada," pp. 137— 142. I have the honor to be, &c., (Signed) Egekton Ryebson. Memorial of the Rev. Joseph Stinson, and the Rev. M. Richey, to the Governor-Generat of Canada. To His Excellency the Right Hon. Ponlett Thompson, Gover- nor-General of Ike British Provinces in North America. May it please youk Excellency, Sustaining, as we do, an irtimate and responsible relation to tlie Methodist Church in this province in connt.tion with the British Wesleyan Conference, we deem it imperative upon us at this important crisis to lay before your Excellency an explicit statement of our views and wishes in reference to the Clergy Reserves. • ' The frankness and condescension which characterized the com- munications which your Excellency was pleased to make to us during the interview with whi^n you honoured us yesterday, encourage us to believe that your Excellency will not legard tlie following brief expression of our opinion as unworthy of consi- deration, in any measure that may be recommended for the final adjustment of this question. We entirely concur in sentiment with your Excellency as to the propriety of maintaining, in any disjosition that may be made of the reserves, a sacred and undeviating regard to the religious objects of their original donation. The Church of England being in our estimation, the Esiablished Church of all the British colonies, we entertain no objoct:on to the distinct recognition of her as such ; and had the reserves been exclusively appropriated to her, according to the original inteation of His Gracious Ma- jesty George the Third, we should not have interfered with this matter ; but as the disposition of them has been referred to the Colonial Legislature, we confess we are entirely at a loss to con- ceive any just reason why the Wesleyan Methodist Church should be placed in a position in any degree inferior to the Church of Scotland. 50 ii- I"* M We would respectfully suggest, that, as she possesses no claims as an establishment in this Province, tlie only ostensible ground of her being recognised in any way as superior to the Wesley an Methodist Church, must be founded in the numerical superiority of her ministry and membership, — a claim which it is matter of notoriety she cannot sustain, and therefore she has no just pre- tensions to such superiority. We would also beg leave to remind your Excellency that the Imperial government have deemed the labours of Wesleyan Missionaries of such importance as to lead them to urge the ex- tension of their Missionary operations in this province, and have given us the strongest assurances of their liberal and continued support. In any settlement of this important question that may be made, we regard it of vital importance to the permanent peace and prosperity of the Province, as a British colony, that the sum to be appropriated to us be given to the Wesleyan Methodists who are now, and who may be hereafter connected with the British Wesleyan Conference. We have the honour to be. Your Excellency's very humble and -"■ ' *' " obedient servants, J. Stisson, Presideni of the Conference. M. RicHEY, Superintendent of Toronto City. Toronto, January 3, 1840. Letter frcm. Colonel Rowan, Secretary to Sir John Colhorne, in reply to a letter from the Rev. A. Green, Wesleyan Minister in Canada, inquiring into the circumstances under which grants had been made by Government to cer- tain Churches in Canada, and for whom the grant to the Wesleyan Methodists was intended. Government House, Toronto, June 30, 1835. Sir, — I am directed by the Lieutenant-Governor to acquaint you, with reference to your letter of the 22nd instant, that the sums granted in aid of the different churches in Canada were all sanctioned, in consequence of petitions to His IMajesty's Govern- 51 ment— »nd at the time the appiopriation alluded to in your com- munication was made. His Majesty's Government supposed the Wesi'eyan Methodists in this Province were under the control of the British Conference. For any further information you may require on the subject, I am directed to refer you to the correspondence which was laid before the House of Assembly last session. I am, &c, (Signed) William Rowan. Rev. A. Green. CORBESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE WeSLEYAN MISSIONARY Committee in London, and the Missionary Board of THE Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, pre- viously TO the Union between the two Bodies. Resolutions and Letter of the Wesleyan Missionary Com- mittee in London. Mr. Ryerson, from Upper Canada, accompanied by the Rev. Peter Jones, a converted Indian chief, were introduced to the Committee, having statements i<> make, and arrangements to propose, respecting the prosecution of the missions in that Pro- vince, and especially am the Indian tribes. After hearing their statements, and consici rinii what might be tlu' i jable effects of their plans on their own missions and missionary sub- scriptions, it was Resolved— 1st. That Mr. Turner be immediately written to, to inquire respecting the facilities which may exist as to the commencement of a mission to the Indians in Upper Canada mong such tribes as have not yet been visited by missionaries, such mission having been long contemplated. 2nd. That a grant of the sum of three hundv en laid before the Board on the evening of the 22nd inst., ana the Rev. Robert AJder, the Rev. John Hick, the Rev. Thomas Turner, and the Rev. John P. Hether- ington being present by previous invitation ; the resolutions of the Committee in London enclosed by the Rev. Dr. Townley, and his accompanying letter to the Rev. William Case, daced June 13, 1831, the answer of the Board to the same, and the re- solutions of the Wesleyan Committee above referred to were i ' ' G4 read ; after which a long, free, and friendly conversation took place between the members of the Board and the Missionary bre- thren, particularly Messrs. Alder and Hick, on the subjects of the several documents named above ; at the conclusion of which the Board adjourned. At the ensuing adjourned meeting of the Board, lield the evening of the 29th inst., the following resolu- tions were adopted. 1 . That with respect tothe first resolution of the Wesleyan Com- mittee concerning the "understanding," &c., the resolution of the Board was founded on their xmderstanding of the report made by the Rev. JNIr. Capers, delegate from the American to the British Conference in 1828, which concludes thus : — " I did, however, distinctly understand the Committee as being of opi- nion that their Missionaries ought not to go into Upper Canada, unless either after some definite arrangement should have been concluded to that eflfect with the church there ; or in case of its notorious inability to supply the people, or its departure from the doctrines, discipline, or economy which distinguish Methodism." 2. That as a large portion of the Canada Conference consist of Europeans, as the members of the Methodist Societies from Great Britain who have generally united with us, have uniformly expressed themselves satisfied with the economy of Methodism in •Canada, and equally edified by our means of grace as in their na- tive country, the influx of European emigration into this pro- vince does not appear to the Board to render the organization of Methodist Societies distinct from those already established, expedient or advisable — and more especially as the Board con- siders the economy of Methodism in Canada to be as truly Wes- leyan as that in Great Britain. 3. That the Board conceives the principle, " That the Methodists are one people in every part of the world/' was under- stood by Mr. Wesley in a more extensive sense than merely *' fraternal affection," as he cherished and taught " fraternal affection" between the Methodists, pious Baptists, Presbyterians, Moravians, &c., who were never represented by him as one with the IMethodists in the sense that he declared " the Methodists are one people in all the world, and it is their full determination so to continue." 4. That with the exception of the Societies under the care of the Wesleyan Committee, the parties (few and small in number tae G5 and iiiHucnce) in this Province who call themselves MetluKiists, and who are not under the superintendence of the Canada Con- ference, differ as widely in their government, economy, and usages, from the English, as from the Canada Connexion, nor is there any probability that the pastoral charge of the one would be more acceptable to them than that of the other. There is perhaps a greater variety of IMethodists (so called) in Great Britain than in Canada. Hence the introduction of INIissionaries distinct from those who are already labouring in connexion with the Canada Conference, is not likely to produce any greater uni- formity in Methodism than now exists, and may lead to serious misunderstandings and party disputes. ' 5. That with respect to the seventh resolution of the Com- mittee, the Board beg to refer the Committee to Mr. Alder, witli whom considerable conversation was held on the subject. It is extremely difficult, if not altogether impracticable, for any per- son or body of men, however wise and experienced, who are not acquainted with all the local circumstances of the country, to decide with certainty what part should in all cases be taken in matters in which the interests of religion are immediately con- cerned, but which may more remotely involve questions of political consideration, by a ministry or body of people who are not exotic, not missionary, or transient in their residence in the country, but who have grown up therein, and who have a com- mon interest with its permanently settled inhabitants. What- ever may have been said or done respecting what the Committee term " political disputes," the Board is satisfied that the spirit and practice of Methodism have been preserved and maintained unimpaired, and believes it prevails with an efficiency and to an extent in this country, in proportion to the population, not ex- ceeded in the United States or Great Britain. 6. That the Board most cordially reciprocates the expressions of brotherly kindness and good will conveyed in the resolutions of the Committee ; and they will do what they can to aid Mr. Turner with native labourers in his contemplated m.ission to the St. Clair Indians, and will readily co-operate with the Committee in cultivating the missionary field among the Indian tribes, as far as is consistent with the interest of their own missions. 7. That the establishment of two distinct connexions of Methodists in this Province, would, in the opinion of the Board, F V' t be productive of unpleasant feelings, litigation, ami party dis- putes, to the discredit of Methodism and the great injury of re- ligion ; but that the energies of the English and Canada con- nexions, if combined, would, under the blessing of God, close the door against all collision and party feeling, and contribute greatly to the extension of the work, both amongst the white population and the Indian tribes. 8. That in order to prevent misunderstandings — to preserve peace and harmony in the Societies — to supply every part of the work throughout the Province — and to enlarge the field of Mis- sionary operations among the aboriginal inhabitants, the Board respectfully suggests to our Conference at its approaching session, the propriety and importance of proposing such a coalition with the English Conference as will accomplish these objects. 9. That anticipating the adoption of such a measure by our Conference as that recommended in the foregoing resolution ; and appreciating the pure motives, friendly feelings, and sound judgment of the Rev. Robert Alder, Representative of the Wes- leyan Missionary Society, and believing that an interview be- tween him and the Conference will be gratifying and satisfactory on both sides, and highly instrumental by the Divine blessing in promoting the cause of God and Methodism, the Board respect- fully and earnestly invites Mr. Alder to attend the ensuing ses- sion of the Conference, which will commence in Hallowell the 8th of August next. The Board, under the influence of the same feelings makes a similar request to the Rev. John Hick, provided he can comply with it, without too great a sacrifice of pastoral duty. Rev. and dear Brethren, We have the honour to transmit to your Committee the enclosed resolutions of our Board of missions in answer to those of your Committee of February, 1832, transmitted by the Rev. Mr. Alder, whose interesting talents. Christian candour, and amiable manners, have won much upon the kindly feelings and good wishes of all among us who have enjoyed the pleasure of his society. You will perceive that the Board cannot view some points in the 67 same liglit with your Committoc, but that, nevertheless, they are most anxious to recommend and concur in any measures that may promote the harmony of Methodism and the interests of re- ligion ; and with this view they have solicited IMr. Alder to re- main in the Province until our ensuing annual Conference. On the subject of the seventh resolution the Board have, properly speaking, no authority to act or decide ; and it was for the pur- pose of putting your Committee into early possession of their views of this subject, which has been long and largely talked of amongst our preachers and people, that they embrace this oppor- tunity of expressing them, hoping at the same time that it might prepare the way for the accomplishment of the higlily interesting and important objects proposed. It is believed there will be very little diversity of opinion in our Conference in regard to a measure of this kind. And if arrangements can be agreed upon by which a connexion be established between the British and Canada Conferences analogous to that which exists between the English and Irish Conference, we doubt not but it will be ex- tensively instrumental in advancing the work of God in the Pro- vinces. None of the circumstantid peculiarities of JMethodism in Great Britain and Canada (which we think are fewer and smaller than have been supposed) could form any serious objec- tion on our part, since we maintain that Methodism in all its essential principles and regulations is the same in every part of the world. We beg to present to you and your Committee our own best wishes for your personal welfare, and your success in the respon- sible and extensive work placed under your control ; and we fer- vently pray God to give your Conference and ours a right judg- ment in all things, and overrule every deliberation and decision for the promotion of Kis glory and the best interests of mankind. We are, Brethren, Yours In the bonds of the Gospel, John Ryerson, President. To the Rev. James Townley, John James, John Beecham, Sees. London, W. M. C, } Thomas Vaux, Secretary^ p 2 GH }'l [H' -a 1.1 -lil Articles of Union between the Wesleyan Conferences in Eng- land and the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada. The English Wesleyan Conference, concurring in a commnni- catiun of the Canadian Conference, and deprecating the evils which might arise from collision, and believing that the cause of reli- gion generally, and the interests of Methodism in particular, would, under the blessing of God, be greatly promoted by the united exertions of the two connexions ; considering also, that the two bodies concur in holding the doctrines of Methodism as contained in the Notes of ]Mr. Wesley on the New Testament, and in his four volumes of Sermons, do agree in the adoption of the following Resolutions : — 1st. That such a union between the English and Canadian connexions, as shall preserve inviolate the rights and privileges of the Canadian preachers and societies on the one hand, and, on the other, shall secure the funds of the English Conference against any claims on the part of the Canadian Preachers, is highly important and desirable. 2nd, That, |^as proposed in the second and third resolutions of the Canadian Conference] in order to eifect this object, the Dis- cipline, Economy, and form of church government in general of the Wesleyan Methodists in England be introduced into the so- cieties in Upper Canada, and that in particular an annual Presi- dency be adopted. 3rd. That the usages of the English Conference, in reference to the probation, examination, and admission of candidates into the Itinerant Ministry, be adopted.* 4th. That Preachers who have travelled the usual term of probation, and are accepted by the Canadian Conference, shall be ordained by the imposition of the hands of the President, and of three or more of the Senior Preachers, according to the form contained in Mr. Wesley's " Sunday morning service of the Methodists," by which the Wesleyan Missionaries in England * This is understood both by the Canadian Conference and the Representa- tives from the British Conference to refer to no other modifications in the eco- nomy of Methodism in Upper Canada, than those which have taken place at this Conference, and that the Canadian Book of Discipline has heretofore pro- vided for. '! G9 lire ordiiinctl, ami which is tho siime as the form of ordaining Elders in tho Discipline of tlie Canadian Conference. .'ith. That the English Conference shall have anthority to send from year to year, one of its own body to preside over the Cana- dian Conference ; bnt the samo person shall not be appointed oftener than once in four years, unless at the request of the C.i- nadian Conference. — Wiien the English Conference does not send a President fr(nn England, the Canadian Conference shall, on its assembling, choose one of its owii members. The proposal of the Canadian Conference is understood to in- clude, as a matter of course, that the President of the Conference shall exercise the same functions generally as the present general Superintendent now actually exercises ; he shall not, however, have authority to appoint any Preacher to any circuit or station, contrarv to the counsel and advice of a majority of the Chairmen of Districts or Presiding Elders, associated with him as a Station- inji Committee. Gth. That the Missions among the Indian tribes and destitute settlers which are now, or may be hereafter, established in Upper •'''anada, shall be regarded as Missions of the English Wesleyan Missionary Society under the following regulations : — First, — The Parent Committee in London shall determine the amount to be applied annually to the support and extension of the Missions ; and this sum shall be distributed by a Committee consisting of the President, General Superintendent of the Mis- sions, the Chairmen of districts, and seven other persons appointed by the Canadian Conference. A standing Board or committee, consisting of an equal number of Preachers and Laymen, shall moreover be appointed as heretofore at every Conference, which, during the year, shall have authority, in concurrence with the General Superintendent of missions, to apply any monies granted by the parent Committee, and not distributed by the Conference, in establishing new missions among the heathen, and otherwise promoting the missionary work. Second, — The Methodist Missionary Society in Upper Canada shall be auxiliary to the English Wesleyan JMissionary Society, ;ind the monies raised by it shall be paid into the funds of the Parent Society. Third,— The Missionaries shall be stationed at the Canada Conference in the same way as the other preachers ; with this \H- ' i I 70 proviso, however, tluit tlie General Superintendent of IVHssions shall he as.iociuted with the President and Chairmen of districts in their appointment. Fourth, — All the preachers who may he sent from this conn- try into the work in Upper Canada, shall he menihers of the Canadian Conference, and shall he placed under the same disci- pline, and be entitled to the same rights and privileges as the native preachers.* Fifth, — Instead of having the annual stations of the mission- aries sent home to the English Missionary Committee and Con- ference for their *' sanction," as is the case with our missions generally, and as the Canadian Conference have proposed, the English Conference shall appoint, and the parent Committee shall meet the expense of supporting a general superintendent of missions; who, as the agent of the Committee shall have the same superintendence of the mission stations, as the Chairman of districts or presiding elders exercise over the circuits in their respective districts, and shall pay the missionaries their allowance as deter- mined by the Conference IMissionary Committee on the same scale as the Canadian book of Discipline lays down for the preachers on the regular circuits : — but who, being at the same time recognised as a member of the Canadian Conference, shall be accountable to it in rt-gard of his religious and moral conduct. The General Superintendent of missions representing the parent Committee in the Canadian Conference, and in the stationing , and missionary Committees, the appointments of the missionaries at the Conference shall be final. 7th, — That the Canadian Conference in legislating for its owft members, or the connexion at large, shall not at any time make any regulation which shall infringe these articles of agreement between the two Conferences. Signed by order and on behalf of the Conference, RiciiAiiu Trefpky, President, Edmond Grinduod, Secrctarij. Manchester, August 7, 1833. * The understanding of this .irticle is that the Canadian Conference shall employ such young men in Upper Canada .-is they may judge are called of God into the itinerant work ; but should not a sufficient number be found in Upper Canada properly qualified,'the British Conference will send out as many young men from England iis may be requested by the Canadian Conference. 71 Resolved, — That the Canadian Confcroncc cordially coiioirs in the resolutions of the British Conference, dated, " Manchester, August 7» 1033/' as the basis of union between the two Confer- ences. EoKiiroN Ryerson, Secretary. York, IT. C, October 2, 1833. Letter from the Rev. Dr. Hannah to the Representatives of the Canada Conference. My Dear Sirs, The Special Committee on Canadian affairs, of which you have a list in the paper -which accompanies this, appointed a Sub-Committee from among themselves to meet and confer with you. That Sub-Committee consists of the President and Se- cretary of the Conference, the Missionary Secretaries, and the Rev. Messrs. Reece, Atherton, Lord, Stinson, Richey, Scott, Grindrod, T. Jackson, Keeling, Haswell, and Bowers. It was directed, at the late meeting of the S2)ecial Committee in Man- chester, on Wednesday last, that this Sub-Committee should meet at 77^ Hatton Garden, London, on Thursday, September 3rd, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, ^br the particular purpose of having a free and friendly conversation with ymi. I was in- structed to give you notice of this, on my return to town, and to invite you to attend ; and I would earnestly hope that you may be able so to arrange your plans as to remain two or three days longer in London than you had previously intended. Officially and personally, I would venture to press this ; because it seems to me to be of considerable importance to the right settlement of the affairs which have lately engaged so much of our serious and anxious attention. I am. My dear Sirs, Yours very respectfully and truly, • John Hannah. Rev. Egerton Ryerson, and Rev. William Ryerson. • I^H V ' :M i I'lKK'KKDINOS AND 72 Newcastte-npan-Tiiur, Awju»t, lfi40. . KCISION OF TUB CoNI'KltKNC'R ON ftlATTKHS IlE- fiATINd TO THE UnION HK.TWMION TIIR BlUTlSII CoNFKUKNCB AND THE lIpppEu Canada Confeiience, and to ouu Missions in Ui'PEit Canada. The Conferoiice last year appointed a Special Committee to decide linally in all matters relating to the Union existing be- tween the Britisli Conference and the Upper Canada Confer- ence, and to our Indian Missions in Upper Canada. A large C(>mmittoe was also this year appointed hy the Conference, to investigate the proceedings of the aforesaid Connnittee of lust year, — to consider the Resolutions which were adopted by the Upper Canada Conferenf of 1840, and to receive the comnmni- cations of the Rev. Egti i Hyerson and Rev. William Ryerson, the representatives deputed by the Upper Canada Conference to attend the British Conference. The Committee last named sat several days, and at length presented a copious report to the Conference, which report received a few verbal alterations and additions, and on the whole of which, as thus amended, the decision of the Conference -vas then given. I. The Report of the Cowwittee. During the long and careful examination of the im])ortant subjects referred to the Committee, various documents were read or largely quoted, and oral testimonies received, comprising the following Articles ; 1. Dr. Alder's Statement of the Proceedings of the Com- mittee appointed by the British Conference for the affairs of Upper Canada in 1839. 2. Articles of Union between the British Conference and the Conference of Upper Canada, drawn up in 1833. 3. The Rev, John Beecham's statemepts and explanations in illustration of the aforesaid Articles of Union. Si 7:} 4 Tho Rev. (Jetirgo Mursdoii's t'xplivimtjtry stiitcniont rospoct- iiig tlu' noto appcndod l)y the Tipper Cauiulu ('onfi-renci' of 1H3.'J, t«» tho r>tli cliiust! of the Oth Article of Union, iuul the first jniy- nient of tlio Governnitnt grant for our Missions in Upper Ca- nada. 5. Statements of the Hl'v. Edinnnd (4rindro(l, Rev. William Lord, and Rev. .Joseph Stinson, who have been Presidents of the Upper Canada Conference ; and also of the Rev. Matthew Richey. 6. Letter from the Rev. Egerton Ryerson to Dr. Alder in 1H34. 7- Extracts from the Minutes of the Upper Canada Confer- ence, held at Toronto in \il37, on Government Crants for Re- ligious purposes, involving princi])les which might have been pleaded by the Government as a reason for withholding from the Wesleyan Missionary S(»ciety the grant pledged to that Society from the Casual and Territorial Revenue for the sn|)port and extension of our Missions iimongst the Indians and destitute settlers in U])per Canad-i, and which, in point (»f fact, did induce the local Government to decline fnr a time to renew, in confor- mity with the instructions of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the payment of the suspended grant. 8. Extracts from Letters of the Rev. Joseph Stinson under the dates of October and November, 1838, and January, 183!), showing that the j)eace of our Societies in Canada was dis- turbed through an habitual and zealous interference with secular and party politics by the Christian (ruardian ; which paper, being the avowed and ofHcial organ of the Upper Canada Con- ference, virtually involved the British Conference, durirg the subsisting union, in a common responsibility as to principles and consistency. 9. Dr. Alder's letter to the Rev. Joseph Stinson, dated Lon- don, January 14th, 1831), on the subjects referred to in the above named Letters of Mr. Stinson. 10. Letter of tlie Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society to the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir George Arthur, dated London, February 8th, 1839, announcing the mission of Dr. Alder to our Societies in British North America, and to the Upper ( 74 Cuimda C''4jforcnce, «llscluiminp n, John Scott, John P. Haswell, Edmund Criiulrod, Thomas Galland, James Dixon, Joseph Taylor, Peter Mc.Ow an, Matthew Richey, 81 Joseph Hinson, George Marsden, William Lord, Rt>bert Wood, Barnard Slater, John Rigg, William Bennet, William IM. Bunt- ing, John Davis, Sen., John Bowers, William Atherton, Richard Waddy, Isaac Keeling, Timothy Ingle, John Mason, Jnn., Samuel Jackson, William Vevers, Joseph Fowler, William Bar- ton, Francis A. West, Samuel D. Waddy, together with the Missionary Secretaries. III. That the above-named Connnittee shall hold its first meeting in JManchester on Wednesday, August 19th next, and its subsequent meetings as may bo found convenient or necessary. John Hannah, Secretary, Letter from the Representatives of the Weslcyan Conference in Canada^ to the Rev. Dr. Hannah, Secretary, in refe- rence to the proceedings of the British Conference on Ca- nadian Affairs. 22, Cecil Street, London, August 29, 1840. Rev. and dear Sir, — We have the honour to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th instant, enclosing the *' Proceedings and Decision of the Conference on matters relating to the Union between the British Conference, and to the Missions in Upper Canada," and informing us of the ap- pointment of a Sub-Committee " for the particular purpose of having a free and friendly conversation" with us on matters pending between the Wesleyan Connexions in England and in Upper Canada. We beg most cordially to reciprocate the expressions of personal kindness contained in your letter, and to assure you that no dili'erencos on public grounds shall bo allowed to sus- pend, on our part, the offices of private friondsliip, or prevent the ingenuous exercise of those coinfosi(>s and duties which arise from our religious and official relations. We regret that it is not in our power to meet your Sub- rummittee, as we hav^ taken and i)aiil our passage on \n\\\n\ ot the " Britl«h (iuee.i," Which d-parls for New \ oik on the 1st oV Sepltiubei. We < tated to several of the membeis of 82 the Committee at Newcastle, that we intended to embark for America by the 1st of September. We, however, delayed taking our passage for several days, in hopes of hearing from you. Mr. Fowler, Superintendent of Newcastle, and Mr. Lord, informed us the evening before we left Newcastle, that we would receive an otiicial communication on the subject of our mission, by Wednesday, the 10th instant. We deferred until the end of the week — the latest moment allowed in order to secure comfortable berths — before we engaged our passage. But we know not what advantage could arise from our meet- ing your Sub-Committee, as we have no authority to assent to ^ny dissolution of the Union between the Conferences in Eng- land and in Canada, much less to consent to, or acquiesce in, your establishing an interest in Upper Canada, distinct from that of the W^csleyan Methodist Church in that province. Of course the Missionary Committee are responsible for all de- mands in connexion with the Missions in Upper Canada, up to the period of your secession from the Union. The accounts must be arranged and settled with the Missionary Board of the Canada Conference. We now proceed to state in writing those views respecting the " Proceedings and Decision" of your Conference, which we should have communicated verbally had we been able to meet your Sub-Committee. But previously to our doing so, we beg to make a few preliminary remarks. 1. Let it be recoUecled" first, that the Constitution and Rules of the Wesleyan Body in Canada are not scattered over seve- ral large octavo volumes of Minutes of Conference, to be inter- preted to the Societies by the Superintendents of Circuits, and by the Conference in doubtful questions, as is the case in England ; but are embodied in a small book, entitled " Doc- tnnes and Discipline of the W esleyan Methodist Church in Canada ;" defining the powers of the Conference, the objects, powers, and duties, of every ofiicial meeting and office in the church. 2. That previously to the union with the Conference in England, the Connexion in Canada was an independtiU body, undrf the church organization referred to, possessing the discretionary and absolute management of its own affairs. 3. That it has always retained all its previous power of self- control — all its rii^hts and [privileges, — which were not con- S3 * ceded to the Coiiferoiicc in EnglaiKl in the Articles of Union. 4. That the Articles of Union required and received the assent of the two Conferences, and can only be dissolved by their MUTUAL consent, unless in case of a hitherto unknown and very improbable exigency. The relinquishment of the Articles of Union, therefore, by either party, without the con- sent of the other, involves that party in the responsibility, as well as the consequences, of a secession from the other body in the country where it takes place. 5. That in ascertaining the import of the Articles of the Union — and, consequently, to judge of the violation of them — we are to examine the Articles themselves, and judge of their nature and provisions, from the grammatical and common sense meaning of the language which they contain, in connexion with the usages to which they refer. It is one of the first principles of common and civil law, that ** no man can take advantage of his own wrongs" — a principle which would be prostrated in the dust were we to admit the interpretations of Mr. Beechara, or the paraphrases of Dr. Alder, as the Articles of Union between the Wesleyan Conferences in England and in Canada. We may further observe, that the letter and spirit of the re- solutions and address of the Canada Conference of June last, evince a strong desire on the j)art of tlmt body to maintain the Articles of the Unioji inviolate ; that this was the great object of our expensive and painful missiou to England ; and that the assumption of vast additional powers on the part of the Conference in England, and the prescribing of new condi- tions as the only terms of perpetuating the Union — assump- tions and conditions to which the Canada Conference have most solemnly objected — and the responsibility of the dissolu- tion of the Union in consequence of a non-compliunce of our- selves and the Conference we represent with those recent as- sumptions and new conditions, rest entirely with your Confe- rence, We now advance to a brief examination of the " Proceed- ings and Decision" of your Conference. 1. We came to England in accordance with the suggestion of the Committee of your Conference on Catiadian affairs, which stated, that ** If the Canadian Conference should deem it to be its duty to send a Representative to the next British G 2 84 Cont'ercncc for tlic purpose of offering any explanations or ot making proposals with a view of perpetuating the Union ; or iihould that be found impracticable, for the purpose of making such arrangements as may prevent unseemly and unchristian collisions between members of two divisions of the same great family, the Committee assure the Canadian Conference, that such Representative will he received with cordial affection by the British Conference, and that every attention will be paitl to his statements and representations." The kind and manner of our reception is familiar to you ; we shall merely say, it was to us a new thing in Methodism ; and that, up to the present moment, neither of us has been favoured with the honour or the courtesy of a salutation cither from Dr. Bunting, or the President of your Conference, or any of the leading official members, with a few oxreptions. If a Representative of your Conference to Canada, or to the United States, had never even been saluted by a shake of the hand or a nod of the head, on the part of the presiding Officers of the Conferences in those countries, we question whether he couUl state with truth, that he had been " received with cordial affection."* Into further details as to our official reception we will not enter; for many expressions of kindness and attention on the part of individual members of your Conference we cherish a grateful remem- brance, and desire to record our heartfelt acknowledgments, especially for the unwearied and affectionate attentions of the Kev. W. Lord, late President of the Canada Conference. mi * Note by E. Ryerson. — It is with extrenie pain and regret, that I have deemed it just and expedient to join in these remarks, as, on two former occa- sions, wlicn representing the Canadian Conference in England, I received all the attentions that brotherly kindness, intelligence, and generosity, could be- stow. I confess that although, for obvious reasons, I did not anticipate an equally flattering reception on the present occasion, I did suppose that the usual civilities would be extended to a senior and confessedly unoffending brother ; as a stranger, an accredited Representative of a co-ordinate branch of the great Wesley an family, a brother greatly beloved and honoured by liis brethren in his native country. The Representatives of the British Conference have always been treated in Canada with every mark of respect and distinction. When Dr. Alder was in Canada, in 1JJ39, he was not sent to a solitary board- ing house, as a leper, but was most courteously entertained by a respectable Methodist family, tmd treated with every possible attention by the Conference, though the wcU-kiiown and avowed objects of his mission were more repugnant 85 2. It is probably kiiuwii to you, that by noto8 to the Presi- dent, and uthcrwise, wc urged tlio curly consideration of the subject of our misBion, but that several days elapsed before even the appointment of a Couimittee was proposed ; that we objected to the reference of the Canadian address and reso- lutions to a Committee before they were read and discussed in Conference, as they were addressed to the liritish Conference^ and embodied an appeal from the proceedings of its own Com- mittee ; that our objections wore overruled, with the assurance that we should have an opportunity oi stating fully the whole matter to the Conference.* It will also appear by the minutes to tho feelings and interests of the Coniicxiuii in Oimula, than the niiiwion of the Canadian Representatives could ))e to the intellij,'ont views of the Wes- leyan body in England. On eahn review and mature reflection, I am per- suaded, tho authorities of the British ("onference will regret their repulsive treatment of the Representatives of the Canada Conference. It wjis undignitied and new in MethtMlism ; and cannot bear examination in any point of view. But I clierish no other than feelings of regret at the occurrence of such an event in the history of Methodist Conferences. It shall not cool the aidour (if my affection for tho many venerable members of tlie Conference with wlioni f have hud the privilege of u slight ac(iuaintance ; nor shall it lower my estiniute of a body of ministers whose epistolary works of faith and labours of love are read and known of all men at home and abrwid. • The morning after the appointment of the Committee on Canadian affairs, one of the Canadian representatives addressed the following note to the Rev. Dr. Hunting: — " Fridui/ Morning, Aug. 7, IRlfl. " Rev. Siu, " As assunmce has been given by tlie President, and as it is understood, that an opportunity will be afforded us of statinj{ nil tho facts of the Canadian affair, of others are omitted. Why is this? A synopjis of some of the statements and documents read is given; the s\iiopiM-> of other statements and documents is suppressed. Why is this? And in the synopsis of some of the principal documents, those very points are omitted which constiiuted the leading features of tliose documents, and the points of difference between the two Connexions. Why is this? Hi)W is it possible for any reader to form a correct idea of ihe real nature aud merits oi a question, wheu the proceedings on it arc thus reported ? 4. We will refer to some examples in illustra^'on of these remarks. In the enumeration of statements made nd docu- ments read in the Committee, three letters are . i/y >%^ fe :/. i/. ^ u. I- y 1.25 "^328 150 us 2.5 2.2 I -^ ilia liU \6^ lU 11.6 V] <^ /a Oi Biotographic Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 \ ^ ^ <> 6^ ^ V 88 Piesident of your Conference to the Rev. E. Ryerson (dated March 23, 18?'9). Now the reader would suppose, from the order and the synopsis given of these letters, that they were read to illustrate and establish the allegation, that the organ of the Canada Conference had unjustifiably interfered with secular party politics ; yet the very reverse was the fact. Mr. E. Ryerson commenced his reply to Dr. Alder on Saturday evening, and resumed it on Monday afternoon. Previously to his resuming his remarks on Monday, he called for the reading of the letters referred to. Dr. Bunting and others opposed the reading of them as irrelevant ; just thirty-five minutes' discussion ensued before Mr. E. Ryerson was allowed to read tham. Mr. Ryerson had shown from documentary evidence, that when the union was agreed to, and from that time to 1839, the qucrition of the Clergy Reserves was left to the uncontrolled action of the Canada Conference ; that in its proceedings and views three successive Representatives of the British Conference had concurred and co-operated. He then proceeded to read the three letters in question, to prove, 1. that down to that period there was not the slightest complaint against him or the Canadian Conference on the score of inter- ference in civil matters, as neither of those letters contained one word on the subject. 2. That each of those letters refers to ecclesiastical questions only, or the question of the clergy reserves (which phrases are synonymous in Canada, as no ecclesiastical questions have ever been discussed in Upper Canada besides the Clergy Reserves) ; thence stating the fact, that with the interference of the Missionary Secretaries in the question of the clergy reserves, contrary to the declaration of both the Representatives of the British Conference at the time the Union took place, and contrary to the administration of it during six years, commenced the misunderstandings between the English and Canada Connexions. But what a totally different idea and meaning do those letters convey, from the order in which they a'-e enumerated in the report of the Com- mittee, and the partial and unfair synopsis which is given of them. Again, at No. 12, it is stated, *• Extracts from the Minutes of the Upper Canada Conference, held at Hamilton in June, 1839, containing settlements of matters in dispute up to that pe- riod, and an amicable arrangement for the future." There were 89 two resolutions passed at the Hamilton Upper Canada Confer- ence of June, 1839; the one rescinded three out of six rosolu- dons which ,had been adopted two years previous on Government grants ; the other, while it deprecated interference in secular party politics, reiterated the views of the Conference on the question of the clergy reserves, and its determination to main- tain its constitutional and just rights; a resolution to which Dr. Alder assented, though it contained sentiments wholly at variance with the views expressed in the three letters men- tioned in the preceding paragraph, one of which letters had been written by Dr. Alder himself, and two of them signed by hiia only a few months prior to the session of that Confer- ence ! Again. At No. 16, mention is made of a Memorial ad- dressed by the Rev. Messrs. Stinson and Richey to the Go- vernor-General of Canada ; but the date and objects of that Memorial are not stated ; both of which are of the greatest importance in judging of the merits of the case, and of the con- duct of Mr. E. Ryerson. That Memorial is dated 3rd of Jan. 1840, just a fortnight before Mr. Ryerson's letter (dated Jan. 17, 1840), of which you complain, was addressed to the Governor-General. Mr. Ryerson's letter was unofBcial — not pretended to be official, and not signed or addressed by Mr. R. in any official capacity ; the Memorial was professedly official, signed by Mr. Stinson, as the ' President of the Co?iference," and by Mr. Richey, as " Superintendent of Toronto Citt/." Mr. Ryerson's letter was prepared in obedience to the request of the Governor-General ; the Memorial was spontaneoiis as well as official. The Memorial was aggressive in its origin and objects ; Mr. Ryerson's letter was defensive. The prayer of the Memorial went to deprive the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada of its just and hitherto acknow- ledged rights ; the conclusions of the letter went to secure those rights. The Memorial was connected with a declaration to the Governor-General on the part of Messrs. Stinson and Richey, that the Union would be dissolved. Mr. Ryerson's letter provided against the occurrence of such an event. The communications of Messrs. Stinson and Richey and their Memorial were secret— independent of the Committee of which they were members; — the Memorial was never seen by a sin- gle preacher in Canada, until its production was required at 90 ■t fit 'I the session of tho Conference in June, and contained senti- ments in opposition to the recorded opinions of the Canada Conference, to which both Messrs. Stinson and Richey had previously subscribed, Mr. Ryerson's letter expressed views in accordance with the recorded views of the Committee and Conference of which he was a member. There were, there- fore, important reasons for omitting" the mention of both the date and objects of the Memorial, in the printed proceedings of your Conference. Compare Mr. Ryerson's first letter to the Governor-General, dated Jan. 2, 1840, and the purport of the interview it mentions, with the Memorial of Messrs. Stin- son and Richey, dated the day following, and the purport of the interview to which it refers, and let any man jude:e who acted the honourable, and who the " unauthorised and clan- destine" part. A fourth example. At No. 20, the Report of the Com- mittee states, "Correspondence of the Rev. Egerton Ryerson with the Governor-General of British North America." Now we furnished the Committee, through Dr. Bunting, with copies of the whole of that correspondence. Why are the dates and the titles of the documents contained in that correspondence suppressed? That correspondence contains the completest refutation of the allegations of your Committee on Canadian affairs against Mr. Ryerson that the nature of the case will afford. 1. It contained a letter from Mr. Ryerson to the Go- vernor-General, dated Jan. 2, 1840, relative to the Govern- ment grant to your Committee, a letter which refutes your allegations. 2. Two letters addressed by Mr. Ryerson to the Governor-General, dated 5th and 6th of June, 1840, enclosing a copy of the Resolutions of your Committee, dated 29th April, 1840, requesting a copy of His Excellency's dispatch to Lord John Russell, referred to in those resolutions, and soliciting the testimony of His Excellency on certain of the Committee's allegations, respecting which His Excellency was the only human witness or authority that could be appealed to.* Mr. Ryerson had been favoured with the reading of the * The following are the Letters alluded to : Toronto, June 5, 1840. Mat it please your Excellency, I arrived at home last night from a long tour ; and since my arrival the accompanying resolutions were enclosed to me by the Rev. Mr. Stinson, agent of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee in London. I lose not i^ moment in 01 Governor-General's dispatch. It was the only document in existence that could prove the part which had been taken in enclosing a copy of them to your Excellency, as they refer to what liaa transpir- ed between your Excellency and myself on tlie financial relations wliicii exist between the Wesleyan Conference in England and tlie Confe.-encc of the Wti- leyan Church in Canada. The subjects of these resolutions will bo fully investigated at our approach- ing annual Conference of Ministers, which commences its session on Wednes- 'iay next, in Bellville. As your Excellency is the only authority to wliicli I can appeal on some of the matters referred to, I hope the urgency and j)ecu- liarity of the case will excuse, in your Excellency's mind, the liberty T take in most respectfully soliciting from your Excellency answers to tlie following ques- sions. 1. Did not Mr. Stinson and Mr. Richey desire your Excellency to secure a specific portion of the proceeds of the Clergy Reserves to tlie control of the Wesleyan Conference in England ; and did they not assign as one reason for that arrangement the probability of the dissolution of the union between the English and Canadian Conferences ? 2. Did not your Excellency determine to write to Lord John Russell on the subject of the grant to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee in consequence of examining the documents which related to it, and the articles of union between theBritish and Canadian Conferences, and without any application on my part ? 3. Did I not draw up the letter explaining the financial relations between the British and Canadian Conferences, in compliance with your Excellency's expressed wish. I will feel myself greatly obliged by Your Excellency's earliest reply, ad- dressed to me at Belleville. I have the honour to be, &c., (signed) Egerton Ryerson. His Excellency tlie Governor-General. May it please your Exceixency, Toronto, June ^ , 104O, Since my letter of yesterday to your Excellency was mailed, I find that I am unable to procure from Mr. Stinson a copy of your Excellency's Despatch to Lord John Russell, on the subject of the Government grant to the English Wesleyan Conference, referred to in the London Committee's resolutions, which I enclosed to your Excellency, although it appears that Lord John Rus- sell furnished Mr. Alder with a copy of that despatch, and alt'iough I have obtained copies of the other parts of the correspondence mentioned in those resolutions. Your Excellency having kindly- read that despatch to me, previously to sending it to Lord John Russell, I know it to be of the utmost importance to me in the approaching investigations. May I therefore beg that your Excellency will have the kindness to enclose to me, by return of post, a copy of the despatch referred to, addressed to me at Bellville. 1 have the honour to be, &c. His Excellency the Governor-General. Egerton Ryerson. [His Excellency's Reply to these Letters will be found in pp. 2fi, 27.] m i 92 the matter. He applied for it. This was prma /rtcie evidence of his consciousness of having acted honorably. But the titles and dates of these letters are suppressed in the prinled proceedings of your Committee and Conference I 3. That correspondence also contained the Governor-General's answer (dated June 12, 1840) to the letters just mentioned. His Ex- cellency conceived it to be irregular for him to furnish a copy of his dispatch ; but he replies explicitly to Mr. Ryerson's questions, and communicates so much of the contents of his despatch as related to the matters submitted to him. In this Reply, His Excellency states (1) That he had learned from Mr. Stinson of the probable dissolution of the Union. (2) That Mr. Ryerson had never applied to him on the subject of the Government grant to the London Wesleyan Missionary Com- mittee. (3) That Mr. Ryerson's letter to him, dated Jan. 17, 1840, was prepared in compliance with His Excellency's re- quest. Yet all mention of this most important document is suppressed in the "printed Report of your Conference pro- ceedings ! (4) That correspondence contained likewise^ a copy of the Address of the Canada Conference to the Go- vernor-General, June, 1840, together with His Excellency's Reply ;* a Reply which completely refutes Dr. Alder's insi- nuations against the political character of his brethren in Canada, in his letter to Lord John Russell, dated 29th April, 1840. Yet no mention is made of these very important do- cuments in the "printed Report of the proceedings of your Conference! We will pursue this kind of inquiry no further; although you have furnished us with ample materials to prosecute it at great length. With the motives, or designs, or reasons, of such a method of reporting the proceedings of your Confer- ence, we have nothing to do; we judge not; we have to deal ViWh facts ; and, although we are but two, and ye are manij, we speak with conlidence, and with confidence we contem- plate the issue, as our appeal is not to names or numbers, but to documents, the import of which cannot be varied by names, nor their evidence weakened by numbers. 5. We have now to advert to the conduct of Messrs. Stin- * For the Address and Reply, sec pp. 112— 114. , . , , l«' 93 son and Ilicliov, extracts of whose letters were rean, and the penalties of eternity, to abide, regardless of the impulse of passion or the theories of human expedi- ency. We are there explicitly taught to obey the constituted authorities, not merely for wrath, but for conscience sake. The path of duty is the path of safety, and the sure way of acceptance before God and endless blessedness with liim. We have the fullest confidence in the ability and skill of Her Majesty's Representative in this Province in making the requisite arrangements for the defence and security of the country ; and with ample means at His Excellency's disposal, aided by the regular and militia forces, and prospered by the Divine favour and benediction, we have no apprehensions of the success of any brigand organization which can be plotted against us. Let us, then, brethren, regardless of past injuries, or present grounds of com- plaint, rally around the standard of our country in obedience to the authorities whom Almighty God has in His Providence placed over us ; and when peace and safety in the land are again re-established, we will, one and all, renew, with redoubled ardour, our exertions to obtain those rights, and privileges, and advan- tages which belong to us 83 men, as Christians, and as Canadian British Subjects. Joseph Stinson, President of the Conference. Egerton Ryerson, Secretary of the Conference. Cify of Toronto, November 19, 1838. 90 I c Connoxion in Canada ; tlint in tlu'ovrnt »)f a dissolction of this Union, ho sliould consider it wrong for the Conunittee in Lon- don to attempt to retain |)osseHsion of those Indian Missions which liad been established by the Canada Conference prior to the Union, llelying upon such professions and declarations, the Canada Conference requests Mr. Stinson to accompany its Representatives to England **for co-operation and aid." He comes to England, and " aids" and *' co-op tendent" never had claimed or exercised the functions in Ca nada which you have claimed for your President there ; that the Canada Conference, as well as the American Conferences generally, had, from the beginning, appointed a Committee, o; some person specially to guard its rights and communicate with the Government on its affairs; that Mr. E. Ryerson had been successively appointed to that (u!it.e, and had practicpUy 99 »ixerci«e(l it with the Manction of the Cjiimda Conference during more than ten years; and that his appointment i.f the preceding session of the Canada Conference had speciid reference to the very matters on which he communicated with the (iovernor- Oeneral. Then, where was tlie departure from usage, much less a violation of the Articles of Tiiion * (2.) Hut, secondly, look at the facts of the rase. Mr. Stinson and Mr. Uiehcy communicated with the Governor-dieueral prhately and svpa- rnfcli/, independent of the Committee of which they were members, as well as Mr. llyerson, and on the very same day; and in the well and widely-Known feelings on the part of Messrs. Stinson and Kichey, which they expressed in their interview with the Governor-General, will he found abundant reason why Mr. Ryerson, as the guardian of the rights and interests of the Methodist Church in Canada, ought not to have conferred with them if he had been so disposed. But the real ground of dissatisfaction is, not that Mr. Ryerson com- municated with the Governor-General, but that his communi- cations were more successful, because more just and reason- able, than those of Messrs. Stinson and Richey. Then, again, Mr. Ryerson waited upon the Governor-General in obedience to His Excellency's commands; he prepared his lette. Tor the Governor-General in obedience to the same commands. Ough' he to have obeyed or disobeyed ? Was ever such a pretension set up before on the part of any ecclesiastical body, since the days of the Inquisition, that the Governor of a country should not send for and consult whom he pleased, and that the indi- viduals on whom he might thus call should not communicate with him in the manner that requested, except upon pain of ecclesiastical censure ! Was the Canada Conference not to open its mouth to the Government except in a manner the Missionary Secretaries in London might prescribe? Suppose the doctrine, the new and strange doctrine, of your Committee had been acted upon in Canada, and that Mr. Stinson had been regarded as the ** Official Agent and Representative of the Wesleyan Body in Upper Canada," in communicating with the Government, where would have been, at this hour, the rights and interests of that Body in respect to the Clert>y Reserves? Such pretensions are admirably adapted to accCin- plish the political and financial schemes of your Missionary H 2 100 V" Secretaries; but they would be death to the civil rit;h!s anil just interests of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada. 8. The last of your specific charges is, " Tlie decidodly and prominently political character of the Christian Guardian, In vio- lation of pledges given to us and to the Upper Canada Con- ference, from 1833 to 1839." Here several things are to be observed. Firsts The Upper Canada Conference have given you the opposite of any authority for saying that pledges given it had been violated. Second, The only resolution which was ever passed by the Canada Conference relative to the non-interference of the Christian Guardian in political matters prior to 1839 (and which you interpret as a "pledge ") was passed in 1834. There- fore, pledges could not have been given you "from 1 833 to 1 839." Third, Dr. Alder himself, your Representative accuser, said in your Committee, that he never heard any complaint of the Guar- dian, as far as Mr. Ryerson was concerned, from 1834 to 1838. Dr. Alder stated to the Conference in Canada in 1839, that, during the editorship of Mr. E. Evans (three years) he considered the Christian Guardian " a capital paper ;" yet every reader of the Guardian, both in England and in Canada, knows that it was as decidedly and as actively political during that period as during any other period of its existence. But the tone of its politics then were rather more congenial with those of Dr. Alder and his colleagues, and that makes all the difference. But your censures now sweep over the entire period from 1833 to 1839, notwith- standing the facts we have referred to, your silence during six years, and the sanction and co-operation of your Representatives in Canada. Your Committee was extremely averse to allowing Mr. E. Ryerson to follow Dr. Alder an inch beyond the Conference of 1839 ; yet your Report covers the whole period since 1833. Fourth, Your Report states in one place, that all matters were satisfactorily arranged down to the Canada Conference of June, 1839. Then why do you resort to previous dates in search of complaints and grounds of difference? Such a course of proceed- ing is at variance with the usages of all judicial and deliberative bodies. Fifth, !»;. Alder returned from America to England in October, 1839 ; he read in your Committee an extract of a letter from Mr. Stinson, dated Toronto, October 9, 1839, in answer to one from him (Dr. A.) dated New York, October 9, 1839, n which it was explicitly stated, that all questions of difference respecting the Christian Guardian were amicably and satisfactorily ' 101 settled. Dr. Ider, in the early part of January, 1840, stated the successful and happy results of his Mission to ''\inada to the Missionary Committee, and received a cordial note of thanks from the Committee ; which was puhlished in the Watchman newspaper. Early in November, 1839, on his return from a centenary tour of upwards of two months, Mr. E. Ryerson resumed the Editorship of the Guardian, within a fortnight after which the Governor-General assumed the government of Upper Canada. Your whole ground of opposition to Mr. E. Ryerson and the Canada Conference, is therefore, by your own showing, narrowed down to the period of Lord Sydenham's administration of the Canadian government. At the Canadian Conference in June 1839, when Dr. Alder was present, and at your Conference in Newcastle, it was main- tained by us, and we believe will be disputed by none, that there are three cases, and three cases only, in which a departure from neutrality in civil affairs on the part of any religious com. munity, in its official character, can be justified. 1. When the Government or civil institutions of a Country are endangered by rebellion, or conspiracy, or dangerous organization, or aggression. 2. When any great measures or questions are before the Go- vernment and legislature of a country which directly and deeply involve the civil rights of communities and individuals, and the great interests of religion, such as Lord Sidmouth's Bill in 1811, Colonial Slavery, Government Education measure in England in 1839, and the Clergy Reserve Question in Canada. 3. When the civil institutions of a country and the system of its govern, ment are being formed and establishe'l anew. Now, take these principles in connexion with the history and circumstances of Upper Canada when Lord Sydenham assumed the government of that Province. The Clergy Reserve Question was pending, and the settlement of it was proposed to be undertaken by the Government ; a new constitution and system of government had been deliberately determined upon by the Imperial Authorities, and Lord Sydenham was deputed and commissioned to obtain the consent of the inhaljitants of Canada to these great measures, and to carry them into effect. He found the country depressed, agitated, and divided ; he commenced the herculean task of elevating, tranquillizing, and uniting it, and preparing the way for a happier state of thin After some weeks, his Excellency requested the attendance o Ir. E. Ryerson, at that time editor 102 of the acknowledged organ of the VVesle>an body in Canada^ and special representative of the Conference to the Government in relation to its rights and interests. His Excellency desired to hear Mr. Ryerson's opinions and wishes, and then communi- cated his own intentions, and desired every aid that could be given to accomplish them. Mr. R. knew that although he would not be required to sacrifice his principles, he must yield his pre- ferences on the question of the Clergy Reserves and several other matters ; but after mature deliberation, and with a consciousness of the difficulties of his situation,"* he determined — not to raise a p. * Xote hy E. Ryerson. — Lord Sydenham well knows the feelings of re- luctance and apprehension under which I assumed the responsibility of giving my liuniljlo and earnest support to the measures of his government in Upper Canada. He well knows that I anticipated opposition from Dr. Alder and liis friends, as well as from certain parties in Canada ; and he well knows that I adopted the course I did with a deep consciousness tliat it would be attended with personal sacrifice, with no other expectation or wish but justice to the church to which I belonged — equal justice to other churches — and the hope of prosperity to my native country under an improved and efficient system of government. I did not, indeed, expect that liostility against me from London would be prosecuted to the extent it has been ; but whatever injuries the pro- ceedingH of the London and Newcastle Committees of the British Conference may inflict upon my reputation and character, I enjoy the satisfaction — the unspeakable satisfaction — of knowing that no man has ever whispered the im- putation of seljish and mercenary motives against me, and that I have incurred the censures of the British Conference for supporting, and not for opposing, the Government, when it needed my support, and when it was in my power to have embarrassed it. After the objects of Lord Sydenham's government in Upper Canada had been accomplished, and after the public mind had been made thoroughly acquainted with his liordship's views, and intentions, and wishes on the general principles of his administration, and corresponding duties of all classes of the community in relation to it, in order to advance the best interests of the country, I frankly told his Excellency that wliile I, in my individual capacity, should feel it a pleasurable duty to contribute any little assistance in my power to promote the great objects of his government, yet that I thought it wrong, in any ortlinary circumstances, to commit the official organ of a religious community to the discussion of political questions, and that I must now with- draw the Guardian from all discussions of that kind. I am happy to know that his Excellency approved of my courae. I do not regret the confidence I have reposed in his Excellency. That confidence, in both his uprightness and ability, has been strengthened and confirmed by all that I have witnessed or known of hia plans and administration. I believe iiis Excellency has fairly carnetl the ilistinctions which have been conferred upon him. I am thankful that my brethren ui Canada have, with great unanimity, sustained me in the 103 a vexatious oppositioii to the {government, which he had the fairest opportunity to do (and which Messrs. Stinson and Richey desired him to do, on the questions both of the union of the Provinces and tlie Clergy Reserves) — not to fan the flame of party spirit, but — to aid the representative of his Sovereign to break down the destructive party discussions and divisions, and to obliterate the miseries of the past, and to usher in an era of safety, peace, and prosperity to that Province. Lord Sydenham having accomplished the objects of his mission to Upper Canada, the organ of the Wesleyan body avowedly and practically as- sumed its appropriate position of neutrality and non-interference in secular atFairs, and continues, as we trust it always will con- tinue, to do so. Now, was such a course really worthy of praise or dispraise? What article of the Union did it violate ? And by how many noble examples in church history is it justified ? If in February 1039, your Missionary Secretaries could write to, and applaud Sir George Arthur as Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada ; where was the crime in February, 1840, in Mr. E. Ryerson sup- porting the Governor General of Canada, except in this, that the former was a Tory, and the latter a Whig governor, and no favourite with the leading members of your Conference? When the " Christian Guardian/' in the hands of Mr. E. Evans, decidedly and warmly supported the administration of Sir Francis Head in 1836 and 1837, it was in the judgment of Dr. Alder " a capital paper ,•" the same course of proceeding on the part of Mr. E. Ryerson, in reference to a Whig Governor General, under the most eventful and imperative circumstances, is, in the judgment of your Committee, a serious violation of obligations and duty ! Such manifest inconsistencies in your proceedings on this point are calculated to induce the conviction that there is more of political party feeling than religious conviction, involved in them. At all events, we are fully convinced that here is much more politi- humble support I have enJeavoared to render to his Excellency's administra- tion. I trust his Excellency -mil not be required to do an act of injustice to them for the sake of thoso who would have crushed, and would still crush, Him and his government, had it been, or were it, in their power. As it respects myself personally, I shall not repine at being made the sacrifice, if the new system of government but succeeds, and the land of my birth and of my affec- tions is made prosperous and happy. 104 cal feeling in your Conference than there is in the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada. ,. 9. Your reference to the Clergy Reserves is superfluous, as you know that question has recently been settled by Act of Par- liament. Your reference to non-interference in secular affairs, was also equally unnecessary, as you know the Christian Guar- dian has for months, both by authority and practically, been as free from secular party discussions as your own Magazine. You are aware that we told your Committee from the beginning, that you could not go further on that subject than we were prepared on behalf of the Canada Conference to go with you. And we are persuaded there is less inclination on the part of Wesleyan ministers in Canada to interfere with questions of civil polity, and less probability of their doing so, either from the pulpit or the press, than there is on the part of many leading Wesleyan ministers in England. 10. But while you would allow no interference with secular questions, you would require the organ of the Wesleyan Confer- ence in Canada, not only to acquiesce in, but to " admit and maintain " the duty of the State to support religion — the theory of a national church establishment. Now we have shovrn no disposition to interfere with the national Establishment in England (we laid before your Committee ample evidence on this point) ; but we must object to the expediency of insisting upon this theory in respect to Upper Canada, and to the requiring of its advocacy in the abstract as a Wesleyan duty. 1. There is no idea in any quarter of Government creating new endowments for the support of religion in Upper Canada. It has had trouble enough with those already created ; it has at length disposed of them; and there the matter should end. It is nei*^h . expe- dient nor politic to introduce a liew element of discussion into the Wesleyan body in Upper Canada — not to say a firebrand of contention. 9,. But where, we would ask, is the Wesieyanism of requiring the advocacy of that principle in the abstract ? Is there one word on the subject in Mr. Wesley's Four Volumes of Sermons and Notes on the New Testament ? Was the Wesleyan Magazine, during Mr. Wesley's life, characterised by such dis- cussions? What is Mr. Wesley's judgment and that of his Conference on the subject .'' It is as follows : 105 " Quest. What instiince or ground is thore in the New Testa- ment for a national church ? " Am. We know of none at all ; we apprehend it to he a merely political institution." Now, is a " political instilution " any part of Wesleyan Me- thodism ? And is its advocacy enjoined either in the New Tes- tament, or by Mr. Wesley ? The multiplication of terms of communion or union is as unscriptural and as un- Wesleyan as it is unwise and inexpedient ; and in Canada the less said on the question of a church establishment the better, both for the Government and the country. 11. Your Committee have intimated the idea of continuing the union, but in connexion with a conglomeration of materials calculated to degrade the Canada Conference as much as possi- ble, and in connexion with conditions and claims of prerogative which reduce the Wesleyan Body in Canada (more numerous and influential, by its own unassisted exertions, than the assisted Wesleyan Body of any other Province in British North America) to an ecclesiastical nonentity — a mere agency to ac- complish your purposes — yet to support its own preachers, travelling and superannuated, and all its own institutions ! You may be assured that Englishmen, and British subjects of all classes, like to manage their own affairs in Canada as well as they do in England, and especially when it is provided by arti- cles or rules that they shall support themselves.* * In the course of the Committee and Conference proceedings at Newcastle, reference was frequently made by Dr. Alder and others to the Rev. Messrs. Cask and E. Evans, as if they were opposed to the views of the Canada Con- ference. It may be remarked, that whatever diversity of opinion there may be on certain civil and ecclesiastical questions and the merits of an individual mem- ber of the Canada Conference, there is not, as far as we know, any difference of opinion amongst preachers in Canada as to the powers and privileges of that Conference under the articles of union. In 1836 a Select Committee of the Upper Canada House of Assembly was appointed on the subject of " GoTern- ment grants made to certain religious denominations in the Province." In the course of the investigation of the subject the Select Committee made hiquiries into the nature of the union between the English and Canada Conferences ; and the Rev. Messrs. Stinson, Evans, find Case, were examined as witnesses. The following extracts from their printed evidence will explain tlieir views on that subject. lOG No other ecclesiasticul body in Great Britain has claimed a control over a religious body in Canada, iinthout being responsi- •i •11 From the Rev. Joseph Stinson's Evidence. " \',VA. Will you be good enough to state to the Committee how the Mission- ariea employed 1)y that Society (Wesleyan MisBionnry Society) are appointed to their work ? — They are appointed nv xhk Canada Confeuk.nce. " 4IU. Are they in any manner under your superintendence, and will you ho good enough to state the extent and autliority of tliat superintendence ? — I beg to refer the Committee to the Articles of Union between the Canada and Eng- lish Conference as an answer to that question. " 435. Will you be good enough to inform the Committee what authority the Parent Missionary Society in England exercises over the Canada Conference Missionary Society of the Wesleyan Methodist church ? — / know of no authority it exercises except that tchich is stated in tite Articles of Union." From the Rev. Epiiuaim Evans' Evidence. " 73. Is the Union of the Wesleyan Methodist Church with the Wesleyan Methodist Society of Great Britain, a Union in every respect constituting them one church ? — They are not one church in every respect — they are the same in the doctrines which they hold and inculcate — in the general rules of the Socie- ties under their cfire — and generally in the "great features of their internal eco- nomy, und modes of operation ; differing in the latter respects, however, accord- ing to the different circumstances of the two countries. Each however retains a DISTINCT and propek independency, — neither Conference having any right to exercise disciplinary control or ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Societies of the otiier, nor liaving any claim upon the funds" or the property of the ot/wr, exceptiiig a portion of the Missionary funds as'provided for in the Articles of the Union. The Union has been effected on such principles as not to effect the identity qf either Body.''' From tlie Rev. William Case's Evidence, " 250. Do the church to which you belong and the Wesleyan Methodists in England form but one Body, or are they distinct churches ? — They are distinct Bodies ; the British Conference in England forms one distinct and independent Body — the Wesleyan Methodist church in Canada forms another distinct and independent Body. These two distinct Bodies have formed a Union. " 251. In what respects arc they the same, and how are they distinct ? — They are the same in doctrine and general rules of the Society ; as also in the great outlines of their economy — such as itinerancy, plans of benevolence, the sup- port of their regular ministry by voluntar; contributions, &c. ; but they are distinct in name,and independent of each other. — They manage their own inter- nal economy in their own way, free of the interference of each oth^r — neither having any ecclesiastical jurisdiction or control over the members — preachers or people — of the other : bo distinct are they, that the ministers of one Conference have no right or claim to membership in the other Conference without its con- sent, and a regular admittance. Neither has the one Conference any control over the funds of the other." ! I 107 hie for its o.pport ; altlunigh there are bodies in Great Britain who liberally aid their more needy brethren in Canada, without exercising any dominion over them. The " Society for the Pro- pagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," is responsible for the greater part of the salaries of the episcopal clergymen in Upper Canada, and yet interferes very little v/ith the appointments or proceedings of the clergy in that province. The Cungrcgaiional Colonial Missionary Society does the same in respect to nearly all the Congregational ministers in Upper Canada; as does a Missionary Society of the Church of Scotland aid the ministers of that church in Canada. A few months since, the Committee of the General Assembly of the church of Scotland, generously granted .£400 per annum towards supporting Professors in the new Presbyterian College, wh.ich is being established at Kings- ton, in Upper Canada — an institution entirely under Canadian management ; nor does the General Assembly of the church of Scotland claim any portion of the Clergy Reserves from the " Presbyterian Synod of Canada ; " but gives the Canadian Synod the benefit of its own influence to procure all that can be lionourably obtained from provincial funds for the support of Presbyterianism and Presbyterian institutions in that country. 12. We desire now to call your attention to the act of your Conference, by which you profess to dissolve the union with the Canada Conference. Let it be observed, in the first place, that you have not specified or pointed out any article of union which has been violated by the Canadian Conference. Your assuming new prerogatives and laying down fresh conditions, shows clearly that you are quite as much dissatisfied with the articles of the Union as you are with the Canada Conference. Your act of dissolution is not based upon the violation of any one article of the Union by the Canada Conference, but upon the non-com- pliance of the Canadian representatives with new assumptions and conditions. The question now aric.".s, has either the British or Canadian Conference power to dissolve the Union on such grounds ? The Articles of Union are a contract between two parties ; all contracts are mutually binding upon each con- tracting party ; and can only be dissolved by mutual consent, or by a breach of contract by one or more of the parties concerned. You make several complaints ; and so might the Canada Con- ference complain that the uuderstiuiding on the question of the 108 r\ I m ^4 Clergy Reserves had not been fuHilletl on your part ; that your ]Missionary Secretaries had exceeded their proper province in their connnunications to Canada on that subject ; that Messrs. Stiu- son and Richey liad viohited the " obligations arising from the Union " in their " clandestine and unauthorised" communication with the Governor-General ; but all this does not amount to a breach of any article of the contract. The union has been legally formed and ratified; it must be legally dissolved, if dissolved at all. Otherwise it is no dissolution, but a secession, and involves on the part of the seceder the forfeiture of all that he may have acquired under the contract. His secession becomes a breach of the contract, and involves its consequences. And an old man or an old body may secede from a contract, as well as a young one. Had you concluded unfavourably as to the working of the Union, and considered its contiiiuance undesirable, we may presume to submit, that the Methodistic, the dignified and legal mode of proceeding would have been for you to have proposed to the Canada Conference a mutual and friendly dissolution of it. But you seem to have forgotten that the Canada Conference was a body known in law as well as the British Conference ; and it will be for the courts of law in Upper Canada to decide whether you have any chapel or mission property in that province, except what may have been secured to the British Conference before the union took place. The act of your Conference is nugatory as far as the abrogation of the articles of Union is concerned ; but it is not nugatory as it relates to your standing and your rights in Upper Canada. Those articles are still good to the Canada Conference, until it agrees to the abrogation of them. The stationing of the missionaries is still in its own hands ; and now the election of President ; and an invasion of its rights, or a trespass upon its property, will not be suffered with impunity. 13. The considerations involved in these remarks may serve to impress, as well as to introduce the observations with which we will conclude this communication. We now submit to your Committee the inexpediency, the impropriety, the unjustifiable- ness, of your attempting to prosecute divisive operations in Upper Canada ; for divisive they must be if they are prosecuted inde- pendently of the Wesleyan Church in that province. You may say and may think otherwise ; you may imagine a friendly and fraternal relation between yourselves and the Canada Connexion. ' 109 But could you imagine such to be the case on the part of the ('nnrtda, or American Conference, shouhl they come to England, and attempt to raise up distinct societies ? We might make a stronger appeal on the score of religioits and moral destitution, even in respect to London itself, than can with truth be made in respect to Upper Canada. But would you not say, that such an enterprise was a violation of the great principle of Metftodistic unity ? And let it not be forgotten, that whatever may [)e your seniority in this country to the Wesleyan body in Upper Canada, that body in that country is more than a quarter of a century senior to you. It has acquir'^d an ecclesiastical and moral right of soil there, not only by discovery, but by long possession and successful and extensive cultivation; cultivation far more suc- cessful and extensive than you have effected in any other British North American province. We desire not, however, to extend our operations to Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Bruns- wick, if we are permitted to concentrate our energies undisturbed in Upper Canada. We beg to direct the attention of your Committee to the Correspondence of the Canada JMissionary Board with your Committee in 1831 and 1832 on this very sub- ject. The considerations then urged against your Committee's establishing separate Societies in that province are of greater force now than in 1832. We know you may find individual advocates and supporters in that country ; and so might the Canada Conference have individual supporters and advocates in this country. We dwell not upon the appearance, upon the honour or disgrace, upon the good or evil of schisms amongst either the White Societies or the Indian Tribes ; but we put it to your Committee, seriously and in the sight of Almighty God, whether upon the great Wesleyan and Scriptural priiiciplej that we should not only go to those who want us, but to those who want us most, you are Divinely called to go into Upper Canada, and commence there the work of Missionary division, instead of prosecuting in other provinces, and in other parts of the world, the sublimer work of Missionary conwrsio/i ? " We fervently desire that the Canada Conference may be en- abled to sustain towards your Conference the most friendly rela- tions, and cherish the same feelings, and hold the same language, which have characterised its communications in past years. We deeply deplore the course which your Committee and a pnrt of no > i 'li !'.:;. your Conference hnvo pursued. We hiive felt that its reported, and now printed proceedings, were calculated to inflict upon us individually — especially upon one of us — and upon our Confe- rence and Church, an uncallod-for and unmerited injury, and that it v/as our indispensable duty to meet those charges, and imputations, and censures, with a prompt and explicit reply. We would hert^ banish from our bosoms any, — the least, — un- kind feelings on account of injuries received ; we would humbly pray for your increased purity, peace, and prosperity. We would earnestly implore the Ruler of all hearts, that your Com- mittee may be brought to pause and change their purposes before they proceed (not upon any vital doctrine of Methodism, not upon any cardinal principle of Methodist discipline, not upon any rule of Christian practice, but upon a mere combination of varied and conflicting feelings, upon assumptions of novel and unreasonable prerogative, upon " questions which tend to strife rather than to godly edifying") — to rend the yet seamless gar- ment of Methodism in the prosecution of an enterprise which cannot elevate the dignity of the English Connexion ; which cannot be contemplated with pleasure and admiration by any Christian and intelligent observer ; which must be viewed with feelings of mortification and regret when the ephemeral passions of the moment shall have subsided ; which must form a dark page in the volume of Methodist history, and may envelope in eternal night the destinies of hundreds and thousands of con- verted and unconverted Aborigines of North America. We are, Reverend and dear Sir, « , In behalf of the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, Yours affectionately in the Gospel of Christ, William Ryerson, EOEBTON RyEBSON. To the Rev. Dr. Hannah, Secretary to the Wesleyan Conference, Ill From the Upper Canada Christian Guardian, July 8, 1840. It is with no small degree of gratification we lay the following documents before the readers of the Guardian, confident as wc are that they will participate with us in the satisfaction we have derived from their perusal. No remark of ours need bo added to those contained in the letter from the Ucv. Egcrtou Uyerson ; but we find it almost impossible to avoid saying, we never read a re- ply from a Representative of Iler Majesty which more fully had our approbation. The manner in which it has been made, shows a condescension on the part of His Excellency the Governor Geue- ral, characteristic of His Excellency's entire intercourse with the people'; and the interest taken in this instance goes to confirm us in the belief of the grateful maxim, that a Chief Kuler is " the Fa- ther of his people." His Excellency, we are sure, will have the best acknowledgments ov the members of our Church, due as they are for the deep and timely solicitude for their welfare which the reply evinces ; while it will bind their hearts, if possible, still more to that Throne of which His Excellency is so wise and jujt a re- presentative. Montreal^ Friday Evening^ June 26, 1840. To the Editors of the Christian Guardian. My Deah Sirs. — Mr. Stinson and I arrived in this city this afternoon about five o'clock. "We immediately addressed a note to Mr. Chief-Secretary Murdoch, requesting, if it were possible, that His Excellency theGovernor General would receive the con- gratulatory address of our Conference between that time and to- morrow morning at 8 o'clock, as we were anxious to proceed to New York in order to sail in the packet of the 1st of July. A copy of our address had been forwarded to His Excellency a day or two before we left Toronto. His Excellency, with that prompt- ness and kind consideration of the convenience and circumstances of others, which have characterised his whole administration, ap- pointed half after nine o'clock this evming to receive us. I need not say I was gratified beyond expression with His Excellency's reply ; nor can I ever forget the grateful feelings created in my heart during the deliberate and emphatic reading of it by His Excellency. I have learned that certain parties in England have made com- 112 iimiiicutions to Hit Maji'sty's (lovcrnincnt injurious to the rhu- ractor of tho Ministers nnd M('ml)rrs of tlu» Wcslcyan MctliodiHt Clmrch in Canada ; and I am inclined to hcflieve, that wc arc in- debted in u con.sid* rahle degree, to thoso representations for tho strong and nnetiuivocal expression of his MxcelKiiey's sentiments rhich will be found in his reply. It is now an hour after mid- night., and I am too nnich fatigued to make any further remarks; nor are they necessary : comment would but weaken the impres- sion which the perusal of His Excellency's reply nm^t proiluce. I will, therefore, content myself with enclosing eojdes of the address and reply for publication. Yours, very tauly, ElJICUTON RviCltSON. ADDRESS. To His Excellency the Right HunouraUe, Ciiaulrh Poui.r/rr Thom- son, one of Her Mnjetty't Most Honourable Vriuy Council, Go- vernor General of British North America, t^c. ^c. <^r. May it pleasu Your Exceilkncy : We, Her i^Iajesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, tlie Ministers of the "VVesleyan Methodist Churtli in Canada, as- sembled in Conference, avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded us by our present annual meeting, to offer to your Excellency our most respectful and cordial congratulations on your assumption of the Government of the Canadas, and to express our grateful satis- faction in having witnessed the repeated Assurances of your Ex- cellency's gracious intention to frame measures and administer the government for the equal benefit of all classes of ILr ISIajesty's Canadian subjects. In this exprescion of our feelings and sentiments, we are confi- dent we give utteraiice to the feelings and sentiments of more than eight hundred congregations under our pastoral care, including from seventy-five to one hundred thousand souls. "We gratefully acknowledge the benevolent exertions which your Excellency has employed to promote an equitable and satis- factory settlement of the ecclesiastical affairs of this province ; and now that the judges of England have decided in favour of the lawful and equitable claims of other Protestant denominations than the Church of England to participate in the advantages of the Clergy Reserve provision for the support of the Protestant Religion, we hope the objects of your Excelleury'H unwcuricd efforts will bo speedily rculizcd, and thut tliis long agitated ({ucstion will bo finally set at rest. We Jire thankful that, at a juncture so critical and eventful in the history of those provinces, the administration of *heir affairs has been entrusted to a Statesman of your ^Excoliency's acknow- ledged abilities and great experience, and liberal principles ; whilst, on the other hand, it must bo gratifying to your Excellency to know, that the comprehensive powers with which your Excellency has been invested by our beloved Sovereign, have been and will be exercised in beh df of a people the great body of whom are anxious, with your Excellency, to strengthen and perpetuate the connexion between the Parent State and these importiuit Colonics. Tauglit by precept and example, from infancy, to " Fear God and honour the King," it will continue to be, as it has heretofore been, our aim and employment to inculcate these essential duties upon the Congregations committed to our care — whoso universal determination and zeal in rallying to the maintenance and defence of the constituted authorities during the late unhappy insurrection, and the disturbances which ensued, has furnished the strongest possible proof that they yield to no class of Her Majesty's subjects in sentiments and feelings of loyalty to Ilcr Majesty's person and Government. Our earnest prayer to Almighty God is, and will continue to be, tliat your Excellency rnay be protected t^id p aided, and prospered in all your deliberations, " that all things may be so ordered and settled by your endeavours upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for . venerations." Signed by order, and in behalf ot .ne Ministers of the Wes- leyan Methodist Church in Canada, assembled in Conference, this twentieth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and forty. Joseph Stinson, President, EoKRTON Ryerson, Secretary. HIS excellency's heply. Gentlemen, — I have received with great satisfaction your ad- dress; and I am sincerely thankful for the kindly sentiments ex- pressed to me personally by the Body in whose name you offer it. mmmmm 114 Di . ig my administration of the affairs of Upper Canada, it was my anxious desire to make myself acquainted with the opinions, with the conduct, and with the affiiirs of that portion of the people of the province of whom you are the Spiritual Leaders ; and I liave heen most happy in being able to bear my testimony to their loyalty and good conduct, not less than to your zeal, energy, and self-devotion in the pursuit of your conscientious la- bours. TI:is testimony will, I feel no doubt, render vain the attempt which I regret to find is made by some of your own Society, to represent you and those committed to your charge as disloyal to your Sovereign and averse to British Institutions ; and I ara confirmed in this belief by the address which I now acknowledge being concurred in, and presented by the Official Representative in the Canadas of the British Wesleyan Body, whose testimony is thus unequivocally added to mine. It is not my province to enter into any questions »which may concern the management of the internal afiairs of your Body. Still it was with regret that I learnt, when in the Upper Province, from the Representatives of the London Society, that diflerences of opinion prevailed amongst you — and I shall be glad to find that they have been satisfactorily arranged. My course, however, is clear. Whilst I administer the affairs of the Oanadas,it is my duty to look to the wishes and to the feelings of the people of that coun- try ; and you will find me ever ready and willing, whenever any question conuected with the Executive Government may arise, to support the reasonable views and maintain the just rights of your Society, as expressed through your recognized authorities within these Provinces. FrlntO' I by John Uaddoo, Castle Street. Finibury-