5. That from all appearances, many of our fellow members are undoubtedly very uncomfortable at being obliged to baptize their children in the Established Church, by those of her ministers who they do not consider evangelical in their doctrines, &c.

6. That many apply to have the Lord's supper given them by ministers of another denomination, though unwillingly on several

considerations.

7. That to compel any of our members to seek for either sacrament in any other than our own connexion, is a thing of which we ought not to be guilty, it being contrary to the word of God, and the general practice of his church in every age and country." The above subject was taken under serious and deliberate consideration, by Mr. Charles and others. The nature of the ordinances were discussed at several associations. Afterwards, a number of elders or leaders were chosen from the several counties of North Wales, who were deemed most competent to judge on this subject, being also men of eminent seriousness and piety, to form a committee, and Mr. Charles was appointed chairman. Their unanimous decision was, that a certain number of the preachers should be chosen from each county, to administer the ordinances. In June, 1811, eight were therefore ordained in the form and manner described in the annexed Brief View, &c. And in August in the same year, thirteen were ordained in South Wales after the same manner.

January, 1827.

Twenty-five years and more have elapsed since the above brief History was drawn up; since that period several important movements have taken place in the connexion, which, while they leave its fundamental constitution entire and untouched, are calculated, it is believed, under the divine blessing, to perpetuate its existence and extend its usefulness and prosperity.

A HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY had been formed in connexion with the Quarterly Association in North Wales, even prior to the date of the document adverted to, though no formal mention was made of it. It was established in the year 1813, a short time before the decease of the revered Mr. Charles, of Bala, and under his auspices. It now (1850) numbers about 40 stations, in which the Gospel is preached, Sunday schools established, and churches, more or less flourishing, planted.

At a later date, another society was formed in connnexion with the Association in South Wales, with the same object in view. This also has upwards of 20 stations, and supports six or seven missionaries. Both societies labour principally in those districts of the Principality in which the English language predominates, and have been greatly blessed in dissipating the moral darkness in which those districts had long been enveloped, and in leading many sinners to the knowledge of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

B

In the year 1840, a FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY was also formed. Heretofore the Connexion had identified itself in Foreign Missionary labours with those of the London Missionary Society. The opinion, however, became more and more prevalent in the community, that it was expedient to have a denominational mission of its own. This was agitated at first in Liverpool, and ultimately adopted by the Associations of North and South Wales. Its labours, hitherto, have been confined to the Cassees of India, the Britons of France, and the Jews of London.*

Another movement, sufficiently important to form an era in the history of the Connexion, was the establishing of SEMINARIES OF LEARNING for young ministers. The Connexion had been favored from its commencement, with a considerable number of ministers, eminent alike for their piety and their erudition. These for the most part, had been educated for the Episcopal Establishment, and had received Episcopal ordaination, but had joined the Methodist body with a view to greater usefulness.

When the Connexion had formally seceded from the Established Church, by ordaining ministers for itself, no such accession of learned ministers could be expected; it was therefore thought highly expedient, if not absolutely necessary, for the permanency and efficiency of the Connexion, that some means should be provided to afford the young preachers of the denomination a better education. This object, after considerable delay and difficulty, was at length attained. Two Institutions for this specific object have been established. One in Bala, Merionethshire, under the superintendence of the Rev. Lewis Edwards, M.A., and another in Trevecca, Breconshire, under the Rev. David Charles, B.A. The College at Bala, was opened in August, 1837, and at Trevecca, in October, 1842.

May 10, 1850.

*This Society, though but in its infancy, and exercised already with severe trials, has, notwithstanding, been favoured with some signal tokens of success.

19

A BRIEF VIEW.

OF THE MANNER AND ORDER AGREED UPON, TO ORDAIN SOME OF OUR PREACHERS TO ADMINISTER THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER IN THIS CONNEXION.

In every society, it is requisite that its members should in general lay aside their own peculiar views, so that each may be able to meet in one common centre about which all are agreed, and in which all will unite and co-operate in a manner becoming a society of christians. Should any one be found unwilling to accede to this, we do not consider him to be a proper person to retain his place as a member in either of our societies. We demand not that he should entirely change his sentiments, but merely that he should give way to other opinions than his own; or if he cannot do this, that he no longer consider himself to have a claim to the privileges of the society. We own that it would be highly improper to expect that every individual should, in every particular, coincide with the views of another; and we are far from thinking it to be the duty of any one to adopt the other's peculiar creed.

The Methodists in Wales are, in these days, a very numerous people; it were unreasonable to expect that every member of so large a body should see eye to eye in every particular relating to the circumstantials of religion. Men greatly differ from one another in their degrees of knowledge and of grace; and the prejudices of education implanted in the human breast at the period of childhood, often shoot their fibres to such a depth, as not to admit of a total eradication in after life; these, to a certain degree, must therefore be borne with, lest the peace of the body be disturbed, and lest it otherwise suffer. If some central point could be fixed upon, in which all could without hesitation unite, it would be proper and advisable to do so, as it would have an evident tendency to benefit the connexion. Up to the present period, union and brotherly love have to a great degree prevailed among us; and this has been one chief cause, through the blessing of the Lord, of our success and usefulness in Wales. Controversies and contentions are real preventatives to spiritual growth and improvement. In general, all our members are one in sentiment on every important subject, relative either to doctrine or to discipline. A change of circumstances requires a correspondent change of regulations, in order to preserve comfort and to insure usefulness. Taking these particulars under consideration, the following regulations were unanimously agreed to by the whole connexion, being established on grounds so liberal, that none should have to complain that they were called to subscribe to any thing which they could not conscientiously admit.

The number of clergymen of the Established Church, who minister in our Connexion, being insufficient to administer the ordinances and sacraments in our several churches, which are now so rapidly multiplying, the great inconveniency which is being felt among the Welsh Churches, which exist in some towns in England, by not having any to administer the Sacraments to them, and other reasons which we might mention,-render it proper and necessary,—

1. That a certain number of preachers in the several Counties, be ordained to assist the clergy who now officiate in the Connexion, in the administration of the ordinances.

2. That we judge it proper that the elder preachers of the Connexion be first chosen to this work who have given satisfactory proofs of faithfulness, sobriety, sincerity, piety, and suitability to the work.

3. That, as the Apostle exhorts Timothy to lay hands suddenly on no man, and thereby make himself a partaker of other men's sins,—and again, not to choose a novice in the faith ;—we are of opinion, that no person ought to be selected for the purposes already mentioned, without the Connexion's having had proofs of his ministry and conduct for at least five years.

4. That the leaders of societies, together with those who have been ordained to administer the ordinances, consult together at a Monthly Meeting in each County once every year, to know whether there be a necessity to add to the number of those who are already ordained: and if such a step appear requisite, that they would fix upon one or more from among the preachers whom they may judge most suitable: then two leaders are to be chosen as their Representatives, to make their wishes known at the Quarterly Association, where the subject shall be submitted to the consideration of the Representatives of each County, and their decision to be reported at the next Monthly Meeting of every County.

5. That the choice of the Representatives of the Monthly Meetings of each County, be made known to Representatives of the whole Connexion, assembled at the Quarterly Association, and that such choice be approved of by them: and as a greater number are congregated at the Associations held in the summer months, we think it best that the subject should at this season be yearly settled.

6. That no preacher, who shall be chosen and set apart by the body, view himself as belonging to one branch of it more than to another, but that all according to the present mode, administer

* Some object to our order because those which we set apart are not chosen by any particular branch of the Church, nor appointed as pastors over any particular flock.

Answer. What has ever been established without the opposition of contentious men? They are chosen by every branch of the Connexion through the Representatives of the different Churches, and they are required to superintend, and to watch over them all, so far as they are able.

the ordinances to every branch as opportunity occurs, or as a call may be made for their services.

7. That their numbers be increased in proportion to the increase of the body.

8. That they be set apart in a solemn manner, after the unanimous consent of the Connexion shall have been given in the following method :-The third chapter of the First Epistle of Timothy is to be read, and the first chapter of Titus; then an elder brother to pray; afterwards, a number of suitable questions are to be submitted to the persons about to be ordained, relating to the doctrine of the Gospel, &c.; and, finally, the body, through its Representatives who are then present, is requested to signify its approbation, by their lifting up their hands; and not by laying on of hands; unless that, for some particular reason, should be deemed more proper and desirable.†

9. That the present general mode of administering the Lord's Supper, be adopted as nearly as possible, without imposing any strict rules on any one regarding doubtful and controversial matters, but granting a liberty in all our administrations, correspondent with the liberty of the Gospel dispensation, so that all may unite without offering violence to their consciences.

10. That those who are ordained, be at liberty to administer the two ordinances, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

+ We do not consider imposition of hands to be essentially necessary for the appointing of any one to a sacred office. We have examples of some having been appointed to church offices without this form having been observed; such was the case with the twelve Apostles, the Seventy, the apostle Paul, &c. Choosing and ordaining were formerly observed in two ways; viz.-1. By prayer and casting of lots; so Matthias was chosen in the stead of Judas, Acts, i. 25. He was called to occupy an extraordinary office, even that of an Apostle in the place of Judas; and the special interposition of the Lord was requisite in his appointment. 2. By the choice of the people, signified by raising up their hands: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church." Acts xiv. 23. The Greek word Cheirotonesantes signifies a choice, by taking the sense of the church by raising up of hands. This word in 2 Cor. viii. 19, is translated "chosen," ""who was chosen of the churches;" -and also in Acts x. 41. We have no example of laying on of hands on any ordinary minister at the time of ordination; nor indeed on any but extraordinary persons by extraordinary individuals; and even that, not by ordaining them. Paul and Barnabas had been in office for a long while before the imposition of hands, which is recorded in Acts xiii. 1-3. They were extraordinary persons, called to an extraordinary employ among the Gentiles. Timothy received, by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, not ordination to an office, but gifts. 1 Tim. iv. 14. But, as ministers have now nothing to bestow, we see no propriety in keeping up the ceremony which in former times was observed. It was an extraordinary act, performed by men in an extraordinary office, on extraordinary individuals. We are therefore of the same opinion as those many learned men who hold the imposition of hands to be irrequisite at ordination, unless something could by that means be bestowed as in former ages. (See Encyclopædia Britannica, Imposition of hands).