CONCLUDING RESOLUTIONS.

I. That on the first appearance of the recent Minutes, these United Committees were led to regard them as decidedly objectionable in their bearings upon the great interests of Scriptural Truth, and as calculated to afford new and very dangerous facilities for the spread of various errors. The explanations given by the Committee of Council have, however, materially diminished the force of the objections resting on this ground

Because it appears in the statement of their Lordships,

1. That by previous Minutes which still continue in force, the use of the Volume of Holy Scripture in its full integrity, and in the Authorized Version, is, and will continue to be, required in all Schools obtaining aid from the Public Funds, under these and all preceding Minutes, except in one specified case, which, though in the judgment of this Committee still liable to strong objections on the ground of principle, is alleged to be compatible, in practice, with the general rule. Such use of the Sacred Volume these Committees regard as affording one of the best securities which the State can require against Romanism and other forms of dangerous error.

2. That the project which some persons openly avowed, and which it is believed others secretly cherished, of making the Schoolmasters, for whom emoluments would be provided under these Minutes, subsidiary agents and supplementary ecclesiastical functionaries of their several churches, is, by one of the additions now proposed, rendered impracticable; the Committee of Council being determined not to allow the funds under their control to be misappropriated, as they would necessarily be, by their application to any other than purely educational purposes.

From these two considerations, it will be apparent that the grounds of some of the most serious apprehensions which these Committees, in common with many other friends and lovers of the truth, at first entertained, are, for the present, greatly mitigated, if not removed.

II. That another cause of serious alarm and distrust in reference to the proposed measure was, the probable effect of some of its provisions on the general educational system of the Wesleyan Body, and on those numerous schools which they have been for several years past labouring to establish and maintain. The explanations of the Committee of Council have greatly

tended to abate this alarm, as showing:

1. That should it be deemed desirable that Wesleyan Schools should partake of the proposed aid, they will be enabled to present their application without being any longer required to seek for the sanction of another Educational Society, with some of whose fundamental Regulations they could not consistently comply.

2. That no Inspector will be appointed to any Wesleyan Schools, (on the supposition that any of them hereafter should desire to participate in the Parliamentary Grant,) without the full concurrence of the Wesleyan Education Committee.

3. That, when so appointed, he will have no power to interfere with, or even to report upon, the Religious Instruction given in the Schools,-that he will not be able of HIMSELF to select and recommend pupil Teachers and Monitors, but only with the practical concurrence of the Managing Committee, and that the Committee of Privy Council will allow an appeal against his proceedings by parties who feel themselves aggrieved, and against his continuance in office, if he cease to possess the confidence of the Wesleyan Education Committee.

4. That on other matters of detail connected with the management, whether of separate Schools, or of the general educational affairs of the Connexion, the Committee of Council will be ready to enter into friendly communication with the Wesleyan Education Committee, with a view to co-operate with and encourage its efforts for the promotion of scriptural education.

III. That it would have given these Committees great pleasure to state that all their objections to the Minutes of the Committee of Council were now removed; but this they are unable to do.

They are satisfied, indeed, that the probable evil resulting from the measure has been greatly exaggerated in the apprehension of its opponents, as its probable benefits have also been in the anticipations of its friends.

On one most important point which was prominently brought forward, both in their Resolutions and in their Correspondence with the Committee of Council, the United Committees deeply regret that they have been unable to reach a satisfactory conclusion. But they hope that the question has not been raised entirely in vain, and that, by means of further efforts hereafter to be made, may, in course of time, receive a favourable solution. Meanwhile, they

are satisfied that recent occurrences have placed the friends and advocates of full religious toleration in schools in a much more advantageous position, for the ultimate attainment of their great object, than they previously occupied; and the Committee have distinctly reserved the right of future effort.

IV. That in reference to some other objections stated in their Resolutions of the 1st instant, the United Committees are clearly of opinion that those reasons, being grounded rather on civil and political than strictly religious considerations, would not of themselves justify them in calling upon the body of Wesleyan Methodists, as a religious community, to offer a combined and organized opposition to the measure.

V. That on this whole subject, surrounded as it is with many difficulties, these Committees, after long, deliberate, and prayerful consideration, have come to the almost unanimous resolution, to

VISITS

advise the Wesleyan societies and congregations, under present circumstances, NOT TO OFFER ANY FURTHER CONNEXIONAL OPPOSITION, NOR ΤΟ TAKE ANY FURTHER CONNEXIONAL ACTION, IN REFERENCE то THE GOVERNMENT MEASURE ON EDUICATION, as these Committees understand it to be now explained, and intended to be ultimately proposed to the House of Commons.

Signed on behalf of the United Committees,

WILLIAM ATHERTON,
President of the Conference.
CHARLES PREST,

GEORGE OSBORN,
JOHN C. PENGELLY,
THOMAS VASEY,

Secretaries of the United Committees of
Privileges and Education.

Wesleyan Centenary Hall, Bishopsgate-Street-Within, London, April 16th, 1847.

OF INQUIRY IN SPAIN STATE OF THE COUNTRYANGLO-SPANISH MISSION IN CADIZ NATIVE SCHOOL-PERSECUTION-MISSION RENEWED UNDER THE FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT-REPEATED PER

SECUTION ENCOURAGEMENTS то RESUME THE WORK OF EVANGELIZATION.

ABOUT ten years ago, the Wesleyan Minister stationed at Gibraltar obtained permission from his Committee in England to attempt the establishment of a Mission in Spain. Repeated visits of inquiry had been made during the two years preceding; and for a considerably longer period the Spanish department of the Mission in that colony had afforded opportunities for rather extensive correspondence with Spaniards. It had been ascertained that, although one comprehensive statement of the moral and social condition of the whole country could not be given, so great is the provincial variety of character and circumstance, those cities where civilization had made the greatest advance, and where intercourse with foreigners had served to disarm the public of their prejudice against them,

might be made centres of evangelical influence.

Such cities were Madrid and Cadiz. Many Ecclesiastics-and, among these, some dignitaries of the Romish Church -had avowed themselves to be sensible of the corruptions of their system, and weary of the yoke of Papal discipline, which had become intolerable to themselves, and hateful to no small portion of the people. Even then, many of them were known as favourable to ecclesiastical reform; and the writer may mention the Bishops of Astorga, Jaen, and Malaga, (to say nothing of others, of whom he has no knowledge,) as men who would have been reformers, if the path of true reformation had been more clearly opened before them. The Government and the Cortes were endeavouring to lay this path open. The educated class, ever becoming more numerous, had been found, not merely accessible, but extremely inquisitive after religious information. But the educated were not believers either in Romanism or in Christianity; and as for the masses, they were daily drinking-in the poison of the grossest infidelity, and, being destitute of religious instruction, were ready to obey whatever influence might be brought to act on them in their

several provinces. It might have been thought unsafe to undertake a Mission in Cordova or Valencia; but it appeared perfectly practicable to sustain the character of Minister of Christ in Cadiz or Madrid. For in towns far less enlightened (as the word "enlightened " must for the present be understood) not a few Spaniards had expressed a wish that a trial should be made, in order to bring into their country a new principle, equally counteractive of priestcraft, licentiousness, and infidelity. This might be said of Seville and Granada. Friars in their cells, where they trembled with dread of a forcible expulsion, Priests in their discontented parishes, politicians at their desks, and tradesmen in their shops, were heard, during those visits of inquiry, freely breathing fervent wishes for a spiritual reformation. Then, but especially since, the same desire has been heard expressed from the lips of rulers of the Church, members of the Cabinet, leaders of the press, and administrators of Government in the provinces. Even merchants and men of landed estate wished, as they still wish, to see a recognition of Protestantism in Spain, as necessary for the encouragement of our merchants and others in their country, and for the sake of territorial cultivation and the interests of manufacture. press groaned for liberty. The Universities ventured to long for emancipation from trammels which destroyed their credit in the sight of Europe, and almost disqualified the majority of their members and students for the honourable occupancy of public stations in this age of social and intellectual progress. English residents also, who retained the Protestant profession, began to indulge in a more free respiration, as inquisitorial terrors and popular bigotry were abated. Five years had elapsed since Ferdinand VII., unable to withhold it any longer, had granted an order, allowing burialplaces for deceased English in his dominions. The name of William Mark, Esq., British Consul-General at Malaga, who persevered, in spite of the opposition of some, and the indifference of others, until he had obtained this right, must ever be honourably remembered. But only one burial-place had been established, besides his own, by virtue of that order. It was clear that the British in Spain must be brought to care for their own souls while alive, before they would be much concerned for the decent interment of the deceased. But when Mr. Mark gained ground for the dead, he

The

gave us the suggestion to find other ground for the living.

Not to have striven to raise the standard of Christ amongst a people disaffected to Antichrist; not to have carried the bread of life to multitudes

perishing, yet hungry and earnest to receive it; would have been criminal indeed. Some of their own writers, deploring the famine of the word of God, had forcibly cited, albeit in the dialect of Rome, the lament of Jeremiah: Parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis. If, then, by their own confession, the children did ask for bread, and there was none to break it to them, necessity was laid on the Protestant to carry in the bread which he had received from the gracious Redeemer of mankind, and offer it to the dying myriads.

On the 23d of December, 1836, accompanied by a young man who had been under preparation for his work, while master of one of the Missionschools in Gibraltar, the writer took horse, and rode across the country to Cadiz, in order to leave there one living witness to scriptural Christianity;-one witness, for there was not avowedly another. The British Government had, some years before, withdrawn the Chaplain, the only representative of Protestantism, from the embassy at Madrid. It would seem that notions of commercial interests, or diplomatic expediency, were not to be disturbed by even the presence of a Chaplain. The policy was then followed which has not yet been given up. An official despatch from Downing-street to the Minister at Madrid is still in existence; and even at this moment instructs the Representative of our Queen at that court, that any British subject who shall in any way "assail the established religion," and expose himself to persecution by any action or proceeding which may be so construed, must be informed that he is not to expect British protection. Thus is the Representative of our beloved Sovereign, and of our nation, without the privilege and comfort of the regular worship of Almighty God. And our brethren, dependent, indeed, upon the protection which cannot be withheld, are virtually denationalized as soon as they may happen to give umbrage to a Priest; and the shelter which a Christian may now find in Turkey, is withdrawn from him in Spain. But to return.

On the following Sunday the Bethel flag was hoisted in the bay of Cadiz. Not long before, a messenger from the

authorities on shore had gone off to get such a flag lowered, and had succeeded. But it still floats in the wind that wafts rich contributions to the commerce of our island. No Spanish hand has now strength to bring down that ensign; and it is exhibited to thousands of English and American seamen, who enjoy the ministration of the Gospel in their own language, provided by the Town Mission, and Scripture Readers' Society. The labours of that day, therefore, were not lost. Better times had come; and the Wesleyan Agent began his work, and was unmolested.

This led to other labours on shore.

Having come from Gibraltar, where schools had been taught, and congregations had worshipped in the Spanish language, for not less than four years, requests also soon came to him from natives of the city that there also he would teach their children. A school arose. The small revenue of this school began to be inserted in the accounts of the Mission, as a contribution from Spaniards towards its maintenance; a contribution cheerfully given by them to the representative of a Protestant Church, to one who was neither disposed, nor would have been allowed, to temporize. He daily offered prayer with his pupils, taught them from the Bible; and on the first visit of the Missionary from Gibraltar to this school, he had the satisfaction of receiving an invitation to preach from several of their relatives, and of solemnizing worship and ministering the word of life accordingly.

Then persecution stirred. This demon agitated the Priests, as usual. Under the long-familiar obsession, the Preachers launched forth denunciations without number. We were shown up as Jews, atheists, materialists, Methodists, infidels, corrupters of youth, heretics, Calvinists, and even Carlists! Laws were to be evoked from their ancient lurkingplaces; by force of which the audacious innovator should be gagged, imprisoned, burnt. Yet burning had become too odious to be perpetrated. Ten years before that time it was found too late for the offering of such a holocaust, and the heretic was hung at Valencia, not burnt. Besides, it was found that under the political Constitution, recently established, those laws had suddenly expired. The spirit of persecution, ejected from strongholds which she had occupied for ages, now roamed abroad, sought a resting-place, but found none. She wrought on Ecclesiastics; but they had scarcely strength or courage left to pro

nounce the anathemas which she inspired. They were absorbed in dread of perils imminent. The Cortes were busy in reducing their prerogatives, and confiscating their vast possessions. The local authorities discouraged their inflammatory sermons. This same spirit now and then solicited a civil functionary; and at last succeeded in exciting zeal against reputed heresy, in the Count de Clonard, Governor of Cadiz. He readily enforced an unrepealed statute, according to which a foreigner, and especially a non-Romanist, could not teach a school; but the cry already heard from all quarters, demanding liberty of trade, of the press, and of Parliamentary representation, not unmingled with voices favouring liberty of worship also, defeated even his official opposition.

We had now to struggle for possession of the ground which God had given us. The conflict became close, and, to ourselves, solemnly important. A personal application was made to the Government at Madrid, then under the premiership of the Count de Ofalia. Sir George Villiers, now the Earl of Clarendon, at that time Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy at that Court, nobly aided the application, regarding the cause of a Protestant institution as a British interest. The divine blessing made these efforts successful. A royal decree was soon issued, abolishing the restrictive test, and qualifying any man of sufficient age and good character, without respect of nation or religion, to establish and to teach in schools. The Cadiz Mission was re-organized. The Gaditanos came daily with their children; some of the most respectable among them brought their sons to receive the benefit either of a commercial or a classical education, and often made such requests as this:-Enseñele la relijion de vds. porque ya estamos partos de la nuestra : "Teach him, Sir, your own religion; for we are grown sick of ours."

An oratory was opened in the Missionhouse. Crowded with stated worshippers and occasional hearers, chiefly of the middle classes of inhabitants, it soon became too small, and was therefore enlarged. The word of God was proved to be quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. As this living word was preached to those Spanish citizens, it searched them deeply. Some wept with emotion; others reddened with shame, because convicted of sin; and others went home

thoughtful, and returned again inquisitive. A church arose, and the living stones then gathered have not all been hidden in the temporary dilapidation of the fabric.

One of those changes of political situation which cannot but occur in every unsettled country, and has been frequent in Spain, gave advantage to the enemies of the Gospel. Doubtless, Christina was well pleased in being able once more to gratify the priesthood. Her best servants had been dismissed. A Cabinet was constructed on other principles; but, being obnoxious to the nation, took into its alliance the humiliated priesthood, never a part of any nation, because nowhere bound by any honourable domestic tie, but everywhere alienated by attachment to a foreign chief. "Her Catholic Majesty " then caused to be notified to the British Chargé d' Affaires, (for the truly English-hearted Minister had by that time returned to England,) that it was her royal pleasure that the Preacher of heresy should leave Spain immediately; or else, being an innovator on the religion of the kingdom, should be proceeded against as a state criminal, and would be liable to suffer las ultimas penas, it might be, the punishment of death; for as a state criminal, he might be dealt with independently of the law of the country, which could be no longer made use of against him. Let it, therefore, be henceforth borne in mind, that should an Englishman be persecuted by the Spanish Government as a state criminal, it cannot be but by the concurrence of our own; and it will then have to be seen whether the Ministers for the time will abide by the despatch of Lord Palmerston above mentioned.

The ground, however, was not abandoned. The Missionary withdrew to Gibraltar, that being the centre of his Mission; and placed as an assistant, at Cadiz, the person who had at first preached there to the English. A few months elapsed until the absolutism of

the new Government had attained its height, when he was verbally required by the Governor to leave the country. As he had been instructed not to comply with any verbal intimation, but either to leave at the point of the bayonet, or to bring a written certificate of expulsion, by which the responsibility of their own act should be left on the Spanish authorities; he obtained such a certificate, after much difficulty, countersigned by General Moreda; and a translation at the foot of the page may be instructively contrasted with some of the reports of Parliament during the present session.*

Scarcely had this momentary triumph been effected, when Christina was forced to abandon her throne; and the very steamer which had conveyed the Missionary and his family from Cadiz to Gibraltar, conveyed her from Valencia to France, where she is expected soon to be again, if not already there. These acts of the party in power during those few months were censured by the Spaniards as impolitic and unjust; and, but for financial considerations, that Mission might have been immediately resumed.

After these statements, it may be right to observe, that no association of religion with national politics was ever made by the Missionary, nor by any one connected with him. Persons of hostile politics were his most familiar friends. But great ecclesiastical questions, in which political questions were also involved, were then under discussion. Those who were anxious for reform-and they were the great majority of the nation-regarded Protestant operations favourably, and with sufficient reason; while, on this very account, the opposite party viewed them with increased abhorrence and alarm.

The opposition then excited was no greater than what is frequently experienced elsewhere, has often been overcome, and may be sooner or later overcome, wherever it exists, by faithful perseverance. Spain has had seven years more to learn the folly and wickedness of

"Vo. Bo. MOREDA."