evening three women agreed to meet together weekly, with the same intention as those at London. At eight, four young men agreed to meet, in pursuance of the same design."

On Wednesday, the 9th of May, five weeks after the formation of the Society, so rapidly had the members increased, that the rooms in which they used to have service would not accommodate them. In order to meet this pressing want, Mr. Wesley "took possession of a piece of ground, near St. James' Churchyard, in the Horse Fair, where it was designed to build a room large enough to contain both the Societies of Nicholas, and Baldwin Street, and such of their acquaintance as might desire to be present with them, at such times, as the Scripture was expounded. And, on Saturday 12th, the first stone was laid, with the voice of praise and thanksgiving." Mr. Wesley, contrary to his intention, had to bear the expense, and direct the work of the building. A debt of £150 was contracted, while the subscriptions of both Societies did not amount to a quarter of that sum. He had not the money in hand, nor any human probability of procuring it. But, "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."

While the New Room (as it was long designated) was being built, the Lord greatly owned His Word in Nicholas and Baldwin Streets. Among the many who were converted there at this time was "Thomas Maxfield, then quite a youth, who was afterwards destined to make so conspicuous a figure in the history of Methodism : he was the first of that host of itinerant preachers in Mr. Wesley's Connexion who have since carried the standard of the Gospel more triumphantly over the world than any other class of the modern Christian commu

nity." The extraordinary way in which great numbers suddenly sunk to the ground while listening to the Word preached, and in an agony of soul cried for mercy, produced great opposition, so that Mr. Wesley says: "Sunday, June the 3rd [being only three weeks after the first stone was laid], in the evening, not being permitted to meet in Baldwin Street, we met in the shell of our new Society-room. The Scripture, which came in course to be explained, was, 'Marvel not, if the world hate you.' We sung'Arm of the Lord, awake, awake!

Thine own immortal strength put on.' 'And God, even our own God,' gave us His blessing."

As this chapel was the first the Methodists ever built, it is an object of considerable attraction, and is often scanned with great interest by strangers visiting Bristol. The Old Room was by no means well built. In less than ten years after its erection, Mr. Wesley records : "Tuesday, February 9th, 1748.-I met about sixty of the Society in Bristol to consult about enlarging the Room; and, indeed, securing it, for there was no small danger of its falling upon our heads. In two or three days two hundred and thirty pounds were subscribed. We immediately procured experienced builders to make an estimate of the expense; and I appointed five stewards (besides those of the Society) to superintend the work."

He again records: "September 13th, I preached in the new-built room at Bristol."

This sanctuary, within whose hallowed walls so many scenes of surpassing' interest have transpired, is now and has long been owned and occupied by the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists.

* Dr. Stevens' "History of Methodism."

During Mr. Wesley's life, from the 1st of August, 1745, when the second Conference commenced, to 1790, the last Wesley attended, Conference was held eighteen times in this building. A brief description of the chapel and its present surroundings will enable the inquirer to form a fairly correct idea of its site and appearance. It stands nearly midway between the Horse Fair and Broadmead. The entire locality has greatly changed since its erection. The Horse Fair has fearfully deteriorated during the last century. It abounds with marine stores, old clothes shops, and low public-houses, and the wretched hovels lining the long passage called "Westley Court" are occupied by swarms of poor people. The north end of the chapel, next to the Horse Fair, used to be the front, but is now designated the back; and the other end, renovated and modernized, has become the front. Even the door-bell has been removed from the north end to the south. Originally, the only entrance to the Room was from the Horse Fair through "Westley Court," which runs on a line with the east side of the chapel, at the corner of which are large doors which admitted the worshippers into another small court, covered over to near the to near the chapel door to shelter the congregation. Directly opposite the front, and separated only by the court, are clusters of small houses, which completely hide the chapel from view. Very few people now enter from this end.

When the chapel was built, there was no way of access to it from Broadmead until Mr. Durbin, a chemist, and one of the trustees, bought a house there, and made it over to Mr. Wesley's Society, by which means they obtained the right of way. This approach is close to

the Lower Arcade, and runs parallel with it. Great alterations were made in the locality about 1825-6, which modernized its appearance. The entrance from Broadmead is through iron gates, the roadway is

about ten feet in width until near the Chapel, when it widens to fifteen feet. Close to the Chapel, on the right hand, are Mr. Wesley's coach-house and stable. This comparatively new entrance is straight and pleasant; and as much of the modern front of the Old Room as is exposed to view has a light and pleasant appearance. There are two doors; the larger leads to the body of the chapel, and over it is a large window, similar in dimensions to one at the opposite end over the pulpit. Connected with the smaller door, in the front, is a flight of stairs leading to the inhabited apartments above, and to the gallery on that side. The land on which the Chapel stands, and the approaches to it, we understand, are freehold.

The Room proper is about sixty feet by forty in the clear, with side galleries only. The centre of the Chapel is pewed-not in the most modern style. This is the only part occupied by the present small Welsh congregation. There are three pews in each of the side galleries, about half-way along; but in all other parts of the Chapel the original seats, without backs, nailed to the floor, remain as in Mr. Wesley's time; as also the pulpit, with the long seat at its back, capable of accommodating several persons, and in a spacious square pew the reading-desk below. The very large old clock is still hanging on the gallery, on the right-hand side from the pulpit, about half-way along, where, we were informed, it has been for more than one hundred years; retaining its good old Methodist habits, it

keeps the most exact time. On the right-hand side of the pulpit are stairs leading to the gallery. On the left-hand, under the gallery, taken from the Chapel, is a Band room, enclosed by a partition, in which are a door and a window, the latter admitting a very dim light, obtained from the Chapel only. It will hold from thirty to forty people, and is well supplied with the original forms without backs, all firmly fastened to the floor. The body of the Chapel receives light from an octagonal dome and a window at each end. The gallery on the east side has two windows, and that on the west side four, the light of which is, however, obstructed by the houses. interior presents a sombre and somewhat melancholy appearance. It is described in Pryce's "History of Bristol," as "a spacious Meetinga spacious Meetinghouse, with six pillars of freestone supporting the galleries, and a large dwelling-house over." Whitefield complained to Wesley that the Room was too richly ornamented. Wesley replied, "The Society-room at Bristol, you say, is adorned. How? Why, with a piece of green cloth nailed to the desk, two sconces for eight candles each in the middle, and-nay, I know no more.

The

Now which of these can be spared, I know not; nor would I desire either more adorning or less."

Let us now ascend and survey the domestic part of the building, access to which can be gained from either end by a flight of stairs. The principal way formerly was up stone stairs, covered in, outside the chapel on the north end. There is still a door on the right hand, through which the congregation formerly had access to the east gallery; but to get to the west gallery they had to go through a long passage and the pulpit. Just beyond the pulpit are

stairs, called Mr. Wesley's stairs, because it was down them that he and the preachers and their families had access to the body of the Chapel without going outside. On reaching the domestic apartments, we find a large room, thirty-two feet by eighteen, now designated "the lobby," but formerly the diningroom of Mr. Wesley, and the preachers and families in residence. They all took their meals together. It is something like the large saloon of a ship, with a number of cabins

on

each side, for opening into this room are six small ones on each side. Three of these were used as private studies, and connected with each is a small bedroom. Such were the accommodations afforded by early Methodism for the preachers and their families. There was a kitchen at the end of the court, with its necessary appendages. Mr. Wesley's study and bedroom are at the south-west angle of the building. The former is about twelve feet by ten, the latter ten feet by seven. There is a window in each room. These apartments are now occupied by the preachers who come from Wales to supply the pulpit, generally for a month at a time. In the bedroom, are some old folios of Puritan theology, while the study is adorned with portraits of Wesley, Whitefield, Bunyan, and two or three Welsh Divines who in years past were wont to preach there. On two or three of the panes of glass in the window in the room of the widow who looks after the premises-formerly the study— sentences and initials of names are written or scratched, with dates stretching back a hundred years, more especially on one of the panes, for which some Methodist antiquarian, we presume, has offered a sovereign, for the glass in that is taboo'd by the Trustees. On the

west side of the dining-room, is a range of book-shelves, on which formerly rested a useful collection of Works provided by Mr. Wesley for the use of all the preachers while located there, but now, the shelves are converted into cupboards, with doors to secure cups and saucers and other things for the comfort of the outer man. The ceiling in the large room is very low, only about eight feet from the floor. An unsightly hole, nearly two feet in diameter, at the lower edge serves as a ventilator. It reminds one of a huge funnel reversed, but, doubtless, the inmates have realised considerable benefit therefrom.

To

Wesley ever manifested a deep interest in Bristol and the cause established there. It was the parent Society of the western provinces, and a centre of light, diffusing a holy influence in all directions. We can only mention a few important facts intimately connected with Mr. Wesley, and the early history of Methodism in this city. assist in paying the debt on the Old Room (the first Methodist chapel) the famous penny a week system was originated, and the Class-meeting in connection with it, which has, more than any other means, preserved the original purity and vigour of the system. "It is the best school of experimental divinity the world has seen in modern times."*

We can only allude briefly to three of the Conferences held in the Old Room. One of these, that of 1771, will be memorable as long as Methodism exists, because of the controversy connected with it, which called forth Mr. Fletcher's "Checks to Antinomianism," a vindication of evangelical Arminianism as taught by Mr. Wesley and his preachers.

How striking the scene in the * Dr. Stevens' "History of Methodism."

same Old Room, at the Conference of 1777! Fletcher had greatly injured his health, by long and intense application in writing his "Checks." Mr. David Lloyd, an eye and ear witness, gives the following account:*

"The Rev. John Fletcher, of Madeley, had for a long time laboured under a deep-seated consumption, which was then adjudged to be advancing to its final crisis. He was advised by the faculty to make the tour of the Continent, and breathe his native air. When in the forenoon of a day, the Conference was drawing to a close, tidings announced the approach of Mr. Fletcher. As he entered the vestibule of the new room, supported by Mr. Ireland, I can never forget the visible impression of esteem, which his venerable presence excited in the house. The whole assembly stood up as if moved by an electric shock. Mr. Wesley arose and advanced a few paces to meet his respected friend and reverend brother, whose visage seemed strongly to bode that he stood on the edge of the grave, and his eyes sparkling with seraphic love indicated that he dwelt in the suburbs of heaven. In this his languid, but happy state, he addressed the Conference on their work, and gave his views in a strain of holy unction and pathetic eloquence, which no language of mine can adequately express. influence of his spirit and pathos seemed to bear down all before it. I never saw such an instantaneous effect produced in a religious assembly before, or since. He had scarcely pronounced a dozen sentences before a hundred preachers were immersed in tears. Time can never efface from my mind the recollection and image of what I then felt and saw, such a scene I never expect to witness on this side eternity.

The

"Mr. Wesley, in order to relieve his languid friend from the fatigue and injury which might arise from a too long and arduous exertion of his lungs through much speaking, abruptly kneeled at his side, the whole Conference of Preachers doing the same, while he addressed the throne of grace in a concise and energetic manner, offering up a supplicatory prayer for a restoration to health, and a longer exercise of ministerial labours in behalf of their dear brother and companion in

*"Anecdotes of Wesley." P. 271.

the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, which prayer he closed with the following prophetic promise, pronounced in his peculiar manner with a confidence and emphasis which seemed to thrill every heart: He shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.' The event verified the prediction, Mr. Fletcher exerted all the zeal of a primitive missionary for eight years afterwards."

The name of Charles Wesley must ever be associated with the If history of "the Old Room." tradition is to be relied on, a good deal of his poetry was made while he paced to and fro, beneath the stately elms, in Lovers' Walk, now called Redland Grove. After 1766, Charles Wesley's labours were chiefly concentrated on Bristol and London. The pathos and vehement zeal of the poet-preacher, who principally

conducted the services in the Old Room while resident in Bristol, greatly stirred up the holy fire.

A striking illustration of this is given by Mr. Joseph Williams, of Kidderminster, a godly dissenter, who was visiting this city.*

While Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wesley resided in Bristol they were repeatedly visited, in their comparatively humble abode, by the Countess of Huntingdon, and other persons of social distinction. The Methodist preachers, passing through the city on their way to their several rounds, were hospitably entertained by them.

Mr. John Wesley had many favourite spots in this metropolis of the West, where he was accustomed

to hold forth the Word of Life. He often took his stand in the broad open space of Princes-street, south of Queen-square, and at the "Weavers' Hall," in Temple-street, where the Holy Spirit was, on many occasions, abundantly shed forth upon the people, and numbers were converted to God. At length the au

*Jackson's "Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A." Vol. I., P. 195—7.

thorities indiscreetly interposed and gave orders that he was to preach there no more. This led Mr. Wesley to erect chapels wherever he could, that he might no longer subject himself and his hearers to the caprice of unreasonable and prejudiced men. Hence, Guinea-street Chapel was built and opened by him, on Wednesday, September 29th, 1779. It was imperfectly settled, like the Old Room, and occasioned a great deal of trouble and difficulty to the Conference, on the agitation of the Sacramental question and that of service in church-hours, after Mr. Wesley's death. In his Journal we often read of his preaching in King's Square. At the upper, or north side of the square, there is a raised court, or area, in front of each house, elevated several feet above the ground outside. The last court, at the north east angle, Mr. Wesley sometimes used as his pulpit. One side of it faces Carolina-row, a very wide and retired street. Here the congregation stood. He was raised eight or ten feet above his audience. After preaching he would direct the members to retire to "the Room" where he would meet them alone. Hall, was a member of the Society My mother-in-law, the late Mrs. at that time, and often heard him preach there.

The last Conference Wesley ever attended-held in the Old Roommust have been solemn and impressive in the extreme. One who was there, has given a description of Mr. Wesley during the sittings of the assembly. "He appeared very feeble; his eye-sight had failed so much that he could not see to give out the hymns, yet his voice was strong, his spirit remarkably lively, and the powers of his mind, and his love towards his fellow-creatures, were as bright and as ardent as ever.... I parted with him to see him no more,