Moffat (the missionary to South Africa), Rev. R. Fletcher, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Mark Philips, Rev. James Griffin Mr. T. M. Gibson, Rev. J. Gwyther, Mr. C. Townley, Rev. J. W. Massie, Mr. L. Heyworth, and Mr. John Brooks.
Closely following the meeting was the issue of a circular, signed by Mr. George Thompson, addressed to ministers of religion in Manchester, requesting them to meet and confer upon the Christian means of obtaining a settlement of the Corn-Law question without injustice or civil convulsion. Twenty-eight ministers attended, and passed a resolution that it was desirable that a conference of ministers of religion, from all parts of the United Kingdom, should be held at Manchester, in the week between the 15th and 22nd of August, and a committee was appointed to issue the invitations and make the necessary arrangements. During these preparations, the Wesleyan Methodist Conference was assembled in Manchester, and an earnest invitation, signed by the Revs. Wm. Mc.Kerrow, James Wm. Massie, and Richard Fletcher, was sent to the president and ministers of that numerous body. Although five hundred copies were addressed to ministers attending the Conference, an answer from only one of them was received! It was not to be supposed that only one man of that number cared about the daily supply of daily bread. It was known that there were many who, in addition to their prayers that there might be abundance in the land and no complainings in the street, were willing to give their aid in promoting cheapness and plenty; but there was a powerful influence amongst the leaders of the Conference, which in former days had been exerted to resist the demand for Parliamentary Reform, and was now exerted to put down the demand for cheap bread. Hence the extraordinary fact, that, of the five hundred congregated, only one was found with courage enough to give in his adhesion to the cause of free trade in corn. The Wesleyan Methodists were looking to clergy reserves in Canada, and
