ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY denominations within the lo-mile radius to constitute the body of 'Dissent- ing Deputies.' The first representative meeting was held at Salters' Hall, on 12 January 1736-7, Benjamin Avery, LL.D., who had been for a short time a Presbyterian minister, but was now practising as a physician, being appointed permanent chairman. The Deputies have been regularly elected from that time onward, their special function being to see that the civil and religious rights of Dissenters are not infringed, and to promote Parliamentary action in the interest of Nonconformity. Though a London institution, the purview of the Deputies covers the whole nation, and their work in re- dressing wrongs, reforming abuses, and promoting religious liberty has been invaluable. The year 1738 is memorable for the commencement of the great Methodist revival. The Independent congregation in Fetter Lane having removed to a new building, Bradbury's meeting-house was taken by a religious society, founded i May 1738, of which the leading members were John Wesley and several Moravian Brethren." Similar societies were formed in Aldersgate Street, Gutter Lane, Bear Yard, and Westminster, and within the next few months they were multiplied, not only in London, but wherever Wesley and his lay helpers extended their evangelistic labours. In November 1739 Wesley preached in a disused foundery near Moorfields,^' and shortly afterwards purchased ior £11^ ' that vast uncouth heap of ruins,' which he fitted up as a preaching-house. Dissensions arising in the society at Fetter Lane, a separation took place between the Moravians and the Methodists on 23 July 1740, the latter thenceforth meeting at the Foundery, which was for thirty-eight years the head quarters of London Methodism.*' The first Wesleyan Conference was held there on 25 June 1744, six clergy- men and four travelling preachers being present. Of the subsequent yearly conferences during Wesley's life, fifteen were held in London, the others being at Bristol, Manchester, and Leeds. The Foundery gave place to the ' New Chapel ' in City Road, of which the foundation was laid on 2 April 1777;'" it was opened i November 1778, and has ever since been 'the cathedral of Methodism.' The other chapels built or acquired in and about London in Wesley's lifetime were Snowsfields, Southwark, 1743; Spitalfields, 1750; Wapping, 1764; Kentish Town, 1790; Lambeth Marsh, 1790. There were also six or seven preaching-rooms in various parts of London, and an equal or somewhat larger number in the outer suburbs. The chapels were not licensed under the Toleration Act until 1787, Wesley being un- willing in any way to identify Methodism with Dissent. He died 2 March 1791 ; sixty years later there were within the metropolitan area as repre- senting Wesleyan Methodism and its offshoots iio chapels, seating 43,754 persons, and having at the best-attended services on Sunday 30 March 1851, 25,61 3 hearers.'^ Differences between the Methodist leaders respecting the 'doctrines of grace' compelled Whitefield and theCalvinists to work independently of Wesley and the Arminians ; and as Whitefield lacked that genius for organization " Wesley, Journ. May-Dec. 1738. ** Wesley, Earnest Appeal. " Wesley, 'Journ. July 1740. °° Ibid, sub amis. " Myles, Hist, of Methodism ; J. G. Stevenson, City Road Chapel and its Associations, 1 18. " Census -of Public Worship, 1851. 389
