ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY In 1754 three Dissenters, Messrs. Sheafe, Streatfield, and Evans were elected, and on their refusal to serve proceedings were instituted to recover the fines. The case against Streatfield failed on a technicality ; the other defendants were supported by the Dissenting Deputies. Litigation was protracted for nearly thirteen years, and on 4 February 1767 the House of Lords, accepting the opinion of six out of seven judges, decided in favour of the defendants." By this time Sheafe had been for some time dead, and Evans only lived long enough to welcome the verdict. No costs were recovered, and it does not appear that any part of the illegally extorted fines was ever refunded. Between 1750 and 1800 the ' Old Dissent' in London showed many indications of decline, which were compensated by the upgrowth of new societies, the fruit of the Methodist revival. During this time at least eight of the old Presbyterian churches became extinct, four or five became Congre- gational, and six Arian or Unitarian. On the other hand three new orthodox churches arose in communion with the Scottish seceders. Four Independent churches expired during the half-century, of which two had previously become Unitarian. About eight Baptist congregations were discontinued, which were, however, replaced by the same number in the central area, and at least as many in the suburbs ; while the Particular Baptists became increasingly zealous for Calvinism, many of the General Baptists inclined to Unitarianism, and the orthodox members of that body therefore formed a new connexion of General Baptists in 1770.'* The Quakers had still two meetings in the City, one in Southwark, one in Westminster, and one in RatclifF. The small communities of French Prophets, Muggletonians, and Nonjurors died out. The Moravian Society in Fetter Lane, reviving after a season of decay, continued to flourish ; and though never numerous survives to this day to exert a gracious influence out of all proportion to its numbers. About 1760 Glovers' Hall was occupied by a congregation of Sandemanians, an anti-Calvinistic Scottish sect holding peculiar views on church discipline. Thence they migrated to the disused Quakers' meeting-house in Bull and Mouth Yard, and again in 1770 to a deserted Baptist meeting-house in Paul's Alley. A society of Baptist Sandemanians was formed in Red Lion Street in 1797. About 1780 a meeting-house in Dudley Street, Soho, was occupied for a short time by a society of Bereans, another small Scottish sect with peculiar notions about the " Lord!' Journ. " The following were the most conspicuous representatives of the Old Dissent during the half-century : — Presbyterians : Thomas Amory, D.D., and Abraham Rees, D.D., Old Jewry ; Hugh Worthington, Salters' Hall ; R. Flexman, D.D., Bermondsey ; Richard Price, Newington Green and Jewry Street ; all these were Arians ; Andrew Kippis, D.D., Westminster ; James Lindsey, D.D., Monkwell Street ; John Palmer, New Broad Street ; these were Socinians. Most of them were men of great learning ; Price was an ardent champion of civil liberty ; Kippis was the editor of the Biograph'ia Britannlca, and Rees of the most complete Encyclopaedia that had yet been issued. With these may be grouped the Scottish Presbyterians, Henry Hunter, D.D., London Wall, J. Trotter, D.D., Swallow Street, and J. Patrick, D.D., Soho ; all of whom were orthodox. Independents : Stephen Addington, D.D., Miles Lane ; David Bogue, Silver Street ; Joseph Barber, Founders' Hall ; John Clayton, Weigh-house ; Hugh Farmer, Salters' Hall ; Thomas Gibbons, D.D., Haberdashers' Hall ; Nathaniel Jennings, Islington ; W. King, D.D., Hare Court ; John Kello, Bethnal Green ; Samuel Palmer, Hackney (compiler of the Nonconformists' Memorial) ; John Reynolds, Camomile Street ; S. Morton Savage, D.D., Bury Street ; T. Towle, Aldermanbury ; W. Wall, Moorfields ; S. Wilton, D.D., Weigh-house ; R. Winter, D.D., New Court. All these were reputed orthodox, while S. Pike, Thames Street, became Sandemanlan, and Caleb Flemming, D.D., Pinners' Hall, was a Socinian. Baptists : Richard Burnham, Grafton Street ; J. Martin, Keppel Street ; J. Macgowan, Devonshire Square ; J. Reynolds, Curriers' Hall ; John Rippon, D.D., Southwark ; S. Stennett, D.D., Little Wild Street ; J. Swaine, Walworth ; Benjamin Wallin, Mazepond.
