He then passed sentence on him in these words: "Let Thascius Cyprianus be immediately beheaded, as the enemy of the gods of Rome, and as the chief and ringleader of a criminal association, which he has seduced into an impious resistance against the laws of the most holy Emperors, Valerian and Gallianus." "God be praised!" exclaimed the martyr; while a cry of, "We will die with our Bishop," arose from the crowd of Christians who were waiting at the gate of the palace. A scene of indescribable affliction now ensued, and heart-rending was the parting between the Pastor and his devoted flock. Amid the tears and groans of his people, he was hurried to a spacious plain, crowded with spectators; when, taking off his mantle, the Christian Prelate knelt down, and engaged in fervent prayer. His Presbyters and Deacons, who were permitted to accompany him, then tied his hands, and several Christians spread linen on the ground, to receive his blood. He then directed that twenty-five gold pieces should be given to the executioner; and shortly after, with one blow, his head was severed from his body. During the remainder of the day, his corpse remained exposed to the gaze of the Pagans; but at night the Christians removed it, and afterwards buried it in a splendid manner, in the neighbourhood of Carthage. He died in the year 258. We must now turn to other quarters of the African vineyard, having lingered almost too long at Carthage. (To be continued.) METHODISM IN FORMER DAYS. No. XIV. STRANGERS' FRIEND SOCIETIES. (To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.) "In almost all the large towns in the kingdom," says the late Rev. Joseph Benson, "where we have considerable societies, as in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, York, and Hull, we have what we call Benevolent or Strangers' Friend Societies, established for the relief of the poor of all denominations. In some of these, as of that in Manchester, the relief afforded is confined wholly to those who are not members of the Methodist society, the poor members of our own society being relieved from another fund." * The first establishment of this kind among the Wesleyans was formed in London, October 30th, 1785. It was modelled on the plan of "The united Society for visiting and relieving the Sick," instituted May 4th, 1777, and was often called by the name of "The Willow-Walk Society, near Moor fields.” “This institution," says the Report for 1798,"dates its rise from the following circumstance :-Six friends met at each other's house in rotation on the Lord's-day afternoon, for the purpose of singing and prayer only: they were frequently entreated to visit the sick; and, seeing the great distress that some were in, they could not help relieving them, which they continued to do for several months, being assisted by the kindness of friends. At length they thought it good to follow the Apostle's advice, and 'lay by' something on the first day of the week:' with that view the * Vindication of the Methodists. Edit. 1800, p. 24. Society was formed on the 4th of May, 1777." Down to the period of the Report thus referred to, upwards of sixteen thousand visits had been paid, and more than £2,000 expended. A similar Society was established in 1781, under the title of "The Friendly Society or Charitable Fund for the Relief of the sick Poor at their own Habitations: Alderman Staines was the President, and the Rev. William Romaine, the Patron. "By this Society," says the Report of 1794, "some thousands have been relieved. It has been asked by many, whether the efforts of the Visiters have been attended with any success to the mind in spiritual things as well as to the body. Our answer is, The more we know of and receive from our blessed Saviour, who went about doing good, the more are we enabled to be humble followers of Him who has said, 'My words, they are spirit, and they are life.' (John vi. 63.) He sent his word, and healed them.' (Psalm cvii. 20.) And by his blessing on the word of exhortation and prayer, many have found that 'peace which passeth all understanding' from such life-giving words as these: "Thy sins and thy iniquities I will remember no more.' Several have been brought through their sickness, and are living to testify a change of heart, and are happy, believing in the Lord." * The late Mr. John Gardner, formerly of Long-Acre, gives the following account of the origin of the Strangers' Friend Society, of which he called himself" the Founder:"-† "I resided in London in 1785, having recently left the army, where I had seen much distress. I was called of God to visit the sick, whose complaints, in many instances, proceeded from cold and hunger; having no eye to pity, and no hand to help them, being strangers. What was to be done? The visiter must carry relief, or discontinue his visits. It was to little purpose to offer comfort to the soul, when the body was the subject of gnawing hunger. I was led to make application to my neighbours, with the hope of obtaining a small sum weekly, to enable me to give a morsel of bread to my suffering fellow-creatures. This idea first struck me on my way home from a miserable garret, where I had been visiting a poor man dying of a fistula. He lay on the floor covered only with a sack, without shirt, cap, or sheet, and in a dull, despairing tone exclaimed, 'I must die without hope.' Returning home, I related to my wife these particulars, and asked her if we should subscribe a penny per week each, and try to induce a few of our neighbours to do the same. In a few days the number of our infant society amounted to fifteen." Meeting with some opposition from his Leader, who seems to have feared it might interfere with the regular weekly contribution in the class, Mr. Gardner wrote to Mr. Wesley as follows: “Rev. and deaR SIR,-A few of us are subscribing a penny a week each, which is to be carried on the Sabbath by one of ourselves, who read and pray with the afflicted, who, according to the rules enclosed, must be poor strangers, having no parish, or friend at hand to help them. "Our benevolent plan is opposed by my Class-Leader: therefore we are constrained to seek your approbation before we proceed. * Report for 1794, pp. 20, 23. +"The Grain of Mustard-Seed: or, An Account," &c., pp. 21, 110, by John Gardner. "We are very poor, and our whole stock is not yet twenty shillings : will thank you, therefore, for any assistance you may please to afford "Your very humble servant, "JOHN GARDNER." The following is Mr. Wesley's reply,* dated "Highbury-Place, Dec. 21st, 1785. "MY DEAR BROTHER,-I like the design and Rules of your little Society, and hope you will do good to many. I will subscribe threepence a week, and will give you a guinea in advance, if any one call on me on Saturday morning. I am "Your affectionate brother, "JOHN WESLEY. "To Mr. John Gardner, No. 14, in Long-Lane, Smithfield." "No sooner was Mr. Wesley's approbation obtained, than our friends rapidly increased, and twopence, fourpence, and sixpence a week were subscribed. The late William Marriott, Esq., called on me and entered his name for two-and-sixpence per week, and sent us £10 the following Christmas. He afterwards increased his subscription to £20 per annum, and left £200 by his will in furtherance of its object." + Then follow the first Rules of the "Benevolent Society held at No. 16, Long-Lane, Smithfield.” "These were sent to all Mr. Wesley's large societies in Bath, Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Cork, while Mr. Wesley himself sanctioned the principle of this institution in all the places which he visited." + The first branch which shot from the parent stock was the "Benevolent Society and Sick Man's Friend," which was begun November, 1786, and * The original letter has been many years and still is in the possession of the writer of this article. + See an account of this gentleman in the Report for 1816, pp. 7—19. That this institution was gratefully appreciated by the foreigner, whom the horrors of the revolutionary war in France compelled to seek refuge on British ground, is evident from the following extract from the preface of a work entitled, Journal de Jean Migault; ou, Malheurs d'une Famille Protestante du Poitou, à l'Epoque de la Révocation de l'Edit de Nantes. D'après un Manuscrit récemment trouvé entre les Mains d'un des Descendans de l'Auteur. 12mo. Paris, 1825. The descendant alluded to fled from France at the close of the eighteenth century, and was found in a state of great destitution by the Visiters of this Society, and relieved. We give the words of the narrator:-Le double fléau des maladies et de la pauvreté n'exerce que trop souvent ses ravages parmi ces hommes entassés, et il faut toute la vigilance de la Police et toute l'activité de la bienfaisance pour maintenir l'ordre parmi eux et leur rendre, jusqu'à un certain point, l'existence supportable. Une association charitable, connue sous le nom de Societé de Bienfaisance de Spitalfields, a exercé, pendant quatorze ans, la plus heureuse influence sur les habitans de ce quartier, en les visitant, et en administrant aux indigens et aux affligés les secours temporels et spirituels. Ce fut dans une de ces visites pieuses que fut découvert le manuscrit que l'on publie aujourd'hui. Un pauvre homme, en conversant avec un membre du Comité dont il avait excité l'attention charitable, lui dit que ses ancêtres avaient été des réfugiés de France, et qu'il possédait un vieux manuscrit en langue Française, de la main d'une des victimes de la persécution, et qui s'était conservé dans la famille. Le manuscrit fut apporté, et des membres de la Societé obtinrent le consentement du propriétaire à la révision et à la publication d'une pièce qu'ils avaient lue avec le plus grand intérêt.—EDIT. held at No. 9, Tower-street, Seven-Dials.* An original Report of this Society, printed in 1789, is before me, giving an account of 510 cases visited, and of which the following is an abstract, p. 7 : "Out of 510 cases 111 persons have died; 39 of whom died happy, and 25 very penitent; of those whom the Lord hath restored to health, there are several who walked not in the ways of God before, but are now ornaments to the Gospel; several backsliders have been restored. Since this institution began we have been enabled to relieve, in the different parishes, as follow :— In the parish of St. Giles's 177 In 20 other parishes separately detailed in the Report 333 "N.B. Whereas, it has been insinuated, that those who take an active part in this Society are paid for their trouble, and thereby the subscriptionmoney is reduced; we think it but justice to ourselves, thus publicly to declare, that no one person that ever did or does now fill any office in this Society, either did or does receive any salary or emolument for the same, but look for their reward from the Lord, and that not of debt, but of grace. "Signed, JAMES CLEMENTS, Secretary." Then follow the Visiters' names and places of abode. We find in the first printed Report of the "Benevolent Society held at their room, No. 15, Long-Lane, Smithfield, Oct. 28th, 1786," that "The total received since the founding of this Society, Oct. 30th, 1785, is "Signed, .£58 2 1 57 7 0 JOHN OWEN, President, "JOHN GARDNER, Clerk." The following is the first address of this institution to the public :— 66 TO THE PUBLIC. "THIS Society is founded upon charitable and benevolent principles, having been instituted Oct. 30th, 1785, for the sole purpose of communicating relief to the distressed of every denomination who may be properly recommended; inasmuch as by such timely assistance many of our fellowcreatures, now labouring under poverty, sickness, and distress, may be restored to health, enabled to resume their accustomed occupations, and become useful members of the community to which they belong. Liberal contributions have been already afforded, in order to relieve upwards of a thousand persons at their own houses, who were labouring under various degrees of distress. The confined state of their present fund is the only bar to their continued benevolence; they appeal, therefore, to a generous public," &c. 66 "A Statement of the Funds, and Rules of the Society, may be seen by "The back way into Mr. Wesley's chapel, where subscriptions, at one penny or more per week, will be taken." (Report of 1788, p. 8.) applying to Mr. Scollick, bookseller, City-road, Moorfields, any Monday, from nine to three o'clock. "Donations are received at the following places :— WILLIAM WRIGHT, 51, Wellclose-square. JAMES LOVE, 23, Aldgate High-street. SAMUEL CHANCELLOR, City Green-yard. SQUIRE, 17, Broad-street, Carnaby-market. THOMAS DOBSON, 427, Oxford-street. EDWARD COLLINSON, 34, Lombard-street. WILLIAM GOUTHIT, 9, Old Fish-street. WILLIAM WRIGHT, JUN., Cannon-row, Westminster. JOHN PARSONS, 21, Paternoster row. TANNER, 29, Great Marylebone-street. WILLIAM RUDLAND, 11, Bishopsgate-within. JOHN HALLAM, 120, Borough. CUSSONS, 21, Wardour-street, Soho." The Strangers' Friend Society in Bristol was instituted in September, 1786; of which James Chubb and Thomas Delve * were the Stewards. Friday, March 12th, 1790, Mr. Wesley drew up the following Rules + for these Societies, which were afterwards published : "1. MANY have been the charitable institutions which have commenced in England in little more than half a century. One of these has been of a new kind; I believe, never heard of before. Four or five years ago, a few poor men, in London, agreed to pay each a penny a week, in order to relieve strangers who had no habitation, no clothes, no food, no friends. They met once a week, and assigned to each his share of the work for the ensuing week; to discover proper objects (who, indeed, were easily found); and to relieve them according to their several necessities. And they took care of their souls as well as their bodies, instructing them in the principles of religion, of which, till then, they had little more knowledge than the beasts of the field. "2. A little Society of the same kind has lately been founded at Bristol. Being determined to do them all the service I could, I appointed them to meet at six o'clock every Sunday morning, at the New Room, with the resident Preacher, and two Stewards, who are to receive all contributions, and keep account of all disbursements. "3. At the weekly meeting, first the names are called over; then each has his work assigned for the following week; next, inquiry is made, whether each has fulfilled his appointment the preceding week. * See the account of him in the Methodist Magazine, vol. xvii., 1794, p. 440. + See Myles's Chronological History, pp. 180, 181. ‡ Four years and a quarter from the date of his letter to Gardner, and four years and a half from its formation, October, 1785. |