, 1850)
"The Church of England is the purest in Christendom."

{66c} The first Conference was held in London at "The Foundry," June 25,
1744. It consisted of only 10 persons, viz., the two brothers, John and
Charles Wesley, three beneficed clergymen, John Hodges, Rector of Wenvo,
Henry Piers, Vicar of Bexley, Samuel Taylor, Vicar of Quinton, and John
Meriton, with four Methodist preachers, viz., John Downes, John Bennett,
Thomas Richards and Thomas Maxfield. At this gathering "The Rules of a
Helper" were adopted, which form to this day a part of the "discipline"
enjoined on Wesleyan Ministers.

{68a} Mr. Carr Brackenbury died August 11, 1818, aged 65, and the
_Stamford Mercury_ of the time says of him, "He powerfully and eloquently
preached the glad tidings of the gospel during many years, in numerous
Wesleyan Chapels, in various parts of the kingdom. He had previously to
his intimacy with Wesley been a celebrated character on the turf."

{68b} The aged son of the last named is still (1905) living at Alford,
and several grandsons are dispersed about the country.

{70a} _Horncastle News_, August 31, 1907.

{70b} The first Sunday School was held in the British School (later the
Drill Hall) east of the Wong, from 1812 to 1848.

{71a} We may add that at the time of writing (1905) a Wesleyan Church
House is about to be erected in Westminster, a fine building in the
Renaissance style of architecture, which is to cost 140,000 pounds, the
firm of Lanchester & Richards being contractors for the work.

{71b} In addition to the authorities already named, we are indebted for
much of the information here given to an account by Mr. Watson Joll, in
the _Methodist Recorder_ of Aug. 27, 1903, and to an article by the late
Mr. W. Pacy, in the _Lincoln Gazette_ of Aug. 20, 1898.

{71c} _Religious Worship in England and Wales_, by H. Mann, from the
census of 1851.

{72} Within comparatively recent times a Primitive Chapel at Thimbleby
was commonly called "The Ranters" Chapel.

{73} _Life of the Venerable Hugh Bourne_, by Rev. Jesse Ashworth, 1888;
also _History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion_, by Rev. H. B.
Kendall, B.A.

{74} _The Venerable William Clowes_, a sketch, by Thomas Guttery.

{78} In connection with Robert Brown's writings it may be of interest to
note, that in the year 1907, an American scholar, Mr. Champlin Burrage,
of the Newton Theological Institution, of Massachusetts, discovered in
the L