Fletcher of MadeleyMacdonald, Frederic W. (Frederic William)
Religion
Fletcher of Madeley
Macdonald, Frederic W. (Frederic William)
Fletcher, John, 1729-1785
"In the meantime if the Vicar hath avoided the force of any
of her objections, or omitted answering any, and if he has
mistaken her in anything, he is ready to acknowledge it, as
soon as she hath made it appear; and he hopes that if she
acts by him as he hath assured her by words of mouth he
would do by her, she will recall the copies of her partial
manuscript, and correct them, according to the mistakes I
have pointed out therein, before she makes them circulate
any further."
To this is appended in Mrs. Darby's writing:
"Being called upon for this manuscript before I had
considered it all over properly, I therefore have got it
copied; and after examination (if worth notice) shall
communicate my sentiments hereupon to John Fletcher and
sober people. A. Darby."
What further came of this controversy, whether anything further came of
it, we cannot tell. With Mrs. Darby's postscript before us it would not
be safe to conclude that the last word had been spoken.
Among the labours belonging to this period was the organization of a
"Society of Ministers of the Gospel," for which Fletcher drew up rules
and regulations. Although, as we have seen, at the beginning of his
work in Madeley he had met with a good deal of opposition from
neighbouring clergy, he found it possible a few years later to form a
clerical association for the promotion of spiritual life and
ministerial efficiency. The society was to meet at Worcester, in the
private house of some reputable person, twice in the year, on the
Tuesday and Wednesday next before the full of the moon, in the months
of May and September. The meeting was to begin at ten o'clock, dinner
at two; the expense to be defrayed by an equal contribution of the
whole society, "_absentees not excepted_." The topics for conversation
and inquiry are set forth in considerable detail. They include "public
preaching, the case of religious societies, the catechizing of children
and instruction of youth, the case of personal inspection and personal
visiting of the flock, the case of ruling their own houses well, the
case of visiting the sick, the case of their own particular experiences
and personal conduct."
Every member of the society was "recommended to take down brief minutes
of the business transacted by the society, for his future recollection
of it and meditation upon it."
The following are Fletcher's notes of the meeting held on May 12th,
1767:
"1. How far is it proper to preach against particular sins,
and to enforce particular duties, and how to do this in a
gospel-like manner.
"_Answer._ Very proper to stated congregations. Many
convinced of sin by it; many kept decent by it. Believers
themselves made watchful. Preach so as not to encourage
pharisees.
"2. Whether we are to preach the law, and morality, and why?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account