The Maryport Advertiser Friday, July 21, 1882 Workington Primitive Methodists 2

Workington Primitive Methodists 2

The Maryport Advertiser - Friday, July 21, 1882

WORKINGTON PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL continued..........................Page 2 The proceedings had just commenced when a shocking accident occurred, causing the greatest consternation amongst those present. As we have already stated, the street in front of the building was crowded with people anxious to witness the laying of the memorial stones. A hymn had just been given out and was being heartily sung, when a dust cart, drawn by a spirited horse in charge of a man named HENRY DAVIDSON, was driven along the street. When opposite the site of the new chapel, the horse shied and dashed into the crowd. JOHN CLARK, a man about 50 years of age, and belonging to Distington, was knocked down and the wheels of the cart passed over both of his legs. At the time the accident occurred, the driver of the cart - which belongs to the Local Board contractor - was sitting on the shafts, and had no control whatever over the animal. DR. DOUGLAS, who was present at the time, attended the injured man, who was removed to an adjoining house, where it was found that one leg was broken and the other seriously crushed. It is feared also that the poor man has sustained internal injuries. He was subsequently removed to the Whitehaven Infirmary. ============================== The proceedings commenced with the singing of the 706th hymn. The REV. J. RENNIE, of Workington, then offered prayer, which was followed by the reading of the 84th Psalm, by the REV. T. G. MOLYNEAUX, M.A. Hymn 708 having been sung. The REV. J. HALLAM, of Gateshead (secretary to the District Building Committee) gave an address on the "History, Polity, and Doctrine of the Connexion". He said they all had to regret the serious accident which had just occurred, and he trusted that whatever might be the issue of it to the man himself, he would not be allowed - either himself or his family if he had any - to suffer by the occurrence. He trusted that some kindly-disposed person would take the matter into consideration and see that help was rendered to the poor man. His letters of introduction told him that he had to give some account of the history of the Connexion, its polity and doctrine. The text, he thought, was too wide, and if the sermon had to follow the text he was afraid it would be too long, consequently he must content himself with a very brief statement. He thought they need not offer any apology for their presence there that day as a Christian community, when they remembered that they numbered 200,000 in their church membership, or at least a membership nearly approaching that number. They had between three and four thousand Connexional chapels in which was preached the gospel of Jesus Christ from week to week, and in connection with this property, they had a financial stake, under her Majesty the Queen, of between two and a half and two and three-quarter millions of money (hear hear). They were proposing that day to add something more to that fund; for although they were not adding another chapel, they were putting a better chapel where the old chapel stood. They had made this advancment and had created these interests since the year 1810, and it was possible there might be some person within the sound of his voice, who could go back to the commencement of their church. Since 1810 they had not only acquired this church property, but at present they had 400,000 Sunday-school scholars in addition to a church membership of 200,000; and their wish was to continue to work in the future in the same spirit as had characterized their labours in the past. Respecting the polity of the Connexion, he might say that it was purely evangelical, and he pleaded there simply for their own views without uttering a single word in condemnation of the views of any other church. They had hithertoo proceeded on the principle that ministers should be paid for their services, and that the Connexion should be free from outside government that was not in itself distinctly religious, and he believed they would proceed upon these lines in the years to come. ~~~~~This Memorial Stone Laying report will continue..............

 

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