ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



175 1, when he became a Whitfieldite, he ceases to be of importance for the 

 religious history of the county. From the moment when, in May, 1747, 

 Wesley began a systematic evangelization, he held the field alone as far as his 

 own organization was concerned. 



Widely as he travelled through the county there were a few fixed spots 

 which served him as permanent centres of work and influence — Manchester, 

 Liverpool, Warrington, Bolton, and Wigan. Although in date the Bolton 

 cause probably precedes that at Manchester, the latter has always maintained 

 a pre-eminent position in the history of Lancashire Methodism. The con- 

 quest of the place was not instantaneous. On his first return to the town on 

 7 May, 1747, he preached at Salford Cross. 



A numberless crowd of people partly ran before, partly followed after me. I thought it 

 best not to sing, but looking round asked abruptly, ' Why do you look as if you had never 

 seen me before ? many of you have seen me in the neighbouring church, both preaching and 

 administering the sacrament.' 



He was allowed to preach undisturbed until near the close, when a big man 

 thrust in with three or four more and bade them bring out the engine. 

 Wesley accordingly moved into a yard close by and concluded in peace. 

 This yard was probably the ' Rose and Crown ' yard, which seems to have 

 been used as a preaching-room up to the time of the erection in 175 1 of the 

 first Methodist chapel in Salford — in Birchin Lane. A society was formed 

 either on the occasion of this visit or shortly after, for in April, 1753, he 

 speaks of examining it and notes that it contained seventeen of the dragoons. 

 But the formation of this little nucleus of members did not ensure the instant 

 conquest of Manchester, for when he preached there again in April, 1755, 

 the mob raged horribly. ' This I find has been their manner for some time. 

 No wonder, since the good justices encourage them.' In August of the 

 following year, however, he preached without the least disturbance. ' The 

 tumults here are now at an end, chiefly through the courage and activity of 

 a single constable.' 



As opposed to the unruliness of Manchester, it would seem that Liver- 

 pool offered him quite a genteel reception. He first visited the place in 

 April, 1755. Passing from Warrington he went 



on to Liverpool, one of the neatest, best-built towns I have seen in England . . . The 

 people in general are the most mild and courteous I ever saw in a seaport town as indeed so 

 appears by their friendly behaviour, not only to the Jews and Papists, who live among them, 

 but even to the Methodists (so called). The preaching house is a little larger than that at 

 Newcastle. It was thoroughly filled at seven in the evening . . . every morning as well 

 as evening abundance of people gladly attended the preaching. Many of them I learned 

 were dear lovers of controversy. 



The love of controversy as well as the gentility endured, for when he re- 

 turned in April, 1757, he found that a certain James S. had swept away 

 half the society, in order to which he had told lies innumerable. But when 

 Wesley returned once more in March, 1758, he notes that the house was 

 crowded with a rich and genteel people ' whom I did not at all spare.' Six 

 years later he notes the same characteristics : 



In the evening, 14 July, 1764, I preached at Liverpool and on the next day, Sunday, 

 the house was full enough. Many of the rich and fashionable were there and behaved with 

 decency. Indeed I have always observed more courtesy and humanity at Liverpool than at 

 most sea ports in England . . . only one young gentlewoman (I heard) laughed much. 

 Poor thing. Doubtless she thought ' I laugh prettily.' 



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