Very dear Brethren, London, Dee. 17, 1798.
IN compliance with your requeft, we have endeavoured to examine our Book Accounts,
but find (for various reafons) that we cannot give you the fatisfa&ion we wifh. We are
more convinced than ever, of the Angularity of our Book Affairs, as we have more than once told you.
They widely differ from thofe of other tradefmen, whether they do lefs or more bufinefs thaffwe do.
Yet we hope by the next ConferenceTwe fhall be able to give you a much clearer ftate of our affairs than
we can do at prefent, and we think we fhall be able to anfwer any queftions you may then have to pro-
pofe, fo that we hope you will reft fatisfied for the prefent.
THE money borrowed from the Kingfwood Collection at Leeds in 1797, any more than the half
which was allowed to the fuperanuated preachers and the widows, could not have been re-paid, had not
the tradefmen's bills been delayed till after the Conference this year, as well as other fums for which Mr.
Whitfield ftood engaged, which fome of you know were confiderable.
BY the payments already made, your credit is preferved, and your work carried on as it ought to be,
in the Printing Office, and in the feveral Circuits. Notwithftanding , this, the confiderate part of you
will fay, "We have a larger fum to pay before the next Conference this year than we had the laft,
which we have borrowed from Kingfwood, &c. befides the half allowed to the fuperanuated Preachers
and widows, and the ninety-four wives unprovided for, as appears from the Minutes." Thefe fums
put together will make the moderate fum of 2659^ befides feveral wives left out of the Minutes by
miftake. Over and above ihis, caft your eye over the detail for Children, Servants, Houfe-rent, Furniture,
Sicknefs, Coals and Candles, befides necefiary Travelling Expences, and then you may fafely conclude,-
we fhall want a round fum for the next Conference: «Efpecially as we ftand indebted for feveral hundreds,
for Houfe-rent and Furniture not difcharged laft year.
THESE things confidered, we think you cannot but fee, the abfolute neceffity of attending to thu
particulars mentioned in the Letter printed in the Minutes, both for the laft year and the~prefent, (page
38,) if we intend to be what'we" are aft reToTved to be, viz. honed: men.
IT is true, could we engage all our people to do what our Cofmifh Friends have generoufly propbfed
to do, (upon a reprefentation made to them of the ftate of our affairs by one who was prefent at our laft:
Conference, and faw our diftrefs,) vne might then go chearfully forward, and provide things honeft in
the fight of all men. The plan propoled we muft fubmit to your'confideration, as to its propriety and
practicability, which is this: An addition to be made to the Yearly Collection; this was readily agreed
to at the Ouarterly-meeting held at Penzance foon after our laft Conference, upon condition that the
Brethren throughout the Connection would do the fame. But if this could not be done, a very kind
friend then prefent propofed, That at every- Conference the deficiency fhould be clearly ftated, and a
proper proportion of it according to the ftate of each Circuit, requefted to be paid by the General Steward
of the Circuit, and the money to be fent to London before the following Chriftmas. All this they
would do, fuppofing a thoufand pounds fhould be wanted, fo that no bar might be in the way refpeCting
the carrying on the work. Something of this kind, you will eafily fee the neceffity of; and at the fame
time you cannot but acknowledge the ftrong attachment thofe perfons muft have to the caufe of God,
who propofed the above plan; and we are well affured, there are in your feveral Circuits not a few who
are like minded: This they have given us full proof of on former occafions, and we doubt not would
chearfully come forward again to the help of the Lord, were they properly informed of the State of our :
Affairs. We leave this bufinefs with you, and fhall wait till the next Conference, when, if it fhall pleafe
God to fpare us, we fhall hear what your judgment is, and fhall know what each has done towards the
relief of the whole.
THERE are feveral other particulars which at our next meeting we fhall lay before you, if the Lord
fhall permit us to aflemble together; and in the mean time we would requeft you carefully to attend to
the following particulars:
1, LET no preacher who hath the care of the Books, pay any money on any account in the courfe
of the year, but what he was ordered to do by the laft Conference.
2, EVERY preacher muft fettle his accounts with Mr. Whitfield at the Conference, either perfonally,
or by Letter.
3, LET no Preacher give in an account of any money paid to Preachers Wives, Children, 11$
the courfe of the year, at the Conference board, till he has fettled with Mr. Whitfield. Our daily
prayer to God is, That his pretence may attend you, and that his blefled work may abundantly profper
in your hands; and requefting an intereft in your Prayers, we remain your molt affectionate brethren,
and ready fervahts .for Chrift's fake,
A. MATHER,
JOHN PAWSON.
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