Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

score, which was discharged every Saturday night.* One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> silver
communion cups still used by <strong>the</strong> Independent society at Wem was given
by him :-" The g$t <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rev. dfi. Nolland to <strong>the</strong> Dzj.se?zting Chapel itz Wem,
1752." It corresponds to one given two years previously by Mrs. Bassnett.
In tfneology Philip Holland-
was <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arian school, being much influenced by John Seddon, <strong>of</strong> War-
rington, who introduced him to <strong>the</strong> philosophy <strong>of</strong> Hutcheson. He assisted
Seddon in <strong>the</strong> establishment (1757) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Warrington Academy for <strong>the</strong>
education <strong>of</strong> Nonconformist divines ; and wrote <strong>the</strong> third service in a
collection <strong>of</strong> forms <strong>of</strong> prayer (1763) edited by Seddon, and generally known
as <strong>the</strong> ' Liverpool Liturgy.' He took an active part in <strong>the</strong> movement for
<strong>the</strong> repeal (1779) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> doctrinal subscription required by <strong>the</strong> Toleration
Act ; after this date his views became somewhat more heterodox. In politics
he was an energetic advocate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> American Colonies../.
John Cole preached a Dudley Lecture in 1779, and was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
divines present with Dr. Priestley and o<strong>the</strong>rs at <strong>the</strong> meeting on 29 May,
1787, when <strong>the</strong> regulations concerning this Double Lecture were revised ;
he also preached one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two Oldbury Lectures in 1783. He was one
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three ministers-Samuel Clark, <strong>of</strong> Birmingham, and Thomas Robins,
<strong>of</strong> West Bromwich, being <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two-who met once a month at each
o<strong>the</strong>r's house for instructive conversation on literary and religious subjects,
<strong>the</strong>se ga<strong>the</strong>rings being <strong>the</strong> forerunners <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MorLfhZy Meetitzgs established
on a permanent basis in 1782, and at which he preached <strong>the</strong> sermon in
<strong>the</strong> last year <strong>of</strong> his life, on 3 May, 1791, at Kidderminster, his text being
ii. Peter i., 4.
Samuel Griffiths took an active part in <strong>the</strong> Lectures and Jlonthly Meetill,n
His name first appears in connection with <strong>the</strong> Dudley Lecture, at <strong>the</strong>
meeting for <strong>the</strong> revision <strong>of</strong> its rules in 1787, and he preached one <strong>of</strong>'<strong>the</strong>
Lectures in 1788 and 1796. He was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> preachers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Oldbury
Lecture in 1784-Dr. Priestley being <strong>the</strong> second on that occasion-and in
I790 and 1797. At <strong>the</strong> Month& JYeez'ilzg he preached 14 times, <strong>the</strong> first ,
on 6 August, 1782, <strong>the</strong> last on 7 August, 1792, and he asked some pr~estions
dad prayed a general and ordination prayar, on I I October, 1796, at Coseley,
' at <strong>the</strong> ordination <strong>of</strong> Samuel Parker.
*Cong~egatiorzalisnt ilz Sh7.opsAive, Brnest Elliot, p. 63.
.FDic. Nai. Biog., article by A.G.
Shattock preached a Dudley Lecture in 1804, and <strong>the</strong> following year
he was first preacher at Oldbury. At <strong>the</strong> ~JL~oIz~LJZZ~ Meeting he preached on
4 May, 1808, at Cradley, text, St. Mat<strong>the</strong>w vi., I, and on I November,
1809, at <strong>the</strong> 1Vew Chapel', Moor Street, Bir?tzingha?l~, text, St. Mat<strong>the</strong>w v., 16.
Steward preaclied an Oldbury Lecture in 1814 ; he also preached at
<strong>the</strong> l?font/rZy Jdeetirzg held at Lye, on 25 April, 1815, his text was St. John
i.,46.
In <strong>the</strong> early days <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Adomth/2/y ilfeeti?~g, Wolverhampton was visited
yearly from 1782, when, on 3 December, Wood, <strong>of</strong> Dudley, preached <strong>the</strong>re
from PS. xcvii,, I. The minutes make mention <strong>of</strong> Mr. Pearson so early
as 2 December, 1783, when we difzed at MY, Penrson's ; on 13 October, 1812,
after service in <strong>the</strong> chapcl' if2 St. Johtr's Street-Scott, <strong>of</strong> Cradley, having
preached frcm Proverbs xix., MY. Pearson entertailzed <strong>the</strong> ~ni?zz'sters; and
on 23 October, 1817, after service at <strong>the</strong> rze7et schooZroom near <strong>the</strong> aew church,
preachtr, Rev. &IY. Lyons, <strong>of</strong> C/zeskr, Air. Penrson entertai~zed. From this date
onwards <strong>the</strong> millutes tell us <strong>of</strong> dinners at <strong>the</strong> Pencock fin, or <strong>the</strong> new hotel.
Hunter preached a Dudley Lecture in 1831, 1843, 1846, and 1848 ; at
Y
<strong>the</strong> Oldbury Lecture he preached in 1850 ; and at <strong>the</strong> ~Vonthdy II/Ieeting he
preached frequently, his first occasion 'being on 4 May, 1830, at Stourbridge,
text, Psalm xcvii., i.
T. H. M. Scott preached <strong>the</strong> Dudley in 1861, <strong>the</strong> second that day
being Rev. George Heaviside, B.A., <strong>the</strong>n, as now, minister <strong>of</strong> t!le Great
Meeting, Coventry.
Biss preached <strong>the</strong> Dudley in 1864--<strong>the</strong> last year but one <strong>of</strong> its con-
tinuance-his companion being Belljamin Wright, <strong>of</strong> Birmingham.
Harris Crook's mo<strong>the</strong>r was Margaret, daughter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> well-known
minister, George Harris (d. 1859). He was educated at one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> leading
agricultural colleges, and f ~ a r few years followed <strong>the</strong> calling <strong>of</strong> a gentleman
farmer. He completed his studies at Owens College, and was for
some time associated with Monton Church, where he <strong>of</strong>ficiated as organist.
After a short pastorate at Ilkeston, where he did good work in <strong>the</strong> face
<strong>of</strong> many difficulties, he settled at Wolverhampton, and at once pressed
fern-ard <strong>the</strong> project <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> erection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new schoolroom, which was
achieved mainly by his own and Mrs. Crook's untiring efforts. His early
death was a deep sorrow to his numerous friends, whose memory <strong>of</strong> him
is indeed precious.