Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

66 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
both facetious and spiteful. They were described as " weaving brown coats, strong shoes
and corduroy small-clothes as ; having all things in common, and also that they had
eaten up the whole substance of several farmers." These paragraphs were read with
interest, for though the notices were coloured and even distorted by the prejudiced
media through which they had passed, these Leeds Revivalists were still able to
perceive several points of similarity between the " Kanters " and themselves, one
being that they were both " spoken against " for trying to do good in unconventional
ways so that what
; they read only inflamed their desire to know more of the community
jibed at by the BoeMngham. Finally, the rumour went that the " Ranters "
had now reached Ferry Bridge, whereupon counsel was taken, and it was arranged to
send John Verity and J. Atkinson, " Esq.," of Hunslet, to get to know all they could
respecting the people about whom there were such strange reports. The deputation
seems to have proceeded to Ferrybridge early in September,* and what success it met
with, together with the rest of S. Smith's story, he shall be allowed to tell in his own
words :
" Mr. Atkinson called on Mr. Joseph Bailey, who kept a boarding-school, and with
whom he had been partially educated. Messrs. Atkinson and Verity were much
surprised to find that Mr. Bailey was a member of this new community. He introduced
them to the preacher for the day, the late Samuel Laister, of Market Weighton, who
preached in the open air, and published for John Verity to preach in the afternoon :
with which appointment the latter complied. While J. V. was engaged in the
preaching service, a passenger on the London and Leeds coach 'The Union' saw
him, and, knowing him, reported the circumstances to the Methodist Leaders' Meeting
on the Monday following. Action was taken upon it, and John Verity, in his absence,
was suspended from his office as a leader, and a Mr. Brooks was appointed to attend
When John Verity returned on the Tuesday, I made
his class on the Tuesday evening.
him acquainted with the doings of the Leaders' Meeting as far as I had heard. H is
class met in the Wesley Chapel vestry in Meadow Lane. I accompanied him to the
meeting where we found Mr. Brooks, who stated his case, and absolutely refused
John Verity permission to pray with the people but he did
;
pray, and Mr. Brooks
sang during the time. I begged J. V. to retire, as such doings could be of no service.
We retired to his house and talked matters over, and agreed to write to Hull, inviting
the 'Ranters' to visit Leeds, and promising we would join them. We that night
wrote a joint letter, addressed to 'The Ranter Preacher, Hull.' The contents of the
letter were to the effect that, if a preacher were sent to Leeds, we would provide for
him board and lodgings for three months in order that he might make a fair trial.
The parties agreeing were John Verity, J. Atkinson, Esq., J. Howard, surgeon, and
'
Samuel Smith. To this letter we received an answer in a few days signed R. Jackson,
Circuit Steward,' saying : '
We will send a preacher as soon as we have one at liberty ;
in the meantime we advise you to go on, plan your preachers, open new places, and
form classes,' etc. They also sent three hundred hymn-books and one hundred rules
which had been drawn up at the Nottingham Preparatory Meeting a few weeks before.
On the Thursday following I formed a class in Mrs. Taylor's [house], at the top of
* S. Smith says about the last Sabbath in August. But as they had previously read in the
Rockingham of the opening of West Street Chapel, which was not opened until September 10th,
it cannot well have been before the 17th September.