writings. A review in the denominational magazine of a memoir of Alexander Kilham, the most prominent founder of the denomination, claimed that the book would be treasured by ‘every lover of religious liberty’ and that its sub-ject laboured ‘in the cause of Christian freedom’. The marble monument at

doi:10.4324/9780203166505-80

Chapter

writings. A review in the denominational magazine of a memoir of Alexander Kilham, the most prominent founder of the denomination, claimed that the book would be treasured by ‘every lover of religious liberty’ and that its sub-ject laboured ‘in the cause of Christian freedom’. The marble monument at

Chapter

ABSTRACT

The office of the ruling elder in the Methodist New Connexion is the distinguishing feature between it and the Parent Body. The admission of an officer so called to the exercise of power alongside the teaching elder, so as to give ministers and laymen equality of authority in all deliberative and legislative assemblies, is the sole point remaining out of the many causes of dissension and final rupture in the struggle for Methodist reform one hundred years ago. This indeed was the main cause of difference then . . .16