Shirley, on the other hand, was constrained to sign a public avowal that “he was convinced that he had mistaken the meaning of the doctrinal points” of the minute.  Fletcher meanwhile had written his five letters to Shirley, and the MS. was in Wesley’s hands during the conference.  Unfortunately he ordered it to be printed, and then left for Ireland.  Fletcher, after learning the issue of the conference, would have liked to stay their publication, but in Wesley’s absence this could not be done.  Thus appeared the first portion of Fletcher’s famous Checks to Antinomianism.  Into the subsequent controversy, extending over several years, many writers were drawn, the chief being on Wesley’s side, Fletcher and Olivers; and on Lady Huntingdon’s, Shirley, Toplady, Berridge, Sir Richard and Rowland Hill.  Many bitter words were written, and much said and done that would have been far better left unsaid and undone.  But through it all even Toplady, Wesley’s bitterest opponent, could say of Olivers, “I am glad I saw him, for he appears to be a person of stronger sense and better behaviour than I had imagined;” and Berridge welcomed Fletcher to Everton after a twenty years’ absence, with tears in his eyes, crying, “My dear brother, how could we write against each other when we both aim at the same thing, the glory of God and the good of souls!”

IX.

SPA FIELDS CHAPEL.

In addition to the constant services held in her different London houses by her chaplains and others, Lady Huntingdon opened and supported several chapels in the capital.  The first was leased in 1770 in Ewer Street.  The next was in Princess Street, Westminster, and was opened in 1774.  Then came Mulberry Gardens Chapel at Wapping, where George Burder sometimes and John Clayton very often preached.  Towards the close of 1776 negotiations for the purchase of what was known as the Pantheon, a large building in Spa Fields, one of “the places where Satan had his seat,” were commenced.  Owing to the advice of Shirley and Toplady, the completion of the purchase was delayed; but at length the Countess wrote:  “My heart seems strongly set upon having this temple of folly dedicated to Jehovah-Jesus, the great Head of His Church and people.  I feel so deeply for the perishing thousands in that part of London that I am almost tempted to run every risk; and though at this moment I have not a penny to command, yet I am so firmly persuaded of the goodness of the Master whose I am and whom I desire to serve, that I shall not want gold or silver for the work.”  Nor did she.  A company of gentlemen secured it, fitted it up as a chapel, and on July 5, 1777, John Ryland of Northampton preached the opening sermon.