The Rev. Charles H. Kelly introduced the subject in the London Methodist Council, and then brought the matter before the Plymouth Conference of 1895, dwelling on the desire existing to form a Wesley Guild that should do for Britain what the Epworth League does for American Methodism, and secure the best advantages not only of that league, but of the Boys’ Brigade, Bands of Hope, Christian Endeavour and Mutual Improvement Societies, which it should federate.  The Liverpool Conference of 1896 therefore sanctioned the formation of the “Wesley Guild.”  Its three grades of members include young people already attached to the Church, with others not yet ripe for such identification, and “older people young in heart,” who all join in guild friendship, and aid in forming this federation of the existing societies interesting to young people.

By periodical meetings, weekly if possible, for devotional, social, and literary purposes, a healthy common life and beneficent activity are stimulated, and the rising generation is happily and usefully drawn into relation with the older Church workers, whom it aids by seeking out the young, lonely, and unattached, and bringing them into the warm circle of youthful fellowship.

Such in brief is the programme of the Guild, which may yet greatly enrich the Church with which it is connected.

We turn now to one of the most notable changes in Methodism during the Queen’s reign—­the wonderful advance in the temperance movement.  Wesley himself was an ardent temperance reformer, but his preachers were slow to follow him.  A few prominent men strove long to induce Conference to institute a temperance branch of our work, and finally succeeded, their efforts having effected a great change in opinion.  For many years our theological students, though not compelled thereto, have almost all been pledged abstainers. 1873 saw Conference appoint a temperance committee “to promote legislation for the more effectual control of the liquor traffic—­and in general for the suppression of intemperance.”  In 1879 a scheme was sanctioned for the formation of Methodist Bands of Hope and Circuit Temperance Unions; and a special Sunday, the last in November, is devoted to considering “the appalling extent and dire result” of our national sin, one of the greatest obstacles to that “spread of scriptural holiness” which is the aim of the true Wesleyan Methodist, whose chosen Church, with its manifold organisation, has unequalled facilities for temperance work.  In 1896 the report showed 1,374 temperance societies, with 80,000 members—­figures that do not include all the abstainers in Methodism; some societies have no temperance association, and some Methodists are connected with other than our own temperance work.  The 4,393 Bands of Hope count 433,027 members.

[Illustration:  Children’s Home, Bolton.]