Benjamin Wallin, Maze Pond, Southwark, to the Managers of the Particlar Baptist Fund, undated (c. 1760).

To the Elders and Brethren, Messengers of the Churches, entrusted with the Management of the Particular Baptist Fund, in London.

Dearly Beloved,

It is unpleasant to find myself obliged to remonstrate, as follows, but as I am conscious of no other motive than the common good I would hope that my reasonable proposal will meet with a candid reception.

The particular Baptist Fund, in which the Churches concerned are Principals, is a noble Design, plann’d by our immediate Predecessors in a manner that discovers a disinterested, social and public Spirit, truly worthy our carefull Immitation [sic].

To perpetuate this excellent Scheme it is needfull that the capital Stock, and the order of presenting cases are inviolably preserved.

As to the first.  The manner in which the capital was raised and disposed from the beginning, with the resolutions of the Managers for Twenty years, most of whom were the Author’s of this Charity sufficiently proves that they had nothing more in view than the continuance of their Stock, the Improvement of which alone, with annual collections and other occasional helps was to be applied by the Managers for the Time being as they saw meet, and accordingly the appointments in general in the course of the year were contrived under the Denomination of Classes that in the End the Objects considered might receive in proportion to the ability or Income of the Fund for that year; it is therefore highly unreasonable, being inconsistent with the constitution of the Fund, under any pretence more or less to diminish the Capital in order to fill up those Classes to any particular Sum whatever.  And that the Stock was thus raised to be improved and not lessened on any consideration is abundantly confirmed by a Minute recorded in your Book dated Septr 9. 1717.  which manifestly relates to the original Contract in this association, and runs thus, “That a Sum of Money be raised among them and such others as are willing to become contributory thereto, to be made and continued for a Stock or Fund, to be laid out in the South Sea Company, or elsewhere as they shall think convenient for the greatest Security and best improvement, that the Interest and arising profits may be disposed of to such use and uses, and what other charitable uses they shall judge necessary” –  It therefore cannot with reason be doubted but that the preservation of the Capital is essential to the Constitution of this Fund.

But this is not the only fundamental Article, at least it appears to me that the order agreed upon in the presentation of cases is very near if not altogether as needfull as that of keeping the Stock entire.  It was clearly and punctually agreed that each Church by her Messengers shoould proceed in Rotation to nominate a certain number of cases, in order, according to the proportion she bore in raising and supporting this charity, than which I think nothing can be more decent and equitable.  The Article as it stands in our Book commonly brought to our Meetings declares this to be the Case but the original Minute concerning this Matter is still more explicit, which I take leave to transcribe.  It is dated Janr 7. 1718.  and runs in these words “That the Managers that represented a Church that hath advanced £200 go on according to the aforesaid Method until they had proposed four Persons; those that represent a Church which advanced £150 until they had presented three; those that advanced £100 to name two, and those £50 but one, and so every gentleman who is a Manager in his own right according to the same in proportion.” That this is the contract, or rule agreed upon for receiving Cases and that no such Method is now abserved are equally plain.  For want of knowing or attending to this appointed Method of proceeding we at length see the Objects presented by particular Persons in their own Name without any regard to his Order, or any Manager on account of the past or present use which the Church that sends him hath been of to this generous Design; ‘tis now no longer what Community hath or doth exert herself in the charge of this extensive Charity but he that can bring in the greatest Number of Petitions is preferr’d, whereby others, who according to the established rules of this Fund have a prior right of Nomination are liable to be prevented, thus the Oeconomy is disturbed to our great disadvantage.

It hath long been observed with concern that a neglect of this wise and equitable plan hath rendered the greatest Number of Managers destitute of Cases and as it were Cyphers among us till at length the Influence of this Fund is fallen chiefly into the Hands of two Persons only, by whom alone Cases are introduced in Number and Value to the amount of four fifths of the Churches liberality, which seems highly unreasonable, and may on some change prove dangerous if not destructive to this noble Charity and therefore presuming that neither of the worthy Elders who at present share the honour of sealing this Trust, have any private view and that on reflection they will see the Impropriety and Danger of a contrary proceeding and readily conform to the above established rule.  I shall with all due Respect and at the same Time with all frankness mention some objections that lie against the present Method of proceeding.

And first.  It is plainly unequal, and therefore not adapted to peace and brotherly Love, but this I am perswaded you will allow a governing principle in all social Transactions and especially among christian Brethren.

It likewise contradicts an express and noble End of this bountifull undertaking.  The Preamble of your Articles declare it to be for the promoting of Union and a more general and free Correspondence between Churches and Ministers of the Baptist Denomination in London and those throughout the Kingdom but the present Method hath a direct tendency to limit this friendly Correspondence to them only who obtain the presentation of Cases, other Ministers and in proportion other Churches of whom they are Pastors are deprived the opportunity of being acquainted with the shewing their Respect to their Brethren at a distance to which their ability and good Inclination entiitle them: indeed this partiality misleads our Friends in the Country in respect of their Benefactors and gives an undue Influence to a few Persons only to the prejudice of others.  It appears by your Articles and Minutes for many years that the utmost care was taken to avoid this, it being ordained that each Church should be permitted to act by her Messengers according to her actual Service and not otherwise: yea, so watchfull were our Predecessors to guard against preferring one before another that an Order was made in 1720, that the cases should be read promiscuously, without regard to the Person or Church by whom represented, and that if any Difficulty arose it was to be referred to a Committee.

Nor should it be omitted that by the Method now in practice they who contribute the least towards this Bounty may possibly obtain the greatest share in disposing of the same which can scarce be thought reasonable and manifestly tends to discourage an universal zeal in promoting the cause.

Permit me likewise to observe that ’tis well known that whoever attains to an unequal power of Nomination in any Fund may be tempted to fall in with Measures when needfull to maintain their Influence which my be hurtfull to Society, and can we be always sure that a person who may be possessed of this power among us will be able to withstand the Temptation?

And further, The consequence of this unequal Nomination of Cases is hurtfull as it deprives the Society of the assistance she might otherwise hope for to a proper execution of the Business of the Fund, for it is not found nor indeed can it be expected that many will attend who have nothing to do but to give a kind of sanction to the proposal of others.

The last objection I shall mention, is none of the least, which is this, Namely; That in proportion to this Inequality the Fund is liable to be burthened with improper Cases.  ’Tis difficult to object to almost any Case without offending the person who presents it – Many through want of Courage or for the sake of Peace may be tempted to silence about Objects with whom they are greatly and justly dissatisfied; indeed the order of presenting Cases, as directed may not perfectly free that of this Inconvenience yet it opens the way to a more free Debate than can be obtained in the present manner of proceeding whereby the fund would probably be eased of no little Burthen.

Thus, Honoured Sirs, I have freely laid before you my Sentiments concerning the present Method of conducting this important Trust.  It appears to me not equitable or consistent with the Constitution of the Society, her established Rules for proceeding being quite the reverse.  I also apprehend it a dead weight on the rising Ministry in London and what prevents rather than promotes that genuine and free Circle of christian acquaintance and Brotherly Love which is one professed design of this excellent Charity; and I should be glad to be convinced that by this way of introducing cases there is no danger of perverting a most generous Scheme supported at the expence of the public for universal Benefit by rendering it subservient to the private views of particular persons, these considerations induce me to intreat an alteration before it be too late and to propose that we return as soon and as near as possible to the good old plan in the operation of which we may expect the mutual advantage of Ministers and Churches both in Town and in Country.

I take leave to conclude with observing that I have been honoured with an Increase in the collections of a liberal People for more than Twenty years past in favour of this fund the prosperity of which is my hearty Desire, and as I have not the least Inclination to lesson the Esteem or natural Influence of any one of my Brethren, so the Reformation pleaded for will invest me with no additional Power. 

I am, Beloved, with Esteem, tho’ unworthy

Your affectionate Brother in the Ties of the Gospel

Benj: Wallin.

Text: MS. II.a.10.(174), Congregational Library, London. The above is a copy of the original letter.