Primitive Methodist Deed Poll

A number of Primitive Methodist documents refer to the Deed Poll of February 5^th 1830. Despite this, it is difficult to find a copy of this document. The following is from a copy imbedded in a model deed for property sales published in 1902:-

FIRST, that the name, style, and title, by which the Religious Community or Connexion Style of the thereinbefore described and intended to be established and identified by those Presents had hitherto been and was thereafter to be called, known, and designated by the members thereof, was and should be the “Primitive Methodist Connexion.”

SECONDLY, that the religious tenets or doctrines professed and believed by the members of the said Connexion, had been and should be, 

• the innocency of man in his first state, 
• the fall of man, 
• general redemption by Jesus Christ, 
• repentance, 
• justification of the ungodly by faith, 
• the witness of the Spirit, 
• sanctification by the Holy Spirit producing inward and outward holiness, 
• the doctrine of the Trinity, 
• the proper divinity of Jesus Christ, 
• the resurrection of the dead, 
• the general judgement, and 
• eternal rewards and punishments; 

these being the same doctrines as were believed and taught as aforesaid by the said John Wesley, deceased, and which are set forth in the said notes on the New Testament, and the first four volumes of his Sermons.

THIRDLY, that the members of the said Connexion did then, and should from time to time, and at all time thereafter, consist of such persons as were or should be formed into and continue to belong to the societies or classes in and of the said Connexion, united to assist each other in working out their salvation, and in spreading the kingdom of Christ upon earth; each member having, and to have his or her name on a class paper, in and of the said Connexion, and holding a society ticket, to be printed at the Printing Office of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion, and delivered to him or her by a preaching minister belonging to the said Connexion, and by such other person or persons as the circuit quarter-day board of the said Connexion should delegate and appoint; and which class or society ticket should have a passage of Scripture printed upon it, and the name of the member holding the same written thereon: and should be renewed quarterly, or as often as the rules and regulations of the said Connexion should from time to time prescribe and direct: Also that the said Connexion was and should continue to be formed in circuits, each circuit having its quarterly meetings, with a circuit committee and circuit steward: Also that the said Connexion was and should continue to be arranged in districts, each district to have a meeting at the time appointed by the annual assembly or Conference next preceding:

FOURTHLY, that the permanent officers of the said Connexion consisted and should continue to consist of leaders of classes, circuit stewards, persons composing the several committees, delegates, preachers (local and travelling or itinerant), the general book steward and the book editor:

FIFTHLY, that there were then and District should for ever thereafter be the several meetings of the said Connexion thereafter mentioned, which meetings should be governed and regulated as was thereafter also mentioned (to wit)-
– First, Leaders’ Meetings
– Second, the Circuit General Quarterly Meetings 
– Third, the District Meetings, 
all of which several and respective meetings should consist of such persons, and should be held at such times and places, and should transact such business and should proceed in such order as the rules and regulations or bye-laws made at and by the annual assemblies or Conferences of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion, to be holden as thereinbefore was mentioned, should from time to time prescribe, direct, and appoint:

AND by the said Deed Poll now in recital, it was further witnessed that the said Hugh Bourne, James Bourne, and William Clowes, further declared that there should for ever thereafter be an annual assembly or Conference of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion, which should be composed of delegates from the several districts, duly elected at the several district meetings, one-third of which district delegates so to be elected should consist of regular and orderly travelling or itinerant preachers in and of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion, and the other two-thirds of such district delegates should consist of such members of the said Connexion as should sustain each the office of local preacher or of class leader, or of circuit steward, in the said Connexion, and of such other persons as should by virtue of those Presents be constituted permanent members of the annual assembly or Conference, and of such other persons, not exceeding four in number, as the annual assemblies or Conferences should by their bye-laws from time to time appoint. And that the persons above specified were and should for ever thereafter be constituted and taken to be and should to all intents and purposes be the members constituting the annual assembly or Conference of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion …

The document then continues with details of the governance of Conference meetings and then moves on to the members of the initial Conference. There will be twelve persons including the three founders (Hugh Bourne, James Bourne, and William Clowes). The three founders cannot be removed for any reason, whereas all others may be removed for  reasons of incompetency or incapacity.
The twelve were …

… ratified and confirmed as permanent members of the annual assembly or Conference of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion during their respective natural lives, subject nevertheless to their being displaced as thereinafter mentioned (save only that the said Hugh Bourne, James Bourne, and William Clowes were thereby appointed permanent members of the said annual assemblies or Conferences, during their respective natural lives, without being subject or liable to be displaced from their said offices as permanent members of the said annual assemblies or Conferences) and that no person or persons should at any time thereafter be appointed a permanent member or permanent members of the annual assemblies or Conferences of the said Connexion during life, without being liable to be removed for incompetency, or incapacity, as thereinafter mentioned.