WESLEYAN BOOK-ROOM, LONDON.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13342, 6 February 1909, Page 12

WESLEYAN BOOK-ROOM, LONDON.

The story of the Wceleyan Bookroom, London, haa recently been published, and forms an interesting chapter in Hhe history of KnglwTi Metliodism. John Wesley made his first modest venture in the world of literature -when an Oxford tutor in 1733. before finishing his course in 1791 ho had figured as author or editor of moro than four hundred publications, and piesided over a largo book ©onoorn for th© spread of cheap and popular works. Tor more than thirteen years Wesley was his own book steward. Among the moat efficient of his stewards was the Rev. John Mason (whose son died recently in Auckland), wiio held office for thirty-eeven years, and died in full ■work at the of 83. The. Rev. C. H. Kelly, who has just retired after presiding at hie poet as steward for eighteen years, has been probably the irost efficient and successful of all the able men who have held th© stewardship. The Book-room has had its financial etraits. In 1830 it had a debt of £30,000. In Mr Kelly's time tho debt on the buildings was entirely removed, and a profit of more than £50,000 was made through the publication of the new Methodist Hymn Boole. The Book-room's catalogue of ■puhJtoations fills 180 pages, and its annual turnover is £70.000. Tho estate ie the sole property of the ministerial section of tho Wesloyan Conference, to whom it was bequeathed by John Wesley, and the profits are dovoted chiefly to the superannuation finds of the Church for the support of aged and infirm ministers.