CONSTITUTION POLITY OP WESLEYAN METHODISM A DIGEST OF ITS LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS. REV. HEKRY W. Y ILL1AMS > DJXj AUTHOR OF ' AN EXPOSITION OF ST. PATII/S EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS,' ETC. REVISED, AND BROUGHT DOWN TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1881. f LONDON: WESLEYAN-METHODIST BOOK-ROOM, 2, CASTLE-STREET, CITY-ROAD, SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER-BOW, Haeell, Watton, and Viney, Printers, London and Ayletbury PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. E following work is intended to present a clear, concise, and complete statement of the economy of Wesleyan Methodism, in the stage of development which it has now reached. The information which the volume contains will, it is hoped, be useful not only to the Ministers of the Con- nexion, and those who are preparing to enter the Ministry, but also to the Office-bearers, and the private members of the Methodist Societies generally. Nor is the Author with- out hope that the work may attract the notice and regard of some who belong to other Christian Communities. It has been no part of his design to explain and defend the principles of Church order and government which are embodied in the system of Wesleyan Methodism, or to trace the steps by which the religious movement begun by the instrumentality of Mr. Wesley and his coadjutors has been developed, under the guidance of Divine Providence, into the system which is here unfolded. This interesting and im- portant subject will be dealt with in a companion volume to the present, the preparation of which has been entrusted to the Author's friend, the EEV. JAMES H. BIGG, D.D. It may be proper to advert to the difference between the present volume and the elaborate work of Mr. Peirce on the Ecclesiastical Principles and Polity of ike Wesleyan Methodists. That work will long retain an historical interest, inasmuch as it presents the Resolutions of the Conference, as they were adopted in successive years, on the various subjects of which it treats, the later Regulations, in most instances, modifying or superseding the preceding ones. But the last edition of that work appeared in 1873 : and consequently it contains no statement of the plan of Lay Representation in the iv PREFACL. Conference, and of other important arrangements which have been adopted since that period. This volume, on the contrary, is designed to exhibit the system of Methodism as it now is; and to present it in such a form as to afford guidance in the practical administration of Circuits and Districts. This work, it should be added, has been prepared at the request of the Wesleyan-Methodist Book Committee ; but the responsibility for its statements, except where the express words of the Minutes of the Conference are cited, rests solely with the Author. H. W. WILLIAMS. 24, ABBEY ROAD, ST. JOHN'S WOOD, LONDON, November 1st, 1880. P.S. The edition of the Minutes of the Conference referred to in this work is that which is usually termed the new octavo Edition. The first volume was issued in 1862; the second and third in 1863 ; and the fourth and fifth in 1864. The sixth volume, embracing the Minutes of the years 18251830, was published in 1833 ; and the remaining volumes at different intervals. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE Author desires gratefully to acknowledge the very favour- able reception with which this work has met. From many Ministers and Laymen he has received pleasing testimonies to its usefulness, as affording information required in the practical administration of Methodism. The present edition has been carefully revised, so as to embody the legislation of the Conference of 1881 ; and it is the hope of the Author that the work will continue to promote the object for which it was prepared. May 1st, 1882. CONTENTS. PART I. THE WESLEYAN-METHODIST SOCIETIES. PAGE CHAPTER I. The Fundamental Rules of the Wesleyan-Metho- dist Societies Special Means of Grace for the Societies : Class-Meetings Band -Meetings Society-Meetings Lovefeasts Prayer-Meetings The Covenant Service . 1 CHAPTER II. Admission to Membership in the Wesleyan- Methodist Societies Public Recognition Removal from Membership ......... 8 CHAPTER III. Junior Society Classes 12 PART II. THE CONNEXIONAL SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION OF WESLEYAN METHODISM. CHAPTER I. THE CONFERENCE : Its Constitution The Legal Conference 14 CHAPTER II. THE CONFERENCE: Its Constitution (contimied) Lay Representation ....... 20 CHAPTER III. THE CONFERENCE: The General Order of its Business The Stationing Committee Committee on Appeals The Nomination Committee . . . .28 CHAPTER IV. Powers and Duties of the President of the Conference in the Interval between its Assembling Provision for the case of the Death, or prolonged Illness, of the President Duties of the Secretary of the Con- ference in the Interval between its Assembling . . 39 vi CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER V. THE MINISTRY : Candidature Theological Train- ing Probation Ordination 44 CHAPTER VI. THE MINISTRY : Pastoral Duties Special Duties of Superintendents Home-Missionary Ministers Dis- trict Missionaries Army and Navy Ministers The Itinerant System Ministers set apart to Connexional Offices . . . 54 CHAPTER VII. DISTRICT ORGANISATION : District Committees The Financial District Meeting The Annual District Meeting 60 CHAPTER VIII. DISTRICT ORGANISATION : The Minor District Meeting The Special District Meeting The Mixed District Meeting ........ 72 CHAPTER IX. DISTRICT ORGANISATION: Duties and Powers of the Chairman of a District Other District Officers . 78 CHAPTER X. CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATION : Quarterly Meetings Circuit Stewards Special Circuit Meeting . . .87 CHAPTER XI. CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATION : Leaders' Meetings Society and Poor Stewards Prayer-Leaders' Meetings Tract Societies ........ 99 CHAPTER XII. CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATION : Local-Preachers' Meetings Trustees' Meetings 107 CHAPTER XIII. CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATION: Sunday and Week- Day Schools Bands of Hope and Temperance Societies 117 PAET III. THE INSTITUTIONS AND CONNEXIONAL FUNDS OF WESLEYAN METHODISM. CHAPTER I. The Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society Auxiliary and Branch Societies Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Associations The Ladies' Auxiliary for Female Education . . 123 CONTENTS. vii PAGE CHAPTER II. The Home-Mission and Contingent Fund: Com- pendium of Regulations affecting it, and the Employment of Home-Missionary Ministers, District Missionaries, Army and Navy Ministers, and Lay Agents . . .132 CHAPTER III. The Wesleyan Seamen's Mission The Metro- politan Methodist Lay Mission The Manchester and Salford Lay Mission The Liverpool and other Lay\ Missions ......... 150 CHAPTER IV. The Theological Institution .... 156 CHAPTER V. The Wesleyan-Methodist Book-Room . . 163 CHAPTER VI. Arrangements affecting the Erection, Enlarge- ment, Alteration, and Sale of Chapels and other Trust- Property, and the Relief of embarrassed Trusts . . 165 CHAPTER VII. The Metropolitan Chapel Building Fund The Fund for the Extension of Methodism in Great Britain The North Wales District Chapel Fund The South Wales District Chapel Fund The Fund for the Relief and Extension of Methodism in Scotland . . . 177 CHAPTER VIII. Schools for the Education of Ministers' Chil- drenThe Schools Fund . . . . . .191 CHAPTER IX. General Educational Arrangements : Sunday Schools Elementary Day-Schools Plan of Wesleyan Education Circuit Sunday School Unions Pupil- Teachers Admission to the Training Colleges The Education Fund Middle-Class Education Higher Education . . ,.- , at the present rate, 69 6*. for the two children ; for a third child an amount equal to seven years' allowances, viz., at the present rate, 113 8s. for the three children ; and for each additional child a further increased sum at the same progressive rate. ' In the case of a Minister having a child or children when received on probation, or born during the period of his probation or within six months after its expiration, in order to give such child or children a claim on the Children's Fund, he shall pay a compensation to the Fund for each such child according to the above arrangement.' (Min., 1881, pp. 230, 231.) In the application of the principle, that the Ministers of Methodism receive support according to the requirements of their families, and not salary, provision is made for the education of their children during six years. We have already spoken of the Schools established for Ministers' children ; and it is only necessary to refer to Chapter viii. of this Part of the present work, and to repeat that for children who cannot be admitted to the Connexional Schools, or whose parents prefer a different arrangement for them, .12 a year is allowed from the Schools Fund for their education dur- ing six years, the payments commencing at nine years of age, and being continued until fifteen years, the ninth year being reckoned from the Christmas before payment. The position of Ministers in some of the poorer Circuits of the Connexion has often engaged the attention of generous Laymen ; and in the year 1873 an important movement was begun to improve that position. It was proposed in the meeting of the Committee of the Home-Mission and Con- tingent Fund preceding the Conference of that year, that the Conference should be requested to recommend the formation in each District of a District Sustentation Fund, to be raised and administered by a Committee consisting chiefly of Lay gentlemen, being members of the Society and living within 246 DISTRICT SUSTENTATION FUNDS. the District : ' that the object of this Committee be to raise the minimum allowance in every Circuit to .150 per annum, with the customary addition of house-rent, taxes, etc. ; that for the attainment of this object local Subscriptions be raised whereby to enable the Committee to supplement the income of Ministers until the minimum be obtained ; and that, in order to encourage local effort, it shall be a fundamental rule of the Committee never to make a grant beyond a moiety of the increase of the allowance to be paid, such -other moiety being raised by the aid of the Circuit itself.' (Min., 1873, vol. xix., p. 253.) This subject was remitted by the Conference to the con- sideration of the several District Meetings in Great Britain ; and at the following Conference the Plan was sanctioned, and it was strongly recommended that, wherever practicable, a District Sustentation Fund Committee should be appointed at the Financial District Meeting. It was further recommended ' that the surplus of the Sustentation Fund in each District be remitted to the Financial Secretary of the Home-Mission and Contingent Fund, it being understood that such surplus should be carried to a separate account, and appropiated to similar objects in other and more necessitous Districts.' (Min., 1874, vol. xix., p. 516.) At the Conference of 1875, the principles on which the receipts from the surplus of District Sustentation Funds should be administered by the Home-Mission Committee, were thus laid down : ' t. That the sum or sums so received shall not be used to relieve 1 the Home-Mission and Contingent Fund of obligations which exist under present Regulations, and that aid from such sum or sums shall not be confined to the claimant Circuits. ' 2. That such surplus receipts may be used in the encourage- ment of Sustentation Funds in the Districts, by making Grants to Committees of District Funds for their detailed Circuit distribution. ' 3. That the Grant given in all cases shall be dependent upon there being a Sustentation Fund in the District, and upon the sum voted being met by at least an equal amount.' (Min., vol. xix., p. 683.) DISTRICT SUSTENTATION FUNDS. 247 The Conference of that year also adopted the following ^Resolution : ' The Conference directs that when hi any District a Sustentation Fund ia formed under the Connexional Regulations, the Treasurer shall be a member of Society, shall be elected by the District Committee, and shall be, ex officio, a member of that Committee during the transaction of Financial and Statistical Affairs.' (Min., voL six., pp. 716, 717.) The movement thus generously commenced and sustained has already been productive of great good. At the Confer- ence of 1879 it was reported that thirty out of the thirty -four Districts in Great Britain had established District Sustentation Funds ; and that whereas, previously to the establishment of these Funds, there were 372 Circuits paying less than the minimum of ,150 per annum to each married Minister, with the customary addition of house-rent, taxes, etc., and less than the minimum of 80 to each unmarried Minister, that number was then reduced to 217. The Eeport presented to the Conference of 1881 stated that the number of Circuits paying less than the proposed minimum was then reduced to 211. r~ CHAPTEE XIV. PROVISION FOB WORN-OUT MINISTEBS AND MINISTEBS' WIDOWS, AND THE CHILDREN OF SUPEBNUMEBABT AND DECEASED MINISTEBS FUND FOB THE BENEFIT OF NECESSITOUS LOCAL PBEACHEBS. IN an early period of Methodism there was a Fund desig- nated the Preachers' Fund, derived partly from the contri- butions of the Ministers, and partly from those of the people. In the Minutes of 1797 there occurs the question, ' What is contributed for the Preachers' Fund ? ' and the answer is s. d. ' Collected from the people . . . 811 7 11 From the Preachers in England . . 355 5 1,166 12 II.' (Vol. i., p. 407.) Out of this Fund payments were made, according to certain Rules, to Supernumeraries and the widows of deceased Ministers, and occasionally to their children. In the year 1799 the following Resolution was adopted in relation to this Fund : ' The Subscriptions of the Travelling Preachers shall, in future, be considered as separate from the Subscrip- tions of the people ; and the Subscriptions of the people shall be considered as forming a fund of charity, which is to be applied only to the assistance of real objects of mercy among the Supernumerary and Superannuated Preachers, and the widows of Preachers. Nevertheless, those who have hitherto received allowances from the Fund shall continue to receive them, notwithstanding this Regulation, as a retrospective law would be unjust. The Subscriptions of the Preachers, being their own money, subscribed in general with great difficulty WORN-OUT MINISTERS' AND WIDOWS' FUND. 249 out of their little pittance, shall be distributed among the Supernumerary and Superannuated Preachers and widows, according to strict and impartial rules of justice.' (Min., vol. ii., p. 20.) From this time the title the Methodist Preachers' Fund was restricted to the amount contributed, from time to time, by the people ; while the Fund raised by the contributions of the Ministers among themselves was known as the Legalised Fund. In 1804 the designation of the former was changed to the Methodist Preachers' Merciful Fund, as more expressive of the special object for which it was raised. From this Fund, however, in 1805, and for several subsequent years, after the grants to individuals had been paid, an amount was handed over to the Treasurer of the Legalised Fund, towards the payment of the Annuitants having claims on that Fund. In 1813 the title of the Merciful Fund was changed to the Methodist Preachers' Auxiliary Fund, this Fund being regarded as auxiliary to the Legalised Fund, or Itinerant Methodist Preachers' Annuitant Society, as it is now designated. The resources of this last Society, it should be added, are derived chiefly from the contributions of those Ministers who become members of it, so as to be entitled, on being declared Supernumeraries by the Conference, to a certain annuity, according to the number of years they have travelled, and so that their widows, in the case of their decease, are entitled to a smaller annuity, regulated on the same principle. The Auxiliary Fund, as administered previously to the Centenary movement in 1839, did not afford support to all Supernumerary Ministers, or all widows of deceased Min- isters, but only met cases of necessity or peculiar difficulty, which had been recommended by their respective District Meetings to the consideration of the Committee entrusted with its management. But in connection with this move- ment, the generous laymen who took a leading part in it urged that arrangements should be made for a more regular and adequate provision for Supernumerary Ministers and the 250 WORN-OUT MINISTERS' AND WIDOWS' FUND. widows of Ministers. A Plan was carefully prepared by a Committee, and, having been cordially approved by all the District Meetings in Great Britain, was gratefully adopted by the Conference of 1839. Up to this time the income of the Auxiliary Fund had been derived from private Subscrip- tions ; but now, in addition to these, it was arranged that a contribution of sixpence per member should be solicited from all the members of the Society. The organisation of the Fund was completed in the year 1840 ; but in subsequent years some slight modifications, suggested by the practical operation of the Fund, were introduced. The Regulations now in force are those found in the Minutes for 1851 : ' 1. Each Circuit is to be responsible to the General Treasurers for a yearly sum, equal, at the least, on a general average of all the Societies included within that Circuit, to sixpence per member, taking the numbers for the Circuit, in all cases, as returned to the preceding Conference, and published in its Minutes. ' 2. The Conference directs that, at the renewal of the Society- tickets during the September Visitation, every Minister shall fully explain* to the members of each Class the nature and reasonableness of those claims upon their justice and liberality which were in- tended to be met by the establishment of this Fund. He shall also give to each member a short printed Address, explanatory of the same particulars. He shall then enter in the Class-book the indi- vidual Subscriptions, as in the case of the Yearly Collection at the March Visitation. At the first or second Class- Meetings in the month of October, the Leaders shall collect the Subscriptions thus promised, and shall pay the same to the Circuit Treasurer, as here- inafter appointed. ' 3. In order to prevent a deficiency in the sum which an average of sixpence per member throughout England, Scotland, and Wales would raise, the Conference directs that the Ministers of every Circuit be enjoined, with the assistance of our lay friends, to do their utmost to raise its full proportion in October, by the Subscrip- tions in the Classes ; and that in any Circuit which shall then prove deficient, public Collections shall be made to meet such deficiency if not otherwise provided for. ' 4. In every Circuit, at the September Quarterly Meeting, a Circuit Treasurer for the Worn-out Ministers' and Widows' Fund shall be appointed, whose office it shall be, ' (1.) To meet the Class Leaders, not later than the last week in October, in order to examine the books in which the contributions WORN-OUT MINISTERS' AND WIDOW'S FUND. 251 of the members shall have been entered ; and to receive the sums which shall have been paid in the early part of that month. ' (2. ) To see, or send to for the same purpose, those Leaders who cannot attend the Meeting. ' (3.) To confer with the Ministers and leading Friends of the Circuit, if it should happen, in any case, that the amount received in the Classes falls below the proportionate sum chargeable on the Circuit, on the best method of making up the deficiency. ' (4.) To remit the Circuit contribution to the District Treasurer for the Auxiliary Fund, as is the case in respect to the Children's Fund ; this remittance to be made in the month of November at the latest.* ' (5). At each Financial District Meeting, held in September, a District Treasurer shall be chosen, to whom all sums raised in the Circuits of his District shall be paid, and he shall transmit such sums to the General Treasurer not later than the 13th of December, t ' (6.) At the Annual District Meetings held in May, when the Cir- cuit Stewards are in attendance, the District Treasurers shall report the sums which they have received from the several Circuits ; when, if any Circuit has not raised its quota, the Ministers and Stewards of that Circuit shall be urged to make up the deficiency, and arrangements shall be made for the continued prosecution in the several Circuits of this truly Christian measure, which the Con- nexion in the Centenary year so unanimously recommended to the adoption of the Conference.' (Min., vol. xi., pp. 664, 665.) The private Subscriptions for this Fund are still maintained, and form, indeed, an indispensable portion of its income. On the earnest recommendation of the Committee of the Fund, also, the Conference has directed that one Public Collection, at least, shall ' be made in all our Chapels on behalf of this Fund' ; and, regretting that in some Circuits the Public Col- lection is 'taken to supplement the Class-contributions,' ' recommends that by a conscientious mention of the subject * A slight modification of the dates specified in these Regulations has been adopted. In the Minutes for 1880, p. 226, it is stated that < the Circuit Trea- surers are requested to close their accounts with the Class-Leaders not later than Christmas, and to present their statement to the Christmas Quarterly Meeting ' t The Conference of 1881 requested the District Treasurers to remit the contributions from the Classes, as soon as possible, to the clerical Treasurer of the Fund, and to close their accounts not later than January 31st. It was also directed by the Conference of that year that, ''in addition to the subscrip- tions in the Classes, a report should be made to the Annual District Meeting of the amount of the Private Subscriptions, and of the Public Collections in each Circuit for the year immediately preceding? (Min., 1881, pp. 246, 247). 252 WORN-OUT MINISTERS' AND WIDOWS' FUND. in the Classes by the Ministers, an effort be made to raise the quota of sixpence per member, so that the Public Collection may go to the direct augmentation of the Fund.' (Min., 1879, p. 242.) Cases of peculiar affliction or distress among Supernu- meraries or the Widows of deceased Ministers are still con- sidered by the Committee of the Auxiliary Fund, consisting of Ministers and Laymen ; but every such case must be recom- mended by the Annual District Meeting. The rate of Annual Allowances to Supernumeraries and Widows has been recently augmented, through the indefatig- able exertions of the late Rev. John E/attenbury, who succeeded in raising a special Fund, the interest of which is applied to that purpose. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the generous response of our more affluent friends to his appeals. The present scale is as follows : Supermimerary Ministers shall receive 1 per annum for each year they have respectively travelled, together with 14 in addition. The Widows of deceased Minsters shall receive 10s. per annum for each year their husbands respectively travelled, together with 14 in addition. (.Mm., 1878, p k 235.) ' If the Widow is twelve years younger than her husband, the Annuity is reduced to one-half ; if the disparity reaches twenty years, no Annuity is allowed.' (Regulations of Committee.) The following are additional Regulations bearing on the administration of this Fund : ' Ministers becoming Supernumeraries while in the Mission work, and the Widows of Ministers who have died in the Mission work, are claimants on the Funds of the Missionary Society. ' All Ministers, whether members of the Methodist Preachers' Annuitant Society or not, shall be equally entitled to the benefit of the Auxiliary Fund.' (Min., 1872, vol. xviii., pp. 636, 637.) ' Any Claimant on this Fund who shall cease to be a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society shall be removed from the List of Claimants.' (Rule passed in 1845.) Respecting the special provision for Ministers who have travelled not more than twenty-one years becoming Super- numeraries for one year, see ' Compendium of Regulations of WORN-OUT MINISTERS'* AND WIDOWS' FUND. 253 Home-Mission and Contingent Fund' in Chapter ii. of this Part of the present work, pp. 146, 147. When the arrangement to secure regular and systematic support to Supernumerary Ministers was brought into opera- tion, the Conference adopted the following Regulations to guard against its abuse : ' 1. When a Preacher, declared by the Conference to be a Super- numerary, shall have travelled eighteen years or upwards, it should be assumed, as a general principle, that he ought not to be advised to go into business, but should employ the remainder of his life and strength in such occasional ministerial and pastoral services as his health may permit, and as the Conference, with due regard to his family circumstances, or local connections, may appoint, and should receive, as matter of course, the aid of the New Auxiliary Fund, according to his standing. ' 2. Every Preacher, declared by the Conference to be a Super- numerary, having travelled less than eighteen years, shall be con- sidered as entitled to receive, as matter of course, the aid of the New Auxiliary Fund for the term of three years ; but that at the expiration of that term, his case shall be specially considered by the Conference with a view to decide whether the hand of God shall have been so laid upon him by affliction, or otherwise, as to make it clear that, under all the circumstances, he ought, or ought not, to employ himself in some suitable business, so as to exempt him from the necessity of applying for the additional aid afforded by the New Auxiliary Fund. That the terms of his being brought under such an exemption, if it be advised, in reference to the Contingent Fund, the Children's Fund, and the Education Fund, be settled by special stipulation, in each particular case, according to circum- stances ; and that he shall then cease to be regarded as a Super- numerary, and become an accredited Local Preacher ; but that if the Conference do not advise his entrance into business at all, he shall then be certified to the Auxiliary Fund Committee, as a Supernumerary Preacher, entitled, according to his standing, as a matter of course, to the additional pecuniary benefits provided by that Fund. ' 3. Any Preacher, declared a Supernumerary, and having travelled less than eighteen years, who, being advised by the Con- ference to enter into business, refuses or neglects to do so, shall have no further claim, as a matter of course, on the New Auxiliary Fund ; but his case may be referred, if recommended by his District Meeting, for discretionary relief, to the Auxiliary Fund Committee. ' 4. All Supernumerary Preachers, whatever maybe their stand- ing in the work, who shall in future enter into business, whether 254 CHILDREN OF SUPERNUMERARY MINISTERS. with the advice of the Conference, or by their own choice and decision, shall be considered as accredited Local Preachers only, and not entitled to have their names retained in our Journal or on our Minutes. ' 5. In the case of Supernumeraries marrying after they become such, the same Regulations shall be considered as in force with respect to the New Auxiliary Fund, which are now adopted in similar cases by the Preachers' Annuitant Society.' (Min., 1839, vol. viii., pp. 509, 510.) The Resolutions provisionally adopted by the Conference of 1881 relative to the constitution and appointment of the Committee of the Worn-out Ministers' and Ministers' Widows' Auxiliary Fund are given in Appendix No. V. Until the year 1837, when a Minister became a Super- numerary, or was removed by death, his children ceased to have any claim on the Children's Fund ; but this great anomaly was removed in that year, at the earnest request of many of our people, and with the unanimous and cordial con- currence of all the District Meetings in Great Britain. After gratefully acknowledging the affection thus evinced, the Con- ference of that year resolved : ' 1. That an allowance of Six Guineas per annum shall in future be regularly granted from the Children's Fund towards the main- tenance of the children of Supernumerary and of deceased Preach- ers, until they attain the age of seventeen years, on the same plan as that on which a similar allowance is now made from the same Fund to the children of Preachers actually stationed in Circuits. ' 2. That the same allowance, like that to children of Preachers still engaged in the work, shall also be regularly granted out of the same Fund, from the age of seventeen to that of twenty, to such children of Supernumerary or deceased Preachers as shall so long continue to be more or less dependent on their parents, or surviv- ing parent, or on their relatives and friends, in point of pecuniary support. ' 3. That the District Meetings be directed regularly to enter the names of all such children as come within the scope of the two preceding Articles, in the List of Claimants on the Children's Fund, annually forwarded to the Committee at the Conference who super- intend that Department of our financial economy. ' 4. That these Regulations shall not be understood as applying in the case of any Preacher who may marry while his name is on FUND FOR NECESSITOUS LOCAL PREACHERS. 255 the List of Supernumeraries, so far as regards the children that may be born of such marriage during the time that he is a Supernu- merary.' (Min., vol. via., p. 215.) The children of Supernumeraries and deceased Ministers are eligible for admission to our Connexional Schools ; and, if not admitted, are entitled during six years, from the age of nine to fifteen, to the usual Educational Allowance. In accordance with the Resolutions of the Conference of 1879, a Grant of .8,000 was made from the Thanksgiving Fund for the benefit of necessitous Local Preachers. It was directed that this sum should be ' invested, and the interest dis- tributed, from time to time, by a Committee to be appointed by the Conference.' The following Eesolutions bearing on this sub- ject were adopted by the Conference of 1881 : ' (1.) That a Trust be formed, consisting of seven persons, three of whom shall be Ministers, and four Laymen, to hold, invest, and apply the Grant from the Thanksgiving Fund for the benefit of necessitous Local Preachers, according to such rules and regulations as the Conference may, from time to time, direct. '(2.) That the same Trustees shall be empowered, by a pro- vision of the Trust-Deed, to hold, invest, and apply, under the direction of the Conference, any other sums of money which may be hereafter given or bequeathed for the benefit of necessitous Local Preachers. ' (3.) That the Trust-Deed shall provide for the filling up of any vacancy in the number of Trustees which may occur by death, or by any cause which to the Conference may seem fit or necessary as a cause to be inserted in the Trust-Deed, disqualifying any Trustee from continuing upon the Trust/ (Mm., 1881, p. 267.) The Conference of 1881 also made arrangements for the preparation of the Trust-Deed, and instructed a Committee which it appointed 'to frame a Scheme for payments to necessi- tous Local Preachers, which should be presented to the next Conference for approval, and in the meantime to make pay- ments in accordance with that Scheme.' CHAPTEE XV. COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES AND EXIGENCY COMMITTEE TOE PROMOTING THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S DAT. THE Committee for guarding the Privileges of our religious Communion was first appointed in the year 1803, and consisted of three Ministers and seven laymen. In addition to the general duty implied in the very designation of the Committee, it was resolved that this Committee should ' be consulted previously to the commencement of any lawsuit, on account of the whole or any part of the Connexion; and if any lawsuit be commenced, in future, before the Com- mittee be consulted and their approbation be obtained, the Conference and Connexion at large shall not be responsible for any expenses incurred by such lawsuit.' (Min., vol. ii., p. 184.) Since that period the constitution of the Com- mittee has been enlarged, so as to include a considerable number of Ministers in Great Britain, together with the [Representatives, from year to year, of the Irish Conference, and a large number also of influential laymen. On various occasions of great importance this Committee has rendered to the Connexion most valuable service. In the year 1843 'an acting Sub-Committee' was ap- pointed for ' Cases of Exigency' ; but after a few years, the smaller body was recognised as a distinct Committee, with the designation of the Committee of Exigency. The duty of this Committee is, ' to consider all Cases of Exigency arising in any Department of our affairs, or otherwise, requiring THE LORD'S DAY COMMITTEE. 257 prompt communication with the Government or with Parlia- ment on subjects affecting our public interests.' At the Conference of 1879 an additional arrangement was adopted. The President, the Ex-President, and the Secretary of the Conference, with three laymen and the Secretaries of the Committee of Exigency, were constituted a Sub-Committee of that Committee, and instructed to ' meet once a quarter, or oftener if necessary, in order to consider any cases of alleged grievance, or other matters of exigency which might arise.' (Min., 1879, p. 202.) The Conference of 1881 provisionally adopted Resolutions involving extensive changes in the constitution of the Com- mittees of Privileges and Exigency. Those Resolutions are given in Appendix No. V. The Committee for promoting the Religious Observance of the Lord's Day was first appointed in the year 1848. The Confer- ence of that year adopted the following Resolution : ' Convinced of the great and growing importance of a careful observance of the Lord's Day to the prosperity of the Church of Christ, and of the nation at large, the Conference appoints a Com- mittee to watch over the general interests of the Sabbath, to observe the course of events in reference to it, to collect such information as may serve the cause of Sabbath-observance, to cor- respond with persons who are engaged in similar designs, and to report, from year to year, the results of their inquiries, with such suggestions as they may think proper to offer to the Conference.' (Min., vol. xi.,p. 102.) The Committee thus appointed consisted of twelve Ministers ; and, for a few years, its constitution, though enlarged, was exclusively ministerial. But in the year 1855 laymen were combined with Ministers, and the number of members was still further increased. This Committee has, from year to year, rendered important service to the Con- nexion in advising and stimulating effort to guard the sacred- ness of the Lord's Day, and in watching and seeking to obviate proposed legislation, the tendency of which would 258 THE LORD'S DAY COMMITTEE. be to invade its hallowed rest, and to deprive the poor of the invaluable advantages which it confers. The Resolutions provisionally adopted by the Conference of 1881 respecting the constitution and appointment of this Committee are given in Appendix No. Y. APPENDICES. I. MR. WESLEY'S DEED OF DECLARATION, OR DEED POLL. II. THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE,' OR ' CODE OF LAWS,' ISSUED BY THE CONFERENCE OF 1797. III. THE LIVERPOOL MINUTES' OF 1820. IV. OTHER LEADING RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONFERENCE ON PASTORAL DUTIES, AND THE PROMOTION OF SPIRITUAL RELIGION. V. RESOLUTIONS PROVISIONALLY ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF 1881 RESPECTING THE NOMINATION AND CONSTITUTION OF MIXED CONNEXION AL COMMITTEES. s2 APPENDIX I. DEED OF DECLARATION, OB DEED POLL, OF THE EEVEEE1TD JOHN WESLEY. ' ^T^O all to whom these presents shall come, John Wesley, JL late of Lincoln College, Oxford, but now of the City Road, London, clerk, sendeth greeting. ' WHEBEAS divers buildings commonly called chapels, with a messuage and dwelling-house or other appurtenances to each of the same belonging, situate in various parts of Great Britain, have been given and conveyed from time to time by the said John Wesley to certain persons and their heirs in each of the said gifts and conveyances named, which are inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery, upon the acknowledgment of the said John Wesley, pursuant to the Act of Parliament in that case made and provided, upon trust that the Trustees in the said several deeds respectively named, and the survivors of them, and their heirs and assigns, and the Trustees for the time being to be elected, as in the said deeds is appointed, should permit and suffer the said John Wesley, and such other person and persons as he should for that purpose from time to time nominate and appoint, at all times during his life at his will and pleasure, to have and enjoy the free use and benefit of the said premises, that he the said John Wesley, and such person and persons as he should nominate and appoint, might therein preach and expound God's Holy Word ; and upon further trust that the said respective Trustees, and the sur- vivors of them, and their heirs and assigns, and the Trustees for the time being, should permit and suffer Charles Wesley, brother of the said John Wesley, and such other person and persons as the said Charles Wesley should for that purpose from time to time nominate and appoint, in like manner during his life, to have, use, and enjoy the said premises respectively for the like purposes as aforesaid, and after the decease of the survivor of them the said John Wesley and Charles Wesley, then upon further trust that the said respec- 262 MR. WESLEY'S DEED POLL. live Trustees, and the survivors of them, and their heirs and assigns, and the Trustees for the time being for ever, should permit and suffer such person and persons, and for such time and times as should be appointed at the Yearly Conference of the people called Methodists in London, Bristol, or Leeds, and no others, to have and enjoy the said premises for the purposes aforesaid : And whereas divers persons have in like manner given or conveyed many chapels, with messuages and dwelling-houses or other appurtenances to the same belong- ing, situate in various parts of Great Britain, and also in Ireland, to certain Trustees in each of the said gifts and conveyances respectively named, upon the like trusts and for the same uses and purposes as aforesaid (except only that in some of the said gifts and conveyances no life estate or other interest is therein or thereby given and reserved to the said Charles Wesley) : And whereas, for rendering effectual the trusts created by the said several gifts or conveyances, and that no doubt or litigation may arise with respect unto the same or the interpretation and true meaning thereof, it has been thought expedient by the said John Wesley, on behalf of himself as donor of the several chapels, with the messuages, dwelling-houses, or appurtenances before mentioned, as of the donors of the said other chapels, with the messuages, dwelling-houses, or appurtenances to the same belonging, given or conveyed to the like uses and trusts, to explain the words Yearly Conference of the people called Methodists contained in all the said trust deeds, and to declare what persons are members of the said Conference, and how the succession and identity thereof is to be continued : ' Now, therefore, these presents witness, that for accom- plishing the aforesaid purposes the said John Wesley doth hereby declare that the Conference of the people called Methodists in London, Bristol, or Leeds, ever since there hath been any Yearly Conference of the said people called Methodists in any of the said places, hath always heretofore consisted of the preachers and expounders of God's Holy Word, commonly called Methodist Preachers, in connexion with and under the care of the said John Wesley, whom he hath thought expedient year after year to summons to meet him in one or other of the said places of London, Bristol, or Leeds, to advise with them for the promotion of the Gospel of Christ, to appoint the said persons so summoned, and MR WESLEY'S DEED POLL. 263 the other preachers and expounders of God's Holy "Word, also in connexion with and under the care of the said John Wesley, not summoned to the said Yearly Conference, to the use and enjoyment of the said chapels and premises so given and con- veyed upon trust for the said John Wesley, and such other person and persons as he should appoint during his life as aforesaid, and for the expulsion of unworthy and admission of new persons under hi 3 care and into his Connexion to be preachers and expounders as aforesaid, and also of other persons upon trial for the like purposes, the names of all which persons so summoned by the said John Wesley, the persons appointed, with the chapels and premises to which they were so appointed, together with the duration of such appointments, and of those expelled or admitted into Connexion or upon trial, with all other matters transacted and done at the said Yearly Conference, have year by year been printed and published under the title of Minutes of Conference ; and these presents further witness, and the said John Wesley doth hereby avouch and further declare, that the several persons hereinafter named, to wit [here follow the names and descriptions of one hundred persons], being preachers and expounders of God's Holy Word under the care and in con- nexion with the said John Wesley, have been and now are and do on the day of the date hereof constitute the members of the said Conference according to the true intent and mean- ing of the said several gifts and conveyances wherein the words Conference of the people called Methodists are men- tioned and contained, and that the said several persons before named and their successors for ever, to be chosen as hereafter mentioned, are and shall for ever be construed, taken, and be the Conference of the people called Methodists, never- theless upon the terms and subject to the regulations herein- after prescribed : (that is to say,) ' First, That the members of the said Conference, and their successors for the time being for ever, shall assemble once in every year at London, Bristol, or Leeds (except as after mentioned) for the purposes aforesaid, and the time and place of holding every subsequent Conference shall be ap- pointed at the preceding one, save that the next Conference after the date hereof shall be holden at Leeds, in Yorkshire, the last Tuesday in July next. 'Second, The act of the majority in number of the Con- 264 MR. WESLEY'S DEED POLL. ference assembled as aforesaid shall be had, taken, and be the act of the whole Conference to all intents, purposes, and construction whatsoever. * Third, That after the Conference shall be assembled as aforesaid they shall first proceed to fill up all the vacancies occasioned by death or absence as after mentioned. ' Fourth, No act of the Conference assembled as aforesaid shall be had, taken, or be the act of the Conference until forty of the members thereof are assembled, unless reduced under that number by death since the prior Conference or absence as after mentioned, nor until all the vacancies occa- sioned by death or absence shall be filled up by the election of new members of the Conference so as to make up the number one hundred, unless there be not a sufficient number of persons objects of such election, and during the assembly of the Conference there shall always be forty members present at the doing of any act, save as aforesaid, or otherwise, such act shall be void. 'Fifth, The duration of the yearly assembly of the Con- ference shall not be less than five days nor more than three weeks, and be concluded by the appointment of the Confer- ence if under twenty-one days, or otherwise the conclusion thereof shall follow of course at the end of the said twenty- one days, the whole of all which said time of the assembly of the Conference shall be had, taken, considered, and be the Yearly Conference of the people called Methodists, and all acts of the Conference during such yearly assembly thereof shall be the acts of the Conference, and none other. ' Sixth, Immediately after all the vacancies occasioned by death or absence are filled up by the election of new members as aforesaid, the Conference shall choose a President and Secretary of their assembly out of themselves, who shall continue such until the election of another President or 1 Secretary in the next or other subsequent Conference, and the said President shall have the privilege and power of two members in all acts of the Conference during his presidency, and such other powers, privileges, and authorities as the Con- ference shall, from time to time, see fit to entrust into his hands. ' Seventh, Any member of the Conference absenting him- self from the yearly assembly thereof for two years succes- sively without the consent or dispensation of the Conference, and be not present on the first day of the third yearly MR. WESLEY'S DEED POLL. assembly thereof at the time and place appointed for the hold- ing of the same, shall cease to be a member of the Conference from and after the said first day of the said third yearly assembly thereof to all intents and purposes as though he were naturally dead ; but the Conference shall and may dispense with or con- sent to the absence of any member from any of the said yearly assemblies for any cause which the Conference may see fit or necessary, and such member, whose absence shall be so dispensed with or consented to by the Conference, shall not by such absence cease to be a member thereof. ' Eighth, The Conference shall and may expel and put out from being a member thereof, or from being in connexion therewith, or from being upon trial, any person member of the Conference or admitted into connexion, or upon trial, for any cause which to the Conference may seem fit or necessary, and every member of the Conference so expelled and put out shall cease to be a member thereof to all intents and purposes as though he was naturally dead, and the Conference immediately after the expulsion of any member thereof as aforesaid shall elect another person to be a member of the Conference in the stead of such member so expelled. ' Ninth, The Conference shall and may admit into connexion with them, or upon trial, any person or persons whom they shall approve to be preachers and expounders of God's Holy Word, under the care and direction of the Conference, the name of every such person or persons so admitted into connexion, or upon trial as aforesaid, with the time and degrees of the admission, being entered in the Journals or Minutes of the Conference. 'Tenth, No person shall be elected a member of the Con- ference who hath not been admitted into connexion with the Conference as a preacher and expounder of God's Holy Word as aforesaid for twelve months. ' Eleventh, The Conference shall not nor may nominate or appoint any person to the use and enjoyment of or to preach and expound God's Holy Word in any of the chapels and premises so given or conveyed, or which may be given or con- veyed upon the trusts aforesaid, who is not either a member of the Conference or admitted into connexion with the same, or upon trial as aforesaid, nor appoint any person for more than three years successively to the use and enjoyment of any chapel and premises already given or to be given or conveyed upon the 266 MM. WESLEY'S DEED POLL. trusts aforesaid, except ordained Ministers of the Church of England. ' Twelfth, That the Conference shall and may appoint the place of holding the yearly assembly thereof, at any other city, town, or place than London, Bristol, or Leeds, when it shall seem expedient so to do. ' Thirteenth, And for the convenience of the chapels and premises already or which may hereafter be given or conveyed upon the trusts aforesaid, situate in Ireland or other parts out of the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Conference shall and may, when and as often as it shall seem expedient, but not other- wise, appoint and delegate any member or members of the Con- ference with all or any of the powers, privileges, and advantages hereinbefore contained or vested in the Conference, and all and every the acts, admissions, expulsions, and appointments what- soever of such member or members of the Conference so appointed and delegated as aforesaid, the same being put into writing and signed by such delegate or delegates, and entered in the Journals or Minutes of the Conference, and subscribed as after mentioned, shall be deemed, taken, and be the acts, admissions, expulsions, and appointments of the Conference to all intents, constructions, and purposes whatsoever from the respective times when the same shall be done by such delegate or delegates, notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary. ' Fourteenth, All resolutions and orders touching elections, admissions, expulsions, consents, dispensations, delegations, or appointments and acts whatsoever of the Conference shall be entered and written in the Journals or Minutes of the Con- ference, which shall be kept for that purpose, publicly read, and then subscribed by the President and Secretary thereof for the time being, during the time such Conference shall be assembled, and when so entered and subscribed shall be had, taken, received, and be the acts of the Conference, and such entry and sub- scription as aforesaid shall be had, taken, received, and be evidence of all and every such acts of the said Conference and of their said delegates without the aid of any other proof, and whatever shall not be so entered and subscribed as aforesaid shall not be had, taken, received, or be the act of the Con- ference ; and the said President and Secretary are hereby required and obliged to enter and subscribe as aforesaid every act whatever of the Conference. MR. WESLEY'S DEED POLL. 267 * Lastly, Whenever the said Conference shall be reduced under the number of forty members, and continue so reduced for three yearly assemblies thereof successively, or whenever the members thereof shall decline or neglect to meet together annually for the purposes aforesaid during the space of three years, and then and in either of the said events the Conference of the people called Methodists shall be extinguished, and all the aforesaid powers, privileges, and advantages shall cease, and the said chapels and premises, and all other chapels and premises which now are or hereafter may be settled, given, or conveyed upon the trusts aforesaid, shall vest in the Trustees for the time being of the said chapels and premises respectively, and their successors for ever ; upon trust that they and the survivors of them, and the Trustees for the time being, do, shall, and may appoint such person or persons to preach and expound God's Holy Word therein, and to have the use and enjoyment thereof, for such time and in such manner as to them shall seem proper. ' Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall ex- tend or be construed to extend to extinguish, lessen, or abridge the life estate of the said John Wesley and Charles Wesley, or either of them, of and in any of the said chapels and premises, or any other chapels and premises, wherein they, the said John Wesley and Charles Wesley, or either of them, now have or may have any estate or interest, power or authority whatsoever. ' In witness thereof the said John Wesley hath hereunto set his hand and seal, the twenty-eighth day of February in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four, JOHN WESLEY. WILLIAM CLTTLOW, Sealed and delivered (being first duly stamped) in the presence of Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London. RICHABD YOUNG, Clerk to the said William Clulow. 'Taken and acknowledged by the Eev. John Wesley, party hereto, this 28th of February, 1784, at the Public Office before me, ' ED WARD MONTAGU.' APPENDIX II. THE ' FOBM OF DISCIPLINE,' OB ' CODE OF LAWS,' ISSUED BY THE CONFEBENCE OF 1797. Prefatory Note. IT appears desirable to insert in this work the important document issued by the Conference of 1797, and referred to in the Chancery proceedings of 1835 (Warren v. Burton), being described by the letter F. Of that document the Rev. Thomas Jackson, then the Connexional Editor, wrote as follows in 1835 : 'In the printed Minutes of the Conference for the year 1797 (see the authorised edition, Vol. i., p. 377) there is the following announcement : " Whereas, we, the undersigned, have, on this and the preceding day, carefully revised the Rules drawn up and left us by our late venerable Father in the Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Wesley, which were published by him in our Large Minutes, to which we consented when we were admitted, and by which we were regulated during his life ; and whereas we have collected together those Rules which we believe to be essential to the existence of Methodism, as well as others, to which we have no objection, we do now VOLUNTARILY and in GOOD FAITH sign our names, as approving of, and engaging to comply with, the aforesaid Collection of Rules, or Code of Laws, God being our helper." (Signed.) " THOMAS COKE, President, SAMUEL BRADBURN, Secretary," and by WILLIAM THOMP- SON, ALEXANDER MATHER, JOHN PAWSON, JOSEPH BENSON, THOMAS TAYLOR, JOSEPH BRADFORD, JOHN BARBER, JAMES WOOD, HENRY MOORE, JOSEPH TAYLOR, WALTER GRIFFITH, JOHN GAULTER, JOSEPH ENTWISLE, JONATHAN CROWTHER, JONATHAN EDMONDSON, CHARLES ATMORE, RICHARD REECE, and other Preachers present at that Conference. ' In the Minutes of the same year (Vol. i., pp. 390-395) there is an Address to the Methodist Societies, dated Leeds, August 7, 1797, and officially signed, " in behalf and by order of the Confer- ence," by " Thomas Coke, President" and " Samuel Bradburn ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE.' Secretary." That Address contains seven distinct heads or articles ; the fifth of which (see Vol. i. , p. 392) is as follows, and refers to the "Collection of Rules or Code of Laws" above-mentioned, as having been then made and signed by the Preachers present : " V. We have selected all our ancient Rules, which were made before the death of our late venerable Father in the Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Wesley, which are essential Rules, or prudential at this present time ; and have solemnly signed them, declaring our approbation of them, and determination to comply with them ; one single Preacher excepted, who, in consequence, withdrew from us." 'The "Collection of Rules," thus "selected," "revised," and "signed," and brought down to the year 3797, inclusive, was, by order of the Conference, published in that year, in a pamphlet, under the following title : " Minutes of several Conversations between the Rev. John Wesley, A.M., and the Preachers in Connexion with him. Containing the Form of Discipline established among the Preachers and People in the Methodist Societies. London : Printed for G. Whitfield, City Road ; and Sold at all the Methodist Preaching Houses in Town and Country. 1779." ' The date of 1779, thus given to the pamphlet, is manifestly and indisputably a mis-print, and ought to have been, according to the undoubted fact, 1797. ' This pamphlet, legally verified by affidavit on oath, was pro- duced during certain recent proceedings in Chancery, and recognised as a " Code," both by the Vice-Chancellor, and subsequently by the Lord Chancellor, in their very important " judgments " upon the case then under adjudication. The latter observed, " They (the Conference) published what they considered to be the Code of the Laws of Methodism, in the year 1797, and they sign that Code with their names. That very Code has been given in evidence ; it is the document described by the letter F. " ' Of the original pamphlet, whose history and authority have been thus stated, the present publication is an exact and faithful re-print. The only known variation is the insertion of the true date, instead of the one which a typographical error had introduced in the title-page of the first edition. 'THOMAS JACKSON, Editor.' 1 LONDON, ' July 13th, 1835. When this pamphlet was reprinted in 1850, the Editors appended the following Postscript to Mr. Jackson's state- ment : ' It should be recollected by the reader, that this pamphlet pro- fesses to contain those Rules and Regulations only which were in 270 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: existence and operation up to the year 1797. Many of these have undergone important modifications, or been wholly superseded, since that time ; and various others have been adopted by succes- sive Conferences. ... In a few instances the alterations since 1 797 above mentioned, have been intimated, in this edition of the " Code," by a note at the foot of the page : but in many cases this could not be conveniently accomplished at present.' In transferring this valuable document to these pages, the author of this work has indicated, in very many additional instances, the changes which have been made by more recent legislation. Two sections, also, but only two, have been omitted, as being now entirely set aside. The first (No. XXX.) is on ' The Rules of the Preachers' Fund,' now superseded by the ' Itinerant Methodist Preachers' Annuitant Society ' and the ' Worn-out Ministers' and Ministers' Widows' Auxiliary Fund.' (See Part III., Chapter xiv., of the present work.) The second section omitted (No. XXXIII.) entitled, ' How to Preserve the Chapels,' has been superseded by the adoption by the Conference of the ' Chapel Model Deed.' In all other respects the document is given verbatim. MINUTES OF SEVEEAL CONVERSATION s BETWEEN THE KEY. JOHN WESLEY, A.M., AND THE PREACHERS IN CONNEXION WITH HIM. CONTAINING THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PREACHERS AND PEOPLE IN THE METHODIST SOCIETIES. LONDON : PRINTED FOR GEORGE WHITFLELD, CITY ROAD ; AND SOLD AT ALL THE METHODIST PREACH- IN G-HOUSES IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. 1797. ' CONTENTS. Section I. The Design of God in sending the Methodist Preachers. II. Eise of Methodism. III. Method of trying Candidates for the Ministry. IV. Ofiice and Duty of a Methodist Preacher. ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 271 Section V. The peculiar Business of a Superintendent. VI. Method of Admitting Persons into Society. YII. Admission of Local Preachers, and their Duty. Till. Method of holding a Conference. IX. Business of a Helper. X. Directions for obtaining higher Degrees of Holi- ness. XI. For obtaining a closer Union among the Preachers. XII. On Preaching where we can form no Society ; and on Field-Preaching. XTTT. On the Decrease of the "Work, and the proper Means of promoting a Revival. XIV. Against Antinomianism. XV. The most useful "Way of Preaching. XVI. How to guard against Formality in Public Wor- ship, especially in Singing. XVII. On Visiting and instructing the People from House to House. XVQI. On Instructing the Children. XIX. On Conformity to the World, Bribery, and Sab- bath-Breaking. XX. On Marrying with Unbelievers. XXI. On Bankruptcies, Strangers staying at the Society- Meetings, Lovefeasts, Funeral Sermons, and Talking in the Chapels. XXII. On Strangers being entertained at the Preachers' Houses; and on Cleanliness. XXIII. In what Cases we allow Service in Church- Hours. XXIV. How to prevent Nervous Disorders. XXV. The Order of the Districts, and what Business is to be done there. XXVI. Plan of General Pacification. XXVII. Agreement with the Trustees at Bristol, in 1794. XXVIII. Mr. Wesley's Letter to the Conference in 1791 ; and their determination in consequence of it. XXIX. Certain Eules agreed to by the Conference at different Times. XXX. The Eules of the Preachers' Fund. XXXI. Account of Kingswood School. XXXII. Of the Yearly Collection. 272 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: i Section XXXIII. How to preserve the Chapels. XXXIV. Eegulations made at Leeds Conference in 1797. XXXV. Sundry Advices to the Preachers. ' MINUTES, ETC. ' TT is desired, that all things be considered as in the imme- I diate presence of Gi-od. * That every person speak freely whatever is in his mind. ' While we are conversing let us have an especial care to set G-od always before us. In the intermediate hours let us redeem all the time we can for private exercises, and let us give ourselves to prayer for one another, and for a blessing on this our labour. ' SECTION I. THE DESIGN OF GOD IN SENDING THE METHODIST PEEACHEBS. ' Q. 1. IN what view may the Methodist Preachers be considered ? ' A. As messengers sent by the Lord, out of the common way, to provoke the regular Clergy to jealousy, and to supply their lack of service towards those who are perishing for want of knowledge ; and, above all, to reform the nation, by spread- ing Scriptural holiness over the land. 'II. THE EISE OF METHODISM. ' Q. 2. WHAT was the rise of Methodism, so called? ' A. In 1729 the late Mr. Wesley and his brother, upon reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holi- ness ; they followed after it, and incited others to do the same. In 1737 thay saw holiness comes by faith. They saw like- wise, that men are justified before they are sanctified: but still holiness was their point. ' God then thrust them out, utterly against their will, to raise a holy people. When Satan could no otherwise hinder ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 273 this, be threw Antinomiamsm in the way, which strikes directly at the root of all holiness. * HI. THE METHOD OF TRYING CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY. ' Q. 3. How shall we try those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel ? ' A. Inquire, Do they know God as a pardoning God ? Have they the love of God abiding in them ? Do they desire and seek nothing but God ? And are they holy in all manner of conversation ? Have they gifts as well as grace for the work ? Have they a clear, sound understanding ? Have they a right judgment in the things of God? Have they a just conception of salvation by faith? And has God given them an acceptable way of speaking? Do they speak justly, readily, and clearly ? Have they had any fruit of their labour ? Have any been truly convinced of sin, and converted to God, by their preaching ? ' As long as the above marks concur in any one, we believe he is called of God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof that he is moved thereto by the Holy Ghost. ' But before any one can be received even upon trial among us, it is necessary that he should have been a member of the Society for some considerable time; that he should have acted as a Local Preacher ; that he should be recom- mended by the Quarterly Meeting to the District Meeting, and by that to the Conference; and at the Conference in 1797 it was agreed, that, before any Superintendent propose any Preacher to the Conference as proper to be admitted on trial, such Preacher must not only be approved of at the March Quarterly Meeting, but must have read and signed the General Minutes, as fully approving of them ; nor must any one suppose, or pretend to think, that the Conversations which have been on any of these Minutes were intended to qualify them, as in the least to affect the spirit and design of them ; that he should then travel four years upon trial, during which time he must not marry ; and being well recommended by the people where he has laboured, and by the Preachers who have laboured with him, he shall then be received into Full Connexion. The proper time for doing this is at a Con- ference. After serious, solemn prayer, the following questions shall be proposed to each Candidate, which he shall be required to answer as in the presence of God : 274 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 1 " Have you a lively faith in Christ ? Do you enjoy a clear manifestation of the love of God to your soul? Have you constant power over all sin ? Do you expect to be per- fected in love in this life ? Do you really desire and earnestly seek it ? Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God, and to His work ? Do you know the Methodist plan of doc- trine and discipline ? Have you read the Plain Account of the Methodists ; the Appeals to Men of Reason and Eeligion ? Do you know the Rules of the Society, and of the Bands ? Are you determined, by the help of God, to keep them ? Do you take no snuff, tobacco, or drams ? Have you read and seriously considered the Minutes of the Conference? Espe- cially have you considered the Rules of a Helper ? and, above all, the first, tenth, and twelfth ? And will you keep them for conscience sake ? Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God ? "Will you preach every morning and evening when opportunity serves, endeavouring not to speak too long or too loud ? Will you diligently instruct the children where you can ? Will you visit from house to house where it may be done ? Will you recommend fasting and prayer, both by precept and example ? Are you in debt ?" ' Having answered the above questions to our satisfaction, we then give him the Minutes of the Conference inscribed thus : ' " To A. B. ' " You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make full proof hereof, and we shall rejoice to receive you as a fellow-labourer."'* 'IV. THE OFFICE AND DUTY OF A METHODIST PREACHES. * Q. 4. WHAT is the office of a Christian Minister ? ' A. To watch over souls as he that must give account ; to feed and guide the flock. * It was Mr. Wesley's practice to give a copy of the Minutes thus inscribed to each Preacher, when he was admitted on trial. When he had passed acceptably through the period of his probation, and was admitted into Full Connexion with the Conference, the Minutes were presented to him with the following inscription : ' As long as you freely consent to, and earnestly endeavour to walk by, these Rules, we shall rejoice to acknowledge you as a fellow-labourer.' See Mr. Wesley's Works, vol. vjii., p. 326. 1 THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 275 * Q. 5. How shall he be fully qualified for this great work? '-4. By walking closely with God, and having His work greatly at heart ; by understanding and loving every branch of our discipline ; and by carefully and constantly observing the twelve rules of an Helper ; viz., ' 1. Be diligent. Never -be unemployed. Never be tri- flingly employed. Never while away time, nor spend more time at any place than is strictly necessary. ' 2. Be serious. Let your motto be, " Holiness to the Lord." Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking. '3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women, par- ticularly with young women. ' 4. Take no step towards marriage without solemn prayer to God, and consulting with your brethren. ' 5. Believe evil of no one, unless fully proved ; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the Judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side. ' 6. Speak evil of no one ; else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker ; keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person concerned. ' 7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom. ' 8. Do not affect the gentleman. A Preacher of the Gospel is the servant of all. ' 9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin ; no, not of cleaning your own shoes, when necessary. ' 10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our B/ules, but keep them, and thab for conscience sake. '11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. There- fore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most. ' 12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel, and in union with your brethren. As such, it is your part to employ your time as our Rules direct ; partly in preaching and visiting from house to house, partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord's vineyard, it is needful that you should do that part of the work which the Conference shall advise, T 2 276 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: at those times and places which they shall judge most for His glory. ' Observe : It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care merely of this or that Society ; but to save as many souls as you can ; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and, with all your power, to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember, a Methodist Preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist discipline. Therefore you will need all the gr-ace and all the sense you have ; and to have all your wits about you. 'V. THE PECULIAR BUSINESS OF A SUPERINTENDENT. ' Q. 6. What is the business'of a Superintendent ? ' A. To see that the other Preachers in his Circuit behave well, and want nothing. He should consider these (especially if they are young men) as his pupils ; into whose behaviour and studies he should frequently inquire ; and, at proper times, should ask, Do you walk closely with God ? Have you now fellowship with the Father and the Son ? At what hour do you rise? Do you punctually observe the morning and evening hour of retirement ? Do you spend your time profit- ably ? Do you converse seriously, usefully, and closely ? Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all other persons ? These are either instituted or prudential : ' I. The INSTITUTED are these. 1. Prayer : In private, in the family, and in public ; consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. Do you use each of these? ' Do you use private prayer every morning and evening at least ; if you can, at six in the evening, and the hour before or after morning preaching ? Do you forecast daily, wherever you are, how to secure these hours ? Do you avow it every- where? Do you ask everywhere, Have you family prayer? Do you retire at six o'clock ? ' 2. Searching the Scriptures, by reading constantly, some part every day, all the Bible, in order, carefully, seriously, and with earnest prayer before and after : and do this fruit- fully, immediately practising what you learn there. (2.) Me- ditating, at set times, by a fixed rule. (3.) Hearing the word preached at all opportunities, carefully, with earnest ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 277 prayer to God for a blessing upon His word. Have you a New Testament always about you ? ' 3. The Lord's Supper. Do you use this at every oppor- tunity? with solemn prayer, and with earnest and deliberate self-devotion ? ' 4. Fasting. Do you fast every Friday ? The neglect of this is sufficient to account for our feebleness and faintness of spirit. We are continually grieving the Holy Spirit by the habitual neglect of a plain duty ! Let us amend from this hour. There are several degrees of fasting, which cannot hurt your health. Begin next Friday, and avow this duty wherever you go. Touch no tea, coffee, or chocolate in the morning; but, if you want it, a little milk or water-gruel. Dine on potatoes ; and, if you want it, eat three or four ounces of flesh in the evening. But at other times eat no flesh suppers. These exceedingly tend to breed nervous dis- orders. ' 5. Christian Conference. Are you convinced how im- portant, and how difficult, it is to order your conversation aright? Is it always in grace, seasoned with salt, meet to minister grace to the hearers ? Do not you converse too long at a time ? Is not an hour commonly enough ? Would it not be well always to have a determinate end in view ? and always to conclude with prayer ? 'II. PBUDENTIAL MEANS we may use, either as common Christians, or as Preachers of the Gospel. ' 1. As common Christians. What particular rules have you in order to grow in grace ? what arts of holy living ? ' 2. As Preachers. Do you meet every Society, also the Leaders, and the Bands, if there are any ? Do you live in holy watchfulness ; denying yourself ; taking up your cross ; and in the exercise of the presence of God ? Do you steadily watch against the world, the devil, yourself, and your besetting sin ? Do you deny yourself every useless pleasure of sense, imagina- tion, and honour ? Are you temperate in all things ? Instance in food : Do you use only that kind, and that degree, which is best both for your body and soul ? Do you see the necessity of this ? Do you eat no more at each meal than is necessary ? Do you eat no flesh-suppers, and no late suppers ? Do you use only that kind and degree of drink which is best both for your body and soul ? Do you drink water, or wine or ale ? Do you want these ? 278 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 'Wherein do you take up your cross daily? Do you cheerfully bear your cross (whatever is grievous to nature) as a gift of God, and labour to profit thereby ? ' Do you endeavour to set God always before you ? to see His eye continually fixed upon you ? Never can you use these means but a blessing must ensue. And the more you use them, the more you will grow in grace. ' A Superintendent ought also to visit the Classes quarterly, to regulate the Bands, and to deliver Tickets ; to take in or to put out of the Society, or the Bands : At the Conference in 1797 it was agreed, that the Leaders' Meeting shall have a right to declare any person on trial improper to be received into the Society : and after such declaration the Superinten- dent shall not admit such person into the Society. And no person shall be expelled from the Society for immorality, till such immorality be proved at a Leaders' Meeting : To keep Watch-nights and Lovefeasts ; to hold Quarterly Meetings, and there diligently to inquire both into the temporal and spiritual state of the Societies ; to take care that every Society be supplied with books ; to send to London a circumstantial account of every remarkable conversion, and of every remark- able death ; to take an exact list of all the Societies in his Circuit once a year; to meet the married men and women, and the single men and women, in the large Societies, once a year ; and to overlook the accounts of the Stewards. ' The following advices are recommended to all the Super- intendents. ' Leave your successor a regular catalogue of all the Societies in the Circuit. See that every Band-Leader has the Band-Eules. Calmly and vigorously enforce the Rules concerning needless ornaments, drams, snuff, and tobacco : give no Band-ticket to any person who does not promise to leave them off. As soon as there are four men or women believers in any place, put them into a Band. Suffer no Love- feast to last more than an hour and half ; and instantly stop all from breaking the cake with one another. Warn all, from time to time, that none are to remove from one Society to another, without a certificate from the Superintendent in these words : " A. B., the bearer, is a member of our Society in C. I believe he has a sufficient reason for removing." Everywhere recommend decency and cleanliness. Cleanli- ness is next to godliness. Bead the Thoughts upon Dress 1 THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 279 once a year in every large Society. In visiting the Classes be very mild, but very strict. Give no ticket to any who follow the foolish fashions of the world. Meet the Bands once a week ; and keep a Lovefeast for them only, once a quarter. Exhort every believer to embrace the advantage. Give a Band-ticket to none, till they have met a quarter on trial. ' As we always wish to act by united counsels, and as we desire that every person in any office in our Societies should fulfil the duties of his station, it is the duty of the Superin- tendent to take care, that the Leaders be not only men of sound judgment, but men truly devoted to God : let each of them be diligently examined concerning his method of meet- ing a Class. Let this be done at the quarterly visitation of tte Classes. And, in order to this, allow sufficient time for the visiting of each Society. ' Let each Leader carefully inquire how every soul in his Ulass prospers ; not only how each person observes the out- ward Rules, but how he grows in the knowledge and love of God. Endeavour to make- the meeting of the Classes lively and profitable. Therefore change improper Leaders. But, in doing this, or in appointing a new Leader, great care and tenderness must be used ; and it is highly necessary to con- sult the rest of the Leaders on such occasions. It was agreed at the Conference in 1797, that no person shall be appointed a Leader, or Steward, or be removed from his office, but in conjunction with the Leaders' Meeting : the nomination to be in the Superintendent, and the approbation or disappro- bation in the Leaders' Meeting. ' Let the Leaders frequently meet each other's Classes. ' Let us observe which of the Leaders are the most usef ul ; and let these meet the other Classes as often as possible. 'VI. THE METHOD OF ADMITTING PERSONS INTO SOCIETY. ' Q. 7. How shall we prevent improper persons from in- sinuating themselves into the Society ? 'A 1. Give notes to none but those who are recom- mended by a person you know ; or till they have met three or four times in a Class, and are recommended by the Leader. ' 2. Give tickets to none till they are recommended by a Leader with whom they have met two months on trial. Give them the Rules of the Society the first time they meet. 280 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE. ' 3. In large towns, admit persons into the Society on the Sunday following the visitation of the Classes, by reading their names over ; then read also the names of those who are excluded. And admit persons into the Bands at the quarterly Lovefeast after the visitation. ' 4. As to the exclusion of members from the Society, the far greater number exclude themselves, by utterly forsakirg us ; but with respect to others, let the Rules of the Society be carefully attended to, and the Leaders be consulted on such occasions, and the crime proved to their satisfaction. ' 5. Let one or more of the Stewards be changed once a year. The proper time for doing this is at a Quarterly Meet- ing, when the Superintendent shall consult all who ai present respecting who may be the most proper persons 1o act in that capacity. ' VII. BESPECTING THE ADMISSION OF LOCAL PBEACHERS, ANI THEIE DUTY. ' 6. RESPECTING the admission of persons to be Local Preachers : Let the Superintendent regularly meet the Local Preachers once a quarter ; and let none be admitted but those who are proposed and approved at that meeting ; and if in any Circuit this cannot be done, then let them be proposed and approved in the general Quarterly Meeting. ' 7. Every Local Preacher shall meet in Class, and conform to all our Rules of Discipline. Let none be excused in this respect. ' Let no Local Preacher be permitted to preach in any other Circuit, without producing a recommendation from the Superintendent of that Circuit in which he lives ; nor suffer any invitation to be admitted as a plea, but from men in office, with the consent of the Superintendent of that Circuit. The design of this Rule is to prevent any under the character of a Local Preacher from burdening the people, either by collecting money, or by living upon them : and to prevent improper persons, who bear no part of the expense, from inviting Local Preachers to visit them. But it never was intended to reflect the least disrespect on any of our worthy brethren the Local Preachers ; whom, considered as a body, we greatly respect. ' 8. Let no Local Preacher keep Lovef easts without the consent of the Superintendent, nor in any wise interfere with 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 281 his business. Let every one keep in his own place, and attend to the duties of his station. 'Till. THE EEGULAE METHOD OF HOLDING A CONPEBENCE. * Q. 8. WHAT is the method wherein we usually proceed in our Conferences ? 'A. 1. Elect a President and Secretary. ' 2. Inquire what preachers have died the preceding year. ' 3. What Preachers have desisted from travelling ? ' 4. What Preachers are to be admitted ? ' 5. Who remain on trial ; and who are to be admitted on trial? ' 6. Inquire into the objections which may be produced against any of the Preachers, who are to be examined one by one. ' 7. Appoint the Preachers to their respective stations for the ensuing year. ' 8. What numbers are in the Societies ? '9. What is the Kings wood Collection? '10. What boys are to be received into the School, and what girls to be assisted ? '11. What is the Yearly Collection ; and how this is expended ? ' 12. What is contributed to the Preachers' Fund ; and who are to be relieved out of it ? ' 13. How many Preachers' wives are to be provided for ; and by what Societies ? ' 14. Where and when may the next Conference be ? * ' IX. THE PEOPEE BUSINESS OF A HELPEE. ' Q 9. WHAT is the particular business of those Preachers who do not act as Superintendents ? 'A. To feed the flock, by constantly preaching morning and evening ; to meet the Society and the Bands weekly ; to meet the Leaders weekly ; to preach every morning where he can have twenty hearers, but where he cannot, then to sing * In consequence of the greatly enlarged extent of the Connexion, the business of the Conference embraces many subjects beyond those here speci- fied. The present arrangements of the Conference, and the general order of business observed in it, are given in Part II., Chapters ii., iii., of the present work. 282 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE.' and pray with them ; and to do any other part of the work which the Superintendent may desire him to do. ' Q. 10. Should any of our Preachers follow trades ? 'A. The question is not, whether they may not occasion- ally work with their hands, as St. Paul did ; but whether it be proper for them to buy or sell any kind of merchandise. It is fully determined that this shaU not be done by any Preacher ; no, not the selling of pills, drops, or balsams. 'X. BISECTIONS FOE OBTAINING HIGHER DEGEEES OF HOLINESS. ' Q. 11. WHY are not we ourselves more holy? "Why do we not live in eternity ? Why do we not walk with God all the day long? Why are we not wholly devoted to God, breathing the whole spirit of Missionaries ? 1 A. Because we are idle. We forget our first Rule: "Be diligent; never be unemployed." Do we spend as many hours in a day in God's work, as we did formerly in man's work ? Do not some of us spend too much time in talking, or in reading history, newspapers, or other books, which have no tendency either to make us more holy or more useful ? ' That this may no longer be the case, as often as possible, rise at four o'clock. From four to five in the morning, and from six to seven in the evening, meditate, pray, and read, partly the holy Scriptures, and partly the most close and practical parts of what Mr. Wesley has published. From six in the morning till twelve (allowing an hour for break- fast) read in order, with much prayer, the Christian Library, and all our other books, whether in prose or in verse, and especially all Mr. Wesley's Sermons. ' If any one will say, " I read only the Bible " ; then he ought to teach others to read only the Bible, and, by the same rule, to hear only the Bible. If you need no other book but the Bible, you are got above St. Paul. He wanted others too : " Bring the books," says he, " but especially the parchments." If any say, " I have no taste for reading " ; then you must contract a taste for it by use, or return home again. 'In the afternoon visit as many of the sick, and those who want your help as you can ; and you will have work enough for all your time. Then no Preacher will stay with ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 283 us who is as salt that hath lost its savour; for to such this employment would be mere drudgery. And in order to it, you will have need of all the useful knowledge you can procure. 'XI. DIRECTIONS FOE OBTAINING A CLOSER UNION AMONG THE PREACHERS. ' Q. 12. WHAT can be done in order to a closer union of our Preachers with each other ? ' A. Let them be deeply convinced of the absolute necessity of it. Let them pray for a desire of union. Let them speak freely and lovingly to each other. When they meet, let them never part without prayer. Let them beware how they despise each other's gifts. Let them never speak slightingly of each other in any kind. Let them defend each other's characters in everything, as far as they can with a good con- science. And let them labour in honour to prefer the other before himself. 'XII. ON PREACHING WHERE WE CAN FORM NO SOCIETY; AND ON FIELD- PREACHING. ' Q. 13. Is it advisable to continue preaching in those places where we find that we can form no Society ? 1 A. By no means ; we have made the trial in various places. But the seed has fallen by the highway side; there is scarce any fruit remaining. ' Q. 14. Where shall we endeavour to preach the most ? ''A. Where there is the greatest number of quiet and will- ing hearers ; and where the Lord is in a peculiar manner reviving His work. ' Q. 15. Have we not used field-preaching too sparingly ? 1 A. We have. Because our call is to save that which is lost. Now we cannot expect them to seek us. Therefore we should go and seek them; because we are peculiarly called to go into the highways and hedges, to compel them to come in; because that reason against it is not good, "The house will hold all that come." The house may hold all that come to the house, but not all that would come to the field. 'The greatest hindrance to this you may expect from the rich, or cowardly, or lazy Methodists. But regard them not, neither Stewards, Leaders, nor people. Whenever the weather will permit, go out in the name of the Lord into the 284 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: most public places, and call upon all to repent and believe the Gospel; every Sunday in particular; especially where there are old Societies, lest they should settle upon their lees. The Stewards will frequently oppose this lest they lose their usual collections. But this is not a sufficient reason against it. Shall we barter souls for money ? - ON THE DECEEASE OF THE WOEK, AND THE PEOPEE MEANS OF PEOMOTING A EEVIVAL. ' Q. 16. How can we account for the decrease of the work of God in any Circuit? ' A. It may be owing to the want of zeal and exactness in the Superintendent, occasioning the want of discipline throughout; or to the want of life and diligence in the Preachers ; or to the people's losing the life of God, and sinking into the spirit of the world. It may be owing to the want of more field-preaching ; or of visiting more new places. ' Q. 17. What can be done in order to revive the work of God where it is decayed ? ' A. Let every Preacher read carefully over the Life and Journals of the late Mr. "Wesley, the Life of Mr. Fletcher, the Life of David Brainerd; and let us be followers of them as they were of Christ, in absolute self-denial, in total deadness to the world, and in fervent love to God and man. Let us only secure this point, and the world and the devil must fall under our feet. ' Let all the Preachers be conscientiously exact in the whole Methodist discipline ; and take care that no Circuit be at any time without Preachers. ' Strongly and explicitly exhort all believers to go on to perfection. We all agree to defend this doctrine ; meaning thereby, salvation from all sin, by the love of God and man filling the heart. We say, "That this may be attained in this life." The substance then is settled. And as to the circumstance, " Is this change gradual or instantaneous ? " it is both the one and the other. From the time we are justified, there ought to be a gradual sanctification, a growing in grace, a daily advance in the knowledge and love of God. And if sin cease before death, there must, in the nature of the thing, be an instantaneous change. There must be a last moment wherein it does exist,, and a first moment wherein it does not. ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 285 But should we, in preaching, insist both upon the one and the other ? Certainly, we must insist on the gradual work, and that earnestly and constantly. And are there not reasons why we should insist on the instantaneous work also ? If there be such a blessed change before death, should we not encourage all believers to expect it ? and the rather, because constant experience shows, that the more earnestly they expect this, the more swiftly and steadily does the gradual work of G-od go on in their souls ; the more watchful they are against all sin, the more careful to grow in grace, the more zealous of good works, and the more punctual in their attendance upon all the ordinances of G-od. Whereas, just the contrary effects are observed whenever this expectation ceases. They are saved by hope : by this hope of a total change with a gradually increasing salvation. Destroy this hope, and that salvation stands still, or rather decreases daily. Therefore, whosoever would advance the gradual change in believers should strongly insist on the instantaneous. ' XIV. AGAINST ANTETOMIANISM. ' Q. 18. "WHAT is. most destructive of Methodism, or the doctrine of inward holiness ? ' A. Calvinism, that is, the doctrine of unconditional pre- destination. All the devices of Satan have done far less towards stopping this work of God than that single doctrine. It strikes at the root of salvation from sin, previous to glory ; it puts the matter quite upon another footing. This doctrine seems to magnify Christ ; although in reality it supposes Him to have died in vain. For the absolutely elect must have been saved without Him, and the non-elect cannot be saved by Him. It is highly pleasing to flesh and blood ; uncon- ditional perseverance in particular. ' Let all our Preachers carefully read over Mr. Wesley's and Mr. Fletcher's tracts. ' Let them frequently and explicity preach the whole truth, though not in a controversial way. Let them take care to do it in love and gentleness. ' Lay hold upon any that you find newly convinced of the truth, and warn them against predestination. Answer all their objections as occasion offers, both in public and in private. But do this with all possible sweetness both of look 286 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: and accent. Frequently warn our people against hearing that doctrine. And pray much, that the Lord may prevent the evil. ' "We said in 1744, " We have leaned too much toward Calvinism." Wherein? ' "With regard to man's faithfulness. Our Lord Himself taught us to use the expression, and therefore we ought never to be ashamed of it. "We ought steadily to assert, upon His authority, that, if a man is not faithful in the unrighteous mammon, God will not give him the true riches. 'With regard to working for life, which our Lord ex- pressly commands us to do : '* Labour," epyaeo-$e, that is, work, " for the meat that enduretti to everlasting life." And, in fact, every believer, till he comes to glory, works for, as well as from life. ' We have received it as a maxim, that a man is to do nothing in order to justification. Nothing can be more false. Whosoever desires to find favour with God should cease from evil, and learn to do well. So God Himself teaches by the Prophet Isaiah. Whosoever repents should do works meet for repentance. And if this is not in order to find favour, what does he do them for ? ' Once more review the whole affair. Who of us is now accepted of God ? He that now believes in Christ with a loving, obedient heart. But who among those that never heard the Gospel? He that, according to the light he has, feareth God and worketh righteousness. Is this the same with, He that is sincere ? Nearly, if not quite. Is not this salvation by works ? Not by the merit of works, but by works as a condition. What then have we been disputing about for these thirty years ? I am afraid, about words ; namely, in some of the foregoing instances. ' As to merit itself, of which we have been so dreadfully afraid : We are rewarded according to our works, yea, because of our works. How does this differ from, " for the sake of our works"? And how differs this from secundum merita operum? which is no more than, "as our works deserve." Let him that can, split the hair. ' The grand objection to one of the preceding propositions is drawn from matter of fact: God does in fact justify those who, by their own confession, neither feared God nor wrought righteousness. Is this an exception to the general THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 287 rule ? It is a doubt whether God makes any exception at all. But how are we sure, that the person in question never did fear God and work righteousness ? His own thinking so is no proof. For we know, how all who are convinced of sin undervalue themselves in every respect. ' Does not talking, without proper caution, of a justified or a sanctified state, tend to mislead men ; almost naturally leading them to trust in what was done in one moment ? Whereas we are every moment pleasing or displeasing to God, according to our works ; according to the whole of our present inward tempers, and outward behaviour.* ' XV. THE MOST USEFUL WAT OF PBEACHING. ' Q. 19. WHAT is the best general method of preaching ? ' A. To invite, to convince, to offer Christ, to build up ; and to do this in some measure in every sermon. The most effectual way of preaching Christ is to preach Him in all His offices ; and to declare His Law as well as His Gospel, both to believers and unbelievers. Let us strongly insist upon inward and outward holiness : and, with this view, set forth Christ as evidently crucified before their eyes ; Christ in all the riches of His grace, justifying us by His blood, and sanc- tifying us by His Spirit. Always suit your subject to the state of your audience. Choose the plainest texts you can. Take care not to ramble, but keep to your text, and make out what you take in hand. Be sparing in spiritualising or alle- gorising. Let your whole deportment before the congregation be serious, weighty, and solemn. Take care of anything awkward or affected, either in your gesture, phrase, or pro- nunciation. Do not usually pray above eight or ten minutes, before or after the sermon. Be sure never to disappoint a congregation, unless in case of life or death ; and begin and end exactly at the time. The evening preaching should never begin later than seven o'clock, unless in time of harvest. Young Preachers might often exhort without taking a text. * ' The sense in which these doctrinal Minutes are to be understood is clearly stated by Mr. Fletcher, in his admirable Checks to Antincmianism ; who has also proved them to be strictly Scriptural.' See, also, Mr. Watson's Observations in his Life of the Rev. John Wesley, and Mr. Wesley's own explanatory Declaration, given by him. (Watson's Works, vol. v., . pp. 235-239.) 288 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE. ' Everywhere avail yourself of the great festivals, by preach- ing on the occasion, and singing our hymns, which you should take care to have in readiness.* ' XVI. HOW TO GUARD AGAINST FORMALITY IN PUBLIC WORSHIP, ESPECIALLY Iff SINGING. ' Q. 20. How shall we guard against formality in public worship ? ' A. By carefully warning the people against it. By tak- ing care that our own minds are duly affected by the truths we preach ; never losing sight of ourselves. By choosing such hymns as are suitable to the congregation. By singing not too much at once, seldom more than five or six verses. By suiting the tune to the words. By sometimes seriously asking the people, " Now, do you know what you said last ? Did you speak no more than you felt ? " ' Is not formality in singing creeping in, singing those complex tunes and anthems which it is scarcely possible to sing with devotion ? The repeating the same words so often, and especially while another is repeating other words ; (the horrid abuse which runs through the modern Church music,) as it shocks all common sense, so it necessarily brings in dead formality, and has no religion in it. Besides it is a flat con- tradiction to our Lord's command, " Use not vain repetitions " ; for what is a vain repetition if this is not ? What end of devotion does it serve? Sing no anthems. ' Do not suffer the people to sing too slow ; this naturally tends to formality. In every large Society let them learn to sing ; and let them always learn our own tunes first. Let the women constantly sing their own parts alone : let no man sing with them, unless he understands the notes, and sings the bass. Introduce no new tunes, till they are perfect in the old ones. Let no organ be placed anywhere, till it be proposed at the Conference. Recommend the Tune-Book everywhere ; and if you cannot sing yourself, choose a person or two in each place to pitch the tune for you. Exhort every * The principal hymns on the great festivals of the Church here referred to are inserted in the ' New Supplement ' to the Hymn-Book in general use among the Methodists. There is not therefore the same necessity for pro- viding those hymns as separate publications ; but their use, on the recurrence of the great festivals of the Christian Church, may be properly urged as most appropriate and conducive to edification. , ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 289 one, whether man or woman, in the congregation, to sing. If a Preacher be present, let no other person give out the words. When they wish to teach the congregation to sing any new tune, they should only sing the tenor. 'XVII. ON VISITING AND INSTRUCTING THE PEOPLE FEOM HOUSE TO HOUSE. ' Q. 21. How shall we farther assist those who are under our care ? ' A. By instructing them from house to house. The necessity of this will appear if we consider, that personal religion, either towards God or man, is still very much wanted among us. How little living faith is there amongst us ! bow little communion with God ! how little living in heaven, walking in eternity, deadness to every creature ! how much love of the world, desire of pleasure, of ease, of getting money ! ' How little brotherly love ! what continual judging one another ! what gossiping, evil-speaking, tale -bearing ! what want of moral honesty ! who does as he would be done by in buying and selling, especially in selling horses ? ' Family religion is very much wanting among us. Our religion is not deep, universal, and uniform ; but too super- ficial, partial, and uneven. Public preaching alone, though we could preach like angels, will not be sufficient to reform those evils : we must therefore visit from house to house. ' But we shall find many hindrances to this, both in our- selves and in the people. ' 1. In ourselves there is much dulness and laziness, so that there will be much ado to get us to be faithful in the work. "We have a base, man-pleasing temper, so that we let men perish, for fear of offending them; we let them go quietly to hell, lest they should be angry with us. Some of us have a foolish bashfulness. "We know not how to begin, and blush to contradict the devil. But the greatest hin- drance is weakness of faith. Our whole motion is weak, because the spring is weak. "We are unskilful in the work. How few know how to deal with men, so as to get within them, and suit all our discourse to their several conditions and tempers ! to choose the fittest subjects, and follow them with a holy mixture of seriousness and terror, of love and meekness. 290 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: '2. And we shall meet with many difficulties from the people. Some of them will be unwilling to be taught, till we conquer their perverseness by the force of reason, and the power of love. We shall find it difficult to fix things in their minds, without which all our labour will be lost. If we have not, therefore, great seriousness and fervency, what good can we expect ? And after all, it is grace alone that must do the work. And when we have made some good impressions upon their hearts, if we do not look after them, they will die away. * We shall find that many are very ignorant, and know but little of the nature of repentance, of faith, and of holiness. Most of them have a sort of confidence that God will save them, while the world has their hearts, and evil tempers have dominion over them. This private instruction is implied in those solemn words of the Apostle : " I charge thee, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing, preach the word ; be instant in season, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine." ' O brethren, if we could set this work on foot in all our Societies, and prosecute it zealously, what glory would redound to God ! If the common ignorance were banished, and the people in every house and in every shop were busied in speak- ing of the word and works of God, surely the Lord would dwell in our habitations, and make us His delight. ' And this is absolutely necessary, as many of our people neither repent nor believe to this day. Look round, and see how many are still in danger of damnation ; and then say, How can we walk, and talk, and be cheerful with such people, when we know their case ? When we look such persons in the face, ought we not to break forth into tears, as the Prophet did when he looked upon Hazael, and then set upon them with the most vehement and importunate exhortations ? O, for God's sake, and for the sake of poor souls, let us bestir ourselves, and spare no pains that may conduce to their sal- vation ! ' What cause have we to blush before the Lord this day, that we have so long neglected this good work, if we had but set upon it sooner how many more might we have brought to Christ? And how much holier and happier might we have made our Societies before now ? And why might we ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 291 not have done it sooner ? There were many hindrances, and so there always will be. But the greatest hindrance was in ourselves, in our littleness of faith and love. 'It is objected: "This will take up too much time, so that we shall not be able to follow our studies." Gaining useful knowledge is a good thing ; but still saving souls is better. By this very thing we shall gain the most excellent knowledge, that of God and eternity. "We shall likewise have time for gaining other knowledge, too, if we spend all our mornings therein. Only sleep not more than we need, and never be idle, or triflingly employed. But if we can do but one, then let our studies alone. Better throw away all the libraries in the world, than be guilty of the loss of one soul. ' If some of the people will not submit to it, others will ; and the success with them will repay us for all our labour. O let us follow the example of St. Paul ! for our general busi- ness, " Serving the Lord with all humility of mind " ; our special work, " Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock"; our doctrine, "Repentance towards G-od, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ"; the place, "I have taught you publicly and from house to house " ; the object and manner of teaching, " I ceased not to warn every one, night and day, with tears " ; his innocence and self-denial herein, " I have coveted no man's silver or gold " ; his patience, " Neither count I my life dear unto myself." And among all our motives, let these be ever before our eyes, " The Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood: grievous wolves will enter in ; yea, of yourselves will men arise, speaking perverse things." Let us write this upon our hearts, and it will do us more good than twenty years' study. 4 We shall find it no easy matter to teach the ignorant the principles of religion. So true is the remark of Bishop Usher : " Great scholars may think this work beneath them : but they should consider, the laying the foundation skilfully, as it is of the greatest importance, so it is the masterpiece of the wisest builder." And let the wisest of us all try, when- ever we please, we shall find, that to lay this ground-work rightly, to make the ignorant understand the grounds of religion, will put us to the trial of all our skill. ' Perhaps, in doing this, it may be well, after a few loving words, spoken to all in the house, to take each person singly u2 292 ' TEE FORM OF DISCIPLINE.' into another room, where we may deal closely with him, about his sin, his misery, and his duty : these must be set home, or all our labour is lost. At least, let none be present but those who are familiar with each other. ' The sum is, go into every house in course, and teach every one therein, young and old, if they belong to us, to be Christians, inwardly and outwardly. Make every particular plain to their understanding, fix it in their memory, write it in their heart. In order to this, there must be line upon line, precept upon precept. What patience, what love, what knowledge is requisite for this ! ' We may, as we have time, read, explain, and enforce the Instructions for Children ; the fourth volume of Sermons ; and Mr. Henry's method of Family Prayer. ' Do we not loiter away many hours in a day ? Let each try himself : no idleness can consist with growth in grace. Nay, without exactness in redeeming time, we cannot retain the grace we received in justification. ' What shall we do for the rising generation ? Unless we take care of this, the present revival will last only the age of a man. Who will labour herein ? Let him that is zealous for God and the souls of men begin now. ' We must hear what the children have learned by heart. Choose some of the weightiest points, and try if they under- stand them ; such as, " Do you believe you are a sinner ? What does sin deserve ? What remedy has God provided for guilty, helpless sinners ? " ' Often with the question suggest the answer : as, " What is repentance? Sorrow for sin, arising from a conviction that we are guilty, helpless sinners ? " " What is faith ? A divine conviction of things not seen ? " When we perceive that they do not understand the stress of the question, lead them into it by other questions. For instance, we ask, " How do you think that your sins will be pardoned ? " They answer, " By repenting and amending my life." We ask farther, "But will your amendment make satisfaction for your past sins ? " They will answer, " I hope so, or I know not what will." One would think that these had no knowledge of Christ at all ; and some of them have not. But others have, and give such answers, only because they do not understand the scope of the question. If we ask them farther, " Can you be saved without the death of Christ ? " ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 293 they immediately say, " No I " And if we ask, " What has He suffered for you ? " they will say, " He shed His blood for us." But many cannot express even what they have some conception of ; no, not even when expressions are put into their mouths. With these we are to deal exceeding tenderly, lest they be discouraged. ' If we perceive them to be troubled, that they cannot answer, we must take the burden off them ; answering the question thoroughly and plainly, making a full explication of the whole business to them. ' When we have tried their knowledge, we must proceed to instruct them, according to their several capacities. If a man understand the fundamentals, we must then speak of what we perceive he most needs, either explaining farther some doctrine, or some duty, or showing him the necessity of something which he neglects ; if he still understands not, we must go over it again till he does. ' Next, inquire into his state, whether convinced or uncon- vinced, converted or unconverted, telling him, if need be, what conversion is ; and then renew and enforce the inquiry. ' If unconverted, we must labour with all our power to bring his heart to a sense of his condition ; setting this home with a more earnest voice than we spoke before. We must get to the heart, or we do nothing ; concluding all with a strong exhortation, which should enforce the duty of the heart, in order to receive Christ ; the avoiding former sins ; and constantly using the means of grace ; and be sure, if possible, to get their promise to forsake sin, to change their company, and to wait upon God in His house. Let this be done solemnly, reminding them of the presence of God, who hears their promises, and expects the performance. ' Before we leave them, engage the head of each family to call all under his care together, every Sunday before they go to bed, and hear what they can repeat ; and so continue till they have learned the Instructions for Children perfectly ; and afterwards let him take care that they do not forget what they have learned. ' If we do this earnestly, we shall soon find what a work we have undertaken, in engaging to be Travelling Preachers. ' XVin. ON INSTRUCTING THE CHILDREN. ' WHEBE there are ten children in a Society, we must 294 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: meet them at least an hour every week ; talk with them when- ever we see any of them at home ; pray in earnest for them ; diligently instruct and vehemently exhort all parents at their own houses. Some will say, " I have no gift for this." Gift or no gift, you are to do this, or else you are not called to be a Methodist Preacher. Do it as you can, till you can do it as you would. Pray earnestly for the gift, and use every help God hath put into your way, in order to attain it. Preach expressly on the education of children when you make the Collection for Kingswood School. ' Q. 22. We have been frequently reproached with the dress of our Preachers' children. How ought they to dress ? ' A. Exactly according to the Rules of tbe Bands ; and it would be well if parents in general would observe this. ' XIX. ON CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD, BRIBERY, AND SABBATH- BREAKING. ' Q. 23. HAVE we not made too great advances towards con- formity to the world ? ' A. We have. In order to prevent this, those school- masters and school-mistresses who receive dancing-masters into their schools, and those parents who employ dancing- masters for their children, shall be no longer members of our Society. ' Q. 24. Do not Sabbath-breaking, dram-drinking evil- speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, expensiveness or gaiety of apparel, and contracting debts, without due care to discharge them, still prevail in several places ? How may these evils be remedied ? ' A. Let us solemnly and frequently warn the people against these evils. Read in every Society the sermon on Evil-speaking. Let the Leaders closely examine, and exhort every person to put away the accursed thing. Let the Preachers warn every Society, that those who are guilty can- not remain with us. Extirpate smuggling, buying or selling uncustomed goods, out of every Society. Let none remain with us who will not totally abstain from every kind and degree of it. Speak tenderly, but earnestly and frequently, of it in every Society near the coasts : and diligently disperse among them " The Word to a Smuggler." Extirpate bribery ; the receiving anything, directly or indirectly, for voting in ny election. Show no respect of persons herein, but expel ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 295 all that touch the accursed thing. Largely show in public the wickedness of thus selling our country ; and everywhere dis- perse " The "Word to a Freeholder." ' Q. 25. Several members of our Societies who make con- science of Sabbath-breaking have been much distressed, barbers in particular. What can be done to relieve them? ' A. Let no member of our Society employ any barber on Sunday. Let all our people who possibly can, ^employ only those barbers who conscientiously abstain from Sabbath-break- ing. ' Let none of our people make any wake or feast, neither go to any, on the Lord's day, but bear a public testimony against them. 'A Preacher ought not to wear powder in his hair, or artificial curls. ' No person ought to continue a member of our Society who learns the military exercise, as a volunteer, on the Lord's day ; nor any one who, after having been warned of the evil, will attend in order to see them exercise on that day. 'XX. ON MABBYING WITH TTtfBELIEVEBS. ' Q. 26. SOME of our members have married with unbe- lievers, yea, with unawakened persons : this has had fatal effects. They had either a cross for life, or turned back to perdition. What can be done to put a stop to this ? ' A. Let every Preacher enforce the Apostle's caution, " Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers." Let him openly declare, that whosoever does this will be expelled the Society. When any such are expelled, let a suitable exhortation be subjoined. And let all be exhorted to take no step in so weighty a matter, without advising with the most serious of their Christian friends. ' Q. 27. Ought a woman to marry without the consent of her parents ? * A. In general she ought not. Yet there may be an exception. For if a woman be under a necessity to marry, and if her parents absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian, then she may, nay, she ought to marry without their consent. Tet even then a Methodist Preacher ought not to marry her.* * For further Regulations on the marriage of Preachers, see Minutes of Conference, vol. v., pp. 519, 520. 296 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: ' XXI. ON BANKRUPTCIES J STRANGERS STAGING AT THE SOCIETY- MEETINGS; LOVEFEASTS ; FUNERAL SERMONS; AND TALKING IN OUR CHAPELS * Q. 28. WHAT shall we do to prevent scandal, when any of our members become bankrupt ? ' A. Let the Superintendent talk with him at large. And if he has not kept fair accounts, or has been concerned in the base practice of raising money by coining notes, (commonly called the bill -trade,) let him be expelled immediately.* ' Q. 29. How often shall we permit strangers to be present at the meeting of the Society ? ' A. At every other meeting of the Society, let no stranger be admitted. At other times they may; but the same person not above three times. In order to this, see that all in every place show their tickets before they come in. If the Stewards and Leaders are not exact, employ others that have more resolution. And take care that no person attend a Lovefeast without a note from the Preacher. ' Let no Lovefeast be appointed but by the consent of the Superintendent ; nor any funeral sermon be preached without his consent, and for those only who have died happy in the Lord. * Q. 30. How shall we prevent persons talking in our chapels, before and after service is over ? ' A. Let all the Preachers join as one man and seriously and solemnly warn the people against this growing evil. ' XXII. ON STRANGERS BEING ENTERTAINED AT THE PREACHERS' HOUSES ; AND ON CLEANLINESS. * LET none of our friends who travel on business expect to be entertained at the Preachers' houses ; neither let the people crowd into the Preachers' houses ; let no one think that he has a right to go there, unless he has some particular business. ' The Preachers' houses ought to be kept clean and decent. A Preacher's wife ought to be a pattern of cleanliness in her person, clothes, and habitation. And she should also be a pattern of industry, always at work for herself, her husband, or children. * The Regulations now in force respecting Commercial Failures are given; in Part II., Chapter xL, p. 103, of the present work. THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 297 ' XXIII. IN WHAT CASES WE ALLOW SEEVICE IN CHTJECH- HOUES. ' Q. 31. IN what cases do we allow service in what are commonly called Church-hours ? ' A. When the Minister is a notoriously wicked man ; when he preaches Arian, or any equally pernicious, doctrine ; when there are not churches in the town sufficient to contain the people ; and when there is no church within two or three miles.* And it is expected that every one who preaches in Church-hours will either read Mr. Wesley's Abridgment of the Cpmmon Prayer, or else the Lessons for the day. 'XXTV. HOW TO PEEVENT NEEVOUS DISOEDEES. ' Q. 32. WHAT directions shall be given to prevent the contracting nervous disorders? ' A. Take as little meat, drink, and sleep, as nature will require. Drink no dram on any consideration. Eat very light, if any, supper, Never go out of the house to supper at any time. Be always at home before nine o'clock, if possible. And use full as much exercise daily as we did before we were Preachers. ' XXY. THE OEDEE OF DISTEICTS ; AND WHAT BUSINESS IS TO BE DONE THEEE. ' Q. 33. WHAT Regulations are necessary for the preserv- ation of our whole economy ? ' A. Let the three kingdoms be divided into Districts in the following order t : ' 1. London, Colchester, Rochester, Canterbury, Rye, Weathersfield. ' 2. Northampton, Brackley, Bedford, Oxford, Higham- Ferrers, St. Ives (Hunts). 4 3. Norwich, Yarmouth, Diss, Thetford, Lynn, Walsing- ham. ' 4. Bristol, Taunton, Banwell, Bath, Stroud, Gloucester. 5. Salisbury, Portsmouth, Newbury, Poole, Bradford (Wilts), Shepton-Mallet. * This Eule is now obsolete. f The number of Districts has since been increased, owing to the enlarge- ment of the work. At present there are thirty-five in Great Britain, and ten in Ireland ; besides many in connection with our Missions. 298 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: ' 6, Isle of Jersey, Isle of Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. ' 7. Plymouth-Dock, Collumpton, Launceston. ' 8. Redruth, St. Austle, Penzance. * 9. Swansea, Cardiff, Brecon, Haverfordwest. ' 10. Birmingham, Worcester, Stourport, Dudley, Shrews- bury. ' 11. Chester, Macclesfield, Burslem, North wich, Leek. ' 12. Manchester. Stockport, Bolton, Liverpool, Rochdale, Oldham, Blackburn, Wigan. '13. Halifax, Colne, Keighley, Bradford, Huddersfield, Lancaster. ' 14. Nottingham, Newark, Leicester, Hinckley, Ashby-de- la-Zouch, Burton, Derby, Castle-Donington. ' 15. Leeds, Wakefield, Birstal, Dewsbury, Hotherham, Otley, Sheffield, Pontefract, Doncaster. ' 16. Grimsby, Horncastle, Epworth, Spalding, Barrow, Gainsborough. '17. Whitehaven, Isle of Man. 1 18. York, Hull, Pocklington, Bridlington, Scarborough, Malton. ' 19. Whitby, Eipon, Stockton, Barnard-Castle, Middleham. ' 20. Newcastle, Sunderland, Hexharn, Alnwick. ' 21. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dumfries. ' 22. Aberdeen, Dundee, Brechin, Inverness. IRELAND. ' 23. Dublin, Wicklow, Carlow, Longford, ' 24. Cork, Bandon, Limerick, Waterford. ' 25. Athlone, Birr, Castlebar, Sligo. * 26. Clones, Cavan, Ballyconnell, Enniskillen, Brook- borough. ' 27. Londonderry, Coleraine, Lisleen, Ballyshannon, Omagh, etc. ' The names of all the Preachers in each District shall be read over by the Secretary, and a Chairman shall be chosen out of them by ballot of the Conference. The Chairman, so chosen, shall have authority to call a Meeting of all the Preachers in Full Connexion in that District, on any application of the Preachers or people, which appears to him to require it. But he must never individually interfere with any other Circuit but his own. ' Whenever the Chairman has received any complaint ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 299 against a Preacher, he shall send an exact account of the complaint in writing to the person accused, with the name of the accuser or accusers, before he calls a Meeting of the District to examine into the charge. ' If it appear on just grounds to any Superintendent, that the Chairman of the District has been guilty of any crime, or that he has neglected to call the District, when there were sufficient reasons for calling it, such Superintendent shall have authority, in that case, to call a Meeting of the District, and to fix the time and place of meeting. The District thus assembled shall have power, if they judge necessary, to try the Chairman ; and, if found guilty, to suspend him from being a Travelling Preacher till the next Conference, or to remove him from the office of a Superintendent, or to depose him from the chair, and to elect another in his place. Minutes shall be taken of their proceedings, which shall be laid before the next Conference.* ' If a Preacher be accused of immorality, the Preacher accused and his accuser shall respectively choose two Preachers of their District ; and the Chairman of the District shall, with the four Preachers, chosen as above, try the accused Preacher ; and they shall have authority, if he be found guilty, to suspend him till the next Conference, if they judge it expedient. But provided they cannot settle the business to the satisfaction of the accused Preacher, then it shall be referred to the District Meeting. ' If there be a difference between two Preachers in a District, the respective parties shall choose two Preachers ; and the Chairman of the District, with the four Preachers so chosen, shall be final arbiters, to determine the matter in dispute. In both cases the Chairman shall have a casting voice, in case of an equality. ' If there be any accusation against a preacher, or any difficult affair to settle, not only the Circuit or Town Steward, but any Leader, or even member of the Society, shall be * The statement contained in this paragraph has been modified by more recent legislation. The Rule now in force for the trial of an accused Chair- in in is given in Part II., Chapter ix., pp. 80, 81, of this work. The reader is referred, also, to the three chapters on District Organisation for a more accurate and complete statement of the functions and procedures of District Com- mittees, than that which is found in the early Minutes. 300 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: admitted as an evidence into a District Meeting ; provided the matter has been first heard at the Quarterly Meeting. 'The Chairman of each District, in conjunction with his brethren of that District, shall be responsible to the Conference for the execution of our laws, as far as his District is con- cerned. ' The Chairman, in all cases which, in his judgment, can- not be settled in the ordinary District Meetings, shall have authority to summon three of the nearest Superintendents to be incorporated with the District Committee, who shall have equal authority to vote, and settle everything till the Conference. ' The Conference recommends it to the Superintendents of the Circuits to invite, on all important occasions, the Chairman of their respective District to be present at their Quarterly Meetings. ' In order to render our Districts more effective, the President of the Conference shall have power, when applied to by the Superintendent, to supply any Circuit with Preachers, if any should die or desist from travelling ; and to sanction any change of Preachers which it may be necessary to make in the intervals of Conference ; and to assist at any District Meeting, if applied to for that purpose, by the Chairman of the District, or by a majority of the Superintendents in such District. And he shall have a right (if written to by any who are concerned) to visit any Circuit, and to inquire into their affairs with respect to Methodism, and, in union with the District Committee, redress any grievance. ' All deficiencies in the quarterage of Preachers, their wives, and their children, with all demands concerning rents, furniture, etc., shall be taken an account of, as far as possible, at the Quarterly Meeting. The account shall be sent (signed by the Circuit Steward) to the District Meeting, and from thence to the Conference.* ' As the Leaders' Meeting is the proper Meeting for the Society, and the Quarterly Meeting for the Circuit, we think that other formal Meetings in general would be contrary to the Methodist economy, and very prejudicial in their con- * The present arrangements respecting Circuit Deficiencies will be found in the Chapter on the Home-Mission and Contingent Fund, Part III., Chapter ii. 1 THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 301 sequences. But, in order to be as tender as possible, consistently with what we believe to be essential to the welfare of our Societies, we allow that other formal Meetings may be held, if they first receive the approbation of the Superintendent, and the Leaders' or Quarterly Meetings ; provided also that the Superintendent, if he please, be present at every such Meeting. ' If the Conference shall see it necessary to make any new Rule for the Societies at large, and such Eule should be objected to at the first Quarterly Meeting in any given Circuit ; and if the major part of that Meeting, in conjunc- tion with the Preachers,* be of opinion that the enforcing that Eule in such a Circuit will be injurious to the prosperity of that Circuit ; it shall not be enforced in opposition to the judgment of the majority of such Quarterly Meeting before the second Conference. But if the Eule be confirmed by the second Conference, it shall be binding to the whole Connexion. Nevertheless, the Quarterly Meetings rejecting a new Eule shall not, by publications, public meetings, or otherwise, make that Eule a cause of contention, but shall strive, by every means, to preserve the peace of the Connexion. 'All matters relating to the building of preaching -houses and dwelling-houses shall be determined in the District Meetings. All matters relating to the payment of the debts of houses, collections for houses, and everything that apper- tains to preaching-houses and dwelling-houses, shall be con- sidered and settled in the District Meetings. t 'And, as the Districts always meeet a little before the Conference, they shall then choose a Eepresentative to attend the Committee for stationing the Preachers ; and shall also determine what Preachers in that District shall attend the Conference. ' But nothing in any District Meeting shall be done con- trary to any Eule of Conference. ' XXVI. THE PLAN OF GENERAL PACIFICATION. ' I. CONCERNING the Lord's Supper, Baptism, etc. * The words in ' conjunction with the Preachers ' were formally with- drawn by the Conference of 1852. (Min., vol. xii., p. 117.) t The Rules affecting Chapels and other Trust-property are given in Part III., Chapter vi., of this work. 302 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: ' 1. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall not be administered in any Chapel, except a majority of the Trustees of that Chapel on the one hand, and the majority of the Stewards and Leaders belonging to that Chapel (as the best qualified to give the sense of the people) on the other hand, allow of it. Nevertheless, in all cases, the consent of the Conference shall be first obtained, before the Lord's Supper be administered. ' 2. Wherever there is a Society but no Chapel, if the majority of the Stewards and Leaders of that Society testify, that it is the wish of the people that the Lord's Supper should be administered to them, their desire shall be granted, provided that the consent of the Conference be first obtained. ' 3. Provided, nevertheless, that in Mount-Pleasant Chapel, at Liverpool, and in all other Chapels where the Lord's Supper has been already peaceably administered, the administration of it shall be continued in future. ' 4. The administration of Baptism, the Burial of the Dead, and service in Church-hours, shall be determined according to the Eegulations above-mentioned. '5. Whenever the Lord's Supper shall be administered according to the above-mentioned Eegulations, it shall always be continued, except the Conference order the contrary. 4 6. The Lord's Supper shall be administered by those only who are authorised by the Conference ; and at such times, and in such manner only, as the Conference shall appoint. ' 7. The administration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, according to the above Regulations, is intended only for the members of our own Society. ' We agree that the Lord's Supper be administered among us on Sunday eyenings only ; except where the majority of the Stewards and Leaders desire it in Church-hours ; or where it has already been administered in these hours. Neverthe- less, it shall never be administered on those Sundays on which it is administered in the parish church. ' 9. The Lord's Supper shall always be administered in England according to the form of the established Church; but the person who administers shall have liberty to give out hymns, to use exhortation, and extemporary prayer. '10. Wherever divine service is performed in England on the Lord's day in Church-hours, the officiating Preacher shall read either the service of the Church, our venerable Father's < THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 803 Abridgment, or, at least, the Lessons appointed by the calendar. But we recommend either the full Service or the Abridgment. ' II. Concerning discipline. ' 1. The appointment of the Preachers shall remain solely with the Conference ; and no Trustee, or number of Trustees, shall expel or exclude from their Chapel or Chapels any Preacher so appointed. '2. Nevertheless, if the majority of the Trustees, or the majority of the Stewards and Leaders, of any Society believe that any Preacher appointed for their Circuit is immoral, erroneous in doctrine, deficient in abilities, or that he has broken any of the Rules above-mentioned, they shall have authority to summon the Preachers of the District, and all the Trustees, Stewards, and Leaders of that Circuit, to meet in their Chapel on a day and hour appointed (sufficient time being given). The Chairman of the District shall be Presi- dent of the assembly ; and every Preacher, Trustee, Steward, and Leader, shall have a single vote, the Chairman possessing the casting voice. And if the majority of the Meeting judge, that the accused Preacher is immoral, erroneous in doctrine, deficient in abilities, or has broken any of the Eules above- mentioned, he shall be considered as removed from that Cir- cuit; and the District Committee shall, as soon as possible, appoint another Preacher for that Circuit, instead of the Preacher so removed, and shall determine among themselves how the removed Preacher shall be disposed of till the Con- ference ; and shall have authority to suspend the said Preacher from all public duties till the Conference, if they think proper. The District Committee shall also supply, as well as possible, the place of the removed Preacher, till another Preacher be appointed. And the Preacher thus appointed, and all other Preachers, shall be subject to the above mode of trial. And if the District Committee do not appoint a Preacher for that Circuit, instead of the removed Preacher, within a month after the aforesaid removal, or do not fill up the place of the removed Preacher till another Preacher be appointed, the majority of the said Trustees, Stewards, and Leaders, being again regularly summoned, shall appoint a Preacher for the said Circuit, provided he be a member of the Methodist Con- nexion, till the next Conference. ' 3. If any Preacher refuse to submit to the above mode 804 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: of trial, in any of the cases mentioned above, he shall be con- sidered as suspended till the next Conference. And if any Trustees expel from any Chapel a Preacher by their own separate authority, the Preachers appointed for that Circuit shall not preach in that chapel till the next Conference, or till a trial takes place according to the mode mentioned above. ' 4. If any Trustees expel or exclude a Preacher by their own separate authority, from any Chapel in any Circuit, the Chairman of the District shall summon the members of the District Committee, the Trustees of that Circuit who have not offended, and the Stewards and Leaders of the Circuit ; and the members of such assembly shall examine into the evidence on both sides ; and if the majority of them deter- mine, that the state of the Society in which the exclusion took place requires that a new Chapel should be built before the meeting of the next Conference, every proper step shall be immediately taken for erecting such Chapel. And no step shall, on any account, be taken to erect a Chapel for such purpose before the next Conference, till such a Meeting be summoned, and such determination be made. ' 5. No Preacher shall be suspended, or removed from his Circuit by any District Committee, except he have the privilege of the trial before-mentioned. ' 6. The hundred Preachers mentioned in the enrolled Deed, and their successors, are the only legal persons who constitute the Conference. And we think the junior brethren have no reason to object to this proposition, as they are regu- larly elected according to seniority. ' 7. Inasmuch as in drawing up the preceding Eegulations, we have laboured to restore and preserve the peace and unity of the Society, and, in order thereto, have endeavoured to keep the Preachers out of all disputes on the subjects therein specified, be it understood that any Preacher who shall disturb the peace of the Society by speaking for or against the introduction of the Lord's Supper in our Societies, or concerning the Old or the New Plan, so called, shall be sub- ject to the trial and penalties before-mentioned. ' 8. And in order that the utmost impartiality be mani- fested in these Regulations for the peace of the whole body, we also resolve, That if any Local Preacher, Trustee, Steward, or Leader shall disturb the peace of the Society, by speaking 1 THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 305 for or against the introduction of the Lord's Supper, or con- cerning the Old or the New Plan (so called), the Superinten- dent of the Circuit, or the majority of the Trustees, Stewards, and Leaders of the Society so disturbed, shall have authority to summon a meeting of the Travelling Preachers of the Circuit, and the Trustees, Stewards, and Leaders of that Society. Evidence shall be examined on both sides; and if the charge be proved, the Superintendent Preacher shall expel from the Society the person so offending. 'ADDENDA. ' 1. THE Conference by no means wishes to divide any Society, by the introduction of the Lord's Supper ; and there- fore, except that a majority of the Stewards and Leaders, who desire the Lord's Supper among themselves, testify in writing to the Conference, that they are persuaded that no separation will be made thereby, they will not allow it. ' 2. The sacrament shall not be administered to a Society in any private house, within two miles of the Methodist chapel in which it is regularly administered. ' 3. We all agree that the pulpit shall not be a vehicle of abuse. '4. It has been our general custom, never to appoint or remove a Steward or Leader, without first consulting the Stewards and Leaders of that Society; and we are resolved to walk by the same rule. ' 5. To prevent, as much as possible, the progress of strife and debate, and consequent divisions in our Connexion, no pamphlet or printed letter shall be circulated among us with- out the author's name, and the postage or carriage paid. ' 6. Nothing contained in these Rules shall be construed to violate the rights of the Trustees, as expressed in their respective deeds. 'XXTII. THE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUSTEES OF BRISTOL, Df 1794. ' To the Members of the Methodist Societies. * BKISTOL, August 8th, 1794. BRETHREN, ' WE have again taken into our mature consideration the x 306 < THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: state of our Societies in this kingdom, respecting the adminis- tration of the Sacrament, and some other particulars which have engaged the attention of many of our people : and for the sake of peace and love have come to the following Reso- lutions : 'I. Preaching in Church-hours shall not be permitted, except for special reasons, and where it will not cause a division, according to the Plan of Pacification. 'II. As the Lord's Supper has not been administered, except where the Society has been unanimous for it, and would not have been contented without it ; it is now agreed, that it shall not be administered in future where the union and concord of the Society can be preserved without it, according to the Plan of Pacification. 'III. The Preachers will not perform the office of Baptism except for the desirable ends of love and concord ; though Baptism, and the Burial of the Dead, were performed by many of the Preachers long before the death of Mr. Wesley, and with his consent. 'IV. It is agreed, that the management of the temporal and spiritual concerns of the Society shall be separated, as far as the purposes of peace and harmony can be answered thereby, or as they have ever been separated in times of the greatest peace and harmony ; viz., the temporal concerns shall be managed by the Stewards chosen for that purpose, who shall keep books, wherein all moneys collected, received, or disbursed, on account of their respective Societies, shall be entered. 2. The spiritual concerns shall be managed by the Preachers ; who have ever appointed Leaders, chosen Stewards, and admitted members into, and expelled them from, the Society, consulting their brethren the Leaders and Stewards, according to the Rules before-mentioned. The Preachers, also, as hitherto, are to appoint Lovefeasts and Watch-nights, and to vary the time and places of Preaching, Class-meeting, etc. ' V. That the Trustees may have the fullest assurance that the Conference love them, and have not the shadow of a desire to oppress them, any more than to reject any proposals which they conceive calculated to restore and preserve peace and harmony, the following articles are added : 'VI. The Trustees, in conjunction with the Superinten- dent, who shall have one vote only, shall choose their own FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 307 Steward; who shall receive and disburse all seat-rents, and such collections as shall be made, for the purpose of paying interest of money due upon the premises, or for reducing the principal of all such moneys, so received and disbursed. The aforesaid Steward shall keep proper accounts in books pro- vided for that purpose; which books shall be open for the inspection of the Superintendent, and audited in his presence once every year ; or oftener, if convenient. Provided always, that when the necessities of the work of God require it, the Trustees shall allow, quarterly, what may appear requisite for carrying on the work, so that it be not cramped : Provided, that if the seat-rents and collections fall short of what will be sufficient to discharge the rents, interest of money, and other necessary expenses of the Chapels, the deficiency shall be made good out of some other revenue of the Society ; and that books shall be provided, wherein shall be inserted all the accounts, both of the Trustees and the Stewards of the respec- tive Societies, which shall be open for the inspection of the Trustees and others, and that the said accounts shall be annually audited in the presence of the Trustees : Provided also, that nothing in these Resolutions shall be construed to extend to alter any of the powers contained in the Trust- deeds. 'VII. No Trustee (however accused, or defective in con- forming to the established Rules of the Society) shall be removed from the Society, unless his crime, or breach of the Rules of the Society, be proved in the presence of the Trustees and Leaders. ' Signed, in behalf of the Conference, ' THOMAS HANBY, President. ' THOMAS COKE, Secretary. ' xxTrn. ME. WESLEY'S LETTER TO THE CONFEBEKCE IK 1791 ; AND THEIB DETEBMINATION IN CONSEQUENCE OF IT. 'TO THE CONTEBENCE. 'CHESTEE, April 7th, 1785. ' MY DEAK BEETHBEN, * SOME of our Travelling Preachers have expressed a fear, that after my decease you would exclude them, either from preaching in connection with you, or from some other privi- 308 THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE? leges which they now enjoy. I know no other way to prevent any such inconvenience, than to leave these my last words with you. 'I beseech you by the mercies of God, that you never avail yourselves of the Deed of Declaration, to assume any superiority over your brethren ; but let all things go on among those Itinerants who choose to remain together, exactly in the same manner as when I was with you, so far as circumstances will admit. ' In particular, I beseech you, if ever you loved me, and if you now love God and your brethren, to have no respect of persons in stationing the Preachers, in choosing children for Kingswood School, in disposing of the Yearly Collection and the Preachers' Fund, or any other public money. But do all things with a single eye, as I have done from the beginning. Go on thus, doing all things without prejudice or partiality, and God will be with you even to the end. WESLEY. 'N.B. The Conference have unanimously resolved, That all the Preachers who are in Full Connexion with them shall enjoy every privilege that the members of the Conference enjoy, agreeably to the above-written letter of our venerable deceased Father in the Gospel, except in voting for the Presi- dent and Secretary. 'XXIX. CERTAIN RULES AGREED TO BY THE CONFERENCE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. ' 1. No ordination shall take place in our Connexion, with- out the consent of the Conference ; nor shall gowns or bands be used among us ; or the title of reverend * be used at all. And if any brother shall break the above-mentioned Rule, he thereby excludes himself from the Connexion. ' 2. No Preacher shall receive anything from the Circuit on account of his children who receive what is allowed from Kingswood School, nor after they have arrived at the age of seventeen years. t * This Rule hr a since been rescinded. t By a subsequent Regulation every Preacher is authorised, with certain exceptions, to receive the allowance for his children till they are twenty years of age. (See Minutes, vol. iv., p. 37.) ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE.' 309 ' 3. None of us shall, either in writing or conversation, speak lightly or irreverently of the Government under which we live. The oracles of God command us to be subject to the higher powers ; and " honour the king " is there connected with the " fear of God." ' 4. No person among us shall call another heretic, bigot, or by any other disrespectful name, on any account, for a dif- ference in sentiment. ' 5. No Preacher shall leave his Circuit, on any considera- tion, between the Midsummer and the Michaelmas quarter- days.* ' 6. A General Fast shall be held in all our Societies, the first Friday after New-year's-day, after Lady-day, after Mid- summer-day, and after Michaelmas- day. ' 7. Every Preacher shall be considered as a Supernumerary for four years after he has desisted from travelling, and shall afterwards be deemed Superannuated. ' 8. Every Superintendent shall be at liberty to attend the Conference or not ; f but in case of absence, he shall send all his papers that are necessary, by the Representative of his District. '9. No division shall be made of any Circuit, where it does not appear to the Quarterly Meeting, the District Meet- ing, the Committee of Representatives, and the Conference, that there is such an enlargement of the work as requires it. ' 10. Every Preacher, before he is admitted iuto Full Connexion, shall write an account of his life, and give it to Mr. Story.* '11. All letters not directed to, or belonging to, the Presi- dent, or the Committee of Representatives, are to be paid for by the Circuits respectively from which the Preachers come. And all the horses are to be paid for in the same way. ' 12. No Preacher who has been suspended or expelled shall, on any account, be employed as a Local Preacher, with- out the authority of the Conference. * This Rule must be regarded as obsolete. + This Rule has since been modified. It belongs to the District Committee, at its Annual Meeting, to decide what Ministers shall attend the ensuing Conference, (See Min., vol. iii., p. 90 ; vol. iv., p. 455.) Members of the Legal Conference have the right to be present. t This and the following Regulation are now obsolete. All letters, of course, are to be prepaid. 310 ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE." 1 13. No Circuit shall have more Preachers than it can support, unless in case of some extraordinary burden, in respect to wives and children ; the Circuits in Scotland, Ire- land, and Wales, being excepted. ' 14. "We strongly recommend the religious observance of the Lord's day ; and desire our Superintendents to exclude from the Society all who buy or sell on that sacred day, except in case of medicine for the sick, or for supplying necessaries for funerals. '15. Any Preacher brought out in the course of the year, if he have travelled nine monthg before the next Conference, shall be considered as if he had travelled the whole year.* 4 16. The Lord's Supper shall be administered by the Superintendent only, or such of his Helpers as are in Full Connexion, as he shall appoint ; provided that no Preacher be required to give it against his own inclination ; and should it be granted to any place where the Preachers on the Circuit are all unwilling to give it, the Superintendent shall in that case invite a neighbouring Preacher, who is properly qualified, to administer it. ' 17. As several inconveniences have arisen respecting the change of Stewards ; to remedy this, let it be observed, that the office of a Steward ceases at the end of the year : and every Superintendent is required at the end of the year, to change one Steward at least ; so that no Steward may be in office above two years together, except in some extraordinary cases. ' 18. No Preacher shall use tobacco for smoking, chewing, or snuff, unless it be prescribed by a Physician. And our people are desired not to provide pipes or tobacco for any of our Preachers. '19. It is desired that the money collected for the Yearly Collection, Kingswood School, and the Preachers' Fund, be entered in the general Steward's books, in the respective Circuits.t '20. It is desired that the Representatives for stationing * By a subsequent Regulation it is determined that if a Preacher who is on the List of Reserve be appointed to a Circuit before Christmas, he shall be considered at the ensuing Conference as having travelled one year. t The Subscriptions and Collections for all our Connexional Funds are now entered in a Circuit-book, kept by the Superintendent of each Circuit. ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 311 the Preachers may always meet on the Wednesday before the Conference.* '21. That we may be favoured with the direction and blessing of God on our important work at the Conference, it is agreed, that on the morning of the first day of the Confer- ence, the President and Secretary shall be chosen, and the rest of the day be dedicated to fasting and prayer. And it is desired, that our Societies may join us in the solemn duties of the day. ' 22. Whoever shall leave the Conference before the busi- ness is finished, and the Journal signed, must not complain on account of what may be done after their departure. '23. As the Preachers are eminently one body, nothing should be done by any individual which would be prejudicial to the whole, or to any part thereof. Therefore, no Preacher t^hall publish anything, but what is given to the Conference, and printed at our own press ;t the Book Committee to deter- mine what is proper to be printed : that, as a reward for his labour, whatever shall be approved of by the said Committee, and printed, the author shall have an hundred out of every thousand of the books, whether large or small ; and, if pub- lished in the Magazine, he shall have a reasonable allowance, the Conference being judges. But should a manuscript be rejected by the Book Committee, a Preacher may print it; provided he do not sell it at our Chapels, nor advertise it from our pulpits. The design of this Rule is to prevent any Preacher in our Connexion from selling at the doors of our Chapels, or offering to sell, any books among our people, but those which belong to the Conference, and come from our Book-Room. ' N.B. If any Preacher be attacked by any of our enemies, and his character misrepresented, his printing a reply in his own defence shall not be deemed a breach of the above Rule. ' 24. The Districts shall determine when and where any Chapel shall be built. But we advise that no one shall be * The time of the meeting of the Stationing Committee is always fixed by the preceding Conference. According to the present arrangement, that Committee meets on the Tuesday preceding the Conference. f This Rule has been rescinded. 312 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: built till absolutely necessary, and till two-thirds of the whole expense be subscribed.* ' 25. Several of the Preachers have found their own horses from the beginning. But we now recommend it to every Circuit to find horses for the use of the Preachers. But, in those Circuits which wish to be upon the same plan as formerly, it is desired, that no Preacher may collect money for buying horses ; but that whatever may be judged needful of this kind may be done by the Steward of the Circuit.f ' 26. All apothecaries' bills shall be discharged in the Cir- cuits. And if the Stewards cannot pay the quarterage of the Preachers, their wives, and children, they must have fewer Preachers the next year. ' 27-. Let no District Meeting, no Preacher, or number of Preachers, or people whatsoever, on any consideration, involve the Conference in any lawsuit ; nor have any demand on the Conference for the expenses, or any part of the expenses, of any lawsuit ; more especially concerning Chapels or Preach- ing-houses, without the consent of the Conference previously obtained. * 28. We have been disappointed by married Preachers coming out to travel, in expectation of being themselves able to maintain their wives, independently of the Conference, who very soon became entirely dependent. How shall this be pre- vented ? Let no Preacher be received on this plan, unless he can bring in writing such an account of his income, signed by the Superintendent, as shall satisfy the Conference. And if any person shall promise to maintain a Preacher's wife or children, he shall give a bond to the Conference for the sum he intends to aDow. '29. Let every Preacher be merciful to his beast; not only ride moderately, but see that his horse is taken proper care of. ' 30. Let every Superintendent take care to provide every Preacher's wife who may be stationed along with him, a * The Regulations respecting the building of Chapels are given in Part III., Chapter vi., of this work. f The present circumstances of the Connexion render this Bule, generally speaking, unnecessary. But in extensive Circuits the provision of horses for the Ministers is still highly important. 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 813 lodging, coals, and candles, or see that she is allowed fifteen pounds a year.* '31. Let not all the Preachers in any Circuit come to the Conference. And let those who do come set out as late and return as soon as possible. ' 32. Prayer Meetings have been found exceedingly useful ; therefore let us appoint them wherever we can make it con- venient. * XXX. THE RULES OF THE PBEACHEBS' FUND.f 'XXXI. AN ACCOUNT OF KTSTGSWOOD SCHOOL. ' Q. 36. WHAT can be done for the support of Kingswood School ? ' A. Let a public Collection be made in all the Chapels throughout the three kingdoms the Sunday before or after Midsummer,^ and let the following account be read : ' " The wisdom and love of God have now thrust out a large number of labourers into His harvest ; men who desire nothing on earth but to promote the glory of Grod, by saving their own souls, and those that hear them. And those to whom they minister spiritual things are willing to minister to them of their carnal things ; so that they have food to eat, raiment to put on, and a place where to lay their head, and are content therewith. ' " A competent provision is likewise made for the wives of married Preachers. These also lack nothing, having a quarterly allowance over and above for their little children ; so that neither they nor their husbands need to be careful about many things, but may wait upon the Lord without distrac- tion. ' " Yet one considerable difficulty lies on those who have boys, when they grow too big to be under their mother's direction. Having no father to govern and instruct them, they are exposed to a thousand temptations. To remedy this, we * This Rule has been superseded by improved arrangements for the sup- port of the Ministry. f These Rules are omitted as having been entirely superseded by the ' Itinerant Methodist Preachers' Annuitant Society,' and by the formation of the 'Auxiliary Fund.' J This Collection is now appointed to be made in the month of November. 314 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE.' have a School on purpose for them, wherein they have all the instruction they are capable of, together with all things necessary for the body. '"In whatever view we look upon this, it is one of the noblest charities that can be conceived. How reasonable is the institution ! Is it fit that the children of those who give up themselves wholly to the work of the Lord, and labour to save souls from death, should want what is needful either for the soul or body? Ought not we to supply what the parent can- not, because of his labours in the Gospel ? How excellent are the effects of this institution ! The parent, eased of his weight, can the more cheerfully go on in his labour. And perhaps some of those children may hereafter fill up the place of those that shall rest from their labours. '"It is well known that the children want nothing; that they scarce know what sickness means ; that they are well instructed in whatever they are capable of learning ; that they are carefully and tenderly governed ; and that constant care is taken that the behaviour of all belonging to the house is such as becometh the Gospel of Christ. '"But the expense of such an undertaking is very large, so that necessity obliges us, once a year, to ask the assistance of all those, in every place, who wish well to the work of God, who long to see sinners converted to God, and the kingdom of Christ set up in all the earth. ' " All of you who are thus minded have an opportunity now of showing your love to the Gospel. Now promote, as far as in you lies, one of the noblest charities in the world. Now forward, as you are able, one of the most excellent designs that was ever set on foot in this kingdom. Do what you can to comfort the parents who give up their all for you, and to give their children cause to bless you. You will be no poorer for what you do on such an occasion. God is a good paymaster. And you know, that in doing this you lend unto the Lord : in due time He will pay you again." ' It is now agreed, that the boys shall be received into the School at the age of eight years, and that they shall continue till they are fourteen ; that if any Preacher can give a sufficient reason why his boy should not go to the School, he shall be allowed twelve pounds a year from the Kingswood Collection ; that the daughters of Travelling Preachers, from the 1 THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 315 time that they are nine years of age, shall receive from the said Collection eight guineas a year, for four years.* 'XXXII. AS ACCOUNT OF THE TEAELT COLLECTION. ' Q. 37. How may we raise a General Fund for carrying on the work of God ? ' A. By a yearly Subscription, to be proposed by every Superintendent, when he visits the Classes at Lady-day, to be received either then or at the visitation following. ' To this end he may read and enlarge upon the following hints in every Society : ' " How shall we send a sufficient number of labourers into those parts where they are most of all wanted ? suppose the north-west of Ireland, the north of Scotland, Wales, and many parts of England ? Many are willing to hear, but are neither able nor willing to bear the expense. Nor can it as yet be expected of them: stay till the Word of God hath touched their hearts, and then they will endeavour to provide for them who preach it. Does it not lie upon us, in the mean time, to supply their lack of service ? to raise a General Fund, out of , which, from time to time, the expense may be defrayed ? By this means, those who willingly offer themselves may travel through every part, and stay wherever there is a call, without being burdensome to any. Thus may the Gospel, in the life and power thereof, be spread from sea to sea. Which of you will not rejoice to throw in your mite to promote this glorious work? ' " Besides this, in carrying on so large a work through the three kingdoms, there are calls for money in various ways, and we must frequently be at considerable expense, or the work must be at a full stop. Many, too, are the occasional distresses of our Preachers, or their families, which require an immediate supply ; otherwise their hands would hang down, if they were not constrained to leave the work. ' *' Let every Member of Society, once a year, set his * Several particulars in this last paragraph must be corrected by a refer- ence to Part III., Chapter viii., of this work. Boys are not admitted into the Kingswood and Woodhouse Grove School under ten years of age. The Education Allowance, both for boys and girls who remain at home, com- mences at nine years of age instead of eight ; and that allowance, in the case of girls as well as boys, is twelve pounds per annum, and is continued for six years. 316 < THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: shoulder to the work ; contributing more or less, as God hath prospered him, at the Lady-day visitation of the Classes. Let every one herein do as he is disposed in his own mind, and according to the ability which God giveth, and there will be no lack. ' " Men and brethren, help ! "Was there ever a call like this since you first heard the Gospel sound ? Help to relieve your companions in the kingdom of Jesus, who are pressed above measure. ' Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' Help to send forth able, willing labourers into our Lord's harvest ; so shall you be assistant in saving souls from death, and hiding a multitude of sins. Help to spread the Gospel of your salvation into the remotest corners of the kingdom, till the knowledge of our Lord shall cover the land as the waters cover the sea ; so shall it appear to ourselves, and all men, that we are indeed one body, united by one Spirit : so shall the baptized Heathens be yet again constrained to cry out, ' See how these Christians love one another ! ' * ' The money thus subscribed shall be brought to the Con- ference by the Assistant Preacher.* 'XXXIII. HOW TO PBESEBVE THE CHAPELS.f XXXIV. CERTAIN BEGTrLATIONS MADE AT LEEDS, IS 1797. ' To the Methodist Societies. ' LEEDS, August 7th, 1797. DEAB SEETHEE^, ' WE think it our duty to inform you, by the earliest opportunity, of the measures we have taken, in order to satisfy those of our brethren who have been made more or less uneasy by sundry publications circulated through the Societies : and we trust, that on a serious consideration of the Regulations we have agreed to at this Conference, yod will see that the sacrifices in respect to authority, which * The Yearly Collection is now paid at the May District Meeting to the Financial Secretary of the District ; and is to be remitted by him, without delay, to the Financial Secretary of the Home-Mission and Contingent Fund. f This section is omitted, the form of Trust-Deed given in it having been superseded by the ' Chapel Model Deed,' adopted by the Conference in 1832, and sold at the Wesleyan-Methodist Book-Room. ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 817 we have made on the part of the whole body of Travelling Preachers, evidence our willingness to meet our brethren in everything which is consistent with the existence of the Methodist discipline, and our readiness to be their servants for Jasu's sake. ' I. In respect to finances, or money matters : ' 1. We have determined to publish annually a very minute account of the disbursements or application of the Yearly Collection ; and, * 2. A full account of the affairs of Kingswood School. * 3. That all bills for the support of Travelling Preachers, and their families, in respect to deficiencies, house-rent, tire, candles, sickness, travelling expenses, and all other matters of a temporal kind for their support, for which the Circuits cannot provide, shall first meet with the approbation of the Quarterly Meeting, and be signed by the general Steward of the Circuit, before they can be brought to the District Com- mittee. , ' II. In respect to all other temporal matters : ' 1. It has been determined that no Circuits shall be divided till such division has been approved of by their respective Quarterly Meetings, and signed by the general Stewards. ' 3. That no other temporal matter shall be transacted by the District Committees, till the approbation of the respective Quarterly Meetings be first given, signed by the Circuit Stewards. 'III. In respect to the receiving and excluding private members of Society: ' 1. The Leaders' Meeting shall have a right to declare any person on trial improper to be received into the Society ; and after such declaration the Superintendent shall not admit such person into the Society. *2. No person shall be expelled from the Society for immorality, till such immorality be proved at a Leaders' Meeting. ' IV. In respect to the appointment and removal of Leaders, Stewards, and Local Preachers, and concerning Meet- ings: ' 1. No person shall be appointed a Leader or Steward, or be removed from his office, but in conjunction with the Leaders' Meeting; the nomination to be in the Superinten- 318 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: dent, and the approbation or disapprobation in the Leaders' Meeting. ' 2. The former Rule concerning Local Preachers is con- firmed; namely, "That no person shall receive a Plan as a Local Preacher without the approbation of a Local Preachers' Meeting." ' 3. In compliance with a request made by the Committee of persons from various parts, namely, " That the Conference be requested to re-consider and revise those Rules which relate to the calling of Meetings, and appointing Local Preachers, made last year," we say, " No Local Preacher shall be permitted to preach in any other Circuit than his own, without producing a recommendation from the Super- intendent of the Circuit in which he lives ; nor suffer any invitation to be admitted as a plea but from men in office, who act in conjunction with the Superintendent of that Circuit which he visits." The design of this Rule is to pre- vent any, under the character of Local Preachers, from bur- dening the people, either by collecting money, or by living upon them ; and to prevent improper persons, who bear no part of the expense, from inviting Local Preachers thus to visit them. But it never was intended to reflect the least disrespect on any of our worthy, brethren, the Local Preachers, whom, considered as a body, we greatly respect. And it should not be lost sight of, that several of the most respectable Local Preachers in the kingdom, who were in the Committee which met the Committee of Preachers appointed by the Conference, declared their high approbation of the Rule, and desired that it might be strengthened as much as possible, as none could justly complain of it. '4. As the Committee above-mentioned requested also, that the minute of the last Conference, concerning the calling of Meetings to consider of the affairs of the Society or Con- nexion, be explained ; and as we are exceedingly desirous of preserving the peace and union of the whole body ; we have agreed upon the following explanation, namely, '(1.) As the Leaders' Meeting is the proper Meeting for the Society, and the Quarterly Meeting for the Circuit, we think that other formal Meetings, in general, would be con- trary to the Methodist economy, and very prejudicial in their consequences. But, ' (2.) In order to be as tender as possible, consistently ' THE FOJtM OF DISCIPLINE: 319 with what we believe to be essential to the welfare of our Societies, we allow that other formal Meetings may be held if they first receive the approbation of the Superintendent, and the Leaders' or Quarterly Meeting ; provided also, that the Superintendent, if he please, be present at every such Meeting. ' V. We have selected all our ancient Rules, which were made before the death of our late venerable Father in the Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Wesley, which are essential Rules, or prudential at this present time : and have solemnly signed them, declaring our approbation of them, and determination to comply with them, two Preachers excepted, who, in consequence, withdrew from us. ' VI. We have determined that all the Rules which relate to the Societies, Leaders, Stewards, Local Preachers, Trustees, and Quarterly Meetings, shall be published, with the Rules of the Society, for the benefit and convenience of all the members. ' VIL In respect to all new Rules which shall be made by the Conference : * It is determined, that if, at any time, the Conference see it necessary to make any new Rule for the Societies at large, and such Rule should be objected to at the first Quarterly Meeting in any given Circuit, and if the major part of that Meeting, in conjunction with the Preachers,* be of opinion, that the enforcing of such Rule in that Circuit will be injuri- ous to the prosperity of that Circuit, it shall not be enforced in opposition to the judgment of such Quarterly Meeting before the second Conference. But if the Rule be confirmed by the second Conference, it shall be binding to the whole Connexion. Nevertheless, the Quarterly Meetings rejecting a new Rule shall not, by publications, public Meetings, or otherwise, make that Rule a cause of contention, but shall strive by every means to preserve the peace of the Connexion. ' Thus, brethren, we have given up the greatest part of our executive government into your hands, as represented in your different public Meetings. ' 1. We have delivered the whole of our Yearly Collection to your management. For we know by experience, that the bills of the Quarterly Meetings, if only mere justice be done to the Preachers and their families, will amount to much * See note on page 301. 320 'THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE.' more than the Yearly Collection. The Conference will, in this business, have no authority whatsoever. They will have nothing but the trouble of receiving the money, and paying the bills which shall have been sent to them from the Quarterly Meetings, and been approved of by the District Committees. And when the accounts are published by the Conference, every Quarterly Meeting may compare its own accounts with those of the Conference, and thereby have as complete a check as the nature of things can possibly admit of. ' The Conference has reserved to itself the management of its own Book concerns. This is most reasonable, as the institution was established for the carrying on of the work of God, under the direction of Mr. Wesley and the Con- ference ; was continued by the Deed, or codicil of Mr. Wesley's will, for the use of the Conference ; as the whole burden of the management of the business lies upon the Conference, and the servants they employ, and on the Superintendents of Circuits ; and also, as it is the only Fund which can supply any deficiencies of the Yearly Collection, as the accounts pub- lished in our Minutes for several years past clearly evidence, the Yearly Collection' having not been nearly sufficient for the wants of the Preachers and families, and for the carrying on of the work of God in general. ' 2. The whole management of our temporal concerns may now be truly said to be invested in the Quarterly Meet- ings, the District Meetings having nothing left them but a negative. '3. Our Societies have a full check on the Superintendent by means of their Leaders' Meeting, in regard to the intro- duction of persons into Society; whilst the Superintendent has sufficient scope allowed him for the increase of the Societies, not only according to the common course of things, but at the times of remarkable outpourings of the Spirit of God. '4. The Members of our Societies are delivered from every apprehension of clandestine expulsions ; as that Super- intendent would be bold indeed who would act with par- tiality or injustice in the presence of the whole Meeting of Leaders. Such a Superintendent, we trust, we have not among us : and if such there ever should be, we should be ready to do all possible justice to our injured brethren. * 5. There is now no Society-Officer among us who can be ' THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: 321 received without the consent of that Meeting to which he particularly belongs ; nor can any Officer be appointed, except upon the same plan. ' 6. In order to prevent any degree of precipitation in making of new Rules, and to obtain information of the senti- ments of our people on every such Rule, we have agreed to the article mentioned under the seventh head, by which no Regu- lations will be finally confirmed till after a year's consideration, and the knowledge of the sentiments of the Connexion at large, through the medium of all their public Officers. 'In short, brethren, out of our great love for peace and union, and our great desire to satisfy your minds, we have given up to you far the greatest part of the Superintendent's authority : and if we consider, that the Quarterly Meetings are the sources from whence all temporal Regulations during the intervals of the Conference must now originally spring ; and also, that the Committee formed according to the Plan of Pacification can in every instance in which the Trustees, Leaders, and Stewards choose to interfere respecting the gifts, doctrines, or moral character of Preachers supersede in a great measure the regular District Committees ; we may, taking all these things into our view, truly say, that such have been the sacrifices we have made, that our District Committees themselves have hardly any authority remaining, but a bare negative in general, and the appointment of a Representative to assist in drawing up the rough draft of the stations of the Preachers. And besides all this, we have given the Quarterly Meetings opportunity of considering every new law, of suspending the execution of it for a year in their respective Circuits, and of sending their sentiments upon it to the Conference before it be finally confirmed. 'We have represented these measures which we have taken for your satisfaction, in as concise a manner as we well could, giving you the sense of the whole, not only for brevity's sake, but for expedition, that you may be informed of the general heads of our proceedings as soon as possible. In the Regulations which will be published with the Rules of the Society, as mentioned above, you will have the whole at large. 'XXXV. SUNDRY ADVICES TO THE PBEACHEH8. ' BE tender of the character of every brother, but keep at the utmost distance from countenancing sin. T 322 < THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE: ' Say nothing in the Conference but what is strictly neces- sary, and to the point in hand. 'If accused by any one, remember, recrimination is no acquittance ; therefore avoid it. ' Beware of impatience of contradiction ; be firm, but be open to conviction. The cause is God's, and He needs not the hands of an TJzzah to support the ark. The being too tenacious of a point, because you brought it forward, is only feeding self. Be quite easy if a majority decide against you. ' Use no craft or guile to gain a point. Genuine simplicity will always support itself. But there is no need always to say all you know or think. ' Beware of too much confidence in your own abilities, and never despise an opponent. ' Avoid all lightness of spirit, even what would be innocent anywhere else. " Thou God seest me." ' APPENDIX in. THE 'LIVERPOOL MINUTES ' OF 1820. UESTION. What measures can we adopt for the in- crease of Spiritual Religion among our Societies and Congregations, and for the extension of the Work of God in our native country ? ' Answer. After long and deeply-serious deliberation on this important question, we have unanimously agreed to the following results : ' 1. We, on this solemn occasion, devote ourselves afresh to God ; and resolve, in humble dependence on His grace, to be more than ever attentive to Personal Religion, and to the Christian Instruction and Government of our own Families. ' 2. Let us endeavour, in our public ministry, to preach constantly all those leading and vital Doctrines of the Gospel, which peculiarly distinguished the original Methodist Preach- ers, whose labours were so signally blessed by the Lord, and to preach them in our primitive method, evangelically, experimentally, zealously, and with great plainness and sim- plicity ; giving to them a decided prominence in every Sermon, and labouring to apply them closely, affectionately, and ener- getically to the consciences of the different classes of our hearers. ' 3. Let us consecrate ourselves fully and entirely to our proper work, as servants of Christ and His Church, giving ourselves " wholly " to it, both in public and in private, and guarding against all occupations of our time and thoughts, which have no direct connection with our great calling, and which would injuriously divert our attention from the momentous task of saving souls, and taking care of the flock of Christ. ' 4. Let us " covet earnestly the best gifts," to qualify us for an acceptable and useful ministry ; let us seek them in prayer from Him Who is the Father of Lights and Fountain of Y2 324 THE ' LIVERPOOL MINUTES' OF 1820. Wisdom ; let us " stir up," and improve by study and diligent cultivation, " the gift that is in us " ; and strive in every way to be " workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth " ; taking care, however, that whatever other qualifications we may acquire and use, our ministry shall, at least, by the Divine blessing, be always characterised by sound, evangelical doctrine, by plainness of speech, and by a spirit of tender affection and burning zeal. ' 5. Let us frequently read, and carefully study, Mr. Wes- ley's "Rules of a Helper," and other parts of the Large Minutes which relate to the duties of a Preacher and Pastor. ' 6. In order to promote an increase of the congregations, and a revival of the work of God, let us have recourse, even in our old-established Circuits, to the practice of preaching out of doors ; seeking, in order to save, that which is lost. ' 7. In every Circuit, let us try to open new places ; let us try again places which have not been recently visited ; let us be increasingly attentive to the supply and superintendence of the country places already on the Plan ; let us not be satis- fied till every town, village, and hamlet in our respective neighbourhoods shall be blessed, as far as we can possibly accomplish it, with the means of grace and salvation ; in a word, let every Methodist Preacher consider himself as called to be, in point of enterprise, zeal, and diligence, a Home Mis- sionary, and to enlarge and extend, as well as keep, the Circuit to which he is appointed. ' 8. Let us, wherever it shall appear to be practicable, especially in the old and large Societies, employ some active, zealous men, whose piety and general character shall be approved by the Leaders' Meetings, to attempt the formation of new Classes in suitable neighbourhoods, where we may hope by that method to gather into the fold of Christ some persons who are " not far from the kingdom of God," but who need special invitation, and are not likely to "give them- selves " fully " to the Lord, and to us by the will of God," with- out more than ordinary labour and spiritual attention. ' 9. Let us speak plainly and pointedly in every place, both in those occasional meetings of the Society at which strangers are allowed to be present, and in our sermons, on the duty and advantage of Christian communion ; and exhort all who are seeking salvation, to avail themselves, without delay, of the help of our more private means of grace. THE 'LIVERPOOL MINUTES' OF 1820. 325 * 10. Let us encourage public Prayer Meetings, especially those which are held at times which do not interfere with our general worship, in the houses of our friends, in different parts of a town or neighbourhood ; such meetings having been long proved to be, when prudently conducted by persons of established piety and competent gifts, and duly superin- tended by the Preachers, and by the Leaders' Meetings, valuable nurseries for our Congregations and Societies, and means of salvation to many who could not have been reached at first in any other method. '11. In country places, where a full supply of preaching cannot be obtained, either by Travelling or Local Preachers, let suitable persons, belonging to the nearest Societies, be encouraged to attend, under the direction of the Superinten- dent, for the purpose of public Prayer and Exhortation, and occasionally to read to the Congregations a short and plain Sermon on the First Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, until such places can be favoured with other and more regular opportunities of instruction in righteousness. * 12. Let us ourselves remember, and endeavour to impress on our people, that we, as a Body, do not exist for the pur- poses of party ; and that we are especially bound by the example of our Founder, by the original principle on which our Societies are formed, and by our constant professions before the world, to avoid a narrow, bigoted, and sectarian spirit, to abstain from needless and unprofitable disputes on minor subjects of theological controversy, and, as far as we innocently can, to " please all men for their good unto edifica- tion." Let us, therefore, maintain towards all denominations of Christians, who "hold the Head," the kind and catholic spirit of primitive Methodism; and, according to the noble maxim of our Fathers in the Gospel, " be the friends of all, the enemies of none." ' 13. Let us, at least in every large town, establish weekly meetings for the children of our friends, according to our ancient custom ; and let us pay particular spiritual attention, in public and in private, to the young people of our Societies and Congregations. ' 14. Let us meet the Societies regularly on the Lord's day; and frequently on the week-day evenings in country places, where we do not preach on the Lord's day : Let the members be accustomed, on such occasions, to show their 826 THE 'LIVERPOOL MINUTES' OF 1820 Society-tickets ; and let us endeavour to make these Meetings interesting and appropriate to our members, as such, by giving to our Addresses an immediate reference to the state of the people, to the circumstances of each Society, and to their peculiar duties, both personal and domestic, as professors of religion and as Methodists, and by frequently explaining and enforcing our own Rules. ' 15. Let us revive, where it has been neglected, and pro- mote in every place, the observance of those parts of our discipline which refer to Watch-nights, Private and Public Bands, and Quarterly days for solemn Fasting and Prayer. ' 16. Let us, wherever we have access and opportunity, be diligent in pastoral visits to our people, at their own houses, especially to the sick, the careless, and the lukewarm. ' 17. But as such private visits must, in many cases, from our plan of continual itinerancy and village-preaching, and from the number of members in the larger Societies, be greatly limited, let us endeavour so to arrange, in our several Circuits, the plans for the quarterly public Visitation of the Classes, as to allow full time for a more minute examination into the Christian knowledge, experience and practice of the members, and for pastoral inquiries, instructions, and counsels respecting personal and family religion. ' 18. Let us regularly meet the Class-leaders, and examine their Class-papers, in town and country; and do all we can to engage both them, and our respected brethren, the Local Preachers, to co-operate with us, in their respective depart- ments, in promoting vital godliness among our people, and extending the work of the Lord. ' 19. As much depends, under the blessing of God, on the piety, knowledge, zeal, activity and Christian temper of our Leaders, as well as on their firm attachment to the doctrines, discipline, and cause of Methodism, let us never nominate a new Leader, until we have conscientiously satisfied ourselves, by previous inquiry and personal examination, as to the character and qualifications of the person proposed ; and let us act uniformly on the Eule respecting the Public Examina- tion of Leaders, which is found in our Minutes of 1811. ' 20. Let us, whenever a new Leader, nominated by us, and accepted by the Leaders' Meeting, shall be first introduced into the Meeting, take that opportunity of stating the duties which belong to the office, and of enforcing them on all present. THE ' LIVERPOOL MINUTES ' OF 1820. 327 ' 21. Let us affectionately, but firmly, enforce on the Lead- ers, as an essential article of our Pastoral discipline, and one which, in consequence of our own constant itinerancy, cannot be dispensed with, the Rule of the Society in which it is stated to be the duty of a Leader " to see every member in his Class once in every week." ' 22. Let us pay particular attention to Backsliders, and endeavour, in the spirit of meekness, to restore them that have been overtaken in a fault, and by private efforts, as well as by our public ministrations, to recover the fallen out of the snare of the devil. ' 23. Let us afresh enforce on all our people a conscientious attendance on the Lord's Supper. ' 24. Let us earnestly exhort our Societies to make the best and most religious use of the rest and leisure of the Lord's day ; let us admonish any individuals who shall be found to neglect our public worship, under pretence of visiting the sick, or other similar engagements ; -let us show to our people the evil of wasting those portions of the Sabbath which are not spent in public worship, in visits, or in receiv- ing company, to the neglect of private prayer, of the perusal of the Scriptures, and of family duties, and often to the serious spiritual injury of servants, who are thus improperly employed, and deprived of the public means of grace ; let us set ah example in this matter, by refusing, for ourselves and for our families, to *pend in visits, when there is no call of duty or necessity, tie sacred hours of the Holy Sabbath; and let us never alow the Lord's day to be secularised by meetings of mere business, when such business refers only to the temporal affairs ot the Church of God. '25. We earnestly recommend the uniform and regular practice of Catecheticil instruction in the families and schools of our Connexion, as teing especially important in the present state of our Body, and of the country at large ; and we press upon our people the propriety of using our own Catechisms, in preference to all others. ' 26. In conducting our Leaders' and Quarterly Meetings, and all other official Meetings among us, let us affectionately and steadily discountenance the spirit of strife and debate, and promote, in the management of all our affairs, both by our advice and exampb, the temper and manner of men who are acting for God ii the service of His Church. Let the 328 THE 'LIVERPOOL MINUTES' OF 1820. introduction of all topics of useless or irritating discussion, not legitimately connected with the proper business of such Meet- ings, be prudently repressed. Let us remember that, in a large Body, the only way to live in peace and comfort is, to walk by rule, and (to use the language of Mr. Wesley) " not to mend our Rules, but to keep them for conscience' sake." And while we readily and cheerfully protect all our members, in Meetings in which we preside, in the exercise of such functions as belong to them, according to our laws and general usages, let us not forget that we are under solemn obligations to conduct ourselves on such occasions, not as the mere Chairmen of public Meetings, but as the Pastors of Christian Societies, put in trust by the ordinance of God, and by their own voluntary association with us, with the Scriptural superintendence of their spiritual affairs, and responsible to the great Head of the Church for the faithful discharge of the duties of that trust. ' 27. We affectionately exhort those of our own people, who are laudably active in various benevolent Institutions, while they persevere in every good word and work, to guard against the danger of expending all their leisure and influence on mere local and subordinate Charities, so as to neglect God's own direct and immediate Institutions, such as the public preaching of the Gospel, or to deprive themselves of the opportunity of regularly attending their Classes, and of pri- vate prayer and reading of the Holy Scriptures. It should not be forgotten that the great spiritual worTc of God depends, under the Divine blessing, on the general and conscientious use of His Institutions ; and that, in the success of that work, all other good undertakings among us had their origin, and must ever have their principal support. " These things ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." '28. In order that the state of the V^ork may be constantly under the eye of the Preachers, we agree to revive uniformly the good old custom of keeping Quarterly Schedules in every Circuit, each of which shall contain a correct Statement, for the quarter to which it belongs, o| Persons admitted on Trial, New Members, fully admitted Into Society after due probation, Removals into other Circuits, Deaths, Back- sliders, Conversions, Number in the Bands, and Total Number of Members then in the Society. The Book-Steward shall prepare, and furnish to every Circuit, a sufficient num- THE 'LIVERPOOL MINUTES' OF 1820. 329 ber of Printed Forms of such a Schedule, to be filled up by the Preachers, in reference to every distinct Class, during their quarterly Visitations : And from these, each Superin- tendent shall draw up every quarter one General Schedule, containing an account of all the Societies in his Circuit, in relation to the several particulars above-mentioned. These General Circuit-Schedules each Superintendent is expected to produce, whenever required so to do, at the Annual Dis- trict Meeting, or at the Conference. ' 29. Every Superintendent is required to leave for his successor, in. the Circuit -book, not only a List of the Town and Circuit Stewards, and of the Annual Subscribers to our several Funds, etc., but especially an exact List of the Names of all the Members in his Circuit, arranged in their several Classes and Societies, as found at the preceding Midsummer Visitation. ' 30. But as we are deeply sensible that the great thing to be desired, in order to a Revival and Extension of the Work of God, without which no resolutions, or labours, or regula- tions will avail, is A NEW AND MOBE ABUNDANT EFFUSION OF THE HOLT SPIRIT on ourselves, on our Societies, and on our Congregations, we solemnly agree to seek that blessing in humble and earnest prayer. ' 31. The various Articles included in this Minute shall be read by every Chairman at the regular Annual Meeting of his District ; and shall then be made the subject of serious con- versation among the brethren, with a view to their particular bearing on the spiritual state and circumstances of each Dis- trict respectively.' APPENDIX IV. OTHER LEADING RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONFERENCE ON PASTORAL DUTIES, AND THE PROMOTION OF SPIRITUAL RELIGION. I. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED IN 1821. QUESTION. What are the Spiritual State and Prospects of our Societies in general ? ' Ansiver. The Conference having appointed a time, as last year, for special conversation on the State of Religion in our Societies, and on the best means of further promoting the Work of Grod, were thankful to receive much pleasing and encouraging information from various parts of the Connexion ; and from the statements given by several of the Preachers respecting the means which appear to have been especially owned of God, were led to agree upon the following par- ticulars ; viz., ' 1. We resolve that there shall be a regular observance of the Quarterly Fasts in all our Circuits, as appointed by Mr. Wesley ; which are, the first Fridays after Michaelmas-day, Christmas-day, Lady-day, and Midsummer-day ; on which occasions, public Prayer Meetings shall be held in all our Chapels, at those hours which may be deemed most conve- nient for the attendance of our people. At the Annual Dis- trict Meetings, the Chairmen are directed to make particular inquiries concerning the conduct of the brethren, in reference to this Regulation. ' 2. We agree strongly to advise the members of our Society, especially in large towns, to meet in those Classes which are the nearest to their respective places of residence ; in order that their attendance may be less liable to interrup- tion, and that they may be visited with greater facility by their Leaders. ' 3. We earnestly exhort all our Preachers to be in- creasingly diligent in Pastoral visits to the families of our OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. 331 people ; endeavouring to render such visits eminently profitable to all present, by prayer, and by spiritual conversation. ' 4. We recommend to the Preachers, in all cases where it is practicable, the establishment and superintendence of Prayer Meetings in private houses ; as being calculated not only to call into exercise the gifts of our people, and to promote their religious improvement, but also to awaken the attention of the ignorant and profligate to the concerns of their souls, as well as to obtain the special blessing of Q-od upon the public ministry of His word. ' 5. We strongly advise the Preachers in their respective Circuits, particularly in the more populous districts, and where there is a general neglect of the means of grace already estab- lished, to avail themselves of every opportunity to preach in private houses, especially in the cottages of the poor ; not for the purpose of superseding the regular exercise of their ministry in our Chapels, or other places of public worship, but in order to obtain access to the more neglected part of the people, and to bring those who are at present living without Grod in the world under such a concern for the salvation of their souls, as will induce them to become stated attendants upon the ordinances of the Lord's house. ' 6. The distribution of religious Tracts having, in many instances, been followed by the most beneficial residts, the Con- ference recommends it to the Preachers, and to our people in general, to form Associations, in the different Circuits, for a regular and systematic circulation of Tracts, especially of those written by Mr. Wesley, in the way of loan and otherwise, as may be deemed expedient. ' 7. We again exhort all our people, who have opportunity to meet in Band, as an old established usage in our Con- nexion, and an important means of improvement in personal religion : and the Preachers are directed to hold general meetings of the Bands in every Society where it is practic- able. ' 8. For the spiritual benefit of our people, and in order that the blessing of God may rest upon their families, we earnestly press upon them the orderly and devout exercise of family-worship, accompanied by a deliberate reading of the Holy Scriptures. In order to a due discharge of this most important duty, a suitable portion of time should be conscientiously set apart on the morning and evening of every day, when the 332 OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. attendance of all the members of the family, including the servants, should be required. ' 9. We again solemnly resolve, after the example of our venerable .Fathers in the Gospel, with all plainness and zeal to preach a free, present, and full salvation from sin ; a salvation flowing from the mere grace of God, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, apprehended by the simple exercise of faith, and indispensably preparatory to a course of practical holiness. And, in this great work, our only reliance for success is upon the promised grace of the Holy Spirit ; by "Whose inspiration alone it is that the Gospel, in any instance, is rendered the " power of God unto salvation." '10. The Conference also requires, that in every Circuit the plans for the quarterly Visitation of the Societies shall be so arranged as not to crowd too many Classes together, but to afford proper time for a minute examination of the members, and for suitable advice, encouragement, and admonition. '11. We once more solemnly call upon the members of our Society conscientiously to sanctify the Sabbath-day, both individually and in their families ; especially by a regular attendance upon the public worship of Almighty God in the forenoon, as well as on the subsequent services of that sacred day, and by suffering as few persons under their care as possible to be detained at home. ' 12. We also advise the Preachers occasionally to invite, after preaching on the Lord's day, such persons as may be seriously concerned for the salvation of their souls, to call upon them, and converse with them, on the following day, at an hour which they may appoint for this purpose. ' 13. The Conference directs, that the twelve Rules of a Helper, and the Results of the Conversation on carrying on the Work of God, inserted in the Minutes of 1820, shall be annually read by the Chairman in every District Meeting, and proper time allowed for examination, and for useful conversa- tion, on the several subjects to which they refer. ' 14. The Preachers are peremptorily required to read the PASTOBAL ADDRESS of the Conference to all the Societies in their respective Circuits.' OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. 333 II. EESOLUTIONS ADOPTED IN 1835. 'THE present peculiar circumstances of the Connexion having directed the Preachers, assembled in this Conference, to a careful and solemn consideration of the great work in which they are engaged, they feel it their duty to pledge themselves anew to the principles laid down in certain important Resolu- tions of the Conference held at Liverpool in 1820 : but as upwards of three hundred and fifty Preachers have been ad- mitted into the Connexion since that period, they deem it proper further to express their views and purposes on points of even more vital consequence than general disciplinary Regulations ; and therefore resolve, unanimously, ' 1. That we do again most solemnly and heartily recognise the original purpose of Methodism, " to spread Scriptural holi- ness through the land " as the first and great calling of the whole Body, and especially of the Preachers ; and determine, in the strength of Grod, to make this the great rule of all our other designs, and to renounce or subordinate all other plans and pursuits to this our special calling. ' 2. That since the spread and increase of true godliness in our Societies, and through the world, as far as it may be connected with our instrumentality, depends so greatly upon our maintaining the principles and spirit of our Fathers in the Ministry, we resolve more than ever to study their character and lives, and to be followers of their faith and conversation ; that we may be more thoroughly imbued with the spirit of true Christianity, and more conformed to the Scriptural standard of personal holiness ; so that by our living, as well as by our preaching, we may hold forth the Word of Life, and rejoice, in the day of Christ, that we have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. ' 3. That as the spirit of the times exposes us, in common with our people, to peculiar excitements and temptations in reference to matters foreign to the exclusive calling of Methodist Ministers, we resolve, in dependence upon the grace of God, to keep aloof from all merely party-purposes, and from party-spirit; and to caution and warn our people against these evils. ' 4. That we will use our best endeavours to convince of their errors, by reason and by Scripture, any of our people who may be deluded by the various arts of those who oppose 334 OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. us ; and that by every consistent means we will seek the recovery of such as we believe to be the deceived, rather than the deceivers, especially when there is reason to hope that they have not, by their general spirit and conduct, rendered themselves unworthy of Christian communion with us. ' 5. That our conviction is more decided than ever, that those doctrines of Christianity which we consider it our peculiar calling to publish, enforce, and defend, have always been acknowledged of God as His truth, and are the great means of saving sinners, and bringing them into connection with His Church. We are therefore resolved to be explicit and careful in stating them, and faithful and urgent in their application to the consciences of our hearers. And being aware that the prominence which among us has always been properly given to the doctrine of a present salvation is ever liable to Antinomian abuses, and that under present circum- stances we are peculiarly exposed to certain dangers of that description, we will diligently and evangelically preach the precepts as well as the privileges of the Gospel ; endeavour- ing to build up our people in knowledge and in holiness ; and urging them, especially, to fidelity in family duties, to the religious care of children, and to the cultivation of peace, and of things whereby one may edify another. ' 6. That under a deep persuasion that the unity j order, purity, edification, and good feeling of our Societies may be greatly promoted by our pastoral intercourse with them, and regretting that that intercourse has not been more sedulously and extensively cultivated, we resolve to give ourselves more fully to this branch of our work; and more especially that we will care for the sick and poor, and will endeavour to obtain the help of our brethren, in order to secure to our people of every class that affectionate and Christian oversight of their spiritual interests which is so desirable and beneficial. ' 7. That as we are fully persuaded, from our whole history and experience, that the doctrines we hold cannot be pre- served and transmitted in their purity, nor the practical efficiency of Methodism in accomplishing its original design be maintained, without the most careful adherence to its whole economy, as left to us, in all its essential features, by our venerable Founder, and since modified only according to the urgency of new circumstances ; we deliberately resolve, that we will continue to walk by the same rule, and to mind the OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. 335 same thing ; that we will ourselves cheerfully submit to those rules and usages which more especially concern ourselves ; and that we will conscientiously attend to the faithful ad- ministration of that godly discipline which is necessary to purify the Church, to protect the weak, and to edify the body of Christ. Lastly. That we determine, by God's gracious assistance, to be more fervent and importunate in supplicating upon our- selves, and upon our Officers, Societies, and congregations, that rich effusion of the Holy Spirit which is always necessary to the success of the labours of Christian Ministers and Pastors, and which is peculiarly needed, at the present time, to prepare both ourselves and our people for the duties, trials, and temptations of the coming year.' in. RESOLUTIONS ON ' PASTOEAL VISITATION' ADOPTED IN 1847. * Question. WHAT further measures does the Conference direct on the subject of the PASTOBAL VISITATION of our Societies and Congregations ? ' Answer. The Conference approves and adopts the follow- ing Report of the Committee appointed by the Conference of 1846, to consider and present a " General Plan for securing in every Circuit a more regular and systematic Visitation of our people," who met in the Centenary Hall, London, on February 9th, 1847, and following days ; viz., ' I. That this Committee recognises the absolute obligation which is laid upon all the Ministers of our Circuits to secure by mutual consultation and arrangement, such a general, stated, and efficient visitation of our people at their own dwellings, as is involved, as well in the Scriptural command to " feed the flock of God," as in those other statements of the Sacred Volume, which in varied language represent* Christian Ministers as the Under-Shepherds of Christ ; that this obli- gation has been solemnly confessed, both at the time when we received ordination, and also when on subsequent occasions our approval of the Minutes of 1820, in which this duty is detailed, has been acknowledged : And that thus recognising the obligation, this Committee suggests, that the general ministerial duties of Circuits should, in given cases, be so 336 OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. allotted and arranged, as that families, especially among the working-classes, which cannot be collected or found during the day, may be visited in the evening. ' II. That notwithstanding the obvious benefits which accrue to our Connexion generally from our peculiar system of Itinerancy, and of stated and extensive Village Ministra- tions, its disadvantages as affecting this part of the pastoral care must not be overlooked. Joining this circumstance to the facts, that since Methodism arose the habits of society are greatly altered, and that, even now, the disproportion between the number of Members and Pastors, comparing ours with other Churches, is exceedingly great, this Committee is agreed, that it would be unreasonable to expect that personal visits of the Minister could, under existing arrangements, be made to all the extent that is desired ; especially when it is further considered, that many of our members, from various causes, are not individually accessible ; that numbers are em- ployed in manufactories, and can only be visited at times when the Minister is unavoidably engaged in other duties ; and that, in large towns especially, our Ministers have their time much occupied by claims from public and religious In- stitutions, in addition to their own indispensable ministerial duties and engagements. On all these accounts it is incum- bent upon our people themselves to render us their aid in removing difficulties out of the way, and in affording facilities for the accomplishment of this object. 'III. That the difficulties arising from the causes just mentioned have been greatly increased by the calls which have been made almost perpetually upon many of our Minis- ters for such labours as take them away from their own Cir- cuits, the preaching of Sunday-school and Chapel Anniversary Sermons, and the like, involving the necessity of taking long journeys, occasioning frequent absences from home, and thereby substracting from the time which such Ministers would otherwise- have at their disposal for the visitation and special oversight of their own people. ' IV. That it is painfully evident to this Committee, that in consequence of the ever-multiplying cares which now devolve upon our Pastorate, both of a spiritual and economical nature, and because of the great number of persons who statedly worship with us, and yet have not joined our Socie- ties, who justly claim our attention, and yet are not reached OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. 337 by our usual quarterly Visitation of the Classes, no such full accomplishment of the object as the Conference desires can be realised without an increase of Ministers; and the Committee suggests, that our Circuit Stewards and Lay- friends generally should consider the best and most prudent means of procuring and supporting such an increase in their several localities. 'V. That notwithstanding all the difficulties which have been stated, this Committee is, however, convinced, that by a wise economy of time, by a carefully arranged system, and by perseverance and energy, much more may be accomplished ; and that in the present day the increased temporal cares and dangers of our own people, and their increased exposure to the manifold seductions of worldliness and error, make this additional zeal and energy on our part to be a matter of abso- lute necessity. ' VI. That this Committee therefore respectfully suggests to the Conference the propriety of enjoining as follows : ' 1. That the attention of the Class Leaders shall be again particularly directed to that original Rule of our Societies which requires them to give stated information to the Minis- ter of those members who are sick, or require to be specially visited. ' 2. That the conscientious and increased attention of our Ministers be directed to the Minute of the Conference in 1836, Q. xxvii., in reference to the " Occasional Visits of Preach- ers to other Circuits " ; especially to that clause which enjoins our Ministers to restrict their engagements of this nature " within such bounds as will consist with their paramount and indispensable obligations to their own Circuits" ' 6. That every Minister be required to see that the Class- Books are properly filled up and kept, especially with reference to the insertion of the names and residences of the members ; and to make such use of these books as he may deem necessary for the purpose of Pastoral Visitation. '4. That the Ministers be exhorted frequently to direct their attention to Mr. Wesley's Advices on the subject, con- tained in the Minutes of 1766. in which the objects to be attained by Pastoral Visitation are distinctly set forth, and the spirit in which it ought to be conducted is admirably inculcated. '5. That in the devotional exercises connected with their 338 OTHER MINUTES ON PASTORAL DUTIES. Pastoral Visits, the Ministers should introduce the reading of a suitable portion of the Holy Scriptures, as constantly as possible. ' 6. That each large Circuit be divided into Sections, according to a mutual arrangement to be made by the Minis- ters at their weekly meetings ; and that each Minister be held responsible for the visitation of his own Section. ' 7. That, in harmony with the design of these Regulations, the quarterly Visitation of the Classes be made as impressive as possible, and used as the occasion of special admonition and instruction ; and that no person shall be entered upon the Society- Schedule as a " backslider " upon slight or insufficient grounds, nor without particular inquiry into the case, nor even, whenever it may be practicable, without a personal visitation on the part of one of the Ministers of the Circuit. ' 8. That this important department of ministerial duty be statedly made the subject of direct and specific inquiry and conversation, both by the Superintendents of Circuits in their weekly meetings with their respective Colleagues, and by the Chairmen of Districts in their several District Meet- ings.' APPENDIX V. RESOLUTIONS PEOVISONALLY ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF 1881 RESPECTING THE NOMINATION AND CONSTITUTION OF MIXED CONNEXION AL COMMITTEES. ' r I iHE Conference receives the Report of the Committee JL appointed in 1878, and re-appointed (subject to some modifications) in 1879 and 1880, "to consider the constitution of the Connexional Mixed Committees and the best method of appointing the members thereof," and adopts the following Resolutions in order that the satisfactoriness or otherwise of the Scheme, submitted by the Committee, may in its details be ascertained by actual working. I. ' In the judgment of the Conference it is neither desirable nor practicable to conform all Committees of Departments to one model, either with respect to considerations governing the appointment of individual members, or with respect to the number of members of which each Committee should corsist. ' As to the latter point the Conference is of opinion : That the number of members constituting Departmental Committees may vary with the nature and range of the work entrusted to each Committee ; but that, while the number of persons ap- pointed to serve on any Departmental Committee should, on tLe one hand, be adeqxaate for the efficient discharge of all its duties and for securing the confidence of the Connexion in its admini- stration, it should not, on the other hand, be larger than may be necessary for these purposes. 340 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. II. 'The Conference adopts the following RESOLUTIONS respecting MIXED COMMITTEES OF CONNEXIONAL DEPABTMENTS. ' 1. That Members of Society, whether they are Members of the Conference in its Representative Session or not, shall be eligible for appointment upon Departmental Committees. ' 2. That the President of the Conference, the ex- President, and the Secretary of the Conference, shall be ex officio Members of every Committee of a Connexional Department. ' 3. That although exceptions may be occasionally admitted, every Committee of a Connexional Department shall ordinarily consist of an equal number of Ministers (in addition to the President) and of Laymen. ' 4. That no Minister who is not an Officer of a Departmental Committee, shall remain upon that Committee as a Member more than six consecutive years, unless he shall have been nominated for a further appointment thereon by the vote of four-fifths of the Members of the Committee present. '5. That the Standing Order (No. 16) of the Conference (Minutes 1880, p. 264) be amended so as to read as follows: That a certain number of Lay Gentlemen, being at least one- sixth of the number of Lay Members of each Departmental Committee, shall annually retire from each Committee by rotation, the same persons being ineligible for immediate re- appointment, except in special cases, and after nomination for such re-appointment by the vote of four-fifths of the Members of the Committee present. ni. ' The Conference adopts the following REGULATIONS for the appointment of MIXED COMMITTEES OE CONNEXIONAL DEPABT- MENTS : ' 1. The Conference shall annually appoint the Members of each Mixed Committee of a Connexional Department (not being hereinafter described as ex officio Members) after receiving the Report of a Nomination Committee, which shall be appointed and shall act in the manner hereinafter provided. ' The General Treasurers of the several Funds, and the Local Treasurers of Executive Committees, shall be appointed CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 341 by the Conference after receiving the Nominations of the Committees of the several Funds. : 2. The Nomination Committee shall consist of : ' (a) The eighteen Laymen appointed by the previous Conference in its Representative Session to be Members of the Conference then next ensuing. ' (6) Eighteen Ministers to be appointed annually by the Conference in its pastoral Session. ' (c) Two Secretaries (one Minister and one Layman),who shall be annually appointed by the Conference to act upon the Nomination Committee of the Conference ensuing. ' 3. It shall be the duty of the Secretaries : (a) to convene the meeting of the Nomination Committee, and to summon to it persons entitled to attend its meeting : (6) to receive from the Committee of each Connexional Department a list of persons, ex officio and otherwise, who are proposed for appointment upon it by the Conference : (c) to present the lists so received to the Nomination Committee : (d) to keep the record of the proceed- ings of the Committee, and (e) to report to the Conference on its behalf. ' 4. The Nomination Committee shall meet on the Saturday previous to tha Meeting of the Eepresentative Conference; At that Meeting the President of the Conference shall preside, or, in his absence, some ex-President or other Minister whom he shall depute ; and the Secretary or some other deputed repre- sentative of each Connexional Department shall attend to give such information as may be necessary. ' 5. The Nomination Committee shall consider the lists sent forward by the several Committees of Connexional Departments ; it shall take care that the constitution of each Committee nomi- nated is in accordance with the regulations of the Conference ; it shall have power to amend the lists sent forward, as it may deem desirable, and to make any changes in reference to Ministers recommended for nomination which the action of the Ministerial Conference may have rendered necessary, but only in cases of necessity shall it make any change in reference to either the Ministerial or Lay nominees of a District Committee, and every such change shall be reported to the Conference. * 6. The Conference appoints the Rev. Charles H. Kelly and Mr. William Vanner as Secretaries of the Nomination Com- mittee for the Conference of 1882. 342 CONSTITUTION OF NIXED COMMITTEES. IV. ' The Conference adopts the following BEGTJLATIONS for the CONSTITUTION or COMMITTEES or CONNEXIONAL DEPABT- MENTS : ' HOME-MISSION AND CONTINGENT FUND. ' The General Committee shall consist of ' i. Ex officio Members, namely, the President and the Secre- tary of the Conference : the ex-President ; the Treasurers and the Secretaries of the Fund ; the Treasurers and the Secretary of the Fund for the Extension of Methodism in Great Britain ; the Secretaries of the Foreign Missionary Society : 'ii. Twelve Ministers and fifteen Laymen residing in the London Districts, to be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the General Committee. ' iii. (1) The Chairman of each District in Great Britain : ' (2) One Layman from each District in Great Britain, to be nominated by the District Committee at its Meeting in May ; with, ' (3) Eight Ministers and eight Laymen residing in other than the London Districts, to be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the General Com- mittee. ' The names of the Laymen nominated by the District Com- mittee shall be sent to the Secretaries of the General Committee, who shall report them at its Meeting next before the Conference, and at that Meeting the twelve Ministers and fifteen Laymen named in section ii. above, and the eight Ministers and eight Laymen named in section iii. (3) above, to be recommended for nomination, shall be chosen. 'ABMYAND NAVY SUB-COMMITTEE. This Sub-Committee shall consist of (a) the Treasurers and the Secretaries of the Home- Mission and Contingent Fund, the Treasurers and Secretaries of the Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society ; the Minister appointed to be Assistant-Secretary of the Army and Navy Sub-Committee ; (ft) eight Ministers and eight Laymen resident in the London Districts ; and (c) six Ministers and six Laymen resident in Provincial Districts. N.B. The Ministers and Laymen named in (6) and (c) shall be recommended for nomi- nation to the Conference in equal proportions by the Home- Mission and the Foreign Mission Committees respectively. CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 343 'THE SEAMEN'S MISSION SUB-COMMITTEE. The Sub-Com- mittee shall consist of the officers of the Home Mission Fund ; the Superintendent of the Mission ; the Superintendent of the London (St. G-eorge's) Circuit; the Circuit Stewards of the London (St. George's) Circuit ; four Laymen, to be nominated by the Sub-Committee ; and ten other persons to be elected by the Home Mission Committee. ' As early as possible after the meeting of the General Com- mittee next before the Conference, and not later than ten days before the opening of the next Representative session of the Conference, the Secretaries of the Committee shall forward to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee a list of all persons (together with a list of ex offtcio members), who are recom- mended for nomination to the Conference for the General Committee, the Army and Navy Sub-Committee, and the Sea- men's Mission Sub-Committee respectively. CHAPEL AFFAIRS. ' The CHAPEL COMMITTEE shall consist of ' i. Ex offtcio Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the Ex-President ; the Treasurers of the Fund ; the Secretaries of the Committee ; the Chairman of the Manchester District ; the Secretary and Lay Treasurers of the Metropolitan Chapel Building Committee ; and the Secretary of the Fund for the Extension of Methodism in Great Britain: with, 'ii. Twenty- three Ministers and twenty-seven Laymen, who shall be recommended by the Chapel Committee for nomination to the Conference, chiefly from among members resident in the Manchester, Bolton, and adjacent Districts. ' A list of the Ministers and Laymen recommended by the Chapel Committee for nomination to the Conference (together with a list of ex offtcio members) shall be sent by the Secretaries of the Chapel Committee to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee, not later than ten days before the opening of the next Representative session of the Conference. THE SOUTH WALES AND NOBTH WALES CHAPEL FUND COMMITTEES shall each consist of eight Ministers and eight Laymen, to be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the South Wales and the North Wales District Committees respectively, in May of each year ; and the names of Ministers 344 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. and Laymen so nominated shall be sent by the Secretaries of the two District Committees to the Secretaries of the Nomina- tion Committee, not later than ten days before the opening of the next Representative Session of the Conference. ' RELIEF AND EXTENSION FUND FOB METHODISM IN SCOTLAND The Committee shall consist of the Superintendent Ministers in the Edinburgh and Aberdeen District, of one Layman from each Circuit, to be recommended for nomination to the Con- ference by the Committee of the Edinburgh and Aberdeen Dis- trict, at its meeting in May of each year, and of such other gentleman or gentlemen from any Circuit in Scotland as the District Committee may appoint. The names of the Laymen nominated shall be sent, by the Secretary of the District Com- mittee, to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee, after the May District Meeting, and not later than ten days before the opening of the Representative Session of the Con- ference. The General Treasurers and Secretaries of the Fund shall be appointed by the General Committee from amongst the members of that Committee at their meeting, to be held annually in connection with the Financial District Meeting of the Edinburgh and Aberdeen District. 'METROPOLITAN CHAPEL BUILDING FUND. ' The COMMITTEE shall consist of ' i. Ex officio Members, namely, the President and the Secre- tary of the Conference ; the Ex-President ; the Treasurers of the Fund ; the Secretary ; two or more Assistant Secretaries, including a Minister resident in each of the London Districts ; the Secretaries of the Chapel Committee ; the Secretaries of the Home-Mission and Contingent Fund ; the Chairman of each of the London Districts ; and the Superintendent Ministers of all Circuits within the Metropolitan Postal Districts : with, ' ii. Sixteen Ministers other than the above, and a number of Laymen equal to the whole number of Ministers upon the Com- mittee, in addition to the President of the Conference. The Ministers and Laymen named in this group (ii.) shall be recom- mended by the General Committee for nomination to the Con- ference from among Ministers and Laymen resident in Circuits included within the Metropolitan Postal Districts ; and a list of their names shall be sent to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee (together with a list of ex officio members), not later CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 345 than ten days before the opening of the next Eepresentative Session of the Conference. EXTENSION OP METHODISM IN GREAT BRITAIN. ' The COMMITTEE shall consist of 'i. Ex ojfido Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the ex-President ; the Treasurers and Secretary of the Fund ; the Treasurers and Secretaries of the Chapel Fund ; the Treasurers and Secretaries of the Home- Mission and Contingent Fund : 'ii. One Minister and one Layman from each District in England to be nominated by each District Committee at its Meeting in May : with, ' iii. Fifteen Ministers and fifteen Laymen (ten of each of whom shall be resident in or near London) to be recommended for nomination by the Committee at its Meeting next before Conference in each year. ' The names of the nominees of the District Committees shall be sent to the Secretary of the Extension Fund Committee immediately after the May Meeting. He shall report them to the Committee at its Meeting next before the Conference, when the fifteen Ministers and fifteen Laymen named in iii. above shall be recommended for nomination. As soon as possible after that Meeting, and not later than ten days before the opening of the next Representative Session of the Conference, the Secretary of the Committee shall forward to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee a complete list of the names of persons (together with a list of ex officio members) recommended for nomination for appointment upon the Extension Fund Committee for the year ensuing. 4 WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION. * The GEJTEBAL COMMITTEE shall consist of ' i. Ex offido Members, namely, the President and the Secre- tary of the Conference; the ex-President; the General Treasurers; the General Secretary ; the Treasurers and Local Secretaries of the several Branches ; the House Governors, and the Tutors of the several Branches : * ii. Twenty-four Ministers and thirty-four Laymen, residing in Districts in or near to which the several Branches of the 346 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. Institution are situated, who shall be recommended by the General Committee for nomination to the Conference : with, ' iii. Six Ministers and eight Laymen, who shall be recom- mended by the Missionary Committee from amongst its members for nomination to the Conference. ' The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES for the DIDSBUET, HEADINGLET, and BIBMINGHAM BRANCHES respectively shall act as Sub- Committees of the General Committee, shall be annually appointed by the Conference, and shall be constituted as follows : * (1 ) The President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the General Treasurers and the General Secretary; the House Governor and Tutors ; the Treasurers ; the Secretary of the Branch : ' (2) Six Ministers and eight Laymen, who shall be appointed from among members of the General Committee included in groups i. and ii. above : and ' (3) An additional and equal number of Ministers and Lay- men, not exceeding twenty-four of each. ' Each of the three Executive Committees above-named shall forward to the General Committee for consideration at its Meeting next before each Conference, a List showing, ' (a) The names of the Ministers and Laymen whom it sug- gests that the General Committee should recommend for nomination to the Conference as members of that Executive Committee : and ' (6) The names of the persons whom it suggests that the General Committee should nominate to the Con- ference for appointment to the offices of Treasurers and Secretary of the Branch. ' The names of the Members of EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES of the three Branches above-mentioned shall be printed in the Minutes of Conference for the year. 'The General Committee, after having received and considered at its Meeting next before the Conference in each year the list of names sent forward to it from the Executive Committees of Didsbury, Headingley, and Birmingham, shall prepare and forward to the Nomination Committee a complete Nomination Scheme, showing (together with a list of ex officio members) the names of Ministers and Laymen recommended for appointment upon the General Committee and upon the Executive Com- mittees of the three Branches named above of the Institution, CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 347 and specifying the Minister proposed for the office of Local Secretary for each of the four Branches. ' The above-mentioned Nomination Scheme shall be sent in each year to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee, as early as possible after it has been adopted by the General Committee, and in no case later than ten days before the opening of the next Representative Session of the Conference. ' The Conference resolves to amend the Resolution of the Conference, 1879, Minutes p. 249 (iii.), in accordance with the foregoing proposals respecting Local Executive Committees. 'THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE or THE RICHMOND BRANCH. The Missionary Committee, together with the Junior Classical Tutor of the Branch, shall be the Executive Committee. 'THE SCHOOLS FUND. ' The GENERAL COMMITTEE shall consist of ' i. The Governing Body of the Kingswood and "Woodhouse Grove School, and the Governing Body of the Schools for Girls : with, ' ii. Seven Ministers and seven Laymen, residing in Districts in or near to which the ordinary place or places of meeting for the General Committee may be situated, who shall be recom- mended by the General Committee for nomination to the Con- ference. ' THE GOVERNING BODY or THE KINGSWOOD AND WOODHOUSE GROVE SCHOOL shall consist of ' i. The following ex offtcio Members, the President and the Secretary of the Conference; the Ex-President; the General Treasurers and Secretaries of the Schools Eund ; the General Treasurers and Secretaries of the Children's Fund ; the Trea- surer and Secretaries of the Governing Body ; the Chairmen of the Bristol, Bath, Halifax and Bradford, and Leeds Districts ; and the Governors and Head-Master of the School : also, ' ii. Twelve Ministers and twelve Laymen to be elected in accordance with the Scheme of Management adopted by the Conference in 1875. ' THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOLS shall consist of ' i. The following ex offtcio Members, the President and the Secretary of the Conference; the Ex-President; the General Treasurers and Secretaries of the Schools Fund ; the General 348 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. Treasurers and Secretaries of the Children's Fund ; the Chair- men of the Second London and Liverpool Districts ; the Local Treasurers and Secretaries, and the Convener : also ' ii. Ten Ministers and ten Laymen, being the Ministers and Laymen who, with the Local Treasurers and Secretaries, are appointed by the Conference to act upon the two Executive Committees under-named. ' THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES FOB, THE GIRLS' SCHOOLS, as appointed annually by the Conference, shall each be constituted as follows : ' (1) Two Treasurers (a Minister and a Layman), one Local Secretary (a Minister) : ' (2) Five Ministers and five Laymen who shall be Members of the Governing Body : and ' (3) The Treasurers and Secretary of the other Executive Committee. ' Each Executive Committee shall send forward to the General Committee, for consideration at its Meeting next before each Conference, the names of persons whom it recommends for appointment by the Conference to be Members of that Execu- tive Committee for the year ensuing, the name of the Minister proposed as the Local Secretary being specified. ' The names of all Members of each Executive Committee appointed by the Conference shall be printed in the Minutes of Conference for the year. ' Each Executive Committee appointed by the Conference shall have power to add to itself subject to the approval of the General Committee any Ministers, or other persons who are Members of Society. ' The General Committee, after having received and considered at its Meeting next before the Conference in each year the list of names sent forward to it from the Governing Body of the Boys' School, and from the Executive Committees of the Girls' Schools, shall prepare and forward to the Nomination Com- mittee a complete Nomination Scheme, showing (together with lists of ex officio Members) the names of persons whom it re- commends for Nomination to the Conference (a) upon the General Committee, (b) upon the Governing Body of the Kings- wood and Woodhouse Grove School, (c) upon the Governing Body of the School for Girls, and (d) .upon the Executive Committee of each School for Girls. 'The above-mentioned Nomination Scheme shall be sent in CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 349 each year to the Secretary of the Nomination Committee as early as possible after it has been adopted by the General Com- mittee, and in no case later than ten days before the opening of the next B/epresentative Session of the Conference. 'THE CHILDEEN'S FUND. 'The Administration of the CHILDREN'S FUND shall be entrusted to the Committee which has charge of the Schools Fund. ' EDUCATION. ' The GENERAL COMMITTEE shall consist of ' i. Ex officio Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the Ex-President ; the Treasurers ; the Secretary of the Committee ; the Principals of the West- minster and Southlands Training Colleges; the Secretary of the Connexional Sunday School Union ; the Principal of the Children's Home; the Connexional Editor; and the Book- Steward : ' ii. Twenty-four Ministers and thirty Laymen residing in the London Districts : with, 'iii. One Minister and one Layman from each District in Great Britain to be nominated by each District Committee at its Meeting in May. (In the choice of these nominees it is desirable that regard should be had to the relations of the Committee both to Day-school and Sunday-school work.) ' The names of the nominees of the District Committees shall be sent to the Secretary of the Education Committee imme- diately after the May District Meeting. He shall report them to the Education Committee at its Meeting next before the Conference, when the twenty-four Ministers and thirty Lay- men named in section ii. above shall be recommended for nomination. As soon as possible after the Meeting, and not later than ten days before the opening of the next Representa- tive Session of the Conference, the Secretary of the Committee shall forward to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee a complete list of the persons who are recommended for nomina- tion to the Conference (together with a list of ex officio Members), for appointment upon the Education Committee for the ensuing year. 350 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 'THE CHILDBED'S HOME AND ORPHANAGE. ' The GENEBAL COMMITTEE shall consist of i. Ex officio Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the Ex-President : the Principal ; the General Treasurers ; the Treasurers of the Local Branches : ' ii. Ministers and Laymen who shall be Members of the Executive Committee of one of the Branches of the Institution : with, ' iii. Seven Ministers and seven Laymen not appointed by the Conference upon any of the Executive Committees. ' The Ministers and Laymen mentioned in groups ii. and iii. shall be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the General Committee, and one moiety of the number of Minis- terial and Lay Members of the General Committee shall be nominated and appointed from among the members of the Education Committee, resident in or near London. ' THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES FOB THE SEVEEAL BBANCHES, as appointed annually by the Conference, shall each consist of one or more Lay Treasurers, the Principal, two Ministers and two Laymen, who shall be members of the General Committee, together with five Ministers and five Laymen, who need not be Members of the General Committee. ' Each of these Executive Committees shall forward to the General Committee for consideration at its Meeting next before each Conference, the names of Ministers and Laymen whom it suggests that the General Committee should recommend for nomination to the Conference, as members of that Executive Committee. ' The names of the Members of these Executive Committees, who are appointed by the Conference, shall be printed in the Minutes of Conference for the year ; and each Executive Com- mittee so appointed shall have power to add to itself, subject to the approval of the General Committee, Ministers or other persons, not exceeding five in number. 'The General Committee, after having received and considered at its Meeting next before the Conference in each year, the lists of names sent forward to it from the Executive Committees of the several Branches, shall prepare and forward to the Nomi- nation Committee a complete Nomination Scheme, showing the names of Ministers and Laymen whom it recommends for nomination to the Conference for appointment, either upon the CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 351 General Committee, or upon the four Executive Committees named. ' The above-mentioned Nomination Scheme shall be sent in each year to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee, as early as possible after it has been adopted by the General Com- mittee, and in no case later than ten days before the next Representative Session of the Conference. 'FOREIGN MISSIONS. ' The GENERAL COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT shall consist of ' i. Ex officio Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the ex-President ; the General Treasurers ; the General Secretaries ; the Honorary Secretary (if any) ; the Secretaries of the Home-Mission Committee ; the General Treasurers and the General Secretary of the Theological Institution ; the Governor, Theological Tutor, Senior Classical Tutor, and Secretary, of the Richmond Branch of the Institution. ' (ii.) Sixteen Ministers and Sixteen Laymen to be chosen for nomination and appointment from not fewer than twelve Pro- vincial Districts : with, ' (iii.) Sixteen Ministers and twenty Laymen, resident in the London Districts. ' N.B. The Treasurer of any District Auxiliary Society in Great Britain, and the Chairman of any District, who may be in London at the time of holding any Meeting of the General Committee, shall be entitled to sit and vote with the Committee; and the Treasurer, or Treasurers, of the London Districts Auxiliary Societies shall be regularly summoned to the Com- mittee. ' The Ministers and Laymen referred to in groups ii. and iii., above, shall be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the General Committee at its Meeting next before the Con- ference in each year ; and a list of the Ministers and Laymen so recommended shall be sent to the Secretary of the Nomina- tion Committee in each jear as early as possible after it has been adopted, and in no case later than ten days before the next Representative Session of the Conference. ' The Conference resolves ' (1) To amend Clause X. of the ' Laws and Regulations of the Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society," so as to bring it into accord with the foregoing proposals, and to rescind the 352 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. following words at the end of the same Clause X., namely : " Those of the Methodist Ministers who are annual subscribers to the Missions of one Guinea, and one Treasurer, Secretary, or other principal member from every District Auxiliary Society, who may be in London occasionally, shall be entitled to meet and vote with the Committee." ' (2) To amend Clause XI. of the " Laws and Regulations," so as to bring it into accord with the foregoing proposals, and with the general Regulation respecting the retirement of Ministers, and the retirement of Laymen by rotation from Connexional Committees, now submitted to the Conference. V. ' The Conference adopts the following REGULATIONS respect- ing the constitution and appointment of " THE COMMITTEE OF PEIVILEGES AND THE COMMITTEE OF EXIGENCY," THE COM- MITTEE OF THE AlTXILIABY FtFND, THE COMMITTEE FOB PBOMOTING THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OF THE LOED'S DAT, AND THE TEMPEEANCE COMMITTEE, namely : ' (i.) That Members of Society, whether they are Members of the Conference in its Representative Session or not, shall be eligible for appointment upon the Committees named above. ' (ii.) That the President and the Secretary of the Conference and the ex-President, shall be ex officio Members of the Com- mittees named above. ' (iii.) That each of the Committees named above shall ordi- narily consist of an equal number of Ministers (in addition to the President) and of Laymen. ' (iv.) That no Minister who is not an ex officio Member of the Committee of the Auxiliary Fund, or of the Committee for Promoting the Religious Observance of the Lord's Day, or of the Temperance Committee, shall remain upon either Committee as a Member during more than six consecutive years, unless he shall have been nominated for further appointment thereon by the vote of four-fifths of the Members of the Committee present. ' (v.) That the Standing Order (No. 16) of the Conference (Minutes, 1880, p. 264), as amended in accordance with a preceding Resolution, shall be so further amended as that members of the Committee named in the foregoing Regulation (iv.) shall be included in its provisions. CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 353 '(vi.) That the Conference shall annually appoint the Members (not being ex officio Members) of the Committees named above after receiving the Report of the Nomination Committee. 'The Treasurers shall be appointed by the Conference after receiving the Nominations of the respective Committees. '"THE COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES"; AND "THE COMMITTEE OF EXIGENCY." ' The Conference resolves that in future Q.XX. in the Minutes of Conference and the answer thereto, shall be worded as tollows : ' Q. XX. What are the COMMITTEES FOE GUARDING OUB PRIVILEGES during the ensuing year ? 'A. (i.) The OEDINABY COMMITTEE; which shall have full power to take action in all cases affecting our Connexional interests, unless in its judgment, or in the judgment of the Presi- dent of the Conference, it is deemed expedient to refer any case to the Extraordinary Committee named below. The Ordinary Committee shall meet whenever it is convened either by direction of the President of the Conference or by its Secretaries : ' (ii.) The EXTBAOBDINABY COMMITTEE ; which shall have full power to take action in all cases affecting our Connexional interests, and shall meet whenever the Ordinary Committee or the President of the Conference shall convene it. ' The OEDIKAET COMMITTEE shall consist of * (i.) Ex officio Members : namely, the President and Secretary of the Conference, the Ex-President, the Connexional Editor, the Book-Steward, two of the General Secretaries of the Mis- sionary Society, to be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the Missionary Committee, the Secretary of the Education Committee, the Senior Secretary of the Chapel Committee, the Secretary of the Metropolitan Chapel Building Committee, the General Secretary of the Home-Mission Fund Committee, the Senior Secretary of the Lord's Day Committee, the Secretary of the Fund for the Extension of Methodism in Great Britain, the Senior Secretary of the Temperance Com- mittee, the Lay General Treasurer of the Missionary Society, one of the Lay Treasurers of the Education Fund to be recom- mended for nomination to the Conference by the Education Committee, the Senior Lay Treasurer of the Chapel Committee, the Lay Treasurer of the Home-Mission Fund, and the Lay AA 354 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. Treasurer of the Fund for the Extension of Methodism in Great Britain : ' (ii.) So many Ministers (in addition to the President) as will make the total number of Ministerial Members of the Committee to be twenty-five. The Nomination Committee shall annually nominate these additional Ministers to the Conference for appointment, of whom not fewer than six shall be resident in or near London : and, ' (iii.) So many Laymen as will make the total number of Lay Members of the Committee to be twenty-five. The Nomination Committee shall annually nominate the additional Lay Members to the Conference for appointment, of whom not fewer than twelve shall be resident in or near London. ' Not later than ten days before the opening of the Session of the Representative Conference in each year, the Secretaries of the Missionary Committee shall forward to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee the names of the General Secretaries recommended for nomination to the Conference as ex officio Members of this Committee, and the Secretary of the Education Committee shall also forward in like manner the name of the Lay Treasurer of the Education Fund nominated for appoint- ment as an ex officio member. ' N.B. The following Ministers and Laymen shall act as a Sub-Committee of the Ordinary Committee, and shall meet once a quarter, or oftener if necessary, in order to consider any cases of alleged grievance or other matters of exigency which may arise. This Sub-Committee shall be convened quarterly, or oftener, by the Secretaries of the Ordinary Committee. The President of the Conference shall have power to direct that it be convened at any time. It shall consist of the President and Secretary of the Conference, the Ex-President, three Lay Members of the Ordinary Committee, to be appointed by the Conference on receiving the recommendation of the Nomination Committee, and the Secretaries of the Ordinary Committee. ' Superintendent Ministers are directed to report to the Secre- taries all cases of alleged grievance within their Circuits so soon as such cases are alleged to have arisen. ' The EXTBAOBDINABY COMMITTEE shall consist of ' (i.) All the Members of the Ordinary Committee : ' (ii.) The Chairmen of Districts : ' (iii.) Thirty-four Laymen : to be nominated for appointment to the Conference by the Nomination Committee from the Lay CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. 355 Representatives to the Conference elected by the several District Committees, one Layman being nominated from among the Representatives of each District : and, ' (iv.) The Lay General Treasurers of Connexions! Funds who are not otherwise appointed to be Members of this Committee. 'THE WORN-OUT MINISTERS' AND MINISTERS' WIDOWS' AUXILIARY FUND. ' The Committee of this Fund shall consist of ' (i.) Ex offido Members, the President and the Secretary of the Conference, the Ex-President, the Treasurers and Secretary of the Fund : ' (ii.) Twenty-two Ministers, of whom fifteen shall be annually chosen for nomination to the Conference by the Nomination Committee from among Chairmen of Districts, and seven shall be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the Committee of the Fund ; and, ' (iii.) Twenty- five Laymen: of whom eighteen shall be annually chosen for nomination to the Conference by the Nomination Committee from among the Lay Representatives elected by the several District Committees, and seven shall be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the Committee of the Fund. ' Not later than ten days before the opening of the Session of the Representative Conference in each year, the Secretary of the Fund shall forward to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee the names of the seven Ministers and the seven Laymen whom the Committee of the Auxiliary Fund recom- mend for nomination to the Conference as Members of the Committee. 'RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S DAT. ' The Committee shall consist of ' (i.) Ex cfficio Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of Conference, the Ex-President, one of the Secre- taries of the Temperance Committee, two Ministerial Secre- taries : ' (ii.) Twenty-one Ministers, of whom not fewer than twelve shall be resident in or near London : and, '(iii.) Twenty-five Laymen, of whom not fewer than twelve shall be resident in or near London. 356 CONSTITUTION OF MIXED COMMITTEES. ' The twenty-one Ministers and the twenty-five Laymen above- named, shall be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the Lord's Day Committee, and the Secretaries of that Committee shall forward the names of the said Ministers and Laymen to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee, not later than ten days before the opening of the Session of the Representative Conference in each year. ' TEMPERANCE. ' The Committee shall consist of, ' i. Ex officio Members, namely, the President and the Secretary of the Conference ; the Ex-President ; the Secretaries and Lay Treasurer of the Committee ; the Book-Steward ; the Connexional Editor ; the Secretary of the Connexional Sunday School Union ; one of the Secretaries of the Lord's Day Obser- vance Committee ; and, ' ii. Sixteen Ministers and twenty Laymen to be recommended for nomination to the Conference by the Temperance Com- mittee, not fewer than four of the said Ministers and six of the said Laymen being resident in or near London. In the selection and appointment of the Ministers and Laymen named in this Clause (ii), due regard shall be had to the regulation 1, p. 210, Minutes of Conference, 1875 ; with a view to the con- stitution of the Committee in accordance with that regulation. ' " Not later than ten days before the opening of the Repre- sentative Session of Conference in each year, the Secretaries of the Temperance Committee shall forward to the Secretaries of the Nomination Committee the names of the sixteen Ministers and twenty Laymen who are recommended by the Committee for Nomination to the Conference." ' The Conference re-appoints the Committee on the Nomina- tion of Mixed Committees, and refers to its further consideration the recommendations contained in its Report as to the travelling expenses of ministers, as also the whole question of the expenses of Departmental Committees.' INDEX. Admission to Membership in the Wesleyan-Methodist Societies, Pages 8, 279, 280, 317, 320. Advices to the Preachers, 321, 322. Agreement mith the Trustees at Bristol in 1794, 305 307, Annual District Meeting, 62 71. Annuitant Society, Methodist Preachers', 248, 249. Antinomianism, warnings against, 285, 287. Appeals, 10, 64, 73, 74, 75, 96, 97. Appeals, Committee on, 36. Army and Navy Ministers, 56, 144. Army and Navy Sub- Committee, of Home-Missionary Committee, 143, 144. Auxiliary Fund for Worn-out Ministers and Ministers' Widorvs,2i8 254; Duties of Circuit Treasurers of, 250, 251 ; Duties of District Treasurers of, 83, 251. Auxiliary Missionary Societies, 130. Backsliders to be cared far, 54, 55, 327, 338. Band-Meetings, 5, 6, 331. Bands of Hope, 121, 122, 235238. Bankruptcies, 103, 296. Book- Committee, London, 163; General, 164. Book-Room, Wesleyan-Methodist, 163, 164, 320. Book-Steward, 164. Branch Missionary Societies, 125. Bribery at Elections, 294, 295. Candidates for the Ministry, 44 49. Candidates for Ordination, 51 53. Catechetical Instruction, 327. ClMimten of Districts, Method of Electing, 60; Duties of, 7880; Trial of, 80, 81 ; Provision for the Death or Incapacity of, 40, 41. Chapel Affairs, ' Compendium of Regulations ' affecting, 166 174 ; Sub- sequent Regulations respecting, 174 176. 358 INDEX. Cliapel Model Deed, some leading Provisions of, 111 115. Chapel Secretaries, District, 85. Chapel Stewards, Mode of Appointment, 113, 114 ; Duties of, 114. Chapel Treasurer, Mode of Appointment, 113, 114. Children, Instruction of, 293, 294. Children of Supernumerary and Deceased Ministers, 254. Children's Fund, 242 245, 254. District Treasurer of, 83. Children's Home and Orphanage, 231 233. Children's Meetings, 12, 293, 294, 325. Circuit Meeting, Special, 96 98. Circuit Stewards, Functions and Duties of, 95. Circuit Sunday School Unions, 219, 220. Circuit Temperance Unions, 240, 241. Class-Leaders, Appointment of, 100. 305, 317, 318, 326 ; Duties of, 2, 99, 100, 327, 337 ; Kemoval of, 100, 101. Class-Meetings, 4, 5. Cleanliness, 296. ' Code of Laws,' issued by the Conference of 1797, 268-322. Commercial Failures, Mode of proceeding in, 103. Committees, Connexwnal, Scheme for the Nomination and Constitution of, 339356. Conference, The, 14 38 ; The Legal Conference 14 19 ; Lay Repre- sentation in the, 21 27 ; Business of the Pastoral Session, 24 ; of the Representative Session, 25; Order of Business in the, 2835. Conformity to the World. 294. Connexwnal Offices, Appointments to, 58, 59. Contingent Fund, 132 149. Cottage Prayer Meetings, 105, 325. Covenant, Renewal of the, 7. Day Schools, 119121 ; 208 ; Rules for the Management of, 214216. ' Deed of Declaration,' or ' Deed Poll" of the Rev. John Wesley, 14, 261267. Delegate of the Conference in Ireland, 18, 19. District Administration of Home-Mission Funds, 135, 136. District Chapel Secretary, 85. District Chapel Sub- Committee, 167. District Committees, 60 77, 277 281 ; The Financial District Meeting, 60 62 ; The Annual District Meeting, 62 71 ; Minor District Meetings, 7274 ; Special District Meetings, 75, 76 ; The Mixed District Meeting, 76, 77. District Education Secretary, 84, 85. INDEX. 859 District Financial Secretary, 81, 82. District Home-Mission Secretary, 85. District Home-Mission Sub- Committee, 136. District Missionaries, 56, 142, 143. District Probationers' Examination Secretary, 49, 50, 84. District Sunday School Sub- Committees, 218, 228, 229. District Sustentation Funds, 245 247. District Sustentation Fund Sub- Committee, 245, 246. District Temperance Secretary, 86, 241. District Treasurer of Children's Fund, 83, 244. District Treasurer of Foreign Missionary Society, 83, 84, 125^ District Treasurer of Schools Fund, 84, 206. District Treasurer of Sustentation Fund, 84, 247. District Treasurer of Worn-out Ministers' and Ministers' Widows' Fund, 83, 251. Division of Circuits, Kules affecting, 92, 93, 309, 317. Editor, Connexional, Duties of, 164. Education Committee, 209, 210. Education Fund, 222. Education, Higher, 223, 224. Education, Middle- Class, 222. 223. Education of Ministers' Children, allowance for those who are not at the Connexional Schools, 201. Education Secretary, District, 84, 85, 216, 217. Education, Wesley an- Methodist, Plan of, 209 218. Election of Lay Representatives by the Conference, 23, 26, 27 ; by Dis- trict Committees, 23. Election of Members oftlie. Legal Conference, mode of, 15, 16. Election of the President and Secretary of the Conference, mode of, 16, 17. Enrolment or Registration of Chapel Deeds, 170, 174, 175. Examination of Candidates for the Ministry, Special, 47. Examination of Probationers, 49, 50. Exhorters, 109, 110. Exigency, Committee of, 256, 257. Expulsion of Members from the Society, 10, 11, 102, 103, 317, 320. Extension Fund for Methodism in Great Britain, 179, 180. Extension Fund for Methodism in Scotland, 184 190. Failures in Business, 103. Family Worship, 331, 332. Fasts, Quarterly, 309, 310. Field Preaching, 283, 284. 860 INDEX. Financial District Meeting, 6062. Financial Secretaries of Districts, Mode of Appointment, 60 ; Duties of, 81, 82. ' Form of Discipline,' issued by the Conference of 1797, 268 322. Formality in Public Worship, to be avoided, 288, 289. Funeral Sermons, 296. 'Helper,' Business of a, 281, 282. ' Helper] Rules of a, 275, 276. Holiness, means of advancing in, 282, 283. Home- Mission and Contingent Fund, 132, 133 ; ' Compendium of Regula- tions ' affecting, 134147 ; Additional Regulations made in 1880, 147, 148 ; in 1881, 148, 149. Home-Mission Sub- Committee, District, 85. Home Missionary Ministers, 56, 139 142. Houses, Ministers', 138, 142, 296. Invitations to Ministers, 90. Ireland, Delegate of the Conference in, 18, 19. Irish Members of the Legal Conference, 16. Itinerant System, the, 57, 58. Junior Society Classes, 12, 13. , Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Associations, 130, 131, 135. Kingsnooa School, 313 315. See also New Kingsmood and Woodhouse Gfrove School. Ladies' Auxiliary to the Foreign Missionary Society, 131. ' Large Minutes,' or ' Form of Discipline,' 268 322. Lamsuits, not to be commenced without the sanction of the Committee of Privileges, 256, 312. Lay Agents, employed by District Home-Mission Sub-Committees, 144146. Lay Agents of the Metropolitan Methodist Lay Mission, 145, 146. Leaders' Meetings, Constitution of, 99 ; Functions, 99 105, 317, 318. Leaders of Classes, how Appointed, 100, 305, 317, 318 ; Duties of, 99, 100, 327, 337. Leaders of Junior Society Classes, how Appointed, 13, 101, 326 ; Duties of, 13. Leys School, Cambridge, 224. List of Reserve, 39, 48, 49. Liverpool Methodist Lay Mission, 155. INDEX. 861 ' Liverpool Minutes,' 303309. Local Preachers, 107110, 280, 281, 318 ; Fund for the Benefit of Necessitous Local Preachers, 255. Local Preachers' Meetings, 107 1 10. Lord's Day, Religious Observance of the, 310, 327. Lord's Day, Committee for Promoting the Religious Observance of the, 257, 258. Lovefeasts, 6, 7, 296. Manchester and Salford Lay Mission, 154, 155. Marriage with Unconverted Persons, 295. Married Candidates for the Ministry, 47, 312. Meetings of Ministers resident in the same town, 56, 57. Memorials from Circuits to the Conference, 93, 94. Methodism, Design of, 272 ; Rise of, 272, 273. Methodist Preachers, Office and Duty of, 274276. Metropolitan Chapel Building Fund, 177 179. Metropolitan Methodist Lay Mission, 146, 151 154. Minor District Meetings, 72 74. Minutes of the Conference, on the Work of God, adopted in 1820, 323329 ; adopted in 1821, 330332 ; adopted in 1835, 333335. Minutes on Pastoral Visitation, adopted in 1847, 335 338. Missionary Society, Wesley an- Methodist, origin of, 123, 124 ; Laws and Regulations of, 124 130 ; Auxiliary and Branch Societies, 124, 130; Juvenile Associations, 130, 131, 135; Ladies' Auxiliary for Female Education, 131. Mission Rooms, 176. Mixed District Meeting, 76, 77, 301, 303, 304. Nervous Disorders, how to prevent, 297. New Kingsrvood and Woodhouse Grove School, 191 200, 203, 204. New Laws, or Rules, 26, 89, 301, 319, 321. Nomination Committee, 37, 38. Nomination of Mixed Committees, Scheme of, 339 356. North Wales District Chapel Fund, 180 182. Officers, District, duties of, 78 86. Offices, Connexional, Ministers set apart to, 58, 59. Order of Business in the Conference, 2835; in the Financial District Meeting, 61, 62 ; in the Annual District Meeting, 63 71. Ordination to the Ministry, 51 53. Party Spirit, to be avoided, 325, 333. 862 INDEX. Pastoral Address of the Conference, to be read to the Societies, 332. Pastoral Duties, 54, 55, 289293, 323329, 334. Pastoral Visitation, 289293 ; 326, 330, 331, 334, 335338. Plan of Pacification, 301305. Poor Stewards, Mode of Appointing, 100 ; Duties of, 104, 105. Pray erf or the Holy Spirit, 329, 335. Prayer Leaders' Meetings, 105. Prayer-Meetings, 7, 105, 325. Preaching, the most useful way of, 287, 288, 303, 304, 314. President of the Conference, mode of electing, 16, 17 ; Powers and duties of, in the interval of the meeting of the Conference, 39 41 ; Provision for the death, or prolonged illness of, 41. Privileges, Committee of, 256, 257. Probationers for the Ministry, 49 53. Provincial Centres of the Connexional Sunday School Union, 229, 230. Public Recognition of New Members of the Society, 9, 10. Pupil-Teachers, care of, 120 ; Examination of, 220, 221. Quarterly Meetings, Constitution of, 87, 88 ; Functions of, 88 96 ; Special business of the September Quarterly Meeting, 89 ; of the December Quarterly Meeting, 89, 90; of the March Quarterly Meeting, 90 93 ; of the June Quarterly Meeting, 93, 94. See also 300, 301. Regulations made at Leeds in 1797, 316 321. Removal, Note of, 9. Reserve, President's List of, 39, 40, 48, 49. Resolutions of the Conference on the Work of God and Pastoral Visita- tion. See Minutes. Representation, Lay, in the Conference, 21 27. Representatives, Lay, to the Conference, Qualifications of, 22, 23 ; Mode of electing, 23, 26, 27. Representatives, Ministerial, to the Conference, in its Representative Session, 22. Revival, Means of Promoting a, 284, 285. ' Rules of a Helper,' 275, 276. Rules of the Wesley an- Methodist Societies, 1 4. Rules, Sundry, agreed to by the Conference at different times, 308 313. Sabbath-breaking, 294, 295. Sacraments, Administration of, 302. Schools for Ministers' Children, 191 206 ; Scheme for the Management of New Kingswood and Woodhouse Grove School, 192 200 ; Schools for Ministers' Daughters, 199, 202. INDEX. 363 Schools Fund, 201, 202, 205, 206. Scotland, Fund for the Relief and Extension of Methodism in, 184 190. Seamen's Mission, Wesley an, 150. Smuggling, to be extirpated, 294. Secretary of the Conference, Mode of electing, 16, 17 ; Duties of, in the interval of the meeting of the Conference, 42, 43. Secretary of the Annual District Meeting, 63, 82. Societies, Wesleyan-Methodist, Rules of, 1 4. Society Meetings, 6, 296, 325, 326 ; Special Society Meetings, 6. Society Stewards, Mode of appointing, 100; Duties of, 104. South Wales District Chapel Fund, 182184. Special Circuit Meeting, 96 98. Special District Meeting, 75, 76. Stationing Committee, 35, 36, 301. Stewards, Method of appointing, 89, 100, 113, 114 ; Change of, 100, 310. Sivnday Schools, 117 119, 207 ; Principles on which they should be conducted, 208 ; Rules for the management of, 210 214. Sunday School Sub- Committees, District, 84, 218, 228, 229. Sunday School Union, Connexional, 225 230. Sunday School Unions, Circuit, 219, 220. Superintendents of Circuits, special duties of, 55, 56, 276 279. Supernumerary Ministers, retiring for one year, 146, 147 ; Provision for, H7 j 248254 ; Children of, 254, 255. Support of the Ministry, 2, 242247. Talhing in our Chapels, 296. Teachers in Sunday Schools, 118, 211 214. Teachers' Meetings, 118, 212, 213. Temperance Secretary, District, 86, 241. Temperance Societies, Wesleyan-Methodist, 122, 234, 238 240. Temperance Unions, Circuit, 240, 241. Theological Institution, course of study in, 156 158 ; Scheme for the Administration of, 159 161 ; Sundry Regulations affecting, 161, 162. Theological Training of Accepted Candidates for the Ministry, 48, 49. Tract- Committee, Wesleyan-Methodist, 106. Tract Societies, 105, 106. Tracts, Distribution of, 105, 106, 311. Ti'aining Colleges for Teachers, admission to, 221, 222. Transfer of Day- Schools, 121, 217, 218. Trial of Members of the Society, 10, 11, 55, 56, 102, 103. Trustees, Rules affecting the Trial of, 10, 11, 102, 103. Trustees'' Meetings, 110 116. 864 INDEX. Union, Connexwnal Sunday School, 225 230. Unions, Circuit Sunday School, 219, 220. Unions, Circuit Temperance, 240, 241. Union among tlie Preachers, 283. Visitation of the Society Classes, 5, 305, 306, 312. Visitation, Pastoral. See Pastoral. Wesley, Rev. John, his Deed of Declaration, 14, 261 267 ; his Letter to the Conference, delivered after his decease, 20, 307, 308. Wine, Sacramental, 241. Worn-out Ministers' and, Ministers' Widows' Auxiliary Fund, 248 254. Yearly Collection, 125, 315, 316. tlazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbiiry, bg tjre sam* Jttttjrmr. 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