(8.) Supernumeraries. — Ministers who either from age or infirmity are unable to perform their circuit work are placed in this class. Many ministers are obliged to retire from the full work for one or more years to rest, and after recovery of strength resume cir- cuit work. At the Conference of 1793 it was resolved that "every preacher shall be considered as a super- numerary for four years after he has desisted from trav- elling, and shall afterwards be deemed superannuated." All supernumerary or superannuated ministers are re- quired to meet in class to retain their membership in the ^Methodist society. A superannuated minister ceases to be a member of the legal hundred; but this ride has been set aside bj' special vote of the Conference in rec- ognition of some important Connectional service. A su-
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pernumerary who enters into business is not entitled to have his name retained on the journal of tlie Conference as a minister, and his death, if occurring while he is in business, is not recorded in the Mimi/es. The provisictn now made for supernumerary ministers and their wid- ows is one of moderate competence.
(9.) Local Preackerg, or Lay Prearhei-s, — This class of workers is as old as Methodism itself. As early as the year 1738, Mr. Wesley had a lay helper named Humphreys, who left in 1739. In May, 1739, Thom- as JMaxfield was converted ; he became Mr. Wesley's first lay helper in London, and John Cennick was the first lay helper in Bristol. From this body of men nearly all the ministers have been selected. Local preachers must be accredited members of society, men of piety, of consistent life, of good understanding, and fair ability as speakers. They generally begin by ex- horting in cottage meetings or mission rooms, and when considered capable of addressing an audience they are, after preaching a trial sermon bet^)re a competent judge, ailraitted on trial and have appointments on the plan. They are examined as to their knowledge of doctrine and Church government and their call to the work. After a year's probation, and having passed sat- isfactory examinations at the local preachers' meeting, and been passed by the quarterly meeting of Church officers, they are received as accredited local preachers. Many, by the exercise of their gifts, soon qualify them- selves for a wider sphere of ministerial work ; others remain at home, following their daily occupations, and preach every Sabbath, often to large congregations, without any financial consideration. Lay preachers have always been held in much esteem in Methodism, and were thought so highly of when Mr. Wesley died that they had special notice in the inscription on the monument erected to the memor\^ of the foimder of Methodism, where he was described as " the patron and friend of lay preachers." Methodism for a full century was greatly indebted to the lay preachers for their ser- vices, valuable as teachers of divine truth, but especial- ly so because rendered gratuitously. They have hith- erto looked alone to God for their reward, and through their labors thousands of sinners have learned the way to God and heaven who would otherwise have lived and died destitute of the knowledge of both.
2. Official Lnij Members. — (1.) Trustees. — The office of trustees in Methodism is one of great responsibility. They hold the property, mostly freehold, belonging to the Connection, in trust for the Conference, and are themselves responsible for the discharge of the debts connected with their respective trusts. During the life- time of Mr. Wesley, there was diversity in the drawing of the trust-deeds, and, consequently, in the powers con- ferred thereby. All the property of the Connection is now vested in trustees according to the form of a model deed, which has been prepared with great care, and cor- rected from time to time so as to meet all emergencies which are likely to arise. Some trustees have had pow- er to refuse the admission of any preacher to their pul- pits whom they did not appoint or approve. The ec- clesiastical powers of trustees are defined in the Plan of Pacification drawn up and published in the Mimttes of Conference for 1794-95. The superintendent-minister is ex officio the chairman at all meetings of trustees, and has a casting vote. Trustees appoint their own stew- ards; they disburse seat-rents and collections taken in behalf of the trust, and keep the property in satisfactor)- repair.
(2.) Class-leaders. — These are persons of piety, intel- ligence, and ability, who are appointed to take charge of classes. The classes consist of the members of soci- ety divided into small companies, varying in number, according to circumstances, from six to sixty persons, either male or female, or sometimes mixed. The simple condition of membership is "a desire to Hee from the wrath to come." Mr. Wesley himself was the first class- leader. The office of leader was not instituted until
Februar}', 1742, when the necessity for it was shown during a providential conversation at Bristol. During that year, leaders were appointed in London and else- where. The business of a leader is thus detined by Mr. Wesley, and published by him in the Kules of the Soci- ety:
I. To see each person in his class, once a week, at least, in order —
To inquire how their souls prosper.