The teachers and elder scholars in our Sunday-schools render important services as collectors for the Foreign JMissionary Society. Forty years ago a special effort was made to secure the services of the Sunday-school children as collectors, first of Christmas offerings. In this way, £4000 and £5000 was soon raised as free-will offerings at Christmas and at New-year's. Afterwards, those young persons were organized into a Juvenile Missionary Society, and by their aid a considerable sum is brought into the funds of the society. No less a sum than £16,567 was collected by the juvenile associations for 18S0, which was one sixth of the entire ordinary in- come for foreign missions in that year.
(IL) Official Meetings. — 1. The Conference is the high- est court, and the only legislative body in Methodism. During forty years, all the power of the Conference was vested in Mr. Wesley. 13y the Deed of Declaration enrolled in chancerj- in 1784. the Conference was made to consist of one hundred preachers in connection with Mr. Wesley's society. In 1791 was held the first Confer- ence after Mr. Wesley's death, and was the first organized according to the deed. By the provisions of that deed Methorlism is made perpetual. The resolution of the Conference of 1791 was " to follow strictly the plan which Mr. Wesley left." This was done until the year 1814, when the Conference resolved upon two changes: first, to fill up one vacancy in four in the legal hundred, not by senioritj', as previously, but by nominations from the whole body of preachers who have travelled fourteen years or upwards. Second, to give preachers of full)' fourteen years' standing authority to nominate a preach- er for election into the hundred, and also to vote in the election of Connectional officers. The legal hundred alone has to confirm such elections. From the time of Mr. Wesley's death to the year 1878, only preachers were permitted to l>e present at the Conference. Following the example so successfully set them by the General Conference of the M. E. Church in America, the English Conference of 1877 resolved to admit laymen to partici- pate in their proceedings in such matters only as did not strictly belong to the ministerial office. The time for continuing the deliberations of the Conference is limited to twenty-one days. Two weeks are now de- voted to the Ministerial Conference, and the third week to the Mixed Conference. This is composed of an equal number (240) of ministers and la^-men. In this brief summary only an outline of the business of each Con- ference can be given.
The Minktei-ial Conference, embraces the following items of business, namely :
1. Filling up vacancies in the legal hundred.
2. Election of president and secretary.
3. Appointment of Conference ofticeis. , 4. Public prayer-meeting tor one hour.
5. Keports on probationers and candidates for the niiuistiy.
6. Reception of representatives from other confer- ences.
7. Consideration of cases of character and discipline.
8. Appointment of committees.
9. Appeals, memorials, notices of motion.
10. Oidination of young ministers.
11. Supernumeraries.
12. Obituaries of ministers, with reminiscences.
13. Alterations and divisions of circuits.
14. Stations of ministers.
15. Statistics: reading pastoral address.
16. Conversation on the work of God.
17. Pastoral reports of colleges, schools, etc. IS. Book affairs, and review of literature.
19. Addres^ses to the Conference and replies.
20. Official .Tppointments and deputations.
21. Reports and miscellaneous business.
The business of the Mixed Conference may be thus summarized :
1. Calling the roll, and address of the president.
2. Reception of memorials, and notices of motion.
3. Consideration of home and foreign missions.
4. Schools for ministers' children.
5. Extension of Methodism.
6. Funds relating to chapels.
7. The Children's Fund.
8. Ihinie missions and Contingent Fund.
9. District sustentation funds.
10. Worn-out Ministers and Widows' Fund.
11. Theological Institution.
12. Education : General Committee, Sunday - school Union, and Children's Home.
13. Higher education.
14. Committee of Privileges and Exigency.
15. Conversation on the work of God.
16. Religious observance of the Sabbath.
17. Temperance.
18. Reports on memorials.
19. Miscellaneous business.
20. Reading and signing the Conference Journal.
2. District meetings originated at the first Conference after Mr. Wesley's death in 1791. They correspond very much to the annual conferences in tlie M. E. Church. Their deliberations occupy from two to five days. The business transacted may be thus brietiy stated. At the session in May, when ministers only are present, inqui- ries are made regarding each minister and probationer as to moral and religious character, adherence to doc- trine, attention to discipline, ability to preach, marriages, deaths, resignations, and whether fully employed ; num- ber of members in society; reports from Home Mission stations; conversation on the work of God; reports of examination of preachers on trial; examination of can- didates for the ministry; who shall attend Conference. When the circuit stewards join the ministers, the funds are separately brought under consideration, much in the same manner as at the IMi.xed Conference, each circuit being brought under consideration. The district meet- ing is usualh' closed bj' a sermon from one of the leading preachers, and by the administration of the Lord's sup- per. The financial district meeting, held in September yearly, was originated at the Conference of 1819, when important changes were introduced into the system of finance. The finances of each circuit are arranged and determined for a year at that meeting.