3. Quarterly meeliiH/s, as their name indicates, are held in each circuit once in three months, about the time of the usual quarter days. All the stewards, class- leaders, and local |ireachers of at least one year's stand- ing may attend. The superintendent-minister presides. A secretary records the names of those present, and the resolutions adopted, and any other business transacted. The statistics of membership are read; the stewards report the amount of monej'S received from the classes, the salaries paid to the preachers, house rent, and other expenses, and the accounts are balanced each quarter. Conversations are held upon the progress of the work in each society, and reports of pioneer work detailed.
WESLEYANS
949
WESLEYANS
The quarterly meeting may be called a circuit Confer- ence. The origin of these meetings dates from the first ten years of the history of Methodism ; but the first time they were introduced by IMr. Wesley was at the Conference of 1749, though stewards were appointed and changed several years previously. After 1749 they be- came part of the economy of the Connection.
4. Leaders' meetings were originally, and for half a century, held weekly. Their purpose was to pay to the steward what money they had received from the mem- bers. For many years that money was distributed by the stewards among the poor. It now goes towards the support of the ministry. The meetings were used for receiving reports of sick and poor members, and also for giving such counsel and directions to the lead- ers as would be likely to promote the spiritual welfare of their classes, and the spread of the work of God. The superintendent-preacher presides, and no meeting of the leaders is legal without a preacher is present to preside. Since the death of Mr. Wesley the powers of the leaders have been increased considerably ; they can veto the admission of members; leaders and stewards can be appointed or removed only with their consent; tliey also give consent for the administration of the Lord's supper, and for making special collections on the Sabbath for any benevolent purpose. In some circuits the leaders meet only once a quarter; where that is the case, they know but little of spiritual pros- perity. The poor fund is distributed here.
5. Local preachers^ meetings are usually held seven days before the quarterly meeting of the circuit. They are occasions of pleasant and profitable intercourse. After an hour spent in taking tea together, the super- intendent-preacher presides, a secretary records the names of those present, and a summary of the proceed- ings. The names are called over, and inquiries made as to their appointments, especially when neglected. Probationers receive every kind of help and encour- agement; any revivals, or evidences of either prosperi- ty or adversitj', are reported and considered. Occa- sionally new preaching stations are accepted, and young men are examined before them before being received on trial, and again before they are received on full plan. The services of local preachers are all gratuitous. A Yorkshire country local preacher, when asked what re- ward he received, said, " I preach for nothing a Sundaj' and keep myself." Local preachers are expected to confine their labors to their own circuits; they are all to meet in class, and are allowed to have from the book -room publications at the trade discount. Ac- cording to rule, they may not hold love-feasts, but the rule is often broken.
G. Band meetings are the oldest society meetings connected with Methodism ; but they have quite changed their original design. Band societies were established before Jlethodism had a separate existence. In December, 1738, Mr. Wesley drew up the Band Rules, which were printed and circulated. All who were jus- tified by faith, who knew their sins forgiven, were urged to meet in band, and " to confess their faults one to another, and to pray for each other." It was a more strict or searching form of class meeting. For more than sixty years they were kept up in England ; but in 180C the Conference complained that fellowship meet- ings were taking the place of band meetings, and grad- ually they have done so : band meetings for personal examination and confession are almost unknown now ; the meetings now held under that name are generally on the evenings of Saturday, as a preparation for the Sabbath, and they consist of singing, prayer, and the relation of personal religious experience. They are led by one of the ministers, and usually continue one hour, from eight to nine o'clock.
7. Class meetings may be said to be the origin as well as the life of Methodism. The first little company of persons who came to ask advice about their souls were met weekly by Mr. Wesley himself. This kind
of meeting of persons who were desirous to " flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins," were continued through the years 1740-41, and till Febru- ary, 1742, when classes were organized, first at Bristol, then at London, and soon after throughout England. Their original purpose was to raise funds to discharge a chapel debt; then to help the poor; but their weekly meetings were productive of so many spiritual bless- ings that JNIr. Wesley introduced them wherever a so- ciety could be formed. In May, 1743, he published the first edition of the Rules of the society. Class meet- ings are under the direction of a leader, who has under his or her care from six to twenty, or even as many as sixty persons, who meet once a week for mutual edifi- cation and encouragement. The members relate their religious experience, hear each other's progress in the divine life, and receive from the leader suitable counsel and direction. These meetings have no resemblance to the confessional of secret orders. The meetings are of a purely social character, and, to render them profita- ble, candor and simplicitj' are blended with faithfulness and affection. The members contribute each at least one penny weekly towards the support of the ministry.