2. In the third part of the _appeal_, I have mentioned, how we were led to accept of _lay-assistants_.
Their office is, in the absence of the minister.
1. To expound every morning and evening:
2. To meet the united society, the bands, the select society, and the penitents once a week.
3. To visit the classes once a quarter.
4. To hear and decide all differences:
5. To put the disorderly back on trial, and to receive on trial for the bands or society:
6. To see that the stewards, the leaders, and the school-masters faithfully discharge their several offices:
7. To meet the leaders of the bands and classes weekly, and the stewards, and to overlook their accounts.
X. 1. But long before this, I felt the weight of ♦a far different care, namely, care of temporal things. The quarterly subscriptions amounted, at a mean computation, to above _three hundred pounds_ a year. This was to be laid out, partly in repairs, partly in other necessary expences, and partly in paying debts. The weekly contributions fell little short of _eight pounds_ a week; which was to be distributed as every one had need. And I was expected to take thought for all these things: but it was a burthen I was not able to bear. So I chose out first, one, then _four_, and after a time, _seven_ as prudent men as I knew, and desired them to take the charge of these things upon themselves, that I might have no incumbrance of this kind.
♦ insert word “a” per Errata
2. The business of these _stewards_ is
To manage the temporal things of the society:
To receive the subscriptions and contributions:
To expend what is needful from time to time;
To send relief to the poor:
To keep an exact account of all receipts and expences;
To inform the _minister_ if any of the rules of the society are not punctually observed;
To tell the preachers in love, if they think any thing amiss, either in their doctrine or life.
3. The rules of the stewards are,
1. Be frugal. Save every thing that can be saved honestly.
2. Spend no more than you receive. Contract no debts.
3. Have no long accounts. Pay every thing within the week.
4. Give none that asks relief, either an ill word or an ill look. Do not hurt them, if you cannot help.
5. Expect no thanks from man.
4. They met together at _six_ every _Thursday_ morning: ♦consulted on the business which came before them: sent relief to the sick, as every one had need, and gave the remainder of what had been contributed each week, to those who appeared to be in the most pressing want. So that all was concluded within the week; what was brought on _Tuesday_, being constantly expended on _Thursday_. I soon had the pleasure to find, that all these temporal things, were done with the utmost faithfulness and exactness. So that my cares of this kind were at an end. I had only to revise the accounts, to tell them, if I thought any thing might be amended, and to consult how deficiencies might be supplied from time to time. For these were frequent and large, (so far were we from abundance) the income by no means answering the expences. But that we might not faint, sometimes we had unforeseen helps, in times of the greatest perplexity. At other times we borrowed, larger or smaller sums. Of which the greatest part has since been repaid. But I owe some hundred pounds to this day. So much have I _gained_ by preaching the gospel!
♦ “consult” replaced with “consulted” per Errata
XI. 1. But it was not long before the stewards found a great difficulty, with regard to the sick. Some were ready to perish, before they knew of their illness. And when they did know, it was not in their power, (being persons generally employed in trade) to visit them so often as they desired.
2. When I was apprized of this, I laid the case at large before the whole society: shewed, how impossible it was, for the _stewards_ to attend all that were sick in all parts of the town: desired the _leaders_ of _classes_ would more carefully enquire, and more constantly inform them, who were sick: and asked, “Who among you is willing as well as able, to supply this lack of service?”
3. The next morning, many willingly offered themselves. I chose six and forty of them, whom I judged to be of the most tender, loving spirit; divided the town into twenty-three parts, and desired two of them to visit the sick in each division.
4. It is the business of a _visitor_ of the sick,
To see every sick person within his district thrice a week;
To enquire into the state of their souls, and advise them, as occasion may require;
To enquire into their disorders, and procure advice for them;
To relieve them, if they are in want;
To do any thing for them, which he (or she) can do;
To bring in his accounts weekly to the stewards.¹
¹ The leaders now do this.
Upon reflection, I saw how exactly in this also, we had copied after the primitive church. What were the antient deacons? What was _Phebe_ the _deaconess_, but such a _visitor_ of the sick?