I 
 
HELPS 
 
 TO 
 
 OFFICIAL MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHIJECH, 
 
 INDICATING 
 
 THEIR POWERS, DUTIES, AND PRIVILEGES; 
 
 AND 
 
 SUGGESTING SUNDRY MISTAKES, METHODS, AND POSSIBILITIES 
 
 WITH REGARD TO THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS 
 
 OF SERVICE ; DESIGNED TO RENDER THEM 
 
 MORE EFFICIENT AND USEFUL. 
 
 • 
 BY JAMES PORTER, D.D. 
 
 ». ^ » « __ 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 NELSON & PHILLIPS. 
 
 CINCINNATI: 
 HITCHCOCK & WALDEN. 
 
^ 
 
 
 THE UftMltf 
 Of C©*t§*iS$ 
 
 WASHIS6T 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by 
 
 NELSON & PHILLIPS, 
 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 T^HOUGH Methodism originated un- 
 der God by the agency of ministers, 
 and has been thought by many to belong 
 chiefly to them, its operations are largely 
 controlled by laymen. This is true of all 
 its denominational branches, and of the 
 several departments involved in each. 
 Nor is it any new arrangement ; it has 
 been so from the beginning. As the ne- 
 cessity for lay agency appeared, it was in- 
 troduced, and charged with responsibili- 
 ties and duties to meet the demand. 
 
 In the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 each local society is required to have 
 three permanent classes of lay officers, 
 Trustees, Stewards, and Class-Leaders. 
 We do not mean to say that preach- 
 
4 Introduction. 
 
 ers are never allowed to hold any of these 
 offices, but simply that they are general- 
 ly held by laymen. Besides, our Disci- 
 pline provides for other lay officers, such 
 as Sabbath-school Superintendents, etc., 
 which constitute a*fourth class. 
 
 These offices were devised for high 
 and holy purposes. In many cases they 
 are a grand success, in others a compara- 
 tive failure. The following pages are 
 designed to help all who have the honor 
 of holding them, that they may be more 
 useful. In writing them we have en- 
 deavored to mark the points of danger, 
 and indicate the methods of success. 
 
 If we have said some simple things, 
 and furnished some simple formulas and 
 plans of operation, they will meet the 
 wants of young and inexperienced offi- 
 cers who have every thing to learn, as 
 our old officials had forty years ago. 
 
Introduction. 5 
 
 Our work is as new and strange in much 
 of this world which we have undertaken 
 to Christianize, as it was in the State of 
 New York in the days of Asbury. All 
 the foundations are to be laid, and the 
 temporal and spiritual superstructure is 
 to be reared. Besides, many of our more 
 experienced officials are not beyond the 
 need of instruction and advice. They 
 may be going on to perfection, but they 
 have hardly reached it. We are not 
 wkhout hope that this little work may 
 benefit them. 
 
 Preachers get line upon line from the 
 bishops and others as to their duties ; but 
 our lay officials, especially those who are 
 particularly concerned with finances, seem 
 to be comparatively overlooked, and they 
 fare little better in the matter of prayers. 
 While leaders are often commended to 
 the divine favor, trustees and stewards 
 
6 Introduction. 
 
 are seldom mentioned. But this arises 
 from the secular nature of their duties. 
 Ministerial financiers suffer in a similar 
 manner. Our object is to assist all these 
 officers, that they may be more efficient, 
 with less inconvenience and vexation. 
 
 James Porter. 
 
 Brooklyn, January i, 1877. 
 
C ONTEITS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 Their Origin— The First American— Primary Objects of— Powers 
 Limited— Responsibilities and Rights of— Property to be Secured in 
 Perpetuity Page 9 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 OF CHURCH BUILDING. 
 
 Historical Facts— Increase of Property— Debts— Practical Suggestions 
 —Building for Posterity— How not to Proceed 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF ARCHITECTS. 
 
 Plans and Specifications Indispensable— An Emergency Provided for 
 —Danger of Attempting too Much— Errors with Regard to Location 
 —Parsonages, Organs, etc.— Of Collections— Subscription Papers— Fre- 
 quent Reports Necessary— Other Duties Involved. 40 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF STEWARDS. 
 
 Their Duties and Qualifications— Their Treatment of Preachers and 
 the Poor— Social and Spiritual Duties— Should be Heroic and Lib- 
 eral 58 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 METHODS OF MEETING CURRENT EXPENSES. 
 
 Different Plans Stated— Their Adaptation to all Cases— A Possible 
 Objection— Of Class Collections 77 
 
8 Contents, 
 
 chapter VI. 
 
 OF OLASS-LEADESS. 
 
 Their Origin— Duties and Qualifications. Page 92 
 
 CHAPTEK VII. 
 
 HOW TO MAKE A CLASS-MEETING INTERESTING AND PROFITABLE. 
 
 The First Condition of Success— Other Conditions Stated 108 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OF DUTIES DEVOLVING UPON OFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THEIR ASSOCIATE 
 
 RELATIONS. 
 
 Granting Licenses— Obtaining Pastors and Supplies— Salaries and 
 Vacations— Managing Church Music— Of Organs— Benevolent Collec- 
 tions—Amusements—Agreement 130 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF MISCELLANEOUS OFFICERS. 
 
 Powers and Duties of Superintendents— Choristers and Organists- 
 Chairmen of Committees, Presidents, etc.— Parliamentary Usages. 144 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OF TEMPERANCE, WITH INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO MAKING WILLS. 
 
 Form of Constitution and Pledge— Duty of Making a Will— Legal 
 Points to be Considered— General Form of a Will 168 
 
HELPS 
 
 TO 
 
 OFFICIAL MEMBERS. 
 
 +++■ 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 THEIR APPOINTMENT, POWERS, AND PRIVILEGES. 
 
 N proceeding to erect his first house of relig- 
 ious worship, Mr. Wesley appointed eleven 
 feoffees to take the whole charge of the enter- 
 prise, but soon found that he must raise all the 
 money and do all the business, or nothing 
 would be effected. But in attempting to beg 
 the money, Mr. Whitefield and others refused 
 to contribute, unless he would dismiss his feof- 
 fees, and do every thing in his own name. 
 " Many reasons," he says, " they gave for this ; 
 but one was enough, namely : * That such feof- 
 fees would always have it in their power to con- 
 trol me, and, if I preached not as they liked, to 
 turn me out of the room I had built/ " He, 
 therefore, did as he was advised, but afterward 
 
io Helps to Official Members. 
 
 arranged for the settlement of his growing So- 
 ciety property on trustees, under such restric- 
 tions as should hold it sacredly to the uses for 
 which it was given. 
 
 FIRST AMERICAN TRUSTEES. 
 
 Twenty-nine years after, the first Methodist 
 chapel in America was erected, in John-street, 
 New York, under the direction of trustees. The 
 old subscription paper and first pulpit are still 
 in existence. At the organization of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, in 1784, the Conference 
 adopted Mr. Wesley's deed, which was drawn 
 by three of the most eminent lawyers of Lon- 
 don, and which secures the fee of the property 
 specified to the trustees named, in trust and 
 confidence, and to the intent that they and their 
 successors shall forever hold said property to 
 the use and purposes for which it was pur- 
 chased. {Emory's Hist, of Dis., p. 70.) That 
 deed has been variously modified since, to ac- 
 commodate the laws of the land, but never to 
 authorize the appropriation of the property, or 
 any part of it, to other objects than those con- 
 templated in its purchase. 
 
Of Trustees. II 
 
 THE PRIMARY OBJECT OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 The primary object of trustees, therefore, 
 is to take and hold all our Church property in 
 their respective Societies, including meeting- 
 houses, parsonages, cemeteries, etc., according 
 to our Discipline and usages, in trust for the 
 use of the ministers and members of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. The fee is vested in 
 them, not in the bishops, as has been unjustly 
 charged many times. Our trustees have sold 
 a great deal of property, but the signature of a 
 bishop never was found necessary to perfect a 
 title. No bishop or pastor was thought of in 
 this connection. They might have been advised 
 with as to the expediency of the sale ; but not 
 being owners, even in trust, their names could 
 add nothing to the validity of the deed. This is 
 not the case with Romanists, with whom we 
 have been improperly compared. 
 
 A friend of ours and a trustee purchased a 
 costly Roman Catholic church several years ago 
 for commercial purposes. We asked him who 
 signed the deed, to which he replied, "The 
 bishop," giving his name. 
 
 It is equally the duty of trustees to protect 
 the property, and keep it in order for the pur- 
 poses contemplated, In some of the States they 
 
12 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 receive the rents and income from it, and are 
 holden to pay all the expenses of public wor- 
 ship, including the preacher's salary/fuel, lights, 
 etc. In others, the stewards share the income, 
 by mutual agreement, and pay all the expenses, 
 except those which arise from repairs, insur- 
 ance, taxes, etc. Of course they must be gov- 
 erned by the laws of their State, but no laws 
 are so specific as not to allow the most free and 
 friendly co-operation between these two classes 
 of Church officers in promoting the common 
 welfare of the Societies they serve. 
 
 THEIR POWERS, HOW LIMITED. 
 
 At the first, trustees only held the property. 
 They had no power to mortgage or sell it. In 
 1796 the General Conference revised the Deed 
 of Settlement, so as to allow them to do both, 
 under certain restrictions. But in vindication 
 of the provisions of the deed it declared, " the 
 preservation of our union, and the progress of 
 the work of God, indispensably require that the 
 free and full use of the pulpit should be in the 
 hands of the General Conference, and the yearly 
 Conferences authorized by them. ,, — youmal, 
 vol. i, p. 15. 
 
 The trustees cannot shut the Church, there- 
 fore, against our regularly authorized ministers, 
 
Of Trustees, 13 
 
 or against our members for whose use it was 
 erected or purchased, nor pervert it to any use 
 inconsistent with its legitimate objects. The 
 General Conference forbids the acceptance " of 
 any charter, deed, or conveyance, for any house 
 of worship to be used by us, unless it be pro- 
 vided in such charter, deed, or conveyance, that 
 the trustees of said house shall at all times per- 
 mit such ministers and preachers belonging to 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church as shall from 
 time to time be duly authorized by the General 
 Conference of the ministers of our Church, or 
 by the Annual Conferences, to preach and ex- 
 pound God's holy word, and to execute the 
 Discipline of the Church, and to administer the 
 sacraments therein, according to the true mean- 
 ing and purport of our deed of settlement." — 
 Discipline \ % 369. 
 
 Nor can trustees acquire authorify to close 
 the Church by any majority vote of their re- 
 spective Societies. This case has been con- 
 tested and settled. " They were chosen not to 
 do the bidding of any Society, but " to execute 
 the trust of carrying out the intention of those 
 from whose benevolence flow the temporalities 
 put in their charge. If such an excuse will 
 ever be available, where will it stop ? . . . Upon 
 what principles can it be justified, that they who 
 
14 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 now live to enjoy the fruits of the charity of the 
 dead, should be permitted, at their caprice, to 
 control, and, perhaps, divert from its original 
 purpose, the endowment which owes none of its 
 support to them ? No such principle is known 
 in law or morals." — 2 Barbour, 415. 
 
 And this is emphatically just and right :— 
 
 1. Because it is required by a general princi- 
 ple of law, to wit, that money or property given 
 for specific objects shall be forever holden to 
 those objects so long as any of its proper bene- 
 ficiaries demand it. 
 
 2. Because to leave such property to be used 
 at the option of trustees or Societies would 
 often defeat the purposes of benevolence and 
 religion, and thus embarrass the operations of 
 both. Who will be willing to donate money for 
 religious purposes, knowing that it may be per- 
 verted in an hour after his death, if not before, 
 to promote infidelity ? 
 
 3. It will prevent contention. In purchasing 
 land for a church in Boston, it was proposed to 
 us to make a deed, leaving Methodism a little 
 out of sight. We answered, " No, if it is to be 
 a Methodist Church, write it so in the deed ; if 
 it is to be a Baptist Church, write that plainly, 
 so that there can be no misunderstanding on 
 the part of the contributors, or their successors." 
 
Of Trustees. 15 
 
 We have known several attempts to secure the 
 control of the pulpit to the trustees or the 
 Society, but they always made trouble. Real 
 Methodists were fearful, and stood back, and 
 others did not care to help a divided people. 
 
 OTHER RESTRICTIONS. 
 
 The power of our trustees is limited to the 
 property belonging to the Church which they 
 represent. It does not necessarily involve the 
 control of the benevolent collections raised by 
 the pastor or other officers. Trustees may take 
 collections and subscriptions for the payment 
 of debts, or for repairs and improvements on the 
 property under their control ; but they have no 
 right to forbid the pastor, stewards, or properly 
 constituted committees, raising money to pay 
 necessary expenses not otherwise provided for, 
 or for the various benevolences of the Church. 
 Nor have they any right to demand that all 
 moneys thus raised shall pass through their 
 hands. Where the house or pews are rented, 
 it seems eminently proper that they should col- 
 lect the rents ; but they may arrange with the 
 stewards to do it, which is not uncommon 
 where the stewards provide for the general ex- 
 penses. But this is of no account, except in 
 extreme cases of difficulty. These matters 
 
1 6 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 should be fully and amicably arranged in the 
 Quarterly Conference, or official meeting, and 
 the best plan adopted and carried into effect by 
 the co-operation of all parties. Some trustees 
 have seemed to think themselves the owners 
 and masters of the Church, with full liberty to 
 please themselves. This is a mistake ; they are 
 servants of all. While they hold the Church 
 property, they can only use it in a certain way, 
 and that for the benefit of the parties and cause 
 it was intended to subserve, They have no 
 right to use the church when not occupied by 
 the pastor for any other purpose inconsistent 
 with that for which it was erected. " Corpora- 
 tions created for a specific object have no power 
 to take and hold real estate for purposes wholly 
 foreign to that object." — 3 Pickering, 232-240. 
 
 TWO ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED. 
 
 In the course of human events trustees have 
 been known, under special excitement, to shut 
 the church doors against a regularly appointed 
 preacher and his people. This is always an 
 error and a breach of trust. It has also oc- 
 curred in connection with these cases that the 
 offended party have broken into the church 
 and taken possession of it by force. This is an- 
 other error which should never be committed. 
 
Of Trustees. 17 
 
 The courts have decided that "if the trustees 
 have violated their trust, the Society has ample 
 remedy." But, " while the trustees are in actual 
 possession the civil authority is bound to pro- 
 tect them against the unlawful and irregular in- 
 trusion of any persons, whether members of the 
 Church or strangers. The trustees are respon- 
 sible for the faithful discharge of their trust, 
 not to a violent mob, but to the Society in a 
 legal manner, whose interests they serve." — 
 Rep. 9 Johnson, 156. 
 
 RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 Trustees in making contracts are not person- 
 ally responsible when they sign them, or notes 
 growing out of them, as trustees, as for exam- 
 ple : John Doe, Trustee. If they do not sign 
 as trustees, they may be personally holden. 
 The same is true of the building committee. 
 By signing as a committee they bind the trust- 
 ees or other party for whom they act, but ex- 
 onerate themselves as individuals, and their own 
 property. 
 
 RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PEW 
 
 SYSTEM. 
 
 Our Discipline was arranged with reference 
 to free churches, and contains no instructions 
 
1 8 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 about the management of pews. But as the 
 practice of selling or renting pews has become 
 somewhat prevalent among us, it is necessary 
 for trustees to understand the law governing 
 in such cases. The numerous conflicts be- 
 tween trustees and pew-holders in other denom- 
 inations have pretty clearly developed the rights 
 of both parties. The following principles are 
 reliable : — 
 
 The Society, or their representatives, the trustees, own 
 the fee of the land on which the house is erected. By a 
 grant of a pew the grantee . . . can claim no interest in the 
 soil beneath his pew, nor in the space above it, nor an 
 absolute claim to any part of the building itself. The 
 Society can control the soil, can construct a gallery and 
 pews above him, and prevent the pew-holder from remov- 
 ing the material of his pew from the house. The right 
 of the pew-owner is limited as to time. If the house be 
 burned, or destroyed by time, the right is lost. The 
 grant of a pew does not bind the Society to provide for 
 the maintenance of public worship in the meeting-house, 
 but they may abandon it at pleasure. It is the opinion, 
 also, of able jurists, that the rights of a pew-owner are 
 subject to the right of a Society to remove the house to 
 such a location as will best accommodate the whole con- 
 gregation. In this case the value of the property is not 
 diminished, but rather enhanced, by the more commodi- 
 ous location of the house. But the pew-owner does ac- 
 quire the exclusive right to occupy his pew when the 
 house is opened for public religious worship. . . . (See 
 17 Mass. Rep., 435 ; 1 Pickering, 102 ; 24 Pickering, 347 ; 
 
Of Trustees. 19 
 
 4 N. H. Rep,, 181, 182 ; 3 Washburn, 266, 277 ; 5 Met- 
 calf> 127; 5 Cowen, 496 ; 19 Pickering, 361.) 
 
 When a house is holden by trustees as a place of wor- 
 ship, and for no other use, and the deeds recognise this 
 use exclusively, the pew-owner can claim the right to oc- 
 cupy his pew whenever the house is opened, though it be 
 for a different purpose, and the trustees cannot prevent 
 his doing so. " It is the practice,'* however, as Judge 
 Shaw remarks. " for religious Societies to lend the use of 
 their houses to various societies and philanthropic asso- 
 ciations, to hold meetings for various purposes, and 
 upon such occasions it has been usual for the body or 
 association to whom the house is lent, to control the use 
 of the pews, without regard to particular owners." — 
 
 5 Metcalfe 133. 
 
 No pew-holder has a right to use his pew for any pur- 
 pose other than that for which it was intended, nor can 
 he modify it to the detriment of other pew-holders. 
 Should the house be taken down, because unfit for 
 further use as a church, he can claim no indemnity. 
 But if taken down to render it more convenient, and 
 the materials are used in the reconstruction, he has 
 a just claim. In the latter case trustees should have 
 the pews properly appraised, and tender each owner the 
 value of his pew. 
 
 All interest of any person in a pew to extend beyond 
 one year should be secured in writing. (16 Wendall, 28.) 
 
 Houses of worship, pews, and their furniture, are ex- 
 empt from taxation in nearly all the States in the Union. 
 In some, pews are regarded as real estate ; in others, as 
 personal. They may be attached like other property, 
 but New Hampshire, and, perhaps, some other States, 
 exempt one pew for each family. 
 
20 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 In selling pews at auction, the auctioneer, though a 
 trustee, is the agent for both parties, for the purchaser 
 as well as the trustees. The memorandum of the sale 
 must be perfect, including the conditions, etc. The mere 
 writing of the name of the purchaser on the ground plan 
 of the pews, with the amount which is bid, is not suffi- 
 cient. (16 Wendall, 28.) 
 
 Embarrassments have arisen in selling pews outright, 
 and also in renting them, from the lack of proper pre- 
 caution in constructing the lease or deed. It should al- 
 ways embrace the following particulars, and, perhaps, 
 some others, to provide for special occasions, to wit : — 
 
 The pew or seat in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 
 in the said L , which is numbered , with all the 
 
 privileges and appurtenances, estate, right, title, interest, 
 and property of us, or of either of us, whatsoever, as 
 trustees for and in behalf of the said Methodist Episco- 
 pal Society, reserving to the said Methodist Episcopal 
 Society the sole use of the said church, as a place of 
 religious worship, according to the rules and discipline 
 which from time to time may be agreed upon at their 
 General Conferences ; and also reserving to the said 
 Methodist Episcopal Society the sole use of the said pew 
 during the holding of love-feasts, class-meetings, and 
 such special church meetings as the duly authorized 
 ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church shall ap- 
 point ; and also reserving unto the said Methodist Epis- 
 copal Society the right to levy a proportionate tax upon 
 said pew for the necessary repairs and insurance of the 
 house. {Baker on the Discipline, pp. 1 89, 1 94. Ed. 1 874.) 
 
 All these objects may be easily provided for 
 at the outset. If overlooked then there is no 
 
Of Trustees. 21 
 
 telling what embarrassments may ensue. An 
 ounce of prevention is better than a pound of 
 cure. 
 
 OF THE APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 The Discipline requires that each board of 
 trustees shall consist of from three to nine per- 
 sons not less than twenty-one years of age, a 
 majority of whom shall be members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Where the civil 
 law does not interfere, they are to be chosen 
 annually by the Quarterly Conference of the 
 circuit or station upon the nomination of the 
 preacher in charge, or the presiding elder of 
 the district, and hold their office until their 
 successors are elected. — Discipline, paragraphs 
 
 370-373. 
 
 But, owing to the diversity in former or exist- 
 ing State laws, there is little uniformity among 
 us either in originating or perpetuating boards 
 of trustees. In New York these boards were 
 formerly arranged in conformity to ancient par- 
 ish laws, enacted for the convenience of other 
 denominations, and modified by innumerable 
 amendments, which challenged the profoundest 
 legal wisdom. Many boards in New England 
 were organized under Congregational parish laws 
 which were as unsuited to our economy as a 
 
22 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 poor carriage road is to a railroad car. In that 
 embarrassing state of affairs many were for- 
 mally organized under special charters, and elect 
 trustees as they require. Several States have 
 provided a general act under which all denomi- 
 nations may assume corporate powers in con- 
 formity with their peculiar system and methods 
 of business. Every State should enact such a 
 law to save religious Societies the trouble and 
 expense of procuring special acts, or running 
 their own machinery in antiquated grooves to 
 which it has little adaptation. 
 
 The aim, however, should always be to elect 
 men who are interested in the Church, whether 
 members or not— men of talent and influence, 
 who know something of human nature and busi- 
 ness, and have enterprise and integrity enough 
 to exercise the functions of the office in exact 
 accord with its objects. 
 
 PROPERTY TO BE SECURED IN PERPETUITY. 
 
 In obtaining property, special care should be 
 taken with regard to the title, that it be unques- 
 tionable. Many deeds have been accepted which 
 secured the fee to the trustees only so long as 
 they occupied the premises for church purposes. 
 If they should vacate, the property would revert 
 to the grantor or his heirs. This was a mis- 
 
Of Trustees. 23 
 
 take. It is generally bad policy to accept the 
 gift, or, more properly speaking, the loan of 
 property on these conditions. It is better to 
 purchase and take a title in fee simple. Many 
 of our bad locations originated in the gift of the 
 land, and this restriction in the deed stands 
 in the way of a change for the better in many 
 places. 
 
 This, perhaps, is all that need be said gener- 
 ally with regard to trustees. Other points of 
 interest will be developed in speaking of their 
 work. It should never be forgotten, however, 
 that the office is not for the glory of the men 
 who hold it, but for the glory of God and the 
 welfare of the Church. It gives them a com- 
 manding influence, in the exercise of which self 
 should be excluded, otherwise there will be 
 trouble. We believe our trustees generally to 
 be good men. The Church is greatly indebted 
 to them for their self-sacrifice and efficiency. 
 But some are hardly entitled to this credit. They 
 insist on maintaining a ministry that accom- 
 plishes little more than a regular decline, and a 
 social life that is ruinous to vital piety, and the 
 Church is dying upon their hands. Churches 
 of different denominations have been sold out 
 and buried, and it should be inscribed upon 
 their tombstones in staring capitals, Died of 
 
24 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 the Trustees. And, if there is not an im- 
 provement in the management of this holy trust 
 in other directions, we fear the number will be 
 greatly increased. Methodism is life, or it is 
 nothing. It was not made to follow the ruts of 
 other sects. It must be aggressive or retro- 
 grade — advance or die. It needs trustees to 
 stir up its fires and pile on the fuel. But when 
 they neglect this, and apply their great power 
 to the brakes, what can we expect ? 
 
Of Church Building. 25 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OF CHURCH BUILDING. 
 
 HISTORICAL FACTS — EVILS RESULTING FROM HEAVY DEBTS — PRACTICAL 
 SUGGESTIONS, ETC. 
 
 THE corner-stone of the first Methodist 
 chapel in the world was laid in Bristol, 
 England, May 12. 1739; and that of the first 
 in America was laid in New York twenty-nine 
 years after, in 1768. Both enterprises were un- 
 dertaken after much prayer, and carried through 
 with many sacrifices, though not without incur- 
 ring some debt. 
 
 This was the beginning of Methodist church 
 building, the history of which has never been 
 written, and never can be. Once started on this 
 line, and being generally shut out of public 
 buildings, every little Society began to covet a 
 chapel of its own, and rushed into the work, 
 and many of them into debt beyond their means 
 of paying. When the aggregate amount of the 
 connectional debt was found to be .£11,383, 
 some fifty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Wesley was 
 alarmed, and said, " We shall be ruined." To 
 prevent further embarrassment he commanded, 
 
26 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 " Let all the preaching-houses be built plain and 
 decent, but no more expensive than is abso- 
 lutely unavoidable ; " and he forbade the build- 
 ing of any new chapel " unless two thirds of the 
 expenses should be subscribed." 
 
 American Methodists early adopted his prin- 
 ciples, but soon departed from them, especially 
 in the matter of contracting debts. The Con- 
 ferences demurred, but this did not restrain en- 
 terprising adventurers, and the debts increased, 
 though the churches were generally sufficiently 
 plain and uninviting. 
 
 WONDERFUL ADVANCE IN CHURCH PROPERTY. 
 
 Twenty years ago we had few churches that 
 would now be deemed tasteful. Our first 
 report of Church property was made in 1857, 
 showing 8,335 churches, valued at $15,781,310. 
 Soon afterward there sprang up a wonderful 
 revival in church building, demanding better 
 churches and more of them. In ten years 
 (1867) we reported 11,121 churches, valued at 
 $35*885,439, showing an increase of nearly one 
 third in the number of churches, and of more 
 than 125 per cent, in their value. And yet we have 
 gained more rapidly since than before. The 
 Minutes of 1875 show 15,633 churches, valued 
 at $71,353,234, or an increase of more than one 
 
Of Church Building. 27 
 
 third in the number of churches, and about ninety 
 per cent, in their estimated value in eight years. 
 
 This rapid advance has involved great liber- 
 ality and tremendous struggles. If it has been 
 attended with unprecedented blunders and 
 mortifying defeats, it is not surprising. The 
 success of- some who began to build early in 
 the period mentioned stimulated others to vent- 
 ure beyond their ability, and many have been 
 caught by the financial pressure, and will not 
 escape without a terrible scathing, if they do 
 not lose every thing. The struggle may be use- 
 ful, and the experience of the immediate suffer- 
 ers ought to teach others a lesson of caution. 
 
 These figures show, also, what we well know 
 to be the fact, namely, that many of the churches 
 of to-day are of much higher grade than we for- 
 merly possessed. The cost of those reported 
 in 1857 averaged less than $1,900 each, while 
 those reported in 1874 averaged over $4,600. 
 This may be accounted for in part by the ad- 
 vance in cost of labor and material, but it is 
 largely attributable to a multitude of expensive 
 churches, many of which were ill advised. 
 
 HEAVY DEBTS DISASTROUS. 
 
 While we strongly believe in fine churches, 
 we see serious objections to such as cannot be 
 
28 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 paid for and conveniently sustained without 
 burdening our friends or courting our enemies. 
 
 i. They drive off the poor, who cannot afford 
 to purchase or hire a pew in them, unless it be 
 in a retired position, and who have too much 
 pride or self-respect to occupy a free seat in the 
 gallery. This effect is little less certain when 
 such houses are nominally free, for they require 
 so much begging, to which the poor are unable 
 to respond with a liberality corresponding to 
 the necessities of the case, that they feel com- 
 pelled to stay at home, or go to other churches 
 where they can occupy a higher position rela- 
 tively at less expense. This is a great calamity. 
 Many of our present ministers and wealthy 
 men came from this class. Being converted 
 young, they grew up into position and power 
 among us. We have little success in winning 
 men already rich, or ministers already prepared 
 to our hand. Our candidates are among the 
 poor, and are to be converted and led to the min- 
 istry or to wealth as God shall direct. Hence 
 to lose the poor is ruinous to our prospects. 
 
 These expensive churches contribute to this 
 evil in another way. They are apt to change 
 the spirit and style of public and social worship 
 in a manner to render them less attractive to 
 the poor. A splendid house demands a fine 
 
Of Church Building. 29 
 
 preacher, and a fine preacher to please a par- 
 ticular class of hearers. Thus the poor are 
 overlooked, and soon slip away to find more 
 congenial society and higher spirituality. This 
 is, perhaps, the worst effect of extravagant 
 churches, but is by no means the only one to 
 be deprecated. 
 
 2. They often keep men of means from com- 
 ing among us. Not that they are unwilling to 
 pay a reasonable amount in pew rent or sub- 
 scription, but they see a crushing debt hanging 
 over the church, the responsibility of which they 
 do not care to assume. They are sharp enough 
 to know that every worshiper will have to be 
 taxed to his utmost ability to carry that burden, 
 so they only visit the church evenings, and at 
 other odd times, as they may, without incurring 
 any responsibility. Some of our Societies have 
 been sadly retarded by this cause. They have 
 wondered why their preacher did not "draw" 
 more people. While they remained in their old 
 house some would not come because it was not 
 respectable. Had they built reasonably they 
 would have obviated this objection without incur- 
 ring another ; but plunging recklessly into debt 
 for a beautiful house, which is no credit to them 
 considering its incumbrances, they are more em- 
 barrassed than before. Many are afraid of them. 
 
30 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 3. Another evil connected with such enter- 
 prises is, that we often lose our own men of 
 means as well as the poor. Finding that the 
 expenses of the church are a constant and ex- 
 orbitant drain upon their purses, and a tax up- 
 on their patience, and seeing no relief, they 
 move away to escape the pressure. Or, if this 
 is not convenient, they take offense at some tri- 
 fling circumstance and go to some other church. 
 
 4. Finally, such churches often necessitate so 
 much catering to the world as to qunech spir- 
 itual life and defeat their ostensible purpose. 
 Instead of being the blessing anticipated, they 
 are a curse and a hinderance to the cause they 
 are intended to promote. Improvements are 
 desirable, but great errors are committed in 
 building so expensively. Houses costing half 
 or two thirds the amount invested, under wise 
 management would answer all the ends of con- 
 venience and utility, and might be paid for, or 
 nearly so. 
 
 Cases might be mentioned confirmatory of 
 all that we have said, and much more of the 
 kind. They are blots upon our history. Thou- 
 sands of good people have been alienated from 
 us forever by reason of them, and it will require 
 years of struggle and sacrifice to recover from 
 their ruinous influence. 
 
Of Church Building. 31 
 
 But it should be said that these are excep- 
 tional cases. The majority of our late church- 
 building enterprises have probably been wise 
 and successful. Our gain in this respect has 
 been remarkable, as the foregoing figures show. 
 But one defeat makes a deeper impression than 
 many triumphs. The object of this writing is 
 to warn our trustees against these excesses. 
 The forced sale of one fine church at our door 
 belonging to another denomination, and the ex- 
 treme danger of a similar one of our own, has 
 prompted it. In the first case the Society was 
 well accommodated, having a fine chapel large 
 enough to comfortably seat more people than 
 would be likely to attend on ordinary occa- 
 sions. But certain leaders were bound to have a 
 " first-class " church, and, without waiting to se- 
 cure any subscriptions that would justify the nec- 
 essary expense, pushed forward and completed 
 the work, incurring a debt of more than one 
 hundred thousand dollars, when the mortgagees, 
 failing to get their interest, sold it out and 
 scattered the Society to the winds. In the other 
 case the Society sadly needed a new church, and 
 were able to build one worth thirty or thirty-five 
 thousand dollars ; but being misled by their 
 advisers, who seem not to have been well in- 
 formed in such business, were drawn by degrees 
 
32 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 into an expense, 'for church, parsonage, bell, 
 organ, piano, melodeon, etc., of about ninety- 
 three thousand dollars, leaving debts upon their 
 hands of sixty thousand dollars, which they 
 have not the means to pay. The trustees have 
 suffered extremely in their feelings, business, 
 and reputation, as have the people, and all have 
 wished many times that they were back in their 
 little church. How the affair will terminate it 
 is impossible to tell. The prospect is that it 
 will be sold at auction to satisfy the mortgages, 
 in which case it will bankrupt the leading trust- 
 ees, who have involved themselves personally, 
 and a number of others holding the position of 
 creditors. 
 
 These facts show the wisdom of our Disci- 
 pline, which peremptorily prohibits the contrac- 
 tion of unreasonable debts, and requests our 
 people to discountenance them by declining to 
 give pecuniary aid to agents who travel abroad 
 for the collection of funds to meet them. (See 
 Discipline, ^ 366-368.) 
 
 In view of this state of affairs we propose a few 
 
 Practical Suggestions. 
 
 If the church is to be built and paid for by 
 one man, or a few men who are able and dis- 
 posed to assume the responsibility, they must 
 
Of Church Building. 33 
 
 be allowed to determine its size and expense 
 without much interference from others. But 
 even in this case it is wise to consult the feel- 
 ings of those who are expected to enjoy the use 
 of it, and we think it better to allow them to 
 share in the expense to the extent of their dis- 
 position and ability. It would do them good 
 by making them feel that they are partners in 
 the enterprise, and repel the suspicion of " one 
 man power," which is always detrimental to 
 harmony and success. 
 
 But in all such cases the expense should be 
 paid at once, or be provided for in a legal man- 
 ner, so that if the party or parties concerned 
 should die, change their location, lose their 
 property, or become alienated from the Church, 
 the debt may not fall on the masses, who would 
 never have contracted it and are unable to pay or 
 carry it. Our first experience in paying church 
 debts fully justifies this suggestion. The debt 
 was incurred by one good rich man, who con- 
 trolled in every thing, and intended to pay it, 
 but was suddenly stricken down by death, leav- 
 ing no provision, in his will or otherwise, for 
 doing so. His heirs, being opposed to the 
 Methodists, would do nothing. The result was, 
 the debt fell upon a poor society, which struggled 
 under it for many years, expecting to be sold 
 
34 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 out. Deliverance, however, came at last, but not 
 until several preachers had suffered for want of 
 bread, and Methodism had been sadly dishonored. 
 This remark is equally applicable to other be- 
 nevolent enterprises. Gentlemen have liberally 
 proposed to give large sums toward the estab- 
 lishment or endowment of a college or school, 
 and thereby drawn others into the movement, 
 but, failing to pay the amount, or give proper 
 security, the whole has been lost, to the dam- 
 age, if not to the utter defeat, of the enterprise. 
 Those who are kind enough to promise such 
 indispensable sums should secure them as 
 fully as they would any just debt for the same 
 amount, otherwise their proposed liberality may 
 prove to be a curse rather than a blessing. 
 But, to come to the main point, we suggest : 
 i. When a new church is contemplated let 
 the matter be thoroughly considered and talked 
 over by all the parties in interest, rich and poor 
 together — not excluding the children. Though 
 the trustees are the official leaders in the busi- 
 ness, they are the servants of the people, and 
 need their sympathy and support. But if they 
 move independently of them, and erect a church 
 to suit themselves only, how can they expect 
 to have either ? We knew a case of this sort. 
 The house was well enough, but the deed was 
 
Of Church Building. 35 
 
 a little irregular. It was called the trustees' 
 church, and the people did not cheerfully rally 
 to pay for it. The result was, it was shut up 
 under foreclosure, and the congregation turned 
 into the street. This was all for the want of a 
 little prudent care of the masses at the outset. 
 
 "In order," says our Discipline, " more effect- 
 ually to prevent our people from contracting 
 debts which they are not able to discharge, it 
 shall be the duty of the Quarterly Conference 
 of every circuit and station where it is contem- 
 plated to build a house or houses of worship to 
 secure the ground or lot on which such house or 
 houses are to be built, according to our Deed of 
 Settlement, which deed must be legally executed; 
 and also said Quarterly Conference shall appoint 
 a judicious committee of at least three members 
 of our Church, who shall form an estimate of 
 the amount necessary to build ; and three fourths 
 of the money, according to such estimate, shall 
 be secured or subscribed before any such build- 
 ing shall be commenced." — Discipline, ^[ 367. 
 
 2. Having settled upon the church needed — 
 its location, style, etc. — the next point is to 
 ascertain how much the people are disposed to 
 give toward it. And caution is necessary at 
 this point, as some will promise to give more 
 than they are able, or will ever pay. They will 
 
36 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 follow their zeal, ambition, or, perhaps, their 
 pride, rather than their judgment and capacity. 
 We have known men to subscribe a thousand 
 dollars who never had so much, and whose 
 prospects were not improving. They did it 
 under instruction to do so, and trust in the 
 Lord to furnish the means to pay it. In one 
 case, where some $27,000 were subscribed on 
 this principle, not $6,000, the pastor informed 
 me, were ever collected, and not one dollar on 
 several thousand-dollar subscriptions. This is 
 the direct road to insolvency. It may make a 
 brilliant show in the papers, but it will not pay 
 church bills. Our advice is directly the oppo- 
 site, namely : subscribe all you are able to pay, 
 and when you are more able subscribe again. 
 The losses on these first subscriptions have 
 often led to serious embarrassments. 
 
 And we will add in this connection, glace 
 little confidence in hints, inuendoes, and con- 
 ditional assurances looking toward liberal help, 
 which you cannot reduce to a bona-ftde sub- 
 scription. The presumption that Mr. or Mrs. 
 
 will do some good thing is not reliable. 
 
 Put down nothing that cannot be fairly de- 
 pended on in time to pay the bills to be in- 
 curred. And when you have done your best in 
 prosperous times and changeable communities, 
 
Of Church Building. 37 
 
 you may calculate on a loss of one sixth of the 
 amount, which will, perhaps, be made up from 
 unexpected sources. 
 
 3. With a subscription thus carefully made, 
 and a mortgage on the property for one fourth 
 or one third of its cost, fairly engaged, you may 
 proceed. A moderate debt, under a good finan- 
 cial policy, is no damage to a Church. It some- 
 times holds and steadies it in a storm, as an 
 anchor does a ship. We have known several 
 saved to Methodism by their debts. Had they 
 been unincumbered, the malcontents would 
 have taken them off with themselves, but the 
 burden was greater than they could bear. 
 
 We do not object to a small debt for another 
 reason : good churches are made for new-com- 
 ers as well as for present residents, and, judging 
 from our past progress, their future occupants 
 will be better able, and not less disposed, to 
 pay the debts remaining on them than their 
 predecessors were to lay the foundations. 
 
 DO NOT BUILD FOR POSTERITY. 
 
 There is one other remark that may help to 
 keep brethren out of extravagant enterprises. 
 While there is good reason to believe that new 
 and respectable churches will be occupied from 
 twenty to thirty years, we cannot calculate on 
 
38 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 much beyond. We say, therefore, to brethren 
 about to build, build for yourselves, and not for 
 
 posterity. The society at needed a new 
 
 church, and could have erected one for $30,000 
 which would have been every way adapted to 
 their necessities. But in their pious benevo- 
 lence they built one for posterity costing 
 twice that sum, entailing on themselves and 
 their immediate successors a crushing debt. 
 But in a few years, while some of the trustees 
 were still living, " posterity " tore it down and 
 erected one more agreeable to its taste. Build 
 for yourselves, and leave posterity to do the 
 same. If you can nearly pay for a church that 
 will meet your demands for ten or fifteen years, 
 build it. Your successors will repudiate it and 
 build anew, though you should expend three 
 times as much. 
 
 By following this policy you can maintain 
 your respectability, and, what is of little less 
 importance, your independence. A Society loaded 
 with debt becomes servile and crouching. It 
 must please every body, so as to get money and 
 keep off the sheriff. It will be tempted to re- 
 sort to questionable concerts, fairs, lotteries, lec- 
 tures, games, and excursions, against its own 
 convictions and professions, and often to the 
 disgrace of religion and Methodism. And, 
 
Of Church Building, 39 
 
 then, it must be continually begging, which is 
 mortifying alike to the beggar and the people. 
 
 HOW NOT TO PROCEED. 
 
 4. We have said, with the subscription de- 
 scribed, and a permanent loan from some solid 
 institution or individual that will not be called 
 for so long as the interest is paid, you may pro- 
 ceed. But in what manner ? The first thing 
 is to get a plan of a house that will come with- 
 in your contemplated expense. This is often 
 sought by, engaging an architect who, in nine- 
 teen cases out of twenty, will furnish an original 
 model, and under-estimate the cost of the con- 
 struction. In an experience of forty-five years 
 we have never known a solitary case where the 
 expense did not exceed the figures of the archi- 
 tect. It has sometimes been more than double. 
 We have a case in hand now involving a debt 
 for church and parsonage of $60,000, where the 
 cost for the church was not to exceed $32,000, 
 and yet it ran up to over $72,000 without any 
 serious accident. The trustees erred in enlist- 
 ing an architect who neither understood them 
 or his business. Architects have their uses, 
 like other professional men, but they know 
 little of the difficulty of paying for a church, 
 and will generally need to be followed afar off. 
 
40 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF ARCHITECTS. 
 
 PLANS, CONTRACTS, PARSONAGES, ORGANS, ETC. 
 
 HAVING indicated the lack of wisdom in 
 BLINDLY FOLLOWING ARCHITECTS, We will 
 
 now add, it is generally impolitic to employ 
 them at all to get up designs, unless you have 
 plenty of money, and wish to astonish the world 
 with some new model, i. Because you cannot 
 afford to experiment on the business. 2. Be- 
 cause the chances for success, were you to at- 
 tempt it, are against you. The Methodist 
 Episcopal Church has already more than fifteen 
 thousand church edifices in this country, em- 
 bracing many different styles of architecture, 
 costing from $300 to $250,000 each. Multi- 
 tudes of them have been exhibited on paper, 
 and others are within reach, so that you can 
 easily see how they appear. Their sizes, pro- 
 portions, materials, and cost may be easily ob- 
 tained, and will indicate which is to be pre- 
 ferred, all things considered. It is not difficult 
 to find churches constructed for $10,000 that 
 
Of Architects. 41 
 
 will be justly preferred to others which cost 
 twice that amount. Some of them are perfect 
 charms, beautiful, easy to speak and hear in, 
 and in every way attractive and inviting, while 
 others are as notably defective. It is folly 
 to expect any architect to excel the best of 
 them, particularly in their acoustic properties. 
 Churches differ radically in this particular, and 
 no architect can tell why. In some, the lowest 
 voice can be heard in every part ; while in others 
 of the same size the loudest is indistinct, and 
 hearing difficult, if not impossible. The only 
 sure way to success in this respect is to select a 
 model that has been fully tested and follow it. 
 The importance of this point cannot be over- 
 estimated. It has more to do with the health, 
 happiness, and usefulness of the preacher, and 
 the size of the congregation, than is generally 
 imagined. For him to strain his voice to make 
 himself heard, and fail, is killing, not only to 
 him, but the people ; they will soon leave him. 
 3. Because you can readily obtain models of 
 these most desirable houses, embracing every 
 thing necessary, without an architect. Why 
 overlook all these advantages, and venture upon 
 new experiments ? 
 
 The same is true with regard to, another point 
 of incalculable importance. Many of our houses 
 
42 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 of worship are too churchly — a miserable imita- 
 tion of some old cathedral — cold and unsocial. 
 One feels a chill the moment he enters them, as 
 he feels easy and comfortable on entering oth- 
 ers of a different construction. What makes 
 the difference it may be difficult to determine ; 
 but the high and ponderous pulpit and gallery, 
 and the massive pews, have something to do 
 with it. It had been better for Methodism, 
 perhaps, had the old statute forbidding us to 
 build churches remained in force, and thus com- 
 pelled us to erect social, home-like chapels. 
 They cost less, are more convenient and invit- 
 ing, and make charming and respectable places 
 of religious worship and pious resort. By look- 
 ing about trustees will readily experience the 
 difference, and may select a model to suit their 
 taste and means. 
 
 PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS INDISPENSABLE. 
 
 But, whether with or without an architect, 
 you should have your plan complete from foun- 
 dation to dome before you strike the first blow ; 
 and then write out the specifications, embrac- 
 ing every timber, board, and brick, the style of 
 finish, the pulpit, pews, etc., etc., even to a 
 window-spring. This will require time and 
 work, but it will save time, and money too, in 
 
Of Architects. 43 
 
 the end. There can be no accurate estimate of 
 the cost without it. Hurried and half-finished 
 plans lead to many changes and extras, which 
 experience has proved to be exceedingly expen- 
 sive. With such a plan a builder can tell at 
 the outset just what material he needs, and 
 may contract for it at once with the greatest 
 economy. Without it he has to work at ran- 
 dom, and purchase from time to time as he 
 finds it necessary to accommodate the ever- 
 changing notions of his employers. 
 
 Since writing the above an article has ap- 
 peared in the Evening Post giving a frightful 
 exhibit of Church debts in New York city, and 
 questioning the honesty of such investments. 
 It most truthfully affirms that " it would be easy 
 to show that for half, or less than half the cost 
 of any of our finer churches, a building fully as 
 large, quite as comfortable, and reasonably well 
 looking outside and inside, might have been 
 built." People generally have little idea of the 
 vast amount of money worse than wasted in 
 the construction of churches. The examina- 
 tion of existing edifices and their relative cost 
 can but furnish trustees with lessons of busi- 
 ness wisdom they will not be likely to derive 
 from architects ! 
 
44 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 how to make a contract. 
 
 The plans and specifications completed, the 
 next thing to be done is to contract for the 
 work. If you are acquainted with a competent 
 builder who knows how to purchase stock and 
 employ men to the best advantage, you may 
 commit the whole job to him, and do it by the 
 day. But you will build more economically to 
 advertise for bids, and let out the whole con- 
 tract. Honest men, even, will do more work by 
 the job than by the day in the same length of 
 time, and some men will get rich by doing jobs 
 which would bankrupt others, because they 
 know better how to purchase material and turn 
 off work. In this way, too, you have the bene- 
 fit of competition. 
 
 Then, if you will enlist some capable person 
 to watch the progress of the building, and see 
 that the plan and specification are faithfully fol- 
 lowed, you will be likely to be satisfied. But it 
 will be necessary to contract with parties who 
 have the means to carry the matter through, or 
 when the house is done you may find it covered 
 with builders' liens, or otherwise involved in a 
 manner to embarrass you. And, to make a sure 
 thing of your contract, we repeat, leave nothing 
 to be understood, but write out every particular 
 
Of Architects. 45 
 
 just as you mean to have it, and then stand your 
 ground. 
 
 These suggestions are the result of consider- 
 able experience in building. They are as appli- 
 cable to parsonages, seminaries, sheds, etc., as 
 to churches. 
 
 AN EMERGENCY PROVIDED FOR. 
 
 But it may be asked, " What can be done 
 when we have no one among us to work up the 
 plan as proposed ? " We answer, Hire some hon- 
 est practical builder, who is not going to take the 
 contract, to do it for you. He will have no temp- 
 tation to deceive you or to swell the expense, as 
 he might have if he were to receive a percent- 
 age on the outlay, as is too common in such 
 cases. This is a very delicate part of the busi- 
 ness, and should be executed with much care. 
 A few dollars laid out at this point may save 
 thousands on the building, and will often keep 
 Societies out of vexatious difficulties. Some of 
 our preachers have done so much of this kind 
 of work that they have become masters. They 
 should not be overlooked in such undertakings. 
 We used to advise all the churches on our dis- 
 trict about to build to send for one preacher in 
 particular, who was a mechanic before he was a 
 minister, and could draw plans and calculate the 
 
46 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 cost of construction with great accuracy, and 
 we have no doubt that he saved them thousands 
 of dollars. But most preachers are not safe 
 managers in such business, having had little 
 education or experience to fit them for it. They 
 are more likely to follow their wishes or ambi- 
 tion than their judgment, if they have any, and 
 plan for a splendid church, without due regard 
 to its cost or the chances of paying for it. 
 
 DANGER OF ATTEMPTING TOO MUCH. 
 
 Brethren often make a mistake, also, in at- 
 tempting too much. Being unable to pay for 
 a suitable church without incurring a debt, in 
 their zeal they strike for a parsonage also, and 
 other appliances, which, however desirable, are 
 not positively necessary, and might be post- 
 poned without serious detriment. A poor So- 
 ciety at — — - undertook to erect a church of 
 moderate cost, which they could have paid for ; 
 but as they proceeded their plans expanded in 
 the hands of the architect, until they involved 
 an outlay of more than double the amount pro- 
 posed. Had they stopped here they might pos- 
 sibly have survived, though it would have cost 
 them a terrible struggle ; but, wishing to have 
 every thing complete, they added a large bell, 
 a splendid parsonage, a grand organ, piano, and 
 
Of Architects. 47 
 
 melodeon, and contracted a debt they can never 
 pay, and are now in the hands of the sheriff, 
 who will probably sell them out. Had they ad- 
 hered to their original purpose, or only finished 
 the basement of the church, which would have 
 accommodated the people five years at least, 
 they would have saved themselves a world of 
 trouble and mortification, and the cause of 
 Methodism a disgrace it will not soon overcome. 
 Other Societies have taken a wiser course, and 
 purchased land enough for a church and vestry. 
 Having erected the vestry, making it convenient 
 for public worship, and occupied it until they 
 needed the church and were able to build it, 
 they are now enjoying every convenience with- 
 out embarrassment. 
 
 ERRORS WITH REGARD TO LOCATION. 
 
 And this suggests other errors which have 
 too often occurred with regard to the location ; 
 it has been ill chosen, and unreasonably re- 
 stricted. Societies in their poverty have accepted 
 the gift of a lot in the wrong place, when they 
 might better have bought one in the right place. 
 Then they have often purchased only enough 
 land for a small church, when they should have 
 bought enough for a large one, parsonage, sheds, 
 and, in some cases, for a cemetery. Roman 
 
48 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Catholics seldom blunder in this respect. They 
 look ahead, and buy largely where they see a 
 coming town or city, though they may not occupy 
 it for many years. If we happen to have a little 
 surplus land we are apt to sell it. A few who 
 have held on are now independent by reason of 
 the advance in the value of their spare lots. 
 
 The British Conference, after multiplied ex- 
 periments, has brought church building some- 
 what under conference supervision and control. 
 Our Church aimed at something of the kind in 
 the organization of the Church Extension Soci- 
 ety, but has largely failed in this particular, and 
 will fail, we fear, owing to the broadness of our 
 field of action, and the independency of our 
 people. Our local Churches and officers must 
 take care of themselves in this matter. The 
 connectional feeling and purse of our Church 
 are not sufficient to protect them if they fail 
 to do so. They should, therefore, plan with 
 the same economy they would if they stood ab- 
 solutely alone, except on missionary ground. 
 Most of the talk about getting help from the 
 Church Extension Society, or from " abroad," is 
 delusive, and must not be trusted — especially in 
 application to the erection of fine churches. 
 
Of Architects. 49 
 
 PARSONAGES, ORGANS, ETC., DEFERRED. 
 
 We are aware of the inconvenience of being 
 without a church, and of uncomfortable churches ; 
 but, great* as it is, it is preferable to a crushing 
 debt requiring perpetual scheming to get money 
 to appease creditors. A good parsonage has 
 its advantages, and an organ is desirable, but 
 neither can compensate for embarrassing debts. 
 Besides, it is easier generally to pay for them, 
 and other similar conveniences, in advance than 
 afterward. Many will give something to buy 
 them who, when obtained, will give nothing to 
 pay for them. There is little difficulty in rais- 
 ing the money to purchase a bell where the 
 people feel the need of one, but it may be next 
 to impossible to pay for one already obtained. 
 Where it is hard to get money enough to pay 
 for the church, these things had better be left 
 out of the building account, to be taken up 
 afterward, and separately, as circumstances may 
 suggest. And they had better be paid for when 
 purchased, rather than bought on credit. 
 
 With regard to organs, we shall speak more 
 particularly under the head of church music. 
 Societies have made grand mistakes in expend- 
 ing thousands of dollars where as many hun- 
 dreds would have served them a better purpose. 
 
50 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Parsonages, too, have been built without due 
 consideration. Preachers, who should have a 
 study, and are liable to much company, need a 
 little different house from ordinary people — one 
 that is convenient for doing work, easy to warm, 
 and that furnishes room for stowing numerous 
 boxes and trunks used in moving. Consulta- 
 tion with pastors, especially with their wives, 
 would often secure a much better house for the 
 same amount of money. 
 
 Other suggestions might be appropriate, but 
 perhaps these are sufficient for the present. 
 
 Let no one construe what we have said into 
 distrust of God. There is room enough for 
 trust after we have done our best, and there is 
 no ground for it until we reach that point. 
 God helps those who help themselves by trying 
 to keep out of difficulties as well as by seeking 
 to get out of them. When he calls we must 
 venture, though it be in the dark ; till then we 
 should follow reason and common sense, and 
 pray for direction. 
 
 OF COLLECTIONS. 
 
 Great embarrassments have resulted from 
 neglect with regard to the collections. The 
 subscription book should specify when the sev- 
 eral sums pledged shall be due and payable, 
 
Of Architects. 51 
 
 and it is generally wise to have them divided 
 into installments to accommodate the maturing 
 liabilities of the trustees or building committee 
 growing out of the contract. People in ordinary 
 circumstances can pay a subscription in three 
 or four installments several weeks or months 
 apart, easier than they can pay the whole at once. 
 And, if the subscribers understand that these 
 payments are arranged to accommodate the ob- 
 ligations of the trustees to the builder, they will 
 be much more likely to pay promptly. 
 
 OF SUBSCRIPTION PAPERS. 
 
 No particular form is required to render them 
 legal. The object and conditions of the sub- 
 scriptions should be clearly stated, and the sum 
 should be made payable to the order of the 
 trustees. No pecuniary consideration need to 
 be mentioned. The following form will suffice : 
 
 We, the undersigned, severally agree to pay 
 to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in the sum set against our re- 
 spective names for the purpose and toward the 
 expense of (here state the object, whether it be 
 to build or repair a church or parsonage, or 
 whatever it may be,) one third on demand, and 
 the balance, (here state the time or times.) 
 
 Dated 187 . 
 
52 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 If any subscription is t£> be paid otherwise 
 than in cash, this should be stated. All fictitious 
 subscriptions obtained for the purpose of induc- 
 ing others to subscribe, or to subscribe more 
 largely, invalidates all that follow them. If the 
 object proposed should not be undertaken, the 
 subscription is not binding. (See Baker on the 
 Discipline, pp. 195-197.) 
 
 We advise, also, that payment be kindly and 
 promptly demanded as in every other business, 
 and of each and every subscriber. Trustees 
 who can readily command funds on their own 
 personal credit are too apt to neglect this. 
 They often collect the larger subscriptions in 
 full, and leave the smaller ones to the last, 
 which gives the impression to the young and 
 poor that they are not considered of much ac- 
 count. This is a double mistake, first, in that 
 it increases the liability of losing the small sub- 
 scriptions altogether ; and, secondly, in that it 
 lets an opportunity slip of impressing the poor 
 that their subscriptions, however small, are ap- 
 preciated, and that they are partners in the 
 noble enterprise. This large class of our mem- 
 bers and friends have enough, at the least, to 
 discourage them, and should have the benefit of 
 all such attentions, for their own good and that 
 of the cause when they shall become more able. 
 
Of Architects. 53 
 
 Few fully appreciate the importance of keeping 
 such people in good spirits. Young sub- 
 scribed five dollars toward erecting the first little 
 church in his native town, and raised the money 
 by trapping musk-rats, and felt the better for 
 it, and for the manner in which it was received. 
 When that church was superseded by a better 
 one, a splendid edifice, he gave many thou- 
 sands. Had his first noble liberality been de- 
 spised, the result might have been less gratifying. 
 We say, then, collect the small subscriptions 
 promptly and kindly. Let little Tommy pay 
 his, and Mary hers, and the old folks theirs, and 
 make them feel they are important spokes in 
 the wheel of progress. This will justify you 
 in pressing your claims upon another class ev- 
 ery-where found, who have more means, but 
 are constitutionally tardy, especially in paying 
 church subscriptions. 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF FREQUENT REPORTS. 
 
 Trustees are amenable to the Quarterly Con- 
 ference, to which they are required to report 
 annually in detail. (See Discipline, ^[ 377.) 
 But as a matter of policy, and therefore of duty, 
 they should also report not less frequently to 
 the whole congregation, showing their receipts 
 and expenditures. People give more freely 
 
54 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 when they know what is done with their money. 
 As they are all partners in the business, and 
 are desired to contribute, they should be kept 
 informed of its operations, necessities, and pros- 
 pects. Some trustees have made a great mis- 
 take in demanding to be trusted, and yet con- 
 cealing their accounts. Fair and open dealing 
 is the best for all concerned. Quarterly reports 
 are desirable. They show interest on the part 
 of the officers, and remind delinquents of their 
 shortcomings. 
 
 OTHER SECULAR DUTIES. 
 
 It devolves upon the trustees, also, to look 
 after the church when finished, to see that it 
 is kept clean, warm, and well ventilated. All 
 these things have an important bearing upon 
 the congregation. A cold house is dangerous 
 to health, and an excessively hot one is little 
 less so, and few peoplfe can stand a strong cur- 
 rent of air even in warm weather. Trustees 
 ought to consider these inconveniences, and 
 guard against them, not in building only, but 
 afterward. People in delicate health hardly 
 dare go to some churches. If the trustees 
 would be upon the alert to make them comfort- 
 able, they would add much to their pleasure 
 and to the popularity of their preachers. 
 
Of Architects. 55 
 
 SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 Trustees are too apt to confine themselves to 
 financial duties. Indeed, they have sometimes 
 said to others, in so many words, " You do the 
 praying and we will look after the money." 
 
 This is an error, a ruinous error, both to 
 themselves and the Church. Their official po- 
 sition gives them influence and opportunity, 
 increasing their obligations to Christian activ- 
 ity. It is an additional talent, for the right 
 use of which God will hold them responsible. 
 
 1. Being in charge of the Church property, it 
 naturally devolves on them to be at the regular 
 service early, to smile on all who come, and 
 give them a cordial greeting ; especially to wel- 
 come strangers, and treat them in such a man- 
 ner that they will feel at home and come again. 
 In large places this is indispensable. It does 
 not answer to transfer this work to the sexton 
 or to ushers. They may do well, but they are 
 only subordinates. The people want to see the 
 fathers and rulers. A word from them is au- 
 thoritative. A friendly shake of their hand is 
 inspiring. Accepting the office of trustee, one 
 should feel that he is the servant of all, to please 
 and profit them. Especially that he is hound 
 to make the church inviting, not only by its 
 
56 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 general appearance and internal arrangements, 
 but by the urbanity and Christian courtesy of 
 its officials. He must be there, wide awake and 
 with open arms, to receive and entertain all who 
 come, &nd make their personal acquaintance. 
 This is little less important in the country, 
 where there are few strangers. Half of the 
 children and youth belong to poor families, and 
 have little acquaintance with Church officers. 
 If noticed at all by them it is often in the way of 
 complaint. It is forgotten that they are to be 
 men and women, and may be intelligent and 
 influential. Trustees and other functionaries 
 should give them special attention, and please 
 " them for their good to edification/' It will en- 
 courage them to behave well and try to merit 
 respect. 
 
 If our trustees would take this course we 
 should have fewer empty churches. People 
 don't like to go to church to be reminded, by 
 the inattention of trustees, that they are not 
 wanted. A warm recognition from this source 
 would lead tens of thousands to the church 
 who have no place among us. 
 
 2. They should also take an active part in 
 the Sunday-school and social means of grace. 
 By ignoring these fundamental institutions of 
 the Church, or only noticing them as specta-r 
 
Of Architects. 57 
 
 tors, they depreciate them in the estimation 
 of younger minds, and impair their efficiency. 
 Many of our Churches are suffering" to-day 
 from the neglect of trustees in these particu- 
 lars. 
 
 Thus saith the Lord — 'tis God commands ; 
 
 Workers with God, the charge obey ; 
 Remove what e'er his work withstands, — 
 
 Prepare, prepare his people's way. 
 
58 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF STEWARDS. 
 
 THEIR DUTIES — NECESSARY QUALIFI CATIONS — POSSIBLE ERRORS — SOURCES 
 
 OP HELP, ETC. 
 
 STEWARDS are appointed annually by the 
 Quarterly Conference on the nomination 
 of the preacher in charge, but may be reap- 
 pointed in like manner from year to year with- 
 out restriction. Their duties are partially 
 financial, but to an important extent social, 
 benevolent, and spiritual. While the trustees 
 hold and protect the Church property, the 
 stewards provide for current expenses, except 
 where the civil law imposes this work upon the 
 trustees. It is required of them : — 
 
 i. " To take an exact account of all the money 
 or other provisions collected for the support of 
 the preachers in the circuit or station, and apply 
 the same as the Discipline directs." 
 
 2. They are required to " make an accurate 
 return of every expenditure of money, whether 
 to the preachers, the sick, or the poor," show- 
 ing that they have charge of the local charit'.es 
 
Of Stewards, 59 
 
 of the Church, as well as its necessary ex- 
 penses. 
 
 3. They are to " seek the needy and distressed 
 in order to relieve and comfort them, and to in- 
 form the preacher of any sick or disorderly per- 
 sons." This is religious pastoral work of the 
 highest importance — the very work Mr. Wesley 
 performed himself before the idea of a lay- 
 stewardship occurred to him. ( Works, vol. v, 
 p. 185.) Then he transferred the business to 
 stewards, charging them in these significant 
 words : — 
 
 (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 ask relief either an 
 ill word or an ill look. Do not hurt them if you 
 cannot help them. (5.) Expect no thanks from 
 man." 
 
 4. Another important duty of stewards (one 
 that is assigned to no other officer of the 
 Church) is, " to tell the preachers what they 
 think wrong in them ; " or, to use the language 
 of Mr. Wesley, to tell them " in love, if they 
 think any thing amiss, either in their doctrine 
 or life." — Works, vol. v, p. 186. 
 
 5. "To attend the quarterly meetings of the 
 
60 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 circuit, and the leaders and stewards' meetings ; 
 to give advice, if asked, in planning the circuit ; 
 to attend committees for the application of 
 money toChurches ; to give conusel in matters 
 of arbitration ; to provide the elements for the 
 Lord's Supper," etc., etc. — Discipline, ^f 193. 
 
 To do all this work efficiently stewards need 
 to be " men of solid piety, who both know and 
 love the Methodist doctrine and discipline, 
 and of good natural and acquired abilities to 
 transact the temporal business." — Discipline, 
 
 f i 9 i. 
 
 Hence said Mr. Wesley to his stewards : — 
 " 1. You are to be men full of the Holy Ghost 
 and wisdom, that you may do all things in a 
 manner acceptable unto God. 2. You are to 
 begin and end every meeting with earnest 
 prayer to God for a blessing on all your under- 
 takings. 3. You are to produce your accounts 
 the first Tuesday in every month, that they may 
 be transcribed into the ledger. 4. You are to 
 consider whenever you meet, ' God is here.' 
 Therefore, be serious ; utter no trifling word ; 
 speak as in his presence, and to the glory of 
 his great name. 5. In all debates you are to 
 watch over your spirits, avoiding, as fire, all 
 clamor and contention ; being swift to hear, 
 slow to speak ; in honor every one preferring 
 
Of Stewards. 61 
 
 another before himself. 6. If you cannot re- 
 lieve, do not grieve the poor. Give them soft 
 words, if nothing else. . . . Let them be glad to 
 come, even though they should go empty away. 
 Put yourselves in the place of every poor man, 
 and deal with him as you would God should 
 deal with you." — Works, vol. v, pp. 486, 487. 
 
 Such is the work of our stewards, and such 
 the spirit they need to execute it. It is in- 
 tensely religious, though somewhat secular. 
 Caring for the necessary expenses of the altar 
 and the worship of God, often brings them in 
 conflict with covetousness, and is, therefore, 
 unpleasant, but it is indispensable. Somebody 
 must do it or our altar fires will go out. Many 
 have no ability, no tact ; they are not fit for it, 
 could not do it if it were to save their souls. 
 They are too timid, too slow. They have no 
 influence. Others have special adaptation, and 
 can perform the work under whatever embar- 
 rassments. Let them have the office, whether 
 male or female. We have some female leaders, 
 and even preachers ; may we not have female 
 stewards as well and be the gainers by it ? 
 
 OF THE SUPPORT OF PREACHERS. 
 
 Though it devolves on the Quarterly Confer- 
 ence to determine the "amount necessary to 
 
62 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 furnish a comfortable support to the preacher," 
 (see Discipline, ^[ 349,) the stewards, being 
 charged with raising the necessary supplies, 
 have great influence over the question, to make 
 the amount more or less. In the exuberance 
 of their love, they may make it so much as to em- 
 barrass themselves and the people too ; or, under 
 other influences, they may make it so small as 
 to impress the preacher that he is not appreci- 
 ated and not wanted. In settling this question, 
 stewards, and, indeed, all the members of the 
 Quarterly Conference, should remember that 
 this is a point upon which a modest preacher, 
 especially if a stranger, as is generally the case, 
 cannot express all that he thinks and feels. 
 The least indication from him that he is seek- 
 ing for money will injure his influence. How- 
 ever needy, therefore, he will feel compelled to 
 say but little. They should also remember that 
 a lower estimate than his necessities or the cir- 
 cumstances of the people require shows " sharp 
 practice," and will be likely to discourage and 
 disqualify him for the best service of which he 
 is capable. Ministers can live on short allow- 
 ance, and be efficient where it is necessary ; but 
 when required to do so to gratify the avarice of 
 their officials, they must be more than human 
 not to be oppressed by it. 
 
Of Stewards. 63 
 
 We knew a case in point several years 
 since. A young minister ventured to get mar- 
 ried at the end of his third year, and was sent 
 to a Church of more than ordinary wealth. The 
 Quarterly Conference, otherwise the stewards, 
 took advantage of that circumstance, as the Dis- 
 cipline then permitted, and allowed him no 
 quarterage for his wife. They hired him rooms 
 in an old out-of-the-way house, that had stood 
 the storms of one hundred years at least, to save 
 rent, and figured down the other expenses on 
 the most economical scale, and, to cap the 
 climax, they required him to keep a faithful ac- 
 count of any little presents he should receive, 
 that they might be charged against him in the 
 settlement. 
 
 But in guarding against such economy (?) in 
 the estimate, we would not be understood to 
 encourage excess. The sentiment involved in 
 the prayer of Hagar is not inappropriate to 
 ministers. (Prov. xxx, 8, 9.) They generally 
 do best when kept about midway between pov- 
 erty and riches, so that they may have enough 
 to meet their reasonable expenses, and contrib- 
 ute to all the charities they shall urge upon the 
 people without going in debt, and without so- 
 licitude, or any necessity for personal specula- 
 tions. 
 
64 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 OF TRAVELING EXPENSES. 
 
 The first duty of the stewards on receiving a 
 new preacher is to pay his traveling and mov- 
 ing expenses in coming to them. It often hap- 
 pens that preachers have to borrow the money 
 to get to their new charge. This should be 
 paid without delay. It has nothing to do with 
 the forthcoming estimate or salary. It is sim- 
 ply so much money paid out by him, and should 
 be refunded immediately. This ought to be 
 provided for in advance. 
 
 OF PRESENTS. 
 
 If you or the people carry the preacher any- 
 thing, whether food, fuel, or clothing, which he 
 has not ordered or agreed to purchase, never 
 charge it against his salary, or credit it on any 
 one's subscription. Call all such contributions 
 presents, and not sales, and never mention them 
 in paying subscriptions, or figuring up ex- 
 penses. 
 
 But if the preacher purchases any of these 
 things of his people on account of their sub- 
 scriptions, let him give them a receipt for the 
 purchase price of them, to be credited on ac- 
 count, and let that receipt be immediately de- 
 livered to the treasurer, the same as so much 
 
Of Stewards. 65 
 
 money in the usual way of payment, whether by 
 the leaders, collectors, or through envelopes. 
 
 Looking at the whole subject in the light of 
 considerable experience, we deem the following 
 propositions worthy of careful consideration : — 
 
 I. STEWARDS MUST DEAL FAIRLY. 
 
 They well know the object of their appoint- 
 ment. If there are reasons why they cannot 
 conscientiously do the work they should resign. 
 Or, if they have prejudices which they cannot, 
 or will not, conquer, and that will neutralize 
 their energy, it is better for them to vacate. 
 Like some other offices, the stewardship is pow- 
 erful for evil as well as good, and has sometimes 
 sacrificed what it is intended to protect. Take 
 the following case as an illustration : — 
 
 Mr. A. was a leading steward, and had set- 
 tled opinions in regard to the next preacher, 
 asking for one whom he knew could not be ap- 
 pointed without a flagrant violation of our itin- 
 erant arrangements, and predicting the destruc- 
 tion of the Society if his wishes were denied. 
 They could not be granted, of course, and a 
 stranger was sent. Mr. A. was delegated by 
 the Society to make the collections, and pay 
 all expenses as they accrued. But, hoping to 
 bring his prediction to pass, and punish the 
 
66 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 bishops for their impudence in non-compliance 
 with his independent predilections, he asked for 
 no money, and paid none for three or four 
 months, when the pastor, to expose the plot, 
 requested the Church to excuse him from fur- 
 ther service, basing his request on the ground 
 of their incompetence to support a married 
 preacher. This brought Mr. A. to give an ac- 
 count of his stewardship, and revealed the fact 
 that he had asked no man for a dollar, and had 
 not paid the preacher one cent. To settle the 
 question of competence, before voting on the 
 subject an indignant Church ordered a paper 
 to be laid upon the table, and requested every- 
 one to subscribe what he would give. Nearly 
 the whole amount was put down in a few min- 
 utes, and, of course, the pastor remained. But, 
 fortunately, that steward never recovered from 
 his disgrace, and had the mortification of seeing 
 that one Church multiply into five stronger 
 ones, almost in sight of its unimposing location, 
 to say nothing of others in the suburbs. 
 
 Now, this is what we call dishonest. Here 
 was a steward, holding an office designed to 
 subserve and promote the Church, who used it, 
 in obedience to his prejudices, for quite another 
 purpose. This was a wicked betrayal of trust. 
 When he found that he could not consistently 
 
Of Stewards, 67 
 
 discharge the duties of the office, he should 
 have stepped aside and given place to another 
 man. Holding office to defeat the known ob- 
 jects of it is sheer knavery, whether in the 
 Church or out of it. 
 
 2. THEY SHOULD BE IMPARTIAL. 
 
 In close connection with prejudice lies , par- 
 tiality, and both are intimately related to hon- 
 esty. Stewards are sometimes misguided by 
 love, as well as by the want of it. They are 
 active in supporting a favorite preacher, seek 
 to get him a liberal estimate, and then to pay 
 it promptly, besides giving him many pres- 
 ents and honorable recognitions. But having 
 one to whom they feel less attached, they talk 
 of hard times, economy, restriction, etc., showing 
 that they are not governed by principle, but by 
 feeling. The result is, one minister is surfeited 
 with attentions, and another is disheartened for 
 the want of them. And what aggravates some 
 such cases is, that the cruel prejudice involved 
 is the result of ministerial integrity, restraining 
 the stewards or others from improper practices, 
 while the love involved is equally undeserved, 
 arising from the frivolity and worldliness of the 
 preacher who enjoys its benefactions. Great 
 injustice is often experienced in these matters, 
 
68 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 and it may not always be in the power of stew- 
 ards to prevent it. 
 
 3. PUNISHMENT IS NO PART OF A STEWARD^ 
 
 DUTY. 
 
 The point we wish to emphasize here is, that 
 it is no part of a steward's duty to punish his 
 minister, however faulty. He may tell him in 
 kindness what he thinks wrong in him, but 
 should not punish him by withholding his pay, 
 or neglecting the proper means to secure it, 
 should he happen to differ with him in opinion. 
 Nor is it his province to do this even if he 
 should commit a crime against God. In this 
 case it would become his duty to report him to 
 the presiding elder, who would call him to ac- 
 count before his peers. He certainly ought not 
 to take judgment into his own hands and punish 
 him without judge or jury by withholding his 
 support. 
 
 But we do not mean to insinuate that it may 
 never be proper for Church officials, in their as- 
 sociate capacity, to withhold ministerial claims. 
 We believe that circumstances may occur to 
 justify this extreme method of correcting mani- 
 fest wrongs, but it should not be adopted until 
 all milder means have been exhausted. 
 
 And, while speaking of paying ministers', it 
 
Of Stewards, 69 
 
 may not be amiss to mention those who are oc- 
 casionally employed as supplies for one service 
 or more. Now, that compensation for such 
 labor is customary in certain sections, and es- 
 pecially if your Church has practically indorsed 
 it ; but if, for some reason you desire a brother to 
 preach for you gratuitously, and pay his own 
 traveling expenses, you should so inform him at 
 the outset. For, if he knows that you have 
 paid others for similar service, and especially if 
 you promise to pay him, and fail to do so, even 
 to the amount of his fares, may throw a shade 
 of suspicion over his mind that you are not 
 entirely honorable, and possibly, that you are 
 hardly honest. A good reputation is sometimes 
 very useful to a Church, as well as to an indi- 
 vidual ; and it is never best to hurt the feelings 
 of a brother when you can avoid it. No amount 
 of flattery can fully compensate for such indis- 
 cretions, especially in a Church that is able, 
 and deals liberally with its pastor in the way of 
 presents and vacations. The golden rule fur- 
 nishes a safe guide in this case, as in most 
 others. (See Discipline, W 353, 354.) 
 
70 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 3. stewards should deal fairly with the 
 
 POOR. 
 
 It is easier to give to some people than to 
 others of equal merit. All almoners of the 
 Church's bounty need to guard against the er- 
 rors here suggested. Stewards in following 
 their sober judgment will often be obliged to act 
 against their feelings. They hold a tender trust, 
 involving much labor and embarrassment, but it 
 is one of high importance to the Church. Meth- 
 odists were distinguished at the first by their 
 sympathy for the poor. The " Holy Club " at 
 Oxford began their missionary work in prisons, 
 almshouses, barracks, and other places most neg- 
 lected. The first Methodist preacher in Austra- 
 lia was an Irish convict, converted to God while 
 waiting for execution, but afterward banished 
 to that country. Our Church wealth has largely 
 come from labors for the poor. Stewards who 
 ply their official vocation among this class of 
 people lay up treasure for Methodism on earth, 
 as well as for themselves in heaven. They at 
 once come under the best promises of the God 
 of both Testaments. If Methodism ever dies 
 it will be by turning away from this work. The 
 stewards, therefore, have a most important trust. 
 God help them to honor it ! 
 
Of Stewards. yi 
 
 4. THE SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL DUTIES OF 
 STEWARDS ARE IMPERATIVE. 
 
 They should not dream that their work is 
 limited to feeding the hungry and clothing the 
 naked. There are other poor — multitudes of 
 them, strangers and foreigners, who ask not 
 alms, but recognition, acquaintance, sympathy, 
 respect. They want to know that they are loved. 
 They ask your hand, a kind look, a friendly 
 word, and they will reward it all. Long years 
 ago we approached a youth, a child of the sea, 
 in his tarpaulin, surrounded with sin, and 
 whispered words of hope and kindness in his 
 ear and took him into the church. We have often 
 thought of our first sight of him, and of what 
 followed, and wished that we might hear some- 
 thing more of his history. A few months since 
 he approached us, a venerable looking gentle- 
 man, a man of wealth, a Christian, and a Meth- 
 odist. God has tens of thousands of such un- 
 fortunates awaiting our smile and friendly 
 embrace. 
 
 Many of our Churches are poor. Trustees 
 and stewards have a hard struggle to pay ex- 
 penses. They long for the coming of a few 
 rich members, or for a mine to open at their feet. 
 Here they have both. The poor are our in- 
 
72 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 heritance. If properly cultivated, they will 
 furnish us men and means for all time to come. 
 The writer has had the honor of advising in the 
 construction of two wills disposing of nearly 
 two millions of dollars, the honest earnings of 
 two lone orphans, converted to God and Meth- 
 odism in their poverty. And this amount was 
 only what was left, after disbursing hundreds of 
 thousands of dollars to other objects. 
 
 5. STEWARDS SHOULD BE HEROIC. 
 
 It is important, though not, perhaps, wonder- 
 ful, that they sometimes get in the way of com- 
 plaining, pleading poverty, and preaching un- 
 belief, thinking, probably, that it will improve 
 the collections. But this is a miserable way of 
 begging. We never knew a church to thrive 
 on official whining. Most Churches have a few 
 members of this stripe, and, however uninfluen- 
 tial, their moanings are distressing. They are 
 always prophesying evil. They live, and move, 
 and have their being in " Lamentations." Pious 
 worrying is chronic with them. 
 
 But this will not do for stewards. They 
 must keep sunny and hopeful, have faith in 
 God for all reasonable attainments. No de- 
 sponding man can be efficient. Heroism is in- 
 spiring. 
 
Of Stewards, 73 
 
 The writer's first attempt at begging was un- 
 dertaken in the interest of trustees who cov- 
 eted death, and expected to be buried in a few 
 months. When he attempted to cheer the 
 treasurer of the board, and told him he would pay 
 the debt, the idea seemed so ridiculous that he 
 nearly insulted him, which only sent a thrill of 
 purpose through his young soul to do it. In a few 
 weeks he had the money in his pocket, canceled 
 the bond and delivered it to the disconsolate 
 official, who could hardly believe his own eyes. 
 
 Stewards may be blamed, but they must never 
 be disheartened. If one project fails, let them 
 try another. If Church members are poor or 
 stingy, go to the world. Go to them any way, 
 and show them what the Church is doing for 
 them in educating their children, protecting 
 their property, and enhancing its value. If you 
 don't succeed, send your wife, or some one else. 
 Let all the people understand that you are alive, 
 and in earnest, and "mean business." There 
 is an honest way to every man's heart and 
 pocket. It is the business of stewards to find 
 it and enter. You will often need something 
 of the spirit of David when u he moved " on Go- 
 liath, and you will have it if you believe that you 
 are working for God, and look to him for guid- 
 ance, and success, 
 
74 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Heroism is nearly as necessary in taking a 
 plate collection as in soliciting subscriptions. 
 We are not surprised that so little is obtained 
 in some congregations in this way. It is not 
 difficult to see that the collector is ashamed of 
 his business. He goes hurrying from pew to 
 pew, presenting his plate to but now and then 
 an individual, as much as to say that he 
 expects nothing from most of them ; where- 
 as he should place it squarely before each 
 one, and let all understand that the collec- 
 tion is a legitimate part of the worship and 
 must be treated with respect. A little prac- 
 tice of this kind will soon bring a penny, at 
 least, from every w T orshiper, and improve your 
 finances. 
 
 6. STEWARDS SHOULD ACT RELIGIOUSLY. 
 
 Financial duties are as religious as preaching, 
 and should be prosecuted with prayer. Peter 
 was as true to Christ when he went a fishing 
 to get money to pay taxes, as when he "lifted 
 up his voice" on the day of Pentecost, (Matt, xvii, 
 27.) Stewards often fail because they let down 
 the standard of piety the moment they begin to 
 talk of money, and sometimes crack a joke 
 when they should urge a duty and a privilege. 
 If they would ask men to give, as they ask 
 
Of Stewards. 75 
 
 them to repent, solemnly, religiously, and with- 
 out compromising their own integrity or that of 
 the Church, they would seldom fail when the ex- 
 penses are not unreasonably out of proportion 
 to the population. Where they are so they 
 should be reduced at the earliest possible mo- 
 ment, that there may be no necessity for betray- 
 ing Christ into the hands of sinners to meet them. 
 
 7. STEWARDS SHOULD ALSO SET AN EXAMPLE 
 OF NOBLE LIBERALITY. 
 
 No contracted, covetous man ought to be 
 allowed in this office, for the reason that his 
 talk and example will embarrass its objects, 
 more than his contributions and eloquence will 
 help them. The masses naturally follow the 
 leaders, especially if they go in the direction of 
 covetousness. A close, whining, desponding 
 steward is a curse to any Church, especially if 
 he is rich. Methodism has had a few of that 
 sort, most of whom have finished their econo- 
 mizing career. We have known several who 
 have erred in the other direction ; they gave 
 too much, rather than ask others to give. The 
 true policy is to have all, saints and sinners, 
 from the youngest child in Sunday-school to 
 the oldest and poorest widow, give a little, give 
 what they can afford. They will feel the better 
 
j6 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 for it, and it will train them to the habit of giv- 
 ing and make easier work for the generations 
 to come. Besides, " many hands make light 
 work," and supersede the necessity of ringing 
 the changes every Sabbath about money. 
 
 Finally y as to the best plan of procedure to ob- 
 tain contributions, we must speak with some 
 degree of caution. Circumstances alter cases. 
 We have no doubt that many Churches are em- 
 barrassed simply for the want of a wise plan. 
 When the expenses are to be met by renting 
 pews the difficulty is less, though often enhanced 
 by neglect in making the collections. In most 
 places pew rent should be collected in monthly 
 installments, first, because it is easier to pay it 
 in that way, and, secondly, because it will en- 
 able the trustees, or stewards, as the case may 
 be, to pay the preacher and other creditors 
 monthly. It is ruinous to a Church to be lax in 
 its payments. No preacher wants to be its 
 pastor to run in debt for food and fuel, and thus 
 dishonor himself and his people, and few can 
 prevent doing so unless they get their salary 
 monthly. It is hard work to sustain a Church 
 that has acquired a bad name in the commu- 
 nity, and this arises more frequently from im- 
 proper financiering than from poverty. 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 77 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 METHODS OF MEETING CURRENT EXPENSES. 
 
 THE too common plan of taking annual sub- 
 scriptions usually fails to secure the amount 
 needed, and necessitates extra efforts to make 
 up the deficiency. Another defect of this plan 
 is, it often leaves the time and mode of payment 
 optional with each subscriber, which is a pretty 
 sure guarantee that the money will not be pro- 
 duced in season to meet the demands of the 
 cause. Therefore in going to a new charge 
 many years ago, which had pursued this course, 
 and was always behind in its payments, the 
 preacher projected 
 
 A FINANCIAL PLAN, 
 
 which has since been adopted by many Socie- 
 ties to their great advantage. It was substan- 
 tially as follows :- — * 
 
 1. That the officials, embracing the trustees, 
 stewards, and leaders, should make a liberal esti- 
 mate of the amount necessary to pay all the 
 expenses of the year, covering every thing, 
 salaries, interest, insurance, repairs, etc. 
 
 2. That they should then estimate their reg- 
 
78 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 ular income from pews, collections, etc., which 
 being deducted from the estimated expenses 
 would show the amount to be provided for, as 
 per the following example, modified to repre- 
 sent existing necessities :— 
 
 Pastor's Salary $1,000 oo 
 
 Rent of Parsonage 200 00 
 
 Furniture for Parsonage 60 00 
 
 For the Poor of the Church 200 00 
 
 For Sacramental Purposes 15 00 
 
 Presiding Elder's Allowance 50 00 
 
 Assessment for the Bishops 50 00 
 
 Sexton 150 00 
 
 Water Rent 10 00 
 
 Insurance on Church 40 00 
 
 Interest on the Debt , 150 00 
 
 Reduction of Debt 200 00 
 
 Light and Fuel 150 00 
 
 Repairs 75 00 
 
 For Incidentals and Shrinkages 300 00 
 
 Total Expenses $2,650 00 
 
 PROSPECTIVE INCOME. 
 
 From Collections $250 00 
 
 From Pew Rents and Taxes 500 00 
 
 Total $750 00 
 
 Total amount to be supplied. . . ."* $1,900 00 
 
 3. The third suggestion was that a large 
 committee of thirty or forty persons be appointed 
 in the public congregation, embracing church 
 members and others, who should meet together 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 79 
 
 and apportion among the regular attendants 
 the whole sum required, according to their best 
 judgment. 
 
 4. That said committee should then notify 
 each individual named in the apportionment 
 what they had done, by a circular reading nearly 
 as follows :« — 
 
 • Dear Sir: The Committee appointed to 
 apportion the amount necessary for the support 
 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 
 
 the present year among its members and the 
 congregation, have concluded, after due deliber- 
 ation, that you can afford and will be willing to 
 
 pay the sum of dollars. If you acquiesce 
 
 in this conclusion you will please to pay the 
 same in monthly installments, inclosing the 
 amount in an envelope, writing your name, with 
 the amount inclosed, upon the outside, and de- 
 positing the same in the basket or box on the 
 first Sabbath in each month, when it will be 
 passed around in the church to receive these 
 monthly payments. If you demur at the ap- 
 portionment you will please inform A. B., our 
 treasurer, immediately, stating to him what 
 amount you will pay in the mariner aforesaid. 
 Yours truly, for the committee, 
 
 C. D., Secretary. 
 
8o 
 
 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 The plan was then carried into effect imme- 
 diately, and but one man demurred at the ap- 
 portionment. It embraced every body belong- 
 ing to the congregation who was able to give 
 from five cents to ten dollars per month. The 
 more able and liberal members paid less than 
 formerly, and the less liberal a little more. 
 They had always claimed to be willing to " do 
 their part," but had seldom failed to underesti- 
 mate themselves. Now that they had the judg- 
 ment of a large and wise committee, they cheer- 
 fully acquiesced in it. Many members paid 
 small sums, all that was asked, and felt a degree 
 of respectability and importance that they had 
 never enjoyed. It was still a greater blessing 
 to the outsiders, and brought them a little near- 
 er to the Church and to Christ. 
 
 Having reached this point, the preacher pre- 
 pared a simple plan of book-keeping, which only 
 required the treasurer to write the figures rep- 
 resenting the amount inclosed in each envelope 
 from month to month, as follows : — 
 
 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND RECEIPTS. 
 
 SuBSCBIBEKS. 
 
 Ames, John . . 
 -Antrim, Mary . 
 Axtel. Amos. . 
 
 ?! 
 
 e 5 
 << 
 
 
 
 
 Monthly Payments. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 as 
 
 c 
 
 s 
 
 
 9 
 < 
 
 ft, 
 ® 
 Xfl 
 
 o 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 a 
 
 93 
 
 IB 
 
 
 < 
 
 48 00 
 
 4 00 
 
 4 00 
 
 8 00 
 
 
 4 00 
 
 2 00 
 
 6 00 
 
 4 00 
 
 6 00 
 
 8 00 
 
 1 00 
 
 1 00 
 
 60 
 
 05 
 
 05 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 no 
 
 1 00 
 
 1 00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 HP5 
 48 00 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 8 1 
 
 The subscribers' names, with the amount of 
 their annual subscriptions and monthly pay- 
 ments, being thus alphabetically entered in the 
 treasurer's book, he could see in a moment.who 
 were in arrears, and by running up the pay- 
 ments of each month could tell the sum total 
 received. Another part of the arrangement re- 
 quired that delinquents should be promptly vis- 
 ited. And to be able to verify his accounts, 
 should they be questioned, the treasurer kept 
 the envelopes to the end of the year. 
 
 The plan also embraced the opening of a new 
 ledger, as follows : — 
 
 E. D., Treasurer, in Account with M. E. Church. 
 
 May 5. Received from envelopes $230 05 
 
 " " Received from Collections, loose. . 5 70 
 
 May 6. Paid Pastor $83 34 
 
 " " Paid Sexton 1667 
 
 " " Paid for Oil 800 
 
 This account may be kept on one page, or 
 the receipts may be entered on the right hand 
 page and the payments on the left, which will 
 give room for more particularity, and be less 
 liable to mistakes. 
 
 After this it only remained for the pastor to 
 announce the collection, and the stewards to 
 take it. The result was, the treasurer immedi- 
 ately had money to pay every demand monthly, 
 6 
 
82 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 The first year was closed out of debt for current 
 expenses, and with money in the treasury. The 
 second year ended in like manner, without mak- 
 ing the least extra effort. 
 
 We have encountered many plans since, but 
 have found none better. It makes no differ- 
 ence whether the legal responsibility of paying 
 the bills rests on the trustees or stewards, 
 whether the regular income from rents, collec- 
 tions, etc., is one quarter, one half, or three 
 quarters of the sum needed, this is an easy and 
 equitable way of providing for the deficiency on 
 the start, and it generally supersedes the neces- 
 sity of extraneous and harassing exertions to 
 raise supplies. 
 
 It has the advantage, too, of interesting the 
 whole congregation. It makes every one feel 
 that he belongs to the concern, and justly proud 
 in hearing the annual report, that we — not the 
 trustees or stewards merely, but we — have done 
 so nobly. 
 
 Another advantage of it is, it takes the cur- 
 rent expenses out of the way of our benevo- 
 lences. Officials cannot feel free to make much 
 of an effort for benevolent collections while they 
 are sadly in arrears for current expenses. Nor 
 can the people be very liberal toward outside 
 interests while they are groaning under a late 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 83 
 
 galvanic operation to raise money to pay the 
 preacher, or while they anticipate something of 
 the sort to make up deficiencies. 
 
 We might add, it obviates one of the most 
 mortifying circumstances connected with the 
 presiding eldership, namely, the collection. By 
 bringing his claim into the general expense, and 
 providing for it as you do for the other expenses, 
 that is, by obtaining a trifle from each individ- 
 ual member and friend in the manner proposed, 
 nobody feels it, and this officer is spared the 
 humiliation of witnessing a public drill to collect 
 his allowance, or of receiving it from the scanty 
 pocket of the preacher. In a word, the plan has 
 been generally adopted in some parts of the 
 Church, and is justifying all we have said in its 
 favor. 
 
 A LATER METHOD SUGGESTED. 
 
 A modification of the foregoing arrangement 
 has been lately adopted by a new Society, which 
 seemed quite unable to pay its expenses. Hav- 
 ing only a small congregation, it waived the 
 apportionment, and circulated cards asking the 
 people to subscribe the amount they would pay 
 for the year in weekly installments. We insert 
 a copy of the card, for the benefit of any who 
 may be disposed to adopt it, as follows : — 
 
84 Helps to Official Members. 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 
 New York. 
 
 About $4,000 is required yearly from this Church for the 
 support and spread of the Gospel. This is needed to meet 
 the claims of the Pastor and Presiding Elder, to pay for 
 house rent and furniture, interest, insurance, and sexton; to 
 furnish coal, light, etc. 
 
 Each member of the congregation is expected to do his 
 part in this work, as God shall give ability. You will please, 
 therefore, fill the blanks in the following pledge and put it on 
 the plate : 
 
 , 1875. 
 
 Until May 1st, 1876, / agree to pay for the support of the 
 
 M. E. Church Dollar Cents per week, 
 
 payable at the Church on each Sabbath, 
 
 Name 
 
 Residence 
 
 These cards were placed in the pews, and are 
 there now, to be read by all comers. As they 
 were filled out they were put on the plates, and 
 thus passed into the hands of the treasurer. 
 The sums subscribed ranged from one cent to 
 five dollars, there being only one card contain- 
 ing the last amount named. Each of the sub- 
 scribers was immediately furnished with fifty- 
 two little cheap envelopes, one for each Sabbath, 
 and requested to inclose his subscription, write 
 his name on the envelope, and put it in the 
 basket. Nearly all the children subscribed, and 
 became so interested in the preparation of their 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 85 
 
 envelopes, that their parents could not easily 
 forget their own. The result was astonishing. 
 The subscriptions were numerous, the money 
 was forthcoming, and the officers knew every 
 week just how they stood. The first report was 
 particularly interesting. 
 
 Where the pews are free, weekly payments 
 will probably prove most successful. But for 
 permanent congregations, whether in the city 
 or out, we favor the apportioning plan — 
 
 1. Because many will subscribe nothing, being 
 too proud to write a small sum. 
 
 2. Because some, being covetous, will write 
 less than they ought. 
 
 3. Because a few will write more than they 
 can afford, and never pay it. 
 
 4. Because, if done kindly and prudently it 
 will give better satisfaction. Most men would 
 rather pay fifty cents per week, knowing that 
 to be their full proportion, than half the amount 
 and be reproached for not paying more. 
 
 The beauty of these schemes is seen — 
 
 1. In that they provide for the annual expenses 
 at the commencement of the year. 
 
 2. In that they conveniently furnish the 
 money to meet them as they accrue. 
 
 3. In that they prevent the necessity of hard 
 and frequent begging in the congregation, which 
 
86 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 cannot fail to keep some people, both rich and 
 poor, away from the house of God. 
 
 4. In that they supersede the necessity of fes- 
 tivals, concerts, and dramatic exhibitions, which, 
 defend them as we may, are most damaging to 
 the spiritual interest of the Church. 
 
 The Roman Catholics fell from grace by 
 establishing theaters, lotteries, balls, festivals, 
 shows, etc., to raise money to meet expenses. 
 No Church, however holy, can cater to the world 
 in this manner and retain its spiritual power. 
 
 But there is no need of doing this. If our 
 Church officers will take a firm stand, adopt 
 some sensible plan of finance, and resign sooner 
 than resort to worldly tricks and amusements 
 to obtain funds, they will have no lack ; and 
 sinners are too clear sighted to follow profess- 
 ors of religion for spiritual benefit who are no 
 better than themselves. If they are about to 
 die, and desire advice and prayers, they will not 
 send for the man whom they met at the last 
 pleasure party, though he may be a steward or 
 leader. One of the first demands of Christ is, 
 that we come out from the world and be sepa- 
 rate. We believe most Methodists deprecate 
 our tendency to worldly complications, and only 
 tolerate them from what seems to be sheer neces- 
 sity. In our opinion this necessity is fictitious, 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 87 
 
 and would generally vanish before a proper 
 financial policy. 
 
 A POSSIBLE OBJECTION. 
 
 It may be objected that these plans are not 
 adapted to circuits embracing several congre- 
 gations, however appropriate to stations. So it 
 may appear at the first glance, but is it true in 
 fact ? Suppose there are five congregations in 
 a circuit, we would suggest that the Quarterly 
 Conference, composed of representatives from 
 each, determine how much is needed in the man- 
 ner before indicated, and then apportion it to 
 each of the congregations, according to their 
 several ability. This done, the local officers of 
 each may add to the apportionment so much as 
 is necessary for strictly local purposes, and then 
 proceed to secure the whole by one of the plans 
 named, as they may judge most appropriate, to 
 be paid weekly or monthly, in envelopes, at some 
 one regular preaching service whenever held. 
 And we see no reason why these same plans 
 may not be extended to isolated classes, in 
 which case the envelopes may be handed to the 
 leader instead of being deposited in the box. 
 This will secure a weekly or monthly payment, 
 and overcome the prevailing tendency to post- 
 pone till the close of the year. 
 
88 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 In officially visiting an appointment several 
 years since, embracing a number of classes 
 within five miles of the church, the pastor 
 informed me that he was distressed for the 
 want of money, and that "if he were to receive 
 a letter informing him of his own mother's 
 death, he could not pay the postage on it." 
 Knowing the people, I was not disappointed, and 
 told him I would bring up the subject in the 
 Quarterly Conference, and wanted him to state 
 just what he had said to me. He did so, when 
 I proposed a little plan to be carried out in the 
 several classes immediately, which brought de- 
 liverance the next Sabbath. Calling at his house 
 on Monday morning to learn the result, he soon 
 entered, exclaiming to his wife, with manifest 
 rapture, " I am a happy man ; I have paid all my 
 debts, and have fifty dollars in my pocket." 
 
 The embarrassment that good man had suf- 
 fered was intense, and it was all unnecessary. The 
 people were able to supply his wants, and in- 
 tended to do it, but they had no effective plan of 
 operation. Either of the methods suggested 
 would have done it promptly, and paying in small 
 sums the people would not have felt it. The 
 poorest of them would have paid ten cents a 
 week, though it might have shocked them to 
 think of giving five dollars at one time. 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 89 
 
 Romanists are wiser than Protestants in this 
 respect. They build their splendid churches 
 and cathedrals, support their schools and other 
 costly institutions, by these little weekly collec- 
 tions. They do not get all they want nor all 
 they ask, hut they get something from every 
 one weekly \ and they begin to make collections 
 for their churches long before they lay their 
 foundations, and work on as fast as they get the 
 means to pay the bills. Here lies their finan- 
 cial strength. Though we have not the same 
 power over our people that they have over theirs, 
 we have enough influence to collect all that we 
 really need. 
 
 THE SCHEME AN ANCIENT ONE. 
 
 We may add, this plan is apostolic. " Upon the 
 first day of the week," says St. Paul, "let every 
 one of you lay by him in store, as God hath pros- 
 pered him, that there be no gatherings when I 
 come." (1 Cor. xvi, 2.) He wanted the giving 
 done on principle, and not under excitement ; 
 and by system, that it might not interfere with 
 his special, spiritual mission. And so does 
 every presiding elder and minister, and it is best 
 for all concerned that it should be so. 
 
90 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 on class collections. 
 
 Collections through the classes are of long 
 standing, and may be most appropriate in 
 some cases. But even where these are preferred, 
 we should advise the apportionment, or card 
 system, recommended, with weekly or monthly 
 payments. " Notes on demand are never due." 
 The Quarterly Conference, or board, having 
 decided how much each class ought to raise, let 
 the leader divide it among his members, asking 
 them to pay in weekly installments, or let him 
 give each a card of the kind before mentioned 
 and get their subscriptions. If they do not at- 
 tend class, let him visit them, or have some one 
 do so, or send them a card by mail, any way to 
 have the matter settled at once. 
 
 The objection to class collections is, it limits 
 the giving to the Church. But this can be ob- 
 viated by sending the cards or apportionment 
 and the envelope to outsiders, who will help if 
 properly approached. The cause demands 
 courage, faith, and work, and with these appli- 
 ances it cannot fail. 
 
 THESE VIEWS CONFIRMED. 
 
 Since writing the above we have received an 
 excellent letter from Rev. M. D. Collins, presid- 
 
Methods of Meeting Current Expenses. 91 
 
 ing elder of Boonsborough District, Des Moines 
 Conference, confirmatory of nearly every point. 
 He justly emphasizes the importance of a thor- 
 ough organization of the stewards, by the elec- 
 tion of a president, secretary, and treasurer 
 at the commencement of the year ; that they 
 meet once a month at least ; keep a faithful 
 record of their proceedings and accounts, and 
 urges all parties to a vigorous discharge of their 
 duties, on the best plan they can devise. He 
 says, " The wise men of Gotham did not com- 
 mit a worse folly when they went to sea in a 
 bowl, than Stewards do when they set out on a 
 year's work without a plan!' 
 
92 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 T 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF CLASS LEADERS. 
 
 THEIR DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS. 
 
 HE office of class leader, like most of the pe- 
 culiarities of Methodism, was providentially 
 suggested. " I was talking," says Mr. Wesley, 
 "with several of the Society at Bristol concern- 
 ing the means of paying the debts there, when 
 one stood up and said, ' Let every member of the 
 Society give a penny a week till all is paid. 
 Another answered, ' But many are poor, and can- 
 not afford to do it/ ' Then/ said he, ' put eleven 
 of the poorest with me, and if they cannot give 
 any thing, well, I will call on them weekly, and 
 if they can give nothing, I will give for them as 
 well as for myself. And each of you can call 
 on eleven of your neighbors weekly ; receive 
 what they give, and make up what is wanting.' 
 It was done." 
 
 Thus, the office was originally established as 
 a financial measure. But in carrying it into 
 effect these collectors discovered that some 
 members of the Society did not live as they 
 ought. " It struck me immediately," says Mr. 
 Wesley, "this is the thing, the very thing we 
 
Of Class Leaders. 93 
 
 have wanted so long." He, therefore, called on 
 all the collectors, and requested each to make 
 particular " inquiry into the behavior of those 
 whom they saw weekly. They did so. Many 
 disorderly walkers were detected. Some turned 
 from the evil of their ways. Some were put 
 away from us. Many saw it with fear, and re- 
 joiced unto God with reverence." (Wesley s 
 Works , vol. vii, pp. 316, 350.) 
 
 Thus the office came to embrace spiritual 
 and pastoral functions as well as financial, 
 which soon led to the weekly meeting of the 
 members for religious conversation and prayer, 
 and finally to ministerial and governmental 
 responsibilities. With us it is the duty of a 
 leader, 
 
 " I. To see each person in his class once a 
 week at least ; in order, 1. To inquire how 
 their souls prosper. 2. To advise, reprove, 
 comfort, or exhort, as occasion may require. 
 3. To receive what they are willing to give 
 toward the relief of the preachers, Church, and 
 poor. 
 
 " II. To meet the ministers and the stewards 
 of the Society once a week ; in order, 1. To in- 
 form the minister of any that are sick, or of any 
 that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved. 
 2. To pay the stewards what they have received 
 
94 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 of their several classes in the week preceding/' 
 {Discipline, % 30.) 
 
 It is the duty of a leader also to watch over 
 the members of his class, not only to see how 
 they outwardly observe the rules of the Church, 
 but how they grow " in the knowledge and love 
 of God." And that his labors may be effective 
 he is required to converse frequently and freely 
 with his pastor, and to report the condition of 
 his class at each meeting of the Quarterly Con- 
 ference. {Discipline, ^[ 57.) 
 
 The high responsibility of leaders is further 
 indicated by the facts that they are members 
 of the Quarterly Conference, and of the lead- 
 ers and stewards' meeting, which have govern- 
 mental control over all the affairs of the Church, 
 both temporal and spiritual. Besides, no one 
 can be admitted into full connection in the 
 Church, except on their recommendation. {Dis- 
 cipline, TT 93, 175.) 
 
 In view of their financial trusts, Mr. Southey 
 calls them tax-gatherers, and compares them to 
 non-commissioned officers in the army, and 
 pronounces our " spiritual policy perfect," in 
 view of the wonderful adaptation of this office 
 to its grand purposes. Bishops Coke and As- 
 bury declare in their notes on the Discipline, 
 " every leader is in some degree a gospel minis-- 
 
Of Class Leaders. 95 
 
 ter. The revival of the work of God does, per- 
 haps, depend as much upon the whole body of 
 the leaders as it does upon the whole body of 
 the preachers." As they are sub-pastors under 
 the preacher in charge to watch over and feed 
 that part of his flock committed to their care, it 
 is reasonable that he should appoint and advise 
 them, and also to dismiss them when they prove 
 themselves unfaithful or incompetent. {Emory s 
 Hist of Dis. y p. 380.) 
 
 OF THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. 
 
 In view of the duties and responsibilities in- 
 volved, it is not difficult to perceive that class 
 leaders need to possess many excellences of 
 character. 
 
 1. They should be men of manifest integrity. 
 In contributing, many people desire to know 
 that what they contribute will go to the object 
 for which it is given. They will not readily 
 respond to any call, however urgent, where they 
 have reason to distrust the integrity of the solic- 
 itor. In the financial department of a leader's 
 duties, he ought to hold himself above sus- 
 picion, by making full and prompt returns to 
 the stewards. In these days of defalcation, 
 good men cannot be too careful in the manage- 
 ment of finances. 
 
g6 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 2. They should be prompt. A laggard will 
 never make a useful leader. Leaders should 
 never miss a meeting without furnishing a sub- 
 stitute, or fail to open and close one at the time 
 proposed. Members will soon learn to be tardy 
 if the leader is so, and to stay away if he con- 
 tinues the service beyond the ordinary time of 
 dismission. 
 
 They should be prompt, too, in looking after 
 absentees. Many members have been lost to 
 the Church, and, perhaps, to heaven itself, by 
 leaders delaying to visit this class of their mem- 
 bers. Becoming discouraged, or being neces- 
 sarily detained by sickness or other means, and 
 hearing nothing from the leader or the Church, 
 they have concluded that they are not respected, 
 and have sometimes fallen into sin, or gone to 
 another Church that manifested interest in 
 their welfare. If leaders cannot immediately 
 visit delinquents, they ought to enlist some one 
 else to do it, and show that they are alive to 
 their responsibility. Or, if this is impractica- 
 ble, they should write them kindly, and invite 
 them to their next meeting. Mr. Farnell, an 
 English leader who was much occupied with 
 business, had a printed card which he used to 
 send to all absentees in an envelope. It read 
 as follows : — 
 
Of Class Leaders. 97 
 
 Mr. Farnell's kind regards, and will be very happy 
 to see you at class on Tuesday next, at eight 
 o'clock in the evening, in No. I Vestry, Bold-st. 
 
 On the opposite side was printed the signifi- 
 cant invitation, " Come thou with us, and we 
 will do thee good. ,, Num. x, 29. 
 
 3. They should be exceedingly careful, also, 
 of their moral deportment, avoiding the very 
 appearance of evil. They are pastors and 
 teachers in an important sense, and must set 
 an example which it will be safe and profitable 
 for others to follow. It is not enough for them 
 to be moral and respectable according to the 
 standards of the world, they must repudiate all 
 doubtful associations and practices on every 
 question, and place themselves above suspi- 
 cion. Some very respectable leaders have 
 injured their influence by too free and easy 
 habits growing out of their other connections. 
 Whether the practices involved are justifiable 
 under some circumstances is not the ques- 
 tion. Public sentiment, to say nothing of the 
 word of God, condemns them in a religious 
 teacher. 
 
 Leaders who do not renounce the world, the 
 
 flesh, and the devil, as they proposed to do when 
 
 7 
 
98 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 they joined the Church, cannot expect to suc- 
 ceed. No class exercise can possibly create 
 confidence in the sincerity of such leaders. 
 They should be just as careful of their conduct 
 as they require their minister to be of his, if 
 they will have power with God and do good to 
 men. They cannot afford to be imprudent 
 men. 
 
 4. They must be equally particular to main- 
 tain a right spirit. The spirit of the world is 
 light and trifling. It puts aside all considera- 
 tions of death, judgment, and eternity, and courts 
 fun and frolic. The spirit of religion is sober, 
 not sad ; it is reflective and devout. Our opin- 
 ions of men are formed as much by the spirit 
 they manifest as by their conduct. Nobody 
 can have confidence in a joking, frivolous 
 leader. He shows clearly that he has no 
 sense of God's presence, or any real communion 
 with him. And his class, and even wicked men, 
 will think, when they hear him talk about re- 
 ligion, that the blind is attempting to lead the 
 blind. " Watch and be sober," is God's com- 
 mand to the children of light. A Christian 
 teacher " must be blameless, vigilant, sober, of 
 good behavior, not a brawler, not double- 
 tongued, and have a good report of them which 
 are without." All this is necessary to give him 
 
Of Class-Leaders. 99 
 
 influence over those whom he would teach, and 
 lead to heaven. 
 
 All this is necessary to endow him for his du- 
 ties. One cannot indulge in the evils suggested 
 without feeling that he is " wanting!' He can- 
 not have the witness of the Spirit that he is ac- 
 cepted of God. " For this is the love of God, 
 that we keep his commandments, and his com- 
 mandments are not grievous." Nor can he 
 feel deeply interested in the spiritual prosper- 
 ity of his class. A leader, to be interesting, 
 must be in Christ, and have Christ in him ; 
 a well of water springing up into everlasting 
 life. 
 
 5. It is desirable, too, that leaders be well- 
 informed as to the doctrines, practice, and ex- 
 perience of religion. If they have been soundly 
 converted, as the result of repentance toward 
 God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, they 
 know something of the highest importance, that 
 can only be learned by experience. If they 
 moved forward from that brilliant beginning, 
 growing in grace, in the knowledge of the truth, 
 and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, they 
 know more that will wonderfully inspire and 
 direct them in their work. 
 
 A leader must understand God's plan of deal- 
 ing with men, what he proposes to do for them, 
 
ioo Helps to Official Members. 
 
 here and now, and on what conditions he will 
 do it. His own experience, if clear and satis- 
 factory, will help him on these points, as well 
 as the word of God, and the experiences of 
 others. He will need, however, to guard against 
 mistakes, or he may stumble into legality on 
 the one hand, requiring impossible works and 
 feelings : or into looseness on the other, ac- 
 counting professors dear children of God, though 
 they live in actual sin. How difficult it is to 
 teach faith and works in their proper places 
 and proportions, so as to reap the conscious 
 benefit of the atonement at once and go in 
 peace. Christians often get badly befogged on 
 these points, and drift about among the rocks 
 and shoals of error and unbelief for days, and 
 even weeks, and require a skillful leader to 
 give them the right reckoning and restore them 
 to their proper course. We remember with 
 what avidity we used to run' to our first leader 
 with the accumulated troubles of the week, and 
 how they vanished under his skillful touch. 
 One needs to be intimate with the heavenly 
 Father, to read his word carefully and prayer- 
 fully, and to talk much with Christians of ma- 
 ture experience, in order to meet all the ques- 
 tions that will be presented for solution by a 
 thriving class. 
 
Of Class-Leaders. 101 
 
 Leaders should also understand the devil and 
 his wiles, the difference between temptation 
 and sin, that the temporary absence of joy does 
 not prove sin, and should not disturb faith in 
 God, or confidence in his love to us, so long as 
 we remain loyal to his commands. But they 
 should not so apologize for darkness and stupid- 
 ity as to make their members content without 
 light. The normal condition of the Christian is 
 that of " love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- 
 ness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. ,, 
 Gal. v, 22. The loss of any one of these di- 
 vine virtues should lead us to Jesus in prayer, 
 till it be restored. It is no part of a leaders 
 business to satisfy his members without the wit- 
 ness of the Spirit, or without " being rooted and 
 grounded in love," so as u to comprehend with 
 all saints what is the breadth, and length, and 
 depth, and height ; and to know the love of 
 Christ, which passeth knowledge, and be filled 
 with all the fullness of God." Eph. iii, 17-19. 
 Yet he may find it necessary to comfort and 
 encourage them under temptation before they 
 reach this fullness, and even afterward. 
 
 The flesh furnishes another branch of study 
 for leaders in almost every sense in which the 
 word can be properly used. It is the source of 
 many evils that are often traced to other causes. 
 
102 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 * They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh 
 with the affections and lusts." Gal. v, 24. Still 
 they are liable to be tempted and carried away 
 from God. 
 
 This is a dangerous point, as it is not always 
 easy to perceive the exact line of demarkation 
 between what is admissible and what not. In 
 all questions of this sort our only safe course is 
 to lean hard toward God, and give him the ben- 
 efit of our doubt. That is, if abstinence is 
 surely not wrong, and indulgence may be, we 
 should abstain, for he that doubteth in such a 
 case is condemned, because he takes the risk 
 of becoming a transgressor. 
 
 Leaders ought also to understand the world 
 as well as the flesh and the devil. The natural 
 man cleaves to it, covets its pleasures, honors, 
 amusements, social advantages and approval, 
 but this is all wrong. God's explicit command 
 is, " Be not conformed to the world : but be ye 
 transformed by the renewing of your mind, that 
 ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, 
 and perfect will of God. ,, Rom. xii, 2. And 
 knowing that there is no safety in social inter- 
 mingling with sinners, he adds : " Come out 
 from among them, and be ye separate, . . , and 
 touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive 
 you." 2 Cor. vi, 17. Leaders need all the wis- 
 
Of Class-Leaders. 103 
 
 dom and grace they can command to keep their 
 members from being overcome by this means. 
 They should be fully armed with the word of 
 God, which declares, " If any man lov^Jhe world, 
 the love of the father is not in him." 1 John 
 ii, 15. 
 
 But it is not necessary to particularize. 
 Leaders who read the Bible to get the mind of 
 God, and our books bearing directly on the sub- 
 jects of duty and experience, and put them- 
 selves in the way of learning from others, can 
 hardly fail to become masters. But those who 
 have the best acquaintance with the Bible in 
 its relations to human nature, will have the 
 advantage of all others. This is a magazine 
 of facts and thought that never fails to furnish 
 something appropriate. 
 
 Of human books, to assist leaders, one called 
 " Seed Thought," arranged by the late Rev. Geo. 
 Robinson, and published by Nelsqn & Phillips, 
 is, in our opinion, among the best. It brings 
 together a variety of Scriptures with observa- 
 tions, by eminent men, on almost every point 
 of interest, and marks numerous Scripture ex- 
 amples of each topic. Besides, it indicates sev- 
 eral hymns expressive of the sentiment under 
 consideration, and saves time that may be lost 
 in searching for one appropriate to be suiig. 
 
104 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 In a word, any Christian man of fair natural 
 abilities, who knows how to read, can express 
 himself readily and respectably, and is ambitious 
 to succeed, may do so, if he will keep his eyes 
 and ears open to learn, and his heart warm with 
 divine love. The facilities for acquiring knowl- 
 edge and grace were never so great as at pres- 
 ent. But then he must always be looking out 
 to gather up something for his class, something 
 to interest and help them, as a loving father is to 
 benefit his family, or an earnest pastor to feed 
 his flock. No one can excuse himself from this 
 work on. account of ignorance, if he will only 
 open his windows and let in the surrounding 
 light. Failure oftener comes from stupidity and 
 spiritual death than from ignorance. 
 
 6. We must not fail to mention sympathy as 
 another element of effectiveness in a leader. 
 A hard, unfeeling man may make a good sheriff, 
 but he is unfit for any position in the Church of 
 Christ. Sympathy underlies the whole Christian 
 system, and is the power of God unto salvation. 
 It propels the machinery that is redeeming the 
 world from heathenism. Leaders must be full of 
 it. They must weep with those who weep, and 
 for sinners who do not weep, and rejoice with 
 those who rejoice. The sick, poor, and multi- 
 tudes of children and unfortunate ancj friendless 
 
Of Class-Leaders. 105 
 
 adults, are suffering for kind words and feelings. 
 They want to be noticed and loved. Any 
 leader who will strike out and seek after these 
 classes in the spirit of Jesus will have a crowd 
 after him, not merely for the little temporalgood 
 he may do them, but 'for his friendship. 
 
 People in better conditions often need sym- 
 pathy as well. Afflictions of one kind or an- 
 other come to all, and a bleeding heart courts 
 consolation. A leader who enters into all 
 the interests of his class will command their 
 attendance, though his words may be few and 
 weak. 
 
 7. He must be social and companionable, 
 greeting his members in a warm and friendly 
 manner, and not be cold, reserved, and distant. 
 This is the natural expression of sympathy, and 
 it is difficult to make people believe that we feel 
 exactly right without it. One who can cordially 
 shake hands and kindly welcome the approach 
 of his members, will seldom be troubled by ab- 
 sentees. We have had several leaders of this 
 kind, and have been obliged to divide their 
 classes every few months. Such men have so 
 much magnetism, that they will draw around 
 them a crowd any where if you will give them 
 a chance. 
 
 But some will say, " I have no capacity for 
 
106 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 this ; I cannot be sociable ; I have no heart to 
 shake hands with every body." Then you must 
 do it by will power, do it as a duty, do it for 
 Christ's sake and for the sake of souls, that you 
 may please and profit them. " Finally," says 
 St. Peter, " having compassion one of another ; 
 love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous : know- 
 ing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should 
 inherit a blessing." 
 
 Our classes and churches are suffering for 
 the want of fraternal recognition, Christian fel- 
 lowship and hand-shaking. We are too form- 
 al and unsocial. Many have already left the 
 Church and gone to the world for society. We 
 need a revival of brotherly love and Christian 
 intercourse. Leaders can do much to bring it 
 to pass. 
 
 8. But all these qualities are the natural prod- 
 ucts of spiritual religion, of justification by 
 faith, which gives " peace with God through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ," and makes us to " rejoice 
 in the hope of the glory of God." Rom. v, 1-3. 
 One who walks and talks with God will be inter- 
 ested, and will render himself attractive and prof- 
 itable to others, unless prevented by some errone- 
 ous opinions. It is natural for the sun to shine. 
 Leaders may be full of knowledge, but if they 
 have not the love of God shed abroad within 
 
Of Class-Leaders. 107 
 
 them they cannot .be efficient. This is their 
 strength. It is a magnet that will draw all 
 Christian hearts toward them. With this it is 
 easy to be good, and gentle, and sympathetic. 
 A leader who is consciously happy in God, will 
 be likely to have a full class. 
 
io8 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 HOW TO MAKE A CLASS-MEETING INTERESTING 
 ,' AND PROFITABLE. 
 
 ONE of the first conditions of success in 
 class-leading is, that members be at once 
 relieved of all embarrassment. They need to feel 
 as easy as they usually do in private conversation 
 at their own homes. The constraint of the wit- 
 ness's box in court is not favorable to the utter- 
 ance of " the whole truth," or to the reception 
 of good advice. Timid people dislike the posi- 
 tion, however much they may know, and will 
 never occupy it unless compelled. It is on this 
 ground that many are opposed to class-meet- 
 ings. They are terrified the moment they en- 
 ter the room, if not before, and can neither think 
 nor feel naturally. Of course they are not in a 
 good state of mind either to speak or to hear. 
 
 HOW TO PREPARE A CLASS FOR ACTION. 
 
 How to relieve a class-meeting of this em- 
 barrassment is a question that we may not be 
 able to solve. Something must be done to ex- 
 clude the idea of a formal public meeting, and 
 to socialize it. We will suggest, 
 
Of Class-Meetings. 109 
 
 1. That the leader, on entering the room, 
 shake hands with all present, calling them by- 
 name, and giving them a cordial greeting ; and 
 that he do the same with others who shall come 
 before the services are opened. 2. That he com- 
 mence with less formality, and in a different 
 manner from what is common in public worship. 
 He may do this by making some pertinent re- 
 marks while sitting, or by singing a few famil- 
 iar verses without rising and reading them. 
 3. That he allow the members to speak sitting, 
 if they prefer it, and do the same himself, a part 
 of the time at least. 4. That he allow them to 
 speak at any time they please, and not require 
 them to wait until reached by any regular order. 
 This will be likely to secure " a word in season.'* 
 5. That he speak to them miscellaneously, and 
 allow them to respond or not, as they shall 
 please. No one will refuse to answer suitable 
 questions, and this is all that many beginners 
 care to do. 6. That he permit them to ask 
 questions relating to any appropriate point that 
 may be developed in the course of the meeting. 
 This will often render the service completely 
 social, and more interesting and profitable than 
 it could be made by the usual method of speech 
 making. 
 
 We tested this plan in our last experience as 
 
no Helps to Official Members. 
 
 leader. Beginning with a very few who ven- 
 tured in, we took our seat near them, and con- 
 ducted the exercises in the most informal and 
 social way, making them feel at home. The 
 next week the number was considerably in- 
 creased, and so it went on until we had forty 
 in actual attendance, when other duties called 
 us away. We have since frequented another 
 class which is led much after the same style. 
 It is always full and spiritual. The conversa- 
 tions elicited by the questions of different mem- 
 bers are rich and exceedingly profitable, and 
 few ask to be excused from speaking. 
 
 Ease and freedom being secured, the next 
 thing is to conduct the exercises in a manner to 
 achieve the best results. What that manner is, 
 is a question about which good men may hon- 
 estly differ. In settling it, we should never for- 
 get that a class-meeting is not a social club, or 
 a literary society, but a means of grace designed 
 to promote the spiritual improvement of its 
 members. 
 
 In this view we would suggest the singing of 
 a few verses of a devotional character, and a 
 short opening prayer by the leader or some one 
 else, relating particularly to the members pres- 
 ent and absent. It is not a proper time or place, 
 certainly, for a long, rambling prayer. Then, if 
 
Of Class-Meetings. HI 
 
 the leader has a point to carry, which may be 
 aided by a few well-selected verses of Scripture, 
 let them be read ; but we should not encourage 
 him to spend much time in discoursing upon 
 them. He is there to inquire specifically of his 
 members " how their souls prosper," and they 
 are present to answer, desiring, perhaps, to ask 
 him some questions involving their own spiritual 
 welfare, and their time is limited. Preaching is 
 not appropriate to the occasion, however good. 
 Leaders will do better to reserve their time and 
 force until the speaking shall furnish them an 
 important theme. And we should prefer to 
 postpone the Scripture readings until called for 
 by the progress of the meeting, and then intro- 
 duce them to meet the emergencies of the hour. 
 In relation to the speaking, we agree with 
 the Discipline, that it should be "voluntary" 
 and " conversational" and so managed as to ren- 
 der the services " fresh, spiritual, and of perma- 
 nent religious profit." (See ^[ 58-61.) This 
 admits of considerable variety, though not fa- 
 vorable to much detail in old experiences or long 
 speeches. The liberty of questioning the leader, 
 which we have encouraged, if not allowed to 
 produce controversy, has a direct tendency 
 toward these results. If he is well informed 
 and ready, it will draw him out in new and in- 
 
U2 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 teresting lines of thought ; if not, it will be 
 likely to lead him to make the necessary prep- 
 aration to meet the demand. 
 
 But the questioning should not be restricted 
 to the members. To ascertain how their " souls 
 prosper," the leader will need to make some 
 very searching inquiries of them. Our best 
 leaders sometimes ask : " Do you pray in secret 
 every day ? Do you maintain family prayer ? 
 If so, when and how ? with reading the Script- 
 ures and singing, or otherwise ? What are your 
 habits with regard to reading the Bible ? " etc. 
 
 These and similar questions probe the real 
 heart and life, and require specific answers ; 
 while the more common ones, such as, " How do 
 you enjoy your mind ? " may be entirely evaded. 
 And they are often indispensable to the objects 
 of the meeting. As religion is made up ot 
 practice, as well as faith and feeling, the leader 
 needs to know the daily spiritual habits of his 
 members to form a just estimate of their actual 
 condition. Besides, the fact that they are oc- 
 casionally questioned in this manner can hardly 
 fail to make them more faithful in the discharge 
 of Christian duties. 
 
 This opens a broad field, from which the 
 leader will be able to gather something new 
 every week. For instance, he may speak of 
 
Of Class- Meetings. 113 
 
 love to God at one meeting, inquiring as to 
 its nature, fruits, etc., and what evidence the 
 members find in themselves of their possessing 
 it.. It will lead them to careful examination. 
 At another time he may speak of sinful anger, 
 and ascertain what grace is doing for his mem- 
 bers on that point. Of evil speaking, too, a sin 
 which is among the last to be overcome, and in- 
 quire how many are at fault in that respect. A 
 leader who is himself walking with God, and 
 who commands the love of his class, can do this 
 so tenderly as not to give offense, and help his 
 members greatly in running the Christian race. 
 
 We think favorably, also, of leaders occasion- 
 ally naming some spiritual subject for consid- 
 eration during the week, and asking the mem- 
 bers to be ready to recite some passage of 
 Scripture at the next meeting relating to it, 
 and state what they know about it by experi- 
 ence. This will stimulate to Bible reading, 
 Christian watchfulness, and prayer, and do good 
 in many ways. 
 
 It may be well, too, to invite some devout 
 member from time to time to relate his experi- 
 ence for the last week in detail, showing his 
 practice with regard to prayer, study, conversa- 
 tion, the predominant subjects of his medita- 
 tions, benevolent efforts, temptations, feelings, 
 
U4 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 etc. This will enable others to understand what 
 he means by a Christian life, and see wherein he 
 or they are wanting. With some people religion 
 consists chiefly in going to " meetings," and par- 
 ticipating in their exercises; with others/ it 
 seasons and shapes their entire life, public and 
 private, religious and secular. Leaders can often 
 teach better by example than by any words of 
 their own. Judging members by their speech- 
 es, we under-estimate some, and over-estimate 
 others. These errors are readily detected when 
 they come to give us the details of their 
 practice. One leader, who instituted the 
 plan of questioning his members on partic- 
 ular points, was wonderfully " taken back," 
 so to speak, in finding that some of his 
 best speakers did not have family prayers, and 
 that several were equally wanting in other re- 
 spects wherein he supposed them to be models. 
 The class^meeting is the door through which 
 all candidates are to pass into the Church. It 
 is the fold where sinners are to be gathered and 
 trained for usefulness and heaven. The leader 
 and his class are under-shepherds, who are to 
 go after the wanderers and bring them in. We 
 think it appropriate for the leader, therefore, 
 to ask his members often, if not every week, 
 " What have you done to win souls to Christ, 
 
Of Class Meetings. 115 
 
 and secure new members to the class ? With 
 how many have you conversed on the subject ? 
 What else have you done ? " Christians can 
 never have so healthy and rapid a growth as 
 when they are active in saving others. It is 
 then the waters of life flow most freely. We 
 have known some leaders of very moderate 
 talents who have kept their classes crowded by 
 this process the year round, summer and win- 
 ter. They regarded themselves as captains of 
 fishing crews, and required their members to 
 report their labors at every meeting, when they 
 sent them out anew, inspired for still grander 
 achievements. Thus each hopeful candidate 
 was known to the whole class, and pursued with 
 prayer and kind entreaties. 
 
 All these exercises should be interspersed 
 with earnest and appropriate singing, to be 
 started by any one capable of the service, the 
 more extemporaneous and voluntary the better. 
 Circumstances may require the interjection of a 
 prayer or two, to meet some special case of af- 
 fliction, trial, penitence, or panting after God, 
 that may be developed in course of the meeting. 
 
 But we doubt the propriety of devoting one 
 evening in each month entirely to prayer and 
 singing, or to reading essays, or to making set 
 speeches, or delivering sermons, as some have 
 
n6 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 done. All these exercises are good in their 
 place, but should not be allowed to subvert the 
 class-meeting. In right hands it needs no such 
 helps. The trouble is to get through with its 
 proper business in the time allotted. If teaders 
 will exercise a little common sense, and take 
 pains to render their classes interesting, they 
 will have no trouble in maintaining them, and 
 no time hanging heavily upon their hands. 
 
 If they feel themselves wanting in ability or 
 versatility, let them talk less. Many leaders, 
 like some preachers, talk too much. They 
 begin with an exhortation, reply to every body 
 and every thing, and necessarily become dry and 
 repetitious. They should relieve themselves by 
 asking questions of members who will not feel 
 embarrassed. For instance, Mrs. A. says that 
 she "is filled with the Spirit." Now, instead of 
 replying to her, descanting upon the greatness 
 of her attainments, let him ask her to explain 
 herself, and tell the class just what she means, 
 how that grace affects her temper, her interest 
 in social amusements, her natural pride and 
 ambition, her love of the world, her solicitude 
 for the conversion of sinners, her pleasure in 
 secret prayer, etc. This will give him a grand 
 opportunity to rest and learn something, and 
 her a chance to develop her own experience to 
 
Of Class-Meetings. 117 
 
 the edification of others. There are some in 
 most classes who may be profitably trusted with 
 such work. 
 
 Leaders may often forward their objects 
 by inviting certain of their members, male 
 or female, to speak to a part of their class. 
 This will help them, perhaps please and profit 
 others, and give variety. By a little care, too, 
 they may occasionally bring in a good leader 
 from without, announcing him in advance. 
 It is fitting that the best leaders of every 
 Church should visit all the classes, and help 
 them. 
 
 We cannot forbear to mention one other 
 point. The class-meeting in our Church is a 
 training school for beginners in religious life. 
 They there commence to speak and sing, and 
 pray, too, if properly led, and thus improve in 
 confidence and ability until they are able to ex- 
 ercise in a more public manner. Leaders should 
 remember this, and instead of praying them- 
 selves, or always inviting old established mem- 
 bers to do so, they should bring forward the 
 converts and encourage them to activity. It is 
 pleasant to the older members of a family to 
 hear the little ones try to talk and sing, like 
 "big folks." So it is delightful to old Chris- 
 tians to hear young converts pray and speak, 
 
n8 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 however imperfectly they may do it. Some 
 little girl or boy attempting to pray vocal- 
 ly in class would make a much deeper im- 
 pression than the leader could, though his 
 words should be more correct and better ar- 
 ranged. Leaders do well, sometimes, to get 
 through with their other exercises in season 
 to allow a number of their members to pray 
 before they part. 
 
 The writer remembers his own early experi- 
 ence on this subject with gratitude. He had 
 not been to many class-meetings before his 
 fatherly leader asked him to pray. The attempt 
 was made with much trembling. Soon after he 
 invited him to lead a part of the class, and a 
 little later to lead the whole, as he was ill and 
 unable to be present. It was a terrible trial, 
 but exceedingly profitable. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Atkinson says most truthfully in 
 his late work on class-meetings, " some of our 
 most successful toilers" in the kingdom and 
 patience of Jesus "would never have attained 
 their glorious art but for the inspiration, the 
 guidance, and the practice which the class- 
 meeting afforded them. ... It was in talking 
 there that their lips received the kindling 
 touch, and their tongues were trained to 
 holy eloquence." Bishops Coke and Asbury 
 
Of Class- Meetings. 119 
 
 say that the class-meetings are, in a consid- 
 erable degree, our universities for the min- 
 istry." — Emory s History of the Discipline, pp. 
 326, 327. 
 
 Leaders have sometimes indulged in sharp 
 words toward defective members, but this is 
 seldom advisable. If they need rebuke, it is 
 better to see them alone. Kind words are 
 more appropriate, and promise the best results. 
 They have been known, too, to be so enamored 
 with the more advanced and mature of their 
 members as to overlook the young and weak 
 ones. This is a mistake. The physician should 
 give his first and best attention to those who 
 are most in need of his services. 
 
 It is well for leaders, also, to take an interest 
 in the studies of their members, recommending 
 certain books and tracts best adapted to their 
 growth in religion and usefulness. A few right 
 books, well read, will do them much good ; 
 they should early become established in the 
 faith, and in their Church relations, by reading, 
 or they will be likely, sooner or later, to be 
 swept away from the Church. " Give attend- 
 ance to reading," is an apostolic injunction too 
 little regarded. 
 
120 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OF DUTIES DEVOLVING UPON OFFICIAL MEMBERS 
 IN THEIR ASSOCIATE RELATIONS. 
 
 WE have thus far spoken chiefly of the pri- 
 mary and personal duties of church officers 
 connected with their respective departments of 
 service. They have other obligations which re- 
 quire them to act in consultation with their pas- 
 tor and each other. It is hardly necessary 
 even to mention all these. A few, however, are 
 worthy of particular notice, and will be pre- 
 sented under appropriate heads, as follows : — 
 
 I. OF GRANTING LICENSES. 
 
 With regard to licensing exhorters and local 
 preachers, and recommending the latter for 
 orders and admission to the traveling connec- 
 tion, they cannot be too particular. The ques- 
 tion of " grace " is worthy of the highest con- 
 sideration. If a candidate is of doubtful piety, 
 his case had better be laid over, whatever his 
 " gifts" or learning. A godless ministry is 
 worse than none. Nor should officials be too 
 exacting as to gifts and literary attainments 
 
 i 
 
Of Duties. 1 2 r 
 
 where grace abounds in an upright life and 
 earnest zeal for the salvation of souls. Such 
 grace will bring gifts, as the history of our min- 
 istry fully proves. Some Quarterly Conferences 
 have erred in refusing young men a license to 
 preach simply on the ground that they would not 
 like to have them for their pastor. Had this pol- 
 icy generally prevailed, forty-nine fiftieths of our 
 present ministry had never appeared in the pulpit. 
 The question is not whether a candidate is now 
 competent to be your pastor, but whether he is 
 likely to be useful anywhere within his pro- 
 posed range, and possesses those qualities which 
 promise improvement. Some of our able and 
 useful ministers, were refused license at home, 
 and were obliged to remove their membership 
 to another charge to obtain one. 
 
 Nor should you grant a license of any sort from 
 mere personal friendship in the absence of re- 
 spectable endowment for the work. A young 
 man may be deceived with regard to his call 
 and qualifications, in which case he should be 
 advised privately and kindly to postpone his 
 application, and employ his gifts as a private 
 member, or at most as an exhorter. The writ- 
 er appeared only as an exhorter until a few 
 days before he was received into the Conference 
 as a probationer, and was the gainer by it. 
 
122 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Public expectation was less than it would have 
 been had he been dubbed reverend. And 
 when presiding elder, he often advised young 
 men, who applied for license to preach, to take 
 an exhorter's license rather until they should 
 become mature and efficient, and they saw the 
 point and did so. 
 
 We make these suggestions for several rea- 
 sons, namely: I. That some officials are too 
 fearful in granting licenses, and require qualifi- 
 cations that young men seldom possess. 2. That 
 others are not sufficiently careful, and are dis- 
 posed to license all who apply, without any 
 satisfactory evidence of their call. Some are 
 contented with zeal without knowledge or dis- 
 cretion, and others are too well satisfied with 
 knowledge without zeal ; and between them 
 many good laymen have been spoiled to make 
 poor ministers. 
 
 We will only add, where a mistake of this 
 kind occurs it should be corrected at the ear- 
 liest opportunity. So soon as it is found that 
 any license is not used as was intended, that is, 
 that an exhorter does not exhort, or a preacher 
 does not preach, though in' health to do so, the 
 license should be revoked, and particularly when 
 there is any reason to question the moral integ- 
 rity of the party holding it. Much as the 
 
Of Duties. 123 
 
 Church needs preachers and exhorters, she can 
 well afford to spare this class of incumbents. 
 And, if the Quarterly Conferences would act 
 on this principle, they might be a little freer in 
 granting licenses, it being understood on all 
 sides that they would be continued no longer 
 than they should be found useful. It would also 
 relieve the embarrassment connected with vot- 
 ing against renewing them, which often operates 
 to perpetuate them without sufficient ^reason. 
 This principle should also govern in recom- 
 mending licenses as well as in granting them. 
 
 II. OF OBTAINING PASTORS AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 Though our bishops have the appointment 
 of the preachers to their respective charges, 
 this does not relieve official laymen of all re- 
 sponsibility in the premises. They have the 
 right of representation and petition, and being 
 intimately acquainted with the circumstances 
 and wishes of the people, it is expected that 
 they will communicate in their associate capac- 
 ity with the bishop through their presiding eld- 
 er or otherwise. This is in harmony with the 
 spirit of the Discipline. Some, however, go 
 much further, and negotiate with the men they 
 desire as pastors, subject, of course, to the pre- 
 siding bishop's sanction, and there seems to be 
 
124 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 little disposition among our leading ministers to 
 object. Whether this is for or against us as a 
 people we will not undertake to decide. The 
 bishops need correct information, and they 
 must have it or make their appointments at ran- 
 dom. Any thing that officials can do to furnish 
 it will, no doubt, be regarded with favor. But 
 the bishops cannot and should not be forced 
 into circumstances where they must appoint a 
 particular minister to a particular charge against 
 their settled convictions of propriety, or create 
 a storm that may never be allayed. And this 
 is just where they sometimes find themselves, 
 owing to the unreasonable action of Official 
 Boards, Quarterly Conferences, and self-consti- 
 tuted committees. To avoid this and correla- 
 tive evils we suggest : — 
 
 i. That all officials ought to take special in- 
 terest in maintaining an efficient ministry in 
 their respective charges. The duty grows out 
 of their relations. Not to care who is sent, is 
 worse than to negotiate. 
 
 2. Whatever is desirable, let it be done 
 officially in the Quarterly Conference, or in 
 committee of the whole, and not by a few 
 individuals, who take it upon themselves to 
 represent the whole Church. Self-appointed 
 committees are common where the Church is 
 
Of Duties, 125 
 
 managed by a clique of unreasonable partisans, 
 but should be heard with great caution. 
 
 3. Let the business be done through the 
 presiding elder, unless there are special reasons 
 for adopting another course. He has charge 
 in the absence of the bishop, and should not 
 only know every thing that is done, but should 
 be intrusted with carrying your wishes into 
 effect, if not alone, in connection with a special 
 committee. It is not respectful to overlook a 
 regular appointed officer in business for which 
 he is largely responsible, nor is it good policy. 
 He may have great influence with the bishop, 
 though he has not with you. 
 
 4. Be careful in making your selections. 
 Wise officials sometimes commit huge blunders. 
 Being impressed with the first appearance of a 
 man, they often petition for him without asking 
 many questions. One grand old Church hap- 
 pened to hear a marvelous sermon from a stran- 
 ger, and with united voice selected him for their 
 next preacher and secured his appointment. 
 But he never preached another such sermon or 
 did any thing else answerable to it, showing the 
 folly of selecting a minister on so slight infor- 
 mation. He worried through one year and left to 
 return no more. Officials ought to be very sure 
 that they know their man before they petition. 
 
126 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Another Church heard a stranger at a camp- 
 meeting, and marked him for their next pastor, 
 without inquiring as to his usual preaching, 
 pastoral habits, success, or any thing else, and 
 only escaped by a friend suggesting that they 
 would probably get him if they should send the 
 petition they had prepared. They were also 
 asked if they would dare to elect him, were it 
 possible, on the information they then possessed. 
 A moment's reflection revealed the folly of 
 their proposed course, and the matter was for- 
 ever dropped. 
 
 A similar Church went four hundred miles 
 and enlisted a pretty pulpit orator without in- 
 quiring into his Methodism, grace, or usefulness, 
 and believed their fortune was made ; but in a 
 few months he left them and joined another 
 denomination. They then went half the dis- 
 tance and secured a "star," who served them 
 a little while and retired under reproach. This 
 cured that board of making hasty petitions. 
 
 If you must choose your own preacher, as 
 far as practicable you should exercise all the 
 precaution you would were you going to elect 
 him for three years. It will not do to trust to 
 the opinions of any two or three of your 
 acquaintances, however intelligent and pious. 
 They may be your candidate's class-mates, 
 
Of Duties. 127 
 
 or their ideal of capability and adaptation 
 may differ very widely from your own. You 
 had better hear him at his home, and in the 
 prayer-meeting, and inquire of his parishion- 
 ers, as to his acceptability, how he carries 
 himself, what are his excellences, weaknesses, 
 faults, etc., and before acting, be sure to consult 
 with your presiding elder. If you cannot af- 
 ford to make a thorough investigation, you had 
 better leave the matter entirely to the proper 
 authorities. Then, if you are not satisfied, you 
 can ask for a change at the close of the first 
 year ; whereas, if you make the arrangement, 
 you will feel obliged to carry it through to the 
 close of the regular term. 
 
 But if you will negotiate or petition, we 
 would advise, 
 
 1. That you seek for a man of deep personal 
 piety, one who walks and talks with God. 
 2. One who has good sound common sense, 
 well balanced, not a hobbyist, practical and 
 persevering. 3. One who aims to save souls 
 and build up the Church in personal holiness. 
 The manifest aim of a minister has more to do 
 with his success than is generally imagined. 
 More fail for the want of the right aim, than 
 for the want of culture. 4. One who preaches 
 Jesus and his love summer and winter, and has 
 
128 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 no confidence in literary essays to draw a con- 
 gregation or to convert sinners. 5. One who 
 loves his people, and will make their acquaint- 
 ance for their religious advantage, and knows 
 how to shake hands heartily and kindly, and 
 give his poorest hearers a friendly recognition 
 wherever he may meet them. Such a man will 
 fill your house, and leave your Church larger 
 and better than he found it. 6. However 
 wealthy, you should avoid offering exorbitant 
 salaries. One society bidding for a minister 
 against another has a bad look and a worse in- 
 fluence. It is extremely demoralizing to the con- 
 nection. The Discipline provides for a "com- 
 fortable support," and that should be furnished. 
 It will be a sad day for the Church when our 
 officials shall lead us astray in this particular. 
 We already begin to hear of high-priced and 
 low-priced preachers, and of salaries offered and 
 accepted. But fortunately, perhaps, some are 
 now groaning under heavy burdens, which may 
 check this wayward tendency. 
 
 There is one other point intimately connected 
 with that of salaries to which officials should give 
 especial attention, we refer to vacations. These 
 are of modern origin. If a minister is sick and 
 unable to do his work, officials should afford 
 him relief, and continue his salary, if possible, 
 
Of Duties, 129 
 
 though it may be in the dead of winter. There 
 may be other cases, as of exhaustion from ex- 
 cessive labor, when a similar course would be 
 advisable. Our objection is to vacations, irre- 
 spective of health, which are beginning to be 
 customary, and extend from two to ten weeks 
 during the heat of summer. That they are 
 deleterious to the societies generally which 
 grant them, we have not the least doubt. 
 Where Churches are closed during the time, 
 some children and adults who have no vacation 
 leave and never return. The evil is less when 
 the ordinary services are kept up, however im- 
 perfectly. And considering the way in which 
 many of the favored pastors dispose of them- 
 selves, it is questionable whether they would 
 not do better to stay about home, preach once 
 on the Sabbath, and keep within call to console 
 their dying or afflicted members and attend fu- 
 nerals. But if you grants a vacation you should 
 make some provision for these emergencies 
 and have it publicly announced, so that the con- 
 gregation should know on whom to call for pas- 
 toral service if needed. Not to do so, during 
 the most sickly season of the year, is virtually 
 to say to the people that the service is unim- 
 portant, from which they naturally infer that 
 the pastorate is a farce. Physicans never take 
 
130 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 a vacation without engaging some one to look 
 after their patients, nor do teachers and other 
 secular men step aside for a day without leav- 
 ing their business in competent hands. 
 
 We emphasize this point, because we have 
 been compelled to see the mortifying position 
 in which some of our pastors and Churches 
 have placed themselves. Only last summer we 
 were called upon to attend funerals by deeply af- 
 flicted Methodists who had traveled many miles 
 and rung many parsonage door bells in vain to 
 find a preacher. Being pre-engaged in church 
 work, and unable to serve them, they finally 
 found relief in another denomination. And, as 
 if to add to the ridiculousness of the situation, 
 a reporter called on the Catholic priest, an 
 elderly, hard-working neighbour of ours just at 
 that time, and inquired where he proposed to 
 spend his vacation, and he laughed at him, say- 
 ing that he never " took a vacation in his life." 
 
 With these suggestions, we commend the 
 subject to your prayerful consideration. You 
 have the whole matter in your own hands. 
 Preachers will submit to your wisdom in the 
 premises. What you do for one well man you 
 will be expected to do for all. May God direct 
 you to Christian conclusions ! 
 
Of Duties. 131 
 
 IX. OF CHURCH MUSIC. 
 
 Though singing is a part of divine worship, and 
 is therefore under the control of the pastor, 
 custom invests officials with high responsibility 
 in regard to it. (See Dis., % 55.) The Meth- 
 odist theory has been from the beginning de- 
 cidedly in favor of congregational singing. " Ex- 
 hort every person in the congregation," says 
 the Discipline, " to sing, not one in ten only." 
 But by some mismanagement this policy was 
 superseded by the introduction of choirs and 
 quartettes, divesting us of our musical power 
 and distinction. The tide, however, seems to 
 be turning in favor of our first love, for which 
 we should be devoutly thankful. The tyranny 
 of choirs is intolerable, to say nothing of much 
 of their music, especially when they are irreli- 
 gious, and are left to themselves. It is time 
 for preachers and officials to be delivered out 
 of their hands. If you employ experts to aid in 
 this department of public worship, you should 
 require them to obey orders and dismiss them 
 for not doing so. Mr. Ira D. Sankey, the co- 
 laborer of Mr. Moody, the evangelist, gives 
 some wholesome advice on the subject, grow- 
 ing out of fifteen years' experience in conduct- 
 ing the service of praise in many churches and 
 
132 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 countries. He insists on having a good large 
 choir of Christian singers, who will encourage 
 the congregation to join with them, and not 
 monopolize the service themselves. He says : — 
 
 I would not have unconverted persons leading the 
 praise of the people of God. I am fully persuaded that 
 four fifths of the traditionary trouble with choirs arises 
 from having unconverted people conducting this part of 
 the service of the sanctuary. If I could not get a converted 
 choir, I would go back to the good old ways of our 
 forefathers and select the best Christian man in the 
 Church who has a good voice, and put him in front of the 
 congregation, and let him lead as best he could. I am 
 sure the people would join more heartily under his lead- 
 ing than they would with a choir who are anxious to 
 show how well they can execute some new tune which 
 they have just found. . . . 
 
 I would have the singers and the organ in front of the 
 congregation, near the minister or speaker, and would 
 insist on deportment by the singers in keeping with the 
 sendees of the house of God. The conduct of the choir 
 during the service will have very much to do with the suc- 
 cess of the preaching. Instead of whispering, writing 
 notes, passing books, and the like, the choir should give the 
 closest attention to all the services, especially to the 
 preaching of the word. There should be the most in- 
 timate understanding between the leader of the singing 
 and the pastor. . . . 
 
 The congregation should be exhorted by the pastor to 
 join heartily in the singing, and if a choir-master should 
 persist in bringing out new-fangled tunes in which the 
 
Of Duties. 133 
 
 people cannot join, he should be set aside, and his place 
 supplied by some one who would not be so ambitious to 
 show off how well the choir could perform. 
 
 The whole question of the singing should be kept in 
 the hands of the office-bearers of the Church, and the 
 choir should never be encouraged to entertain the idea 
 that they are an independent organization, with power to 
 levy war upon the Church and bring it to terms, or to 
 secede from it and cause a disruption. — S. S. Times y 
 vol. xviii, No. 4. 
 
 It must never be forgotten that singing is 
 worship. W. F. Sherwin lately gave utterance 
 to some pertinent remarks in the Christian Con- 
 vention at Philadelphia directly to this point. 
 He said : — 
 
 I like to thrust the word of God down into people's 
 hearts, as the bases of all operations, and I should like if 
 all Churches, ministers, elders, choirs, priests, or what 
 not, would constantly come to this word. Let me 
 call your attention to two or three passages of Scripture 
 which settles the whole matter. First, we read in Psalm 
 1, 23, " Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." Therefore 
 he who does not glorify God in his song is not offering 
 praise, though he may sing as never mortal sung before. 
 Sometimes men try to glorify themselves, sometimes to 
 glorify an organ builder. I know of a case that occurred 
 recently where an organ concert was introduced to show 
 the acoustic properties of a church and the musical 
 qualities of an organ, and they called it a Praise Service. 
 
 In 1 Corinthians xiv, 11, is something which applies 
 to this very matter of Church music: " Therefore, if I 
 
134 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him 
 that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be 
 a barbarian unto me.' ' For if I pray in an unknown 
 tongue (v. 14) my spirit prayeth, but my understanding 
 is unfruitful.' What is it then? 'I will pray in the 
 spirit and I will pray with the understanding also ; I will 
 sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understand- 
 ing also.' Now, Paul knew just what he was about 
 when he put the music of the sanctuary and the praying 
 of the sanctuary on a level. What is prayer in the one, 
 is prayer in the other. What is wrong and out of place 
 in the one, is wrong and out of place in the other. It is 
 as bad to say we will sing - a verse or two to cover the 
 confusion, or while something else is going on, as it 
 would be for Brother Moody to lead in prayer while we 
 take up a collection. 
 
 Let it never be forgotten that the music of the Church 
 should be under the control of the Church, especially of 
 the pastor as the chief officer of the Church. He is the 
 responsible conductor of all its exercises. ... When 
 a leader assumes to control the singing as did one in 
 New York, who said to his pastor, " You take care of your 
 end of the church and I will take care of my end," that 
 man should not be suffered any longer to pollute so 
 much as a parlor organ. — S. S. Times, Jan. 29, 1 876. 
 
 The music of the church involves the ques- 
 tion of organs also, about which there is a gen- 
 eral misapprehension. Under the delusion that 
 a large and expensive organ is desirable, ma- 
 ny poor societies have involved themselves in 
 ruinous debts to obtain one. The result is, 
 
Of Duties. 135 
 
 they are at extra expense for a blower and an 
 accomplished player, and then the instrument 
 is drowned by the sound, so that the worship- 
 er cannot tell what is piped or harped, and it 
 makes little difference what hymn is used. Thus 
 this most inspiring part of worship becomes 
 "vain jingling ;" and the voluntaries of an un- 
 christian organist are often shocking, particu- 
 larly the storm of inappropriate sounds let off 
 at the close of the service. * 
 
 We have long been of the opinion that a 
 small organ is preferable, but have hardly dared 
 to avow it. But since we heard Mr. Sankey 
 lead a choir of a thousand singers in the pres- 
 ence of ten thousand people with only a little 
 cabinet organ to aid him, we have been embold- 
 ened to speak out. In the address before men- 
 tioned he said in so many words that " he pre- 
 ferred a small cabinet organ to a large pipe or- 
 gan, which drowns the people's voices." He is 
 also opposed to long interludes and long volun- 
 taries, and insists on a clear expression of the 
 words sung, that the people may have the ben- 
 efit of the sentiment as well as the sound. 
 
 But if you will have a pipe organ, get a small 
 one. Professor Tourjee, of the Boston Conser- 
 vatory, describes four different instruments, the 
 largest costing $5,009, and large enough for $ny 
 
136 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 church ; the second of nearly the same size, but 
 less complicated, costing $2,500 ; the third, a 
 little smaller, costing from $800 to $1,200 ; and 
 the last costing $500, and large enough and 
 good enough for most congregations, and suffi- 
 ciently complicated to tax the skill of ordinary 
 players. (See Golden Rule, Jan. 26, 1876.) 
 
 If none of these are satisfactory you may 
 purchase a good cabinet organ if you know 
 how, ranging from $75 to $300, and play it well 
 for one third of what it would cost you to main- 
 tain a larger organ poorly. But whatever you 
 get, pay for it, and then insist on having it 
 played to aid the singing, and not to spoil it. 
 And do not be in so much haste, or confide so 
 much in one man's opinion, as to make a mistake. 
 
 IV. BENEVOLENT COLLECTIONS. 
 
 Officials are usually and properly consulted 
 by their pastor in regard to our benevolences. 
 Whatever may be his rights in the premises, 
 he naturally desires to act in harmony with his 
 leading men. Much, therefore, depends on you. 
 While we are hardly prepared to prescribe a 
 definite system of benevolent financiering, we 
 will venture to offer a few suggestions : — 
 
 1. That you do not dodge the subject, but 
 look it fairly in the face. By this we mean, 
 
Of Duties. 137 
 
 that you deliberately consider all claims duly 
 presented, and not bluff them off with a groan 
 about " so many collections." One will ask you 
 to help in sending the Gospel to the heathen, 
 another to aid in the purchase of books . and 
 tracts for the poor, and so on. But whatever 
 may be the object proposed hear and consider 
 it. If it is worthy, help it what you can consist- 
 ently with your necessary expenses and other 
 obligations. If you are poor and can do but 
 little, do that little cheerfully and religiously. 
 That is a beautiful report which shows that ev- 
 ery disciplinary claim has been considered, and 
 responded to in money, though it may be but to 
 a very limited extent. Our scarcity is more 
 owing to no collections than to small ones. 
 
 2. That you submit each object on its own 
 merit, and give the people a fair chance to con- 
 tribute as they may be able and feel disposed. 
 The common method of combining several ob- 
 jects in one collection, called the "omnibus " plan, 
 is a mistake. It lessens the number of the col- 
 lections, indeed, but it lessens the aggregate 
 amount of them more, and is a shrewd method 
 of dismissing an unpleasant subject. 
 
 Now, if our plan of meeting current expens- 
 es should be adopted it will reduce the num- 
 ber of special collections very much, and leave 
 
138 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 room for each of our benevolences without 
 crowding them or the people. All that need be 
 done in most cases is to present the cause on 
 its merits, and ask all to give something, 
 however little. The missionary collection, and 
 perhaps one other, will need more urging. 
 
 Officials, and preachers also, are often too 
 timid at this point. They should meet the 
 question heroically, and go manfully through the 
 ceremony of representing each cause by itself 
 and taking a collection for it, though it may not 
 amount to a dollar. The representation will 
 commend the subject to favorable consideration, 
 and a part of the hearers will some day have 
 more to give. It would hardly be possible to 
 collect less than a penny a piece for each mem- 
 ber of the whole Church on this plan, and yet 
 this would be more than our annual average 
 for the Tract cause during the last five years. 
 
 3. But perhaps you will say we cannot af- 
 ford it. Cannot afford what ? To give a penny ? 
 That is not so. You have hardly a pensioner 
 on your Church that cannot afford to do that for 
 each of our benevolences, while most of your 
 members could well spare many times that 
 amount. 
 
 To settle this question, just take your pencil 
 and sit down and figure up all you gave last 
 
Of Duties. 139 
 
 year for benevolence, and see how very little it 
 is as compared with your income, or what you 
 spent on yourself that might better have been 
 given to Christ. Now, add to that what you 
 paid for preaching, that is, for the support of 
 local religion, which was as necessary to you 
 and the training of your family, to say the least, 
 as were the public schools or the civil govern- 
 ment. If the sum total startles you by its vast- 
 ness, we will say no more. But most of you 
 will probably find it smaller than you anticipated, 
 and that you can well afford to let the collec- 
 tions take their disciplinary course without 
 demur. 
 
 4. There is another view to be taken of the 
 subject. Churches which live solely for them- 
 selves, and care little for others, uniformly de- 
 cline, while those which take a benevolent in- 
 terest in others prosper. The Bible contains 
 no truer statement than that "There is that 
 scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that 
 withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to 
 poverty." Prov. xi, 24. 
 
 We say this with due appreciation of your 
 difficulties. Some of you have heavy burdens 
 to bear, and may not see your way through. 
 But a magnanimous course will pay, and bring 
 deliverance. 
 
140 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 v, of the piety and reputation of the 
 
 CHURCH. 
 
 In becoming members of the Church we re- 
 nounced the devil and all his works, the vain 
 pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous 
 desires of the same, and promised that we would 
 not follow or be led by them. (Dis., p. 482.) 
 We agreed, also, to abstain from "such diver- 
 sions as cannot be used in the name of the 
 Lord Jesus." (Dis., p. 32.) These are danger- 
 ous points with many of our young people. 
 The utmost care has often failed to restrain 
 some of them from being overcome. It is ex- 
 pected of you that you will rigidly abide by 
 these rules, and exert all your influence to have 
 others do the same. 
 
 But some take a different course. It was 
 only yesterday that a recent case came to our 
 knowledge in which a trustee, a member of the 
 Church, by persistent effort got up a dance at a 
 family gathering at the house of another mem- 
 ber, and drew into it some five or six others, 
 who, like himself, had publicly discarded such 
 diversions. We are happy to say, however, 
 that not a few were unconquerable, and some 
 justly left the party in disgust. The sooner 
 that man and all like him reform, or renounce 
 
Of Duties, 141 
 
 religion, the better it will be for the Church. 
 Dancing is no part of Methodism, though it 
 may be opened with prayer, and should not be 
 encouraged. It belongs to the world, and, as 
 often practiced, to the flesh, if not to the devil, 
 though a less evil of itself than some other 
 amusements with which it is generally associated. 
 There is a large class of different amuse- 
 ments which will tempt you more than dancing, 
 professing as they do to aid in paying expenses, 
 but they are disgraceful to the Church and ru- 
 inous to spiritual religion. We have before us 
 a flaming show bill representing one species of 
 this numerous family. It is 24 by 39 inches in 
 size, from which we extract the following : — 
 
 THE SECOND GRAND 
 
 ENTERTAINMENT 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Young Ladies and Gentlemen of M. E. Church, 
 
 CONSISTING OP 
 
 DRAMAS, TABLEAUX, PANTOMIME, AND MUSIC. 
 Proceeds for the benefit of the Church. 
 
 A smaller sheet goes more into particulars, 
 and reveals the fact that Peter and Lady Teazle, 
 Yankee Doodle, Mistletoe, and a Farce entitled 
 " Kiss in the Dark," were to be displayed. 
 
142 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 A gentleman who was present, and forwarded 
 the aforesaid sheet to a friend, says in a letter : 
 " Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather 
 the entertainment was well attended, and was 
 opened by prayer by the pastor." Yet, after 
 all, this theatrical display yielded the Church 
 less than forty-five dollars. 
 
 But we will not enlarge upon this subject. 
 Officials are expected to protect the Church 
 against all such disgraceful expedients. Money 
 is not valuable enough to be purchased at such 
 a price, and the less members we gather by con- 
 verting the church into a theater the better we 
 shall be off. 
 
 Finally, In all your deliberations seek ear- 
 nestly to agree. You are intrusted with high 
 and holy responsibilities. As you go, so goes 
 the Church. Avoid contention of every kind. 
 Be patient under defeat. Remember that, how- 
 ever settled your convictions on any subject, 
 you may be in error, and your opponents right. 
 Take offense at nothing. Let it be understood 
 that you stand by the cause at whatever cost of 
 feeling. If wronged, bear it patiently. Never 
 try to rule by your money or influence to the 
 grief of your brethren. Conquer by forbear- 
 ance. Use no hard words. Be prompt and 
 active in the religious meetings. These are 
 
Of Duties. 143 
 
 left too much to the younger and less influen- 
 tial members. Be ready to speak or pray as 
 occasion may require, and that from the heart. 
 Do not cater to the world. Never be ambitious 
 of office, nor decline it when offered you. Be 
 tender to the poor, and merit the love of all who 
 know you. Rule in love, but in righteousness. 
 " Stand up for Jesus " in all your doings. And 
 may God send you prosperity ! 
 
144 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF MISCELLANEOUS OFFICERS. 
 
 POWEES AND DITTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT, CHORISTERS, ORGANISTS, CHAIR- 
 MEN OP COMMITTEES, PRESIDENTS, AND PARLIAMENTARY USAGES. 
 
 IN addition to the officers already mentioned, 
 there are others more or less intimately con- 
 nected with our Church who are entitled to 
 consideration. 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS 
 
 hold one of the most important offices known 
 to any people, giving them the special charge of 
 the religious training of children and youth ; 
 they, therefore, have the destiny of the Church 
 in their power. The position of minister of the 
 Gospel is not more responsible. They are a 
 savor of life or of death to the young minds un- 
 der their supervision, and, through them, to 
 coming Methodism. Hence, too much care can- 
 not be exercised in selecting men for this office. 
 The Sunday-school is an institution of the 
 Church, and not an independent affair as some 
 have imagined. The duties of pastors in rela- 
 ton to it are specified with marked precision. 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 145 
 
 (See Dis. y T 251-254.) It is also required of 
 Quarterly Conferences "To have supervision 
 of all the Sunday-schools and Sunday-school 
 Societies within the bounds of their circuit or 
 station, and to inquire into the condition of 
 each ; to approve of Sunday-school superintend- 
 ents not elected by the Quarterly Conference, 
 and to remove any superintendents who may 
 prove unworthy or inefficient. ,, Dis., T" 96. The 
 superintendent is, therefore, an officer of the 
 Church and under its control. And if he is a 
 member of the Church, he is also a member of 
 the Quarterly Conference. (Dis., T 93.) 
 
 We state these facts to counteract the mis- 
 chievous notion that Sunday-schools are not 
 under the control of the Church, and may be 
 conducted independently of Church authority. 
 Also to show that if the Sunday-school is mis- 
 managed the Quarterly Conference is to blame. 
 
 We have lately been consulted with regard 
 to a school which was chiefly controlled by ir- 
 religious people, and amounted to little more 
 than a Social Club. Few of the children at- 
 tended public worship, and while the pastor was 
 preaching the leading managers would be en- 
 gaged in social chat in an anteroom, under pre- 
 tense of planning for the school. Our advice was 
 
 that the officials should go into the school and 
 10 
 
146 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 either reform or abolish it. In another case 
 the pastor had made arrangements with his 
 board for a protracted meeting, and opened 
 with his extra help on Sunday morning. The 
 services of the day promised exceedingly well ; 
 but during the evening preaching the teachers 
 convened and arranged for a festival, which 
 would require the use of the church, and the 
 peaceable pastor was obliged to suspend his 
 revival work and await the convenience of the 
 teachers. The school controlled the Church 
 in that instance rather than the Church the 
 school, which w r as not an isolated case. 
 
 In view of these and other similar facts, show- 
 ing the need of radical reform at this point, we 
 suggest : — 
 
 1. That superintendents should exercise their 
 office in strict subordination to Church order. 
 That they should attend upon the public serv- 
 ices themselves, and, as far as possible, induce 
 their teachers, officers, and scholars to do the 
 same. By this means they will show that their 
 schools are not competitors of the Church, but 
 co-operators and helpers. 
 
 2. That they lay no plans that will interfere 
 with the services. It is due to pastors that they 
 be consulted in all matters of this kind, and 
 fully understand what is proposed, and be a 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 147 
 
 party to every measure, especially as they have 
 charge of the schools as well as of the Church. 
 These suggestions are not needed, we are 
 quite sure, in many places. The officers of the 
 Church largely supervise and control the schools, 
 as they do the class and prayer meeting. Such 
 schools work in harmony with the Church, and 
 contribute largely to its strength and progress # 
 The scholars attend the preaching with their 
 parents or teachers and feel interested. But 
 some of our congregations are almost destitute 
 of children and youth. We had occasion to 
 predict to one lately, that if they did not change 
 their policy they would have no successors. 
 " Where are the children ? " we inquired. " O," 
 answered the pastor, " they go to the Sunday- 
 school." If the pastor does not preach to in- 
 terest the children, let him be advised, and, if 
 necessary, required to do it. One very learned 
 brother, who thought he could not preach to the 
 children, was almost forced to try, and making 
 the effort found, to his surprise, that he pleased 
 the congregation better than before. It lifted 
 him right up. He had been preaching learned 
 sermons to a few of his more intelligent hear- 
 ers, a mistake of many, and had failed to inter- 
 est the masses. Now, coming down to the 
 comprehension of the children on practical and 
 
148 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 experimental subjects, he pleased and profited 
 all classes. 
 
 3. Superintendents should be religious, men 
 of vital piety, who have been born of the Spirit, 
 and who regard a similar change in others as in- 
 dispensable to salvation. Though subordinate 
 to the pastor, they wield a tremendous influence. 
 They may conduct their schools in a manner to 
 render them worse than useless — hot-beds of 
 heresy and frivolity, or of solid spiritual piety. 
 
 Besides, the Discipline gives superintendents 
 an important agency in the selection of books. 
 (See Discipline, ^[ 250.) This is a power which 
 has been carelessly exercised in a manner to 
 crowd our libraries with the merest trash, with 
 books which are calculated to amuse rather than 
 impress the readers with the duties of life and 
 the realities of eternity. Irreligious superintend- 
 ents cannot feel the importance of this depart- 
 ment of their work, nor are they competent to 
 make a wise selection. 
 
 The grand object of Sunday-schools is to 
 bring the children to Christ and train them for 
 usefulness and heaven. How can a superintend- 
 ent do this unless he be in Christ himself? 
 He will never see that he had better have fifty 
 scholars in one class under the training of a de- 
 vout, earnest Christian, than to divide them 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 149 
 
 among half a dozen respectable sinners, who 
 know nothing about religion experimentally. 
 Nor will he see the impropriety of allowing his 
 school to indulge in sinful amusements which 
 the people he represents cannot consistently 
 tolerate. 
 
 Our Church ought to learn some useful les- 
 sons from Romanists. They will not trust their 
 children to the care of teachers who are. not 
 sound in their faith. Nor will they allow books 
 to be read that have not been fully examined 
 and approved by their priesthood. Hence their 
 war upon the Bible in the public schools. They 
 appreciate the importance of training the chil- 
 dren, especially the girls, in their interests. 
 Were Protestants to become as careful in this 
 matter, there would be a radical revolution in 
 the management of our Sunday-schools. 
 
 4. Superintendents should be men of sound 
 judgment and self-control, and possess a fair 
 degree of power to please, and tact to teach 
 and govern. But few men have all these quali- 
 ties naturally, and none possess them to such a 
 degree as to preclude the necessity of cultiva- 
 tion. The means of instruction and improve- 
 ment are now so abundant that any man of 
 good natural and educational powers, with a lov- 
 ing heart and proper Christian ambition, may 
 
150 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 lift himself to a high degree of efficiency. But 
 to do this he will need to read, and think, and 
 study the best plans and models, and keep his 
 eye on the proper object, namely, training the 
 children for God and usefulness. 
 
 Sunday-schools were originally designed to 
 teach reading, spelling, etc., to poor children 
 who had no other means of instruction, and were 
 conducted by paid teachers. Methodism had 
 the honor of introducing unpaid teachers to 
 teach morals as well, and has succeeded most 
 where it has made religion most prominent. 
 Superintendents who keep their eye on this 
 point, and manage every thing with reference to 
 spiritual results, and tolerate no practices incon- 
 sistent therewith, generally bring their pupils 
 to God and the Church during their minority. 
 But where superintendents seek to please the 
 children by leading them into worldly amuse- 
 ments the result is very different. They may 
 prepare them for other Churches, which eschew 
 vital piety and tolerate frivolity, but they spoil 
 them for us, unless the pastor or others shall be 
 able to reform and convert them in spite of their 
 unfortunate training. 
 
 We might make other suggestions on this 
 subject, but our main design has been com- 
 passed, namely, to emphasize the importance of 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 151 
 
 having our schools managed in harmony with 
 the administration of the Church, and in a way 
 to contribute to the highest spiritual results. 
 The late action of the General Conference prom- 
 ises improvement in the objectionable matters 
 above named. {Discipline, ^[ 248.) 
 
 OF CHORISTERS AND ORGANISTS. 
 
 These officers occupy a very important posi- 
 tion, which some of them fill with admirable 
 effect. We have often felt deeply impressed 
 with our indebtedness to them for their inspir- 
 ing services. Where they are in full sympathy 
 with the pulpit, and have good taste and sound 
 judgment, they may add wonderfully to the 
 pleasure and profit of public worship. They are 
 to the preacher what Sankey is to Moody. 
 They help him in his best efforts, and where he 
 fails they excel. 
 
 But some who occupy these positions are 
 sadly wanting. In the first place they are irre- 
 ligious, and have no interest in the worship of 
 God, or its effect upon the people. They hold 
 the office for what they can make o\it of it, and 
 perform to glorify themselves, tfye music, or the 
 organ, and when done, slip Qwzy until the close 
 of the sermon ; or, what is worse, remain and 
 conduct in a manner to disgrace the house of 
 
152 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 God and dampen its devotions. Our advice in 
 regard to such officers is to dismiss them imme- 
 diately, and sing the long metre doxology three 
 times at each service if you can do no better. 
 Choristers must be in sympathy with the occa- 
 sion, or they can neither select appropriate 
 music or sing it with proper effect. They need 
 to feel the sentiment of the hymn in their souls 
 in order to give it a right expression. And the 
 same is largely true of the organist. If his 
 heart is not interested, his preludes, interludes, 
 and other voluntaries will show it often to the 
 disgust of all sincere worshipers. 
 
 OF CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES, PRESIDENTS, 
 
 ETC. 
 
 In the prosecution of Church work, gentle- 
 men, and ladies too, are sometimes called upon 
 to preside over committees, or larger assemblies. 
 And it frequently happens that they are greatly 
 embarrassed for the want of information as to 
 parliamentary order, otherwise, the order of 
 procedure which is generally observed in delib- 
 erative bodies. This places them in an awk- 
 ward position. Unless the)'' have read some 
 good work on the subject, or witnessed the pro- 
 ceedings of similar bodies, they can neither 
 know their own rights and duties^ or the rights 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 1 5 3 
 
 and privileges of other members of the meeting. 
 The natural result is, the business gets badly- 
 tangled and retarded, if not entirely defeated. 
 We deem it important, therefore, to furnish a few 
 of the more common rules which have become 
 established by general usage. 
 
 This is desirable for another reason. Gentle- 
 men especially will sometimes be called upon to 
 participate in town meetings, conventions, or oth- 
 er associations, in which "knowledge is power," 
 especially the knowledge of parliamentary usage. 
 These rules will initiate them in the study and 
 practice of conventional business, and, perhaps, 
 prompt them to seek for high attainments. 
 The following will suffice for all ordinary pur- 
 poses : — 
 
 I. OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 Committees appointed to consider a particu- 
 lar subject are called select committees, while 
 those which are appointed to consider all mat- 
 ters relating to a general subject are called 
 standing committees. 
 
 In making up a committee it is usual to ap- 
 point a majority who are in favor of the measure 
 proposed. 
 
 Where the chairman is not designated by the 
 appointing bqdy, the first named on the com- 
 
154 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 mittee is expected to call the first meeting, 
 and preside until a regular chairman shall be 
 elected. 
 
 It may not convene while the appointing 
 body is in session without special permission, 
 and can act only when regularly assembled. 
 They may report by the chairman, or any other 
 person they may select, and should return all 
 papers put into their hands unmutilated. 
 
 Their report should be in writing, and signed 
 by the chairman and secretary. 
 
 They may state their findings and conclu- 
 sions in the form of resolutions or otherwise, 
 and give their reasons or not, as they please. 
 The acceptance of the report of a select commit- 
 tee ends their authority. 
 
 Should a minority of the committee disap- 
 prove of the report adopted by the majority^ 
 they may make a minority report representing 
 their own views. This should be introduced to 
 the appointing body, immediately after the 
 reading of the report of the majority, as a sub- 
 stitnte. It being read, it is then in order to 
 move to take up either for consideration and 
 adoption. Whichever may get precedence, the 
 other may be immediately offered on motion as 
 an amendment, or substitute. 
 
 A committee of the whole is composed of the 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers, 155 
 
 whole senate, house, or other body, by resolving 
 itself into one. It is generally done to avoid 
 certain parliamentary restrictions, and give a 
 freer and wider range to discussion. 
 
 2. OF ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Where assemblies of people are convened, 
 and desire to assume conventional order, it is 
 usual for a person of age and distinction to rise 
 and nominate some one to act as chairman pro 
 tempore, that is, for the time being, when he puts 
 his own motion and pronounces the result of 
 the vote ; or he may call for the nomination of 
 a chairman from the body. 
 
 If several are nominated he should put the 
 motion in the order in which they were named 
 until one of them receives a majority of the 
 votes, when the person thus elected takes the 
 chair. 
 
 The next thing in order is to appoint a sec- 
 retary pro tempore. If several are appointed 
 the first elected is the principal. 
 
 At this stage in the proceedings it is usual 
 to determine who are members of the assembly 
 and have a right to vote. This will involve the 
 reading of the call, if one has been made, and 
 the reception of credentials, or otherwise, as the 
 case may be. Then comes 
 
156 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 the permanent organization, 
 
 which is sometimes effected by raising a com- 
 mittee to nominate a full board of officers, to 
 be elected by ballot or otherwise ; and some- 
 times by nominating them viva voce, and corn- 
 firming by ballot or hand vote. 
 
 3. OF PRESIDING OFFICERS. 
 
 The duties of presiding officers, unless di- 
 rected by some special order, are generally as 
 follows : — 
 
 To call the members to order at the appointed 
 time. 
 
 To conduct the religious services in person, 
 or by proxy. 
 
 To have the secretary call the roll at each 
 session, unless otherwise ordered. 
 
 To have the records of the previous meeting 
 read, corrected, and approved, if not done at the 
 close of said meeting. 
 
 To announce the order of business, if any 
 has been established. If not, to ask and carrv 
 out the pleasure of the meeting. 
 
 To receive all communications to the body 
 and announce them. 
 
 To put to vote all questions regularly sub- 
 mitted, and declare the result. 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers, 157 
 
 To hold the members to order in the pros- 
 ecution of the business. 
 
 To decide all questions of law. 
 
 To authenticate by his signature all the acts 
 and proceedings of the assembly. 
 
 To appoint committees, when directed, and 
 when a standing rule of the body requires him 
 to do so. 
 
 To give attention to each individual while 
 speaking, and show no partiality to personal or 
 party friends, protecting the rights and privi- 
 leges of minorities and opponents as well as 
 those of others. Chairmen sometimes deal very 
 unfairly, but they gain nothing by it in the 
 end. 
 
 When the president withdraws from the 
 chair the first vice-president should take his 
 place. If there be no vice-president, custom 
 allows the president to appoint a chairman du- 
 ring his temporary absence. 
 
 If the president be absent, and it becomes 
 necessary to elect one pro tern., the secretary 
 must conduct the proceedings. 
 
 In large assemblies the presiding officer 
 may read sitting, but should rise to state a mo- 
 tion or put a question. 
 
158 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 4. of the duties of the secretary. 
 
 The secretary is generally required to keep a 
 correct record of the proceedings, and authenti- 
 cate them by his signature. 
 
 To read, standing, all papers which may be 
 ordered. 
 
 To notify the chairman of each committee of 
 his appointment, giving him a list of his col- 
 leagues, and stating the business referred to 
 the Committee. 
 
 To allow no papers to be taken from his ta- 
 ble without permission from the assembly. 
 
 He should write plainly, giving each item of 
 business a paragraph by itself, noted in the 
 margin for easy reference. 
 
 If a member of the body, he may participate 
 in its deliberations, the same as though he was 
 not secretary. 
 
 5. OF MEMBERS. 
 
 All members have an equal right to make 
 motions, explain, and advocate them in dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 No member should be interrupted when 
 speaking, except by the president, who may 
 call him to order when he departs from the 
 question, uses personalities or disrespectful Ian- 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 159 
 
 guage ; but any member may call the attention 
 of the president to the subject when he deems a 
 speaker out of order, and may explain when he 
 thinks himself misrepresented. 
 
 The president may declare a member out of 
 order when he thinks him indecorous, or other- 
 wise guilty of improper conduct; but the ac- 
 cused member may be heard in his own defense, 
 when he should withdraw until the question is 
 settled. 
 
 The only punishments which a deliberative 
 body can inflict are reproof, prohibition to 
 speak or vote for a specified time, and expulsion. 
 
 Any member who desires to speak must rise 
 and respectfully address the Chair. 
 
 If two or more members thus indicate their 
 desire, the president should give the floor to 
 the one whose voice he first heard. If this is 
 not satisfactory, the case may be decided by the 
 assembly. 
 
 6. OF MOTIONS. 
 
 No speech should be made without a motion, 
 nor after a motion is made and seconded, until 
 it is stated by the president. 
 
 All motions or resolutions must be reduced 
 to writing if the president, secretary, or any 
 two members request it. 
 
160 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Motions may be withdrawn by the mover at 
 any time before they are decided or amended. 
 
 No new motion or resolution can be made 
 until the one under consideration is disposed of. 
 
 Motions not withdrawn must be adopted or 
 rejected, unless one of the following motions 
 should intervene, which motions must be put in 
 the order in which they stand : — 
 
 i. .To adjourn. 
 
 2. To indefinitely postpone. 
 
 3. To lay on the table. 
 
 4. To refer to a committee. 
 
 5. To postpone to a given time. 
 
 6. To amend or substitute it by another. 
 Adjournment. A simple motion to adjourn 
 
 is always in order by any member who has the 
 floor, and must be decided without amendment 
 or debate. And when a motion to adjourn is 
 lost it cannot be renewed until some other mo- 
 tion has been made, or other business trans- 
 acted. {Matthias s Manual, p. 72.) 
 
 A motion to adjourn to a given time may be 
 amended and debated. An adjournment with- 
 out day is equivalent to a dissolution. 
 
 When a question is interrupted by a vote to 
 adjourn it loses its precedence, and must be 
 brought up again in the usual way, except in a 
 special meeting, when it will be the first busi- 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 161 
 
 ness in order at the next session, the same as 
 when an adjournment occurs by lapse of time, 
 and not by vote. 
 
 Indefinite Postponement. A vote to in- 
 definitely postpone a subject or resolution places 
 it beyond the reach of that session — it cannot 
 be called up again. 
 
 Laying on the Table. A vote to lay a 
 motion or resolution on the table carries all 
 amendments and collateral motions with it ; 
 but the subject may be taken up again at the 
 option of the body. 
 
 Referring to a Committee. Matters are 
 referred to a committee to obtain information or 
 effect some modification. If there are two mo- 
 tions, one to refer to a standing committee, and 
 the other to a select committee, that referring it 
 to the standing committee should be first put. 
 The whole subject may be referred, or only 
 a part, with instructions, or without. A report 
 may be recommitted when amendments are de- 
 sired. 
 
 The Division of a Question. When a 
 proposition is susceptible of division, it may be 
 submitted to the vote in parts by common con- 
 sent, or by order of the assembly. 
 
 Filling of Blanks. When a paper is 
 
 adopted, leaving blanks to be filled, and differ- 
 11 
 
1 62 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 ent propositions are made, the motion should 
 be first put on the largest sum and longest time. 
 
 7- OF AMENDMENTS. 
 
 An amendment may be accepted by the 
 mover of an original proposition before it is 
 stated by the chairman. If not so accepted, it 
 must be put as a regular amendment 
 
 Amendments may be made by striking out or 
 inserting certain words, or by striking out some 
 and inserting others. 
 
 When a proposition embraces several senten- 
 ces or resolutions they should be taken up sep- 
 arately; but when they have all been passed 
 upon, it is not usual to go back and propose 
 other amendments. 
 
 An amendment may be amended, but not an 
 amendment to an amendment of an amend- 
 ment. In putting the question the chairman 
 should begin with the last amendment, and 
 work back to the original proposition. 
 
 Whatever is agreed to or discarded cannot be 
 amended ; nor is it in order to move again just 
 what has been rejected. 
 
 In putting the vote, the main proposition 
 should be read, then the words proposed to be 
 struck out or inserted, and, finally, the whole 
 as it will stand if the amendment be adopted. 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 163 
 
 Amendments may be made to modify a propo- 
 sition or to defeat it. Resolutions are often 
 amended by striking out all the words after 
 " Resolved that," and inserting a proposition 
 of an entirely different character. 
 
 Orders of the Day are subjects that have 
 been assigned to a certain day, or to a particu- 
 lar hour of a certain day. When the time ar- 
 rives it is proper to move to take up the order 
 of the day. If that motion fails, as it often 
 does, a new motion to make the. question in- 
 volved the order for another day will be neces- 
 sary. 
 
 8. OF SUNDRY OTHER QUESTIONS. 
 
 Privileged Questions are of three kinds, 
 namely: 1. Motions to adjourn ; 2. Motions re- 
 lating to the rights and privileges of the assem- 
 bly, or of its members individually ; 3. Motions 
 for the order of the day. 
 
 All these questions take precedence of the 
 business in hand. A vote to take up the order, 
 or the orders of the day, if there be more than 
 one, leaves the pending question just where it 
 would stand under a motion to adjourn. 
 
 Incidental Questions, such as questions of 
 order, motions for the reading of papers, leave 
 to withdraw a motion, supervision of a rule, and 
 
164 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 the amendment of an amendment, must be de- 
 cided before the question which gave rise to them. 
 
 Questions of Order are to be decided by 
 the presiding officer without debate. If his de- 
 cision is not satisfactory, any member may ap- 
 peal to the assembly, when it becomes the duty 
 of the Chair to submit the question, thus : " Shall 
 the decision of the Chair stand as the decision 
 of the assembly ? " It is then debatable, and 
 the chairman may participate in the discussion. 
 The vote is finally taken, and the decision an- 
 nounced, which settles the question. 
 
 The Previous Question is designed to sup- 
 press debate, and compel immediate action on 
 the main question. It is put in this form: 
 (< Shall the main question be now put ? " It 
 cannot be amended. If decided in the affirma- 
 tive, the question must be put, first on the 
 amendments, and then on the main proposi- 
 tion. It is not in order to move the previous 
 question unless the assembly has made a rule 
 providing for it. And when once made and 
 seconded, all other motions and discussions 
 must cease until it is settled. 
 
 It is deemed unparliamentary and abusive to 
 introduce a proposition and at the same time 
 move the previous question. It is emphatically 
 so where the proposition has been supported 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers, 165 
 
 by a speech. Yet it is sometimes done. 
 Judge Cushing advises that no notice be taken 
 of the motion under these circumstances. 
 
 9. OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
 
 When no order is prescribed, the chairman 
 may present any regular business he may deem 
 appropriate. 
 
 In acting on reports or other documents, em- 
 bracing several propositions, they should be first 
 read through by the secretary. Then they should 
 be read by the president or secretary, pausing 
 at the close of each paragraph, that amendments 
 may be made if desired, acting on the preamble 
 last. Having thus passed through any paper, 
 it is proper to adopt it as a whole. 
 
 10. OF ORDER IN DEBATE. 
 
 The presiding officer is presumed not to enter 
 into the debate ; but he is allowed to state mat- 
 ters of fact within his knowledge, to inform the 
 assembly on points of order when called upon 
 to do so, or when it is necessary. 
 
 A member arising to address the assembly 
 should address the president. The person 
 whose voice is first heard is entitled to the floor. 
 
 One member giving way to another to speak 
 really resigns the floor, and can retain it only 
 by common consent, or the vote of the assembly. 
 
166 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 When the presiding officer rises to speak other 
 members should be seated, but he has no 
 right to interrupt a speaker unless he is out of 
 order. Then, if the speaker abandons his ob- 
 jectionable course he may proceed, unless re- 
 strained by the assembly. 
 
 No member should speak more than once on 
 the same question without permission of the as- 
 sembly, except to explain when misrepresented. 
 
 Respectful attention should be paid to every 
 speaker. If any one uses offensive language 
 he may be interrupted by any member, or by 
 the president, and the words objected to should 
 be written by the secretary, that he may disclaim 
 them, apologize for them, or receive the cen- 
 sure of the assembly. 
 
 II. OF TAKING THE QUESTION, 
 
 A proposition made to a deliberative body is 
 called a motion ; when propounded to the as- 
 sembly for action it is called a question ; when 
 adopted it becomes an order, resolution, or vote 
 of the assembly. 
 
 Strictly speaking, no vote can be taken with- 
 out a motion being first made and seconded ; 
 but for the sake of dispatch the presiding 
 officer sometimes puts the question without 
 waiting for this formality. 
 
Of Miscellaneous Officers. 167 
 
 The question being stated, the president first 
 puts the affirmative thus : " All in favor of the 
 motion to adopt say I," or " raise your hands." 
 Then, u All opposed will say No," or " raise your 
 hands," either way the president may prefer or 
 the assembly may have ordered. He will an- 
 nounce the result as he understands it. 
 
 Should he or others be in doubt, a count or 
 a yea and nay vote may be ordered. 
 
 All members present are required to vote on 
 every question unless excused. Absentees can- 
 not vote afterward without permission from the 
 assembly. 
 
 If the members are equally divided on any 
 question, the presiding officer is generally al- 
 lowed to give the casting vote. This rule, 
 however, does not apply in Annual or Quarterly 
 Conferences. 
 
 If a quorum is not present on a count vote 
 there can be no decision. 
 
 A motion to reconsider can only be made by 
 a member who voted in the majority. 
 
 Such a motion adopted places the question 
 just where it was before it was decided, and 
 leaves it open for discussion, amendment, adop- 
 tion, or rejection. These rules have been com- 
 piled chiefly from Cushing's Manual, and Baker 
 on the Discipline. 
 
168 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OF TEMPERANCE FORMULAS WITH INSTRUC- 
 TIONS RELATING TO MAKING WILLS. 
 
 TEMPERANCE has occupied a prominent 
 place in the legislation of our Church from 
 the beginning. As early as 1780 the Conference 
 forbade the distillation of grain into spirituous 
 liquors. Three years after it prohibited the sale 
 and use of such liquors as a beverage, andTias 
 never receded from the prohibitory position then 
 assumed. When the present reform commenced 
 about the year 1828, our Church was ready for 
 action and took a bold stand. She is still in the 
 conflict, aiding in forming temperance societies, 
 circulating the pledge, etc., and will never* 
 cease her efforts, it is to be hoped, until the 
 sale and use of intoxicating liquors shall come 
 to a perpetual end. To aid our young men in 
 this noble work we present the following 
 
 Form or Constitution for Local or Church Tem- 
 perance Societies. 
 
 Article I.— Name. 
 
 This association shall be called the Tem- 
 
 perance Society. 
 
Of Formulas. 169 
 
 Article II. — Object. 
 
 Its object shall be to promote the cause of total absti- 
 nence from the manufacture, sale, and use of intoxicat- 
 ing drinks ; to take measures to present the pledge to 
 every man, woman, and child over ten years of age for 
 signature ; circulate a temperance literature ; and all 
 other measures calculated to remove the evils of intem- 
 perance from our land. 
 
 Article III. — Pledge. 
 
 The pledge of the society shall be as follows : — 
 " We, the undersigned, do agree that we will not use 
 intoxicating liquors as a beverage, nor traffic in them ; 
 that we will not provide them as an article of entertain- 
 ment, or for persons in our employment ; and that in all 
 suitable ways we will discountenance their use through- 
 out the community." 
 
 Article IV. — Officers. 
 
 The officers of this association shall be a president, 
 two vice-presidents, secretary, a treasurer, and an execu- 
 tive committee of five, who shall be elected annually, and 
 their duties shall be the same as those performed by 
 these officers in similar associations. 
 
 Article V. — Meetings. 
 
 Public meetings shall be held monthly ; and the an- 
 nual meetings at such time and place as shall be fixed 
 by the executive committee. 
 
 The pledge may be copied and circulated for 
 individual signatures. If it is stronger than 
 some are willing to take, the following may be 
 
170 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 used, which is also published by the National 
 Temperance Society on a beautiful card, to wit : 
 
 " I hereby solemnly promise to abstain from 
 the use of all intoxicating liquors as a beverage." 
 
 The subject is worthy of our most prayerful 
 attention. Intemperance is the worst of evils — 
 the roaring lion, which devours more than war 
 or pestilence. Still it may be subdued. Let 
 no one be discouraged. There have been great 
 improvements in forty years. Every little ef- 
 fort in the right direction helps. The masses 
 will come to their senses some day and prohibit 
 the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks, as 
 they do theft and murder now. In the mean 
 time we can save some from utter ruin. 
 
 OF WILLS. 
 
 1. If you are a man of means make your 
 will, disposing of your property as you would 
 like to have it distributed if you were going to 
 die to-morrow. Write it yourself, if you please, 
 but see that you have it properly executed accord- 
 ing to the laws of your own State. It will save 
 your heirs much trouble and expense, and, per- 
 haps, many unpleasant heart-burnings. If you 
 die without a will, your property will be divided 
 among your heirs according to law. Not one 
 dollar of it can be appropriated to benevolence, 
 
Of Formulas. 171 
 
 whatever may have been your purposes or de- 
 sires in the premises. You should do it at 
 once, as you are liable to die suddenly, and as, 
 in many of the States, a will is not valid, so far 
 as benevolent institutions are concerned, unless 
 executed a full year previous to the death of the 
 testator. Forty thousand dollars have lately 
 been lost to Christianity because a will was not 
 made a few weeks sooner. You can alter your 
 will at any future time by codicil, or annul it by 
 executing anew one, or without doing so, at your 
 own pleasure. Some people have made a dozen 
 wills or more within the last forty years, as their 
 circumstances and wishes have changed. The 
 death or enrichment of a legatee, or the birth 
 or misfortune of a child, will naturally require 
 some modification, or a complete reconstruction. 
 2. Advise your friends to do the same, invit- 
 ing their attention to the various benevolent en- 
 terprises of the Church, especially if they have 
 no dependent relatives whom they care to 
 endow. Methodism has gathered persons of all 
 nations and tribes, and taught them to be in- 
 dustrious, enterprising, and economical. Many 
 of her poor, lone children have become wealthy, 
 and know no relatives so dear to them as 
 the cause of God, to which they are indebted 
 for all they have and are. By speaking a kind 
 
172 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 word to them, you may secure legacies that will 
 greatly help that cause when they are forever 
 gone. 
 
 3. But in making a will great care should be 
 taken to give the proper name of the legatee, 
 whether a person or association, as well as in 
 the execution of the instrument. Many wills 
 have been utterly defeated by mistakes at these 
 points. The corporate names of our leading 
 benevolent institutions are as follow : — 
 
 The Missionary Society of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, incorporated by the Legisla- 
 ture of the State of New York. 
 
 The Sunday-School Union of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, incorporated by the Legisla- 
 ture of the State of New York. 
 
 The Tract Society of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, incorporated by the Legislature of 
 the State of New York. 
 
 The Board of Church Extension of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, incorporated by the 
 Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Freedmen's Aid Society of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, incorporated by the 
 Legislature of the State of Ohio. 
 
 The Board of Education of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, incorporated by the Legisla- 
 ture of the State of New York. 
 
Of Formulas. 173 
 
 The Board of Trustees of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, incorporated by the Legislature 
 of the State of Ohio. 
 
 There are also many local societies and cor- 
 porations connected with the several Annual 
 Conferences which are entitled to considera- 
 tion. It is highly important to ascertain whether 
 they are authorized to receive legacies, as some 
 are not. Our Church lost large sums of money 
 on this ground before it and its institutions be- 
 came properly incorporated. 
 
 4. The following facts may be useful to you 
 in this connection : — 
 
 1. All wills must be made in writing, and be 
 signed by the testator's full name at the end. 
 
 2. They should be attested by three witnesses, 
 though some of the States only require two, 
 and one, none The witnesses should al- 
 ways write their places of residence against their 
 names. 
 
 3. Marriage, and the birth of a child after the 
 execution of a will, revoke it, unless the wife and 
 child are provided for in some way. 
 
 The will of a single woman is canceled by 
 her marriage, except when she makes an ar- 
 rangement before marriage to retain her right 
 to make a will after marriage. This should not 
 be forgotten in contemplating marriage. 
 
174 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 5. The sale of, or an agreement to sell, prop- 
 erty devised in a will revokes such will 
 
 6. If any provision made in a will for the 
 wife of the testator is intended to exclude her 
 right of dower it should be so stated, otherwise 
 she may claim dower also. 
 
 7. A devise to a subscribing witness is void, 
 though it does not invalidate the will in other 
 respects. 
 
 8. Bequests to aliens, or corporations not au- 
 thorized by law to receive or hold property, are 
 void. 
 
 9. For the convenience of the reader we pre- 
 sent the following form, which should be mod- 
 ified to accommodate any special law of the State 
 where the devisee may reside : — 
 
 GENERAL FORM OF DISPOSING OF BOTH REAL 
 AND PERSONAL ESTATE. 
 
 In the name of God, Amen. I, A. B., of 
 , being of good bodily health, and of 
 
 sound mind and memory, knowing the uncer- 
 tainty of human life, and being desirous of di- 
 recting how my worldly affairs should be ad- 
 justed after my decease, do make and publish 
 this my last will and testament, hereby revok- 
 ing and making null and void all other wills 
 and testaments by me heretofore made. And 
 
Of Formulas. 175 
 
 first I commend my soul to Him who gave it, 
 and my body to the earth, to be buried with 
 moderate expense, and without display, (or 
 otherwise.) 
 
 And as^to my worldly estate and all the prop- 
 erty, real, personal, or mixed, of which I shall 
 die seized or possessed, or to which I shall be 
 entitled at the time of my decease, I devise and 
 bequeath and dispose of in the manner following, 
 to wit : — 
 
 First. My will is, that all my just debts and 
 funeral charges shall, by my executors herein- 
 after named, be paid out of my estate as soon 
 after my decease as shall be found by them con- 
 venient. 
 
 Second. I give, devise, and bequeath to my 
 beloved wife, C. D., all my household furniture> 
 library, houses, (or whatever else,) and also five 
 thousand dollars in money, to be paid to her by my 
 
 executors within months after my decease ; 
 
 to have and to hold the same to her, and her 
 executors, administrators, and assigns forever, 
 (or otherwise,) all of which is in place of dower. 
 
 Third. I give and bequeath to my honored 
 mother, (state what.) 
 
 Fourth. I give and bequeath to my son, D. E., 
 (state what and how much.) 
 
 Fifth. I give and bequeath to the Missionary 
 
176 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in- 
 corporated by the Legislature of the State of 
 New York, (state how much, and when and 
 how to be paid.) 
 
 Sixth, All the rest and residue of my estate, 
 real, personal, or mixed, of which I shall die 
 seized and possessed, or to which I shall be en- 
 titled at the time of my decease, I give, devise, 
 and bequeath to be equally (or otherwise) di- 
 vided to and among my children, C. D., etc. 
 
 Lastly, I do nominate and appoint to be 
 
 the executors of this my last will and testament. 
 
 In testimony whereof I, the said A. B., have 
 
 to this my last will and testament, contained on 
 
 one sheet of paper, subscribed my name and 
 
 affixed my seal this day of in the year 
 
 of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, etc. 
 
 A. B. [l. s.] 
 The above instrument, consisting of (state 
 the number of sheets) was now here subscribed 
 by A. B., the testator, in the presence of each of 
 us, and was at the same time declared by him 
 to be his last will and testament ; and we, at 
 his request, sign our names thereto as attesting 
 witnesses. 
 
 D. F., residing at in * county. 
 
 G. H.j residing at in county. 
 
 I. J., residing at in county. 
 
Of Formulas. I yy 
 
 If the witnesses do not see the testator sub- 
 scribe the will, the following form of attestation 
 should be used : — 
 
 The above instrument of one sheet (or other- 
 wise) was, at the date thereof, declared to us by 
 the testator, A. B., to be his last will and testa- 
 ment, and he then acknowledged to each of us 
 that he had subscribed the same ; and we, at 
 his request, sign our names hereto as attesting 
 witnesses. (Sign and give residence, as in the 
 will itself,) 
 
 CODICIL TO A WILL. 
 
 Whereas I, A. B., of, etc., have made my last 
 
 will and testament bearing date of -, and 
 
 have thereby, etc. Now I do by this my writ- 
 ing, which I hereby declare to be a codicil to 
 my said will, to be taken as a part thereof, [will 
 and direct, etc.,] give and bequeath to my wife, 
 C. D., (state what, whether more or less.) I do 
 hereby declare that my will is that only the sum 
 
 of be paid to , and I do declare that 
 
 Society, which was not mentioned in my 
 
 said will, shall receive dollars, to be used by 
 
 said Society, (state how.) And, lastly, it is my 
 desire that this my present codicil be annexed 
 to, and made a part of, my last will and testa- 
 ment to all intents and purposes. 
 12 
 
178 Helps to Official Members. 
 
 In witness whereof I have set my hand and 
 seal this day of . A. B. [l. s.] 
 
 The codicil must be attested as such the same 
 as the will itself, but not necessarily by the 
 same witnesses. 
 
 Should the testator be unable, for any reason, 
 to subscribe his will, and another person does it 
 for him by his direction, the said person must 
 write his own name as a witness to the will 
 in the presence of two other witnesses. (See 
 Wells, in Every Man his own Lawyer y pp. 92- 1 04.) 
 
 ONE FURTHER REMARK. 
 
 Now, while we detest the practice of haunting 
 the death bed of the wealthy to draw from them 
 a will in the interest of an individual or an as- 
 sociation, we must insist that it is the duty of 
 somebody to remind them while in health and 
 activity of their obligation to provide for the 
 appropriation of their property, when they can 
 no longer manage it themselves, in some Chris- 
 tian way, and not leave it to their heirs to curse 
 posterity, as many have done. There is hardly 
 a large city or town that is not blocked in its 
 progress by vast family estates that the posses- 
 sors cannot or will not sell at reasonable rates, 
 and the names of the testators and their heirs 
 are a stench in the nostrils of community. Such 
 
Of Formulas. 1 79 
 
 men should be reached and advised if possible, 
 however godless and worldly. Though they 
 may have no religion, they may not be entirely 
 destitute of humanity. They should be made 
 to see their opportunity to lighten the crushing 
 burdens of poverty and misfortune that lie at 
 their own door. 
 
 These heavy estates are not very common in 
 our Church, but we have multitudes of members 
 who have the means of leaving their own near 
 relatives wealthy, and yet largely supply the 
 pressing wants of our denominational charities. 
 Yes, there are many whom we received in their 
 poverty and trained for God and usefulness, and 
 who are. caressed and honored, though they do 
 not give at all in proportion to their means. 
 Somebody who has influence with them should 
 take up the cross and invite their attention to 
 this delicate subject. 
 
 Then we have many others who* are more or 
 less rich and without children or dependents, 
 who with proper effort may be induced to an- 
 swer their own prayers, by giving bread to our 
 starving institutions at death if not before. 
 
 It is not wealth that we plead for, but daily 
 bread. Many of our interests are suffering for 
 this, and might be relieved and strengthened by 
 legacies that will never reach them unless se- 
 
180 . Helps to Official Members. 
 
 cured by will. Many cannot or will not give 
 much now, for they don't know exactly how they 
 are coming out. But will they not consent to 
 "pledge" something to the cause, to be paid 
 when they are gone ? We think so. Let them 
 be kindly advised, as well as prayed for, that 
 they may live and work in the Church, by their 
 money, after they are dead. 
 
 The End. 
 
Published by NELSON & PHILLIPS, 
 
 805 Broadway, New York. 
 
 COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF METHODISM. 
 
 By JAMES PORTER, D.D. 
 
 One volume. 12mo. 601 pages. $1 75. 
 
 This is a new work, having little connection with " The Com- 
 pendium of Methodism." That was chiefly devoted to our doc- 
 trines, government, and prudential economy. This is purely 
 historical, reaching from the beginning to the present time, and 
 presenting the leading facts and fortunes of the Church in their 
 actual and philosophical relations and bearings. It was written 
 to accommodate that large class of Methodists who have not the 
 time to read Drs. Bangs and Stevens' more elaborate histories, 
 or the means to purchase them. Preachers who have not com- 
 plete sets of our Benevolent Eeports, General Minutes, and Jour- 
 nals, (and few have them,) will often find its numerous tables an 
 excellent substitute. 
 
 The first part is appropriately ornamented with a steel engrav- 
 ing of Mr. Wesley, and the second with a similar one of Mr. 
 Asbury. The whole is rendered available by a copious "Topical 
 Index." How the work has been received may be inferred from 
 the following extracts : — 
 
 Every Methodist, it matters not to what branch of the Methodist family 
 he belongs, should have at least a correct general knowledge of the history 
 of Methodism. As the various Methodist bodies had a common origin, and 
 for a long time a common history, any well-prepared history of Methodism 
 must, as a matter of course, be interesting and valuable to them all. Nu- 
 merous works of this kind have been published. But there was need of a 
 more compendious history, coming down to the present, and presented in 
 such a compass and form as to come within the reach of all. The present 
 volume meets this demand. — Home Companion. 
 
 The history of Methodism is locked in large volumes that some cannot 
 buy and few will read. That this growing people may learn the trials and 
 triumphs of their fathers, this volume has been written. The work it lays 
 out for itself has been well done. It is interesting and pointed in style, and 
 eloquent at times. The facts are grouped under taking heads, and the par- 
 agraphs are not too long or the details too much dwelt upon. . . . The 
 work carries the history of the Church to a later point than any other his- 
 tory, reaching the noted Book Concern troubles. . . . The book is issued 
 in an attractive type and form, and care has been used in reading it, with 
 taste in composing and arranging the matter. This history deserves to be 
 popular, not only in the Methodist Church, but among others.— Cincinnati 
 Times. 
 
 The Christian Statesman says: There is, perhaps, no person in the 
 Methodist Church better qualified to accomplish the work of preparing a 
 compendious history of Methodism than Dr. Porter, the author of the vol- 
 ume before us. He has lived through its most important and stirring 
 crises, and has always been recognized as a close observer and careful stu- 
 dent of its history and policy. This new history whivh he has prepared is 
 intentionally comprehensive in its scope, and available to all. We commend 
 it particularly to all young people, as being well calculated to inspire them 
 with zeal for the Church and love for the great cause of Christianity. 
 
Published by NELSON & PHILLIPS, 
 
 805 Broadway, New York. 
 
 Dr. Porter, says Dr. Went worth, is a well-known author and authority 
 in Methodist history and polity. The first part embraces British Method- 
 ism in 248 pages;" the second part contains over 350 pages, and brings 
 American Methodism down to the present time. Bangs's History is too 
 old, and Stevens's too bulky for general circulation, so Dr. Porter steps in 
 and supplies the want with a volume of moderate size, which will be cheap 
 at $2, yet is offered to the public at $1 75, in consideration of a confident 
 expectation of a large demand. Dr. Porter was prominent in the early 
 abolition movements of New England ; participated in the General Confer- 
 ence of 1844 ; made a stout fight against lay delegation ; and was cognizant 
 of all the facts and phases of the Book-room troubles, and gives his own 
 views, in a most catholic spirit, on all those questions and usages. Dr. Por- 
 ter has succeeded in introducing a most excellent volume. It ought to be 
 in every library in the land. — Christian Standard and Home Journal. 
 
 Rev. J. L. Peck says: The book covers more ground than any other 
 book of its size relating to Methodism. It gives the facts and philosophy 
 of its development down to the present time. . . . The volume contains a 
 large number of statistical tables, by which the facts of the growth of the 
 Church in all her departments are of easy access. We advise each preacher 
 and speaker to secure this treasury of statistics. By its aid you can save 
 a vast amount of time and labor. 
 
 The Congregationallst says: Dr. Porter's "Comprehensive History of 
 Methodism, 11 in a single 12mo volume of 601 pages, is an extremely con- 
 venient, and. will be an undeniably useful, one. The story is told for the 
 old country as well as our own, with clear compactness. It is modestly 
 styled by the editor "a convenient manual for facts and dates; 15 but it is 
 more than this, in that it not onty has friendly answers f< >r the frequent 
 questions which almost any student has occasion to ask in regard to a de- 
 nomination of Christians which rightly holds so large and useful a place in 
 the Christian history of the times, but that it can "give a very fair idea of 
 the spirit which pervades and animates th.2 Methodist body. We wish we 
 had so good an equivalent volume upon Congregationalism. 
 
 Dr. Fuller, of the Atlanta Christian Advocate, says: Dr. Porter has 
 the happy faculty of condensation. But few writers are able to crowd so 
 much matter so satisfactorily into the same space as he. Here we have, in 
 a 12mo volume of 601 pages, a history of Methodism in Europe and Amer- 
 ica, from its rise to the General Conference of 1876. But few would 
 have ventured upon the task of performing such a work, and still less the 
 number who would have succeeded as well as Dr. Porter has done. The 
 amount of matter crowded into its pages is surprising, and though brevity 
 is necessarily studied at every point, it is not a mere dictionary of dates or 
 historic fragments, but connected, readable, entertaining history. 
 
 Dr. Porter is the first to attempt to write the history of Methodism in 
 the dark days of 1844-48, including the abolition controversy in the Church ; 
 and, for the space occupied, he has done well, giving the clearest and most 
 correct view of those times with which we are acquainted. It is worthy of the 
 Church, and especially adapted to our southern field. Our people will find 
 in this volume much to aid them in forming a correct opinion of the contro- 
 versies between the North and the South upon slavery and kindred topics. 
 
 The Pittsburgh Commercial kindly avows: This handsome volume is 
 appropriately named "A Comprehensive History of M -thodism, 11 as it gives 
 in a compact manner information to the general reader which no other 
 work of this character contains. Dr. Porter has the elements of character 
 eminently to fit him for this work. The w >rk is concise, synoptical, statis- 
 tical, and racy. It is worthy of a place in any library, and people of all de- 
 nominations will find valuable statistical tables, etc., suitable for all classes. 
 
Published by NELSON & PHILLIPS, 
 
 805 Broadway, New York. 
 
 THE CHART OF LIFE: 
 
 Indicating the Dangers and Securities connected with the 
 Voyage to Immortality. 
 
 16mo. 259 pages. Price, $1. By James Porter, D.D. With 
 an Introduction by Eev. Edward Otheman, A.M. 
 
 This work has been before the public for some time, and is now 
 in its twelfth edition, though seldom advertised. Probably few 
 ministers, comparatively, know of its existence. But some soon 
 became acquainted with its character and adaptation, and have 
 not ceased to introduce it to their people. The nature and bear- 
 ing of it may be inferred from the titles of the several chapters, 
 which are as follows : — 
 
 Influence of Correct Principles. 
 
 Danger from Skepticism. 
 
 Our Susceptibilities and the Moral Forces of the Gospel. 
 
 Necessary Precautions. 
 
 Social Hinderances. 
 
 The Great Concern. 
 
 Social Kelations. 
 
 Influence Neutralized. 
 
 Christian Activity Directed. 
 
 The Duty of Benevolence. 
 
 Obligations of the Few. 
 
 This work should go into the hands of every young man espe- 
 cially. It embodies fundamental principles, and puts them in a 
 manner to make them impressive. It is a capital gift book where 
 usefulness is contemplated. No Sabbath-school should be with- 
 out a copy. 
 
 ■#•♦>■ 
 
 REVIVALS OF RELIGION. 
 
 12mo. 269 pages. Tenth thousand. By James Porter, D.D. 
 
 This is the only work on our list that assumes to give the 
 " Theory, Means, Obstructions, Uses, and Importance of Re- 
 vivals." It has done much good} and should be in the hands 
 of every member of the Church. 
 
Published by NELSON & PHILLIPS, 
 
 805 Broadway, IVew York. 
 
 THE REVISED COMPENDIUM OF METHODISM. 
 
 One vol. 12mo. 506 pages. $1 75. By James Porter, D.D. 
 
 The original work was issued in 1851, and passed through 
 many editions. It was wholly or partially translated into several 
 different languages, and indorsed by the highest authorities of 
 the Church, being honored with a place in the course of study for 
 young preachers. Old Dr. Bond said he would be willing that 
 Methodism should be judged by it. 
 
 Owing to the rapid progress of the Church in the different de- 
 partments of her work, and some modification in our government 
 and prudential arrangements, (not in our doctrines,) the work 
 required revision, which has lately been executed by the author, 
 so as to improve upon its original excellence, and adapt it to the 
 present time and circumstances. Its rank as a representative 
 book is fairly indicated by the following notices : — 
 
 "The Compendium of Methodism," by James Porter, D.D. This work 
 has taken a new lease of life, and is going- forth, with its recent revision by 
 the author, to tell the wonderful story of the greatest religious work of the 
 nineteenth century. It has lost nothing of its fidelity to the cause it 
 represents. — Christian Statesman. 
 
 It is not a criticism on Methodist usages, but a statement and defense of 
 them. — Quarterly Review. 
 
 Though it is written from the stand-point of the Northern M. E. Church, 
 yet, muPttifi mutandis, it suits well for Ecumenical Methodism. — Nash- 
 ville Christian Advocate. 
 
 It is, in fact, a digest of Methodism. The arrangement and execution of 
 the several parts is admirable. The style is a model of perspicuity, ease, 
 and vigor ; and, in point of condensation, the volume is literally crowded 
 with important matter. — Northern Advocate. 
 
 It is precisely the volume needed to instruct our people in the peculiari- 
 ties of our system. We commend it as an acknowledged authority. — 
 A. Stevens, LL.D. 
 
 I have just finished the reading of this book, and I wish to express my 
 decided approbation of it. It should be a family book, a Sunday-school 
 book, and I would add especially, a text-book fob all candidates fob 
 
 THE MINISTRY. — J. T. Peck, D.D. 
 
 We have examined the book, and most cordially recommend our friends, 
 one and all, to proctjbe it immediately. No Methodist can study it 
 without profit, and gratitude to the great head of the Church. — Christlm 
 Guardinn, Toronto. 
 
 It has brought hundreds of unsettled converts to Methodism. 
 Let it be read, and pushed out among the people. It should be 
 worked into every library as far as possible. Methodism needs 
 to be better understood. 
 
Published by NELSON & PHILLIPS, 
 
 805 Broadway, IVew York. 
 
 THE WINNING WORKER; 
 
 Or, The Possibilities, Duty, and Methods of Doing Good to Men. 
 
 With a striking frontispiece, representing complete conse- 
 cration to God and his service. 16mo. 300 pages. By 
 Kev. James Porter, D.D., with an Introduction by Eev. Dr. 
 J. A. M. Chapman, of St. Paul's M. E. Church, New York. 
 
 This taking work has been out but a few months, and is in its 
 second edition. It assumes that every body can do good of some 
 sort, somewhere, and every day ; and shows how, and why, in 
 eighteen chapters of direct, pointed, practical instructions. It 
 abounds " in pertinent illustrations, seasonable advice, and fruit- 
 ful suggestions." It is not a book on revivals, but every-day xoork 
 in Church and out, covering all our social relations and possible 
 activities. 
 
 " For many a day it has not been our privilege to read a book 
 that is so full of the spirit of Christianity. . . . We commend it 
 to every Christian Worker." — Rev. H. 0. Farrar. 
 
 Eev. Mr. Davies, the evangelist, says : " The last chapter, 
 headed ' Doing good a means of grace,' is worth the cost of 
 the book." Benevolent gentlemen purchase to distribute among 
 young people for the good it will do them. It is just the book to 
 arouse an idle Church to activity. 
 
 Eev. George Whitaker, Presiding Elder in the New England 
 Conference, says : " I am very much pleased with the book. It 
 is rich and practical, and presented in the doctor's happiest 
 style. It should be in the hands of all our members. I do not 
 see how it can help doing a great deal of good." 
 
 The Provincial Wesleyan says : The scope and design of the 
 work may be seen from some of the topics discussed, among 
 which are: "The proper mission life;" "The possibilities of 
 usefulness;" "Importance of right aims;" "A mind for the 
 work;" " Eeligion demonstrable by experience ;" " Power with 
 God and with men;" "Pleasing men for their good;" "The 
 power of self-sacrifice ;" " Courage and independence ;" "Sources 
 of weakness and defeat ;" "Doing good a means of grace." These 
 and kindred themes are treated with great clearness and force, 
 and constitute a very convenient and valuable hand-book for 
 every pastor and Christian worker, and may be read with ^reat 
 profit by all who desire to understand the design and aim ot the 
 Christian life. 
 
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