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good nor harm, but were simply useless, even in that case no one should need to be so very anxious to do away with it, to stamp it out as they would a nuisance; but, seeing that it is a fruitful source of spiritual blessing and good to so many souls, and of harm to none, we ought, for the sake of those who can and do derive profit from it, to be anxious to conserve it, rather than destroy it. Don't act the part of the "Dog-in-themanger; deprive the ox of the hay you cannot eat. Don't foul the water you cannot drink. If you cannot appreciate the class-meeting, don't seek to deprive those of it who can. Such a course would be mean and selfish in the extreme.

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2nd. A word now to those who would do away with the class-meeting as a test of membership. You would preserve it as it is, excepting its compulsory feature. You would not insist upon attendance at it, as a condition of membership, but would allow it to be optional. Persons might attend, or stay away; turn their back upon it if they chose; still they would be recognised as bona-fide members. That plea looks very reasonable on the face of it; but, unfortunately, facts are against it. I have known churches-Methodist, though not Wesleyan churches-to adopt this free-and-easy system; and the result, in every case, has been such as ought to prove a warning to churches that are seriously contemplating such a step. It is no wonder that the merc formalist should fail to enjoy or relish the class-meeting, and wish it removed as a test of membership; for it is an intensely spiritual means of grace, a direct appeal to the higher life, the spiritual consciousness and the religious enjoyments and experiences of the members. And if it should cease to be a test of membership, still, so long as it remains in its outward form, it must, in the nature of things, be a test of vital and experimental religion, as applied to its members.

Like the stethoscope, by which the physician tests the soundness or unsoundness of the respiratory organs of his patient, so the class-meeting, in the hands of a competent and skilful leader, will guage, with tolerable accuracy, the spiritual health and condition of each mem ber in his class. Or, like the pulse, it is a true and infallible indicator of the force of the vital current which transfuses life and energy through the believer's soul. Such being the case, it is no marvel that the mere formalist, the worldlyminded, and those in whose souls the life of God is at a low ebb, should wish to destroy the thermometer, which, with such uncompromising fidelity, indicates the measure of their religious earnestness and power. The atmosphere which pervades the class-meeting is anything but congenial to such souls. The mere formalist is not in his proper element there. That is no reason, however, why spiritually-minded and intenselyearnest Methodists should be called upon to throw down the fences of the Church, and, in the most indiscriminate way, admit into its pale men, who have little, if anything, in common with themselves, and who, from a want of sympathy with real spiritual effort, are more likely to hinder than to help.

3rd. I want to have a word or two now with those who would not do away with the class-meeting, even as a test of membership, but would so modify it as to adapt it to the requirements of the times, and the superior intelligence of the young people amongst us, who have enjoyed greater educational advantages than we have. It might do very well for our forefathers, you will say, but the present generation is so far advanced in intelligence that it cannot tolerate the old style, but requires an adaptation, or a compromise, between the experience-meeting and a Bibleclass. I have no wish to say one word in disparagement of the Bibleclass. It is very useful and essential, particularly for our young men and women. But let the Bible-class be a Bible-class, pure and simple, and keep the class-meeting in its present form, as an experience-meeting, separate and distinct from the Bible-class, without any attempt to blend them, or to roll the two into one. Each is good in its place. Neither one can supply the place of the other. While the Bible-class, properly conducted, is admirably adapted to indoctrinate our young people in the truths and principles of the Scriptures, and thus to fortify their minds against the abounding scepticism of the age, it will not meet the case of those in whose hearts the love of God is pent up; and, unless this has vent, it is like "fire in their bones." The cry of such earnest souls is, "Come, all ye that fear the Lord, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul." They want, in fact, the opportunity which the classmeeting affords, of giving utterance to their pent-up feelings. Neither can the Bible-class meet the case of those who are bowed down by sorrow, and need the loving sympathy of their brethren and sisters. Often it is that our minds are beclouded and our spirits cast down by reason of the difficulties of the way and the temptations of the enemy; and what we want at such times, next to Divine comfort and succour, is the sympathy which flows from Christian fellowship. "As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend." As it was in the days of Malachi, so it is now. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; " now, they "forsake not the assembling of themselves together." A fellow-feeling, like a magnetic link, draws them together, and binds them in a common brotherhood. When they thus meet together to speak of God's gracious dealings with them, to recount their hair-breadth escapes and marvellous deliverances from the jaws of their enemies, and to dwell upon the unfailing promises of God's Word, they inspire one another with a boldness which enables them bravely to meet every difficulty and danger that may confront them. Such a strengthening and invigoratiug effect has the class-meeting upon its members that often they feel, like the Psalmist, that they "could run through a troop or leap over a wall." We would not speak hardly, nor think hardly, of those who plead for a modification of the class-meeting; they may be as strongly attached to Methodism as we ourselves are, and as earnestly desire and labour for its prosperity as we do; on this point,

however, we cannot see eye to eye. In our opinion, the maintenance of the class-meeting in its present form, and as a purely experience-meeting, though not, perhaps, absolutely necessary for the maintenance of spiritual religion, or the Divine life in the soul, is a means of grace, the importance and helpfulness of which cannot be exaggerated.

I dare not trespass any further on your space, or on the patience of your readers; but should like, in a future number, to resume the subject.

Bradford.

T. R.

THE WESLEYAN METHODIST LOCAL PREACHERS'

MUTUAL-AID ASSOCIATION.

CHAPTER XXXI.-ANNUAL MEETING AT LYNN, 1877.

BROTHER EDWIN BENSON, of Tring, President.

THE General Committee met on Saturday evening, June 2nd, in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Tower Street, Lynn. About fifty chapels in the Lynn, Downham, and Wisbeach Circuits, besides six open-air stands, were occupied by the brethren on the Sunday. Certainly there had been a famous working committee here, to get such a number of chapels; and as collections were made in most, if not all of them, the Norfolk friends showed the abundance of their liberality.

The brethren met for business on Monday morning, June 4th, in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Lynn. The Report showed 2,074 benefit and 680 honorary members; total, 2,754; being an increase of 151 benefit and 40 honorary members. The benefit members' subscriptions amounted to £1,093 15s. ; an increase on the former year of £83 14s. The increase of the income from various sources enabled the Treasurer to invest another thousand pounds, raising the primal figure from 7 to 8; total capital being, £8,564 15s. 9d.

Brother E. Benson was elected President, Bro. John Carter re-elected Treasurer, and Bro. Thos, Chamberlain Hon. Secretary.

Petitions were sent from the meeting to Parliament in favour of the Bills for closing public-houses on Sundays, and in favour of the Permissive Bill, and against opening museums, the National Gallery, the Crystal Palace, &c., on the Lord's day.

In accordance with the resolution of the preceding Annual Meeting, Dr. Aldom, ex-President, delivered an address in the Chapel on the morning of Tuesday, After the address the brethren and friends celebrated the Lord's Supper.

The giving of an address by Dr. Aldom was in conformity with the old practice of preaching an official sermon by the ex-President; a practice

that ought never to have been abandoned or omitted. The address of the Doctor was considered so valuable that it was resolved, not only to print it in the Magazine, but also to print it separately for general distribution. This was done; and the sale not only covered the expense of printing, but returned a profit to the Association.

The thanks of the meeting were given to the editors and the publication committee for conducting the Magazine, and they were requested to continue their services for another year. The profit of the Magazine for 1876 was £28 93. 1d.

CHAPTER XXXIL-Annual MEETING AT HULL, 1878.

BROTHER DOWSING, Hull, President.

THE General Committee met on Saturday evening, June 1st, in the Schoolroom of Waltham Street Chapel, Hull. Thirty-four chapels and four open-air stations were occupied by the brethren on the Sunday. Collections also were made in most of the chapels. It is stated that the congregations were numerous, attentive, and devout.

The brethren met for business on Monday morning, June 3rd., in the Schoolroom of Waltham Street Chapel. The Report showed 2,175 benefit and 703 honorary members; being an increase of 101 benefit and 23 honorary members. The benefit members' subscriptions amounted to £1,101 17s., an increase of £8 2s. on the year. The funds had risen another primal figure, from £8,564 15s. 9d. to £9,286 7s. 5d., £1,300 having been invested this year. Two brethren were put in nomination for President; and, as was fitting, the Hull brother, Alderman Dowsing, of the town in which the meeting was being held, was elected by a majority of 13. Bro. John Carter was re-elected Treasurer, and Bro. Thos. Chamberlain, Hon. Secretary.

This being the year for making alterations in the Rules, old propositions were again brought forward and new ones introduced. The most important alterations made were the continuance of eight shillings a week in special cases of sickness beyond the former limitation to twenty-six weeks as per Rule 36. The brethren were in a liberal mood, and raised the funeral allowance to the former amount of £8, and that of annuitants to £4; and the maximum allowance to annuitants, in extreme need, to six shillings per week. Whether these alterations were wise or not, remains to be seen. The number of annuitants has risen rapidly of late. It would be hazardous to sell out stock, as many of the legacies and other contributions were given by farseeing and thoughtful persons for the purposes of investment.

The Magazine showed a larger amount of profit for 1877 than had ever occurred before, being £47 17s. 1d. Of course it was to be continued under the same management.

A large and enthusiastic public meeting was held in Waltham Street Chapel on the Monday evening, Alderman Waller, the Mayor of Hull, wearing his insignia of office, in the chair. There was splendid speaking; but no report of the meeting has come into our hands.

After Tuesday morning's sitting, the brethren adjourned to the chapel to attend the Lord's table. Rev. H. W. Holland delivered an appropriate and seasonable address.

The Hull friends have been, and still are, among the most bountiful givers. One gentleman, we understand, appropriates the interest of a thousand pounds, being £50 a year, during his life; at his death it will fall into the funds of the Association.

CHAPTER XXXIII.-ANNUAL MEETING AT OLDHAM, 1879.

BRO. JOSEPH MILSOM, Reading, President.

THE General Committee met on Saturday evening, June 14th, in the Schoolroom of Downing Street, Oldham. Thirty-five chapels in Oldham and surrounding places were supplied by the brethren. There was quite an Evangelical Alliance here; for chapels belonging to Wesleyans, Free Church, New Connexion, Primitives and Congregationalists, together with nine open-air stations, were occupied by the brethren. Collections for the Association were made in most of the chapels.

The meeting for business was begun in Manchester Street Chapel, on Monday morning, June 16th. The Report was read by the Honorary Secretary, showing 2,368 benefit members, and 746 honorary; an increase of 193 benefit and 43 honorary; total, 3,114 members. This large addition is accounted for by the union of the Newcastle Local Preachers' Association with ours. The benefit members' subscriptions the last year amounted to £1,161 10s. 6d. ; being an increase of £59 17s. 6d. Mr. Hume, of Manchester, having left £1,353 4s. 5d. for investment, it raised the invested fund another figure, viz., from £9,286 7s. 5d. to £10,938 13s. 7d. Bro. Joseph Milsom, Reading, was elected President, Bro. J. Carter re-elected Treasurer, and Bro. Thos. Chamberlain Hon. Secretary.

There was not much serious business to do at this annual gathering. Thanks were expressed to Almighty God for the passing of the Act for Sunday closing of public-houses in Ireland; and a petition was sent to Parliament for the bestowment of the same benefit on England and Wales.

On the subject of "ways and means," and the revival of drooping Branches, the brethren seemed to breathe new life, and the youth of some of the aged was renewed like the eagle's. One of our aged brethren, over fourscore years, declared " He would help in this matter, and was willing

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