The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-01-16
For the Central Presbyterian.
Me thodism and it's Lessons.
No. 8.

In our last we assigned three causes
why our Church has not been as success
full as the Methodist in reaching the
masses OF the people. There are two
other things to be mentioned in this con-
nection.
John Wesley said, "When our preach
ers cease to itinerate and our class-meet-
ings are given up, Methodism will begin
to die" The truth of this is beginning
to be felt in the decay of power in that
body. 1t is not doing the work or exert
ing the influence relatively that it once
did, because its class meetings have prac-
tically ceased to exist, and its ministry
tends to more permanency but there is
a practical lesson in this for others as
we'll as for the Methodists.
4th. Class-meetings grew up in the
Methodist societies without design upon
the part of Wesley. He only adopted
them as useful and important means of
fostering the religious interests of the
members or seekers of religion. Who
ever desired to flee from the. wrath to
come" might be member of a class, and
being placed under the care of some more
experienced Christian as his spiritual
guide, and being required to meet fre-
quently for prayer and religious confer
ence with a number of other Christians or
seekers. No better method could be de-
yised than this, to cultivate his own heart
and stimulate him in the Christian life.
The system of class-meetings gave oppor-
tunity to any who had knowledge and
piety and zeal, to exercise their gifts for
the good of others. And in the compara-
tive privacy of these meetings gave cour-
age to the more timid and shrinking to
Join in the social exercises Of religion. AS
the result of this training larger pro-
portion of the members of that church
were led to partake of its work, and unite
in its public services, than were found in
any other church. The whole system OF
training was designed and well fitted to
bring every one to exercise freely what
gifts he had and 80 to make the church
in true sense working church. That
such a system should cultivate some un-
desirable boldness and confidence, was to
be expected, but the good results much
more than overbalanced all the evil.
Now in our own organization we have
all the effective working strength that
was ever developed by these class-meet-
ings, only it is put to very little practical
nse. Our bench of Elders, in every con.
gregation, might be practically class.
leaders they are in fact required to be
such by their ordination vows. No def.
mite organization of classes is required by
the Constitution of the Church, but they
are required, both severally and jointly
to be overseers Of the flock. And if our
congregations were divided into districts
and an Elder appointed over each, as is
sometimes done, and he were required tc
visit each one frequently and to hold reli.
gious services with all, it would be prac.
tioally better and more efficient system
of church work than the class-meeting
One special advantage would attach tC
our system, from the fact that the Elders
are ordained and permanent officers
elected by the congregation, and possess
ing their confidence. The necessity fol
such classes grew out of the itinerant sys
TEN of Methodism. At first no preacher
was located but required to itinerate, but
while this left places without preaching
the class-leaders and exhorters remained
to sustain religious services. And much