CHAPTER XX.

OTHER MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH

I. PRAYER MEETINGS

Ques. What directions are given concerning our prayer meetings?

Ans. Let the pastor hold prayer-meetings, weekly, in every church where it is practicable; and when he cannot himself attend, let him engage local preachers, exhorters, class-leaders, and others, to hold them.

2. Let prayer-meetings be held also at other places where there is a probability of their doing good.

II. CLASS MEETINGS

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning class-meetings?

Ans. 1. Let the membership of every church, wherever it is practicable, be divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode; and let the members be exhorted to attend the meetings of the same.

2. Two or more classes may meet at the same time and place, at their own option, and their leaders may alternate in conducting the exercises.

3. The pastor shall visit every class once a quarter, and report its condition to the Quarterly Conference; and let him hold general class-meetings as often as he shall find it expedient.

Ques. 2. Can any thing be done in order to make the class-meetings more profitable?

Ans. 1. Change improper leaders.

2. Let the leaders frequently meet each other's classes.

3. Let us observe which leaders are the most useful; and let these meet the other classes as often as possible.

III. LOVE-FEASTS

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning love-feasts?

Ans. 1. Love-feasts shall be held quarterly, or at such other times as the preacher in charge may consider expedient, with closed doors, to which, besides Church members, other serious persons may be admitted by him.

2. In conducting the love-feast, after singing and prayer, the preacher may make a short address, setting forth the nature and design of this institution; every one present then partakes of a little bread and water in token of brotherly love; the members then give brief details of their religious experience; and the meeting is closed with singing and prayer.

Ques. 2. How often shall we permit strangers to be present at our love-feasts?

Ans. Let them be admitted with the utmost caution; and the same person on no account above twice or thrice.