The offices of SOCIETY and POOR STEWARDS are in themselves wholly secular; but the importance of having also in them devout and spiritual men is apparent. They are prominent officers in religious societies. The seven Deacons of the church at Jerusalem, though chosen expressly to "serve tables," were eminently spiritual men, and on that account were set apart to their office. The Scripture-record concerning their appointment is: "The twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." (Acts vi. 2-4.) The Methodist Conference has followed the example of Christ's Apostles in this respect; and in its records it will be found that, from an early period, it has striven to separate, as much as possible," the temporal and spiritual concerns of the Society;" leaving the management of temporal affairs to officers regularly appointed, while "the spiritual concerns should be managed by the Preachers." All funds raised for the relief of the poor are disbursed by the PoorStewards, in the presence, and by the direction, of the Leaders'Meeting; all moneys contributed for the support of the ministry are disbursed by the Society and Circuit Stewards, under the control of the Quarterly-Meeting; all income from the pew-rents of chapels, and all contributions for their support, are in the hands of the Trustees ; all funds raised for Sabbath and week-day schools, and for all other benevolent and charitable institutions connected with Methodism, are under the management of their respective Committees; and the Connexional funds, such as are annually raised for the support of foreign Missions, Kingswood and Woodhouse-Grove Schools, the Theological Institution, &c., are all, without exception, intrusted to mixed Committees of Ministers and laymen, who are annually appointed according to established rule. The names of these several Committees, with the receipts and disbursements, properly audited, are regularly published in detail, and freely circulated among the subscribers and benefactors. It is true, the Ministers have publicly and privately to advocate the claims of these several funds, to attest the accuracy of the accounts of the various officers, and, as it is evident from the inspired epistles the Apostles did, to exercise a general superintendence over this, as over all affairs belonging to the church; but the entire financial department of Methodism is now, as much as practicable, committed to laymen, regularly appointed in the respective Meetings to which they belong : and by this arrangement its ministry is greatly relieved from secular embarrassments.

2. Another very important department of lay-agency in Methodism is that of the LOCAL PREACHERS. This name has been given to them because they are intended to confine their labours to the respective

localities in which they reside, and not to itinerate from Circuit to Circuit, as do the Ministers of the body. They are, in reality, layPreachers, without any pastoral charge, appointed simply to preach the word, and to exhort sinners to flee from the wrath to come. This very useful class of labourers was forced upon Mr. Wesley by circumstances against which he dared not contend, though greatly disposed, in the first instance, to do so. During the temporary absence of the Wesleys from the Society in London, a devoted and zealous young man, of the name of Thomas Maxfield, who had been converted to God under the preaching of Mr. John Wesley, at Bristol, and who possessed considerable gifts for public prayer, reading, and expounding the Scriptures, was appointed to assist the Society at the Foundery in its religious exercises, and there began to preach. Complaint of this irregularity was forwarded to Mr. Wesley in the country, and he hastened up to London with all possible speed to stop it. His mother perceived, on his return, the marks of dissatisfaction in his countenance, and inquired of him for the reasons. He answered, hurriedly, "Thomas Maxfield has turned Preacher, I find." She looked earnestly at him, and said, "John, you know what my sentiments have been. You cannot suspect me of favouring readily anything of this kind. But take care what you do with respect to that young man; for he is as surely called of God to preach as you are. Examine what have been the fruits of his preaching, and hear him also yourself." He took his mother's advice, and submitted to what he believed to be the order of God. After this, Mr. Wesley seems carefully to have inquired into the scriptural and ecclesiastical grounds for sanctioning and employing lay-Preachers; and, in his writings, you will find him, from time to time, sustaining and defending this class of Christian labourers from the assaults of prejudice and calumny. From that period to the present, Local Preachers have been employed in Methodism, according to its increasing necessities; and out of their ranks, where the gifts of preaching and expounding the word of God had been exercised and proved, have been taken, in late years, those who, after due trial, have been separated wholly to the Wesleyan ministry. It is now an established law of the Connexion, that a candidate for the ministry shall, before he is proposed for recommendation by the Quarterly-Meeting, have been some time a Local Preacher.

This part of the lay-agency of Methodism has very largely contributed to its support and extension, especially in the smaller towns and in villages. It has supplied to thousands and hundreds of thousands on the Sabbath-day, who would otherwise have been entirely destitute of it, the word of life; and though some Local Preachers have recently manifested feelings of ambition and jealousy, that have endangered with many the high character in which they were formerly held in the body, yet still there are, at home and abroad, tens of thousands of intelligent and zealous Local Preachers in Methodism,

who are labouring, humbly and efficiently, in their several Circuits, to support and extend the work of God, and who justly claim the grateful admiration of the church of Christ.

The Local Preachers of each Circuit meet with the Ministers once in the quarter, when inquiries are made into the conduct of each Local Preacher, especially respecting his attention to his appointed duties. That Meeting decides, by vote, upon the reception or rejection of proposed candidates; and has the power of removing from the Plan the name of any Local Preacher whom it deems unfit for continuance in that office. In cases of alleged immorality, or of such conduct as would, if proved, be likely to endanger a Local Preacher's continuance in Society, the charge is preferred against him in the Leaders'-Meeting. If not, it would be necessary to have two trials, and two decisions, in two separate Meetings, for the same offence. Besides, when an individual ceases to be a member of Society, he also ceases to be a Local Preacher; for it is a rule, which was passed in the year 1796, that no one shall preach as a Local Preacher who does not meet in class. But for every part of their official conduct, Local Preachers are responsible to their own Meeting.

There are other portions of the lay-agency of Methodism, such as Sabbath-school teaching, Tract distribution, and Visitation of the sick; but these, as the numerous officers and Committees of the great Missionary Society, will require a place in connexion with the institutions of Methodism, and must be noticed, in a future letter. But sufficient appears in the lay-agencies already named, to show that Wesleyan Methodism is framed for extensive activity and usefulness; and that, in these respects, it is calculated to unite, in the bonds of fraternal union and Christian fellowship, tribes and nations of human beings; and then to employ in the service of Christ, and for the extension of His cause, the varied gifts with which they have been endowed. It is this employment of its members in offices of usefulness, that gives to it the character so significantly described by the great and evermemorable Dr. Chalmers, as 66 Christianity in earnest." In no section of the church of Christ has the living activity of its members been more manifest for a hundred years, than it has been in Methodism. Whether it shall continue such as it has been, or sink down, like some other religious communities, into formality and decay, depends very much upon you, the young men of Methodism. To you, in a great measure, is committed, as a trust, this extensive and hitherto successful system of religious agency. Be careful to maintain it in its primitive purity and vigour, and it shall extend still farther and farther, until it encompass the earth with its Circuits and Districts, and overspread the world.

I am, yours for Christ's sake,

A WESLEYAN MINISTER.

THE DELEGATES' "ADDRESS TO PROTESTANT

EVANGELICAL CHURCHES."

"THE above document appears in nearly all the denominational Magazines for the present month. It will thus bring the controversy before the members of the Evangelical Churches of this country, and show them that the Reformers are struggling for the liberty with which Christ makes His people free."

So says the Editor of the "Wesleyan Times." And as we happen to know that the "Address" has been pretty freely circulated amongst our own people also, we think it our duty to notice it; that those persons who have read it may have an opportunity of knowing, that the parties from whom it professedly emanates are utterly unworthy of the confidence of the religious public, to whom they appeal.

We preface all our observations, however, by first remarking, that the very principle on which this "Address" proceeds is one whose recognition must endanger the liberties of all sections of the church; since it is an attempt to coerce, by the application of a foreign interference, the members of another religious community into a course which is not only at variance with their own convictions, but which would be utterly subversive of their well-understood usages, and their established constitution. We are certain that other churches would neither accept such interference, if proffered, nor tolerate it, if forced; but would express themselves as quite competent to take care of their own interests, and to manage their own affairs. And as Methodism has never yet presumed to meddle with other religious communities, we do not regard it as very probable that any church, in its collective or corporate capacity, will be induced to meddle with ours. If, however, any should make the attempt, we can assure them, that it will be in vain; since the Conference is too well satisfied of its own integrity, and of the wickedness of the attacks with which it has been assailed, to be induced, by remonstrance on the one hand, or defamation on the other, to depart from a course which was not entered upon without much and earnest prayer, and which will yet be sanctified by many blessings.

We cannot pretend to answer this "Address" formally; for it abounds in such misrepresentations of Methodist law, and in such wicked mis-statements of facts, that we consider the writers of it altogether disentitled to a reply. To give but one instance of these mis-statements, out of many that we might select. On page 6 of the "Address," it is asserted, that, at the last Conference, "several aged and highly-esteemed Ministers were also degraded and deprived of part of their income for asserting the right of private judgment; while one was expelled without being allowed to appear before his brethren, or even to defend himself in any way from the charges fabricated against him." The former part of this paragraph is a direct falsehood; and the latter part is a suppression of the truth, as the Minutes of Conference and Mr. Bromley's own letters will testify. It is not our

place to correct wicked inventions like these.

We leave them with Him who calls us to " approve ourselves as the Ministers of God, by evil report" as well as by "good report." But we maintain, that it is a gross and impudent imposture upon "Protestant Evangelical Churches," to solicit their sympathy and assistance by means of an Address,” which contains palpable and deliberate untruths. And it is only for the purpose of showing these churches what the Delegates are, who now appeal to them, that we subjoin the following state

ment.

In the "Address" it is declared, that there were disturbances in the Connexion shortly after Mr. Wesley's death; and that in 1795, and again in 1797, (before the greater part of the present race of Methodists were born,) "the people elected representatives," who entered into " a compact" with the Conference, which was "ratified by both parties." "One of the principal demands made in behalf of the people was, that Lay-Delegates should be incorporated with the Conference and the District-Committees." But this demand the Conference resisted; and after making certain arrangements and alterations, called in the "Address" "concessions," they signed and issued the following "Declaration :”

Whereas we, the undersigned, have on this and the preceding day, carefully revised the Rules drawn up and left us by our late venerable Father in the Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Wesley, which were published by him in our Large Minutes, to which we consented when we were admitted, and by which we were regulated during his life and whereas we have collected together those Rules which we believe to be essential to the existence of Methodism, as well as others to which we have no objection, we do now VOLUNTARILY and in GOOD FAITH sign our names, as approving of, and engaging to comply with, the aforesaid Collection of Rules, or Code of Laws, God being our Helper.

This document, dated "Leeds, August 1st, 1797," was addressed, "To the Members and Friends of the Methodist Societies." And the Delegates say respecting it, "The promulgation of this solemn covenant quickly restored peace and harmony; and no further disturbance with regard to general discipline occurred until the year 1827, when much confusion was occasioned by a dispute concerning the erection of an organ in Brunswick chapel, Leeds." So that, from 1797 to 1827, a period of thirty years, there was "no disturbance with regard to general discipline:" all was "peace and harmony." Then a disturbance did arise: but that it was neither very general nor very deep is plain; for we find that, in that same year, there was an increase, in Great Britain alone, of 7,955 members; and for several years afterwards, in succession, there was no declension whatever.

But, in 1835, an agitation took place through the establishment of a Theological Institution, with which other sections of the church were already favoured, and by which it was hoped that Methodism would be benefited. Dr. Warren and some others, however, contending that this was an uncalled-for innovation in Methodism, a very great stir