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.