shall then read a portion of scripture, on which three helpers in succession shall make remarks according to the following method: the strain of the first speaker shall be chiefly expository, that of the second experimental, and that of the third practical. Then the minister shall take up the subject; and, after such statements as he deems proper, apply the whole, concluding with a hymn, prayer, and the benediction. The passage for the next meeting is always to be intimated by the pastor at the close of the preceding one. The three speakers are, also, to be the helpers of each district in rotation; and if, on any occasion, an individual find that he cannot attend, he shall provide as a substitute one of the helpers of another district. The three helpers shall speak in the order of seniority; that is, the first in years shall take the exposition, the second the experience, and the third the practice. 7. With respect to time, this rule shall be rigidly observed: no speaker shall occupy more than fifteen minutes. From the first, and ever after, it shall be distinctly understood to be the duty of the president, when the time is expired, in some way to signify the same to the speaker. It would also be desirable to commence at seven o'clock in the evening, wherever it is practicable to collect the people. The whole length of the service should be carefully attended to; an hour and a half ought to be the general rule, and on none but extraordinary occasions should it exceed that period. 8. There shall likewise be a meeting for prayer every Sabbathmorning, at seven o'clock, to be continued an hour. One of the body of helpers, in rotation, shall, during the experimental period, preside in this meeting, and ever afterwards the helpers of the district in turn; and the persons to engage shall be chiefly those who are not among the number of the helpers, that the exercises may spread over as many as possible, and that gifts and graces may be cultivated. The presiding helper for the day shall read a portion of scripture and give out the hymns, in order to secure propriety as to length and selection; and three persons shall offer up prayer within the hour. 9. There shall be at the district station a library of one hundred well-chosen volumes, with a monthly supply of the best magazines, for the use of the members; and the hearers also, on paying two-pence a week, shall share in the privilege. When all the district stations are organized, there shall be as many libraries as stations, and such libraries shall itinerate the round of the stations, remaining at each the space of a year. A member of the church shall be appointed to take care of the books, and give them out in the usual manner. It is to be expressly understood, that every member shall use the library; and means shall be taken, as afterwards specified, to see that they profit by it. 10. There shall also be a well-stored tract depository at each station, the stock of which, after a year's service, shall itinerate the round of the stations along with the libraries. 11. The members of the district shall constitute a body of visitors and tract distributors. Every member, rich or poor, being a householder, shall receive monthly a proper supply for distribution; and they shall be taught to go about this labour of love with great zeal and great prudence. Each visitor must confine himself chiefly to his own immediate vicinity, and not take a larger district than can be properly managed. This must be carefully attended to, and means of a systematic character adopted to secure the regular occupation of the local territory. 12. The members of the district shall each subscribe at least one penny a week to the District Fund, for defraying the expense of the rent, fire, lighting, and cleaning of the room, as also of the Sundayschool, of the magazines for the library, and of other incidental matters. This subscription shall be paid to the helpers at the close of the weekly meetings, or at such other periods as may suit the convenience of parties. 13. When the system is brought into full operation at the Model Station, and the bulk of the church has become convinced of the importance of the measure, and begun to long for its general adoptionwhich may require a space of twelve months, more or less, according to circumstances-then there shall be a break-up, and a dispersion and settlement of the body of helpers among their several districts, in each of which a room, properly situated, is to be erected or procured, and fitted up in a manner equally adapted to public worship or to school instruction. It may now be presumed that they have acquired sufficient experience to proceed, under the general guidance of the pastor, after the example of the Model Station. 14. Of the trained helpers, now located in each district, the pastor shall choose one to be the chief or superintendent of the station, who shall act in all things as his assistant; and, as such, shall preside at the weekly meetings. The chief helper, or superintendent, shall also be the treasurer of the district, paying all expenses, and transferring the balance, if any, at the close of the year, to the deacons for the use of the poor. 15. The exercises shall be carried on at each district station after the same manner as they had been conducted, during the experimental period, at the Model Station; the chief helper shall act the pastor's part, and his colleagues in office shall take a principal share in the service; but the chief helper shall make it a point, by degrees, to bring forward proper persons among the ordinary brethren to participate in the exercises, that cultivation may spread, and the competent agency on the station be augmented as largely as possible. For a time it may be proper that both the common helpers should speak at every weekly meeting, that one of the members should offer the opening prayer, and that another should be the third speaker. As, however, the members improve, it may sometimes be right that only one common helper should speak, and that the ordinary members should conduct the rest of the service. When the system is fairly established, the chief helper shall form a list and a plan, under the pastor's direction, of all the persons who are accustomed to participate in the exercises, on the same principle as the Wesleyan Methodists' local preachers' plan. This step will prevent at once favouritism and confusion, and secure a fair distribution of the district employment. · 16. The nights of the weekly meeting at each station must be so shall then read a portion of scripture, on which three helpers in succession shall make remarks according to the following method: the strain of the first speaker shall be chiefly expository, that of the second experimental, and that of the third practical. Then the minister shall take up the subject; and, after such statements as he deems proper, apply the whole, concluding with a hymn, prayer, and the benediction. The passage for the next meeting is always to be intimated by the pastor at the close of the preceding one. The three speakers are, also, to be the helpers of each district in rotation; and if, on any occasion, an individual find that he cannot attend, he shall provide as a substitute one of the helpers of another district. The three helpers shall speak in the order of seniority; that is, the first in years shall take the exposition, the second the experience, and the third the practice. 7. With respect to time, this rule shall be rigidly observed: no speaker shall occupy more than fifteen minutes. From the first, and ever after, it shall be distinctly understood to be the duty of the president, when the time is expired, in some way to signify the same to the speaker. It would also be desirable to commence at seven o'clock in the evening, wherever it is practicable to collect the people. The whole length of the service should be carefully attended to; an hour and a half ought to be the general rule, and on none but extraordinary occasions should it exceed that period. 8. There shall likewise be a meeting for prayer every Sabbathmorning, at seven o'clock, to be continued an hour. One of the body of helpers, in rotation, shall, during the experimental period, preside in this meeting, and ever afterwards the helpers of the district in turn; and the persons to engage shall be chiefly those who are not among the number of the helpers, that the exercises may spread over as many as possible, and that gifts and graces may be cultivated. The presiding helper for the day shall read a portion of scripture and give out the hymns, in order to secure propriety as to length and selection; and persons shall offer up prayer within the hour. three 9. There shall be at the district station a library of one hundred well-chosen volumes, with a monthly supply of the best magazines, for the use of the members; and the hearers also, on paying two-pence a week, shall share in the privilege. When all the district stations are organized, there shall be as many libraries as stations, and such libraries shall itinerate the round of the stations, remaining at each the space of a year. A member of the church shall be appointed to take care of the books, and give them out in the usual manner. It is to be expressly understood, that every member shall use the library; and means shall be taken, as afterwards specified, to see that they profit by it. 10. There shall also be a well-stored tract depository at each station, the stock of which, after a year's service, shall itinerate the round of the stations along with the libraries. 11. The members of the district shall constitute a body of visitors and tract distributors. Every member, rich or poor, being a householder, shall receive monthly a proper supply for distribution; and they Lay Agency: the Prize Essays. A shall be taught to go about this labour of love with prudence. Each visitor must confine himself chiefly to file swara kan vicinity, and not take a larger district than can be propsey This must be carefully attended to, and means of a ajuda a má k adopted to secure the regular occupation of the land termory 12. The members of the district shall each suboats at Jeal penny a week to the District Fund, for detraying the exp rent, fire, lighting, and cleaning of the roomS school, of the magazines for the library, and ut utia wataan Tus subscription shall be paid to tus bogste at tos aig ge ki weeks meetmigs. or at such other periode as way muat bus suuri GE TRETCHES. 76 arranged as not to clash with the night of the weekly lecture at the chapel; the usual weekly Monday prayer-meeting will now be merged in the weekly meeting of the first or chapel district; but, on the first Monday of every month, there shall be a general special prayer-meeting at the chapel, for the spread of the gospel; and on that night there shall be no service at any other station. During the other weeks of the month, supposing the weekly lecture to be on Wednesday, the arrangements may stand thus:-There shall be on Monday, the meeting of the first and chief station, viz. that of the chapel; on Tuesday, that of the second station; on Thursday, those of the third and fourth stations; and on Friday, those of the fifth and sixth stations. 17. Every fourth weekly meeting at each station, henceforth to be called the Monthly Meeting, shall be specially set apart for prayer, and the business of the station. The first hour shall be occupied with devotion, and then, strangers retiring, business shall commence. pastor, as president, shall bring forward the several subjects in the following order : :- The First. Health.-The visitors shall report upon the cases of sick members, if any, during the month. Fresh cases of serious illness, if any, shall be announced, and persons nominated to visit them; but kind and tender attentions to sick members are not to be limited to such persons as are thus nominated. The members of the district generally, but especially those of nearest residence, are also expected, more or less, to visit afflicted brethren and sisters. Visitation, however, is not to be confined to the members, but shall extend to all in the district who are accustomed to receive tracts, and attend the services at the chapel and the stations. 'Second. Tracts.-The tracts which have been in circulation during the last month shall be exchanged, and reports made of any occurrences that may merit notice. With a view to stimulus, the pastor shall inquire whether any of the members have succeeded in the course of the month to obtain scholars to induce any of their neighbours to attend the meetings or to become subscribers to the library, and whether any case of usefulness has been discovered. Third. Library. The pastor shall next inquire of two or three of the members what books they have been reading in the course of the month; what was the scope and object of the authors; and like questions. It must not be known before-hand who is to be thus interrogated; and the questions are principally to be pressed upon teachers, catechists, expositors, and the younger portion of the members. " Fourth. Finances.-The helpers shall then settle and arrange their pecuniary affairs, and receive any arrears of weekly subscriptions which may have arisen during the month, at the close of which such matters must always be settled.'-Jethro, pp. 188--197. The second department comprehends the children,' the treatment of whom is to be regulated in the manner following. 1. The name, age, and residence of all the children of the members of every district respectively, shall be registered in a separate book, to be kept at the station for ready reference. |