The Class Meeting as a Means of Grace

From the author: Of all the prudential regulations established by John Wesley for the unification and spiritual culture of his early Methodist societies none proved more effective in furthering the desired ends than the institution of the class-meeting. Nor has the effectiveness of this prudential means of grace been limited to the country where Methodism was born, or to the early period of its history. All historians of Methodism alike acknowledge the class-meeting to have been among the most potent factors contributing to the success of Methodist bodies in all countries down to the present time. In a very important degree they are the life of Methodist churches everywhere, and their tone and character are the measure of the church's spirituality and fruitfulness.
There are painful evidences, however, that this once effective aid to the accomplishment of the great end for which Methodism was originally raised up -- that of spreading scriptural holiness over the world -- is not now held in as high regard, even by the people calling themselves Methodists, as it should be; and there is evident danger, too, of its so far falling into disesteem and change of character as to become only the nominal representative of what it once was in reality. In many quarters it is already very far gone from the original type; in other localities it exists, if at all, in name and appearance only; and in some places, it has become altogether a thing of the past.
These are facts to be lamented by all lovers of Zion, since the decline of so valuable a means of grace and so effective an institution for increasing the church's fruitfulness is indicative of vital decay in the church at large as its occasion. There is certainly need of reformation in this matter at once. Restore the class-meetings of Methodism to what they once were, and the power and efficiency of Methodism in all its branches will be incalculably increased. In hope of contributing somewhat to the realization of this end, the following pages have been prepared, and are now given to the public.

This edition includes an Active Table of Contents.

Contents:
1. Preparation
2. Origin
3. Development
4. Objections
5. Benefits
6. Obligations
7. Decline
8. Revival
9. Pastors
10. Leaders
11. Problems
12. Methods
13. Mistakes
14. Ministries
15. Studies
16. Appeal