The Class-Leader's Manual; Or, an Essay on the Duties, Difficulties, Qualifications, Motives, and Encouragements of Class Leaders. to Which Is Prefixe

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 Excerpt: ...seems to be yet a desideratum among us. The poor are often among the most worthy of our members, and deserving of the highest consideration and esteem. But they are frequently lost to our Church, by an inexcusable negligence in attending to their wants; while a greater degree of care and liberality on the part of other denominations, less evangelical in many cases than our own, secures, not only their good will, but frequently their relation and influence as church-members. This observation, we apprehend, will hold good in reference to our Church generally; but its most lucid proof is to be found in many of our country charges, where a variety of conflicting interests exist, attaching to the different evangelical churches. It would be well for us, if we were, in all cases, equally active with our sister denominations, in this department of Christian benevolence. It is admitted that our ability is not always equal to theirs, and that we may exert ourselves in vain to compete with them in this respect; but with a proper system, we could do what might be necessary in behalf, at least, of our own members, and thereby save them to the Church, and acquit ourselves in the performance of an important duty. 4. There is another object closely allied to the foregoing, for which weekly collections in the classes are to be taken, and which is expected to receive the countenance and support of the leader. The preachers in charge are to appoint, in every class within their charges, a missionary collector, who shall keep a book, in which shall be enrolled the names of all the members of the class, and shall collect from each member, who may feel disposed so to contribute, at the rate of one cent per week, or fifty cents per year, (see Discipline, pp. 180, 181, )...