Methodist Class Meetings The Story of American Methodism by frederick A. Norwood, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1974, pp. 129-131

One of the cardinal principles [of the Methodist church] was discipline. Membership in the societies in England and in the Methodist Episcopal Church in America was completely voluntary. That is, no one was ever forced to become a Methodist. Quite the contrary - a candidate had to prove himself worthy of membership. One of the most revealing questions to be found in the English Large Minutes and the American Discipline wa "How shall we prevent improper persons from insinuating themselves into the Society?" The answer at first emphasized the general rules and the issuing of "tickets" of membership. In the American church, the question introduced the section on the class meeting. The point is that from the beginning strong emphasis was placed on ther terms of membership…. …Always central was the idea of close personal fellowship which could be achieved only in a small group. This is where the class meeting comes in. If ever the society or local congregation became too unwieldy, at least in the small class meeting intimate community could be maintained. Ideally, no more than twelve would be together under a class leader to meet weekly for spiritual guidance, prayer, Bible study, individual witness, and discipline. Everyone would know, in close personal terms, everyone else. The class leader would be familiar with the personalities of each individual and his situation in life, including his family background and business relations. In the typical class, persons of different ages and stages would be together - old, young, men, women, beginners and those going on to perfection. Practice varied widely from place to place as to size and composition. Sometimes the sexes were separated, probably in carry-over from habits of worship. Maxwell Gaddis reported he was leader of "the female class" which met at William Neff's house. James B. Finley has recorded in his autobiography a poignant account of his first exposure to a Methodist class meeting. He went very unwillingly with his wife to visit one and shocked the members by his presence, being at the time so notorious a sinner. The time having arrived for meeting to commence, it was opened by singing and prayer. I conformed to the rules, for I never was wicked enough, devil though I was, in the estimation of the people, to persecute the righteous, or show my ill-breeding and vulgarity by disturbing a worshiping assembly, nor would I suffer any one else to do it where I was without correcting them. After several prayers, the leader - Mr. Sullivan - rose and said, "We are now going to hold our class meeting, and all those who have enjoyed this privilege twice or thrice will please retire, while those who have not and are desirous of being benefited by the exercises mya remain." I was anxious to be benefited, and being favorably impressed, thus far, with the exercises, concluded to remain. My wife also kept her seat. The members of the class eyed me very closely, and I could easily tell by their furtive glances that my room would be better than my company. The leader, as is customary on such occasions, opened the speaking exercises by relating a portion of his own experience, in wich he spoke feelingly of the goodness of God to his soul. After this he spoke to the rest in order, inquiring into their spiritual prosperity; addressing to them such language of instruction, encouragement, or reproof, as their spiritual states seemed to require. It was a time of profound and powerful feeling; every soul seemed to be engaged in the work of salvation. I was astonished beyond all expression. Instead of the ranting, incoherent declarations which I had been told they made on such occasions, I never heard more plain, simple, Scriptural, common-sense, yet eloquent views of Christian experience in my life. After all the members had been spoken to the leader came to me, and, in a courteous, Christian manner, inquired into my religious condition. {James B. Finley, Autobiography (1853), p. 178}

	Updated on Saturday, 01-Jul-2000 18:10:27 MDT