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Rules of the Band Societies, drawn up Dec. 25, 1738.

"The design of our meeting is, to obey that command of God, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.'

To this end, we intend,

"1. To meet once a week, at the least.

"To come punctually at the hour appointed, without some extraordinary reason.

"3. To begin (those of us who are present) exactly at the hour, with singing or prayer.

"4. To speak each of us in order, freely and plainly, the true state of our souls, with the faults we have committed in thought, word, or deed, and the temptations we have felt, since our last meeting.

"5. To end every meeting with prayer, suited to the state of each person present.

"6. To desire some person among us to speak his own state first, and then to ask the rest, in order, as many and as searching questions as may be, concerning their state, sins, and temptations.

"Some of the questious proposed to every one before he is admitted among us may be to this effect:— "1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins?

"2. Have you peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ?

"3. Have you the witness of God's Spirit with your spirit, that you are a child of God?

"4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart? "5. Has no sin, inward or outward, dominion over

you?

"6. Do you desire to be told your faults?

"7. Do you desire to be told all your faults, and that plain and home?

"8. Do you desire that every one of us should tell you, from time to time, whatsoever is in his heart concerning you?

"9. Consider! Do you desire we should tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear, concerning you?

"10. Do you desire that, in doing this we should come as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom?

"11. Is it your desire and design to be on this, and all other occasions, entirely open, so as to speak every thing that is in your heart without exception, without disguise, and without reserve?

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Any of the preceding questions may be asked as often as occasion offers; the four following at every meeting :

"1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?

"2. What temptations have you met with?

66 3. How were you delivered?

"4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?

"Directions given to the Band Societies, Dec. 25, 1744.

"You are supposed to have the faith that 'overcometh the world.' To you, therefore, it is not grievous,"I. Carefully to abstain from doing evil; in particular, "1. Neither to buy nor sell any thing at all on the Lord's day.

"2. To taste no spirituous liquor, no dram of any kind, unless prescribed by a physician.

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3. To be at a word both in buying and selling.

"4. To pawn nothing, no, not to save life.*

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5. Not to mention the fault of any behind his back, and to stop those short that do.

"6. To wear no needless ornaments, such as rings, earrings, necklaces, lace, ruffles.

"7. To use no needless self-indulgence, such as taking snuff or tobacco, unless prescribed by a physician. "II. Zealously to maintain good works; in particular, "1. To give alms of such things as you possess, and that to the uttermost of your power.

* In publishing this rule, Mr. Crowther adds the following note:"There was a fund at that time established to assist the poor, either by loan or donation, which accounts for the rigour of the rule."-Por. traiture of Methodism, p. 256.

"2. To reprove all that sin in your sight; and that in love and meekness of wisdom.

"3. To be patterns of diligence and frugality, of selfdenial, and taking up the cross daily.

"III. Constantly to attend on all the ordinances of God; in particular,

"1. To be at church and at the Lord's table every week, and at every public meeting of the bands.

"2. To attend the ministry of the word every morning, unless distance, business, or sickness prevent. "3. To use private prayer every day; and family prayer, if you are at the head of a family.

"4. To read the Scriptures, and meditate therein, at every vacant hour. And,

"5. To observe, as days of fasting or abstinence, all Fridays in the year."*

1791. The section was introduced, as now, by a definition of a band, namely,

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Two, three, or four true believers, who have full confidence in each other, form a band. Only it is to be observed, that in one of these bands all must be men, or all women; and all married, or all single."

The following was added to the questions at the close of the Rules, namely, " 5. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?" which was omitted in 1792. In Direction I, 6, "earrings" included among the needless ornaments.

Under the "Directions, &c.," I, 4, the rule is simply, "To pawn nothing," omitting the clause, "no, not to save life."

1792. In Question 11, the words, "every thing that is in your heart, without exception," are omitted.

Under the "Directions, &c.," that about "pawning" is omitted. The last under that head reads, "To use no needless self-indulgence," omitting the words "such as taking snuff or tobacco, unless prescribed by a phy

* In 1784, some directions were given, "how to encourage meeting in band." (See Quest. 19, p. 36.)

sician." Direction III, 1, was altered to the following: :- "To be at church, and at the Lord's table, and at every public meeting of the bands, at every opportunity." Direction III, 2, was omitted; and III, 4, (3) changed to the following:-"Frequently to read the Scriptures, and meditate thereon."

SECTION IV.

Of the Privileges granted to Serious Persons who are not of our Church.

The only material alterations in the Rules on this subject since 1784 (see Questions 11 and 12, p. 29) are the following:

1789. In the answer to the first question, the last two sentences struck out; and in the second, after "twice," was inserted 66 or thrice.”*

1808. The first question reads, "How often shall we permit those who are not of our society to meet in class or society?"

1816. The rule was made to refer only to meeting in class.

SECTION V.

Of Marriage.

The title in 1789 was, "On unlawful Marriages," which was changed for the present in 1804.

Quest. 1. Do we observe any evil which has prevailed in our church with respect to marriage?

There has been no material change in the answer to this question since 1784. (See Question 20, p. 37.) The question assumed its present form in 1796.

Quest 2. What can be done to discourage this?

The original provisions on the subject may be seen under Question 21, p. 37.

1804. The words, "put a stop to," in the question, were changed to "discourage ;" and the punish

* The rule had been thus in 1773. (See p. 10.)

ment for violating the rule was changed from expulsion to "putting back on trial for six months."

1836. The penalty was done away with, by striking out entirely Answers 2 and 3.

Quest. 3. Ought any woman to marry without the consent of her parents?

The original answer may be found under Question 22, p. 37. The alterations in it have been as follows:

1789. The last three words, "to marry her," were changed to "to be married to her."

1800. The words, "if a woman be under the necessity of marrying," were changed to, "if a woman believe it to be her duty to marry.'

1792. The following note was added :—

"N. B. By the word 'unawakened,' as used above, we mean one whom we could not in conscience admit into society." To this, in

1796, the following sentence was added :"We do not prohibit our people from marrying persons who are not of our society, provided such persons have the form, and are seeking the power, of godliness; but if they marry persons who do not come up to this description, we shall be obliged to purge our society of them; and even in a doubtful case the member of our society shall be put back upon trial."

1800. The definition of an "unawakened" per

son was omitted.

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1804. For "but if they marry persons who do not come up to this description, we shall be obliged to purge our society of them," it reads, put we are determined to discourage their marrying persons who do not come up to this description."

1836. The last clause, (1796,) "And even in a doubtful case the member shall be put back on trial," omitted.

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