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Hiotographk;

Sciences

CarporatiGn

23 WiST MAIN STRiei

WiBSTIR,N.Y. MSM

(71«)«72-4S03

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RULES

OF THE

WESLEYAN METHODIST

«»' ■ II ■>■

n I «i ii If I l i um

SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY

FOR THK

QUEBEC CIRCUIT.

IK UNIOS WITH THB BRITISH WESLKYAN M.THO-

DTST COKFERBNCE.

1«47.

.^, •

It. i

f . ■ ■*

J :'

■'%i^

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES

TO BE OMSCRVED IN THF MANAGEMENT OF WCSLCTAff
SABBATH SCHOOLS — ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE

OF 1827.

It Mras not poisible that this excellent Institution ooulJ
long exist without ex<'iting the attention, and calling
forth the energetic co-operation of the Meihodisis. Ac-
cordingly they have become gratuitous Sabbath instruc-
tors of thousands of the children or the poor, in various
parts of the nation and of the world ; and in order that
the greatest possible amount of good may be done in the
Methodist Sunday School*, the Conference have fre-
quently taken up the subject, and the following Minuses
of the Conference, beKun in M'^ncbester on Wednesday,
the &5th of July, 1827, contain the result of their delibe-
rations on that subject :

Q. What is the judgment of the Conference as to the
proper mode of condticting our numerous Sunday
Schools ?

A 1. In compliance with <* various urgent applioa-
tions from respectable friends, connected with Methodist
Sunday Schools, or desirous of establishine such Schools
in their respective neighbourhoods,*' it was last year de-
termined, not only ** to confirm and renew all our exist-
ing Rules and recommendations *' on the subject, (lor a
summary of which see Minutes of 1826, Q. 26, A* 1,)
but also to appoint a Sf>eoial Committee for the purpose
of preparing a general Plan fbr the management of these
innportant Institutions.

Z. That Committee, consisting of our late President,
(Mr. Watbon,) our Secretary, (Mr. Buntiko,) Mr.
Geo. Marsdbn, and Mr. Robert Newton, now re-
port to the Conference, that they met in Manchestef.
according to appointment, and after much deliberation,
and due attention to the communications addressed to
them fiom various quarters, unanimously ogreed to re*

«^

commend to die Conference the adoption of the follovr-
ing Pfinoiplei and Rules, viz : —

(l.> General Principles.

First Principle. — Sunday Schools should be shict*
ly and entirely Religious Institutions; and ought, there-
fore, to be Schools for the Christian Instruction and
Education of the poor ; — as it is only on this ground that
the occupation of the Lord's Day in tuition oan be held
to consist with the due obserration of the Christian Sab-
bath.

Second Principle —Schools designed for the reli-
gious Education of poor children ought to be conducted
in distinct and avowed connexion with some particular
branch of the visible Church of Christ : —

*(1.) Because the Pastor, and other official members
of a Christian Church, or Society, are not left at liberty
to commit the religious education of Me children of their
own poorer members to any persons except those for
whose charaster and principles they possess some ade-
quate security, and over whose modes of instruction
and discipline they have the means of exercising an effi-
cient influence and control. The children of members,
and those even of constant hearers in the congregation,
are, in an important sense, the children of the Churchy
and of that portion of it, especially, with which their
parents stand connected. Many of them have been by
holy baptism solemnly recogniied as among the objects
of pastoial charge, and as entitled to the care and spiri-
tual assistance of Christian paople. In all such cases, a
responsibility attaches to the Church and its Ministers,
which they cannot without blame transfer into other
hands, except under such circumstances as will allow
them still to observe and to direct , in all points of vital
importance, the mannei in which the trust is executed
by those to whom they confide it.

(2.) Because every Christian Church, or Society, is
not only obliged in duty to exert a proper control over
the religious education of its own youth, but has also a
deep and permanent interest in the results of that edu-

•■«

>^. ., ^- - iii i .» ^ ii ii Trr i i

of tho foil

OW'

"'<^ be St, id.
°"8''^ there.
t'uoiion and
' ground that
can be held
TisWan Sub-

'or the reli-
9 oondiioted
' parifcular

jj members
^ at liberty
'^ of their
>t those Tor
»ome ade-
nstruofion
K an effi.

onibers,

'•e«ation,

Ohurch,

I'ch their

been by

objects

d spiri-

ases, a
nisters,
other

allow
f vital

cuted

|ty. is

over

llso a

edu-

cation ; and is therefore requiied, in justice to itself, to
retain thoeo SunJay Schools, which are snppoited,
wholly or piincipally, by its contributions, its labours, or
Its inliuenco, under the supeiintendence and scripiuial
jurisdiction of il3 Pastors, and of its other regular auiho-
ritiest

(3.) Because, in reference to Children of every class
admitted into Sunday Schools, (whether their parents
be directly connected with any Christian Church or no,)
those who piously and liberally support such Institutions
have a clenr ri^^ht to receive a decisive pledge, in the
known Christian character and principles ot K\\e'\t lead-
ing Manageis, and in their connexion with some leli-
gious body whose creed is avowed before the world, and
whose right of supeiintendeuce is expressly recognized,
that the influence exerted by them upon the opinions
and habits of the rising generation, bhali be, as far as
human prudence can secure it, a sound and salutary
one.

(4.) BecsiWBe general experience seems now to have
decided in favour of the superior advantages of placing
every Sunday School under the care of some particular
religious community* which shall be responsibly to the
parents of the children educated in it, and to the public
who may choose to support it, for its sound principles
and good management liistructed by that experience,
almost every branch of the Christian Church, in this
country, has now its own Sunday Schools : — open in*
deed to all poor children who apply; but conducted
chiefly by its own members ; superintended by its own
Ministers, and other ecclesiastical officers ; governed
according to its own peculiar views of the Jundamental
doctrines and duties of Christianity ; and connected ge-
nerally with its own places of worship. Thus the la-
bour of religiously educating the poor is amicably divided,
and, for that reason, better performed. And sufficient
scope is left for the exercise of a truly Christian liberali-
ty, in the interchange of mutual good oflices, and m the
occasional aids afforded by the affluent of one Body to

''■t «

■^^1^

the funds of others ; while no temptation if in any ca«ie
lield out to the compromise of principle ; and the danger
of piacticnl collision or controversy, among peisons o(
iliffetent sentiments, is in a great measure precluded.

Third Principle.'— Sunday Schools should be most
conscientiously and anxiously so conducted, that they
may not interfere, further than an invincible necessity
may compel, with the primary and universal duties of
the Holy Sabbath, and, in paiticular, with the constant
attendance of Teachers and Children on the public wor*
■hip of God's house, at the hours most generally devoted
to that purpose, and best adapted to secure their edifica-
tion:—

(1.) Because one escential part of a truly Christian
education must ever consist in the formation of an early
n.nd Rxed habit o( reverence for the Christian Sabbath,
and of regard for the oidinances of the Christicn Sanc-
tuary.

(2.) Because those who act as Teachers in these
Schools, in common with all other persons, are under an
immutable obligation to attend with ret^ulaiity the pub-
lic means of grace, and to pay theii vows to God in the
presence of all his people. They actually need, for
themseKes, all the help and instruction provided for
them in the House of Gol ; frotn which, as experience
has often proved, they cannot he frequently nnd need-
lessly detained, even by the well-meant endeavour to
serve the souls of others, without great (lander of weak-
ening in theii own minds the proper tone of Christian
feeling, and of suffering (especially if they be young in
years and in religious profession) a spiritual loss, most
prejudicial in the issue to their piety, and to their gene-
ral usefulness in the Church of Christ.

Fourth Principle. — On the same ground of vigilant con-
cern for the best interests both of children and of their
Teachers, the bustle and the secularity of mere school
dmtiness should be as much as possible avoided in the
■management of Sunday Schools ; and the spiritual ob<
j'ects and character of the Institution sliould be so care-

's..

n any ca«>e
the danger
peisons of
ecinded.
Id bft most
tliat they
necessity
■^ duties of
10 constant
)ijblic wor-
ly devofed
eir edifica-

Christian
'f an early *
Sabbath,
»cn Sanc-

in these
' under an

the pub-
!od in the
need, for
I'ided for
(perience
ind need'
lavour ro
of weak-
-hrisiian
^oung In
ss, most
'ir geno-

lantcon-
of their
e school
I in the
tual ob<
so cate-

fiiily kept in mind, ao to legolate and control the whole
plan and process of Sabbath education.

In conformity with these Principles, the following
Outline of

(IL) General Rule$f

has been drawn up, with a direct reference to tbe cir-
cumstances 01 Methodist Sunday Schools, viz : —

1. Sunday Schools supported, wholly or principally,
by the contributions, labours, and influence of our Body,
and sanctioned by our Preachers, shall be denominated
JVesleyan Methodist Sunday Schools; — in order that
tl)e Connexion and the public may possess, in the very
name and title of the Institution, the means of ascertain-
ing the principles on which they profess to be conduct-
ed, and a pledge and security for the mainieoajnce of
those principles, under every change of local manage-
ment ; and in order, also, that parents* not connected
with our Societies and Congregations, who shall send
their children to our Schools, may be fully apprised of
the nature and tendency of the instruction and discipline
there administered.

2. The General Management of snch Schools shall be
entrusted to a Committee, consisting,

(I ) Of all the Travelling Preachers of the Circuit.

(2.; Of all the Officers of the School or Schools;
appointed as hereinafter mentioned.

(3.) Of twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty-four, or
thirty'six other persons, (the number being
determined according; to local circumstances,^
to be appointed by the Annual Meeting of tbe
subdoribers ; but of this number,*-*

One-fourth shall always be selected from those
Teachers in the Schools, who are also Mem-
bers of the Methodist Society :

One-Aa(^ shall be chosen from the general body of
Subscribers, being also Memiers of the Me-
thodist So iety ; — And

'•jr

« 8

• 't ■!

^ ' Th« remaining one-fourth shall be selected from
those respectable Members of out CongregO'

,1 ..i ■' tions, or other Subscribers, who, though not
of our Society, are believed to agree with us
in their general views of the great and leading
doctrines of Chiistianity.

3. The Superintendent Preacher of the Circuit, as the
chief Pastor of our Societies, and the official Represen-
tative of Methodism in the Circuit where he is station-
ed, shnW preside in all meetings of the Subscribers and
of the Committee, at which he may be present. In his
absence, his place shall be supplied by one of the other
Preachers ; or, if no Preacher be present, by some other
Officer of the Institution, appointed for that purpose by
the persons assembled. . ,

4. The Officers of these Institutions shall Le as fol-
low, viz : —

(1 ) A Treasurer and three Auditors ; to be an'
nnally appointed by the General Meeting of
the Subscribers.

(2.) One or more General Secretaries ; to be an-
nually appointed by the Committee.

(3.) Two or more General Visitors, (in addition to
the Ministers of the Circuit,) who shall fre-
quently inspect the Schools, and report to the
Committee the result of theii observations ; to
be appointed annually by the Committee.

^4.) Two or more Conductors or Local Superin-
tendenta and also one or more Local Secre-
taries, for each School ; to be annually ap-
pointed by the Committee.

N.B. The Officers of the Institution, for the time
being) (as well as the Circuit Preachers,) shall
be considered as having a right to attend and
vote at the Annual Meeting, in common with
the Subscribers at large.

5. All the Officers, with the exce|1tion of the Treasu-
rer and Auditors, shall be selected exclusively from the

•

cted from

■

^ongregO'

tiough not

9 with U8

d leading

Liit, as the

■iCf

lepresen-

s station*

ibers and

. In bis

the other

me other

rpose bjr

^e as fol-
io be an"
seting of

I be an-

dition to
all fre-

|rc to the

ions ; to
tee.

\uperin-
Secrc'

|11y ap-

le time
[,) shall
id and
\n with

[reaiu-
\m the

members of ihe Meiliodisi Society ; and, before their fi-
nal appointment, shall be proposed and approved in
the Leaders' Meeting of the Society to which each
School shall be attached, as persons deemed eligible, in
point oC general religious character, to be put in nomi-
nation at the Meeting by which the election is to be
made.

6. The Teachers shall be appointed by the Conduc-
tors 01 Local Superintendents of each School ; subject,
however, to the subsequent approbation ol the Commit-
tee, if, in any instance, they deem it necessary to inter-
pose theii authority. And no person shall be continued
in office as a Teacher, who shall at any time be declared
by the Committee, or by the Leaders* Meeting, ineli-
gible in point of general character, or of religious opi-
nions, to take a part in the Christian education of the
children placed under our care. In the selection of
Teachers for the elder classes, peculiar attention should
be paid to their Christian experience ; and those only
should ho so employed who are able to teach their pu-
pils, clearly and fully, *♦ what they must do to be sa-
ved."

7. As it is the great and primary object of Sunday
Schools to teach the children of the poor to read and un-
derstand the Holy Scriptures, with a view to their being
made '* wise unto salvation," the elementary books em-
ployed in the tuit'oneven of the younger scholars shall
be such as contain the largest portion of Scriptural in-
struction; and the Bible, or New Testament, shall be
regularly used every Sabbath Day by those classes which
aie faiiher advanced. ^ ,.- >

8. Catechetical Exercises shall form a regular part of
the system of our Schools. And, in order to prevent the
evih wh'ch might result from an unlimited private dis-
cretion in the selection of Catechisms, it is earnestly re*
commended that the Catechisms employed shall be
those compiled and published under the sanction of the
Conference, in which are ombodied the most important
portions of Mr. Wesley's instructions, of the Church of
England's Catechiim, of the Assembly's, and of Dr.

Watts*. For the (ame leaion, we recommend to our
Schools the uniform adoption, as soon as it can be trade
convenient, either of the large Hyrnn Book generally
used in our Chapels, or of the Me^,hodii>t Sunday School
Hymn Book lecenlly published.

9. Neither the art of Writings nor any other merely
secular branch of knowledge, shall he taught on the
Lord's Day. But we strongly recommend that Writing
and the elements ot Arithmetic shall be taught to tb9
elder Scholars, both male and female, on one or more
week-day evenings, as a reward for their regular attend-
ance and good conduct on the Sabbath.

10. Where Sunday School I<i6ram5 are instituted, no
book shall be on any account admitted, without the pre*
vious approbation of the Committee. The distribution
of Books shall take place, wherever it is practicable*
on some week-day evening, so as not to occasion, either
to the Librarian or the rea^iers, an unnecessary and in-
JHrious diversion of any portion of the Sabbath from em«
ployments directly spiritual. And we recommend, where
there are more Schools than one in the same town, tbo
plan of One Central Library, accessible at suitable
hours to those persons connected with each School, who
shall be duly furnished with tickets by their respective
Conductors or Local Superintendents, as likely in most
cases to be most judiciously managed, and to afford a
greater variety of suitable Books, and therefore much to
be preferred to the plan of separate Libraries for every
such School.

11. f^o Sales of Books, or of other articles used in
the Schools, shall, on any account, be suffered to take
place on the Lord's Day ; but suitable facilities for the
supply of the Scholars shall be afforded on week-day
evenings. ** The profaning the day of the Lord by
buying or selling,*' is a sin explicitly prohibited by
the standing ** Rules of the Methodist Society," and
ought not to be tolerated in any Methodist institution.

12. The Meetings of the Committee, for purposee of
ordinary business, shall not be held on the Lord's Day.
And the Teachers* Meetings, if unavoidably held en

'■> — '^r-^

lend to our
an le made
^ generally
'day School

'jer merely
hi on the
a* Writing
iht ro (ha
'o or more
'ar atfend-

"tuted, no
»t the pre-
istn'bution
acticable.
t>n, either

and in.
fVoni em-
d, wheie
'wn, tho

suitable
oo'> who
spectife
in most
afford a
nuoh to
r ©very

Jsed in
to take
for the
;k-day
rd by
3d by
"■n5
>n.

»• of
Day.
Id on

that d«iy, shall be fixed for such hours, as will not pre-
vent those who belong to our body from reguhrly
attending on our Public Worship, on our Society Meet-
ings, or at the administiation of the Lord's Supper.

13. Ail the Children of our Schools shall be trained
np in the habit of a legular and invariable attendance on
Public Worship, at least once on every Lord* 8 Day.
Wherever they can bo nccommodaied with room, we
strongly, and for many reasons, recommend their at-
tendance at the House of God with their Teachers, in
the Forenoon especially of every Sabbath ; and the elder
classes should be advised and encouraged to hear the
Word of God in the Evening also, wheie we have an
Evening Service. We earnestly entreat our Friends
who may be concerned in the future erection or enlarge-
ment of Chapels, to have this object in view, as one of
unspeakable importance to the interests of Religion and
of our country ; and to include in their plans the provi-
sion of lai^'e and convenient accommodation, not only
for the ^duU Poor, but for their Children also.

14. Where separate Buildings shall be erected for
Sunday* Schools, by the contributions or influence of our
Members and Friends, they shall be legally secured for
the purposes which they are intended to serve. And we
recommend, as the best general method of accomplish-
ing this object, that the Trustees of the nearest Chapel,
\n the Circuit to which the School may belong, shall also
be constituted the Trusteeit for the School, under suitable
provisions and regulations. This plan, without at nil
interfering with the internal management of the School
on the principles and rules above-mentioned, would
sufficiently connect our Schools with our Chapels ; and
would afford to Trustees of Chapels that safeguard
against possible injury to their tiust'Concerns, which
their pecuniary liabiliiies give them a just right to ex-
pect from their Christian Brethren of the same comniu-
nity.

15 To all Methodist Sunday Schools established in
their respective Circuits, on the prinoiples maintained in
this Plan, and governed, substantially and generally,

according to the preceding Rules and Regulationt, out
Preachers are directed to afford all [K>$sible countenance
and assistance ; — by occasionally visiting the Schools;
by giving counsel and advice to ihe Teachers, Parents,
and Children ; by earnestly lecommonding such Insti-
tutions to the prayers and to the pecuniary support of
our Societies and Congrenations ; and by so arranging
their Circuit Plans, as to adfoid themselves the opportu-
nity of attending at all the principal Meetings of tha
Committees and of ihe Subscribers.

,:*^i"j' :'i'\'

«:>•

III.

■riik:-.^'

(.'■ ■'^•t- ■■*<**- -*>'' ■*'

«?.<.^^

The Conference* having received the preceding
Report of their Committee, unanimou sly Resolve,

(1.) That the cordial thanks of the Conference are doe
to iVIessr?. Watson, Marsden, Newton, and Bunting, foe
the Plan which has now been read.

(2 ^ That the Conference entirely approve of the Ge-
neral Principles, respecting Sunday Schools, which
form the basis of that Plan, and which have, in sub*
stance, been repeatedly recognized in the Minutes of
former years.

(3.^ That the Conference also approve of the Oeneral
Rules and Recommendations conxained in the Plan now
tabmitted ; and adopt them, as expressive of those views
and sentiments in reference to the management of the
Methodist Sunday Schools, which they feel it their duty
as a Body of Christian Ministers to maintain, and by all
suitable means to promote among the People of their
charge.

(4.) That all JVeto Sunday Schools, which may
hereafter be established in our Connexion, and which
shall have the support and sanction of our Preachers,
or the aid of regular collections in our Chapels, shall be
established in confotmity to the Principles now explicit-
ly adopted by the Conference ; and that the Rules and
Recommendations heteln-hetoxe contained, (subject to
sQch modifications on minor points, not interfering
vnth the fundamental Principles of this Plan, as iur-

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ther eonsi(!eiBtion and experience may luggest, or as lo*
oal peculiarities may render necessary,) shall be consi-
dered as the Outline of that approved and authorised
system, by which all J\ew Institutions among us are to
be governed.

(5.) That the Conference also deem it tight and ex-
pedient, not to withhold the affectionate expression of
their most earnest hope and expectation, that the Mana-
gers or those Sunday Schools already existing, which
claim any relation to Methodism, and are carried on by
the labours and the influence of our People, or support-
ed in part by Collections made in our Chapels, (ii they
have not fully done it already,) will be induced to adopt,
as soon as possible j the leading Principles, and to walk
by the same general Rules.

RULES

or THI

WESLEYAN METHODIST

SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY

FOR THE QUEBEC OIROUIT

18-17.

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

The preflxedgeneiul princi[ les recommended bjr Con*
ferenoe, for adoption by all Sunday Sciiool Societiev, con*
nected with Wesleyan Methodism, shall form the [ er-
manent basis for the manau;ement of the Schools con-
nected with the Methodist Society in the Quebec Cir<
cult : and neither the annual meeting, nor the Commit-
tee shall have power to introduce any other regulations
than such as tend to biing the mAnagement of these
Schools into a more exact conformity with them.

1. Constitution.

That this Society shall consist of a Committee here-
after enumerated ; of subscribers of Ave shillings and
upwards per annum, and all teachers having held that
office one jrear.

2. Denomination.

•«

That this Society shall be denominated, ** The Wes-
leyan Methodist Sabbath School Society for the Que*

'* bee Circuit, in union with the Biiiish Wesleyan Me-

•* ihodist Conference.**

3. Annual Meeting.

A general meeting of the members of this Society
shall be held annually in January, the business of which
shall be as follows, viz :

1. To receive the Report of the Committee, and to
sanction its publication.

2. To appoint the Officers of the Institution, viz. — a
Treasurer and two Auditors for the ensuing year, and
also,

8. To choose a Committee from such clasps of persons,
and in such proportions, as are specified in Conference
Rule No. 2, to act in connection with the Itinerant
Preachers.

:^i^^^c^^^<:

17
4. Pzesldenta

See Confuience Rulo'No. 3.

6. Oommlttee. >- ^ .■< ■ ^

1. They shall meet on the second Wednesday eve-
ning in the months of March, June, September and De-
cember, and oftener if necessary; and five shall be
deemed competent to transact business.

2. They shall manage all the concerns of the Institti*
tion ; appoint the Officers of the Society, agreeably to
Conference Rule No. 4 and the 1st clause of No. 5, —
also the several Librarians; devise means for raising
pecuniary supplies from the public; provide Books and
other requisites for the use of the Schools ; shall be com-
petent to relinquish existing Schools or establish new
ones, as they may judge expedient, and shall exercise in
all respects a vigilant contiol over the Institution. «■•

6, Oen«val Secvetavy.

1. He shall attend all Meetings connected with the In-
stitution, to take Minutes of the proceedings.

2. He shall give due notice of the Periodical meetings
of the Committee and Teachers, and call extraordinary
meetings when necessary. . . • .. • <. -.' .

3. He shall purchase under the direction of the Com-
mittee, the Books, &c. &c, necessary for the use of the
Schools, and take charge of the same ; which requisites
shall in no case be distributed without a written order
or a personal application from the School Secretary.

7. Tveasiurer.

. » .■< '

He shall receive and keep a regular account of all
monies collected in support of the Society ; pay such
accounts only as are duly attested by the General Se-
cretary ; and furnish a statement of the Bounds of the So-
ciety to the Quarterly Committee Meetings, and an acr,
count current to be laiJ before the Annual Meeting. ;; '*

8. 0«neval Tisitovi.

See Conference Rule No, 4, Aiiicle lio, 3.

9. Supevintendents.

1. The Superintendents shall open and close the
Schools with singing and prayer, or depute Tend / . > o
officiate for them.

2. They shall appoint Teachers to Clas^us, udnnic
Cbildreo thereto, arrange the same, mairialn ou i, en-
force the rules, and direct and assist he ", * oheis in the
discharge of their duty.

8. In case of the expulsion of a ;.hild from the iJchool,
they shall report the same to the Weekly Visitors.

4. They shall acquaint all persons desirous of becom-
ing Teachers, with the rules of the School, and shall
obtain their signature to the effect thai they approve of,
and will conform to the same.

5. They shall read to their respective Schools, on the
first Sabhath in each month, the rules relatmg to the
children; and any others they may deem necessary.

6. They shall, if practicable, examine the School dur-
ing a portion of each Sabbath afternoon (or depute a
person to do so,) in the Catechism or Scripture Les-
son, which shall be taken up in alternate succession.

7. Prior to their relinquishment of office, they shall
give four weeks' notice to the General Secretary, that
the vacancy may be supplied. .

vv ;? > 10. Loc? ST<Ji«%taiie8.

1. The/ shall see tb ' v ; care .s taken of the
Books, &c., &c., in use .u uie Schools, and renew the
Class books when necessary.

2. They shall make any minutes that may be neces-
sary, under the direction of the Superintendent, as well
as insert in the Sunday Scholars* memorial, as they oc-
cu i any interesting circumstances connected with the
Schools.

.5. They shall make themselves generally acquainted

with the uWe of (he Schools, in order lo refv^ri the sBtne
to liio Comaiitfue when leqiiirecJ.

4. They shall be acconntabio to the Superintendent
for all Boo!<9, &o. , which ritnv cornea tto ttieir posseBsion
by virtue of ihoir oilier, and upon retirement thei^from
shall provide a list thcreor, which with the cot Atua,
shall be handed over to their Successor, and a i\ eipt
taken for the same

N.B Where a School is* so small as to require h t
little attention from a School Secretary, the Spt^rin
tendent will be expected to dischaigo the duties f the
office.

11. Librarian*

1. The Librarian shall cat so all Books to be cov(
if necessary, and maiked << Quebec Wesleyan Me v*
dist Sunday School Library ' ; he shall number
samo, to correspond with ihe Catalogue, and as far

in him lies, see that they are kept in good order a<.
repair. ,'■.< .v . ^ :

2. He shall keep an account with each Teacher, di^
lowing one Book for each Schohr in the Class, (or the
safety of which the Teacher sha be responsible.

3 Immediately after the openng of the School in the
afternoon, and when ready to issue Books, the Librarian
shall notify the Teachers, who shall exchange their
Books at the Library in the order of their Classes, com-
mencing with the two senior ones.

4. No Book issued from the Lib aiy sliail be allowed
to remain out longer than a fortnight, unless it be brought
in at the expiration of that period, for the purpose of
being re*entered.

5. Five minutes, and no more, shall be allowed to
each Teacher, for procuring Books.

6. No Scholar can obtain a Book from the Library, un-
less such Scholar has attended the School four Sabbaths
successively, and promises to continue to attend.

7. Persons having been scholais in any of our Schools,
and honourably discharged therefrom, shall be entitled

*MRii

i I

to the privilege of the Library, so long as they manifest
a conduct suitable to the instructions they received
therein.

8. Any Scholar having a Book fiom the Library, and
retaining it longer than a fortnight, shall be exclu-
ded the benefit one month : and if any Book is dama-
ged, the offender shall be excluded the benefit tbree
months.

9. Such Scholars as have not committed to memory,
according to their ability, either (he whole oi a portion of
the lesson given out on the preceding Sunday, shall not
be entitled to a book from the Library.

ii,'

12. TeacheM.

1. The Teachers shall be persons of suitable abilities
for the OflSce, and shall be also Members of the Me-
thodist Society, or regular hearers of the Methodist Minis-
try.

' 2. They shall be regular and punctual in their attend-
ance, and will be required to give religious instruction to
their respective Classes.

3. They shall not leave their Classes during School
hours, unless by permission of the Superintendent, nor
shall they be allowed to converse with persons visiting
the School ; the Superintendent being the person suppo-
sed to receive and attend to all visitors.

4. They shall be provided with Cla$>s Books, and will
be expected to record therein, the attendance of the
Children in their Classes, likewise insert the numbers of
the Library Books issued to their Scholars, and the num-
ber of verges of Scripture and answers of Catechism re-
peated by them.

5. They shall be responsible to the Librarian for all
Library Books issued to them, for the use of then res-
pective Classes, "'""-' "' 't

6. When Teachers are unable to attend to the duties
of their Classes, they shall bo required to give notice of
the same to the Superintendent, previous to the opening;
of the School : and in case of absence for three succes-

sive Sabbaths, without satisfactory cause being assign-
ed, such Teachers shall be considered as having with-
drawn.

7. When Teachers arrive after the opening of the
School, and their Classes have been given in charge to
others, it shall be competent for the Superintendent to
assign them any othei duty for the remainder of the Ser-
vice.

8. They shall regularly visit the absent Children of
their respective Classes, to enquire the cause of their
absence, and report the same to the Superintendent.

9. Any Teacher who may be desirous of removing
from one to another of our Schools, shall be allowed to
do so provided the proposed change be approved of by
the Superintendents concerned.

10. Previous to the resignation of office, every Teach-
er shall give to the Superintendent four weeks' no-
tice to that effect, in order that the vacancy may be sup-
plied.

13. Teachers' Meetings.

1. That all the Superintendents, Local Officers, and
Teachers of the different School;', shall meet together on
the third Monday Evening of each month, and shall col-
lectively form the ** Teachers' Meeting " provided for in
Conference Rule No. 12, seven of whom shall form a
quorum.

2. They shall meet together to converse on the state
and prospects of the Schools, and to contribute mutually
for each other's information and instruction, the result
of individual experience in methods of leaching, &c. and
to encourage each other to zeal and perseverance.

3. They shall annually appoint from among them-
selves, at the Monthly Meeting in January, one or more
Absentee Visitors, for each school.

14. Absentee Tisitoys.

1. They shall attend their respective schools every

Sabbath, and shall obtain, from the Local Secretaiy, a
list of all the absentees for the day, for the purpose of vi-
siting them at their respective homes, and shall report
to the Secietary on the following Sabbath.

19. ChUcbren.

1 Any child above the age of five yeais mav be ad-
mitted as a scholar, if such admission is agreeable to the
wishes of the parents or friends of the child.

2. The hours of attendance shall be fiom nine to ten
o'clock in the morning, and from two to four o'clock in
the afternoon, which hours every scholar must carefully
observe.

3. If a scholar be absent from his class for three Sab-
baths successivel/, without satisfactory reasons being
given, such neglect shall be accounted sufficient cause
for dismissal.

4. All Scholars who do not appear cleanly, or are
found guilty of lymg, swearing, pilfering, talking inde-
cently, oi otherwise misbeh'iving, after the Superintend-
ent has pointed out the evil of such conduct, shall be ex-
cluded fiom the school. . • i

5. In case of the removal of scholars from one school
to another, they must not bo admitted without a note
fiom the Superintendent of the School they have left ;
and in the event of their leaving the school altogether,
intimation to that effect must be given to the Superin-
tendent or to their Teachers, or the neglect will be an
objection to their re-admission.

6. The scholars shall not be allowed to talk to each
other during school hours, and when the school is closed,
they shall retire in an orderly manner, one class at a
time, as the Superintendent shall direct.

7. Such Scholars as have been expelled from the
school, shall not be re-admitted unless they acknowledge
their fault, and give evidence of reformation.

?11

23
BY-LAW. ^.

Each School shall hold a prayer meeting on ihe first
Sunday of every month, to commence at SJ, P. M., and
a General Quarterly Prayer Meeting shall be held in the
Upper Town School Room, on the first Sunday in each
of the months of January, April. July, and October, to
commence at three o'clock, P. M.

/-,