are capable of affording, it is essentially necessary that they should be connected as closely as possible with the Church of Christ; and that the School hours should be so arranged as not to interfere, more than is absolutely unavoidable, with the punctual attendance, both of teachers and children, on those ordinances of public worship which are appointed by God. The Conference, therefore, directs the re-publication of the following Minutes made in 1808, viz.

"1. Let all the Travelling Preachers, where Sunday Schools are established, be members of the Committees of those Schools which belong to us; and let the Superintendent preside in their meetings.

"2. As many of the children as can possibly be accommodated with room, ought invariably to attend our public worship, at least once on every Lord's Day." 1820.

III. WE cordially approve of the exertions of many of our people, in instructing the Children of the Poor in Sunday Schools; and we are desirous that such exertions should be continued, and that this system of instruction should become more general and extensive. At the same time, we strongly urge it on our friends who are engaged in that good work, to have respect, in an especial manner, to the spiritual good of the children. All the Managers and Teachers should consider the eternal salvation of the children as their grand object in those institutions; and should be careful that every part of the instruction given to them is such as may, through the blessing of God, lead them to the knowledge of the Saviour, and finally to eternal glory. We must also strongly urge the attendance of the children at public worship on the Lord's Day, in order that they may be trained up in a love of the regular ordinances

of God's house, which we consider as essential in the Christian Church.

1822.

IV. WE advise all our Friends mildly, but steadily, to discontinue the plan of teaching the art of Writing on the Lord's Day, to the Children of Sunday Schools, as one which has an injurious effect both on Teachers and Scholars; occupies a considerable portion of the Lord's Day, that. might be more profitably employed in catechetical and other religious instruction; and, being wholly secular in its direct object and tendency, is, in our judgment, an unjustifiable infringement of the sanctity of the Sabbath. (N. B. This Minute was passed by an unanimous Vote of the Confer ence.) 1823,

V. Q. VARIOUs urgent applications having been made from time to time, by respectable Friends connected with Methodist Sunday Schools, or desirous of establishing such Schools in their respective neighbourhoods, with a view to obtain the deliberate advice and opinion of the Conference as to the General Rules and Principles on which these Institutions may be best conducted ;-Can any further measures be now adopted, in order to satisfy the minds of our People on that subject?

A. 1. We agree fully to confirm and renew all our existing Rules and Recommendations in reference to our Sunday Schools; particularly as to the regular attendance of Teachers and Scholars on the public ordinances of God's House, the obligation of diligent catechetical instruction, the importance of caution in the selection of Officers and of Teachers, the duty of discountenancing the practice of teaching on the Lord's Day the art of writing, and the

necessity of recognizing, in all Methodist Schools, the Superintendent- Preacher, and his Colleagues in the Pastoral Office, as Members of the Managing Committees, and as ex-officio entitled to preside in their Meetings.

These

Rules all appear to result from the great and indispensable principle, that "Sunday Schools ought to be strictly and entirely Religious Institutions," and "should be connected as closely as possible with the Church of Christ." (See Minutes of Conference, Vol. V. p. 64, 147, 148, 346, 429.)

2. In order to meet the call, made from various quarters, for some further exposition of the views of the Conference, we now agree to appoint a Committee, who shall be instructed to prepare, in the course of the year, a general Outline of Rules and Recommendations for the Methodist Sunday Schools, throughout the Connexion; the object of which shall be, without entering into those minutiœ of mere school business, which are best left to the direction of Local Committees, to secure a practical attention to the general principles above specified. To this Outline, when sanctioned by the Conference, all new Schools, to be hereafter established in our Connexion, may reasonably be expected to conform. And it is hoped, that those Schools, already existing, which claim a relation to Methodism, and are supported in part by Collections made in our Chapels, will be induced, as speedily as possible, to adopt the same leading principles, and to walk by the same general rules.

3. The Conference take this opportunity of repeating their deep and steadfast conviction, that well-conducted Sunday Schools are of the greatest utility and importance, and deserve the zealous support of our Preachers and People. The Preachers, in particular, are directed to afford to the Methodist Sunday Schools, established in their respective Circuits, and managed in conformity to our

authorized principles, all possible countenance and assistance, by attending their Committees, by occasionally visiting the Schools, by giving counsel and advice to the Teachers, and by recommending the Institutions to the increasing liberality of our Societies and Congregations. Methodist Sunday Schools, wisely and scripturally regulated, constitute a highly interesting and beneficial department of that great Work which God has been pleased to confide to our pastoral care and ought therefore to command the attention, protection, and co-operation of every Methodist Preacher. 1826.

IV. THE TRACT SOCIETY.

I. THE distribution of Religious Tracts, having, in many instances, been followed by the most beneficial results, the Conference recommends it to the Preachers and to our people in general, to form Associations, in the different Circuits, for a regular and systematic circulation of Tracts, especially of those written by MR. WESLEY, in the way of loan and otherwise, as may be deemed expedient. 1821.

II. THE circulation of Religious Tracts has also, through the blessing of God, been productive of much good; and we cannot too strongly urge it on our people, wherever it is at all practicable, to adopt a regular plan of distribution,

by lending Tracts from house to house, and to endeavour in the most extensive manner to disseminate the knowledge of divine truth. The enemies of religion and of social order have been actively employed in spreading the poison of immorality and infidelity; and we are desirous that our friends, in every part of the kingdom, should zealously counteract the leaven of evil, by carrying the doctrines of the Gospel into all the habitations of ungodliness, and labouring to rescue from the dominion of darkness those who have been led captive by the devil at his will. If the Sermons of MR. WESLEY, and those Religious Tracts which are most weighty and impressive, be widely circulated, we have no doubt they will be the instruments of leading multitudes of souls to an eternity of happiness. 1822.

III. Q. WHAT is the judgment of the Conference relative to the Circulation of Religious Tracts?

A. We have heard with much satisfaction of the successful exertions of our Societies in various parts of the kingdom, in distributing religious Tracts, especially amongst those who are either destitute of the ordinary means of scriptural instruction, or neglect to improve those means; and in order that this plan of Christian benevolence and usefulness may be carried into more extensive operation, we resolve;

1. That a General Tract Committee shall be formed, consisting of the President and Secretary for the time being, five Preachers and five Gentlemen in London, and an equal number of each class in the Country; who shall correspond with the existing local Tract-Societies in our Connexion; assist them in procuring the most useful Tracts at the cheapest rate; and afford them such general information and help as may be in their power.