ORIGIN

     While Methodist societies were organized by Mr. Wesley as early as 1739, it was not until 1742 that these societies were divided into classes with regularly appointed leaders, and that class-meetings, in the proper technical sense of the term, were instituted. Of the formation of his "United Societies," Mr. Wesley has left us the following account in his Journal:

     "In the latter end of the year 1739 eight or ten persons came to me in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired I would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come. That we might have more time for this great work, I appointed a day when they might all come together, which from thenceforward they did every Thursday in the evening. To these, and to as many more as desired to join with them (for the number increased daily), I gave those advices from time to time which I judged most needful for them, and we always concluded our meeting with prayer suited to their several necessities. This was the rise of the United Society, first in London, and then in other places."

     In January of this year the London society, which was really Moravian rather than Methodist, was composed of about sixty members. Three months later, according to Tyerman, "Wesley went to Bristol, where 'a few persons agreed to meet weekly, with the same intention as those in London;' and these were soon increased by 'several little societies which were already meeting in divers parts of the city,' amalgamating with them. About the same time similar societies were formed at Kingswood and at Bath. These religious communities grew and multiplied. At the beginning of 1742 the London society alone, after repeated siftings, numbered about eleven hundred members."

     From the foregoing account it will be seen that Mr. Wesley's "United Societies" partook largely the character of classes, and they appear elsewhere in the writings of their founder to have been designated at times by that name. The gatherings of their members for mutual religious instruction and helpfulness also partook in no small degree the character of class-meetings. The class, therefore, was the original idea -- the germ from which the whole organic life of Methodism was developed. As yet, however, there were neither classes nor class-meetings in the later technical sense of those terms, a fact which will presently appear.

     Hitherto Wesley and his brother had taken the full pastoral oversight of these various societies, but on the 15th of February, 1742, a very singular providence led to an alteration which Mr. Wesley had in no sense anticipated, and which was to prove of the utmost importance to Methodism, since from it sprang the system of class-meetings, which has ever been a unique feature, a sort of main stay, in all Methodist bodies. Mr. Wesley relates the occurrence as follows:

     "But as much as we [members of these societies] endeavored to watch over each other, we soon found some who did not live the gospel. I do not know that any hypocrites were crept in; for there was no temptation: but several grew cold, and gave way to the sins which had long easily beset them. We quickly perceived there were many ill consequences of suffering these to remain among us. It was dangerous to others, inasmuch as all sin is of an infectious nature. It laid a stumbling block in the way of others, and caused the truth to be evil spoken of.

     "We groaned under these inconveniences long, before a remedy could be found. The people were scattered so wide in all parts of the town, from Wapping to Westminster, that I could not easily see what the behavior of each person in his own neighborhood was: so that several disorderly walkers did much hurt before I was apprised of it.

     "At length, while we were thinking of quite another thing, we struck upon a method for which we have cause to bless God ever since. I was talking with several of the society in Bristol concerning the means of paying the debts there, when one [Captain Foy] stood up and said, 'Let every member of the society give a penny a week till all are paid.' Another answered, 'But some of them are poor, and cannot afford to do it.' 'Then,' said he, 'put eleven of the poorest with me; and if they can give anything, well: I will call on them weekly; and if they can give nothing, I will give for them as well as for myself. And each of you call on eleven of your neighbors weekly; receive what they give, and make up what is wanting.'"

     "It was done," says Wesley. "In a while some of these informed me, they found such and such an one did not live as he ought. It struck me immediately, 'This is the very thing; the very thing we have wanted so long.' I called together all the leaders of the classes (so we used to term them and their companies) and desired, that each would make a particular inquiry into the behavior of those whom he saw weekly. They did so. Many disorderly walkers were detected. Some turned from the evil of their ways. Some were put away from us. Many saw it with fear, and rejoiced unto God with reverence.

     "As soon as possible, the same method was used in London and all other places. Evil men were detected and reproved. They were borne with for a season. If they forsook their sins, we received them gladly; if they obstinately persisted therein, it was openly declared that they were not of us. The rest mourned and prayed for them, and yet rejoiced, that, as far as in us lay, the scandal was rolled away from the society."

     Wesley appointed as leaders of his classes "those in whom he could most confide;" and thus, after an existence of three years without them, the Methodist societies were divided into classes, in 1742. "This," says Wesley, "was the origin of our classes, for which I can never sufficiently praise God; the unspeakable usefulness of the institution having ever since been more and more manifest."