LEADERS

     The office of class-leader is a unique feature of Methodist economy. It came into being as a natural product of the evolution of the class-meeting. There might have been such a thing as the class-meeting without the lay class-leader, but it would never have answered the purpose for which class-meetings are now maintained. By the employment of lay leaders the church's advantages for the spiritual oversight, discipline and edification of her membership have been greatly multiplied, and the results of preaching and pastoral service on the part of her regular ministers have been remarkably augmented and conserved. It is said that there are about thirty thousand class-leaders in the Methodist Episcopal Church alone. If this be correct, as it undoubtedly is, the total number of class-leaders in all the Methodisms of this country must aggregate in the neighborhood of fifty thousand. What an army of men to be weekly employed in supplementing the pulpit and pastoral labors of the regular ministers of American Methodism in the way of direct personal oversight of the church's entire membership, and with a view to building them up in holiness and in all that makes for faithful service and effectual witness-bearing!

     The office of class-leader is second in importance to that of the pastoral office only. In fact it is a sort of sub-pastorate. If the class-meeting is "the right arm of the church," the class-leader is the right arm of the pastor. Bishops Coke and Asbury, in their Notes on the Discipline of 1777, explicitly say, "Every leader is in some degree a gospel minister," and the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church have more recently designated the class-leader as a "sub-pastor." ^[1] The class-leaders are the Aarons and Hurs of Methodism, who hold up the prophets' hands while the battle rages and until victory turns on Zion's side. But for their wisdom, faithfulness and self-sacrifice many a siege would end in sad defeat, which, through their fidelity and helpfulness, issues in glorious victory for Christ and the Church. They have ever been, and henceforth must ever be in large degree, the makers of Methodism. Their watch-care and ministry over the entire membership of the church is ever more direct, constant and close than that of the chief pastors, even as the nurse's supervision of her patients in the hospital is more immediate, constant, and in some sense responsible than that of the staff physician or the specialist, as the case may be. "They watch for souls as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief" (Heb. 13:17). They are in an important sense overseers, teachers, guides, helpers, exhorters, comforters and defenders of "the flock of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." To them are applicable in no small degree the following words of Doddridge, with the term pastor's changed to leader's:

"'Tis not a cause of small import

The Leader's care demands.

But what might fill an angel's heart,

And filled a Savior's hands."

     From the time when class-meetings were first instituted until the present the function of the class-leader has been twofold:-- that of spiritual oversight and of collecting the weekly contributions of his members. While at one time investigating the affairs of the Dublin society Mr. Wesley had occasion to read to the leaders a paper on the nature of their office, a part of which was as follows: "That it may be more easily discerned whether the members of our societies are working out their own salvation, they are divided into little companies called classes. One person in each of these is styled the leader. It is his business, (1) to see each person in his class once a week; to inquire how their souls prosper; to advise, reprove, comfort or exhort them; (2) to receive what they are willing to give toward the expenses of the society; and (3) to meet the assistant ^[2] and the stewards once a, week," ^[3] the object of this latter meeting being, as we learn elsewhere, to give in reports as to amounts collected, and as to the spiritual condition of the members of their respective classes.

     This is a brief but comprehensive setting forth of the class-leader's duties. The conciseness and simplicity of the statement should not, however, occasion an underestimate of the magnitude of the class-leader's responsibilities. Had he nothing else to do than hold a class-meeting once a week and make and report the required collections, his work would by no means be unimportant; but these are the lesser responsibilities that rest upon him. The unremitting care of the souls entrusted to his immediate supervision; the constant watchfulness, solicitude, prayerfulness and self-denying effort required on his part, in order that he may strengthen the weak, encourage the desponding, confirm the wavering, comfort the sorrowing, restore the erring, discipline the offending, edify all, and, so far as in him lies, "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;" these are the things that press upon the true class-leader's heart by day and night as the weeks and months, and even years, go by. In course of time the pastors are changed, and lay off the burdens of the particular society which they serve; but, when the pastor goes, the leader stays; and, with each change of pastoral oversight, his burdens, instead of being lightened, are felt to press the heavier upon him. God bless the dear men (and women, too) whom the church has called to this responsible position, and who, in addition to their own domestic and business cares and responsibilities, abide year after year in this responsible and laborious service, discharging faithfully, patiently and effectively the duties it imposes upon them, and that with no hope of other reward than the joy of service here and the Master's "Well done" and "Come, ye blessed," hereafter.

     In the very nature of the case so exalted and responsible a work requires certain important qualifications on the part of those who would prosecute it successfully. Not every novice, or every warm-hearted and zealous Christian of mature experience in the church, is qualified for efficient service in this responsible sphere, and an unskilled and blundering class-leader, even with the best of intentions, is likely to do, not only his own class but the whole church, incalculable if not irreparable injury. Let not this fact dishearten any one whom the church may have called to the office of class-leader while inexperienced in the things of God and the church, since God has said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). If there be only a humble and teachable spirit, and a heart filled with the love of God and humanity, out of weakness God can develop strength, and out of apparently unpromising material He can develop "workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." There are, however, qualifications which all who are called to this responsible service in the church should have in some fair degree, in order to their efficiency, and which all may have in such degree as to render them helpful to the work of God, if they will but know their need and seek in God's way to have that need supplied. To some of these let us now turn attention.

     1. The class-leader should in all cases be a spiritual man. Here is a qualification within the reach of all. No one lives on a low spiritual plane from necessity. Walking with God is the privilege of all believers. Living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit are obligatory upon all. We not only may "be filled with the Spirit," but we are commanded to be so filled. We not only may but we must be holy." It is written, "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16); and again: "Follow peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14, R. V.). The chief object of the class-leader's work is that of building up believers in holiness. But how shall he build them up in an experience which he does not have himself? "If the blind lead the blind, shall they not both fall into the ditch?" It has been said that "He who comes from a garden of roses brings their perfume with him." Even so they who walk with God and commune with heaven carry about them a celestial aroma, a savor of the divine, by which men take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him. The class-leader's life should at all times emit this celestial fragrance, this savor of spirituality, in an eminent degree. It is not enough that he be a converted man, who has never backslidden, and who has steadily grown in grace; he ought to be a fully sanctified man, ever going in and out before his class "in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ," and, yearning for their perfection, and skillful in the word of righteousness, able to bring them "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Only he who walks with God and lives in daily communion with heaven can effectually compass so great a task as this.

     2. The class-leader should also be an intelligent man. This is not saying he ought to be an educated man, although a sanctified education would be a most desirable equipment for such a position. A leader should, however, be a man of at least average intelligence regarding things pertaining to his calling, and particularly regarding the Bible, religious experience, and the culture of the spiritual life. Nor are these qualifications beyond the reach of any upon whom the duties of leadership may be imposed. Though one may be keenly sensible of his deficiencies at the first, and it is probably better that he should be, if he has the right metal in him he can and will go to work, with such aids as he can command, to inform and prepare himself, as Dwight L. Moody did for his evangelistic work, and, in course of a few months, his profiting and development will be apparent to all, so that henceforth he will have no trouble to command the situation. It is not so much the lack of intelligence and preparation, after all, as it is indisposition to seek intelligence and preparation that indicates one's unfitness for the work of a class-leader. Not a few of the men most eminent in this sphere of service have begun with the most limited equipments. Through much prayerfulness, wise counsel, and patient reading and study they became master-workmen in every sense of the word. To others called to this work and feeling their unfitness for it we would say, "Go and do thou likewise."

     3. The class-leader should likewise be a judicious man. Many a man of fervent piety and of more than ordinary intelligence lacks sound judgment. He will oftener than otherwise do even right things at the wrong time and in the wrong way. He does not know human nature, and has no tact in managing men and women. He despises all diplomacy. He regards it as a solemn duty to be self-assertive, abrupt, severe and ruthless, especially toward those who may differ from him, He always rubs the wrong way, and thereby stirs up more devils than he can cast out or quiet down. He knows much about war, but nothing about the holy art of peace-making. He can effectually apply the scourge of law,' but knows not how to employ the wondrous lure of love. He can drive, but cannot draw. He can afflict, but cannot comfort, He can wound, but cannot heal. His heart may be warm, but his head is neither correspondingly clear nor cool. He means well, but does ill. He has laudable ends in view, but chooses the most unlikely ways and means to ,effect the realization of those ends. It is to be feared that his is a hopeless case, since, with respect to all these things, he fancies himself alone in the right, and all his brethren either defective in judgment or sinister and base in motive. Better by far a sensible woman or a judicious youth to lead a class than a man lacking in judgment, tact and versatility.

     4. The class-leader should be an optimistic and an enthusiastic man. Optimism is a disposition to look at the bright side of life, and enthusiasm is used in the sense of earnestness, ardor, fervency, zeal, for either a person or a cause, or for both. These are everywhere essential qualities of good leadership. Neither in politics, state-craft, war, commerce, industry, education, morals or religion do men who are lacking them rise to eminence as leaders of their fellow men, or as the educators of public opinion. Pessimism is as contagious as smallpox or yellow fever. One discouraged general can spread his own infection through a whole regiment, and turn what might have been a splendid victory into an inglorious retreat and a national disaster. Optimism and enthusiasm are also contagious. "Little Phil" Sheridan, riding as on the wings of the wind from "Winchester, twenty miles away," meets the retreating Union forces, and with hopeful countenance, waving hand and cheering voice inspires them all with his own optimistic and enthusiastic spirit, turns them back, and leads them on to an immortal conquest. Here is a lesson for class-leaders. Let them live on the bright side of life, cultivate a cheerful heart, a sunny countenance, an inspiring tone and an enthusiastic spirit and manner; let them live in the realm of praise, and always meet and dismiss their classes with benedictions and hallelujahs on their lips; let them everywhere exhibit and inspire courage, hopefulness and enthusiasm, and they will seldom want for a full class or mourn over dull meetings.

     5. The class-leader should be a laborious man. This is said more particularly with reference to the Lord's work, although it applies also to his general activities. As leader of his class he should both exhibit and inspire the working spirit. This of course means that he is to be deeply interested in all the work of the church, and in Christian work in general. As the "drill-master" of his class it is one of his important functions to train them for service. He can not do this except by going before them, and leading them into those fields where they are most needed and may serve to the best advantage. Were a leader to be the very personification of faithfulness in all that pertains to his obligations to the class, and then take little or no interest in getting to the weekly prayer-meetings, attending and helping in the special revival services, or with reference to the Sunday School, the home and foreign missionary work, and the various benevolences and temporalities of the church, he would very largely fail of answering the end of the class-leader's calling. No church of today can live and grow except it be in the most emphatic sense a working church; and in all Methodist churches a chief part of the responsibility for training the members to work, and for inspiring in them the working spirit, rests upon the class-leaders. They who fail to see and appreciate this, miss very largely both the end and opportunity of their calling.

     "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58).

1 The Class-Leader and His work, page 15.

2 By "assistant" Mr. Wesley meant the preacher in charge under himself.

3 Works, Vol. IV., pp. 117-118.