EDITOR'S PREFACE

WHEN George Stuart showed the manuscript of this little book to the Sunday School Editor, it occurred to the Editor that it might meet a distinct demand, which had been growing for years, for a brief course of lessons for Sunday school classes dealing with the history, organization, doctrines, and usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Such use of the material, however, would necessitate a certain amount of rearrangement and some additional paragraphs, since for obvious reasons special Sunday school courses are arranged in thirteen lessons to cover a full quarter's work. Brother Stuart readily agreed to the plan, and placed his material entirely at the disposal of the Sunday School Editor. The actual work of revision fell to the lot of the undersigned. It is only fair to Brother Stuart to say that in making thirteen chapters of approximately equal length some of his material has been moved from one chapter to another, some additions have been written for several of the chapters, and all of Chapter IX has been added. Those who know the racy style of George R. Stuart will promptly recognize these editorial interpolations.

This little book is true to its title, and the Sunday School Editors bespeak for it a wide circulation and careful study by hundreds of Sunday school classes.

E. HIGHTOWER,

Associate Sunday School Editor.

(7)

My friend, you have joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. You have made it the Church of your choice and your place of worship. The fact that you have joined the Church is evidence that you are interested in your own religious life and that of others.

This book has been placed in your hands to give you specific information in regard to the Church of your choice and the duties and responsibilities which you yourself have assumed.

(8)

G. R. S.

What Every Methodist Should

Know

CHAPTER I

THE CHURCH

Worship among the Patriarchs

a

IN the very infancy of the human race the worship of God was instituted (Gen. iv. 26), but there is no history of worship in detail until the days of the patriarchsAbraham, Isaac, Jacob, or Israel, and their descendants. Their history is found in the first five books of the Bible. These patriarchs worshiped God as individuals, families, and tribes. They had no churches or temples, set forms or ceremonies. On account of famine in their own country, this worshiping family was providentially led into Egypt and there became slaves in a rich heathen monarchy. In this servitude they developed into mighty race. God led them out of slavery, out of Egypt into Canaan, a land which he had promised to Abraham, their forefather. He selected Moses, one of the honorable sons of the family whom he had providentially trained, to lead them forth. While encamped in the wilderness at the foot of Mount Sinai, God called Moses to the top of the mountain, delivered unto him a code of moral laws, specific directions for an earthly tabernacle, a form of worship, and a series of offerings and ceremonies, according to which Moses organized the Church and set up worship in the tabernacle in the wilderness. This worship was continued until the nation was established in the land of promise. A permanent temple was finally built at Jerusalem, and the Jewish Church centered and worshiped there until the coming of Christ. The Old Testament is devoted chiefly to the history of this Jewish Church.

The Church of Christ

When Christ came into the world he called about him a group of disciples and delivered unto them the teachings of the gospel. After his death and resurrection one hundred and twenty whom he organized and taught met in an upper room in Jerusalem, according to his direction, and tarried until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples they went down into the streets of Jerusalem and preached the gospel to the anxious, listening throng. Thousands were converted. They formed themselves into an organization and began to teach and practice the doctrines of Jesus. They did not withdraw from the Jewish Church. Evidently the Jewish Church with certain modification became the model of the Christian Church.

Christ did not command his disciples to form a new Church. Mr. Wesley says: "It is true that there is not on record one single line or word from Jesus which prescribes a new Church as distinct from the Jewish Church. He lived in the Jewish Church himself. . . . Nor did his disciples understand that they were to step out of it and fashion another one. They, all of them, for more than twenty-five years lived in communion with the Jewish Church. Forty years after the ascension of their Master they were a Christian brotherhood only as a party in the original Jewish Church. It would seem to be the height of historical phantasy, therefore, to declare that the Christian Church was outlined and prescribed by the Lord Jesus Christ, understood to be so by his apostles, and taught by them to be so. A greater mistake can scarce be imagined."

They remained in the Church and observed its ordinances and rules, at the same time holding separate meetings of their own, over and above those of the Church. And so the early disciples still adhered to the temple services, though they had social and spiritual meetings of their own besides, till the Roman army destroyed the city, and the temple with it. Then they were forced to organ