him inscribed thus: ' You think that it is your duty to call sinners
A NOVEMBER CONFERENCE
1. Let him be recommended to us by the Assistant to whose Society he belongs. z. Let him read and carefully weigh the Conferences, and see whether he can agree to them or no.
3. Let him be received as a Probationer, by having a book given him inscribed thus:
' You think that it is your duty to call sinners to repentance.
Make full proof that God has called yon hereto, and we shall be glad to act in concert with you.'
4. Let him come to the next Conference, and after examination, fasting, and prayer, be received as a Helper, by having a book given to him inscribed thus:
'So long as you freely consent and earnestly endeavour to walk according to the following rules we shall rejoice to go on with you hand in hand.
We are, yours affectionately, 5. Let a new book be given at every Conference, and the former returned.
We presume that by 'the Conferences' the Doctrinal and the Disciplinary Minutes are meant, as they were the only printed collections of the Minutes in existence at that time.
It seems to have been Wesley's intention to revise these pamphlets, and to add to them year by year the new regulations of the Conference concerning doctrine and discipline.
That intention, if entertained, was not carried into effect.
The manner of ' receiving a new helper' has changed since that far-off time; but the delivery of the Summary of Methodist
Law and Discipline to newly ordained ministers, containing a well-known inscription, still serves to perpetuate an ancient and necessary custom.