Excerpt from An Essay on the Local or Lay Ministry: As Exercised in the Wesleyan and Other Branches of the Methodist FamilyFrom the earliest period in the history of mankind, whether in barbarous or civilised states, the disposition has prevailed to accomplish all great enterprises, possessing a common interest, by the united agency of organized associa tions. In the first eras of the world, the principle of combi nation exerted a powerful inuence over man, however rude and uncultivated the state of society in which he was found to exist 5 an inuence which, whilst it embodied the main Spring of power, frequently gave an impulse to the exercise of that power which affected for good or evil the varied interests of the social economy. That this disposition has kept pace with the advance of civilisation, may be taken as a general proof of the favour with which it has been received. In this country, institutions are Spread over every part of its surface embracing every variety of object, possessing every element of power, combining every degree of energy, and affording scope for the development and exercise of the vast resources of diversified talent which give to this nation its acknowledged pre - eminence over other civilised states.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work.

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