Wesley Corpus

To Thomas Carlill Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1779) Author: John Wesley --- [October 1779.] MY DEAR BROTHER, - An Assistant at the last Conference said, 'I will do as my predecessor has done. I will leave those as members that never met; they are as good members as I found them.' Whoever does this for the time to come I will exclude from our Connection without delay. To prevent this vile practice I desire you will (I) Take an exact plan of your circuit at Christmas, and send it me in January; and do the same every quarter. (2) If you live till August, leave for your successor an exact list of the Societies in your circuit. I desire likewise that at the next Quarterly Meeting you would change at least one of the stewards in every Society where there are two. One thing more I desire, that you would read the proposals for the General Hymn-Book in every Society and procure as many subscribers as you can. By your diligence and exactness in these particulars I shall judge whether you are qualified to act as an Assistant or not. - I am Your affectionate friend and brother. Pray send me word in January how many subscribers you have procured in your circuit. Mr. Carlill, At Mr. Roberts', Tiverton, Devon.