My views of the way of life were by this time greatly enlightened; I had also thoroughly informed myself relative to the drift and tenor of Methodism. Under a deep persuasion that the truth and power of scriptural piety prevailed among its professors, I joined their Society in January, 1828; and trust never to be found without its pale, till mortality is exchanged for life. Many persons are aware, and every one who intends becoming a member ought to know, that there are constantly held certain social weekly assemblies, entitled Class-meetings, an entrance to one of which constitutes the beginning of membership. These are of first-rate importance. The conversations thus taking place under the direction of a leader, who is so named on account of his supposed superior religious experience and stability, tend, beyond any other plan ever formed, to keep alive a sense of spiritual things during the busy seasons of secular engagement; beside which, the general effect of these meetings in reference to the Society at large, operates as a bond of union, so strong and indissoluble, that wherever the members are found, and let the outward circumstances be what they may under which they meet, they have, in reference to spiritual things and the mode of establishing their general worship, an immediate understanding. By the aid of this uniformity 245in opinion and belief, if a Class were composed one half of London members and the other half of Cherokee Indians it would not, in a religious view, make the smallest difference. They would be sure to understand one another; for their pursuits are exactly the same. They walk by the same rule, they mind the same thing, and endeavour by one and the same simple process to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.