Then shall the Minister request the Congregation to stand, while he repeats the following

DECLARATION:

DEARLY BELOVED: It is meet and right, as we learn from the Holy Scriptures, that houses erected for the public worship of God should be specially set apart and dedicated to religious uses. For such a dedication we are now assembled. With gratitude, therefore, to Almighty God, who has signally blessed His servants in their holy undertaking to erect this church, we dedicate it to His service, for the reading of the Holy Scriptures, the preaching of the Word of God, the administration of the holy sacraments, and for all other exercises of religious worship and service, according to the discipline and usages of the Methodist Church. And, as the dedication of the temple is vain without the solemn consecration of the worshippers also, I now call upon you all to dedicate yourselves anew to the service of God. To Him let our souls be dedicated, that they may be renewed after the image of Christ. To Him let our bodies be dedicated, that they may be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. To Him let our labors and business be dedicated, that their fruit may tend to the glory of His great name, and to the advancement of His kingdom. And that He may graciously accept this our solemn act, let us pray..

The Congregation kneeling, the Minister shall offer the following prayer:

O most glorious Lord, we acknowledge that we are not worthy to offer unto Thee anything belonging unto us; yet

we beseech Thee, in Thy great goodness, graciously to accept the dedication of this place to Thy service, and to prosper this the work of our hands; receive the prayers and intercession of all Thy servants who shall call upon Thee in this house; and give them grace to prepare their hearts to serve Thee with reverence and godly fear; affect them with an awful apprehension of Thy divine majesty, and a deep sense of their own unworthiness; that so approaching Thy sanctuary with lowliness and devotion, and coming before Thee with pure hearts, bodies undefiled, and minds sanctified, they may always perform a service acceptable to Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Regard, O Lord, the supplication of Thy servants, and grant that whosoever shall be dedicated to Thee in this house by baptism, may be found at last in the number of Thy faithful children. AMEN.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, may come to that holy ordinance with true repentance, faith, and charity; and being filled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction, may obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of His death. AMEN.

Grant, O Lord, that by Thy holy Word, read and preached in this place, and by the Holy Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the hearers thereof may perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may receive power to perform the same. AMEN.

Now therefore arise, O Lord, and come unto this place of Thy rest, Thou, and the ark of Thy strength. Let Thine eyes be open toward this house day and night; and let

Thine ears be attent to the prayers of Thy children, which they shall offer unto Thee in this place: and do Thou hear them from heaven, Thy dwelling place, and when Thou hearest, forgive. O Lord, we beseech Thee, that here and elsewhere Thy ministers may be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints rejoice in Thy salvation. And may we all, with Thy people everywhere, grow up into a holy temple in the Lord, and be at last received into the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be glory and praise, world without end. AMEN.

The services muy conclude with the Doxology and the Benediction.

APPENDIX I.

249

COURSES OF STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH.*

The following Curricula were adopted for the ensuing Quadrennium, to take effect after the Annual Conferences, 1891:I. ORDINARY COURSE.

1. English Branches :

English Grammar.

PRELIMINARY.

Composition, including Essay on subject designated by examiners at the time of examination.

Arithmetic.

Geography.

2. English Literature:

Brooke's Outlines of English Literature, and Selections from Macaulay's Essays, Warren Hastings (Ontario School Series). (One paper.)

3. History:

Smith's Shorter Histories of Greece and Rome (one paper).
Ontario Public School History of England and of Canada.
Smith's New Testament History.

4. Greek Grammar :

Harkness' First Greek Book, or Goodwin with White's Exercises, as far as Syntax, as may be determined by each Examining Board.

5. Theology:

Wesley's Sermons, I. to XX, (Burwash).

Methodist Catechism, No. II.

* A special Catalogue of Books on the Course of Study may be had on application to the Book Rooms at Toronto, Montreal or Halifax.

1. Biblical Introduction :

FIRST YEAR.

Barrow's Introduction, Parts I. and II.

2. Biblical History:—

Smith's Old Testament History.

3. Theology:-
:-

Wesley's Sermons, XX. to LII. (Burwash).

Fletcher's Check, V., and Steele's Antinomianism Revived

Harkness' First Greek Book, or Goodwin with White's Exercises, Syntax to end, as may be determined by each Examining Board.

5. English Literature:

Spencer on Style, and

Gray's Elegy, Longfellow's Psalm of Life and Resignation (one paper).

6. The English Bible :*—

Sermon on the Mount.

7. Homiletic Exercise. +

SECOND YEAR.

1. Hermeneutics:—

Barrow's Introduction, Part IV.

2. Exegesis:

Gospel of St. John in Greek, Chaps. I. to X.

3. Church History:

Blackburn's History of the Christian Church.

* Questions to be confined to the English Text.

Sketch of Sermon to be prepared on one of three texts designated by Examiner at the time of Examination. Value of sketch to be reported in the general standing.