It was the practice in the nineteenth century for the Wesleyan Conference to recognize its itinerant ministers, when they had served a period of ‘on trial,’ by issuing them with an inscribed copy of ‘Minutes of several conversations between the Rev John Wesley AM and the preachers in connexion with him, including the form of discipline.’ It formed a template of guidance, with for example the contents including among other subjects, the office and duty of ministers, the peculiar business of a superintendent and on preaching where we can form no society.
The inscription is typical of those seen with the key statement ‘as long as you freely consent to and earnestly endeavour to walk by these rules we shall rejoice to acknowledge you as a fellow labourer.’ Signed in this case by the president and secretary of Conference Charles Prest and John Farrar respectively, dated Cambourne 6 August 1862.
David Leese