MINUTE BOOK OF THE WIRKSWORTH CLASSIS. 149 



have been most regularly and religiously observed by the Wirks- 

 worth Classis. It was held on the second Thursday of the 

 month, and is usually spoken of as the "Classicall fast," but 

 sometimes as the "monthly lecture." Its secondary title was 

 derived from the fact that part of the observances of the day 

 always consisted in two long sermons or lectures. The preachers 

 were chosen, and the place where the fast was to be held selected 

 at the previous meeting of the Classis. These monthly fasts, in 

 contradistinction to the meetings of the Classis, were held up and 

 down throughout the district. We find records of them being 

 held six times at Crich and Hognaston ; four times at Wirksworth ; 

 three times at Brassington and Pentrich ; twice at Ballidon, Bon- 

 sall, Carsington, Matlock, Thorpe, and South Winfield ; and once 

 at Atlow, Kirk Ireton, Parwich, and Tissington. 



The Moderator, or Chairman, of the Classical meeting was 

 chosen at the previous meeting. The selection seems to have 

 been chiefly based on age and experience. Of the different 

 ministers who thus officiated, according to this Minute Book, we 

 find that Mr. Coates (S. Winfield) acted as Moderator twenty-one 

 times, Mr. Watkinson (Kirk Ireton) nineteen, Mr. Shelmerdine 

 (Crich and Matlock) sixteen, Mr. Oldfield (Carsington) fifteen, 

 Mr. Porter (Pentrich) nine, Mr. Topham (Wirksworth) four, and 

 Mr. Pole (Bonsall) three times. 



Much enquiry, both public and private, has been made with 

 the view of ascertaining the existence of the Minute Books of any 

 other Classis in the kingdom, but so far without any result. With 

 the exception of the Manchester Classis Book, we believe this one 

 of Wirksworth to be the solitary survivor of its once numerous 

 fellows. Trifling and insignificant as it may seem in one light, it 

 is in another of the greatest interest, as it is an invaluable evidence 

 of the far larger extent to which Presbyterianism was organised in 

 England than has hitherto been generally believed. 



There seems to us no doubt that, hateful as the system must 

 have been to Churchmen in many of its aspects, that still it had 

 certain points of resemblance— such as that of ordination, already 

 commented upon, wherein a quasi-apostolic succession was 



