JOHN BECOMES AN ESSAYIST. 2$? 



apostles of mutual instruction initiated, in a small hall in 

 the village, the first " class." The hall was an upper room, 

 to which access was obtained by an outside stair. It was 

 seated with forms without backs, and lighted with gas above 

 the fireplace, near to which the chairman sat, behind a 

 small table bearing writing materials and papers. The 

 founder occupied the chair, and, after a brief address, sub- 

 mitted to the meeting his draft of the proposed rules. 

 They were discussed seriatim, and adopted with some 

 alterations ; an essayist was appointed for the next 

 meeting; and thus the Mutual Instruction movement 

 began. The " class " became popular, and rapidly grew in 

 numbers and influence. 



The rules which guided the Rhynie class for many 

 years, and which formed the basis of the rules of most of 

 the Mutual Instruction societies, were similar to those of 

 all mutual improvement societies, with which, happily, the 

 world has since become more familiar the aim being 

 " the mutual instruction" of the members, by the reading 

 of essays and criticisms thereupon. One uncommon and 

 commendable regulation was the fine of a penny from each 

 member that came ten minutes late, "unless an excuse 

 satisfactory to the majority were given." 



About a month after the formation of the Rhynie class, 

 its founder submitted a scheme for planting such classes in 

 the districts around, and a sort of propaganda fide, under the 

 name of " The Corresponding Committee " of the class, 

 was constituted on January ist, 1847. This committee was 

 very active and successful in establishing societies, and its 

 visits to various centres were numerous and full of interest- 

 ing incident. 



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