''The Probationer's Catechism'', also called ''The Probationer's Handbook'', is a
catechism authored by
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
divine
S. Olin Garrison for probationary members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. In ...
seeking
full membership.
First published in 1883, it has been the most used probationer's manual in the
history of Methodism
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It was widely used in the thirty years since it was first printed, with over a half-million sold.
Several editions of ''The Probationer's Handbook'' have been released,
including those of "1885, 1887, 1896, 1904, and 1909." The period of probationary membership in Methodist
connexions normatively lasts six months.
As such, the text provides a "topic and resources for each of the six months for the prescribed probationary period."
''The Probationer's Catechism'' teaches Methodist history, doctrine and
polity; it includes the
Articles of Religion, General Rules, as well as
holiness standards on "amusements, dress marriage, temperance, and tobacco".
The
Baptismal Covenant,
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed (Latin: ''Symbolum Apostolorum'' or ''Symbolum Apostolicum''), sometimes titled the Apostolic Creed or the Symbol of the Apostles, is a Christian creed or "symbol of faith".
The creed most likely originated in 5th-century ...
,
General Confession,
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ ...
, as well as the rite for baptism, the rite for the reception of probationary members, and the rite for receiving probationers as full members are contained in ''The Probationer's Catechism'', along with a prayer of
consecration.
The book includes lectures that would be important to Methodist probationers, such as "Duty of Church Membership" by Bostwick Hawley.
References
{{reflist
External links
''The Probationer's Handbook'' by S. Olin Garrison (1887)
Catechisms
Methodist texts