This exceptional work by J. W. McGarvey sets out in detail church governance at the local level; how pastors administrate their congregation, and how a good church should operate. At the time this book was first published in 1870, new churches were being regularly established on the frontiers of the expanding United States. Meanwhile growing populations in the established areas led to a demand for more churches. Knowing how to properly set up and maintain a church was difficult and mistakes were common; thus McGarvey authored these lectures, that readers might comprehend what the office of church eldership entails. The function of the church as a teaching authority, as an organizer of communities towards both common effort and a shared understanding, is discussed. Each chapter focuses upon a different aspect of church administration; how elders are to qualify themselves, arrange to meet, organize for events, and fulfill their duties to the community.