members gave one penny each week. Wesley appointed stewards to care for the chapels and the money. By 1744 the societies had multiplied to the point that Wesley decided to hold annual conferences for the leaders. In 1746 he divided the societies into circuits and appointed preachers to make the rounds of the circuits. A superintendent directed the affairs of each circuit.21 Lay preaching. John Wesley was disturbed when some of his Methodist laymen began to preach, and he asked them to stop. However,