I think that brethren of, or coming to, the gathering to break bread, ought not to bring in friends with them, unless received by the gathering to break bread on such occasion as known members of the body of Christ.
There is no fixed age as to children. Grown up boys had better sit back; those under their father's wing had better sit with them; they are as part of themselves, being under their immediate care: there is order, not disorder in this—it would be far greater otherwise. It is when under the personal care of the parents, this should be so. Girls remain longer under the eye of the mother, hence may remain with her till older. The point is their being still not independent persons, but directly under parental care. In a school a number of elder girls may very well sit together behind; and little ones who are quasi under parental care, with the mistress or governess if she breaks bread. The school as a body of grown girls, does not exactly take the place 'of members of a family dependent on the parents' or a delegated authority. It is mischief and disorder to leave young children by themselves behind.
London,
August 14th, 1877.