Robert W. Woodruff
Library
J. Coan Collection
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Special Collections & Archives
15he
Doctrines a.rvd Discipline
OF THE
.frica.rv Methodist Episcopa.1 Church
ablished by order of the General Conference Held in
Chicago, Illinois, May, 1904
BY REV. J. H. COLLETT, D.D.
COMPILED BY
3ENJAA\IN F. LEE, ABRAHAM GRANT, WESLEY J.
GAINES, J. ALBERT JOHNSON, LEWIS H.
REYNOLDS, D. P. ROBERTS, C, V. ROMAN.
Twenty-third R^evised Edition..
PHILADELPHIA.
A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN, 631 PINE STREET..
I9°5
COPYRIGHT, 1905
By J. H. COIXETT
For the Book Concern of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church
HISTORICAL PREFACE
To the Members of the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church.
Beloved Brethren :
We deem it necessary to prefix to our Book of
Discipline a brief statement of our rise and prog¬
ress, which we hope will be satisfactory, and con-
ducive to your growth and edification in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Novem¬
ber, 1787, the colored people belonging to the
Methodist Society of Philadelphia convened to¬
gether, in order to take into consideration the
evils under which they labored, arising from the
unkind treatment of their white brethren, who
considered them a nuisance in the house of wor¬
ship, and even pulled them off their knees, while
in the act of prayer, and ordered them to the
back seats. For these, and various <5ther acts of
unchristian conduct, they considered it their duty
to devise a plan in order to build a house of their
own, to worship God under their own
vine and fig tree. In this undertaking they
met with great opposition from an elder of the
Methodist Church, [J. M'C.] who threatened that
if they did not give up the building, erase their
names from1 the subscription paper, and make ac¬
knowledgments for having attempted such a thing,
that in three months they should all be publicly ex¬
pelled from the Methodist Society. Not consider-
i
ii
HISTORICAL PREFACE.
ing themselves bound to obey this injunction, and
being fully satisfied that they would be treated
without mercy, they sent in their resignations.
Being now as outcasts, they had to seek for
friends where they could; and the Lord put it into
the hearts of Dr. Benjamin Rush, Mr. R. Ralston,
and other respectable citizens, to interpose for
them, both by advice and assistance in getting
their building finished. Bishop White also aided
them and ordained one from among themselves,
after the order of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
to be their pastor.
In 1793 the number of the serious people of
color having increased, they were of different
opinions respecting the mode of religious wor¬
ship ; and, as many felt a strong partiality for that
adopted by the Methodists, Richard Allen with
the advice of some of his brethren proposed erect¬
ing a place of worship on his own ground and at
his own expense, as an African Methodist meet¬
ing-house. As soon as the preachers of the Meth¬
odist Church in Philadephia came to the knowl¬
edge of this, they opposed it with all their might,
insisting that the house should be made over to the
Conference or they would publish them in the
newspapers as imposing on the public, as they were
not Methodists. However, the building went on,
and, when finished, they invited Francis Asbury,
then Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
to open the house for divine service, which invita¬
tion he accepted, and the house was named Bethel.
(See Gen. 28: 19.)
It was now proposed by the resident elder,
(J. M'C.) that they should have the church in¬
corporated, that they might receive any donation
or legacy, as well as enj oy any other advantages
arising therefrom; this was agreed to; and in
HISTORICAL PREFACE.
iii
order to save expense, the elder proposed drawing
it up for them. But they soon found that he had
done it in such a manner as entirely deprived them
of the liberty they expected to enjoy; so that, by
this stratagem, they were again brought into bond¬
age by the Methodist preachers.
In this situation they experienced grievances too
numerous to mention. At one time the elder,
(J. S.) demanded the keys of the house, with the
books and papers belonging thereto; telling them
at other times they should have no more meetings
without his leave, and that the house was not
theirs, but belonged to the Methodist Conference.
Finding themselves thus embarrassed, they con¬
sulted a lawyer, who informed them that by means
of a supplement they could be delivered from the
grievances under which they labored. The con¬
gregation unanimously agreed to sign the petition
for a supplement, which the Legislature of Penn¬
sylvania readily granted; and they were liberated
from the difficulties which they had experienced
for many years. They now hoped to be free from
any other perplexity; but they soon found that
their proceedings exasperated their opponents. In
order to accommodate matters, they proposed
supplying them with preaching if they would give
six hundred dollars per year to the Methodist So¬
ciety. The congregation not consenting, they fell
to four hundred dollars but the people were not
willing to give more than two hundred dollars per
year. For this sum they were to preach for them
twice a week during the year. But it proved to be
only six or seven times a year, and sometimes by
such preachers as were not acceptable to the
Bethel people, and not in much esteem among the
Methodists as preachers. The Bethel people being
dissatisfied with such conduct, induced the trustees
iv
HISTORICAL PREFACE.
to pass a resolution to give but one hundred dol¬
lars per year to the Methodist preachers. When a
quarterly payment of the last sum was tendered, it
was refused and sent back, insisting on the two
hundred dollars, or they would preach no more
for them. At this time they pressed strongly to
have the supplement repealed; this they could not
comply with.
They then waited on Bishop Asbury, and pro¬
posed taking a preacher to themselves, and sup¬
porting him in boarding and salary, provided he
would attend to the duties of the Church, such as
visiting the sick, burying the dead, baptizing, and
administering the sacrament. The Bishop ob¬
served, "He did not think that there was more
than one preacher belonging to the Conference
that would attend to these duties, and that was
Richard Allen."
The Bishop was then informed that they would
pay a preacher four or five hundred dollars a year,
if he would attend to all the duties of their church
that they should expect: he replied, "We will not
serve you on such terms."
Shortly after this an elder (S. R.) then in Phila¬
delphia, declared, that unless they would repeal
the supplement, neither he, nor any of the Meth¬
odist preachers, traveling or local, would preach
any more for them; so they were left to them¬
selves. At length the preachers and stewards be¬
longing to the Academy* proposed serving them
on the same terms that they had offered to the St.
George'st preachers; and they preached for them
better than twelve months, and then demanded
one hundred and fifty dollars per year. This not
being complied with, they declined preaching for
them, and they were once more left to them¬
selves, as an edict was passed by the elder, that if
HISTORICAL PREFACE. V
any local preacher served them he should be ex¬
pelled from the Connection. John Emery, the elder
of the Academy, published a circular letter in
which they were disowned by the Methodists. A
house was also fitted up, not far from Bethel, and
an invitation given to all who desired to be Meth¬
odists, to resort thither; but being disappointed in
this plan Robert R. Roberts, the resident elder, of
St. George's charge, came to Bethel, and insisted
on preaching to them and taking the spiritual
charge, for they were Methodists. He was told
he should come on some terms with the trustees,
his answer was that he did not come to consult with
Richard Allen, nor the Trustees, but to inform the
congregation, that on next Sabbath day he would
come and take the charge; they told him he could
not preach for them under existing circumstances.
However, at the appointed time he came; but hav¬
ing taken previous advice, they had their preacher
in the pulpit when he came, and the house was so
fixed that he could not get more than half way
to the pulpit. Finding himself disappointed, he
appealed to those whc< came with him, as wit¬
nesses, that "That man," meaning the preacher,
"had taken his appointment."
♦The Academy Church now known as the Union,
is still standing, and is situated on Fourth Street
between Market and Arch, a most flourishing con¬
gregation.
tSt. George's was then a mission post of the
M. E. Church, situated on Fourth Street below
Vine, Philadelphia. It is now a flourshing con¬
gregation.
Several respectable white citizens, [who knew
the colored people had been ill-used] were present
and told them not to fear, for they would see them
vi
HISTORICAL PREFACE.
righted, and not suffer Roberts to preach in a for¬
cible manner, after which Roberts went away.
The next elder stationed at Philadelphia, was
Robert Birch ,who, following the example of his
predecessor, came and published a meeting for
himself, but the aforementioned method was
adopted, and he had to go away disappointed. In
consequence of this, he applied to the Supreme
Court for a writ of Mandamus, to know why the
pulpit was denied him, being an elder. This
brought on a lawsuit, which ended in favor of
Bethel. Thus, by the providence of God, they
were delivered from a long, distressing and ex¬
pensive suit, which could not be resumed, being
determined by the Supreme Court; for this mercy
they were unfeignedly thankful.
About this time the colored people in Balti¬
more and other places, were treated in a similar
manner as those in Philadelphia, who, rather than
go to law, were compelled to seek places of wor¬
ship for themselves. This induced the people of
Philadelphia to call a general convention in April,
1816, to form a connection; delegates appointed to
represent different churches met those of Philadel¬
phia, and taking into consideration their grievances,
and in order to secure their privileges and promote
union among themselves, it was
Resolved, "That the people of Philadelphia, Bal¬
timore, and all other places who should unite
with them, should become one body, under the
name and style of the 'African Methodist Episco¬
pal Church.'"
We believe that it was the design of a gracious
Providence, in thus uniting us, to mark out a way
by which the despised African race might have
an opportunity of receiving from their own breth¬
ren that religious instruction from which they
HISTORICAL PREFACE.
vii
have been kept by persons claiming to be their
superiors, and thereby privileged to sit under their
own vine and fig tree; and though opposed by the
prejudices of the times, persecuted by the tongue
of calumny, and buffeted by the great adversary
of God and man, we have had the happiness of
seeing the pleasure of the Lord prospering in our
hands, to whom we appeal for our good conscience
in Jesus Christ. The work of God has spread,
through our instrumentality, from Philadelphia
throughout the entire United States, and into Can¬
ada, the West Indies, South America and Africa.
We esteem it our duty and privilege, most
earnestly to recommend to our Church, our form
of Discipline, revised and improved, which has
been founded on the experience of a long series of
years.
We wish to see this little publication in the
houses of all our members; and the more so as it
contains the articles of religion, more or less main¬
tained, in part or in whole, by every Reformed
Church in the world. ,
Far from wishing you to be ignorant of our doc¬
trines, or any part of our Discipline, we desire
you to read, mark, and inwardly digest the whole.
You ought, next to the word of God, to procure
the canons of the Church to which you belong.
We remain your affectionate brethren and pas¬
tors, who labor night and day, both in public and
private, for your good.
HENRY M. TURNER,
WESLEY J. GAINES,
BENJAMIN W. ARNETT,
BENJAMIN T. TANNER,
ABRAHAM GRANT,
BENJAMIN F. LEE,
MOSES B. SALTER,
Vlii HISTORICAL PREFACE.
JAMES A. HANDY,
WILLIAM B. DERRICK,
EVANS TYREE,
CHARLES S. SMITH,
CORNELIUS T. SHAFFER.
LEVI J. COPPIN,
Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church.
CONTENTS. ix
PART I.
Episcopacy and Doctrines.
Chapter Page
I. EPISCOPACY 3—8
II. ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 9— 20
III. THE CATECHISM ON
FAITH 21—49'
IV. THE GENERAL RULES OF
THE UNITED SOCIETIES 50— 55
V. BAND SOCIETIES 56— 59
VI. WORSHIP 60— 61
VII. CLASSES AND LEADERS.. 62— 63
VIII. MATRIMONIAL RELA¬
TIONS 64— 65
Marriage 64
Divorce 65
PART II.*
Rites and Ceremonies.
Chapter Page
I. ORDINATION OF DEA¬
CONS • 68— 73
II. ORDINATION OF ELDERS 74— 87
III. ORDINATION OF BISH¬
OPS 8&- 99
IV. BAPTISMS 100—HI
Infant
Adults 105
X
CONTENTS.
V. RECEIVING MEMBERS
INTO CHURCH 112—116
Probationers 112
Full members 112
By certificate 116
VI. THE LORD'S SUPPER 117—126
VII. SOLEMNIZATION OF
MATRIMONY 127—133
VIII. BURIAL SERVICE 134—137
IX. LAYING CORNER STONES 138—146
X. DEDICATION OF
CHURCHES 147—156
PART III.
Lay Helpers, Local Preachers and General
Officers.
Chapter Page
I. LAY HELPERS 159—160
Deaconesses 159
Exhorters 160
II. LOCAL PREACHERS 161—165
Candidates Examined .... 161
Licenses granted 162
Ordained preachers in local
relations 163
From other denominations 164
Preachers 165
III. GENERAL OFFICERS 166—167
Official responsibility 166
Ecclesiastical responsibility 166
Restrictions 167
CONTENTS. XI
PART IV.
The Ministry.
Chapter Page
I. PREACHER'S PERSONAL
LIFE AND DUTIES 170—179
Special means of grace 170
Preaching 173
Visitation 175
Causes of spiritual poverty 179
II. OFFICIAL DUTIES OF
PASTORS 180—185
III. PREACHERS IN ANNUAL
CONFERENCE 186—192
Admitted on trial 186
To full connection 187
Rules of a preacher 190
Conduct in Conference 192
The Itinerancy 193
IV. DEACONS 193—194
V. ELDERS 195
VI. PRESIDING ELDERS 196—198
VII. BISHOPS 198—202
Election 198
Filling vacancies \. 199
Duties 199
PART V.
The Conferences.
pter Page
I. GENERAL CONFERENCE. 205—212
Composition 205
Delegates 205
xil CONTENTS.
Election rules 206
Sessions 208
Commission 208
Extra Sessions 210
Restrictions 211
Expenses 212
II. THE ANNUAL CONFER¬
ENCES 213-218
Composition 213
Sessions 213
Organization 214
III. THE DISTRICT CONFER¬
ENCE 219—222
Composition 21Q
Sessions 220
Organization 220
Business 220
Expenses 222
IV. QUARTERLY CONFER¬
ENCES 222—227
Composition 222
Sessions 223
Procedure 223
Miscellaneous 227
V. THE OFFICIAL BOARD.... 228-231
Composition 228
Sessions 228
Business 229
Restrictions 231
VI. THE CHURCH CONFER¬
ENCE 231—233
CONTENTS.
xiii
PART VI.
Judicial Directions.
Chapter Page
I. TRIAL OF BISHOPS 236—237
The intervening 236
Decision 236
Episcopal Committee 237
Determination 237
II. TRIAL OF ITINERANT
PREACHERS 238—240
Presiding Elders 238
Elders, deacons and preach¬
ers 23Q
Order of trial 239
Decision 240
General Officers 240
III. TRIAL OF LOCAL
PREACHERS 241—242
Examination 241
The case 241
Condemnation 242
IV. CAUSES FOR IMPEACH¬
MENT 243—245
Dealing in liquors 243
Mal-administration 243
Heresy and schism 243
Unacceptability 244
Neglect of appointments.. 245
Interference 245
V. MINISTERS' DEBTS 246-248
Complaint 246
Examination 246
Arbitration 247
Omissions 247
Provisos 248
xiv CONTENTS.
VI. TRIAL OF LAY MEMBERS. 248—252
Arraignment 248
Verdict 249
Insubordination 249
Sowing dissension 250
Wilful neglect 250
Improper conduct 251
Spirituous liquors ... 252
Frauds and insolvencies... 252
VII. DEBTS AND ARBITRA¬
TION 253—255
Disputes 253
Decision 254
Arbitration 254
Debts 254
Expelled and withdrawn... 255
VIII. ORDER OF APPEALS 256—258
The trials 256
The Court 256
Appellants 257
Proceedings 257
PART VII.
Conference Boundaries and Episcopal Districts.
Chapter Page
I. CONFERENCE BOUND¬
ARIES 261—273
II. EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS... 274—275
CONTENTS.
XV
PART VIII.
Missionary Societies.
Chapter Page
I. PARENT HOME AND FOR¬
EIGN 278—286
Preamble and Constitution 278
Title 278
Objects 278
Membership 279
Managers 279
Secretary 280
Auxiliaries 281
Missionary Committee ... 281
Collection and appropria¬
tion 282
Composition 285
Sessions and Officers 285
Conference Board 286
II. CONSTITUTION OF LO¬
CAL, HOME AND FOR¬
EIGN MISSIONARY SO¬
CIETIES 287—289
III. PARENT WOMEN'S MITE
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.. 290—292
Management 290
Officers 290
Meetings 291
Convention 292
THE ANNUAL CON¬
FERENCE W. M. M.
SOCIETY 293
LOCAL W. M. M. SOCI¬
ETY 294—295
2
xvi
CONTENTS.
IV. THE WOMEN'S HOME
AND FOREIGN MIS¬
SIONARY SOCIETY 296—301
Constitution 296
AUXILIARY SOCIETY
CONSTITUTION 302—308
PART IX.
Departments.
Chapter Page
I. THE PUBLISHING DE¬
PARTMENT 311—316
Location 311
Management 311
The Board 312
Vacancies 3*3
Books sent 314
Publications 315
THE REVIEW 3^5
Southern Recorder 316
Western Recorder 316
South African Recorder... 316
II. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL
UNION_ 317—326
Organization 317
Constitution 317
Constitution for Sunday-
schools 323
III. THE EDUCATIONAL IN¬
TERESTS 327—337
General Board 327
Corresponding Secretary.. 329
Executive Board 330
Conference Board 330
CONTENTS. ~ XVli
Districts 332
District Secretary 332
Establishing of schools.... 333
Annual appropriations ... 335
Sources of funds 336
Application of funds 337
IV. THE CHURCH EXTEN¬
SION 338—347
Preamble 338
Constitution 339
Responsibility of Confer¬
ences 347
Donation Fund 347
V. THE ALLEN ENDEAVOR
LEAGUE 348—353
CONSTITUTION 348
Associate members 352
Conventions 352
Conference Superintendent 352
Finances 353
PART X.
Temporal Economy.
pter .Page
I FINANCIAL DEPART¬
MENT '356—369
Dollar Money Law as
amended, 1904 356
Duties of Secretary 357
Board of Managers 358
Dollar Money at Confer¬
ence 360
xviii
CONTENTS.
Division of the Dollar
Money 362
Support of Bishops 363
Support of General Officers 364
Superannuated preachers.. 365
Protection of General Fund 370
II. SUPPORT OF ITINERANT
PREACHERS 370—371
Presiding Elder's salary... 370
Support of pastors 371
III. CONNECTIONAL PREACH¬
ERS' AID ASSOCIATION 372—381
Address • • • • 372
Condition of membership.. 374
Incorporation 377
IV. ARTICLES OF INCORPO¬
RATION OF THE A. M. E.
CHURCH 382—384
V. CHURCH PROPERTY 385—39*
VI. TRUSTEES OF CHURCH
PROPERTY 392—395
Number 392
Qualifications 392
Election 393
Chairman 393
Duties 394
Improvements 394
Reports 393
Expulsion 395
Decorum 395
VII. CHURCH STEWARDS 396-398
Appointment of 396
Duties 396
Accountability 397
Stewardesses 398
VIII. SPECIAL DECLARATION.. 399-403
Apostolic succession 399
CONTENTS.
xix
PART XI.
Appendix.
Chapter Page
I. COURSE OF STUDIES 406—414
II. SPECIFIC EXAMINATION 415—421
III. RECOMMENDATION TO
STUDENTS 422—424
IV. THE PRIMITIVE RULE OF
GIVING FOR BENEVO¬
LENT PURPOSES 42S—428
V. THE GENERAL CONFER¬
ENCE RULES 429—436
VI. IMPORTANT ACTS OF
GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF 1900 437
Committee on Incorpora¬
tion of the Connection... 437
PART I-
EPISCOPACY AND DOCTRINES.
I. Episcopacy.
II. Articles of Religion.
III. The Catechism.
IV. The General Rules.
V. Band Societies.
VI. Worship.
VII. Classes and Leaders.
VIII. Matrimonial Relations.
CHAPTER I.
EPISCOPACY.
The preachers and members of our
Church having become a distinct body of
people, by reason of separation from our
brethren of the Methodist Episcopal Church
found it necessary at their first General
Conference in April, 1816, to elect one from
their own body, who was adequate to be set
apart in holy orders, to superintend the
connection that was then formed. The Rev.
Richard Allen, being seventeen years an
ordained preacher, by the Rev Bishop As-
bury, of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
was unanimously elected to fill that office;
and on the nth day of April, 1816, the
said Rev. Richard Allen was solemnly set
apart for the Episcopal office, by prayer
and the imposition of the hands of five
regularly ordained ministers, one of whom,
Absalom Jones, was a priest of the Protes¬
tant Episcopal Church; who was then, and
continued in good standing under the Dio¬
cese of the Right Rev. Bishop White, of
Pennsylvania; at which time the General
Conference, in Philadelphia did unani¬
mously receive the said Richard Allen as
their Bishop, being fully satisfied with the
3
4
EPISCOPACY.
validity of his Episcopal ordination.
The General Conference sitting in Phila¬
delphia, Pa., May 1828, elected the Rev¬
erend Morris Brown, an elder for twelve
years, and May 25th, 1828, Morris Brown
was solemnly set apart by Bishop Richard
Allen and five elders.
The General Conference sitting in Phila¬
delphia, Pa., May, 1836, elected the Rever¬
end Edward Waters, an elder for many
years; and May 15th, 1836, Edward Waters
was solemnly set apart by Bishop Morris
Brown and five elders.
The General Conference sitting in Pitts¬
burg, Pennsylvania, May, 1844, elected the
Reverend Wm. Paul Quinn, an elder for
many years; and May 19th, 1844, William
Paul Quinn was solemnly set apart by
Bishop Morris Brown and five elders.
The General Conference sitting in New
York, N. Y., May, 1852, elected the Rev¬
erend Willis Nazery and the Reverend
Daniel Alexander Payne, elders many years;
and May 13th, 1852, Willis Nazery and
Daniel Alexander Payne were solemnly
set apart by Bishop William Paul Quinn and
five elders.
The General Conference sitting in Phila¬
delphia, Pa., May, 1864, elected the Rev¬
erend Alexander Washington Wayman and
EPISCOPACY.
5
the Reverend Jabez Pitt Campbell, many
years elders; and May 23rd, 1865, Alexan¬
der Washington Wayman and Jabez Pitt
Campbell were solemnly set apart by Bishop
William Paul Quinn and five elders.
The General Conference sitting in Wash¬
ington, D. C., May, 1868, elected the Rev¬
erend James Alexander Shorter, the Rev¬
erend Thomas Myers Decatur Ward, and
the Reverend John Miflin Brown, many
years elders; and May 25, 1868, James
Alexander Shorter, Thomas Myers Decatur
Ward, and John Miflin Brown, were sol¬
emnly set apart by Bishops William Paul
Quinn, Daniel Alexander Payne, Alexander
Washington Wayman, Jabez Pitt Camp¬
bell and several elders.
The General Conference sitting in St.
Louis, Mo., May, 1880, elected the Rever¬
end Henry McNeal Turner, the Reverend
William Fisher Dickerson and the Rever¬
end Richard Harvey Cain, many years el¬
ders; and May 20th, 1880, Henry McNeal
Turner, William Fisher Dickerson and
Richard Harvey Cain were solemnly set
apart by Bishops Daniel Alexander Payne,
Alexander Washington Wayman, Jabez Pitt
Campbell, James Alexander Shorter, Thom_
as Myers Decatur Ward, John Miflin Brown
and several elders.
6
EriSCOPACY.
The Reverend Richard Randolph Disney,
having been elected to the office of Bishop
and solemnly set apart by Bishop Alexander
Washington Wayman and several elders in
the B. M. E. Church, November 21st, 1875;
on the consummation of the union between
the A. M. E. Church and the B. M. E.
Church, 1884, he was received into our
Episcopacy.
The General Conference sitting in In¬
dianapolis, Indiana, May, 1888, elected the
Reverend Wesley John Gaines, the Rev¬
erend Benjamin William Arnett, the Rev¬
erend Benjamin Tucker Tanner and the
Reverend Abraham Grant, many years el¬
ders; and May 24, 1888, Wesley John
Gaines, Benjamin William Arnett, Benja¬
min Tucker Tanner and Abraham Grant
were solemnly set apart by Bishops Daniel
Alexander Payne, Alexander Washington
Wayman, Jabez Pitt Campbell, Thomas
Myers Decatur Ward, John Miflin Brown,
Henry McNeal Turner and several elders.
The General Conference sitting in Phila¬
delphia, Pa., May, 1892, elected" the Rever¬
end Benjamin Franklin Lee, the Reverend
Moses Buckingham Salter and the Rever¬
end James Anderson Handy, many years
elders; and May 19, 1892, Benjamin Frank¬
lin Lee, Moses Buckingham Salter and
EPISCOPACY.
7
James Anderson Handy were solemnly
set apart by Bishops Daniel Alexander
Payne, Alexander Washington Waymanr
Thomas Myers Decatur Ward, John Miflin
Brown, Henry McNeal Turner, Wesley
John Gaines, Benjamin William Arnett,.
Benjamin Tucker Tanner, Abraham Grant
and several elders.
The General Conference sitting at Wil¬
mington, North Carolina, May, 1896, elect¬
ed the Reverend William Benjamin Der¬
rick, the Reverend Josiah Haynes Arm¬
strong and the Reverend James Crawford
Embry, many years elders; and May 19,
1896, William Benjamin Derrick, Josiah
Haynes Armstrong and James Crawford
Embry were solemnly set apart by Bishops
Henry McNeal Turner, Wesley John
Gaines, Benjamin William Arnett, Benja¬
min Tucker Tanner, Abraham Grant, Ben¬
jamin Franklin Lee, Moses Buckingham
Salter, James Anderson Handy and several
elders.
The General Conference sitting in Col¬
umbus, Ohio, May, 1900, elected the Rever¬
end Evans Tyree, the Reverend Morris
Marcellus Moore, the Reverend Charles
Spencer Smith, the Reverend Cornelius
Thaddeus Shaffer and the Reverend Levi
Jenkins Coppin, many years elders; and
8 EPISCOPACY.
May 23, 1900, Evans Tyree, Morris Mar-
cellus Moore, Charles Spencer Smith, Cor¬
nelius Thaddeus Shaffer and Levi Jenkins
Coppin were solemnly set apart by Bishops,
Henry McNeal Turner, Wesley John
Gaines, Benjamin William Arnett, Benja¬
min Tucker Tanner, Abraham Grant, Ben¬
jamin Franklin Lee, Moses Buckingham
Salter, James Anderson Handy William
Benjamin Derrick and several elders.
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
9
CHAPTER II.
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity.
There is but one living and true God,
everlasting, without body or parts, of in¬
finite power, wisdom and goodness; the
Maker and Preserver of all things, visible
and invisible. And in unity of this God¬
head, there are three persons, of one sub¬
stance, power and eternity; the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost.
II. Of the Word or Son of God, who zvas
made very man.
The Son, who is the Word of the Father,
the very and eternal God, of one substance
with the Father, took man's nature in the
womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two
whole and perfect natures, that is to say,
the Godhead and manhood, were joined
together in one person, never to be divided;
whereof is one Christ, very God and very
man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead
and buried, to reconcile his Father to us,
10 ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
and to be a sacrifice, not only for original
guilt, but also for the actual sins of men.
III. Of the Resurrection of Christ.
Christ did truly rise again from the dead,
and took again his body with all things
appertaining to the perfection of man's na¬
ture, wherewith he ascended into heaven,
and there sitteth until he return to judge
all men at the last day.
IV. Of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the
Father and the Son, is of one substance,
majesty, and glory, with the Father and the
Son, very and eternal God.
V. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures
for Salvation.
The Holy Scriptures contain all things
necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever
is not read therein, nor may be proved there¬
by, is not to be required of any man that
it should be believed as an article of faith,
or be thought requisite or necessary to sal¬
vation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures,
we do understand those canonical books
of the Old and New Testament, of whose
authority was never any doubt in the
church.
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
II
The names of the canonical books are:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deu¬
teronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First
Book of Samuel, The Second Book of
Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The
Second Book of Kings, The First Book of
Chronicles, The Second Book of Chroni¬
cles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Ne-
hemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of
Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Eccles-
iastes, or the Preacher; Cantica, or Songs
of Solomon, Four Prophets the greater,
Twelve Prophets the less.
All the books of the New Testament, as
they are commonly received, we do receive
and account Canonical.
VI. Of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is not contrary to
the New; for both in the Old and New
Testament everlasting life is offered to
mankind by Christ, who is the only Media¬
tor between God and man, being both God
and man. Wherefore they are not to be
heard, who feign that the old fathers did
look only for transitory promises. Although
the law given from God by Moses, as touch¬
ing ceremonies and rites,doth not bind Chris¬
tians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof,
of necessity, be received in any common-
3
12
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
wealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Chris¬
tian whatsoever is free from the obedience
of the commandments which are called
moral.
VII. Of Original or Birth Sin.
Original sin standeth not in the following
of Adam, as the Pelagians do vainly talk,
but it is the corruption of the nature of
every man, that naturally is engendered of
the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very
far gone from original righteousness, and
of his own nature inclined to evil, and that
continually.
VIII. Of Free Will
The condition of man after the fall of
Adam is such, that he cannot turn and pre¬
pare himself, by his own natural strength
and works to faith and calling upon God;
wherefore we have no power to do good
works, pleasant and acceptable to God,
without the grace of God, by Christ pre¬
venting us, that we may have a good will,
and working with us when we have that
good will.
IX. Of the Justification of Man.
We are accounted righteous before God,
only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
13
Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own
works and deservings; wherefore, that we
are justified by faith only, is a most whole¬
some doctrine, and very full of comfort.
X. Of Good Works.
Although good works, which are the
fruits of faith, and follow after justification,
cannot put away our sins and endure the
severity of God's judgment, yet are they
pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ,
and spring out of a true and lively faith,
insomuch that by them a lively faith may
be as evidently known, as a tree is discerned
by its fruits.
XI. Of Works of Supererogation.
Voluntary works, besides, over and above
God's commandments, which are called
works of supererogation, cannot be taught
without arrogance and impiety. For by
them men do declare, that they do not only
render unto God as much as they are bound
to do, but that they do more for his sake
than of bounden duty is required: Where¬
as Christ saith plainly, When ye have done
all that is commanded you, say, We are un¬
profitable servants.
l6 ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
Scriptures, but yet have not the like nature
of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, because
they have not any visible sign or ceremony
ordained of God.
The Sacraments were not ordained of
Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried
about; but that we should duly use them.
And in such only as worthily receive the
same, they have a wholesome effect or oper¬
ation; but they that receive them unworth¬
ily, purchase to themselves condemnation,
as St. Paul saith, i Cor. xi. 29.
XVII. Of Baptism.
Baptism is not only a sign of profession
and mark of difference, whereby Christians
are distinguished from others that are not
baptized, but it is also a sign of regenera¬
tion or the new birth. The baptism of
young children is to be retained in the
church.
XVIII. Of the Lord's Supper.
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign
of the love that Christians ought to have
among themselves one to another, but rather
is a sacrament of our redemption by
Christ's death; insomuch that, to such as
rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the
same, the bread which we break is a partak-
ARTICLES OF RELIGION. 17
i:ig* of the body of Christ, and likewise
the cup of blessing is a partaking of the
blood of Christ.
Transubstantiation, or the change of the
substance of bread and wine in the Supper
of our Lord, cannot be proved by Holy
Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of
Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a
sacrament, and hath given occasion to many
superstitions.
The body of Christ is given, taken, and
eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly
and spiritual manner. And the means
whereby the body of Christ is received and
eaten in the Supper, is faith. The Sacra¬
ment of the Lord's Supper was not by
Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about,
lifted up, or worshipped.
XIX. Of Both Kinds.
The cup of the Lord is not to be denied
to the lay people; for both the parts of the
Lord's Supper, by Christ's ordinance and
commandment, ought to be administered to
all Christians alike.
XX. Of the one Oblation of Christfin¬
ished upon the Cross.
The offering of Christ once made, is that
perfect redemption, propitiation, and satis-
18 articles of religion.
faction for all the sins of the whole world,
both original and actual; and there is none
other satisfaction for sin, but that alone.
Wherefore the sacrifice of masses, in the
which it is commonly said that the priest
doth offer Christ, for the quick and the
dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is
a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit.
XXL Of the Marriage of Ministers.
The ministers of Christ are not com¬
manded by God's Law, either to vow the
estate of single life or to abstain from mar¬
riage ; therefore it is lawful for them, as for
all other Christians, to marry at their own
discretion, as they shall judge the same to
serve best to godliness.
XXII. Of the Rites and Ceremonies of
Churches.
It is not necessary that rites and cere¬
monies should in all places be the same, or
exactly alike; for they have been always
different, and may be changed according to
the diversity of countries, times, and men's
manners, so that nothing be ordained
against God's word. Whosoever, through
his private judgment, willingly and pur¬
posely doth openly break the rites and cere¬
monies of the Church to which he belongs,
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
19
which are not repugnant to the word of
God, and are ordained and approved by
common authority, ought to be rebuked
openly, that others may fear to do the like,
as one that offendeth against the common
order of the Church, and woundeth the con¬
science of weak brethren.
Every particular Church may ordain,
change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so
that all things may be done to edification.
XXIII. Of the Rulers of the United, States
of America.
The President, the Congress, the General
Assemblies, the Governors and the Councils
of State, as the delegates of the people, are
the rulers of the United States of America,
according to the division of power made to
them by the Constitution of the United
States of America, and by the Constitutions
of their respective States. And the said
States are a sovereign and independent na¬
tion, and ought not to be subject to any for¬
eign jurisdiction.*
♦Obedience to Civil Government, however, is
one of the principal duties of all men, and was
dignified and honored by our Lord and His Apos¬
tles. Though differing in form and polity, all
righteous governments rightfully command the
obedience, loyalty, support and defence of all
Christians, whom they control and protect.
20
ARTICLES OF RELIGION.
XXIV. Of Christian Men's Goods.
The riches and goods of Christians are
not common as touching the right, title and
possession of the same, as some do falsely
boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought,
of such things as he possesseth, liberally to
give alms to the poor, according to his
ability.
XXV. Of a Christian Man's Oath.
As we confess that vain and rash swear¬
ing is forbidden Christian men, by our Lord
Jesus Christ, and James his apostle; so we
judge that the Christian religion doth not
prohibit, but that a man may swear when
the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith
and charity, so it be done according to the
prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment and
truth.
catechism on faith.
21
CHAPTER III.
Catechism on Faith.
I. Question I. What is it to be justified?
Answer. To be pardoned and received
into God's favor, into such a state, that, if
we continue therein, we shall be finally
saved.
Ques. 2. Is faith the condition of jus¬
tification ?
Ans. Yes, for every one that believeth
not, is condemned; and every one who be¬
lieves, is justified.
Ques. 3. But must not repentance and
works meet for repentance, go before this
faith ?
Ans. Without doubt; if by repentance
you mean conviction of sin, and by works
meet for repentance, obeying God as far as
we can; forgiving our brother, leaving^ off
from evil, doing good, and using his ordi¬
nances according to the power we have re¬
ceived.
Ques. 4. What is faith?
Ans. Faith in general is a divine, super-
22 CATECHISM ON FAITH.
natural evidence, or conviction of things
not seen—not discoverable by our bodily
senses, as being either past, future or spir¬
itual. Justifying faith implies not only a
divine evidence or conviction, that God was
in Christ, reconciling the world to himself,
but a sure trust and confidence that Christ
died for my sins, that he loved me and gave
himself for me. And the moment a peni¬
tent sinner believes this, God pardons and
absolves him.
Ques. 5. Have all Christians this faith?
May not a man be justified and not know
it ?
Ans. That all true Christians have such
faith as implies assurance of God's love, ap¬
pears from Rom. viii. 15; 2 Cor. xiii. 51
Eph. iv. 32; Heb. viii. 10; 1 John iv. 10; v.
19. And that no man can be justified and
not know it, appears further from the na¬
ture of the thing; for faith after repent¬
ance, is ease after pain, rest after toil, light
after darkness. It appears also from the
immediate, as well as the distant fruits
thereof.
Ques. 6. But may not a man go to
heaven without it?
Ans. It does not appear from Holy Writ
that a man who has heard the gospel can;
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
ilark xvi. 16, whatever a heathen may do.
iom. ii. 14.
Ques. 7. What are the immediate fruits
)f justifying faith?
Ans. Peace, joy, love, power over all
DUtward sin, and power to keep down in¬
ward sin.
Ques. 8. Does any one believe who has
110* die witness in himself, or any longer
th,n he sees, loves and obeys God?
Ans. We apprehend not, seeing God
being the very essence of faith; love and
obedience being the inseparable properties
of it.
Ques. 9. What sins are consistent with
justifying faith?
Ans. No wilful sin. If a believer wil¬
fully sins, he casts away his faith. Neither
is it possible he should have justifying faith
again without previously repenting.
Ques. 10. Must every believer come into
a state of doubt or fear, or darkness ? Will
he do so unless by ignorance or unfaith¬
fulness? Does God otherwise withdraw
himself ?
Ans. It is certain a believer need never
come again into condemnation. It seems
he need not come into a state of doubt or
24
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
fear, or darkness, and that (ordinarily at
least) he will not unless by ignorance or un¬
faithfulness. Yet it is true, that the first
joy seldom lasts long; that it is followed by
doubts and fears; and that God frequently
permits great heaviness before any large
manifestation of himself.
Ques. ii. Are works necessary to the
continuance of faith?
Ans. Without doubt; for many forfeit
the free gift of God, either by sins of omis¬
sion or commission.
Ques. 12. Can faith be lost for want of
works ?
Ans. It cannot but through disobedience.
Ques. 13. How is faith made perfect by
works ?
Ans. The more we exert our faith, the
more it is increased. To him that hath
shall be given.
Ques. 14. St. Paul says, Abraham was
not justified by works; St. James, he was
justified by works. Do they not contradict
each other?
Ans No; 1st, Because they do not speak
of the same justification. St. Paul speaks of
that justification which was when Abraham
was seventy-five years old, about twenty
CATECHISM ON FAITH. 2$
years before Isaac was born. St. James of
that justification, which was when he of¬
fered up Isaac on the altar; 2nd. Because
they do not speak of the same works: St.
Paul speaking of works that precede faith;
St. James, of works that spring from it.
Ques. 15. In what sense is Adam's sin
imputed to all mankind?
Ans. In Adam all die, i. e., 1st, Our
bodies then become mortal; 2nd, Our souls
died, i. e., were disunited from God. And
hence, 3d, We are all born with a sinful,
devilish nature, by reason whereof; 4th, We
are children of wrath, liable to death eter¬
nal. Rom. v. 18; Eph. ii. 3.
Ques. 16. In what sense is the righteous¬
ness of Christ imputed to all mankind, or
to believers?
Ans. We do not find it expressly af¬
firmed in Scripture, that God imputes the
righteousness of Christ to any; although we
do find that faith is imputed to us for
righteousness. The text, "As by one man's
disobedience, many 'were made sinners, so
by the obedience of one, many were made
righteous," we conceive, means, by the
merits of Christ all men are cleared from
the guilt of Adam's actual transgression.
We conceive further, Through the obed-
26 CATECHISM ON FAITH.
ience and death of Christ, ist, The bodies
of all men become immortal after the resur¬
rection ; 2d, Their souls receive a capacity
of spiritual life; and 3d, An actual spark or
seed thereof; 4th, All believers become chil¬
dren of grace reconciled to God, and 5th,
made partakers of the divine nature.
Ques. 17. Have we, then, unawares,
leaned too much towards Calvinism?
Ans. We are afraid we have.
Ques. 18. Have we not also leaned to¬
wards Antinomianism ?
Ans. We are afraid we have.
Oues. 19. What is Antinomianism?
Ans. The doctrines which make void
the law through faith.
Ques. 20. What are the main pillars
thereof?
Ans. 1st, That Christ abolished the moral
law; 2d, That therefore Christians are not
obliged to observe it; 3d, That one branch
of Christian liberty is liberty from obeying
the commandments of God; 4th, That it is
bondage to do a thing because it is com¬
manded, or forbear because it is forbidden;
5th, That a believer is not obliged to use
the ordinances of God to do good works;
6th, That a preacher ought not to exhort
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
27
to good works; not unbelievers, because it
is hurtful; not believers, because it is need¬
less.
Ques. 21. What was the occasion of St.
Paul's writing his epistle to the Galatians ?
Ans. The coming of certain men
amongst the Galatians, who taught, "Except
ye be circumcised and keep the law of
Moses, ye cannot be saved."
Ques. 22. What is his main design here¬
in?
Ans. To prove 1st, That no man can
be saved, or justified by the works of the
law, either moral or ritual; 2d, That every
believer in Christ is justified by faith with¬
out the works of the law.
Ques. 23. What does he mean by the
works of the law? Gal. ii. 16, etc.
Ans. All works which do not spring
from faith in Christ.
Ques. 24. What by being under the law ?
Gal. iii. 23.
Ans. Under the Mosaic dispensation.
Ques. 25. What law has Christ abol¬
ished ?
Ans.. The Ritual law of Moses.
Ques. 26. What is meant by liberty?
Gal. v. 1.
4
28
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
Ans. Liberty, ist, from the law, 2d, from
sin.
II. Question I. How comes what is
written on justification to be so intricate
and obscure? Is this obscurity from the
nature of the thing itself, or from the fault
or weakness of those who generally treated
about it?
Answer. We apprehend this obscurity
does not arise from the nature of the sub¬
ject; but partly from the extreme warmth
of most writers who have treated it.
Ques. 2. We affirm that faith in Christ
is the sole condition of justification. But
does not repentance go before that faith?
Yea, and, supposing that there be oppor¬
tunity for them, fruits or works meet for
repentance ?
Ans. Without doubt they do.
Ques. 3. How then can we deny them to
be conditions of justification? Is not this a
mere strife of words?
Ans. It seems not, though it has been
grievously abused. But so the abuse cease,
let the use remain.
Ques. 4. Shall we read over together Mr.
Baxter's aphorisms concerning justifi¬
cation ?
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
29
Ans. By all means.
Ques. 5. Is an assurance of God's parT
doning love absolutely necessary to our
being in his favor? Or may there possibly
be some exempt cases ?
Ans. We dare not possibly say there
are not.
Ques. 6. Is such an assurance absolutely
necessary to inward and outward holiness?
Ans. To inward we apprehend it is ; to
outward holiness, we incline to think not.
Ques. 7. Is it indispensably necessary
to final salvation?
Ans. Love hopeth all things. We know
not how far any man may fall under the
case of invincible ignorance.
Ques. 8. But what can we say of one of
our own society who dies without it; as I.
W., at London?
Ans. It may possibly be an exempt case
(if the fact was really so.) But we deter¬
mine nothing; we leave his soul in the
hands of Him who made it.
Ques. 9. Does a man believe any longer
than he feels reconciled to God?
Ans. We conceive not. But we allow
there may be infinite degrees of seeing God ;
even as many as there are between him that
30
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
sees the sun, when it shines on his eyelids
closed, and him who stands with his eyes
wide open in the full blaze of his beams.
Ques. 10. Does a man believe any longer
than he loves God?
Ans. In no wise. For neither circum¬
cision nor uncircumcision avails, without
faith working by love.
Ques. ii. Have we duly considered the
case of Cornelius ? Was he not in the favor
of God when his prayer and alms came up
for a memorial before God, i. e., before
he believed in Christ?
Ans. It does seem that he was in some
degree. But we speak not of those who
have heard the Gospel.
Ques. 12. But were those works of his
splendid sins?
Ans. No; nor were they done without
the grace of Christ.
Ques. 13. How then can we maintain
that all works, done before we have a sense
of the pardoning mercies of God, are sins?
And as such an abomination to him?
Ans. The works of him who has heard
the gospel, and does not believe, are not
done as God hath willed or commanded
them to be done. And yet we know not
CATECHISM ON FAITH. 31
how to say, that they are an abomination
to the Lord in him who feareth God, and
from that principle does the best he can.
Ques. 14. Seeing there is so much dif¬
ficulty on this subject, can we deal too
tenderly with them that oppose us?
Ans. We cannot unless we were to give
up any part of the truth of God.
Ques. 15. Is a believer constrained to
obey God?
Ans. At first he often is; the love of
Christ constraineth him. After this he may
obey or he may not; no constraint being
laid on him.
Ques. 16. Can faith be lost through dis¬
obedience?
Ans. It can. A believer first inwardly
disobeys, inclines to sin with his heart; then
his intercourse with God is cut off, i. e.,
his faith is lost. And after this he may
fall into outward sin, being now weak and
like another man.
Ques. 17. How can such a one recover
faith ?
Ans. By repenting and doing the first
works. Rev. ii. 5-
Ques. 18. Whence is it that so great a
majority of those who believe, fall more
or less into doubt or fear?
32
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
Ans. Chiefly from their own ignorance
or unfaithfulness; often from their own not
watching unto prayer; perhaps from some
defect or want of the power of God in the
preaching they hear.
Ques. 19. Is there not a defect in us?
Do we preach as we did at first ? Have we
not changed our doctrines?
Ans. 1st. At first we preached almost
wholly to unbelievers. To those, therefore,
we spake almost continually of remission of
sin through the death of Christ and the na¬
ture of faith in his blood. And so we do
still among those who need to be taught the
first elements of the Gospel of Christ.
2d. But those in whom the foundation
is already laid, we exhort to go on to per¬
fection, which we did not see so clearly at
first, although we occasionally spoke of it
from the beginning.
3d. Yet we now preach, and that con¬
tinually, faith in Christ, as our prophet,
priest, and king; at least as clearly, as
strongly and as fully, as we did several
years ago.
Ques. 20. Do not some of our preachers
preach too much of the wrath, and too lit¬
tle of the love of God?
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
33
Ans. We fear that they have leaned to
that extreme, and hence some of their hear¬
ers have lost the joy of faith.
Ques. 21. Need we ever preach the ter¬
rors of the Lord to those who know they
are accepted of him?
Ans. No; it is folly so to do, for love is
to them the strongest of all motives.
Ques. 22. Do we ordinarily represent a
justified state so great and happy as it is?
Ans. Perhaps not; a believer walking in
the light is inexpressibly great and happy*
Ques. 23. Should we not have a care of
depreciating justification, in order to exalt
the state of full sanctification ?
Ans. Undoubtedly we should beware
of this, for one may insensibly slide into it.
Ques. 24. How should we avoid it?
Ans. When we are going to speak of en¬
tire sanctification, let us first describe the
blessing of a justified state, as strongly as
possible.
Ques. 25. Does not the truth of the Gos¬
pel lie very near both Calvinism and An-
tinomianism ?
Ans. Indeed it does, as it were within a
hair's breadth; so that it is altogether fool¬
ish and sinful, because we do not altogether
34
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
agree with one or the other, to run from
them as far as we can.
Ques. 26. Wherein may we come to the
very verge of Calvinism?
Ans. 1st. In ascribing all good to the
free grace of God. 2d. In denying all nat¬
ural free-will, and all power antecedent to
grace; and, 3d. In excluding all merit from
man even for what he has or does by the
grace of God.
Ques. 27. Wherein may we come to the
edge of Antinomianism ?
Ans. 1 st. In exalting the merits and love
of Christ. 2nd. In rejoicing evermore.
Qpes. 28. Does faith supersede (set
aside the necessity of) holiness or good
works ?
Ans. In nowise. So far from it that it
implies both as a cause does its effects.
III. Ques, 1. Can an unbeliever (what¬
ever he be in other respects) challenge any¬
thing of God's justice?
Ans. He cannot, nothing but hell; and
this is a point on which we cannot insist too
much.
Ques. 2. Do we exempt men of their
own righteousness, as we did at first? Do
we sufficiently labor, when they begin to be
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
35
convinced of sin, to take away all they lean
upon? Should we not then endeavor, with
all our might, to overturn their false founda¬
tion?
Ans. This was at first one of our princi¬
pal points; and it ought to be so still; for till
all other foundations are overturned, they
cannot build on Christ.
Ques. 3. Did we not then purposely
throw them into convictions; into strong
sorrow and fear? Nay, did we not strive
to make them inconsolable, refusing to be
comforted ?
Ans.* We did. And so should we do
still: for the stronger the conviction the
speedier is the deliverance. And none so
soon receive the peace of God, as those who
steadily refuse all other comfort.
Ques. 4. What is sincerity?
Ans. Willingness to know and do the
whole will of God. The lowest species there¬
of seems to be faithfulness in that which
is little.
Ques. 5. Has God any regard for man's
sincerity ?
Ans. So far, that no man in any state can
possibly please God without it ; neither in
any moment wherein he is not sincere.
36 CATECHISM ON FAITH.
Ques. 6. But can it be conceived that
God has any regard to the sincerity of an
unbeliever ?
Ans. Yes, so much that if he perseveres
therein God will infallibly give him faith.
Ques. 7. What regard may we conceive
him to have to the sincerity of a believer?
Ans. So much that in every sincere be¬
liever he fulfils all the great and precious
promises.
Ques. 8. Whom do you term a sincere
believer ?
Ans. One that walks in the light* as God
is in the light.
Ques 9. Is sincerity the same with a
single eye?
Ans. Not altogether: the latter refers to
our intentions, the former to our wills or
desires.
Ques. 10. Is it not all in all?
Ans. All will follow persevering sin¬
cerity. God gives everything with it; noth¬
ing without it.
Ques. 11. Are not then sincerity and
faith equivalent terms?
Ans. By 110 means. It is at least as near¬
ly related to works as it is to faith. For
example; who is sincere before he believes?
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
37
He that then does all he can; he that, ac¬
cording to the power he has received,
brings forth fruits meet for repentance.
Who is sincere after he believes? He that,
from a sense of God's love, is zealous of all
good works.
Ques. 12. Is not sincerity what St. Paul
terms a willing mind? i Cor. viii. 12. Yes,
if the word were taken in a general sense;
for it is a constant disposition to use all the
grace given.
Ques. 13. But do we not then set sin¬
cerity on a level with faith?
Ans. No; for we allow a man may be
sincere and not be justified, as he may be
penitent and not be justified (not as yet)
but he cannot have faith and not be justi¬
fied. The very moment he believes he is
justified.
Ques. 14. But do we not give up faith
and put sincerity in its place as the condi¬
tion of our acceptance with God?
Ans. We believe it is one condition of
our acceptance, as repentance likewise is.
And we believe it is a condition of our
continuing in a state of acceptance with
God. Yet we do not put it in the place
of faith. It is by faith the merits of Christ
38
CATECHISE! ON FAITH.
are applied to my soul. But if I am not
sincere they are not applied.
Q-ues. 15. Is not this that going about
to establish your own righteousness, where¬
of St. Paul speaks?
Ans. St. Paul there manifestly speaks of
unbelievers who sought to be accepted for
the sake of their own righteousness. We
do not seek to be accepted for the sake of
our sincerity; but through the merits of
Christ alone. Indeed, so long as any man
believes he cannot go about (in St. Paul's
sense) to establish his own righteousness.
Ques. 16. But do you consider that we
are under the covenant of grace; and that
the covenant of works is now abolished?
Ans. All mankind are under the coven¬
ant of grace, from the very hour that the
original promise was made. If by the
covenant of works you mean that of un-
sinning obedience made with Adam before
the fall; no man but Adam was ever un¬
der that covenant, for it was abolished be¬
fore Cain was born. Yet it is not so abol¬
ished, but that it will stand, in a measure,
even to the end of the world: that is if we
do this, we shall live; if not, we shall die
eternally; if we do well we shall live with
God in glory; if evil, we shall die the second
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
39
death. For every man shall be judged in
that, and rewarded according to his works.
Ques. 17. What means then; to him that
believeth, his faith is counted for right¬
eousness ?
Ans. That God forgives him that is un¬
righteous as soon as he believes, accepting
his faith instead of perfect righteousness.
But then, observe, universal righteousness
follows though it did not precede faith.
Ques. 18. But is faith thus counted to us
for righteousness, at whatsoever time we
believe ?
Ans. Yes. In whatsoever moment we
believe all our past sins vanish away. They
are as though they never had been, and we
stand clear in the sight of God.
Ques. 19. Are not the assurance of faith,
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and the
revelation of Christ in us, terms of nearly
the same import?
Ans. He that denies one of them, must
deny all; they are so closely connected.
Ques. 20. Are they ordinarily, where
the pure gospel is preached, essential to our
acceptance ?
Ans. Undoubtedly they are, and as such
to be insisted on in the strongest terms.
40
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
Ques. 21. Is not the whole dispute of
salvation by faith, or by works, a mere strife
of words?
Ans. In asserting salvation by faith we
mean this: ist, That pardon (salvation be¬
gun) is received by faith, producing works.
2d. That holiness (salvation continued) is
faith working by love. 3d. That Heaven,
(salvation finished) is the reward of this
faith.
If you assert salvation by works, or by
faith and works, mean the same thing, (un¬
derstanding by faith, the revelation of Christ
in us, by salvation, pardon, holiness, glory,)
we will not strive with you at all. If you
do not, this is not a strife of words, but the
very vitals, the essence of Christianity is
the thing in question.
Ques. 22. Wherein does our doctrine
now differ from that preached by Mr. Wes¬
ley at Oxford?
Ans. Chiefly in these two points: ist,
He then knew nothing of that righteous¬
ness of faith in justification; nor 2d, Of
that nature of faith itself, as implying con¬
sciousness of pardon.
Q:tcs. 23. May not some degree of the
love of God go before a distinct sense of
justification ?
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
41
Ans. We believe it may.
Qites. 24. Can any degree of holiness
or sanctification ?
Ans. Many degrees of outward holiness
may; yea, and some degrees of meekness,
and several other tempers which would be
branches of Christian holiness, but that they
do not spring from Christian principles. For
the abiding love of God cannot spring but
from a faith in a pardoning God. And no
true Christian holiness can exist without that
love of God for its foundation.
Ques. 25. Is every man as soon as he be¬
lieves a new creature, sanctified, pure in
heart? Has he then a new heart? Does
Christ dwell therein? And is he a temple
of the Holy Ghost?
Ans. All these things may be affirmed
of every believer in a true sense. Let us
not, therefore, contradict those who main¬
tain it. Why should we contend about
words ?
IV. Question 1. How much is allowed
by our brethren who differ from us in re¬
gard to sanctification?
Ans. They grant, 1st, That every one
must be entirely sanctified in the article of
death; 2d, That until then a believer daily
grows in grace, comes nearer and nearer to
42 CATECHISM ON FAITH..
perfection; 3d, That we ought to be con¬
tinually pressing after this, and exhort all
others to do so.
Ques. 2. What do we allow them?
Ans. We grant, 1st, That many of those
who have died in the faith, yea, the greater
part of those we have known, were not
sanctified throughout, or made perfect in
love, till a little before death; 2d, That the
term "sanctified" is continually applied by
St. Paul to all that were justified, and were
true believers; 3d, That by this term alone,
he rarely (if ever) means, saved from all
sin; 4th, That consequently, it is not proper
to use it in this sense, without adding the
words "entirely," "wholly," or the like;
5th, That the inspired writers almost con¬
tinually speak of, or to those who were
justified; but very rarely either of or to
those who were wholly sanctified; 6th, That,
consequently, it behooves us to speak in
public almost continually of the state of
justification, but more rarely, at least in full
and explicit terms, concerning entire sancti-
fication.
Ques. 3. What then is the point where¬
in we divide?
Ans. It is this: Whether we should ex¬
pect to be saved from all sin, before the
article of death.
CATECHISM ON FAITH. • 43
Qucs. 4. Is there any clear Scripture
promise of this; that God will save us from
all sin?
Ans. There is, Ps.,cxxx. 8 : "He shall re¬
deem Israel from all his iniquities."
This is more largely expressed in the
prophecy of Ezekiel xxxvi. 25, 29: "Then
will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and
ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
"I will also save you from all your unclean-
nesses." Xo promise can be more clear.
And to this the Apostle plainly refers in that
exhortation : "'Having therefore these prom¬
ises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthi¬
ness of the flesh and spirit , perfecting holi¬
ness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii. x.
Equally clear and expressive is that ancient
promise: "The Lord thy God will circum¬
cise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed,
to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul." Deut. xxx. 6.
Qucs. 5. But does any assertion answer¬
able to this occur in the New Testament?
Ans. There does, and that laid down in
the plainest terms. "For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil." 1 John
iii. 8: The works of the devil—without any
5
44
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
limitation or restriction; but all sin is the
work of the devil. Parallel to which is that
assertion of St. Paul, Eph. v. 25, 27: "Christ
loved the church, and gave himself for it,
that he might present it to himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish."
And to the same effect is that assertion;
"God sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, condemned sin in the flesh,
that the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit." Romans viii. 3, 4.
Ques. 6. D'oes the New Testament af¬
ford any further ground for expecting to
be saved from all sin?
Ans. Undoubtedly it does; both in those
prayers and commands, which are equiva¬
lent to the strongest assertions.
Ques. 7. What prayers do you mean?
Ans. Prayers for entire sanctification;
which, were there no such thing, would be
mere mockery of God. Such, in particular,
are, 1st, Deliver us from evil; or rather,
from the evil one. Now when this is done,
when we are delivered from all evil, there
can be no sin remaining.
2nd; "Neither pray I for these alone, but
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
45
for them also which believe on me through
their word, that they all may be one as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may
believe that thou hast sent me." "I in them
and thou in me, that they may be made per¬
fect in one, and that the world may know
that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them,
as thou hast loved me." John xvii. 20, 21,
23.
3d; "I bow my knees unto the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," "that he
would grant you, according to the riches of
his glory to be strengthened with might by
his spirit in the inner man; that Christ may
dwell in your heart by faith, that ye being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able
to comprehend with all saints, what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height,
and to know the love of Christ, which pass-
eth knowledge, that ye might be filled with
all the fullness of God." Eph. iii. 14, 16-19.
4th ; "The very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God, your whole spirit
and soul and body, be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thess. v. 23.
Ques. 8. What command is there to the
same effect?
46
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
Ans. ist; "Be ye perfect, as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect." Matt. v. 48.
2d; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind." Matt. xxii. 37. But if
the love of God fill all the heart, there can be
no sin there.
Ques. 9. But how does it appear that
this is to be done before the article of
death ?
Ans. 1 st, from the very nature of a
command, which is not given to the dead,
but to the living; therefore, ''Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,"
cannot mean, Thou shalt do this when thou
diest, but while thou livest; 2d, from express
texts of Scripture; "The grace of God
which bringeth salvation, hath appeared to
all men; teaching us that, denying ungodli¬
ness and every worldly lust, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in the pres¬
ent world; looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of our Lord
Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that
he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zeal¬
ous of good works." Titus ii. 11-14. "He
hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in
the house of his servant David," "to per-
CATECHISM ON FAITH. 47
form the mercy promised to our fathers,
and to remember his holy covenant, the
oath which he sware to our father Abra¬
ham, that he would grant unto us, that we
being delivered out of the hand of our sne-
mies, should serve him without fear, in
holiness and righteousness before him all
the days of our life." Luke i. 69, 72-75.
Ques. 10. Does not the harsh preaching
of perfection tend to bring believers into a
kind of bondage or slavish fear?
Ans. It does. Therefore we should al¬
ways place it in the most amiable light, so
that it may excite only hope, joy and desire.
Ques. 11. Why may we not continue in
the joy of faith, even till we are made per¬
fect ?
Ans. Why, indeed! Since holy grief
does not quench this joy; since even while
we are under the cross, while we deeply par¬
take of the sufferings of Christ, we may
rejoice with joy unspeakable.
Ones. 12. Do we not discourage believ¬
ers from rejoicing evermore?
Ans. We ought not to do so. Let them
all their time rejoice unto God, so it be with
reverence. And even if lightness or pride
should mix with their joy, let us not strike
at the joy itself (this is the gift of God),
48
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
but at the lightness or pride, that the evil
may cease and the good remain.
Ques. 13. Ought we to be anxiouslv care¬
ful about perfection, lest we should die be¬
fore we have attained it?
Ans. In nowise. We ought to be thus
careful for nothing, either spiritual or tem¬
poral.
Ques. 14. But ought we not to be trou¬
bled on account of the sinful nature which
still remains in us?
Aiis. It is good to have a deep sense of
this, and to be much ashamed before the
Lord. But this should only incite us the
more earnestly to turn unto Christ every
moment, and to draw light, and life, and
strength from him, that we may go on con¬
quering and to conquer. And therefore,
when the sense of our sins most abounds,
the sense of his love should much more
abound.
Ques. 15. Will our joy or our trouble
increase as we grow in grace?
Ans. Perhaps both. But, without doubt,
our joy in the Lord will increase as our love
increases.
Ques. 16. Is not the teaching believers to
be continually poring over their inbred sin,
CATECHISM ON FAITH.
the ready way to make them forget that they
were purged from their former sin?
Ans. We find by experience it is; or to
make them undervalue, and account it a lit¬
tle thing; whereas, indeed (though there are
still greater gifts behind), this is inexpres¬
sibly great and glorious.
GENERAL RULES.
CHAPTER IV.
general rules of united societies.
1. In the latter end of the year 1739,
eight or ten persons came to Mr. Wesley,
in London, who appeared to be deeply con¬
vinced of sin, and earnestly groaning after
redemption. They desired, as did two or
three more the next day, that he would
spend some time with them in prayer, and
advise them how to flee from the wrath to
come, which they saw continually hanging
over their heads. That he might have more
time for this great work, he appointed a day
when they might all come together, which,
from thenceforward they did every week,
namely, on Thursday in the evening. To
these, and as many others as desired to join
with them (for their number increased
daily), he gave those advices from time to
time, which he judged most needful for
them; and they always concluded their meet¬
ings with prayer suited to their several
necessities.
2. This was the rise of the United So¬
ciety, first in Europe, and then in America.
GENERAL RULES.
51
Such a society is no other than a company
of men having the form and seeking the
power of godliness, united in order to pray
together, to receive the word of exhorta¬
tion, and to watch over one another in love,
that they may help each other to work out
their salvation.
3. That it may the more easily be dis¬
cerned whether they are indeed working out
their salvation, each Society is divided into
smaller companies, called Classes, accord¬
ing to their respective places of abode. There
are about twelve persons in a class, of whom
one is styled the "Leader." It is his duty.
I. To see each person in his class once
a week, at least; in order, 1st, To inquire
how their souls prosper; 2nd, To advise,
reprove, comfort or exhort, as occasion may
require ; 3rd, To receive what they are will¬
ing to give towards the relief of the Preach¬
ers, Church and Poor.
II. To meet the Ministers, and the Ste¬
wards of the Society, once a week; in or¬
der, 1 st, To inform the Minister of any
that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly,
and will not be reproved. 2nd, To pay the
Stewards what they have received from
their several classes in the week preceding.
III. There is only one condition prev-
GENERAL RULES.
iously required of those who desire ad¬
mission into these Societies—a desire to flee
from the wrath to come, and to be saved
from their sins. But wherever this is really
fixed in the soul, it will be shown by its
fruits.
(i) It is then expected of all who con¬
tinue therein, that they shall continue to
evidence their desire of salvation.
First: By doing no harm, by avoiding
evil of every kind, especially that which is
most generally practiced—such as,
The taking the name of God in vain;
The profaning the day of the Lord, either
by doing ordinary work therein, or by buy¬
ing and selling;
Drunkenness, or the drinking of spirit-
ous liquors, unless in cases of necessity;
The buying and selling of men, women
and children, with an intention to enslave
them;
Fighting, quarreling, brawling, brother
going to law with brother, returning evil
for evil, or railing for railing, the using
of many words in buying and selling;
• The buying and selling goods that have
not paid duty;
The giving or taking things on usury,
that is, unlawful interest;
Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation,
GENERAL RULES.
53
particularly speaking evil of magistrates or
ministers;
Doing to others as we would not they
should do unto us;
Doing what we know is not for the glory
of God: as
The putting on of gold and costlv ap¬
parel ;
The taking such diversions as cannot be
used in the name of the Lord Jesus;
The singing those songs, and the reading
those books which do not tend to the knowl¬
edge or love of God;
Softness and needless self-indulgence;
Laying up treasure on earth;
Borrowing without a probability of pay¬
ing ; or taking up goods without a proba¬
bility of paying for them.
(2) It is expected of all those who con¬
tinue in these societies, that they shall con¬
tinue to evidence their desire of salvation,
Second: By doing good; by being in
everything merciful according to their
power, as they have opportunity; doing
good of every possible sort and, as far as is
possible, to all men;
To their bodies, of the ability which God
giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by
clothing the naked, by visiting or helping
them that are sick or in prison: To theii
54
GENERAL RULES.
souls, by instructing, reproving or exhort¬
ing all we have any intercourse with;
trampling under foot that enthusiastic doc¬
trine, that we are not to do good unless we
feel our hearts free to do it.
By doing good, especially to them that
are of the household of faith, or groaning
so to be; employing them preferably to oth¬
ers, buying one of another, helping each
other in business; and so much the more,
as the world will love its own, and them
only: By all possible diligence and frugality
that the gospel may not be blamed.
By running with patience the race which
is set before them, denying themselves tak¬
ing up their cross daily, submitting to bear
the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and
offscouring of the world, and looking that
men should say all manner of evil of them
falsely for the Lord's sake.
(3) It is expected of all who desire to con¬
tinue in these societies, that they should
continue to evidence their desire of salva¬
tion ; Third, By attending upon all the or¬
dinances of God. Such are,
The public worship of God; The ministry
of the Word, either read or expounded;
The Supper of the Lord ;
Family and private prayer;
GENERAL RULES.
55
Searching the Scriptures, fasting or ab¬
stinence.
These are the general rules of our socie¬
ties ; all of which we are taught of God to
observe, even in his written word, which is
the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both
of our faith and practice. And all these we
know his Spirit writes on every truly awak¬
ened heart. If there be any among us who
observes them not, who habitually breaks
any of them, let it be known unto them who
watch over that soul, as they who must give
an account. We will admonish him of the
error of his ways; we will bear with him
for a season; but if then he repent not, he
hath no more place among us. We have
delivered our own souls.
5^
BAXD SOCIETIES.
CHAPTER V.
BAND SOCIETIES.
i. Rules.
Two, three or four true believers who have con¬
fidence in each other, form a band. Only, it is to
be observed, that in one of these bands all must be
men or all women; and all married or all unmar¬
ried.
The design of our meeting is to obey that
command of God—"Confess your faults one
to another, and pray for one another, that
ye may be healed."—James v. 16.
To this end we agree,
1. To meet once a week at least.
2. To come punctually at the hour ap¬
pointed unless some extraordinary reason
prevent.
3. To begin exactly at the hour, with
singing or prayer.
4. To speak, each of us in order, freely
and plainly, the true state of our souls, with
the faults we have committed in tempers,
words or actions and temptations we have
felt since last meeting.
5. To end every meeting with prayer,
suited to the state of each person present.
BAATD SOCIETIES.
57
6. To desire some person among us to
speak of his own state first, and then to ask
the rest in order, as many and as searching
questions as may be, concerning their state,
sins, and temptations.
Some of the questions proposed to every
one before he is admitted among us, may
be to this effect:
1. Have you had the forgiveness of sins?
2. Have you peace with God, through our
Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Have you the witness of God's Spirit
with yours, that you are a child of God ?
4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your
heart ?
5. Has no sin inward or outward domin¬
ion over you?
6. Do you desire to be told of your
faults ?
7. Do you desire to be told of all your
faults, and that plainly and home?
8. Do you desire that every one of us
shall tell you, from time to time, whatso¬
ever is in our hearts concerning you ?
9. Consider: Do you desire we should
tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever
we fear, concerning you?
10. Do you desire that in doing this, we
58
BAND SOCIETIES.
should come as close as possible, that we
should cut to the quick, and search your
heart to the bottom?
ii. Is it your desire and design to be
upon this, and all other occasions, entirely
open so as to speak without disguise and
without reserve?
Any of the preceding questions may be
asked as often as occasion requires, the four
following at every meeting:
1. What known sins have you committed
since our last meeting?
2. What particular temptations have you
met with?
3. How were you delivered?
4. What have you thought said or done
of which you are in doubt, whether it be sin
or not?
• 2. Directions.
You are supposed to have the faith that
overcometh the world. To you, therefore,
it is not grievous—
I. Carefully to abstain from doing evil;
in particular,—
1. Neither to buy nor sell anything on the
Lord's day.
2. To taste no spiritous liquors, nor
dram of any kind, unless prescribed by a
physician.
BAND SOCIETIES.
59
3; To be at a word both in buying" and
selling.
4. Not to mention the fault of any be¬
hind his back, and stop those short who do
so.
5. To wear no needless ornaments such
as rings, ear-rings, necklaces, lace, or ruf¬
fles.
6. To use no needless self-indulgence.
II. Zealously to maintain good works; in
particular,—
1. To give alms of such things as you
possess, and that according to your ability.
2. To reprove those who sin in your sight,
and that in love and meekness of wisdom.
3. To be patterns of diligence and frugal¬
ity, of self-denial, and taking up the cross
daily.
III. Constantly to attend on all the ordi¬
nances of God : in particular,
1. To be at church at the Lord's Table,
and at every public meeting of the bands at
every opportunity.
2. To use private prayer every day, and
family prayer if you are at the head of a
family.
3. Frequently to read the Scriptures and
meditate thereon.
4. To observe as days of fasting or ab¬
stinence all Fridays in the year.
6
6o
public worship.
CHAPTER VI.
public worship.
i. Order of Service.
1. Voluntary by choir.
2. Scripture Sentences: "I was glad"
■etc., according to the Ritual.
3. Singing a hymn from our hymnal, af¬
ter its announcement by the officiating min¬
ister.
4. Prayer, minister and congregation
Tcneeling.
5. Voluntary by choir.
6. Scripture lesson, minister and people
reading responsively.
7. Scripture lesson by minister.
8. Singing.
9. Reading of the Decalogue; minister
leading, the people responding.
10. Singing.
11. Announcements.
12. Preaching or Exhortation.
13. The Lord's Prayer or an extempore
prayer, the minister and congregation kneel-
ing.
PUBLIC WORSHIP.
61
14. Collecting Offerings.
15. Doxology and Benediction.
This order may be modified at afternoon and
evening services.
At the Sacrament Service the Scripture lesson
shall be read, but notices shall not be read, and the
sermon may be omitted.
2. Singing.
1. Our Hymnal shall be used in all our
congregations. Each member should have
a copy but where this is lacking the minis¬
ter shall read the hymn aloud, verse by
verse; no improvised hymns nor tunes shall
be allowed.
2. The choir shall be composed of persons
of good reputation, who respect our Disci¬
pline and will be governed by our Rules
of Worship. The chorister may be elected
by the choir, subject to the approval of the
pastor. The choir should be regulated by
strict rules, including the obligation to prac¬
tice regularly.
62 CLASS MEETINGS AND LEADERS.
CHAPTER VII.
CLASS MEETINGS AND LEADERS.
A Class is composed of about twelve per¬
sons, and is formed for the purpose of dis¬
cerning whether they are indeed working
out their own salvation, and to receive what
they are willing to contribute to the sup¬
port of the Gospel. One of the persons as¬
signed to each class is styled The Leader.
Leaders must be persons of sound judg¬
ment, Scripture readers, and truly devoted
to God. They are appointed, or changed
when necessary, by the pastor, and exam¬
ined quarterly by the pastor and Presiding
Elder. Those who give love feast tickets
or class privileges to expelled members,
must be removed.
Their duties are,
1. To meet the members in class once a
week, to inquire how each soul prospers, and
to receive what they are willing to contrib¬
ute for the support of the Gospel;
2. To read the rules to those who meet
for the first time in class;
3. To visit each other's classes frequently;
CLASS MEETINGS AND LEADERS. 63
4. To converse with their pastors fre¬
quently and freely;
5. To admit strangers, who are not mem¬
bers, to their class meeting no more than
three times, and then not to consecutive
meetings;
6. To exclude suspended and expelled
members from the class meeting;
7. To watch over probationers with es¬
pecial care, and recommend those who stand
fair at the end of three months, for full
membership;
8. To report to the Official Board, (i)
Those who are sick, (2) Those who walk
disorderly and will not be reproved, (3)
The amount of money collected for the
support of the Gospel, paying the same to
the Stewards.
64 MATRIMONIAL RELATIONS.
CHAPTER VIII.
MATRIMONIAL RELATIONS.
i. Marriage.
1. An evil has prevailed in our church by
many of our members marrying unawaken-
ed persons. By so doing they have been
either hindered for life or turned back to
perdition. But our members are not pro¬
hibited from marrying persons who are not
of our church, provided those persons have
the form and are seeking the power of
godliness.
2. Every preacher shall publicly enforce
the apostle's mandate—"Be ye not unequal¬
ly yoked together with unbelievers," 2 Cor.
vi. 14. And shall exhort all concerned
not to take such a course without seeking
counsel from the most serious of their
brethren.
3. A woman ought not to marry with¬
out the consent of her parents. But if she
believe it to be her duty to marry and her
parents absolutely refuse to let her marry
any Christian, she then ought to marry
without their consent.
MATRIMONIAL RELATIONS. 65;
2. Divorcement.
1. If any minister, preacher, exhorter or
lay member, male or female, who has been,
legally married, shall leave his wife or her
husband, save for the cause of adultery, and;
marry again (which we believe to be a crime
expressly forbidden by the word of God),,
while the former wife, or husband is living,,
he or she shall be expelled and shall not be
admitted to any of our churches during
the natural life of the forsaken party.
2. Any of our ministers who shall know¬
ingly perform the marriage ceremony for
any person who has thus violated his or her
previous marriage obligation, said minister
shall forfeit his standng in the connection.
PART II.
RITES AND CEREMONIES.
I. Ordination of Deacons.
II. Ordination of Elders.
III. Ordination of Bishops.
IV. Baptism.
V. Receiving Members Into Church.
VI. The Lord's Supper.
VII. Solemnization of Matrimony.
VIII. Burial Service.
IX. Laying Corner Stones.
X. Dedication of Churches.
68
ordination of deacons.
CHAPTER I.
ordination of deacons.
When the day appointed by the Bishop
is come there shall be a sermon or exhor¬
tation, declaring the duty and office of such
as come to be admitted deacons. One of
the elders shall present unto the bishop the
persons to be ordained deacons, saying these
words:
Reverend Father in God, I present unto
you these persons, to be admitted deacons.
The Bishop.—Take heed that the persons
whom you present to us be apt and meet by
their godly conversation, to exercise their
ministry duly to the honor of God and the
edifying of his church.
The elder shall answer: I have inquired
concerning them, and also examined them,
and think them so to be.
The names being read aloud, the bishop shall
say unto the people :
Brethren, if there be any of you who
know any impediment or crime in any of
these persons presented to be ordained dea¬
cons, for the which he ought not to be ad-
ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 69
mitted to that office, let him come forth in
the name of God, and show what the crime
or impediment is.
(If any crime or impediment be objected,
the bishop shall cease from ordaining that
person until such time as the party accused
shall be found clear of that crime.)
Then shall be read the following collect and
epistle :
The Collect.
Almighty God, who by thy Divine Provi¬
dence hath appointed divers Orders of Min¬
isters of thy Church, and didst inspire thy
Apostles to choose to the order of deacons,
the first martyr, St. Stephen, with others;
mercifully behold these thy servants, now
called to the like Office and Administration;
replenish them so with the truth of thv
doctrines, and adorn them with the inno-
cency of life, that both by word and good
example, they may faithfully serve thee in
this office, to the glory of thy holy name,
and the edification of thy Church, through
the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost, now and forever, Amen.
The Epistle—i Tim. Hi. 8-13.
Likewise must the Deacons be grave, not
70 ORDIXATIOX OF DEACONS.
double-tongued, not given to much wine,
not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mys¬
tery of the faith in a pure conscience. And
let these also first be proved; then let them
use the office of a Deacon, being found
blameless. Even so must their wives be
grave, not slanderers, sober,, faithful in all
things. Let the Deacons be the husbands
of one wife, ruling their children and their
own houses well. For they that have used
the Office of a Deacon well, purchase to
themselves a good degree, and great bold¬
ness in the faith which is in Jesus Christ.
Then shall the Bishop examine every one of
them that is to be ordained, in the presence of the
people, in the following manner:
The Bishop.—Do you trust that you are
inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take
upon you the Office of the Ministry in the
Church of Christ, to serve God for the pro¬
motion of his glory, and the edifying of
his people?
Ans. I trust so.
The Bishop.—Do you unfeignedly believe
all the canonical Scriptures of the Old and
New Testament?
Ans. I do believe them.
The Bishop.—Will you diligently read
and expound the same unto the people
whom you shall be appointed to serve?
ORDINATION OF DEACONS. /I
Ans. I will.
The Bishop.—It appertaineth to the of¬
fice of a Deacon to assist the elder in Divine
service. And especially when he adminis-
tereth the Holy Communion, to help him
in the distribution thereof and to read and
expound the holy Scriptures.; to instruct the
youth, and in the absence of the elder, to
baptize. And furthermore, it is his office
to search for the sick, poor, and impotent,
that they may be visited and relieved. Will
you do this gladly and willingly?
Ans. I will do so, by the help of God.
The Bishop.—Will you apply all your
diligence to frame and fashion your own
lives and the lives of your families,x'sgcovA-
ing to the doctrine of Christ; and to ni^&e
both yourselves and them, as much^as in
you lieth, wholesome examples of the flock
of Christ?
Ans. I will do so, the Lord being my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you reverently obey
them to whom the charge and government
over you is committed, following with a glad
mind and will, their godly admonitions?
Ans. I will endeavor to do so, the Lord being
my helper.
Then shall the Bishop, laying his hands upon
the head of every one of them severally, say:
Take thou authority to execute the office
72 ORDINATION OF DEACONS.
of a Deacon in the Church of God, in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of
them the Holy Bible, saying,
Take thou authority to read the Holy
Scriptures, and to preach the same in the
Church of God.
Then one of them, appointed by the Bishop,
shall read Gospel, Luke xii, 35-38:
Let your loins be girded about, and your
lights burning; and ye yourselves like un¬
to men that wait for their Lord, when he
will return from the wedding; that when he
cometh and knocketh, they may open unto
fiim immediately. Blessed are those ser¬
vants whom the Lord when he cometh, shall
find watching: verily I say unto you that he
shall gird himself, and make them to sit
-down to meat, and will come forth and serve
them. And if he shall come in the second
watch, or come in the third watch, and find
them so, blessed are those servants.
Then shall the Bishop proceed in the commun¬
ion, and all that are ordained shall receive the
holy communion.
The communion ended, immediately before the
'benediction, shall tie said the following collects:
Almighty God, giver of all good things,
who, of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed
ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 73
to accept and take these thy servants into the
office of Deacons in thy Church; make them,
we beseech thee„0 Lord, to be modest,
humble and consistent in their ministration,
and to have a ready will to observe all spir¬
itual discipline; that they, having always the
testimony of a good conscience, and con¬
tinuing ever stable and strong in thy Son
Jesus Christ, may so well behave themselves
in this inferior office, that they may be found
worthy to be called unto the higher minis¬
tries in thy Church, through the same, thy
Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom
be glory and honor, world without end.
Amen.
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings, with
thy most gracious favor, and further us
with thy continued help, that in all our
works, begun, continued, and ended in thee,
we may glorify thy holy name, and finally,
by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The peace of God, which passeth all un¬
derstanding, keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God, and of
his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and the
blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you,
^nd remain with you always. Amen.
74
ordination of elders.
CHAPTER II.
ordination of elders.
When the day appointed by the Bishop is come,
there shall be a sermon or exhortation, declaring
the duty and office of such as come to be admitted
elders; how necessary that order is in the Church
of Christ, and also how the people ought to esteem
them in their office.
After which, one of the elders shall present un¬
to the Bishop all them that are to be ordained, and
say:
Reverend Father in God, I present unto
you these persons present, to be ordained
Elders.
The Bishop.—Take heed that the persons
whom you present unto us be apt and meet,
by their godly conversation, to exercise their
Ministry duly to the honor of God, and the
edifying of the Church.
The Elder shall answer:
I have inquired concerning them, and also
examined them, and think them so to be.
Then, their names being read aloud, the Bishop
shall say unto the people:
Brethren, these are they whom we pur¬
pose, God willing, this day to ordain Eld-
ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 75
ers; for after due examination, we find not
the contrary, but that they are lawfully
called to this function and ministry, and that
they are persons meet for the same. But
if there be any of you who knoweth any im¬
pediment or crime in any of them, for the
which he ought not to be received into this
holy ministry, let him come forth in the
name of God, and show what the crime or
impediment is.
If any crime or impediment be objected, the
Bishop shall cease from ordaining that person un¬
til such time as the party accused shall be found
clear of the crime.
Then shall be said the Collect, Epistle, and
Gospel, as followeth:
The Collect.
Almighty God, Giver of all good things,
who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed div¬
ers orders of ministers in thy Church; mer¬
cifully behold these thy servants, now called
to the office of elders, and replenish them so
with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn
them with the innocency of life, that both
by word and good example, they may faith¬
fully serve thee in this office, to the glory
of thy name and the edification of thy
Church, through the merits of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with
7
76 ORDINATION OF ELDERS.
thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Amen.
The Epistle.—Eph. iv. 7-13.
Unto every one of us is given grace ac¬
cording to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up
on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended
what is it but that he also descended first
into the lower parts of the earth? He that
descended is the same also that ascended up
far above all heavens, that he might fill all
things). And he gave some, Apostles; and
some Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and
some, Pastors and Teachers; for the per¬
fecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure
of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
After this shall be read, for the Gospel, St. John
x. 1-16.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,
but climbeth up some other way the same is
a thief and a robber. But he that entereth
in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep
ORDINATION OF ELDERS.
77
hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep
by name, and leadeth them out. And when
he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth be¬
fore them,and the sheep follow him: for they
know his voice. And a stranger will they
not follow, but will flee from him; for they
know not the voice of strangers. This par¬
able spake Jesus unto them: but they un¬
derstood not what things they were which
he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the
sheep. All that ever came before me are
thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not
hear them. I am the door: by me if any
man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go
in and out, and find pasture. The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy: I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it more
abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is a hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not
seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep
and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth,
because he is a hireling, and careth not for
the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know
my sheep, and am known of mine. As the
78
ordination of elders.
Father knoweth me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down my life for the
sheep. And other sheep I have, which are
not of this fold: them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice; and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd.
And that done, the Bishop shall say unto them
as hereafter followeth:
You have heard, brethren, as well in your
private examination, as in the exhortation
which was just made to you, and in the
Holy lessons taken out of the gospel, and
in the writings of the Apostles, of what
dignity and of how great importance this
office is, whereunto ye are now called. And
now again we exhort you, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you have in
remembrance, into how high a dignity and
to how weighty an office ye arc called: that
sjq q;iAY ;q.§noq si] qoiqM ';suiq jo daaqs
sqj Asq; JOj[ -sSjeip .moA o} pa;}iiu
-moo si avoi{ 'aDu^jqiuauiaj
.moX ui pa;uud 'sjopjaq; sXbajb sabj-i
U9A3 joj }suq;3 qSnojqj paAEs sq Aeiu
Xaq; ;^q; 'ppoAV jtas siq; jo }spuu sq; ui sje
oqM uajpjup siq joj puB 'p^oaqB pasaadsip
9J12 ;Bqi dssqs s^suq^ joj }pas 0} : Xjiuiej
stpjoq aq} joj spiAO-id pui? paaj o; 'qsiuoui
-ajd o; pun 'qo^a; o; p-ioq oq; jo spatJAvajs
puB 'U3imp}EA\. 'SJ3StI3SS3UX 3q 0} 'AL'S 0} s;
ORDINATION OK ELDERS.
79
death, and for whom he shed his blood.
The church and congregation whom you
must serve, is his spouse, and his body. And
if it should happen the same church, or any
member thereof, to take any hurt or hind¬
rance by reason of your negligence, ye know
the greatness of the fault, and also the hor¬
rible punishment that will ensue. Where¬
fore consider within yourselves the end of
the ministry towards the children of God,
towards the spouse and body of Christ, and
see that you never cease your labor, your
care and diligence, until you have done all
that lieth in you, according to your bounden
duty, to bring all such as are, or shall be
committed to your charge unto that agree¬
ment in the faith, and to that ripeness and
perfectness of age in Christ, that there may
be no place left among you, either for error
in religion, or for viciousness in life.
Forasmuch then as your office is both of
so great excellency, and of so great diffi¬
culty, ye see with how great care and study
ye ought to apply yourselves, as well that
ye may show yourselves dutiful and thank¬
ful to that Lord, who hath placed you in so
high a dignity; as also to beware that
neither you yourselves offend, nor be oc¬
casion that others offend. Howbeit,
ye cannot have a mind and will thereunto
So
ordination of elders.
of yourselves; for that will and ability are
given of God alone; therefore ye ought, and
have need, to pray earnestly for his Holy
Spirit. And seeing that ye cannot by any
other means compass the doing of so weighty
a work pertaining to the salvation of man,
but with doctrine and exhortation taken out
of the Holy Scriptures, and with a life
agreeable to the same; consider how studi¬
ous ye ought to be in reading and learning
the Scriptures, and in framing the manners
both of yourselves and of them that special¬
ly pertain unto you, according to the rules
of the same Scriptures; and for this self
same cause, how ye ought to forsake and
set aside, as much as ye may, all worldly
cares and studies.
We have good hope that you have all
weighed and pondered these things with
yourselves long before this time; and that
you have clearly determined, by God's grace
to give yourselves to this office, whereunto
it has pleased God to call you; so that as
much as lieth in you, you will apply your¬
selves wholly to this one thing, and draw
all your cares and studies this way, and that
you will continually pray to God the Father
by the mediation of our only Saviour Jesus
Christ, for the Heavenly assistance of the
Holy Ghost; that by daily reading and
ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 81
weighing of the Scriptures, ye may wax
riper and stronger in your ministry; and
that ye may so endeavor yourselves, from
time to time, to sanctify the lives of you and
yours, and to fashion them after the rule
and doctrine of Christ, that ye may be
wholesome and godly examples and pat¬
terns for the people to follow.
And now, that this present congregation
of Christ here assembled, may also under-,
stand your minds and wills in these things,
and that this your promise may the more
move you to do your duties; ye shall an¬
swer plainly to these things, which we, in
the name of God and his Church shall de¬
mand of you touching the same.
Do you think in your heart, that you are
truly called, according to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to the order of Elders?
Ans. I think so.
The Bishop.—Are you persuaded that the
Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doc¬
trine required of necessity for eternal sal¬
vation through faith in Jesus Christ? And
are you determined, out of the said Scrip¬
tures to instruct the people committed to
your charge, and to teach nothing as requir¬
ed of necessity to salvation, but that which
you shall be persuaded may be concluded
and proved by Scripture?
82
ORDINATION OF ELDERS.
Ans. I am so persuaded, and have so deter¬
mined by God's grace.
The Bishop.—Will you then give your
faithful diligence always so to minister
the doctrine and sacraments and discipline
of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded?
Ans. I will do so, by the help of the Lord.
The Bishop.—Will you be ready, with all
faithful diligence, to banish and drive away
all erroneous and strange doctrines, con¬
trary to God's word; and to use both public
and private monitions and exhortations, as
well to the sick as to the whole within your
charge, as need shall require and occasion
shall be given ?
Ans. I will, the Lord being my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you be diligent in
prayers, and in reading of the Holy Scrip¬
tures, and in such studies as help to the
knowledge of the same, laying aside the
study of the world and the flesh?
Ans. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being
my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you be diligent to
frame and fashion yourselves, and your
families, according to the doctrine of Christ;
and to make both yourselves and them, as
much as in you lieth, wholesome examples
and patterns to the flock of Christ?
ORDINATION OF liLDERS.
83
Ans. I shall apply myself thereto, the Lord
being my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you maintain and set
forth, as much as lieth in you, quietness,
peace and love among all Christian people,
and especially among them that are or shall
be committed to your charge?
Ans. I will do so, the Lord being my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you reverently obey
your chief ministers, unto whom is com¬
mitted the charge and government over
you; following with a glad mind and will
their godly admonitions, submitting your¬
selves to their godly judgments?
Ans. I will do so, the Lord being my helper.
Then shall the Bishop, standing up, say,
Almighty God, who hath given you this
will to do all these things, grant also unto
you strength and power to perform the
same, that he may accomplish his work
which he hath begun in you, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
[After this the congregation shall be desired,
secretly in their prayers to make their humble
supplications to God for all these things, for the
which prayers there shall be silence kept for a
space.]
After which shall be said by the Bishop (the
persons to be ordained elders all kneeling), Veni
Creator Spiritus, the Bishop beginning, and the
elders and others that are present answering by
verse as followeth:
84 ORDIXATloX OF ELDERS.
Come Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire
And lighten with celestial Are.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sev'nfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above,
Is comfort, light, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou art guide no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee of both to be but one;
That through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
That done, the Bishop shall pray in this wise,
and say:
LET US PRAY.
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, who of
thine infinite love and goodness towards us,
hast given us thy only and most dearly be¬
loved son Jesus Christ to be our Redeemer,
and the author of everlasting life; who, af¬
ter he had made perfect our redemption by
his death, and was ascended into heaven,
sent abroad into the world his Apostles,
Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pas¬
tors, by whose labor and ministry he gath-
ordination of elders. 85
ered together a great flock in all parts of the
world, to set forth the eternal praise of thy
holy name; for these so great benefits of
thy eternal goodness, and for that thou hast
vouchsafed to call these thy servants here
present, to the same office and ministry ap¬
pointed for the salvation of mankind, we
render unto thee most hearty thanks; we
praise and worship thee; and we humbly
beseech thee by the same, thy blessed Son,
to grant unto all, who either here or else¬
where call upon thy name, that we may
continue to show ourselves thankful unto
thee for these and all thy other benefits, and
that we may daily increase and go forward
in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy
Son, by the Holy Spirit. So that as well
by these thy ministers as by them over
whom they shall be appointed thy ministers,
thy holy name may be forever glorified, and
thy blessed kingdom enlarged through the
same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity
of the same Holy Spirit, world without end.
Amen.
When this prayer is done, the Bishop with the
elders present shall lay their hands severally upon
the head of every one that receiveth the order of
elders, the receivers humbly kneeling upon their
knee?, and the Bishop saying:
The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Ghost
86
ORDINATION OF ELDERS.
for the office and work of an elder in the
Church of God, now committed unto thee
by the imposition of our hands. And be thou
a faithful dispenser of the word of God,
and of his holy sacraments; in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then the Bishop shall deliver to every one of
them, kneeling, the Bible into his hands, saying:
Take thou authority to preach the word
of God, and to administer the holy sacra¬
ment in the congregation.
The Bishop shall go on in the service of the
•communion, which all they who receive orders
shall take together, and remain in the same place
"where hands were laid upon them, until such
times as they have received the communion.
The communion being done, after the last col¬
lect and immediately before the benediction, shall
"be said these collects :
Collects.
Most merciful Father, we beseech thee to
send upon these thy servants thy heavenly
blessings, that they may be clothed with
righteousness, and that thy word spoken
by their mouths may never be spoken in
vain. Grant also, that we may have grace
to hear and receive what they shall deliver
•out of thy most holy word, or agreeably to
the same, as the means of our salvation; and
ordination of elders.
87
that in all our words and deeds we may
seek thy glory, and the increase of thy
kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings, with
thy most gracious favor, and further us with
thy continual help, that in all our works,
begun, continued, and ended in thee, we
may glorify thy holy name, and finally by
thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The peace of God which passeth all un¬
derstanding, keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God, and of
his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: and the
blessing of God Almighty the Father, the
Son and the Holy Ghost, be among you and
remain with you always. Amen.
If on the same day, the order of deacons be
given to some, and that of elders to others, the
deacons shall be first presented, and then the eld¬
ers. The collects shall be both used; first that for
deacons, then that for elders. The Epistle shall
be, Eph. iv. 7 to 13. as before in this office. Im¬
mediately after which they that are to be ordained
deacons shall be examined and ordained, as above
prescribed.
Then one of the elders having read the Gospel,
which shall be St. John x. 1-16, as before in this
office, they that are to be ordained elders, shall
likewise be examined and ordained, as in this
office before appointed.
88
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
CHAPTER III.
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
1 ht following prayer shall be offered by the
4icip:
Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus
Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles, many
excellent gifts, and didst charge them to
feed thy flock: give grace, we beseech thee,
to all the Ministers and Pastors of thy
Church, that they may diligently preach thy
word, and duly minister the godly discipline
thereof; and grant to the people that they
may obediently follow the same; that all
may receive the crown of everlasting glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall be read by one of the elders, the
F.pistle, Acts xx. 17-35.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus, and
called the elders of the Church. And when
they were come to him he said unto them,
Ye know, from the first day that I came
into Asia, after what manner I have been
with you at all seasons, serving the Lord
with all humility of mind, and with many
tears, and temptations, which befell me by
the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS. 8t)
kept back nothing that was profitable unto
you, but have showed you, and have taught
you publicly, and from house to house testi¬
fying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now
behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jeru¬
salem, not knowing the things that shall be¬
fall me there : save that the Holy Ghost wit-,
nesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me. But none of these
things move me, neither count I my life
dear unto myself, so that I might finish
my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to
testify the gospel of the grace of God. And
now, behold, I know that ye all, among
whom I have gone preaching the kingdom
of God, shall see my face no more. Where¬
fore I take you to record this day, that I am
pure from the blood of all men. For I
have not shunned to declare unto you all
the counsel of God. Take heed, therefore,
unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over
which the Holy Ghost hath made you over¬
seers, to feed the Church of God, which he
hath purchased with his own blood. For
I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock. Also of your own selves
go ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
shall men arise, speaking perverse things
to draw away disciples after them. There¬
fore, watch, and remember, that by the
space of three years, I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears. And
now, brethren, I commend you to God, and
to the word of his grace, which is able to
build you up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified. I
have coveted no man's silver or gold, or
apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these
hands have ministered unto my necessities,
and to them that were with me. I have
showed you all things, how that so laboring
ye ought to support the weak, and to re¬
member the words of the Lord Jesus, how
he said, it is more blessed to give than to
receive.
Then another elder shall read the Gospel, St.
John xxi. 15-17.
Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou know-
est that I love thee. He saith unto him
Feed my lambs. He saith unto him
again, the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith
unto him the third time, Simon, Son of
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS. 91
Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved
because he said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest all things; thou know-
est that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him,
feed my sheep.
Or this, Matthew xxviii. 18-20.
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all na¬
tions, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost; teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you; and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world.
After the gospel and the sermon are ended, the
elected person shall be presented by the two-
Elders unto the Bishop, saying,
Reverend Father in God, we present unto
you this holy man to be ordained a Bishop.
Then the Bishop shall move the congregation
present to prayer, saying thus to them:
Brethren, it is written in the Gospel of
St. Luke, that our Saviour Christ contin¬
ued the whole night in prayer, before he
chose and sent forth his twelve apostles. It
is written also in the Acts of the Apostles,
that the disciples who were at Antioch did
fast and pray before they laid hands on
8
>92 ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
Paul and Barnabas and sent them forth.
Let us therefore, following the examples of
■our Saviour Christ, and his apostles first fall
to prayer before we admit and send forth
this person presented to us to the work
whereunto we trust the Holy Ghost hath
called him.
Then shall be said this prayer following:
Almighty God, Giver of all good things,
who, by thy Holy Spirit, hast appointed div¬
ers orders of ministers in thy church, mer¬
cifully behold this thy servant, now called
to the work and ministry of a Bishop and
replenish him so with the truth of thy
doctrine, and adorn him so with innocency
of life, that, both by word and deed, he may
faithfully serve thee in this office, to the
glory of thy name, and the edifying and the
well governing of thy church, through
the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the
Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then the Bishop shall say to him that is to be
ordained:
Brother, forasmuch as the Holy Scrip¬
tures command that we should not be hasty
in laying on hands, and admitting any per¬
son to government in the church of Christ,
which he hath purchased with no less price
than the effusion of his own blood; before
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS. 93
we admit you to this administration, we will
examine you in certain articles, to the end
that the congregation present may have a
fair trial, and bear witness how you are
minded to behave yourself in the church of
God.
The Bishop.—Are you persuaded that
you are truly called to this ministration ac¬
cording to the will of Qiir Lord Jesus
Christ ?
Ans. I am so persuaded.
The Bishop.—Are you persuaded that the
Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all
doctrine required of necessity to eternal
salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ?
And are you determined, out of the same
Holy Scriptures, to instruct the people com¬
mitted to your charge, and to teach and
maintain nothing as required of necessity
to eternal salvation, but that which you.
shall be persuaded may be concluded and
proved by the same?
Ans. I am so persuaded and so determined,
by God's grace.
The Bishop.—Will you then faithfully
exercise yourself in the same Holy Scrip¬
tures, and call upon God, by prayer for the
true understanding of the same, so that you
may be able by them, to teach and exhort
94 ordination of bishops.
-with wholesome doctrine, and to withstand
and convince gainsayers?
Ans. I will do so, by the help of God.
The Bishop.—Are you ready with faith¬
ful diligence to banish and drive away all
erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to
God's word, and both privately and openly
to call upon and encourage others to do the
same ?
Ans. I am readv, the Lord being my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you deny all ungod¬
liness and worldly lusts, and live righteous¬
ly, soberly, and godly in this present world,
that you may show yourself in all things
an example of good works unto others, that
the adversary may be ashamed, having
nothing to say against you?
Ans. I will do so, the Lord being my helper.
The Bishop.—Will you maintain and set
forward, as much as shall lie in you, quiet¬
ness, love, and peace among all men; and
such as shall be unquiet, disobedient, and
criminal, correct and punish, according to
such authority as you have by God's word,
and as shall be committed unto you?
Ans. I will do so, by the help of God.
The Bishop.—Will you be faithful in
ordaining, sending, or laying hands upon
others ?
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
95
Ans. I will do so, by the help of God.
The Bishop.—Will you show yourself
gentle and merciful, for Christ's sake, to
the poor and needy people, and to all
strangers destitute of help ?
Ans. I will so show myself, by God's help.
Then the Bishop shall say:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who
hath given you a good will to do all these
things, grant also unto you strength and
power to perform the same; that he may
accomplish in you the good work which
he hath begun, that you may be found per¬
fect and irreprehensible at the last day;
through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth
and reigneth forever. Amen.
Then shall be said:
Veni, Creator, Spiritus.
Come Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,_
Who dost thy sev'nfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above.
Is comfort, light and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou art guide no ill can come.
g6 ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee of both to be but one;
That through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ■
That ended, the Bishop shall say:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Ans. And let our cry come unto thee.
The Bishop.—Let us pray.
Almighty God, and most merciful Father,
who, of thine infinite goodness, hast given
thine only and dearly beloved Son Jesus
Christ to be our Redeemer, and the author
of everlasting life; who, after that he had
made perfect our redemption by his death,
and was ascended into heaven, poured down
his gifts abundantly upon men, making
some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evan¬
gelists, some Pastors and Teachers, to the
edifying and making perfect his Church:
grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant,
such grace, that he may be evermore ready
to spread abroad thy gospel, the glad tid¬
ings of reconciliation with thee, and use
"the authority given him, not to destruction,
but to salvation: not to hurt, but to help;
so that as a wise and faithful servant, giv¬
ing. to thy; family their portion in due sea¬
son, he may at last be received into ever-
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS. 97
lasting joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth
and reigneth, one God, world without end.
Amen.
Then the Bishop and Elders present shall lay
their hands upon the head of the elected person,
kneeling before them upon his knees, the Bishop'
saying :
The Lord pour upon thee the Holy
Spirit, for the office and work of a Bishop
in the church of God, now committed unto-
thee, by the imposition of our hands, in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And remember
that thou stir up the grace of God, which
is given thee, by the imposition of our
hands; for God hath not given us the spirit
of fear, but of power, and love, and
soberness.
Then the Bishop shall deliver him the Bible,,
saying:
Give heed unto reading, exhortation,,
and doctrine. Think upon the things con¬
tained in this book. Be diligent in themr
that the increase coming thereby may be
manifest unto all men. Take heed unto
thyself, and to thy doctrine; for by so
doing thou shalt both save thyself and
them that hear thee. Be to the flock of
Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them,
9 8
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS.
devour them not. Hold up the weak, heal
the sick, bind up the broken, bring again
the outcasts, seek the lost: be so merciful
that you may not be too remiss; so minis¬
ter discipline that you forget not mercy;
that when the chief Shepherd shall appear,
you may receive the never-fading crown of
glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[Then the Bishop shall administer the Lord's
Supper; with whom the newly ordained Bishop,
and all others present, shall communicate.]
Immediately before the benediction, shall be
said the following prayer:
Most merciful Father, we beseech thee
to send down upon this thy servant thy
heavenly blessing, and so endue him with
thy Holy Spirit, that he, preaching thy
word, may not only be earnest to reprove,
beseech, and rebuke with all patience and
•doctrine, but also may be to such as believe,
a wholesome example in word, in conversa¬
tion, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in
purity; that faithfully fulfilling his course,
at the latter day he may receive the crown
of righteousness laid up by the Lord, the
righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth
one God with the Father and the Holy
Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with
ORDINATION OF BISHOPS. 99
thy most gracious favor, and further us
with thy continual help, that in all our
works, begun, continued, and ended in
thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and
finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting
life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God, and of
his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the
blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you,
atid remain with you always. Amen.
ioo
BAPTISM.
CHAPTER IV.
Baptism.
i. Baptism of Infants.
[i. Let every adult person, and the parents of
every child to be baptized, have their choice of
either immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. But in
no case shall our ministers re-baptize any person.
And if any knowingly violate this prohibition, he
shall be subject to suspension or location as the
Annual Conference may judge.
2. We will on no account whatever make a
charge for administering baptism, or for burying
the dead].
The minister coming to the font, which is to be
filled with pure water, shall use the following, or
some other suitable exhortation:
Dearly Beloved, forasmuch as all men are
conceived and born in sin, and that our
Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into
the kingdom of God, except he be regen¬
erated and born anew of water and of the
Holy Ghost, I beseech you to call upon God
the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ,
that of his bounteous mercy he will grant
to this child that thing which by nature he
cannot have; that he may be baptized with
water and the Holy Ghost, and received into
BAPTISM.
IOL
Christ's holy Church, and be made a lively
member of the same.
Then shall the minister sav:
LET US PRAY.
Almighty and Everlasting God, who of
thy great mercy didst save Noah and his
family in the ark, from perishing by water,,
and also didst safely lead the children of
Israel, thy people, through the Red Sea,
figuring thereby thy holy baptism; and by
the baptism of thy well beloved Son Jesus
Christ, in the river of Jordan, didst sanctify
water for this holy sacrament, we beseech
thee of thine infinite mercies, that thout
wouldst look upon this child; wash him,.
and sanctify him, with the Holy Ghost, that
he being received into the ark of Christ's
Church, and being steadfast in faith, joy¬
ful through hope,, and rooted in love, may
so pass the waves of this troublesome world,,
that finally he may come to the land of ever¬
lasting life; there to reign with thee, world:
without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O merciful God, grant that the old Adam
in this child may be so buried, that the new
man may be raised in him. Amen.
Grant that all carnal affections mav die
in him, and that all things belonging to the-
102
BAPTISM.
Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen.
Grant that he may have power and
strength to have victor)7, and to triumph
against the devil, the world, and the flesh.
Amen.
Grant that whosoever is dedicated to thee
by our office and ministry, may also be en¬
dued with heavenly virtues, and everlast¬
ingly rewarded through thy mercy, 0
blessed Lord God, who dost live and govern
all things, world without end. Amen.
Almighty, Everlasting God, whose most
dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the
forgiveness of our sins, didst shed out of
Ihis most precious side both water and blood,
and gave commandment to his disciples, that
they should go teach all nations, and bap¬
tize them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; regard,
we beseech thee, the supplications of thy
congregation. Sanctify this water for this
holy sacrament; and grant that this child,
now to be baptized, may receive the fulness
of thy grace, and ever remain in the number
of thy faithful and elect children, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the minister address the Parents or
Guardians in this wise:
Dearly Beloved: Forasmuch as this
BAPTISM.
child is now presented by you for Christian
baptism, you must remember that it is your
part and duty to see that he be taught as
soon as he shall be able to learn, the nature
and end of this holy sacrament. And that
he may know these things the better, you
shall call upon him to give regular attend¬
ance upon the appointed means of grace,
such as the ministry of the Word and the
public and private worship of God; and
further, you shall provide that he shall read
the Holy Scriptures, and learn the Lord's
Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the
Apostles' Creed, the Catechism, and alt
other things which a Christian ought to
know and believe to his soul's health in or¬
der that he may be brought up to lead a
virtuous and holy life, remembering always
that baptism doth represent unto us that in¬
ward purity which disposeth us to follow
the example of our Saviour Christ; that as
he died and rose again for us, so should we
who are baptized, die unto sin and rise
again unto righteousness, continually mor¬
tifying all corrupt affections, and daily pro¬
ceeding in all virtue and godliness.
Do you therefore solemnly engage to ful¬
fill these duties, so far as it lieth in your
power, the Lord being your helper ?
Ans. We do.
104
B4.PTISM.
Then shall the people stand up ,and the minister
■shall say,
Hear the words of the Gospel written
by St. Mark, in the tenth chapter, at the
thirteenth verse:
They brought young children to Christ,
that he should touch them. And his disci¬
ples rebuked those that brought them. But
when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased,
and said unto them, Suffer the little children
to come unto me, and forbid them not, for
•of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, I
say unto you, whosoever shall not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall
not enter therein. And he took them up
in his arms, put his hands upon them, and
blessed them.
Then the minister shall take the child into his
"hands, and say to the friends of the child,
NAME THIS CHILD.
And then naming it after them, he shall sprinkle
or pour water upon it, or if desired, immerse it in
water, saying:
N, I baptize thee in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
Then shall be said, all kneeling:
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed
fee thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
BAPTISM.
!05
Give us this day our daily bread. And for¬
give us our trespasses, as we forgive those
that trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Then shall the minister conclude with an ex¬
temporaneous prayer.
2. Baptism of Adults.
The minister shall use the following, or some
other suitable exhortation:
Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men
are conceived and born in sin; and that
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and they
that are in the flesh cannot please God, but
live in sin,committing many actual transgres¬
sions; and our Saviour Christ saith, None
can enter into the kingdom of God, except
he be regenerated and born anew of water
and of the Holy Ghost, and received into
Christ's holy Church, and be made a lively
member of the same; I beseech you to
call upon God the Father, through our Lord
Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous good¬
ness he will grant unto these persons that
which by nature they cannot have; that they
may be baptized with water and the Holy
Ghost.
Then shall the minister say:
Almighty and Immortal God, the aider
of all that need, the helper of all that flee
io6
l'.Al'TISAf.
to thee for succor, the life of them that be¬
lieve, and the resurrection of the dead; we
call upon thee for these persons, that they,
coming to thy holy baptism, may receive
the remission of their sins by spiritual re¬
generation. Receive them, O Lord, as thou
hast promised by thy well beloved Son,
saying, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you : So give now unto us that
ask; let us that seek find; open the gate
unto us that knock; that these persons may
enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy
heavenly washing, and may come to the
eternal kingdom which thou hast promised
by Christ our Lord. Amen.
After which the minister shall say:
Almighty and Everlasting God, Heavenly
Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that
thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the
knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee;
increase this knowledge and confirm this
faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit
to these persons, that they may be born
again, and made heirs of everlasting salva¬
tion, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Spirit now and forever. Amen.
Then shall the people stand up, and the minister
shall say:
BAPTISM.
107
Hear the words of the gospel written by
St. John in the third chapter, beginning at
the first verse:
There was a man of the Pharisees, named
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same
came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher
come from God; for no man can do the
miracles that thou doest, except God be
with him. Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except
a man be born again, he cannot see the king¬
dom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old?
Can he enter the second time into his
mother's womb, and be born? Jesus an¬
swered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, ex¬
cept a man be born of water and of the
Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh,
and whither it goeth: so is every one that
is born of the Spirit.
Then shall the minister speak to the person to
be baptized on this wise:
Well Beloved, who are come hither de-
9
io8
BAPTISM.
siring to receive holy baptism, ye have
heard how the congregation hath prayed
that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouch¬
safe to receive you, and bless you, to release
you of your sins, to give you the kingdom
of heaven and everlasting life. And our
Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his
holy word to grant all those things we have
prayed for: which promise he, for his part,
will most surely keep and perform.
Wherefore, after this promise made by
Christ, you must also faithfully, on your
part, promise in the presence of this whole
congregation, that you will renounce the
devil and all his works, and constantly be¬
lieve God's word, and obediently keep his
commandments.
Then shall the minister demand of each of the
persons to be baptized:
Ques. Dost thou renounce the devil and
all his works, the vain pomp and glory of
the world, with all covetous desires of the
flesh; so that thou wilt not follow, nor be
led by them ?
Ans. I renounce them all.
Ques. Dost thou believe in God the
Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only begot¬
ten Son, our Lord; And that he was con¬
ceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Vir-
BAPTISM.
109
gin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that
he rose again the third day; that he ascend¬
ed into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty; and from
thence shall come again at the end of the
world, to judge the quick and the dead?
And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Holy Catholic Church,* the communion
of saints, the remission of sin, the resur¬
rection of the body, and everlasting life
after death?
Aiis. All this I steadfastly believe.
Ques. Wilt thou be baptized in this
faith?
Ans. This is my desire.
Ones. Wilt thou then obediently keep
God's holy will and commandments, and
walk in the same all the days of thy life?
Ans. I will endeavor to do so, God being my
helper.
The Collects.
Then shall the minister say:
O merciful God, grant that the old Adam
in these persons may be so buried, that the
new man may be raised in them. Amen.
* The Church Universal, and not the Papal
Church of Rome.
no
BAPTISM.
Grant that all carnal affections may die
in them and that all things belonging to
the Spirit may live and grow in them.
Amen.
. Grant that they may have power and
strength to have victory, and triumph
against the devil, the world, and the flesh.
Amen.
Grant that they being here dedicated to
thee by our office and ministry, may also
be endued with heavenly virtues, and ever¬
lastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, 0
blessed Lord God, who dost live, and gov¬
ern all things, world without end. Amen.
Almighty, Everliving God, whose most
dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the
forgiveness of our sins, didst shed out of
his most precious side both water and blood;
and gave commandment to his disciples,
that they should go teach all nations, bap¬
tizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; regard,
we beseech thee, the supplications of this
congregation; and grant that the persons
now to be baptized may receive the fulness
of thy grace, and ever remain in the number
of thy faithful and elect children, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the minister take each person to be
BAPTISM.
Ill
baptized, by the right hand, and placing him con¬
veniently by the font, according to his discretion,
shall ask the name: and then shall sprinkle or
pour water upon him, (or if they desire, shall
immerse them in water), saying:
N, I baptize thee in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneel¬
ing.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed
be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And for¬
give us our trespasses as we forgive them
that trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Then let the minister conclude with an extem¬
porary prayer.
112
receiv] xg members.
CHAPTER V.
Receiving Members,
i. Receiving on Probation.
On profession of saving faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ or the declaration of a desire
to flee the wrath to come and be saved from
sin, persons may be received into the church
and placed under wise leaders, subject to a
probation of three months. At the expira¬
tion of this time, on profession of the en¬
joyment of covenant relations with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, and being
recommended by their leader, they are ad¬
mitted to full membership. But should
their leader represent them as unworthy
and an examination confirm his judgment,
they may be discontinued without formal
trial.
2. Receiving into Full Membership.
*
Upon the day appointed, all that are to be re¬
ceived shall be called forward, and the minister
addressing the congregation shall say:
Dearly Beloved Brethren: The Scriptures
teach us that the Church is the household
RECEIVING MEMBERS. II3
of God, the body of which Christ is the
Head; and that it is the design of the Gos¬
pel to bring together in one, all who are
Christ's. The fellowship of the Church is
the communion that its members enjoy one
with another. The ends of this fellowship
are, the maintenance of sound doctrine, and
of the ordinances of Christian worship, and
the exercise of that power of Godly ad¬
monition and discipline which Christ has
committed to his Church for the promotion
of holiness. It is the duty of all men to
unite in this fellowship; for it is only those
that "be planted in the house of the Lord,"
that "shall flourish in the courts of our
God." Its more particular duties are, to
promote peace and unity; to bear one
another's burdens; to prevent each other's
stumbling; to seek the intimacy of friendly
society among themselves; to continue
steadfast in the faith and worship of the
Gospel, and to pray and sympathize with
each other. Among its privileges are; pe¬
culiar incitements to holiness from the hear¬
ing of God's Word, and sharing Christ's
ordinances, the being placed under the
watchful care of Pastors, and the enjoy¬
ment of the blessings which are promised
only to those which are of the household
of faith. Into this holy fellowship the per-
ii4
RECEIVING MEMBERS.
sons before you, who have already received
the sacrament of Baptism, and have been
under the care of proper leaders for three
months on trial, come seeking admission.
We now propose, in the fear of God, to
question them as to their faith and pur¬
poses, that you may know that they are
proper persons to be admitted into the
Church.
Then addressing the applicants for admission,
the minister shall say:
Dearly Beloved: You are come hither
seeking the great privilege of union with
the Church our Saviour has purchased with
his own blood. We rejoice in the grace of
God, vouchsafed unto you, in that he has
called you to be his followers, and that thus
far you have run well. You have heard
how blessed are the privileges and how sol¬
emn are the duties of membership in
Christ's Church, and before you are fully
admitted thereto, it is proper that you do
here publicly renew your vows, coniess
your faith, and declare your purpose, by
answering the following questions:
Ques. i. Do you here in the presence of
God.and of this congregation, renew the
solemn promise contained in the Baptismal
Covenant, ratifying and confirming the
same, and acknowledging yourselves bound
RECEIVING MEMBERS. 115
faithfully to observe and keep that covenant,
and all things contained therein ?
Ans. I do.
Ques. 2. Have you saving faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ?
Ans. I trust I have.
Ques. 3. Do you entertain friendly feel¬
ings towards all the members of this
Church ?
Ans. I do.
Ques. 4. Do ypu believe in the doctrines
of Holy Scriptures as set forth in the ar¬
ticles of religion of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church?
Ans. I do.
Ques. 5. Will you cheerfully be governed
by the Discipline of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, hold sacred the ordi¬
nances of God, and endeavor, as much as in
you lies, tq promote the welfare of your
brethren and the advancement of the Re¬
deemer's kingdom?
Ans. I will.
Ques. 6. Will you contribute of your
earthly substance according to your ability,
to the support of the Gospel, Church, and
Poor, and the various benevolent enterprises
of the Church?
116 RECEIVING MEMBERS.
Ans. I will.
Then the minister, addressing the church, shall
say:
Brethren: You have heard the responses
given to our inquiries. Have any of you
any reason to allege why these persons
should not be received into full membership
in the church?
No objection being alleged, the minister shall
say to the candidate:
We welcome you to the communion of
the church of God; and, in testimony of
our Christian affection and the cordiality
with which we receive you, I hereby extend
to you the right hand of fellowship, and
may God grant that you may be a faithful
and useful member of the church militant,
till you are called to the fellowship of the
church triumphant, which is without fault
before the presence of God.
3. Receiving by Certificate.
Persons bearing certificates of member¬
ship from our Church or other orthodox
churches, on acceptance of said certificates,
may be received into our Church and en¬
rolled as members. Those from other than
Methodist connections shall be taken
through the formula for admission to full
membership.
t.ord's supper.
117
CHAPTER VI.
The Lord's Supper.
Those persons who have scruples about
cneeling to receive the Lord's Supper may
;>e permitted to receive it whilst either sit¬
ing or standing. Let no person who is not
a member of our society be admitted to the
Supper without examination and some
tokens given by an Elder or a Deacon. No
person shall be admitted to the Supper
among us who is guilty of any practice for
which we would exclude a member from our
Church.
The Elder shall say one or more of these sen¬
tences :
Let your light so shine before men that
they may see your good works and glorify
your Father which is in heaven. Matt, v,
16.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal. Matt. vi. 19, 20.
il8 lord's supper.
Whatsoever ye would that men should
•do to you, do ye even so to them; for this
is the law and the prophets. Matt. vii. 12.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. Matt. vii. 21.
Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord,
Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give
to the poor; and if I have taken anything
from any man by false accusation, I restore
him fourfold. Luke xix. 8.
He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully
shall reap also bountifully. Every man, ac¬
cording as he purposeth in his own heart,
so let him give; not grudgingly, nor of ne¬
cessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us
do good unto all men, especially unto them
who are of the household of faith. Gal.
vi. 10.
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1
Tim. vi. 6, 7.
Charge them that are rich in this world
that they be not high-minded, nor trust in
lord's supper.
uncertain riches, but in the living God; who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that
they do good; that they be rich in good
works, ready to distribute, willing to com¬
municate ; laying up in store for themselves
a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life, i
■Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.
God is not unrighteous to forget your
work and labor of love, which ye have show¬
ed toward his name, in that ye have min¬
istered to the saints, and do minister. Heb.
-vi. 10.
To do good and to communicate, forget
-not; for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased. Heb. xiii. 16.
Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth
his brother have need, and shutteth up his
bowels of compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John
iii. 17.
He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth
unto the Lord; and that which he hath
g^iven, will lie pay him again. Prov. xix. 17.
[While these sentences are in reading, some _ fit
Dersons, appointed for that purpose, shall receive
:he aim's for the poor, and other donations of the
Deople, in decent basins, provided for that pur¬
pose, and then bring it to the Elder, who shall-
:>lace it upon the table].
120
lord's supper.
After which the Elder shall say:
Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of
your sins, and are in love and charity with
your neighbor, and intend to lead a new
life, following the commandments of God,
and walking from henceforth in his holy
ways, draw near with faith, and take this
holy sacrament to your comfort; and make
your humble- confession to Almighty God,
meekly kneeling upon your knees.
[Then shall this general confession be made by
the minister in the name of all those that are
minded to receive the Holy Communion, both he
and all the people kneeling humbly upon their
knees, and saying, all together] :
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all
men, we acknowledge and bewail our mani¬
fold sins and wickedness, which we from
time to time, most grievously have commit¬
ted, by thought, word and deed, against thy
divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy
wrath and indignation against us. We do
earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for
these our misdoings: the remembrance of
them is grievous unto us.
Have mercy upon us, most merciful
Father; for thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ's
sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant
that we may hereafter serve and please thee
lord's supper.
121
in newness of life, to the honor and glory
of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
First Collect.
Then shall the Elder say:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who
of thy great mercy hast promised forgive¬
ness of sins to all them that with hearty
repentance and true faith turn unto thee,
have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us
from all our sins; confirm and strengthen
us in all goodness; and bring us to ever¬
lasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Second Collect.
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are
open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our
hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and
worthily magnify thv holy name through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the Elder say:
It is very meet, right, and our bounden
duty, that we should at all times, and in all
places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy
Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.
Therefore, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven, we laud
122
lord's supper.
and magnify thy holy name—evermore
praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth are
full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord
most high. Amen.
Then shall the Elder say:
We do not presume to come to this thy
table. O merciful Lord, trusting in our
own righteousness, but in thy manifold and
great mercies. We are not worthy so much
as to gather the crumbs under thy table.
But thou art the same Lord, whose property
is always to have mercy. Grant us, there¬
fore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of
thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his
blood, that our sinful souls and bodies may
be made clean by his death and washed
through his blood; and that we may ever¬
more dwell in him and he in us. Amen.
Then the Elder shall say the prayer of conse¬
cration as follows:
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who
of thy tender mercy didst give thine only
Son, Jesus Christ to suffer death on the
cross for our redemption; who made there,
by his oblation of himself once offered, a
full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, obla¬
tion and satisfaction for the sins of the
whole world; and did institute, and in his
holy gospel command us to continue, a
lord's supper.
123
perpetual memory of that his precious death
until his coming again: hear us, O merciful
Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and
grant that we, receiving these thy creatures
of bread and wine, according to thy Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution,
in remembrance of his death and passion,
may be partakers of his most blessed body
and blood; who in the
same night that he was.^1) Here ^ ^Mer
,, J i 1 U J IS to take the plate
betrayed, took bread ;3f bread int0 his
(1) and when he had hand.
given thanks, he brake
it, (2) andgaveittohis^And to
disciples, saying, 1 ake,
eat; this (3) is my body (3) And here to
which is broken for you. lay his hand upon
This do in remembrancebread-
of me. Likewise after (4). Here he is t0
supper he took (4) the take the cup into his
cup; and when he had hand,
given thanks he gave it
to them saying, Drink ye (s) And here t(>
all of'it, for this (5) is lay his hand upon
my blood of the New all the vessels con-
Testament, which is shedtainins the wine-
for you, and for many,
for the remission of sins; do this, as often
as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.
Amen.
10
124
lord's supper.
Then shall the minister first receive the com¬
munion in both kinds himself, and then proceed
to deliver the same to the other ministers in like
manner, (if any be present), and after that to the
people in order, into their hands. And when he
delivereth the bread he shall say:
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
was given for thee, preserve thy soul and
body unto everlasting life. Take and eat
this in remembrance that Christ died for
thee, and feed on him in thy heart by
faith, with thanksgiving.
And the minister that delivereth the cup shall
say:
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which was shed for thee, preserve thy soul
and body unto everlasting life. Drink this
in remembrance that Christ's blood was
shed for thee, and be thankful.
[If the consecrated bread and wine be all spent
before all have commemorated the Elder may
consecrate more by repeating the prayer of con¬
secration.]
[When all have commemorated, the minister
•shall return to the Lord's table and place upon it
what remaineth of the consecrated elements, cov¬
ering the same with a clean linen cloth.]
Then shall the Elder say the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed
be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And for-
lord's supper.
125
give us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation; but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom, the power, and
the glory, forever. Amen.
After which shall be said as follows:
O Lord, our heavenly Father, we thy
humble servants, desire thy fatherly good¬
ness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice
of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly
beseeching thee to grant, that, by the merits
and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and
through faith in his blood, we and thy
whole church may obtain remission of our
sins, and all other benefits of his passion.
And here wc offer and present unto thee,
O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to
be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice
unto thee; humbly beseeching thee that
all we who are partakers of this holy com¬
munion, may be filled with thy grace and
heavenly benediction. And although we
be unworthy, through our manifold sins,
to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we be¬
seech thee to accept this, our bounden duty
and service; not weighing our merits, but
pardoning our offences, through Jesus
Christ our Lord; by whom and with whom,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor
126
lord's supper.
and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty,
world without end. Amen.
Then shall be said :
Glory be to God on high, and on earth
peace, good-will towards men. We praise
thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we
glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy
great glory, O Lord God, Heavenly King,
God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son Jesus
Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of
the Father, that takest away the sins of the
world, have mercy upon us. Thou that
takest away the sins of the world, receive
our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right
hand of God the Father, have mercy upon
us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art
the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the
Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of
God the Father. Amen.
Then the Elder, if he see it expedient, may put
up an extemporary prayer; and afterward shall
let the people depart with this blessing:
May the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and
the blessing of God Almighty, the Father,
solemnization of matrimony. 12/
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you
and remain with you always. Amen.
If the Elder be straitened for time, he may omit
any part of the service, except the prayer of con¬
secration.
CHAPTER VII.
Solemnization of Matrimony.
First, the bans of all that are to be married
together, must be published in the congregation
three several Sundays in the time of divine ser¬
vice, unless they be otherwise qualified according
to law, the minister saying, after the accustomed
manner:
I publish these bans of marriage between
M of and N of . If any of
you know just cause or impediment why
these two persons should not be joined to¬
gether in holy matrimony, you are to de¬
clare it. This is the first, (second, or third)
time of asking.
At the day and time appointed for the solemni¬
zation, the persons to be married standing to¬
gether, the man on the right side and the woman
on the left, the minister shall say :
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together
here in the sight of God, and in the presence
of these witnesses, to join together this man
and this woman in holy matrimony; which
128 SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.
is an honorable estate, instituted by God in
the time of man's innocency, signifying un¬
to us the mystical union which is between
Christ and his Church; which holy estate
Christ adorned and beautified with his pres¬
ence, and first miracle that he wrought at
Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St.
Paul to be honorable among all men, and
therefore not by any to be entered upon or
taken in hand unadvisedly, but reverently,
discreetlv, advisedly, and in the fear of
God.
Into which holy estate these persons come
now to be joined. Therefore if any can
show any just cause why they may not
lawfully be joined together, let him now
speak, or else hereafter forever hold his
peace.
And also speaking to the persons that are to be
married, he shall say:
I require and charge you both, as you will
answer at the dreadful day of judgment,
when the secrets of all hearts shall be dis¬
closed that if either of you know any im¬
pediment why you may not be lawfully
joined together in matrimony, you do now
confess it; for be ye well assured that so
many as are coupled together otherwise
than God's word shall allow, are not joined
SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. I2Q,
together by God, neither is their matrimony
lawful.
If no impediment shall be alleged, then shalL
the minister say unto the man:
M Wilt thou have this woman to be
thy wedded wife, to live together after
God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matri¬
mony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her,,
honor and keep her, in sickness and in
health, and forsaking all others, keep thee
only unto her, as long as ye both shall
live?
The man shall answer, I will.
Then shall the minister say unto the woman r
N Wilt thou have this man to be thy
wedded husband, to live together after
God's ordinance in the holy estate of matri¬
mony? Wilt thou obey him, serve him,
love him, honor and keep him, in sickness
and in health; and forsaking all others,
keep thee only unto him so long as ye both
shall live?
The woman shall answer, I will.
Then the minister shall cause the man with his
right hand to take the woman by her right hand,
and to say after him as follows:
I, M, take thee N, to be my wedded wife,
to have and to hold, from this day for¬
ward, for better, for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love
I30 SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.
and to cherish till death do us part, ac¬
cording to God's holy ordinance; and
thereto I plight thee my faith.
Then they shall loose their hands, and the
woman with her right hand, taking the man by
his right hand, shall likewise say after the minis¬
ter :
I, N, take thee M, to be my wedded hus¬
band, to have and to hold, from this day for¬
ward, for better, for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love,
cherish and to obey, till death do us part, ac¬
cording to God's holy ordinance; and
therto I plight thee my faith.
Then shall the minister say, let us pray.
O, Eternal God, Creator, Preserver of
all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the
author of everlasting life; send thy blessing
upon these thy servants, this man and this
woman, whom we-bless in thy name; that as
Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together,
so these persons may surely perform and
keep the vow and covenant betwixt them
made, and may ever remain in perfect love
and peace together, and live according to
thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
If the parties desire it, the man shall here hand
a ring to the minister, who shall return it to hint,
and direct him to place it on the third finger of
SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. I31
he woman's left hand. And the man shall say to
he woman, repeating after the minister:
With this ring I thee wed, and with my
worldly goods I thee endow, in the name
3f the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then shall the minister join their right hands
together and say:
Those whom God hath joined together,
let no man put asunder.
Forasmuch as M and N have consented
to live together in holy wedlock and have
witnessed the same before God and this
company, and thereto have pledged their
faith to each other, and have declared
the same by joining hands: I pronounce
that they are man and wife together, in
the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
And the minister shall add this blessing.
God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve and keep
you; the Lord mercifully with his favor
look upon you and so fill you with all spir¬
itual benediction and grace, that you may
so live together in this life, that in the
world to come ye may have life everlasting.
Amen.
Then shall the minister say:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed
132 SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.
be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And for¬
give us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation; but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom, the power, and
the glory, forever. Amen.
Then shall the minister sav:
O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of
Jacob, bless this man and woman, and sow
the seeds of eternal life in their hearts,
that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall
profitably learn, they may indeed fulfill the
same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon
them from heaven and bless them. And as
thou didst send thy blessings upon Abra¬
ham and Sarah, to their great comfort,
so vouchsafe to send thy blessings upon
this man and this woman, that they obeying
thy will, and always being in safety under
thy protection, may abide in thy love unto
their lives' end, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
O God, who by thy mighty power hast
made all things of nothing, who also (after
other things set in order), didst appoint
that out of man (created after thine own
image and similitude), woman should take
SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. I33
her beginning; and knitting them together,
didst teach that it should never be lawful
to put asunder those whom thou, by matri¬
mony, hast made one; O God, who hast
consecrated the state of matrimony to such
an excellent mystery, that in it is signified
and represented the spiritual marriage and
union betwixt Christ and his Church,—
look mercifully upon this man and this
woman; that both this man may love his
wife according to thy word, (as Christ did'
love his spouse, the Church, who gave him¬
self for it, loving and cherishing it even as
his own flesh), and also that this woman
may be loving and obedient to her husband;
and in all quietness, sobriety and peace, be
a follower of holy and godly matrons. O
Lord, bless them both, and grant them to
inherit thy everlasting kingdom, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the minister say:
Almighty God, who at the beginning
didst create our first parents, Adam and
Eve, and didst sanctify and join them to¬
gether in marriage, pour upon you
the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless
you that ye may please him both in body
and soul, and live together in holy love
unto your lives' end. Amen.
134
burial service.
CHAPTER VIII.
Burial Service.
N. B.—The following, or some other solemn
service, shall be. used.
The minister meeting the corpse, and going be¬
fore it, shall say:
I am the resurrection and the life, saith
the Lord, he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoso¬
ever liveth and believeth in me, shall never
die. John xi. 25, 26.
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and
that he shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth. And though after my skin,
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh
shall I see God; whom I shall see for my¬
self, and mine eyes shall behold, and not
another. Job xix. 25, 26, 27.
We brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. The
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord. 1 Tim.
vi. 7; Job i. 21.
At the grave, when the corpse is laid in the
■earth, the minister shall say:
Man that is born of a woman hath but a
BURIAL SERVICE.
135
short time to live, ana is full of misery. He
cometh up and is cut down like a flower;
he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never
continueth in one stay.
In the midst of life we are in death; of
whom may we seek for succor, but of thee,
O Lord, who for our sins are justly dis¬
pleased ?
Yet, O Lord God, most holy, O Lord
most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour,
deliver us not unto the bitter pains of eter¬
nal death.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our
hearts, shut not thy merciful ears to our
prayers, but spare us, Lord most holy, O
God most mighty, O holy and merciful
Saviour, thou most worthy judge eternal,
suffer us not at our last hour, for any pains
of death, to fall from thee.
Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the
coffin by some person standing by, the minister
shall say:
Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty
God, in his wise providence, to take out of
this world the soul of our deceased brother,
we therefore commit his body to the
ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust
to dust; looking for the general resurrec¬
tion in the last day, and the life of ilie
world to come, through our Lord Jesus
136
BURIAL SERVICE.
Christ; at whose second coming in glorious
majesty to judge the world, the earth and
the sea shall give up their dead; and the
corruptible bodies of those who sleep in
him shall be changed, and made like unto
his own glorious body; according to the
mighty working whereby he is able to sub¬
due all things unto himself.
Then shall be said:
I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto
me, write—From henceforth, blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord: even so,
saith the Spirit; for they rest from their
labors.
Then shall the minister say:
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed
be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And for¬
give us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation; but deliver us from evil;
for thine is the kingdom, the power, and
the glory, forever. Amen.
BURIAL SERVICE 137
The Collect.
O merciful God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and
life; in whom whosoever believeth
shall live, though he die, and whosoever
liveth and believeth in him shall not die
eternally; we meekly beseech thee, O
Father, to raise us from the death of sin
unto the life of righteousness; that when
we shall depart this life we may rest in
him; and at the general resurrection at
the last day may be found acceptable in thy
sight, and receive that blessing which thy
well-jDeloved Son shall then pronounce to
all that love and fear thee, saying, Come
ye blessed of my Father, receive the king¬
dom prepared for you from the beginning
of the world. Grant this, we beseech thee,
O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ
our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.
Amen.
138
LAYING CORNER STONES.
CHAPTER IX.
Laying Corner-Stones.
This ceremony should be preceded or followed
by the delivery of an appropriate discourse. The
officers and members of the congregation being
present, the services are introduced by singing a
suitable hymn. If the discourse has not been pro¬
nounced there may be used the following:
Supremely great and glorious Jehovah,
who art the King eternal, immortal, and
invisible, the only wise God, to whom •be¬
long honor and glory, for ever and ever!
Thou fillest all space with thy presence, per¬
vading universal nature, and manifesting
thy perfections in all thy works; We de¬
sire to approach thee in deep humility, and
in the exercise of living faith. We rejoice
that through Jesus Christ, our Mediator
and Redeemer, we have access to thy throne
of grace and are taught to call thee our
God, and to worship thee as our reconciled
Father. We thank thee for permitting us
to assemble on the present occasion, amid
circumstances of so much mercy, to lay
the corner stone of an edifice which is to
be reared to thy honor, and to be dedicated
LAYING CORNER STONES. 139
to the exclusive worship of the true and
living God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
We earnestly beseech thee to draw nigh
to us as a God of love, and bless us with
thy special presence. May the object that
has called us together be acceptable to thee,
and may the solemnities of this joyful and
interesting occasion meet with thy sanction
and be attended by thy blessing. While we
devoutly acknowledge our dependence upon
thee, as well in our attempt to erect a house
for thy worship, as in the prosecution of
the object for which it is intended we pray
thee that no unholy desire may find place
in our breast, that all our motives may be
pure, and that our great aim may be the
promotion of thy glory, the conversion of
sinners, and the edification of thy people
in the truth as it is in Christ. May we ob¬
tain favor in thy sight, and may thy rich
mercy be upon us.
Pardon our sins, help our infirmities, and
accept our prayer through the merits of
Jesus Christ, our adorable Saviour. And
to thee, the Triune God, be all praise, now
and evermore. Amen.
[Here a suitable portion of Scripture may be
read; for instance the 96th Psalm, or 1 Cor. 3d
chap., or 1 Kings, 5th chap, Haggai, 1st chap.,
If \he discourse has been preached, then the
T I
i4o laying corner stones.
preceding prayer may be omitted; also if deemed
necessary, the Scripture lesson; and the exercises,
after an appropriate hymn, may be continued with
the following:
Beloved Brethren :—Believing it to be
your duty, as well as privilege, to worship
God in a public and social capacity, &nd
impressed with the conviction that the in¬
terests of Christ's kingdom and the salva¬
tion of souls may be thereby promoted, you
have resolved in reliance on God's blessing,
to erect an edifice for the purpose of public
worship, and are now assembled to lay
the corner-stone.
Though there is no specific law of God
expressly requiring this at your hands, yet
you justly infer from general principles
laid down in the sacred Scriptures, as well
as from the dictates of enlightened reason,
that it is your duty; and hence you do well
in uniting for the accomplishment of a
work so important, and holding forth the
promise of so much good to yourselves and
your descendants. We trust that you are
actuated by motives which God approves,
and that you sincerely love Zion, and can
truly adopt the language of the devout
Psalmist:
"How amiable are thy tabernacles, 0
Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even
fainteth for the courts of the Lord."
LAYING CORNER STONES. I4I
We find frequent allusions in God's word
to the corner-stone. "Behold," says the
Lord, in Isaiah, "I lay in Zion, for a foun¬
dation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious
corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that be-
liveth shall not make haste." And in the
Epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle re¬
marks : "Being built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ
being the chief corner-stone."
Thus it appears that the corner-stone was
a part of the foundation on which the edi¬
fice rested. Having its place in the corner,
it united and bound together two walls.
One corner-stone was laid upon another;
and the same was done at each of the four
corners of the building. The corner-stones
were therefore many; but all of them taken
collectively, were spoken of as one. A sin¬
gle stone, larger, stronger, and more beau¬
tiful than the others, was laid in one of the
corners, either at the top or the bottom of
the foundation wall, as the representative
of all the rest, and of the whole foundation;
and was emphatically termed the corner¬
stone, the chief corner-stone, or the head
of the corner. Hence Jesus Christ is called
both the foundation and the comer-stone in
the stupendous edifice of Christianity. By
which is meant, that he is the support and
142 LAYING CORNER STONES.
strength of his Church, preserving it firm
and unshaken, and extending its borders
till it shall encompass the earth; that he
unites and binds together its members by
the cords of that love which forms the
strongest of all incentives to harmony of
feeling and action; and that he is also the
glory of the Church, both because of the
elevating and sanctifying influences of his
doctrines on the moral character of his
followers, and on account of his supreme
personal excellence. He is. therefore, most
appropriately denominated "a chief Corner¬
stone, elect, precious," sustaining the whole
system, and without which Christianity
would cease to be Christianity, and soon
fall to the ground.
By laying the corner-stone of a house of
worship, you perform a decisive act; you
publicly announce that a commencement i9
made to build the house, and that it is your
determination by the help of God, to com¬
plete it. This decisive act so full of prom¬
ise, and waking up emotions and prospects
so pleasing and joyful, is justly made a
prominent one, and accompanied by sol¬
emnities suited to the occasion, and adapted
to inspire us with an abiding sense of
God's goodness, and our insufficiency with¬
out him. It is right and proper that we
LAYING CORNER STONES. I43
should publicly acknowledge our depend¬
ence on him, both in the attempt to erect
an edifice, and in the discharge of the sol¬
emn duties for which it is intended.
Such an acknowledgment gives to God
honor which is due to him, and at the same
time impresses our hearts with reverence
and awe towards him. "Except the Lord
build the house, they labor in vain who
build it." This was the sentiment of Solo¬
mon, the wisest and richest of the kings of
Israel, whose prosperity in all his great un¬
dertakings was so remarkable and brought
so much glory to his reign. It becomes us,
like him, on all occasions, especially in
every important matter, to be deeply sen¬
sible of the power, the universal dominion,
the all wise, holy and irresistible govern¬
ment of God; to feel that we are his needy
creatures, and dependent on his pleasure
for each moment of our existence; that the
success of all our exertions is the result of
his blessing; and that when we design to
honor him, or promote the public good, it
is for him to say whether we are the instru¬
ments and our measures the means, which
he will choose to employ for those ends.
When David contemplated the erection of a
house of God, the Lord forbade him, and
said, "I have chosen thy son to build me a
house."
144 LAYING CORNER STONES.
Let us therefore humble ourselves before
the Lord, confess his name and seek his
blessing in fervent prayer.
Then shall be said the following prayer:
O Thou, whom the heaven of heavens
cannot contain! Thou fillest the universe
with thy presence, and all the praise of an¬
gels and men can add nothing to thy ma¬
jesty and glory. But though thou needest
not our worship, we adore thee that thou
art too good to despise it, and that millions
have experienced that thou art a prayer-
hearing and prayer-answering God. We
rejoice that thou hast established the church
here on earth, and preserved the same
against all the assaults of its enemies; that
the blessed sound of the gospel has also
saluted our ears, and that thou hast in this
place gathered a congregation of believers
in Jesus Christ.
We render thanks unto thy name, that
thou hast put it into the hearts of thy peo¬
ple to rear a temple to thine honor at this
place; where thy name may be regarded and
thou mayest come to them and bless them.
We extol thy grace for enduing them with
a spirit of liberality and inclining them to
contribute of their substance to prosecute
this laudable undertaking. May they in¬
deed esteem it a high privilege to lend
LAVING CORNER STONES.
145
unto the Lord, and may many others co-op-
operate in this holy work, and all labor to¬
gether in concord and love until the habita¬
tion of thy house shall be completed and
be held in possession free from debt and all
incumbrance, as a standing memorial of
their Christian benevolence, and an evi¬
dence to future generations of their attach¬
ment to thy cause. May the work of this
house be performed without hurt or acci¬
dent to any person; may harmony and en¬
lightened zeal animate every heart, and may
discord, jealousy and every Selfish aim be
far removed. And when thou shalt have
prospered this enterprise, and a house of
God shall stand here as a monument to thy
glory, may it be filled with the fulness of
every gospel blessing, that through the
preaching of thy truth, many blood-bought
souls may here be awakened, enlightened,
justified and sanctified, and thus be pre¬
pared for an entrance into the mansions of
bliss. We beseech thee to seal unto us the
pardon of all our offences, to own us as thy
ransomed people through Jesus Christ, to
sanctify us thoroughly by thy Spirit, to
guide us through life by thy counsels, to se¬
cure us by thy grace, and to exalt us at last
to an inheritance that is incorruptible, un-
defiled, and that fadeth not away. These
146 LAYING CORNER STONES.
and all other needful blessings we ask for
the sake, and in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and
Holy Spirit, be endless praise. Amen.
The prayer, having been offered, the stone shall
be laid and adjusted. The officiating minister de¬
posits the documents in the excavation prepared
in the stone for their reception. These documents
may be the articles of subscription and names of
the subscribers; a list of names of the church
officers, the pastor and building committee, and of
the ministers officiating on the occasion, the Dis¬
cipline of the Church, Hymn Boook, Bible, the
names of the highest officers of our civil govern¬
ment. religious papers of the Church, &c., &c. The
minister then concludes with the following:
In the name of the Triune God, the
Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, we lay
this stone for a foundation of a house of
worship to be consecrated to his service. In
so doing we acknowledge his all-ruling
providence, and proclaim Jesus Christ as
the great corner-stone of his church, and the
foundation of all our hopes of salvation
in time and eternity; and may the God of
all grace hear us, sanction our work, and
at last accept us, through the Son of his
love, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.
DEDICATION OK CHURCHES.
H7
CHAPTER X.
DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
For Nezv or Remodeled Churches.
The Bishop, or Elder, (when the Bishop is not
present), with the other ministers, shall be met
at the door of the church by the trustees, stewards
and leaders, who shall receive the Bishop, or
Elder, with the ministers, and bid them welcome
in God's name, and present to the Bishop, or
Elder, the keys of the church in token of the fact
that they will ever after submit to the discipline,
doctrine and government of the African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church, and will at all times here¬
after permit such ministers and preachers belong¬
ing to said church to preach and expound God's
holy word therein. After which, the procession
shall pass up the aisle reading the following
Psalm. The Bishop, or Elder, commencing with
the first verse, and the ministers reading each
alternate verse.
PSALM LXXXIV.
Bishop. How amiable are thy taber¬
nacles, O Lord of hosts.
Minister.—My soul longeth, yea. even
fainteth for the courts of the Loid: my
heart and my flesh crieth out for the living-
God.
148 DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
Bp.—Yea, the sparrow hath found a
house, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, even thine
altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my
God.
Min.—Blessed are they that dwell in thy
house: they will be still praising thee.
Bp.—Blessed is the man whose strength
is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of
them.
Min.—Who, passing through the valley
of Baca, make it a well; the rain also fill-
eth the pools.
Bp.—They go from strength to strength;
every one of them in Zion appeareth before
God.
Min.—O Lord God of hosts, hear my
prayer: give ear O God of Jacob.
Bp.—Behold, O God, our Shield, and look
upon the face of thine Anointed.
Min.—For a day in thy courts is better
than a thousand. I had rather be a door¬
keeper in the house of my God, than to
dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Bp.—For the Lord God is a sun and
shield; the Lord will give grace and glory;
no good thing will he withhold from them
that walk uprightly.
Min.—O Lord of hosts, blessed is the
man that trusteth in thee.
DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. 149
Chanting by the Choir.
The Bishop, or Elder, with those who are ap¬
pointed to lead the exercises will now take their
seats in the pulpit, the rest of the clergy sitting
around it, and the choir will chant the following:
PSALM CXXII.
1. I was glad when they said unto me,
Let us go into the house of the Lord.
2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates,
O Jerusalem.
3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is
compact together.
4. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes
of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel,
to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
5. For there are set thrones of judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they
shall prosper that love thee.
7. Peace be within thy walls, and pros¬
perity within thy palaces.
8. For my brethren and companions'
sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9. Because of the house of the Lord our
God, I will seek thy good.
The Bishop, or Elder, kneeling, then shall say
the following prayer:
I KINGS VIII. 23-51.
Lord God of Israel, there is no God like
thee, in heaven above, or on the earth be-
I50 DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
neath, who keepest covenant and mercv
with thy servants that walk before thee
with all their heart; but will God indeed
dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven
of heavens cannot contain thee; how much
less this house that we have builded. Yet
have thou respect unto the prayer of thy
servants, and to their supplication, O Lord
our God, to hearken unto the cry and the
prayer which thy servants pray before thee
this day; that thine eyes may be open to¬
ward this house night and day, even to¬
ward the place of which thou hast said, My
name shall be there; that thou mayest
hearken "unto the prayer which thy ser¬
vants shall make in this place. And hearken
thou unto the supplication of thy servants,
and ef thy people Israel, when they shall
pray in this place; and hear thou in heaven,
thy dwelling place; and, when thou hearest
forgive. If any man trespass against his
neighbor, and an accusation be laid against
him, and the accusation come before thee
in this house; then hear thou in heaven,
and do, and judge thy servants, condemn¬
ing the wicked, to bring his way upon his
head; and justifying the righteous, to give
him according to his righteousness. When
thy people Israel be smitten down before
the enemy, because they have sinned against
DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. 151
thee, and shall turn again to thee, and con¬
fess thy name, and pray, and make suppli¬
cation unto thee in this house; then hear
thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy
people Israel, and restore them again to
thy tender mercy and loving kindness.
When heaven is shut up, and there is no
rain, because they have sinned against thee;
if they pray in this place, and confess thy
name and turn from their sin, when thou
affiictest them: then hear thou in heaven and
forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy
people Israel, that thou teach them the
good way wherein they should walk, and
give rain upon the land which thou hast
given to thy people for an inheritance. If
there be in the land famine, if there be
pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if
there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege
them in the land of their cities; whatso¬
ever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
what prayer and supplication soever be
made by any man or by all thy people
Israel, which shall know every man the
plague of his own heart, and spread forth
his hands in this house: then hear thou in
heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
do, and give to every man according to his
ways, whose heart thou knowest; that they
mav fear thee all the days of their lives.
152 DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
Moreover, concerning a stranger, that is
not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of
a far country for thy name's sake; when he
shall come and pray within this house, hear
thou in heaven, thy dwelling-place, and do
according to all that the stranger calleth to
thee for; that all the people of the earth
may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy
people Israel; and that they may know
that this house which we have builded, is
called by thy name. If thy people sin
against thee, for there is no man that
sinneth not, and thou be angry with them,
yet, if they shall bethink themselves and
repent, and make supplication unto thee,
saying, We have sinned and done perverse¬
ly, we have committed wickedness; and so
return unto thee with all their heart, and
with all their soul; then hear thou their
prayer and supplication in heaven, thy
dwelling-place, and forgive thy people that
have sinned against thee, and all their
transgressions wherein they have trans¬
gressed against thee, for they shall be thy
people, and thy inheritance, which thou
hast bought with the precious blood of
thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom
with thee and the Holy Spirit, be glory,
praise and power, by all on earth, and all
in heaven. Amen.
DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. I 53
This prayer being over, the Bishop or Elder
shall stand up and say:
And now, O Lord God, most high, whom
the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot
contain, we dedicate this house to thy ser¬
vice ; receive it, we humbly beseech thee, re¬
ceive it unto thyself, and number it among
thine earthly sanctuaries; that thine own
presence, the presence of thy Son Jesus
Christ, and the presence of thy Holy Spirit
may ever fill this house which we have
builded and called by thy name, so that
whensoever the Gospel is preached in this
house, it may descend with all its purity,
power and demonstration, upon the hearts
of the impenitent, turning them from dark¬
ness to light, and from the power of sin
and Satan, unto God; that its sanctifying
influences may be felt in the souls of all be¬
lievers, lifting their desires, their hopes,
and their affections from earth to heaven,
and leading back the wandering sheep of the
house of Israel into the fold of eternal life.
Amen.
Hear us, O merciful Father, and grant
that whosoever shall be dedicated to thee
in this house by the holy ordinance of bap¬
tism, may also receive the fulness of thy
grace; be made useful members of the
church militant, and finally obtain an
154 DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
abundant entrance into the church tri¬
umphant, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hear us, O merciful Father, and grant
that whosoever shall in this house partake
of the symbols of the Saviour's broken
body, and shed blood, may also realize, by
faith, that he is indeed the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sin of the world; and
thus being regenerated and sanctified, stand
spotless and life-crowned at thy right hand,
world without end. Amen.
Hear us, O thou who art the spouse of
the Church, and grant that whosoever shall
in this house be joined together in holy
matrimony, may also live, as did Isaac and
Rebecca, in the purest enjoyment of con¬
nubial love, mutually assisting each other
in the way to heaven, and training up their
children for usefulness in this life, and for
glory in that which is to come, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O thou high and Holy One of Israel, re¬
gard, we beseech thee, the prayers of thy
servants, and grant that all who shall in
this house, make confession of their sins,
or lift their voices in praise and thanksgiv¬
ing for mercies past, or benefits received,
may also rejoice in the light of thy counten¬
ance, with the peace which passeth all un-
DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. 155
derstanding, with the joy that is unspeak¬
able and full of glory. Amen.
Great Head of the Church, we beseech
thee to hear us, and grant that whosoever
shall, in this house, be set apart or ordained
to the holy office of the ministry, may
also receive the anointing of thy Spirit, and
go forth in the fulness of the blessing of
the Gospel, to preach its unsearchable
riches to a ruined world; then, having fin¬
ished their course fought the fight, and
kept the faith, receive the crown of life, and
reign with thee, world without end. Amen.
Thou God of missions hear us, and grant
that the sacred cause of missions with ev¬
ery other institution of Christianity may
ever find in this house an able advocacy and
an ample support; so as to be rendered in¬
strumental in hastening on the day when
the kingdoms of this world shall have be¬
come the kingdoms of our Lord and his
Christ. Amen.
Thus have we dedicated this house unto
thee O thou that dwellest in heaven. Re¬
ceive it, O receive it among thine earthly
sanctuaries, and grant that all who may
worship thee here from Sabbath to Sabbath,
and from generation to generation, even our
children's children, may feel it to be indeed
the house of God, and the gate of heaven.
Amen.
12
156 DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
Then may be sung the consecration hymn,
which ought not to exceed six stanzas—then the
sermon; immediately after let the collection be
taken up. Conclude with an appropriate hymn,
and extemporaneous prayer and the benediction.
After such dedication, no minister having
the charge of any of our churches, shall al¬
low them to be used for any other purpose
than the glory of God; and any minister
suffering the violation of this law shall be
deemd guilty of grossly improper conduct
and may be suspended, according to the de¬
cision of the Annual Conference.
PART III.
LAY HELPERS, LOCAL PREACHERS
AND GENERAL OFFICERS.
I. Lay Helpers.
II. Local Preachers.
III. General Officers.
LAV HELPERS.
159
CHAPTER I.
LAY HELPERS.
I. Deaconesses.
1. The duty of the Deaconess shall be to
encourage, foster and improve the general
interests of the church, promote the com¬
fort and solicit the friendship and sym¬
pathy of the general public, visit the sick
and unfortunate, console the dying, cheer
the fallen, feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, seek out the homeless, encourage in¬
dustry, visit asylums and prisons, and save
the lost.
2. The order is not compulsory, but in
every charge where the conditions warrant,
a board of not less than three nor more
than twelve women—ordinarily they should
be widows or unmarried women of good
repute—may be organized by the pastor;
membership may continue during good be¬
havior and conformity to our rules.
3. They shall be set apart or consecrat¬
ed by the bishop of the district after the
election by the pastor and official board.
l6o LAV HELPERS.
The form of consecration shall be such as
the bishops may agree upon, and shall be
administered by a bishop.
4. Whenever it is advisable in the large
cities, Deaconesses Homes shall be estab¬
lished for the care of women, features of
which shall be rescue work and training
Deaconesses. To designate them, the regu¬
lation garb shall be worn by Deaconesses.
5. The general rules on consecration and
work shall be such as are adopted by dea¬
conesses already organized, with such other
regulations as the conditions may suggest
with and upon the advice and approval of
the pastor and official Board.
2. Exhorters.
1. Every person applying for license to
exhort in any of our societies shall produce
to the Quarterly Conference of his circuit
or station a recommendation from the Class
of which he is a member.
2. The Quarterly Conference shall exam¬
ine him and, if they think he will be useful,
the Presiding Elder or chairman of the
Conference shall license him to exhort.
3. He shall be required to employ his tal¬
ents and time as a teacher in the Sabbath
school, when it is convenient. He shall man¬
age and lead the prayer meetings under the
LOCAL PREACHERS. l6l
weekly appointment of the preacher in
charge, but the preacher shall not infringe
upon his temporal concerns which include
the Sabbath day.
CHAPTER II.
LOCAL PREACHERS.
I. Examination of Persons Claiming Call
to Preach.
Those who think they are moved by the Holy
Ghost to preach shall be tried by the following
examination:
(1) Do they know God as a pardoning
God?
(2) Have they the love of God abiding
in them?
(3) Do they desire and seek nothing but
God?
(4) Are they holy in all manner of con¬
versation ?
2. As to gifts;
(1) Have they a clear, sound under¬
standing, a right judgment in the things of
God and a just conception of salvation by
faith ?
(2) Has God given them any degree of
utterance? Do they speak readily, justly
and clearly?
162 local preachers.
3. As to fruit;
(1) Are any truly convinced of sin, and
converted to God by their preaching?
As long as these marks are discerned in
any one, we believe he is called of God to
preach. These we receive as sufficient proof
that he is moved by the Holy Ghost.
2. Quarterly Conference Grants License.
1. Every applicant for license to preach
among us shall present to the Quarterly
Conference a recommendation from the So¬
ciety given at a special meeting, called for
that purpose.
2. The Quarterly Conference shall ex¬
amine him with reference to his gifts and
graces, his knowledge of the doctrines of
our Church and the studies laid down in
the Discipline for a local preacher, his pos¬
session of the books containing those stud-,
ies, and concerning his subscription to our
Church periodicals.
3. If the Quarterly Conference approve
of him and is satisfied that he will be gen¬
erally useful and acceptable as a preacher,
it shall give him license signed by the Chair¬
man, subject to annual renewal.
[form of license.]
This is to certify that the bearer
is licensed to preach in the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. Signed on behalf of the
LOCAL PUliACIIERS. 163
••• Quarterly Conference of said Church
this day of 10. ...to be renewed
once a year go long as his life corresponds with
the Gospel, and he submits to the rules and the
Discipline of said Church. Given under my hand.
Presiding Elder.
3. Ordained Preachers in Local Relations.
1. A Local Preacher of four years good
standing may be eligible to the office of
Deacon.
If the society of which he is a member
requests it, the District Conference—or
where there is no District' Conference the
Quarterly Conference—shall examine him
properly, and if it adjudge him worthy,
shall recommend him to the Annual Con¬
ference by testimonials signed by the Pre¬
siding Elder and countersigned by the Sec¬
retary. The Annual Conference shall ex¬
amine him, and if it is satisfied with his
work and qualifications, may elect and
ordain him.
2. A Local Deacon of four years good
standing—from the time of his ordination—
may be eligible to the office of Elder.
On request of the society, the District
Conference—or where there is no District
Conference the Quarterly Conference—
shall examine him, and if it adjudge him
worthy, it may recommend him to the An-
164
LOCAL PREACHERS.
nual Conference—a two-thirds majority is
required—certifying his possession of tal¬
ents, qualification in doctrine and discipline,
and the society's need of his service as
Elder. This recommendation must be sign¬
ed by the Presiding Elder and countersigned
by the Secretary.
The Annual Conference shall examine
him, and if satisfied that he is a proper
person to exercise the office of an Elder,
may elect and ordain him.
3. If an applicant for Local Elder's or¬
ders, should be unable to attend the Annual
Conference, the testimonials of the District
Conference or—where there is no District
Conference, the Quarterly Conference—
shall be forwarded to the Annual Confer¬
ence with a note declaring the applicant's
belief in the doctrine and discipline of the
Church, the Annual Conference may elect
him to Elder's orders, and provide for his
examination and ordination in the interval
of Annual Conferences.
4. Local Preachers from other Denomina¬
tions.
An unordained Preacher from an evan¬
gelical denomination, on becoming a mem¬
ber of the Church shall be examined and
have his license adjusted by the Quarterly
F.OCAL PREACHERS.
Conference. An ordained minister thus be¬
coming a member of the Church, shall
satisfy the Annual Conference, in the same
examinations sustained by ministers from
without, who are admitted to the traveling
connection; excepting the Special Examina¬
tions for the itinerancy, and he shall receive
the same form of certificate, with the word
Quarterly before "Conference."
5. Obligations of Local Elders, Deacons
and Preachers.
Every Local Elder, Deacon and Preacher
shall have his name recorded in the Quar¬
terly Conference journal of the charge that
includes his membership, and also enrolled
on a Class paper. He shall meet in class—
unless he live too far away—teach and labor
in our Sabbath-schools and be subject to
the preacher in charge, in receiving appoint¬
ments to preach, or to teach and labor in
the Sabbath-schools, as occasion may re¬
quire. If he neglect these duties, the Quar¬
terly Conference, if it see proper, may de¬
prive him of his ministerial office.
If a Local Preacher, Deacon, Elder or
Layman absent himself from the annual
conference two years without a lawful ex¬
cuse, he shall lose his membership.
All Local Preachers or Ministers who are
GENERAL OFFICERS.
members of an Annual Conference shall be
subject to the appointment of the Bishops
wherever they may be considered useful.
No Elder or Deacon shall have regular
charge except he be an itinerant.
CHAPTER III.
General Officers.
Persons elected by the General Confer¬
ence or Supervising Boards to offices of a
general character; as editors, publishers
and secretaries of departments are styled
General Officers.
i. Official Responsibility.
For faithfulness in the discharge of the
duties of their offices, General Officers are
amenable to the boards appointed to su¬
pervise their respective departments, and the
General Conference.
2. Ecclesiastical Responsibility.
1. Every ministerial General Officer must
be a member of an Annual Conference, and
of a District Conference and a Quarterly
Conference designated by the Bishop of his
Annual Conference.
2. Every lay General Officer must be a
GENERAL OFFICERS.
167
member of a Quarterly Conference where
his office is located.
General Officers are subject to all the
rules of the Conferences not interfering
with the duties of their Offices.
College Presidents, Professors and
Agents, and Army Chaplains of our min¬
istry are subject to the same rules.
3. Restrictions.
It shall be unlawful for any editor, or
publisher, of any official organ of the A. M.
E. Church, or for any General Officer, to
utter, publish, circulate or distribute litera¬
ture defaming or compromising the person¬
al or official character of any person—min¬
ister or layman; pastor, general officer, or
bishop, unless as the result of the findings
of a duly constituted court. Any General
Officer violating this enactment shall be
subject to trial according to provisions of
section 5th—Discipline page 240.
PART IV.
THE MINISTRY.
I. Preachers' Personal Life and
Duties.
II. Official Duties of Pastors.
III. Preachers in Annual Confer¬
ence.
IV. Deacons.
V. Elders.
VI. Presiding Elders.
VII. Bishops.
i70 treacher?' life vnd duties.
CHAPTER I.
Preachers' Personal Life and Duties.
1. Special Means of Grace.
1. A preacher, to be qualified for his
charge, should walk closely with God and
have his work greatly at heart. He should
understand and love discipline—ours in par¬
ticular.
2. He should inquire of his brethren (as
preachers do not sufficiently watch over
one another) if they also walk closely with
God, have fellowship with the Father and
the Son, observe proper hours for retiring
and rising from bed, spend the day in the
manner advised by the conference, converse
seriously, usefully and closely, and use all
the means of grace themselves, and enforce
the use on others.
The means of grace are, instituted and
prudential.
I. The Instituted means of grace are:
1. Prayer; private, family, and public:
consisting of deprecation, petition, interces¬
sion and thanksgiving. A preacher should
ask his brethren if they use these means, if
preachers' life and duties. 171
they daily appoint a time for private devo¬
tion if they practice it, and if they have
private and family prayer mornings and
evenings and urge others to do the same?'
2. Searching the Scriptures, by
(1) Reading some part every day regu¬
larly, all the Bible in order, carefully with
notes, seriously with prayer before and af¬
ter, faithfully, immediately practicing what
you learn ?
(2) Meditating at set times by rule?
(3) Hearing at every opportunity, with
prayer before and after; always having a
Bible present?
3. The Lord's Supper: Do you use this
at every opportunity, with solemn prayer
before; with earnest and deliberate devo¬
tion?
4. Fasting and abstinence. Do you prac¬
tice as much fasting and abstinence every
week as your health, strength and labor will
permit?
5. Christian conference (or conversa¬
tion). , Are you convinced how important
and how difficult it is to order your conver¬
sation aright? Is it always in grace season¬
ed with salt; meet to minister grace to the
hearers ? Do you not converse too long at
a time ? Is not an hour commonly enough ?
Would it not be well always to have a de-
13
1J2 preachers' life and duties.
terminate end in view?
II. The Prudential means we may use as
Christians, as Methodists, as preachers:
1. As Christians: What particular rules
have you in order to grow in grace? What
arts of holy living?
2. As Methodists, do you never miss your
class or band ?
3. As preachers, have you considered your
duty thoroughly? And do you make a
conscience of executing every part of it?
Do you meet every society, also the leaders
and bands? These means may be used
without fruit, but there are some means
that cannot; namely, watching, denying our¬
selves, taking up our cross, exercise of the
presence of God.
(a.) Do you steadfastly watch against
•the world, yourself; your besetting sin?
(b.) Do you deny yourself every useless
pleasure of sense; imagination; honor? Are
you temperate in all things, instances: (1)
Do you use only that kind and that degree
of food which is best for both your body
and your soul? Do you see the necessity
of this? Do you eat no more at each meal
than is necessary? Are you not heavy and
drowsy after dinner? (2) Do you use only
that kind and degree of drink which is best
for your body and your soul? Do you
TREACHERS' LIFE AND DUTIES. 173
choose the use of water for your common
drink, and only take wine medicinally and
sacramentally ?
3. Wherein do you take up your cross
daily? Do you cheerfully bear your cross,
however grievous to nature, as a gift of
God, and labor to profit thereby?
4. Do you endeavor to set God always be¬
fore you; to see his eye continually fixed
upon you?
Never can you use these means but a
blessing will ensue, and the more you use
them the more will you grow in grace.
2. Preaching.
1. The most effectual way of preaching
is to preach Christ in all his offices, and to
declare his law as well as his gospel, both to
believers, and unbelievers, and to strongly
and closely insist upon inward and outward
holiness in all its branches.
2. A preacher sjiould first, choose the
plainest text he can find; second take care
not to ramble, but keep to his text and
make out what he takes in hand; third, he
should always suit his subject to his audi¬
ence.
3. The objects in view should be: (i.)
To convince. (2.) To offer Christ. (3.)
To invite. (4.) To build up. This, in
174 preachers' life and duties.
some measure, should be done in every ser¬
mon.
4. A preacher should frequently read and
enlarge upon a portion of the Scripture, and
young preachers should often exhort with¬
out a text. He should avail himself of the
great festivals by preaching on such occa¬
sions.
5. All our preachers shall expressly
preach against Sabbath breaking, evil-
speaking, unprofitable conversation, light¬
ness, expensiveness or gayety of apparel,
contracting debts without due care to dis¬
charge them.
6. A preacher should begin at the desig¬
nated time and be sure never to disappoint
a congregation.
7. His whole deportment should be seri¬
ous, solemn and weighty.
8. He should guard against anything
awkward, either in gesture, phrase or pro¬
nunciation.
9. Usually he should not pray extempore
more than eight or ten minutes at most,
without intermission.
10. It is by no means advisable for us to
preach in as many places as we can with¬
out forming societies. We have made the
trial for a considerable time in various
places, but all the seed has fallen by the
preachers' life and duties. 175
wayside. There is scarcely any fruit re¬
maining-.
11. We should, therefore, endeavor to
preach most where there are the greatest
number of quiet, willing hearers and the
most fruit.
12. We ought to diligently observe in
what place God is pleased, at any time to
more abundantly pour out His Spirit, and
then we should send more laborers into that
place.
3. Visiting front House to House.
1. We can further assist those under our
care by instructing them at their own
houses. What unspeakable need is there
of this! The world says, "The Methodists
are no better than any other people." This
is not true in general. But (1) personal re¬
ligion, either towards God, or man, is too
superficial among us. We can but just
touch on a few particulars. How little faith,
is there among us; How little communion
with God; How little living in heaven, walk¬
ing in eternity, deadness to every creature;
How much love of the world, desire of
pleasure and ease, and of getting money;
How little of brotherly love; What con¬
tinual judging of one another; What gos¬
siping, evil-speaking and tale-bearing;
176 preachers' life and duties.
What want of moral honesty. To instance
one particular: Who does as he would be
done by in buying and selling? (2) Family
religion is wanting in many branches. And
what avails public preaching alone, though
we could preach like angels? We must,
yea, every traveling preacher must instruct
the people from house to house. Till this
be done—and in good earnest—the Metho¬
dists will be no better. (3) Our religion
is not deep, universal, uniform J but super¬
ficial, partial, uneven. It will be so till
we spend half as much time in thus visit¬
ing as we do now in talking uselessly. Can
we find a better method of doing this than
Mr. Baxter's ? If not, let us adopt it with¬
out delay. His whole tract entitled Gildas
Salvianus is well worth a careful perusal.
Speaking of visiting from house to house
he says (page 351) : "We shall find many
hindrances, both in ourselves and the peo¬
ple."
4. JVe Find Many Hindrances.
(1.) In ourselves there is much dullness
and laziness, so that there; will be much ado
to get us to be faithful to the work.
(2.) We have a base, man-pleasing tem¬
per, so that we let men perish rather than
lose their love. We let them go quietly to
hell, lest we should offend them.
preachers' life and duties. 177
(3.) Some of us have also a foolish bash-
fulness. We know not how to begin and
blush to contradict the devil.
(4.) But the greatest hindrance is weak-,
ness of faith. Our whole motion is weak*
because the spring of it is weak.
(5.) Lastly, we are unskilled in the work-
How few know how to deal with men so as
to get within them and suit all our dis¬
course to their several conditions and tem¬
pers; to choose the fittest subjects, and fol¬
low them with a holy mixture of serious¬
ness, terror, love and meekness.
But undoubtedly this private application
is implied in these words of the apostle; "I
charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the
dead at his appearing, preach the word; be
instant in season out of season; reprove, re¬
buke with all long suffering."
O Brethren, if we could but set this
work on foot in all our societies, and prose¬
cute it zealously, what glory would redound
to God! If the common lukewarmness
were banished, and every shop and every
house busied in speaking of the word and'
works of God, surely God. would dwell in<
our habitations and make us His delight.
But it is objected: "This will take up too
much time, we shall not have leisure to fol¬
low our studies."
178 preachers' life a'nd duties.
We answer, (i.) Gaining- knowledge is a
good thing, but saving souls is a better. (2.)
By this very thing you will gain the most
excellent knowledge of God and eternity.
(3.) You will have time for gaining other
knowledge too; only sleep not more than
you need. But, (4.) If you do but one, let
your studies alone. We ought to throw by
all the libraries in the world rather than be
guilty of the loss of a soul.
It is further objected, "The people will
not submit to it.1"
If some will not, others will; and the suc¬
cess with them will repay your labor. Oh,
let us herein follow the example of St.
Paul :
(1) For our general business—"serving
the Lord with all humility of mind."
(2) Our special work—"Take heed there¬
fore to yourselves and to all the flock."
(3) Our doctrine—''Repentance towards
God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
(4) The place—"I have taught you pub¬
licly and from house to house."
(5) The object and manner of teaching
—"I ceased not to warn every one night and
day in tears."
(6) His innocence and self-denial herein
—"I have coveted no man's silver or gold."
(7) His patience—"Neither count I my
life dear unto myself."
preachers' life and duties. 179
Above all things let us keep before our
eyes; "the church of God which he hath
purchased with his own blood;" and let us
remember that it is written "Grievous
wolves shall enter in among you, not spar¬
ing the flock." Write these things upon
your hearts, and it will do more good than
twenty years study. Then you will have
no time to spare; you will have work
enough to do. Then, likewise, will no
preacher, who is as salt that has lost its
savor stay with us. To such this employ¬
ment would be mere drudgery. In order
then, to perform your duty, far above your
knowledge, you will have need of all the
grace you can obtain.
4. Causes of Spiritual Poverty.
Why are we not more holy for the per¬
formance of these duties?
Why do we not live more in eternity and
walk with God all the day long?
Why are we not all more devoted to God
and breathing the whole missionary spirit?
Chiefly because we are enthusiasts, look¬
ing for the end without using the means.
Let us touch upon only two or three in¬
stances. Who of us rises at four, or even
at five, when we do not preach? Do we
know the obligation and benefit of fasting
l8o DUTIES OF PASTORS.
or abstinence? How often do we practice
it? The neglect of this alone is sufficient
to account for our feebleness and faintness
of spirit. We are continually grieving the
Holy Spirit of God by the nabitual neglect
of our piain duty. Let us amend from this
hour.
CHAPTER II.
Duties of Pastors.
(Ordained and Unordained).
1. A traveling preacher must be diligent;
never unemployed: never triflingly em¬
ployed.
2. He shall attend the superintendent
when in his charge and give him all neces¬
sary information by letter, when absent.
3. He shall take charge of all the Local
Elders, Deacons, Preachers, and Exhorters
in his charge and see that they behave well.
He shall organize the Local Preachers and
Exhorters in a class for mutual improve¬
ment. The Quarterly Conference shall re¬
prove, or remove, if it think best, those
who refuse to unite in the class.
4. He shall call, and preside over all
meetings for the transaction of spiritual or
DUTIES OF PASTORS. l8l
temporal business in his charge, excepting
those called to inquire into complaints or
charges against ljim.
5. He shall hold Watch Night meetings,.
Love-feasts—which he may allow to con¬
tinue one hour and a half—and quarterly
meetings, in the absence, or at the request
of the Presiding Elder.
6. In large societies he shall meet the
men and women apart once a quarter, and
form those of them who are believers in
bands of four each, where this is practi¬
cable.
7. He shall meet the Quarterly Confer¬
ence, also he shall meet the trustees, the
stewards, the leaders, the general bands,
the societies and other organizations of his
charge as often as possible, and shall over¬
look their accounts from time to time.
8. He shall travel and labor in his charge,
conduct divine service, visit the sick, recom¬
mend decency and cleanliness, and enforce
vigorously but calmly, all the rules of the
societies, and every part of the Discipline.
9. He shall regulate the bands and see
that every band leader has the rules of the
band.
10. He shall read the general rules in ev¬
ery society once a quarter and in every
congregation once a year; especially the
182 DUTIES OF PASTORS.
thoughts on dress; exhorting the people to
conform to the spirit of the Apostolic pre¬
cepts concerning gold, pearls and costly ar¬
ray, i Tim. ii :g; I Pet. iii 13. He shall also
put off all superfluous arid costly apparel
himself. The violation of this rule sub¬
jects a minister to the liability of suspen¬
sion.
11. He shall assign all persons received
on probation to a separate and special class,
keeping them in it at least three months;
and shall not admit any to full membership
till they have passed a satisfactory exam¬
ination before him and the church, as to
correctness of faith and willingness to ob¬
serve and keep the rules, been baptized and
recommended by a leader whom they have
met in class three months.
12. He shall give love-feast tickets to all
full members in good standing—but to no
others—and shall renew said tickets quar¬
terly. He may with the utmost caution, is¬
sue a note of permission to attend love-
feast, to any serious person who has at¬
tended class three times or is recommended
by a responsible person known to him, but
never to two consecutive love-feasts, nor
more than three times, without his becom¬
ing a member.
13. He shall see that a fast be held in ev-
DUTIES OF PASTORS. 183
cry society in his charge on the Friday
next preceding every quarterly meeting and
have a memorandum made of it on the
class papers.
14. He shall see that every society is duly
supplied with our books.
15. He shall receive, try and expel mem¬
bers, according to the Discipline, and at
every quarterly meeting shall read the
names of those who have been received, and
who have been excluded.
16. He shall appoint all class-leaders and
when he deems it necessary, or the good
of the church demands it, remove them.
17. Where there are no stewards, he shall
appoint a person to receive the quarterly
collections in the classes, and a committee
to receive, and assist in applying any money
subscribed to make up allowance to preach¬
ers or assist the most needy places in build¬
ing churches and paying debts.
18. He shall suspend a steward from of¬
fice for sufficient cause, and appoint a ste-
Yvaid in his stead; the cause and action to
be reviewed and finally disposed of by the
quarterly conference.
19. He shall not allow any person to o*
ficiate as a preacher or exhorter in h,-.
church without obtaining a license from
the quarterly conference, and he shall in-
184
DUTIES OF PASTORS.
sist that this license be renewed 'once every
year.
20. He shall take exact account of the
members in the charge, report the same
to the Annual Conference, and, on being
removed, shall submit to his successor an
accurate account of the charge.
21. He shall not cease to labor in the
itinerancy, except in case of sickness, debil¬
ity or uncontrollable circumstances, with¬
out the consent of the Annual Conference,
certified by the hand of the Bishop.
22. He shall frequently warn his mem¬
bers against moving from one charge to
another, without a note of recommenda¬
tion from him; informing them that they
will not be received into other societies
without this note of recommendation.
[Form of Certificate of Recommendation],
To the Rev Pastor of the
A. M. E. Church at This is to
introduce to you and commend to your Christian
consideration, M who is an accept¬
able member of our Society.
t Pastor of the A. M. E.
Church.
23. (1) Every pastor shall gather in the
children, and wherever there are ten whose
parents will permit it, he shall meet them
once in a week, or once in two weeks for
DUTIES OF PASTORS. 185
the purpose Of giving them instruction and
training them in the catechism. To this
end he shall procure our catechism, and
have it committed to memory by all who
can read.
(2) He shall expressly preach on educa¬
tion ; talk with the children at home; explain
the nature of religion to them and impress
the necessity of it upon their hearts. He
shall earnestly pray for them and exhort
their parents at home.
(3) He shall take the names of those who
have been truly awakened and admit them
to society. But if he should say, "I have
no gift for this," he should pray for it and
use every other means to obtain it.
(4) He shall, so far as it is practicable,
take the children of his congregation and
fnrm them into Sabbath-schools.
(5) He shall take their names and form
them into classes for the purpose of giving
them religious instruction, and do this as
regularly himself as his other duties will
permit.
(6) He shall teach them the nature of re¬
ligion; and also the nature, privileges, de¬
sign and obligations of baptism.
(7) He shall, appoint a suitable leader
for each class to instruct it in his absence
and recommend to him those who are suit¬
able to be admitted on trial.
l86 preachers annual conference.
il
(8) He shall leave his successor a correct
account of each class formed and also the
name of its leader.
CHAPTER III.
Preachers in Annual Conference.
i. Preachers Admitted on Trial.
i. A preacher being duly recommended
by the District Conference, or having been
previously appointed to a charge by the
Bishop or Presiding Elder, in the interim
of Annual Conferences, may be received on
trial in the Annual Conference by vote;
provided he give us satisfaction as to his
knowledge of the discipline and doctrines
of the Church, the connections necessary
in a discourse, church history (especially
ours), and of all the studies prescribed in
the Appendix to the Book of Discipline, for
admission on trial. Then let him carefully
read and weigh the contents of the Book
of Discipline, that if he have any doubt it
may be removed.
If he should be destitute of the fore¬
going qualifications, he may be referred to
a committee, who shall examine him occa¬
sionally during the ensuing year. If they
recommend him, his application shall be
PREACHERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 187
presented to the next Annual Conference.
2. When he is admitted on trial the form
of discipline shall be given him, inscribed:
To Y011 think it your duty
to call sinners to repentance; make full
proof of it, and we shall rejoice to receive
you as a fellow laborer.
3. One on trial may be either admitted, or
rejected without doing him any wrong;
otherwise it would be no trial at all.
2. Preachers Admitted to Full Connection.
1. A preacher who has maintained a
good character, two years on trial, proved
his fitness, given the Annual Conference
satisfaction in the studies for the second
year, and in the Special Examination for
admission, may be admitted to full connec¬
tion in the itinerancy.
2. I11 receiving a traveling preacher into
full connection, there shall be an offering of
solemn prayer, and the following Special
Examination—with other questions, if
necessary:
1. Have you faith in Christ?
2. Are you going on to perfection?
3. Do you expect to be made perfect in
love in this life?
4. Are you groaning after this perfect
love?
14
l88 PREACHERS—ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
5. Are you resolved to wholly devote
yourself to God and His work?
6. Do you know the rules of the Society
and of the bands?
7. Do you keep them?
8. Do you constantly attend the sacra¬
ment?
9..Have you read the form of disci¬
pline ?
10. Are you willing to conform to it?
11. Have you considered the rules of a
Preacher, especially the 1st, 7th and 9th?
(See Page 190.)
12. Will you keep them for conscience
sake?
13. Are you determined to employ all your
time in the work of God?
14. Will you endeavor not to speak too
loud 01* too long?
15. Will you instruct the children in every
place ?
16. Will you visit from house to house?
17. Will you recommend fasting or ab¬
stinence, both by precept and example?
18. Are you in debt?
3. Preachers from other Denominations.
1. Preachers from other denominations,
coming to either the Quarterly Conference
or the Annual Conference, for admission,
shall be questioned as follows:
l'REACHERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 189
Question. Have you read our form of
discipline?
A nswer. I have.
Ques. Do you possess such discipline?
Ans. I do.
Ques. Do you believe in the doctrine,
discipline and polity of our Church as set
forth therein?
Ans. I do fully believe and will willing¬
ly receive, adopt and be governed by the
doctrines, discipline and polity of the A. M.
E. Church.
Ques. Will you refrain from teaching
or practicing any other form of doctrine,
discipline or polity?
Ans. I will.
2. An unordained Preacher from another
denomination can enter the itinerant minis¬
try of the A. M. E. Church, only by becom¬
ing a member of the church and entering
the Annual Conference regularly.
3. An ordained Preacher may come in the
same way, or he may be received by an
Annual Conference on proving his ordina¬
tion, accepting our doctrine, discipline, us¬
ages and government, giving satisfactory
evidence of gifts, graces and usefulness,
sustaining an examination in the studies for
the "second year," and taking the ordina¬
tion vows.
I90 PREACHERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
4. On being admitted, he shall receive
the following form of certificate:
This is to certify that
having been ordained to the office of
19.. ., according to the usages of the
Church, of which he has been a
member, has been admitted into the
Conference of the A. M. E. Church, and is here¬
by authorized, so long as his life and conversation
become the Gospel of Christ, to exercise the func¬
tions of his office in the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church.
Given under my hand and seal, this
day of 19...
Presiding Bishop.
5, Every Preacher admitted to full trav¬
eling connection shall receive the form of
Discipline inscribed as follows:
As long as you freely consent to, and
earnestly endeavor to walk by these rules,
we shall rejoice to acknowledge you as a
fellow laborer.
4. Rules of a Preacher.
1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed or
triflingly employed. Never trifle away any
time; neither spend any more at one place
than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Avoid all lightness, jest¬
ing and foolish talking. Converse sparingly
and conduct yourselves prudently with wo¬
men. 1 Tim. v. 2. Be ashamed of noth-
PREACHERS—ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 191
ing but sin. Let your motto be "Holiness
unto the Lord."
3. Take no step toward marrying with¬
out consulting your brethren. A Methodist
Preacher ought not to be married to a wo¬
man without the consent of her parents.
4. Believe evil of no one without good
evidence; unless you see it done, take heed
you credit it not. Put the best construction
011 everything. You know the judge is al¬
ways supposed to be on the prisoner's side.
5. Speak evil of no one, because your
word especially doth eat as a canker. Keep
your thoughts within your own breast un¬
til you come to the person concerned.
6. Tell everyone under your care what
you think wrong in his conduct and temper,
and that lovingly and plainly as soon as
may be, else it will fester in your heart.
Make all haste to cast the fire out of your
bosom.
7. Be punctual. Do everything exactly
at the time: and do not mend our rules, but
keep them; not for wrath, but for con¬
science's sake.
8. Avoid all affectation. A Preacher of
the Gospel is a servant to all. You have noth¬
ing to do but to save souls; therefore spend
and be spent in this work. And go always
not only to those who want you, but to those
Ip2 PREACHERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
who want you most. It is not your busi¬
ness only to preach so many times and to
take care of this or that society, but to save
as many as you can: to bring as many sin¬
ners to repentance as you can; and with all
your power to build them up in that holi¬
ness, without which they cannot see the
Lord. Remember a Methodist Preacher is
to mind every point great and small in the
African Methodist Discipline. You will,
therefore, need to exercise all the sense and
grace you have.
9. Act in all things not according to your
own will but as a son in the gospel. As such
it is your duty to employ your time in the
manner which we direct; in preaching and
visiting from house to house, in reading,
meditation and prayer. Above all, if you
labor with us in the vineyard of the Lord,
it is necessary you should do that part of
the work which we advise at those times
and places which we judge most for His
glory.
5. Preachers' Conduct in Conference.
1. It is desired that all things be consid¬
ered on these occasions, as in the immediate
presence of God, and that every person shall
speak freely whatever is in his heart.
2. That we may improve our time at
DEACONS.
193
Conference, while we are conversing let us
have an especial care to set God always be¬
fore us. In the intermediate hours let us
redeem all the time we can for private ex¬
ercises. Therein let us give ourselves to
prayer for one another and for a blessing,
on our neighbors.
6. The Itinerancy.
The extension of the Church is best se¬
cured through an itinerancy operating un¬
der a General Superintendency which pro¬
vides, as nearly as possible, for each con¬
gregation of believers a minister qualified to
present the doctrines of Holy Scripture, and
to direct the temporal economy of our So¬
cieties. The glorious triumphs attendant
upon the labors of our itinerants attest the
presence of the Holy Spirit as a witness
directing the pulpit and pastoral ministra¬
tions of itinerant preachers.
CHAPTER IV.
Deacons.
1. A Deacon is constituted by election of
the Annual Conference, and the imposition
of the hands of a Bishop.
2. A Traveling Preacher of two full-
years standing in the Annual Conference is-
194
DEACONS.
eligible to the office of Deacon, provided he
satisfy the Annual Conference of his fit¬
ness for the office.
3. If the necessities of the cause of mis¬
sions require his ordination earlier, the time
qualifications may be disregarded, if it is
judged expedient; provided he give satisfac¬
tion in the course of studies prescribed in
the Book of Discipline for the ''second
year,'' and has been carefully instructed in
the nature of the vows of the office of a
Deacon.
4. On the request of his Quarterly Con¬
ference, a Local Preacher of four years
good standing may be eligible to the office
of Deacon, if recommended by the District
Conference; provided he satisfy the Annual
Conference in the course of studies pre¬
scribed in the Book of Discipline for the
"second year."
5. The duties of a Deacon are, to assist
the Elder in distributing the communion,
and, in the absence of the Elder administer
the Sacrament of Baptism, solemnize matri¬
mony, and preach the Word of God.
6. A traveling Deacon shall not act as
Deacon, or preach in our churches, if he
cease to travel without the consent of the
Annual Conference, certified by the Bishop;
except he is incapacitated by sickness, de¬
bility or unavoidable circumstances.
ELDERS.
195
• CHAPTER V.
Elders.
1. An Elder is constituted by election of
the Annual Conference, and the imposition
of the hands of a Bishop and the examining
Elders. The ' Conference shall be certain
that he is thoroughly instructed in the vows
of an Elder.
2. A Traveling Deacon of two full years
good and regular standing is eligible to the
office of Elder; provided he give satisfac¬
tion in the course of studies prescribed in
the Book of Discipline.
3. A Local Deacon of four years good
and regular standing as a Deacon, is
eligible to the office of Elder on the request
of his Quarterly Conference; provided he
is recommended by the District Conference,
on at least a two-thirds majority vote, and
satisfies the Annual Conference of his fit¬
ness, and the local necessity of his ordina¬
tion.
4. The duties of an Elder are, to admin¬
ister the sacraments of the Lord's Supper
and Baptism, perform the rite of matri¬
mony, and preach the Word of God.
196
presiding elders.
CHAPTER VI.
Presiding Elders.
1. Qualifications.
Presiding- Elders are appointed by tli
Bishop. They must be able to keep a faith
ful record of the quarterly conference min
utes, and give proper directions to all th
affairs of the Church.
2. The District.
The territory of every Annual Confer
ence (except mission conferences too smair
shall be divided in districts, each embracing
from twelve to twenty pastoral charges am
from two to three thousand lay members
In cases of conferences of very large ter
ritory but only few churches, each presid
ing elder may be assigned to a pastorate bu
his charge must be in the district of an
other presiding elder.
3. Duties.
1. The Presiding Elder shall take chargi
of all the Elders, Deacons, Preachers, itin
erant and local, and the Exhorters in hi:
district.
2. He shall travel at large in his district
preside in the District Conference, Sunday
school conventions and all the Quarterl;
PRESIDING ELDERS.
197
Conferences, assist pastors at quarterly
meetings, see that the business of the con¬
ference is in strict accord with the Disci¬
pline ; and preach at least once on each
charge quarterly.
3. He shall give decisions on all questions
of law in the quarterly conferences and the
district conferences, subject to appeal to the
Annual Conference. In all cases he shall
leave the application of law with the dis¬
trict conference and quarterly conference.
4. He shall change or remove a preacher
in the interval of Annual Conferences, after
strict investigation, where the interests of a
church demand it; or when a majority of
the membership is dissatisfied and the offi¬
cial board, in a written petition, requests
him to do so; provided he assign said
preacher to another field of labor. He mav
call a committee to investigate or try a case
of a pastor under charges.
5. He may employ a preacher who has
teen rejected by an Annual Conference be¬
cause of failure to pass examination; pro¬
vided the Annual Conference grant permis¬
sion, and the preacher is a man of good
moral character; but he shall not employ
nor allow to exercise in any church of his
district, any preacher under suspension or
expulsion, in our own or other church.
198
bishops.
6. He shall thoroughly acquaint himself
with the efficiency and acceptability of all
the pastors in his district, and endeavor to
have satisfactory appointments for all the.
people.
7. He shall see that all moneys collected
■on connectional Sabbaths—Educational
Day, Children's Day, and three-fourths of
that on Easter Day—are forwarded to the
offices to which they are due, promptly,
and shall demand no part of the collec¬
tions on those days, as payment of assess¬
ment for support.
8. He shall not cease to travel without
the consent of the Annual Conference or
the Bishop.
9. He shall be removed for imprudence
in administration, or impurity of life.
CHAPTER VII.
Bishops.
1. Election.
1. A Bishop shall be elected by the Gen¬
eral Conference, by ballot only: provided
he shall be blameless in character and quali¬
fications; a majority of all votes cast shall
be necessary to choice.
BISHOPS.
199
2. After his election he shall be conse¬
crated to the office by the imposition of the
hands of a Bishop and six Elders.
2. Filling Vacancies.
1. If by death, resignation, or expulsion,
there should be no one to exercise the epis¬
copal office, an extra session of the General
Conference shall be called at once, accord¬
ing to the Discipline.
2. The said extra session of the General
Conference shall proceed to fill the vacancy,
and seven Elders, by imposition of their
hands, shall ordain the one elected.
3. Duties of a Presiding Bishop.
1. He shall preside in all the conferences,
fix, in conjunction with the Presiding Eld¬
ers, all the appointments of the traveling
preachers at the Annual Conferences, and
cause all his decisions in Annual Conference
to be entered in the journal.
2. He shall entertain all motions duly
made and seconded in an Annual Confer¬
ence, when they do not come in conflict
with positive law.
3. He shall decide all questions of law in
the Annual Conference; but his decisions
may be subjected to an appeal to the Court
of Triers of Appeals. He shall in all cases
leave the application of law with the An¬
nual Conference.
200
BISHOPS.
4. He shall select the most experienced
and best qualified elders, and of the best
moral character, for the office of Presiding
Elders.
5. He shall, when requested by an An¬
nual Conference, appoint an agent or agents
to labor for embarrassed churches and liter¬
ary institutions in the Conference.
6. In the interval of the Annual Confer¬
ence sessions, he shall change, receive and
suspend preachers, whenever necessary, as
directed by the Book of Discipline.
7. He shall not permit any preacher to
remain on any circuit or station, nor a Pre¬
siding Elder on any given district longer
than five years.
8. He shall not permit any preacher to
remain on a circuit or a station when he
has become unacceptable or it is evident
that his continuance is injurious to the
prosperity of the Church.
9. He shall not remove a preacher with¬
out his consent, beyond the bounds of his
district, until he shall have given him at
least three months' notice prior to the time
appointed for his removal. Nor shall the
Bishop accept a transferred preacher against
whom there is a.charge, till after the con¬
ference shall have full time to examine his
BISHOPS.
201
character and pass upon the same. Any
Bishop who shall knowingly violate this
prohibition shall be proceeded against by the
Annual Conference, as per Discipline.
10. He shall not transfer nor appoint any
preacher to a pastorate, presiding eldership,
evangelistic work, missionary work or
agency, who is under suspension or expul¬
sion, nor shall he allow any preacher in
these relations to be received into Confer¬
ence, whether formerly of our connection
or another.
11. Whenever he transfers a member of
the Annual Conference, he shall give the
following form of Certificate:
This is to certify that a
in good and regular standing, has been trans¬
ferred from the Annual Conference
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to the
Annual Conference of the same
Church, the transfer to take effect on and after
,19.-.
Presiding Bishop.
12 He shall travel at large through his
district and visit every circuit and station
and oversee the spiritual and temporal busi¬
ness of the societies in his district.
13. He shall whenever the officers of any
church call him and necessity requires
nim, visit any Episcopal District and act
202
BISHOPS.
alone, in the absence of its Bishop, or con¬
jointly with him, in all cases in which the
interest of the connection demands his
service.
14. He shall not ordain any woman to
the order of Deacon or Elder in the A. M.
E. Church. •
15. He shall not exercise his episcopal
office in any degree over the Church un¬
less he travel at large throughout his dis¬
trict.
16. His duty in this respect shall be regu¬
lated by the General Conference, and it shall
make provision for his traveling expenses.
17. He shall see that all funds of the Con¬
ference are appropriated according to Dis¬
cipline but shall not interfere with said
appropriations when consistent with the
Discipline, and shall not receive any money
from the Annual Conference for residence
or traveling.
18. The bishops shall publish a year book
of African Methodism. The book shall be
issued in May annually. It shall be pub¬
lished by the Book Concern immediately
upon its compilation, and be sold at a small
price for the benefit of the Book Concern.
PART V.
CONFERENCE
1. General Conference.
II. Annual Conferences.
III. District Conferences.
IV. Quarterly Conferences.
V. Official Boards.
VI. Church Conferences.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
205
CHAPTER I.
The General Conference.
Composition.
1. The General Conference shall be com¬
posed of all the Bishops, all the General Of¬
ficers, Presidents of Colleges and Univer¬
sities, and two ministerial delegates from
every Annual Conference actually existing,
and for each 'Annual Conference of more
than sixty members, one ministerial dele¬
gate for every thirty members or final frac¬
tion exceeding fifteen; also two lay dele¬
gates for every Annual Conference.
Qualifications of Delegates.
2. Every minister elected delegate by an
Annual Conference shall have traveled four
full consecutive years, next preceding the
General Conference, in good and regular
standing in the Annual Conference of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church and
at the time of his election shall be a mem¬
ber of the conference that elects him.
3. Every layman elected delegate by an
Electoral College shall be a member of said
206 general conference.
college and a man of good natural and ac¬
quired ability, who knows and loves the A.
M. E. doctrines and discipline and has
maintained a full, good and regular mem¬
bership in said Church four consecutive
years next preceding the General Confer¬
ence.
Election.
1. Ministerial delegates shall be elected
by the Annual Conference next before the
General Conference; except that Annual
Conferences sitting in or after January
shall elect a year earlier.
2. A delegate elected by an Annual Con¬
ference shall represent said Annual Con¬
ference in General Conference, though he
may have been transferred to another An¬
nual Conference after his election.
3. The Annual Conference shall give a
certificate of election, signed by the Bishop
and Secretary to every delegate elected, both
ministerial and lay.
Electoral College.
1. The Annual Conference next before
the one that is to elect ministerial delegates
shall appoint the place and time for the
Electoral College; the time shall be at least
three months before the Annual Confer¬
ence that is to elect ministerial delegates.
<;EXKRAI, CONFF.RF.XCF..
207
2. The Electoral College shall be com¬
posed of one layman from each station, cir¬
cuit and mission in the Annual Conference
district.
3. Every pastor shall publish the meeting
that is to elect a representative from his
charge to the Electoral College, two weeks
before it is to take place, and shall preside
at that meeting. Only full members of the
charge shall vote.
4. The Electoral College shall assemble
at the place and time designated by the
Annual Conference, and shall organize ac¬
cording to the custom of delegate bodies;
a delegate moving that a given delegate be
elected temporary chairman, another, tem¬
porary secretary. After devotional service,
the College will effect a permanent organi¬
zation, electing a chairman, secretary, two
tellers and two clerks of election, and then'
elect from its members two lay delegates
and two alternates to the General Confer¬
ence.
5. The Electoral College shall give each
lay delegate and alternate a certificate of
election, signed by the Chairman and Secre¬
tary, to be presented to the Annual Con¬
ference for record.
Election Rules.
1. Both Annual Conferences and Elec-
208 general conference.
toral Colleges shall elect alternates in same
number, quality and by same method as
delegates.
2. Tellers and Clerks of Election shall
be elected by the Conference and Electoral
College, and all delegates and alternates to
the General Conference shall be elected by
ballot, a majority of ballots determining
the election.
3. It shall be unlawful for any minister
to interfere in any way with the Electoral
College.
Sessions.
The General Conference shall meet per¬
petually, once in four years on the first
Monday in May.
The Entertainment Commission.
1. This Commission shall consist of three
Bishops, five elders, and three lay delegates,
all of whom shall be designated by the pre¬
ceding General Conference.
2. The Commission shall approximate the
expense of entertaining the General Con¬
ference, and apportion it among the several
Annual Conferences, which shall raise one-
fourth of the required amount each year,
and deposit the same with the Financial
Secretary, who shall keep it under the title,
General Conference Entertainment Fund.
GENERAL CONFERENCE. 209
3. At least twelve months before the as¬
sembling of the General Conference, the
Commission shall meet on the call of the
Senior Bishop and shall cause it to be
known throughout the Connection, that ap¬
plications will be received for the enter¬
tainment of the General Conference.
4. The Commission shall take into con¬
sideration, in passing upon applications, the
ability of the people to properly entertain
the Conference, accessibility from all parts
of the country, railroad facilities, rates and
such other matters as, in their judgment,
will contribute to the proper entertainment
of the General Conference.
5. Should there be no application for the
General Conference, the Commission shall
proceed to locate it at some point which
shall the most fully satisfy the foregoing
conditions; provided, that they shall not se¬
lect a place whose people, through their pas¬
tor, shall file an objection to such selection.
6. As soon as a proper selection shall
have been made, notice thereof shall be
given in all the Church papers four consecu¬
tive weeks.
7. The Commission shall create a Sub-
Committee which, in conjunction with the
Secretary of the Bishops' Council and Fi¬
nancial Secretary, shall perfect all arrange-
210 GENERAL CONFERENCE.
merits for the proper entertainment of the
General Conference.
8. In case of the neglect or failure of the
Senior Bishop to call the Commission to¬
gether, three members of the Commission
may make such a call.
Extra Sessions.
1. The Bishops, with the advice of two-
thirds of the Annual Conferences, when
necessary shall call an extra session of the
General Conference; but if there be no
Bishops, three Elders, with the advice of
two-thirds of the Annual Conferences, shall
call it.
2. The Bishops, or said three Elders,
shall then, in writing, notify the preachers
in charge of circuits and stations to inform
all the delegates in good standing, as mem¬
bers of the last quadrennial session, to at¬
tend the extra session at the time and place
appointed by the Bishops, or said three
Elders. After notice being thus duly given,
if two-thirds of the delegates be present
at the appointed time and place, they shall
proceed to business and their proceedings
shall be lawful.
3. If any Annual Conference should be
without representation, on receiving notice
of the extra session, the Bishops, or, if
GENERAL COX EEREXCE.
21 [
there are no Bishops, three Elders of that
Conference shall call it to an extra session
when it shall elect both ministerial and lay
delegates.
Restrictions of the General Conference.
1. The General Conference shall have full
power to make rules and regulations for
the Church, but they shall not repeal or
change the articles of religion nor estab¬
lish any new rules of doctrine.
2. They shall not alter any rule of gov¬
ernment to the effect of doing away with
the Episcopacy or General Superintendency.
3. They shall not do away with the privi¬
leges of our ministers or preachers, of trial
by a committee of trial, and an appeal.
Neither shall they do away wTith the privi¬
leges of our members of trial before the
society of which they are members, or
by a committee, and of an appeal.
4. They shall not revoke or change the
General Rules of the United Societies.
5. They shall not appropriate the surplus
of the Book Concern to any purpose other
than for the benefit of the Bishops, itiner¬
ant, supernumerary and superannuated
preachers, their widows and orphans.
Provided, nevertheless, That a majority of
two-thirds of the General Conference shall
suffice to alter the fifth restriction and none
other.
212
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Expenses of Delegates.
Every Pastor shall collect a part of the
money needed in his Annual Conference
to defray the traveling expenses of its dele¬
gates to the General Conference.
• The part to be collected shall be accord¬
ing to the per capita taxation of all the
members of the Annual Conference Dis¬
trict.
The amount to be paid to each delegate
shall be calculated at the rate of ten cents
per mile, going to the General Conference,
but not on returning.
The amount of traveling expenses to be
collected by each pastor shall be presented
to the Annual Conference at which the dele¬
gates are to be elected; and in no case shall
he fail to collect and present, or have pre¬
sented in due time to said Conference, the
amount decided to be his quota.
The traveling expenses of the Bishops to
the General Conference shall be paid out
of the general treasury.
The Finance Committee, at the rise of
every General Conference, shall pay the in¬
cidental expenses of the Conference, and
turn over the balance (if there be any) to
the business manager of the Book Concern,
to defray the expense of printing the Book
of Discipline and General Conference Min¬
utes.
annual conference.
213
CHAPTR II.
Annual Conferences.
1. Composition.
An Annual Conference shall be composed
of all the traveling Elders, Deacons and
Licentiates, and all the Local Elders and
Local Deacons within its district, together
with two laymen from each District Confer¬
ence, elected by the District Conference..
(Present local licentiate members are re¬
tained.)
Probationers in an Annual Conference,,
and visiting members from any other Con¬
ference in the Connection, may participate
in debates, but shall not vote.
2. Sessions.
1. Each Conference, at every annual
session, shall designate the place at which
it will hold its next annual session.
2. The time for holding the session shall
be appointed by the Presiding Bishop, and
should be done at each session.
3. An Annual Conference year shall be¬
gin when the appointments are read in the
Conference and shall continue until they
are read at the next ensuing session.
4. Every session shall be held at least
one week.
214
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
3. Organisation.
1. The secretary of the preceding Con¬
ference, after devotional services, by orde*
of the chairman, shall call the Conference
roll.
2. The Conference shall proceed to elect
a Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Sta¬
tistical Secretary. The Presiding Officer,
unless otherwise ordered, shall appoint all
committees; except the Finance Committee,
which shall be elected.
3. The Recording Secretary shall engross
all the proceedings of the Conference, and
all the decisions rendered by the Bishop as
recorded by the Secretary, in the journal.
4. One Bishop, at least, shall be present
and preside at each Annual Conference; but
in the absence of the Bishop, the Confer¬
ence shall elect a President pro tem. The
Bishop, or Chairman, and the Secretary
shall sign the Record at the close of each
Annual Conference, ana at the close of the
quadrennium, present it to the General Con¬
ference. -
5. All Conference moneys shall be paid
over to the Finance Committee which shall
disburse the same as directed by law, sub¬
ject to the approval of the Conference, at
least one day before the conference ad¬
journ?.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
4. Mode of Procedure.
Each pastor shall report:
A. NUMERICAL STATISTICS.
Number Persons Converted.
" Accessions to Full Membership.
Members in the Charge.
Probationers in the Charge.
Exhorters in the Charge.
Local Preachers in the Charge.
" Missionary Societies in the
Charge.
Number Allen Endeavor Societies.
Church Auxiliary Societies.
" Other Societies.
'' Churches.
The Seating Capacity of the Churches.
Number Parsonages.
" School Houses owned by the
Charge.
B. FINANCIAL STATISTICS.
(1) Moneys Collected for Connectional
and General Purposes.
The Dollar Money Fund.
The Easter Mission Fund.
" P. H. and F. Mission Fund.
" Women's Mite Mission Fund.
" Women's H. and F. M. Fund.
" Educational Day Fund.
" Children's Day Fund.
Special—College Fund.
21' i
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
The Theological Seminary Fund.
" Allen Endeavor Fund.
" Conference Contingent Fund.
" Minute Fund.
Bible Cause Fund.
(2) Money Collected for Local Purposes.
For Bishops' Traveling.
" Pastor's Support.
'' Presiding Elder's Support.
" Charitable Purposes.
Current Expenses of the Charge.
Purchasing, Building or Repairing
" Sunday School for own use.
For Mortgage Debt.
From Church Extension Board, by Loan or
Donation.
Total Money Collected for Local Pur¬
poses.
Total Collected for All Purposes.
(3) Miscellaneous.
Value of all Church and Sunday School
Property.
Indebtedness of the Charge.
Balance in Steward's Treasury.
Balance in Trustees' Treasury.
C. SUNDAY SCHOOL STATISTICS.
(1) Numerical.
No. Sunday Schools.
'' Officers.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
217
" Teachers.
" Pupils.
*" Conversions during the year.
" Circulating Books in Library.
" Bibles.
" Hymn Books.
No. Lesson Helps taken Quarterly.
*" Missionary Societies.
" Temperance Societies.
(2) Financial.
For Support of Sunday School.
*" All Mission Funds, by Sunday School.
*" All Education Funds, bv Sunday
School.
*" Children's Day Funds, by Sunday
School.
Total Collected by Sunday School.
*Value of Sunday School Property.
♦Indebtedness of Sunday School.
♦Balance in Sunday School Treasury.
5. The Bishop shall ask the following
questions, zuhich shall be anszvered
by the Secretary:
1. What preachers are admitted on trial?
2. Who remain on trial?
3. Who are admitted or re-admitted to
full connection?
4. Who are the Deacons?
5. Who have been elected and ordained
218 AXXl'AL CONFERENCE.
Deacons and Elders this year?
6. Who have located this year?
7. Who have been elected by the General
Conference to exercise the Episcopal office
in, and to superintend the African Metho¬
dist Episcopal Church?
8. Who are the supernumerary preach¬
ers?
9. Who are the superannuated preach¬
ers ?
10. Who have been expelled from the
connection by this Conference?
11. Who have withdrawn this year from
this Conference and the connection ?
12. Are all the preachers blameless in life
and conversation ?
13. What members of the Conference
have died this year?
14. Have all the preachers subscribed to
one of our connectional weekly journals,
and the Quarterly Revieiv or the Voice of
Missions?
15. What preachers are indebted to any
of the Departments or Church publica¬
tions ?
16. When shall we hold the next annual
session of this Conference?
17. Wliere shall our next Annual Con¬
ference be held?
district conference. 2l()
18. Where are the preachers stationed
this year ?
6. Conference Literary Exercise.
1. One day at each Annual Conference
session shall be devoted to literary exer¬
cises ; namely, to discussions, essays, ad¬
dresses, and such other literary exercises
as may be determined by the Bishop and
Conference. If time be not convenient at
Conference, a literary convention should
be held during the year, at the call of the
Bishop of the District.
2. The Bishop, or a President elected by
the Conference, shall preside at the meet¬
ing held for these exercises, and shall ap¬
point the ministers who are to read and
give addresses on these occasions.
CHAPTER III.
District Conference,
i. Composition.
The District Conference shall be com¬
posed of all traveling ministers and local
preachers, and one steward from each
Quarterly Conference, within a Presiding
Elder's District.
The steward shall be elected by ballot at
16
2.2,0
DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
the first Quarterly Conference after the
Annual Conference session.
The Secretary of the Quarterly Confer¬
ence shall count the ballots and the chair¬
man shall declare the result.
2. Sessions.
The District Conference shall meet once a
year, in the second quarter, at the time and
place appointed by the Presiding Elder.
It shall continue in session not less than
two days nor more than three.
3. Organisation.
The Presiding Elder of the District shall
be the chairman of the conference; but if
a Bishop be present he shall be invited to
preside. In the absence of both Presiding
Elder and Bishop the conference shall elect
a chairman pro tem. It shall also elect a
Secretary for the purpose of recording the
proceedings.
The chairman shall appoint all commit¬
tees, unless otherwise ordered.
4. Business of the District Conference.
1. The District Conference shall make
provision for obtaining the Presiding El¬
der's support, should the Annual Confer¬
ence fail to do so.
2. The District Conference shall exam-
DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
221
ine, by committee, all applicants for admis¬
sion into the traveling connection. It shall
recommend for admission to the Annual
Conference, such persons only as give evi¬
dence of efficiency, and possess the neces¬
sary qualifications of an itinerant African
Methodist preacher; provided they have
been full members of the A. M. E. Church,
at least one year. It shall also examine
local preachers, whose ordination is desired
—to Deacon's and Elder's orders—and pre¬
sent the result to the Annual Conference,
signed by the Presiding Elder and secre¬
tary, and elect two laymen to membership
in the Annual Conference, and their succes¬
sors as vacancies occur, from death,
expulsion from the connection or other¬
wise.
3. Committees shall be appointed y and
shall submit reports on the following sub¬
jects :
(1) The financial ability of the people
throughout the district.
(2) Their moral condition.
(3) What the people are doing for mis¬
sions.
(4) The spiritual condition of the
churches.
(5) The condition of the public schools.
222 quarterly conference.
(6) The requirements of the Sabbath
schools.
(7) The means necessary to make the
churches more prosperous financially.
4. The Presiding- Elder shall preach the
opening sermon of the session; special ser¬
mons shall be preached on each evening
during the session; religious services shall
be observed at all the meetings.
5. The conference shall have a record of
all its proceedings kept in a book provided
for the purpose, and it shall be the duty
of the Secretary to preserve it until de¬
manded by the Conference.
5. Traveling Expenses.
It shall be the duty of the several
churches in the district to pay the traveling
expenses of the members of the District
Conference to and from the place of its
session.
CHAPTER IV.
Quarterly Conferences.
1. Composition.
The Quarterly Conference shall consist
of the traveling preachers or pastors on a
circuit or station, the local preachers, ex-
QUARTERLY CONFERENCE. 223
horters . stewards, stewardesses, class-
leaders, and the superintendent of the Sun¬
day School, and the president of the Allen
C. E., provided the latter two are members
of the A. M. E. Church.
2. Sessions.
The sessions of the Quarterly Conference
shall be held every three months, or four
times a year, on every circuit and in every
station.
The time and place of meeting shall be
appointed by the Presiding Elder; but if
there be no Presiding Elder it shall be
appointed by the Pastor.
At each Conference there shall be a Secre¬
tary or Secretaries elected, who shall faith¬
fully and carefully record the proceedings
in a suitable book.
If 110 efficient Secretary can be obtained,
the Pastor or Presiding Elder shall act as
Secretary of the Quarterly Conference.
3. Procedure.
The following questions shall be asked
and answered in general and in particular,
and recorded.
1. Are there any appeals from members
of this society?'
2. Are there any applications for license
to preach or exhort?
224
QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.
3. Are there any licenses to be renewed?
4. How many persons have been received
on probation?
At A
At B
At C
Total
5. How many persons have been received
into full membership ?
At A
At B
At C
Total
6. How many persons are now ready to
be received into full membership?
7. How many members have been re¬
ceived by certificate?
8. How many have left with certificate?
9. How many have left without certifi¬
cate?
10. How many have been expelled from
this society.
11. How many members have died this
quarter and what are their names?
12. What number of full members in
this society, or on this circuit?
If on a circuit—At A
At B At C
13. What number of probationers in this
society or on this circuit?
QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.
225
If a circuit at A B
C Total...
14. Have the probationers been instruct¬
ed in the Doctrine, Discipline and history
of our Church during this quarter?
15. What has been the increase of full
members this quarter?
16. How many infants and adults have
been baptized this quarter?
1 st. Infants
2d. Adults
17. What are the names of those who
have been baptized?
18. How many Sunday Schools and
what number of pupils are on the charge?
If a circuit Pupils at A
B
C
Total
19. WThat number of books in the library,,
or libraries?
At A B C
20. How much has been collected for
Sundav 'School purposes?
At A B C
21. How and for what purpose has this
amount been appropriated?
22. How much has been collected to pay
the minister or ministers this quarter?
226 QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.
For Presiding Elder at A
B
«< te CI Q
Total
For Pastor at A
it gt (c jg
ft (( (t ^
Total
23. How much for other uses by Stew¬
ards ?
24. How much has been collected by the
Trustees ?
How has it been expended?
25. What is the present indebtedness?
Of the Trustees
Of the Stewards
Of the Sunday School
26. How much money has been collected
for general purposes?
(1) Dollar Money
(2) Education Money
(3) Missionary Money
(4) Children's Day Money....
27. How many subscribers to our period¬
icals this quarter ?
(1) The Christian Recorder.
(2) The Southern Christian Recorder.
(3) The Voice of Missions.
(4) The A. M. E. Review.
(5) The Western Christian Recorder.
quarterly conference. 227
(6) The South African Recorder.
4. Reports.
The chairman shall call for:—
(1) TheTrustees' Report.
(2) The Stewards' Report.
(3) The Sabbath School Superintend¬
ent's Report.
(4) The President of the Allen C. E.
L. Report.
(5) The Choir Leader's Report.
(6) Other Reports.
All reports shall be carefully written out
previous to the Quarterly Conference ses¬
sion. They should deal with matters and
and incidents on the charge not given in
answers to the questions. The Conference
may receive and adopt these reports at
once, or send them back to their respective
departments for correction, if necessary, to
be returned to the next Quarterly Confer¬
ence, unless otherwise ordered.
2. Miscellaneous Business.
1. The Conference shall examine the
moral, religious and official character of its
members; the person whose character is on
its passage (at the request of a member)
shall withdraw.
2. The Conference may act upon such
motions and resolutions as may come before
228
offficial board.
it touching upon various pertinent topics.
The proceedings of the Conference shall be
kept in a book prepared for that purpose,
which book shall remain in the hands of the
stewards, and for which they shall be re¬
sponsible.
CHAPTER V.
The Official Board,
i. Composition of Board.
1. The Official Board shall be composed
of all the class leaders, exhorters, stewards
and stewardesses of a station, circuit or
mission.
2. The pastor shall be a member of the
Board and its chairman ex -officio.
3. Local preachers shall be regarded as
honorary members of the Board and shall
be required to visit it at its regular ses¬
sions.
4. The Board shall elect annually, a sec¬
retary and a treasurer. A steward should
be elected secretary, where there is one
competent.
2. Sessions.
1. The Official Board of every station shall
meet at least once every week.
Ol'FFICIAL BOARD.
229
2.The Official Board of every circuit or
mission shall meet at least once in every
two weeks.
3. Extra meetings shall be called by the
pastor whenever he sees it necessary, and
shall be promptly attended by the members,
of a station or circuit.
4. All meeting's of the Board shall be
opened with religious service.
3. Business.
1. The secretary shall keep a strict ac¬
count of the proceedings.
2. The treasurer shall hold all moneys
obtained under the auspices of the stewards,
and disburse the same, on order of the
Board.
3. The Board shall require the leaders to
pay over to the stewards, at its sessions,,
whatever sums they may have collected for
the church, the Pastor, Presiding Elder and
the poor.
4. It shall see, at its sessions, that the
Pastor receives his regular support; and it
shall devise ways and means to pay him and
the Presiding Elder all that is due them.
5. It shall receive of the leaders, reports
on the following subjects:
(1) Those who walk disorderly and will
not be reproved.
230
GFFFICIAL HOARD.
(2) Those who are sick and need the
■attention of the pastor.
(3) The death of members.
(4) Those who wilfully and persistently
neglect their classes and other religious
duties.
(5) Those who have left the society
with certificate.
(6) Those who have left the society
without certificate.
(7) The Board shall have power to send
out'committees for the purpose of making
investigation concerning rumors affecting
the moral standing of any member; and
shall moreover, have members to appear
before it that they may explain such ru¬
mors.
(8) It shall, after examination and due
deliberation, drop the names of those proba¬
tioners who wilfully and continuously ab¬
sent themselves from the church and dis¬
regard its authority.
(9) The board shall have power to de¬
clare withdrawn, without certificate, mem¬
bers who unite with other churches, absent
themselvs from public worship or class, or
fail to contribute to the support of the gos¬
pel, church or poor, for the period of one
year, provided they will not be reproved
md give evidence of amendment.
CHURCH CONFERENCE. 2^1
4. Restrictions of the Official Board.
1. It shall not have power to try and
expel members of the church. Such a course
would make the chairman liable to the.
charge of mal-administration.
2. It cannot overrule the pastor, or re¬
verse his decisions, or change his plans fair
the government of the charge.
CHAPTER VI.
Church Conference.
1. A Church Conference is a meeting of
the members and minister residing and wor¬
shipping at a given place, for the consid¬
eration and transaction of local Church
business, the minister in charge being the
presiding officer.
2. The duties of the Conference may be
many and varied; such as calling the roll
of membership, for the correction of the
same; recommending persons to the Presid¬
ing Elder and members of the Quarterly
Conference for license to preach the Gos¬
pel ; adopting petitions to the Bishop, Dis¬
trict and Annual Conferences for the or¬
dination of local Deacons and Elders for
the use of the Church; encouraging
2 32 CHURCH CONFERENCE.
Church love, patriotism and unity; lec¬
turing upon and explaining the du¬
ties of the members toward the
Dollar Money Fund, Easter Sabbath, Edu¬
cation and Children's Day collections;
giving members information of what is
being done in church work, mission fields,
Church schools and colleges; presenting the
claims of our Church literature—and
periodicals—benefits of supplying themselves
with hymn books, Disciplines, etc., as well
as having Literary Societies, Mite Mission¬
ary Societies, Women's Home and Foreign
Missionary Societies, and seeking the co¬
operation of the members in measures of
benevolence and mercy, for the sick, poor
and needy; enlisting their efforts to build up
the Sabbath school, search out poor chil¬
dren and engage in whatever will promote
the kingdom of God on earth.
3. The Pastor ought to report to the
Church Conference his labors, burdens,
cares, and point out places where the mem¬
bers, or a portion of them, could work for
the glory of God. The officers, also, should
give information of their work, explain the
indebtedness of the Church, agree upon
rallies for the payment of the same; estab¬
lish additional prayer-meetings, either in
the Church or at the houses of members;
CHURCH CONFERENCE.
233
find places, if possible, where exhorters
can be employed, and applicants for license
to preach or exhort may exercise their gifts
beforehand, by permission of the Pastor.
4. A Church Conference should never be
held on the Sabbath Day, unless that day
should afford the only opportunity to get
the members together, and then not at regu¬
lar preaching hours. A Secretary should
be elected at least once a year to keep the
proceedings.
5. As all Pastors are required to preach
or lecture upon the Holy Scriptures one
night in the week, or, if absent, to have
their local preachers to so do, the Church
Conference should endeavor to enforce at¬
tendance upon the same, and get others
to attend who are not Church members, by
sending out members to invite and induce
persons who are not accustomed to go to
church anywhere to attend these meetings.
1'AKT tyl.
HAL DIRECTIONS.
I. Trial of Bishops.
II. Trial of Itinerant Preachers.
III. Trial of Local Preachers.
IV. Causes for Impeachment.
V. Ministers' Debts.
VI. The Trial of Lay Members.
VII. Debts and Arbitrations.
VIII. The Order of Appeals.
23 6
TRIAL OF BISHOPS.
CHAPTER I.
Trial of Bishops.
1. Intervening Committee.
1. In the interval of the General Confer¬
ences if a Bishop be accused of any crime
expressly forbidden in the word of God,
the Presiding Elder of the district in which
the said crime is alleged to have been com¬
mitted, shall notify the Senior Bishop—or
if the senior be the accused, the Bishop next
ill seniority—who shall appoint a commit¬
tee of trial, composed of one Bishop and
four Elders; over which he shall preside,
but shall have neither voice nor vote in mak¬
ing up the verdict.
2. He shall call the committee to meet at
a given place and time, and shall summon
the accused in writing, placing in his hand
the bill of complaints or charges at least one
week before the date set for trial.
2. Committee's Decision.
I. If at this examination the Bishop be
found guilty of crime sufficient to exclude a
person from the kingdom of grace and
TRIAL OF BISHOPS.
237
glory, or to have acted so improperly as to
justify suspension, said committee shall
have power to suspend him from all offi¬
cial functions until the ensuing Annual
Conference.
2. The Annual Conference, if it de¬
termine in his favor, shall have power to
reverse the decision of the committee and
to restore him to his former functions. If
it should find him guilty it shall continue
his supension until the next ensuing Gener¬
al Conference.
3. The Episcopal Committee.
1. The General Conference at each ses¬
sion shall choose a committee before which
each Bishop in person shall pass an exam¬
ination.
2. The examination shall concern his
traveling among the people in his district,
his administration and decisions.
3. If he should be condemned by the
committee, he shall be allowed to appeal to
the General Conference in whole, and may
be permitted to object to any one of said
committee.
4. Final Determination.
1. The General Conference shall have
power to reverse or approve the decision
of the committee, and if it approve, its de¬
cision shall be final.
238
trial of preachers.
2. If on examination, it be found that a
Bishop's character is not fair—or that he
has neglected his duty, or violated the dis¬
cipline, or been guilty of any crime suffi¬
cient to exclude a person from the king¬
dom of grace and glory, or has acted so
improperly as to justify suspension, or ex¬
pulsion the General Conference shall sus¬
pend or expel him from his episcopal func¬
tions.
CHAPTER II.
Trial of Itinerant Preachers.
1. Presiding Elders.
1. If a Presiding Elder be accused of 2
crime expressly forbidden by the Word of
God, or any practice sufficient to exclude a
person from the kingdom of grace and
glory, a charge covering the same shall be
made known to the minister in charge of
the circuit, station or mission where the
crime or practice is alleged to have taken
place, and the said minister shall refer it ta
the Presiding Elder of an adjacent district)
who shall proceed as in cases of other1
preachers for investigation.
2. The committee formed to try a Pre-
TRIAL OV PREACHERS.
239
siding Elder shall be composed of Elders
or Elders and Deacons.
2. Traveling Elders Deacons and
Preachers.
1. If any traveling Elder, Deacon or
Preacher shall be accused of any crime ex¬
pressly forbidden in the Word of God or
any practice sufficient to exclude a person
from the kingdom of grace and glory, a
charge shall be made known to the stewards
of the circuit or station, and they shall
speedily lay it before the official board.
2. The board shall then, if deemed neces¬
sary, authorize the stewards to call the Pre¬
siding Elder to bring accused to trial.
3. Order of Trial.
1. The Presiding Elder shall form a com¬
mittee of not less than three traveling
preachers, if they can be obtained; if not,
then of local Elders, Deacons or Preach¬
ers. If possible the accused and the ac¬
cuser shall be brought face to face.
2. If the accused, flee from trial, it shall
be taken as presumptive proof of guilt, and
out of the mouth of two or three witnesses
he shall be condemned.
3. If he should be clearly convicted, he
shall be suspended from all official stand¬
ing in the church until the ensuing Annual
Conference.
240
TRIAL OF l'REACIIERS.
4. Decision of the Conference.
1. When the case is laid before the An¬
nual Conference it shall fully consider and
determine it, even though it be one in
which the accused has fled from trial.
2. If the result be expulsion, the Annual
Conference shall demand the credentials of
the accused which, on being obtained, shall
be filed away among the Conference rec¬
ords. ,
3. If the accused be expelled for the
crime of adultery or fornication, he shall
not be admitted again to the ministry un¬
der four years from the time he joins the
church, whether he be a traveling or local
preacher. He must join on probation and
come from his class.
4. If any Preacher, Deacon or Elder,
whatever, traveling or local, be accused of
immoral conduct, the Presiding Elder shall,
if he be proved guilty on trial, demand and
leceive from him his credentials which shall
be retained among the records of the church.
And should he refuse to deliver them up
his name shall be published by the Presid¬
ing Elder without delay as a refractory
preacher.
5. General Officers.
A General Officer accused of a crime suf¬
ficient to exclude a person from the king-
trial of local preachers. 24!
dom of grace and glory, if a minister, shall
be subject to the rules for trying minis¬
ters; if a layman, shall be subject to the
rules for trying a layman; as every min¬
ister is connected with a Quarterly Con¬
ference, and every layman, a society..
CHAPTER III.
The Trial of Local Preachers.
1. Examination by the Committee.
1. If the accusation be brought against a
focal Elder, Deacon or Preacher, the min¬
ister in charge shall summon three or more
local preachers of the neighborhood, or for
want of preachers, as many exhorters or
leaders.
2. If said committee, or a majority of
them, on due examination, find the accused
guilty of whatever crime, or that he has
been guilty of publicly or privately dissem¬
inating such false doctrines as require sus¬
pension from all public offices and privi¬
leges in our Church, the committee shall sus¬
pend him until the ensuing Quarterly Con¬
ference.
2. The Case before the Conference.
i. When the case is laid before the Quar-
.242 TRIAL OF LOCAL I'KEACIILKS.
terly Conference it shall proceed to the
trial of the accused local preacher, deacon
or elder, and shall have power to clear, cen¬
sure, suspend or expel him, according to
their judgment.
2. The Presiding Elder, at the commence¬
ment of the trial before the conference,
shall appoint a secretary to take regular
minutes of the evidence and proceedings.
3. The said minutes when completed shall
be read and approved, and signed by the
Presiding Elder and also by the members
of the Quarterly Conference or by a ma¬
jority of them.
3. Concerning the Condemnation.
1. In case of condemnation the local
■elder, deacon or preacher, by giving notice
to the Quarterly Conference of his deter¬
mination to do so, shall be allowed an ap¬
peal to the next Annual Conference.
2. When said appeal is presented to the
Annual Conference, the minister in charge
of the said circuit, or station from which
the appeal comes, shall also present the min¬
utes of the trial, kept in the Quarterly Con¬
ference.
3. The condemned local elder, deacon or
preacher may then appear in behalf of his
appeal, and the Annual Conference after
hearing it shall finally render its judgment
upon the minutes laid before it.
causes for impeachment. 243
CHAPTER IV.
Causes for Impeachment.
1. Dealing in Liqiwrs.
1. No preacher among us shall distill, re¬
tail, or drink spiritous liquors without for¬
feiting his official standing.
2. Mal-administration.
1. A preacher charged with badly admin¬
istering the law, improper temper, words
or actions, shall be reproved by the Bishop
or the Presiding Elder.
2. In case of a second transgression, one,
two or three preachers, or if preachers can¬
not be obtained, exhorters or leaders shall
be taken as witnesses.
3. If the foregoing admonitions be of no
avail, he shall then be tried either before
the Bishop, or the Presiding Elder and a
committee in the interval of the Annual
Conference, and if found guilty, be sus¬
pended by the Bishop, or committee.
The Annual Conference ensuing shall try
the case fairly, and if the suspended
preacher be found guilty, and impenitent,
his suspension shall be continued and noted
in the minutes.
3. Concerning Heresy and Schism.
1. A minister or preacher who holds and
244 CAUSES FOR IMPEACHMENT.
publicly or privately disseminates doctrines
which are contrary to our Articles of Re¬
ligion shall be dealt with as in cases of gross
immorality, proceeded against as provided
for in chapter. 11 ( Trial of Itinerant Preach¬
ers).-
2. But if he solemnly promise not to dis¬
seminate any more such doctrines, either
in public or private, he shall be endured un¬
til his case can be laid before the next An¬
nual Conference, and it shall finally dispose
of it
4. Unacceptability in the Ministry.
1. When any member of an Annual Con¬
ference is charged with having conducted
himself in such a manner as to render him
unacceptable to the people as a traveling
preacher, his case shall be investigated by
the conference, and if it appear that the
complaint is well founded, and he should
give no satisfaction that he will amend his
ways, and will not consent to voluntarily
retire, the Annual Conference shall locate
him.
2. In this event, he shall be at liberty be¬
fore the conference, to defend himself in
letter or by representative. If he should
be located in his absence, and without hav¬
ing been previously notified of the inten¬
tion thus to proceed against him, he shall
CAUSES FOR IMPEACHMENT. 245
have the privilege to apply to the next ses¬
sion of the conference for a hearing in his
defense, and shall have a reconsideration of
his case.
5- Neglect of Appointments.
1. Should any local elder, deacon or
preacher neglect to fill any of his appoint¬
ments, and give no sufficient reason for do¬
ing so, the minister in charge shall reprove-
him for the first offense.
2. If a local elder, deacon or preacher
persist in neglecting his appointments, he
shall be summoned to appear before a com¬
mittee : and should he then fail to give sat¬
isfaction, said committee shall silence him
until the ensuing Quarterly Conference,.
which shall have power to take his license
from him.
3. If any local preacher, without a pre¬
vious agreement between himself and his-
pastor, attempt in the absence of the pas¬
tor to collect money for his services, he shall
upon conviction be silenced for three
months.
6. Pastoral Interference.
1. No Elder, Deacon or Preacher in any
charge shall interfere with the business of
an adjoining charge.
2. If any should be found guilty of so do-
246
ministers' debts.
ing, without having been called according
to discipline, or by the Bishop or Presiding
Elder, he shall be dealt with as in other
cases of violation of the discipline.
CHAPTER V.
Ministers' Debts.
1. The Complaint.
1. Complaint against a minister or
preacher, in the interval of the Annual
Conferences, for non-payment of debt or for
contracting debts without a probability of
paying them, or for borrowing and refusing
to pay, may be made to the Presiding Elder
or a steward of the circuit or station.
2. The Elder shall call the indebted
preacher and contending parties together,
and have each to choose for himself an ar¬
biter, and the two arbiters to choose a third,
all of whom shall be preachers, or official
members of the church.
2. The Examination.
1. It shall be the duty of said arbiters to
examine the claims upon said minister or
preacher; and if it be proved that he has
neglected or refused to pay his debts, they
shall determine how long a time shall be
given him to make a settlement.
ministers' debts. 247
2. If either party be not satisfied with the
decision, he or they may apply for a second
arbitration; and each shall be permitted to
choose two more, and the four shall choose
a fifth, all of whom shall be preachers or
official members of the church, and their
decision shall be final.
3. Second Arbitration.
1. If judgment in the second arbitration
be given against said minister or preacher,
and the time be specified for him to make
payment, and he refuse to comply with the
decision, after sufficient time has been given
him, he shall be suspended from all official
standing in the connection until the ensuing
Annual Conference.
2. At the Conference Session the contend¬
ing parties shall appear either in person or
by representatives, and the case shall be
brought up for consideration.
3. Should the Annual Conference reject
the decision of the arbiters, it shall deter¬
mine what is due and grant the time for
payment. If the indebted preacher fail to
comply with its decision he shall be sus¬
pended or expelled, according to the judg¬
ment of the ensuing Annual Conference.
4. Intervening Omissions.
1. Should the proper officials in the inter-
2J^> TRIAL OF LAV MEMBERS.
val of the Annual Conference sessions fail
to bring any traveling preacher to account
in case of crime it shall by no means pre¬
vent the fullest and fairest investigation of
his character at the Annual Conference.
2. Provisos. All accusations against a
preacher shall be given to him in writing
before the first examination. In all cases
of trial and conviction he shall be allowed an
appeal to the ensuing General Conference.
CHAPTER VI.
On the Trial of Lay Members,
i. The Arraignment.
1. When a lay member is accused of any
crime or misdemeanor he shall be brought
to trial before the Society or a committee
selected from it.
2. The trial shall take place in the pres¬
ence of an Elder, Deacon or Preacher, and
the accused and accuser shall be brought
face to face; but if this cannot be done the
next best evidence shall be procured.
3. If the accused person evade a trial by
absenting himself after due notice being
given him, and the circumstances of the ac¬
cusation be strong and presumptive, let him
be esteemed as guilty and be accordingly
TRIAL OF LAY MEMBERS. 249
excluded. Witnesses from without shall
not be rejected.
2. The Verdict.
1. If the accused person be found guilty
by the decision of. a majority of the mem¬
bers before whom he is tried and the crime
be such as is expressly forbidden by the
Word of God, or sufficient to exclude a
person from the kingdom of grace and
glory, let the preacher who has the charge
of the circuit or station expel him.
2. If the minister or preacher in charge
differ in judgment from the majority of
the society, or the select number, as to the
guilt or innocence of the accused person,
the trial may be referred by him to the en¬
suing Quarterly Conference.
3. On Insubordination.
1. Should any member or members of any
of our incorporated churches refuse to be
governed by the Discipline by which he, or
they was or were made a member, or mem¬
bers of said incorporated church, he or
they shall be called before the society or a
select number of it according to Discipline,
and tried for insubordination.
2. If said person or persons should be
found guilty of insubordination, and will
not retract, then he or they shall be expelled
25O TRIAL OF LAY MEMBERS.
fo*- insubordination or disobedience to the
order and discipline of the church.
3. Should any class leader or steward in¬
timate that he adheres to the Charter and
discards the law of the church, as set forth
in the book of Discipline, said class-leader
or steward shall be removed at once by the
preacher in charge.
4. Should any local Elder, Deacon or
Preacher favor by word, act or influence the
Charter instead of the Discipline, he shall
be called before a committee according to
the Discipline, and if found guilty of pur¬
suing such a course, shall be suspended from
all official standing in the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
4. Solving Dissension.
1. If any member of our Church should
be clearly convicted of endeavoring to sow
dissension in any of our societies by in¬
veighing against either our doctrines or
Discipline he shall first be reproved by the
minister or preacher in charge.
2. Should he subsequently persist in such
a pernicious practice he shall be expelled
from the society.
5. JVilful Neglect of Class Meetings.
1. Those members of our Church who
wilfully and repeatedly neglect to meet their
TRIAL OF LAY MEMBERS. 251
classes shall be visited by the Elder, Deacon
or Preacher, whenever it is practicable, and
informed that exclusion will be the conse¬
quence of their neglect. If they should not
amend, they shall be tried before the so¬
ciety. or a select number of it, and expelled
by the preacher in charge, who at the same
time shall state that they are expelled for a
breach of rules and not for immoral con¬
duct.
6. Improper Conduct.
1. Whenever a member shows disobedi¬
ence to the order and discipline of the
Church, or neglects duties of any kind; or
indulges in imprudent conduct, sinful tem-
•pers, words or quarreling; or in speak¬
ing evil of ministers; or in dealing in lot¬
teries or policies, attending dances or
horse-races; or engages in playing cards, or
in the pursuit of such other games, or di¬
versions as cannot be carried on in the
name of our Lord Jesus, let private re¬
proof be given by a leader or the preacher
in charge.
2. If the member on being reproved ac¬
knowledge the truth and show proper hu¬
miliation he may remain on trial. If he
should be charged with the second offence
the leader or preacher may take one or two
faithful friends with him to give reproof.
18
252 TRIAL OF LAY MEMBERS.
On the third offence the case must be
brought before the society, or a select num¬
ber of it, and then the offender must be cut
off if there be no real humiliation.
7. Spiritous Liquors.
1. No member of our society shall give,
distill, drink, or traffic in spiritous liquors;
or rent, lease, or permit his house or other
property to be used for such purpose.
2. Whosoever violates this rule shall be
dealt with, by the preacher in charge, as he
would be dealt with in other cases of gross
immorality. If found guilty he shall be
deemed censurable, or liable to suspension
according to his conduct.
8. Frauds and Insolvencies.
1. The preachers who have charge of cir¬
cuits and stations are required to fully and
strenuously execute all our rules against
all fraud, and particularly dishonest insol¬
vencies.
2. In all cases, in which a member of our
Church is accused of such crimes and is
summoned by the minister in charge to
answer said accusation, it shall be the duty
of the minister, by request of the parties
■concerned, to give his official authority for
the summoning of such witnesses as either
party may name.
debts and arbitrations. 253
3. He shall also order the submission of
all documentary evidence which may be
demanded by either party; and it shall be
the duty of church members, who possess
said evidence, to attend the investigation
and submit it according to order.
4. The minister shall deliver a copy of
the charges preferred to the accused person
when ordered to trial.
5. We will receive no person in our so¬
ciety as a member who is a slave holder
and members who have slaves and refuse to
emancipate them shall be excluded.
CHAPTER VII.
Debts and Arbitrations.
1. Disputes Between Members.
1. On any dispute between two or more
members of our society, concerning the pay¬
ment of debts, or other subjects which can¬
not be settled by the disputants, the preacher
in charge of the circuit or station shall in¬
quire into the case and recommend an ar¬
bitration.
2. The committee for the arbitration shall
be formed by the disputants on each side
selecting some member of the society as an
arbiter, and the two arbiters selecting the
third from the society.
254
DEBTS AND ARBITRATIONS.
let their accounts be inspected by two or
three judicious members of the society.
2. If it be discovered that they have acted
dishonestly or borrowed money without a
probability of paying it, let them be ex¬
pelled.
3. Whenever a complaint is made against
any member of our church for non-payment
of debts after the accounts have been ad¬
justed and the amount ascertained, the
preacher in charge shall call him before a
committee of three at least, to inform them
why he has not made payment.
4. The committee shall determine what
further time shall be granted him and
what security, if any, shall be demanded of
him.
5. If he should refuse to comply he shall
be expelled ; but he may appeal to the Quar¬
terly Conference, and its decision shall set¬
tle the case.
6. If the creditor complain that justice
has not been done him, he may appeal to
the Quarterly Conference for its decision;
but if he refuse to abide by it he shall be
expelled.
5. Expelled and Withdrawn Members.
1. If any expelled person, except those
who absent themselves from trial after re¬
ceiving due notice to attend, should com-
DEBTS AND ARBITRATIONS.
255
2. The Decision.
1. When the judgment is given and any
of the parties be dissatisfied he may apply
to the ensuing Quarterly Conference of the
circuit or station for permission to have a
second arbitration.
2. In this event, if the Quarterly Confer¬
ence see sufficient reason, it shall grant the
request.
3. The disputants on each side, shall
choose two arbiters from the society; and
the four shall choose the fifth one from the
society, and the judgment rendered by a
majority of them shall be final. Should any
refuse to abide by this decision he shall be
excluded from the society.
3. Rejecting Arbitration.
1. If any member of our society in a dis¬
pute over debt or any other cause, refuse
an arbitration when recommended by the
minister in charge, or should he, before
submitting to arbitration, enter into a law¬
suit (except the case be of such a nature
as to justify a process of law) with another
member, he shall be expelled.
4. Non-payment of Debts.
1. Whenever any of our members fail in
business, or contract debts which they are
not able to pay, in order to prevent scandal,
256 order of appeals.
plain that he has not received justice, he
shall have the right to appeal to the Quar¬
terly Conference of the circuit or station.
His case shall be settled by a decision of a
majority of the Conference.
2. After such form of trial and expulsion
no person, without contrition, confession
and acceptance on probation, shall have any
privilege of society or sacrament in the
church; neither shall any elder, deacon or
preacher receive him into any of our
:hurches in the same city, unless he comply
with the law governing his case in the
:hurch from which he was expelled. If any
ninister violate this provision, he shall be
lealt with as in other cases of mal-adminis-
:ration.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Order of Appeals.
1. The Triers of Appeals.
1. Each Annual Conference shall select
ive judicious and experienced Elders, to be
mown as the Triers of Appeals.
2. Formation of the Court.
1. Whenever a member of an Annual
Conference takes exception to his trial and
xpulsion from the Conference, or to the
ORDER OF APPEALS.
257
decision of a Bishop, he shall make it known
to the Bishop that he appeals and desires
him to call the Court of Triers.
2. When such notice is given to the Bish¬
op, he shall designate three of the nearest
Conferences from which he will call the
triers to meet at a given place within three
months after notification. They shall have
a reasonable time for their session.
3. Rights of Appellants.
1. The appellant shall have the right to ob¬
ject to any member of the court, provided
his objection does not reduce the number
to less than ten, which number shall be
necessary to form a quorum.
2. In all cases where an appeal is made,
the appellant, or his representative, shall
state the grounds of his appeal, showing
cause why he appeals; and no interruption
shall be allowed in the exercise of his right.
4. Method of Proceeding.
1. When the appeal is taken from a Bish¬
op's decision the triers may be called from
only two neighboring Conferences, as the
appellant's Conference may be the third.
2. The Court shall have one of its mem¬
bers to act as president and one to act as
secretary.
3. The secretary shall keep a faithful
258 ORDER OF APPEALS.
record of the court's proceedings, which
>hall be subject to the order of the next
general Conference for its review.
4. In all cases which are brought up as
ippeals, the following method shall be ob¬
served :
(a) A statement or communication from
he appellant setting forth his appeal and
he grounds of it.
(b) The charges, specifications and the
udgment of the court below are heard.
(c) Inquiring if conditions of appeal are
net.
(d) Reading the records of the trial.
(e) The appellant himself, or counsel, is
teard.
(f) The court below, by its representa-
ives, replies.
(,§•) The appellant closes.
(h) The appellant and other representa-
ves retire, and the Conference decides the
ase.
PART VII.
CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES AND
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS.
I. Conference Boundaries.
II. Episcopal Districts.
conference boundaries.
26l
CHAPTER I.
Conference Boundaries.
1.. Alabama—The Alabama Conference
includes that part of the state south of Clai¬
borne, Clay and Talladega counties, bound¬
ed as follows: On the west by the Coosa
River to the Alabama River, said river to
Wilcox county; thence east, by the boundary
lines of Wilcox and Butler counties; thence
south in the west boundary lines of Cren¬
shaw and Covington counties, to Florida,
and also Randolph county.
2. North Alabama—The North Ala¬
bama Conference comprises that part of the
state north of Sumter, Green, Hale and
Perry counties, and the northern extremity
of Dallas, Loundes and Tallapoosa.
3. Central Alabama—The Central Ala¬
bama Conference includes all that part of
the state not embraced in the description of
the other conferences.
4. Arkansas—The Arkansas Confer¬
ence includes all that part of Arkansas
north of the "base line" of the state.
5. South Arkansas—The South Ar-
262 conference boundaries.
kansas Conference remains as agreed upon
by the committee dividing the conferences,
excepting that Mount Pleasant circuit,
South Bend and Saint John are attached
to the East Arkansas Conference.
6. West Arkansas—The West Arkan¬
sas Conference includes all that part of the
state south of the Arkansas Conference and
west of the Saline River, to its confluence
with the Ouachita River, and an imaginary
straight line thence perpendicular to the
Louisiana boundary line; excepting War¬
ren station, and Warren, Johnsville and
Jersey circuits, which are embraced in the
East Arkansas Conference.
7. East Arkansas—The East Arkan¬
sas Conference embraces all of the state not
included in other conference descriptions.
8. Baltimore—The Baltimore Confer¬
ence comprises Maryland and the District
of Columbia.
9. Bermuda—The Bermuda Confer¬
ence corresponds with the Islands of Ber¬
muda.
10. California—The California Con¬
ference comprises California and Nevada.
11. Colorado—The Colorado Conference
romprises Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Mon-
:ana, New Mexico and Arizona.
CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES. 263
12. Florida—The Florida Conference
embraces all that part of the state west of
the eastern boundary of Jefferson county
and the western boundary of Madison
county.
13, 14, 15. East Florida, South Flor¬
ida and Central Florida Conferences—
The General Conference describes these
conferences as follows: The line dividing
the East, South and Central Florida Con¬
ferences begins at Halifax River, follow¬
ing the East Coast Railroad, to the east
bank of St. John's River, to the terminus
of the Georgia Southern Railroad, follow¬
ing said line to Olusti Creek; excepting
Lake Butler, which shall remain in the Cen¬
tral Florida Conference, and following said
creek to the Suwanee River and said river to
the Gulf of Mexico. The line between the
South Florida and Central Florida Confer¬
ences remains unchanged.
Southern and Central Florida—The
Southern and Central Florida Conferences
are described as follows: Beginning at
Palatka, with the S. F. & W. R. R. to the
St. John's River, thence to Sanford; from
Sanford, the S. F. & W. R. R. to Bartow
Junction, except the territories of Eaton-
ville circuit. Winter Park station and Or¬
lando station, which places are on the west-
21>4 conference boundaries.
ern side of the S. F. & W. R. R., belong to
the South Florida Conference; St. Cloud,
which is east of said R. R., is included in
the Central Florida Conference. From Bar¬
tow Junction to Port Tampa, the S. F. &
W. R. R. except Tampa, Robles Pond, Seff-
ner, and the Turpentine Still north of Lake¬
land, on the north side of the S. F. & W. R.
R., belong to the South Florida Conference.
All places west and north of the S. F. & W.
R. R., except the places named, belong to
the Central Florida Conference.
16. Georgia—The Georgia Conference
includes that part of the State southeast
and west of the Macon Conference, and the
northern line dividing Burks county by the
Augusta Branch of the Central Railroad,
to Richmond county.
17. Macon (Georgia)—The Macon Con¬
ference includes the counties of Steward,on
the Chattahoochie River, Webster, Sumter,
Dooley, Twiggs, Lawrence, Johnson, Jeffer¬
son and Richmond.
The dividing line between the Macon Confer¬
ence and the North Georgia Conference is the
northern boundary line of Harris, Talbot, Mon¬
roe, Jones, Putnam, Hancock and Columbia coun¬
ties.
18. North Georgia—The North Geor¬
gia Conference includes the Rome, Mari-
conference boundaries. 265
etta, Athens and Elberton Presiding Elder
Districts.
19. Atlanta (Georgia).—The Atlanta
Conference embraces Fulton, DeKalb,
Rockdale, Walton, Newton, Morgan, Green,
Jasper, Henry, Butts, Spalding, Fayette,
Upson, Clayborne, Campbell and Coweta
counties.
20. Southwestern Georgia—The South¬
western Georgia Conference is bounded
as follows: The northern boundary line
of Harris county east to Flint River, said
river to Dougherty county, including Macon
county; down the eastern boundary line of
Dougherty, Mitchell and Thomas counties
to Florida; thence west to the Chattahoochie
River, and up said river to the northwest
corner of Harris county.
21. Indiana—The Indiana Conference
comprises the State of Indiana, excepting
Fort Wayne, South Bend, and the Wabash
Circuit.
22. Illinois—The Illinois Conference
includes that part of the State south of an
imaginary line extending from the point
of contact of the Indiana boundary line
with the shore of Lake Michigan, and the
south part of Cook county, in the city of
Chicago, to 26th, St, to the Chicago River,
266
CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES.
and shall include Wenona, Chillicothe,
Yates, Bashner and Cartage to Warsaw.
23. Iowa—The Iowa Conference com¬
prises Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North
Dakota, South Dakota, and that part of
Illinois not included in the description of
the Illinois Conference.
24. Indian Mission—The Indian Mis¬
sion Conference corresponds with the In¬
dian Territory.
25. Kansas—The Kansas Conference
comprises Kansas and Nebraska.
26. Kentucky—:The Kentucky Confer¬
ence comprises all that part of Kentucky
east of an imaginary line from Dayton to
Greensburg; thence due south to Tennessee.
27. West Kentucky—The West Ken¬
tucky Conference includes that part of the
State not described in the Kentucky and
the West Tennessee Conferences.
28. Louisiana—The Louisiana Confer-
ece embraces that part of Louisiana south
of the 31st parallel.
29. North Louisiana—The North
Louisiana Conference comprises that part
of the State north of the 31st parallel.
30. Missouri—The Missouri Conference
includes that part of the State lying south
of the Missouri River.
conference boundaries. 26/
31. North Missouri—The North Mis¬
souri Conference comprises that part of the
State not included in the Missouri Confer¬
ence description.
32. ' Mississippi—The Mississippi Con¬
ference comprises all that part of Missis¬
sippi south of an imaginary straight line
from Warrenton through Macon to Ala¬
bama ; excluding Jackson, but including
Meridian, and also Yellow Pines, Alabama.
33. North Mississippi—The North
Mississippi Conference embraces that part
of the State north and west of the Southern
Railroad, including Greenville and West
Point; except that a line between the North
Mississippi Conference and the Northeast
Mississippi Conference, beginning at the
Southern Railroad, east of Greenwood, and
that said line go north to Tennessee, leav¬
ing to the Northeast Mississippi Confer¬
ence all the territory not occupied by the
North Mississippi Conference
34. Northeast Mississippi—The North¬
east Mississippi Conference comprises.
35. Central Mississippi—The Central
Mississippi Conference includes Jackson and
all parts of the State not included in de¬
scriptions of other conferences; except the
White's Cemetery in the town of Greenville,
19
268
conference boundaries.
between the North Mississippi Conference
and the Central Mississippi Conference.
The Central Mississippi Conference shall
include all the territory south of the South¬
ern Railroad.
36. Michigan—The Michigan Confer¬
ence comprises all the State of Michigan,
and also Fort Wayne, South Bend, and the
Wabash Circuit, Indiana.
37. New York—The New York Con¬
ference coincides with the State of New
York.
38. New England—The New England
Conference embraces the New England
States.
39. New Jersey—The New Jersey Con¬
ference comprises all the State, and Strouds-
burg and Easton in Pennsylvania.
40. North Carolina—The North Caro¬
lina Conference includes that part of the
State east of the eastern boundary line of,
the counties of Vance, Franklin, Wake,
and the southeastern section of Chatham,
Moore and Richmond counties.
41. Western North Carolina—The
Western North Carolina Conference includes
that part of the State not included in the
description of the North Carolina Confer¬
ence.
conference boundaries.
269
42. Nova Scotia—The Nova Scotia
Conference comprises Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward's Islands and New Brunswick.
43. Ohio—The Ohio Conference com¬
prises that part of the State south of the
B. & O. Railroad from Bellaire to, and in¬
cluding, Columbus, also Cambridge; and
south and southeast of the Pennsylvania
Lines to, and including Cincinnati; also
south Charleston, Cedatville, Wilberforce
and Xenia; excepting London, Harveysburg
and Mainville.
44. North Ohio—The North Ohio
Conference includes that part of the State
not described in the Ohio Conference.
45. Ontario—The Ontario Conference
comprises Ontario and Quebec.
46. Oklahoma—The Oklahoma Con¬
ference embraces Oklahoma Territory and
the Cherokee Strip.
47. Philadelphia—The Philadelphia
Conference comprises the counties of Pike,
Northampton, Schuylkill, Dauphin, Cum¬
berland, Franklin, Fulton; the city of Sha-
mokin, all the State of Pennsylvania east of
said counties (excepting Stroudsburg and
Easton) together with the State of Dela¬
ware.
48. Pittsburg—The Pittsburg Confer-
270
conference bouxdak1 es.
ence includes those parts of the States of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia not in¬
cluded in the description of other confer¬
ences.
49. Puget Sound—The Puget Sound
Conference embraces Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia.
50. South Carolina—The South Caro¬
lina Conference includes Beaufort, Charles¬
ton, Berkley, Georgetown, Colleton, Barnes-
ville, Aikin, Williamsburg and Hampton
counties.
51. Northeast South Carolina—The
Northeast South Carolina Conference com¬
prises Marion, Horree, Florence, Darling¬
ton, Marlborough, Chesterfield, Clarendon,
Orangeburg, Sumter, Kershaw counties,and
all that part of Richland county west of the
Watree River, to and including Eastover.
52. Columbia (South Carolina)—The
Columbia Conference includes that part of
the State not included in the description of
other conferences.
53. Tennessee—The Tennessee Confer¬
ence is bounded on the east by and includes
the counties of Giles, Marshall, Bedford,
Cannon, DeKalb, Smith, Jackson and Ma¬
con ; on the west by and includes Robert¬
son, Davidson, Williamson, Lewis and
cox ference koi xdaries.
2? I
Wayne and that part of Harding, lying
cast of the Tennessee River; on the south
by Alabama and on the north by Kentucky.
54. West Tennessee—The West Ten¬
nessee Conference embraces all that part of
the State west of the Tennessee Conference;
and also the towns Hickman and Fulton in
Kentucky.
55. East Tennessee—The East Ten¬
nessee Conference includes Lincoln, Moore,
Cofif, Warren counties, and all the territory
east to the North Carolina and Virginia
line.
56. Texas—The Texas Conference
comprises that part of the State east of the
Brazos River, south of a line corresponding
with the south boundary of Falls, Limestone*
Freestone, Henderson, Smith, Gregg, and
Harrison counties.
57. Central Texas—The Central Texas
Conference embraces that part of the State
south of the T. & P. Railroad and west of
the M. K. & T. Railroad, from Fort Worth
to McLennan county; the eastern boundary
of McLennan and Falls counties; the
Brazos River to the I. & G. N. Railroad
and said road to Bexar county, and on the
south by a line corresponding with the north
boundary line of the counties of Bexar,
2/2 CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES.
Medina, Uvalde and Kinney, continuing to
Mexico, including New Hope, Rockdale,
and all towns included in the above lines, ex¬
cepting Fort Worth. The Republic of
Mexico is included.
58. Northeast Texas—The Northeast
Texas Conference comprises that part of
the State north of the Texas Conference
and the Central Texas Conference.
59. West Texas—The West Texas
Conference includes that part of the State
not included in other conferences.
60. Virginia—The Virginia Confer¬
ence comprises the State of Virginia and
Jefferson county, West Virginia.
the foreign conferences.
61. West Indies and South America
—The West Indies and South America
Conference embraces the West Indies and
British Guiana.
62. Liberia—The Liberian Conference
comprises the Republic of Liberia, and the
West Coast to the Congo.
63. Sierra Leone—The Sierra Leone
Conference includes Sierra Leone and ad¬
jacent country.
64. Gold Coast—The Gold Coast shall
include all that part of West Africa not in¬
cluded in other conferences. .
CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES. 2/3
65. Cape Colony—The Cape Colony
Conference is bounded on the north by
Namasaland and British Bechuanaland; on
the east by Fourteen Stream and Orange
River Colony, Basutoland, Natal and Zulu-
land, and on the west by the Atlantic
Ocean.
66. Transvaal—The Transvaal Con¬
ference is bounded on the north by Meta-
beleland; on the south by the Orange
River Colony; on the east by the Indian
Ocean, and west and southwest by British
Bechuanaland and Kimberly.
67. Orange River—The Orange River
Conference is bounded on the north by
Transvaal; on the east and northeast by
Natal; on the south and west by Cape
Colony.
68. Zambesi—The Zambesi Conference
is bounded on the southwest by Bechuana¬
land ; on the east by the Indian Ocean and
on the south by Orange River Colony.
The General Conference passed enabling
acts for the organization of an additional
conference in each of the States—Georgia,
South Carolina, Alabama and—1900—Vir¬
ginia.
274
episcopal districts.
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS.
First District—Bishop Benjamin W.
Arnett, D.D., LL.D.—Philadelphia, New
York, New England and New Jersey Con¬
ferences.
Second District—Bishop Wesley J.
Gaines, D.D.—Baltimore, Virginia, North
Carolina and W. North Carolina Confer¬
ences.
Third District—Bishop William B.
Derrick, D.D., LL.D.—Ohio, N. Ohio,
Pittsburg, West Indian-South America, Li¬
beria, Sierra Leone and Gold Coast Con¬
ferences.
Fourth District—Bishop Cornelius T.
Shaffer, D.D., M. D.—Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, Kentucky, and W. Kentucky Con¬
ferences.
Fifth District—Bishop Abraham Grant,
D.D.—Missouri, N. Missouri, Kansas, Col¬
orado, California and Puget Sound Confer¬
ences.
Sixth District—Bishop Henry M. Tur¬
ner, D.D., D.C.L., Ph.D.—Georgia, Macon-
Georgia, North Georgia, Southwest Geor¬
gia and Atlanta-Georgia Conferences.
Seventh District—Bishop Levi J. Cop-
pin, D.D.—South Carolina, Columbia,
episcopal districts.
275
Northeast South Carolina, Alabama, North
Alabama and Central Alabama Conferences.
Eighth District—Bishop Moses B.
Salter, D.D., LL.D., Mississippi, Central
Mississippi, North Mississippi, North East
Mississippi, Louisiana and North Louis¬
iana Conferences.
Ninth District—Bishop Benjamin F.
Lee, D.D.—Tennessee, West Tennessee,
East Tennessee, Arkansas, West Arkansas,
South Arkansas and East Arkansas Con¬
ferences.
Tenth District—Bishop Evans Tyree,
D.D., M. D.—Texas, Central Texas, West
Texas, Northeast Texas, Indian and Okla¬
homa Conferences.
Eleventh District—Bishop Benjamin
T. Tanner, D.D., LL.D.—Florida, East
Florida, South Florida and Central Florida
Conferences.
Twelfth District—Bishop James A.
Handy, D.D.—Michigan, Ontario, Nova
Scotia and Bermuda Conferences.
Thirteenth District—Bishop Charles
Spencer Smith, D. D., M. D., Cape Colony,
Transvaal, Orange River and Zambesi Con¬
ferences.
PART VIII.
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
I. Parent Home and Foreign.
II. Local Home and Foreign.
III. Parent Women's Mite.
Annual Conference.
Auxiliary Societies.
IV. Women's Home and Fom-.ign.
Auxiliary Societies.
2/8 h. and f. missionary society.
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
CHAPTER I.
Parent Home and Foreign Missionary
Society.
i. Preamble and Constitution.
Whereas, We the members of the African M.
E. Church, in General Conference assembled,
have seen for years, and still see, with deepest
Christian anxiety, the deplorable spiritual and
mental condition of our people—our brethren,
"bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh"—who
inhabit both hemispheres, which the Word of
God declares shall be lighted up with the glor¬
ious rays of the "Sun of Righteousness;" and
Whereas, We further remember with deep
emotion the last command of our ascending
Lord, "Go ye into all the world and preach the
Gospel," and desiring to prove our love by our
obedience, we therefore resolve hereby to form
ourselves into a Parent Missionary Society for
ihe purposes and objects hereinafter mentioned:
i. Title.
This Institution shall be designated the
fiome and Foreign Missionary Department
of the African* Methodist Episcopal Church.
2. Objects.
Its objects are to diffuse more generally
H. AN1) F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 2/9
the blessings of education and supporting
mission schools and churches throughout
the United States and in foreign lands, un¬
der such rules and regulations as the Gen¬
eral Conference and General Missionary
Board, may from time to time prescribe.
3. Conditions of Membership.
Any person of good moral character
may become a member, and said member¬
ship is continued upon the annual payment
of one dollar. The payment of ten dollars
at one time constitutes a life membership,
or twenty dollars an honorary manager for
life, and the contribution of fifty dollars
shall constitute the donor an honorary pa¬
tron for life. Any such manager or patron
shall be entitled to a seat, with all the priv¬
ileges of regular members, except voting.
4. Board of Managers.
The management shall be vested in a
Board, consisting of the Bishops, one of
whom shall be President, eleven traveling
ministers, nine laymen, the President of the
P. W. M. Missionary Society and the Cor¬
responding Secretary elected at the Gen¬
eral Conference. Vacancies in the Board
shall be filled by the Bishops. The Board
shall have power to make by-laws not in¬
consistent with the constitution, or the gen-
2$0 H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
ius of Methodism, fill all vancancies that
may occur among the officers of its own
election, select fields to be occupied, appoint
missionaries, and arrange for the general
conduct of the affairs of the Society. It
shall also present a statement of its trans¬
actions to the Church annually, and submit
a report to the General Conference quad¬
rennially. The Board shall organize at the
General Conference, by electing a president
and recording secretary, submitting the
organization to the General Conference for
ratification. Nine Managers at any meet¬
ing of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
5. Corresponding Secretary.
There shall be a Corresponding Secretary
of this Department elected by the General
Conference, whose salary shall be the same
as other general officers. The secretary
shall be subject to the direction of the
General Missionary Board, and be exclu¬
sively employed in conducting the corres¬
pondence of the Spciety, providing the
Church with missionary intelligence, su¬
pervising all missionary interests, devising
ways and means for the collection of funds,
and by all the means at his command labor
to bring the Society into the broadest field
of Christian activity and usefulness. Should
H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 28l
the office become vacant by death, resigna¬
tion or otherwise, the Bishops shall appoint
his successor.
6. Auxiliaries.
Each Annual Conference shall have a
Missionary Society, composed of all its
members and any others who may elect to
unite; said society shall be auxiliary to the
parent body, and shall be under such regu¬
lations as the Annual Conference shall re¬
spectively prescribe. Provided, however,
that said regulations do not conflict with
the general missionary plan.
7. Missionary Committee.
The General Conference shall constitute
each Annual Conference a mission district
represented by a Board elected for that pur¬
pose, whose duty it shall be to confer with
the general managers as to ways and means,
and assist in carrying out the plans of the
Society in the district, that the church may
be the more speedily organized and the
largest amounts of money raised for mis¬
sion purposes. The Board shall in con¬
junction with the Corresponding Secretary,
hold or cause to be held, an Annual Mis¬
sionary Convention in the Conference Dis¬
tricts. The place of meeting to be fixed
by the Presiding Bishop. The objects of
said meetings are:
282 H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
1. To diffuse missionary intelligence, by
adopting plans to circulate the Voice of
Missions and other missionary literature.
2. To organize our churches and Sabbath
schools into missionary societies.
3. To collect missionary funds.
The Board of each Conference District
shall furnish a report of all the doings of
the district to the Annual Conference and
to the General Corresponding Secretary,
for publication. Blanks for reports shall
be supplied by the General Missionary De¬
partment.
8. Collection and Appropriation of Funds.
1. That there may be uniformity in work,
and a more judicious and equitable dis¬
bursement of mission funds, it is made the
duty of the General Board of Managers to
determine each year the amount necessary
to carry on the home and foreign enter¬
prise of the Church, and divide the same
pro rata between the several Annual Con¬
ferences for collection.
2. Each Annual Conference, through its
Bishop and Local Missionary Board, shall
apportion the above assessment to the
churches within the district, severally, ac¬
cording to the membership, or the ability
to pay.
H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 283
3. Each pastor knowing the amount due
from his charge, shall use every exertion
by all fair means to collect the same, and
report to his conference, on the Bishop
asking the question, "How much collected
for missions this year?" Said collection to
embrace the following:
1. The pastor's annual dues to the Con¬
ference Missionary Society.
2. The dues of local members of the
conference and of the society, who cannot
attend its meetings.
3. The annual dues of the laity in each
charge.
4. Seventy-five per cent, of an annual
collection to be taken on Easter Day in
all our churches and Sunday Schools, on
which day no collection shall be taken for
other purpose than missions. One-fourth
of all money collected on Easter Day shall
be taken to the Annual Conference and ap¬
propriated to the support of local missions.
Three-fourths must be forwarded to the
General Secretary of Missions within ten
days after collection.
5. Every congregation and Sunday
School is a missionary society, and our pas¬
tors and superintendents shall so rule and
so teach the people.
6. The pastors of our churches shall
.10
284 H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
adopt and enforce the general missionary
plan for raising funds not only on Easter
Sabbath, but by lifting Annual Conference
Missionary collections, giving concerts,
etc.
7. Any conference or church is at liberty
to engage in local missionary enterprises,
after it has complied with the foregoing
requirements.
8. It is an indispensable part of our
Christian duty to pray to Almighty God for
a blessing upon this and similar organiza¬
tions engaged in the propagation of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. To this end Eas¬
ter Sunday is set apart to be observed in
all. our churches and Sabbath schools as
Missionary Day, and monthly or quarterly
concert prayer meetings are to be made
special seasons of invocation and offering
for the sacred cause of missions.
9. Pastors are required to lift a mission¬
ary collection independently of Easter Sab¬
bath, and report the same to their Annual
Conferences, which, together with the an¬
nual dues of the pastors and other members
of the conference, may be divided thus:
sixty per cent, for the work within its
"bounds; the remaining forty per cent, shall
"be transmitted to the Treasurer of the Mis¬
sionary Department.
H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 285
10. Wilful violations of these rules shall
be treated as all other cases of neglect of
duty.
9. Composition.
The Bishop, all members local and itiner¬
ant, and probationers of each annual con¬
ference with others shall constitute a Mis¬
sionary Society and shall pay one dollar
each on entering, and one dollar annually.
10. Sessions and, Officers.
The sessions shall be held annually at
the place and in the time of the Annual
Conference. The Bishop being president
ex-officio; the Society shall elect a Vice
President, a Recording Secretary, a Cor¬
responding Secretary, a Treasurer and an
executive board anually, whose duties shall
be such as are common to their respective
offices in similar bodies, excepting that the
executive board shall co-operate with simi¬
lar boards and the Bishop, in all the con¬
ferences of their episcopal district, to de¬
vise ways and means for enlarging the mis¬
sionary collection on Easter Day and for
the holding of a great episcopal district
missionary mass meeting once a year, for
the purpose of diffusing the missionary
spirit and collecting funds for the cause of
missions.
286 II. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
ii. The Annual Conference Board.
Each Annual Conference Missionary So¬
ciety shall elect a board consisting of five
members; three traveling ministers and two
laymen, yearly; whose duty shall be to con¬
sider the responsibilities of the conference
under the requirements of the General
Board of Missions, and the ability of the
conference, report the same to the Annual
Conference society with recommendations
as to distribution of these responsibilities
among the several pastors and charges.
This board shall also find out the necessities
of its Annual Conference missionaries and
estimate the sums that should be allowed
to each, recommending the same to the con¬
ference. All funds of this society shall be
divided between the Parent Home and
Foreign Missionary office and the Mis¬
sionary Board of the Annual Conference
for distribution—40 per cent., and 60 per
cent, respectively.
local h. and f. missionary societies. 287
CHAPTER II.
Constitution for Local H. and F. Mis¬
sionary Societies.
Article i.
The object of this organization shall be
to bring into its fold all those in the A. M.
E. Church who are desirous of laboring
for the promotion and extension of Chris¬
tian missions at home and abroad.
Article 2.
The officers of this society shall consist
of a President, Vice President, Recording
Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and
an Executive Board of five persons.
Article 3.
The duty of the President shall be to pre¬
side at all meetings of the Society, to settle
all questions of law and rules of order, to
sign all documents and labor assiduously
for the promotion of this society. The Vice
President shall perform all duties of the
President in his absence.
The duty of the Secretary shall be to
keep a correct minute of all meetings of the
288 LOCAL H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
Society and record the same properly in a
book provided for that purpose, call the roll
at each meeting, credit every member with
the amount of dues paid in, keep a correct
account of all moneys paid into the Society,
and countersign all legal documents.
Article 4.
The Corresponding Secretary shall write
such letters as the good of the Society may
require from time to time, or as may be or¬
dered by the society to sister organizations,
Bishops, General Officers and women's mis¬
sionary organizations, and submit a quar¬
terly report of the receipts and expendi¬
tures of the Society to the General Secre¬
tary of the Parent Home and Foreign Mis¬
sionary Department of the A. M. E.
Church, sending him 40 per cent, of all
moneys received by the society every quar¬
ter, and paying 60 per cent, to the pastor
in charge annually to be reported to the
Annual Conference, to be accounted for by
the conference board of missions.
Article 5.
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of
this Society to receive all moneys paid in
and pay the same over to the Corresponding
Secretary, to be disbursed to the persons
and in the ratios set forth in article fourth
of this constitution.
LOCAL H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETIES. 289
Article 6.
It shall be the duty of the Executive
Committee, in conjunction with the pastor,
to arrange for the holding- of such meetings
as will strengthen and enlighten the members
of the Society on the subject of missions,
and to plan for such lectures, entertain¬
ments and such other gatherings as shall
aid in the accomplishment of this end^ and'
increase the revenue.
Article 7.
The pastor shall report to the Annual
Conference all of the 60 per cent, raised by
the local H. and F. Missionary Society. •
Article 8.
The Society shall hold a meeting every
month for the purpose of transacting busi¬
ness.
Article 9.
The order of business meetings shall be
as follows: Singing, Prayer, Reading the
Scriptures, Singing, Calling Roll, Reading
the Minutes, Paying dues, Regular Busi¬
ness, Unfinished Business, Reading Com¬
munications. At each meeting an address
shall be made by the pastor, President or
an invited guest. ,
Article 10.
There shall be an entrance fee of 10 cents
290 woman's mite missionary society.
imposed upon each member, and a monthly
fee of 5 cents.
Article 11.
All people of good moral character shall
be eligible to membership in this Society.
CHAPTER III.
THE PARENT WOMAN'S MITE MIS¬
SIONARY SOCIETY.
Management.
The object of this society shall be to ex¬
tend the church and to spread the Gospel at
home and in foreign lands. Its business
shall be conducted by a board styled The
General Board of the Women's Mite Mis¬
sionary Society. This board shall be com¬
posed of one woman from each episcopal
district to be elected quadrennially and the
wives of the Bishops.
Officers.
The officers of the board shall be a Presi¬
dent, Vice President, Recording Secretar)*
Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer,
who shall be elected by the board annually.
The wives of Bishops shall be honorary
woman's mite missionary society. 291
\ ice Presidents and one of them shall be
elected President. There shall be an Ex¬
ecutive Committee composed of the officers
of the Board and three other members of
the W. M. M. societies, to be elected an¬
nually.
Meetings.
The general board shall hold a meeting
on the third Thursday of November an¬
nually, at the Home Office—the resident
town of the President. Eight members
shall constitute a quorum. The President
may call extra meetings, if requested by
five members.
At its regular meetings the Board shall
receive reports from its officers, Executive
Committee and the Annual Conference So¬
cieties, review the work of the year, appro¬
priate the funds according to discipline—
subject to the supervision of the Secretary
of Missions and issue a bulletin to the so¬
cieties setting forth the status of the work
and suggesting the amount of money re¬
quired for the obligations of the coming
year. At the third annual meeting of the
quadrennium the board shall arrange pro¬
gram and select a place and date for the
general W. M. M. Convention. The board
shall devise plans by which moneys can be
collected by the local societies for traveling
292 woman's mite missionary society.
expenses to the general convention, and
other business. The Executive Committee
shall meet at the office of the President of
the board quarterly. It shall have power to
transact any business for the general board
required by circumstances or ordered at the
annual meetings.
The General Convention.
A general convention of Women's Mite
Missionary Workers shall be called at least
six months before the General Conference.
It shall be composed of two women from
each Annual Conference Society in the
connection and others who will join them.
The convention shall be called to order by
the President of the board. After proper
opening services, it shall go into permanent
organization and proceed according to
program. This convention shall review the
general field of missionary operations, es¬
pecially those of the A. M. E. Church; pa¬
pers being prepared in advance, on publi¬
cation of program. It shall elect the gen¬
eral board for four years, publish statistics
setting forth the condition of the W. M. M.
Society in the Church and do whatever
other work that may come before it.
woman's mite missionary society. 293
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE W. M.
M. SOCIETY.
There shall be a Woman's Mite Society
within bounds of each Annual Conference;
whose business shall be conducted by a
board composed of three members from
each presiding elder's district, elected by the
Conference Convention.
The officers of this board shall be a Presi¬
dent, Vice President, Recording Secretary,
Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.
The board shall meet semi-annually in
April and October at such place as
it may elect from year to year—the
officers of the Conference appointing the
place the first year. It shall receive reports
from its officers and attend to all business
required. Special meetings may be called
when necessary. It shall appropriate the 60
per cent, according to discipline and re¬
quirements of the Annual Conference. It
shall publish a program for the Conference
Convention three months before it is to
sit.
The Annual Conference W. M. M. Conven¬
tion.
Each local W. M. M. Society of the An¬
nual Conference shall elect two members
to a convention that shall be held annually
jc)4 woman's mite missionary society.
at such times and places as may be agreed
to at previous sessions of respective Con¬
ference Conventions. Other women's mite
workers may co-operate with this conven¬
tion. The convention shall render a pro¬
gram prepared three months prior to date
of meeting; hold evangelistic meetings,
consider the methods and work of the gen¬
eral W. M. M. Society and suggest new
plans. It shall also elect the board annu¬
ally and deal with the subject of home and
foreign missions.
LOCAL W. M. M. SOCIETIES.
Every pastor shall organize a W. M. M.
Society in each church of his charge; pro¬
vided there is not already a woman's mis¬
sionary society under the disciplinary regu¬
lations. Any person may become a member
by paying 10 cents and hold membership
by payment of monthly dues at the rate
agreed upon by her society. The officers
of this society shall be a President, Vice
President, Recording Secretary, Corres¬
ponding Secretary and Treasurer. The
local society shall hold meetings monthly.
Funds.
Besides the funds raised by entrance and
woman's mite missionary society. 205
monthly fees, there may be lectures, pro¬
grammed public meetings, gifts and be¬
quests to increase the funds of the society.
All funds raised in these ways—except
special funds raised for administrative pur¬
poses shall be divided as follows: to the
Annual Conference W. M. M. Treasurer's
office, for distribution according to direc¬
tion of the Annual Conference, 60 per cent.;
to the office of the Treasurer of the Parent
W. M. M. Society for foreign mis¬
sions 40 per cent. The money shall
be forwarded by the Treasurers of
the local societies on order of the
President, countersigned by the Secre¬
tary; so that all the payments shall pass
through the hands of the Secretary for
record; and Annual Conference W. M.
Treasurer shall pay out moneys only on
order of the President, countersigned by
the Secretary. Special by-laws may be ar¬
ranged at regular meetings, under the rules
for the general board, Annual Conference
board, or local board; provided they do not
annul any of the above rules.
296 w. h. and f. missionary society.
The Women's Home and Foreign Mis¬
sionary Society.
Constitution.
Article 1.
The society organized September, 1893,
by order of the Missionary Department, is
hereby formed and established a connec-
tional organization by order of the Gen¬
eral Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, May 20th, 1896, at its
session in Wilmington, N. C., and shall be
known as the Women's Home and Foreign
Missionary Society of the African M. E.
Church.
Article 2.—Object.
The object of this society shall be to aid
and accelerate the misson work of the A.
M. E. Church. It shall receive and dis¬
burse missionary moneys, which shall be
contributed by its subordinate societies,
branch organizations, private donations,
collecting agents or otherwise, as herein¬
after provided.
Article 3.
It shall be the duty of this connectional
society, or any of its officers or members,
to organize at every convenience, confer¬
ence and auxiliary societies in any of our
churches, or residences if convenient; said
W. H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 297
societies shall report to the Conference or
State organizations in which territory they
are located. The officers and members thus
organized, whether they be Christians or
moral persons who are friends to the cause
of missions, shall report all moneys col¬
lected.
Article 4.
The operations of this organization shall
be in connection with and subordinate to
the Missionary Department of the A. M.
E. Church. But claim the right, in case
the said department should be oppressively
exacting, to appeal to the House of Bishops,
or to the General Conference of the said
Church.
Article 5.
The officers of this society shall consist
of a president and one vice president from
each Episcopal district, a recording and
corresponding secretary, treasurer, general
superintendent, and an executive committee
to consist of one from each Episcopal dis¬
trict. But should any member of an Epis¬
copal district be absent when called to¬
gether by the president, the president may
appoint one of the connectional officers, to
wit: one of the vice presidents, or secre¬
taries, etc., to represent the absentee. This
shall constitute the General or Connectional
298 W. H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Board, which must meet at such time and
place as the Board may agree upon, or
the president shall designate in the call.
This shall constitute the General or Con-
nectional Board which must meet in each
Bishop's diocese, once every four years,
prior to sitting of General Conference. The
call for time and place to be made and
selected by the Bishop and General Sup¬
erintendent of the connection.
Article 6.
The duties of the president, vice presi¬
dents, recording and corresponding secre¬
taries shall be such as usually devolve upon
said officers, and the executive committee
shall have power to audit accounts, give
directions, propose methods, adjust trou¬
bles and make appropriations in the absence
of the regular convention. The president
shall have power to remove inefficient agents
and fill vacancies, subject to an appeal
to the regular convention, or to the execu¬
tive board, when two-thirds of the mem¬
bers are present.
Article 7.
The officers of the connectional society
shall be elected annually by the connec¬
tional convention, which may consist of the
officers of the conference societies, viz.:
W. II. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 299
the president, first vice president, secretary,
and treasurer, or any part of them that
may be able to attend; or the conference
societies may elect not less than two nor
more than five to represent them in the
connectional convention. Or if the con-
nectional president and the general super¬
intendent shall decide not to call a connec¬
tional convention yearly, the executive com¬
mittee may elect the officers. The president
and general superintendent may be one and
the same person if the connectional con¬
vention think proper; otherwise the said
offices may be filled with two persons. The
general superintendent, when not the con¬
nectional president, shall travel and super¬
intend the organizations, take charge when
present at any society, see that the rules
are observed, correct mistakes, give orders,
and for which services the said organiza¬
tions or societies visited shall meet the in¬
curred expenses of the superintendent by
extra public collections.
Article 8.
The recording secretary shall record all
the business procedure of the conventions,
or executive committee, in a book kept for
that purpose, and read the same on demand.
The corresponding secretary shall corres-
21
300 \V. H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
pond with the Missionary Department of
the A. M. E. Church, missionaries in for¬
eign fields, the secretaries and presidents of
the respective conference societies, and re¬
port what is being done for home and for¬
eign missions, through the connectional pa¬
pers and such other official organs as the
Church may have.
Article 9.
The treasurer shall hold the funds of the
connectional society, and pay out the same
by order of the secretary, countersigned by
the president. She shall furnish the mis¬
sionary department of the A. M. E. Church
with semi-annual reports of all moneys re¬
ceived and appropriated, and her accounts
shall be audited at the annual meeting, and
her books shall be subject to the inspection
of the president, general superintendent or
secretary, at any time desired.
Article 10.
The moneys of the connectional society
shall consist of fifty per cent, of all moneys
raised by the conference societies and othei
auxiliary and juvenile societies, which shal
be forwarded from the said societies to the
connectional society once in three months
or as often as necessary, which shall alsc
be forwarded to the Department of Mis
\V. II. AND l-\ MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 3OI
sions, or may be appropriated to foreign
mission fields, and the same reported to the
Missionary Department, that due credit
may be given and published. But should
any of the conference or auxiliary societies
forward the fifty per cent, intended for our
foreign mission work directly to the Mis¬
sionary Department of the A. M. E. Church,
they shall report the same to the treasurer
of the Connectional Women's Home and
Foreign Missionary Society, that proper
credit may be given, which should only be
done, however, in very rare or emergent
cases by the appeal of the Secretary of the
Missionary Department.
Article n.
While the Women's Home and Foreign
Missionary Society is organized in the in¬
terest of the ladies of the A. M. E. Church,
persons of good moral character who have
a mind to wrork for the noble cause, may
organize special or select societies in halls,
parlors, and residences, subject to the rules
and regulations that govern other auxiliary
societies in the territory of the respective
conferences.
Article 12.
The subordinate organizations of the
Women's Home and Foreign Missionary
302 w. h. and f. missionary society.
Society shall consist of conference societies,
auxiliary societies, and juvenile societies.
Constitutions and By-Laws for the govern¬
ment of which will be provided in pamphlet
form, while the will of the Bishops is su¬
preme.
Auxiliary Society Constitution.
Article I.
Any number of women may form an
auxiliary society within the respective An¬
nual Conference districts, by electing :ht
number of officers required by the con¬
stitution, as soon as organized; and take
any name they may choose to adopt, sucl'
as: The Bishop Payne Auxiliary Society
or the Frederick Douglass Society, Bishof
Brown Society, Bishop Ward Society
Bishop Allen Society, Cincinnati Society
Nashville Society, New York Society
Abraham Lincoln Society, etc. And tin
corresponding secretary shall forward th<
names of the officers to the corresponding
secretary of the Conference Missionary So
ciety in which they are located.
Article 2.
The officers of an auxiliary society sha!
consist of a president, two vice president
W. H. AJN'D 1". MISS TO NARY SOCIETY. 303
recording secretary, corresponding secre¬
tary and treasurer who, with three directors,
shall constitute the local executive commit¬
tee for the direction of affairs. A librarian
may be elected or appointed by the president
if the auxiliary desires a literary depart¬
ment.
Article 3.
Any person may become a member of
the auxiliary society by paying ten cents
upon joining the same, and such weekly
or monthly dues as the society may adopt
by a two-thirds vote.
Article 4.
The president, vice presidents, and secre¬
taries shall discharge the usual duties of
such officers, especially as it relates to their
duties as defined elsewhere. The corres¬
ponding secretary of the conference society
and treasurer of the same, shall make a
quadrennial report to the connectional so-
city at its sitting.
Article 5.
The recording secretary shall keep a true
record of the proceedings of the society,
and the corresponding secretary shall do the
correspondence and notify the pastors when
the society desires the use of the church,
unless it is understood that they have the
304 w. H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
use of said church on. a certain night or a
certain day. The president shall have power
to remove incompetent, disobedient or neg¬
lectful secretaries, and appoint others till
the regular meeting, when the interest of
the society demands it.
Article 6.
The treasurer shall receive all funds from
auxiliary societies and receipt for the same.
Fifty per cent, shall be appropriated at these
annual meetings, or, in case of emergency,
by the executive board for home work with¬
in the bounds of said Annual Conference.
Her accounts shall be audited annually and
her books kept subject to the inspec¬
tion of the conference president, general
superintendent or secretary. But should
the treasurer send the fifty per cent, that
is for foreign missions direct to the Mis¬
sionary Department of the Church through
an appeal from the Secretary of Missions,
she shall immediately report the amount
sent to the general superintendent and to
the secretary of the1 Connectional Women'?
Home and Foreign Missionary Society.
Article 7.
The officers should be elected every six
months, at the first meeting in June and
December, and the names of the officers sent
W. H. AND F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 305
to the corresponding secretary of the con¬
ference society. But when two-thirds of
the members present agree, the officers may
hold over for twelve months, when an elec¬
tion must be had by ballot.
Article 8.
Auxiliary societies, in addition to the
weekly or monthly dues, may solicit money
from the public, give lectures, festivals,
fairs, bazaars, literary and musical enter¬
tainments, etc.; but in no instance shall ar¬
dent spirits or intoxicating drinks be al¬
lowed at any entertainment.
Article 9.
The officers and members shall solicit
membership for their respective auxiliary
societies, and endeavor to interest every
female member in our church in the mission
work; and wherever consistent, organize
other auxiliary societies, whether the per¬
sons be members of our Church or congre¬
gational attendants. Gentlemen may be
honorary members by paying the regular
fee, and may speak, but shall not be entitled
to a vote in the transaction of any important
business.
Article 10.
Auxiliary societies are presumed to send
all moneys, both for the home and foreign.
306 \v. ii. anvd f. missionary society.
missions, to the treasurer of the conference
society. But they may make special efforts
for any particular mission and send the
same, should they so desire. And even this
must be reported to the corresponding sec¬
retary of the conference society. The
amount sent, to the conference society from
auxiliary for the home department shall be
appropriated equally for the purchasing of
church lands or for missionary ministers by
the conference treasurer or president of
said organization at each Annual Confer¬
ence. The secretary shall be furnished a
correct statement by the secretary of the
Annual Conference as to the number of
missions and members with their financial
strength within its bounds. Moneys paid to
churches or donated to schools or students
for Christian education from localities
where said societies abound shall be made
only by recommendation of the general
superintendent, signed by the secretary or
president of the conference society when
requests are made by written application,
and said amounts shall not exceed the fifty
per cent, belonging to the home department.
Article II.
Any auxiliary society so disposed may
elect a librarian, or the president may ap-
W. H. AXD F. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 307
point one, to collect books, minerals, bones,
shells, and various specimens of natural
history for the study and intellectual en¬
lightenment of its members. Also, telescopes
to examine the heavens, microscopes to ex¬
amine the objects invisible to the natural
eye, and other literary and scientific appar¬
atus, and preserve the same. And members
are expected to donate and collect such ap¬
paratus for the librarion, and make the
auxiliary society a means of general en¬
lightenment as well as an assistance to the
cause of missions. Also mother's meetings
may be established where plans and ways
for the rearing and bringing up of children,
and the care and protection of the poor chil¬
dren of the community may be looked after
and discussed.
Article 12.
The auxiliary societies, after meeting and
disposing of their regular missionary af¬
fairs, shall devote the remainder of their
time to reading original poems, lectures
upon the various subjects connected with
life, and thus carry the Missionary and Lit¬
erary Departments together. And any
member who shall write, d'scover, or. pro¬
ject anything of high merit shall receive a
certificate of commendation, signed by the
president and secretary.
308 w. h. and f. missionary society.
Article 13.
This constitution, as well as the consti¬
tution of the conference societies, may be
amended or modified by the Connectional
Women's Home and Foreign Missionary
Society, when assembled in conventional
form, but the general superintendent shall
have power to grant special privileges when
desired in the interval of the connectional
conventions, to suit certain localities.
PART IX.
DEPARTMENTS.
I. Publishing Department.
IT. Sunday School Union.
Til. Educational Interests.
IV. Church Extension.
V. Allen Endeavor League.
i'ulil.isil 1 ng department.
CHAPTER I.
The Publishing Department,
i. Location.
The Publishing Department of the Afri¬
can Methodist Episcopal Church shall be
located in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., and
shall be designated by the corporate title of
1855, the ''Book Concern of the A. M. E.
Church."
2. Its Management.
1. The Department shall be under the
control of a General Business Manager and
two editors
2. The Business Manager shall have
charge of the business as printer and pub¬
lisher of the Department. He shall be the
custodian of its property and the treasurer
of its funds.
3. The supervision of the department
shall be in the hands of nine trustees ap¬
pointed by the council of bishops, six min¬
isters and three laymen; three of whom
shall be citizens of Pennsylvania, as the
law requires. They shall be regularly in¬
corporated according to law, and known as
312 PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT.
"The Board of Publication of the A. M. E.
Church" The Bishop of the First Episco¬
pal District shall be ex-officio chairman of
the Board of Management, when sitting as
such. The control of all the interests of
the Book Concern of the A. M. E. Church
shall be vested in the aforesaid Board of
Publication of the A. M. E. Church abso¬
lutely.
4. There shall be an editor of the Chris¬
tian Recorder who shall also be editor of
the book publications of the Concern, ex¬
cept the official books of the Church.
5. He shall have exclusive control of the
news and literary department of the paper,
read and mark the proof for correction;
and pass upon all matters relative to its edi¬
torial management.
3. Duties and Power of the Board.
1. The Board shall examine and audit
the quarterly and annual reports of the
Manager; give advice and instruction con¬
cerning the working of the business; pass
upon the editorial management of all the
■church papers and periodicals; decide as to
the number of persons employed; receive
and receipt for any quarterly balance in the
Tiands of the Manager beyond the immediate
needs of the business.
2. The Board shall require of the Busi-
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT. 313
ness Manager a good and sufficient bond
properly executed, in the sum of $3,000
within three months from the date of his
election; and this bond shall be a necessary-
qualification to perform the duties of the
office of Business Manager.
3. They shall prepare, or cause the Man¬
ager to prepare, a code of by-laws for the
regulation and government of the Concern.
4. Upon the advice of the Manager and
Editor, the prices of books and periodicals,
except the Christian Recorder and the A.
M. E. Review, shall be fixed by the Board.
5. If at any time the Business Manager
shall be found incapable of discharging the
duties of his office, the Board of Publication
shall have power, after thorough investiga¬
tion, to declare the office vacant.
4. Filling Vacancies
1. When a vacancy occurs it shall be fill¬
ed in the following manner: 1st The
Bishop presiding over the Board of Publi¬
cation together with two other Bishops of
the next adjoining Episcopal Districts shall
name one or more persons as successor; the
Board of Publication shall then confirm the
nominee; and he shall then enter upon the
discharge of his duty, and shall receive such
compensation as may be agreed upon by
the Board.
314 PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT.
2. In all cases of trial for any offence be¬
fore the Board, the Bishop shall preside.
5. Books sent to Preachers.
1. When books are sent to an itinerant
preacher by his order, and he refuses or
neglects to take them out of the express
office, charges shall be preferred against
him at his Annual Conference, by the Gen¬
eral Manager, either in person or by letter,
and the same preacher shall be dealt with
as in cases of wilful dishonesty.
2. All books shall be sold, except to mer¬
chants and regular dealers, for cash only;
provided, however, that the Manager and
Board may adopt such regulations as the
nature of trade may require, taking care
that the rule be published and that no bills
ar^ allowed to run.
3. All traveling and local preachers in
the connection are required to subscribe to
The Christian Recorder, The Southern
Christian Recorder, The Western Christian
Recorder, and either The Voice of Mis¬
sions or The A. M. E. Reviezv. Presiding
Elders shall require at their quarterly con¬
ferences all local ministers to subscribe to
one of the official journals.
4. All traveling preachers are agents for
the church papers and periodicals, and shall
be required t® solicit subscriptions in their
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT. 315
churches and report the number of paid
subscribers obtained during the year with
their annual reports.
6. The Publications
1. Hie publications of the Department
shall be The Christian Recorder, The South¬
ern Christian Recorder, The Western
Christian Recorder, The South African
Christian Recorder and The Voice of Mis¬
sions and such books and other publications
as may be deemed necessary and profitable
by the Manager and Board of Publication;.
2 The columns of the church papers
shall be open to the Bishops and General
Officers of the Church for all communica¬
tions on offical matters pertaining to their
several departments.
3. The quadrennial reports of the Gen¬
eral Manager and Editors shall be submitted
to the Bishops' Council before being read,
to the General Conference.
7. The Quarterly Review. _
4. The Quarterly Review shall be exclu¬
sively in the hands of an Editor, whose duty"
it shall be to edit and publish the same. He
shall submit his report to the Board of Pub¬
lication.
5. The Manager of thd Book Conceijr^
shall prepare and have printed a system of
. 3x6 publishing department.
uniform annual conference blanks for sta¬
tistical tables, and Pastors' reports to cor¬
respond therewith.
8. The Southern Christian Recorder.
1. The Southern Christian Recorder shall
be under the control of a managing editor.
2. There shall be a Board of Managers
for the Southern Christian Recorder, whose
■duty it shall be to examine and audit the
report of the managing editor.
3. They shall give advice and instruction
concerning the business.
4 The quadrennial report of the man¬
aging editor shall be submitted to the Coun¬
cil of Bishops before being reported to the
General Conference.
9. The Western Christian Recorder.
The Western Christian Recorder shall be
in the direct control of a managing editor,
subject to the supervision of a board com¬
posed of one member from each Episcopal
District, appointed by the council of
Bishops.
10. The South African Christian Re¬
corder.
The South African Christian Recorder
shall be in the direct control of a managing
editor, subject to a supervising board in
South Africa. Each of these managements
shall render a report to its board annually
and to the General Conference.
sunday school union.
3V
CHAPTER II.
Sunday School Union.
1. Organization.
In order to enlarge and extend the work
and influence of the Sunday School in the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, be it
Resolved, That we hereby adopt the or¬
ganization known as the "Connectional
Sunday School Union of the African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church," the constitution of
which should be as follows:
constitution.
Article 1.
The title of the association shall be "The
Connectional Sunday School Union of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church."
Article 2.
Its object shall be to unite, strengthen and
extend the Sunday-school work of the Af¬
rican M. E. Church in the Unite'd States
and elsewhere; to provide an ample and
suitable literature for the same; to aid the
needy Sunday-schools thereof; to encourage
the holding of Sunday-school Normal In¬
stitutes and Conventions for the training of
teachers, and to impart information con¬
cerning the best methods of governing, con-
3l8 SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
ducting and equipping Sunday-schools, and
to secure the proper grading of our Sunday
schools, and to gather whatever statistics,
and other data, may be necessary to keep
the Church continually informed of the true
condition of her Sunday school work
Article 3.
The officers of the Union shall be a presi¬
dent, who shall be the senior Bishop of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church; vice
presidents, consisting of the remaining
Bishops, ranking according to their sen¬
iority in office; a corresponding secretary,
who shall be elected by the General Con¬
ference; a board of managers, consisting
of seven members: four traveling preachers
and three laymen, four of whom shall re¬
side within the city of Nashville, Tenn.
Article 4.
The Board of Managers shall be nomi¬
nated by the Bishops and confirmed by the
General Conference, and shall hold their
office for four years. Its control of all the
interests of the Sunday school Department
shall be absolute. The president, vice
presidents, corresponding secretary and
treasurer, shall be ex-officio members of the
board of managers.
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 319
Article 5.
The Board of Managers shall have power
to frame its own by-laws; to locate the
headquarters of the Union; to select and
arrange for the supplying of Sunday school
helps and requisites; to extend aid to needy
Sunday schools; to provide for the payment
of the current expenses of the Union, and
to perform any other labors that may be
deemed necessary to further the legitimate
purposes of the Union.
Article 6 .
The Secretary shall act as Treasurer of
the Sunday school Union, and shall be re¬
quired to give bona fide bond of five thous¬
and dollars ($5,000) for the faithful per¬
formance of his duty.
Article 7.
The Board of Managers may elect worthy
persons as honorary members.
Article 8.
In order to enable the Union to carry
forward its legitimate work, the day here¬
tofore known and observed as Children's
Day shall be continued, at which time each
church and Sunday school shall raise a col¬
lection for the support of the Union, and
the Second Sunday in June of each year
shall be observed as said day.
320
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
Article 9.
There shall be elected in each annual
conference a Local Board of Managers, con¬
sisting of three, one of whom shall serve
as conference corresponding secretary,
whose duty it shall be to record the Sunday
school statistics reported at each Annual
Conference session, and transmit a copy
thereof to the general Corresponding Secre¬
tary, and advise with him as to the time
and methods of conducting conference or
district Sunday school conventions
Article 10.
Each Sunday school within the bounds
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
shall be entitled to all the benefits and privi¬
leges of the Union, without conditions, ex¬
cept the contributing of one collection an¬
nually to its support
Article 11.
The payment, by individuals, of ten dol¬
lars at any one time, shall constitute life
membership, and the payment of fifty dol¬
lars at any one time, life directorship.
Article 12.
An anniversary meeting of the Union
shall be held each year, at such time and
place as the board of managers may direct,
when the corresponding secretary and
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 32I
treasurer shall submit their annual reports
Article 13.
All moneys received from collections,
grants, or profits of Sunday school supplies,
above the amount necessary to defray the
current expenses of the Union, shall be de¬
voted to the work of organizing new Sun¬
day schools, and to aiding needy ones.
Article 14.
The work of the Union shall be divided
into the following four departments: 1.
Benevolence; 2. Business; 3. Normal; 4.
Statistical, and shall be under the general
supervision of the corresponding secretary,
who shall be the editor of all the Sunday
school publications issued by the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Article 15.
This constitution cannot be altered or
amended except by the General Conference
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
2. Sub-Districts.
1. It shall be the duty of each Annual
Conference at its first session after the ad¬
journment of this General Conference, to
provide for a division of the Sunday Schools
within its limits into one or more Sunday
School districts. Each Annual Conference
shall also name the time and place for hold-
322 SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
ing an annual meeting for pastors, super¬
intendents, and teachers in each district. At
each annual meeting a district superintend¬
ent shall be chosen.
2. Each pastor shall send, or cause to be
sent, a quarterly report to the district sup¬
erintendent, giving the statistics, and de¬
scribing the methods of instruction pursued
"by the schools in his work.
3. It shall be the duty of the district sup¬
erintendent to make a quarterly report to
the Corresponding Secretary of the Sunday
.School Union, showing the condition of
the schools in his district for the quarter.
The Corresponding Secretary shall publish
a condensed report for the quarter, embrac¬
ing the returns from each Annual Confer¬
ence Sunday School district.
4. The officers of each district meeting
may provide for the holding of teachers'
institutes, normal classes, or for a series of
meetings, the design of which shall be to
better prepare our teachers for the work
assigned them, and to awaken an increased
interest in, and improvement of the Sunday
Schools of the A. M. E. Church; provided,
that nothing shall be done contrary to or in
conflict with the plans and operations of
the Sunday School Union.
5. To provide for the uniformity of the
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 323
reports to be presented at each annual and
quarterly district meeting, the Correspond¬
ing Secretary of the Sunday School Union
shall furnish a series of blank forms, so
arranged as to suggest the information de¬
sired.
3. Constitution for the Government of the
Sunday Schools.
1. This Sunday School shall be under the
jurisdiction of the Connectio-nal Sunday
School Union of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, and shall be known as
the Sunday School, connected with
A. M. E. Church, at
2. The officers of this school shall be
the pastor in charge, who shall be chief
superintendent, a superintendent, assistant
superintendent, a secretary, an assistant sec¬
retary, treasurer, a librarian, and a chor¬
ister, each of whom shall perform the usual
duties of their respective offices, and to¬
gether with the teachers, shall constitute
the Sunday School Board.
3. The pastor shall nominate the officers,
and they shall be elected by the Sunday
School Board.
4 The Sunday School Board shall hold
monthly meetings for the transaction of
business, at such time as may be agreed
on, when the following order of business
324 SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
shall be observed: 1. Religious exercises.
2. Reports of officers. 3. Reports of teach¬
ers. 4. Reports of committees. 5. Unfin¬
ished business. 6. Miscellaneous business.
5. The nomination of any person for
teacher shall be made at a regular meeting
of the board, and any person so proposed,
by the consent of a majority, and subscrib¬
ing to this constitution, may become a
teacher.
6. The teachers in all our schools, where-
ever the same is practicable, shall be relig¬
ious and of good report. In every case they
must at least possess a good moral char¬
acter.
7. By-laws may be adopted by the Sun¬
day School Board, provided the said by¬
laws are in accord with all the provisions of
this constitution and the constitution of the
Sunday School Union.
8. An annual meeting of the Sunday
School Board shall be held, at which time
all the officers shall be elected. The officers-
elect shall assufne the duties of their respec¬
tive positions the first Sunday after their
election.
9. That there shall be held in connection
with each Annual Conference session a Sun¬
day School anniversary to be conducted by
the committee on Sunday Schools, at which
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 325
time said committee shall make its report.
This anniversary shall be placed on an
equal footing with the missionary and edu¬
cational anniversaries, and shall be held on
some night during the Annual Conference
session. It shall be the duty of each Bishop
to see that this provision is strictly en¬
forced.
10. That the question, How much has
been collected on Children's Day shall be
inserted as question eleven, under the head
of Mode of Procedure, section 4, part I,
page 215 of the Book of Discipline.
11. That the traveling preachers in each
Annual Conference shall be required to re¬
port to the committee on Sunday Schools
the following Sunday School statistics:
(1) Number of Sunday Schools.
(2) Number of officers.
(3) Number of scholars.
(4) Amount raised for support of school.
(5) Number of conversions.
(6) Number of books in library.
All laws and parts of laws that conflict
with these laws are hereby repealed.
12. Immediately after the annual election
of officers, it shall be the duty of the pastor
to send, or cause to be sent, a certified list
of the names of the officers-elect to the
Corresponding Secretary of the Sunday
326 SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
School Union, and in every case the proper
post-office address of the superintendent
and secretary must be given.
13. It shall be the duty of the pastor, in
•connection with the Sunday School Board,
to arrange for the holding of weekly
teachers' meetings, quarterly reviews, and
the Children's Day anniversary.
14. The pastor shall be ex-officio chair¬
man of the teachers' weekly meeting and the
meeting of the Sunday School Board In
his absence the superintendent shall preside,
and if neither is present the assistant super¬
intendent shall preside.
15. Each Sunday School shall observe the
order of the opening and closing services
of' each session, that may be recommended
by the Sunday School Union, copies of
which, together with this constitution shall
be furnished to each Sunday School.
16. It shall be the duty of the Sunday
School Board to adopt such publications as
the Sunday School Union may be author¬
ized to issue in the name of the A. M. E.
Church, and each pastor is enjoined to see
that this provision is faithfully carried out.
17. In no case, or under no circumstances
shall any Sunday School appropriate all or
any part of the money raised on Children's
Day, for its own use, but one-half of the
educational interests. 3
entire amount shall be immediately for¬
warded to the Corresponding Secretary of
the Sunday School Union, and the other
half to the Secretary of the Church Ex¬
tension, who will return receipts showing
the amount received, and said receipts shall
be read by the secretary to the school in
open session.
18. This constitution can only be altered
or amended at a session of the General
Conference of the A. M. E. Church.
CHAPTER III.
Educational Interests.
1. General Board of Education.
How shall we promote the educational
interests of our church?
Answer. We do hereby establish and or¬
ganize an Educational Department.
1. The management of this department
shall be placed in .the hands of a general
board of education and a Secretary of edu¬
cation, who shall be elected by the General
Conference.
The Board of Education shall consist of
one member from each Episcopal District,
nominated by the Council of Bishops and
confirmed by the General Conference, not
less than one-third of whom shall be laymen
328 EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
and whose tenure of office shall be four
years.
years. The General Secretary shall be a
member of the board ex-officio.
2. In the event of death, resignation, dis¬
ability, gross neglect of duty, or change of
district on the part of a member, the Board
shall declare the place vacant and from his
district appoint his successor; or in an emer¬
gency the Bishop of the district shall have
power to fill the vacancy till the regular
meeting of the board.
3. The president of the Board shall be
a Bishop elected by the Council of Bishops.
4. The Board of Education shall hold an¬
nual session at such place as may be se¬
lected by the former session. One-third of
the members shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business, when due no-
time has been given to ■ all members. In
the absence of the president, a chairman
pro tern shall be chosen-.
5. The Board shall exercise careful sup¬
ervision over the educational work of the
Church, devise and execute plans to increase
the educational funds, audit the General
Secretary's accounts, advance the educa¬
tional interests of the Church, consider all
claims upon the treasury and make such
appropriations as have been authorized by
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
the General Conference and arrange appro¬
priations for all money not otherwise pro¬
vided for.
2. Duties of the Corresponding Secretary.
1. The Secretary of Education shall re¬
ceive, and receipt and account for all moneys
coming' into his hands for educational pur¬
poses, and present to each Annual Con¬
ference an itemized report of all moneys
received by him from its district each year.
He shall present a report to the General
Conference also.
2. He shall open an account with a reli¬
able bank, and deposit all moneys coming
to his office and disburse the same under the
direction of the Board of Education.
3. In conjunction with the President, the
Secretary may call special meetings of the
board when he judges it necessary, giving
ten days' notice.
4. He shall faithfully execute all orders
of the Board of Education and use his ut¬
most ability to make the department suc¬
cessful He shall be an honorary member
of the trustee boards of all schools assisted
by the Educational Board, and shall person¬
ally inspect them and report their condi¬
tion to the Board of Education.
5. He shall receive for his services the
330 EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
sum of $1,350 per year from the Financial
Department.
6. For the faithful performance of his
duty, the Secretary shall give to the Board
of Education a good and sufficient bond in
the sum of $5,000, and said bond shall be
necessary as a qualification to perform the
duties of the office. Said bond must be exe¬
cuted within ninety days from the date of
his election to office.
7. In case of death, resignation or inca¬
pacity of the Secretary of Education in the
interim,, the board shall have power to ap¬
point his successor.
3. Executive Board.
The Board of Education shall have power
to appoint an executive committee of five
members, including the General Secretary,
which shall meet as per Discipline to trans¬
act such business as the case requires or
the General Board orders.
4. Annual Conference Board.
1. At the first Annual Conference after
the General Conference on nomination by
the Bishop, the conference shall elect a con¬
ference Board of Education consisting of
three ministers and two laymen. This
Board shall continue in office four years,
except in case of death, resignation, ineffi-
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. 331
ciency or removal from the conference dis¬
trict.
2. The Conference Board shall organize
immediately, electing a chairman, secretary,
and treasurer. The secretary and treasurer,
shall keep in substantial books a proper
record of the doings of the board.
3. The Annual Conference Board of Edu¬
cation shall receive all moneys reported to
or raised at the Annual Conference for the
benefit of schools in the educational district
and forward the same to the treasurer or
treasurers of the school or schools to which
they are due; or to such other person or per¬
sons as may be designated by the trustee
board or boards of said school or schools.
The eight per cent, of dollar money shall
be paid to the general Secretary of Educa¬
tion, according to Discipline.
In Conferences not listed in any educa¬
tional district, all moneys raised and report¬
ed by pastors for schools shall be paid to
the General Secretary. On the adjourn¬
ment of the Annual Conference the secre¬
tary of the conference board shall make full
report to the general Secretary of Educa¬
tion of all moneys raised in his conference
district on educational day or collected at
the conference, or otherwise, for the cause
of education.
-3
33-2 EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
5. Educational Districts.
The educational districts shall embrace
and correspond with the Episcopal Districts;
except that the first educational district shall
comprise all of the first, third, fourth and
twelfth Episcopal Districts.
6. District Boards.
Each District Educational Board shall be
composed of one member from each An¬
nual Conference Board, to be elected for
four years at the first Annual Conference
after the General Conference.
2. This board shall have supervision of
the educational work, and regulate the es¬
tablishing of schools within its district, and
apportion the funds appropriated to its
schools.
3. It shall hold an annual meeting at
least one week prior to the session of the
General Board of Education, to which it
shall render a report with full statistics of
the work and status of the schools, annually
and—especially—quadrennially.
7. The District Secretary.
1. At the first meeting after the General
Conference, the board or boards of trus¬
tees of the school or schools in each edu¬
cational district shall elect a District Sec¬
retary for four years.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. 333
2. The District Secretary shall ,po-oper-
ate with the General Secretary of Educa¬
tion in advancing- the interests of education,
and especially in reference to educational
day. He shall correspond with the pas¬
tors, and church and Sunday School officers,
and visit and assist as many of them as pos¬
sible in organizing for the annual education¬
al collections. He shall correspond with the
General Secretary of Education and the
authorities of schools that are beneficiaries
of his department He shall see that the
pastors and others report all educational
day moneys to the proper office or offices
within ten days after the anniversary.
3. A vacancy occurring in the conference
board, district board or secretaryship in the
interim of regular sessions shall be filled
temporarily by the Bishop in whose confer¬
ence it occurs; but the board shall elect reg¬
ularly at its next session.
4. All conference and district boards shall
be subsidiary and amenable to the general
board. Each officer who> handles educa¬
tional funds shall give bond of not less than
$1,000.
8. Establishing of Schools.
1. No school shall be established looking
to the support of the Church without
first receiving- the recommendation of the
334 EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
conference board within whose bounds it
is located.
2. The recognized connectional theologi¬
cal schools are those located at Wilberforce,
Ohio; Waco, Texas; Columbia, South
Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Kittrell, North
Carolina; Quindaro, Kansas; Argenta, Ark¬
ansas, and Jackson, Mississippi.
3. For their maintenance an appropria¬
tion shall be made annually from the Edu¬
cational Department, and $1,000 each to
Payne Theological Seminary, Turner Theo¬
logical Seminary,and the Theological school
at Columbia; and $800 each to the Theo¬
logical schools at Waco, Kittrell, Quindaro,
Argenta and Jackson from the Financial
Department for the support of the deans of
these schools; provided they are duly or¬
ganized and operative.
There may be established a chair of
Theology, or English Theological and Bibli¬
cal courses at such other schools as are
qualified to do the work.
3. The salary of the deans of Payne,
Turner and Allen Schools of Theology shall
be $1,000 each annually, and that of the
deans of Theology at Paul Quinn, Kittrell,
Shorter, Western, Campbell $800 each an¬
nually.
4. All moneys raised by the connection
educational interests.
335
for educational work in the First Educa¬
tional District shall be divided equally be¬
tween Wilberforce University and Payne
Theological Seminary; except that moneys
collected within the bounds of the Ken¬
tucky Conference and the West Kentucky
Conference shall be paid to Wayman Acad¬
emy.
8. Annual Appropriations to Schools.
The following annual appropriations shall
be made by the Secretary of Education to
our educational institutions:
To Wilberforce University $1,600
" Allen University i,6oq
" Morris Brown College 1,600
" Paul Quinn College 1,600
" Kittrell College 1,600
" Edward Waters College 1,000
" Western University 1,000
" Shorter College i ,000
" Campbell College 800
" Payne University . * 800
" Wayman Institute ».. 600
" Bethel Institute, S. Africa 500
" Shaffer Industrial, W. Africa 500
" Girls School 500
" Delhi Institute 200
" Turner Normal Institute 200
" Sisson High School 200
33^ EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
9. Sources of Funds.
How shall moneys be raised for this de¬
partment ? '
1. By appropriation from the Dollar
Money, eight per cent, of which shall be
paid to the Secretary of Education by the
Conference Finance Committee of each
Annual Conference, to be applied accord¬
ing to the order of the General Board of
Education and in keeping with the appro¬
priations ordered by the General Confer¬
ence.
2. By private donations and bequests,
which shall be applied according to the wish
of the donor.
3. By the contributions of educational
societies formed in the churches of the con¬
nection, and which are recommended to b<
established generally.
4. By public appropriations.
5. By maturing of life insurance and en
dowment policies or otherwise.
6. Each pastor shall pay to the Confer
ence Board of Education such amounts a
may be sent to Conference from his charge
for educational purposes.
7. Every Annual Conference shall devot
one evening to the Educational anniversar)
at which a collection shall be taken for th
support of our educational work.
educational interests. 337
8. By the establishment of a day through¬
out the connection on which all the churches
shall lift a collection, the 'avails* of which
are to be used exclusively as an educational
fund for our several connectional institu¬
tion. This anniversary shall be known as
Educational Day and be set for the third
Sabbath in each September. The services
of the day, both in churches and Sabbath
schools, shall have special reference to edu¬
cational work, and the entire collections of
the day in both departments, shall be sacred¬
ly set apart for this purpose.
10. Application of Educational Day Funds.
i. All pastors shall forward all the money
collected in the churches and Sunday
schools of their charges on educational day
to the treasurers of the schools to which
it is due or to such person as the trustees
of those schools may direct, within ten days
after collecting. Each pastor shall fill out
such blanks as may be furnished by the
Secretary, and shall report his receipts and
duplicate blanks to the Annual Conference
Board of Education at the next session of
the Annual Conference. The General Sec¬
retary shall publish notice of Educational
Day in all our connectional papers at least
one month prior to the time appointed, and
338
church extension.
the pastors of all circuits, stations and mis¬
sions shall publish it from all their pulpits.
2. The dates for the Annual Conferences,
District Conferences and Quarterly Con¬
ferences shall be so arranged as not to re¬
quire the absence of any pastor from his
post of duty at this important period.
Each Bishop, Presiding Elder and Pas¬
tor is requested to lav before our well-to-
do members and friends the necessities of
our schools., and also to seek to obtain stu¬
dents for the same.
3. It is recommended that at least one
scholarship be established in each Annual
Conference, on the basis of $50 annually, to
be included in the appropriations of the
Finance .Committee, and made payable to
the secretary of one of the authorized Theo¬
logical Seminaries.
CHAPTER IV.
Church Extension.
PREAMBLE.
The need of some plan by which weak and
struggling societies throughout our wide connec¬
tion, and also our mission work could be aided
in securing and erecting suitable houses of wor¬
ship, has been long felt in the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
CHURCH EXTENSION.
339
Next after the cry of perishing souls for the
word of life is that for a suitable place to feed the
hungry souls. Wherever the messenger of God
has been able to gather the outcast into an or¬
ganization (called a church) then comes next the
urgent demand for a Christian home or church
building where the Word of God may be regularly
administered, and those forming new organiza¬
tions firmly settled through the aid of the general
Church, thus enabling the missionaries to hold
the ground already taken without overburdening
the little band.
To this end the following constitution, for the
working and government of the Church Extension
Society of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church is adopted.
CONSTITUTION.
Article i.
There shall be a Board of Church Ex¬
tension consisting of one Bishop who shall
be President, a Corresponding Secretary
and Treasurer, and one member from each
Episcopal district in the United States.
The Secretary and Treasurer to be elected
by the General Conference. The other
members of the Board shall be nominated
by the Bishops and confirmed by the Gen¬
eral Conference. The Bishops shall be
ex-officio members.
Article 2.
The Board shall present a statement of
their business annually to the several An¬
nual Conferences, and a quadrennial report
34°
CHURCH EXTENSION.
to the General Conference. The Board shall
fill all vacancies that may occur during the
interval between General Conferences.
Article 3.
The Board elected by this General Con¬
ference shair at once procure, under the
laws of the State where the Board shall
be located, an act of incorporation, whereby
they and their successors in office in perpet¬
ual succession shall be made a body cor¬
porate under the name of "The Board of
Church Extension," with powers of con¬
tracting and being contracted with, suing
and being sued, and all other powers deem¬
ed necessary for the successful prosecution
of the work, not inconsistent with these
articles.
Article 4.
The Corresponding Secretary shall con¬
duct the correspondence of the Board un¬
der its direction, and shall be subject to
the authority and control of the Board. He
shall be a member of the A. M. E. Church,
and shall reside where the Board is located.
He shall keep the Church constantly ad¬
vised of the work and wants of the De¬
partment of Church Extension. He shall
supervise and superintend the church ex¬
tension work of the connection and exe¬
cute all official papers devising ways
CHURCH EXTENSION. 34I
and means for collecting funds, and
labor to the extent of his power to bring"
this department to the broadest field of use¬
fulness.
Article 5.
The Board shall be located at such place
as the General Conference may direct, and
shall meet annually at such time as it may
deem best for the interests of the depart¬
ment, and at such other times as the Presi¬
dent and Corresponding Secretary may ap¬
point. Five members shall constitute a
quorum.
Article 6.
The revenues of this department shall be 1
(1) Ten per cent, of the Dollar Fund.
Said per centage to be forwarded directly
to the Corresponding Secretary of the
Church Extension Society, by the Chairman
of the Committee on Finance in each of our
conferences, certified to by the Presiding
Bishop, with such other moneys as may be
collected at the Annual Conference for the
cause of Church Extension.
(2) Fifty (50) per cent, of all Children's
Day money shall be devoted to church ex¬
tension, and shall be forwarded immediately
after collecting, to the Corresponding Sec¬
retary.
(3) The admission fees and annual dues
342 CHURCH EXTENSION.
of the Woman's Department of Church Ex¬
tension.
(4) Special collections by the Corres¬
ponding Secretary, Bishops, Presiding El¬
ders and Pastors.
(5) Gifts, devises and bequests.
(6) Collections at Annual Conference
Church Extension Anniversaries, for a
special fund, to be designated., The African
Church Extension Fund, to be applied ex¬
clusively in the erection of churches in the
most promising of our African missions.
Article 7.
It shall be lawful for the Board to accept
contributions to its funds, subject to annui¬
ties payable to the order of the person mak¬
ing such contributions, but all money so
received by the Board shall be invested in
adequate securities.
Article 8.
The Board shall have authority to regu¬
late its own proceedings, to appropriate
moneys to pay incidental expenses, to de¬
termine what amount may be donated or
loaned to each applicant, and to do such
business as may be legitimate and proper
for it to do; provided that the Board shall
not involve itself in debt bevond the amount
of its available assets.
CHURCH EXTENSION.
343
Article 9.
The Board shall have authority to raise
and administer a "Loan Fund," which shall
be held separate from funds raised for gen¬
eral distribution, which shall be used only
in loans on adequate security, said security
to be determined by a regular conveyancer,
the Board to receive and hold in trust for
the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
and convey the same for the uses and ob¬
jects herein declared.
Article 10.
All applications for aid shall set forth:
1. A description of the buildings for which
aid is asked. 2. The estimate and probable
cost when completed. 3. The amount of
cash and reliable subscriptions on hand. 4.
The nature of the title, its validity, whether
held in trust for the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. 5. The names of the
members of the Board of Trustees. 6. Any
additional facts that may be deemed nec¬
essary or useful to the board in making
a decision. In no case bl.2.11 a loan be made
except on first mortgage, and that at not
more than 50 per cent, of the actual market
value cf the property; provided, however,
that a mortgage may be taken on good prop¬
erty at 50 per cent, of its value above .first
mortgage.
J44 CHURCH EXTENSION.
Article n.
The Board of Church Extension shall—
through its Corresponding Secretary—give
reasonable notice to all debtor churches, of
all principal and accrued interest due the
Board, and in case of neglect or failure of
said churches to pay, after proper notice,
the Board shall proceed to collect by due
process of law.
Every loan of one hundred dollars
($ioo) or upwards, to church or school,
shall be secured to the Board of Church
Extension by a bond duly executed by the
trustees and pastor, and a mortgage upon
the property.
In all cases of donation, the proper offi¬
cers shall be required to sign a bond, pro¬
viding and agreeing, that in case of dis¬
satisfaction and withdrawal from the A.
M. E. Church, the said donation shall be¬
come a bona fide claim against the church,
and collectable by law.
Article 12.
(1) Each Annual Conference shall elect
a Conference Board of Church Exten¬
sion, composed of four ministers and
one layman to be elected by the An¬
nual Conference. The Presiding Bishop
shall be president ex-officio. The board
shall elect a vice president, a secretary and
CHURCH EXTENSION.
345
treasurer. These officers shall constitute
the Executive Committee of the Conference
Board of Church Extension.
The Conference Board shall be amenable
and auxiliary to the Board of Church Ex¬
tension of the A. M. E. Church.
(2) The Conference Board of Church
Extension shall pass upon all applications
for aid, made by churches within their con¬
ference, to the Board of Church Extension
of the A. M. E. Church, when duly en¬
dorsed by the Presiding Elders from within
whose districts they come.
(3) The Conference Board of Church
Extension shall receive quarterly reports
endorsed by the Presiding Elders, from the
churches within their limits, that are in
debt to the general Board of Church Ex¬
tension of the A. M. E. Church. Any pas¬
tor whose church is a beneficiary of the
Board of Church Extension of the A. M.
E. Church, failing to report quarterly, shall
be deemed guilty of neglect of duty, and
be dealt with as in other cases of neglect or
failure of duty.
(5) The Conference Board of Church
Extension shall, through its secretary, sub¬
mit a report to the Annual Conference and
to the Corresponding Secretary of the gen¬
eral Board of Church Extension, as to the
346 CHURCH EXTENSION.
mortgaged indebtedness of the churches
within the Annual Conference, and the gen¬
eral condition of its work.
Article 13.
It shall be the duty of the Bishops, Pre¬
siding Elders and Pastors to bring the sub¬
ject of church extension before the Annual
Conferences, District Conferences, Quarter¬
ly Conferences, and churches, and see to it
that the most efficient plans are adopted for
raising the amounts apportioned to the
charges respectively.
Article 14.
At the Annual Conference the Bishop
shall call for the report of the conference
board, in the regular order of conference
proceedings, and devote one evening to a
Church Extension Anniversary, when ad¬
dresses shall be delivered on the work and
service of the Church Extension Society,
and a collection lifted for the African
Church Extension Fund.
Article 15.
There shall be a Woman's Auxiliary
Church Extension Society organized in all
our churches and Sunday Schools, which
shall be auxiliary and amenable to the Con¬
ference Board of Church Extension.
Article 16.
The Corresponding Secretary of the
CHURCII EXTENSION.
347
Church Extension Society shall give bond
and security in a sum not less than two
thousand dollars, ($2,000). His salary
shall be thirteen hundred and fifty dollars
($13350) per year.
THE LAW AS AMENDED I904.
i. Responsibility of Annual Conferences.
1. Annual conferences are responsible for
the interest due on all loans within their re¬
spective territories. Where churches fail to
pay, as obligated, the Annual Conference
must settle the claim out of any funds not
otherwise appropriated; in case of all
loans made after May, 1904.
2. The Conference Board of Church Ex¬
tension consists of five members, elected
by the annual conferences (one to be a
layman).
3. The Woman's Department shall be
organized in all churches indebted to the
department, and in all churches desiring
loans.
2. The Donation Fund.
1. Children's Day money coming to this
department constitutes the donation fund,
to be applied to the aid of needy churches
in the territory in which it was collected; on
proper application.
348 allen endeavor league.
2. The work and operation of the Ex¬
tension Department is confined to the home
field. Aid given to foreign work must be
conducted through the Missionary Depart¬
ment, which department will be required to
give its note for all moneys advanced to it
by the Extension Department, and repay
the same when due.
CHAPTER V.
The Allen Endeavor League.
We recommend the following law to
govern the Allen Christian Endeavor:
preamble and constitution.
Whereas, We see the great need of giv¬
ing closer attention to the religious and
moral training of the young people of our
Church, and
Whereas, We believe that the doctrines
and polity of the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church should be the basis of relig¬
ious instruction and church training for the
young people of our Church, therefore be
it
Resolved, That this General Conference
does hereby ordain and establish a Young
People's Department and the following
shall be the constitution thereof.
ALLEN ENDEAVOR LEAGUE.
349
Article i. Name.
The name of this organization shall be
the Allen Christian Endeavor League of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Article 2. Objects.
The objects of the organization are:
1. To promote intelligent and practical
Christian living among the young people
and friends of the Church.
2. To train them in proper methods of
Christian work and helpfulness, both for
the support of the Church and relief of the
needy.
3. To strengthen and purify the social
life of our young people, and to make them
an uplifting force in all departments of
life.
Article 3. Officers.
Section 1. The general management of
this organization shall be in the hands of
a Corresponding Secretary elected by the
General Conference and a Board of Con¬
trol consisting of seven members to be ap¬
pointed by the Bishops.
Sec. 2. The duties of the Corresponding
Secretary shall be to try to establish and
maintain the League in every Church in
the connection and to promulgate the gen¬
eral principles of the League among the
350 ALLEN ENDEAVOR LEAGUE.
young. To do this, he shall devote his
time to canvassing the Church and to the
publishing and circulation of such literature
as may be deemed proper for the carrying
out of the objects of the league.
He shall receive all moneys collected
for the support of the department,
giving receipts therefor, and shall
keep a careful account of all finances
passing through the department, whether
by contribution or from the sale of litera¬
ture. He shall render an account of the
same to the Board of Control at its regular
meeting.
In conjunction with the President he shall
call special meetings of the Board of Con¬
trol whenever they may think it necessary.
Sec. 3. The Corresponding Secretary
shall be paid for his services $1,350 per an¬
num, which shall come from the funds of
this department, after the first two years,
but for the first two years shall be paid by
the Financial Secretary.
Sec. 4. The Board of Control shall be
presided over by one of the Bishops elected
by the Bishops' Council.
The Board shall meet biennially and one-
third of the members shall constitute a
quorum, after due notice has been given to
all members.
ALLEN ENDEAVOR LEAGUE. 351
The Board shall exercise careful super¬
vision over the work of the League, devise
ways and means for carrying out its ob¬
jects, endorse or reject all publications of
the League and see that nothing but the
purest religious literature is circulated
through the League.
The Board of Control shall ordain a
constitution for the governing of the local
leagues, and shall provide that all members
of the local leagues shall subscribe to the
following:
Pledge.
I will earnestly seek for myself the high¬
est New Testament standard of Christian
experience and living, and will do what I
can to help others attain to the same. I
will read the Bible and pray every day and
I will abstain from all those forms of
worldly amusements, forbidden by the
Discipline of the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church. I will attend all the relig¬
ious meetings of the League and Church
unless hindered by some reason which I
can conscientiously give to my Lord and
Master and will take some part aside from
singing in all the prayer and class meetings.
Sec. 6. Unconverted persons may be ad¬
mitted as Associate Members by subscrib¬
ing to the following:
35-2 ALLEN ENDEAVOR LEAGUE.
Associate Members' Pledge.
Believing in the Bible as the Word of
God and the principles of Christianity, when
practiced, as promoting- the highest interest
of all mankind, I will endeavor to lead a
moral life consistent with my association
with the members of this League,' and will
do all I can to promote the interests of the
League.
Article 4. Conventions.
The Board of Control and Secretary shall
arrange for annual or biennial conventions
of the young people of the entire Church,
and encourage the holding of State Conven¬
tions whenever practicable.
Article 5. Conference Superintendent.
The Bishop of each district shall appoint
in each State a brother of high Christian
character, intelligence and loyalty as State
Superintendent of Leagues.
The Superintendent shall be the repre¬
sentative of the Corresponding Secretary,
and all business of the Leagues at the An¬
nual Conference shall be transacted through
him in the absence of the Secretary. He
shall organize Leagues and render all the
assistance possible in the circulation of
League literature. He shall hold conven¬
tions in his State with the co-operation of
ALLEN ENDEAVOR LEAGUE. 353.
the Corresponding- Secretary and he shall
keep the latter posted on the doings and the
status of the League in his State.
Article 6. Finances.
To maintain the work of the Allen Chris¬
tian Endeavor League each local League
shall be required to forward to the Cor¬
responding Secretary, during the month of
May of each year, a sum equal to ten cents
per capita of its membership.
The pastor of each church shall see that
the same is forwarded promptly and he
shall report the same at the Annual Con¬
ference in answer to the question, "how
much for Allen Christian Endeavor
League ?"
Article 7.
Our pastors in all our Churches shall see
that the Christian Endeavor or similar
young people's societies now existing there¬
in, shall be transformed into Allen Chris¬
tian Endeavor Leagues as soon as practi¬
cable.
PART X.
TEMPORAL ECONOMY.
I. Financial Department.
IT. Support of Itinerant Preachers.
III. Connectional Preachers Aid.
IV. Articles of Incorporation of the
A. M. E. Church.
Y. Church Property.
VI. Trustees of Church Property.
VII. Church Stewards.
VIII. Special Declaration.
356
financial department.
CHAPTER I.
Financial Department.
Question I. What shall be done to build
up the financial interests of our Church?
Answer. We do hereby establish a
Church Treasury.
i. Collection.
dollar money law as amended, i904.
1. It shall be the duty of every minister
holding charge in the African Methodist
Episcopal Church to collect the sum of one
dollar, from or for, each member of his
church or churches for the maintenance of
the Church Treasury.
2. Should any minister having charge
fail to raise the above collection, or a fair
proportion of it during the conference
year, according to the number of member¬
ship reported by him to the conference (the
number to be certified to by the Quarterly
Conference next preceding the sitting of the
Annual Conference) it shall be the duty of
the Bishop and Conference to refer the mat¬
ter to the Committee on Dollar Money for
inquiry.
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 35J
3. If on examination, they find that the
said minister has wilfully refused or wil¬
fully neglected his duty in raising the col¬
lection, he shall, upon vote of the Confer¬
ence, be reproved by the Bishop for the
first offense, and if he refuse or neglect a
second time, he shall upon the vote of the
Conference, be suspended or dismissed
from the itinerant work. This paragraph
shall be strictly enforced.
4. It shall be the duty of the Bishops and
the ministers to use the greatest possible
diligence in collecting the money thus ask¬
ed for.
The columns of all our connectional pa¬
pers shall be always open to the interests
of the Church treasury.
2. Duties of the Financial Secretary.
1. The Financial Secretary shall publish
the appropriations item by item, for the
information of the conferences and the
whole Church.
2. The Financial Secretary shall open an
account in some safe and reliable bank or
banks, where he shall deposit all moneys
not otherwise provided for. His books, pa¬
pers and bank acccount shall always be
opened to the inspection of the Bishops and
also of the traveling preachers.
3. He shall keep the Bishops and all the
I I X A XCI AL DEI'ARTMEXT.
traveling preachers informed of the state
and condition of the treasury, and shall ad¬
vise them, if necessary, to use more dili¬
gence to secure the success of our financial
interests.
4. He shall give bond in the amount of
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the
faithful performance of his duty.
5. The Financial Secretary is authorized
to visit the Annual Conferences on invita¬
tion of the Presiding Bishops, by the direc¬
tion of the Financial Board, or in case of
special business.
3. General Board of Managers.
1. There shall be a Board of Managers
for the Church Treasury, consisting of the
Financial Secretary, 11 itinerant Elders and
2 laymen, who shall be elected by the Gen¬
eral Conference, and shall serve for four
years, unless removed by death, resignation
or otherwise. No person shall be a mem¬
ber of the board to whom the connection is
indebted. The Board shall present through
the Financial Secretary, a printed report
annually, to each Annual Conference in
the connection, of all its proceedings, and
also a similar quadrennial report to the
General Conference.
2. The Board of Managers shall elect its
own vice chairman.
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
35y
3. The Board of Managers shall hold its
neetings on the third Wednesday in April'
n each year, and eight members shall con¬
stitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, after due notice having been given
to all members. In the absence of the
President the Board shall elect a chairman
pro tern.
4. At their meeting the Board of Man¬
agers shall consider all the claims upon
the Treasury provided by law, and shall
make appropriations for the same. The
appropriations shall be on the pro rata
basis.
5. The Board of Managers shall have
power to remove an inefficient or otherwise
disqualified Financial Secretary, when it is
clearly necessary for the best interest of the
Church, provided an immediate investiga¬
tion be had in all such cases, as required
by our Discipline in like cases, as applied
to traveling preachers.
6. The Board of Managers, together
with the Council of Bishops, shall fill all
vacancies which may occur in the Board
during the.interval of the General Confer¬
ences, in the following manner. The Bishop
of the district in which said vacancy oc¬
curs shall nominate some one of the same
grade in the Church to fill said vacancy.
30o L'l X.VXCi AL DEl'ARTMENT.
If the Council of Bishops, or a majority
of them, agree to said nomination, then the
name shall be sent to the Financial Secre¬
tary, who shall report the same to the Fi¬
nancial Board.
7. The Board shall have power to ap¬
point an Executive Committee of its mem¬
bers, which, in cases of emergency, may
meet at the request of the Financial Secre¬
tary or call of the President, and transact
such business as the case requires.
8. The Board of Managers shall audit
the Secretary's accounts, and advise the
disbursement of all moneys not regularly
provided for.
4. The Dollar Money at Conferences.
1. All Dollar Money collected in the in¬
terval of the Annual Conference sessions
shall be sent immediately to the Financial
Secretary by the pastors so collecting; and
all Dollar Money so collected and brought
to the Annual Conference shall be turned
over to the Finance Committee of the Con¬
ference, whose duty it shall be to ascertain
the amount forwarded to the Secretary, in
the interval (the same to be determined by
the receipts of the Secretary, or such other
evidence as shall be conclusive) together
with the amount returned to the Confer¬
ence. Having thus ascertained the exact
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 361
amount of Dollar Money, the chairman of
the committee shall report the same in open
Conference, when the Conference Finance
Committee shall transmit immeditely ail
official statement of the total amount of
Dollar Money collected by the said Confer¬
ence, to the Financial Secretary, the same
to be certified to by the presiding1 Bishop.
2. It shall be the duty of the Dollar
Money committee to make the division of
the said Dollar Money as follows: Forty-
six per cent, to the Financial Secretary,
ten per cent, to the Secretary of Church
Extension Society, eight per cent, to the
Secretary of Education, and thirty-six per
cent, to the Conference Finance Committee,
which division shall be the law governing
the distribution of the Dollar Money by the
Annual Conferences of the A. M. E.
Church. The Annual Conference Finance
Committee shall forward to the Secretaries
of the aforementioned departments, imme¬
diately after the division of the Dollar
Money has been made, the amounts due
their several departments, retaining in its
possession the amount belonging to the
Conference, to be appropriated as per Disci¬
pline. No part of the Dollar Money due
the several departments shall be paid to any
person or persons by the Conference Fi-
3 62
!•' IX A X CIA L I) l: [ > A k T MI '2 N T.
nance Committee, except upon a written
order, signed by the Secretary and bearing
stamp or official seal of the department for
which the money is intended.
3. Each Annual Conference shall retain
of the dollar money collected within its
bounds, thirty-six per cent., and shall ap¬
propriate the same to assist the widows
and orphans of itinerant preachers, the
worn out preachers, and those preach¬
ers who have not received their al¬
lowance. The amount thus retained shall
be reported to the Financial Secretary.
The whole shall be distributed according
to the law of distribution passed by the
General Conference.
5. Division of the Dollar Money.
1. The money collected under the provi¬
sions of this section shall be used for the
following purposes:
(1) For the support of efficient and in¬
efficient Bishops.
(2) For the salaries of general officers
hereafter named in this chapter.
(3) To aid the Publication Department.
(4) To aid our needy colleges.
(5) To' aid the cause of missions.
(6) For the relief of widows and or¬
phans of deceased ministers and Bishops.
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 363
(7) To aid the Church Extension So¬
ciety.
(8) The balance shall constitute a char-:
tered fund, the interest of which shall be
used for the support of superannuated
Bishops, and preachers, and widows, and
orphans of Bishops and itinerant preachers.
• 6. The Support of Bishops.
Question 2. Should any provision be
made for the better support of the Bishops?
Answer 1. In order that the Bishops
should be untrammeled in their work, each
one should have a competent support.
2. The Episcopal Committee of the Gen¬
eral Conference, during the sitting thereof
shall consult with each of the Bishops, and
make an estimate of the amount necessary
for their comfort and support, and report
the same to the next meeting of the Finan¬
cial Board, which shall pay the same month¬
ly, or as nearly as possible. The amount
shall not exceed two thousand dollars
($2,000) per annum as salary, and five
hundred dollars ($500) for residence and
expense of travel to hold conferences.
Special allowance may be made for travel
to hold the California and Puget Sound
Conferences.
3. The general traveling expenses of
Bishops shall be paid by the churches they
26
364 FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
visit; each church paying a Bishop's ex¬
penses to the next church to be visited. Th(
pastors shall report this money to the An^
nual Conference. The expenses of Bishops
travel to hold Annual Conferences, and tc
foreign countries in the direct interest o:
the church shall be paid by the Financia
Department; special allowance being mad<
for travel to hold the California and Fuge
Sound Conferences.
Provided, that the traveling expenses 0
the Bishops appointed to preside over th*
work in the West Indies, West Afric
and South Africa shall not be pai'
more than twice during the quadren
nium from the Financial or Missionar
Department. The Board of Managers in a;
such cases are hereby authorized to solicil
if it be necessary, contributions from ou
churches to aid, in defraying such travelin;
expenses of the Bishop.
4. The traveling expenses of the Presid
ing Bishop of any given board only, sha
be paid by the department over which h
presides annually, together with the e>
penses of the members who constitute sai
board.
7. Support of General Officers.
Question 3. How shall we provide fc
the support of the general officers?
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 365
Answer I. The following named officers
shall receive their salary from the Financial
Secretary out of the general treasury of the
Church as follows, to wit:
Secretary of Preachers' Aid, till May, 1905. 1350
Secretary of Allen C. E., till May, 1906.... 1350
2. The following named officers shall re¬
ceive their salary from their respective de¬
partments as follows, to wit:
Secretary of Sunday School Union $1350
Secretary of Church Extension 1350
Secretary of Allen Endeavor League, after
May, 1906 1350
Secretary of Preachers' Aid after May, 1905 1350
3. The traveling expenses of the several
general officers shall be on the basis of rigid
economy.
8. Superannuated Preachers.
Question 4. What provision do we make
for our worn out itinerant preachers.
Answer 1. A preacher who has main¬
tained a good and regular standing in our
itinerancy for five years, on being super¬
annuated shall receive $35 per year.
Financial Secretary
Missionary Secretary
Editor Christian Recorder
Editor A. M. E. Church Review....
Editor Southern Christian Recorder
General Business Manager
Secretary of Education
$1500
I350
1350
I3SO
I3SO
I3SO
■ 1350
366 FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
2. A preacher who has maintained a good
and regular standing in our itinerancy more
than five years, and less than ten years, on
being superannuated shall receive $75 per
year.
3. A preacher who has maintained a
good and regular standing in our itinerancy
more than ten years and less than fifteen
years, shall receive $150 per year.
4. A preacher who has maintained a good
and regular standing in our itinerancy more
than fifteen years and less than twenty
years, on being superannuated shall receive
$200 per year.
5. A preacher who has maintained a good
and regular standing in our itinerancy more
than twenty years shall receive $250 per
year.
9. Widows and Orphans of Traveling
Ministers.
The widow of a traveling preacher,
(active or superannuated) shall receive $75
per year, and each of her children under
fourteen years of age shall receive $20 per
year.
10. Priority of Claims.
1. All proper allowances and claims of
superannuated preachers, and widows and
orphans of deceased preachers shall have
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 367
priority over all other claims on the confer¬
ence thirty-six per cent, fund of dollar
money.
2. Should the thirty-six per cent, fund be
insufficient the conference shall provide se¬
curity for the payment of the same.
3. The provisions of this paragraph shall
not take effect until the condition of the
treasury, in the judgment of the Financial
Board, shall warrant it.
11. Support of Inefficient Bishops.
Question 5. What shall we do to support
our worn out Bishops ?
Answer. We do hereby settle an annuity
on each and every one of our Bishops, who
may become unable to perform their official
duty, the sum of one thousand dollars
($1,000) annually,, to be paid monthly dur¬
ing the period of their natural lives, by the
Financial Secretary, out of the general
treasury, m the same manner as are the
other Bishops and general officers paid.
12. The Widows and Orphans of Bishops.
Question 6. What shall we do for the
support of widows and orphans of Bishops?
Answer. The Financial Secretary shall
pay twenty-five dollars per month to the
widow of a deceased Bishop .so long as she
remains in a state of widowhood, and in
good standing in the A. M. E. Church, and
368 FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
each of her children under fourteen years o:
age $20 per year. In case the widow shoult
die before the children cease to be wards o:
the Church, the Financial Secretary shal
continue to pay $20 per year to each of th<
children until they become fourteen year:
of age. The claims of widows and orphan:
of Bishops shall be paid from the genera
connectional treasury.
13. Missionaries and. Scholarships in Theo
logical Seminaries.
Question 7. How shall we assist our mis
sionaries in their work and our young peo
pie in their education?
Answer 1. The Board of Managers o
the Church treasury shall apportion sucl
amount of money to each Annual Confer
ence as the state of the treasury will war
rant.
2. The Financial Secretary shall receiv
from each Annual Conference the amour
apportioned by the percentage and keep a
account of the same in a book kept for ths
purpose.
3'. Each Annual Conference shall dis
burse its own money within its bound
Should there be a balance after disburs<
ment, it shall be sent to the Financial Seen
tary who shall place it to the credit of tt:
Chartered Fund.
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 369
4. The Board of Managers of the Church
treasury .shall endow scholarships in the
Theological Seminaries with as much cel¬
erity as is compatible with the condition of
the treasury; provided, however, that they
shall endow at least one scholarship each
year. The scholarships so endowed shall
be known as the African Methodist Episco¬
pal Scholarships. They shall be used for
the purpose of preparing young men for
the ministry of the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church, and also for the purpose of
preparing young women to labor in the
Missionary Department of our Church.
These scholarships shall be under the con¬
current direction of the Financial Secretary
and the Dteans of the Theological semi¬
naries.
5. The salary of the Deans of Payne
Theological Seminary, Turner Theological
Seminary and the Theological School at
Columbia shall be $1,000 each; and of those
at Waco, Kittrell, Quindaro, Argenta and
Jackson $800 each per year, to be paid by
the Financial Department; provided these
schools are duly organized and operative.
14. Priority of Claims.
The Financial Secretary shall pay all sal¬
aries first, then the Financial Board shall
make all appropriations not authorized by
370 support of itixerat preachers.
the General Conference. But all appro¬
priations of the General Conference shall be
paid as the state of the treasury will war¬
rant.
15. Protection of General Funds.
All moneys collected both in churches and
Sunday Schools as Dollar Money, or on our
connectional days, to wit: Easter Day, Edu¬
cational Day or Children's Day shall be
sacredly applied to the object for which
they were collected, or the day was set apart
by the Church; and no church officer, Sun¬
day School Officer, Pastor, presiding Elder
or Bishop shall divert or use the said
moneys otherwise. Any person so offend¬
ing- shall, upon conviction, be censured or
suspended from official standing.
CHAPTER II.
Support of Itinerant Preachers.
1. Presiding Elder's Salary.
A Presiding Elder's Salary shall be
$1,200 per year, and this salary shall be ap¬
portioned in the district according to the
number of members in each charge. A
committee to make this apportionment
should be appointed at the Annual Confer¬
ence, and the Presiding Elder shall be an
SUPPORT OF ITINERAT PREACHERS. 371
advisory member of it. The apportionment
made to each circuit, station and mission
shall be submitted to the Annual Confer¬
ence and published in the minutes.
Each pastor shall collect the apportion¬
ment of his charge before Quarterly Con¬
ference, and have it for the Presiding Elder
when he comes, that he may be unincumber¬
ed in laboring- at the Quarterly Meeting
by preaching, inviting persons to join the
church, raising the conference funds, and
doing all in his power to build up the
church and help the pastor. In case of fail¬
ure of a pastor to collect the Presiding El¬
der's allowance he shall receive the same
from any or all moneys collected during his
Quarterly Meeting, All deficiencies of the
Presiding Elder's support shall be raised
by extra collections in his district ordered
by the Annual Conference to be collected
after its session, at those circuits and sta¬
tions which have failed to pay their appor¬
tionment.
2. Support of Pastors.
The salary of a married traveling preach¬
er shall be five hundred dollars each con¬
ference year, or any greater sum the charge
is able to pay, with board for himself, wife
and children under fourteen years of age,
370 suitor! of 1tixekat preachers.
the General Conference. But all appro¬
priations of the General Conference shall be
paid as the state of the treasury will war¬
rant.
15. Protection of General Funds.
All moneys collected both in churches and
Sunday Schools as Dollar Money, or on our
connectional days, to wit: Easter Day, Edu¬
cational Day or Children's Day shall be
sacredly applied to the object for which
they were collected, or the day was set apart
by the Church; and no church officer, Sun¬
day School Officer, Pastor, presiding Elder
or Bishop shall divert or use the said
moneys otherwise. Any person so offend¬
ing- shall, upon conviction, be censured or
suspended from official standing.
CHAPTER II.
Support of Itinerant Preachers.
1. Presiding Elder's Salary.
A Presiding Elder's Salary shall be
$1,200 per year, and this salary shall be ap¬
portioned in the district according to the
number of members in each charge. A
committee to make this apportionment
should be appointed at the Annual Confer¬
ence, and the Presiding Elder shall be an
SUPPORT OF ITINERAT PREACHERS. 371
advisory member of it. The apportionment
made to each circuit, station and mission
shall be submitted to the Annual Confer¬
ence and published in the minutes.
Each pastor shall collect the apportion¬
ment of his charge before Quarterly Con¬
ference, and have it for the Presiding Elder
when he comes, that he may be unincumber¬
ed in laboring at the Quarterly Meeting
by preaching, inviting persons to join the
church, raising the conference funds, and
doing all in his power to build up the
church and help the pastor. In case of fail¬
ure of a pastor to collect the Presiding El¬
der's allowance he shall receive the same
from any or all moneys collected during his
Quarterly Meeting. All deficiencies of the
Presiding Elder's support shall be raised
by extra collections in his district ordered
by the Annual Conference to be collected
after its session, at those circuits and sta¬
tions which have failed to pay their appor¬
tionment.
2. Support of Pastors.
The salary of a married traveling preach¬
er shall be five hundred dollars each con¬
ference year, or any greater sum the charge
is able to pay, with board for himself, wife
and children under fourteen years of age,
3/2 CONNECTION A L PREACHERS' All).
and his house rent, fuel and traveling ex¬
penses.
The salary of an unmarried preacher shall
be two hundred and fifty dollars per confer¬
ence year, or any greater sum the charge
is able to pay, and his board and traveling
expenses. The pastor's support shall be
paid by the church or churches he may
serve. Should his wife die he shall have
the same as if he were married, for the
support of his children, if he have any.
CHAPTER III.
I. CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AlD ASSO¬
CIATION.
ADDRESS.
It is the sacred duty of every man to provide
for those who are dependent upon him while he
lives, and to so plan and arrange his business
affairs that even after his death they may have
a practical independence, and not suffer for the
necessaries of life. There is possibly no class
of men who feel more the need of making such
a plan than the Methodist itinerant preachers,
with less means of accomplishing it. It is only
by the most prudent and economical methods
that we are able to meet our present needs, and
after we have met all the requirements that our
calling demands, if we find ourselves square with
the world, we have done well.
We have no money to invest, or time to
CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID. 373.
watch jt, if we had; consequently our only in¬
come is our salaries, which vary largely from
year to year, and we can hardly save enough*
to bury us when we die; and our wives and chil¬
dren, who have never faced the world before,,
are left with a pittance, and life becomes a bur¬
den to them.
Life insurance is expensive, with many at¬
tending risks. Comparatively few of our min¬
isters are able to keep up a regular life insur¬
ance policy, and the majority, while knowing the-
necessity of providing for their loved ones, are-
unable from a financial standpoint to do so.
It is our opinion that the African Methodist.
Episcopal Church has reached that place in her
history where every itinerant preacher in her
ranks can and should make such arrangements-
for his own family after his death, and help his
brother in making arrangements for his.
Therefore, after careful and prayerful consid¬
eration of the subject, we now submit to the-
conferences of the African Methodist Episcopal
Connection the plan which we trust will be
adopted.
Connectional Preachers' Aid Society and
Mutual Relief Association with annex and
the Sons and Daughters of Allen.
AMENDMENTS.
Article I.
We organize a Connectional Preachers'
Aid and Mutual Relief Society to be known
as the Connectional Preachers' Aid and Mu-
374 C0NNECT1ONAL PREACHERS* AID.
tual Relief Association, Women's Annex
and Sons and Daughters of Allen.
(See page 333 Discipline of 1900.)
Article 2.
Ministers and members of good and regu¬
lar standing in the A. M. E. Church shall be
elligible to membership in this Association
by members paying $1.00 joining fee.
Ministers (A. $5.50) five dollars and
fifty cents. The same annual dues.
(B. $10.50) ten dollars and fifty cents.
The same annual dues.
(C. $25.50) twenty-five dollars and fifty
cents. Sons and Daughters of Allen, $1.20
and $3.00 annual dues with no assessment
at death.
3. The Condition of Membership.
Committeemen.
Upon the death of a member of Class A.,
he or she shall receive ($100.00) one hun¬
dred dollars for the first year; B. ($200.00)
two hundred dollars for the first year; C.
($500.00) five hundred dollars for the first
year. The Sons and Daughters of Allen a
sick benefit of eight dollars per month and
twenty-five dollars additional at death. And
Juveniles 75 cents weekly sick benefits and
($15.00) fifteen dollars at death.
CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID. 375
As this Society is mutual and benevolent,
the only requirements to receive these bene¬
fits is good faith, duty and Christian living.
Article 4.
All certificates of death must have the
signature of the Bishop, Presiding Elder or
Pastor of the Deceased.
This Association was incorporated at Bal¬
timore, Md., October 7, 1897, and will re¬
ceive a general incorporation in addition
to this as soon as the amended constitution
is approved by the Bishops of the A. M. E.
Church and the Board of the Association.
Article 5.
In consideration of the payments of the
sums named in Article 2 of 'this
Constitution, any minister in good and
regular standing in the A. M. E. Church,
his wife or any member of his family who
furnishes a certificate of good health and it
is accepted by the Association, may become
a member of Class A, B or Q and this As¬
sociation agrees to pay the heirs of assigns
of said members sixty days after death the
sums of one, two or five hundred dollars,
according to the class to which said mem¬
ber belonged at death. After three years
will pay the full amount. Class A first
year, $100.00; second year, $200.00; third
3/0 CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID.
year, $300.00. Class B, double that of
Class A. Class C, first year, $500.00; sec¬
ond year, $750.00; third year, $1,000.
(A.) The Death Claims under this agree¬
ment shall be paid within sixty days after
satisfactory proof of death has reached the
■office of General Secretary.
Article 6.
Any member of the A. M. E. Church or
Sabbath School scholar in good and regu¬
lar standing may become a member of a
local Society, to be known as the Sons and
Daughters of Allen, organized under the
charter of this Association in any of our
local churches.
The General Secretary of this Associa¬
tion, his agent or the Pastor in charge, shall
act as Organizer for the Sons and Daugh¬
ters of Allen. And all persons qualified as
above described between the ages of four
and sixty years are eligible to membership
in the Sons and Daughters of Allen. Per¬
sons over fourteen years of age must pay
One Dollar joining fee and 25 cents monthly
dues, which will entitle said person to Two
Dollars per week sick benefits and a Twenty-
five Dollar death claim. Persons under
fourteen years of age must pay 25 cents
joining fees and 10 cents monthly dues and
receive 75 cents a week sick benefits and
CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID. 377
Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) death claims. All
persons under 14 years shall be organized
in a separate branch, known as the Juve¬
niles.
The Sons and Daughters of Allen shall
be under the direct supervision of the pas¬
tor of the church and hold its meetings in
said church.
Article 7.
The Connectional Preachers' Aid Asso¬
ciation further agrees that any minister
who has been a member of said association
for fifteen consecutive years and has be¬
come disabled physically to perform his
ministerial duties, shall receive a pen¬
sion of five dollars a month until the
full amount of his death claim has been
exhausted and should he die before it is
exhausted it will pay the remainder to his
heirs or assigns.
(All laws, parts of laws to the contrary
and notwithstanding.)
2. Incorporation.
The association was incorporated at Bal¬
timore, Md., October 7, 1897. As fol¬
lows :
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS
That We, James A. Handy, John T. Jenifer,
John W. Beckett, Daniel G. Hill and John H.
3^8 CONXECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID.
Collett, all residing in the city of Baltimore
and State of Maryland, being citizens of the
United States, and a majority of us being citi¬
zens of the State of Maryland, do hereby certify
that we do, under and by» virtue of the General
Laws of this State authorizing the formation of
corporations, hereby form a corporation undei
the name of the Connectional Preachers' Aid
and Mutual Relief Association of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church of Baltimore City.
2. We do further certify that the said corpora¬
tion so formed is a corporation for the purpose
of aiding the widows and orphans of deceased
itinerant preachers of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, that the term of existence of
the said corporation is limited to forty years,
and that the said corporation is formed upon
the articles, conditions and provisions herein
expressed, and subject in all particulars to the
limitations, relating to corporations which are
contained in the General Laws of this State.
3. We do further certify that the operations of
the said corporation are to be carried on in the
State of Maryland aforesaid, and that the prin¬
cipal office of the said corporation will be lo¬
cated in Baltimore City aforesaid.
4. We do further certify that there is no cap¬
ital stock of the said corporation.
5. We do further certify that the said corpora¬
tion will be managed by eleven directors, and
that John M. Palmer, John W. Beckett, D. F.
Caliman, R. C. Ransom, O. J. W. Scott, William
F. Flagg, A. J. Carey, R. C. Holbrook, J. N.
Abby, P. C. Hunt and John Pointer, are the
names of the directors who will manage the
concerns of the said corporation for the first
year;
CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID. 379
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our
hands and seals this seventh day of October, in
the year 1897.
Test as to all:
A. M. PROSSER.
JAMES A. HANDY. (Seal)
JOHN T. JENIFER. (Seal)
JOHN W. BECKETT. (Seal)
DANIEL G. HILL. (Seal)
JOHN H. COLLETT. (Seal)
State of Maryland, Baltimore City, to Wit:
I hereby certify that on this seventh day of
October in the year 1897, before me, the
subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the
State of Maryland, in and for Baltimore
City aforesaid, personally appeared James
A. Handy, John T. Jenifer, John W. Beck¬
ett, Daniel G. Hill and John H. Collett, and:
did severally acknowledge to the foregoing
certificate to be their act and deed.
A. M. PROSSER, J. P.
I, John J. Dobler, one of the Judges of the Su¬
preme Bench of Baltimore City, do hereby
certify that the foregoing certificate has
been submitted to me for examination; and I
do further certify that the said certificate is in
conformity with the provisions of the law au¬
thorizing the formation of corporations.
JOHN J. DOBLEK..
Received for Record October 23, 1897, at 12?
o'clock M., the same day recorded in Liber
R. O., 36, Folio 89; one of the Charter
Records of Baltimore City, and examined,
Per ROBERT OGLE.
The association was organized into Con-
nectional form under its charter at Balti¬
more. Md., October 27, 1897.
26
380 ' CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID.
3. The Allen League for Laymen.
1. With a view to saving health, time
and expenses to the members of the local
churches, good attention when sick and
proper burial when dead, as well as to
strengthen their fealty and co-operation
with their church, we recommend that all
pastors of the A. M. E. Church wherever
it is found possible, shall organize their
members into a sick and death benefit so¬
ciety to be known as the Sons and Daugh¬
ters of Allen.
2. The Secretary of the Connectional
Preachers' Aid and Mutual Relief Asso¬
ciation shall prepare and issue charters and
constitutions for said societies.
3. The Board of Directors recommend to
the General Conference the adoption of
the Connectional Preachers' Aid Associa¬
tion as a general department of connection¬
al work of the A. M. E. Church under
such regulations as it may see fit to enact
and to elect a secretary whose duty it shall
be to devote his entire time to the work.
4. Rules Governing the Conference Com¬
mitteemen.
1. It shall be the right of each and every
Annual Conference to elect annually one
committeeman, as per Constitution, Article
CONNECTIONAL PREACHERS' AID. '381
5, who shall, under the advice of the Sec¬
retary of the association, act in his Confer¬
ence in the interest of the association; and
shall be furnished by the General Secretary
with all the necessary information and lit¬
erature.
2. All applications for membership must
be filed as per furnished blank, signed by
the applicant, and all moneys sent direct to
the General Secretary.
3. Reports from the Secretary shall be
made to the Annual Conferences as to the
condition of the association, through the
committeeman, in the absence of the Gen¬
eral Secretary.
4. The bond of the Secretary shall be
two thousand dollars ($2000).
5. The running expenses of the asso¬
ciation shall be paid out of the membership
fees and annual dues, but the assessments
shall be devoted exclusively to meeting
death claims.
6. The meetings of the Board of Direc¬
tors shall be annually in May unless emer¬
gencies demand an extra meeting. A ma¬
jority of Directors when regularly called
shall constitute a quorum.
7. The forms for membership certifi¬
cates, assessment calls, and application
blanks shall be prepared by the Secretary
382 article of incorporation.
and approved by the Board.
8. The membership certificates must be
signed by the President and countersigned
by the Secretary.
CHAPTER IV.
Articles of Incorporation of the A.
M. E. Church.
It is hereby certified that at a regular session
of the General Conference of the African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church, begun and held on the
7th day of May, A. D. 1900, at the city of Co¬
lumbus, Ohio, the following named persons, to
wit: Benjamin W. Arnett, Wesley J. Gaines,
Benjamin F. Lee, Moses B. Salter, Joshua H.
Jones, Richmond H. W. Leak, Green E. Taylor,
William D. Chappelle, William S. Scarborough,
Nelson T. Gant, all of whom are members of
said denomination, and of whom Benjamin W.
Arnett, Benjamin F. Lee, William S. Scarbor¬
ough, Nelson T. Gant and Joshua H. Jones are
resident freeholders, of this State, were duly
elected Trustees for four years of the Endow¬
ment or other funds now on hand or to be ac¬
quired, by said Church, or fcoard of Trustees, for
religious, educational, missionary, benevolent or
other uses and purposes of said Church, to take
charge of, hold, manage, rent, lease, improve,
sell or otherwise dispose of all real estate be¬
longing to or which may be acquired by said
Church or said Board for the use and benefit of
article of incorporation. 383
said Church, subject to such regulations as the
General Conference may from time to time pre¬
scribe; and in like manner to take charge of all
grants, gifts, donations, devises, legacies, be¬
quests or trusts made to or in favor of said
Church, or said Board of Trustees for its use,
and to hold, control, manage and invest same
for the benefit of said Church; also to receive
and administer any special societies now exist¬
ing under the authority or by the sanction of
said General Conference.
Said Board of Trustees shall consist of four
Bishops, four Ministers, and four laymen, of
whom four shall be appointed by the General
Conference at each quadrennial session, and
hold office till their successors have been duly
appointed; which Board shall be known under
the style of "The Trustees of the African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church"; and its principal place
of business is fixed at Wilberforce, Greene
County, Ohio.
Vacancies in said Board of Trustees occur¬
ring more than six months before the session
of the General Conference, shall be filled by the
Bishops,and the persons so appointed shall hold
office until the next session of the General Con¬
ference. when their places shall be filled as here¬
inbefore provided.
Said Board of Trustees shall have power to
adopt by-laws for the transaction and regulation
of its business, and to appoint the necessary
officers.
They shall make quadrennial Reports to the
General Conference and be amenable to that
body for the management of trusts confided to
them.
384 ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The General
Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church has caused this Certificate to be exe¬
cuted by Moses B. Salter, Presiding Bishop, and
Louis H. Reynolds, its Secretary, this 25th day
of May, 1900.
LOUIS H. REYNOLDS.
STATE OF OHIO, GREENE COUNTY, ss.
Before me, a Notary Public in and for said
County, personally appeared the above named
Louis H. Reynolds and Moses B. Salter,
Who each signed the foregoing certificate in my
presence and acknowledged the same to be the
free act and deed of the said The African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church, and their free act and
deed as such officers thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto
set my hand and the official seal, this 31st day
of May, 1900.
(Seal) W. L. MILLER.
Notary Public, Greene County, Ohio.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
State of Ohio,
Office of Secretary of State.
I, Charles Kinney, Secretary of the
State of Ohio, do hereby certify that the an¬
nexed instrument is an exemplified copy, care¬
fully compared by me with the original record
now in my official custody as Secretary of State,
and found to be true and correct, of the Articles
of Incorporation of "The Trustees of the Afri¬
can Methodist Episcopal Church."
Filed in this office on the 25th day of June,
A. D. 1900, and recorded in Volume 82, page 134,
of the Records of Incorporations.
church property. 385,
WITNESS my hand and Official Seal at Co¬
lumbus, this 25th day of June, A. D. 1900.
CHARLES KINNEY,
Secretary of State,.
CHAPTER V.
Church Property.
1. Property Deeds.
1. For the security of our meeting houses
and the premises belonging thereunto let the
following plan of a deed of settlement be
brought into effect in all possible cases
wherever the law will permit it in any State.
2. If necessary, each Annual Conference
may make such modifications in the deed as
may be required by the laws of any State,
so as to firmly secure the premises to the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
3. It is necessary that all our deeds
should be recorded for legal as well as for
prudential reasons.
4. The incorporation of all our churches,
where the law will permit it, should be at¬
tended to as soon as possible.
386
CHURCH PROrERTV.
[form of deed.]
This Indenture, made this day of
, in the year of our Lord one thousand
hundred and , between of the
, in the State of , [if the grantor
be married, insert the name of his wife]
of the one part, and trustees, in trust
for the use and purposes hereinafter men¬
tioned, all of the in the State of
aforesaid, of the other part, Witncsseth,
that the said , [if married, insert the
name of his wife], for and in consideration
of the sum of specie, to in hand
paid, at and upon the sealing and delivery
of these presents, the receipt whereof is
hereby acknowledged, hath—or have—
given, granted, bargained, sold, released,
confirmed, conveyed, and by these presents
doth [or does] give, grant, bargain, sell,
release, confirm, and convey unto them the
said trustees and their successors, [trustees
in trust for the uses and purposes herein¬
after mentioned and declared], all the es¬
tate, right, title, interest, property claim,
and demand whatsoever, either in law or
equity, which he, the said [if married
here insert his wife's name], hath (or have)
in, to, or upon all and singular, a certain
lot or piece of land, situate, lying, and be¬
ing in the and State aforesaid, bounded
CHURCH PROPERTY.
as follows to wit: [here insert the several
courses and distances of the land to the
place of beginning], containing and laid
out for acres of land, together with all
and singular the houses, woods, water,
ways, privileges, and appurtenances there¬
to belonging, or in any wise pertaining: to
have and to hold all and singular the above
mentioned and described lot or piece of
land, situate, lying, and being as aforesaid;
together with all and singular the houses,
woods, water, ways, and privileges thereto
belonging, unto the said and their suc¬
cessors in office, forever in trust, that they
shall erect, or cause to be built thereon, a
house or place of worship, for the use of
the members of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in the United States of
America, according to the rule and Disci¬
pline of said Church, which from time to
time may be adopted and agreed upon by
the ministers and preachers of the said
Church, at their General Conferences, in
the United States of America; and in fur¬
ther trust and confidence, that they shall
at all times forever, hereafter, permit such
ministers and preachers belonging to said
Church, as shall from time to time be duly
authorized by the General Conferences of
the ministers and preachers of the said
388
CHURCH PROPERTY.
African Methodist Episcopal Church, or by
Annual Conferences authorized by the said
Conferences to preach and expound God's
holy word therein; and in further trust
and confidence, that as often as any one or
more trustees, hereinbefore mentioned, shall
die, or cease to be a member or members
of said church, according to the rules and
Discipline aforesaid, then and in such case
it shall be the duty of the stationed minister
or preacher (authorized as aforesaid), who
shall have the pastoral charge of the mem¬
bers of said church, to call a meeting of the
members for the election of all the board,
or a part according to law, as soon as con¬
veniently may be; and when so met, the
said minister or preacher shall proceed to
nominate one or more persons to fill the
place or places of him or them whose office
or offices has—or have—been vacated as
aforesaid: Provided the person or persons
so nominated shall have been one year a
member or members of the said church im¬
mediately preceding such nomination, and
be at least twenty-one years of age; and
the said members, so assembled, shall pro¬
ceed to elect, and by a majority of votes,
appoint the person or persons so nominated,
to fill such vacancy or vacancies, in order
to keep up the number of trustees forever;
CHURCH PROPERTY.
389
and in case of an equal number of votes
for and against the said nomination, the
stationed minister or preacher shall have
the casting vote.
Provided, nevertheless, That the said
trustees or any of them, or their succes¬
sors, have advanced, or shall advance, an}'
sum or sums of money, or are, or shall be
responsible for any sum or sums of money,
on account of said premises, and they the
said trustees, or their successors, be obliged'
to pay the said sum or sums of money, they
or a majority of them, shall be authorized
to raise the said sum or sums of money,
bv mortgage on the said premises, or bv
selling the said premises, after notice given
to the pastor or preacher that has the over¬
sight of the congregation attending divine
service on the said premises, if the money
due be not paid to the said trustees, or
their successors, within six months after
such notice has been giyen: And if suclr
sale take place, the said trustees, or their
successors, after paying the debt, and other
expenses which are due, from the money
arising from such sale, shall deposit the
remainder of the money produced by the
said sale, in the hands of the steward or
stewards of the society belonging to or
attending divine service on said premises,
390 CHURCH PROPERTY.
which surplus or the proceeds of such sale,
so deposited in the hands of the said ste¬
ward or stewards, shall be at the disposal
of the next Annual Conference, authorized
as aforesaid; which said Annual Confer¬
ence shall dispose of the said money, ac-
- cording to the best of their judgment, for
the use of the said society.
And the said doth, by these presents,
warrant and forever defend all and singu¬
lar the above mentioned and described lot
or piece of ground with the appurtenances
thereto belonging, unto them the said
and their successors chosen and appointed,
as aforesaid from the claim or claims of
him, the said , his heirs and assigns, and
from the claim or claims of all persons
whatever.
In testimony whereof, the said (if
married, insert the name of his wife), have
hereto set their hands and seals, the day
and year aforesaid.
Sealed and delivered
in presence of us:
Grantor's [l.s.]
His wife's [l.s.]
Two witnesses.
Received the day of the date of the above
written Indenture the consideration
therein mentioned in full.
Witnesses, Grantor's [l.s.]
CHURCH PROPERTY.
391
County, ss.
Be it remembered., that on the day of
, in the year of our Lord, one thou¬
sand , personally appeared before
me, one o£ the Justices of the Peace, in the
county of and State of the
within named (the grantor, if mar¬
ried, insert the name of his wife), and ac¬
knowledged the within deed of trust to be
their act and deed, for the uses and pur¬
poses therein mentioned and declared; and
she, the said wife of the said
being separate and apart from her, the said
husband, by me examined, declared
that she had made the said acknowledg¬
ment, freely and with her own consent,
without being induced thereto' through fear
or threats of her said husband.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the day and year
first above written.
Here the Justice's name.
Note 1. Let all our churches be built
plainly and decently, but not more expen¬
sively than is absolutely unavoidable.
Note 2. Whereas, some of the States
and Territories have special acts on their
statute books governing religious bodies,
therefore the meaning and intent of this-
chapter wherever it refers to the law of the
392 TRUSTEES OF CHURCH TROrERTY.
State or Territory is to be subject to said
statute law and not to any individual church
corporation that is now or may be incor¬
porated.
Note 3. Any church or congregation
among us that will not submit wholly to the
spiritual government of our General and
Annual Conferences shall be disowned.
• CHAPTER VI.
Trustees of Church Property.
1. The Number.
1. Where proper persons can be procured
let nine trustees be elected for our meet¬
ing houses: otherwise seven, five or three.
2. Each board shall consist of not less
than three, nor more than nine persons.
2. Qualifications.
1. Each person to be elected trustee shall
be twenty-one years of age, and shall have
been not less than six months a member of
our Church—except in case of missions,
new work, or other emergencies.
2. No person shall be eligible as a trustee
•of any of our houses, churches or schools
who is not a regular member of our Church.
TRUSTEES OF CHURCH PROPERTY. 393
3. Mode of Election.
1. Wherever the law of the land requires
a specified mode of election, that mode shall
be observed in electing1 trustees.
2. When the civil law does not intervene
the trustees shall be elected annually by
the members of the church.
3. The minister in charge shall appoint
the time and place for holding- the election
and give notice of it from the pulpit at
least one Sabbath previous to it.
4. The minister at the meeting for elec¬
tion shall nominate twice the number of
persons to be elected.
5. Then every member of the church,
twenty-one years of age and in full com-,
munion shall have the right to vote for
the nominees, and if present at the meeting
shall cast his ballot for those of his choice :
and so the election shall proceed until by a
majority of votes cast the required number
of trustees are elected. The minister in
charge shall then make a declaration of the
result.
4. Chairman of the Board.
1. Where the law of the State does not
otherwise direct, the minister in charge shall
be Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and
his signature shall be necessary to make the
394 trustees of church property.
acts of the trustees legal.
2. When he is Chairman of the Board
and is at any time unable to be present at
a meeting he shall appoint a president pro
tern., whose signature also shall be legal.
5. Duties of Trustees.
1. The trustees shall manage all the tem¬
poral concerns of the church not otherwise
provided for, and shall have a treasurer of
the Board elected by the Board.
2. They shall guard all the real estate;
churches, parsonages, school houses and
other property owned by the people in the
connection.
3. They shall make improvements upon
said property or real estate when authorized
to do so by a majority of the iegal voters
of the church.
4. They shall procure by purchase or
hire, a house for the preacher's family and
also comfortably furnish- it for them.
6. Orders for Improvement.
1. Wherever improvements should be
made the minister in charge shall call to¬
gether the legal voters of the church and a
majority of them will have to give their
consent for the improvement to be ordered.
2. Should, however, a majority of them
not be present at a meeting after a proper
TRUSTEES OF CHURCH PROPERTY. 395
call has been made, then a majority vote of
those present shall be considered legal.
7. Concerning Reports.
1. The trustees shall make a report of
all their receipts and expenditures every
quarter to the Quarterly Conference.
2. The Conference shall cause a report
of the doings of the trustees to be made at
least once a year to the church.
8. Effects of Expulsion.
1. No person who is a trustee shall be
ejected while he is a joint security for
money unless such relief is given him as is
demanded, or the creditors will accept.
2. Any trustee ceasing to be a member of
our Church by reason of expulsion or other¬
wise, shall imediately cease to be a trustee
except in case of debt in which he is a
joint security; but even then he shall not
be continued any longer than such relief
can be given as the creditors will accept.
9. Decorum in Churches.
1. The men and women shall be per¬
mitted to sit together in all our churches
wherever practicable.
2. All ministers, preachers and officers
shall use their influence to put an end to
the habit of talking before and after ser¬
vices in our churches.
27
396
church stewards.
CHAPTER VII.
Church Stewards,
i. The Appointment of Stewards.
1. The number of stewards fox each
church shall not be less than three nor more
than nine.
2. The preacher in charge shall nomi¬
nate the number of stewards needed for
his circuit or station and submit the nomi¬
nation to the Quarterly Conference, which
shall confirm it or, if it see proper, reject it.
3. The stewards so nominated and con¬
firmed, shall serve for the term of one
year; or be appointed annually.
4. To be qualified for their office they
must be men of solid piety, who both know
and love the Methodist doctrine and dis¬
cipline. They must be of good natural or
acquired ability to transact the temporal
business of the church.
2. The Duties of Stewards.
1. They shall take an exact account of all
the money or other provisions collected for
the support of the preacher or preachers in
the circuit or station.
2. They shall make an accurate return of
every expenditure of money, whether to
the preachers, church, sick or poor.
CHURCH STEWARDS.
397
3. They shall seek out the needy and
distressed in order to relieve them and
comfort them.
4. They shall attend the Quarterly Con¬
ferences of their circuit or station to give
advice, if asked, in planning the circuit or
station; attend committees for the appli¬
cation of money to churches and give coun¬
sel in matters of arbitration.
5. They shall write circular letters to the
societies of a circuit when occasion requires
to let them know the state of temporal con¬
cerns at the last quarterly meeting and to
urge them to he more liberal in their con¬
tributions.
6. They shall register the marriages and
baptisms and be subject to the Bishops,
Elders, Deacons and traveling preachers
of their circuit or station.
7. The stewards shall provide the ele¬
ments for the Lord's Supper.
3. The Accountability of the Stewards.
1. The stewards for a faithful perform¬
ance of their duty shall be accountable to
the Quarterly Conference of their circuit or
station and it shall have power to remove
them when they fail or refuse to do their
duty.
2. In the interval of the Quarterly Con¬
ference Sessions, the preacher in charge
39§ CHURCH STEWARDS.
shall have power to suspend a steward who
refuses, neglects, or fails to discharge his
duty, and to fill the vacancy until the next
meeting of the Quarterly Conference
which shall dispose of his case.
3. The Board of Stewards shall have a
regularly labeled Church Record for the
registration of baptisms, marriages, deaths,
probationers and members.
4. The preachers in charge of the circuits
and stations shall see that the foregoing is
enforced.
4. The Stewardesses.
1. The preacher in charge may nominate
a board of stewardesses composed of not
less than three nor more than nine sisters
of the church to assist the stewards in the
discharge of their duties.
2. When the nomination is made the
stewards shall either confirm or reject it:
and if confirmed shall hold the steward¬
esses responsible to their board for a faith¬
ful performance of their duty.
3. Whenever it is necessary for it to be
done the preacher and stewards shall re¬
move the stewardesses and supply their
places.
4. The stewardesses are members of the
Official Board and the Quarterly Confer¬
ence.
special declaration*. 399
CHAPTER VIII.
Special Declaration.
1. Apostolic Succession.
Whereas, We have heard with deep re¬
gret the dog-ma of Apostolic Succession and
the distinct and separate priesthood of the
ministry preached in our pulpit. And
Whereas, There are those amongst us,
members of this body, who are said to be
seeking reordination at the hands of the
Episcopal Bishops; and
Whereas, We have strong reasons for
believing that what is thus reported has
some foundation in fact; therefore be it
Resolved, By this, the Eighteenth Gen¬
eral Conference, now assembled, that we set
forth the following declarations, and that
any person or persons who are not in har¬
mony with the same or cannot subscribe
thereto are hereby declared out of har¬
mony with the standard of Methodism and
are liable to impeachment for propagating
error and sowing dissension, to wit.
We hold and believe—That there is no
separate priesthood under the Christian
system set over the church. That the sa¬
cerdotal theory of the Christian ministry is
a dishonor to our Lord Jesus, and is es-
400 SPECIAL DECLARATION.
pecially condemned by the tenor of the
Epistle to the Hebrews.
Second—That whilst there is a separate
ministry in the New Testament represent¬
ing the universal priesthood or membership
of the church, yet as has been affirmed
above, each and every member is a king
and priest unto God.
Third—That we recognize the two or¬
ders and the one office in our church to be
the regularly ordained ministry, and that
we are satisfied with the ordination of the
same, holdng it to be valid and true in
every respect.
Fourth—That the doctrine of Apostolic
Succession according to our belief as Meth¬
odists, is erroneous. That there is an unin¬
terrupted succession of minsters which the
divine eye can trace up to the Apostolic
times there can be no doubt. But it is ut¬
terly impossible to prove that in any part
of the world there is a ministry that can
trace its orders up through episcopal hands
to the Apostles.
Fifth—"That the Apostles had and could
have no successors from the fact that their
authority, indicated in two ways, was first
to teach Christianity by word and writing,
for which they had the gift of inspiration
in a special sense; and secondly, to found
SPECIAL DECLARATION. 4oi
the church, for which they had the power
of the keys of binding and loosing that is,
of uttering unchangeable decrees of eccles¬
iastical government, 'that a succession of
such men would not have been in harmony
with the known will of Christ.'"
Sixth—That there is an identity between
the Bishops and Elders or Presbyters, as
is evident from Acts 20:17-28; Titus 1 .'5-7;
First Peter 5:1, 2; Phil. 1:1; First Tim.
3:1-8. But as everybody must have a head,,
the Bishops among us are Primi inter pares
—"Chiefs among the Elders."
Seventh—That a reordination of any
Bishop, Elder or Deacon by any other ec¬
clesiastical authority can not and will not
be tolerated in the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church.
Eighth—Any person or persons who
shall violate these Declarations by preach¬
ing the Dogma of Apostolic Succession*
shall be guilty of a breach of Discipline,
and shall be tried, and, if found guilty, be
suspended or expelled, at the discretion
of the committee before whom such person
or persons shall be tried.
2. Ritualism.
Whereas, We believe that the doctrines,,
practices, usages and genius of American-
Methodism, as believed, observed and con-
402
srecial declaration.
formed to by the founders of African Meth¬
odism and their successors to the present
day, should, in their entirety, without
modification, restriction or enlargement be
believed, practiced and conformed to by us,
and by those entrusted with the continued
preservation and development of African
Methodism in its historic and progressive
relations; and,
Whereas, We further believe that in all
things essential as touching the doctrines,
government, service, order and work of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, there
should be oneness of purpose concurrent
opinion, continuity of methods and har¬
mony of feeling and relation between the
several factors that compose the whole.
Resolved. First—we hold as the result of
our best knowledge based upon the facts
of history and the teachings of experience,
(the same resulting primarily from the ori¬
gin and development of American Metho¬
dism, and secondarily from the origin and
development of African Methodism), that
it is highly expedient and unwise to per¬
mit any innovation on the concurrent be¬
liefs, practices and usages of African Meth¬
odism ; and in view of this, we do not hesi¬
tate to affirm that the Dogma of Apostolic
Succession is foreign and repugnant to the
SPECIAL DECLARATION. 403
concurrent beliefs and teachings of African
Methodism, and that no Bishop or minister
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
should be allowed to publicly proclaim
opinions and views favorable thereto.
Second—As touching the usages and
practices of the African Methodist Episco¬
pal Church, we are free to aver that while
it is desirable to secure uniformity in the
order of the public services, and to enlist,
so far as possible, the thought and spirit
of the people in the same, and while we
grant that the orderly repetition of the
Decalogue, the Apostles' Creed, and the re¬
sponsive reading of the Scriptures may
conduce to the attainment thereof, we
strenuously deny that the presence and use
of a heavy and prosy ritualistic service in
our public congregations, will, in any sense,
increase their spiritual interest, and we
deprecate any and all efforts that favor the
introduction of ritualism in connection with
our public service.
Third—That all laws or parts of laws in
conflict with the spirit and language of
these resolutions be and the same are here¬
by repealed.
PART XI.
APPENDIX.
Course of Studies.
Specific Examination.
Recommendation to Students.
The Primitive Rule of Giving for
Benevolent Purposes.
The General Conference Rules.
Committee Recommendations.
Incidental Rulings.
406
course of studies.
CHAPTER I.
Course of Studies,
i. For Traveling Preachers.
This course of study which has been pre¬
pared by the Council of Bishops, by order
of the General Conference, has been care¬
fully decided upon after a patient investi¬
gation of the relative merits of the books
recommended.
Candidates for admission into our itin¬
erant work must procure the books herein
recommended and pass a reasonable ex¬
amination upon the same before they can
be admitted into the traveling ministry.
Committees appointed by the Annual
Conferences, for the examination of candi¬
dates, should not be burdend by other Con¬
ference duties, but allowed the widest lati¬
tude to thoroughly examine the candidates
in the courses laid out.
Presiding Elders must not even present
preachers for admission into the Itinerancy
who have not procured the books which
they are required to study as a prerequisite
for admission: as the books recommended
are sufficiently cheap for any person to pro¬
cure who has ambition and spirit enough to
make an effective minister. The Confer-
COURSE OF STUDIES.
407
ences do not want any but effective minis¬
ters.
We recommend to examining commit¬
tees, among others, the questions propound¬
ed to candidates for admission in Methodist
Polity. (See Methodist Polity page 245).
For Admission.
Applicants must have a good English
education. They will be examined in gram¬
mar school branches of study and
The Gospels.
The A. M. E. Discipline.
Digest of Theology—Embry.
Outlines of A. M. E. Church History—
Tanner.
Plain Account of Christian Perfection—
W esley.
Studies for the First Year:
Smaller Scripture History—Smith.
Methodist Polity—Turner.
Baptism—M errill.
Systematic Theology, Vol. I to Part II.
Chapter VII.—Miley.
English and American Literature—
Painter. p
Physiology—Our Bodies—Blaisdell.
Studies for the Second Year.
History of the African Methodist Epis¬
copal Church.—Payne.
4os course of studies.
Systematic Theology, Vol. I. Part II.
Chapter VIII, to end—Miley.
Zoology—Packard.
Short History of the Christian Church,
Parts I, II, III.—Hurst.
Astronomy—Y oung.
Introduction to the Scriptures—Nichols.
Pastoral Theology.—Kidder.
Studies for the Third Year.
History of the Christian Church, Parts
IV. and V.—Hurst.
Mental Philosophy—Haven.
Extemporaneous Preaching—Buckley.
Rhetoric—Hill
Systematic Theology, Vol. II. Christol-
ogy and Atonement in Christ.Miley.
Botany—"From Seed to Leaf."—Newell.
Geology—Shaler.
Studies for the Fourth Year.
Systematic Theology, Salvation in Christ,
Eschatology—Miley.
Moral Philosophy—Fairchild.
Homiletics—Kidder.
Hremeneutics—Terry.
Chemistry—Remsen.
Logic—Jevons.
The Dispensations—Tanner.
The student will do well to buy two or three
books at a time, beginning with the conference
year, arrange his studies so as to complete a
given amount of his work every month. This
COURSE OF STUDIES.
409
at once makes the burden of purchase lighter
and assures success.
BOOKS TO BE READ.
For Admission.
For reading before applying for admis¬
sion :
Glimpses of Africa—Sftiith.
Pastoral Theology—Gaines.
Color of Solomon—Tanner.
The Story of the Bible—Foster.
Key to the 'Study of the Scriptures—
Coppin.
Manual for Probationers—C. M. Tanner.
History of Education—Jackson.
First Year:
The Divine Logos—Johnson.
The Suppression of the African Slave
Trade to the United States of America,
1638-1870—Du Bois.
Baptized Children.—Coppin.
Autobiography of Richard Allen.
Scraps of History—Handy.
Second Year.
Wesley Sermons.
Domestic Education—Payne.
The Pulpit, Pew and Parish—Johnson.
Episcopacy—Davis.
COURSE OF STUDIES.
Third Year.
History of Preaching'—Broadtts.
"The Greatness of Christ." Sermons—
Crummel.
Amanda Smith's Own Story.—Smith.
Fourth Year.
Theological Lectures—Tanner. ■
"The Land of Promise"—Seat on.
The Races of Man—Peschell.
The Reign of Law—The Duke of Argyle.
Analogy of the Christian Religion—
Butler.
Toussaint L'Ouverture—Mossell.
Each preacher must secure a good dic¬
tionary of the English language, a diction¬
ary of the Bible, and a Biblical cyclopedia.
At the end of the second, third and fourth
years, each preacher shall present a writ¬
ten sermon to the Conference.
Ministers' Associate Course of Studies.
The associate course of studies consists
of some of the higher branches with which
every minister must be more or less ac¬
quainted. It is entitled Associate Course,
because those who have not studied the
books included at colleges may associate
one or more of them with the regular stud¬
ies of any year; namely, first, second, third
or fourth year.
The Bishops and Conferences must see
COURSE OF STUDIES.
411
that the regular examining committees do
not overlook this course, or the Bishop may
appoint a special committee whose business
it will be to examine upon the studies here¬
in designated :
1. Latin.
2. Greek.
3. Hebrew.
4. Elements of Geometry.
5. Natural Philosophy.
6. Chemistry.
7. Geology.
8. Political Economy.
No authors are named in this course.
The student-minister can therefore avail
himself of any books upon the studies
which he may find convenient.
2. For Exhorters.
All persons making application before
any of our Quarterly Conferences for Li¬
cense to Exhort, must, in addition to the
ordinary questions propounded touching his
life, conversion, growth in grace, and his
Christian experience; be examined by the
Presiding Elder or any member of the
Quarterly Conference desiring, upon the
following 'studies:
1. Spelling, Reading, Writing and
Grammar.
2. The Holy Bible.
28
412
COURSE OF STUDIES.
3. Catechism.
4. Discipline A. M. E. Church.
5. The Hymn Book of the A. M. E.
Church.
An exhorter is an incipient preacher; he
preaches although he does not take a regu¬
lar text. Therefore he is compelled to
deal with theology, hence the requirement
to study "Binney's Compend of Theolo¬
gy," or "Embry's Digest of Theology."
3. For Local Preachers.
Local preachers should study as hard,
be as able and learned, as the traveling
minister, and in every particular be his in¬
tellectual and moral equal, excelling him
in pulpit power if possible. Therefore they
should go through the same course of
studies in every respect, as they have the
same people to preach to and instruct. But
after years of observation and experience
we have concluded to give the local
preachers a more limited course and require
the Presiding Elders to hold them rigidly
to it. Therefore local preachers must pass
a fair examination upon the following
studies, or have their license revoked. The
Presiding Elder and Quarterly Conference
liowever may exercise charity in consider¬
ation of old age and infirmities.
course of studies.
413
Requisites for Licensing Local Preach¬
ers after Passing a Fair Examina¬
tion.
1. Spelling, Reading, Writing, Geogra¬
phy, Grammar, Arithmetic and History.
2. The Holy Bible and Catechism.
3. Story of the Bible.—Charles Foster.
4. Digest of Christian Theology.—Em-
bry.
First Year's Studies:
1. Digest of Christian Theology.—Em-
bry..
2. Methodist Polity.—Turner.
3. Outlines of Church History.—Hurst.
4. The A. M. E. Discipline.
Second Year's Studies:
1. Christian Theology.—Field.
2. Bible Readings.
3. The A. M. E. Discipline.
Third Year's Studies:
1. Story of Creation.—M. Campbell.
2. History of the Christian Church.—
Fisher.
3. Bible Geography.
4. Outlines of History of A. M. E.
Church.—T anner.
5. The A. M. E. Discipline.
Fourth Year's Studies:
1. Moral Science.—Wayland.
414
COURSE OF STUDIES.
Books to be purchased and read at any
time.
2. Introduction to the Study of the Scrip¬
tures.—Nicholls.
3. Astronomy.—Warren.
4. Relation of Baptized Children to the
5. Physiology and Hygiene.—Cutter.
6. Domestic Education.—Payne.
7. Divine Logos.—Johnson.
8. The A. M. E. Discipline.
Ministers from other denominations ap¬
plying for admission to the traveling work
naturally go before the Committee on Ad¬
mission, and second year's studies, respec¬
tively, where they must be examined
upon their standing in the church from
whence they came, under what conditions
they left it; also submit their ministerial
papers if they are ordained, to the com¬
mittee, and be questioned upon their edu¬
cational advantages and attainments, Chris¬
tian experiences, and the motives that led
them to the A. M. E. Church. And if
these conditions are satisfactory:
They must be examined upon the Disci¬
pline of the A. M. E. Church, and so much
of our theological doctrines as to enable
the committee to determine whether they
agree with our doctrines, rules and regu¬
lations :
SPECIFIC EXAMINATION. 415
And if the committee think it advisable,
it shall require them to read such books
as the}- may recommend notwithstanding
their admission.
CHAPTER II.
Specific Examination.
Questions on Review to be answered by
candidates on completion of fourth year's
studies, or upon examination for Elder's
Orders.
1. Personal Religious Life and Habits.
The very great excellence of the fol¬
lowing is our excuse for copying it from
the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal
Church (1878).
1. State your views of the character and
source of the Christian life.
2. How may we know that we are par¬
takers of this life?
3. What are the evidences of a divine
call to the ministry?
4. State what you consider to be the
main duties of the ministerial office, and
the necessary qualifications for the dis¬
charge of them.
5. By what means may these qualifica¬
tions be cultivated?
416 specific examination.
6. Give your views of the nature and
importance of Pastoral Visitation, and state
the amount of attention you give to it.
7. Inform us of your general habits of
study.
8. Name all the books you have read
each year since your admission on trial in
the traveling ministry.
9. How much time do you devote to the
study of the Scriptures, and with what
method do you study them?
2. Examination in the Bible.
1. In what sense do you consider the
Bible to be the word of God, and by what
arguments do you sustain your views?
2. Explain what is meant by the phrase
"Canon of Scripture." '
3. Distinguish between the genuineness,
and authenticity, and credibility of a book.
4. Give a synopsis of the argument by
which the genuineness of the books con¬
stituting our received Canon of the Old
Testament is established.
5. Give a synopsis of the argument es¬
tablishing the genuineness of the books
contained in the received Canon of the
New Testament.
6. In what sense do Protestants affirm
and Romanists deny that the Scriptures
SPECIFIC EXAMINATION. 417
form a complete and infallible rule of faith
and practice?
7. State when the authorized version of
the Bible appeared, and how it was pro¬
duced.
8. Give an epitome of the history of the
Israelites from the time of the Exodus to
the death of Joshua.
9. Recount the leading facts connected
with the revolt of the Ten Tribes.
10. Name the great Annual Festivals of
the Jews; and also state what they were
designed to commemorate, and how they
were observed.
11. Name the principal prophets, the pe¬
riods in which they prophesied, and the
particular burdens of their prophecy.
12. Give from the life of our Lord some
illustrations of his regard for the Old Tes¬
tament Scriptures.
13. What predictions relate to Christ,
especially to the time of his coming? his
character? office? death?
14. Of what periods of the life- of our
Lord have we historical records? and over
how long a period did his ministry extend ?
15. Describe the principal events and
localities of his ministry.
16. State the leading facts recorded in
the Acts of the Apostles.
4-lS SPECIFIC EXAMINATION.
17. What is a miracle? In what way do
miracles authenticate a diviine revelation?
3. On the Doctrines of the Bible.
1. In what manner does the Bible make
known the existence of God?
2. What Scripture proof is there of a
Trinity of Persons in one Godhead?
3. Enumerate the attributes of God, and
give Scripture proofs of each.
4. Give the Scriptural doctrine of the In¬
carnation, and show how it is connected
with the Gospel scheme.
5. Give a summary of the Scripture ar¬
gument for the Divinity of Christ.
6. Give the Scripture proof of the Per¬
sonality, Divinity and Work of the Holy
Spirit.
7. What was the effect of Adam's sin
upon himself? upon his posterity?
8. What is the relation of the vicarious
death of Christ to the forgiveness of our
sins?
9. State the proofs by which the resur¬
rection -of Christ is established.
10. Show the nature and value of Christ's
intercession as taught in the Scriptures.
11. What are the doctrine and proof of
the Witness of the Spirit?
12. State concisely the doctrine of Chris¬
tian perfection as taught by Mr. Wesley,
SPECIFIC EXAM IX ATIOX.
419
and support it by Scripture proofs.
13. Explain the difference between re¬
generation or the new birth,and entire sanc-
tification.
14. State the Arminian doctrine respect¬
ing- the perseverance of the saints, and
show its harmony with the Scriptures.
15. State the nature, design, and obliga¬
tion of Baptism; and the proofs of each.
16. State why baptism of infants should
be retained in the Church.
17. What are the phrases used in Scrip¬
ture to designate the Lord's Supper? what
their import? what the ground for obliga¬
tion on Christians to observe this sacra¬
ment ?
18. State the Romish doctrine of Tran-
substantiation; also the Lutheran doctrine
of Consubstantiation; and give an outline
of the arguments by which each is dis¬
proved.
19. How do you prove that the wicked
will not be annihilated?
20. State the Scripture doctrine of the
resurrection of the body, and give the
proofs.
4. Church Organisation and Government.
1. State the different forms of Church
government.
2. State the character of the organization
420 SPECIFIC EXAMINATION.
in Great Britain; in what respects it differs
from, and in what it agrees with, that of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church in the
United States.
3. What are the respective duties and
powers of the General Conference and of
the Annual, District and Quarterly Con¬
ferences in the African Methodist Episco¬
pal Church?
4. What are the peculiar duties and pow¬
ers vested in the following officers of the
Church respectively, namely: Bishops,
Presiding Elders, Elders, Deacons, Preach¬
ers in charge, Local Preachers, Stewards,
Trustees of churches and Class Leaders?
and how is the limitation of the power, and
the amenability of each for its proper ex¬
ercise, fixed?
5. Ecclesiastical History.
1. Enumerate and describe the principal
Jewish sects existing at the time of Christ.
2. Give some account of the early per¬
secution of the Christians.
3. Mention some circumstances in the
state of the world which assisted the early
progress of Christianity.
4. State the doctrines of the Gnostics,
and show their evil influence upon the early
Church.
SPECIFIC EXAMINATION. 421
5. State the chief causes which led to
the separation of the Greek from the Latin
Church and the period when it took place..
6. Give an account of the religious state
of the world immediately prior to the time-
of Luther.
7. Give an account of the Great Re¬
formation—the causes that led to it, and
the principal characters engaged in it.
8. Give an account of the Reformation-
in England; also of the Puritans.
9. Give an account of the origin' and rise
of Methodism in Great Britain, and the-
leading characters- in the Wesleyan move¬
ment.
10. How did Methodism take its origin
in this country? who were its principal
founders? what were the principal char¬
acteristics of the movement?
11. What wrere the circumstances that
led to the organization of the Methodist
Episcopal Church? what were the circum¬
stances that led to the organization of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church ? what
were the time, place, and circumstances un¬
der which these organizations were ef¬
fected ?
12. State the leading events in the history
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church'
since its organization.
4^2 recommendations to students.
[Read—Thomson's Evidences of Reve¬
lation; M'Clintock's Methodology; Kid¬
der's Christian Pastorate; Hervey's Chris¬
tian Rhetoric; Conybeare and Howscn's
Life and Epistles of St. Paul.]
Books of Reference.—Fleming's Vocab¬
ulary of Philosophy; Smith's Smaller Clas¬
sical Dictionary; M'Clintock and Strongs'
Cyclopaedia; Haydn's Dictionary of Dates.
CHAPTER III.
Recommendations to Students.
We recommend those who are candi¬
dates for either exhorter's or preacher's li¬
cense, and also those who are probationers
in the Conference, and those who are trav •
eling and local Deacons, who desire most
profitably to read the Scriptures, that they
pursue the following course, viz.:—Read a
portion of the Scriptures each and every
day. Let nothing prevent you in this good
undertaking. Read a lesson of one or two
chapters from the Old and the same num¬
ber from the New Testament. Do not at¬
tempt to master a lesson of more than two
chapters from the Old, and two from the
New Testament.
These four chapters will be quite as much
RECOXLMIiXPATlOXS TO STUl^XTS. 42J
as you will be able to study profitably
Let your course of reading be regular, and
study from day to day. Do not skip about
from book to book, and from place to
place. Such a course of study will profit
you very little, and by it you can never be¬
come learned in the Scriptures. Read a
few sentences or a paragraph, then stop,
reflect, and inwardly digest the subject,
then proceed again in like manner with a
few more sentences, or another paragraph,
and so continue until you have completed
your Scripture lessons. This will do more
good than an attempt to commit the whole
to memory.
The course marked out for the study of
the Scriptures will be' the best, the most
profitable of any for you to pursue in the
study of those works which we have en¬
joined, with this simple difference, that
we recommend you to take a lesson, a cer¬
tain number of pages, for a daily lesson,
instead of a certain number of chapters.
For instance, two to four pages of Wat¬
son's Institutes read and studied per day,
would be a sufficiently large lesson for any
one pursuing a regular course of study, and
a most certain course to pursue in order
to become master of that work.
The same truth holds good of all other
books contained in the course.
424 recommendations to students.
We have recommended several books to
be read which are given at the end of the
course for each year. Candidates will not
be examined in these, except as to the fact
of reading". They may be asked if they
have read them. But relative to those
pointed out in the course, they must ex¬
pect to< pass a strict examination upon their
particular contents.
Through much prayer and watchfulness,
•our hearts are made better by study.
"Through desire a man having separated
himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all
wisdom." Proverbs xviii. i.
"Search the Scriptures, for in them ye
think ye have eternal life, and they are
they which testify of me," says the Saviour.
"Study to be approved, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed," says the Holy
Spirit by the sainted Paul.
In conclusion, we say, there is not a book
on earth so favorable to all the kind, and
all the sublime affections; or so unfriendly
to hatred and persecution, to tyranny, to
injustice, and every sort of malevolence, as
the Gospel. It breathes nothing through¬
out, but mercy, benevolence and peace.
Poetry is sublime, when it awakens in the
mind any great and good affection, as
piety or patriotism. This is one of the
primitive rule of giving. 425
noblest effects of the art.
The Psalms are remarkable, beyond all
other writings, for their power of inspir¬
ing devout emotions.
But it is not in this respect only, that
they are sublime. Of the divine nature
they contain the most magnificent descrip¬
tions that the soul of man can compre¬
hend. The hundred-and-fourth Psalm, in
particular, displays the power and good¬
ness of Providence, in creating and pre¬
serving the world, and the various tribes
of animals in it, with such majesty in
brevity and beauty, as it is vain to look for
in any human composition.
CHAPTER IV.
The Primitive Rule of Giving for
Benevolent Purposes.
Upon the first day of the week, let every
one of you lay by him in store as God
hath prospered him, that there be no
gatherings when I come.—Cor. xvi. 2.
Such a system it is my present object to
unfold. I can lay no claim to novelty; but
this I do not regret, since I am able to com¬
mend the plan to be brought forward as
scriptural. I may also add, it is exceed-
4^6 PRIMITIVE RULE OF GIVING.
ingly simple and feasible. It has no com¬
plicated impracticable details. It was acted
on by many of the disciples of Jesus, nine¬
teen centuries ago; and has, doubtless, to
some extent, been followed by the benevo¬
lent in subsequent ages. It is to be feared,
however, that the instances are wide apart
in which it is adhered to at the present
day, though a mere inspection of it is
enough to show that a better cannot be
framed, as might also be argued from the
fact of its having an inspired apostle for
its authority.
All the elements of this system are con¬
tained in the direction of the Apostle Paul
to the church in Corinth, respecting collec¬
tions for the needy saints in Judea. I re¬
fer to the passage: "Upon the first day of
the week, let every one of you lay by him
in store, as God hath prospered him, that
there may be no gatherings when I come."
—I Cor. xvi. 2.
We learn from the verse preceding, that
the Apostle had given the same direction
to the churches of Galatia. It is therefore
probable, that the rule was extended to all
the churches that were solicited to con¬
tribute for the same purpose. Whether
it was the practice of the primitive Chris¬
tians to lay by them in store for all their
PRIMITIVE RULE OF GIVING. 427
pious and benevolent objects on the first
day of every week, we have not the means
of determining. When we consider, how¬
ever, the circumstances of believers in that
early period, it appears most likely that
there was little opportunity afforded, as a
general thing, for laying by their benefac¬
tions. They were themselves on strictly
missionary ground, subject to all the de¬
mands and embarrassments of such a posi¬
tion ; and they could not except occasion¬
ally, as in the case to which the rule speci¬
fically refers, have operated for the benefit
of the distant. It was in their power to do
but little beyond what was pressingly
needed on the spot, and was appropriated
as soon as it accrued. Bringing in prompt¬
ly ; and disbursing without delay, must
ordinarily, with them, have superseded lay¬
ing by them in store. But even as the case
stood, it is hardly to be doubted, that their
benevolent contributions were made weekly,
on the Lord's day, and that "every one"
was expected to give "as God had pros¬
pered him."
Still, they did not do for others beyond'
their own neighborhood, and where op¬
portunities for forwarding their donations
must have been unfrequent. Now, observe
—in the only case of this kind, of which.
29
428 PRIMITIVE RULE OF GIVING.
we have particular information, they were
instructed not to defer their preparation
until these opportunities should offer, but
lay by them in store in anticipation of these
opportunities.
Let us now suppose other cases similar
to have arisen, in which they were called
on to bestow for objects that could be
reached only at intervals greater than a
week; why would not the rule apply to
these cases with full as much force as to
the former? That is, why would
not the rule apply in its full force
to every case in which it was convenient
only occasionally to convey their quotas to
the general treasury? I confess I do not
see. If the rule was the best one for its
original purpose, why is it not the best for
every purpose where funds are not to be
appropriated on the spot, and as fast as
they can be raised? It is difficult to con¬
ceive of a case of religious donation, to
which the rule may not be substantially, if
not literally, applied.
I would not claim too much for this rule.
I pretend not to say that the apostle con¬
templated for it universality and perpetuity.
I pretend not to say that any anathema
awaited those who did not practice it, even
at Corinth. Still less would I say, that it
general conference rules. 429
is obligatory in such a sense as to render
it a test of piety. But it was clearly the
very best that could be followed by those
to whom Paul sent it; and a better cannot
be found to guide the pious and the philan¬
thropic of the present day. In the name
of God and of humanity, let all who love
our Lord Jesus Christ, adopt some system
by which they shall both do what they can,
and do it the most effectually for the pro¬
motion of the Gospel.
CHAPTER V.
The General Conference Rules.
The Organisation.
1. The General Conference shall meet
every four years in regular session on the
first Monday of May.
2. The Council of Bishops shall, on the
day designated, at 10 a. m., open the Con¬
ference, or cause it to be opened, with re¬
ligious services.
3. The Secretary of the previous Con¬
ference shall call the roll of members elect¬
ed or reported so to be.
4. The presiding Bishop shall appoint a
Committee on Credentials, one from each
43° general conference rules.
Episcopal District, to whom all credentials
shall be referred.
5. The General Conference shall elect a
Secretary, First Assistant Secretary, Sec¬
ond Assistant Secretary, Third Assistant
Secretary, First Statistical Secretary, Sec¬
ond Statistical Secretary, Engrossing Clerk
and Reading Clerk.
6. The Bishops shall appoint four mar¬
shals and two pages.
7. The bounds of the General Conference
and the hours of meeting and adjourning
shall be fixed by the Conference.
8. The General Conference shall have
power to fix its own rules of government.
9. The General Conference shall appoint
the following committees:
1. On Episcopacy one from each annual
conference.
2. On the Financial Secretary's Report
one from each annual conference.
The Bishops shall appoint the following
Committees, which shall consist of one from
each Episcopal District:
1. On Book Concern.
2. On Educational Department.
3. On Annual Conference Boundaries.
4. On Temporal Economy.
5. On Missions and Missionaries.
6. On Sunday Schools.
general conference rules.
431
7- On Temperance.
8. On Romanism.
9. On the State of the Church
10. On Public Worship.
11. On Ways and Means.
12. On the Bible Cause.
13. On Entertainment for the next Gen¬
eral Conference.
The reports of general officers shall be in
the following order:
1. The Quadrennial Address of the
Bishops.
2. The Quadrennial Sermon.
3. The General Business Manager's Re¬
port.
4. The Financial Secretary's Report.
5. The Corresponding Secretary, Parent
Home and Foreign Missionary Society.
6. The Secretary of the Sunday School
Union.
7. The Secretary of Education.
8. The Secretary of Connectional
Preacher's Aid.
9. The President of Wilberforce Uni¬
versity.
10. The Quadrennial Report of the
Board of Trustees of Wilberforce Univer¬
sity.
11. The Quadrennial Report from all
schools under the jurisdiction of the Gen¬
eral Conference.
432 GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES.
12. The several reports shall be referred
to the appropriate committees.
13. Two hours shall be devoted each day
to the Revision of the Discipline.
It shall be considered, section by sec¬
tion, and all amendments shall be offered
while the section is under consideration,
and when an amendment is adopted it shall
be engrossed and read to the Conference,
and then passed.
2. Order and Government.
For the government of the General Con¬
ference of the African M. E. Church, held
in Philadelphia, Pa., in the month of May,
1892.
1. The Conference shall convene at nine
o'clock a. m., and adjourn at one o'clock
p. m., unless otherwise ordered.
2. The President shall take the chair at
the precise hour to which the Conference
stood adjourned, and cause the Holy
Scriptures to be read, singing and prayer,
and on the appearance of a quorum (one-
third) shall have the Journal of the pre¬
ceding day read—which Journal shall be
approved (with corrections, if necessary) ;
'after which business shall proceed in the
following order:—1. Reconsiderations, if
any. 2. Unfinished business. 3. Reports
of Standing or Special Committees. 4.
GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES. 433
Resolutions, Petitions, Memorials, Appeals.
But notice of all motions to reconsider the
action of the previous day must be given
while the Journal is being read, unless the
said notice was announced on the day pre¬
vious ; otherwise, the Chair shall disregard
them. The President shall strictly require
the order or orders of the day to be taken
up and considered at the time appointed,
unless otherwise directed by a two-thirds
vote.
3. The President shall decide all ques¬
tions of order subject to an appeal to the
Conference; but in case of such an appeal,
the President and appellant only shall be
heard.
• 4. The President shall appoint all com¬
mittees not otherwise ordered; but any
member may decline serving on more than
one committee at the same time, unless on
a special committee.
5. All motions and resolutions shall be
reduced to writing, if requested by the
President, Secretary or any three members.
6. When a motion is made and seconded,
or a report is read and presented by the
Secretary, or stated by the President, it
shall be deemed in possession of the Con¬
ference; but a motion may be withdrawn
by the mover at any time before decision
434 GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES.
or amendment by consent of the Con¬
ference.
7. No new motions shall be made or
resolutions offered until the one under con¬
sideration is disposed of, except a motion
for adjournment, laying on the table, pre¬
vious questions (none of which are de¬
batable), indefinite postponement, referring
to a committee, offering a substitute, post¬
ponement to a certain time, an amendment
to an amendent, or recommitting (which
are debatable).
8. No member shall be interrupted while
speaking, except by the President calling
him to order when he departs from the
question or uses personalities or discour¬
teous language; but any member may call
attention of the President to the subject
when he deems the speaker out of order;
and a member may explain if he thinks
himself misrepresented, and should any one
refuse to come to order when so called,
he may be silenced for a day, unless he
make a satisfactory apology to the Chair
and Conference.
9. When any member is about to speak,
debate or deliver any matter to the Con¬
ference, he shall rise from his seat and
respectfully address the Chair.
10. No person shall speak more than
GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES. 435
twice on the same subject, nor more than
ten minutes at a time, without special per¬
mission, unless to correct misrepresentation,
nor shall any member speak more than
once until every member desiring to speak
shall have spoken, unless by unanimous
consent, though he may represent another
by his consent.
11. When any member rises to speak,
it shall be the duty of the chair to announce
the name of the speaker and his Confer¬
ence.
12. No member shall absent himself
from the Conference without permission
from the Chair, unless he be sick or other¬
wise unable to attend.
13. No member shall be allowed to vole
on any question who is not within the bar
at the time when such question is put by
the President, except by special permission
of the Conference.
14. Every member who shall be within
the bar at the time a question is put shall
vote, unless excused.
15. All questions pertaining to petitions,
resolutions or amendments, to change the
Discipline, shall first be read before the
Conference and lie over a day before being
altered, rescinded or repealed, if desired
by one-third of the Conference, unless
on the last day of the session.
43^ GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES.
16. All resolutions offered to amend,
enlarge or change the phraseology of the
Discipline shall be read three consecutive
times before the Conference, if desired by
any member, and referred to the appro¬
priate committee, without debate.
17. The previous question shall never be
demanded upon any resolution before two
members shall have been heard pro and con,
if desired.
18. A motion to lay an amendment upon
the table removes the whole question from
before the house for the present, and if
not taken from the table, is equal to an in¬
definite postponement of the subject; but
it does not destroy the right of further con¬
sideration of the question at any future
time.
19. Privileged questions are as follows:
—1st, motion to adjourn; 2d, motions re¬
lating to the right and privileges of the
Conference; 3d, motions relating to mem¬
bers individually; 4th, motions for order
of the day.
20. When a question of order is raised,
all other business must be suspended until
the point is settled. _ The President must
decide the point without debate, subject to
an appeal to the Conference; but nothing
is a point of order that does not involve
a supposed breach of the rules or special
order.
IMPORTANT ACTS GEN. CON. IQOO. 437'
21. Reasonable time should be given for
the minority to report before final action
shall be taken on the report of the majority.
22. Should the Conference at any time
go into committee of the whole, the presid¬
ing Bishop may call one of the Elders to
the chair.
23. When a member rises and gives no¬
tice of an intention to offer a resolution,
he may preface it.
24. There shall be four marshals ap¬
pointed, whose duty it shall be to protect
the bar of the Conference from the encroach¬
ment of persons not entitled to seats and
assist the President in keeping order when
so requested by him.
Committee on Incorporation of the Connec¬
tion.
The Committee heretofore appointed to
prepare and report Articles of Incorpora¬
tion of a Board of Trustees of the African
MethodistEpiscopal Church, beg leave to
report the following Articles of Incorpora¬
tion :
It is hereby certified that at a regular
session of the General Conference of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church begun
and held on the seventh day of May, A. D.,,
1900, at th city of Columbus, Ohio, the fol¬
lowing named persons, to-wit: Benjamin
43^ IMPORTANT ACTS GEN. CON. I9OO.
W. Arnett, Wesley J. Gaines, Benjamin F.
Lee, Moses B. Salter, Joshua H. Jones,
Richmond W, Leak, Green E. Taylor, Wil¬
liam D. Chappelle, William S. Scarborough
and Nelson T. Gant, all of whom are mem¬
bers of said denomination, and of whom
Benjamin W. Arnett, Benjamin F. L^e,
William S. Scarborough, Nelson T. Gant
and Joshua H. Jones are resident free¬
holders of this State, and were duly elect¬
ed Trustees for four years, of the Endow¬
ment or other funds now on hand or to be
acquired by said church, or said Board of
Trustees, for religious, educational, mis¬
sionary, benevolent or other uses and pur¬
poses of said church; to take charge of,
hold, manage, rent, lease improve, sell or
otherwise dispose of all real estate belong¬
ing to, or which may be acquired by said
church, or said board for the use and
benefit of said church subject to such regu¬
lations as the General Conference may
from time to time prescribe; and in like
manner to take charge of all gifts, grants,
donations, devises, legacies, bequests or
trusts made to or in favor of said church
or said Board of Trustees for its use, and
to hold, control, manage and invest the
same for the benefit of said church; also
to receive and administer any special benev-
IMPORTANT ACTS GEN. CON. I90O. 43<y
olent trust in behalf of the church not other¬
wise provided for in the benevolent socie¬
ties now existing, under the authority or
by the sanction of said General Confer¬
ence.
Said Board of Trustees shall consist of
four Bishops, four ministers and four lay¬
men, of whom four shall be appointed by
the General Conference at each quadren¬
nial session and hold office till their suc¬
cessors have been duly appointed; which
Board shall be known under the style of
"The Trustees of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church," and its principal place
of business is fixed at Wilberforce, Greene,
County, Ohio.
Vacancies in said Board of Trustees oc¬
curring more than six months before the
session of General Conference shall be filled
by the Bishops, and the persons so appoint¬
ed shall hold office until the session of the
next General Conference when their places
shall be filled as herein before provided.
Said Board of Trustees shall have power
to adopt by-laws for the transaction and
regulation of its business and to appoint
the necessary offices. They shall make
quadrennial reports to the General Confer¬
ence and be amenable to that body for the
440 important acts c.f.n. cox. kjoo.
management of the trusts confided to
them.
In witness whereof the General Confer¬
ence of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church has caused this certificate to be exe¬
cuted by the Presiding Bishop and L. H.
Reynolds, its secretary, this twenty-fifth
day of May, 1900.
Respectfully submitted,
W. H. Mixc^
M. D. Brookens,
P. E. Mills,
J. W. Watson,
L. R. Nichols,
J. M. Townsend,
T. E. Wilson,
D. P. Roberts,
Secretary.
General Conference Minutes, 1900, page
200.
Incidental Rulings by Bishops.
Bishop James A. Handy: A motion to
strike out a part may be entertained while
a motion to strike out the whole is pending.
Bishop H. M. Turner: Fixing the ratio
of General Conference representation is not
interfering with the Constitution.
Bishop B. T. Tanner: In absence of the
IMPORTANT ACTS GEN. CON. I9OO. 44I
records in an appeal case, printed minutes
may be admitted as the next best evidence.
Bishop W. B. Derrick: The conference
action on report of committee on temporal
economy takes precedence in importance
over resolutions passed on same points
prior.
Bishop H. M. Turner: Local Deacons
and Local Elders not in itinerant work
are laymen.
INDEX. 443
INDEX
Page
BOLISHED law, the—which? 26
braham's Justification 24
bstinence 171
jcounts of Churches, Pastors Oversee 181
Of members reported to Conference 184
Of members reported to successor 184
dam, covenant with, peculiar 38
Actual sin of 25
dmission of Preachers 186
On trial 186
To full connection 187
Persons to church membership 112
frican M. E. Church, origin of i
ffectation, avoid 191
frican Conference boundaries 272
gents, Bishops may appoint 200
labama Conference boundary 2C1
N orth 261
Central 261
lien, Richard ii
Validity of his ordination iv
nnual Conferences 213
Composition 213
Beginning and end of year 2J3
Sessions 213-
Organization 214
Mode of procedure 215
Moneys, to whom paid 214
Literary exercises of 219'
Uniform reports to 215
Statistical tables 215
itinomianism 26
Truth lies near 33
Dostolic succession 399
ppeals, triers of 256
Court of 256
Method of procedure 257
ppellants, rights of 257
30
/[<\'\ INDEX.
Appointments, neglect of
Arbitration
Rejection of
And debts
Arkansas Conference
South
West
East
""Articles of Religion"
Articles of Incorporation of the A. M. E. Church....
Assurance and holiness
And divine favor
Of faith
BAND societies, rules of
Pastors must organize
Pastors regulate
Baltimore Conference
Banns of marriage, publish
Baptism, doctrine of
Of infants, ceremony
Of adults, ceremony
"'Baxter's aphorisms"
Belief and reconciliation
And love
Believers—doubting
Constrained
Bermuda Conference
Besetting sin
""Bethel"
•Bishops—''Episcopacy"
Ordination of
Qualifications of
How constituted
Office perpetuated
Inefficient
Support of
"Widows of
Orphans of
Trial of
Rulings of—"Incidental"
Duties of
Preside over Conferences
Select Presiding Elders
Appoint preachers
Appoint agents
Change appointeees
245
254
254
253
261
261
262
262
9
382
29
30
39
56
180
181
262
127
16
100
105
28
29
. 30
31
31
262
172
lit
3
88
198
198
199
367
367
367
367
236
440
199
199
200
199
200
200
INDEX. 445
Limit appointment term 200
Move objectionable preachers 200
Notify before transferring 200
Reject expelled preachers 201
Entertain proper motions 199
Travel through district 201
Act on others' districts 201
Regulated by General Conference 202
Inspect Conference appropriations.... 202
Not ordain women 202
Publish year book 202
Decide legal questions 199
Board, "Official" 228
Extra session of 229
Restriction of 231
of Publications—General 312
Of Missions 279
Of Church Extension 340
Of Educational 327
Of S. S. Union 318
Of Southern Christian Recorder 316
Of Finance 358
Of Allen Christian Endeavor 350
Of Connectional Preachers' Aid 372
Book Concern, the 311
Books, preachers urge purchase of 183
Not tending to love of God, avoid 53
Sent to preachers by Book Concern 314
Borrowing, not intending to pay 53
"Both Kinds," Sacrament 17
Boundaries of Annual Conferences 261
Brethren going to law 52
British Guiana Conference 272
Burial service 134
Business Manager Book Concern 311
Buying and selling—few words 52
Men 52
Without paying duty 52
CALIFORNIA Conference 262
Calvinism 26
Truth at verge of 33
Canonical Scriptures 11
Catechism on faith, the 21
Catechism A. M. E. Church 185
Causes of spiritual poverty 179
446
INDEX.
Certificate of membership
Challenge of Divine justice
Children, pastors' duties to
Children's Day
Choir
Christ revealed in us
Christianity, essence of
Christian man's goods
Oath
Christian Recorder, the
Editor's duty
Southern, the
Christian Endeavor
"Church," the
Church Conference
Literature
Church Extension Society
Church property, deeds of
Improvement of
Decorum of
To full connection
Churches, dedication of
Classes, originated
Class-leaders instituted
Qualifications of
Duties of
Appointed and removed
Neglect of
Class meetings and leaders
Colorado Conference
Condemnation
Conduct of "the hireling"
Of preachers at Conference
Improper
Conference, General
Annual
Boundaries
District
Quarterly
Church
Connectional days
Funds
Constitution—P. H. and F. M. Society,
H. and F. Annual Conference..,
W. M. Mission
W. M. M. Local Auxiliaries...;,
"W. M. M. Episcopal District
. 190
. 34
. 184
. 326
. 61
39
40
. 20
20
314
212
310
34S
14
231
232
338
385
394
395
187
147
51
51
62
62
183
250
62
262
23
77
186
251
205
213
261
219
222
231
198
370
278
287
290
294
297
INDEX.
"W. H. and F. Mission Society
W. H. and F. Auxiliary
Conviction
Commission of General Conference
Corner-stone, laying of
Covenant of grace
Of works
With Adam, peculiar
DAYS, connectional
Deacons, how constituted
Ordination ceremony
Traveling
Duties of
Local :
Eligible to eldership
Liable to appointment
Tenure of Conference membership
Deaconesses
Debts and arbitration
Non-payment of
Of ministers
Dedication of churches, ceremony
Deed, form of
Degrees of Divine love
Of outward holiness
Delegates to General Conference
Qualification
Election of
Expenses of
Delegates to District Conference
Deportment of preachers
Diligence, rules of preacher
Duty of pastors to practice
Dissension, sowing
District Conference
Composition of
Delegates to
Sessions
Business of
Examines for Annual Conference entry,
Examines for local orders
Divine ordinance, attend
Divorcement
Only allowable cause for
"Doctrines"
Dollar Money Laws
447
. 296
. 302
. 21
. 208
. 138
. 38
. 38
. 38
. 198
. 193
. 86
. 191
. 194
. 194
. 194
. 165
. 165
. 159
. 253
. 254
. 246
. 147
. 386
. 40
. 41
. 205
. 205
. 206
. 212
. 219
. 170
. 178
. 170
. 250
. 219
. 219
. 219
. 220
. 220
. 220
. 220
. 60
. 65
, 65
9
. 356
44§
INDEX.
Division of
At Annual Conference
36 per cent
Priority of claims on
Doubt, state of
Dress, thoughts on
Drunkenness
Dullness
Duties, personal, of preachers
Duties of pastors
Of deacons
Of elders
Of presiding elders
Of bishops
Of class leaders ■'
Of general business manager
Of Board of Publication
Filling vacancies in
Of Editor Christian Recorder
Of Editor Southern Christian Recorder,
Of Editor Quarterly Review
EDUCATION, Secretary of
Board of
Educational Interest
District
Funds, distribution of
Educational Day
Elders, how constituted
Ordination ceremony
Duties of
"Presiding"
Local
Electoral College
Election rules
Of General Conference delegates
Eligibility of licentiates to deaconate
To deaconate
Of deacon to eldership
Entertainment Commission
Episcopacy, the
Episcopal Committee, the
Districts
"Essence of Christianity"
Evil, all kinds, avoid
Examination for license
Exhorters, how constituted
362
360
361
366
23
181
52
176
170
180
194
195
196
199
51
.311
312
313
312
316
315
327
327
327
332
335
337
195
. 74
195
196
, 195
, 206
. 206
. 205
. 193
. 193
. 195
. 208
. 3
. 237
. 274
. 40
. 52
. 161
. 160
INDEX. 449
Duties of 160-
Expelled preachers 201
Members 63-255
Expenses of General Conference 208
Extra Session of General Conference 21®
FAITH, catechism 21
Definition of 21
Fruits of 23"
Salvation by 40
Lost 31
Recovered 31
Made perfect 24
In Holy Trinity, doctrine of , ft-
Imputed for righteousness 25
Counted for righteousness 39
Family religion 17&
Fasting and abstinence 55-171
Once a quarter 18*2
Festivals of church, preaching on 174
Fighting, avoid 52
Finance Committee of Annual Conference 214
Receive all Conference moneys 214
Financial Department 3aS
Five years' limit, appointment 20$
Florida Conference 263
South ' 263
Central 263
East 26a
Food—proper and improper 172
Form of discipline 198.
To Conference probationer 187
To full member of Conference 187
Frauds 255*
Free will, doctrine of 12
Fruits, the, of faith 23:
Before Faith 28-
Full membership, admission to 112
Full connection to Conference 187
GAINING knowledge 17&
General rules
General officers, support 364
Trial of 240
Official responsibility 166-
Ecclesiastical responsibility 166
Restrictions 167
General Conference, the 20&
45°
INDEX.
Composition
Sessions "
210
208
Sessions—extra
Entertainment of
Restrictions of
Delegates to—qualifications ^
Commission
208
Election of
206
Expenses
Rules for government 4f>
a Conference
North 264
Macon
264
Atlanta 265
South Western 265
Giving, rules for 425
God's name taken not in vain 52
Goods of a Christian 20
Good works, doctrine of IS
Gold and costly apparel 182-53
Gospel near Calvinism 33
Near Antinomianism 33
Grace, covenant of 38
Means of 170
"Instituted" 170
"Prudential" 172
Rules for growth in 172
Growth in grace 172
HEATHEN, the 23
Heaven 22
Salvation finished 40
Hell 34
Heresy 243
Historical preface 1
Historical and Literary Society 219
Holiness, salvation continued 40
Holy Trinity, doctrine of 9
Holy Ghost, doctrine of 10
Inspiration of 39
Holy Scripture, canonical 10
Home and Foreign Missionary Society 278
House-to-house instruction 175
Hymnal, A. M. E 6J.
Illinois Conference 265
Impeachment 243
INDEX. 451
Causes for 243
mportant Acts of General Conference 437
'Important Resolutions"—1900
mproper conduct 251
ncorporation of connection 437
ndiana Conference 265
ndian Mission Conference 266
nefficient bishops 367
nsolvencies 252
'Instituted" means of grace rj\>
nterference, pastoral 245
ntoxicants 52
nvincible ignorance 29
owa Conference 266
tinerancy, the 193
rUDICIAL, directions 234
Tustification 21
Doctrine of 12
Sin after 14
Fruits of 23
3f Abraham 24
And Sanctification 33
KANSAS Conference 266
Kentucky Conference 266
West Conference 266
LACK of skill in ministers 177
Laying corner-stones 138
Lay helpers 159
Members, trial of 248
Lay delegates to General Conference 206
Leaders, class, qualifications of 62
Leaving wife or husband 65
Liberia Conference boundary 272
Liberty from law 27
From sin 27
License, how secured 162
Form of 162
Must be renewed annually 162
Liquors, spirituous 252-243
Literary exercises of Annual Conference 219
Local preachers, examination for 161
Application to Quarterly Conference for,. 161
Licensed 162
Must study 180
452
INDEX.
Eligibility to orders..
From other churches.
Local deacons, procedure for.
163
164
163
Obligations of
Tenure of Annual Conference membership... loo
Eligibility to eldership 165
Local elders, procedure for 1*™
May be ordained at home 164
Obligations of IJp
Tenure of Aqnual Conference membership... 165
Local ministers liable to appointment 165
Lord's Prayer 124
Lord's Supper, the 11'
Louisiana Conference *66
North 266
Love attendant on faith 29
Love-feast, pastors must hold 181-182
Tickets not given the expelled 62
MARRIAGE 64
With unawakened 64
Without parents' consent • 191
Counsel concerning 101
Ring, the 181
Matrimony—ceremony 127
Means of grace—instituted 170
Prudential 172
Members—expelled 63-255
Michigan Conference 268
Ministers' debts 246
Ministerial unacceptability 244
Missions, cause of 278
Mississippi Conference 267
North 267
Central 267
Northeast 267
Missouri Conference 266
North I... 267
NEEDLESS ornaments 59
Neglect of appointment 245
New Testament 11
New York Conference 268
New England Conference 268
New Jersey Conference 268
North Carolina Conference 268
Western 268
INDEX. 453
Nova Scotia Conference 269
OATH of Christians 20
Objects of preaching 173
Oblation of Christ 17
Official Board 228
Oklahoma Conference 269
Ohio Conference 269
Ontario Conference 269
On trial, preachers received 186
Ordination ceremony, deacons 68
Elders 74
Bishops 88
Ordained preachers received 189
Order of worship 60
Of "trial" 239
Orphans of preachers 366
Of bishops 367
Other districts, Bishops visit 201
Other churches, preachers from 188
Orphans' allowance 366
PARDON, salvation begun 40
Parent H. and F. M. Society 278
W. M 290
Pastoral interference 245
Pastors, duties of 180
Calls all meetings 180
Presides at all meetings 180
Forms band societies 181
Meets all organized bodies 181
Travels through charge 181
Publishes general rules 181
Assigns probationers 182
Examiners for full membership 182
Gives and renews tickets 182
May give not for love-feast 182
Enforces fasting 182
Enjoins society to get books 183
Tries and expels members 1S3
Appoints leaders 183
Suspends officers 183
Ignores unlicensed preachers 183
Gives certificates to members 184
Gathers in children 184
Trains children 185
Organizes Sunday-school 185
454
INDEX.
Pauline injunctions
Leaves account for successor...
Peace, fruit of faith
Perfection, preaching on
Philadelphia Conference
Pittsburgh Conference
Plain texts
Prayer, extempore
Preach where needed
Against Sabbath breaking
Evil speaking
Unprofitable conversation
Lightness
Gayety
Contracting debts
Preachers' personal duties
Always have a Bible
Use Lord's Supper
Fast
Converse aright
Deny self
Bear the cross
Set God Always Defore 173
Preachers admitted on trial 186
To full connection 1&7
Conduct at Conference 192
Deportment, serious 174
Avoid awkwardness 174
Wesley an rules of 19°
Support 370
Widows' allowance 3G6
Superannuated support 365
Itinerants, "trial of" 238
Local trial of 241
Preachers' Aid Society 372
Preaching, defect in 32
Rules for 173
Preface i
Presiding Elders 196
Qualifications of 196
Duties of 196
To assist pastors 197
Preach on every charge quarterly 197
Decide questions of law 197
Change pastors 197
Accept no connectional money 198
186
23
47
269
269
173
174
175
174
174
174
174
174
174
170
171
171
171
171
172
173
INDEX.
455
Be removed for cause 198
Salary of <>70
Trial of ; 238
Probation, persons received on H£
Preachers received on 161
Probationers received to full membership 112
Assigned to special class 182
Probationship—members on 112
Preachers two years 193-
"Prudential"' means of grace 172
Publication Department 311
Board 312
Management 311
Public worship 60
Puget Sound Conference boundary 270'
Punctuality 191
Purgatory, doctrine of 14
QUADRENNIAL sessions, General Conference 208
Reports, publishers and editors 431
Secretary S. S. Union 431
Secretary of Education 431
Secretary of Church Extension 431
Secretary of Missions 431
Secretary of Financial Department 431
Secretary Connectional P. A. Ass'O... 431
Secretary of Allen Endeavor League.. 431
Qualifications of deacons 69
Elders ?6
Presiding Elders 196
Bishops 19S
General Conference delegates 205
Class leaders 62
Quarreling 52
Quarterly Conference 222
Composition of 222
Procedure of 223
Reports to 22T
Questions settled by bishops 199
By Presiding Elders 1D7
RECEIVING members 112
Preachers 186-
Recommendations to students 422
Reconciliation with God 29
Rejection of arbitration 254
Repentance 21
456
INDEX.
Before faith
Reprove sin
Resurrection, doctrine of
Righteousness of Christ
Our own
Ring—marriage
Rites and ceremonies, doctrine of
Ritual A. M. E. Church
Law of Moses
Rules, general, of "United Societies"
Of a preacher
For growth in grace
Of government, General Conference
Rules of the United States
Rumors, investigation of
Rulings, incidental, of Bishops, 1900
SABBATH breaking *>-■
£< tLath-schools, pastv 3 duty to
SnT«>m>nts, the
Salvation by faith, doctrine on
San-'tiiication
Entire
, Scripture support of
Schism
Self-indulgence, avoid
Seriousnes, rules for
Sierra Leone Conference boundary
Sin, original doctrine of
After justification
Adam's
Wilful, after justification
Besetting
Sincerity
Singing, regulation of
Slavery
Softness, avoid
Son in gospel, acts as
Souls more than libraries
South African Conferences
Sowing dissension
Speaking in unknown tongue
Evils of magistrates
Of ministers
South Carolina Conference
Columbia Conference
21
51
10
25
34
131
18
60
27
50
190
172
429
19
230
440
1-174
185
15
40
41
44
45
243
59
190
272
' 12
14
25
23
172
35
61
52
53
192
178
273
230
15
53
53
270
270
INDEX.
457
Northeast Conference
Spirituous liquors 52-58-
" Splendid sins"
Stewards, appointment of
Duties of
Accountability of
Stewardesses
Number of
Students
Sunday-school Union
Constitution
General Board !
Annual Conference Board
Sunday-sschool Constitution
District Conventions
Normal classes
Supererogation
Support of traveling preachers
TALE BEARING
Tennessee Conference
West
East
Texas Conference
Central
Northeast
West
Theological Seminaries
Scholarships
Tongue, unknown, forbid
Transfer certificate
"Transubstantiation"
Three months' notice to transfers
Travel of bishops
Traveling expenses of bishops
General Officers
General Conference delegates
"Trial" of bishops
Presiding Elders
Pastor elders
Pastor deacons
Pastor preachers
Local preachers
General Officers
Lay members
"Trinity," doctrine of
Truth of gospel—Calvinism
270
■252
30
396
396
397
398
393
422
317
317
318
320
323
317
317
13
370
175
270
271
271
271
271
272
272
368
369
15
201
17
200
201
363
365
212
23<
238
239
23S
239
241
240
, 248
9
, 33
45^
INDEX.
Near Antinomianism
Trustees of church property
Number of
Qualification of
Election of
Chairman of
Duties of
Reports of
Expulsion of
"UNACCEPTABLE preachers
Unaceptability of preachers
Uncharitable conversation
United Societies, the
United States—other governments
Unknown tongue, speaking in
Unordained preachers admitted
Unprofitable conversation
Usury
VACANCIES in episcopacy
Verge of Calvinism
Virginia Conference boundary
Visiting, pastoral
WESLEY, MB., in London
Doctrine of
Wilful sin
Wine
Witness of acceptance
Women's Mite Missionary Society
Women's H. and F. Missionary Society,
Word of Son of God
Works of supererogation
Of unbelievers
Of the law
Covenant of
Women, converse with prudently
Not to be ordained
YEAR BOOK
33
392
392
392
393
393
394
395
395
200
244
■ 52
50
19
15
189
174
52
199
33
272
175
50
40
23
173
23
290
296
9
13
27
38
193
202
202
ZEALOUSLY maintain good works.
59