Robert W. Woodruff Library Special Collections emory university THE octrmcsi & jgferipline OP THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL OHUKCH. PUBLISHED BT ORDER OP TEE GENERAL CONFERBNCE, BY REV. JOSHUA WOODLIN, QEXERAL BOOK STEWARD OP THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IK THE UNITED STATES OF NORJH AMERICA. TWELFTH KEVISED EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: JAMES B. RODGERS, PRINTER, 52 A 54 N. SIXTH ST. SECOND EIDXTI03ST. 1868* HISTORICAL PREFACE. To the Members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America: Beloved Brethren: We deem it necessary to prefix to our Book of Discipline a brief statement of our rise and progress, which we hope will be satisfactory, and conducive to your growth and edification in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In November, 1787, the colored people belonging to the Methodist Society of Philadelphia con¬ vened together, in order to take into con¬ sideration the evils under which they labored, arising from the unkind treatment of their white brethren, who considered them a nui¬ sance in the house of worship, and even pulled them off their knees, while in the act of prayer, i id ordered them to the back seats. For iv HISTORICAL PREFACE. these, and various other 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 from the subscription paper, and make ac¬ knowledgments for having attempted such a thing, that in three months they should all be publicly expelled from the Methodist Society. Not considering themselves bound to obey this injunction, and being fully satisfied that they should be treated without mercy, they sent in their resignations. Being now as outcasts, they bad to seek for friends where they could; and the Lord put it into the hearts of Dr. Benjamin Bush, Mr. R. Kalston, and other respectaMe eitizens, t& interpose for them, both by ad-rice and assist¬ ance, in getting their building fiaished. Bishop White also aided them, and ordained one from a-mong themselves, after the order of the Pro¬ testant Episcopal Church, to be their pastor. HISTORICAL PREFACE. V In 1793, the number of the serious people of color having increased, they were of different opinions respecting the mode of religious worship ; and, as many felt a strong partiality for that adopted by the Methodists, Richard Allen, with the advice of some of his brethren, proposed erecting a place of worship on his own ground, and at his own expense, as an African Methodist meeting-house. As soon as the preachers of the Methodist Church in Philadelphia came to the knowledge of this, they opposed it with all their might, insisting that the house should be made over to the Con¬ ference or they would publish them in the news¬ papers, 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 invitation he accepted, and the house was named Bethel. (See Gen. xxviii. 19. ) It was now proposed by the resident elder, (J. M'C.) that they should have the church incorporated, that they might receive any do¬ nation or legacy, as well as enjoy any other VI HISTORICAL PREFACE. advantages arising therefrom: this was agreed to; and in order to save expense, the elder pro¬ posed 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 ex¬ pected to enjoy. So that, by this stratagem, they were again brought into bondage by the Methodists preachers. In this situation they experienced griev" ances 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 them¬ selves thus embarrassed, they consulted a law¬ yer, who informed them, that by means of a supplement, they could be delivered from the grievances \mder which they labored. The congregation unanimously agreed to sign the petition for a supplement, which the Legis¬ lature of Pennsylvania readily granted; and they were liberated from the difficulties which they had experienced for many years. They HISTORICAL PREFACE. vii now hoped to be free from any other perplex¬ ity; but they soon found that their proceedings exasperated their opponents. In order to ac¬ commodate matters, they proposed supplying them with preaching, if they would give six hundred dollars per year to the Methodist Society. The congregation'not consenting, they fell to four hundred dollars; but the people were not willing to give more than two hun¬ dred 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 dis¬ satisfied with such conduct, induced the trus¬ tees to pass a resolution to give but? one hun¬ dred dollars per year to the Methodist preach¬ ers. 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. Vlii HIST'ORICAL PREFACE. They then waited on Bishop Asbury, and proposed taking a preacher to themselves, and supporting him in boarding and salary, pro¬ vided he would attend to the duties of the Church, such as visiting the sick, burying the dead, baptizing, and administering the sacra¬ ment. The Bishop observed, " He did not think that there was more than one preacher, belonging to the Conference, that would attend to those 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 Philadelphia, declared, that unless they would repeal the supplement, neither he, nor any of the Methodist preachers, travelling or local, would preach any more for them; so thev were left to themselves. At length the preach¬ ers and stewards belonging to the Academy proposed serving them on the same terms that they had offered to the St. George's preachers ; HISTORICAL PREFACE. ix and they preached for them better than twelve months, and then demanded one hundred and fifty dollars per year. This not being com¬ plied with, they declined preaching for them, and they were once more left to themselves, as an edict was passed by the elder, that if any local preacher served them he should be ex¬ pelled from the connexion. John Emory, the elder of the Academy, published a circular let¬ ter in which they were disowned by the Meth¬ odists. A house was also fitted up, not far from Bethel, and an invitation given to all who desired to be Methodists, to resort thither: but, being disappointed in this plan, Robert E. Roberts, the resident elder of St. George's charge, came to Bethel, and insisted on preach¬ ing to them and taking the spiritual charge, for they were Methodists. He was told, he should come on some terms with the trus¬ tees; 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. How¬ ever, at the appointed time he came; but hav- X HISTORICAL PREFACE. ing taking previous advice, they had their preacher in the pulpit when he came, and the house so fixed that he could not get more than halfway to the pulpit. Finding himself disap¬ pointed, he appealed to those who came with him, as witnesses, that "That man," meaning the preacher, "had taken his appointment." 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 righted, and not suffer Roberts to preach in a forcible manner; after which Roberts went away. The next elder stationed at Philadelphia was Robert Birch, who, following the ex¬ ample of his predecessor, came and published a meeting for himself; but the afore-men¬ tioned 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 law¬ suit, which ended in favor of Bethel. Thus, by the providence of God, they were delivered from a long, distressing and expensive suit, which could not be resumed, being determined HISTORICAL PREFACE. xi by the Supreme Court; for this mercy they were unfeignedly thankful. About this time the colored people in Bal¬ timore, 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 worship for themselves. This in¬ duced the people of Philadelphia to call a gen¬ eral convention in April, 1816, to form a con¬ nexion ; delegates appointed to represent dif¬ ferent churches met those of Philadelphia, 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, Baltimore, and all other places who should unite with them, should become one body, under the name and style of the 'African Methodist Episcopal Church.'" We believe that it was the design of a gra¬ cious 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 brethren that religious instruction from which they have been kept by persons claiming to be their suneriors, and thereby xii HISTORICAL PREFACE. privileged to sit under their own vine and fig tree; and though opposed by the prejudices of the times, persecuted by the tongue of cal¬ umny, 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 Christ Jesus. The work of God has spread, through our instrumentality, from Philadelphia to various parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Michigan, California, Canada, the barren shores of Africa, and the Island of Hayti. And also, of late, Ethiopia is seen stretching out her hands to God in the newly emancipated States of Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. In all States of the union where any considerable number of our people can be found our church is established. We esteem it our duty and privilege, most earnestly to recommend to our Church, our form of Discipline, revised and improved, HISTORICAL PREFACE. xiii 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, maintained, in part or in whole, by every Reformed Church in the world. Far from wishing you to be ignorant of our doctrines, 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. This present edition is cheap, and we can assure you that the profits of the sale of it shall be applied to charitable purposes. We remain your affectionate brethren and pastors, who labor night and day, both in public and private, for your good. William Paul Quins, Daniel A. Payne, Alexander Washington Wayman, Jabez Purnell Campbell, James A. Shorter, Thomas M. D. Ward, John M. Brown, Bishops. THE §«fKt*iu« and gisdplitt* of the AFRICAN; METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. PART I. ORIGIN, DOCTRINES AND RULES. CHAPTER I'.— Origin. SECTION I. Of the Origin and Continuation of the Episco¬ pacy of the African Methodist Episcopal Chirrch. The preachers and members of our Church having become a distinct body of people, by reason of separation from our white 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 the holy 14 15 orders, to superintend the connexion that was then formed. The-Rev. Richard Allen, being seventeen years an ordained preacher by the Rev. Bishop Asbury, of the Methodist Episco¬ pal Church, was unanimously elected to fill that office: and on the 11th day of April, 1816, the said Rev. ilichard 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 Protestant Episcopal Church, who was then, and continued in good standing under the Diocese of the Right Rev. Bishop White, of Pennsylvania. At which time the General Conference, in Philadelphia, did unanimously receive the said Richard Allen as their Bishop, being fully satisfied with the validity of his Episcopal ordination. The connexion having considerably in¬ creased in the course of twelve years, the Gene¬ ral Conference sitting in Philadelphia, in 1828, found it expedient to have another Bishop to travel through the connexion, as joint super¬ intendent. The Rev. Morris Brown, being twelve years an ordained elder, was duly 16 elected to fill that office, and on the Sunday, May 25tli, 1828, Morris Brown was solemnly set apart by prayer, and the imposition of the hands of the Right Rev. Richard Allen, first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and fire regularly ordained elders, as a joint Bishop of the said Church. After the decease of the Right Rev. Richard Allen, which took place at his residence in Phila¬ delphia, March 26th, 1831, the labors devol¬ ving upon the Right Rev. Morris Brown, (his successor in office,) became so great, that the General Conference, sitting in Philadelphia, in 1836, deemed it necessary to appoint a Bishop, as joint, superintendent, to assist in attending to the business of the connexion. The Bev. Edward Waters, being a regularly ordained elder for many years, was duly elected to fill that office, and on Sunday, May 15th, 1836, Edward Waters was solemnly set apart, by prayer, the imposition of the hands of the Right Rev. Morris Brown, (second Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,) and five regularly ordained elders, as a joint Bishop of the said Church. 17 Within a few more years, from the prosper¬ ity of the Church and the resignation of Bishop Waters, the duties devolving upon Bishop Brown, in his advanced age, became more than he could perform. The General Con¬ ference, sitting in Pittsburg, deemed it neces¬ sary to appoint another Bishop as joint super¬ intendent to assist in attending to the business of the connexion :—whereupon the Rev. Wm. P. Quinn, a regularly ordained elder for many years, was, after solemn prayer, duly elected by the Conference, May 7th, 1844, to fill that office, and on Sunday, May 19 th, said Rev. William P. Quinn was solemnly set apart by prayer, the imposition of the hands of the Right Rev. Morris Brown, (second Bishop of the African M. E. Church,) and five regularly ordained elders, as a joint Bishop of said Church. The General Conference, sitting in the city of New York, deemed it necessary to appoint two other Bishops to assist in attending to the business of the connexion, whereupon, the Rev. Willis. Nazrey and Rev. Daniel A. Payne, regularlj- ordained elders for many years, 2 18 were, after solemn prayer, duly elected by tlie Conference, May 7 th, 1852, to fill that office. And on Thursday, May 13th, Revs. Willis Nazrey and Daniel A. Payne, were solemnly set apart by prayer, the imposition of the hands of the Right Rev. "William Paul Quinn, (fourth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,) and five regularly or¬ dained elders, as Bishops of the said Church. The General Conference, sitting in the city of Philadelphia, deemed it necessary to appoint two other Bishops, to assist in attending to the business of the connexion: whereupon, the Revs. Alexander Washington Wayman, and Jabez Purnell Campbell, regularly ordained elders for many years, were, after solemn prayer, duly elected by Conference, May 16th, 1864, to fill that office. And, on Monday, May 23d, 1864, Revs. Jabez Purnell Campbell and Alexander Washington Wayman, were solemnly set apart by prayer, the imposition of the hands of the Right Rev. William Paul Quinn, (fourth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,) and five regularly ordained elders, as Bishops of the said Church. 19 The connexion having greatly increased in the course of four years the General Conference sitting in the City of Washington, D. C., deemed it necessary to appoint three other Bishops to assist in attending to the business of the connexion, Whereupon, the Revs. James A. Shorter, Thomas M. D Ward, John M. Brown, regularly ordained Elders for many years were after solemn prayer, duly elected by the Con¬ ference, May 21, 1868, to fill that office. And on Monday, May 2-5, 1868, Revs. James A. Shorter, Thomas M. D. Ward, John M. Brown, were solemnly set apart by prayer, the imposi¬ tion of the hands of the Right. Rev. William Paul Quinn (fourth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church) Bishops Daniel A. Payne, Alexander Washington Wayman, Jabez Pur- nell Campbell and other regularly ordained ministers assisting in the sacred ceremony. CHAPTER II. DOCTRINES. ARTICLES OP RELIGION. SECTION I. I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity. There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infi¬ nite 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 icas 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 21 whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead, and manhood, were joined to¬ gether in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very Grod, and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sins of men. 111.— 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 judg¬ ment at the last day. IV.— Of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Grhost proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, power and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal G-od. 22 V.—The svfficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation. The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary for salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor can be pr&ved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or thought requisite or necessary for salvation. In the name of the Holy Scrip¬ ture, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, of whose authority was never any doubt in the church. The Names of the Canonical Books. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Kuth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, 23 The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book ofNehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, Canticles, or the Song 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 Testa¬ ments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator be tween God and man, being both God anc man. Wherefore they are not to be heard 24 who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God to Moses, as touching cere¬ monies and rights, doth not blind Chris¬ tians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof, of necessity be received in any common¬ wealth, yet notwithstanding, no Christian 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 follow¬ ing 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 cannnot turn, and prepare himself by his own natural strength 25 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 will. IX.— Of the Justification of Man. We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour 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 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 judgments, 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 is 26 known as evidently 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 bouuden duty is required: Whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that is commanded you, ye are unpro¬ fitable servants. XII— Of Sin after Justification. Not every sin willingly committed after justification, is the sin against the Holy Ghost and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given1, and fall into 27 sin, and by the grace of God, rise again, and amend our livea. And, therefore they are to be condemned, who say that they can no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. XIII.— Of the Church. The visible church of Christ is a congre¬ gation of faithful men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacra¬ ments duly administered, according to Christ's ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same! XIV.— Of Purgatory. The Romish doctrine concerning purga¬ tory, pardon, worshipping, and adoration, as well as of images, and relics, and also in¬ vocations of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the word of God. XV. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People understand. It is a thing plainlv repugnant to the 38 word of God, and the custom of the primi¬ tive church, to have a public prayer in the church, or to minister the sacraments in a tongue not understood by the people. XVI.— Of the Sacraments. Sacraments ordained by Christ are not only badges of Christian men's professions, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and Grod's good will toward us, by which he doth work visibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him. There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism aud the Lord's Supper. Those five commonly called sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Or¬ ders, Matrimony and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for sacraments of the gos¬ pel, being such as have partly grown out of the corrupt following of the apostles; and partly are states of life allowed in the Scrip¬ tures, but yet have not the like nature of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, because 29 they have not any visible signs of the cere¬ mony 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 ope¬ ration : but they that receive them unwor¬ thily, purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith.—1 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 to 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 30 Christ's death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break is a par¬ taking 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 prov¬ ed by Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given oc¬ casion 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 Sacrament 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. 31 XX.— Of the one Oblation of Christ, fin¬ ished upon the Cross. The offering of Christ once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satis¬ 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 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 blas¬ phemous fable, and dangerous conceit. XXI.— 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 be best to godliness. XXII—Of the Rites and Ceremonies °f Churches. It is not necessary that rites and cere- 32 monies should in all places be exactly alike, for they have been always different; and may be changed according to the diversi¬ ties of countries, times, awamen's manne rs, so that nothing may be ordained against Grod's word. Whosoever through his pri¬ vate judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremo¬ nies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the word of Grod, 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 consciences 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, arc the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to 33 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 nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction. 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 and Saviour 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. 3 34 SECTION II. CATECHISM OX FAITH. Question 1. What is it to be justified? Answer. To be pardoned aud received into God's favor, into such a state, that, if we continue therein, we shall be finally saved. Q. 2. Is faith the condition of justifica¬ tion 1 A. Yes, for every one that believeth not is condemned • and every one who believes is justified. Q. 3. But must not repentance and works meet for repentance, go before this faith ? A. 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 ordinances according to the power we have received. Q. 4. What is faith ? A. Faith in general is a divine, superna¬ tural evidence, or conviction of things not 35 seen; not discoverable by our bodily senses, as being either past, future, or spiritual. 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. Q. 5. Have all Christians this faith? May not a man be justified and not know it? A. That all true Christians have such a faith as implies assurance of God's love ap¬ pears from" Rom. viii. 15; Eph. iv. 32; 2 Cor. xiii. 5; Iieb viii. 10; 1 John iv. 10; v. 19. And that no man can be justified and not know it, appears further from the nature of the thing; for faith after repen¬ tance, is ease after pain, rest after toil, light after darkness. It appears also from the immediate; as well as the distant fruits thereof. Q. 6. But may not a man go to heaven without it? 36 A. It does not appear from holy writ that a man who has heard the gospel can, Mark xvi. 16, whatever a heathen may do. Rom. ii. 14. Q*. 7. What are the immediate fruits of justifying faith? A. Peace, joy, love, power over all out¬ ward sin, and power to keep down inward sin. Q. 8. Does any one believe who has not the witness in himself, or any longer than he sees, loves, and obeys God ? A. We apprehend not, seeing God being the very essence of faith; love and obedi¬ ence being the inseparable properties of it. Q. 9. What sins are consistent with jus¬ tifying faith? A. No wilful sin. If a believer wilfully sins, he casts away his faith. Neither is it possible he should have justifying faith again without previously repenting. Q. 10. Must every believer come into a state of doubt or fear, or darkness? Will he do so unless by ignorance or unfaithful¬ ness? Does God otherwise withdraw him¬ self? 37 A. It is certain a believer need never come again unto condemnation. It seems he need not come into a state of doubt or 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. Q. 11. Are works necessary to the con¬ tinuance of faith ? A. Without doubt; for many forfeit the free gift of God, either by sins of omission or commission. Q. 12. Can faith be lost, but for want of works ? A. It cannot but through disobedience. Q. 13. How is faith made perfect by works? A. The more we exert our faith, the more it is increased. To him that hath shall be given. Q 14. St. Paul says, Abraham was not justified by v:or7cs ; St. James, he was justi¬ fied by xcorhs. Do they not contradict each other ? 38 A. No. 1st, because they do not speak of the same justification. St. Paul speaks of that justification which was when Abra¬ ham was seventy-five years old, about twenty years before Isaac was born. St. James of that justification, which was when he offered up Isaac on the altar. 2d. 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. Q. 15. In what sense is Adam's sin im¬ puted to all mankind? A. In Aclam all die, i. e., 1st, Our bodies then became mortal; 2d, Our souls died, i. c., 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 eternal. Rom. v. 18; Eph. ii. 3 Q. 16. In what sense is the righteous¬ ness of Christ imputed to all mankind, or to believers? A. We do not find it expressly affirmed in Scripture, that God imputes the right¬ eousness of Christ to any. Although we do 39 find that faith is imputed to us for right¬ eousness. The text, "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedi¬ ence 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 obe¬ dience and death of Christ, 1st, The bo¬ dies of all men become immortal after the resurrection; 2d, Their souls receive a ca¬ pacity of spiritual life; and 3d, An actual spark or seed thereof; 4th, All believers become children of grace, reconciled to God, and 5th, Made partakers of the divine nature. Q. 17- Have we then, unawares, leaned too much towards Calvinism? A. We are afraid we have. Q. 18. Have we not also leaned towards Antinomian'ism ? A. We are afraid we have. Q. 19. What is Antinomianism ? A. The doctrines which make void the law through faith. 40 Q. 20. What are the main pillars there¬ of ? A. 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 to good works; not unbelievers, because it is hurtful, not believers, because it is need¬ less. Q. 21 What was the occasion of St. Paul's writing his epistle to the Gala- t ians ? A. The coming of certain men amongst the Galatians, who taught " Except ye be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved." Q. 22. What is his main design herein ? A. To prove 1st, That no man can be saved, or justified by the works of the law, either moral or ritual; 2d, That every be- 41 liever in Christ is justified by faith without the works of the law. Q. 23. What does he mean by the works of the law? Gal. ii. 16, &c. A. All works which do not spring from faith in Christ. Q. 24. What by being under the law ? Gal. iii. 23. A. Under the Mosaic dispensation. Q. 25. What law has Christ abolished? A. The ritual law of Moses. Q. 26. What is meant by liberty ? Gal. v, 1. A. Liberty, 1st, from the law; 2d, from sin. II. Q. 1. 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 ? A. We apprehend this obscurity does not arise from the nature of the subject; but partly from the extreme warmth of most writers who have treated of it. Q. 2. We affirm that faith in Christ is the sole condition of justification. But 42 does not repentance go before that faith? Yea, and (supposing that there be oppor¬ tunity for them) fruits or works meet for repentance? A. Without doubt they do. Q. 3. How then can we deny them to be conditions of justification? Is not this a mere strife of words? A. It seems not, though it has been grievously abused. But so the abuse cease, let the use remain. Q. 4. Shall we read over together Mr. Baxter's aphorisms concerning justifica¬ tion ? A. By all means. Q. 5. Is an assurance of God's pardon¬ ing love absolutely necessary to our being in his favor ? Or may there possibly be some exempt cases? A. We dare not positively say there are not. Q. 6. Is such an assurance absolutely necessary to inward and outward holiness ? A. To inward we apprehend it is: to outward holiness, we incline to think not, Q. 7. Is it indispensably necessary to final salvation? 43 A. Love hopeth all things. We know not how far any man may fall under the case of invincible ignorance. Q. 8. But what can we say of one of our own society who dies without it, as I. W., at London? A. 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. Q. 9. Does a man believe any longer than he feels reconciled to God ? A. We conceive not. But we allow there may be infinite degrees of seeing God; even as many as there are between him that sees the sun, when it shines on his eyelids closed, and be who stands with his eyes wide open in the full blaze of his beams. Q. 10. Does a man believe any longer than he loves God ? A. In nowise. For neither circum¬ cision nor uncircumcision avails, without faith working by love. Q. 11. Have we duly considered the case of Cornelius? Was he not in the favor of 44 God, when his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God. i. e., before he believed in Christ ? A. It does seem that he was, in some de¬ gree. But we speak not of those who have heard the gospel. Q. 12. But were those works of his splen¬ did sins ? A. No; nor were they done without the grace of Christ. Q. 13. Plow then can we maintain that all works, done before we have a sense of the pardoning love of God, are sins? And, as such, an abomination to him? A. 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 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. Q. 14. Seeing there is so much difficulty in this subject, can we deal too tenderly with them that oppose us? A. "VY e cannot, unless we were to give up any part of the truth of God. 45 Q. 15. Is a believer constrained to obey God? A. At first he often is. The love of Christ constraineth him. After this he may obey or he may not; no constraint be¬ ing laid on him. Q. 16. Can faith be lost but through dis¬ obedience ? A. It cannot. 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. Q. 17. How can such a one recover faith ? A. By repenting and doing the first works. Rev. ii. 5. Q. 18. Whence is it that so great a ma¬ jority of those who believe, fall more or less into doubt or fear? A. 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. 46 Q. 19. Is there not a defect in us? Do nve preach as we did at first ? Have we not changed our doctrines? A. 1st. At first we preached almost wholly to unbelievers. To those therefore we spake almost continually of remission of sins through the death of Christ and the nature 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. Q. 20. Do not some of our preachers preach too much of the wrath, and too lit¬ tle of the love of G od ? A. We fear that they have leaned to that extreme, and hence some of their hearers have lost the joy of faith. 47 Q. 21. Need we ever preacli the terrors of the Lord to those who know they are ac¬ cepted of him ? A. No, it is folly so to do; for love is to them the strongest of all motives. Q. 22. Do we ordinarily represent a jus¬ tified state so great and happy as it is'( A. Perhaps not: a believer walking in the light is inexpressibly great and happy. Q. 23. Should we not have a care of de¬ preciating justification, in order to exalt the state of full sanctification ? A. Undoubtedly we should be aware of this; for one may insensibly slide into it. Q. 24. How should we avoid it? A. When we are going to speak of entire sanctification, let us first describe the bless¬ ings of a justified state, as strong as pos¬ sible. Q. 25. Does not the truth of the G-ospel lie very near both Calvinism and Antino- mianism? A. Indeed it does, as it were, within a hair's breadth;—so that it is altogether foolish and sinful, because we do not alto¬ gether agree with one or the other, to run from them as far as we can. 48 Q. 26. "Wherein may we come to the very verge of Calvinisnl ? A. 1st. In ascribing all good to the free grace of God. 2d. In denying all natural free will, and all power antecedent to grace, and, 3d. Including all merit from man, even for what he has or does by the grace of God. Q. 27. Wherein may we come to the edge of Antinomianism ? A. 1st. In exalting the merits and love of Christ. 2d. In rejoicing ever more. Q. 28. Does faith supersede (set aside the necessity of) holiness or good works ? A. In nowise. So far from it that it implies both, as a cause does its effects. III. Q. 1. Can an unbeliever (whatever he be in other respects) challenge any thing of God's justice ? A. He cannot, nothing but hell. And this is a point on which we cannot insist too much. Q. 2. Do we exempt men of their own righteousness, as we did at first ? Do we sufficiently labor, when they begin to be convinced of sin, to take away all they lean upon ? Should we not then endeavor, with 49 all our might, to overturn their false foun¬ dation ? A. This was at first one of our principal points. And it ought to be so still. For till all other foundations are overturned, they cannot build on Christ. Q. 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 com¬ forted ? A. We did. And so should we do still. For the stronger the conviction the speedier is the deliverance. And none so soon re¬ ceive the peace of God, as those who stea¬ dily refuse all other comfort. Q. 4. What is sincerity ? A. Willingness to know and to do the whole will of God. The lowest species thereof seems to be faithfulness in that which is little. Q. 5. Has God any regard for man's sin¬ cerity ? A. So far, that no man in any state can possibly please God without it; neither in any moment wherein he is not sincere. 4 50 Q. 6. But can it be conceived that God has any regard to the sincerity of an unbe¬ liever ? A. Yes, so much, that if he perseveres therein, God will infallibly give him faith. Q. 7. What regard may we conceive him to have to the sincerity of a believer ? A. So much that in every sincere be¬ liever he fulfils all the great and precious promises. Q. 8. "Whom do you term a sincere be¬ liever ? A. One that walks in the light, as God is in the light. Q. 9. Is sincerity the same with a single eye? A. Not altogether; the latter refers to our intentions, the former to our wills or desires. Q. 10. Is it not all in all ? A. All will follow persevering sincerity. God gives everything with it; nothing without it. Q. 11. Are not, then, sincerity and faith equivalent terms ? A. By no means. It is at least as nearly 51 related to works as it is to faith. For example, who is sincere before he believes ? 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 G-od's love, is zealous of all good works. Q. 12. Is not sincerity what St Paul terms a willing mind ? 2 Cor. viii. 12. A. Yes, if the word be taken in a gene¬ ral sense. For it is a constant disposition to use all the grace given. Q. 13. But do we not then set sincerity on a level with faith ? A. No; for we allow a man may be sin¬ cere and not be justified, as he may be peni¬ tent and not be justified : (not as yet) but he cannot have faith, and not be justified The very moment he believes he is justified. Q. 14. But do we not give up faith and put sincerity in its place, as the condition of our acceptance with Grod ? A. We believe it is one condition of our acceptance, as repentance likewise is. And we believe it a condition of our continuing 52 in a state of acceptance with G-od. Yet we do not put it in the place of faith. It is by faith the merits of Christ are applied to my soui. But if I am not sincere, they are not applied. Q. 15. Is not this that going about to establish your own righteousness, whereof St. Paul speaks ? A. 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. Q. 16. But do you consider that we are under the covenant of grace ? And that the covenant of works is now abolished ? A. All mankind are under the covenant of grace, from the very hour that the ori¬ ginal promise was made. If by the cove¬ nant of works you mean that of unsinning obedience made with Adam before the fall: no man but Adam was ever under that cove¬ nant—for it was abolished before Cain was 53 born. Yet it is not so abolished, but that it will stand, in a measure, even to tlie 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 death. For every man shall be judged in that, and re¬ warded according to Ms works. Q. 17. What means, then, to him that believeth his faith is counted for righteous¬ ness ? A. 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. Q. 18. But is faith thus counted to us for righteousness, at whatsoever time we believe ? A. Yes. In whatsoever moment we be¬ lieve all our past sins vanish away. They are as though they never had been, and we stand clear in the sight of God. Q. 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 ? 54 A. He that denies one of them, must deny all: ttfey are so closely connected. Q. 20. Are they ordinarily, where the pure gospel is preached, essential to our ac¬ ceptance ? A. Undoubtedly they are; and as such to be insisted on in the strongest terms. Q. 21. Is not the whole dispute of salva¬ tion by faith; or by works, a mere strife of words ? A. In asserting salvation by faith we mean this: 1st, 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. Q. 22. Wherein does our doctrine now 55 differ from that preached by Mr. Wesley, at Oxford ? A. Chiefly in these two points: 1st, He then knew nothing of that righteousness of faith in justification; nor 2d, Of that na¬ ture of faith itself, as implying conscious¬ ness of pardon. Q. 23. May not some degree of the love of God ga before a distinct sense of justifi¬ cation ? A. We believe it may. Q. 24. Can any degree of holiness or sanctification. A. 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 princi¬ ples. For the abiding love of God cannot spring but from faith in a pardoning God. And no true Christian holiness can exist without that love of God for its foundation. Q. 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? 56 A. All these things may be affirmed of every believer, in a true sense. Let us not, therefore, contradict those who maintain it. Why should we contend about words? IV. Q. 1. How much is allowed by our brethren who differ from us with regard to sanctification ? A. 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 perfection. 3d. That we ought to be continually pressing after this, and exhort all others to do so. Q. 2. What do we allow them? A. 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, nor made perfect in jOve, till a little before death. 2d. That the term "sanctified" is con¬ tinually 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. 57 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 continually 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 sanctification. Q. B. What then is the point wherein we divide? A. It is this : Whether we should expect to be saved from all sin, before the article of death. Q. 4. Is there any clear scripture prom¬ ise of this? That God will save us from all sin ? A. There is, Psalm cxxx. 8: " He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." This is more largely expressed in the prophecy of Ezekiel: " Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your 58 idols will I cleanse you—I will also save you from all your uncleannesses." xxxvi. 25, 29. No promise can be more clear. And to this the Apostle plainly refers in that exhortation: '^Having these prom¬ ises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthi- ness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holi¬ ness in the fear of Grod." 2 Cor. vii. 1. 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 Grod with all thy heart, and with all thy soul." Deut. xxx. 6. Q. 5. But does any assertion answerable to this occur in the New Testament? A. There does, and that laid down in the plainest terms. So 1 John iii. 8: "For this purpose the Son of Grod was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil." The works of the Devil without any limitation or restriction ; but all sin is the work of the Devil. Parallel to which is that assertion of St. Paul, Eph. v. 27 : " Christ loved the Church, and gave him¬ self for it, that he might present it to him¬ self a glorious church, not having spot or 59 wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish." And to the same effect is that assertion in the eighth chapter of Romans, (3d and 4th verses:) " God sent his Son, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Q. 6. Does the New Testament afford any further ground for expecting to be saved from all sin ? A. Undoubtedly it does. Both in those prayers and commands, which are equiva¬ lent to the strongest assertions. Q. 7. What prayers do you mean? A. Prayers for entire sanctification; which, were there no such thing, would be mere mockery of Grod. Such, in par¬ ticular, 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. • 2d. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they may all be one, as thou, Father, art in rue, and I 60 in thee, that they also may be one in us; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one/' 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, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to com¬ prehend with all saints, what is the length, and breadth, and height, and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God." Eph. iii. 14, 16, 19. 4th. "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God, your whole spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blame¬ less unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. v. 23. Q. 8. What command is there to the same effect ? A. 1st. u Be ye perfect, as your Fa¬ ther 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. 61 37, But if the love of God fill all the heart, there can be no sin there. Q. 9. But how does it appear that this is to be done before the article of death ? A. First 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. Secondly, from express tests of Scrip¬ ture. 1st. "The grace of God, which bring- eth salvation, hath appeared to all men; teaching us that, denying ungodliness and every worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present world; looking for the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who gave him¬ self for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a pe¬ culiar people, zealous of good works." Titus ii. 11, 14. 2d. " He hath raised up a horn of sal¬ vation for us to perform the mercy prom- 62 ised to our fathers, the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being de¬ livered out of the hand of all our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life." Luke i. 69, &c. Q. 10. Does not the harsh preaching of perfection tend to bring believers into a kind of bondage or slavish fear? A. It does. Therefore we should always place it in the most amiable light, so that it may excite only hope, joy, and desire. Q. 11. Why may we not continue in the joy of faith, even till we are made per¬ fect ? A. Why, indeed! Since holy grief does not quench this joy; since even while we are under the cross, while we deeply partake of the sufferings of Christ, we may rejoice with joy unspeakable. Q. 12. Do we not discourage believers from rejoicing evermore? A. We ought not to do so. Let them all their time rejoice unto God, so it be with reverence. And even if lightness or 63 pride should mix with their joj, let us not strike at the joy itself, (this is the gift of Grod,) but at the lightness of pride, that the evil may cease and the good remain. Q. 13. Ought we to be anxiously care¬ ful about perfection, lest we should die be¬ fore we have attained it? A. In nowise. We ought to be thus careful for nothing, either spiritual or tem¬ poral. Q. 14. But ought we not to be trou¬ bled on account of the sinful nature which still remains in us? A. 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 sin most abounds, the sense of his love should much more abound. Q. 15. Will our joy or our trouble in¬ crease as we grow in grace ? A. Perhaps both. But, without doubt, 64 our joy in the Lord will increase as our love increases Q. 16. Is not the teaching believers to be continually poring over their inbred siD, the ready way to make them forget that they were purged from their former sin ? A. We find by experience it is; or to make them undervalue, and account it a little thing; whereas, indeed, (though there are still greater gifts behind,) this is inex¬ pressibly great and glorious. CHAPTER III. GENERAL RULES. SECTION. I The Nature, Design, and General Rules of the 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 65 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 meetings with prayer suited to their seve¬ ral necessities. (2.) This was the rise of the United Society, first in Europe, and then in America. 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 exhortation, and to watch over one. ano¬ ther in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation. (3.) That it may the more easily be dis- 66 cerned whether they are indeed working out their salvation, each society is divided into smaller companies (called classes), ac¬ cording 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 : 1. To inquire how their souls prosper. 2. To advise, reprove, comfort or exhort, as occasion may require. 3. To receive what they are willing to give towards the relief of the preachers, church, and poor. II. To meet the ministers, and the stew¬ ards of the society, once a week in order: 1. To inform the minister of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved. 2. To pay the stewards what they have received from their several classes in the week preceding. 3. There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies—a desire to flee from the 67 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. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein, that they should continue to evi¬ dence their desire of salvation : First. By doing no harm; by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is the most generally practised—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 or selling. Drunkenness, or the drinking spirituous 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. 68 Uncharitable or unprofitable conversa¬ tion, particularly speaking evil of magis¬ trates or ministers. Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us. Doing what we know is not for the glory of G-od; as, The putting on of gold and costly ap¬ parel. The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus. The singing those songs, and reading those books which do not tend to the know¬ ledge or love of Grod. Softness, and needless self-indulgence. Laying up treasure on earth. i Borrowing without a probability of pay¬ ing ; or taking up goods without a proba¬ bility of paying for them. (4.) It is expected of all those who con¬ tinue in these societies, that they shall con¬ tinue to evidence their desire of salvation. Secondly. By doing good; by being in every thing merciful according to their power, as they have opportunity; doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as is possible, to all men. 69 ^ 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 their souls, by instructing, reproving or exhorting all we have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusias¬ tic doctrine, 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 others, 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, and taking up their cross daily, submitting to bear the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and ofiscouring of the world, and look¬ ing that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely, for the Lord's sake. (5.) It is expected of all who desire to continue in these societies, that'fchey should 70 continue to evidence their desire of salva¬ tion. Thirdly. By attending upon all the ordi¬ nances 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. Searching the Scriptures, as fasting or abstinence. (6.) These are the general rules of our societies; all of which we are taught of G-od to observe, even in his written word, which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. All these we know his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break 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 then if he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own soula. 71 SECTION II. Rules of the Band Societies, drawn up December 25th, 1738. Two, three or four true believers, who have confi¬ dence 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 unmarried. The design of our meeting is to obey that command of G-od—"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 appoin¬ ted unless some extraordinary reason pre¬ vent. 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 the temptations we have felt since our last meeting. 5. To end every meeting with prayer, suited to the state of each person present. 72 6. To desire some person among us to speak of liis 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? 8. 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 do¬ minion 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 73 tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, concerning you? 10. Do you desire that in doing this, we should come as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your hearts to the bottom ? 11. 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 commit¬ ted 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? Directions given to the Band Societies, De¬ cember 25iht 1744. You are supposed to have the faith that overcometh the world. To you, therefore, it is not grievous,— 74 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 spirituous liquors, nor dram of any kind, unless prescribed by a physician. 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 ruffles. 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. 8- To be patterns of diligence and fru¬ gality, of self-denial, and taking up the cross daily. III. Constantly to attend on all the or¬ dinances of God : in particular,— 75 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. And, 4. To observe as days of fasting or absti¬ nence all Fridays in the year. SECTION III. Of Public Worship. Q. 1. "What directions shall be given for the establishment of uniformity in public worship among us on the Lord's Day 7 A. 1. Let the morning service consist of singing, prayer, the reading of a chapter out of the Old Testament or one of the New Testament, and preaching. 2. Let the afternoon service consist of singing, prayer, the reading of one or two chapters, and preaching. 3. Let the evening service consist of singing and prayer, and preaching. 76 4. But on the days of administering the Lord's Supper, the two chapters in the morning service may be omitted. Let the Lord's prayer, however be used at every service. 5. Let the society meet wherever it is practicable. SECTION IV. Of the Spirit and Truth of Singing. Q. 1. How shall we guard against for¬ mality in singing. A. 1. By choosing such hymns as are proper for the congregation. 2. By not singing too much at once; seldom more than five or six verses. 3. By suiting the tune to the words. 4. By stopping short, and asking the people, "Now, do you know what you said last?" 5. Do not suffer the people to sing too slowly. This naturally tends to formality, and is brought in by those who have either very strong or very weak voices. 77 6. In evejy large society, let them learn to sing; and let tliern always learn our tunes first. 7. Let tlie women constantly sing their parts alone. Let no man sing with them, unless he understand the notes, and sings the bass as it is composed in the tune-hook. 8. Introduce no new tunes until they are perfect in the old. 9. Recommend our tune-book; and if you cannot sing yourself, choose a person or two at each place, to pitch a tune for you. 10. Exhort every person in the congre¬ gation to sing—not one in ten only. 11. Sing no hymns of your own com¬ posing. 12. If a preacher be present, let him alone give out the words. 13. When the singers would teach a tune to the congregation, they must sing the tenor only. 14. No person or persons shall be allowed to sing in our choirs, who will not be sub¬ ject to our authority; and no one shall lead our choirs unless appointed or acknowledged 78 by the minister or preacher in charge. Anc let it be recommended to our people not t( attend the schools which are not under oui direction. 15. The preacher shall not encourage the singing of fugue tunes * in our public congregations. 16. We do not think that fugue tunes are sinful or improper to be used in private companies; but we do not approve of their being used in public congregations, because public singing is a part of Divine worship in which all the congregation ought to join, SECTION Y. Of Class Meetings. Q. 1. How may the leaders of classes be rendered more useful ? A. 1. Let each of them be diligently ex¬ amined concerning his method of meeting a class. Let this be done with all possible exactness, at least once a quarter. In order to this, take sufficient time. * Flying music. 79 2. Let each leader carefully inquire how every soul in his class prospers; not only how each person observes the outward rules, but how he grows in the knowledge and love of God. Let the leaders converse with those who have the charge of their circuits, frequent¬ ly and freely. Q. 2. Can any thing more be done in order to make class meetings lively and profitable ? A. 1. Change improper leaders. 2. Let the leaders frequently meet each other's classes. 3. Let us observe which leaders are most useful; and let these meet the other classes as often as possible. 4. See that all the leaders be men of sound judgment, and truly devoted to God. Q. 3. How shall we prevent improper persons from insinuating themselves into the church? A. 1. Give tickets to none until they are recommended by a leader with whom they have met at least six months on trial. 2. Give notes to none but those who are 80 recommended by one you know, or until they have met three or four times in s class. 3. Read the rules to them the first tim( they meet. Q. 4. And how shall they he received into full membership ? A. 1. Let none be received into the Church until they are recommended by a leader, whom they have met at least six months on trial, and have been baptized; and shall, on examination by the minister in charge, before the Church, give satis¬ factory evidence or assurance, both of the correctness of his or her faith, and willing¬ ness to observe the rules and keep them. Nevertheless, should any members from any other orthodox denomination make ap¬ plication to be united with us, without a letter, and are in good standing in the Church from which they came, such ap¬ plicants may, by giving satisfaction to the usual inquiries, be received in full mem¬ bership at once. Q. 5. How shall we be more exact in re¬ ceiving and excluding members ? 81 A. The official minister or preacher shall at every quarterly meeting read the names of those that are received and excluded. If any leader shall permit an expelled member to enjoy the privileges of a class meeting, or furnish such with a ticket for a love feast, let him be instantly removed from his office by the elder, deacon, or preacher having the charge. Q. 6. What shall we do with those mem¬ bers of our church who wilfully and re¬ peatedly neglect to meet their classes ? A. 1. Let the elder, deacon, or preach¬ er visit them whenever it is practicable, and explain to them the consequences, if they continue to neglect—viz.: exclusion. 2. If they do not amend, let him who has the charge of the circuit or station ex¬ pel them, showing that they are expelled for a breach of our rules, and not for im¬ moral conductbut they shall first be tried before the society, or a select number. 6 82 SECTION YI. On Marriage and Re-Marriage. Q. 1. Do we observe any evil which has prevailed in our church with respect to marriage ? A. 1. Many of our members have married with unawakened persons. This has pro¬ duced bad effects. They have been either hindered for life, or turned back to per¬ dition. Q. 2. What can be done to discourage this? A. 1. Let every preacher publicly en¬ force the Apostle's caution—" Be not un¬ equally yoked with unbelievers." 2 Cor. vi. 14. 2. Let all be exhorted not to enter into so weighty a matter witho.ut advising with the most serious of their brethren. Q. 3. Ought any woman to marry with¬ out the consent of her parents ? A. 1. In general, she ought not. Yet there may be exceptions. For if, 1st, a woman believe it to be her duty to marry; if, 2d, her parents absolutely refuse to let 83 her marry any Christian; she then, nay, ought to marry without their consent. Yet, even then, a Methodist preacher ought not to be married to her. Q. 4. Do we not see a great evil arising from persons who are married; leaving their wives and husbands and marrying again ? A. 1. Y\re do, and believe it to be a crime expressly forbidden in the word of G-od: Therefore, if any minister, preacher, exhorter or member who has been legally married, arid shall separate and marry again while the former wife or husband is living, saving for the cause of fornication, the party or parties so offending shall be expelled, and shall not be admitted to join any of our churches during the natural life of the parties; and any minister who shall marry such knowingly, shall forfeit his standing in the connection. , ' We do not prohibit our people from mar¬ rying persons who are not of our Church, provided such persons have the form, and are seeking the power of godliness ; but we are determined to discourage their marry¬ ing ])ersons who do not come up to this de¬ scription. 84 SECTION VII. On Dress. Q. 1. Should we insist on the rules concerning dress? A. 1. By all means. This is no time to encourage superfluity in dress; therefore, let all of our ministers exhort our people to confirm to the spirit of the apostolic pre¬ cept, "Not to adorn themselves with gold, and pearls, and costly array." I Tim. ii. 19; 1 Pet. iii. 3. In order to this, 1. Let every one who has the charge of a circuit read the thoughts upon dress, at least once a year, in every society. 2. In visiting the classes be very strict, but very mild. Each and all of our Annual Conferences shall faithfully carry out this rule at each session, for the violation of which any min¬ ister in charge may be suspended. There¬ fore, all our preachers shall put off all su¬ perfluity and costly apparel. 85 SECTION VIII. Concerning the Instruction of Children. Q. 1. What shall we do for the rising generation ? A. 1. Let him who is zealous for God and the souls of men begin now. 2. Where there are ten children whose parents will allow it, meet them once a week; but where this is impracticable, meet them once in two weeks. 3. Procure instructions and our cate¬ chisms for them, and let all who can read commit them to memory. 4. Explain and impress them upon their hearts. 5. Talk with them every time you see any at home. 6. Pray earnestly for them; and diligent¬ ly instruct and exhort all parents at their own houses. 7. Let the elders, deacons and preachers take a list of their names, and if any of them be truly awakened, let them be ad¬ mitted into the society. 8. Preach expressly on education : "But 86 I have no gift for this." Pray earnestly for the gift, and use every other means to attain it. 9. As far as practicable, it shall he the duty of every preacher of a circuit or sta¬ tion, to form Sabbath-schools; to obtain the names of the children belonging to his con¬ gregation ; to form them into classes, for the purpose of giving them religious in¬ struction, to instruct them regularly him¬ self as much as his other duties will allow. The course of instruction shall not only embrace the nature of experimental re¬ ligion, but also the nature, design, privi¬ leges and obligations of their baptism. It shall be the duty of the pastor, also, to ap¬ point a suitable leader for each class, who shall instruct them in his absence—'re¬ commend to the preacher such among them as he may deem suitable to be received among us on trial. The preacher shall leave his successor a correct account of each class thus formed with the name of its leadej^ 87 PART II. GOVERNMENT OP THE CHURCH. CHAPTER I. The Conferences. PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It is desired that all things be considered on these occasions, as in the immediate presence of God; that every person speak freely whatever is in his heart. Q. 1. How may we best improve our time at Conference. A. 1. While we are conversing, let us have an especial care to set God always before us. 2. In the intermediate hours, let us redeem all the time we can for private exercises. 3. Therein let us give ourselves „to prayer for one another, and for a blessing on our labors. 88 SECTION I. Of Composition and Meeting of the Gene¬ ral Conference. A. 1. The General Conference shall be composed of all the General Officers; also one Delegate for every seven members of eacli Annual Conference who shall be an Itinerant Minister, who shall have trav¬ elled four full years in our connection, whose character and standing is fair, he having been elected by the Annual Con¬ ference prior to the sitting of the General Conference: Providing, nevertheless, no Annual Conference shall have less than three Itinerant delegates. 2. Two Delegates from each Annual Conference District chosen from the Lo($l Preachers or Laymen (who shall have been for two consecutive years members in good standing in our church, professing good natural and acquired abilities who both know and love the Doctrines and Discipline of our church) in the following manner. There shall be one Elector from the bounds of each Quarterly Conference in the Dis- 89 tricfc, (each church shall have power to nominate but the Quarterly Conference shall confirm,) who shall form an electoral college, at such time and place as shall be designated by the Annual Conference prior to the one preceding the General Con¬ ference, for the purpose of electing two Lay Delegates to represent the Annual Confer¬ ence District in said General Conference : Providing, however, that the electoral col¬ lege shall meet at least three months pre¬ vious to the Annual Conference preceding the General; and the Delegates elected shall present their credentials, properly signed by the President and Secretary of the electoral college to the said Annual Conference and their names shall be enrolled on the Minutes of the same as Lay Dele¬ gates to the General Conference. 3. In case of death, resignation, expul¬ sion, or removal from the district, the Quarterly Meeting Conference, where such vacancy shall occur, shall have the power to elect another, upon the nomination of the preacher in charge. 4. The General Conference shall meet 90 on the first Monday in May, once in four years perpetually, in such place or places as shall be fixed on by the General Confer¬ ences, from time to time; but the Gene¬ ral Superintendents or acting Bishops, with or by the advice of all the Annual Confer¬ ences, or if there be no General Superin¬ tendents, all the Annual Conferences, re¬ spectively, shall liave power to call a General Conference, if they judge it neces¬ sary, at any time. 5. The General Superintendents shall request the preachers having the charge of the different circuits, or stations, to notify the delegates appointed by the Annual Conference to attend at the time and place appointed ; and should there be two-thirds of the members present after such notice, those present shall proceed to business, and their proceedings shall be lawful. 1. Powers and Restrictions. Q. What are the powers and regula¬ tions of the General Conference ? A. The General Conference shall have full powers to make rules and regulations 91 for our Church under the following limita¬ tions and restrictions, namely, t 1. The General Conference shall not re- i voke, alter or change our articles of reli- sgion, nor establish any new standards or rules of doctrine, contrary to our present existing and established standards of doc¬ trine. ■ 2. They shall not change or alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away Episcopacy, or destroy the plan of our .Itinerant General Superintendency. 3. They shall not do away the privileges of our ministers or preachers of trial by a committee, and of an appeal. Neither shall they do away the privileges of our mem¬ bers 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 sur¬ plus of the Book Concern to any purpose other than for the benefit of the Bisho Itinerant, supernumerary, superannuated preachers, their widows and orphans: Provi- 92 ded, nevertheless, That a majority of tw> thirds of the General Conference shall suf¬ fice to alter the fifth restriction and none other. 2. Of Raising the expenses of Members ani Delegates to and from, the General Con¬ ference, t£'c. 1. It shall be the duty of each member, and also of each delegate to the General Conference, to collect, previously to the sit¬ ting of the General Conference, the amount necessary to bear his own expenses to and from the General Conference. 2. At the close of each and every Gene¬ ral Conference it shall always be the dutj of the Financial Committee first to paj the incidental expenses of the General Conference • secondly to pay over the bal¬ ance to the General Book Steward, to pay for the printing of the minutes of the Gen¬ eral Conference and the book of Disci¬ pline. SECTION II. The Annual Conferences. Q, 1. Who shall compose the Annual Conferences ? 93 A. 1. All the travelling preachers of the Conference who are in full connection, and r'11 probationers in the same. 2. All the local preachers who have been icensed four full years, recommended by heir Quarterly Conference, passed their el¬ imination at the Annual Conference, and *iven satisfaction in the course of studies prescribed in the book of Discipline: Pro¬ vided, That members coming from ano¬ ther Annual Conference, in our connection, and probationers in the Conference, may participate in the deliberations, but shall have no vote. Q. 2. Who shall appoint the time of hold¬ ing the Yearly Conferences? A. The Presiding Bishop; but he shall allow the Conference to sit a week at least. Q. 3. Wbo shall appoint the place of holding the Yearly Conferences? A. Each Conference shall appoint its own sitting. Q. 4. What is the method wherein we usually proceed in the Yearly Conferences: A. We inquire— a. What has been collected for the con- ingent expenses ? 94 b. "What for the support of the Pastors? c. What for the support of Sundaj Schools ? d. What for ^Missions ? e. What for the aid of the Book Concern? f. What for the support of the Bishops? g. What for the aid of Superannuated Bishops and Preachers? h. What for the aid of the Widows and Orphans of deceased itinerants ? i. What to make up the deficiencies of those who have not obtained their whole allowance on their circuits, or on their sta¬ tions ? j. What for the completion of Wilberforce University and other educational purposes? 7c. How have these been expended? 5. What preachers are admitted on trial? G. Who remain on trial? 7. Who are admitted or re-admitted into full connection ? 8. Who are the Deacons ? 9. Who have been elected and ordained Deacons and Elders this year? 10. Who have located this year? 11. Who have been elected by the Gene- 95 pal Conference to exercise the Episcopal office, and superintend the African Metho- list Episcopal Church ? 12. Who are the supernumerary and superannuated preachers?* 13. Who have been expelled from the connection this year ? 14. Wlio have withdrawn from the con¬ nection this year ? 15. Are all the preachers blameless in life and conversation ? 1G. Who have died this year? 17. What numbers are in Society? First, What is tlie number of members ? Second, What is the number of probationers? Third, What number of local preachers ? Fourth, What number of exhorters? Fifth, What number of Churches ? Sixth, Their value ? Seventh, What number of school houses? Eighth, Parsonages ? Ninth, What has been * A superannuated preacher is one who is worn out in the itinerant service, so as to be incapable of preaching constantly, but at the same time is willing to perform any work in the ministry which the Con¬ ference may direct, and which his strength will en¬ able him to perform. 96 collected for Cliurcli Extension and how expended ? 18. Where are the preachers stationed this year ? 19. Where and when shall our next Con¬ ference be held? A record of the proceedings of each An¬ nual Conference shall be kept by a Secretary chosen for that purpose, and shall be signed by the President and Secretary; and let a copy of the said record be sent to the Gene¬ ral Conference. It shall be the duty of at least one of our Bishops to be present at each Annual Con¬ ference, to preside therein; but in case of absence or inability to attend, the Confer¬ ence may appoint a President pro tem. SECTION III. Composition and Business of the Quarterly Conference. Q. 1. Who shall compose the Quarterly Conference? A. 1. The Quarterly Conference shall consist of all the travelling preachers on a 97 sircuit, or in a station, who may be the sta¬ ted pastors of that circuit, or station. 2. All the local preachers and exhorters of said circuit, or station. 3. All the stewards and class-leaders of the same, and the male Superintendent of the Sunday School, provided he belong to the Church where the School is located, hut none else. Each general officer such as Editor, Greneral Book Steward and Corresponding- Secretary of the Missionary Society, shall •be a member of some Quarterly Con¬ ference designated by the Bishops. Of the Business of a Quarterly Conference. These meetings are to be held four (every three months) times a year, on every circuit, and in every station. After de¬ votional services, they shall proceed as follows, (first) elect a secretary, or secre¬ taries as the case may require, then the elder shall ask the,' following questions: 1. Are there any appeals? 2. Are there any applications for license to preach or exhort 1 7 98 8. Are there any licenses to be renewed? 4. How many members have been or aie to be received into full membership? 5. How many on probation ? 6. How many have been received by certificate ? 7. How many have been expelled? 8. How many laid aside for violating our rules ? 9. How many have left without cer¬ tificates? 10. How many removed by certificates? 11. What is the number in this society, or on this circuit ? 12. What is the increase this quarter? 13. How many have died this quarter, and what were their names ? 14. How many baptized and who were they ? 15. How much has been collected to pay the minister or minister this quarter ? 16. How much for Sabbath Schools? 17. How many Sabbath Schools, and what number of pupils ? 18. What number of books in Library,; 19. What has been collected for build¬ ing, purposes and repairs? 99 20. How has this been expended? 21. What is the present indebtedness? After which the Trustees, Stewards, Sabbath School Superintendent, leader of the choir, and any other church or¬ ganization, shall present to the Quarterly Conference a written report of their doings, for the quarter ending, which they may receive and adopt, or send back for cor¬ rection This being done, the Conference shall examine the moral, religious and official character of its members (at Jhe re¬ quest of a member), the person whose character is on its passage shall withdraw; this concluded, the Conference may act upon such motions and resolutions, as.may come before it. The proceedings of th« Con¬ ference 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 resppnsible. 100 CHAPTER II. RESPECTING THE MINISTRY. SECTION I. Of the Episcopacy. Q. 1. How shall a bishop be constituted? A. 1. By the election of the General Conference. Provided, That his character and qualifications be approved by the vote of a majority of all the members present. 2. After being thus chosen, he shall be consecrated by the imposition of the hands of a Bishop and six Elders. 3. Provided, That in the event of the death, resignation, or expulsion of a Bishop, there be no one to exercise the Episcopal office; the General Conference shall elect one, and seven Elders shall ordain him> then one Elder chosen from each District shall, with their joint concurrence, through their correspondence, call a General Con¬ ference forthwith to fill the vacancy. Q. 2. What are the duties of a Presiding Bishop ? 101 A. 1. To preside in all our Conferences. 2. To affix the appointments of all the :ravelling preachers in conjunction with the Associate Bishop or Bishops, at the An¬ nual Conferences. To appoint presidents, principals, and teachers, in our seminaries and colleges, which are or may he under our superintendence, when requested so to do by the Annual Conference, where such college or seminary may be located. Provi¬ ded, That no preacher remain on a circuit, ;.or in a station, more than three years, or rin one city longer than four years, except¬ ing the Editors and the General Book ^Steward. 3. He shall have power, when requested by the Annual Conference, to appoint an agent or agents for the benefit of embar¬ rassed churches, and our literary institu¬ tions. The Conference year shall commence when the appointments are read in the An¬ nual Conference, and shall continue until the announcement of the appointments at the next ensuing Annual Conference. 4. In the interval of the Conferences, to 102 change, receive, and suspend preachers, as necessity may require, as directed and re quired by the rules on these subjects in tht Discipline. 5. To decide all questions of law in Aft nual Conferences, subject to an appeal to the General Conference, but in all cases the application of law shall be with the Annual Conferences. 6. To travel through his Episcopal Dis- trict at large. 7. To oversee the spiritual and tempora business of our societies: Provided, Tha: no preacher shall be allowed to remain it a circuit or station, where the evidence are presumptive that his continuance wil be deleterious to the prosperity of th church: Provided, a/so, That no preachei shall be removed, without his consent from the bounds of the District, without at least three months' notice, prior to tit time the Bishop shall desire his removal. Q. 3. Shall the Presiding officers in oui Annual Conferences, have power to rule out of Conference any thing that comes up in regular order as a motion, moved anil 103 duly seconded, where positive law does not control the question ? A. They shall not, unless the body over which they preside question the pro¬ priety of such a motion being in order. When called upon the presiding officer shall decide whether it is in order or not. Q. 4. Is there not great danger of de¬ stroying our itinerant general superinten- dency by dividing the connection into Episcopal Districts? A. We fear there is. Therefore, it shall be the duty of our Bishops to travel at large among the people and visit every circuit and station; and while one may have charge of a certin portion of the Episcopal labor assigned him, yet in any District where his presence and the interests of the connection shall require the action of a Bishop, in the absence of the one appointed to that Dis¬ trict, or jointly, if present, to subserve the interests of the Church, in general, or in all cases of difficulty where the presence of a Bishop may be required, it shall be the du¬ ty of the Bishop nearest to attend, when no¬ tice is given by the officers of the Church. 104 Q. 5. If a Bishop cease from travelling at large among the people, shall he exercise the Episcopal office among us in any degree.' A. No: he shall not exercise the Epis¬ copal office over the Church unless he travel1 at large throughout his District. This shall be regulated by the General Conference: and they shall make provision for his trav¬ elling expenses. SECTION II. Of the Appointment, Duties and &'vppor of Presiding Elders. Q. 1. Shall an Annual Conference hart power to create and establish the office of Presiding Eldership in our connection .' A. Each and every Annual Confer¬ ence has power to create and establish the office of Presiding Elder for the best interest of the ministry and church for its own District, whenever and wherever they may deem it necessary. Q. 2. How shall an Annual Conference proceed to establish the office of Presiding Eldership in our Church ? 105 A. The Annual Conference, seeing the necessity of the labors of Presiding Elders, or by the advice of the Presiding Bishop of the District, shall proceed to decide by vote to establish the said office with the number that shall be appointed; and in order to ascertain the number to be appointed, it shall divide the, Conference District into Presiding Elder Districts, and in case of a majority of the members voting in favor of the office in the Districts it shall be the duty of the Bishop of the District to select according to his best judgment such Elder or Elders as to him may seem fit, and appoint the same accord¬ ing to the provisions made by the Annual Conference. la case of a tie vote the Bishop of the district shall give the east¬ ing vote. Q. 3. What shall be the duties of a Presiding Elder in his District ? A. 1. To take charge of all the Elders, Deacons, Travelling and Local Preachers, and Exhorters in his District. 2. To be present at all the Quarterly Meetings to preside at the Quarterly Con-< ferences. 106 3. To travel through his District at large; to take care that every part of our Discipline be enforced in his District. Q. 4. Shall he have power to employs Preacher who has been rejected by the pre¬ vious Annual Conference ? A. 1. He shall not: without the consent of a majority of the Quarterly Conference and permission from the said Annual Con¬ ference so to do. 2. lie shall not cease to travel without the consent of the Annual Conference, cer¬ tified under the hand of the President of the Conference, except in case of sickness, debility or other unavoidable circumstances. Nevertheless the final determination of all such cases is with the Annual Confer¬ ence. 3. lie shall have power, when the interest of the church may require it, to remove or change a Preacher or Preachers in the in¬ terval of the Annual Conference with the consent of the Quarterly Conference. 4. He shall decide all questions of law in the Quarterly Conference, subject to an ap¬ peal to the Annual Conference, but the 107 application of law in all cases shall be with the Quarterly Conference. Q. 5. What shall he done in case of a Presiding Elder proving himself to he in¬ competent in any way for the discharge of the duties devolving upon him? A. Whenever it becomes apparent to the Bishop of the District that the Elder appointed to the office is incompetent in judgment of law, prudence in admin¬ istration and government, or purity and ho¬ liness of life, to honor the office and bless the Church, he shall remove him from the office, and fill the place with another as soon as may be practicable. Q. 6. What shall be the time of a Presiding Elder in a District? A. Each Presiding Elder shall remain in his District for four years, unless in the judgment of the Presiding Bishop of the District it should appear best to remove at an earlier time. The trial of Presiding Elders shall be as that of Elders in charge, with the exception that all the preachers forming the committee shall be Elders and Deacons. 108 "Whenever a Presiding Elder is appointed to serve in a District, his salary shall be the same as that of an Elder in charge, which shall be apportioned to the people in the District to which he is appointed, SECTION III. The Election 0/ Elders in charge and their duty. Q. 1. How is an Elder constituted? A. 1. By the election of a majority of the Annual Conference. 2. By the imposition of the hands of a Bishop, and the Elders who had examined him for said office. 3. Provided, That the Annual Conference shall be certain, that the candidate has been thoroughly instructed in the nature of the vows which he must take upon him¬ self and perform as an Elder. Q. 2. What are the duties of an Elder paving the charge ? A. 1. To take charge of all the Elders, and Deacons, travelling and local preachers and exhorters in his charge. 109 2. To be present at all the Quarterly Meetings; to preside in the Quarterly Con¬ ferences in the absence of the Presiding Elder. 3. To take care that every part of our Discipline be enforced in his charge. 4. To attend the General Superintendent when present in his charge, and to give hinj, when absent, all necessary information by letter, of the state of the same. • Q. 3. Shall he have power to employ a preacher who has been rejected by the pre¬ vious Annual Conference ? A. 1. He shall not, without the consent of a majority of the Quarterly Conference, and permission from the said Annual Con¬ ference so to do. 2. He shall travel and labor through his charge; administering Baptism and the Lord's Supper; perform the office of Matri¬ mony, and all parts of Divine worship. 3. He shall not cease to travel without the consent of the Yearly Conference, certi¬ fied under the hand of the President of the Conference, except in case of sickness, de¬ bility, or other unavoidable circumstances. 110 Nevertheless, the final determination of all such cases is with the Annual Conference. 4. To meet the societies, classes, and general bands. 5. To visit the sick. 6. To be diligent; never be unemployed; never be triflingly employed. 7. To see that the other preachers in his circuit behave well. 8. To' renew the tickets quarterly, and regulate the bands. 9. To meet the stewards and leaders as often as possible. 10. To appoint all the leaders, and chaDge them when he sees it necessary; (but the steward shall be appointed in the way the Discipline directs.) 11. To receive, try, and expel members, according to the form of Discipline. 12. To hold watch-nights and love-feasts. 13. To hold quarterly meetings. 14. To take care that every society is duly supplied with books. 15. To take an exact account of the num¬ ber in society, in their respective circuits or stations, and deliver in such account to Ill lie Annual Conference, that they may be )rinted in the minutes. 16. To meet the men and women apart n the larger societies, once a quarter wherever it is practicable. 17. To overlook the accounts of all the stewards. 18. To appoint a person to receive the quarterly collections in the classes, (where there is no steward.) 19. To see that public collections be made quarterly, if need be, to assist in making up the allowance of the preachers. 20. To raise a yearly subscription in those circuits that can bear it, for the build¬ ing of churches, and paying the debts of those which have been already erected. 21. To choose a committee of lay mem¬ bers, to make just application of the money where it is most wanted, (where there is no steward.) Q. 4. What other directions shall we give him ? A. Several:— 1. To leave his successor a particular ac¬ count of the state of the circuit. 112 2. To see that every band leader have the rules of the band. 3. To enforce vigorously but calmly, all the rules of the society. 4. As soon as there are four men or wo¬ men believers in any place, to put them in band. 5. He may suffer the love-feasts to last an hour and a half. C. To warn all, from time to time, that none are to remove from one circuit to an¬ other 'without a note of recommendation from the preacher of the circuit, in these words: " The bearer, A. B., has been an acceptable member of our society in C.," and to inform them, that without such a certificate they will not be received into other societies. 7. To recommend every where decency and cleanliness. 8. To read the rules of the society, with the aid of the other preachers in his charge, once a year in every congregation, and once a quarter in every society. 9. He shall take care that a fast be held in every society in his circuit, on the Friday preceding every quarterly meeting; and 113 that a memorandum of it be written on all the class papers. 10. He shall also take care that no unor- dained local preacher or exhorter in his circuit shall officiate in public, without first obtaining a license from the preacher in charge. Let every such preacher and ex¬ horter take care to have this renewed year¬ ly, and let him who has charge of the cir¬ cuit insist upon it. 11. He shall call all meetings of the church or society, for the transaction of all business, spiritual or temporal, pertaining to his charge, or cause the same to be done, except in cases where he is the accused. SECTION IV. The Election and Duties of a Travelling Deacon. Q. 1. How is;a travelling Deacon con¬ stituted ? A. 1. By the election of a majority of the Annual Conference. 2. By the imposition of the hands of a Bishop. 8 114 3. Provided, That he shall have tra¬ velled two full years, except in case of mis¬ sions, or when the Annual Conference may elect him to the Diaconate sooner, if they judge it expedient, and the candidate haf given satisfaction in regard to the course of studies prescribed in Discipline. 4. Provided, also, that the Annual Con¬ ference shall be certain that the candidate has been carefully instructed in the nature of the vows which he must take upon him¬ self and discharge as a deacon. Q. 2. What are the duties of a tra¬ velling Deacon. A. 1. To baptize, and perform the office of matrimony in the absence of the elder. 2. To assist the elder in administering the Lord's Supper. 3. He shall travel and labor through his charge. 4. To meet the societies, classes, and general bands. 5. To visit the sick. 6. To be diligent; never to be unem¬ ployed; never to be trifliugly employed, 7. To renew the Tickets quarterly, and regulate the Bands. 115 8. To meet the stewards and leaders as often as possible. 9. To receive, try, and expel members according to the form of Discipline. 10. To hold watch-nights and love-feasts. 11. To hold quarterly meetings. 12. To take# an exact account of the number of members in society, in their re¬ spective circuits and stations; and deliver such an account to the Annual Conference that they may be printed in the minutes. 13. To overlook the accounts of all the stewards. 14. To appoint a person to receive the quarterly collections in the classes, where there is no steward. 15. To see that public collections bo made quarterly, if need be, to aid in mak¬ ing up the allowance to the preachers. 16. To take care that every society is duly supplied with books. Q. 3. What other directions shall be given him? A. Several. 1. To leave his successor a particular ac¬ count of the state of the circuit or station. 116 2. To enforce vigorously, but calmly, all the rules of the society. 3. He may suffer the love-feast to last an hour and a half. 4. To warn all, from time to time, that none are to remove from one circuit to an¬ other without a note of recommendation from the preacher of the circuit in these words: "The bearer, A. B., has been an acceptable member of our society in C.,' and to inform them that without such a cer¬ tificate, they will not be received into oui societies. 5. To read the rules of the society, with: the aid of the other preachers on his cir¬ cuit or station, once a jear in the congre¬ gation, and once a quarter in every society. To take care that every part of our Dis¬ cipline be enforced in his charge. To attend the General Superintendent and the Elder in charge, when present, and to give them all necessary information, by letter, of the state of their charge. No circuit or station shall be left without an Elder in charge, who shall visit it at each Quarterly Meeting Conference to preside, 117 therein, his expenses to be borne to and from the said Conference, the time and place of holding which shall always be ap¬ pointed by and with his consent. But in his absence the Deacon or preacher in charge appointed by the Bishop to the cir¬ cuit or station shall preside, No deacon who ceases to travel without the consent of the Yearly Conference, certi¬ fied under the hand of the President of the Conference, except in cases of sickness debility, or other unavoidable circumstan¬ ces, shall on any account exercise the pecu¬ liar functions of his office, or be even allow¬ ed to preach among us. Nevertheless, the final determination in all such cases is with the Annual Conference. SECTION V. Of Travelling Licentiates. Q. 1. What shall be the duties and pow¬ ers of a travelling licentiate ? A. It shall be his duty to perform all the work of a travelling deacon, except the first and second. He shall travel two 118 full rears before lie is eligible to the office of a Deacon except in case of Missions, when the Annual Conference may elect sooner if he has given satisfaction in the c-ourse of studies prescribed in Discipline. It shall be the duty of all our pastors upon taking charge of the pastorate, to or¬ ganize all of the local preachers and exhor- ters into a class for mutual improvement, aad those who refuse to unite with such a class, shall be reported to the next Quar¬ terly Conference for reproof, and removal from the ministry, if thought best by a ma¬ jority of said Conference; and any minis¬ ter having the charge, neglecting to attend to said duty, shall be punishable according to the judgment of the Bishop and Annu¬ al Conference. Q. 2. How is a travelling preacher to be received on probation in the itinerant service ? A. 1. By the Annual Conference. 2. Id the interval of the Conference, by a Bishop or au Elder. Q. 3. W hat are the directions given to a preacher. 119 A. 1. Be diligent, never be unemployed never be triflingly employed; never trifle away any time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary. 2. Be serious. Let your motto be, Holi¬ ness unto the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting and foolish talking. 3. Converse sparingly and conduct your¬ selves prudently with women. 1 Tim. v. 2. 4. Take no step towards marrying with¬ out consulting your brethern. 5. Believe evil of no one without good evidence ; unless you see it done, take heed you credit it not. Put the best construc¬ tion on every thing. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side. 6. Speak evil of no one, because your words especially doth eat as a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned. 7. Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct and tem¬ per, 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. 120 8. Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the gospel is a servant of all. 9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin. 10. Be punctual. Do every thing ex¬ actly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, bat for conscience sake. 11. You have nothing 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 who want you most. Observe: It is not your business only to preach so many times, and to take care ol this or that society, but to save as many as you can; to bring as many sinners to repentance as you can; and with all your power to build them up in that holiness, without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember, a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small in the Methodist Discipline. Therefore you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have. 12. Act in all things not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel 121 iis such, it is your duty to employ your ime in the manner which we direct; in preaching and visiting from house to house; :.n reading, meditation and prayer Above all, if you labor with us in the vineyard of phe 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. We may then, if he give us satisfaction ,'as to his knowledge of the Discipline and doctrines of our church; of the understand¬ ing he has in the connection necessary in a discourse; of his knowledge of church his¬ tory, particularly ours, and all other studies prescribed in the Appendix, receive him !as a probationer, by giving him the form of Discipline, inscribed thus: "To A. B. You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make full proof of it and we shall rejoice to receive you as a fellow-la¬ borer." Let him then carefully read and weigh what is contained therein; and if he has any doubt, it may be removed. Should he be destitute of the foregoing necessary qualifications, he may be referred 122 to a committee, who shall examine him oc¬ casionally during the ensuing year, and if they recommend him, his application may be again presented at the nest Annual Conference. Observe: Taking on trial is entirely dif¬ ferent from admitting a preacher into full connection. One on trial may be either admitted-or rejected without doing him any wrong; otherwise it would be no trial at all. No preacher shall be admitted into full connection without the consent of the Annual Conference. Let -every one who has the charge of a circuit or station ex¬ plain this to those who are on trial, and to those who are to be proposed in future. But no one shall be admitted on trial unless he first procure a recommendation from the quarterly meeting of his circuit, with the exception of such as may be re¬ ceived by the Bishop or Elder in the inter¬ val of the Conference, which shall be left to the Annual Conference for decision. After two years' probation, which is to com¬ mence from his being received on trial at the Annual Conference or when taken up 123 by a Bishop or an Elder, be approved, and ■examined by tbe Conference, he may be ■received into full connection by giving him i^the form of Discipline inscribed thus:— "As long as you freely consent to, and ear¬ nestly endeavor to walk by these rules, we :shall rejoice to acknowledge you as a fel¬ low-laborer/' : If any preacher absent himself from his '.circuit without the leave of the General iSuperintendent, or the Elder in charge, his place shall be filled with another preacher, iwho shall be paid for his labors out of the allowance of the absent preacher, in propor¬ tion to the usual allowance, according to the time employed. SECTION VI. Of the Method of Receiving Travelling Preachers tcho have served out their Probation into full connection. Q. 1. What method do we use in re¬ ceiving a travelling preacher into full con¬ nection ? A. 1. After solemn prayer, every person proposed shall then«-bQ'-a'&lift^-"'^A^f">0- the 124 Conference, the following questions, (with any other which may be thought necessary,) viz.: Have you faith in Christ? Are you going on to perfection ? Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life ? Are you groaning after it? Are you resolved wholly to devote 'yourself to G-od and his work ? Do you know the rules of the soci¬ ety ? Of the bands? Do you keep them? Do you constantly attend the sacrament? Have you read the form of Discipline? Are you willing to conform to it ? Have you considered the rules of a preacher, es¬ pecially the first, tenth, and twelfth? Will you keep them for conscience sake? Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God? Will you endeavor not to speak too long nor too loud? Will you instruct the children in every place ? Will you visit from house to house? Will you recommend fasting or abstinence both by precept and example? Are you in debt? 2. The form of Discipline shall then be given him, inscribed thus : "As long as you freely consent to and earnestly endeavor to walk by these rules, we shall rejoice to ac¬ knowledge you as a fellow-laborer." 125 SECTION VII. Concerning the Reception of Preachers from other denominations. Q. 1. How shall we receive those minis¬ ters who may offer to unite with us from other Christian denominations? A. The ministers of the evangelical churches who may desire to unite with our connection, whether as local or itinerant, may be received on trial, according to our usages, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows without re-ordi¬ nation, giving satisfactioa to our Annual Conferences of their being in order, and of their agreement with us in doctrine, disci¬ pline, government, and usages; if the Con¬ ference is also satisfied with their gifts, graces and usefulness, they can be received on trial in the Annual Conference. If any such minister is received, he shall be furnished with a certificate signed by one of our Bishops in the following manner: [This is to certify that A. B. has been admitted into C. D. Conference as an itine¬ rant preacher or has been admitted as a 126 local preacher on E. F. circuit, ("he having been ordained to the office of a deacon of elder, as the case may be, according to the usages of the church, of which he has been a member and minister,) and he is herebj authorized to exercise the functions per¬ taining to his office in the African Metho¬ dist Episcopal Church, so long as his life and conversation are such as become the gospel of Christ. Given under my hand and seal at A., this day of , in the year of oui Lord, &c.] Q. 2. How shall we receive preachers of other denominations who are not in orders! A. They may be received as licentiates, if they give satisfaction to a Quarterly Con¬ ference, that they are-proper persons; the Quarterly Conference being satisfied that they believe such applicants will be useful. They shall at the same time manifest a full agreement with the doctrine, discipline, government and usages of our church, having previously become members propel of our church. 127 SECTION VIII. Concerning Local Preachers. Q. 1. What directions shall be given concerning local preachers ? A. 1. Before any person can be licensed to preach as a local preacher among us, he shall bring a recommendation from the so¬ ciety, or majority of it, at a special meeting called by the pastor of which he is a member, and be personally examined be¬ fore the Quarterly Meeting Conference, by the Elder having the charge, touching his acquaintance with the doctrines of our Church, and the course of studies prescribed for him in the appendix, (to which he shall declare his assent,) together with his gifts and grace for preaching; and if he be ap¬ proved by the Quarterly Meeting Conference in these respects, and they believe that he will be generally useful and acceptable as a preacher, he shall then receive a license, signed by the preacher in charge which li¬ cense he shall have annually renewed in the following form : "This is to certify, that the bearer, A. 128 B., is licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference of said church, to be renewed once a year, so long as his life corresponds with the gospel, and he submit to the rules of the Discipline of said Church. Given under my hand. D. E., Minister 2. Every local preacher of four years' good standing may be eligible to the office of Deacon, if he have obtained, by request of the church, a testimonial from the Quar¬ terly Conference of the circuit or station to which he belongs. Provided, That be be properly examined by the said Quarterly Conference; and that testimonials of the same have been signed by the Elder of said circuit or statioh, countersigned by the Secretary; and he has also passed an examination before the Annual Conference. 3. Such a local deacon may be eligible to the office of an Elder, after he has preached four years from the time he was ordained » deacon, and has obtained a recommendation from two-thirds of the Quarterly Meeting Conference of which he is a member, certi* 129 fying his qualifications in doctrine, disci¬ pline, talents, and usefulness, and the ne¬ cessity of his official services as an Elder in the circuit where he resides, signed by the President, and countersigned by the Secre¬ tary. He shall, if he cannot attend, send to the Annual Conference such recommen¬ dation, and a note certifying his belief in the doctrines and discipline of our church; the whole being examined by the Annual Conference, and if approved of, he may be ordained. 4. Every local Elder, Deacon or Preach¬ er, shall have his name recorded on the jour¬ nal of the Quarterly Meeting Conference of which he is a member. And every local Elder, Deacon, and Preacher, shall have his name enrolled on a class paper, and meet in class, if the distance of his place of resi¬ dence be not too great from any class, and shall be required to teach and labor in our Sabbath Schools; or in neglect thereof, the Quarterly Meeting Conference, if they judge it propei*, may deprive him of his ministerial office. Provided, That if a local preacher absent 9 130 himself 'for two years from his Annual Con¬ ference, without a lawful excuse, he shall lose his membership. All local Preachers or Ministers, members of the Annual Con¬ ference, shall be subject to the appointment of the Bishops, whenever it may be con¬ sidered useful. No Elder or Deacon shall have special charge except he be an itine¬ rant. SECTION IX. Concerning the Exhorters. Q. 1. How shall we receive exhorters? A. All persons applying for license ft exhort in our society, shall produce to tbe Quarterly Meeting Conference of his circuit or station, a recommendation from the class of which he is a member; and if they be¬ lieve, on examination, that he will be useful the preacher in charge shall license him ft exhort. After being thus licensed, he maj receive license as a local preacher, by com- plying with the rule laid down for loed preachers. (Section 8.) And after receiving his license, he sha" be required to employ his talents and tin* 131 in the Sabbath School as teacher, when they are convenient; and it shall be his duty to lead and manage the prayer meet¬ ings, under the weekly appointments of the Elder, Deacon, or Preacher having the charge. But the Elder shall not infringe on his temporal concerns. SECTION X. Of the Trial of those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach. Q. 1. How shall we try those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to preach ? A. 1. Let the following questions be asked, viz : Do they know God as a par¬ doning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them ? Do they desire and seek nothing but God? Are they holy in all manner of conversation ? 2. Have they gifts, as well as grace, for the work? Have they, in some tol¬ erable degree, a clear, sound understanding, a right judgment, in the things of £bcuL2. A 132 just conception of salvation by faith? ^ has God given them any degree of otter* ance? Do they speak readily, justly, an clearly ? 3. Have they fruit? Are any truly cob* vinced of sin, and converted to God by tbetf preaching? As long as these three marks concur i® any one, we believe he is called, of God to preach. . These we receive as a sufficient pr°° that he is moved by the Holy Ghost. SECTION XI. Of the Matter and Manner of Preach^' Q• 1. What is the best general metb0^ of preaching ? A. 1. To convince. 2. To offer Cbr$ 3-To invite. 4. To build up. .And to**1 this in some measure in every sermon- Q- 2. "What is the most effectual juetb^ of preaching Christ? A. The most effectual way of preacbi0' Christ is to preach him in all his o&°eS! and to declare his law as well as his gosF 133 both to believers and unbelievers. Let us strongly and closely insist upon inward and outward holirjess in all its branches. Q. 3. Are there any smaller advices which might be of use to us ? A. Perhaps these: 1. Be sure never to disappoint a congregation. 2. Begin at the time appointed. 3. Let your whole deport¬ ment be serious, solemn, and weighty. 4. Always suit your subject to your audience. 5. Choose the plainest text you can find. 6. Take care not to ramble, but keep to your text, and make out what you take in hand. 7. Take care of anything awkward, either in your gesture, phrase, or pronunci¬ ation. 8. Do not usually pray extempore above eight or ten minutes, at most, without intermission. 9. Frequently read and en¬ large upon a portion of the Scripture; and let young preachers often exhort, without taking a text. 10. Avail yourself of the great festivals, by preaching on the oc¬ casion. 134 SECTION XII. Of the duty of Preachers to God, themselves, and one another. Q. 1. How shall a preacher be qualified for his charge ? A. By walking closely with God, and having his work greatly at heart; and by ■understanding and loving discipline—ours in particular. Q. 2. Do we sufficiently watch over each other ? A. "We do not. Should we not frequently ask each other, "Do you walk closely with God ? Have you now fellowship with the Father and the Son? At what hour do you rise ? Do you punctually observe the morn¬ ing and evening hour of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner in which the Conference advises? Do you converse seriously, usefully, and closely V' To be more particular, Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all persons? They are instituted or prudential. I. The instituted are,— 135 (1.) Prayer, private, family, public; con¬ sisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. Do you use each of these ? Do you forecast daily, wherever you are, to secure time for private devotion ? Do you practice it everywhere ? Do you ask everywhere, Have you family prayer? Do you ask individuals ? Do you use pri¬ vate prayer every morning and evening in particular ? II. Searching the Scriptures by (1.) Reading constantly some part every day; regularly all the Bible in order; care¬ fully with notes, seriously with prayer be¬ fore and after; fruitfully practising what you learn there. (2.) Meditating, at set times, by rule. (3.) Hearing, every opportunity, with prayer before, at, and after. Have you a Bible always about you? III. The Lord's Supper. Do you use this at every opportunity ? With solemn prayer before? With earnest and delibe¬ rate self-devotion? IV. Fasting. Do you use as much ab¬ stinence and fasting every week as your health, strength, and labor will permit ? 136 Y. Christian conference. Are you con¬ vinced how important and how difficult it is to order your conversation aright ? Is it always in grace, seasoned with salt,—meet to minister grace to the hearer? Do you not converse too long at a time ? Is not an hour commonly enough ? "Would it not be well always to have a determined end in view, and to pray before and after it? VI. Prudential means we may use either as Christians, as Methodists, or as preach¬ ers. (1.) As Christians. What particular rules have you, in order to grow in grace? "What arts of holy living? (2.) As Methodists. Do you ever miss your class or band? As preachers. Have you thoroughly considered your duty? and "do you make a conscience of executing every part of it? Do you meet every soci¬ ety? Also the leaders and bands? These means may be used without fruit; but there are others which cannot, namely, watching, denying yourself, taking up the cross, exercise of the presence of God. 137 1. Do you steadily watcli against the world, yourself, your besetting sin? 2. Do you deny yourself every useless pleasure of sense, imagination, of honor? Are you temperate in all things, instance, food? Do you use only that kind and that degree which is best for your body and 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 ? Do you use only that kind of drink which is best for your body and soul? Do you choose and use water for your common drink, and only take wine medicinally or sacramentally ? 3. Wherein do you take up ycur cross daily? Do you cheerfully bear your cross, however grievous to nature, as a gift from God, and to labor to profit thereby ? 4. Do you endeavor to set God always before 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 you will grow in grace. 138 SECTION XIII. Rules by xcTiich we should Continue or De¬ sist from Preaching at any Place. Q. 1. Is it advisable for us to preach in as many places as we can. without forming any societies ? A. By no means. We have made the trial in various places ; and that for a con¬ siderable time. But all the seed has fallen by the wayside. There is scarcely any fruit remaining. Q. 2. Where should we endeavor to preach most ? A. 1. Where there are the greatest num¬ ber of quiet and willing hearers. 2. Where there is most fruit. Q. 3. Ought we not diligently to observe in what place God is pleased at any time to pour out his Spirit more abundantly? A. We ought; and, at that time, to send more laborer* than usual into that part of the harvest. 139 SECTION XIY. Of Visiting from house to house, guarding against those Sins that are so common to Professors, and enforcing Practical Religion. Q. 1. How can we further assist those under our care ? A. 1. By instructing them at their own houses. What unspeakable need is their of this ? The world says, " The Metho¬ dists are no better than other people." This is not true in general. But, first, personal religion, either toward 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, walking in eternity, deadness to every creature! How much love of the world! Desire of pleasure, of ease, of getting money! How little brotherly love! What continual judging one an¬ other! What gossipping, evil-speaking, tale-bearing ! What want of moral hon¬ esty ! To instance only one particular; 140 who does as he would be done by, in buy¬ ing and selling ? 2. Family religion is wanting in many branches. And what avails public preach¬ ing alone, though we could preach like angels ? T\re must, yea, every travelling preacher must instruct the people from house to house. Till this be done, and that in good earnest, the Methodists will be no better. Our religion is not deep, universal, uni¬ form ; but superficial, partial, uneven. It will be so till we spend half as much in thus visiting, as we do now in talking use¬ lessly. Can we find a better method of do¬ ing this than Mr. Baxter's ? If not, let us adopt it without 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 hinderances, both in our¬ selves and the people. ''1. In ourselves there is much dulness and laziness, so that there will be much ado to get us to be faithful in the work. "2- We have a base, man-pleasing 141 temper, so that we let men perish, rather than lose their love; we let them go quietly to hell, lest we should offend them. "3. Some of us have also a foolish bashfulness. We know not how to begin, and blush to contradict the devil. "4. But the greatest hinderance is weakness of faith—our whole motion is weak, because the spring of it is weak. "5. Lastly, we are unskilful in the work. " How few know how to deal with men, so as to get within them, and suit all our discourses to their several conditions and tempers—to choose the fittest subjects, and follow them with a holy mixture of seriousness, terror, love and meekness I" But, undoubtedly, this private appli¬ cation is implied in those 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, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering. 0, brethren, if we could but set this work on foot in all our societies, and pro- 142 secute it zealously, what glory would re¬ dound to God ! If the common lukewarm- ness 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, — 1. This will take up so much time, we shall not have leisure to follow our studies. "We answer, 1. Gaining knowledge is a good thing—but saving souls is 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 objected. 2. The people will not submit to it. If some will not, others will; and the success with them will repay all your labor. 0, let us herein follow the example of St. Paul. 1. For our general business serv¬ ing the Lord with all humility of mind. 143 2. Our special work, " Take lieed to your¬ selves and to all the flock/' 3. Our doc¬ trine, "Repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." 4. The place," I have taught you publicly, and from house to house." 5. The object and manner of teaching, "I ceased not to warn every one night and day, with 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 to myself." And among all our motives, let these be ever before our eyes: 1. ''The Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." 2. Grievous wolves shall enter in; yea, of yourselves shall men rise, speaking perverse things. Write this 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. Then, likewise, no preacher will stay with us, who is as salt that has lost its savor. For, to such, this employment would be mere drudgery. And in order to it, you will have need of 144 all the knowledge you can procure; and grace you can attain. Q. 2. Why are we not more holy? Why do we not live in eternity, walking with God all the day long? Why are we not all devoted to God, breathing the whole spirit of missionaries ? A. Chiefly because we are enthusiasts, looking for the end without using the means. To touch only upon two or three instances, Who of us rises at four, or even at five, when we do not preach? Do we know the obligation and benefit of fasting or absti¬ nence? 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 habitual neglect of a plain duty. Let us amend from this hour. Q. 3. How shall we guard against Sab¬ bath-breaking, evil-speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, expensiveness or gayety of apparel, and contracting debts without due care to discharge them? A. Let us preach expressly on these heads. 145 CHAPTER III. reception of members. SECTION I. Form for Receiving Persons into the church after Probation. Upon the day appointed, all that are to be received 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 of Grod,the body of which Christ is the Head, and that it is the design of the Gospel 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 end of this fellow¬ ship are the maintenance of sound doctrine, and of the ordinances of Christian wor¬ ship, and the exercise of that power of godly admonition and discipline which Christ has committed to his Church for 10 146 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 parti¬ cular duties are, to promote peace and uni¬ ty ; to bear one another's burdens; to pre¬ vent each other's stumbling; to seek the imtimacy of friendly society among them¬ selves ; to continue steadfast in the faith and Worship of the Gospel; and to pray and sympathize with each other. Among its privileges are—peculiar incitements to holi¬ ness from the hearing of God's Word, and sharing in Christ's ordinances; the being placed under the watchful care of Pastors, and the enjoyment of the blessings which are promised only to those which are of the. household of faith. Into this holy fel¬ lowship the persons before you, who have already received the Sacrament of Baptism and have been under the care of proper leaders for six months on trial, come seek¬ ing admission. We now propose, in the fear of God, to question them as to their faith and pur- 147 poses, that you may know that they are proper persons to be admitted into the Church. Then addressing the applicants for ad¬ mission, 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, confess your faith, and declare your purpose by answering the following questions : Q. 1. 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 148 faithfully to observe and keep that cove¬ nant; and all things contained therein ? A. I do. Q. 2. Have you saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? A. I trust I have. Q. 3. Do you entertain friendly feelings towards all the members of this church? A. I do. Q. 4. Do you believe in the doctrines of Holy Scriptures as set forth in the ar¬ ticles of religion of the African Methodist Episcopal Church? A. I do. Q. 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, to promote the welfare of your brethren, and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom? A. I will. Q. 6. Will you contribute of your earth¬ ly substance according to your ability, to the support of the Gospel, Church, and 149 poor, and the various benevolent enterprises of the Church? A. I will. Then the Minister, addressing the church shall say: Brethren : You have heard the responses given to our inquiries. Have any of you reason to allege why these persons should not be received into full membership in the Church ? No objections being alleged, the Minister shall say to the candidates : We welcome you to the communion of the Church of God; and in testimony of ©ur Christian affection and the cordiality with which we receive you, I hereby ex¬ tend 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 throne of God. Then shall the Minister offer an extempore prayer. 150 SECTION II. Of the "privileges granted to serious per¬ sons who are not members of our society. Q. 1. How often shall we permit those who are not of our society to meet in class? A. At every other meeting of the class, in every place let no stranger be admitted. At the other times they may, but the same person not more than twice or thrice. Q. 2. How often shall we permit stran¬ gers to be present at our Love Feast? A. Let them be admitted with the ut¬ most caution and the same person on no ac¬ count more than twice or thrice, unless he become a member. When any member of our church has been expelled, according to form of Disci¬ pline, no elder, deacon or preacher, shall be allowed to receive such into any of our churches in the same city, until such have complied with the law governing their case, in the church from which they were expel¬ led, and any minister in our Church who shall violate this law shall be dealt with as in other cases of mal-administration. 151 PART III. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. CHAPTER I. STATUTORY LAWS RESPECTING THE MINISTRY. SECTION I. Trial of Bishops. Q. What provisions shall be made for the trial of a Bishop ? A. 1. At the General Conference each of the Bishops shall pass an examination in person by a committee chosen by the Gen¬ eral Conference at each session, as to his character, travelling among the people in his district, administration, and decision ; and if then and there it be found upon ex¬ amination that his character is not fair, or that he have neglected his duty, or violated the discipline, or if found guilty of any crime sufficient to exclude a person from the kingdom of grace and glory, or have 152 acted so improperly as to demand Lis sus¬ pension, or expulsion, the General Confer¬ ence shall suspend him from his Episcopal functions, or expel him. But if he shall be condemned by the Committee chosen by said General Conference, he shall be allowed to appeal to the General Conference in whole, who shall have the power to reverse or approve of the decision of the committee. If the said General Conference shall confirm said decision of the Committee, it shall be final. But the Bishop may have the power to object to any one of the Committee ap¬ pointed by the General Conference. A. 2. In the interval of the General Con¬ ference, if a Bishop shall be accused of any crime which is expressly forbidden in the word of God, the minister in charge of the circuit or station where such transaction or crime may have been committed, shall no¬ tify five elders to form a committee and shall notify said Bishop and committee to meet at some stated time and place, before whom said Bishop shall be examined; and if, on examination, he be found guilty of crime sufficient to exclude a person from the king- 153 dom of grace and glory, or if he have acted so improperly as to demand his suspension, said committee shall have power to suspend him from all official functions until the en¬ suing Annual Conference, who shall have power to reverse the decision of the com¬ mittee, and restore him to his former func¬ tions, if they determine it in his favor. But if found guilty, the said Annual Conference shall continue his suspension until the next ensuing General Conference. But all accu¬ sations shall be given to him in writing at his first examination or trial hy those who are to prove the crime or complaint. SECTION II. Trial of Itinerant Licentiates, Deacons and Elclers. Q. 1. "What shall be done when a travel¬ ling preacher is under report of being guilty of some crime expressly forbidden in the word of God, as an unchristian practice, sufficient to exclude a person from the king¬ dom of grace and glory? A. If any of the travelling Elders, Dea- 154 eons or Preachers' should be accused of any crime, a charge shall be made known to the stewards of the circuit or station, who shall speedily lay such charge before the official board, and they shall authorize them, if deemed necessary, to call in the next neigh¬ boring Elder, if there be no other travel¬ ling Elder on the circuit or station, to bring him to account, and such Elder shall bring him to trial before a committee of travelling preachers; or for want of travelling preach¬ ers, local elders, deacons, or preachers, the committee to consist of not less than three. If possible, the accused and accuser shall be brought face to face. If the person be clearly convicted, he shall be suspended from all official standing in the church until the ensuing Annual Conference, at which time his case shall be fully considered and determined. If the accused and accuser cannot be brought face to face, but the supposed de¬ linquent flees from trial, it shall be received as presumptive proof of guilt; and out of the mouth of two or three witnesses he shall be condemned. Nevertheless, even 155 in that case, the Annual Conference shall reconsider and determine the whole matter.* After expulsion, the Annual Conference shall demand of him his credentials, which shall be retained among the records of the Conference; and should he be expelled for the crime of adultery or fornication, he shall not be admitted again into the minis¬ try under four years from the time he joins the Church. Whether he be travelling or local, he must join on probation, and come again from his class. SECTION III. Of Mal-administra tion. Q. 1. What shall be done in cases of mal-administration, breach of Discipline, improper tempers, words, or actions ? * If any preacher, deacon or elder, whether travel¬ ling or local, be accused of immoral conduct, the preacher having the charge of the circuit or station where he resides, shall, if he be proved guilty on trial, demand and receive 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 said preacher in charge, without delay, as a refractory preacher. 156 A. The person so offending shall be re¬ proved by a Bishop or Elder; or should a second transgression take place, one, two, 01 three preachers; or for want of preachers, exhorters or leaders are to be taken as wit¬ nesses. If he be not then cured, he shall be tried either before the Bishop or elder and committee, in the interval of the An¬ nual Conference, and, if found guilty, lie shall be suspended by the Bishop, if present, or committee trying the case. The ensuing Annual Conference shall fairly try the case thus examined by the committee of such members, and if found guilty and impeni¬ tent, the said defendant shall be continued suspended by the Conference, and his name so returned on the minutes. Q. 2. "What is maladministration ? A. Maladministration is the administer¬ ing of the law badly. SECTION IV. Of Heresy or Schism. Q. What shall be done with those minis¬ ters or preachers who hold and disseminate, 157 publicly or privately, doctrines which are (•contrary to our Articles of Religion ? . A. Let the same process be observed as jn cases of gross immorality; but if the minister or preacher so offending do solemn¬ ly engage not to disseminate such erroneous .doctrines, in public or private, he shall be borne with till his case be laid before the next Annual Conference, which shall deter¬ mine the matter. SECTION Y. Of Unacceptability or Inefficiency in the Ministry. Q. What shall be done with a member of an Annual Conference who conducts himself in a manner which renders him unacceptable to the people as a travelling preacher ? A. When any member of an Annual Conference shall be charged with having so conducted himself as to render him un¬ acceptable to the people as a travelling preacher, it shall be the duty of the Con¬ ference to which he belongs to investigate 158 the case; and if it appear that the com¬ plaint is well founded, and ha do not give the Conference satisfaction that he will amend, or voluntarily retire, they may lo¬ cate him without his consent—provided that he shall be at liberty to defend himself before the Conference in person, or by his representative. And if he be located in his absence, without having been previously notified of an intention thus to proceed against him, he may apply to the Confer¬ ence, at its next session, to be heard in his defence, in which case they shall reconsi¬ der the matter. SECTION YI. Concerning Ministers who are in Debt. Q. What shall be done with those minis¬ ters or preachers who contract debts, with¬ out a probability of paying them, or borrow and refuse to pay ? A. If complaint be made against a min¬ ister or preacher, for non-payment of debt, in the interval of the Conference, to an elder, or if there be no travelling preacher 159 on the circuit or station, to one of the stewards, who shall request the neighbor¬ ing elder to call the said indebted preacher: and the contending party or parties shall choose each one an arbiter, one for the plaintiff and another for the defendant, and the two shall choose a third one—all of whom shall be preachers or official mem¬ bers of the church. If, on examination, it be proved that the said minister or preacher has neglected or refused to pay his debts, it shall be the duty of the said arbiters to determine what longer time shall be given to said preacher for payment. And if either party be not satisfied with the decision given, they may apply for a second arbitration • and each party shall choose the fifth, and their decision shall determine the case. And if judgment in the case shall be given by the second arbitration against the said minister or preacher, and the time specified for payment, and he refuse to comply with the decision in the case, after sufficient time has been given, he shall be 160 suspended from all official standing in the connection until the ensuing Annual Con¬ ference; at which time and place the con¬ tending parties shall appear, either in per¬ son or by their representatives. And if said Annual Conference should reject the decision of the arbiters, chosen in the in¬ terval of the Conference, then they shall determine what is due, and the time grant¬ ed for payment; and if not complied with, he shall be suspended or expelled, as the ensuing Conference may decide. All accu¬ sations shall be given him in writing, on first examination. Should there be an omission on the part of the circuit or station to try the case of crime in the interval of the Conference, of any travelling preacher, it shall not in the least prove any bar to the fullest and fair¬ est investigation of the character of any of its members in the Annual Conference. Provided, nevertheless, That in all the above-mentioned cases of trial and convic¬ tion, an appeal to the ensuing General Con¬ ference shall be allowed. 161 SECTION VII. Respecting the Trial of Local Elders, Dea¬ cons, and Licentiates. Q. What directions shall be given con¬ cerning the trial of local elders, deacons, or preachers? A. If an accusation be brought against a local elder, deacon, or preacher, the preacher having the charge shall summon three or more local preachers of the neigh¬ borhood; or, for want of preachers, as many exhorters or leaders. And if they or a majority of them, on due examination, judge that the local elder, deacon, or preach¬ er aforesaid, has been guilty of such a crime, or has publicly or privately disseminated such false doctrines as require his suspen¬ sion from all public offices and privileges in our church, the preacher who has the oversight of the circuit, shall accordingly suspend him till the ensuing Quarterly Meeting Conference. And in such a case, the next Quarterly Meeting Conference shall proceed upon his trial, and shall have power to clear, cen- 11 162 sure, suspend or expel him, according to their judgment. And the preacher who has the oversight of the circuit, shall at the commencement of the trial, appoint a secre¬ tary, who shall take down regular minutes of the evidence and proceedings of the trial, which minutes when read and ap¬ proved, shall be signed by the said preach¬ er having the charge, and also by the mem¬ bers of the said Quarterly Meeting Confer¬ ence, or by a majority of them. And in case of condemnation, the local elder, deacon or preacher condemned, shall be allowed an appeal to the next Annual Conference, provided that he signify to the said Quarterly Meeting Conference his de¬ termination so to do; in which case, the said preacher having the charge, shall lay the minutes of the trial above mentioned be¬ fore the Annual Conference, at which time the local elder, deacon, or preacher, so ap¬ pealing, may appear; and the said Annual Conference shall judge and finally determine from the minutes of the trial so laid before them. A. 2. No preacher among us shall distil, 163 retail, or drink spirituous liquor, without forfeiting his official standing. A. 3. All the local elders, deacons, preachers, and exhorters, shall be in sub¬ jection to the preacher in charge, in re¬ ceiving their appointments to preach or teach, or labor otherwise in our Sabbath Schools, as occasion may require. And should any of the aforesaid elders, deacons, or preachers, neglect to fill any of his ap¬ pointments, and not give any sufficient reason for the same, he shall, for the first offence, be reproved by the preacher hav¬ ing the charge, and if he persist in so do¬ ing, he shall be summoned to appear before a committee; and if proper satisfaction be not given, he shall be silenced until the en¬ suing Quarterly Meeting Conference, which shall have the power to take away his li¬ cense from him. Provided, That if a local preacher do at¬ tempt (in the absence of the pastor) to col¬ lect moneys for his services, without a pre¬ vious agreement between him and said pas¬ tor, he shall, upon conviction, be silenced for three months. 164 SECTION VIII. Of Ministers interfering in the pastorate of others Q. Shall it be lawful for any elder, dea¬ con, or preaclier, to interfere "with the busi¬ ness of an adjoining circuit or station? A. It shall not. Therefore, if any elder, deacon, or preacher, shall be found guilty of so doing, he shall be dealt with as in other cases of a breach of the Discipline, except where he has been regularly called, as per Discipline. CHAPTER II. STATUTORY LAWS RESPECTING THE TRIAL OF MEMBERS. SECTION I. Of the method by which our Lay-3fembert shall be brought to trial, convicted, suspen¬ ded, reproved, or expelled from Society. Q. 1. How shall an accused member be brought tp tria| ? 165 A. 1. Before the society of which he is a member, or a select number of them, in the presence of an elder, deacon, or preach¬ er, in the following manner: Let the accu¬ ser and accused be brought face to face; but if this cannot be done, let the next best evidence be procured. If the accused per¬ son be found guilty by the decision of a majority of the members before whom he is brought to trial, and the crime be such as is expressly forbidden by the word of G-od, sufficient to exclude a person from the king¬ dom of grace and glory, let the preacher who has the charge of the circuit expel him. 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 excluded. Witnesses from without shall not be rejected But, in case of neglect of duties of any kind, imprudent conduct, indulging sinful tempers or words, quarrelling, speaking evil of ministers, dealing in lotteries or policies, or disobedience to the order and Discipline 166 of the church: first, let private reproof be given by a preaeher or leader; and if there be an acknowledgment of the truth, and proper humiliation, the person may remain on trial. On a second offence, the preach¬ er or leader may take one or two faithful friends. On the third offence, let the case be brought before the society, or a select number; and if there be no sign of real humiliation, the offender must be cut off. 8. If a member of our church shall be clearly convicted of endeavoring to sow dis¬ sensions in any of our societies by inveigh¬ ing against either our doctrines or disci¬ pline, such person so offending shall be first reproved by the minister or preacher in charge; and, if he afterwards persist in such pernicious practices, he shall be ex¬ pelled from the society. 4. On any dispute between two or more members of our society, concerning the pay¬ ment of debts, or otherwise, which cannot be settled by the parties concerned, the preacher who. has charge of the circuit or station, shall inquire into the circumstances of the case, and shall recommend to the 167 contending parties a reference, consisting of one arbiter cliosen by the plaintiff, and another chosen by the defendant; which two arbiters, so chosen, shall nominate the third; the three arbiters being members of our society. 5. But if one of the parties be dissatisfied with the judgment given, such party may apply to the eusuing quarterly meeting of the circuit or station, for permission to have a second arbitration appointed; and if the quarterly meeting see sufficient reason, they shall grant a second arbitration; in which case, each party shall choose two ar¬ biters, and the four arbiters shall choose a fifth, the judgment of a majority of whom shall be final; and any person refusing to abide by such judgment, shall be excluded from the society. G. And if any member of our society shall refuse, in case of debt, or other disputes, to refer the matter to arbitration, when re¬ commended by him who has the charge of the circuit, or shall enter into a law-suit with another member before these measures are taken, they shall be expelled, excepting 168 the case be of such a nature as to justify a process of the law. 7. The preachers who have the oversight of circuits are required to execute all our rules fully and strenuously against all fraud, and particularly against dishonest insolven¬ cies, suffering none to remain in our society on any account who are found guilty of any fraud. And in all cases where a member of the church is accused of any crime, and summoned by the elder or minister in charge to answer such accusation, it shall be the duty of the elder or minister, upon the re¬ quest of either or both parties, to give the name or official authority as minister in charge, for the attendance of such persons as witnesses, which either party shall name, together with any documentary evidence that may be called for, and it shall be made the duty of the members of the church, upon receiving such notice to attend pur¬ suant thereto, and to furnish such evidence as shall be demanded, if the same be in their possession, and the minister shall de¬ liver a copy of the charges preferred, to the accused person when ordered to trial. 169 8. To prevent scandal, when any of our members fail in business, or contract debts which they are not able to pay, let two or three judicious members of the society in¬ spect the accounts of the supposed delin¬ quent; and if he have behaved dishonestly, or borrowed moneys without a probability of paying, let him be expelled. 9. Whenever a complaint is made against any member of our church, for non-payment of debts, when the accounts are adjusted, and the amount ascertained, the preacher having charge shall call the debtor be¬ fore a committee of three at least, to show cause why he does not make payment.— The committee shall determine what fur¬ ther time shall be granted him for payment, and what security, if any. shall be given for payment; and in case the debtor refuse to comply, he shall be expelled; but in such case he may appeal to the Quarterly Meeting Conference, and their decision shall be final. And in case the creditor com¬ plain that justice is not done him, he may lay his grievance before the Quarterly Meet¬ ing Conference, and their decision shall be 170 final; and if the creditor refuse to comply lie shall be expelled. 10. Nevertheless, if in any of the above mentioned cases the minister or preacher in charge differ in judgment from the ma¬ jority of the society, or the select number, concerning the innocence or guilt of the accused person, the trial, in such case, may be referred to the ensuing Quarterly Meet¬ ing by the preacher or minister in charge. 11. No member of our society shall give, distil, drink, or traffic in spirituous liquors. Whosoever shall violate this rule, the preacher who has charge of the circuit or station, shall proceed against such person as in other cases of gross immoralities; and the person so accused shall be deemed cen¬ surable, or suspended, according to his or her conduct, as in other charges of immo¬ rality. 12. We will not receive any person into our society as a member, who is a slave¬ holder, and any that are now members, that have slaves, and refuse to emancipate them, shall be excluded. 13. If there be a murmur or complaint 171 above-mentioned instances, that justice has not been done, he shall be allowed to appeal to the next quarterly meeting, except such as absent themselves from trial, after suffi¬ cient notice is given them, and the majority of the travelling and local preachers, ex- horters, stewards and leaders present shall finally determine the case. After such forms of trial and expulsion, such persons shall have no privilege of society or sacrament in our Church, without contri¬ tion, confession, and proper trial oa probation CHAPTER III. FORM OF TRIAL BY AN APPEAL. Q. How shall an appeal be tried? A. 1. Present the appeal. 2. Read the findings of the case. 3. Motion to admit. 4. State the grounds of the appeal. 5. Read the minutes and documents. 6. Appellant's defence. 7. Reply of the conference representative. 8. Appellant's reply. 9. The decision rendered after the appel¬ lant shall have retired. 172 PART IV. THE RITUAL. CHAPTER I. OP THE LORD'S SUPPER. SECTION I. Directions respecting the admission of Pro¬ per Persons to the Table of Communion. Q. 1. Are there any directions to be given concerning the administration of the Lord's Supper? A. 1. Let those who have scruples con¬ cerning the receiving of it kneeling, be permitted to receive it either standing or sitting. 2. Let no person that is not a member of our society be admitted to the commu¬ nion without examination, and some tokens given by an elder or deacon 3. No person shall be admitted to the Lord's Supper among us, who is guilty of 173 any practice for which we would exclude a member from our Church. SECTION II. The Order for the Administration of the Lord's Svpper. 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. y. 16. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth cor¬ rupt, 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. "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, 174 Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of hea¬ ven; but he that doeth the will of my Fa¬ ther which is in heaven." Matt. vii. 21. " Zacc-heus 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 boun¬ tifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his own heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,nor of necessity, 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.1 Gal. vi. 10. "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry no¬ thing out." 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7. " Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not higb-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, 175 who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good; that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to .communicate; laying up in store for them¬ selves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19. "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, and that ye have ministered 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, lend- eth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given, will he pay him again." Prov. xix. 17. [While these sentences are in reading, some fit person, appointed for that purpose, shall receive the 176 alms for the poor, and other donations of the peo¬ ple, in a decent basin, to be provided for that pur¬ pose, and then bring it to the Elder, who shall place it upon the table.] After, which the Elder shall say: Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, 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] : 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 177 earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings: the remembrance of them is grievous unto us. Have mercy upon 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 here¬ after serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Elder say: 0, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy has promised for¬ giveness of sins to all them, that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto thee, have mercy upon us; pardon and de¬ liver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE COLLECT. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of 12 178 our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy 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, 0 Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God. Therefore, with angels and arch-angels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy holy name—ever¬ more praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, 0 Lord most high. Amen. Then shall the Elder say: We do not presume to come to this thy table, 0 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, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy 179 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 consecra¬ tion, as followeth: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made thereby (his oblation of himself once of¬ fered,) a full, perfect, and suffieien t sacri¬ fice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; and did institute,and in his holy gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of that, his precious death, until His coming again. Hear us, 0 merciful Father, we most humbly be¬ seech thee, and grant that we, receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine, ac¬ cording 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 180 same night that he was betrayed, took bread, (1) and when (!•) Here the elder is to he had given thanks, take the plate of bread 1, V 1? V /ON 1 1Dt0 hlS hand- he brake it and (2.) And here to break gave it to his disci- the bread, pies, saying, Take, eat, this (3) is my (3.) And here to lay his body which is broken hand upon all the bread, for you. This do in remembrance of me; likew ise after supper he took (4) the cup (4.) Here he is to take and when he had cup into his hand, given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it, for this (5) is my (5.) And here to lay his blood of the New hand uPon a11 the ve3sels Testament, which is containinS the ™ shed for you, and for many for the remission of sins: do this, as often as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. Amen. Then shall the minister first receiving the commu¬ nion in both kinds himself, and then proceed to de 181 liver 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 ia 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 be¬ fore all have commemorated, the elder may con¬ secrate more by repeating the prayer of consecra¬ tion.] [When all have commemorated, the minister shall return to the Lord's table, and place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated elements, covering the same with a clean linen cloth.] Then shall the Elder say the Lord's Prayer: Our Father which art in heaven, hal¬ lowed be thy name."1™?Sfn-flflm 182 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 that 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, aud through faith in his blood, we and thy whole church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. Aud here we offer and present unto thee, 0 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 183 offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this, our bounden duty and service : not weighing our merits, but par¬ doning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, in the unity ot the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory be unto thee, 0 Father Almighty, world without end. Amen. Then shall bo 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. 0 Lord God, Heavenly King, God, the Father Almighty. 0 Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; 0 Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou 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 art the 184 Lord, thou only, 0 Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of Grod the Father. Amen. Then the Elder, if he see it expedient, may put up an extempore prayer; and afterwards shall let tie people depart with his blessing: Hay the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of G-od, and his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Sou, and the Holy Ghost, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. N. B.—If the Elder be straitened for time, he may omit any part of the service, except the prayer of consecration. CHAPTER II. OF BAPTISM. SECTION 1. Directions Concerning Baptism. 1. Let every adult person, and the pa¬ rents of every child to be baptized, have 185 -heir choice either of immersion, sprinkling, >r pouring. But in no case shall our min¬ sters re-baptize any person. And if any :nowingly violate this prohibition he shall >e subject to suspension or location as the Annual Conference may judge. 2. We will on no account whatever make % charge for admipistering baptism, or for jurying the dead. SECTION II. The Order for the Ministration of Baptism to Infants The ministers, coming to the font, which is to be Hied. with pure water, shall use the following, or iome other exhortation suitable to the sacred office : Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men ire conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour, Christ, saith, "None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be re¬ generated 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 186 by nature it cannot have, that it may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, and be made a lively member of the same. Then shall the minister say : LET US PRAY. Almighty and everlasting Grod, 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 sanc¬ tify water for this holy sacrament, we be¬ seech thee of thine infinite mercies, that thou 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, joyful through hope, and rooted in lore, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of everlasting life; there to reign with thee, 187 vorld without end, through Jesus Christ rar Lord. Amen. 0 merciful God, grant that the old A.dam in this child may be so buried, that ;he new man may be raised in him. Amen. Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen. Grant that he may have the power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen. Grant that whosoever is dedicated to thee by our ofBce and ministry, may also be en¬ dued with heavenly virtues, and ever¬ lastingly rewarded through thy mercy, O 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, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 188 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 people stand up, and the minister shall say: Hear the words of the Gospel written by St. Mark, in the tenth chapter, at the thir¬ teenth 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 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." These questions and answers are to come imme¬ diately after the Scripture lessons used at Infant Baptism: 189 ^ Q. 1. Dost thou renounce the devil and is works, the vain pomp and glory of the /orld, with the covetous desires of the same, nd the carnal desires of the flesh, so that hou dost not, or art not led by them ? A. I have renounced them all; and by rod's help will endeavor not to follow, or e led by them. Q. 2. Dost thou believe in God the 'ather Almighty, Maker of heaven and arth, Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, ur Lord; that he took man's nature in the romb of the Virgin Mary, and was born fher; that he suffered under Pontius Pi- ite, was crucified, dead, and buried: that e arose again on the third day; that he as- ended into heaven, and sitteth at the right .and of God, the Father Almighty; that ie shall come again at the end of the world o judge the quick and the dead? And lost thou believe in the Holy Ghost, the :ommunion of saints, the remission of sins, he regeneration of our fallen nature, the esurrection of the body, and everlasting life after death ? A. All this I steadfastly believe. 190 Q. 3. "Wilt thou then have this child baptized in this faith, and made an infant member of the Church of Christ? A. This is mj desire. Q. 4. Wilt thou then diligently teach it God's holy word, and cause it to walk in obedience to his holy will and command¬ ments, until it come to years to assume, in its own person, the faith, vows, and obliga¬ tions of baptism ? A. I will endeavour so to do, the lord being my helper. Q. 5. Will you consecrate this child to the objects, intentions, and purposes of the Church of Christ, and especially to the church in which it is baptized? A. I will, the Lord being my helper. Q. 6. Will you see that it is instructed in the Catechism of the Methodist Church? A. I will, the Lord being my helper. 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 spring or pour water upon it, or if desired, immerse it water, saying: 191 N., I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Grhost. Amen. Then shall be said, all kneeling: Our Father, which art in heaven, hal¬ lowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it ia in heaven; give us this d&y 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 extem¬ poraneous prayer. SECTION III. Order for the Baptism of Adults. The minister shall use the following, or some other exhortation, suitable to this holy office: 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 192 transgressions,) and that our Saviour Christ gaith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerated and bom anew of water and of the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made lively members of the same: I there¬ fore beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous goodness he will grant unto these persons that which by nature they cannot have, that they may be bap¬ tized 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 to thee for succor, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the dead, we call upon thee for these persons, that they coming to the holy baptism, may re¬ ceive the remission of their sins by spiritual regeneration. Receive them, 0 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 uat° 193 those that ask; let us that seek find; open the gate unto us that knock; that these persons may enjoy the everlasting benedic¬ tion of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen. After which he 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 salvation, 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: 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: 13 194 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 kingdom 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 answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except 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 tob# baptized, on this wise : Well beloved, who are come hither de- 195 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 Grod's word, and obediently keep his commandments. Then shall the minister demand each person to be baptized, severally. Q. Dost thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, and that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them ? A. I renounce them all. 196 Q. Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son, our Lord ? And that he was conceived of the Iioly Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary? That he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; that he arose again the third day; that he ascended 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 commu¬ nion of saints, the remission of sins, the resurrection of the body, and everlasting life after death ? A. All this I steadfastly believe. Q. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith? A. This is my desire. Q. Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life ? * The Church Universal, and not the Papal Church. 197 A. I 'will endeavor to do so, God being my helper. 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. 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 everlastingly rewarded, through Thy mercy, 0 blessed Lord God, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen. Almighty, ever living 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 198 congregation; and grant that the persons now to be baptized, may receive the fulness of Thy grace, and ever remain in the num¬ ber of Thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the minister take each person to be baptized by the right hand, and placing them 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 Grhost. Amen. Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling. 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 extempo¬ rary prayer. 199 CHAPTER III. Order for the Solemnization of Matrimony. First, the bans of all that are to be married to¬ gether, must be published in the congregation three several Sundays in the time of divine service, (un¬ less 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, ye are to declare it. This is the first, [second, or third] time of asking. At the day and time appointed for solemnization of matrimony, the persons to be married standing together, the man on the right hand 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 pre¬ sence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matri¬ mony ; which is an honorable estate, insti¬ tuted by Grod in the time of man's inno- cency, signifying unto us the mystical union 200 which is between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beau¬ tified with his presence, and the first mi¬ racle that he wrought at Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St. Paul to be honor¬ able among all men; and therefore not by any to be entered upon or taken in hand unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, ad¬ visedly, 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 judg¬ ment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed,) that if either of you know any impediment 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 201 than God's word shall allow, are. not joined together by God, neither is their matri¬ mony lawful. If 110 impediment shall be alleged, then shall the minister say unto the man : 3VI., Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of ma¬ trimony ? 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, N., Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy state of matrimony ? 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. 202 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 followeth : I, M., take thee N., to be my wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to G-od'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 minister: I, N., take thee, M., to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death do us part, according to G-od's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my faith. Then shall the minister say : »Let us pray, 0, Eternal Grod, creator, preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life, send thy bless* 203 ings upon these thy servants, this man and this woman whom we bless in thy name; ihat as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully ;ogether, so these persons may surely per¬ form and keep the vow and covenant be- vwixt them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live iccording to thy laws, through Jesus Christ >ur Lord. Amen. Then shall the minister join their right hands to- 1 jether and say: Those whom G-od hath joined together, et no man put asunder Forasmuch as M. and N. have consented ;o live together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this iompany, and thereto have pledged their ?aith to each other, and have declared the lame by joining of hands: I pronounce ihat they are man and wife together, in the aame 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, God the Holy G-host, bless, preserve, and keep you: 204 the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may so lire 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 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 forgive lis our trespasses as we forgive them that tres¬ pass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Ameu. Then shall the minister say : 0 God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless this man and this womaj, and sow the seeds of eternal life in their hearts, that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may indeed fulfil the same. Look, 0 Lord merciful^ upon them from heaven and bless then! And as thou didst send thy blessings upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort) so vouchsafe to send thy blessings upoB 205 ihis man and this woman, that they obey¬ ing thy will, and always being in safety inder thy protection, may abide in thy love anfco their lives' end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, who by thy mighty power hast nade all things of nothing, who also (after )ther things set in order,) didst appoint ;hat out of man, (created after thine own mage and similitude,) woman should take jer beginning; and knitting them together, lidst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou, by ma¬ trimony, hast made one; 0 God, who hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such in excellent mystery, that in it is signified ,md represented the spiritual marriage and iinion betwixt Christ and his Church,— fook mercifully upon this man and this wo¬ man ; that both this man may love his wife according to thy word, (as Christ did love his spouse, the Church, who gave himself 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 206 follower of holy and godly matrons. 0 Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit the 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. CHAPTER IV. The Order of the Burial of the Dead. N. B.—The following, or some other solemn ser» vice, shall be used. The minister, meeting the corpse, and going be* fore it, shall say : "I am the resurrection and the life, eaitb the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and who- 207 soever 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, ind it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken way: blessed be the name of the Lord." L 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 short time to live, and 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, X) Lord, who for our sins are justly dis¬ pleased? 208 Yet, 0 Lord God most holy, 0 Lord most mighty, 0 holy and merciful Saviour, deliver us not unto the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts, shut not thy merciful ears to our prayers, but spare us, Lord most holy, 0 God most mighty, 0 holy and merciful Sa¬ viour, 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 hath 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 resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ} at whose second coming in glorious ma¬ jesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in 209 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 forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that tres¬ pass against us: and lead us not into temp¬ tations, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 14 210 THE COLLECT. 0 merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the 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, 0 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, maybe found acceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying. "Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world." Grant this, we beseech thee, 0 merciful Fa¬ ther, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Reedemer. 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. 211 CHAPTER Y. FORM AND MANNER OF CONSECRATING THE MINISTRY. SECTION I. For the Order of Deacons. [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 deacons.] After which one of the elders shall present unto the Bishop the persons to be ordained deacons, say¬ ing these words: Reverend Father in God, I present unto you these persons present, to be admitted deacons. The Bishop.—Take heed that the per¬ sons whom you present to us be apt and meet, by their godly conversation, to exer¬ cise 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. 212 Their 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¬ 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 Bi¬ shop shall cease from ordaining that person, tratil such time as the party accused shall be found clear of tfi&t crime.] Then shall be read the following collect and epistle : THE COLLECT. Almighty God, who by thy Divine Pro¬ vidence hath appointed divers orders of mi¬ nisters 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 thy doc¬ trines, and adorn them with the innocency of life, that both by word and good exam- 213 pie 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.—1 Tim. iii. 8-13. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubled-tongued, not given to much wine ; not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery 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, n.ot slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to them¬ selves a good degree, and great boldness 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 214 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¬ moting of his glory, and the edifying of his people ? A. I trust so. The Bishop.—Do you unfeignedly be¬ lieve all the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? A. I do believe them. The Bishop.—"Will you diligently read and expound the same unto the people whom you shall be appointed to serve? A. I will. The Bishop.—It appertaineth to the office of a deacon to assist the elder in Pi- vine service. And especially when he ad- ministereth the holy communion, to help him in the distribution thereof, and to read and expound the holy Scriptures; to in¬ struct 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 215 relieved. Will you do this gladly and willingly ? A. 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,) ac¬ cording to the doctrine of Christ; and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in you lieth; wholesome examples of the flock of Christ? A. 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 admoni¬ tions ? A. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper. Then the Bishop, laying his hands severally upon the head of every one of them, shall say : Take thou authority to execute the office of a deacon in the Church of God, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. A man. 216 Then shall the Bishop deliver to everyone of them the Holy Bible, saying: Take tliou 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 the Gospel, Luke xii. 35-38 : " Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, 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 commu¬ nion, and all that are ordained shall receive the holy communion.] 217 The communion ended, immediately before the benediction, shall be said the following collects : Almighty God, giver of all good things, who, of thy great goodness, hast vouch¬ safed to accept and take these thy servants into the office of deacon in thy Church; make them, we beseech thee, 0 Lord, to be modest, humble, and constant in their min¬ istration, and to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline; that they having always the testimony of a good conscience, and continuing 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 ministries 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, 0 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. 218 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. SECTION II. For the Order 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 preseat unto 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 per¬ sons whom you present unto us be apt and meet, by their godly conversation, to exer¬ cise their ministry duly to the honor of God, and the edifying of the Church. 219 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 thej whom we pur¬ pose, Grod willing, this day to ordain elders. For, after due examination, we find pot the contrary, but 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 Grod, 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 the crime.] Then shall be said the Collect, Epistle, Gospel: 220 THE COLLECT. Almighty God giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit has appointed divers orders of ministers in thy Church; merci¬ fully 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 th-y 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, 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 as¬ cended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also de¬ scended first into the lower parts of the earth ? He that descended is the same also 221 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 perfecting 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, part of the tenth chapter of St. John (x. 1-16): " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheep- fold, 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 hear his voice; and he call- eth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but flee 222 from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Yerily, 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 hire¬ ling 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 Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay 223 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 exhor¬ tation 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 you 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 are called; that is to say, to be messengers, watchmen, and stewards of the Lord, to teach, and to pre- monish; to feed and provide for the Lord's family, to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this evil world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever. 224 Have always, therefore, printed in your remembrance, how great a treasure is com¬ mitted to your charge. For they are tie sheep of Christ, which he bought with his 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 shall happen the same church, or any member thereof, to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence, ye know the greatness of the fault, and also the horrible punishment that will ensue. Wherefore, consider within yourselves the end of the ministry towards the children of Grod, 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 agreement in the faith, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there may be no place left among yott, either for error in religion, or for vicious* ness in life. Forasmuch, then, as your office is both 225 of so great excellency, and of so great dif¬ ficulty, 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 occa¬ sion that others offend. Howbeit, ye can¬ not have a mind and will thereunto of yourselves; for that will and that ability is given of G-od 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 you ought to be in reading and learn¬ ing the Scriptures, and in framing the man¬ ners both of yourselves and of them that specially pertain unto you, according to the rules of the same Scriptures; and this self¬ same clause, how ye ought to forsake and set aside (as much as ye may) all worldly studies. 15 226 "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, where- unto it hath pleased God to call you; so that as much as in you lieth, you will apply yourselves 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 as¬ sistance of the Holy Grhost; that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, ye may wax riper and stronger in your minis¬ try; 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 answer 227 plainly to these [things, which we, in the name of God and his Church, shall demand 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? A. I think so. The Bishop.—Are you persuaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity, for eternal salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ? And are you determined, out of the said Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing as re¬ quired of necessity to salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded, may be con¬ cluded and proved by Scripture ? A. I am so persuaded, and have so determined 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? A. I will do so, by the help of the Lord. 228 The Bishop.—Will you be ready, with all future* diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary to God's word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhorta¬ tions, as well to the sick as to the whole within yohr charge, as need shall require and occasion shall be given? A. 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? A. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being mj helper. The Bishop.—Will you be diligent to frame and fashion yourselves, and your fa¬ milies, 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? A. I shall apply myself thereto, the Lord being my helper. 229 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? A. I will do so, the Lord being my helper. The Bishop.—Will you reverently obey your chief ministers, unto whom is commit¬ ted the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, submitting yourselves to their godly judgments? A. 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, se¬ cretly in their prayers to make their humble sup¬ plications to God for all these things, for the which prayers, there shall be silence kept for a space.] 230 After which shall be said by the Bishop (the per¬ sons to be ordained elders all kneeling,) Veni, Crea¬ tor, Spiritus, the Bishop beginning, and the elders and others that are present answering by verse, as followeth: Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire, And lighten icith 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 dulness of our blinded sight— Anoint and cheer our soiled face 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, A nd 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, our lieavenly Father, who of thine infinite love and goodness to¬ wards us, has given us thy only and most dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be our 231 Redeemer, and the author of everlasting life, who, after he had made perfect our re¬ demption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, sent abroad into the world his apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors—by whose labor and ministry he gathered together a great flock in all parts of the world, to set forth the 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 for¬ ward 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 mi¬ nisters, thy holy name may forever be glo- 232 rifled, 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 Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. "When this prayer is done, the Bishop with the elders present shall lay their hands severally upon the heads of everyone that receiveth the order of elders, the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the Bishop saying: The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Ghost 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¬ ments in the congregation. When this is done, the Bishop shall go on in the service of the communion, which all they who receive 233 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 collect and immediately before the benediction, shall be said this collect: Most merciful Father, we beseech thee to send upon these thy servants, thy hea¬ venly blessing, that they may be clothed with righteousness, and the 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 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, 0 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. 234 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 bless¬ ing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. JS©** 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 elders. The collects shall be both used: first that of dea¬ cons, then that for elders. The Epistle shall be, Eph. iv. 7 to 13, as before in this office. Immediately after which they that are to be ordained deacons shall be examined and ordained, as above pre¬ scribed. Then one of the elders having read the Gospel, which shall be St. John x. 1, as before in this office, they that are to be ordained, elders shall likewise be examined and ordained, as in this office before ap¬ pointed. SECTION III. For the Order of Bishops. THE COLLECT. Almighty God, who, by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles many 235 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 administer the godly discipline thereof; and grant unto the peo¬ ple 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 some of the elders, the Epis¬ tle, Acts 20: 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 laying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also 236 to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there; cave that the Holy Ghost witnesseth 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 iuore. Wherefore 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, there¬ fore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his owu blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your owu 237 selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore, 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 (iod, 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 sanc¬ tified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my ne¬ cessities, 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 remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how be 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 said unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him Feed 238 my lambs. He saith unto him again, the se¬ cond time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thoti knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved because lie said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him Feed my sheep. Or this: St. 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 nations, 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 persons shall be presented by the two Elders unto the Bishop, saying: 239 Reverend Father in God, we present unto you this holy man to be ordained a Bishop. Then the Bishop shall move the congregation pre¬ sent to prayer, saying thus to them : Brethren, it is written in the Gospel of St. Luke, that our Saviour Christ continued 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 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 divers orders of ministers in thy church, mercifully behold this thy servant, now 240 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, lie 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, world without end. Amen. Then the Bishop shall say to him that is to be or¬ dained : 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 I admit you to this administration, I 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. 241 The Bishop.—Are you persuaded that you are truly called to the ministration according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ? A. 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 committed 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 ? A. 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 as you may be able by them, to teach and ex¬ hort with wholesome doctrine, and to with¬ stand and convince gainsayers ? 242 A. 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 doctrines contrary to God's word, and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to do the same ? A. I am ready, 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 no¬ thing to say against you? A. I will do so, the Lord being my helper. The Bishop.—Will you maintain and set forward, as much as shall lie in you, quietness, love and peace among all; and such as shall be unquiet, disobedient, and criminal within your district, correct and punish, according to such authority as you have by God's word, and as shall be com- 243 A. I will do so, by the help of God. The Bishop.—Will you be faithful in ordaining, sending, or laying hands upon others ? A. 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? A. I will so show myself, by God's help. Then shall the Bishop 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 ac¬ complish in you the good work which he hath begun, you may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the last day, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth forever. Amen. Then shall Veni, Creator, Spiritus be said : Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, And lighten with celestial fire. 244 Thou the anointing Spirit art, Vfhu dost thy sev'nfold gifts impart. Thy blessed unction from above Is comfort, light, and fire of love. Enable with perpetual light The dtdness of our blinded sight— Anoint and cheer our soiled face TFjVA 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, .1 nd 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. A. And let our cry come unto thee. The Bishop.—Let us pray. Almighty God, and most mercifulFather, •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 bad made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended iuto heaven, poured down 245 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 tidings 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., giving to thy family their portion in due season he may at last be received into everlasting joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen. Then the Bishops and Elders present shall lay their hands upon the head of the elected person, kneeling before them upon his knees, the Bishop saying : 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 ot' 246 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 those things con¬ tained in this book. Be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men. Take heed unto thyself, and to thy doctrine; for by so do¬ ing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not. Hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost, be not so merciful that you may be too remiss; so minister 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. 247 [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 prayers: 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 be¬ lieve, a wholesome example in word, in con¬ versation, 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, with Grod the Father, and the Holy Grhost, world without end. Amen. Direct us, 0 Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and furth or 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 Lirnt"" "~Amen. 248 The peace of God, which passeth all un¬ derstanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the bless¬ ing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. CHAPTER VI. FORM AND MANNER OF LAYING CORNER¬ STONES AND THE DEDICATION OF CHURCHES. SECTION I. For 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* suitable hymn. If the discourse has not been pro¬ nounced, the following prayer may be used: PRAYER. Supremely great and glorious Jehovah, who art the King eternal, immortal, and 249 invisible, the only wise Grod, to whom be¬ long honor and glory, for ever and ever ! Thou fillest all space with thy presence, pervading universal nature, and manifest¬ ing thy perfections in all thy works. We desire to approach thee in deep humility, and in the exercise of living faith. We rejoice that, through Jesus Christ, our Me¬ diator and Redeemer, we have access to thy throne of grace, and are taught to call thee our Grod, 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 to the exclusive worship of the true and living Grod, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We earnestly beseech thee to draw nigh to us as a Grod 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 250 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 obtain 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., or Haggai, 1st chap., from 1-1® ver.] If the discourse has been preached, then the pre¬ ceding prayer may be omitted; also, if deemed ne¬ cessary, the Scripture lesson; and the exercises, after an appropriate hymn, may be continued with the following: 251 ADDRESS. Beloved Brethren: Believing it to be your duty, as well as privilege, to worship God in a public and social capacity, and impressed with the con¬ viction that the interests of Christ's king¬ dom and the salvation of souls may be thereby promoted, you have resolved, in reliance on God's blessing, to erect an edi¬ fice 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 you are actu¬ ated 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, 0 252 Lord of hosts ! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord." We find frequent allusions in God's word to the corner-stone. a Behold," says the Lord, in Isaiah," I lay in Zion, for a founda¬ tion, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." And, in the Epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle remarks: " Being built upon the foun¬ dation 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 edifice rested. Having its place in the corner, ifc united and bound together two walls. One corner-stone was laid upon an¬ other ; and the same was done at each of the four corners of the building. The cor¬ ner-stones were, therefore, many; but all of them taken collectively, were spoken of as one. A single stone, larger> stronger, and more beautiful 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 253 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 corner-stone, in the stupendous ed¬ ifice of Christianity. By which is meant, that he is the support and strength of his Church, preserving it firm and unshaken, and extending its borders till it shall en¬ compass 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 sanctify¬ ing 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," sus¬ taining the whole system, and without which Christianity would cease to be Christ¬ ianity, 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 is 254 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 pro¬ mise, and waking up emotions and prospects so pleasing and joyful, is justly made a pro¬ minent one, and accompanied by solemni¬ ties suited to the occasion, and adapted to inspire us with an abiding sense of G-ods goodness, and our insufficiency without him. It is right and proper that we should pub¬ licly acknowledge our dependence on him. both in the attempt to erect an edifice, and in the discharge of the solemn duties for which it is intended. Such an acknowledgment gives to Grod an honor, which is due to him, and at the same time impresses our hearts with reve¬ rence and awe towards him. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." This was the sentiment of Solomon, the wisest and the richest of the kings of Israel, whose prosperity in ali his great undertakings was so remarkable and brought so much glory to his reign, ft becomes us, like him, on all occasions, espe¬ cially in every important matter, to be deep* 255 ly sensible of the power, the universal do¬ minion, the all-wise, holy and irresistible government of God; to feel that we are his needy creatures and dependent on his plea¬ sure 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 to promote the pub¬ lic good, it is for him to say whether we are the instruments and our measures the means which he will choose to employ for those ends. When David contemplated the erec¬ tion of a house of Grod, the Lord forbade him, and said, " I have chosen thy son to build me a house." Let us therefore humble ourselves before the Lord, confess his name, and seek his blessing in fervent prayer. PRAYER. 0 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 256 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 a prayer-answering God. We rejoice that thou hast established thy church here on earth, and preserved the same against all the assaults of its enemies; that the blessed sound of the gospel has also sa¬ luted 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 inclin¬ ing them to contribute of their substance to prosecute this laudable undertaking. May they indeed esteem it a high privilege to lend unto the Lord, and may many others cooperate in this holy work, and all labor together in concord and love until the habi¬ tation of thy house shall be completed and be held in possession free from debt and 257 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 secure us by thy grace, and to exalt us at last to an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. These and all other needful blessings we ask for 17 258 the sake and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Holy Spirit, be endless praise. Amen. The preceding prayer, or any other suitable one having been offered, the stone shall be laid and ad¬ justed. The officiating minister deposits the docu¬ ments in the excavation prepared in the stone for their reception. These documents may be the arti¬ cles of subscription and names of the subscribers; a list of the church officers, the pastor and building committee, and of the ministers officiating on the occasion, the Discipline of the church, Hymn Book, Bible, the names of the highest officers of govern¬ ment, religious papers of the church, &c., &c. The minister then concludes wth the following. DECLARATION. 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 Ilis 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, 259 SECTION II. For the Dedication of New or Remodelled 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 Methodist Episcopal Church, and "will at all times hereafter permit such ministers and preachers belonging 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 com¬ mencing with the first verse, and the ministers read¬ ing each alternate verse. PSALM LXXXIV. Bishop.—How amiable are thy taber¬ nacles, 0 Lord of hosts! Minister.—Mj» soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Bp.—Yea, the sparrow hath found a 260 house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, 0 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 tbem. 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 be¬ fore God. Min.—0 Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear 0 God of Jacob. Bp —Behold, 0 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 upri^htlj. 261 Mm.—0 Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. The Bishop* with those who are appointed 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, 0 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 companion's sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. * Or elder. 262 9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. The Bishop,* kneeling, then shall say the follow¬ ing prayer: 1 KINGS VIII. 23-51. Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: but will God indeed dwell on the earth ? behold, the heaven of heavens can¬ not contain thee; how much less this house, that we have builded ! Yet have thou re¬ spect unto the prayer of thy servants, and to their supplication, 0 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 toward this house, night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there : that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servants shall make in this place. And hearken thou unto the * Or elder. 263 supplications of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray in this place; and hear thou in heaven, thy dwell¬ ing-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, condemning 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 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 afflictest them, then hear thou in heaven and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of 264 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 he pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever 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 dwell¬ ing-place, and forgive and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; that they may fear thee all the days of their lives. Moreover, concern¬ ing 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 hea¬ ven, 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 265 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 perversely, we have com¬ mitted wickedness; and so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul; then hear thou their prayer and sup¬ plication in heaven, thy dwelling-place, and forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed 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. This prayer being over, the Bishop or Elder shall stand up and say: And now, 0 Lord God, most high, whom the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot 266 contain, we dedicate this house to thy ser¬ vice: receive it, we humbly beseech thee, receive 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 G-ospel is preached in this house, it may descend with all its purity, power and demonstration, upon the hearts of the impeniteut, turning them from dark¬ ness to light, and from the power of sin and Satan, unto God; that its sanctifying influ¬ ences 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, 0 merciful Father, and grant that whosoever shall be dedicated to Thee in this house by the holy ordinance of bap¬ tism, they may also receive the fulness of Thy grace; be made useful members of the church militant, and finally obtain an abun- 267 dant entrance into the church, triumphant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hear us, 0 merciful Father, and grant that whoseover 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 spot¬ less and life-crowned at Thy right hand, world without end. Amen. Hear us, 0 Thou, who art the Spouse of :the Church, and grant that whosoever shall in this house be joined together in holy ma¬ trimony, may also live, as did Isaac and : Rebecca, in the purest enjoyment of connu- : bial 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. 0 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 thanksgiving for mercies past, or benefits received, may 268 also rejoice in the light of thy countenance, with the peace which passeth all under¬ standing, with the joy that is unspeakable 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 finished 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 every other institution of Christianity, may ever find in this house an able advocacy and an ample support, so as to be rendered instru¬ mental in hastening on the day, when the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. Amen. Thus have we dedicated this house unto thee, 0 thou that dwellest in heaven. Be- ceive it, 0 receive it, among thine earthly 269 sanctuaries, and grant that all who may worship thee here from Sabbath to Sab¬ bath, 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. 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 extempo¬ raneous 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 deemed guilty of grossly improper conduct, and may be suspended, according to the decision of the Annual Conference. 270 PART Y. TEMPORAL ECONOMY. CHAPTER I. BOUNDARIES. SECTION I. Boundaries of the Annual Conferences. Q. What are the boundaries of the An¬ nual Conferences? 1. Baltimore Conference, shall include all the State of Maryland, and District of Columbia. 2. Philadelphia Conference, shall in¬ clude Philadelphia City, and all that part of Pennsylvania lying east of Lewistown, Pa., and fiarrisburg north of the Susque¬ hanna river, Williamsport, Chambersburg, and Carlisle circuit; all of the State of Del¬ aware, all of New Jersey, except Freehold, Manalapan, and Englishtown, Riceville, and Fairhaven, New Jersey, south of the Raritan river. 271 3. New York Conference, shall extend from the northern extremity of Long Is¬ land, and include all the State of New York; Lee, and Great Barrington, in Mass., and Rah way, Elizabeth City, Morristown, Free¬ hold, Manalapan, Englishtown, Riceville, and Fairhaven, in New Jersey. 4. New England Conference, shall in¬ clude all the New England States: Con¬ necticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. 5. Ohio Conference, shall include all the State of Ohio. 6. Indiana Conference, shall include all the States of Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. 7. Missouri Conference, shall include all the State of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and all the States west, not now included in the California Conference. 8. Louisiana Conference, shall include all the State of Louisiana, Belize, Hon¬ duras, and Central America. 9. California Conference, shall include all the State of California, Victoria Land, Alaska, Oregon, Washington Territory, 272 and other points east of it not now inclu¬ ded in the Missouri Conference, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado, New Mexico, and all the Pacific coast. Boundaries of New Conferences. 10. Virginia Conference, shall include all the State of Virginia east of the Alle¬ gheny mountains as the State of Virginia is now constituted, including eastern shore of Virginia. 11. North Carolina Conference, shall in¬ clude all the State of North Carolina, and the adjacent Islands. 12. South Caroliua Conference, shall in¬ clude all the State of South Carolina, and the adjacent Islands belonging to South Carolina, except the churches lying on the Savannah river near the city of Savannah. 13. Georgia Conference, shall include all the State of Georgia, and the churches on the Savannah river in South Carolina. 14. Florida Conference, shall include all the State of Florida. 15. Alabama Conference, shall include all the State of Alabama. 273 16. Texas Conference, shall include all the State of Texas. 17. Arkansas Conference, shall include all the State of Arkansas, and the Indian Territory. 18. Mississippi Conference, shall include all the State of Mississippi. 19. Tennessee Conference, shall include all the State of Tennessee. 20. Kentucky Conference, shall include all the State of Kentucky. 21. Pittsburg Conference, shall include all of West Pennsylvania, and East Penn¬ sylvania as far as Lewistown Circuit, which is now included in the Baltimore Confer¬ ence, and all of West Virginia. The Bishops shall have authority to or¬ ganize Conferences in the West India Is¬ lands, and at other points that they think best to do so; if a majority of them and "the Board of Missionaries" shall at any time during the next four years deem it expedient. Subject to the approval of the next General Conference. 18 274 CHAPTER II SECTION I. Of the Election and Duties of Trustees. Q. 1. How shall trustees be constituted for our church property, and what shall be their duties? A. 1. Ea.;h board of trustees shall con¬ sist of not less than three, nor more than nine persons, all of whom shall be twenty- one years of age, and not less than six months a member of our church, except in cases of missions, new work or other emer¬ gencies. A. 2. In all cases, where the law of the land requires a specified mode of election, that mode shall be observed. A. 3. Where no such specified require¬ ment is made, they shall be elected annual¬ ly by the male members of the church, under the following regulations: It shall be the duty of the minist r in charge to appoint the time and place of holding 275 the election, of which election due notice shall be given by the minister in charge, from the pulpit, at least one Sabbath be¬ fore the said election. Every male mem¬ ber in full communion in the church, of twenty-one years of age and upwards, shall be an elector. Upon the nomination of the minister in charge, of persons to be elected trustees, he shall nominate twice the num¬ ber necessary to be elected, whereupon they shall proceed to cast their ballot for their choice, and those receiving the ma¬ jority of votes cast shall be declared the trustees elect, by the minister having the charge. $. 2. What are the duties of trustees in the African M. E. Church? A. They shall manage all the temporal concerns of the church not otherwise pro¬ vided for. Q. 3. What then are the temporal con¬ cerns which th.ey are to manage ? A. 1. They are to guard all the real es¬ tate, churches, parsonages, school-houses, and other property owned by the people in the connection. 276 A. 2. They shall improve the said prop¬ erty or real estate with the consent of a majority of the legal voters of the church who shall be called together for that pur¬ pose by the minister in charge. It is pro¬ vided, however, that should not a majority of the legal voters be present after the proper call is made, a majority vote of those present shall be considered legal. A. 8. It shall be the duty of the trustees to procure, by purchase or hire, a house for the preacher's family, and comfortably fur¬ nish the same. But any trustee ceasing to be a member of our church, by reason of expulsion or otherwise, shall immedi¬ ately cease to be a trustee, except in case of debt, where he is joint security, and then in no case longer than such relief can be given as the creditors will accept. A. 4. The minister in charge shall be chairman of the board of trustees (where the law of the State does not otherwise pro¬ vide), and his signature shall be necessary to make the acts of the trustees legal. Nevertheless, in case of the necessary ab- 277 sence of the minister in charge, he shall appoint a president pro tem., who shall pre¬ side in his place, and in all such cases his signature shall be legal. And further, it shall be the duty of the trustees to make a report of all their re¬ ceipts and expenditures every quarter to the Quarterly Meeting Conference, and the quarterly conference shall cause a report of the doings of the trustees to be made at least once a year to the church. CHAPTER III. CHURCH PROPERTY. SECTION I. Of building Churches, and the order to he observed therein. Q. 1. Is anything advisable in regard to building? A. 1. Let all our churches be built plain¬ ly and decently, but not more expensively than is absolutely unavoidable. 2. No person shall be hereafter eligible as a trustee to any of our houses, churches, 278 or schools, who is not a regular member of our Church. 3. No person, who is a trustee, shall be ejected while he is a joint security for money, unless such relief be given him as is demanded, or the creditor will accept. Q. 2. Is there any exception to the rule "Let the men and women sit apart?" A. 2. There is none—let them sit apart in all our churches wherever practicable. Q. 3. Is there not a great indecency sometimes practised among us, viz., talking in the congregation before and after ser¬ vice ? How shall it be cured ? A. 3. Let all the ministers, preachers, &c., join as one man, and enlarge on the impropriety of talking before or after ser¬ vice, and strongly exhort those that are concerned, to do it no more. In three months this vile practice, if we are in ear¬ nest, will be banished out of our congrega¬ tions. Let none stop until he has carried his point. Q. 4. What shall be done for the securi¬ ty of our meeting-houses, and the premises belonging thereto ? 279 A. 4. Let the following plan of a deed of settlement be brought into effect, in all possible cases, and as far as the law will admit, in the respective States. But each Annual Conference is authorized to make such modifications in the deed, as they may find the different usages and customs, or laws, require in the different States, so as to secure the premises firmly, by deed, and permanently to the African Methodist Epis¬ copal Church, according to the true intent and meaning of the following form of a deed of settlement, any thing in the said form to the contrary, notwithstanding:— deed. This Indenture, made this day of , in the year of our Lord one thou¬ sand 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 mentioned, all of the in the State of aforesaid, of the other part, Wit- ncsseth, that the said , [if married, 280 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, and conveyed, and by these presents doth or does give, grant, bargain, sell, release, confirm, and convey unto them the said trustees and their suc¬ cessors, (trustees in trust for the uses and purposes hereinafter mentioned and de¬ clared,) all the estate, 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 being in the and State aforesaid, bounded as follows, to wit: [here insert the several courses and dis¬ tances of the land to the place of begin¬ ning,] containing and laid out for acres of land, together with all and singular the houses, woods, waters, ways, privileges, and appurtenances thereto belonging, or in any 281 wise pertaining: to have and to hold all and singular the above mentioned and de¬ scribed lot or piece of land, situate, lying, and being as aforesaid; together with all and singular the houses, woods, waters, ways, and privileges thereto belonging, Unto the said and their successors 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 mem¬ bers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, according to the rule and discipline 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 further trust and con¬ fidence, that they shall at all times forever, hereafter, permit such ministers and preach¬ ers 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 African Methodist Episcopal Church, or by Annual Confer¬ ences authorized by the said Conferences, 282 to preach and expound Grod's holy word therein; and in further trust and confi¬ dence, 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 disci¬ pline 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 male members, for the election of all the Board, or a part, according to law, as soon as conveniently 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, immediately preceding such nomi¬ nation, and be at least twenty-one years of age; and the said male members, so as¬ sembled, shall proceed to elect, and by a majority of votes, appoint the person or per- 283 sons so nominated, to fill such vacancy or vacancies, in order to keep up the number of trustees forever; and in case of an equal number of votes for and against the said nomination, the stationed minister or preach¬ er shall have the casting vote. Provided, nevertheless, That the said trustees, or any of them, or their succes¬ sors, have advanced, or shall advance, any 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, by mortgage on the said premises, or by selling the said premises, after notice given to the pastor or preacher that has the oversight of the congregation attending divine ser¬ vice on the said premises, if the money due be not paid to the said trustees, or their successors, within one year after such no¬ tice has been given : And if such sale take place, the said trustees, or their successors, after paying the debt, and other expenses 284 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, which surplus of the proceeds of such sale, so deposited in the hands of the said steward or stewards, shall be at the disposal of the next Annual Conference, authorized as aforesaid; which said Annual Conference shall dispose of the said money, according 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 persona whatever. In testimony whereof, the said (if married, insert the name of his wife,) have 285 hereto set their hands and seals, the day and year aforesaid. Sealed and delivered in 1 Grantor's [l. s.] presence of us : J His wife's [l. s.] Two witnesses. Received the day of the date of the above written Indenture, the con¬ sideration therein mentioned in full. Witness, | Grantor's [l. s.] County, ss. Be it remembered, that on the day of , in the year of our Lord, one thousand , personally appeared be¬ fore me, one of the Justices of the Peace, in the county of and State of , the within named (the grantor, if married, insert the name of his wife,) and acknowledged 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, de¬ clared that she had made the said acknow- 286 ledgment, 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. [l. s.] N. B.—1. It is necessary that all our deeds should be recorded, for legal as well as prudential reasons. And the incorpora¬ tion of all our churches (where the law will admit of it) should be attended to as soon as possible. 2. Let nine trustees be appointed for meeting-houses, where proper persons can be procured; otherwise seven, five or three. 3. Any church or congregation among us, that will not submit wholly to the spiri¬ tual government of our General and Annual Conferences, shall be disowned. 287 CHAPTER IV. Stewards. SECTION I. Of the Qualifications, Appointments, and Duties of the Stewards of Circuits and Stations. Question 1. What are the qualifications necessary for stewards? Answer 1. Let them be men of solid piety, who both know and love the Metho¬ dist doctrine and discipline, and of good natural or acquired abilities to transact the temporal business. Q. 2. How are the Stewards to be ap¬ pointed ? A. 2. A preacher having the charge of the circuit or station, shall have the right of nomination, but the Quarterly Meeting Conference shall confirm or reject such nomination. Q. 3. What shall be the time of the con¬ tinuation of the Stewards in office ? A. 3. They shall be elected annually. Q. 4. What are the duties of the Stew¬ ards ? 288 A. 4. To take an exact account of all the money or other provisions collected for the support of the preachers in the circuit or statitm; to make an accurate return of every expenditure of money, whether to the preachers, church, sick or poor; to seek the needy and distressed, in order to relieve and comfort them ; to inform the preachers of any sick or disorderly person; to attend the Quarterly Meeting of their circuit or sta¬ tion, to give advice, if asked, in planning the circuit or station; to attend committees for the application of money to churches;' to give counsel in matters of arbitration; to provide elements for the Lord's Supper; to write circular letters to the societies in the circuit; to be more liberal, if need be, as, also to let them know, when occasion re¬ quires, the state of the temporal concerns at the last Quarterly Meeting; to register the marriages and baptisms, and to be sub¬ ject to the Bishop, elder, deacon, and tra¬ velling preachers of their circuit or station. Q. 5. To whom are the Stewards account¬ able for the faithful performance of their duties ? 289 A. 5. To the Quarterly Meeting Confer¬ ence of the circuit or station, who shall have power to remove them when they fail or refuse to do their duty. Q. 6. What number of Stewards are ne¬ cessary in eacTi circuit or station'( A. 6. Not less than three, nor more than seven. The Board of Stewards shall have a re¬ gularly labelled Church Record, in which to have baptisms, marriages, deaths, and a list of probationers and members re¬ corded. The preachers in charge of circuits and stations shall sje that the foregoing is en¬ forced. CHAPTER V. MINISTERIAL SUPPORT. SECTION I. Of the Allowance of the Bishops, Editor, General Boofc Steward, and Travelling Preachers. 1. The Bishop's salary shall be three hundred dollars per Conference year, if 19 290 married; and one hundred an d seventy-five if unmarried: his board for himself, wife and children, under fourteen years of age; also his house rent, fuel and travelling ex¬ penses. It shall be the duty of every mi¬ nister having the charge, to raise the ap¬ portionment as soon as he enters upon his field of labor. And it is hereby provided, that in every case of failure, relative to the apportionment, the Annual Conference shall investigate the causes of the same; and if it can be shown that he has neglected his duty, the Annual Conference may pass a vote of censure, or suspend iim, as the case may require. 2. The Editor and General Book Stew¬ ard shall receive for their services the same allowance that other travelling preachers receive, which allowance shall be three hun¬ dred dollars, each Conference year, if mar¬ ried; and one hundred and seventy-five, if sin¬ gle; board for themselves, wives, and chil¬ dren under fourteen years of age, and their house rent, fuel, and travelling expenses. Should their wives die, they shall have the same as if they were married, for the sup- 291 port of their children, if they have any. It shall be the duty of the Committee of the Book Concern to purchase, or hire, and furnish a suitable house for the Editor and. General Book Steward's families. And it shall be the duty of the treasurer to pay them upon the order of the Committee. 3. The allowance of a married travelling, preacher shall be three hundred dollars, each Conference year, board for himself, wife, and children under fourteen years of age, and his house rent, fuel and travel* ling expenses. Should his wife die. he Khali" have the same as if he were married, for the support of his children, if he kave any. 4. The allowance of an unmarried preach¬ er shall be one hundred and seveniy-five dollars per Conference year, and his board, and travelling expenses. 292 CHAPTER VI. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH BOOK CONCERN. SECTION I. Printing and Circulating Boohs and Pe¬ riodicals of the A frican Methodist Epis¬ copal Church Boole Concern. 1. A Book Concern shall be carried on in the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, known as the African Meth¬ odist Episcopal Church Book Concern. 2. The affairs of the Book Concern shall be under the control of a General Book committee of nine, appointed by the General Conference, from among the travelling preachers from the Conferences nearest to the Book Concern. During the interval of the General Conference, they shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur in their own body, a majority of whom shall be a quorum to do business. It shall be the duty of the General Book Committee, to examine into the condition of the Book 293 Concern, to inspect the accounts of the Editor, General Book Steward and Trustees, and make a report thereof yearly to all the Annual Conferences, and quadrennially to the General Conference. They shall also attend to such matters as may be referred to them by the Editor or General Book Stew¬ ard or Trustees, for their action or counsel. And they shall have power to suspend the Editor or General Book Steward, from his official relation as such, if they judge it ne¬ cessary for the interest of the Book Concern and Church. And a time shall be fixed at as early a day as practicable, for the investi¬ gation of the official conduct of the said Editor or General Book Steward, at which time one or more of the Bishops shall be re¬ quested to attend, and by the concurrence of the Bishop present, and a majority of the committee present, he may be removed from office in the interval of the General Confer¬ ence. And in case a vacancy occurs, it shall be the duty of .the General Book Committee and one or more of the Bishops, as soon as practicable, to provide for such vacancy until the next General Conference. 3. There shall at2>ueral 294 Book Steward appointed by the General Conference, to conduct the Book Concern at Philadelphia, from among the travelling preachers; they shall be members of the Conference "where the Book Concern is located; they shall act in conjunction with seven Trustees appointed by the Philadel¬ phia Annual Conference, according to the act of incorporation. (The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Philadelphia Annual Conference.) The Editor, General Book Steward and Trustees so appointed, shall constitute a Board of Publication; a ma¬ jority shall be a quorum to transact busi¬ ness. They shall publish such books and periodicals as are recommended by the Gene¬ ral Conference, or such as are recommended by the General Book Committee, or recom¬ mended by an Annual Conference. They shall regulate the publications of all parts of the business of the Concern, as the state of the finance will admit, and the demands may require, if first approved of by the Gene¬ ral Committee. It shall be the duty of the Board of Pub¬ lication, to keep an accurate account of all 295 receipts and expenditures of money, and stock on hand, and send a report of the state of the Book Concern at Philadelphia, to each session of all the Annual Conferences yearly, and report quadrennially to the General Conference. The Editor shall edit all our books, papers and periodicals, and attend to the editorial department. The General Book Steward shall attend to the financial department. He shall receive all moneys designed for the support of the Book Concern, and pay the same over to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. He shall be Chairman of the Board of Publication, call meetings of the Board when he deems it necessary, and at the request of two members of the Board, he shall furnish the District Book Stewards, and the Branch Depositories, with books, papers and periodicals of our Book Concern. 4. The duty of the Treasurer shall be to receive all moneys designed for the support of the Book Concern, from the General Book Steward, giving to him a receipt for the same. He shall pay the same out to the order of the Board of Publication, when 296 signed by the chairman and secretary of said Board. Before entering upon the duties of his office, he shall give such security, as the Board of Publication shall decide, for the faithful performance of his trust, and in case of refusal, the Board shall declare the office vacant, and appoint another. 5. The duty of the Secretary shall be to keep regular and fair minutes of the busi¬ ness transactions of the Board of Publica¬ tion, and draw up and sign all orders on the Treasurer for money, when ordered by the Board of Publication. He shall be appoint¬ ed by the Board of Publication. 6. There shall be Branch Depositories of our books, papers, and periodicals, at St. Louis, Missouri • Charleston, South Carolina; and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, furnished by the General Book Steward, when approved by the Board of Publication and General Committee, with full supplies of our books, papers, and periodicals, to be sold for the Book Concern at the same terms as at Phila¬ delphia. 7. The agents to attend to the Branch Depositories, shall be the District Book 297 Stewards appointed by the Annual Confer¬ ence where located., and shall be amenable to said Conference, according to paragraph tenth. Their fluty shall be to sell the books, papers and periodicals, and send the money to the General Book Steward at Philadel¬ phia every month, and report to the Board of Publication quarterly, the amount of all sales and stock on hand. 8. Full statements shall be made by the agents of said Depositories semi-annually, in June and December, of the amount of sales and expenses, distinguishing cash sales from those on credit; and also an annual state¬ ment shall be made of the amount sold and stock on hand, to the Board of Publication at Philadelphia. 9. If it shall appear to the Board of Pub¬ lication and General Committee, that the business of either of the Branch Deposito¬ ries is not well managed, or that remittances are not duly made, they shall immediately correct the error complained of, or with the concurrence of the Board of Publication and General Committee, shall cause the affairs of the Depositories to be wound up. 298 10. Every Annual Conference shall ap¬ point one District Book Steward, and a committee of four to act in conjunction with the District Book Steward, to see after the interest of the Book Concern in the Confer¬ ence district, and shall attend to the collec¬ tion of the accounts sent out from the Book Concern to the District Book Stewards, of all books, papers and periodicals, and he shall send the money for the sale of said books, papers and periodicals, to the Gene¬ ral Book Steward every three months or oftener, if he should have any money on hand from the sale of said books, &c.; and they shall make an accurate report of the same, of all books, papers, and periodicals, received from the Book Concern, to the said Annual Conference. They shall be responsible to their Annual Conference for the faithful discharge of their duties. 11. Every Annual Conference shall ap¬ point a committee to examine the accounts of the District Book Steward and committee, so that an accurate knowledge of the Book Concern may be ascertained in the district, and correct returns be made of the same, of 299 all moneys and effects, to the Annual Con¬ ference. 12. It shall be the duty of all our preach¬ ers, to interest themselves in the sale of our books, papers and periodicals, and whoever among them neglects to use his exertions in forwarding the measures of this important department of business, in their respective circuits or stations, he shall be dealt with at his Annual Conference, as in other cases of violation or breach of discipline. 13. It shall be the duty of every travel¬ ling preacher, to recover all debts belonging to the Book Concern, and all books, papers and periodicals remaining unsold in the hands of any person in their circuits or stations. 14. If any preacher or member of our church be in debt to the Book Concern, and refuse to make payment, or come to a just settlement, let him be dealt with as in any other case of debt, according to the rules provided upon the subject of indebtedness. 15. There shall be such effectual meas¬ ures adopted for the recovery of debts, as the Annual Conference may direct, and 300 every person recovering books, papers and periodicals, shall make their full and annual return to the District Book Steward, at the Annual Conference in every district, includ¬ ing the returns made by them during the year. 16. It shall be the duty of every preach¬ er having the charge, to see that his circuit or station be well supplied with our books, papers and periodicals. He shall order such books as are wanted, from the District Book Steward, for the same. He shall make re¬ turns at least once a quarter, or oftener if required by the District Book Steward, of all moneys received by him from the sale of said books, papers and periodicals; and at the Annual Conference he shall make a full settlement with the District Book Steward, and pay all moneys received by him for the sale of books, papers and periodicals, to the said Book Stewards; or return the books, papers and periodicals. And should he re¬ fuse so to do, or give the Conference satis¬ faction, he shall stand suspended from all official standing in said church, until the money is paid or books returned. 301 17. The Book Concern shall pay all the expenses of the conveyance of books. 18. The profits arising from the Book Concern, after a sufficient capital to carry on the business is retained, shall be regu¬ larly applied to the support of the bishops, distressed itinerant, supernumerary, and superannuated preachers. 19. It shall be the duty of each preacher having the charge, to do all in his power to collect the sum of one dollar per year from each member, one-fourth to be applied for the relief of the supernumerary and super¬ annuated bishops and preachers; one-fourth for the Book Concern; one-fourth to be equally divided between the preachers who have not received their allowance on stations, circuits and missions, and the widows and orphans of our deceased itinerant preachers; one-fourth to Wilberforce University, until completion, and the surplus of said one- fourth, after the completion of Wilberfore University, to be applied for educational purposes, under the jurisdiction of the A. M. E. Church. 20. It shall be the duty of each preacher 302 having the charge, to do all in his power to collect one-fourth of the dollar specified above, or that part appropriated to the Book Concern, within three months from the time he receives his appointment, and forward the same to the General Book Steward, who shall acknowledge the receipt of the same through the Christian Recorder. That part belonging to Wilberforce shall be collected within .the next three months, or as soon after as possible, and forwarded to the Treasurer of Wilberforce University, and the balance of the collection specified in para¬ graph nineteen, shall be brought to the Annual Conference. It shall further be the duty of each preacher having the charge, in order to facilitate the collection specified in paragraph nineteen, to keep a faithful record of the same in a book, with the names of the members, and those friendly in his con¬ gregation who have contributed, with the sums set opposite their names, and make a return of the same, that the Annual Con¬ ference may publish a report of all moneys so collected, with the names of the contri- 303 butors, in the minutes of said Annual Con¬ ference. Should any preacher having the charge, fail to raise the collection as specified above, it shall be the duty of the presiding bishop and Annual Conference, to inquire the cause of said failure; and if on examination the said preacher has failed through indifference or negligence, the Conference shall have power to suspend or dismiss him from the itinerant work. 21. The salaries of the Editor and the General Book Steward, shall be fixed by the General Book Committee, and shall be the same as other itinerant preachers, and shall be paid by the Board of Publication. All travelling preachers shall be allowed twenty-five per cent, for all cash paid when the books are received, and if not paid until three months expire, fifteen cents shall be allowed; and if not paid until six months expire, then ten cents shall be allowed; and when not paid at the end of six months, then interest shall be charged by the Gene¬ ral Book Steward or the District Book Steward, for the General Book Concern. 304 Interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum. CHAPTER VII. Of Raising a General Fund for the Pro¬ pagation of the Gospel. 1. Every preacher who has the charge of a circuit, shall make a yearly collection, and if expedient, a quarterly one, in every congregation where there is a probability that the people will be willing to contri¬ bute ; and the money so collected shall be lodged in the hands of the steward or stew¬ ards, and brought or sent to the ensuing Annual Conference. To this end, he may read and enlarge on the following hints: "How shall we send laborers into those parts where they are most of all wanted? Many are willing to hear, but not to bear the expenses. Nor can it as yet be ex¬ pected of them—stay till the word of God has touched their hearts, and then they will gladly provide for them that preach it. Does it not lie upon us, in the mean¬ time, to supply their lack of service ? To 305 raise money, out of which, from time to time, that expense may be defrayed? By these means those who willingly offer them¬ selves, may travel through every part, whether there be societies or not, and stay, whether there is a society or not, and stay, also, wherever there is a call, without being burdensome to any. Thus may the gospel, in the life and power thereof, be spread from sea to sea. Which of you will not rejoice to throw in your mites, to promote this glorious work ? "Besides this, in carrying on so large a work through the continent, there are calls for moDcy in various ways, and we must be frequently at considerable expense or the work must be at a full stop." 1. It shall be the duty of each Annual Conference, to form within its bounds a Conference Missionary Society, which shall appoint its own officers, fix the terms of membership, and otherwise regulate its own administration. 2. It shall be the duty of each preacher in charge, to institute a monthly mission¬ ary prayer-meeting, or lecture, in each so- 20 306 ciety, or church and congregation, wher¬ ever practicable, for the purpose of implor¬ ing the Divine blessing on missions; for the diffusion of missionary intelligence, and to afford an opportunity for voluntary offer¬ ings to the missionary cause. 3. It shall be the duty of each Preacher in charge of a circuit or station, to present in the year, to the societies, or Churches and congregations, the cause of missions, and to ask public collections and contribu¬ tions for the same. The manner of asking and taking such collections, shall be at the discretion of the Pastor, with this injunc¬ tion, that the Pastor shall preach, or cause to be preached, on the occasion, one or more sermons; and with the recommenda¬ tion, that one whole Sabbath day be given to the cause of missions, in each Confer¬ ence year, in our principal churches and congregations. 4. Each Annual Conference shall desig¬ nate the month or months, in which the public collections and contributions for missions, shall be taken within its bounds. 5. It shall be the duty of each Preacher 307 having charge of a circuit or station, to make a full return to the Annual Confer¬ ence of all moneys collected during the Conference year for the cause of missions, and of each and every other collection which the Discipline enjoins. And it is hereby enjoined, that in case of failure to raise the missionary collection, or any other collection, enjoined by the Discipline, and to pay the same over to the Annual Con¬ ference, the said Conference shall investi¬ gate the same, and shall have power to pass a vote of censure, and suspend or expel him, as the case may require. CHAPTER VIII. CONSTITUTION OF THE PARENT MISSION¬ ARY SOCIETY OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH. Preamble. Whereas, We, the Ministers of the A. M. E. Church, in General Conference as¬ sembled, have seen for years, and still see 308 with the deepest Christian anxiety, the de¬ plorable spiritual condition of our people —our brethren, "bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh," who inhabit both hemis¬ pheres—which the word of Grod declares shall be lighted up with the glorious rays of the Sun of Righteousness : And, Whereas, We further remember, with deep emotion, the last command of our as¬ cended Lord, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel;" and desiring to prove our love by our obedience, we there- lore resolve, hereby, to form ourselves into a Parent Missionary Society, whose head¬ quarters shall be in the city of Baltimore, and which shall be governed by the follow¬ ing constitution. Art. 1. This Society shall be known as the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Art. 2. The object of this Society shall be to aid in spreading the glorious news of 309 man's redemption, not only to the millions of our brethren in the southern portion of our beloved country, but also to our kins¬ men, according to the flesh, in foreign lands, by the establishment of missions and mission schools. Art. 3. Any person of orthodox faith, who is not guilty of living in some gross immorality, may, by the payment of one dollar, become a member of this Society, which membership may be perpetuated by the annual payment of one dollar. Any person may become a life member by the payment of twenty dollars at one time. Art. 4. This Society shall meet quad¬ rennially, at the place appointed for the meeting of the General Conference, and shall hold its quadrennial anniversary at an early period of the sitting of the General Conference. Art. 5. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Sec¬ retary, a Treasurer, two Auditors, a Board; of Managers, consisting of three from each 310 Annual Conference, and an Executive Committee, consisting of nine. Art. 6. The management and disposi¬ tion of the affairs and property of the So¬ ciety shall be vested in the Board of Mana¬ gers, whose term shall expire at each an¬ nual meeting, but may be re-elected, if found punctual in attendance, and qualified for the transaction of the business in¬ trusted to them. The Board of Managers shall have power, through the chairman, to call annual, as well as extra meetings of the Society, and to determine the place of their meetings. Thirty-three of the mem¬ bers of the Society shall be competent for the transaction of the business; and nine members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the Board. xVrt. 7. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Preachers stationed in the cities of Baltimore, Washington, George¬ town, and Alexandria. They shall have power to plan the collection and disburse¬ ment of moneys for the support of the mis¬ sions and schools of the Society; provide 311 for the support of the Teachers and agents of the Society, as well as the missionaries, both home and foreign—subject to the ap¬ proval of at least two of the Bishops. They shall also have power, with the consent of two or more Bishops, to strike from the list, such fields as are unproductive of sav¬ ing results. They shall also have power to establish mission schools, to determine the number of laborers necessary for each mission and school, and to provide for any unforeseen emergency which may arise in the planting of a mission, or the opening of a school. Art. 8. The appointing of missionaries and agents shall be with the Bishops; but the appointing of leaders shall be with the Executive Committee, who shall have power to employ none but Christian teachers, or those who profess the Christian faith, and canproduce certificates of sound morals. Art. 9. The Corresponding Secretary shall be appointed by the General Confer¬ ence, as are other general officers. He will reside in Baltimore. Should his office be¬ come vacant by death, resignation, or other- 312 wise, the Executive Committee shall have power to provide for the duties of the office, until the Bishops, or a majority of them, shall fill the vacancy. Art. 10. The President shall have gene¬ ral supervision of all the missions, and shall labor, either in person or by correspon¬ dence, to keep alive the spirit of missions throughout the work. Should his office become vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Vice President first on the list shall perform the duties of the office. Art. 11. The sum allowed shall not exceed that allowed for other itinerant preachers. The Bishop, or President of Conference, if the mission be domestic, or if it be foreign, the missionary shall draw on the Treasurer for the support, in quar¬ terly or ,semi-yearly instalments, and they shall always promptly notify the Treasurer of all drafts made by them. Art. 12. Each superintendent of mis¬ sions, and, where there is no superinten¬ dent, each missionary, shall make a quar¬ terly report to the Corresponding Secretary, 313 giving a particular account and prospect of the mission. Art. 13. Each Bishop shall have the special supervision of the domestic missions within his episcopal district, and may at stated periods, draw upon the Treasurer of the Parent Society, the sum needed for the support of the mission, or as much as is wanted in his episcopal district; said sum or sums to be ordered by a majority vote of the Annual Conference over which he presides. Art. 14. It is recommended that each Annual Conference organize a Missionary Society within its own bounds, and having matured a system of finance for the support fof missions, require their own Executive Committee to execute the same, diligently and earnestly. It is hereby provided, that no Annual Conference shall receive aid from the funds intrusted to the Parent Society, until it has organized an auxiliary Society within its bounds, reduced its mis¬ sionary finances to a system, and faithfully executed the same. 314 Art. 15. This Constitution shall not be altered but by the General Conference, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee; or by the Executive Commit¬ tee upon recommendation of the General Conference. 315 APPENDIX. COURSE OF STUDY For Probationers and Travelling and Local Deacons in the African Methodist Epis¬ copal Church. PIE.ST YEAR. THE BIBLE—DOCTRINES. The existence of God; the attributes of God, namely—unity, spirituality, eternity, omnipotence, ubiquity, omniscience, immutability, wisdom, truth, justice, mercy, love, goodness, and holiness. The Trinity in unity; the deity of Christ; the humanity of Christ, the union of deity and humanity, per¬ sonality and deity of the Holy Ghost; depravity, atonement, repentance justification by faith, regen¬ eration, adoption, the witness of the Spirit, growth in grace, perfection, possibility of final apostacy, immortality of the soul, resurrection of the body, general judgment, rewards and punishments. The examination on the above to be strictly 316 biblical, requiring the candidate to give the state¬ ment of the doctrines and the Scripture proofs. To prepare for this, he should read the Bible by course, and make a memorandum of the texts upon each of these topics, as he proceeds. SYSTEMATIC DIVINITY. Watson's Institutes, first part; Wesley's plain ac¬ count of Christian Perfection, Wakefield's Christian Theology, Claude's Essays, first and second books added, with Stevens' History of Methodism. COMMON ENGLISH English Grammar, Modern Geography C0JIP0SIT0N. Write an essay or sermon. This year we advise the candidate to read Wes¬ ley's Sermons and Notes, Watson's life of Wesley, and Watson's apology, Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. SECOND YEAR. THE BIBLE—SACRAMENTS. The sacrament of baptism, its nature, design, ob¬ ligation, subjects, and mode; the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, its nature, design, and obligation. SYSTEMATIC DIVINITY. Wakefield's Christian Theology, third and fourth books, Peck's Christian perfection, Fletcher's Ap¬ peal. 317 church government. Methodist Discipline, Stevens' Church Polity and the Compendium to the Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. composition. Write an essay or a sermon. [The mode of study this year and the following years the same as upon the Bible in the first year.] [This year we would advise the candidate to read Bishop Emory's Defence of the Fathers, Powel on Apostolical Succession, Baker on the Discipline, Compendium of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Discipline, published by order of the Gene¬ ral Conference, Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Wesley on Original Sin, Doctri¬ nal Tracts. THIRD YEAR. the bible—history and chronology Candidates to be prepared to stand an examination upon the leading events recorded in the Old and New Testaments. We give you, as books of reference, Home's Introduction, in the abridged form, and Hibbard's Palestine, with Nevin's Biblical Antiqui¬ ties. systematic divinity. Wakefield's Christian Theology, fifth and sixth parts, Butler's Analogy. history, rhetoric, and logic. Rutter's Church History, Haven's Text Book, 318 Quackenbos' Composition and Rhetoric, and E. K. True's Logic. COMPOSITION. Write an essay or sermon. [This year we advise the candidate to read Bishop Payne's History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bang's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Fletcher's Works, Rollin's Ancient History, Hallam's Middle Ages, Elliot's Romanism, and Russell's Modern Europe.] FOURTH YEAR. Review of the whole course pursued in the three previous years. SYSTEMATIC DIVINITY. Wakefield's Christian Theology, seventh part, and a review of the seven books of Wakefield's Christian Theology. PREACHING. Yinett's Homeletics, or Theory of Preaching. BIBLICAL CRITICISM. Home's Introduction, abridged. COMPOSITION. Write an essay or sermon. [This year, we advise the candidate to read Smith's Hebrew people, Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, Townley's Illustrations of Biblical Literature, Wat- 319 son s Sermons, "Wesley's Works, and the History of the United States, with the Discipline and Compen¬ dium of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, by Bishop Payne. Those books that we have recommended to be read attached to the end of each year's study, after the necessary course for the year is pointed out above them, are highly important, but are not enjoined to the course of study. The examination with regard to these will only extend to the fact of reading. Have you read them ? The particular examination will be confined to the subjects laid down in the course of study, without a complete knowledge of which, the candidate may not hope to pass his ex¬ amination. COURSE OF STUDY". Recommended for local preachers, who are candi¬ dates for preacher's license. THE BIBLE—DOCTRINES. The existence of God, the attributes of God, name¬ ly : unity, spirituality, eternity, omnipotence, ubi¬ quity, omniscience, immutability, wisdom, truth, justice mercy, love, goodness, holiness^ the Trinity in unity with the deity of Christ, the humanity of Christ the unity of deity with humanity, personality and deity of the Holy Ghost, depravity, atonement, rpnpntance, iustification by faith, regeneration, adop¬ tion the witness of the Spirit, growth in grace, Christian perfection, possibility of final apostacy, immortality of the soul, resurrection of the body, general judgment, rewards and punishments. 320 THE BIBLE—SACRAMENTS. The sacrament of baptism, its nature, design, ob¬ ligation subjects, and mode; the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, its nature design and obligations. [The examination on the above subjects is to be strictly Biblical, requiring the candidate to give the statement of the doctrine and the scripture proofs.] SYSTEMATIC DIVINITY. Watson's Institutes, "Wesley's Plain Account of Christian Perfection, Fletcher's Appeal. CHURCH GOVERNMENT. Methodist Discipline. COMMON ENGLISH. English Grammar. Modern Geography, Watson's Life of Wesley, Wesley's Sermons, Emory's Defence of our Fathers, Powel on Apostolical Succession. HISTORY. Leading events recorded in the Old and New Tes¬ taments, Fletcher's Checks, Rutter's Church Hist¬ ory, History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Porter's Compendium of Methodism, Com¬ pendium of the Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. COMPOSITION. Write an essay or a sermon. 321 PREACHING. Preach an extempore discourse. COURSE OF STUDY. Recommended for exhorters, who are candidates for exhorters' license. COMMON ENGLISH. Reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography. THE BIBLE—DOCTRINES. The attributes of God, namely: unity, spirituali¬ ty, eternity, omnipotence, ubiquity, omniscience, immutability, wisdom, truth, justice, mercy, love, goodness, holiness; the Trinity in unity, the deity of Christ, the humanity of Christ, personality and deity of the Holy Ghost, depravity, atonement, re¬ pentance, justification by faith, regeneration, adop¬ tion, the witness of the Spirit, growth in grace, Christian perfection, possibility of final apostacy, immortality of the soul, resurrection of the body, general judgment, rewards and punishments. (The examination on the above to be strictly Bi¬ blical, requiring the candidate to give the statement of the doctrines, and the Scripture proofs. To pre¬ pare for this, he should read the Bible by course, and make a memorandum of the texts upon each topic as he proceeds.) CHURCH GOVERNMENT. Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Watson's Life of Wesley, Wesley's Sermons. 21 322 A RECOMMENDATION TO STUDENTS. We recommend those who are candidates for either exhorter's or preacher's license, and also those who are probationers in the Conference, and those who are travelling 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 les¬ son of one or two chapters from the Old, and the same number 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 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 become learned in the Scriptures. Read a few sentences or a para¬ graph, then stop, reflect and inwardly digest the subject, then proceed again in like manner with a tew 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 Scrip¬ tures will be the best, the most profitable of any for you to pursue in the study of those works which we have given to you in the course of study which we have enjoined, with this simple difference, that we recommend you to take a lesson. A certain number of pages for a daily lesson, instead of a certain num- 323 ber of chapters. For instance, two or four pages of Watson'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 con¬ tained in the course. 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, ex¬ cept 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 expect to pass a strict examination upon their particular contents. Through much j>rayer and watchfulness our hearts are made better by study. "Through desire a man having separated himself, seeketh and»inter- meadleth with all wisdom." Proverbs xviii. 1. " 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 needethnotto 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 sub¬ lime affections; or so unfriendly to hatred and per¬ secution, to tyranny, to injustice, and every sort of malevolence, as the Gospel. It breathes nothing throughout, but mercy, benevolence, and peace. Poetry is sublime, when it awakens in the mind any great and good affection, as piety or patriot¬ ism. This is one of the noblest effects of the art. The Psalms are remarkable, beyond all other writ¬ ings, for their power of inspiring,devout emotions. 324 But it is not in this respect only, that they are sublime. Of the divine nature they contain the most magnificent descriptions that the soul of man can comprehend. The hundred-and-fourth Psalm, in particular, displays the power and goodness of Providence, in creating and preserving the world, and the various tribes of animals in it, with such majestic brevity and beauty, as it is in vain to look for in any human composition. 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.— 1 Cor. xvi. 2. Such a S3Tstem it is my present object to unfold. I can lay no claim to novelty; but this I do not re¬ gret, since I am able to commend the plan to be brought forward as scriptural. I may also add, it is exceedingly simple and feasible. It has no com¬ plicated impracticable details. It was acted on by many of the disciples of Jesus, eighteen centuries ago; and has, doubtless, to some extent, been fol¬ lowed by the benevolent 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 if*. 1U HUlli'i;"; 325 All the elements of this system are contained in the direction of the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, respecting collections for the needy saints in Judea. I refer 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 be no gatherings when I come."—1 Cor. xvi. 2. We learn from the verse preceding, that the Apos¬ tle had given the same direction to the Church of Gralatia. It is therefore probable, that the rule was extended to all the churches that were solicited to contribute for the same purpose. Whether it was the practice of the primitive Christians to lay by them in store for all their 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 benefactions. They were themselves on strictly missionary ground, subject to all the de¬ mands and embarrassments of such a position; and they could not, except occasionally, as in the case to which the rule specifically 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 promptly, and disbursing without delay, must ordinarily, with them, have superseded laying 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 prospered him." 326 Still, they did not do for others beyond their own neighborhood, and where opportunities for for¬ warding their donations must have been unfrequent. Xow, observe—in the only ease of this kind, of which 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 occa¬ sionally to convey their quotas to the general trea¬ sury ? 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 conceive 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 pre¬ tend not to say that the apostle contemplated for it universality and perpetuity. I pretend not to say that any anathema awaited those who did not prac¬ tice it, even at Corinth. Still less would I gay, that it 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 philanthropic of the present day. In the name of God and of humanity, let all who lore our Lord Jesus Christ, adopt some system by which they shall both do what they can, and do it the most effectually for the promotion of the Gospel. 328 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PART I. Origin, Doctrines and Rules. CHAPTER I. ORIGIN. Section 1. Origin and continuation of the Episcopacy of the African Methodist Epis¬ copal Church, .... CHAPTER II. DOCTRINES. Section 1. Articles of Religion, . Section 2. Catechism on Faith, CHAPTER III. 14 20 34 Section 1. General Rules, ... 64 Section 2. 5jil*t».a£.ili6.J3aJi(J^Qcieties . 71 329 Section 3. Section 4, Section 5. Section 6. Section 7. Section 8. tion of Children. Public Worship,. , The Spirit and Truth of Singing, Class Meetings, ... Rules Relating to Marriage, Rules Concerning Dress, Rules Concerning the Instruc- PART n. GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH. CHAPTER I. CONFERENCES. Section 1. The General Conference, 88 Section 2. The Annual Conference, 92 Section 3. The Quarterly Conference. 96 CHAPTER II. THE MINISTRY.' Section 1. Of the Episcopacy, „ . 100 Section 2. Of Presiding Elders, . 104 Section 3. Of Elders in Charge, . 108 Section 4. Of Travelling Deacons, » 113 Section 5. Of Travelling Licentiates, 117 Section 6. The Method of Receiving Travel- ling Preachers into full Connection, 123 22 330 Section 7. The Reception of Preachers from other Denominations, . . 125 Section 8. Concerning Local Preachers, . 127 Section 9. Concerning Exhorters, . . 130 Section 10. Of the trial of those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach, ..... 131 Section 11. The Matter and Manner of Preaching, ..... 132 Section 12. The Duty of Preachers to God, themselves, and one another, . . 134 Section 13. Rules by which we should con¬ tinue or desist from preaching at any Place, 138 Section 14. Visiting from house to house &c., 139 CHAPTER III. OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. Section 1. Form of Receiving Persons into the Church after Probation, . . 145 Section 2. Of the Privileges granted to se¬ rious Persons who are not members of our Society. ..... 150 331 PART III. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. CHAPTER I. STATUTORY LAWS RESPECTING TIIE MINISTRY. Section 1. Trial of Bishops, . . 15] Section 2. Trial of Itinerant Licentiates, Deacons and Elders, . . . 153 Section 3. Of Mai-Administration,. . 155 Section 4. Of Heresy and Schism, . . 15fi Section 5. Of TJnacceptability or Inefficiency in the Ministry, . . . .157 Section 6. Trial of Ministers who arc in Debt 158 Section 1. Trial of Local Elders, Deacons, and Licentiates, . . . .161 Section 8. Of Ministers Interfering in the Pastorate of others, . J 04 CHAPTER II. ' STATUTORY LAWS RESPECTING THE TRIAL OF MEM¬ BERS. Section 1. Of the Method by which our Lay Members shall be brought to Trial,