/n>v" . ,,c4^ JAN 9 1924 S^iOGiCAL StViV^ BX 8418 .A3 1923 Free Methodist Church of North America. Doctrines and discipline of Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library https://archive.org/details/doctrinesdisciplOOfree COPTBIGHT 1923 BY THE FKEE METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE CONTENTS PAR. The Free .Methodist Chttrch — Origin- and Character . 1-11 PART I THE CONSTITUTION- DIVISION Preamble . 15 I. Articles of Religion . 16-38 II. General Rules . 39-46 III. Articles of Organization and Govern¬ ment . 47-62 1. Pastoral Charges, Quarterly and Annual Conferences . 47—19 2. The General Conference . 50-62 PART II THE CHURCH , CHAPTER I. Special Advices . 63-73 1. Temperance . 63-65 2. Marriage and Divorce . 66-70 3. Dress . 71 4. Secret Societies . 72, 73 II. Membership _ * . 74479 1. Reception on Probation . 74 2. Admission into Full Membership.. 75-78 3. Transfer of Membership by Certifi¬ cate . 79 III. Worship . 80-85 1. Order of Public Worship . 80 2. Singing . 81 3. Love-Feasts . 82 4. Classes and Class Meetings . 83-85 Mi iv CONTENTS PART III OFFICIAL BODIES CHAPTER PAR. I. The General Conference . 86-99 II. The Executive Committee . 100-104 III. The Annual Conferences . 105-124 IV. The Quarterly Conference . 125-127 V. The Official Board . 128, 129 VI. The Circuit Meeting . 130, 131 VII. The Society Meeting . 132, 133 PART IV the ministry I. Qualifications and Work . 134-149 1. The Call to Preach . 134 2. Rules for Preacher’s Conduct . 135,136 3. Spiritual Qualification . 137, 138 4. Matter and Manner of Preaching. 139,140 5. Where to Preach . 141 6. Pastoral Visitation . 142-146 7. Employment of Time . 147 8. Union Among Ourselves . 148 9. Union with Others . 149 II. Ministers and Annual Conferences . 150-154 1. Reception on Trial . 150 2. Reception into Full Membership.. 151 3. Reception from Other Denomina¬ tions . 152 4. Termination of Conference Mem¬ bership . 153, 154 III. Deacons and Elders . 155,157 IV. Bishops . 158, 159 V. District Elders . 160 VI. Pastors, or Preachers in Charge . 161, 162 VII. Supernumerary and Superannuated Preachers . . . . . . . . 163,164 V CONTENTS PART V LOCAL PREACHERS AND LAY HELPERS CHAPTER PAR. I. Local Preachers . 165-171 II. Evangelists . 172 III. Exhorters . 173 IV. Deaconesses . 171 V. Bands and Band Workers . 175 VI. Class Leaders . 176 VII. Stewards . 177, 178 PART VI JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION I. Church Trials . 179-208 1. Object of Church Discipline . 179-181 2. General Directions . 182. 183 3. Trial of Preachers in Full Mem¬ bership . 184-193 4. Form of Procedure . 194, 195 Form for a Bill of Charges . 194 Order of Conducting Church Trials . 195 5. Restoration of Credentials . 196 6. Proceedings Against a Preacher on Trial . 197 7. The Trial of a Local Preacher.... 198-201 8. The Trial of an Accused Member 202-208 Ground of Complaint . 202 Notification of Time and Place of Trial . 203 Election of Committee to Try a Case . 204, 205 Presiding Officer . 206 Right of Appeal . 207 Restoration of Membership . 208 II. Insolvencies and the Settlement of Disputes . 209-213 VI CONTENTS TART VII TEMPORAL ECONOMY CHAPTER PAR. I. Support of Effective Ministers . 214-217 1. Support of Bishops . 214 2. Support of District Elders . 215 3. Support of Preachers in Charge.. 216 4. Support of Evangelists . 217 II. Support of Superannuated Preachers and Other Claimants . 218-231 III. Church Property . 232-244 1. Trustees — Appointment and Duties 232-236 2. Incorporation and Deeds . 237-243 3. Erection cf Churches . 244 IV. Church and Parsonage Aid . 244a-244f 1. General Church Society . 244a 2. Conference Society . 244b 3. Aid . 244c 4. Duty of Preachers . 244d 5. Reserve Fund . 244e 6. Emergency . 244f PART VIII EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS I. Education . 245-248 1. Board of Education . 245 2. Annual Conference Board . 246 3. Educational Institutions . 247 4. Duties of Pastors . 248 II. Sunday-schools . 249-256 1. General Sunday-school Board . 249 2. Conference Sunday-school Boards. 250 3. District Sunday-school Boards.... 251 4. Conference Sunday-school Secre¬ taries . 252 5. Duties of Pastors . 253 6. Local Sunday-school Board . 254 7. Sunday-school Superintendent . 255 8. Offering for Sunday-school Work 256 CONTENTS vii CHATTER PAR. III. Missionary TCork . 257-287 General Missionary Board . 257-268 1. Name and Objects . 257 2. Membership— Officers — Duties . 256-258 3. General Conference Missionary Districts . 262 4. Members of the General Mission¬ ary Board . 263 5. Directors of the General Mission¬ ary Board . 264 6. Secretary . 265 7. Treasurer . 266 8. Duties of Preachers in Charge.... 267 9. Annual Conference Missionary Funds . 26S IV. South Africa Mission Conference . 270-275 1. A Mission Conference . 270 2. Membership . 271 3. Prerogatives Restricted . 272 4. The Missionaries’ Meeting . 273 5. The Executive Committee . 275 V. Japan Mission Conference . 276-284 1. Membership . 276 2. Churches . 277 3. Stationing Committee . 278 4. Advisory Board . 279 5. Finances . 280 6. Church Property . 281 7. Prerogatives Restricted . 282 S. The Mission . 283 9. Appeals and Amendments . 284 VI. Home Missions . 2S5-287 1. Definition and Organization . 285 2. Relation to Annual Conference... 286 3. Duties of Pastors . 287 VII. Relation of Canadian Conferences . 288 viii CONTENTS CHAPTER pAR< VIII. Church Extension . 2S9, 290 1. The General Church Extension Society . 2S8 2. Conference Church Extension and Aid Society . 290 IX. Charitable Institutions . 291 Board of Charities and Benevolences... 291 X. Aggressive Evangelism . 292 1. General Conference Board . 292 2. Conference Evangelistic Board.... 29214 XI. The Publishing House . 293 PART IX conference boundaries I. Conference Boundaries . 294-338 Conference Boundaries . 294-338 Disputes About, How Settled . 339 PART X the ritual I. Baptism . 340-342 1. Of Infants . 341 2. Of Those of Riper Years . 342 II. The Lord’s Supper . 343, 344 1. General Directions . 343 2. Order for the Administration of the Lord’s Supper . 344 III. The Marriage Ceremony . 345 IV. The Burial of the Dead . 346 V. Ordination Services . 347, 348 1. Ordination of Elders . 347 2. Ordination of Deacons . 348 VI. Form for Dedication of Churches . 349 CONTENTS ix PART XI COURSES OF STUDY CHAPTER TAR. I. Course of Study for Traveling Preachers . 350-354 II. Course of Study for Local Preachers 355-358 1. For Local Preachers who are to be examined by the quarterly conference . 355, 356 2. For Local Preachers who Wish to be Ordained Deacons . 357 3. For Local Deacons who Wish to be Ordained Elders . 358 III. Course of Study for Deaconesses . 359-359a IV. Course of Reading for Class Leaders 360 V. Course of Study for Missionaries in Africa . 361-364 VI. Course of Study for Missionaries in India . 365-368 VII. Biele School Course for Natives in India . 369-377 VIII. Course of Study for Missionaries in China . 378-381 IX. Central Board of Conference Exam¬ iners . 3S2 PART XII APPENDIX I. Incorporation of the Free Methodist Church . 383 II. Residences, Addresses, etc . 3S4-389 III. Administration Boards . 390-396 IV. Constructions of Law by the General Conference . 397-479 V. Constitution of the General Woman’s Missionary Society . 482 VI. Forms . 483 FREE METHODIST DISCIPLINE The Free Methodist Church ORIGIN AND CHARACTER I. Dearly Beloved: We think it expedient to give you a brief account of the origin and character of Free Methodism. Wesley says: “In the year 1729 two young men in England, reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness; they followed after it and incited others to do so. In 1737, they .saw, likewise, that men are justified before they are sanctified; but still holiness was their object. God thrust them out to raise up a holy people.” If 2. Methodism spread through England and Amer¬ ica. and in other countries. From time to time dif¬ ferent bodies arose bearing the Methodist name. As they became popular there was more or less departure from the original principles and practise of Methodism. If 3. In the Genesee conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, about the year 185S, several preachers and many members were excluded from the church on various charges and allegations, but really for their adherence to the principles of Meth¬ odism; especially to the doctrine and experience of entire sanctification. II 4. Appeals were made to the general conference, which were denied. Those excluded could not join any other Methodist body, for there was none that agreed with them on the issues on which they were 3 4 ORIGIN AND CHARACTER thrust out. Therefore they felt compelled to form a new organization. If 5. The Free Methodist church was organized by a convention of lay members and ministers, which met at Pekin, Niagara county, New York, on the 23d day of August, 1860. The first general conference met on the second Wednesday of October, 1862, at St. Charles, Illinois. If 6. The Free Methodists are a body of Christians who profess to be in earnest to get to heaven, by con¬ forming to all the will of God, as made known in his word. They do not believe that either God or the Bible has changed to accommodate the fashionable tendencies of the age. They solemnly protest against the union of the Church and the world. The condi¬ tions of salvation, as they teach, are the same now that they were eighteen hundred years ago. He who would be a Christian in reality, as well as in name, must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Jesus. He must come out from the world and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing. If 7. In doctrine they are Methodists. They believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, in a general atone¬ ment, in the necessity of the new birth, in the witness of the Spirit, and in future rewards and punishments. They insist that it is the duty and privilege of every believer to be sanctified wholly, and to be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every one who is received into full connection, either professes to enjoy that perfect love which casts out fear, or promises diligently to seek until he obtains it. If 8. They look upon practical godliness as the never failing result of a genuine religious experience. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Hence they insist that those who profess to be the disciples of Christ should come out from unbelievers and be separate, abstaining from connection with all secret societies, ORIGIN AND CHARACTER 5 renouncing all vain pomp and glory, adorning them¬ selves with modest apparel, and not with gold, or pearls, or costly array. We have no right to abolish any of the requirements made by Christ and the apostles; or to make obedience to them a matter of small consequence. The golden rule, they hold, ap¬ plies equally to all mankind. ff 9. The government is not aristocratic, but the members have an equal voice with the ministers in all the councils of the church. Both the annual and the general conferences are composed of as many lay as ministerial delegates, who have an equal voice and vote in all the proceedings. The stationing committee, by which the appointments are made, is composed of the district elders and an equal number of lay members chosen for that purpose. The official boards are selected by the members of circuits, and not appointed by the preachers. They have district elders, who may be appointed to circuits the same as the rest of the preachers. They have bishops elected once in four years, whose duty it is to preside at the annual con¬ ferences, and travel through the connection at large. The rights of the members are carefully guarded. If 10. They endeavor to promote spirituality and simplicity in worship. Congregational singing is uni¬ versal, and performances upon musical instruments and singing by choirs in public worship are prohibited. They believe in the Holy Ghost. If men are really converted and sanctified, it is through the Spirit of God. When he works there is a stir. As President Edwards says, “Eternal things are so great, and of such vast concern that there is great absurdity in men being but moderately moved and affected by them.” “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 6 ORIGIN AND CHARACTER The Free Methodists, while they do not believe in any mere formal noise, yet, when the Spirit comes, like “a rushing mighty wind,” as on the day of Pentecost, do not dare to oppose the manifestations of his presence. As Edwards says, “Whenever there is any considerable degree of the Spirit’s influence upon a mixed multitude, it will produce, in some way, a great visible commotion.” To resist his operations is to hinder the work of God. If I I . They do not believe in resorting to worldly policy to sustain the gospel. Christ has said that whosoever giveth a cup of cold water in his name shall in no wise lose his reward. But it is the motive, and not the amount done, that secures the divine ap¬ probation. There is no more virtue in giving to the cause of God for carnal pleasure than there is in any other purely selfish action. Hence they give no coun¬ tenance to modern expedients for promoting Chris¬ tianity, such as selling or renting pews, lotteries, fairs, sales, or other like expedients for raising money. To say that the Church cannot be sustained without these contrivances to beguile the world into its support is to confess that professing Christians are “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” It is to pronounce Christianity a failure. The gospel possesses an in¬ herent power that will not only sustain itself, but make its way through all opposition, wherever its advocates live up to its requirements and rely upon its promises. If 12. They believe the Church of Christ is a soul¬ saving institution of divine origin for holy purposes, therefore they prohibit festivals and donation parties, such as include anything in the line of entertain¬ ments contrary to the spirit and letter of our Dis¬ cipline, and all other forms of worldly amusements in their church buildings or by their church organizations. ^f 13. All their churches are required to be as free ORIGIN AND CHARACTER 7 as the grace they preach. They believe that their mission is twofold — to maintain the Bible standard of Christianity, and to preach the gospel to the poor. Hence they require that all seats in their houses of worship shall be free. No pews can be rented or sold among them. The world will never be converted to Christianity wThen the churches are conducted upon the exclusive system. It has always been contrary to the economy of the Christian Church to build houses of worship with pews to rent. Such renting of pews is a corruption of Christianity. Free churches are essential to reach the masses. The provisions of the gospel are for all. The “glad tid¬ ings” must be proclaimed to every individual of the human race. God sends the true light to illuminate and melt every heart. To savage and civilized, bond and free, black and white, the ignorant and the learned, is freely offered the great salvation. But for whose benefit are special efforts to be put forth? Who must be particularly cared for? Jesus settles this question. “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up,” and, as if all this would be insufficient to satisfy John of the validity of his claims, he adds, “and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” This was the crowning proof that he was the One that should come. In this re¬ spect the Church must follow in the footsteps of Je¬ sus. She must see to it that the gospel is preached to the poor. Thus this duty is enjoined by the plain¬ est precepts and examples. If the gospel is to be preached to all, then it follows, as a necessary con¬ sequence, that all the arrangements for preaching the gospel should be so made as to secure this object. If it be said that seats would be freely given to those who are unable to pay for them, they answer that this does not meet the case. Few are willing, so long as 8 ORIGIN AND CHARACTER they are able to appear at church, to be publicly treated as paupers. ff 14. You will find in this book the doctrines and form of government of the Free Methodist church as adopted by the general conference. We do not wish any to subscribe to it unless they believe it will be for the glory of God and the good of their souls. We have no desire to build up simply a large church; but we do hope that our societies will be composed, excusively, of those who are in earnest to gain heaven, and wTho are determined, by the grace of God, to live up to the requirements of the Bible. It is of the greatest importance that those who come into this organization shall be of one heart and one mind. PART I THE CONSTITUTION DIVISIONS I. ARTICLES OF RELIGION II. GENERAL RULES III. ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA Preamble If 15. In order that we may wisely preserve the heritage transmitted to us, and also that we may pre¬ pare the way for more effective cooperation with other branches of the church of Christ in all that makes for the advancement of God’s kingdom among men, we, the ministers and lay members of the Free Methodist Church of North America, in accordance with methods of constitutional legislation established among us, do hereby ordain, establish, and set forth as the fundamental law, or constitution, of the Free Methodist Church of North America, the articles of religion, the general rules, and the articles of or¬ ganization and government, here following, to wit: DIVISION 1 ARTICLES OF RELIGION I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity If 16. There is but one living and true God, ever¬ lasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wis¬ dom and goodness, the maker and preserver of all things, visible and invisible. And in unity of this 11 12 ARTICLES OF RELIGION Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power and eternity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. II. Of the Word, or Son of God, Who Was Made Very Man If 17. 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 the two 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 God and very man, who truly suf¬ fered, was crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for the original guilt, but also for the actual sins of men. III. Of the Resurrection of Christ H 18. Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he re¬ turns to judge all men at the last day. IV. Of the Holy Ghost If 19. The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. V. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation If 20. The Holy Scriptures contain all things nec¬ essary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be re¬ quired of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary ARTICLES OF RELIGION 13 to salvation. By the term Holy Scriptures we under¬ stand those canonical books of the Old and New Testa¬ ments of whose authority there was never any doubt in the Church. The names of the canonical books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the First Book of Samuel, the Second Book of Samuel, the First Book of Kings, the Second Book of Kings, the First Book of Chronicles, the Second Book of Chronicles, the Book of Ezra, the Book of Nehemiah, the Book of Esther, the Book of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs, 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 If 21. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for in both the Old and New Testaments ever¬ lasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Al¬ though the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof, of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from obedience to the commandments which are called moral. VII. Of Original or Birth Sin If 22. Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam, as the Pelagians do vainly talk, but it Is the corruption of the nature of every man that 14 ARTICLES OF RELIGION naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original right¬ eousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil and that continually. VIII. Of Free Will If 23. The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasing and acceptable to God, with¬ out the grace of God by Christ enabling us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will. - IX. Of the Justification of Man If 24. We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings; wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. X. Of Good Works If 25. 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 judg¬ ments, yet they are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evi¬ dently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit. XI. Of Works of Supererogation 26. Voluntary works — besides, over and above God’s commandments — which are called works of supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they ARTICLES OF RELIGION 15 do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ saith plainly, “When ye have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants.” XII. Of Sin after Justification 1} 27. Not every sin willingly committed after justi¬ fication is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and un¬ pardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance Is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justifica¬ tion. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God rise again and amend our lives. There¬ fore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or who deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. XIII. Entire Sanctification H 28. Justified persons, while they do not outward¬ ly commit sin, are nevertheless conscious of sin still remaining in the heart. They feel a natural tendency to evil, a proneness to depart from God and cleave to the things of earth. Those who are sanctified wholly are saved from all inward sin — from evil thoughts and evil tempers. No wrong temper, none contrary to love remains in the soul. All their thoughts, words and actions are governed by pure love. Entire sanctification takes place subsequently to justification, and is the work of God wrought instan¬ taneously upon the consecrated, believing soul. After a soul is cleansed from all sin, it is then fully pre¬ pared to grow in grace. XIV. Future Reward and Punishment 1 29. God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, ac- 16 ARTICLES OF RELIGION cording to the gospel. The righteous shall have in heaven an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, wThere their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. XV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People Understand If 30. It is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God and the custom of the primitive Church, to have public prayer in the Church or to minister the sacra¬ ment in a tongue not understood by the people. XVI. Of the Church 1f3l. The visible Church of Christ is a congrega¬ tion of pure men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments are duly administered, according to Christ’s ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. XVII. Of the Sacraments If 32. Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but also they are certain signs of grace, and of God’s good will toward us, by the which he doth work in¬ visibly in us, and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him. XVIII. Of Baptism If 33. Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference, whereby Christians are distin¬ guished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The baptism of young children is to be retained in the church. ARTICLES OF RELIGION 17 XIX. Of the Lord's Supper 34. The Supper of the Lord is not merely a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death, insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ. Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord, cannot be proved by holy writ, but it is repugnant to the plain word of the Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions. The body of Christ is given, taken and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner; and the means whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is faith. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was not by Christ’s ordinance re¬ served, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped. XX. Of the One Oblation of Christ, Finished upon the Cross If 35. The offering of Christ, once made, is a per¬ fect redemption, propitiation and satisfaction 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 the masses, in the which it is said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous and dangerous deceit. XXI. Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches If 36. It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike; for 18 ARTICLES OF RELIGION they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times and men’s manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word. Whosoever through his private judg¬ ment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he be¬ longs, which are not repugnant to the word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren. Every particular church may or¬ dain. change or abolish rites and ceremonies so that all things may be done to edification. XXII. Of Christian Men's Goods If 37. The riches and goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwith¬ standing, every man ought, of such things as he pos¬ sessed, liberally to give alms to the poor according to his ability. XXIII. Of a Christian Mail's Oath If 38. As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James the apostle; so we hold that the Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swTear when the magistrate required in a case of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet’s teach¬ ing, in justice, judgment and truth. Note : This article shall not deprive of membership in our church those who have conscientious scruples against taking an oath. DIVISION II GENERAL RULES Nature, Design and General Rules of Our United Societies* H 39. In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to Mr. Wesley in London, who ap¬ peared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired, as did two or three more the next day, that he wrnuld spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come, which they saw contin¬ ually 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, thence¬ forward, they did every week, namely, on Thursday, in the evening. For these and as many more as de¬ sired 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 several necessities. Tf 40. This was the rise of the “United Society,” * The United Societies, founded in the United States by the Apostolic Asbury, were organized into the Meth¬ odist Episcopal Church in 1784. The terms “society” and “societies” have always been retained in the Meth¬ odist Discipline, however, being used in the sense of church and churches. These terms have also always been used with the same signification in the Free Meth¬ odist Discipline. — Editors of the Discipline of 1911. 19 20 GENERAL RULES 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 another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation.” 1141. That it may be the more easily discerned whether they are indeed working out their own sal¬ vation, each society is divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode. There are about twelve persons in a class, one of whom 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 oc¬ casion may require. 3. To receive what they are willing to give toward the relief of the preacher, the church and the poor.* II. To meet the ministers and the stewards of the circuit, in order, 1. To inform the minister of any who are sick, or of any who walk disorderly, and will not be reproved. 2. To pay the stewards what they have received of their several classes during the week. If 42. There is only one condition previously re¬ quired of those who desire admission into these so¬ cieties, — “a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins.” But wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shown by its fruits. If 43. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation, * This part refers to towns and cities, where the poor are generally numerous, and church expenses are con¬ siderable. GENERAL RULES 21 First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally prac¬ tised; such as, The taking of the name of God in vain. The profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein, or by buying or selling. Drunkenness, buying or selling spirituous liquors; or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity. The buying, selling, or holding of a human being as a slave. Fighting, quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with brother; returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using many words in buying or selling. The buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty. The giving or taking things on usury — that is, un¬ lawful interest. Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation, particu¬ larly speaking evil of magistrates or ministers. Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us. Doing what we know is not for the glory of God; as, Belonging to secret societies. The putting on of gold or costly apparel. The taking of such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus. Singing those songs or reading those books which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God. Softness or needless self-indulgence, especially snuffing, chewing, smoking, growing, manufacturing or selling tobacco, or the habitual use of opiates. Laying up treasure upon earth. Borrowing without a probability of paying; or tak¬ ing up goods without a probability of paying for them. If 44. It is expected of all who continue in these ’societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation, 22 GENERAL RULES Second, by doing good, by being in every kind merci¬ ful after their power, as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort and as far as possible to all men. To their bodies, of the ability which God givetli, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping those who are sick or in prison. To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or ex¬ horting all with whom they have any intercourse, trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine, that “we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to do it.” By doing good, especially to those who are of the household of faith, or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others, buying of one another, helping one another in business; and so much the more, because the world will love its own, and them only. By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed. By running with patience the race which is set before them, denying themselves and taking up theii cross daily; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ to be as the filth and offscouring of the world; ant looking that men should say all manner of evil oj them falsely for the Lord’s sake. If 45. It is expected of all who desire to continm in these societies, that they should continue to evi dence their desire for salvation. Third, By attending upon all the ordinances 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; Fasting or abstinence. If 46. These are the general rules of our societies GENERAL RULES 23 all of which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written word, which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule both of our faith and practise; and all these we know the Spirit writes on truly awakened hearts. 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 way. We will bear with him for a sea¬ son. But if then he repent not, he hath no more a place among us. We have delivered our souls. DIVISION III ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT I. Pastoral Charges, Quarterly and Annual Conferences Article I. Pastoral Charges II 47. The lay membership of the church shall be divided into local societies, one or more of which shall constitute a pastoral charge. Article II. Districts and Quarterly Conferences H 48. The pastoral charges Embraced within each annual conference shall be grouped into districts, and a quarterly conference shall be organized in each dis¬ trict, composed of such official members of the several pastoral charges and invested with such powers as the general conference shall direct. Article III. Annual Conferences H 49. The general conference shall organize the work at large into annual conferences, of which the (preachers (not being members of any local societies) shall be permanent members; and to which, at each session, one lay delegate shall be admitted from each pastoral charge, and in case there be more than one 24 ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 25 preacher in full membership appointed to a pastoral charge, such pastoral charge shall be entitled to one additional lay delegate for every such additional preacher. I!. The General Conference Article I. Of Whom Composed ft 50. The general conference shall be composed of the bishops and ministerial and lay delegates, to be chosen as hereinafter provided. Article II. Ministerial Delegates ft 51. 1. Each annual conference shall be entitled to one ministerial delegate in the general conference; and whenever an annual conference shall reach an aggregate of eight hundred full members, it shall be entitled to two ministerial delegates, and to an addi¬ tional ministerial delegate for every subsequent six hundred full members, provided, however, that in no case shall a preacher be counted more than once in the election of delegates. 2. The ministerial delegates shall be elected by the ministers of the annual conference by ballot. Such delegates shall be elders, and at the time of their election, as also at the time of the general conference, shall be members of the annual conference which elected them.* Article III. Lay Delegates ft 52. 1. Each annual conference shall be entitled to the same number of lay as of ministerial delegates in the general conference. 2. Lay delegates to the general conference shall be elected by the lay delegates of the annual confer- * See paragraph '87. 26 ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT ences they are respectively to represent. They shall be elected by ballot, from the members of the church in full relation within the bounds of the annual conferences to which they respectively belong, and must be members of the church within the conference which elected them at the time of the general con¬ ference.* Article IV. Credentials f 53. The secretaries of the several annual con¬ ferences shall furnish certificates of election to the delegates severally, signed by the president and secre¬ tary of each annual conference, as the credentials upon which they are to be admitted to the general conference. Article V. Sessions U 54. 1. The general conference shall meet on the second Wednesday in June, in every fourth year from the year 1903 (which was the forty-first year of its existence as a delegated general conference, it having previously met every fourth year from 1S62, in October, and the change having been made by the general conference of 1S9S), and at such time and place as shall have been determined by the preceding general conference, or by the executive committee, which shall also have the power, in case of emer¬ gency, to change the time and place for the meeting of the general conference. 2. The bishop or bishops, or if there be none, the secretary of the general conference, shall, whenever two-thirds of the annual conferences shall demand it, call an extra session of the general conference, fixing the date thereof, and the time of assembling, later * See paragraph 87. ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 27 than the next ensuing session of each of the annual conferences. Article VI. Presiding Officers 55. The general conference shall elect, by ballot, one or more traveling elders to the office of bishop; and the bishops shall preside at various sittings of the general conference in such order as they may de¬ termine; but in case no bishop be present, the general conference shall elect, by ballot,, an elder as presi¬ dent pro tern. In case of the election of a new bishop or bishops the term of office of such bishop or bishops shalj. begin at the close of the general con¬ ference session at which they were elected. Article VII. Missionary Bishop IT 56. The general conference may elect a mission¬ ary bishop or bishops, whose duties and official re¬ lation shall be confined to the field to which they are respectively elected. Article VIII. Other Officers ft 57. 1. The general conference shall elect, by ballot, a secretary, a treasurer, an editor of the Free Methodist, an editor of our Sunday-school litera¬ ture, a publishing agent, a missionary secretary, an educational secretary, the trustees of the general conference as required by the articles of incorpora¬ tion, and such other general officers as it shall de¬ cide upon. ' The secretary of the general conference shall continue in office until his successor is elected, and shall be the custodian of the general conference records, journal and seal. 2. The general conference may elect, by ballot, one or more general conference evangelists. 28 ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT Article IX. Executive Committee and Missionary Board If 58. The general conference shall also elect one traveling elder and one lay member from each of the general conference districts, who were members of the general conference which elected them; and who, with the bishops, shall constitute the executive com¬ mittee; and one traveling elder and one lay member from each of the general conference districts to act on the missionary board. The membership of the gen¬ eral missionary board shall not be restricted to mem¬ bers of the general conference electing them. Article X. Quorum 59. At all times when the general conference is in session, it shall require two-thirds of all the dele¬ gates elected by the annual conferences to form a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time, until a quorum is obtained. Article XI. Toting II 60. The members of the general conference shall deliberate and vote as one body; nevertheless, upon the call of a majority of the members present and voting, the house shall divide; and it shall require a majority of the ministerial and of the lay delegates to pass any vote, or transact any business, provided, nevertheless, that for changes of th^ constitution, a vote of two-thirds of the general conference shall be sufficient, as provided for in article XIII. Article XII. Powers and Restrictions • If 61. The general conference shall have full power to make rules and regulations for the Free Methodist church, under the following limitations and restric¬ tions : ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 29 1. The general conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our articles of religion, or the general rules of the united societies, or establish any stand¬ ards or rules of doctrine contrary to our present existing and established standards of doctrine. 2. It shall not change or alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away with lay delegation, or an itinerant ministry, or the general superin¬ tendency, or the free-seat system in our churches. 3. It shall not have power to deprive our preach¬ ers or members of the right of trial by an impartial committee, or of the right of an appeal. Article XIII. Amendments Tf 62. The concurrent recommendation of three- fourths of all the members of the several annual con¬ ferences, who shall be present and vote on such recom¬ mendation, shall suffice to authorize the next ensuing general conference, by a two-thirds vote, to alter any of the foregoing restrictive rules, except the last; and also whenever such alteration, or altera¬ tions, shall have been recommended first by a two- thirds vote of flie general conference, then so soon as three-fourths of the members of the several an¬ nual conferences, who were present and voted on such recommendation, or recommendations, shall have concurred therein, such alteration, or alterations, shall take effect. PART II THE CHURCH CHAPTERS I. SPECIAL ADVICES II. MEMBERSHIP III. WORSHIP CHAPTER I SPECIAL ADVICES I. Temperance f 63. A spirit of self-denial is indispensable to the Christian character. A large proportion of the crime and pauperism of the country is caused by strong drink. The Spirit of Christ never leads one to countenance the use or sale of intoxicating liquor as a beverage. If 64. The stewards on all our circuits shall make provision to use the unfermented juice of the grape in celebrating the Lord’s Supper. In no case shall intoxicating wine be used for this purpose. Tf 65. Every man of God should break away from party trammels, and never knowingly give bis vote or influence to elect any man to office who will use his official or personal influence to legalize the traffic in intoxicating liquors as a beverage. As Christians we are bound to do all we can to prohibit by law this nefarious traffic. II. Marriage and Divorce ^ 66. We do not prohibit our people from mar¬ rying persons who are not members of our church, provided such persons give evidence of being con¬ verted to God; but we are determined to discourage their marrying those who do not come up to this standard. 33 31 SPECIAL ADVICES If 67. Some of our members have married with unsaved persons. This has produced bad effects. They have either been hindered for life or have turned back to perdition. To discourage such mar¬ riages: 1. Every preacher shall publicly enforce the apostle’s command, “Be ye not unequally yoked to¬ gether with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6: 14). 2. All should be exhorted never to marry without ad¬ vising with some of the more serious of their brethren. If 68. In general a woman ought not to marry with¬ out the consent of her parents. Yet there may be exceptions. For if, (1) A woman believes it to be her duty to marry, and if, (2) Her parents absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian, then she may, nay, ought to marry without their consent. If 69. We recognize no other ground for divorce than that permitted in the word of God (Matt. 5:32; Mark 10: 11, 12). Any person guilty of a violation of this law shall have no place among us. If 70. Our preachers shall not officiate at the mar¬ riage of any person who is under eighteen years of age, unless the parents or guardians be present or have given written consent, and unless at least two witnesses, knowing the contracting parties, be present. They shall in every case refuse to officiate at the mar¬ riage of divorced parties, unless furnished with satis¬ factory evidence that the case is such as would not conflict with the law of divorce recognized in the pre¬ ceding paragraph. III. Dress ^ 71. We insist on the rules concerning dress. This is no time to give encouragement to superfluity of apparel. Therefore, receive none into the church till they have left off superfluous ornaments. In order to this: 1. Every one who has charge of a cir- SECRET SOCIETIES 35 cuit shall read Mr. Wesley’s sermon on dress at least once a year in every society. 2. In visiting the classes be very mild but very strict. 3. xillow of no exempt case; better one suffer than many. See par. 475. IV. Secret Societies U 72. 1. Voluntary associations are not necessarily sinful because they are secret. But secrecy is always a ground of suspicion. Evil works instinctively in¬ cline to darkness. Good works grow up in light. God commands us to let our light shine. Even a good cause under the shadow of secrecy invalidates its claim to the confidence of open and honest men. Grace and guile can have no affinity. All secrets necessary to be kept can be kept without an oath. A bad insti¬ tution should not, and a good one need not, be secret. Philanthropic associations claiming our cooperation on Christian grounds, must do so with open face. They must lift the veil while demanding our salutation, or we cannot salute them by the way. Therefore, all secret societies are to be eschewed. 2. Any society requiring an oath, affirmation, or promise of secrecy, as a condition of membership, is held to be a secret society; and any member joining or continuing in such, violates his covenant obliga¬ tions, and shall in due form be excluded from the church; and the preacher shall report that he is ex¬ cluded for infraction of our rules and regulations. ^ 73. 1. We would not oppose the open and honest organization of the laboring classes seeking in a proper wray their betterment without injuring others or violating the inherent rights of any, but we are opposed to the element of pledged or oath-bound secrecy, the policy of coercion, the practise of law¬ lessness, or any other evil in such organizations, and we prohibit our members from membership in labor unions or other societies where such evils exist. We 36 SPECIAL ADVICES hold that labor unions as now generally constituted are secret societies and that membership therein is a bar to membership in the church. CHAPTER IT MEMBERSH IP I. Reception on Probation If 74. None shall be admitted on probation until they give evidence of a desire to flee from the wrath to come, by bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, and give affirmative answers to the following ques¬ tions: 1. Have you the assurance of sins forgiven? 2. Do you consent to be governed by our general rules? II. Admission into Full Membership If 75. None shall be received into full membership unless they give evidence of a renewed heart by living up to the requirements of the general rules, and ha\e met in class six months on probation, have been bap¬ tized,* have, wherever practicable, been recommended by the official members of the society, and give satis¬ factory answers to the following questions, which shall be proposed to them before the society: 1. Have you the witness of the Spirit that you are a child of God? 2. Have you that perfect love which casteth out fear? (If the candidate shall answrer no, then this ques- * Persons baptized in infancy must publicly assent to the baptismal covenant. 37 38 MEMBERSHIP tion shall be asked, Will you diligently seek until you obtain it?) 3. Is it your purpose to devote yourself the re¬ mainder of your life wholly to the service of God, doing good to your fellow men, and working out your own salvation with fear and trembling? 4. Will you forever lay aside all superfluous or¬ naments, and adorn yourself in modest apparel, not with gold, nor pearls, nor costly arrayt but, which be- cometh those professing godliness, with good works? 5. Will you abstain from connection with all secret societies, keeping yourself free to follow the will of the Lord in all things? 6. Do you subscribe to our articles of religion, our general rules, and our Discipline, and are you willing to be governed by the same? 7. Have you Christian fellowship and love for the members of this society, and will you assist them, as God shall give you ability, in carrying on the work of the Lord? H 76. The person giving affirmative answers to the above questions shall, with the consent of three- fourths of all the members present at a society meet¬ ing, be admitted to all the privileges of a member. Any person in good standing in any evangelical church may be received into full membership upon his meet¬ ing the other requirements of this chapter, without his having been on probation in our church. If 77. Where societies already organized, or sev¬ eral persons, design to unite with the Free Meth¬ odist church and form a new society, they should adopt the Discipline as a whole, and then each person should be admitted in his Individual capacity by an¬ swering the questions in paragraph 75 and by the con¬ sent of three-fourths of the persons forming such society. ^ 78. Any member who withdraws from the church, MEMBERSHIP 39 and against whom there were no complaints pending at the time, may, by a recommendation of the official board, and by a three-fourths vote of the society from which he or she withdrew, be reinstated to full membership without being required to serve on proba¬ tion, providing the one wishing to reunite shall make request to the pastor of the society within one year from the date of withdrawal. III. Transfer of Membership by Certificate 1 79. 1. None are to remove from one circuit to another without a certificate from the preacher in charge, in these words: “A. B., the bearer, wishing to remove from this society, we hereby certify that . is an accept¬ able member of the Fr^?e Methodist Church in . and cordially commend . to the Free Methodist Church in . . or in any other place. When admitted to another society .... membership in this society shall cease. This certificate is good for one year only, unless renewed.”* Without such a cer¬ tificate, they will not be received into the church in other places. When a pastor gives a certificate of membership with' a view to transferring a member to another society, he shall at once notify the pastor of the society to which the certificate is addressed that such certificate has been given. 2. If any of our members live at a great distance from the class to which they belong and are unable to attend, they shall, once a quarter, send to the leader or preacher their testimony as to their religious state. If they fail to do this, or to pay their confer- * The person holding this certificate remains a mem¬ ber of the society by which it was given until the cer¬ tificate has been deposited in another society. 40 MEMBERSHIP ence claims, they may at the end of one year be re¬ corded on the register as “Removed without a letter.” If such persons afterwards claim their membership, the official board may restore it. A member holding a certificate shall be amenable to the circuit from which the certificate was taken until the certificate is re¬ ceived in another place. After the certificate has been handed in on another circuit, he shall be re¬ sponsible for his conduct during the time he held the certificate to the society which he shall have joined. It shall be the duty of the preacher receiving such certificate of membership to notify the preacher in charge of the circuit from which the certificate was given, in these words: “You are hereby notified that A. B. has been duly enrolled as a member of this church upon a certificate issued from the church of which you are a pastor. Signed . ” 3. Every member of our church in good stand¬ ing removing to another circuit, or desirous of unit¬ ing with any other evangelical church, is entitled to a certificate of his good standing, and upon request it shall be given him. 4. No person who wishes to leave our church, without uniting with any other society or church, is entitled to a certificate of membership. 5. When a certificate is given to a member of our church who wishes to unite with some other evan¬ gelical denomination, the certificate shall read as fol¬ lows: “A. B., the bearer, wishing to become a mem¬ ber of another evangelical church, we hereby certify that .... has been an acceptable member of the Free Methodist Church, and cordially commend .... to the fellowship of any such church with which .... may desire to unite. H . . . . membership in the Free Methodist Church ceases when this certificate is given.” CHAPTER III WORSHIP I. Order of Public Worship If 80. For the establishment of uniformity in public worship among us on the Lord's day: 1. The morning and afternoon service shall consist of singing, prayer, reading of the Scriptures and preaching. 2. The evening service shall consist of singing, prayer and preaching. 3. On the days of administering the Lord’s Supper, the reading of the Scriptures in the morning service may be omitted. 4. In administer¬ ing the ordinances and in the burial of the dead, we recommend that the form of the Discipline be used. We advise that the Lord’s prayer also be used on occasions of public worship in concluding the first prayer, and the apostolic benediction in dismissing the congregation; also that the official members of each society appoint some qualified person to lead the sing¬ ing at the morning and evening services. 5. The preachers should join as one man and enlarge on the impropriety of irreverent and secular conversa¬ tion before and after service, and strongly exhort those who are concerned to do it no more. If the people assemble before the hour of service, or remain after it, let the time be improved in singing, prayer and testimony. II. Singing ^[81. We should guard against formality in sing¬ ing. Therefore, 41 42 WORSHIP 1. Choose such hymns as are proper for the oc¬ casion, and do not sing too much at once — seldom more than four or five stanzas. 2. Have the tune suited to the sentiment, and do not suffer the people to sing too slow. 3. In every society it shall be the duty of the preacher in charge to see that due attention be given to the cultivation of vocal and sacred music. 4. If he, himself, cannot sing, let one or two be chosen in each society to lead the singing. 5. As singing is a part of divine worship, in which all ought to unite, therefore exhort every person in the congregation to sing, not one in ten only. 6. In no case let there be instrumental music or choir singing in our public worship. 7. Let the preacher in charge see that in all cases the Free Methodist Hymnal be used in the regular services. III. Love- Feasts If 82. A love-feast shall be held on each circuit at least once in three months. IV. Classes and Class Meetings If 83. The chapter on general rules says of those who compose our societies: That it may he the more easily discerned whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each society is divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to theii respective places of abode. There are about twelve persons in a class, one of whom is styled the leader. It is his duty, 1. 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 oc¬ casion may require. (3) To receive what each is WORSHIP 43 willing to give toward the relief of the preacher, church and poor. 2. To meet the ministers and stewards of the circuit 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 of their several classes during the week. 3. The class meeting shall be separate and dis¬ tinct from the common testimony meeting, and shall be held whenever practicable on the Sabbath day. tf 84. There shall be a general class meeting held in each society the first Sabbath in every month. 85. When any member of our church wilfully and repeatedly neglects to meet his class, the preacher in charge, his assistant, or the leader should visit him, whenever it is practicable, and explain to him the consequences if he continues to neglect, namely, censure, suspension, and finally, expulsion. If he does not amend he should be brought to trial for neglect of duty. PART III OFFICIAL BODIES CHAPTERS I. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE II. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE III. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES IV. THE QUARTERLY CONFERENCE V. THE OFFICIAL BOARD VI. THE CIRCUIT MEETING VII. THE SOCIETY MEETING CHAPTER I THE GENERAL CONFERENCE [If 86. 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. While we are conversing, let us have an especial care to set God always before us. In the intermediate hours, let us redeem all the time we can for private exercises. Therein let us give ourselves to prayer for one another, and for a blessing on our labors.] ft 87. The general conference shall be composed of the bishops and an equal number of ministerial and lay delegates belonging to the Free Methodist church, to be elected by the annual conferences, at their respective sessions next preceding the session of the general conference, except that conferences held within three months of the general conference may elect their delegates the year before. IT 88. Each annual conference shall be entitled to one ministerial and one lay delegate in the general conference; and whenever an annual conference shall reach an aggregate membership of eight hundred in full relation it shall be entitled to two ministerial and two lay delegates, and one additional delegate of each kind for every subsequent six hundred members in full relation within the conference, provided, nevertheless, that in no case shall a preacher be counted more than once in the election of delegates. 89. In electing delegates to the general confer¬ ence, the preachers and lay members shall vote sepa¬ rately, each branch electing by ballot; the preachers 47 48 GENERAL CONFERENCE from the elders in full membership in the conference, and the lay delegates from persons in full member¬ ship in the church within the bounds of the confer¬ ence, the delegates to which they are respectively en¬ titled. Ministerial delegates must be members of the conference which elected them, and lay delegates members of the church within the bounds of the con¬ ference which elected them, at the time of the meet¬ ing of the general conference. 90. Whenever two-thirds of the annual confer¬ ences shall demand it, the bishop or bishops, or, if there be none, the secretary of the general confer¬ ence, shall call an extra session of the general con¬ ference, fixing the date thereof, and the time -of as¬ sembling, later than the next ensuing session of each of the annual conferences. fl 91. The general conference shall meet on the second Wednesday of June, 1927, and once in four years thereafter, at such place as it may designate. T| 92. At all times, when the general conference is met, it shall take two-tliirds of all the delegates elected by the annual conference to form a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time, until a quorum is obtained. 93. One of the bishops shall preside in the gen¬ eral conference; but, in case no bishop be present, the general conference shall elect, by ballot, an elder as president pro tern. ft 94. Each general conference shall elect, by bal¬ lot, one or more traveling elders as bishops, a secre¬ tary, a treasurer, except when the general confer¬ ence shall order such treasurer to be elected by the executive committee; an editor of the Free Methodist, an editor of our Sunday-school literature, a publish¬ ing agent, a missionary secretary, a general Sunday- school secretary, and an educational secretary, who may be nominated by the board of education. The GENERAL CONFERENCE 49 general conference may elect, by ballot, one or more general evangelists. It shall also elect one traveling elder and one lay member from each of the general conference missionary districts, who, with the bish¬ ops, shall constitute the executive committee; and one traveling elder and one lay member from each of the general conference missionary districts to act on the missionary board. Members of both of these, viz., the executive committee and the missionary board shall be nominated by the delegates of the gen¬ eral conference missionary districts by ballot, the members for the executive committee from their dele¬ gations, and the members for the missionary board from the membership of the church on the general conference missionary districts. These nominations shall be confirmed by the general conference. The general conference may elect a missionary bishop or bishops whose duties and official relation shall be confined to the field to which they are respectively elected. 95. The secretary of the general conference shall continue in office until his successor is elected, and shall be the custodian of the general conference records and journals. ft 96. The members of the general conference shall deliberate and vote as one body; nevertheless, upon a call of a majority of the members present and vot¬ ing, the house shall divide; and it shall require a majority of the ministerial and of the lay delegates present to pass any vote, or transact any business. 97. The general conference shall have full power to make rules and regulations for our church, under the following limitations and restrictions: 1. The general conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our articles of religion, or the general rules of the united societies, or establish any new stand- 50 GENERAL CONFERENCE ards of rules of doctrine contrary to our present, existing and established standards of doctrine. 2. It shall not change or alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away with lay dele¬ gation, or an itinerant ministry, or general superin¬ tendency, or the free-seat system in our churches. 3. It shall not have power to deprive our preach¬ ers or members of the right of trial by an impartial committee, and of an appeal. ff 98. Provided, nevertheless, that upon the con¬ current recommendation of three-fourths of all the members of the several annual conferences, who shall be present and vote on such a recommendation, then a majority of two-thirds of the general conference succeeding, shall suffice to alter either of the above restrictions, except the last; and also, whenever such alteration, or alterations, shall have been first recom¬ mended by two-thirds of the general conference, as soon as three-fourths of the members of all the an¬ nual conferences shall have concurred as aforesaid, such alteration, or alterations, shall take effect. If 99. 1. It shall be the duty of every preacher in charge of a circuit to raise annually an amount equal to three cents per member in full relation, to defray the expenses of entertaining the general conference, and also an amount equal to seven cents a member to defray expenses of delegates to and from the general conference. 2. We recommend our people to observe the Fri¬ day preceding each general conference as a day of fasting and prayer. CHAPTER II THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE in oo. The executive committee shall consist of the bishops, and one traveling elder and one lay member from each of the general conference districts, to be selected by the general conference from its members. The president of the executive committee shall be one of the bishops, to be elected by the committee; but in case there is no bishop to serve, then the committee shall elect an elder from its members to preside. If 101. The executive committee shall meet an¬ nually, and whenever the bishops or one-third of the committee shall deem it necessary. A majority of the members elected shall constitute a quorum for trans¬ acting business. ff 1 02. 1. The executive committee shall have power to accept resignations from any of its mem¬ bers or from any of the general conference officers during the interim of the general conference sessions, and fill all vacancies occurring, either in its own body or in any of the general conference elective offices, subject to the provisions of the Discipline. 2. The executive committee may elect by ballot an assistant publishing agent; the publishing agent may nominate. They shall also annually elect by bal¬ lot a board of seven directors of the Publishing House, not more than two of whom shall be bishops. 3. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the exec¬ utive committee to make a full report of its proceedings during the quadrennium to the general conference. 51 52 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE H 103. 1. The executive committee shall consti¬ tute a court of appeals, which shall, if necessary, hold a session once a year, for the purpose of trying all appeals that may be taken thereto by any travel¬ ing preachers, from the decision of an annual confer¬ ence. One of the bishops shall preside at the trial of appeal cases. Eight members of the committee on appeals shall constitute a quorum. 2. The executive committee shall have the power to decide all questions of law referred to it in the interim of the general conference. In case of any alleged legal irregularities in a trial court, where such court shall deliver a verdict against the church, the prosecution may upon a written recital of such irreg¬ ularities, apply to the executive committee or the general conference for a writ of review, and it shall be the province of that body receiving such applica¬ tion to review the proceedings of the lower court as recited, and if such body shall find the alleged irreg¬ ularities to exist, the case may be remanded for a new trial, but such case can be remanded but once. 3. The executive committee shall also constitute the board of conference claimants and the church ex¬ tension society. U 1 04. The executive committee shall have gen¬ eral supervision of the publishing interests of the church during the interim of the general conference sessions, and shall carefully examine into their con¬ dition. It shall not, however, have power to change the site of the publishing house, except with the con¬ sent of three-fourths of all the members who shall be present at a regularly called meeting. The salary of all general conference officers shall be fixed by the executive committee except that of the bishops and of the missionary secretary. CHAPTER III THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES* 1 05. Each annual conference shall be composed of all the traveling, supernumerary and superannu¬ ated preachers who have been duly received into full membership, within its bounds, and of lay dele¬ gates elected by the several circuits, as provided for in paragraph 130 (2), and women evangelists as provided for in paragraph 172 (4). If 106. Each circuit shall be entitled to one dele¬ gate, and whenever there shall be more than one^ preacher traveling upon a circuit, if the preacher or preachers be members in full relation in confer¬ ence, the circuit shall be entitled to one additional delegate for every such additional preacher. If 107. There shall be the following annual con¬ ferences, to wit: The Genesee, the Illinois, the Sus¬ quehanna, the Michigan, the Kansas, the Minnesota and Northern Iowa, the New York, the Iowa, the Wis¬ consin, the North Michigan, the Ohio, the Central Illinois, the Texas, the Missouri, the West Kansas, the South Dakota, the Pittsburgh, the California, the i East Michigan, the Louisiana, the Oregon, the West Iowa, the Wabash, the Colorado, the North Minne¬ sota, the Nebraska, the Southern California, the Arkansas and Southern Missouri, the Columbia River, the Washington, the Platte River, the West Ontario, the East Ontario, the Kentucky and Tennessee, the See paragraph 86. 53 54 ANNUAL CONFERENCES North Dakota, the Oil City, the Oklahoma, the South Africa, the Southern Oregon, the Georgia and Florida, the Saskatchewan, the Alberta, the East Texas, the North Indiana, and such others as may be organized as hereinafter provided. 108. Whenever a new society shall be organized near the boundary line between any two conferences, and the conference in whose territory the new society is located shall have no organized work within forty miles of said new society, such new society shall be permitted to decide for itself to which conference it shall belong. II 109. Each annual conference shall appoint the place, and, with the concurrence of the bishops, the time of its own sessions. If for any reason a con¬ ference cannot be held at the place appointed, the determination of the place shall be left with the dis¬ trict elders and the secretary of the last conference. [f I 10. 1. In the absence of the bishop, or of the elder whom he may have appointed, the conference shall elect, by ballot, an elder from their own number, to preside. 2. It shall elect a secretary, who may be elected by ballot, who shall record in a suitable book the pro¬ ceedings of the annual conference, and send said rec¬ ord to the general conference for examination. He shall continue in office until his successor is elected and shall be the custodian of the conference records and journal. 3. It shall elect a treasurer, and in case of a va¬ cancy in said office the district elders of the confer¬ ence may appoint a treasurer to act until the next session. 4. It shall elect an auditor who shall carefully audit the accounts of the treasurer and report at the close of each annual session. [fill. It shall be the duty of the secretary of ANNUAL CONFERENCES 55 each annual conference holding its session next pre¬ ceding the session of general conference to transcribe from the annual conference records all the decisions of disciplinary law rendered by the bishops during the quadrennium, giving the number of page or pages upon which such decisions are recorded, and forward the same with the conference records to the seat of general conference. I 1 2. The ministers and lay members composing the annual conference shall deliberate and vote as one body; but at the call of a majority of all the members present and voting, the house shall divide, and the ministers and lay members vote separately; and it shall require a majority of both branches to consti¬ tute a vote of the conference. I 13. The territory embraced by each annual con¬ ference shall be divided into districts, and over each of these one of the elders shall be appointed by the conference as district elder. H I 14. The district elders and an equal number of lay members to be elected by ballot the first day of the session, together with the president of the con¬ ference, shall constitute a stationing committee, of which the president shall be chairman, and have a casting vote. If for any reason a district elder is not able to serve on the stationing committee, the confer¬ ence shall elect one of its elders to take his place. No person who is recommended to the annual confer¬ ence to be received on trial, nor a supply, though act¬ ing as a delegate, shall be eligible to serve on the sta¬ tioning committee. It shall be the duty of the station¬ ing committee to appoint the preachers to their sev¬ eral fields of labor. No preacher shall be appointed to the same circuit more than three years in succes¬ sion, except in the case of appointments among for¬ eign speaking or colored people. No minister who refuses to serve a charge or circuit when appointed 56 ANNUAL by his conference shall be appointed to any work by another conference or district elder without the con¬ sent of the district elder of the circuit which he re¬ fused to serve. ft I 15. It shall be the duty of each annual confer¬ ence having claimants, to appoint a committee at each annual session on claimants and claims, com¬ posed of the president of the conference, and two ministers and two lay members nominated by the president and elected by the conference. No minis¬ ter shall be placed on the superannuated list without having first been recommended by this committee. It shall also be the duty of this committee at the session during which it serves, to report as to who are claim¬ ants and to estimate the amount necessary for their support for the ensuing year, subject to the approval of the conference, which shall forward the estimate to the secretary of the board of claimants. ft I 16. An annual conference may, upon the unan¬ imous recommendation of the stationing committee, leave a preacher without an appointment. Any preacher so left without an appointment two years in succession may be located by vote of the annual con¬ ference. ft I i 7. When a preacher is located, or discontinued by an annual conference, the stationing committee shall fix the place of his membership. When an un¬ ordained preacher on trial and in good standing in the annual conference is discontinued from the travel¬ ing connection by his conference, he shall sustain the relation of local preacher until the ensuing session of his quarterly conference. ft I 1 8. A preacher may be appointed to a circuit without having charge of the same; in such cases the administration of the circuit shall devolve upon the district elder and the official board. See Par. 447. ft I 1 9. Each annual conference is required to or- ANNUAL CONFERENCES 57 i ganize a conference evangelistic board which shall be authorized to carry on aggressive evangelistic work within its bounds. This board shall have power to raise funds and to employ evangelists, band workers and helpers to labor within the conference bounds, who, with the concurrence of the district elders, shall be authorized to establish new societies where the in¬ terests of the cause of God require, providing that it make provision and be responsible for the support of all the laborers which it employs. fl 120. Whenever a woman holding an evangelist's license is recommended by the quarterly conference as a suitable person to be received into the annual conference, she may be received on trial and into full membership and be ordained a deacon, on the same conditions as we receive men into the same relations; provided always, that this ordination of women shall not be regarded as a step toward ordination as elder, and provided further, that no woman whose husband is a member of an annual conference either on trial or in full relation shall be eligible to be received into the conference. 121. Members of an annual conference may be appointed as evangelists. They shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of those appointed to cir¬ cuits, and shall be subject to the same rules and reg¬ ulations, so far as they apply to their circumstances. They shall be subject to the restrictions of paragraph 172 (8). No preacher, however, shall be granted an evangelist’s relation to the conference who does not intend to devote all his time to evangelistic work. IF '22. Each annual conference shall inquire — 1. What are the names of preachers and dele¬ gates having a seat in this conference? 2. Who are the stationing committee? 3. What preachers are admitted on trial? 4. Who remain on trial? 58 ANNUAL CONFERENCES 5. Who are admitted into full membership? 6. Who are the deacons? 7. Who have been elected and ordained elders this year? 8. Who have located this year? 0. Who are the supernumerary preachers? 10. Who are the superannuated preachers? 11. Who have been received by transfer and from what conference?* 12. Who have withdrawn from the conference this year? 13. Who h-ave been given certificates of good standing with a view to transfer to another confer¬ ence? 14. Have any been permitted to withdraw under charges or complaints? 15. Have any been expelled? 16. Are all the preachers blameless in life and conversation? Have they, during the past year, dis¬ charged their duties to God, themselves, and one an¬ other? See paragraphs 135 to 138 and 142. f 17. Who have died this year? 18. What is the number of church members? 19. Amount collected for conference claimants? For the bishops? For general missions? For the annual conference missionary fund? For foreign missions? For educational fund? 20. Number of Sunday-schools? Of officers and teachers? Of scholars? Of members on the cradle roll? Of members in the home department? Of volumes in library? 21. What has been expended during the year on * It shall be the duty of the conference receiving a preacher by transfer to notify the secretary of the con¬ ference from which he was transferred of his reception. t Let the president call attention to the contents of these portions of the Discipline. ANNUAL CONFERENCES 59 the circuits for Sabbath-school purposes? What has been raised by the Sabbath-schools for foreign mis¬ sions and other benevolences? 22. How many copies of the Free Methodist are taken? 23. What amounts are recommended for the su¬ perannuated preachers, and the widows and orphans of preachers? 24. At the session next preceding the session of the general conference, the question shall be asked, What amount is necessary for us to raise toward defraying the expenses of delegates to the general conference and the entertainment of the general con¬ ference. 25. What has been collected on the foregoing ac¬ counts, and how has it been applied? 26. Where are the preachers stationed this year? 27. Where, and when, shall our next conference be held? 1 23. The conference year of each annual confer¬ ence shall close automatically with the adjournment of that conference. 124. We recommend our people to observe the Friday preceding each annual conference as a day of fasting and prayer. l24'/2. It shall be the duty of each annual con¬ ference to devise a plan to raise its quota of the Spe¬ cial Stewardship Fund ordered by the last general conference. CHAPTER IV THE QUARTERLY CONFERENCE 125. 1. The quarterly conference shall be com¬ posed of the traveling preachers and the members of the official boards of the district. 2. Four sessions of the quarterly conference shall be held each year, in connection with the general quarterly meetings, at such times and places as it may designate, provided, however, that upon the writ¬ ten request of one-lialf of the preachers on the dis¬ trict and an equal number of lay members, who are members of the quarterly conference, the district elder may call a special session. 3. The district elder shall be president of the quar¬ terly conference, and in his absence, or in the absence of an elder whom he may appoint, the quarterly con¬ ference shall elect one of its members amenable to the annual conference to preside. 4. A secretary shall be elected by the quarterly conference, who shall keep a faithful record of its pro¬ ceedings, and shall send the said record to the annual conference for its examination. The quarterly confer¬ ence shall also elect a treasurer for the district. 5. The quarterly conference shall, (1) Hear complaints. (2) Try appeals. 13) Grant and renew licenses to preach. (4) License band workers. (5) Recommend suitable persons to the annual con¬ ference to be employed as traveling preachers. (6) Recommend suitable persons to the annual con¬ ference to receive deaconess’ license. 60 QUARTERLY CONFERENCE G1 (7) Recommend suitable persons to the annual conference to receive ordination as deacons or elders. (8) In connection with the district elder, appoint and hold camp meetings as the interests of the cause of God may require. fll 26. No person shall be licensed as a local preacher until he has been previously licensed as au exhorter and has been recommended by the official board of the circuit to which he belongs, and until he has first been examined by the quarterly conference, or district elder, in regard to his soundness in doctrine and his piety, gifts, and usefulness have been duly consid¬ ered. No one shall be licensed until satisfactory an¬ swers are given to all the questions found in para¬ graph 134 of the Discipline: “Of the Examination of Those Who Think They are Moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach.” Order of Business for Quarterly Conference If 1 27. 1. Call to order, by district elder, or, in his absence, by the secretary. 2. Devotional exercises. 3. Calling of the roll. (At the first session of the year a roll should be made out and then called.) 4. Election of secretary. 5. Election of treasurer. 6. Reading of the minutes of previous session. 7. Reports from committees. 8. Is there any unfinished business? 9. Is there any new business? 10. Are there any complaints? 11. Are there any appeals? 12. Shall we hold any camp meetings this year? If so, how many? When? Where? 13. Are there any recommendations for local preacher's license? For evangelist’s license? For band worker’s license? 62 QUARTERLY CONFERENCE 14. Reports from preachers on condition of the charges, and also regarding the Sunday-schools. 15. Reports from evangelists and deaconesses. 16. Financial report of district elder. 17. Report of treasurer. (Questions IS to 24, last session of year only.) 18. Are there any licenses to be renewed?* Lo¬ cal preachers’ ? Evangelists’? Are there any deacon¬ esses to be recommended to the annual conference for renewal of license or for permanent license? 19. Are there any suitable persons to be recom¬ mended to the annual conference for reception on trial? 20. Are there any women evangelists to be recom¬ mended for a seat in the annual conference? 21. Are there any evangelists to be recommended for annual conference license? 22. Are there any women to be recommended to the annual conference for deaconess’ license? 23. Are all the local elders, local deacons, evan¬ gelists and deaconesses licensed by the annual con¬ ference, blameless in life and faithful and efficient in service ?t 24. Are there any recommendations to the annual conference for ordination? As elder? As deacon? 25. When and where shall our next session be held? 26. Reading and approval of minutes. 27. Adjournment. * All licenses previously granted should be renewed at the last session of the conference year. t All preachers, evangelists and deaconesses should retire while their characters or their licenses are under consideration. Evangelists licensed by the annual con¬ ference shall make a report of their work to the quar¬ terly conference, and in case of failure to do so, the quar¬ terly conference may recommend to the annual confer¬ ence that said license be revoked. CHAPTER V THE OFFICIAL BOARD 1-28. 1. An official meeting, composed of the pastors, local preachers, exhorters, evangelists, dea¬ conesses, stewards, class leaders, Sunday-school super¬ intendents who are members of our church and belong on the circuit, and trustees of church property when such trustees are members of our church on the cir¬ cuit where the church property is located, shall be held in each circuit once a month whenever prac¬ ticable. 2. The preacher in charge shall be chairman of the official meeting, except as provided for in para¬ graph 160 (6), and in his absence a chairman shall be elected. 3. A secretary and treasurer shall be elected by the official board. The secretary shall keep in a suit¬ able book, provided for that purpose, faithful minutes of the proceedings of the official board, and also of the meetings of the circuit and shall properly record all marriages and baptisms. The treasurer shall keep a record of all money raised on the circuit for religious purposes, and of the manner in which the same was expended, and give a full report of the same at the annual circuit meeting. 4. The official board shall look after the spiritual and temporal interests of the circuit. Order of Business for Official Meeting If 129. 1. Devotional exercises. 2. Election of a secretary. 63 64 OFFICIAL BOARD 3. Calling of the roll. 4. Reading of the minutes of the previous meet¬ ing. 5. Election of a treasurer. 6. Inquire, (1) Are there any sick? (2) Are there any poor needing help? (3) Are there any whose probation has expired? (4) Who have been received into full connection? (5) Are there any walking disorderly and who will not be reproved? (6) Are there any recommendations from the so¬ ciety for exhorter's license?* (7) Are there any exhorters’ licenses to be re¬ newed? (8) Are there any exhorters to be recommended for local preachers’ license? (9) Have any been married or baptized? (10) Have any died? (11) Have the collections been taken as ordered by the conference? (12) What amount has been raised for pastoral support? (13) What amount has been raised for the dis¬ trict elder’s claim? (14) What amount has been raised for other pur¬ poses, and how has it been applied? (15) Is there any money in the treasury? (16) Are there any claims to be presented? (17) Is there any unfinished business, or are there any committees to report? (18) Is there any new business, or are there any committees to be appointed? (19) Are there any vacancies in the board of trustees? * No person should be licensed to exhort without a recommendation from the society of which he is a mem¬ ber. OFFICIAL BOARD 65 (20) Is the title of the church property secure? (21) Is the church property insured? (22) Are the advices and requirements regarding the cultivation of vocal music found in paragraph 81 being observed? 7. Reading the minutes. 8. Adjournment. CHAPTER YI THE CIRCUIT MEETING Tf 1 30. 1. Every circuit shall have, within three months prior to the session of the annual conference to which it belongs, an annual circuit meeting, of which the preacher in charge shall be chairman, but cannot vote, and the secretary of the official board shall be secretary. Such circuit meeting shall be an¬ nounced in each society at least ten days before said meeting shall be held. 2. At this meeting the members of the church in full relation on the circuit shall elect, by ballot, one or more of their number to represent them in the an¬ nual conference according to the provisions of para¬ graph 106. No person on trial in an annual confer¬ ence shall be eligible to election as a delegate. 3. The annual circuit meeting shall decide the number of stewards to be elected upon the circuit, and also the number to be elected by each society. Where there is but one society, stewards, Sunday- school superintendents and trustees (when not in conflict with the charter or the laws of the state) may be elected by the annual circuit meeting. Any vacancy that may occur shall be filled by the so¬ ciety in which such vacancy occurs. See paragraph 132 (3). 4. At this meeting there shall be a full report pre¬ sented by the trustees of the church property. 5. The preacher in charge of a circuit, or in his absence or refusal to do it, a majority of the official 06 CIRCUIT MEETING 67 board, may call a meeting of the circuit, whenever in their judgment the interests of the church require it. 6. It is improper for the society to take a vote as to the return of their pastor. Order of Business for Circuit Meeting fl 131. 1. Devotional exercises. (Secretary of the official board acts as secretary.) 2. Calling of the roll. 3. Report of treasurer of official board, paragraph 128 (3). 4. Election of tellers. 5. Election of a delegate to the annual conference. 6. Election of a reserve delegate. 7. Decide the number of stewards to have in each society on the circuit. 8. Receive the report of the trustees. 9. Miscellaneous business. 10. Approval of the minutes. 11. Adjournment. CHAPTER VII THE SOCIETY MEETING If 132. 1. The society meeting shall be composed of all the members of the church in full relation, composing a single society. 2. The preacher in charge shall be chairman of the society meeting, and a record of its proceedings shall be kept by a secretary elected for that purpose. 3. It shall be the duty of the society meeting to recommend suitable persons for exhorters’ and evan¬ gelists’ licenses, for deaconess’ license and for band workers; to elect the number of stewards directed by the annual circuit meeting; elect Sunday-school super¬ intendents; to select persons to act as a committee in case of the trial of members; decide the propriety of incorporating; elect trustees subject in all cases to the statutes of the state, territory or country in which the society is located. 4. The preacher in charge of a circuit* or in his absence or refusal to do it, a majority of the official board, may call a meeting of the society, whenever in their judgment the interests of the church require it. Order of Business for Society Meeting If 133. 1. Devotional exercises. 2. Calling of the roll. 3. Election of a secretary. 4. Recommendations: (1) For exhorter’s license (to the official board). (2) For evangelist’s license 68 SOCIETY MEETINGS 69 (to the district quarterly conference). (3) For dea¬ coness’ license (to the district quarterly confer¬ ence). (4) For band worker's license (to the district quarterly conference). 5. Election of tellers. 6. Election of stewards (the number fixed by the circuit meeting). 7. Election of Sunday-school superintendent. (The preacher in charge may nominate. See paragraph 255). 8. Elect trial committee. 9. Decide whether to incorporate (if necessary). 10. Elect trustees (if the state law allows). 11. Miscellaneous business. 12. Approval of the minutes 13. Adjournment. Each class elects its own class leader. The preach¬ er in charge may nominate. See paragraph 176 (1). At this meeting the preacher in charge cannot vote. PART IV THE MINISTRY CHAPTERS I. QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK II. MINISTERS AND ANNUAL CONFER- ENCES III. DEACONS AND ELDERS IV. BISHOPS V. DISTRICT ELDERS VI. PASTORS, OR PREACHERS IN CHARGE VII. SUPERNUMERARY AND SUPERANNU¬ ATED MINISTERS CHAPTER I QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK I. The Call to Preach 134. Examination of Those Who Think They Are Moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach. — 1. The following questions shall be asked the candidate, namely: Do you know God as a pardoning God? Have you the love of God abiding in you? Do you desire nothing but what is in the will of God? Do you believe you are called of God to preach the gos¬ pel? 2. The following questions shall be considered by the quarterly conference: Have they gifts as well as grace for the work? Have they in some tolerable de¬ gree a clear, sound understanding, a right judgment in the things of God, and a just conception of salva¬ tion by faith? Has God given them any degree of utterance? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly? Have they fruit? Are any truly convinced of sin, and converted to God by their preaching? And are they holy in all manner of conversation? As long as these marks concur in any one, we be¬ lieve he is called of God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof that he is moved by the Holy Ghost. II. Rules for a Preacher’s Conduct 135. Be diligent. Never be unemployed; never be triflingly employed. Never trifle away time; 73 QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK 74 neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary. Be serious. Let your motto be, Holiness to the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting and foolish talking. Converse sparingly and conduct yourself prudently with women (1 Tim. 5:2). Take no step toward marriage without first consulting your brethren. Believe evil of no one without good evidence; un¬ less you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side. Speak evil of no one, because your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts with¬ in your own breast, till you come to the person con¬ cerned. Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct or temper, and that lovingly and plainly as soon as may be; else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom. Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the gospel is the servant of all. Be ashamed of nothing but sin. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but for conscience’ sake. You have nothing to do but to save souls; there¬ fore, spend and be spent in this work; and go always not only to those who need you, but to those who need you most. Observe, it is not only your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society, but to save as many as you can; to bring as many sinners as you can to repentance., and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember that a Free Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and PREACHER’S CONDUCT 75 dmall, in the Free Methodist Discipline! Therefore, you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have. Act in all things not according to your own will, but as a son in the gospel. As such it is your duty to employ your time in the manner in which we direct; in preaching, and visiting from house to house; in reading, meditation and prayer. Above all, if you labor with us in the Lord's vineyard, it is needful that you should do that part of the work which we advise, at those times and places which we judge most for his glory. U 136. The following smaller advices may be of use: Be sure never to disappoint a congregation. Begin at the time appointed. Always suit your subject to your audience. Choose the plainest texts you can. Take care not to ramble, but keep to the text, and make out what you take in hand. Avoid everything awkward or affected, in your ges¬ ture, phrase or pronunciation. Do not usually pray more than eight or ten minutes, at most, without intermission. Frequently read and enlarge upon a portion of scripture; and young preachers should often exhort without taking a text. Always avail yourself of the great festivals, by preaching on the occasion. Let your deportment be serious, weighty and solemn. III. Spiritual Qualification If 137. A preacher is to be qualified for his charge by walking closely with God, and having his work greatly at heart; and by understanding and loving discipline, ours in particular. 76 QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK If 138. We should frequently ask each other the following questions: 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 morning and evening hours of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner which the conference advises? Do you converse seriously, usefully and closely? To be more particular, you should use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all other persons. They are either instituted or prudential. The instituted are: 1. Prayer — private, family and public; consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession and thanksgiv¬ ing. Do you use each of these? Do you forecast daily, wherever you are, to secure time for private devo¬ tion? Do you practise it everywhere? Do you ask everywhere, Have you family prayer? Do you ask individuals, Do you use private prayer every morning and evening in particular? 2. Searching the Scriptures — reading regularly, some part every day; regularly, all the Bible in order; carefully, with notes; seriously, with prayer before and after; fruitfully, immediately practising what you learn there; meditating, at set times and by rule; hearing the word at every opportunity, with prayer, before, at, after. Have your Bible always about you. 3. The Lord’s Supper. Do you use this at every opportunity? With solemn prayer before? With de¬ liberate self-devotion? 4. Fasting. Do you use as much abstinence and fasting every week as your health, strength and labor will permit? SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATION 77 5. Christian conference. Are you convinced how important and difficult it is to order your conversation aright? Is it always with grace, seasoned with salt, meet to minister grace to the hearers? Do you con¬ verse too long at a time? Is not an hour commonly enough? Would it not be well always to have a de¬ termined end in view, amd pray before and after? The prudential means we may use either as Chris¬ tians, as Free Methodists, or as preachers. As Christians, what particular rules have you in order to grow in grace? What arts of holy living? As Free Methodists, do you never miss your class? As preachers, have you thoroughly considered your duty? Are you conscientious in executing every part cf it? Do you meet each society and its leaders? These means may be used without fruit. But there are some means which cannot; namely, watching, denying ourselves, taking up our cross and living al¬ ways as in the presence of God. Do you steadily watch against the world? Your¬ self? Your besetting sin? Do you deny yourself every useless pleasure of sense, imagination, honor? Are you temperate in all things? Instance, in food? Do you use only that kind and that degree which is best both for body and soul? Do you see the neces¬ sity of this? Do you eat no more at each meal than is necessary? Are you not heavy or drowsy after dinner? Do you use only that kind and degree of drink which is best both for the body and soul? Do you choose and use water for your common drink? And only take wine medicinally or sacramentally? Wherein do you take up your cross daily? Do you cheerfully bear your cross, however grievous to na¬ ture, as a gift of God, and labor to profit thereby? 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 7S QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK the more you use them, the more you will grow in grace. IV. Matter and Manner of Preaching If 139. The best general method of preaching is: 1. To convince. 2. To offer Christ. 3. To invite. 4. To build up. 5. To do this in some measure in every sermon. If 140. The most effectual way of preaching Christ is to preach him in all his offices, and to declare his law, as well as his gospel, both to believers and unbe¬ lievers. Let us strongly and closely insist upon in¬ ward and outward holiness in all its branches. V. Where to Preach If 141. We do not deem it advisable to preach in as many places as we can without forming societies. We have made the trial in various places, and that for a considerable length of time. In all cases the seed has fallen by the wayside. There is scarcely any fruit remaining. 1. We should endeavor to preach most where there is the greatest number of quiet and willing hearers, and where there is most fruit. 2. We ought diligently to observe in what places God is pleased at any time to pour out his Spirit more abundantly; and at that time to send more laborers than usual into that part of the harvest. VI. Pastoral Visitation and Enforcement of Practical Religion ^ 142. We should endeavor to assist those under our care, and to aid in the salvation of souls by in¬ structing them in their own homes. What unspeak¬ able need there is of this! We can but just touch on a few particulars. How PASTORAL VISITATION TO little faith is there among even professing Christians! How little communion with God! How little living in heaven, -walking as for eternity, deadness to every creature! How much love of the world, desire of pleasure, of ease, of getting money! How little broth¬ erly love! What continual judging one another! What gossiping, evil-speaking, tale-bearing! What want of moral honesty ! To instance only one particular: Who does as he would be done by in buying and selling? Family religion is wanting in many branches. And what avails public preaching alone, though we could preach like angels? We must, yea, every traveling preacher must instruct the people from house to house. Our religion is not sufficiently deep, or universally uniform. It is superficial, partial, uneven. It will be so until we spend half as much time in this visiting, as we now do in talking uselessly. Can we find a better method of doing this than Mr. Baxter's? If not, let us adopt it without delay. His whole tract, entitled, The Reformed Pastor, is well worth a care¬ ful perusal. Speaking of this visiting from house to house, he says: “We shall find many hindrances, both in ourselves and the people. 1. “In ourselves there is much dulness and lazi¬ ness, so that there will be much ado to get us to be faithful in the work. 2. “Some of us have a foolish bashfulness. We know not how to begin, and blush to contradict the devil. 3. “But the greater hindrance is weakness of faith. Our whole motion is weak, because the spring of it is weak. 4. “Lastly, we are unskilled in the work. How few know how to deal with men so as to get within them, and suit all our discourse to their several con¬ ditions and tempers; to choose the fittest subjects, 80 QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK and follow them with a holy mixture of seriousness, terror, love, and meekness?’’ Undoubtedly this private application is implied in those solemn words of the apos’.le: “I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long- suffering.” O brethren, if we could but set this work on foot in all our congregations, and prosecute it zealously, what glory would redound to God! If the common lukewarmness were banished, and every shop and every house were busied in speaking of the word and works of God, surely God would dwell in our habita¬ tions, and make us his delight. H 143. It is objected, 1. “This will take up so much time we shall not have leisure to follow' our studies.” We answ'er, 1. Gaining know’ledge is a good thing, but saving souls is better. By this very thing you will gain the most excellent knowledge, that of God and eternity. 2. You w'ill have time for gain¬ ing other knowledge, too. Only sleep no more than you need; “and never be idle or triflingly employed.” But, 3, if you can do but one, let your studies alone. We ought to throw by all the libraries of the world, rather than be guilty of the loss of one soul. It is objected, 2. “The people will not submit to it.” If some will not, others will. And all the suc¬ cess wuth them w'ill repay all your labors. Oh, let us herein follow’ the example of St. Paul! 1. For our general business, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. 2. Our special wTork, Take heed to your¬ selves and to all the flock. 3. Our doctrine, Repent¬ ance tow'ard God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4. The place, I have taught you publicly, and from house to house. 5. The object and manner of teach- PASTORAL VISITATION 81 ing, 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 pa¬ tience, Neither count I my life dear unto myself. And among all other motives, let these be ever before our eyes: 1. The Church which he hath purchased with his own blood. 2. Grievous wolves shall enter in; yea, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things. Write this upon your hearts, and it will do you 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 will be mere drudgery. And in order to do it, you will have need of all the knowledge you can procure, and all the grace you can obtain. If 144. The sum is, Go into every house in course, and teach every one therein, young and old, to be Christians, inwardly and outwardly. Make every par¬ ticular plain to their understandings. Fix it in their minds, write it on their hearts. In order to do this, there must be line upon line, precept upon precept. What patience, what love, what knowledge is req¬ uisite for this! We must needs do this, were it only to avoid idleness. Do we not loiter away many hours in every week? Each try himself. No idleness is consistent with a growth in grace. Nay, without exactness in redeeming time, you cannot retain the grace you received in justification. ^f 145. Why are we not more holy? Why do we not live as for eternity? Why do we not walk with God all the day long? Why are we not all devoted to doing good, breathing the whole spirit of missionaries? Chiefly because we do not properly use the means. 1. How few wait upon the Lord in secret prayer until bis blessing comes on the soul? 2. Do we know the QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK S2 obligation and benefit of fasting and abstinence? 3. How often do we practise it? 4. How little there is of self-denial? 5. How few bring their tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Lord? 6. How much there is of consecration to our own wills in¬ stead of to the will of the Lord? 7. How few mani¬ fest a disposition to submit themselves one to an¬ other? 8. What a want there is of properly govern¬ ing the tongue? The neglect of these alone is suffi¬ cient to account for our feebleness and faintness of spirit. We should amend from this hour. II 146. How shall we guard against Sabbath break¬ ing. evil speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, expensiveness or gayety of apparel, and contracting debts without due care to discharge them? 1. We should preach expressly on each of these heads. 2. Read in every society the sermon on evil speaking. 3. The leaders should closely examine and exhort every person to put away the accursed thing. 4. The preachers should warn every society that none who is guilty herein can remain with us. 5. Extir¬ pate from our church all buying or selling of goods which have not paid the duty laid upon them by gov¬ ernment. 6. Extirpate bribery, receiving anything, directly or indirectly, for voting at any election. 7. Strongly advise our people to discountenance all treats given by candidates before or at elections, and not to be partakers in any respect of such practises. Show no respect to persons herein, but expel all that touch the accursed thing. VII. Employment of Time H 147. We advise you, 1. As often as possible, to rise at five. 2. From five to six in the morning, and from five to six in the evening, to meditate, pray, and read the Scriptures with notes, and the closely UNION AMONG OURSELVES S3 practical parts of what Mr. Wesley has published. 3. From seven in the morning till twelve (allowing one hour for breakfast) read with much prayer, some of our best religious books. Other reasons may concur why the people under our care are not better, but the chief is, because we are not more knowing and more holy. But why are we not more knowing? Because we are idle. We forget our first rule, “Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.” We fear there is altogether a fault in this matter, and that few of us are clear. Which of us spend as many hours a day in God's work as we did formerly in man’s work? We talk — talk or read what comes next to hand. We must, absolutely must, cure this evil, or betray the cause of God. But how? 1. Read the most useful books, and that regu¬ larly and constantly. 2. Steadily spend all the morn¬ ing in this employment, or at least five hours in the four and twrenty. “But I have no taste for reading.” Contract a taste for it by use, or return to your former employment. “But I have no books.” Be diligent to spread the books, and you will have the use of them. VIII. Union Among Ourselves K 148. We should be deeply sensible, from what we have known, of the evil of division in principle, spirit, or practise, and of the dreadful consequences to ourselves and others. If we are united, what can stand before us? If we divide, we shall destroy our¬ selves, the work of God, and the souls of our people. In order to a closer uLion with each other, 1. We should be deeply convinced of the absolute necessity of it. 2. Pray earnestly for, and speak 84 QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK freely to each other. 3. When we meet, let us never part without prayer. 4. Take care not to despise each other’s gifts. 5. Never speak lightly of one another. 6. Defend one another’s character in every¬ thing, so far as is consistent with truth. 7. Labor in honor each to prefer the other before himself. 8. We recommend a serious perusal of The Causes, Evils and Cures of Heart and Church Divisions. I X. U nion with Others If 149. We have Christian fellowship and love for all persons of whatever denomination, who show by their lives that they “follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” We will unite with all well disposed persons, in an open, Christian manner, in promoting social and civil reforms. But we cannot unite, where we are re¬ quired to compromise our principles, in holding unioD meetings with any person, or denomination, whose practical standard of Christian character and church fellowship, is obviously below that plainly set forth in the New Testament. CHAPTER II MINISTERS AND ANNUAL CONFERENCES I. Reception on Trial II >50. 1. A preacher may be received on trial by an annual conference after passing a satisfactory examination in the prescribed course of study, and after having been duly recommended by a quarterly conference; and when so received he shall receive from the annual conference a certificate of his rela¬ tion, signed by the president and secretary. But the requirements of this paragraph shall not be so fully enforced as to preclude the reception of a person con¬ verted or called to preach in middle life, who, in the judgment of the annual conference, is possessed of natural gifts and graces such as to promise at least a fair degree of success in the work of God; such exceptions in all cases to follow the unanimous recom¬ mendation of the stationing committee. 2. A preacher on trial in the annual conference shall hold his church membership in the annual con¬ ference and be counted with the preachers, but shall not be entitled to vote. II. Reception into Full Membership U 151. A traveling preacher may be received into full membership after having been employed in the regular itinerant work two successive years subse¬ quent to his reception on trial by an annual confer¬ ence, and after passing a satisfactory examination in the required course of study, and giving satisfactory answers to the following questions, namely: 85 MINISTERS AND CONFERENCES 8 G 1. Have you faith in Christ? 2. Have you present assurance of sins forgiven? 3. Do you believe in Christian perfection? 4. Have you attained to this rich experience in your own heart, (If not) Are you groaning after it? 5. Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and his work? 6. Do you know the general rules? Do you keep them ? 7. Do you regularly attend the sacrament? 8. Have you read our Discipline? 9. Are you willing to conform to it? 10. Have you considered the rules for a preacher? 11. Will you keep them for conscience1 sake? 12. Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God? 13. Will you endeavor not to speak too long or too loud? 14. Will you diligently instruct the children in every place? 15. Will you visit from house to house? 16. Will you recommend fasting, or abstinence, both by precept and example? 17. Are you in debt? III. Reception from Other Denominations 1 52. 1. Ministers from other evangelical churches who desire to unite with our church may be received according to our usages, on condition of their giving satisfactory answers to the questions which we propose to our own members and ministers before receiving them into full membership and of their giving satisfaction to an annual conference of their being in orders, and of their agreement with us in doctrine, discipline, government and usages; pro¬ vided the conference is also satisfied with their gifts, graces and usefulness. MINISTERS AND CONFERENCES 87 2. Every minister, whether local or itinerant, whose ordination is recognized by an annual confer¬ ence, shall be entitled to a parchment from the presi¬ dent of the conference, certifying the fact of his ordination. IV. Termination of Conference Membership 153. 1. By voluntary location. 2. By location through action of the conference, under the provisions of paragraph 116. 3. By ceasing to travel or do the work assigned, without the proper consent. See paragraph 157. 4. By withdrawal with consent of the conference. See paragraphs 122 (12), 427. 154. When satisfactory evidence shall have been received that a conference minister has united with another denomination without having requested or received from our church proper credentials of with¬ drawal, he may be declared withdrawn by a majority vote of the conference. No minister leaving the church after complaints have been lodged against him shall, if by any means he regain membership in the church, be allowed to exercise any of the functions of the ministerial office until legal satisfaction shall have been given the conference to which he belonged at the time of leaving the church.* * In case an ordained minister in good standing in the Free Methodist church unites with another church, or is granted his request to withdraw from the Free Methodist church, he shall deposit his parchments with the secre¬ tary of the conference, who shall give him a receipt for the same. If an ordained preacher shall be expelled from the church, or be permitted to withdraw under charges, he thereby forfeits his parchments and they shall be deposited with the secretary of the conference from which he withdrew or was expelled. If he re¬ fuses or neglects so to deposit them, the conference shall by official action declare them forfeited. CHAPTER III I. DEACONS AND ELDERS J[ 155. Traveling Deacons: 1. A minister who has been employed in the regular itinerant work for two successive years after his reception on trial, and who has passed a satisfactory examination in the required course of study, may be constituted a travel¬ ing deacon by the election of a majority of the con¬ ference, and the laying on of the hands of the presi¬ dent. In the case of foreign missions the conference shall have authority to elect him to the deacon’s office sooner if they judge it expedient. 2. It is the duty of a deacon to baptize, to offi¬ ciate in marriage ceremonies, to assist the elder in administering the Lord’s Supper, and, when appointed to a charge, to perform all the duties of a traveling preacher. 156. Traveling Elders: 1. Every traveling dea¬ con shall exercise that office two years before he is eligible to the office of elder, except in the case of missions, when the conference shall have authority to elect him to the elder's office sooner if they judge it expedient. A traveling deacon shall be constituted a traveling elder by the election of a majority of the conference and by the laying on of the hands of the president and some of the elders present, after having passed a satisfactory examination in the required course of study. 2. It is the duty of an elder to administer bap- 88 DEACONS AND ELDERS SO tisro and the Lord's Supper, to officiate in marriage ceremonies and all parts of divine worship, and, when appointed to a charge, to perform all the duties of a traveling preacher. Among our unordained preach¬ ers only those in charge of circuits by the appoint¬ ment of a stationing committee may solemnize mar¬ riage. This rule shall apply only in those states whose laws permit unordained preachers to perform such ceremony. 1 57. No elder or deacon who ceases to travel, without the consent of the annual conference, certi¬ fied under the hand of the president of the conference, except in case of sickness, inability, or other urn avoidable circumstances, shall on any account exer¬ cise the peculiar functions of his office, or even be allowed to preach among us; nevertheless, the final determination in all such cases is with the annual conference. CHAPTER IV BISHOPS IT 158. The general conference shall elect by bal¬ lot one or more traveling elders as bishops, who shall remain in office during the quadrennium and un¬ til others shall be elected in their places. TT 159. It shall be the duty of the bishops: 1. To travel through the connection at large. 2. To oversee the spiritual and temporal interests of our church, and to labor to promote its purity, peace and prosperity. 3. To establish new societies. 4. To receive and suspend preachers, according to the provisions of the Discipline. 5. To change preachers from one district to an¬ other, where the districts are presided over by dif¬ ferent elders, with the consent of the preacher to be removed and of the district elders, and a majority of the official board of the circuit from which he is to be removed. 6. To transfer a preacher from one conference to another, with the consent of the preacher and of the conference to which he is transferred; provided, that no preacher shall be transferred to another confer¬ ence without a certificate of his good standing and general acceptability, given by his annual or quarterly conference. 7. To form new conferences in the intervals of general conferences, as the wants of the work may demand, subject to the approval of the general con- 90 BISHOPS 91 ference; provided, that no new conference shall be formed without the consent of the conference whose territory is affected, and also, without the consent of at least two-thirds of the members of the executive committee; provided, also, that no new conference shall be organized with less than five preachers in full membership and one hundred full members within its bounds. 8. To preside at the sessions of the general con¬ ference, the executive committee, the annual confer¬ ences, and at the trial of appeals taken from quarter¬ ly or annual conferences, and to decide all questions of law therein, subject to an appeal to the general conference. 9. The bishops shall estimate the amount neces¬ sary to pay the expenses of delegates to the general conference, and shall apportion the same among the several conferences. Any annual conference deficient in its apportionment shall have such deficit deducted from the amount appropriated for the expenses of its delegates to the general conference. 10. The bishops shall be amenable to the general conference for the discharge of their official duties, and for their Christian conduct to the annual con¬ ferences to which they respectively belong. CHAPTER \ DISTRICT ELDERS If 160. It shall be the duty of the district elder: 1. To look after the spiritual and temporal in¬ terests of the church within his district; to take the charge of all circuits without a preacher, and the oversight of the work on his district, according to the Discipline. 2. To see that every part of the Discipline is duly enforced. ^ 3. To visit every circuit on his district whenever he may judge it expedient. The district elder is especially directed and required to visit any circuit in his district, when so requested by the official board, in case of any dispute or difficulty, or any emergency that may arise. In such cases he shall have power to call an official, society or circuit meeting, and to pre¬ side over the same. The circuit sending for him shall pay his traveling expenses. 4. To hold four general quarterly meetings in his district during each year. 5. To hold quarterly meetings once in three months in each circuit within his district, and to labor as an evangelist within his district, if in the judgment of the annual conference the cause of God can be best served thereby. He shall also make a statement of the growth and progress of the work on the district at each general quarterly meeting. 6. When a district has a traveling district elder he may hold an official, circuit, or society meeting on 92 DISTRICT ELDERS 93 each circuit, in connection with his quarterly meet¬ ings; or he may appoint a supply subject to the ap¬ proval of the pastor. 7. To appoint, receive, suspend and change preachers in his district or districts in the intervals of the conference sessions; provided he shall not change any preacher contrary to his wishes, unless by the request of two-thirds of the members of the circuit; provided also that a preacher shall not be ap¬ pointed to a circuit without the concurrence of the official board of that circuit. 8. To see that deeds of lands upon which it may be proposed to build any church or parsonage within the bounds of his district are properly made out and recorded, or that a good and sufficient bond or con¬ tract is given for such deed before such building is begun. 9. To give the bishop all the necessary informa¬ tion of the state of his district. 10. The district elder shall not have power to em¬ ploy a preacher that has been rejected by the annual conference, without permission of said conference. 11. The district elder may, with the consent of the preacher in charge and the official board, divide a circuit in the intervals of the annual conference, if the interests of the work require it. 12. No district elder shall preside over the same district in the same conference more than four years in succession, nor shall any minister serve in the office of district elder in any conference for a term exceeding eight consecutive years. The total num¬ ber of years served by any district elder consecutively up to the time of the next annual conference, of which he is a member, following the general conference (1919), shall be reckoned on the period of eight years’ consecutive service to which said district elder is lim¬ ited. 94 DISTRICT ELDERS 13. Traveling district elders shall be elected by ballot in open conference, without debate, and shall be assigned to their respective districts either by an election to the districts direct or by appointment by the stationing committee, as the conference shall de¬ cide. 14. Stationed district elders shall be nominated by ballot by the stationing committee, and elected by ballot in open conference, without debate. 15. In case there should be a vacancy in the office of district elder during the interval of the sessions of any annual conference, the bishop who presided (or who was to have presided) or his successor, shall have power to fill such vacancy, subject to the ap¬ proval of the ensuing quarterly conference of the dis¬ trict; but if such vacancy should be filled after the last session of the quarterly conference of the con¬ ference year, then the secretary of the quarterly con¬ ference shall have power to call a special session for the sole purpose of confirming the appointment of the president. 16. Whenever in the judgment of an annual con¬ ference the interests of the work can be best sub¬ served thereby, the same district elder may be ap¬ pointed to more than one district at the same time. 17. The district elder shall be a member of the quarterly conference on the district which he serves; and, in case he be appointed to two or more districts, the stationing committee shall fix his quarterly con¬ ference relation. 18. The district elder shall be supported by the district to which he is elected, each circuit contrib¬ uting its proportion as agreed upon by the quarterly conference. In case he is elected stationed district elder he shall be supported by the circuit to which he is appointed. We recommend a district budget for traveling district elder's support. CHAPTER VI PASTORS, OR PREACHERS IN CHARGE Tf 161. The duties of a preacher who has the charge of a circuit are, 1. To receive and dismiss members according to the Discipline; provided, however, that no person shall be recorded on the register as “with¬ drawn at his own request” until such action is ap¬ proved by the official board. 2. To see that the other preachers in his circuit behave well, and need nothing. 3. To examine each of the leaders concerning his method of leading his class, observe which leaders are the most useful and have these meet the other classes as often as possible, and see that all the lead¬ ers are persons not only of sound judgment, but truly devoted to God. See also paragraph 176 (4). 4. To hold watch-nights and love-feasts, and to see that the sacrament is administered at least once in three months. 5. To take care that every society is duly supplied with books. 6. To take an exact account of all members in the societies of their respective circuits, keeping the names of all local elders, deacons and preachers properly distinguished, and deliver such account to the annual conference, that their number may be printed in the minutes. 7. To give an account of his circuit every quarter to the quarterly conference. 8. To report to the society, at least once a quarter, 95 96 PASTORS IN CHARGE tbe names of those who have been received into the church, or excluded therefrom during the quarter, also the names of those who have been received or dismissed by certificate, and those who have died or withdrawn from the church. 9. To make a regular catalogue of the societies in towns and cities, giving the residence of each member by street and number. 10. To leave his successor a particular account of the circuit, including an account of the subscribers for our periodicals. 11. To enforce vigorously, but calmly, all the rules of the society. 12. As soon as there are four believers in any place to put them into a class. 13. To meet the societies and classes; to visit the sick; to visit all members and probationers on his circuit, at least once in three months, and all members of his congregation whenever practicable; to preach out of doors wherever an attentive congregation can be found; to raise money for the purchase of tracts and attend to their distribution upon his circuit; to see that all the collections ordered by the conference are raised in full. All members shall pay their claims for the entire year to the circuit from which they were last reported to an annual conference. 14. To warn all from time to time, that none are to remove from one circuit to another without a cer¬ tificate from the preacher in charge. 15. To recommend everywhere decency and cleanli¬ ness. . 16. To read the rules of the society, with the aid of the other preachers, once a year in every con¬ gregation, and once a quarter in every society. 17. To see that the trustees are duly elected ac¬ cording to the law of the state; and that the real PASTORS IN CHARGE 97 estate belonging to the church is duly secured accord¬ ing to law. 18. To see that no steps be taken involving the circuit in financial liability, without the consent of the official board. 19. To warn the people of the evil consequences to themselves and the Church of God, of covetous¬ ness and withholding of their means from supporting the gospel, and to urge upon all systematic and pro¬ portionate giving, and to preach upon the same, en¬ couraging our people to tithe their incomes. 20. To see that a fast be held in every society in his circuit, on the Friday preceding • every quar¬ terly meeting. 21. To execute all the rules fully and strenuously against all frauds, and particularly against dishonest insolvencies, secret societies, labor and capitalistic or¬ ganizations, contravening paragraph 73, suffering none to remain in our church, on any account, who are found guilty thereof. 22. Treachers in charge of circuits who are not members of a conference shall not employ evangelists who are not members of our church, without first consulting with and securing the consent of the dis¬ trict elder in charge and of the official board. IT 162. During the sittings of the conferences all appointments should stand according to the plan of the circuit. Engage as many local preachers and ex- horters as will supply them; and pay them for their time in proportion to the allowances of the traveling preachers. If preachers and exhorters cannot attend, let some person of ability be appointed in every so¬ ciety to sing, pray and read one of Mr. Wesley’s ser¬ mons. Rut if that cannot be done, let there be prayer meetings. CHAPTER VII SUPERNUMERARY AND SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS ft 1 63. A supernumerary preacher is a member of an annual conference 'whose efficiency is temporarily impaired, and whose relation as a supernumerary is fixed by a vote of his conference on recommendation of the stationing committee. In no case shall he have any claim on the superannuated fund. His quar¬ terly conference relation shall be determined by the stationing committee. 164. A superannuated preacher is one who is so disqualified by physical disability or old age that he cannot take charge of a circuit or occupy any posi¬ tion in the church which will afford him sufficient in¬ come for his support. The question as to his dis¬ ability shall be determined by his conference, on the recommendation of the committee on claimants and claims. His quarterly conference relation shall be fixed by the stationing committee. If, in the interval of conference, a supernumerary or a superannuated preacher moves where attendance at the quarterly conference in which his relation was fixed is inconvenient, upon his request he may be transferred to any convenient quarterly conference by its district elder, with the consent of that quar¬ terly conference. 98 LOCAL PART Y PREACHERS AND LAY HELPERS CHAPTERS I. LOCAL PREACHERS II. EVANGELISTS III. EXHORTERS IV. DEACONESSES V. BANDS AND BAND WORKER.. VI. CLASS LEADERS VII. STEWARDS CHAPTEK I LOCAL PREACHERS If 1 65. The quarterly conference shall take cog¬ nizance of all the local preachers in the district, and shall inquire into the gifts, labors, and usefulness of each preacher by name. 1 66. A licensed local preacher shall be eligible to the office of deacon after he has preached four years from the time he received a regular license, and has obtained a recommendation from the quar¬ terly conference, after proper examination as to his Christian character, his usefulness as a preacher, aim after he has passed a satisfactory examination in the prescribed course of study. If 167. A local deacon shall be eligible to the office of elder after he has preached four years from the time he was ordained a deacon, and has obtained a recommendation from the quarterly conference of which he is a member, certifying his qualifications in doctrine, discipline, talents and usefulness, and has passed a satisfactory examination in the prescribed course of study. 168. Every local elder, deacon or preacher shall be amenable to the quarterly conference where he belongs for his Christian character and the faithful performance of his ministerial office. He shall have his name recorded on the journal of said conference, and also enrolled on a class paper, and shall meet in class; and in neglect of the above duties, or neglect to pass a satisfactory examination in the prescribed 101 102 LOCAL PREACHERS course of study, the quarterly conference, if they judge it proper, may deprive him of his ministerial office; provided, no ordained local preacher shall be deprived of his ministerial functions without due form of trial and conviction. ]f 169. Let the appointments be so arranged as to give the local preachers regular and systematic employment on the Sabbath. If 170. When a local preacher or evangelist is em¬ ployed as a supply, his membership shall be on the charge where he labors. He shall take a regular church letter whenever he may be so employed out¬ side of the district where his membership may be, If 171. The examination of local preachers may be conducted orally. CHAPTER II EVANGELISTS Tf 172. Evangelists are a class of preachers called of God to preach the gospel, to labor to promote revivals of religion, and to spread abroad the cause of Christ in the land; but not in all cases called to a pastoral charge or to government in the church. 1. Any brother or sister in good standing in our church, feeling called of God to this work, may, upon recommendation of the society to which he belongs, be licensed by the quarterly conference, after due examination, according to paragraph 134 of our Dis¬ cipline, entitled “Examination of Those Who Think They Are Moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach.” Such evangelists shall be members of the quarterly confer¬ ence, amenable to it, and shall pass an examination in the course of study for local preachers. 2. Those who labor successfully as evangelists for the period of four years, may, upon recommendation of the quarterly conference, be licensed by the an¬ nual conference; and such license shall hold good un¬ til revoked by the action of said annual conference. 3. A woman who has been duly licensed as an evangelist may be received into an annual confer¬ ence as a traveling preacher under certain conditions, according to paragraph 120 of the Discipline. 4. When women evangelists have been licensed by the annual conference, and have served two suc¬ cessive years under appointment as pastors, they may, upon recommendation of the quarterly conference of 103 104 EVANGELISTS which they are members, and at the option of the an¬ nual conference, have a voice and vote in the annual conference; and in the transaction of conference business they shall be counted with the preachers. This relation shall continue only while they receive appointments as pastors. 5. The general conference may elect general evan¬ gelists, who shall travel through the country at large, subject to the direction of the general missionary board (except in those cases where the general con¬ ference shall appoint them to special fields), open new fields of labor, organize new societies, and provide and place over them, temporarily, pastors, prepara¬ tory to the organization of new conferences where we have none. If they shall form new societies in any of our existing conferences, such societies shall be under the care of the district elder of the adjacent district. 6. The general evangelist shall have the over¬ sight of other evangelists laboring in immediate con¬ nection with him. 7. Such evangelist shall be amenable to the annual conference to which he belongs. 8. No evangelist shall appoint or hold meetings where they will interfere with the regular work of any preacher duly appointed to a circuit or station. 9. The examination of evangelists may be con¬ ducted orally. CHAPTER IIP EXHORTERS ^ 173. 1. Exliorters are a class of laymen li¬ censed by the official board of a circuit or station to conduct religious services of a more or less in¬ formal character, and to exercise their gifts in horta¬ tory discourse, or in laboring otherwise to promote revivals and to advance the interests of the kingdom of God. They are expected to be the pastor's helpers, and hence should make it their special study to quali¬ fy themselves for rendering aid in the work of the charge, as also for general efficiency in various de¬ partments of Christian work. 2. No person shall be licensed as an exhorter un¬ less he gives evidence of knowing God experimentally, is of good reputation among those by whom he is well known, exhibits the marks of fair intelligence, and shows himself an apt learner in the school of Christ. It is hoped that those who serve God and the church in this relation may grow in knowledge, grace and efficiency, so that the church may feel warranted in calling them into its higher ministries. 3. Nor shall any person be licensed as an exhorter among us until he shall have been duly recommended by the society of which he is a member, after having lived among them a sufficient time to enable them to know that his religious experience, the spirit he manifests, his general deportment, and his gifts, are such as to commend him to Christian people generally. 105 CHAPTER IV DEACONESSES If 174. Deaconesses are a class of women who feel divinely called to advance the cause of Christ, but not to become pastors or evangelists. The duties of a deaconess shall be to care for the sick, provide for the orphans, save the erring and fallen, and to al¬ leviate as far as possible the sufferings of those within her reach. 1. Persons to be licensed as deaconesses shall be at least twenty-five years of age and of good report in the church for works of charity and for constancy of faith. 2. No person shall be recommended for deaconess’ license who has not proved her Christian character and experience by living a consistent Christian life as a full member of the Free Methodist church for at least two years in succession immediately pre¬ ceding the application. 3. Candidates for deaconess’ license must first be recommended to the quarterly conference by the so¬ ciety of which they are members. 4. The quarterly conference, after examination into the gifts, graces and usefulness of a candidate, may recommend her to the annual conference to re¬ ceive license as a deaconess. 5. The annual conference, after consideration of the gifts, graces and usefulness of a person thus rec¬ ommended, may grant her a license as a deaconess, 106 DEACONESSES 107 such license to be good for one year only unless renewed. 6. Having been thus licensed for two years in suc¬ cession, one year of which at least shall have been spent in practical deaconess’ work, and, having passed a satisfactory examination in the prescribed course of study, such person may receive from the annual conference a license which shall be good until re¬ voked by the annual conference. 7. Each deaconess shall be amenable to the quar terly conference within the bounds of which she holds her church membership, and shall report her work annually to the quarterly conference. 8. The garb of a deaconess shall be a dark gray dress and black bonnet with white ties. This garb however, shall not be worn until she receives a per¬ manent license from the annual conference. 9. The office of deaconess shall not be considered perpetual. A deaconess may at any time relinquish her license and discontinue her work. But while devoting her time to this work she shall be entitled to a suitable support. The method of providing for the support of a deaconess shall be determined by the annual conference within which she holds her license. 10. A deaconess shall be a member of the quar¬ terly conference of the district within the bounds of which she holds her church membership. 11. The examination of deaconesses may be con¬ ducted orally. CHAPTER V BANDS AND BAND WORKERS 175. 1. District elders, and evangelists ap¬ pointed by the general or annual conferences or li¬ censed by an annual conference, or pastors, may or¬ ganize bands of young people who are members of our church, for evangelistic or charitable work. 2. The rules and regulations of such bands shall be subject to the approval of the annual conference to which the leader belongs, or within the bounds of which he holds his membership. 3. All bands shall be under the direction of dis¬ trict elders, evangelists or pastors by whom organ¬ ized. No band leader shall appoint or hold meetings where they will interfere with the regular work of any preacher duly appointed to a circuit or district, without his consent. 4. Those who labor successfully in a band for one year may be licensed by the quarterly conference from year to year, as band workers. 10S CHAPTER VI CLASS LEADERS 176. 1. Class leaders shall be elected in the last quarter of the conference year. The preacher in charge may nominate and the class shall elect the leader by ballot, and if any person not nominated by the preacher receive a majority of the votes, he shall be declared elected. Any member of the society shall be eligible to election as leader. 2. Each leader should carefully inquire how each soul in his class prospers; not only how each observes the outward rules, but how he grows in the knowl¬ edge and love of God. 3. The leaders should consult with those who have the charge of their circuits. 4. Let the preacher in charge see that improper leaders are changed by a new election. 5. The leaders should frequently meet one an¬ other’s classes. 109 CHAPTER VII STEWARDS If 177. 1. The stewards should be persons of solid piety, who both know and love the Free Meth¬ odist doctrine and Discipline, and of good natural and acquired abilities to transact temporal business. 2. The number of stewards in each circuit shall not be less than three, nor more than nine. 3. The stewards of each society shall be elected by ballot at a regular society meeting to be held sub¬ sequent to the annual circuit meeting. Where there is but one society they may be elected by the circuit meeting. If 178. The duties of stewards are: 1. To take an exact account of all the money or other provisions collected for the support of the ministers in the circuit. 2. To make accurate returns of every ex¬ penditure of money, whether to the preachers, the sick or the poor. 3. To seek the needy and dis¬ tressed in order to relieve and comfort them. 4. To inform the preachers of any sick or disorderly per¬ sons. 5. To tell the preachers what they think wrong in them. 6. To attend the quarterly meetings of their circuit. 7. To give advice, if asked, in plan¬ ning the circuit. 8. To attend committees for the application of money to churches. 9. To give counsel in matters of arbitration. 10. To provide elements for the Lord’s Supper. 11. 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 of the cir¬ cuit at the last quarterly meeting. 110 JUDICIAL PART VI ADMINISTRATION CHAPTERS I. CHURCH TRIALS II. INSOLVENCIES AND SETTLEMENT DISPUTES OF CHAPTER I CHURCH TRIALS I. Object of Church Discipline If 179. The great object of church discipline is to reclaim and restore the erring member. This should be steadily kept in view in every step that is taken. Every effort that love can suggest should be made to bring back to the Lord one who, while under our care, has wandered from him. If 180. In all cases of personal trespass, and in other cases where the circumstances permit, let the duty be lovingly and faithfully performed, which our Lord enjoins in Matthew 18: 15-17: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three wit¬ nesses every, word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” 181. If the last duty becomes necessary, let it be performed in the following manner: II. General Directions If 182. 1. Every crime forbidden in the word of God, sufficient to exclude a person from the kingdom 113 114 CHURCH TRIALS of grace and glory, shall subject a member to expul¬ sion from the church. 2. Both accuser and accused shall be entitled to the assistance of such counsel as they may select from the members or ministers of the church. 3. Both the accused and the accuser shall have the right of challenge for cause, the validity of which shall be determined bj’ the presiding officer at the so¬ ciety meeting where the committee to try the case is elected. 4. In all trials the proceedings shall be taken down by a secretary appointed by the court; and when an appeal is taken, the case shall be decided from the testimony as it appears upon the record. 5. In appeal cases, no person shall be allowed to sit who has previously voted in the decision of the case. 6. In all appeal cases the appellant shall present the counsel for the church a statement in writing of the grounds of his appeal, at least five days before the trial of the appeal. 7. In the trial of appeal cases the court shall either affirm or reverse the verdict rendered in the former trial, or remand the case for a new trial; and in cases of remanding for a new trial no person shall be eligible as a juror in the new trial who voted on the first trial. 8. After such forms of trial and expulsion, such persons shall have no privileges of society or sacra¬ ments in our church, without contrition, confession and reformation satisfactory to the conference or society from which they have withdrawn or by which they have been expelled. If 183. In all cases brought to trial in the church, either the plaintiff or the defendant may request a change of venue, and shall present in writing the reasons for such request; and if the presiding officer TRIAL OF TRAVELING PREACHERS 115 shall, after duly considering the grounds upon which such request is made, be convinced that conditions and circumstances are such as to render a fair and impartial trial reasonably doubtful in the conference or other body before which the action has been com¬ menced, he may order the change of venue requested, and decide as to the conference or other body before which the case shall be tried. III. Trial of Preachers in Full Membership If 184. The neglect of duties required by the word of God or the indulgence of sinful tempers, w^ords or actions, as well as the dissemination of false doctrine, shall subject a preacher so offending to private re¬ proof by the official member of the church having the oversight of the offending brother; and in case of persistence after proper admonition and labor, to trial, suspension from ministerial functions, or ex¬ pulsion. If 185. Any preacher against whom a charge is brought, shall be furnished by the person preferring the charge, or by the presiding officer of the tribunal to which he is judicially responsible, with a copy of the charges against him, at least ten days before the trial, unless all the parties agree upon an earlier time for trial. If 186. Any traveling preacher who wilfully neg¬ lects or refuses to do the work assigned him by his annual conference, except in case of sickness or other unavoidable circumstances, shall be brought, by the district elder, or the bishop, before a committee of three ministers and three laymen, which shall have power to suspend him from all the functions of a preacher until the ensuing session of the annual conference, with which the final determination of the case shall rest, and which shall have power to render the suspension final. 1 1 G CHURCH TRIALS ^ 187. If a charge of immorality or of unchristian conduct is brought against a traveling preacher in the interval of the annual conferences, the district elder shall call a committee of not less than three nor more than six traveling preachers, and an equal number of laymen, which shall have power to sus¬ pend until the next session of the annual confer¬ ence, with which shall rest the decision of the case. ^ 188. But if the accused be a district elder, then three of the preachers of his district shall call in the district elder of an adjoining district, who shall call the accused before a committee as above provided, and preside. The district making such a call shall pay the traveling expenses of the district elder so called. ^ 189. Each annual conference shall have original jurisdiction over all the preachers belonging thereto, and shall have power to reprove, suspend, locate for inefficiency or want of usefulness, or expel, according to the nature of the case, and as righteousness may require. This shall not be so construed as to deprive traveling preachers of the ten-days’ notice provided in paragraph 185, except in case of a preacher charged with gross immorality who voluntarily absents him¬ self from the session of his annual conference. If 190. All cases brought before an annual con¬ ference, either by complaint or by appeal, may be referred to a committee of not less than four from each branch, which, in the presence of the president of the conference, or an elder whom he may appoint (provided that neither party objects to the person so appointed) shall, either during its session or after its adjournment, try the case and decide upon its merits, and its decision shall have the same effect as that of the annual conference, provided, however, that in all cases the defendant shall be allowed to be tried by FORM OF PROCEDURE 117 the select committee rather than by the conference, if he so prefers. If 191. In all cases of trial and conviction of travel¬ ing preachers, an appeal to the ensuing general con¬ ference or court of appeals, as the appellant may choose, shall be allowed, if the condemned person signifies his intention to appeal, at the time of con¬ demnation, or within thirty days after he shall have been notified thereof. If 1 92. All cases brought before the general con¬ ference by appeal, may, with the consent of both par¬ ties, be referred to a committee of not less than six ministerial and six lay delegates, which, in the pres¬ ence of one of the bishops, shall hear the case, and decide upon its merits; and its decision shall have the same effect as that of the general conference. If 193. When an appeal 'lias been taken, penalty shall be suspended pending the hearing of the appeal, except that a minister suspended shall not exercise his ministerial office while his appeal is pending. IV. Form of Procedure I. Form for a Bill of Charges If 194. 1. Charge. (Name the offense.) 2. Specifications. (Name the acts, times and places.) II. Order of Conducting Church Trials If 195. 1. Devotional exercises. 2. Reading of the action of the society meeting or conference by which the committee to try the case was appointed, and the names of the committee. 3. The appointment of a secretary. 4. Reading the charges and specifications by the secretary. 5. Answer by the accused in person or by counsel. 118 CHURCH TRIALS 6. Statement of the case, and line of evidence by the prosecution. 7. Evidence of the prosecution, and cross-exam¬ ination by the defense. S. Statement of the case and line of defense, by the defense. 9. Evidence for the defense, and cross-examina¬ tion by the prosecution. 10. Rebutting evidence for the prosecution. 11. Rebutting evidence for the defense. 12. Summing up the case by the prosecution. 13. Summing up the case by the defense. 14. In case it he deemed proper to allow the prosecution to reply, the defense shall also be per¬ mitted to reply. 15. Instructions of the presiding officer as to the form of bringing in their verdict. 16. The verdict. 17. The court shall announce the verdict and im¬ pose the penalty fixed by the trial committee. V. Restoration of Credentials 1 96. 1. When a member of an annual confer¬ ence is deprived of his credentials, by expulsion or otherwise, they shall be filed with the papers of his conference; and should he, at any future time, give satisfactory evidence to the said conference of his amendment, and procure a certificate from the quar¬ terly conference of the charge where he resides or from an annual conference which may have received him on trial, recommending to the annual conference of which he was formerly a member the restoration of his credentials, the said conference may restore them. 2. When a local elder or deacon shall be expelled the district elder shall require of him the credentials TRIAL OF TRAVELING PREACHERS 119 of his ordination, to be filed with the papers of the annual conference within the limits of which the ex¬ pulsion has taken place; and should he, at any future time, produce to the annual conference a certificate of his restoration, signed by the president and coun¬ tersigned by the secretary of the quarterly confer¬ ence, his credentials may be restored to him. 3. If an ordained elder or deacon shall refuse to surrender his credentials of ordination when law¬ fully required to do so, he thereby forfeits his parch¬ ments, and, at its first session thereafter, his annual conference should declare them forfeited. VI. Proceedings Against a Preacher on Trial ft 197. A preacher on trial in an annual conference shall be accountable for his moral and Christian con¬ duct to the quarterly conference of the district within the bounds of which he travels. If charges are brought against him, he shall be tried the same as a local preacher. VII. The Trial of a Local Preacher ft 198. An accused local preacher or evangelist shall be tried by the quarterly conference of wrhich he is a member; or, at the option of the quarterly conference, by a committee of not less than five nor more than nine, chosen for this purpose by the quar¬ terly conference, which shall have powTer to reprove, suspend or expel, according to the nature of the case and as righteousness may require. The district elder shall preside at the trial. But if, for any reason, the district elder shall be unable to preside, or, if he shall be personally so re¬ lated to the case to come before the quarterly con¬ ference as to disqualify him for presiding, the bishop 120 CHURCH TRIALS who last presided at the annual conference of which the quarterly conference forms a part shall appoint another elder to preside. f 199. If a charge of gross immorality is brought against a local preacher or evangelist in the interval of the sessions of the quarterly conference, the dis¬ trict elder shall call a committee of not less than five members of the quarterly conference, which shall have power to suspend until the next session of the quarterly conference. 200. 1. Whenever a change of venue is granted, the quarterly conference to which it is removed shall take cognizance of the case and proceed to give it a hearing at its first regular session. 2. If in the change of venue the case is removed to a quarterly conference over which another district elder presides, then such district elder shall preside at the trial. If 201. Any local preacher or evangelist feeling aggrieved at the decision of his case, shall be allowed an appeal to the ensuing session of the annual con¬ ference. VIII. The Trial of An Accused Member 1. Ground of Complaint — Disciplinary Labor 202. The neglect of duties required by the word of God, or indulgence of sinful tempers, words or ac¬ tions, shall subject the person so offending to private reproof by the official members of the church having the oversight of the offender; and, in case of per¬ sistence after proper admonition and labor, to trial and censure, being placed on probation not to exceed six months, or expulsion, as the committee may de¬ termine, provided that no charge of the character re¬ ferred to in this paragraph, including the charge of falsehood, shall be entertained until the party com- ELECTION OF COMMITTEE 121 plained of has been labored with as required by para¬ graph 180. ff 202a. Any member upon whom the penalty of probation or suspension has been duly imposed for the neglect of duties required by the Word of God or “indulgence of sinful tempers, words or actions,” shall vacate all offices, and surrender all credentials held by action of the church. The secretary of the body that issued the credentials in the case shall hold such credentials during the period of penalty. 2. Notification of Time and Place of Trial 203. Any member against whom a charge is brought shall be furnished by the persons bringing the charge, or by the presiding officer of the tribunal to which he is judicially responsible, with a copy of the charges against him, at least fourteen days before the trial, unless the party against whom charges are brought shall demand an earlier trial. He shall also be notified of the place of the election of the commit¬ tee to try the case at least ten days prior to its elec¬ tion. 3. Election of Committee to Try a Case IT 204. When charges are preferred against a member, the preacher who is to preside at the trial shall call a meeting of the society, which shall select a committee of not less than five, nor more than nine, who shall be members of the church, within the bounds of the annual conference, to try the case. No preacher belonging to an annual conference, either on trial or in full membership, shall be eligible to act on this committee. f[ 205. If the society shall refuse to appoint such committee the quarterly conference of the district of whic& the society forms a part shall appoint a 122 CHURCH TRIALS committee to try the case, and if after conviction the member tried appeals to the quarterly conference, no member of said committee shall be eligible to sit as a juror in the trial of the case. 4. Presiding Officer 206. The preacher in charge, when in full mem¬ bership in the conference, shall preside at the trial of members; but the district elder shall, for sufficient reasons, appoint some other traveling preacher in full membership to preside at any particular trial. The district elder shall not preside at such trial. 5. Right of Appeal 207. Any member who has been tried and con¬ victed by a committee, shall be entitled to an appeal to the next quarterly conference, provided he did not voluntarily absent himself from the trial, and pro¬ vided he gave notice of his intention to appeal at the time of his condemnation, or within thirty days after having been notified thereof. 6. Restoration of Membership 208. In case a member who has been expelled from the church shall afterward be proven innocent of the charge upon which he was expelled, he may be restored to full membership in the church by vote of the society from which he was expelled. If 208a, No member of the Free Methodist church will be permitted to exercise any official functions while under penalty by the church for unchristian conduct. This shall not apply to the office of trustee in states wThere the civil law will not permit the sus¬ pension of the office of a trustee for such reasons. CHAPTER II INSOLVENCIES AND THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES If 209. In case of disputes between two or more members of the church, concerning the payment of debts, or other matters not involving personal char¬ acter, which cannot be settled by the parties con¬ cerned, the preacher who has charge of the circuit shall inquire into the circumstances of the case; and shall recommend to the contending parties a reference, consisting of one arbiter chosen by the plaintiff, and another chosen by the defendant, which two ar¬ biters so chosen shall nominate a third; the three arbiters being members of the church. 1f210. But if one of these parties be dissatisfied with the judgment given, such parties may apply to the ensuing quarterly conference for allowance to have a second arbitration appointed; and if the quar¬ terly conference see sufficient reason, they shall grant a second arbitration, in which case each party shall choose two arbiters, and the four arbiters shall choose a fifth, the judgment of the majority of whom shall be final; and any person refusing to abide by such judgment shall be excluded from the church. 1(211. If any member of the church shall refuse, in case of debt or other disputes, to refer the mat¬ ter to arbitration, when recommended by him who has charge of the circuit, or shall enter into a lawsuit with another before such measures are taken, he shall be expelled by a regular trial according to Dis- 123 124 INSOLVENCIES AND DISPUTES cipline, unless the case be of such a nature as to re¬ quire or justify a process of law. 1)212. Whenever a complaint is made against any member of the church for non-payment of debt, when the accounts are adjusted, and the amount is ascer¬ tained, the preacher in charge of the circuit shall call the debtor before a committee of at least three, to show the cause why he does not make payment. The committee shall determine what further time shall be granted him for payment; and in case the debtor re¬ fuses to comply, he shall be expelled; but in such case he may appeal to the quarterly conference, and its decision shall be final; and in case the creditor complains that justice is not done him, he may lay his grievance before the quarterly conference and its decision shall be final; and if the creditor refuses to comply he shall be expelled. In case the debtor re¬ fuses or neglects to comply with the findings of the committee or of the quarterly conference, the creditor may have recourse to the civil courts without affect¬ ing his membership in the church. 1J2I3. To prevent scandal, when any member of the church shall fail in business, or contract debts which he is not able to pay, two or three judicious members of the church shall inspect the accounts, contracts and circumstances of the case of the sup¬ posed delinquent; and if he has behaved dishonestly, or borrowed money without a probability of paying, he shall be expelled. The official body to which the offending member is amenable shall appoint the com¬ mittee of inspection. PART VII TEMPORAL ECONOMY CHAPTERS I. SUPPORT OF EFFECTIVE MINISTERS II. SUPPORT OF SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS AND OTHER CLAIMANTS III. CHURCH PROPERTY IV. CHURCH AND PARSONAGE AID CHAPTER I SUPPORT OF EFFECTIVE MINISTERS I. Support of Bishops ft 214. The salaries of our bishops shall be raised by conference collections; and the executive commit¬ tee shall make the apportionment to the respective conferences and so arrange the time for taking the collections for the same among said conferences that some shall be taken in each quarter of the year. II. Support of District Elders ft 2 1 5. The district elder shall be supported by the district to which he is appointed, as provided for in paragraph 160 (18), each circuit contributing its proportion, as agreed upon in the quarterly confer¬ ence. In case he is elected stationed district elder he shall be supported by the circuit to which he is appointed. III. Support of Preachers in Charge ft 216. 1. It shall be the duty of a committee ap¬ pointed by the official board, who shall be members of the church, to make, after consulting with the preacher in charge, an estimate of the amount neces¬ sary for the support of the preacher or preachers stationed with them; which estimate shall be subject to the action of the official board. 2. The stewards shall provide by such means as 127 128 SUPPORT OF MINISTERS they may devise to meet such expenses, in money, or otherwise. 3. Every class leader shall, at the commencement of the year, ascertain how much each person in his class is able and willing to pay, per wreek, for the support of the preachers, and note the same in his class-book, and diligently see to it that the collections are made weekly, duly credited, and paid over to the steward for the benefit of the preachers. 4. If any deficiency shall arise in the preacher’s salary, the stewards shall circulate among our friends a subscription to assist in such deficiency. 5. The adoption of the budget system for raising finances is recommended to all the societies of the church. The membership is requested to cooperate heartily with this plan, giving not less than one-tenth of the net annual income for the Lord’s work. IV. Support of Evangelists 2 1 7. Evangelists shall depend upon the fields in which they labor for their support, except in case of general evangelists, whose salaries are raised by appropriations from the general missionary board and by collections on their fields of labor. CHAPTER II SUPPORT OF SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS AND OTHER CLAIMANTS 2 1 8. 1. The executive committee shall consti- lute the board of conference claimants. 2. This board shall make a report of all its doings to the general conference. If 2 1 9. The funds of this board shall be known as the conference claimants’ fund, and shall consist of the proceeds accruing from the endowment fund and collections taken by the annual conferences for said claimants’ fund, and fifty per cent annually of the net profits of the business of the Publishing House. If 220. It shall be the duty of every preacher in charge of a circuit to raise annually an amount equal to five cents per member in full relation, which money, together with gifts, bequests and legacies which may be received for this purpose, shall consti¬ tute a perpetual endowment fund, which shall be in¬ vested by the board, the proceeds therefrom to be ap¬ propriated to the conference claimants' fund. If 221. 1. The claimants upon this fund shall be superannuated preachers, superannuated missionaries to foreign lands, and the widows and children of de¬ ceased preachers and missionaries to foreign lands; and no claimant shall receive annually from said fund an amount greater than the regular disciplinary al¬ lowance. 2. In the case of superannuated missionaries who 129 130 SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS have served in foreign lands the amount allowed shall be fixed by the missionary board. fl 222. 1. The allowance for superannuated preach¬ ers shall be ten dollars a year for the first ten years of effective service after having been received into the conference in full membership, and fifteen dol¬ lars a year for the next ten years, making two hun¬ dred fifty dollars the full claim — provided the preach¬ er is without so much of worldly goods as shall be necessary for his support. By “effective service” shall be understood the time actually employed by a preacher as directed by his conference; provided, however, in determining the claim, if a traveling min¬ ister shall take a certificate of location, and later be made effective, the years served previous to his lo¬ cation shall not be counted, except by recommenda¬ tion of his annual conference. 2. The bishops shall make an effort at each an¬ nual conference to increase the superannuated fund. The executive committee is authorized to increase the amount to $300 as soon as the funds will war¬ rant. 3. The allowance granted shall be paid semi-an¬ nually if the treasury will warrant. ff 223. The above provision shall apply to the widows of traveling and superannuated preachers, so long as they shall remain members of the Free Meth¬ odist church, and if the superannuated preacher die, then his full claim shall be paid to his widow at the ensuing annual conference. If a minister should marry after being superannuated, no claim shall be allowed his widow or children, the issue of such mar¬ riage. 224. The board of conference claimants shall be provided with blanks furnished by the Publishing House on which the applicant for a claim on the su¬ perannuate fund shall state in full to the committee SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS 131 on conference claimants and claims the circuits or charges in any of the annual conferences on which he has labored since becoming a member of the confer¬ ence, and shall also make a certified statement of all his worldly resources and of his actual yearly income, and also a statement of his bodily disabilities. ff 225. On the death of a preacher, leaving a child or children without so much of worldly goods as shall be necessary to his, her or their support, the annual conference of which he was a member shall estimate, according to the provision of this chapter, a yearly sum for the subsistence of such orphan child or chil¬ dren, until he, she or they shall have arrived at four¬ teen years of age, the amount of which yearly sum shall be fixed by a committee of the conference at each session in advance. This sum shall in no case exceed thirty-six dollars for each child. if 226. Each annual conference may, at its discre¬ tion, order collections for necessitous cases amongst its claimants or other laborers, and the money so col¬ lected shall be divided by the annual conference as in the exercise of its discretion the necessities of each case may demand. If 227. Each annual conference is earnestly recom¬ mended to provide houses, so far as practicable, for the use of the superannuated preachers or the widows of preachers. If any of our people who have prop¬ erty will do so, let it be deeded to the trustees of the Free Methodist church for the use of superannuated preachers. ff 228. It shall be the duty of the board to esti¬ mate the amount necessary to be raised for the claimants in addition to the endowment fund, and ap¬ portion the same pro rata upon the entire member¬ ship of the church, which apportionment, together with five cents per member for the endowment fund, 132 SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS shall be raised by conference collections not later than the second quarter of the conference year. H 229. We recommend that each annual confer¬ ence employing men or women, or both, as supplies on circuits make suitable provision for their preser¬ vation from financial embarrassment when worn out or broken down in the work. fl 230. It shall be the duty of the board to make a division of its funds based upon the number of claimants, and not to exceed their regular disciplinary allowance, and to forward the amount for each an¬ nual conference to the bishop presiding at such an¬ nual conference, which body shall divide it according to the appropriation of said conference. ||23l. Any annual conference deficient in its col¬ lection shall have the amount of its deficiency de¬ ducted from the amount of its appropriation by the board. || 23 1 a. All preachers having annual or general conference appointments who receive for their ser¬ vices $700.00 or more a year are requested to pay one per cent of said income into the general church treasury, and the funds thus received shall be placed with the permanent endowment fund for superannu¬ ates as provided for in paragraph 220. CHAPTEK III CHURCH PROPERTY i. Trustees — Appointment and Duties ~ 232. The board of trustees for church property shell consist of not less than three nor more than nine persons, at least two-thirds of whom shall be members of the Free Methodist church. If 233. In all cases where the law of states or ter¬ ritories requires a specified mode of election, that mode shall be observed; otherwise such trustees shall be elected at the society meeting, except where a society is not incorporated, and is embraced within a circuit and has become extinct, in which case trustees for such property shall be elected by the an¬ nual circuit meeting. All trustees shall hold their office until their successors shall be elected. If 234. Boards of trustees shall report all business transacted to the annual circuit meeting, and to the society whenever requested to do so by the preacher in charge, the official board or by the society. They shall also make an annual statement of the financial condition of the property in their care. If 235. If a member of our church holding the office of trustee withdraws from the church, is dismissed by letter or expelled, or removes beyond the bounds of the circuit for which he was elected, the society may declare his place in the board vacant, except in states or territories where the law will not allow this to be done. 133 134 CHURCH PROPERTY IT 236. No other denomination shall be permitted to hold stated appointments in any of our churches without the consent of both the preacher in charge and a majority of the trustees. ft 236a. If a district desires to purchase or acquire property, such district shall incorporate. There shall be not less than three nor more than nine trustees elected by the quarterly conference. All trustees shall hold their office till their successors shall be elected. When the district becomes incorporated, the deed shall be made out directly to the district in its corporate name, and not to individual trustees; and in all cases it shall contain the trust clause included in paragraph 238. This does not apply to Canadian property. II. Incorporation and Deeds ft 237. Before any real estate is purchased for either church or parsonage property, let the society consult some reliable lawyer, provide him with a copy of our Discipline for reference, and wherever the law of the state or territory will permit, proceed legally to incorporate the society. Let the articles of in¬ corporation, where the laws will permit, provide that the society shall be subject to the provisions of the Discipline of the Free Methodist Church of North America, and that the secular affairs of the corpora¬ tion shall be managed and controlled by trustees elected according to the provisions of said Discipline. When such incorporation is completed, let the deed be made out directly to the society in its corporate name, and not to individual trustees; and in all cases it shall contain the trust clause included in the next paragraph. ft 238. In states where the law requires church property to be held by trustees, and in states where incorporation can not be secured as provided for in CHURCH PROPERTY 135 the preceding paragraph, let all deeds be made to trustees, naming them and their successors in office, and containing the following trust clause: “In trust for the use and benefit of the membership of the Free Methodist Church of North America, incorporated under the name of ‘Free Methodist General Confer¬ ence of North America,’ subject to the Discipline, usages and ministerial appointments of said church, as from time to time authorized and declared; and, if sold, the proceeds shall be disposed of and used in accordance with the provisions of said Discipline, and of the civil law; and in further trust and confidence that in the houses of worship now erected or that may hereafter be erected on said premises hereby con¬ veyed, the seats shall be forever free; and in further trust and confidence that the said trustees and their successors in office shall permit at all times the preachers who may be duly authorized according to the Discipline of the said Free Methodist church, to hold religious services in said houses of worship ac¬ cording to said Discipline.” 239. No deed shall be accepted which contains a clause by which the land conveyed may revert to the original grantor, his heirs or assigns. 240. All deeds should be immediately recorded, and in all their parts should be made to conform to the laws, usages and forms of the state or territory in which the property may be situated. 241 . In no case shall the church or parsonage property be sold, mortgaged or encumbered for cur¬ rent expenses. ft 242. Whenever it may become necessary or ad¬ visable to dispose of any church property, the trustees may sell and convey the same by first securing the authority of the society for such sale, the approval of the district elder and the consent of the general con¬ ference, or in the intervals of its sessions, of two- 13G CHURCH PROPERTY thirds of the trustees of the general conference; pro¬ vided that in all cases the proceeds of such sale shall be used either for the purchase or improvement of property for the same uses and deeded to the same corporation or trustees; or if not so used, shall be held subject to the order of the annual conference in whose territory such property may be situated. ft 243. Whenever any church property is no longer used for church purposes, and is declared abandoned by the annual conference, it shall be the duty of the trustees, if any remain, to sell such property and turn over the proceeds of such sale to the annual confer¬ ence. If no such trustees remain, it shall be the duty of the trustees of the annual conference to take pos¬ session of such property by any means lawful in the state or territory in which the property may be situ¬ ated. The annual conference may sell and convey such property, the proceeds of such sale to be used as said conference may direct, provided that such trans¬ action shall not be contrary to the civil law. III. Erection of Churches 244. 1. All our houses of worship must be built plain and neat, without steeples, and no more expen¬ sive than is absolutely required for comfort, con¬ venience and stability, and with all seats free. 2. No step shall be taken involving pecuniary lia¬ bility in erecting houses of worship or parsonages, or in purchasing church property of any kind, until two-thirds of the amount necessary to meet the esti¬ mated cost be secured in good, reliable subscriptions. 3. No houses of worship, parsonages or other church buildings shall be erected on leased ground, except on reservations or other places where it is im¬ possible to secure a deed in fee, or without the unani¬ mous consent of the conference board of church ex- CHURCH PROPERTY 137 tension and aid society of the annual conference in whose territory the property is situated. 4. Each annual conference shall appoint a com¬ mittee of not less than three on “Church Buildings and Locations,” and no church shall be built within the bounds of the conference without the approval in writing both of the location and the plan of the build¬ ing and of the title of the property. If any location is selected or a church building constructed without such consent that society shall not receive aid from the church extension and aid society. This commit¬ tee shall satisfy themselves that proper facilities have been made for the accommodation of the Sun¬ day-school before giving their approval. 5. The executive committee is authorized to col¬ lect data touching the questions of heating, lighting, ventilating and comfortable seating for churches, also to secure cuts, drawings and working plans of church buildings which conform to Free Methodist standards, and to make such information and plans available for societies desiring to build; and all societies intending to build are urgently requested to secure such infor¬ mation from the executive committee and to make such use of it as local conditions will permit. CHAPTEE I\ CHURCH AND PARSONAGE AID 1. The General Church and Parsonage Aid Society fl244a. 1. The executive committee shall consti¬ tute the Church and Parsonage Aid Society of the Free Methodist Church of North America. 2. The object of this society shall be to aid churches or societies in rebuilding churches or par¬ sonages which have been destroyed totally or in part. This is to be construed to mean only church build¬ ings and parsonages, not barns, garages, etc. 3. This society shall publish in the official paper of the church an annual report of its work and alsc^ submit a full report quadrennially to the general con¬ ference. II. Conference Church and Parsonage Aid Society 244b. 1. The annual conference church exten¬ sion society shall constitute the conference church and parsonage aid society. 2. The conference church and parsonage aid so¬ ciety shall be auxiliary to the general society and shall pass upon all applications for aid arising from the loss of, or damage to, church or parsonage prop¬ erty within the conference. 3. The conference society shall make a full report of its work to the conference at its annual session. 4. The provisions of this society shall apply also to the district parsonages, and to homes of superan¬ nuated preachers when owned by the annual confer¬ ence. 138 CHURCH AND PARSONAGE AID 139 III. Aid J[ 244c. 1. In case of loss to church or parsonage property it shall be the duty of the official board to appoint three persons who with the district elder of the district and the pastor of the church shall con¬ stitute a board of appraisers. This board shall send the estimate of loss to the conference church and parsonage aid society. 2. The amount of aid given any church or so¬ ciety shall be a sum of money equal to one-half of the estimated net loss, and not more than $1,000 in any one case. 3. All applications for aid shall be in accordance with blank forms furnished by the general society. 4. The adjustment of the claim shall be upon the concurrent action of the general and conference soci¬ eties. IV. Duty of Preachers jj 244d. It shall be the duty of each preacher in charge of a circuit to raise for church and parsonage aid a sum not less than ten cents per annum for each member in full relation and forward the same through the conference treasurer to the treasurer of the gen¬ eral society. V. Reserve Fund U 244e. That a reserve fund may be first created, the collection feature of this plan shall be operative at once. VI. Emergency If 244f. In case of emergency during the quadren- nium 1923-1927, the general society shall have power to make a special call for funds to meet such special need. PART VIII EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS CHAPTERS I. EDUCATION II. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS III. MISSIONARY WORK IV. SOUTH AFRICA MISSION CONFERENCE V. JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE VI. HOME MISSIONS VII. RELATION OF CANADIAN CONFER¬ ENCES VIII. CHURCH EXTENSION IX. CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS X. AGGRESSIVE EVANGELISM XI. THE PUBLISHING HOUSE CHAPTER I EDUCATION I. Board of Education ft 245. 1. The general board of education shall be an incorporated body composed of one bishop, a gen¬ eral educational secretary, and as many other mem¬ bers as there are recognized schools, all elected by the general conference, with due regard to representa¬ tion from each school territory, with the understand¬ ing that the presidents and principals of the educa¬ tional institutions are not eligible for this election. The members representing the various school dis¬ tricts shall be nominated by the several delegations composing the patronizing territory of the respective schools. If for any cause a member of this board shall cease to be a member of the Free Methodist church or moves from the bounds of the patronizing territory of the school he represents, his place on the board shall be declared vacant. Any vacancy on the board of education during the quadrennium shall be filled by the executive committee, but the board of trustees of the school affected may nom¬ inate. 2. The board shall seek to promote the general educational interest of the Free Methodist church. It shall sustain an advisory relation to all our educa¬ tional institutions in matters of buildings, location, general business and policy. It shall administer such funds as may be committed to it from time to time. It shall solicit bequests, money, property and other 143 144 EDUCATION securities to be used in furthering the cause of edu¬ cation in the Free Methodist church. It shall be em¬ powered to acquire, hold and convey real estate and to establish a central bureau of information and com¬ munication for the benefit of teachers and schools. The board by two-thirds vote of its membership and by and with the consent of the trustees of the schools affected thereby, may merge two or more of our educational institutions, or otherwise dispose of any of them, whenever in its judgment the highest educational interests of the denomination will be con¬ served by so doing. The permanent endowment fund comprises all moneys placed in the hands of the board for perma¬ nent investment, and shall be invested in approved securities. The interest therefrom shall be paid over to our educational institutions for their use and bene¬ fit. 3. No educational institution shall be inaugurated in the church without first securing the approval of the board. Neither shall any recognized school of the church change its classification or its location without first securing the consent of the board. 4. Whenever a school desires to change its loca¬ tion, or its classification, it shall notify the secretary of the board of such a desire, at least three months before the next annual meeting of the board. It shall be the duty of the secretary to notify the adjacent schools of such desire so that any objection such schools may have may be presented to the board when such request is heard. 5. The board shall take oversight of our schools so as to eliminate as far as practicable the element of competition and make the secondary schools contrib¬ utory to the recognized colleges. 6. The board shall have supervision of the patron¬ izing territory of each of our schools and shall exer- BOARD OF EDUCATION 145 cise such supervision as to give to each institution proper territory for its prosperity in common with the other schools of its class. But it shall not change the relation of any previously assigned territory without the consent of the annual conference holding jurisdiction over the territory in question. The board shall not give its recognition to any new institution as a college within a radius of one thousand miles of those already recognized or to any academy or sem¬ inary within the radius of five hundred miles of any recognized school. This shall not apply to schools located, one in the United States and the other in Canada. 7. The board shall investigate from time to time the educational standards of the various schools ac¬ credited with the board, and shall require an annual financial report from each institution, according to forms furnished by the board. 8. The officers of the board, except the general secretary, who shall be elected by the general confer¬ ence, shall be elected by the board at its annual meetings. 9. The general secretary shall be the executive officer of the board and shall labor to promote its interests. 10. The board may solicit throughout the entire church, create and administer a fund for the endow¬ ment of Free Methodist schools. 11. The board may adopt by-laws for the regula¬ tion of its affairs not inconsistent with the charter and the rules and regulations of the Free Methodist church. 12. The board shall pay the salary of the general educational secretary as fixed by the executive com¬ mittee of the church, and meet all other of its ex¬ penses, or shall instruct the various educational in¬ stitutions which he may be called upon to serve from 146 EDUCATION time to time, to pay the secretary’s salary during such period. II. Annual Conference Board 246. 1. Each annual conference may organize within its bounds an annual conference board of ed¬ ucation. This board shall consist of at least one and not more than three ministers and an equal number of laymen to be elected by the annual conference. 2. The ministerial members of the conference board of education shall report the acts and affairs of the conference board to the annual conference, and shall transmit the instructions and acts of the an¬ nual conference relative to education and educational institutions to the general board of education. 3. It shall be the duty of the conference board of education, (1) to organize by the election of a president and secretary-treasurer to serve one year or until their successors are elected, and to appoint such committees as are necessary to accomplish its work; (2) to hold at least one meeting each year for the consideration and promotion within the annual conference of the general and local interests of edu¬ cation; (3) to provide for a visitation each year to the educational institutions with which it is associ¬ ated; (4) to present the cause of education to the annual conference, and assist as far as possible in raising money to carry out the instructions of the annual conference. III. Educational Institutions TT 247. 1. The board of education shall recognize as under the auspices of the Free Methodist church, and therefore entitled to be mentioned in its list of educational institutions and to receive aid from its educational funds, all those schools of the church EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 147 which are now known to have the approval of the conferences in which they are respectively located and of such other conferences as may be associated in their management; and also, all such schools as shall be established hereafter in accordance with the foregoing conditions, and with the approval of the majority of the members of the board of education expressed by vote in one of its regular meetings. 2. No educational institution shall be recognized by the board as provided for in the foregoing part of this section, unless it is established and operated in accordance w’ith the conditions herein before men¬ tioned, and unless two-thirds of the members of the board of trustees and of the members of the faculty shall be members of the Free Methodist church, and no new school be approved unless the deed to the property shall contain the “Trust Clause” required by the Discipline for church property. 3. In case any institution be hereafter established contrary to the provisions of the foregoing part of this chapter, the board of education, on formal com¬ plaint made to it by an annual conference or the trustee board of any of our recognized schools inter¬ ested, shall fix the time and place of hearing the authorities of said institution, and other institutions affected thereby, and shall authorize such adjustment of the relations between them as shall seem wise and proper under the circumstances. 4. The schools now and hereby recognized as un¬ der the auspices of the Free Methodist church are: Greenville College. Seattle Pacific College. The Central Academy and College. Wessington Springs Seminary (Junior College). Spring Arbor Seminary (Junior College). The A. M. Chesbrough Seminary (Junior College). Los Angeles Free Methodist Seminary. 148 EDUCATION Evansville Seminary. McKinney Junior College. Lome Park Seminary. IV. Duties of Pastors 248. 1. It shall be the duty of every pastor to preach on Christian education and to take a public collection once a year, in every congregation over which he presides, for general educational purposes. The money so collected shall be paid over to the treasurer of the annual conference auxiliary to the board of education, if such an auxiliary exists; but where there is no such auxiliary, the money shall be forwarded to the treasurer of the annual conference. The first Sunday in November is recommended as the time for taking such collections. This fund shall be administered by the board of education for general educational purposes. 2. It shall also be the duty of every pastor to arrange for every Sunday-school under his charge to observe the first Sunday in June, or, if that da-te is impracticable, the most convenient Sabbath in the month of June, as children’s day, in which one of the regular services shall be a religious sendee for the children. As a part of the service a collection shall be taken for the Sunday-school children’s fund. He shall forward the amount so collected directly to the treasurer of his conference. This fund shall be administered by the board of education and shall be used to aid those young people in the Free Methodist church who feel called of God to some form of Christian work in the Free Method¬ ist church and who need financial help to continue their education in one of the church schools. Aid from the fund shall be granted only in the form of loans under conditions prescribed by the board. How- EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 149 ever the board may by a two-thirds vote cancel loans for certain causes which to them seem sufficient. 3. All our educational institutions are earnestly requested to give free instruction in vocal music each day, so that our young people will be able to start the tunes in public services without instrumen¬ tal aid. 248a. No school shall receive support from church funds nor be allowed to solicit money or stu¬ dents within the denomination which fails to enforce the following regulations: 1. No select fraternal organization shall be per¬ mitted in our schools. 2. The wearing of immodest attire and the use of tobacco in any form are prohibited. 3. Hazing, football and all interscholastic sport contests are forbidden. 4. The rendering of class plays, dramas, and all amateur theatricals in public and private are forbid¬ den. This shall not be construed as forbidding the proper and necessary instruction in education. 5. Student publications shall be censored by the president or principal and major professors or teach¬ ers so that all material inconsistent with our attitude as a church devoted to separation from the wmrld and committed to holiness shall be eliminated therefrom. 6. (1) All instruction in the various departments, particularly in science and the social sciences, shall be positively in harmony with the teachings of the Scriptures as generally interpreted by the Free Meth¬ odist church and set forth in her Discipline, and no text-books or periodicals shall be adopted for class¬ room use, the general influence of whose teachings tends to destroy belief in the Bible as the revealed Word of God or to undermine faith in Christ as the divine Son of God and the all-sufficient Savior of the world. 150 EDUCATION (2) No presidents, principals, professors or teach¬ ers shall be employed or retained in our seminaries or colleges, who are not in harmony with the above rule, and any, who upon evidence of conduct or teach¬ ing to the contrary, shall be subject to dismissal. 7. In case of complaint for the infraction of any of these rules, said complaint shall first be presented to the general educational board, and in case it shall be found valid, said complaint shall be referred to the executive committee, which shall hear all the evi¬ dence, and apply the penalty to any school found guilty until such school shall harmonize with the fore¬ going provisions. Resolved, That the general conference held at Cor¬ unna, Michigan, June, 1923, places itself unreservedly against the preaching and teaching of the modern doctrine of evolution. 248b. 1. All endowment moneys allotted to our colleges and seminaries shall be held for proper and safe investment by the board of education, and the interest accruing therefrom shall be paid annually to the proper representative of each school. The gen¬ eral secretary of the board of education or some other officer of said board shall be designated as the responsible person to be held for the safe invest¬ ment of said endowment funds, and shall be under sufficient bond as per the orders of the general con¬ ference. 2. The permanent endowment fund now held by the board of education, amounting to $100,000. shall be distributed pro rata among the different institu¬ tions as follows: Greenville College 24% Seattle Pacific College 16% Central Academy and College 9% "Wessington Springs Junior College 9% Los Angeles F. M. Seminary 9% EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 151 Evansville Seminary 9% A. M. Chesbrough Seminary 9% Spring Arbor Seminary 9% McKinney Junior College 6% If the McKinney Junior College does not qualify to receive its apportionment within two years, it shall be returned to the general fund. 248c. The East Ontario, West Ontario and Sas¬ katchewan conferences are each allowed to retain moneys raised for educational purposes. See para¬ graph 288 (9). CHAPTER II SUNDAY-SCHOOLS I. General Sunday-school Board IT 249. 1. A board, composed of ten members, called the Sunday-school Board of the Free Method¬ ist Church of North America, shall be appointed by the general conference. 2. This board shall meet at least once each year. It shall promote, and have general charge of, the Sun¬ day-school work of the church. It shall cooperate with the conference Sunday-school secretaries, giving them directions and advice. 3. This board shall organize by electing a presi¬ dent, vice-president, recording secretary and trea¬ surer. 4. This board shall supervise the teacher training work of the church, arranging its courses, deciding upon the necessary text-books, providing for exami¬ nations and granting diplomas to those who complete courses of study. 5. The expenses incurred by the meetings of the general board and the salary of the general secretary and his necessary office help shall be paid by the Sun¬ day-school department of the publishing house. The board shall become responsible for all other expenses which it incurs. 6. The members of the Sunday-school board elected at the general conference of 1923 are as fol¬ lows: W. H. Clark, B. J. Vincent, J. B. Lutz, J. H. 152 SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 153 Whiteman, E. A. Holtwick, G. W. Griffith, G. A. Lees, A. G. Ball, L. E. Cook, J. R. H. Bell. II. Conference Sunday-school Boards 250. 1. Each annual conference shall elect an¬ nually a conference Sunday-school board composed of not less than five members. 2. This board shall organize by electing a presi¬ dent, vice-president, recording secretary, treasurer, and nominate a conference Sunday-school secretary. The conference secretary shall be elected by the an¬ nual conference. 8. It shall be the duty of this board to promote and supervise the Sunday-school work of the confer¬ ence in harmony with the direction and advice of the general conference board. 4. It shall be the duty of this board to encourage the organization and maintenance of a Sunday-school in ev* ry society in the conference, and to establish mission Sunday-schools wherever practicable. 5. The board shall plan for the "holding of a Sun¬ day-school institute, if at all possible, in every so¬ ciety some time during the year, with J:he cooperation of the society where the institutes are to be held. 6. The board shall provide for the holding of a convention on each district during the year, cooperat¬ ing with district elder and district boards, when such boards exist, in planning these conventions. 7. The board shall arrange for the holding of spe¬ cial services or conferences in the interest of Sun¬ day-school work in our general gatherings, such as the general quarterly meetings, camp meetings, and annual conferences, in cooperation with those having charge of such gatherings. 8. The board shall make annual reports to the 154 SUNDAY-SCHOOLS general Sunday-school board and also to the annual conference. 9. It shall be the duty of the conference Sunday- school secretary to administer the work outlined by the conference board. III. District Sunday-school Boards TT 251. District Sunday-school boards may be or¬ ganized wherever desirable and practicable. The dis¬ trict board shall be modeled after the conference board and shall be confined to the district, working always in harmony with the conference board. IV. Conference Sunday-school Secretaries TT 252. Each conference shall elect annually a con¬ ference Sunday-school secretary, or secretaries. It shall be the duty of the conference Sunday-school secretary: 1. To promote the Sunday-school work in the ter¬ ritory under his jurisdiction. . • 2. To see that a Sunday-school is organized and maintained in each society in his conference, and to establish mission Sunday-schools. 3. To see that a Sunday-school convention is held on each district during the year and to assist in such conventions, if possible. 4. To hold or arrange for the holding of an insti¬ tute on each circuit, and if possible at each society some time during the year. 5. As often as possible to arrange for the hold¬ ing of a special service for the promotion of Sunday- school interests at our general gatherings, such as district meetings, camp meetings and conferences. 6. To cooperate with the general Sunday-school board, carrying out its suggestions and making annual reports to the board. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 155 7. To extend the circulation of our Sunday-school literature. 8. To present a report to the annual conference. V. Duties of Pastors 253. For the moral and religious instruction of the children it shall be the special duty of preachers having charge of circuits, with the aid of the other preachers : 1. To form Sunday-schools in all our congrega¬ tions where ten children can be collected for that pur¬ pose, and to engage the cooperation of as many of our members as they can; to visit the schools as often as practicable; to preach on the subject of Sunday- schools and religious instruction in each congregation at least once during the year; to form Bible classes wherever they can for the instruction of the larger children and youth and where they cannot superin¬ tend them personally, to see that suitable teachers are provided for that purpose; to establish and main¬ tain mission Sunday-schools wherever there is an opening, and in such schools members of the church shall be employed as officers and teachers so far as practicable. 2. To enforce faithfully upon parents and Sunday- school teachers the great importance of instructing children in the doctrines and duties of our holy re¬ ligion; to preach to the children, and to see that the church Catechism is taught them either in Sunday- school or in special meetings appointed for that pur¬ pose. 3. To pay special attention to the children, speak¬ ing to them personally and kindly upon the subject of experimental and practical godliness, according to their capacity, pray earnestly for them, and diligently instruct and exhort all parents to dedicate their chil- 156 SUNDAY-SCHOOLS dren to the Lord, in baptism, as early as convenient. 4. He shall lay before each session of the quar¬ terly conference, to be entered on its journal, the number and state of the Sunday-schools and Bible classes in his charge, and the extent to which he has preached to the children and catechised them, and make the required report on Sunday-schools to his annual conference. In reporting to the quarterly and annual conferences the total membership of the Sun¬ day-schools, he shall include, under separate heads, the home and cradle roll departments. 5. He shall arrange for the Sunday-schools under his charge to observe children’s day in June. VI. Local Sunday-school Board 254. 1. A Sunday-school board meeting shall be held in each society once a month whenever prac¬ ticable, composed of the pastors, officers, teachers and department superintendents of the Sunday- school. All officers and teachers regularly elected by the Sunday-school board shall be members of the board and hold office until their successors are elected. 2. The officers of this Sunday-school board shall be a president, vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer, who shall be elected at the beginning of each conference year. 3. It shall be the duty of the Sunday-school board to elect one or more assistant superintendents, who also shall be elected at the beginning of each confer¬ ence year. The teachers shall be elected by the Sun¬ day-school board. The superintendent may nominate. 4. In the organization of new schools, the preach¬ er or preachers in charge and the superintendent shall appoint the teachers, and these with the preacher or SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 157 preachers in charge and the superintendent shall con¬ stitute the Sunday-school board at its beginning. 5. It shall be the duty of this board to decide upon the Sunday-school literature and to attend to all other business connected with the Sunday-school not other¬ wise provided for in the Discipline. 6. It shall be the duty of the board to provide for a proper Christmas service, but in no case shall Christmas trees be allowed. This board may also provide for proper outings for the Sunday-school, with the distinct understanding that nothing shall be permitted out of harmony with the spirit and princi¬ ples of the Free Methodist Discipline. 7. The regular meetings of the board shall be re¬ garded as the workers’ conference, and shall observe the following order: ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Devotional exercises. 2. Calling of the roll. 3. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting. 4. Election of officers for the year — a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. (This ap¬ plies to the first meeting of the conference year only.) 5. Quarterly report of the secretary of the Sun¬ day-school. 6. Report of the treasurer. 7. Report of superintendent. 8. Report of department superintendents. 9. Reports of teachers upon the condition of their respective classes. 10. Is the school properly graded? 11. Election of teachers. (This applies to the first meeting of the conference year only.) 12. Election of teachers to fill vacancies. 13. Consideration of the Sunday-school literature. 358 SUNDAY-SCHOOLS 14. Reports of committees. 15. Appointment of committees. 1G. Unfinished business. 17. New business. IS. Reading of the minutes. 19. Adjournment. VII. Sunday-school Superintendent If 255. The superintendent of the Sunday-school shall be elected by ballot at a society meeting. The preacher in charge may nominate. See paragraphs 128 (1), 180 (3) and 132 (3). VIII. Offerings for Sunday-school Work If 256. It shall be the duty of each Sunday-school to foi'ward each quarter one tithe of the regular offerings to the treasurer of the conference Sunday- school board, who will retain three-fourths of this amount for the annual conference Sunday-school work, and forward one-fourth to the treasurer of the general Sunday-school board to be used in general Sunday-school promotion work throughout the de¬ nomination. CHAPTER III MISSIONARY WORK GENERAL MISSIONARY BOARD !. Name and Objects 257. The name of this board is the General Missionary Board of the Free Methodist Church of North America. The objects for which this corpora¬ tion is formed are: 1. To collect, receive, hold, expend, pay out or dispose of any property, real or personal, or of what¬ ever nature and wherever situate as allowed by law, that may be given, obtained or held in aid of the gen¬ eral missionary work of the Free Methodist church. 2. To acquire by purchase, gifts or devise, real estate or personal property in the Fnited States of North America, or in foreign lands, and to hold or sell or convey the same as in its judgment may be necessary in the prosecution of its missionary work. II. Membership — Officers — Duties ft 258. 1. The general missionary board shall be composed of the bishops, the president of the wo¬ man’s missionary society, and three other members of said society elected by the general society at its quadrennial meeting; one traveling elder and one lay¬ man from each of the general conference missionary districts, and a secretary to be elected by ballot by 159 160 GENERAL MISSIONARY BOARD the general conference. The president of the mis¬ sionary board shall be elected from their own num¬ ber. The treasurer shall be elected by the board and may be chosen from outside of its members. This board shall continue in office until the close of the next session of the general conference and until others shall be elected in their places. It shall have an annual meeting, a personal notice of which, signed by the president and secretary, shall be sent to each member of the board three weeks previous to the meeting and shall appear in two issues of the “Free Methodist.” 2. If from any cause a member of this board shall cease to be a member of the Free Methodist church, or shall remove from the bounds of the district that he represents, his place upon the board shall be de¬ clared vacant. Vacancies shall be filled by the board from the districts where the vacancy occurs, except¬ ing the office of the secretary, which vacancy shall be filled by the executive committee. 3. It shall be the duty of this board to act as an advisory committee to its directors. 259. It shall be the duty of the board to take charge of all moneys raised for general, foreign and home missionary work, and appropriate the same to the purposes for which they were contributed. If 260. Titles to land purchased for missions in foreign lands shall be in the name of the General Mis¬ sionary Board of the Free Methodist Church of North America, and deeded to trustees elected by the gen¬ eral missionary board, the tenure of whose office shall be subject to said board. FJ26I. 1. The missionary board shall publish in the official organ of the church quarterly reports of all receipts, and make full reports to each annual conference, of receipts for the preceding year; and to the general conference at its regular sessions of GENERAL MISSIONARY BOARD 161 all moneys received and disbursed by it, and of the results of such appropriations so far as can be as¬ certained. 2. The president of the board shall, with the con¬ sent of a majority of its members, make a general call from time to time, for special collections, to pro¬ vide funds for any contingency that may arise in the mission field. III. General Conference Missionary Districts 262. The various annual conferences shall be grouped in six general conference missionary dis¬ tricts, as follows: District No. 1— -Genesee, Oil City, East Ontario and West Ontario. No. 2 — New York, Susquehanna, Pittsburgh and Ohio. No. 3 — East Michigan, North Michigan, Michigan and North In¬ diana. No. 4 — Wabash, Central Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Southern Missouri, Texas, East Texas, Louisiana and Georgia and Florida. No. 5 — Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, North Minnesota, Minnesota and Northern Iowa, Iowa, West Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Platte River, Nebraska and West Kansas. No. 6 — ■ Columbia River, Washington, Oregon, Southern Ore¬ gon, California, Southern California, Colorado, Al¬ berta and Saskatchewan. IV. Members of the General Missionary Board ft 263. Members of the general missionary board elected at the general conference of 1923 are as fol¬ lows: Bishops — Walter A. Sellew, William Pearce, William H. Clark, David S. Warner. General secre¬ tary — W. B. Olmstead. Representing District No. 1 — J. M. Critchlow, Grant C. Woods. No. 2 — R. A. Zahniser, W. F. Guffey. No. 3 — H. Montgomery, Pe¬ ter White. No. 4 — C. E. Harroun, A. C. Enderlin. No. 5 — A. L. Whitcomb, A. W. Gillingham. No. 6 — 162 GENERAL MISSIONARY BOARD W. W. Vinson, A. Verkuyl. The Woman’s Mission¬ ary Society — Mary L. Coleman, president, Carrie T. Burritt, Emma L. Hogue, Agnes Benn. V. Directors of the General Missionary Board ft 264. 1. At the first meeting of the general mis¬ sionary board subsequent to each session of the gen¬ eral conference, said board shall elect by ballot from its members seven persons, who shall constitute a board of directors. One of these at least shall be a member of the Woman’s Missionary Society, and not more than two of these shall be bishops. 2. The following named persons were duly elected as directors of the general missionary board at the annual meeting of the said board held in Corunna, Michigan, in June, 1923: Walter A. Sellew, William Pearce, William B. Olmstead, John M. Critchlow, W. W. Vinson, P. White, Mary L. Coleman. The board of directors shall be elected annually. 3. It shall be the duty of the directors of the board to take charge of all moneys raised for general, foreign and home missionary work, and appropriate the same to the purposes for which they were con¬ tributed. 4. The directors of the board shall accept and ap¬ point missionaries to their respective fields, order the expenditure of funds upon each field, make appro¬ priations from the contingent fund to meet exigencies as they may arise from time to time, and perform all the duties of the board and such other work as is con¬ templated in the articles of incorporation. They shall have authority to authorize the ordination of a mis¬ sionary candidate if they judge it expedient. VI. Secretary fl265. The secretary of the general missionary board shall keep the records of the board, receive and GENERAL MISSIONARY BOARD 163 answer all correspondence relating to the missionary work of the church, and pay over to the treasurer of the board all moneys received by him, taking his re¬ ceipt for the same. He shall also have charge of the missionary interests of the church, subject to the or¬ ders and under direction of the directors of the board, excepting in some sudden emergency, when he may be at liberty to act without waiting for orders from the directors, provided that such action taken shall be subject to the approval or disapproval of the board of directors. He may with the consent of the presi¬ dent of the board of directors and a majority of the directors make general calls from time to time for special collections or for donations for some partic¬ ular purpose in order to provide for contingencies that may arise on the mission fields. He shall make yearly, or whenever requested by the board of di¬ rectors of the board, a full and detailed report to the board of all business pertaining to both the mission¬ aries and the mission stations. VII. Treasurer ft 266. The treasurer shall receive all moneys ac¬ cruing to foreign, general and home missions by col¬ lections, donations, bequests or otherwise, giving re¬ ceipts for the same, and shall pay over, upon order of the secretary, whatever sums have been appropriated by the directors of the board. He shall deposit all funds in some national bank or trust company, se¬ lected by the board, in the name of the General Mis¬ sionary Board of the Free Methodist Church of North America, to be drawn only upon the order of the secretary and treasurer. VIII. Duties of Preachers in Charge ft 267. 1. It shall be the duty of each preacher in charge of a circuit to hold one or more missionary 164 GENERAL MISSIONARY BOARD meetings on his circuit during the year, and take a collection and circulate a subscription for the support of foreign and home missions. 2. It shall also be his duty to raise for general missions, by public collections or otherwise, a sum not less than eighteen cents per annum, for each mem¬ ber in full relation, to be forwarded to the treasurer of the general missionary board. IX. Annual Conference Missionary Funds 268. Each annual conference may, from time to time, by vote, appropriate of its mission funds such sums to the general missionary board as in its judg¬ ment may be deemed proper. Each annual confer¬ ence may, by such means as it shall judge best, raise funds for the support of missions within its bounds. CHAPTEE IV SOUTH AFRICA MISSION CONFERENCE I. A Mission Conference Jf 270. The South Africa conference shall be a mission conference under the control of the general missionary board and all its doings shall be subject to the approval of the missionary board. II. Membership ft 271. There shall be three classes of membership as follows: 1. Ministerial Members — -Missionaries who are members in full relation of any conference in Amer¬ ica, and who may have their certificates of standing at the time of the organization of this conference, shall be members of this conference in full relation, as well as those who may be regularly admitted here¬ after, either by certificates of standing, or from the condition of preachers on trial. Native preachers may be received into the conference and ordained, ac¬ cording to the provisions of the discipline, paragraphs 274, 150, 151, 155, 156. 2. Acting Missionary Members- — All missionaries on the field within the bounds of the conference, who hold credentials from the missionary board, and who shall have been on the field two years, and have passed a satisfactory examination in the required course of study, shall be members of the conference. 3. Native Lay Members— -These shall be selected 165 166 SOUTH AFRICA MISSION CONFERENCE by their respective circuits, according to the Disci¬ pline. Each charge, circuit or station shall be enti¬ tled to one delegate, and whenever there shall be more than two missionaries upon any charge, circuit or station, entitled to a vote in the conference, then that charge, circuit or station shall be entitled to an additional delegate. When there are two missionaries on a station who are entitled to a vote in the confer¬ ence, if the native church contributes to the evangel¬ ist’s support up to the amount of £24 0 0a year, then that church shall be entitled to an additional delegate in the annual conference. v _ _ „ III. Prerogatives Restricted ft 272. 1. This conference shall not elect delegates to the general conference or vote on constitutional changes. 2. The three classes of members above specified shall sit and vote as one body on all matters coming up before the conference, according to the Discipline, with the exception of the reserved subjects which shall be considered in the missionaries’ meeting ac¬ cording to paragraph 273. IV. The Missionaries’ Meeting IT 273. 1. In connection with and as a part of the conference session there shall be a meeting of the missionaries who shall sit and vote apart from the conference. This meeting shall be known as ‘‘The Missionaries’ Meeting.” 2. All missionaries within the bounds of the con¬ ference, who hold credentials from the board and who have been on the field the two years required by the rules shall be members of the missionaries’ meeting. Any missionary, however, who shall have been reg¬ ularly appointed to the charge of a mission station, SOUTH AFRICA MISSION CONFERENCE 167 or of a mission school, or is a member of the annual conference in full relation, before the expiration of the two years above referred to, shall be a member of this meeting after having been one year on the field, and after having passed the first year's exam¬ ination in the study of the language. 4. The missionaries’ meeting shall consider the following reserved subjects: (1) It shall elect district elders, according to the Discipline. (2) It shall appoint through its stationing com¬ mittee all missionaries laboring within the bounds of the conference, including those in school and farm and medical work, to their respective fields. It shall also appoint the native pastors and evangelists to their fields of labor. All appointments shall be made by a stationing committee consisting of the district elders and an equal number of laymen, elected by the missionaries’ meeting. The president of the confer¬ ence shall be chairman of the stationing committee. However, this order of procedure may be changed by the missionary board should it deem best at any time to do so. (3) It shall pass the character of ministerial or acting missionary members of the conference, and shall investigate any questions or complaints affecting the character of ministerial or acting missionary members of the conference, according to the rules. (4) It shall make all requests for appropriations from the general missionary board, according to the rules, and, with the approval of the missionary secre¬ tary, it shall apply on the field moneys appropriated by the board. 274. 1. The question of receiving any one on trial or in full relation into the conference, or of electing to deacon’s or elder’s orders shall not be brought before the conference unless the case of each 168 SOUTH AFRICA MISSION CONFERENCE individual has been first considered by the mission¬ aries’ meeting and that body has by a majority vote recommended that the person be so received or elected. 2. Acting missionary members may be elected to orders and ordained after meeting the requirements of each class, according to paragraphs 120, 155, 156, of the Discipline. V. The Executive Committee TT 275. 1. The executive committee shall consist of the president and secretary and the district elders or superintendents of the conference. The president and secretary shall be chairman and secretary, re¬ spectively, of the executive committee. 2. The executive committee shall have power dur¬ ing the interim of the annual missionaries’ meeting to transact any business that would ordinarily come before the missionaries’ meeting. When in the judg¬ ment of a majority of the committee it is deemed ad¬ visable, a special meeting of the missionaries may be called. Timely notice of such special meeting shall be given and members should endeavor to be present. See paragraph 434. CHAPTER V JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE I. Membership fl 276. There shall be three classes of membership as follows: 1. Ministerial Members: (1) Missionaries and Japanese preachers holding membership in good standing in conferences in Amer¬ ica, and those holding credentials as elders and dea¬ cons in Japan, shall on presentation of their certif¬ icates of standing or parchments become charter members of the conference. (2) Subsequent to organization, Japanese minis¬ terial members shall be received into conference membership in the manner prescribed by the Disci¬ pline. See paragraphs 150-152. (3) Subsequent to organization, foreign mission¬ aries eligible to membership in this conference, shall have been on the field two years and shall have com¬ pleted the required course of language study as pre¬ scribed by the mission. 2. Lay Members: Lay members shall be elected according to the Dis¬ cipline. See Par. 106, 120. 3. Special Honorary Members: All missionaries in Japan who are members of the mission in full relation and who are not eligible to conference membership shall be known as special honorary members. 169 170 JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE II. Churches TT 277. 1. Classification of Churches: (1) Self-supporting Churches. A self-supporting church is one which pays all of its current expenses and both the salary of its pastor and any other worker. (2) Aided Churches: An aided church is one which pays all of its current expenses, including the rent, and not less than one-half of the pastor's or worker's salary. (3) Probationary Churches: A probationary church is one which pays all current expenses, in¬ cluding the rent, and not less than one-fourth of the pastor's or worker's salary. (4) Mission Churches: A mission church is one which has not reached the status of a probationary church. 2. Relation of Churches to the Conference: (1) Self-supporting churches shall be under the control of the conference and shall enjoy all the priv¬ ileges of full relationship therein. See Par. 106. (2) Aided churches shall enjoy the same priv¬ ileges as self-supporting churches. But if within a period of five years said aided churches do not reach the status of self-supporting churches, they shall for¬ feit their right to a vote in the conference. (3) Probationary churches shall be under the control of the conference and shall be entitled to non¬ voting lay representation in the conference; such lay delegates being designated as lay advisory delegates. But if within a period of three years said probation¬ ary churches do not attain to the status of aided churches, they shall forfeit their representation in the conference. (4) Mission churches and stations shall be under the control of the mission and shall have no right to JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE 171 lay representation in the conference. On attaining to the status of a probationary church, a mission church shall, on a written application signed by the chair¬ man and secretary of the official board and the mis¬ sionary in charge, be placed under the control of the conference. III. Stationing Committee TC 278. 1. The district elders and an equal num¬ ber of lay members to be elected by ballot the first day of the session, together with the president of the conference and one foreign missionary elected by the mission, shall constitute a stationing committee, of which the president shall be chairman, and have a casting vote. 2. This committee shall appoint pastors and workers to such churches as are under the jurisdic¬ tion of the conference. All other pastors and work¬ ers shall be stationed by the mission. Pastors and workers shall be appointed each year to their fields of labor and may be returned to the same circuit whenever in the judgment of the stationing commit¬ tee the needs of the work require it. IV. Advisory Board 279. 1. There shall be an advisory board con¬ sisting of the executive committee of the mission and an equal number of Japanese elders elected by the conference. 2. The advisory board shall have the right to make suggestions with respect to the appointment of missionaries by the mission, and the location of new missions. 3. This board shall act on all matters within its jurisdiction as specified elsewhere and shall also act upon all matters referred to it by the conference and 172 JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE the mission unless such matters shall not be consid¬ ered within its jurisdiction. V. Finances If 280. 1. Funds shall be classified under three heads as follows: (1) Funds appropriated by the missionary board for the missionaries and their work, which shall be controlled by the mission. (2) Funds raised by the conference and by the self-supporting churches for their work which shall be under their respective control. (3) Funds raised by the aided and probationary churches for their work, which shall be controlled by them except in the instance of the salaries of the pas¬ tors and workers. 2. Salaries of pastors and workers: (1) Salaries of pastors and workers serving self- supporting churches shall be determined according to the Discipline, Par. 216. (2) Salaries of pastors and workers serving aided and probationary churches shall be determined by the advisory board, subject to the approval of the mission. (3) Salaries of pastors and workers serving mis¬ sion churches and stations shall be determined by the mission. 3. All requests for funds from the missionary board shall be made through the mission. 4. A pastor or worker serving an aided or proba¬ tionary church shall in case of special financial need, present his need to the official board of the church which he is serving (and not to the mission) and whatever amount is considered necessary and is agreed to by the advisory board shall be paid by the local church and the mission in proportion to the JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE 173 amount of the pastor’s or worker’s salary assumed by each. 5. Expenses to the annual conference: (1) Expenses of pastors, workers and delegates from all self-supporting, aided, and probationary churches to the annual conference shall be defrayed by the local societies which they represent, or by a fund created by the conference for such purpose. (2) Necessary expenses of pastors and workers from mission churches or stations may be paid by the mission. It is hoped, however, that such ex¬ penses will be provided from other sources. VI. Church Property ft 281. 1. All church and parsonage property in which the missionary board has funds invested shall be held in the name of the Shadan (Association of Missionaries) of the Japan Free Methodist Mission, and may be transferred or disposed of only by the permission of said board and on such terms as it may see fit to require. 2. Church and parsonage property toward which the Japanese churches only have contributed funds, though held in trust by the Shadan, shall not be dis¬ posed of without duly consulting said churches, and upon terms to which they give their consent. 3. All expenses for repairs on church and parson¬ age property and all insurance on such property, whether purchased by missionary board funds wholly or in part, shall be paid by the local church having the use of the property; and it shall be the duty of the official board to notify the directors of the Shadan of all repairs made and the cost of the same. VII. Prerogatives Restricted ft 282. 1. This conference may elect delegates to the genera] conference, provided it becomes respon- 174 JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE sible for the transportation expenses thus incurred. 2. This conference shall not vote on constitu¬ tional changes. See paragraph 98. VIII. The Mission ft 283. 1. The mission shall be composed of for¬ eign missionaries who hold credentials from the mis¬ sionary board, the right of membership being sub¬ ject to the conditions stated in the “Rules for Mis¬ sionaries,” and one Japanese elder who shall be elected by the conference. 2. The work of the mission shall be administered by an executive committee composed of three of its members who may be nominated by the mission and who shall be elected by the missionary board. 3. The territory in which the mission is working shall be divided into districts by the mission. A mis¬ sionary shall be placed in charge of each district, and when the needs of the work require it the same mis¬ sionary may serve two or more districts. New work may be opened up by the mission as workers and means are provided. 4. The theological school shall be under the con¬ trol of the mission and shall be administered by the mission in cooperation with the conference. 5. The mission shall be under the control of the general missionary board and all its doings shall be subject to the approval of the missionary board. 6. The mission shall elect one of its members to act on the stationing committee. IX. Appeals and Amendments ft 284. 1. All appeals made from the decisions and rulings of the president of the conference shall be presented to the missionary board for final action. 2. With the exception of paragraph 283 these ar- JAPAN MISSION CONFERENCE 175 tides may be amended by the conference, subject to the sanction of the mission and the missionary board. 3. Paragraph 283 may be amended by the mission with the sanction of the missionary board, provided such amendment or amendments do not in any way conflict with the rights or privileges of the confer¬ ence, in which case the consent of the conference must also be obtained. CHAPTEE VI HOME MISSIONS I. Definition and Organization U 285. 1. All work carried on by the general mis¬ sionary board on the North American continent among the foreign speaking people and others not cared for by our regular pastors shall be denominated home mission work. 2. Societies that have been organized or may be organized among these peoples shall be termed “Home Mission Societies.” Persons being received into such societies shall be received on probation and into full membership on the same conditions as are our regular members. 3. The home mission societies shall have the same general organization and power, both as to districts and circuits and local societies, as obtains in the reg¬ ular church organization. The manner of election of all officers shall be subject to the approval of the gen¬ eral missionary secretary. 4. The general missionary board shall have com¬ plete administrative authority over these societies and they shall in no way be subject to the appoint¬ ment of or control by an annual conference. 5. The title to all church property acquired with¬ in the bounds of the United States shall be vested in the general missionary board. 6. Where two or more societies exist and, where practicable, in the judgment of the general mission- 176 HOME MISSIONS 177 ary secretary, they may be formed into “home mis¬ sion districts.” II. Relation to Annual Conference fl 286. 1. All home mission societies which pay their own operating expenses, except the salary of the pastors and other workers, shall be entitled to non-voting lay representation in the annual confer¬ ence within the bounds of which such societies are located. 2. These societies shall be reported to such con¬ ference as “home mission societies,” and by a foot note on the statistical report it shall be indicated that conference claims are not assessed against them. 3. Preachers engaged in this work shall be ame¬ nable to their annual conferences for their Christian character and to the general missionary board for their official conduct. 4. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the Japanese society at Berkeley, California. III. Duties of Pastors 287. 1. It shall be the duty of each preacher in charge of a circuit or society throughout the church to preach on home missions once a year and take an offering for this purpose. CHAPTER VII RELATION OF CANADIAN CONFERENCES ft 288. 1. There shall be a Canadian executive board to be elected by the Canadian conferences on the following basis, namely, each conference shall elect by ballot one elder and one layman to serve dur¬ ing the ensuing quadrennium. If any member so elected shall cease to be a member of the Free Meth¬ odist conference or church, or shall remove from the bounds of the conference of which or in which he is a member, his place on said board shall automatically become vacant. Any vacancy occurring during the interval of an annual conference may be filled by the executive board until the ensuing session of the an¬ nual conference, when such vacancy shall be filled in the regular way. 2. The life of the Canadian provisional executive board shall be extended until the permanent board shall be elected by the coming sessions of the several annual conferences and the ministerial representative of the West Ontario conference shall act as provi¬ sional secretary until the permanent board shall be elected. 3. The Canadian executive board shall be per¬ mitted to retain and to administer all assessed claims ordered by the general conference except bishops’ salaries and the delegates’ expenses and entertain¬ ment fund connected with the general conference. 4. The Free Methodist church in- the United States shall assume payment for all claimants prow receiving appropriations from the superannuate fund in the East Ontario, West Ontario and Saskatchewan 178 RELATION OF CANADIAN CONFERENCES 179 conferences, and they shall also assume and pay the claims of the first two preachers who may hereafter be made claimants by either of the conferences above mentioned, and the Canadian executive board shall assume the responsibility for all claimants thereafter. 5. Any preacher who may from this date trans¬ fer from either the East Ontario, the West Ontario or Saskatchewan conferences to any of the confer¬ ences in the United States, or vice versa, shall when they become claimants receive their apportionments from the claimants’ fund of the respective treasuries according to the years of service in each country. 6. The treasurer of, the church fund shall refund to the treasurer of the Canadian executive board, an amount equal to all that has been raised by the East Ontario, West Ontario and Saskatchewan conferences for the permanent fund. 7. The Canadian executive board shall receive an¬ nually according to the business furnished from with¬ in the bounds of the East Ontario, West Ontario and Saskatchewan conferences, a proportionate amount of the profits accruing from the business of the Free Methodist Publishing House. 8. The Canadian executive board shall relinquish any further claim on the funds raised in the United States for conference claimants, general missions, church extension, permanent fund and church and parsonage aid. 9. The East Ontario, West Ontario and Sas¬ katchewan conferences shall be permitted to retain all moneys raised within the bounds of these respect¬ ive conferences for educational purposes, and for the special stewardship fund, to be administered as each conference shall direct. 10. The Alberta conference, by vote of said con¬ ference, is not subject to the provisions of any of the above, except No. 1 and 2. CHAPTER VIII CHURCH EXTENSION I. The General Church Extension Society ft 289. 1. The executive committee shall constitute The Church Extension Society of the Free Methodist Church of North America.* 2. The object of this society shall be to aid needy churches or societies by donations or loans for the erection of churches. 3. This society shall publish in the official paper of the church an annual report of its work, and also sub¬ mit a full report quadrennially to the general confer¬ ence. II. Conference Church Extension and Aid Society ft 290. 1. Each annual conference shall appoint a society of five members which shall constitute a con¬ ference church extension and aid society, the officers of which shall be a president, secretary and treasurer. 2. The conference church extension and aid so¬ ciety shall be auxiliary to the general society, and shall, under its direction, have charge of all the work of the church extension and aid society within its bounds. 3. The treasurer of the conference society shall, at least once in three months, remit all funds in his hands to the treasurer of the general society. * The corporate name of this board. 180 CHURCH EXTENSION 181 4. It shall be the duty of the conference society to arrange for a collection to be taken at each ap¬ pointment on every circuit for church extension, to be forwarded to the treasurer of the church extension society. An amount equal to at least twelve cents per member is to be raised for this fund. 5. The conference »ociety shall make a full report of its work to the conference at its annual session. 6. All applications for aid shall be first submitted to the conference society, and said society shall cer¬ tify its action thereon to the general society; and aid shall be granted only by the concurrent action of the general society and the conference society. 7. All such applications for aid shall be in ac¬ cordance with blank forms furnished by the general society, and shall set forth: (1) The number of members of the Free Method¬ ist society, and the size of the congregation. (2) The fact that the board of trustees is legally incorporated. (3) The size and valuation of the site, the valid¬ ity of the title, and whether deeded to the Free Meth¬ odist church. (4) A description of the building for which aid is asked. (5) The estimated cost. (6) The amount of available and reliable means secured. (7) What provisions have been made for suitable accommodations for the Sunday-school? (8) Any other information that the general so¬ ciety may require. 8. In case a church which has received aid from the funds of the church extension and aid society shall be sold, it shall pay back to this society an amount equal to that received as aid, unless it be used in the same circuit and for the same purpose. CHAPTER IX CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS Board of Charities and Benevolences IT 29 1 . For the encouragement and regulation of works of charity and benevolence within the Free Methodist church, there shall be a board known as The Board of Charities and Benevolences of the Free Methodist Church of North America. 1. This board shall be composed of the members of the general missionary board, and the superin¬ tendents of the Gerry Homes and of the Woodstock Homes, and of the Life Line Orphanage. 2. It shall be the duty of the board of charities and benevolences to inspect the charitable and benev¬ olent institutions operating in and soliciting financial support from the Free Methodist church to determine their financial standing, their plan of operation, and the character and amount of work done, and to de¬ termine whether the institution inspected shall re¬ ceive the indorsement of the church as an accredited institution. 3. The board of charities and benevolences shall have power to regulate the establishment of charita¬ ble and benevolent institutions, not for the purpose of restricting works of charity and benevolence in the church, but to so limit the multiplication of charitable or benevolent institutions as to avoid their becoming so numerous as to jeopardize the perpetuity and suc¬ cess of those already in the field. 182 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS 183 4. No charitable or benevolent institution of the same character shall be established in the patronizing territory of any such institution already established without first obtaining consent of the board of chari¬ ties and benevolences. 5. All accredited institutions shall report annually to the board of charities and benevolences as to their financial condition, the work done, and the general plan and scope of their wcfrk. 6. The accredited institutions of the Free Meth¬ odist church are: The Gerry Homes, at Gerry, New York; the Chicago Industrial Home for Children, and the Old People’s Rest Home, both with headquarters in Chicago, and with farm and buildings at Wood- stock, Illinois; the Life Line Orphanage at Kansas City, Kansas; the Missions of Redeeming Love at Tulsa, Oklahoma; St. Louis, Missouri; Denver, Colo¬ rado; the Home of Redeeming Love at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and all others established by the Mission of Redeeming Love Association. 7. It shall be the duty of each pastor to preach a sermon at least once a year at each appointment on his charge where classes are formed, on the subject of practical charity, and take a collection for the poor; the proceeds of this collection to be used for the relief of the poor on the circuit where the collec¬ tion is taken if there be any needing such help — if not, it shall then be sent to some accredited institu¬ tion in whose patronizing territory the collection is taken. 8. Each annual conference shall at its annual ses¬ sion appoint among its regular committees, a com¬ mittee on charities. CHAPTER X AGGRESSIVE EVANGELISM I. The General Conference Board 292. 1. The four general conference evangel¬ ists with *-he bishops of the church shall compose a general conference board of aggressive evangelism and shall meet at least once each year to plan for the evangelistic work of the church and to do such other business as may be necessary to successfully carry on the work. 2. The conferences shall be divided into four evan¬ gelistic districts, and one evangelist shall be placed on each district, their appointment to be made by the missionary board. 3. The general conference evangelists shall labor one half their time on weaker circuits and in open¬ ing new work. They shall work in conjunction with the annual conference evangelistic boards on their dis¬ tricts in holding evangelistic conventions, raising funds for evangelistic work, employing other evangel¬ ists, and organizing bands for evangelistic work. The general conference evangelists are expected to con¬ fine their evangelistic labors within the bounds of the districts to which they are appointed. 4. This board shall have authority to raise funds, employ evangelists, band workers and helpers and to carry on aggressive evangelism throughout the church. 5. The evangelistic districts are as follows: (a) Pacific Coast District: Conferences — Alber¬ ts! AGGRESSIVE EVANGELISM 185 ta, Saskatchewan. Washington, Oregon, Southern Oregon, California, Southern California, Columbia River. A. L. Whitcomb, evangelist. (b) Western District: Conferences — North Da¬ kota, South Dakota, Colorado, North Minnesota. Min¬ nesota and Northern Iowa, Kansas, West Kansas. Platte River, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, East Texas. E. Ballenger, evangelist. (c) Central District: Conferences — Wisconsin, North Michigan, East Michigan, Michigan, North In¬ diana, Illinois, Central Illinois, Iowa, West Iowa. Missouri, Arkansas and Southern Missouri, Louisiana. A. D. Zahniser, evangelist. (d) Eastern District: Conferences — New York, East Ontario, West Ontario, Genesee, Susquehanna, Oil City, Pittsburgh, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Wabash, Georgia and Florida. B. W. Huckabee, evangelist. 6. Members of board: W. A. Sellew, W. Pearce, W. H. Clark, D. S. Warner, A. D. Zahniser, E. Bal¬ lenger, B. W. Huckabee, A. L. Whitcomb. 2. Conference Evangelistic Board 2921/2. Each annual conference is required to or¬ ganize a conference evangelistic board, which shall b'e authorized to carry on aggressive evangelistic work within its bounds. This board shall have power to raise funds and to employ evangelists, band workers and helpers to labor within the conference bounds, who, with the concurrence of the district elders, shall be authorized to establish new societies where the in¬ terests of the cause of God require, providing that it make provision and be responsible for the support of all the laborers which it employs. CHAPTEE XI THE PUBLISHING HOUSE fl 293. 1. The Free Methodist Publishing House is an institution established by the Free Methodist General Conference of North America for the pur¬ pose of producing and circulating wholesome litera¬ ture. It is duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, with its business plant and official headquarters at 1132-1134 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois. 2. The publishing agent shall have authority, under the supervision of the executive committee, to regu¬ late the business of the publishing house in such a manner as in his judgment the interests of the church require. 3. The publishing agent and editors shall make annual reports to the executive committee, and shall also report to the general conference. 4. The executive committee may elect by ballot an assistant publishing agent. The publishing agent may nominate. 5. It shall be the duty of the assistant publishing agent to cooperate with the publishing agent in plan¬ ning and carrying forward the business of the publish¬ ing house, and, in the absence of the publishing agent, to assume the ordinary duties of the publishing agent. 1S6 PzVRT IX CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES CHAPTERS CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES CHAPTER I CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES 294. 1. Genesee (I860. — The Genesee confer¬ ence shall embrace that portion of the state of New York lying west of the Genesee river, including Rochester, Mount Morris, Groveland, Belmont, Scio and Wellsville. 295. 2. Illinois (1S60). — The Illinois confer¬ ence shall embrace all that part of the state of Illi¬ nois north of a line beginning at Fort Madison, Iowa, running east to the Illinois river, thence down the river to a point due west of Fowler, Indiana, thence east to the state line. 296. 3. Susquehanna (1862). — The Susquehan¬ na conference shall embrace the counties of Tioga, Sullivan and Bradford, in the state of Pennsylvania, all that part of the state of New York east of the Genesee conference, and north of a line beginning at Great Bend, in Pennsylvania, and running due north to the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, thence east along said railroad to Oneonta. and thence due east to the state of Massachusetts; but not including the vil¬ lages situated immediately upon that portion of the said Albany and Susquehanna railroad. This conference shall also include Vermont and the province of Que¬ bec. IT 297. 4. Michigan (1865). — The Michigan con¬ ference shall embrace that portion of the state of Michigan lying south of the base line. 298. 5. Kansas (1871). — The Kansas confer- 189 190 CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES ence shall include all that portion of the state of Kansas lying east of a line running due north from the state of Oklahoma, along the west line of McPher¬ son county, Kansas, to the southwest corner of Cloud county, Kansas; thence east to the southeast corner of the said Cloud county; thence due north to the Nebraska state line. ff 299. 6. Minnesota and Northern Iowa (1872). The Minnesota and Northern Iowa conference shall embrace that portion of the state of Minnesota south of a line running due west from Stillwater, Minne¬ sota, to Lac-qui-parle lake and thence up the north and east bank of the Minnesota river, to the 46th parallel of latitude, and thence west across to the east line of Dakota, except Nobles, Rock, Pipestone, Murray, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine and Lac-qui- parle counties in Minnesota, and shall include that portion of Iowa not included in the Iowa, West Iowa and South Dakota conferences. II 300. 7. New York (1S73). — The New York con¬ ference shall embrace all parts of the states of New York and Pennsylvania not included in the Genesee, Pittsburgh, Oil City and Susquehanna conferences, and the states of New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecti¬ cut. If 301. 8. Iowa (1875). — The Iowa conference shall include that portion of the state of Iowa lying east and south of the following lines: Beginning at the southeast corner of Decatur county, thence north to Hamilton county, thence along the east line of Hamilton and Wright counties to the northeast cor¬ ner of Wright county, thence east to Clayton on the Mississippi river. It shall also include the city of Des Moines according to its present incorporate lim¬ its (1898). CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES 191 302. 9. Wisconsin (1875). — The Wisconsin con¬ ference shall include the state of Wisconsin. 303. 10. North Michigan (1S76). — The North Michigan conference shall embrace that portion of the state of Michigan lying north of the base line from the southeast corner of Eaton county, and southwest corner of Ingham, thence north parallel with the meridian line to Lake Huron. It shall also include the Upper Peninsula and Drummond’s Island. 304. 11. Ohio (1879). — The Ohio conference shall embrace the state of Ohio, except the towns included in the Pittsburgh and Oil City conferences. ft 305. 12. Central Illinois (1S79). — The Central Illinois conference shall include that portion of the state of Illinois not included in the Illinois and Wabash conferences. It shall also include the city of St. Louis, Missouri. 306. 13. Texas (1881). — The Texas conference shall include that part of the state of Texas not in¬ cluded in the East Texas conference, and that part of New Mexico lying east of the 106th meridian. ft 307. 14. Missouri (1SS3). — The Missouri con¬ ference shall embrace all that portion of the state of Missouri lying north of a line beginning at Carondolet and running directly west through the state, via War- rensburg, to the west line of the state, except the city of St. Louis. 308. 15. West Kansas (18S3).— The West Kan¬ sas conference shall include all parts of the state of Kansas not included in the Kansas conference. ft 309. 16. South Dakota (18S3). — The South Da¬ kota conference shall embrace the state of South Da¬ kota except that portion of the state bounded by a line commencing at the southeast corner of Shannon county; thence north to the White river; thence east along to its junction with the Missouri river; tbenee 192 CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES along the Missouri river to the south line of the state of South Dakota; thence west along state line to the southeast corner of Shannon county. It shall also include Lyon, Osceola, O’Brien and Sioux counties, in the state of Iowa, and Nobles, Bock, Pipestone, Mur¬ ray, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine and Lac-qui- parle counties in Minnesota. ff3IO. 17. Pittsburgh (18S3). — The Pittsburgh conference shall include all that part of the state of Pennsylvania lying west of a line running across the state due north and south through the east boundary line of Potter county, not included in the Oil City conference. It shall also include all the towns from the Pennsylvania state line to Bridgeport on the west bank of the Ohio river in which the Pittsburgh con¬ ference now has organized societies, and the state of West Virginia. if 311. 18. California (1883). — The California con¬ ference shall embrace all the state of California lying north of San Luis Obispo, Kern and Inyo coun¬ ties. if 3 12. 19. East Michigan (1884).— The East Michigan conference shall embrace all that part of Michigan lying north of the base line and east of a line beginning at the southwest corner of Ingham and southeast corner of Eaton counties, thence north running parallel with the meridian line to Lake Huron. 3 1 3. 20. Louisiana (18S4). — The Louisiana con¬ ference shall include the states of Louisiana and Mis¬ sissippi. ff 3 1 4. 21. Oregon (1885). — The Oregon confer¬ ence shall include all that part of the state of Oregon not embraced in the Columbia River and Southern Oregon conferences. ff 3 1 5. 22. West Iowa (1S85). — The West Iowa conference shall embrace all of the state of Iowa CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES 193 lying west of the Iowa conference, and south of a line running west from the northeast corner of Wright county along the county lines to the Big Sioux river, also including the county of Dakota, in the state of Nebraska. TT 3 1 6. 23. Wabash (1885).— The Wabash con¬ ference shall include all that part of the state of In¬ diana lying south of a line beginning at the north¬ west corner of Benton county, thence east through Pleasant Mills, Adams county, to the Ohio state line, and that portion of the state of Illinois bounded by a line running west from Fowler, Indiana, to a point six miles west of the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central railroad, and thence running southwest, parallel with said railroad to the south line of Shelby county, and thence along the line of the Springfield branch of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad to Shaw- neetown. fl3l7. 24. Colorado (1SS6). — The Colorado con¬ ference shall embrace the state of Colorado, the state of Utah, that part of Wyoming lying south of the 42nd meridian, and that part of New Mexico lying west of the 106th meridian. fl3l8. 25. North Minnesota (1887). — The North Minnesota conference shall embrace all that part of the state of Minnesota not included in the Minnesota and Northern Iowa conference. U 3 1 9. 26. Nebraska (1890). — The Nebraska con¬ ference shall be bounded by a line commencing at the southwest corner of Thayer county, Nebraska, thence north to the northwest corner of Platte county, thence west to the southeast corner of Wheeler county, thence north to the northeast corner of Wheeler coun¬ ty, thence west to the northwest corner of Grant county, thence north to the White river in South Da¬ kota, thence east along the White river to its junction with the Missouri river, thence east to the southeast, 194 CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES along the Missouri river, to its junction with Dakota county, thence along the county line to the northwest corner, thence to the southwest corner, thence east along southern boundary of said county to the Mis¬ souri river, thence along the Missouri river to the southeast corner of state of Nebraska, thence west along the southern boundary of the state of Nebraska to place of beginning. U 320. 27. Southern California (1891). — The Southern California conference shall embrace all of the state of California not embraced in the California conference, together with the state of Arizona. fl 321. 28. Arkansas and Southern Missouri (1895). — The Arkansas and Southern Missouri con¬ ference shall embrace the state of Arkansas together with that part of Missouri not included in the Mis¬ souri conference. ff 322. 29. Columbia River (1S96). — The Colum¬ bia River conference shall include that part of the state of Washington lying east of Grant, Douglas and Okanogan counties, and that part of Oregon east of Gillian, Wheeler and Crook counties, and north of the boundaries of the Southern Oregon conference; it shall also include the state of Idaho and that part of the state of Montana lying west of the 110th meri¬ dian. ft 323. 30. Washington (1896). — The Washington conference shall be bounded by the Columbia river on the south, and on the east by the Columbia river to the intersection of the Columbia river with the southern boundary of Grant county, thence along the eastern boundary of Grant, Douglas and Okanogan counties to the northern boundary of the state, thence west to the crest of the Cascade Mountains, thence along the crest of the Cascade Mountains to and in¬ cluding Alaska, and on the west by the Pacific waters. ^[324. 31. Platte River (1896).— The Platte CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES 195 River conference shall include all that part of the state of Nebraska not included in the Nebraska con¬ ference and that part of Wyoming lying north of the 42nd meridian. ft 325. 32. West Ontario (1896). — The West On¬ tario conference shall include all that part of the province of Ontario lying west of the following boundary line: The Niagara river, the west bounds of the counties of Peel and Simcoe, and the west bounds of the Muskoka, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts. ft 326. 33. East Ontario (1896). — The East On¬ tario conference shall include all that part of the province of Ontario not included in the West Ontario conference. ft 327. 34. Kentucky and Tennessee (1896). — The Kentucky and Tennessee conference shall include the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. ft 328. 35. North* Dakota (1897). — The North Da* kota conference shall include all of the state of North D'akota and that part of Montana lying east of the 110th meridian. ft 329. 36. Oil City (1899).— The Oil City confer- ference shall include that part of the state of Penn¬ sylvania lying west of a line beginning at the north¬ east corner of Potter county in said state and running due south to the south bounds of the state. This line, north and south, is also the east boundary line of the Pittsburgh conference. The southern boundary line of the Oil city conference shall be as follows: Be¬ ginning at the Ohio state line and running due east along the south bounds of Lawrence county to the west bounds of Clearfield county, thence south to the southwest corner of Clearfield county, thence east along the south bounds of Clearfield and Center coun¬ ties to the eastern boundary line of the Oil City and Pittsburgh conferences above mentioned; also the 196 CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES counties of Huntington, Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder, Union, Lycoming and Clinton; also that part of Blair county north of the line from east to west of Al¬ toona, all in the state of Pennsylvania. It shall also include the towns of Conneaut and North Kingsville, in the state of Ohio. If 330. 37. Oklahoma (1SS9). — The Oklahoma con¬ ference shall include all of Oklahoma and the Indian Territory. ft 331. 38. South Africa (1907). — The South Af¬ rica mission conference shall include the whole of Portuguese East Africa, Natal, Transvaal, Cape Col¬ ony and the Orange River Colony. If 332. 39. Southern Oregon (1912). — The South¬ ern Oregon conference shall include that part of the state of Oregon lying south of a line beginning at the Pacific Ocean at the northwest corner of Lane county and extending due east across the state. If 333. 40. Georgia and Florida (1913). — The Georgia and Florida conference shall include the states of Georgia and Florida. If 334. 41. Saskatchewan (1914). — The Sas¬ katchewan conference shall include the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. If 335. 42. Alberta (1914). — The Alberta confer¬ ence shall include the province of Alberta and all that portion of the province of British Columbia lying east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains, If 336. 43. East Texas (1915). — The East Texas conference is bounded as follows; Beginning at the Texas and Pacific Railroad, at the boundary line of Texas and Louisiana, on the Shreveport branch, fol¬ lowing the same to Big Sandy, thence to the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad to Waco, thence to San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad to Cuero, thence the Southern Pacific to Port Lavaca, thence along the CONFERENCE BOUNDARIES 197 Gulf of Mexico to Louisiana, thence up the Louisiana line to the point of beginning. ft 337. 44. North Indiana (reorganized 1922). — North Indiana conference shall embrace that part of Indiana north and east of a line running east along the line of the Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railroad to the second principal meridian, thence due south to the south line of Boone county, thence due east to the Ohio state line. It shall include the whole of Union City. ft 338. 45. Japan (1923). — The Japan conference shall include all of the work in Japan which is car¬ ried on by the Free Methodist church. ft 339. Any question of boundaries that may arise shall be referred to the executive committee. PART X THE RITUAL CHAPTERS I. BAPTISM II. THE LORD’S SUPPER III. THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY IV. THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD V. ORDINATION SERVICES VI. FORM FOR DEDICATION OF CHURCHES CHAPTER I BAPTISM 11340. l. Adult persons and the parents of each child to be baptized, shall have the choice of immer¬ sion, sprinkling, or pouring. 2. We will on no account whatever make a charge for administering baptism. I. Of Infants [The minister coming to the font, which is to be filled with pure water, shall use the following:] IT 34 f . Dearly beloved, forasmuch as our Savior, Christ, saith, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Cod;” and as the holy apostle St. Peter de¬ clares that, “The promise is unto you and to your children,” therefore this child has been brought hither that he may be consecrated by this solemn ordinance to the service of his Creator, and that he may receive the sign and seal of the covenant of grace into which God is mercifully pleased to enter with all his chil¬ dren ; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant unto this child, that he being made par¬ taker of the divine nature may grow up into Christ our living head in all things, till he comes in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 201 202 BAPTISM stature of the fulness of Christ; and unto these parents the needed grace that they may properly dis¬ charge all the duties they owe to this child which God has given them [Then shall the minister say:] Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting -God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succor, the covenant-keeping God, we thank thee that thou hast made it our privilege to dedicate our children to thy service, that they may live to thy glory, and gain everlasting life. We call upon thee for this child that he may be delivered from the power of sin and Satan, and be sanctified by the power of the Holy Ghost, and enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing. We pray thee for these parents, that they may realize how great is the re¬ sponsibility resting upon them touching the proper training of those entrusted to their care; we beseech thee to grant unto them the aid of thy Holy Spirit, that both by precept and example they may so lead this child in the narrow way of life, that both parent and child may come to the everlasting kingdom, which thou hast promised by 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, commencing with the thirteenth verse: They brought young children to Christ, that he should touch them. And his disciples 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 BAPTISM OF INFANTS 203 you, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he cannot enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them. [Then shall the minister demand of the parents sever¬ ally, as follows:] Cues. Dost thou, in the presence of God, and of these witnesses, solemnly dedicate this child to the Lord, that he may live in his service all his days? Ans. I do. Ques. Dost thou, so far as thou canst, in his be¬ half, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous de¬ sires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that, in the training of this child, thou wilt not follow nor be led by them; and so that, as far as in thee lies, thou wilt prevent him from following the same? Ans. I do. Ques. Dost thou believe in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? Ans. I do. Ques. Wilt thou, out of the same, diligently teach this child the statutes and commandments of the Most High; and wilt thou train him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Ans. I will. [Then the minister shall take the child into his hands and say to the friends of the child:] Name this child. [And then, naming it after them, he shall sprinkle or pour water upon it, or, if desired, immerse it in water, saying:] N., I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 204 BAPTISM [Then he shall say, all kneeling:] Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. [Then shall the minister conclude with extemporary prayer.] II. Of Those of Riper Years IT 342. Dearly beloved, since all men are by nature sinners, and have nothing in themselves by which they can be delivered from the guilt and pollution of sin, and attain to that holiness without which no man can see the Lord, we invite you to join with us in fervent prayer for these persons, that they may have grace always to keep their covenant with God, and that they may continually enjoy the washing of re¬ generation, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. [Then shall the minister say:] Almighty and immortal God, the aid 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 thy holy baptism, may by this rite truthfully testify to that inner washing through faith in the precious blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, and that they may enjoy the everlasting benediction of this heavenly washing and come to the eternal king¬ dom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. [Then shall the people stand up, and the minister shall say :] Hear the words of the Savior as recorded in the gospel written by St. Matthew, in the twenty-eighth BAPTISM OF ADULTS 205 chapter, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, bap¬ tizing them in the name of the Father and 01 che 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.” Amen. [Then the minister shall speak to the person to be bap¬ tized in this wise:] Well beloved, who here present yourselves for holy baptism, you have heard how the congregation hath prayed that God would continue his loving favor toward you and bring you unto his eternal kingdom. And God, the covenant-keeping God, hath promised by his only begotten Son whom he yielded up for our redemption that he would grant these gracious favors. Wherefore you must promise upon your part in the presence of this congregation that you, re¬ nouncing the devil and all his works, will implicitly believe God’s holy word and obediently keep his commandments. [Then shall the minister demand of each of the persons to be baptized severally:] Ques. 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 de¬ sires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them? Ans. I renounce them all. Ques. Dost thou believe in God, the Father Al¬ mighty, Maker of heaven and earth? and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord? and that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary? that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried? that he arose again on the third day? that he ascended into heaven, and 206 BAPTISM sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Al¬ mighty, 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 com¬ munion of saints; the remission of sins; the resurrec¬ tion of the body, and everlasting life after death? Ans. All this I steadfastly believe. Ques. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith? Ans. This is my desire. Ques. Wilt thou obediently keep God’s will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life? Ans. I will endeavor so to do, God being my helper. [Then shall the minister say:] Almighty and everlasting God, author of life eter¬ nal, grant that the regenerating grace which thou hast so mercifully vouchsafed to these persons may not have been bestowed in vain. Grant also that they may enjoy that greater baptism of the Holy Ghost to the end that all carnal affections may be destroyed in them and that every Christian grace and virtue may freely live and grow in them. Amen. Almighty God, Father of all mankind, Eternal Son, Deliverer of thine Israel, Holy Spirit, Guide of thy people, grant that these persons may have constant victory over the world, the flesh and the devil, and that they may enjoy the fulness of thy grace and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children. We ask it through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Then shall the minister take by the right hand each person to be baptized, and placing him conveniently by the font, according to his discretion, shall ask the name and then sprinkle or pour water upon him (or if he shall desire it, shall immerse him in water), saying:] BAPTISM OF ADULTS 207 N., I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. [Then s’ all be said the Lord’s Prayer, all kneeling, con¬ cluding with extemporary prayer and the benediction.] CHAPTER II THE LORD’S SUPPER (The use of individual communion cups is recom¬ mended, wherever practicable.) I. General Directions If 343. 1. Let all our ministers exercise due care to see that no person known to be living an immoral life, or to be guilty of any disreputable practise be ad¬ mitted to the Lord's table among us until he shall have given satisfactory evidence of repentance and amendment of life. 2. All persons properly included in the general invitation may be allowed to partake of the Lord’s Supper among us. II. Order for the Administration of the Lord’s Supper [The elder may say:] If 344. Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neigh¬ bors, and intend to lead a new life, following the com¬ mandments of God, and walking henceforth in his holy ways, draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort; and, meekly kneeling, make your humble confession to Almighty God. [Then may this general confession be made:] Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we ac-knowl- 20S THE LORD’S SUPPER •209 edge and bewail the manifold sins and wickedness of our past lives, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our past misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon u», most merciful Father, for thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Or in place of it the elder may say the Lord’s Prayer, the people repeating it with him.] Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. [Then may the elder say:] O Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto thee; have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from 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 opened, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the in¬ spiration of the Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly 210 THE LORD'S SUPPER love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Then may the elder say:] It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty and ever¬ lasting God. Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Amen. [Then may the elder say:] We do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose prop¬ erty is always to have mercy; grant us therefore, gra¬ cious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may live and grow thereby, and that being washed through his most precious blood, we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. [Then may the elder say the prayer of consecration, as follows :] 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 there by his oblation of himself once of¬ fered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, 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, O merciful THE LORD’S SUPPER 211 Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and grant that we, receiving these, thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; [Here the elder may take the plate of bread into his hand.] and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he took the cup; [Here he may take the cup in his hand.] and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this [And here he may lay his hand upon all the vessels which contain the wine.] is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins; do this as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. Amen. [Then may the minister first receive tve communion in both kinds himself, and then proceed to deliver the same to the other ministers in like manner (if any there he present), and after that to the people also, in order, into their hands. And when he delivers the bread he shall say :] The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto ever¬ lasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart, by faith, with thanksgiving. [And the minister that delivers the cup may say :] The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting 212 THE LORD'S SUPPER life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. [If the consecrated bread or wine shall be all spent before all have communicated, the elder may conse¬ crate more, by repeating the prayer of consecration. When all have communed the minister shall return to the Lord’s table and place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth. Here the elder may offer extemporary prayer, concluding with this blessing:] May the peace of God, which passeth all under¬ standing, keep your hearts and minds in the knowl¬ edge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; and the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. CHAPTER III THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY H 345. [At the day and time appointed for the sol¬ emnizing- of matrimony, the persons to be married stand¬ ing together, the man on the right hand of the woman, the minister shall say:] Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these wit¬ nesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, in¬ stituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, sig¬ nifying unto us the mystical union that is between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be taken in hand unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into which holy estate these two persons present 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 for¬ ever hold his peace. [And also speaking unto the persons that are to be married, he may say:] I require and charge you both (as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it, 213 214 THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY for be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their matri¬ mony lawful. [If no impediment be alleged, then shall the minister say unto the man:] M. , wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, com¬ fort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? [Then the man shall answer:] I will. [Then the minister shall say unto the woman:] N. , wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded hus¬ band, to live together after God’s ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love, 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? [Then the woman shall answer:] I will. [Then shall the minister join their right hand's together, and say:] Those whom God hath joined together let not man put asunder. Forasmuch as M. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God, and this company, and thereto have pledged their faith each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands; I pronounce that they are hus¬ band and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. [And the minister shall add this blessing:] God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY 215 with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. [Then let prayer be offered.] CHAPTER IV THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD fl 346. We will on no account make a charge for burying the dead. [The minister, meeting the corpse, and going before it shall say:] I am the resurrection and the life; he that be- lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die (John 11:25, 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 myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another (Job 19: 25-27). We brought nothing into this wmrld, and it is cer¬ tain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (1 Tim. 6: 7; Job 1:21). [At the grave, while the corpse is being laid in the earth, the minister shall say:] Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. lie cometh up and is cut down like a flower: he fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay. In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succor but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased? Yet, O Lord, God most holy, O Lord most mighty, 216 BURIAL OF THE DEAD 217 O holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us not into the Litter 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, O God most mighty, O holy and most merciful Savior, 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 body, 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 com¬ ing in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the corrupt¬ ible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. 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. Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. THE COLLECT O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom 218 BURIAL OF THE DEAD whosoever believetk shall live, though he die; 'md whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall not die eternally; we meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteous¬ ness, that when we shall depart this life we may rest in him; and at the general resurrection, on the last day, may be found acceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pro¬ nounce 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, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. CHAPTEK V ORDINATION SERVICES I. Ordination of Elders H 347. ["When the time appointed for the ordination shall have come one of the elders shall present unto the president those who are to be ordained, saying: I present unto you these persons (reading their names aloud) to be ordained elders. Then the president shall say unto the people:] Brethren, these are they whom we purpose, God willing, this day to ordain elders. For after due examination, we find not to the contrary, but that they are lawfully called to this function and ministry, and that they are persons meet for the same. But if any of you know any impediment or crime in any of them, for which he ought not to be received into this holy ministry, come forth in the name of God, and show what the crime or impediment is. [If no crime nor impediment be alleged, then shall be said the collect, epistle, and gospel, as follows:] THE COLLECT Almighty God, Giver of all good things, who by the Holy Spirit hast appointed divers orders of ministers in thy church, mercifully behold these, thy servants, now called to the office of elder, and replenish them so with the truth of thy doctrine and adorn them with innocency of life, that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name and the edification of thy 219 2*20 ORDINATION SERVICES church, through the mercies of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. THE EPISTLE - EPHESIANS 4 : 7-13 Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity cap¬ tive and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the 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. THE GOSPEL - ST. JOHN 10:7-16 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy; I am- come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd* the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, ORDINATION OF ELDERS 221 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 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 shepher [And that done, the president shall say unto them as follows :] You have heard, brethren, in the lessons taken out of the gospel and the writings of the apostles, of what dignity, and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye are called. 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 wholly to this office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you; so that as much as lieth in you, 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 Savior, Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost; that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, ye may wax riper and stronger in your ministry; and that ye may so endeavor yourselves from time to time to sanctify the lives of you and yours, and to fashion them after the rule and doc¬ trine of Christ, that ye may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the people to follow. And now that this present congregation of Christ, here assembled, may also understand your minds and wills in these things, and that this your promise, may the more move you to do your duties, ye shall answer plainly to these things which we, in the name of God 222 ORDINATION OF ELDERS 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 gospel ministry, and to perform the duties of an elder? Ans. I think so. President: Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrines required of necessitj” 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 required of ne¬ cessity to salvation but that which you shall be per¬ suaded may be concluded and proved by the Scrip¬ tures? A. I am so persuaded, and have so determined by God's grace. P. Will you then give your faithful diligence al¬ ways so to minister the doctrines and sacraments and discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded? A. I will do so by the help of the Lord. P. Will you be ready with all faithful 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 exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within your charge, as need shall require and occasion shall be given? A. I will, the Lord being my helper. P. Will you be diligent in prayers, and in reading the Holy Scriptures, and such studies as help to a knowledge of the same, laying aside the study of the world and the flesh? A. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper. P. Will you be diligent to frame and fashion your- ORDINATION OF ELDERS 223 self and your family according to the doctrine of Christ; and to make both yourself 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. P. Will you maintain and set forward as much as lieth in you, quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian people, and especially among those who are or may be committed to your charge? A. I will do so, the Lord being my helper. [That done, the president shall pray in this wise, and say:] Let us pray. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thine infinite love and goodness toward us hast given to us thine only and most dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer, and the author of ever¬ lasting life; for these so great benefits of thy eternal goodness we render unto thee most hearty thanks; we praise and worship thee; and we humbly beseech thee that we may continue to show ourselves thank¬ ful unto thee, for these, and all other, thy benefits, and that we may daily increase and go forward in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son, by the Holy Spirit. So that thy holy name may be forever glori¬ fied, and thy blessed kingdom enlarged, through the same, thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. [When this prayer is done, those to be ordained should remain kneeling, and the president, and the elders present, shall lay their hands severally upon the head of each of them, and the president shall say:] The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Ghost for the office and work of an elder in the Church of God now 224 ORDINATION OF ELDERS 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 Fa¬ ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. [They shall continue to kneel, and the president shall deliver to each one of them the Bible into his hands, and shall say :] # Take thou authority to preach the word of God and to administer the holy sacraments in the congre¬ gation. [Then the president shall say:] Most merciful Father, we beseech thee to send up¬ on these thy servants thy heavenly blessings, that they may be clothed with righteousness and that thy word spoken by their mouths may have such suc¬ cess, that it may never be spoken in vain. Grant us 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 salva¬ tion; 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. Assist us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued and ended in thee, we may glorify thy name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; and the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with vou always. Amen. ORDINATION OF DEACONS 225 II. Ordination of Deacons If 348. [When the time appointed for the ordination shall have come, one of the elders shall present unto the president those who are to be ordained, savin?: : “I present unto you these persons (reading their names aloud) to be ordained deacons.” Then the president shall say to the people:] Brethren, if any of you know any crime or im¬ pediment in any of these persons presented to be ordained deacon, for which he ought not to be ad¬ mitted to that office, come forth in the name of God and show what the crime or impediment is. [If no crime nor impediment be alleged, then shall be said the following collect and epistle:] THE COLLECT Almighty God, who by thy divine providence hath appointed divers orders of ministers in thy Church, and who didst inspire thy apostles to choose into the order of deacons thy first martyr, St. Stephen, with others; mercifully behold these thy servants, now called to the like office and administrations; re¬ plenish them so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and the edifica¬ tion of thy Church, through the merits of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen. THE EPISTLE — 1 TIMOTHY 3 I 8-13 Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double- tongued, not given to much wine, no-t greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con¬ science. And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons if they be blameless. Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, tern- 226 ORDINATION OF DEACONS perate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be hus¬ bands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have served well as dea¬ cons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. [Then shall the president examine each one of those who are to be ordained, in the presence of the people, after the manner following:] President. Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of the ministry in the Church of Christ, to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edification of his people? Ans. I trust so. P. Do you unfeignedly believe all the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? A. I do believe them. P. Will you diligently read or expound the same unto the people whom you shall be appointed to serve? A. I will. P. It appertaineth to the office of a deacon to as¬ sist the elder in divine service. And especially when he ministereth the holy communion, 'and to help him in the distribution thereof, and to read and expound the Holy Scriptures; to instruct the youth, and in the absence of the elder to baptize. And, further¬ more, it is his office to search for the sick, poor, and impotent, that they may be visited and relieved. Will you do this gladly and willingly? A. I will do so by the help of God. P. Will you apply all your diligence to frame and fashion your own lives (and the lives of your fam¬ ilies) according 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? ORDINATION OF DEACONS 227 A. I will do so, the Lord being my helper. P. Will you reverently obey them to whom the charge and government over you is committed, fol¬ lowing with glad mind and will their godly admoni¬ tions? A. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper. [The president, laying his hands severally upon the head of each one of them, shall say :] Take thou authority to execute the office of a dea¬ con in the church of God, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. [Then shall the president deliver to each one of them the Holy Bible, saying:] Take thou authority to read the- Holy Scriptures in the church of God, and to preach in the same. [Then one of them, appointed by the president, shall read the gospel.] Luke 12: 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 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 be said the collects following:] Almighty God, Giver of all good things, who of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants into the office of deacon of 228 ORDINATION OF DEACONS thy church; make them, we beseech thee, O Lord, to be modest, humble and constant in their ministration, and to have a ready will to observe all spiritual dis¬ cipline; that they having always the testimony of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son, Christ Jesus, may so well behave them¬ selves in this inferior office, that they may be found worthy to be called into the higher ministries in thy church, through the same, thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ; to whom be glory and honor, world without end. Amen. Assist us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen, CHAPTER VI FORM FOR DEDICATION OF CHURCHES f 349. [The congregation being assembled, let an appropriate hymn be sung. Afterward, let extemporary prayer be offered. Then shall the minister, or some one appointed, read:] The first lesson, Psalm 84: ,How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of mf^ God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 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 up¬ rightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 229 230 DEDICATION OF CHURCHES The second lesson, Hebrews 10: 19-26: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one an¬ other to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. (Then let an appropriate hymn be sung; after which the minister shall deliver a sermon suitable to the occasion. Contributions may then be received from the people.] [Then let the trustees stand before the altar, and one of them, or some one in their behalf, say unto the min¬ ister :] We present unto you this building, to be dedicated as a church for the service and worship of Almighty God. [Then shall the minister request the congregation to stand, while he repeats the following declaration:] DECLARATION Dearly beloved, it is meet and right, as we learn from the Holy Scriptures, that houses erected for the public worship of God should be specially set apart and dedicated to religious uses. For such a dedica¬ tion we are now assembled. With gratitude, there¬ fore, to Almighty God, who has signally blessed his servants in their holy enterprise of erecting this DEDICATION OF CHURCHES 231 church, we dedicate it to his service, for the reading of the Holy Scriptures, the preaching of the word of God, the administration of the holy sacraments, and for all other exercises of religious worship and ser¬ vice, according to the Discipline and usages of the Free Methodist church. [Then let the dedicatory prayer be offered.] PART XI COURSES OF STUDY CHAPTERS I. FOR TRAVELING PREACHERS II. FOR LOCAL PREACHERS III. FOR DEACONESSES IV. COURSE OF READING FOR CLASS LEADERS V. FOR MISSIONARIES IN AFRICA VI. FOR MISSIONARIES IN INDIA VII. BIBLE SCHOOL COURSE FOR NATIVES IN INDIA VIII. FOR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA IX. BOARD OF EXAMINERS CHAPTER I COURSE OF STUDY FOR TRAVELING PREACHERS PRELIMINARY IT 350. 1. English Grammar 2. Arithmetic 3. Modern Geography 4. Spelling 5. Composition 6. United States History (Candidates in Canada, Canadian History) 7. Binney’s Theological Compend 8. Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection 9. Free Methodist Discipline FIRST YEAR T[35f. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 1, 2 and 3 2. Hogue’s Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, Part I 3. Hill’s Foundation of Rhetoric, Part I 4. Reed’s Parliamentary Rules 5. Present written sermon Books to be read: 1. Hogue’s History of the Free Methodist Church, Volume I 2. Roberts’ Fishers of Men 3. Canright: The Sabbath Neither Popish nor Pa¬ gan 235 236 COURSES OF STUDY 4. Hogue’s The Class Meeting as a Means of Grace 5. Schaff’s Person of Christ 6. Wesley’s Sermons, Volume 1, sermons 1 to 30 inclusive SECOND YEAR 352. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 4 and 5, and Part II 2. Hill’s Foundation of Rhetoric, Part II 3. Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, Part II 4. Hopkins’ Outline Study of Man 5. Elson: Modern Times and the Living Past. To the period of the Reformation, page 316 6. Present written sermon Books to be read: 1. Hogue’s History of the Free Methodist Church, Volume II 2. Wood’s Perfect Love 3. Blanchard: Modern Secret Societies 4. Fitchett’s Wesley and His Century 5. Wesley’s Sermons, Volume I, sermons 31 to 58 inclusive THIRD YEAR 353. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Parts III and IV 2. Smith’s Old Testament History 3. Wayland’s Moral Science, or Hopkins’ Law of Love and Love as a Law 4. Elson: Modern Times and Living Past. From the period of the Reformation to the world war 5. Fisher’s Church History, first half 6. Present written sermon Books to be read: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism 2. Life of Redfield 3. Hogue’s Hymns That Are Immortal 4. Lowery’s Possibilities of Grace. FOR TRAVELING PREACHERS 237 FOURTH YEAR 354. 1. Burrell's Why I Believe the Bible 2. Smith’s New Testament History 3. Coleman’s Social Ethics 4. Jevon’s Logic (primer edition) 5. Fisher’s Church History, second half 6. Present written sermon Books to be read: 1. D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation, or Linsay: Vol. I. Reformation in Germany. Vol. II. Reformation in the Lands Beyond Germany 2. Esenwein’s How to Attract and Hold an Au¬ dience 3. The Indwelling Christ, by Baldwin 4. Hogue’s The Holy Spirit, A Study CHAPTER II COURSE OF STUDY FOR LOCAL PREACHERS I. For Local Preachers Who are to be Examined by the Quarterly Conference FIRST YEAR 355. 1. Binney’s Theological Compend 2. Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection 3. Articles of Religion and General Rules of the Free Methodist Discipline Books to be read: 1. Roberts’ Fishers of Men 2. MacGeary’s Outline History of the Free Meth¬ odist Church 3. Wesley’s Sermons, Volume I, sermons 1 to 15 inclusive SECOND YEAR fl 356. 1. Sims’ Helps to Bible Study (revised edition) 2. Hogue’s Handbook of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, Part I Books to be read: 1. Wood’s Perfect Love 2. Schaff’s Person of Christ 3. Wesley’s Sermons, Volume I, sermons 16 to 30 inclusive The examination of local preachers and evangelists may be conducted orally. 238 COURSES OF STUDY 239 II. For Local Preachers Who Wish to be Ordained Deacons 357. 1. Field’s Handbook of Theology, first half 2. Smith’s Old Testament History Books to be read: 1. Hogue’s History of the Free Methodist Church, Volume I 2. Burrell’s Why I Believe the Bible 3. The Indwelling Christ, by Baldwin III. For Local Deacons Who Wish to be Ordained Elders 358. 1. Field’s Handbook of Theology, second half 2. Smith’s New Testament History Books to be read: 1. Hogue’s History of the Free Methodist Church. Volume II 2. Blanchard: Modern Secret Societies. 3. Fitchett's Wesley and His Century N. B. — The examination of local preachers who wish to be ordained shall be conducted by the annual confer¬ ence. Let the examining committees and candidates to be examined be present at the seat of conference for examinations not later than the first day of the confer¬ ence session. Candidates not present at such time forfeit their right to examination for taat year. In conducting examinations, examiners shall report the standing of each candidate in each book according to a scale of ten, six being satisfactory. CHAPTER III COURSE OF STUDY FOR DEACONESSES FIRST YEAR ft 359. 1. Free Methodist Discipline 2. Hurst’s Outline of Bible History (Normal Edition) 3. American Red Cross and Home Hygiene Books to be read: 1. All About the Bible, by Collett 2. Clara Leffingwell, a Missionary, by Sellew 3. Deaconess, Ancient and Modern, by Wheeler SECOND YEAR ft 359a. 1. Binney’s Theological Compend 2. Weslej^’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection 3. Roberts: Fishers of Men Books to be read: 1. Arthur's Tongue of Fire 2. The Heart of Asbury’s Journal, by Tipple 3. Hogue: Hymns That Are Immortal 4. Thoburn: The Deaconess and Her Vocation The examination of deaconesses shall be con¬ ducted by the annual conference board of examiners, and may be conducted orally. See paragraph 174 (11). A deaconess having completed the foregoing studies of the first and second years is eligible to be licensed by the annual conference, according to paragraph 174 (6). 240 CHAPTEK IV COURSE OF READING FOR CLASS LEADERS ff 360. The following course of reading for class leaders is recommended by the general conference in the belief that it will meet a general need throughout our work, and that the few inexpensive volumes therein named are of such a character as cannot fail to benefit all class leaders who will carefully read them, not only in the way of personal edification, but also in the way of increasing their efficiency in deal¬ ing with those under their care in this responsible office. Discipline of the Free Methodist Church Binney’s Theological Compend The Class Meeting as a Means of Grace (Hogue) Life of William Bramwell (Thompson) Life of J. W. Bedfield (Terrill) Christian Perfection (Wesley) Perfect Love (Wood) Fishers of Men (Roberts) Hymns That Are Immortal (Hogue) History of Methodism (Stevens, Abridged) Daniel Quorm and His Religious Notions (Pearse) The King’s Son. A Memoir of Billy Bray The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life Outline History of the Free Methodist Church In Christ (Pierson) The Person of Christ (Schaff) Blanchard: Modern Secret Societies Lowery: Possibilities of Grace 241 CHAPTER V COURSE OF STUDY FOR MISSIONARIES IN AFRICA* FIRST YEAR IT 36 1 . 1. Grammar, in native language 2. Translate St. John’s Gospel from vernacular 3. Composition work in native language 4. Free Methodist Discipline 5. Steele’s Bible Study Books to be read: 1. “Essential Kaffir.” At Inhambane, “The Life of a South African Tribe” 2. Redemption of Africa, Volume I 3. “The Foreign Missionary,” by Brown 4. Roberts’ Fishers of Men SECOND YEAR IT 362. 1. Papers in vernacular on “Paul’s Mis¬ sionary Journeys,” and “Life of Joseph” 2. Translate from vernacular first fifteen chapters of Genesis and three of Paul’s shorter epistles 3. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 1, 2 and 3 4. Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection 5. Hogue’s Homiletics * This course of study to apply to all missionaries in Africa who are candidates for ordination. Others to take the course of reading and to pass examination in the vernacular language. 242 FOR MISSIONARIES IN AFRICA 243 Books to be read: 1. Redemption of Africa, Volume II 2. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume I 3. Theal’s History, and Whitman’s Geography of South Africa 4. G. Harry Agnew, a Pioneer Missionary THIED YEAR 363. 1. Translate first fifty Psalms from ver¬ nacular 2. Translate into the vernacular a “First Reader” 3. Read in vernacular, “Journey to the King” 4. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 4 and 5, and Part II 5. Hopkins’ Outline Study of Man Books to be read: 1. Healing of the Nations 2. Hogue’s History of the Free Methodist Church, Volume I 3. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume II FOURTH YEAR 364. L Translate into the vernacular a small book. “The Dairyman’s Daughter,” suggested or some other book as selected by board of examiners 2. Ralston’s Divinity, Parts III and IV 3. Hurlbut’s Biblical Geography 4. Fisher’s Church History Books to be read: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume IH 2. Hogue’s History of the Free Methodist Church, Volume II 3. New Acts of the Apostles 4. Pilgrim’s Progress in vernacular CHAPTER VI COURSE OF STUDY FOR MISSIONARIES IN INDIA* FIBST YEAR U 365. 1. Free Methodist Discipline 2. Wesley’s Plain Account of Christian Perfection 3. New Testament Study in Missions 4. All About the Bible, by Collett Books to be read — in English: 1. Thoburn’s Missionary Apprenticeship 2. Murdock’s Indian Missionary Manual 3. Roberts’ Fishers of Men 4. Geography of India, by Patterson Books to be read — in Marathi: 1. The First Three Gospels 2. Genesis to Deuteronomy, inclusive 3. Christianity and Hinduism Compared, by Pad* manji SECOND YEAB 366. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 1, 2 and 3 2. Sims’ Helps to Bible Study 3. First Half of History of India for High Schools and Colleges, published by the C. L. S. of Madras 4. MacGeary’s Outline History of the Free Meth- olist Church Books to be read— in English : 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume I * This course of study to apply to all missionaries 1b India who are candidates for ordination. 244 FOR MISSIONARIES IN INDIA 245 2. Modern Apostles in Missionary By-ways 3. Arsenal, Part I Books to be read — in Marathi: 1. The Gospel of John, Acts of the Apostles, and Paul’s Epistle to the Romans 2. Joshua to Esther 3. Arunodaya, by Padmanji THIED YEAR 367. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 4 and 5, and Part II 2. History of India, last half 3. Hogue’s Homiletics, Part I Books to be read — in English: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume II 2. Wood’s Perfect Love 3. Arsenal, Part II 4. Hinduism and Christianity Compared, by Rob¬ son Books to be read — in Marathi: 1. I Corinthians to Hebrews 2. Job to Song of Solomon FOURTH YEAR ft 368. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Parts in and IV 2. Hurlbut’s Biblical Geography 3. Hogue’s Homiletics, Part II Books to be read — in English: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume III 2. Roberts’ Holiness Teachings 3. New Acts of the Apostles 4. Arsenal, Part III Books to be read — in Marathi: 1. James to Revelation 2. Isaiah to Malachi 3. “Pan Lakshat Kon Gheto” CHAPTER VII BIBLE SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY FOR NATIVES IN INDIA I. Students for Three Years FIRST YEAR 369. Study: Matthew, Genesis, Catechism. Read: Chandra Lila, Sundar Singh. SECOND YEAR 370. Study: Exodus, Leviticus, Mark, Luke, Torrey I. Read: Life of Colonel Weerasoorie, Story of Mary Jones and her Bible. THIRD YEAR 371. Study: Whole Pentateuch, John, Acts, Tor¬ rey II. Read: Life of John G. Paton, Barth’s Bible Stories. When the first three years’ work has been satis¬ factorily done, students may be granted an exhorter's license and stationed as preachers, with an increase in pay of rupees 1 per month for passing with an average of 80% or over, or of annas 8 per month for passing with an average of 60% to 70%. The aver¬ age is for the first three years’ work, but the increase is not given until all subjects have been completed. II. Exhorters, for Two Years FIRST YEAR Tf 372. Study: Joshua to Ruth, Harmony of Gos¬ pels, Discipline, pp. 3-37. Read: Life of Pandita Ramabai, Manual of Chris¬ tian Doctrines. 246 FOR NATIVES IN INDIA 247 SECOND YEAR ft 373. Study: Old Testament Kingdom Period, Romans, Discipline, pp. 55-111, Religion Weighed. Read: Historical Evidence for the Truth of the Christian Scriptures, Pilgrim’s Progress. III. Local Preachers, for Four Years FIRST YEAR ft 374. Study: Isaiah, General Epistles of Paul, Binney, pp. 1-42, Hinduism and Christianity Com¬ pared I, Church History I. Read: Autobiography of Baba Padmanji, Prevail¬ ing Prayer. SECOND YEAR ft 375. Study: Period of Captivity, both history and prophecy, Hebrews, Binney, pp. 43-62, Church History II, Hinduism and Christianity Compared II. Read: Life of Mohammed, Holiness, by Tracy. THIRD YEAR ft 376. Study: Remaining Prophets with a review of all the prophets, Pastoral Letters, Binney, pp. 63- 106, Church History III. Read: Edward’s Holy Spirit, Part I, Life of Lu¬ ther. FOURTH YEAR ft 377. Study: Poetical Books of Bible, Revela¬ tion, Binney, pp. 113-123, Discipline, Part 9 (Rit¬ ual), Church History IV. Read: Edward’s Holy Spirit, Part II, Life of Mackay of Uganda. CHAPTER VIII COURSE OF STUDY FOR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA* FIRST YEAR For examination: If 378. 1. Free Methodist Discipline 2. Wesley-’s Plain Account 3. New Testament Studies in Missions. Beach 4. Steele’s Bible Study For reading in English: 1. Fishers of Men. Roberts 2. The Class Meeting. Hogue 3. Chinese Characteristics 4. Jubilee Story of the China Inland Mission, pages 1 to 212 For reading in Chinese: 1. Matthew and John 2. Old Testament History To be memorized: Lord’s Prayer, John 3: 16, Acts 4: 12, Romans 1: 16, all in Chinese SECOND YEAR For examination: 379. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 1, 2 and 3 2. Hogue’s Homiletics, Part I 3. Hurlbut’s Biblical Geography * This course of study to apply to all missionaries in China who are candidates for ordination. 248 FOR MISSIONARIES IN CHINA 249 For reading in English: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume I 2. Clara Leffingwell, Sellew 3. Jubilee Story of the China Inland Mission, pages 213 to the end 4. Three Religions of China. Soothill For reading in Chinese: 1. Pilgrim’s Progress 2. Acts to Hebrews To be memorized: Matthew 11: 28-30; 28: 20; John 14: 1-3; John 15; 4-5, all in Chinese Conduct morning prayers or other service before examiner, giving eight to ten minutes’ address in Chi¬ nese. THIRD YEAR For examination: 380. 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Part I, Books 4 and 5, and Part II 2. History of China. Hawkes-Pott, pages 1-lOS 3. Hogue’s Homiletics, Part II For reading in English: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume II 2. Wood’s Perfect Love 3. The Foreign Missionary. Brown 4. MacGeary’s Outline History of the Free Meth¬ odist Church For reading in Chinese: 1. Genesis. Exodus Ch. 1-20; Lev. Ch. 1-8; Judges to 1 Samuel; Psalms 1-41 To be memorized: Psalm 1 in Chinese Give a Gospel address or Scripture discourse in Chinese of not less than twenty minutes 250 COURSE OF STUDY FOURTH YEAR For examination: 38 1 . 1. Ralston’s Divinity, Parts III and IV 2. History of China, Part II 3. Fisher’s Church History For reading in English: 1. Stevens’ History of Methodism, Volume HI 2. New Acts of the Apostles 3. Lowery: Possibilities of Grace 4. Fisher’s History of the Reformation For reading in Chinese: 1. Psalms 42 to 150 2. Isaiah Ch. 36 to 66, Joel, Malachi 3. James to Jude. Wenli Conduct a Chinese Sunday service CHAPTEE IX CENTRAL BOARD OF CONFERENCE EXAMINERS 382. 1. There shall be a central board, con¬ sisting of five members, on the uniform examinations in the conference courses of study. 2. This board shall formulate rules and prepare questions for examinations, and during the interim of the general conference sessions shall have power to settle all questions concerning the same, which are not already settled by action of the general conference or rulings of the bishops. 3. The board shall answer all questions concern¬ ing the course of study, through its secretary, whose name and address shall be published in the combined minutes for that purpose. 4. This board shall also be authorized to make changes which become necessary in the courses of study. 5. The general conference of 1923 elected the fol¬ lowing board: David S. Warner, president; J. LaDue, W. B. Olmstead, C. E. Harroun, G. W. Griffith. 251 PART XII APPENDIX The matter contained in this appendix is deemed of sufficient importance to warrant its publication in this form. Some of it is taken from the general conference journals, and is therefore the action of the general conference, although not ordained as a part of the Discipline. Other matters are inserted because suggestive and convenient for reference, as postoffice addresses, administrative boards, forms of procedure, etc. CHAPTERS I. INCORPORATION II. RESIDENCES, ADDRESSES, ETC. III. ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS IV. CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW BY THE GEN ERAL CONFERENCE V. CONSTITUTION OF THE GENERAL WO MAN’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY FORMS VI. CHAPTER I INCORPORATION INCORPORATION OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH 383. “An act to incorporate the Free Methodist General Conference of North America, passed April 30, 1S73.” The people of the state of New York, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: 1. The General Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America shall be, and is hereby de¬ clared to be, a corporate and politic body, by the name and style of the “Free Methodist General Conference of North America,” and by that name it shall have perpetual succession; shall be capable of suing and being sued in any court whatever; and shall have and use a common seal, which they may alter and change at pleasure. 2. It shall be lawful for the regular members of said general conference, at its regular constitutional meetings, to appoint such officers, and to make and ordain such by-laws and regulations in relation to the management and disposition of their real and per¬ sonal estate, the duties of their officers, and the man¬ agement of the corporate offices, as they shall think proper; provided they are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States. 3. The said corporation shall have power to hold in trust church property, and deeds of other benefi¬ cent, educational or publishing institutions- and of 255 INCORPORATION taking, holding and receiving any property — real or personal or mixed — by virtue of any devise, bequest, grant or purchase, subject to the restrictions and limitations of existing laws; provided the annual in¬ come of such property shall not exceed the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, and that the same shall be appropriated to religious, charitable, missionary, or educational purposes; and to sell, deed and convey any real or personal property, when necessary to serve the purposes of the corporation. 4. The officers of said corporation shall hold over until their successors are elected and qualified, and shall exercise such powers and do such duties as shall be authorized by the by-laws of said corporation. 5. This act shall take effect immediately. (1 ) The following named persons shall be the trustees of the “Free Methodist General Conference of North America,” as provided for in the act of cor¬ poration, passed April 30, 1S73, by the legislature of the state of New York, to wit: J. Travis, J. G. Ter¬ rill, John Ellison, J. L. Ward, O. P. Rogers, D. W. Abrams. (2) The said trustees shall have full power to take possession of and to receive and hold, subject to the order and direction of the general conference, any property, real, or personal, or mixed, which may be owned by or belong to the said general confer¬ ence, by virtue of any devise, bequest, grant or pur¬ chase. (3) The said trustees shall be divided into two classes, as follows, to-wit: The first class shall comprise J. Ellison, J. L. Ward, O. P. Rogers. The second class shall comprise J. Travis, J. G. Terrill, D. W. Abrams. The first class, elected this year, shall hold their INCORPORATION 257 office for four years, and until others are appointed in their places. The second class shall hold their office eight years, and until others shall be appointed in their places. (4) The said trustees shall elect their president, secretary, and treasurer, who shall perform the du¬ ties usually pertaining to their office. (5) The said trustees shall make a full report of all their proceedings to each successive general con¬ ference. (6) If the place of any of these trustees shall be¬ come vacant during the intervals of a general con¬ ference, it shall be filled by the remaining trustees. (7) The general conference of 1915 took action to authorize a new incorporation in Illinois, as our headquarters had been moved to Chicago, and they authorized the board of trustees of the general con¬ ference to incorporate. This was done and on De¬ cember 2, 1915, a charter was granted by the state of Illinois incorporating as above under the title of “Board of Trustees of the Free Methodist Church of North America.” This incorporation was approved by the general conference of 1919, and this new cor¬ poration was duly authorized to take over all the duties and exercise the prerogatives of the old New York State corporation. (8) Form of bequest of money or other personal property: “I give and bequeath to the Free Method¬ ist General Conference of North America the sum of . dollars, to be used and appropriated by that body to religious, charitable, missionary or educa¬ tional purposes.” Beal estate: “I grant and devise (full description of the land).” CHAPTER II RESIDENCES, ADDRESSES, ETC. 384. Bishops Walter A. Sellew, 68 Falconer Street, Jamestown, New York William Pearce, 2318 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois William H. Clark, 412 William Street, Rome, New York David S. Warner, Glen Ellyn, Illinois J j 385. Publishing Agent William B. Rose, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois f[ 386. Editors George W. Griffith, The Free Methodist, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois Burton J. Vincent, Sunday-school Periodicals, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois Joseph B. Lutz, The Sunday School Worker, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois ft 387. Corresponding Secretaries William B. Olmstead, General Missionary Board, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois Joseph B. Lutz, General Sunday School Secretary, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois L. Glenn Lewis, Educational Secretary, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois Mendal B. Miller, Board of Conference Claimants, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, 1131 Elk Street, Franklin, Pennsylvania 388. Treasurers Newton W. Fink, General Missionary Board, Church Extension Society, Board of Conference Claimants, Bishops’ Fund, Sunday-school Board, Board of Edu¬ cation, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois Lillian Camp Jensen, General Woman’s Missionary So¬ ciety, 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 389. General Conference Evangelists E. Ballenger A. D. Zahniser, B. W. Huckabee A. L. Whitcomb Shenandoah, Iowa Greenville, Illinois Chicago, Illinois University Park, Iowa 258 CHAPTER III ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS ff 390. Board of Trustees of the Free Methodist Church of North America Office: 1132 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois President, Walter A. Sellew Secretary and Treasurer, Mendal B. Miller 1. William Pearce Terms expire in 1927 William H. Clark, C. I. Tenney 2. Walter A. Sellew, Terms expire in 1931 Mendal B. Miller, David S. Warner IT 39 1 . Executive Committee President, Walter A. Sellew Secretary, Mendal B. Miller District Name and Class Conference Walter A. Sellew, Bishop . Oil City William Pearce, Bishop . Genesee William H. Clark, Bishop . Susquehanna David S. Warner, Bishop . Michigan I. Mendal B. Miller, Minister . Oil City G. A. Lees, Lay Member . ..West Ontario II. J. T. Logan, Minister . New York C. A. Lowell, Lay Member . Susquehanna III. Joseph A. Watson, Minister . North Indiana Harlow Hoyt, Lay Member . East Michigan IV. George W. Griffith, Minister . Central Illinois J. M. Daniels, Lay Member . Central Illinois V. B. J. Vincent, Minister . South Dakota G. J. Archer, Lay Member . West Kansas VI. W. N. Coffee, Minister . Oregon A. G. Ball, Lay Member . Southern California The executive committee also constitutes the board of conference claimants and the church extension so¬ ciety. 259 260 ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS ff 392. Board of Education David S. Warner C. W. Bacon E. A. Andrews A. J. Damon C. I. Tenney W. B. Olmstead H. S. Dye R. A. Thompson F. E. Pond W. W. Vinson L. G. Lewis, General Educational Secretary TT 393. General Missionary Board President, William Pearce Secretary, William B. Olmstead Treasurer, Newton W. Fink District Name and Class Conference Walter A. Sellew, Bishop . Oil City William Pearce, Bishop . Genesee William H. Clark, Bishop . Susquehanna David S. Warner, Bishop . Michigan I. J. M. Critchlow, Minister . . Oil City Grant C. Woods, Lay Member... . Genesee II. R. A. Zahniser, Minister . Pittsburgh W. F. Guffey, Lay Member . . Ohio III. H. Montgomery, Minister . Michigan Peter White, Lay Member . North Michigan IV. C. E. Harroun, Minister . .......Texas A. C. Enderlin, Lay Member . Wabash V. A. L. Whitcomb, Minister . . ....Iowa A. W. Gillingham, Lay Member . ....Wisconsin VI. W. W. Vinson, Minister . Southern California A. Verkuyl, Lay Member...... . California Mary L. Coleman, President Woman’s 'Missionary Society Mrs. Carrie T. Burritt Woman’s Missionary Society Emma L. Hogue Woman’s Missionary Society Agnes Benn Woman’s Missionary Society The general missionary board and the superinten¬ dents of The Gerry Homes, the Woodstock Homes and the Life Line Orphanage constitute the board of charities and benevolences. ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS 261 fl 394. General Sunday School Board W. H. Clark, President G. W. Griffith. Recording Secretary ,T. B. Lutz, General Sunday-school Secretary B. J. Vincent E. A. Holtwick J. H. Whiteman L. E. Cook A. G. Ball J. R. H. Bell G. A. Lees Treasurer of the church funds, treasurer f[ 395. Central Board of Conference Examiners David S. Warner, President William B. Olmstead, Secretary John LaDue C. E. Harroun George W. Griffith 396. Board of Aggressive Evangelism W. A. Sellew W. Pearce W. H. Clark D. S. Warner A. D. Zahniser B. W. Huckabee E. Ballenger A. L. Whitcomb CHAPTER IV CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW BY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS OF SUPERINTENDENTS Approved by general conferences, and general conference resolutions having the force of law From Journal of 1866 397. On Hop-Growing — Resolved, That in our opinion, the raising of hops for the general market is a violation of the rule of Discipline prohibiting “evil of every kind;” and also of the rule prohibiting the “doing of what we know is not for the glory of God.” 398. On Missions. — Resolved, That the general missionary board shall have charge of all missions outside of the recognized bounds of the annual con¬ ferences. 399. Disapproval of Conference Action.— Re¬ solved, 1. That the action of the Susquehanna con¬ ference in passing a certain resolution on the use of tobacco, be disapproved; the said conference having transcended its powers in attempting to enact laws. (The resolution referred to was passed by the Sus¬ quehanna conference in 1886, and read as follows: “Resolved, That if any of the preachers of this con¬ ference are known to indulge in the use of tobacco, either by chewing or smoking, during the coming year, they shall, at the next session of the conference, be discontinued from the traveling connection.”) 2. That the action of the Susquehanna conference, 262 CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 263 in receiving a preacher in full connection after but one year’s trial, be disapproved. If 400. Law Question: “Has an annual conference authority under the discipline to try a probationer upon charges of immoral conduct?” Conference voted nay, 12 to 5. From Journal of 1870 If 401. On the Admission of Ministers. — It was de¬ cided by the president that as all the disciplinary questions may be acted on at any time during the ses¬ sion of an annual conference it is right to report min¬ isters received into full connection as having a seat in the conference. On motion, conference sustained the decision. ft 402. On Conference Resolutions. — No annual conference shall pass resolutions or adopt reports interpreting Discipline, and then hold any minister or member to trial for violating such resolution or re¬ ports. If 403. If complaints are made against a member, involving immorality or a violation of our rules, he is entitled to a speedy trial, unless said complaints are otherwise disposed of. If 404. No secretary of any annual conference has a right to insert anything in the conference records other than actual conference business. f[405. Resolved, That we disapprove of the prac¬ tise of calling a quarterly conference together in any other way than that prescribed by the Discipline. From Journal of 1874 If 406. Resolved, That it is the sense of this con¬ ference that the rule of our Discipline, forbidding the wearing of gold, applies to those who wear gold wed¬ ding rings. 2G4 CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW Frcm Journal cf 1878 fl 407. In the case of a layman, who was refused admission as delegate to the New York conference; it being claimed that he was not a member of the church which elected him: The president held that in the admission of a delegate to which objection is made, an annual con¬ ference may inquire, 1. If the society meeting was held and the election fairly conducted according to Discipline. 2. If the returns were correctly made. 3. If the person elected was eligible. But the chair decided that each society has the right to determine who are its members; that an an¬ nual conference has no right to decide who are or who are not members of any particular society. This decision was appealed from, and the con¬ ference voted not to sustain the chair — by 11 nays, 5 yeas. This action was reported by the committee on con¬ ference records, of the general conference of 1878, as a violation of Discipline. The report was adopted, thus sustaining the decision of the president. 408. On Past Enactments, Resolutions, etc. — Resolved, That all enactments, decisions and resolu¬ tions of the various general conferences, that are in¬ consistent with our Discipline, as revised by this gen¬ eral conference, are hereby repealed. ft 409. On the Membership of Probationers in An¬ nual Conferences. — The following questions were an¬ swered by B. T. Roberts at the Genesee conference, 1SS2: 1. Are preachers on probation in an annual con¬ ference still members of a society? Answer, No. 2. Should they be reported from the circuit as local preachers? Answer, No, CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 2G5 3. Should their licenses be renewed by the quar¬ terly conference, as others? Answer, No. From Journal of 1882 ft 410. Women Eligible as Delegates. — B. T. Rob¬ erts decided at the New York conference that women are eligible to election as delegates to the annual conference. Approved. ft 411. The following questions were asked and an¬ swered: 1. If a preacher believes the Bible to be opposed to women taking a part in the governmental affairs of the church, and has not hitherto regarded the language of the Discipline as admitting of the election of women as delegates to the annual conference is he bound by the action of this conference to rule that the Dis¬ cipline does now admit of it? Answer — By President B. T. Roberts: It is my opinion that he is. 2. Would it be maladministration of Discipline to rule that it is not disciplinary to elect women as dele¬ gates? Answer — In my opinion it would. The general conference approved these answers as correct. ft 412. Absent Delegates. — Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference, that a delegate is not a mem¬ ber of an annual or a general conference until he is present, and has presented his credentials. ft 413. Preserving Original Minutes. — Resolved, That the secretaries of the several conferences be re¬ quired to keep the original or so-called rough minutes, as approved by the conference, in a book to be pre¬ served with the journal. 26G CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW From Journal of 1886 IT 4 1 4. The following questions were asked and an¬ swered: 1. If a certificate of membership be given a mem¬ ber of one of our churches, and that member shall, at a subsequent time, present his certificate of member¬ ship to one of our churches in some other place, he having, since the reception of the certificate, been guilty of unchristian conduct, is the church to which the certificate shall be presented obliged to receive the certificate? Answer — By President B. T. Roberts: It is. 2. When an annual conference organizes a cir¬ cuit and appoints a preacher to it, but the preacher declines to travel it, and the chairman being unable to supply it with another preacher, may he unite the unsupplied circuit with an adjacent circuit without the consent of the official board of the unsupplied circuit? Answer— By President B. T. Roberts: I think he could not. 3. When a preacher has been appointed to a cir¬ cuit, has the chairman a right to appoint said preacher to the charge of another circuit while he retains charge of the first? Answer — By President B. T. Roberts: No. He may add to the circuit, but cannot appoint a preacher to two circuits at the same time. TT4I5. The following question was asked at the sixteenth session of the Kansas annual conference, and was answered by President B. T. Roberts; from whose decision an appeal was taken to the general conference of 1886, by which the decision of the presi¬ dent was unanimously sustained: " If a man in his sinful state be divorced from his wife, but not on scriptural grounds, and she be mar¬ ried to another man, after which the divorced man f CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 267 becomes converted and joins the church, do the facts in the case as afore stated clear him in the eyes of the law, the eyes of God and the eyes of our Dis¬ cipline, so that he has the right to marry again? The president decided that in the case stated, the legal divorce separates the man from his wife in the eyes of the law, and that the subsequent marriage of the woman separates the man from the woman in a scrip¬ tural sense; he is therefore entitled to a divorce on scriptural grounds; but as he cannot obtain it, he is in the sense of the scripture entitled to marry again. Tf 4 1 6. Resolved, That the reports adopted by the annual conference should be kept on file and not recorded in the journal, except the financial reports, and such as may be recorded by order of the annual conference. From Journal of 1890 fl4l7. Whereas, Conflicting decisions by the gen¬ eral superintendents in the intervals of the general conference are liable to make divisions, and tend to annoy and confuse the spirit of harmony among us, therefore, Resolved, That when one of the general superin¬ tendents has rendered a decision on any point of law in any annual conference, in a case which grows out of the conference proceedings, said decision shall be the rule in the case until the decision is reversed by the general conference. See paragraph 439. From Journal of 1894 fl4!8. An elder of the North Michigan conference, having withdrawn from the church, was given a letter by Superintendent Hart, stating that he had been an srdained elder in the North Michigan conference, and recommending him “to all Christian people.” He 208 CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW afterwards presented the letter to the same confer¬ ence, and Superintendent Coleman decided that he could not be received on the letter — that he was out of the church. The committee on general superin¬ tendency recommended that the decision be approved. The recommendation was adopted by the conference. TT 4 1 9. Law Question. — “Can the appellate court go outside of the grounds of appeal as submitted to it by the appellant?” Answer by the Chair. — “In the decision, I would say, It must confine itself to the grounds of the appeal in the case. It is entitled, however, to all that will throw light upon the appeal as presented.” ft 420. “Does the Discipline make final the de¬ cision of the committee on appeals without approval by the general conference when such committee ren¬ ders its verdict while the general conference that ap¬ pointed it is in session?” Answer — “The Discipline makes the decision of a committee on appeals final. There can be no appeal therefrom.” IT 42 1 . At the close of the election of the general superintendents, E. P. Hart moved, That it is the sense of the conference that W. T. Hogue is entitled to his seat and office as general superintendent until the close of this session. Superintendent Coleman in the chair decided that it would be proper to place the newly-elected superintendent in the chair if the con¬ ference saw fit to do so. An appeal was taken from the decision, and the conference refused to sustain the chair. W. T. Hogue was thus authorized to act as superintendent until the final adjournment of the conference. ft 422. Resolution. — In response to a memorial from the Southern California conference in regard to the wearing of neckties, the conference adopted the following: CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 269 ‘"It is the sense of the conference that this matter is one concerning which ‘every man should be fully persuaded in his own mind,’ and guided by his per¬ sonal convictions.” From Journal of 1898 IT 423. The following question was asked at the Susquehanna conference of 1S9T, and was answered by President E. P. Hart, from whose decision an ap¬ peal was taken to the general conference of 1898: “Is previous labor necessary before bringing charges against a preacher belonging to an annual conference?” The president decided that no previous labor is necessary in case of charges at the annual confer¬ ence, as that body has original jurisdiction over the preachers composing it. The decision of the president was sustained by the general conference. fl 424. The following questions were asked at the Kansas conference of 1S95, and were answered by the president, B. R. Jones. An appeal was taken from his decisions to the general conference of 1898: 1. “If a man obtains a divorce from his wife on other than scriptural grounds and afterward marries a woman who had obtained a divorce from her hus¬ band without scriptural reason, would the parties thus divorced and remarried be entitled to membership in the church?” Answer — I think they would not. 2. “Is it a violation of Discipline for a minister to receive a person into the church who has obtained a divorce on other than scriptural grounds?” Answer — In my opinion it is. 3. “Would the preacher receiving into the church persons thus divorced be liable to the charge of mal¬ administration ?” 270 CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW Answer — I think he would. These decisions wrere approved by the general con¬ ference. 425. Resolved, That in no case shall the report of the committee on ministerial relations be expunged from the records of an annual conference without the consent of the minister whose case had been under consideration. Frcm the Journal of 1907 U 426. Quarterly Conference Relation of Preacher Supplying in Conference Other Than His Own. — The committee on examining quarterly conference records presented the following appeal found on page 3G5 of the Chicago district records, Illinois confer¬ ence, reading as follows: •A question was raised as to whether C. B. Ebey was a member of this quarterly conference. The dis¬ trict elder ruled that he was, by virtue of his being pastor at Melrose Park. An appeal was taken from this ruling by W. P. Ferries. The president, Wilson T. Hogue, decided “that no preacher in the Free Methodist church can be a mem¬ ber of two quarterly conferences at the same time. As C. B. Ebey is a member of the Southern Cali¬ fornia conference, and, as such, has his quarterly con¬ ference relation fixed within that body, it follows that he cannot be a member of any quarterly conference of the Free Methodist church except his own.” De¬ cision sustained. 427. Surrender of Parchments. — At the forty- fourth session of the Genesee conference, an elder requested a certificate of withdrawal from the confer¬ ence. The president, B. R. Jones, ruled “that he was entitled to a certificate of withdrawal only upon con¬ dition that he surrender his ordination parchments.” CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 271 Approved by committee and adopted by the confer¬ ence. 428. Only Annual Conference Empowered to Render a Superannuate Effective. — At the annual ses¬ sion of the Genesee conference held in Buffalo, N. Y., September 5-9, 1906, in the case of Rev. William Man¬ ning, the president, W. A. Sellew, in answer to a question raised, decided “that the appointment of a superannuated preacher to a circuit on a charge by the district elder, according to the Discipline, and with the consent and cooperation of the preacher, made him effective. He cannot be superannuated and effective at the same time. I decide that he has been effective during the past year, and cannot draw his superannuated allowance.” Decision disapproved. 429. Ruling on a Question of Jurisdiction. — At the Oil City conference in 1906 the committee on claimants and claims submitted the following reso¬ lution in case of Mrs. H. D. W. Showers to the presi¬ dent for a decision: Whereas, The application of Mrs. H. D. W. Show¬ ers, widow of the late Rev. A. C. Showers, has been presented to the committee on claimants and claims; and, Whereas, At the time of his death Brother Showers was a member of the Pittsburgh conference, and the Oil City conference did not exist; therefore, Resolved, That it is the sense of this committee that the said application does not legally come before this conference, and that we respectfully ask the chair to render a decision upon this point. General Superintendent Walter A. Sellew ruled “that the application should not be presented to this conference, but to the Pittsburgh conference.” De¬ cision sustained. IT 430. As to Right of Preacher in Charge to Vote in Business Meetings of the Circuit. — At the session CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW of the West Iowa conference held in 1903 a question was raised as to whether a preacher in charge has a right to vote in the business meetings of his circuit. The president, E. P. Hart, ruled that “he has a right to vote in the official meetings, but not in the circuit or society meetings.” Decision sustained. IT 43 f . Forfeiting Conference Relation by With¬ drawal. — The Journal of the Texas Conference, page 236, shows that the name of M. M. Lowerys was called, and he was reported to have joined the Meth¬ odist Episcopal Church South. Since doing so, how¬ ever, he had again united with the Free Methodist church, by letter. The chair ruled that in uniting with another church he had forfeited his relation to this conference, and that it would be necessary for him to come up by regular process, if desirous of renewing his relation with the conference. Decision sustained. TT 432. An Elder Withdrawn from Church and Con¬ ference May Not Be Received Back into the Confer¬ ence on His Ordination Parchments. — An elder in the Illinois conference, who had withdrawn from the church and conference and united with an organization not giving letters of dismissal, and who had since united with the Free Methodist church on probation and was recommended for restoration to his former conference relation on his ordination parchments, the question v/as asked of the chair, “Can he be legally received on the parchments aforesaid?” The president, W. A. Sellew, rendered the follow¬ ing decision in the case: “If this elder had come to us with a regular certificate of his standing as a Christian minister from the church organization to which he has belonged since he left us, we wTould be warranted in receiving him into full membership in the conference, as he holds our ordination papers as an elder. Now7, as he cannot obtain such a certificate, CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 273 because of the refusal of this organization to give such certificates, and not because of any fault or fail¬ ure of conduct on his part, I decide he may be re¬ ceived into full membership in the conference on his ordination papers, and by vote of this conference adopting the resolution now before the conference.” Decision disapproved. 433. On Use of Instrumental Music in Sunday- schools. — At the session of the New York conference of 1903 the question was asked of the president, B. R. Jones: “Is it a violation of the Discipline of the Free Methodist church to use instrumental music in the Sunday-schools of the church-?” The president decided that it is. Decision sustained. IT 434. Transfer of Membership by Missionaries to Africa. — The committee on missions recommends the following: “That we require all missionaries now on the African field, or who may go to that field in the future, to transfer their church membership to some society on that field.” Adopted. TT 435. On Reading Reports in Annual Confer¬ ence: Resolved, That in the presentation of the reports from the circuits at the annual conferences only the items classified under the headings “Numerical,” “Statistical” and “Church Property,” need be read, unless other items are ordered read by the confer¬ ence. Resolution adopted. ft 436. On referring cases to the committee on ministerial relations it was resolved as follows: “It is the sense of this general conference that the char¬ acter of ministers shall not be referred to the com¬ mittee on ministerial relations, except in case of re¬ ported unsoundness in doctrine or irregularities of life; and that in all instances where the case is noticed in the permanent records, such records shall 274 CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW show the nature of the offense, and the final disposi¬ tion of the case.” 437. Regarding the Excusing of Preachers from Passing in the Courses of Study in Full.-— The follow¬ ing resolution originated in committee on superin¬ tendency, and was adopted by the conference: “Whereas, We find numerous instances recorded in various conference journals where persons have been received on trial into the traveling connection without having passed examination in the prelim¬ inary course of study, and admitted to full member¬ ship and elected to deacon’s orders without having passed examination in the second year’s course of study, and in some instances of persons elected to elder’s orders who have not completed the fourth year’s course of study; and, “Whereas, The practise referred to is a plain vio¬ lation of the Discipline, paragraphs 150, 151, 155, 156; therefore, “Resolved, First, that this committee recommend the general conference to express its disapproval of such action on the part of the conferences involved, and call upon them to discontinue such action in the future. Second, that the honored bishops be, and that they hereby are, instructed to inform all confer¬ ences where such action may be proposed in the fu¬ ture that the contemplated action is illegal.” 438. Right of an Elder Presiding in Conference by Appointment of a Bishop to Transfer a Preacher. — A question regarding this matter arose, and on mo¬ tion it was decided “that an elder acting as presi¬ dent of an annual conference by appointment of a bishop, has authority to transfer a preacher into that conference while so acting.” 439. On Decisions of Bishops: Resolved, That whenever a bishop shall decide up¬ on a point of law in an annual conference, which does CONSTRUCTIONS OF LAW 275 not grow out of the conference proceedings, he shall immediately report the same to the other bishops, and secure their approval or disapproval in writing. His decision shall not be binding upon the other bishops unless they are notified that at least two of them have approved it in writing. The resolution was adopted. See paragraph 417. 440. On Inserting Certain Items in an Appendix to the Discipline. — The following was adopted: “Resolved, That the editor, or editors, of the Dis¬ cipline be instructed to place as an Appendix to the Discipline the following items: Names and addresses of all of the general conference officers, the general conference districts, the executive committee, the general missionary board, the board of conference claimants, the board of education, the board of church extension, construction of law by the general confer¬ ence, and the constitution of the woman’s foreign missionary society.” Sunday-school Board General board, 249 Time of meeting of general board, 249 (2) Duties of general board, 249 (2, 3) Expenses to be paid, 249 (5) Members of general board, 249 (6), 394 Local board, 254 Local board, bow constituted, 254 (1) Duties of local board, 254 (3-7) Meetings of when held, 254 (1) Order of business for, 254 (7) Sunday-school Literature Editor of, how elected, 57, (1), 94 Supply of for schools, 254 (5), 252 (7) Sunday-school Secretary General, elected by general conference, 94 Conference, duties of, 252 • Superannuated — See Preachers and Claimants Supernumerary — See Preachers Supererogation, works of, article on, 26 Supply Traveling preacher employed as, relation of, 426 Local preacher or evangelist engaged as, 170 To transfer membership, when, 170 Support Of gospel, wrong means for, 11 By class contributions, 41 (3), 83 (1), 178 (1), 216 (3) Of bishops, 214 Of district elders, 215 Of preachers in charge, 216 Of pastors, official board to estimate for, 216 (1) Of local preachers in some cases, 162 Of evangelists, 217 Of missions, 259, 267, 268 Of superannuated preachers, 21S-231a Of widows and orphans of preachers, 221, 223, 225 Of evangelists by conference board, 119 Tithing system recommended, 161 (19), 216 (5) Budget system recommended, 216 (5) Surrender of parchments, 196 (3), 427 Suspension of traveling preacher, 187-189 Suspension of local preacher, 199 Temperance General rule on, 43 Special advice, 63-65 In all things, 138 (5) Temporal Economy - — See Support Church property, 232-244 Church and parsonage aid, 244a Testimony of members at a distance, 79 (2) The Free Methodist 334 INDEX [Time Editor of, how elected, 57 (1), 94 Copies of taken, to be reported, 122 (20) Time, improvement of by preachers, 135, 147 Time Limit For preachers, 114 Exception to, 114 Not to be abolished by general conference, 97 (2) For district elders, 160 (12) Tobacco, rule on, 43, 75 (6) Tract distribution, 161 (13) Transfer — See Certificate Of church membership, 79 Of conference membership, 122 (11, 13), 159 (6) Transubstantiation, doctrine of unscriptura'l, 34 Traveling expenses of district elders, 160 (3) Treasure, laying up on earth forbidden, 43 Treasurer Of the general conference, election of 57 (1), 94 Of general conference trustees, 390 Of the church funds, 388 Of the board of education, name and address of, 388 Custodian of educational funds, 248 Woman’s missionary society, 388, 482 (5) Of annual conference, election of, 110 (3) Vacancy, how filled, 110 (3) Annual report of, 122 (17-23) Of quarterly conference, 125 (4) Treasurer of General Missionary Board Election of, 258 (1) May be chosen outside the board, 258 (1) Duties of, 266 Vacancy in office of, how filled, 258 (2) To disburse funds subject to the board, 259, 264 (3, 4) Trials, Church Chapter on, 179-208 Objects of, 179-181 Privilege of not to be abolished, 61 (3), 97 (3) By an impartial committee guaranteed, 61 (3), 97 (3) Accused member entitled to speedy, 403 Of an accused member, 202-206 Who shall preside at trial of member, 206 Election of committees for, 204, 205 Notification, 203 Probation for penalty not to exceed six months, 202 When under penalty must vacate offices, 202a, 480 When under penalty must surrender credentials, 202a When under penalty must not exercise official func¬ tions, 208a Trials of Local Preachers Section on, 197-201 By quarterly conference or committee, 197, 198 Vacancies] INDEX 335 Presiding officer, 198 Suspension of, 199 Change of venue, 183, 200 Appeal of, 201 Of probationers in annual conference, 197 Trials of Traveling Preachars Section on, 184-195 Grounds of complaint, 184 Disciplinary labor with, 184 To be furnished with charges ten days before, 185 Suspension of between conference sessions, 186-188 Annual conference has original jurisdiction over, 189 May be before committee appointed by conference, 190 Right of appeal guaranteed, 191 Appeal, may be tried by executive committee, 103 (1) May be tried by general conference or referred by it to special committee, 192 Secretary, appointment and duties of, 182 (4) General directions, 182, 183 The rule given by Christ obligatory, 180 "When previous labor is not required, 189, 423 Absence from, 189, 207 Penalty suspended pending hearing of appeal, 193 Shall not exercise ministerial office, 193 Form of bill of charges against, 194 Order of conducting trial, 195 Restoration of credentials, 196 Triers of Appeals General conference, 192 Executive committee, 103 Annual conference, 201 Quarterly conference, 207 Who may not sit on appeal cases, 182 (5) General directions concerning, 182 (5-8) Verdicts of, allowable, 182 (7) Trinity, Faith in Holy, article on, 16 Trustees — See Church Property Of general conference, name and address, 390 Incorporation of, 383 Of local churches, election and duties of, 232-236 Report of, 234 When ceasing to be members of the church, 235 Unacceptable preacher, how removed, 160 (7) Union among ourselves, 148 Unions — See Labor Unions Union with others, 149 United societies, rise of, 39 United societies, general rules of, 41-46 Usefulness, general rule, 44 Usury, or unlawful interest, forbidden, 43 Vacancies In executive committee, how filled, 102 In general conference elective offices, how filled, 102 336 INDEX [Visiting In missionary board, how filled, 258 (2) Among district elders, how filled, 160 (15) In board of trustees, how filled, 129 (16), 235 Visiting list for pastor's successor, 161 (9, 10) Visiting, pastoral, 143, 144, 151 (15), 161 (13) Voting In annual and general conferences, 9 General conference quorum, 59, 92 By “orders” in general conference, 60, 96 By “orders” in annual conference, 112 For extra session general conference, 54, 90 On changing restrictive rules, 62, 98 Secure division of house, 60, 96, 112 President of stationing committee has casting vote, 114 By ballot, required in general conference, 55, 57, 93, 94 Executive committee, 103 (3) Annual conference, 110, 114 Circuit meeting, 130 (2), 177 (3) Classes, 176 (1) Bribery for, to be extirpated, 146 (6) For prohibition, a duty, 65 Respecting right of preacher in business meeting, 430 Watch night meetings to be held, 161 (4) Wesley, John Historical statement, 1 United societies, 39-46 Widows of preachers — See Conference Claimants and Support Will, Free, grace necessary to, 23 Wine, unfermented for Lord’s Supper, 64 Withdrawal Of preachers, 122 (2), 153 (4), 154, 431, 432 Credentials to be surrendered by preachers, 427 Of members, to be reported by pastors, 161 (8) On validity of letter of, 418 Certificate of, 79 (5) Woman's auxiliary missionary board, 441 Woman’s missionary society, constitution of, 482 Women Preacher’s conduct toward, 135 May be delegates to conference, 410, 411 May be members of annual conference, 120, 172 (3, 4) May be ordained deacon, 120 As deaconesses, 174 Members of general missionary board, 258 (1) May be received into traveling connection, 172 (3) Words, using many in buying and selling, 43 Works Good, article on, 25 General rules concerning, 44 Of supererogation, 26 Worship] INDEX Worldly amusements prohibited, 12 Worship Character of true, 10 Chapter on, 80-85 Order of, 80 Attendance on, 45 Singing a part of, 81 In language understood, 30 Love-feasts to be held, 82 Class meetings to be held, 83 General class meeting, 84 Rites and ceremonies, 36 Neglect of, 85 \ - (