THE ’ 1 CONSTITUTION, CHARTER, AND BY-LAWS OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY 4 * OF THE .METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HUNT & EATON, ISO Fifth Avenue, New York 1890 % THE CONSTITUTION, CHARTER, AND BY-LAWS OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HUNT & EATON, ISO Fifth Avenue, New York 1890 Officers of the Society and Board. BISHOP THOMAS BOWMAN, President. Vice-Presidents. Bishop W. F. Mallalieu, M. D’C. Crawford, “ C. H. Fowler, James H. Taft, “ J. H. Vincent, Daniel Wise, “ J. N. FitzGerald, A. D. Vail, “ I. W. Joyce, G. G. Reynolds, “ J. P. Newman, Geo. J. Ferry, “ D. A. Goodsell, “ J. M. Walden, Enoch L. Fancher, John French. John M. Reid, Honorary Secreta?y , Charles C. McCabe, J. Oramel Peck, Adna B. Leonard, Cor. Secretaries . Sandford Hunt, Treasurer. Earl Cranston, Assistant Treasurer. S. L. Baldwin, Recording Secretary . Bishop R. S. Foster, “ S. M. Merrill, “ E. G. Andrews, “ H. W. Warren, “ C. D. Foss, “ J. F. Hurst, 4< W. X. Ninde, C. B. Fisk, J. S. McLean, Board of Managers. MINISTERS. Bishop T. Bowman, “ R. S. Foster, “ S. M. Merrill, “ E. G. Andrews, “ II. W. Warren, “ C. D. Foss, “ J. F. Hurst, “ W, X. Ninde, “ J. M. Walden, “ W. F. Mallalieu, “ C. H. Fowler, , 44 J. H. Vincent, “ J. N. FitzGerald 44 ' I. W. Joyce, 44 J. P. Newman, 14 D. A. Goodsell, Daniel Wise, M. D’C. Crawford, Albert S. Hunt, Lewis R. Dunn, Albert D. Vail, Aaron K. Sanford, John Miley, John B. Merwin, Christian F. Grimm, Richard Vanhorne, Alexander L. Brice, James M. Buckley, ,George G. Saxe, Sandford Hunt, Jacob B. Graw, James M. King, Enoch L. Fancher, James H. Taft, John S. McLean, John French, Charles C. North, Gilbert Oakley, Oliver H. P. Archer, George J. Ferry, John Stephenson, George G. Reynolds, Clinton B. Fisk, LAYMEN. Lemuel Skidmore, John D. Slayback, Anderson Fowler, Ezra B, Tuttle, Charles Scott, Ai.den Speare, Peter A. Welch, William H. Falconer, William I. Preston, John E. Searles, Jr., James Floy, Henry A. Buttz, Charles S. Coit, Samuel F. Upham, Watson L. Phillips, Thomas H. Burch, Gilbert FI. Gregory, Andrew Longacre, John F. Goucher, James R. Day, Charles S. Harrowf.r, FI. A. Monroe, Benjamin M. Adams, Daniel R. Lowrie, Geo. F. Eaton, J. W. Mendenhall, John M. Reid. A. E. Conover, William Hoyt, J. Milton Cornell, Samuel C. Pullman, Richard Grant, H. W. Knight, Jno. E. Stevens, A. II. De Haven, J. A. Punderford. C. C. Corbin. Standing Committees. The Treasurer is ex officio a member and the Corresponding Secretaries are advisory members of each of the Standing Committees, except the Committees on Estimates and on Audits; and the Bishop having charge of a foreign mission is an ex-officio member of the Committee having charge of that mission. J. B. Graw, J. M. Reid. On Africa. A. K. Sanford, Ch'n. W. L. Phillips, A. Fowler, C ; S. Harrower, J.’ Stephenson, H. A. Monroe, B. M. Adams, H. W. Knight. . On South America and Mexico. J. S. McLean, Ch'n. C. C. North, A. L. Brice, A. S. Hunt, A. Longacre, Geo. F. Eaton, J. A. Penderford, C. C. Corbin. On China. J. H. Taft, Ch'n. L. R. Dunn, S. F. Upham, P. A. Welch, J. E. Searles, Jr., S. C. Pullman, J. E. Stevens, J. M. Reid. On Europe. M. D’C. Crawford, Ch'n. C. F. Grimm, C. B. Fisic, H. A. Buttz, C. S. Coit, T. H. Burch, J. R. Day, A. H. De Haven, J. M. Buckley. On India. A. D. Vail, Ch'n. R. Vanhorne, E. B. Tuttle, G. H. Gregory, J. F. Goucher, A. E. Conover, B. M. Adams, J. M. Cornell. On Japan and Korea. C. B. Fisk, Ch'n. J. Miley, O. H. P. Archer, G. Oakley, C. Scott, G. G. Saxe, D. R. Lowrie, J. W. Mendenhall. On Self-supporting Missions. Richard Grant, Ch'n. J. S. McLean, Anderson Fowler, J. M. King, C. B. Fisk, J. W. Mendenhall, J. R. Day. On Domestic Missions. D. Wise, Ch'n. J. French, A. S. Hunt, J. B. Merwin, C. B. Fisk, J. D. Slayback, H. W. Knight, J. A. Punderford. On Finance. J. H. Taft, Ch'n. G. J. Ferry, W. I. Preston, J. E. Searles, Jr., A. E. Conover, Wm. Hoyt, J. M. Cornell, A. H. De Haven. On Lands and Legacies. E. L. Fancher, Ch'n. O. H. P. Archer, G. G. Reynolds, L. Skidmore, A. Speare, P. A. Welch, J. Floy, Wm. Hoyt. On Publications. J. M. King, Ch'n. D. Wise, J. M. Buckley, J. F. Goucher, A. Longacre, G. H. Gregory, A. K, Sanford, On Woman’s Mission Work. G. G. Saxe, Ch'n. J. French, J. Miley, J. R. Day, C. S. PIarrower, D. R. Lowrie, M. D’C. Crawford, L. R. Dunn, C. C. Corbin. On Estimates. J. D. Slayback, Ch'n. A. D. Vail, J. S. McLean, W. H. Falconer, S. F. Upham, A. L. Brice, G. J. Ferry, J. M. Buckley. On Nominations and Gen¬ eral Reference. J. S. McLean, Ch'n . A. K. Sanford, J. PI. Taft, M. D’C. Crawford, A. D. Vail, C. B. Fisk, Richard Grant, D. Wise, E. L. Fancher, J. M. King, G. G. Saxe, John D. Slayback, G. Oakley. Audits at New York, G. Oakley, Ch'n. E. B. Tuttle, L. Skidmore, T. H. Burch, J. Floy, W. L. Phillips, Richard Grant. Audits at Cincinnati. J. Cochnower, Ch'n . A. Shinkle, R. A. W. Bruehl, R. Dymond, E. Sargent. 390 MISSIONARY REPORT. L1889. CONSTITUTION OF THE Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, AS BEYISED BY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1S8S. ARTICLE I. NAME AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. The name of this association shall be “The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.” Its objects are charjtable and religious ; designed to diffuse more generally the blessings of educa¬ tion and Christianity, and to promote and support missionary schools and Christian missions throughout the United States and Territories, and also in foreign countries, under such rules and regulations as the General Con¬ ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church may from time to time prescribe. ARTICLE II. MEMBERS, HONORARY MANAGERS, AND PATRONS. The payment of twenty dollars at one time shall constitute a member for life. Any person paying one hundred and fifty dollars at one time into the treasury shall be an honorary manager for life ; and the contribu¬ tion of five hundred dollars shall constitute the donor an honorary patron for life : any such honorary manager or patron shall be entitled to a seat, and the right of speaking, but not of voting, in the Board of Managers. ARTICLE III. BOARD OF MANAGERS. The management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers, consisting of the Bishops of said Church, who shall be ex-officio members of said Board, and thirty-two laymen, and thirty-two traveling ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, according to the requirements of the exist¬ ing Charter of the Society : vacancies in the Board shall be filled as the CONSTITUTION. 39 1 1889.I Charter provides; and the absence without excuse of any manager from six consecutive meetings of the Board shall be equivalent to a resignation. The Board shall also have authority to make By-laws not inconsistent with this Constitution or the Charter; to print books for Indian and For¬ eign Missions, and Missions in which a foreign language is used ; to elect a President, Vice-Presidents, and a Recording Secretary; to fill vacancies that may occur among the officers elective by its own body; and shall present a statement of its transactions and funds to the Church in its An¬ nual Report, and also shall lay before the General Conference a report of its transactions for the four preceding years, and the state of its funds. ARTICLE IV. CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. There shall be three Corresponding Secretaries appointed by the Gen¬ eral Conference. They shall be subject to the direction and control of the Board of Man¬ agers, by whom their salaries shall be fixed, and their salaries shall be paid out of the treasury. They shall be exclusively employed in conducting the correspondence of the Society, in furnishing the Church with mission¬ ary intelligence, and, under the direction of the Board, in supervising the missionary work of the Church, and by correspondence, traveling, and otherwise, in promoting the general interests of the Society. Should the office of either of the Secretaries become vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Board shall have power to provide for the duties of the office until the Bishops, or a majority of them, shall fill the vacancy. ARTICLE V. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. At the regular meeting of the Board next succeeding the final ad¬ journment of the General Conference, the officers to be elected by the Board shall be chosen and hold their office for the term of one year, or until their successors shall be elected ; or, if a vacancy occur during the year by death, resignation, or otherwise, it may be filled at any regular meeting of the Board. ARTICLE VI. PRESIDING OFFICER. At all meetings of the Board, the President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, and in the absence of the President and of all the Vice-Presidents, a member appointed by the meeting for that purpose, shall preside. ARTICLE VII. QUORUM. Thirteen Managers at any meeting of the Board shall be a quorum. 39 2 MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. ARTICLE XIII- MINUTES. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Chairman of the meeting at which the same are read and approved. ARTICLE IX. AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. It is recommended that within the bounds of each Annual Conference there be established a Conference Missionary Society, auxiliary to this institution, under such regulations as the Conferences shall respectively prescribe. ARTICLE X. SPECIAL DONATIONS. Auxiliary societies or donors may designate the Mission or Missions, under the care of this Society, to which they desire any part or the whole of their contributions to be appropriated; which special designation shall be publicly acknowledged by the Board. But in the event that more funds are raised for any particular Mission than are necessary for its support the surplus shall be at the disposal of the Board for the general purposes of the Society. ARTICLE XI. GENERAL MISSIONARY COMMITTEE. The General Conference shall divide the Annual Conferences into fourteen Mission Districts, from each of which there shall be one repre¬ sentative, to be appointed for the term of four years by the General Con¬ ference at each of its sessions, on the nomination of the delegates of the Annual Conferences within the Mission Districts respectively, and four¬ teen representatives, to be appointed annually by the Board of Managers from its own members, who, with the Corresponding and Recording Sec¬ retaries and the Treasurers of the Society and the Board of Bishops, shall constitute a committee, to be called the General Missionary Committee ; provided that the Bishops shall fill any vacancy that may occur among the members appointed by the General Conference, so that each Mission District may be fully represented at each annual meeting. The General Missionary Committee shall meet annually at such place in the United States as the Committee may, from year to year, determine, and at such time in the month of November as shall be determined by the Secretaries and Treasurers, of which due notice shall be given to each member ; and the Bishops shall preside over the deliberations of the Com¬ mittee ; but the Annual Meeting of said Committee, which for the year 1888 shall be held in the city of New York, shall not be held in the same city more frequently than once in four years. Said General Missionary Committee shall determine what fields shall 1889.] CONSTITUTION. 393 he occupied as Foreign Missions, the number of persons to be employed on said Missions, and the amount necessary for the support of each Mis¬ sion ; and it shall also determine the amount for which each Bishop may draw for the Domestic Missions of the Conferences over which he shall preside, and the Bishop shall not draw on the Treasurers for more than said amount. Nevertheless, in the intervals between the meetings of the General Missionary Committee, the Board of Managers may provide for any unforeseen emergency that may arise in any of our Missions, and to meet such demands may expend any additional amount not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars. The General Missionary Committee shall be amenable to the General Conference, to which it shall make a full report of its doings. Any expenses incurred in the discharge of its duties shall be paid from the treasury of the Society. ARTICLE XII. SUPPORT OF SUPERANNUATED AND OTHER MISSIONARIES. The Board may provide for the support of superannuated missionaries, widows and orphans of missionaries, who may not be provided for by their Annual Conferences respectively, it being understood that they shall not receive more than is usually allowed to other superannuated minis¬ ters, their widows and orphans. The amount allowed for the support of a missionary shall not exceed the usual allowance of other itinerant preachers ; and in the case of Do¬ mestic Missions the Bishop or president of the Conference shall draw for the same in quarterly installments, and shall always promptly notify the Treasurer of all drafts made by him. The administration of appropria¬ tions to Foreign Missions shall be under the direction of the Board of Managers. No one shall be acknowledged as a missionary, or receive support as such from the funds of the Society, who has not some definite field as¬ signed to him in the service of the Society, or who could not be an effect¬ ive laborer on a circuit, except as above provided. ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS. This Constitution shall be subject to alteration or amendment only by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 382 MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. ACT OF INCORPORATION. AN ACT to incorporate the Missionary Society of the Methodist Epis¬ copal Church . Passed April 9, 1839. The People of the State of New York , represented in Senate and Assem¬ bly , do enact as follows : Section i. Robert R. Roberts, Joshua Soule, Elijah Hedding, James O. Andrew, Beverly Waugh, Thomas A. Morris, Daniel Ostrander, Na¬ than Bangs, Thomas Mason, George Lane, Francis Hall, Joseph Smith, Peter Badeau, D. M. Reese, M.D., George Innes, M. Houseworth, Philip Romaine, L. S. Burling, J. P. Aimes, John Valentine, William Gale, Abra¬ ham Stagg, Erastus Hyde, Henry Moore, James Harper, Thomas Brown, Peter Macnamara, William B. Skidmore, Stephen Dando, J. B. Oakley, Henry Worrall, George Suckley, T. Barrett, M.D., G. Coutant, J. L. Phelps, M.D., B. F. Howe, Israel D. Disosway, G. P. Disosway, Benja¬ min Disbrow, Ralph Mead, Jotham S. Fountain, Samuel Martin, and all persons who now are, or hereafter may become, associated with them, are hereby constituted a body corporate, by the name of “The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” and by that name and style be capable of purchasing, holding, and conveying such real estate as the purposes of the Corporation shall require; but the annual income of the real estate to be held by them shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars. Sec. 2. The object of the said Corporation is to diffuse more generally the blessings of education, civilization, and Christianity, throughout the United States, and elsewhere. Sec. 3. The management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers, to be elected annually on the third Monday in April, in the city of New York. Sec. 4. The persons named in the first section of this Act shall be the first Board of Managers of such Corporation, and shall hold their offices until the next annual election, or until others shall be elected in their places. Sec. 5. The said Corporation shall possess the general powers and be subject to the liabilities imposed in and by the third title of the eighteenth chapter of the first part of the Revised Statutes. Sec. 6 . The Legislature may at any time alter or repeal this Act. Sec. 7, This Act shall take effect immediately. ACT OF INCORPORATION. 1889.] 383 AN ACT for the relief of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Passed April 6, 1850. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and As¬ sembly, do enact as follows : Section i. The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, incorporated on the 9th of April, 1839, shall be capable of taking, hold¬ ing, or receiving, any real estate, by virtue of any devise contained in any last will and testament of any person whatsoever, the clear annual income of which devise shall not exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars : Pro¬ vided, no person leaving a wife, or child, or parent, shall devise to such Corporation more than one fourth of his or her estate, after the payment of his or her debts; and such devise shall be valid to the extent of such one fourth ; and no such devise shall be valid in any will which shall not have been made and executed at least two months before the death of the testator. Sec. 2. This Act shall take effect immediately. AN ACT to amend “An Act to incorporate the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Passed fune 30, 1853. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate a?id As¬ sembly, do enact as follows: Section i. The third section of “An Act to incorporate the Mission¬ ary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” passed April 9, 1839, is hereby amended so as to read as follows : Sec. 3. The management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation‘shall be vested in a Board of Managers, to be an¬ nually elected at a meeting of the Society to be called for that purpose, and held in the city of New York, at such time and on such notice as the Board of Managers for the time being shall previously prescribe : such Board shall consist of not less than thirty-two lay members, and of so many clerical members, not exceeding that number, as shall be determined upon at such annual meeting, and each of whom shall be a minister in good and regular standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Board of Managers shall have power to fill any vacancy that may happen, until the ensuing annual election. Thirteen members of the Board at any meeting thereof shall be a sufficient number for the transaction of bus¬ iness ; and at any meeting of the Society, twenty-five members of the Society shall be a sufficient quorum. AN ACT to consolidate the several Acts relating to the Missionary So¬ ciety of the Methodist Episcopal Church into one Act, and to amend the same. Passed April 11, 1859. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and As¬ sembly, do enact as follows : Section i. The Act entitled, “An Act to incorporate the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” passed April ninth, eighteen / 384 MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. hundred and thirty-nine, and the several acts amendatory thereof, and re¬ lating to the said Society, are respectively hereby amended and consolidated into one Act; and the several provisions thereof as thus amended and consolidated, are comprised in the following sections: Sec. 2. All persons associated or who may become associated together in the Society above named, are constituted a body corporate, by the name and style of “ The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,”* and are hereby declared to have been such body corporate since the pas¬ sage of said Act of April ninth, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine; and such Corporation are and shall be capable of purchasing, holding, and conveying such real estate as the purposes of the said Corporation shall require ; but the annual income of the real estate held by them at any one time, within the State of New York, shall not exceed the sum of thirty thousaad dollars. Sec. 3. The objects of the said Corporation are charitable and religious; designed to diffuse more generally the blessings of education and Chris¬ tianity, and to promote and support missionary schools and Christian mis¬ sions throughout the United States and the continent of America, and also in foreign countries. SEC. 4. The management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers, to be annu¬ ally elected at a meeting of the Society to be called for that purpose, and held in the city of New York, at such time and on such notice as the Board of Managers, for the time being, shall previously prescribe. Such Board shall consist of not less than thirty-two lay members, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of so many clerical members, not exceeding that number, as shall be determined upon at such annual meet¬ ing, and each of whom shall be a minister in good and regular standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Such Board of Managers may fill any vacancy happening therein, until the term shall commence of the Managers elected at such annual meeting ; shall have power to direct by what officer the conveyance of real estate by said Corporation shall be executed ; and shall have such other power as may be necessary for the management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation. Sec. 5. Thirteen members of the said Board of Managers, at any meeting thereof, shall be a sufficient number for the transaction of business; and at any meeting of the Society, twenty-five members shall be a suffi¬ cient quorum. The Managers elected at each annual meeting of the Society shall be the managers of such Corporation for one year from the first day of January following, and until others, elected in their places, shall be competent to assume their duties. Sec. 6. The said Corporation shall be capable of taking, receiving, or holding any real estate, by virtue of any devise contained in any last will and testament of any person whomsoever; subject, however, to the lim¬ itation expressed in the second section of this Act, as to the aggregate amount of such real estate ; and the said Corporation shall be also com¬ petent to act as a trustee in respect to any devise or bequest pertaining to ACT OF INCORPORATION. 385 1889.] the objects of said Corporation ; any devises or bequests of real or per¬ sonal property may be made directly to said Corporation, or in trust, for any of the purposes comprehended in the general objects of said Society; and such trusts may continue for such time as may be necessary to ac¬ complish the purposes for which they may be created. Sec. 7. The said Corporation shall also possess the general powers specified in and by the third title of the third article of chapter eighteen of the first part of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York. Sec. 8. The Legislature may at any time alter or repeal this Act. Sec. 9. This Act shall take effect immediately. AN ACT to Ajnend the Charter of the Missionary Society of the Meth¬ odist Episcopal Church. Passed April 14, 1869. The People of the State of New York , represented in Senate and As¬ sembly, do enact as follows : Section i. The Act entitled “An Act to consolidate the several Acts relating to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church into one Act, and to amend the same, passed April 11, 1859;” and the Act entitled “ A11 Act to incorporate the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” passed April ninth, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, and the several Acts Amendatory thereof, and relating to the said Society, are respectively hereby amended and consolidated into one Act; and the several provisions thereof as thus amended and consolidated are com¬ prised in the following sections : Sec. 2. All persons associated or who may become associated together in the Society above named are constituted a body corporate, by the name and style of “The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” and are hereby declared to have been such body corporate since the pas¬ sage of said Act of April ninth, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine ; and such Corporation are and shall be capable of purchasing, holding, and conveying such real estate as the purposes of the said Corporation shall require; but the annual income of the real estate held by them at any one time, within the State of New York, shall not exceed the sum of thirty thousand dollars. Sec. 3. The objects of the said Corporation are charitable and relig¬ ious ; designed to diffuse more generally the blessings of education and Christianity, and to promote and support missionary schools and Chris¬ tian missions throughout the United States and Territories, and also in foreign countries. Sec. 4. The management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers, to be annually elected at a meeting of the Society to be called for that purpose, and held in the city of New York, at such time and on such notice as the Board of Managers, for the time being, shall previously prescribe. Such Board shall consist of thirty-two laymen of the Methodist Episcopal 25 386 MISSIONARY REPORT, [1889. Church, and thirty-two traveling ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Such Board of Managers may fill any vacancy happening therein, until the term shall commence of the Managers elected at such annual meeting ; shall have power to direct by what officer the conveyance of real estate by said Corporation shall be executed ; and shall have such other power as may be necessary for the management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation, in conformity with the Con¬ stitution of said Society as it now exists, or as it may, in the manner therein provided, be from time to time amended. Sec. 5. Thirteen members of the said Board of Managers, at any meet¬ ing thereof, shall be a sufficient number for the transaction of business ; and at any meeting of the Society twenty-five members shall be a quorum. The Managers elected at each annual meeting of the Society shall be the Managers of such Corporation for one year from the first day of January following, and until others, elected in their places, shall be competent to assume their duties. The Corresponding Secretaries of said Society shall be elected by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and shall hold their office for four years, and until their successors are elected ; and in case of a vacancy by resignation, death, or otherwise, the Bishops of the said Methodist Episcopal Church shall elect their suc¬ cessors, to hold their office till the ensuing General Conference. Sec. 6. The said Corporation shall be capable of taking, receiving, or holding any real estate, by virtue of any devise contained in any last will and testament of any person whomsoever; subject, however, to the lim¬ itation expressed in the second section of this Act, as to the aggregate amount of such real estate; and also to all provisions of law now existing in relation to devises and bequests ; and the said Corporation shall be also competent to act as a Trustee in respect to any devise or bequest pertain¬ ing to the objects of said Corporation ; and devises and bequests of real or personal property may be made directly to said Corporation, or in trust, for any of the purposes comprehended in the general objects of said So¬ ciety ; and such trusts may continue for such time as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which they may be created. Sec. 7. The said Corporation shall also possess the general powers specified in and by the third title of chapter eighteen of the first part of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York. Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect immediately. AN ACT to Amend the Charter of the Missionary Society of the Meth¬ odist Episcopal Church . Passed April 4, 1873. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem¬ bly, do e?iact as follows : Section i. The Act entitled “An Act to Amend the Charter of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” passed April fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine; also the Act entitled “ An Act to Consolidate the several Acts relating to the Missionary Society of A£T OF INCORPORATION. 387 1889.] the Methodist Episcopal Church into one Act, and to amend the same," passed April eleventh, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine; and the Act en¬ titled “ An Act to Incorporate the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church," passed April ninth, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, and the several Acts amendatory thereof, and relating to the said Society, are respectively hereby amended and consolidated into one Act; and the several provisions thereof, as thus amended and consolidated, are com¬ prised in the following sections : Sec. 2. All persons associated, or who may become associated, together in the Society above named are constituted a body corporate, by the name and style of “ The Missionary Society of the Methodist Epis¬ copal Church,” and are hereby declared to have been such body corporate since the passage of said Act of April ninth, eighteen hundred and thirty- nine ; and such Corporation is and shall be capable of purchasing, hold¬ ing, and conveying such real estate as the purposes of the said Corpora¬ tion shall require ; but the annual income of the estate held by it at any one time, within the State of New York, shall not exceed the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars. Sec. 3. The objects of the said Corporation are charitable and relig¬ ious ; designed to diffuse more generally the blessings of education and Christianity, and to promote and support missionary schools and Christian missions throughout the United States and Territories, and also in for¬ eign countries. Sec. 4. The management and disposition of the affairs and property of the said Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Managers, com¬ posed of thirty-two laymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and thirty-two traveling ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, ap¬ pointed by the General Conference of said Church at its quadrennial ses¬ sions, and of the Bishops of said Church, who shall be ex-officiQ members of said Board. Such Managers as were appointed by said General Con¬ ference at its last session shall be entitled to act as such from and after the passage of this Act, until they or others appointed by the ensuing General Conference shall assume their duties. Any such Board of Man¬ agers may fill any vacancy happening therein until the term shall com¬ mence of the Managers appointed by an ensuing General Conference, said Board of Managers shall have such power as may be necessary for the management and disposition of the affairs and property of said Cor¬ poration, in conformity with the Constitution of said Society as it now exists, or as it may be from time to time amended by the General Con¬ ference, and to elect the officers of the Society, except as herein other¬ wise provided ; and such Board of Managers shall be subordinate to any directions or regulations nwle, or to be made, by said General Conference. Sec. 5. Thirteen members of the said Board of Managers, at any meeting thereof, shall be a sufficient number for the transaction of bus¬ iness. The Corresponding Secretaries, the Treasurer, and the Assistant Treasurer of said Society shall be elected by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and shall hold their office for four years. 388 MISSIONARY REPORT* [1889. and until their successors are elected ; and in case of a vacancy by resig¬ nation, death, or otherwise, the Bishops of the said Methodist Episcopal Church shall fill any vacancy in the office till the ensuing General Confer¬ ence. And until the next session of the General Conference said Board of Managers may appoint and remove at pleasure the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer of said Corporation ; and the latter officer may exer¬ cise his duties, as the Board may direct, in any State. SEC. 6. The said Corporation shall be capable of taking, receiving, or holding any real estate, by virtue of any devise contained in any last will and testament of any person whomsoever; subject, however, to the lim¬ itation expressed in the second section of this Act as to the aggregate amount of such real estate, and also to the provisions of an Act entitled “ An Act Relating to Wills,” passed April thirteen, eighteen hundred and sixty; and the said Corporation shall be also competent to act as a Trus¬ tee in respect to any devise or bequest pertaining to the objects of said Corporation, and devises and bequests of real or personal property may be made directly to said Corporation, or in trust, for any of the purposes comprehended in the general objects of said Society; and such trusts may continue for such time as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which they may be created. Sec. 7. The. said Corporation shall also possess the general powers specified in and by the Third Title of Chapter Eighteen of the First Part of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York. Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect immediately. Part I, Chapter XVIil, Third Title of Art. 3. OF THE GENERAL POWERS, PRIVILEGES, AND LIABILITIES OF COR¬ PORATIONS. Section i. Every Corporation, as such, has power: 1. To have succession, by its corporate name, for the period limited in its Charter; and when no period is limited, perpetually. 2. To sue and be sued, complain and defend, in any court of law or equity. 3. To make and use a common seal, and alter the same at pleasure. 4. To hold, purchase, and convey such real and personal estate as the purposes of the Corporation shall require, not exceeding the amount limited in the Charter. 5. To appoint such subordinate officers and agents as the business of the Corporation shall require, and to allow them a suitable compensation. 6. To make By-laws, not inconsistent with any existing law, for the man¬ agement of its property, the regulation ^of its affairs, and for the transfer of its stock. Sec. 2. The powers enumerated in the preceding section shall vest in every Corporation that shall hereafter be created, although they may not be specified in its Charter, or in the act under which it shall be incor¬ porated. ACT OF INCORPORATION. 389 I889.] §EC. 3. In addition to the powers enumerated in the first section of this title, and to those expressly given in its Charter, or in the act under which it is or shall be incorporated, no Corporation shall possess or exer¬ cise any corporate powers, except such as shall be necessary to the exer¬ cise of the powers so enumerated and given. Sec. 4. No Corporation created, or to be created, and not expressly incorporated for banking purposes, shall, by any implication or construc¬ tion, be deemed to possess the power of discounting bills, notes, or other evidences of debt; of receiving deposits ; of buying gold and silver, bull¬ ion, or foreign coins ; of buying and selling bills of exchange, or of issuing bills, notes, or other evidences of debt, upon loan, or for circulation as money. Sec. 5. Where the whole capital of a Corporation shall not have been paid in, and the capital paid shall be insufficient to satisfy the claims of its creditors/each stockholder shall be bound to pay, on each share held by him, the sum necessary to complete the amount of such share, as fixed by the Charter of the Company, or such proportion of that sum as shall be required to satisfy the debts of the Company. Sec. 6. When the corporate powers of any Corporation are directed by its Charter to be exercised by any particular body, or number of per¬ sons, a majority of such body, or persons, if it be not otherwise provided in the charter, shall be a sufficient number to form a board for the trans¬ action of business; and every decision of a majority of the persons duly assembled as a board shall be valid as a corporate act. Sec. 7. If any Corporation hereafter created by the Legislature shall not organize and commence the transaction of its business within one year from the date of its incorporation, its corporate power shall cease. Sec. 8. The Charter of every Corporation that shall hereafter be granted by the Legislature shall be subject to alteration, suspension, and repeal, in the discretion of the Legislature. Sec. 9. Upon the dissolution of any Corporation created, or to be created, and unless other persons shall be appointed by the Legislature, or by some court of competent authority, the directors or managers ot the affairs of such Corporation at the time of its dissolution, by whatever name they may be known in law, shall be the trustees of the creditors and stockholders of the Corporation dissolved, and shall have full power to settle the affairs of the 'Corporation, collect and pay the outstanding debts, and divide among the stockholders the moneys and other property that shall remain after the payment of debts and necessary expenses. Sec. 10. The persons so constituted trustees shall have authority to sue for, and recover, the debts and property of the dissolved Corporation, by the name of the trustee# of such Corporation, and shall have full power to settle the affairs of the Corporation, describing it by its corporate name, and shall be jointly and severally responsible to the creditors and stock¬ holders of such Corporation to the extent of its property and effects that shall come into their hands. 394 MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. BY-LAWS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. I. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. President and Vice-Presidents. The duties of these officers are defined in the Constitution. The President, or one of the Vice-Presidents, shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Board, as prescribed by Article VI of the Constitu¬ tion ; and shall hold their respective offices during the year for which they may be elected, unless the Board of Managers otherwise determine. If the President and all the Vice-Presidents be absent then the Board may elect a President pro te 7 n. Corresponding Secretaries. The Corresponding Secretaries shall, under the direction of the Board of Managers, conduct the correspondence of the Society with its Missions, and be exclusively employed in promoting its general interests. They shall advocate the missionary cause at such Annual Conferences and Churches as their judgment may dictate and the Board approve. They shall keep a vigilant eye upon all the affairs of the Society, and especially upon all its Missions, and promptly convey to the Bishops having charge of the Missions respectively, to the Board, or the standing committees, all such communications from, and all information concerning, our Missions, as the circumstances of the case may require. They shall also in all cases give to such missionaries as may be sent out the Manual of Instructions authorized by the Board, with such other instructions and explanations as circumstances may call for, and shall explicitly inform all our missionaries that they are in no case to depart from such instructions. They shall also audit the accounts of outgoing, returned, or .discharged foreign mission¬ aries before the final settlement of the same, and all bills for office and 1889.] BY-LAWS. 395 incidental expenses before they are presented to the Treasurer for pay¬ ment. They shall also superintend all property interests of the Society, exclusive of its current receipts, permanent or special funds, and fixed property, subject to instructions from the Board of Managers. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep proper books of accounts, showing all the receipts and disbursements, and all other financial affairs connected with the treasury of the Society, except such as are committed to the care of the Corresponding Secretaries. He shall, under advice of the Finance Committee, keep all uninvested moneys of the Society on deposit in some safe bank, or banks, in the name of the Society, subject to the order of its Treasurer. He shall honor all orders of the Board on the treasury, and, within the several appropriations made by the General Committee and Board, shall pay all drafts of the Bishops, and furnish the Secretaries respectively with Letters of Credit or Bills of Exchange for the support of Foreign Missions; and he shall, on the warrant of the Corresponding Secretaries, pay the outfit of missionaries and the expenses of those au¬ thorized to return, and shall pay all bills for office and incidental expenses when properly audited. He shall be subject to the direction of the Finance Committee, and of the Board, in respect to all investments, loans, and other financial affairs of the Society. He shall report the state of the funds, and whenever required exhibit his books, vouchers, and securities at each regular meeting of the Finance Committee and of the Auditing Committee; and shall report monthly to the Board the state of the treas¬ ury. He shall keep an account of all receipts by Conferences, and of all expenditures by Missions and particular appropriations. He shall keep the seal of the Society and affix the same to such docu¬ ments, contracts, and conveyances as may be ordered by the Board of Managers ; shall execute for the Society conveyances of real estate when¬ ever ordered by the Board. Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer shall reside at Cincinnati, Ohio, and shall be subject to the directions of the Board of Managers and of the Treasurer. He shall forward to the Treasurer, monthly, a statement of his ac¬ counts to the first of each month, in order that the same may be presented to the Board at its regular meetings. He shall exhibit his books and ac¬ counts, vouchers, and securities, to such auditors as may be appointed by the Board. Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall notify all meetings of the Board and of the Society, and shall record the minutes of their proceedings. He shall also certify to the Treasurer, or to the Auditing Committee, as the case may require, all moneys granted, or expenditures authorized in pursuance of the action of the Board. MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. He shall, under the direction of the Corresponding Secretaries, make an appropriate record of all wills under which the Society may be inter¬ ested, and of all action of the Board, and other information relating thereto. He shall, under like direction, also record a statement of all the prop¬ erty of the Society, and of any conveyances thereof, or other proceedings touching the same. He shall, under like direction, keep the roll of the officers and Man¬ agers, and of the members of the several standing committees, in the proper order according to the seniority of their consecutive service respect¬ ively, except that the chairman of each committee shall be first named, and shall see that such lists are printed in such order in the Annual Re¬ ports. He shall also record the proceedings of the several standing commit¬ tees in separate books, which shall be brought to each meeting of the Board ; and shall notify, when requested, all meetings of committees ; and he shall hold his office during the year for which he may be elected, un¬ less the Board of Managers otherwise determine. 11. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS. Appropriations made by the General Missionary Committee for the payment of salaries of missionaries, where a schedule of salaries has been fixed by the Board of Managers for any Mission, or for the authorized current expenses of an established Mission, or by the Board for the ex¬ penses of outgoing or returning missionaries, and all specific appropria¬ tions of the Board or of the General Committee, except for the purchase or improvement of real estate, shall be paid by the Treasurer, upon the requisition of one of the Corresponding Secretaries, without futher action by the Board. Except when otherwise ordered by the Board payments made in foreign countries are to be by letters of credit or bills of exchange to the order of the Superintendent or Treasurer of the Mission; and pay¬ ments made in this country on account of Foreign Missions may be made by draft of one of the Corresponding Secretaries upon the Treasurer, payable to the order of the person entitled to receive the same, and the Treasurer shall not be authorized to pay any other. But where the appropriation is general, and for a Mission not yet oc¬ cupied, and where the Bishop in charge shall have appointed a mission¬ ary, the Board has power to determine what portion of such appropriation shall be applied to particular objects, and what amount may be placed at the discretion of the Superintendent or other persons for general purposes; and when the Board has so determined the Corresponding Secretaries may make requisition for the payment of such sums in manner and form as above stated. 1889J BY-LAWS. 39 7 Office and incidental expenses shall be audited by the Corresponding Secretaries and paid to their order on the face of the original bills. No missionary or other person, other than the Corresponding Secre¬ taries, shall be allowed to make drafts on the Treasurer for Foreign Mis¬ sions, except on letters of credit duly issued. Real estate may be purchased for the Society, and improvements made on real estate, by the erection of buildings or otherwise, only by direct order of the Board, and by persons specially authorized and appointed to make such purchase or improvement. And where the General Committee make a special appropriation for the purchase or improvement of real estate in any Mission, as the admin¬ istration of appropriations and the management of the property of the Society is with the Board of Managers, the Board shall determine the time and manner of payment, and designate the person by whom such appro¬ priation shall be expended, before the Corresponding Secretaries are au¬ thorized to make requisition therefor. Appropriations and balances of appropriations unexpended at the close of the fiscal year, of any Mission, whether in the hands of the Treasurer of the Society, or any of its agents, shall lapse to the Treasurer of the Society, and may not be thereafter used for the purposes for which they were appropriated, except to discharge pre-existing obligations. in. STANDING COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES. At the regular meeting of the Board in June of each year the following Standing Committees shall be appointed : I. On Missions In Africa. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to Missions in Africa which may be referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. II. On Missions in South America and Mexico. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to Missions in South America and Mexico which may be referred to it by the Board or Corresponding Secretaries. III. On Missions in China. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to Missions in China which may be referred to it by the Board or Corresponding Secretaries. IV. On Missions in Japan and Korea. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to Missions in Japan and Korea which may be referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. 398 MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. V. On Self-Supporting Missions. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to self-supporting Missions which may be referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. VI. On Missions in Europe. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to Missions in Europe which may be referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. VII. On Missions in India. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to Missions in India and Malaysia referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. VIII. On Domestic Missions. . It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to American Domestic Missions, Indian Missions, and Missions among Foreign Populations in the United States, which may be referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. IX. On Finance. It shall be the duty of this Committee to aid the Treasurer in providing ways and means. Said Committee shall have power to advise the Treas¬ urer as to the deposit of all uninvested moneys of the Society, and, in the intervals between the sessions of the Board, to direct him in respect to all investments, loans, and other financial affairs of the Society. It shall also have the management, care, and supervision of the interests of the Missionary Society in the building known as the Methodist Publishing and Mission Building, subject to the order of the Board ; also to consider and report on such financial matters as may be referred to it by the Board, Treasurer, or the Corresponding Secretaries. X. On Lands and Legacies. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all bequests made to the Society, and questions arising under wills, or con¬ cerning lands temporarily held by the Society, referred to it by the Board, the Corresponding Secretaries, or Treasurer. XI. On Publications. It shall be the duty of this Committee to publish as instructed by the Board, and consider matters respecting publications referred to it by the Board or Corresponding Secretaries. XII. On Woman’s Mission Work. It shall be the duty of this Committee to consider and report on all matters relating to the work of women in the mission field, and to the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, referred to it by the Board or the Corresponding Secretaries. 1889.1 BY-LAWS. 399 XIII. On Estimates. It shall be the duty of this Committee to make an estimate of the salary to be paid to any person engaged, not in the Missions, but in the imme¬ diate service of this Board ; and also estimates for such incidental ex¬ penditures as may have no special relation to any particular Mission, and which may be referred to it by the Board, Treasurer, or a Secretary. XIV. On Nominations and General Reference. This Committee shall consist of the chairmen of the several standing committees, and its duty shall be to nominate members of the standing committees, and suitable persons to fill all vancancies that may occur in the Board of Managers, or in the list of officers, during the year. The vote of the Board on such nominations shall be by ballot. This Com¬ mittee shall be the Committee on Anniversaries and Public Meetings and for the examination of candidates for mission fields; it shall also consider and report upon all matters which may, from time to time, be referred to it by the Board. XV. On Audits. There shall be two Committees on Audits—one in New York, and the other in Cincinnati. The former shall audit the accounts of the Treasurer, and the latter the accounts of the Assistant Treasurer annually, or oftener if they deem it necessary, or if ordered by the Board ; and such other accounts as may be referred to it by the Board. General Rules. 1. The standing committees shall, at their first meeting after election, elect their own permanent chairman, and if he be absent at any meeting they shall choose a chairman pro tem . Each committee shall cause to be recorded correct minutes of all the business brought before it, and the dis¬ position of the same, in a book kept for that purpose, which shall be brought to the regular meetings of the Board; and said committee may hold a regular meeting once in each month, or meet at the call of its chairman, a Corresponding Secretary, or Treasurer. 2. Each committee having charge of a particular Mission shall make out estimates for the Mission under its charge, to be laid before the Gen¬ eral Missionary Committee at its annual meeting, to guide it in making the appropriations for the ensuing year. 3. The Treasurer shall be ex officio a member, and the Corresponding Secretaries advisory members without a vote, of each of the standing committees, except the Committees on Estimates and on Audits ; and the Bishop having charge of a Foreign Mission shall be an ex-officio member of the respective committees having charge of the same. 4. When any matter is referred to a committee with power it shall be the duty of the committee to report its final action in the case to the Board, for record in the minutes of its proceedings. 400 MISSIONARY REPORT. [1889. IV. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD, ORDER OF BUSINESS, AND R ULES OF DEB A TE. I. Meetings of the Board. 1. The Board shall hold its regular meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, at 3:30 o’clock P. M., at the Mission Rooms of the Society. 2. The presiding officer shall preserve order, keep the speaker to the point under consideration, and appoint committees not otherwise provided for. He shall not take part in debate, nor propose any new measure, unless he first leave the chair ; but he may vote as any other member. 3. All meetings of the Board shall open with reading the Scriptures and prayer and close with prayer or the benediction, under the direction of the chairman. 4. A Corresponding Secretary, or the Treasurer, or any five Managers, may call a speeial meeting of the Board. II. Order of Business. 1. Reading the Scriptures and prayer. 2. The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read, and, when ap¬ proved, signed by the presiding officer. 3. The Treasurer’s monthly statement and that of the Assistant Treasurer. 4. Report of the Corresponding Secretaries. 5. Reports from the standing committees, in the following order: Africa; South America and Mexico ; China; Japan and Korea; Self- Supporting Missions ; Europe ; India, Domestic ; Finance ; Lands and Legacies; Publications; Woman’s Mission Work; Estimates; Nomina¬ tions and General Reference ; Audits. The reports of each committee to be made by simply reading the minutes of its proceedings, upon which the Board shall take such action as the case may require. When any one of the standing commitees may be called in the regular proceedings of the Board it shall be in order to present any miscellaneous business pertaining to the particular matters of which that committee has charge, as well as to receive and consider any reports from the committee. 6. Reports of Special Committees. 7. Unfinished business. 8. Miscellaneous business. The Board shall appoint in the month of October- in each year the members of the General Missionary Committee to which it is entitled, ac¬ cording to the provision of Art. XI of the Constitution of the Missionary Society. III. Rules for the Transaction of Business. 1. A motion having been made, seconded, and stated from the Chair, shall be considered in possession of the Board, but may be withdrawn by the mover before any action is taken on it. Every motion shall be reduced to writing if the presiding officer, or any other member, require it; and, BY-LAWS. 1889.] 401 when the question contains several distinct propositions, any member may have the same divided. 2. A motion to amend shall be considered first in order, and shall be decided before the original motion ; and a substitute for any pending mo¬ tion or amendment may be offered, and shall, if it prevail, supersede the original motion or proposed amendment, and may itself be amended. 3. Every member wishing to speak shall rise and address the Chair, and no one shall speak more than once on one question, until every mem¬ ber desiring to speak shall have spoken ; and no member shall speak over fifteen minutes without the permission of the Board. 4. Motions to lay on the table, and motions that the previous question be put, shall be taken without debate. 5. When a report is presented by a committee it shall be considered in possession of the Board, and may be adopted, amended, recommitted, laid on the table, or otherwise disposed of, as the Board mayjudge proper. 6. It shall always be deemed out of order to use personal reflections ip debate, or to interrupt a speaker, except to explain or call him to order. 7. It shall be deemed out of order for any member to leave the meeting without the permission of the Chair or the Board. 8. A motion to adjourn shall always be considered in order, and shall be taken without debate. 9. A call of the ayes and noes shall be ordered on the demand of any five members present. 10. Any decision of the presiding officer shall be subject to an appeal to the Board, and such appeal shall be decided without debate ; but the presiding officer may assign his reasons for his decision. 11. When a question has been once put and decided it shall be in order for any member who voted in the majority to move for the recon¬ sideration thereof; but no motion for reconsideration shall be taken more , than once. v. REPORTS FROM MISSIONS. Each missionary shall report to his Superintendent once a quarter, in writ¬ ing, the state and prospects of the special work in which he is engaged. Each Superintendent of Missions, and where there is no Superintendent each missionary, shall make a regular quarterly report to the Correspond¬ ing Secretaries at New York, giving information of the state and prospects ' of the several missions under his care. VI. PUBLICATION AND AMENDMENT OF BY-LA WS. 1. The Charter, the Constitution of the Society, and the By-laws shall be published with each Annual Report. 2. The Board of Managers shall not make, alter, or amend any By¬ law, except at the regular monthly meeting thereof, norat the same meet¬ ing at which such By-law, alteration, or amendment may be proposed. 26 ORDER OF BUSINESS 4T THE MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 1. Reading the Scriptures and Prayer. 2. Reading the Minutes of previous meeting. 3. Treasurer’s Monthly Statement. 4. Report of Corresponding Secretaries. 5. Reports of Standing Committees : 1. Africa. 2. South America and Mexico. 3. China. 4. Japan and Korea. 5. Self-supporting Missions. 6. Europe. 7. India. 8. Domestic Missions. 9. Finance. 10. Lands and Legacies. 11. Publications. 12. Woman’s Mission Work. 13. Estimates. 14. Nominations and General Reference. 15. Audits. 6 . Reports of Special Committees. 7. Unfinished Business. 8. Miscellaneous Business. 9. Benediction and Adjournment. BEQUESTS AND DEVISES TO THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Persons disposed to make bequests to the Society, by will, are requested to observe the following form : I give and bequeath to “The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” incorporated by the Legis¬ lature of the State of New York, the sum of , and the receipt of the Treasurer thereof shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors for the same. FORM OF A DEVISE OF LAND TO SAID SOCIETY. I give and devise to “The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” incorporated by the Legis¬ lature of the State of New York, the following lands and premises, that is to say : To have and to hold the same with the appurtenances to the said Society, its successors and assigns forever. Brethren in the ministry, and laity also, are requested to inquire promptly and carefully into the facts of any will which they may hear contains a bequest to the Missionary Society, and send us as early as practicable a transcript of such will, or whatever information they may obtain touching the same. We have reason to believe bequests are left to the Missionary Society of which we have never been advised. * mil 0 * Subscriptions and donations for the Missionary So¬ ciety of the Methodist Episcopal Church may be sent to the Treasurer, at New York; the Assistant Treasurer, at Cincin¬ nati ; or paid to the Presiding Elder of the District, or the preacher in the circuit or station to which the contributor belongs.