the quarterly meeting conference, who may give him what relief they judge proper, after the allowance of the travelling preachers and of their wives, and all other regular allowances are discharged. SECTION IX. Of Slavery. Quest. What shall be done for the extirpation of the evil of slavery? Answ. 1. We declare that we are as much as ever convinced of the great evil of slavery: therefore no slave holder shall be eligible to any official station in our Church hereafter, where the laws of the State in which he lives will admit of emancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom. 2. When any travelling preacher becomes an owner of a slave or slaves, by any means, he shall forfeit his ministerial character in our church, unless he execute, if it be practicable, a legal emancipation of such slaves, conformably to the laws of the state in which he lives. 3. All our preachers shall prudently enforce upon our members, the necessity of teaching their slaves to read the word of God; and to allow them time to attend upon the public worship of Gad on our regular days of divine service. 4. Our coloured preachers and official members shall have all the privileges which are usual to others in the district and quarterly conferences, where the usages of the country do not forbid it. And the presiding elder may hold for them a separate district conference, where the number of coloured local preachers will justify it. 5. The Annual Conferences may employ coloured preachers to travel and preach where their services are judged necessary; provided that no one shall be so employed without having been recommended according to the form of discipline. END. CONTENTS. CHAPTER. I. Sec. 1. Of the Origin of the Methodist Episcopal Church 5 Sec. 2. Articles of Religion Sec. 3. the General and Annual Conferences and of their Duty Sec. 5. Of the Presiding Elders, and of their Duty Elders, and of their Duty Sec. 7. Of the Election and Ordination of travelling Sec. 9. Of the Duties of those who have the charge Sec. 10. Of the Trial of those who think they are Sec. 13. Rules by which we should continue, or desist Sec. 14. Of visiting from house to house; guarding Sec. 15. Of the instruction of Children Sec. 16. Of employing our time profitably when we are not travelling, or engaged in public exer- Sec. 17. Of the necessity of union among ourselves Sec. 18. Of the method by which immoral travelling Ministers or Preaches shall be brought to Trial, found guilty, and reproved or suspend- ed in the intervals of the Conferences Sec. 19. How to provide for the circuits in time of CHAPTER II. Sec. 1. The nature, design, and general rules of our Sec. 2. Of Class Meetings Sec. 3. Of the Band Societies Sec. 4. Of the privileges granted to serious persons Sec. 5. Of Marriage 89 Sec. 6. Of Dress CHAPTER III. Sec. 1. The Order for the administration of the Lord's Sec. 2. The administration of Baptism to Infants Sec. 3. The form of solemnization of Matrimony 92 t 93 103 106 113 120 CHAPTER IV. The form and manner of making and ordaining Bishops, Sec. 1. The form and manner of making of Deacons 123 Sec. 1. Of the Boundaries of the Annual Conferences, &c. 155 served therein the Stewards of circuits Sec. 3. Of the qualifications, appointment, and duty of Sec. 4. Of the allowance to the Ministers and Preach- 160 169 ers, and to their Wives, Widows and Children 171 Sec. 6. Of the Chartered Fund 172 180 Sec. 7. Of the Printing and Circulating of Books, and 182 Sec. 8. Local Preachers to have an Allowance in given cases Sec. 9. Of Slavery: 188 189 |