of the church to which he belongs, 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 weak brethren. Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification. XXIII. Of the Rulers of the United States of America.-The president, the congress, the general assemblies, the governors, and the councils of state, as the delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to them by the constitution of the United States, and by the constitutions of their respective states. And the said states are a sovereign and independent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction.* character, it being, in fact and name, Episcopal. Three orders of ministers are recognized, and the duties peculiar to each are clearly defined. But to give a correct view of the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, it is necessary to show the manner in which it is formed. A man thinking himself moved by the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel, first makes known his views and exercises to the preacher having charge of the circuit or station, who, if he judge the applicant a fit person, grants him license to exhort. After improving his talent as an exhorter, a sufficient length of time for his brethren to judge of his competency to so important a work, he makes application to the quarterly meeting conference, which is composed of all the preachers, travelling and local, stewards, leaders and exhorters of the circuit, and if considered fit for the work, he is recommended by this body to the local preachers' conference, where he is examined on his belief in the doctrines and discipline of the church; and they, if they think proper, grant him license as a local preacher; and if such licentiate desire to enter the travelling ministry, he must be recommended to an annual conference, both by a quarterly meeting and district conference, except in those circuits where no district con XXIV. Of Christian Men's Goods.The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. XXV. Of a Christian Man's Oath.ference is held. When presented to an As we confess that vain and rash swear-annual conference, his reception on trial, ing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and James his apostle; so we judge that the Christian religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth." Government of-The general rules for the government of the societies, are the same as those in England, termed, "The nature, design, and general rules of our United Societies." (See Methodists, government and discipline of, p. 365.) As to the government, the title sufficiently ascertains its distinctive As far as it respects civil affairs, we believe it the duty of Christians, and especially all Christian ministers, to be subject to the supreme authority of the country where they may reside, and to use all laudable means to enjoin obedience to the powers that be: and therefore it is expected that all our preachers and people, who may be under the British or any other government, will behave themselves as peaceable and orderly subjects. depends on a majority of votes. After travelling as a preacher on probation two years, if no objection be made against him, he is admitted as a member of conference, and ordained a deacon. The approved exercise of the deacon's office for two years, entitles him to the office of an elder. The following quotations from the Methodist Discipline, will show the duties peculiar to each order of ministers in their church: of the Election and Consecration of Bishops, and of their duty. Quest. 1. How is a bishop to be constituted? Answ. By the election of the general conference, and the laying on of the hands of three bishops, or at least of one bishop and two elders. otherwise, there be no bishop remainQuest. 2. If by death, expulsion, or ing in our church, what shall we do? Ans. The general conference shall elect a bishop; and the elders, or any three of them, who shall be appointed by the general conference for that pur pose, shall ordain him according to our form of ordination. Answ. 1. To baptize, and perform Quest. 3. What are the duties of a the office of matrimony, in the absence bishop? Answ. 1. To preside in our confer ences. of the elder. 2. To assist the elder in administering the Lord's supper. 3. To do all the duties of a travelling preacher. 2. To fix the appointments of the preachers for the several-circuits, provided he shall not allow any preacher to remain in the same station more than Quest. 3. What shall be the time of two years successively; except the pre-probation of a travelling deacon for the siding elders, the editor and general office of an elder? book steward, the assistant editor and general book steward, the supernumerary, superannuated and worn-out preachers, missionaries among the Indians, and the presidents, principals, or teachers of seminaries of learning, which are or may be under our super-if they judge it expedient. intendence. Answ. Every travelling deacon shall exercise that office for two years, before he be eligible to the office of elder; except in the case of missions, when the annual conference shall have authority to elect for the elder's office sooner, No deacon who ceases to travel with 3. In the intervals of the conferences, out the consent of the annual conferto change, receive, and suspend preach-ence, certified under the hand of the ers, as necessity may require, and as the president of the conference, except in discipline directs. case of sickness, debility, or other unavoidable circumstances, shall on any account, exercise 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." 4. To travel through the connexion at large. 5. To oversee the spiritual and temporal business of our church. 6. To ordain bishops, elders, and deacons." Of the Election and Ordination of tra- dist church recognizes an officer deno- In addition to the above, the Metho Answ. By the election of a majority of the yearly conference, and by the laying on of the hands of a bishop, and some of the elders that are present. Quest. 2. What is the duty of a travelling elder? Answ. 1. To administer baptism and the Lord's supper, and to perform the office of matrimony, and all parts of divine worship. 2. To do all the duties of a travelling preacher. No elder that ceases to travel, with of presiding Elders, and of their duty. Answ. By the bishops. Quest. 2. What are the duties of a presiding elder? Ans. 1. To travel through his appointed district. 2. In the absence of the bishop, to cons, travelling and local preachers, take charge of all the elders, and dea and exhorters in his district. out the consent of the yearly conference, preachers in his district during the in3. To change, receive, and suspend certified under the hand of the presi-tervals of the conferences, and in the dent of the conference, except in case absence of the bishop, as the discipline of sickness, debility, or other unavoidadirects. ble circumstance, shall, on any account, exercise the peculiar functions of his side in the conference; but in case there 4. In the absence of a bishop, to preoffice, or even be allowed to preach among us; nevertheless the final deter-longing to one conference, the bishop or are two or more presiding elders bemination in all such cases is with the bishops may by letter or otherwise apyearly conference. point the president; but if no appointment be made, or if the presiding elder appointed do not attend, the conference shall in either of these cases elect the president by ballot, without a debate, from among the presiding elders. Of the Election and Ordination of tra- con constituted? Answ. By the election of the majority of the yearly conference, and the laying on of the hands of a bishop. Quest. 2. What is the duty of a travelling deacon? 5. To be present, as far as practicable, at all the quarterly meetings; and to call together at each quarterly meeting, a quarterly meeting conference, consisting of all the travelling and local | preachers, exhorters, stewards, and leaders of the circuit, and none else, to hear complaints, and to receive and try appeals. The quarterly meeting conference shall appoint a secretary to take down the proceedings thereof, in a book kept by one of the stewards of the circuít for that purpose. censed without being first recommended by the quarterly conference of the circuit or station to which he belongs; nor shall any one be licensed to preach, or recommended to the annual conference for ordination, without first being examined in the district conference on the subjects of doctrine, and discipline. 3. The district conference shall take 6. To oversee the spiritual and tem-cognizance of all the local preachers in poral business of the church in his district. 7. To take care that every part of our discipline be enforced in his district. 8. To attend the bishops when present in his district; and to give them, when absent, all necessary information, by letter, of the state of his district." For the particular duties of preachers, to God, to themselves and each other, as well as to the people of their charge, see Discipline, sections, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17. Besides the travelling ministry, the Methodists have a large and useful body of ministers, whom they distinguish by the name of local preachers. These attend to secular business for a livelihood; and preach generally on Sabbath days, and occasionally, as time and opportunity will permit, on other days. The following section from the discipline will clearly show their duties, powers, and privileges: Of the Local Preachers. Quest. 1. What directions shall be given concerning local preachers. Answ. 1. There shall be held annually in each presiding elder's district, a district conference, of which all the local preachers in the district, who shall have been licensed two years, shall be members; and of which the presiding elder of the district for the time being shall be president; or in case of his absence, the conference shall have authority to elect a president pro tem. It shall be the duty of the presiding elder of each district to appoint the time and place of the first conference, after which the presiding elder shall appoint the time, and the conference the place of its own sitting. the district, and shall inquire into the gifts, labours, and usefulness of each preacher by name. 4. When charges are preferred against any local preacher, it shall be the duty of the preacher in charge to call a committee consisting of three or more local preachers within the station, circuit, or district, before whom it shall be the duty of the accused to appear, and by whom he shall be acquitted, or, if found guilty, be suspended until the meeting of the next district conference. And the president of the said district conference shall, at the commencement of the trial, appoint a secretary, who shall take down regular minutes of the evidence, and proceedings of the trial; which minutes, when read and approved, shall be signed by the said president, and also by the members of the said district conference, or by a majority of them. And in case of condemnation, the local preacher, deacon, or elder, condemned, shall be allowed an appeal to the next annual conference, provided that he signify to the said district conference, his determination to appeal; in which case the said president shall lay the minutes of the trial above-mentioned before the said annual conference, at which the local preacher, deacon, or elder, so appealing may appear and the said annual conference shall judge and finally determine from the minutes of the said trial, so laid before them. 5. A licensed local preacher shall be eligible to the office of a deacon, after he has preached for four years from the time he received a regular license, and has obtained a testimonial from the district conference to which he belongs, after proper examination, signed by the 2. The said district conference shall president, and countersigned by the sehave authority to license proper per-cretary, and his character has passed sons to preach, and renew their license; in examination before, and he has obto recommend suitable candidates to the tained the approbation of the annual annual conference for deacons or el-conference. ders' orders, in the local connexion, for admission on trial in the travelling connexion, and to try, suspend, expel, or acquit any local preacher in the district against whom charges may be brought. Provided, that no person shall be li 6. A local deacon shall be eligible to the office of an elder, after he has preached four years from the time he was ordained a deacon, and has obtained a recommendation from the district conference of which he is a member, certifying his qualifications in doctrine, discipline, talents and usefulness, and the necessity of his official services as an elder in the circuit where he resides; signed by the president, and countersigned by the secretary. He shall, if he cannot attend, send to the annual conference such recommendation, and a note certifying his belief in the doctrine and discipline of our church: the whole being examined by the annual conference, and if approved he may be ordained; provided, nevertheless, no slave holder shall be eligible to the office of an elder or deacon, where the laws will admit of emancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom. 7. Every local elder, deacon, and preacher, shall have his name recorded on the journal of the quarterly meeting conference of which he is a member. And every local preacher shall have his name enrolled on a class paper, and meet in class, if the distance of his place of residence from any class be not too great; or, in neglect thereof, the district conference, if they judge it proper, may deprive him of his ministerial office. Whenever a local preacher shall remove from one circuit to another, he shall procure from the presiding elder of the district, or the preacher having the charge of the circuit, a certificate of his official standing in the church at the time of his removal, without which he shall not be received as a local preacher in other places. No preacher among us shall distil or retail spirituous liquors, without forfeiting his official standing." The supreme legislative power of the church is concentrated in a general conference, which is composed of delegates from each annual conference, who meet together on the first day of May of every fourth year. For its powers see under history of. In addition to the powers there enumerated, the general conference possesses an appellate jurisdiction over all ministers who may have appealed from the decisions of an annual conference, and the final determination of all disputes that may arise on any question of rights, which relate either to the people or preachers; elects and fixes the salary of the book agents; elects the bishops, and may create any new, or divide any of the old annual conferences. own members, the hearing of appeals of local preachers, and the original jurisdiction of the members of their own bodies, and the adoption of such measures as they may think expedient, for raising monies to carry on the work of God. The following questions will show the powers and privileges, as well as the particular business of an annual conference : Of the Annual Conferences. "Quest. 3. Who shall attend the yearly conferences? Answ. All the travelling preachers, who are in full connexion, and those who are to be received into full connexion. Quest. 4. Who shall appoint the times of holding the yearly conference? Answ. The bishops; but they shall allow the annual conferences to sit a week at least. Quest. 5. Who shall appoint the place of holding the annual conferences? Answ. Each annual conference shall appoint the place of its own sitting. Quest. 6. What is the method wherein we usually proceed in the yearly conference? Answ. We inquire, 1. What preachers are admitted on trial? 2. Who remain on trial? 3. Who are admitted into full connexion? 4. Who are the deacons ? 5. Who have been elected and ordained elders this year? 6. Who have been elected, by the suffrages of the general conference, ta exercise the episcopal office, and superintend the Methodist Episcopal Church in America? 7. Who have located this year? 8. Who are the supernumeraries? 9. Who are the superannuated or worn-out preachers? 10. Who have been expelled from the connexion this year? 11. Who have withdrawn from the connexion this year? 12. Are all the preachers blameless in life and conversation? 13. Who have died this year? 14. What numbers are in society? 15. What has been collected for the contingent expenses, for the making up the allowances of the preachers, &c.? 16. How has this been expended? 17. Where are the preachers station 18. Where and when shall our next conferences he held? To the annual conference is com-ed this year? mitted the oversight, in subordination to the episcopal authority, of all the preachers and people within their respective bounds, the standing of their Quest. 7. Is there any other business to be done in the yearly conferences? Answ. The electing and ordaining of deacons and elders. Quest. 8. Are there any other directions to be given concerning the yearly conferences? Answ. There shall be twelve conferences in the year. A record of the proceedings of each annual conference shall be kept by a secretary, chosen for that purpose, and shall be signed by the president and secretary: and let a copy of the said record be sent to the general conference. evinced itself by an extended and persevering plan of diffusing the Gospel, by an itinerating ministry; and also by a success in the awakening and conversion of souls, scarcely to be paralleled in ecclesiastical history, since the apostolic age. These are facts known and read of all men. And no less evident has been their own personal devotion to the cause of God and to the interests of Jesus Christ. That particular doctrine, which has characterized all their preaching is, saiSupport of the ministry.-The minis-vation by grace through faith in the try is supported by the voluntary con- atoning merits of Christ; and no less tributions of the people. For this pur- strenuously have they enforced the nepose, a collection is made in all the cessity of holiness of heart and life, or classes and large congregations in the the entire sanctification of the soul and country circuits once a quarter; in the body to God. And bating somewhat for cities, in addition to the quarterly col- the enthusiasm of some, the ignorance lections, a monthly, and in some cities and irregularity of others, perhaps it is a weekly collection is made, which is not too much to say, that no sect of Chrisdelivered into the hands of the stewards tians have maintained a more unexcepat each leaders' meeting, or at the tionable character, for strict adherence quarterly meeting of the circuit: the to the precepts of Christ. stewards keep a record of all monies! collected, and the manner in which they are appropriated. To undertake to estimate the comparative merits of the several sects of Christians might seem invidious; and it Character of-Each denomination of would be equally so, to draw a general Christians have some peculiarity of conclusion, either for or against any character, by which it is distinguished body of people from the conduct of a from others. And the preceding outline few individuals. All, however bright of the Methodist Episcopal Church will, they may have shone, have had their it is presumed, enable the reader to spots; and it is granted without any form a tolerably correct idea of its cha-disparagement to the character of the racteristic distinction. And those who main body, that there have been indihave witnessed the rise and progress of viduals among the Methodists who have the church, in the midst of a variety of disgraced themselves and their brereproaches and oppositions, will be thren; while the great majority of both ready to admit that a remarkable zeal preachers and people, have evinced for the salvation of souls, has distin-deep devotion to God, and an ardent atguished the Methodist ministry from tachment to truth and holiness, and the beginning; and that this zeal, tem- have done much to advance the kingpered with love to God and man, has || dom of Christ among men. THE END. |