ARTICLE X. Powers and Restrictions.

46. The General Conference shall have full power to make rules and regulations for the Church under the following limitations and restrictions, namely:

§ 1. The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, nor change our Articles of Religion, nor establish any new standards or rules of doctrine contrary to our present existing and established standards of doctrine.

§ 2. The General Conference shall not organize nor authorize the organization of an Annual Conference with less than twenty-five members.

§ 3. The General Conference shall not change nor alter any part or rule of our government so as to do away Episcopacy, nor destroy the plan of our itinerant General Superintendency; but may elect a Missionary Bishop or Superintendent for any of our foreign Missions, limiting his Episcopal jurisdiction to the same respectively.*

§ 4. The General Conference shall not revoke nor change the General Rules of our Church.

§ 5. The General Conference shall not deprive our Ministers of the right of trial by the Annual Conference, or by a select number thereof, nor of an appeal; nor shall it deprive our members of the right of trial by a committee of members of our Church, nor of an appeal.

§ 6. The General Conference shall not appropriate the produce of the Book Concern, nor of the Chartered Fund, to any purpose other than for the benefit of the Supernumerary,

Traveling,

*For proposed change in this restrictive rule, see Appendix, ¶ 53.

and

Superannuated Preachers, their wives, widows, and children.

ARTICLE XI. Amendments.

¶ 47. The concurrent recommendation of two thirds of all the members of the several Annual Conferences present and voting, and of two thirds of all the members of the Lay Electoral Conferences present and voting, shall suffice to authorize the next ensuing General Conference by a two-thirds vote to alter or amend any of the provisions of this Constitution excepting § 1, Article X; and also, whenever such alteration or amendment shall have been first recommended by the General Conference by a twothirds vote, then so soon as two thirds of all the members of the several Annual Confereices present and voting, and two thirds of all the members of the Lay Electoral Conferences present and voting, shall have concurred therein, such alteration or amendment shall take effect; and the result of the vote shall be announced by the General Superintendents.

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PART II.

THE CHURCH.

1. MEMBERSHIP.

II. SPECIAL ADVICES.

III. WORSHIP.

CHAPTER I.

MEMBERSHIP.

1. Reception on Probation.

¶ 48. In order to prevent improper persons from gaining admission into the Church, and in order to the exercise of the power of godly admonition and discipline:

§ 1. Let great care be taken in receiving persons on Probation, and let no one be enrolled as a Probationer unless he give satisfactory evidence of an earnest desire to be saved from his sins, and to enjoy the fellowship of God's people. ¶ 444.

§ 2. Let the Pastor and the Class Leaders see that all persons on Probation be early made acquainted with the doctrines, rules, and regulations of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

§ 3. Probationers are expected to conform carefully to all the rules and usages of the Church; they are entitled to all its spiritual privileges and aids; but they may not be members of the Quarterly Conference, nor take part in judicial proceedings except as witnesses.

II. Admission into Full Membership.

¶ 49, § 1. Let no one be admitted into Full Membership in the Church until he has been at least six months on Probation, has been recommended by the Leaders and Stewards' Meeting, or, where no such