"(6.) In all places where drafts are drawn in favour of any mission if there be funds in the possession of any auxiliary conference missionary society, where such mission is established, the drafts for the support of the mission shall be paid from said funds: if there be no auxiliary society, and there be money belonging to the Book Concern, the book committee or presiding elders, or preachers, shall pay the missionary drafts from the book money which may be in their possession; which drafts, when paid, shall be transmitted to the treasurer at New-York; and in no case, where any such moneys are at command, shall the drafts be sent to the treasurer in New-York to be paid." 1832. A distinct section was framed on this subject, and the following alterations were made in the previous provisions : para Some change was made in the phraseology of graph 1, (1824,) but none in substance, except these: It required the mission committee to "keep a record of its doings, and report the same to its conference." And instead of saying that they are to estimate the amount necessary for the support of the missionary, agreeably to the regulations of the Discipline," it says, 'necessary for the support of each mission and mission school, in addition to the regular allowance of the Discipline to preachers and their families." 66 66 The following was inserted as the second paragraph: 2. Whenever a mission is to be established in any new place, or in any place beyond the bounds of an annual conference, either among the aborigines of our country or elsewhere, it shall be the duty of the bishop making such appointment immediately to notify the treasurer of the Missionary Society of the place, the number of missionaries to be employed, together with the probable amount necessary for the support of any such mission, which information shall be laid before the managers of the society; and they shall make an appropriation according to their judgment, from year to year, of the amount called for to sustain and prosecute the mission or missions designated; for which amount the missionary, or the superintendent of the mission or missions, shall have authority to draw on the treasurer of the society in quarterly or half-yearly instalments." 1836. The following paragraphs were added :— "7. The corresponding secretary shall, by virtue of his office, be a member of the New-York Conference, to which, in the interval of the General Conference, he shall be held responsible for his conduct, and the New-York Conference shall have power, by and with the advice of the managers of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and consent of the bishop presiding, to remove him from office; and in case of removal, death, or resignation, the New-York Conference, with the concurrence of the presiding bishop, shall fill the vacancy until the next ensuing General Conference. "8. (10.) It shall be the duty of the bishops to instruct all our foreign missionaries, that whenever they come in contact with any of the missionaries belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, they shall not interfere in their respective charges any further than to help them in their work when requested; but shall, on all occasions, cultivate a spirit of friendship and brotherly affection, as brethren engaged in the same common cause, namely, the salvation of the world, by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." 1840. In paragraph 7, the word "resident" is left out of the secretary's title, and the following new paragraphs are inserted : "8. There shall also be a secretary for the south and south-west, to labour in connection with the missions to the slaves, and to attend to the interests of the Missionary Society in such way and manner as the board of managers may direct. Should his office become vacant by death or otherwise, the board may fill the place until the next sitting of the annual conference to which he belongs, who shall then fill the vacancy until the next session of the General Confer ence. "9. There shall be another secretary, to reside in the west, to labour in connection with the Indian missions, and to attend to the interests of the Missionary Society in such way and manner as the board of managers may direct. Should his office become vacant by death or otherwise, the board may fill the place until the next sitting of the annual conference to which he belongs, who shall then fill the vacancy until the next session of the General Conference." SECTION VII. Of the Chartered Fund. This section was first introduced in 1796. It was as follows:: 1796. "Quest. 1. What further provision shall be made for the distressed travelling preachers, for the families of travelling preachers, and for the superannuated and worn-out preachers, and the widows and orphans of preachers? "Ans. There shall be a chartered fund, to be supported by the voluntary contributions of our friends. the principal stock of which shall be funded under the direction of trustees, and the interest applied under the direction of the General Conference, according to the following regulations :" 1. That no sum exceeding sixty-four dollars shall in any one year be applied to the use of an itinerant, superannuated, or worn-out single preacher. 2. That no sum exceeding one hundred and twentyeight dollars in any one year shall be applied to the use of any itinerant, superannuated, or worn-out married preacher. 3. That no sum exceeding sixty-four dollars in any one year shall be applied for the use of each widow of itinerant, superannuated, or worn-out preachers. 4. That no sum exceeding sixteen dollars shall be applied in any one year for the use of each child or orphan of itinerant, superannuated, or worn-out preachers. 5. That the elders, and those who have the oversight of circuits, shall be collectors and receivers of subscriptions, &c., for this fund. 6. The money shall, if possible, be conveyed by bills of exchange, through the means of the post, to John Dickins, our general book steward in Philadelphia, who shall pay it to the trustees of the fund: otherwise it shall be brought to the ensuing yearly confer ence. 7. There shall be no money drawn out of the fund till the first day of August, 1798. 8. The interest shall be divided into six* parts, and each of the yearly conferences shall have authority to draw that sixth part out of the fund, according to the regulations before prescribed: and if in one or more conferences a part less than one-sixth be drawn out of the fund in any given year, then in such case or cases the other yearly conferences, held in the same year, shall have authority, if they judge it necessary, to draw out of the fund, according to the above regulation, such surplus of the interest which has not been applied by the former conferences: and the bishops shall bring the necessary information of the state of the interest of the fund, respecting the year in question, from conference to conference. 9. The present stock of the preachers' fund shall be thrown into the chartered fund. 10. The produce of the sale of our books, after the book debts are paid, and a sufficient capital is provided for carrying on the business, shall be regularly paid into the chartered fund. 11. The money subscribed for the chartered fund may be lodged on proper securities in the states respectively in which it has been subscribed, under the *The number varies, from time to time, according to the number of conferences. direction of deputies living in such states respectively; provided such securities and such deputies be proposed as shall be approved of by the trustees in Philadelphia; and the stock in which it is proposed to lodge the money be sufficiently productive to give satisfaction to the trustees. 1800. The following changes were made, namely:-The first four paragraphs were struck out. In paragraph 6 (2) it is provided that the money may be conveyed "by bills of exchange or otherwise, and the name of the book steward is left out. Paragraph 7 was omitted, and the following new paragraph was inserted: 66 “4. All drafts on the chartered fund shall be made on the president of the said fund, by order of the annual conference, signed by the president, and countersigned by the secretary of the said conference." In paragraph 9, (5,) for "present stock," we have "old stock." At the end of paragraph 10, (6,) the following clause was added:-"to be applied, with the annual interest of the funded stock, to the support of the itinerant ministry, &c., agreeably to the design and rules of the chartered fund, and the twenty-sixth section of this Discipline." [Sec. 5, Part li.] The following new paragraph was inserted :— "7. In case of the death, expulsion from society, or resignation of one or more of the trustees of the chartered fund, during the recess of the General Conference, the Philadelphia Annual Conference is authorized, in such case, to elect one or more trustees to fill the place or places, so vacated, till the next General Conference." 1804. Paragraph 10 of 1796, and paragraph 7 of 1800, were left out. 1812. Paragraph 9 of 1796 struck out. |