free and full use of the pulpits should be in the hands of the General Conference, and the yearly conferences authorized by them. Of course, the travelling preachers, who are in full connection, assembled in their conferences, are the patrons of the pulpits of our churches. And this was absolutely necessary to give a clear, legal specification in the deed. If the local preachers, stewards, and leaders (who have an undoubted right to preach, meet their classes, &c., in the preaching houses at due time, according to the Form of Discipline) were specified, it would be necessary to add a description of their orders; which would throw such obscurity upon the whole, that a court of justice would either reject the deed, or be at a loss to determine concerning the little peculiarities of our Form of Discipline. But we do hereby publicly declare, that we have no design of limiting, in the least degree, the privileges of any of the public officers of our society, but by this deed solely intend to preserve the property of our church by such a clear, simple specification, as shall be fully and easily cognizable by the laws." 66 Of the Printing of Books, and the Application of the Profits arising therefrom." "The propagation of religious knowledge, by means of the press, is next in importance to the preaching of the gospel. To supply the people, therefore, with the most pious and useful books, in order that they may fill up their leisure hours in the most profitable ways, is an object worthy of the deepest attention of their pastors. On this account we are determined to move in the most cautious manner in respect to our publications. We have a great esteem for our general book steward, and are much obliged to him for his fidelity and usefulness in his important office but we shall in future submit our publications to the judgment of no single person. The books of infidelity and profaneness with which the states at present abound, demand our strongest exertions to counteract their pernicious influence and every step shall be taken, which is consistent with our finances, to furnish our friends, from time to time, with the most useful treatises on every branch of religious knowledge. And the consideration that all the profits shall be lodged in our chartered fund for the benefit of the distressed preachers, both travelling and superannuated, will, we trust, prove a considerable additional inducement to our brethren to purchase our books." INDEX. Alabama Conference, boundaries of, 221, 227. Apostolic succession, 282. Appeal, right of, 113. Arbitrations, (see Members,) 141. Arkansas Conference, boundaries of, 223, 227. Articles of Religion, 80, 83, 84, 95-110, 112, 160. Asbury, Francis, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 81, 83, 281. Assistant, duties of, 11, 16, 17, 19, 20, 54, 76, 126. General, (see Mr. Wesley, Superintendent, Bishop,) 11, 13, Baltimore Conference, boundaries of, 211, 212, 213, 216, 218, 221. Bands, 36, 56, 84, 140, 183, 328. original rules of, 184. Baptism, 174, 200. mode of, 45, 174, 204, 322. Bible classes, 150. Society, 139. agents for the American, 123. Bishops, (see Mr. Wesley, General Assistant, Superintendent,) first use of the title, 82, 118. Address of the, 83, 88. Notes to the Discipline by the, 85, 260, 281. ordination of, 38, 120, 209. powers of, 114, 115, 118, 212, 214, 216, 219, 256, 257, 287. allowance of, 119, 228, 240, 246, 248. election of, 120, 121. duties of, 38, 119, 120, 121, 122, 248, 249, 250. trial of, 38, 120, 121, 122, 290. provision in case of vacancy in the office, 39, 120. publication of, by travelling preachers, 262, 264, 313. Book Agents, 122, 254, 262, 266. allowance of, 254, 270. Book Agents, from whom chosen, 262, 271. powers of, 255, 258, 261. term of office, 262, 267. Committee, 255, 257, 258, 264, 266, 267, 270. Concern, 113, 243, 252, 254. Bribery, 38. publications of, by whom selected, 254, 255, 257, 258, 261, 263, 266, 270, 271. seat of, 260, 265. profits of, 254, 256, 260, 261. commission system abolished, 264. Charleston, S. C., paper at, 269. depository at, 272. Chartered Fund, 85, 113, 243, 251, 254, 325. Children, instruction of, (see Education,) 13, 34, 51, 64, 147, 317. Southern, 269. Richmond, 269. Church of England, condition of, 93, 94. connection of Methodists with, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, Churches, 11, 13, 20, 69. building of, 76, 139, 228. deed for, 70, 229, 230. property of, 288, 338. order in, 71, 72. Cincinnati, book establishment at, 263, 266, 268, 271. Class leaders, 29, 304, 326. duties of, 177. Class meetings, 133, 150, 177, 181, 326, 327. Cokesbury College, rules and regulations of, 154. appropriation to, 254, 255. Collections, 240. conference, 21. class, 136, 139. quarterly, 136, 139. College, (see Cokesbury.) Coloured people, 16, 42, 274, 279. Conferences, 110. mode of spending time at, 26, 286. origin of, 47. General, 111, 283. the first, 25. delegated, 111. members of, 111, 112. time of meeting, 111, 112. quorum in, 112. president of, 112. powers of, 112, 293. limitations and restrictions of, 112, 113. District (of travelling preachers) 110, 118. Annual, 110, 114, 283. members of, 114, 287. time of, 114, 286. place of, 115, 286. order of business in, 64, 115. boundaries of, 118, 211, 286. duties of, 230. powers of, 234, 243, 256, 316. journal of, 119. president of, 127. Quarterly, 127, 128, 149, 165, 167, 168, 234, 245. Credentials, restoring (to travelling preachers) 163. (to local preachers) 173, 174. Deacon, office of, 39, 41, 129, 130. constituting of, 130, 299. probation of, 130, 131, 299. form of ordination, 208. Debts, non-payment of, how treated, 143. Depositories of books, 267, 270, 272. Dickins, Rev. John, participation in arranging Discipline, 81. M. E. Church, 9. the first, 25-79. mode of altering, prior to 1792, 79. division of, 85, 119. title of, 87 |