necessary to constitute a vote of the Conference. A similar regulation shall be observed by the annual conferences.

VI. The yeas and nays shall be recorded at the call of one-fifth part of the members present. VII. The conference shall publish such parts of the journal of its proceedings, as it may deem requisite.

VIII. All papers, books, &c. belonging to the conference, shall be preserved as that body may direct.

ARTICLE IX.

Powers of the General Conference.

I. The General Conference shall have pow er to make rules and regulations for the Itinerant, Missionary, Literary, and every other department of the Church, recognized by this Constitution.

II. To fix the compensation and duties of the itinerant ministers and preachers, and the allowance for their wives, widows and children; and also, the compensation and duties of the Book Agent, Editor, &c. and to devise ways and means for raising funds.

III. To regulate, from time to time, the number of representatives to the General Conference; provided, that the General Conference shall at no time exceed one hundred members.

IV. To define and regulate the bounda

ries of the respective annual conference districts; provided, however, that the annual conferences of any two or more districts, shall have power, by mutual agreement, to alter their respective adjoining boundaries, or to unite and become one district, or to set off a new district; to receive into their respective limits and jurisdiction any station or circuit, which does not belong to some other district; but every alteration made in the boundaries of the respective districts, shall be reported to the ensuing general conference.

ARTICLE X.

Restrictions on the Legislative Assemblies. I. No rule shall be passed which shall contravene any law of God.

II. No rule shall be passed which shall infringe the right of suffrage, eligibility to office, or the rights and privileges of our ministers, preachers, and members, to an impartial trial by committee, and of an appeal, as provided by this constitution.

III. No rule shall be passed infringing the liberty of speech, or of the press; but for every abuse of liberty, the offender shall be dealt with as in other cases of indulging in sinful words and tempers.

IV. No rule, except it be founded on the holy scriptures, shall be passed authorizing the expulsion of any minister, preacher or.. member.

V. No rule shall be passed appropriating the funds of the church to any purpose except the support of the ministry, their wives, widows and children; the promotion of education, and missions; the diffusion of useful knowledge; the necessary expenses consequent on assembling the Conferences, and the relief of the poor.

VI. No higher order of ministers shall be authorized than that of elder.

VII. No rule shall be passed to abolish an efficient itinerant ministry, or to authorize the annual conferences to station their ministers and preachers longer than three years, successively, in the same circuit, and two years successively in the same station.

VIII. No change shall be made in the relative proportions, or component parts of the general or annual conferences.

ARTICLE XI.

Officers of the Church.

Presidents of the Annual Conferences.

1. The President of each Annual Conterence shall be elected annually, by the ballot of a majority of the members of the conference. He shall not be eligible more than three years successively; and shall be amenable to that body for his official conduct.

2. It shall be the duty of the president of an

annual conference, to preside in all meetings of that body; to travel through the district, and visit all the circuits and stations, and to be present, as far as practicable, at all the quarterly meetings and camp meetings of his district; and, in the recess of conference, with the assistance of two or more elders, to ordain those persons who may be elected to orders; to employ such ministers, preachers, and missionaries, as are duly recommended; and to make such changes of preachers as may be necessary, provided the consent of the preachers to be changed, be first obtained; and to perform such other duties as may be required by his annual conference.

Ministers.

1. The minister, who shall be appointed by the annual conference, to the charge of a station or circuit, shall be styled, the Superintendent; and shall be amenable to the annual conference for his official conduct.

2. The minister or preacher appointed by the annual conference to assist the superintendent in the discharge of his pastoral duties, shall be styled the Assistant; and shall be amenable to the annual conference for the faithful discharge of duty.

3. It shall be the duty of every minister and acher belonging to a circuit or station, to render all the pastoral assistance he can, consistently with his other engagements; but no minister or preacher shall be accountable to

the annual conference for the discharge of ministerial duty, except he be an tinerant minister or preacher; all others shal be accountable to the quarterly conference of their circuit or station.

4. No person shall be recognized as an itinerant minister, preacher or missionary, whose name is not enrolled on the annual conference list, or who will not be subject to the order of the conference.

Class Leaders.

The class leaders may be elected annually by the members of their respective classes; but if, in any instance, a class shall neglect or refuse to elect a leader, when one is wanted, it shall then be the duty of the superintendent to nominate a class leader for said class, and from the nomination or nominations made by the superintendent, the class shall make an election.

Conference Stewards.

The Conference Steward shall be elected annually by the annual conference, and dis charge those duties assigned to him by the discipline, and be amenable to the annual conference for his official conduct.

Station and Circuit Stewards.

The Station and Circuit Stewards shall be elected annually; in the stations, by the male