absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian: then she may, nay, ought to marry without their consent. Yet even then a Methodist Preacher ought not to be married to her.

¶ 274. We do not prohibit our people from marrying persons who are not of our Church, provided such persons have the form, and are seeking the power, of godliness; but we are determined to discourage their marrying persons who do not come up to this description.

Divorce.

¶ 275. No divorce, except for adultery, shall be regarded by the Church as lawful; and no Minister shall solemnize marriage in any case where there is a divorced wife or husband living: but this Rule shall not be applied to the innocent party to a divorce for the cause of adultery, nor to divorced parties seeking to be reunited in marriage.

Temperance.

276. Temperance, in its broader meaning, is distinctively a Christian virtue, enjoined in the Holy Scriptures. It implies a subordination of all the emotions, passions, and appetites to the control of reason and conscience. Dietetically, it means a wise use of suitable articles of food and drink, `with entire abstinence from such as are

known to be hurtful. Both science and human experience agree with the Holy Scriptures in condemning all alcoholic beverages as being neither useful nor safe. The business of manufacturing and of vending such liquors is also against the principles of morality, political economy, and the public welfare. We, therefore, regard voluntary total abstinence from all intoxicants as the true ground of personal temperance, and complete legal prohibition of the traffic in alcoholic drinks as the duty of civil government. We heartily approve of all lawful and Christian efforts to save society from the manifold and grievous evils resulting from intemperance, and earnestly advise our people to co-operate in all measures which may seem to them wisely adapted to secure that end. We refer to our General Rule on this subject, (¶ 32,) and affectionately urge its strict observance by all our members. Finally, we are fully persuaded that, under God, hope for the ultimate success of the Temperance Reform rests chiefly upon the combined and sanctified influence of the Family, the Church, and the State.

Slavery.

T277. We declare that we are as much as ever convinced of the great evil of Slavery. We believe that the buying, selling, or holding of

human beings, to be used as chattels, is contrary to the laws of God and nature, and inconsistent with the Golden Rule, and with that Rule in our Discipline which requires all who desire to continue among us to "do no harm," and to "avoid evil of every kind." We therefore affectionately admonish all our preachers and people to keep themselves pure from this great evil, and to seek its extirpation by all lawful and Christian means.

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PART IV.

TEMPORAL ECONOMY.

CHAPTER I.

SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY.

Qualifications, Appointments, and Duties of
Stewards.

T278. There shall be not less than three nor more than thirteen Stewards in each Circuit or Station, one of whom shall, after each annual election, be appointed by the Quarterly Conference a Recording Steward, and one a District Steward. But when two or more Circuits or Stations are united the Stewards shall hold office till the first Quarterly Conference shall elect a new Board.

T279. Let the Stewards be persons of solid piety, who both know and love Methodist Doctrine and Discipline, and who are of good natural and acquired abilities to transact the temporal business of the Church,

250. The Preacher in Charge of the Circuit or Station shall have the right to nominate the Stewards, but the Quarterly Conference shall confirm or reject such nomination. The Stewards so elected shall enter upon the discharge of their

duties on the adjournment of the next Annual Conference, and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected.

T 281. The duties of Stewards are: to take an exact account of all the money or other resources received for the support of the Preachers in the Circuit or Station, and to apply the same as the Discipline directs; to make an accurate return of every expenditure of money, whether for the Preachers, or the poor Members of the Society; to seek the needy and distressed in order to relieve and comfort them; to inform the Preachers of any sick or disorderly persons; to tell the Preachers what they think wrong in them; to attend the Quarterly Meetings of their Circuit or Station, and the Leaders and Stewards' Meetings; to give advice, if asked, in planning the Circuit; to attend Committees for the application of money to Churches; to give counsel in matters of arbitration; to provide the elements for the Lord's Supper; to write circular letters to the Societies in the Circuit exhorting them to greater liberality, if need be; and also to let them know, when occasion requires, the state of the temporal concerns of the Charge.

¶ 282. The duties of the District Stewards are: to attend the Annual District Stewards' Meeting when called by the Presiding Elder, and to perform the duties specified in ¶ 289.

1283. Stewards are accountable for the faith