ference, and be filed and preserved with the papers of that body. 6. The General Conference shall have full powers to make rules and regulations for our Church, under the following limitations and restrictions, namely: 1. The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or 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. They shall not allow of more than one representative for every fourteen members of the Annual Conference, nor allow of a less number than one for every forty-five; provided, nevertheless, that when there shall be in any Annual Conference a fraction of two thirds the number which shall be fixed for the ratio of representation, such Annual Conference shall be entitled to an additional delegate for such fraction; and provided, also, that no Conference shall be denied the privilege of two delegates. 3. They shall not change or alter any part or rule of our government, so as to do away episcopacy, or destroy the plan of our itinerant general superintendency. 4. They shall not revoke or change the General Rules of the United Societies. 5. They shall not do away the privileges of our ministers or preachers of trial by a committee, and of an appeal; neither shall they do away the privileges of our members of trial before the society, or by a committee, and of an appeal. 6. They shall not appropriate the produce of the Book Concern, nor of the Charter Fund, to any purpose other than for the benefit of the traveling, supernumerary, superannuated, and worn-out preachers, their wives, widows, and children. Provided, nevertheless, that upon the concurrent recommendation of three fourths of all the members of the several Annual Conferences, who shall be pres ent and vote on such recommendation, then a majority of two thirds of the General Conference succeeding shall suffice to alter any of the above restrictions, excepting the first article: and also, whenever such alteration or alterations shall have been first recommended by two thirds of the General Conference, so soon as three fourths of the members of all the Annual Conferences shall have concurred as aforesaid, such alteration or alterations shall take effect. To defray the expenses of the delegates composing the General Conference, a collection shall be taken up in each circuit and station some time previously to the sitting of the Conference, and the sums so collected shall be brought up by the delegation to the General Conference, and applied to the object herein contemplated, in proportion to the expenses of the several delegates. SECTION III. The Annual Conferences. Quest. 1. Who shall attend the Annual Conferences? Answ. All the Traveling Preachers— both those who are in full connection, and those who are on trial. Quest. 2. Who shall appoint the times of holding the Annual Conferences? Answ. The Bishops: but they shall allow the Annual Conferences to sit a week at least. Quest. 3. Who shall appoint the places of holding the Annual Conferences? Answ. Each Annual Conference shall appoint the place of its own sitting; but should it become necessary, from any unforeseen cause, to change the place of its sitting after it has been fixed by the Conference, the Preacher or Preachers in charge of the place, and the Presiding Elder of the district where the Conference was to be held, shall have power to make such change. But this authority shall not be exercised without first consulting the other Presiding Elders of the Conference so far as practicable. Quest. 4. Who shall preside at the Annual Conferences? Answ. The Bishop. In case no Bishop be present, a Presiding Elder, appointed by a Bishop, by letter or otherwise, shall preside. But if no appointment be made, or if the Presiding Elder appointed do not attend, the Conference shall in either of these cases elect the President by ballot, without a debate, from among the Presiding Elders. Quest. 5. What is the method wherein we usually proceed in the Annual Conferences? Answ. We inquire, 1. What Preachers are admitted on trial? 2. Who remain on trial? 8. Who are admitted into full connection? 4. Who are the Deacons ? 5. Who have been elected and ordained Elders this year? 6. Who have located this year? 7. Who are the superannuated or worn-out Preachers? 8. Who have been expelled from the connection this year? 9. Who have withdrawn from the connection this year? 10. Are all the Preachers blameless in life and conversation? 11. Who have died this year? 12. What is the number of Church members? Number of deaths the past year? Number of probationers? Number of Local Preachers? Number of adults baptized the past year? Number of children baptized the past year? Number of churches? Their probable value? Their probable value? Amount collected for Superannuated Amount collected for the Missionary Amount collected for the Tract Society? Bible Society? |