When the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, met in New Orleans, April, 1866, the Conference found that, by revolution and the fortunes of war, a change had taken place in our political and social relation, which made it necessary that a change should also be made in our ecclesiastical relations, and provision was made for our organization into separate congregations, Districts, and Annual Conferences, if we desired it; and that when two or more Annual Conferences should be formed, if it was our wish, and met the approbation of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, we should have a General Conference organization like that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and that our preachers should receive ordination according to the regulations and requirements of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as Deacons and Elders; and should a General Conference be organized, and suitable men be elected to the office of Bishops, that the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, would ordain and set them apart as Chief Pastors among us. At the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Memphis, Tennessee, May, 1870, it was found that five Annual Conferences had been formed among us, and that an almost universal desire had been expressed on our part that we might be organized into a separate and distinct Church, which was acquiesced in by the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and recommended to said Conference in their address; whereupon, by our request, the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, together with A. L. P. Green, Samuel Watson, Edmund W. Sehon, Thomas Whitehead, R. J. Morgan, and Thomas Taylor, were appointed by said Conference to aid in organizing our General Conference at the time and place above specified. At the succeeding sessions of our Annual Conferences, delegates were elected to attend our General Conference, in accordance with the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
It was further determined by the acts of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1866, that should the time arrive when we should be formed into a separate and distinct organization, that all property which was intended for the use and benefit of people of color, held by the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, should be transferred to Trustees appointed by us, to be held forever for our use and benefit.
It will be seen from the facts in the case that our record is clear, and that we have descended regularly from the very father of Methodism, and that our organization is both legal and constitutional.
We remain your very affectionate brethren and pastors, who labor night and day, both in public and in private, for your good.
LUCIUS H. HOLSEY,
ISAAC LANE,
ROBERT S. WILLIAMS,
ELIAS COTTRELL.
CONTENTS
| I. Episcopal Address. | |
PART I. Pages 15-33 | |
| Articles of Religion | [15]-29 |
| General Rules | [29]-33 |
PART II. Pages 37-66 CONFERENCES | |
| I. GENERAL CONFERENCE | |
| How composed, [37]:1; delegates, clerical and lay, 37:1-2; voting, 38:3; time and place of meeting, 38:4; quorum, 39:8; special session, 38-39:5-6; presiding officer, 39:9; power and restrictions, 40-42; unconstitutional laws, 42. | |
| II. ANNUAL CONFERENCE | |
| How composed, [43]:1-2; rights and duties of members, 43-44:3-4; number and boundaries—how determined, 44:5; time and place, 45:6-7; presiding officer, 45:8; order of business, 46-49; character and administration of preachers, 49-50:1-5; other business of, 51-53:1-7; committee of examination, 51-52; general minutes, 53:8; statistics, 53:10. | |
| III. DISTRICT CONFERENCE | |
| Time and place of meeting, [54]:1; how composed, 55:2; officers, 55:3-4; order of business, 55-56:1-4; lay delegates, 56:3. | |
| IV. QUARTERLY CONFERENCE | |
| How composed, [57]:1; time and place of meeting, 57:2; duties and powers of, 58-60:1-8; divorce, 59:6; order of business, 60-63. | |
| V. CHURCH CONFERENCE | |
| How composed, [63]:1; secretary, 64:2; order of business, 64-66:4-6. | |
PART III Pages 69-93. THE MINISTRY | |
| I. BISHOPS | |
| How constituted, [69]:1-2; duties, 69-74:1-14; retirement of, 74:15; restrictions, 75:16-18; veto of, 42. | |
| II. PRESIDING ELDERS | |
| Duties and powers of | [75]-78 |
| III. PASTORS | |
| Duties of, [78]-82; location of preachers, 101:3; supernumerary, 89; superannuated, 90. | |
| IV. THE MINISTER AND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE | |
| Reception on trial, [82]-83; admitting into full membership, 83-86; ministers from other churches, 91-93. | |
| V. DEACONS | |
| How constituted, [86]:1; qualification, 86:2; duties of, 87:1-3; local preachers as, 99:2; ordination of, 317-324. | |
| VI. ELDERS | |
| How constituted, [87]:1; qualification, 88:1; probation, 88:2; duties of, 89:1-2; local preachers as, 99-100:3; ordination of, 324-339. | |
PART IV. Pages 97-111 LOCAL PREACHERS, EXHORTERS AND OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH | |
| I. THE CALL TO PREACH | [97]-98 |
| II. LOCAL PREACHERS & EXHORTERS | |
| How made, [98]:1; qualification, 98-99:2; deacon, 99:2; Elder, 99-100:3; duties of, 100-101:1; certificate of removal, 102:4. | |
| III. EXHORTERS | |
| How made, [102]:1 duties of, 103:2; further directions, 103:1-3. | |
| IV. CLASS LEADERS | |
| How made, [104]:1-2; duties, 103-104:3. | |
| V. STEWARDS | |
| How made, [105]:1; qualification, 106:2; duties of, 106-107:2-3; number 108:4; junior stewards, 108:5; recording stewards, 109:6. | |
| VI. STEWARDESSES | |
| Number and mode of election, [109]:7; duties of, 109:7:3; junior, 109:7:2. | |
| VII. TRUSTEES | |
| How made, [110]:1; regulations concerning, 110:2; number, 111:3; amenability, 111:4. | |
PART V. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, ORDER OF WORSHIP; MEANS OF GRACE, ETC. | |
| I. HOW TO RECEIVE MEMBERS | [115] |
| II. ORDER OF PUBLIC WORSHIP | [116]-117:1 |
| Special directions, 117-118:2-6; prayer meeting, 118. | |
| III. CLASS MEETINGS | [119]-120 |
| Division of membership, 119:1; meetings, 119:2; general class, 120:3. | |
| IV. LOVE FEASTS | |
| When, and by whom held, [120]:1; order of service, 120:2; strangers, 121. | |
| V. CHILDREN | |
| Dedication, [121]:1; pastoral instruction, 121:2; members of church, 122:3; catechism and doctrine, 122:4. | |
| VI. SUNDAY SCHOOL | |
| How formed, [123]; board of managers, 124:2; superintendent of, 124:5; department of, 223-228. | |
PART VI. JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION, Pages 129-159 | |
| I. TRIAL OF A BISHOP | |
| Investigation, [129]; 132:4; suspension, 130; Court of Appeals, 131-132:3; accusation raised at General Conference, 133:4; trial, 133. | |
| II. TRIAL OF A TRAVELING PREACHER | |
| Amenability, [141]:1; investigation, 141-142; trial, 137; improper tempers, words, or actions, 137-138:3; erroneous doctrines, 138:4; inefficiency, 138:5; refusing to attend work, 139:6. | |
| III. TRIAL OF A PREACHER ON TRIAL | [140]:1. |
| IV. TRIAL OF A LOCAL PREACHER | |
| Amenability, [141]:1; investigation, 141-142:1-3; trial, 142:4; improper tempers, words, or actions, 142-143:3; erroneous doctrine, 143:4; inefficiency, 143:5. | |
| V. TRIAL OF A MEMBER | |
| Investigation, [145]:a; trial, 145: b, c, d, e; neglect of duty, sinful tempers, dancing, etc., 147:2; sowing dissension, 147:3; arbitration, 148-149. | |
| VI. MINISTERIAL COURT OF APPEALS | |
| How composed, [150]:1-4; the right of appeal, 151:5; challenge, 151:7; further procedure, 152:9. | |
| VII. APPEAL TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE | |
| Appeal carried up, [153]:2; trial, 153-154:2-3-4. | |
| VIII. APPEAL OF A LOCAL PREACHER | |
| Committee, [155]:12; the evidence, 155:3; procedure, 156:4. | |
| IX. APPEAL OF A MEMBER. | |
| The evidence, [156]-157:2; procedure 157:4. | |
| X. RESTORATION OF CREDENTIALS | |
| Traveling Elders and Deacons, [158]:1-2; local elders and deacons, 159. | |
PART VII. Pages 163-174 SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY, BUILDING CHURCHES AND PARSONAGES, SECURING AND TRANSFERRING CHURCH PROPERTY | |
| I. SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY | |
| Support of pastors, [163]:1; of superannuated preachers, 231:IV:1-3; support of presiding elders, 163:2; 185:d; support of Bishops, 164:3; 179:IV:1; retired Bishops, 164:3; 179:V-2; widows of Bishops, 165:6; 179:IV:3. | |
| II. SUPPORT OF GENERAL OFFICERS | |
| Book Agent and Editor of Christian Index, [191]:V:2; secretaries of; Missions, 197:5; Church Extension, 205:IV:7; Education, 219:8; Epworth League, 213:IV:4; Ministerial Aid, 230, II:6; Sunday School, 225:4; not otherwise provided for, 165:4. | |
| III. CHURCH PROPERTY | |
| Charitable institutions, [166]:1; building churches, 166-168:II; building parsonages, 169:III. | |
| IV. BUYING AND SELLING CHURCH PROPERTY | |
| Securing churches and lots, [170]-171:1; securing parsonages and lots, 171-172:2; sale of church property, authority of, 172:II:2; relief of trustees, 173:3. | |
PART VIII. Pages 177-258. BOARDS AND DEPARTMENTS | |
| I. FINANCIAL PLAN | |
| General Assessment, [177]:1:1; Board of Equalization, 177:II:1-2; Book Agent, 178-182:III:V:VII. | |
| II. JOINT BOARD OF FINANCE | |
| How constituted, [184]:2; duties of, 185-186:3:a-g; right of Annual Conference, 186:5. | |
| III. Publishing Department | [187]-193 |
| IV. Gen. Missionary Department | [193]-199 |
| V. Woman's H. Miss. Society | [199]-201 |
| VI. Woman's Gen. Miss. Board | [375]-376 |
| VII. Church Extension Board | [201]-209 |
| VIII. Epworth League Board | [209]-214 |
| IX. Board of Education | [214]-223 |
| X. Sunday School Board | [223]-228 |
| XI. Superannuated Preachers, Widows and Orphans Board | [228]-233 |
| XII. MISCELLANEOUS | |
| Children's Day, [233]-234; General Missionary Day, 234; Official Meeting, 235; The Western Index, 236; the Eastern Index, 237. | |
| XIII. Schools and Colleges | [237]-245 |
| XIV. Founder's Day | [245]-246 |
| XV. Names and Boundaries of conferences | [247]-258 |
PART IX. Pages 261-353 THE RITUAL | |
| I. The Lord's Supper | [261]-273 |
| II. Baptism of Infants | [273]-278 |
| III. Baptism of Adults | [278]-285 |
| IV. Reception of Members | [285]-290 |
| V. Matrimony | [290]-295 |
| VI. Burial of the Dead | [295]-304 |
| VII. CORNER STONE and DEDICATION | |
| Form for laying Corner Stone of Church, [305]-310; form for dedication of church, 311-317. | |
| VIII. ORDINATION | |
| Form of ordaining deacons, [317]; 324; of elders, 324-339; of consecrating Bishops, 339-353. | |
APPENDIX PART X. Pages 355-377 | |
| I. Addresses of Bishops and General Officers | [355]-356 |
| II. Commissions and Boards | [357]-359 |
| III. COURSE OF STUDY FOR PREACHERS. | |
| Local preachers, [361]-362; traveling preachers, 362-364. | |
| IV. Rules for Organization and Conduct of General Conference | [365]-374 |
| V. Woman's General Missionary Society | [375]-377 |