The Doctrines And Discipline Of The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church - free ebook by Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

THE DOCTRINES AND DISCIPLINE OF THE COLORED METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

REVISED EDITION 1918 COPYRIGHTED 1918, By The AGENT and Publishers of the COLORED M. E. CHURCH...

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Episcopal Address

To the Members of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church: We esteem it our duty and privilege most earnestly to recommend to you, as members of our Church, our form of Discipline, which has been founded on the experience of a long series of years. We wish to see this publication in the house of every member of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church; and the more so, as it contains the Articles of Religion maintained more or less, in part or in whole, by every reformed Church in the world. Far fr

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CHAPTER I. ARTICLES OF RELIGION

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead, there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect na

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CHAPTER II. THE GENERAL RULES

The General Rules of "The United Societies" organized by Mr. Wesley in 1739, are as follows: There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies, a "desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins." But wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they shall evidence their desire of salvation— First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of ev

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CHAPTER III. GENERAL CONFERENCE

Ques. 1. Who shall compose the General Conference, and what are the regulations and powers belonging to it? Ans. 1. The General Conference shall be composed of one clerical member for every twenty-eight members of each Annual Conference, and one lay member (who may be a local preacher) for each Annual Conference, to be appointed as follows: The clerical representatives shall be elected by the clerical members of the Annual Conference: provided that such representatives shall have traveled at lea

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CHAPTER IV. ANNUAL CONFERENCES.

Ques. 1. Who shall compose an Annual Conference, and what are the regulations and powers belonging to it? Ans. 1. All the traveling preachers in full connection with it, and four lay representatives—one of whom may be a local preacher—from each Presiding Elder's District. 2. The lay members shall be chosen annually by the District Conferences; provided that no one shall be a representative who is not twenty-five years of age, and who has not been for six years, next preceding his election, a mem

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CHAPTER V. DISTRICT CONFERENCES

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning District Conferences? Ans. 1. There shall be held annually, in each presiding elder's District, a District Conference. The time shall be fixed by the Presiding Elder, and the place by the conference. 2. The District Conference shall be composed of all the preachers, in the District, both traveling and local, and of laymen, the number of whom, and their mode of appointment, each Annual Conference may determine for itself. 3. The Presiding Elder shall

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CHAPTER VI. QUARTERLY CONFERENCES.

Ques. 1. Who shall compose a Quarterly Conference? Ans. All the traveling and local preachers, exhorters, stewards (senior and junior), stewardesses (senior and junior), trustees of church property, class leaders, presidents of Epworth League chapters, Presidents of Woman's Missionary Societies, Superintendents of Sunday Schools, Secretaries of Church Conferences, and choristers, who are members of the church, and none else. Ques. 2. When and where shall each Quarterly Conference meet? Ans. Four

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CHAPTER VII. CHURCH CONFERENCES

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning Church Conferences? Ans. 1. All the members of the Church, and resident members of the Annual Conference shall come together once a month, or on circuits at least every three months, at every appointment, to hold a Church Conference, over which the preacher in charge shall preside. It may be held at any time most convenient for assembling the greatest number of members; but if on the Sabbath, it should not interfere with the morning public worship. 2

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CHAPTER VIII. THE ELECTION AND CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS AND THEIR DUTIES

Ques. 1. How is a Bishop to be constituted? Ans. By the election of the General Conference, and the laying on of hands of three Bishops, or at least of one Bishop and two Elders. Ques. 2. If by death, expulsion, or otherwise, there be no Bishop remaining in our church, what shall we do? Ans. The General Conference shall elect a Bishop; and the Elders, or any three of them, who shall be appointed by the General Conference for that purpose, shall ordain him according to our form of ordination. Que

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CHAPTER IX. PRESIDING ELDERS

Ques. 1. What are the duties of a Presiding Elder? Ans. 1. To travel through his appointed District, in order to preach and superintend the spiritual and temporal affairs of the Church. 2. In the absence of the Bishop, to take charge of all the traveling and local preachers, and exhorters, in his District. 3. To change, receive, and suspend preachers in his District during the intervals of the Conferences, and in the absence of the Bishop, as the Discipline directs. 4. To be present, as far as p

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CHAPTER X. PASTORS AND THEIR DUTIES

Ques. 1. What are the duties of a preacher who has the charge of a circuit, station, or mission? Ans. 1. To receive, try, and expel members, according to the provisions of the Discipline, and to subscribe for the Christian Index. Any minister failing to subscribe for the same shall be guilty of neglect of duty. 2. To appoint all the leaders, and change them when he sees it necessary. 3. To see that all the ordinances and regulations of the Church be duly observed, and that the General Rules be r

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CHAPTER XI. ADMITTING ON TRIAL AND INTO FULL CONNECTION. ELECTION TO DEACON'S AND ELDER'S ORDERS.

Ques. How is a preacher to be admitted on trial into the traveling connection? Ans. 1. By the Annual Conference. In the interval of the Conference, he may be received and employed in the work by a Bishop, or the Presiding Elder of the District, until the sitting of the Conference. 2. No one shall be admitted on trial unless he procures a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference; nor shall a vote be taken upon the admission of any candidate who shall not have passed an approved examination up

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CHAPTER XII. SUPERNUMERARY AND SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS— PREACHERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES

Ques. What is a supernumerary preacher? Ans. 1. A supernumerary preacher is one who is so disabled by affliction as to be unable to preach constantly, but is willing to do any work in the ministry which the Bishop may direct, and he may be able to perform. 2. A supernumerary preacher who refuses to attend to the work assigned him, unless in case of sickness or other unavoidable cause or causes, shall not be allowed to exercise the functions of his office, nor even to preach among us; nevertheles

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CHAPTER XIII. THE CALL TO PREACH

Ques. 1. How shall we try those who profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost to preach? Ans. Let the following questions be asked, namely: 1. Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire nothing but God? And are they holy in all manner of conversation? 2. Have they gifts (as well as graces) for the work? Have they (in some tolerable degree) a clear, sound understanding, a right judgment in the things of God, a just conception of salvation by faith?

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CHAPTER XIV. LOCAL PREACHERS AND EXHORTERS

Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning the licensing of persons to preach? Ans. 1. The Quarterly Conference shall have authority to license proper persons to preach, and to renew their license annually, when, in its judgment, their gifts, graces and usefulness will warrant it. 2. No person shall be licensed to preach without the recommendation of the Church of which he or she is a member, or of the Leaders' Meeting of the charge to which he or she belongs. Nor shall any one be licensed to

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CHAPTER XV. CLASS LEADERS

Ques. 1. How are the class leaders to be appointed? Ans. By the preacher in charge, who shall appoint one person in each class to be the leader thereof. Ques. 2. What are the regulations concerning the class leaders? Ans. 1. Let them be men of sound judgment and truly devoted to God. 2. Let every one of them be carefully examined by the preacher in charge at least once a quarter, concerning his method of leading his class. 3. It is the leader's duty— (1) To see each person in his class once a we

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CHAPTER XVI. STEWARDS AND STEWARDESSES

Ques. 1. How are Stewards and Junior Stewards to be appointed? Ans. The preacher in charge shall have the right of nomination, subject to the confirmation or rejection of the Quarterly Conference. Ques. 2. What are the regulations concerning Stewards and Junior Stewards? Ans. 1. Let them be men of solid piety, who both know and love the Methodist doctrine and discipline, and of good natural and acquired ability to transact temporal business of the Church. 2. It shall be the duty of the Stewards

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CHAPTER XVII. TRUSTEES OF CHURCH PROPERTY

Ques. 1. How are Trustees to be appointed? Ans. Except where the laws of the State or Territory provide differently, the Preacher in Charge, or, in his absence, the Presiding Elder, shall have the right of nomination, subject to the confirmation or rejection of the Quarterly Conference. Ques. 2. What are the regulations concerning the Trustees? Ans. 1. No person shall be eligible as a Trustee of any of our parsonages or churches who is not a member of our Church, and at least twenty-one years of

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CHAPTER XVIII. HOW TO RECEIVE MEMBERS.

Ques. How shall members be received into the Church? Ans. 1. When persons offer themselves for Church-membership, let the preacher in charge inquire into their spiritual condition, and receive them into the Church when they have given satisfactory assurances of their desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins; and also, of the genuineness of their faith, and of their willingness to keep the rules of the Church. 2. When satisfied on these points, let the minister bring

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CHAPTER XIX. ORDER AND DIRECTIONS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP

Ques. 1. What directions are given for uniformity in public worship? Ans. 1. The morning service shall be conducted in the following order: 1. Organ voluntary or song. 2. Singing, congregation standing. 3. Repeating "Apostles' Creed." 4. Prayer—closing with Lord's prayer, repeated or chanted. 5. Singing—anthem or hymn. 6. Reading lessons out of the Old and the New Testament—with chant by choir or suitable song between the lessons. 7. Announcements and notices. 8. Singing—congregation sitting. 9.

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CHAPTER XX. OTHER MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH

Ques. What directions are given concerning our prayer meetings? Ans. Let the pastor hold prayer-meetings, weekly, in every church where it is practicable; and when he cannot himself attend, let him engage local preachers, exhorters, class-leaders, and others, to hold them. 2. Let prayer-meetings be held also at other places where there is a probability of their doing good. Ques. 1. What directions are given concerning class-meetings? Ans. 1. Let the membership of every church, wherever it is pra

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CHAPTER XXI. CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH

Ques. What directions are given concerning the children of the Church? Ans. 1. Let the minister diligently instruct and exhort all parents to dedicate their children to the Lord in baptism as early as convenient. 2. In his pastoral visitations let him pay special attention to the children; speak to them personally and kindly on experimental and practical godliness, according to their capacity; pray earnestly for them, and cause them to be faithfully instructed in the nature, design, privileges,

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CHAPTER XXII. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL

Ques. What directions are given concerning Sunday-schools? Ans. 1. Let Sunday-schools be formed in all our congregations, where ten children can be collected for that purpose. And it shall be the especial duty of preachers having charge of circuits and stations, with the aid of the other preachers, to see that this be done; to engage the co-operation of as many of our members as they can; to visit the schools as often as practicable; to preach on the subject of Sunday-schools and religious instr

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CHAPTER XXIII. TRIAL CODE OF A BISHOP

Ques. 1. To whom is a Bishop amenable for his conduct? Ans. 1. To the General Conference which has power to try him for improper conduct and to acquit, suspend, reprimand, retire with or without salary or expel him. Ques. 2. What provision is made for the trial of a Bishop if he be accused of immorality in the interval of the General Conference? Ans 2. When a bishop shall be under a report or be accused of immorality, three traveling elders shall, after notice to him, carefully inquire into the

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CHAPTER XXIV. TRIAL OF A TRAVELING PREACHER

Ques. 1. To whom is a traveling preacher amenable for his conduct? Ans. To the Annual Conference, which shall have power to try, acquit, or expel him. Ques. 2. What shall be done when a traveling preacher is accused of immorality? Ans. 1. When a traveling elder or deacon is under report of being guilty of some crime expressly forbidden in the Word of God, if it be in the interval of the Annual Conference, let the Presiding Elder, in the absence of the Bishop, call as many traveling preachers as

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CHAPTER XXV. TRIAL OF PROBATIONERS AND LOCAL PREACHERS.

Ques. What shall be done with a preacher on trial who is accused of immorality? Ans. He shall be accountable to the Quarterly Conference of the circuit on which he travels. The Presiding Elder shall call a committee of investigation, and the course of Discipline shall be pursued that is made and provided for a Local Preacher under a like accusation. Ques. 1. To whom is a Local Preacher amenable for his conduct? Ans. To the Quarterly Conference, which shall have power to try, acquit, or expel him

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CHAPTER XXVI. TRIAL OF A MEMBER

Ques. 1. How shall an accused member be brought to trial? Ans. 1. Before the church of which he is a member, or a select number of them, in the presence of a Bishop, Elder, Deacon or Preacher, in the following manner: (a) When a member of the Church is under report of being guilty of some crime expressly forbidden in the Word of God, the preacher having charge shall appoint a committee of three discreet members, who shall investigate the report, and if they judge a trial to be necessary, they sh

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CHAPTER XXVII. MINISTERIAL COURT OF APPEALS.

1. Each Annual Conference shall elect every two years beginning with its first session after the General Conference, three Elders, who shall be men of experience, judgment and information touching the law of the Church, to be known as Triers of Appeals. 2. The Ministerial Court of Appeals shall consist of a President, who shall be a Bishop, and the Triers of Appeals from three Conferences adjacent to that of which the appellant was a member. 3. The President of the Ministerial Court shall be app

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CHAPTER XXVIII. APPEAL OF A TRAVELING PREACHER TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

1. In all cases, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Annual Conference to preserve the documents relating to the trial of members, which documents only, in an appeal from the decision of an Annual Conference, shall be presented to the Ministerial Court of Appeals in evidence on the case. 2. When an appeal is made from the Ministerial Court of Appeals, and allowed by the General Conference, there shall be a committee appointed consisting of one delegate from each Annual Conference, who,

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CHAPTER XXIX. APPEAL OF A LOCAL PREACHER.

1. When an appeal of a Local Preacher is made and allowed by the Annual Conference, the President shall appoint a committee of not less than nine nor more than thirteen, who shall have full power to try the case; and their decision shall be final. 2. No member of the Quarterly Conference that first tried the case shall be appointed on this committee. 3. The minutes of the trial in the Quarterly Conference shall be laid before this committee, which documents only shall be in evidence; and the sai

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CHAPTER XXX. APPEAL OF A MEMBER.

1. If there be a murmur or complaint from any excluded person, that justice has not been done in the trial before the Church or committee, he shall be allowed an appeal to the next Quarterly Conference. 2. The appeal being made and allowed, the preacher in charge shall present the minutes of the trial to the Quarterly Conference, from which minutes the case shall finally be determined. 3. No member of the committee for trial shall vote on the appeal. 4. The appellant shall state, either personal

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CHAPTER XXXI. RESTORATION OF CREDENTIALS

1. When any traveling Elder or Deacon is deprived of his credentials of ordination by expulsion or otherwise, they shall be filed with the papers of the Annual Conference of which he was a member. 2. Should he, at any future time, give satisfactory evidence to said Conference of his amendment or innocence, and procure a certificate of the Quarterly Conference of the circuit or station where he resides, or of the Annual Conference which may have admitted him on trial, recommending him to the Annu

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CHAPTER XXXII.

1. Every minister, who by the rules and usages of the Church is a claimant on its funds, shall, as far as practicable, have his claim estimated by those who are to pay it, or by an agent authorized to act for them. 2. The salary and traveling expenses of preachers on circuits and stations shall be estimated by their respective Boards of Stewards. 3. The Stewards shall report to each Church meeting the whole amount to be raised, and that part of it which each congregation is expected to pay. The

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CHAPTER XXXIII. CHURCHES AND PARSONAGES

Any church or churches in any Annual Conference of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America, shall have the right to establish an OLD FOLKS' Home, ORPHAN ASYLUM, HOSPITAL, or other charitable institutions in conformity to the laws of the State or Territory in which they are located. The Trustees of all such institutions shall be members of the Colored M. E. Church, and shall have authority to found, maintain and operate such institutions in the name of the C. M. E. Church in America. Qu

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CHAPTER XXXIV. SECURING, SELLING, OR TRANSFERRING CHURCH PROPERTY.

Ques. What shall be done for the security of our preaching houses and parsonages, and other Church property, and the premises belonging thereto? Ans. 1. Each Annual Conference is authorized to make such modification in the deeds as they may find the different usages and customs of law require in the different States and Territories, so as to secure the property firmly by deed, and permanently in fee simple , to the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America; but in all conveyances of ground f

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CHAPTER XXXV. FINANCIAL PLAN

Article I. (1) The General Funds of the Colored M. E. Church in America shall be one hundred thousand ($100,000) dollars per annum; provided , the assessment in any Conference or charge shall not exceed 50c per capita. 2. Said amount shall be divided as follows: Article II. (1) There shall be a Board of Equalization consisting of one Bishop, the Book Agent, and the Auditing Committee. 2. The Board of Equalization shall apportion to each Annual Conference according to its numerical strength, its

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CHAPTER XXXVI. THE JOINT BOARD OF FINANCE

1. Each Annual Conference shall have a Joint Board of Finance, appointed by the President of the Conference, (unless otherwise ordered,) at the close of its annual session, to hold their office until the close of the next ensuing Annual Conference session. 2. Said Board shall consist of one clerical member of the Conference and one layman for each Presiding Elder's District. They shall elect their own Chairman and Secretary, and the Board shall fill all vacancies that may occur in the body; prov

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CHAPTER XXXVII. THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT

Art. 1. (1) There shall be and is a Publishing Department of the C. M. E. Church in America. 2. The Publishing House shall be located in Nashville, Tenn. 3. The Publishing Department was established for the object and purpose of spreading the Christian religion by the publication, sale and dissemination of moral and religious literature, the promotion of Christian education, and for publishing books, book-making, book selling and for the transaction of such other business as is legitimately conn

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CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE GENERAL MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.

Art. 1. There shall be a Mission Board of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, chartered according to the laws of the State of Tennessee. The Mission Board shall have general supervision of all Missionary operations of the church. Art. 2. The members of this Board shall be a Bishop, who shall be President, the Secretary of Missions, and one representative from each Episcopal District. The Secretary of Missions and the members from Episcopal Districts, shall be elected by the General Conferenc

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CHAPTER XXXIX. WOMAN'S MISSIONARY BOARD

Art. 1. This Society shall be known as the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Art. II. The object of this Society shall be to enlist the members of our Church in the work of giving aid to mission points and mission preachers in all our conferences; to help to build parsonages and suitable houses of worship; to foster the cause of religious instruction among the neglected poor, and to otherwise aid the cause of the blessed Master. Art. III. This

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CHAPTER XL. THE CHURCH EXTENSION DEPARTMENT

Art. I. There shall be a Board of Church Extension of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America, which shall be conducted as a body corporate under such laws and regulations as the General Conference may, from time to time, adopt. Art. II (1) The Board shall consist of a Bishop, who shall be President, a Vice-President, the General Secretary, a Treasurer, and nine managers, who shall be elected by the General Conference. All Bishops, except the President, shall be ex-officio members of t

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CHAPTER XLI. THE EPWORTH LEAGUE SOCIETY

Art. I. There shall be and is an Epworth League Society of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. Art. II. The object of the Epworth League Society shall be to promote piety and loyalty in the young people and friends of the church; to bring into deeper sympathy, closer union, and mutual co-operation, the three stages of life, youth, middle, and old age; to stimulate the study of the Holy Scriptures; to deepen and intensify the desire for purity of heart, consecration of life, and growth in gra

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CHAPTER XLII. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Art. 1. The educational operations of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church shall be conducted under the following provisions and regulations. Art. 2. There shall be a Board of Education of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church to be known as the "General Conference Board of Education," to consist of nine members including a Bishop and the Secretary of Education, one from each Episcopal District, the Bishop and the Secretary being at large. Art. 3. (1) This Board shall have an advisory relatio

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CHAPTER XLIII. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

In order to perfect Bible knowledge for the moral and religious training of the children of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America; the General Conference of the C. M. E. Church directs that there shall be a Sunday School Department which shall be under the general supervision of a General Sunday School Board, to be authorized by the General Conference, whose chief officer shall be that of Editor, and said department shall be located in the Publishing House, wherever settled, etc. 1.

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CHAPTER XLIV. SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS,' WIDOWS,' AND ORPHANS' FUND.

Art. I. (1) There shall be and is a department known as the Superannuated Preachers,' Widows,' and Orphans' Fund of the Colored M. E. Church. 2. The object of this department is to provide a fund for Superannuated Preachers, Widows and Orphans of deceased preachers. 3. This department shall be under the management of a Board of Directors consisting of a Bishop, the Secretary-treasurer and five ministers elected by the General Conference. 4. The Board of Directors shall meet annually at such time

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CHAPTER XLV. MISCELLANEOUS

Ques. What directions are given concerning Children's Day? Ans. 1. There shall be held annually throughout the Church, a day to be known as Children's Day. 2. The exercises of this day shall consist of appropriate services held in all our congregations for the especial benefit of the children. 3. The first collection at every service on that day shall be for the cause of education. 4. Each Annual Conference shall decide as to which of the recognized connectional schools the money raised for educ

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CHAPTER XLVI. SCHOOLS, COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES

1. The General Conference or any Annual Conference or Conferences of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America shall have the right to establish and maintain, Schools, Colleges or Universities for educational purposes, which shall at all times be under control and subject to the Discipline, usage and ministerial appointments of this Church as now exist, or as from time to time authorized and declared by said General, or Annual Conference or Conferences, providing no additional schools, c

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CHAPTER XLVII. FOUNDERS DAY

Be it resolved, first, That we set apart the Sunday nearest the sixteenth of September each year, as Founder's Day, to be observed in the Sunday-schools, Epworth Leagues, and by the Pastors and Congregations throughout the Connection. Second, That programs be arranged and suitable services held in every charge throughout the connection. In every service effort should be directed to acquaint the public with the history of our Church, and to inspire the youth with its hope and prospects of the fut

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CHAPTER XLVIII. NAMES AND BOUNDARIES OF CONFERENCES.

Alabama Conference.—Bounded on the North by the Southern Railroad, running from Meridian, Miss., to Selma, Ala., and thence on a straight line to Georgia; on the East by Georgia; on the West by Mississippi, and on the South by the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. Arkansas Conference.—Bounded by the State lines North of the Arkansas River, with an imaginary line running to the Indian Territory and to Perry County. The Arkansas Conference includes all territory in the Northeastern part of the state not

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CHAPTER XLIX. THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Elder shall read one or more of these sentences, during the reading of which the stewards shall take up the collection for the poor: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.—Matt. v. 16. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do n

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CHAPTER L. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO INFANTS.

The minister, coming to the font, which is to be filled with pure water, shall use the following, or some other suitable exhortation: Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour Christ saith, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God: I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to this child that which by nature he cannot have; that h

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CHAPTER LI. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

The minister, coming to the font, which is to be filled with pure water, shall use the following, or some other suitable exhortation: Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, (and that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but live in sin, committing many actual transgressions,) and that our Saviour Christ saith, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God; I beseech you to ca

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CHAPTER LII. FORM OF THE RECEPTION AND RECOGNITION OF CHURCH MEMBERS.

The minister shall cause the candidates to be placed before the congregation, and after baptizing any who may not have been previously baptized he shall say: Brethren, the Church is of God, and will be preserved to the end of time, for the promotion of his worship and the due administration of his word and ordinances—the maintenance of Christian fellowship and discipline—the edification of believers, and the conversion of the world. All, of every age and station, stand in need of the means of gr

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CHAPTER LIII. THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

At the day and time appointed for the solemnization of matrimony, the persons to be married (having been qualified according to law) standing together, the man on the right hand and the woman on the left, the minister shall say: Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the m

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CHAPTER LIV. THE ORDER OF THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD

The minister meeting the corpse, and going before it, shall say: I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die.—John xi. 25, 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.—Job. xix.

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CHAPTER LV. FORM OF LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF A CHURCH

At the time and place of laying the corner stone, let the minister cause a suitable hymn to be sung (e. g. 780, 781, or 782). Then shall the minister say: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, thou art infinite in all thy perfections, and marvelous in all thy works. Thou hast made the world and all things therein; and seeing that thou art Lord of heaven and earth, thou dwellest not in temples made with hands; thou art a Spirit, and art worshiped in spirit and in truth, in all places of thy

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CHAPTER LVI. FORM OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH

Let the service be conducted as on the other occasions of public worship—only the hymns (e. g. 783-780,) prayer, lesson, and sermons, should be adapted to the occasion. The lessons may be Gen. xxviii. 10-22, and Heb. x. 19-25, or any other at the discretion of the minister. FIRST LESSON. GEN. xxviii. 10-22. And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, a

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CHAPTER LI. THE FORM AND MANNER OF ORDAINING DEACONS

When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after a suitable sermon or exhortation, one of the Elders shall present unto the Bishop all them that are to be ordained, and say: I present unto you these persons present, to be ordained Deacons. Then their names being read aloud, the Bishop shall say unto the people: Brethren, if there be any of you who knoweth any impediment or crime in any of these persons presented to be ordained Deacons; for the which he ought not to be admitted to that office,

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CHAPTER LVIII. THE FORM AND MANNER OF ORDAINING ELDERS.

When the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be a sermon or exhortation, declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Elders; how necessary that order is in the Church of Christ, and also how the people ought to esteem them in their office. After which one of the Elders shall present unto the Bishop all them that are to be ordained, and say: I present unto you these persons present, to be ordained Elders. Then their names being read aloud, the Bishop shall say unto th

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THE FORM OF CONSECRATING A BISHOP.

THE COLLECT. Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy apostles many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed thy flock: give grace, we beseech thee, to all the ministers and pastors of thy Church, that they may diligently preach thy word, and duly administer the godly discipline thereof; and grant to the people, that they may obediently follow the same; that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then shall be read by one of t

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CHAPTER I.

Bishop L. H. Holsey, D. D., 335 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia. Bishop Isaac Lane, D. D., 422 LaConte St., Jackson, Tennessee. Bishop R. S. Williams, D. D., 912 Fifteenth Street, Augusta, Georgia. Bishop E. Cottrell, D. D., Holly Springs, Mississippi. Bishop C. H. Phillips, A. M., M. D., D. D., 123-14th Ave., Nashville, Tennessee. Bishop R. A. Carter, A. M., D. D., 398 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia. Bishop N. C. Cleaves, D. D., 633 S. Lauderdale St., Memphis, Tennessee. Rev. J. A. Hamlett, A.

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CHAPTER II. COURSE OF STUDY FOR PREACHERS

All candidates for the ministry are urged before entering the traveling connection, to secure, if possible, as much training in literary and Theological studies as they can. Certificate of graduation from any secondary school of good standing may be accepted by the examining committee in lieu of the English branches prescribed in the course for candidates for admission on trial. A diploma from any college of our church or any other reputable college, may be accepted in lieu of any or all collegi

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CHAPTER III. RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

1. Upon the convening of the General Conference, and after religious exercises, the Secretary of the preceding General Conference shall call the roll. If a quorum be found present, the General Conference shall elect a Secretary and as many assistant secretaries as may be necessary. 2. The Presiding Bishop shall appoint a committee on Credentials, consisting of one member from each Episcopal District. After the first day's session the time of the opening shall be 9 o'clock a. m. and 1:30 p. m., r

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WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY

This organization shall be called the Woman's Missionary Society of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The object of this society shall be to promote the welfare of women and children at home and abroad through educational and evangelistic work, to stimulate united prayer and study, to secure a fuller development of resources and to foster religious movements and community betterment. There shall be a Woman's Board of Missions with headquarters located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee. 1

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