Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

themselves, may travel through every part, whether there be societies or not, and stay wherever there is a call, without being burdensome to any. Thus may the gospel in the life and power thereof be spread from sea to sea. Which of you will not rejoice to throw in your mite to romote this glorious work?

"Besides this, in carrying on so arge a work through the continent, there are calls for money in various ways, and we must frequently be at a considerable expence, or the work must be at a full stop. Many too are the occasional distresses of our preachers, or their families, which require an immediate supply, otherwise their hands would hang down, if they were not constrained to depart from the work.

"The money contributed will be brought to the ensuing conference. "Men and brethren, help! Was there ever a call like this since you first heard the gospel sound? Help to relieve your companions in the kingdom of Jesus, who are pressed above measure. Bear ye one ano..

ther's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Help to send forth able willing labourers into your Lord's harvest: So shall ye be assistant in saving souls from death, and hiding a multitude of sins.Help to propagate the gospel of your salvation to the remotest corners of the earth, till the knowledge of our Lord shall cover the land as the waters cover the sea. So shall it appear to ourselves and all men, that we are indeed one body, united by one spirit; so shall the baptized heathens be yet again constrained to say, "See how these christians love one another!"

4. A public collection shall be made at every annual and every general conference for the above purposes.

5. Let the annual produce of the charter-fund as divided among the several conferences be applied with the above contributions; but so as not to militate against the rules of the charter-fund; and also the annual dividend arising from the profits of the Book-concern. Out of the

monies so collected, and brought to the respective annual conferences, let the various allowances, agreed upon in the fourth section be made up; but in no case shall an allowance be made to any travelling preacher who has travelled in any circuit where he might in the judgment of the annual conference have obtained his full quarterage if he had applied for it and if at any conference there remain a surplus, after making up all such allowances, such surplus shall be carried forward to the next conference that shall meet.

:

6. Every annual conference has full liberty to adopt and recommend such plans and rules, as to them may appear necessary, the more effectually to raise supplies for the respective allowances. Each annual conference is authorised to raise a fund, if they judge it proper, and under such regulations as their wisdom may direct, for the relief of the distressed, travelling, superannuated and supernumerary preachers, their wives, wi

dows and children, as also for missionary purposes.

7. If the respective allowances - are not raised as provided for, the connexion shall not be accountable for the deficiency, as in a case of debt.

Quest. What advice or direction shall be given, concerning the building or renting of dwelling-houses, for the use of the married travelling preachers?

Answ. It is recommended by the general conference, to the travelling preachers to advise our friends in general, to purchase a lot of ground in each circuit and to build a preacher's house thereon, and to furnish it with, at least, heavy furniture, and to settle the same on trustees, appointed by the official members of the quarterly-conference meeting, aecording to the deed of settlement, published in our form of discipline.

2. The general conferences recommend to all the circuits, in cases where they are not able to comply with the above request, to rent a house for the married preach

er and his family (when such are stationed upon their circuits respectively) and that the annual conferences do assist to make up the rents of such houses as far as they can, when the circuit cannot do it.

SECTION. VI.

Of the Chartered Fund. Quest. What further provision shall be made for the distressed travelling preachers, for the families of travelling preachers, and for the superannuated and worn out preachers, and the widows and orphans of preachers?

Answ. There shall be a chartered fund, to be supported by the voluntary contributions of our friends; the principal stock of which shall be funded under the direction of trustees, chosen by the general conference, and the interest applied under the direction of the general conference, according to the following regulations, viz.

1. The elders, and those who have the oversight of circuits, shall be collectors and receivers of subscriptions, &c. for this fund.

« AnkstesnisTęsti »