§4. In administering the Sacraments, and in the burial of the dead, let our form of Ritual invariably be used.

$5. Let the people be earnestly exhorted to take part in the public worship of God-first, in singing; secondly, in prayer, in the scriptural attitude of kneeling, by the repetition of the Lord's Prayer.

§ 6. Let the Society be met, wherever it is practicable, on the Sabbath day.

The Spirit and Truth of Singing.

¶ 44. To guard against formality in singing. §1. Choose such hymns as are proper for the occasion, and do not sing too much at once; seldom more than four or five verses.

§2. Let the tune be suited to the sentiment, and do not suffer the people to sing too slowly. § 3. In every Society let due attention be given to the cultivation of sacred music.

§4. Should the Preacher in Charge desire it, let the Quarterly Conference appoint annually a Committee of three or more, of which Committee the Preacher in Charge shall be chairman, and they co-operating with him shall regulate all matters relating to this part of divine worship. action of said Committee shall be in every respect subject to the control of the Quarterly Conference. § 5. As singing is a part of divine worship in

The

which all ought to unite therefore exhort every person in the congregation to sing, not one in ten only.

Classes and Class Meetings.

¶ 45. The design of the organization of Classes and the appointment of Leaders is,

§ 1. To establish a system of pastoral oversight that shall effectively reach every Member of the Church.

§ 2. To establish and keep up a meeting for social and religious worship, for instruction, encouragement, and admonition, that shall be a profitable means of grace to our people.

§3. To carry out, unless other measures be adopted, a financial plan for the raising of moneys.

146. The primary object of distributing the Members of the Church into Classes is to secure the sub-pastoral oversight made necessary by our itinerant economy. In order to secure this oversight,

§1. Let the Classes, wherever practicable, be composed of not more than twenty persons, and let the Leader report at each Quarterly Conference the condition of his Class as follows:

1. Number of Members in his Class. 2. Number of Probationers.

3. Average attendance.

4. Number habitually absent.

5. Number of Class Meetings held.

6. Number who contribute to the support of the Church.

7. Number of visits made.

8. Number of heads of families in the Class, and what proportion of them observe family worship.

9. Number of Church Papers taken by Class Members.

10. Miscellaneous matters.

§2. Let each Leader be careful to inquire how every member of his Class prospers; not only how each person outwardly observes the Rules, but how he grows in the knowledge and love of God.

§3. Let the Leaders converse with those who have the charge of their Circuits and Stations frequently and freely.

¶ 47. In order to render our Class Meetings interesting and profitable, 1. Remove improper Leaders. 2. See that all the Leaders be of sound judgment and truly devoted to God.

¶48. In the arrangement of Class Meetings two or more Classes may meet together, and be carried on according to such plan as shall be agreed upon by the Leaders in concurrence with the Preacher in Charge.

¶49. Let care be observed that they do not fall into formality through the use of a uniform method. Let speaking be voluntary or the exer

cises conversational, the Leader taking such measures as may best assist in making the serv. ices fresh, spiritual, and of permanent religious profit.

¶50. Let the Leaders be directed to such a course of reading and study as shall best qualify them for their work; especially let such books be recommended as will tend to increase their knowledge of the Scriptures and make them familiar with those passages best adapted to Christian edification. Whenever practicable let the Preachers examine the Leaders in the studies recommended.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

¶ 51. Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of either sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.

T52. We will on no account whatever make a charge for administering Baptism, or for burying the dead.

153. Let persons who have scruples concerning the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper kneeling, be permitted to receive it either standing or sitting.

154. No person shall be admitted to the Lord's Supper among us who is guilty of any practice for which we would exclude a Member of our Church.

PART II.

GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

THE CONFERENCES.

The General Conference.

The

¶ 55. The General Conference shall be composed of Ministerial and Lay Delegates. Ministerial Delegates shall consist of one Delegate for every forty-five Members of each Annual Conference, to be appointed either by seniority or choice at the discretion of such Annual Conference, yet so that such Representatives shall have traveled at least four full calendar years from the time that they were received on Trial by an Annual Conference, and are in Full Connection at the time of holding the Conference.*

¶ 56. The Lay Delegates shall consist of two Laymen for each Annual Conference, except such

*A Transferred Preacher shall not be counted twice in the same year in the basis of the election of Delegates to the General Conference, nor vote for Delegates to the General Conference in any Annual Conference where he is not counted as a part of the basis of representation, nor vote twice the same year on any constitutional question.