Family religion is wanting in many homes. What avails public preaching alone? We must, yea, every minister and every probationer must instruct the people from house to house. Let this be done, and that in good earnest. SECTION IV. The Election and Ordination of Ministers, and their Duties. 68. A minister is constituted by election of the Annual Conference, and by laying on of the hands of those duly appointed thereto. 69. The duties of a minister are,— 1. To conduct all parts of Divine worship. 2. To administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 3. To solemnize Matrimony, and in general to perform all the work of a Christian minister. 70. No minister who ceases to travel without the consent of the Annual Conference, certified under the hand of the President, except in case of sickness, debility, or other unavoidable circumstances, shall, on any account, exercise the peculiar functions of his office, or even be allowed to preach among us; nevertheless, the final determination in all such cases is with the Annual Conference. 71. After approval of the Annual Conference, a General Superintendent, with the President of the Annual Conference, may issue a commission, to which the seal of the Conference shall be attached, to authorize a minister of the Church to ordain, according to our form of ordination, auch missionary or missionaries as may be stationed in dis tant parts of our work. SECTION V. The Reception of Ministers from other Churches. 72. Ministers who offer to unite with us from other Christian Churches may be received in the following manner: 1. If they come to us with proper testimonials from any accredited Methodist Church, they may be received according to such credentials, provided they give satisfaction to the Annual Conference of their willingness to conform to our Church government and usages. 2. Candidates for the ministry from other Evangelical denominations may be received as candidates for our ministry, provided they give satisfaction that they are suitable persons to exercise the office; and that they believe in the doctrines and approve of the discipline, government and usages of our Church. The Chairman and any two ministers (members of the Conference) of the District within the bounds of which any such candidate may be travelling or resident, are authorized to act as a committee on behalf of the Annual Conference, to admit him into our Church; and he may be employed until the ensuing Annual Conference; and if he be recommended by an annual District Meeting, he may be received as a probationer for the ministry. 3. Ministers of other Evangelical Churches who may desire to unite with our Church may be received according to our usages, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows when required, without the re-imposition of hands, giving satisfaction to an Annual Conference of their being duly ordained ministers, and of their agreement with us in doctrine, discipline, government and usages. 73. Whenever any such minister shall be received, he shall be furnished with a certificate signed by a General Superintendent and President, as follows: THIS IS TO CERTIFY that.... received into..... has been Conference as a minister, he having been ordained to the office of the ministry, according to the usages of the... ...Church, of which he has been a minister; and he is hereby authorized to exercise the functions of his office in the Methodist Church so long as his life and conversation are such as become the Gospel of Christ.. Given under our hand and seal at. this..... ..day of... in the year 74. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in order to avoid an undue increase in the number of ministers, it shall not be competent for any Annual Conference, or officer thereof, to receive any minister or probationer for the ministry from another church, or from abroad, during the ensuing quadrennium (1898-1902). CHAPTER III. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH. SECTION I. Of Receiving Members into the Church. 75. In order to prevent improper persons from insinuating themselves into the Church : 1. Let no one be received into the Church until such person has been at least three months on trial, and has been recommended by the Leaders' Meeting, or where no such meeting is held, by the Leader. Members in connection with other Evangelical Churches, who make application for admission into our Church, may be received by the Superintendent of the Circuit or Mission as members, when duly accredited, without the usual term of probation. 2. Let none be admitted on trial, nor receive tickets, but those who are recommended by one you know, or until they have met three or four times in class. 3. Read the Rules to them the first time they meet. SECTION II. Of the Relation of Baptized Children to the Church. 76. We hold that all children, by virtue of the unconitional benefits of the atonement, are members of the kingdom of God, and, therefore, graciously entitled to baptism; but as infant baptism contemplates a course of religious instruction and discipline, it is expected of all parents or guardians who present their children for baptism, that they use all diligence in bringing them up in conformity to the Word of God; and they should be solemnly admonished of this obligation, and earnestly exhorted to faithfulness therein. 77. We regard all children who have been baptized as placed in visible covenant relation to God, and under the special care and supervision of the Church; therefore, let every Superintendent urge upon all parents in his congregation the duty and importance of presenting their children to God in the ordinance of baptism, and keep a register of such Baptisms in a Baptismal Register to be provided and kept in connection with each Circuit. 78. As soon as the children shall have attained an age sufficient to understand, let them be taught the nature, design and obligations of their baptism, and the truths of religion necessary to make them wise unto salvation; let our Catechisms be placed in their hands, and let all who can, read and commit the same to memory; let them be encouraged to attend class, and to give regular attendance upon all the means of grace, according to their age, capacity and religious experience. Pray earnestly for them, and talk with them at every suitable opportunity. 79. As far as practicable, it shall be the duty of every Superintendent to obtain the names of the children of his congregation, to form them into catechumen classes for the purpose of giving them religious instruction, to instruct |