A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

5. They shall not do away the privileges of our ministers or preachers of trial by a committee, and
of an appeal. Neither shall they do away the privileges of our members of trial before the society or
by a committee, and of an appeal.
6. They shall not appropriate the produce of the book concern, or of the charter fund, to any
purpose other than for the benefit of the traveling, supernumerary, superannuated and worn-out
preachers, their wives, widows and children. Provided nevertheless, that upon the joint
recommendation of all the annual conferences, then a majority of two-thirds of the general
conference succeeding, shall suffice to alter any of the above restrictions."
Our connection having spread very extensively, and the number of our preachers being much
larger than they were formerly, it was thought best to make some new regulations about our general
conferences in future, and the foregoing regulations were agreed to, by which means each part of the
connection would have a proportionable number of preachers in the general conference. The
Baltimore and Philadelphia conferences will no longer include more than half the members of the
general conference. At this conference was made the new rule for the ordination of local preachers.
Formerly they were to have their recommendation signed by nine traveling preachers, before they
could be ordained. The rule being changed, it now stands thus: "The bishops have obtained liberty,
by the suffrages of the conference, to ordain local preachers to the office of deacons; provided their
characters pass in examination, and obtain the approbation of the yearly conference, with a
testimonial from the quarterly meeting of their respective circuits, after proper examination, signed
by the president, and countersigned by the secretary."
There was a new regulation made at the last general conference in section 5th of the second part,
in "raising annual supplies for the propagation of the gospel and for making up the allowance of the
preachers." That part which is new is contained in these words, "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 of the preachers.
"If the respective allowances are not raised as provided for, the connection shall not be
accountable for the deficiency, as in a case of debt."
Before that time we had but one rule in every place for raising money; but now each annual
conference may choose a plan of their own for securing the funds necessary to meet the regular
demands of the preachers within its own limits.
At this general conference, it was thought best for Dr. Coke to be no longer considered as a
superintendent of the Methodists in the United States. He had married in England, and taken regular
appointments from the British conference, and of course could not attend to America according to
his former engagement. We therefore concluded to enter him on the Annual Minutes thus:
"Dr. Coke, at the request of the British Conference, and by the consent of our General Conference,
resides in Europe: he is not to exercise the office of Superintendent among us, in the United States,
until he be recalled by the general conference, or by all the annual conferences respectively."