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

he sets free every slave in his possession, those who are from forty to forty-five, immediately, or at
farthest at the age of forty-five. Those who are between the ages of twenty-five and forty,
immediately, or within the course of five years. Those who are between the ages of twenty and
twenty-five, immediately, or at farthest at the age of thirty. Those who are under the age of twenty,
as soon as they are twenty-five at farthest. -- And every infant, immediately on its birth.
"Every person concerned, who will not comply with these rules, shall have liberty quietly to
withdraw from our society within the twelve months following, the notice being given him as
aforesaid. Otherwise the assistant shall exclude him in the society.
"No person holding slaves, shall in future be admitted into society, or to the Lord's supper, till he
previously comply with these rules concerning slavery.
"Those who buy or sell slaves, or give them away, unless on purpose to free them, shall be
expelled immediately."
These rules were but short lived, and were offensive to most of our southern friends; and were so
much opposed by many of our private members, local preachers, and some of the traveling preachers,
that the execution of them was suspended at the conference held in June following, about six months
after they were formed; and they were never afterwards carried into full force. However, some parts
of them have been retained among us; but they have been changed and altered, until the last general
conference in 1808; at which time the greater part of the rule about slavery was abolished, and no
part of it was retained respecting private members. The part retained in our discipline, only relates
at present to our traveling preachers, and such other persons as are to be brought forward to official
stations in our church. I shall therefore take no further notice of the rules about slavery which were
made at various times for twenty-four years, i.e. from the Christmas conference in 1784, to the last
general conference held in 1808. For a long experience has taught us, that the various rules which
had been made on this business have not been attended with that success which was expected.
The directions given concerning the administration of the Lord's supper, were 1, "Let it be
recommended to the people to receive it kneeling: but they may receive it standing or sitting. 2. Let
no person who is not a member of our society be admitted to the communion without a sacrament
ticket, which ticket must be changed every quarter."
The direction given about baptism was, "Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to
be baptized, have their choice either of immersion or sprinkling."
It is also said, "We will on no account whatsoever, suffer any elder or deacon among us to receive
a fee or present for administering the ordinance of marriage, baptism, or the burial of the dead; freely
we receive, and freely we give."
After a few years, it was thought best to take a present for performing the marriage ceremony; and
for the money so received to be given in to the stewards of the circuit, to be applied to the making
up of the preacher's quarterage; but in case the preachers of the circuit received their quarterage
without it, then the money so received, should be brought to the next conference, and be applied to