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

sent home, in case of non-payment. And for the future, at least one fourth of the price of twelve
months board and tuition must be sent with every scholar, who comes from the adjacent states; and
half the said price with every scholar who comes from any distant state.
6. Every minister, preacher, and private member shall be permitted, and is hereby earnestly
requested to devise some means, and either bring or send his proposals to the next council, for the
purpose of laying some scheme for relieving our dear brethren, who labor in the extremities of the
work, and do not receive more than six, eight, ten, twelve, or fifteen pounds per annum.
7. Every deacon shall be three years in a state of probation before he can be elected to the
eldership.
8. Considering the weight of the connection, the concerns of the college, and the printing business,
it is resolved, that another council shall be convened at Baltimore, on the first day of December,
1790.
I have thought proper to insert the minutes of the first council at full length, that the plan, and the
whole business thereof may be understood in future; and that the reason may be known why it was
opposed, and why it was so soon given up, and rejected both by the Methodist preachers and people.
When the council was first proposed, the preachers in each district were to have the power to
reject, or retain the measures which had been adopted by the council. But when the proceedings of
the council came out, they had changed the plan, and determined that if a majority of the preachers
in the different districts should approve of the proceedings of the council, it should then be binding
on every preacher in each district.
The number of conferences were increased, so that but a small number of preachers could collect
at one place. There were fourteen conferences appointed for the next year.
In the latter part of the year 1790, the second and last council met, and their minutes began as
follows:
"Minutes; taken at a Council of the Bishop and delegated Elders of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, held at Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, December 1st, 1790."
Q. "What members are present?
A. "Francis Asbury, bishop; Freeborn Garrettson, Francis Poythress, Nelson Reed, John Dickins,
Philip Bruce, Isaac Smith, Thomas Bowen, James O. Cromwell, Joseph Everitt, and Charles
Connaway. [These were members of the first council]
Q. "What power do this council consider themselves invested with by their electors?