selves of all the facilities of other establishments for their publication at the cheapest rates; and in all their investments for the manufacture of books they shall be governed strictly by the principles of economy. With the consent of the Book Committee, and in coöperation with the Board of Missions, they shall translate and publish the books contained in the course of study for our preachers in any of our foreign mission fields, and the books, tracts, and periodicals necessary for the dissemination of religious knowledge in those countries.

4600. They shall sell the books for cash or its equivalent.

9601. They shall make no investments in grounds, houses, or permanent fixtures, without the consent of the Book Committee.

SECTION III

DUTIES OF THE BOOK COMMITTEE

¶602. The Book Committee shall be composed of thirteen members of our Church, six clerical and seven lay, of whom only five shall be residents of Nashville; the remaining eight to be taken from the Church at large, provided that no one of them shall reside within the bounds of the Tennessee Conference. They shall have power:

¶603. (1) To prescribe regulations, not in

consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, for the government of the Publishing Agents; and in all such regulations, as well as in their entire management, both the Book Committee and Publishing Agents shall keep in view the object for which the Publishing House is established, and shall strive to accomplish this object in the most efficient and economical man

ner.

4604. (2) To require the Publishing Agents to report to the Committee at least once a month the state of the current business of the House during that period.

¶605. (3) To settle with the existing and any former Publishing Agents according to the principles which govern the relations of principal and agent, including the individual transactions of the Publishing Agents with the Publishing House, provided the settlement with the Publishing Agents shall be made at least once a year, and the result of the settlements reported to the several Annual Conferences, and also to the General Conference.

4606. (4) To suspend the Publishing Agents in the intervals of General Conferences for misconduct or inefficiency in office.

¶607. (5) To provide a sinking fund of interest-bearing securities, equal in amount to the bonds of the Publishing House not yet account

ed for, with which to pay these bonds when presented.

9608. (6) The Book Committee shall fix the salaries of the following officers: The Publishing Agents, the Book Editor and Editor of the Review, the Editor of the Christian Advocate, the Sunday School Editor, the General Secretary and Editor of the Epworth League, the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Editor of the Epworth League Board. If there be complaints against any Editor elected by the General Conference, of misconduct or inefficiency in his office during the intervals of General Conferences, the Book Committee and one or more of the Bishops shall proceed in the following manner: 1. They shall determine whether a trial be necessary; or if in their judgment a promise to correct the matters complained of will promote the interests of the Church, they may receive from the Editor complained of a written and signed statement, promising amendment, which statement may, if necessary, be published. 2. If they judge a trial necessary, they shall at once suspend the Editor, and take charge of his work until the issue of the trial is determined; and the Bishop or Bishops who act with the Book Committee shall appoint a member or members of the Book Committee to formulate a bill of charges and specifications, and to represent the Committee in the case, and shall, as

speedily as practicable, call together not less than three nor more than five traveling elders, none of whom shall reside in Nashville or its vicinity, whose sole function shall be to determine from the facts in the case the guilt or innocence of the Editor complained of. The Bishop or Bishops presiding shall decide all questions of law growing out of the case, and shall appoint a secretary, who shall make a full record of all the proceedings connected with the trial, which record shall be signed by the secretary, and also by the Bishop or Bishops presiding. The record of the trial shall be placed in the custody of the Book Committee. The Editor complained of shall have ten days' notice of the time of trial, and be furnished with a copy of the complaint. He shall have the right to challenge any member of the trial committee for cause, and the validity of the cause shall be determined by the Bishop or Bishops presiding. If the complaint be sustained by a majority of the trial committee, the Bishop or Bishops presiding shall declare the office of the Editor vacant.

¶609. (7) If any Editor or officer mentioned in this chapter be under report of immorality, or accused thereof in writing signed by a minister or member of our Church, there shall be a speedy investigation, according to Chapter VI. If the committee of investigation judge a trial necessary, the Book Committee shall immedi

ately suspend the accused from office, and take charge of his work until the issue of the trial is determined; and if the accused be found guilty, the Book Committee shall declare the office vacant.

¶610. (8) The Book Committee, with the concurrence of a majority of the Bishops, shall have authority to fill vacancies occurring during the intervals of General Conferences in any of the offices mentioned in this chapter.

¶611. (9) The Book Committee shall at all times have free access to the books, accounts, and papers of the Publishing House for purposes of examination, and shall keep a faithful record of its proceedings and make a full quadrennial report thereof to the General Conference.

9612. (10) The Book Committee shall hold an annual meeting, and the members of the committee who reside in Nashville shall meet at least once a month. A majority of the members of the committee who reside in Nashville shall have authority to call a meeting of the full committee at such time and place as may be necessary. No business shall be transacted at the annual or at a called meeting of the full committee unless a majority be present, nor shall any business be transacted at other meetings unless a majority of the members who reside in Nashville be present.