9613. (11) The Book Committee and Publishing Agents shall have authority to extend the business of the Publishing House as they may judge to be for the best interests of the Church; but neither the Publishing Agents nor the Book Committee shall have authority to involve the Publishing House in debt.

SECTION IV

GENERAL CONFERENCE EDITORS AND THEIR WORK

9614. The General Conference shall elect an Editor of the Christian Advocate, a weekly journal, which shall be published by the Publishing Agents.

9615. The General Conference shall elect a Book Editor and Editor of the Review, who shall edit The Methodist Quarterly Review, and all the books of our publication, except the Sunday school books.

9616. The Sunday School Editor shall edit such Sunday school publications as the Book Committee and Publishing Agents, on the recommendation of the Sunday School Board, shall judge to be necessary, all of which literature shall be published by the Publishing Agents.

¶617. The General Secretary and Editor of the Epworth League shall edit all the periodicals of the Epworth League, all of which periodicals shall be published by the Publishing

Agents. No literature of any of the Boards shall be published if, in the judgment of the Book Committee and the Publishing Agents, the cost be greater than the Publishing House can reasonably bear.

9618. The Book Committee and Publishing Agents shall have authority by concurrent action, during the intervals of General Conferences, to furnish necessary assistance to the Editor of the Christian Advocate, to the Book Editor and Editor of the Review, and to the Editor of the Epworth Era.

SECTION V

PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLISHING HOUSE

¶619. The proceeds of the Publishing House shall be appropriated to no other purpose than its own legitimate business.

SECTION VI

CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP OF AGENTS AND EDITORS

¶620. Each of the officers named in this chapter, if he be a traveling preacher, with the approval of the Bishops, shall select the Annual Conference of which he shall be a member.

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CHAPTER XXII

THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCII`

SECTION I

OF RECEIVING MEMBERS INTO THE CHURCH

Question. How shall members be received into the Church?

¶621. Ans. 1. When persons offer themselves for Church membership, let the preacher in charge inquire into their spiritual condition, and receive them when they have given satisfactory assurance of their desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins; also, of the genuineness of their faith, and of their willingness to keep the rules of the Church; and only after they have been instructed in these rules and in the baptismal and Church vows, and have agreed to accept and observe them. (¶793.)

¶622. Ans. 2. When satisfied on these points, let the minister bring the candidates before the congregation, whenever practicable, and receive them according to the prescribed form. (¶715.)

¶623. Ans. 3. If a member in good standing in another Church desire to unite with us, such applicant, by giving satisfactory answers to the

usual inquiries, may be received without these formalities.

SECTION II

OF THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH

Things especially to be noticed in the written report of the preacher in charge to the Quarterly Conference on the pastoral instruction of children.

Question. What directions are given concerning the children of the Church?

¶624. Ans. 1. Let the minister diligently instruct and exhort all parents to dedicate their children to the Lord in baptism as early as convenient. (¶685.)

¶625. Ans. 2. In his pastoral visitations let him pay special attention to the children; speak to them personally and kindly on experimental and practical godliness, according to their capacity; pray earnestly for them, and cause them to be faithfully instructed in the nature, design, privileges, and obligations of their baptism.

¶626. Ans. 3. As soon as they comprehend the responsibilities involved in a public profession of faith in Christ, and give evidence of a sincere and earnest determination to discharge them, see that they are recognized as members of the Church, according to the provisions of the Discipline.

¶627. Ans. 4. Let our catechisms be used as extensively as possible, both in our Sunday schools and families; and let the preachers faithfully enforce upon parents and Sunday school teachers the great importance of instructing children in the doctrines and duties of our holy religion.

¶628. Ans. 5. It shall be the special duty of the preachers to form Bible classes wherever they can, for the instruction of larger children and youth, and where they cannot superintend them personally, to appoint suitable leaders for that purpose.

SECTION III

OF AFFILIATED MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH

Question. What directions are given concerning affiliated membership in the Church?

¶629. When any of our young people who are Church members are absent from home attending school, they may, with their consent, be enrolled as affiliated members of our Church where the school is located, and by such membership shall be entitled to the regular privileges of that Church, to its pastoral oversight, to engage in its active service, and to hold office therein, but they shall be counted and reported only in the membership of their home Churches.