may deem necessary the more effectually to raise supplies for the respective allowances. Each Annual Conference is authorized to raise a Fund, if it judge proper, subject to its own control, and under such regulations as its wisdom may direct, for the relief of distressed Effective and Superannuated Ministers, their wives, widows, and children; and it shall be the duty of each Annual Conference to take measures, from year to year, to raise money in every Circuit and Station within its bounds for these purposes.

CHAPTER III.
CHURCH PROPERTY.

I. Trustees-Their Appointment and Duties.

¶ 299. Each Board of Trustees of our Church property shall consist of not less than three nor more than nine persons, each of whom shall be not less than twenty-one years of age, and two thirds of whom shall be Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ¶ 300. In all cases where the law of the State or Territory requires a specified mode of election, that mode shall be observed.

¶ 301. In all other cases the Trustees may be elected by Members of the Church not less than twenty-one years of age, at such time and in such manner as said Members may provide at a special meeting called for the purpose, and notice of such meeting shall be publicly given from the pulpit for two Sundays prior to the meeting on the written re

quest of ten or more Members. But in Churches where no such written request shall be made by the Members the Trustees shall be elected annually by the Fourth Quarterly Conference of the Charge. In case

of failure to elect at the proper time a subsequent Quarterly Conference may elect. All the Trustees shall hold their office until their successors are elected.

¶ 302. All the foregoing provisions shall apply both to the creation of new Boards and to the filling of vacancies, whether for houses of worship or dwellings for the Preachers.

¶ 303. No Trustee shall be ejected while he is in joint security for money unless such relief be given him as is demanded, or the creditor will accept, provided he remain a Member of our Church.

304. Charters obtained for our Church property shall conform in the manner of creating and filling Boards of Trustees to the provisions of this chapter.

¶ 305. The Board or Boards of Trustees in any Charge shall hold all our Church property, using so much of the proceeds as may be needful to pay debts or to make repairs, and shall be amenable to the Quarterly Conference to which they shall make an annual report, at the Fourth Quarterly Conference, embracing the following items: 1. Number of Churches and Parsonages. 2. Their probable value. 3. Title by which held. 4. Income. 5. Expenditures. 6. Debts, and how contracted. 7. Insurance. 8. Amount raised during the year for building or improving Churches or Parsonages.

¶ 306. In no case shall the Trustees mortgage or encumber the real estate for the current expenses of the Church.

II. Form for Conveyance of Church Property.

¶ 307. Before any real estate is purchased for either Church, Parsonage, or other purpose, let the Society, in all States and Territories where the statutes will permit, first incorporate. Let the articles of incorporation provide that the Society shall be subject to the provisions of the Discipline, and the Usage and Ministerial appointments of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, as from time to time authorized and declared by the General Conference of said Church, and the Annual Conference within whose bounds such ́corporation is situated, and that the secular affairs of such corporation shall be managed and controlled by a Board of Trustees elected and organized according to the provisions of said Discipline. Let such article further provide that such corporation shall have power to acquire, hold, sell, and convey property, both real and personal. When this is done, let all property acquired be deeded directly to the Society in its corporate name.

¶ 308. In States where Church property is required to be held by Trustees, let all deeds under which the Church acquires property, whether designed for Church or Parsonage purposes, be made to the Trustees, naming them, and their successors in office, followed by these words: "In trust for the use and benefit of the Ministry and Membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, subject to the Discipline, Usage, and Ministerial appointments of said Church, as from time to time authorized and declared, and if sold, the proceeds shall be disposed of and used in accordance with the provisions of said Discipline."

309. In all other parts of such Conveyances, as well as in their attestation, acknowledgment, and placing them upon the record, let a careful conformity be had to the laws, usages, and forms of the particular State or Territory in which the property may be situated, so as to secure the ownership of the premises in fee simple.

310. In future we will admit no Charter, Deed, or Conveyance for any house of worship to be used by us, unless it be provided in such Charter, Deed, or Conveyance that the Trustees of said house shall at all times permit such Ministers belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church as shall from time to time be duly authorized by the General Conference of our Church, or by the Annual Conferences, to preach and expound therein God's holy word, to execute the Discipline of the Church, and to administer the sacraments therein, according to the true meaning and purport of our Deed of Settlement.

III. Building Churches.

¶ 311. Let all our Churches be plain and decent, and with free seats wherever practicable; and not more expensive than is absolutely unavoidable.

312. In order more effectually to prevent our people from contracting debts which they are not able to discharge, it shall be the duty of the Quarterly Conference of every Charge where it is contemplated to build a house or houses of worship to secure the ground or lot on which such house or houses are to be built, according to our Deed of Settlement, which Deed must be legally executed; and said Quarterly Conference shall also appoint a ju

dicious Committee of at least three Members of our Church, who shall form an estimate of the amount necessary to build; and three fourths of the money, according to such estimate, shall be secured or subscribed before any such building shall be commenced.

313. In all cases where debts for building houses of worship have been, or may be, incurred contrary to or in disregard of the above recommendation, our Members and friends are requested to discountenance such a course by declining to give pecuniary aid to any agents who shall travel beyond their own Circuits or Districts for the collection of funds for the discharge of such debts; except in such peculiar cases as may be approved by an Annual Conference, or in case of such agents as may be appointed by their authority.

IV. Sale of Church Property.

T. 314. If the Trustees of Church property, or any of them, have advanced any sum or sums of money, or are responsible for any sum or sums of money on account of the said property, and they, the said Trustees, are obliged to pay the said sums of money, they, or a majority of them, shall be authorized to raise the said sum or sums of money by a mortgage on the said premises; or by selling the said premises after notice given to the Pastor or Minister of the congregation attending Divine service on the said premises, if the money due be not paid to the said Trustees, or their successors, within one year after such notice given. If such sale take place, the said Trustees, or their successors, after paying the debt and other expenses which are due from the