deem wise; to take and hold in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church any real or personal property; to dispose of the same for the use and benefit of the Church, and generally to do all and singular the matters and things which shall be necessary and lawful in the execution of its trusts; provided, however, that all amounts received on Loan Fund shall be used only for loans on adequate security; and provided, further, that the aggregate amount of interest and annuities payable shall never be allowed to exceed the aggregate amount of interest receivable; and provided, also, that an equitable proportion of the expenses of administration of the business of the Board shall be charged to and defrayed out of the interest received on the loans made by the Board from the Loan Fund and the Annuity Fund respectively.

¶ 385. The Board shall also have authority to provide and recommend a uniform plan for the organization of local Boards of Church Extension in large cities, under such local administration as may be deemed advisable; but in no case shall such local organizations interfere with the general work of the Board.

386. The Board shall also have authority, by constituting and procuring a special incorporation, or otherwise, to take such measures as it may deem wise and necessary to procure the insurance of Churches and other Church property against loss by fire; and the profits arising therefrom, if any, after the accumulation of a sufficient reserve fund, shall be devoted to the purposes of the Board.

¶ 387. The Board shall also have authority, with the concurrence of the General Committee, to make such provisions as it may deem wise for honorary

membership in the Parent and Conference Boards of Church Extension, and in the General Committee.

¶ 388. At all meetings of the Board thirteen members shall constitute a quorum. The Minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary thereof.

389. The Board shall publish quarterly, or oftener, full information concerning its work; and shall submit to the General Conference a report of its proceedings for the preceding four years, and of the state of the funds.

II. Conference Boards.

390. Each Annual Conference shall, on the nomination of the Presiding Bishop, appoint a Conference Board of Church Extension, composed of equal numbers of Ministers and Laymen, consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and not less than two nor more than six additional members, so located that a quorum thereof may be convened at any time. The Presiding Elders shall be ex officio members of the Conference Board, and shall also be a Standing Committee on apportioning amounts asked of the Conference. The Secretary of the Conference shall notify the Corresponding Secretary of the Parent Board of the name and post office address of each member of the Conference Board soon after the adjournment of the Conference.

391. The Conference Board shall be auxiliary to the Parent Board, and shall, under its direction, have charge of all the interests and work of Church Extension within the Conference. The Presiding Elders shall, as a Committee on Apportionments, distribute for collection the amount asked of the Conference among the several Districts and Pastoral Charges,

with due regard to their circumstances and ability, and notify each Pastor and Quarterly Conference early in the year of the amount of their apportionment, and report the result to the Annual Conference. 392. The Treasurer of the Conference Board shall, as early as practicable, at least once in every three months, remit all funds coming into his hands to the Treasurer of the Parent Board.

¶ 393. If for any reason such Conference Board cannot be constituted or act, the Bishop having charge, or a Committee by him appointed, may perform any of the duties required in this section.

III. General Committee.

394. There shall be a General Committee of Church Extension, composed as follows: 1. Of the General Superintendents, one of whom, as they may from time to time determine, shall be Chairman. 2. Of the Corresponding Secretary and Assistant Corresponding Secretaries, the Treasurer, and the Recording Secretary of the Board, which Secretary shall also be ex officio Secretary of the General Committee. 3. Of one representative from each General Conference District (¶ 70), elected by the General Conference on the nomination of the Delegates of each District respectively. 4. Of an equal number of representatives appointed by the Board.

395. It shall be the duty of this Committee to meet annually, in such place and on such day in the month of November as shall be appointed by the Corresponding Secretary, to determine: 1. What amount each Conference shall be asked to raise by collections for the use of the Board during the ensuing year; 2.

What amount may be donated and loaned within each Conference during the same period; and, 3. What amount may be applied to general and special purposes not included in the above.

396. The General Committee shall also have authority to counsel and direct the Board in the general administration of the trust committed to its care. It shall also have authority to revise the list of members of the Board, and for inattention to the duties of the office, or for other cause, to declare the seat of any member vacant, and to fill any existing vacancy on the Board.

¶ 397. If a vacancy should occur in the Committee by death, resignation, removal from the District, or otherwise, the Bishop having charge of the Conference within which such vacancy occurs shall fill it.

¶ 398. Expenses incurred by the Committee in the discharge of its duties may be paid by the Treasurer of the Board.

IV. Applications for Aid.

¶ 399. All applications for aid shall be made in accordance with blank forms to be furnished by the Parent Board, and shall set forth, 1. The number of Church Members, of Sunday School Children, and of the Congregation to be accommodated, the population of the place, and prospects of growth. 2. The legal incorporation of the Church or Board of Trustees. 3. The location, size, present and prospective value of the site, the validity of the title thereto, and whether held in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church. 4. A description of the building to which aid, if granted, will be applied; and, if required, a copy of the plans and specifications of the architect shall be submitted,

and, if deemed necessary by the Parent or Conference Board, modified as may be suggested. 5. The estimated and probable cost when completed. 6. The available resources and amount of reliable subscriptions; and that those immediately interested have done or are doing all that could be reasonably expected. 7. What amount of debt, if any, may be allowed to remain against the .property, and how soon the Trustees or others will agree to remove it. 8. Is the property insured? Will it be? In what company? To what amount? 9. Whether the Church, if aided, will probably become self-supporting, and how soon, and to what extent it may be expected to aid in the general work of the Church. 10. Any additional facts and circumstances that will assist the Board to a proper decision on the application.

¶ 400. Every such application for aid shall be first submitted to the Conference Board of Church Extension, and said Board shall certify its action thereon to the Parent Board; and aid shall be granted only by the concurrent action of both the Conference Board and of the Parent Board, and, except in cases of great emergency, within the amount authorized by the General Committee; provided, however, that for the procurement of property in Mission territory the Parent Board may appropriate funds specially authorized by the General Committee without such application or recommendation by a Conference Board; but in all such cases the title to such property should vest in the Board of Church Extension.

V. Duties of Presiding Elders and Pastors.

¶ 401. It shall be the duty of each Presiding Elder to bring the subject of Church Extension before the