whose place he filled up was either sick or necessarily absent; or, in other cases, out of the salary of the travelling preacher himself.

"2. If a local preacher be distressed in his temporal circumstances, on account of his service in the circuit, he may apply to the quarterly meeting, who may give him what relief they judge proper, after the salaries of the travelling preachers and of their wives, and all other regular allowances to the travelling preachers be discharged."

1800. The word "trouble" changed to "time." 1804. This subject was transferred to its present place.

1816. The words "by the approbation of the presiding elder" inserted after "travelling preacher," where the term first occurs, (1796.)

SECTION X.

Of Slavery.*

For the provisions on this subject prior to 1784, see pp. 14, 15, 19, 21, 22. For the rules adopted at the Christmas Conference, see pp. 43, 44. Not more than six months had elapsed after the adoption of these last rules before it was thought necessary to suspend them Accordingly, in the Annual Minutes for 1785 the following notice was inserted :

"It is recommended to all our brethren to suspend

*The Methodists in America have from the first taken an active part in promoting the welfare of the coloured people. See pp. 16, 42, 43. In the Annual Minutes for 1787 we find the following:

"Quest. 17. What directions shall we give for the promotion of the spiritual welfare of the coloured people?

"We conjure all our ministers and preachers, by the love of God, and the salvation of souls, and do require them, by all the authority that is invested in us, to leave nothing undone for the spiritual benefit and salvation of them, within their respective circuits or districts; and for this purpose to embrace every opportunity of inquiring into the state of their souls, and to unite in society those who appear to have a real desire of fleeing from the wrath to come; to meet such in class, and to exercise the whole Methodist discipline among them.

the execution of the minute on slavery till the deliberations of a future conference; and that an equal space of time be allowed all our members for consideration, when the minute shall be put in force.

"N. B. We do hold in the deepest abhorrence the practice of slavery; and shall not cease to seek its destruction by all wise and prudent means."

This note does not seem to refer to Question 43, (1784,) as it, with the same answer, was retained in the Discipline of 1786. From this till 1796 no mention, it would seem, was made of the subject except in the General Rules. (See p. 181.)

1796. The following section was introduced on the subject:

"Quest. What regulations shall be made for the extirpation of the crying evil of African slavery?

Ans. 1. We declare, that we are more than ever convinced of the great evil of the African slavery which still exists in these United States, and do most earnestly recommend to the yearly conferences, quarterly meetings, and to those who have the oversight of districts and circuits, to be exceedingly cautious what persons they admit to official stations in our church; and in the case of future admission to official stations, to require such security of those who hold slaves, for the emancipation of them, immediately or gradually, as the laws of the states respectively, and the circumsta ces of the case will admit; and we do fully authorize all the yearly conferences to make whatever regulations they judge proper, in the present case, respecting the admission of persons to official stations in our church.

"2. No slaveholder shall be received into society till the preacher who has the oversight of the circuit has spoken to him freely and faithfully on the subject of slavery.

"3. Every member of the society who sells a slave shall immediately, after full proof, be excluded the society. And if any member of our society purchase

a slave, the ensuing quarterly meeting shall determine on the number of years in which the slave so purchased would work out the price of his purchase. And the person so purchasing shall, immediately after such determination, execute a legal instrument for the manumission of such slave, at the expiration of the term determined, by the quarterly meeting. And in default of his executing such instrument of manumission, or on his refusal to submit his case to the judgment of the quarterly meeting, such member shall be excluded the society. Provided also, that in the case of a female slave, it shall be inserted in the aforesaid instrument of manumission, that all her children who shall be born during the years of her servitude, shall be free at the following times, namely: every female child at the age of twenty-one, and every male child at the age of twenty-five. Nevertheless, if the member of our society, executing the said instrument of manumission, judge it proper, he may fix the times of manumission of the children of the female slaves before mentioned, at an earlier age than that which is prescribed above.

"4. The preachers and other members of our society are requested to consider the subject of negro slavery with deep attention till the ensuing General Conference and that they impart to the General Conference, through the medium of the yearly conferences, or otherwise, any important thoughts upon the subject, that the conference may have full light, in order to take further steps toward the eradicating this enormous evil from that part of the church of God to which they are united."

1800. The following new paragraphs were inserted:

"2. When any travelling preacher becomes an owner of a slave or slaves, by any means, he shall

* It may be worthy of remark that this is almost the only section upon which the bishops make no notes.

forfeit his ministerial character in our church, unless he execute, if it be practicable, a legal emancipation of such slaves, conformably to the laws of the state in which he lives."

"6. The annual conferences are directed to draw up addresses for the gradual emancipation of the slaves, to the legislatures of those states in which no general laws have been passed for that purpose. These addresses shall urge, in the most respectful, but pointed manner, the necessity of a law for the gradual emancipation of the slaves; proper committees shall be appointed, by the annual conferences, out of the most respectable of our friends, for the conducting of the business; and the presiding elders, elders, deacons, and travelling preachers, shall procure as many proper signatures as possible to the addresses, and give all the assistance in their power in every respect to aid the committees, and to further this blessed undertaking. Let this be continued from year to year, till the desired end be accomplished."

1804. The following alterations were made:The question reads, "What shall be done for the extirpation of the evil of slavery?"

In paragraph 1 (1796) instead of "more than ever convinced," we have, "as much as ever convinced," and instead of "the African slavery which still exists in these United States," we have "slavery."

In paragraph 4, (3 of 1796,) respecting the selling of a slave, before the words "shall immediately," the following clause is inserted :-"except at the request of the slave, in cases of mercy and humanity, agreeably to the judgment of a committee of the male members of the society, appointed by the preacher who has the charge of the circuit."

The following new proviso was inserted in this paragraph:-" Provided also, that if a member of our society shall buy a slave with a certificate of future emancipation, the terms of emancipation shall, notwithstanding, be subject to the decision of the

quarterly meeting conference." All after "nevertheless" was struck out, and the following substituted :"The members of our societies in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, shall be exempted from the operation of the above rules." The paragraphs about considering the subject of slavery and petitions to legislatures, (namely, No. 4 of 1796, and No. 6 of 1800,) were struck out, and the following added:

"5. Let our preachers, from time to time, as occasion serves, admonish and exhort all slaves to render due respect and obedience to the commands and interests of their respective masters."

1808. All that related to slaveholding among private members (see 2 and 3 of 1796) struck out, and the following substituted :

3. The General Conference authorizes each annual conference to form their own regulations relative to buying and selling slaves."

Paragraph 5 of 1804 was also struck out.

1812. Paragraph 3 of 1808 was altered so as to read,

"3. Whereas the laws of some of the states do not admit of emancipating of slaves, without a special act of the legislature; the General Conference authorizes each annual conference to form their own regulations relative to buying and selling slaves."

1816. Paragraph 1 (see 1796) was altered so as to read,

1. We declare that we are as much as ever convinced of the great evil of slavery: therefore no slaveholder shall be eligible to any official station in our church hereafter, where the laws of the state in which he lives will admit of emancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom."

1820. Paragraph 3, (see 1812,) leaving it to the annual conferences "to form their own regulations about buying and selling slaves," was struck out.

1824. The following paragraphs added