Imatges de pàgina
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may be and when so met, the said minister or preacher shall proceed to nominate one or more persons to fill the place or places of him or them whose office or offices has (or have) been vacated as aforesaid. Provided, the person or persons so nominated, shall have been one year a member or members of the said church immediately preceding such nomination, and be at least twenty-one years of age; and the said trustees, so assembled, shall proceed to elect, and by a majority of votes, appoint the person or persons so nominated to fill such vacancy or vacancies, in order to keep up the number of nine trustees for ever; and in case of an equal number of votes for and against the said nomination, the stationed minister or preacher shall have the casting vote.

Provided nevertheless, That if the said trustees, or any of them, or their successors, have advanced, or shall advance any sum or sums of money, or are or shall be responsible for any sum or sums of money, on account of the said premises, and they the said trustees, or their successors, be 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 preacher

who has the oversight 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: and if such sale take place, the said trustees or their successors, after paying the debt and other expenses, which are due from the money arising from such sale, shall deposit the remainder of the money.produced by the said sale in the hands of the steward or stewards of the society belonging to or attending divine service on said premises; which surplus of the produce of such sale, so deposited in the hands of the said steward or stewards, shall be at the disposal of the next annual conference authorized as aforesaid; which said annual conference shall dispose of the said money, according to the best of their judgment, for the use of the said society. And the said doth by these presents warrant, and for ever defend, all and singular the before mentioned and described lot or piece of land, with the appurtenances thereto belonging unto them the said and their successors, chosen and appointed as aforesaid, from the claim or claims of him the said his heirs and assigns, and from the claim or claims of all persons, whatever. In testimony whereof the said

(if married insert the name of his wife) have hereto set their hands and seals, the

day and year aforesaid.

Sealed and delivered in

the presence of us

(Two witnesses.)

Grantor's (L. S.) his wife's (L. S.)

Received the day of the date

of the above written in

denture, the consideration

therein mentioned in full.

Witness.]

Grantor's (L. S.)

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before me, one of the justices of the

and

the

peace, in and for the county of the within named state of grantor (if married insert the name of his wife) and acknowledged the within deed of trust to be their act and deed, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and declared; and she the said

wife of the said being separate and apart from her said husband, by me examined, declared that she had made the same acknowledgment, freely and with

her own consent, without being induced thereto through fear or threats of her said husband. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal, the day and year first above written.

Here the justice's name.

(L. S.)

N. B. Let nine trustees be appointed for preaching houses, where proper persons can be procured; otherwise seven or five.

The board of trustees of every circuit or station shall be responsible to the quarterly meeting conference of said circuit or station, and shall be required to present a report of its acts during the preceding year: provided that in all cases, when a new board of trustees is to be created, it shall be done (except in those states and territories where the statutes provide differently) by the appointment of the preacher in charge, or the presiding elder of the district.

SECTION III.

Of the Qualifications, Appointment, and Duty of the Stewards of Circuits.

Quest. 1. What are the qualifications necessary for stewards?

Answ. Let them be men of solid piety, who both know and love the Methodist doctrine and discipline, and of good natural and

acquired abilities to transact the temporal business.

Quest. 2. How are the Stewards to be appointed?

Answ. The preacher having the charge of the circuit, shall have the right of nomination; but the quarterly meeting conference shall confirm or reject such nomination.

Quest. 3. What are the duties of Stewards? Answ. To take an exact account of all the money, or other provision collected for the support of preachers in the circuit; to make an accurate return of every expenditure of money, whether to the preachers, the sick, or the poor; to seek the needy and distressed, in order to relieve and comfort them; to inform the preachers of any sick or disorderly persons; to tell the preachers what they think wrong in them; to attend the quarterly meetings of their circuit; to give advice, if asked, in planning the circuit; to attend committees for the application of money to churches; to give counsel in matters of arbitration; provide elements for the Lord's Supper; to write circular letters to the societies in the circuit to be more liberal if need be; as also to let them know, when occasion requires, the state of the temporal concerns at the last quarterly meeting; to register the marriages and baptisms, and to be subject to

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