opinion, that the enforcing of such Rule in that Circuit will be injurious to the prosperity of that Circuit; it shall not be enforced in opposition to the judgment of such Quarterly Meeting, before the second Conference. But, if the Rule be confirmed by the second Conference, it shall be binding to the whole Connexion. Nevertheless, the Quarterly Meetings, rejecting a new Rule, shall not, by publications, public meetings, or otherwise, make that Rule a cause of contention; but shall strive, by every means, to preserve the peace of the Connexion.

Thus, brethren, we have given up the greatest part of our executive government into your hands, as represented in your different public Meetings.

1. We have delivered the whole of our Yearly Collection to your management. For we know, by experience, that the bills of the Quarterly Meetings, if only mere justice be done to the Preachers and their families, will amount to` much more than the Yearly Collection. The Conference, will, in this business, have no authority whatsoever. They will have nothing but the trouble of receiving the money, and paying the bills which shall have been sent to them from the Quarterly Meetings, and been approved of by the District-Committees. And when the accounts are published by the Conference, every Quarterly Meeting may compare its own accounts with those of the Conference, and thereby have as complete a check as the nature of things can possibly admit of.

The Conference has reserved to itself the management of its own Book-concerns. This is most reasonable; as the institution was established for the carrying on of the work of God, under the direction of MR. WESLEY and the

Conference; was continued, by the deed or codicil of MR. WESLEY'S will, for the use of the Conference; as the whole burden of the management of the business lies upon the Conference, and the servants they employ, and on the Superintendents of Circuits; and also, as it is the only Fund which can supply any deficiencies of the Yearly Collection, as the accounts published in our Minutes for several years past clearly evidence; the Yearly Collection having not been nearly sufficient for the wants of the Preachers and families, and for the carrying on of the Work of God in general.

2. The whole management of our temporal concerns may now be truly said to be invested in the Quarterly Meetings, the District-Meetings having nothing left them but a negative.

3 Our Societies have a full check on the Superintendent, by means of their Leaders' Meeting, in regard to the introduction of persons into Society; whilst the Superintendent has sufficient scope allowed him for the increase of the Societies, not only according to the common course of things, but at the times of remarkable out-pourings of the Spirit of God.

4. The Members of our Societies are delivered from every apprehension of clandestine expulsions; as that Superintendent would be bold indeed, who would act with partiality or injustice in the presence of the whole Meeting of Leaders. Such a Superintendent, we trust, we have not among us; and if such there ever should be, we should be ready to do all possible justice to our injured Brethren.

5. There is now no Society-Officer among us, who can be received without the consent of that Meeting, to which he particularly belongs: nor can any officer be appointed, except upon the same plan.

6. In order to prevent any degree of precipitation in making new Rules, and to obtain information of the sentiments of our people on every such Rule, we have agreed to the article mentioned under the 7th head, by which no Regulations will be finally confirmed, till after a year's consideration, and the knowledge of the sentiments of the Connexion at large, through the medium of all their public Officers.

In short, Brethren, out of our great love for peace and union, and our great desire to satisfy your minds, we have given up to you far the greatest part of the Superintendent's authority: and, if we consider, that the Quarterly Meetings are the sources, from whence all temporal Regulations, during the intervals of the Conference, must now originally spring; and also, that the Committee, formed according to the Plan of Pacification, can, in every instance, in which the Trustees, Leaders, and Stewards, choose to interfere respecting the gifts, doctrines, or moral character of Preachers, supersede, in a great measure, the regular District-Committees; we may, taking all these things into our view, truly say, that such have been the sacrifices we have made, that our District-Committees themselves have hardly any authority remaining, but a bare negative in general, and the appointment of a representative to assist in drawing up the rough draught of the stations of the Preachers. And besides all this, we have given the Quarterly Meetings opportunity of considering every new Law, of suspending the execution of it for a year in their respective Circuits, and of sending their sentiments upon it to the Conference, before it be finally confirmed.

We have represented these measures which we have

taken for your satisfaction, in as concise a manner as we well could, giving you the sense of the whole, not only for brevity's sake, but for expedition, that you may be informed of the general heads of our proceedings as soon as possible. In the Regulations which will be published with the Rules of the Society, as mentioned above, you will have the whole at large.

Leeds, August 7, 1797.

RESPECTING THE ERECTION OF CHAPELS.

Let all Preaching-houses be built plain and decent; but not more expensively than is absolutely unavoidable. Otherwise the necessity of raising money will make rich men necessary to us; but if so we must be dependant upon them, yea, and governed by them. And then farewell to the Methodist discipline, if not doctrine too.

FORMS OF TRUST DEEDS FOR METHODIST CHAPELS.

No. I.

THIS INDENTURE made the

day of

year of our Lord, 18

in the

between A. B.* of the first part,

C. D. &c.t of the second part, and E. F. of

Preacher of the Gospel, (one of the members of the Methodist Conference, as established by the late Rev. JOHN WESLEY,) of the third part. WHEREAS the said A. B.

A. B. the person who sells the land to the Trustees, inserts his name, residence, and business.

+ C. D. &c. the Trustees, insert their names, residence, and business.

hath contracted and agreed with the said C. D. and the said several other persons, parties hereto, of the second part, for the absolute sale to them of the piece or parcel of ground, hereinafter particularly mentioned, at or for the price or sum of £ AND WHEREAS the said piece or parcel of ground hath been so purchased, for the purpose of erecting thereon a Chapel for the use of the Preachers, who are and may be members of the Methodist Conference, as established by the late REV. JOHN WESLEY, and of the Society of Methodists, in connexion with them, and the said purchase money hath been raised by voluntary contributions from individuals belonging to the said Society, and it hath been agreed, that the Premises so purchased shall be conveyed upon the Trusts hereinafter declared. Now THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that in pursuance of the said agreement, and in consideration of the sum of £ of lawful money of Great Britain to him the said A. B. in hand paid, by the said C. D. and the said several other persons, parties hereto, of the second part, at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof he the said A. B. doth hereby admit and acknowledge. HE the said A. B. HATH granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents DOTH grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said C. D.* &c. their heirs and assigns, ALL† &c. and all and

singular the rights, members, and appurtenances to the said piece or parcel of ground belonging, or in any wise appertaining; and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title, interest, use, trust, property, possession, claim, and demand whatsoever, both at law and in equity, of him the said A. B.

*Here name all the Trustees.

of, in, to, or out of the same.

↑ Here insert a full and particular description of the ground.