and countersigned by the secretary of the district conference, his credentials shall be restored to him.

6. A licensed local preacher shall be eligible to the office of a deacon, after he has preached for four years from the time he received a regular license, and has obtained a testimonial from the district conference to which he belongs, after proper examination, signed by the president, and countersigned by the secretary, and his character has passed in examination before, and he has obtained the approbation of the annual conference.

7. A local deacon shall be eligible to the office of an elder, after he has preached four years from the time he was ordained a deacon, and has obtained a recommendation from the district conference of which he is a member, certifying his qualifications in doctrine, discipline, talents and usefulness, signed by the president and countersigned by the secretary. He shall, if he cannot attend, send to the annual conference such recommendation, and a note certifying his belief in the doctrine and discipline of our church: the whole being examined by the annual conference, and if approved he may be ordained; provided, nevertheless, no slave holder shall be

eligible to the office of an elder or deacon, where the laws will admit of emancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy freedom.

8. Every local elder, deacon and preacher shall have his name recorded on the journal of the Quarterly meeting conference of which he is a member. And every licensed local preacher shall have his name enrolled on a class paper, and meet in class, if the distance of his place of residence from any class be not too great; or, in neglect thereof, the district conference, if they judge it proper, may deprive him of his ministerial office.

Whenever a local preacher shall remove from one circuit to another, he shall procure from the presiding elder of the district, or the preacher having the charge of the circuit, a certificate of his official standing in the church at the time of his removal, without which he shall not be received as a local preacher in other places.

No preacher among us shall distil or retail spirituous liquors, without forfeiting his official standing.

SECTION ΧΧΙ.

Of Baptism.

1. Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice either of immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

2. We will on no account whatever receive a present for administering baptism or for burying the dead.

SECTION ΧΧΙΙ.

Of the Lord's Supper.

Quest. Are there any directions to be given concerning the administration of the Lord's Supper ?

Answ. 1. Let those who have scruples concerning the receiving of it kneeling, be permitted to receive it either standing or sitting.

2. Let no person that is not a member of our church be admitted to the communion, without examination, and some token given by an elder or deacon.

3. No person shall be admitted to the Lord's Supper among us, who is guilty of any practice for which we would exclude a member of our church.

SECTION XXIII.

Of Public Worship.

Quest. What directions shall be given for the establishment of uniformity in public worship amongst us, on the Lord's day?

Answ. 1. Let the morning service consist of singing, prayer, the reading of a chapter out of the Old Testament, and another out of the New, and preaching.

2. Let the afternoon service consist of singing, prayer, the reading of one or two chapters out of the bible, and preaching.

3. Let the evening service consist of singing, prayer and preaching.

4. But on the days of administering the Lord's Supper the two chapters in the morning service, may be omitted.

5. In administering the ordinances, and in the burial of the dead, let the form of discipline invariably be used. Let the Lord's prayer also be used on all occasions of public worship in concluding the first prayer, and the apostolick benediction in dismissing the congregation.

6. Let the society be met, wherever it is practicable, on the sabbath-day.

SECTION XXIV.

Of the Spirit and Truth of Singing. Quest. How shall we guard against formality in singing?

Answ. 1. By choosing such hymns as are proper for the congregation.

2. By not singing too much at once; seldom more than five or six verses.

3. By suiting the tune to the words.

4. By often stopping short, and asking the people, "Now! do you know what you said last? Did you speak no more than you felt?"

5. Do not suffer the people to sing too slow. This naturally tends to formality, and is brought in by those who have either very strong or very weak voices.

6. In every large society let them learn to sing; and let them always learn our tunes first.

7. Let the women constantly sing their parts alone. Let no man sing with them unless he understands the notes, and sings the bass as it is composed in the tune book.

8. Introduce no new tune till they are

perfect in the old.

9. Recommend our tune-book.

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