CHAPTER XII.

CHURCHES AND CHURCH PROPERTY.

SECTION I.

OF BUILDING CHURCHES.

168. Ques. Is any thing advisable in regard to building churches?

Ans. 1. Let all our churches be plain and decent, and with free seats, as far as practicable.

Ans. 2. In order more effectually to prevent our people from contracting debts, which they are not able to discharge, it shall be the duty of the Quarterly Conference of every circuit and station, where it is contemplated to build a house or houses of worship, to secure the ground or lot on which such house or houses are to be built, according to our deed of settlement,

which deed must be legally executed; and also said Quarterly Conference shall appoint a judicious committee of at least three members of our Church, who shall form an estimate of the amount necessary to build; and threefourths of the money, according to such estimate, shall be secured before any such building shall be commenced: provided, however, that no house of worship shall be built unless the authority of the Quarterly Conference shall first have been obtained.

Ans. 3. In all cases where debts for building houses of worship have been or may be incurred contrary to or in disregard of the above recommendation, our members and friends are requested to discountenance, by declining pecuniary aid to, all agents who shall travel abroad beyond their own circuits or Districts, for the collection

of funds for the discharge of such debts, except in such peculiar cases as may be approved by an Annual Conference.

Ans. 4. In future we will admit no charter, deed, or conveyance, for any house of worship to be used by us, unless it be provided in such charter, deed, or conveyance, that the trustees of said house shall at all times permit such ministers and preachers, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as shall from time to time be duly authorized by the General Conference of our Church, or by the Annual Conferences, to preach and expound God's holy word, and to execute the discipline of the Church, and to administer the sacraments therein, according to the true meaning and purport of our deed of settle

ment.

SECTION II.

OF BUILDING PARSONAGES.

169. Ques. What advice or direction is given concerning the building of dwelling-houses for the use of married traveling preachers?

Ans. 1. It is recommended to our friends, in general, to purchase a lot of ground in each pastoral charge, and to build a preacher's house thereon, and to furnish it with at least heavy furni ture, and to settle the same on trustees appointed by the Quarterly Conference, according to our deed of settle

ment.

Ans. 2. It shall be the duty of the Presiding Elders and preachers to use their influence to carry into effect the above rules respecting building houses, for the accommodation of preachers and their families. In order to do this, each Quarterly Conference shall

appoint a committee (unless other measures have been adopted), who, with the advice and aid of the preachers and Presiding Elder, shall devise such means as may seem fit to raise money for that purpose. And it is recommended to the Annual Conferences to make a special inquiry of their members respecting this part of their duty.

SECTION III.

OF SECURING CHURCHES AND PARSONAGES.

170. Ques. 1. What shall be done for the security of our preaching-houses and parsonages, and other Church property, and the premises belonging thereto?

Ans. 1. Each Annual Conference is authorized to make such modification in the deeds as they may find the dif