CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE GENERAL MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.

Art. 1. There shall be a Mission Board of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, chartered according to the laws of the State of Tennessee. The Mission Board shall have general supervision of all Missionary operations of the church.

Art. 2. The members of this Board shall be a Bishop, who shall be President, the Secretary of Missions, and one representative from each Episcopal District. The Secretary of Missions and the members from Episcopal Districts, shall be elected by the =General Conference=.

Art. 3. The Mission Board shall regulate its own operations, appropriate money for its expenses, provide for Missions not provided for by Annual Conferences, and contribute to the support of preachers in Mission Fields. It shall assist in building houses of worship, provide such literature as may be necessary for the advancement of the work and co-operate with other Methodist Bodies in similar work, whenever it may be necessary and mutually agreeable.

Art. 4. (1) The revenue of the Mission Board shall be derived from collections on General Missionary Day, Sunday Schools, Epworth Leagues, Sunday School Conventions, District and Annual Conferences, collections taken by the Secretary and the Bishops, 50 per cent. of the Mission money accruing from the General Funds, and 20 per cent. of all money raised by the Missionary Societies of Annual Conferences.

2. Twenty per cent. of all money raised by the Annual Conference Board of Missions, shall be directed to the Secretary of Missions and his receipt taken for same. The Bishops shall present the receipt of the Secretary with their reports, to the Mission Board.

Art. 5. (1) The Second Sunday in August of each year shall be General Missionary Day. This day shall be strictly observed by all Presiding Elders, pastors and congregations throughout the connection. Presiding Elders and pastors will preach at one service, on the subject of Missions, and may provide a program bearing on the same subject for another service. Care and study shall be given to teach the people the place and importance of Missionary work in the church.

2. Each member of the church is requested to pay five cents for Missions on General Missionary Day, and each congregation will be expected to report a sum equal to five cents per capita at the Annual Conference.

3. Each pastor will forward the amount raised on General Missionary Day at once to his Presiding Elder, and the Presiding Elder will remit the same at once to the Secretary of Missions and take his receipt, which receipt will be counted in the settlement of the District at the Annual Conference.

Art. VI. (1) The Secretary shall be a minister of the Gospel, but may be a member of any Annual Conference. He shall keep a permanent record of the operations of the Department, publish a synopsis of his work quarterly in one of the papers of the church, attend to all legal business relating to the work, travel throughout the church in interest of the work, and report annually, to the Board, or as often as they deem it necessary.

2. The Secretary of Missions shall devise plans and co-operate with all Annual Conference Missionaries in holding such institutes, conventions, and Missionary Meetings, as will advance the interest of the church. In all cases, the Missionary Department shall share in the money raised by such devices and meetings.

3. The Secretary shall distribute literature for all Missionaries throughout the Church, which literature, shall be uniform.

4. The Secretary of Missions is authorized to organize Missionary Societies wherever he finds it necessary, and to publish a Missionary paper, monthly, provided, it shall not cost the church more than $200 per annum.

5. The salary and traveling expenses of the Secretary shall be $1500 per annum, to be paid quarterly by the Book Agent from the Mission fund.

Art. 7. The Bishops shall report annually to the Mission Board, the number of Missionaries employed, the amount of support allowed each, the number of Missions established, the number of members, and the cost of maintaining each point. Their reports shall be written and shall embrace a statement of the condition and prospect of each Mission.

Art. 8. The funds of the Mission Board shall be deposited in bank in the name of the Board of Missions of the C. M. E. Church, subject to checks drawn by the Secretary and signed by the President.

Art. 9. Any Annual or District Conference, church, Sunday School, Epworth League Chapter, or individual, may assume in part or in whole, the support of a Missionary, Mission, or Mission School, which may be established or approved by the Mission Board, provided, that in all cases, the money be sent to the Mission Board For application.

Art. 10. Presiding Elders shall see that each pastor organize a Missionary Society or Societies, in his charge encourage the idea and spirit of Missions among the people, see that each society is supplied with literature, and preach a sermon on Missions in every charge in his District at least once a year.

Art. 11. The Mission Board shall form an auditing committee from its own membership, which committee shall audit the books of the Secretary and see that they are properly kept.

Art. 12. All laws in conflict herewith, are repealed.