moneys 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.

VI. Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church

369. There shall be an incorporated Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Cincinnati, composed of twelve members, divided into classes of three Ministers and three Laymen each. The term of office shall be eight years. Each General Conference shall elect one class, and fill vacancies caused by death, resignation, cessation of membership in the Church, or otherwise. Vacancies occurring in the interval of the General Conference shall be filled for the remainder of the quadrennium by the Bishops.

370. The Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Cincinnati, Ohio, and incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio, pursuant to the action of the General Conference, should not be confounded with local Boards of Trustees of Church property referred to in ¶¶ 345-352 of the Discipline, which local Boards have the care only of Church property within the several Pastoral Charges to which they are related, and are amenable to their respective Quarterly Conferences. The Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church are constituted by the General Conference and made amenable thereto, in order that the Church may have competent representation in legal proceedings and have an authorized body to care for and administer all the property conveyed to it, or committed to it in trust, within the jurisdiction

of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

1371. This corporation shall hold in trust, for the benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, any and all donations, bequests, gifts, grants, and funds in trust, etc., that may be given or conveyed directly to the Methodist Episcopal Church or to the Corporation for the benefit of said Church or for the benefit of Conference Claimants, or for the benefit of any of the benevolent Societies or other Institutions under the patronage or direction of the Church, or for any other benevolent purpose that the Corporation may judge to be in harmony with the purposes for which it was instituted, and to administer the said funds, and the proceeds of the same, in accordance with the directions of the donors, and the interests of the Church contemplated by said donors; provided, that any sums thus donated or bequeathed, but not especially designated for any benevolent object, shall be added to the "Permanent Fund"; and provided, also, that the Corporation shall not be required to accept any gift, bequest, or trust to which may be attached conditions deemed by the Corporation to be unreasonable' or inconsistent with the terms of the trust, or likely to produce embarrassment in administration; and having accepted any gift or bequest in trust, it shall be responsible only for the careful and economical administration of the same, and shall not be held to account to any beneficiary for either the principal or income therefrom beyond what may be secured by fidelity and diligence. Each trust shall be charged with the expense necessary to its care and administration.

1372. It shall be the duty of the Pastor within

the bounds of whose Charge any donation, bequest, gift, grant, or trust is made directly to the Methodist Episcopal Church, or to this Corporation-the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church—to give prompt notice thereof to the said Trustees, in order that they may protect and administer the same without delay.

373. This corporation shall make to each General Conference a full report in which shall be shown the Funds and Properties held in trust and the receipts and disbursements during the quadrennium.

374. There shall be a Fund known as "The Permanent Fund," to be held by the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the principal of which shall be intact forever, and which shall be invested by said Trustees on first-class securities, and at as favorable rates as can be legally secured.

1375. It shall be the duty of all Ministers to obtain, as far as practicable, contributions to said Fund, by donations, bequests, and otherwise.

¶ 376. The interest accumulating from said Fund shall be subject to the order of the General Conference for the following purposes: 1. To pay the expenses of the General Conference. 2. To pay the expenses of Delegations appointed by the General Conference to Corresponding Bodies. 3. To make up any deficiencies in the salaries of the Bishops. 4. To relieve the necessities of the Retired Ministers, and of the widows and children of those who have died in the work.

VII. Auditing and Bonding

1377. All persons holding trust funds, either of an Annual or the General Conference, shall be bonded

in a reliable company in a good and sufficient sum, as the Conference may direct, and the Conference shall pay the expense of said bonding. These accounts shall be audited at least once a year.

CHAPTER III

LADIES' AID SOCIETIES

¶ 378, § 1. For the promotion of the social and financial interests of the Churches, Ladies' Aid Societies, or Societies of similar designation and purpose, may be organized in the local Charge, which Societies shall be under the control of the Quarterly Conference.

§ 2. The President of a Ladies' Aid Society shall be elected by the Society and confirmed by the Quarterly Conference: if a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, she shall then become a Member of the Quarterly Conference if approved by it for membership therein. It shall be her duty to present to the fourth Quarterly Conference a report of her Society, together with such other information as the Quarterly Conference may require and she may be able to give.

§ 3. It shall be the duty of the District Superintendents when holding District or Quarterly Conferences to inquire into the condition of the Ladies' Aid Societies, and to ascertain if they are conducting their affairs in harmony with the purpose and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

§ 4. It shall be the duty of Pastors to organize and maintain, if practicable, Ladies' Aid Societies.