That ended, the Bishop shall say:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Ans. And let our cry come unto thee.

The Bishop. Let us pray.

Almighty God and most merciful Father, who of thine infinite goodness hast given thine only and dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ to be our Redeemer, and the author of everlasting life; who, after that he had made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, poured down his gifts abundantly upon men, making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and doctors, to the edifying and making perfect his Church; grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant, such grace that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy gospel, the glad tidings of reconciliation with thee, and use the authority given him, not to destruction, but to salvation; not to hurt, but to help; so that as a wise and faithful servant, giving to thy family their portion in due season, he may at last be received into everlasting joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

Then the Bishop and elders present shall lay their hands upon the head of the elected person kneeling before them upon his knees, the Bishop saying:

The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Ghost, for the office and work of a Bishop in the Church of

God now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And remember that thou stir up the grace of God which is given thee; for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and soberness.

Then the Bishop shall deliver him the Bible, saying:

Give heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine. Think upon the things contained in this book. Be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men. Take heed unto thyself, and to thy doctrine; for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not. Hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost. Be so merciful, that you may not be too remiss; so minister discipline that you forget not mercy; that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading crown of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Immediately before the Benediction shall be said the following prayers:

Most merciful Father, we beseech thee, to send down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing, and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit that he, preaching thy word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke with all

patience and doctrine, but also may be to such as believe a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the Lord, the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Benediction.

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

378

CHAPTER XXV

EPISCOPAL DECISIONS

SECTION I

RELATING TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

4665. Scope of the Vote by Lay and Clerical.-A vote by lay and clerical members cannot be demanded on seating members, nor in the organization of the General Conference by the election of officers, nor in any election. The words "No measure shall be passed without the concurrence of a majority of both classes of representatives" (¶35) apply to legislative acts, and not to the election of persons to offices created or regulated by such acts. (1882.) (¶35.)

¶666. When a Law Becomes Operative.-A law enacted by the General Conference does not become effective from the time of its passage, but from the adjournment of the General Conference. (1879.) (¶42.)

¶667. Who Determines Legality of an Act of the General Conference; Right of Annual Conference in Dividing Territory.—The General Conference directed an Annual Conference to divide its territory into two Conferences, and made it "the duty of the Conference at its next session to choose the line of division." The legality of this action of the General Conference was questioned during the next session of the Annual Conference concerned. The presiding bishop decided and the College of Bishops concurred that the determination of the unconstitutionality of an act of the General Conference has been committed, not to the single bishop who is

presiding either in the General or in the Annual Conference, but only to the College of Bishops; and that body presents, not to an Annual Conference, not even to any General Conference, but only to the General Conference which passed the rule or regulation, its written objections to the action of the General Conference, in which written objections their reasons are to be set forth. (¶¶43, 48.)

The General Conference having made it the duty of a Conference to divide, it is competent for the Conference to order that no line of division shall be fixed except upon a separate and distinct vote on that line itself; that the division of the Conference does not take place till some proposed line shall secure a majority of the votes cast; and that should no proposed line secure a majority of the votes cast, the whole question must be referred to the next General Conference. (1915.)

SECTION II

RELATING TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

9668. Adjourned Session of an Annual Conference.— An Annual Conference has the right and power to provide for an adjourned session. It is the basal body in our Methodist polity and has never surrendered that power. (1926.) (¶49.)

¶669. Change of Boundaries and Membership in Annual Conference. When the General Conference changes the boundaries of Annual Conferences, the traveling preachers concerned become members of that Conference in which their pastoral charges fall. (1883.) (¶¶44, 48.)

¶670. Membership of a Traveling Preacher.-The membership of a traveling preacher is not in the pastoral charge to which he is appointed, but in the Annual