470 History of Methodism 



every slave in his possession who is between the ages of forty and 

 forty-live immediately, or at farthest when they arrive at the age 

 of forty-five. 



And every slave who is between the ages of twenty-five and forty 

 immediately, or at farthest at the expiration of five years from the 

 date of the said instrument. 



And every slave who is between the ages of twenty and twenty- 

 five immediately, or at farthest when they arrive at the age of 

 thirty. 



And every slave under the age of twenty, as soon as they arrive 

 at the age of twenty-five at farthest. 



And every infant born in slavery after the above-mentioned rules 

 are complied with, immediately on its birth. 



2. Every assistant shall keep a journal, in which he shall regu- 

 larly minute down the names and ages of all the slaves belonging 

 to all the masters in his respective circuit, and also the date of 

 every instrument executed and recorded for the manumission of 

 the slaves, with the name of the court, book, and folio, in which 

 the said instruments respectively shall have been recorded; which 

 journal shall be handed down in each circuit to the succeeding 

 assistants. 



3. In consideration that these rules form a new term of commun- 

 ion, every person concerned, who will not comply with them, shall 

 have liberty quietly to withdraw himself from our society within 

 the twelve months succeeding the notice given as aforesaid ; other- 

 wise the assistant shall exclude him from the society. 



4. No person so voluntarily withdrawn, or so excluded, shall ever 

 partake of the Supper of the Lord with the Methodists, till he 

 complies with the above requisitions. 



5. No person holding slaves shall, in future, be admitted into 

 society, or to the Lord's Supper, till he previously complies with 

 these rules concerning slavery. 



N. B. — These rules are to affect the members of our society no 

 farther than as they are consistent with the laws of the States in 

 which they reside. 



And respecting our brethren in Virginia that are concerned, and 

 after due consideration of their peculiar circumstances, we allow 

 them two years from the notice given, to consider the expedience 

 of compliance or non-compliance with these rules. 



Ques. 43. What shall be done with those who buy or sell slaves, 

 or give them away ? 



