STE\V.\RD, one who manages the domestic concerns of a family, religious house, or episcopal estate. Called also Skxksciial (q. v.).
STEWARD, a Church officer among the IMethodists.
1. Methodist Episcapal. — The luimber of stewards on each charge varies from three to nine. They are nom- inated by the preacher in charge, but the Quarterly Conference has the right of affirmation or rejection. They hold office for one year, subject to reafipointment, and by virtue of their office are members of the Quar- terly Conference. They should be " men of solid piety, who both know and love the Methodist doctrine and discijiline. and of good natural and acquired abilities to transact the temporal business." Their duties are thus detineii: '"To take an exact account of all the money or other provision collected for the support of preachers . . . and apply the same as the Discipline directs; to make an accurate return of every exjtenditure of money, whether to the preachers, the sick, or the poor; to seek the needy and distressed in order to relieve and comfort them; to inform the preachers of any sick or disorderly [jcrsons; to tell the preachers what tliey tliink wrong in them; to attend the (piarterly meetings, and the leaders' and stewards' meetings; to give advice, if asked, in (ilanning the circuit; to attend committees for the application of money to churches; to give counsel in matters of arliitration; to provide elements for the Ixird's supper; to write circular letters to the s<icieties in the circuit to be more liberal, if need be; as also to let them know, when occasion requires, the state of the tem|ioral concerns at the last <iuarterly meeting." One of them is the district steward, wiio represents liis indi- viilual Church in the district stewards' meeting; an- other the recording steward, wlio makes and preserves the records of the (Miurch. The stewards are amenable to the (^uarierly Conference, which has jiower to dismiss or change them. In the division of tlie lal)or between stewards and trustees, the former alteiid to all tlic cur- rent expenses of the Churcii for ministerial and Ijenev- olcntjiurposes; thelalter to all the Jinancial interests con- necter! with the Church |)roperty. They have no right to incur any debt which is binding on the property of the Cluirrh; and hence it is their duty to comjilete their collect i< PUS. and to meet their obligations annually.
2. /•-■/////iVi W'luli'ijiiu.— Xw this connection tlu; office of Rteward embraces four departments, viz. cirniit, soci- fly, poor, and cfiiiptl stewards. They are usually ap- poiiited at the DecemlM-r cpiarterly meeting ; the society and i««or stewards at the first leaders' meeting in .lanu- ary. Their term of office ceases at the end of the year; hilt they arc eligible for re-election for three years suc- CCMively.
(1.) 77(* dutiei i<f the circuit stewards are: 1. To ex-
amine at each quarterly meeting the books of the so- ciety stewarils, and receive moneys raised for support of the ministry. 2. To pay each circuit preacher the allowance due him. 3. To meet all demands for house- rent, taxes, etc., and provide suitable furnished homes for the preachers. 4. To keep the accounts of the cir- cuit; to transmit each quarter to the district treasurer of the Children's Fund whatever moneys may be due from the circuit to that fund, or to receive from him what the circuit is entitled to. h. To attend, during the transaction of monetary business, the sittings of both the ainnial and financial district meetings. 6. To act as the official chaimel through which the commimi- cations from the circuit are transmitted to the Confer- ence. 7. To audit, in conjunction with the superin- tendent minister, the accounts of all trust -estates in the circuit that are settled on the provisions of the Model Deed. 8. To take the initiative in the invitation of ministers for the ensuing year.
(2.) Duties of the Society Sleirard. — 1. "With the min- isters and leaders, to promote the spiritual and tempo- ral interests of the societies. 2. To attend the leaders' and quarterly meetings, and receive and pay over mon- eys for support of ministers. 3. To provide for the taking of collections. 4. To attend to the supply of the pulpit, and prepare or sign notices intended for an- nouncement from the pulpit ; to prepare for the sacra- ment of baptism, and, in case there is no poor-steward, the Lord's supper and love-feasts. 5. To provide, when necessary, a suitable home for the preacher who offici- ates.
(3.) Duties of the Pooi-- Stewards. — 1. To attend the leaders' meetings, and pay out, as sanctioned by them, the poor-moneys. 2. To furnish the minister with the names of sick and poor members. 3. To proviiie for the Lord's supper and for love-feasts. 4. To keep an accu- rate account of all receipts and disbursements in refer- ence to the fund.
(4.) Chapel Stewards are appointed by the trustees, in conjunction with the superintendent of the circuit, and on them devolves the general oversight of the chapel and furniture, its cleaning, warming, lighting, etc.; to direct the movements of the sexton and pay his salary, and attend meetings of the trustees. See Discijiline of the M, E. Church ; Simpson, Cyclop, of Methodism, s. v.
Stevrart, Alexander, a minister of the IMethod- ist Episcopal Church, South, was born in Norfolk Coun- ty, Ya., in April, 1810. At the age of sixteen he joined the Church, and was licensed to preach in 1836. He was adn)itred into the Virginia Conference in 1839; was ordained deacon in January, 1841, and elder in No- vendjer, 1842. lie travelled from 1839 to 1854, when he became supernumerary, living in Prince George County, Ya., till January, 1800, when he became stew- ard of the Wesleyan Female College, Murfreesborough, N. C. In 18(57 he was superaniuiated, but continued to hold the above position until his death, March 4, 1872. See Minutes of Annual Conferences of the M.E. Church, South, 1872, p. (554.