9. Who have been expelled from the connexion this year? 10. Who have withdrawn from the connexion this year ? 11. Are all the preachers blameless in life and conversation? 12. Who have died this year? 13. What is the number of members, and what of probationers, in society? 14. What amounts are necessary for the superannuated preachers, and the widows and orphans of preachers, and to make up the deficiencies of those who have not obtained their regular allowance on the circuits? 15. What has been collected on the foregoing accounts, and how has it been applied? 16. What has been contributed for the support of Missions, what for the SundaySchool Union, what for the publication and circulation of tracts, and what to aid the American Bible Society? 17. Where are the preachers stationed this year? 18. Where and when shall our next Conference be held? Quest. 6. Is there any other business to be done in the Annual Conferences ? Answ. 1. The electing and ordaining of Deacons and Elders. 2. It shall be the duty of each Annual Conference to examine strictly into the state of the domestic missions within its bounds, and to allow none to remain on the list of its missions which, in the judgment of the Conference, is able to support itself. Quest. 7. Are there any other directions to be given concerning the Annual Confer ences? Answ. There shall be thirty-nine Conferences in the year. (See part iii, ch. 1, page 158.) A record of the proceedings of each Annual Conference shall be kept by a Secretary, chosen for that purpose, and shall be signed by the President and Secretary; and let a copy of the said record be sent to the General Conference. For other special duties of the Annual Conference, with reference to Missions, Sunday schools, and Tracts, see pages 190, 85, and 87. SECTION IV. Of the Quarterly Conferences. Quest. 1. Of whom shall the Quarterly Conferences be composed? Answ. Of all the travelling and local preachers, exhorters, stewards, and classleaders of the circuit or station, and none else. But the male superintendents of Sunday schools, being members of our Church, shall, by virtue of their office, have a seat in the Quarterly Conference having supervision of their schools, with the right to speak and vote on questions relating to Sunday schools, and on such questions only; and the Mis sionary Committee (part iii, ch. iv, page 191) shall have the right to a seat during the action of the Conference on the subject of Missions, but at no other time. Quest. 2. Who shall preside in the Quarterly Conferences? Answ. The Presiding Elder, and in his absence the preacher in charge. Quest. 3. How shall the minutes of the Quarterly Conference be kept? Answ. The Quarterly Conference shall appoint a Secretary to take down the proceedings thereof, in a book kept by one of the Stewards of the circuit for that purpose. Quest. 4. What shall be the regular business of the Quarterly Conference? Answ. 1. To hear complaints, and to receive and try appeals. 2. To appoint a committee to make an estimate of the amount necessary to furnish fuel and table expenses for the family or families of the preacher or preachers of the circuit or station, which estimate shall be subject to the action of the Quarterly Conference. (See part iii, ch. iii, § 2, art. 6, page 180.) 3. To take cognizance of all the local preachers in the circuit or station, and to inquire into the gifts, labours, and usefulness, of each preacher by name; to license proper persons to preach, and renew their license annually, when in the judgment of said Conference their gifts, grace, and usefulness, will warrant such renewal; to recommend to the Annual Conference suitable candi dates in the local connexion for Deacons or Elders' orders, and for admission on trial in the travelling connexion; and to try, suspend, expel, or acquit any local preacher in the circuit or station against whom charges may be brought. Provided, that no person shall be licensed to preach without the recommendation of the society of which he is a member, or of a leaders' meeting; nor shall any one be licensed to preach, or recommended to the Annual Conference to travel, or for ordination, without first being examined in the Quarterly Conference on the subject of doctrines and discipline. (See § 6, p. 49, and § 18, p. 75.) 4. To appoint Stewards, the preacher in charge having the right to nominate, (see part iii, ch. iii, § 4, quest. 2, p. 183, and quest. 4, p. 184;) and to examine the characters of exhorters annually, and recommend them, if approved, for renewal of license. (See part i, ch. iv, § 11, quest. 2, answ. 13, p. 62.) 5. To appoint District Stewards as provided for in part iii, ch. iii, § 2, ans. 2, p. 181, and a Parsonage Committee, if necessary. (See part iii, ch. iii, § 6, answ. 3, p. 189.) 6. To appoint a Missionary Committee, as provided for in part iii, ch. iv, art. 4, p. 191. 7. To receive the annual reports of Trustees, as provided for in part iii, ch. ii, § 3, art. 6, p. 177. 8. Each Quarterly Conference shall have supervision of all the Sunday schools and Sunday-School Societies within its bounds. (See part i, ch. iv, § 11, quest. 1, answ. 19, p. 60; and ch. vi, answ. 1, p. 85.) CHAPTER IV. OF THE MINISTERS. SECTION I. Of the Election and Consecration of Bishops, and of their Duty. Quest. 1. How is a Bishop to be constituted? Answ. By the election of the General Conference, and the laying on of the hands of three Bishops, or at least of one Bishop and two Elders. Quest. 2. If by death, expulsion, or otherwise, there be no Bishop remaining in our Church, what shall we do? Answ. The General Conference shall elect a Bishop; and the Elders, or any three of them, who shall be appointed by the General Conference for that purpose, shall ordain him according to our form of ordination. Quest. 3. What are the duties of a Bishop? Answ. 1. To preside in our Conferences. 2. To form the districts according to his judgment. 3. To fix the appointments of the preachers, provided he shall not allow any preacher to remain in the same station more than two years successively; except the Presiding Elders, the Corresponding Secretary of the |