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 other wise, 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

Missionary Society, the Editors and Agents at New-York and Cincinnati; the Editors at Auburn, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco; the supernumerary, superannuated and worn-out preachers, missionaries among the Indians, Welsh, Swedes, Norwegians, and other missionaries among foreigners, (not including the Germans,) where supplies are difficult to be obtained, missionaries to our people of colour and on foreign stations, chaplains to state prisons, and in the army or navy, those preachers that may be appointed to labour for the special benefit of seamen, and for the American Bible Society, also the preacher or preachers that may be stationed in the city of New-Orleans, and the presidents, principals, or teachers, of seminaries of learning, which are or may be under our superintendence; and also, when requested by an Annual Conference, to appoint a preacher for a longer time than two years to any seminary of learning not under our care: provided, also, that, with the exceptions above named, he shall not continue a preacher in the same appointment more than two years in six; nor in the same city more than four years in succession; nor return him to it, after such term of service, till he shall have been absent four years. He shall have authority, when requested by an Annual Conference, to appoint an agent, whose duty it shall be to travel throughout the bounds of such Conference, for the purpose of establishing and aiding Sabbath Schools, and distributing tracts, and also to

appoint an agent or agents for the benefit of our literary institutions, and an agent for the German publishing fund.

4. In the intervals of the Conferences, to change, receive, and suspend preachers, as necessity may require, and as the Discipline

directs.

5. To travel through the connexion at large.

6. To oversee the spiritual and temporal business of our Church.

7. To ordain Bishops, Elders, and Dea

cons.

8. To decide all questions of law in an Annual Conference, subject to an appeal to the General Conference; but in all cases the application of law shall be with the Conference.

9. To point out a course of reading and study, proper to be pursued by candidates for the ministry for the term of four years.

10. A Bishop may, when he judges it necessary, unite two or more circuits or stations together, without affecting their se parate financial interests, or pastoral duties.

Quest. 4. If a Bishop cease from travelling at large among the people, shall he still exercise his episcopal office among us in any degree?

Answ. If he cease from travelling without the consent of the General Conference, he shall not thereafter exercise the episcopal office in our Church.

Quest. 5. What shall be done when there is no bishop to travel at large?