SECTION XVIII.

Of the method by which immoral travelling Ministers or Preachers shall be brought to trial, found guilty, and reproved or suspended in the intervals of the conferences.*

Quest. 1. What shall be done when an elder, deacon or preacher, is under report of being guilty of some crime, expressly forbidden in the word of God, as an unchristian practice, sufficient to exclude a person from the kingdom of grace and glory?

Answ. Let the presiding elder, in the absence of a bishop, call as many travelling ministers as he shall think fit, at least three: and if possible bring the accused and the accuser face to face. If the person be clearly convicted, he shall be suspended from all official services in the church, till the ensu ing annual conference; at which his case shall be fully considered and determined. But if the accused be a presiding elder, the preachers must call in the presiding elder of the neighbouring district, who i bequired to attend, and preside at the trial.

If the accused and accuser cannot be brought face to face, but the supposed delinquent flees from trial, it shall be received as a presumptive proof of guilt; and out of the For the trial of a bishop, see section iv.

mouth of two or three witnesses he shall be condemned. Nevertheless, even in that case, the annual conference shall reconsider and determine the whole matter.

Quest. 2. What shall be done in cases of improper tempers, words, or actions? Answ. The person so offending shall be reprehended by his senior in office. Should a second transgression take place, one, two, or three ministers or preachers are to be taken as witnesses. If he be not then cured, he shall be tried at the next annual conference, and, if found guilty and impenitent, shall be expelled from the connexion, and his name so returned in the minutes of the conference.

Quest. 3. What shall be done with those ministers or preachers, who hold and disseminate publicly or privately, doctrines which are contrary to our articles of religion?

Answ. Let the same process be observed as in cases of gross immorality: but if the minister or preacher so offending, do solemnly engage not to disseminate such erroneous doctrines in public or in private, he shall be borne with, till his case be laid before the next annual conference, which shall determine the matter.

Provided nevertheless, that in all the abovementioned cases of trial and conviction, an

appeal to the ensuing general conference shall be allowed, if the condemned person signify his intention to appeal, at the time of his condemnation, or at any time thereafter when he is informed thereof.

In all the above-mentioned case's, it shall be the duty of the secretary of the annual conference, to keep regular minutes of the trial, including all the questions proposed to the witnesses, and their answers, together with the crime with which the accused is charged, the specification or specifications, and also preserve all the documents relating to the case; which minutes and documents only, in case of an appeal from the decision of an annual conference, shall be presented to the general conference, in evidence on the case. And in all cases, when an appeal is made, and admitted by the general conference, the appellant shall either state personally, or by his representative, (who shall be a member of the conference,) the grounds of his appeal, showing cause why he appeals, and he shall be allowed to make his defence without interruption. After which the representatives of the annual conference from whose decision the appeal is made, shall be permitted to respond in presence of the appellant, who shall have the privilege of replying to such representatives, which shall close the plead

ings on both sides. This done, the appellant shall withdraw, and the conference shall decide.

SECTION XIX.

How to provide for the circuits in time of conference and to preserve and increase the work of God.

Quest. What can be done to supply the circuits during the sittings of the conferences?

Answ. 1. Let all the appointments stand according to the plan of the circuit.

2. Engage as many local preachers and exhorters as will supply them; and let them be paid for their time in proportion to the allowance of the travelling preachers.

3. If preachers and exhorters cannot attend, let some person of ability be appointed in every society, to sing, pray, and read one of Mr. Wesley's sermons.

4. But if that cannot be done, let there be prayer meetings.

SECTION XX.

Of the Local Preachers.

Quest. 1. What directions shall be given concerning local preachers?

Answ. 1. There shall be held annually in each presiding elder's district, a district conference, of which all the local preachers in the district, who shall have been licensed two years, shall be members, a majority of whom shall be a quorum to do business; and of which the presiding elder of the district for the time being shall be president; or in case of his absence, the conference shall have authority to elect a president pro tem. It shall be the duty of the presiding elder of each district to appoint the time and place of the first conference, after which the presiding elder shall appoint the time, and the conference the place of its own sitting. But if any district conference shall not hold its regular sessions, then the quarterly meeting conferences of the circuits and stations respectively, shall have authority to transact the business of the district conference. 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.

2. The district conference shall have authority to license proper persons to preach, and renew their license annually when in the judgment of the said conference, their gifts, grace, and usefulness will warrant such renewal; to recommend suitable candidates to the annual conference for deacon's or elder's