Quest. 5. Shall the Presiding Elder have power to employ a Preacher who has been rejected at the previous Annual Conference?

Answ. He shall not, unless the Conference should give him liberty, under certain conditions.

SECTION II.

The Presiding Elder's Support. Quest. How shall the Presiding Elders be supported?

Answ. There shall be annually, in every district, a meeting composed of one steward from each circuit and station, to be selected by the Quarterly Conference, whose duty it shall be, with the advice of the Presiding Elder, (who shall preside in such meeting,) to make an estimate of the amount necessary to furnish a comfortable support to the Presiding Elder, and to apportion the same, including house rent and traveling expenses, among the different circuits and stations in the district, according to their several ability; and in all cases the Presiding Elder shall share with the preachers in his district in proportion with what they have respectively received; but if there be a

surplus of money raised for the support of the preachers in one or more of the circuits or stations in his district, he shall receive such surplus, provided he do not receive more than his allowance.

[N. B. For the method of proceeding agains an accused Presiding Elder, see part ii, chap. ▾ sec. 2, p. 105.-ED.]

CHAPTER V,

TRAVELING ELDERS.

SECTION I.

The Election and Ordination of Traveling Elders, and their Duty.

Quest. 1. How is an Elder constituted? Answ. By the election of a majority of the Annual Conference, and by the laying on of the hands of a Bishop and some of the Elders that are present.

Quest. 2. What is the duty of a Traveling Elder?

Answ. 1. To administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper, to solemnize matrimony, and to conduct Divine worship.

2. To do all the duties of a traveling preacher.

No Elder that ceases to travel, without the consent of the Annual Conference, certified under the hand of the President of the Conference, except in case of sickness, debility, or other unavoidable circumstances, shall on any account exercise the peculiar functions of his office, or even be allowed to preach among us: nevertheless,

the final determination in all such cases is with the Annual Conference.

Quest. 3. What shall be the time of probation of a Traveling Deacon for the office of an Elder?

Answ. Every Traveling Deacon shall exercise that office for two years, before he be eligible to the office of Elder; except in the case of missions, when the Annual Conferences shall have authority to elect for the Elder's office sooner, if they judge it expedient.

When a preacher shall have passed his examination, and been admitted into full connection, and elected to Deacon's office, but fails of his ordination through the absence of the Bishop, his eligibility to the office of Elder shall run from the time of his election to the office of a Deacon.

SECTION II.

The Method of Proceeding against accused Traveling Ministers or Preachers.

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 ex

clude a person from the kingdom of grade and glory?

Answ. 1. In the interval of the Annual Conference, let the Presiding Elder, in the absence of a Bishop, call as many traveling ministers as he shall think fit, at least three; and, if possible, bring the accused and the accuser face to face; and cause a correct record of the investigation to be kept and transmitted to the Annual Conference. If the person be clearly convicted, he shall be suspended from all ministerial services and Church privileges until the ensuing Annual Conference, at which his case shall be fully considered and determined. But if the accused be a Presiding Elder, three of the senior preachers of his district shall inquire into the character of the report, and if they judge it necessary, call in the Presiding Elder of any adjoining district, who shall appoint a Committee of five Elders from within the bounds of the Annual Conference of which the accused is a member, and also preside at the examination.

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 mouth of two or three witnesses he