In all the above-mentioned cases, 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, shewing 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 pleadings on both sides. This done, the appellant shall withdraw, and the conference shall decide.

SECTION ΧΙΧ.

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

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two years, shall be members; 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. Provided, that if any district conference shall refuse or neglect to 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.

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 deacons or elders orders, in the local connexion, for admission on trial in the travelling connexion, and to try, suspend, expel, or acquit any local preacher in the district against whom charges may be brought. Provided, that no person shall be licensed or recommended for admission

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into the travelling connexion, without being first recommended by the quarterly conference of the circuit or station to which he belongs; nor shall any one be licensed to preach, or recommended to the annual conference for ordination, without first being examined in the district conference on the subjects of doctrine, and discipline.

3. The district conference shall take cognizance of all the local preachers in the district, and shall inquire into the gifts, labours, and usefulness of each preacher by name.

4. When charges are preferred against any local preacher, it shall be the duty of the preacher in charge to call a committee consisting of three or more local preachers within the station, circuit or district, before whom it shall be the duty of the accused to appear, and by whom he shall be acquitted, or, if found guilty, be suspended until the meeting of the next district conference, and the preacher in charge shall cause exact minutes of the charges, testimony and examination, together with the decision of the committee, to be laid before the district conference, where it shall be the duty of the accused to appear. And the president of the said district conference shall, at the commencement of the trial, appoint a secretary, who shall take down regular minutes of the evidence, and proceedings of the trial; which minutes, when read and approved, shall be signed by the said president, and also by the members of the said district conference, or by a majority of them.

And in case of condemnation, the local preacher, deacon, or elder, condemned, shall be allowed an appeal to the next annual conference, provided that he signify to the said district conference, his determination to appeal; in which case the said president shall lay the minutes of the trial above-mentioned before the said annual conference, at which the local preacher, deacon or elder, so appealing, may appear: and the said annual conference shall judge and finally determine from the minutes of the said trial, so laid before them.

5. When a local elder or deacon shall be expelled, the president of the conference shall require of him the credentials of his ordination, to be filed with the papers of the annual conference, within the limits of which the expulsion has taken place. And should he at any future time produce to the annual conference, a certificate of his restoration, signed by the president