any members on trial to be received into full membership? 7. What amount has been received for the support of the minister 8. Is there any miscellaneous business?

A return shall be made by the Leaders' Meeting to the Quarterly Official Meeting of the amount contributed to the fund for the poor, and the disbursements for the quarter.

250. It is the duty of the Superintendent of the Circuit to make strict inquiry in the Leaders' Meeting, preceding the Fourth Quarterly Meeting, into the moral character of all the Leaders, their punctuality in beginning and ending their Class Meetings in proper time, and whatever relates to their office; and if there be no objection alleged and sustained they shall continue in office for the year; and in case there be no Leaders' Meeting, then the examination or inquiry shall be held at the Fourth Quarterly Official Meeting.

SECTION IV.

The Stewards' Meeting.

251. The Stewards shall meet at least once a quarterprevious to the Quarterly Official Meeting-to take an exact account of what has been collected for the support of the Ministers or Probationers for the Ministry on the Circuit, and to recommend to the Quarterly Official Meeting such measures as they may think necessary in order to the prompt payment of the Ministers. The Stewards shall be the Committee to estimate the amounts necessary to meet the expenses of the year, and report to the first Quarterly Official Meeting.

CHAPTER IV.

THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR DUTIES.

SECTION I.

The President of the General Conference.

252. I. Each General Conference shall, on its assembling, elect by ballot, without debate, from its ministerial members, a President, who shall preside over its proceedings.

253. II. In the intervals of the Session of the General Conference its President shall perform such duties as the General Conference may direct, and shall call and preside over all Standing Committees of the General Conference; and, whenever practicable, visit the several departments of the work and the fields of labour within the bounds of the General Conference; and, especially, attend as many as possible of the sessions of the Annual Conferences. Provided, nevertheless, he shall not exercise a general superintendence, or any powers which are conferred upon other officers of the Church.

SECTION II.

The President of the Annual Conference.

254. I. Each Annual Conference shall, on its assembling, elect by ballot, without debate, from among its own members, a President, whe shall preside over its proceedings.

255. II. The duties and powers of the President of the Annual Conference are,

256. (1) To preside in the Conference, and in all Conference Connexional Committees; and to give a casting vote in case of an equal division.

257. (2) To see that the appointments of the Ministers and Probationers for the Ministry for the Districts, Circuits, and Missions, are made according to the rules of Conference respecting the Stationing Committee.

258. (3) To ordain the Probationers received into full connexion, with the assistance of two or more of the senior Ministers, according to our form of Ordination; except in cases otherwise provided for.

259. (4) In the intervals of Conference to oversee the spiritual and temporal business of the Church; to travel through the Conference at large, or be placed on a Circuit or Station, as the Stationing Committee or Conference may direct. The President shall be, ex-officio, Chairman of the District, for the time being, through which he may travel, or in which he may be stationed, during the year of his Presidency.

260. (5) The President is amenable to the Annual Conference for his conduct; and if he be accused of immorality in the interval of Conference, he shall be proceeded against in the District in which he is stationed or resides, or through which he may be travelling where the alleged crime is said

to have been committed, in the same manner as against a Chairman of a District.

SECTION III.

Chairmen of Districts and their Duties.

261. I. A Chairman of a District is constituted by the election of a majority of the Annual Conference.

262. II. When the stations have been confirmed by the second reading of them to the Conference, the Secretary shall read over successively the names of the Ministers stationed in each District, and the Conference shall elect, by ballot, one of its members so stationed to be Chairman for the ensuing year.

263. III. Immediately after the election of the Chairman of a District is declared by the President, the Chairman shall nominate a Financial Secretary for his District, and the Conference, if it approves, shall appoint the same.

264. IV. The duties of a Chairman are-1. To take the oversight of the whole work on his District, according to the Discipline, as far as his duty to the Circuit on which he resides will permit. 2. To take charge of all the Ministers, Probationers for the Ministry, Local Preachers, and Exhorters in his District. 3. To change, receive, and suspend Ministers or Probationers for the Ministry in his District in the intervals of Conference, and in the absence of the President, as the Discipline directs: Provided, nevertheless, he shall not change any Minister or Probationer contrary to his wish, unless with the concurrence of two or more members of the Conference in his District. 4. If any Minister or Probationer for the Ministry absent himself from his

Circuit without the leave of his Chairman, the Chairman shall, as far as possible, fill his place with another Minister or Probationer, who shall be paid for his labours out of the allowance of the absent Minister or Probationer, in proportion to the usual allowance. 5. To preside in the District and Quarterly Official Meetings in his District. 6. To visit

any Station or Circuit in his District when he may judge expedient. 7. To see that every part of the Discipline is duly enforced. 8. To give the President all necessary

information of the state of his District.

In

265. The Chairman is especially directed and required to visit any Circuit or Mission in his District when requested by the Superintendent of such Circuit or Mission, in case of any dispute or difficulty which the Superintendent may desire assistance to adjust; also in all cases of appeal. all these cases the Circuit or Mission visited shall pay the travelling expenses of the Chairman. The Chairman shall have authority to call in any Minister or Probationer of his District to supply his place when absent in visiting any Circuit or Mission. Should the Chairman, or Superintendent, or any of his colleagues, be requested to withdraw, on any occasion, from any of our regularly-constituted meetings for business, he shall in no case do so; and, should he be obliged to withdraw from any such meeting during its sittings, the meeting will be thereby dissolved. And if any Chairman, or Superintendent, or other Minister, do willingly submit to any requisition, so as to withdraw from any such meeting before its conclusion, he shall, on proof, receive due censure at the ensuing Annual Conference.

266. V. In case of appeal on a Circuit or Mission of which the Chairman is the Superintendent, the President shall either preside, or appoint a Chairman of a District to preside at the hearing of the appeal.