of which he is a member, which shall have power to acquit, suspend, locate, or expel him: provided, that he shall not be denied trial by committee.

SECTION XI

OF SUPERANNUATED PREACHERS

Question. What is a superannuated preacher? ¶185. Ans. 1. A superannuated preacher is one who is worn out in the itinerant service. (¶¶732–738.)

4186. Ans. 2. A superannuate relation shall not be granted by an Annual Conference, except on the recommendation of the Committee on Conference Relations. Nor shall this committee, in its decision, consider anything else than this question, viz.: Is the applicant really worn out in the itinerant service? Provided, however, that should the committee report adversely, the Conference may grant the relation by a vote of not less than three-fourths of the members present. The Conference may refer to the committee the application for this relation, with or without the consent of the person concerned.

9187. Ans. 3. A superannuated preacher living out of the bounds of the Conference of which he is a member shall be responsible to the Annual Conference within whose bounds he

may reside, which Conference shall have power to try, acquit, suspend, or expel him.

SECTION XII

OF LOCAL PREACHERS

Question 1. What directions are given concerning the licensing of persons to preach?

9188. Ans. 1. The District Conference shall have authority to license proper persons to preach, and to renew their licenses annually, when, in its judgment, their gifts, grace, and usefulness warrant. (¶¶692, 693, 695-700, 717, 739-741.)

$189. Ans. 2. No person shall be licensed to preach without the recommendation of the Quarterly Conference of the charge to which he belongs. (¶698.) Nor shall any one be licensed to preach until he passes, before a committee of three (¶692), to be appointed by the Presiding Elder, an approved examination on doctrines and discipline, and gives satisfactory evidence of his knowledge of the ordinary branches of an English education (491); nor shall any license be valid unless signed by the President and the Secretary of the Conference. The following form of license shall be used:

The bearer hereof,

having been duly recom

Charge,

mended by the Quarterly Conference of and having been examined, as the Discipline directs,

by a committee of the District Conference of District of the Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is hereby authorized to preach the gospel, according to the rules and regulations of said Church.

Signed, in behalf of said District Conference,

Ques. 2. What shall be the time of probation of a local preacher for the office of deacon?

¶190. Ans. A local preacher shall be eligible to the office of a deacon after he has preached four years from the time he received a regular license, and has obtained a recommendation from the District Conference, after a proper examination on the Course of Study prescribed by the Bishops as a preparation for deacon's orders, signed by the President and the Secretary, and after the Annual Conference has examined and approved his character: provided, that if he has been a local preacher three years successively, and on trial in the traveling ministry for one year next following, he shall be eligible to the office of a deacon when the Annual Conference approves. (¶¶118, 121, 742.)

Ques. 3. What shall be the time of probation of a local deacon for the office of elder?

¶191. Ans. A local deacon shall be eligible to the office of elder after he has preached four years from the time he was ordained deacon,

and has obtained a recommendation from the District Conference, after a proper examination on the Course of Study prescribed by the Bishops as a preparation for elder's orders (4723); and the fact of passing an approved examination on this course shall be stated in the recommendation, which shall be signed by the President and Secretary of the Conference. He shall present to the Annual Conference this recommendation, with a note certifying his belief in the doctrines and discipline of our Church, the whole being examined by the Annual Conference; and, if approved, he may be ordained: provided, that any time spent in the traveling ministry, whether on trial or in full connection, may be counted as part of the four years' probation for elder's orders, to which he may be elected when the Annual Conference approves. Ques. 4. What further directions are given concerning local preachers?

¶192. Ans. 1. They shall aid the preacher in charge of the circuit, station, or mission, to which they belong, in supplying the people with the ministry of the word. They shall accordingly be applied to by the preacher in charge, as soon as he enters on his work, to state what amount of service they are able and willing to perform; he may then draw up a plan by which their labors shall be regulated, and they shall be authorized to form new con

gregations, to take a list of the names of all candidates for Church membership, and, if expedient, receive them into the Church: provided, that all such congregations, candidates, and members be reported, as soon as possible, to the preacher in charge, in order that they may be placed immediately under his pastoral care. Local preachers shall report annually in writing to the District Conference the extent and result of their labors. (¶¶700, 809.)

¶193. Ans. 2. Every local elder, deacon, and licentiate shall have his name recorded on the journal of the Quarterly Conference of which he is a member. (¶697.)

¶194. Ans. 3. When any traveling preacher is located, he shall be amenable to the District Conference of the District within the bounds of which he last traveled, until he presents his certificate of location to some Quarterly Confer- ' ence. (¶740.)

$195. Ans. 4. When a local elder, deacon, or licentiate removes from one charge to another, he shall procure from the Presiding Elder of the District, or from the preacher in charge, a certificate of his official standing, without which he shall not be received as a local preacher in other places. (¶740.)

¶196. Ans. 5. A preacher receiving a certificate of location or of official standing, and failing to present it to some Quarterly Conference