conference; but in all cases the application of law shall be with the conference."

SECTION VI.

Of the Election and Ordination of Travelling Elders, and of their Duty.*

66

1792. Quest. 1. How is an elder constituted? "Ans. By the election of a majority of the district conference, and by the laying on of the hands of a bishop, and of the elders that are present.

Quest. 2. What is the duty of a travelling elder? "Ans. 1. To administer baptism and the Lord's supper, and to perform the office of matrimony and all parts of divine worship.

"2. To do all the duties of a travelling preacher.

"N. B. No elder, that ceases to travel, without the consent of the district conference, certified under the hand of the president of the conference, shall, on any account, exercise the peculiar functions of his office among us."

1804. In the note, after "president of the conference," is inserted, "except in case of sickness, debility, or other unavoidable circumstance ;" and, at the close, is added, " or even be allowed to preach among us; nevertheless, the final determination in all such cases is with the yearly conference."

SECTION VII.

Of the Election and Ordination of Travelling Deacons, and of their Duty.

1784. "Quest. 31. What is the office of a deacon? "Ans. To baptize in the absence of an elder, to assist the elder in the administration of the Lord's supper, to marry, bury the dead, and read the Liturgy to the peo

*For the rules on this subject prior to 1792, see Sec. 5.

ple as prescribed, except what relates to the administration of the Lord's supper."

1789. In the place of the above we have the following:

"Section 6. On the constituting of Deacons, and their Duty.

"Quest. 1. How is a deacon constituted?

"Ans. By the election of a majority of the conference, and the laying on of the hands of a bishop. "Quest. 2. What is the duty of a deacon?

"Ans. 1. To baptize, and perform the office of matrimony, in the absence of the elder.

"2. To assist the elder in administering the Lord's supper.

[Here follows a long list of other duties, which were afterward transferred to a new section on the duties of those who have the charge of circuits. See Sec. 10.]

The following note was added, being a modification of the rule of 1784, Quest. 35. (See p. 125.)

"N. B. No deacon that ceases to travel without the consent of the conference, certified under the hand of a bishop, shall on any account exercise the peculiar functions of his office."

1792. This was made the seventh section, with the present title. The epithet "travelling" is prefixed to "deacon," throughout: and at the close of the section the following is added to the duties of a deacon:"3. To do all the duties of a travelling preacher." 1796. The following new question was inserted: Quest. 3. What shall be the time of probation of a travelling deacon for the office of an elder?

"Ans. Every travelling deacon shall exercise that office for two years, before he be eligible to the office of an elder; except in the case of missions, when the yearly conferences shall have authority to elect for the elder's office sooner, if they judge it expedient."

1804. The same changes made in the note respecting deacons who cease to travel, as in the case of elders (p. 129.)

1832. The following was added at the close of this section:—

"Provided always, that 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 VIII.

Of the Reception of Preachers from the Wesleyan Connection, and from other Denominations.

This section was inserted in 1840, and is as follows: Quest. 1. In what manner shall we receive those ministers who may come to us from the Wesleyan connection in Europe or Canada?

"Ans. If they come to us properly accredited from either the British, Irish, or Canada Conference, they may be received according to such credentials, provided they give satisfaction to an annual conference of their willingness to conform to our church government and

usages.

Quest. 2. How shall we receive those ministers who may offer to unite with us from other Christian churches?

"Ans. Those ministers of other evangelical churches, who may desire to unite with our church, whether as local or itinerant, may be received according to our usages, on condition of their taking upon them our ordination vows, without the reimposition of hands, giving satisfaction to an annual conference of their being in orders, and of their agreement with us in doctrine, discipline, government, and usages; provided the conference is also satisfied with their gifts, grace, and usefulness. Whenever any such minister is received, he shall be furnished with a certificate, signed by one of our bishops, in the following words, namely:

"This is to certify, that

into

has been admitted

conference as a travelling preacher, [or

cir

has been admitted as a local preacher on cuit,] he having been ordained to the office of a deacon, (or an elder, as the case may be,) according to the usages of the church, of which he has been a member and minister; and he is hereby authorized to exercise the functions pertaining to his office in the Methodist Episcopal Church, so long as his life and conversation are such as become the gospel of Christ. "Given under my hand and seal, at in the year of our Lord, "Quest. 3. How shall we receive preachers of other denominations who are not in orders?

day of

this

"Ans. They may be received as licentiates, provided they give satisfaction to a quarterly, or an annual conference, that they are suitable persons to exercise the office, and of their agreement with the doctrines, discipline, government, and usages of our church."

SECTION IX.

Of the Method of receiving Travelling Preachers, and of their Duty.

Quest. 1. How is a preacher to be received?

1784. Quest. 36. What method shall we take to prevent improper persons from preaching among us as travelling preachers ?*

"Ans. Let no person be employed as a travelling preacher, unless his name be printed in the Minutes of the conference preceding, or a certificate be given him under the hand of one or other of the superintendents, or, in their absence, of three assistants, as is hereafter

*In 1780 it was required that all the travelling preachers should take a license from every conference, signed by Mr. Asbury.

In 1782, the more effectually to "guard against disorderly tra velling preachers," it was ordered-" Write at the bottom of every certificate:The authority this conveys is limited to next confer

ence.'"

provided. And for this purpose, let the Minutes of the conference be always printed."*

1786. For "three assistants, as is hereafter vided," we have "the elder of his district."

1789. The following was substituted :-
"Quest. 1. How is a preacher to be received?
"Ans. 1. By the conference.

pro

"2. In the interval of the conference by the bishop, or an elder, until the sitting of the conference.

"3. When his name is not printed in the Minutes, he must receive a written license from his elder or bishop."

1792. "Presiding elder of the district" substituted for "elder."

1816. A new paragraph was inserted as follows:

"3. It shall be the duty of the bishops or of a committee which they may appoint, at each annual conference, to point out a course of reading and study proper to be pursued by candidates for the ministry; and the presiding elder, whenever such are presented to him, shall direct them to those studies which have been thus recommended.-And before any such candidate is received into full connection, he shall give satisfactory evidence respecting his knowledge of those particular subjects which have been recommended to his consideration."

Quest. 2. What is the duty of a preacher ?

1784. "Quest. 32. What is the office of a helper ?

Ans. 1. To preach.

"2. To meet the society and the bands weekly.† "3. To visit the sick.

"4. To meet the leaders weekly.

*They had not been printed previously.-See Lee's Hist. of the Methodists, p. 45.

+ In the Annual Minutes for 1779 we find the following question: "Ought not every travelling preacher to meet the class wherever he preaches? Ans. Yes, if possible."