part of the school time which is devoted to Missions; the Secretary shall read at each monthly meeting a report of the previous meeting. The Treasurer shall receive the funds raised by the Society and pay them as follows: forty-five per cent to the Board of Foreign Missions, forty-five per cent to the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, and ten per cent to the Board of Sunday Schools. The President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall make a semiannual report to the Society on the first Sundays of April and October.

ARTICLE VII. Vacancies in the offices may be filled at any regular or special meeting of the Sunday School Board.

ARTICLE VIII. This Constitution shall not be altered except by vote of two thirds of all the members of the Local Sunday School Board, at a meeting called for that purpose.

¶595. Charges

§ 1. In drafting charges and specifications for the trial of an accused member of the Church there should be a brief statement, defining the offense by its generic name, such as "Defamation," "Dishonesty," "Lying," "Imprudent Conduct," "Indulging Sinful Tempers or Words," "Disobedience to the Order and Discipline of the Church," "Neglecting Prayer Meetings," "Neglecting Class Meetings," etc. Each charge should be accompanied with one or more specifications germane to the charge; and the following forms may serve to illustrate the manner of preparing charges and specifications. The charges and specifications must be so varied in the several cases as to meet the facts or evidence relied upon for conviction. The bill of charges should be signed by one or more members of the Church, and must be addressed to the Preacher in Charge of the Circuit or Station in which the accused person holds his membership.

§ 2. IMMORAL CONDUCT

FORM NO. I

To A. B., Preacher in Charge of .... Circuit or Station: DEAR BROTHER: The undersigned, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, complains to you that C. D., a member of the same Church, has been guilty of Immoral Conduct, and he is hereby charged therewith as follows:

CHARGE DEFAMATION

Specification 1. The said C. D., on the ...... day of 19...., at ...., did write and publish, maliciously and in violation of the Rules of the Discipline, the following false and libelous matter of and concerning E. F., to wit: (Here copy the writing complained of.) Specification 2. The said C. D., on the

day of ... 19...., at did utter and publish, maliciously and in violation of the Rules of the Discipline, the following defamatory and libelous matter of and concerning E. F., to wit: (Here copy the matter published.) Specification 3. The said C. D., on the

day of

19— at did maliciously and in violation of the Rules of the Discipline, speak, utter, and publish, in the hearing of divers persons, the following false and slanderous words concerning E. F., that is to say, "He [meaning the said E. F.] is a thief." [Signed] M. N.

FORM No. II

[The address to the Preacher in Charge should be the same as in No. 1.]

CHARGE LYING

Specification. The said C. D., on the .... day of .... 19. ..., at ...., did, in violation of the Rules of the Discipline, falsely and willfully say (here insert what was said), or words to that effect, knowing the statement to be misleading and false. [Signed] M. N.

§ 3. IMPRUDENT AND UNCHRISTIAN CONDUCT In this class of cases preliminary labor is required before the accused person is liable to be arraigned and tried, and it should be averred in the complaint that such preliminary labor has been performed, for without such averment there is nothing to show that the person is liable to be tried. The following form may be use:

FORM No. III

To A. B., Preacher in Charge of .... Circuit or Station: DEAR BROTHER: Inasmuch as C. D., a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, indulged sinful tempers, and was afterward reproved, as the Discipline provides; yet the said C. D. was guilty of a second transgression, and he was again reproved as the Discipline provides; yet, notwithstanding these repeated reproofs, the said C. D. continues impenitent and still persists in indulging sinful tempers, thereby bringing reproach upon the Church; therefore the undersigned complains to you of the conduct of the said C. D., and charges him as follows:

CHARGE: INDULGING SINFUL TEMPERS

Specification. The said C. D., on the .... day of 19...., at and at other times and places, namely (here specify times and places), Jid on three several occasions become angry and indulged in sinful tempers, in violation of the Rules of the Discipline.

FORM NO. IV

[Signed] M. N.

To A. B., Preacher in Charge of.... Circuit or Station: DEAR BROTHER: Forasmuch as C. D., on the .... day of ...., 19...., at ... became angry and indulged sinful tempers, in violation of the Rules of the Discipline, and, though reproved therefor after the manner prescribed in the Discipline, he made no acknowledgment of the fault, and showed no proper humiliation, and he still con

tinues impenitent; therefore the undersigned complains to you of the conduct of C. D., and hereby charges him as follows:

CHARGE INDULGING SINFUL TEMPERS

at

Specification. C. D., on the .... day of became angry and indulged in sinful tempers, in violation of the Rules of the Discipline; and, notwithstanding he has been reproved on account thereof, as the Discipline provides, he has made no acknowledgment of the fault, and has shown no proper humiliation, but continues impenitent, in violation of the Rules of the Discipline.

[Signed] M. N.

§ 4. NEGLECT OF THE MEANS OF GRACE

FORM NO. V

To A. B., Preacher in Charge of .... Circuit or Station:

DEAR BROTHER: Inasmuch as C. D., a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, had for a long time neglected public worship, and having so neglected was visited by the Preacher, who explained to him the consequences should he continue such neglect; and yet, notwithstanding such visit and explanation, he does not amend, but continues to neglect public worship, therefore the undersigned complains to you of the conduct of C. D., and hereby charges him as follows:

CHARGE HABITUAL NEGLECT OF PUBLIC WORSHIP

Specification. The said C. D., unmindful of his duty, and in violation of the Rules of the Discipline, does habitually neglect public worship. [Signed] M. N.

NOTE. It is sufficient to charge the offense by its generic name, and under such charge the complaint may set forth in specifications as many instances of the offense as it may seem proper to insert, provided, always, the specification must sustain the charge. In preparing the charges and specifications care should be taken in setting out the offense so to describe it in each specification as that it shall embody the essential elements of the offense, that the accused may be apprised more certainly of the nature of the charge upon which he is to be arraigned and tried.

CHAPTER X

COURSES OF STUDY

I. In General

¶ 596, § 1. The General Conference earnestly recommends to all candidates for the Ministry of our Church that they complete a full collegiate course of study, and, if possible, a course in one of our Theological Schools, before applying for admission to an Annual Conference.

§ 2. No candidate shall be admitted to an Annual Conference on trial until he shall have completed a course of study equivalent to the University Senate requirements for admission to college, except under special conditions and then only after, at least, three years successful ministerial service under a District Superintendent, and only by two-thirds vote of the Annual Conference.

§ 3. The Annual Conference cannot excuse a preacher on trial from the legally prescribed Conference course of study or admit him into full membership without satisfactory examination upon such course of study. -Journal, 1916.

II. Certificates

¶ 597, § 1. Certificates from our regular Theological Seminaries, Universities, and Colleges approved by our University Senate may be accepted by the Conferences: provided, (1) that each certificate shall distinctly show that the student has been a regular attendant on the classroom instruction in the specified book; and (2) that he has passed a thorough examination in the book, gaining a standing equivalent to that fixed in ¶ 598, § 5, it being understood that the Annual Conference shall examine all candidates in regard to their personal attitude toward the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church.