men to preside in these several courts, and decide all questions of law and order, like a judge upon the bench, making them amenable for their decisions and administra tion, it would lessen the difficulties of enforcing discipline very much. And if they would endow them still further, and permit them to exercise certain discretion, in resisting and suppressing vexatious suits, holding them to the same responsibility as in the other case, it would be still better; but they have not seen fit to do it.

Under our economy, a large discretion is vested in the preacher in charge, in reference to complaints. He is made judge of law and order, subject to an appeal, and is required to discipline the church in a prompt, prudent, and energetic manner. Should an excommunicated member believe he has been improperly treated, that his trial was not disciplinary and fair, he may appeal to the Quarterly Conference, where the whole matter will be considered and determined, under the direction of another president, and by another body. If the trial was misconducted below, or the verdict was more the result of preju dice than evidence, it is corrected here, and the decision reversed. Local preachers, condemned by this court, may appeal to the next Annual Conference having appellate jurisdiction, where their case will be adjudicated by a body of strangers, having no prejudices or predilections to serve. This would seem to be a sufficient guarantee to the members concerned; but still they have another resort. Every member of an Annual Conference is responsible to his Conference for the right administration of discipline. Should he be thought, by a censured or excommunicated member, to have exceeded his authority and taken an unwarrantable course, he may be charged with mal-administration, and, if the charge be sustained, the

case may be thrown back, on the ground that "what is not done correctly, is not done at all." We think of an instance to the point. There was a difficulty in the church at R., and parties were formed. The preacher, taking sides with the less reliable members, had charges preferred against the principal man on the other side, on which he was condemned and expelled. Believing the proceeding to be ex parte, and contrary to discipline, he sent a complaint to the next Annual Conference, charging the preacher accordingly. The charge was examined with such evidence as was at hand, and sustained. With this decision, the complainant demanded of the next preacher to be recognized as a member in the same. standing he held when the suit was commenced. The preacher stated the case to the church, and informed them, that the trial having been condemned, he should be obliged to regard it as null and void, and accede to the brother's request. "But," said he, "if any of you see cause to prefer charges against him, he shall be duly tried." Here the matter ended. The source of difficulty being removed, all soon came right again, and peace ensued.

This is the protection which our members enjoy against hurried, irregular, and unjust prosecutions. Though it goes beyond any thing to be found in other churches, we believe it to be proper. Its effect is to beget such care on the part of the ministry to have business done correctly, that Con ferences are seldom troubled with complaints of this nature

CHAPTER VII.

DISCIPLINARY QUESTIONS OFFICIALLY DECIDED.

SINCE our bishops have been constituted judges of disci pline during the intervals of the General Conference, their decisions have become valuable, though not authoritative, unless delivered in some case in course of adjudication. We present a few of them here, together with others, for the benefit of our younger brethren. But the reader must not forget that many of them which relate to Quarterly Conferences are now somewhat modified by District Conferences where they are held.-Discipline, TT 113-127.

I. OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES.

1. "When, in the interim of an Annual Conference, a preacher, being a member of the Conference, has been tried, and the case adjudicated by the presiding elder and a committee, according to the provisions of the discipline, and the individual acquitted of the charge, or punished for the offence, is it competent for the ensuing Annual Conference to take up the case and pass on it another adjudication, unless an appeal be made from the decision by one of the parties?"

Ans. "The investigation of an accused preacher's character, in the interim of the Annual Conference, is for the purpose of determining whether he shall be suspended until his Conference meets, and is not properly a trial, it being

fully considered and determined only before the Annual Conference. The Annual Conference may try said preacher, whether the committee find him guilty or not; the Conference having original jurisdiction. The case never goes up from the committee by appeal, and all proper testimony in any church trial is admissible."- Bishop Hamline.

2. "Does the Conference year terminate on the opening of the session of the Annual Conference, or at the close of the session?”

Ans. "The current Conference year has its commencement at the close of the Conference, when the appointments are announced, and terminates at the close of the next session following." B. Waugh.

II.—OF PRESIDING ELDERS, QUARTERLY CONFERENCES, and LOCAL PREACHERS.

1. "Has the Quarterly Conference original jurisdiction in the case of local preachers, on the charge of immorality?"

Ans. "In the Discipline there is a distinction made. between charges and mere reports. When a local elder, deacon, or preacher is reported to be guilty of some crime expressly forbidden in the word of God, it is made the duty of the preacher in charge to call him before a committee of local preachers, by whom he shall be acquitted, or, if found guilty, suspended until the next Quarterly Conference. The design of this rule is, first, to relieve the character of an innocent persecuted brother from the influence of evil reports; or, secondly, to relieve the suffering church, by preventing a wicked man from preaching till he can be regularly tried. It requires the preacher in charge to proceed on mere report, whether there be any formal charges or not; to call a committee, which is of the nature of a court of

inquiry, to ascertain whether or not there be cause of trial; and, if so, it must go to the Quarterly Conference, the only tribunal that has authority to try the case. And in all practicable cases, the preacher in charge should inquire into complaints against local preachers by a committee, before they come into Quarterly Conference, or be held responsible for this neglect of duty. But if he neglect it,

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or fail to obtain a committee, or fail for want of time, that neglect or failure does not deprive the Quarterly Conference of its legal authority to try a local preacher on charges of immorality. The rule is definite and clear. The Quar terly Meeting Conference shall have authority try, suspend, expel, or acquit, any local preacher in the cir cuit or station, against whom charges may be brought.' It is, therefore, my opinion that the Quarterly Conference has original jurisdiction in the case of local preachers on a charge of immorality, and may proceed directly to trial, provided always that the accused has had proper notice." Bishop Morris.

2. "Suppose a local preacher to be charged with immorality, and brought before the Quarterly Conference for trial, whereupon a motion is adopted to strike out the first specification, which is only for imprudence, the previous labor required by Discipline not having been performed, has the Quarterly Conference exceeded its authority in the premises?”

Ans. "If any illegality is found, the Conference may reject any part of the bill."-E. S. Janes.

3.

"Are the characters of local elders subject to exam ination in the Quarterly Conference?"

Ans. "Most certainly they are. The difference betweer. the accountability of a local preacher and that of a local