A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

A. "To the general conference, who have power to expel him for improper conduct, if they see
it necessary."
At this conference we introduced a new rule for the trial of a bishop, which stands thus, Q. "What
provision shall be made for the trial of an immoral bishop, in the intervals of the general conference?
A. "If the bishop be guilty of immorality, three traveling elders shall call upon him, and examine
him on the subject: and if the three elders verily believe that the bishop is guilty of the crime, they
shall call to their aid two presiding elders from two districts in the neighborhood of that where the
crime was committed, each of which presiding elder shall bring with him two elders, or an elder and
a deacon. The above mentioned nine persons shall form a conference, to examine into the charge
brought against the bishop: and if two thirds of them verily believe him to be guilty of the crime laid
to his charge, they shall have authority to suspend the bishop till the ensuing general conference."
The fifth section had respect to the presiding elders. Such an order of elders had never been
regularly established before. They had been appointed by the bishop for several years; but it was a
doubt in the minds of the preachers, whether such power belonged to him. The general conference
now determined that there should be presiding elders; and that they should be chosen, stationed and
changed by the bishop. However, a new rule was formed respecting them as follows: "The bishop
shall not allow an elder to preside in the same district, more than four years successively."
The duty of a presiding elder was to travel through his district, to take charge of all the preachers,
traveling or located in the district; and to change, receive, or suspend the traveling preachers in the
absence of a bishop: to be present as far as practicable at all the quarterly meetings; and to preside
in the conference of his district, in the absence of a bishop. The presiding elder was to be supported
by the surplus money in each circuit; but if there was no surplus, then he was to share in proportion
with the preachers of the circuits.
In the eighth section we formed a rule, whereby the bishop, or a presiding elder, might receive a
preacher to travel in the intervals of conference, until the sitting of the next district conference. But
all preachers must be received by the conference, before their names can be printed in the minutes.
A preacher received in the intervals of conference, must have a written license from the bishop or
presiding elder. But no preacher shall be received by the conference to travel, unless he first procure
a recommendation from the quarterly meeting of his circuit. After traveling two years on probation,
being approved by the district conference, and examined by the president thereof, he may be received
into full connection.
At the close of the section we have the following N. B. "If any preacher absent himself from his
circuit without the leave of the presiding elder, the presiding elder as far as possible shall fill his
place with another preacher, who shall be paid for his labours out of the quarterage of the absent
preacher according to the usual allowance."
In the ninth section, we fixed the salaries of all the traveling preachers at the former sum of
sixty-four dollars, with the casual addition of their traveling expenses. Their traveling expenses were