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

presiding elder, the preachers must call in the presiding elder of the neighboring district, who is
requested to attend, and preside at the trial.
"If the accused and accuser cannot be brought face to face, but the supposed delinquent flees from
trial, it shall be received as a presumptive proof of guilt; and out of the mouth of two or three
witnesses he shall be condemned. Nevertheless, even in that case the yearly conference shall
reconsider and determine the whole matter.
Q. 2. "What shall be done in cases of improper tempers, words, or actions?
A. "The person so offending shall be reprehended by his senior in office. Should a second
transgression take place, one, two, or three ministers or preachers are to be taken as witnesses. If he
be not then cured, he shall be tried at the next yearly conference, and, if found guilty and impenitent,
shall be expelled from the connection, and his name so returned in the minutes of the conference.
Q. 3. "What shall be done with those ministers or preachers, who hold and preach doctrines which
are contrary to our articles of religion?
A. "Let the same process be observed as in cases of gross immorality; but if the minister or
preacher, so offending do solemnly engage, neither to preach nor defend such erroneous doctrines
in public or in private, he shall be borne with, till his case be laid before the next yearly conference,
which shall determine the matter.
"Provided nevertheless, that in all the above mentioned cases of trial and conviction, an appeal
to the ensuing general conference shall be allowed."
The last question and answer, above, was introduced in order to prevent the spreading of the
erroneous doctrines, which had been imbibed and propagated in public and in private by Mr. J.
O'K_____ ; who, previous to that time, had taken much pains to draw off some of our preachers into
his way of thinking; and had so far succeeded in his endeavors, as to get some of the preachers
confused and bewildered in their minds about the doctrine of the Trinity. But in a short time those
preachers who remained with us were happily delivered from the mist of darkness into which they
had been drawn.
In the 21st section we have the following N. B. "We will on no account whatever receive a present
for administering baptism, or for burying the dead."
This last resolve has been a standing rule among the Methodists from that day to this.
In the 22d section, the following directions were given concerning public worship on the Lord's
day: "Let the morning service consist of singing, prayer, the reading of a chapter out of the Old
Testament, and another out of the New, and preaching.
"Let the afternoon service consist of singing, prayer, the reading one chapter out of the Bible, and
preaching.