CHAPTER VI.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCES.

Ques. 1. Who shall compose a Quarterly Conference?

Ans. All the traveling and local preachers, exhorters, stewards (senior and junior), stewardesses (senior and junior), trustees of church property, class leaders, presidents of Epworth League chapters, Presidents of Woman's Missionary Societies, Superintendents of Sunday Schools, Secretaries of Church Conferences, and choristers, who are members of the church, and none else.

Ques. 2. When and where shall each Quarterly Conference meet?

Ans. Four times a year, at such place as the Conference may appoint, and at such time as the Presiding Elder may designate.

Ques. 3. Who shall preside in a Quarterly Conference?

Ans. The Presiding Elder, or, in his absence, the preacher in charge.

Ques. 4. What is the regular business of a Quarterly Conference?

Ans. 1. To receive and try appeals, to hear complaints, and examine Church Records and Registers.

2. To superintend the interests of Sunday-schools and the instruction of children.

3. To take cognizance of all the local preachers and exhorters in the circuits, stations, or missions, and to inquire annually into the gifts, labors, and usefulness of each by name.

4. To try, suspend, expel, or acquit any local preacher in the circuit, station, or mission, against whom charges may be brought.

5. To license proper persons to exhort and to preach; =provided= that no person shall thus be licensed to either preach or exhort who, for any cause, marries a divorced woman; to renew their license annually, when, in its judgment, their gifts, grace, and usefulness will warrant a renewal. All votes to license preachers shall be taken by ballot.

6. To recommend suitable candidates to the Annual Conference for deacon's or elder's orders in the local connection, and for admission on trial and re-admission into the traveling connection: =Provided= (a) that no one shall be admitted or allowed to remain in the traveling connection who marries a divorced woman: =Provided= (b) that no person shall be recommended to the Annual Conference for admission on trial, or for ordination, without first being examined in the Quarterly Conference on the subject of doctrine and discipline, and giving satisfactory evidence of his ability to read the word of God. All votes to recommend preachers for admission on trial, or re-admission into the traveling connection, or for deacon's or elder's orders shall be taken by ballot.

7. To elect trustees, stewards, and stewardesses, superintendents of Sunday-schools, according to the discipline, for the circuit, station, or mission, and of the stewards, to appoint one a Recording Steward.

8. To see that all its proceedings be faithfully recorded, by a secretary chosen for the purpose, in a book to be kept by the Recording Steward; the records of each session being signed by the President and Secretary.

Ques. 5. What order of business shall be observed in the Quarterly Conference?

Ans. After religious service, let the roll be called, and the following inquiries be made—

1. Are there any appeals?

2. Are there any complaints?

3. Is there a written report from—

(a) The Pastor as to the number and state of the church?

(b) The Superintendent as to the number and state of the Sunday School?

(c) Senior and Junior Stewards?

(d) Senior and Junior Stewardesses?

(e) Trustees of Church Property?

(f) Woman's Missionary Society?

(g) Epworth League?

(h) Church Extension?

(i) Chorister?

4. What were the estimated claims, and what the final settlement of the same, in the charge, during the past year?

(1) The answer to this question will embrace the amount assessed and paid Presiding Elder, Pastor, General Funds, Church Extension, Missions, Education, Superannuated preachers, widows, and orphans of preachers and other items.

5. What amount has been estimated by the Board of Stewards for the support of the preacher in charge, and his assistant, for the present year? (1 or 2).

6. What amount has been apportioned this charge by the Joint Board of Finance: 1, for Presiding Elder's salary and traveling expenses? 2, for General Funds, Education, Missions and Church Extension? (1 or 2).

7. Are there any applications—

(a) For license to exhort?

(b) For license to preach?

8. Who are elected to fill vacancies in the Board of Trustees?

9. What amount was raised for education on Children's Day? (3 or 4.)

10. Have the General Rules been read?

11. Is there a Church Register, and a Record of Church Conferences for each church on the charge, and have they been faithfully kept?

12. Have the exhorters and local preachers passed an examination of character, and have their license been renewed? (3 or 4.)

13. Are there any applications to the Annual Conference to be admitted on trial into the traveling connection, or for re-admission? (4).

14. What local preachers are recommended to the Annual Conference for ordination? (4.)

15. Who are elected Senior and Junior Stewards, and Senior and Junior Stewardesses for the ensuing conference year?

16. Who is elected Recording Steward? (4.)

17. Who are elected Sunday School Superintendents? (4.)

18. What amount was raised for Missions on General Missionary Day? (3 or 4.)

19. What are the statistics to be reported to the Annual Conference? (4.)

20. Is there any miscellaneous business?

21. Where shall the next Quarterly Conference be held?