CHAPTER XXIX.

APPEAL OF A LOCAL PREACHER.

1. When an appeal of a Local Preacher is made and allowed by the Annual Conference, the President shall appoint a committee of not less than nine nor more than thirteen, who shall have full power to try the case; and their decision shall be final.

2. No member of the Quarterly Conference that first tried the case shall be appointed on this committee.

3. The minutes of the trial in the Quarterly Conference shall be laid before this committee, which documents only shall be in evidence; and the said committee shall make a faithful report to the Annual Conference in writing, and deliver up to the Secretary the whole record of the case with the decision rendered.

4. The appellant shall state, either personally or by his representative (who shall be a member of the Conference), the grounds of his appeal, showing cause why he appeals, and he shall be permitted to make his defense without interruption. After which the representatives of the Quarterly Conference from whose decision the appeal is made, shall be permitted to respond in presence of the appellant, who shall have privilege of replying, which shall close the pleadings on both sides. This done, the appellant shall withdraw and the committee shall decide.