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§ 2. To take Cognizance of all the Local Preachers and Exhorters in the District, and to inquire respecting the gifts, labors, and usefulness of each by name, and to arrange a Plan of Appointments for each until the next District Conference.

§ 3. To hear Complaints against Local Preachers: to try, suspend, deprive of Ministerial Office and Credentials, expel, or acquit, any Local Preacher against whom charges shall have been preferred.

§ 4. To license Local Preachers; to inquire if they will wholly abstain from the use of tobacco; to renew the Licenses of Local Preachers and Exhorters annually; and to recommend to the Annual Conference Local Preachers as suitable Candidates for Deacons or Elders' Orders, and for admission on Trial in the Traveling Connection. Provided: That no person shall be licensed to preach, nor shall his license to preach or exhort be renewed, nor shall he be recommended for Orders or for admission into the Traveling Connection, without the recommendation of the Quarterly Conference, or of the Leaders and Stewards' Meeting of the Circuit or Station of which he is a Member: and in all cases the Candidate shall first pass a satisfactory examination in such Course of Study as the Bishops shall prescribe. The District Conference shall also have the powers given to the Quarterly Conference in T157, relating to the recognition of Orders.

§ 5. To inquire whether all the Collections for the Benevolent Institutions of the Church, as recognized by the Discipline, are properly attended to in all the Circuits and Stations, and to adopt suitable measures for promoting their success.

§ 6. To inquire into the condition of the Sunday-Schools in the District, and to adopt suitable measures for insuring their success.

§ 7. To inquire respecting opportunities for Missionary and Church Extension enterprises within the District, and to take measures for the occupation of any neglected portion of its territory by Mission Sunday-Schools, and by appointments for Public Worship.

§ 8. To provide for appropriate Religious and Literary exercises during the sessions, for the mutual benefit of those attending upon them.

T 92. The order of business of the District Conference shall be:

1. To inquire what Members of the District Conference are present.

2. To appoint Committees on the

(1.) Examination of Candidates for license to Preach.

(2.) Examination of Local Preachers in each of the four years of the Course of Study. (3.) Examination of Candidates for admission into the Traveling Connection.

(4.) Examination of Candidates for Orders. (5.) Home Mission work.

(6.) Appointments of Local Preachers and Exhorters.

(7.) Apportionment to each Charge of the amounts to be raised for Benevolent Pur poses.

(8.) Programme of Religious and Literary exercises for the next meeting.

(9.) Miscellaneous matters.

8. To receive Reports:

(1.) From the Presiding Elder, as to the condition of the work under his charge, and his own work as Presiding Elder. (2.) From each Pastor, as to the Religious condition of his Charge, his Pastoral labors, the Benevolent Collections, and the circulation of our Church Periodicals and Books.

(3.) From each Local Preacher; the Form of which report shall be prescribed by each District Conference. (See ¶ 196.) (4.) From each Exhorter, including a statement of the Prayer-meetings he has held, and other work done, especially in destitute places and among the sick and the poor.

(5.) From each District Steward, as to the Temporal affairs of the Charge he repre

sents.

(6.) From each Superintendent, as to the

condition of the Sunday-Schools of the Charge he represents.

(7.) From each Class Leader as to the condition of the Classes of the Charge he represents.

(7.) From each Committee.

4. To inquire concerning Local Preachers: (1.) Are there any Charges or Complaints? (2.) Who shall have their Licenses renewed? (3.) Who shall be licensed to Preach?

(4.) Who shall be recommended for Ordination?

(5.) Who shall be recommended for recognition of Orders?

(6.) Who shall be recommended for admis

sion into the Traveling Connection?

(7.) Where are the Local Preachers stationed? 5. To inquire concerning Exhorters:

(1.) Who shall have their Licenses renewed? (2.) What work is assigned each Exhorter? 6. Where shall the next District Conference be held?

7. Is there any other business?

¶ 93. The order of business may be varied, and the business interspersed with such Literary and Religious exercises as the Conference may direct.

94. The provisions for District Conferences shall be of force and binding only in those Districts in which the Quarterly Conferences of a

majority of the Circuits and Stations shall have approved the same by asking the Presiding Elder to convene a District Conference, as herein provided. A District Conference may be discontinued by a vote of a majority of the Members present at any regular session, notice thereof having been given at a previous session, and with the concurrence of a majority of the Quarterly Conferences in the District. In those Districts in which District Conferences shall be held, the powers given to the District Conferences shall not be exercised by the Quarterly Conferences. In all other cases the powers of the Quarterly Conferences shall remain as hereinafter provided.

The Quarterly Conferences.

95. The Quarterly Conferences shall be composed of all the Traveling and Local Preachers, Exhorters, Stewards, Class Leaders, and Trustees of the Churches in the Circuits or Stations, and the first Superintendents of our Sunday-Schools, said Trustees and Superintendents being Members of our Church, and approved by the Quarterly Conference.

¶ 96. The Presiding Elder shall preside in the Quarterly Conferences; or, he may appoint a Traveling Elder to preside; but in the absence of the Presiding Elder, and of the Traveling Elder so appointed, the Preacher in Charge shall preside.

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