brought to trial, found guilty, and reproved or suspended in the Intervals of the Conferences."

The first question in 1791 was: "Quest. 1. What shall be done when an Elder, Deacon, or Preacher is under the report of being guilty of some capital crime, expressly forbidden in the word of God as an unchristian practice, sufficient to exclude a person from the kingdom of grace and glory, and to make him a subject of wrath and hell?" This was changed in a single particular-namely, by striking out the word "capital," so that instead of reading "guilty of some capital crime," it read "guilty of some crime, expressly forbidden," etc.

The former answer read: "Let the Presiding Elder call as many Ministers to the trial as he shall think fit, at least three, and if possible bring the accused and accuser face to face; if the person is clearly convicted, he shall be suspended from official services in the Church, and not be allowed the privileges of a member. But if the accused be a Presiding Elder, the Preachers must call in the Presiding Elder of the neighboring district, who is required to attend and act as judge." The General Conference of 1792 amended this so as to make it read: "Let the Presiding Elder, in the absence of a Bishop, call as many Ministers as he shall think fit, at least three, and if possible bring the accused and accuser face to face. If the person be clearly convicted, he shall be suspended from all official services in the Church till the ensuing District Conference, at which his case shall be fully considered and determined. But if the accused be a Presiding Elder, the Preachers must call in the Presiding Elder of the neighboring District, who is required to attend, and preside at the trial."

In 1791 the second paragraph of the answer read: "If the persons can not be brought face to face, but the supposed delinquent flees from trial, it shall be received as presumptive proof of guilt, and out of the mouth of two or three witnesses he shall be condemned. Nevertheless, he may demand a trial face to face, or he may appeal to the next Conference in that District." This was changed to read as follows: “If the accused and accuser can not 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 District Conference shall reconsider the whole matter, and determine."

The second question of 1791: "Quest. 2. What shall be done in cases of improper tempers, words, or actions, or a breach of the articles and Discipline of the Church?" was, in 1792, divided into two questions.

The first part became: "Quest. 2. What shall be done in cases of improper tempers, words, or actions?" and the second part became: "Quest. 3. What shall be done with those Ministers or Preachers who hold and preach doctrines which are contrary to our Articles of Religion?" That eliminated from the old form, "a breach of the articles and Discipline of the Church," all reference to the "Discipline of the Church," and limited it to holding and preaching "doctrines which are contrary to our Articles of Religion."

The answer to the double question in 1791 was as follows: "The person so offending shall be reprehended by his Bishop, Elder, Deacon, or Preacher that has charge of the Circuit; or if he be a Bishop, he shall be reprehended by the Conference. Should a second transgression take place, one, two or three Preachers may be called in; if not cured then, he shall be tried at the Quarterly Meeting by the Elder and Preachers present; if still incurable, he shall be brought before the Conference, and if found guilty and impenitent, he shall be expelled from the connection, and his name so returned in the Minutes."

The answer to the first part of the old question, which became the second question of 1792, was changed so that it read: "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 Conference of his District, and, if found guilty and impenitent, shall be expelled from the connexion, and his name so returned in the Minutes of the Conference."

The new "Quest. 3. What shall be done with those Ministers or Preachers who hold and preach doctrines which are

contrary to our Articles of Religion?" was answered as follows: "Answ. 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 District Conference, which shall determine the matter." At the end of the whole section was placed a paragraph intended to cover all the proceedings specified in the section. It was in these words: "Provided, nevertheless, that in all the above mentioned cases of trial and conviction, an appeal to the ensuing General Conference shall be allowed." This was the first time it was made possible to appeal to the Quadrennial General Conference.

The section, in 1791, had the following closing note: "N. B.-Any Preacher suspended at a Quarterly Meeting from preaching, shall not resume that employment again but by the order of the Conference. But it is to be observed, that a Preacher shall be tried by a Deacon, a Deacon by an Elder, an Elder by a Presiding Elder, and a Presiding Elder by the Presiding Elder of a neighboring District." This was taken out in 1792, and the above mentioned provision for appeal to the General Conference occupied its place.

PROVISION FOR SERVICES ON THE CIRCUITS WHEN THE MINISTERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE UPON THE SESSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE.

Section XX of 1792-"How to provide for the Circuits in the Time of Conference, and to preserve and increase the Work of God," takes the place of Section XVII of 1791. The old section had:

Quest. What can be done to supply the Circuits during the sitting of the Conference?

Answ. Let all the appointments stand according to the plan of the circuit.

2. Engage as many local Preachers and Exhorters as will supply them, and let them be paid for their time in proportion to the salary of the Traveling Preachers.

3. If Preachers and Exhorters can not attend, let some person of ability be appointed in every Society to sing, pray, and read one of Mr. Wesley's sermons.

4. And if that can not be done, let there be prayer-meetings.

5. Wherever you can, in large Societies, appoint prayer-meetings.

Lastly, let a fast be published at every quarterly meeting for the Friday following, and a memorandum of it be written on all the class-papers. Also be active in dispersing the books among the people.

This section was modified in various particulars by the General Conference of 1792. In Answer 4 the words, "And if that can not be done," were changed to "But if that can not be done." Answer 5 of 1791 was taken out of the section, and in substance was inserted in the new Answer 11 under the second question of Section X of 1792, and the closing paragraph of 1791, in regard to the fast, was taken out and placed in Answer 12 of the new Section X, with the modification that the fasting was to precede the Quarterly Meeting, while the part in reference to "dispersing the books" entirely disappears, doubtless because essentially the same duty was mentioned elsewhere both in the Discipline of 1791 and 1792.

BAPTISM.

Section XXI-"Of Baptism," in 1792, corresponds to Section XIX of the Discipline of 1791.

The old form was, "Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice either of immersion, sprinkling, or pouring."

"N. B.-We will on no account whatever receive a present for administering baptism, or the burial of the dead."

Thus

A few changes were made in the new Discipline. the old form, "or the burial of the dead," was changed to "or for burying of the dead."

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

Section XXII of 1792, entitled, "Of the Lord's Supper," is very much the same as Section XX of 1791, and takes its place. There were two modifications. In the old law the first answer to the question, "Are there any directions to be given concerning the administration of the Lord's Supper?" was: "Answ. 1. Let those who choose receive it kneeling, or those who do not, either standing or sitting," was changed in 1792 to read, "Let those who have scruples concerning the receiving of it kneeling, be permitted to receive it either standing or sitting."

The second answer remained the same as before—namely, "2. Let no person that is not a member of our Society be admitted to the communion, without examination and some token given by an Elder or Deacon."

In 1792 the following note was appended: "No person shall be admitted to the Lord's Supper among us who is guilty of any practice for which we would exclude a member of our society."

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

Section XXIII, in the Discipline of 1792, "Of Public Worship," is new throughout. It is as follows:

Quest. What directions shall be given for the establishment of uniformity in public worship amongst us on the Lord's Day?

Answ. 1. 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.

2. Let the afternoon service consist of singing, prayer, the reading of one chapter out of the Bible, and preaching.

3. Let the evening service consist of singing, prayer, and preaching.

4. But on the days of administering the Lord's Supper, the two chapters in the morning service may be omitted.

5. Let the Society be met, wherever it is practicable, on the Sabbath day.

THE SPIRIT AND TRUTH OF SINGING.

Section XXIV, "Of the Spirit and Truth of Singing," in the Discipline of 1792, is the same as Section XIII of the Discipline of 1791, with the exception of two answers and a note which were added.

The new answers were: "14. The Preachers are desired not to encourage the singing of fugue-tunes in our congregations," and, "15. Let it be recommended to our people not to attend the singing-schools which are not under our direction."

These were additional answers to the question, "How shall we guard against formality in singing?"

The new foot-note was: "N. B.-We do not think that fugue-tunes are sinful, or improper to be used in private companies; but we do not approve of their being used in our public congregations, because public singing is a part of Divine Worship in which all the congregation ought to join."