the kingdom of grace and glory, let the Preacher in Charge expel him.

¶ 219. If the accused person evade a trial, by absenting himself after sufficient notice given him, he may be tried in his absence, and if found guilty he shall be expelled.

II. NEGLECT OF THE MEANS OF GRACE.

T 220. When members of our Church habitually neglect the means of grace, such as the public worship of God, the Supper of the Lord, family and private prayer, searching the Scriptures, classmeetings, and prayer-meetings, -1. Let the Elder, Deacon, or one of the Preachers, visit them whenever it is practicable, and explain to them the consequence if they continue to neglect. 2. If they do not amend, let him who has the charge of the Circuit or Station bring their case before the Society, or a select number, before whom they shall have been cited to appear; and if they be found guilty of willful neglect, by a decision of a majority of the members before whom their case is brought, let them be excluded.

III. IMPRUDENT CONDUCT.

¶ 221. But in cases of neglect of duties of any kind, imprudent conduct, indulging sinful tempers or words, the buying, selling, or using intoxicating liquors as a beverage, dancing, playing at games of chance, attending theaters, horse-races, circuses, dancing-parties, or patronizing dancing-schools, or taking such other amusements as are obviously of misleading or questionable moral tendency, or disobedience to the Order and Discipline of the Church; first, let private reproof be given by a Preacher or Leader, and if there be an acknowledgment of the fault, and proper humiliation, the person may be borne with. On a second offense, the Preacher or Leader may take one or two faithful friends. On a third offense, let him be brought to trial, and if found guilty, and there be no sign of real humiliation, he shall be expelled.

IV. FOR DISSENSION.

¶ 222. If a member of our Church shall be accused of endeavoring to sow dissension in any of our Societies, by inveighing against either our Doctrines

or Discipline, the person so offending shall first be reproved by the Preacher in Charge, and if he persist in such pernicious practice he shall be brought to trial, and if found guilty, expelled.

V. DISAGREEMENT

IN BUSINESS AND

NON-PAYMENT OF DEBTS.

¶ 223. On any disagreement between two or more members of our Church concerning business transactions, which cannot be settled by the parties, the Preacher in Charge shall inquire into the circumstances of the case, and shall recommend to the parties a reference, consisting of two arbiters chosen by the plaintiff and two chosen by the defendant, which four arbiters so chosen shall nominate a fifth; the five arbiters being members of our Church.

¶ 224. If either party refuse to abide their judgment he shall be brought to trial, and if he fail to show sufficient cause for such refusal he shall be expelled.

T225. If any member of our Church shall refuse, in cases of debt or other disputes, to refer the matter to arbitration when recommended by the Preacher in

Charge, or shall enter into a lawsuit with another member before these measures are taken, he shall be brought to trial, and if he fail to show that the case is of such a nature as to require and justify a process at law he shall be expelled.

VI. INSOLVENCY ON THE PART OF ANY OF OUR MEMBERS.

T 226. The Preachers who have the oversight of Circuits and Stations are required to execute all our rules fully and strenuously against all frauds, and particularly against dishonest insolvencies, suffering none to remain in our Church on any account who are found guilty of any fraud.

¶ 227. To prevent scandal, when any of our members fail in business, or contract debts which they are not able to pay, let two or three judicious members of the Church inspect the accounts, con tracts, and circumstances of the case of the supposed delinquent; and if they judge that he has behaved dishonestly, or borrowed money without a probability of paying, let him be brought to trial, and if found guilty, expelled.

VII. GENERAL DIRECTIONS.

¶228. In all the foregoing cases of trial, witnesses from without shall not be rejected; and the testimony of an absent witness may be taken before the Preacher in Charge, or a Preacher appointed by the Presiding Elder of the District within which such witness resides: provided, in every case sufficient notice has been given to the adverse party of the time and place of taking such testimony. The accused shall have the right to call to his assistance, as counsel, any member in good and regular standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

T229. If in any of the above-mentioned cases the Preacher in Charge differ in judgment from the majority of the Committee concerning the guilt or innocence of the accused, he may refer the trial to the ensuing Quarterly Conference, which shall have authority to order a new trial.

T230. When the Quarterly Conference, sitting as a Court of Appeals, remands a case for a new trial, the Preacher in Charge shall proceed to try the ac