portunity is afforded, subject to the direction of the Pastor; to attend all the sessions of the District and Quarterly Conferences, and to present a written report to the same. He shall be subject to an annual examination of character in the Quarterly Conference, and a renewal of License, to be signed by the President thereof.

CHAPTER III

DEACONESSES

I. Deaconesses

T 212, § 1. A Deaconess is a woman who has been Led by the spirit and the providence of God to forego all other pursuits in life that she may devote herself wholly to the Christlike service of doing good; and having received this divine call, has been tested and trained during a probation of at least two years; and, after such preparation, has been approved by the Church and solemnly set apart to this vocation in the Church.

§ 2. No vow of perpetual service is required of the Deaconess. She renders a free-will service, and, so long as she is in good standing as a Deaconess, is entitled to a suitable support. Her relation as Deaconess being voluntary, she may withdraw from it at any time, but she shall give reasonable notice of her intention.

83. The single aim and controlling purpose of the

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Deaconess is to minister, as Jesus did, to the wants of a suffering, sorrowing, and sin-laden world. Her work is to visit the sick, pray with the dying, comfort the sorrowing, seek the wandering, save the sinning, relieve the poor, care for the orphan, and to take up other Christlike service.

§ 4. The work of the Deaconess is a part of the work which the Church does in the Master's name, and Deaconess Homes and other authorized Deaconess Institutions are the agencies of the Church for the promotion of that part of its work which is done by the Deaconess.

II. Episcopal Supervision

¶ 213. The Board of Bishops shall have general oversight of the deaconess work of the Church. The General Deaconess Board shall annually report to the Board of Bishops such information as they may require.

III. General Deaconess Board

214. There shall be a General Deaconess Board, composed of eleven members, two of whom shall be General Superintendents designated by the Board of Bishops, and nine other members as follows: three at large and two representatives from each of the three forms of deaconess administration, all to be nominated by the Board of Bishops and elected quadrennially by the General Conference. The persons so elected shall remain in office until their successors are elected. The Board of Bishops shall have authority to fill any vacancy which may

occur during the quadrennium, but they shall observe the classification above named. The annual meeting of this Board shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Board, due notice having been given. Six members shall constitute a quorum.

¶ 215, § 1. In foreign fields under the supervision of General Superintendents there may be a Board composed of the Superintendent in charge and four other members to be nominated by the Board of Bishops and elected quadrennially by the General Conference.

§ 2. In a mission field, which is under the supervision of Missionary Bishops, there may be a Board. composed of the Missionary Bishops of that field and four other members, two at large and two from the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society; to be nominated by the said Missionary Bishops and to be elected quadrennially by the General Conference.

§ 3. These Boards are authorized to exercise within their respective fields the functions of the General Deaconess Board as provided herein. Vacancies shall be filled by the Bishop having jurisdiction over the field where the vacancy occurs.

216. The Annual Conference shall have power to authorize the establishment of any Deaconess Home, or other institutions in which Deaconesses are maintained or employed, provided that during the interim between Conference sessions, any such work may be undertaken with the consent of the Conference Deaconess Board and the General Deaconess Board. The Annual Conference shall satisfy itself that there is evident need of the proposed institution in the locality designated; that it would not be likely to affect unfavorably any existing institution; that

there is good prospect for its adequate support, and that its property, of whatever form, is not financially embarrassed.

¶ 217, § 1. To increase the interest of our preachers and people in the deaconess work, it is recommended that the General Deaconess Board publish in our Church papers each year a report or statement in behalf of this cause and a reference to the Relief Funds. This Board may also authorize conventions and other general meetings for the promotion of deaconess work.

§ 2. All questions of difference arising between institutions or societies in the administration of deaconess work shall be presented in writing to the General Deaconess Board, at the earliest date practicable. The final determination shall be with the Board.

§ 3. The Deaconess being entitled to a suitable support, the General Deaconess Board shall fix the maximum allowance, and the support shall be as uniform as practicable throughout the Church.

§ 4. The General Deaconess Board shall have general supervision of all deaconess work throughout the Church, and shall approve general rules for the government of Deaconess Homes, and other deaconess institutions, and also for the government of all Deaconesses, however maintained or employed.

5. The General Deaconess Board shall adopt a distinctive garb to be worn by all Deaconesses throughout the Church for their designation and for the protection of themselves and the office. It also shall adopt a distinctive garb to be worn by candidates during their probation. This Board shall secure legal protection of this garb as the distinctive

dress for Deaconesses of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

§ 6. Each form of deaconess administration shall be free to employ secretaries in the interest of deaconess work, and determine their duties.

§ 7. The German Central Deaconess Board may appoint a Superintendent of the German Methodist Deaconess Work in America, provided that such appointment shall be made without expense or financial responsibility to the General Conference, and shall in no wise conflict with the provisions of this chapter.

IV. Conference Deaconess Board

218, § 1. In each Annual Conference a Conference Deaconess Board of nine members, of whom at least three shall be women, shall be appointed by the Conference, the members to serve for three years; the election to be so arranged that three members shall be chosen each year.

§ 2. The Conference Deaconess Board is authorized to license Deaconesses; to transfer Deaconesses on the recommendation of the local Board of a deaconess institution, or of the governing body of any one of the three forms of deaconess administration. It shall encourage and promote the establishment and support of deaconess institutions, as it deems wise within the limits of the Conference. It shall see that all Charters, Deeds, and other Conveyances of the property of deaconess institutions conform strictly to the Discipline, and to the laws, usages, and forms of the State or Territory within which such property is situated; that all property is well insured.