X + 

Elmer was examined by the Conference and readily admitted to membership. + 

Among the questions, from the Discipline, which he was able to answer with a hearty “yes” were these: + 

Are you going on to perfection? + 

Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? + 

Are you earnestly striving after it? + 

Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and his work? + 

Have you considered the Rules for a Preacher, especially those relating to Diligence, to Punctuality, and to Doing the Work to which you are assigned? + 

Will you recommend fasting or diligence, both by precept and example? + 

It was, the Conference members said, one to another, a pleasure to examine a candidate who could answer the questions with such ringing certainty. + 

Celebrating his renunciation of all fleshy devices and pleasures by wolfing a steak, fried onions, fried potatoes, corn, three cups of coffee, and two slices of apple pie with ice cream, Elmer condescended to Cleo, “I went through a-whooping! Liked to of seen any of those poor boobs I was with in the seminary answer up like I did!” + 