tihvavy of Che Cheolojical ^tminavy
PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY
PRESENTED BY
Rufus K. LeFevre
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Discipline
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o/ the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ
Including
Origin, Doctrine, and Constitution
1917—1921
Otterbein Press
United Brethren Publishing House
Dayton, Ohio
1917
W. R. FUNK, Publishing Agent
Edited and Published by
y^uthority of the General Conference
of 1917
CONTENTS.
PART I.
THE CHURCH,
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Origin of the Church 9
II. Confession of Faith 13
III. Constitution 16
PART II.
MEMBERSHIP, GOVERNMENT, AND MINISTRY.
IV. Members 19
Reception of Members 19
Duties of Members 21
Trial of Members 25
Transfer and Withdrawal of Members ... 27
V. Government of the Church 30
Classes 30
Class-Leaders 30
Class-Stewards 31
Church Deacons 32
Church Clerk 32
Official Boards .32
Quarterly Conference 34
Annual Conference 36
General Conference 38
VI. Ministry of the Churcji . 44
Quarterly-Conference Preachers 44
Annual-Conference Preachers 4.1
Reception of Preachers from Other
Churches 48
Classification of the Ministry 48
Elders 49
Conference Superintendents 51
Bishops 53
Duties of Preachers 56
Trial of Preachers 57
VII. Itinerancy 61
Itinerants 61
Duties of Itinerants 62
Preachers' Salaries 65
VI. CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
VIII. Deaconess Work G6
Deaconesses 0(;
Deaconess' Homes 67
IX. Coi'RSES OF Study (J.S
For Quarterly-Conference Preachers .... 68
For Annual-Conference Preachers 69
German Course of Study 72
Deaconess Course of Study 74
German Course of Study for Deacouesses To
X. Appeals 76
From the Decision of a Class 76
From the Decision of a Quarterly Con-
ference 76
Court of Appeals 76
PART III.
social service and MORAL REFORM,
XI. Special Rules T,s
Social Service 78
Temperance 7U
Sabbath Observance 80
Slavery 80
Secret Combinations SO
Oaths 81
War 81
Divorce 81
PART ly.
Property.
XII. Church-Houses and Parsonages 83
PART V.
Boards, Departments, and Institutions.
XIII, Board of Church Trustees 88
XIV, Board of Administration 89
XV, Financial Plan of the Church 91
XVI. Department of Sunday School, Brother-
hood and Young People's Work 95
Constitution of Board of Control 95
Sunday-School Work 98
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII
XXXI.
XXX.
PAGE
Constitution for a Sunday School 99
Brotherhood Work 101
Constitution for a Brotherhood 101
Young People's Work 104
Constitution for Conference Christian
Endeavor Union 104
Constitution for Christian Endeavor So-
ciety 106
Constitution for Junior and Intermediate
Societies 112
Home Missionary Society — Constitution . . . 116
Foreign Missionary Society— Constitution . 122
Women's Missionary Association 129
General Constitution 129
Conference Branch Constitution 135
Local Society Constitution 138
Otterbein Guild Constitution 141
Women's Aid Society 144
Church Erection Society 146
Printing Establishment and Church Pub-
lications 151
Printing Establishment 151
Church Publications 154
Education 155
Constitution of the Board of Education.. 155
Beneficiary Aid 158
Education Day 159
Academies and Colleges 159
Bonebrake Theological Seminary 160
General Church Treasury 164
Evangelism 165
Preachers' Pension Fund 167
Homes and Orphanages . * 168
Historical Society 169
PART VI.
boundaries.
Bishops' Districts 172
Conferences and Districts 173
Domestic Conferences 17;S
Foreign Conferences 180
Vlll. CONTENTS
PART VII.
FORMULAS AND FORMS.
CHAPTER PAGE
X XXI. Formulas IHl
Reception of Members 181
The Baptism of Adults 182
The Baptism of Children 183
The Holy Communion 183
Ordination of Elders 184
Home Mission Consecration Service 186
Foreign Mission Consecration Service . . . 187
Consecration of a Deaconess 189
Laying Corner-Stone 190
Church Dedication 191
Parsonage Dedication 193
Marriage Ceremony 195
Marriage Ceremony with Ring 196
Burial of the Dead 198
The Lord's Prayer . . . . 199
The Apostles' Creed 199
XXXII. Forms 200
Certificates 200
Licenses 201
Bequests 203
Reports 204
Contribution Cards 209
PART VIII.
Special Legislation.
Four-Year Program 211
Resolution on Church Union 213
Committee on Courses of Study for the
Sunday School 214
PART IX.
Officers and General Boards.
List of Officers and General Boards .... 215
Commissions and Standing Committees. , . 217
Index 218
DISCIPLINE
PART 1
The Church.
CHAPTER I.
Origin of the United Brethren in Christ.
In the eighteenth century it pleased the Lord our God to
awaken persons in different parts of the world who should
raise up the Christian religion from its fallen state and
preach the gospel of Christ crucified in its purity.
About the middle of said century, the Lord, in mercy,
remembered the Germans in America, who, living scat«
tered in this extensive country, seldom had an opportunity
to hear the gospel of a crucified Savior preached to them
in their native language.
Among others, he raised up William Otterbein and
Martin Boehm, in the State of Pennsylvania, and George
A. GuETHiNQ, in the State of Maryland, anned them with
spirit, grace, and strength to labor in his neglected vine-
yard, and to call, among the Germans in America, sinners
to repentance. These men obeyed the call of their Lord
and Master. Their labors were blessed, and they estab-
lished in many places excellent societies and led many
precious souls to Jesus Christ. Their sphere of action
spread more and more, so that they found it necessary to
look about for more fellow-laborers to toil in the vineyard
of the Lord ; for the harvest was great and the laborers
were few. The Lord called others, who were willing to
devote theitt* strength to his service. Such persons were
accepted by one or another of the preachers as fellow-
laborers.
The number of members in the society in different parts
of the country continued to increase as time passed, and
the gracious work of reformation spread through the
States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Several
great meetings were appointed and held annually. On
such occasions Otterbein would hold particular conver-
sations with the preachers then present, and represent to
them the importance of the ministry and the necessity of
9
10
DISCIPLINE
their utmost endeavors to save souls. At one of these meet-
ings it was resolved to hold a conference of all the preach-
ers, in order to consider in what manner they might be
most useful.
The first conference was held iJn the city of Baltimore,
Maryland, in the year of our Lord 1789. The following
preachers were present:
William Otterbein, Adam Lehman,
Martin Boehm, John Ernst,
Geo. a. Guething, Henry Weidner.
Christian Newcomer.
The second conference was held in Paradise Township,
York County, Pennsylvania, at the house of Brother
John Spangler, in the year of oup Lord 1791. The fol-
lowing preachers were present :
William Otterbein,
Martin Boehm,
Geo. a. Guething,
Christian Newcomer,
John Ernst,
J. G. Pfrimmeb,
John Neidiq,
Benedict Sanders,
Adam Lehman.
After mature deliberations as to how they might labor
most usefully itti the vineyard of the Lord, they again ap-
pointed as fellow-laborers such as they had come to be-
lieve had experienced true religion in their souls.
Meantime, the number of members continued to increase,
and the preachers were obliged to appoint an annual con-
ference, in order to unite themselves more closely and to
labor more successfully in the vineyard of the Lord ; for
some had been Presbyterians or German Reformed, some
Lutherans, and others Mennonites. They accordingly ap-
pointed a conference to be held on the 25th of September,
1800, in Frederick County, Maryland, at the house of
Brother Frederick Kemp. The following preachers were
present :
William Otterbein,
Martin Boehm,
Geo. Guething,
Christian Newcomer,
Adam Lehman,
Abraham Troxel,
Christian Krum,
Henry Krum,
John Hershey,
Jacob Geisinger,
Henry Boehm,
Dietrich Aurand,
J. G. Pfrimmeb.
ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH 11
There they united themselves into a society which bears
the name "United Brethren in Christ," and elected
William Otterbein and Martin Boehm as superintend-
ents, or bishops, and agreed that each of them should
have liberty as to the mode of baptism, to administer it
according to his own convictions.
From this time, the society increasing still more and
more, preachers were appointed to travel regularly, as the
number of preaching-places could not otherwise be sup-
plied. The work soon extended into the States of Ohio and
Kentucky. It then became necessary to appoint a con-
ference in the State of Ohio, because it was thought too
laborious for the preachers who labored in those States
to travel annually such a great distance to conference.
Meantime, Martin Boehm and George A. Guething
died, and Bishop Otterbein desired that another bishop
should be elected (because infirmity and old age would
not permit him to superintend any longer,) who should
take charge of the society, and preserve discipline and
order. It was resolved at a former conference that when-
ever one of the bishops died another should be elected in
his place. Accordingly, Christian Newcomer was elected
bishop, to take charge of and superintend the concerns of
the society.
The want of a book of discipline in the society had long
been deeply felt. Partial attempts to provide one had been
made at different times. Hence it was resolved, at the
conference held in the State of Ohio, that a General Con-
ference should be held, in order to provide the same, in a
manner not derogatory to the Word of God. The members
of this conference were to be elected from among the
preachers in the different parts of the country by a vote
of the society in general. The following brethren were duly
elected :
Christian Newcomer, Daniel Troyer,
Abraham Hiestand, George Benedum,
Andrew Zeller, Abraham Troxel,
Christian Berger, Henry G. Spayth,
Abraham Mayer, I. Nis wander,
John Schneider, Christian Krum,
Henry Kumler, Jacob Bowlus,
The conference convened on the 6th of June, 1815, noar
Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. After
12 DISCIPLINE
mature deliberation, they presented to their brethren a
Book of Discipline, containing tlie doctrine and rules of
the Church, desiring that these, together with the Word
of God, should be strictly observed, and admonishing the
membership in the following manner :
God is a God of order ; but where there is no order and
no church discipline, the spirit of love and charity will be
lost.
Therefore, brethren, we beseech you to follow the ex-
ample of our Lord, as it is written, "Be kindly affectioned
one to another with brotherly love ; in honor preferring
one another," Let the mind be in you which was in
Christ, who took upon him the form of a servant, hum-
bled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross, that by his grace we may submit our-
selves one to another in the fear of God, He who will not
submit is in want of humble love, Jesus said, "Whosoever
of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." "By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another," "He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death." Let us walk in newness of life, that
the prayer of our Lord may be answered in us ; that we
may be one in him, and that he may give us the glory
which he gave to his disciples, that we may be one, even
as he and the Father are one. Therefore, beloved breth-
ren, let us strive to be like-minded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind. Let no one speak or
think evil of his brother but pray God that he may grant
us his spirit, and an earnest desire to lead a truly devoted
life, to the honor and glory of his holy name. Amen,
Editors^ Note. — The foregoiug account of the origin of the
C'HURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST appeared In the
Discipline of 1815, the first Discipline published. Only the
slightest changes in phraseology, as the years have passed, have
been made. The place of the Conference of 1800, given as
Frederick Kemp's, is the same as the residence of Peter Kemp,
as in the history of the United Brethren Church, the two men
heing father and son, and the farm passing from the possession
of one to that of the other. The present Discipline contains
the Confession of Faith and the Constitution as amended ac-
cording to the action of the General Conference of 188.5, and
approved and confirmed by the General Conference of 1889,
The Confession of Faith appeared in its first printed form in
1815. The Constitution, in its earlier form, was adopted in
1841.
CHAPTER II.
Confession of Faith.
In the name of God, we declare and confess before all
men the following articles of our belief:
Article I. — Of God ana the Holy Trinity.
We believe in the only true God, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost; that these three are one — the Father
in the Son, the Son in the Father, and the Holy Ghost
equal in essence or being with the Father and the Son.
Article II. — Of Creation and Providence.
We believe that this triune God created the heavens and
the earth, and all that in them is, visible and invisible ;
that he sustains, protects, and governs these, with gra-
cious regard for the welfare of man, to the glory of his
name.
Article III. — Of Jesus Christ.
We believe in Jesus Christ; that he is very God and
man ; that he became incarnate by the power of the Holy
Ghost and was born of the Virgin Mary ; that he is the
Savior and Mediator of the whole human race, if they
with full faith accept the grace proffered in Jesus ; that
this Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us, was bur-
ied, rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God, to intercede for us ;
and that he will come again at the last day to judge the
living and the dead.
Article IV.— Of the Hoiy Ghost.
We believe in the Holy Ghost; that he is equal in be-
ing with the Father and the Son ; that he convinces the
^orld of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment ; that he
comforts the faithful and guides them into all truth.
Article V. — Of the Holy Scriptures.
We believe that the Holy Bible, Old and New Testa-
ments, is the word of God; that it reveals the only true
13
] 4 DISCIPLINE
way to our salvation ; that every true Christian is bound
to acknowledge and receive it by the help of the Spirit of
God as the only role and guide in faith and practice.
Article VI. — Of the Church.
We believe in a holy Christian church, composed of true
believers, in which the word of God is preached by men
divinely called, and the ordinances are duly admimistered ;
that this divine institution is for the maintenance of wor-
ship, for the edification of believers, and the conversion of
the world to Christ.
Article VII. — Of the Sacraments.
We believe that the sacraments, baptism and the Lord's
Supper, are to be used in the Church, and should be prac-
ticed by all Christians ; but the mode of baptism and the
manner of observing the Lord's Supper are always to be
left to the judgment and understanding of each itndividual.
Also, the baptism of children shall be left to the judg-
ment of believing parents.
The example of the washing of feet is to be left to thfe
judgment of each one, to practice or not.
Article VIII. — Of Depravity.
We believe that man is fallen from original rilghteous-
ness, and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
is not only entirely destitute of holiness, but is inclined to
evil, and only evi'l, and that continually ; and that except
a man be bom again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.
Article IX. — Of Justification.
We believe that penitent sinners are justified before God
only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and not by works ;
yet that good w^orks in Christ are acceptable to God, and
spring out of a true and living faith.
Article X. — Of Regeneration and Adoption.
We believe that regeneration is the renewal of the heart
of man after the image of God, through the word, by the
act of the Holy Ghost, by which the believer receiives the
spirit of adoption, and is enabled to serve God with the
will and the affections.
CONFESSION OF FAITH 15
Article XI. — Of Sanctification.
We believe that sanctificatiton is the work of God's
grace, through the word and the Spirit, by which those
who have been born again are separated in their acts,
words, and thoughts from sin, and are enabled to live
unto God, and to follow holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord.
Article XI I. — Of the Christian Salhath.
We believe that the Christian Sabbath is divinely ap-
pointed ; that it is commemorative of our Lord's resurrec-
tion from the grave and is an emblem of our eternal rest;
that it iis essential to the welfare of the civil community,
and to the permanence and growth of the Christian church,
and that it should be reverently observed as a day of holy
rest and of social and public worship.
Article XIII. — Of the Future State.
We believe in the resurrection of the dead ; the future
general judgment; and an eternal state of rewards, in
which the righteous dwell in endless life, and the wicked in
endless punishment.
CHAPTER III.
Constitution.
In the name of God, we, the members of the Church of
THE United Brethren in Christ, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, for the
more speedy and effectual spread of the gospel, and in
order to produce and secure uniformity in faith and prac-
tice, to define the powers and business of the General Con-
ference as recognized by this Church, and to preserve in-
violate the popular will of the membership of the Church,
do ordain this Constitution :
Article I.
Section 1. All ecclesiastical power herein granted to
enact or repeal any rule or rules of Discipline is vested in
a General Conference which shall consist of elders and
laymen elected in each annual-conference district through-
out the Church. The number and ratio of elders and lay-
men, and the mode of their election, shall be determined
by the General Conference.
Provided, however, That such elders shall have stood as
elders in the conferences which they are to represent for
no less time than three years next preceding the meeting
of the General Conference to which they are elected ; and
that such laymen shall be not less than twenty-five years
of age, and shall have been members of the Church six
years, and members in the conference districts which they
are to represent at least three years next preceding the
meeting of the General Conference to which they are elected.
Se:c. 2. The General Conference shall convene every four
years, and a majority of the whole number of delegates
elected shall constitute a quorum.
Sec. 3. The ministerial and lay delegates shall delib-
erate and vote together as one body ; but the General Con-
ference shall have power to provide for a vote by separate
orders whenever it deems it best to do so ; and in such
cases the concurrent vote of both orders shall be necessary
to complete an action.
16
CONSTITUTION 17
Sec. 4. The General Conference shall at such session,
elect bishops from among the elders throughout the Church
who have stood sitx years in that capacity.
Sec. 5. The bishops shall be members ex officio and pre-
siding officers of the General Conference ; but in case no
bishop be present, the Conference shall choose a president
pro term.
Sec. 6. The General Conference shall determine the
number and boundaries of the annual conferences.
Sec. 7. The General Conference shall have power to
review the records of the annual conferences and see that
the business of each annual conference is done strictly in
accordance with the Discipline, and approve or annul, as
the case may require.
Sec. 8. The General Conference shall have full control
of the United Brethren Printing Establishment, the Home
Missionary Society and the Foreign Missionary Society
(legal successors to the Home, Frontier, and Foreign Mis-
sionary Society of the United Brethren in Christ), the
Church Erection Society, the general Sabbath School Board,
the Board of Education, and the Bonebrake Theological Sem-
inary. It shall also have power to establish and manage
any other organization or institution within the Church
which it may deem helpful in the work of evangeliization.
Sec. 9l The General Conference shall have power to es-
tablish a court of appeals.
Sec. 10. The General Conference may — two-thirds of the
members elected thereto concurring — propose changes in. or
additions to the Confession of Faith ; provided, that the
concurrence of three-fourths of the annual conferences shall
be necessary to their final ratification.
Article II.
The General Conference shall have power as provided
in Article I., Section 1, of this Constitution, to make rules
and regulations for the Church ; nevertheless, it shall be
subject to the following limitations and restrictions :
Section 1. The General Conference shall enact no rule
or ordinance which will change or destroy the Confession
of Faith, and shall establish no standard of doctrine con-
trary to the Confession of Faith.
Sec. 2. The General Conference shall enact no rule
which wiil destroy the itinerant plan.
18 DISCIPLINE
Sec. 3. The General Conference shall enact no rule
which will deprive local preachers of their votes in the
annual conferences to which they severally belong.
Sec. 4. The General Conference shall enact no rule
which will abolish the right of appeal.
Article III.
Section 1. We declare that all secret combinations which
infringe upon the rights of those outside their organi-
zation and whose principles and practices are injurious
to the Christian character of their members are contrary
to the Word of God, and that Christians ought to have no
connection with them.
The General Conference shall have power to enact such
rules of discipline with respect to such combinations as in
its judgment it may deem proper.
Sec. 2. We declare that human slavery is a violation
of human rights and contrary to the Word of God. It shall
therefore in no wise be tolerated among us.
Article IV.
The right, title, interest, and claim of all property, both
real and personal, of whatever name or description, ob-
tained by purchase or otherwise, by any person or per-
sons, for the use, benefit, and behoof of the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ, are hereby fully recognized, and
held to vest in the Church aforesaid.
Article V.
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be
proposed by any General Conference, — two-thirds of the
proposed by any General Conference — two-thirds of the
shall be submitted to a. vote of the membership throughout
the Church, under regulations authorized by said confer-
ence.
A majority of all the votes cast upon any submitted
amendment shall be necessary to its final ratification.
Sec. 2. The foregoing amended Constitution shall be in
force from and after the first Monday after the second
Thursday of May, 1889, upon official proclamation there-
of by the board of bishops ; provided that the General
Conference elected for 1889 shall be the lawful legislative
body under the amended Constitution, with full power, un-
til iits final adjournment to enact such rules as this amended
Constitution authorizes.
PART II
Membership, Government, and Ministry
CHAPTER IV.
Members.
Section I.
RECEPTION OF MEMBERS.
1. When at any meeting there are persons who desire
to unite with the Church, the ofBciating minister shall
call the applicants forward and address them as fellows :
Dear Friends : Inasmuch as you present yourselves for
admission into the Church of the United Brethren in
Christ, we rejoice with you that through the grace of God
you have been brought to a knowledge of the truth, and
have been made partakers of his great salvation. The
privileges you seek are above price, and the duties enjoined
are solemn. It is proper that you publicly confess your
faith and avow your purpose by answering the following
questions :
Questiojis to Applicants.
2. (1) Do you believe the Bible to be the word of God,
and that therein only is contained the knowledge of the
way of salvation?
(2) Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
and do you accept him as your personal Savior?
(3) Are you determined by the grace of God to follow
Christ, renouncing the world and all ungodliness, seeking
to lead a life of holiness and devotion to God and his cause?
(4) Are you willing to be governed by our Church
Discipline ?
(5) Will you contribute to the support of the gospel as
God prospers you?
(6) Have you been baptized?
[If the answer to this question be in the negative, then
the applilcaat shall be instructed to attend to the duty as
soon as practicable.]
Acceptance of Applicants.
3. If the persons answer the above questions in the
aflBrmative, and no lawful objections be made by any mem-
19
20 DISCIPLINE
ber, then the preacher shall give his right hand to such
persons as members of our Church. Then the members of
the Church will stand, and the minister will repeat thin
covenant, as follows : "Do you, the members of the Church
of the United Brethren in Christ, enter into a covenant
with this applicant [or these applicants] for membership,
and promise to watch over, instruct, counsel, and cherish
him [or her or them] with all long-suffering, gentleness, and
love?" The Church will then answer, "By the grace of God,
we will." After which the hand of fellowship may be
extended. The preacher shall then register the names of
the accepted members in the Church record.
Committee on Applicants for Membership.
4. A local church, when it deems it advisable for its pro-
tection against imposition, may appoint a commiittee on
applicants for membership, who, together with the pastor,
may make inquiry as to the advisability of admitting such
applicants to membership in the Church according to the
foregoing requirements.
Receiving Children.
5. Believing, according to the teaching of Jesus, that
little children are in the kingdom of heaven, pastors are
authorized to enroll children under the watch care of the
Church when parents so desire, and to receive into full
membership children who publicly confess Christ as their
Savior.
Pastors are required to instruct children in the Word of
God and the principles and duties of the Christian life.
Receiving Persons from Other Churches.
6. When persons come to us with certificates of good
standing in other recognized evangelical churches, they shall
answer the fourth and fifth questions affirmatively, and the
hand of fellowship may be given them as in other cases.
Seekers.
7. Any persons giving evidence that they are sincerely
seeking the Lord may be received under the watch care of
the Church by having their names placed upon the church
book, but shall not be reported as members, nor shall they
have a vote in the Church until they shall have conformed
to the conditions in this section relating to the reception
of members.
MEMBERS 21
8. If any person thus received under the watch care of
the Church shall cease to manifest a desire to seek the
Lord, the preacher in charge, by the consent of the local
church or the official board, may, at any time, after per-
sonal but unsuccessful labor for his salvation, drop the
name of such seeker.
Preacher" 8 Respoiisibility.
9. Any preacher refusing or neglecting to ask the fore-
going questions, except in the case of children, or who shall
receirve members into the Church in violation of this order,
shall be answerable for the same to the conference of
which he is a member.
Section II.
DUTIES OF MEMBERS.
Means of Grace.
1. Every member shall endeavor to lead a godly life ;
observe the ordinances of God's house, namely, baptism and
the remembrance of the sufferings and death of our Lord
Jesus Christ ; be diligent in prayer, particularly in private,
and for his own edification attend our prayer meetings, class-
meetings, and meetings for public worship.
Family Piety.
2. Heads of families should never omit to pray with
their families, mornitig and evening, and to set them a
good example in all the Christian virtues.
Singing.
3. It is the duty of all the people of God to sing his
praises, and to sing them in the great congregation as well
as in the private circle. It is therefore earnestly advised
that all our people cultivate vocal music so that the sing-
ing in our congregations may be improved. As a help to
thiB end, let all our people provide themselves with hymn-
books for use in public and social worship.
Love to Others.
4. Every one should strive to walk as in the presence
of God, and accustom himself to a close communion with
God in all his employments. He should never speak evil
of his fellow men, but practice love toward friend and foe.
22 DISCIPLINE
do good to the poor, and endeavor to be a follower of Jesus
Christ indeed.
Sahhath Ohservance.
5. Every one shall keep the Sabbath day holy, as re-
quired in the Word of God ; neither buy nor sell, but spend
the same in exercises of devotion, in reading and hearin?
the Word of God, and in singing spiritual hymns to the
honor and glory of God.
Obedience to Government.
6. It is the duty of every member to lead a quiet,
peaceable, and godly life among men ; as it becomes a
Christian to live in peace and be subject to the higher or
ruling powers, as the Word of God requires.
Sunday Schools.
7. It is the duty of our members to encourage our Sun-
day schools by their presence, and always to give them
their aid and influence.
Young People's Society.
8. It is the duty of the young members of the Church
to join the Young People's society and by faithfulness to its
requirements seek to develop Christian character and effi-
ciency in Christian work.
Support of the Oospel.
9. It is the duty of all members of the Church to pay to-
ward the support of the itinerant ministry, weekly, monthly,
or quarterly, in proportion to their ability, as God has pros-
pered them ; for the Lord hath ordained that they who preach
the gospel shall live of the gospel. (I. Cor. 9 : 14 ; I. Tim.
5:18.) It is earnestly urged that all our people practice
the Bible method of weekly contributions. "Upon the first
day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,
as God hath prospered him." (I. Cor. 16:2.)
Delinquent Members.
10. Any member refusing to pay toward the support of
the Church may be reported by the steward to the class or
official board, and, if refusal is persisted in, may be suspended
or expelled, as the local church or official board may de-
termine. In case a member is suspended, all his privileges
MEMBERS 23
and functions as a member of the Church cease during such
suspension.
Support of General Interests.
11. It is also the duty of all our members to contribute,
according to their ability, to the support of the various
benevolent interests of the Church.
Receiving Ministers.
12. It is the duty of all districts, stations, circuits, and
missions cheerfully to receive the preachers appointed by
the stationing committees of the respective conferences.
Care of the Poor.
13. E'ach member of our Church should willingly and
freely contribute quarterly, or oftener if need be, as God
has prospered him (I. Cor. 16:2), to the support of the
helpless poor.
14. When it is known by any of our class-leaders
that there are poor members of the class, who by sick-
ness, accident, or other circumstances have been brought
to want, it shall be the duty of the leader in charge
to wait upon the class, or to appoint some one to do so, to
ask such aid, money, clothing, or produce, as the circum-
stances may require. Should any one class be unable to
relieve its poor, this shall then be made known to the pas-
tor, whose duty it shall be to inform the different classes
on his charge ; and if iit should so happen that any one
charge should be unable to meet the wants of the poor, it
shall be the duty of the conference superintendent to present
the matter to the quarterly conferences of the different
charges, so that the unavoidably poor of our Church may be
provided for. (I. John 3 : 17 ; Ps. 12: 1, 2.)
Nonconformity to the World.
15. Inasmuch as the Lord has commanded us not to be
conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2), but to lay apart all
tilthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (Jas. 1:21), and
as the principles of the Christian religion, as taught by
both the precepts and example of the meek and adorable
Savior, are in strict and perfect accordance with these
commandments, we therefore humbly beseech and admonish
the members of our Church to observe these divine precepts.
"In like manner, also, that women adorn themselves in
24 DISCIPLINE
modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety ; not
witli broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array ;
but (which becometh women professing godliness) with
good works" (I. Tim. 2:9, 10) ; and "whose adorning let
it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and
of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel ; but let it
be the hklden man of the heart, in that which is not cor-
ruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price'' (I. Pet. 3:
3. 4).
Necessity of Union Among Ourselves.
16. Let us be deeply sensible of the evil of a di»vision in
principle, spirit, or practice, and of its dreadful conse-
quences to ourselves and others. If we are united, what
can stand before us? If we are divided, we shall injure
ourselves, the work of God, and the souls of men. There-
fore,
(1) Let us be deeply convinced of the absolute neces-
sity of union.
(2) Let us pray earnestly for one another, and speak
truly and freely to one another.
(3) When we meet, let us not part without prayer,
if prayer is at all practicable.
(.4) Let us take great care not to despise one another's
gifts.
(5) Let us never speak lightly of one another.
(0) Let us defend one another's character in every-
thing, as far as is consistent with truth.
(7) Let us labor, in honor each preferring another be-
fore himself.
(8) Let us seriously examine the causes, evils, and
cures of heart and church divisions.
Duty of Obedience,
17. The foregoing rules are drawn up for the better
regulation of our Church, and we believe that they are
founded upon the Word of God, and that their observance
is incumbent upon all members. Should any violate or habit-
ually neglect these rules, they shall be admonished to refor-
mation by their respective class-leaders, and should they
not reform, they shall be suspended or expelled, as the case
may require, by vote of the local church or official board.
MEMBERS 25
Section III.
TRIAL OF MEMBERS.
Personal Trespass.
1. When members trespass against one another, let the
following directions be followed :
''If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell
him his fault between thee and him alone ; if he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear
thee, then take with thee one or two more . . . And
if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church ;
but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as
an heathen man and a publican" (Matt. 18:15-17); that
is, he shall be expelled by the local church or ofiicial board.
Immoral Conduct.
2. In case of a member accused of immoral conduct,
the class or official board shall appoint one or more to
visit the accused person, and if possible reclaim him ; but if
unsuccessful, and the guilt be denied, he shall be tried by a
committee of said class or board chosen by the parties con-
cerned, with the preacher in charge of the circuit or station
as chairman ; and, if found guilty, the accused shall be ex-
pelled unless satisfaction be given. If the accused refuse
to choose his committeeman when properly notified, the
quarterly conference shall choose a second pei'son, and these
two a third, which committee shall try the case and de-
cide. Yet cases may occur where it would be expedient
to choose a committee from some other class or classes
than the one to which ihe parties belong, in which
case it shall be lawful to do so. Also, an elder may be
chosen as chairman, should the preacher in charge deem
this to be best. Should any member be dissatisfied with the
decision, an appeal may be had to the quarterly conference,
by giving notice thereof to the preacher in charge, or sec-
retary of the committee. (See Chapter X., Section I.) In
such cases, however, the same persons shall not sit in
judgment on the same case.
Disobedience to the Order of the Church.
3. In cases of neglect of duty of any kind, imprudent
conduct, indulging sinful tempers or words, or disobedience
to the order and discipline of the Church : First, let pri-
vate reproof be given by the preacher or leader ; and if
26 DISCIPLINE
there be an acknowledgment of the fault, proper hnmiliar
tion, and a promise to reform, the person may be borne
with. On a second offense, the preacher or leader shall
take with him one or two faithful members. On a third
offense, let the case be brought before the local church,
official board, or a select committee; and if there be no
satisfactory humiliation, the off'ender shall be expelled by
vote of the local church or official board. In case the
accused shall deny his guilt and demand a trial, and there
be a reasonable doubt or question about his guilt, he shall
be trtted by a committee, and, if found guilty, he shall be
expelled. In case of trial under this clause, the leader shall
act in behalf of the local church ; or, if the leader be the
offender, the steward shall act as prosecutor.
Disputes.
4. In case of a dispute between members or preachers,
the preacher to whom it shall be known shall inquire into
the circumstances of the case, and, if necessary, shall rec-
ommend to the contending parties a reference to a com-
mittee consisting of one arbiter chosen by the plaintiff,
and another by the defendant, and a third by these two ;
then these three are to decide. But, if the preacher to
whom the dispute is known shall refuse or neglect to act,
then the quarterly conference shall appoint some one to
carry out the rule ; and, if either or both disputants refuse
to choose an arbiter, the quarterly conference shall appoint
the first and second, and these two a third, who shall hear
the case and decide.
Right of Appeal.
5. Should either party be dissatisfied with the decision,
an appeal may be taken to the next quarterly conference
for a second arbitration, where each party shall choose two
arbiters, and the four shall choose a fifth, a decision of a
majority of whom shall be final. Any member refusing to
abide by this decision shall be expelled without further
trial. Members of the church or congregation who are
present at a local church trial, but take no part in said
trial, are not disqualified because of said presence from
sitting on the case, if an appeal is taken from the decision
reached by said church.
MEMBERS 27
Going to Law Forbidden.
t). Any member refusing, in case of debt or dispute, to
refer the matter to arbitration when recommended to him
by a preacher or leader, or who shall enter into lawsuit
with another member before these measures are taken,
shall be dealt with as in case of other immoralities, ex-
cept when the case is of such a nature as to require and
justify a process at law, as in acting as administrators, or
when a member is in danger, by delay, of suffering a loss
of property.
Record of Trials.
7. A faithful record of the proceedings of any church
trial conducted in a local church shall be kept by the
church clerk in a book provided for that purpose ; and it
shall be his duty, in case of an appeal, to furnish his
record to the quarterly conference.
Order in Trials.
8. All church trials shall be conducted in a consistent
Christian manner, without the employment of magistrates
and attorneys to administer oaths and conduct investiga-
tions.
Section IV.
TRANSFER AND WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS.
Certificate of Transfer of Members.
1. When a member of our Church removes from one
pastoral charge to another, he shall obtain a certificate of
transfer by a majority vote of the membership, or oflBcial
board, of the local church of which he is a member, signed
by the pastor, or if there is no pastor, by the class-leader,
the certificate to be in the form of No. 1, Section I., Chapter
XXXII.. of our Book of Discipline.
A footnote shall be subjoined to all certificates of trans-
fer, as follows :
Note. — This is not a letter of dismissal from our Church,
and it does not terminate the connection of the member
with the local church which grants the transfer until it
is deposited with another church.
Transfer of 'Non-Resident Members.
2. In case any member of our Church who does not
reside in reach of a local church shall make application to
28 DISCIPLINE
the pastor for a certificate of transfer, the pastor may issue
such certificate to said member if his Christian life is known
to be good, and he has settled all his church dues, subscrip-
tions, and assessments.
Notice of Forwarding Certificates.
3. The pastor who issues a certificate of transfer as
provided in either of the preceding sections shall, if prac-
ticable, forward such certificate, witth proper notice and
explanation to the pastor of the charge to which the mem-
ber receiving the certificate shall remove. In case we have
no church in the locality to which a member removes, the
pastor shall report the name to the conference superintend-
ent, or bishop, or home missionary secretary.
Notice of Reception of Members on Certificate.
4. When a pastor shall have received a member on a cer-
tificate of transfer, he shall notify the pastor, or class-leader,
of the local church from which it was issued, and said
pastor, or leader, shall enter on the church record opposite
the name of the transferred member, the words, "Removed
by certificate of transfer."
Certificate of Recommendation.
5. When a member of our Church shall remove from
one of our pastoral charges to another, and shall make
application to the pastor for a letter of recommendaiion
by which he may unite either with one of our local churches
or with another evangelical church, said member may be
entitled to receive such certificate of recommendation by a
majority vote of the membership, or official board of the
local church of which he is a member, signed by the pastor,
or, if there is no pastor, by the class-leader ; provided, that
the good standing of said member is evidenced by the settle-
ment of all his church dues, subscriptions, and assessments,
and by his observance of the rules of our Church pertain-
ing to the "Duties of Members'' contained in Section II.,
Chapter IV., of our Discipline, said certificate to be in
the form of No. 2, Section I., Chapter XXXII., of our
Discipline.
Limitation of Certificates.
G. A certificate issued to a member of our Church as
provided in either of the preceding sections must be pre-
MEMBERS 29
sented to some local church, or returned to the church by
which it was granted, within eighteen months ; otherwise
it becomes null and void.
Amenability of Certified Member.
7. A member receiving a certificate of transfer, or rec-
ommendation, is amenable to the local church by which it
was granted until said certificate is deposited with some
other local church, or until the certificate expires by limi-
tation.
Disposal of Delinquent ^on-Resident Members.
8. In case a member moves from a pastoral charge and
fails to report to the local church of which he is a mem-
ber, at least once each conference year, he may be marked
"Removed without certificate."
Certificate of Withdratval.
9. If a member of our Church desires to withdraw from
the Church, and his Christian life has been good, and he
has settled all his church dues, subscriptions, and assess-
ments, he shall be entitled to a certificate of honorable with-
drawal from the Church by a majority vote of the member-
ship, or official board of the local church of which he is
a member, signed by the pastor, or, if there is no pastor,
by the class-leader, said certificate to be in the form of
No. 3, Section I., of Chapter XXXII., of our Discipline.
Membership of Preachers.
10. An annual-conference member may be received into
a class on his ministerial credentials, provided said cre-
dentials are held in force by the conference to which he is
amenable.
Membership of Preachers Required.
11. All quarterly- and annual-conference preachers are
required to hold membership in some local church and
upon neglect or refusal to do so shall lose their official
relation.
CHAPTER V.
Government of the Church.
Section I.
CLASSES.
Local Church Organization.
1. A local church of the United Brethren in Christ may
be organized, where not already established, by any regu-
larly authorized minister or missionary of the denomination,
who shall enroll the names of not less than five resident
persons in a book of record, giving to each the right hand
of fellowship, and causing one or more class-leaders to be
elected and appointing one or more stewards.^
Division into Classes.
2. A local church may be divided into two or more
classes, if deemed proper to do so, by the pastor and official
board. In all cases, each class shall elect its own leader,
near the close of each official year. After such division the
word "class" shall denote only a sectiion of the local church.
Disbanding Classes.
3. When a quarterly conference deems it impracticable
to maintain the organization of a church in any place,
the remaining members shall be transferred by the pastor to
such class as they may desire.
Section II.
class-leaders.
Qualifications.
1. It shall be the leader's duty to live a pious life and
set a godly example before his class ; carefully to study
iNoTE. — Until the congregation thus constituted becomes so
large as to require dividing into classes or sections, for pur-
poses of convenience and efficiency, the words "church," "con-
jjregation," and "class" shall denote the same aggregate church
•aembership.
30
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH 31
the Holy Scriptures, fully qualifying himself for the faith-
ful performance of his duties as a leader and counselor of
his class.
Holding Meetings.
2. It shall be his duty to meet his class in class-meeting
or prayer-meeting as often as practicable, to speak to them
concerning their spiritual welfare, and to exhort them to
unity and love. He shall extend the freedom of our
prayer- and class-meetings to all sincere and well-disposed
persons who may desire to attend them.
Visiting the Sick and Delinquent.
3. ^Vhen any of his members are sick, or delinquent in
the performance of their duties, he shall visit them and
labor wnth them as circumstances may require, or arrange
for some one else to do so.
Class Record.
4. He shall keep a record of the members of the class,
and shall make regular reports of his work and the condition
of his class to the official board and quarterly conference.
Dismissal for Delinquency.
5. Any class-leader failing to discharge these duties
may, on complaint, be removed by the quarterly confer-
ence.
Section III.
CLASS-STEWARDS.
1. Every church may have one or more class-stewards,
to be chosen as provided for in Chapter VII., Section II.,
l)aragraph 4. j(^. ^ ( ^
Contrihutions to Budget.
2. All members shall contribute weekly, through en-
velopes, to the local budget. It shall be the duty of the
financial secretary to receive the envelopes, keep a correct
record of names and amounts paid, and report the same to
the official board monthly. He shall furnish each steward,
at the end of each month, a list of the names of those who
are delinquent in payment, with statement of the amount
due from each. The stewards shall then endeavor to secure
prompt payment of any deficits.
32 DISCIPLINE
lu case of circuits, where weekly services are not held, the
contributions to the local budget shall approach the weekly
method as nearly as possible. The stewards shall keep an
accurate account of the payments made by their respective
lists of members, and shall report the same monthly to the
financial secretary, who shall report to the quarterly con-
ference.
Elements for the Lord's Supper.
3. It shall also be the duty of stewards to provide the
elements for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, always
securing unfermented wine.
Dismissal for Delinquency.
4. For the faithful discharge of their duties as stew-
ards, they shall be accountable to the quarterly confer-
ence, which shall have power to dismiss them for official
delinquency.
Section IV.
CHURCH DEACONS.
Every church may have one or more deacons, who shall
be elected annually by vote of the church. The duties of
a deacon shall be to collect funds for the needy, as pro-
vided for in Chapter IV., Section II., paragraph 14, of the
Discipline, under Duties of Members, and disburse the same
under the direction of a committee appointed by the official
board, or, where the local church board is not organized,
under the direction of the pastor.
Section V.
CHURCH clerk.
A church clerk may be elected by the local church or
official board, who shall be the pastor's clerical assistant
and work under his direction.
Section VI.
official boards.
1. The properly recognized members of the quarterly
conference shall be the members of the official board of
each local church. On circuits the official board of each
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHUBCU 33
•
church shall have power to transact its business, the same
as the oflBcial boards of stations.
2. The pastor shall be the president of the board ; in
his absence one of the members shall be elected president
pro tern. The sessions shall begin and close with devo-
tional exercises.
3. The board shall elect a secretary, who shall keep a
record of its proceedings.
4. The financial secretary, elected by the quarterly con-
ference, may be also the church treasurer. The treasurer
shall receive all moneys that have been collected from class-
stewards, or otherwise, and receipt therefor, and said treas-
urer shall pay out all moneys in his hands as the official
board may direct.
5. The official board shall receive statements of all sub-
scriptions and moneys received and disbursed for the in-
terest of the local church ; and all persons intrusted with
moneys or subscriptions, whether trustees, stewards, the
treasurer, or others, shall report the same to the official
meeting as soon as possible.
6. It shall receive from each class-leader a statement
in reference to the religious condition of his class.
7. The official boards shall be the estimating committee
of the charge, unless otherwise specifically ordered by the
quarterly conference, as provided in Chapter V., Section VII.,
paragraph 13 ; and said committee shall meet the pastor as
soon as practicable after the annual conference, and make
out an estimate of the expenses of the charge for the year —
the preacher's salary, the conference superintendent's salary,
sexton hire, cost of light, fuel, insurance, and any other
ordinary expenses incident to the year's general account.
An estimate of preacher's salary for the ensuing year may
be made by said committee prior to the close of the con-
ference year. It shall also determine how these funds are
to be secured — whether by assessments or subscription, and
whether by envelope collections made weekly or by the
class-stewards, or both, — what per cent, is to be devoted to
the salaries of the preacher and the conference superintend-
ent ; and what per cent, to the current expenses of the
charge.
8. The official board shall revise the church records, as
provided in Chapter VII., Section II., paragraph 3, and shall
be the body to grant transfers and dismissals from the
Church.
b^^
34 DISCIPLINE ,
9. The oflScial board on stations shall meet once a month,
and on circuits at the call of the pastor.
10. The official board may appoint an executive council,
of which the pastor shall be chairman, to act for the
church in matters committed to it.
Review hy Quarterly Conference.
11. The acts of the official boards shall be approved by
the quarterly conference.
Section VII.
QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.
Members.
1. The members of the quarterly conference shall be
the superintendent of the district, the preacher in charge,
and all properly recognized preachers, deaconesses, class-
leaders, class-stewards, and all other stewards whose ap-
pointments have been ratified by the quarterly conference,
presidents of Women's Aid societies, church clerks properly
recognized by the church, official board, or quarterly confer-
ence, presidents of local Women's Missionary associations,
church treasurers, trustees of church and parsonage houses,
superintendents of Sunday schools, presidents of Young Peo-
ple's societies organized in harmony with the provisions of
Discipline, superintendents of Junior and Intermediate so-
cieties when similarly organized, presidents of Brotherhoods,
all treasurers of Women's Aid societies, AVomen's Missionary
societies. Young People's societies, Sunday schools, Brother-
hoods, and Otterbein Guilds, when said persons are members
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and resi-de
within the bounds of the station or circuit, or hold member-
ship therein. Such members as are present at any regular
meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. The quarterly conference shall open and close
with prayer. The quarterly conference shall be amenable
to the annual conference for its official acts.
Duties and Powers.
2. In the absence of the conference superintendent, the
quarterly conference shall elect a chairman pro tern., whose
official acts shall be valid.
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH 35
3. It shall elect a secretary, whose duty it shall be to
keep a correct record of all its proceedings in a book pro-
vided for that purpose, in which the names of all the mem-
bers composing the said conference shall be entered.
4. It shall make inquiry into the moral deportment and
official character of all its members.
5. On stations, it shall elect, at the last quarterly con-
ference of the year, one or more church treasurers.
6. It shall enforce discipline in all the classes under its
jurisdiction, but in no case disorganize a class unless the
preliminary steps have been taken as required in Chapter
v.. Section I., paraiiraph o.
7. It shall hear the reports of the stewards, and make
settlements with the pastor.
Appeals and Trials.
8. It shall receive and try all appeals, references, and
complaints that may come regularly before it ; but no mem-
ber of quarterly conference can be suspended or expelled
from the Church prior to a committee trial.
Licensing Preachers.
9. It shall have power to grant license to preach accord-
ing to the provisions of Chapter VI.. Ministry of the Church.
Renewing Licenses.
10. It sljall renew the license of quarterly-conference
preachers annually, if they are found worthy.
Recommending to the Annual Conference.
11. The quarterly conference may recommend to tho
annual conference licentiates of one or more years' stand'
ing, who have completed the course of reading required.
Financial Secretaries.
12. The quarterly conference, at its last session in each
year, shall elect by ballot a financial secretary for the charge,
whose duty it shall be to assist the class-stewards in secur-
ing the local budget, and to receive and audit the stewards'
reports.
Circuit Finance Committee.
13. In cases of circuits, the quarterly conference may,
at its last session for the year, appoint a finance commit-
tee, which committee shall meet at the time and place
36 DISCIPLINE
specified by the preacher appointed to the charge for the
ensuing year, and make out an estimate of the regular ex-
penses, including the conference assessment for superintend-
ent's salary, and apportion the same to the different ap-
pointments according to their respective ability, and report
the same to the quarterly conference for ratification. This
committee shall also serve as an executive committee for the
quarterly conference during the year in all matters of
finance.
Apportionment to the Menihcrs.
14. As soon as convenient after each class has received
its apportionment, on the call of the pastor, the oflacial
members shall meet and make a distribution of the appor-
tionment, including the assessment for conference superin-
tendent, to the members severally, according to their ability,
to be paid quarterly, monthly, or oftener ; provided, however,
that it shall be the privilege of any class to collect the
amount apportioned to it by subscription or otherwise.
Place of Meeting.
15. The quarterly conference shall determine its places
of meeting.
Appeals.
16. Any preacher dissatisfied with the decision of a
quarterly conference shall, within thirty days after the
quarterly conference, notify the secretary, in writing, of
his intention to appeal, together with his reasons for so
doing; and it shall be the duty of the secretary to take or
send a certified copy of the proceedings, the notification,
and reasons assigned, to the annual conference.
17. In all cases of appeal, whether to the quarterly or
annual conference, or to the court of appeals, the course
prescribed in the chapter on Appeals is the proper one to
be pursued.
Section VIII.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
Members.
1. The annual conference shall consist of all elders and
licentiate preachers, who have been duly received, and one
lay delegate from each charge in the conference. The lay
QOVEBNMENT OF THE CHURCH 37
delegate shall be elected by ballot, at the third or last session
of the quarterly conference in the year, a majority of all
the votes cast being necessary to a choice, an alternate also
shall be elected at the same time and in like manner.
No one is eligible to election as lay delegate who holds an
annual-conference license to preach,^ or is recommended to
the annual conference for license to preach.
Lay delegates shall have all the rights and privileges of
ministers in the annual conference, except the right to vote
upon the reception or expulsion of preachers and the pass-
ing of preachers in the course of reading.
Members of conference boards shall also be granted ad-
visory seats. The conference treasurer also, when not a
minister or a lay delegate, shall be given an advisory seat.
Bishop Pro Tempore.
2. If no bishop should be present, it shall be the duty
of the annual conference to elect a bishop pro tern., whose
oflacial acts shall be valid.
Devotions.
3. Suitable devotional exercises, consisting of scripture
reading, singing, and prayer, shall be held at the opening
and closing of the conference sessions.
Secretaries.
4. The conference shall elect by ballot one or more sec-
retaries, as the case may require, who, in addition to dis-
charging their regular duties of secretary, shall, immediately
on the adjournment of the annual conference, transmit
to the publishing agent, at Dayton, Ohio, a true transcript
of the footings of the conference chart.
Examinations.
5. All preachers shall report in person or by letter, and
be examined ' respecting their deportment toward their
fellow-men, whether their conduct in life be blameless,
and whether they employ as much time as practicable to
promote the kingdom of God (according to Titus 1:7-9 and
II. Timothy 2:15), and if found delinquent they shall be
admonished or advised, as the case may require. But
should all admonition or advice fail, then the name of the
^NoTE. — It is also advised by the General Conference that
wives of annual-conference ministers be not chosen as lay
delegates.
38 DISCIPLINE
delinquent person shall be erased from the roll of the con-
ference.
Absentees.
6. Should any member of the annual conference absent
himself from the session of conference three years in suc-
cession without giving a satisfactory reason for so doing,
his name may be erased from the roll of the conference.
Electioneering Forbidden.
7. No preacher or layman shall be permitted to elec-
tioneer favorably for his own election to any office or dele-
gation in the church ; and should any one be found doing
so, if a preacher, he shall be held accountable to the next
annual conference of which he is a member, and if a layman,
he shall be held accountable to the class, to be dealt with,
each according to the judgment of said conference or class.
Authority of the Annual Conference.
8. An annual conference may adopt rules for its own
government not in conflict with the Discipline of the
Church.
Benevolence Funds.
9. The annual conference shall forward to the general
Church treasurer all moneys collected by the conference for
all general benevolences, and in no case can these funds be
diverted to conference interests.
Business Sheet.
10. The annual conference shall transact its business
according to a business sheet prepared by the board of
bishops.
Section IX.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Members.
1. (See Constitution, Article I., Section 1.)
Conference Representation.
2. The annual conferences shall be represented in the Gen-
eral Conference according to the following ratios :
All conferences having less than three thousand members
shall be entitled to two delegates, one ministerial and one
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH 39
lay ; three thousand and less than eight thousand, two minis-
terial and two lay ; eight thousand and less than thirteen
thousand, three ministerial and three lay ; thirteen thousand
and less than eighteen thousand, four ministerial and four
lay ; eighteen thousand and less than twenty-three thousand,
five ministerial and five lay ; the same ratio to be continued
through conferences having larger numbers.
All general officers elected by the General Conference
shall be advisory delegates at large.
The number of delegates from foreign mission conferences,
not in excess of the above ratios, and the manner of their
election shall be determined by the Foreign Mission board.
Bishops' Announcement.
3. The board of bishops shall as early as possible an-
nounce the number of delegates to which each conference
shall be entitled, as appearing from the statistics of the
annual conferences at the end of the third year of the
quadrennial term.
Provided, however, that at the following annual confer-
ence, should it be found, after the statistical secretary has
made his report, that the number of members in the con-
ference at that time would change the number of delegates
to which the conference is entitled, the presiding bishop
shall so announce to the conference, and the conference shall
nominate the number of delegates indicated by the member-
ship at that time.
Nomination of Delegates.
4. It shall be the duty of the ministerial members of
each annual conference at the session next preceding the
election for delegates to General Conference, apart from
the lay delegates, to nominate by ballot three times the
number of ministerial delegates to be elected. It shall
also be the duty of the lay delegates, in separate conven-
tion, to nominate by ballot three times the number of lay
delegates to "be elected. In both cases it shall require a
majority of all the ballots cast to effect a nomination.
This provision shall not be construed as depriving mem-
bers of the right to vote, if desirous of doing so, for other
ministers and laymen who are eligible.
Annual-Conference Tellers.
5. Each annual conference shall appoint a committee
of three as a board of tellers and three as alternates, to
40 DISCIPLINE
receive and publicly count the votes, and issue certificates
of election to those receiving the highest number of votes.
It shall be the duty of the board of tellers to meet before
the month of November and appoint one of their number
secretary; and to said secretary all returns of boards of
election shall be made; and the said secretary shall retain
under lock and key all such reports until the official count
is made.
Lists of Nominees and Blanks.
0. The annual conference shall also furnish, through
its recording secretary, to each preacher in charge of a
field of labor a list of all the ministers and laymen nomi-
nated ; and it shall be the duty of each conference superin-
tendent to have printed in convenient form, and delitver in
due time to each pastor, printed tickets containing all the
names of all nominees, with the postoffice addresses, for use
in the election of delegates. He shall also furnish to each
preacher in charge on his district blank bills of election,
which shall be distributed by the preachers to their respec-
tive boai-ds of election.
Boards of Election.
7. The leaders and stewards of each local church shall
constitute a board of election, to which the pastor shall
furnish a copy of the list of persons nominated. The
election shall be held invariably between November 15
and December 15 next preceding the sitting of the General
Conference.
8. It shall be the duty of the board of election of each
local church publicly to announce, at least one week be-
fore the election, a meeting of the members of said church
for the purpose of casting their ballots for delegates to rep-
resent them in the General Conference.
Absent Voters.
9. Members incapacitated by age, affliction, non-residence,
or other unavoidable circumstances, and ministers absent on
their charges, may send their ballots containing the names of
their choice, with their own names signed on the back of
their ballots ; provided, that no votes shall be counted ex-
cept those cast on the day appointed for such election.
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH 41
Election Returns.
10. Each board of election shall immediately make up
the bill of election, sign, enclose, and seal it, and trans-
mit it to the secretary of the board of tellers appointed
by the annual conference, stating what church, circuit,
mission, -or station their vote represents. It shall also
keep a correct copy of the bill sent to the tellers ; also a
list of the names of all the members voting, and also the
tickets used in voting, until after the adjournment of the
General Conference, when they may be destroyed.
11. Pastors shall be required to see that forms for the
election of delegates are properly filled out and the re-
turns of their charges sent in ; they shall be held amenable
to the annual conference for the discharge of this duty.
Canvassing and Publication of Returns.
V2.. The annual conference board of tellers, not later
than the third week in January, shall make out a list of all
persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ;
and should any two or more of the candidates have an
equal number of votes, the tellers shall determine, by lot,
which of them is elected. The board shall forward, by the
twenty-fifth of January, to the editor of the Religious Tele-
scope for publication, the names and postoffice addresses of
those elected. It shall also transmit to the publishing
agent, at Dayton, Ohio, a complete list of all persons voted
for and the number of votes cast for each, which record he
shall furnish to the ensuing General Conference. If any
one of those elected should be prevented from attending,
by death, sickness, or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the
tellers or secretary of the General Conference to notify the
next highest on the bill to take his place ; other vacancies
shall be filled in like manner, descending, if need be, to the
last candidate. No bills of election received by the tellers
after the fifteenth of. January shall be counted.
Contests.
13. In case of contest for the seat of any delegate
reported elected to the General Conference by the board of
tellers of his conference, the secretary of the conference shall
give notice to the contestee in writing forty days before
the sitting of the General Conference, in which charges and
specifications shall be plainly stated. Any person failing to
42 DISCIPLINE
give such notice shall forfeit his right to contest in the
General Conference.
Location and Entertainment of the General Conference.
14. Arrangements for the place and entertainment of the
Genera] Conference, if not determined at its session, or if
satisfactory arrangements for the entertainment and care
of the delegates and visitors and the proper expenses for
the General Conference he not provided, shall be referred
with full power to act to the agent and board of trustees of
the printing ostablishnient.
15. Said board shall estimate the amount required for
the expenses of the General Conference, including traveling
expenses and boarding of delegates and bishops, and shall
report the same to the general Board of Administration, who
shall equitably apportion the same among, and report the
same to, the annual conferences early in the first year of the
quadrennium next preceding the sitting of the General Con-
ference ; said apportionments shall be by each annual con-
ference apportioned to each charge in the conference, and
the pastors required to collect and turn over the same to the
conference treasurer at the close of the year, and the con-
ference treasurer shall, as soon as the apportionment is all
collected, send said amount to the general Church treasurer
at Dayton, Ohio.
16. This money shall be known as the General Confer-
ence expense fund, and shall be distributed among the
delegates and bishops in proportion to their traveling ex-
penses by the most direct route to and from the seat of
the General Conference, and shall itnclude their board and
lodging during the sessions of the conference ; provided,
however, that if any conference shall fail to raise the full
amount of its -apportionment, said Conference delegation
shall receitve from said fund in proportion to the amount
raised by the conference.
Examination of Annual Conferences.
17. The General Conference may examine the adminis-
tration of each annual conference, whether it has strictly
observed the rules and preserved the moral and doctrinal
principles of the Discipline in all its transactions.
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH 43
Election of Officers.
18. In the election of all the oflBcers of the General Con-
ference, a majority of all the votes shall be necessary to a
choice.
Boards of Trustees.
19. The trustees of the general Church boards shall be
divided into two equal classes, elected at alternate General
Conferences for a term of eight years. In case of an odd
number of trustees, the two classes shall be as nearly equal
as possible. The members of these shall be composed as
nearly as possible of an equal number of ministers and lay-
men.
20. If the board of trustees of any of our Church in-
stitutions shall, on account of removals, or otherwiee, at
any time not have the number of members required by the
charter of such institutions to be selected from a particular
State, said board shall be authorized to supply said de-
ficiency by the selection of additional trustees.
21. In the event of a vacancy occurring in any of the
secretaryships constituted by the General Conference, the
board of that department shall fill the place. Should a
vacancy occur in any General Conference position where
no board is empowered to fill the place, such authority shall
be vested in the Board of Administration.
Meetings.
22. The General Conference shall convene in regular ses-
sion on the second Thursday of May, and in special session
upon the call of the board of bishops.
23. The quadrennium shall begin upon the adjournment
of the General Conference and the tenure of office of all
general officers, secretaries, and members of boards, shall
take effect upon said adjournment ; provided, that officers
shaU have until July 1 thereafter to make inventory, settle
their accounts, and arrange their work.
CHAPTER VI.
Ministry of the Church.
Section I.
QUARTERLY-CONFERENCE PREACHERS.
How Licensed.
1. Any person desiring a license to preach, must obtain
from the class of which he is a member, by a two-thirds
vote of the members present at any regular meeting of the
congregation, a recommendation in writing, signed by the
leader or preacher in charge, to the quarterly conference of
the charge to which he belongs ; provided, however, that no
one shall be given license who has not passed the Teacher-
Training Course, or its full equivalent, and whose educa-
tional attainments are not equivalent to the completion
of a public school course half way through the standard
high-school grade, or to the completion of half the standard
academic course necessary to entering the freshman class
of a standard college, and who has not expressed his pur-
pose to make the ministry his life work, and can give satis-
factory evidence of his call, religious experience, soundness
of doctrine, and attachment to the Church and its govern-
ment. The person making application shall be examined by
the quarterly conference, and the following questions shall be
asked by the chairman :
2. (1) Do you believe our Confession of Faith as set
forth in our Book of Discipline?
(2) Have you now peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ?
(3) What is your motive in desiring permission to
preach the gospel?
(4) Are you satisfied with our Church government?
(5) Will you submit yourself to the counsel of your
brethren ?
(6) What is your knowledge of depravity, of redemp-
tion, of faith, of repentance, of justification, of regenera-
tion, and of sanctification ?
(7) What is your educational preparation for the work
of the ministry?
44
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 45
3. It shall be the privilege of the chairman to ask any
other question or questions that he may deem necessary.
4. Persons divorced, except on scriptural grounds, shall
not be granted license.
5. No person who uses tobacco in any form shall be
granted a license to preach.
6. When a preacher from another church comes to us
with a certificate of good standing in the church in which
he has held membership, and gives satisfaction to the
quarterly conference concerning his agreement on the doc-
trines, discipline, government, and usages of our Church,
the quarterly conference may receive him.
Course of Study.
7. A quarterly-conference preacher is required to pur-
sue the course of study prescribed in our Book of Dis-
cipline, and to be examined by the conference superintend-
ent and pastor at the fourth quarterly conference.
Note. — For exception to this article, see Chapter VI.,
Section II., paragraph 7.
Renetcal of License.
8. The license of a quarterly-conference preacher is sub-
ject to renewal annually, at the discretion of the quarterly
conference, provided, however, that, when the course of
study required has been taken, he shall be excused from
further examination, and shall hold his license subject to
the discretion of the quarterly conference.
Recommendation to Annual Goyiference.
9. After a quarterly-conference preacher has stood in
that relation at least one conference year, or longer at the
discretion of the quarterly conference, it may recommend
him to the annual conference, and if not received he shall
sustain his foi-mer relation. The recommendation shall be
signed by the secretary of the quarterly conference and the
conference superintendent.
Section II.
ANNUAL-CONFERENCE PREACHERS.
How Received.
1. Any person proposed as a preacher shall be exam-
ined by the annual conference, or a select committee there-
of, and the following questions shall be asked him :
4G DISCEPLINE
Preacher's Examination.
2. (1) Have you known God in Christ Jesus to be a
sin-pardoning God?
(2) Have you now peace M'ith God, and is the love of
God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit?
(3) Do you believe the Bible to be the word of God,
and that therein is contained the only true way to our sal-
vation?
(4) What foundation have you for such belief?
(5) Are you endeavoring by the grace of God to live a
holy life?
(6) What is your motive for desiring permission to
preach the gospel?
(7) Do you believe that man, apart from the grace ot
our Loid Jesus Christ, is fallen from original righteous-
ness, and is not only entirely destitute of holiness, but is
inclined to evil, and only evil, and that continually ; and
that except a man be born again he cannot see the king-
dom of heaven?
(8) What is your knowledge of redemption, of faith,
of repentance, justificat'Jon, regeneration, and sanctificationV
(9) Does your own salvation, and the salvation of your
fellow men, lie nearer to your heart than all other things
in the world?
(10) Will you subject yourself to the counsel of your
brethren in the liord?
(11) Are you satisfied with our Church government?
(12) Are you willing, as much as is in your power, to
assist in upholding our itinerant plan?
Educational Requirements.
3. (1) Educational attainments equivalent to the com-
pletion of a standard academy or a standard high-school
course of four years are required for admission to the annual
conference. (2) The foregoing, in addition to the comple-
tion of the quarterly- and annual-conference courses of study,
are required for ordination. (3) The ideal preijaration for
effective work in the ministry is a full college course, fol-
lowed by a theological course, to which standard we earn-
estly urge our young ministers to aspire.
Qualifications of Applicants.
4. No one shall be admitted to the annual conference
without having a recommendation from the quarterly con-
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 47
ference and then shall be received on probation only.
Neither shall any one be admitted who has not met the
educational requirements.
5. Persons divorced, except on scriptural grounds, shall
not be granted license to preach.
6. No person shall be granted Iicen.«e to preach the gos-
pel who uses tobacco in any form. The license of any
preacher who uses tobacco, may, upon proper evidence, be
revoked by the annual conference.
Exemption from Examination.
7. Any person pursuing the quarterly-conference or an-
nual-conference course of study who presents a certificate to
the effect that he has completed branches or books contained
in the courses in the Discipline, at any of our schools, or
at schools whose standard of excellence is acceptable to
the parties conducting the examination on behalf of the
Church, said certificates shall preclude the necessity for
further examination in the branches or books which havft
been completed as evidenced by said certificates.
Sacraments and Unordained Preachers.
8. Unordained annual-conference preachers who are en-
gaged in the active work of the ministry and who are
regularly and industriously pursuing their courses of study,
may be permitted by their annual conferences to administer
the sacraments of the Church.
An Expelled Preacher.
9. When a preacher or elder has been expelled, or with-
draws, from an annual conference, he shall not be received
into another conference without the consent of the confer-
ence with which he was formerly connected.
Preacher^ 8 Transfer.
10. A preacher or elder who has labored in the bounds
of an annual conference other than the one to which he
belongs for two years, shall bo required to obtain a trans-
fer from the conference to which he belongs and to unite
with the conference in whose bounds he labors, or to re-
turn to his own conference for work ; provided, that presi-
dents and professors of schools and colleges, students in
our institutions of learning, and others engaged in general
church work, shall be exempt from this requirement.
48 DISCIPLINE
11. A preacher removing from one conference to an-
other shall, when he applies to the latter for admission,
produce a transfer from the former, signed by the presid-
ing officer and secretary.
Limit of Transfer.
12. Any preacher who receives a transfer is required
to present said transfer to another conference, or to
return it to the conference by which it was issued, within
two years after its date. Otherwise the transfer shall be
null and void, and it shall be published that said preacher
no longer has ministerial standing in our Church.
Accountaltility of Transferred Preachers.
13. Any preacher receiving a transfer shall be a membt-i
of the quarterly conference in whose bounds he may reside,
and shall also be accountable for his moral and official
conduct to the annual conference granting said transfer,
until his transfer be received by the conference to which
he has been transferred.
Section III.
RECEPTION OF PREACHERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES.
When a preacher from another church comes to us with
a certificate of good standing in the church in which he
has held membership, or with a transfer from a confer-
ence, presbytery, or synod, and gives satisfaction to the
annual conference concerning his agreement on the doc-
trines, discipline, government, and usages of our Church,
the conference may receive him, provided he comes with the
same educational qualifications required of the preachers of
our own denomination. If he be an ordained elder he must
pass the examination required of candidates for elders'
orders, but he may be exempt from reordination.
Section IV,
CLASSIFICATION OF THE MINISTRY.
Classes.
1. The ministry of the Church shall be classified accord-
ing to the following order : First, as licentiates ; second,
as elders; third, as itinerants (active, superannuated, or
supernumerary).
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 49
Licentiates.
2. Licentiates are ministers who have received annual-
conference license, but have not yet been ordained.
Elders.
3. Elders are ministers who have been ordained in ac-
cordance with the provisions of Section V., of this chapter.
Itinerants.
4. Itinerants are annual-conference ministers who have
been regularly received into the itinerancy. They may be
active, superannuated, or supernumerary.
(1) Active Itinerants are those who are engaged in the
active ministry of the Church.
(2) Superannuated Itinerants are those who from age or
physical infirmities are unable to pursue the regular work
of the ministry.
(3) Supernumerary Itinerants are those for whom the
conference and the Church, for the time being, are not able
to furnish ministerial work, or who by theiir own request,
or otherwise, have been given such relation.
Glass — Hoiv Determined.
5. The annual conference shall determine to which of
the foregoing classes each minister shall belong. Should
an itinerant leave in an irregular way the work assigned
him, he shall forfeit his standing as an itinerant and shall
surrender his credentials.
Evangelists.
6. No preacher shall be recognized as an evangelist un-
less he is so authorized by the annual conference to which
he belongs or by the general Commission on Evangelism. He
shall report his work annually to his conference.
Section V.
ELDERS.
1. After a probation of four years, a licentiate preacher
may be presented to the annual conference for elder's or-
ders ; whereupon the bishop shall propose to the conference
the following questions :
50 DISCIPLINE
Questions Regarding a Candidate.
2. (1) Is he blameless touching the marriage state?
(2) Is his deportment in the social circle marked with
watchful sobriety?
(3) Is he hospitable toward the aflSicted and needy?
(4) Is he faithful in the public ministration of God's
word, and diligent in reading and study?
(5) Is his household subject to rules of piety?
3. Should the foregoing questions be answered in the af-
firmative, a committee of three or five elders shall be ap-
pointed, before whom the candidate shall appear and pass an
examination on the subjects suggested by the following
questions :
Committee Examination.
4. (1) What are your reasons for believing the Bible
to be the word of God?
(2) What proofs can you give of the fall of man by
transgression ?
(3) What evidences can you give of the redemption of
man by Jesus Christ?
(4) Do you believe in the deity of Jesus Christ?
(5) What foundation have you for such a belief?
(6) Do you believe in the Holy Ghost as presented in
our Confession of Faith?
(7) Upon what evidence do you believe this?
(8) Do you believe the doctrine of the future state as
set forth in our Confession of Faith?
Duties of the Committee.
5. The committee shall have the right to propose any
question touching the answers given, if said answers should
be unsatisfactory. It shall also be its duty to prepare,
sign, and deliver to the conference a report of each case
which may have been before it.
Election to Elders' Orders.
G. If the committee finds the candidate worthy, he may be
elected to ordination by a majority of the elders of the
conference.
The Ordination of Licentiates.
1. Licentiates who have served their probation in the
annual conferences and have completed their courses of
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 51
study and preparation for the exercise of the full functions
of the ministry, sh^ll be given ordination by the bishops
at the annual conferences, and at such other times and
places as circnmstauces and needs may require. In the
absence of the bishop, an elder who is acting regularly in
the place of the bishop may conduct the ordination service.
Functions of an Elder.
8. The functions of an elder are to preach the gospel, to
administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Sup-
per, to solemnize marriages, to perform all parts of divine
ser\'ice, to be an example to others by himself following the
Savior's' example ; and in a very special manner it shall
be the duty of an elder to cherish and encourage young
ministers, and always to be looking for those whom God
has called to preacli, encouraging them in making the fullest
possible preparation for the work of the gospel ministry.
Section YI.
conference superintendents.
Their Election.
1. Each annual conference shall have one or more super-
intendents who shall be elected annually by ballot, a major-
ity being necessary to an election.
Council of Administration.
2. Each annual conference having one superintendent
may also elect an advisory board, to be known as the
council of administration, consisting of two ministers and
two laymen, whose duty it shall be to meet with the con-
ference superintendent quarterly and review the work and
administration of pastors, and advise with tlie conference
superintendent concerning all the administrative work of
the conference.
Blank Reports.
o. For the use of conference superintendents and coun-
cils of administration a uniform system of blanks shall be
prepared for quarterly reports of pastors.
Report to the Bishop.
4. Each conference superintendent shall make a quarterly
report to his bishop, giving an exhibit of the work of thr
52 DISCIPLINE
quarter by charges, alphabetically arranged, together with
such other matters of interest as will enable the bishop to
give the best possible oversight to all the activities of tho
Church throughout his district.
Support of Conference Superintendents.
5. It shall be the duty of the several annual conferences
to make such regulations for the support of superinteiidents
as they think best.
Duties of the Conference Superintendent.
G. The duties of a conference superintendent are to
superintend the work of the conference, to preacii as often
as practicable, give careful attention to evangelism, and
look after all of the general interests of the denomination.
7. He shall appoint quarterly conferences and attend
them when practicable. He shall counsel with his pastors
faithfully and offer them every assistance within his
power. He may call extra sessions of the quarterly confer-
ence.
8. The conference superintendent shall earnestly en-
deavor to arouse the membership of the Church to a more
uniform performance of their duties as to a minimum salary
of eight hundred dollars and parsonage on each charge, and
shall suggest the most practicable means for securing the
same.
9. At the last quarterly conference of each year, the
conference superintendent shall examine the boards of trus-
tees of church-houses and parsonages as to their having pro-
cured articles of incorporation according to the laws of the
State and the regulations of the Church, and shall give such
instructions as may be necessary.
10. Each superintendent shall make a report of his dis-
trict in writing, annually, to the annual conference.
Vacancies.
11. Should any conference, through death, resignation, or
otherwise, be without a superintendent, information shall
be immediately given to the bishop, who shall appoint a
superintendent in said district until the ensuing annual
conference.
Power to Exchange Pastors.
12. Should it become desirable to exchange the pastors
of two charges in a conference, the superintendent may, in
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 53
conjunction with two elders, preachers, or leaders (one from
each charge), change said pastors.
Poicer to Dismiss Pastors and Fill Vacancies.
13. The superintendent may, in conjunction with the
quarterly conference, dismiss a pastor from his charge for
IneflBciency or neglect of duty.
14. It shall be his duty to fill all vacancies in the pas-
torates of the conference.
Section VII.
BISHOPS.
Election of Bishops.
1. Bishops of the Church shall be elected every four
years by the General Conference.
Salaries of Bishops.
2. The General Conference shall fix the salaries of the
bishops, which shall be included in the general budget of the
denomination.
Districts of Bishops.
3. The assignment of bishops to their respective districts
shall be made by a committee of three from each district,
to be chosen by the delegates of the district assembled for
that purpose. Each bishop shall reside within the bounds
of the district to which he iis assigned. This item shall not
apply to the bishop of a foreign district.
Duties of Bishops.
4. The bishops of the Church shall preside over the
General and annual conferences, fix and announce the
dates of the annual conferences, and have general super-
vision and direction of the varied interests and institutions
of the denomination. They shall also seek to promote unity
and continuity in the administrative activities of super-
intendents And pastors throughout the Church, and see to it,
as far as may be practicable, that all the provisions of the
Discipline are faithfully observed ; they shall report annual-
ly in the Church press the condition and progress of the
Church in their respective districts, and make a quadrennial
report to the General Conference. They shall also deliver
suitable sermons and addresses to their respective annual
conferences.
54 DISCIPLINE
The Board of Bishops.
5. The bishops shall hold annual meetings, at which time
they shall decide questions of Church Discipline, adopt and
recommend policies of administration for the promotion of
the institutions and enterprises of the denomination. They
shall present a quadrennial address to the General Confer-
ence with such a review of the work and achievements of
the Church during the quadrennium, and with such recom-
mendations as they may deem expedient and helpful to the
Church. They shall also have the authority to appoint
special days to be observed in the interest of worthy causes.
Superintendents* Association.
G. The bishop of any district may call together, annually,
the superintendents of his district, at some suitable place,
for the purpose of consultation aud planning for the pro-
motion of the interests of the Church. The bishop shall
be chairman ex officio of this gathering, and shall direct in
the organization of an association which shall have a vice-
president, a secretary-treasurer, and such other oflBcers and
committees as may be desired. Each annual conference
represented within the district shall be entitled to one vote
in all business transactions. The annual conferences are
advised to provide for the payment of the expenses of their
superintendents in attending the association meetings.
Calling Special Annual Conferences.
7. AVhen requested to do so by a majority ot the mem-
bers of any annual conference, the bishop of the district shall
reconvene said conference in special session.
Organisation of Mission Conferences.
8. Whenever it is deemed desirable to organize a mission
conference, a bishop, in conjunction with either of the
boards of missions (Home or Foreign), shall have the power
to organize such a conference in either home or foreign
fields.
Missionary Oversight.
0. The bishops shall confer with conference superin-
tendents and pastors in suggesting plans and methods for
the awakening of interest in home and foreign missions, aad
shall devote as much of their time as practicable to visiting
mission fields and to the opening of new missions in inviting
places.
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 55
Accountahility of Bishops.
10. Tlic bishops of the Cliurch shall be ameuable to the
General Conference for the faithful discharge of their
official duties. Their administration and services in the
general superintendence of the varied interests of the de-
nomination shall be subject to review the same as other
administrative officers at the quadrennial meetings of the
General Conference.
Vacancy in a Bishop's District.
11. In case a vacancy in the office of bishop in any dis-
trict occurs during the first three years of the quadrennium,
it shall be the duty of the remaining bishops to hold an
election by letter ballot, all members of the preceding
General Conference, who are members of the Church, voting.
The publishing agent shall provide and send out the blank
ballots, and return-stamped envelopes under the direction
of the board of bishops. The board of bishops shall
appoint a board of tellers, three in number, from the mem-
bership of the Church in the vicinity of Dayton, Ohio. The
ballots shall be turned over to them by the publishing
agent, as directed by the bishops. The bishops shall set a
date when the ballots must be in, and also when and where
the ballots must be counted by the tellers, these two dates
to be printed on the ballots sent out to the delegates. The
tellers shall certify the entire vote to the bishops, and
they shall announce the election of the person receiving a
majority of the votes cast. In case no election occurs on
the first ballot, other ballots shall be taken until some one
receives a majority vote. In case a vacancy occurs during
the last year of the quadrennium, the remaining bishops
shall divide the work of the district among themselves for
the remainder of the quadrennium.
Foreign Field.
12. The foreign fields shall be under the su{)ervision of
the Foreign Mission bishop and the board of Foreign Mis-
sions.
Stationing of Preachers.
13. For stationing pastors, see Chapter VII.. Section I.,
paragraph 4.
56 DISCIPLINE
Section VIII.
DUTIES OF PREACHERS.
Preachers' Duties in General.
1. The duties of preachers are, to preach Christ cruci-
fied; to organize churches, and report the same to annual
conferences ; converse with the members on their spiritual
condition ; administer relief ; strengthen and direct those
who are afflicted or labor under temptations ; animate the
indolent ; endeavor as much as possible to edify and instruct
all in faith, in the Christian virtues, and in the knowledge
of Jesus Christ ; visit the sick ; and strive to enforce and
confirm the doctrines they preach by a well-ordered and
exemplary life.
Directions to Preachers.
2. Let preachers heed the following directions :
(1) Be diligent. Never trifle away your time. Always
be discreet. Let your motto be, "Holiness unto the
Lord." Avoid all vain conversation, conduct yourself pru-
dently, and demean yourself in all respects as a true Chris-
tian. Be at all times averse to crediting evil reports. Be-
lieve evil of no one without good evidence. Put the best
construction on everything.
(2) Speak evil of no one. Whatever may be your
thoughts, keep them within your own breast until you
can tell the person concerned what you think wrong in his
conduct.
(3) Let your business be to save as many souls as
possible. To this employment give yourself up wholly.
Visit those who need it, and act in all things, not accord-
ing to your own will, but as sons in the gospel ; for as
such it becomes your duty to employ your time in the
manner prescribed, in preaching, and in visiting from
house to house, in instruction and prayer, and in medita-
tion on the Word of God. With these things be occupied
until our Lord shall come.
Authority to Solemnize Marriage.
3. All ordained ministers are authorized to solemnize
marriage. All annual-conference ministers, where the law
of the State makes it the privilege of every regularly licensed
minister to solemnize marriage, are authorized to solemnize
marriage ; but none having quarterly-conference license only
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 5 1
are permitted to do so, other than those serving a regular
charge.
Transferring Members.
4. The pastor of a member moving from one charge to
another is required immediately to send the transfer of
said member to the pastor of the charge of the United Breth-
ren Church to which he has moved, unless the member mov-
ing beforehand requests that his membership remain with
his home church.
Preachers not to Trespass.
5. No preacher shall arbitrarily organize a pastoral charge
within the limits of a circuit or conference district, or
shall receive compensation for labor performed, without
the consent of the preacher in charge ; nor shall any minis-
ter preaching in a different language accept a call from
any regularly-organized class or congregation which does
not belong to his conference, without the consent of the
annual conference to which the charge making the request
may belong. Any preacher violating the provisions of
this section shall be amenable to his quarterly or annual
conference.
Section IX.
TRIAL OF PREACHERS.
Quarterly-Conference Preachers.
1. Whenever a quarterly-conference minister is accused
of conduct unworthy of such a representative of the Church,
the pastor of the charge where such preacher holds his
membership shall appoint one or more disinterested persons
as a committee to inquire into the complaints, and if grounds
for charges are found, and the accused fails to satisfy the
committee, charges shall be filed and reported to the next
quarterly conference of which the accused is a member, and
the quarterly conference shall appoint a prosecutor, whose
duty it shall be to notify the accused to choose a committee-
man, the prosecutor choosing a committeeman, in behalf of
the Church, and these two a thii"d, all of whom shall be
members of the Church, before which committee the case
shall be tried. The prosecutor shall notify the pastor of the
charge when said committee has been properly formed, and
it shall be the duty of the pastor to appoint the time and
58 DISCIPLINE
pliicc of trial, giviiif? not less than ton or more than twenty
days' notice ; and he shall also act as chairman in the case.
If a majority of the committee be satisfied that the accusa-
tion is sustained, the chairman shall require the accused to
hold his peace until the quarterly conference, where the ac-
cused shall be accountable, and it shall be the duty of the
committee to transmit in written form the proceedings and
findings of said trial to the quarterly conference, and if the
findings are sustained, the accused shall be suspended, ex-
pelled, or otherwise dealt with, as the quarterly conference
may determine. But should the accused, after being duly
notified, refuse, or neglect, or fail to choose a committeeman,
the quarterly conference shall appoint a committee of three
persons, who shall hear the case and decide.
Annual-Conference Preachers.
2. When a preacher or elder is accused of immorality,
trespass, imprudent conduct, or disobedience to the order
and discipline of the Church, the superintendent of the dis-
trict, in the bounds of which the accused shall reside or hold
membership, shall appoint a preacher, who shall take with
him another preacher or leader, and examine into the charge,
following the Apostle's instruction (I. Tim. 5: 19) : "Against
an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three
witnesses." If it should appear that said reports are well
founded, the examiners shall prefer charges against the ac-
cused; if not, he shall report to the next quarterly confer-
ence, of which the accused is a member, that he found no
cause for action. If charges are preferred, the quarterly
conference shall appoint a prosecutor, whose duty it shall
be to notify the accused in writing, setting forth all the
charges preferred against him. He shall also notify him
to choose an elder as his committeeman, the prosecutor
choosing an elder as committeeman in behalf of the Church,
and these two a third elder or preacher, before which com-
mittee the case shall be tried. The prosecutor shall also
notify the superintendent of the district, and it shall be
the duty of the superintendent to appoint the time and
place of trial, ginning not less than twenty nor more than
thirty days' notice to the parties concerned, and he shall
also act as chairman in the case. Should a majority of the
committee be satisfied that the accusation is sustained, and
he is found guilty of a serious offense, they shall require
him to hold his peace until the annual conference, where he
MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH 59
shall be accountable, and it shall be the duty of the com-
mittee to transmit in writing- the entire proceedings of said
trial to the annual conference, where the accused shall have
a hearing before the conference, or a committee thereof ; and
if the findings are sustained, he shall be suspended, expelled,
or otherwise dealt with, as the conference may determine.
But should the accused, after having been duly notified,
refuse or neglect to comply in choosing his committeeman
and notifying the prosecutor within fifteen days, the con-
ference superintendent shall suspend him until the annual
conference, where, if he shall refuse to appear, he shall be
dealt with according to the judgment of the conference ; pro-
vided, however, if he be an elder, elders only shall vote in
the case ; and provided further, that if the committeemen
chosen by the prosecutor and accused fail to agree as to the
third member of the committee, then the quarterly confer-
ence shall appoint said committeeman. If the accused or
prosecutor be a conference superintendent or bishop, the
conference superintendent or bishop, as the case may be,
next adjoining shall act as chairman in the trial ; provided,
that in conferences having only one conference superintend-
ent the bishop shall appoint a chairman to act in the case.
3. The foregoing relates only to annual-conference mem-
bers.
Trial of Bishops and Conference Superintendents.
4. When a conference superintendent shall be accused
of any misdemeanor, immoral conduct, or disobedience to
the order and discipline of the Church, the bishop of the
district, in the bounds of which the accused shall reside or
hold membership, shall appoint a committee of three elders,
who shall examine into the complaints, and should the ac-
cused be a bishop, then the board of bishops shall appoint
a like committee. If it shall appear that said complaints
are well founded, the committee shall prefer charges against
the accused ; if not, the committee shall report to his quar-
terly conference that they found no grounds for action. If
charges are preferred his quarterly conference shall appoint
a prosecutor, whose duty it shall be to notify the accused,
in writing, setting forth all the charges preferred against
him. He shall also notify him to choose a committeeman,
the prosecutor choosing a committeeman in behalf of the
Church, and these two a third, all of whom shall be elders,
before whom the case shall be tried. The prosecutor shall
60 DISCIPLINE
also notify the bishop or board of bishops, and it shall be
the duty of the bishop or the board of bishops to appoint the
time and place of trial, giving not less than twenty nor
more than forty days' notice. The bishop, or some one
appointed by the board of bishops, shall act as chairman
in the case. Should a majority of the committee be satisfied
that the accusation is sustained, they shall require him to
hold his "peace until the sitting of his conference, where he
shall be accountable, and it shall be the duty of the com-
mittee to transmit, in writing, to said conference, the entire
proceedings of sfiid trial, where the accused shall have a
hearing before the conference or a committee thereof, and
if the findings are sustained, he shall be suspended, expelled,
or otherv^^ise dealt with, as the conference may determine.
CHAPTER VII.
Itinerancy.
Section I.
ITINERANTS.
How Constituted.
1. All members of the annual conference who offer them-
selves without reserve, after having labored two years under
the direction of the stationing committee or conference sup-
erintendent, and have been received by vote of two-thiii*d.s
of the members of conference, shall be recognized as itin-
erants.
Withdrawing from the Itinerancy.
2. If any one who is thus received shall withdraw from
active work without giving satisfaction to the conference of
which he is a member, he shall not be entitled to any sup-
port from the funds belonging to said conference. And,
furthermore, he shall not reenter the itinerancy without the
consent of at least two- thirds of the conference. Yet super-
numerary and superannuated relations shall be duly recog-
nized as proper disciplinary relations, and may be secured
to any brother having just claims thereto, by a vote of the
conference.
Pastor^s Resignation.
3. If a pastor after duly entering upon the work assigned
him should desire to leave the same for any reason, he shall
inform the conference superintendent of hiis intentions, in
writing, at least thirty days before his resignation is to
take effect, and satisfy him that hie full proportion of the
benevolences have been secured in cash or good subscrip-
tions and that all other obligations to the charge have been
satisfactorily adjusted ; and should said minister leave or
neglect his charge, except iit be through sickness or other
unavoidable circumstances, he shall be accountable to the
next annual conference.
Stationing Committee.
4. The bishop and conference superintendents of the past
and present years shall constitute a stationing committee,
61
G2 DISCIPLINE
whose duty it shall be to supply all the circuits, stations,
and missions, as far as practicable, from the list of itin-
erants ; provided, however, that where there is but one con-
ference superintendent on the committee, the conference may
elect to the same one or more elders from the elders not
asking for work from said committee.
5. The stationing committee shall have at least two
meetings before its work is completed.
Appeal from Stationing Committee s Report.
6. If any of the preachers thus stationed, or any who
may not receive an appointment, are -dissatisfied, they shall
have a right to appeal to the annual conference. If two-
thirds grant the appeal, the decisions shall be final. In case
of an appeal from the decision of the stationing committee,
no preacher stationed by said committee shall be changed,
without hi& consent, to accommodate the preacher making
such appeal. In no case shall preachers be permitted to
exchange charges, except in the manner provided for in
Chapter VI., Section VI., paragraph 12.
Employment of Other Preachers.
7. Should there not be enough itinerants to supply all
the circuits, stations, and missions, "the remaining charges
shall be supplied by the stationing committee or conference
•juperiintendents.
Pastoral Charges.
8. A circuit or station shall not consist of any specific
number of members or appointments ; but when the annual
conference judges it able to support a minister, it may be
so recognized.
9. The pastor shall have full control of his pulpit, and
no board of trustees shall permit any one to preach therein
without his consent.
Section II.
DUTIES OF ITINERANTS.
1. It is the duty of an itinerant preacher to take the
charge assigned him. and to move to it if practicable.
2. He shall visit regularly the appointments on his
charge, preach to the people, and hold class-meetings when-
ITINERANCY G3
organize and main-
or societies.
ever practicable, and whenever possible
tain Youug People's Christian Eudeavo
Revision of Church Records.
3. He, iin connection with the official board, shall at
least one month before annual conference revise the church
records. The duties of the committee on revision shall be
essentially clerical, and the name of no member shall be
erased from the records unless the disciplinary steps shall
have been taken. (See Chapter IV., Section II., paragraph jL^
IT; Chapter IV., Section III.; and Chapter V., Section I.,
paragraph 3. y^^ * •
Annual Reorganization.
4. He, in connection with the official board, at the time
when the records are revised, shall appoint a steward or
stewards, subject to the approval of the class. He shall
hold a meeting of the class and see that a class-leader is
elected.
Presiding at Trials.
5. He shall sit as president at the trial of members and
see that a correct record of the same is kept.
Reports.
6. He shall render a strict account (as indicated in
Chapter XXXII.. Section IV., form 10) of his work at each
(inartorly conference, where he is to be held accountable for
neglect of duty.
Circulation of Literature.
7. It shall be his duty to use every laudable effort to
circulate our books and Church periodicals, and to use due
diligence to advance the interests of the Church printing
establishment.
8. It shall be his duty to keep a list of the names of all
the subscribers to our Church periodicals, and the timft
of subscribing, at the different appointments on his charge,
and hand it over to his successor at the annual conference,
with the list of the appointments. He shall also report
the number of subscribers to our periodicals on his charge
H\ each quarterly conference, and be examined by the con-
-"frTence superintendent and quarterly conference as to
whether he performs his duty in circulating the periodicals
of the Church among the people.
64 DISCIPLINE
Dismissal of Appointments.
9. A preacher is not permitted to dismiss any appoint-
ment from his circuit or mission without the consent of the
quarterly conference.
Records.
10. He shall procure a suitable book for a church rec-
ord, in which he shall register all the appointments and
classes on his circuit, station, or mission, in regular order,
with the name of each member properly recorded in con-
nection with his own class. He shall also make a record
of all baptisms, marriages, deaths, and proceedings of
church trials, with the names of all the parties in each case.
He shall report this record with the proceedings therein to
the last quarterly conference of each year for approval or
improvement. This book shall be the property of the
quarterly conference, and shalJ be in addition to the regular
class-books and circuit books.
General Collections.
11. It shall be the duty of each preacher in charge of
a field of labor to collect the annual amounts apportioned
to his charge for the benevolence budget and conference
superintendents, and also all other conference apportion-
ments. And should he fail to collect in full and not be able
to give satisfactory reason for such a failure, he shall be
accountable to the annual conference.
Missionary Contributions.
12. He shall preach missionary sermons, and by a careful
study of conditions use such plans as shall educate his
people in the privilege of giving, and secure the largest pos-
sible contributions. He shall be held to strict account for
the faithful performance of his duties. The publication of
the names of the donors shall be left to the option of each
annual conference.
Pastoral Visiting.
13. It shall be the duty of the preacher in charge of a
station or circuit to give as much of his time as possible
to visiting the families under his charge, and to pay strict
attention to the young members under his care. This
private work of visiting from house to house and exhorting
the people is founded on these solemn words of the apostle :
ITINERANCY 65
"I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but
have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from
house to house" (Acts 20:20).
Home Training of Children.
14. Because of the powerful and far-reaching influence
of home life upon the young, it shall be the duty of each
pastor to direct the attention of his people to the vital
importance of family government and Christian nurture.
He shall do this publicly and privately by directing atten-
tion to books and periodicals giving helpful instruction upon
this subject, and also by presenting in his public ministra-
tions the teachings of God's Word respecting the duty of
parents to train up their children in the nurture and ad-
monition of the Lord.
Bible Cause.
15. It shall be the duty of each pastor to observe one
Sunday each year in the month of May as Bible Sunday,
when he shall preach an appropriate sermon and take an
offering for the Bible cause. This offering shall be forwarded
to the conference treasurer, by him to the Bible society
which operates the territory where the offering is taken.
Section III.
preachers' salaries.
1. The salary of a pastor shall be such amount as may
be agreed upon between him and the quarterly conference
of the field of labor to which he is sent ; and said agree-
ment shall be a valid contract between the parties there-
to. When a charge owns a parsonage, or rents a house
for the pastor to live in. the charge shall have credit for
the same by the pastor reporting as so much salary the
amount the parsonage would rent for or the amount paid
for the rented house.
2. A missionary employed by the board of missions
shall receive such salary as in the judgment of the board
may be proper.
Parsonage and Moving of Preacher.
3. It shall be the duty of a circuit or station, when a
preacher is sent to it by the annual conference, to provide
a house and move the preacher at its own expense from any
poiint within the bounds of the conference.
CHAITER VIII.
Deaconess Work.
Section I.
DEACONESSES.
1. When any sister of suitable age, health, ability, cul-
ture, and piety, led by the Holy Spirit, wishes to become a
deaconess, she may receive a recommendation to the quarter-
ly conference from the class where she holds her member-
ship. If, after examination by the conference superintend-
ent, or a committee appointed by him, she is approved by
the quarterly conference, she shall receive license to perform
the duties of a deaconess in the local church, said license sub-
ject to annual renewal.
2. Her duties shall be to visit from house to house,
reading, praying, singing, teaching, exhorting, or comforting
the people, as the case may require ; to nurse or otherwise
minister to the sick and needy ; to solicit funds or supplies
and distribute the same ; all under the direction of the pastor
to whom she shall report as often as he may require ; she
shall not, however, be required to look after the finances of
the Church.
3. A uniform costume may be worn to distinguish and
protect her.
4. The deaconess work is a high and holy calling for
sacrificial service. Each local church must provide for any
necessary expense attending this work, and such salary as
may be mutually agreed upon, always, however, encouraging
those who enter upon this service to do so for the love of
Christ and humanity.
5. No one shall be required to make a perpetual vow
in this work, and any one may retire from this oflBce at
pleasure, after giving the pastor the proper notice.
6. The deaconess shall be a member of the quarterly
conference where she serves, and shall be responsible to it
for her moral and official character.
7. If the deaconess is deficient in any of the common
school studies, she must pass examination in these, along
with the prescribed course of study. The conference super-
intendent and pastor shall conduct the examination in writ-
66
DEACONESSES 67
ing annually, or a part of the course quarterly, as the can-
didate may desire. The faculty of Bonebrake Seminary
shall prepare suitable questions on each book, as in the case
of annual-conference preachers.
8. She shall complete the course of reading within three
years or her license shall not be renewed. (See Course of
Study, Chapter IX., Section IV.)
On the completion of the course of study, and two
years' practical work under the direction of a pastor, or aji
equivalent course in an approved training school, or liter-
ary school providing such courses, the deaconess shall be
consecrated to this service by a bishop or conference super-
intendent and receive a permanent license, and may be given
membership in the annual conference with all the privileges
of membership, except voting.
Note. — If a deaconess desires ministerial membership in
the annual conference, she may be admitted upon the satis-
factory completion of the course of reading for ministers.
Any deaconess desirous of becoming a nurse should
take the course of training for that purpose in a school con-
nected with a good hospital.
Section II.
Deaconess Homes.
The board of bishops shall constitute a board of man-
agement of homes for deaconesses, and when a majority of
the pastors of our Church in a city or conference wish to
establish such a home, they must first submit their plans
to the board of bishops at one of their annual meetings,
and if the matter is approved by the board it shall prepare
rules and regulations by which such home shall be founded
and managed.
CHAPTER IX.
Courses of Study.
Section I.
Quarterly-Conference Preachers.
1. It shall be the duty of each person receiving a quar-
terly-conference license to preach to pursue the following-
course of study :
Books to he Studied —
Bible — Exodus, Matthew, and John.
Uniited Brethren Handbook — Shuey-Shupe.
United Brethren Discipline.
Hints to Lay Preachers — Meyer.
Sunday-School in Action — Brewbaker.
Binney's Theological Compend — Binnej^-Steele.
Confession of Faith — Weaver.
Bible History — Blaikie.
Books to he Read —
Life of Otterbein — Drury.
Our Heroes, Vols. I. and II. — Weekley and Font.
Our Church Abroad — Hough.
The Frontier — Piatt.
Tlie Why and How of Foreign Missions — Brovi-n.
Individual Work for Individuals — Trumbull.
Laymen in Action — Quayle.
Life of Bishop Mills— Funk.
Torches Aloft— Bell.
Immigrant Forces — Shriver.
Three books at least to be selected and read.
Examinations.
2. The conference superintendent, or a committee ap-
pointed by him, shall hold examinations each year in the
books studied. A quarterly-conference licentiate is per-
mitted to complete the entire course in one year; but should
he fail to complete the course within three years his license
shall not be subject to renewal. He is required to complete
68
COURSES OF STUDY 69
the quarterly-conference course of study before being ad-
mitted to the annual conference.
Permanent License.
3. Any one completing the above course of study and
passing satisfactory examinations in the same, may receive
a license certifying to that fact, and not requiring annual
renewal, so long as his teaching is conformable to the doc-
trines of Christ, as held by our Church, and his deportment
is in harmony with the requirements of our Discipline.
Section II.
ANNUAL-CONFERENCE PREACHERS.
Examinations.
1. A licentiate preacher is to be examined in the sub-
joined course of study by the annual conference to which
he belongs, and shall have the privilege of being examined
after the completion of one or more studies during the in-
terim of annual conference, and the examinations on the
studies shall be completed, if possible, before the sitting of
the conference. The examinations shall be in writing, and
graded on a scale of 100, an average of 70 being required.
There shall be a standing secretary for the committees
on courses of study who shall keep permanent records of
each licentiate, of his examinations, by whom conducted,
the grades given in each book or study, note the completion
of his course, when ordained, transferred, or dismissed.
A book shall be provided by the annual conference for this
purpose and shall be preserved as the property of the con-
ference.
2. To assist and encourage licentiates in their studies
and also for ihe purpose of securing greater uniformity and
efficiency in the examinations, the following plan shall be
pursued : The faculty of Bonebrake Theological Seminary
shall prepare a list of Irom fifty to two hundred questions
on each subject of study, as the subject may require, to be
placed in the hands of the examiners only. The faculty shall
likewise prepare a list of helpful suggestions on each sub-
ject for the student, to be placed in the hands of the student,
at the beginning of each year of study. The examiners on
course of study shall select without the knowledge of the
licentiate ten or more of these questions on each subject for
examination, the examination always being conducted in the
70 DISCIPLINE
presence of one or more of the examiners. Each licentiate
shall also present a written sermon in connection with the
exami-nation of each year. The sermon for the first year's
examination shall be upon a practical theme ; for the
second year, a doctrinal ; for the third year, a historical,
and for the fourth year, a social. If any licentiate is unable
to appear before his examiners he shall report the cause of
his absence.
Completing the Course.
3. Each licentiate is expected to complete the prescribed
course within four years, unless good reasons exist for
delay.
4. Should any licentiate fail to complete the course
within six years, he shall be referred to his quarterly con-
ference and his annual-conference license surrendered.
5. Any licentiate who has completed the full course of
study in Bonebrake Theological Seminary, and has passed
the examinations enti'tling him to a diploma from that insti-
tution, shall be excused from examinations in the annual-
conference course or study.
First Year.
Books to he Studied —
The Teaching of Christ — Morgan.
Future Leadership of the Church — Mott.
Extemporaneous Oratory — Buckley.
United Brethren Church History — Berger, Part I.
Making of a Sermon — Pattison.
Principles of Education — Ruediger.
Commit to Memory —
The Ten Commandments. Psalms 1 and 2, and the Beat-
itudes.
Books to he Read —
Cyclopedic Handbook to the Bible, Old Testament — •
Angus-Green.
With Christ in the School of Prayer — Murray.
Our Bishops — Thompson.
Personal Life of David Livingstone — Blaikie.
The Worker and His Bible — Eiselen.
Winning the Oregon Country — Faris.
The Glory of the Ministry — Robertson.
COURSES OF STUDY 71
The Graded Sunday School in Principle and Practice —
Meyer.
Three books at least are to be selected and read.
Second Year.
Books to he Studied —
Prophecy and the Prophets — Eiselen.
The Preacher — Hoyt.
United Brethren Cliurch History — Berger, Parts II., 111.,
and IV.
Fundamentals of Child Study — Kirkpatrick.
Exegetical Studies — Galatians (Cambridge Bible), I. and
II. Timothy and Titus (Cambridge Bible). — Use either the
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges or Dummelow's
Commentary.
Commit to Memory —
Isaiah, fifty-third chapter ; First Corinthians, thirteenth
chapter.
Books to he Read —
Cyclopedic Handbook to the Bible, New Testament —
Angus-Green.
Life of Weaver — Thompson.
Autobiography of Finney.
The Church of the Open Country — Wilson.
Crises of the Christ — Morgan.
The Bible — Its Origin and Nature — Dods.
The Indwelling Spirit — Davison.
The Foreign Missionary — Brown.
The Point of Contact in Teaching — DuBois.
Three books at least are to be selected and read.
TMrd Year.
Books to he Studied —
Outlines of Doctrinal Theologj' — Drury, pp. 1-99.
Psychology — Angell.
The Pastor Preacher — Quayle.
Reasonable Biblical Criticism — Beecher.
Church History — Fisher.
Exegetical Studies — Amos (Cambridge Bible), and Phi-
lippians (Cambridge Bible). — Use Cambridge Bible for
Schools and Colleges or Dummelow's Commentary.
72 DISCIPLINE
Commit to Memory —
Acts 17 : 22-31 ; Psalm 34.
Books to he Read —
Jesus Christ and the Social Question — Peabody.
Problem of the Old Testament — Orr.
The Spiritual Life — Murray.
The Preacher, His Life and Work — Jowett.
The Spiritual Life — Coe,
Building a Working Cliurch — Black.
Christianizing the Social Order — Kauschenbusch.
The Inner AVitness of the Fourth Gospel — Keister.
Rural Christendom — Roads.
Three books at least are to be selected and read.
Fourth Year.
Books to he Studied —
Outlines of Doctrinal Theology — Drury, pp. 100 to end.
The Buildmg of the Church — Jefferson.
Manual of Ethics — Mackenzie.
Jesus and the Gospel — Denney.
Apologetics — Kephart.
The Virgin Birth of Christ— Orr.
Books to he Read —
Social Message of the Modern Pulpit — Brown.
Christianity and the Social Crisis — Rauschenbusch.
Education in Religion and Morals — Coe.
Pastoral and Personal Evangelism — Goodell.
The Light of the World — Speer.
Things Fundamental — Jefferson.
Introduction to the Study of Economics — Bullock.
The Resurrection of Jesus — Orr.
Life of Mueller — Pierson.
Philosophy of Theism — Bowne.
Four books at least are to be selected and read.
Section III.
German Course of Study.
quarterly-conference preachers.
First Year.
Doctrines. — The presence of God, the personality of God,
the Trinity, the creation, the fall of man.
COURSES OF STUDY 73
Books. — The Bible, Discipline, and the United Brethren
Church, "Christlich-Apostolisches Glaubens-Bekenntniss," by
W. Nast, "Christologische Betrachtungen," by W. Nast.
Second Year.
Doctrines. — The corruption of mankind, repentance, faith,
justification, regeneration, witness of the Spirit, sanctifica-
tion, possibility of falling from grace.
Books. — The Bible, Church Discipline, Hare's "Kecht-
fertigung durch den Glauben," D'Aubigne's "Reformations-
Geschichte," "Bekilmpfung des Unglaubens,"' by Christlieb.
ANNUAL-CONFERENCE PREACHERS.
First Year.
Doctrines. — The being and attributes of God, the Trinity,
the creation, the doctrine of the angels, the doctrine of
mankind, man in the image of God, the fall and the cor-
ruption.
Books. — ^The Bible ; Church Discipline ; Sulzberger's
"Glaubenslehre" — First Part ; Luthardt's "Apologetische
Vortrage" — First Part ; Dr. Joseph Beck's "Grundriss der
Empirischen Psychologie" ; Kurtz's Text-Book on Sacred
History ; Berger's History of the United Brethren Church ;
Nippert's "Praktische Theologie ' ; Grammatik, Heise's
"Leitfaden — Die Wortlehre" ; written sermon on the Sab-
bath.
Second Year.
Doctrines. — The doctrines of Jesus Christ, doctrine of
the personality and divinity of the Holy Ghost, doctrine of
the salvation of nran, conviction, repentance, faith, justifi-
cation, regeneration, sanctification, possibility of falling
from grace.
Books. — The Bible ; Church Discipline ; Sulzberger's
"Glaubenslehre" — Second Part ; Luthardt's "Apologetische
Vortrage" — Second Part ; Weber's "Einleitung in die Heili-
gen Schriften" : "Das Christliche Heilsleben," by F. F.
Paulus ; Bishop Hurst's Church History ; Dittmar's "Welt-
Geschichte" — First Part ; Grammatik, Heise's "Leitfaden
— Die Satzlehre" ; written sermon on repentance and faith.
Third Year.
Doctrines. — The sacraments — baptism and the Lord's
Supper, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the
74 DISCTPLINE
body, the future general judgment, everlastmg rewards,
and everlasting punishment.
Books. — The Bible ; Church Discipline ; Sulzberger's
"Glaubenslehre" — Third Part ; the Immortality of the Soul,
by F. L. Nagler ; D'Aubigae's "Reformations-Geschichte" ;
H. Dittmar's "Welt-Geschichte" — Second Part; Heise's
Grammatik — Wiederholung ; W. Sommer's "Aufsatzlehre'' ;
written sermon on baptism.
Books Recommended.
Jellinghaus's "Das Vollige Heil," and C. H. Spurgeon's
"Winke fiir Prediger," oder 23 Vorlesungen.
Section IV.
DEACONESS COURSE OF STUDY.
First Year.
Books to he Studied —
Synthetic Bible Studies, Pentateuch and Historical Books
— Gray.
With Christ in the School of Prayer — Murray.
Life of Christ — Stalker.
United Brethren Handbook — Shuey-Shupe.
United Brethren Discipline.
Books to he Read —
History of the United Brethren Church — Berger, Part 1.
How to Bring Men to Christ — ^Torrey.
Seven Laws of Teaching — Gregory.
Commit to Memory —
Psalms 2, 23, and 34.
Second Year.
Books to he Studied —
Synthetic Bible Studies, New Testament — Gray.
Deaconesses — Wheeler.
Training the Teacher — Schauffler and others.
Quiet Talks on Power — Gordon.
Binney's Theological Compend — Binney-Steele.
Life of St. Paul — Stalker.
Study of Child Life — Mary Washburn.
COURSES OF STUDY 75
Books to he Read —
The Tongue of Fire — Arthur.
United Brethren Church History, Parts II., III., and IV.
— Berger.
Bible Geography — Hurlbut.
Manual of Nursing — Weeks.
Commit to Memory —
The Beatitudes ; First Corinthians, Thirteenth Chapter.
GERMAN COURSE OF STUDY FOR DEACONESSES.
Buecher fuer Oemeinde-Diakonissen Studien-Kursus.
Erstes Jahr.
Die deutsche Bibel. (a) Altes Testament, I. Mose — 2-ten
Chronika. (b) Neues Testament, Die Evangelien.
Life of Christ — Stalker.
Geschichte der weiblichen Diakonie — Colder.
Manual of Bible Study — Blakie.
Deaconesses — Wheeler.
In der Schule des Gebets — Murray.
Buecher Angeraten zu Lesen.
Des Christen Geheimniss eines verborgenen Lebens — H.
W. Smith.
Life of Christ — Edersheim.
How to Bring Men to Christ — Torrey.
Ziceites Jahr.
■ Die deutsche Bibel. (a) Altes Testament, Esra — Malea-
chi. (b) Neues Testament, Apostelgeschichte bis Offb. Jo-
hannes.
Binney's Theological Compend — Binney-Steele.
Heilige Geschichte — Sulzberger.
Calwer Kirchengeshichte.
Life of St. Paul— Stalker.
Social Law of Service — Ely.
Die Krankenpflege — Duembling.
Buecher Angeraten eu Lesen.
Manual of Nursing — Weeks.
Tongue of Fire — Arthur.
Vereinigte Brueder Kirchengeschichte — Berger.
Groesserer Katechismus — Nast.
CHAPTER X.
Appeals.
Section I.
FROM THE DECISION OF A CLASS.
Should any member be dissatisfied with the decision
of a church or class, or committee of a church or class, an
appeal may be had to the next quarterly conference by
giviing notice thereof to the preacher in charge, or the
secretary of the trial, within thirty days after said trial,
together with the reasons for such appeal ; and it shall b?
the duty of the secretary to furnish the quarterly confer-
ence with a certified copy of the proceedings of the trial
and of the notice of the appeal.
Section II.
from the decision of a quarterly conference.
Any member of a quarterly conference dissatisfied with
the decision thereof, may appeal to the ensuing annual con-
ference, within thirty days after the quarterly conference,
by giving notice to the secretary, in writing, of his inten-
tion to appeal, together with his reasons for so doing ; and
it shall be the duty of the secretary to furnish a certified
copy of the proceedings, the notification, and the reasons
assigned, to the annual conference.
Section III.
COURT OF appeals.
1. Any member of an annual conference, when dissatis-
fied with the decision thereof, shall have a right to appeal
to a judicial court, which shall be constituted and governed
as hereinafter stated.
2. Each annual conference, at the first session subse-
quent to the session of the General Conference, shall elect
by ballot two members of the court, who shall hold oflace
for four consecutive years.
3. In case of an appeal from an annual conference in
form and manner hereinafter set forth, the presiding bishop
of said conference shall, at such time and place as he may
determine, call together seven of the members of the court
76
APPEALS 77
most accessible to the conference from which the appeal is
taken, who, thus called together, shall constitute an appellate
court to hear and determine said appeal.
4. This court shall organize by electing a chairman and
some competent person as secretary.
5. The secretary shall receive and hold all papers and
records pertaining to said appeal, subject to the order of
the chairman ; keep a true record of all proceedings of said
court, and certify the decision thereof to the annual con-
ference from whitch the appeal is taken, and also to the
appellant.
G. Five of these members shall be necessary to consti-
tute a quorum, and four must agree on a verdict. The
court may affirm or reverse the finding and decision of the
annual conference, or affirm in part and reverse in part ;
but it shall not reverse the same, nor remand the case for
a new trial on account of errors plainly not affecting the
result.
7. The decision of this court shall in all cases be final,
except when the objections are taken on the ground that
the proceedings were irregular in the application of law,
and said objections are entered before the verdict of the
court is announced. In case of appeal from the court under
this clause, the appellant must give notice within thirty
days to the secretary of the court, \(^ho shall send a copy
of all proceedings in said case to the General Conference.
8. In case of an appeal from the decision of an annual
conference, the appellant must give written notice to the
secretary of said conference within thirty days after the
adjournment thereof, setting forth both his intention to
appeal and the reasons for so doing.
9. On receipt of a notice of appeal, the secretary of the
conference shall immediately notify the presiding bishop,
and, on notice from said bishop, transmit a copy of the
proceedings of the conference in said case to said court of
appeal.
10. The necessary expenses incurred in the assembling
of said court shall be paid by the appellant, if the appeal is
not sustained ; if the appeal is sustained, the annual con-
ference in which the appeal is made shall pay the expenses,
and the appellant shall, in all cases, at the time the notice
of appeal is given, deposit with the secretary of said an-
nual conference security for the payment of sai'^. expenses,
in an amount fixed by said secretary.
PART III
Social Service and Moral Reform
CHAPTER XI.
Special rules.
Section I.
SOCIAL SERVICE.
Inasmuch as existing social and industrial conditions call
for wise and firm Iparlprship from the churches, the Churc:i
of the United Brethren in Christ stands :
1. For equal rights and complete justice for all men in
all stations of life.
2. For the protection of the family, by the single stand-
ard of purity, uniform divorce laws, proper regulation of
marriage, and proper housing.
3. For the fullest possible development for every child,
especially by the provision of proper education and recrea-
tion.
4. The abolition of child labor.
5. For such regulation of the conditions of toil for
women as shall safeguard the physical and moral health of
the community.
6. For such consideration of the causes of poverty as
win lead to their prevention and abatement.
7. For the absolute prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of alcoholic liquor by state and federal enactment be-
cause of the social, economic, and moral waste of the liquor
traflBc.
8. For the conservation of health.
9. For the protection of the worker from dangerous ma-
chinery, occupational diseases, and mortality.
10. For the right of all men to the opportunity for
self-maintenance, for safe-guarding this right against en-
croachments of every kind, and for the protection of workers
from the hardships of enforced employment.
11. For old age and unemployment insurance, and for
adequate federal action touching our unemployment problem.
12. For the right of employees and employers aliike to
organize for adequate means of conciliation and arbitration
in industrial disputes.
78
SOCIAL SERVICE AND MORAL REFORM 79
13. For a release from employment one day in sevenu
tA. For the gradual and reasonable reduction of the
hours of labor to the lowest practicable point, and for that
degree of leisure for all which is a condition of the highest
human life.
15. For a living wage as a minimum in every industry,
and for the highest wage that each industry can afford.
16. For a new emphasis upon the application of Chris-
tian principles to the acquisition and use of property, and
for the most equitable division of the product of industry
that can be ultimately devised.
Section II.
TEMPERANCE.
Intoxicating Drinks.
1. The making, vending, and using of intoxicating
drinks as a beverage, the renting and leasing of property
to be used for the manufacture or sale of such drinks, also
the signing of petitions for granting liscense, or the enter-
ing as bondsmen for persons engaged in the traflBc in in-
toxicating drinks, are strictly prohibited ; and should any
of our members be found guilty in these respects, they shall
be dealt with as in the case of other immoralities ; this
rule, however, shall not be so constructed as to prevent drug-
gists and others from the vending and using of alcohol for
medicinal or mechanical purposes.
Temperance Commission.
2. There shall be a permanent temperance commission,
consisting cf one minister and one layman from each
bishop's district, to be appointed by the board of bishops.
The duties of this commission shall be : To keep in close
touch with similar organizations in other churches ; to ap-
point or to authorize the appointment of delegates to local or
national bodies ; to collect funds for the expenses of corre-
spondence and suitable literature.
3. The last Sunday in November of each year shall be
observed as Temperance Day, but where an annual field-day
is observed under the auspices of an organized temperance
agency this shall be a substitute, when desirable, for the
Temperance Day.
80 DISCIPLINE
Tobacco.
4. We believe that the use of tobacco in any form is
injurious to body, mind, and moral nature, and a needless
waste of money which could and should be otherwise applied ;
and we kindly advise all our members to abstain from its
use.
Section III.
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
The Sabbath day is ordained of God as a day of physical
rest and of spiritual improvement, and the perpetuity of
our civil and religious institutions demands its proper ob-
servance. The Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in
view of the growing tendency to profane the day, as seen in
the open saloon, the beer-garden, the base-ball games, the
social dance, excursion trains, unnecessary labor, the increas-
ing apathy of the masses to attend the public service of the
church, and the disregard of God's command to "remember
the sabbath day to keep it holy." earnestly counsels all its
members to abstain from everything that does not contribute
in the highest degree to their spiritual growth. Our minis-
ters and general officers of the Church are advised to be
examples to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made
them overseers.
Section IV.
SLAVERY.
All slavery, in every sense of the word, is totally pro-
hibited, and shall in no v^ay be tolerated m our Church.^
Section V.
SECRET combinations.
1. A secret combination is a secret league or confeder-
ation of persons holding principles and laws at variance
with the Word of God and injurious to Christian character,
as evidenced in individual life, and infringing upon the nat-
ural, social, political, or religious rights of those outside its
pale.
2. Any member or minister of our Church found in con-
nection with such combination shall be dealt with as in
*Thl8 law. In its essential character, was adopted by the Gen-
eral Conference in 1821, Bishops Newcomer and Zeller presiding.
SOCIAL SERVICE AND MORAL REFORM 81
Other cases of disobedience to the order and discipline of
the Church ; in case of members, as found in Chapter IV..
Section III,, and in case of ministers, as found in Chapter
VI., Section IX.
SIection VI.
OATHS.
We believe that the mode of testifying to the truth when
required to do so in a legal form, by way of affirmation, is
on us solemnly, conscientiously, and fully binding, before
God, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth.
Section VII.
WAR.
We most positively record our disapproval of engagi'ng in
voluntary national aggressive warfare ; yet we recognize
the rightful authority of the civil government, and hold it
responsible for the preservation and defense of our national
compact against treason or invasion by any belligerent force,
and we believe it to be entirely consistent with the spirit
of Christianity to bear arms when called upon to do so by
the properly-constituted authorities of our Government for
its preservation and defense.
Section VIII.
DIVORCE.
1. We believe that the marriage relation is of divine
authority ; that it is the mutual union of one man and
one woman ; that the obligation is most sacred, and morally
binding so long as both shall live, and therefore cannot be
dissolved at will, nor should it be by a decree of a civil
tribunal, except on evidence that one party is guilty of
adultery.
2. On positive evidence of such guilt the innocent party
i"s free from further matrimonial obligations and justly en-
titled to a divorce and to marry again, but the guilty party
has no such right.
3. We deny the right of marriage to both parties who
have been divorced for other causes than adultery.
82 nisciPLiNE
4. Any person sustaining a marriage relation contrary
to that above recognized as justifiable shall be ineligible to
the ofEce of the ministry of this Church.
5. No minister of this Church shall knowingly solemnize
the marriage of two persons, either of whom has been
divorced for other than the above justifiable cause, and shall
be amenable to the Church for disobedience to the order
thereof.
6. Every pastor shall be required to preach at least once
a year on the sanctity of the home, and to warn his people
against the debasing influences that imperil our home life.
PART IV
Property
CHAPTER XII.
Church-Houses and Parsonages,
Electing Trustees.
1. Whenever it is contemplated to purchase or build a
church-house or parsonage, it shall be the duty of- any
member to make it known to the quarterly conference of
the circuit or station to which he belongs. The quarterly
conference shall then elect a board of trustees of not less
than three persons, or as the law of the State may require :
provided, however, that at least a majority of said board
shall be members of the Church of the United Brethren in
Christ. The trustees shall hold their office during the pleas-
ure of the quarterly conference.
Vacancies.
2. When vacancies occur in a board of trustees it shall
be the duty of the quarterly conference to elect suitable
persons to fill such vacancies, and the secretary of the board
of trustees shall see that the records of the county wherein
such board may reside shall correspond with the facts in the
case according as the law of the State may require, after
such vacancies have been filled.
Duties of Trustees.
3. The trustees shall meet annually, and shall organize,
if a new, or reorganize if an old board, by electing from their
number the following officers ; namely, a president, secretary,
and treasurer. Special meetings may be called by the presi-
dent or by a majority of the members of the board.
4. The secretary shall keep a correct record of all busi-
ness transactions of the board in a book provided for that
purpose, which shall at all times be open for the inspection
of the official board and the quarterly conference, as well
as of the board of trustees.
83
84 DISCIPLINE
5. The treasurer shall receive all funds of the board for
church-house, cemetery, or parsonage purposes, and pay
out the same under the direction of the board, on regularly-
drawn orders signed by the president and secretary, and
report the financial condition at their several meetings, and
to the quarterly conference at least once each year.
6. No board of trustees shall begin the building of a
church-house or parsonage without first submitting their
plans and estimates of lot, or lots, and building to the
official board or quarterly conference for consideration, ap-
proval and direction. Nor shall they proceed to buy or
build without first procuring an incorporation of their board
such as the State requires, and approved by the board of
annual, conference trustees, nor without securing and re-
cording a legal deed to themselves and their successors in
office in trust for the Church of the United Brethren in
Christ, for the real estate which they purchase, nor until
they have the necessary means either in hand or sufficiently
assured, thus securing harmony of action, and avoiding the
encumbering of houses of worship and parsonages with em-
barrassing debts.
7. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to take
charge of all the church property, employ janitors, fur-
nish light and fuel, keep the property insured, and look
carefully after other wants from time to time.
8. For the raising of funds for extraordinary expenses,
such as building churches, or making extensive repairs, or
paying large debts, the trustees may devise such measures
as may be deemed best, and report the same to the official
board or quarterly conference for approval and co-operation.
Sale and Rent of Church-Houses and Parsonages.
9. The quarterly conference may authorize the board of
trustees to lease, rent, or sell church or parsonage prop-
erty within its jurisdiction ; provided, however, that said
proceeds shall be used in purchasing, repairing, or building
new church or parsonage property within its bounds, except
the interest or rents accruing from parsonage property,
which may be applied to pay rent on the house occu-
pied by the pastor. Provided further, that no church-house
shall be sold that would result in the discontinuation or
disorganization of a class, without the consent of the &ry
nual conference within the bounds of which said property
is located. An exchange of church property for the purpose
PROPERTY 85
of federation with a church of another denomination in the
coramunitj' may be effected, when so desired, upon approval
of the annual conference.
Conditions of Mortgages and Liens.
10. No board of trustees shall have power to mortgage
or to place a lien of any kind on real estate of the United
Brethren in Christ, except for the purchase of such real
estate, or the erection of necessary buildings, or for repair-
ing, or otherwise improving the same.
Unused Church-Houses.
11. When a house of worship outside of the jurisdiction
of any quarterly conference ceases to be used by our own
people for preaching or other religious purposes, ft shall be
the duty of the conference superintendent of the district in
which such house is located to report to the annual confer-
ence, which body shall authorize the board of conference
trustees to rent, lease, or sell such house of worship, as they
may deem advisable, and report their proceedings to the an-
nual conference, and that body shall have power to use
the proceeds to pay debts on other houses of worship, build
new houses of worship, or turn the money into the funds of
the conference church extension society, or conference
church erection society, as may seem proper, at its own dis-
cretion ; provided, that in no case shall a" church-house and
its premises be sold without the consent of the annual con-
ference within whose bounds it is located. A conference in
which there is no board of conference trustees shall have
power to elect such a board.
Abandoned Parsonages.
12. Should any parsonage be permanently abandoned as
such, the superintendent of the district in which such parson-
age is located shall report the same to the annual conference,
which body shall authorize the board of conference trustees
to rent, lease, or sell such parsonage and report their pro-
ceedings to the next annual conference, which body shall
have power to use the money to pay debts on other parson-
ages or in building new ones within its borders, or to turn
the money into the conference church extension society,
or conference church erection society. Where there is no
board of conference trustees the conference shall have power
to elect such a board.
86 DISCIPLINE
Transfer of Churches.
13. When a lot is deeded to an English United Breth-
ren church, or to a German United Brethren church, and
one or the other ceases to exist in an organized form, by
deaths, removals, expulsions, or otherwise, or when a
majority of the members of said church shall decide to
change either from the German to the English, or vice
tiersa. then the church remaining shall have full right to
make such improvements or repairs on said lot as may
be desirable for the purposes of worship, and shall be en-
titled to peaceful possession.
Division of Interest.
14. In cases where fields of labor having parsonages upon
them are divided, the disposition of said parsonages shall
be submitted to a board of arbitration, consisting of three
members of the Church, one to be chosen by each quarterly
conference and the third by these two, to whom the whole
matter shall be referred, their decision of the case being
final. In cases where more than two quarterly conferences
are interested, the same plan shall be pursued. In case this
plan fails the quarterly conferences shall instruct the con-
ference superintendent to appoint a committee of three per-
sons, all members of our Church but none of them residents
or members of eiither of the fields affected, and their decision
shall be final; provided, however, that such action shall be
taken within two years of such division.
Real Estate.
15. Other real estate held for church or parsonage pur-
poses shall be subject to the same regulations as houses of
worship and parsonages.
Conference or District Property.
16. Where there is no provision by the laws of the
State for the incorporation of religious organizations, and
there is property that belongs to a district or conference,
such as parsonages for the use of bishops or conference
superintendents, said conference or the conferences of said
district may elect a board of trustees, who shall be members
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, residing
within the district or conference, who shall have the right to
receive deeds for such property and power to lease, rent, or
sell the same.
PROPERTY
87
17. Any quarterly conference that has appointed trus-
tees for a bishop's parsonage shall fill all vacancies under
the direction of the co-operating conferences.
PART V
Boards, Departments, and Institutions
CHAPTER XI 11.
Board of Church Trustees.
1. Be it ordained by the General Conference of the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ, That there
shall be an incorporated board of trustees for the Church
of the United Brethren in Christ, consisting of twelve mem-
bers, a majority of whom shall be citizens of Ohio, elected
by the General Conference of said Church for a term of four
years, or until their successors are elected. Said board shall
be known as the Trustees of the United Brethren in Christ,
and its headquarters shall be in Dayton, Ohio.
2. The organization of this board shall be effected
at its first regular meeting of each quadrennium by the
election of a president and secretary, and it shall thereafter
reorganize annually. The general Church treasurer shall
be the treasurer of this body. It shall meet on the call of
the president annually, or whenever the president and secre-
tary may determine. The board may elect an executive
committee with authority to transact any necessary business
in the interim of the board's sessions, subject to the approval
of the board.
3. It shall be the duty of the board to receive, hold in
trust, or apply, for the benefit of the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ, any and all funds, donations, grants,
and bequests that may be given, directed, or conveyed to
such board or to the United Brethren Church as such, for
any benevolent purpose whatever. All such funds and the
proceeds thereof shall be applied in harmony with the
specified purpose of the donors, or in the absence of such
specifications, as the board may determine.
4. The board shall report quadrennially to the Gen-
eral Conference of said Church all funds and property
received for the Church and the disposition made of the
same, and shall be answerable to, and under the direction
of said General Conference.
88
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 89
CHAPTER XIV.
Board of Administration.
Organization.
1. The general Board of Administration shall consist of
the bishops, cx-offtcio, and one minister and one layman
for every fifty thousand members or fraction thereof from
each bishop's district in the United States, to be elected by
the General Conference. The General Conference shall elect
an executive secretary.
2. The board shall meet after the adjournment of General
Conference on the call of the senior bishop. It shall elect a
chairman and recording secretary, and such committees as
shall be needed. It shall have power to appoint its times
and places of meeting during the Quadrennium.
3. The board shall have power to fill any vacancies in
its own body which may occur during the quadrenuium.
Duties of the Board.
4. The Board of Administration is entrusted with the
promotion of the financial plan of the Church.
5. The board shall provide for the General Conference
expense fund.
0. The board shall direct general campaigns during the
quadrennium to attain such Church goals as have been de-
termined by the General Conference.
7. The board shall receive reports from the general
Church treasurer, and to it he shall be responsible for the
faithful performance of his duties.
8. The board shall direct the auditing of the accounts
of all departments of the Church, with a view to securing
such uniformity of method and completeness of form as shall
be most eSicient, and shall give any needed information to
the Church.
9. The board shall plan and put into execution a cam-
paign for the raising of a pension fund for aged ministers.
10. The board shall fill any vacancies in General Confer-
ence offices that may occur during the quadrenuium, in
case there is no specific board charged with that duty, and
no provision of the Discipline to fill such oflice.
11. The board shall be the co-ordinating body for the
entire denomination, acting with the bishops, to secure har-
mony and efiiciency in the plans of all Church departments.
90 DISCIPLINE.
In exercising this function, it shall have on advisory rela-
tion to all departments as to business methods and plans.
12. The board shall recommend to succeeding General
Conferences such changes in the Discipline and plans of
organization, and such methods of co-operation as it believes
will increase the efficiency and co-ordinate the work of the
entire Church, its recommendations to be printed and mailed
to each delegate to the next General Conference at least
thirty days before the convening of the conference.
13. The board shall study the charters of institutions
and societies of the Church, and supply the General Con-
ference any needed information.
Note : The Board of Administration was authorized to
devise a practical plan by which delegates to the General
Conference may be provided with advance reports of the
departments.
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 91
CHAPTER XV.
Financial Plan of the Church.
Board of Administration.
1. The general Board of Administration shall promote
the financial plan of the Cliurch, encourage the study and
practice of Christian stewaivlship, give publicity to plans
and methods, re-enforce the departments in securing funds,
and aid in attaining the financial goals fixed by the General
Conference.
Apportionment and Division of Funds.
2. (1) The Board of Administration shall apportion the
General Conference budget to the annual conferences, and
determine the ratio of distribution of the benevolence budget
to the boards whose support from the budget is authorized
by the General Conference.
(2) The annual conferences shall make an apportion-
ment of the general benevolence budget, including the annual
conference budget, to the various charges in the conference.
The entire amount collected from the various charges in the
conference shall be divided between the general benevolence
budget and the annual conference budget on the basis of the
proportion that each sustains to the entire budget. The
amount of the general benevolence budget shall be trans-
mitted immediately to the general Church treasurer at
Dayton, Ohio, who shall at once send a copy of the receipts
to the various departments. The general Church treasurer
shall credit to the various departments the amounts due
them from this fund on the basis of the proportion that the
apportionment for them to that conference sustains to the
entire general benevolence budget for said conference.
(3) Should an annual conference consider its apportion-
ment excessive, it may confer with the general Board of Ad-
ministration for adjustment of the apportionment.
The Annual Conference.
3. (1) There shall be in each annual conference a fin-
ance committee composed of the conference superintendents
and an equal number of ministers and laymen elected by the
annual conference who shall arrange for the annual con-
ference budget and apportion it to the various charges. This
committee shall co-operate with the committee in the local
92 DISCIPLINE
church and the general Board of Administration in working
out the financial plan on each charge.
(2) The annual conference budget shall consist of the
apportionment of the general budget, plus the annual con-
ference benevolences, which shall include the apportionment
for the educational institutions with which the conference
co-operates. In fixing the amount to be apportioned to the
annual conference benevolences consideration should b'i given
to the real needs and the present and past giving of the
conferences to these benevolences. The conference committee
shall report to the annual conference the entire conference
budget and the amount included for each interest for ad-
justment and adoption,
(3) In apportioning this budget to the various charges,
the conference committee shall be governed by the ability
and the standard of giving of the local church or churches.
(4) The entire amount collected from the various
charges in the conference shall be divided between the gen-
eral benevolence budget and the conference budget on the
basis of the proportion that each sustains to the entire
budget.
(5) All conference benevolence work shall first be ap-
proved by the conference committee on finance before being
presented to the local churches. i
(6) Should any charge consider the apportionment ma'3'e
by the annual conference as excessive, the ofiicial body of
the charge may confer with the conference committee on
finance for readjustment.
The Local Church.
4, (1) Each local church shall give special attention to
systematic instruction in Christian stewardship and the
methods of finance recommended by the committee.
(2) The official board shall elect a benevolence com-
mittee in each local church which in conjunction with the
pastor shall provide for the benevolence offerings of the
church.
(3) The benevolence committee shall direct an every-
member canvass of the members and supporters of the
church for an offering on the weekly basis for the benevo-
lence budget. This canvass when possible shall be made at
a different time from that for the current expense budget.
(4) It is recommended by the General Conference that
pastors and official boards give the official benevolences the
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 93
r
right of way before allowing special and outside local benev-
olences to be presented to their congregations ; furthermore,
such appeals shall be presented only after they have the
endorsement of the official board.
Plan of Finance for the Local Church.
5. (1) The official board or the quarterly conference
shall arrange a budget for the current expenses, including
the pastor's salary, the conference superintendent's salary
unless otherwise provided by the annual conference, and all
the other local church expenses for the year.
(2) A committee on finance shall be elected by the offi-
cial board. This committee shall provide for a personal
canvass of the members and supporters of the church for
an annual pledge on the weekly basis, and when practical
this canvass shall be made prior to the beginning of the
fiscal year. This canvass can be omitted when the scriptural
plan has been adopted of bringing the whole tithe into the
storehouse.
(3) The quarterly conference shall elect a financial secre-
tary and two treasurers, one to care for the current expense
fund and the other for the benevolence offerings of the
church. The financial secretary shall keep an account of
the offerings to both budgets in a book provided for that
purpose. The treasurer of the benevolence fund shall remit
to the conference treasurer monthly. The treasurer of the
current expense fund shall distribute it as ordered by the
official board.
The Sunday School.
6. (1) A budget covering all the current expenses of
the Sunday school may be prepared by the proper officials
of the Sunday school, the same to be submitted to the
church committee on finance to be incorporated in the local
church's current expense budget. All bills shall be paid by
the church treasurer on orders signed by the superintendent
and secretary of the Sunday school.
(2) The regular offerings taken in the Sunday school
shall be applied on the budgets adopted by the local church.
(3) When practical, the envelope system for offering is
to be used, a definite per cent, of the offering to be appor-
tioned by the Sunday-school board to both the current ex-
pense and benevolence budgets of the local church. If the
duplex envelope is used, then the amount indicated by the
94 DISCIPLINE
giver shall go to each budget. The every-member canvass
plan may be carried out in the Sunday school.
Apportionments.
7. (1) The benevolence budget is to be regarded as the
minimum and not the maximum standard of giving. It is not
an assessment, but what is asked of the local church through
the general Board of Administration to sustain the various
boards and the work of the conference.
(2) Previous to the every-member canvass for both cur-
rent expense and benevolence budgets, there should be special
sermons and inspirational addresses, systematic study of the
financial plan of the church, the needs of the various boards,
and the work of the annual conference.
Teaching Christian Stewardship.
8. (1) The Board of Administration shall teach and
otherwise promote the principles of Christian stewardship,
as they apply to life, talent, time, and all possessions.
(2) The outstanding principles of Christian stewardship
recorded in the Word of God and fostered by the Church are
God's ownership and man's tenancy. The resources of the
earth, the mines, the forests, the fields, the cattle upon a
thousand hills are his. Man, into whose hands these things
are given, is to administer them in such a way as to carry
out God's purposes in the establishment of his kingdom. In
his Word, three distinct statements are given concerning the
part he has reserved for himself for this purpose : First,
"The tithe is the Lord's" — it does not and cannot belong to
man ; second, "It is holy unto the Lord" — a sacred thing
which we should return devotedly to him ; third, "Bring the
tithe into the place Avhich the Lord thy God shall choose to
set his name there" — offer it with devotion in the house or
place set aside for his worship. On the first day of the
week we are to worship by bringing an offering cheerfully
as God hath prospered.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK 95
CHAPTER XVI.
Department of Sunday School, Brotherhood, and
Young People's Work.
Section I.
constitution.
In order to secure a general and systematic study of the
Bible, the development of the various forms of men's work
in our Church, and the training of our young people for the
best service, we ordain the following constitution for the
departments to be known as the department of Sunday
School and Brotherhood work, and the department of
Young People's work, which departments shall be the legal
successors to what was heretofore known as the General
Sunday School Board, the Men's Movement, and Young
People's Christian Endeavor Union.
Article I. — Board of Control.
The departments of Sun-day School and Brotherhood, and
of Young People's work, shall be under the direction of a
general board of control.
Article II. — Object.
The object of this board shall be to promote the organ-
ization, growth, and efficiency of Sunday schools, Brother-
hoods, and Young People's societies, and hoM such conven-
tions as may be deemed wise and necessary.
Article III. — Members of the Board.
The board shall be composed of nine members, at least
five of whom shall be laymen, who shall be elected by the
General Conference, together with the editors of the Sun-
day-school literature, the editor of the Watchword, and the
general publishing agent. The ' bishops shall be ex officio
members of this board. A majority of the board shall con-
stitute a quorum.
Article IV. — Officers and Meetings.
1. This board shall be convened by the senior bishop
within thirty days after election, and shall be organized by
electing a president and recording secretary.
2. The general treasurer of the Church shall be the
treasurer of this board.
96 DISCIPLINE
3. The board shall meet annually in the month of April
or May on such day or days as it may from time to time
determine ; other meetings may be held upon the call of
the president of the board.
Article V. — Executive Committee.
The board shall elect five as an executive committee for
the department of Sunday Schopl and Brotherhood work,
and five as an executive committee for the department of
Young People's v^'ork, which committees shall act in the
interims of the board meetings.
Article VI.— Vacancies.
The board shall be empowered to fill vacancies occurring
during the quadrennium.
Article VII. — Funds.
1. The sources of the funds shall be an apportionment
from the Board of Administration an-d the offerings from
the observance of Children's Day, Brotherhood Day, and
Young People's anniversary day.
2. The funds of the department of Sunday School and
Brotherhood work shall be used to assist in maintaining
Sunday schools in home and foreign fields, in organizing
and promoting the best interests of Bible classes. Brother-
hoods, leagues, etc., and for defraying the legitimate ex-
penses of the department ; provided that the principal of all
permanent funds shall be carefully invested and only the
income therefrom be expended.
3. The funds of the department of Young People's work
shall be used in promoting religious work among our young
people, in providing for their training in Christian service
throughout the entire denomination, and in helping to defray
the expenses of the department.
4. All applications for literature for Sunday schools shall
be made through the general secretary, the granting of
which request shall be subject to regulations prescribed by
the board or executive committee. Appropriations shall be
made only to Sunday schools conducted in harmony with the
disciplinary provisions of the United Brethren Church, or
to schools giving satisfactory evidence that they will soon
become such.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK 97
Article VIII. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at the meetings of th«
board. He shall also call special meetings of the board when
in his judgment and that of the executive committee, it is
uecessary.
2. The recording secretary shall keep an accurate record
of the business transactions of the board in a book provided
for that purpose, and under direction of tlie president shall
issue the call for the regular and special sessions of the
board.
2>. The general Church treasurer shall hold in trust the
funds of the board and disburse the same on orders proper-
ly signed by the chairman and secretary of the executive
committee of each department respectively.
4. It shall be the duty of the general secretary of the
department of Sunday School and Brotherhood work, when
at all practicable, to visit the conferences in the interest of
the work of his department ; he shall endeavor to stimulate
interest in Sunday schools and Brotherhoods by presenting
the most approved methods of work ; he shall urge the or-
ganization and maintenance of all recognized departments ;
he shall promote teacher-training and shall urge the ob-
servance of Children's Day ; he shall aid in developing Chris-
tian benevolence and interest in missions in Sunday schools
nnd Brotherhoods ; he shall keep a record of all bequests,
legacies, notes, and other valuable papers coming into his
l)ossession and turn them over to the general Church treas-
urer for safe deposit ; he shall prepare and publish a quad-
rennial report for the General Conference and perform such
other duties as the board may direct.
5. It shall be the duty of the general secretary of the
department of Young People's work to plan for and pro-
mote the most approved methods of work among our young
people ; to visit conferences and hold institutes in connection
with conference union conventions ; to consult with con-
ference union officers as to the best ways of increasing the
efficiency of the local societies, to stimulate religious train-
ing among our young people, and to prepare reports and
perform such duties as the board may direct.
Article IX. — Annual-Conference Relations and Duties.
1. Each annual conference shall elect annually a confer-
ence board, consisting of five members. This board shall
meet immediately on tlie adjournment of the annual confer-
98 DISCIPLINE
ence and organize by electing a president, secretary, and
treasurer. The duties of this board shall be :
a. To stimulate the development of the Sunday school
and Brotherhood work within the bounds of the conference.
b. To appoint a conference elementary division superin-
tendent, and such other officers as may be found necessary
to promote the work of the Sunday schools in the conference.
0. The secretary shall collect and preserve the statistics
of Sunday schools and Brotherhoods of the conference and
transmit a copy thereof to the general secretary of the
department of Sunday School and Brotherhood work.
d. It shall represent the interests of this department be-
fore the annual conference and hold an anniversary service
at each annual conference session.
e. It shall be allowed by the annual conference sufficient
funds to perform the duties outlined above.
Article X. — Pastor s Relations.
The pastor shall have general supervision over the Sun-
day schools, Brotherhoods, and Young People's societies of
his charge, and shall be present at their sessions as often
as practicable. He shall be present and preside at the re-
organization of his Sunday schools. It shall be his duty to
organize a Sunday school at each appointment on his charge
where there is not one already. He shall encourage the or-
ganization of Young People's societies and Brotherhoods on
his charge where at all practicable. He shall furnish such
statistics of schools, Brotherhoods, and Young People's soci-
eties as are required by the annual-conference chart, and
such other statistical information as may be requested by
the authorized heads of the departments. It shall also be
his duty to see that Cliildren's Day and Young People's an-
niversary day are observed and that liberal offerings are
taken upon these days and sent to the general Church
treasurer. These offerings shall be in addition to the con-
ference apportionment for the general board.
Section II.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK.
Organization of Neio Sunday Schools.
In organizing a new school the pastor shall pursue such
plan as he may think advisable to s'ecure a superintendent,
SUJNDAY-SCHOOL WORK 99
secretary, and treasurer. It is desirable that, if possible,
such officers should be active Christians and members of our
Church. They shall hold office for one year, and shall per-
form the duties which usually pertain to such offices.
CONSTITUTION FOR A SUNDAY SCHOOL.
It is recommended that all the Sunday schools adopt the
following constitution ; provided, that any school may have
the privilege of enacting such by-laws for its better regula-
tion as will not conflict with the constitution.
Article I. — Name.
This school shall be known as the United Brethren Sun
dky School of .
Article II.— Object.
The object of the school shall be to gather in all peopU
for the study of the Bible and for the study of the various
activities of the church, to secure th^f salvation of souIp
to train for Christian service, and to promote the worship of
God.
Article III. — Officers.
1. The officers shall be the pastor, a general superintend-
ent, and superintendent for the elementary, the secondary,
and the adult divisions, a secretary, a treasurer, a librarian,
and, when desired by the school, a chorister and organist.
The duties of these officers shall be such as usually pertain
to such offices ; and whenever it is deemed necessary for the
interests of the school, an assistant may be elected in each
of these offices ; all of whom shall be subject in their official
duties to their superior officers, except in the absence of
such superiors.
2. There shall be an executive committee of three or five,
chosen by the school, a majority of whom shall be members
of the United Brethren Church at . The pastor and
superintendent shall also be members ex officio. It shall
be the duty of this committee to select and order a suit-
able amount of our own literature and helps for the school
from time to time, and look after the general interests of
the school.
3. The executive committee, in conjunction with the
teachers of the school, may at least one week prior to the
time of the annual election, nominate suitable persons as
100 DTSCTPLTNE
candidates for each of the various offices of the school ;
provided that, on stations, if desirable to the pastor, the
election of the superintendent may be by the official board.
4. All elections in schools shall be by ballot, only en-
rolled members over twelve years of age voting.
5. The superintendent, when at all possible, shall be a
member of the United Brethren Church in good and regular
standing. He, with the approval of the pastor, shall ap-
point the teachers ; provided, however, that regularly organ-
ized adult classes may select their teachers subject to the
approval of the superintendent and pastor.
G. The pastor of the church shall preside at each annual
election, whenever practicable, and the superintendent eft-
pastor shall preside at all special elections.
Article IV. — Vacancie'i.
Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled in the same
manner and form as above provided for annual reorganiza-
tion.
Article V. — Or()a),ize<l CJnfiftefi.
To promote greater efficiency and to increase attendance
in our Sunday schools, it is urged that all classes above the
junior age be organized, and that they secure their charters
from the general secretary of the denominational Sunday-
scho(jl board.
A rticle 1 7. — Mission fi.
Each of our Sunday schools, in its auxiliary relatioushii)
to the Home Missionary Society and the Foreign Missionary
Society of our Church, is expected to observe a monthly mis-
sionary day, on which a brief missionary exercise shall be
rendered and a missionary offering taken. In places where
a monthly missionary day seems impracticable, each school
shall be required to observe such a missionary day once a
quarter. The first and third quarters of the calendar year
shall be devoted to the study of foreign missions ; the second
and fourth quarters to the study of home missions ; the offer-
ings during these periods to go to the benevolence budget.
BROTITEUTIOOD WORK 101
Section III.
• BROTHERHOOD WORK.
General Statement.
A promising movement in modern Christianity is the bind-
ing together of men in church brotherhoods for personal
religious improvement and training for efficient service in
the kingdom of Christ.
A Brotherhood may be comprisev^l of a men's Bible class, a
federation of two or more men's Bible classes, or may be a
separate organization including all the men in the church
and community, providing it subscribes to the Brotherhood
objectives. The number of committees may be diminished
or increased at the discretion of the Brotherhood.
CONSTITUTION FOR A BROTHERHOOD.
Article I. — Name.
The name of this organization shall be the Otterbein
Brotherhood of the Church, United Brethren
in Christ.
Article II. — Ohject.
The purpose of this organization is to promote the Broth-
erhood spirit ; to secure the salvation, spiritual growth and
activity of our men ; to create interest in Bible study and
Christian fellowship among men ; to increase the efficiency
of the local church ; to encourage denominational loyalty ; to
enlist all the men of the community in all tlie movements for
social, civic, and industrial betterment. One of the definite
objects of the Brotherhood shall be to devise plans whereby
the boys of the community may be won to Christ and the
Church.
Article III. — Mem Icrsh ij).
1. Any man over sixteen years of age shall be eligible
to membership, if approved by the executive committee and
elected by a majority of the members present at any regular
meeting of the Brotherhood,
2. Each member shall be required to pay a monthly due
of cents.
Article IV. — Meeting ft.
1. Devotional. — The Brotherhood may hold weekly or
monthly devotional meetings for the study of the Word,
102 DISCIPLINE
prayer, and testimony. All members of the Brotherhood
should be encouraged to take a part.
2. Business. — Business meetings shall be held monthly oi*
quarterly or oftener at the call of the executive committee.
3. members present at any regular or special
meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
4. At the regular business meetings the officers and chair-
men of committees shall submit written reports of work done.
Article V. — Officers.
1. The elective officers shall consist of a president, vice-
president, secretary, and treasurer. They shall be elected
for one year by a majority of the members present at the
annual meeting and shall hold office until their successors
are chosen.
2. The president and treasurer shall be members of the
local church where this Brotherhood is organized.
3. The pastor shall be a member of the executive com-
mittee.
Article VI. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at all business meetings
and shall be a member ex officio of all regular committees.
2. The vice-president shall assist the president and shall
perform all the duties of the president in case of the latter's
absence or disability, and may be the director of the boy's
work of the Brotherhood.
3. The secretary shall keep a roll of the membership and
a record of all the proceedings of each business meeting.
He shall report the formation of the Brotherhood to the con-
ference organization and to the office of the board of con-
trol of Sunday School and Brotherhood work, and from
time to time report for publication items concerning the
progress of the Brotherhood.
4. The treasurer shall collect all dues, keep moneys, and
pay all bills upon the authorization of the president and
secretary. He shall make a report of all receipts and dis-
bursements at the regular business meetings of the Brother-
hood and shall be a member of, and report to, the official
board and the quarterly conference.
BROTHERHOOD WORK 103
Article VII. — Standing Committeefi and Their Duties.
1. There may be authorized seven standing committees —
executive, membership, devotional and religious work, social
and fellowship, Bible, mission study and Sunday school,
moral reform work, and work for boys.
2. The executive committee shall consist of the pastor,
officers of the Brotherhood, and the chairmen of the standing
committees. This committee shall outline plans and aims
for the Brotherhood and stimulate the different committees
in their specific duties.
3. The membership committee shall seek to win new
members, prayerfully follow up all delinquents, visit the
sick, and provide as far as possible for the relief of all
members in distress.
4. The devotional and religious work committee shall
provide leaders and topics for such devotional meetings as
shall be agreed upon, aid in building up the church prayer-
meeting and other church services, and plan such other
meetings as will promote the religious life of boys and men.
5. The social and fellowship committee shall provide
social functions, welcome strangers and newcomers to the
church services, Sunday-school and Brotherhood meetings,
and in every way encourage friendliness among men and
boys.
6. The Bible, mission study and Sunday-school com-
mittee shall seek to interest men in the study of the Bible,
missionary books as authorized by our mission boards, and
co-operate in the organization of men's and boys* classes in
the Sunday school.
7. The moral reform committee shall bring to the no-
tice of the Brotherhood all urgent problems of moral reform
and aid in advancing the cause of civic righteousness through
the Brotherhood.
8. Work for boys. This committee shall labor earnestly
to carry on Christian work among boys.
Article VIII. — Special Offering.
The Brotherhood shall take an offering each year in the
month of January for the board w^iich promotes it.
Article IX. — Amendments.
This constitution may be amended at any regular business
meeting of the Brotherhood by a two-thirds vote of the mem-
104 DISCIPLINE
bers present, provided the amendment was submitted to the
Brotherhood at a previous meeting.
Any by-laws may be adopted for increasing the eflBciency
of the Brotherhood, provided such are in harmony with this
constitution and the Discipline of the Church.
Section IV.
YOUNG people's WORK.
MODEL CONSTITUTION FOR THE CONFERENCE CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR UNION.
Article I. — J^ame.
This organization shall be called the Christian Endeavor
Union of the Conference of the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ.
Article II. — Object.
The object of this union shall be to unite the Young Peo-
ple's Christian societies of the conference for mutual help-
fulness, for stimulating church loyalty, and an intelligent
interest in the various Church enterprises, and for the or-
ganization and extension of Young People's Christian so-
cieties within the conference.
Article III. — Memhersldp.
1. Any Young People's Christian Endeavor society, or
any other Young People's Christian organization connected
with the United Brethren Church in this conference, may
be a member of this conference union. Local Junior and
Intermediate societies may likewise be members.
2. Each Yoimg People's society shall be entitled to
delegates and each Junior and Intermediate to
delegates to the convention of the conference union.
Article IV. — Officers.
1. The officers shall be a president, a vice-president, a
recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, a
Junior superintendent, and an Intermediate superintendent,
and such other department superintendents as may be deemed
necessary. These shall be elected at the regular convention
of the union.
2. The conference executive committee shall consist of all
the regularly elected officers and such others as may be
elected. The coramiltee should co-operate with the confer-
ence board of control.
YOUNG people's WORK 105
Article V. — Duties.
1. The duties of the president, vice-president, and treas-
urer shall be such as usually devolve upon such officers.
2. The duties of the recoi'ding secretary shall be to keep a
record of all transactions of the union and of the executive
committee.
3. The duties of the corresponding secretary shall be to
keep a list of the societies in the conference, with the name
of the president and corresponding secretary of each, and
a list of the officers of the conference union ; to furnish the
same to the general secretary of the department of Young
People's work, and to conduct all correspondence.
4. The Junior and Intermediate superintendents shall
have charge of the Junior and Intermediate work in the
conference.
5. The executive committee shall look after the interests
of the Young People's societies in the conference, provide
for meeting necessary expenses, for the collection of annual
<lues, arrange for the annual meetings, and perform such
other duties as may be required by the department of Young
People's work.
Article VI. — Conventions.
The conventions of this conference union shall be held
annually at such time and place as may be determined l)y
the union or by its executive committee.
Article VII. — Finances.
The funds for the regidar work of this union may be
raised by annual dues levied upon each Young People's,
Intermediate, and Junior society in the conference, the
amount to be determined by the union. Each society shall
also make a contribution by dues or otherwise to the benev-
olence budget.
The missionary fuuds raised by the Junior Christian En-
deavor societies for missionary purposes other than confer-
ence missionary objects shall be sent to the conference
Christian Endeavor union treasurer to be forwarded to the
treasurer of the Women's Missionary Association, at Dayton,
Ohio.
Article VIII. — By-Laws.
The conference union may enact such l)y-laws as con-
ference conditions and needs may require. It is expected
lot) DISCIPLINE
that no by-laws inconsistent with the general good of the
Young People's work in the Church will be enacted.
Model Ck)NSTiTUTioN for a Young People's Society
OF Christian Endeavor.
Article I. — Name.
This society shall be called the Young People's Society of
Christian Endeavor of* United Brethren Church
oft .
Article II. — Object.
It shall be the object of this society to promote an ear-
nest Christian life among its members, to increase their
mutual acquaintance, to make them more useful in the serv-
ice of God, to promote loyalty to the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ, to study its life and interests, and to
seek in every proper way to assist in the growth of both
the local church and the denomination at large, as our par-
ticular part of God's Zion.
Article III. — Membership.
1. The members shall consist of three classes, active,
associate, and honorary.
2. Active Members. — The active members of this society
shall consist of the pastor and all Christian young people
who sincerely desire to accomplish the object above specified.
Voting powers shall be vested only in the active members.
3. Associate Members. — All young persons of worthy
character who have not as yet publicly professed their faith
in Christ, may become associate members of this society.
They shall have the special prayers and sympathy of the
active members. It is expected that all associate members
will regularly attend the prayer meetings and that they
will in time become active members.
4. Honorary or Affiliated Members. — Persons who for
any reason cannot assume the duties of active membership,
but who are interested in the society, and desire to promote
its welfare, may become honorary members. Honorary mem-
bers are expected to support the society financially and
otherwise.
5. These different persons shall become members upon
election by the society.
Insert name of church, tinscrt name of place.
YOUNG people's WORK 107
Article IV. — Officers and Committees.
1. The officers of this society shall be a president, a
vice-president, a recording secretary, a corresponding secre-
tary, and a treasurer, all of whom shall be chosen from the
active members of the society. The president should be a
member of the United Brethren Church,
2. Executive Committee. — This committee shall consist
of the pastor of the church, the officers of the society, the
chairmen of the various committees, and the Junior and
Intermediate superintendents. All matters requiring debate
may be brought first before this committee.
3. Other Committees. — There shall be appointed from the
active membership such committees as shall be necessary to
carry on the work of the society, these committees to be
selected from the list suggested in the by-laws.
Article V. — Duties of Officers.
1. President. — The president of the society shall perform
the duties usually pertaining to that office. He shall have
general oversight of the interests of the society, and it shall
be his care to see that the different committees perform
the duties devolving upon them. He shall make a report of
the work of the society at each session of the quarterly con-
ference or official board.
2. Vice-President. — The vice-president shall assist the
president in promoting the interest of the society and shall
perform the duties of the president in his absence.
3. Recording Secretary. — The recording secretary shall
keep a record of the members, and correct it from time to
time, as may be necessary ; shall obtain the signature of
each newly-elected member to the pledge ; shall correspond
with absent members, and inform them of their standing in
the society ; shall keep correct minutes of all business meet-
ings of the society ; and shall notify all persons elected to
office or to committees, in writing, if necessary.
4. Corresponding Secretary. — The corresponding secre-
tary shall keep the local society in communication with the
general secretary of the department of Young People's
work, and with other local societies; and shall present to
his own society such matters of interest as may come from
the department of Young People's work, or from the confer-
ence union, or from other Christian sources. He shall also
report to the general secretary of Young People's work the
number of persons who have adopted the Christian steward-
108 DISCIPLINE
ship plan, the comrades of the quiet hour, the life work
recruits, and the number enrolled in mission study classes.
This office shall be permanent, and the name shall be for-
warded to the corresponding secretary of the conference
union and then to the general secretary of the department of
Young People's work, at Dayton, Ohio.
Article VI. — The Prayer Meeting.
1. All the active members shall be present at every
meeting, unless detained by some absolute necessity, and each
active member shall take some part, however slight, in every
meeting. To the above all the active members shall pledge
themselves, understanding by "absolute necessity" some rea-
son for absence which can conscientiously be given to their
Master, Jesus Christ,
2. Once each month a consecration, or covenant, meeting
shall be held, at which each active member shall renew his
vows of consecration.
3. At each consecration meeting the roll shall be called,
or some other effective method of making the record may
be employed, and the responses of tlie active members who
are present shall be considered a renewed expression of al-
legiance to Christ. It is expected that if any one is obliged
to be absent from this meeting he will send a message, or
at least a verse of scripture, to be read in response to his
name at the roll-call.
4. If any active member of the society is absent from
this monthly meeting and fails to send a message, the look-
out committee is expected to take the name of such a one,
and in a kind and brotherly spirit ascertain the reason for
the absence. If an active member of the society is absent
and unexcused from three consecutive monthly meetings,
his name may be stricken from the list of members, on the
approval of the executive committee.
f). The lookout committee sliall present to all candidates
for membership the following, or some other form of the
Christian Endeavor pledge, to be signed.
Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength. I promise
him that I will strive to do whatever he would have me do.
I will make it the rule of my life to pray and read the
Bible, to support the work and worship of my church, and
to take my part in the meetings and other activities of this
society. The.se things I will do unless hindered by cousci-
YOUNG people's wokk 109
entious reasons ; and in them all I will seek the Savior's
guidance.
(Signed)
Article VII. — Business Meetings and Elections.
1. Business meetings may be held monthly on an even-
ing designated by the society, or at any other time ui)on
call of the president.
2. An election of officers and committees shall be held
annually (or semi-annually, as may be thought best). Names
may be proposed by a nominating committee appointed l)y
the president.
Article VIII. — Relation to the Church.
1. This society shall at no time adopt any rule or prac-
tice contrary to the Discipline and usages of the United
Brethren Church.
2. This society shall be auxiliary to the Con-
ference Christian Endeavor Union of the United Brethren
in Christ.
Article TX. — Finances.
1. This society shall ]iay annually to the conference
union treasury, as dues, such sum as may be determined by
the conference union. It shall also collect from each
.lunior and Intermediate society annual dues. The annual
(lues should be forv^-arded by the treasurer, on order, to the
treasurer of the conference union. The amounts are due
tlie first of January each year, and should be paid during
that month.
2. This society shall help in raising the benevolence
budget of the local church and sliall co-operate with any
financial enterprise of the conference union.
3. This socit'ty should take a free-will offering for the
department of Young Peoide's work on Young People's an-
niversary day.
A rticle A' . — A m en <lin en ts.
This constitution may be amended at any I'egular meel-
ing by a two-thirds vote of the members present, one week's
nolice having been given; provided that Article II. and
Article IX. shall not l)e changed.
110 discipline
By-Laws.
Article I. — Meetings.
1. Regular Meetings. — This society shall hold a meeting
on evening of each week. The regular
meeting of each month shall be a testimony or consecration
meeting. The regular business meeting shall be on the
of each month.
2. Meetings for Study. — Meetings for the study of Chris-
tian Endeavor, personal evangelism, missions. Christian
stewardship, and Christian citizenship may be held as de-
termined by the society.
3. Literary Meetings. — Literary meetings for the render-
ing of literary programs may be heM at such time as the
society may determine, provided that nothing shall be given
inconsistent with our position as a Christian society.
Article II. — Methods of Raising Money.
Funds for the society may be raised by regular dues, pay-
able at the regular monthly business meeting or at the
consecration meeting, or the society may adopt other syste-
matic plans for the finances.
Article III. — Suggested, Committees and Their Duties.
1. Executive Committee. — See Constitution, Article IV,,
Section 2.
2. Lookout Committee. — It shall be the duty of this com-
mittee to bring new members into the society, to introduce
them to the work and to the other members, and to look
after and reclaim any that seem indifferent to their duties.
This committee shall also, after consideration, propose names
for membership, at least one week before their election.
3. Devotional Committee. — This committee shall have in
charge the meetings, and shall see that a topic is assigned
and a leader appointed for every devotional meeting. It
shall also assist the leader in increasing the interest in the
devotional meetings. A member of this committee may be
superintendent of the quiet hour.
4. Social Committee. — It shall be the duty of this com-
mittee to promote the social interests of the society by wel-
coming strangers to the meetings, and by providing for the
mutual acquaintance of the members by occasional sociables,
for which any appropriate entertainment of which the
church approves may be provided.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S WORK 111
5. Church aud Suuday-School Committee. — It shall be
the duty of this committee to visit the young people of the
community and strangers, invite them to the Sunday school
and church services, and see that they are properly received
at these meetings. The committee shall also co-operate with
the pastor of the church and the superintendent of the Sun-
day school in any way which they may suggest for the bene-
fit of the church and Sunday school.
6. Missionary Committee. — It shall be the duty of this
committee to awaken an intelligent missionary enthusiasm
among the members of the society. This interest is to be
aroused by holding missionary meetings, promoting mission
study classes, and by using missionary funds as directed
by the society.
7. Music Committee. — It shall be the duty of this com-
mittee to provide for the singing at the Young People's
meeting, also to turn the musical ability of the society into
account, when necessary, at public religious meetings.
8. The Relief Committee. — It shall be the duty of this
committee to do what it can to cheer and aid, if possible
and necessary by material comforts, the sick and destitute
among the young people of the church and Sunday school.
9. The Efficiency Committee. — The efficiency committee
shall endeavor to have the society adopt some efficiency
standard and shall have charge of the literary work of the
society. It shall also do what it can to circulate the
Watchword, Religious Telescope, and all other periodicals
of the Church, among the families of the congregation, as
the pastor of the church may direct. It should distribute
tracts and introduce good reading matter wherever prac-
ticable. A member of this committee may be the Watchword
agent.
10. Christian Stewardship Committee. — It shall be the
duty of this committee to practice and teach by every pos-
sible means the duty of systematic, proportionate giving to
the cause of Christ of at least one-tenth of the income of
the members of the society, and to secure and preserve a
roll of the members who practice such giving, or will promise
to do so, and through the corresponding secretary of the
society forward a list of such names to the general secretary
of the department of Young People's work or to the secre-
tary of the Board of Administration.
11. College Committee. — It shall be the duty of this
committee to keep the society in touch with the college with
112 DIS(^irLINE
which the conference co-operates, to awaken a desire in
the young people for college training, and communicate the
names of the persons who may desire to attend the college
to the president of the college, and to promote the interest
of the college in any reasonable way in which the college
authorities may suggest. A member of this committee may
be superintendent of life work recruits.
Article IV. — Elections.
The election of officers shall be held at the regular busi-
ness meeting in . A nominating committee may
be appointed by the president.
Article V. — Quorum.
members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
Article VI. — Amendments.
These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the
members present.
Section V.
MODEL CONSTITUTION FOR A JUNIOR OR AN INTERMEDIATE
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY.
Article I. — ISIame.
This organization shall be known as the Junior [or Inter-
mediate] Christian Endeavor Society of* United
Brethren Church off .
Article II. — Object.
The object of this society shall be to promote in its mem-
bers a pure and worthy character, to aid in the study of the
Bible, and to cultivate the principles of loyal service to
Christ.
1. The members sluiU be boys and girls **who shall have
been approved by the superintendent, and elected by a ma-
jority of the members present at any regular meeting.
♦Insort name of clnirch. tlnsert name of place.
**P>oys and girls usually are ('alU'd Juniors between the ages
of six and tw<'lve ov thirteen, and Intenuedinles between Ibii-
teeu and sixteen.
YOUNG people's WORK 113
2. All those who become members shall pledge themselves
to attend regularly the meetings of the society and to observe
good order in them.
Article IV. — Junior or Intermediate (Society Pledge.
Trusting in Jesus C'lirist to help me, I promise that I will
strive to do whatever he would like to have me do ; that I
will pray and read the Bible, and keep the Sabbath day holy ;
and that just so far as I know how I will try to lead a good
life ; that I will be present at every meeting when not hin-
dered by sickness or some other just cause ; and that I will
take some part in the meetings, especially the monthly recog-
nition meetings.
parent's answer.
I have carefully read the accompanying pledge and cheer-
fully give my consent for to sign it, and will do
what I can to help to faithfully keep it.
Parent's name
Address
Article V. — Ofjficers.
1. The officers of this society shall be superintendent and
such assistant superintendents as may be needed, a president,
vice-president, secretary, and treasurer,
2. The superintendents may be appointed by the pastor,
or elected by the Young People's society of the church, with
the approval of the pastor and official board.
A7'ticle VI. — Duties of Officers.
1. The superintendent shall have general cliarge of the
society and its work, A report is to be made to each quar-
terly conference.
2. The assistant superintendents shall aid the super-
intendent in promoting the work of the society. The first
assistant may care for all the funds received from the
treasurer.
3. The president shall preside at all business meetings,
under the advice of the superintendent.
4. The vice-president shall conduct business meetings in
the absence of the president.
5. The secretary shall keep a record of the names and at-
tendance of members, and all of the proceedings of all
business meetings.
0. The treasurer shall take the. collections, enter the
amount in a book provided for that purpose, and turn over
114 DISCIPLINE
the money to the assistant superintendent for safe keeping.
A record shall also be kept of all expenditures as directed
by the superintendent and society.
Article VII. — Committees.
There may be such committees as the superintendent
deems necessary. The members of the committees may be
nominated by the superintendent and elected by the society.
1. Lookout, or Membership Committee. — This committee
shall secure the names of those who should join the society
and seek to induce them to become members. It shall also
aid in keeping the members faithful in attendance and taking
part.
2. Prayer Meeting, or Devotional. — This committee shall
help the superintendent to arrange programs, provide music,
distribute Bibles, singing books, tracts, etc., and aid in
every way which the superintendents may direct to promote
the interests of the meetings.
3. Social. — This committee shall welcome the members to
the meetings and help the superintendent in holding socials.
4. Temperance. — To canvass for signatures to the tem-
perance pledge under the direction of the superintendents,
and to help in any other way to promote temperance work
among l)oys and girls.
Temperance Pledge. — I hereby promise, God helping me,
to abstain from the use of tobacco in every form, from the
use of wine, beer, and other intoxicating drinks, and from
the use of profane and unclean language.
5. Executive Committee. — Tlie pastor, superintendents,
and the officers shall com-pose the executive committee, which
shall have full control of the affairs of the society.
Article VIII. — Meetings.
1. A devotional meeting shall be held every week, the
exercises of which shall consist of prayers, scripture reading
and study, singing, and testimony.
2. Once a month the meeting shall be known as the
recognition meeting. At some time during the exercises the
pledge shall be recited in concert, and the roll called. The
responses shall be considered a renewal of the pledge of the
society.
3. Monthly missionary meetings shall be held at which
time missionary offei'ings may be taken.
YOUJVG people's WORK 115
4. All meetings shall be in charge of the superintendent,
employing the members as leaders in the best manner to
train them.
5. The pastor or superintendent shall use a part of the
hour of the weekly meeting, when deemed best, for special
instruction in Bible truth, missions, church life and steward-
ship, or for other profitable exercises.
Article IX. — Relationship.
This society shall be considered a department of the
church with which it is connected. It shall also sustain a
close and intimate relation to the Young People's society
of the church, with which the members of the Junior or
Intermediate society are expected to connect themselves
when they have reached the proper age.
Th Junior Christian Endeavor society in its missionary
activities is asked to co-operate with the Women's Mission-
ary Association, which in turn, may assist the Junior super-
intendent in cultivating a missionary interest among the
Juniors by suggesting missionary literature and information.
Article X. — By-Laics.
1. The regular meetings of this society shall be held
. The last meeting of each month shall be a recogni-
tion meeting. The business meeting shall be .
2. The superintendent, in consultation with the pastor,
shall at each election propose names of available members
for the several offices, who shall be elected by a majority of
the members present. The officers shall be elected and the
committees appointed for a term of six months, and shall
enter upon their duties the day of and the
day of of each year.
3. The funds for the expenses of the society and other
purposes may be raised by regular dues or by offerings taken
at the monthly recognition meetings, or at other meetings as
the superintendent may arrange.
4. Special meetings of the society may be called at any
time by the pastor or superintendent.
5. The committees should hold a meeting with the super-
intendent once a month for consultation about their work.
0. This constitution and these by-laws may be amended
at any regular meeting upon the recommendation of the ex-
ecutive committee.
rn AFTER XVI T.
The Home Missionary Society,
constitution.
Article I. — Object.
This society shall be called the Home Missionary Society
of the United Brethren in Christ (the legal successor of the
Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society of the
United Brethren in Christ in its home work), and is organ-
ized for the purpose of extending and establishing the work
of the Church in the home field.
Article II. — Menibersliip.
The board of control shall consist of nine persons elected
by the General Conference and three members to be chosen
by the Women's Missionary Association, provided these
three shall be elected as members of this board by ballot
of the General Conference. The general secretary of the
society shall be the executive officer of the board. A majority
of the members present at any regular or called meeting
shall constitute a quorum.
Article III. — Organization.
Immediately upon adjournment of the General Conference,
a meeting of the board shall be called by the secretary, and
an organization effected for the quadrenuium by electing a
president, vice-president, and an executive committee. Six
members shall be chosen for the executive committee, four
by the directors of the Home Missionary Society and two
by the trustees of the Women's Missionary Association.
The general secretary of the society shall be a member e.r
officio.
Article IV. — Duties of Officers.
1. President. — The president shall preside at all meetings
of the board, and shall have power, in conjunction with the
secretary, to call special meetings. In the absence of the
president, the vice-president shall take his place.
116
THE HOME MISSIONAKY SOCIETY 117
2, Secretary. — The general secretary shall keep correct
minutes of all the proceedings of the society, conduct its
correspondence, and keep a record of all bequests, legacies,
notes, and other valuable papers coming into his possession.
He shall also make out and publish an annual report of the
work of the society ; also, a quadrennial report for the Gen-
eral Conference. It shall be his further duty, when prac-
ticable, to visit the fields where the board is giving aid, with
the view of acquainting himself and the board with the
condition and needs of the work. He shall give himself to
the raising of funds by visiting churches, and personally
representing the interests of the society. He shall have the
privilege of one page in the Religious Telescope, subject to
the general approval of the editor. His salary shall be fixed
by the General Conference.
3. Treasurer. — The general Church treasurer shall hold
the funds of the society, subject to the order of the board.
The General Conference shall fix his salary. The propor-
tion of his salary to be paid by this society shall be paid by
the executive committee in conjunction with the other boards
having the services of said general treasurer.
Article V. — Duties of the Board of Control.
This board shall hold annual meetings, appoint an execu-
tive committee, make by-laws for the better regulation of its
work, appropriate funds for current expenses, employ mis-
sionaries, open new missions in conjunction with the bishop
of the district, appoint superintendents for mission districts,
authorize or discontinue appropriations, fill vacancies in its
own body and in connection with one or more of the bishops,
ordain missionaries in its employ to the office of elder, pro-
vided such missionaries have taken the course of study re-
quired by Discipline, or its equivalent. It shall also have
power in conjunction w'ith the bishop of the district, to
nominate persons for conference superintendents in con-
ferences where said superintendents are supported in p:n-t
by the board.
Article VI. — Branch Societies.
Each annual conference shall organize a branch society,
auxiliary to the Home Missionary Society, consisting of
three members, naming one as its secretary, who shall assist
the general secretary in developing interest in home mis-
sions and securing gifts for the society. It shall also be the
118 DISCIPLINE
duty of the branches to hold home mission rallies in their
respective conferences, co-operating with the general society
in organizing home mission study classes and the general
spread of home mission information.
Article VII. — Funds.
1. The income of the society from permanent funds se-
cured shall be used by the board for its current expenses,
unless the donors direct otherwise.
The annual apportionment and division of funds shall be
by the Board of Administration as outlined in the plan for
said board in Chapter XIV.
2. Each of our Sunday schools in its auxiliary relation-
ship to the Home Missionary Society is expected to observe
the monthly missionary day. Exercises should be rendered
and an offering taken for the benevolence budget. In places
where a monthly missionary day seems impracticable each
school will be required to observe a missionary day once
a quarter. The first and third quarters shall be devoted to
the study of foreign missions, the second and fourth quar-
ters shall be detoted to the study of home missions, the
offerings during these quarters to go to the benevolence
budget.
3. The month of November shall be observed by all our
congregations as a time of prayer and thanksgiving for
missions, and pastors shall preach on the subject and turn
the attention of the people toward the extension of the
Master's kingdom in the home field.
4. Special efforts shall be made by the general secretary,
pastors, and conference superintendents to secure wills, be-
quests, and deeded properties for the purpose of building up
a permanent fund, the interest only to be used for home
missions.
Article VIII. — Local Organization.
A missionary committee may be organized in any local
church to interest and enlist the entire membership of the
local church in the work of both home and foreign missions,
and devise such methods and measures as shall develop the
church into a strong missionary agency.
Article IX. — Mission Districts.
1. A mission district may be organized by the Home
Missionary Society outside of the bounds of a mission con-
THE HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY 119
fcrence or annual conference and the administration of such
districts shall be under the control and direction of the Home
Missionary Society, in conjunction with the bishop of the
district.
2. Whenever a mission district has eight or more pastoral
charges, it may be made a mission conference by the con-
sent of the Home Mission board, and, as such, it will have
regular annual sessions of ministers and lay delegates, pre-
sided over by the bishop of the district. At these annual
meetings, the regular business of the annual conference shall
be transacted, except that the conference superintendent
shall be chosen as provided by Chapter XVII., Article V.,
of the Discipline. The mission conference shall have repre-
sentation in the General Conference on the same basis as
annual conferences.
3. Whenever the Home Mission board, and the mission
conference and the bishop shall concur in that a mission
conference has reached the state of development and growth
where it will be able to support an efficient superin tendency
and without aid from the Home Mission board, it shall be-
come an annual conference.
Article X. — Unoccupied Tcrritury.
The Home Mission board may operate in any territory
within the bounds of an annual conference not occupied by
said conference, and by consent of the same.
Article XI. — MisHionarics.
Every missionary in the board's employ shall report to the
general secretary monthly respecting the condition of his
charge; and no missionary shall be entitled to his salary if
he neglects this requirement, or leaves his field without the
consent of the board or his conference superintendent. A
similar monthly report is also required of conference super-
intendents employed by the board.
Article XI I. — Social Service.
The Home Missionary Society shall be authorized to create
a bureau of social service and reform as its funds will permit.
Article XITI. — TJie Relation of the MiniMri/ to Home
Missiotis.
1. Every pastor in charge of a field of labor shall seek
to organize and train the membership of his charge to be-
120 DISCIPLINE
come an efficient force in the extension of our missionary
work in the home field, by the organization of home mission
study classes, the introduction of mission training in the
Sunday school and the promotion of the laymen's missionary
movement, which is to be both home and foreign in its edu-
cational and benevolent work. He shall strive earnestly to
get every member of the Church to give systematically to
the benevolence budget and report the offerings quarterly
to the conference treasurer.
2. The bishops of the Church and the conference super-
intendents shall promote home missions by sermons, and
addresses, and by careful inquiry concerning the work being
done on the various charges for this cause ; and they shall
seek to develop the missionary spirit by aiding in mission-
ary institutes and in the widespread study of home missions.
3. The bishops shall visit new and promising openings,
especially in the cities and large towns, and give personal
direction in establishing missions within the bounds of their
districts.
Article XIV. — Opening Missions.
The bishop of the district and the general Home Mission
board shall be counselled in opening new missions where
they are expecting help for the support of the pastor.
Article XV. — Self -Support.
When the board makes appropriations it shall be with a
clear understanding that said aid is to be reduced from year
to year and the point so aided shall plan for self-support
at the earliest possible moment. Deviation from this rule
shall be only in case of emergency.
AiHicle XVI. — Application for Appropi'iation.
In conferences expecting an appropriation, the conference
home missions committee and the conference church ex-
tension board shall make known to the Home Missionary
Society at least two months before annual conference the
amount actually needed for the coming year, and in turn the
Home Mission office shall inform such conference authori-
ties as to the approximate amount it expects to appro-
priate, and the conference shall furnish the Home Mission
office a schedule of the places, names, and amounts for the
final action of the Home Mission board.
THE HOME MISSION AUY SOCIETY 121
Article XVII. — Annual-Conference Treasurer.
Each annual conference shall elect a treasurer of benev-
olences who shall report in detail by charges and remit
monthly the amount received for home missions to the gen-
eral Church treasurer at Dayton, Ohio, who shall make
record thereof and receipt for the same.
Ai'ticle XVIII.— Rural Life,
The Home Mission board is authorized to create a depart-
ment on present day rural life problems, and the relation
of the Church to their solution. This commission shall
seek to reach its objectives through careful investigation and
active education and to participate where possible with other
organizations engaged in similar work. It shall particu-
larly assist our own conferences in any rural life work
which they may undertake.
Article XIX.
It shall l.e the duty of the Home Mission secretary to
secure from the conference treasurer full reports of all
moneys paid by the conference to pastors serving conference
home missions.
CHAPTER XVI 1 1.
The Foreign Missionary Society.
constitution.
Article I. — ]Sla)nc.
This society shall be called the Foreign Missionary So-
ciety of the United Brethren in Christ (the legal successor
of the Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society of
the United Brethren in Christ in its foreign work).
Article II. — Functions.
This society is organized for the purpose of extending the
knowledge of the gospel of Christ throughout the earth by
the utilization of the resources of the Church. Said society
shall, through its distributed activities, promote an interest
in foreign missions by approved methods in the home
churches, Sunday schools, and Young People's societies. It
shall disseminate information touching mission fields, it
shall appoint, commission, and send forth, missionaries, and
conduct any and all work that properly devolves upon such
a society. The supreme aim of the missionary society shall
be to establish a self-supporting native church in each field.
Upon request of a mission council abroad, the society is
hereby granted authority to take such steps in co-operation
and federation of work abroad with other missions, after
careful consideration, as may be necessary and desirable for
the highest development of a victorious native Church.
Article III. — Mcnihcrship.
Every person, by virtue of becoming a member of the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ, is a member of
the Foreign Missionary Society.
Article IV. — Organization.
The organization of the society shall consist of a board
of directors, an executive committee, an annual conference
branch society, and a committee in every local church.
122
THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY 123
Article V. — Directors and Their Duties.
1. The board of directors shall consist of the bishops of
the Church, the general secretary, six directors, who shall
be elected by the General Conference, and three directors
who shall be chosen by the trustees of the Women's Mis-
sionary Association. A majority of the members present
at any regular or called meeting shall constitute a quorum.
The officers of the society shall consist of a president, to
be elected at the first meeting of the directors in each quad-
rennium, a secretary, who shall be the general secretary
elected by General Conference, and a treasurer, who shall
be the general Church treasurer. The bishops of the Church
shall be vice-presidents in the order of their seniority in
office.
2. The board of directors shall have charge of, and give
directions to all the work of the society. The board oi
directors shall hold a meeting once every year, and upon the
request of the executive committee, the president shall call
special sessions for the transaction of important business.
The board shall make by-laws to regulate the business of
the society ; receive and pass upon the reports of the gen-
eral secretary, treasurer, minutes of the executive committee,
and reports from the foreign fields ; make a careful study of
the needs of the work abroad and appropriate the money
necessary to carry forward the entire work of the society ;
employ secretaries for the cultivation of the home Church ;
appoint foreign missionaries and fill vacancies in its own
body ; in connection with the bishops or any one of them,
ordain missionaries to the office of elder, provided such mis-
sionaries have taken the courses of study specified by the
Discipline, or their equivalent ; determine the aims and
methods to be pursued in enlisting the home Church in the
extension of the gospel ; elect four members of the executive
committee, and have the use of one page in the Religious
Telescope, which shall be conducted by the general secretary,
subject to the approval of the editor.
Article VI. — The Executive Committee and its Duties.
Six members shall be chosen for the executive committee,
four by the directors of the Foreign Missionary Society, and
two by the trustees of the Women's Missionary Association.
The general secretary of the society shall be an ex officio
member of the committee. The committee shall have charge
124 DISCIPLINE
of all the business of the society between the annual meet-
ings. In the appointment of missionaries, and in making
appropriations not authorized by the board, the committee
shall, through correspondence or otherwise, secure the ap-
proval of a majority of the members of the board.
Article VII. — Branch Organization.
Every annual conference shall organize a branch society,
auxiliary to the Foreign Missionary Society, consisting ot
three members, naming one as its secretary, who shall assist
the general secretary in developing interest in foreign mis-
sions and securing gifts for the society.
Article VIII. — Local Church Committee.
A missionary committee shall be organized in every local
church to interest and enlist the entire membership of the
local church in the work of both home and foreign missions,
and devise such methods and measures as shall develop the
Church into a strong missionary agency.
Article IX. — Duties of the General Secretary.
1. It shall be the duty of the general secretary to pro-
mote the dissemination of missionary information through-
out the Church by tracts, books, and other publications, and
through conventions, rallies, and institutes he shall endeavor
to create a missionary atmosphere. He shall direct the organi-
zation of mission study classes, introduce missionary in-
struction in the Sunday school, and assist the Sunday-
school superintendent, the president of the Young People's
society, and the pastor to introduce a regular system of giv-
ing to missions.
2. The general secretary shall diligently study the ad-
ministrative problem of the work abroad, so as to employ
such agencies as shall lead to the "development of a strong
native church. He shall exercise diligence to discover and
encourage those whom the Holy Spirit has called to foreign
missionary work, shall bring them to the attention of the
society and executive committee for appointment, and sliall
assist candidates in the preparation for their work before
going to the field.
3. The general secretary shall keep a correct record of
the society, and conduct its correspondence. He shall be
the custodian of all its legal papers. He shall prepare an
THE FOHEIGN AIISSIOXARY SOCIETY 12o
annual report of the work of the society and a quadrennial
report to the General Conference. He shall call meetings
of the executive committee to transact business.
Article X. — The Treasurer and His Duties.
The general Church treasurer, elected by the General
Conference, shall hold all funds of the society subject to the
order of the board or executive committee. His salary shall
be fixed by the General Conference and the proportion of
same to be paid by this board shall be determined by the
executive committee, in conjunction with the other boards
having his services ; he shall make an annual report to tlio
1 oard, and a quadrennial report to the General Conference.
Article XI. — The Relation of the Ministry to Foreign
Missions.
1. Every pastor in charge of a field of labor shall seek to
organize and train the membership of his charge to become
an efficient force in the world-wide extension of the gospel
by the organization of foreign mission study classes, the in-
troduction of missionary training in the Sunday school and
men's Brotherhood. He shall strive earnestly to get every
member of the Church to give systematically to foreign mis-
sions, according to the plan for benevolence offerings adopted
for the Church.
2. The bishops of the Church and the conference superin-
tendents shall promote foreign missions by sermons and
addresses and by careful inquiry concerning the work being
done for this cause on the various charges and they shall
seek to develop the missionary spirit by aiding in missionary
institutes and in the wide-spread study of foreign missions.
Article XIT. — Annual Conference Treasurer.
Every annual conference shall elect a treasurer of benev-
olences who shall report monthly the amount received for
foreign missions. to the general Church treasurer at Day-
ton, Ohio, who shall make record thereof and receipt for the
same.
Article XIII. — ]\Iissions in the Sunday School.
Every Sunday school, in its auxiliary relationship to the
Home Missionary Society and the Foreign Mi.ssionary
Society of our Church, is expected to observa a monthly
missionary day, on which a brief missionary exercise shall
'^e rendered and a missionary offering taken. In places
126 DISCIPLINE
v/hcre a monthly missionary day seems impiacl.icable. every
school shall be required to observe such a missionary day
once a quarter.
The first and third quarters of the calendar ye.'ir shall be
devoted to the study of foreign missions ; the second and
f'^nrth quarters to the study of home mission-^, the offerings
during these periods to go to the benevolence budget.
Article XIV. — A Foreign Mission Conference.
A foreign mission conference is composed of all foreign
missionaries bearing credentials from the board, ordained
native ministers, licentiates, and one lay delegate from each
charge developing self-support according to the system adopt-
ed by the conference.
All foreign missionaries, bearing proper credentials from
the Mission board, ordained native ministers, licentiates, and
one lay delegate from each charge, developing self-support
according to the system adopted by the conference, may be
members of the foreign mission conference.
Other workers employed may become advisory members,
upon approval of the conference. A foreign mission con-
ference shall be presided over by a bishop or in his absence
by the mission superintendent. In the absence of both the
bishop and the mission superintendent, the conference shall
elect its own chairman.
The presiding officer shall appoint a stationing committee,
of which he shall be chairman, and he shall likewise appoint
all standing committees.
Article XV. — Superintendcncij.
1. The bishop elected by the General Conference as a
general superintendent over our foreign mission conferences
shall preside, when possible, at the annual session of each
foreign mission conference. He shall give close attention to
the large problems of each field, and, by counselling with the
missionaries and native workers, seek to establish native
churches and institutions filled with a passion for evangelism,
strong in self-support, and able ultimately to extend and
direct their own work without ai-d from other lands.
2. The bishop assigned to the foreign fields shall work
in co-operation with the Foreign INIissiouary Society and
with the mission council on the field and seek to interpret
the needs and viewpoint of each to the other.
THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY 127
8. The Foreign Missionary Society shall appoint a mis-
sion superintendent over each mission conference for one
term, subject to reappointment, or his tenure of office may
be terminated a*any time at the discretion of the board.
The mission superintendent of each field* in co-operation
with the board and the bishop of the district, shall arrange
the work and take supervision of the conference. He shall
report quarterly the condition and needs of the field to the
general secretary of the mission board and to the bishop of
the district.
4. The bishop of the district and each mission super-
intendent shall submit an annual report to the Foreign Mis-
sion board.
Article XVI. — Reports.
All missionaries employed by the board shall be furnished
with credentials of their appointment, and be subject to
the board in regard to their term of service, salary, and
the time and length of furlough. They shall report quar-
terly the condition and progress of their work to the mission
superintendent; and they shall also make an annual report
to the general secretary of the board, a copy of which shall
be filed with the superintendent.
Article XVII. — The Mission Council.
There shall be a mission council in each foreign mission
conference, composed of all foreign missionaries employed by
the board in such conference. Said council shall be the
cabinet of the mission superintendent, provided, however,
that in matters of difference between the superintendent and
the cabinet, a two-thirds vote of the said mission council
shall determine the course to be pursued, except in matters
of interpretation of the policy of the board. Missionaries
shall be eligible to voting privileges in the council only after
one year's residence on the mission field. The mission super-
intendent shall be chairman of the mission council, and also
treasurer of the mission funds, unless other provision is
made by the board.
The mission council shall convene once a year, and oftener
if practicable, and receive reports of missionaries in charge
of districts, stations or departments of work. It shall co-
operate with the mission superintendent in the general
supervision of the work, by committee or otherwise, espe-
cially with reference to the division of the missionaries'
1 2S DTSCIPLINE
work, the budget, and the adniinlstration of the mission
funds.
Article XV III. — Delegates to General Conference.
The number of delegates from foreign mission con-
ferences to the General Conference, not in excess of the
ratio to annual conferences in America, and the manner of
their election shall be determined by the Foreign Mission
board. The board shall meet the expenses of the delegates
from their respective fields to and from their places of resi-
dence in the United States, or if such delegates have no
place of residence in the United States to and from tlie
ports of entry, and all additional expenses shall be met l)y
the General Conference as iu the case of other delegates.
Article XIX. — The Pavers and Duties of a Foreign Mission
Conference.
A foreign mission conference shall have power similar to
an annual conference, subjecL to regulations of tlie mission
board. It shall revise, year by year, the list of itinerants,
except those who hold membership in American conferences,
and report the same to the agent of the publishing house,
and compile other statistics of its work, as nearly as possible
in harmony with the Church in general, having in mind the
requirements of general missionary reports.
Article XX. — Course of Ministerial Study and Rules.
A mission conference employing other than the English
<\r German languages shall have power to make its own
course of ministerial study, as nearly as practicable an
equivalent of the English course. General eflSciency and
practical experience, as well as moral fitness, shall be con-
sidered in recommending candidates for ordination. It may
enact necessary rules for its own government iu harmony
with the Book of Discipline, and the regulations of the
mission board.
CHAPTER XIX.
Women's Missionary Association.
Section I.
general constitution.
Article I. — yame.
The association shall be known as the Women's ]Mission-
ary Association of the United Brethren in Christ, accord-
ing to the articles of incorporation under the laws of the
State of Ohio. Its general oflices shall be located in Dayton,
Ohio.
Article II. — O hjcrt.
The assoc-iation is for the pui'pose of enlisting and unit-
ing the efforts of the women, the young women, and the
children of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, to
help send and support missionaries in the home and foreign
fields; to assist in carrying forward the work in said ^t^ids:
and to secure by gift, bequest, and otherwise, the funds
necessary to aid in such missionary operations.
It shall disseminate literature and information concerning
the needs of the mission fields where operating, and conduct
any and all other work that usually belongs to such an or-
ganization.
It shall be empowered by its articles of incorporation to
receive by gift, bequest or purchase, real and pei'sonal prop-
erty, and hold the same for the uses and purposes of said
association, the same as any other corporations of like char-
flcter.
Article III. — Rdation to the Church.
This association shall work under the direction of the
General Conference of said Church, to which the general
secretary shall submit quadrennial reports. It shall also
work in co-operation with the Home Missionary Society
and the Foreign Missionary Society of the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ, upon whose boards and execu-
tive committees it shall have one-third representation.
129
loO DISOIPLliXE
.4 rticle IV. — Mem bcrfihip.
1. The annual dues for membership in said association
shall bo in accord wilh Iho nicinhcrshii) duos of the various
departments.
2. TIic payment of $10 at ono time, or by installmenls
witliin five years, shall constitute a life membership.*
The payment of $25 at one time, or by installments with-
in five years, shall constitute a life directorship.*
The payment of $100 at one time, or by installments witli-
in five years, shall constitute a life patronship.*
3. Life patrons shall be full members of the board of
managers. Life directors shall be advisory members of the
same. Life patrons and life directors shall be full mem-
I'pis. nnd life membersi shall be advisory members of the
hi-nncli within whose bounds they reside. These privileges
are accorded only to those who pay annual dues.
Article V .— Organisation.
Tills organization shall consist of a board of managers,
conference branches, local societies, and chapters of the
Otterboin Guild.
Article VI.— Board of Managers.
The board of managers shall consist of the board of
trustees, the life patrons, the secretary of the Otterbein
Guild, the secretary of literature, the secretary of thank-
offering, and three delegates from each branch, who shall
be elected at the branch meeting preceding the meeting of
the board of managers, and the branch presidents if present.
Article VII. — Duties of the Board of Managers.
The board of managers shall meet biennially. It shall
receive and pass upon the reports of the general secretary,
treasurer, department secretaries, editor and publisher of
the Evangel, branch organizations, and reports from the
mission fields. It shall elect by ballot the members of the
board of trustees, the secretary of the Otterbein Guild, the
secretary of literature, and the secretary of thank-offer-
ing.
*A rortificato shall be <?ivon at the time of payment in full,
but this cortificale shall not exempt from annual dues.
^VOME^''S MI.SSIOXAKY SOCIETY 131
Article VIII. — Board of Trustees.
The board of trustees shall consist of nine members who
shall be elected by ballot at the biennial meeting of tho
board of managers, six of whom and no more shall be resi-
dents of Dayton, Ohio, or vicinity.
Article IX. — Duties of the Board of Trustees.
The board of trustees so elected shall assemble before the
close of the biennial meeting of the board of managers and
organize by the election from its own number of all the
officers provided for in Article X.
It shall choose from its number the necessary representa-
tion upon the boards and executive committees of the
Home and the Foreign Missionary societies. It shall also
elect the editor of the Evangel, the field secretary and the
third member of the literature committee.
In the interim between the meetings of the board of
managers the board of trustees shall have full power and
control of the general interests and administration of the
affairs of the association including the making of appropria-
tions.
All legal papers of the association shall be executed by
the president and the general secretary of the association,
provided that the president lives in Dayton or vicinity, other-
wise by the resident vice-president and the general sec-
retary, who shall sign and seal all such papers, including
deeds of transfer, in the name and on behalf of the asso-
ciation.
The board of trustees shall have the authority to ap-
point and empower one or two persons to act for the asso-
ciation with power of attorney when occasion may arise to
demand such action.
Article X. — Officers.
The officers of the association shall be a president, three
vice-presidents, a general secretary, a recoixling secretary,
a treasurer, and a chairman of the resident trustees, as
provided in Article IX. The offices of general secretary
an-d treasurer may be held by one person.
Article XI. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at the biennial meeting of
the board of managers and shall have general supervision
of the work of the association.
132 DISCIPLINE
2. The vice-presidents shall co-operate with the presi-
dent in carrying forward the work of the association. They
shall preside in the absence of the president or upon request.
3. The general secretary shall, under the supervision of
the board of trustees, attend to all the business connected
with the association, secure gifts and bequests, keep all
documents pertaining to the association and attend to cor-
respondence.
She shall submit an annual report to the association
through the Evangel, an annual report to the Home and the
Foreign Missionary societies, a biennial report to the board
of managers, and a quadrennial report to the General Con-
ference. She shall have the power to call meetings of the
board of trustees.
4. The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of
the proceedings of the biennial meetings of the board of
managers, and of all the meetings of the board of trustees.
She shall submit an annual report to the association through
the Evangel and a biennial report to the board of managers.
5. The treasurer shall receive all funds coming into the
Women's Missionary Association and transmit quarterly, on
order of the trustees, to the general Church treasurer, those
funds which are to be disbursed for work in the mission
fields on order of the executive committees of the Home and
the Foreign Missionary societies.
0. The administration expenses of the association shall
be under the control of the board of trustees, said expenses
to be paid by the treasurer of the Women's ^Missionary As-
sociation on order of the trustees.
The treasurer shall submit quarterly reports, also an
annual report to the association through the Evangel, an
annual report to the Home and the Foreign Missionary
societies, and a biennial report to the board of managers.
She shall give bond and her accounts shall be audited an-
nually.
She shall receive all funds of the Evangel and shall pay
the expenses of the same on order of the trustees.
She shall receive all funds of the literature department
and shall disburse the same on order of the general litera-
ture committee.
women's missionary society 133
Article XII. — Funds.
All gifts, bequests, and funds contributed to any special
object of the association shall be held sacred to the uses
and purposes intended by the donor.
Article XIII. — Woman 8 Day.
By the action of the General Conference and the board
of managers, the last Sunday in October is designated as
Woman's Day. A public program may be given and an
offering taken which shall be forwarded to the branch treas-
urer for the Woman's Day fund.
Article XIV. — Department of the Ottcrhein Guild.
1. The object of this department shall be to enlist the
young women in the cause of missions, to lead them to
personal consecration, to disseminate missionary knowledge,
and to raise funds to be applied to any work undertaken
by this department, under the supervision of the Women's
Missionary Association.
2. The head of this department shall be a secretary, who
shall be elected by the board of managers.
3. The secretary shall send out plans ana suggestions to
branch secretaries of the Otterbein Guild, aid in developing
the work in the branches, and conduct the department of
the Otterbein Guild in the Evangel, subject to the approval
of the editor. She shall make quarterly reports, also an
annual report to the general secretary. She shall make an
annual report to the association through the Evangel and a
biennial report to the board of managers.
Article XV. — Department of Literature.
1. The Evangel shall be the official organ of the Women's
Missionary Association. Its editor shall be elected by the
board of trustees.
2. The object of this department shall be to awaken ami
inform the women, the young women, and the children
of the Church on the subject of missions, to increase the
circulation of the Evangel and to encourage the use of mis-
sionary literature, missionary leaflets, and books of the mis-
sion study course.
3. The head of this department shall be a secretary who
shall be elected by the board of managers.
4. There shall also be a general literature committee,
composed of three members — the secretary of the department.
134 DISCIPLINE
the editor of the Evangel, and a third member elected by
the hoard of trustees — whose duty it shall be to prepare and
publish the literature of the association.
5. The officers of this department shall consist of the
department secretary, and secretaries of literature in
branches, local societies, and chapters of the Otterbein Guild.
6. Through the department secretary this committee shall
send out plans and suggestions to the secretaries of litera-
ture of the branches, assist in developing the work in the
branches, submit quarterly reports and an annual report to
the association through the Evangel and a biennial report to
the board of managers.
7. All money received from the sale of literature shall
be retained by the general literature committee for the main-
tenance of the work.
Article XVI. — Thank-offering Department.
1. The object of this department shall be to emphasize
the devotional and educational features of our giving ; to
help the women to give systematically, and as an act of
worship.
2. The head of this department shall be a secretary, who
shall be elected by the board of managers.
3. The secretary shall send out plans and suggestions to
the branch secretaries, aid in developing the work of the
branches, and conduct the thank-offering department in the
Evangel, subject to the approval of the editor. She shall
make an annual report to the association through the
Evangel, and a biennial report to the board of managers.
Article XVII. — Department of Children's WorJ:.
The object of this department shall be to educate the
children in missionary work, in definite prayer, and system-
atic giving for missions.
This work shall be done through the .Junior Christian
Endeavor society in harmony with the following sections
from the Junior constitution :
1. "Monthly missionary meetings shall be held at which
time missionary offerings may be taken."
2. "The Junior Christian Endeavor society in its mis-
sionary activities is asked to co-operate with the Women's
Missionary Association which in turn, may assist the Junior
superintendent in cultivating a missionary interest among
womKxN's missionary society 135
the Juniors by suggesting missionary literature and infor-
mation."
3. "The missionary funds raised by the Junior Christian
Endeavor societies for missionary purposes other than con-
ference missionary objects sliall l)o sent by the branch
Christian Endeavor treasurer to the treasurer of the Wom-
en's Missionary Association, at Dayton, Ohio."
Section II.
CONFERENCE BRANCH CONSTITUTION.
Article I. — Name.
This branch shall be called the Branch of
the Women's Missionary Association of the Chur^'h of the
United Brethren in Christ.
Article II. — Object.
The object of the branch shall be to enlist the women,
the young women, and the children within the bounds of
Conference in the cause of missions, to lead
them to personal consecration, to disseminate missionary
knowledge, and to raise funds to help carry forward the
liome and the foreign work of the Women's Missionary
Association.
Article III. — Membership.
The membership of this branch shall consist of the mem-
bers of the association living within the bounds of the con-
ference.
Article IV. — Officers.
The officers of the branch shall be a president, two vice-
presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, a secretary of the Otter-
bein Guild, a secretary of literature, and a secretary of
thank-offering. The officers shall be elected by ballot at
the annual meeting.
Article V. — Executive Committee.
The officers of the branch, together with the branch
superintendent of Junior Christian Endeavor (who is a
member ex-nfficio) shall constitute the executive committee.
The organizers shall be advisory members. The executive
committee shall meet after the branch meeting and outline
definite plans for the year. It shall supervise and develop
136 DISCIPLINL'
the work within the bounds of the conference ; divide the
conference into two districts over which the vice-presidents
shall have supervision ; seek to secure the organization of
local societies and chapters of the Otterbein Guild in each
church, and strengthen those already existing.
Article VI. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at the annual meeting and
have general supervision of all the work of the branch.
She shall endeavor to have all the plans adopted by the
branch executive committee carried into effect.
2. The vice-presidents shall co-operate with and aid the
president in every possible way to carry out the plans of
the branch. They shall superintend the districts into which
the branch may be divided, shall have charge of the member-
ship at large, and shall assist in developing and strengthen-
ing the work. They shall preside in the absence of the
president, or upon request.
3. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings
of the annual meeting and of the executive committee meet-
ings. She shall submit quarterly reports to the general
secretary, which shall reach her not later than June 29,
September 29, December 29, March 29, also the annual
report not later than March 29. She shall announce all
the branch and executive committee meetings and present
an annual report to the branch convention,
4. The treasurer shall receive all funds of the branch
and transmit the same, except the branch contingent, to the
general treasurer. She shall submit quarterly reports to
the general treasurer, which shall reach her not later than
June 29, September 29, December 29, March 29, also the
annual report not later than March 29, when the books of
the general treasurer close. She shall pay bills of the
branch only upon vouchers properly certified by the presi-
dent and secretary. She shall give bond, and her books shall
be audited annually. She shall present an annual report to
the branch convention.
5. The secretary of the Otterbein Guild shall, in harmony
with the department secretary, endeavor to interest the
young w'omen in each local church of the conference in mis-
sions, and, whenever possible, organize a chapter. She shall
submit quarterly reports to the department secretary, which
shall reach her not later than June 29, September 29,
December 29, and March 29, also the annual report not
U'OAIEX'S MISSIONARY SOCIETV 137
later than March 29. She shall present an annual report
to the branch convention.
6. The secretary of literature shall, during the year,
select and recommend missionary literature to local secre-
taries of literature, and for the sales table at the branch
convention.
She shall endeavor to secure a wider reading of mission-
ary literature, especially of the Evangel and missionary
leaflets. She shall encourage the use of the books of the
mission study course. She shall submit quarterly reports to
the department secretary which shall reach her not later
than June 29, September 29, December 29, and March 29,
also the annual report not later than March 29. She shall
present an annual report to the branch convention.
7. The secretary of thank-offering, in harmony with the
department secretary, shall endeavor to interest the women
and girls in each local society and chapter in the branch
in this department. Her annual report shall reach the
department secretary not later than March 29. She shall
present an annual report to the branch convention.
Article VII. — Meetings.
The branch shall meet annually and shall consist of the
branch ofiicers, three delegates from each local society, two
delegates from each chapter of the Otterbein Guild, the life
patrons, and life directors residing within the branch and
paying annual dues. Life members shall be advisory mem-
bers.
It shall receive and pass upon reports. It shall transact
any business pertaining to its work. It shall elect officers
and three delegates to the meeting of the board of managers,
one of whom should be a representative of the Otterbein
Guild, and another a member of the executive committee.
Article VIII. — Contingent Fund.
The expenses of the branch officers to the executive com-
mittee meetings, its delegates to the biennial meeting of the
l)oard of managers, and all other expenses of the branch
shall be provided for by a contingent fund derived from
the societies within the branch, as hereinafter provided.
13S DISCIPLINE.
Section III.
LOCAL SOCIETY CONSTITUTION.
Article I. — iYff»?e.
This society shall be called the local society,
Branch of the Women's Missionary Association
of the United Brethren in Christ.
Article U.—Ohjrct.
The object of this local society shall be to enlist the women
of the church in the cause of missions, to
lead them to personal consecration, to disseminate mission-
ary knowledge, and to raise funds to help carry forward
the home an-d the foreign work of the Women's Missionary
Association.
Article II L — .1/cm hership.
1. Any woman may become a member by the payment of
ten cents per month, the .yearly total to be divided as follows :
$1.00 to general fund, 20 cents to branch contingent.
2. The society shall provide for all expenses connected
with the work of the society through a local contingent
fund.
3. Any child may become a meralier by the payment of
five cents per month, and shall be reported on the list of
associate members.
4. The payment of $10 at one time, o* by installments
within five years, shall constitute a life membership.*
The payment of $25 at one time, or by itistalinients with-
in five years shall constitute a life directorship.*
The payment of $100 at one time, or by installments
within five years, shall constitute a life patronship.*
5. Life patrons shall be full members of the board of
managers ; life directors shall be advisory members of the
same. Life patrons and life directors shall be full mem-
bers, and life members shall be advisory members of the
branch Avithin whose bounds they reside. These privi-
leges are accorded only to those who pay annual dues.
Article IV. — Officers.
The officers of the local society shall consist of a president,
a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, a secretary of
*A certificate sliall be given at the time of payment in full,
but this certificate shall not exempt from annual dues.
WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY 139
literature, a secretary of thank-offering, and two or more
collectors who shall be elected by ballot at the annual meet-
ing in March.
Article V. — Executive Committee.
The officers of the society shall constitute the executive
committee, whose duty it shall be to supervise and plan the
work of the society. They shall endeavor to interest and
enlist every woman and girl in the church in the work.
Article TI. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the
society and supervise its general interests. She shall be
ex officio a member of every standing committee of the so-
ciety, and present in writing a report of the work to each
quarterly conference,
2. The vice-president shall co-operate with and aid the
president in every possible way to carry out the plans of
the society. She shall preside in the absence of the presi-
dent or upon request.
3. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings
of each meeting and the meetings of the executive commit-
tee. She shall keep a record of the names of the members,
also a separate record of the names of the life members,
life directors, and life patrons. She shall send quarterly
reports to the branch secretary which shall reach her not
later than June 20, September 20, December 20, March 20,
also the annual report not later than March 20. She shall
present a report in writing to the local society at each
quarterly business meeting, and an annual report at the busi-
ness meeting in March.
4. The treasurer shall receive all funds of the society
and transmit the same, except the local contingent, to the
branch treasurer. She shall submit quarterly reports to the
branch treasurer which shall reach her not later than June
20, September 20, December 20, and March 20, also the
annual report not later than March 20, when the books of
the branch treasurer close. She shall present a report in
writing to the local society at each quarterly business meet-
ing, also an annual report at the business meeting in March.
She shall present a report in writing to each quarterly con-
ference. Her books shall be audited annually.
5. The secretary of literature shall seek to create and
foster an interest in missions by means of missionary lit-
140 DISCIPLINE
erature, pictures, etc. She shall select and purchase mis-
sionary literature during the year, secure the largest num-
ber of subscriptions possible to the Evangel, urge the use of
a mission study course and be a member of the program com-
mittee.
She shall send quarterly reports to the branch secretary
of literature which shall reach her not later than June 20,
September 20, December 20, March 20, also an annual report
not later than March 20. She shall present a report in
writing to the local society at each quarterly business meet-
ing, and an annual report at the business meeting in March.
6. The secretary of thank-offering shall endeavor to
carry out in the local society the plans suggested for this
department. She shall urge the use of the thank-offering
boxes. She shall send an annual report to the thank-offering
secretary of the branch, which shall reach her not later
than March 20. She shall present a report in writing to
the local society at each quarterly business meeting, and an
annual report at the business meeting in March.
7. The collectors shall visit the women of the church,
solicit members, collect monthly dues, also special funds.
They shall work under the direction of the treasurer and
shall pay all moneys to the treasurer before each quarterly
business meeting. They shall present a report in writing
at each quarterly business meeting.
Article VII. — Meetings.
The local society shall hold meetings once a mouth. The
quarterly business meetings shall be held in June, September,
December, and March, at which time the reports of officers
shall be heard and the business of the society transacted.
Necessary items of business may be transacted at any meet-
ing.
The annual meeting shall be in March, at which time the
officers, also three delegates and three alternates to the
branch convention shall be elected by ballot.
OTTERBEIN GUILD 141
Section IV.
OTTERBEIX GUILD CONSTITUTIOX.
Article I, — Name.
This society shall be called the Chapter
of the Otterbein Guild of ■ Church,
Branch of the Women's Missionary Association of the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
Article ir.— Object.
The object of this society shall be to enlist young women
in the cause of missions, to lead them to personal consecra-
tion, to disseminate missionary knowledge, and to raise
funds to be applied to any work undertaken by this -depart-
ment of the Women's Missionary Association.
Article III. — ilent hership.
1. Any young unmarried woman may become a member
by the payment of six cents per month, the annual total
to be divided as follows : 00 cents to general fuml, 12 cents
to branch contingent.
2. The chapter shall provide for all expenses connected
with the work of the chapter through a local contingent fund.
3. All members are invited to sign the covenant.
4. The payment of $10 at one time, or by installments
within five years, shall constitute a life membership.*
The payment of $25 at one time, or by installments with-
in five years, shall constitute a life' directorship.*
The payment of $100 at one time, or by installments
within five years, shall constitute a life patronship.*
."). Life patrons shall be full members of the board of
managers, life directors shall be advisory members of the
same. Life patrons and life directors shall be full mem-
bers, and life members shall be advisory members of the
l)rauch within whose bounds they reside. These privileges
are accorded only to those who pay annual dues.
Article IV.— Officers.
The officers of this society shall be a president, a vice-
president, a secretary, a treasurer, a secretary of literature,
a secretary of thank-offering, and two or more collectors,
*A certificate shall bo given at the time of paymcut iu lull,
but this certificate shall not exempt from annual dues.
142 DISCIPLINE
who shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting in
March.
Article V. — Patroness.
A patroness shall be elected by ballot at the annual
meeting. She shall be a member of the local society if one
exists, otherwise any missionary leader, and shall be an
advisory member of the executive committee of the cliapter.
Article VI, — Executive Committee.
The officers of the chapter including the patroness shall
constitute the executive committee, whose duty it shall be
to supervise and plan the work of the chapter. They shall
endeavor to interest and enlist all the girls and young
women in the church in the work. The president shall be
chairman of this committee.
Article VII. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the
chapter and supervise its general interests. She shall be
ex officio a member of all standing committees of the chap-
ter, and shall present in writing a report to each quarterly
conference.
2. The vice-president shall co-operate with and aid the
president in every possible way to carry out the plans of the
chapter. She shall be a member of the program committee,
and shall preside in the absence of the president, or upon
request.
3. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings
of each meeting and the meetings of the executive com-
mittee. She shall keep a record of the names of the mem-
bers, also a separate record of the names of life members,
life directors, and life patrons. She shall send quarterly
reports to the branch secretary of the Otterbein Guild, which
shall reach her not later than June 20, September 20. De-
cember 20, March 20, also an annual report not later than
March 20. She shall present a report ' in writing to the
chapter at each quarterly business meeting and an annual
report at the business meeting in March.
4. The treasurer shall receive all funds of the chapter
and transmit the same, except the local contingent, to the
branch treasurer. She shall submit quarterly reports to the
branch treasurer, which shall reach her not later than June
20, September 20, December 20, March 20, also the annual
report not later than March 20, when the books of the
oTiKHnEiN (iuir-i) 143
branch treasurer close. She shall present a report in writ-
ing to the chapter at each quarterly business meeting and an
annual report to the business meetinp: in March. She shall
present a report in Avrilins to ea'-h quarterly conference.
Her books' shall be audited annually.
5. The secretary of literature shall seek to create and
foster an interest in missions by means of missionary liter-
ature, pictures, etc. She shall select and purchase mission-
ary literature during the year, secure the largest number
of subscriptions possible to the Evangel, urge the use of the
Bible and mission study courses, and be a member of the
program committee.
She shall send quarterly reports, also an annual report to
the branch secretary of literature, which shall reach her
not later than June 21), September 2l), December 20, March
20, and the annual report not later than March 20. She
shall present a report in writing to the chapter at each
quarterly business meeting and an annual report to the
business meeting in ^Slarch.
6. The secretary of thank-offering shall endeavor to carry
out in the chapter the plans suggested for this department.
She shall urge the use of the thank-offering boxes. She shall
send an annual report to the thank-offering secretary of the
branch, which shall reach her not later than March 20. She
shall present a report in writing to the chapter at each
quarterly business meeting, and an annual report at the
business meeting in March.
7. The collectors shall visit the girls and young women
of the church, solicit members, collect monthly dues, also
special funds. They shall work under the direction of the
treasurer and shall pay all moneys to the treasurer before
each quarterly business meeting. They shall present a report
in writing at each quarterly business meeting.
Article VIII. — Meetings.
The chapter shall hold a regular meeting once a month.
The quarterly business meetings shall be held in June, Sep-
tember, December, and INIarch. at which time the reports of
the officers shall be heard and the business of the society
transacted. Necessary items of business may be transacted
at any meeting.
The annual meeting shall be held in March, at which time
the officers, also two delegates and two alternates to the
branr-h convention, shall be elected by ballot.
CHAPTER XX.
Women's Aid Society.
constitution.
Article I. — Organiza tion.
When at any time an opportunity presents itself for the
organization of a sufficient number of women (who are
members or friends of the Church of the United Brethren
in Christ) into a society for mutual aid in promoting the
spiritual, social, financial, and intellectual interests of a
congregation or charge, it shall be the duty of the pastor
or the conference superintendent of the district to call
together the women of the congregation or charge, and, after
securing the names of all present wishing to become mem-
bers of the organization, he shall proceed to organize, by
having elected by ballot a president, vice-president, secre-
tary, and treasurer, whose duties shall be those usually
devolving upon such officers.
. 1 rticle II. — Na me.
This organization shall l)e known as the Women's Aid
Society of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ,
at .
Article III. — Annual Election.
The officers of this society shall be elected by ballot an-
nually at the last meeting preceding the session of the
annual conference, and the officers elect shall assume the
duties of their offices at the first meeting succeeding t he-
session of the annual conference, at which time the secretary
shall turn over to the secretary-elect all books and papers
belonging to the society, and the treasurer shall make settle-
ment with and turn over to the treasurer-elect all funds
belonging to the society.
The president and treasurer of this society, when members
of the Church, shall be members of the quarterly conference.
144
women's aid society 145
Article 1 V. — Membership.
Any woman of good standing, friendly to the work of
the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, may become
a member of the society.
Article V. — Meetings.
The regular meetings of the society shall be at least once
each month, and oftener when any interest demands it.
The meetings shall always open and close with devotional
exercises, and the deliberations shall be conducted according
to the usages of the Church.
In case of the absence of the president and vice-president,
the secretary shall call the meeting to order, and proceed
to the election of a president pro tern., whose official acts
shall be valid.
Article VI. — Dues.
Each member of the society shall pay into the treasury
of the same the regular monthly dues agreed upon by the
society, and in case a member shall fail to pay for six con-
secutive months, unless unable to do so, her name may be
erased from the roll of the society.
Article VII. — Disbursement of Funds.
All moneys collected on dues, or otherwise, by the society
shall be used for the benefit of the congregation, or charge,
or for any benevolent purpose, as the society may direct.
Article VIII. — Christian Visitation.
In order to promote the work of Christianity among the
families under our influence, the members of the society
may arrange to have all such families visited at least once
a month, by dividing the homes to be visited into districts
and one or two go to each home, look after the sick, invite
persons to the various services of the church, and report to
I he pastor or leader all persons whose interest demands im-
mediate attention.
This work is not to be substituted for the visitation of the
I)astur or leaders, but is meant to aid them in their work.
CFIAPTER XXI.
. Church Erection Society,
constitution.
Article I. — ?\nme.
This society shall be known as the Church Erection So-
ciety of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, with
headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, its corporate name being the
Church Erection Society of the United Brethren in Christ.
Article II. — McmhcrsJi ip.
All members of the United Brethren Church shall bf
members of this society ; further, any person paying $1,000
at one time, or in four annual payments of $250 each, shall
be an advisory life director. The secretary shall prepare
and furnish to such advisory life directors a certificate as
evidence of such directorship, signed by the president and
secretary.
Article III. — Ohjcct.
The object of this society shall be to procure desirable
lots in strategic centers for locations for churches and par-
sonages, and to assist congregatious in locating and erecting
houses of worship and parsonages.
Article IV. — Officers.
The officers of this society shall consist of nine trustees,
at least four of whom shall be laymen, who shall be elected
by the General Conference. The board of bishops shall
select one of the bishops, who by such selection shall be one
of the nine trustees aforesaid.
The general Church Erection secretary shall be the exe-
cutive officer of this society, and its funds shall be handled
by the general Church treasurer.
The trustees of this society shall meet immediately upon
adjournment of the General Conference upon the call of the
general secretary, and oi'ganize by electing a president and
a vice-president and secretary of the board.
140
CHURCH ERECTION SOCIETY 147
Article V. — Meetings.
The annual meeting of the board of trustees shall be
held at such time and place as the board itself may decide.
Other meetings may be held at such time and place as may
be designated by the president and general secretary. Five
of the members shall constitute a quorum.
Article VI. — Duties of Officers.
1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the
board, and perform all duties usual to the office. In the
absence of the president, the vice-president shall preside.
2. The general secretary shall keep a record of the
proceedings of the board, conduct its correspondence, and
devote himself to the work of securing funds and otherwise
attending to the interests of the society as the board may
direct. He shall submit an annual report to the board of
trustees and a quadrennial report to the General Conference.
The salary of such secretary shall be fixed by the General
Conference.
3. The treasurer shall hold the funds of the society
subject to the order of the board.
4. The board of trustees shall hold annual meetings,
appoint an executive committee of not less than five,
make by-laws to regulate its business, loan money to
churches, appropriate money to defray incidental expenses,
and publish such matter from time to time as the cause
may require. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees,
in case of vacancy in the office of secretary, from death,
resignation, or other\vise, to appoint his successor as soon
as practicable, who shall serve till the following General
Conference.
Article VII. — Branch Societies.
1. Each annual conference of the Church is hereby con-
stituted a branch of the general society and shall elect a
board of trustees of not less than five of its members.
This board shall organize by electing a president, secretary,
and treasurer. It shall also adopt rules of regulation for
its government in. harmony with the rules and government
of the general board. The branch secretary and treasurer
shall submit annual reports to their conference boards and
to the secretary of the general board by April first of each
year.
148 DISCIPLINE
2. The board of trustees, in conjunction with the con-
ference superintendent, may take charge of the property of
the church which becomes vacant and control the same so
as to subserve the best interests of the conference.
Article VIII. — Receipts of Treasurer.
The general Church treasurer shall receipt for all money
sent him by the various conference treasurers.
Article IX.—Aiti)Vu(iii()ti for Louns.
1. When a loan from Church Erection is desired, the
quarterly conference or oflBcial board so desiring it shall be
called together for the purpose of voting whether or not
application shall be made. If the vote be favorable, the
application shall be sent to the conference board of trustees
for its approval, and upon such approval the conference
board of trustees shall make application to the general sec-
retary of the general Church Erection Society.
2. Where there is no local church, the conference branch
society shall act in lieu thereof.
Article X. — Graiitinf/ of Loans.
1. The board shall make no appropriations where there
is reasonable prospect that the church asking aid can suc-
ceed without it, or where there is no prospect of gathering
a good church membership.
2. Funds shall not be loaned to any church until the
church property is secured by deed as provided for in
the Discipline ; nor shall loans be made to churches until
their trustees have forwarded an abstract of the title of
their property, certificate of release of all mechanics' liens
and other incumbrances, and their notes, secured by the first
mortgage on the premises properly recorded in the records
of the courts, for the inspection of the board of managers, or
executive committee.
3. A record of all loans placed by the general board on
churches and parsonages shall be kept by the secretary of
the branch society in conferences where such churches and
parsonages are located.
4. The branch society shall assist the general board in
promptly securing the return of all loans as they become
due on churches and parsonages within its jurisdiction ; and
the secretary of each conference branch society shall report
CHUKCII ERECTION SOCIETY 149
the outstanding Church Erection loans within his territory
at each session of the annual conference.
Article XI. — Duty of the Ministry.
1. Each pastor shall present the interests of church
erection to his people during the year, and distribute such
literature as may be furnished by the secretary and board
of managers.
2. The conference superintendent shall direct attention
to the interests of the society at quarterly meetings, and
shall advise with the pastors as to the best methods of se-
curing the advancement of the church erection cause. They
shall also interest themselves in securing special gifts and
bequests from those who may be able to give.
.4 rticle XII. — Insurance.
The trustees of any church or parsonage which re-
.jeives a loan from the Church Erection Society shall be
required to secure said property from loss by fire in some
reliable insurance company in favor of said Church Erection
Society.
Article XIII. — Parsonage Fund.
The board of trustees may set aside a per cent, of the
church erection funds .for the erection of parsonages.
Article XIV. — Administration of Funds.
1. All moneys collected for the various funds of church
erection shall be paid to the treasurer of the branch society
who shall promptly remit the same to the general Church
treasurer.
2. All special donations and bequests shall go direct to
the treasurer of the general board.
Article AT. — Lot Fund.
1. Such amounts from the general funds of the society as
shall from time to time be determined upon by the board of
trustees, together with all funds contributed specially for
such purpose, shall constitute a lot fund.
2. This fund shall be used for purchasing desirable lots
in strategic towns and cities of the various conferences
150 DISCIPLINE
where we have no chnrchos. Said lots may be gifts to the
local churches that may be organized in such places, but the
deeds of conveyance shall contain a clause providing that if
the same is not used for church purposes, or becomes aban-
doned by the local church, said lots thereupon shall revert to
the general Church Erection Society.
chaptp:r XXII.
Printing Establishment and Church Publications.
Section I.
printing establishment.
Name.
1. This establishmeut shall be called the Printing Estab-
lishment of the United Brethren in Christ.
Election of Officers.
2. The controlling authority herein granted shall be
vested in the General Conference of said Church, whose
duty it shall be to elect the necessary agents and editors,
and fix their salaries, and make or amend such rules as in
its judgment it may deem expedient.
Trustees — Election and Duties.
3. The General Conference shall elect a board of nine
trustees to serve for four years, or until their successors are
elected, at least five of whom shall be residents of the
State of Ohio, and at least three of whom shall be residents
of Dayton or its vicinity.
4. The board of trustees thus elected shall, during the
interval of the General Conferences, take the oversight of
the Printing Establishment. They shall meet annually,
or oftener if need be, in the publishing house in Dayton,
Ohio, on the call of their president. They shall also select
a local committee of three of their number, from among
those residing in Dayton or vicinity.
5. The local committee shall take the oversight of the
establishment during the intervals of the meetings of the
board of trustees. It shall meet monthly, or oftener if
need be, and shall have power to order expenses curtailed
in any department of the publishing house ; and, should
there arise a difference of opinion between the agent and
the editor of any of the publications as to what shall appear
in the columns of any paper, the committee shall decide
the matter ; it shall also decide what book?) that have been
approved by the book committee shall be published by the
151
152 DISCIPLINE
house, and transact such other business as may come be-
fore it.
6. The board of trustees shall have full power at an>
meeting to discontinue any periodical when the interests of
the Church or Printing Establishment demand it : such
action, however, shall not be taken except by a two-thirds
vote of the board ; and then the office and salary of the
editor or editors shall cease.
7. It shall be the duty of the trustees to see that the
agent and editors properly and faithfully discharge their
duties. In case of dereliction of duty, they may suspend the
delinquent party or parties from office until the General
Conference ; provided, however, that no one shall be sus-
pended until a copy of the complaints in writing has been
presented to the accused, and an opportunity given for
defense before the board of trustees.
8. The trustees may make any by-laws which may seem
to them expedient for the regulation of the minor concerns
of the Printing Establishment, provided they are not incon-
sistent with any General Conference rule.
0. The editors, publishing agent, and trustees are author-
ised to make such changes and improvements in our litera-
ture during the quadrennium as may be necessary, and also
to adjust any discrepancies between the periodicals in size
and price.
Duties of Publishing Agent.
^0. It shall be the duty of the agent to supervise and
manage the business of the Printing Establishment, un-
der the direction of the board of trustees ; to regulate tliti
publications and all other affairs of the house, except that
which pertains to the editorial departments, in such man-
ner as the interests of the Church may require. lie sluiU
also furnish to the local committee, at each monthly me<'f-
ing, a full and satisfactory statement of all the business
transactions of the previous month; and, if desired by tli**
committee, he shall present for examination all books,
vouchers, and papers, and afford tb.e committee every means
and facility for a full and intelligent understanding of tlu-
business of the publishing house. He shall keep separate
accounts with each department of the business, and also
each periodical published, and carry into effect all of th*^
instructions of the board of trustees and local committee.
I'UINTING ESTABLISHMENT AND CHURCH PUBLICATIONS 153
11. The agent and local committee shall annually take
an account of stock, including in the inventory all the
assets, of whatever nature, of the Printing Establishment
at their estimated cash value, except the real estate, which
shall be appraised by the local committee of the board of
trustees at the end of each quadrenuium, and the valuation
shall not be changed prior to the close of the succeeding
iiuadrennium except by the purchase, sale, improvement,
or destruction of property. Such inventory shall also con-
tain a full and detailed statement of all liabilities, profits,
and losses. In making this financial exhibit, two separate
and distinct accounts shall be kept. One shall be a com-
plete financial account of the Printing Establishment proper,
located on Fifth Street. Dayton. Ohio. The other shall be a
complete account of the fiscal condition of the real estate at
the corner of Fourth and Main streets, Dayton. Ohio, setting
forth separately each piece of property owned or controlled
by the publishing house. The agent and board of trustees
shall have full control of credits and collections.
12. The agent shall prepare and publish a report of the
condition of the Printing Establishment annually in the
Religious Telescope, and shall also make a report to the
General Conference. He shall make arrangements for ver-
batim reports of the proceedings of the General Conference
for publication.
Vacancies.
13. Should any vacancy occur in any of the offices of
the Printing Establishment, or in the board of trustees, the
trustees shall fill such vacancy until the sitting of the suc-
ceeding General Conference.
Employment of Time.
14. No editor or officer employed in the Printing Eatab-
lisliment shall accept any office or engage in any business
which will interfere with the duties of his office.
Proceeds.
15. The profits of the Printing Establishment, after a
sufficient capital to carry on the business is retained, shall
l)e applied to the benefit of traveling and worn-out itinerant
preachers and their widows and orphans.
154 DISCIPLINE
Section II.
CHURCH PUBLICATIONS.
Book Committee.
1. The book committee shall be composed of the editor
of the Religions Telescope, editor of the Watchword, editor
of the Sabbath-school literature, the professor of theology iu
Bonebrake Theological Seminary, and the publishing agent.
The latter shall receive all manuscripts and have power to
call the committee, and without the sanction of the book
committee no book shall be published in the name of the
Church or publishing house during the interval of the
General Conferences. The agent and local committee shall
select a book editor.
Authorship of Doctrinal Publications.
2. No one of our preachers or laymen shall become the
author of any doctrinal book or pamphlet, in a printed
form, in the name of the Church, without the approbation
of the book committee or an annual conference, or of a
committee chosen by the latter. If any preacher or layman
violates this rule, he shall be accountable to the class or to
the quarterly or annual conference, as the case may be.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Education.
Section I.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Article I. — Constitution.
The Board of Education of the Church Sot the United
Brethren in Christ shall be composed of the following : The
bishops, ex officio, the presidents of our colleges, the presi-
dent of Bonebrake Theological Seminary, and six laymen
to be elected for eight years, one half the laymen to be elected
at any General Conference ; provided that, at the confer-
ence of 1917, three shall be elected for four years and three
for eight years. Seven members of the board shall consti-
tute a quorum.
2. There shall be a general secretary of education, elected
by the General Conference.
Article II. — Organization.
1. The officers of the board, in addition to the general
secretary, shall be a president and vice-president, who shall
be elected by the board at the first session immediately
after the adjournment of General Conference, and these
officers shall hold office until the next General Conference.
2. The general secretary of education, under the direc-
tion of the board, shall conduct the correspondence, keep the
records, and in all his official conduct shall be subject to the
authority and control of the board. His time shall be en-
tirely employed in conducting the affairs of the board and
promoting its objects by making educational investigations,
by traveling in its interests, by visiting the schools of the
Church and lending assistance to the officers thereof, by
making educational addresses, by soliciting funds and stu-
dents for the schools of the Church, by compiling statis-
tics and other information for the uses of the board, and by
performing such other labors as will assist the existing
schools of the denomination and those hereafter established
155
15G DISCIPLINE
to a higher d*»eree of efficiency, and perform such other
duties as the board may from time to time require.
3. There shall be at least one session of the board each
year. Special meetings of the board may be called by the
president, upon the request of five members.
4. In the case of a vacancy occurrijig in the board, by
death or otherwise, the board shall have power to fill the
vacancy, the election to be by ballot, and the person elected
to hold office until the next meeting of the General Con-
ference.
Article III. — Executive Committee and By-Laws.
The boai-d shall have power to appoint an executive
committee from its own membership, and take such other
measures to accomplish the object of its creation as shall
not be inconsistent with this constitution.
Article IV. — Work of the Board.
1. To assist in every way the cause of higher edu-
cation in the Church, to awaken and stimulate an interest
in this important work throughout the borders of our Zion,
to encourage and aid our educational institutions that are
striving to bring the Church to greater efficiency, and to
unite the friends of education in their efforts, that greater
unity of plan may be secured, and the forces of the Church
combined to give our people advantages commensurate with
the needs of the present day.
2. To seek by the publication of tracts, pamphlets, ad-
dresses, or books upon educational questions, to diffuse
among our members a more general knowledge of the value
of a sanctified education and of a well-instructed ministry.
and thereby awaken in them a better appreciation of our
institutions of learning and of the obligations resting upon
them to give of their substance for their support.
3. To make an annual report of the general and finan-
cial condition of the colleges and other educational institu-
tions of the Church ; to make such recommendations to the
managers of these institutions as will tend to make them
more effective.
4. This board shall determine the number of colleges
and academies, and the standards for the various grades of
institutions of learning and the co-operating territory of
each. In the readjustment of co-operating territory of
EDUCATION 157
existing institutions, the boarcl shall seek such an equitable
adjustment as may be satisfactory to the conferences and
institutions concerned.
5. The board shall determine the standard of colleges
which grant the bachelor degree. The remainder . of our
schools may be junior colleges or academies or may be dis-
continued, at the discretion of the board. The junior col-
leges and academies shall co-operate with the standard
colleges in course of study, in students, and in every way pos-
sible in their respective districts. The courses of study
of like grade schools shall co-ordinate as far as possible,
based upon the minimum of units as outlined by the board.
(I. No church school shall be established, discontinued,
relocated, or consolidated with another without the consent
of this board, by a two-thirds vote of the entire board.
7. The board, through its secretary, shall make to the
General Conference a report of all the work done during
the preceding four years, including money received by collec-
tions, bequests, or othei^wise, the amount paid out, and the
purposes for which it w^as paid. The board may propose
to the General Conference, from time to time, such plans
as it may consider useful or necessary for the success of
the work committed to it.
Article V. — Amendments.
No addition or amendments to the provisions of this
constitution shall be made except by consent of a majority
of the members of the General Conference present at any of
its sessions. Notice of any proposed addition or amend-
ment shall be given at least one day previous to its consid-
eration.
Article IT. — Education Fund.
1. There shall be an education fund under the control
of this board, to be raised by the secretary and members of
the board, in the form of cash, gifts, death notes, bequests,
etc. This fund shall l)e appropriated at the discretion of
the board.
2. To accomplish the work of the Board of Education, an
annual offering may be taken, or, if the boai-d thinks best,
the amount to be raised by the various conferences may be
apportioned according to the judgment of the board and in
accord with the decision of the Board of Administration.
158 DISCIPLINE
The funds thus raisod shall be sent to the conference church
treasurer.
Article VII. — Annnol-donfcrcnce Board.
There shall be a board of education in each annual con-
ference, which shall report annually to the annual confer-
ence. The number of members of this board, the method of
their election, and their organization shall be determined hy
the general Board of Education, This board shall act in co-
operation with the general board in developing our educa-
tional interests within its territory. The local institutions
and this board shall work in harmony.
Section II,
Beneficiary Aid.
Article I. — Beneficiary Aid Fuml.
The Board of Education shall raise funds by collection,
donation, or bequest, to aid liy loan, without interest, as the
executive committee may determine, in educating, in both
their collegiate and theological courses, worthy young per-
sons who are preparing themselves for the work of the gospel
ministry, or as missionaries in the United Brethren Church ;
provided, however, that the board shall have power to receive
money and use it for other educational purposes, as donors
may direct.
Article II. — Recommendations for Aid.
Young persons aided by this board must first be recom-
mended as suitable persons to receive aid by the conference
in whose bounds they live, or to which they belong ; or by
the board of Foreign Missions, when the applicant does not
reside within the bounds of any conference ; or by an edu-
cational committee appointed by the conference, to which
all requests for aid. not acted upon by conference, or which
shall occur during the interim of its sessions, shall be
referred.
Article III. — Delinquents.
No person having received aid from the Board of Education
may be granted an honorable dismissal by his conference
until he shall liave made satisfactory settlement with the
board. The bishops arc directed to enforce this provision.
EDUCATION 159
Section III.
EDUCATION DAY.
There shall be observed annually in each congregation an
education day, at which time pastor and people shall give
special attention to the educational interests of the Church.
The churches and schools shall each year observe the day of
prayer for students. The board of education shall promote
this day and secure special offerings for the work of the
board.
Section IV.
ACADEMIES AND COLLEGES.
Article I. — Academies.
In this day of excellent high schools in many parts of
our country, academies should be located judiciously, and
should confine their literary courses of study to such
branches of learning as will prepare for entrance upon the
freshman or sophomore year of the best colleges. An acad-
emy doing such work is greatly preferable to an inferior
college. No new academy shall be undertaken with a less
sum than fifty thousand dollars.
Article II. — Colleges.
1. The success of our church work is connected vitally
with the colleges of the Church. In these our youth are
developed and equipped in mind and heart for the work of
effective service to humanity. As to Christian education,
the divine Word aptly declares : "Wisdom is a defence, and
money is a defence ; but the excellency of knowledge is,
that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."
2. The ministry and laity should earnestly use their
power to have as many young people as possible attend our
own institutions of learning, and to encourage persons to
give liberally of their means for the more thorough estab-
lishment and equipment of our educational institutions.
3. No college shall be founded except upon the demand
of an imperative necessity, or with a less sum of money
than two hundred thousand dollars, of which one hundred
thousand dollars shall be a permanent and productive en-
dowment, and whose title shall be in fee simple to the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
1 (K) DISCIPLINE
4. It is recommended that the several presidents and
principals of our institutions of learning be ex officio mem-
bers of the local official bodies which govern the said insti-
tutions,
5. We direct that the endowment funds of our institu-
tions of learning be kept sacred for the purposes for which
they were given, and not dissipated and jeopardized by loans
to the contingent fund of the institutions and spent for cur-
rent expenses, and we recommend that these funds of our
institutions be not loaned to the members of the board, or
officers or teachers of the institution, or others who are
personally interested in the care and safe-keeping of these
funds.
6. We cordially endorse and approve the best method of
industrial education as applied in those institutions where
mechanical and other equipment is provided for this purpo»;e,
and recommend that this practical training and self-heli)
be secured for those who desire it, as soon as practicable.
Article III. — Collcf/e Extension Courses.
In view of the fact that many of our ministers and
laymen who find it impossible to go away to school, would
be glad to pursue a course of study, and in view of the
university and college movement now organized in most of
the schools of higher education in our land, we recommend :
1. That all our colleges offer such non-resident courses
of study as they may be able to teach, for the aid and en-
couragement of the above-named class of students.
2. That these students be examined thoroughly on
their courses of study, and that suitable diplomas be
awarded those who complete their work to the satisfaction
of the respective colleges.
8. We recommend that onv institutions of learning pro-
vide such instruction as prepare their students to become
leaders of song in church and Sunday school.
4. We recommend that our institutions of learning give
greater emphasis to the training of their young people for
different phases of religious work.
Section V.
BONEBRAKE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Article I. — Object.
This institution of sacred learning, located in Dayton,
Ohio, is maintained by the United Brethren in Christ for
EDUCATION 161
the purpose of educating persons called of God to the work
of the ministry and the spread of the gospel of Christ among
men. It shall be under the control of the General Confer-
ence of the United Brethren in Christ, by which its board
of trustees shall be elected at each quadrennial session.
Article II. — Officers.
The officers of the seminary shall consist of a business
manager and a board of trustees, who shall be elected by
the General Conference, The board of trustees shall be
composed of eighteen members, a majority of whom shall be
residents of the State of Ohio. The acting bishops shall be
elected by the General Conference as members of said board.
Article III. — Duties of Trustees.
1. The board of trustees shall meet on the call of the
senior bishop immediately after its election, and organize
by electing a president and secretary. The board of active
bishops shall act as vice-presidents in the order of their
seniority. It shall meet annually in the seminary build-
ing at Dayton, Ohio, elect a president and the necessary
faculty, review the work of the business manager and the
faculty, determine the salaries of the faculty, and adopt
measures for the advancement of the interests of the institu-
tion.
2. The l)oard of directors may fill any vacancy caused
by the resignation, removal, or refusal to serve of the busi-
ness manager or trustees.
3. The board shall elect four persons who, together with
the business manager, shall constitute the executive com-
mittee, which shall meet on call of the chairman and trans-
act business for the institution in accord with the orders
and plans of the board of trustees.
4. The board of trustees shall make a report of its work
to the General Conference, giving such facts in connection
with the seminary as it may deem of importance.
Article IV.— Business Mamujer.
The business manager shall reside in Dayton. Ohio,
and shall manage the assets under the direction of the
executive committee, have charge of all the property, and
manage the business of the institution. He shall solicit
and, with the consent and approval of the board of trustees.
162 DISCIPLINE
or executivo rommittpo, oinploy others to solicit con-
tributions lo the st>niiiiary. In tho name of the Bonobrake
llieological Seminary, and under its corporate seal, the busi-
ness manager shall execute all deeds of transfer and other
legal documents which may be authorized by the board of
directors or its executive committee. He shall report to
the board of directors annually, and to the General Con-
ference quadrennially, an account of all receipts and expencli-
tures, together with any recommendations pertaining to the
business interests of the institution.
Article V. — President's Report.
The ))resident of the seminary shall make a quadrennial
report concerning the standing and efficiency of the institu-
tion, its scholarships and library, together with any recom-
mendations pertaining to the scholastic work of the institu-
tion.
Article VI. — The Custodian of Funds.
The general Church treasurer shall receive and disburse
on order the funds of the seminary.
AticJe VII. — Endowment and, other Funds.
All moneys or values of any kind given to the semi-
nary as an endowment shall be held sacred as a permanent
fund and securely invested, the interest only to be used in
the maintenance of the seminary. All other funds shall be
used as the interests of the seminary may require or as the
donors may direct.
Article VIII. — Annual Income.
The annual apportionment and division of funds shall be
by the Board of Administration, as outlined in the plan of
finances of the Church (Chapter XV.).
Article IX. — Obligation of Faculty.
Each professor chosen to a chair in the seminary shall,
upon the day of his inauguration, publicly subscribe to the
following declaration of faith and obligation :
I solemnly declare, in the presence of God and the officers
of Bonebrake Theological Seminary, that I believe the Holy
Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired
Word of God, and, with the Holy Spirit, the only perfect
rule of faith and practice. I believe the Confession of
EDUCATION 163
Faith, as contained in the thirteen articles in our Book of
Discipline, to be a truthful consensus of the fundamental
doctrines of the Bible. I believe that the system of church
government, as presented in the Book of Discipline of the
United Brethren in Christ, is consistent with the teachings
of the sacred Scriptures, and I solemnly promise that I will
not teach or insinuate anything that shall in any way be in-
consistent with the foregoing declaration, or that is not in
harmony with the Constitution and Confession of Faith
and the rules of the Church as set forth in the Discipline
of the United Brethren in Christ. I also promise, by divine
assistance, to the best of my ability, to sustain the doc-
trines of the Holy Scriptures as thus set forth by the
Church, in opposition to all forms of error, as long as I
shall remain a professor in this institution.
[ Name]
Article X. — Entrance Exaniination.
The faculty shall require candidates for admission to the
seminary to pass any examinatious deemed necessary to
determine their fitness ; and arrange for examinations in
the respective conferences without expense to the candidates,
provided that no person shall be permitted to enter the
regular course of study who has not had a high school course
or its fair equivalent.
Article XI. — Postgraduate Studies.
The faculty may arrange postgraduate courses of reading
to cover one, two, or three years, for the successful comple-
tion of which appropriate seals shall be placed upon the
diplomas of alumni. The examination shall be by corres-
pondence, or otherwise, as the faculty may arrange.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GENERAL CHURCH TREASURY.
The General Conference shall elect a general Church
treasurer, who shall be the treasurer of the board of
trustees of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ,
and who shall receive and disburse, on order, the funds of
the Home Missiionary Society, the Foreig^a Missionary So-
ciety, Church Erection Society, the board of control of
the Sunday School, Brotherhood and Young People's work,
the Board of Education, General Conference expense fund.
Bonebrake Theological Seminary fund, and other benevolent
funds of the Church. Said treasurer shall give bond for
the faithful performance of his duty, the bond to be fixed
by the board of bishops and the salary by the General
Conference.
164
CHAPTER XXV.
Evangelism,
the general commission on evangelism.
1. There shall be a general Commission on Evangelism,
consisting of the board of bishops and the secretary of the
Home Mission board, members ew-officio, and three ministers
and three laymen to be elected by the General Conference.
The work of this commission shall be : First, to arrange
for the employment and support of evangelists to work in the
Church at large, and to provide and send out such literature
as will arouse a greater interest in this department. Second,
to give careful and studied attention to the character and
fitness of the men of this denomination who desire to do the
work of an evangelist, and to furnish reliable information
concerning the same to the commission on evangelism of the
Federated Churches of Christ in America, and to evangelistic
committees and pastors desiring evangelistic help.
CONFERENCE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATION.
2. Each annual conference shall have an evangelistic
committee consisting of the conference superintendent, or
superintendents, and the superintendents' council, which shall
have the oversight of evangelistic work in the annual con-
ference.
3. There shall be a committee of three or more in each
local church who, in conjunction with the pastor, shall con-
stitute a local evangelistic committee, of which the pastor
shall be the chairman. It shall be the duty of this com-
mittee to arouse an evangelistic spirit in the local church,
and, if possible, to enlist every member of the society in
fcsoul winning. This committee shall take an annual census
of the locality in which the church is situated, and tabulate
the result for the use of the church and Sunday school.
CLASSIFICATION OF EVANGELISTS.
4. Two classes of evangelists are to be recognized, as
follows : First, Evangelists-at-large, who may work inde-
I)»'udeutly or under the direction of the general evangelistic
coiniuission. Second, conference evangelists, employed by the
166 DISCIPLINF
auDiml coiifcrciuH' at a stated salary to be provided for by
the annual conference.
No person shall be recognizee! as an evangelist who has
not been approved by his annual conference. Any one de-
siring the relation of evangelist-at-large must be approved
by his annual conference, or superintendents' council, and
receive credentials from the general Commission on Evan-
gelism.
5. Before any evangelist, other than those of our own
Church, shall be invited to conduct meetings in any of our
local churches, he must be endorsed by the bishop of the
district and the superintendent of the conference.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Preachek.s' Pension Fund.
A pension fund shall be provided for the purpose of aiding
superannuated ministers in the Church of the United Breth-
ren in Christ and ministers' widows.
The Board of Admiaistration shall conduct a great pension
fund campaign for meeting the immediate needs of those en-
titled to payments from this fund. This board shall also
administer the fund thus secured.
167
CHAPTER XXVII.
Homes and Orphanages.
1. The Quincy United Brethren Orphanage and Home,
located at Quincy, Franklin County, Pa. ; the Otterbein
Home, located near Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio ; the
Colonel R, M. Baker Home, located at Otterbein, Los Angeles
County, California, are recognized as sustaining well-defined
relations to the Church as general institutions.
2. The territory which shall co-operate with the Quincy
United Brethren Orphanage and Home shall comprise Alle-
gheny, Erie, Pennsylvania, East Pennsylvania, Virginia,
West Virginia, East Tennessee, and Florida conferences ;
all other territory to co-operate with the Otterbein Home,
except the Oregon, Columbia River, and California confer-
ences which may co-operate with the Colonel R. M. Baker
Home at its request.
3. The General Conference shall elect trustees for the
Quincy United Brethren Orphanage and Home and the
Otterbein Home from their respective territories. The Cali-
fornia Conference shall elect trustees for the Colonel R. M.
Baker Home.
4. The boards of trustees shall adopt such plans and
rules as may be necessary for the management of said insti-
tutions, provided such plans and rules are in harmony with
the Discipline of the Church.
5. It shall be the duty of the board of bishops to pre-
sent the above interests to each of the respective annual
conferences co-operating, and to urge a free-will offering at
Christmas, or some other suitable time, each year, and to
encourage solicitations of funds within the bounds of their
districts.
6. In order to secure the best results from concentration,
no similar institution may be established without the ap-
proval of the General Conference.
168
CHAPTER XXVIIl.
Historical Society.
Section I.
GENERAL CONFERENCE APPROVAL.
1. The Historical Society of the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ, located in Dayton, Ohio, having for its
object the collecting and preserving of papers, records,
books, and other materials bearing upon the history of the
Church, has the recognition of the General Conference.
2. Said society shall, through its officers, make quad-
rennial reports to the General Conference.
Section II.
CONSTITUTION.
Article I. — Name.
The name of this society shall be the Historical Society
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
Article II. — Object.
Its object shall be to collect and preserve information
iu connection with the rise and progress of the Church of
the United Brethren in Christ; also, objects of curiosity
and interest, in the form of manuscripts, books, pamplilets.
medals, portraits, etc.
Article III. — Location.
The business headquarters, the museum, and library of
the society shall be located in Dayton, Ohio.
Article IV. — Members.
1. Any person approved by the board of managers may
become a member upon the payment of an initiatory fee
of one dollar, and may retain membership by contributing
one dollar annually thereafter. In case of failure to pay
fees within six months after they are due, membership shall
be forfeited.
2. Any person approved by the board of managers may,
by the payment of ten dollars, become a life member, and
shall be exempt from the payment of the annual fee.
169
170 DISCIPLINE
3. The board of managers shall have power to appoint
a corresponding member within each of the annual confer-
ences of the Church; but, at the request of the board of
managers, a corresponding member may be elected by an
annual conference. Other corresponding members may be
elected by the board, at their option.
4. Any person considered wortliy of the honor may
be elected by the board of managers to honorary member-
ship, without fees.
Article V. — Officers.
1. The officers shall consist of a president, first, second,
and third vice-presidents, secretary, librarian, and a board of
managers consisting of these oflScers and eight other mem-
bers. The general Church treasurer is, by enactment of
General Conference, the treasurer of the society.
2. These officers shall be elected at each regular annua!
meeting, and shall serve until their successors have been
duly elected.
3. The election of officers shall be conducted by ballot,
unless there be but one nomination, in which case the
election may be by acclamation.
4. In voting by ballot, no votes shall be counted ex-
cept those votes cast by members present at the meeting, for
persons nominated, and a majority of all votes cast shall
be necessary to election.
5. The board of managers shall have power to fill vacan-
cies.
Article VI. — Duties and Privileges of Members.
1. It shall be the duty of members of every class to pro-
mote the interests of the society in every way possible,
by securing for the society such information and such
articles as will be of value in accomplishing the purpos*^
«5* ^-l»« organization.
2. Annual and life members shall be entitled to all the
privileges of the society, including admission to the museum
and library. Corresponding and honorary members shall be
entitled to admission to the museum and library.
Article VII. — Duties of Officers.
1. The duties of the president, vice-presidents, secretary,
and treasurer shall be such as are usually performed by
these officers.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY 171
2. The librarian shall be the custodian of the prop-
erty of the society, and shall manage it according to the
rules adopted by the board of managers.
3. The board of managers shall have charge of all the
interests of the society in the interim of the annual
meetings. They shall meet quarterly. Special meetings
may be called by the president. Five shall constitute a
quorum.
4. The treasurer, librarian, and board of managers shall
render reports to the society at the annual meeting.
Article VIII. — Property.
All the property of the society, except its funds, shall be
deposited in a room or rooms, provided for the purpose, and
shall be open for the inspection of the members of the so-
ciety and others, under such restrictions and regulations as
may be adopted by the board of managers ; and in no case
shall any article of any kind be removed from the museum
or depository, except by order of the board of managers,
and then only for a limited time. The depository shall con-
tain, under the same restrictions and regulations, for the
benefit of the members, a library, to be formed as rapidly
as circumstances will permit
Article IX. — Funds.
1. All funds, after necessary expenses are paid, shall be
appropriated to the enlargement and preservation of the
museum and library.
2. All bequests of money made to the society shall bo
funded under the direction of the board of managers, aiy'
the interest thereof used for ordinary expenses.
Article X. — Meetings.
The society shall meet annually for the purpose of elect-
ing officers and transacting other necessary business. Twen-
ty-five shall constitute a quorum. The time of meeting of the
society and the board shall be determined by the board.
Article XI. — Amendments.
This constitution may be amended at any regular meet-
ing by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided
that the proposed amendment shall have been previously
approved by the board of managers, and published in the
Religious Telescope.
PART VI
Boundaries
CHAPTER XXIX.
Bishops' Districts.*
1. East District.
Allegheny, East Pennsylvania, East Tennessee, Erie,
Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
II. Central District.
East Ohio, Kentucky, Miami, Ohio German, Sandusky,
Southeast Ohio, and West Tennessee.
III. Northwest District.
Indiana, Lower Wabash, Michigan, Minnesota, Northern
Illinois, St. Joseph, White River, and Wisconsin.
IV. Southwest District.
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
V. Pacific District.
California, Columbia River, Montana, and Oregon.
VI. Foreign District.
China, Japan, Philippines, West Africa, and Porto Rico.
'By order of the General Conference each active bishop is
required to reside within the bounds of his own district.
CHAPTER XXX.
Conferences and Districts.
Article I. — Domestic Conferences.
The boundaries of the conferences and districts shall be as
follows :
AXLEGHENY.
1. Beginning at the southwest corner of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania : thence along the southern line of Mercer and
Venango counties to Clarion County ; thence north along
the eastern line of Venango County to Warren County ;
thence along the southern line of Warren, McKean, and
Potter counties ; thence north along the eastern line of Pot-
ter County to the New York State line; thence along the
State line between New York and Pennsylvania to the north
branch of the Susquehanna River ; thence along the west
line of the East Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania confer-
ences to the State of Maryland ; thence along the south line
of the State of Pennsylvania to the southwest corner of the
State ; thence along the State line to the place of beginning.
CALIFORNIA.
2. California Conference embraces the State of Cali-
fornia.
COLORADO.
3. Colorado Conference includes the States of Colorado,
Wyoming, and Utah.
COLUMBIA RIVER.
4. Beginning on the northern boundary of the State of
Washington ; thence south along the Cascade Mountains to
the Columbia River; thence up the Columbia River to the
mouth of the John Day River; thence south along said river
to its source ; thence east to the Oregon line, including all
the territory of Washington and Oregon east of the line
above given, and also the State of Idaho.
173
174 DISCIPLINE
EAST OHIO.
5. Boginning at tlio norllicast corner of the State of
Ohio ; thence south along the State line and the Ohio River
to Marietta ; thence up the Muskingum River to a point op-
posite the northwest corner of Noble County, Ohio ; then due
east to said northeast corner of Noble County ; thence north
along the oast line of Muskingum and Guernsey counties,
Ohio; thence west along the north line of Muskingum and
Licking counties, Ohio, to the east line of Delaware County,
Ohio ; thence west from this point to Delaware, Ohio ; thenc«>
north along the eastern boundary of Sandusky Conference
to Sandusky City, Ohio ; thence eastward along the north-
ern boundary of the State of Ohio to the place of beginning.
EAST PENNSYLVANIA.
6. Beginning at the northeast boundary of the State of
New Jersey on the Atlantic Coast ; thence along the said
boundary line and the Delaware River to the northern bound-
ary of Pennsylvania ; thence westward along said boundary
to the north branch of the Susquehanna River ; thence along
said river to the junction of the north and west branches of
the Susquehanna River ; thence southward along the east
shore of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay to
the Atlantic Ocean ; thence northward along the Atlantic
Coast to the place of beginning. Said conference shall be
the legal successor of Eastern Conference and East Penn-
sylvania Conference. All rights, interests, bequests, and
obligations of said conferences shall inhere in the said East
Pennsylvania Conference.
EAST TENNESSEE.
7. East Tennessee Conference embraces all the territory
in Tennessee lying east of the Cumberland Mountains, and
the counties of Lea, Scott, and Washington in the State of
Virginia.
ERIE.
8. Beginning on the shore of Lake Erie, at the north-
west corner of the State of Pennsylvania ; thence south
along the State line between Ohio and Pennsylvania to the
southwest corner of Mercer County, Pennsylvania ; thence
east with the line as described in the bounding of Allegheny
Conference to the New York State line, and including the
State of New York and all that part of Pennsylvania em-
CU^FEUEACE.S AiND DiaXlUCTS 175
braced within the ahove-flescribed limits; provided, that
OrangeviUe Circuit be included in Erie Conference.
FLOKIDA.
0. Florida Conference embraces all the States of Georgia
and Florida.
INDIANA.
10. Indiana Conference shall embrace all the territory in
Indiana south of the following line: Beginning at the north-
west corner of Sullivan County, thence due east to the
west boundary of Bartholomew County ; thence southeast to
Columbus ; thence eastward by way of Big Four Railroad
to Greensburg, thence southeast by said railroad to the
southwest corner of F'ranklin County ; thence east along
said county line to 'the Ohio State line.
Lewis class in Vigo County, Briley and Middlebury classes
in Clay County, and Beech in Owen County are hereby
placed in Indiana Conference, and Columbus charge is to be
in White River Conference.
IOWA.
11. Iowa Conference embraces all of the State of Iowa.
KANSAS.
12. Kansas Conference embraces all the State of Kansas.
KENTUCKY.
13. Kentucky Conference embraces all the State of Ken-
tucky, except Covington and Newport, which belong to
Miami Conference.
LOUISIANA.
14. Louisiana Conference embraces the States of Louisi-
ana, Mississippi, and Alabama, excepting that part contigu-
ous to West Tennessee Conference.
LOWER WABASH.
15. Beginning at the mouth of the Illinois River; thence
up said river to the northwest corner of Green County,
thence along the northern lines of Green, Macoupin, and
Montgomery counties to the northeast corner of Montgomery
County, thence along a straight line across Christian Coun-
176 DISCIPUNE
ty to the southwest corner of Macon County, thence along
the south and east lines of Macon County, thence along the
west and north lines of Piatt County, thence along the west
and north lines of Champaign County, thence along the west
and north lines of Vermillion County to the Indiana State
line. Cherry Grove and Dalton City churches to be in the
Northern Illinois Conference.
MIAMI.
16. Beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River ;
thence north along the western boundary of the State of
Ohio, to the northwest corner of Darke County, Ohio ; thence
eastward along the Sandusky Conference line to Sidney,
Ohio ; thence to the east line of Champaign County, Ohio ;
thence southwest along the east line of the counties of
Champaign, Clarke, and Green to the north line of Clinton
County ; thence west on the north line of Clinton County
to the northeast corner of Warren County ; thence south on
the east line of Warren County to the north line of Clermont
County ; thence west on the north line of Clermont County
to the east line of Hamilton County ; thence south on the
east line of Hamilton County to the Ohio River ; thence
down the Ohio River to the place of beginning ; provided,
that the cities of Newport and Covington, in the State of
Kentucky, and the Rockdale Church, in the State of Indiana,
shall belong to the Miami Conference.
MICHIGAN.
17. Michigan Conference eml)races all the State of
Michigan.
MINNESOTA.
18. Minnesota Conference embraces all of the State of
Minnesota.
MISSOURI.
19. Missouri (Conference embraces all the State of Mis-
souri.
MONTANA.
20. Montana Conference is composed of the entire State
of Montana, and that part of North Dakota which lies south
and west of the Missouri River.
CONFERENCES AND DISTRICTS 14 1
NEBRASKA.
21. Nebraska Conference includes all the States of Ne-
braska and South Dakota.
NEW MEXICO.
22. New Mexico Conference embraces all the State of
New Mexico.
' NORTHERN ILLINOIS.
23. Northern Illinois Conference embraces all the terri-
tory of the State of Illinois north of the line given as the
northern boundary of the Lower Wabash Conference.
OHIO GERMAN.
24. Ohio German Conference embraces the States of
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Permission is also
granted to go into any of the Western States or Territories,
where doors of usefulness may be open to labor among the
German population.
OKLAHOMA.
25. Oklahoma Conference embraces all the territory with-
in the State lines of Oklahoma, and any organized work in
Texas.
OREGON.
2<>. Oregon Conference embraces in its territory all the
States of Oregon and Washington not occupied by the
Columbia River Conference.
PENNSYLVANIA.
27. Beginning- at the mouth of the .Juniata River ; thence
along said river westward to the crest of the Tuscarora
Mountains ; thence southward along the crest of said moun-
tains to the State of Maryland ; thence westward along tlie
Pennsylvania and Maryland State lines to the northwe^»t
corner of Washington County, Maryland ; thence southward
along the western boundary of said county to the Potomac
River ; thence along said river to the Chesapeake Bay ;
thence eastward along the coast to the mouth of the Susque-
hanna River; thence northward along said river to the plate
of beginning.
178 DISCIPLINE
ST. .TOSEPJI.
28. St. Joseph Confei'ence embraces all territory north of
the following-described line ; Beginning at the southwest
corner of Warren County ; thence east on said county line
to the Wabash River ; thence up said river to the Tippecanoe
County line ; thence south to the Montgomery County line ;
thence east on said county line to Hamilton County ; thence
north to Howard County ; thence east on Howard County
line to Grant County ; thence north on Grant County
line to Wabash County ; thence west and north on Wabash
County line to the Wabash River ; thence along the Wabash
River to the Ohio State line. Howard Chapel and Inde-
pendence are to belong to White River Conference, It here-
by becomes legal successor to those parts of the divided
Upper Wabash Conference that lie within these described
lines.
SANDUSKY.
29. Beginning at Sandusky, Ohio ; thence south along the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Shelby Junction ; thence
south and west along the Big Four Railroad to Delaware
and Marysville, Ohio ; thence west along the south line of
Logan County to Sidney, Ohio ; thence west on a straight
line to the northeast corner of Darke County, Ohio ; thence
west to the west line of the State of Ohio ; thence north
along the State line to the northwest corner of the State
line of Ohio : thence east to Sandusky, Ohio, the place of be-
ginning. Sidney, Gallon, Shelby, and Chicago. Ohio, to be-
long to the Sandusky Conference, and Ostrander and Union
to belong to the Southeast Ohio Conference.
SOUTHEAST OHIO.
30. Beginning at Delaware, Ohio; thence along the
boundary line of East Ohio Conference in a southeasterly
direction to Marietta, Ohio ; thence down the Ohio River
to the east line of Hamilton County, Ohio ; thence to the
northwest corner of Clermont County ; thence along the
north line of Clermont County to the east line of Warren
County, Ohio ; thence northward on the east line of the
counties of Warren, Greene, Clarke, and Champaign to the
south line of Sandusky Conference ; thence eastward along
said lino to Delaware, Ohio, the place of beginning.
CONFEBEJNCES AND DISTRICTS 179
VIRGINIA.
31. The Virginia Conference embraces the State of Vir-
ginia except the counties of Lea, Scott and Washington :
also that part of West Virginia lying east of the west
boundary lines of the connties of Grant and Pendleton of
said State ; also, Allegheny County, Maryland, and that
part of Garrett County, Maryland, lying east of the boun-
dary of West Virginia Conference. (The Swanton and
Bethlehem churches to belong to West Virginia Conference.)
WEST TENNESSEE.
32. West Tennessee Conference embraces all the territory
of the State of Tennessee lying west of the Cumberland
Mountains ; also contiguous work in Alabama.
WEST VIRGINIA.
33. Beginning with the summit of the Allegheny Moun-
tains at the line between Pennsylvania and Maryland ;
thence along the summit of said mountains southwest to
the Grant County line ; thence along the west line of said
county to Pendleton County ; thence along the west line of
said county to the Virginia State line ; thence along the
State line to the Kentucky State line ; thence north to the
Ohio River; thence with said river to the Pennsylvania
State line ; thence east on said line to the place of begin
ning.
WHITE RIVER.
34. White Kivor Conference cou>sists of all the territory
in the State of Indiana lying between Indiana Conference
and St. Joseph Conference, as defined under those heads.
WISCONSIN.
35. Wisconsin Conference embraces all the State of Wis-
consin.
Enabling Acts.
By virtue of enabling acts the General Conference author-
ized the following changes subject to the approval of the
conferences concerned :
1. The Lower Wabash and the Northern Illinois confer-
ences to form a State-wide conference to be known as the
Illinois Conference.
180 DTSOIPLINE
2. Indiana and White River conferences to unite into
one conference.
o. That Arkansas be constituted a mission district when
the work grows to three organized fields.
Article II. — Foreign Conferences.
CHINA.
The China Foreign Mission Conference embraces the ter«
»itory occupied by the United Brethren missions in Southern
China, with Canton as headquarters.
JAPAN.
The Japan Foreign Mission Conference embraces the ter-
ritory occupied by the United Brethren missions in central
portion of Japan, with Tokyo as headquarters.
PHILIPPINES.
The Philippine Foreign Mission Conference embraces the
territory occupied by the United Brethren missions in
Union Province and portions of adjacent sub-provinces,
Philippine Islands.
PORTO RICO.
The Porto Rico Foreign Mission Conference embraces the
territory occupied by the United Brethren Church in the
Ponce District, Porto Rico.
WEST AFRICA.
The West Africa Foreign Mission Conference embraces
the territory occupied by the United Brethren missions in
Siena Leone, West Africa.
PART VII
Formulas and Forms
CHAPTER XXXI.
Formulas.
Section I.
RECEPTION OF MEMBERS.
When at ahp meeting there are persons irho desire to unite
with the Church, the officiating minister shall call th(
applicants forward and address them as follows:
Dear Friends : Inasmuch as you present yourselves fo)
admission into the Church of the United Brethren in Christ
we rejoice with you that through the grace of God you hav«
been brought to a knowledge of the truth and have beei
made partakers of his great salvation. The privileges yoi
seek are above price, and the duties enjoined are solemn.
It is proper that you publicly confess your faith and avov
your purpose by answering the following questions :
Questions to applicants:
( 1 ) Do you believe the Bible to be the Word of God, and
that therein only is contained the knowledge of the way oi
salvation? If so. answer, "I do."
(2) Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
ami do you accept him as your personal Savior? If so, an-
swer, **I do."
(3) Are you determined by the grace of God to follow
Christ, renouncing the world and all ungodliness, seeking to
lead a life of holiness and devotion to God and his cause?
If so, answer, *'I am."
(4) Are you willing to be governed by our Church Dis-
cipline? If so, answer, "I am."
(5) Will you contribute to the support of the gospel
as God prospers you? If so, answer, "I will."
(G) Have you been baptized?
[If the answer to this question be in the negative, then
the applicant shall be instructed to attend to the duty as
soon as practicable.]
If the persons answer the above questions in the aflBrma-
tive, and no lawful objections be made by any member, then
181
182 DISCIPLIN]
the preacher shall give his right hand to such persons as
members of our Church. Then the members of the Church
will stand, and the minister will repeat the following cove-
nant :
"Do you, the members of the Church of the United Breth-
ren in Christ, enter into a covenant with this applicant [or
these applicants] for membership, and promise to watch
over, instruct, counsel, and cherish him [or her or them]
with all long-suffering, gentleness, and love?"
The members will then answer, "By the grace of God we
will." The hand of fellowship may be extended by the mem-
.bers. The preacher shall then register the names of the
accepted members in the Church record.
Section II.
BAPTISM OF ADULTS.
Our Lord commanded his apostles, saying, "Go ye there-
fore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt.
28:19). On the day of Pentecost, the multitude, under
the preaching of the word, "were pricked in the heart, and
said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them.
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37, 38).
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized :
and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).
Philip, the evangelist, went down to the city of Samaria,
and preached Christ to the people. And "when they believed
Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,
and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men
and women" (Acts 8:12).
Dearly beloved, it has pleased God, in his infinite mercy,
to awaken you to a sense of your guilt and danger, and to
lead you, as we humbly trust, to repentance and faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ. By presenting yourself for this holy
sacrament, you declare your purpose to lead a new life, and
to seek an inheritance with the righteous in the "house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Do you now solemnly consecrate yourself to Christ and
his service ; and will you endeavor henceforth to keep God's
FORMULAS iSo
holy coniniandments and to walk in the same all the days
of your life? If so, answer, "I will endeavor so to do. the
liOrd being my helper."
The minister shall then baptize the candidate, the service to
be concluded with a short prayer and benediction.
Section III.
BAPTISM OF CHILDREN".
"And they brought young children to him, that he should
touch them : and his disciples rebuked those that brought
them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased
and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto
me. and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of
God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter
therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands
upon them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:13-16).
In presenting this child for baptism, you not only signify
your faith in the Christian religion, of which baptism is
an ordinance, but also your desire that he [or she] may
early know and follow the will of God, may live and die
a Christian, and attain unto everlasting life.
In order to do this, it will be your duty, as parents [or
guardians] to teach him [or her] early the fear of the
Ijord ; to watch over his [or her] education, that he [or
she] be not led astray ; to direct his [or her] youthful mind
to the Holy Scriptures, and his [or her] feet to the sanctu-
ary; to restrain him [or her] from evil associates and
habits; and, as much as in .you lies, to bring him [or her]
up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Will you endeavor so to do, by the help of God? If so.
answer, "I will."
The minister shall then baptize the child, repeating the full
name of the same, saying:
I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
All to be followed by a short prayer by the minister.
Section IV.
HOLY COMMUNION.
"He is despised and rejected of ipen ; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief : and we hid as it were our faces
184 DTSCTPIJNE
from him ; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Sure-
ly he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows : vet
we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God. and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:3-5).
"And when the hour was come, he sat down and the
twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With
desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before
I suffer : for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof,
until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the
cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it
among yourselves : for I say unto you, I will not drink of
the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave
unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you :
this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after
supper, saying. This cup is the new testament in my blood,
which is shed for you" (Luke 22:14-20).
"For I have received of the Lord that which also I de-
livered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in
which he was betrayed took bread : and when he had given
thanks, he brake it, and said. Take, eat : this is my body,
which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had
supped, saying. This cup is the new testament in my
blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of
me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (I. Cor 11 :
23-26).
As many of you as truly love our Lord Jesus Christ are
now invited humbly to receive these elements in memory of
the suffering and death of your Lord and Savior.
Singing.
Prayer.
Administration of the elements.
Section V.
Ordination of Elders.
On the day appointed for ordination services a suitable
sermon shall be preached, whenever practicable. The offi-
ciating bishop (or elder, in the absent-e of a bishop) shall
call, if they l)o present, one or more eldei's to assist him in
the ceremonies of ordination.
FORMULAS 185
After the names of the candidates have ieen read aloud,
the hishop (or elder) shall address them as follows:
An elder "must be blameless, as the steward of God ; not
selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker,
not given to filthy lucre ; but a lover of hospitality, a lover
of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate ; holding fast the
faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able
by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gain-
say ers" (Tit. 1: 7-9).
Are you assured that you are inwardly moved by the
Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of the ministry to
serve God in the church of Christ to the honor and glory of
his holy name? If so, answer, "I am, as I truly believe."
Do you believe the Holy Scriptures, Old and New Tes-
taments? If so, answer, "I do believe them."
Will you apply due diligence to frame and fashion your
life according to the doctrines of Christ, and to make your-
self, as much as in you lies, a wholesome example to the
flock of Christ? If so, answer, "I will, the Lord being my
helper."
Will you loyally maintain the doctrines and polity of the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and devote your-
self with all possible zeal and faithfulness to the extension
of the Master's kingdom in whatever field you may be as-
signed from time to time in the ministerial service? If so,
answer, "I will endeavor, through the grace of God, to do
so."
Praijer In/ the offioiatinp hishop.
After the prayer the hishop and elders shall lay their ha}ids
upon the heads of each of them, and the hishop shall say:
Take thou authority to execute the office of an elder
in the church of God, in the name of the Blather, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hereupon the hishop {or elder) shall deliver to each of them
the Holy Hihle, saying :
Take thou authority to preach the Word of God, and to
administer the ordinances in the church of Christ.
I'rayer hy the Jiishop or one of the elders.
After the prayer the hishop shall read Luke 12:35-38.
"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burn-
ing ; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their
lord, when he will return from the wedding ; that when he
Cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh
186 DISCIPLINE.
shall find watching ; verily I say unto j'ou, that he shall
gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will
come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the
second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them
>o, blessed are those servants."
'J he following benediction is to he pronounced:
The peace of God keep your hearts and minds in the
knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Section VI.
HOME MISSION CONSECRATION SERVICE.
Dearly Beloved : You have been appointed as mission-
iry to and are commissioned to carry the
"iread of eternal life to souls who will perish without it.
Listen to the Word of the Lord : "And it shall come to
pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). "How then shall they call
on him in w'hom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall
they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach
except they be sent?" (Rom. 10: 14. IT)).
The Home Missionary Society, under divine direction as
we believe, is about to send you out to preach the living Word
to perishing souls.
Question. Have you a deep, abiding love for souls, and an
absorbing interest in their salvation? and have you felt es-
pecially called of God to this work? If so. answer, "I have,
as I truly believe."
God's Word says: "But arise and stand up on thy feet:
for 1 have appeavt^d unto thee for this purpose, to make thee
a minister and a wntness both of these things which thou
hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee" (Acts 26:16). "Ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all .Tudea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttennost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may re-
ceive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them w^hich
are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26: 18).
Question. Are you willing to work under the direction of
the Home Missionary Society of the United Brethren in
Christ, devoting your time and energy to the work to wdiich
you are appointed? If so, answer, "I am, the Lord being
Miy hoi])('r."
FORMULAS 187
It is God's will "that repentance and ■ remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things" (Luke
24:47, 48).
Question. Do you then publicly dt^licate yourself to this
work of God? If so, answer, "I do."
*'Lo. I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world."
PROVISIONAL PROGRAM.
(To be used in connection with above service.)
1. Song.
2. Scripture. II. Timothy 4 : 1-8.
3. Song.
4. Explanatory Remarks.
5. Remarks by Candidates.
6. Song.
7. Charge to Candidates.
8. Reading of Consecration Service.
9. Consecratory Prayer.
10. Song.
11. Benediction.
Section VII.
foreign mission consecration service.
I'hc representative of the Foreign Mission Board shall then
address the candidates as folloics :
*'And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world" (Matt. 28:18-20).
You have listened to the command which Christ gave to
his first disciples and which constitutes his church a mis-
sionary church in all ages. You believe that this command
applies to all followers of Christ to-day, and that it is in-
cumbent upon them, in so far as may be possible, to devote
their lives to the extension of his kingdom in the earth.
Earnestly seeking to obey this command, you are convinced
that it is your duty and privilege to engage in the service of
Christ in a foreign land. You have heard the call of God
sounding in the dci>ths of your owu .^oul, siiumiouiug you
188 DISCIPLINE
to this high endeavor. You have found this call confirmed
by the circumstances of your life and the judgment of the
board of Foreign Missions. In recognition of these facts,
and following, as wo believe, the lea-dershij) of the Holy
Spirit, we desire to set you apart to the work of a foreign
missionary, to witness for Christ in non-Christian lands, and
to bestow upon you the commission of the Foreign Mission-
ary Society.
Question. Have you a deep love for souls, and a strong
passion for their salvation, and have you felt especially
called of (iod to missionary workV If so, answer, "I have,
as I truly believe."
Question. Do you give yourself unreservedly to the work
of Christ in the land to which you have been assigned, in
humble reliance upon divine help, and do you make it the
purpose of your life to walk with Christ as his missionary,
faithful in word and deed, and in hearty co-operation with
your fellow-workers, under the direction of this board? If
so, answer, "I do."
I, then, by virtue of the authority bestowed upon me by
the Foreign Missionary Society of the United Brethren in
Christ, present you with this commission :
The Foreign Missionary Society of the
United Brethren in Christ.
Dayton Ohio, U. S. A.
To All to Whom This Hhall Come, Christian Greetings.
This certifies that
is appointed a missionary of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our
Lord, to , under the direction
and regulations of the Foreign Missionary Society of the
United Brethren in Christ, and is entitled to all the rights
and privileges attaching to that office.
Given this day of , 19. . . .
President of Board.
Chairman of Executive Committee.
General Secretary.
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature."
FORMULAS 189
PROVISIONAL PROGRAM.
(To be used in connection with above service.)
1. Song.
2. Scripture lesson. Romans 10:12-15; Acts 26:16-20.
and 13 : 47-49.
3. Prayer.
4. Song.
5. Introductory Words.
6. Remarks by the Candidates.
7. Song.
8. Charge to the Candidates.
0. Consecration Service.
10. Prayer of Consecration.
11. Song.
12. Benediction.
Section VIII.
CONSECRATION OF A DEACONESS.
After a suitable introductory service has been held, the
officiating bishop (or elder, in the absence of the bishop)
may call other elders, if they be present, to assist in the
consecration service.
To he read hi/ the officiating hishop :
In response to the will of God, who called Phoebe and
Dorcas into the services of the church, you present yourself
for ordination to the office of deaconess in the Church of
the United Brethren in C!hrist. The work of a deaconess is
a high and holy calling, requiring unselfish and sacrificial
labor. Like our gracious Master, you are to go about doing
good, ministering to the wants of a suffering, sorrowing, and
sin-laden world. You are to minister to the poor, visit the
sick, pray with the dying, care for the orphan, seek the wan-
dering, comfort the sorrowing, and save the sinning. Such
service confers a high honor, but also lays upon you a great
responsibility. The church now solemnly sets you apart for
this special service.
77/e folloir'uifj queations should he asJced :
Do you believe that you have been led by the Holy Spirit
to assume the duties of a deaconess in the church? If so,
answer, "I do."
Do you, in the presence of CJod and of this congregation,
promise faithfully to jierform the duties of a deaconess? If
so, answer, "I do."
190 DISCIPLINE
Do you fully accept the Holy Scriptures as the Word of
(rod? If so, answer, "I do."
Will you accept the direction of those whom the Church
may set over you in the prosecution of your work? If so,
answer, "I will."
Prayer of consecration, the candidate kneeJinf/.
Aftei' the prayer, the consecrator shall place his right hand
on the head of the candidate and shall say:
Take thou authority to perform the duties of a deaconess
in the church of God, in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Delivery of certificate, deaconess standing.
Song, "Tal-e my life and let it &e," or other suiiahlc song.
Benedictory prayer.
Section IX.
LAYING CORNER-STONE.
The follouing order of service may he observed:
1. Singing.
2. Reading of Scripture. (Ps. 132; I. Cor. 3:8-23.)
3. Prayer.
4. Singing.
5. Sermon or address.
6. Collection.
7. Laying of stone.
The minister, standing hy the stone, shall exhihit the box to
be deposited, and read the list of contents. Then the
minister, assisted by the builder, shall deposit the box and
adjust the stone to its resting place. This done the offi-
ciating minister shall say :
Beloved : In ancient time God commanded his servant
Moses to set up the tabernacle in the wilderness, and be-
stowed his blessing upon Solomon, the king, in erecting the
temple in Jerusalem, whither the tribes came up to worship.
In like manner he has moved your hearts to erect a sanctu-
ary, where, in years to come, his people may assemble for
prayer and praise. As this corner-stone is placed in position,
the stone upon which this temple shall rest, may our own
lives be built more securely upon Jesus Christ, the chief
corner-stone.
In repeating the following sentence the minister shall strike
the stone after the tvords ''Father,'^ "*S^on," and ^'Holy
Spirit,^" the trustees and otJicr church officials responding
FORMULAS 191
"J.«ieH" after every stroke. Trustees and officials shall
join the minister in the final ^"Anien and Amen.''
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit, we lay this corner-stone in the foundation of
a house to be erected and dedicated for the worship of God,
wherein his word shall be preached and his worship main-
tained. Amen and Amen.
8. Doxology.
9. Benediction hy the pastor.
Section X.
CHURCH DEDICATION.
The following order of service may he used:
1. Scripture Reading. (Ps. 84; or, Isa. 62 and Ps. 122.)
2. Singing.
S. Prayer.
If. Singing.
5. Sermon.
6. Offering.
7. Singing.
8. Scripture reading, with congregation standing.
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the
heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee ; how
much less this house that I have builded? Yet have thou
respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplica-
tion, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and unto the
prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day : that
thine eyes may be opened toward this house night and day,
even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name
shall be there : that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer
which thy servant shall make toward this place. And
hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy
people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place : and
hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place : and when thou
hearest, forgive."
"For the Lord hath chosen Zion ; he hath desired it for
his habitation. This is my rest forever : here will I dwell ;
for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision ;
I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her
priests with salvation : and her saints shall shout aloud
for joy" (Ps. 132:13-16).
"Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open,
and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made
in this place. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy
192 niSOTPLTNE
resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength : let thy
priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy
saints rejoice in goodness" (II. Ohr. G : 40, 41).
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to
everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye
the Lord" (Ps. 106:48).
Address to the trustees at the dedication of a church,
the trustees standing in front of the altar.
Brethren : You have been selected by the church to hold
the honorable and responsible place of trustees of this house
of worship, to he dedicated to the service of Almighty God.
In this office you represent the church, and will act on its
behalf and for its welfare, but in no sense forget the in-
terests of the community which are identified with the house
of God.
The house of God is sacred ; it is God's holy temple, where
he is to be worshiped in the beauty of holiness and love ;
therefore, do nothing in vainglory, but by love serve one
another. Nothing should enter this sacred place that will
defile the temple of God ; but at the same time let it ever
be remembered that all works of justice, of mercy, of love,
of helpfulness of whatsoever kind are Drouer in the house
of God.
By your official relation you are vitally interested in this
temi>le. Protect it at all times ; preserve it for constant
service ; improve it as needs arise. As assistants of the
pastor, help him to make this a holy place. As representa-
tives of the church in the community, win men to it, and
through it to the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the name of the Holy Trinity I now give this key to
the president of the board as the symbol of your authority,
lo hold this property in trust for God and the Church of
the United Brethren in Christ. I pray that Christian faith
and hope and love may dwell in your hearts, and that the
Holy Spirit may be your guide and comforter.
10. Dedicatory Prayer.
And now, Lord God of our fathers, we give this house to
thee. As thy people have builded it for thy worship and
glory, we pray that thou wilt accept it in the name of thy
Son our Savior, and manifest thyself approvingly to all who
have given to this work a sincere desire to honor thee
and to save men. As thou didst dwell in the temple at
Jerusalem, so make this thy resting place. Show forth thy
power and glory here from time to time in the salvation of
sinners, and in the edification of thy people. When thy
servants preach the word in this house, be thou in them,
and accompany the truth by thy Holy Spirit, to the heart?-
of all who shall hear. And when thy people meet in this
l»lace for prayer and praise, reveal thyself .graciously to their
faith, and vouchsafe unto them the joys of thy great salva-
tion. Preserve this house, we beseech thee, from fire and
storm, and make it a very great blessing to as many as shall
worship before thine altar. May the people remember that
this is thy house — the place where thy honor dwelleth — and
approach it with reverence and gladness. And not only
accept this house, but accept also our hearts as we dedicate
them anew to thee. Cleanse them and make them fit temples
for the indwelling of thy Spirit. Accept, we pray thee, all
we bring in this hour of consecration, sealing it with thine
own approval. And at last gather us all into that eternal
temple not made with hands, and thj-^ name, O God the
Father ["J.j??e»,'' responded by trustees], and thy name, O
Christ the Son ["Amen," responded by trustees,] and thy
name, O Holy Spirit [''A^nen," responded hy trustees], shall
have all the praise evermore. Amen and Amen [repeated
together hy officiating minister and trustees]. Let all the
people say. Amen ["A/ne;.,"' responded hy the people].
11. Doxology.
12. Benediction hy the pastor.
Section XI.
Parsonage Dedication.
The following order of service may he used:
1. Scripture Reading.
2. Singing.
S. Prayer.
Jj. Singing.
5. Sermon.
6. Offering.
7. Singing.
S. Scripture reading tvith congregation standing.
It pleased God in ancient times when he gave his chosen
people a sanctuary modeled and dedicated after his own
counsel, to provide a ministry of service that the fires
might be kept burning and that his name might be honored
throughout the generations.
194 DISCIPLINE
(tO(1 also sot apart a certain tribe and a certain family,
distinctly chosen to perpetuate in purity the service of his
sanctuary.
This tribe and family were provided with material sup-
port and homes were set apart for them.
Our Savior also provided a ministry to perpetuate his
word and fill the world with the gospel of the kingdom.
He likewise made provision for their support saying : "They
which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." In ac-
cordance with this provision our parsonages are dedicated
to God as property of the Church, thus providing homes for
those who proclaim the will of God to the people and preach
the gospel of salvation to the multitudes.
This house has been built by the offerings of the people,
and we now bring it as an offering unto God. in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the IToly Spirit.
.9. Address to the trustees.
Brethren : You have been selected by the church to hold
the honorable and responsible place of trustees of this
house, to be dedicated to the service of Almiglity God. In
this office you represent the church, and will act on its
behalf and for its welfare, but in no sense forget the inter-
ests of the community which are identified with this house.
It is your duty to jn-otect, preseiwe, and repair this build-
ing, and improve these gi'ounds as occasion may arise.
In the name of the Holy Trinity I now give this key to
the president of the board as the symbol of your authority,
to hold this property in trust for God and for the Church
of the United Brethren in Christ. I pray that Christian
faith and hope and love may dwell in your hearts, and that
the Holy Spirit may be your guide and comforter.
10. Dedicatory prayer.
And now, Lord (Jod of our Fathers, we give this house to
thee. As thy people have builded it to thy glory, we pray
that thou wilt accept it in the name of thy Son, our Sav-
ior, and manifest thyself approvingly to all that have given
to this work with a sincere desire to honor thee. Show
forth thy power and" glory in the salvation of souls and
in the edification of thy people. When thy servants preach
the word be tliou in them, and accompany the truth by thy
Holy Spirit to the hearts of all that shall hear. Preserve
this house, we beseech thee, from fii-e and storm, and make
it a very great blessing. And not only accept this house
but accept also our hearts as we dedicate them anew to thee.
Cleanse them and make them fit temples for the indwelling
of thy Spirit. Accept, we pray thee, all we bring in this
l-'ORMULAS 195
hour of consecration, sealing it with thine own approval.
And at last gather gs all into that eternal temple not made
with hands, and thy name. O God the Father [''Amen,'' re-
sponded hy trustees], and thj^ name. O Christ the Son
\'\imeri," responded hy trustees], and thj' name, O Holj*
Spirit [''Amen,'' responded hy trustees], shall have all the
l)raise ever more. Amen an<d Amen [repeated together hy
officiaiing in i n ister and trustc cs \ .
J I. Doxology.
12. Benediction hij the jmstor.
Sectiox XII.
:S[A1{1{TAGE CEREMONY.
The minister shall say:
We are gathered together in the sight of God in the
presence of these witnesses, to join together N. and M. as
husband and wife. The institution of marriage is coeval
with the family of man. God saw that it was not good for
man to be alone even in paradise and formed and gave to
him woman, that she might be a "help meet for him." This
union, like that of tlie body and soul, is only to be severed
by the hand of deatli.
Here the minister may say :
If any person knows any just cause or impediment why
these ]>ersons should not be joined in marriage, h^t the same
iiow speak or forever keep silent.
\o i)npedin\ent hcing alleged, the minister, addressing the
persons to he married shall further say:
Deeming it sufficient to refer you to the Holy Scriptures
concerning the duties you will owe henceforth to each other,
1 will receive your mutual plighted faith, and seal your
marriage vov>s.
To the man :
Will you Juive this woman to be your wedded wife, to live
with her after God's ordinance: will you love, honor, com-
fort, and cherish her, in sickness and in health, in pros-
I)erity and adversity, and forsaking all others, keep your-
self to her only, so long as you both shall live? If so. an-
swer, "I will."
7'o the ICO man :
Will you have this man to lie your wedded husband, to
live with him after God's ordinance; will you love, honor,
comfort, an-d cherish him. in health and in sickness, in pros-
l)erity and adversity, and forsaking all others, keep your-
self unto him only, so long as you l>oth shall live? If so,
answer, "I will."
196 DISCIPIJNE
The minister shall then join their rif/lit Imnds, and plaeini/
his right hand upon theirs, shall say: .
Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put
asunder. Inasmuch as you lia\o consented together in mar-
riage, and have declared the same before God and in tlie
presence of these witnesses, I pronounce you husband and
wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son. and of tlie
Holy Spirit. Amen.
I'he minister may then offer a hrief prayer, to he folloired
by this henedietion :
May God, the gracious Father, bless, presei've, and keep
you ; the Lord, mercifully, with his favor, look upon you,
and fill you with all spiritual blessiugs and grace, that you
may so live together in tliis life that in the world to come
you may have everlasting life. Amen.
Section XIII.
MARRIAGE CEREMONY WITH RING.
The minister shall say:
Dearly beloved, we are here in the sight of God, and in
the presence of these witnesses, to unite together these two
persons in holy marriage. They have passed satisfactorily
the tests and requirements of the family, of the state, and of
the church, and now stand unchallenged in this presence to
be admitted into the holy state commanded by the Word
of God, to be had in honor among all men.
It is becoming that this marriage relation be entered into
discreetly, reverently, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of
God. I, therefore, a minister of the blessed gospel, entreat
you both to seek the help of (4od in this moment and in all
your privileges and duties, that his love and grace may
make your union fruitful of comfort and usefulness, and a
furtherance of your salvation and everlasting life.
To the man:
Do you take this woman before God and these witnesses
to be your wife? If so, answer, "I do."
Do you promise to love and honor her, defend, support,
and comfort her, in joy and in sori'ow, in health and in
sickness, in prosperity and adversity? If so, answer, "I do."
Will you be faithful to her in all things, and endeavor
to be a good husband to her so long as you both shall live?
If so, answer, "I will."
FOUMULAS 197
To the tcoman:
Do you take this man, before God and these witnesses.
to be your husband? If so, answer, "I do."
Do you promise to love, honor, and comfort him. in joy
and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in prosperity and
adversity? If so, answer. "I do."
Will j'ou be faithful to him in all things, and endeavor to
be a good wife to him so long as you both shall live? If
so, answer, "I will."
What token and pledge do you offer that you will faith-
fully perform these covenant vows?
The man shows the ring, holding it in his right hand, and
answers:
This ring.
The minister shall say to the woman:
Do you accept this ring in token of the same covenant
upon your part? If so, answer, "I do."
Then the man, the minister guiding his right hand, shall
place the ring on the third finger of her left hand, and
the minister shall say:
Let ns pray.
fie may offer an extempore prayer, or use the folloiring:
Our Father, which art in heaven, thou hast recorded the
promises of these thy servants now made to each other.
We entreat thee to unite their hearts and lives in the bond
of a true and abiding affection, that they may share all
the blessings of a happy marriage. May their lives be
preserved from evil, and their love know no doubt, but grow
in purity and sweetness with the number of their years. Be-
stow upon them the Holy Spirit and true heavenly wisdom,
that they may be preserved from all things which have a
tendency to diminish the happiness of this holy estate.
Enable them by thy grace to live together according to thy
holy will, and may they at last enter into eternal life and
fellowship with thy saints in the kingdom of Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the minister request them to join their right
hands; the niinistrr. laying his right hand iiiion Dicir.s,
shall say to them:
Inasmuch as you have covenanted together in these sacred
bonds, and have witnessed the same by this token, I pro-
nounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
198 DISCII'LINE
What therefore God hath joined together let no man put
asunder.
"The Lord hless thee, and keep thee : the Lord make his
face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee : the Lord
lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
Amen.
Section XIV.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD.
Affrr the cashrt is loircrcd into the f/rarc. Ihc minister shall
repeat the following:
"Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full
of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down :
he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." "Lord,
make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days,
what it is ; that I may know how frail I am."
In the midst of life we are in death ; unto whom should
we seek for succor but unto thee, O Lord, who for our sins
art justly displeased? Our hope is in thy Son Jesus Christ,
who hath said. "I am the resurrection and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live :
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
"And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence-
forth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labors ; and their works do follow them."
"There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor cry-
ing, neither shall there be any more pain : for the former
things are passed away."
Inasmuch as the soul of our brother [or sister] has
passed out of time into eternity, we commit his [or herj
body to the ground, earth to earth, .-ishes to aslies, •dust
to dust, in the confident hope of the resurrection of the just
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Benediction.
Section XV.
lord's rUAYER APOSTLES' CREED.
In case the Apostles' Creed or Lord's Prayer be used in
any of our services, the following forms may be used :
FORM U I- AS 390
The Lord's Prayer.
Our Father which art in heayen, Hallowed be thj' name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive
us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil : For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Araen.
The Apostles' Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven
and earth ; and in .Tesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord ;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit ; born of the Virgin
Mary ; suffered under Pontius Pilate ; was crucified, dead,
and buried ; he descended into hades. The third day he arose
from the dead ; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence he
shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in
the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church ; the communion
of saints : and the life everlasting. Amen.
CHAPTER XXX II.
Forms.
Section I.
CERTIFICATES.
/, (Certificate of Transfer o/ Mem her.
This is to certify that
is an acceptable member of the Ciiurch of the rnited Breth-
ren in Chi'ist at , in
Conference, and is hereby' transferred to the church at
, in Con-
ference.
Pastor
Date
Note. — This is not a letter of dismissal from our Church,
and it does not terminate the connection of the member
with the local church which grants the transfer until it is
deposited with another church. This certificate is void after
eighteen months from -date.
Ikitiirn Certifiente.
This is to certify th:it on 10
was received into the fel-
lowship of the Ciiurch of the United Brethren in Christ at
in Con-
ference, from the church at
Pastor
Please fill out and return to
{The pastor who issues a eertifieate of transfer shall
notify the pastor of the eharpe to irhieh the member re-
mores, and the pastor irho reeeires a member on sueh certi-
ficate ahall notify the church f/rantinp it. ('hapter IV..
t-iection YI. Pastor who issues certificate should fill out
last blank on return certificate.)
200
FORirs 201
L ('erii/icdtc of Rrconiinetnlnlion.
This is to certifj' that is a member in good
standing of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, at
, and is hereby recommended to the confidence and
fellowship of Christians everj^vvhere.
Pastor.
I>ate
i. Ccrtififdtc of WitJuhairal.
This is to certify that has been until this
date a member of the Church of the United Brethren in
Christ, at , and is granted this letter of withdrawal
from the Church by a vote of the class.
Pastor.
Hate
Section II.
LICENSES.
'/. License for Qunrterly-Confercnce Preacher.
This is to certify that is an approved preacher of
the gospel in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ,
as long as his conduct and doctrine are conformable with
the gospel of Christ, as held by this Church. Given at a
quarterly conference, held on charge, an-
nual conference, this day of in the year of
Dur Lord , Void unless renewed annually.
Conf. Supt.
Date
•1. I*ermanei,t License for Qnnrtcrhi-Conference Preacher.
This is to certify that has completed the course
of reading required, and is hereby granted a permanent
license as a quarterly-conference preacher by charge,
annual conference, in the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ.
Date
Conf. Supt.
(»'. A nniinl-Confercncc PreacJicr's License.
This is to certify that is an approved preacher of
the gospel in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ,
as long as his conduct and doctrine are conformable with
the gospel of Christ. Given at the annual confer-
202 DisciPLmE
ence, held in , this day of in the year
of our Lord, . Signed in behalf of said conference.
Bishop.
Date.
7. Elder H License.
This is to certify that is an approved preacher of
the gospel in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
as long as his conduct and doctrine are conformable with
the gospel of Christ, and has been ordained to the office of
elder by the laying on of hands.
(xivou at tlie annual conference, held in .
Ill is day of , in the year of our Lord .
Signed and sealed In behalf of said conference.
Bishop.
Date
f'?. Trunsjcr of Prcdcher.
This is to certify that is a of the Church
of the I'nited Brclhron in Christ, of Conference,
and is hereby transferred to Conference of said
Church.
Date
Bishop.
9. Deaconess' Certificate.
This is to certify that is an approved deaconess
in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
Authorized by the quarterly conference of
charge, annual conference.
Conf. Supt.
Secretary.
Date
10. Deaconess'' Cei'tificate of Consecration.
This is to certify that is an approved deaconess in
the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, as long as her
conduct and doctrine are conformable with the gospel of
Christ and with the government of the Chui-ch. and has been
consecrated to the ofhce of deaconess by the laying on of
hands at , this day of . in the year of
<tur Lord .
I Simioil I Bishop.
^^ FORlStS * 203
Skctiox III.
BEQUESTS.
]l. The Missionari/ >iOcietics.
I give and bequeath to the Missionary Society of
the United Brethren in Christ, organized by the General
Conference of said Church, May 20. 1853, and incorporated
in Butler County, Ohio, September 23, 1854, and reorganized
by the (ioneral Conference at Topelia. Kansas. May, 1905.
the sum of dollars ; and the receipt of the treasurer
of the society shall b.e a sufficient discharge thereof to my
executors and administrators.
[Name]
12. The Church Erectioti ^ocieiu.
I bequeath to the Church Erection Society of the United
Brethren in Christ the sum of dollars, to be invested
according to the constitution of this society.
[Name]
/.7. ^yomen's Missioiion/ Ai^sociaiion.
I give, devise, and bequeath to the Women's ^lissionary
Association of the United Brethren in Christ, the sum of
■ dollars, to be applied to the purposes set forth in
the Articles of Incorporation adopt od March 28. 1890.
[Name]
I'f. Church Trustees.
I give, devise, and bequeath to the Trustees of the Unit-
ed Brethren in Christ, an in<-orporation located at Dayton,
Ohio, for the Church of the Uuite<l Brothr(Mi in Christ. ■ — ■
dollars, to bo applied as follows :
(Here state precisely the purpose for which the beqviest is
made, or say, "To be used at the discretion of said trust ecs to
promote the cause of Christianity in said Church.")
[Name]
/•7. Bonchrakc Tluologictil Seminar!/.
I give and bequeath to the Bonebrake Theological Sem-
inary of tb.e United Brethren in Christ, located at Dayton,
Ohio, authorized by the General Conference of said Church
in Lebanon, I*ennsylvania, ]May 2, 18G9, and incorporated
according to the laws of Ohio, the sum of dollars ;
and the receipt of the business manager shall be a sufficient
discharge thereof to my executors.
[Name]
Ii04
Dfscipi.ixh:
Sectiox IV.
REPORTS.
1(1. I'nstor's Report to the Qunrterhj Conference.
Q(;ARTE1{],Y KlOl^ORT.
Annual Conference. United Brethren in Clirist.
District
j VLASSKS OK FIELDS OF LABOR.
5 Station
( Circuit
Missions
Quarter
19..
S
1
Si
c
.2
>>
1
.2
N
>
4)
6
6
6
1
e2
No. appointments . . .
. . . 1 . . .
. . . 1 . . 1 ... 1 . 1 .
No. members at begin-
ning
No. members received
■
No. members lost. . . .
No. members at pres-
ent
No. baptisms
*
Discourses preacljed .
Pastoral visits
Class meetings held.
Telescopes
• • 1
I'iVangels
1
No. Sunday schools .
No in Home Dept
No on Cradle Roll .
No. in Adult Bible
Classes
No in entire schools
No. Young People's
Societies
No. Junior Young
People's Societies .
No Women's Aid So-
cieties . . .
No. W. M. A. (local)
No. in Home Mission
Study Classes ....
No. in Foreign M.is-
Collected for I'astor's
Salary
.......
Collected for Conf.
Sunt 'a Snlnrv
Collected for Special
Budget
Offerings for
...
Remarlis
Pastor.
FORMIC
205
n. Pastors Quarterly Report to the Conference i^uperin-
tendent and Conference Treasurer.
Reports for the council of administration are clue as fol-
lows :
First report
Second report
Thii\i report
Fourth report : . . .
Final report to the conference superintendent fifteen days
before the convening of the annual conference.
Do not fail to get all reports in on time. Hang up this
pad beside your writing desk.
Pastors Quarterly Report to the Conference Superintendent
and Council of Administration.
Name of charge
Name of pastor
Salary this year $ Last year Benevo-
lence budget
1st 2nd 1 3rd 4th _ ^ ,
Quar. Quar. | Quar. Quar. ^<^^^'
Pastoral calls
Salary paid
Pledged on benevolence budget
;■;
Church repairs
Telescope subscriptions . . .
Sunday-school enrollment
Christian Endeavor enrollment
W. M. A. societies
Cnapters Otterbein Guild
Women's Ai d Societie-;
Conversions . . ,
Accessions
Present membership
Note — Report only money sent to conference treasurer. In filling
out each quarter, be sure to fill in the report for the preceding quarter.
206 DISCIPLINE
Report to Conference Treasurer.
19..
Mr Conference Treasurer.
Dear Brother :
Enclosed find P. O. order, draft, or check from
station or circuit, which you will credit as follows :
For benevolence budget $
For conference budget $
Specials (not to be counted on budget) $
For note held by society
against $
For Orphanage and Home $
For conference minutes $
For $
For $
For .$
Pastor
Street
Post Office
Note. — Report on this blank only the amount you remit.
Write any explanation on the back of this blank.
18. Sunday-School Superintendent''.^ Report.
Sunday School
Quarter
[Date]
1. Number of officers and teachers
2. Number of scholars enrolled
(a) Cradle Roll
(b) Begiunors' Department
(c) Primary Department
(d) Junior Department
(e) Intermediate Department
(f) Senior Department
( g) A(hilt Department
(h) Home Department
( i) Training Department
Total
3. Average attendance
4. Number of organized classes
5. Watchword
6. The Boys' Friend
207
7. The Girls' Frieud
8. Our Little Folks
n. Otterbein Teacher
10. Otterbeiu Homo Department (Quarterly
1 1. Otterbein Adult Quarterly
1 2. Otterbein Young People's Quarterly
18. Otterbein Intermediate and Senior Quarterlies
14. Otterbein Junior Quarterly
1."». Otterbein Primary Quarterly
1»). Otterbein Bible Lesson Leaves
1 7. Bible Pictures for Our Little Oues
15. Amount of offering
10. Expenses of the quarter
20. Contributions for local budget
21. '' " benevolence budget
22. Remarks
Superintendent.
19. Report of President of Young People's Society.
Class, Quarter.
[Date.]
1. Number of members at beginning of quarter:
Active Associate
Honorary
2. Members received
3. Members lost
4. Present membership
5. Number associate members converted
6. Number meetings held
7. Number Watchwords taken
S. Funds collected
0. For what purposes
1 0. Remarks
President.
20. Class- Leader' 8 Report.
Class Quarter
[Date.]
1. Number of members
2. Number of meetings held
3. Average attendance
4. Number of sick and delinquent members visited
Class-leader.
208 DISCIl'I.INK
21. Vlass-Hteward's Report.
Class, Quarter.
[Date.]
1. Apportionment for year.
2. Amount due at end of quarter
3. Amount paid
4. Deficit
5. Surplus
Steward.
22. Pastor s Annual Report.
(According to form submitted by boai-d of bishops.)
23. Couferetice Superinten<lenfs Quarterly Report
to Bishop.
(According to form provided by the bishop.)
2). Financial >iecretar(fs Report.
Report of P^inancial Secretary
To Quarterly Conference of
Church
Annual Conference
United Brethren in Christ.
191...
Amount Due to Date
Received from
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Total Receipts - -
Shortage
or
Excess
FORMS
209
5. Annual Report of l^reasurer of Board of Church or
Parsonage Trustees.
Receipts.
(1) By subscriptions
(2) By donations . .
(3) Interest
(4) Collections
(5) Rents
Dol8. Cts.
Total Receipts .
Disbursements.
(1) Erection of
Paid on debt —
(a) Principal . .
(b) Interest . . .
Paid for repairs .
For improvements
(2)
(3)
(4)
Church at
Dels. Cts.
Total disbursements
Indebtedness.
U) Principal
(2) Interest
(3) Bills unpaid
Total indebtedness
4. Number of Meetings held
5. Remarks
Dols. Cts.
.Treasurer.
Section V.
CONTRIBUTION CARDS.
26. For the Support of Our Local Church.
The sum necessary to meet the current expenses of our
local church this year, including the pastor's salary, will
be $
To help meet these expenses I desire to contribute the
weekly amount under which I mark X in the space below.
Amount Weekly for Local Expense.
$10.00 5.00 2.00 1.00 .75 .50 .35 .25 .15 .10 .05
Name Date
Address
Note, — All subscriptions are calculated on the weekly basis
In accordance with I, Cor. 16 : 2. However, if desired, the pay-
ments of this subscription may be made moathly, quarterly, or
In cash early in the year.
210 DISCIPLINE.
27. Benevolence.
Our churches should introduce a weekly system of giving
for benevolences as well as for their local needs, and when
a congregation introduces such a system it should be relieved
from special appeals for purposes provided for in the weekly
system. As a suggestive form of pledge for securing the be-
nevolences, the following is proposed :
The United Brethren in Christ; To Preach the Oospel to
Others at Home and Abroad.
Our church desires to raise this year, —
For the benevolence budget, $
which includes the amounts for bishop's support, home
missions, foreign missions, church erection, Sunday school
and Young People's work, Board of Education, and Bone-
brake Seminary ; and, —
For the annual conference budget, $
which includes the amounts for conference superinten-
dent, conference church extension, colleges, and other
interests specified by the annual conference.
I will give the weekly amount under which I mark X in
the space below, for the above-named objects :
Weekly Amount for All Benevolences.
$10.00 5.00 2.00 1.00 .75 .50 .35 .25 .15 .10 .05
Name Date
Address
Note. — If so directed by the annual conference, the salary
of the conference superintendent may be included in the lot a I
budget. All subscriptions are calculated on the weekly basis
in accordance with I. Cor. 16 : 2. However, if desired, the pay-
ments may be made monthly, quarterly, or in cash early in the
year. Our Lord and Master will be pleased to have every
member of his Church, including the children, contribute to
send his gospel to others.
PART VIII
Special Legislation, 1917-192!
The Four-Year Program.
It is evident that no church or denomination can achieve
its best success unless it presents to its constituency a posi-
tive and comprehensive program that includes related tasks
and united effort. The need of the hour for our denomina-
tion is a sane, well-defined, aggressive, and constructive pro-
gram of advance, that will call out our large resources and
challenge the united efforts of our boards, institutions, an-
nual conferences, and local churches for the advancement of
the kingdom of God.
The key words for such a program are a devotional atmos-
phere, an evangelistic passion, an educational ideal, a mis-
sionary spirit, efficient leadership, the stewardship of life
and wealth, and co-operative effort under the leadership of
the Holy Spirit.
Recognizing the abundant resources of God and the needs
of the world in this decisive hour, we propose a four-year
program of earnest endeavor to attain our reasonable ideals
for an efficient Church.
The Aim.
The aim of this four-yeaf program is to meet the chal-
lenging opportunities before our denomination at home and
abroad, as we pass the one-hundredth anniversary of our
first General Conference and begin a new century of organ-
ized Church life.
This is to be realized through the vitalization of our
church membership, and by leading our forces into such a
courageous advance in evangelism, education, missions, and
individual activities as shall arrest attention and secure the
largest growth and efficiency of every department of our
local churches, and so strengthen our departmental work and
institutions as to greatly intensify our united influence upon
America and the world.
Goals.
1. The entire membership of every local church spiri-
tually quickened, organized, and enlisted in various forms of
211
212 DisctPtmE
service ; through prayer aud personal effort wiuning 150,000
to Christ and adding 100,0(K) to the Church at home and
abroad, and increasing by twenty-five per cent, the enroll-
ment of our Sunday schools and Christian Endeavor societies.
2. Our institutions of learning, at home and abroad, en-
riched and strengthened as training agencies for Christian
service through an increase of 2,000 students, 500 additional
trained ministers, missionaries, and educational leaders, and
$2,000,000 in new funds for better equipment, endowment,
scholarships, and aid to men and women entering upon the
ministry or missionary work.
3. For missions, home and foreign, and church erection,
Board of Education, and seminary, Sunday schools. Christian
Endeavor, conference extension, orphanages and homes, and
other benevolences beyond the bounds of the local church,
the sum of $750,000 for the first year, $800,000 for the second
year, $900,000 for the- thii\3 year, and $1,000,000 for the
fourth year, in cash or its equivalent.
Methods and Agencies.
1. Personal devotional study of the Word of God for the
deepening of the spiritual life ; evangelism, personal or pas-
toral, lay or vocational ; every soul won set to work imme-
diately in winning others.
2. The strongest emphasis on the call of God for life
service in ministerial and missionary work, and the proper
training of recruits.
3. A well-directed annual campaign of information and
inspiration on stewardship, missions, and education, to be
followed by a thorough every-member canvass.
4. A campaign of education in our colleges and seminary
as well as in all our church communities to give each mem-
ber of the Church a vision of our needs and unsw^erving pur-
pose to accomplish the work before us as a denomination.
5. The Board of Administration shall have charge of the
general direction of this four-year program. The existing
agencies, including the church departments, shall co-operate
with the board in enlisting the whole Church in the whole
program.
<>. In the annual conferences, the administration of this
four-year program to be under the direction of the bishop,
the conference superintendent, and the council of administra-
tion.
SPECIAL LfiGfsLATION 213
7. Each local church to create, under direction of the
pastor, a four-year program committee which shall seek to
realize its share of the goals under plans best suited to it»
local conditions.
8. Each board and institution of the Church shall be re«
sponsible for the accomplishment of its part of the program,
and the head of each department shall co-operate sympa-
thetically with the other departments and with the Board of
Administration in the realization of all the goals. •
9. Our publication department being a necessary factor
in the early and proper accomplishment of our possibilities
as set forth in this program, the publisher and editors are
instructed to render all assistance possible through practical
and sympathetic co-operation.
10. The Board of Administration shall have power to ap-
point, if necessary, a secretary to devote his time to the
leadership of this program through this quadrennium. The
expense of this secretary shall be a charge against the funds
secured during the campaign.
Aid for Aged Ministers.
In view of the urgent and imperative claims of our aged
ministers and missionaries, a great pension fund campaign
shall be conducted under the direction of the Board of Ad-
ministration.
Resolutions on Church Union.
Whereas, Very grave obstacles stand in the way of a
speedy consummation of church union between the United
Brethren and Methodist Protestant churches, because of tlie
unfavorable attitude of a large portion of both denomina-
tions toward the proposition, and
Whereas, It is clear that no step should be taken by
us that would cause friction and alienation among our
own dear people, and
WTiereas, We need especially at this time to couser%^
the Church's energies in carrying forward the four-year
program planned by this General Conference ;
Therefore, be it resolved, As the sense of this body,
that further agitation of the question of organic union
cease for the present. If, in the future. Providence should
clearly open the way for organic union with any of the
denominations similar to ours in faith and polity, we hold
ourselves ready for any action that may be deemed proper
214 DISCIPLINE
to bring about such union. We are also ready and anxious,
as we always have been, to fraternize with other Christian
bodies, and co-operate with them in the larger work of the
kingdom.
We further direct that a commission be appointed on
federation and church union, consisting of fifteen members,
including the bishops, to which shall be referred all matters
relating to church union, federation, and co-operation.
* Resolution of Laymen.
Resolved, That we as laymen, delegates to the General
Conference of 1917, express our belief that there should be
closer co-operation among the denominations of evangelical
Protestantism, and that a practical plan of federation should
be accomplished ; that this should include not only the work
of the Federal Council of Churches, but also still more
active connection and co-operation with those denominations
closely allied to our own in doctrine and polity.
We request the bishops and commission on church union
to seek to carry out the spirit of the proposed union with the
Methodist Protestant Church, and as far as is possible, to
secure co-operation and harmonious work of the communions.
Committee on Courses of Study for the Sunday School.
A standing committee consisting of five members, two of
whom shall be the editor of the Sunday-school literature and
the general Sunday-school secretary, shall be appointed by
the executive committee of the department of Sunday School
and Brotherhood work. It shall be the duty of this com-
mittee to study the whole matter of religious education, ex-
amine all proposed courses of study, including those pre-
pared by the International Sunday School Lesson committee,
and superintend the preparation of any new courses that
may be deemed necessary to meet the requirements of our
Sunday schools.
PART IX
Officers and General Boards
General Officers.— The bishops, G. M. Mathews, W. M. Bell,
H. H. Fout, C. J. Ke'phart, A. T. Howard, Wm. H.
Washinger, N. Cas^tle. emeritus, W. M. Weekley, emeritus;
W. R. Funk, publishing agent ; J. M. Phillippi and C. I. B.
Brane, editors. Religious Telescope ; H. F. Shupe, editor,
Watchword ; W. O. Fries and J. W. Owen, editors,
Sunday-school literature ; L. O. Miller, general Church
treasurer ; J. S. Kendall, secretary. Board of Adminis-
tration ; William E. Schell, secretary. Board of Educa-
tion ; J. E. Fout, business manager, Bonebrake Semi-
nary ; Charles W. Brewbaker, secretary, Sunday School
and Brotherhood work ; Col. Robert Cowden, secretary
emeritus; O. T. Deever, secretary. Young People's work;
A. C. Siddall, secretary, board of Church Erection ; P. M.
Camp, secretary, board of Home Missions ; C. Whitney,
secretary, emeritus; S. S. Hough, secretary, board of For-
eign Missions ; Mrs. L. R. Harford, president, Women's
Missionary Association ; Mrs. Alva Kauffman, secretary
and treasurer. Women's Missionary Association ; Vera B.
Blinn, editor, Evangel.
Board of Church Trustees. — Rev. R. A. Powell, D. H.
Stoner, Judge John A. Shauck, Judge Walter Brewer, E. J.
Rogers, Hon, Wm. X. McFaul (Term expires 1921) ;
Rev. W. G. Clippinger, Rev. George Geiger, Rev, A, Orr,
Rev. J. W, Kilbourne, Rev, H, A, Thompson, Rev. J. I. L.
Ressler (Term expires 1925).
Board of Trustees, U. B. Puhlishihg House. — Rev, A, W.
Drury, Rev, P, M. Camp, Rev, J, A, Lyter, Hon, Jay M,
Cogan, William Cassel. G, A. Lambert, Dr, L. C. Weimer,
Hon R, H, Bennett, Hon, A, S, Kreider.
Board of Education. — The board of bishops, the presidents
of our colleges, the president of Bonebrake Theological
Seminary, ex officio; Prof. A. A. Maysilles. Prof. J. P.
West, Prof. Mark Keppel (Term expires 1921) ; Hon.
William N. McFaul, Prof. H. II. Baish, Judge Walter
Brewer (Term expires 1925),
215
216 DISCIPLINE
Board of Trustees, Bonehrake Theological Seminary. — The
acting bishops, G. M. Mathews, W. M. Bell, H. H. Fout,
C. J. Kephart, A. T. Howard. Wm. H. Washinger ; Rev.
C. E. Ileisel, Rev. Ira D. Warner, Rev. J. B. Connett,
A. A. Moore, J. L. Senseny, Charles J. Hall (Term ex-
pires 1921) ; Rev. W. O. Fries, Prof. A. W. Drury, Rev.
J. W. Lilly, Rev. I. E. Runk, Rev. J. H. Harris, Rev.
W. C. May (Term expires 1925).
Board of Control, i^unday i^chool. Brotherhood, and Young
People's Work. — The board of bishops, the publishing agent,
the editors of the Sunday-school literature, the editor of
the Watchword. Chas. W. Brewbaker, general secretary,
ex-ofpcio; Prof. H. M. Ambrose, Prof. A. A. Maysilles,
Rev. J. G. Huber. Rev. S. C. Enck, Rev. J. E. Shannon
(Term expires 1921) ; Prof. M. A. Honline, H. C. Grid-
land, Col. Robt. Cowden, Rev. O. T. Deever (Term ex-
pires 1925).
Board of Control, Home Missions and Church Erection. —
Bishop H. II. Fout (representing board of bishops) ;
Rev. C. W. Kurtz, Rev. H. W. Trueblood, Rev. W. W.
Williamson, C. L. Raymond (Term expires 1921) ; Albert
Keister, Rev. A. S. Hammack, Judge J. S. Kirkpatrick,
Eugene Schaefer (Term expires 1925) ; W. M. A. rep-
resentatives on Home Mission board : Mrs. L. R. Har-
ford, Mrs. L. H. Leitzell, Mrs. J. E. Fout.
Board of Foreign Missions. — The board of bishops. Rev. S.
S. Hough, general secretary, ex-ofpcio ; Rev. W. E. Snyder,
Prof. J. H. Ruebush, S. C. Caldwell (Term expires 1921) ;
G. A. Lambert, Rev. J. R. King, Rev. D. D. Lowery
(Term expires 1925); W. M. A. representatives: Mrs.
L. R. Harford, Mrs. Albert Keister, Mrs. J. P. Landis.
Board of Trustees, Women's Missionary Association. — Mrs.
W. O. Fries, Mrs. J. E. Fout, Mrs. L. R. Harford, Mrs.
S. S. Hough, Mrs. A. T. Howard, Mrs. Alva Kaufifman,
Mrs. Albert Keister, Mrs. L. H. Leitzell, Mrs. J. P.
Landis.
Board of Trustees, Ottcrhein Home. — Rev. J. M. Phillippi,
Hon. Jay M. Cogan. Frederick H. Rike (Term expires
1921) ; Rev. W. R. Funk. Rev. J. E. Grimes, C. M. Wag-
ner (Term expires 1925) ; Bishop G. M. Mathews,
Bishop W. M. Weekley, Hon. James M. Cox (Term ex-
pires 1929).
Board of Trustees, Quincy Orphanage and Home. — Rev.
J. E. Kleffman, Rev. J. P. Anthony, G. C. Snyder (Term
OFFICEHS AND (iENEHAL BOAKUS 217
expires 1921) ; W. O. Appenzellar (Term expires 1925) ;
Rev. J. S. Fulton, Rev. J. W. Wilson, Rev. J. Russell
Showers, Rev. H. M. Miller, M. H. Myers (Term expires
1929).
Board of Administration. — The board of bishops, ex-offioio ;
East District: Rev. J. T. Foster, Rev. J. S. Fulton, Rev.
W. F. Gruver, Prof. J. H. Ruebush, Hon. William N.
McFaul, J. R. Engle; Central District: Rev. M. R.
Ballinger, Rev. A. R. Clippinger, Rev. R. A. llitt, Hon.
J. M. Cogan, Fred H. Rike, Judge H. :M. White-raft;
Xorthwest District : Rev. J. E. Shannon. Rev, V. W.
Overton, Pres. I. J. Good, F. P. Geib ; Sottthicest Dis-
trict: Rev. C. E. Heisel, Judge R. H. Bennett; Pacific
District : Rev. G. E. McDonald, Prof. Mark Keppel.
Commissions and Standing Committees,
Commission on Evangelism. — The board of bishoi)s, Bishop
W. M. Weekley, superintendent of Evangelism, liev. P. M,
Camp, general secretary of Home Missions, ex-officio ; Rev.
J. H. Patterson, Rev, O, E, Williams. J. J. Dick (Term
expires 1921) ; Rev. J. E. Shannon, J. H. Little, Elmer
Henderson (Term expires 1925).
Commission on Church Federation and Union. — Bishops
G. M. Mathews, W. M. Weekley, W. M. Bell, H. H. Font,
C. J. Kephart, A. T. Howard, and W^. H. Washinger ;
Rev. W. R. Funk, Rev, J, M. Phillippi, Pres, Walter G.
Clippinger, Rev, A. E. Wright, Rev, L. Walter Lutz, Rev.
T, D, Crites, Rev, H, E. Miller, and Mr. E. L, Shuey.
Commission on Temperance. — To be appointed by bishops.
Committee on Sunday-School Lesson Courses. — Rev. W. O.
Fries, Rev. J. W. Owen, Rev. W. R. Funk, Rev. Chas.
W, Brewbaker, Prof. M, A. Honline.
INDEX
Absent Voters for General Conferonce delegates, 40.
Absentees from annual conference, 38.
Acadeniies, 159.
Administration, Board of :
auditing accounts, 89.
duties of, 89.
lill vacancies, 89.
financial plan of the Church, 89, 91.
four-year progi-am. 89, 211.
(Jpueral Conference expense fund, 42. 89.
organization, 89.
preachers' pension fund, 89, 167.
recommend changes in Discipline, 90.
Agent of Printing Establishment :
dutie? of, 152.
election of, 151.
Aid:
from Board of Education to students, 158.
from Church Erection Society, 148.
Allegheny Conference, boundary of, 178.
Amenability of certified members, 29.
Ar>nual Confer(>nce :
absentees from. 38.
address and sermon at, 53.
appeals from. 76.
appeals to, 36. 76.
authority of, 38.
benevolence funds. 38.
bishop pro tempore, 37.
boundaries, 17. 173.
business sheet, 38.
devotions, 37.
electioneering forbidden, 38.
examination of, 42.
examination of preachers, 37.
examination on course of study, 69.
finances, 91.
lay representation In, 36.
members of. 36.
order of business at. 38.
presiding ofiicers, 37, 53.
secretaries. 37.
sermon and address at, 53.
trial of preachers, 58.
Apostles' Creed, 199.
Appeals :
court of, 76.
from annual conference, 76.
from class, 26, 76.
from quarterly conference. 36. 7<>.
from stationing committee, 62.
right of. 18, 26.
to quarterly conference. 35.
Applicants for Church membership :
acceptance of applicants. 19.
committee to examine, 20.
questions to. 19.
Apportionment to members. 36.
Authorship of doctrinal publications, 154.
218
l.NDEX 218
I'.vrTisM :
dutnii.'^ of, 14.
formula for adults, 182.
formula for children, IH'S.
upon admission into tlie Cburcb. 19.
Heneticiary aid, 158.
collections for, 158.
delinQuents, 158.
recommendations for, 158.
Benevolent funds, 38.
He(4uests :
forms of, 20i5.
general board of Church trustees, 88.
Home Missionary Society, 118.
Women's Missionary Association, 129.
Bible cause, t>5.
Bishops :
accountability of, 55.
address and sermon, 5:5.
announcement of representation in tlio <Jenerai Confer-
ence. 89.
annual meeting of, 54.
districts of, 53. 172.
duties of. 53, 120, 123, 125.
election of, 17, 53.
eligibility to office of, 17.
missionary oversight, 54.
of foreign district, 5o. 126.
ordination of preachers, 50.
organization of mission conferences. 54.
presiding at conferences, 53.
pro tempore, 37.
residences of, 53.
salaries of. 53.
special sessions of conference, 54.
stationing preachers, 55.
superintendents' association, 54.
supervision of foreign work, 55.
trial of. 59.
vacancy in office of, 55.
Board of Administration :
auditing accounts, 89.
duties of, 89.
fill vacancies, 89.
financial plan of the Church, 89, 91.
four-year program. 89, 211.
General Conference expense fund, 42. 89.
organization. 89.
preachers' pension fund, 89, 167.
recommend changes in Discipline. 90.
Board of Control. 95.
Board of Education, 17, 155.
Board of Church trustees, general. 88,
Boards of trustees:
general, 43.
classes and term of service. 43.
local. 83.
Bonebrake Theological Seminary:
annual income, 162.
business manager of. 161.
custodian of funds. 162.
endowment funds, 162.
entrance examination. 163.
obligation of faculty, 162.
officers of, 161.
post-graduate studies, 163.
i20 DlStlPLI.NK
president's report, 102.
trustees of, Itil.
duties of. 161.
under control of General inference, 17.
Book Committee, 154.
Boundaries, 112.
annual conference, 173.
bishops' districts, 172.
Branch missionary societies, 117, 124.
Branch society W. M. A., constitution of. K:{r».
Brotherhood work :
committees and duties of, lO.'S.
constitution, lUl.
members, 101.
object, 101.
ohicers and duties of, 102.
special offering, 103.
lUiilding of church-houses and parsonages, s.'i.
Burial of the dead, formula for, 198.
C'Ai.iFORxiA Conference, boundary of, 17:J.
Care of the poor, 23.
Central District, bishops', 172.
Certificates :
forwarding of, 28.
limitation of, 28.
of deaconess, 66.
form of, 202.
of deaconess consecration, (;7.
form of, 202.
of non-resident members, transfer of. 27.
of reception of members, 28.
of recommendation, 28.
form of, 201.
of transfer of members. 27.
form of, 200.
of transfer of preacher, 47.
form of, 202.
of withdrawal, 29.
form of, 201.
(Jhildren, home training of, 6.j.
reception into the Church. 20.
Children's Day, 96, 97, 98.
China Mission Conference, 180.
Christian Stewardship, 94.
Church :
disbanding classes, 30.
division into classes, 30.
government of, 30.
local organization, 30.
origin of, 9.
trustees of, 83, 88.
Church clerk, 32.
Church deacons, 32.
Church Erectiqn Society :
administration of funds, 149.
application for aid, 148.
bequest to, 203.
branch societies, 147, 148.
constitution of, 146.
duty of the ministry, 149.
granting loans, 148."
insurance for security of, 149.
lot fund, 149.
loans, 148.
meetings, 147.
l.NUEX 221
membership, 146.
name, 140.
ouject or, 14G.
omceis 01, 140.
duties 01, 147.
parsonage fuua, 149.
treasurer, receipts oi, 148.
under control oi General Conference, IT.
Ctiurcli-iiouses :
building of, S3.
conditions of mortgages and liens, 85.
conierence or districi property, so.
division of interest, 80.
duties of trustees, 6'6.
electing trustees, 83.
lormula lor dedication of, 101.
real estate, 80.
sale and rent of, 84.
transfer of, 80.
unused cliurcU-nouses, 85.
vacancies in board ot trustees, 83.
Cliurcli publications, 154.
Cliurcb. union, 213.
enurcb records, revision of, 63.
Cburcn treasury, general, iil, 104.
Cnurcn trustees, general board oi, 88.
Circulating Cburcb literature, duty of. 03.
Classes :
disbanding, 30.
uivision Oi cuureh into, 30.
local cnurch organization, 30.
Classification of ministry :
classes, 48.
how determined, 49.
Class-leaders :
dismissal of, 31.
duties of, 30, 31.
election of, 30.
holding meetings, 31.
in election of General Conference delegates. 40.
in trials, 20.
qualitications of, 30.
records of, 31.
report, form of, 207.
visiting sick and delinquent, 31, 145
Class-stewards :
appointment of, 31, 03.
dismissal of. 32.
duties of, 31, 32.
in election of General (.'(inference delegates, 4U.
report, form of, 20S.
Clerk, church, 32.
Collections :
general, 64.
missionary, 64.
for budget, 31.
College-extension courses. 160.
Colleges :
conference co-operation, 159.
endowment funds. 160.
establishing new colleges, 157. 159.
extension courses, i60.
industrial education. ItJo.
musical training. 160.
religious training, 160,
222 DISCIPLINE
rulos relating to, 157, 159.
standard of courses for, 157.
Colorado Conference, boundary of, 17.'{.
Columbia River Conference, boundary of. IT.i.
Committees :
estimating committee, 'M\, P>5, 122.
for examination of elders, 50.
for trial of annual-conference preachers. 50.
for trial of quarterly-conference prea<-hers, 57.
for trial of members, 25.
standing committee on Sunday-school lesson courses. 214.
Conference :
annual, sec Annual Conference.
General, see General Conference.
quarterly, see Quarterly Conference.
Conference superintendents :
association, of, 54.
council of administration, 51.
duties of, 52.
in election of General Conference delegates. 40.
regarding incorporation of church trustees. 52.
election of, 51.
power to dismiss pastors. 53.
power to exchange pastors, 52.
reports of, 51. 52.
support of. 52,
trial of, 59.
vacancies filled, 52.
Confession of Faith, 13. 17.
changes in. 17.
of the Christian Sabbath. 15.
of the Church, 14.
of creation and providence K!
of depravity. 14.
of the future state, 15.
of God and the Holv Trinitv, 13.
of the Holy Ghost, 13.
of the Holy Scriptures, 13.
of Jesus Christ, 13.
of .justiflcatlon, 14.
of regeneration and adoption. 14.
of the sacraments. 14.
of sanctification, 15.
Constitution of Church, 10.
amendments to, 18'.
Contests, 41.
Contribution card, formula for. 209, 21 U.
Corner-stone laying, formula for, ItO.
<'ouncil of Administration. 51.
Courses of reading and study :
for annual-conference preachei's. 40, 09.
for deaconesses, 74. 75.
for German preachers, 72, 73.
for quarterly-conference preachers. 45, OS.
completing the course, 70.
examinations, 08. 09.
exemption from examination, 47.
seminary graduates, 70.
Courses of study in the colleges :
extension courses, 100.
standard of, 157.
Court of appeals, 17, 70.
Day of Praykij for students, 159.
Deacons, 32.
223
Deaconesses, 66.
certificate, form of, 202.
certificate of consecration, form of, 202.
consecration of. 189.
course of study, 74.
German course of study, 75.
homes for, 67.
Dead, formula for burial of, 198.
Dedication of churches, formula for, 191.
Delegates to the General Conference :
expenses of, 42.
how elected, 39.
Delinquent non-resident members, 29.
Disbanding classes, 30.
Discipline :
power to repeal, 16.
to recommend changes, 90.
Dismissals :
of class-leaders, 31.
of class-stewards, 32.
Disobedience to order of Church, 2."i.
Disputes, 26.
Districts :
annual conference, 173.
bishops'. 172.
Divorce and divorced persons, 81.
Doctrinal publications, 154.
Duties of members, 21.
care of poor, 23.
delinquent members, 22.
family piety, 21.
love to others, 21.
means of grace, 21.
necessity of union, 24.
nonconformitv to world, 23.
obedience, 22', 24.
receiAnng ministers, 23.
Sabbath observance, 22.
Sunday schools, 22.
singing. 21.
support of general interests, 23.
support of gospel, 22.
Young People's societies. 22.
East District, bishops'. 172.
Kast Pennsylania Conference, boundary of. 174.
I'ast Ohio Conference, boundary of. 174.
i:ast Tennessee Conference, boundary of. 171.
I'ducation :
academies, 159.
Board of, see Education. Board of, 155.
Bonebrake Seminary, see Bonebrake Seminary. ICl,
colleges, see Colleges. 159.
college extension courses, 160.
Education, Board of :
annual-conference board. 158.
beneficiary aid. 158.
constitution of. 155.
bont'liciarv delinquents. 158.
Education Day. 150.
Education IVay offering. 159.
224 DISCIPLINK
education fund, 157.
establishment of schools. 157, 159.
executive committee of, 156.
general aim, 156.
officers of, 155.
organization, 155.
quadrennial report, 157.
recommendations for aid, 158,
reports and recommendations, 166.
secretary of Education. 155.
Education Day, 159.
Educational in.stitution, see Education. 155.
Klders :
election to orders, 50.
examining committee, duties of, 50.
examination of candidates for orders, 50.
functions of, 51. •
in the General Conference, 16.
license of, 202.
ordination of, 50.
formula for, 184.
questions regarding candidates, 50.
who are, 49.
Election of General Conference delegates :
absent voters. 40.
annual-conference tellers. 39.
bishops' announcement. 89.
boards of election. 40.
conference representation, 38,
nomination of delegates, 39.
nominees and blanks. 40.
publication of results, 41.
retiirns of, 41.
Electioneering forbidden, 38.
Enabling acts, 179.
Erie Conference, boundary of, 174.
Estimating committee, 33, 35, 122.
Evangelism :
classification of evangelists, 165.
commission on, 165.
conference and local organization, 165.
Evangelists :
authorized, 49, 166.
classification of, 165.
Examinations :
of annual conferences. 17, 42.
of annual-conference preachers, 69.
of deaconesses, 67.
of preachers regarding life. 37.
of quarterly-conference preachers, 44.
Exchange of pastors by conference snperintend(
I'^.xpeUed preachers not to be received, 47.
Expulsion :
of annual-conference preachers. 58.
of quarterly-conference preachers, 57.
E.\:miia' Piety, 21.
Financial plan of the Church :
annual conference, 91.
apportionment. 92.
benevolence funds, 38. 91.
budget, 92.
committee, 91.
treasurer of benevolences. 121. 125.
apportionment and division, 91. t'4.
INDEX ZZii
Board of Administration, hi). Ul.
local church, 92, 93.
apportionment committee, 36, 93.
benevolence funds, 31, 64, 92.
circuit tinance committee, 35.
current expense budget, 31. 93.
every-member canvass, 93, 94.
financial secretaries, 33, 35, 93. *
stewards, 31.
Sunday school, 93.
general Church treasurer, 64, 91.
teaching stewardship, 94.
Florida Conference, boundary of, 175.
Foreign district, bishop of, 55.
Foreign mission conferences :
China, 180.
Japan. ISC.
Philippines, 180.
Porto Rico, 180.
West Africa, 180.
delegates of, 39, 128.
Foreign Missionary Society, 17, 122.
I-'orms :
bequests to board of Church trustees, 203.
to Church Erection Society, 203.
to missionary societies. 203.
to Bonebrake Theological Seminary, 203.
to Women's Missionary Association, 203.
certificates, 200.
certificates of recommendation, 201.
of a deaconess, 202.
of consecration of a deaconess, 202.
of return, 200.
of transfer of member, 200.
of withdrawal, 201.
transfer of preachers, 202.
class-leader's report, 207.
class-steward's report. 208.
conference superintendent's report to bishop, 208.
contribution cards, 209, 210.
financial secretary's report. 208.
licenses, 201.
license, for annual-conference preachers, 201.
for elder, 202.
for (luarterly-conference preachers, 201.
for quarterly-conference preachers — permanent. 201.
pastor's quarterly report to conference superintendent and
treasurer, 205.
pastor's quarterly report to conference superintendent and
council of administration, 205.
pastor's report to annual conference, 208.
pastor's report to quarterly conference, 204.
report of conference treasurer, 206.
report of president of Young Pj>ople's society, 207.
report of treasurer of church or parsonage board. 209.
Sunday-school superintendent's report, 206.
b'ormulas :
Apostles' Creed. 199.
baptism of adults. 182.
baptism of children, 183.
burial of the dead. 198.
church dedication, 191.
coitsecration of a deaconess. 189.
consecration of a foi-eign missionary. 187.
consecration of a home missionary, 186.
bolv communion. 183.
laying of corner-stone, 190.
226 DISCIPLINE
Lord's prayer, 199.
marriage ceremony, 195.
with ring, 196.
ordiniiHon of eldoi-s. 3 84.
parsonage dedication, 193.
reception of members into the Church, 181.
F^ur-year program, 89, 211.
General Confekbnce :
absent voters for delegates, 40.
appeals to, 77.
bishops' announcement of representation, 39.
blanks, 40.
boards of trustees, 43.
boundaries of annual conferences, 17, 178,
canvassing and publication of returns, 41.
composition of, 16, 38.
contests, 41.
duties of, 16,
election boards, 40.
election of delegates to, 16, 39.
of officers. 43.
election returns, 41.
entertainment of, 42.
examination of annual corferences, 42.
expenses of delegates, 42.
expense fund, 42, 89.
limitation and restriction, 17.
location of, 42.
meetings, 43.
members of, 16, 38.
nomination of lay delegates, 39,
of ministerial delegates, 39.
nominees, list of, 40.
number of annual conferences. 17.
power, 17, 18.
presiding officers of, 17, 53.
quorum, 16.
representation in, 38.
tellers to count votes for delegates, 39.
time of convening, 16.
General Church treasury, 91, 117. 125, 148, 162. 164.
(General steward, see Financial secretary,
(xerman churches, transfer to English and vice leisa, 86.
(Joing to law, 27.
<Tovernment, obedience to, 22.
Government of the Church, 30.
Historical Society :
constitution of, 160.
funds, 171.
General Conference, recognition of, 169.
location. 169.
meetings, 171.
members of, 169.
object, 169.
officers of, 170.
propertv of, 171.
History of the Church, outline of. 9.
Home Missionary Society, 17, 116.
Home training of children. 65.
Homes and orphanages, 168.
Iji MORAL Conduct, 25.
Incorporation of boards of trustees :
for church-houses and parsonages, 84.
for general church property, 88.
Indiana Conference, boundary of, 175.
Intoxicating drinks. 79,
Insurance of church property, 84, 149.
Iowa State Conference, boundary of, 175.
Itinerancy. 17, 61.
Itinerants, see Preachers, itinerant.
Japan Mission Conference, boundary of, 180.
Junior societies, 112.
relation to Women's Missionary Association, 105, 134, l.'l."
Kansas Conference, boundary of. 175.
Kentucky Conference, boundary of, 175.
Lay Delegates :
in the annual conferences. 37.
in the General Conference, 16, 39.
Leaders, class, see Class-leaders.
License :
granting :
to annual-conference preachers, 47.
to preachers by quarterly conference, 35. 44.
renewal of :
quarterly-conference preacher's, 35, 45.
Licentiates :
probation of. 49.
who they are, 49.
Limit of certificate of members, 28,
Limit of transfer of preachers. 48.
Literature :
circulation of general church, 63.
in Sunday schools, 99.
in Women's Missionrry Association, 129, 133.
Loans of Church Erection Society. 148.
Local preachers, 18.
Lord's prayer, 199.
Lord's supper :
doctrine of. 14.
formula for, 183.
preparation for, 32,
Lot fund. 149.
Louisiana Conference, boundary of. 175.
Lower Wabash Conference, boundary of, 175.
Marriage :
formula for, 195, 196.
marriage relation, 81.
marriage of divorced persons, 81.
who may solemnize, 56.
Members of Church :
apportionments to, 36. 122.
certificate of withdrawal, 29.
delinquent members. 22.
delinquent non-residents, 29,
duties of :
care of the poor. 23.
family piety, 21.
love to others, 21.
means of grace, 21.
necessity of union, 24,
non-conformity to the world, 23.
obedience, 22, 24.
receiving ministers. 23.
Sabbath observance. 22.
Sunday schools. 22.
singing, 21.
228 jiiscjpij\K
support of general interests, 23.
support of gospel, 22.
Young People's society, 22.
membersiiip of preachers, 29.
reception of, 19,
acceptance of applicants, 19, 20.
children, 20.
committee on applicants, 20.
persons from other churches, 20,
preachers, 29.
preachers' responsibility, 21,
questions to applicants", 19,
seeliers, 20.
transfer of, 27.
amenability of certifiid members, 29.
certificate of, 27.
form for, 200.
ce^'tiflcate of recommendation, 28.
form of, 201,
certificate of withdrawal. 29.
form of, 201.
limit of certificate, 28.
non-resident members, 27.
notice of forwarding certificate, 28,
notice of reception of certificate. 28,
trial of, 2.'>.
disobedience to ordej* of church. 2't.
disputes, 26,
going to law forbidden, 27.
immoral conduct, 25.
order in trials, 27,
personal trespass, 2~i.
record of trials, 27.
right of appeal, 26,
Membership, ministry, and government of the Church, 19.
Membership of preachers, 29.
Miami Conference, boundary of, 176.
Michigan Conference, boundary of, 176.
Ministry of Church :
annual-conference preachers, 45.
bishops, 53.
conference superintendents, 51.
classification of, 48.
elders, 49,
marriage, who may solemnize, 56,
preachers' duties in g>^neral, 56,
quarterly-conference preachers. 44.
reception of preachers from other churches, 48.
trial of preachers, 57.
Minnesota Conference, boaadary of. 176,
Mission conferences, organization of, 54, 119, 126, 128.
Mission districts, 118,
Missionaries :
duties of, 127.
reports of, 127,
salaries of, 127,
Missionary Association. Women's, see Women's Missionary As-
sociation, 129.
Missionary Day, 318. 125.
Missionary Societies :
Foreign :
annual-conference treasurer. 125.
bequests, form <»f, 20.'{.
board of directors, 12.'i.
duties of, 123.
INDEX
229
brnnch organizations. i24.
conferences. I*i6.
course of study and rules, 1J8.
constitution, 122.
executive committee, duties of, 12.^.
functions, 122. ^ ..o.
general secretary, duties of, 124.
local organization, 124.
merabersbip, 122.
ministry, relation of, 12.>.
mission council, 127.
mission conference. 126.
powers and duties of, 128.
reoresentation. 128.
missionary day, 3 25.
name, 122.
officers, 122.
organization, 122.
reports, 127. , ^ ,o-
Sunday sctiool, relation of, 12.).
superintendents, 126.
supervision of, 55.
treasurer, duties of, 125.
under control of General Conference, 1..
Home : . . , ^r
application for appropriation, 120.
bequests to. 118.
form of. 203.
board of control, duties of, 11 «.
brancli societies, 117.
constitution. 11<}.
duties of bishops, 120.
duties of pastors, 119.
funds, 118.
local organization. 118.
mission districts, 118.
mission conference, 119,
missionaries. 119.
missionary day, 118,
officers, duties of, 116,
oreanization, 110.
rural life, 121.
social service, 78. 119.
special support, 118.
Sunday schools, relation of. 11?>.
treasurer of benevolences, 121.
under control of General Conference. 17,
unoccupied territory. 119. . .
Women's, see Women's Missionary Association. T-i».
Mission Conferences, 119, 326, 180,
Missouri Conference, boundary of, 176,
Montana Conference, boundary of. 176.
Moral reform. 78.
divorce. 81.
oaths, 81.
Sabbath observance. 80.
secret combinations, 80.
slavery, 80.
social service. 78, 119.
temperance, 79.
tobacco. 80.
war, 81.
Moving the preacher, 65.
Nkhk.vska Confkrence, boundary of, 177.
New schools, formation of, 157.
230 DISCIPLINE
New Mexico Conference, boundary of, 177
Nonconformity to the world, 23.
Northern Illinois Conference, boundary of. 177
Northwest District, 172.
Oaths, 81.
Obedience, duty of, 24.
Official boards :
duties of, 33.
executive council, 34.
members of, 32, 34.
review by quarterly conference, 34.
revision of records by, 33.
Ohio German Conference, boundary of, 177.
Oklahoma Conference, boundary of, 177
Old People's Homes, 168.
Orders, election to elders', 50.
Ordination :
of elders, 50.
formula for, 184.
Oregon Conference, boundary of, 177.
Origin of the Church, 9.
Orphanages, 168.
Pacific District, 172.
I'arsonages :
abandoned, 85.
building of, 83, 84.
conditions of mortgages and liens. 85.
conference or district property, 86.
division of interest in, 86.
duty of churches to provide, 65,
real estate, 86.
sale or rent of, 84.
trustees of, 83.
Pastor :
duties of, see Preachers, itinerant — duties of 33, 62.
duty of members to receive, 23.
resignation of, 61.
Pastoral charges, 62.
Pastoral visiting, 64.
Pennsylvania Conference, boundary of, 177.
Pension Fund, preachers', 167.
Philippine Mission Conference, 180.
Poor, care of, 23.
Porto Rico Mission Conference, 180.
Preachers :
annual-conference :
accountability of, 48.
Bible cause, 65.
church membership of preachers, 29.
classification of, 48.
course of study for, 70.
directions to, 56.
educational requirements, 46.
elders, see Elders.
evangelists, 49, 165.
examination of, 46, 69.
exemption from examination, 47.
expelled preacher, 47.
how received, 45.
itinerants, see Preachers, itinerant.
licentiates, 49.
license, form of. 201.
limit of transfer, 48.
local preachers, 18,
231
membership in cliuich required. 25>.
qualifications of, 40.
reception of, 48.
responsibility of, 21.
sacraments and unordained preachers, 47.
transfer of. 47.
form of transfer, 202.
trial of, 58.
general duties, 5G.
preachers not to trespass, 57.
itinerant •
annual reorganization, 63.
circulation of literature, 63.
classification of, 4J).
collections by, 64.
defined, 49
dismissal of appointments, 64.
duties of, 62.
in the transfer of members, 27.
to Bible Cause, 65.
to Sunday schools. Brotherhoods, and Youuj
I'eople's societies, 98.
to the poor, 23.
employment of other than itinerants, 62.
evangelistic work, 165.
examination by annual conference, 37.
how constituted, 61.
membership in church required. 29.
ministerial relief, 167.
missionary contribution. 64.
moving of, 65.
parsonages, 65.
pastoral charges. 62.
pastoral visiting, 64.
pension fund, 167.
power to exchange, 52.
presiding at trials, 63.
records of, 64.
reports of, 66, 212. 213. 217, 220.
resignation of, 61.
revision of records, 63.
salaries of, 65.
stationing of, 61.
appeal from. 62.
superannuated, 49.
supernumerary, 49.
support of, 22. 65.
training of children. 65.
withdrawal of. 61.
preachers from other churches, 4S.
quarterly conference :
course of study for 45. 68'.
examination of, 45, 68.
license of. 45, 69.
recommendation to annual conference, 45.
renewal of license, 35, 45.
trial of, 35, 57.
required to hold church membership, 29.
restrictions upon. 56.
Preachers' Pension Fund, 167.
Printing Establishment :
book committee, 154.
doctrinal publications, 154.
editors, 152.
election of officers, 151.
employment of time, 153.
232 DISCIPLINE
inventory, 153.
local committee, 151.
name, 151.
pioceeds of. 15.'i.
publishing agent, duties of, 152.
trustees — election and duties, 151.
under control of General conference, 17.
vacancies, 153.
Property :
churcli-houses and parsonages, 83.
general board of Church trustees, 88.
title to, 17.
I'ublications, Church. 154.
Publishing House, see Printing Establishment, 151,
Quarterly Conference :
appeal to annual conference, 36.
appeals and trials, 35.
apportionment to members, 36.
circuit finance committee appointed by, 35.
duties and powers of, 34.
estimating committee appointed by the, 35.
examination of applicants for license, 44.
examination on course of study, 08.
financial secretary appointed by, 35.
licensing of preachers. 35, 44.
members of, 34.
place of meeting, 36.
quorum for transaction of business, 34.
recommending preachers to annual conference, 35, 45,
renewing licenses, 35, 45.
reviewing acts of official board, 34.
trial by, 57.
Keal Estate for church purposes, 86.
Reception of ministers by local church, 23.
Records :
church, 64.
of class-leaders, 31.
of trials, 27.
revision of, 63.
Reorganization of classes, 63.
Reports :
of bishops, 53,
of pastors, 51, 63, 204, 205, 208.
of conference superintendents, 51, 208.
of conference treasurer, 206,
of proceedings of General Conference authorized, 153.
Representation in the General Conference, 16, 38.
Revision of church records, 63,
Right of appeal, 26.
Rural life, 121.
Sarbath Observance, 15, 22, 80.
Sacraments :
baptism and the Lord's Supper. 14.
formulas for administei-ing, 182, 183.
Salaries :
of bishops, 53.
of church erection secretary, 147.
of editors, 151.
of general Church treasurer, 164,
of missionaries, 65, 127.
of missionary secretary and treasurer. 117. 125,
of pastors. 65,
of publishing agent, 151.
233
Sandusky Confereuce, boundarj- of. 178.
Secret combinations :
constitutional provision, 18.
law on, SO.
Secretaries of annual conferences, 37.
Security of missionary treasurer, 164.
Seekers, 20.
Seminary jjraduates exempt from examinations, 70.
Sermons, special :
by bishops, o3.
on missions, 04.
Singing, '21.
Slavery, 18. 80.
Social service, 78, 119.
Southeast Ohio C\)ufereuce, boundary of, 178.
Southwest district, 172.
Special rules, 78.
St. Joseph Conference, boundary of, 178.
Stationing Committee :
appeal from, 02.
for bishops, 53. '
for pastors, 01.
time of reporting, 62.
Stewards, .see Class-stewards, 31.
Sunday School, Brotherhood, and \'oung People's Work
annual-conference relations, '.)7.
board of control. 95.
Children's Day, 98.
constitution of general board, 95.
dtities of officers, 97.
exectitive committee, 90.
funds, 96.
members of board, 95.
meetings, 90, 97.
object. 95.
officers, 95.
pastor's relations, 98.
secretaries, 97.
under control of General Conference. 17.
vacancies, 96.
Sunday-school work. 98.
budget. 93.
constitution for. 99.
duties of officers. 99.
duty of members toward, 22.
elections in. 99.
form of superintendent's report, 206.
missions in, 100.
organization of. 98.
organized classes. 100.
pastor's relation to, 98.
relation to missionary work, 100. IIS. 120. 122. 12'
Superannuated ministers :
itinerants. 49,
Sui)erinterulpnts of Sunday schools. 99.
election by the official board provided for. 100.
Superintendents' Association. 54.
Supernumerary ministers, 49.
Support of general interests. 23.
Support of the gospel, 22.
Suspension of preachers, 58. 59.
'I'KvcHEus of Sundav schools. 100.
Tellers :
iinn\ial-oonferenco, 39.
local. 40.
234 DISCIPLINE.
Temperance. 79.
commission, 79.
day, 79.
Tobacco, 45, 47, 80.
Transfers :
of members, 27. 200.
of preachers, 47, 202.
limit of transfer, 48.
Transfer and withdrawal of members :
amenability of members. 29.
certificate of, 27. 200.
certificate of recommendation, 28, 201.
certificate of withdrawal, 29. 201.
delinquent non-resident members. 29.
limit of certificates, 28,
membersliip of preachers, 29.
notice of forwarding certificate. 28.
notice of reception of certificate, 28.
non-resident members. 27.
Treasurer :
of local church, 33, 93.
general church, 164.
duties of, 164.
security of, 164.
Trials :
of bishops. 59.
of members. 25, 27.
for disobedience, 25.
for immoral conduct, 25.
going to law forbidden, 27.
in disputes, 26.
order in, 27.
personal trespass, 25.
right of appeal, 26.
president at, 59, 66.
of preachers, 57.
annual-conference, 58.
quarterly-conference. 35, 57.
of conference superintendents, 59.
records of, 27.
Trustees :
Bonebrake Seminary, 161.
of churches, 83.
of Printing Establishment, 151.
of the United Brethren in Christ, 88.
of Women's Missionary Association, 131.
Tnion. necessity of, 24.
T'nited Bretliren Publishing House, src I'rinting lOstablishuK
Vacanctks :
in bishopric. 55.
in conf(<ronce superintendents' districts. 52.
in (ieneral Conference offices, 80.
in pastoral charges. 53. 62.
Vacant church-houses and parsonages. 85. 148.
Virginia Conference, boundary of. 179.
Visiting by pastors, 64.
Visiting by women, 145.
War, 81.
West Africa Mission Conference, boundary, of. 180.
West Tennessee Conference, boundary of. 170.
West Virginia Conference, boundary' of, 170.
White River Conference, boundary of. 170.
Wisconsin Conference, boundary of. 179.
INDEX. 235
Withdrawal of members, 29, 201.
Women's Aid Society, constitution, 144.
Women's Missionary Association :
bequests and special gifts, 133.
form of bequest. 203.
board of managers, 130.
board of trustees, 131.
children's work, department of, 134.
constitution :
conference branch, 135.
general association, 129.
local society, 138.
Otterbein Guild. 141.
contingent fund, 137.
duties of officers :
conference branch, 136.
general association, 131.
local society. 139.
Otterbein Guild. 142.
Kvangel, 133.
.Junior, C. E., relation to, 134.
literature, department of. 133.
membership. 130. 138. 141.
officers of general association, 131.
organization. 130.
Otterbein Guild, department of, 13."..
relation to the Church, 129,
representation on mission boards, 131.
thank-offering department of, 134.
Woman's Day, 133.
Young People's Work :
board of control, 95. 105.
conference union constitution, 104.
conventions. 97, 105.
funds. 96. 109.
general secretary, 97.
Intermediate society constitution. 112,
.Junior society constitution, 112.
president member of quarterly conference, 34.
relation to church, 109.
i-elation to Women's Missionary Association, 105, 134, 135.
report to quarterly conference. 207.
Watchword and Religious Telescope. 111.
Young members to unite with, 22.
Young People's anniversary day, 96, 98. 10^.
Y'oung People's Society of Christian Endeavor constitution,
106.
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