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DOCTRINE,
Constitution /nd Discipline
OF THE
United Brethren in Christ.
DAYTON, OHIO:
MUTED BRETHREN PUBLISHiNG HOUSE,
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER 1.— Origin of the Church 5
CHAPTER 11.— Go7ifesdon of Faith 11
CHAPTER IIL— (7on8(t(ttetG» ,.... 13
CHAPTER IV.— Members 16
Section 1. Reception of members 16
Section 2. Duties of members 18
Sections. Trial of members 22
Section 4. Transfer and dismission of members... 26
CHAPTER Y— Government of the Church 27
Section 1. Classes 27
Section 2, Duties of a leader 28
Sections. Stewards and their duties 28
Section 4. Official meetings for stations 29
Sections. Quarterly conference 30
Section 6. Annual conference 35
Section 7. General Conference 38
CHAPTER YL—Minietry of the Church 42
Section 1. Exhorters 42
Section 2. Quarterly conference preachers 43
Section 3. Annual conference preachers 44
Section 4. Reception of preachers from other
churches 47
Section 5. Election of elders 48
Section 6, Ordination of elders 50
Section 7. Duties of elders 53
Sections. Presiding elders and their duties 54
Section 9. Bishops— election and duties 55
Section 10. Preachers' duties 58
Section 11. Itinerant preachers' duties 60
Section 12. Preachers salaries 64
Section 13. Trial of preachers 6^
Section 14. Transfer of preachers 68
CHAPTER Yll— The Itinerancy, Organization and
Support 69
CHAPTER YllL-Appeah 71
Section 1. From decision of a class 72
Section 2. From decision of quarterly conference 72
Section 4. From decision of an annual conference 72
iV DISCIPLINE.
CHAPTER IX.—Duliee in General 73
Section 1. Necessity of union among ourselves 73
Section 2. Visiting from house to house 74
Section 3. Singing 76
CHAPTER X— Moral Reform 75
Section 1. Temperance 75
Section 2. Slavery 7^
Section 3. Secret societies 77
Section 4. Oaths 80
Section 5. VVar 80
CHAPTER XI.— Doctrinal PuhUcatiom 81
CHAPTER Xll— Formulas 81
Section 1. Marriage Ceremony 81
Section 2. Burial of the dead 83
CHAPTER Xlll.-Chartera 85
CHAPTER XlY.-S.ibbafh-echooh 85
Section 1. Duties to children and Sabbath-schools 85
Section 2. Constitution of the General S. S. Asso-
ciation 86
Sections. Annual conference relations and duties 89
Section i. Organization of Sabbath schools 90
Section 5- Relation of S. S to missionary work... 91
Section 6. Form of constitution of Sabbath-school 92
CHAPTER XV.— Miss ion ai-y Society 94
CHAPTER XVI. — Womanx Missionary Association.. 99
By-laws 100
Branch constitution 103
Local constitution... 105
CHAPTER XYIL- Church- Erection Society 106
CHAPTER XYIll. — Prititing Ettahlishment 109
CHAPTER XIX. — Course 0/ Reading and Sludy Ill
Section 1. English Ill
Section 2. German 114
CHAPTER XX —Meeting IIous^-s and Parsonages.... 115
CHAPTER XXl— Board of Education 119
CHAPTER XXIL— Boundaries 124
Section 1. Bishop's districts ; 124
Section 2. Annual conferences 125
CHAPTER L
ORiaiN 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 1*0-
ligion from its fallen state and preach the gospel
of Christ crucified in its purity.
About the middle of the said century, the
Lord, in mercy, remembered the Germans in
America, who, living scattered in this extensivo
country, had but seldom an opportunity to hear
the gospel of a crucified Savior preached to them
in their native language.
Among others, he raised up William Otter-
BEiN and Martin Boehm, in the State of Penn-
sylvania, and George A. Geeting, in the State
of Maryland, armed them with spirit, grace,
and strength to labor in his neglected vineyard,
and to call, among the Germans in America,,
6 DISCIPLINE.
sinners to repentance. These men obeyed the
call of their Lord and Master. Their labors
were blest, and they established 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 necessarj'
to look about for more fellow-laborers to engage
in the vineyard of the Lord, for the harvest was
great and the laborers but few. The Lord called
others, who were willing to devote their strength
to his service. Such, then, were accepted by one
or other of the preachers as fellow-laborers.
The number of members in the society in dif-
ferent parts of the country continued to increase
from time to time, and the gracious work of
i-eformation spread through the states of Penn-
sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Several great
meetings were appointed and held annually.
On such occasions Otterbein would hold par-
ticular conversations with the preachers then
present, and represent to them the importance
of the ministry and the necessity of their ut-
most endeavors to save souls. At one of these
meetings it was resolved to hold a conference
with all the preachers, in order to take into con-
sideration how, and in what manner, they might
be most useful.
The first conference was held in the city of
DISCIPLINE. 7
Baltimore, Maryland, in the year of our Lord
1789. The following preachers were present :
Wm. Otterbein, Adam Lehman,
Martin Boehm, John Ernst,
Geo, a. Geeting, Henry Weidner,
Christian Newcomer.
The second conference was held in Paradise
Township, York County, Pennsylvania, at the
house of Bro. Spangler, in the year of our
Lord, 1791. The following preachers were pres-
ent:
Wm. Otterbein, John Ernst,
Martin Boehm, J. G. Pfrimmer,
Geo. a. Geeting, John Neidig,
Ch'n. Newcomer Benedict Sanders,
Adam Lehman.
After mature deliberation how they might la-
bor most usefully in the vineyard of the Lord,
they again appointed such as fellow-laborers
whom they had cause to believe had experienc-
ed true religion in their souls.
In the meantime the number of members
continued to increase, and the preachers were
obliged to appoint an annual conference, in or-
der to unite themselves more closely and to
labor more successfully in the vinej^ard of the
Lord ; for some had been Presbyterians or Ger-
man Reformed, some Lutherans, and others
8 DISCIPLINE.
Mennonites, They accordingly appointed a con-
ference to be held on the 2oth of September,
1800, in Frederick County, Maryland, at the
bouse of Bro. Frederick Kemp, The follow-
ing preachers were present •
Wm. O'lTERBEiN, Christian Krum,
Martin Boehm, Henry Krum,
Geo. a. Geeting, John Hershey^
Ch*n. Newcomer^ Jacob Geisingeb,
Adam Lehman, Henry Boehm,
Abraham Tracksel,, Diet'k Aurand,
J. G, Pfrimmer.
There they united themselves into a society
which beai-s the name ''United Brethren in
Christ,*' and elected Wm. Otterbein and
Martin Boehm as superintendents or bishops,
and agreed that each of them should be at lib-
erty as to the mode and manner of baptism, to
perform it according to his own convictions.
From this time the society increasing still
more and more, preachers were appointed to
travel regularly, inasmuch as the number of
preaching-places could not otherwise be attend-
ed to; and the work spread itself into the states
of Ohio and Kentucky. It then became neces-
sary to appoint a conference in the State of Ohi<^
because it was conceived too laborious for the
preachers who labored in those states to travel
annually such a great distance to conference.
DISCIPLINE, 0
In the meantime Brothers Boehm and Geet-
ITSG died, and Brother Otterbein desired that
another bishop should be elected (because in-
firmity 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
whenever one of the bishops died another should
be elected in his place: accordingly, Brother
Christian Newcomer was elected bishop, to
take charge of and superintend the concerns of
the society.
The want of a discipline in the society had long
been deeply felt, and partial attempts having
been made at different times, it was resolved at
the conference held in the State of Ohio, that a
general conference should be held in order to
accomplish the same, in a manner not derogatory
to the word of God. The members of this con-
fsrence were to be elected from among the
preachers in the diflerent parts of the country,
by a vote of the society in general. The follow-
ing brethren were duly elected :
Ch'n Newcomer, Daniel, Troyer,
Abr'm Heistand, Geo. Benedum,
Andrew Zeller, Abr'm Tracksel,
Christian Berger, Henry G. Spayth,
Abraham Myer, I. Nighswanqer,
10 discipline.
John Schneider, Christian B^um,
Henry Kumler, Jacob Bowlus.
The conference convened on the 6th of June,
1815, near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Coun-
ty, Pennsylvania. After mature deliberation,
they presented to their brethren a discipline,
containing the doctrine and rules of the Church,
desiring that they, together with the word ©f
God, should be strictly observed.
God is a God of order, but where there is no
order nor church-discipline the sj)irit of love
and charity will be lost.
Therefore, brethren, we beseech you to follow
the example 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 hiin the form of a servant, humbled him-
self, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross," that by his grace we may
submit ourselves one to another in the fear of
God. He who will not submit is in want of
humble love. Jesus said, "Whosoever will be
chief among you, let him be your servant. By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another ; and whoso lov-
eth not his brother abideth in death." Let us
walk in newness of life, that the prayer of our
DISCIPLINE. 11
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 Ave may be
one even as he and the Father are one. There-
fore, beloved brethren, let us strive to be like-
minded, having the same love, being of one ac-
cord, of one mind. Let no one speak or think
evil of his brother, but pray God that he may
grant us iiis Spirit and an earnest desire to lead
a truly devoted life, to the honor and glory of
his holy name. Amen.
CHAPTER II.
CONFESSION OP FAITH.
In the name of God we declare and confess
before all men, that we believe in the only true
God, the Faliier, 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 both; that this triune
God created the iieavens and the earth, and all
that in them is, visible as well as invisible, and
furthermore sustains, governs, jDrotects, and
supports the same.
We believe in Jesus Christ ; tliat he is very
God and man ; that he became incarnate by the
12 DISCIPLINE,
I)Ower of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary,
and was born of her ; that he is the Savior and
Mediator of the whole human race, if they with
full faith in him accept the grace proffered in
Jesus ; that this Jesus suffered and died on the
cross for us, was buried, arose again on the third
day, ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God, to intercede for us ; and that
he shall come again at the last day, to judge the
quick and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Ghost; that he is
equal in being with the Father and the Son, and
that he comforts the faithful, and guides them
into all truth.
We believe in a holy Christian church, the
communion of saints, the resurrection of the
body, and life everlasting.
We believe that the Holy Bible, Old and New
Testament, is the word of God ; that it contains
the only true way to our salvation ; that every
true Christian is bound to acknowledge and re-
ceive it with the influence of the Spirit of God,
as the only rule and guide ; and that without
faith in Jesus Christ, true repentance, forgive-
ness of sins, and following after Christ, no one
can be a true Christian.
We also believe that what is contained in the
Holy Scriptures, to-wit : the fall in Adam and
DISCIPLINE, 13
redemption through Jesus Christ, shall be
preached throughout the world.
We believe that the ordinances, viz: baptism
and the remembrance of the sufferings and
death of our Lord Jesus Christ, are to be in use,
and practiced by all Christian societies; and
that it is incumbent on all the children of God
particularly to practice them; but the manner
in which ought always to be left to the judg-
ment and understanding of every individual.
Also the example of was^hing feet is left to the
judgment of every one, to practice or not; but
it is not becoming of any of our preachers or
members to traduce any of their brethren whose
judgment and understanding in these respects
is different from their own, either in public or
private. Whosoever shall make himself guilty
in this respect, shall be considered a traducer of
his brethren, and shall be answerable for the
same.
CHAPTER III.
CONSTITUTION.
We, the members of the Church of the
United Brethren in Christ, in the name of
God, do, for the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
-14 DISCIPLINE.
body of Christ, as well as to produce and secure
a uniform mode of action, in faith and practice,
also to define the powers and the business of
quarterly, annual, and general conferences, as
recognized by this church, ordain the following
articles of Constitution:
ARTICIiE I.
Section 1. All ecclesiastical power herein
granted, to make or repeal any rule of Disci-
pline, is vested in a general conference, which
shall consist of elders, elected by the members
In every conference district throughout the so-
ciety ; provided, however, such elders shall have
stood in that capacity three years, in the confer-
ence district to which they belong.
Sec. 2. General Conference is to be held every
four years ; the bishops to be considered mem-
bers and presiding officers.
Sec. 3. Each annual conference shall place
before the society the names of all the elders
eligible to membership in the General Confer-
ence.
ARTICLE II.
Section 1. The General Conference shall de-
fine the boundaries of the annual conferences.
Sec. 2. The General Conference shall, at every
session, elect bishops from among the elders
DISCIPLINE. 15
throughout the Church, who have stood six
years in that capacity.
Sec. 3. The business of each annual confer-
ence shall be done strictly according to Disci-
pline; and any annual conference acting con-
trary thereunto, shall, by impeachment, be tried
by the General Conference.
Sec. 4. No rule or ordinance shall at any
time be passed, to change or do away the Con-
fession of Faith as it now stands, nor to destroy
the itinerant plan.
Sec. 5. There shall no rule be adopted that
will infringe upon the rights of any as it relates
to the mode of baptism, the sacrament of the
Lord's-supper, or the washing of feet.
Sec. 6. There shall be no rule made that will
deprive local preachers of their votes in the
annual conferences to which they severally be-
long.
Sec. 7. There shall be no connection with
secret combinations, nor shall involuntary serv-
itude be tolerated in any way.
Sec. 8. The right of appeal shall be invio-
late.
ARTICLE III.
The right, title, interest, and claim of all
property, whether consisting in lots of ground
16 DISCIPLINE.
meeting-houses, legacies, bequests or donations
of any kind, obtained by purchase or otherwise,
by any person or persons, for the use, benefit,
and behoof of the Church of the United Breth-
ren in Christ, is hereby fully recognized and
held to be the property of the church aforesaid,
ARTICLE IV.
Theie shall be no alteration of the foregoing
constitution, unless by request of two thirds of
the whole society.
CHAPTER IV.— MEMBERS.
Section I.
Meception of Members.
Ques. How shall members be taken into our
church?
Ans. When at any meeting a person makes
known a desire to become a member of o^ir
church, then the preacher present shall, in the
hearing of the congregation, ask such persons
the following questions :
1. Do you believe the Bible to be the word of
God, and that therein only is contained tlie
knowledge of the way of salvation ?
2. Have you experienced the pardon of your
sins, and have you now peace with God ?
DISCIPLINE. 17
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 ?
1. If the person answer the above questions
in the affirmative, and no lawful objections be
made by any member, then the preacher shall
give his right hand to such person as a member
of our church, and record the name on the
church or class book ; provided, however, that
where a church deems it advisable for its protec-
tion against imposition a committee may be ap-
pointed, 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.
2. Any person giving evidence that they are
sincerely seeking the Lord, may be received
under the watch-care of the Church, but shall
not be reported as members, nor shall they have
any vote in the Church.
3. 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 class, can, at any
time, after personal labor for their salvation by
18 DISCIPLINE.
the preacher in charge and class-leader, if un-
successful, publicly drop the name of such
seeker.
4. Any preacher refusing or neglecting to
ask the foregoing questions, or who shall receive
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.
1. All members of this church shall acknowl-
edge and confess that they believe the Bible to
be the word of God ; that they will henceforth
strive, with all their hearts, to seek theii eternal
welfare in Christ Jesus, and work out their sal-
vation with fear and trembling, to the end that
they may be enabled to fiee from the wrath to
oome.
2. Every member shall endeavor to lead a
godly life ; attend to 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, paj Ucularly in
private, and, for his own edification, attend,
when practicable, all of our prayer and class
meetings, and meetings for public worship.
8. Heads of families should never omit to
DISCIPLINE. 19
pray with their families, morning and evening,
and set them a good example in all the Chris-
tian virtues.
4. Every one should strive to walk as in the
presence of God ; also, accustom himself to a
close communion with God in all his employ-
ments, and never speak evil of his fellow-beings,
but practice love toward friend and foe, do good
to the poor, and endeavor to be a follower of
Jesus Christ in deed.
5. Every one shall keep the Sabbath-day
holy, as required in the word of God ; neither
buy nor sell, but spend the same in exercises of
devotion, in reading and hearing the word of
God, and with singing spiritua^l h^'mns to the
honor and glory of God.
G. It is the duty of every member to lead •
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.
7. It shall be the duty of all our members to
encourage our Sabbat b-schools by their pres-
ence when practicable, and always give them
their aid and ijjfluence.
8. It is the duty of all members of the
Church to pay toward the support of the itin-
erant ministry, quarterly, or oftener if need be,
20 DISCIPLINE.
in proportion to their ability, as God has pros-
pered tbera; for the Lord hath ordained that
they who preach the gospel shall live by th©
gospel. (I. Cor. ix. 14; I. Tim. v. 18.)
9'. Each member o-f our church should will-
ingly and freely contribute quarterly, or oftener,
if need be, as God has prospered him or her (I.
Cor. xvi. 2), to the support of the helpless poor.
10. When it is known by any of aur class-
leaders that there are poor members among
thena, who by sickness, accident, or other una-
voidable circumstances have been brought to
want, it shall be the duty of the leader in charge
to go, ar appoint one to wait upon the class, to
ask alms, nitoney, clothing, or produce, as the
circiunstances may require j and should any one
class be too poor to alleviate its poor, it shall then
be made known to the pastor in charge, whose
duty it shall be to inform the different classes
on his charge ; and if it should so haj^pen that
any one charge should be insufficient to meet
the wants of its poor, it shall be the duty of the
presiding elder to present the matter on the dif-
ferent charges at their quarterly conferences, so
that the unavoidably poor of our churob may be
considered and provided for. (I. John, iii, 17;
Ps. xii. 1, 2.)
11. Inasmuch as the Lord has commanded us
DISCIPLINE. 21
not to be conformed to this world (Rom. xii. 2),
to lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of
naughtiness (James i, 21), and as the prineiplea
of the Christian religion, as taught both by the
precepts and example of the meek and adorable
Savior, are in strict and perfect accordance with
these commandments, we therefore humbly be-
seech and admonish the members of our church
to observe these divine precepts. In like man-
ner also that women adorn themselves in mod-
est apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;
not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or
costly array, but (which becometh women pro-
fessing godliness) with good works (I. Tim. ii.
9, 10); and whose adorning let it not be that out-
ward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wear-
ing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let
it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which
is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of
great price. (I. Peter, iii. 3, 4.)
The foregoing rules are drawn up for the bet-
ter regulation of our church ; and we believe
they are founded in tlie word of God, and in-
cumbent on all who are members of our church
to observe. Should any violate or habitually
neglect these rules, they shall be, by their re-
spective class-leaders, admonished to reforma-
22 DISCIPLINE.
Illation ; and should they not reform, they shad
be suspended or expelled, as the case may re-
quire.
It is the advice of the General Conference that
alJ districts, stations, circuits, and missions
cheerfully receive the preachers appointed by
the stationing committee of the respective an-
nual confei'ences.
Section III.
Trial of Members.
Ques. What shall be done when members
tresspass against each other?
Ans. " If thy brother shall tresspass 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 a heathen man and a
publican ;" that is, he shall be expelled.
Ques. What shall be done in case of members
accused of tresspass or immoral conduct?
Ans. The class shall appoint one or more to
visit the accused brother or sister, and, if possi-
ble reclaim him or her; but if unsuccessful, he
or she shall be tried by the class to which they
DISCIPLINE. • 23
belong, or a committee thereof, chosen by the
parties concerned, with the preacher in charge
of the circuit or station, wlio shall be chairman;
and if found guilty, the accused shall be expell-
ed, unless satisfaction be given by an expression
of repentance or otherwise. If the accused re-
fuse to choose his committee-man, when prop-
erly notified, the quarterly conference shall
choose a second person, and these two a third,
which committee shall try the case and decide.
Yet cases may happen where it would be expe-
dient to choose a committee from any other
class or classes than the one to which the parties
belong ; also, an elder may be chosen as chair-
man, should the preacher in charge deem it best
to do so. But should any member be dissatisfi-
ed with the decision, an appeal may be had to
the quarterly conference, by giving notice there-
of to the preacher in charge or secretary of the
trial. (See section on appeals.) In such case,
however, the same persons shall not sit in judg-
ment on the same case.
Ques. What shall be done in cases of neglect
of duty of any kind, imprudent conduct, indulg-
ing sinful tempers of words, or disobedience to
the order and discipline of the Church?
Ans. First, let private reproof be given by
the preacher or leader ; and if there be ''an ao-
24 DISCIPLINE.
knowledgment of the fault, proper humiliation,
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 Church or class, or a select
committee; and if there be no satisfactory hu-
miliation, the offender shall be expelled by vote
of the society.
In case of trial under this clause, the leader
shall act in behalf of the Church ; or if the
leader be the offender, the steward shall act as
prosecutor.
Ques. What shall be done in case of disputes
between the members or preachers ?
Arts. The preacher to whom it shall be known
shall inquire into the circumstances of the case,
and if necessar3'-, shall recommend to the con-
tending parties a reference, consisting of one
arbiter, chosen bj^ 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 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
*all hear the case and decide.
DiSClPi^lNE. 25
But if either be dissatisfied with the decision,
such may have a right to an appeal 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 the
majority of whom shall be final. Any person
refusing to abide by this decision, and every
member refusing, in case of debt or dispute, to
refer the matter to arbitration when recom-
mended to him by a preacher or leader, or who
shall enter into a lawsuit with another member
before these measures are taken, shall be ex-
pelled without further process, and his or her
name be so recorded upon the church-record by
the preacher in charge, or the class-leader, ex-
cept when the case is of such a nature as to re-
quire and justify a process at law, as executors
or administrators, or when a member is in dan-
ger of suffering an unexpected loss of property.
Every class-leader shall keep a record of the
proceedings of church-trials, deaths, expulsions,
and removals, in a book provided for that pur-
pose; and it shall be his duty, in case uf an ap-
peal, to furnish his record to the quarterly con-
ference.
All church-trials shall be conducted in a con-
sistent Christian manner, without the employ-
ment of magistrates and attorneys to administer
oaths and conduct investigations.
26 DISCIPLINE.
Section IV.
Transfer aiid Dismission of Members.
When members of our society move from one
field of labor to another they shall obtain a cer-
tificate, by a vote of the majority of the class to
which they belong signed by a preacher or
leader, except where they are not in reach of a
class, in which case any of our preachers may
give a certificate to such persons if they are
known to be in good standing.
Form of Certificate of Membership.
This is to certify that A. B. is a member of
good standing in the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ, at — , and is hereby
recommended to the confidence and fellowship
of Christians everj^vvhere.
[Dates, etc.]
Form of Certificate of Dismission.
This is to certify that A. B. has been until ttis
date a member in good standing in the Church
of the United Brethren in Christ, at , and
at request is dismissed from the Church
by a vote of the class.
Pastor.
[Dates, etc.]
Any i^erson receiving a certificate of member-
ship of good standing is amenable to the class
DISCIPLINE. 27
from which he received it, until he deposit his
certificate with some other church or class.
CHAPTER v.— GOVERNMENT OF THE
CHURCH.
Section I.
Glasses.
1. A class shall consist of three or more mem-
bers, who shall annually elect one member from
their own or some other class, who shall be
called their leader, and shall be elected before
the ensuing annual conference.
2. Classes shall be divided hy a committee,
consisting of the preacher in charge and one or
more brethren, elected by the Church at any
place where it may be deemed necessary. Each
class so formed shall have the power of electing
its own leader, and shall be considered as having
all the rights and privileges of separate classes.
3. In case it becomes impracticable to keep
up an organization by the election of class-of-
ficers, the members at such place shall be re-
quired to join the nearest class within six
months ; and any one failing to do so may be
dropped.
28 DISCIPLINE.
Skction n.
Duties of a Leader.
1. It shall be his duty to meet his class, in
class or prayer meeting, at least once a week,
to speak to them concerning the spiritual wel-
fare of their souls, and 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.
2. It shall be his duty to lead a pious life
and set a godly example before his class ; care-
fully study the Holy Scriptures, fully qualify-
ing himself for the faithful performance of his
duties as leader and counselor of his class.
When any of his members are sick or delin-
quent in the pei'formance of any of their duti s
as Christians he shall visit them, pray or other-
wise labor with them, as circumstances may re-
quire.
Any class-leader failing to discharge these
duties may, on complaint, be removed by the
quarterly conference.
Section III.
Steivards and their Duties.
Every class shall annually elect (or, if the class
prefer it, the preacher may appoint) one who
shall be called the class-steward.
DISCIPLINE. 29
Ques. What are the duties of a steward ?
Ans. 1. He* shall collect quarterly contribu-
tions, or oftener than quarterly, if needed, for
the support of traveling preachers. He shall
keep an accurate account of the amount paid by
each member of the class, in a book provided for
that purpose, and report the same to each qua*--
terly conference or ofificial meeting.
2. It shall also be his duty to provide the ele-
ments for sacrament ; and we earnestly recom-
mend the use of unfermented wine.
3. For the faithful discharge of his duties as
Stewart of his class, he shall be accountable to
the quarterly conference, which shall have power
to dismiss him for official delinquency.
Section IV.
Official Meetings for Stations.
Ques. 1. Who are the members of the official
meeting ?
.47*5. 1. All the projjerly recognized members
of the quarterly conference.
2. The preacher in charge shall be the presi-
dent of the meeting ; and in his absence one of
the members shall be elected president pro te n.
Qiies. 2. What is the business of the official
meeting?
Ans. 1. The president shall call the meeting
to order, and begin and conclude with praver.
30 DISCIPIiINE«
2. To elect a secretary, who shall make a
record of the proceedings of the meeting.
3. To elect a treasurer, whose duty it shall be
to receive all moneys from stewards that have
been collected, and receipt therefor; and said
treasurer shall pay out all moneys in his hands
as the official meeting may direct.
4. To receive a statement from each class-
leader in reference to the prosperity of religion
in his class.
5. This body shall meet once a month, and
may meet of tener if circumstances require.
6. It shall be the duty of the official meeting
t-o receive all reports of subscriptions, and mon-
eys collected and disbursed for the interest of
the station ; and all persons intrusted with sub-
scriptions or moneys shall report the same to the
meeting as soon as possible.
7. It shall be the duty of the official meeting •
to submit its doings to the quarterly conference
for examination and approval.
Section V.
Quarterly Qonference.
Ques. 1. Who are the members of the quar-
terly conference ?
Ans. The presiding elder of the district, the
preacher in charge, and all the properly reoog-
DISCIPLINE. 31
nized preachers, exhorters, leaaers, stewards,
and trustees of meeting and parsonage houses,
and superintendents of Sabbath-schools (when
said trustees and superintendents are members
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ),
who reside within the bounds of the circuit, sta-
tion, or mission, or hold membership therein.
Ques. 2. What is the business of the quarterly
conference ?
Ans. 1. In the absence of the presiding elder,
the quarterly conference shall elect a chairman
pro tern., whose oflScial acta shall be valid.
2. To elect a secretary, whose duty it shall be
to keep a correct record of all their proceedings
in a book provided for that purpose, in which
the names of all the members composing the
said conference- shall be entered.
3-. To make inquiry into the moral deportment
and official character of all its members.
4. To receive and try all appeals, references,
and complaints that may come regularly before
it ; but no member of quarterly conference can
be suspended or expelled from the Church prior
to a committee trial. When a quarterly-confer-
ence preacher or exhorter is accused of any mis-
demeanor, he shall be tried by a committee of
three, of which the accused shall choose one and
the quarterly conference a second, and these two
32 DISCIPLINE.
a third, to try the case. If the accused refuse or
neglect to choose his committee-man after being
properly notified, the Quarterly conference shall
choose a first and second person, and these two
a third, who shalLhear the case and decide ; and
if the accused is found guilty he shall be silenc-
ed; provided, however, either party shall have
he right of appeal to the next quarterly confer-
ence for a new trial.
5. To grant license to exhort or preach to
such as may have been recommended by at least
two thirds of the class of which they are mem-
bers ; provided, however, that none shall receive
license who can not give satisfactory evidence of
their call, experience, soundness in doctrine,
and attachment to our church and government.
AH applicants for quarterly-conference license
to preach shall be examined by quarterly confer-
ence according to Section II., Chapter VI., of
Discipline.
6. To make settlement with the stewards and
traveling preachers.
7. To enforce discipline in all the classes under
its jurisdiction ; but in no case to disorganize a
class unless the preliniinaiy steps have been
taken as required in Section I., Chapter V., of
Discipline.
8. To renew the license of exhorters and
DISCIPIilNE. 33
quarterly-conference licensed preachers, annual-
ly, if they be found worthy, and to arrange a
plan for the local preachers to preach regularly
at stated places, as the quarterly conference may
direct.
9. After such licentiate preachers have stood
in that capacity one or more years, the quarterly
conference may recommend them to the annual
conference.
10. All preachers recommended to the annual
conference, and not received, may sustain their
former relation.
11. The quarterly conference, at its last ses-
sion in each year, shall appoint a steward for the
charge, whose duty it shall be to assist the class-
stewards to secure the preacher's salary ; also,
an estimating committee for the ensuing year,
which committee shall meet at the time and
place specified by the preacher appointed to the
charge for the ensuing year, and make out an
estimate of the regular expenses of the circuit,
station, or mission, and apportion the same
among the different appointments according to
their several abilities, reporting the same to the
quarterly conference for ratification.
Each class, after receiving its apportionment,
shall as soon as convenient, on the call of the
leader or steward, hold a meeting and appoint a
3
M DISCIPLINE.
committee whose duty it shall be to make a div-
idend of the apportionment to each member
thereof according to his or her ability, to be
paid quarterly or monthly ; provided, however,
that it shall be the privilege of any class to col-
lect the amount apportioned to it by subscrip-
tion or otherwise.
Qiies. 3. How are preachers from other socie-
ties received ?
Atis. If they come to us with certificates of
good standing in the society in which they have
had membership, and give satisfaction to the-
quarterly conference on examination on the doc-
trine, discipline, government, and usages of our
church, then the quarterly conference may li-
C5ense them, with the understanding that the
quarterly conference relation continue for at
least one year, (provided, that an elder, ordained
by the laying on of hands, coming to us shall be
allowed to perform the functions of an elder
during his probation,) after which, if their con-
duct and doctrine be in accordance with the gos-
pel of Christ, they may be received into the an-
nual conference as preachers, or elders, as the
case may be.
Ques. 4. What directions are necessary in case
of appeals?
Ans. Any exhorter or preacher, dissatisfied
DISCIPLINE. 35
with the decision of a quarterly conference, shall
within thirty days after the quarterly confer-
ence, notify the secretary, in writing, of his 'in-
tention to appeal, together with his reasons for
so doing ; and it shall be the duty of the secre-
tary to take or send a certified copy of the pro-
ceedings, the notification, and reasons assigned,
to the annual conference.
In all cases of appeal, whether to the quarterly',
annual, or General Conference, the course laid
down in this section on appeals is the proper
course to be pursued.
Ques. 5. Where shall our next quarterly con-
ference be held ?
Qiies. 6. Is there an^^thing more to be done ?
Ail exhorters, and quai'terly and annual con-
ference preachers are required to join some con-
venient class, and upon neglect or refusal to do
so shall lose their official relation.
It shall also be the duty of the quarterly con-
ference to open and close with prayer.
Section VI.
Annual Qonfcrence.
Ques. 1. Who are the members of this con-
ference ?
Ans. All the elders and licentiate preachers
who have been duly received by the conference;
36 DiscnpLT:NE.
provided, first: That any annual conference
may receive into its body one layman from
every charge in its bounds whenever two thirds
of its members shall, in a regular annual ses-
sion, decide so to do, notice of such vote to be
given twenty-four houi-s before the time. Sec-
ond : When an annual conference has adopted
\'d.y representation, it shall provide for the ap-
pointment of such lay representatives by su^ch
methods as in its wisdom it may deem best.
Third : The laymen thus chosen shall have all
the privileges and rights of ministers in the an-
nual conference, except the right to vote for the
reception or expulsion of preachers, the passing
of preachers in the course of reading, and the
right to vote for presiding elders.
Ques, 2. In what manner are the transaetiona
of a conference to be conducted?
Ans. 1. A portion of scripture shall be read ;
also, singing and prayer each day, at the opening
and closing of conference.
2. The conference shall elect two secretaries,
one German and one English, wherever it may
be necessary, one of whom shall immediately on
the adjournment of the annual conference trans-
mit to the publishing agent at Dayioii, Ohio, a:
true transcript of the footings of the conference
chart. If no bishop should be present, it shall b»
DISCIPLINE, 87
the duty of the annual conference to elect a
bishop pro tern., whose official acts shall be valid.
3. The preachers shall be examined respect-
ing their deportment toward their fellow-beings,
whether their conduct in life be blameless, and
whether they employ as much time as practica-
ble to promote the kingdom of God, (according
to Titus, 1st chapter, 7th to 9th verse, and II.
Tim., 2d chapter, I5th verse,) and if found de-
linquent shall be admonished or advised, as the
case may require. But should all admonition
or advice fail, then the name of the delinquent
person shall be erased from the minutes of the
conference.
4. Should any member of the annual confer-
ence absent himself from the session of confer-
ence three years in succession, without giving a
satisfactory reason for so doing, his name may
be erased from the minutes of the conference.
5. No preacher shall be permitted to election-
eer favorably to his own election to any office or
delegation in the Church; and should any one
be found doing so, he shall be accountable to tlte
next annual conference of which he is a mem-
ber, to be dealt with according to the judgment
of said conference.
The following questions shall also be asked:
1. Have any of the preachers died during the
last year ?
38 DISCIPLINE.
2. Wlio are candidates for the ministry?
3. Are any to be ordained to the office of
elder?
4. What has been collected foe contingent ex-
penses and the salary of traveling preachers ?
5. What has been done for missions ?
t). What has been done for Sabbath-schools ?
7. Has reckoning been made with the travel-
ing preachers ?
8. Who are the presiding elders?
9. Where are the preachers stationed this
year ?
10. Where shall our next conference be held ?
11. Is there anything else to be done ?
12. Is all that has been done entered uix>n
record ?
Section VII.
General Conference.
Ques. 1. Who are the members of the General
Conference? {See Constitution.)
Ques. 2, What shall be the number of dele-
gates to the General Conlerence ?
A71S. Not less than two nor more tlian four
from each annual-conference district. xVil con-
lerences having less than three tliousand mem-
bei's shall be entitled to two delegates. All con-
ferences having three thousand and under five
thousand members shall be entitled to three
DISCIPLLNE. 39
delegates. All conferences having six thousand
five hundred members and over that number,
shall be entitled to four delegates.
The Board of Bishops shall a^ early as possible
announce the number of delegates to which each
conference shall be entitled, as appears from the
statistics of the annual conferences at the end
of the third year of the term.
Ques. 3. How are they to be elected ?
Atis. 1. It shall be the duty of each annual
conference to appoint a committee of three to
receive and count the votes, and immediately
apprise those who may have been elected ; also
to furnish each preacher in charge with a Ust of
the names of all the elders eligible.
2. The leader and steward of each class shall
constitute a board of election, who shall be fur-
nished a copy of the above-named list, by the
preacher in charge, at least ten months before
the sitting of the General Conference ; and the
election shall be held invariably in the month of
November next preceding the sitting of said
conference.
3. It shall be the duty of '•"'^'"' i.oard of elec-
tion to appoint a meeting
their respective classes or <
may be, for the purpose o
their delegates to represer
Conference.
40 DISCIPLINE,
Should any member be incapacitated by age or
aflaiction to attend such meetings, and should
any minister be absent on his charge, they may
send their ballots containing the names of their
choice, and their own names signed on the back
of their ballots; provided, no votes shall be
counted except those cast at the appointed meet-
ings.
4. It shall be the duty of each board of eleo-
tion invariably to sign, inclose, and seal each bill
of election, and keep a correct record of the
same, also of all membei-s voting, and immedi-
ately transmit a copy of such bill, stating what
class, circuit, mission, or station, to the commit-
tee appointed by the annual conference.
6. Said committee shall make out a list of all
the 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 committee shall determine, by lot, which of
them is elected. They shall also forward by the
first of February, the names of tliose elected to
the conference Printing Establishment for pub-
lication ; and if one or more of those elected
should be prevented, by death, sickness, or oth-
erwise, from attending, it shall be the duty of
the tellers to notify the next highest on the bill
to take his place ; and so descend, if need be, to
the last candidate. All bills of election received
DISCIPLINE. 4i
by the tellers after the fii-st of January shall not
be counted.
6. It shall be the duty of each presiding elder
to furnish each preacher in charge on his district
with blank bills of election, the .same to be dis-
tributed by said preachers to their respective
boards of election.
Ques. 4. How shall the expenses of the dele-
gates to the General Conference be defrayed?
J Ans. The annual conference next preceding
the election of delegates to the General Confer-
ence shall ascertain the amount of money that
will be necessaiy to defray the expenses of its
delegates to General Conference, and apportion
the same among its diflferent fields of labor ; and
the preacher in charge shall collect and forwaM
Buch amount to the presiding elder of his di»-
trict, who shall transmit such amount to the
tellers by the first of Februai-y preceding the
General Conference. Should any preacher neg-
lect his duty, he shall be accountable therefor
to the next annual conference.
It shall be the duty of the General Conference
to examine the administration of each annual
oonference, whether it has strictly observed the
rules, and preserved the vioral and doctriiuU
principles of the Discipline in all its transao-
tions.
In the election of all officers of the General
42 DISCIPLINE,
CJonference, a majority of all the votes shall be
necessary to a choice.
CHAPTER VI.— MINISTRY OF THE
CHURCH.
Section I.
Exhorters.
Ques. How are exhorters received ?
Ans. Any person wishing to obtain license to
exhort must obtain from the class of which he is
a member, by a vote of two thirds of the mem-
bers, a recommendation in writing, signed by
the leader, or preacher in charge, to the quarter-
ly conference of the circuit, station, or mission
to which he belongs.
Ques. What are the duties of exhorters ?
Ans. To make appointments wherever ae-
oeptable to the people; read portions of sacred
scripture, exhorting therefrom ; exhorting saints,
that they with purpose of heart should cleave to
the Lord, and sinners to flee from the wrath to
come ; and this they shall do as often as practi-
cable.
The license of an exhorter is subject to renew-
al annually, at the discretion of the quarterly
oonference.
'\ DISCIPLINE. ^
Section II.
Quarterly- Conference Jhreaehers.
Ques. How are quarterly-conference preach-
ers received ?
Ans. Any person wishing to obtain license to
preach must obtain from the class of whicii he is
a member, by a vote of two thirds of the mem-
bers, a recommendation in writing, signed by
the leader or preacher, to the quarterly confer-
ence of the circuit, station, or mission to which
he belongs ; provided, That the person making
application sliall be examined by the quarterly
conference, and the following questions asked
by the chairman :
1. Do you believe in our confession of faith
as taught in our book of Discipline ?
2. Have you now peace with God through our
Lord Jesus' Christ ?
3. What is your motive in desiring permis-
sion to preach the go-pel ?
4. Are you satisfied with our church-govern-
ment ?
5. Will you submit yourself to the counsel of
your brethren ?
6. What is your knowledge of depravity, of
redemption, of faith, of repentance, of justifica-
tion, and of sanctification ?
44 DISCIPIilNE.
It shall be the privilege of the chairman to
ask any other question or questions that he may
deem necessary.
Quarterly -conference licensed preachei-s are
required to pursue the course of reading pre-
scribed in our book of Discipline, and to be ex-
amined^ annually by the presiding elder and
preacher in charge at the fourth quarterly meet-
ing- .
The license of a quarterly-conference preacher
is subject to renewal annually, at the discretion
of the quarterly conference.
Aflber such licentiate preachers have stood in
that capacity one or more years, the quarterly
conference may recommend them to the annual
conference.
All preachers recommended to tlie annual oon-
oonference, and not received, may sustain their
former relation.
Section III.
Annual- Conference Preachers,
Qites. How are preachers received ?
Ans. Every person proposed as a preacher
shall be examined by the annual conference or a
select committee thereof; and the following
questions shall be asked him :
1. Have you known God in Christ Jesus to be
a sin-pardoning God ?
DISCIPLINE. 45
2. Have you now peace with 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 onr salvation ?
4. What foundation have you for ffuch be-
lief?
5. Do you follow after holiness ?
6. What is your motive for desiring permis-
sion to preach the gospel ?
7. Do you believe that man, apart from the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is fallen from
original righteousness, and is not only entirely
destitute of holiness, but is inclined to evil, and
only evil, and that continually ; and that except
a man b8 born again he can not see the kingdom
of heaven ?
8. What is your knowledge of redemption,
of faith, of repentance, justification, and sanc-
i-ification?
9. Does your own salvation, and the salvation
of your fellow-mortals, lie nearer to your heart
than all other things in the world?
10. Will you subject yourself to the counsel
of your brethren ?
11. Are you satisfied with our church-govern-
ment?
12. Are you willing, as much as is in your
46 DISCIPLINE.
power, to assist in upholding the itinerant plan ?
None can be admitted without having a recom-
mendation from the quarterly conference, and
then only to be received on probation ; but if
conference should, on examination, find that his
abilities are insufficient to preach the gospel, it
may refer him back to the quarterly conference,
for further instruction.
"When a preacher or elder has been expelled or
formally withdraws from one annual conference,
he shall not be received into another without the
consent of the conference from which he has
been expelled.
A preacher or elder who shall labor in the
bounds of an annual conference, other than the
one to which he belongs, for two years, shall be
required to obtain a transfer from the conference
to which he belongs and unite with the confer-
ence in whose bounds he labors, or to return to
his own conference for work ; provided, that
presidents and professors of schools and colleges,
and others engaged in general church-work,
shall be exempt from this requirement.
A preacher removing from one conference to
another shall, when he applies to another for
admission, produce a transfer from the confer-
ence to which he formerly belonged, signed by
the presiding officer, or published in the minutes
1>ISCIPLINE. 47
of the conference from which he has been trans-
ferred.
A preacher or elder who receives a transfer is
required to present said transfer to anotlier con-
ference, or return it to the conference by which
it was issued, within eighteen months after its
date. Otherwise the transfer shall be null and
void, and the name of the preacher shall be
published as no longer connected with tl>e
Church as a minister; provided, Preachers tak-
ing transfers to the Pacific coast shall be al-
lowed two years in which to present their
transfers.
A preacher or elder receiving a transfer shall
be a member of the quarterly conference in
whose bounds he may reside, and also be ac-
countable 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 IV.
Reception of Preachers from Other Churche^i.
Qiies. How are preachers from other societies
received ?
Ans. If they come to us with certificates of
good standing in the society in which they have
had membership, and give satisfaction to the
48 DISCIPLINE.
quarterly oonlerence on examination on the
doctrine, discipline, government, and usages of
our church, then the quarterly conference may
license them, with the understanding that the
quarterly-conference relation continue for at
least one year (provided, that an elder, ordained
by the laying on of hands, coming to us shall be
allowed to perform the functions of an elder
during his probation), after which, if their con-
duct and doctrine be in accordance with the
gospel of Christ, they may be received into the
annual conference as preachers or elders, as the
case may be.
All ordained elders of other denominations
who may join our church as such must pass tlie
examination required of candidates for elders'
orders given in the following section ; but they
may be exempt from the laying on of hands.
Section V.
Election of Elders,.
Ques. How is an elder constituted ?
Ans. After a probation of three years, a
preacher may be pi-esented to the annual confer-
ence; whereupon the bishop shall propose to
conference the following questions :
Ques. 1. Is he blameless touching the mar-
riage state?
DISCIPLINE. 40
2. Is his deportment in the social circle mark-
ed with watchful sobriety?
3. Is he hospitable toward the afflicted and
need 3'- ?
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 ?
Should the above questions be answered in the
affirmative, a committee of three or five elders
shall be appointed, before whom the candidates
shall appear, and answer to the following ques-
tions, namely :
Ques. 1. Upon what foundation do you be-
lieve the Bible to be the word of God ?
2. How do you prove the fall of man by trana-
gression ?
3. How do you prove the redemption of man
by Jesus Christ ?
4. Do you believe in the godhead of Jesas
Christ?
5. What foundation have you for such a be-
lief?
6. Do you believe in the Holy Ghost as pre-
sented in our confession of faith ?
7. Upon what evidence do you believe this ?
8. Do you believe in future everlasting pun-
ishment ?
It shall be the privilege of the committee^ in
4
fiO DISCIPLINE.
the close, to propose any question touching the
answers given, wherein their understanding
may not have been distinct. It shall also be their
duty to make out, sign, and deliver to confer-
ence a report of each case which may have been
before them. Whereupon, by a majority of the
votes of the elders of conference, said candidates
may be elected to ordination. All ordained eld-
ers of other denominations, who may join our
church as such, must pass the above examina-
tion ; but they may be exempt from the laying
on off hands ; yet, circumstances demanding it,
a licentiate may be presented to conference for
ordination at any time prior to a probation of
three years, provided two thirds of the elders
present vote for the same.
Section VI.
Ordination of Elders.
1. On the day appointed there shall be a suit-
able sermon delivered.
2. After their names have been read aloud,
the bishop or elder shall read the following
articles to all who may be chosen for ordination :
An elder " must be blameless, as the steward
of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not
given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy
lucre ; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good
DISCIPLINE. 51
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 convince the gainsayers." (Titus i. 7-0.)
Qites. Are you assured that you are inwardly
moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon yon the
office of the ministry, to serve God in the church
of Christ to the honor and glory of his holy
name ? If so, nnswer, I trust I am.
Qiies. Do you believe the Holy Scriptures,
Old and New Testament ? If so, answer, I do
believe them.
Qiies. Will you apply due diligence to frame
and fashion your life according to the doctrines
of Christ, and to make yourself, as much as in
you lieth, a wholesome example of the flock of
Christ? If so, answer, I will, the Lord being
my helper.
Ques. Will you obey them to whom the
charge and government over you is committed,
and follow their godly admonitions with a will-
ing and ready mind? If so, answer, I will en-
deavor, through the grace of God, to do so.
Then prayer is to be offered.
After prayer, the bishop and elders shall lay
their hands upon the head of every one of them,
and say :
Take thou authority to execute the office of an
52 DISCIPLINE
elder in the church of God, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
Amen.
[Hereupon the bishop or elder shall deliver to
every one of them the Holy Bible, sajang :]
Take thon authority to preach the word of
God, and administer the ordinances in the church
ot' Christ.
[Then the bishop or elder sliall pra3^ And
after prayer he shall read from Luke xii. 35 38 :]
•' Let your loins be girded about, and your lights
burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that
wait for their lord, when he will return from the
wedding; that, when he cometli and knocketh,
tliey may open unto him immediately. Blessed
are those servants, whom the lord when he com-
eth shall tind watching; verily I say unto you,
that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit
down to meat, and Will come forth and serve them.
And if lie shall come in the second watch, or
come in the third watch, and find them so,
blessed are those servants." [After this the fol-
lowing benediction is to be pronounced : ]
The peace oj Ood keep your hearts and minds in
the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
■ i
DISCIPLINE. 53
Section VII.
Duties of Elders.
It is the duty of au elder to preach as often as
he can ; to baptize, to administer the Lord's sup-
I>er, solemnize marriages, to perform all parts of
divine service, to be an example to the flocik of
Christ by imitating his moral 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 preach, and advise them to take up
the cross, and begin the work without delay,
that the labor of this gospel harvest may be
faithfully performed.
Section VIII.
Presiding Eiders and their Duties.
Ques. 1. How shall the presiding elders be
elected ?
Ans. The annual conference shall elect them
by ballot. A majority of the w^hole number of
votes shall be necessary to a choice,
Ques. 2. What shall be done for the support
of the presiding elders ?
Ans. It shall be the duty of each annual con-
ference to make sucii regulations for the support
of the presiding elders as they in their wisdom
may think best calculated to accomplish the de-
sired end.
54 DISCIPLINE.
Ques. 3. How shall they be stationed?
Ans. By the bishop and two elders or preach-
ers from each presiding-elder district.
Ques. 4. What are the duties of a presiding
elder ?
Ans. 1. To travel through the district ap-
pointed him, and to preach as often as is prac-
ticable.
2. He shall appoint the quarterly and camp
meetings, and attend them. He shall hold
quarterly conferences, and administer the ordi-
nances of God's house. He shall inquire wheth-
er the preachers do their duty, and exhort them
to maintain discipline and order, love and seri-
ousness in the society. He may also call extra
quarterly conferences by the consent of a ma-
jority of the quarterly-conference members.
3. It siiall be his duty to make strict inquiry
if each itinerant minister has received the
amount of salary due him, and in case of a de-
ficiency to make an earnest effort to secure the
balance due him.
4. He may also, in conjunction with two eld-
ers, preachers, exhorters, or leaders (one from
each circuit), change the preachers in his dis-
trict.
5. Each presiding elder shall give a report in
writing, of his district, annually, to the annual
conlbrence.
c^^, &.
DISCIPLINE. 55
6. Should any district happen to be without
a presiding elder, information shall be immedi-
ately given to a bishop, who shall appoint an
elder to preside in said district until the ensuing
annual conference.
Section IX.
Bishops — Election and Duties.
Ques. How are the bishops to be elected ?
Ans. The General Conference shall elect
them, for the term of four years, by a majority
of the whole number of votes, to be, at the op-
tion of conference, re-elected. The bishops must
be capable of attending the conferences appoint-
ed them ; otherwise they can not be elected.
Ques. How shall the bishops' fields of labor
be assigned them?
Atis. By the General Conference ; and in the
fields thus assigned them they shall devote their
whole time. They shall be required to reside
within the bounds of the district assigned them,
if practicable ; provided, however, that they shall
have the privilege of making such temporary
interchanges as the welfare of their districts
may demand.
Q:iies. How shall the salaries of the bishops
be secured ?
Ans. 1. The General Conference, after fixing
^
66 DISCIPLINE.
the salaries of the bishops, shall by a committee,
consisting of the chairman of each annual-con-
ference delegation, in conjunction with the
bishop of the district, assess said salary, together
with the amount necessary for moving and
traveling expenses, to each conference within
his district according to their several abilities.
A71S. 2. Kach annual conference shall appor-
tion its respective part of the salary of its bish-
op, annually, to the several fields of labor in its
bounds, according to the ability thereof.
Ques. What are the duties of bishops ?
Atis. 1. To preside over the annual and gen-
eral conferences, and strictly examine into the
moral and official character of the members of
the annual conferences in the bounds of their
districts, and insist upon it that all the laws of
the Church are faithfully executed.
2. In conjunction with the presiding elders
of the past and present year, together with an
equal number of local elders or preachers, they
may fix the appointments of the traveling
preachers for the several circuits, stations, and
missions ; provided, That they do not allow any
itinerant preacher to remain on the same station
or circuit more than three consecutive years, un-
less particular circumstances require it, and then
anly with consent of the conference.
DISCIPLINE. 57
3. The bishop, in conjunction with two eldere,
elected by ballot, from each presiding-elder dis-
trict, shall appoint the presiding elders to their
respective districts.
4. It shall be their duty to perform the rite of
ordination at the annual conferences, and at
»uch other times and places as circumstances
may require it, and then only upon such persons
as have passed the usual examination required
of candidates for ordination, by a committee of
three elders chosen for that purpose by one of
the bishops.
5. The bishops shall hold annual meetings,
in which they shall determine the time of holding
the annual conferences, decide questions of Dis-
cipline, adopt measures to secure uniformity in
their administration, and, when circumstances
demand it, appoint fast and thanksgiving sea-
sons, and counsel upon the general interests of
the Church.
6. In conjunction with the Board of Missions,
the bishop shall have power to organize mission-
conferences.
7. The bishops shall devote as much of their
time as possible, consistent with their other du-
ties, to visiting our missions, exploring new
fields, and working upon the general financial
and educational interests of the Chiirch.
58 DISCIPLINE.
8. The bishops shall publish annually, in the
columns of the Reli^^-ious Telescope and Froehliche
Botschafter^ reports of their respective districts,
and also the amount of salary received from the
several annual conferences in their charge.
9. When a bishop fails to perform his duty,
unless through unavoidable circumstances, he
can not be suffered to retair. his office.
10. It shall be the duty of the bishops to see
that a suitable sermon be delivered to the preach-
ers present at each annual conference.
Should any district become destitute of a bish-
op by death or otherwise, the senior of the re-
maining bishops, on due notice of said fact,
shall call together at some central point in the
vacated district the delegates of the preceding
General Conference from said bishop's district,
who shall elect a bishop to fill the vacancy. The
expenses of said delegates shall be provided for
by the conferences to which they belong.
Section X.
Pi'eadier'' fi Ihities.
Ques. What are the duties of preachers?
Ans. To preach Christ crucified, form classes,
and report the same to the annual conferences;
converse with the monbers on the spiritual con-
dition of their souls; administer relief ; strength-
DISCIPLINE. 59
en and direct those that are afflicted and labor
under temptations ; animate the indolent ; en-
deavor as much as possible to edify and instruct
all in faith, in grace, and in the knowledge of
Jesus Christ; visit • the sick on all occasions;
strive to enforce and confirm the doctrine they
deliver by a well-ordered and exemplary life.
Ques. What are the directions given to oui
preachers?
Ans. 1. Be diligent. Never tritle away your
time. Always be serious. Let your motto be,
"Holiness Unto the Lord!" Avoid all
lightness and jesting ; converse sparingly ; con-
duct yourself prudently with women ; and de-
mean yourseW in all respects as a true Christian.
Be at all times averse to crediting evil reports ;
believe evil of no one without good evidence.
Put the best construction on everything.
2. Speak evil of no one. Whatever may be
3'our thoughts, keep thein within your own
breasts until you can tell the person concerned
what you tliink wrong in his conduct.
3. Let your business be to save as many souls
as possible. To this empl<\yment give yourself
up wholly. Visit those who need it ; and act in
all things, not according to your own wills, but
as sons in the gospel ; for as such it becomes
your duty to employ your time in the manner
60 DISCIPLINE.
prescribed, in preaching, and visiting from
house to house; in instruction and pvajer, and
in meditating on the word of God. With these
be occupied until our Lord conieth.
No preacher sliall arbitrarily form a circuit,
mission, or station within the limits of a circuit
or presiding elder's district, or shall receive com-
pensation for labor performed without the con-
sent of the preacher in charge, nor shall any
minister preaching in a different language accept
a call from any regularly orgauized class or con-
gregation which does not belong to his confer-
ence, without the consent of the annual confer-
ence to which the charge making the request
may belong. Any preacher violating the pro-
visions of this section shall be amenable to his
quarterly or annual conference.
Section XI.
Itinerant Preachers' Duties.
Ques. What are the duties of an itinerant
preacher ?
Ans. 1. To take the charge assigned him will-
ingly, and move to it if practicable.
2. To attend the appointments on his circuit
regularly, preach to the people and hold class-
meetings.
3. To hold a society-meeting at least on«
DISCIPLINE. 61
month previous to annual conference, and revise
the church-book. He shall make inquiry into
the moral standing of each member; and in no
case shall he dispose of a member without the
consent of the class or church, except in cases ot
special law requiring the erasure of tlie name of
an offending member ; and he shall render a
true report of his membersliip to the annual
conference. At the said meeting he sliall also
see that a class-leader and steward are elected.
4. To read the following four sections of our
Discipline every six months, in each regular
congregation; namel}'. The Co7)fessio7i of Faith,
Reception and Duties of Members, Ardent Spirits,
and Secret Societies.
5. To sit as president on the trial of members
and see that a correct account of the same is
kept.
6. To render a strict account in writing of the
cojidition of his circuit to each quarterh' confer-
enci:-, where he is to be held accountable for the
neglect of any regular appointment on his
circuit. He shall also report the number of ap-
pointments, pastoral visits, and any change that
may have taken place in the membership of his
charge.
7. It shall be his duty to use every laudanle
effort to circulate our books and church-periodi-
62 DISCIPLINE.
cals, and to use due diligence to advance the
interests of the conference Printing Establish-
ment.
8. It shall be his duty to keep a list of tlie
names of all the subscribers to our church-peri-
odicals, and the time of subscribing, at the dif-
ferent appointments on his circuit, 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 periodi-
cals on his field of labor at each quarterly con-
ference, and be examined by the presiding elder
and quarterly conference as to whether he per-
forms his duty in circulating the periodicals of
the Ghurch among the people of his charge.
9. No preacher shall dismiss any appoint-
ment from his circuit, or mission, without the
consent of quarterly conference.
10. He shall secure a suitable book for a
church-record, in which he shall register all the
appointments and classes on his circuit, station,
or mission, in their regular order, with the
name of each member attached to his or her
class. He shall also make a record of all the
baptisms, marriages, deaths, and proceedings of
church-trials, with names of all the jDarties in
each case. He shall report this record with the
proceedings therein to tV.e lasi quarterly confer-
DISCrPLINB. 63
ence of each year for approval or improvement.
This book shall be the property of the quarterly
conference, and shall be in addition to the regu-
lar class-books and circuit-book.
11. It shall be the duty of preachers in charge
of circuits, stations, and missions, to collect the
annual amount apportioned to their fields ot
labor for the support of the bishops and presid-
ing elders,
12. He shall hold a general missionary meet-
ing at some convenient place on his work. He
shall also preach a missionary sermon, and ap-
point a soliciting committee at every appoint-
ment, whose duty it ahall be, in conjunction
with himself, to canvass the class and communi-
ty, personally, to solicit funds for the missionary
society. He shall also keep a list of the names
of contributors, so far as possible, and report
tlie same to conference for publication with the
minutes, or in the annual report of the Board of
Missions, as the conference may direct. He
shall also establish monthly missionary prayer-
meetings wherever practical in the societies of
his charge. He shall be held to a strict account
for the faithful performance of these duties.
13. It shall be the duty of all stationed
preachers to visit every family under their
carC; at least once every quarter, and pay strict
iittention to the young membervS of their charge.
04 DISCIPLINE.
14. It shall be the duty of each circuit preacher
to visit the families belonging to his charge at
least once every six months.
15. It shall be the duty of all preachers;
whether local or itinerant, to make use of every
laudable effort to enlarge the lx)rders of our
Zion, in spreading scriptural holiness, and re-
port to their resj^ective annual conferences the
number of new appointments obtained,
Section XII.
P)'eachers^ 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.
2. It shall be the duty of a circuit or station,
when a preacher is sent to it by annual confer-
ence, to move said i^reacher on such circuit or
station at its own expense.
3. A missionary employed \)y the Board of
Missions shall receive such salary as in the judg-
ment of the Board may be proper.
4. Preachers sustaining a superannuated re-
lation, and their widows and orphans, shall be
provided for by their respective annual confer-
ences, as their wants may require.
DISCIPLINE. 65
Section XIII.
Trial of Preachers.
1. Quarterly- Confer enee Preachers. — The quar-
terly conference shall receive and try all appeals,
references, and complaints that may come regu-
larly before it ; but no member of quarterly
conference can be suspended or expelled from
the Church prior to a committee trial. When a
quarterly -conference preacher or exhorter is ac-
cused of any misdemeanor, the leader or steward
shall prosecute the case and shall inquire ^into
the nature of the complaints, and -if there be
grounds for charges he shall present to the accused
a copy of the charges and notify him to choose a
committee-man, and the prosecutor shall choose
a second committee-man, they two a third, who
shall try the case, the preacher in charge being
chairman.
If the accused refuse or neglect, or fail, or is
unable to choose a committee-man after being
properly notified, the quarterly conference shall
choose a first and second person, and these two a
third, who shall hear the case and decide. If the
accused is found guilty, he shall be silenced :
provided, however, either party shall have the
right of appeal to the next quarterly conference
for a new trial.
5
66 DISCIPLINE.
t
2. Annual- Conference Preachers. — Ques. What
shall be done when a preacher, elder, or bishop
is reported guilty of immorality, trespass, im-
prudent conduct, or disobedience to the order
and discipline of the Church ?
Ans. The preacher to whom it is known shall
take with him another preacher, exhorter, or
leader, and examine into the charge ; but as the
apostle saith (I. Tim. v. 19), " Against an elder
receive not an ssccusation, but before two or
three witnesses," If it should appear that said
reports are well founded, they shall be required
to prefer charges against the accused. If no one
be found willing to prosecute the case, then the
Liext quarterly -conference shall aj^point a prose-
cutor, whose duty it shall be to notify the ac-
cused, in writing, of all the charges preferred
against Mm. He shall also notify him to choose
an elder as Ms committee-man, the prosecutor
choosing an elder also as committee-man in be-
half of the Church, and they two a third elder
or preacher, before whom the case shall l^e tried.
The prosecutor shall also notify the presiding
elder of the district within whose bounds said
cause of accusation occurred ; and it shall be the
duty of the presiding elder to appoint the time
and place of trial, giving not less than twenty
nor more than forty days' notice to the parties
DISCIPLINE. 67
concerned of said trial ; and he shall also act as
chairman in the case. Should the committee be
satisfied that the accusation is sustained, they
shall require him to hold his peace until the an-
nual conference, where he shall be accountable ;
and it shall be the duty of the committee to
transmit in writing the entire proceedings of
said trial to the annual conference, where the
accused shall have a hearing before phe confer-
ence or a select committee thereof; and if the
findings are sustained he shall be suspended,
expelled, or retained, as the conference may de-
termine. But should the accused, after having
been duly notified, refuse or neglect to go mply
in choosing his committee-man within fifteen
days, the presiding elder 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^T;ded, how-
ever, if he be an elder, elders only shall vote in
the case. If the accused or prosecutor be a pre-
siding elder or a bishop, the presiding elder or.
bishop, as the case may be, next adjoining, shall
act as chairman on the trial ; provided, Tint in
conferences having only one presiding elder, the
bishop shall appoint a chairman to act in the case.
The foregoing relates only; to annual-confer-
ence members.
68 DISCnPLINE. .
Section XIV.
Transfer of Fu'eachers.
A preacher removing from one conference to
another shall, when he ai^plies to another for
admission, produce a transfei from the confer-
ence to which he formerly belonged, signed by
the presiding officer, or published in the minutes
of the conference from which he has been trans-
ferred.
A preacher or elder who receives a transfer is
required to present said transfer to another con-
ference, or return it to the conference by which
it was issued, within eighteen montlis after its
its date. Otherwise the transfer shall be null
and void, and the name c\f the preachey shall be
published ^is no longer connected with the
Church as a minister ; p?'ovidef?, preachers taking
transfers to the Pacific coast shall he allowed
two 3^ears in which to present their tr;iusfers.
A preacher or elder receiving a tr.Misfer shall
l>e a member of the quarterly conference in
whose bounds he may reside, and ;rlso be ac-
countable for his moral and official conduct to
the annual conference granting said transfer un-
til his transfer be received by the conference to
which he has been transferred.
DISCIPLINE.
Form of Transfer.
This is to certify that is a regular
or in the Church of the United Brethren
in Christ, of annual conference, and is
hereby transferred to annua] conference
of said church.
CHAPTER VII.— ITINERACY, ORGANIZA-
TION AND SUPPORT.
Ques. ^Vho are the itinerants ?
A71S. 1. All who propose themselves without
reserve, after having traveled two years under
the direction of the stationing committee or
presiding elder, and have been received, as such,
by a vote of two thirds of the members of con-
ference.
If any one who is received, as above stated,
shall cease to travel without giving satisfaction
to the conference of which he is a member, he
shall not be entitled to any support from the
funds belonging to said conference. And, further-
more, he shall not re-enter the itineracy with-
out the consent of at least two thirds of the
conference. Yet supernumerary and superannu-
ated relations shall be duly recognized as in
accordance with this section, and may be secured
to any brother having just claims thereto, by a
TO ^ DISCIPLINE.
vote of conference. Should a traveling preacher
or elder desire to leave the work assigned him,
he must first acquaint the presiding elder of his
intention, by writing; and should any one leave
or neglect his station, except it be through sick-
ness or other unavoidable circumstances, be
shall be accountable to the next annual confer-
ence.
2. The bishop and presiding elders of the past
and present years, together with an equal num-
ber of local elders or preachers, elected by ballot
by the annual conference, shall constitute a
stationing committee, whose duty ifshall be to
supply all the circuits, stations, and missions, as
far as practicable, from tlie above list ; provided,
however, that if any of the preachers thus sta-
tioned, or any who may not receive an appoint-
ment, are dissatisfied, they shall have a right to
appeal to the annual conference, if two thirds
grant the appeal,*' the decision of which shall be
final ; and the report of said stationing commit-
tee shall be read at least six hours before the
adjournment of conference.
*NoTE. — In case of an appeal from the decision'of the
stationing committee, no preacher stationed by said
committee shall" be changed, without his consent, to
accommodate the preacher asking such appeal.
DISCIPLINE. 71
f
3. Should there not be enough itinerants to
fill all the circuits, stations, and missions, such
vacancies shall be supplied by the stationing
committee or presiding eld'ers.
Qnes. 2. What shall be done to regulate the
annual conferences in the division of circuits or
stations ?
A71S. A circuit or station shall not consist of
any specific number of membei"s or appoint-
ments ; but when the annual conference thinks
it able to support a minister, it may be recogniz-
ed as such.
CHAPTER VIII.— 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 ensuing by giving
notice thereof to the preacher in charge, or the
secretary of the trial, w^ithin thirty days after
said ti;iai, together with his reasons for such ap-
peal ; and it shall be the duty of the secretary to
furnish the quarterly conference with a certified
copy of the proceedings of the trial and of the
notice of the appeaL
72 DISCIPLINE.
f
Section II.
FroTii the Decision of a Quarterly Oonferenee.
Any exhorter or jyeacher dissatisfied with the
decision of a quarterly conference may appeal to
the ensuing annual conference within thirty
days after the quarterly conference, notify the
seereta^ry^ in writing, of his intention 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 notifica-
tion, and reasons assigned, to the annual confer-
^ace. *
Section III.
Fro-ni the Decisimi of Annual Oynferences.
Any member of an annual conference who
may be dissatisfied with the decision of his con-
ference shall, within thirty days after the session
of the annual conference, notify tire secretary of
said conference of his intention to appeal to the
General Conference, together with his reasons
for so doing; and it shall be the duty of the sec-
retary to furnish the General Conferenca with a
certified copy of the notice, and reasons there-
for, and of the proceedings of the annual con-
ference in the case.
DISCIPLINE. 78
CHAPTER IX.— DUTIES IN GENERAL.
Section I.
Necessity of Union Among Ourselves.
Let us be deeply sensible (from what we have
known) of the evil of a division in principle,
spirit, or practice, and of the dreadful conse-
quences to ourselves and others. If we are unit-
ed, what can stand before us? If we are divided
we shall injure ourselves, the work of God, and
the souls of our people.
What can be done in order to a closer union
with each other ?
1. Let us be deeply convinced of the absolute
necessity of it.
2. Pray earnestly for and speak truly and
freely to each other.
3. When we meet, let us nev-er part without
prayer, when practicable.
4. Take great care not to despise each other's
gifts.
5. Never speak lightly of each other.
6. Let us defend each other's character in
everything, so far as is consistent with truth.
7. Labor in honor, each preferring another
before himself.
8. We recommend a serious examination of
the causes, evils, and cures of heart and church
divisions.
74 DISCIPLIJS'E. » '.'""'.
Section II.
Visiting fro7n House to House and Enforcing
I*ractical Religion.
Ques. How can we further assist those under
our care ?
Ans. By instructing them at their own
houses, which is necessary to promote confidence
and communion with God among us, to wean us
from the love of the world, and to inure us to
a life of heavenly-mindedness ; also, to encour-
age us to strive after and practice brotherly love,
that no evil thinking or judging of one another
be found among us ; and lastly, that we may
learn to do as we would wish to be done by.
2. Every preacher should make it his duty to
instruct the people on every occasion, both pub-
lic and private, and exhort them to be diligent
in all good, works and doctrine. Until this be
done, and that in sincerity, wp shall, upon tile
whole, be of but little use, andour good shall be
evil spoken of ; therefore, wherever we may be,
we should guard against useless and idle conver-
sation. •
Undoubtedly this private application of visit-
ing from house to house, and exhorting the peo-
ple, is found or implied in these solemn words
of the apostle
DISCIPLINE. 75
" I charge thee therefore before Gocl, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom ;
preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-
suffering and doctrine." (II. Tim. iv. 1, 2.)
Section III.
Singing.
We believe it to be 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. We therefore earnestly recommend to all
our -people the cultivation of vocal music, so
that the singing in our congregations may be
improved. As a help to this end, we advise all
our people to provide themselves with hymn-
books for use in times of public and social
worship.
We would counsel our societies to avoid the
introduction of choirs and instrumental music
into their worship.
CHAPTER X.— MORAL REFORM.
Section I
Temperance.
The distilling, vending, and use of intoxicat-
ing drinks as a beverage shall be and is hereby
76 DISCIPLINE.
forbidden throughout our church, as is also the
renting and leasing of property to be used for
the manufacturing or selling of such beverages;
also the signing of petitions for license or the
entering as bondsmen for persons engaged in
the traffic of intoxicating drinks ; and should
any of our members or preachers be fonnd guilty
in this respect, they shall be dealt with as in the
case of other immoralities ; provided, however,
that this rule shall not be so construed as to pre-
vent druggists and othei*s from vending or using
it for medicinal or mechanical purposes.
Section II.
Slavery,
All slavery, in every sense of the word, is to-
tally prohibited, and shall in no way be tolerat-
ed in our church. Should any be found in our
society who hold slaves, they can not continue
as members unless they do personally manumit
CM* set free such slaves.
And when it is known to any of our ministers
in charge of a circuit, station, or mission, that
any of its members hold a slave or slaves, he
shall admonish such members to manumit such
slave or slaves'; and if such persons do not take
measures to carry out the Discipline, they shall
be expelled by the proper authorities of the
DISCIPLINE. 77
Church ; and any minister refusing to attend to
the duties above described, shall be dealt with
by the authorities to which he is amenable.*
Section III.
Secret Societies.
We believe that secret societies are evil in their
nature and tendency; that they employ solemn
oaths and obligations for evil and unworthy
ends; that they bind men together in brother-
hood with wicked and unholy persons, and
bring them into fellowship not consistent with
the teachings of our Lord and his apostles ; that
they tend to produce jealousies and alienations
in the church of God ; that they employ the
forms of religion in unwarranted services and
ceremonies, not in the nair^e of Christ nor found-
ed on the merits of his atonement; that they
enjoin under oaths and solemn obligations obe-
dience to laws and regulations unknown to the
civil government within which they are organ-
ized, or to any government divinely ordained ;
that they pervert the Holy Sci-iptures to foolish
and unholy uses ; that their ceremonies encour-"
*Notk: — This hiw, in its essential prohibitory features,
was adopted by the General Conference in 1821, Bishop
Newcomer presiding. It was amended to its present
form in 1826.
78 DISCIPLINE.
age many of their adherents in liopes of eternal
life \^ithout a truly evangelical faith ; that they
are contrary to that openness of conduct and>
guilelessness of character enjoined by the word
of God, and that Christians should not be con-
nected with them, for the apostle expressly says :
** Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbe-
lievers ; for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness ? and what communion
hath light with darkness? and what concord hath
Christ with Belial ? or what part hath he that be-
lieveth with an infidel ?" " Wherefore come out
from among them and be ye separate, saith the
Lord and touch not the unclean thing, and I
will receive j'ou, and will be a father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daj^ghters, saith the
Lord almighty."
1. Any member or preacher who shall connect
himself with a secret society shall be regarded as
having thereby declared that he prefers , such
society to the fellowship of our church, and shall
be considered as having withdrawn from the
Church.
2. No person shall be permitted to join our
church while holding membership in a secret
society.
3. If any member or preacher, at the time of
the passage of this rule, be connected with a
DISCIPLINE. 79
secret society, and does not discontiue such con-
nection within six months thereafter, his failure
to do so shall be regarded as a refusal to comply
with the condition of membersliip as found in
our Constitution (Article IT!, Section 7,) and his
severance from the Cliurch shall be entered on
the church-records.
4. If any member or preacher connected with
a secret society shall deny or conceal such con-
nection, he shall be tried in the manner as set
forth in the sectiotis of our Discipline relating to
the trial of members, and trial of preachers, to
determine the facts in the case.
5. In cases, of withdrawal from the Church as
recognized and set forth in this rule, the preach-
er in charge shall announce the facts to the class,
and see that the records of the Church corre-
spond with the facts. If the person be a mem-
ber of the quarterly or annual conference, the
conference to wliich he belongs shall see that a
record of the fact and manner of withdrawal is
made upon its journal.
6. It shall be the duty of the pastor to instruct
our people upon the evils of secret societies, and
to endeavor to prevent them from being ensnar-
ed in such evils, and, so far as possible, to re-
claim all Avho may have joined anj^ secret order.
7. Provided, That in case a member has Ijeeu
80 DISCIPLINE.
deceived and thereby drawn into any of those
societies commonly called minor orders, he may
be borne with for a reasonable time, if there be
reason to believe that he may be reclaimed ; but
the time shall not extend beyond twelve months
in any case.
Section IV.
Oaths.
We believe tha,t the mode of testifying to the
truth when required so to do in a legal form, by
way of affirmation, is on us solemnly, conscien-
tiously, and fully binding, before God, to tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth.
Section V.
War.
We most positively record our disapproval of
engaging in voluntary, national, aggressive
warfare ; yet we recognize the rightful authori-
ty of the civil government, and hold it respon-
sible for the preservation and defense of our na-
tional compact, against treason, or invasion by
any belligerent force; and we believe it to be
entirely consistent with the spirit of Christiani-
ty to bear arms when called upon to do so by the
properly constituted authorities of our govern-
ment for its preservation and defense.
DISCIPLINE. 81
CHAPTER XI.— DOCTRINAL PUBLICA-
TIONS.
1. The editor of the Religious Telescope and
the editor of the Sabbath-school literature and
the editor of the German periodicals and the
editor of the Missionary Visitor and the publish-
ing agent shall constitute a Book Committee,
without whose sanction no book shall be pub-
lished in the name of the Church or publishing
house during the intervals of the Greneral Con-
ference.
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 annual
conference, or of a committee chosen hj the
same. And if any preacher or layman vio-
lates this rule, he shall be accountable to the
class, or the quarterly or annual conference, as
the case may be.
CHAPTER XII.— FORMULAS.
Section I.
Marriage Ceremony,
We are gathered together in the sight cf God,
and in the presence of these witnesses, to join
together N. and M. as husband and wife. If any
82 DISCIPLINE.
person present knows any just cause or impedi-
ment why these persons should not be joined in
marriage, let the same now speak or forever
after keep silent.
[If no impediment be alleged, then shall the
minister say unto the man :]
" N., wilt thou have this woman to be thy
wedded wife, to live together after God's ordi-.
nance? Wilt thou love, honor, and comfort
her, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and
adversity, and forsaking all others, keep thee
only unto her so long as ye both shall live? If
so, then answer, 'I will.' "
[Then shall the minister say to the woman :]
" M., wilt thou have this man to be thy wed-
ded husband, to live together after God's ordi-
nance ? Wilt thou love, honor, and obey him,
in sickness and in health, in prosperity and ad-
vei'sity, and forsaking all others, keep thee only
unto him so long as ye both shall live ? If so,
then answer, ' I will.' "
[Then the minister shall require them to join
their right hands, and say :]
*' Those whom God hath joined together, let
no man put asunder.
" Inasmuch as N. and M. have consented to-
gether in marriage, and have witnessed the
same before God and these witnesses, I pro-
DISCIPLINE. g3
nounce them husband and wife, in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen."
Qiies. Who of our ministers are permitted to
solemnize marriage?
An.^. All ordained ministers, and also those
that have obtained license from an annual con-
ference, where the law of the state makes it the
privilege of every regularly licensed minister to
solemnize marriage ; but none are permitted to
solemnize marriage with quarterly-conference
Ucense.
Section II.
BuHal of the Dead.
After the coffin is lowered into the grave, the
minister, if the deceased is a child or an adult
Christian, shall repeat the following :
" Man that is born of a woman is of few days,
and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flow-
er, 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 succjor 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 Kfe : be
84 DISCIPLINE.
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live ; and whosoever liveth and believ-
eth in me shall never die." " For we know that,
if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis-
solved, we have a building of God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
" And I heard a voice from heaven saying
unto me, Wiite, Blessed are the dead which die
in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the
Spirit, that tiiey may rest from their labors ; anc
their works do follow them."
" There shall be no more death, neither soi-
row, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain : for the former things are passed away."
Inasmuch a^s God in his wise providence has
called out of time into eternity the soul of our
(brother, sister, or child,) we commit his (or her)
remains to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to
ashes, dust to dust, in the confident hope of the
general resurrection through the 'Lord Jesus
Christ, at his coming and glory ; that this cor-
ruptible body shall be raised up and be fashion-
ed like unto the glorious body of Christ, be re-
united with the soul and be received into ever-
lasting habitations." Amen.
BENEDICTION.
DISCIPLINE. 86
CHAPTER XIII.— CHARTERS.
Whereas, the laws of certain states require
churches and institutions to be incorporated, in
order to be recognized by law :
Therefore, in such cases, the quarterly confer-
ence of the respective circuits, stations, and mis-
sions shall appoint a competent committee, who
shall apply to the proper source for an act of in-
corporation on all the church-property within
the bounds of such circuits, stations, or missions;
and at the last quairterly conference of each year
the presiding elder shall examine said committee
in reference to the above subject.
2. When legacies are bequeathed to the
Church, the names of the presiding bishops
should be inserted in the will of the testator, to
be under the control of said bishops and their
successor- iii office, to be appropriated to the
purpose siDecified by the donors.
CHAPTER XIV.— SABBATH-SCHOOLS.
Section I.
Duty to Children and Sahhath- Schools.
Ques. What shall be done to benefit the rising
generation ?
Ans. Let him who is in any way zealous for
God and the souls of men begin the work imme-
86 DISCIPLINE.
diately. Wherever children are found, speak
freely to them, and instruct diligently ; exhort
them to be good, and pray with them earnestly,
simply and plainly, that they may learn to know
their Creator and Redeemer in the days of their
youth.
It shall be the duty of all our members to en-
courage our Sabbath-schools by their presence
when practicable, and always to lend them their
aid and influence.
Section II.
Qenei^al Sabbath- School Board — Constitution
and By-Laws.
ARTICLE I.
Name.
This shall be called the General Sabbath-school
Board of the United Brethren in Christ.
ARTICLE II.
Object.
The object of this Board shall be to promote
the cause of Sabbath-schools in connection with
our church and elsewhere, and thus, by our
united efforts, to promote the glory of God and
the happiness and salvation of mankind.
DISCIPLINE. 87^
ARTICLE III.
Mertib&t'S,
The members of this Board shall be a presi-
dent, secretary, treasurer, and three, directors,
who shall be elected every four years by the
General Conference.
ARTICLE IV,
Duties.
Pi'esident. — The president shall have the gener-
al operations of the Board under his care. He
shall call meetings of the Board when necessary,
present the wants ot the Board; and he shall
sign all orders drawn on the treasurer for the use
of the Board, as appropriated by it.
Secretary. — The secretary shall keep a record
of all the business transactions of the Board,
conduct its correspondence, report to it annu-
ally or oftener if desired, and make such rqports
for it to the General Conference as may be re-
quired, and if practicable, at the request of the
Board, devote his whole time to its interests.
Treasivrer. — The treasurer shall take charge of
and hold in trust all the funds and papers of
value belonging to the Board, subject to its di-
rection and the written order of the president.
88 DISCIPLINE.
I
ARTICIiE V.
Meetings^ Powers, Duties.
Meetings of the Board shall be held annually,
or oftener if need be, at the call of the presi-
dent, to provide ways and means for the suc-
cessful operation of its plans. It shall appropriate
money to defray all necessary expenses, and
shall have power to fill vacancies in its numbers,
and to employ any suitable person or i>ersons to
perform needed services for the advancement of
its objects under its direction. It shall also,
through its secretary, make quadrennial reports
to the General Conference.'
ARTICIiE VI.
Appropriations,
The funds of the Board shall be used as fol-
lows:
i. To assist in organizing and sustaining Sab-
bath-schools in such localities and manner as
may be advisable.
2. To conduct the business and carry forward
the work of the Board.
3. When aid is needed those making the ap-
plication shall first organize a United Brethi-en
Sabbath- school by electing officers and adopting
the disciplinary regulations of the Church, and
DISCIPLINE. 88
shall report the fact to the secretary, as well as
the kind and amount of help needed ; and upon
a favorable consideration of the application,
such supplies as may be considered necessary
and advisable shall be furnished. Such dona-
tion shall, however, be discontinued unless a
church-organization shall be effected after a
reasonable time.
Section HI.
Annual-Conference Relations and Duties,
Each annual conference shall, at some suitable
time in its annual session, hold a Sabbath-school
anniversary-meeting, for the purpose of advanc-
ing the interests of the Board. It shall be the
duty of all our preachers, whether local or trav-
eling, to exert their influence in favor of the
work of this Board, and assist in organizing and
sustaining United Brethren Sabbath-schools in
our houses and places of worship ; and those in
charge of works shall preach on the subject of
Sabbath -schools at least once a year at each ap-
pointment and report the following items to the
annual conference : First, the number of United
Brethren Sabbath-schools ; second, the number
of officers and teachers employed ; third, the
number of scholars enrolled ; fourth, the num-
ber of accessions to the Church from the Sab-
90 DISCJIPLINB.
bath-school; fifth, the number of schools con-
tinuing twelve months each year ; sixth, the
amount of money collected (1) for the use of
schools, (2) for the general fund, and (3) for the
missionary society.
Section IV.
Oi^ganizaiion of Sabbath- Schools.
In order to insure unity in administration and
soundness of teaching, all our Sabbath-schools
shall, as far as possible, conform to the following
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
1. Any preacher or member of this church
may organize a United Brethren Sabbath-school
by calling a meeting of the members of the
Church, together with other friends of Sabbath-
schools, in any community where practicable,
and organize by enrolling all who will agree to
unite in such organizations, and proceed to elect
by ballot or otherwise a superintendent and oth-
er necessary officers ; provided, however, that
none be allowed to vote who are under twelve
years of age.
2. The superintendent and other general offi-
cers of the school shall hold their respective
office one year, or until their successors are
chosen
DISCIPLINE. 91
3. The superintendent shall render to each
quarterly conference an account of the condition
of his school, stating also whether he is prompt
in opening and orderly in his management of
the same, and at the close of his term he shall
see that a successor is selected after the manner
described ; provided, that on stations where it
shall be thought best by the pastor the quarterly
conference may elect.
4. The quarterly conference shall have power
to dismiss a superintendent for moral or other
delinquency, or for heresy, and supply the va-
cancy.
5. Teachers should be chosen and appointed
by the superintendent, with the advice and con-
sent of the preacher in charge, and should b©
distinguished for piety and aptness to teach, and
should be continued as long as they are useful.
Section V.
ReLalion of Sabbath- Schools to the Missionary
Work.
Each of our Sabbath-schools is hereby consti-
tuted an auxiliary to the branch missionary
society within whose limits it is located, and th«
superintendent, secretary, and treasurer of the
Sabbath-school shall be president, secretary, and
treasurer of the said auxiliary, and shall report
92 DISCIPLINE.
annually, through the preacher in charge, to the
oranch society. Said preacher is to notify the
above-named officers, at the close of each confer-
ence year, that such report is due, and, if need
be, assist in its preparation. And it shall be the
duty of every auxiliary society to hold a quar-
terly missionary meeting and take up missiona-
ry collections. Each class shall be furnished
with a blank book, ruled with columns for
monthly missionary collections, in which the
names of all members shall be entered, with
the request that each member give monthly or
quarterly at the rate of one cent a week or
more, and be credited in said book by their
teacher, with what they pay, to be reported at
the quarterly missionary meeting by the treas-
urer— these books to be furnished gratis to all
our Sabbath-schools by the officers of the Mis-
sionary Society at Dayton, Ohio. Any member
may become a life member of the auxiliary by
the payment of three dollars, and shall be enti-
tled to a certificate of life membership.
Section VI.
Forra of Constitution of a iSabhath-SchooL
The following is recommended as a suitable
form for the constitution of a United Brethren
Sabbath-school :
DISCIPIilNE. 98
ARTICLE I.
Nmne.
This Sabbath-school shall be known as the
[here insert name] a
of [here insert place]
ARTICLE II,
Object.
Its object shall be to gather in all, both young
and old, a,s far as possible, to study and teach the
Bible.
ARTICLE III.
Officers.
Th-e officers shall be a superintendent, a secre-
tary, a treasurer, a librarian, and a chorister, all
of whoin shall be chosen in a manner prescribed
in the book of Discipline, and shall hold their
oflices one year, or until their successors are
elected.
ARTICLE IV.
Duties of Officers
The duties of the officers shall be such as are
usual in similar offices.
ARTICLE V.
Teachers.
A suitable number of teachers shall be ap-
• 94 DISCIPLINE.
pointed by the superintendent, advised and as-
sisted by the preacher in charge (if practicable),
unless he prefers to delegate that power to the
school. Teachers so appointed shall continue in
office without limit as to time.
ARTICLE VI.
Meetings.
Tlie times, places, and conduct of weekly
meetings for devotion and instruction, of
monthly, quarterly, or annual meetings for con-
cert, review, report, or election, shall be under
the control of the superintendent, supported by
the school.
ARTICLE VII.
Amendments,
This constitution may be amended by any reg-
ular meeting of the school by a two-thirds vote
of the members of the school of voting age
present, provided that notice of the proposed
change has been given at a previous meeting.
CHAPTER XV.— CONSTITUTION OF THE
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
I. This society shall be called the " Home^
Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society of the
DISCIPLINE. 95
United Brethren in Christ," and is organized for
the purpose of aiding the annual conferences in
extending their missionary labors throughout
the country, and into foreign and heathen lands.
II. The payment of ten dollars at one time
shall constitute a life member, or fifty dollars at
one time a life director. No certificate of life
membership or life directorship shall be granted
until the full amount is paid.
III. The officers of this society shall consist
of a president, four vice-presidents, secretary,
treasurer, and seven directors, who, together,
shall constitute a board of directors, and shall
be elected every four years by the General Con-
ference.
IV. The president shall preside at all meet-
ings of the Board, and shall have power, in con-
junction with the secretary, to call special meet-
ings. In the absence of the president, one of the
vice-presidents shall fill his place.
V. The secretary shall keep a correct record
of all the proceedings of the society, conduct its
correspondence, and devote himself exclusively
to the interests of the society. He shall keep a
record of all the life members, life directors,
legacies, etc., etc. He shall also make out and
publish, under the direction of the Board, an
annual report of the whole missionary work ;
96 DISCIPLINE.
also a quadrennial report to the General Confer-
ence. Hjs salary shall be determined by the
Board, and reported to the ensuing General Con-
ference*
VI. The treasurer shall hold the funds of the
society, subject to the order of the Board, and, at
the discretion of the Board, devote himself ex-
liisively to the interests of the Missionary Soci-
ety.
VII. The Board of Directors shall hold annual
meetings; have power to appoint an executive
committee, consisting of five members; make
by-laws to regulate its own business ; appropri-
ate money to defray incidental expenses ; employ
missionaries and agents ; open new missions ;
make appropriations to mission-conferences ;
employ laborers for mission-districts ; dissolve
mission-conferences ; fill vacancies in its own
body ; in connection with the bishops or any one
of them, ordain ministers to the office of elder ;
and publish, at our own press, such matter as
the cause may from time to time demand.
VIII. A mission-district shall consist of two
or more fields of labor, outside the bounds of an
annual conference. Its annual sessions shall be
presided over by a bishop, or an elder appointed
by the Board of Missions. At these annual
zueetings the boundaries of fields of labor shall
DISCPLIINE. 97
be fixed, the character of members examined,
preachers may be received, examined and passed
on course of reading, and be ordained. A pre-
siding elder may be elected, if the Board of Mis-
sions so advise, and ministers appointed to fill
the fields of labor by the presiding officer and
the presiding elder
IX. Each missionary in the employ of the
Board shall report quarterly to the secretary the
condition of his mission ; and no missionary
shall be entitled to his salary who shall neglect
to comply with this requirement, or leave his
work without the consent of the Executive
Committee or the Board of Missions, or his pre-
siding elder. The presiding elders of mission-
(X)nferences shall report quarterly the condition
of their respective works.
X. Each conference shall be considered a
branch of this society, and shall elect a treasurer
and secretary. 1. The branch treasurer shall
hold the funds designed for the Board, subject to
its order. 2. The branch secretary shall keep a
record of the proceedings of the annual confer-
ence in relation to home, frontier, and foreign
missions, separately, and report the same imme-
diately after the session of the conference to the
secretary of the Board.
He shall report the number of missions, ap-
T
88 DISCIPLINE.
pointments, meeting-houses, members at the
beginning of the year, members received, and
members remaining ; Sabbath-schools, scholars,
and teachers ; what paid on missions as salary ;
what collected for missions on missions ; what
collected for missions in the whole conference;
how much paid the parent Board, and how much
paid to home missions; and the names and post-
office addresses of life directors and life mem-
bers.
The branch secretaries shall be responsible to
their respective annual conferences forth© faith-
ful discharge of their duties.
XI. The branch societies, or individual mem-
bers, may specify to what particular portion of
the work their funds shall be applied ; j)rovided,
however, that if more is thus designated than is
necessary for the work specified, it may be ap-
plied to some other work, as the Board shall
determine.
XII. Each branch society shall have the ex-
clusive management of the home missions with-
in its own limits; provided, however, that the
missionary Board shall be permitted to open and
operate m.issions within the bounds of any an-
nual conference, jointly or independently, by
the consent of such conference
XTII. Treasurers of the parent Board and of
the branch society shall give apprr ved security.
DISCIPLINE. 99
XIV. All bequests or donations, the interest
of which is to go to missionary purposes, made
to any of the above societies, shall be kept
sacred.
Form of Bequest.
I give and bequeath to tlie Home, Frontier,
and Foreign Missionary Society of the United
Brethren in Christ, organized by the General
Conference of said Church, May 20, 1853, and in-
corporated in Butler County, Ohio, September
23, 1854, the sum of dollars ; and the re-
ceipt of the treasurer of the society shall be a
sufficient discharge thereof to my executors and
administrators.
CHAPTER XVI.— WOMAN'S MISSIONARY
ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
1. The name by which this corporation shall
be known is, "The Woman's Missionary Asso-
ciation of the United Brethren in Christ," and
the said organization is not for profit.
2. The principal business of the said corpora-
tion is to be transacted in the City of Dayton,
County of Montgomery, State of Ohio.
3. vSaid porporfttion i«? formed for the purpose
of engaging, and uniting the efforts of women,
100 DISCIPLINE.
in sending missionaries into the foreign and do-
mestic fields of the United Brethren Church, and
supporting said missionaries and other laborers
in said mission fields, and of securing by gift,
bequest, and otherwise the funds necessary for
the purpose aforesaid.
4. Said corporation is not to have capital
stock.
BY-LAWS.
BY-LAW I.
Membership.
The payment of |1 annually shall constitute
membership in the association, and payment of
$10 at one time life membership. The payment
of $25 at one time shall constitute the donor a
life director. By the installment plan the pay-
ment of $2 annually for five years constitutes
life membership, or ^5 annually for five years a
life directorship, A certificate is given at the
lune of payment in full.
BY-LAW II.
Organization.
The organization of this society shall consist
of a board of managers, nine trustees, and
branch and local associations to be organized
under the Constitution hereto attached.
DISCIPLINE. 101
BY-LAW III.
Board of Managers.
The Board of managers shall consist of three
delegates from each branch association, who
shall be elected at the branch annual meeting,
held within three months of the annual meeting
of the Board. Said Board shall meet in the First
United Brethren Church of Dayton, Ohio, at the
time of the meeting of the Home, Frontier, and
Foreign Missionary Society, in May, 1876, and
ajinually thereafter, at such time and place as
they may from time to time designate.
The duties of said Board shall be advisory to
trustees. Life directors of the association shall
be regarded as advisory members of the Board
of Managers.
BY-LAW IV.
Duties of the Board of Trustees.*
The Board of Trustees shall have power to se-
lect locations for missions, appoint missionaries,
appropriate the funds of the association as tine
interest of the cause may demand, and attend to
the administration and general management of
the affairs of the association.
^Trustees to be elected by members of the aesocia-
tion, who shall vote either in person or by proxy, the
first Thursday in June, in the City of Dayton. The
ofl&cers shall be elected by the trustees.
102 DISCIPLINE.
BY-LAW V.
Relation of the Society to the Church.
This society shall work iu harmony with the
Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society
of the United Brethren in Christ, and under the
direction of the General Conference of said
church ; and its missionaries shall be subject to
the same rules that govern the missionaries of
the aforesaid Missionary Society
BY-LAW VI.
Funds.
AH funds coming into the hands of the treas-
urer of the association will be held subject to
the order of the Board of Trustees; and no funds
shall be disbursed by the treasurer except upon
the orders of said Board, duly signed by the sec-
retary.
BY-LAW VII.
Branch Societies.
One branch society maN' be formed within the
bounds of any annual conference of the United
Brethren Church, by the adoption of the branch
constitution.
BY'-LAW VIII.
These by-laws may be altered or amended at
DISCIPLINE. 103
any annual meeting of the Board of Managers
by a vote of two thirds of the members present.
FORM OF BEQUEST.
I give, devise, and bequeath to the Woman's
Missionary Association of the United Brethren
in Christ, for Dollars
Branch Constitution.
article i.
This society shall be called the Confer-
ence Branch of the Woman's Missionary Asso-
ciation of the United Brethren in Christ.
ARTICLE II.
The object of this society is to aid the asso-
ciation to awaken an interest among women in
behalf of Christian missions, and to raise funds
for their support.
ARTICLE III.
The membership of this society shall consist
of the members of the association within the
limits of this conference district.
ARTICLE IV.
Section 1. The officers of this society shall be
a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary
and a treasurer, who, together, shall constitute
104 DISCIPLINE.
an executive committee to supervise the entire
work of the association within the conference
district. It shall be their duty to make earnest
efforts to secure the organization of local socie-
ties in all the United Brethren congregations
within the bounds of the conference.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the secretary
of this society to keep a correct record of its
proceedings and the proceedings of the execu-
tive committee, and transmit a report of the
same, with the number of members, to the re-
cording secretary of the Board of Managers at
least ten days before the annual meeting of the
Board.
Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to
recieive and hold the funds of the society, and
transmit the same semi-annually to the treasur-
er of the board, the last report to be sent in at
least ten days before the meeting of the Board
of managers.
ARTICLE V.
Each branch society shall hold antiaal meet-
ings to elect its officers and members of the
lioards of Managers, and to transact any busi-
ness pertaining to its work, its members to con-
sist of the officers and three delegates from each
local society.
DISCIPLINE. 10§
ARTICLE VI.
Each branch society shall provide for the ex-
penses of its delegates to the annual meeting of
the Board of Managers.
ARTICLE VII.
Life members within the bounds of the confer-
ence shall be regarded advisory members of the
annual meeting of the branch society.
Local Constitution.
article i.
Local societies may be organized by securing
names of persons desiring to become members
in any United Brethren congregation, and puo-
ceeding to the election of officers.
ARTICLE II.
The officers of this society shall consist of a
president, vice-pi*esident, secretary and treas-
ui"er, and two or more collectors.
ARTICLE III.
Sec. 1. The duties of the president shall be
those usual to the office.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the vice-presi-
dent to assume the duties of president in hex
absence.
/Sec 3. It shall be the duty of the secretary to
106 DISCIPLINE.
keep a record of the proceedings of each meeting,
with the names of members, and report quarter-
ly to the secretary of the branch society.
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the treasurer
to hold all funds of the society and transmit the
same semi-annually to the treasurer of the
branch society.
Sec. 5. It shall be the duties of the collectors
to visit members of the Church and solicit names,
collect quarterly dues, and report the number of
visits and amount collected at each meeting.
ABTICIiE IV.
Any child may become a member of a local
society upon such terms as said society shall
designate.
ARTICLE V
All local societies shall meet quarterly, and
shall arrange their year witli reference to the
annual meeting of the branch society.
CHAPTER XVII.— CHURCH-ERECTIOX
SOCIETY.
I. This society shall be known as The Cliarch-
Erection Society of the Church of the United Breth-
ren in Christ, and is organized for the purpose of
aiding feeble churches in the erection of houses
of worship.
DISCIPLINE. 107
II. The Board of Missions shall constitute
the Board of Managers of this society, and shall
be governed by the constitution and by-laws of
the Missionary Society so far as they are appli-
cable to this society.
III. It shall be the duty of each annual con-
ference to make a reasonable assessment to their
various fields of labor for this interest, which
funds when collected shall be transmitted to tho
treasurer,
IV. The treasurer of the parent Board of
Missions shall receipt for all moneys sent him
by the various conference treasurers, that they
may make settlement with their respective an-
nual conferences.
V. Application for aid from this society must
be made to the Board of Managers, through the
bishop and the presiding elder of the district
and the preacher in charge of the circuit, sta-
tion, or mission where such house is to be erect-
ed, who shall state in writing the condition of
the society desiring such aid, the prospects of
success, and the security of the investment.
VI. Should any society thus aided lose its
organization, so as to make the sale of such
house necessary, then, out of the proceeds of
such sale, the amount loaned them, with inter-
est, shall be refunded to the Church-Erection
Board.
108 DISCIPLINE.
VII. The Board shall make uo appropriations
where there is reasonable prospect that the soci-
ety asking aid can succeed without it.; or where
there is no prospect of building up a good
society.
VII. All aid rendered shall be only as a loan,
the principal to be refunded, without interest,
at such times as the Board may direct, but in no
ease for a longer term than three years at any
one time, or more than five hundred dollars to
any individual or single church ; nor shall
moneys be loaned to any society until their
church-property is secured by deed as provided
for in Discipline ; nor shall moneys be loaned to
churches until their trustees have forwarded an
abstract of the title of their property and their
notes, secured by first mortgage on the premises
and properly recorded in the records of tl»
ODurts for the inspection of the Board of Mana-
ger or Executive Committee.
Tne trustees of cliurches which receive moneys
from the Ciiurch-lOiecLion Society sliall be i"e-
quired to secure from loss by fire said church-
buildings in some reliable insurance company.
IX. The Board of Managers may employ one
or more special agents ; provided, however, that
said agency shall not be continued for a longer
term than three months, unless it be apparent
DISCIPLINE, 109
that said agency is a moneyed success to the
society.
CHAPTER XVIII.— PRINTING ESTAB-
LISHMENT.
Rule 1. The above establishment shall be call-
od " The Printing Establishment of the United
Brethren in Christ."
Ride 2. The legislative authority herein grant-
ed shall be vested in the General Conference of
said church, whose duty it shall be to elect the
i>ecessary officers not otherwise provided for,
and make or amend any rules as in their judg-
ment may seem expedient.
Rtde 3. The proceeds of said establishment,
over and above contingent expenses, shall be ap-
plied to the benefit of traveling and worn-out
preachers, and their widows and orphans. The
distribution of anj- available profits of the pub-
lishing house for this purpose shall be in propor-
tion to the number of regular ministers in each
ainiual conference who are itinerants, according
to the " Itinerant Plan " of the Discipline. It
sliall be the duty of the secretaries of the annual
conferences each year to report to the publishing
agent at Dayton, Ohio, the true number of such
itinerants as found upon the records of the sev-
110 niMCIPLTNE.
eral conferences ; also the name and address of
the conference treasurer appointed to receive the
dividend awarded to his conference.
Rvle 4. A board of seven trustees, elected by
the General Conference, shall take the oversight
of the establishment.
Rule 5. The officers of the establishment shall"
consist of seven trustees, one agent, and such
number of editors as the General Conference
shall deem necessary.
Rule 6. It shall be the duty of the trustees to
fix the salaries of agent and editors, to make set-
tlement vidth the officers of the establishment
every six months, and see that they properly
discharge their duties, and, if found derelict,
may suspend them from office until the General
Conference ; provided, no such officers shall be
suspended until they have been furnished with
a copy of the complaints in writing, and have
had an opportunity of defense before the Board
of Trustees. They shall also have the privilege
of making any by-laws which may seem expe-
dient for the better regulation of the minor con-
cerns of the office ; provided, they do not violate
any part of the foregoing rules.
Rule 7. It shall be the duty of the agent to
take charge of the temporal concerns of the of-
fice, furnish such material as may be Deodtxl,
DISCIPLINE. Ill
and to act as the general book-agent under the
direction of the Board of Trustees. He shall
prepare and publish a report annually, through
the Heligious Telescope and Joyful Messenger,
and shall also make a report to the General Con-
ference. It shall be his duty to make arrange-
ments for verbatim reports of the pro<?eedings of
the General Conference for publication.
Rule 8. Should a vacancy occur in any of th«
offices of the establishment, or in the Board of
Trustees, the trustees may fill said vacancy, un-
til the sitting of the next General Conference.
Rule 9. No editor or officer employed in the
establishment shall accept any office or engage
In any business which will interfere with the
duties of his office.
CHAPTER XIX.— COURSE OF READING
AND STUDY.
Section I.
For licentiate preachers, upon which they aie
to be examined by the annual conference to
which they belong. They shall be examined,
also, each year of their probation, on the doc-
trine and government of the Church, as taught
in our book of Discipline It is presumed that
112 DISCIPLINE,
a fair knowledge of the ordinary branches of an
English or German education has been acquired
before entering upon this course. If the licenti-
ate does not possess such knowledge, he shall be
examined, in each year, on grammar and geog-
raphy.
s
FIRST YEAR — BIBLE DOCTRINE.
Human Depravity ; The Atonement ; Redemp-
tion ; Repentance ; Justification by Faith ; Re-
generation ; Adoption ; Witness of the Spirit ;
Christian Perfection ; Possibility of Final Apos-
tasy; Existence and Attributes of God.
Books Required. — Bible ; Watson's Institutes ;
Broadus' Homiletics ; Philosophy of the Plan of
Salvation; Harris' Great Commission; Fletch-
er's Appeal ; History of tlie United Brethren in
Christ; an essay on •written sermon.
Books i^ecomwenrfefL— Bridges' Christian Min-
istry ; Upham's Life of Faitli ; Whateley's Rhet-
oric ; Shedd's Christian Doctrine ; Thwing's
Drill-Book of Vocal Culture; Barrow's Sacred
Geography and Antiquities ; Christlieb's Prot-
estant Foreign Missions.
SECOND YEAR — BIBLE DOCTRINE.
Trinity; Divinity and Humanity of Christ;
Personality and Deity of the Holy Ghost ; Doc-
trines Relating to Man.
DISCIPLINE. 113
Books Hequired.— Bible ; Watson's Institutes^
continued ; Shedd's Homiletics ; Blackburn's
History of the Christian Church to chapter six-
teen; Hopkins' Law of Love; Haven's Mental
Pliilosophy; Alexander's Evidences of Chris-
tianity ; written sermon.
Books Ilecommended. — Uphain's Interior Life ;
Neander's Planting and training of the Christiaf!
Church (Robinson's Translation); Jahn's Arch-
aeology; Weber's Universal History; Shedd's
Christian Doctrine ; Kurtz' Church History ;
Schaff's Apostolic Church.
THIRD YEAR — BIBLE DOCTRINES AND INSTITU-
TIONS.
Immortality of fhe Soul ; Resurrection of th«
Body ; Future General Judgment ; Eternal Re-
wards and Punishments ; The Christian Sabbath ;
The Lord's-supper ; Christian Baptism.
Books Required. — Bible ; Watson's Institutes ;
Blackburn's History of the Christian Church,
continued and close ; Smith's Old-Testament
History; Smith's New-Testament History ; Cole-
man's Geographical History of the Bible ; But-
ler's Analogy ; Companion to the Bible — Bar-
rows ; Whateley's Logic ; written sermon.
Books Becommended. — Vinet's Homiletics ;
D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation ; Jose-
phus' Antiquities of the Jews ; Hackett's lUus-
8
114 DISCIPLINE.
trations of Scripture ; Upbam's Divine Union ;
Blackburn's History of the Christian Church :
Hopkin's Law of Love ; Haven's Mental Piiil-
osophy ; Alexander's Evidences of Christianity ;
written sermon.
^ GERMAN COURSE OF READING.
First Year. — Bible ; Discipline ; History of
United Brethren Church ; Kurtz' Church Histo-
ry, first part; Sulzberger's Dogmatic, first part;
History of the World, by Colver Society ; Clark's
Hand-Book ; Fletcher's Appeal ; Nelson on Infi-
delity ; Hare on Justification; Nippart''s Practi-
cal Theology ; Heyse's German Grammar ; writ-
ten sermon on justification.
• 'Second Year. — Bible; United Bi*ethren Church
History; Discipline and Heyse's Grammar con-
tinued; Kurtz' Church History, second part;
Sulzberger's Dogmatic, second part; D'Aubigne's
History of the Reformation ; Zeller on the Soul ;
Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation ; Luthardt's
Apologetische Vortrsege; written Sermon on the
Christian Sabbath.
Third Year. — Bible; Sulzberger's Dogmatic,
third part; Osterzee's Theology of the New Test-
ament; Luthardt's Ethics ; Lisco's Apostolic
Creed ; Nast on the God-Man Christ ; Pearson's
Infidelitj^; written sermon on baptism.
Any licentiate who fails to read the books ro-
DISCIPLINE. 116
quired, and to submit to the examination, shall,
at the close of the third year of his probation at
furthest, have his name erased from the annual-
conference record, unless a reasonable excuse
can be gi^'^u for such failure, in which case he
shall be referred back to and have standing in
the quarterly conference as a licensed preacher ;
'promded, if in the judgment of the conference
they see fit, the conference may relieve graduates
of Union Biblical Seminary from examination
on the above course.
CHAPTER XX.— MEETING-HOUSES AND
PARSONAGES.
Ques. Is anything advisable in regard to the
building of meeting-houses ?
Ayis. Let all our meeting-houses be built
plain and neat, with free seats, and not more ex-
pensive than necessary.
Ques^*To whom are our meeting-houses, and
the premises belonging to them, to be deeded?
Ans. To a board of trustees, who shall in all
cases have warranty deeds legally executed and
made to them and their successors in office, in
trust for the Church of the United Brethren in
Qbrist, who shall have the same recorded in the
county records where the property is situated.
116 DISCIPLINE.
Ques. How is the board of trustees to be con-
Btituted ?
Ans. Whenever it is contemplated by a soci-
ety to purchase or build a meeting--house, it
shall be the duty of a leader or steward of such
society to make it known to the C[uarterly con-
ference of the circuit or station to whieli he be-
longs, whose duty it shall be to appoint a judi-
cious board of trustees, where the law of the
state does not otherwise provide, of not less Lhan
three in number, or as the law of the state in
wliich said house is to bo Built may direct; pro-
vided, however, that at least a majority of such
board of trustees shall be members of our
church. T!ie trustees sliall hold their ollice dur-
ing the pleasure of the quarterly conference.
Ques. How are the trustees to proceed in
building a house?
Ans. No society shall commence the building
o^f any meeting-house without first getting an
act of incorporation, where the law of t,he state
I'equii'fes it. They shall form an estimate of the
amount necessary to procure a lot, to build, and
to make such other improvements as may be
considered necessary. And they shall at no
time proceed with the building of a house of
worship, beyond the means, either in hand or
sufficiently secured, so as to avoid involving our
houses of worship in any way in debt.
DISCIPLINE. 117
The trustees shall hold annual meetings, or
ofteuer if need be, and shall elect fi-oin their
number the following officers ; namely, a presi-
dent, secretary, and treasurer. The meetings of
the board shall be subject to the call of the pres-
ident. Itshall.be the duty of the secretary to
keep a correct record of all the business transac-
tions of the board, in a book provided for that
purpose, which shall at all times be open for in-
spection by the quarterly conference of the
charge having the care of the property. The
treasurer shall receive all funds for meeting-
house, cemetery, and parsonage purposes, and
pay out the same under the direction of the
board, and report to the board the financial con-
dition at their several meetings.
The board shall make an annual report to the
quarterly conference.
Ques. ^/hat shall be done wiieu a vacancy or
vacanciej> occur in the board of trustees?
Arts. It shall be the duty of the quarterly
(X>nferenco to appoint a suitable person or \)(iv-
sons to fill such vacancies.
Ques. What shall be done when any of our
houses are vacant ?
Ans. It shall be the duty of the quarterly
conference of the nearest circuit or station to
appoint not less than three suit . .le persons for
118 DISCIPLINE.
•trustees, who shall have the power, when au-
thorized by two thirds of the members of that
conference, to lease, rent, or sell such meeting-
house, and the appurtenances belonging to it,
and to appropriate the money arising from such
lease, rent, or sale, by the direction of said con-
ference, toward the ereciiou of new meeting-
houses, or the liquidation of debts on old ones.
If the vacated house be a parsonage, the pro-
ceeds shall be disposed of in like manner ;, but
in every case the proceeds arising from the lease,
rent, or sale of parsonage property shall be kept'
sacred for parsonage purposes. When a lot is
deeded to an English United Brethren society, or
to a German United Brethren society, and one
or the other cease to exist in an organized form
by deaths, removals, expulsions, or otlierwise,
the remaining oi-gaiiized class shall have full
right to make such improvements or repairs on
said lot, as may be needed for worship, and a
p-^aceable possession.
The above rules to be observed in purchasing
oi- building parsonage-houses.
It shall be the duty of our presiding elders, as
soon as convenient, to appoint, or see that three
or ti\ e snitable persons are appointed, with the
consent of tlie quarterly conference, to take up
subscription- to build or purchase parsonage-
liouses lor their respective stations or circuits,
DISCIPLINE. 119'
the same to be deeded to those three or five trus-
tees, and their successors in office, for the use of
the Church of the United Brethren in Clirist.
We recommend that all our parsonage-houses be
plain, andlocated in some central place.
In cases where fields of labor are divided hav-
ing parsonages upon them the disposition of
said parsonages shall be submitted to a board of
arbiters, consisting of three members of the
Church, one to be chosen by each quarterly con-
ference, and these two a third, to whom the
whole matter shall be referred, their decision of
the case being final. In cases where more than
two quarterlj' conferences are interested, the
same plan shall be pursued.
CHAPTER XXI.— BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I. There shall be a general board of education,
known by the name of " The Board, of Educa-
tion," under the care of the General Conference
of the Church of the XJnited Brethren in Christ.
II. This board shall consist of twelve nieni-
bers, elected by the General Conference so dis-
tributed as to have at least two members in each
bishop's district, except the Pacific, which shall
have one, who shall hold office for four years,
six of whom shall be clergymen ; the remainder
120 DISCIPLINE,
■may be lay members of the United Brethren
Church. Five members, including the president
ar vice-president, shall constitute a quorum.
III. The officers shall be a president, vice-
president, recording secretarj', corresponding
secretary, and treasurer. These shall be elected
by the members of the board at their first regu-
lar meeting after the sitting of General Confer-
ence,, and shall hold office until the next regular
sessioji of the General Conference.
The board may appoint any competent per-
sons, members of the United Brethren Church,
to be their treasurer and corresponding secretary;
these, if elected outside of the board, shall be
advisory members of the board.
In case of vacancy occurring 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 General Conference.
There shall be at least one session of the board
each yea*. Meetings of the board shall be called
by the president, upon request of three mem-
bers.
IV. The object of this board shall be — 1. To
raise funds by collection, donation,* bequest, or
otherwise, to aid by loan, without interest, as the
executive committee may determine, in educa-
DISCIPUNE. 12X«
ting, both in their collegiate and theological
course, pious young persons who are preparing
themselves for the work of the gospel ministry,
or as missionaries, in " the United Brethren
Church; provided, however, the hoard shall
have power to receive money and use it for other
educational purposes as donors may direct.
2. To seek by the publication of tracts, pamph-
lets, addresses, or books upon edrtcational ques-
tions, 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 obliga-
tions resting upon them to give of their sub-
stance for their support.
3. To make an annual report of the condition,
financially and otherwise, of the eolleges and
other educational institutions of the Church ; to
make such recommendations to the managers of.
these institutions as will tend to make them more
efficient ; to secure, as far as may seem desirable,
harmony or courses of study between prepara-
tory schools and colleges and universities; to
discourage the raultiplicaton of schools and col-
leges when they can not be properly supported ;
to recommend methods of endowment, plans of
building, how best to secure funds, and give any
122 DISCIPLINE.
other counsel which the interest of these schools
and the Church naay demand.
V. To accomplish these results, the board
may cause an annual collection to be taken on
the next Sabbath following the last Thursday of
January, or at such tether time as the presiding
tL- ler of the district may deem rnost suitable.
The preacher in charge, or some other competent
person, shall first preach a sermon or make ap-
propriate remarks concerning the object, plans,
and working of this board, and then take a col-
lection in such a manner as will secure the larg-
est amount of funds. If the board deem it best,
it may appropriate the amount to be raised to the
various conferences, according to their number
and ability, and these in turn shall apportion to
their respective fields of labor.
VI. Young persons aided by this board naust
first be recommended by the conference in whose
bounds they live, or to which they belong, or by
the Board of Missions when the applicant does
not reside within the bounds of any conference,
as suitable persons to receive aid, or by an edu-
cational committee appointed by said conference,
to whom all requests for aid, not acted upon by
conference, or which shall occur during the in-
terim of its sitting, shall be referred.
VII. The funds raised in any conference shall
DISCIPLINE. 123
be applied as follows : one third to be sent to the
treasurer of the Board of Education, to assist
young men in their tlieological course, and the
remainder shall be in the hands of a treasurer
elected by the conference and used for the aid of
young men in securing an education, as th<j
conference may direct. This, however, shall
not prevent the board from assisting applicants
who come from weak or mission-conferences to
such an extent as they may deem best, nor in
applying donations and bequests in such a man-
ner as donors may desire,
VIII. The board shall have power to make
persons honorary members of the same by the
payment of ^50.00. The persons thus made
honorary members shall have the right to sit in
the meetings of the board and engage in its
deliberations, but shall have no right to vote.
IX. The board shall have power to appoint
an executive committee from its own body, and
to make such by-laws to regulate its own pro-
ceedings, and to effectually accomplish the object
of its creation, as shall not be inconsistent with
this constitution.
X. The board, through its corresponding seo-
retarj% shall mr.ke to the General Conference a
report of all the work done during the preceding
four years, including money received by coUec-
124 DISCIPLINE.
tions, bequests, or otherwise, the amount paid
out, and the purposes for which it was paid.
The board may propose to the General Confer-
ence, from time to time, such plans as it may
consider useful or necessary for the success of
the work committed to it.
XL No addition or amendment to the pro-
visions of this constitution shall be made unless
by consent of a majority of the members of
General Conference present at any of the ses-
sions. Notice of this proposed addition or
amendment shall have been given at least one
day previous.
CHAPTER XXII.— BOUNDARIES.
Section I.
Boundaries of Bishops' Districts.
Eastern Listrict. — Pennsylvania Conference,
Eastern German, Virginia, Par^ersburg, Alle-
ghany, Erie, Muskingum, and Tennessee.
North- M''estern Bistrici. — Fox River Conference,
Micliij.an, St. Joseph, Upper Wabash, Rock River,
North Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,
West Des i- oii.es, Dakota, West Nebrasiva, Colo-
rado. «
South- Western Bistrict. — Arkansas Valley Con-
ference, Osage, West Kansas, Kansas, South
DISCIPLINE. 125
Missouri, Missouri, Southern Illinois, Illinois,
Lower Wabash, White River, Indiana, Central
Illinois, East Des Moines, East Nebraska. '
Ohio District. — Scioto Conference, Sandusky,
Miami, Auglaize, Ohio German, Ontario, North
Ohio, Western Reserve, Kentucky, Central Olik).
Pacific District. — California Conference, Ore-
gon, Walla Walla.
.* *■
Section II.
AUeghany Cor?/e7-er?.ce.— Beginning at the south-
west corner of Mercer County, Pennsylvania;
thence east, to the soutli-east corner of Potter
County; thence north, to the state line between
Pennsylvania and New York ; thence east on
Siiid line to the point where the Northern Central
Railroad crosses said line ; thence south-west to
the north-west corner of Union ; thence along
the line of Eastoiii German Conference, to the
iiioutii of the Juniata River ; thence up said river
t-o Tuscarora Mountain ; tlience. southward along
s<iid mountain to the state line.between Maryland
and Pennsylvania, west of Fulton County;
thence along the southern boundary of Pennsyl-
vania to tlie south-west corner of said state ;
thence northward along the western boundary
of Pennsylvania to the south-west corner of
Mercer County, the place of beginning.
126 DISOrPLINB.
Arkansas Valley Conference. — Beginning at the
north-west corner of Osage Conference ; thence
west to Colorado line ; thence south to the south
line of the state ; thence east to the south-west
corner of Osage Conference ; thence north to the
place of beginning.
Auglaize Conference. — Beginning at Union City,
Indiana ; thence west with the Bellefontaine &
Indianapolis Railroad, to Winchester ; thence on
a straight line to the south-east comer of Hunt-
ington County, Indiana ; thence on the east line
of said county north, to the Wabash River ;
thence down said river to the crossing of the
Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad ; thence
with said railroad to Ft. Wayne, including said
city; thence to Paulding Center, including all
territory now occupied by said conference;
thence due east to Auglaize River ; thence along
the line of Sandusky Conference, including Ada,
North Washington, and Dunkirk, to Forest;
thence with the Cleveland, Sandusky & Cincin-
nati Railroad, to the line of Hardin County ;
thence on the east line of said county, to the
south-east corner thereof ; thence on the north
and east lines of Union County, to the Delaware
and Springfield branch of the C. C. C. <fe I. Rail-
road ; thence with said railroad to Milford Cen-
ter, Ohio ; thence with the Pan-Handle Railroad
DISOTPLINE. 127
including Urbana and Horatio, to Union City,
the place of beginning.
California Conference. — Includes the State of ^*
California.
Central Illinois Cb7i/ere?/ce.— Beginning at Peru,
on the Illinois River ; thence up the Illinois
River to the mouth of the Kankakee River;
thence with the Chicago Branch of tlie Illinois
Central Railroad to Tolono ; thence with the
Great Western Railway to Bement ; thence di-^
rcct to Shelbj'ville ; thence down the Okaw River
to Vandalia ; thence direct to the mouth of the
Illinois. River ; thence up skid river to the x>lace
of beginning.
Colorado Conference. — Bounded by the Union
Pacific Railroad on the north, and by the state
lines of Colorado on the east, south, and Avest.
Dakota Conference. — Beginning at the north-
west corner of Mononee County, Iowa; thence
east to the south-east corner of Sac County;,
thence north on the count}' line to the line of
the Illinois Central Railroad ; thence east by
said railroad to the east line of Webster County ;
thence north to the south line of the state ol
Minnesota ; thence west on said line to the
south-cast corner of Noble County, Minnesota ;
thence north to the north-east corner of said
county ; thence west to the west line of Minne-
128 DISCIPLINE.
sota ; 'thence to the north-west corner of Pipe-
stone County ; thence west to the Missouri
River ; thence down said river to the place of
beginning.
East Des Moines Conference. — Beginning at tti«
mouth of the Iowa River ; thence up said river
to the east hne of Marshall County, Iowa ; thence
south to the Mahaska County line ; thence west
to the corner of said county, thence south to the
f Des Moines River; thence up said river to White
Breast Creek ; thence up said creek to the west
line of Marion County ; thence south f o the cor-
ner of said county ; thence south-west to the
Wayne County line, six miles east of the north-
west corner of said county ; thence south twelve
miles ; thence west six miles ; thence south to
the Missouri state line ; thence east on the line
between Iowa and Missouri to the Mississip^
River ; thence up said river to the place of be-
# ginning.
Eastern Oerman Confei^ence. — Beginning at the
Atlantic Ocean ; thence along the 40th parallel
of north latitude to the Delaware River ; thence
t<^) the north-east boundary of the city of Phiia^
delphia; thence west and south along the bound-
ary line of said city to the Schuylkill River,
leaving the city of Philadelphia and Camden, N
J., to be occupied in common by the Pennsylva-
DISCIPLINE. 129
nia and East German conferences, the former
exclusively in English, and the latter exclusively
in the German language ; thence up said river
to the foot of Penn Street in the city of Reading;
thence up said street to Tenth Street ; thence
north along Tenth Street to the city limits
thence westward around said city limits to ta*
Lebanon Valley Railroad ; thence west aiong
said railix)ad to Beaver Creek, leaving the fol-
lowing appointments south of Lebanon Valley
Railroad and now occupied by said East German
Conference to be occupied by said conference —
namely, Shaffei-stown, Blue Church, Avon, jtf 1-
myra, Fishbums, and Snavelys ; thence up said
Beaver Creek to the South Mountain; thence
across said mountain to Stony Ci*eek; thence
west to the Susquehanna River, leaving Dau>
phin to be occupied by the Pennsylvania Confer-
ence; thence up the Susquehanna River to the
une of Juniata County ; thence in a north-west-
trn direction to Richfield, including that point ;
whence across to the mountain to a point in
Pennsylvania Valley called Old Fort; thence
north-east through the Nitiny to the West
Branch of the Susquehanna River, down to the
place at the river where it strikes the Alleghany
Conference line ; thence along that line to thA
state line of New York,
130 DISCIPLINE.
Also Otterbein and Third churches, with any
exclusively German missions they may open in
the city of Baltimore.
Erie Conference. — 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
south-west corner of Mercer County, Pennsyl-
vania ; thence east with the line as described in
tlie bounding of the Alleghany Conference to the
New York state line, and including the State of
NcAV York and all that part of Pennsylvania
embraced within the above described limits.
Fox River Conference. — Beginning at Milwau-
kee, Wisconsin ; thence by the railroad lines to
Watertown and Portage City; thence up the
Wisconsin River to the Michigan state line ;
thence with the state line south-east, and the
western shore of Lake Michigan to the place of
beginning.
Illinois Gonfei'ence. — Beginning at the junction
of the Mississippi and Rock rivers ; thence up
the latter stream to the crossing, of, the Chicago,
Rock Island <fe Pacific Railroad ; thence east with
said railroad to the Illinois River; thence down
the Illinois River to its mouth ; thence up the
Mississippi to the place of beginning.
Indiana Conference. — Beginning at the south-
DISCIPLINE, ISl
east corner of Franklin County, Indiana ; thence
along the line of the White River Conference, as
described in the boundaries of that conference,
to the White River due west of Franklin, Indi-
ana ; thence down said river, and the Wabash, to
the Ohio River; thence up said river to the
mouth of the Great Miami River; thence up the
state line between Ohio and Indiana to the place
of beginning.
Iowa Conference. — Beginning on the Mississippi
River, with the north line of the State of Iowa;
thence due west on said line to the west line of
Winnebago County; thence dne south to the
Dubuque & Sioux City Division of the Illinois
Central Railroad ; thence east along said railroad
to the Iowa River; thence down said river to its
junction with the Mississippi River; thence up
the Mississippi River to the place of beginning.
Kansas Confei^ence. — Beginning at the South-
east corner of Maumee County, Kansas ; thence
west to the center of McPherson County ; thence
north to the Nebraska and Kansas line ; thence
east to the Missouri River ; thence on the Kan-
sas and Missouri line to the place of beginning.
Lower Wabash Conference. — Beginning at Gos-
port, on White River ; thence with the railroad
to Greencastle ; thence with the Indianapolis 4l
Terre Haute Railroad to the Wabash River;
132 DISCIPLINE.
thence up said river to the mouth of Bruletts
Greek ; thence up said creek to Cherry Point ;
thence west on th« line of the Indianapolis, De-
catur & Springfield Railroad, to and including
Tuscola; thence north by the Illinois Central Rail-
road to Tolono ; thence west and south with the
line of Central Illinois Conference to the junc-
tion of the Illinois Central and Ohio & Mississippi
Railroad ; thence by the Skillet Fork and Little
Wabash rivers to Carmi ; thence down the Little
Wabash River to its mouth ; thence up the
Wabash and White rivers to the place of begin-
ning.
Miami Conference. — Beginning at the mouth of
the Great Miami River; thence nortli on the line
between Ohio and Indiana, to Union City, and
to include that city ; thence east with the Pitts-
burgh, Cincinnati <fe St. Louis Railway to the
east line oi Champaign County, Ohio, including
Piqua ; thence south on the east lines of the
counties of Champaign, Green, Clinton, and a
part of Brown County, to Ripley ; thence down
the Ohio River to the place of beginning.
Michigan Conference. — Beginning at the north-
west corner of Branch County, Michigan ; thence
east on the north line of Branch, Hillsdale,
Lenawee, and Monroe, to the north-east corner
of Monroe County ; thence beginning at the
DISCIPLINE. 133
north-east comer of Moijroe County, Michigan
thence west, on the north line of Lenawee, Hills-
dale, and Branch counties to the Grand Rapids
& Indiana Railroad ; thence by said railroad to
Kalamazoo j thence by the South Haven & Kala-
mazoo Railroad to South Haven ; thence along
the shore of Lake Michigan to Grand Haven ;
thence by the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad east
to Detroit; thence down the Detroit River and
the western shore of Lake Erie to the place of
beginning.
Muskingum Conference. — Beginning at the point
where the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago
Railroad crosses the line between Pennsylvania
and Ohio ; thence west on the Une of said rail-
road, to the west line of Ashland County, Ohio
embracing Warner's Chapel, Benjamin Warner's,
and Lower's appointments ; thence south to the
north line of Knox County ; thence west to the
north-west corner of said county ; thence south
to the south-west corner of Knox County;
thence east along the lines of Knox and Coshoc-
ton counties, to Dresden ; thence down the Mui*-
kingum River to its mouth ; thence up the Ohio
River and Ohio state line to the place of begin-
ning.
Missouri Conference.— 'Embvsices all that pari
of the State of Missouri lying north of the Mis-
souri River.
134 DISCIPLINE. '
Minnesota Conference. — Bounded by the state
lines, embracing the whole State of Minnesota
except the counties of Noble, Rock, and Pipe-
stone. The above named conference also em-
braces the counties of Grant and Dual in Dakota
Territory.
Nebraska Conference. — Embraces the south-
eastern portion of Nebraska, and as far west and
north as the lines describing the West Nebraska
Conference boundaries.
North Michigan. — Includes all that part of the
State of Michigan lying north of the Detroit &
Milwaukee Railroad, except that Ovid and Ben-
gal circuits remain with Michigan Conference.
North Ohio Conference. — Beginning at the
north-west corner of Branch County, Michigan ;
thence east on the north lines of Branch, Hill-
side, Lenawee, and Monroe counties, to the
north-east corner of Monroe County ; thence on
the coast of Lake Erie to the mouth of Maumee
River ; thence upsaid river to Defiance ; thence
up the Auglaize River to a point east of the city
of Paulding Centre ; thence by the way of
Paulding Centre to Ft, Wayne ; thence — leaving
Ft. Wayne to Auglaize Conference — on the Ft,
Wayne and Chicago Railroad to Columbia,
Whitley County ; thence due north to the line
of Noble County; thence east to the corner of
DISCIPLINE. 135
Noble County; thence north— including the
Salem appointment within the North Ohio Con-
ference, to the state line of Michigan, at the
south-west corner of Branch County ; thence to
the place of beginning.
Ohio German Conference. — Bounded by the
state lines of Oliio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illi-
nois. They are permitted to go into any of the
western states or territories, where doors of use-
fulness open unto them to labor among the Ger-
uian population.
Ontario Conference. — Includes all of the Prov-
ince of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada.
Oregon Conference. — Includes in its territory
all of that portion of country lying west of the
Cascade range of mountains, both in Oregon and
Washington Territory.
Osage Conference. — Beginning at the south-
west corner of Chautauqua County, Kansas ;
thence north to the south line of Kansas Confer-
ence; thence due east to the nortli-east coriier of
Linn County; thence south to the state line;
thence west to the place of beginning.
Parkershurg Conference. — Beginning on the
summit of the Alleghany Mountain, at the line
between Pennsylvania and Virginia; thence
along the summit of said mountain south-west
to the line between Virginia and North Carolina;
4136 DISCIPLINE.
thence west on said line to the south-west come?
of the State of Virginia; thenee with the Vir-
ginia and Kentucky line north to the Ohio River;
thence with said river to the Pennsylvania state
line; thence east on said line to the place of
beginning.
Pennsylvania Conference. — Beginning on the
summit of South Mountain on the Une between
Maryland and Pennsylvania; thence to West-
minister, Md.; thence to Baltimore, including
that city ; thence south along the Chesapeake
Bay to a point opposite the line between Virginia
and Maryland ; thence across said bay and along
said line to the sea-coast ; thence along said coast
north to the line of the East German Confer-
ence ; thence along said line to the Susquehanna
River ; thence up said river to the mouth of the
Juniata River ; thence up said river to Tuscarora
Mountain ; thence along said mountain to the
east corner of Fulton County ; thence west along
said line to the line between Fulton and Bedford
counties; thence along said line to the line be-
tween Pennsj'lvania and Maryland ; thence
along said line to the place of beginning. Dun-
can's Isle belongs to this conference.
Rock Rive)' Conjerence. — Beginning at the junc-
tion of the Mississippi and Rock rivers ; thence
east with the north boundary of the Ulinoia
DISCIPLINE. 137
Central, Illinois, and Upper Wabash conferenois
to the Indiana State line ; thence north on said
line to Lake Michigan ; thence along said line
to the place of beginning.
Sandusky Covference. — Beginning at the mouth
of the Vermillion River, on Lake Erie ; thence
on an air-line south, to the south-west corner of
Ashland County ; thence with the north and
west lines of Knox County, to the south-west
corner of said county ; thence to the north-west
corner of Trenton Township, Delaware County ;
thence to the south-east corner of Genoa Town-
ship, of the same county ; thence west on the
Scioto Conference line, embracing Pleasant Val-
ley, in Madison County ; thence along the east
and north lines of Union County, to the south-
east corner of Hardin County ; thence along the
east line of said county to Forest ; thence west
on the Pittsburgh and Fort "Wayne Railroad to
Johnstown ; thence to Cairo ; thence to Kalida ;
thence to Defiance; thence down the Maumee
River and the southern shore of Lake Erie to
the place of beginning.
Scioto Oonference. — Beginning at Dresden, on
the Muskingum River; thence west on the
south lines of Coshocton and Knox counties to
the south-west corner of Knox County ; thence
to the north-west corner of Trenton Township,
138 DISCIPLINE.
Delaware County ; thence to the sont] -east cor-
ner of Genoa Township, of the same county;
thence west on the Delaware County line to the
Whetstone River ; thence to the north-west cor-
ner of Madison County ; thence south, embrac-
ing Fayette, Highland, and a part of Brown
County, to Ripley, on the Ohio River ; thence up
said river to the mouth of Muskingum River ;
thence up said river to Dresden, the i^lace of be-
ginning.
Southern Illinois Coyiference. — Embraces all
that part of the State of Illinois Ij'ing south and
west of the Central Illinois and Lower Wabash
conferences.
Souih-icestern Missoiiri Mission-Conference.—
Embraces all of that part of Missouri lying
south of the Missouri River.
Si. Joseph Co7?/erewce.— Beginning at Peru, In-
diana, on the Wabash River ; thence up said
river to Huntington ; thence up the Auglaize
Conference line to Ft. Wa^'ne ; thence by the
Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad, to
Columbia City; thence due north to the line of
Noble County ; tlience east to the soutli-easi
corner of said county; thence iiortli on the east
lines of Noble and Lagr;;nge counties to the
Michigan state line ; thence west on said line to
the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ; thence
1
DISCIPLINE, 139
by said railroad to Kalamazoo, Michigan ; thence
by the Kalamazoo & South Haven RaiJroad to
Lake Michigan ; thence along the lake shore to
the line of Illinois and Indiana ; thence south to
Beaver Lake ; thence to the mouth of Big Monon
Creek ; thence down the Tippecanoe River to the
Wabash, to Lafayette, including Lafayette ;
thence along the Strawtowu Road, including the
town of Jefiferson, to the Indianapolis & Peru
Railroad ; thence along said railroad to the place
of beginning, including all the towns and
churches north of Kokomo.
Jennessee Conference. — Embraces all that part
of the State of Tennessee east of a due north and
south line drawn through Nashville, the capita^
of the state.
Upper Wabash Conference. — Beginning at Gos-
port, on White River, to the crossing of the
Indianapolis & Peru Railroad ; tlience on the
Strawtown Road to Lafayette, on the Wabash
River ; thence up said river to the mouth of Tip-
pecanoe River ; thence up said river to the mouth
of Big Monon Creek ; thence in a north-we'^tern
direction to the northern extremity of Beaver
Lake ; thence to Kankakee City ; U'lence south
along the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central
Railroad to Tuscola, and including Tolono;
thence east with the line of Lower Wabash Con-
ference to place of beginning.
140 DISCIPIilNB.
Virginia (inference. — Beginning at the soxxth-
east corner of the State of Virginia ; thence
along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay
to Baltimore ; thence to Westminster ; thence to
the summit of the South Mountain, on the state
line between Maryland and Pennsylvania;
thence west on said line to the summit of the
Alleghany Mountain; thence south, along the
summit of said mountain, to the state line be-
tween Virginia and North Carolina ; thence east
on said line to the place of beginning. The Vir-
ginia Conference shall also include all the aj)-
pointments embraced in the Alleghany and New
Germany circuits, now occupied by the said
conference within the limits of the Parkersburg
Conference.
West JDes Moines Confei^ence. — Beginning at the
north-west corner of Monona County ; thence
to south-east corner of Sac County ; thence east
along the Central Illinois Railroad to the east
line of Marshall County; thence south on the
line of East Des Moines Conference to the Mis-
souri state line ; thence west to the soutli-west
corner of the State of Iowa ; thence along the
west line of the state to the place of beginning.
Including Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, and
Hardin.
Wext Kansas Oow/er«nce.— Beginning on the
DISCPLIINE. 141
north at the center of Republic County ; thence
south to the north line of Arkansas Valley Con-
ference; thence west to the Colorado line;
thence north to the Nebraska line ; thence east
to the place of beginning.
West Nebraska Conference, — Beginning at the
north-east corner cf Hamilton County; thence
south to Nebraska state line ; thence west to the
south-west corner of the State of Nebraska ;
thence north to the north-west corner of the
State of Nebraska ; thence east to the north-east
corner of Nebraska; thence south to the Platte
River ; thence up said river to the place of be-
ginning.
Western Reserve Oynference, — Beginning at the
north-east corner of the State of Ohio ; thence
south on the state line to the crossing of said
line by the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne <fe Chicago
Railroad ; thence west, embracing Pleasant Val-
ley, Paradise, and Carr appointments, with said
raih-oad, to the west line of Ashland County,
Ohio ; thence north to the mouth of Vermillion
River; thence east along the shore of Lake Erie
to the place of beginning; provided, that Orange-
ville Church in Ohio remain with Erie Confer-
ence, and Beaver Church in Pennsylvania re-
main with Western Reserve Conference
While River OoTy'erewce.— Beginning at and i»
142 DISCIPLINE.
eluding Indianapolis and suburbs; thence up
White River to the crossing of the Indianapolis
& ^Peru Railroad ; thence along said railroad
to the "Wabash River ; thence up said river to
the Wells County line; thence south to the
south-east corner of Huntington County ; thence
on a straight line to Winchester ; thence eastward
along the railroad to the Ohio and Indiana state
line; thence south along the state line to the
south-east corner of Franklin Countj'-, Indiana .
thence westward to Greensburg; thence to Co-
lumbus ; thence to Nashville ; thence west to
White River ; thence up the river to the south
line of Marion County; thence west to the south-
west corner of said county ; thence north to the
north-west corner of the same county ; thence
east on the north line to the Peru & Indianapolis
Railway. Kokomo and all the towns and church-
es on and in the vicinity of the Indianapolis A
Peru Railroad, south, are within the bounds of
White River Conference. All the towns and
churches north of Kokomo, on and in the vicin-
ity of said railroad, are within the bounds of
St. Joseph Conference.
Wisconsin Conference. — Beginning at Milkau-
kee, Wisconsin; thence south to the Illinois
Btate line ; thence west on the line between Illi-
nois and Wisconsin to the Mississippi River;
DISCIPLINE. 143
thence up said river and the Wisconsin state line
to Lake Superior ; thence with the shore of said
lake and the Michigan and Wisconsin state line
to the Wisconsin River ; thence down said river
to Portage City; thence along the Watertown
<fe Portage City Railroad to Watertown ; thence
along the Milwaukee & Watertown Railroad to
the place of beginning.
Walla Walla Conference. — Includes all that
portion of Oregon and Washington Territory
lying east of the Cascade Mountains, and also
Idaho Territory,
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