USA > Idaho > A brief history of Idaho and western Montana: as settled and district organized by the Church of the Brethren > Part 3
USA > Montana > A brief history of Idaho and western Montana: as settled and district organized by the Church of the Brethren > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
III.
The operations of our said corporation shall be carried on in the State of Idaho, and may extend its business to any other state or terri- tory. The place where its principal business is to be transacted is Nampa, Idaho, and branch offices may be located at such places, within or without the State of Idaho, in manner as may from time to time be provided by the by-laws of the company.
IV.
The term for which our said corporation shall exist is fifty (50) years from and after the date of the certificate of incorporation issued by the Secretary of State.
V.
The number of its directors shall be three (3) and the names and residences of those elected are: David Betts, Nampa, Idaho, for one year; L. H. Eby, Payette, Idaho, for two years; and S. S. Neher, Twin Falls, Idaho, for three years; and that for the first year, and until their successors are elected or appointed, the officers of the corporation shall be as follows: L. H. Eby, president; David Betts, secretary; and S. S. Neher, treasurer. And it is hereby provided that one-third of the num- ber of directors of this corporation is to serve for one year, one-third for two years, and one-third for three years, and at each succeeding annual meeting of the members one-third of the directors shall be elected for the term of three years.
34
VI.
That pecuniary profit is not the object of this corporation, and there is no capital stock, but the corporation shall be composed of a member- ship, such membership to consist of individuals who are members of congregations of the Church of the Brethren within the district to be fixed by the by-laws in Idaho and Western Montana; and that for the purposes of this corporation the individuals who are members of each congregation within such district shall be entitled to two delegates for two hundred (200) members or less, and to one additional dele- gate when the membership exceeds two hundred (200), and to one additional delegate when the membership exceeds four hundred (400), and additional delegates in the same ratio of membership. All meet- ings of the membership shall be by delegates as above provided and conducted in manner provided by the by-laws.
The annual District Meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of such other matters as may properly come before such meeting shall be held at such time and at such place as may be de- termined by vote of the preceding annual District Meeting, and without call or notice other than such vote.
VII.
That the individuals named as directors herein were selected at an election for directors duly held prior to this incorporation; and that before such election was held notice of the time and place of holding such election was given by publication at least two weeks in the , being a newspaper published in the city of Payette, State of Idaho, and that pursuant to said notice, as pub- lished, an election was held at Payette, Idaho, on the 17th day of April, 1912, and that the majority of the members entitled to vote at such election by such vote elected the said David Betts director for one year; L. H. Eby for two years; and S. S. Neher for three years, for the corporation to be formed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The said incorporators have here- unto set their hands this - day of September, 1912.
STATE OF IDAHO, SS.
County of -
On this - day of September, 1912, before me, - -, a Notary Public within and for said county in the state aforesaid, personally appeared L. H. Eby, personally known to me to be the person who signed the above and foregoing Articles of Incorporation as one of the incorporators thereof, and acknowledged to me that
35
he executed the same freely and voluntarily for the uses and purposes therein set forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal the day and year in this certificate above written.
My commission expires
Notary Public.
STATE OF IDAHO,
County of SS.
On this day of September, 1912, before me, -- , a Notary Public within and for said county in the state aforesaid, personally appeared David Betts, personally known to me to be the person who signed the above and foregoing Articles of Incorporation as one of the incorporators therein, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same freely and voluntarily for the uses and purposes therein set forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal the day and year in this certificate above written.
My commission expires
Notary Public.
STATE OF IDAHO,
County of Twin Falls. SS.
On the - day of September, 1912, before me, , a Notary Public in and for said county, in the state aforesaid, personally appeared S. S. Neher, personally known to me to be the person who signed the above and foregoing Articles of Incorporation as one of the incorporators therein, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same freely and voluntarily for the uses and purposes therein set forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal the day and year in this certificate above written.
My commission expires
Notary Public.
STATE OF IDAHO, - County of Canyon. SS.
J. H. Graybill, being duly affirmed, says:
That he has read the above and foregoing Articles of Incorporation, particularly the part of said articles referring to the holding of an elec- tion, at which election he presided, and at which David Betts, L. H. Eby and S. S. Neher were duly elected directors of the Mission Board of The Church of the Brethren for the District of Idaho and Western
36
Montana, and that said persons and each of them were duly elected as directors to be named in the Articles of Incorporation and to serve as therein provided.
Subscribed and affirmed before me this - day of September, 1912.
Notary Public.
STATE OF IDAHO, ss.
County of Twin Falls.
S. S. Neher, being duly affirmed, says:
That he has read the above and foregoing Articles of Incorporation, and particularly the part of said articles referring to an election, at which election I served as secretary, and at which David Betts, L. H. Eby and S. S. Neher were duly elected directors of the Mission Board of The Church of the Brethren for the District of Idaho and Western Montana, and that said persons and each of them were duly elected as directors to be named in the Articles of Incorporation and to serve as therein provided.
Subscribed and affirmed before me this - day of September, 1912.
Notary Public.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.
Domestic.
STATE OF IDAHO. Department of State.
I, WILFRED L. GIFFORD, Secretary of State of the State of Idaho, do hereby certify that a certified copy of the Articles of Incor- poration of THE MISSION BOARD OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO AND WESTERN MONTANA, duly certified by the Recorder of Canyon County, to be a true copy of the original Articles, was filed in this office on the 16th day of November, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twelve, and is duly recorded in Book "A-4" of Domestic Corporations, Records of the State of Idaho, which Articles contain the statement of facts required by law, to-wit:
FIRST, The name of the Corporation as aforesaid; SECOND, The purpose for which it was framed; THIRD, The place where its prin- cipal business is to be transacted; FOURTH, The term for which it is to exist; FIFTH, The number of its directors, or its trustees.
37
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State. Done at Boise City, the Capital of Idaho, this 16th day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twelve and of the Independence of the United States of America the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh.
Wilfred L. Gifford. Secretary of State.
GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF IDAHO.
The Work of the Board.
The mission work of the new District of Idaho and Western Montana originated with the birth of the District and the elec- tion of the new Board. To start with, the Board was not only without funds, but was encumbered with a debt assumed from the old District, amounting to over $1,500. During the follow- ing winter, however, the Board engaged Eld. A. I. Mow, of Weiser, to distribute tracts and religious literature along the line of the P. & I. N. Railroad throughout the valleys up the Weiser, and to follow up with preaching where the interest seemed to justify. In this way a number of preaching points, most of them with a few members, have been started. At one of these points now there are a minister and a deacon, besides a dozen other members. There is a good prospect and a vigorous demand for an organization.
Other points are in a good, growing condition. It was about the same time that Bro. R. M. Shock, of Wendell, dis- tributed tracts covering the town. But up to this time little or nothing is manifest from it.
The District Meeting of April 18, 1912, passed the following resolution :
Be it recommended, by the Mission Board, to the District Meet- ing of Idaho and Western Montana, that, whereas the railroads of our State offer an annual pass to a traveling missionary, we at this meeting proceed to secure such worker for the ensuing year, who shall be called the District Church and Sunday-school Missionary, whose duty shall be to give his entire time for the furtherance of the Gospel in our District, by visiting such points of need as may be deemed wise in the judgment of both the District Mission Board and the missionary, also by doing house visitation, preaching, etc., as will be in full accord with the Mission Board. Such worker to be in full harmony with the District Mission Board and to give to the Board an itemized report of the work done at close of each month.
38
The Board finally was enabled, in February, 1913, to secure Eld. Chas. M. Yearout for this work. Under the direction of the Board he located at Coeur d'Alene, in the northern portion of Idaho. Here were several members, who for a long time had been isolated, and there were some calls for baptism. From this point Bro. Yearout also supplied services at Moscow, where at one time had been a strong and well-working, organized con- gregation ; but in more recent years (1907) it was disorganized, and but few members remained. This point has now grown, till at present there is a membership of twenty-five, and a request for an organization.
Elder A. I. Mow.
He located and preached the first sermons in the bounds of the Weiser church. Served her as minister, preaching in sixteen different locali- ties in their territory. Serving the Mission Board on the field since the organization of the District, and is the editor of this booklet.
Elder Charles M. Yearout,
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Serving in the employ of the District Mission Board north of the middle of the State. In his two years' labor the work is greatly enlivened and pros- perous.
The work at Boise City had been started by members mov- ing in, and was for a time under the management of the old Board. At the time of our organization it had been given up. It was given some attention by us, but was finally wholly discon- tinued and disorganized.
Now, after less than three years, we have work well started in these two wide-apart sections. Bro. Yearout is vigorously pressing on in the north. Bro. Mow, having resigned his work
39
in the southern end, the Board has let it to the care of Bro. Sherman Clapper, who is assisted by Bro. E. E. Frantz. These, we trust, will faithfully and successfully carry on the work so well begun.
Under the blessing of God the Board has collected, the first year (8.5 months), $1,124.91. The second year (12 months) we received $1,366.82, and besides carrying on the work we have started we were able to pay off $800 indebtedness left us by the old District.
We can not at this writing give the amount of receipts for the year just closed ; but the Board has cash on hand amounting to something over $1,700.
So we feel encouraged to press out into the work and " fill up the breaches." And now one member of the Board, Bro. S. S. Neher, of Twin Falls, has been appointed by the District Meeting as Field Missionary and Evangelist, which we are sure will greatly encourage and push forward the work. We, there- fore, hope to see the work, so humbly started, grow and prosper to the glory of God.
David Betts, Secretary of Board.
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND CHRISTIAN WORKERS' MEETING BOARD.
The Sunday-school work being of equal importance with the mission work of the church, a constitutional committee of three was created to administer the Sunday-school department of church work in the District. The department is almost in- finite in importance and the field is unlimited.
The constitution provides that there shall be a Sunday- school and Christian Workers' Meeting Committee. At the first election one shall be elected for three years, one for two years, and one for one year. Thereafter one member's term expires each year and his successor is elected for three years. Thus there is a continuous committee, with experienced members.
Rules Governing Sunday-School and Christian Workers' Committee.
1 .- Collecting the statistics of all the schools in the District.
2 .- Securing a competent person to visit all schools in the Dis- trict and Christian Workers' Societies, at least once a year, for the
40
E. B. Sargent, Pres. Payette, Idaho.
Jennie S. Brower, Sec. C. A. Williams, Treas. Meridian, Idaho.
Bowmont, Idaho.
purpose of strengthening schools and societies already organized, and also help them organize new ones; such worker to take collections in each school to carry on the work.
3 .- To prepare programs for Sunday-school and Christian Workers' Meetings in connection with District Meeting.
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL MEETING OF SOUTHERN IDAHO.
Prior to the segregation and organization of the District there was a request made of the old District Meeting for an authorized Sunday-school meeting. This was granted, and a committee was appointed to frame a constitution and by-laws on which such meeting could organize. The following rules were adopted and the meeting organized :
RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE BRETHREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION.
I. Name.
This meeting shall be known as Brethren's Sunday-school Con- vention of Southern Idaho.
II. Time.
The time of meeting shall be annually, on Thanksgiving Day.
41
III. Object.
It shall be the aim of this convention to encourage Sunday-school work in all its phases and aims, by considering, in discussion, lectures, and model presentation the aims, methods, problems and possibili- ties of the Sunday-school.
IV. Organization.
This organization shall consist of President, Vice-president, Sec- retary, Treasurer, Timekeeper, the representative delegates sent by the respective Sunday-schools and a Program Committee.
To Effect the Organization:
(a) The President and the Secretary of the last preceding meeting shall act as Temporary President and Secretary until the new organi- zation is formed. Provided, that in case the President or Vice-presi- dent are absent the Chairman of the Program Committee shall proceed to effect the organization.
(b) The President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by the majority of ballots cast by the delegates present.
(c) Any minister, Sunday-school worker or teacher of the Church of the Brethren may be chosen as President, as Vice-president.
(d) Any member in good standing may be Secretary or Treasurer.
(e) As soon as these officers are elected they shall enter upon their respective duties. The President shall then proceed to appoint the Time- keeper and enroll the delegates.
V. The Program.
1 .- The program, prepared by a committee of three, elected by ballot of the delegates at the last preceding meeting, shall then be faithfully rendered.
2 .- Should any speakers on the program be absent, the committee which prepared the program shall supply the vacancy.
3 .- Leading speakers may have ten minutes; succeeding ones five minutes. The general meeting may, however, extend or diminish the time of speakers when desired.
4 .- The Gleaner shall be put on program by Program Committee.
VI. Business Session.
1 .- Unfinished business.
2 .- The delegates report the status of their respective schools.
3 .- The delegates shall ballot for a Program Committee; nomina- tions received from the meeting.
4 .- The delegates consider calls for future meetings.
5 .- The Treasurer shall give his report.
6 .- The President will call for any business pertaining to the good of the organization.
These rules of regulation may be changed in any point by the vote of two-thirds of the members in any regular meeting.
42
This organization, at the time District Meeting was organ- ized, was overlooked and was not removed. Therefore, while the District Meeting Committee holds priority in authority, and is charged with executing the Sunday-school department, this meeting continues to work as provided by its constitution. There is no conflict, as the convention meets annually on Thanks- giving and the District Meeting Committee annually at District Meeting in April. Both add greatly to the encouragement and growth of Sunday-school earnestness and success.
CHRISTIAN WORKERS' MEETING.
The Christian Workers' Meeting work has not developed greatly up to the present. It is under the auspices of this same committee, who have not yet seen their way open to crowd much more into this work than can be done in the usual annual program of exercises at time of District Meeting. In the Dis- trict's constitutional provision there is a hope betrayed that, with this organized push behind them, these meetings could be made a living power in effecting the spiritual growth of the younger people and those who associate with them.
MINISTERIAL MEETING AND BIBLE SCHOOL COM- MITTEE.
This might very properly be called the educational depart- ment of the District, and is of very great importance. It could be made the leading agent of training, inspiration and consecra- tion. It should stimulate an urgency for more and better work, and will be found an indispensable helper in every other depart- ment of church administration.
Committee: L. E. Keltner, President, Weiser ; J. E. Sham- berger, Secretary, Payette; A. L. Gorham, Treasurer, Payette.
The following rules are their by-laws :
Ministerial Committee Report.
1 .- Duty to prepare programs each year.
2 .- To render the same at District Meeting, asking assistance as they desire.
43
J. E. Shamberger, Sec. Payette, Idaho.
3 .- To work in conjunction with the churches and also the Mission Board in ministerial work to be encouraged or done in the District.
4 .- That the funds for this work be provided for by collections at District Meeting, and if not sufficient, the Mission Board shall lend their assistance as their wisdom may guide them.
Bible School Committee Report.
1 .- To have the right to locate and maintain a permanent place for Bible School, as soon as wisdom may dictate.
2 .- To encourage and assist in the holding of Bible Institutes in the local congregations throughout the District.
3 .- To encourage and assist in holding teacher-training classes to be held throughout the District, as time, place and opportunity may be presented.
4 .- That the literature for Bible school work shall be decided upon by the instructors and the committee.
5 .- The work of this committee shall be supported in this school work by District Meeting, the Mission Board and local churches.
44
T. J. Beckwith. Payette, Idaho.
A. L. Gorham, Treas. Payette, Idaho.
C. Fahrney, Pres. Twin Falls, Idaho.
COMMITTEE ON HOMES FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
Constitution of the Orphans' Home Finding Society of the Church of the Brethren of the State of Idaho.
Section First.
1 .- The object of this society is to take charge of orphan and de- pendent children, and to place them into good family homes.
2 .- The Orphans' Home Finding Society is composed of all the members of the Church of the Brethren of the Idaho State District. Others who assist in the work are honorary members.
3 .- The voting power of this society shall be delegates from the several local churches which constitute the District Conference Meeting.
4 .- The executive power shall be vested in a Board of three Di- rectors, termed President, Secretary and Treasurer.
5 .- The members of this Board shall be elected as follows: The three officers of the Board with the elders of the District shall nominate two or more suitable brethren or sisters for each vacancy, and the delegates shall elect by ballot one of this number. The term of office shall be for three years, but they shall be so elected that one vacancy occurs each year.
Section Second.
1 .- It shall be the duty of the President to call a meeting of the Board as often as he deems it necessary, or when requested by the
45
other members of the Board. He shall preside over these meetings, and also over the yearly meeting held at the time of District Meeting.
2 .- It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a faithful and com- plete account of all meetings of the Board and of all business trans- acted by them.
3 .- It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a correct account of all moneys paid into the treasury, all money paid out, as well as to hold in trust all funds.
4 .- It shall be the duty of the Board to select some one to act as Manager, who shall carry on the active work of the Society. The Board shall direct and oversee the work.
5 .- The Board shall use a paper published in Oklahoma known as "Everybody's Friend," for the purpose of advertising the work, of soliciting means, and of creating sentiment in its favor.
Section Third.
1 .- It shall be the duty of the Manager to gather orphan and home- less children from all sources, providing the parent or guardian signs away all rights to the child. These children shall be provided good temporary homes until they can be placed in carefully selected families.
2 .- The Manager shall place these children in good moral families who will promise to treat them properly, send them to school and take them to church and Sunday-school. They shall first be placed on three months' trial, which time may be extended at the discretion of the Manager. All expenses of keeping the child shall be borne by the family that has it on trial.
3 .- The Manager shall make out the permanent papers for either adoption or legal contract, when the family want to keep the child if he is satisfied that it will be a good home.
4 .- The Manager shall visit each child placed in a family at least once a year until he is satisfied that it has a good home. If it has not got the right kind of a home he shall take it away, even after it has been adopted or taken on legal contract.
5 .- The Manager shall from time to time visit the local churches as well as other localities, to explain the work, solicit donations, look out homes for children and appoint suitable persons to assist in the work.
6 .- The Manager shall keep a strict account of the time employed in the work, of expenses incurred, and of money taken in, and report to the Board as often as required. He shall be paid out of the treasury for time and expenses.
By-Laws.
1 .- Only normal children under fourteen years of age shall be taken in charge by the Manager, unless a family shall specially agree to take an older, a sickly or a crippled child.
2 .- Children shall be placed only with people of good morals, where they will be taught the Bible used by Protestant Christians.
3 .- When a vacancy occurs on the Board, by death or otherwise, the
46
remaining members shall select one to fill the vacancy until the next District Meeting.
4 .- The Board shall economically use the funds collected, for the saving of children, but shall not contract any debts for the Orphans' Home Finding Society.
This Constitution was accepted by District Meeting of 1913.
Certificate of Incorporation (Domestic), State of Idaho, Department of State.
I, Wilfred L. Gifford, Secretary of State of the State of Idaho, do here- by certify that a certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation of "The Orphans' Home Finding Society of the Church of the Brethren of Idaho," duly certified by the recorder of Canyon County, to be a true copy of the original articles, was filed in this office on the 13th day of September, A. D., One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twelve, and is duly recorded in Book "A-4" of Domestic Corporations, Records of the State of Idaho, which articles contain the statement of facts required by law, to wit:
First, the name of the corporation as aforesaid; second, the purpose for which it was framed; third, the place where its principal business is to be transacted; fourth, the term for which it is to exist; fifth, the number of its directors, or its trustees.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the great seal of the State. Done at Boise City, the capital of Idaho, this 13th day of September, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twelve and of the Independence of the United States of America the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh.
Wilfred L. Gifford, Secretary of State. (SEAL)
THE TEMPERANCE COMMITTEE.
In organizing the new District the members of the organ- ization manifested a laudable concern for the sobriety of the State, and put themselves on record for the advancement of temperance, in an unmistakable way, by the constitutional pro- vision of a committee to represent the church's tenets and senti- ments regarding the liquor traffic. This was a committee of three; viz., Eld. L. E. Keltner, President; Eld. Fred A. Flora, Secretary ; Eld. J. F. Ullery, Treasurer.
These men have labored to induce the sentiment to help the Anti-Saloon work of the State. Consequently the membership helped heroically to vote the State dry, and all now have the joy of living undisturbed by the saloon and its evil work. At every District Meeting they brought out thrilling programs for temperance.
47
THE ELDERS OF IDAHO.
At the time of the segregation of Idaho twelve organized congregations entered into the new State District of Idaho and Western Montana. There were then fourteen ordained elders included in the territory ; viz., S. F. Brower, John Early, L. H. Eby, C. Fahrney, J. H. Graybill, H. A. Kauffman, L. E. Keltner, John Lesh, A. I. Mow, J. C. Neher, A. P. Peterson, J. E. Sham- berger, J. B. Shank, D. J. Wampler.
The first meeting of the elders was convened, by an infor- mal call, at the home of Eld. S. F. Brower. Here their first or- ganization was effected by choosing L. H. Eby to be Moderator and A. I. Mow to be Clerk.
This meeting issued the call to the churches to send in dele- gates, set the time and place for the first District Meeting, and appointed " a committee of three to prepare rules for the future guidance of District Meeting of Idaho and Western Montana."
Committee : A. I. Mow, J. H. Graybill, S. F. Brower.
Since their organization these elders have ordained to the eldership J. F. Ullery, B. J. Fike and Fred A. Flora.
Of the original number, Early, Brower, Peterson, Shank and have died.
J. C. Neher withdrew from the meeting.
J. H. Graybill and A. I. Mow moved away.
Chas. M. Yearout and J. L. Thomas have moved in.
This leaves the elder-body at eleven.
This will doubtless soon be increased, as several other ordinations are provided for.
Although the District was new, yet the work was not wholly without its seriousness. Several of the members of the meeting had behind them a number of years of experience, and were measurably prepared to manage the work of the District. The association of these men, who were thrown together from various places, has been almost without exception most agree- able and unanimous. This fact afforded a decided strength, in which all the work progressed splendidly. "Like priest, like people " is still patent. No religious organization is stronger than its leading men; for, just as the superstition, avarice, self- aggrandizement and egotism of the clergy feed upon the igno- rance and gullibility of the people, so do the people draw their conceptions of Christian equity, Divine Presence, consecration, and devotion from their church leaders.
48
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.