USA > Indiana > Discipline of the Society of Friends, Indiana Yearly meeting, 1878 > Part 5
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We believe it would be an acceptable and useful service, if Friends were occasionally to attend the smaller Meetings for Worship in the districts where they reside, and the subject is recommended to the attention of Monthly Meetings. Such intercourse would enable Friends to enter more closely into the peculiar circumstances of their brethren ; and would, we believe, tend to strengthen the pre- cious bonds of Christian fellowship. (1826.)
It is directed that a book be provided by every Monthly and Quarterly Meeting, and fair records kept therein of their proceedings. Monthly Meet- ings particularly, are advised to attend to, and finish all business with care and dispatch, that it may at no time suffer by improper delay; and if any case under consideration prove too weighty or difficult for them to determine, they should apply to
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their respective Quarterly Meetings for assistance ; or, if the circumstances be such as to require it, refer it thereto by minute.
In all cases, where any Monthly or Quarterly Meeting has occasion for, and requests copies of any papers, minutes, or records of another Monthly or Quarterly Meeting, the same should be accordingly granted.
Where any difference happens among Friends, and the same be entered in any Monthly or Quar- terly Meeting book, if the parties, or either of them, think that copies of such entries may be useful, or necessary for them, and request the same, such Monthly or Quarterly Meetings shall have a dis- cretionary power to give or refuse such copies, ac- cording to the circumstances and motives attending.
A committee should be annually appointed, in each of our Quarterly and Monthly Meetings, to nominate clerks.
The Preparative Meetings are to prepare business, as occasion may require, to be laid before Monthly Meetings. And when it is concluded to carry any cases forward, they should be entered in writing, and forwarded by the clerk, to the Monthly Meet- ing ; proper notes whereof should be carefully pre- served by clerks of Preparative Meetings.
Monthly Meetings are directed to ascertain wheth- · er each family within their limits is provided with a copy of the Holy Scriptures, and to see that those who are destitute of them be supplied.
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INDIANA YEARLY MEETING.
Indiana Yearly Meeting is composed of Friends in the eastern part of Indiana, and in the western part of Ohio, etc. It was set off from Ohio Yearly Meeting, and the first Yearly Meeting was held in the Tenth month, 1821, at White Water, Wayne County, Indiana, which is now in the limits of the city of Richmond, in which city it has since been held. The Yearly Meeting for Discipline is to open at ten o'clock on Fourth day morning after the fourth First day in the Ninth month.
The Representatives from the Quarterly Meetings, both men and women, are annually to nominate a Clerk, and an assistant or assistants, at the close of the first sitting of the Meeting for Discipline, whose names are to be reported at the opening of the next sitting.
Representatives having the care of the Reports from the Quarterly Meetings, are to put them into the hands of the Clerk of the meeting for the pre- ceding year, before the opening of the Meeting for Discipline, in order that time may be saved to the meeting, by a previous entry of the names of Rep- resentatives. No Representative ought to withdraw from the Yearly Meeting before it closes without leave.
All communications directed to the Yearly Meet- ing, except from such meetings as correspond regu- larly therewith, are to be previously perused by a nomination of Friends for the purpose ; who are to consider and report whether the same be proper to be read in the Yearly Meeting.
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The design of our Annual Meetings, in their first constitution, being in order to a general oversight and care of the churches, pertaining to our Christian communion, it remains to be our fervent desire, that good order, unity, and concord may be main- tained among us. We know that love and unity, founded upon Christian principles, are promotive of truth and righteousness among ourselves, and we believe also that when conspicuous in us, they have their influence upon those around us. Under these considerations, we fervently desire, and humbly hope, that He who hath to the present day preserved us a people highly favored, will be graciously pleased still to animate us with a zealous concern, that love and good will may predominate in us individually, and that union, peace, and concord may prevail in every department of the church.
REPRESENTATIVE MEETING.
In order that the Yearly Meeting, with its several branches, might be properly represented, during the recess thereof, a meeting has been instituted by the name of the Representative Meeting, or meeting rep- resenting the Yearly Meeting in its recess, which is to consist of twenty-six Friends, appointed by the Yearly Meeting, and four Friends appointed by each of the Quarterly Meetings, (both Yearly and Quar- terly Meetings are advised to review their appoint- ments, at least once in five years, and make such changes as they may think necessary,) who are to meet at the Yearly Meeting House, in Richmond, Indiana, at three o'clock on Third-day preceding
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the Yearly Meeting; but the said meeting is privi- leged to sit on its own adjournments, or to call a special meeting whenever four members shall judge it necessary ; and is to be subject to the following rules :
I. The said meeting shall keep fair minutes of all its proceedings, and annually lay them before the Yearly Meeting.
II. No less number than twelve of the members attending shall constitute a meeting, capable of transacting business.
III. On all occasions of uncommon importance, when a call is made, previous notice thereof shall be given or sent to all the members, if practicable.
IV. In case of the decease of any member, or members, appointed either by the Yearly Meeting or Quarterly Meetings, whose place is not promptly supplied, the Representative Meeting should notify said meeting, or meetings, thereof, in order that the places may be supplied by new appointments.
V. The said meeting is not to adopt any article of faith or discipline, which has not been determined by the Yearly Meeting.
The further services confided to the said Repre- sentative Meeting are :
1. In general to represent the Yearly Meeting, and to appear on its behalf, in cases where the interest or reputation of our religious Society may render it needful.
2. To take the oversight and inspection of all writings offered for inspection, proposed to be printed, explanatory of our religious principles or
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testimonies ; and to promote or suppress the same at their discretion ; also to print and distribute any writings already published by the Society, or which may be offered for inspection as aforesaid, and ap- proved. And in all cases where expenses are in- curred, in the execution of the duties assigned them, they are authorized to draw on the treasurer of the Yearly Meeting for such sums as may be necessary.
3. To inspect and ascertain titles to lands, or other estates belonging to any of our meetings ; also to attend to the appropriation of charitable legacies and donations ; or to give such advice respecting the same as may appear necessary.
4. To receive from the several Quarterly Meetings their annual accounts of sufferings, and also such memorials concerning deceased Friends, as those meetings may have concurred in: that when examined and approved, they may be laid before the Yearly Meeting.
5. To extend such advice and assistance to any individuals under sufferings for our testimonies as their cases may require ; and, if necessary, to apply to the Government, or persons in authority, on their behalf.
6. To correspond with such other Meetings for Sufferings, or Representative Meetings, as are or may be established by any other Yearly Meeting of our religious Society, on the common concerns of the Society.
A Monthly or Quarterly Meeting, or committee of the Yearly Meeting, should not petition or memorial- ize congress, or a legislature, in the name of the Society; but if any necessity require, in
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any case of emergency, a meeting of the Representa- tive Meeting should be called, to which the subject of petition should be presented, and in the recess of the Yearly Meeting, full powers are conferred on the Representative Meeting to act, as in their judgment the case may require ..
Approved ministers, and members of any other Representative Meetings corresponding with this, may also be permitted to attend its sittings, when they are so inclined.
It being a business assigned to the Representative Meeting to take the oversight of all writings pro- posed to be printed, explanatory of our religious principles or testimonies, our members, who may have it in prospect to publish any such writings, for which the Society are to be responsible, are to lay them before said meeting, for its advice and con- currence.
REPRESENTATIVES.
It is directed, that a suitable number of Friends be appointed in each Monthly Meeting, as representa- tives to attend the Quarterly Meetings, with such reports in writing, signed by the clerk, as may be given them in charge; also, that at least four Friends be appointed, for the like service, in each Quarterly Meeting, to attend the Yearly Meeting. And it is directed that all Friends who submit to. these important services, be punctual in their attendance; or if prevented by sickness, or any other unavoidable occurrence, that they be careful to send information thereof; also that those who
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are under appointments to attend meetings as representatives, do not withdraw therefrom before the conclusion of such meetings, without obtaining the consent thereof.
APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP.
Requests for membership may be presented to the Monthly Meeting, either through the Overseers and the Preparative Meeting, or directly to the Monthly Meeting, which shall act upon the appli- cation according to its judgment, and endeavor to ascertain the motives of the applicant, and whether profession of faith in Christ is made, and our views of the Gospel accepted, and the present conduct of the applicant shows the sincerity of his (or her) profession. When applicants for membership bring letters of recommendation from other religious denominations, Monthly Meetings are at liberty to exercise their judgment as to the manner of receiv- ing them into membership with us. When a Monthly Meeting receives a person into member- ship, a minute to that import is to be made and the. individual is to be informed of his reception.
And it is our desire, when a smaller or larger number of individuals who may reside remote from any Monthly Meeting, and who may be awakened to a sense of their spiritual wants, and may incline to embrace the doctrines of the Gospel as held by us, that ministers, elders, overseers, and other- Friends should render them such advice and encouragement, as in the wisdom of truth they
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may be enabled to do, in order that such may be well informed in Christian doctrine; and if at any time it should be desired by such individuals to be admitted to full membership with us, the Friends who have extended care as aforesaid, should inform the Monthly Meeting most convenient, and such meeting, after extending the proper care, may be at liberty to receive them into membership collectively ; or, should the Monthly Meeting desire assistance, the case may be forwarded to the Quarterly Meet- ing for advice and assistance before final action.
And Friends are earnestly desired to be careful that they discharge their whole duty toward those who manifest an interest in their spiritual welfare, by attending our religious meetings, or are inclined to join us in religious fellowship ; to visit such in the love of Christ for their encouragement in a Chris- tian course of life“, and to instruct them in a knowl- edge of the doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ ..
RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.
On the subject of the right of children to mem- bership in the Society, such right is to be under- stood as extended to any child born of parents in membership.
Although we recognize the children of our mem- bers as objects of our care, and partakers of the outward privileges of Christian fellowship, we would earnestly remind all, that such recognition can not constitute them members of the Church of Christ. Nothing can effect this but the power of the Holy
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Spirit, working repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, let the words of our Divine Master have their due place with us all : "Ye must be born again."
JOINING ANOTHER RELIGIOUS SOCIETY.
If one of our members shall join another religious society, the overseers, after extending Christian care to such person, are directed, at a suitable time, to report the fact to the Preparative Meeting of which he or she is a member, by which it shall be for- warded to the Monthly Meeting, which shall appoint a judicious committee to visit the individual and learn the cause of such step, and if possible remove the same, and labor to restore them to fellowship with our religious Society. Such committees are earnestly advised in all their labors to seek to be filled with the charity "which suffereth long and is kind, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, and thinketh no evil," so as if possible to leave a kind and tender impression upon the minds of those with whom they labor, and to make them feel that the door is fully open for their return to us.
If the labor prove unavailing, the fact should be reported to the Monthly Meeting, which may con- sider the right of membership of such person relin- quished, and inform him or her thereof.
When a member of our religious Society, whose life and Christian walk has been commendable, de- sires to attach himself or herself to some other evangelical church, Monthly Meetings are at liberty
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to give them a letter stating their standing amongst us - after due care and inquiry. Whereupon the right of membership of such person in our religious Society shall cease. -
RESIGNATIONS.
When any member desires to resign his right of membership, he is to present his resignation in wri- ting to the Monthly Meeting of which he is a mem- ber ; which meeting, after taking proper care in the case, may accept the resignation.
REMOVALS.
All members removing beyond the limits of their Monthly Meetings, whether for a permanent or only a certain limited time, are to apply to their respect- ive meetings for certificates, directed to those within the limits of which they propose to sojourn or settle. Whereupon Monthly Meetings should, previously to granting such certificates, appoint a committee of men Friends, if the applicant be a male, or of women, if a female ; but if the applicants be males and females, then a joint committee, to make care- ful inquiry respecting their conduct and the proper adjustment of their outward affairs, and if they find nothing to hinder, to prepare a certificate, and re- port it to the next Monthly Meeting; when, if no obstruction appear, such certificate should be grant- ed and signed by the clerks of the men's and the women's meetings.
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But if any shall remove without so applying, the Monthly Meeting of which they are members, after making inquiry, as in cases of applicants, and find- ing no obstruction, should, without improper delay, send certificates for them to the Monthly Meetings within the limits of which they have removed. But if their previous conduct require that they be treat- ed with, and the distance be such as to render it inconvenient for the meeting they removed from, the Monthly Meeting within the limits of which they are, should be requested to treat with them, and report the effect of their care; after which, if their labor prove satisfactory, certificates of removal may be directed; but if otherwise, they should be disowned.
Where apprentices, or persons under age, are under the necessity of going from one place to other, their parents or guardians should apply for certifi- cates for them, recommending them to the care and oversight of the Monthly Meeting to which they re- move.
If any members of our religious Society come within the compass of any Monthly Meeting, not being recommended by certificates, and be of dis- orderly conduct, the overseers or other Friends, should admonish them, or if the occasion require it, report the case to the Preparative, and from thence to the Monthly Meeting ; which should there- upon inform the Monthly Meeting of which they are members, of the circumstances, and take the di- rection of said meeting for treating further with them, agreeably to our rules in cases of that nature.
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All certificates of removal, brought by any Friends intending to become residents, shall be lodged in the Monthly Meeting where the same are accepted ; and every meeting shall keep a record of all certifi- cates which it may give forth.
When certificates of removal from one Monthly Meeting to another are accepted, the persons rec- ommended shall be considered members of the meet- ing to which they remove.
When certificates are adopted, signed, and record- ed, they should immediately be placed in the hands. of the proper correspondents, who should sign them, pre-pay the postage, and forward them without de- lay, to the regular correspondent of the meeting to which they are addressed ; and when certificates are received, they are to be read in each meeting.
Monthly Meetings receiving certificates are to ac- knowledge the reception thereof to the Monthly Meeting which issued them.
Monthly Meetings are directed to acknowledge the reception of certificates of removal from Great Britain or Ireland, by transmitting, seasonably, to one of our proper Yearly Meeting correspondents for that purpose, a suitable extract of their minute of reception, properly signed by the clerk, and coun- tersigned by their correspondent.
We feel it our concern to caution Friends to be- very circumspect how they remove themselves and families. It having been observed that the dissolv- ing of old, and forming of new connections, have in some instances been attended with effects prejudicial to a growth in truth, both in the heads and younger
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branches of families, especially where the inclina- tion to such removals has originated in worldly mo- tives. (1789.)
CARE OF THE POOR.
As mercy, compassion, and charity are eminently required by the Gospel, it is directed that the cases of our members who are in indigent circumstances be duly inspected, in order that advice and relief may be seasonably extended, and assistance af- forded them, in such business as they are capable of. To defray the expenses which their support, and the education of their children will necessarily occasion, it is recommended to each Monthly and Preparative Meeting of Friends, to be liberal in sub- scriptions for these purposes. And in the exercise of this benevolent care, it is desired that we may always guard against unnecessarily exposing the names or situation of our fellow-members. Those who need pecuniary aid, ought to accept the deliberate advice of their Friends, and manifest a becoming disposition to conform to their judgment.
OVERSEERS.
The office of overseer among us is of great im- portance, and, when rightly filled, of great value. We feel much for our friends who are appointed to this station. In the proper performance of their service much humiliation may prevail : but while it is well they should be sensible of their own infirmity, 6
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this consideration ought not to be allowed to inter- fere with the right discharge of their duty. We en- courage them to cherish an interest in the spiritual welfare of all their fellow-members, to exercise a watchful care and affectionate oversight, and more especially to manifest their sympathy with their younger Friends, in the peculiar circumstances in which some of them are placed. We invite them to be diligent in warning and counseling the young, in privacy, faithfulness, and love ; endeavoring to attract them to the paths of virtue and self-denial, and to faith in Christ, as their Shepherd, their Sa- vior, and their King. Nor would we limit the per- formance of these duties to those who occupy such stations : we are all to watch over one another for good, and to be mutually interested one for another, being united together as lively stones in the spirit- ual building of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone. (1851.)
In every Monthly Meeting, a proper number of faithful and judicious men and women Friends, be- longing to each of the particular or Preparative Meetings, should be appointed overseers within the same; whose duty it is to exercise a vigilant and tender care over their fellow-members ; that if any- thing repugnant to the harmony and good order of the Society appears among them, it may be timely attended to. And to prevent the introduction of all unnecessary and premature complaints to meet- ings of business, it is advised, that if any member shall have cause of complaint against another, it be mentioned to the overseers ; who are to see that the
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party complained of has been treated with, accord- ing to Gospel order, previously to the case being re- ported to the Preparative or Monthly Meeting. And should complaints be made to the overseers, or other judicious Friends, against any of our mem- bers, by persons who have not a right of member- ship with us, the complaint ought not to be slighted or rejected because the complainant is not a mem- ber, but such care should be extended in the case as may evince that our object is the equal and im- partial administration of justice, without respect to persons. And it is desired, that in dealing with any, it be done in the spirit of meekness and love, patiently endeavoring to instruct and advise them ; and, if ineffectual, the Preparative Meeting should be informed thereof ; that, if needful, the case may be laid before the Monthly Meeting ; of which notice should be given to the party, when it can be conve- niently done.
It is further recommended to our Monthly Meet- ings, that a committee be appointed at least once in three years, or as much oftener as the occasion may require, to consider the propriety of a change of overseers. And we tenderly exhort all our mem- bers, who may be rightly called into this, or any other service of the church, not hastily to excuse themselves therefrom, but seriously to consider the advice of the apostle: "Feed the flock of God, which is among you; taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to
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the flock : and when the chief shepherd shall ap- pear, ye shall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away." 1 Pet., v. 2, 3, 4.
Overseers are to use proper discretion in refer- ence to bringing forward cases of complaint to the Monthly Meeting. If the offender manifest re- pentance and contrition, and shows a disposition to make such amends as are in his power, to those he has injured, the case should not be reported to the Monthly Meeting; unless it is one of scandalous or immoral conduct. See 2 Tim., ii. 24-26; 2 Cor., ii. 5-8.
QUERIES AND ADVICES.
In order that the Yearly Meeting may be clearly informed of the state of Society, the following que- ries are directed to the Subordinate Meetings ; and in desiring answers to them, the design of the Year- ly Meeting is, not only to be informed of the due observance of the several branches of our Christian testimony, but also to impress on the minds of our members, a profitable individual examination of themselves, how far they act consistently with their religious profession ; and also to excite elders, overseers, and other concerned Friends, to dis- charge their duty faithfully, in administering coun- sel and admonition when necessary.
It is directed that the following four queries be read, deliberately considered, and answered, in each Preparative and Monthly Meeting, once in the year, in order to convey an explicit account, in writing, to the Quarterly Meetings, next preceding
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the Yearly Meeting; and from thence an account is to be forwarded to the Yearly Meeting.
Nor is the reading and answering of them en- joined on any Preparative Meeting, where the members of that and the Monthly Meetings are the same.
QUERIES.
1. Are your Meetings for Worship and Discip- line regularly held, and are they well and punctual- ly attended ?
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