USA > Indiana > History of the Eel River Christian Conference, from its organization to the present time--August 15, 1902-- ; also History of all the churches of the Conference from their organization to the present time, together with biographical sketches of ministers and laymen, and much other important matter > Part 11
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the date when received and when paid out, of whom received and to whom paid.
Section 3. He shall faithfully discharge the duties of his office and shall pay and deliver over to his successor in office, or to the Trus- tees, all money in the treasury and all things in his hands by virtue of his office, belonging to the corporation.
Section 4. These by-laws may be amended by the Board at any meeting thereof, provided that no such amendment shall be made only by the concurring vote of a majority of all the Trustees.
At the annual meeting of Conference held Angust, 1893, with the Wakarusa Christian church the following additional by-laws were passed by the Board of Trustees:
ARTICLE IV.
Section 1. The Board of Trustees shall have charge and control of all the real estate belonging to the Eel River Christian Conference, and shall cause all deeds conveying real estate to be recorded in the Recorder's office wherein the real estate is situate. Also to be recorded by the Secretary in the records of the Board of Trustees. The Secre- tary shall also make and keep a list of said property, which list or schedule shall show where said property is located, the value thereof, the kind of property, i. c., whether improved or unimproved, and the kind of improvement, and whether it is occupied or not. Said Board shall make an annual report to the annual Conference setting forth a statement of all the property of the Conference, its condition, value. whether insured or not, and such other matters concerning said proper- ty as may be of general interest to the General Conference.
Section 2. The Board of Trustees hereby authorize: That the ministers, delegates, and all other members of the Eel River Christian Conference shall be named and designated as the General Conference. which General Conference shall have general control of the ministers. churches, members and spiritual welfare of this Conference, and shall also have the power to pass such by-laws, rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry out the powers herein granted to the Gen- eral Conference.
Section 3. The General Conference shall have power to establish mission and other church funds. provide for the collection of the same. and also the disbursement thereof; but the General Conference shall have no power to bind the real property of the Conference.
Section 4. The General Conference shall have the power to elect
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a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Finance Keeper, and such other officers and agents as may be deemed necessary to carry out the powers herein granted to the General Conference.
Section 5. The Conference fund to defray the general expenses of this Conference shall be raised by the various churches of this Confer- ence contributing annually the sum of five cents for each and every member of such church; which sum shall be collected and paid over to the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. The General Conference is authorized to appropriate out of said fund a sufficient sum to pay the running expenses of the General Conference.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Section 6. Annual meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held on the day before the annual session of the General Conference, and at the place of holding such annual session. Special meetings shall be held at any time on the call of the President or three members of the Board of Trustees, ten days' notice being given to each Trustee of the time and place of such meetings and the nature of the business to be transacted at such meeting.
Section 7. The Board of Trustees shall not sell or dispose of any property of the Conference without the consent and recommendation of the General Conference.
Section 8. The Board of Trustees on the sale of any property of the Conference shall preserve the fund arising from such sale, and the same shall not be appropriated for any purpose except for the purchase of church property or the erection of church buildings.
Section 9. The Board of Trustees shall not appropriate any inoney of the Conference for any purpose to exceed the sum of fifty dollars, without the consent and recommendation of the General Con- ference.
At the same session held at Wakarusa in August, 1893, the follow- ing by-laws were passed to govern the General Conference:
MEMBERS OF CONFERENCE.
Section 1. The members of Eel River Christian Conference shall consist of regularly organized Christian churches and Christian minis- ters.
HOW TO BECOME MEMBERS.
Section 2. Christian churches and Christian ministers may be-
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come members of the Eel River Christian Conference by presenting to the General Conference an application for membership, which applica- tions shall be referred to an appropriate committee, who, if it report favorably on such application, and the general body shall adopt the re- port of committee, such church or minister shall then be a member of said Conference. All ministers shall then be given the right hand of fellowship.
OFFICERS OF GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Section 3. The officers shall be President, Vice-President. Record- ing Secretary, Assistant Secretary and a Treasurer. The Treasurer of the Board of Trustees shall be ex-officio Treasurer of the General Con- ference. Such other officers, agents and committees as may be neces- sary from time to time may be elected or appointed.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
Section 4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Gen- eral Conference, preserve order, enforce the rules and orders of Confer- ence, appoint all committees when not otherwise provided, sign all licenses issued to ministers and perform such other duties as are usually performed by presiding officers.
Section 5. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform all duties required of said officer.
RECORDING SECRETARY.
Section 6. Shall make a report of all the proceedings of the Gen- eral Conference, draw all warrants on the Treasurer, that may be ordered by the General Conference, issue all licenses to ministers under his hand and seal of this Conference, and perform such other duties as may be required of him.
THE TREASURER.
Section 7. Shall keep funds of the General Conference separate from all other funds in his hands, shall pay out of such funds all orders drawn on the same by the General Conference. Shall make his report to the General Conference at its annual session, and make such addi- tional reports as may be ordered by the general body. Such annualre- port shall show the receipts and disbursements, from what source re- ceived and for what expended.
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Section S. There shall be and is hereby established an Executive Board of this Conference, consisting of six members, who shall hold
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their office for a term of one year. The President and Recording Sec- retary shall be ex-officio members of said Board. The other four mem- bers shall be elected by the General Conference at its annual sessions.
DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Section 9. The Executive Board shall have the power in the re- cess between the sessions of the General Conference to do and perform all the duties, and exercise all the powers that may be done and exer- cised by the General Conference while in session and the acts done by the Executive Board shall bind Conference.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Section 10. The President, Vice-President and Recording Secre- tary and three members of the Board of Trustees shall be elected by the General Conference each year at its annual session. Nominations shall be made for each officer. In all cases wherein more than one per- son is nominated for the same office, the election shall be by ballot, and the one receiving a majority of all the votes cast shall be declared elected. If only one person is nominated for an office the election shall be by acclamation.
All such officers shall hold their office for one year and until their successor is elected.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Section 11. To be appointed each year.
1. On Filling the Stand.
2. On Introduction of Visitors.
3. On Grievance.
4. On Examination of Reports.
5. On Missions.
6. On Auditing.
7. On Publications.
8. On Condolence.
9. On Moral Reform.
10. On Education.
11. On Destitute Churches, and Church Extension and Finance, shall be the Executive Board.
12. On By-Laws.
13. On Membership.
14. On Program.
15. On Ordination.
16. On Course of Study.
.
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Such other committees may be appointed from time to time, as may be required.
Section 12. No minister shall become a member of this Confer- ence, unless he comes recommended by some other Christian Confer- ence or if such one has never been a member of any Christian Confer- ence, unless he comes recommended by the church of which he is a member.
NOTE-Section 12 was amended at the annual session in Angust, 1900, and now reads as follows: "Section 12. That we will receive no minister from another denomination until he or she has been a member of the Christian church for at least one year, and thus prove himself loyal to and in sympathy with the doctrine, teach- ing and practice of the Christian church, and if she or he has not taken a prescribed course of study in preparation for the ministry, they shall complete the course pre- scribed by Conference. Said applicant shall come recommended by a Christian church of which he has been at least one year a member."
Section 13. Each minister living within and laboring within the bounds of Eel River Christian Conference, is urged to become identified with us in Conference capacity, thereby strengthening us in our labor and placing themselves in a position to obey the injunction of the apos- tles, "Submitting themselves to the brethren for the Lord's sake."
HONORARY MEMBERS.
Section 14. Any minister who is in good standing in any other Christian Conference may become an honorary member of this Confer- ence on application, recommendation of committee on reception of members and vote of Conference. All honorary members shall have and enjoy all the rights aud privileges of members, except to hold office and vote on propositions for the appropriation of the funds of this Con- ference.
Section 15. No church belonging to this Conference shall employ a minister unless he comes recommended by some Christian Conference.
Section 16. No church shall permit any minister of any other de- nomination to hold a lengthy service in any church house belonging to the Christian denomination, with a view of organizing a church therein.
Section 17. The pastor of any church belonging to this Confer- ence, desiring to make a change in his pastoral relation, shall. two months before the end of the year for which he was employed, notify said church of such intention.
Section 18. Any church desiring to change pastors, shall. two months before the end of the year, notify such pastor of such intention of making such change.
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Section 19. No church shall be allowed to employ a new minister until full settlement be made for the previous year with her pastor.
Section 20. Ministers when called upon to preach funerals, shall have their expenses, at least, provided for.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Section 21. First, as to church organization.
No minister should organize a church without first conferring with at least two other ministers of the same Conference with himself, one of them to be an Elder.
Second, Those coming together for church fellowship, should promise to watch over each other for good, to dwell together in love and to acknowledge-
First, Christ as head of the Church.
Second, Christian the only name.
Third, The Bible the only rule of faith and practice.
Fourth, Christian character or the fruit the only test of church fellowship.
Fifth, The right of private opinion given to all.
No person who is not a member of the Christian church shall be elected a Trustee of any Christian church of this Conference.
After the church organization has been made, and before the church can become the owner of any real property, the church should be incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana, under chapter 34, of the revised statute of Indiana, 1881.
By giving notice of the election of Trustees, as provided by Sec- tion 3818, R. S. 1881, as amended acts 1895, p. 13, which is as follows:
Notice to Elect Trustees. 3. Notice of the first election of Trustees shall be given at least ten days previous thereto by publication in a newspaper of the county if any be published therein, otherwise by posting such notices in three public places in the township where such election is to take place, one of which such notices shall be posted at the place where the proposed election is to be held. Such notice shall state the time, place of worship or meeting of such society if any there be: Pro- vided, That at any subsequent election of such Trustees no such notice shall be nec- essary where such lodge or society shall in its rules, by-laws or constitution provide and fix the time and place for the election of its trustees.
At the election pursuant to notice, the clerk of the church shall keep a record of the votes cast for Trustees, and within ten days there- after, shall deposit in the Recorder's office of the county where the real estate is situate, a certificate setting forth the notice of election, the
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time and place where the same was held, the name of the church, and the persons elected as Trustees, which certificate shall be recorded among the records of deeds of said county where the real estate is situ- ate. Section 3819.
It is advisable that at the first election of Trustees, one be elected for a term of one year, another for two years, and a third for three years. Every year thereafter, one Trustee shall be elected for three years. In this way there is always two experienced members of the Board. At each annual election of Trustees notice must be given and a certificate filed and recorded, as is required at the incorporation. This should be promptly done. Sections 3819, 3821, 3823, R. S. 1881.
Note-Unless a fixed time and place be designated by the by-laws, see notices to elect trustees above.
Section 22. Second, as to officers of the church:
The officers of the church should be three Trustees, Clerk, Treas- urer, one or more Stewards, Deacon or Deacons, as may be deemed best, Sexton and ushers; all officers to be elected by a majority of the members present at the annual meeting of the church.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
First, Trustees have general control over the church property, and make all contracts for the church.
Second, The Clerk to keep a correct record of all the church pro- ceedings, also a roll of church membership.
Third, The Treasurer shall keep a correct account of all the money received into the treasury and paid out by him.
Fourth, The Deacons should aid the pastor in communions and baptisms, and look after the poor of the church. They should also look after any refractory members, and in the absence of the pastor should preside at all church meetings.
Fifth, Stewards should obtain subscriptions, collect and pay over the same to the Treasurer, and take up the collections of the church.
Sixth, The Sexton shall have general charge of the church house. shall keep the same properly heated, lighted, and in good order; he shall also assist in preserving good order at all meetings.
DUTIES OF THE CHURCH.
Section 23. First, Each church shall secure the pastoral labors of some minister of the Christian church.
Second, Each church should promptly pay its pastor the amount agreed to be paid.
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Third, Each church should become a member of Conference, and comply cheerfully with all reasonable demands made by said Confer- ence.
ANNUAL MEETINGS.
Section 24. The church should appoint an annual meeting. at which time all the officers of the church should make report to the church. The church should make settlement with its pastor; second, with its sexton; third, make settlement of all other claims; and fourth, should also make arrangements for preaching for the ensuing year. It is advisable to hold quarterly meetings in the church to consider its financial condition and make settlement with the sexton and to do and perform such other business as may pertain to the prosperity of the church.
DUTIES OF PASTORS.
Section 25. First, The pastor should be punctual in filling all his appointments.
Second, He shall visit all careless and luke-warm members.
Third, To visit all members as much as in his power lieth.
Fourth, Ministers should contract in writing with each church by whom he may be engaged as pastor, stating the amount of salary for each year, how the same shall be paid, whether quarterly or otherwise, and the number of sermons to be preached regularly each month.
DUTIES OF MEMBERS.
Section 26. Each member shall render to the officers all needed aid; should pay to support the gospel as the Lord has prospered him. Each member should be punctual in attending all meetings.
CHURCH REPRESENTATION IN GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Section 27. Shall be two delegates for each church organization and one delegate for each fifty members thereof.
Section 28. All claims, applications for aid, and propositions for appropriating funds of this Conference, shall be referred to the Execu- tive Board, and shall not be considered by the General Conference, only on report of this Board.
Section 29. All ministers, churches and Sunday Schools of this Conference shall make report to the General Conference on the first day of the annual session, on the blanks as recommended by the American Christian Convention.
The credentials of any minister failing to report for two consecutive years shall be withheld unless such minister shall make his report. All churches failing
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to report for two consecutive years shall be notified by the Secretary that a report is due the Conference, and if said report be not received before the close of the next annual Conference thereafter, such church shall be dropped from the roll. [As amended, annual session, 1894. ]
The following resolution passed at 1894 session: Resolved, "That we strike out the clause in the licentiate ministers' license prohibiting them from performing marriage ceremonies, and grant them the privilege of solemnizing marriages."
Resolved, "That all ministers laboring within the bounds of the Eel River Christian Conference be required to have the seal of said Conference placed upon their credentials, by the Secretary, and in case of failures of any minister to comply with these requirements, that his case be submitted to the Executive Board for the enforcement of the same." [Passed at the annual session in 1899. ]
Resolved, "That the licentiates be required to pursue their preparation for the full work of the gospel minister, and that upon their refusal or neglect to do so within a reasonable period of time, their failure be regarded as prima facie evidence of their intention not to prepare themselves for ordination and sufficient reason for refusing to renew their license." [Passed at the aminal session in 1899. ]
Section 30. All officers of this Conference shall make a full and complete report at the annual session of Conference, of all official acts done and funds received and disbursed for the preceding year. All re- ports concerning receipts and disbursements of funds of the Conference. shall be referred to the Auditing Committee.
Section 31. All reports of ministers, Sunday Schools and churches shall be handed to Committee on Tabulation, and then read from tabu- lated report on call of the President. [As amended, annual session. 1897.]
NOTE-The following was passed at the annual session in 1901: "That the Conference provide a cloth blackboard upon which the Committee on Reports may copy the statistical parts of the tabulated reports of the churches, together with the corresponding reports of the previous year, and that the blackboard containing the tabulated reports be placed before the Conference not later than the Friday fore- noon session.
Section 32. No church property within the bounds of this Confer- ence shall be deeded to this Conference until said property shall be free from all indebtedness.
Section 33. Collections for the regular Conference fund to bear the general expenses of the Conference, to insure property, etc., should be taken in July.
Section 34. No money shall be appropriated by this Conference for any purpose other than that for which it was collected.
CONFERENCE MISSION FUND.
Section 35. For the purpose of establishing and maintaining a
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Conference Mission Fund, each member of the various churches shall pay the sum of ten cents per quarter for that purpose; said quarterage to be paid in November, February, May and August of each year.
Section 36. The Conference Mission Fund shall be used to estab- lish new churches, to aid weak churches, and to supply an evangelist, if deemed advisable, at any time, and for no other purpose than aboved named.
Section 37. All ministers laboring for the churches of this Con- ference shall present to the several churches, and promptly take up all collections that are now recommended and required by the American Christian Convention. And also all collections required by the Confer- ence, and shall make report of this matter to the General Conference. Any minister failing to take up these various collections is subject to be reprimanded by the President.
PARLIMENTARY RULES.
Section 38. All persons who arise to speak on any question shall first address the President, and when recognized by the chair, may pro- ceed to speak. The one having the floor must confine himself directly to the question under consideration and avoid all personalities and everything which is calculated to mar the peace or wound the feelings of any one, and the President shall enforce this rule.
Section 39. All motions or resolutions to be presented to the Gen- eral Conference must be in writing.
Section 40. All members have a right to be heard on all questions. No one will be recognized to speak a second time while some member who has not spoken is trying to obtain the floor; and no one will be al- lowed to occupy the floor a second time for longer than five minutes without the consent of Conference.
Section 41. All members of the Conference, both ininisters and delegates, are required to remain during Conference session, unless ex- cused by the President in open Conference, and if any objections be offered to the President's permit by any member, then he must obtain consent of Conference before he is legally excused.
Section 42. The minutes of each half day's session shall be read and approved at the beginning of the next half day's session.
Section 43. No person not a member of this Conference, or honor- ary member shall offer any motion, or resolution, in General Confer- ence, unless by consent of Conference first obtained.
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Section 44. Cushing's Manual shall govern on all Parliamentary questions where no special rule exhists.
Section 45. All by-laws or resolutions governing this body, here- tofore passed, are hereby repealed.
Section 46. These by-laws may be amended at any annual session of the General Conference by a majority vote of the members present. But before a proposed amendment shall be passed upon by the General Conference it shall be referred to the Committee on By-Laws.
OTHER MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS.
The following were recommended by the Executive Board and passed at the annual session in 1897:
DIPLOMAS.
The Board commends the issuing of diplomas to those finishing Course of Study, with a charge of $2.00 to each one receiving said diploma.
BADGES.
The Board also recommends that badges be prepared by the Presi- dent in sufficient number that each minister, officer and delegate of Conference may be provided with one of the same during each session of Conference, and at the close of each session the badges to be return- ed to the Secretary to be kept for use at the next session.
The following motion was passed at the annual session in 1899:
"Moved that the picture of the organization of Conference be left with the church where Conference is held until the next session and then taken to the point where Conference is to be held."
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
We, the Executive Board, would recommend that the Sunday Schools in the bounds of Eel River Conference, take up a special col- lection in the month of October, for the Franklinton College. The same to be kept account of and reported to Conference in the annual Sunday School reports. But the collection, as soon as taken, sent to Rev. J. F. Burnett, Eaton, Ohio. [Passed at annual session in 1895.]
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