Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-06-17

The preachers of the church are divide
into bishops, teachers and deacons, and
every brother is allowed to stand up and
speak in exposition or eXhortalion. Minis.
tiers are paid no fixed salary, bat are gener
ally supported by presents from the congre
cation. The Society has no theological
seminaries and make their selections of
preachers from those possessing gifts fitting
them for the position. Many of,he church
es have two ministers and some even more.
The bishops travel ffom one congregation
to another, preach, otliciate Mt funerals and
weddings, and have general supervisory
control over all matters. An elder is the
Oldest chosen teacher in the congregation
where there is no bishop. He appoints
meetings exhorts and breaches. and when
no bishop is present, performs the same da.
ties. Teachers are chosen by vote, and
they can preach ard exhort at stated meet
ings and at the request CT bishop or elder,
can baptise or marry. The dcacons have
an oversight over the poor of the congrega-
ton. and it is their duty to visit all the
families and exh TT and pray with them,
and when necessary. endeavor to reconcile
any differences arising between rem
bcrs.
PECULIAR TRAITS.
The members, both men and woman,
dress with unusual plainness. They will
not take an oath, but affirm, the same as
Quakers; are opposed to bearing arms and
going to law lend money to the poor at
less than the lawful rate of interest or no
interest at all ; are careful of one anoihers
reputation and feelings; AMI are generally
industrious. frugal, temperate, charitable
and sociaale, and pay particular attention
to relieving the wants of the poor. In
shcrt, they try to be christians in fact as
we'll as in name.
THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR
was held at the chur in Orange township,
about five miles from this city. The COM
mittees to make arrangems nts for entertain
ing the large number expected, performed
their duties in a very satisfactory manner
The church building, which is a large and
substantial frame edifice with basement, was
used for setting tables to feed those in at
tendance and for cooking purposes, while
the business meetings were held in q very
large tent made expressly for the purpose,
and attached to the rear of the church.
The business discussed and disposed of
embraces a wide range, and it is impossible
for us to make anything like q report of it.
While we were present, the question Of d.
vorces was before the committee and was
freely discussed, and rs il was an old ones
ton, carried over from year to year, the
members were thoroughly posted in all the
strong points of their arguments and were
ever ready to make them effective by quot
ing scriptural passages. We teheve tie
decision arrived at is that where either party
obtains q divorce, neither party can marry
again until after the death of. one of the
praties. We believe, also, it las decided
that nothing but adultery entities a person
to divorce. Another question discussed,
but not settled, was insurance. a number
being opposed to the insurance Of property
and still larger number to the INSURANCE
of lives. The society has always been
divided on this matter, and it is still unse,tl-
ed. The question of dress was also discuss
ed and some sharp remarks INDUCED in
for the benefit of those disposed to depart
from the beaten track.-Church music was
brought up and the general feeling was
against instrumental music of all kinds in
connection with church worship. All the
music We heard while at the conference
was ''lined OUT and SING hv the congrega-
lion and if the time was not always perfect
there could be 40 doubt about the earnest
ness of the singers.
THE CHURCH IN BIACKIIAwK COUNTY.
The Church in Orange Township was
organized in 1876 and the ediGce erected
in 1868 The membership now r.aches
about $50, and many OF the most respected
and worthy citizens in that vicinity are
among the members. Its situated in the
midst Of one of ihc finest agricultural districts
in Blackhawk county. and from the chur h
a beautiful view Of farm houses, groves and
fields Of grain could be obtained.
The work of entertaining such large
number OF strangers Of course fell on the
members of this. church, and right molly
was the duty performed The only officially
was in providing sleeping accommodations
but even this matter was settled by quarter
ing the delegates among the different farm
houses, where shake downs of various
kinds were provided.
The larder was bountifnly supplied, and
if all our readers could have seen the piles
of meat and mountains of bread, they would
have had the utmost faith in the ability Of
the Church to feed all present and perhaps
as many more.
A great deal Of stuff was left over after
the adiournmen: of the conference and it |
was distributed among the poor in the vi |
cinlty. beth in and outside Of the deuomin
alton.
ID