Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-02-23
Constitution and Rules of the Che.
bOygan Congregational Confer
ence.

| ence.
The inl;' wing constitution and rules
were adopted uio,, lie organization of
the new Congregational confer CO. at
Mancelona, Wednesday, Feb. 18th, 1873
Believing that an association of the
ministers and messengers of the churches
for the promotion OF mutual editication
and counsel will greatly enhance tile in
tellectual and spiritual improvement of
IFS members, and, through them, the
| churches represented.
We do. therefore, adopt the following
constitution and rules:
ARTICLE NAME
This body shall he known as the Che
boygaE Congregational Conferences.
ARTICLE ll.-OBJECr.
The object OF this association shall be
| to promote Christian love and fellowship
among its members, and to secure more
| efficient cooperation i'm the spread OF the
gospel at home and abro ID.
ARTICLE Iii MEMBERS.
Sec. l. Any evangelical minister, on pre-
senting certificate of good standing i'm
Il Congregation ii church and letter of
dismi>siOn from any ecclesiastical body
with which he is connected, may, OH vote
of the members present ut any regular
meeting, become Il member of this body.
Sec. 2. And amy church whose form of
government and confession of faith shall
be found satisfactory may, OH vote, be re-
ceived into the body; ana. when received.
shall be entitled to representation i'm all
meetings by TWO delegates chosen for the
purpose.
Sec. 3. Any minister or layman may,
on recommendation OF the Business COM
mittec, be invited 10 sit as Il correspond
ing member.
ARTICLE IV.-OFFICERs.
! Sec. l. Th. officers of tliIs conference
shall consist of Moderator and Scribe,
to be chosen at each regular meeting,
and Secretary, elected annually by bal
lot, who shall b. ex-OfficiO Treasurer of
the conference.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
Sec. 2. The duties of the Moderator
shall be those usually incumbent OIL that
Office, aud he shall serve until the ap-
pOintmenr OF his successor.
Sec 3. 1t shall be the duty Of the
Scribe to make out the roll, 10 record
the minutes of the meeting, and TO pre-
sent the same to the Secretary tor per-
manent record.
See 4. 1t shall be the duty of the Sec
| retary 70 give due notice To the ministers
| aud churches comprising this body OF the
| time and place Of each meeting, carefully
| 10 record the minutes of each meeting.
| to receive statistical reports from the lo
cal churches, and to prepare the same for
| the General Conference, 10 prepare annu-
| ally statement OF the state Of religion
| in the churches of this society. an,l
| trausmit The same to the General Con-
| ference.
Sec. 5. AS Trcasur.r the Secretary
shall make an annual report of the state
of the treasury, recommend the sums
neeGiul to be raised, and apportion and
ce;lect the amounts decided upon by
confe. ence.
ARTICLE WINE AND PLACE OF
MEETING.
Sec. l. The regular meetings of this
conference shall be at hell suc.: place as
the body may direct. The annual meet
in,.s on the third Tuesday in December,
at p. NJ; the semi-annual OIL the first
Tuesday in June ut 7:30 p. N.
Sec. 2. Special meetings may be called
by the Secretary at the request of any
three members of the conference, and the
minutes Of such meeting shall be sub
nitted for approval al The subsequent
regular meeting.
ARTICLE VI.-QUORUM
Five members shall be requisite for
the transaction of business. bus for OPEN
ing and closing the sessions the number
present shall be competent.
ARTICLE VIl.-STANDING COMMITTEES.
At each I. gular meeting of the con-
ference committee of three, one of
which shall be the minister OF the chuI cb
with which the conference shall next
convene, shall be chosen .or the succeed
ing meeting, whose duty it shall be. to-
getlier with the Secretary, TO prepare a
programme OF exercises for the next
meeting and TO arrange the entire order
of business, subject To the approval of
conference; ami no business shall be in
troduced without their consent, except
by vote of the body upon appeal.
ARTICLE VIII.
This conference asScnts to the cOnsti-
tuition of the General association of Mich-
igan, and to the doctrines OF Christianity
commonly known as evangelical.
ARTICLE lX.
This constitution may be amended by
vote of twO-thirtls OF the members
present at a regular meeting. notice hav-
ing been given in writing ut q previous
regular meeting.
|. Cushing's manual Of Parliamentary
Usage shall be the standard by which
the deliberations OF this body shall De
conducted.
III. Each regular meeting of the con-
ference shall be opened by a sermon.
ILL. A communion service shall be
held in correction with every regular
meeting Of the conference.
Nv. This conference shall never Cxer-
ciee any ecclesiastical authority over its
members, or tue churches composing il;
but it may for sun cient reasons with
draw fellowship from church or indi-
vidual member.
V. Ii shall be deemed the duty Of each
member 10 attend ali the regular meet
ings. and whenever detained therefrom,
10 report to conference by letter.
vi. In debate no member, without
leave Of the body, shall speak more than
ten minutes. nor more than once while
others wish TO occupy the floor.
VII. AT each animal meeting u report
OF the state af religion in each church
shall be made in Writing by delegate;
or, in his absence or failure, by the min
lister.
VIII. On Wednesday forenoon of each
regular meeting the order OF exercises
shall be especially adapted TO improve
the ministry both in the matter an l
manner OF their work.
lX. At each annual meeting mission
airy committee OF three shall be chosen,
to whom shall be referred all commpni-
cations for missionary aid. 1t shall be
the duty of said committee to ascertain
the necessities Of the church applying