Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-27
CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION
PROVIDES FOR COMMITTEE
TO EXAMINE PREACHERS.
MEETING OF cHURcHMEN
COMES TO END TODAY
Rev. A. B. AppIeby, of Newton, Made
Chairman of New comn1ittee-Local
Church Brotherhood Entertains Del
esates at Suppe-Few More Dele
gates Arrived For Closing Day.

Twenty-three Of the twenty-even
Congregational churches of the Grtnnell
association were represented at the
closing sessions of the associations
meeting today. A few additional dele
gates arrived on the morning trains.
The annual meeting adjourned late this
afternoon after having held what is
generally regarded. a very profitable
meeting.
The important business Of the morn
ing session was the final adoption OF
the revised constitution OF the asso-
citation, which was first Brought up
Tuesday A part of it, known as sec
ton 9, which contains recommended
lions which are a radical departure
from former methods, was adopted
with scarcely dissenting voice.
Makes Committee on Preachers.
This section of the new constitution
and bylaws provides for q committee
of three ministers on licensure and
ministerial standing. This committees
duties are given in the following ex-
tract from the article:
This committee shall examine can
didates who may apply to the associa-
ton for licensure or ordination, and
shall report to the association for &C
ton. 1t shall also be the duty of this
committee to examine the credentials
of ministers presenting themselves for
embership in the association, and to
consider such other matters as may
properly come before such a commV-
I to
the churches they serve, are expected
to put themselves under the advice OF
this committee. The committee shall
consult with such candidates for ordi-
nation in their progress in the course
Of study laid down by the general as
ISOLATION of Iowa, and shall advise sue,
men, and the churches they serve, when
they deem them ready for ordination.
The candidate being approved. he may
be ordained at the association, or If
desired, the public service may be held
in the church which has requested the
service of ordination. In this case. the
association may appoint certain MEM
bers to represent it with power to act
in such a public service. or if desired.
the association shall meet as an ordain-
ing council with the church requesting
1t, the first stated business after or
ganization being the report Of above
committee. 1t is urgently recommenf1
ed to the constituent churches teat
such special meetings be always called
to discharge the functions usually ex-
ercised by an ordaining council.
Is Radical Change.
The creating of this committee and
the outlining of its duties is a radical
change from the customary methods II
has been the practice that when bus
| mess, such as this committee is ex-
pected to handle, has come up that a
council OF churches in the neighbor-
hood was called, to pass on the preach
er candidate. 1t frequently happened
that such councils were not informed
regarding the candidates past OF
antecedents and had had no chance to
investigate. The result was frequently
blind action.
This Innovation does not make the in
dividual churches comply with it, be-
cause the association has no such pow
er. 1t is merely reco mmendation on
this subject.
The committee chosen under this
article was made up Of Revs. A. B. APP
pleby, Of Newton, chairman; F. E
Henry, of Belle PLANE, and Rev. j. B
Adkins, of Oskaloosa.
Brotherhood Entertains.
The delegates and others attending
the association meeting and members
of the local church, to the number OF
almost 100, were the guests of the
brotherhood of the local church at sup