i ‘.. “= r 7 ave ae etoues : 2 Seroeatye Niet estas ee bachacaeey ea eae = 7 233 : Ipsos rerareecrene tints : po ecertes re z grab te rey twee us i-pere: < _ eee =z : : ariel “ : : 3 9 rec alen st nee tea oe ai» f . ; $ : : Sd 4 Tred asctecpesenst eee rs : a j Fete Bitihense titers - : pierce = bead Sete tara wa tere totet Set pt est ee pe2site shigmstee: Sardet-eas meter aaa ee ene Finer eee pbbliv owes © A MANUAL OF SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST CHURCH PROCEDURE (REVISED) Cornpiled and Edited by WILLIAM LEWIS ’BURDICK, D.D. President, Seventh Day Baptist General Conference (1918-1919); Cor- responding Secretary, Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society; Member, Committee on Denominational History of Seventh Day Baptist General Conference: Chairman, Advisory Committee of Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society; Member, American So- ciety of Church Htstory; Member, American Historical Society. Author of the following Seventh Day Baptist Histories: First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hopkinton, Rhode Island; Seventh Day Baptist Education Society; Seventh Day Baptist Eastern As- sociation; Seventh Day Baptist Western Association. » And CORLISS FITZ ‘RANDOLPH, GHD: LED: President, Seventh Davy Baptist Historical Society; President, Amer- ican Sabbath Tract Society (Seventh Day Baptist); Chairman, Committee on Denominational History of Seventh Day Baptist General Conference. Editor, Seventh Day Baptist Year Book. Mem- ber: Baptist Historical Society (England); Congregational Historical Society (England); American Soctetv of Church History; New Jer- sey Historical Society; American Historical Society; Archaelogical Institute of America; National Institute of Social Sciences; Amer- ican Academy of Social and Political Science; Authors’ Club (Lon- don); Société Academique D’Historique Internationdle (Paris), Au- thor of following Histories: Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia; Seventh Day Baptist South-Eastern Association; German Seventh Day Baptists; The Rogerines. Published For The SEVENTH DAY Sine dee) diag Oa CONFERENCE y The AMERICAN SABBATH TRACT SOCIETY (Seventh Day Baptist) PLAINFIELD, N. J. 1926 Copyright, 1926 by William Lewis Burdick and Corliss Fitz Randolph Preface to Revised Edition The need of such a manual as this is well attested by the fact that the first edition was out of print in less than a year after publication; and the editors take the opportunity afforded by a second edition to correct a few minor errors, and to extend the treatment of the duties of dea- cons, as well as that of parliamentary law, and to introduce certain details of description of the man- ner of administering baptism, and serving the communion, with brief paragraphs on the Sol- emnization of Matrimony, and of the Burial of the Dead. The editors desire to make clear, beyond the peradventure of a doubt, that the entire subject matter of this Manual is historical—that it is in short, Seventh Day Baptist history. Indeed, there is no book in existence, to the knowledge of the editors, devoted to the history of the ecclesiastical manners and customs of Seventh Day Baptists, during the three centuries of their existence as a separate denomination of English- speaking Christians, other than this Manual; and the editors have sought, with the most exacting and scrupulous care, to introduce nothing into either the first edition or this that is not either of their own personal knowledge, or adequately attested by duly accredited records. (3) 4 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL The editors hereby express their thanks for criticisms and suggestions offered—all of which have been given careful consideration in the preparation of this revised edition. WILLIAM Lewis BuRDICK, CorLiss Fitz RANDOLPH, Editorial Committee. May 1, 1926. Preface to First Edition The need of a manual setting forth the forms of procedure commonly followed by Seventh Day Baptist churches has long been recognized. At its annual session, held in Nortonville, Kansas, in August, 1918, the General Conference instructed its Commission to have prepared a manual on the manner of ordaining, deposing, and reinstat- ing ministers. That was all that was originally contemplated. At the first subsequent meeting of the Com- mission, held in the following December, a com- mittee was appointed to undertake this task. But, although work was soon begun, a series of events conspired to delay its completion. Meanwhile the scope of the project was extended from time to time until it finally embraced so much that the committee felt constrained to make the manual as complete as possible for all ordinary church uses; and this has been done, even to the extent of including a brief treatment of parliamentary practice. However, no effort has been made to produce an exhaustive treatise; for numerous other sub- jects might easily have been included, and those which have been introduced might have been treated much more extensively, It has been the aim of the committee to treat only those topics that are most likely to arise in the usual routine of church procedure, and to make the treatment (5) 6 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL as simple and brief as possible, but sufficiently comprehensive to be complete, however brief. The numerous delays in the progress of the work have given time for research, study, and consultation that would not have been otherwise possible. Throughout the entire period, the two members of the committee have been in frequent consultation; and, immediately preceding finally going to press, they spent several days in careful consultation, reviewing the entire manuscript. The committee approached their work with open minds, and with no preconceived ideas except faithfully to follow Seventh Day Baptist precedent. In short, the task of the committee resolved itself into searching out and codifying | the practice of Seventh Day Baptist churches since the earliest beginnings of their parent church, the Mill Yard Church, of London, England. A widely varied personal experience and obser- vation on the part of each of the members of the committee for some forty years and more, and a close study of Seventh Day Baptist history by both for thirty years established a fair working basis for a beginning. Before the close of tne work, a careful reéxamination of printed and other documentary sources has been made of every phase of the results submitted. In so far as possible, the committee has sought to buttress its conclusions by the practice of other denominations whose church government is con- PREFACE 7 gregational, like that of Seventh Day Baptists; and have been gratified to find that they all have so much in common. ‘The Baptist procedure has been consulted more than that of any other denomination besides Seventh Day Baptists, but that of the Congregationalists has also been worthy of note. Citations from both have been introduced where they have seemed to illuminate and add force to Seventh Day Baptist practice. In brief, it has not been the purpose of the committee to set forth their personal views as to the church, its organization, its membership, its government, its discipline, its ministry, its sacra- ments, its covenants, its beliefs, its constitutions, or its rules of order; but rather to state as clearly as possible the practice of Seventh Day Baptist churches. In so doing, they have kept constantly before them the three hundred years of Seventh Day Baptist history and the struggles of Seventh Day Baptist churches during all this time, along with those of the Baptists and Congregationalists, for religious liberty and for democracy in the church; and the committee has been no less mind- ful of the development of, and the changes in, the forms and practices of the churches during all these centuries. WILLIAM Lewis BurRDICcK, Cortiss Fitz RANDOLPH, Committee. December 10, 1922. Preface to Revised Edition.:........ 3 Preface to First Editionace eee 5 I A Christian’ Church) 3h sae orto 9 If, Organizing: a Church ss. fa secpece ee Il III. Church Independence and Mutual Codperations:.. 2) ay a ae 2Y IV >Churech’ Membership eacge pce ee 24 V. Covenant’ and’ Expose of aithea ae 39 VI.-Communtion setyices) 2 ee ee 45 VIT. Baptisms: cc ih ots sete ee 48 VIII. Solemnization of Matrimony......... 50 TX. Burial of: the Dead: 2. eet ee 51 Xe Constitutions fase Le ae See iy XI. Rules for the Transaction of Business. . 57 XII. The Ministry of the Church. 7) jane SI XIII. Ordination and Recognition.......... 96 XIV. Church “Disciplines 52) 0)24 tne 107 (3) Contents Indexiie uP Ae ne I17 Chapter I. A CHRISTIAN CHURCH There is need that we keep before us what constitutes an organization as a Christian church. A Christian church may and should be defined from different standpoints: (a) As to its head, it is an organization centering around Christ, the revelation, manifestation, and per- sonation of God the Father, as its supreme and ador- able Lord, Master, Saviour, Guide, Helper, and Friend. (b) As to the character of its members, it is made up of regenerate baptized believers who are trying to live Christ-like lives and adorn their characters with the graces of Christ. (c) As to its laws and government, it knows no laws save the laws of Christ as found in the Bible and no government above itself save Christ. (d) As to its mission, its aim is to lead sinning men, of both high and low degree, to Christ and to lives of righteousness in Christ, to help one another live Godly lives, to better every condition in the world, and above all to make Christ and his blessed will supreme over all. (e) And as to the sacraments ordained by Christ, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, it is the organization to which Christ, in love, committed these expressive, impressive, precious, and sacred ordinances. Not a reform association, however good; nor a fraternity, however brotherly; nor a Chris- (9) 10 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL tian Association, however active, is a Christian church, for none of them meets the New TJesta- ment idea of a church. Furthermore, an organization calling itself a church may cease to be one because it fails to put first things—Christ and the redemption of men—first; or, worse, because it becomes worldly and selfish. ‘When a company of people are contemplating organizing a church it is well that they consider whether it is a Christian church or something else they have in mind. Furthermore, it is well that a church already organized test itself occasionally to determine whether its works and spirit entitle it to be called a Christian church. In this connection, it is not out of place that we call to mind that the term ‘“‘church”’ is some- times used as referring to the Redeemed of all lands, ages, and worlds; but in this MANUAL we have reference to the local, visible organization centering about Christ as all in all, and to the organization,—to which Christ committed the sacraments,—composed of regenerate baptized believers, seeking to help one another, to lead all men to Christ, and to produce a universal brother- hood completely good. Chapter II. ORGANIZING A CHURCH PRELIMINARY MEETING When there seems to be a sufficient number of Sabbath-keeping Christians in a community to constitute a church, a meeting to consider the question should be called by some one interested in effecting such an organization; or two or more persons may join in calling the meeting. Only those intending to enter the church if organized should be invited unless there be members of other Seventh Day Baptist churches who may be present to advise. Upon the assembling of the meeting some one who has been instrumental in calling it should call the meeting to order and ask that a chairman be elected. When the chairman has been selected by the vote of those present, a clerk should be chosen. ‘The clerk should record and carefully preserve for future record all actions of the meeting. Careful Consideration A chairman and clerk being chosen the meet- ing is ready to take up the question of founding a church. This question should be very carefully and prayerfully considered. A church should not be organized unless there is a reasonable number (11) 12 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL of Sabbath-keepers ready to enter the proposed organization; nor should one be organized where there is not promise of perpetuity and growth. Possible Decisions There are four conclusions such a meeting may reach. They are as follows: (a) It may decide that it is not wise to found a church under existing circumstances. . (b) The meeting may decide to proceed with the organization of a church. (c) The meeting may, as has often been the case in the past, think wise to form a branch church (a church that is a part of some other church of like faith and practice), and see what the developments are before founding an independent church. This plan has proven its wisdom in many cases.* (d) The meeting may favour the organization of a church, but think it wise to call a council to advise and assist. This appears to be the course usually followed ; and, unless there is good reason for doing otherwise, it is a safe course to pursue. If it is decided that it is not desirable to organ- ize a church, the meeting is dissolved without further action. PROCEDURE WITHOUT A COUNCIL If, however, the meeting decides that it is wise to organize a church, a resolution should be adopted stating that the Sabbath-keeping Chris- *Such a relation existed, for example, between the First Alfred, N. Y., and the Berlin, N. Y., Churches in the early days of the history of the former. ORGANIZING A CHURCH 13 tians in (here insert name of town or community) believe the time has come to organize a church to be known as the Seventh Day Baptist Church of (here insert the proposed name of the church), and that they proceed to organize one. A com- mittee to prepare a Covenant, Constitution, and Statement of Beliefs (Expose of Faith) should be appointed. A Committee on Credentials should also be appointed to secure a list of names of those desiring to join the proposed church and to instruct all such to have, so far as possible, their credentials in readiness for a subsequent meeting. [hese things being accomplished the meeting should adjourn to a day far enough in the future to give the committees opportunity to do their work. In the meantime, those wishing to join the new church and belonging to other churches should secure letters of recommendation and dismissal to join the new church; those be- longing to churches of other denominations should secure letters of standing where possible; and if there are candidates for baptism desiring to join, arrangements for their baptism, either before, or in connection with, the next meeting, should be made. Organization Meeting When the meeting reassembles and a chairman and clerk have been selected, a Covenant, Con- stitution, and Statement of Beliefs* should be *See Chapter V. 14 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL presented by the committee appointed for this purpose and adopted with such amendments as those intending to join the church shall deem wise. The Committee on Credentials should report a list of those whom they judge to be proper can- didates. Those holding acceptable letters of recommendation and dismissal from _ other churches of like faith and practice should be received by virtue of these credenttals; those who have been members of other churches, Seventh Day Baptist or otherwise, but for good reasons are unable to present any written credentials, should be received upon an acceptable statement of their Christian experience and baptism; and those recently baptized should be received upon an acceptable confession of faith and of baptism. Branch Church If the meeting of Sabbath-keeping Christians decide it is best to organize themselves as a branch of some other church, they may proceed as in the organization of an independent church, described above, and when the organization is completed ask some church of like faith to receive them as a branch. It might be better, as has sometimes been done, for them to ask the church of which they wish to become a branch to lead in the organization. It is expected that a branch _church will in time grow sufficiently to become an independent church; in the meantime it receives the fostering care of the older and stronger body ORGANIZING A CHURCH 15 of disciples. It should direct its own affairs and keep its own records, receiving such help and advice as may be needed from the church of which it is a part. PROCEDURE WITH A COUNCIL If the meeting look with favour upon the found- ing of a church but desire the advice and help of Seventh Day Baptist churches, a council may be called. The procedure in this case would be for the meeting to vote to call a council of Seventh Day Baptist churches in that section, fix the date for the meeting of the council and appoint a com- mittee to send out the invitations. ‘The follow- ing is a form of invitation: Hope Valley, N. J., Oct. 15, 1923. Shiloh Seventh Day Baptist Church, Shiloh, N. J. Dear BRETHREN: The Sabbath-keeping Christians of Hope Valley, N. J., are contemplating organizing themselves into a Seventh Day Baptist church and are asking for a council to advise and assist them. You are requested to send your pastor, deacons, and other delegates to meet with delegates from other churches in Hope Valley, N. J., at 10 o’clock, November 20, 1923. BuRDICK CRANDALL, Chairman, Before the meeting of the council, those desir- ing to enter the proposed church should secure their church letters so far as possible and make 16 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL all necessary arrangements for the meeting of the council. It is well to have a committee appointed for this purpose. When the council meets, the clerk of the pre- vious meeting should call the council to order, read the action requesting a council and state its purpose, ask for a list of delegates with their credentials, and call for the election of a chair- man, who, when elected, shall take the chair and see that a clerk is chosen. The council thus organized passes upon the credentials of its members, and then proceeds to the consideration of the question of founding a church and finally expresses its decision in the form of a vote taken, or resolution passed. If the council decides to organize a church, it proceeds to do so by calling for a list of those desiring to enter the proposed church with their credentials. It may be advisable for the council to appoint a Committee on Credentials and wait for its investigation and reports. Each candidate should be passed on separately. When this is done, a Covenant, Constitution, and Statement of Beliefs should be presented to those who have entered the new organization for their adoption. The newly formed church is then ready to elect its oficers and begin its life and work. The proceedings of this meeting together with those of all the preliminary meetings should be recorded in the record book of the church. When the immersed Sabbath-keepers have ORGANIZING A CHURCH 17 formed themselves into a church, they should complete the organization by electing ofhicers and establishing public worship on the Sabbath, prayer meetings, Bible Schools, and all needful church appointments. BECOMING A MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATION AND OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE When a Seventh Day Baptist church is organ- ized, it is customary for it to connect itself with the General Conference and the Association in whose territory the church is located. The Seventh Day Baptist General Conference is composed of all the churches of like faith and practice in the United States and elsewhere in the world, and its purpose is to unite them all for mutual help and for the accomplishment of the ends for which they exist, while the Associations include Seventh Day Baptist churches of a given section so situated that they may all meet at least annually for mutual encouragement. Neither an Association nor the General Con- ference has any authority over a church. All that either assumes to do, or has power to do, is to advise. The method of becoming a member of the General Conference and an Association is prac- tically the same in each case. The church desir- ing membership should present a written appli- cation for membership, together with its Covenant 18 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL and its Articles of Faith. If these are found acceptable, the church is received into the larger body upon vote of the latter. While neither the General Conference nor an Association has any authority over a church, a church may be excluded from either, upon vote, and for reasons sufficient and satisfactory to the larger body. It is fitting that a church should be dropped from either the General Conference or an Association, or both, if it cease to be in con- formity with the other component churches as to belief and practice. A church may withdraw from the General Conference, or from the Asso- ciation to which it belongs. DISBANDING A CHURCH When it becomes apparent that a church has accomplished its mission, or that for any reason it can no longer maintain its existence, it should take steps to dispose of its property and disband; otherwise it will merely drift out of existence, its property go into disinterested or unworthy hands, and bring disgrace upon the cause it represents. There should be as much care and order taken in dissolving a church as in forming one. The question as to the wisdom of continuing or dis- banding should not be thoughtlessly decided; nor should it be allowed to be settled through indo- lence and procrastination. In some cases a council to help decide the question may well be called. When it is decided that it is no longer wise to ORGANIZING A CHURCH 19 maintain a church, the first step is to vote to ‘disband after the property is disposed of and other matters settled.”’ Disposal of Property The trustees should then be instructed to settle all business matters and dispose of the property according to the wishes of the church, and the church should maintain at least a legal existence till this is done. All churches should have care- ful inquiry made as to their legal status in the states in which they are respectively situated, and especially with reference to property of extinct churches. Letters to Members When the business affairs are settled, the church should pass a resolution instructing the clerk to grant letters of recommendation to all members in good standing. The trustees having settled the financial affairs and the members hay- ing been given letters of recommendation by the clerk, the work of disbanding may be considered completed in a creditable manner. But it is not creditable to let a church drift out of existence and permit its property and members to go wherever they may. Disposal of Records Before a church disbands it should take proper action for the safe keeping and disposal of its records. They are very valuable as _ historical documents and it is a serious mistake to disre- 20 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUVAL gard them, and allow them to be destroyed or lost. Now that the Seventh Day Baptist Histor- ical Society has been founded, the most natural disposition to make of church records is to place them in its hands for preservation. Final Action When all business has been duly transacted, the final vote should be that “the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hope Valley, N. J., do now disband.” Chapter III. CHURCH INDEPENDENCE AND MUTUAL CO-OPERATION It is evident that in New Testament days the baptized believers in a community constituted a church and that each church was independent of every other organization, civil and religious, as to the management of its own affairs. ‘Io this policy Seventh Day Baptist churches have always held. Doubtless there have been _ individual Seventh Day Baptists who were inclined to a Presbyterian or Episcopal form of polity, but Seventh Day Baptists as a body have strenuously - insisted that Christ was their sole head, their Lord and Master; and have guardedly refused to bow to any other authority or allow it to hamper them. ‘They have insisted that for any earthly power to dictate to a church of Christ is for that power to usurp the place of Christ; and that the freedom of a church should be limited only by the rights of the individual, and by the laws of civil governments when not contradictory to the laws of Christ. They have gone farther than this, and inter- preted the New Testament as teaching the free- dom of the individual to approach God through Christ directly, to interpret the Scriptures for himself, to formulate his own beliefs, and to (21) 22 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Seventh Day Baptists have no creedal statements to which their members must adhere, and their covenants are most simple. A very wide range of beliefs prevails among them. The Bible with its Christ, faith and repentance, for- giveness of sins, baptism by immersion, the Sab- bath of Christ, Godly living, the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of all men, is the only creed they recognize. | This independence of church and individual does not prevent cooperation in work that belongs to them all—missions, Bible study, evangelism, publication of literature, and education. At an early day, 1684, they established the “yearly” and “‘general’’ meetings for worship and consul- tation. Out of these grew the General Confer- ence and the Associations. During the last cen- tury they found means of effective codperation in education through the Seventh Day Baptist Education Society; in publication and Sabbath reform through the American Sabbath Tract Society; in Bible study through the Sabbath School Board of the General Conference; in enlisting the women in denominational work through the Woman’s Board of the General Conference; and in missions, evangelism, and all that pertains to missions, through the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society. This New Testament inde- pendence doubtless has its weaknesses, like all things human; but it also has its strength, as CHURCH INDEPENDENCE AND CO-OPERATION 23 demonstrated in the history of Seventh Day Bap- tists, and of all Baptists. There is no warrant in the New Testament, and no need in practical experience, for a central power to give instruc- tions to the local churches and to individual disciples; there are ways besides commands based on authority by which great achievements may be brought about. ‘God loves the cheerful giver,” and he does not want things done because some human authority has commanded them. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The trend of human institutions, civil and ecclesiastical, justifies our Saviour in establishing an order in which every individual in His king- dom is a priest unto God, and the local church a democracy; none subject to any one save Christ himself. Chapter IV. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP The question as to who may become members of a church is one that is under constant discus- sion. According to the New Testament there are four indispensable pre-requisites; namely, regeneration, confession of purpose to follow Christ, Baptism, and Christian living. REGENERATION That one should have a change of heart before being admitted to the body of the holy Christ, the church, is taught very plainly in the New Testa- ment. Any tendency to admit individuals without sufficient evidence of regeneration is to be deplored and should not be tolerated. “Come ye out from among them and be ye separate,” is the New Testament admonition. This is not saying that every one must have an experience like Paul’s on the Damascene way, or like that of any one else. Neither can it be maintained that every one who has met a change of heart will remember the time when it took place; the change may come gradually like the dawn of the morning light, or suddenly like the bursting of the sun from behind a fast flying cloud. It may come in the first hours of self- consciousness when the soul is tender and respon- sive to the touch of God and man, or any time (24) CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 25 thereafter till the flame of life has burned out; but before any one is qualified to become a mem- ber of the body of Christ, he should have experienced a religious awakening wherein he has chosen to follow Christ and His righteous- ness. [his was the class of members received on the day of Pentecost, and throughout New Testa- ment history; and Seventh Day Baptists have always maintained that a regenerate heart is one of the indispensable conditions for membership in the church of Christ. A PUBLIC PROFESSION It is fitting and consistent with the teachings of the New Testament that one desiring to unite in fellowship with Christ’s disciples should make a public profession of his faith in Christ as his Saviour, and of his determination to follow Him throughout the remainder of his life. If one does not make a public profession of such faith, how is the church to know that he is endeavour- ing to follow Christ, and that he desires to come into church fellowship? One needs to make a public profession of his stand for Christ for his own strengthening; it commits him to, and estab- lishes him in, his new faith as only few things can. Also, one needs to make a public profession of Christ for the sake of others. One of the chief means ordained of God to Christianize the world is proclaiming to the world on the part of Christ’s disciples what He has done for them. It is well 26 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL that candidates for church membership tell the pastor, deacons, or prudential (or advisory) committee their experiences; but they should also come before the church and speak for themselves. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteous- ness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” ‘There may be cases where candidates may not be able to come into the public congrega- tion and make a public avowal of their decision; but in all such cases they should be received with- out it, if otherwise acceptable. However, other things being equal, when one is not willing to confess his Lord and Master who died for him, there is reason to question his sincerity and fitness for church fellowship, ‘‘For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory.” BAPTISM Baptism is a public confession of faith in Christ, his death, and resurrection; and the avowal of the candidate’s putting away of sin, and of his purpose to lead a Christian life; it puts a seal upon his vows and promises to follow Christ; and it was instituted and ordained by the Master himself as a special form of public profession of such faith and vows. The New Testament order was marked out on the day of Pentecost; they repented, they were baptized, and they joined the church. Christ indicated the same CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 27 order when he said, “‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”’ People have often desired church fellowship without baptism, but Seventh Day Baptists have uniformly followed the New Testament order, maintaining that one who was not willing to follow his Lord in baptism had not yet committed himself to full obedience. A LIFE IN HARMONY WITH CHRIST’S EXAMPLE AND TEACHING There is no New Testament sanction for ask- ing one who has penitently turned to Christ to wait a certain length of time before baptism and church membership, or, in other words, to put him on probation; but, in most cases, a few days elapse between one’s public profession and his reception into the church upon baptism. It may be only a few days, but the conduct of those days, be they few or many, should give evidence of sin- cerity of intention and steadfastness of purpose, or church fellowship should not be granted. Dr. Edward T. Hiscox well says on this point, ‘Those pastors make a grave mistake and are grievously at fault who hurry persons into the church with- out giving the body a fair and full opportunity of gaining evidence of their regenerate state. . . . . Lhe church may seem prosperous, because baptisms frequently occur; but the moral strength of the church is weakened, rather, and disorder introduced where order should prevail.” 28 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL It is better, however, to err in admitting doubtful cases, than in shutting out one sincere, struggling, tempted, and tried soul. THE SABBATH In this connection, it should be noted that while cooperating in Christian activities and all good works with those who do not observe the Sabbath of the Bible, Seventh Day Baptists receive into membership only those Baptists who keep the Sabbath of Christ and the Apostles. In doing this, they have always treated with utmost cour- tesy those who do not agree with them in belief and practice, and they have always endeavoured to serve all individuals and all worthy community interests; but they hold that Sabbath observance is essential to Christian living and object to the substitution of a man-made day for the Bible Sabbath in the same way that they object to any substitution for baptism by immersion. MODE OF RECEPTION Seventh Day Baptist churches receive members only upon the vote of the church at some regular, or specially called, meeting; and it is a written rule in some churches that “no member shall be hastily received into the church to the grief of any member thereof.” Some churches provide a board or committee before whom candidates for membership appear prior to admission, and upon whose recommendation they are received. If no iver ia y ed, f > rr Cet ‘es Ss } 4 Saedy ee § ‘ > Lae, "4 b Js i ths! VEAP NEA tee blBR D9 Ws te ea |e eae * ay baat iss ‘ a * 5 ; ) . biel od fi a ee wee it jfed SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOPE VALLEY, N. J. (LETTER OF DISMISSAL) Name.............BURDICK GREENE DOO ESN S 000000000606 005 006086560650 068 8888000000900 leemnce mene ws wear ew ences sae ee enon senses ewes sare emres secs ecsesececececcccesessessessassssess Notice signed by STILLMAN DAVIS, Clerk of Jefferson ee tre ee ce eee cw cee ecm meee e a tee ween tent eee sere eee ee ees eeeeseresere Centre, Wis., Church. ocsewe eee eee eee eee eer Cee eeer errr ee rc err rr rrr cere eee ere reer ere ee eee errr errr cere eT ee ee ee reer eee eee er eee) *Note.—This and the two following entries on this page are made after receipt of notice that BURDICK GREENE has joined the Jeffer- son Centre, Wis., Church, avy — ots or. a Lute Date nis uh r oa e4 ? a See v , rate 4 ‘bin : es as ie Rhee % iat ty. saa ed %) " ae, oi " M) hs When E / Guage 3 SpaitoK: } a Leet bas he jae Vy are Len ae o eainp t wa far 0 , fa 5 tide se wai bi; ae ei ie ads eee ie FM es: 2 a? > W ezine noeretts® oe : sina tie RP Ma RPY OFA» RRM: i % i ot a Pree ea lis any it i e Behe wnl-onér pase fs | SATB, Aeon) . | bc oe pets yi swih de . y itsle mang ty Rat . 9 ecarony ri fae i hake Bee es ne ane * wih ak Fe a@ Bee 0 RAN olny AN 7 rt Ms im va Rees ere "ies ry seer "Raav’ ne ‘“ a 7 Ag : A ‘ Jj VE * & pst eae Re ie ete e Lor we _ 752 @.¥ : ; ‘ . * a : “ w : = ) y is = , as { sy wrLp y * 2 4 ey Pa : ie a: Diep) "gb eid SES Neat ae Ae (be. aeNN Hee oe ct cose Aa ‘Sahay eh i alae Day 8 pitts? ik Cah Por eh Fy er any ph Bl GOGs) eas anne @ Sane et, gos é Ia vA ‘ob Ae Pn) federne ser | iY ate wt aoe eae ha tot a see ia ‘ oe he rk i eb Pe, i | ee inked haak ti! 7" Sg dg OR | oC Pee Pe ome briwigget rt volte. "4 As iad etn? ibis in (AOE eet ; TE sthakae: aden wn Da) ee) Yo, Maga RD, Sat CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 29 such committee is provided, a wise pastor will make it a rule to consult his deacons before pre- senting candidates for membership. Whatever may be done in these ways to safeguard the church, however, the final and decisive action is the vote of the church. When we turn to the details there are three modes of receiving members, depending upon the candidate. ‘he three modes are (1) By Baptism, (2) By Letter, and (3) Upon Experience. Reception by Baptism If a candidate has not been immersed it is the usual custom for him to come before the church, make a statement of his Christian experience, and request baptism and church membership. A can- didate is sometimes admitted to baptism by the pastor before he presents him to any church or any committee on candidates. ‘There is nothing illogical about this, much less unscriptural, and there are situations where this course is preferable. If there is a committee for the purpose, the pastor brings the candidate for membership be- fore the committee either before or after baptism. The committee, after hearing the candidate’s experience and request for membership, passes upon the latter and recommends him for fellow- ship in the church if deemed fit. ‘The candidate is then presented to the church, before which he states his experience and to which he makes his request, and the church votes on the question of 30 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL his reception. If he has been immersed, the question to be voted upon is that he be received into fellowship; but if he has not been immersed, it is that he be admitted to church membership upon immersion. It is customary that the pastor lead in these matters, but it should not be left to him alone; every member should be on the watch for those ready for baptism and church membership; he should do more than this, he should constantly seek to lead men to that state of mind and heart wherein they are ready for, and want, baptism and fellowship with the followers of Christ. Reception by Letter A member of another church of like faith and practice may come into the church by a letter of recommendation and dismissal from the church of which he isa member. The candidate presents his letter and request for membership to the pastor, who presents the matter to the church for consideration. If a committee on candidates exists, the letter and request are presented in turn, to that committee for consideration and recom- mendation prior to being presented to the church. It is not customary, however, for the candidate to give his experience before either the committee or church, his letter of recommendation being accepted as sufficient evidence regarding his Christian experience. It is understood that the piitel} receiving a CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 31 member by letter shall notify the church from which he came when he is received. ‘This is a practice which knows no exception except in case of gross negligence. A blank form of letter of recommendation to which is attached a blank form of notice that the member has joined an- other church may be obtained from the publishing house of the American Sabbath Tract Society in Plainfield, N. J. The following form of a letter of dismissal was adopted by the General Conference, at its annual session, at North Loup, Nebraska, August, 1923, upon the recommendation of a committee which had had the question under serious con- sideration for a year. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION AND DISMISSAL SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOPE VALLEY, N. J. August 31, 1922. This is to Certify, That Burpick GREENE is a member in full and regular standing of the SEVENTH Day Baptist CHuRCH OF Hope VALLEY, N. J., and as such is recommended for membership in any other church of like faith and order. Davis CRANDALL, Church Clerk. The individual to whom this letter is issued will be regarded as a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hope Valley, N. J., subject to its rules of government, until due notice is received by the clerk of that church of the reception of the former into some other church. N. B.—The accompanying blank will be detached by the clerk of the church to which this letter is presented, and filled out and forwarded to the clerk of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hope Valley, N. J. 32 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL LETTER OF NOTIFICATION September 23, 1922. To The Clerk of The Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hope Valley, N. J.: This is to Certify, That on 1 September 22 eIGZES BuRDICK GREENE i received into full and regular standing as a member of the JEFFERSON CENTRE, WIS. Seventh Day Baptist Church. (Signed) Stirtman Davis, Clerk of the Jefferson Centre, W1s., Church. After the foregoing has been filled out, please for- ward to Davis Crandall, Hope Valley, N. J. Note: A facsimile form is inserted here showing a con- venient form in which letters of dismissal may be printed and bound into book-form. It will be observed that this form is provided with a stub, somewhat like a check book, on which may very conveniently be entered all the infor- mation necessary when the letter is issued, and when notice is received that the individual has joined another church. These blanks (printed with the name of the church issuing them, if desired) may be obtained in book-form from the American Sabbath Tract Society, Plainfield, N. J. Reception by Experience A Sabbath-keeping Christian who has been immersed sometime in the past, but for some reason has lost his membership or who has never been a member of a church, may be received upon experience. If there is no committee on candi- dates, he gives his Christian experience to the church and requests membership; thereupon the church passes upon the question of his admission. If there is a committee on candidates, he first CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 33 presents his request and gives his experience to it, which in turn recommends him to the church if deemed worthy. The church upon hearing this request and Christian experience, pass upon the question of his admission in the light of the recommendation of the committee. THE RIGHT-HAND OF FELLOWSHIP AND THE LAYING ON OF HANDS In some churches members coming for the first time into church fellowship are received by the laying on of hands and extending the right-hand of fellowship; while in some other churches the right-hand of fellowship is extended to all mem- bers upon their reception. These forms, though impressive and helpful, are not deemed essential to church membership, and an immersed believer who has been voted into the church, is a member, entitled to all the privileges of a member, with- out the laying on of hands and without the right- hand of fellowship. RECEPTION WHEN ABSENT It is customary for a candidate to attend the session at which he is voted into the church; but this is not essential, and is not required when there is a sufficient reason for his absence. DISMISSAL In the past, Seventh Day Baptist churches have recognized only three methods of dismissa' ; namely, (1) By Letter, (2) By Death, and (3) 34 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL By Exclusion. But in recent years, there is a growing practice of dropping the names of those whose residence can not be obtained; and some churches drop the names of members who urgently request it. Dismissal by Letter When a person wishes to be dismissed by letter he should make application in writing. It is the rule in some churches that the clerk may grant letters to those requesting them if they are in good standing; but in most cases it is customary that such requests come before the church and be passed upon by it before the clerk issues the letter of dismissal. Death When a member passes away, the clerk should mark his name on the church roll with a star (*) to denote his decease, carefully recording the date of his departure to the church triumphant. This is due both the church and the departed; due the church that those no longer living be not counted, and due the departed that at least a minute of his death be made. Excommunication Excommunication is not so common a mode of dismissal now as in former days; but when it takes place, the excluded one, of course, ceases to be a member. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 35 Dropping Names The practice of dropping names has much to commend it under certain circumstances, and doubtless will be used much more often in days to come than in the past. It is coming to be the course resorted to in dealing with those of whom the church can find no trace and those who have become dissatisfied and insist on being released. When a person persistently insists on withdraw- ing from the church and all entreaties on the part of his brethren are unavailing, perhaps it is better to grant his request and drop his name than to continue the irritation caused by holding him in nominal fellowship; but such request should not _ be granted till every resource has been exhausted to remove the dissatisfaction, and until the danger point has been reached. Furthermore it is better that the names of those whose whereabouts have long been unknown be dropped than that the church should hold and report names that are lost to the church and dead to the cause. Names that have been dropped should be placed in a list by themselves kept for that purpose; but should not be included in reports to the Association or to the General Conference, and if they should desire to retinite, they may be reinstated by vote of the church. For members whose whereabouts have long been unknown, the action may be about as follows: Whereas, Brother Ward Bliss has long absented himself from this church and its activities, and his 36 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL whereabouts at the present time are unknown, there- fore, ResotveD, That Brother Bliss’s name be dropped from the roll of active members of this church, and placed on its inactive roll instead, in the hope that he may yet return to his former position of activity in the church. For members who have stated that they are no longer in sympathy with the faith and practice of the church, the action may be as follows: Whereas, Brother Ward Bliss has expressed him- self as no longer in sympathy with the faith and prac- tice of this church, and requests that his name be dropped from the rolls of the church; therefore, REsoLveD, That Brother Bliss’s request be complied with, and that his name be dropped, and placed on the roll of inactive members of the church in the hope that he may yet return to full sympathy and accord with the church. REINSTATING An excluded member who has shown penitence for his offense and resumed a worthy Christian life may be reinstated upon his request, by the vote of the church. It is not considered Chris- tian courtesy for a church to receive one who has been excluded from a sister church till he has been reinstated, or till the church which excluded him has expressed its approval of the former member joining the other church except where it has been proven that the church was wrong in its act of exclusion. If a church has not had just reasons for its discipline or has in any way treated CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 37 a member wrongfully, it should acknowledge its wrong and do everything possible to amend the injury done. | ‘DUTIES OF MEMBERS It is the duty of every member to be true to his baptismal vows and promises and to all his cov- enant obligations; to abandon every form of sin and appearance of evil; to make his business and social practices conform to the rule and spirit of Christ; to lead a life of prayer and devotion; faithfully to study the Word of God that he may know how he should conduct his private and public life; to help maintain public worship and help to bear the financial burdens of the church and kingdom of God on earth; to exercise Chris- tian courtesy, charity, and forbearance toward all in spirit and conduct; and constantly to find, so far as possible, some definite work for Christ and the children of men. RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGE OF MEMBERS While it is the privilege of every regenerate person to enjoy the spiritual glow of sins for- given through Christ and the favour of God upon his daily walk, the sustaining strength of the Saviour for hourly needs, the satisfaction of an approving conscience, and the fellowship of godly people, it is the especial privilege of every mem- ber of the visible church to participate in its worship and all its social, business, and religious 38 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL meetings; to hold such offices as his brethren from time to time shall assign him; freely to enter into the discussion of all questions coming before the church and to vote on all motions; to have a voice in the election of pastor, deacons, and other oficers; and to share equally with other members in determining the policies of the church, always bearing in mind that majority rule should prevail and “‘that God is no respecter of persons.” Chapter V. COVENANT AND EXPOSE OF FAITH COVENANT The covenants usually adopted by Seventh Day Baptist churches are very brief and simple, but comprehensive. Two forms are given below and are those adopted by two Seventh Day Baptist — churches, but every church decides for itself what its covenant shall be. Form 1 COVENANT Art. 1. We agree to keep the commandments of God, and walk in the faith of Jesus Christ. Art. 2. To accept the Holy Scriptures as our rule of faith and practice. Art. 3. To watch over each other for good, to the intent that we may build up together in Christ, grow in grace and a further knowledge of truth, and be instrumental in bringing men to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Art. 4. To faithfully attend the appointments, and bear the burdens and expenses of the church, accord- ing as God may give us severally the ability. Form 2 COVENANT Having been, as we trust, brought by Divine grace into fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour from sin, we solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another: (39) 40 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL To take the Bible as a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path,” giving special heed to the Law of God, as expounded by our Saviour in His Sermon on the Mount. To maintain the public worship of God, and the ordinances of His house. To exercise a Christian watchfulness over one an- other. To walk together in Christ whose we are and whom. we profess to serve, in brotherly love. To give, as a voluntary and cheerful offering to the Lord, and according to our ability, towards meeting the necessary expenses of the church, for the benefit of the poor, and for the advancement of Christ’s king- dom in the world. To try by precept and example, in all our family, social, and business relations, and everywhere, to main- tain a Godly walk and conversation, through obedience to the requirements of the gospel. EXPOSE OF FAITH For one hundred and sixty years after the organization of their first church in America, Seventh Day Baptists set forth no statement of their beliefs; they studiously avoided doing any- thing of the kind. They guarded their freedom of conscience so carefully that they would not lay down a statement of beliefs for anyone. If a man was penitent for his sins, accepted Christ as his Saviour and guide, was immersed in water, kept the Sabbath of Christ and took the Bible as his rule of faith, nothing more was asked of him. The way they felt about it is set forth by Fld. Henry Clark in his History of Seventh Day COVENANT AND. EXPOSE OF FAITH 4] Baptists in America, published in 1811. He says: “As this denomination universally hold the Bible to contain God’s holy will revealed to man, wherein are exhibited the object of faith and the rules of life; A GEES aa eee and as the Bible is explicit to direct in every station of life, the duty we owe to God, ourselves and our fellow-mortals—so they gen- erally esteem any prescription of man, in these latter ages of the world, as to rules of faith and morals, not only useless but nearly presumptuous. And notwith- standing they are harmoniously agreed in the impor- tant, fundamental and essential points of the Christian Religion; yet as to smaller matters and mere circum- stantial points there may be a great variety of senti- ments.” As new churches were formed there came to be an increasing demand for a statement of the beliefs of Seventh Day Baptists, not that it should be a yoke of bondage, but that it might show to the world the excellency of the Gospel as taught by them and be a guide to those desiring to found Seventh Day Baptist churches. Consequently at the annual session of the General Conference in 1831 a committee was appointed to draft an expose of faith. The report of this committee was received and placed on file in 1833; and, two years later, it was adopted as substantially what Seventh Day Baptists believed. In 1852 the question of an exposé of faith was again considered in the General Conference and certain amendments were ordered to the exposé of 1833. 42 SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MANUAL Following this action, the General Conference passed a significant resolution of explanation, which says: “RESOLVED, That this exposé is not adopted as hav- ing any binding force in itself, but simply as an exhi- bition of the views held by the denomination.” In 1880, the General Conference adopted a new statement of beliefs as follows: I. OF GOD We believe in one God, self-existent, infinite in wis- dom, power, justice, and goodness; the Creator and Governor of all things. Deut. 33:27; Psa. 90:2; Isa. 44:6; I Tim. 1: 17. II. OF CHRIST We believe that Christ possessed both a divine and a human nature, and was therefore both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Matt. 1:1; Psa. 2:7; Luke 1: 35; Rom. 1:3,4; Gal. 4:4; II Cor. 5:19; John 1:1. Ill, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe in the Holy Spirit, whose office was to inspire the prophets and apostles, as the instructors of men, with a knowledge of the mind of God, and who is the regenerator and sanctifier of men through the truth. John 14:26; II Peter 1:21; Acts 2:4, 5; John SE ROM. OF 7G Oo BZ, IV. OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and. that they are a perfect rule of faith and practice. Heb. Lele dl (Peter 22203011 Tim 3216, 17 is Correa 13. COVENANT AND EXPOSE OF FAITH 43 V. OF MAN We believe that man possesses a two-fold nature— physical and spiritual; that he was created holy, but that by transgression he fell, and so came under con- demnation ; that in order to be saved he must be born again, and that this salvation is the gift of God. JJ Pore AOS ROM: 22 Eph 8 162 Gok? S10 se 7 Peter 3:4; Gen. 1:26; 3:6-19; Rom. 5:12; John 3: 3, 9,7; Epk. 2:5; Rom. 3:24, 25; 4:16; Eph. 2:8. VI. OF HEIRSHIP AND ETERNAL LIFE We believe when one is constituted a child of God, he becomes an heir of eternal life. anes Pee iricce oo eia e Dhenea &6 UNG OLS me OSC CME era a eaters Maleavian Ma on Ryan yale cis Mae reece 88 GiEStiAn MeN SSOCIALLONS ee tais ce ckeras eres Tk 8 Sato act eats ieee ate ae trc 9 Christian Ministry (See Ministry of Church) Gite MOOS tICUTION vObe 0: temas eerie © UES AIT ones ea ete re 52 UN AEY OUMMRENE Potente trans aticrans etal Mate rhs Se eae che Teta IG Aer eK ee Teme wesee itera 52 MUST CE SULD a ws. cate ciate lone sie relahore er reeee eae ane tae ne Rees atte een ee 34 SU EAS TAR Sea ie Givin a9. set") a, a etahe whe ANE chic iota ene RT weet tes 52 (DAN GUESS — RSG Cg ee ISBN Carer he eee atic Re REA Ree MRA ets Se ETC LIOI MEO bac CUTICELS «che isicehetecovore ecereteraveue Ducta onsen he iets, dasetotinns fate vee 53 ASOLO eters avers ctv eiuisate tise oc Ota rcaiCd Gee cons eater atten 53 eR Gumtpr CIs ie at ats eal cu Rh ie GES evesk cose S cuchele uate I ete A oes 53 COVEY COATED VR ALS Breage a toiges learn trig gee a RE Ms Be ence Binds 53 SAILS SE GEM ain ine ot a weccota ie divloekctata es cia oon ieteiene obs Miara eh cacti 53 SESE COSI mee Rea Ne Ki ettievel ofaics ctanna tees io Mares bra he ee ear ate leer oe cy iinet) MLCCLS ee ate seta eie ek cis are OL ee te el oat ate aneeede tere 53 Nd visonyes DOAbGmECOt me COmmiLEee) cates tars lems etasttre detente 53 METEOR gn CTI CELS were « aiete ilo: ee ctor ee Lehner er oele wiciecolaieial eee nee 53 aac es iL DELS her va ein 5 Slee take Bic tetouetomnete ha tere octane 55 See Taree ta iptian actin aie. Sr ttay a orale dus Tees V'ea een lel atee ee ada toon emer 55 SOTO «ET VICE onc che cidls ee Rice a oPei ne wee ele 45, 56 PRTSNGTIOUIINGT Slane ache ee ele Pale Redes TITS ee EO Lae eter een a 56 iO eR CG OODETACION Le cated aie siete eis ae ghd fevele or evel oolaiersce etalchananstedatte 21 Pear yaw Cetin gg liisie cst. semis sta as Corio 2 ote einete ate svete treie 22 KeneraliaM CCtin ge pac views stele nieciucs ote otha i eheisiar srohenonehetoreeeste 22 (RENE a re GONTCTEN CEs settie ciara? eel ketenes ao aon Woe theta es ge Seventh Day Baptist Education Society ............. 22 American asabbatie a racts SOCIETY, welecret cts tevelciet slateieit oie ots 22 Sabbath School Board of General Conference ......... 22 WA Tall SEES OAT C dinieta retaNe aiavanaiecat siete: oes eratcesvons attic eteheh suena ty 22 Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society ...........+. 22 SSOrt PEL SCID NOt tea tne ae or kitend Palak seid ocerahis » aiWeje cima ee ha MRE i ale 107 ODIECEL Wate reiatee sane sas AGAIN cfokace eee ci phatctolale oie, b, thaker Shor optee shee 107 GOCE COLWitilead plaza VINtat) oie ayeinis 6 etereuers (eleleteve tis! ouchel cher staieleve terete 107 Principle of Procedure ........... Sosa gic Gales eda cee 110 (117) Privateers Ofrensesa cits eten- ots Pe SU OE ees or ror nur at 107 Btibhe Offenses 72k &!53.c ae istereee eteicrmevnoca ate eet 109 Brother] yeelsoves ss scstines a ae Wi cANe. ae ioral ohece oie eel mplavettreme 1106 Procedure, cwith@a, eviinisteri s.r ea Cics ce ine nee MR 1S Lit Gouncil May Bes Called cence is «on cid rete in te eae 113 Possible Findings of Church or Council .............. 113 Guarding Accused’s Reputation ........... 114 Restorations wr.se webs cosy eae aakater ate oe ay eaten SE LTS Ghurchecindépendences sar nek cc acee etc eee Leelee cee yaa 21 Church: Membership hy kere Sec crce sd tine che ine Walcta a ie eae Lee 24 Oualifications siors OSes ue cosine a eee aw ante Se ee eee 24 IREGeneratrons gia Aekercrs eveberouelchelenstchel hater e\citerhe taboos al Pe ele terrae 24 Pablic -Protession rot: Fathi ies .cics, close ae oa ene eee ok Baptism AS Ny ates Ue ticln oes he oe eee weet ae ae eae ee 26, 29, 48 ifesainy Harmony — withe Christ's 2-s\.ccck tele Aelee cesar 27 Ther eSab bathe aos sols hace orate d cess kc auch atc ceVebe wee nas ensue era Ree neta eee 28 Mode? of2 Receptions seca Aan ae ousucce tere tataiete proce eee cai. cers enna 28 Baptist Ata in coe sla! acal ecPaw eet et eee ae Ea a eee 29 Letter are Rens leet ot dths) ol ake) eiehctettates seen tak oe enace te eee 30 Letter; FormUotisi. ss cso teal wits sieuidemecnlaeteioer stokes elie By Experience eperint snore orn, Siete lokensh Duh eae resets ome vehePenet or hates sta enetone 32 Right Hand of Fellowship and Laying on of Hands ...... 33 Dismissal oe Gl tek He pleke coe ee ohe ls tala da sachs | dotace ei shove cael lei Ran re Riulere 33 Bye) Letterict. Discs 20 at ce vase elle) ctacs ARIES eae eee Se 34 [MormarOre Letter slate ot sewvOverana ie oleelore eid otere ie at eet Matenete ate sane 31 PIGAUA St avstee lola resis erator eiterchetereie coemeiene BAe orem ia eat c 34 EXconisnumicatlonuas krone eres SE OES I eis: he sees 34 Dropping sof UN AMES! (lS eyraua dete ctalelgn pisand Sie aki aati ee Mt Jo Foems fon tA ction) (Pieces vas Gee acest Ne Dh ee A ey Pe pai Retnstatin gy c.ss sere ede teee owe eiaualel yshe cosh ae «1 ehevene en ea era eee Neiets puon ts 36 Duties of-7IM embers wera oaos hese a aerate atoe erste ees kekeneete se ietieee 37 Rightsvand: *Privileses: of “Members ty. susspe-cele sietaiel fete esas or eee a7, Gommunion® Servicesiin a0." cca cs beck Rue ba eR aes ees 43, 45, 56 Emblems wii) AW eee ane icinlo aa etetets eter cnet Sealoeedetetebe crane 45 Gommon cvs.) bndrvidial {Gi psiescsree ec eras oterclene eestor eae perenne cee 46 Mariner ‘fot 7Servin & Oi Adaicias rc as pralain nthe’ head eRe ee ae 46 How. /@ften> Gelebrated 22% vs. ees Nebel alee e otek o ehedb i ete chorale 47 Gansregationol!(M anual 2 ok Sats Geld s aheln! Geelae bie 1p age eR eee 114 Gongremationalists OX discus sce a nalecels ochowcetaee aide tcerecast te oka eaters nee a Constitution of Church (See Church, Constitution of) Coumeil, -TocOreanize ja Church io. sacle cis ob wie eter ataal tease eee eae 15 PO Orda Fae Minister 44 General Conterences, Action On Manual? wera cle scrkiele Uchewc dw wut 5 PESMOSE MOU PPL Ait hues airtale a cle the wieveleiarale wth ele e, ie sletece ate of ster e ane sick 41 eles t0Ti-t lemIV ELIT Oy oa toc tos 52ers Poet nisl SiaPabeiells adhe OENE ar oveione aie oe clare Seine 22 Hallack, Gerard B. F., Wedding Manual, A Pastor’s fies dade 50 EL ISCONS MET EL ATU te La isset te asheeeh isi stoma) eae ar oceren ate eel et th ataie cela aie Bia LALO Historical Societys e OC Vent No Dayae DADtisSt lcvtacce c+ kiss ecsiel obi. Sielele 20 iettersto, Churches: toce Council, sHorm Vota’: . se wes ccs ee etel tele 15 WELLCte Ors WISMISSaly ISOLA OLS a. © csiensie chats ele aeete ook cee otis hcl nin Slate abers 31 AI CLM cel tore tet stererace state ona cle eheihor eo oho dee helo te Src erg AMO te se EN t5 Nialtcious 2 elamatioteoi Character waclthishis ae tds @ etnsloma cients © 115 Manual, Action of General Conference Concerning .........% 5 DIAS UTS Chet iarees (ait teas te etal ate te ter ohana) ©, oi ss. orate arene AE Gee hoe ais aie 57, 114 Goneresationaliwes tar, cis cur aiie Cee hae eee eee eee 114 Paiaeenacnee nurch) oF. Londo: ck sede cd ore cele ote one 6, 47, 48 GES LS Crore tite = CnUwCls ee oo che 5 Pe ea ee a eels a nratonia a aacalh, velehe 81 Piwraree SST Stare seereeetteoe onthe ererk Gree ee ee ae le ee toe ieee 81 I ASUOL Stee ce cutting aie ccc a erecta SotaMtares baie rend wee oO sncTehea ne etna ars 81 PRR eRe Lae Cal fay hee Tae Paes ores Mesa Ti ott Od wip clea re tele oe neh 81 iMibefe Cathie wD Bi giiea ales ll Bye A Penge NRE ty apt a AN GE GP BA eR AUR Pah as oe aa 82 Prd Maa tenimor uNMAINIStETSAt la eee Sos oe wales KER Y oss ce eae eee eke 96 MatmesSnaint clan portance,- Ob. ok teva sigh oo Ue wie caesar es 96 Delieenation ys Without wonduer Easter dues ccs os sees eieteneae 96 WV Ooh OU Gil sCRRC aU res ian ciate cpaaiure ace rie a oil ote thancke tated 97 Ween cilpor .G DiunChesm ir mle OSSIDLG Inui ce siete ode elele Aakers basta 98 PO GeduLe uN Te OTC il CIOL ae katte eae as ate ay ele ae wh a etal one Taree oes spire 99 Niotemr ofa. Chiicchina esi mie sect srahorher ct siey aie toe tate, Sicrahee rak habiees 99 EGTA OTE A CEION seh te rico et arer e Dae Soler ee kia Tare eal seb She Gee Sets 99 PPUOMLMENY FHT S LICISRALES 0 oc olx diy cue oro vite one ie windoisied shad os 100 Witton Galis® Comnciliston Order tema cmonic cece weis nee soles 101 CAC trae (Gall eat ta Lat se tatest etal eset eit a, atta cr sista los ce de 101 aerate Licleamateser at bec aware cee) asian oe pSatdricn eee sane OF Elections ots Moderator ands Clericieica o.t is cea iciie > ss tanexe 101 PICASONEL OL LAV ET Wcraete clever eis Srp ee ice Bh eloote creer alt 101 Moradiinatvioirs OF Ganaidates ce «oon cate cic ete were ee a 102 nner Crmrinry! mitts § eae Acs S ith osc eit eater vida hacer ek 102 [Breve Ptw Wey OP tok tes lee tg Si we NN hod Aner AF ora tn See TE Ae MER A a 103 NMnomCondiets (Ordination service u.)se sielere ole steieie sister els 103 OTM Sreset EG KET CISES atal shacae ts Sueiet ata > pram meet eiane tore: s 103 ihecoras and CertiticateyoL Ordination | is cio. ecs seas eciere 104 ormmnote, GeriatiCates bsisrsuere ob aye battles tie onencCeh sie Oe ae are 104 Recognition by General Conference. .:...0. .cccccsscecsvce 104 een eer paa NS GC UITEYCEE Po as cre .c' sd aka S28 yale 'e cies ieee «bree ere bh orcin elle teas 11 IPrelimiimaty er Vi Cetingl nila cre cca ttale sale oteit tials a dterePe eialate catemeiale = 11 areti ls GONSIUETALLOM ta. cic sha te eiereetaiore cielo otelel ate iL Possible Decisions §.......2.0.0:- Rote alansh absvomt ate a orien athe 12 Reoeedirer Withoute a wCOUnCiin.d » aise chess o ata sles lteleine gieteis eaters 12 Mrrantzationiy a VLcetin ge mes eto oles eters ers) ete over ahoiere Missive ae She 13 BRAN Chi CoH UnChiaeverc er ctrslany ect isinan siege als Cori ete s wa reter eens 14 EZOCeaurers With ae COUNCIL pclae clselsis eslele.e sort ohtire ole etete cere te 15 Barts OLarl hi ta tiOniee oe.) haa aiete e aiaeieiate sto tees nt aisrap.ceeee eke 15 Officets Mand “Committees sits cisieres «icterttes ci, Selstancis oe erator 14, 15 Record of Proceedings ......e.sssseeeeeerseseones spud 16 Membership in Association and General Conference ........ iv PASUOE ee fete orp esr Ses Ai eevee ia.» > eA RAs ela sine eens Dida seine 53, 81 Work Offic soi tats esis Sear ole aha eiere are ocrat eter es Se once eta Caliototeeianst otate 89 ECHITEES Von LO re tatcicecis clave inloys stetolcce o'e oefaie save ele erateleisiofeieuate Mesias 90 RELCCOStia ters wate siete « as be oieone at ttetaia siete ALO cle sino eata lee ae 25 PIAETS Ae MS WISWeA ce Pav esators isisiet ons SS Levarererets Evehe sents 8 Ais 82 Presbyterians, Discipline of eeeoeveesreeoereeaeoeeeeeoeevneereeeeeeeee eee 110 (119) Recognition of Ministers by General Conference .............. 104 Recognition of Ministers from Other Denominations ........... 105 Procedure nny c Aes cobs ssces sa eae eens ne ee eee ae eee 105 Become a Member of One of Our ‘Churches ........5... =. 105 Gowen Called tu faa I On wake cbs euaeeee ateiah + Sycuneee s Rnerae 105 Ordination“ Exencises, SNoty INecéssaryic. sc sca cuneiene aust ouelmietat 106 RESEn eration 4 Was ks Mielalanaiey Melelid ote wets alate tak ere eleia shisgte onde er ckiteepaearen 24 Religious: Liberty; and Democracyis «4. Gis pure nn)sicisl ls od wie eae 7 Robert's @ules foha Or dere wacarter oh sae este facies er hee enela tee bi Rules vitor Pransactiony of sB Usinessmi satay rack viei cles eaertcttpere stenetearate 57 Gode sof: Rules WNeeded. Wachee ae aus ithaca ae eee cect eens 57 Church MayeMakeitsl Own Codes iit mania usre anes sali tens ne SS Rules Should not be Unreasonably Pressed ..........-++s 58 Purpose: JOf Rulesr iiss chee havc caste are ere hs ete elegeoheeeear ep nani 59 Organizine’ a Leeting eves se cclate sa cite esebeea cre rahe ier ee eee 59 Ae! 2 Voted sia rete wee se hares saad ah ve dap cg fe tauo Salo ecetees lelle ace er ie wena 60 C)epor te sco AG stake Wisi coe tan sheesh dae alee arene eres a tate 63 (DATICERS Cauley dh vceter'e be drae iat ienctores tacuezel's seve eae Laos eek eines stn i eae 64 Moderator Wi raiciture Steves sinus oraledelerahdoalaca telat ceabetare eee tera 64 Cle rete i Aiko op ee calle) sole ee seees SPOLOTS Bere alas over Oke eet on eae ae ee 64 Members; pRights and, Dutiestin, Meetingey see ects cae ete cere 65 Orde: Offi Busimess wig dfn, as oh otayarere ere ag aad onal chel eel diate tenet eae 66 Introd action of Bustiesss ti. seins alducortcle ctor late taleleien Feet 66 Disposale of@ Question ages sae savers, sis aler seaee dae ele ona tae ed teenie 67 WES 101 oO USSTION Getel ons oie Malahaict oveteber cle tece evetlitOteee re talent te 68 Subsidiary, /Ouestions isc. S «diate arava alae eee nee eee 68 Question ‘ot: -Gonsiderationg “) i.) 's Certaine es 62 allo ae wearers 69 Indeinite’ Postponement: yaa > vaste ok ei ortet eae 70 Mottont-\toc f Committe js: ostatoe. crcieusce ue) sean siento crater rate 79 To *Amend owe ead ote ee ae ne eee R Ja: Fort: ihe Previotis; (Question: 7% sie aye siete talecsaree 72 To eSUbSTtUte hassel h ocean cee bierdiet eae ee 74 Privileged’: © 11S toms! ecy aks ota afer tetas ccccha alee ice nena eee 74 Adyourdlin en thee Poe eins ele cS Onis ere Cte eee ee 74 To clakes RECESS ars tapers toes: eros toedat et hee ence ee ths Question Involving Rights of Members of House.. 76 Incidental. © westiomsi tyiics ore/ecie g's dlotsteresee sierece ear Se ee 77 Question of Order dcag.uy sas a% ales oe. dhol oie Rae a 77 Reading bot: Papersi eras .aes daa es cos etaie Meee eee 77 Withdrawal “ot WM otion's 24h we.clccre' sa eitiestea eee 78 Suppression) *ofta Rule inks Wtcs se oss eee bloreiener eee een 78 Reeonsideratton’ Gs Fane a2 Si, cass eiwlnas a cuaereine eee 78 Motiort: £6. 7 Resertid uy. 7 eee iietevete avs ace yeole © sapere iseate enh enters 79 Othérs NEOtions G17. scttene ere recieie ce ene ohernera ee eae sealed 79 ab bath Pais s.. dace << eten eye eb etAln'n al et ea one Saba a9 een aaa ana en 28 Sabbath School; Board \\teiietes cine so aly pitts wiaeidiets © migikine te eae 22 StS Baily crerbschel id iho Bia wlle’al sever a, jetahorehatele lobole hee aektete Creme Osa clay siete aenane meme 24 Satterlee, -Hider= Wialltami a c< ciicts/e actin tel eee Meee Boe ee ee ieee ...48, 84 Seventh: Day. Baptist. Educational, Society > ...w.0 awa ks ceviee een 22 Seventh “Day Baptist « Historical ‘Society® <.1.% seis see eee 20 Seventh» Day, Baptist “Missionary “SoGiety/+. «.s.s asa cece een 22 Soares, ‘Theodore :G.. Baptist Manual. 30. .d<2 aan cae eee 57, 114 Solemnization. of! Matrimony Wice coc cus cteis oierdel ere Gears taeha cetera eee 50 Wedding Manual—A Pastor's Handbook ..,..cccecccceceeees : 50 IWonlan Soi BOatd stadt aatee rc cic cab ana Shaler of ater os eis'tone gies sinteiatae 22 World’s Faith and Order Movement ........... Ar ass 44 Sw early Wieeting ras oncddeee sees «ieee Ago Re Hii icana eae eae 22 (120) ah ; : : ' \ Ny t i fi aes SOM Beas iaa ted t 2, 7 % oie | vik te, 7) ee ‘ , ve ? er es > * ne 6 in tes | 220 | | Libr 1012 01035 6 rT cerencpeneryren te | w a n= > | | | Latin Soe Stet noe if logic | | |