PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 United ^retjjra's CflitgregattM, 
 
 AT 
 
 SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, 
 
 As adopted by the Congregation Council, 
 MAY 17th, 1859. 
 
 nd approved by the Provincial Elders 1 Conference, 
 
 MAY 20th, 1859. 
 
 It 
 
 SALEM, N. C. 
 
 PRINTED BY L. V. BLUM. 
 1859. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/principlesdiscipOOmora 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The Constitution of the Moravian Congregation at Salem 
 having been changed by the abrogation of the statute which 
 permitted none but members of the church to hold property or 
 carry on business in the town of Salem, it became necessary to 
 undertake a revision of the then existing rules and regulations, 
 in so far as they related to the outward and secular concerns of 
 the congregation^ 
 
 Such revision was duly made, and the Rules and Regulations 
 following, having been discussed in successive meetings of the 
 Congregation Council, were finally adopted by a vote of more 
 than two-thirds of the members present. Consequently, accord- 
 ing to established rules and precedents, they are of equal weight 
 and obligation as though they had been embodied in the foriher 
 rules and regulations ; and hence also, the Congregation Coun- 
 cil resolved that those brethren who had once signed the rules 
 should not be required to do so again. 
 
 Salem, June 1, 1859. 
 
PART I. 
 
 PRINCIPLES OF FAITH A1VD PRACTICE. 
 
 1. The Church of the United Brethren, or Moravians, is built 
 upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus 
 Christ himself being the Chief Corner Stone. (Eph. 2. 20.) 
 As members of this church, we acknowledge the Holy Scrip- 
 tures of the Old and New Testament to contain everything 
 essential to salvation;, and to be the only rule of our faith 
 and practice. 
 
 We maintain the following points of doctrine as essential 
 to salvation : 
 
 a. The doctrine of the total depravity of human nature — that 
 there is no health in us, — and that, since the fall, we have 
 no power left to help ourselves. 
 
 b. The doctrine of the love of God the Father, who "has 
 chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world," 
 and "who so loved the world, that he gave his only begot- 
 ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not per- 
 ish, but have everlasting life." 
 
 c. The doctrine of the real Godhead and real manhood of 
 J esus Christ ; — that God, the Creator of all things, was 
 manifested in the flesh, and has reconciled the world unto 
 himself, — that "he is before all things, and by him all 
 things consist." 
 
 d. The doctrine of the atonement and satisfaction of Jesus 
 Christ for us ; — that "he was delivered for our offences, and 
 raised again for our justification ;" and that in his merits 
 alone we find forgiveness of sins and peace with God. 
 
 ~e.. The doctrine of the Holy Ghost and his gracious opera- 
 tions ; — that it is he who works in us the knowledge of sin, 
 faith in Jesus, and the witness that we are the children of 
 God. 
 
 /. The doctrine of the fruits of faith ; — that it must show it- 
 self as an active principle, by a willing obedience to God's 
 
PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 commandments, flowing from love and gratitude. (See 
 Synodal Results, 1857, p. 7.) 
 
 2. The only object of our religious union is to constitute a 
 church of Jesus Christ, in which the pure word of God is 
 preached, the sacraments are duly administered, and chris- 
 tian discipline is maintained. 
 
 3. We recognize as a true member of Christ's body every one, 
 who, through the Holy Ghost, has experienced the new birth. 
 Hence we regard all children of God as our brethren in Christ, 
 loving them sincerely and heartily, and disclaiming, as alto- 
 gether opposed to the mind of Christ, all sectarian animosity 
 arising from diversity of views on points of doctrine, disci- 
 pline, or church government. 
 
 4. Esteeming it a great privilege to meet together for the wor- 
 ship of God and for mutual edification, we will be faithful in 
 attending our meetings, "not forsaking the assembling of our- 
 selves together." (Heb. 10. 25.) 
 
 5. We consider ourselves bound faithfully to provide a sufficient 
 and suitable support for our ministers and their families ; and 
 we will also bear an equitable part in defraying all other ex- 
 penses connected with the service of the congregation. 
 
 6. Being members of the Moravian Church, we consider our- 
 selves in duty bound to take a share in meeting the common 
 necessities of the province to which we belong, and of the 
 Brethren's Unity at large, — especially the missions among 
 the heathen. 
 
 7. As regards our children, we desire ever to recognize them 
 as the property of our Lord Jesus Christ, purchased with his 
 most precious blood ; and to follow the divine precept, to 
 " bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." 
 (Eph. 6. 4.) Hence it is expected of all parents that they 
 faithfully endeavor to guard their children against everything 
 that might prove hurtful to their souls ; that they, through 
 grace, obtained by prayer and supplication, be priests of God, 
 lifting up holy hands for themselves and their families ; de- 
 claring to them the love of Jesus, and in no wise neglecting 
 the regular observance of family devotion ; that they set be- 
 
PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 fore them a consistent christian example ; that they cause 
 their children punctually to attend school, religious instruc- 
 tion, and the meetings for worship ; that they be suitably 
 employed at home ; and that, as they increase in years, they 
 be accustomed to habits of order and decorum, and to a well 
 regulated and moral conduct. 
 
 8. As true brotherly love is characteristic of the disciples of 
 Jesus, w r e will hold it fast as the bond of perfection. We 
 will endeavor in love to serve and aid one another ; to bear 
 with and forgive one another, mutually to exercise meekness, 
 humility, and becoming respect, and carefully avoid whatever 
 might interrupt that love, such as backbiting, slandering, or 
 other uncharitable practices. We desire to love one another 
 as Christ hath loved us. 
 
 9. As we are called, through the grace of God, to be children 
 of peace, we will follow after peace with all men, carefully 
 endeavoring to obey the precepts of our Saviour, " Whatso- 
 ever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
 them;" and bearing in mind the important charge, "Love 
 your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them 
 which despitefully use you, and persecute you." 
 
 10. We recognize the duty of relieving the necessities of all 
 such members, as may, through age, sickness, or other afflic- 
 tions, have become destitute and unable to maintain them- 
 selves. We likewise assume the obligation of so providing 
 for the education of destitute orphans in the congregation, that 
 they may become useful members of society, and capable of 
 procuring for themselves an honest livelihood. 
 
 11. In regard to dress, domestic arrangements, and the like, we 
 will aim at frugality, propriety, and economy, removing far 
 from us all extravagance, vanity, and abuse of worldly goods. 
 
 12. We consider ourselves in duty bound to provide things hon- 
 est in the sight of all men, as well as in the sight of God ; 
 consequently we will endeavor to be "not slothful in business, 
 but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" and we will steadi- 
 ly discountenance the sin of habitual idleness. 
 
PRINCIPLED AM) DISCIPLINE. 
 
 7 
 
 13. We will not forget to hallow the Lord's day. We will 
 make a faithful use of it as a day for devout meditation, and 
 for building ourselves up in our most holy faith. The carry- 
 ing on of worldly business or labor, other than w T orks of char- 
 ity or necessity ; the frequenting of places of worldly resort, 
 or anything w^iich interferes with edification and attendance 
 on Divine worship, is wholly inadmissible. 
 
 14. Regarding intemperance in the use of strong drink as a 
 most pernicious and sinful practice, rendering men in an es- 
 pecial degree the servants of sin, we will endeavor to remove 
 everything that can furnish occasion for this evil, from among 
 us, and give timely admonition and warning to those who may 
 be exposing themselves to temptation. 
 
 15. We w r ill carefully beware of all books and publications 
 which are opposed to the Bible or treat it irreverently, or of 
 such as have an immoral tendency, or may in any way cor- 
 rupt the mind, or turn it from the simplicity that is in Jesus. 
 We disapprove of any participation in such amusements as 
 have an injurious or even a questionable tendency with re- 
 spect to Christian morals. 
 
 16. In case misunderstandings or differences arise among any 
 of the members, they shall first, according to the command- 
 ment of Christ, endeavor to come to an amicable agreement 
 and equitable settlement among themselves. Should they 
 fail in so doing, the persons at variance shall select some oth- 
 er members of the congregation to act as mediators ; and if 
 the difficulty cannot thus be arranged to mutual satisfaction, 
 the case shall be referred to the Board of Elders for brother- 
 ly investigation and decision. Should either of the parties 
 even then refuse to be reconciled and pacified, such party 
 can no longer be considered a member of the church. In 
 case, however, the point of dispute should render a resort to 
 the courts of justice indispensable, everything at variance 
 with our character .as brethren is to be avoided. 
 
 17. Should any one be overtaken in a fault, (Gal. 6. 1.) we will 
 endeavor to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness ; 
 and when, on committing an error, we are reproved and ad- 
 
8 
 
 PROClFLES AXD DISCIPLINE. 
 
 monished, we will, by the £race of God, receive reproof thank- 
 fully, and strive to amend, considering all such admonitions 
 as great benefits conferred upon us. 
 
 18. Inasmuch as it behooves every member of the church in all 
 things to walk worthy of the gospel, so also shall those who 
 give offence to others, and refuse correction, after repeated 
 admonition and reproof, be excluded from church-fellowship, 
 according to the rule: il Put away from among yourselves that 
 wicked person.*' 
 
 19. If, therefore, any member in word or deed, act contrary to 
 the rules and regulations of the church, and by his example 
 tempt others to do the same ; transgressing the laws of the 
 country ; overreaching his neighbor in trade : in any manner 
 taking part in gambling and lotteries ; or being guilty of ly- 
 ing, backbiting and calumny ; giving himself up to drunken- 
 ness ; neglecting to satisfy his creditors ; committing the sins 
 of cursing and swearing, fornication and adultery, or other 
 manifest works of the flesh as enumerated Gal. 5. 19-21., 
 such an one can not longer be considered a member of the 
 church. 
 
 PAET II. 
 
 PRINCIPLES AXD RILES RELATING TO THE CON- 
 STITUTION OR FOR3I OF GOVERNMENT OF THE 
 CONGREGATION, 
 
 1. GENERAL SYNODS. 
 
 The government of the Brethren's Church, under the supreme 
 guidance of the Great Head of his church, our Lord and Sa- 
 viour, Jesus Christ, is exercised by General Synods. Such a 
 Synod constitutes, whenever assembled, the body to which 
 pertains the chief legislative power for all general affairs of 
 the church. 
 
PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 2. UNITY'S ELDERS' CONFERENCE. 
 
 The oversight and direction of the Unity from one general Syn- 
 od to another, in all matters pertaining to general Synods, is 
 committed to a Board, chosen by the Synod, and called the 
 Unity's Elders' Conference, or the Directing Board of the 
 Protestant Church of the Brethren. All other Boards, as 
 well as servants'of the Unity, by whatsoever power appoint- 
 ed, are responsible to this Board, in all matters over which 
 the General Synod has jurisdiction. 
 
 3. PROVINCIAL SYNODS. 
 
 The chief direction of all provincial concerns, and the power of 
 legislating upon them, belongs immediately to Provincial 
 Synods. These Synods are specially charged with the duty 
 of examining thoroughly the spiritual as well as temporal con- 
 dition of the congregations within the province. 
 
 4. PROVINCIAL ELDERS' CONFERENCE. 
 The chief board of administration in all provincial affairs is the 
 Provincial Elders' Conference. This Board is responsible to 
 the Provincial Synod ; and is accountable to it for its ad- 
 ministration. 
 
 5. BOARDS OF THE SALEM CONGREGATION. 
 1. Board of Elders. — The Board of Elders shall be compos- 
 ed of the Pastor or Pastors of the Congregation, the Princi- 
 pal of the Salem Female Academy, and three other brethren, 
 to be elected by the Congregation Council, from among 
 the members of the Council. They shall be 30 years of 
 age, and not less than five years members of the church. — 
 After the first election, these three brethren, shall, at the 
 first meeting of the Board, determine by lot whose term of 
 office shall expire respectively, at the end of the fir3t, second 
 and third year, (in like manner as hereinafter provided for 
 the Board of Trustees,) and after the first election one mem- 
 ber shall be elected annually, to serve for three years. The 
 election shall be on the first Tuesday in May of every year 
 — the day fixed for the election of members of the Board of 
 Trustees. The election of the Board of Elders shall be first 
 m order. 
 
PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 At the meetings of the Board the pastor shall preside ; and in 
 case there is more than one pastor, the senior (i. e. the prin- 
 cipal) one shall be president. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Board of Elders : 
 
 a. To watch over the spiritual and moral well-being of the 
 Congregation as a whole. 
 
 5. To regulate the various meetings for worship. 
 
 c. To maintain the proper exercise of church discipline. 
 
 d. To decide upon applications for church membership. 
 
 e. To determine for what purposes the church edifice shall 
 be used. 
 
 f. To appoint the Organist, and the principal chapel ser- 
 vants, both male and female, and these shall appoint 
 their assistants, with the concurrence of the Board- 
 er. In general to carry out, in this Congregation, the princi- 
 ples and rules enacted by the proper authorities of the 
 church of the United Brethren. 
 
 2. Board of Trustees. — The Board of Trustees shall be com- 
 posed of the Warden of the Congregation, (so long as such 
 an officer with his present functions, shall be retained in the 
 Congregation,) and six brethren, to be elected by the Congre- 
 gation Council, who must be 25 years of age and have been 
 members of the Church three years. 
 
 After the first election the six brethren elected shall, at their 
 first meeting divide themselves by lot into three classes ; the 
 time of service of the first class shall expire at the end of the 
 first year ; that of the second class at the end of the second 
 year ; and that of the third class at the end of the third year ; 
 so that one third, viz v two members must be chosen every 
 year after the first, and their term of service shall then be 
 three years. The election shall be held on the first Tuesday 
 of May in every year. 
 
 Should the office of Warden become extinct, the six elected 
 members shall constitute the Board. 
 
PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 11 
 
 At the first meeting after each annual election the Board shall 
 organize by electing a President and Secretary. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees : 
 
 a. To manage and direct all secular and financial affairs of 
 the Congregation, and of the Salem Diacony and single Sis- 
 ters' Diaconjr in particular. 
 
 I. To determine the Salaries of the Minister, the Warden, 
 and other officers and servants of the congregation. 
 
 <?. To fix upon the amount of church contributions to be an- 
 nually paid by the members, and to adopt measures for the 
 punctual payment of the same. They shall likewise have 
 power to exonerate members on account of their inability 
 to pay. 
 
 d. To have the charge and superintendence of the graveyard 
 and the appointment of persons to dig graves, and to keep 
 the graveyard in proper order. No interment of any per- 
 son, not a member of the church, shall take place therein 
 without their consent having been obtained. 
 
 e. To pay or cause to be paid the expenses necessarily in- 
 curred by the Board of Elders in the discharge of their le- 
 gitimate sphere of duties. 
 
 3. School Board. — The School Board shall be composed of the 
 Pastor or Pastors of the Congregation, the Warden, and 
 three other brethren to be elected biennially by the Congre- 
 gation Council. It shall have the direction and management 
 of the Congregation school for boys. One of the Pastors 
 shall preside at its meetings, and be the Principal or Inspec- 
 tor of the School. 
 
 It shall be the duty of this Board : 
 
 a. To appoint the teacher or teachers, and fix their salaries. 
 5. To fix the price of tuition, and collect the same. 
 
 c. To provide for the expenses of the school. 
 
 d. To make and enforce rules and regulations for the gov- 
 ernment of the same. 
 
12 
 
 PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 All boys eight years of age and upwards, shall be admitted to 
 this school, whose parents, or one of them, are members of 
 this congregation, and who shall be willing to submit to the 
 rules and regulations of the school. The sons of others, not 
 members, may be admitted on such terms, and under such 
 rules and regulations as the School Board may find expe- 
 dient. 
 
 The Board of Elders and the Board of Trustees have each their 
 separate sphere of activity, and are not to interfere with one 
 another in the performance of their particular duties ; one 
 having charge of the spiritual, and the other of the temporal 
 concerns of the Congregation ; yet it is desirable that they 
 should be on terms of friendly intercourse, and even confer 
 together in such cases as may arise where each Board is in- 
 terested, or where such mutual conference may result for the 
 manifest good of the Congregation. In cases of disagree- 
 ment between these two Boards, a joint meeting of both may 
 be had and the subject disposed of by a majority of votes. 
 
 No one shall hold a seat in the Board of Elders and in the 
 Board of Trustees at the same time. 
 
 In case of absence of the presiding officer in any of the three 
 boards, the members thereof shall appoint a President pro.tem. 
 
 Any vacancies occurring among the elective members of any of 
 these three boards, may be filled by the remainder of the 
 Board until the next time for a regular election. 
 
 CONGREGATION COUNCIL. 
 The Congregation Council shall be composed of all brethren, 
 communicant members of the Congregation, who shall have 
 attained to the age of 21 years, and who shall have subscrib- 
 ed to the rules and regulations of this congregation. The 
 aet of subscribing to the rules can take place only in the pres- 
 ence of the minister or Board of Elders, who shall add the 
 date of the signature. 
 
 The pastor, or in case there be two, the senior pastor, shall pre- 
 side in all meetings of the Council. In case of his absence 
 
PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 18 
 
 the Congregation Council shall elect a chairman pro. tern. — 
 All meetings of the Congregation Council shall be announc- 
 ed on two occasions of public worship. It shall be the duty 
 of the Congregation Council to elect the Delegates to the 
 Provincial Synods ; the elective members of the Board of 
 Elders, Board of Trustees, and School Board, and all other 
 officers and boards of the Congregation not herein otherwise 
 provided for. 
 
 The Board of Elders shall have authority at any time to con- 
 vene the Congregation Council ; and upon application of the 
 Board of Trustees, or ten members of the Council, they shall 
 call a meeting. 
 
 All standing officers elected by the Congregation Council shall 
 continue in office until their successors are elected. All elec- 
 tions shall be by ballot, and a majority of the votes cast shall 
 be necessary to a choice. 
 
 Whenever it shall be deemed expedient by the Board of Elders, 
 or Board of Trustees, Congregational matters may be by 
 them submitted to the Congregation Council. All matters 
 which relate to the temporal or spiritual welfare of the Con- 
 gregation may be discussed in the Congregation Council. 
 
 The annual accounts of the Diacony shall be submitted to the 
 Council. 
 
 Appointments to office in the Congregation shall in every in- 
 stance take place agreeably to the rules laid down by the 
 Synods of our church. The exclusive right of appointment 
 is vested in the Provincial Elders' Conference. In case of 
 vacancy by death or otherwise, in the Pastorate or office of 
 Warden, when a brother is appointed by the Provincial El- 
 ders' Conference, the name of the brother so appointed shall 
 be by the Provincial Elders' Conference laid before the Board 
 of Elders, and then before the Board of Trustees, and these 
 Boards shall decide whether the person whose name is laid 
 before them shall be accepted or not ; and they may in be- 
 half of the congregation, propose the name of another per- 
 son. 
 
 See Digest of Prov. Synod, 1856, p. 35, § 52. 
 
34 PRINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 On the other hand, if cases should occur where ministering 
 brethren have lost the confidence of the congregation, or dis- 
 satisfaction exist respecting them, in office, the Congregation 
 may through these Boards express their opinions and wishes 
 to the Provincial Elders Conference. 
 
 Digest, 1856, p. 35, § 52. 
 
 All resolutions of the Board of Elders, Board of Trustees and 
 Congregation Council not referring merely to their current 
 business, but containing permanent regulations, shall be sub- 
 mitted for approbation to the Provincial Elder's Conference 
 who shall, however, be at liberty to withhold their sanction 
 only in case such resolutions, in the opinion of said confer- 
 ence, are at variance with the principles and constitution of 
 the church. 
 
 Persons desiring to be received as members, must apply to the 
 minister, who shall, as soon as may be, submit the applica- 
 tion to the Board of Elders, who shall have full power to 
 grant or refuse the application, at once, or to fix upon a term 
 of probation. Candidates for the Holy Communion, under 
 ordinary circumstances, must first attend a preparatory 
 course of catechetical instruction, and then obtain admission 
 to the Lord's table, if unbaptized, through baptism ; or if al- 
 ready baptized, through confirmation. 
 
 Persons who have previously been full members of another 
 Christian denomination are received by extending to them 
 the right hand of Christian fellowship in a meeting of the 
 Congregation, on which occasion a charge may be addressed 
 to them, and a prayer be offered up in their behalf. Such 
 persons are required, if possible, to produce certificates of 
 their baptism and admission to the Lord's table. 
 
 Whenever persons having children are admitted to church 
 membership, such only of their children as are under four- 
 teen years of age shall be considered as admitted along with 
 the parents. 
 
 Members of other Moravian Congregations, removing into our 
 snidst and desiring to be admitted to church privileges, shall 
 
PRINCIPLES AN i) DISCIPLINE. 
 
 call upon the minister and give satisfactory evidence of their 
 membership, whereupon they shall be considered members of 
 this congregation. The names of persons so admitted shall 
 be communicated in a meeting of the congregation. 
 
 Members are expected to bring their infant children to be bap-- 
 tized as soon as convenient, and if circumstances permit, im 
 the church. §>uch baptized children, by the sacrament of 
 Baptism, have become incorporated into the visible church of 
 Christ, and are to be regarded as members of the Congrega- 
 tion, — unless by their misconduct in riper years, they have 
 forfeited their privileges. 
 
 Whenever members of the church desire to enter into the state 
 of matrimony, they are to give notice of their intention to 
 the minister of the congregation ; whom as a general rule,, 
 they will request to perform the ceremony of their marriage. 
 
 Whenever it becomes necessary to decide upon the question 
 whether a member of the Congregation shall any longer be 
 regarded as such (according to Part I, § 18 and 19 of these 
 rules) the case shall be taken into consideration by the Board 
 of Elders, and everything shall be done that the case may be 
 determined fairly and according to the truth, the member in 
 question being in every case entitled to a hearing before the 
 Board. 
 
 Members who have been excluded shall be duly notified thereof 
 by the minister, and shall in all eases have the right of ap- 
 peal to the Provincial Elders' Conference. 
 
 Whenever any member shall have, for the space of twelve 
 months, absented himself from the Lord's supper, or from 
 the meetings of the Congregation, or shall have refused to 
 contribute any sum towards the discharge of the regular dues 
 of membership, without, in either case, assigning a sufficient 
 reason, such member shall be considered as having withdrawn 
 from the membership of the church. 
 
 In order that the Congregation may be placed in a proper re- 
 lation to such as have been excluded, or have withdrawn from 
 
PKINCIPLES AND DISCIPLINE. 
 
 church fellowship, all cases of exclusion or withdrawal shall 
 be mentioned to the congregation in an appropriate way, at 
 a suitable meeting. 
 
 Whenever the interests of the Congregation, at any future time, 
 shall render it expedient to alter or amend, or add to, any of 
 these present rules and regulations, such alterations, amend- 
 ments, or additions, if adopted by a majority of two-thirds of 
 all the votes cast in the Congregation Council, shall be of 
 equal weight and obligation as though they had been literal- 
 ly embodied in these present rules and regulations ; provided 
 the vote on such alterations or amendments is not taken in 
 the same meeting in which they were introduced, but at some 
 subsequent meeting of the Congregation Council expressly 
 Convened for that purpose ; and, provided further, that all 
 such proposed alterations and amendments have obtained the 
 ^auction of the Provincial Elders' Conference. 
 
18