This is a formal compilation of the rules and procedures of Connecticut churches as they developed by the early 19th century. It may therefore be considered the fullest articulation of New England Congregationalism, prior to the organization of the National Council.
The General Association of Connecticut, at New Milford, in 1837, appointed a committee of one from each district association, "to collect from the different associations and consociations the various rules and usages which modify the application of the Platform; and to report to the next General Association a summary or digest of the same, which may be incorporated with a new edition of the Platform."
I. The completeness of particular Churches.
The rights, powers, and duties of particular churches are the basis of our ecclesiastical constitution. To none but the elder or elders of a particular church with the consent of the brethren of the same, does it belong to exercise church discipline, to open and shut, to receive and reject, to excommunicate and to absolve from excommunication. (Heads of Agreement I; 6, 7. Saybrook Articles I.)
II. The Communion of Churches.
Although churches are distinct, and equal, yet all the churches ought to preserve church communion, one with another; and all ought to be most willing to give account of their church proceedings to each other, when desired, for preventing or removing any offences that may arise among them. (Heads of Ag. IV, 6.)
The churches confederated under our ecclesiastical constitution, do not by their confederation cease to be Congregational churches; nor do they part with any of the rights, powers and duties, which belong to them by Christ's institution. They only consent and covenant to exercise towards each other, under certain forms, that mutual communion which is their duty as churches of Christ; and particularly, first, by way of mutual care in taking thought for one another's welfare,—secondly, by way of consultation one with another in cases which require the judgment and counsel of other churches,—and thirdly, by way of admonition, to wit, in case any public offence be found in a church, in which case, if the church that lieth under offence be found obstinate, after due means used for its recovery, by a council or synod of neighboring churches, those neighboring churches approving and accepting the judgment of the council, are respectively to declare the sentence of non-communion concerning the offending church.*
*These and other particular instances of church communion, were distinctly defined by the synod at Cambridge, in 1648. Such responsibility of churches to each other was well known and practically recognized in Connecticut long before the Saybrook Platform was framed. See Camb. Platf. XV: 2.
I. The matter of a Consociation.
A consociation consists of the churches neighboring to each other within a certain district, which is ordinarily either a whole or a part of a county, with the elders or pastors, agreeing to practice church communion, by affording to each other such assistance as may be requisite upon all occasions ecclesiastical. (Sayb. Art. II.)
A church proposing to unite with the consociation, may be required to give satisfaction to other churches respecting the conformity of its faith and order to the pattern of the scriptures. (Heads of Agr. VIII.)
II. The members of a Council of the Consociated Churches.
Every pastor of a consociated church is a member of the council of the consociation. (Saybr. Art. II.) Nevertheless, if a pastor of a consociated church has been introduced into the pastoral office without the presence and concurrence of the council of the consociation, such pastor cannot be obtruded upon the churches of the district as a standing member of the council without their first obtaining, by examination, or otherwise, as they shall see fit, satisfaction respecting his fitness for the work.
The brotherhood of each consociated church is to be represented in the council by one or more messengers or delegates, chosen for that purpose by themselves, according to the rules and usages of each particular church. (Sayb. Art. IX.)
III. The officers of a Consociation.
Every council elects its moderator, to direct the debates and preserve order, and its scribe or scribes to write the minutes of the proceedings.
The only standing officer of a consociation, is the register who keeps the records, and transcribes into a book the minutes of each council as written down by the scribe or scribes.
In the consociation of New London county, the officers are a Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer. The Moderator is chosen annually; the Clerk and Treasurer hold their offices during the pleasure of the consociation.
IV. Meetings of the Council.
In each consociation, an annual meeting is held at a time and place previously agreed on. In this annual council, the pastors and the messengers of the churches meet without being summoned by special letters missive.
The minister who was chosen at the last session of any council to be moderator, shall with the advice and consent of two or more elders, (or in case of the moderator's death, any two elders of the same consociation) call another council within the circuit when they shall judge there is need thereof. (Sayb. Art. X.)*
* To this rule prescribed in the Platform, there are, in practice, these exceptions. In New London county, the moderator, or in case of his death or disability, the senior pastor, is empowered to convene the council at his own discretion whenever he is orderly applied to for that purpose. In Fairfield East, the moderator may convene the council with the consent of one pastor, and must convene it at the request of two. In Litchfield North, the moderator on application from five members of the consociation, and in Litchfield South, the moderator on application from five members of any consociate church, is required to convene the council. In New Haven West, the senior pastor, is authorized, in case of the death of the moderator, to act in his stead.
V. Business belonging to the Council.
In the districts of New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield counties, the rules and usages of the consociations, require a council of all the consociated churches to be called at the settlement or dismission of a pastor. In Hartford North, each church, when settling or dismissing a pastor, calls a council at its own discretion. In Hartford South, Windham, and Tolland, the majority of the council, on such occasions, must be of the consociations. In Middlesex all the members of such councils, must be of the consociation.
In New London county, a particular rule exists, viz. "When any particular church and society shall present to the moderator, documents preparatory to the ordination or dismission of a minister, the moderator shall, by letters missive, convoke such ministers and delegates from their respective churches, (not less than six of each) as said church and society shall request, which ministers and delegates, together with himself and a delegate from his church, shall constitute a council for the above purpose. In the case of ordination, the church and pastor elect shall have the privilege of inviting one or two pastors and delegates of churches without the consociation, but in fellowship with it, to act in concert with the consociation."
At the annual meeting, the council inquires into the state of religion in the churches of the district, enters into deliberations and gives advice concerning matters of common interest, and when orderly applied to, gives advice to a particular church, or to individual members of the churches.
In case any difficulties arise in any of the churches, which cannot be issued without considerable disquiet, that church in which they arise, may before proceeding to sentence therein, or at any stage of the proceedings, apply to the council of the consociated churches of the circuit to which the said church belongs, who, if they see cause, shall thereupon convene, hear, and determine such cases of difficulty. (Sayb. Art. VII, VIII.)
When a consociated church has proceeded to the sentence of excommunication against a brother charged with any offence, such offending brother has liberty to call a council of the churches of the consociation to hear and determine in his case. (Sayb. Art. VII, VIII.)
VI. The form of proceeding in cases of difficulty.
The case of an offending Pastor. In some districts, as New Haven West, and Fairfield East, no complaint is entertained against a pastor, except on the presentation of the associated pastors of the district. (Sayb. Art. XIII.) In others, as Litchfield South, if an elder has been complained of to the associated pastors, and they have refused to bring the matter before the council, the aggrieved brother may complain directly to the consociation. In New London, a complaint against a pastor may be brought by any other pastor, or by a church, directly to the council without any interposition of the associated pastors. In New London, none but a pastor, or a church, of that consociation, and in Litchfield North, none but a pastor, can commence a process of discipline with a pastor.
The case of an offending Church. In the consociation of New London county, any minister or church of the consociation, being aggrieved with unscriptural profession or deportment of any of the churches in that connection, and having used all those private means which the Gospel proposes for reforming the erring member, may present a complaint to the consociation. In Litchfield South, if the body of the church shall be guilty of heresy or scandal, an aggrieved brother shall use his endeavors to have a church meeting regularly convened; at which meeting he shall lay before the church their apprehended errors; and if they give not christian satisfaction, he shall regularly bring his complaint to the consociation: Or if the church refuse to meet and hear such complaint of an offended brother, he may directly, thereupon, bring his complaint to the consociation. In Litchfield North, a process of discipline with a church may be commenced by a pastor, or any member of that church; the first steps to be taken in private, but at the second step, one pastor and one member, from another church are to assist, before the offending church shall be cited to answer to any complaint before the consociation; Should the proper officer for calling the church refuse to do it, on written application stating the grievance, or should the church refuse to assemble, he or they are to be adjudged contumacious. In other consociations, no method is expressly provided by which a church can be brought before a council of the consociation without its own consent, except in the case of an appeal from its sentence of excommunication.
The Organ of communication with the Council. A person having a complaint against a minister is to bring his complaint, not directly to the consociation, (except in New London county) but to the associated pastors of the district through the moderator of the association. A reference, complaint, or appeal to the consociation, is to be put into the hands of the moderator of the last council, or of the pastor or pastors upon whom, in the case of his death or disability, it devolves to act in his stead.
Citation. It is the duty of the moderator, or of the person or persons acting in his stead, to examine the reference, complaint, appeal, or request, put into his hands, and if he finds that it is in order, and that the case is one in which, according to the rules of the consociation, a council is required, he is to issue not only letters missive convening the council, but also citations to the parties concerned, and if requested to the witnesses named by either party. The citation to a party complained of or appealed from, must be accompanied with a certified copy of the complaint or appeal, and ought to be presented, unless the consociation has some other special rule, at least eight days before the time appointed for the trial of the case. In Fairfield East, and Windham, a minister accused before the consociation must receive notice at least one month previous to the meeting of the consociation. In some consociations, usage permits either the moderator or the scribe to issue citations to parties or witnesses. And in some, as in Litchfield South, notice given to the church, or to the pastor, or moderator of the church by a party appealing, is sufficient notice to the church to appear before the consociation, at the next annual meeting, in answer to the appeal.
Limitation of the Right of Appeal. In Fairfield East, and Windham, every appellant is required to give the church notice in writing, of his intention to appeal, within one month after his conviction, and to prosecute the appeal before the council, within six months from the original trial. In Litchfield South, the appeal must be duly notified to the church or to their Moderator within eight days after the sentence of the church is rendered.
Censure of scandalous Contempt. If any person or persons orderly complained of to a council, or that are witnesses to such complaints, (having regular notification to appear, shall refuse or neglect so to do, in the place, and at the time specified, in the warning given, except they or he give some satisfactory reason thereof, to the said council, they shall be judged guilty of scandalous contempt. (Sayb. Art. XI.) If any person thus guilty of scandalous contempt, be a member of a church, that church, ought to deal with him as an offender: otherwise, the church becomes partaker of his sin.
VII. Method of voting in a Council.
The rule according to which questions were anciently decided in councils of the consociated churches, was that nothing shall be deemed, an act, or judgment of any council, which hath not the major part of the elders present concurring, and such a number of the messengers present, as makes the majority of the council. (Sayb. Art. IV.) In the consociations of Litchfield county, and in that of New Haven East, this rule is still observed, with the modification that a majority of the elders must concur with a majority of the messengers, to give validity to any act in reference to which, the application of the rule, is demanded by any member of the council. In New Haven West, two thirds of the votes are necessary to a decision.
VIII. Result or decision of the Council.
The result or decision of the council whether it be called advisory, as in some districts, or authoritative as in others, is in all cases to be a final issue. That is, no other council may be called to rejudge the matter: and in all cases, the church is to give effect to the decision of the council, by accepting and acting upon it, or by submitting to it, as the case may require. And the council, having seen their determination or judgment, duly executed and attended, may put upon its records the evidence of the compliance of the church with the decision.
IX. The right of parties to be heard by counsel.
No person is permitted to appear as counsel for another, before any consociation, who is not a member of a congregational church, and in good standing. In the consociation of New Haven West, no person practicing as an attorney at law, in the civil courts, is allowed to appear as counsel. In New Haven East, no person who has made the pleading of the law, his professional business is admitted as an advocate unless he be a member of a church, belonging to that consociation. In the consociation of New London, no person is permitted to appear as counsel, for any party; nevertheless, the consociation, when in its judgment the fair and full investigation of any cause, shall require aid, may designate one of its own members to present and examine witnesses in favor of one or both the parties.
X. The union of two Consociations.
There is no appeal from the determination pronounced by a council of the consociated churches, in a district, to any other council or judicature. Yet if the matter brought before the council of any district shall be judged so great in the nature of it, or so doubtful in the issue, or of such general concern, that the said council shall judge best that it be referred to a fuller council, then they shall invite to their aid the churches of the other consociation, within the same county, (or of the next adjoining consociation of another county, if there be in it two consociations in the county, where the difficulty ariseth,) and the fuller council of those two adjoining consociations, shall hear, judge, determine, and finally issue such case according to the word of God. (Sayb. Art. VII.)
XI. Proceedings when the Church refuses to abide by judgment of the Council.
If any pastor and church doth obstinately refuse a due attendance, and conformity to the determination of the council, that hath the cognizance of the case, and determineth it as above, after due patience used, they shall be reputed guilty of scandalous contempt. (Sayb. Art. VI.)
Such pastor and church, are to be dealt with as the rule of God's word doth provide, i. e. following the analogy of the rule, given by Christ, in Matthew XVIII; 15, 16, 17. (Sayb. Art. VI.)
If the offending church, and pastor, refuse to have the admonition of the consociated church, expressed by the council, then, after due patience, the sentence of non-communion shall be declared against such pastor and church. And the churches of the district, are severally to approve of the said sentence, by withdrawing from the communion of the pastor and church, which so refuseth to be heard. (Sayb. Art. VI. See also above Part I. Art. II. § 2.)
XII. Select Councils.
The right of a church to ask advice of any other churches in cases of difficulty, is not taken away by our ecclesiastical confederation, yet the party concerned has always a right, to have his cause heard and determined by the consociation, after the church has proceeded to sentence of excommunication against him.
In Litchfield South, if it be requested by any offender, when prosecuted in any particular church, he or she shall have a right, (by the consent of the church,) to an advisory council to be mutually chosen by such church and offender, previously to a hearing and judgment by the church; unless by mutual consent of the parties, such case shall be immediately referred to the consociation.
The result of a select council, should be entered upon the records of the church; and in Litchfield North, it is distinctly required that an authentic copy of the result, be deposited with the register of the consociation to be kept on file.
No aggrieved party in a consociated church has a right in any case to call an ex parte council, for the redress of grievances; no church is required to comply with such a call, or to attend to the advice of such a council;—our ecclesiastical confederation having provided a more excellent way.
I. Membership in the Association.
The teaching elders of the churches in each county or district become an association by their own consent and covenant. (Sayb. Art. XII.) He who consents to become a teaching elder in a consociated church, consents to become a member of the association, but does not become actually a member, till the associated pastors, upon their satisfaction of his fitness, consent, either formally or informally, to receive him.
Ordained ministers of the gospel, having no pastoral relation to a church, but exercising their ministry within the bounds of an association, either as teachers in a theological school, or as supplying a congregation statedly with the ministration of the word, ought to be in connection with the association of the district within which they reside, and become such by mutual consent.
A minister dismissed from his pastoral charge, and still exercising his ministry occasionally, does not cease to be a member of the association, but is under their fraternal inspection in all that concerns his ministerial character, and may sit in their meetings to aid with his advice and vote.
A minister ordained to the work of an evangelist whether as a missionary to foreign parts, or to labor among the destitute at home, ought to be connected with some association till such time, as it shall be convenient for him to be united with some other body.
II. Duties of the Association.
The duties of the associated pastors in each county or division of a county, are,
To consult the duties of their office, and common interest of the churches, [Sayb. Art. XII.] by carefully inquiring, at least twice in each year, into the state of religion in their respective charges:
To send three delegates each year to the general association, and by the hands of those delegates an authentic report of the state of religion in that district:
To act upon such matters as may be referred to them by the general association:
To consider and resolve questions and cases of importance which shall be offered by any among themselves or others: (Sayb. Art. XII.)
To examine candidates for the ministry, and by a certificate of approbation, (commonly called a license) to recommend to the churches such as they find to be duly qualified: (Sayb. Art. XII.)
To recommend to bereaved churches, on their application for advice, such persons as may be fit to be called and settled in the work of the Gospel ministry among them: (Sayb. Art. XIV.)
To take notice of any among themselves that may be accused of scandal or heresy unto them, or of scandal or heresy cognizable by them; to examine the matter carefully; and, if they find just occasion, to direct to the calling of the council of the consociated churches of the district, that such offenders may be duly proceeded against before the council. (Art. XIII.)
III. Officers of the Association.
A moderator and a scribe are chosen at the opening of each meeting.
Each association has its register who records in a book, the minutes put into his hands by the scribe of each meeting.
IV. Meetings of the Association.
Generally the associations hold two stated meetings in each year, one of the two being coincident with the annual meeting of the consociation. The association of New Haven West, meets three times annually.
Special meetings are called by letters missive from the moderator of the last meeting, at the desire of any two members. In case of the death or disability of the moderator, any two members may issue letters convoking a special meeting. In the association of New London county a special meeting is called, in case of the death or disability of the moderator, by the last preceding moderator.
The letters which call a special meeting, state the business for which the meeting is convened; and in accordance with a principle of natural justice, it is commonly understood that no business is to be taken up at a special meeting, other than that of which the letters missive have given due notice.
V. The examination and recommendation of candidates for the Ministry.
Each association has its own rules in respect to the time which a candidate must have devoted to the study of theology before examination; but generally, in compliance with a recommendation of the general association, the candidate for examination must have spent at least two years in theological studies, and must have a competent knowledge of the arts and sciences.
The certificate of approbation, or license to preach, confers on the candidate no ecclesiastical rank or authority. He is not a minister, but only a candidate for the ministry, approved by the associated pastors, and permitted to preach for the trial of his gifts. His certificate of approbation may therefore be revoked whenever the association shall see cause.
The certificate of approbation is ordinarily given only for the term of four years, at the end of which period, it may be renewed at the request of the candidate.
A candidate presenting himself to a council, or any other ecclesiastical body, for ordination, does not need a formal dismission from the association which gave him license to preach. His ordination, terminates his connection with that association; and he is to enter into new relations, not as a candidate, but as a minister.*
*In the Presbyterian church, a license to preach is given by a presbytery; and all ordinations are also performed by presbyteries. The licentiate is "under the care" of the presbytery by which he was licensed, and cannot be ordained by another presbytery, without being first, by a special dismission and recommendation, released from his former relation, and placed "under the care" of that other presbytery. In the congregational communion, no man begins to preach without being first examined and approved by an association of ministers; and in imitation of presbyterian usage, the approbation is called a license, and the candidate is called a licentiate. But the association by which candidates are licensed, is not the body by which ministers are ordained; and therefore an association knows nothing about dismissing a licentiate in order to his ordination. The license is itself a sufficient dismission and recommendation to any ordaining body to whom it may be presented, and is valid for the term of four years from its date, unless otherwise limited in express terms. Presbyterians have sometimes been perplexed in consequence of not understanding this distinction.
VI. Proceedings against a Minister charged with scandal or heresy.
An offending brother in the association, is to be first dealt with privately accordingly to the rules of Christ in Matt. XVIII. 15, 16.
When the accused brother is a pastor of a consociated church, the association is to inquire whether the charge is of such a nature, in respect to the matter alledged, and of so much probability in respect to the grounds on which it rests, as to require a trial; and then, if they see cause, they are to direct to the calling of a council of the consociated churches, where such offenders may be duly proceeded against. (Sayb. Art. XIII.)
When the accused brother is pastor of a church not consociated, the association, having found upon inquiry sufficient cause to proceed against him, may bring the matter to the church of which he is pastor; and that church may call to its aid, as in the case of the ordination of its pastor, a select council of neighboring churches.
When the accused brother is not a pastor of any church, and is not by some special rule amenable to the consociation, or when being pastor of a church not consociated, that church refuses to submit the charges against him to a proper council, the association may proceed to investigate the truth of the charges, and if they find him guilty of any scandal or heresy for which he ought to be deposed from the ministry, they may expel him from their fellowship, and declare him to be no longer in communion with them, as a minister of Christ.
When a minister of the Gospel, residing or performing the work of the ministry among our churches, but not connected with the association as a member, is charged with scandal or heresy, it is the duty of the association to examine the matter as in the case of one of their own members, and (if they find just occasion,) to present the matter to the proper ecclesiastical authority, with which the accused is directly connected. But if it be not known, that the individual is connected with any ecclesiastical body competent to try the case,—or if he be connected with an ecclesiastical body too distant to act seasonably and intelligently upon the matters alledged,—or if the ecclesiastical body with which he is connected, refuse to do what is required by the laws of Christ, the purity of the ministry, and the safety of the churches,—then the association may proceed to investigate the charges, and finding him guilty of any scandal or heresy for which he ought to be deposed from the ministry, may declare him to be out of this fellowship, and may warn the churches against him as a deceiver.
I. Its Constitution and Order of Proceedings.
The general association consists of delegates from the several particular associations of Connecticut, (Sayb. Art. XV.) and of delegates from the congregational bodies in other states with which the general association is in fraternal correspondence. It also receives delegates from each of the two bodies entitled "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church," who partake in the deliberations of the general association, but give no vote.
The general association for each year, meets at the place appointed by the general association of the preceding year, on the third Tuesday in June, at 11 o'clock, ante meridiem.
The objects for which the general association meets are, to learn the general state of religion,—to promote unity and order in ecclesiastical affairs,—and to recommend to the district associations such matters and things as they shall apprehend will be for the general welfare.
The general association has no legislative or judicial power over ministers or churches. It is nothing else than a meeting for consultation and advice, and for co-operation in the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.
The district association within whose bounds the last but one preceding general association was held, appoints one of its own members to preach a sermon before the general association.
Each district association appoints three delegates to the general association; and it is recommended that one delegate at least from each district association, be of the number of those who attended at the general association last preceding.
A preacher is appointed by the general association, on the nomination of the district association within whose bounds the general association is assembled, who delivers a concio ad clerum in the chapel of Yale College, in the evening of the commencement day.
The meetings of the general association are held from year to year within the several districts, in the following order,—Hartford North, Litchfield North, Litchfield South, Fairfield West, Fairfield East, New Haven West, New Haven East, Hartford South, Middlesex, New London, Windham, Tolland.
The rules of order for the general association are as follows.
The minister at whose house the association is to meet, when the hour of meeting is come, provided a majority of the members be present, shall call them to order, and call for, receive and count the ballots for a scribe, and declare the person chosen. If there be not a majority present, he shall wait one hour and then proceed.
The person chosen scribe shall call for, receive and count the ballots for a moderator, and declare the person chosen.
The moderator shall take the chair and direct the members to ballot for an assistant scribe.
The moderator, after the certificates of membership are read, shall open the association with prayer; he shall also open and close the association, each day, with prayer, except at the termination of the session, at which time he may request some other person to pray.
As soon as the association is opened, a committee of overtures shall be chosen to prepare business for the association.
Every morning and afternoon, at the time to which the association is adjourned, the moderator shall take the chair, and the scribe shall call over the roll of the members; those who are tardy shall be called to give a reason for their delay.
No member shall withdraw from the body until the close of the session, without leave of absence first obtained from the moderator.
After the association is opened in the morning by prayer, the minutes of the preceding day shall be read by the scribe.
The moderator shall preserve order and decorum in the body; and when he speaks to the merits of any question, he shall leave the chair and address himself to the scribe.
Every member when he wishes to speak shall address the moderator.
No member shall speak more than twice to the merits of the question in debate, except by special permission of the body; nor more than once until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.
Every motion, except for adjournment, shall be reduced to writing, if the moderator or any two members desire it.
When a question is under debate, no motion shall be made except for amendment—or the previous question—to postpone—or for an adjournment. The previous question is, Shall the main question now be put?
No motion, except for reconsideration, shall be acted upon until seconded.
When any member, in debating or otherwise, shall transgress the rules of the body, the moderator shall, by his own authority, or at the request of any member, call him to order; and if a question shall arise concerning his being in order, it shall be decided by an appeal to the body.
When two or more rise at once, the moderator shall name the member who is first to speak.
Whilst the moderator is putting any question, or addressing the body, no one shall walk out of or across the house; nor, in such case, or when a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse, or read any printed book or paper; nor whilst a member is speaking, shall pass between him and the chair.
No motion, committed to writing, shall be finally decided upon, until it shall have had three several readings, if any member require it.
In cases of equal divisions of votes, the moderator shall have a casting vote.
If three or more members object against the appointment of a committee by nomination, the committee shall be chosen by ballot.
The moderator shall continue in office until the next annual meeting of the general association, and shall have power, upon the application of any district association, to convene the general association, and likewise, in case of necessity, to alter the appointed place of annual meeting; of both which he shall give public notice in such papers published in Hartford, New Haven, and New London as he shall judge to have the most extensive circulation.
These rules and orders shall be read at the opening of every session of the association, and shall be in force during the pleasure of the body, any rules to the contrary, previously made, notwithstanding.
II. Officers and Standing Committees.
The general association, like the district associations, has its register, or keeper of the records, in whose hands the minutes of each meeting are placed by the scribe, to be copied into a book for future use and reference.
The general association appoints every year, a treasurer, who keeps the accounts, superintends the printing of the minutes, has charge of the moneys raised by the association for the payment of its incidental expenses, and pays out those moneys as directed by the votes of the association.
One minister in each district association, is appointed by the general association to receive from every pastor and stated supply, the annual contribution, or tax for defraying the incidental expenses of the general association.
One minister in each district is appointed by the general association to collect the statistical accounts of the churches, and to make returns to a general agent, who is also appointed by the general association to digest and arrange the returns and to make his report annually.
A committee of one in each district is appointed to certify the standing of ministers travelling out of the bounds of the state.
Four persons are annually appointed by the general association as a committee on the Everest Fund.*
*Dr. Soloman Everest of Canton, who deceased April 3d, 1822, left a residuary legacy including nearly one half of his personal property, and amounting in all to fourteen thousand dollars, to religious charities. One half of this legacy was to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; and one fourth part to the Missionary Society of Connecticut. The other fourth part was directed by the testator "to be applied for the purchase of bibles, religious tracts &c. for distribution: for the support of the Domestic Mission in this state: for the education of indigent pious youth for the Gospel ministry: to any or all of the above purposes, as shall be thought most expedient by a committee which the general association of the sate of Connecticut shall from time to time, appoint for that purpose."
The committee on the Everest fund present their report to the general association every year.
III. The General Association as a Missionary Society.
The general association began to take measures for prosecuting missions to the new and frontier settlements of the country, as early as the year 1774. In 1788 those measures were systematized by forming and adopting the constitution of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, which is as follows.
ART I. This society shall be known by the name of The Missionary Society of Connecticut.
ART. II. The general association of the state of Connecticut shall be the said Missionary Society.
ART. III. The general association shall annually by ballot appoint twelve trustees, whereof six shall be clergymen and six shall be brethren of the churches, who shall conduct the business of the society in the manner hereafter described.
ART. IV. The object of this society shall be to christianize the heathen in North America, and to support and promote Christian knowledge in the new settlements within the United States, and both shall be pursued as circumstances shall point out, and as the trustees under the superintendence of the General Association shall direct.
ART. V. The General Association and the trustees shall adopt such measures, from time to time, for raising funds, as they shall judge expedient.
ART. VI. The trustees shall have power to apply the funds of the society according to their discretion, in all cases in which they shall not be limited by the General Association or by the donors. They shall correspond with other missionary societies; shall have power to appoint and dismiss missionaries, to pay them, and generally to transact all business necessary to attain the ends of the society; and shall be paid their necessary expenses, but nothing for their services.
ART. VII. The trustees shall annually appoint a secretary, who shall keep a fair account of their proceedings. They shall also appoint a chairman, who, with four of the trustees, shall be a quorum to transact business; or if the stated chairman shall not be present, any seven of the trustees shall be a quorum.
ART. VIII. The chairman shall have power to call a meeting of the trustees at his discretion, by letters left with them, or at the houses of their residence; and it shall be his duty to call such meeting whenever requested by two of the trustees; and in case of the death of the chairman, or of his absence from the state, any two trustees are hereby empowered to call a meeting.
ART. IX. The General Association shall annually appoint a treasurer and an auditor of accounts; and the treasurer shall exhibit both to the General Association and to the trustees, the state of the treasury, whenever he shall be called upon for that purpose.
ART. X. The trustees shall annually exhibit to the General Association a particular account of the missionaries employed by them; of the places to which they are sent; of the missions; of the state of the funds; of the receipts and expenditures: and of whatever relating to this institution the General Association shall require.
ART. XI. The trustees and all officers of this society shall enter on their respective offices on the first Wednesday of August, annually; and shall continue in office for one year.
ART. XII. The trustees shall hold their first meeting at the State House in Hartford, on the first Wednesday of August next, at 11 o'clock A. M., and in every year thereafter they shall meet at the same time and place, unless otherwise ordered by the General Association.
ART. XIII. If on experience it shall be found necessary to alter the constitution, an alteration may be made by the General Association at their stated session; but not without having been drawn up in writing and lying under consideration one year; nor unless at least two thirds of the General Association shall adopt said alteration.
The following additional article was adopted by vote of the society and approved by the legislature, in the year 1805:
Voted, that it shall be the duty of the trustees of this society, to place the treasurer under bonds for the faithful discharge of his trust, and to such an amount as they shall think proper. And in case such treasurer shall refuse to give bonds as aforesaid, it shall be in their power to displace him, and appoint one in his place, who will qualify himself for the trust; who shall continue in office, till the next meeting of the General Association.
This society was incorporated by the legislature of Connecticut in 1802; and, in conformity with the act of incorporation, the trustees make a report of their receipts and expenditures, to the legislature, annually.
The Domestic Missionary Society for Connecticut and its vicinity, was in like manner formed in 1816; the General Association itself being the society. For fourteen years the attention of its directors was confined to feeble congregations and waste places in Connecticut. In 1830, its plan was enlarged and its name was changed to "The Missionary Society of Connecticut, auxiliary to the American Home Missionary Society," by the adoption of the following revised constitution.
As amended and adopted, June, 1831.
ART. I. This Society shall be known by the name of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, auxiliary to the American Home Missionary Society.
ART. II. The General Association of Connecticut shall be said Society.
ART. III. The object of the Society shall be to co-operate with the A. H. M. S. in building up the waste places of Connecticut, and in sending the Gospel to the destitute, and assisting feeble congregations in other and more destitute portions of the United States, according to the provisions of the 8th Article of the constitution of the parent society, with such stipulations as shall secure to this society the control of the raising and application of funds, the selection and appointment of missionaries, and the general designation of their fields of labor; the said stipulations to be mutually agreed upon by the directors of the society, and the executive committee of the A. H. M. S.
ART. IV. The officers of the society shall be, a secretary, a treasurer, an auditor, and eighteen directors. The treasurer and auditor of the Missionary Society of Connecticut shall be, ex officio, treasurer and auditor of this society. The twelve trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut shall be ex officio, directors of this society. Six additional directors shall be annually chosen by ballot by the General Association. The secretary shall be chosen by the directors. Seven of the directors shall be laymen, and eleven clergymen.
ART. V. The treasurer shall pay out the money of the society only as ordered by the directors, and shall exhibit a statement of his accounts to the board whenever called on for the purpose.
ART. VI. It shall be the duty of the directors, five of whom shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for business, to pursue the object of the society by adopting such measures, from time to time, as they shall judge expedient, under the superintendence of the General Association, and subject to their special direction, should it, at any time, be thought proper to apply to the General Assembly for a brief.
ART. VII. The directors shall have power to apply the funds of the society according to their discretion, in all cases in which they shall not be limited by the General Association, or the donors; to appoint and dismiss missionaries; to pay them; and generally, to transact all business necessary to attain the ends of the society. And no officer of the society, the treasurer excepted, shall receive any compensation for his services.*
ART. VIII. The board of directors shall meet twice a year; on such day of the week of the state election, at Hartford, as they shall appoint, and on the first Wednesday of August. The board of directors shall annually report their doings to the General Association.
ART. IX. A permanent fund may be formed, consisting of donations of individuals, if the donations are made with that particular view; but all other moneys of the society shall be appropriated, from year to year, to the attainment of the ends of the society.
ART. X. No alterations shall be made in this Constitution, unless the same shall have been proposed at a previous annual meeting, or recommended by the directors and adopted by a vote of two thirds of the members of the General Association present.
The last clause of this article was erased in June, 1832.