new business. But where an assembly meets but once a year, unfinished business ends with the session.

121. To Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn. A motion to fix a time to which to adjourn takes precedence over every other motion. It is debatable unless another motion is before the house. It may be presented as a question of privilege even when important business is before the body, but in that case it cannot be debated and can only be amended as to the time which it is proposed to adjourn.

122. General Remarks. After the motion to adjourn has been lost, it may be renewed after a reasonable time, even if no votes have been taken. The motion that we do now adjourn" is not precisely the same at 10 o'clock p. m. that it is at 11 p. m.

More freedom of discussion of the motion to adjourn is permitted when no business is before the house. If the assembly is discussing a question and the motion to adjourn is made, it is assumed that the only question bearing upon the wisdom of adjournment is the question before the house. But if there is no other business pending limited discussion may be permitted; and also amendment.

If the motion to adjourn is qualified it cannot be made while another question is before the house.

The motion to adjourn cannot be reconsidered.

An important church meeting having completed its business, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded. The minister rose, stated the motion, and before putting it to vote, attempted to say a word of satisfaction concerning the business that had been done, when an officious member called out, "A point of order! A motion to adjourn is not debatable!" He was as unparliamentary as he was rude.

XIV. COMMITTEES.

123. Reason for Committees. To save the time of the assembly and to give opportunity for investigation and the careful preparation of reports, committees are of great service. An increasing volume of the business of deliberative assemblies is performed by committees. Committees are of three kinds: Special committees, standing committees and committees of the whole.

124. Special Committees. A motion to refer to a committee is the freest of all subsidiary motions, excepting that to amend. It is amendable, debatable, and opens the main question to discussion.

Special committees consist of three members, unless the number is specified by vote. The chair may ask, "Of how many shall this committee consist, and how shall this committee be appointed?" and it is not usually necessary that a formal vote should be taken in answer to these questions. If some member answers "three" or "five" and there is no opposing suggestion, the chair announces, "Unless the chair hears other suggestions the committee will consist of five." And when the question is asked, "How shall this committee be appointed?" if members answer "Chair," and there is no other suggestion, the chair appoints the committee.

Where there is a nominating committee it is usual for that committee to nominate committees as well as officers. If the moderator has any reason to believe that a committee of his appointment would be considered partial, he will do well to call for nominations from the floor and put the names to vote in the order of their nomination. The member moving the appoint

ment of a committee is often made chairman of it, but he has no reason to expect that this will be done. If he is made chairman it should be only because of his eminent fitness for the place, and it is not desirable that a member moving the appointment of a committee should be understood as soliciting a place upon it.

125. Standing Committees For the consideration of matters that may be grouped under convenient heads and are likely to be presented from time to time and to need coördinate consideration, standing committees are of large value.

In appointing committes to investigate and report, it is not necessary that the members of committees should be members of the appointing body. It is not usual that church committees should include persons who are not members of the church, but Associations, Conferences and the National Council are at liberty to place upon their standing committees any member of a Congregational Church within their respective terri

tories.

126. Committees Should Be Representative. In the appointment of committees care should be taken to make them truly representative. If it is known that a difference of opinion exists, it is by far better that the minority should be represented upon the committee.

127. Reports of Committees. Reports of committees belong to the unfinished business of an assembly and so constitute a special order upon its calendar. Those having in charge the shaping of programs for representative gatherings should confer with committee chairmen and provide sufficient time for the report of all standing committees.

Committee reports should be in writing and signed by the chairman, and in matters of considerable importance signed also by all members of the committee.

128. Majority and Minority Reports. The committee should seek to bring in a report which all its members can recommend. If the committee cannot agree it will be practically certain that the assembly also will be divided, and one of the purposes of a committee is to determine a course upon which the assembly can probably unite. However, if a committee having earnestly sought a united report finds itself unable to agree, there may be presented a majority report signed by those members who agree to it, and a minority report signed by the minority.

The assembly may accept either report or it may receive both and proceed to the consideration of the whole, but having voted to receive both the majority and minority reports, a motion to adopt one or the other would be the usual basis of further discussion. The usual form of such a motion is that the majority report be adopted; the minority report may then be brought before the house upon a motion to substitute the minority report for the majority report.

129. Reports Upon Reports. When a report is referred to a committee the committee is not at liberty to alter the text of the report, but may recommend changes on a separate sheet, which changes have the force of a motion to substitute.

130. Section by Section. When the report of a committee is considered section by section, one motion to receive the report is sufficient, and the question may be put on each section without a distinct motion for each. If there is a preamble it is adopted last, and the final vote is upon the report as a whole.

131. Committee of the Whole. When a subject is under consideration and it is desired to discuss and amend it with greater freedom than is usual in deliberative assemblies, the house may resolve itself into a committee of the whole. When the matter is referred

to the committee of the whole the moderator rises and calls another member to the chair. His choice is almost invariably concurred in, but the assembly may elect a chairman of the committee if it desires. The moderator takes his seat among the members, having no other right than that belonging to one of the rest. The scribe keeps his place and is secretary of the committee, but only for the purpose of furnishing documents, receiving papers and keeping such informal minutes as may assist the committee. The records of the committee do not become a part of the record of the assembly, but only its report.

When the committee of the whole has completed its work it does not adjourn. The proper vote is "that the committee rise.'' When this motion prevails the moderator resumes his seat and the chairman of the committee of the whole presents to the assembly the result of the work of the committee.

In the committee of the whole any member is entitled to speak as often as he can get the floor, unless the committee places limits upon discussion. The assembly in resolving itself into committee of the whole may set a time at which it shall resume its own session. If the time arrives and the committee is not ready to report it cannot extend its time, even by unanimous vote. It cannot alter the text of any resolution submitted to it, but may report to the house a form of resolution which it approves.

The committee of the whole is of comparatively little use in church gatherings, but now and then is found to be a convenience.