and to complete it at a Sunday covenant service, holding the charter membership open until that date. In that case the persons to be received into the fellowship of the church who were not present at the business meeting should present themselves and be accepted by vote as charter members of the church, and the whole body then going forward as their names are read, may receive the right hand of fellowship. This service may appropriately be followed by a communion service.

This method of effecting an organization in two meetings, one called especially for the transaction of business, and the second called upon a Sunday for the purpose of joining in the covenant, possesses some marked practical advantages. Where it is employed there should be a formal vote at the second service ratifying the proceedings of the previous meeting, and the covenant service should be considered an adjourned session of the meeting for organization.

The Organization of a Church With the Aid of Council. Formerly most Congregational churches were organized in this way. The prospective members having held a preliminary meeting, and agreed upon their desire to organize a church, may join in issuing a let'ter missive to be signed by a committee of the brethren, inviting the Congregational churches of the vicinage, or the Association of said churches, to convene for the purpose of organizing a Congregational church.

The council being duly organized, the list of the prospective members should be submitted, and such statements made as shall convince the council with the necessity of proceeding with the organization. The council may then be by itself, and if it approves the organization will return with the report of approval.

The organization of the church will then proceed, the council being present, and its officers presiding and

conducting the proceedings of organization. The moderator of the council will act as chairman of the meeting, and the scribe of the council will incorporate the proceedings of the new organization into the records of the council. The voting, however, after the report of the council favorable to the organization of the church will be by the prospective members.

The constitution, covenant, and confession of faith being adopted, the council will resume its session and on behalf of the churches represented approve the organization and receive the new church into fellowship and commend it for membership in the Association.

It is altogether fitting that the business session should be held in the afternoon, and the public covenant service in the evening; or that the business of organization should be transacted upon a week day and the covenant service be held upon a convenient Sunday.

The Association Acting as Council. In all states where Associations have incorporated in their constitutions the right of ordaining ministers and of organizing churches, councils may be dispensed with and the business of the council may be transacted by the Association.

Where a council has been called to recognize the church, the admission of the church to the Association constitutes a separate act, and the proceedings of the council form a separate but important step in the process of recognition.

Recognition of a Church. A Congregational Church organized as herein directed will seek recognition either through a council of neighboring churches or a meeting of the district Association. If a council is to be called, the advice of the advisory committee of the district Association should be sought and the council should represent fairly the churches of the vicinage.

A letter missive should be sent out in form and in substance like that contained in the appendix.

The council convening on the day appointed, and being duly organized, should first have presented to it all the records of the church from the beginning, together with the constitution, creed and covenant. Any further statement concerning the admission of such a church may be made, and the council may be by itself to consider the wisdom of the undertaking. If it appear to the council that the organization is advisable, it should vote first, to approve the organization, articles of faith, and covenant of the church; and, secondly, to recommend the church to the fellowship of the district Association.

Two copies of the minutes of the council should be prepared, signed by the moderator and scribe. One of these should be furnished to the registrar of the district Association and the other to the clerk of the church. The letter should be entered in the record book of the church and permanently preserved.

At the next meeting of the district Association the church should be represented by its pastor and a delegate, and formal application should be made for admission. Resolutions to this effect may be substantially in the following words:

"Voted that the

Church in

organized

Congregational .... 19..,

and recognized by the council of the vicinage on hereby applies for admission to the ... Association, as a Congregational

Church in fellowship and regular standing.'

The Disbanding of a Church. Sometimes through changes in the population of a community it becomes advisable to disband a church, or to combine it with another church. In such a case competent advice should be sought to secure all legal rights in the premises. If money has been invested in the church

work by the Home Missionary Society, or in the building by the Church Building Society, care should be taken to secure all the legal and moral equities involved. Public notice should be given that all members may have knowledge of the proposed action. In any case of doubt a council should be called, or the advice of the Association should be sought. If any considerable number of the members still believe the church to be needed, and are willing to continue its responsibilities, respectful heed should be given to their desires and promises, without, however, jeopardizing important interests for what may be a too confident hope. If it should finally appear that the church is no longer needed the following steps may be taken: First, it may be voted that this church proceed to take the necessary steps to dispose of its property and to disband. Secondly, the trustees should be directed to dispose of the property either by deed to the Congregational Church Building Society, or such other way as to provide for the proper securing of the interests of the denomination. A bill of sale of the personal property should also be authorized. Thirdly, it should be voted that the clerk have authority to grant letters to all members now on the rolls of this church to any church with which we are in fellowship. Fourthly, it should be voted that the records, when completed, be deposited with the registrar of the Association. Finally, all necessary business being completed, it should be voted that this church do now disband.

Uniting Two Churches. Two churches, both being incorporated, and owning their own property, may unite by majority vote of both churches, and take the name and organization of either, or agree upon a new name. The choice of the new name does not necessitate the overthrow of the older organizations, and the united church under a new name may so con

duct its business as merely to effect a reorganization of both churches under the one new name. Regardless of the name chosen, the original date of the older organization should be retained as the date of the organization of the united church. To bring this to pass without sacrifice of any vested interest a good Christian lawyer should be consulted; and the matter should be considered carefully by some one with experience in such matters. In some of the older states a special act of the Legislature has been necessary to effect mergers and preserve historic and vested rights.

Members voting against the merger are still members of the united church, in good standing; but should be given letters if they insist upon it.

Dividing a Church. A church may divide by vote. But this action is quite different from that of uniting two churches, in that the church cannot by majority vote dismiss a group of members against their individual choice, nor set them apart as those to form the new church. By unanimous consent the parish might be divided geographically, and, one organization taking a new name, each could date its records from the beginning of the united church. But usually a new church is formed, composed of such members as request letters of dismission for the purpose of joining it.

Receiving Churches From Other Denominations. An undenominational church may by vote become Congregational by voting to unite with the Congregational Association within whose bounds it is situated, and being received by that body. The same would be true of any other self-governing church applying for membership. If desired, the church applying for membership may first call a council, and the council's recommendation would be an appropriate introduction to the association.