to form the United Church in case of any communion thereafter accepted as a body, all ministers become ipso facto ministers of the United Church. (c) To have oversight of the ministers enrolled in its membership with power of discipline or expulsion under conditions prescribed by the National Conference.

(d) To have oversight of the churches enrolled in its membership calling their attention to any failure to meet obligations assumed under this constitution and with power to terminate the membership of any church persistently refusing to meet those obligations.

(e) To receive from the churches within its bounds nominations to vacant pulpits and to pass upon the same. Approval of such nomination shall be requisite for the establishment of the pastoral relation whether in the form of temporary supply or of installation. The National Conference shall present the details under which this relationship shall be conducted.

(f) To hear and pass upon appeals from decisions of local churches. (g) To collect from each church in its membership an annual sum not exceeding 25 cents per member, the same to be known as "Council Dues." With the amount thus collected the Council shall meet its own expenses and its share of the administrative expenses of the State Synod and the National Conference.

(h) To serve the churches in its membership on all the lines of practical church life as opportunity may offer.

(i) To share in the general life and work of the United Church under plans adopted by the National Conference.

(j) To conform in its organization, times of meeting and procedure to the general plan prescribed by the National Conference.

ARTICLE VI. THE STATE SYNOD

The churches in each state (contiguous states being grouped or single states being divided if circumstances suggest) shall form a State Synod. It shall consist of five delegates from each District Council and five additional delegates for each 25 churches or major fraction thereof in such Council. Its duties shall be as follows:

(a) To have charge of such missionary work within its bounds as may be assigned it under the general plan adopted by the National Conference. This duty includes the educational and Sunday school field as well as the church field.

(b) To have charge of the promotion of beneficence within its bounds.

(c) To support the Bishop or Bishops chosen by it in the prosecution of his or their duties.

(d) To form a legal incorporation to receive, hold and administer property given or bequeathed, also church properties reverting under Article IV (n) above.

(e) To make provision under general plans adopted by the National Conference for appraisal and division of church properties under Article IV (n) above. (f) To promote relations of fellowship and to give inspirational leadership among the churches composing it.

(g) To hear and pass upon appeals from decisions of District Councils, such appeals being limited to questions on which the Council has original jurisdiction.

ARTICLE VII. THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The central authority in the United Church shall be vested in the National Conference. It shall meet annually and shall be composed of two delegates chosen by each Synod, with two additional for such number of churches in each Synod as shall make the Conference membership not less than 500 nor more than 1000 at any time. The duties and powers of the National Conference shall be as follows:(a) To receive and pass upon applications for membership in the United Church, whether by local churches or denominational bodies. Assignment of churches thus received to District Councils shall be made by the Conference or delegated by it to the Synod.

(b) To organize, control and conduct all missionary operations of the United Church. In the discharge of this duty it will assign such functions and authority to Synods and Councils as it deems expedient.

(c) To maintain and direct such Commissions, Committees or officials in the fields of evangelism, social service, etc., as may seem needful to give due leadership to the thought and work of the churches. It may require the appointment of corresponding committees in Synods and Councils.

(d) To maintain a national office for collection and dissemination of statistical and other information and for rendering assistance to committees of the Conference not having other executive service at their disposal.

(e) To represent the United Church in relations with other religious bodies and with the civil authorities where needful.

(f) To make regulations for the orderly and uniform operation of the provisions of this Constitution as related to Synods and Councils.

(g) To provide for all matters of common concern not reserved by this Constitution to Synods, Councils or local churches.

(h) To allocate to the Councils the raising of such annual sums as are required for the maintenance of its national office, payment of expenses of delegates to its meetings, etc.

(i) To hear and pass upon appeals from Synods, such appeals being limited to matters in which the Synod has original jurisdiction.

(j) To provide for such officials of oversight in the Synods as may prove expedient.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of two General Conferences, provided that in the intervening period the proposed amendment receives the approval of two-thirds of the District Councils.

Text-Pamphlet: Reports and Plans for the Interchurch Council on Organic Union. XXIX. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE MODERN CHURCH

The following program, issued 1915, by the Baptists is representative of what many progressive churches in several denominations are endeavoring to carry through.

A. INTRODUCTION

I. The task of every church is (a) to provide means of worship, (b) to evangelize the community in which it exists, (c) to educate its members and its young people especially, (d) to organize them for service.

II. Religious education must be carried on with (a) a definite purpose to cultivate the religious nature so as to get a response to spiritual forces, and an adoption of a high standard of personal Christian life; (b) thorough organization by means of the Sundayschool, the young people's society, and men's and womens's organizations; (c) efficient instruction by means of graded courses and trained teachers.

III. The purpose of education can be achieved by (a) an appeal to the emotions through forms of worship and a study of human life; (b) an appeal to the intellect through Bible study and Christian history and doctrine; (c) an appeal to the will through training in right habits and character study.

IV. Thorough organization can be secured by (a) definite organization of each study group in the church; (b) cooperation of the various groups in the church to prevent omissions or duplications; (c) grading the Sunday-school, and giving it proper superintendence.

V. Efficient instruction can be obtained by (a) making the teacher's effort worth while through the adoption of a good curriculum, occasional tests of the pupils, and a policy of religious promotion; (b) encouraging and providing for teacher-training.

B. ORGANIZATION

I. THE COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

1. Its members: Pastor (who shall be chairman), superintendent of the Sundayschool, a representative of the men's organization, a representative of the women's societies, a representative of the young people's societies, and a representative of the Social Service Committee- these last four to be selected for educational qualifications. 2. Its duties: (a) To serve as a church cabinet on all work in religious education; (b) to unify and coordinate work in Sunday-school, young people's society, and men's and women's organizations, and to provide a unified program of religious education in the church; (c) to pass upon courses of study and standards of graduation and promotion; (d) to determine teaching qualifications, and appoint, on the superintendent's recommendation, all teachers in the educational work; (e) to promote the interest of the church in religious education and secure adequate support for this work.

3. Its organization: The pastor and superintendent are members by virtue of their respective offices. Other members are elected at the annual church meeting to serve one year. The committee may organize itself into subcommittees on courses of study, cooperation of organizations, worship, recreation, and community service.

4 Its meetings: These should be held monthly, or at the call of the pastor, the superintendent, or any three members.

1. Its purpose: To develop efficient character by means of definite, organized, and carefully selected instruction in the Bible and in the religious life. It deals particularly with youth. It is 'the school of the church,' meeting on Sunday for class study.

2. Its officers: In a church of this size the leadership of the pastor in all religious education must be kept in mind.

a. The Superintendent, . . .

b. The Assistant Superintendent,

c. The Secretary,

d. The Treasurer,

e. The Librarian,

f. The Director of Music,

NOTE. All these officers are chosen annually by the church on nomination of the Committee on Religious Education.

g. The School Cabinet of all the above officers, together with all teachers. This body should meet once a month to consider the progress of the school and to advise together on problems as they arise.

3. Its classification: All pupils are grouped in classes:

a. Beginners', all pupils under six years of age.

b. Primary, all pupils of six, seven, and eight years of age.

c. Junior, all pupils of nine, ten, eleven, and twelve years of age.

d. Intermediate, all pupils of thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen years of age.

e. Senior, all pupils of seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty years of age.

f. Advanced, all pupils over twenty years of age.

NOTE. If it seems advisable on account of sex or numbers to divide these classes, let each division be lettered A, B, C, etc. In very small schools the first two and the last two may be united.

g. Training, all pupils over sixteen preparing to teach or work in school.

h. Home Department, including all persons unable to attend the sessions of the

school who may be enrolled for regular study of the lesson at home.

III. Other educational departments of the church may properly organize themselves and arrange their educational courses at their own discretion, but in cooperation with the Committee on Religious Education.

I. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

C. COURSES OF STUDY

The Graded Series of the International Lessons is well adapted for general use. and contains the following subjects of study:

1. Beginners' Course. Aim: To lead the little child to the Father.

a. First year. The loving care of God and the love of children in return.

b. Second year. God's protection and help, and children as helpers.

2. Primary Course. Aim: To lead the child to know the heavenly Father, and

to inspire within him a desire to live as God's child.

a. First year. God's power, love, and care, and the child's response.

b. Second year. Jesus the Saviour, and the helpers of Jesus doing his will.

c. Third year. Stories of Jesus and other Bible characters who did God's will.

3. Junior Course. Aim: To awaken interest in the Bible, to present high ideals, to deepen personal responsibility, and show what it means to be a Christian. a. First year. Stories of the Old Testament and parables of Jesus.

b. Second year. Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments.

c. Third year. Old Testament tales, with four temperance lessons, and an introduction to the New Testament.

d. Fourth year. Mark's Gospel and studies in the Acts, with missionary stories and five lessons on the structure and contents of the Bible.

4. Intermediate Course. Aim: To call out good impulses and habits of right living through acquaintance with the noble characters of history; especially those of the Hebrews, Jesus himself, and missionaries.

a. First year. Old Testament biography, and a few lessons on American religious pioneers.

b. Second year. Jesus the leader of men, followed by two parallel courses-one on New Testament characters, the other on the lives of later Christian leaders, particularly Alexander Mackay, the missionary.

c. Third year. The life of Jesus, followed by a quarter's lessons on his teachings or, as a parallel course, the life of David Livingstone.

d. Fourth year. Studies in Christian living: the Bible, principles of the Christian life, and the church as the organization of the Christian life.

5. Senior Course.

a First year. Aim: To teach the meaning of Christian life and how the pupil may relate himself to it. Subjects: The World as a Field of Service; Social Problems of Youth; Ruth; and James.

b. Second year. Aim: To stimulate interest in the religion of the Old Testament, and to relate its lessons to present life. Subjects: The Life and Literature of the Hebrew People.

c. Third year. Aim: To awaken appreciation of the New Testament for itself and as a guide to Christian conduct. Subjects: The Beginnings of Christianity, with a Special Study of the Apostolic Church as a Brotherhood.

d. Fourth year. The Bible and social living.

Advanced Courses suitable for adults are in course of preparation.

For schools fitted to do advanced work there are admirable courses published by Scribner's Completely Graded Series--and by the University of Chicago-Constructive Bible Studies. These include Bible study, Christian and missionary history, social duties, and the work of the modern church. They are based on the same principles of instruction, and should be examined before a choice of lesson helps is made.

If the International Uniform Lessons are used, there should be supplementary exercises or lessons in missions and social service.

II. THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

The Christian Culture Courses of the Young People's Department of the American Baptist Publication Society and the Young People's Commission of the Northern Baptist Convention are intended to give training for Christian service, and should be correlated with the work of the Sunday-school.

1. Junior Department.

a. Bible Readers' and Sacred Literature Courses. 1914-1915. Truths for which the Baptist church stands, as illustrated in biography, followed by vacation studies. b. Conquest Missionary Course. 1914-1915. Hero stories of Christian pioneers, followed by vacation studies.

2. Senior Department.

a. Bible Readers' Course. A systematic course of Bible reading.

b. Sacred Literature Course. 1914-1915. "The Church a Field of Service,"

by C. H. Rust.

c. Conquest Missionary Course. 1914-1915. Monthly studies in the general missionary enterprises of the denomination.

3. Advanced Courses.

a. Bible Readers' Course. Ancestry of the English Bible.

b. Sacred Literature Course. "Why is Christianity True?" by E. Y. Mullins, LL.D.

D.D.,

c. Conquest Missionary Course. History of missions.

There are also optional courses on Baptist principles and history and on practical efficiency.