RULES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGREGATION 
 
 of tnk 
 
 UNITED BRETHREN 
 
 AT SAlEMi 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 SALEM: 
 
 PRINTED BY BLUM & SON. 
 1850. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/rulestegulationsOOmora_0 
 
KfiiiES AN& REGULATIONS, 
 
 /. Principles of faith and practict in the United 
 Brethren's Church. 
 
 1. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament 
 are the sole standard of our doctrine, and the rule of our life. 
 We therefore declare, that we do not acknowledge or hold as 
 a tenet of our church any opinion, which is at variance with 
 the doctrine of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. 
 
 In our congregation both preaching and practice shall 
 accord with the precepts and example of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 and his Apostles. We can neither recognize the appoint- 
 ment of ministers, who depart from this standard ; nor admit 
 the introduction of hymns for the use of the congregation, or 
 of books for the instruction of youth, that are not in accor- 
 dance with the form of sound doctrine as taught by Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 2. We recognize as a true member of Christ's body every 
 one, who, through the Holy Ghost, has experienced the new 
 birth. This experience not being confined to any one reli- 
 gious denomination exclusively, we admit of no separation as 
 existing between ourselves and members of other christian 
 societies, who have been called by the Holy Ghost through 
 the gospel, enlightened with his gifts, and sanctified in the 
 true faith. 
 
 3. All children of God, of what christian denomination 
 soever, we regard as our Brethren in Christ, loving them 
 sincerely and heartily, and disclaiming, as altogether opposed 
 to the mind of Christ, all sectarian animosity arising from 
 
diversity of views on points of doctrine, discipline, or church 
 government. 
 
 4. We will not take part in religious controversies, but 
 adhere to those fundamental truths, plainly and clearly set 
 forth in holy writ, and will faithfully and fearlessly maintain 
 them. 
 
 5. Uniformity in the liturgy and usages of the church is not 
 requisite to constitute unity of faith. In a congregation of 
 Christ nothing is indispensable and unalterable, but that 
 which involves its very essence and existence, to wit : Faith 
 in the Lord Jesus, the love of God shed abroad in the hear£ 
 by the Holy Ghost, the hope of eternal life, and the union of 
 members as one body, whereof Christ is the Ifead. With 
 these requisites are inseparably connected a strict adherance 
 to the doctrine of Jesus and his Apostles, uniform obedience 
 to all his commandments, and consistency in following his 
 footsteps. Whatever belongs to the externals of divine 
 worship, and to other matters of propriety and order in the 
 congregation, is not essentially necessary to salvation, or unal- 
 terable. Such rules and regulations are to be retained, as long 
 as they prove instrumental in promoting a godly life and 
 conversation. We will not be tenacious of any existing 
 arrangement, if convinced that a change would be expedient, 
 and advantageous ; neither will we abandon any regulation 
 that still proves conducive tq the promotion of godliness, 
 
 6. While earnestly striving to realize more and more the 
 character of a genuine congregation of Christ, we will steadi- 
 ly bear in mind, and reduce to practice, the sacred obligation, 
 which devolves upon us in common with all true followers of 
 Jesus, to spread his gospel throughout the world, and especi- 
 ally among the heathen. Nor will we be less diligent in execq- 
 ting the farewell injunction of our Lord, to maintain the unity 
 of the spirit in the bond of peace, not only among ourselves, 
 but with all in every place, and of every denomination, who 
 c^ll upon the narpe of our hovd $nd Savior, Jssus Christ. 
 
5 
 
 //. Groundwork and frame of our Constitution. 
 
 U To follow simply in the footsteps of our Lord, is essentia 
 ally characteristic of a congregation of Christ. Keeping this 
 principle in vipw in all our regulations and undertakings, nay, 
 in our whole manner of life, we will endeavor to adjust every 
 thing, whether great or small, to that high and holy standard, 
 
 2. The rules Qf our congregation are intended to aid u$ 
 in seeking first the kingdom of God ^nd his righteousness, to 
 promote obedience to the commandments of Christ, and to 
 obviate and remove, as far a§ possible, all occasions for the 
 commission of sin* 
 
 3. Such rules are a voluntary agreement, adopted by all the 
 members of a congregation, nor can any one be compelled 
 lo subspribe to them against his will. Neither can any one 
 be a merpber pf the congregation^ unless he assent to, and 
 observe these rules. Being once adopted by the congregation, 
 the rules must be ponscientiously observed by all the members 
 without respect of persons, or any distinction whatever. 
 
 4. It is incumbent on all conferences or boards, and officers 
 of the congregation, in their respective sphere of action, 
 carefully to attend to the welfare of the congregation, and 
 faithfully to maintain its fundamental principles ; hence they 
 ought to be duly respected and supported in the execution of 
 these duties. Each board having its own duties constitution- 
 ally prescribed, they are, while acting in harmony one with 
 another, not to interfere with the peculiar sphere of action 
 assigned to each. 
 
 5. To the Elders' 1 Conference are committed the direction 
 and supervision of the spiritual and temporal concerns of the 
 Qongregation at large. This board is at the same time to 
 Qonsult the best interests of every individual member. 
 
 6. The Board of Overseers, (or Town Committee,) to which 
 only communicant brethren, who have attained to the age of 
 25 ye^rs, and who have been members of the church fqr threq 
 
6 
 
 years, are eligible, is to be chosen every two or three years by 
 the Congregation Council. This board, jointly with the 
 Elders' Conference, is to superintend the temporalities of the 
 congregation ; acting also as guardians over the maintenance 
 of correct morals, integrity, and general good deportment of 
 the members ; and as peacemakers, to reconcile any differ- 
 ences arising between members of the congregation. The 
 same board is associated with the Warden of the congrega- 
 tion, as a committee of advice, with whom he acts in concert 
 in the administration of the receipts and disbursements of the 
 Diacony, whereof an account is to be rendered to this board. 
 The concerns of the Diacony, as part of the financial system 
 of the Unity, are also placed under the supervision of the 
 Elders 1 Conference. 
 
 7. Matters pertaining to the community at large, such as 
 church and town expenses, and other matters of a general 
 nature, the providing for which would be required for the 
 maintenance of the social regulations of any community, are 
 incumbent upon the Congregation Council. This board con- 
 sists of all adult brethren, who have signed their names to the 
 rules and regulations of the congregation. In no cases of 
 the above description can the before-mentioned boards act 
 exclusively without the consent of this board. Such are all 
 cases, when new rules are to be proposed for the guidance of 
 the congregation, or the police of the place; or when exist- 
 ing regulations are to be revised or amended ; whenever 
 considerable expenditures are to be incurred in behalf of the 
 community, or new buildings to be erected for account of the 
 same ; and contracts or other responsibilities to be assumed 
 in the name and at the risk of the community. 
 
 8. Appointments to office in the congregation shall in every 
 instance take place agreeably to the rules laid down by the 
 Synods of our church. 
 
 9. To promote the spiritual growth of the individual mem- 
 bers, to facilitate the care of souls, and to preserve external 
 
7 
 
 order and decorum, the congregation is divided into different 
 classes or choirs. The design of these regulations is, that 
 every member of the church may, according to age, sex, and 
 condition in life, attain unto sanctification of soul and body, 
 through the merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
 
 ///• Relation sustained by the Congregation to the Government 
 of our country and its Officers. 
 
 1. As citizens of the United States, we will yield all due 
 submission to the constitution and laws of our country, and 
 pay due respect to all persons duly elected as officers of 
 government or appointed as magistrates 5 for whom we are to 
 offer up prayer and intercession. 
 
 IV. Reciprocal duties of the Congregation and its Ministering 
 Servants. 
 
 1. The congregation and its ministering servants constitute 
 ing one body, have a common interest. Whatever tends to 
 destroy the mutual confidence, which ought to prevail between 
 the congregation and its ministering servants, should bo 
 studiously avoided. 
 
 2. Those called or appointed to such office, must ask of 
 the Lord, to endue them with the needful gifts and graces, 
 requisite for their office ; that they may not act in their own 
 wisdom and strength, but be guided by the Holy Spirit, so as 
 to walk according to the mind of Christ. They are not to 
 seek their own, but the things that are the Lord's, and not to 
 assume undue authority over their fellow members. 
 
 3. On the other hand, it is the duty of the congregation to 
 pray diligently for its ministers. I Thes. v, 12, 13 ; Heb. xm, 17. 
 
 4. Ministering servants of the congregations ought willingly 
 
5 
 
 and cheerfully to receive admonitions', modestly offered by 
 members of the congregation, and should pay due regard 16 
 them. 
 
 5. We consider ourselves boiind, faithfully to provide for 
 the support of our ministers and their families, sb that none of 
 them may suffer for lack of any thing needful. 
 
 6. Should any of them have lost the needful gifts and 
 graces for the discharge of their functions, and thtis be dis- 
 qualified from serving any longer with acceptance, they must 
 submit to a removal from office, according to the decision of 
 the Elders' Conference of the Unity, or the Provincial Helpers' 
 Conference. 
 
 V. Relation sustained by individual members to the Con- 
 gregation at large. 
 
 ij When an individual applies for admission to church- 
 membership, the Board of Overseers, (Committee,) shall 
 institute a thorough inquiry into his or her circumstances, and 
 the motives and object of the application, arid report the same, 
 together with the opinion of the board, to the Elders' Confer- 
 ence, in order to ascertain as far as possible, whether such 
 application have arisen from a sincere resolution, voluntarily 
 and deliberately formed, and whether the applicant be at 
 liberty to form such resolution, being free from any connexion 
 that might prove an obstacle to hig uniting himself with our 
 congregation.* 
 
 2. Permission to become a member of the congregation or 
 to reside in this place, can be granted only by the Elders* 
 Conference, with the concurrence of the board of Overseers. 
 
 3. Every member of the congregation is bound to abstain 
 
 * Such applicants will at first be requested to have patience, till they become 
 better acquainted with us and we with them; and after an interval of at least 
 three months, their application for admission will again be brought under con- 
 sideration, according to § § 45 and 46 of the Synodal Results of 
 
from undertaking or introducing any thing, which might prove 
 injurious to the spiritual or temporal welfare of another, 
 
 4. Should any one persist in transgressing the rules and 
 regulations of the congregation, or even prove guilty of se- 
 ducing others, such an one is to be excluded from the corigre* 
 gatioh ; and in the latter case, if possible, to be removed from 
 this place. 
 
 5. If a member of the congregation should per&eive any 
 thing of an immoral or pernicious tendency, he ought not to 
 regard it with indifference, nor pass it over in silence ; for, by 
 so doing, he would become a partaker of other men's sins. 
 On the contrary, he ought, in the first place, to warn the 
 offending brother, agreeably to the Apostle's precept: "If a 
 man be overtaken in a fault, restore such an one in the spirit 
 of meekness." Should this however prove ineffectual, or 
 should the case be of such a nature, as to require a different 
 course, it then becomes a duty to give notice thereof without 
 delay, to the end, that, as far as possible, all evil consequences 
 may be obviated. When it is requisite to prove the truth of 
 a charge, and especially when the individual accused express* 
 }y desires it, the name of the informant, and an opportunity 
 for both parties to meet in the presence of the laborer, ought 
 not to be withheld. 
 
 6. All unbecoming intercourse between persons of both 
 sexes shall be carefully and conscientiously avoided, and can* 
 not be permitted under any pretext whatever ; and all 
 parents, heads of families, masters, and others having ia 
 charge youth, arc in duty bound, faithfully to counteract 
 every thing of the kind, that h at variance with the precepts 
 of holy writ and the principles of sound morality, or whatever 
 might lead to the commission of sin on the part of their chil* 
 dren and others entrusted to their care. 
 
 No marriage among us shall be concluded without th® 
 eonient of the Elders 1 Conference, 
 
10 
 
 7. Regarding the bringing up of our children, we desire to 
 follow the Apostle's precept, "to bring them up in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord."" (Eph. vi, 4.) Hence all parents, 
 fathers and mothers of families, are expected to exercise on 
 this point all possible faithfulness, endeavoring most carefully 
 to guard their children against every thing that might prove 
 an offence and an injury to their souls to set before them 
 a consistent christian example,, thereby prompting thern also to 
 be followers of Christ ; — to see to it, that their children punc- 
 tually attend school, religious instruction, and the meetings for 
 worship, that they be suitably employed at home, and that 
 as they increase in years, they accustom themselves to habits 
 of order and decorum, and to a well regulated and mora! 
 conduct. 
 
 8. As no one may reside in this congregation without the 
 permission of the Elders' Conference, with the consent of the 
 board of Overseers, it follows, that no one may acquire or 
 possess a house in our place, unless he be a member of the 
 congregation, and the privilege be expressly granted to him 
 by the above board of Overseers, with the consent of the 
 Elders' Conference. Hence a resident may not sell his house 
 to any other individual, unless the latter have obtained the 
 aforesaid permission ; neither may he bequeath the same to 
 his children, relatives, or other heirs, except these be in like 
 manner acknowledged as members of the congregation, and 
 expressly permitted to become owners of the property. Nor 
 may the heirs at law, in case the owners of the house should 
 have died intestate, come into possession of the same other- 
 wise than on the above conditions. On the other hand, 
 every one is at liberty to dispose of the value of his house, as 
 well as of the rest of his estate. To this rule we will faith- 
 fully and inviolably adhere, voluntarily renouncing all claims 
 to the contrary ; and it is our express will, that our heirs and 
 legatees be held and firmly bound to act accordingly. 
 
 9. Should an inhabitant of this place prove guilty of any 
 
1 s 
 
 i'M conduct, on account of which he may no longer remain | 
 resident member of the congregation, he shall be bound to 
 sell his house to a purchaser approved as above ; but in case 
 no such purchaser be found, the house shall be bought by the 
 board of Overseers for account of the congregation, and the 
 former possessor be bound to leave the place. In case the 
 owner should not agree with an approved purchaser, or with 
 Che board of Overseers about the value of the house, it shall be 
 appraised by three or five impartial men, of which number each 
 party shall choose one or two, and these a third or fifth, and 
 the price so determined shall be paid to the owner by the 
 purchaser or through the board of Overseers. In cases in 
 which legatees or heirs at law cannot agree about the value 
 of a house with a purchaser approved as above, or with the 
 board of Overseers, the same procedure shall be adopted. 
 
 10. In case the owner of a house should of his own accord 
 resolve to leave our society, which every one is at perfect 
 liberty to do, of should think proper to remove from this 
 congregation to another, such an one shall likewise be bound 
 to sell his house to no other purchaser but one approved as 
 above. If an approved purchaser be not immediately found, 
 the property shdl in the mean time be placed in the hands of 
 one or more of the residents, empowered by the owner, to 
 whom the income arising therefrom, shall be duly remit- 
 ted; but the congregation shall never be compelled to 
 become the unwilling purchaser. No house, or part of a 
 house, should be let to strangers, intending to sojourn here for 
 some time, without a knowledge of their character ; moreover, 
 the consent thereto of the Elders' Conference and of the 
 board of Overseers, is required. 
 
 11. The congregation recognizes the duty of relieving the 
 necessities of all such members, as may through age, sickness, 
 or other afflictions, without any delinquency of their own, 
 have become destitute, and unable to maintain themselves. 
 We likevyise assijme the obligation of §o providing tor the 
 
1* 
 
 education of destitute orphans in ihe congregation, that the? 
 may become useful members of society, and capable of pro* 
 curing for themselves an honest livelihood. 
 
 \% Every member of the congregation should, agreeably 
 to the Apostle's rule, labor and eat his own bread nor 
 should there be found among us any habitual idler. 
 
 13. Whenever an inhabitant of Salem, who holds a lease 
 from the original proprietor, F. W. Marshall, or his heirs or 
 assigns, makes or executes a mortgage, deed of trust, contract 
 to rent, or any other instrument or agreement, whereby he 
 conveys or intends to convey the property, thus held by lease, 
 or any part thereof, or any interest or estate therein, such 
 mortgage, deed of trust, contract to rent, or any other instru- 
 ment or agreement, be the same in writing or by parole, shall 
 be null and void, unless the proprietor shall have given his 
 assent to the same in writing. 
 
 14. All residents, capable and desirous of conducting some 
 business or trade, shall, as circumstances may require or admit, 
 be counseled and aided bv the board of Overseers. No one, 
 however, may set up business in the place, either alone or in 
 partnership with others, without having previously obtained, 
 on application, the permission for it of the board of Oyerseers, 
 with the concurrence of the Elders 1 Conference. Neither 
 shall a^y one sell by retail any spiritous liquors in this place, 
 without express permission by the board of Overseers, with 
 the concurrence of the Elders' Conference. 
 
 15. All residents are, and acknowledge themselves, bound 
 to assist in any measure and undertaking requisite for the well 
 being of the community of this place, and to bear a due 
 proportion of the necessary expenses. Besides the support of 
 the ministering servants of the congregation, above mentioned, 
 there is particular reference here to all those things, which 
 pertain to the maintenance of good order, and the police of 
 ihe place ; for instance, the keeping in repair of roads and 
 
13 
 
 alleys, the needful supply of wafer, the regulation of the fire 
 department, the neatness and cleanliness of the streets, and 
 the safety of the town by day and night. Nor will we over- 
 look those principles of brotherly love, which require us to 
 take a willing and active part in relieving: the necessities of 
 other congregations of the Brethren's Unity. 
 
 16. Regarding the erecting and altering of all buildings, 
 whether public or private, it is incumbent on the board of 
 Overseers, to see that it be done in every respect agreeably 
 10 our established order of building, and the rules of the fire 
 department. 
 
 VI. Duties of the members of the Congregation individually 
 and towards each other. 
 
 1. ft shall be our sincere endeavor, to exercise mutual love, 
 meekness and humility ; to treat one another with becoming 
 respect ; to serve and aid each other cheerfully, and to assist 
 every one in keeping and improving his own ; nay, we would 
 extend the same deportment to all our fellowmen, agreeably 
 to the comprehensive precept of our Lord : " Whatsoever ye 
 would, that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 
 
 2. Those members of the congregation, who are in the 
 employ of others, should perform with faithfulness, obedience, 
 and respect, the various services required of them. On the 
 same principle, such as employ others in their service, are 
 expected to treat them with love and kindness. 
 
 3. Whoever engages strangers in his service, becomes 
 answerable for them. Should any irregularity or just com- 
 plaint arise on their account, he is bound to dismiss them 
 without delay. 
 
 4. In our mode of living, our clothing, and our dwellings, 
 we will aim at frugality, propriety, and economy ; removing 
 far from us all extravagance, vanity, and abuse of temporal 
 
14 
 
 5. Wtf will abstain from the reading of such books and 
 pamphlets whereby our minds might be corrupted from the 
 simplicity, that is in Christ Jesus. Such publications in parti- 
 cular, as tend to beget contempt of pious sentiments, or even 
 ridicule the holy scriptures — in short, all injurious and immoral 
 writings, songs, pictures, and exhibitions shall on no account 
 be tolerated in our congregation. The introduction or cir- 
 culation of such publications we look upon as a most culpable 
 seduction. 
 
 6. We wiH truly and faithfully perform our engagements to 
 all men. Should one among us, having borrowed money, or 
 the value thereof, or having entered into any other engage- 
 ment, intentionally* withold the promised restitution, or care- 
 lessly neglect to fulfil his word, he shall be liable to legal 
 prosecution. 
 
 7. All talebearing, and spreading of personal or other 
 reports, by word of mouth or in writing, whereby suspicion is 
 excited, the law of charity violated, and mischief occasioned 
 in any wise, we will utterly discountenance among us. False- 
 hood and malicious calumnies, injuring the character of others, 
 we regard as culpable misconduct, subject to the discipline 
 of the church. 
 
 8. Should any one in the congregation unhappily commit 
 crimes punishable by law, as fornication, adultery, theft, fight- 
 ing, habitual intemperance, habitual cursing and swearing, 
 fraudulent dealings in trade or business, and such other inten- 
 tional gross misdeeds, all of which are necessarily left to legal 
 investigation and correction, such offender can no longer be 
 regarded as a member of our church. A thorough change of 
 heart and life, being distinctly perceptible in him, can alone 
 render it possible to restore him to spiritual fellowship. 
 
 9. In case misunderstandings or differences arise among 
 any of the inhabitants, they should first, according to the 
 ppmmand of Christ, endeavor to come to an amicable agree- 
 
15 
 
 mfcnt dnd equitable settlement among themselves. Should 
 they fail in so doing, the persons at variance should select 
 some other members of the congregation, to act as mediators ; 
 and if the difficulty cannot thus be arranged to mutual satis- 
 faction, the case shall be referred to the board of Overseers 
 for brotherly investigation and decision. Should either of 
 the parties even then refuse to be reconciled and pacified, 
 such party could no longer be considered a member of the 
 congregation, 
 
 In Gase, however, the point of dispute should render a resort 
 to the courts of justice indispensible, every thing at variance 
 with our character as Brethren is to be avoided. 
 
 10. Should a member, through Providential visitation, be 
 deprived of reason, we will show due compassion toward one 
 so afflicted, and on the part of the congregation, faithfully 
 provide for proper supervision and attendance ; nor will we 
 resort to any arrangement beyond our own society, while 
 there is a possibility of procuring equal or even supe- 
 rior attendance within the limits of the congregation, or the 
 circle of members in our society. 
 
 11. Should fire break out in our place, we will faithfully aid 
 in extinguishing it; and in similar cases extend the like assist- 
 ance to any of our neighbors. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 1. No one, whoever he be, shall obtain permission to live, 
 marry or settle in this place as a member of the congregation, 
 or be entitled to receive or to give a vote for any office in the 
 congregation, unless he have before assented to this brotherly 
 agreement, pledging himself faithfully either by word of mouth, 
 or (on the part of the Brethren) by signing these articles with 
 his own hand, to observe them inviolably. 
 
■ 
 
 16 
 
 To enable all those concerned, and particularly our own 
 youth, when they have passed their minority, carefully to 
 examine the subject themselves, there shall be a fair opportu* 
 nity and sufficient time afforded them, to reflect maturely 
 upon this agreement, in order that each and every one may 
 act with entire consciousness, and having obtained a distinct 
 knowledge of those principles, which the congregation has 
 united and covenanted to observe, may form a deliberate 
 decision. 
 
 2. Whenever the interest of the congregation shall at any 
 future time render it expedient to erase, amend, or add to any 
 of these rules and regulations, such amendments and additions, 
 if adopted by twolhirds of the members of the congregation 
 council present, shall be of equal weight and obligation, as 
 though they had been literally embodied in this present 
 Brotherly Agreement and Covenant ; and they shall likewise 
 be printed and annexed to the same, for the information of 
 all whom it may concern. 
 
 The above Articles being the basis and substance of our 
 Rules and Regulations, having been acknowledged and volun- 
 tarily adopted by the congregation, to their full extent, after 
 maturely weighing them, and being fully convinced both of 
 their necessity and utility : we mutually promise and covenant 
 together for Christ's sake, and through his grace, faithfully to 
 abide by these principles, and conscientiously to observe them; 
 and also, to the best of our ability, to promote the observance 
 of them on the part of our fellow members. 
 
 We at the same time empower the ministering servants of 
 the congregation, jointly with us to enforce, without respect of 
 persons, the inviolable observance of the above articles by 
 each and every member of the congregation ; and in case any 
 one should act contrary to these rules or designedly oppose 
 them, to proceed against such member agreeably to the dr= 
 rections herein contained,