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its delegation. In the absence of any special rule on the part of such state or district body, the Council will recognize the right of the delegates present to fill vacancies in their own delegation.

An alternate or substitute enrolled as a member of the Council and certified to the societies for membership therein shall be thereafter deemed a member instead of the primary delegate for the term for which that delegate was elected.

5. Terms of Membership. At its stated meeting in 1915, the National Council will divide all delegates, unless they shall have been so divided by the bodies electing them, into two classes, to serve respectively for two and four years. Thereafter the term of delegates shall be four years.

The term of a member shall begin at the opening of the next stated meeting of the Council after his election, and shall expire with the opening of the second stated meeting of the Council thereafter. He shall be a member of any intervening special meeting of the Council.

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1. Stated Meetings. The churches shall meet in National Council once in two years, the time and place of meeting to be announced at least six months previous to the meeting.

2. Special Meetings. The National Council shall convene in special meeting whenever any seven of the general state organizations so request.

3. Quorum. Delegates present from a majority of the states entitled to representation in the Council shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE V. - BY-LAWS

The Council may make and alter By-Laws at any stated meeting by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting; provided, that no new By-Law shall be enacted and no By-Law altered or repealed on the day on which the change is proposed.

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This Constitution shall not be altered or amended, except at a stated meeting, and by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, notice thereof having been given at a pre

vious stated meeting, or the proposed alteration having been requested by some general state organization of churches entitled to representation in the Council, and published with the notification of the meeting.

BY-LAWS

I. - THE CALL OF A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

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1. The call for any meeting shall be issued by the Executive Committee and signed by their chairman and by the Secretary of the Council. It shall contain a list of topics proposed for consideration at the meeting. The Secretary shall seasonably furnish blank credentials and other needful papers to the scribes of the several district and state organizations of the churches entitled to representation in the Council.

2. The meetings shall ordinarily be held in the latter part of October.

II. — THE FORMATION OF THE ROLL

Immediately after the call to order the Secretary shall collect the credentials of delegates present, and these persons shall be prima facie the voting membership for purposes of immediate organization. Contested delegations shall not delay the permanent organization, but shall be referred to the Committee on Credentials, all contested delegations refraining from voting until their contest is settled.

III. THE MODERATOR

1. At each stated meeting of the Council there shall be chosen from among the members of the Council, a Moderator and a first and a second Assistant Moderator, who shall hold office for two years and until their successors are elected and qualified.

2. The Moderator immediately after his election shall take the chair, and after prayer shall at once proceed to complete the organization of the Council and to cause rules of order to be adopted.

3. The representative function of the Moderator shall be that of visiting and addressing churches and associations

upon their invitations, and of representing the Council and the Congregational churches in the wider relations of Christian fellowship, so far as he may be able and disposed. It is understood that all his acts and utterances shall be devoid of authority and that for them shall be claimed and to them given only such weight and force as inhere in the reason of them.

4. The Moderator shall preside at the opening of the stated meeting of the Council following that at which he is elected, and may deliver an address on a subject of his own selection.

IV. THE SECRETARY

The Secretary shall keep the records and conduct the correspondence of the Council and of the Executive Committee. He shall edit the Year-Book and other publications, and shall send out notices of all meetings of the Council and of its Executive Committee. He shall aid the committees and commissions of the Council and shall be secretary of the Commission on Missions. He shall be available for advice and help in matters of polity and constructive organization, and render to the churches such services as shall be appropriate to his office. He may, like the Moderator, represent the Council and the churches in interdenominational relations. For his aid one or more assistants shall be chosen at each meeting of the Council to serve during such meeting.

V. THE TREASURER

The Treasurer shall receive and hold all income contributed or raised to meet the expenses of the Council, shall disburse the same on the orders of the Executive Committee, and shall give bond in such sum as the Executive Committee shall from time to time determine.

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VI. TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office of the Secretary, Treasurer, and of any other officer not otherwise provided for shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they are chosen, and continue until the close of the next stated meeting, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

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As soon as practicable after taking the chair, the Moderator shall cause to be read to the Council the names proposed by the Nominating Committee for a Business Committee and a Committee on Credentials. These names shall be chosen so as to secure representation to different parts of the country, and the names shall be published in the denominational papers at least one month before the meeting of the Council, and printed with the call of the meeting. The Council may approve these nominations or change them in whole or in part. 1. The Committee on Credentials. The Committee on Credentials shall prepare and report as early as practicable a roll of members. Of this committee the Secretary shall be a member.

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2. The Business Committee. The Business Committee shall consist of not less than nine members. It shall prepare a docket for the use of the Council, and subject to its approval. All business to be proposed to the Council shall first be presented to this committee, but the Council may at its pleasure consider any item of business for which such provision has been refused by the committee.

3. The Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of nine members, to be elected by the Council on the nomination of the Moderator, and shall serve from the close of one stated meeting till the close of the following stated meeting of the Council. Five members shall be so chosen for four years, and four for two years, and thereafter members shall be chosen for four years. This committee shall nominate to the Council all officers, committees, and commissions for which the Council does not otherwise provide. But the Council may, at its pleasure, choose committees, commissions, or officers by nomination from the floor or otherwise as it shall from time to time determine. Members of the Nominating Committee who have served for a full term shall not be eligible for re-election until after an interval of two years.

4. The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Moderator, the Secretary, and nine other persons, and shall be so chosen that the terms of the elected

members shall ultimately be six years, the term of three members expiring at each stated meeting of the Council.

5. Other Committees. (1) Other committees may be appointed from time to time, and in such manner as the Council shall determine, to make report during the meeting at which they are appointed.

(2) On such committees any member of the Council, voting or honorary is eligible for service.

(3) All such committees terminate their existence with the meeting at which they are appointed.

(4) No question or report will be referred to a committee except by vote of the Council.

(5) Committees shall consist of five persons unless otherwise stated.

(6) Unless otherwise ordered, the first named member of a committee shall be chairman.

VIII. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The. Executive Committee shall transact such business as the Council shall from time to time direct, and in the intervals between meetings of the Council shall represent the Council in all matters not belonging to the corporation and not otherwise provided for. They shall have authority to contract for all necessary expenditures and to appoint one or more of their number who shall approve and sign all bills for payment; shall consult the interests of the Council and act for it in intervals between meetings in all matters of business and finance, subject to the approval of the Council; and shall make a full report of all their doings, the consideration of which shall be first in order of business after organization.

2. They may fill any vacancy occurring in their own number or in any commission, committee, or office in the intervals of meeting, the persons so appointed to serve until the next meeting of the Council.

3. They shall appoint any committee or commission ordered by the Council, but not otherwise appointed; and committees or commissions so appointed shall be entered in the minutes as by action of the Council.

4. They shall select the place, and shall specify in the call

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