once.

circumstance, the extensive work which is going on in foreign countries would have to be curtailed at In the year 1857 about $95,338 were raised by the missions; partly by the voluntary contributions of the converts, especially in the West Indies; and partly from the profits of mercantile concerns and trades, carried on in some of the Mission Provinces, especially Surinam and South Africa. Many missionaries, like the tent-maker Paul, who was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, are not ashamed to aid the cause by the labor of their hands.

However, numerous as the sources of revenue are, and large as is the amount coming from the missions themselves, the entire work remains pre-eminently one of faith. Since the commencement of the enterprise, many a year was closed with a heavy debt resting upon the church, owing to unforeseen expenses, or to the failure of income. Yet up to the present time, by the blessing of God, the greatest financial difficulties have always been overcome, and the work has been continued without interruption. The last General Synod reiterated the principle that the foreign missions of the church constitute a cause for the support of which the faith of the whole Unity is pledged.

The management and superintendence of the mission work are entrusted to a Board of four members, forming one of the Committees, or Departments of the Unity's Elders' Conference, (see next chapter,) and called "The Mission Department.

CHAPTER III.

THE CONSTITUTION.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Moravian Church, as was stated in the preceding chapter, is divided into three Provinces. These constitute independent organizations in so far as their own local affairs are concerned, but are confederated as one church, or Unity, in respect to certain principles of doctrine and practice, and the work of foreign missions. Hence there must be a general government for the united church, and separate governments for the several provinces. The relation in which the latter stand to the former is similar to that existing between the individual commonwealths of the United States and the federal government. Each commonwealth has a legislative and an executive power of its own; and, at the same time, there is a Congress of the United States, and an executive for the whole Union. So in the Moravian Church. There is a legislative and executive body in each Province; and a General Synod, and General Executive Board for the whole Unity. The government is vested in the Synods, which appoint the Executive Boards.

From this it appears that the Constitution of the Church may be classified as follows: 1. The general Constitution of the Unity; 2. The particular Constitutions of the American, Continental, and British Provinces.

SECTION 1.-GENERAL CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITY.

THE GENERAL SYNOD.

Purpose of the Synod.

The bishops, ministers and delegates assembled at a General Synod, shall represent the Brethren's Unity, and act in its name. To the General Synod shall, therefore, belong all legislation in reference to the general concerns of the Unity; it shall carefully examine, correct and lay down anew the principles upon which the Unity is based; it shall, in view of these principles, investigate the state and condition of the Unity as a whole, and of its parts, and ascertain in how far these principles have been observed in the Provinces; it shall make such arrangements, and adopt such resolutions, as the well-being of the Unity may demand; and it shall be the occasion for a mutual interchange of ideas and experiences, on the part of the representatives of the several Provinces, for the furthering of God's work in them, and in the Unity at large.

Powers of the General Synod.

The General Synod shall have power:

a. To determine all points or questions of doctrine.

b. To establish the fundamental rules of the liturgy of the church.

c. To prescribe the fundamental principles of discipline.

d. To specify the qualifications of membership in the Moravian Brethren's Church.

e. To appoint or provide for the appointment of bishops.

f. To regulate and direct all matters pertaining to the foreign missions.

g. To control such educational institutions as belong to the whole Unity.

h. To direct and superintend all financial affairs of the Unity.

i. To elect the Unity's Elders' Conference and prescribe the mode of filling vacancies in the same.

j. To regulate the formation and times of meeting of the General Synod, and establish the basis of representation in the

same.

k. To direct all matters which belong to the general constitution of the Brethren's Unity, and its church regulations.

Members of the General Synod.

The following shall be members of the General Synod : a. The members of the existing Unity's Elders' Conference. b. The bishops of the Moravian United Brethren's Church. c. One member of each Provincial Elders' Conference, provided no member of said Conference attends the Synod in another capacity.

d. The secretary of the Unity, in England.

e. The administrators of the church property in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, U. S.

f. The cashier of the Unity's funds.

g. The treasurer of the foreign missions.

h. The archivist of the Unity.

i. Nine elected delegates from the American Province. (Seven from Northern, and two from the Southern District.) j. Nine elected delegates from the Continental Province. k. Nine elected delegates from the British Province. 7. Not less than five missionaries, from the several foreign

mission fields, to be designated by the Unity's Elders' Conference, after having received confidential votes from the individual missionaries.

m. Such brethren as are conversant with subjects that may come up for deliberation, and whose presence the Unity's Elders' Conference may deem particularly important, shall be advisory members, but without a vote.

Election of Delegates to the General Synod.

Delegates to the General Synod, from the several Provinces, shall be elected by the Provincial Synod of each Province. All brethren shall be eligible who have been members of the church for two years, who are communicants, and more than twenty-four years of age.

For each delegate, an alternate may be elected.

The manner of electing the delegates shall be left to the Provincial Synod of each Province to determine.

Organization of the General Synod.

The General Synod shall be opened by the President of the existing Unity's Elders' Conference, but shall organize by electing its own officers.

All members of the Synod shall have an equal right to

vote.

In cases of great importance, Synod may agree to leave the final decision to the Lord, by the lot; but there must be, so far as possible, unanimity of sentiment in reference to the use of the lot at such times.

In case two Provinces should unite in an attempt to force upon the third, by a majority of votes, a change in the existing general rules of the Unity, in spite of the protestations of the delegates of that Province, two-thirds