SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, PRESENTED AT THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING AT LACONIA, SEPTEMBER 29, 1873. BRISTOL, N. H.: PRINTED BY R. W. MUSGROVE, CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE MIS SIONARY SOCIETY. ARTICLE 1. This society shall be styled the NEW-HAMPSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ART. 2. The object of this society shall be to assist churches and congregations that are unable to support the gospel ministry, and to send missionaries to destitute towns and places in New-Hampshire, and also to co-operate with and aid the American Home Missionary Society in the work of home missions throughout the United States. ART. 3. There shall be annually chosen, of the members of the society, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, and nine Trustees, one-third of whom to be chosen triennially, at least one-third of whom shall be laymen, the seats of one-third of whom to be vacated each year and filled by a new election. All elections shall be made by ballot, and the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, shall be trustees ex-officiis. ART. 4. It shall be the duty of the President, and, in his absence, the Vice-President, and in the absence of the VicePresident, the oldest man of the trustees present, to preside at all meetings of the society and the trustees, five of whom shall constitute a quorum. ART. 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to conduct the correspondence of the society and of the trustees; to keep a true record of the transactions of the society and of the trustees; to fill out commissions for missionaries and certificates of life members; to draw orders upon the Treasurer for all moneys appropriated by the trustees, and to make an annual report to the society of the proceedings of the trustees, and of their executive committee. ART. 6. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and hold the property of the society; to lease and convey by deed any real estate belonging to the society, when directed by the trustees or their executive committee, and to exhibit annually an audited account of the state of the treasury, and also to exhibit his books at other times, when requested by any member of the society or contributor to its funds. He shall give bonds to such an amount as the trustees or their committee may re ART. 7. It shall be the duty of the trustees to hold annual and semi-annual meetings, and also special meetings when called by the executive committee; to make appropriations of money; to appoint missionaries-sound, pious, able and discreet men; to adopt such measures as they may judge important to promote the financial and general interests of the society, and to make, through the Secretary, an annual report of their doings to the society. Immediately after the annual meeting of the society they shall appoint an executive committee of their number, consisting of five, including the Secretary. This committee shall have power to appoint its own meetings; to fill its own vacancies from the trustees, or vacancies in the board of officers which may occur between the annual meetings of the society; to appoint missionaries, make appropriations, and to transact all other business which may be necessary during the intervals of the annual and semi-annual meetings of the trustees. ART. 8. The society shall meet annually, on Thursday, the third day of the meeting of the General Association, at 10 o'clock A. M., or at such time and at such place as the society may have appointed at the preceding annual meeting. The society shall meet annually for business, at some day and hour previous to the time of public exercises, appointed and duly notified by the Executive Committee. ART. 9. Any person may become a member of the society by paying two dollars as an annual subscriber, or a life member by paying thirty dollars; and every member, except life members, shall pay two dollars annually, until he or she shall signify, in writing, a desire to withdraw. All ministers, whose churches contribute annually to the funds of the society, shall be members for the time being. No member who shall neglect to pay his annual subscription shall be authorized to vote in the meetings of the society. All life male members shall have the right to vote in the meetings of the society. ART. 10. Every minister of the gospel, statedly laboring in this State, and in regular standing with the Congregational or Presbyterian churches, shall be considered as an agent of this society, to invite the attention of his hearers, at least once a year, to its objects, and to receive donations, subscriptions and contributions to its funds, and transmit them to its Treasurer, or its authorized agents. ART. 11. All questions before the society shall be determined by a majority of the members present, excepting amendments of the Constitution, which shall require the concurrence of twothirds of the members present, beside having been proposed a year beforehand for consideration, or recommended by the trustees. RULES OF THE SOCIETY, AS REVISED BY THE TRUSTEES, AUGUST 53, 1843. Every feeble church, soliciting aid of the NEW-HAMPSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, should make application to the trustees by a committee (not by a minister) duly authorized. The application should be made as near as possible to the time when the contract for ministerial labor commences; should be certified by two or three neighboring ministers, and should answer the following questions: 1. What is the name of the minister you wish to employ, and when does your contract with him commence? 2. What is the amount of ratable property held by the church, and what held by others, not members of the church, who contribute to the support of the ministry?* 3. What is the income of the ministerial fund, if any, and is the parsonage, if any, included in the sum you raise for your minister's support? 4. What is the amount supposed necessary for the support of your minister? 5. What sum have you raised for the support of your minister? What part has been raised by the church? How have you raised it? 6. What is the least amount of aid needed? 7. Do the members of the church generally favor the cause of temperance? 8. Are you, as a church, or religious society, in debt? If so, for what purpose, and to what amount? 9. Do you receive aid from any other source? If so, to what amount? The trustees will not be expected to continue aid to any feeble church or religious society that does not promptly discharge all pecuniary liabilities for the support of the ministry. No church or minister can enjoy the patronage of this society that is not essentially sound in the doctrines and ordinances of the *The answer to this question should include bank, railroad, United States, and all other stocks, so far as can be ascertained. |