affairs of the Church in accordance with the solemn agreements between the two Churches and in such brotherly spirit as to avoid as far as possible all misunderstandings. Journal, 1916, Report No. 3, Committee of Sixty.

¶ 592. Federation of Colored Methodist Churches

Whereas, The Commission on Federation of Colored Methodist Churches of the Methodist Episcopal Church has entered into agreement with certain Colored Methodist bodies, namely, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, to cooperate and federate in certain matters essential to the growth of Christ's kingdom as set forth in the report of the Commission:

Resolved, That the General Conference hereby authorizes the continuance of the Commission on Federation of Colored Methodist Churches; said Commission to consist of three Bishops, three Ministers, and three Laymen, to be appointed by the Board of Bishops.

Resolved, further, That this commission is authorized to carry out the articles of agreement as to cooperation and federation with the Colored Methodist Churches aforesaid, and is also urged to study all phases of the question relating to the colored membership of our Church and organic union, and to seek full information as to the relation which the colored membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church may prefer to sustain to the proposed United Methodist Church. Journal, 1916, Report No. 6, Committee of Sixty.

¶ 593. Federal Council of the Churches of Christ

Your Committee on the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, of which the Methodist Episcopal Church, through this General Conference, is

one of the original constituent bodies, to which you referred the report and other documents submitted by the Federal Council, have examined the same and recommend that the work of the Federal Council during the past Quadrennium be approved.

The following resolutions are presented for your approval:

1. That the Board of Bishops be authorized and requested to appoint the representatives and the alternates to the number allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Council, to represent the Methodist Episcopal Church, as members of the said Council during the coming Quadrennium and to urge upon the appointees their attendance at the quadrennial meeting to be held in December, 1916.

2. That the Board of Bishops be authorized and requested to designate one of their own number or one of the representatives provided for in the above resolution, to serve as a channel of communication between the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America and the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Quadrennium.

3. That we appreciate the deep significance of the proposed movement for the larger effort to secure adequate relief for the sufferers from the wars in Europe and Asia and approve the proposed communication to the Ministers of the Churches of Christ in America in behalf of the general war relief movement.

4. That we congratulate the Federal Council and its officers upon the quantity and quality of the work it has done and approve of the plans for the future, that have been submitted to this Conference.-Journal, 1916.

CHAPTER IX

FORMS AND CONSTITUTIONS

¶ 594, § 1. Constitution for a Sunday School

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ARTICLE I. This School shall be called the Sunday School of auxiliary to the Board of Sunday Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and connected with the Quarterly Conference of ... It shall consist of the Preacher in Charge, the Sunday School Committee appointed by the Quarterly Conference, the Officers, the Teachers, and the Pupils.

ARTICLE II. The object of this School shall be the promotion of Christian character through the devout and diligent study of the Word of God.

ARTICLE III. The Local Sunday School Board shall consist of the Pastor, who shall be ex officio chairman, the Sunday School Committee appointed by the Quarterly Conference, the Superintendent, who shall be ex officio Vice-Chairman, the Assistant Superintendents, the heads of departments, the duly elected Secretaries, Treasurer, and Librarians, the Teachers of the School, the Assistant Teachers nominated and elected in the same way as the Teachers, the President of the Sunday School Missionary Society, the President of the Sunday School Temperance Society, and the Home Department Visitors, who shall be elected in the same way as the Teachers. In case of withdrawal of Officers or Teachers from the School they shall cease to be members of the Board.

ARTICLE IV. The Superintendent shall be elected annually by ballot by the Local Sunday School Board, subject to confirmation by the Quarterly Conference at its next session after such election. In case of a vacancy the Preacher in Charge shall superintend, or secure the superintending of, the School, until such time as the

Superintendent elected by the Local Sunday School Board be confirmed by the Quarterly Conference. The other Officers of the School shall be elected annually, by ballot, by the Local Sunday School Board on

The Teachers of the School shall be nominated by the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the Pastor, and elected annually by the Sunday School Board.

ARTICLE V. Regular meetings of this Board shall be held on the of each month, for the transaction of such business as relates to the interest of the School, at which the following order shall be observed: 1. Singing and prayer. 2. Calling roll. 3. Reading minutes. 4. Unfinished business. 5. Reports from Committees. 6. Reports from Superintendents. 7. Report from Treasurer. 8. Report from Librarian concerning the state of the Library and the number and kind of periodicals taken by the School. 9. Reports from the Pastor and from the Sunday School Committee. 10. Reports from the Teachers. 11. Miscellaneous.

ARTICLE VI. At all meetings for business shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Pastor, the Superintendent, or by any three of the members.

ARTICLE VIII. In case of the withdrawal of Officers or Teachers from the School they cease to be members of this Board; and the place of any Officer or Teacher habitually neglecting his or her duty, inefficient, or guilty of improper conduct, or of teaching contrary to the accepted doctrines of our Church, may be declared vacant by a vote of two thirds of the Board present at any regular or special meeting. When a Teacher ceases to teach, without the consent of the Superintendent, membership in the Local Sunday School Board shall thereby be discontinued.

ARTICLE IX. Vacancies in offices may be filled at any monthly or special meeting, one month's notice having been given of the election.

ARTICLE X.

This Constitution shall not be altered ex cept by two thirds of all the members present at a meeting called for that purpose; and such alterations must be in harmony with the provisions of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Journal.

§ 2. Constitution for a Sunday School Missionary Society ARTICLE I. This Society shall be called the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School, and shall be auxiliary to the Board of Foreign Missions, the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, and the Board of Sunday Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ARTICLE II. The object of this Society shall be to promote in all practical ways the interests of the Missionary cause within the bounds of this School.

ARTICLE III. All the members of this School shall be members of the Society.

ARTICLE IV. The Officers of the Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall together constitute a Board of Managers, to be elected annually by the Sunday School Board on the of

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ARTICLE V. A part of the session of the School on the first Sunday of every month shall be set apart for Missionary exercises and the reception of gifts for the cause of Missions; and it shall be the duty of the Board of Managers to provide for such exercises, varying the program from month to month in such a way as to engage actively as many of the School as possible in acquiring and supplying information and inspiration on Missionary topics. The Managers shall also devise and set in vigorous operation whatever schemes they can, such as mite-boxes, collection cards, occasional Missionary concerts, or sales, etc., for increasing the Missionary contributions of the School.

ARTICLE VI. The President shall preside during that