1898-1926

Constitution of Sanilac Quarterly Meeting.

Article 1: This conference shall be known as the Sanilac Quarterly conference of the Freewill Baptist and shall be composed of delegates chosen by the various churches comprising the Said Quarterly Meeting.

Article 2: Any church may be received into this body by a vote of the conference at any regular meeting of Said body.

Article 3: Each church belonging to this Quarterly meeting Shall be Entitled to representation by five delegates. Said church twenty members or under and one additionally delegate for every ten additional members.

Article 4: The Stated Sessions of this conference shall be held once in three months as follows viz on the Friday next preceding the second Sunday in February, May, August and November in each year. The place of each session Shall be designated at a previous Session.

Article 5. The officers of Said Quarterly Meeting Shall consist of a Clerk and Treasurer who Shall be elected at the May Session of the Quarterly Meeting each year.

Article 6. A moderator Shall be chosen by a majority vote of the delegates present at each session of the Quarterly Meeting whose duty it shall be to preside over Said conference and have charge of all meetings of the Quarterly meeting sessions.

Article 7. The Quarterly meeting Clerk Shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Quarterly meeting conference.

Article 8. It Shall be the duty of the conference to receive and act upon communication from the churches properly belonging to this body. To have Supervision over all goods, property or monies which may come into the hands of this conference by gift, purchase or otherwise and to council for the interest of the Freewill Baptist Denomination.

Article 9. This Quarterly meeting conference Shall have the right to discipline and if necessary exclude Such churches as may be connected with it but Shall in no case have the power to reverse the decision of churches.

Article 10. This Quarterly meeting conference Shall have the right to make Such bylaws and regulations as they may deem necessary Provided Such bylaws and regulations do not conflict with the constitution of Said conference.

Article 11. This constitution may be amended at any regular Session of this Quarterly meeting conference by a vote of a majority of the delegates present provided that such amendment shall have been proposed in writing at a previous Session of this Quarterly meeting conference.

ByLaws Sanilac Quarterly Meeting Conference

Article 1. Each Session of this Quarterly Meeting conference Shall be called to order by the clerk when present and in his absence by the member of conference having Seniority of years.

Article 2. Each Session and adjourned Session of conference Shall be opened and closed with prayer.

Article 3. After the opening of each session of this Quarterly meeting conference a moderator Shall be chosen by a majority vote of the delegates present. The communications of the churches Shall be examined and the delegates present Shall be enrolled and take there seats compact in one body then proceed with such business as may come before it.

Article 4. This Quarterly meeting conference shall sit with open doors except when it may go into a committee of the whole and Special Committees may be appointed at the pleasure of the conference.

Article 5. It Shall be the duty of the clerk to be present each Quarterly meeting Session with a record of its doings at its previous session.

Article 6. It Shall be the duty of the members of this conference to be present at the time appointed for each setting and any member wishing to retire while conference is in Session Shall first obtain leave of the moderator.

Article 7. Any member wishing to Speak in conference Shall first address the moderator.

Article 8. No person Shall be allowed to Speak more than ten minutes at any one time nor more than twice on any one subject.

Article 9. No debate Shall be allowed on any motion except it is Seconded by member of conference and plainly Stated by the moderator and recorded by the clerk.

Article 10. No whispering Shall be allowed during the sitting of conference but all the members Shall pay Strict attention to the business of conference.

Article 11. No member Shall be allowed to nominate more than one member of any committee provided the member nominated is elected.

Article 12. The yeas and nays may be taken on any question before the conference by a request of one fourth of the delegates present.

Article 13. The constitution and bylaws of this Quarterly meeting conference Shall be read at each Session after the reading of the letters from the churches.

Article 14. The minutes of each Session Shall be read at the close of the Same if called for.

Article 15. It Shall be the duty of the moderator to call up business and present the same to the conference and especially requests of church or otherwise and it Shall be his duty when a motion is made and seconded to ask is the conference ready for the question. The question being called for he Shall arise and put the Same.

Article 16. The revised treatise and Quarterly Meeting rules of this Freewill Baptist denomination are hereby adopted.

End of bylaws of

Sanilac Quarterly Meeting Conference

G. B. Cutler, first Q.M. clerk

Novesta, May 6, 1898

The Sanilac Quarterly Meeting convened with the 2^nd Novesta church at 2:30 p.m.

Conference called to order by the clerk.

On motion Bro. Harper was elected Chairman with Bro. Rosenberger as assistant.

The meeting opened by Singing and Prayer by Bro. Rosenberger. Then singing and

leading Scripture lesson with Prayer By Bro C.W. Eastman. The minutes of last

conference were read and approved.

Letters were read from the following churches (vis) 2^nd Novesta, Freemont,

Watertown, Canboro, Clifford, Kingston, Oliver, Novesta, Pigeon, Goodland,

Ellington, Amadore, and North Branch.

On motion it was voted that the chair Appoint the committees as follows. Business

committee Bros Hopkins, Glasby and Sister Patent. Pulpit committee Bro. Niles,

McWilliams, and Sister Herrian. The Locating Committee Bros Seeley, Sister

Schell and Sister Astic. Committee on Resolution Bro. Eastman. A report from

delegates to other bodies Bro Rosenberger. Delegates to the Oxford Q.M.

reported unable to go on account of Storms and Sister Patent reported unable to

go to the Genesee Q.M.

On motion Bro. Seeley was elected corresponding delegate to the Oxford quarterly

Meeting and Sister Patent to the Genesee quarterly meeting. Bro. Swailes then

Made a report of the treasurer.

On motion Bro. Swailes was elected Clerk and treasurer for the incoming year.

On motion the collection was given to the 2^nd Novesta church.

On motion it was voted that clerk and treasurer have the same salary as before.

Motion to adjourn at the call of the chair with singing "Blest be the tie that binds

Us", with prayer by Bro. Sutphin.

7:30 pm. Preaching by Father Abbey followed by testimony.

Saturday May 7, 1898

Conference called to order by Bro. Rosenberg. Meeting opened by Singing and

reading and prayer by Bro Howe.

The locating committee made their report and recommend the next Q.M. to be

held with the Freemont church.

On motion it was voted to be with the Freemont church.

On motion it was voted to recommend a roll call in each church once a year.

Moved and supported that the churches be taxed 10 cents per present member

instead of five which motion was lost.

On motion it was voted to give twenty five dollars to the 2^nd Novesta church for

building.

Motion to adjourn to the call of the chair with Singing and Prayer by Bro.

Rosenberger.

10:30 a.m preaching by Br. Stuphin.

2:00 p.m. a general covenant meeting led by Bro. Swailes after which the corner

stone of the 2^nd Novesta church was layed with appropriate ceremony by Bros.

Harper, Hopkins, Sutphin, Howey, Eastman and Rosenberger.

At 7:00 p.m. conference was called to order by the chair with Singing and Prayer

by Bro. Glover of Davison, Genesee Q.M.

 

On motion a committee was elected to arrange Program for the coming Sunday

School institute to be held in August in connection with the Quarterly meeting

consisting of Sister Patent, Bro. Hopkins, and Sister Harper. The same committee

to draft constitution and bylaws.

On motion the conference voted to donate five dollars to father Abbee as an

appreciation of his labors in the Quarterly meeting.

Motion to adjourn. Prayer by Bro. Sutphen.

Saturday evening missionary meeting sermon by Bro. Rosenberger.

Sabbath 9:30 Prayer and Praise Session

Sabbath 10:30 Preaching by Bro. Hopkins

Sabbath 2:30 Young people meeting led by Bro. Glouver of Davison, Genesee Q.M.

Sabbath evening Preaching by Br. Eastman.

Sunday collection 3.75.

J. H. Swailes,

Q.M. Clerk

Freemont, August 12, 1898

The Sanilac Quarterly meeting convened with the Freemont Church. The conference was called to order by the clerk then on motion Bro. Eastman was elected chairman and opened the meeting by reading the 90 Psalm and Prayer. The chair then appointed Bro. Rosenberger as assistant chairman. The minutes were read and approved. Letters were read from the following churches (vis) Freemont, Amadore, Clifford, Kingston, Novesta, 2^nd Novesta, Goodland, North Branch and Watertown. The chair then appointed the following committees,

Business Committee, Bro. Rosenberger, Haines, and Wm. Howey.

Pulpit Committee Bro M. McPherson, Sister Pringle and Sister Patent.

Locating Committee Bro. Bradway, Carsant, and King

Committee on Closing Resolution Bro. Carpenter of the Oxford Quarterly meeting.

A report of delegates to other bodies was called for, Sister Patent delegate to Genesee Q. M. reported unable to go but sent a letter, report accepted. Report from other bodies Bro. Carpenter of the Oxford quarterly meeting made a very good report.

On motion Bro Geo Carsart was elected delegate to the Oxford Quarterly Meeting.

On motion Bro Rosenberger and Harper was elected delegates to the Genesee Quarterly Meeting.

By request of the Kingston letter a committee was appointed to examine Bro. Willis King for license.

The conference then appointed the following counsel, Bro Haines, Eastman, Rosenberger, and Carpenter.

On motion it was voted that the Examination be private and time be designated by the council.

On motion voted that Bro. C.W. Eastman be delegate to the Michigan Association.

On motion voted that the collection be going to the Freemont Church.

Motion to adjourn to the call of the chair with Prayer by Bro Rosenberger.

Friday evening Preaching by Bro. King.

Saturday, Aug. 13, 1898

Conference called to order by the chair at 9 a.m. with Prayer Rosenberger.

The locating committee report and recommend that the next quarterly meeting be held with the Goodland church. Voted as recommended.

The council for the license of Bro. King report favorable and recommend license for one year.

On motion of Bro. Rosenberger it was voted to give twenty-five dollars out of Quarterly Meeting funds to Freemont church.

Motion to adjourn, Prayer by Bro. Eastman.

10:30 a.m Preaching by Bro. Rosenberger.

2:30 p.m. covenant meeting by Bro. Swailes after which the communion service was administered by Bros Carpenter and Harper.

Saturday evening Missionary meeting Preaching by Haines.

Sunday

9:30 Prayer and Praise service by Bro. Rosenberger

10:30 a.m. Preaching by Bro. Rosenberger

2:30 p.m. Preaching by Bro. Carpenter

The dedication of the new church Bro. Haines preaching.

The sermon Sabbath Evening Preaching by Bro. Harper

Collection was $7.03

J. H. Swailes, Quarterly Meeting clerk.

Goodland, Nov. 11, 1898

The Sanilac Quarterly Meeting convened with the Goodland church. Conference called to order by the Clerk. Meeting opened by reading scripture lesson and Prayer by the clerk.

On motion Bro. Rosenberger was elected chairman then the meeting adjourned to the call of the chair. Friday evening at 7:30, Preaching by Bro. King.

Saturday 9 a.m. conference called to order by the chair with Singing, Reading, and Prayer by Bro. Eastman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Letters read from the following churches (vis) Goodland, Novesta, 2^nd Novesta, Ellington, Kingston and Amadore. Reports of delegates to other bodies called for. No report Bro Carpenter delegate from the Oxford Quarterly Meeting made a good report. The committees were then appointed by the chair: Business committee Bros Carpenter, Niles, and Sister E. Chase; Pulpit committee Bro Pringle Sister Abbott, and Sister Carpenter; Locating committee Bros Niles, Abbott, and Sister Dowel, Committee on Resolution, Bro. Harper.

On motion it was voted to give the collection to Goodland Church.

On motion of Bro. Eastman it was voted to give twenty five dollars from the treasury to the Goodland Church.

On motion of Bro. Harper it was voted to hold a ministerial association in connection with the Quarterly Meeting.

The chair then appointed a committee of three to draw plans of the association and report. The committee appointed as follows, Bros Harper, Eastman and Carpenter.

On motion Bro. Harper was elected delegate to the Oxford Quarterly meeting and Bro. Niles to the Genesee Quarterly Meeting.

Motion to adjourn with Prayer by Bro Rosenberger.

11 a.m. Preaching by Bro. Harper, then at 2:30 p.m a general covenant meeting lead by Bro. Swailes after which the communion service by Bros. Carpenter and Eastman. Saturday evening missionary meeting with Prayer and Praise Service and Sermon by Bro. Carpenter and collection of $3.10.

Saturday 9 p.m. conference called to order by the chair then Bro. Eastman made a report of the Michigan Association which was accepted by vote. The locating Committee reported and recommend the next quarterly meeting to be held with the Kingston church. The committee on ministerial association report as follows (vis)

Whereas we as a Christian body have been brought to see the need of the Word of God and believing that in order to obtain the end sought for as herein before mentioned nay be acquired through the instrumentality of a ministerial association where we may be brought together to discuss such questions as would come be fore such an organization, therefore be it resolved that we as a regularly organized body as a quarterly meeting organize a ministers association in connection with our regular quarterly meeting to cooperate with the Oxford Quarterly meeting if so desired by said Oxford Quarterly meeting. Said ministerial association to convene once every six months alternately with the two above mentioned quarterly meetings.

Wherefore, be it further resolved that we appoint two or more delegates to attend the next regular session of the Oxford Quarterly Meeting to place before said body our request in regard to above ministerial matter requesting that they appoint a committee to confer with a committee that may be appointed by us at our next Quarterly Meeting to convene in Feb, then and there to draw up articles of association and bylaws governing such association, but if the Oxford Quarterly Meeting does not wish to cooperate with us then we will thus organize as herein mention.

On motion the above report was accepted. Bro. Eastman was appointed committee in connection with the delegate to Oxford Quarterly Meeting.

Motion to adjourn. Prayer by Bro. Rosenberger.

Sabbath, 9:30 a.m. Prayer and Praise service by Bro. Mason. At 10:30 a.m. the dedication of the new church began by singing by the choir then Consecrating Prayer by S.S. Rosenberger. Reading scripture by W. Carpenter. Singing by choir, Sermon by A. R. Harper, the reading of the dedication by R.W. Eastman, responded by the congregation saying Amen, then Prayer by S.S. Rosenberger, Singing, and Benediction by A.R. Harper. Sunday Evening Preaching by Bro. Eastman. Collection $10.76.

J.H. Swailes, Clerk.