A Short Chapter on Duties.
By H. A. St. John
1. To be an example to the flock, in dress, in conversation, in hospitality, in deportment, in all things. 2. To feed, as much as in you is, the flock of God, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, willingly, and of a ready mind, giving them clean food that will be meat in due season. 3. To visit all the members of the fold as often as practicable, to strengthen the feeble knees, and lift up the hands that hang down. 4. To leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and seek after the wandering, and restore them to the fold if possible. 5. To baptize, and administer the ordinances of the Lord’s house, in the absence of an evangelist. 6. To call a business meeting just before your State Conference, to make your annual pledge to the Conference, and to choose a delegate, or delegates. 7. To call a business meeting near the close of each year to elect s. b. treasurer and church clerk for the coming year. 8. To call business meetings when necessary and preside over the same. 9. To perform the duties of a deacon, if the church has no deacon. 10. To look after the lambs of the fold, and take a deep interest in the Sabbath-school. 11. To be on hand at every meeting if possible, and be very punctual to begin meeting at the time appointed. 12. To have your own soul filled with faith, hope, and love, and scatter the same blessings freely to all. 13. To transfer the above rules to your memorandum for frequent reference. DUTIES OF CHURCH DEACONS.
1. To look after the wants of the sick and destitute of the household of faith. 2. To look after the temporal affairs of the church, such as fuel, lights, &c., and all other necessaries for the comfort and convenience of the congregation. 3. To see that the place of worship is kept neat and comfortable as may be. 4. In connection with the elder, to take charge of funeral services. 5. To make the necessary preparations for baptism. 6. To make the necessary preparation for the celebration of the ordinances of the Lord’s house. 7. To “use the office of a deacon well,” and thus “purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 8. To preserve the above rules for frequent reference. 1. To keep a neat and respectable blank book for church records. 2. To record, in the first part of this book a clear and full account of the organization of the church. 3. To record the church covenant, with names of all the members appended thereto. 4. Leave space enough opposite each name to write “letter,” “disfellowshiped,” or “deceased,” with date. 5. To record every case of expulsion, with the accusation. 6. To record every case of accession of members, whether by baptism or otherwise. 7. To record the names of all persons who receive baptism, the time when, the place where, and by whom administered. 8. To record plainly every item of actual business transacted by the church. 9. To record all items of special interest in the history of the church. 10. Be very particular in giving dates correctly. 11. Do not fail to make out the annual reports to the State Conference, and see to it that they are sent in season. 12. Use good ink, a good pen, and write plainly. 13. Take such an interest in the task assigned you, that you will transfer the above rules to the clerk’s book for frequent consultation; and be ready at any time to cheerfully submit your work for examination. DUTIES OF CHURCH MEMBERS.
1. To stay up the hands of your elders and deacons, by your prayers, faithfulness, and words of good cheer. 2. To always be in your place in the house of God, unless unavoidably hindered, and make sure to be there at the opening service. 3. To take very great pains to prevent disorder, occasioned frequently by children crying or running about the house. 4. To be always ready, and anxious to contribute something to the interest of the meeting. 5. To always be anxious to have some part in every good work in which the church is engaged. 6. If you are far from the church and its meetings, bear your testimony at least once in three months by letter. Write to the elder, and he will read to the church. 8. Examine yourself frequently in the light of the words of our Saviour in Matt. 18:15-17. 9. Have fervent charity among yourselves, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, be Christlike. 10. Paste these rules in the forepart of your hymn book; not to be sung, but to be studied and practiced, as rules for harmony in the church of the living God.