Cl Vj 
 
 ' V Board ol Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America. 
 
 ' 37 ? 
 
 MA 
 
 OF THK 
 
 BOARD OF 
 
 REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA, 
 
 For thk Use of Missionaries Under Appointment and 
 In Their Fields of Labor. 
 
 PREPARED AND PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD. 
 
 r 
 
 C 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 Press of Rogers & Sherwood Printing Co., 
 
 14 and 16 Vesey St. 
 
 1895. 
 
 INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY COUNCIL 
 
 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N, Y. 
 
 U. S. A. 
 
MAR 1 2 1951 
 
 MANUAL. 
 
 This pamphlet is designed for the use of the Board and 
 its Missionaries. Its object is to set forth, as nearly as may 
 be, the relations of Missionaries to the Board and to the Mis¬ 
 sions of which they are members. Those relations have 
 always been of the most cordial and fraternal character. It 
 is desired that they may always remain so, for the Board 
 and the Missionaries are but helpers of one another, and 
 workers together in the common service of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ and of His Church. That this may be the case, the 
 principles on which the work of the Board and its Missions 
 are conducted should be expressed in rules which tend to 
 promote regular and orderly procedure. These rules should 
 be clearly understood and will be found herein. They are 
 the result of long experience, yet they are susceptible of 
 changes in the future as necessity or adaptability to chang¬ 
 ing circumstances may dictate. Any questions not provided 
 for, will receive the careful consideration of the Board as 
 they may, from time to time, arise. But, until so changed, 
 the assent of every Missionary who accepts an appointment 
 will be assumed. 
 
 I. The Board. 
 
 The Board acts under a Constitution approved by the 
 General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. (See 
 Appendix I.) It is composed of twenty-four members, min¬ 
 isters and laymen, of whom eight are chosen annually by 
 the Synod, and who serve for three years. It is also a cor¬ 
 porate body, by a special Act of Incorporation, passed by the 
 Legislature of the State of New York in i860. (See Appen¬ 
 dix II., III.) 
 
 1. The Board claims no ecclesiastical authority, and 
 attempts to exercise none. Its Missionaries are subject to 
 the authority and discipline of the Classes or Churches to 
 which they belong. 
 
 
 3 
 
2. But, as the agent of the General Synod of the Re¬ 
 formed Church, charged with the direction of its Foreign 
 Mission work, it is and holds itself under a solemn responsi¬ 
 bility to the Church in regard to the character and capacity 
 of those who represent it in the field ; as to the propriety of 
 the methods employed, the fidelity with which the labors of 
 the Missionaries are performed and the principles of the Gos¬ 
 pel, as they are held by the Church, maintained and propa¬ 
 gated ; and as to the economical use of the funds contributed 
 by the churches, etc., and committed to its trust for the sacred 
 duty with which it is charged. 
 
 3. The Board will welcome and carefully consider the 
 application of any who may desire to devote themselves to 
 missionary work in general or to any special department of 
 it. For the information and guidance of such applicants, a 
 special leaflet and blank forms are provided and will be fur 
 nished to those who desire them. 
 
 4. In making appointments, however, the Board will be 
 governed by the necessities of the work or of the different 
 fields under its care, and by the amount of money at its dis¬ 
 posal. And the fact of application shall, in no case, be re¬ 
 garded as constituting a claim for appointment. 
 
 5. Where a M issionary is required for some particular 
 service, or in any emergency arising on the field, the Board 
 holds itself at liberty to issue a call to such person as it may 
 deem qualified and desirable, in a manner similar to the 
 calling of a pastor by an individual church. 
 
 6. In making the regular annual appropriation for the 
 support of the Missions, the whole amount so appropriated 
 shall not exceed, in any one year, the average annual re¬ 
 ceipts of the Board from all sources during the five years 
 next preceding. 
 
 7. Whenever, in the course of the year, the condition of 
 the treasury may warrant, the Board will, from time to time, 
 make additional appropriations for such other objects not 
 embraced in the regular appropriations for the year, as may 
 be desired by the Missions and approved by the Board, in 
 the order of their importance. 
 
 II. The Missionaries. 
 
 Regularly ordained ministers of the Gospel, licensed 
 preachers, physicians, teachers, etc., under regular appoint- 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
ment and not under a special contract, are called Missiona¬ 
 ries, and all ladies, whether married or single, Assistant Mis¬ 
 sionaries.* 
 
 Preliminaries. 
 
 1. The reception of applications, the appointment of 
 Missionaries and the assignment of their fields of labor, are 
 in the hands of the Executive Committee. 
 
 2. Appointments are ordinarily understood to be for 
 life. But, in special cases, the Committee shall be at liberty 
 to make contracts for special service for a limited term of 
 years, as occasion may arise. 
 
 3. When an appointment is made, the Missionary shall 
 hold himself in readiness to receive the instructions of the 
 Committee. 
 
 4. The Executive Committee shall not be held respons¬ 
 ible for any debts of a Missionary, or any expenses incurred 
 unless by its direction or approval. It may, however, coun¬ 
 sel him in meeting such obligations, that every appointee 
 may leave the country free of debt. 
 
 5. Candidates who have received their appointments 
 cannot begin to draw upon the Board for their expenses until 
 they actually, and by the direction of the Executive Com¬ 
 mittee, enter upon its service. 
 
 6. Missionaries or Assistant Missionaries who may be 
 appointed from other bodies, will be expected to connect 
 themselves with some Classis or Church within the bounds 
 of the Reformed Church. In the case of the Arabian Mis¬ 
 sion, however, this shall not he required, nor in such other 
 cases as, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, may 
 warrant a relaxation of this rule. But in no case shall any 
 Missionary or Assistant Missionary be appointed who is not 
 of approved piety and a member, in good standing, of a rec¬ 
 ognized evangelical church. 
 
 7. When a theological student has received official no¬ 
 tice of his appointment, it is left with himself and the Classis 
 with which he is connected, to arrange for his ordination. 
 It is desirable that the time, place and all the circumstances 
 should be such as, in the highest degree possible, to awaken 
 or increase interest in the cause and work of Missions. 
 
 * Where not distinguished, in this Manual, the title Missionary include s 
 both. 
 
 5 
 
8. In such cases as may be deemed expedient, the 
 Committee will exercise the right to employ Missionaries as 
 agents, before their embarkation, for the purpose of intro¬ 
 ducing them in the most acceptable manner to congregations, 
 of interesting the people in behalf of Missions, of promoting 
 their own zeal in the cause, and of acquainting them with 
 the Committee’s method of operation, and the obstacles with 
 which they are obliged to contend in supporting Foreign 
 Missions. The Committee will also reserve the same right 
 to employ all Missionaries who may return home on fur¬ 
 lough, as agents in its behalf, so far as their health and 
 other circumstances will admit. In all such cases the duty 
 will be assigned by the Committee, and proper allowances 
 made for the services performed. 
 
 9. The time of setting out on the journey is to be set¬ 
 tled by conference with the Secretary, with the approval of 
 the Committee. Timely arrangements should be made, es¬ 
 pecially in the purchase of such things as are needed. 
 
 10. A passport , obtained from the Secretary of State at 
 Washington, is importantand in many cases indispensable. 
 It may be obtained through a Notary Public, and every Mis¬ 
 sionary should attend to this matter for himself at an early 
 date after his appointment. 
 
 Outfit and Travel. 
 
 x. The Missionary is expected to purchase his own out¬ 
 fit , and prepare all his parcels for shipment. The outfit of 
 a Missionary consists of the clothing, bedding, etc., for use 
 on arriving at his place of destination, together with a select 
 private library, and the necessary furniture for housekeep¬ 
 ing. Printed lists of the articles most needed have been 
 prepared, with the aid of representatives of each Mission, 
 and will be sent to those desiring them. Much of the outfit, 
 in the way of furniture, and even of clothing, can now be 
 purchased on the field. 
 
 2. All goods intended to be shipped direct, and not to 
 accompany the Missionary, should be packed in well-made 
 boxes, of moderate size, securely fastened and “strapped” 
 (or bound around the ends with iron bands). The boxes 
 should be numbered, and a list kept of the contents of each, 
 with the value, actual or estimated, of each class of articles, 
 as, books, $- ; clothing, $-; household linen, §-; 
 
 6 
 
■etc., etc. Copies of these lists should be sent to the office of 
 the Board, for use at the Custom House and the purpose of 
 insurance. 
 
 3. It is desirable, for reasons of economy in freight 
 charges, etc., that bulky goods, as furniture, if bought in 
 this country, be purchased in New York when possible. 
 
 4. Whenever possible it is desirable that the cost of 
 providing the outfit be met by the family or friends of the 
 ■outgoing Missionary. Parents who would have aided their 
 children with funds to commence housekeeping after mar¬ 
 riage, or to start them in business, had they remained in this 
 country, will surely not withhold such aid when and because 
 they become foreign Missionaries. 
 
 5. When this is not possible, however, the Board grants, 
 toward the purchaseof outfit, sums not exceeding, for a mar¬ 
 ried Missionary and his wife, $600, and for a single man or 
 woman $300. This allowance is to be used only for proper 
 outfit expenses and is available within three months before 
 departure for the field. 
 
 It is recommended that this outfit grant be used with 
 economy, and a considerable portion of it reserved for pur¬ 
 chases to be made after arriving at the station. 
 
 6. In addition to the above, an allowance of $150 will 
 be made for surgical outfit to a medical Missionary, when 
 necessary, to supplement.the outfit already existing on the 
 field. Should such missionary withdraw from the service 
 of the Board, all such outfit must be turned over to the 
 Treasurer of the Mission, as the property of the Board and 
 held subject to its order. 
 
 7. The outfit allowance of single Missionaries or fami¬ 
 lies, commissioned to reside and work in furnished build¬ 
 ings, shall be one-half the above amounts. 
 
 8. Should a Missionary retire from the field after a ser¬ 
 vice of three years or less, it is expected that an equitable 
 return of the outfit allowance will be made to the Board, 
 due regard being had to the expenses incurred and services 
 rendered. 
 
 9. Money, articles of clothing, etc., furnished to Mis¬ 
 sionaries by personal friends, are not to be considered as a 
 part of a Missionary outfit, unless the donors expect them to 
 be acknowledged by the Board as gifts to its Treasury for 
 
 7 
 
the cause of Missions. In this case they will be charged as 
 a part of the outfit allowance. 
 
 10. The Board will bear all necessary traveling ex¬ 
 penses of the Missionary from his residence to the place of 
 embarkation, as well as those of the journey to his station, 
 by a direct route. Should this be departed from and addi¬ 
 tional expense incurred, the increased cost must be borne by 
 the Missionary. The Board will also pay the cost of freight 
 of outfit to the place of destination to the extent only of six 
 tons, ship measurement, forty cubic feet to a ton, together 
 with customs dues on a sum not to exceed the amount of 
 outfit grant received from the Board. 
 
 11. On being advised of the day fixed for embarkation, 
 the Missionary will proceed to the port appointed, so as to- 
 reach it at least three days before the time of sailing. 
 
 In the Field. 
 
 1. On his arrival within the bounds of the Mission to- 
 which he has been appointed, the Missionary shall report 
 himself as soon as possible to the Secretary or other officer 
 of the Mission and shall be subject to all the laws and regu¬ 
 lations established for the government of the same. He 
 shall also furnish the Treasurer of the Mission with an 
 account of all money received and expenses incurred for the 
 journey, and forward a copy of the same to the Board. 
 
 2. Each person appointed, shall be allowed for himself 
 and family such salary as in the judgment of the Committee 
 is required by his or their circumstances, and the cost of liv¬ 
 ing in the country to which the appointment is made ; such 
 salary shall be subject to revision from time to time, and 
 there may be an increase, reduction or withdrawal, as the 
 Committee may decide. At present the salary of each mar¬ 
 ried Missionary in China is $t,ioo; in India and Japan $1,200, 
 Of each single man in all the Missions $700 ; and of each 
 single woman $600. 
 
 3. Salaries shall commence from the day of the arrival 
 of the Missionaries at the stations to which they are appointed 
 and shall cease on the day of their departure therefrom. 
 But Missionaries en route, qjtfe i trj^i ii ng to nr returning from 
 the field, shall be entitled to receive one-half the amount of 
 their salary, in addition to traveling expenses. 
 
 4. In addition to the salary, a house is provided. If 
 
 8 
 
the Board own no house at the station to which he is as¬ 
 signed, a sufficient allowance is made to each Missionary for 
 house-rent, the design, in all cases, being so to fix salary 
 and allowances as to secure the comfortable support of Mis¬ 
 sionaries while in the service of the Board, and no more. 
 
 5. The particular station and work of each Missionary 
 is, in general,assigned by the Mission and not by the Board. 
 Each Missionary will be expected to accept the position thus 
 assigned him. This rule applies, also, to Assistant Mission¬ 
 aries. 
 
 6. Missionaries should give their first and special at¬ 
 tention to the work of acquiring accurately the language of 
 thecountry to which they are sent, and, except under the pres¬ 
 sure of very great necessity, of which the Mission shall judge, 
 no other work should be allowed to interfere with this. In 
 beginning and prosecuting their studies and in the care and 
 preservation of their health, new Missionaries should follow 
 the counsel of the older and more experienced members of 
 the Mission. Due attention to this point will promote use¬ 
 fulness and prevent many failures. 
 
 7. Every Missionary is expected to correspond freely 
 and as frequently as possible with the Board, and give such 
 information relating to his work, as may be made useful 
 and profitable in interesting and encouraging the Church at 
 home. Though this may make a considerable draft upon 
 the Missionary’s time and strength, no work is of greater 
 importance. 
 
 8. No application shall be made by any Missionary to 
 churches, societies, or individuals at home for funds for 
 any special purpose, without the sanction of the Committee 
 previously obtained; and all contributions in answer to such 
 appeals, duly sanctioned, must pass through the Treasurer 
 of the Board. 
 
 9. No Missionary shall engage in any secular employ¬ 
 ment, nor in any religious employment distinct from that of 
 the Mission to which he has been appointed, without first 
 obtaining the consent of the Mission, and holding the same 
 subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. If 
 such work brings him any pecuniary compensation, the 
 money so received should be turned over to the treasury of 
 the Mission and reported to the Board, so long as he con¬ 
 tinues to draw his usual salary. 
 
 9 
 
10. Medical Missionaries shall constantly make their 
 practice of medicine among the natives conduce to the 
 advancement of the Missionary work. If receiving a fixed 
 salary from the Board, any fees which they may receive for 
 medical service should be turned over to the Treasurer of 
 the Mission and reported to the Board. 
 
 n. The Board, through its officers, is always ready to 
 discharge such commissions, in the purchase and shipping 
 of goods, payment of bills, etc., etc., as may be confided to 
 it by any of its Missionaries in the field, and receive and 
 transmit funds for their personal use. But the purchase 
 and forwarding of goods from this country through Mission 
 Agencies, for the use and benefit of persons not members 
 of our own, or neighboring Missions, are open to serious 
 objections. No such commissions will, therefore, be at¬ 
 tended to, and none such should be sent. 
 
 12. Missionaries regularly appointed by the Board, 
 and laboring in connection with its Missions, but sup¬ 
 ported either in part or wholly by o'her funds than those 
 of the Board, will be expected to conform to the same 
 rules as other Missionaries so long as they retain such 
 connection. 
 
 Recall , Vacations and Return. 
 
 1. Whenever the continuance of any Missionary at a 
 foreign station shall be deemed inexpedient in the judgment 
 of the Committee, they will reserve the right to cancel the 
 appointment, and will be at the expense of the return to this 
 country of the person whose appointment shall have been so 
 annulled. 
 
 2. Missionaries are expected conscientiously to care for 
 their health, taking such rests and vacations in the vicinity 
 of their Mission fields as are necessary for this purpose and 
 approved by the Mission. When Missionaries take such 
 rest or vacation with the approval of the Mission, their 
 salary and allowances shall continue as usual and their 
 traveling expenses shall be paid by the Mission. 
 
 3. While appointments are usually made for life, yet 
 occasional furloughs, embracing a return to the United 
 States, are not only proper, but on many accounts desirable. 
 The frequency of such furloughs will depend in part, upon 
 
the physical condition of the Missionaries, and in part upon 
 the location and climate of the Mission. A first term of ser¬ 
 vice in the field may properly, probably ought to, be 
 shorter than succeeding terms. No uniform time for fur¬ 
 loughs has been fixed upon. They should, however, be so 
 arranged in each Mission, as to give all the Missionaries 
 equal privileges, as nearly as may be, and interfere as little 
 as possible with the work of the Mission, as also to avoid 
 the absence from the field and the presence in this country 
 of too many of the members of any one Mission at the same 
 time. It is desirable that they cover absence from the field 
 during two hot seasons. 
 
 4. When a Missionary shall desire, on account of ill 
 health or for any other cause, a furlough to return to the 
 United States, he is required to obtain permission from the 
 Executive Committee so to do, when it is practicable, (always 
 sending with his request the opinion of his Mission), and 
 when impracticable to obtain such permission, he is required 
 to obtain the consent of his Mission, which consent shall al¬ 
 ways be subject to the revision of the Executive Committee. 
 
 5. In all ordinary cases furloughs are for one year only, 
 in addition to the time required for a direct journey home 
 and return to the field. This time may be extended when 
 the health of the parties requires it, or for other satisfactory 
 reasons. But in all such cases application should be made 
 to the Committee for such extension, stating the reasons 
 therefor, before the expiration of the regular time allowed. 
 
 6. The traveling expenses of Missionaries returning 
 on furlough, with the approval of the Committee, by a direct 
 route, shall be paid by the Board. They shall also be per¬ 
 mitted to draw, while without salary on their way home, an 
 aMowanoe equal to one-half of their salary for the time 
 spent on the journey to cover cost of clothing and inci¬ 
 dental expenses. 
 
 7. The Committee will make such allowance for the 
 support of Missionaries during their stay in this country on 
 furlough, as the circumstances of each case may require and 
 the means of the Board allow. This allowance shall date 
 from the time of arrival in the United States, shall be for 
 one year only, unless regularly renewed, and shall be 
 charged to the Missions to which they belong as a part of 
 the expenses of said Mission. 
 
 it 
 
8. Where special medical or surgical treatment is 
 needed by Missionaries in this country, the cost of such 
 treatment will be borne by the Board, and the amount so 
 paid shall be charged to the Mission to which they belong, 
 as a part of the appropriation for medical bills. 
 
 9. Missionaries at home on furlough shall be, at all 
 times, welcome to attend the meetings of the Board or of the 
 Executive Committee and to impart such information or 
 suggestions in regard to the work as may be desired. Their 
 presence may be specially invited when matters of import¬ 
 ance relating to their own Missions are under discussion. 
 
 Return to the Feild. 
 
 1. When Missionaries return to their fields, the Board 
 will defray their traveling expenses from their home or 
 place of residence by the usual and direct route of travel. 
 The Board, however, does not engage to pay the traveling 
 expenses of children who are returning to the Missionary 
 field after they have reached the age of fourteen years, unless 
 they return as Missionaries. In this case they shall be sub¬ 
 ject to the same rules for appointment as other Missionaries. 
 
 2. Missionaries who have been continuously in the ser¬ 
 vice of the Board for ten years shall be allowed one half the 
 regular outfit grant for refit. In case of necessity, a similar 
 grant may be made to others, in the discretion of the Com¬ 
 mittee. The cost of freight on such refit, to the place of desti¬ 
 nation, will be paid by the Board, to the extent of three tons 
 of forty cubic feet each, together with customs dues on a 
 sum equal to the amount of the grant. 
 
 Retirement. 
 
 1. When Missionaries or Assistant Missionaries return 
 home, their connection with the Board shall cease as soon as 
 there is no longer a reasonable probability of their returning 
 to their missionary labor. 
 
 2. When superannuated or disabled Missionaries, 
 widows of Missionaries or other Assistant Missionaries, 
 return finally to this country with the approbation of the 
 Executive Committee, it shall be the duty of the Committee 
 to make such grants toward their support, as the circum¬ 
 stances of each case shall require, and as shall best comport 
 with the missionary character and the interests of the mis¬ 
 sionary cause ;—it being understood ; 
 
 12 
 
1st. That no pensions or annuities are to be settled on 
 any person, and that no grant is to be made, except in 
 extraordinary cases, for any other than the current year. 
 
 2d. That, except in extraordinary cases, after the lapse 
 of a year from their return, no grant is to be made to 
 returned Missionaries or Assistant Missionaries, who are 
 neither superannuated, nor disabled by sickness, and yet are 
 not expected to resume their missionary labors. 
 
 3d. That Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries, who 
 return on account of sickness, and recover their health, 
 and remain in this country, are no longer to be regarded as 
 having claims upon the Board for pecuniary assistance. 
 
 4th. That Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries, who 
 return on account of sickness, and partially recover their 
 • health so as to attend to the ordinary business of life for a 
 number of years, are not to be regarded, when they again 
 lose their health, as having the same claims upon the Board 
 as they had when they first arrived. 
 
 Children of Missionaries. 
 
 1. In addition to salary, an allowance of $roo is made 
 for each child while it remains on the field, or is with its 
 parents at home, to the age of 10, and $150 from 10 to 18 
 years. 
 
 2. When Missionaries desire to send their children to 
 this country for education and when it is decided in a man¬ 
 ner conformable to the rules and usages of the Board that 
 the children may come, the arrangements for the passage, so 
 far as they involve expense, shall have the concurrence of 
 the Mission, and the allowance, extraordinary cases excepted, 
 shall be only for a passage direct to this country, and such 
 clothing and stores as may be required for the voyage. 
 
 3. When the children arrive in this country, the Execu¬ 
 tive Committee will see that they have a suitable conveyance 
 to the places where they are to be educated or to reside ; 
 and the Committee will make grants, on applications from 
 the parents or guardians, to an amount not exceeding .$150 a 
 year for each child, until the children are fourteen years old, 
 when the grant may be $200 till the age of eighteen The 
 same rule applies to children who remain in this country 
 when their parents return to the fie'd. In special cases, 
 and upon application, the Committee is authorized to con- 
 
 13 
 
tinue this grant, for educational purpo-es, to the age of 
 twenty years. This grant ceases when the Missionary ceases 
 to he connected with the Board. But the children of Mis- 
 sionari-s who have died in the service shall be entitled to 
 receive it. when necessary, undrr the same limitations as to 
 age. 
 
 4. Children, who are left orphans, and without a suit¬ 
 able home in the Mission, or responsible guardians, will 
 receive the immediate and kind consideration of the Com¬ 
 mittee, who will make an arrangement for their return 
 home, and provide for them the best guardianship in their 
 power. 
 
 5. The allowances made on account of the children of 
 living Missionaries, wherever the children may be educated, 
 shall be charged to the Mission to which the parents belong ; 
 and the allowances made on account of orphan children 
 shall, inordinary cases, be charged to the Mission to which 
 the parents belonged at the time of their decease. 
 
 III. Constitution, etc., of Missions. 
 
 1. When three or more Missionaries are located near 
 each other, they shall organize themselves for business as 
 a Mission, by the choice of a President, a Secretary, arid 
 Treasurer. No native shall be a member of or take part in the 
 action of such Mission. 
 
 2. A majority of men (Missionaries) in any Mission 
 shall, in the regular meetings, decide all questions that may 
 arise in regard to their proceedings and conduct in which 
 the Mission is interested, the decision being subject to the 
 revision of the Executive Committee. The women of the 
 Mission (Assistant Missionaries), however, who are actively 
 engaged in Mission work, are entitled to attend all Mission 
 meetings and to vote on all questions relating to the work 
 in which they are engaged. No Missionary or Assistant 
 Miss.onary shall have the right to vote till after one year’s 
 service in connection with the Mission, and until the lan¬ 
 guage examinations of the first year shall have been passed. 
 
 The Mission Treasurer. 
 
 1. The Treasurer shall forward to the Committee, at 
 the close of each year, a detailed report of all cash received 
 from every source, or drafts drawn, and of all payments ; 
 
 14 
 
together with a particular statement of the nature, condition 
 and estimated value of the property belonging to the Mission; 
 duly audited by a Committee a' pointed for the purpose. 
 
 He is to keep, in official books procured at Mission 
 expense, and to be the property of the Board, clear and cor¬ 
 rect accounts of all receipts and payments, and to have 
 vouchers of the latter ; his books must be open to the inspec¬ 
 tion of other members of the Mission, or any one of them at 
 any time ; and his accounts must be audited by a Committee 
 of two members appointed each year for this purpose. 
 
 2. Thf* treasurer will on no account be permitted to ex¬ 
 ceed in expenditure the amount annually appropriated for the 
 suppurt of the Mission, except in imperative circumstances, 
 and then only with the consent of the Mission, and subject 
 to the final judgment of the Executive Committee When 
 such excess can be plainly anticipated, the fact should at 
 once be notified to the Board. 
 
 3 In general, drafts upon the Treasurer of the Board 
 by individual Missionaries, are not desirable. If any Mis¬ 
 sionary wishes to remit to this country in payment of bills 
 or for goods ordered or other purposes, he is required to do 
 so, if possible, by means of the Mission Treasurer’s drafts 
 upon the Treasurer of the Board. 
 
 4. No real estate shall be purchased or leased by a 
 member of any Mission for the account of the same, without 
 the express permission of the Comm ittee previously obtained ; 
 and all property so acquired shall be held in trust for, or in 
 the name of, the Board of Foreign Missions ol the Reformed 
 Church in America. 
 
 5 Each Missionary conducting schools, hospitals and 
 similar Missionary operations in connection with our Mis¬ 
 sions. shall give to the Mission Treasurer a yearly account 
 of all money received from any source and expended for 
 such operations. 
 
 6. All appropriations lapse at the close of the year for 
 which they are made. All unexpended balances shou.d be 
 placed to the credit of the Board, and applied to the appro¬ 
 priations for the new year. But in the case of buildings 
 or other special work actually in progress, and which of 
 necessity cannot be completed by the close of the year, the 
 amount appropriated for their completion may be reserved 
 for that purpose and reported to the Board. 
 
 15 
 
7. No funds of the Board shall be loaned to outs : de 
 parties. 
 
 Estimates. 
 
 1. Each Mission shall prepare, in such manner as is 
 most convenient every year, a careful estimate of the proba¬ 
 ble necessary expenses for the work of the year ensuing, 
 specifying the different objects in detail, to be forwarded so 
 as to reach the Board not later than the first of October. Each 
 station in the Mission shall prepare its estimate of expendi¬ 
 tures for the year. These shall be submitted to and care¬ 
 fully examined by the Mission and from these, when 
 approved, the general estimates shall be made. 
 
 2. In furnishing these yearly estimates, the Missions 
 are expected and requested to include in them only such 
 objects as are indispensable to the maintenance of the actual 
 work of the Mission in a condition of proper efficiency. 
 These estimates when approved, and the amounts appropria¬ 
 ted by the Board, will govern the expenditure of the year, 
 and must not be exceeded. 
 
 3. In addition to the regular estimates, the Missions 
 are authorized and requested to accompany them with a 
 statement of such other objects, with their estimated cost, 
 and in the order of their importance, as may seem to them 
 most pressing and necessary for the further development of 
 their work:—these statements to form the basis of such addi¬ 
 tional appropriations as the Board may, from time to time, 
 be able to make. 
 
 4. No application for an additional appropriation on 
 the part of any individual Missionary, will in any case be 
 considered by the Board, which has not first been submitted 
 to the Mission and its action thereon, whether favorable or 
 otherwise, transmitted to the Board. 
 
 Appeals. 
 
 1. The Board, while reserving the right to revise, ap¬ 
 prove or annul the decisions of the Missions, yet earnestly 
 desires and hopes that questions relating to the general con¬ 
 duct of the Missions or the work of individual Missionaries, 
 may be satisfactorily settled on the field. The right, how¬ 
 ever, of each Missionary is fully recognized, to appeal to the 
 Board from a decision of the Mission by which he may feel 
 himself aggrieved, or which he may conceive to be injurious 
 to the work. 
 
 16 
 
2. Every Missionary so appealing, shall give to the 
 Mission due notice of his intention, and shall file with it a 
 copy of all the papers which he proposes to send to the Board 
 in ample time for the Mission to prepare a reply, of which 
 he shall also receive a copy. 
 
 3. Pending the Board’s decision in such a case, no ac¬ 
 tion shall be taken, unless imperatively demanded, which 
 will change established conditions, the appeal in all ordinary 
 cases operating as a “ stay of proceedings.” When action 
 of some kind, however, seems to be imperative, the Mission 
 shall immediately make full report to the Board of the fact 
 and nature of the action and the reasons therefor. 
 
 Correspondence , Reports, Etc. 
 
 1. In all Missions a letter should be sent to the Board 
 once a month, giving news of the Missionary work, that the 
 Board may be kept constantly and fully informed of its state 
 and progress. 
 
 2. Each Mission shall prepare an annual report which 
 shall give, in as brief and clear a manner as possible, a view 
 of the work in the entire field during the year. It should 
 present, in tabular statement, the number and names of sta¬ 
 tions and out-stations, churches, schools (Sunday, day 
 and boarding), the number of baptisms during the year, of 
 communicants, received on confession and letter—dismis¬ 
 sions and total in communion, scholars (distinguishing 
 between boarding, day and Sunday scholars, male and 
 female), with a list of the Missionaries, Assistant Mission¬ 
 aries, native Pastors, Helpers and Teachers at each station, 
 and such other itemsof information as may be deemed valu¬ 
 able. 
 
 3. In order to secure uniformity in the Mission Reports, 
 each Mission is requested to appoint annually a Committee 
 to whom all individual and station reports of work done 
 during the year shall be submitted, and by whom a revised 
 and condensed report, based upon these, covering the whole 
 field and embracing such other matters pertaining to the 
 interests of the Mission as may properly claim their attention, 
 shall be prepared. This report, when presented to and 
 approved by the Mission, shall be forwarded to the Board, 
 and should, in all cases, be sent so as to reach the Board not 
 later than the first of April. 
 
 17 
 
4. In the publication of all matters relating to the policy 
 of the Board in the raising and distributing of funds, such 
 publications, or communications intended for publication 
 should first be submitted to the Executive Committee. 
 
 5. At the end of the first and second years after the 
 arrival of a new Missionary, the Mission is requested to 
 ascertain and make report to the Board in regard to his pro¬ 
 gress in the acquisition of the native language, and his 
 knowledge and skill in its practical use. It should be under¬ 
 stood that the ability to read, and especially to speak, the lan¬ 
 guage with reasonable ease and accuracy is an indispensa¬ 
 ble qualification for Missionary work, without which no one 
 can expect to continue in the service of the Board or the 
 enjoyment of its support. 
 
 6. Missionaries should carefully abstain from all inter¬ 
 ference with the political affairs and institutions of the peo¬ 
 ple among whom they labor. 
 
 7. It is a principle with the Board that its Missionaries 
 seek to maintain friendly relations with those of other Socie¬ 
 ties, and especially that they associate themselves as closely 
 as possible with those of like faith and order, laboring in the 
 same field. 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Board • of • Foreign • Missions. 
 
 Approved by the General Synod, October, 1857. 
 
 WITH 
 
 I^ules of Business. 
 
 PREA/IBLE. 
 
 Whereas the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Divine Head of 
 the Church, has enjoined on all His people the duty of giving 
 the Gospel to every creature ; and, Whereas the condition of 
 all men without the Gospel is one of exposure to eternal 
 death, as well as of present suffering and sorrow—Therefore, 
 under the conviction of duty, and with earnest desire for the 
 best interests of our fellow men here and hereafter—the 
 General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, acknowledg¬ 
 ing with gratitude what God has been pleased to accomplish 
 by the Church, deems it important in entering on a distinct 
 and separate management and support of Foreign Missions, 
 tore-model its Board of Foreign Missions, with a view to 
 greater efficiency and a more faithful conformity to the Di¬ 
 vine requirement, and adopts the following, viz : 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Art. 1. The management and control of the Foreign 
 Missions of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, as well 
 as the institution of new Missions, and the appointment of 
 Missionaries, shall be committed to the Board of Foreign 
 Missions, subject to the revision and instruction of the Gen 
 eral Synod. 
 
Art. 2. This Board shall not be restricted in the sending 
 of Missionaries to any part of the world, or to any class of 
 persons who are without a pure Gospel, when Divine Provi¬ 
 dence opens the way to them, and the men and means are 
 furnished. 
 
 Art. 3. The Board of Foreign Missions shall consist of 
 twenty-four members (of whom one-third shall be chosen at 
 each meeting of the General Synod), (with the Correspond¬ 
 ing Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be ex-officio members). 
 
 Art. 4. The Board of Foreign Missions shall hold its 
 first meeting each year as soon as practicable after the meet¬ 
 ing of the General Synod, at which the officers for the year 
 shall be chosen. 
 
 Art. 5. The Board of Foreign Missions shall have 
 authority to employ ordained Ministers and Licentiates, the 
 wife of each of whom shall be regarded as an Assistant 
 Missionary ; Physicians, Colporteurs, Printers, unmarried 
 Female Teachers, all to be at the time of appointment, mem¬ 
 bers in communion with the Reformed Protestant Dutch 
 Church, or, having taken the measures necessary to become 
 such—and all proper agencies for raising means in our 
 Churches for the support of the Missions, and the use of the 
 Press, both at home and aboard. 
 
 Art. 6. Any person by the contribution of Fifty Dollars 
 at one time may become a member for life of the Board of 
 Foreign Missions, and shall have the privilege of meeting 
 with the Board, and participating in its deliberations, with¬ 
 out being entitled to vote. 
 
 Art. 7. The Board of Foreign Missions shall submit to 
 the General Synod, at each annual meeting, a faithful report 
 of its acts, with the annual account of the Treasurer,properly 
 audited, and submit for approval such plans and measures 
 as may require the specific attention of the General Synod. 
 The Corresponding Secretary shall be present at each meet- 
 of the Synod,to make such explanations as maybe called for. 
 
 Art. 8. It shall be the steady aim of the Board of For¬ 
 eign Missions to secure as early as may be wise the organi¬ 
 zation by the Missionaries of Churches, Classes, and other 
 Church Courts, according to the order of the Reformed 
 Protestant Dutch Church. 
 
 Art. 9. The Board of Foreign Missions shall meet at 
 least quarterly, at such hour and place as it may itself agree 
 
 20 
 
on, and when convened, seven members shall constitute a 
 quorum. 
 
 Art. io. The Board shall have power to fill vacancies, 
 which may occur in the progress of the year,—the person 
 chosen to hold such place until the next meeting of the Gen¬ 
 eral Synod. 
 
 Art. ii. Extra meetings of the Board may be called on 
 the vote of the Executive Committee, or the written request 
 of any three members. 
 
 RULES OF BUSINESS. 
 
 Art. i. This Board shall convene as early as practica¬ 
 ble after each annual meeting of the General Synod. 
 
 Art. 2. At such meeting the Board shall choose,by ballot, 
 a President, a Vice-President, Recording Secretary, a Corre¬ 
 sponding Secretary, a Treasurer and an Executive Commit¬ 
 tee. 
 
 Art. 3. The meetings shall be held at least quarterly, 
 to wit : On the third Wednesday of November, February and 
 May, and the first convenient Wednesday after the adjourn¬ 
 ment of the General Synod, at such place and hour as fixed 
 by its own vote, and at such meetings seven members shall 
 constitute a quorum. 
 
 Art. 4. The Board at its several meetings shall review 
 and decide upon all the proceedings of its officers, and of the 
 Executive Committee ; direct to such measures as it may 
 deem important, and present an Annual Report of its doings 
 to the General Synod. 
 
 Art. 5. The Board shall leave all matters properly 
 ecclesiastical to the Classes to which they belong, or may 
 refer the same to the General Synod. 
 
 Art. 6. The seat of operations of the Board shall be the 
 City of New York. 
 
 THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to 
 conduct all the correspondence with the Missions and 
 Churches (excepting that which belongs to the Treasurer) ; 
 to keep files of all letters and papers ; to arrange and bring 
 up all such business as requires the attention of the Board 
 and the Executive Committee, and submit such documents 
 as may be necessary for the information of either ; to keep 
 
 21 
 
memoranda of his work, which may be referred to by either 
 when desired ; to prepare and submit the Annual Report to 
 the Board, attend the annual meeting of the General Synod ; 
 to visit as circumstances may allow the Theological Semi¬ 
 naries at New Brunswick and Holland, Rutgers, Hope, 
 Union and other Colleges, where the young men of our 
 Church receive their education, with a view to securing suita¬ 
 ble young men for the Missionary service, and to take the 
 oversight of such periodicals as may be issued, in connection 
 with such others as the Board may appoint. 
 
 THE TREASURER, 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and keep 
 faithful accounts of all moneys received and paid ; the 
 former to be published monthly in the papers of the Church 
 and of the Board ; to keep a record of all life members, and 
 furnish necessary certificates ; to take charge of and for¬ 
 ward to Missionaries all articles sent to him from the 
 Churches, or from individuals ; to purchase and forward to 
 Missions such as they may order, charging the same to the 
 account of the party ordering them ; to submit at each stated 
 meeting of the Board and Executive Committee the state of 
 the funds ; to present at each meeting bills requiring the 
 action of either, and only pay the same when so ordered by 
 either ; to bring up for consideration at the proper time 
 what remittances may be needed for the Missions, or what 
 exchanges or bills may be required,—but he shall negotiate 
 none without the order of the Executive Committee, and 
 with the advice and approbation of the Finance Committee, 
 and shall assume no obligations without their direction or 
 assent. 
 
 He shall keep all notes, bonds, deeds, and other evi¬ 
 dences of property, invest or deposit money as may be 
 directed, with the approbation of the Finance Committee ; 
 exhibit his books, accounts and vouchers, and evidences of 
 property whenever required by the Board or the Executive 
 Committee ; submit an annual statement of his accounts to 
 the Board at its meeting immediately preceding the annual 
 meeting of the General Synod ; conduct the correspondence 
 relating immediately to his department, and perform such 
 acts as are necessary to the faithful execution of the duties 
 of his office. 
 
 22 
 
He shall enter in a distinct record the appropriations 
 which may be made from year to year for each Mission and 
 Missionary—for his own use, and that of the Board or Exec¬ 
 utive Committee, or the General Synod. 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
 
 Art. i. The Executive Committee shall consist of five 
 clergymen and five laymen, members of the Board, together 
 with the President of the Board, who shall be, ex officio, a 
 member of the same, shall meet at least monthly, at such 
 hour and place as it may itself appoint, and five members 
 shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings, of which due 
 notice shall be sent to every member, may be called by the 
 Corresponding Secretary, when necessary. 
 
 Art. 2. The Executive Committee shall 1 be charged 
 with the execution of the resolutions and instructions of the 
 General Synod, and of the Board ; shall select fields of labor, 
 appoint the Missionaries, direct their labors, and fix their 
 compensation ; shall give permissions to return, or recall 
 any ; authorize the payment of moneys—appoint and direct 
 agents, make all necessary arrangements for the printing of 
 such documents or papers as they may deem necessary ; 
 shall keep records of all its proceedings, and lay the same 
 quarterly before the Board of Foreign Misssions for its ap¬ 
 proval or correction. 
 
 Art. 3. While the Executive Committee are not respon¬ 
 sible for what by the Constitution of the Church belongs to 
 the Classis, and shall not interfere in the same—it shall have 
 entire control over Missions (though a Classis is organized), 
 and reserve to itself to decide on the course and policy of 
 each Missionary, or any laborer receiving its aid ; and with¬ 
 hold or modify the same, subject to the Board and the Gen¬ 
 eral Synod. 
 
 Art. 4. For the greater success of its work, the Execu¬ 
 tive Committee shall appoint from its own number a Com¬ 
 mittee of Finance of three members, who shall be the coun" 
 selors of the Treasurer in all questions of investment, lega¬ 
 cies, and negotiations of drafts, and without whose appro¬ 
 bation he shall not act in the same. They shall audit the 
 Treasurer’s annual account, watch over the financial 
 interests of the Board, and report at any stated meeting of 
 the Executive Committee such matters as may require its 
 
 23 
 
action. They shall examine all estimates for appropriations 
 to Missions and Missionaries, and report their judgment 
 concerning them. 
 
 Art. 5. As the General Synod has its Board of Publica¬ 
 tion, the Executive Committee shall in all cases where prac¬ 
 ticable, make through a suitable Committee, arrangements 
 with such Board for its printing. 
 
 Art. 6. The Recording Secretary shall keep a faithful 
 and particular record of all the acts of the Board, carefully 
 file and preserve all documents ordered to be filed, issue the 
 necessary notices for all stated and special meetings, and 
 submit his record at each stated meeting of the Board. 
 
 Art. 7. The order of business, both in the Board and in 
 the Executive Committee, shall be as follows : 
 
 1. Prayer. 
 
 2. Reading of the Minutes for Information. 
 
 3. Statement of the Treasurer. 
 
 4. Report of the Finance Committee. 
 
 5. Communications and Business of the Corresponding 
 Secretary. 
 
 6. Reports of Committees. 
 
 7 . Miscellaneous Business. 
 
 S. Reading and Approval of the Minutes. 
 
 9. Prayer. 
 
 10. Adjournment. 
 
 Appendix II. 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION. 
 
 An Act to Incorporate the Board of Foreign Missions of the 
 Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. 
 
 Passed , pril 7, i860. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in 
 Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Sec. 1. William B. Crosby, Thos. De Witt, Jeremiah 
 S. Lord, Wm. W. Halloway, Sanford Cobb, Jr., Alexander 
 R. Thompson, D. McL. Quackenbush, Ab’m J. Beekman, 
 Ezra A. Hayt, A. P. Van Gieson, John T. Moore, Stephen 
 Van Rensselaer, E. P. Rogers, Isaac Ferris, Abram B. Pres¬ 
 ton, Thos. M. Strong, J. J. Johnson, D. D. Demarest, citizens 
 of the State of New York, and such others as they may as¬ 
 sociate with themselves, are hereby constituted a body cor- 
 
 H 
 
porate and politic forever ; by the name of the Board of For¬ 
 eign Missions of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, for 
 the purpose of establishing and conducting Christian mis¬ 
 sions among the unevangelized or pagan nations, and the 
 general diffusion of Christianity ; and by that name they and 
 their successors and associates shall be capable of taking by 
 purchase, grant, devise or otherwise, holding, conveying, or 
 otherwise disposing of any real or personal estate for the 
 purposes of the said Corporation. But which estate, within 
 this State, shall not, at any time, exceed the annual income 
 of twenty thousand dollars. 
 
 Sec. 2. The said Corporation shall possess the general 
 powers, rights and privileges, and be subject to the liabili¬ 
 ties and provisions contained in the eighteenth chapter of 
 the first part of the Revised Statutes, so far as the same are 
 applicable. 
 
 Sec. 3. This act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 Appendix III. 
 
 LAWS OF NEW YORK.—BY AUTHORITY. 
 
 Chap. 217. 
 
 An Act to change the name of the Board of Foreign 
 
 Missions of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church to 
 Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in 
 
 America.” 
 
 Passed April 15, 1873. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented in 
 Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Sec. 1. The corporate name of the association incorpo¬ 
 rated as the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed 
 Protestant Dutch Church by an act passed on the sev¬ 
 enth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty 
 is hereby changed to the “ Board of Foreign Missions of 
 the Reformed Church in America.” 
 
 Sec. 2. Nolhing contained in this act shall be held in 
 any manner to affect any of the rights, powers or liabili¬ 
 ties of the association as now incorporated, nor any 
 existing suits. 
 
 Sec 3. This act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 25 
 
State of New York, \ 
 
 Office of the Secretary of State. 1 ss ‘ 
 
 I have compared the preceding with the original law on 
 file in this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a 
 correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said orig¬ 
 inal law. 
 
 G. HILTON SCRIBNER, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 Appendix IV. 
 
 Chap. 553. 
 
 [Laws of 1890.] 
 
 An Act to amend Chapter one hundred and ninety-one 
 of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled 
 14 An act to limit the amount of property to be held by cor¬ 
 porations organized for other than business purposes,” and 
 relating to such corporations. 
 
 Approved by the Governor , June 7, iSgo. Passed , three-Jifths 
 
 being present. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented 
 in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: 
 
 Sec. 1. Chapter one hundred and ninety-one of the laws 
 of eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled : “ An Act 
 to limit the amount of property to be held by corpora¬ 
 tions organized for other than business purposes,” is 
 hereby amended so as to read as follows : 
 
 Sec. 1. Any religious, educational, - bible, missionary, 
 tract,literary, scientific, benevolent., or charitable corpor¬ 
 ation, or corporation organized for the enforcement of 
 laws relating to children or animals, or for hospital, 
 infirmary, or other than business purposes, may take 
 and hold, in its own right or in trust, for any purpose 
 comprised in the objects of its incorporation, property 
 not exceeding in value three million dollars, or the 
 yearly income derived from which shall not exceed two 
 hundred and fifty thousand dollars, notwithstanding 
 the provisions of any special or general act heretofore 
 passed, or certificate of incorporation affecting such cor- 
 
 26 
 
porations. In computing the value of such property no 
 increase in value arising otherwise than from improve¬ 
 ments made thereon shall be taken into account. The 
 personal estate of such corporations shall be exempt 
 from taxation, and the provisions of chapter four hun¬ 
 dred and eighty-three of the laws of eighteen hundred 
 and eighty-five, entitled “An Act to tax gifts, legacies 
 and collateral inheritances in certain cases” and the acts 
 amendatory thereof, shall not apply thereto nor to any 
 such corporation by grant, bequest, or otherwise ; pro¬ 
 vided however that this provision shall not apply to any 
 monied or stock corporation deriving an income or profit 
 from the capital, or otherwise, or to any corporation 
 which has the right to make dividends or to distribute 
 profits or assets among its members. 
 
 Sec. 2. This Act shall not affect the right of any such 
 corporation to take and hold property exceeding in 
 value the amount specified in section one of this Act, 
 provided such right is conferred upon such corporation 
 by special statute ; nor affect any statute by which its 
 real estate is exempt from taxation. 
 
 Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 State of New York, 
 
 Office of the Secretary of State 
 
 I have compared the preceding with the original law 
 on file in this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a 
 correct transcript therefrom and of the whole thereof. 
 
 Given under my hand and the seal of office of the Secre¬ 
 tary of State, at the City of Albany, this twenty-third day 
 of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety. 
 
 Seal ) (Signed). Frank Rice, 
 
 affixed, f Secretary of State. 
 
 27 
 
 4