RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE Moravian Mission in Alaska ov RULES AND REGULATIONS OP THE Moravian Mission in Alaska Adopted by the General Mission Conference held at The Orphanage and School, Nunapltsinghak, Alaska, August 2-5, 1926. Approved by the Provincial Elders' Conference, June 2, 1927. BETHLEHEM, PA.: Bethlehem Printing' Company 1927 CONTENTS THE WORK. Page The Direction of the Mission 5 Its Object 5 Preaching 5 Services 6 Tours 6 Applications for Membership 6 Baptism 7 Admission from other Churches 8 Pledge of Obedience to the Rules 8 The Lord's Supper 9 Speakings 9 Marriages 9 Funerals . . .; i 10 The Burial Ground 10 Church Discipline 10 Readmission 11 Drunkenness and Gambling 11 Amusements 12 Care of the Poor 12 The Civilization of the People 12 Medical Help 13 THE MISSIONARIES. The Superintendent 13 Station Superintendents 14 The General Mission Conference 14 Appointment of Missionaries 15 Statistics and Reports 15 Furloughs 15 Native Candidates for Higher Education 15 Reversal of Decisions of the Superintendent. . 15 The Unity of the Work 16 The Station Conference 16 Business Undertakings 17 The Salary of Missionaries 17 Furniture 18 The Store Room 18 Inventories 18 Archives of Stations 18 THE HELPERS. Appointment of Helpers 19 The Work of the Helpers 19 The Remuneration of Helpers 19 THE SCHOOLS. The Education of the Young School Reports 20 20 RULES AND REGULATIONS of the Moravian Mission in Alaska In connection with Chapter 10 of the Results of the General Synod of the Brethren's Unity, 1899, and the "Handbook" of 1910. I. — THE WORK THE DIRECTION OF THE MISSION 1. The Mission in Alaska is an integral part of the Missions prosecuted by the Unitas Pratrum as a whole — known in America as the Moravian Church. It is carried on under the direction of the responsible Board of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in the United States, in accord- ance with the terms of the Pro Memoria adopted by the General Synod of 1899. All the mission- aries in the field are therefore subordinate to the Provincial Elders' Conference, who are rosponsible for the support of the work. ITS OBJECT 2. The first and main object is to preach the Gospel to the people and lead them to Christ as the only Saviour (Acts 4:12). PREACHING 3. The preaching shall be done in the simplest way possible, and every Brother shall endeavor to acquire the native language as soon and as thor- oughly as possible for this purpose. 5 SERVICES 4. Two services shall be held at each station every Sunday. Their character is to be decided by the Station Conference in accordance with the de- velopment of the work and its needs. If a Brother can and is willing to keep Sunday-school, he shall be encouraged so to do; or the evening service may be held as Sunday-school. During the week in winter, when the people are at home, services shall be held as often as possible; in summer, whenever their number may warrant. TOURS 5 Evangelistic (missionary) tours are to be made especially in winter, in order to bring the Gospel to the scattered people in their homes. It is advisable to spend as long a time as is practicable in each place, in order to impart thorough instruc- tion, since the visits can be made only at long in- tervals. The people are to be encouraged to build chapels or a place where the missionary can lodge when he visits them on his evangelistic tours. APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP 6. When people have been awakened and are desirous to come to Christ, they should be spoken with as frequently as possible, and in due time re- ceived as candidates for baptism. It will be im- pressed on them, that as such they must lead a good life. The instruction preparatory to baptism must be as thorough as circumstances permit, im- parting to the candidate the fundamentals of Chris- tian doctrine, and being based on the Catechism in use in the American Province. The Ten Command- ments, the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed should be committed to memory by the candidates. 6 Nevertheless the instruction must not be unduly protracted, especialy as long as oral instruction is the only method possible. Since winter is the best time for this work, the occasions for instruction should be arranged in frequent succession through- out a brief period. BAPTISM 7. Baptism shall be administered in a public service, except in cases of severe illness, the can- didates answering the questions found on page 17 of the Hymn Book of the American Moravian Church (Edition of 1900). 8. Polygamists may be baptized only with the sanction of the Provincial Elders' Conference in America, after all the circumstances have been communicated. 9. Polyandrists are not baptized by us. 10. Baptized adults are counted as communi- cants; but wherever possible before partaking of the Holy Communion, they shall receive some addi- tional instruction, impressing the peculiar sacred- ness of this sacrament. BAPTISM OF CHILDREN 11. Up to five years of age children may be bap- tized as children. After they have attained this age, they may be baptized only in case of sickness that threatens to become fatal — provided also that they personally desire baptism. Otherwise the ad- ministration of this sacrament must be deferred until they are twelve years of age and have re- ceived the instruction given to adult candidates, except in cases where whole families are baptized. 12. In the case of children, baptism is admin- istered only to the children of Christian parents or where at least one parent is a Christian. The 7 parent or parents must promise to bring up the child in the fear of the Lord, answering the ques- tion in the Baptismal Service (p. 16 of the Hymn Book). 13. The children of parents who have been ex- cluded may be baptized only when some approved member of the congregation as sponsor gives assur- ance that the spiritual welfare of the child will be cared for. ADMISSION FROM ANOTHER CHURCH 14. Whilst we recognize as valid baptism admin- stered in another Church, great care must be exer- cised in reference to claims that baptism has been received — especially in the Greek Church. All doubtful cases must be decided by the Station Con- ference. (See Missionary Results of 1899, section 106.) 15. When a member of another Church applies for admission to membership in one of our con- gregations, the missionary shall specifically inquire into his motives and shall assure himself of their propriety. He shall then make the applicant fully acquainted with our rules, and express a willing- ness to receive him only if he is willing to abide by them. In a public service the missionary shall re- quire him to answer the last two questions ad- dressed to candidates for confirmation, and then after he publicly testifies to his readiness to be governed by the rules of, our congregations, shall receive him by the right hand of fellowship, PLEDGE OF OBEDIENCE TO THE RULES 16. Similarly every baptized adult and every confirmand shall give a public pledge of his loyalty to our rules, which shall have been read to him. 8 THE LORD'S SUPPER "Speakings" 17. Prior to each celebration of the Lord's Sup- per, which shall take place at least twice a year, each intending communicant shall have close per- sonal conversation with the missionary. The ob- ject of this interview or "Speaking" shall be to pro- mote growth in grace in each member (Ephes. 4:13). Married couples shall attend "Speaking" in company with each other, the unmarried singly. All the people shall attend the "Speaking" at least once a year. MARRIAGES 18. As a rule marriages are to take place in con- nection with, or be solemnized as, a public service, the ritual prescribed in the Hymn Book being em- ployed in conjunction with an address based on the Word of God. 19. As a rule no marriage ceremony shall take place at Christmas, nor during the Passion Week nor on Easter Sunday. 20. The marriage rite shall not be performed for heathen prior to their baptism. 21. In particular every missionary must use his influence to break up the heathen custom of enter- ing into temporary and experimental married rela- tionships. 22. When white persons desire a missionary to perform the marriage ceremony, the service shall be conducted in the same manner as in the case of our members. 23. In reference to the remarriage of divorced persons the missionary must be careful to proceed in accordance with the requirements of the Book 9 03 Order, Section IX, p. 141, and the laws of the land. Each specific case must be decided by the Station Conference. 24. Our missionaries are expected to use their influence against the marriage of minors. 25. Persons who have not been lawfully married, but are living together as man and wife, can not be admitted to the Lord's Supper. FUNERALS 26. The remains of members of our Church may be taken into the house of worship before burial, whether adults or children. The ritual prescribed in the Hymn Book shall be employed. In the case of heathen, the remains may not be brought into the church; but a public service may be held, the ritual being modified as may be required by cir- cumstances. 27. All heathen and superstitious customs and practices connected with death and burial must be steadfastly and persistently discountenanced. Where the land is Mission property, they must be wholly prohibited. 28. Persons who die under the care of sorcerers or who die as wilful opponents of the Gospel can not be given Christian burial by us. THE BURIAL GROUND 29. Our people must be instructed and expected to keep the burial ground in neat and good order as a voluntary labor on their part. CHURCH DISCIPLINE 30 Members of our Church who commit a fault or lead a sinful life render themselves amenable to discipline, and it is the missionary's duty to be 10 faithful in the administration of discipline. Three grades are recognized. a. Brotherly advice or reproof. b. Temporary suspension from the Lord's Sup- per. This degree must be put in force, when a member lives in sin and in disobedience to God's Word — not only in the case of sins of the flesh, but also in the case of open and wilful transgressions of the sort mentioned in 1 Cor. 6:9, 10 and Gal. 5:19-21, for we can have no part with the works of darkness. c. Exclusion from membership. This must be resorted to, when the former degrees fail to ac- complish the desired result, or when offense against the Word of God and all rules is purposely mani- fested. This degree of discipline deprives of all rights in our Church. (Matt. 18:17.) It is well to enforce the discipline with the knowledge and co-operation of the Helpers. The third degree of discipline should be administered in accordance with the vote of the Station Conference. 31. Even after exclusion from membership the missionary shall not lose sight of or cease to be interested in the erring one, but should pray for him and use every means to bring him back to Christ. READMISSION 3 2. Readmission to membership must be decided by the Station Conference, and must be condi- tioned by penitent confession of sin and evidence of a desire to amend erring ways. DRUNKENNESS AND GAMBLING 33. Drunkards, who after due warning will not change their lives must be expelled from Mission 11 land. All gambling is condemned and must be shunned by members. AMUSEMENTS 34. It is the duty of the missionary to testify against and seek to root out the native plays and dances as demoralizing. The play "Illere," in which masks are used, is utterly bad. Every Chris- tian who takes part in it must be excluded. 35 At the same time the missionary shall en- deavor to introduce, especially on holidays, forms of recreation which a Christian may safely enjoy. Music may be encouraged, and social gatherings where pictures are explained, etc. Card-playing must be denounced, and Helpers must wholly ab- stain from it. THE CARE OF THE POOR 36. When poverty is the result of sickness or accident and application for help is made to the Mission, the missionaries shall consider the merits of the case and act accordingly. But help shall not be so given as to encourage shiftlessness or indo- lence (2 Thess. 3:10). Moreover most conscien- tious care in the stewardship of Mission property must be exercised in this respect. In each congre- gation the members are to be encouraged and taught to gather a "poor fund," if not consisting of actual money, then of furs and supplies of va- rious kinds. THE CIVILIZATION OF THE PEOPLE 37. Primarily the object of the Mission is to pro- mote the Kingdom of God — not to spread civiliza- tion. Yet this it also does incidentally and as a secondary result. Therefore the missionary shall 12 encourage cleanliness and thrift and everything that elevates the mental and moral and physical condition of the people, whilst laying special stress on the truth that life comes first of all from above. MEDICAL HELP 38. Whilst medicine, etc., is furnished to the people as a branch of Mission work, they are not to be pauperized by being taught to expect it as a gift, but our members shall be encouraged to pay, when possible. IL — THE MISSIONARIES THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS RELATION TO THE WORK AND THE WORKERS 39. The general oversight of the work and of the workers is committed to one of the mission- aries, appointed as Superintendent by the Provin- cial Elders' Conference in Bethlehem. He is ac- countable for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office. 40. The Mission in Alaska being under the imme- diate oversight and direction of the Provincial Elders' Conference of the American Province, North, the Superintendent shall make all official re- ports to this Board, to be transmitted by its Presi- dent to Mission Board. 41. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to exercise a careful supervision of the work at all the stations and to make such arrangements as will best serve to advance both the spiritual and tem- poral interests of the cause. 42. He shall maintain as close communication as possible with the different stations and also visit them as frequently as practicable, and advise with 13 the missionaries as to their methods of work and give such directions as he may judge necessary, which directions the missionaries are under obli- gation to follow. His decisions with regard to ques- tions referred to him by the Station Conference, or in reference to matters in dispute between mis- sionaries and Helpers, or in the interpretation of mission regulations, shall be of binding force in every instance, but like his personal directions, sub- ject to appeal to the Provincial Elders' Conference. STATION SUPERINTENDENTS 43. He is authorized to appoint "Station Super- intendents" from among the number of the mis- sionaries, to whom he may entrust the management of financial affairs, or the oversight of a portion of the work under his particular instructions, these appointments being subject to approval by the Pro- vincial Elders' Conference. GENERAL MISSION CONFERENCES 44. Every third year he shall convene a General Conference of all the missionaries. At all such con- ferences he shall be the chairman, ex officio, and shall also have a vote. Should he vote with the majority, a mere majority vote decides; should there be a tie he casts the deciding vote. In the absence of the Superintendent, a chairman shall be elected. Resolutions of any of these conferences, in order to become valid, in case they involve radi- cal changes in the conduct of the work, require the sanction of the Provincial Elders' Conference. 45. The Superintendent shall forward to the Pro- vincial Elders' Conference, as soon as possible, and with such comments as he may deem necessary, a copy of the minutes of each conference, for trans- mission to Mission Board. 14 APPOINTMENT OF MISSIONARIES TO STATIONS 46. Unless missionaries coming to Alaska have received a definite appointment to some particular station or office, they shall be at the disposal of the Superintendent. STATISTICS AND REPORTS 47. The annual statistical and financial reports of the Province and of the various stations and schools shall be forwarded to the Provincial Elders' Conference by the Superintendent. The station superintendents shall also send duplicates of their reports to the Provincial Elders' Conference in Bethlehem. FURLOUGHS ^ 48. Requests for furlough or for permission to retire permanently must be endorsed by the Super- intendent, or in case of emergency by the Station Superintendent, before being transmitted to the Provincial Elders' Conference. NATIVE CANDIDATES FOR HIGHER EDUCA- TION 49. No native boy or girl may be sent to the States for education at Mission expense without the prior endorsement of the Superintendent and the sanction of the home board. REVERSAL OF THE DECISIONS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 50. The acts and decision of the Superintendent as executive of the Mission in the period between the convocations of the General Mission Conference are subject to review by the General Mission Con- ference (See section 133 of the Missionary Results 15 of 1899). This body, through its Secretary, may forward to the Provincial Elders' Conference any minute adopted or petition framed; but until modi- fied or annulled by the Provincial Elders' Confer- ence all decisions of the Superintendent, as the representative of the Provincial Elders' Conference, remain in force and must be observed. UNITY OF THE WORK 51. Every missionary is under obligation to seek to promote the interests of the entire field and to have regard for the welfare of all his fellow-work- ers. STATION SUPERINTENDENT AND STATION CONFERENCE 52. When more than one Brother is stationed at one place, one is appointed "Station Superintend- ent." All the missionaries at a station constitute a "Station Conference," empowered to consider and determine local questions relating to the work. A majority vote decides. The Station Superintend- ent presides ex officio. If only two Brethren are present and differ in regard to a matter, it shall be referred to the Superintendent, or, in case of ne- cessity, the Station Superintendent shall decide. 53. Sessions of the Station Conference are two- fold in character — 1, concerning spiritual affairs and activity, which shall be statedly held four times a year; 2, concerning the temporal work to be done at a station (building, repairs, gardening, boating, fishing, etc.) to be held monthly from Easter to September, and at other times as neces- sity arises. At these conferences the duties of an external character shall be apportioned among the missionaries. 16 54. The Station Superintendent is charged with the management of financial affairs and with the general supervision of the work at his station and with a brotherly oversight over his co-workers. It is his duty to see to it that resolutions of the Sta- tion Conference are carried out. For his work's take he has the right to expect and claim the broth- erly regard and respect of his co-workers. REPRESENTATION AT THE GENERAL MISSION CONFERENCE 55. When it is impossible for a missionary to attend a convocation of the General Mission Con- ference through the exigencies of the work or other cause beyond his control, he has the right to send in writing his views on subjects that are likely to be discussed. In case only one Brother from a station can attend the General Mission Con- ference, he is to be elected by the Station Confer- ence, and it is his duty to present and explain the views and wishes of his co-workers as well as his own. BUSINESS UNDERTAKINGS 56. No missionary, whilst in the service, is per- mitted to engage in business for his own benefit. Business undertakings must first have the ap- proval of the Station Conference and of the Super- intendent, and must then be engaged in for the sole benefit of the Mission. Land may be taken and claims acquired only with the knowledge and ap- proval of the Home Board. The disinterestedness of the missionaries must be above suspicion. SALARY 57. Each missionary's salary is graded accord- ing to the number of years he has been in service. 17 (See Handbook of the General Regulations, 1910, p. 13-16. On p. 15, 33, insert $50 as the allowance for each child living with its parents up to the end of the 10th year. After that $150 per year till the time of entering school in the States, and $300 per year from the time of entering school in the States to the completion of its 18th year.) With this salary the missionary must supply all his personal needs, including board, clothing, washing, fuel, light, servants' wages, private gardening, postage and writing materials for private use, the payment of guides for trips not necessary in behalf of the Mission. FURNITURE 59. Furniture and utensils necessary for house- keeping, including a sewing machine, are supplied at Mission expense, and must be regarded as Mis- sion property, and left at the station in case of transfer or removal. Musical instruments are not included. THE STORE ROOM 59. The Station Superintendent shall have sole charge of the store room at each station, and in it the articles of trade, etc., belonging to the Mis- sion shall be kept. He only is authorized to give things out which are kept here, and must keep a strict account. When transfers or removals of missionaries are made, it is his duty to verify the inventory of the furniture and utensils. A com- plete inventory shall be kept of all Mission prop- erty, including houses at out-stations, boats, tools, paints, machinery, stock, etc. All official books, papers, documents, letters, bills, etc., shall be care- fully preserved in the archives at each station 18 THE HELPERS SELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING OF HELPERS 60. The training of native Helpers is to be re- garded as of higli importance and is to be zealous- ly promoted. But the utmost care must be exer- cised in selecting for this office such who are sin- cere, courageous Christians, possessed of intelli- gence and enjoying good standing among the peo- ple. Above all the Helper must be a man who has confidence in the missionary, and be willing to faithfully second the efforts and carry out the views of the missionary, even though not fully un- derstanding all that is involved. THE WORK OF THE HELPER 61. The Helper, at stations, shall be a link be- tween the missionary and the people. At outposts, he is empowered to conduct services, and it is his duty to promote practical godliness in every way, serving in particular as a mediator and arbitrator among the people. At the stated visits of the mis- sionary, or when he himself visits the station, the Helper is to convey to the missionary information of every sort that may promote the cause. Stated instruction shall be imparted by the missionary to the Helpers as frequently as possible, to ground them in the Word of God and acquaint them with their duties. REMUNERATION OF THE HELPERS 62. The conditions under which the Helpers re- ceive remuneration for their work, and the amount of the same, are to be decided as a rule by the General Mission Conference; when this is not practicable, by the Superintendent together with 19 the missionaries concerned. The Home Board, how- ever, reserves the right of revision. In general the privilege and honor of work for Christ must be impressed upon them, and compensation should be given only when their work involves interference with their ordinary opportunities for gaining a livelihood. CHRISTIAN BENEFICENCE 63. Whenever it is at all possible, the people are to be trained to give voluntarily their time and labor to the Lord, where it is impossible for them otherwise to learn the blessedness of liberality Whenever, and in so far as it is at all practicable, stated contributions in support of the work are to be required of the members. IV. — THE SCHOOLS EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG 64. Special attention is to be paid to the train- ing of the young, to make them acquainted with the Word of God, and to elevate their standard of living. When living in the school they are not to be pauperized, but must be taught the obligation of returning in work as complete an equivalent as possible for what they receive. In the years immediately after completing their education they are to be special objects of the missionaries' watchful care, in order to prevent them from lapsing into sin and barbarism. SCHOOL REPORTS 65. Where schools receive government aid, spe- cial care is to be taken to maintain the standard required, and to promptly send in all reports accu- rately filled out. 20