PAH. 
 
 J^P^N 
 
 
 CONSTITUTION k RULES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NIHOOENGO KIRISUTO KYOKWAI 
 
 889 
 
 I 
 
CONSTITUTION & RULES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NIHON RENGO KIRISUTO KY0KWAI 
 
 1889 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Constitution ; 
 
 I. THE CHURCH. 
 
 II. DOCTRINE. 
 
 III. WORSHIP. 
 
 IV. MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 V. GOVERNMENT. 
 
 VI. CHURCHES. 
 
 VII. BUKWAI. 
 
 VIII. SOKWAI. 
 
 IX. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 X. REFERENCES. 
 
 XI. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. 
 
 Rules : 
 
 1. GENERAL RULES FOR BUK.WAI. 
 
 II. LICENSURE OF PROBATIONERS. 
 
 III. ORDINATION OF MINISTERS. 
 
 IV. DEMISSION OF THE MINISTRY. 
 
 V. INSTALLATION OF PASTORS. 
 
 VI. RELEASE OF PASTORS. 
 
 VII. ADMISSION OF MINISTERS AND CHURCHES. 
 
 VIII. ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES. 
 
 IX. GENERAL RULES FOR THE SOKWAI. 
 
 X. AMENDMENT OF RULES. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/nihonrengoOOniho 
 
CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Of the Church. 
 
 I. God is gathering out of every nation a 
 great multitude, through whom in the ages to 
 come he will show forth the exceeding riches of 
 his grace and wisdom. This is the Church of 
 the living God : the body of Christ : the temple 
 of the Holy Spirit : the fulness of him that 
 filleth all in all. As this innumerable company is 
 made up of the saints of all lands and ages, it is 
 called the holy Church universal : and since the 
 members thereof are certainly known only to 
 him who knoweth the heart, it is called also the 
 Church invisible. 
 
II. The universal Church visible consists 
 of all those throughout the world who profess to 
 worship and serve the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Spirit, one God blessed for evermore. 
 
 III. A particular church consists of such mem- 
 bers of the universal Church visible as unite 
 under some form of government, for the wor- 
 ship of God, holy living, and the extension of 
 the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 IV. A local church consists of such members 
 of the universal Church visible as dwell in one 
 place and unite together under some form of 
 government, for the worship of God, holy living, 
 and the extension of the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Of Doctrine.* 
 
 The Word of God contained in the Scriptures 
 
 * The Nihon Rengo Kirisuto ICyokwai adopts this chapter 
 as the doctrinal basis of union ; it hopes however shortly to 
 set forth a confession more perfectly suited to its own needs. 
 
 Churches may frame confessions for their own use : but 
 such confessions should be in general agreement with the 
 Confession of Faith of the Nihon Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai. 
 
of the Old and the New Testament is the only 
 infallible rule of faith and practice : and in 
 various ages the Church has sought to set forth 
 in order the essential truths made known therein. 
 
 Among those confessions that have come 
 down from ancient times are the Apostles’ 
 Creed and the Nicene Creed. These with the 
 Articles of the Evangelical Alliance form the 
 Confession of Faith of the Nihon Rengo Kiri- 
 suto Kyokwai. 
 
 APOSTLES’ CREED. 
 
 I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, MAKER 
 OF HEAVEN AND EARTH : 
 
 AND IN JESUS CHRIST HIS ONLY SON OUR LORD ; WHO 
 WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, BORN OF THE 
 VIRGIN MARY; SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, 
 WAS CRUCIFIED, DEAD, AND BURIED; HE DESCENDED 
 INTO HADES; THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE 
 DEAD ; HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND SITTETH AT 
 THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY ; 
 FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE GUICK 
 AND THE DEAD. 
 
 I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST; THE HOLY CATHO- 
 LIC CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS; THE FOR- 
 
GIVENESS OF SINS ; THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, 
 AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN. 
 
 NICENE CREED. 
 
 I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, 
 MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH AND OF ALL THINGS 
 VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE : 
 
 AND IN ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY BE- 
 GOTTEN SON OF GOD, BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER 
 BEFORE ALL WORLDS, GOD OF GOD, LIGHT OF LIGHT, 
 VERY GOD OF VERY GOD, BEGOTTEN NOT MADE, BEING 
 OF ONE SUBSTANCE WITH THE FATHER; BY WHOM ALL 
 THINGS WERE MADE; WFIO FOR US MEN AND FOR OUR 
 SALVATION CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND WAS IN- 
 CARNATE BY THE HOLY GHOST OF THE VIRGIN MARY 
 AND WAS MADE MAN, AND WAS CRUCIFIED ALSO FOR US 
 UNDER PONTIUS PILATE : HE SUFFERED AND WAS BURIED, 
 AND THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE 
 SCRIPTURES, AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND SITTETH 
 ON TFIE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER; AND HE SHALL 
 COME AGAIN WITH GLORY TO JUDGE BOTH THE QUICK 
 AND THE DEAD, WHOSE KINGDOM SHALL HAVE NO END. 
 
 AND I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST, THE LORD AND 
 GIVER OF LIFE, WHO PROCEEDETH FROM THE FATHER 
 AND THE SON, WHO WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON 
 TOGETHER IS WORSHIPPED AND GLORIFIED, WHO SPAKE 
 
BY THE PROPHETS. AND I BELIEVE IN ONE HOLY' 
 CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. I ACKOWLEDGE 
 ONE BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OPSINS. AND I LOOK 
 FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND THE LIFE 
 OF THE WORLD TO COME. AMEN. 
 
 ARTICLES OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. 
 
 WE HOLD AND MAINTAIN THE DIVINE INSPIRATION, 
 AUTHORITY, AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIP- 
 TURES ; THE RIGHT AND DUTY' OF PRIVATE JUDGJIENT 
 IN THE INTERPRETATION OF THEM : THE UNITY OF THE 
 GODHEAD, AND THE TRINITY OF THE PERSONS THEREIN ; 
 THE UTTER DEPRAVITY OF HUMAN NATURE IN CON- 
 SEQUENCE OF THE FALL : THE INCARNATION OF THE 
 SON OF god; his work of ATONEMENT FOR THE 
 SINS OF mankind; and his MEDIATORIAL interces- 
 sion AND REIGN: THE JUSTIFI CATIO N OF THE SI NNER 
 BY FAITH alone : THE WORK OF THE HOLY' SPIRIT IN 
 HIS CONVERSION AND SANCTIFICATION: THE IMMOR- 
 TALITY' OF THE SOUL; THE RESURRECTION OF THE 
 body; THE JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD BY OUR LORD 
 JESUS CHRIST, YVITH THE ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS OF THE 
 RIGHTEOUS AND THE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT OF THE 
 WICKED : THE DIVINE INSTITUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN 
 
 ministry; and the obligation and perpetuity of 
 
 THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’s SUPPER. 
 
Among those confessions that have come 
 down from recent times are the Westminster 
 Catechism, tlie Heidelberg Catechism, and the 
 Plymouth Declaration. These also are to be 
 held in veneration in the Nihon Rengo Kirisuto 
 Kyokwai : they have served a high purpose in 
 the past, and are still to be regarded as of 
 lasting value for the instruction and edification 
 of believers. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Of Worship. 
 
 I. On the Lord’s day all the people shall 
 assemble themselves together for the worship of 
 Almighty God our Heavenly Father. 
 
 II. The ordinances of public worship are 
 prayer, praise, the reading and preaching of 
 the Word, and the administration of the sacra- 
 ments. 
 
 III. The sacraments of the New Testament 
 are baptism and the Lord’s supper. They 
 should be administered by a minister; and per- 
 sons baptized in infancy may not partake of the 
 
table of tlie Lord without examination and con- 
 fession of their faith in Christ. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Of Ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 A minister is one regularly set apart by 
 ordination for the preaching of the gospel of 
 Christ and the administration of the sacraments. 
 A minister installed over a local church is 
 called a pastor. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Of Government. 
 
 The New Testament exhibits facts from which 
 general principles may be deduced. The Nihon 
 Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai deems it agreeable to 
 such principles that its government be by 
 churches, bukwai, and a sokwai. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Of Churches. 
 
 In the following chapters the churches dele- 
 gate certain specified powers to bukwai and the 
 
s5kwai : powers not so delegated they reserve. 
 A church may adopt such a form of internal 
 organization as it shall deem advisable : it shall 
 however send representatives and an annual 
 report to the bukwai. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Of Bukwai. 
 
 I. A bukwai consists of the pastor and 
 a representative from each church within its 
 bounds. Churches of three hundred or more 
 communicants are entitled to send two represen- 
 tatives. Ministers who are not pastors are 
 associate members. They have the right to 
 speak and to introduce resolutions ; and they 
 may be elected to serve as moderator or clerk, 
 as members of committees, and as representa- 
 tives to the sdkwai : but in bukwai they are 
 entitled to vote only upon the licensure of pro- 
 bationers ; and the ordination, demission, and 
 discipline of ministers. 
 
 11. The following powers are delegated to 
 
bukwai. Bukwai license probationers : ordain, 
 retire, and discipline ministers : install and 
 relea.se pastors at the request of churches : 
 admit ministers and churches : oi'ganize or aid 
 in the organization of churches : afford counsel 
 and aid to those within their bounds : appoint 
 representatives to the sdkwai; and decide cases 
 of discipline referred to them from churches in 
 accordance with Chap. X. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Of the Sokwai. 
 
 1. The sdkwai consists of representatives 
 appointed by the several bukwai. Each bukwai 
 shall appoint two representatives, one of whom 
 shall be a minister, for every three churches. 
 In order to secure a full attendance alternates 
 shall be appointed. A principal may resign 
 his seat to an alternate either before the 
 sdkwai convenes or at any time during the 
 sessions : but when once such resignation 
 
( lo ) 
 
 shall have taken place the seat shall not be 
 resumed. 
 
 II. The following powers are delegated to 
 the s 5 kwai. The s 5 kwai receives and im- 
 parts information regarding the work of the 
 Nihon Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai, and recom- 
 mends such measures as it deems expedient. 
 It organizes bukwai and determines their 
 bounds : and decides cases of discipline referred 
 to it from them in accordance with Chap. X. 
 It may appoint Committees of Home and For- 
 eign Missions : and may establish, or form 
 connection with, theological schools. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Of Discipline. 
 
 I. The ends of discipline are the honour 
 of Christ, the purity of the Church, and the 
 good of the offender ; and in all discipline the 
 spirit of Christ’s words (Matt. i8 : 15-17) is to 
 be observed. 
 
 II. Ministers, whether members of churches 
 
( II ) 
 
 or not, are subject to the discipline of the 
 bukwai to which they belong; all who are not 
 ministers to that of the churches of which they 
 are members. 
 
 III. In the case of a minister, an offence 
 IS something clearly forbidden in the Scrip- 
 tures or contrary to the Constitution of the 
 Nihon Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai : in the case 
 of any other, an offence is something clearly 
 forbidden in the Scriptures or contrary to the 
 Rules of the church of which he is a member. 
 
 IV. The sentence of a bukw'ai or a church 
 does not change the relation of a man to God; 
 it is only a solemn declaration of the con- 
 viction that one has sinned and should repent. 
 The following sentences alone are lawful ; 
 Censure, suspension or deposition from church 
 office, and suspension or exclusion from church 
 membership. 
 
 V. Restoration may take place when the 
 ends of discipline have been accomplished. 
 A minister shall be restored only by the bukwai 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 b}" which he was disciplined : and one who has 
 been deposed shall not be restored to office 
 until after a considerable time of penitence and 
 exemplary conduct. A church however may 
 receive into its fellowship a person disciplined 
 by another church, after conference with that 
 church. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Of References. 
 
 I. A member of a cliurch deeming himself 
 unjustly disciplined by his church may ask for 
 a review of the case by the bukwai : a minister 
 deeming himself unjustly disciplined by his 
 bukwai may ask for a review of the case by the 
 sokwai. No other references are allowable. 
 
 II. A bukwai may confirm, reverse, modif}?-, 
 or suspend a sentence brought before it in this 
 way: or, it may return the case to the church 
 with the advice that the sentence be reversed, 
 modified, or suspended : or, it may declare its 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 belief in the innocence of the member under dis- 
 cipline, and give him a letter of commendation 
 to another church. 
 
 III. The s5kwai may confirm, reverse, modify, 
 or suspend a sentence brought before it in 
 this way : or, it may return the case to the 
 bukwai with the advice that the sentence be 
 reversed, modified, or suspended : or, it may 
 declare its belief in the innocence of the minis- 
 ter under discipline, and give him a letter of 
 commendation to another bukwai. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Of Constitutional Amendments. 
 
 An amendment to the Constitution must first 
 be recommended by a bukwai to the s5kwai ; 
 and if the sokwai approve, it shall then be trans- 
 mitted to the churches for decision. The vote of 
 the churches however shall not be taken until 
 after the lapse of at least six months. When 
 two-thirds of the whole number shall have form- 
 
( H ) 
 
 ally signified their approval to the clerk of the 
 sokwai, he shall certify all the churches to that 
 effect : and thereupon the amendment proposed 
 shall become a part of the Constitution. 
 
RULES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 General Rules for Bukvvai. 
 
 I. Meetings : 
 
 Stated meetings shall be held at least once 
 during every year: the time and place to be 
 determined by the bukwai. Ordinarily they 
 shall be opened with a sermon or an address by 
 the retiring moderator, or some other member if 
 he be absent, who shall preside until the roll be 
 called and a new moderator elected. 
 
 Special meetings may be convened at the 
 written request of three or more churches. The 
 clerk, or if he be ill or absent themoderator, shall 
 send at least ten days’ notice to every church 
 and to every minister. The notice shall state the 
 
( ) 
 
 particular business for which the meeting is 
 called : and no business shall be transacted 
 other than that specified. 
 
 All sessions shall be opened and closed with 
 prayer. 
 
 II. Quorum ; Each bukwai shall adopt a 
 general rule determining its quorum. 
 
 III. Moderator;'^ The election of the mode- 
 rator shall take place directly after the roll-call 
 following the sermon or address by the retiring 
 moderator. He shall hold office until the next 
 stated meeting. 
 
 IV. Clerk ; The election of the clerk shall 
 take place directly after the new moderator 
 assumes his seat. He shall hold office for a 
 year but may be immediately reelected. 
 
 V. Records : The clerk shall keep a clear 
 record of the proceedings. 
 
 VI. Annual report : An annual report shall 
 be presented to the sdkwai. This shall con- 
 tain a record of the ordination, installation, re- 
 lease, admission, transfer, retirement from office. 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 deposition, and death of ministers : of the 
 licensure of probationers: of the organization, 
 admission, membership, baptisms, and offerings 
 of churches : and in general of events of mo- 
 ment occurring within the bounds of the bukwai 
 during the year. 
 
 VII. Transfer of ministers and probationers : 
 A minister or a probationer belonging to 
 another bukwai shall be admitted only upon the 
 presentation of a letter of transfer signed by 
 the clerk. 
 
 VIII. Foreign missionaries : All foreign mis- 
 sionaries belonging to missions cooperating with 
 the Nihon Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai are advisor}'- 
 members of bukwai. They have the right to 
 speak and to introduce resolutions, and may be 
 elected to serve on all committees. 
 
 IX. Amendment of general rules ; A bukwai, 
 for the conduct of its own business, by a two- 
 thirds vote ma}' amend any of the foregoing 
 genera! rules excepting V-VIII : such amend- 
 ment however must accord strictly with the 
 Constitution . 
 
( ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Licensure of Probationers. 
 
 1. A bukwai shall license no one to preach 
 the gospel without due examination. The can- 
 didate having produced satisfactory testimonials 
 as to character and church membership, careful 
 inquiry shall be made of him touching his 
 religious life and the motives impelling him to 
 preach the gospel. He shall then be examined 
 in the Old and the New Testament, and in 
 the Confession of Faith of the Nihon Rengo 
 Kirisuto Kyokwai. He may be required also to 
 preach a sermon. 
 
 II. The examination having been approved 
 by the bukwai, the candidate shall publicly 
 declare his belief in the Scriptures of the Old 
 and the New Testament, as the Word of God 
 and the only infallible rule of faith and practice : 
 his sincere acceptance of the Constitution of the 
 Nihon Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai : and his pur- 
 pose faithfully to perform all his duties as a 
 probationer. 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 III. He shall be licensed with prayer; and a 
 certificate of licensure shall be given him signed 
 by the moderator and the clerk. 
 
 IV. Ordinarily a candidate shall be examined 
 by the bukwai with which the church of which 
 he is a member is connected. For the sake of 
 convenience however one bukwai may examine 
 and license a member of a church belonging to 
 another. In such cases a written request from 
 the church shall be required. 
 
 V. If at any time a probationer prove him- 
 self unfitted for his work, the bukwai may revoke 
 his license. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Ordination of Ministers. 
 
 I. Ordinarily a candidate for ordination shall 
 have served as a probationer for the space of 
 one year. He shall moreover be a graduate of 
 some theological school approved by the bu- 
 kwai : or in lieu of that possess such ac- 
 quirements as the bukwai shall deem a due 
 equivalent. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 II. Careful inquiry shall be made of the 
 candidate touching his religious life and the mo- 
 tives impelling him to seek the office of minister. 
 He shall then be proved by a thorough exami- 
 nation in the Old and the New Testament: in 
 the various parts of theology : in the history of 
 the Church, including that of this church : in 
 church government, particularly as exhibited in 
 the Constitution of the Nihon Rengo Kirisuto 
 Kydkwai : and in such other studies as the bukwai 
 may deem advisable. He shall present a critical 
 exposition, oral or written, of some passage in 
 the Scriptures. He may be required also to 
 preach a sermon. 
 
 A bukwai may conduct the various parts of the 
 examination at different times : and may omit 
 entirely such parts as the clerk of another bu- 
 kwai shall certify as already approved. 
 
 III. The examination having been approved 
 by the bukwai, the candidate shall publicly de- 
 clare his belief in the Scriptures of the Old and 
 the New Testament, as the Word of God and 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 the only infallible rule of faith and practice ; his 
 sincere acceptance of the Constitution of the 
 Nihon Rengo Kirisuto Kyokwai : and his pur- 
 pose faithfully to perform all the duties of his 
 office as minister. 
 
 IV. The ministers present shall lay their 
 hands upon his head ; and the moderator or 
 some minister whom he may appoint shall offer 
 the prayer of ordination. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Demission of the Ministry. 
 
 If a minister in good standing be fully con- 
 vinced that he has not been called of God, and 
 if the bukwai concur in that conviction, he may 
 be permitted to resign his office : or, if it be- 
 come manifest to the bukwai that a minister has 
 ceased to do the work of a minister, his ordina- 
 tion may be revoked. In either case the name 
 shall be stricken from the roll. 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Installation of Pastors. 
 
 I. When a minister shall have been elected 
 to the pastorate and shall have accepted the 
 call, a committee from the church with the pastor 
 elect shall apply to the bukwai with which the 
 church is connected for his installation : and 
 upon the approval of the bukwai arrangements 
 for the service shall be made in conference with 
 the church. 
 
 II. When the person elected is a probationer, 
 he shall be examined and ordained before in- 
 stallation. 
 
 III. A minister or a probationer connected 
 with another bukwai shall present a letter of 
 transfer at the time of the application for in- 
 stallation. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Release of Pastors. 
 
 When it shall be deemed advisable by either 
 a pastor or a church that the pastor be released. 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 a committee from the church with the pastor 
 shall present the matter to the bukwai with 
 which the church is connected : and upon the 
 approval of the bukwai the release shall take 
 place. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Admission of Ministers and Churches. 
 
 I. A minister of another church applying 
 for admission to a bukwai shall accept the 
 Constitution of the Nihon Rengo Kirisuto 
 Kydkwai : and if possible he shall present a 
 letter of transfer. 
 
 II. A church unconnected with another body 
 and desiring admission into the Nihon Rengo 
 Kirisuto Kyokwai shall make application to a 
 bukw'ai. If the bukwai approve, the church 
 shall be admitted. 
 
 In the case of a church connected with another 
 body, the procedure shall be the same; except- 
 ing that the bukwai if possible shall confer with 
 that body before the church shall be admitted. 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 A church applying for admission may be 
 under the care of a pastor. In that case the 
 pastor shall enter the bukwai in the manner set 
 forth above. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Organization of Churches. 
 
 I. A company of believers desiring to be 
 organized as a church shall make application 
 to a bukwai. The application shall be signed 
 by all the applicants, and shall indicate which 
 of them have already received baptism. If the 
 bukwai approve, it shall organize the church or 
 aid in its organization. 
 
 II. When two or more churches desire to 
 unite and form a single church, each shall ap- 
 point a committee to apply to the bukwai. If 
 the bukwai approve, it shall unite the churches. 
 
 III. If the churches desiring to unite be with- 
 in the bounds of different bukwai, they shall 
 first agree concerning the bukwai with which 
 the new organization is to be connected. The 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 church which is to change its connection shall 
 then apply to the bukwai to which it belongs for 
 a letter of transfer. If the bukwai approve, the 
 letter shall be granted. 
 
 The letter of transfer shall be presented to 
 the bukwai with which it is the purpose of the 
 church to unite. The expediency of the union 
 proposed shall be considered and decided. If 
 the bukwai approve, the letter of transfer shall 
 be accepted and the bukwai shall unite the 
 churches. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 General Rules for the Sokwai. 
 
 I. Meetings : 
 
 Stated meetings shall be held ever}^ year : 
 the time and place to be determined by the 
 sdkwai. Ordinarily they shall be opened with 
 a sermon or an address by the retiring mode- 
 rator, or some other member if he be absent, 
 who shall preside until the roll be called and a 
 new moderator elected. 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 Special meetings may be convened at the 
 written request of fifteen or more churches. The 
 clerk, or if he be ill or absent the moderator, shall 
 send at least thirty days’ notice to every member 
 of the sokwai and to every church. The notice 
 shall state the particular business for which the 
 meeting is called : the sokwai may however 
 upon a two-thirds vote transact other business 
 also. 
 
 II. Quorum : One third of the members, 
 not more than one-third of whom belong to one 
 bukwai, meeting at the time and place ap- 
 pointed, shall constitute a quorum. 
 
 III. Moderator : The election of the mode- 
 rator shall take place directly after the roll-call. 
 He shall hold office until the next stated 
 meeting. 
 
 IV. Clerk : The election of the clerk shall 
 take place directly after the new moderator 
 assumes his seat. He shall hold office until the 
 next stated meeting but may be immediately 
 reelected. 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 V. Records : The clerk shall keep a clear 
 record of the proceedings^ which shall be 
 printed and a copy sent to every church and to 
 every minister. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Amendment of Rules. 
 
 These Rules may be amended by a two-thirds 
 vote of the sokwai : such amendment however 
 must accord strictly with the Constitution. 
 
i: ^ 
 
 ■ ■ -.t? Hwt>^ . jf:^Kiv/. ' ' ' , 
 
 ' -I t^;iirj(i)-iutioh-t:=vn.ojiijt- i .in fvoiijmii 
 ■ ', ■ ^.,.,,,i :4-!' f '. ' '"■ .'7V>t^tO«WVe^\ ; 
 
 ^ ■ a., T ' ■ ^ 
 
 . . . 'y:'' •'! ; ! 
 
 ' )'biiji(-i)ft'' v,; '(|i;i r':pE)jti')ciJi: ' > . , 
 
 Vjy.)'.v'o.ci hi 'ifif’Mi jrH'; >f^». : iit^'< -'‘i* );> aki'i, , 
 
 ' . ^ ■ . . v'’ ' 
 
 • 'V ' ^: . •■'•* ; ., ^v;, 
 
 ; 7 'h’ 
 
 ' ' <'».»' ' p"*