meeting are placed by the scribe, to be copied into a book for future use and reference. 2. The general association appoints every year, a treasurer, who keeps the accounts, superintends the printing of the minutes, has charge of the moneys raised by the association for the payment of its incidental expenses, and pays out those moneys as directed by the votes of the association. 3. One minister in each district association, is appointed by the general association to receive from every pastor and stated supply, the annual contribution, or tax for defraying the incidental expenses of the general association. 4. One minister in each district is appointed by the general association to collect the statistical accounts of the churches, and to make returns to a general agent, who is also appointed by the general association to digest and arrange the returns and to make his report annually. 5. A committee of one in each district is appointed to certify the standing of ministers travelling out of the bounds of the state. 6. Four persons are annually appointed by the general association as a committee on the Everest Fund.* * Dr. Soloman Everest of Canton, who deceased April 3d, 1822, left a residuary legacy including nearly one half of his personal property, and amounting in all to fourteen thousand dollars, to religious charities. One half of this legacy was to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; and one fourth part to the Missionary Society of Connecti The committee on the Everest fund present their report to the general association every year. III. The General Association as a Missionary Society. 1. The general association began to take measures for prosecuting missions to the new and frontier settlements of the country, as early as the year 1774. In 1788 those measures were systematized by forming and adopting the constitution of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, which is as follows. CONSTITUTION OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT. ART I. This society shall be known by the name of The Missionary Society of Connecticut. ART. II. The general association of the state of Connecticut shall be the said Missionary Society. ART. III. The general association shall annually by cut. The other fourth part was directed by the testator "to be applied for the purchase of bibles, religious tracts &c. for distribution: for the support of the Domestic Mission in this state for the education of indigent pious youth for the Gospel ministry to any or all of the above purposes, as shall be thought most expedient by a committee which the general association of the sate of Connecticut shall from time to time, appoint for that purpose." : ballot appoint twelve trustees, whereof six shall be clergymen and six shall be brethren of the churches, who shall conduct the business of the society in the manner hereafter described. ART. IV. The object of this society shall be to christianize the heathen in North America, and to support and promote Christian knowledge in the new settlements within the United States, and both shall be pursued as circumstances shall point out, and as the trustees under the superintendence of the General Association shall direct. ART. V. The General Association and the trustees shall adopt such measures, from time to time, for raising funds, as they shall judge expedient. ART. VI. The trustees shall have power to apply the funds of the society according to their discretion, in all cases in which they shall not be limited by the General Association or by the donors. They shall correspond with other missionary societies; shall have power to appoint and dismiss missionaries, to pay them, and generally to transact all business necessary to attain the ends of the society; and shall be paid their necessary expenses, but nothing for their services. ART. VII. The trustees shall annually appoint a secretary, who shall keep a fair account of their proceedings. They shall also appoint a chairman, who, with four of the trustees, shall be a quorum to transact business; or if the stated chairman shall not be present, any seven of the trustees shall be a quorum. ART. VIII. The chairman shall have power to call a meeting of the trustees at his discretion, by letters left with them, or at the houses of their residence; and it shall be his duty to call such meeting whenever requested by two of the trustees; and in case of the death of the chairman, or of his absence from the state, any two trustees are hereby empowered to call a meeting. ART. IX. The General Association shall annually appoint a treasurer and an auditor of accounts; and the treasurer shall exhibit both to the General Association and to the trustees, the state of the treasury, whenever he shall be called upon for that purpose. ART. X. The trustees shall annually exhibit to the General Association a particular account of the missionaries employed by them; of the places to which they are sent; of the missions; of the state of the funds; of the receipts and expenditures: and of whatever relating to this institution the General Association shall require. ART. XI. The trustees and all officers of this society shall enter on their respective offices on the first Wednesday of August, annually; and shall continue in office for one year. ART. XII. The trustees shall hold their first meeting at the State House in Hartford, on the first Wednesday of August next, at 11 o'clock A. M., and in every year thereafter they shall meet at the same time and place, unless otherwise ordered by the General Association. ART. XIII. If on experience it shall be found necessary to alter the constitution, an alteration may be made by the General Association at their stated session; but not without having been drawn up in writing and lying under consideration one year; nor unless at least two thirds of the General Association shall adopt said alteration. The following additional article was adopted by vote of the society and approved by the legislature, in the year 1805: Voted, that it shall be the duty of the trustees of this society, to place the treasurer under bonds for the faithful discharge of his trust, and to such an amount as they shall think proper. And in case such treasurer shall refuse to give bonds as aforesaid, it shall be in their power to displace him, and appoint one in his place, who will qualify himself for the trust; who shall continue in office, till the next meeting of the General Association. This society was incorporated by the legislature of Connecticut in 1802; and, in conformity with the act of incorporation, the trustees make a report of their receipts and expenditures, to the legislature, annually. 2. The Domestic Missionary Society for Connecticut and its vicinity, was in like manner formed in 1816; the General Association itself being the society. For fourteen years the attention of its directors was confined to feeble congregations and waste places in Connecticut. In 1830, its plan was enlarged and its name was changed to "The Missionary Society of Connecticut, auxiliary to the American Home Missionary Society," by the adoption of the following revised constitution. CONSTITUTION OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT, AUXILIARY TO THE AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. As amended and adopted, June, 1831. ART. I. This Society shall be known by the name of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, auxiliary to the American Home Missionary Society. |