CHURCH: Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, Chapter 6, PA & NY Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 99-106. ________________________________________________ ACT OF INCORPORATION 99 CHAPTER VI PREACHERS' AID SOCIETY WHEN Wyoming Conference was organized a commission composed of the following members of Oneida and Wyoming Conferences was appointed to divide the funds and claimants between the two Conferences: H. F. Rowe, A. E. Daniels, D. Holmes, N. Rounds, W. H. Pearne, E. B. Tenny. The commission met several times during the first session of Wyoming Conference, and at the seat of Conference. The number of members of the two bodies was made the basis of division. Oneida had 18,248 and Wyoming 12,236. Accordingly, Oneida Was to have three fifths of the funds and claimants and Wyoming two fifths. There was $4,640.92 in available funds to be divided. Of this $927.97 belonged to Wesleyan University, leaving $3,712.95 to be divided between the Conferences. Two fifths of this, Wyoming's share, was $1,485.18. Notes were held against various parties amounting to $911.32 in addition to the above- named amount. These were also divided, Wyoming receiving notes to the amount of $367, and against the following parties: Z. Paddock, two notes, $52; C. W. Giddings, $20; J. R. Boswell, $25; C. Starr, $33; A. E. Daniels, $50; H. Halstead, $25; J. Parks, $30; I. D. Warren, $25; G. Parsons, $25; J. Pomeroy, $25; L. K. Reddington, $25; W. H. Pearne, $12; E. Dennison, $20. It is supposed these notes were given to increase the fund. It became necessary to become a corporate body at once. Accordingly, petition was made to the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania for a charter. It was granted on April 12, 1853, costing the modest sum of $15-$10 fee to the State and $5 fee to the attorney. It is as follows: AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE WYOMING ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That George Lane, C. W. Giddings, E. B. Tenny, George Peck, Nelson Rounds, V. M. Coryell, and B. W. Gorham, and their successors duly elected and appointed in manner herein prescribed, be and they are hereby made and constituted a body 100 WYOMING CONFERENCE politic and corporate in law and in fact, to have perpetual succession, by and under the name, style, and title of "THE TRUSTEES OF THE WYOMING ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH," and by the name, style, and title aforesaid shall be capable in law to take, purchase, receive, have, hold, and enjoy, and to demise, sell, and convey, any and all real and personal estate and property that hath heretofore been or may hereafter be devised and bequeathed to them, or to their successors, and for the use of them, or their successors, and said estate and the title to property shall be vested in them, the said Trustees, and their successors, as a fund to be held, appropriated, and disposed of under the direction of the Wyoming Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the limits of which Conference shall be such as from time to time may be designated by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Section 2. That at the first meeting of the corporators named in the first section of this Act, they shall proceed to divide their number into three classes, the first of which classes shall consist of two members, to hold their office during one year, and until their successors shall be duly and legally appointed; the second of which classes shall consist of two members, to hold their office during two years, and until their successors shall be duly and legally appointed; and the third of which classes shall consist of three members, to hold their office during three years, and until their successors shall be duly and legally appointed; and the said designation of classes shall be made by lot, and thenceforth as the terms of said several classes of said Trustees shall expire, their successors, in equal number, shall be annually elected by ballot by the members of the said Wyoming Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to hold their office for the term of three years. Section 3. That the business of said corporation shall be managed and conducted by the said corporators and their successors, a majority of whom shall be a quorum, in pursuance of such rules, regulations, and bylaws as they shall from time to time adopt for their government, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, or the Constitution of the United States, or of this Commonwealth; and said corporators and their successors shall have power to appoint such officers for the management of the said corporation as said rules, regulations, and by- laws shall from time to time prescribe. Section 4. That no misnomer of the said corporation shall defeat, or annul, any gift, grant, devise, or bequest to or from the said corporation: Provided, The intent of the party or parties shall sufficiently appear upon the face of the gift, grant, will, or other writing whereby an estate or interest is intended to pass to or from the said corporation. Section 5. That the said corporation and their successors shall have full power and authority to make, have, and use one common seal with such device and inscription as they shall think fit and proper, and to break, renew, and alter the same at their pleasure. Section 6. That the said corporation and their successors, by the name, style, and title aforesaid, shall be able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any court, or before any judge or justice of the peace, in all and all manner of suits, complaints, pleas, and demands of whatsoever nature they may be, and all and every matter and thing to do in as full and effectual a manner as any other person, body politic or corporate within this Commonwealth, may or can do. BY-LAWS OF THE CONFERENCE TRUSTEES 101 Section 7. That the said corporation may take, receive, purchase, and enjoy real and personal estate of any amount of which the annual income shall not exceed five thousand dollars, but the said limitation is not to be considered as including the annual collections and voluntary contributions made in the churches under the care of the said Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. BY-LAWS The following by-laws were adopted on March 21, 1884, and amended on April 4, 1890: ARTICLE I The officers of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and they shall be elected annually at the time of the meeting of the Wyoming Annual Conference. ARTICLE II The President shall preside at all the meetings of the Board, and in his absence a President pro tem. may be elected. The President shall have the general charge and direction of the business of the Board, and shall be ex officio a member of all the standing committees. He shall have power to call special meetings of the Board of Trustees whenever the exigency of the business shall seem to require it. He shall, moreover, call special meetings upon the written request of three members of the Board. ARTICLE III It shall be the duty of the Secretary to attend all meetings of the Board, and keep correct minutes of all its transactions in a book provided for that purpose, from which they shall be read at the close of the meeting by the Secretary for correction and approval. He shall give notice of all meetings of the Board, and in his absence a Secretary pro tem. may be elected. In case the office of President shall at any time become vacant by death or otherwise, the Secretary shall have power to call extra meetings of the Board under the same limitations as controlled the President. ARTICLE IV The Treasurer shall have charge of all the moneys of the Association, which shall be kept deposited to his account as Treasurer in a bank; he shall have charge of all bonds, deeds, mortgages, leases, stocks, bills, notes, securities, and all other valuable papers of the Board. He shall furnish statements of his accounts and of all the property in his charge at each annual meeting of the Board, and at such other times as he may be directed by the President. ARTICLE V The officers of the Board shall hold their offices until their successors are duly elected and qualified. 102 WYOMING CONFERENCE ARTICLE VI Applications for loans shall be passed upon by the Board at the Annual Meeting; and in case money shall be applied for during the interim of the Conference sessions, the President shall be notified by the Treasurer, and he shall appoint a committee of two from among the Trustees residing in the vicinity of the county town of the applicant; and it shall be the duty of this committee to examine the security or securities offered by the applicant for the loan of the said moneys, and to report upon the same to the said Treasurer, and the Treasurer shall pay the money to the said applicant only upon the order of the said committee. ARTICLE VII Security in the case of personal loans must be upon real estate, unincumbered, and, without the buildings thereon, worth at least twice the amount of the loan. A certificate from the proper officers having charge of titles, deeds, judgments, and mortgages in the county and State where the property is located on which the money is loaned, shall be furnished to the Trustees of the Conference, or a committee appointed by them, at the expense of the person or persons to whom the loan is made. When the Conference received its charter the trustees took charge of the funds belonging to the Conference, amounting at this time to $1,485.18, invested them, collected the interest, and annually paid it to the Conference to be distributed by the stewards. The amount increased from time to time until it amounted to $10,584.69 in 1887. The organization of a Preachers' Aid Society had been suggested prior to its birth in 1887. In 1860 P. S. Worden and E. Owen presented the following resolution, which was carried: "Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to consider the propriety and practicability of organizing an association to be known as 'The Preachers' Aid Society of the Wyoming Conference,' and report at our next session." G. Peck, W. Wyatt, N. Rounds, J. J. Pearce, and G. H. Blakeslee were appointed a committee, but no report is recorded as having been made. Again, in 1867, Y. C. Smith introduced the question of forming a Preachers' Aid Society and introduced a printed resolution asking that a committee of one from each district be appointed to draft a constitution for a Preachers' Aid Society, and report to the next Conference. Y. C. Smith, I. T. Walker, L. Cole, Dr. Bristol, L. C. Floyd, and J. F. Wilbur, were appointed such committee. Nothing was accomplished by this committee; at least the Minutes do not credit it with any report. At the Conference of 1887 Rev. J. E. Price, who was the PLAN OF PREACHERS' AID SOCIETY 103 moving spirit in the formation of the Preachers' Aid Society, presented the following resolution: "Whereas, The provisions made for our superannuated ministers, and the families of deceased ministers are wholly inadequate; therefore, be it "Resolved, That a committee of nine, three of whom shall be trustees of the Conference, be appointed, whose duty it shall be to consider carefully this subject and report at the next session of the Conference whatever plans may be matured by them." The resolution was adopted and the following committee appointed: W. H. Olin, Y. C. Smith, D. C. Olmstead, trustees; J. O. Woodruff, J. E. Price, A. Griffin, G. M. Colville, J. G. Eckman, and A. H. Tuttle. At the Conference of 1888 the committee reported the following plan, which was adopted: PLAN ARTICLE I This Society shall be called "The Preachers' Aid Society of the Wyoming Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church." ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Members in full connection of the Wyoming Annual Conference are members of this Society. Other persons may become honorary members upon the payment of five dollars annually into the fund of the Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to certificates of honorary membership. Section 2. The payment of fifty dollars at one time shall constitute the donor a life member of this Society. Section 3. Life members of our Society shall be entitled to certificates of membership. They shall also have the privilege of attending the meetings of the Society, and of participating in the deliberations of the same, without the privilege of voting. ARTICLE III MANAGEMENT Section 1. The business of the Society shall be managed by the Trustees of the Wyoming Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. [This was done because the Preachers' Aid Society was not an incorporated body, and had no legal status.] Section 2. A majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. They shall elect their own officers, make by-laws for their own government, not contrary to this plan, and adopt all needful rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this plan, and securing the objects of the Society. 104 WYOMING CONFERENCE Section 3. They shall take measures to increase the fund of the Society by subscriptions, donations, bequests, and otherwise. Section 4. They shall securely invest the funds of the Society, and cause the annual income to be apportioned among and remitted to the respective beneficiaries. Section 5. They shall present to each session of the Conference an annual statement of the operations of the Society, together with the amount and character of the securities belonging to the fund. Section 6. They shall arrange for holding an anniversary of the Society at some time during each session of the Conference, at which the annual report shall be read. Section 7. They shall be permitted to deduct from the receipts of each year such necessary expenses as have been incurred in the management of the fund: provided, however, that the amount deducted shall not exceed fifty dollars, without the consent of the Conference. ARTICLE IV THE FUND Section 1. The principal of this fund shall be intact forever, and the annual interest or income only applied to the purposes of the Society. Section 2. All subscriptions, donations, and bequests, together with any surplus which may remain after the payment of the amounts awarded by the Society, shall be added to the principal. Section 3. The fund shall be invested in United States bonds or in Pennsylvania or New York State, County, Municipal, or Township securities, or in first mortgage, with bond, upon real estate appraised at twice the amount of investment, with ample policies of insurance assigned to the Trustees. Section 4. No money shall be invested in any other form of security nor loaned upon any property of the Conference, held by other Boards of Trustees, nor the property of any religious or benevolent society, association or institution, nor upon property in which any member of the Board of Trustees of this fund is in any way interested. ARTICLE V BENEFICIARIES Section 1. The beneficiaries of this fund shall be superannuated and supernumerary preachers of the Wyoming Annual Conference, and widows and orphans of those who have died in the work, with the following restrictions: First. No superannuated or supernumerary preacher shall be a beneficiary unless he has held effective relations for five years after his admission in full connection in an Annual Conference, nor until his character has been passed by the Conference. Second. No widow of a preacher shall be a beneficiary unless she has traveled with her husband in effective relations for five years, nor for a longer time than she remains in widowhood. Third. Children of deceased preachers shall cease to be beneficiary at the age of fifteen; except in cases of mental or physical incapacity. PREACHERS' AID SOCIETY 105 Nevertheless, the Board of Trustees may, by a two-thirds vote, suspend any of the foregoing restrictions, in such cases where it may deem proper to do so.Section 2. Preachers in effective relations shall not be beneficiaries upon this fund. ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTION Section 1. The annual interest accruing from the fund shall be apportioned among and remitted to the beneficiaries, by the Board of Trustees, during the month of October, in each year. Section 2. The basis of appropriation shall be the years of effective service rendered by the preacher; nevertheless, it being the object of this society to aid only such persons as are in actual need of its help in order to a comfortable support, if it shall appear at any time that any superannuated or supernumerary preacher, or widow of such, has an actual income from other sources, which reaches the average annual income from salary and donations, of the effective members of this Conference, he or she shall not be allowed a claim on the funds of this Society. Section 3. Whenever there is serious ground to suspect that any beneficiary is actually receiving from other sources an annual income which is equal to the average annual income, from salary and donations, of the effective members of the Conference, he shall be required to appear before a committee of the Quarterly Conference, within whose bounds he may reside, and be examined touching the facts in the case; and said committee shall send a report, approved by the Presiding Elder of the District, of the findings, to the Trustees of the Society. The above plan was adopted at the session of Thursday morning. At the Saturday morning's session subscriptions were solicited for the Preachers' Aid Society fund, and $7,725 was subscribed by preachers and laymen. Mrs. Caroline M. Pettebone gave $2,000; William Connell, $1,000; Mrs. William Connell, $1,000; Mrs. Mattie Connell Edgar, a memorial, $1,000. Other gifts have been received, some before the organization of the Preachers' Aid Society and some since: Ira Cargil estate, $1,904.32; D. Bensley, $2,000; Rosman Ingalls, $400; Z. Paddock, $500; Lowell Harding, $2,000; Mrs. Crary, $9,500; Mrs. D. Wilbur, $1,000; Maria Strong, $200 (an annuity); Mrs. S. M. Decker, $1,000 (an annuity); William Connell, $1,100; Mrs. William Connell, $1,100; Charles Schlager, $500; Mrs. Pettebone, $500; C. D. Jones, $500; Royal W. Clinton, $271.50; Mrs. Judge Cool, $400; Jonathan Wilbur, $1,000. With the accession of Chenango and Oneonta Districts $2,264.59 was added to the fund. The one per cent of preachers' salaries has added over $7,000. In 1903 Mr. William Connell gave the society $5,000, and the society received $10,000 from the estate of Mrs. Priscilla 106 WYOMING CONFERENCE Bennett. The fund has grown until at this writing the Conference has about $60,000. Y. C. Smith, D.D., acted as agent of the society in 1888 at a salary of $300; A. Griffin, D.D., was agent from 1894-96 at a salary of $2,000 per year; and A. J. Van Cleft was agent in 1897 at a salary of $1,500. The Conference has been ably served by the following trustees: George Peck, D.D., George Lane, Nelson Rounds, B. W. Gorham, E. B. Tenny, V. M. Coryell, C. W. Giddings, Rosman Ingalls, John M. Snyder, H. R. Clarke, D.D., H. Brownscombe, R. Nelson, D.D., C. V. Arnold, P. S. Worden, F. L. Hiller, W. G. Queal, T. Harroun, W. H. Olin, D.D., T. P. Halstead, Y. C. Smith, D.D., D. C. Olmstead, Royal W. Clinton, William Connell, A. Griffin, D.D., J. C. Leacock, L. L. Sprague, D.D., A. I. Decker, and S. Jay. The society has held several successful anniversaries in connection with our Conference sessions.