THE EPWORTH LEAGUE SOCIETY
Art. I. There shall be and is an Epworth League Society of the Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Art. II. The object of the Epworth League Society shall be to promote
piety and loyalty in the young people and friends of the church; to
bring into deeper sympathy, closer union, and mutual co-operation, the
three stages of life, youth, middle, and old age; to stimulate the study
of the Holy Scriptures; to deepen and intensify the desire for purity of
heart, consecration of life, and growth in grace, and to train its
members for true service to Christ and the Church.
Art. III. (1) The Epworth League Society shall consist of four general
departments; The General Conference Chapter, the Annual Conference
Chapter, the District Conference Chapter, and the Local Chapter.
2. Each Chapter shall have seven departmental sections or committees as
follows: (1) Devotional or Spiritual; (2) Literary and Social; (3) Mercy
and Help; (4) Correspondence; (5) Missions and Care for the Aged; (6)
Finance; and, (7) Music.
Art. IV. (1) The General Conference Chapter shall have a Board composed
of one Bishop, who shall be President, a General Secretary, who shall be
fourth vice-president, and six other members, all elected by the General
Conference.
2. The Epworth League Board shall hold its meetings annually at such
time and place as the President may determine. It shall hear, audit, and
pass on the report of the Secretary, select proper literature for use in
all the Leagues, supervise and direct the work of the Secretary, and see
that the Department meets the object of its organization, as set forth
in Article II.
Art. V. (1) Each Annual and District Conference and Local Chapter shall
have its president and a vice-president for each department. All
officers shall be elected annually.
2. Each vice-president of Annual and District Conferences and Local
Chapters, shall choose three (3) persons, who, with the vice-president,
shall constitute an Executive Committee of his Department.
3. Officers of the Local Chapters shall be nominated by the League, and
confirmed by the Quarterly Conference.
4. Annual Conference Chapters shall meet annually, separate and apart
from the Annual Conference at such time as may be appointed by the
Conference President, and at such place as the League may choose. The
President shall notify the General Secretary of the time and place of
such meeting.
5. District Chapters shall meet once a year, at such time and place as
the Presiding Elder may select. The District Conference Chapter shall be
composed of representatives of each Local League in the District.
6. Local Chapters should meet weekly, or as often as circumstances will
permit, and shall be under the supervision of the pastor, who shall
organize a chapter or chapters in his charge, and see that they are
conducted in accordance with the "Guide."
7. A City League Chapter may be organized in any town or city where two
or more local leagues exist. This League shall meet quarterly. The
President of the League of the first church shall conduct these meetings
in the same manner as meetings of Local Leagues.
Art. VI. (1) The Secretary, who may be a preacher or a layman, shall be
elected by ballot by the General Conference for a term of four years.
2. He shall have supervision of the Annual and District Conference, and
Local Chapters, shall conduct the correspondence of the Department, and
travel throughout the Church in interest of the League. He shall keep a
record of the Annual and District Conference and Local Chapters, with
the number of members and work accomplished by each.
3. He shall report annually, to the Board the general state and
condition of the League, the number of members and the amount of money
received from each Annual Conference, and by special efforts, and
quadrennially, to the General Conference.
4. The salary and traveling expenses of the General Secretary shall be
$1500 annually, to be paid out of the revenue of the Department.
Art VII. (1) The revenue of the Department shall be derived from one
half of the money raised by conference leagues, $1.00 from each pastoral
charge or League Chapter to be paid by pastor at the Annual Conference,
and from the activities of the Secretary on the field.
2. Each member of the Annual Conference League shall pay 25c at its
Annual meeting, the same to be applied to the revenue of the General
Department.
Art. VIII. All Presiding Elders, pastors, local preachers, and officers
of Local Chapters shall be members of the Annual Conference League.
Art. IX. The business of the League shall be conducted in accordance
with the Epworth League "Guide."