the subject of slavery the first General Conference, in 1815, placed in the book of discipline a decided declaration of condemnation. This was followed, in the Conference of 1821, by strong prohibitory legislation. The enactment forbade the buying and selling of slaves by members of the church, required the immediate manumission of certain classes, and provided for the early manumission of all others. This last legislation was followed soon after by other enactments which prohibited all ownership of slaves, under any circumstances whatsoever, by members of the church, on pain of expulsion. This rule, though working apparent hardship in many cases, was strictly adhered to. One result was that while the church was already well established in Maryland and Virginia, its growth in other slaveholding States was either greatly retarded or altogether prevented.

On the evils of intemperance the voice of the church was also heard at an early day. The first utterance by the General Conference was at the session of 1821, at a time when the drinking, making, and vending of ardent spirits was as common among church-members as among others, and when temperance societies did not yet insist upon total abstinence among their members, but required only moderation in the use of liquors. The rule adopted by the conference was several times amended, until in 1841 it became strictly prohibitory. The form then adopted read: "The distilling, vending, and use of ardent spirits as a beverage are hereby forbidden throughout our society." This prohibition remains unchanged, but the following amendment has since been added: "As are also the renting and leasing of property to be used for the manufacture or sale of such drinks, as is also the signing of petitions for granting license, or the entering as bondsmen for persons engaged in the traffic of intoxicating drinks." The denomination

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as a whole stands as a strong and active force opposed to the liquor and saloon evil, which at the present time holds such unfortunate sway in our country.

On the subject of secret societies the church from its early periods held radical grounds, and, in time, this sentiment was ingrafted into both its constitution and its general legislation. Bishop Otterbein, like Mr. Wesley, founder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and many other leaders of Christian sentiment of that time, looked with disfavor upon the masonic order. Bishop Boehm was born and reared in a church-the Mennonite-which, like the Society of Friends, discountenanced all oaths, and was naturally averse to a Christian taking an oath not required by civil law. The followers of these distinguished leaders readily adopted their views, and opposition to secret societies, at first chiefly because of the oaths taken, became a settled principle in the book of discipline of the church. We shall see in a subsequent part of this sketch that the sentiment of the church has undergone great change with respect to the attitude church legislation should hold in reference to secret orders.

In general, it may be remarked that on all important questions of reform the United Brethren Church has, in the past, been found occupying advanced grounds, and at the present time it yields a full support to all movements looking to the purifying of public and private morals, and the promotion of the best interests of the church and state.

CHAPTER V.

FOURTH PERIOD, 1815-1894-GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

1. The Missionary Work.

IT has been remarked that up to the time of the first General Conference, and for some years afterward, the German language was almost exclusively used by the ministers of the United Brethren Church. With the gradual change to the English opportunities for successful work increased, and a corresponding expansion followed, the work at the same time taking on more largely a missionary character. The ministers, following the tide of emigration westward, established the church in all the newer Territories and States as they were formed, until it extended from the place of its beginning to the Pacific coast. To the prosecution of this form of work greatly increased energy was imparted after a more definite organization was effected by the formation, by the General Conference of 1853, of the Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society. A board of directors was chosen, and the necessary officers elected, the Rev. J. C. Bright becoming the first general secretary. In the following year the board determined upon the founding of a mission on the West Coast of Africa. Rev. W. J. Shuey was chosen its first missionary, with Rev. D. K. Flickinger and Rev. D. C. Kumler as his associates. They sailed in January, 1855. The location first chosen was soon abandoned, and a permanent location was afterward established by Mr. Flick

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inger, who remained longest on the coast, at Shaingay, an eligible point sixty miles south of Freetown, Sierra Leone. This place, as the fixed headquarters of the mission, has attained a position of great importance. A training-school for the education of native preachers and teachers has been established here, and is in successful operation. The mission now covers a considerable extent of territory; embracing about three hundred preaching-places. Eighteen missionaries, American and native, are employed in the work, and the church-membership is about 4350. There are 5 schools under the care of the missionaries, with as many teachers, and about 450 pupils; and 14 Sundayschools, with about 475 pupils. In the training-school, according to the latest published statistics, there were 18 in course of preparation for the native ministry, with about 80 others in the preparatory department. The whole number of missionaries in the service of the church, including those in the home and frontier fields, is about 375. A mission in Germany has been successfully conducted for a number of years. It has a conference of 8 ministers, with 18 congregations and 773 communicants.

A Woman's Missionary Association was organized in 1875, which has proved a most efficient factor in the missionary work of the church. Its board of managers, immediately after the organization, determined upon the formation of a mission in Africa. A location was chosen sufficiently near to Shaingay to make coöperation with the general board practicable, yet far enough removed to open the work of the gospel to entirely new territory. Rotufunk, the headquarters of this work, has become an important missionary center, and valuable buildings for the use of the mission have been erected there. The mission employs 18 missionaries, of whom 12 are native, has 151 preachingplaces, and a membership of 1632, with several Sunday and

week-day schools. The Woman's Board has also successfully conducted a mission among the Chinese at Portland, Ore., and has recently established a mission at Canton, China.

A Church Erection Society was organized in 1872 by order of the General Conference. Until 1889 its management was under the care of the missionary board; since then it has been controlled by a special board.

2. The Publishing Department.

The first periodical publication issued in the name of the church was the "Zion's Advocate," a small paper printed at Salem, Ind., under the auspices of the Miami Annual Conference. It was begun in 1829, and was short-lived. In 1833 the General Conference resolved upon the publication of a paper for the church. The first issue appeared in December of the following year, under the name of "The Religious Telescope." Under this title it still remains as the leading official paper. The publishing-house, at first located at Circleville, O., was in 1853 removed to Dayton, O. Although originally called the Printing Establishment of the United Brethren in Christ, for many years it has been known as the United Brethren Publishing House. At the time of removal it became deeply involved in debt, but by careful management this incumbrance was entirely removed by 1880. It has now become a valuable property, its net assets aggregating over three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. A full line of periodical publications, thirteen in number, weekly, monthly, and quarterly, in English and German, and an extensive list of books, are issued from the house. Among the periodicals, in addition to the "Religious Telescope," are "Our Bible Teacher," "Young People's Watchword," "Woman's