etters in common are to be sent to our reverend fathers and
benefactors in Europe, or to other congregations, or our members desire
testimonials for naturalization, the church councilman should not
hesitate to sign them.

"14. If any man has aught against a church councilman, and hesitates
about speaking to him of it, in love he may report it discreetly to the
pastor, who will speak to him of it kindly. And so when any man has
aught against the pastor, he may tell it to such councilman as has most
fully his confidence.

"15. If any matter of great importance is transacted by the church
council, it shall be reported to the fathers in Europe, and if on all
sides it is thought best, it shall be recorded in the church record, and
be transmitted for the benefit of our descendants.

"16. No meeting of the church council shall or can be held without the
regular pastor, much less shall any resolution go in force without his
signature.

"If the church councilmen observe all these regulations, continue
steadfast in the pure doctrine of the faith and lead holy lives as
children of God; if they rule well their own houses and families and
serve as examples to the flock: to the best of their ability, by the
grace of God, do their part that the holy gospel be perpetuated to our
latest posterity, Satan and the world may indeed make sport of them,
but God will be their shield and their great reward here on earth and
hereafter forever. All that they have done to His honor, though they
have only given a cup of water in His name, the Lord will acknowledge at
the last day, before the multitude of many thousand angels and elect
ones, and will say that it was done to Him. But should they use this
office unfaithfully, and prove an occasion of offense to the
congregation, which may God in mercy prevent, they will bring double
condemnation on themselves. To the above duties, in general and in
particular, we obligate and pledge ourselves by our signature with our
own hand. Done at Providence, July 8, 1750." (Signed by all the
councilmen before witnesses.)

There is no mention made of Vorsteher, except incidentally in Section 7,
which is the more astonishing, as the annual settlement of accounts, in
the same book, in the handwriting of Muehlenberg, both before and after
the adoption of this constitution, mention the settlement as made by the
pastor, elders and Vorsteher. There are also entries in 1760 and 1761,
of the election, _per plurima