THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I- NAME

This Association shall be entitled "The Religious Education Association."

ARTICLE II PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association shall be to promote religious and moral education.

ARTICLE III

DEPARTMENTS

SECTION I. The Association shall conduct its work under several departments as follows: (1) The Council of Religious Education; (2) Universities and Colleges; (3) Theological Seminaries; (4) Churches and Pastors; (5) Sunday Schools; (6) Secondary Schools; (7) Elementary Public Schools; (8) Fraternal and Social Service; (9) Teacher Training; (10) Christian Associations; (11) Young People's Societies; (12) The Home; (13) Libraries; (14) The Press; (15) Foreign Mission Schools; (16) Summer Assemblies; (17) Religious Art and Music.

SEC. 2. Other departments may be organized on the approval of the Executive Board hereinafter provided.

SEC. 3. In each Department except the Council of Religious Education the voting membership shall consist of such members of the Association as express in writing their desire to be affiliated with the department and are accepted by the Executive Committee thereof.

SEC. 4. The Council of Religious Education shall consist of sixty members, who shall be active members of the Association. The original membership shall be selected by the Executive Board of the Association, ten for one year, ten for two years, ten for three years, ten for four years, ten for five years, ten for six years.

Vacancies in the Council shall be filled, in alternation, one half by the Council itself, the other half by the Board of Directors hereinafter provided. The absence of a member from two consecutive annual meetings of the Council may be regarded as equivalent to resignation of membership, and a new member may be elected for the unexpired term.

There shall be a regular annual meeting of the Council, in connection with the annual meeting of the Association. The regular election of members of the Council shall take place at this meeting. If the Board of Directors shall for any reason fail to elect its quota of members annually, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the Council itself.

The Council shall elect its own officers and adopt its own by-laws, provided that these shall not be inconsistent with the Constitution of the Association.

The Council shall have for its object to reach and to disseminate correct thinking on all general subjects relating to religious and moral education. Also, in co-operation with the other departments of the Association, it shall initiate, conduct, and guide the thorough investigation and consideration of important educational questions within the scope of the Association. On the basis of its investigations and considertions the Council shall make to the Association, or to the Board of Directors, such recommendations as it deems expedient relating to the work of the Association.

There shall be appointed annually some person to submit, at the next annual meeting, a report on the progress of religious and mora education during the year; this person need not be selected from the members of the Council.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I. There shall be three classes of members. Active (individual and institutional), Sustaining, and Corresponding.

SEC. 2.

Active members shall be (1) teachers, pastors, and any persons otherwise engaged or interested in the work of religious or moral education as represented by the seventeen departments named in Article III. (2) Institutions and organizations thus engaged.

SEC. 3. The Corresponding Members shall be persons not resident in America who may be elected to such membership by the Board of Directors. The number of Corresponding Members shall at no time exceed fifty.

SEC. 4. The fees of membership shall be as follows: Active Members shall pay an annual fee of three dollars. Sustaining Members, an annual fee of ten dollars. Corresponding Members shall pay no fees. All fees shall become due annually on the date of joining the Association. Members who have paid into the Association the amount of One Hundred Dollars at one time shall be designated life members.

SEC. 5. Members may withdraw from membership by giving written notice to the Secretary before January 31. Resumption of membership will be possible on payment of the annual fee for the current

year.

SEC. 6. All members of the Association whose fees are paid shall receive the volume of Proceedings of the Annual Convention.

(By special act of the Executive Board, passed May 11, 1905, the

Journal, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, will be sent to all members without extra charge.)

SEC. 7. All members of the Association shall be elected by the Board of Directors.

SEC. 8. Only those members whose fees are paid shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Association and its departments.

ARTICLE V- OFFICERS

SECTION I. The officers of the Association shall be as follows: President, sixteen Vice-Presidents, General Secretary, Editorial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, a Board of Directors, and an Executive Board.

SEC. 2. The President, and Vice-Presidents, shall be chosen by ballot on a majority vote of the Association at its annual meeting, and shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are chosen. The Association shall also choose at each General Convention one or more temporary Secretaries to assist the Recording Secretary; they shall hold office only during the meeting at which they are chosen.

SEC. 3. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Association, and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform the duties usually devolving upon a presiding officer. In his absence the first Vice-President in order who is present shall preside, and in the absence of all VicePresidents, a pro-tempore chairman shall be appointed on nomination, the Recording Secretary putting the question.

SEC. 4. The Secretaries shall be elected by the Executive Board, which shall fix their compensation and their term of office. The Recording Secretary of the Association shall also be the Recording Secretary of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Board.

The Recording Secretary shall keep a full and accurate report of the proceedings of the general meetings of the Association, and of all meetings of the Board of Directors.

SEC. 5. The Treasurer shall be elected by the Executive Board. He shall receive, and hold, invest, or expend, under the direction of this Board, all money paid to the Association; shall keep an exact account of receipts and expenditures, with vouchers for the latter; shall render the accounts for the fiscal year, ending December 31, to the Executive Board, and when these are approved by the Executive Board, shall report the same to the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall give such bond for the faithful discharge of his duties as may be required by the Executive Board.

SEC. 6. The Board of Directors shall consist of one member from

each state, territory, district, or province, having a membership of twenty-five or more in the Association, together with twenty members chosen at large, to be elected by ballot on a majority vote of the Association at the Annual Convention. These members of this Board shall serve for one year, or until their successors are chosen. In addition, the President, First Vice-President, Secretaries, Treasurer, and the members of the Executive Board, shall be members of the Board of Directors. In 1903 one member shall be elected by the Association for each state, territory, district, or province, represented in the list of signers to the Call for the Convention.

Each President of the Association shall at the close of his term of office become a Director for life.

The Board of Directors shall have power to fill all vacancies in their own body and in the several departments of the Association; shall have in charge the general interests of the Association, excepting those herein intrusted to the Executive Board; and shall make all necessary arrangements for the meetings of the Association.

SEC. 7. The Executive Board shall consist of twenty-one members elected by the Board of Directors, to hold office for seven years. In 1903 the Executive Board shall be elected by the Association, and at the first meeting of the Board the term of service of each member shall be determined by lot, three for one year, three for two years, three for three years, three for four years, three for five years, three for six years, and three for seven years. The President, First Vice-President, Secretaries, and Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board. This Board shall elect its own chairman.

This Board shall be the corporate body of the Association, and (1) shall provide for the safekeeping and expenditure of all funds accruing to the Association; (2) shall carry into effect the actions of the Association and of the various departments; (3) shall publish the annual report, the reports of departments and of special committees, and such other material as shall further the purpose of the Association; (4) shall exercise the functions of the Board of Directors during the interval of its meetings; (5) shall fix its quorum at not less than seven members.

This Board shall make an annual report of its work during the year to the Board of Directors.

This Board, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may appoint from time to time such special secretaries for the conduct of its work as shall be deemed advisable. These secretaries shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board.

SEC. 8. Each of the seventeen departments under the Association