Page:The church manual (Church of the Brethren 1916).djvu/30

Rh such help is supposed to be needed. After it is decided that an election shall be held, a meeting for this purpose is appointed and the adjoining elders are called to assist in holding the election. On the assembling of the church for this purpose, the elders present state to the membership the qualifications that a brother should have to fill so important a position, and other necessary instruction, that the most suitable person may be selected. After this the elders, and those chosen to assist in the election, repair to a private room, and there each member goes, separately, before this board, and gives his or her vote for the brother that he or she, after prayerful consideration, believes to be the most suitable person to fill the position. After the votes are all taken, the membership is again called together, and the name of the one having received the largest number of votes is announced and declared elected. The brother thus elected is now called forward and interrogated as to his willingness to accept the position and to conform to the general usages of the church.