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1. It is essential that the property intended for transfer shall be free from encumbrance, and the Church, Society, or Parish itself [sic] be out of debt, so that at the time there shall be no question of the legal or moral right of the Corporation to convey its estate. The mode of transfer is not intended to be a means whereby the Church, Society, or Parish may evade the payment of its just debts.

2. Even if the Trustees have by law full power to convey, it is well not to exercise it, unless with the free consent of a decisive majority of the corporation, expressed at a meeting duly called for the purpose. It is desirable that there shall be no complaint of snap-judgment or of conspiracy. The transfer can be justified to all unprejudiced minds as right and beneficent, and it is best to wait until such minds are convinced of its propriety.

3. In case the Church, Society, or Parish shall authorize the conveyance, it will be in the usual form of a warranty deed, running from the owner, by its proper corporate title, to “The Universalist General Convention; corporation existing under the laws of the State of New York.” If made to a State Convention, substitute its corporate title, and that of the proper State. Several of the State Conventions have peculiar forms of conveyance in trust, for which address their Secretaries or Treasurers. In the State of New York, and perhaps in others, the law requires the sanction of the courts to conveyances of Church property, which is not likely to be refused in such cases.

4. The Universalist General Convention, by its Board of Trustees, will re convey the property thus deeded to it, by quit-claim, with this condition expressed: “This deed is executed upon the Condition that in case the said Society [Church, or Parish] shall not maintain preaching in the Church building now standing, or which may be hereafter erected, on the premises, by a Clergyman in fellowship with said Convention, for the period of any two consecutive years, or shall not itself continue in such fellowship for a like period of time, the premises with all improvements thereon shall revert to said Convention, to be held in trust for the following purposes: First, To manage, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of said property in the discretion of the Board of Trustees of said Convention; Second, To apply any income from said property, or from the proceeds of sale thereof, to general missionary purposes, under the direction of the Board of Trustees of said Convention; and, Third, To apply the principle sum obtained from any sale of said property to the building of a Universalist Church in said Town [or City] of [ ], or in some place in the vicinity thereof, in the judgment of the said Board of Trustees it shall be deemed advisable so to do.”

5. The effect of such transfers will be to leave the property entirely in the hands of the Church, Society, or Parish, to manage, control, and improve, according to its own judgment, so long as it remains in fact a Universalist Church; but it will prevent its sale under mortgage or otherwise, without the consent of the Convention, and in case of sale will secure the proceeds to the advancement of the principles for which the cost was originally contributed. It is to be remembered that the Convention would be a friendly Trustee. There could be no desire for the infraction of the conditions. The Convention would prefer the continuance of Parish work, and would aid in preventing the violation of conditions, where it would possibly secure the permanence of that work. Such transfers would also promote the unity of the Parishes, by removing one of the most frequent causes of division, the strife of parties for the possession of the property.

Eleven Permanent Funds are under the control of the Convention, through its Board of Trustees;

1. At the session of 1869, provision was made for a Fund as a Memorial of John Murray, the Centenary of whose landing in America was to be celebrated in 1870, to be known as the Murray Centenary Fund, and to be vested in the Board of Trustees of the General Convention; the income to be used under their direction, in the aid of theological students, the distribution of Universalist literature, church extension, and the missionary cause. The Fund now (1891) amounts to $126,250.

2. In 1873, the Board of Trustees received from the Executors of the Estate of John G. Gunn, of New York, the sum of $8,000, “to create a Fund for the relief, support, and maintenance of needy clergymen, their widows and families, of the Universalist denomination,” except those in fellowship throught the New York State Convention, which has an endowment for the purpose. The Gunn Memorial Relief Fund now (1891) amounts to $12,160.

3. At the session of 1877, provision was made that all loans to students thereafter repaid, should be set apart as the Theological Scholarship Fund, the income of which alone with such other moneys as should be appropriated for that purpose, should be used in further loans on Scholarship account. The fund now (1891) amounts to $35,760.

4. At the session of 1883, the establishment of a Church Extension Fund was approved, one-quarter of the income to be applied to the increase of the Fund, and the remaining three-fourths to be used exclusively in aid of the erection of Church edifices for new Parishes. The fund now (1891) amounts to $7,970.

5. The William H. Ryder Fund was founded upon the bequest of the Rev. Dr. Ryder, who died in 1886. The income is to be used in aid of theological students, except in a certain contingency. The fund now (1891) amounts to $25,000.

6. Other Funds are the Waverly (Iowa) Fund, $800, and the Draper Fund, founded by the will of Mr. Eben D. Draper, of Boston, now (1891) $1,600, the income having special application; the Ada Tibbets Memorial Fund, $9,260; the “T” Fund, founded by a lady who desires that her name be not made public, $5,775; and the Henry P. Porter Fund, $1,000 — the income of which is not yet, but will finally, be available for the purposes of the Convention.

All bequests, devises, or special donations will be added to either Fund, or be made special Funds, as desired by the donors.

The Board of Trustees rely, for the annual income necessary for their work, —

1. Upon the income of the Murray Centenary Fund, the Theological Scholarship Fund, the Church Extension Fund, and the William H. Ryder Fund.

2. Upon one-half of the proceeds of the Missionary Boxes (the other half being by agreement appropriated to State Convention Missionary work), lodged with Universalist families. These Boxes are intended to be opened twice a year, at Easter and Thanksgiving, and the contents forwarded directly or through local agents to the State Agent. Though the sums gathered from the several Boxes may be small, they aggregate largely, and might produce vastly more, if their value was realized. Every willing family should be provided with a Box, which may be obtained from the State Agent, or from the Secretary of the General Convention.

3. Upon the annual contribution of Parishes, according to the law of the Church requiring them.

4. Upon such donations as may be made toward the annual expenditure, personally, or through Young People's Societies, or otherwise.

The Board of Trustees are required to have oversight of the affairs of the Universalist Church during the recess of the General Convention; act in matters of Fellowship in cases not under the jurisdiction of the State Conventions; adopts all needful measures for fostering the interests, and promoting the growth and welfare, of the Church; have in charge the care and investment of the Funds of the Convention; execute all measures for raising moneys; authorize disbursements for the purposes of the Convention; entertain complaints and appeals, as authorized by the laws, and provide for their adjudication. A wide correspondence is maintained by them, through their Secretary, whose counsel is often sought in regard to State and Parish work. The Trustees report biennially to the General Convention, and in the intervening years through the Press.

The Board has adopted the following Rules:

1. Until otherwise ordered, three regular meetings shall be held, one during the biennial session of the Convention, and others on the Tuesday following the second Sunday in January and May, and the Wednesday following the first Sunday in October, at 9:30 a.m.; special meetings to be called by the Secretary at the instance of five members of the Board.

2. At the first regular meeting of the Board after the biennial session of the Convention, a Chairman shall be elected, and the following Standing Committees shall be appointed by him: 1. On Scholarships; 2. Of Fellowship; 3. On Investments; 4. On Missions; 5. Auditing Committee.

3. The Committee on Scholarships, to consist of five members, shall have the general oversight of the beneficiaries, in their relations to the Convention, including power to reject insufficient guaranties, to secure repayment of loans, and in cases of urgency to make such settlements as in their judgment may serve the interests of the Convention.

4. The Committee of Fellowship, to consist of three members, shall have charge of all matters relating to License, Fellowship, Ordination, and Discipline, including appeals and memorials; also, it shall be the Committee on Relations with Other Organizations, and direct the conference and correspondence with such bodies, under the instruction of the Board.

5. The Committee on Investments, to consist of three members, shall have charge of permanent funds and their investment, the oversight of the current obligations of the Convention, and of ways and means, with the power to authorize deeds of real estate, and releases and transfers of securities; and shall consider applications for aid from the income of the Gunn Ministerial Relief Fund, and report on the same, with power to act in cases of emergency.

6. The Committee on Missions, to consist of five members, shall have oversight of the Home and Foreign Mission work of the Convention, and shall consider and report to the Board upon all questions relating thereto; it also shall have charge of the Missionary Boxes.

7. The Auditing Committee, to consist of three members, shall be the Auditors of the books and accounts of the financial officers of the Convention, and shall examine its securities and personal property, at least once in each year.

8. In the intervals between the sessions of the Board, each Standing Committee shall have the authority, in regard to subjects assigned to it by the Board, and in cases upon which all the members of the Committee are agreed, to exercise all the decisive and administrative powers of the Board itself. But in cases upon which any Committee is not agreed, the matter shall be referred to the Board at its next session.

9. The Chairman shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies upon all committees.

10. The several Standing Committees shall report their action in writing at each session of the Board.

11. Should important matters seem to require a special meeting of the Standing Committee during the intervals between sessions of the Board, upon the written request of a majority of its members, the Chairman of said Committee shall duly call and notify its members of the meeting, and the expenses of said meeting shall be paid upon the certificate of a majority of the Committee.

Persons presenting unexceptionable recommendations as to moral and religious character, and belonging to some Universalist Church, who desire to enter the ministry of our Church after a course of study in one of our Theological Schools, receive aid from the Convention, through the Trustees, if such aid is needed, on the terms and conditions below:

I. He must well sustain an examination in the ordinary branches of an English education. It is desirable, also, that be be acquainted with the Greek of th New Testament and with Logic. He shall make declaration of his desire and purpose to devote his life to the ministry of the Universalist Church, and affirm his belief in its Profession of Faith. It is only in view of such a desire and purpose that he is aided.

II. Each beneficiary shall give his obligation to repay the sums received by him in five annual installments, without interest, dating from his graduation, said installments to be subject to interest at the rate of six per cent., if not paid at maturity. In case only a small amount is loaned the Trustees may fix a time of payment otherwise. He shall agree to repay, with interest, all moneys received from the Board in case he fails to enter or continue in the Universalist ministry, or withdraws from study before the completion of the course.

III. The Board of Trustees may discontinue aid to any student when, for any reason, it may appear probable that he will not be useful in the ministry.

IV. The appropriation for each beneficiary shall not exceed $150 per year, dependent upon the sums voted for scholarships by the General Convention, and also upon the conditions and needs of the beneficiary. But such appropriation may be increased to $180 in any year, upon recommendation of the Faculties, approved by the Committee on Scholarships. The total sum, however, loaned to any student, shall not exceed $600.

V. The Faculty of the school shall, at the end of the year, report to the Board of Trustees the standing of each student receiving aid, as to piety, talents, diligence, scholarship, prudence, health, and general influence.

Additional information respecting Convention aid to students will be furnished upon application to the Committee on Scholarships, or to the Secretary of the General Convention.