Excerpt from Manual of the Congregational and Christian Churches: A Compendium of Information, Forms and ServicesHenry Martyn Dexter, D.D., Rev. A. Hastings ross, D.D., the Pilgrim Pastor's Manual, issued by Rev. George M. Boynton, D.D., the Handbook of Services, arranged for Christian ministers by Rev. Martyn Summerbell, D.D., the Principles and Government of the Christian Church of the Southern Christian Convention, and others - particularly, the Congregational Manual and Rules of Order, published by Rev. William E. Barton, D.D., from which are taken the service Of installation Of deacons, the service Of breaking ground for a church, the service for the laying Of a corner stone, the order Of baptism Of infants, and the procession, grouping, and recession for the marriage ceremony. The compiler is indebted to many other sources, such as consti tutions Of churches, associations and conferences, and also to the findings Of special committees Of the various states. The order of morning service and the communion service are taken from the Pilgrim H gmnal, which was consulted for other aids for the church services. Credit is also due to Prayers for Services, by Morgan Phelps Noyes.Keeping in conference with the Commission on the Min istry and the Executive Committee, the compiler has re ferred the salient parts Of the manuscript to all state super intendents, consulted the constitutions and by-laws of prae tically all Of the states and many Of the associations, and studied the handbooks Of churches. In connection with the fundamental documents relating to the local church the criticism and advice Of some fifty pastors were sought. The thanks Of the denomination as well as Of the compiler are due to all these, who have cooperated willingly and most helpfully.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.