We  have  not  the  facts  at  hand  or  the  space  to  permit  the
nairrative  of  individual  churches.  We  must,  however,
in  passing,  refer  to  Buchanan,  Mich,  (about  1860),  and
Minneapolis,  Minn.  (1867).  These  churches  were  organ-
ized in  the  early  days,  the  former  by  Eld.  D.  R.  Mansfield,
the  latter  by  Eld.  William  Sheldon,  in  their  Western  pion-
eering efforts,  and  both  abide  to  this  day.  It  is  a  reason
for  congratulation  and  good  faith  that  in  so  many  instances,
in  spite  of  opposition  without,  and  sometimes  factions
within,  so  many  of  the  churches  early  organized  still
continue  and  are  doing  good  work.  Indeed,  it  seems  that
the  larger  number  of  our  churches  of  power  and  vitality
date  back  to  those  days,  thus  showing  that  we  owe  a  great
debt  of  gratitude  to  the  self-sacrificing,  spirit-filled  pion-
eers, and  that  we  need  a  new  installment  of  that  kind  of
zeal  and  service.  The  burning  sense  of  the  Great  Message
was  to  them  a  rrtighty  summons  to  fervent,  heroic  and  cease-
less service.
SIMPLE   FORM   OF    ORGANIZATION   ANp   COVENANT

In  the  general  revolt  from  creeds  and  elaborate  arbi-
trary religious  forms  and  ofders,  it  was  only  natural,  as
well  as  necessary,  that,  in  recognizing  the  absolute  need  of
constructive,  organizing  efforts,  very  simple  methods
should  be  adopted.  The  following. brief  but  comprehensive
covenant  was  quite  generally  accepted.
CHURCH   ORDER  ,211

"We  whose  names  are  subjoined  do  hereby  covenant
and  agree,  by  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  walk  together  as  a
Church  of  Christ,  faithfully  maintaining  its  ordinances,
taking  the  Bible  as  our  only  rule  of  faith  aiid  practice,
church  order  and  discipline;  making  Christiaji  character
the  only  test  of  fellowship  and  communion.
