Conference-1830, September 16

   The fifteenth session or the Missouri Conference was held in the City or St. Louis, commencing on the 16th day of September, 1830, Bishop Roberts presiding.

[D.R. M’Anally, Methodism in Missouri, p. 358.]

   The conference heeded the call, organized a missionary society, projected nine missions, [Woodward, Annals of Methodism, says eight] five white and four Indian, two of the latter being the Shawnee and Kansas.

   When we reflect that in all Missouri there were but 27 traveling preachers, that they received less than $40.00 a year as salary and that the organization of this missionary society meant a contribution from each preacher to carry it into effect, we see a proof of their faith, love, zeal, and heroism with few if any parallels.”

   Rev. Thomas Johnson was appointed to the Shawnee mission and Rev. Wm. Johnson, his brother, to the Kansas Indian Mission.

[Joab Spencer, “A Short History of the Shawnee Methodist Mission,” Missouri Valley Historical Society, v. 1, p. 447.]

[Preamble of Constitution]

   The members of the Missouri Conference, considering the great necessity for missionary exertions, and feeling a willingness to aid in this great work of sending the gospel among all people, form themselves into a Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and adopt the following constitution:

   Article 1. This Association shall be called the Missouri Conference Missionary Society, auxiliary to the Missionary Society of the Method1st Episcopal Church.

   Art. 2. The object of this Society is to assist the several Annual Conferences more effectually to extend their Missionary labors throughout the United States and elsewhere.

   Art. 3. The business of this Society shall be conducted by a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and seven managers, who shall be elected at the annual meeting of the society, except the President, (the presiding Bishop for the time being President.)

   Art. 4. Five members, at all meetings of the Board of Managers, and thirteen at all meetings of the society, shall be a quorum.

   Art. 5. The Board shall have authority to make by-laws, to regulate its own proceedings, fill vacancies that may occur during the year, and shall report its transactions and the state of the funds to the society at its annual meetings, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the corresponding secretary of the Parent Institution as soon as possible.

   Art. 6. Each subscriber, paying one dollar, or upwards, annually, shall be a member, and the payment of five dollars, or upwards, at one time shall constitute a member for life.

   Art. 7. The funds of this Society, after deducting necessary expenses, shall be subject to the order of the Treasurer of the Parent Institution, for the purposes expressed in the second article of this constitution.

[The rest of the articles deals with the duties of the officers, etc.]

[Mary Greene,