98 / Growth-and Some Decline-of the Churches

the twentieth century and in some congregations until the presenttime. The method was carried through in the following manner.

When a vacancy occurred in the ministry, or another minister was considered necessary, a date was set for the congregation to vote for a minister to be selected from its own membership. Usually there would be a number of candidates voted for the office and the lot was used to determine which one was to be ordained. Some congregations placed a candidate into the lot if he received only one vote; others required more votes, the differences being decided by the conference or the tradition of the congregation.

The bishop in charge, with the assistance of visiting bishops, then placed as many hymnbooks or Bibles on a table as there were candidates. In one of the hymnbooks or Bibles there was placed a slip of paper on which was written the verse from Proverbs 16:33: "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." The books had been rearranged by another bishop or minister so that no one knew which volume contained the slip of paper. The dramatic moment arrived. Each candidate came forward and selected a volume. In an atmosphere of intense expectancy the bishop opened the hooks and upon finding the one with the slip of paper, its holder was declared the man to be ordained. The ordination ceremony followed immediately. The new minister began his duties in the weeks ahead and perhaps preached his first sermon within a month. He served without a salary and continued his occupation which was usually farming. Frequently, however, neighbors and members of the church gave the minister support of a spontaneous kind and helped him with his crops in the busy seasons.

This method of ordination was used at an early date among the Swiss Brethren in Europe, it appears, and the practice was based on the example of Matthias in Acts 1:23-26 where the apostles prayed, "Thou, Lord, . . . shew whether of these two thou hast chosen." In its use in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition it was considered to he the way in which God selects the right person for the sacred office. It should not he seen as a mere device like the drawing of straws, or as a method for breaking a tie. Congregations on the approach of ordinations did much soul-searching and engaged in earnest prayer for the solemn occasion. The use of the lot was a time of divine manifestation and it heightened the spiritual experience of the brotherhood practicing it. It also served the purpose