Dale, "Letters" is shorthand for "letters of membership (transfer)." I am not sure of the "traveling letter." But normally it is the case that churches, on request, grant a letter of membership that is sent directly to another congregation, and not given to the member. The member normally requests that their membership be transferred, and on approval by the congregation or Official Board (maybe Church Board now), it would be sent. Sometimes there was a receipt returned informing the sending congregation that the member had been received. Some congregations only transfer membership to another Church of the Brethren, and not to other denominational churches. That is why the Isaac Forney wasn't given his letter. He was still in the community, and wasn't going to another Church of the Brethren. Hope this helps. Craig Alan Myers At 10:33 PM 5/24/2008, you wrote: >Recently I received some meeting minutes from a COB church in Arizona. The >minutes frequently referred to "letters." Could someone explain the use of >letters? Were they used for transferring membership from one church to >another and as proof of church business? Here are some examples: > > > >Bro. Peter Forney was granted a traveling letter. > >Bro. Isaac Forney also asked for his letter again but it was refused because >he was not leaving. > >Letters were granted to Sister Bertha Gillett and Bro. Ezra Fike > >Letters received as follows: Ruben Young (Deacon) and wife Clara. > >Bro. J.G. Rarick and wife was granted letter of membership > >The following letters were received. > > > ------------------------ >Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN > ------------------------ > Support Our Sponsoring Agency > The Fellowship Of Brethren Genealogists (FOBG) >For further information contact Ron McAdams mailto:McAdamsr@hotmail.com > ------------------------ > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >BRETHREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >the quotes in the subject and the body of the message