Constitution:-The following are some of the most important rules of Constitution of the Society which was duly registered in November 1910 under Act XXI of 1860 as a charitable body. The Trust Deed of the Society was also registered on the 9th of July 1910. Although this Mission is not organically connected with any of the Brahma or Prarthana Samajes in India, its aims and work as will be seen from the following rules and also its annual reports are as well spiritual an secular. The following resolution adopted by the All-India Theistic Conference held in Madras in December 1908 and reaffirmed in the following sessions is to be noted in this connection:—
That this Conference with great pleasure recognizes the aims and work of the Depressed Classes Mission Society of India as Theistic and heartily calls on all Brahma and Prarthana Samajes in India to show sympathy and render pecuniary help to the Mission in its work.”
Rules of Constitution.
1. Name—The Society shall be called “The Depressed Classes Mission Society of India.”
2. Object—The object of the Society shall be to maintain a Mission which shall seek to elevate the social as well as the spiritual condition of the Depressed Classes viz., the Mahras, Chambhars, Pariahs, Namsudras, Dheds and all other classes treated as untouchable in India, by
(1) Promoting education
(2) Providing work,
(3) Remedying their social disabilities, and
(4) Preaching to them principles of Liberal Religion (as are not inconsistent with such progressive movements as the Brahma or Prarthana Samajes in India,) personal character and good citizenship.
3. Religious Work.— The religious work of the Society shall be based on the recognition of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Beyond this, the Society, as such, shall not take any dogmatic or sectarian position.
4. Missionaries:— Any person who at the invitation of the Executive Committee agrees to devote himself to the work of the Mission and is accepted as such by the General Body shall be deemed a Missionary of the Society.
5. Board of Spiritual and Social Ministry— To minister to the spiritual and social needs of the Depressed Classes in India there shall be a separate Board consisting of all Missionaries and three-other members to be annually elected there to by the Council from among themselves. This board shall have a charge of all the Spiritual and social institutions and organizations of the Mission, such as the Congregations. Sunday Schools, Young Peoples’ Clubs, etc., and shall be subject to the rules and the control of the Executive Committee of the Society.
6. Membership of the Society—The General Body of the Society shall consist of:—
(a) Patrons :—(1) That is, persons who make donations of five thousand rupees or more
to the funds of the Society.
(2) Persons of distinction accepting the Patronship at the special invitation of the Executive Committee of the Society.
(b) Life Members:—(1) Those who pay a donation of Be. 1,000 or more, or an annual subscription of Rs.100 for 12 years (2) Those who have rendered not less than five years’ continuous service as Missionaries of the Society.
(c) Members— Those paying an annual subscription of not less than Rs. 25.
(d) All Missionaries of the Society ex-officio. 13 Incorporated Branches:—The General Body may start new branches or sanction the conversion of existing affiliated bodies into branches in order to further the objects of the Society with due regard to the financial resources of the Society.
14. The incorporated branches shall send to the Executive Committee for its approval a Budget of its estimated expenditure for the next succeeding three months; for any financial obligations incurred in excess of such estimates without the express sanction previously obtained of the Executive Committee of the Society, the Society shall not be responsible. The incorporated branches shall also send a quarterly statement of accounts and also a report of its work.
15. Affiliated Bodies:—Subject to the approval of the General Body the Executive Committee may affiliate existing bodies doing work similar to that of the Society, provided these bodies agree:—
(1) to work in a way not inconsistent with the aims and deals of this Society and
(2) to submit a duly adopted Annual report of their work and accounts so as to reach the General Secretary before the 1st of February, every year. Subject to these conditions of affiliation the Affiliated Bodies shall be independent in the conduct of their affair, and the Society shall not be responsible for any financial obligations incurred or to be incurred by them.