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6. Also, in general, whether the form should aim to be liturgical, with the largest possible participation by the people, or whether it should be doctrinal and ministerial.

It is apparent that these differences are not of caprice or even of personal preference altogether, but some of them of conviction as to the very nature of the local church and its relation to the Kingdom of God.

It is probably wished by each one of us that there were unity of view and teaching on these important matters; but since there is not, we are agreed that entire uniformity of rite would be purchased too dearly at the price of entire sincerity.

Furthermore our correspondence shows that while many are waiting for a form more satisfactory than any that has been yet presented, the larger number of our churches are wedded to forms which are theirs by inheritance and would be very slow to surrender them in entirety for any other.

While therefore your committee can at the most expect to contribute only by way of suggestion, and so by the modification of existing usage to a common order, they expect to be able very speedily to present to the churches, through the public press, as directed in their appointment, an outline of common order which may serve, as they humbly hope, to unify practice and promote impressiveness in this function of worship,

By vote of the committee,

GEO. R. MERRILL,
Chairman.

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 14, 1892.

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COUNCIL OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES
OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE THREE YEARS
ENDING SEPT. 30, 1892.1

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Paid Alfred Mudge & Son for Minutes, Year-Book,

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Henry A. Hazen, salary, obituary notices, cleri

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This fund, originally $3,000, Sept. 1, 1889, was

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STATEMENT OF TREASURER IN ACCOUNT WITH THE LOCAL BODIES.

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Sixteen States have paid all dues to date. Twenty-seven have paid all dues of 1891 and previous years. We have only $220.19 on hand. The MINUTES of this Council will be published immediately. If this bill, and the ordinary expenses are promptly paid, it will be necessary to borrow money, unless the dues are paid at an early day.

HARTFORD, CONN., Sept. 30, 1892.

AUDITOR'S CERTIFICATE.

I hereby certify that I have examined the books and accounts of Rev. Samuel B. Forbes, treasurer of the National Council, and have found the same to be correct; and that there is a balance of $220.19 which is deposited with the Connecticut Trust and Safe Deposit Company, Hartford. I also find that the Security Fund, amounting with interest to $3,932.04, is deposited in savings banks and drawing interest.

"HARTFORD, CONN., Oct. 4, 1892.

DAVID N. CAMP, Auditor.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE AMERICAN SECTION OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL IN LONDON ON THE QUESTION OF CONVENING A SECOND AND SIMILAR COUNCIL.

EARLY in the progress of The International Congregational Council which was held in London, in 1891, the members became deeply impressed with the value of the gathering. Individual workers who had never looked into each other's faces, nor locked hands, were brought into close personal contact; and interests and obstacles and aims which are in a certain sense common to the whole body of our churches were massed in such a way that each member of the Council was constrained to see how direct is the concern of every believer of our faith and order in all that pertains to the general welfare of Congregationalists throughout the world.

Very naturally, therefore, the question soon began to be asked by one and another whether the Council we were then holding should not be followed by another in the not too remote future, to be organized on substantially the same basis, and to be conducted in substantially the same manner, with a view to accomplishing

substantially the same ends. After some private conference a resolution to this effect was introduced and passed by the Council; and a committee was appointed to have charge of this matter. The committee consisted of five for the British Isles, and five for the Colonies, and five for the United States. The five designated for the United States were the Rev. A. H. Bradford, Mr. S. B. Capen, Rev. J. K. McLean, President Cyrus Northrop, and the undersigned, who was named by the Rev. H. A. Hazen as the convenor of the committee.

There has been little time or opportunity for conference; but the feeling of the committee, so far as it has been possible to gather it, and the feeling of others with whom the committee has been able to hold interviews, is that a Council so prolific of good as was the International Congregational Council of London must surely be followed up by another. This is not merely a conclusion arrived at in the heat of an enthusiastic meeting, when all hearts were aglow with the success of the first experiment, but the result of sober, second thinking when the London Council lies more than a twelvemonth behind us. The growth and welfare of our Congregational fellowship at home and abroad, and the progress of the Kingdom of our Lord everywhere demand it.

By general consent the next Council is to be held in America, and by a consensus of opinion just as unanimous, the one place in America for the holding of this Council is Boston. The only open

question is the question of the year. To your committee it appears that the year 1900 would be in every way a suitable time. The reasons for this are too many to be here enumerated, but the one sufficient reason is that it is the year 1900, when it will be so natural both to look back and to look forward, and to take the measures of past and present influences, and to project large and worthy schemes for the century to come.

The committee, in conclusion, beg leave to submit the following for adoption:

Resolved, That this Council approves the recommendations made by the American Sections of the International Congregational Council appointed at London to consider the question of a second similar Council, and advise that arrangements be made by the proper persons looking toward the holding of such a Council in the city of Boston at some convenient time in the year 1900.

F. A. NOBLE, Chairman.

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