to adopt regulations for its own, and the government of its Societies-To unite in the public worship of God—the administration of the Lord's Supper,-To learn the state of the Societies--give needful advice for the admission of new Societies into its fellowship-to choose from two to four Delegates to the State Convention, and the transaction of all such business as may promote the mutual prosperity and peace of the Societies under its fellowship.

2d. These Associations are recommended to form themselves into State Conventions, which shall be limited to the state in which they are located, and to consist of from two to four Delegates, (who shall always be ministering brethren) from the several associations in the State, and of all the ordained and licensed preachers of the order in the State.

The State Convention shall meet once a year, at such time and place within the State, as they may choose and adjourn to, for the organization of the body--the worship of God-the administration of the Lord's Supper, &c.--the licensing of men to preach, and the ordination of preachers as evangelists, learning the state of associations, and of sending them any such advice or information as they may deem expedient-and to choose not more than eight, nor less than four delegates to represent them in the General Convention of the United States.

3d. The State Conventions are also recommended to form themselves into a General Convention of the United States of America, by choosing not more than eight, nor less than four delegates, to meet and act for them in said Convention, which shall consist of Delegations from the State Conventions, and also of all the ordained and licensed ministers who are preaching in the fellowship of the order in the United States, for the time being. It shall meet annually at such place in the United States, on the 3d Wednesday and Thursday of September, as it may be adjourned to, and for purposes the same as those of the State Conventions, with the exception of the choice of delegates.

The General and State Conventions, with the associations and church, shall adopt and retain unaltered the articles of faith now professed by the General Convention.

No complaint against a brother, society, association or convention, shall be heard and tried by any or either of the associations or conventions in the United States, or in fellowship with the General Convention thereof; but all such shall be heard and decided by a mutual council chosen by the parties, unless one of the parties refuse, in which case the other party may proceed ex parte, and the decision will be final.

All churches and societies shall ordain and install their

ministers by the advice and assistance of councils composed of Pastors and Deacons of such of the churches as they may choose to invité for that purpose.

All which is respectfully submitted."

This report was unanimously accepted, and ordered to be sent to the Societies. And in the mean time recommitted for a detailed report of the plan at the next meeting of the General Convention.

22. Voted that Brs. Hosea Ballou, Paul Dean, and Thomas Whittemore, be a committee to consider the above named subject, and report at the next session of the General Convention. 23. The business of the Council was suspended for public worship.

Order of the Afternoon Service.

Introductory Prayer by Br. N. Smith.

Sermon by Br. Hosea Ballou, from 2 Cor. iv. 5. Immediately after which the Council proceeded to ordain Brs. Ward, Cooper and Morgan.

Ordination Prayer by Br. C. G. Parsons.

Charge and delivery of the Scriptures by Br. N. Stacy.
Right Hand of Fellowship by Br. W. Skinner.

Concluding Prayer by Br. E. Case.

24. Appointed Brs. Paul Dean, Hosea Ballou, and Lemuel Willis, a committee whose duty it shall be to report at our next session the best method of raising a Widow's fund.

25. This Convention would earnestly recommend to the several societies in its fellowship, through their respective ministers, the propriety of taking up a collection in aid of the Society at Saratoga, (which is at present involved to a considerable amount for their church) and that the sums which they may severally collect, be transmitted to Br. GIDEON CONANT, Saratoga Springs, N. Y.

26. Voted that Brs. S. R. Smith of Philadelphia, Edward Turner of Portsmouth, and Hosea Ballou, 2d. of Roxbury be a committee to report at the next session the most practicable plan for establishing a Theological Seminary.

27. Appointed Br. Thomas F. King to prepare the Minutes of this Session, and accompany them with a Circular Letter. 28. Adjourned the General Convention to be holden at Cavendish, Vt. on the 3d Wednesday and Thursday of Sept. 1828.

Prayer, by our venerable Br. Hosea Ballou.

HOSEA BALLOU, Moderator.

Names and Residences of Ministers present.

Hosea Ballou, Paul Dean, Nathaniel Wright, Boston; Geo. Messenger, Egremont, Mass.; Warren Skinner, Langdon; Moses P. Morgan, Plainfield, N. H.; John Moore, Strafford; Isaiah Boynton, Plymouth; Otis A. Skinner, Reading; Wm. S. Balch, Andover, Vt.; Thomas F. King, Hudson; Lemuel Willis, Troy; Dolphus Skinner, Utica; Cornelius G. Parsons, Ellisburgh; Benj. Hickox, Potsdam; Nathaniel Stacy, Hamilton; Job Potter, Cooperstown; David Cooper, Saratoga Springs; Joseph Ward, Hampton; Nathaniel Smith, Albany; Hiram Davis, ; Eliphalet Case,

CIRCULAR LETTER FOR 1827.

The General Convention of Universalists, to all the Churches and Societies enjoying its fellowship and faith, sends salutations of christian and fraternal affection.

DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN-In conformity to the usages which have obtained since the establishment of our order, Wa would again address you on the highly interesting subjects which involve the present peace and prosperity of our Redeemer's kingdom, and which lay a foundation for our hopes and expectations of future and unceasing blessedness. Members of the Council were received by the brethren at Saratoga Springs, with a cordial welcome, and entertained with a liberality which clearly indicated the benevolence of

their hearts.

The

There were present in Council, twenty-two ministering brethren, and about thirty lay Delegates from Societies in fellowship, and the unanimity which characterized our deliberations throughout the session, afforded matter of mutual and heart-felt congratulation.

The numerous epistles received by us from the different Churches and Societies, not only breathed a spirit of untiring devotion to the interests of Zion, but they contained the most flattering intelligence of the rapidly spreading influences of that doctrine, which it is the business of our lives to defend. We were also greatly refreshed by the oral communications of those of our brethren who had been partly engaged in itinerating during the past year.-Several Societies have thus been

organized, and hundreds have been fed with that bread "which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."

Five public discourses were delivered during the session, which were heard by numerous and respectable congregations, notwithstanding the severe inclemency of the weather. Immediately after the fourth sermon, by Br. P. Dean, a large number of brethren and sisters in the faith of the "Restoration of all things," united in commemorating the dying love of our Redeemer. At this solemn and interesting ceremony, Brs. Ballou and Dean presided, assisted by Brs. Parsons and Stacy. Here we were not only forcibly reminded that the institution of this ordinance was of itself a powerful evidence of the truth of the Christian faith, but we were affectionately invited to contemplate the toils, the privations and suffering endured by our beloved Lord for us and for our salvation.

We have received an accession of four Societies, together with an Association embracing several others, the members of which, so far as we have learned, are striving for the faith and morality of the gospel. May the Lord bless them with an increase of all spiritual riches, and establish their hearts in the truth as it is in Jesus!

By a reference to our Minutes, it will be perceived that the Convention unanimously accepted the report of their Committee, appointed during the session of 1826, which report has an exclusive regard to the literary qualifications which shall be demanded of those who may, from time to time, apply for the fellowship of this body, as preachers of the gospel. It is confidently believed that the rule embraced in the acceptance of this report, will, in its operation, be productive of results highly auspicious to the best interests of our order in the United States. The present is emphatically an age of improvement in almost every department of those arts and sciences which at once refine, liberalize and exalt society. And so generally are the means of information diffused throughout our beloved country; that ignorance may in some degree, be considered voluntary, and consequently, so far criminal. The good sense of mankind has long since established the maxim that a man should understand the business in

which he is engaged, if he would be successful in that business. Now, if this be allowed to hold good in relation to the every day transactions of life, will it not apply with equal, if not greater force, to those who, in the language of Pal, are "set for the defence of the gospel," and who must, therefore, necessarily engage in the discussion of the momentous questions which have a bearing upon our eternal destiny? The Committee in making the report, and the Convention in adopting it, were actuated by motives which have an equal regard to the interest of the applicants and the Societies who already enjoy our fellowship. Our Minutes will also show you, brethren, that we have charged a Committee, distinguished among us for their discretion, with the important duty of reporting at our next session, the details of a plan, the outlines of which is already spread out upon our proceedings, that will, if adopted, render this body in fact, what it has ever been in name, a General Convention. To those brethren who were ordained as Evangelists, and to the brother who received our fellowship as a laborer in the Ministry of reconciliation, we bid a hearty and affectionate welcome to all the pleasures which arise from a faithful discharge of the ministerial functions; and to all the pains, privations and crosses, which are incidental to those duties; humbly praying that they may feel the spirit of their respective stations, and that they may walk worthy of their vocation.

We sincerely hope, brethren, that you will use the means which a beneficent Providence may have placed at your disposal, for the relief of the Society at Saratoga Springs, which is at present laboring under heavy pecuniary embarrassmentsWe are satisfied they would not solicit your assistance, were it not for the extremely pressing nature of their necessities. It should be recollected that Saratoga Springs is a very impor tant location for a Church of our order. For, being the most celebrated watering place in the United States, it is annually visited by thousands of individuals, from every part of our extensive country; many of whom may be excited by curiosity, to hear what can be said in favor of our glorious doctrine; and thus carrying to their homes the seed of truth sown in the