God in the Gospel of his Son, and to encourage and aid such

paring themselves for that work.

persons in pre

Resolved, Also, that this Convention cordially approves of the aim and the operations of the American Education Society, and commends it to the favor of the Churches.

SUPPORT OF COLLEGES AT THE WEST.

Whereas, Many colleges exist at the West which are under the control of Boards of Trust, composed of Congregationalists and Presbyterians, and which came into being under the auspices, and have been founded and sustained by the common funds of these two denominations :

Resolved, That, in the judgment of this Convention, the interests of sound learning, and of Christian truth, and the mutual prosperity of these denominations, alike demand the perpetuation of this union.

DUTIES OF A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Resolved, That every Congregational Church should regard itself as bound to care and labor continually for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ within its own parochial sphere; and to build itself up, not by inroads upon other Evangelical Churches, but by training up its own children in the faith and service of our Lord Jesus Christ, by promoting the intelligence, order and piety of all the households associated with them, and by systematic efforts in the spirit of Christian love, to enlighten, evangelize and save the neglected, the ignorant and the unbelieving.

SPECIAL PRESENT CALLS FOR SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE.

Resolved, That in an age when so much is to be done for the salvation of our country and for the diffusion of the Gospel throughout the world, and when the wealth of our country is developed and increased with a rapidity which threatens to overwhelm the Churches with a tide of worldliness, it is of the utmost importance for the Churches to discipline themselves to habits of Christian activity, and of systematic contribution to the great enterprises of Christian beneficence.

RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT.

Resolved, That the thanks of this body be presented to our presiding officer, for the gentlemanly, prompt and efficient manner in which he has moderated this large Convention, during its deliberation and action upon subjects of great importance to the cause of God and to the interests of

man.

The following resolutions were also unanimously adopted, the whole Convention rising in their places, in express approbation of their spirit and terms:

THE PURPOSE AND AIM OF THIS CONGREGATIONAL CONVENTION.

Resolved, That the polity of the Congregational Churches, being eminently simple and scriptural, is and must be essentially spiritual and unsectarian. Resolved, That while this Convention rejoices in the prosperity of Congregationalism, especially in the fields of its more recent enterprise, and in the prospect of its still more rapid and vigorous growth as the result of these counsels and deliberations, yet we here distinctly disclaim and disavow all merely sectarian zeal; and do profess it to be our object, one and sole, to promote, through the Congregational polity, and hence in the freest and most efficient manner, the World's salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The last resolution adopted was as follows:

GOD'S HAND IN THIS CONVENTION.

Resolved, That we gratefully and devoutly recognize the overruling providence of God, in the calling of this Convention, in the measures which have been adopted by it, and in the entire harmony of its counsels and its results.

The business of the Convention being completed, the minutes were read and approved. Prayer was offered, the doxology was sung, and the Convention adjourned.

CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETIES.

AMERICAN CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

For an account of the Origin, Constitution and Officers of the Union, the reader is referred to pages 31-33, of this volume. This additional notice is inserted that it may take its appropriate place among the Societies which should have the sympathy and aid of the Churches of our denomination throughout the wide field which it aims to make more beautiful and more fruitful by bringing all who labor in it into closer and more efficient union.

Some of the modes in which this Society may be effectually sustained, are mentioned in the statement above referred to. It may be added that Churches may render valuable and needed aid by making their pastors life members. It is hoped that Pastors will endeavor to engage their people on its behalf, that its power for good may rapidly and largely increase.

The rooms of the Society are in Clinton Hall, corner of Beekman and Nassau streets. Communications should be addressed to Rev. T. Atkinson, Sec. Am. Cong. Union, NewYork, to whom orders for the YEAR-BOOK may be addressed. If to be sent by mail, stamps should be enclosed.

CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

NO. 12 TREMONT TEMPLE, BOSTON.

This Institution was founded in Boston in the month of February, 1851. Its main object was the same then as now; but its operations were more restricted till May 5, 1853, when

measures were taken to extend its privileges to the whole body of Evangelical Congregationalists, and to invite their co-operation.

The following is an epitome of the Constitution and By-Laws: Its object is to found and perpetuate a Library of Books, Pamphlets, and Manuscripts, and a collection of portraits, and whatever else shall serve to illustrate Puritan history, and promote the general interests of Congregationalism; as also to secure the erection of a suitable building for its library, its meetings, and the general purposes of the body.

It embraces "ministers and laymen connected with the churches of the Orthodox Congregational denomination, paying each one dollar, as a condition of membership." Others may be elected as honorary members, with equal rights and privileges, except that of voting.

The annual meeting comes "on the Tuesday preceding the fourth Wednesday in May, (the week of Boston Anniversaries,) at 12 o'clock M.; and on the same day, at 4 o'clock P. M., provision is made for "a sermon, oration, or address, by some member elected by ballot at the previous annual meeting." This is followed the next day by a "collation, accompanied by such exercises as the Directors may prescribe." There are also three other meetings of the Association each year, viz: on the last Tuesday of August, November and February, at 3 o'clock P. M., in the Library room, devoted to such exercises as may be determined at the time, or assigned at a previous meeting; notice of the same to be published in the Boston papers on the week preceding.

The Board of Directors, who are "charged with the general interests of the Association," meet monthly, "make a report of their doings for the year at each Annual meeting of the Association, and suggest such measures for the action of the body as in their judgment the welfare of the Institution requires."

The Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer, who are also on the Board of Directors, attend to the functions usually connected with those offices.

It is made the duty of the Librarian to keep a complete catalogue of all the books, pamphlets, manuscripts, periodicals and portraits belonging to the Library, with the names of the donors annexed; to arrange them on shelves or in cases most convenient for reference, and see that the room is rendered attractive to those who desire to avail themselves of its privileges. Since the reorganization in May, about four hundred and fifty members have been enrolled, located in all parts of the Continent where Congregational Churches are found, from California to Canada. There have been already gathered into the Library some fifteen hundred volumes, and more than four thousand pamphlets, including deposits made by the American Statistical Association, and a few private individuals, besides many duplicate numbers and incomplete sets of old periodicals. A valuable assortment of daily, weekly and monthly periodicals, now issuing from the press, are supplied gratuitously by the publishers. The manuscript department, though not yet large, contains some rare specimens; and portraits of the Fathers are beginning to adorn the walls of the Library. The room is open all hours of the day, (Sundays excepted,) and the Librarian on hand to assist the enquiries of those who wish to consult him.

President.-Rev. WILLIAM T. DWIGHT, D. D. of Maine.

Vice-Presidents.-Rev. John A. Albro, D. D., of Massachusetts; Rev. Benjamin Tappan, D. D., of Maine; Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, D. D., of New Hampshire; Rev. Silas Aiken, D. D., of Vermont; Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., of Connecticut; Rev. Thomas Shepard, of Rhode Island; Rev. Ray Palmer, D. D., of New-York; Rev. J. M. Butler, of Ohio; Rev. L. S. Hobart, of Michigan; Rev. J. J. Miter, of Wisconsin; Rev. John C. Holbrook, of Illinois; Rev. M. A. Jewett, of Indiana; Rev. Asa Turner, of Iowa; Rev. H. Wilkes, D. D., of Canada.

Directors. Rev. Parsons Cooke, D. D., Rev. Samuel M. Worcester, D. D., Rev. Sewall Harding, Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., Rev. Augustus C. Thompson, Julius A, Palmer, Esq.

Corresponding Secretary,-Rev. J. S. Clark, D. D.

Recording Secretary.-Rev. Samuel H. Riddel.

Librarian.-Rev. Joseph B. Felt.

Treasurer.-Alpheus Hardy, Esq.