to be holden at Western, Mass. on the 2d Wednesday in December next. 14th. Adjourned until Thursday, 8 o'clock, A.M. Prayer by brother George W. Brooks. 15th. Thursday morning, met according to adjournment. Prayer by Br. Lemuel Willis. 16th. The Committee appointed to consider requests for letters of fellowship or ordination, reported that it is expedient to grant letters of fellowship to Brs. Thomas F. King, city of New-York, Linus S. Everett and Joseph Bradley, Hudson, N.Y. Lemuel Willis and Dolphus Skinner, Reading, Vt.; Hiram B. Clark, Brookfield, Mass.; Asa Wheaton and Massena B. Ballou, Boston, Mass.; Hubbard H. Winchester, Halifax, Vt. and George W. Brooks.* 17th. Voted to accept the above report. 18th. Adjourned to attend public services. Order of the Morning Service. Br. S. C. Loveland, the introductory prayer. Br. S. Streeter, the sermon, from 1 John iii. 3, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Br. D. Skinner, the concluding prayer. Order of the Afternoon Service. Br. Joshua Flagg, the introductory prayer. Br. H. Ballou, the sermon, from Psalms xlvi. 4, "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God." Br. R. Bartlett, the concluding prayer. Order of the Evening Service. Br. R, Streeter, the introductory prayer. Br. I. Whitnall, the sermon, from Acts xx. 32, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." ( Br. H. H. Winchester, the concluding prayer. 19th. Appointed Br. H. Ballou to arrange the Minutes of this session, and accompany the same with a Circular Letter, and to publish the whole in the Universalist Magazine as soon as convenient. 20th. Voted to request the Editors of all the periodical papers of our order, to insert the Minutes and Circular at large in their respective publications. 21st. Adjourned the General Convention, to be holden in George W. Brooks was since disfellowshipped at the Northern Association. Clinton, N.Y. on the third Wednesday and Thursday in September, 1823. Prayer by our aged and much respected brother William Farwell. SAMUEL C. LOVELAND, HOSEA BALLOU, Moderator. Clerks. CIRCULAR. The General Convention of Universalists, to the various Churches and Societies in its social relation, to all who wish well to the cause of universal, impartial benevolence and grace, and especially to those who are employed, by the Shepherd and Bishop of souls, to feed the flock of God with the bread and water of life, sends affectionate salutations of fraternal love and Christian fellowship. BRETHREN,-On no former occasion has the General Convention realized, more sensibly, occasions of joy and felicitation. The council was more numerous than usual, and the information which was obtained, from various parts of our highly favored country, was such as gave great joy of heart, comforting the brethren and strengthening their bands. No sooner did the brethren come together and reciprocate the affectionate salutations of Christian fellowship and love, than the desirable effects of a uniting spirit were visible in every countenance, as they were sensibly felt in every heart. The greatest harmony and the warmest brotherly love prevailed throughout the whole session, directing our consultations and bringing them to most happy results, in which the entire unanimity of the body was manifest. The public exercises were attended by numerous, crowded, and respectable assemblies, and a double portion of the spirit of grace and truth evidently possessed the hearts and lips of those who administered in holy things; and it was a most grateful sight to see the earnest and solicitous attention of congregations so numerous, to fervent prayers, supplications, intercessions, and the giving of thanks for all men, which were offered to the throne of mercy, in the sanctuary, and to the doctrine of everlasting life, which dropped like the rain, which distilled like the dew, like small rain upon the tender herb, and like showers upon the grass; while tears of gratitude, to him who loved the world and sent us salvation by Jesus Christ, copiously flowed from a thousand eyes, while as many hearts were made the lively tablets of that law of love to God and man, on which hang all the law and the prophets. One spirit, one mind, and one heart gave life and energy to public devotion, and caused many to realize how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. To these weighty and heartcheering considerations, it is but just to add that the sobriety, decency, and decorum, which characterized the multitude, presented a most favorable specimen of the effects of the doctrine of that grace, which embraces the eternal interest of all the ends of the earth. By epistolary and oral communications information was obtained, that in various parts, new Societies have been recently formed, which are destitute of a competent supply of public gifts and a regular ministry.This circumstance necessarily recalls to mind the words of the blessed Redeemer, "the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest." It seems expedient that we recommend to our brethren, not to despise the day of small things, nor neglect assembling themselves together for social worship for want of experienced, public gifts. The Savior has left us this gracious promise ; Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Live coals lose their heat by being separated, but, united, they burn with increased fervor. Selected portions of the Divine testimony may be read to great profit, and a few words offered in fervent prayer, when the heart is honest and sincere, will never be despised by him who knows the heart, because the petition is not framed by the scholar. Many, very many are the instances, in which a few sincere believers in the im partial grace of the Savior, have met together in the spirit of truth, and enjoyed far sweeter comf der in their humble devotions, than are tasted in cry have congregations, where empty eloquence ay turn drowsiness a fashionable, but thoughtlest of the tude. These suggestions are not destifference lessen a desire for public labors, nor to dissns from brethren from earnestly coveting the best gifts possiincite to a due and proper improvement of and to means which a gracious Providence has furnis sweets the promotion of the great cause of religi bosom spread of divine truth, and to sweeten the enj's. of Christian devotion. There is, indeed, great ron us for encouragement; for our prayers have been heenby the Head of the church, and a goodly number in laborers have recently been sent into the Savior vineyard. No less than ten promising youths receiv ed letters of fellowship, to preach the glad tidings of the Savior's kingdom, at this session of the General Convention; and they are recommended to the affections and patronage of our believing brethren at large, and to all our societies, our prayers also accompanying them, that they may be faithful and successful in the arduous, but delightful labors of the ministration of reconciliation. For our further encouragement, we may notice the happy comparison between our present standing and our situation, when some of our oldest public laborers first commenced in the ministry. Then, not more than four or five individuals were engaged in the ministry of universal, impartial grace, in our country, nor were our Societies more numerous; but in the short space of twenty-five years marvellous things have astonished the observing mind. Then was the name of a Universalist an odium, and the doctrine he professed denounced as a most dangerous heresy; at this time it is the only prevailing doctrine, and is doubtless the general sentiment of enlightened Christians throughout New-England, and is fast advancing in the south and in the west, while societies are every where springing up, and public laborers are vearly multiplied. The Lord has truly and effectuand said to his Zion, "lengthen thy cords, strengthen like takes, break forth on the right hand and on the rain up wledge of what has, in past ages, taken place grass; world aristian world, whereby the fellowship of the flowed as been destroyed, its union broken, and diwere nand animosities introduced, induces us, most and malately and tenderly to caution our brethren in One sinistry, to direct all their energies of soul to ergy tee unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace. how g variations of opinions, respecting matters of dwel cain speculations, were seized on by ambitious, chi bishops, who loved their own aggrandizement ore than the honor of the Savior, and made the means of divisions and parties, which in the room of followng Jesus Christ, became the dupes of those whose ambition they were devoted to maintain. The injuri ous consequences resulting from these divisions are recorded in history, in lines of blood, and should serve as an awful admonition to us, that we never make our speculative opinions the bond of Christian fellowship, but remember that even the true faith, being less than charity, should never be allowed to exclude its superior. Brethren, dearly beloved in the Lord, let us constantly unite our fervent prayers, that the happy union in which we have so long prospered, and which has rendered our little band so formidable to the common enemy, may forever continue, unbroken and unimpaired, and extend the savor of the name and doctrine of Jesus to the whole heritage of the Lord. Those who have just entered the vineyard of our Redeemer, will accept our hearty welcome. Welcome, brethren, to labors of love, to crosses and to crowns. A fervent solicitude is felt for your prosperity and usefulness, and we deem it expedient to warn you against the wiles of that enemy which sows discord among brethren. Having lived and received your religious educations in different parts of the country. |