report of the proceedings of your Union. During the last two or three years it has been called to pass through a severe ordeal, and those who have had the management of its affairs have felt the need of a meekness and wisdom which the great Head of the Church alone could bestow, so as to keep them from compromising, in any degree, the sacred interests involved in the preservation and efficient working of the Union. In their season of perplexity, while they looked heavenward for Divine direction, they appealed to you for counsel and sympathy, and not in vain; and now that it has graciously pleased the Lord and Saviour of the body to extricate our fellowship from the difficulties in which it was reluctantly involved, they thankfully acknowledge the forbearance of their brethren, and venture earnestly to hope that the things which have happened will turn out rather to the furtherance of the gospel. Facts, well-known previously amongst ourselves, are now made patent to the whole church and to the world; it is now understood that the strong attachment to evangelical truth which has ever marked the Congregational body of this country remains undiminished, and that no diversity of judgment on minor passing events need interfere with the cordial affection and co-operation which should mark churches and individuals holding the principles which we hold, and which, we believe, are drawn from the inspired fountain of sacred truth.

The attention of your Committee, during the year, has been carefully directed to the work of giving effect to resolutions adopted at the last annual and autumnal meetings of the Union, in relation to the CHRISTIAN WITNESS fund, and the affiliated societies. A trust deed has been prepared for the transfer and future management of the magazines and funded property, in accordance with the principles approved by the annual assembly. The deed has been settled by counsel, and signed by the accepting trustees and managers, who have filled up the vacancies in their numbers, arising from a few of the nominated managers having declined to act, and have made their first distribution of profits to aged and afflicted ministers. Henceforth the magazines are pletely detached from all connexion with the Congregational Union, and no allusion can, therefore, be made to their management in our meetings, as the

com

trustees, and not your Committee, will in future be responsible for their conduct. Your Committee, however, in finally parting from periodicals which you called into existence, and which have created by their profits a considerable fund for the relief of aged ministers, and for the advantage of other brethren, cannot but indulge and record the earnest hope, that these magazines will continue to receive the support of the denomination,-be the means of maintaining and diffusing a love to our Congregational polity and theology, and of augmenting the existing fund by future accumulations, so as to enable its distributors to meet all the deserving applications which in future years may be made to them for aid.

Your Committee have given effect to the resolution adopted by the last autumnal assembly, in harmony with the recommendation of the special committee appointed to consider the relation of the affiliated societies to the Union. Henceforth these societies are released from all obligation to present any statement or report of their proceedings at any of your meetings; the compact in virtue of which their officers were exofficio members of your committee, and your officers ex-officio members of their several committees, is dissolved; and these organizations now stand on an entirely independent footing. It is hoped that this change will prove practically beneficial alike to the working of the Union and the efficiency of the societies, as no controverted questions in relation to them can again be mooted: while your Committee are instructed to arrange for occasional statements being made in your hearing of their working and claims, and for public meetings in their behalf being held at the time and place of the autumnal meetings. Your Committee believe that your interest in British Missions, in the Board of Education, in the Pastors' Assurance Aid Society, and in the English Congregational Chapel Building Society, will not be diminished by this alteration of their former connexion with you. On the contrary, they hope that, as these societies are now removed from the arena of occasional controversy in which they were placed by an anomalous relation to the Union, they will be more heartily and liberally supported by the prayers and contributions of our churches. As the provisional term for which the Chapel Building Society was formed is on the

eve of expiring, your Committee have arranged that a brief statement of its work should be brought before you in one of your sessions this week; and as Ireland is rising into hopeful importance by its social improvement, they have requested one of their members, most intimate with its condition, to read a paper on "Ireland, as a field for Congregational missions."

It will be gratifying to the friends of the Union to know that the meetings at Cheltenham were of a most delightful and gracious character. No breath of

discord passed over the conferences or the more public assemblies. Peace and love were the watchwords of that interesting and memorable gathering. To the Rev. Dr. Brown and his congregation, the Union was deeply indebted for the efficiency and comfort of the meetings; while Christian families of all denominations cheerfully welcomed the pastors and delegates to their habitations. The session terminated by a meeting for special prayer, and the engagements closed by the public celebration of our Lord's death. A most valuable paper, read by the Rev. John Stoughton, on "Tyndale, Hooper, and Whitefield," has been given by him to the public, for the benefit of British Missions; and it has been referred to as an edifying fact and worthy of imitation, that this eloquent eulogy on three of the greatest lights of the Church of England, was pronounced before an assembly of the Congregational Union.

It affords your Committee great pleasure to inform you that the pastors and deacons of our churches at Halifax have cordially invited the Union to that town for the next autumnal meeting. The numbers and importance of our churches in that neighbourhood justify the expectation that the gathering will be large and influential, and the hope shall be prayerfully indulged that it may prove a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord."

It is with much satisfaction that your Committee are enabled at length to announce to you that the "New Congregational Hymn-Book," which for three years has occupied the attention of the committee appointed to compile it, has now passed through the press, and that a copy of the book is about to be presented to your chairman to-day. The work has been delayed beyond what the wishes of your Committee, and the importunity of many who are waiting for

it, could have desired; but the delay has been unavoidable. The labour has been much greater than was first imagined; and the Committee were anxious that the work should be as complete and perfect as the utmost diligence on their part could make it. The edition now printed is intended to be open to observation, and to elicit candid criticism. The opinions of the corresponding committee and of other friends on it will be invited. It will then undergo a final revision by the executive committee, be stereotyped, and published in various editions. The Committee anticipate for the work a favourable reception and wide circulation. They are of opinion that it will justify all the expectations indulged concerning it, and be the means of greatly promoting the edification of the churches who may adopt it.

The publications of the Union continue to circulate without any great alteration. The existing "Congregational Hymn-Book," notwithstanding the fact that many congregations are looking to the "New Hymn-Book " has been largely called for, and to an extent almost equal to that of any former year. The "Year Book" is growingly felt to be a work of great value, indispensable to every one who would be fully acquainted with the Congregational churches and institutions of the British empire. It was long published at a losing price, and the Committee have, therefore, increased it from one shilling to eighteenpence. Even now its returns are not remunerative; a further increase of price or a diminution of size must be resorted to, or, what is far better, a much larger sale must be realized, in order to save your funds from actual loss. The church records and Congregational tracts continue to obtain a steady, though limited circulation. During the year, an addition has been made to the list of the latter in a tractate containing a history of the Congregational Union for twenty-five years. The Committee have resolved to dispose of the remaining copies of your prize essays, Jethro," "Our Country,' " and the "Guide to the Christian Ministry," at a reduced price; and in the same way to deal with "Hanbury's Historical Memorials." This valuable work is worthy of introduction to schools and congregational libraries, and will be most useful if it finds a place on the shelves of our ministers. It is much to be lamented that this valuable work, distinguished as

it is by research, accuracy, and candour, has not obtained a larger circulation.

Your Committee have endeavoured to promote, as they had opportunity, the fellowship of your Union with our own churches and with other denominations of Christians. Hence, in the autumn of last year, they delegated one of your secretaries, the Rev. George Smith, to the Evangelical Conference held at Berlin; and in the spring of the present year they deputed our beloved brother, the Rev. John Stoughton, to represent you at the annual meeting of the Congregational Union of Scotland. His services were highly appreciated by the brethren whom he visited, and by this work, cheerfully undertaken and efficiently performed, he has added to the many obligations under which the Union was already placed to him.

On the return of the Rev. J. L. Poore to Australia, your Committee availed themselves of the opportunity of sending, by his hand, fraternal communications to those associations of our churches in that part of the world who had accredited him as their representative to your meetings last year. Accordingly, they addressed letters of affectionate salutation and congratulation to the Congregational Unions of Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania; and they hope that, from time to time, this Union will endeavour to maintain friendly communications with our beloved brethren and fellow-subjects, who, holding our distinctive principles, are labouring to diffuse them amongst those rapidly increasing communities, which are already the foundations of future empires.

The Committee have not had much opportunity during the year of endeavouring to extend the cause of religious liberty. They have, however, presented a petition in the last session of Parliament for the abolition of church-rates. They have viewed with satisfaction the progress made by this question in the legislature of the country; and they think that now, while many parties are aiming at a miserable compromise, it may be well for this assembly to again petition Parliament, and calmly declare that nothing short of the total abolition of this impost will meet the views of the Congregational churches of this land.

At the last autumnal meeting of the Union, the question of providing a more adequate support for the ministry in Congregational churches occupied much of the attention of the assembly. The

subject was referred for further consideration to your Committee, who were instructed to bring it under the notice of the officers of county associations; to urge on the deacons and members of smaller churches a consideration of the best means by which they can provide for the more adequate support of the ministry; and to convene a special conference in relation to this matter. Their several recommendations were promptly attended to. The conference was held, and after a full, lengthened, and candid consideration of the condition of our ministers in relation to income, placed on record its conviction that the salaries of many of the pastors of Congregational churches are lamentably low and inadequate, and that it is most desirable to adopt means for raising their stipends to a higher standard. The conference then proceded to consider the best modes of action that could be recommended, with a view to accomplish this desirable object. Without offering any opinion at that time, on the desirableness or otherwise of forming a supplemental fund, it adopted a number of recommendations for improving the finance arrangements of the churches, in the hope that the result would be such as to render a fund unnecessary. Among these are the following resolutions, which your Committee venture to think are worthy of general attention:

"That the churches of our body, and the county associations, be earnestly recommended to take measures for the more efficient support of the ministry, and that the associations be requested to appoint or invite deputations to visit their associated churches, and others, with this view."

"That it be recommended to the county associations to consider the propriety of adopting a minimum income from all sources for a minister, below which they will make no grant in aid."

"That it be respectfully represented to the trustees and managers of existing Congregational funds, to consider whether any improved methods of administering these funds can be adopted; and that, with a view to this, the conference would recommend their meeting for a consideration of the subject."

"That the consideration of the principle of the weekly offering be earnestly commended to the Congregational churches of England and Wales, with a view to its adoption for the support of the ministry.'

A special Committee, consisting of an equal number of gentlemen of the committee of the Congregational Union, and of others not so connected with it, was appointed to draw up and publish a report of the proceedings, and to correspond with the officers of county associations and others. This Committee was instructed to prepare addresses to the deacons and members of Congregational churches, directing their prompt and earnest attention to the increase of pastoral incomes. The Committee has diligently and zealously endeavoured to discharge the duties devolved upon it.

The Committee, as requested, has published two papers, which are adapted to do good service to the cause the conference had at heart. The first is an address to the deacons of our churches, in which the importance and honour of the office they hold are set forth; and its duty to provide the supplies necessary to the support of the ministry is candidly and affectionately stated, while many valuable hints for increasing the comfort of our pastors are given. The other paper is an appeal to members of Congregational churches, in which the ministry of the gospel is proved to be an ordinance of Christ, entitled to competent support, and in which, without presuming to dictate as to the amount of contributions, or the method by which it may be raised, much is said, which, if well pondered, cannot fail to be useful alike to pastors and churches. Copies of these papers have been sent to all the pastors of Congregational churches in England. It is hoped that these papers will be widely circulated, and that their effect will be most beneficial on the income and comfort of many of our brethren.

The Committee convened a meeting of the managers of Congregational public charitable funds, and found them most ready, so far as they are able, to aid the objects the conference had in view. They have passed resolutions declaring themselves unfavourable to any amalgamation of funds, but expressing a readiness to co-operate with each other, with a view to their more efficient distribution, and have recommended that measures should be adopted to increase the income of these benevolent institutions. Last evening the conference again met, and was largely attended. Gratifying reports from several county associations were made in reference to measures which had been taken, with evident advantage, for

A

the increase of pastoral incomes. number of important resolutions were adopted which will be reported to the autumnal meeting, when, it is hoped, time will be found for the further consideration of the subject.

In addition to the ordinary expenses of the year, your committee have cheerfully borne all the expenses attendant on holding these special meetings and publishing the papers in question. While noting this fact, they deem it proper to ask for their funds a more steady and liberal support than they are wont to receive. The income, by subscriptions and donations, is most inadequate for the conduct of your affairs. An annual contribution of ten shillings and upwards from all our churches, with the subscriptions of personal members, would enrich its treasury as to enable your committee to carry into effect the undertakings committed to their care without entrenching on the profits of publications, which they would gladly employ for benevolent purposes.

The accounts which have recently reached this country of a great revival of religion in the United States of America, have awakened the attention and interest of most of our pastors and churches; yet, perhaps, not to the extent which may be desired. Your committee, therefore, in arranging for the business of the Union, have asked two esteemed brethren to prepare and place before you two papers on the subject; the one containing a condensed view of the facts of the revival so far as they can be ascertained, and the other intended as an appeal to ourselves and to our churches on the bearing of such events on our hopes and endeavours. The Committee are anxious that the greater part of your session on Friday should be devoted to this important subject.

The fact that thousands of men of business in the chief commercial cities of the United States turn aside daily from their avocations of trade and prospects of worldly gain, to unite in prayer for their salvation and for that of others, is one which surely demands and will obtain thoughtful consideration. Whatever diversity of opinion may be entertained respecting some of the circumstances connected with the movement in America, there can be no doubt that we greatly need a revival of pure and undefiled religion in our own land. While gratefully acknowledging the Divine goodness in that measure of peace and