CANDIDATES FOR SETTLEMENT.

This list will be corrected monthly. Brethren desiring their names entered, or address changed, will please indicate the same to the Secretary of the A. U. A.

The affixed to the word "Boston" indicates the address, "Care of American Unitarian Association, Boston."

THE

MONTHLY JOURNAL.

VOL. II.]

BOSTON, FEBRUARY, 1861.

[No. 2.

HALF A DAY OF THE NEW-BEDFORD CONVENTION.

[We think our readers will be pleased to read the following phonographic report of the sayings and doings at New Bedford, last October, during part of one day. The Committee had a reporter present, who has given us the following daguerreotype of the Convention. Certainly it was a rich day, full of thought and action. Even this small part of it occupies much of our space; but for once, perhaps, it is well to see an account in full of such an interesting time. We publish it by the special and earnest desire of the Committee of Arrangements.]

REV. EDWARD E. HALE, on behalf of the Committee on Arrangements, stated the second subject, and their view in proposing it. As stated in the call of the meeting, the subject is this: "Can any new organization be formed which shall bring religious influences to bear more closely on the social evils which are stimulated or created by modern civilization?"

broad for profitaThe Committee, conformity to the

This subject might seem to some too ble discussion, and to some too narrow. however, had been led to propose it in almost unanimous expression of those who had favored them with counsel; for they had found, as they received suggestions from different quarters, that, whatever else their friends wished to bring before the Convention, every one wished to urge the necessity of more prompt and effi

cient working organization. In conformity to very earnest appeals, and to their own sense of the importance of the West in our present work, they had singled out that branch of our duty as a special topic for consideration. He did not think that we necessarily left that topic by discussing now the methods of going to work in that field or in other fields.

The suggestion, however, of a subject so comprehensive as the methods of organization for the religious work of the time, had hindered the Committee in their wish to open the subject by an essay from a layman. Gentlemen interested in one branch of the action desired did not like to commit themselves to discussions of another; and some unsuccessful applications, therefore, had been made to gentlemen whose engagements or whose modesty prevented their compliance with the wish of the Committee. He trusted, however, that the members of the Convention would enter no less promptly upon the several questions which were really combined in that now offered for discussion; for the question, as proposed, ought to call out those who are especially interested in bringing religion to bear on the great substratum of society, which is now scarcely reached at all by our ecclesiastical organizations. Our congregational arrangements of the older sort meet the purposes of these persons, who are now, in a certain sort, religious persons, if they happen to belong to the more fortunate classes of society. But it is certainly true, as somebody has said, that religion now gets addressed chiefly to welldressed people; the gospel gets presented to those who want to hear it, and not to those who do not; and this question is framed to call forth the suggestions of persons who wish for better organization to meet that difficulty. Again: our missionary organizations are satisfied with sending pastors only where pastors are asked for, instead of sending

them to "preach the gospel to every creature." Whoever is interested in improving that policy is interested in this question of organization. Thirdly, all those persons who consider that our congregations are lacking in what is called "church life;" that something is needed to call out from the individual worshipper more personal work in the charities of the church, and closer personal union in its public devotions, ought to bring his contribution to the discussion of this question of organization.

With views as extensive as these, the Committee had introduced this question. It was not too broad a question, they believed, if the brethren would confine themselves fairly to it. It was not too narrow a question for interest, if they would discuss it in reference to those practical matters which they had most at heart. The Committee ventured to ask, that brethren would discuss it without allusion to the failures of individuals, without that sick introspection which can do nothing but contemplate our own past errors. They believe the discussion will be interesting and profitable, if the brethren will enter into it with the resolution to forget the things which are behind, and press forward to those things which are before.

Rev. CRAWFORD NIGHTINGALE, of Groton, agreed with John Wesley, that "no preacher can accomplish much by preaching alone." He must go into the homes of the people. We want such a change in our organizations as shall bring the people together. We want meetings where the people shall meet and talk, and discuss what needs to be done. Our business meetings sometimes fail; but, if we take a social interval, we come back and find that the business has been done by our coming to a mutual understanding of it. We ought to express, not only our love to God, but our fellowship with each other.

The Christian congregation that comes together and disperses without any manifestation of fellowship is not a Christian congregation; it is not even an aristocracy: it is a snobocracy, and should be abolished.

Rev. JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE. Mr. President, I would like to say one word upon this subject of organization. I am not going to spend any time in criticism of our body, or in finding fault with our present condition; because there are able and willing friends here to do all that. We have already been told to-day, that there was not a minister in our pulpits who was able to speak the truth; and we have been told that we had not the least missionary spirit among us, and did not know what it was; and now we have been told that our worship was a lie. I think that may answer for self-criticism, for to-day! I remember, that, after our last autumnal meeting, an article appeared in the "Independent," written by an Orthodox gentleman who was there, who said that the amount of self-criticism in that Unitarian meeting was perfectly appalling and incredible! He spoke the plain truth.

:

We want organizations; I think we want more organizations but, to organize to advantage, we must have something to organize. If we have no spirit, there is no need of having any body. Organization, as I understand it, is a body suitable to carry out into action certain spiritual tendencies and appliances already existing. If it be true that there is no love, no faith, no life, among us, then there is no need of organization, because there is nothing to organize; but if there be in our denomination any love, any faith, any life, any hope, any conviction (as I am inclined to think there is a little), then it is desirable we should find out some way to organize. We want to organize the