3. It is recommended to the members of the several associations connected with the convention, to extend occasional assistance to destitute towns in their vicinity by preaching lectures, and by performing such other missionary labors, as they may deem consistent with the duties they owe to their respective parishes.

4. The churches in our connection are requested, at the monthly concert in September, to implore the special blessing of God upon the annual meeting of the convention, and of the respective societies, with which it is immediately connected.

5. The convention recommend to the Congregational churches in this state, to make it a standing rule, except in some uncommon cases, not to admit to occasional communion, after one year's residence, any persons of their own denomination, who by removal have become settled among them.

6. It is recommended to the several associations not to receive any member from another association, unless he brings a letter of dismission and recommendation from the association to which he has belonged.

7. As the temperance reformation is of vital importance to the interests of true religion, it is recommended to all the friends of God and the human race, to sustain and carry on this blessed work, and not to remit in their efforts till the way of the coming of the Son of man is every where fully prepared.

8. It is recommended to councils and other ecclesiastical bodies in connection with this convention, not to ordain persons without charge, or as evangelists; especially, if they are to labor in distant parts of the country, unless it should be required by peculiar circumstances, and appear to be an obvious call of Providence.

9. The convention fully believing that consociations greatly tend to promote the interests, the strength and the union of the churches, recommend and earnestly request that all the Congregational churches in Vermont, which have not adopted articles of particular union, should form themselves into consociations, to consist of pastors and delegates.

10. The convention affectionately and earnestly recommend to all ministers, and to all the friends of religion in our connection, the following system of operations to promote benevolent objects :

(1) That there be but one meeting in each year for county anniversaries; that this ordinarily be held at a distinct time from the meetings of consociations or conferences; that the interests of the various most prominent objects of benevolence, in each county, be distinctly promoted at these anniversaries.

(2) That the county anniversaries be held as follows:-In Windham county on the 3d Tuesday in September; in Windsor

Co. on the Thursday following:-in Orange Co. on the 4th Tuesday in September; in Washington Co. on the Thursday following:-in Rutland or Bennington Co. on the Tuesday next after the 4th Tuesday in September; in Addison Co. on the Thursday following-in Chittenden Co. on the 2d Tuesday after the 4th Tuesday in September; in Franklin Co. on the Thursday following:-in Orleans Co. on the 3d Tuesday after the 4th Tuesday in September; in Caledonia Co. on the Thursday following-in Essex Co. on the 5th Tuesday after the 4th Tuesday in September.

(3) That two months of each year be appropriated to the consideration of certain prominent objects of benevolence, as follows :-*

RULES

TO BE OBSERVED BY THE GENERAL CONVENTION, IN

TRANSACTING BUSINESS.

1. THE members of the convention are required, as soon as they arrive at the place of the annual meeting, to deposit their certificates of membership in the hands of the minister of the parish; and it shall be his duty, in conjunction with the register, to prepare a ROLL of the convention, on which shall be placed, in usual order, the names of all persons who present a regular certificate of their having been duly elected. But no person shall be enrolled who has not the regular certificate, unless by vote of the convention after being duly organized.

2. The meeting of the convention shall be opened with a sermon. At the close of the public exercises, the register, or, in his absence, the minister of the parish, shall call to order-read the Roll, and lead the convention to the choice of a moderator, scribe, and assistant scribe.

3. The moderator shall then take the chair-address the throne of grace, and cause the rules to be observed in transacting business, and the docket of the register to be read. It shall be his duty to lead in prayer, or request some other person to perform the duty, at the beginning and close of each day's session; to cause the roll to be called every morning; to preserve order and decorum in the meeting, and, in conjunction with the register, to nominate all committees. When the moderator speaks to the merits of any question, he shall leave the chair and address the scribe.

4. No member shall withdraw from the body until the close of the session, without leave of absence first obtained from the

* The schedule, here annexed, is omitted in this volume.

moderator; and in case any member shall be tardy after an adjournment, without a reasonable excuse, he shall be subject to the admonition of the moderator.

5. Every member, when he wishes to speak, shall rise and address the moderator.

6. No member shall speak more than twice to the merits of the question in debate, except by special permission of the convention, nor more than once, until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.

7. Every motion, except for adjournment, shall be reduced to writing if the moderator or any two members desire it. No motion shall be acted upon until seconded.

8. When any member, in debating or otherwise, shall transgress the rules of the convention, the moderator shall, by his own authority or at the request of any member, call him to order; and if a question shall arise concerning his being in order, it shall be decided by an appeal to the body.

9. When two or more rise at once, the moderator shall name the member who is first to speak.

10. When the moderator or any other person is speaking, the members shall keep their places and give attention.

11. No motion committed to writing shall be finally decided upon, until it shall have had three several readings, if any member require it.

12. În cases of an equal division of votes, the moderator shall have the casting vote.

13. These rules for the transaction of business shall be in force during the pleasure of the convention; and shall not be subject to any alteration, unless by the consent of two thirds of the members present, at an annual meeting.

GENERAL ASSOCIATION

OF

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

In the state of New Hampshire a Pastoral Convention was formed, July 28, 1747, for promoting harmony, peace, and good order among the churches, and union among ministers. It is designed to include "those Congregational and Presbyterian ministers of that state, who own or acknowledge the Westminister Assembly's Shorter Catechism, as containing essentially their views of christian doctrine." It meets annually in June, at the metropolis of the state, on the day succeeding the general state election.

At its meeting in 1807, this convention appointed a committee "to correspond with the several district associations in the state, respecting a union of the churches, and a General Association on that plan of doctrine generally expressed in the Assembly's Catechism." The next year, it was determined, "that for the purpose of drawing the bond of union more closely, and promoting general harmony and fellowship among the churches, the Assembly's Catechism be adopted generally as a creed; and that a proposal be laid before the several associations of the state, that those associations that see fit to adopt it, appoint a delegate, or delegates, to meet in General Association at the time and place of the next General Convention, and in

General Association adopt such measures as they shall deem expedient, for carrying into effect the above-mentioned purposes." According to this arrangement, the General Association of New Hampshire held its first meeting at Concord, in June, 1809.

"This General Association wholly disclaims ecclesiastical power or authority over the churches, or the opinions of individuals."

"Its essential objects are to promote brotherly intercourse and harmony, and our mutual animation, assistance, and usefulness as ministers of Christ; to obtain religious information relative to the state of the churches, and the general state of the Christian church in this country, and through the Christian world; and to co-operate with other similar institutions, in the most eligible measures for building up the cause of truth and holiness."

The General Association of New Hampshire now includes twelve district associations, and about one hundred and fifty ministers.

Its business is conducted under the following regulations :

STANDING RULES

OF THE ASSOCIATION.

1. THIS General Association shall meet on the fourth Tuesday of August, annually; and be opened at 10 o'clock, A. M. by a Concio ad Clerum by a minister appointed by one of the district associations in rotation.

2. At the close of religious exercises, the preacher shall take the chair, and preside till a moderator is chosen by ballot.

3. A scribe and assistant scribe shall also be chosen by ballot. 4. The association shall be composed of the secretary, the