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alas, there is so little compared with what there might be, and that little is so exposed that we may be in danger of not appreciating what we really have, or of very long preserving it. Calls in person, and by letter, from all parts of our country for information touching our polity, the usages of the fathers in matters of discipline, the results of councils and their acknowledged authority, church manuals and histories, are multiplying; and to answer such wisely is becoming more and more important. We have some of the faciliities, but too few! The day is passing when the all-needed materials can be gathered. No time should be lost. Much can now be done, which can not be done but a very few years hence.

But the SOCIAL value of this needed structure can not be over-estimated. Our brethren of other names, with their centralized governments and denominational courts, are wise enough to superadd the "Home" not merely as a garner for denominational memorials, but for reunions, for discussions, and adjustment of questions at issue or their preparation for the appointed adjudications. Much more do we, WITHOUT such courts or fixed tribunals, need such a "Home or center where what we have written or printed that would be helpful may be found, and what we desire may be secured, and what may be known may be communicated; a denominational exchange, a bulletin; a receiving and disbursing bureau, which shall be a school, a Home, an armory, a treasure-house, a restingplace for our membership from the Lakes to the Gulf, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as they shall pass this way, or journey thither to find out the way of the apostles and pilgrims in planting the institutions of religion for the world.

To this end we must have $100,000 in the least possible time, to which we must look for supplementary gifts, by wills and otherwise, until this association shall be the power for good in the land, for which it is so well adapted.

A few friends in Boston and vicinity have entered into this plan with liberal views, and proposed gifts. But the masses even of our own city and vicinity fail to see the great and immediate need of the structure it is proposed to rear. The directors are feeling more deeply than ever what they have long appre

hended, viz.: that their ultimate success is mainly dependent on the benefactions of the very few who can appreciate an object so wide in its compass, so general in its plans, so remote in its bearings, though so certain and immediate and continuous in its influence for good. Our English Congregational brethren in èfforts for a similar purpose are going over the same ground for renewed subscriptions, and are happy in finding their friends doubling, three-folding, and even fivefolding their original pledges. Thus they hope soon to realize the large amount, at least $350,000 in coin, proposed to be raised. If driven to this extremity, the directors of this association will hope to find similar generosity among the real friends of this enterprise. While it is not for Boston, but is to be in Boston, it is nevertheless very difficult for the most of those outside our city limits and the immediate vicinity to comprehend that this is not a local enterprise. So that there seems to be a necessity for putting it fully and fairly on its way for its great work, by the munificence of those who will immediately surround it. It does and must appeal to Boston capital, Boston intelligence, Boston pride, Boston principle, for its thorough beginnings. It will become national and public as other great enterprises have become national and public, after Boston wealth has put them to public uses. As our denomination is sending out its wires into all parts of our land and becoming itself national, so much the more it now needs this central point fixed and endowed with all that can give it moral weight and efficiency; and thus it will be as potent and as useful in its influence and control among us as the higher ecclesiastical courts of other sects are among them; and this without any interference with personal or particular church-rights. There can be no question in the minds of all who know and appreciate the facts, as to the importance of the immediate funding and establishing this long-talked-of “Congregational Home." Now, where are the noble and far-seeing few who will generously meet the exigency, and place this association upon a safe living basis? Where is the one true lover of the principles of the founders and fathers of New England, who will magnanimously adopt this enterprise as his own, to see it quickly and fairly on its way to a suc

cess, a good beginning will insure? Precious memories, and grateful' offerings, and rich rewards are in reserve for such benefactors. About $40,000 are pledged towards the first 50 of the $100,000 now earnestly sought for. But a few weeks remain in which to secure the remaining 10,000 to bind what is already pledged. The directors do most earnestly bespeak the good offices of their friends, that at least this small sum may be at once secured. We have too much not to have more, too much to be lost or longer jeoparded by being in a place so insecure.

As already intimated, some valuable books and pamphlets have been added to the library during the past year. Among them is a complete set of Owen's works, a gift from the Rev. T. Atkinson, of Nahant, to whom this association has been frequently made a large debtor before. Brooks' Puritans, Hutchinson Papers, Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims; Punchard's, Dexter's, Buck's, Wardlaw's, and Davis's treatises on our polity in its various relations have been secured. We have placed upon our shelves 375 bound volumes, which are new here, so that our whole number of bound volumes is 5,142. We have added 56 bound volumes to our duplicates, making, 547 duplicates. We have of pamphlets, now

assorted, arranged, and made acccessible, 27,244, some of which are of great value, and many of which are waiting the means to be bound for safety and more convenient use. We have also 10,651 pamphlets, also assorted and arranged, which are duplicates for exchange or sale; making a total of pamphlets of 37,895.

But we have abundant room for both books and pamphlets, and let none fear of duplicating what we have. Duplicates are the capital of our librarian, by the help of which, in exchange, or by sale, he has added many a valuable work to our shelves.

We are expecting to receive nearly or quite complete files of our denominational religious papers from the American Board, with the understanding that they are to be arranged and stitched or bound, so as to be made available to the public benefit. Will not some friend of our religious order and literature give us the means of completing and binding these files of papers, which, of themselves, would be a valuable library ? There is a great work to be done in this direction, and may God engage his people in its speedy accomplishment. In behalf of the directors,

ISAAC P. LANGWORTHY,

Cor. Sec.

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subsequent years.

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than most Christians. In our last year

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