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

treasurer, the minister of the place of the meeting, the secretary of the N. H. Missionary Society ex-officio, and delegates from district associations, according to the following ratio of representation, viz.-One from every association, two from every association of seven members, three from every association of thirteen members, and four from every association of twenty members. No minister shall be counted or represented in two associations, and no preacher shall be eligible to appointment as a delegate, who has not received ordination.

5. The secretary shall receive the certificates of the delegates, and report the names of those duly appointed, before the choice of a moderator.

6. The meeting shall be daily opened and closed with prayer. 7. The secretary shall previously prepare a docket of business, which may afterwards be enlarged by the committee of overtures, as occasion shall require.

8. A committee of three shall be early chosen by ballot, who shall nominate delegates to foreign bodies, and all committees to whom business or subjects shall be referred, for them to report thereon, and also be a committee of overtures. The acceptance of their nominations shall confirm them as appointments.

9. No motion shall be discussed unless seconded. No mem. ber shall speak more than twice to the same motion, without liberty from the association; nor shall the moderator, while in the chair, speak to the merits of a question. Any motion or resolution shall, at the request of the moderator, or any two members, be reduced to writing.

10. Seven members shall be a quorum. No member shall retire without leave of the moderator, or have leave of absence without a vote of the association.

11. It shall be the duty of the moderator to prevent desultory remarks.

12. At the opening of the morning session, the minutes of the preceding day shall be read; and the minutes of the last day at the close of the meeting.

13. The appointment of delegates to corresponding bodies shall be certified by the printed minutes, or by a certificate from the secretary.

14. The narratives of the state of religion in our churches and corresponding bodies shall be written and brief, so that they can be given, in ordinary cases, on Tuesday afternoon.

15. The district associations shall annually present the schedules of their churches, ministers settled and unsettled, the number of their churches, &c. and the number of young men under twenty-five years of age, and the number who are preparing for the ministry in each church.

16. A condensed narrative of the state of religion in each asso. ciation shall be prepared, and reported by a committee.

17. The schedules and narratives of religion shall be lodged with the secretary, to be kept on file.

18. The publishing committee shall see that the minutes, as soon as printed, are sent to delegates to other bodies, and a copy sent by mail to every member of the district associations.

19. This association shall, as far as practicable, meet alternately in the eastern and western sections of the state.

20. These rules shall be read at the opening of every annual meeting.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

OF

MAINE.

In the state of Maine, the arrangements for promoting the intercourse and communion of pastors and churches, differ somewhat from those in other states. The pastors there, as elsewhere, have their associations for mutual aid and advice; and to those associations is assigned by common consent the duty of examining and recommending, or licensing, candidates for the ministry. But in Maine there is no general association or convention of ministers; the objects aimed at in such organizations being secured, in part, at least, by another arrangement.

The churches of Maine, meet by their pastors and delegates, in stated conventions called conferences. Each conference has its own constitution, and is designed to include the churches of a county, or of some other convenient district. The rules of the conference expressly forbid the exercise of any authority or control over the churches. The meetings are held, not to receive appeals or complaints, or to inquire after error and disorders, but for united prayer, for the extension of christian intercourse and acquaintance between the members of different churches, for mutual instruction by the discussion of such questions as arise from time to time, for devising and imparting aid to