Association, soon after its establishment, and which was afterwards printed as a circular for general use.

"The efforts of the American Unitarian Association will be directed, in accordance with the first article of the Constitution, to the promotion of Unitarian Christianity, not simply, nor chiefly, of those views which distinguish the friends of this Association from other dis-. ciples of Jesus Christ, but of those great doctrines and principles in which all Christians coincide, and which constitute the substance of our religion. We wish to diffuse the knowledge and influence of the uncorrupted Gospel of our Lord and Saviour.'

"These passages leave no doubt of the intention of the founders of the Association. That circumstances have somewhat constrained the action of the Executive Committee, and given it a more directly sectarian character than such a purpose as we have imputed to those who were connected with its early history might seem to justify, is only a reason why we should restore its original design, and make it the channel through which the contributions of all the members of our churches may reach their proper destination. The committee believe that the present officers of the Association would rejoice to see its efficiency increased, and a breadth given to its operations which they may not have yet exhibited. The changes that would be necessary, to render this Association the instrument of the good which it is our desire to effect, are so slight, that they need not be described. They would consist in certain internal arrangements, which it would fall within the province of the Executive Commitee, rather than of this meeting, to fix; and this report, therefore, instead of enlarging upon what it is needless, and it might be improper, here to consider, will be closed by specifying three objects, on which the American Unitarian Association should in future bestow particular attention.

"First, the education of young men for the ministry, or

rather for the missionary work. Such an education, after the preliminary studies, for which it might be proper in some cases to provide to a greater or less extent, could be pursued either at Cambridge, at Meadville, or under the care of some clergyman in his own home. At Cambridge, the expenses, as charged to the student, are inevitably large, but they are greatly reduced by the appropriations from the late Mr. Williams's legacy, and from the funds at the disposal of the Hopkins Trustees. If the whole cost of residence at Cambridge, including clothes, as well as instruction, roomrent, fuel, and incidental expenses, be put at $250 a year, the divinity student, who shall make his want known, may hope to receive, on an average, $150, leaving him to procure, by other means, only $100, or $300 for the whole course. This deficiency the American Unitarian Associa tion might, wholly or in part, make up, enabling the student who had no resources of his own to enter on his profession free from debt. At Meadville, the cost of an education is very much lower, being put, in the official estimate of expenses, at thirty dollars. We cannot, however, suppose this sum would be sufficient, except in cases where an extreme economy was practised. We would rather place the needed amount at fifty dollars, exclusive of personal clothing. This amount the Association could advance; and when it is considered that probably the larger number of those who would be willing, and be best fitted, to engage in missionary labor, at least in the West, would be attracted rather to the Meadville than to the Cambridge school, it is easily seen that an inconsiderable annual appropriation would enable several young men to complete their preparatory studies, and qualify themselves for the enterprise before them. A few might prefer to remain under the private direction of a minister,

and this would perhaps be more expensive, in the result, than either of the other methods; but here also, the Execu tive Committee of the Association, after considering the circumstances, might think it proper to afford some aid. The number who should receive assistance, in either or all of these places, cannot be determined beforehand. Each case

must be decided on its own merits. We have said that we should be glad to see fifty beneficiaries of such a charity as we propose, now preparing themselves to go out and proclaim the everlasting Gospel to sinful men. It may be years before so large a number will be collected into our theological schools; but the sooner and the more heartily we make the attempt, the shorter will be the interval before we shall witness the fulfilment of our hope.

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"The second point to which we hope the Association will give prominence in its future operations is, the distribution of devotional books and works on practical religion. silent missionaries. They, too, must be sent. be welcomed. Often they go to spots which the living preacher cannot visit. They carry truth to inquiring minds and suffering hearts. They prepare the way for the preacher. They perpetuate his influence after his departure. We speak of devotional and practical writings; for the committee do not wish, and they believe the persons by whom they were appointed do not wish, to give to the contemplated movement a sectarian character. It is not Unitarians, but Christians, that we would make by means of that blessed religion which every sect that owns Christ as founder of the one Church which he purchased with his own blood' esteems as the instrument that God uses in the regeneration and sanctification of man. We need more works of a practical and devotional kind than we have; but it is gross injustice

to speak as if we had not many such already. Among the tracts of the American Unitarian Association may be found several, the whole spirit and design of which would recommend them to any Christian body, and make them ministers of good to any one who, conscious or unconscious of his spiritual needs, required counsel or sympathy. Among writings of a larger size, it is enough to enumerate the volumes which bear the names of Channing, Ware, and Peabody, to show that we are furnished with just such materials as we should desire in the prosecution of any plan like that to which we have referred. The American Unitarian Association has already undertaken the circulation of these books, and, should encouragement be given them to enlarge this branch of their operations, we doubt not that the Executive Committee would gladly establish agencies, stationary or itinerant, by which works of this class might be scattered over the whole country.

"The third form in which our present purpose might find expression is the employment of missionaries wherever the destitution or the desire of the people might invite them to

The vast region which we call the West, reaching from the Mississippi to the Pacific, is missionary ground. The new States that are there rising into importance, or into existence, have all that is needful for their material and political growth; but that which shall secure, for the millions who will fill their cities and towns, moral worth and religious hope, must be sent to them, and be sent mainly from the Atlantic and the Northern Atlantic States. Other denominations recognize their obligation to provide Christian teachers for those growing settlements. We rejoice in their energy and liberality. Shall we not coöperate with them in effect, though we may be compelled to adopt a

distinct mode of action? Shall we not emulate their zeal, and share with them the satisfaction of saving that unmeasured extent of country, soon to be covered with men of our own race and lineage, from being given over to irreligion and worldliness? The West, however, will not receive exclu sive attention. New England contains many spots that require the presence of the missionary. At this moment, probably, a dozen preachers could be employed most bene. ficially in the State of Maine, not in converting men from one form of belief to another, but in leading them to an active faith in God and Christ, to the discharge of their social and religious duties, to a preparation of their immortal souls for judgment and for heaven. The officers of the American Unitarian Association, through the correspondence which they maintain with all parts of the Union, would be able to seize at once on the most suitable places for receiving the missionaries whom they might send forth, and would make, from its augmented resources, the appropria tions that would be necessary for their support.

"The committee will close this report with one other suggestion. It is, that, by some action of this meeting, the subject, which they have endeavoured to present under the aspects which seem to them most important, should be brought under the notice of the Executive Committee of the American Unitarian Association, not only for their consider. ation, but in the hope that they will give it prominence in the discussions that may take place on the next anniversary. While they would leave to that body the determination of questions which may arise respecting the manner in which money should be raised or expended, they would respectfully suggest, that, at both the private and the public meet