provement; and to guard vigilantly against those insidious influences of the world, which paralyze a denomination, by rendering its clergy inefficient.

We must now turn our attention to a more local review of the present condition of the denomination.

In MAINE there are about twenty-five preachers, and probably three times that number of societies. The religious bodies are the Maine Convention, which was modified from the Eastern Association, formed in 1799, and four minor Associations. Of periodical publications there are three. The 'Christian Intelligencer,' published weekly, at Gardiner, and edited by Rev. William A. Drew. The Christian Preacher,' a monthly publication of sermons, by living Universalist preachers, published at Gardiner, by the same gentleman. The Christian Pilot,' published weekly, at Portland, and edited by Revs. Menzies Rayner and Samuel Brimblecom.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. There are here twelve preachers, and about forty societies. The New Hampshire Association was formed in June, 1824, and the Rockingham Association in August of the same year. They both meet annually. A Convention. of the State was formed in October last, whose meetings are to be annual. It recommends that the New Hampshire Association be confined to the counties of Cheshire, Hillsborough and Merrimack; the Rockingham Association, to the counties of Rockingham and Strafford; and the societies in Grafton, Sullivan and Coos are recommended to form an Association before the next meeting of the Convention. The 'Impartialist' is a weekly publication, at Claremont, edited by Rev. William S. Balch.

VERMONT has not far from twenty preachers, and eighty societies. There are three Associations. The Northern was formed in 1804, and is confined to the northern section of the state, embracing several societies and clergymen in Lower Canada; the Green Mountain, confined to the counties of Windsor and Rutland; and the Franklin, confined to the counties of Windham and Bennington, and extending to Franklin county, Massachusetts, from which it took its name. It will probably soon be found expedient to alter its name, and limit it to the two southern counties in Vermont. At the late session of the Northern Association, in October, it was resolved, that it is expedient to form a Convention in that state, for

which purpose delegates meet at Barre, on the third Wednesday in January, 1833. The Universalist Watchman,' a weekly paper, is published at Woodstock, and edited by Rev. William Bell.

MASSACHUSETTS. In this state there are forty-six preachers, namely: seven in Essex, ten in Middlesex, five in Suffolk, four in Norfolk, six in Plymouth, two in Barnstable, one in Nantucket, two in Bristol, six in Worcester, and three in Franklin. There are not far from ninety societies. In many towns, there are large bodies of Universalists, belonging to the original parishes. In several, there are meeting-houses, owned exclusively by Universalists, where preaching is had a part of the time, but where there is no settled preacher. There are more clergymen settled over single societies, to supply them constantly with preaching, than in any other state. There are three periodicals in this state. The Trumpet and Universalist Magazine,' a weekly publication, and a continuation of the original Universalist Magazine, now in its fourteenth year of publication; The Universalist Expositor,' published once in two months, now in its third volume: and The Universalist,' a weekly publication, in its first volume. Of these works, seven thousand copies are taken up by subscribers. There are but two Associations. The Boston Association, comprehending Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex and Essex counties; and the Old Colony Association, embracing Plymouth and Bristol counties, and that section of the state which lies east of them.9 It has been proposed to form a Convention of Universalists in this state.

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In 1831, several clergymen separated themselves from the denomination of Universalists, and formed an association by the name of the Massachusetts Association of Universal Restorationists. This body is to meet annually in Boston, in the month of January. There are, we believe, eight clergymen,10 in its fellowship, in this state. A paper entitled the Independent Messenger,' published weekly at Boston, is devoted to the interests of this class. They profess to believe in a lim

The Southern Association was originally formed in this state. It never had limits, and was merely an annual meeting of such preachers as wished to attend. It has emigrated to Connecticut, where its late meetings have been held.

10 There are perhaps a half dozen more preachers of this party in other states.

ited punishment in the future state, succeeded by universal restitution. Their opposition to Universalists is strong and unintermitting.

RHODE ISLAND has two or three preachers, a few societies, but no Associations nor publications devoted to Universalism. There is a large society at Providence, of which Rev. David Pickering, a Restorationist, is pastor. We should name here the Providence Association, a stated meeting of Restorationist clergymen.

CONNECTICUT has, we believe, ten preachers, and about thirty societies. The Southern Association has of late, held its meetings in this state. In May, 1832, a Convention of the State was formed. There are, at this time, three Universalist periodicals here. The oldest is the Religious Inquirer,' now about to begin its twelfth volume; the Herald of Freedom,' at Bethel; and the New Haven Examiner,' just commenced at New Haven. If these three publications should be well sustained and conducted, their effect on this state will be felt in every part. There is a monthly publication of Sermons at Hartford, by Mr. B. Sperry.

NEW YORK. Of this gigantic state, we are compelled, for want of room, to speak in general terms. It has between seventy and eighty preachers, and more than two hundred societies, a General Convention of the state, and nine subordinate Associations. It has six periodical publications: one in the city of New York; two in Utica; one in Troy; one in Jamestown, Chatauque county; and one in Keesville, Clinton county; which, together, circulate more than 'eleven thousand copies. The number of Universalist societies in this state has trebled in seven years. The Magazine and Advocate,' at Utica, has the largest circulation of any Universalist publica

tion.

NEW JERSEY has a few societies, but no stationed preachers. The clergymen from New York and Pennsylvania frequently visit the state, and the Philadelphia Association [has held some of its sessions here. Universalist publications are

"To prevent mistake, it is necessary to observe, that there are many Universalists who hold to future punishment, that are not members of this party. The sentiment has never been made a fundamental point among Universalists. The doctrines of materialism and future punishment, and the theory of an intermediate state, are held by some (among the Universalists, rejected by others, and many have no fixed opinions on these subjects.

circulated to a considerable extent; and the doctrine is unquestionably finding advocates among the citizens.

PENNSYLVANIA. The conversion of Mr. Winchester to Universalism, seems to have had no small effect on the Baptist churches in this state. The doctrine of a general atonement, or general provision,' as it was called, spread among them, and led very naturally to the relative doctrine of an equally extensive and ultimate salvation. Cape May and Pittsgrove churches are described by a Baptist writer of the present day, as having been nearly ruined by a general atonement, which ended in Universalism.' The same writer says, in a most barbarous figure, that to add to the calamity, Nicholas Cox, a preacher at Kingswood, now grown wiser than his fathers, mounted on the fractious steed of general provision, and rode furiously on to the barren, hopeless, desolate plains of Universalism.' This was about 1790. 'Dr. Samuel Jones, by request, prepared a letter, addressed to the churches which were then suffering, in consequence of their ministers and some of their members becoming Universalists."12 This was deemed very appropriate, and was adopted by the Association as its circular. We may reckon ten preachers, and about twenty or twenty-five societies. There are three periodical publications here: The Liberalist,' in Philadelphia, published weekly, by Rev. Z. Fuller; the Herald of Gospel Truth,' published semi-monthly, at Montrose, in Susquehanna county, by Rev. A. Peck; and 'Der Fröhliche Botschafter,' (the Messenger of Glad Tidings) a German work, which appears monthly, at Lancaster, Penn., edited by G. Grosh and Rev. J. Meyers. It is entirely devoted to Universalism, and conducted with much ability. Mr. Meyers preaches constantly, either in English or German, according to the character of the congregation. We must here mention the Philadelphia Association, and the Pennsylvania Convention. The former, originally the New York and Philadelphia Association, was formed in the city of New York, May, 1829; the latter was instituted in Columbia, Penn., May, 1832. Universalism is as yet little known in the western part of this state.

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DELAWARE. Universalism has been preached in this state. a few times, and some Universalist publications are sent in from other states. This is all we can say.

13 These extracts are made from a History of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, by Rev. H. G. Jones, A. M., now publishing in numbers in a paper called The World.'

MARYLAND. There are but few Universalists in this state, except in Baltimore. Six spirited individuals formed themselves into a society two or three years since, and invited Rev. Messrs. Dean of Boston, and Willis of Salem, Mass., to preach with them for a few Sundays. In the spring of 1831, Rev. O. A. Skinner visited the city, and after preaching several sabbaths, received an invitation to become their pastor. He removed there in the succeeding July. The society is favored with the use of a brick church in St. Paul street, called the Branch Tabernacle, containing eighty-six pews, besides the gallery. It is now well filled. Rev. S. P. Skinner also resides in the city. The Southern Pioneer and Gospel Visiter,' is published here. The first volume was in octavo; but the second, now in progress, is a quarto of eight pages, and is issued once in a fortnight. Its patronage is sufficient to ensure its successful continuance.

VIRGINIA. We have here but two or three clergymen, and a small number of societies. Of late, however, Universalism has been preached in several counties in the eastern part of the state. In the summer of 1830, Rev. J. B. Dods, now of Taunton, Mass., visited Richmond, where he spent ten weeks. Arrangements were made for building a house of worship, which has since been erected: Rev. J. B. Pitkin is settled here. Mr. Dods at the same time visited Petersburg, Portsmouth and Norfolk. In the spring of 1832 he again visited that state, and preached in Gloucester, King and Queen, Matthews and Middlesex counties. Other Universalist clergymen have preached in this state, but none so extensively. Universalism is fast finding its way among the enlightened citizens.

NORTH CAROLINA. There are Universalists scattered over this state; but, we believe, there is no preacher in its limits. Several societies were formed five or six years since, but as to their present condition we cannot speak with certainty. Rev. J. B. Dods has preached, with no little effect, in Currituck and Camden counties, and in Edenton.

SOUTH CAROLINA. There are two or three preachers of Universalism here, and a body bearing the name of the 'Southern Convention,' being a convention of the societies in North and South Carolina. Rev. Allen Fulier labors with great zeal in this and the neighboring states. He itinerates almost continually, and seems never to be weary in well