Southern Association, Brs. R. Carrique, H. Ballou 2d, and D. Pickering.

Western Association, Brs. G. B. Lisher, R. Carrique, and S. R. Smith.

Eastern Association, Brs. R. Streeter, S. Streeter, and Wm. A. Drew.

10. The committee appointed to receive all complaints, &c.-presented two complaints, the first from Br. H. Ballou, 2d, against Br. P. Dean-the second from Br. C. Hudson, against Br. H. Ballou, of Boston.

Received requests from the Society in Stafford and Le Roy, and also from the Society in Pawlet and Wells, to be received into the fellowship of this Convention.

Voted to grant said requests.

12. The council proceeded to an examination of the charge against Br. P. Dean.

Adjourned the trial until Thursday morning.

The council then proceeded to the examination of the complaint against Br. H. Ballou.

13. Adjourned to 7 o'clock Thursday morning, prayer by Br. Wm. Underwood.

14. Thursday morning opened the council according to adjournment.

Prayer by Br. J. Foster.

15. Received a request from the Franklin Association of Universalists recently formed in the western part of Massachusetts to be received into the fellowship of this convention.

Voted that said request be granted.

16. Appointed Brs. H. Ballou, 2d. and H. H. Winchester, a committee to visit the Franklin Association at its next session.

17. Proceeded to trial on the complaint against Br. H. Ballou; and after attending to the evidence-voted to exonerate Br. Ballou, from the several charges preferred in the complaint.

18. Order of public service on Thursday morning. Br. H. Sampson introductory prayer.

Br. A. Kneeland sermon from 2 Timothy iii. 16,

"All scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

Br. J. Foster concluding prayer.

19. The committee appointed to attend to requests for letters of fellowship or ordination, reported in favor of granting ordination to Br. T. F. King-and letters of fellowship to Warren Skinner, John French, and Loring Blood.

Voted that the above report be accepted.

20. Order of the afternoon service, including the solemn ordination of Br. T. F. King.

Br. H. H. Winchester introductory prayer.

Br. H. Ballou, sermon from St. John v. 38. "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”

Br. S. R. Smith consecrating prayer.

Br. A. Kneeland the charge.

Br. P. Morse, the right hand of fellowship.

Second sermon by Br. P. Déan from 1 Timothy iv. 16. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

Concluding prayer by Br. H. Ballou.

21. The Council proceeded to an investigation of the complaint against Br. Dean; and after attending to the evidences-voted to exonerate Br. Dean from the charge preferred in the complaint.

22. The committee selected by Br. Nathaniel Smith at the last session of the Western Association, to take into consideration the case of Br. Sinith, reported that they had not found aught against him on which to found a complaint.

23. Voted that the former committee of discipline be continued the ensuing year.

24. Received a request from Br. P. Dean to withdraw from the fellowship of this Convention.

Voted that Br. Dean's request be granted.

25. Voted that the Minutes of this Convention, accompanied by a Circular, be published in the Herald

of Salvation, with a request that the editors of other periodical works should publish the same.

27. Appointed Br. Pitt Morse to prepare the Minutes for publication, and to accompany them with a Circular Letter.

27. Voted that this Convention be adjourned to meet in Strafford, Vermont, on the third Wednesday and Thursday in September, 1824.

Br. S. Miles returned thanks to the Almighty Disposer of all things, and the Convention adjourned. ABNER KNEELAND, Mod.

RICHARD CARRIQUE, Clerks.

NATHANIEL STACY,

Ministering Brethren present.

H. Ballou, A. Kneeland, H. Ballou, 2d, N. Stacy, S. R. Smith, C. G. Parson, R. Carrique, G. B. Lisher, I. Whitnal, P. Dean, T. F. King, C. Hudson, Wm. Underwood, C. Morton, J. S. Flagler, H. Roberts, H. H. Winchester, S. Adams, A. Kinsman, A. Peck, N. Smith, P. Morse, B. Hickox, S. Miles, J. Potter, O. Ackley, S. A. Skeel, A. Vandenburgh, H. Sampson, J. Gowdy, and E. Ferriss.

Received into fellowship W. Skinner, J. French, and L. Blood.

GENERAL EPISTLE.

To all Churches, Societies, and believers in fellowship with this Convention

To all who rejoice unspeakably in the faith of the eternal salvation of a sinful world through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

To all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, of every sect, name and denomination, beneath the whole canopy of heaven

To all who know not God, and sit in the region and shadow of moral death

To all the sons and daughters of wretchedness and

want

To all the ransomed family of mankind

To the vast fraternity of intelligent beings who are

connected with each other and with the supremely glorious Author of all life by an affinity as endless as existence

To all herein addressed, wherever this Epistle may come, the General Convention of Universalists, send salutations of heavenly peace-humbly and fervently beseeching the Father of boundless mercies to shed abroad the benign influences of his all-conquering love through our common Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, and the first born of every creature.

Bearly beloved Brethren,

The infinitely wise and ever gracious Parent of the universe, has kindly granted us another anniversary Convocation, and has so copiously showered on us the dews of divine grace, that we feel bound to exercise unfeigned and everlasting gratitude to Him, as the great Giver of every good and perfect gift: and we most cordially invite every sincere lover of truth, and every humble disciple of the Son of God, to participate in our spiritual joys, and partake of the riches of gospel grace, prepared in infinite mercy for all people. We were received by the brethren in the faith of the common salvation at the place of our assembling, with the liveliest expression of christian affection, which were most heartily reciprocated. The business of the Council was performed with decorum, precision, and wisdom; and though certain difficulties of a nature extremely painful, were brought before us, yet we trust that the moderation, patience, and prudence which prevailed in our Council, have produced such decisions as will terminate those unhappy and unfortunate differences, and perpetuate the peace and harmony of the Order. Two of the most able and most esteemed brethren amongst us were impeached, and it must be highly gratifying to every benevolent mind that both were exonerated. The existence of such difficulties demonstrate human frailty, and afford us all an impressive lesson for our improvement. The

We

dissolution of our connexion with Br. Dean, according to his request, produced unutterable emotions of sorrow in our hearts; but it seemed to be expedient. If one member of the body suffer, all the members suffer with it. However unpropitious any of these things may appear to our limited minds, we have every reason to believe, that under the direction of infinite wisdom, they are among those things which shall work together for the greatest good of all concerned. are aware that a bigotted world is disposed to take advantage of every untoward circumstance to point the finger of derision; but if any possess sufficient malignity to rejoice at the misfortunes of others, we beseech them seriously to consider what manner of spirit they are of. If any feel disposed to triumph because our denomination bears any mark of human imperfection-let that sect which has invariably been without difficulty among themselves, cast the first stone. [To be concluded in next No.]

UNIVERSALISM.

There are, doubtless, multitudes of people who have a partial belief in the doctrine of universal salvation; or who, at least, spend much of their lives in attempting to satisfy themselves of the truth of a system so pleasing to the natural temper of the heart. There are probably many others who so far succeed in attaining a belief of this doctrine, that while health continues and the prospects of life are flattering, they derive much consolation from the expectation which it encourages of certain happiness hereafter. And there may have been a few whose persuasion of its truth, and whose erroneous views of God's universal benevolence have been such as to shield them completely from the least apprehension of danger, even at the near approach of the King of terrors. We believe however that facts will testify that in most cases, the hope of the universalist as well as of the open infidel, will be cut off, and their trust will appear, even to themselves,