doctrine, namely, the doctrinal part of the Burial Hill Declaration of Faith, adopted by the National Council of 1865, and the creed "presented for the consideration of the churches," in 1883, by a commission of the National Council. These are given as sufficiently explaining, though not controlling, the "belief of the Congregational churches," with which the particular church is in substantial accord. The code of by-laws is particularly adapted to the needs of those who, beginning an organization, may here find such a code as may be safely adopted precisely as it reads. There has been a demand for this help among missionary churches. But these by-laws have also been carefully framed to meet the wants of older churches, which may find them suitable for their own adoption, in many cases without alteration other than their completion by filling a few blanks. It is believed to contain every point essential to the practical working of a Congregational Church. The committee considered carefully whether they should print, as part of this Manual, either of the forms for the Reception of Members recommended by the two committees of the council previously appointed. Believing, however, that neither of these forms had been widely adopted, and that there might be a still better way, your committee have ventured to suggest a form based somewhat upon those referred to, and yet not identical with either. They have endeavored to bring out more distinctly, as the constituent parts of the service, the Confession of Faith, the entering into God's covenant, entering into covenant with the church, and the reception on the part of the church. They have recognized the Apostles' Creed as more and more coming to be the acknowledged symbol of Christian unity in the Church of Christ throughout the world, but finding that in many quarters some of its words, used in an obsolete or technical sense, were objected to, have suggested what is, in the main, only a translation of these words, to be used as a substitute, presenting both forms for choice, while hoping that this revised version might in many cases be accepted as a commentary, and justify the use of the Creed in its venerable form. Proper forms for letters-missive are almost always sought for and needed by churches unaccustomed to frame such documents for themselves. Those of most frequent use, and some which there might be special hesitation to prepare alone, have been pro vided. These have been framed not altogether upon the ancient models, but with sufficient fulness and with a view to simplicity, brevity, and exactness. Of course, it is not to be understood that every sentence in the reported Manual is in the exact form preferred by every member of the committee, yet the committee is entirely united in its general approval. The committee can hardly suggest to the council what action may be desirable. It cannot expect the council to give to this proposed Manual, at the best, anything more than an expression of a favorable opinion. Nor can the phrases of such a work be settled by debate in a great body whose time it ought not to usurp. Unlike action at former sessions, in reference to documents which were to be given to the public by committees, this committee was directed to report to the council. The fact that there is pressing need of a manual of this kind suggests that immediate action is desirable. Perhaps it may be satisfactory for the council to continue the committee, with instructions to receive and consider suggestions which may be offered from any quarter, prepare an explanatory preface, perfect the work as far as possible, and secure, within a few months, its publication in an inexpensive form by our publishing society; so that churches may, if they feel so disposed, procure copies in such numbers as will avoid any necessity for special printing by those churches. The members of the committee, while engaged in this work, have been increasingly impressed with a sense of its importance, and devoutly trust that the results may promote an intelligent appreciation of our principles and methods, and may be found helpful in the accomplishment of that part of his work which God has committed to our churches. Respectfully submitted, ALONZO H. QUINT, EDWIN S. HILL, WILLIAM D. WILLIAMS, Committee. Dated, SYRACUSE, Oct. 9, 1895. THE COUNCIL MANUAL FOR A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.* MATT. XXIII. 10. CHAPTER I. BRIEF HISTORICAL VIEW. 66 The fact that the word "church" is equivalent to a particular "congregation" or "assembly" of believers at once suggests what we find in the New Testament, that the apostolic church," as an organization, was purely a local body. We find a church in Jerusalem, a church in Antioch, a church in Corinth; but when we look over a broader territory, embracing different localities, we find "churches," and not a national or provincial "church." Thus : Confirming the churches"; "The churches of Christ salute you"; "The churches of Galatia"; "The churches of Asia salute you"; "The churches of Macedonia"; "John to the seven churches in Asia"; "Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." All the churches were in fellowship, but there is no sign of any organized "church" broader than the local congregation. 66 Each of these local churches had pastors and teachers, sometimes called from their work bishops, i. e., overseers. But it is universally agreed that the word " 'bishop" in the New Testament never denotes any officer except an officer of a single local church. Its use in any other sense is not sustained by the New Testament. Each church, it is evident, had the power of discipline residing in its own membership, and not in its officers alone, and certainly not in any body outside of or above itself. The apostles had supervision, but although one vacancy was filled to make the whole number twelve who had "seen the Lord," when they died no persons were appointed to fill vacancies. The great changes through which a consolidated "church" came into being destroyed the original system. When, centuries afterward, the great Reformation began, the "churches" began to *The report as here presented has been carefully revised since the adjournment of the National Council. For the action of the Council, see pages 27 and 34. emerge from obscurity. But even the English Reformation did not complete its work. Many reformers, however, endeavored to secure a return to primitive government, but persecution attended their efforts. Many Congregationalists were fined and imprisoned. The first known modern Congregational church completely and formally organized was established in London, England, in 1592; being preceded, however, by movements in the same direction in 1580 and even as early as 1567. The last Congregational martyrs to suffer death were John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe, executed April 6, 1593, and John Penry, May 29, following. Congregationalists in England secured practical religious liberty when Oliver Cromwell, one of the greatest of their number, became ruler of England. The church in Scrooby, England, established in 1606, moved by the tyranny which insisted upon absolute uniformity of worship, - which forbade their assemblies or publications, and which imposed upon them ministers without their consent and often ignorant and immoral men, escaped through persecutions and various hindrances to Holland in 1607-8, settling in Leyden in the following year. There for eleven years they lived together "in love and peace and holiness" and in good repute, rejoicing in their religious liberty, but in obscurity and amid poverty and hardship, and troubled much by the influences which surrounded their children. They were failing also to carry out their exalted missionary purpose. For these reasons a portion of the church set sail for the western continent, and, Dec. 21 (N. S.), 1620, landed at Plymouth, Mass., most of the remainder coming a few years later. Eventually, Congregational churches were established all over New England. The State organizations date as follows: Connecticut, 1709; Vermont, 1796; Massachusetts, 1803; Rhode Island, 1809; New Hampshire, 1809; Maine, 1826. Outside of New England, beginning with New York in 1834, similar organizations have followed, in which all the churches of our order, now found in every State and Territory of the Union except Delaware, are united. Congregationalists have always believed in education. They originated the common school system of our country. Beginning with Harvard in 1636, followed by Yale, Dartmouth, Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Middlebury, - they have established colleges and universities wherever they have gone, in the West and South, until these number thirty-four outside of New England. Beginning with Andover (organized in 1808), they have seven distinc tively theological seminaries, including Bangor, Yale, Hartford, Oberlin, Chicago, and Pacific. At the beginning of this century, many leading Congregationalists opposed the establishment of Congregational churches beyond New England. They doubted whether, in the new settlements, Christians were capable of local self-government. Hence they favored the establishment of a polity which should place power in some superior judicatory. The Plan of Union adopted in 1801, finally abrogated in 1852, also lost many hundreds of churches to the Congregational body. Before the latter date, however, devoted men had begun to carry the gospel westward and southward, with the free polity of Congregationalism, and these churches have spread widely over the entire West, and measurably at the South. To this result the earnest work of the several national home societies, the Home Missionary, the American Missionary, the Church Building, the Sunday School and Publishing, and the College and Education, acting for the churches, has largely contributed. Nearly every State and Territory now has an association of the churches for practical consultation. There have been general American Congregational councils as follows: At Cambridge in 1637; at Cambridge, 1646-8; at Albany, N. Y., 1852; and at Boston, 1865. The National Triennial Council was established at Oberlin in 1871. The statistics, in part, as collected in the specified years from 1859 to 1894, are as follows: |