but men foresaw the coming triumph of the Union armies. New fields for Christian activity, from which Congregationalists had been practically excluded, were to be opened; and the changed conditions of the North and West demanded more vigorous work in evangelization than had ever been attempted. What were the duties of the churches was a question of vast importance. The summoning of a general council was suggested in various quarters, especially in the interior. "The Triennial Convention of the Congregational Churches of the Northwest"-a body whose special work concerned the Chicago Theological Seminary-at its meeting held in April, 1864, recorded the fact that vast regions were likely to be opened to the work of our churches, that great numbers of bondmen were to become free, and that the structure of society and of ecclesiastical organization was becoming greatly changed; and declared that the churches ought "to inquire what is their duty in this vast and solemn crisis, such as comes only once in ages, and what new efforts, measures and policies they may owe to this condition of affairs-this new genesis of nations.' It proposed that a National Congregational Convention be held. The General Association of Illinois sustained the proposal. Other State bodies followed. The committees appointed by the several State organizations met in Broadway Tabernacle, New York City, November 16, 1864. That gathering, of which Dr. Leonard Bacon was chairman, decided upon Boston as the place, and June 14, 1865, as the date, of a National Council, and provided a plan of representation through local conferences. It proposed, as subjects for consideration, the work of evangelization in the West and South, and in foreign lands; churchbuilding; education for the ministry; ministerial support; local and parochial evangelization; a statement of church polity; a declaration of faith, as held by the Congregational churches; and the classification of benevolent organizations to be recommended to the patronage of the churches; and its selected committees to present papers upon these several subjects. Upon the fourteenth day of June, 1865, this National Council assembled in the Old South Meeting-house, in Boston-the house which had resounded to the eloquence of the patriots of the Revolution, and which the British had used for a riding school. Five hundred and two members were present from twenty-five States; sixteen delegates were present from foreign lands, and fourteen persons were made honorary members. Hon. William A. Buckingham, governor of Connecticut, was chosen moderator; and Hon. Charles G. Hammond of Illinois, and Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, D. D., of New York, were made assistant moderators. The proceedings of this body, which was in session (apart from the Sabbath) ten days, covered much more than the range of the topics proposed. All the work committed to the various national denominational societies passed in review, and their necessities were considered; while generous sympathy was expressed for undenominational societies like those for the circulation of the Bible and for Sunday schools. Collegiate education, the education of ministers, and ministerial support were considered. Systematic beneficence received attention. Foreign Missions as well as Home, the building meeting-houses and parochial evangelization were discussed at length. But the condition of the country, emerging as it was from the conflict of arms, and coming into the crisis of reconstruction, proved to be the theme of absorbing interest. The opening of the South, and enfranchisement of millions of men, presented opportunities and created duties of the greatest moment. The response was earnest. It was resolved to enter upon the work which God had provided. As a beginning of contribu tions, the council advised the immediate raising of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars for general work, to which the churches afterward honorably responded. The enthusiasm which this council developed appears to have been almost the beginning of a new era. Dissensions which had existed, and differences of thought which still exist, it had been feared would make harmony in such a council almost impossible. Jealousies between different "schools" might have been expected. There was no central authority to preserve unity or to command peace. But when brethren came together from all parts of the land, and came preserving their own peculiarities of thought; meeting face to face, and in the presence of common responsibilities and duties, their faith in the one Lord dispelled all distrust. The exhibition of the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of love was complete, From that time the two "schools," as they were called, passed out of sight. Two important subjects in addition to those just mentioned were considered by the council. The first was that of church polity. A preliminary committee, consisting of Dr. Leonard Bacon and Rev. A. H. Quint, presented an elaborate platform of polity, in which the hand of the distinguished chairman was evidently prominent. This proposed platform was finally referred to a committee of twenty-five ministers and laymen, including the two already mentioned, with many brethren eminent in knowledge residing in different parts of the land. The list embraced representatives of all the theological seminaries, presidents of colleges, distinguished pastors, and laymen high in judicial position. This committee, which was to publish its conclusions at its leisure, subsequently carefully revised the proposed platform and gave it to the public. Their work was not "a polemic defense of Congregationalism, or a rhetorical commendation of it "; it was an exhaustive and careful statement of the principles and usages of our churches in their ecclesiastical government and relations. It was not the decree of any legislative power within our churches to which conformity could be required; it was the united testimony of men qualified to declare what actually exists, and carries the weight which belongs to their deliberate judgment. This platform is the only one prepared by men under the direction of the churches since the year 1648, and an examination will show that it is the best and clearest exposition of our principles and methods which now exists. The second of the two topics to which we have |