128 



CON GREGATIONALISTS. 



TOTAL EXPORTS. 



The exports show an increase of about 

 $44,500,000 over those of 1870, against an in- 

 crease of about $70,000,000 in the imports 

 the gain in export specie being some $6, 000, 000, 

 leaving nearly $39,000,000 as the gain in prod- 

 uce and merchandise. This is the foreign 

 trade of New York alone, which, in imports, is 

 about two-thirds, and in exports about 40 per 

 cent., of the foreign trade of the whole United 

 States. 



CONGREGATIONALISTS. Pursuant to a 

 call of a committee of a provisional conference 

 which was held in Boston in December, 1870, 

 a Council of Congregational churches assem- 

 bled at Oberlin, Ohio, on the 15th of Novem- 

 ber. This Council was the fifth national as- 

 sembly of the representatives of the Congre- 

 gational churches in the United States ; the 

 first having been held at Newtown, Mass., in 

 1637; the second, called the Synod of 1648, at 

 the same place in 1646-'47 and '48 ; the third 

 at Albany, N. Y., in 1852; and the fourth in 

 Boston, in 1865. Hitherto ic had been the 

 prevailing sentiment among the Congregational 

 churches, that national conventions should not 

 be called except upon special occasions of com- 

 mon concern. The Council of 1871 was called, 

 however, under the impression that a stated 

 national gathering, and a more formal mani- 

 festation of the connection of the churches 

 than had before been had, were needed. Nev- 

 ertheless, it was a subject of discussion and 

 doubt, previous to the meeting of the Council, 

 whether a permanent organization should be 

 effected. The question seems, however, to 

 have been substantially decided as soon as the 

 Council met, for the organization was effected 

 without the showing of any substantial differ- 

 ences of opinion, except on detail. The point 

 most actively debated related to the name by 

 which the body should be known, the names 

 Conference, Council, Union, Convention, and 

 Association, each receiving considerable sup- 

 port. The following constitution was adopted : 



The Congregational churches of the United States 

 by elders and messengers assembled, do now asso- 

 ciate themselves in National Council : 



To express and foster their substantial unity in 

 doctrine, polity, and work ; and 



To consult upon the common interests of all the 

 churches, their duties in the work of evangelization, 

 the united development of their resources, and their 

 relations to all parts of the kingdom of Christ. 



They agree in belief that the Holy Scriptures are 

 the sufficient and only infallible rule of religious faith 

 and practice ; their interpretation thereof being in 

 substantial accordance with the great doctrines of 

 the Christian faith, commonly called Evangelical, 

 held in our churches from early times and sufficient- 

 ly set forth by former general councils. 



They agree in belief that the right of government re- 

 sides in local churches or congregations of believers 

 who are responsible directly to the Lord Jesus Christ, 

 the one head of the Church universal and of all par- 

 ticular churches ; but that all churches, being in 

 communion one with another as parts of Christ's 

 catholic Church, have mutual duties subsisting in the 

 obligations of fellowship. 



The churches, therefore, while establishing this 

 National Council for the furtherance of the common 

 interests and work of all the churches, do maintain 

 the Scriptural and inalienable Bright of each church 

 to self-government and administration ; and this 

 National Council shall never exercise legislative or 

 judicial authority, nor consent to act as a council of 

 reference. 



And, for the convenience of orderly consultation, 

 they establish the following rules : 



Sessions. The churches will meet in National 

 Council every third year. They shall also be con- 

 vened in special session whenever any five of the 

 general associations or conferences shall so request. 

 The churches shall be represented at each session 

 by delegates, either ministers or laymen, appointed 

 in number and manner as follows : 



1. The churches, assembled in their local confer- 

 ences, appoint one delegate for every ten churches in 

 their respective organizations, and one for a fraction 

 of ten greater than one-half; it being understood 

 that, wherever the churches of any State are directly 

 united in a general organization, they may, at their 

 ites in such body, instead 

 but in the above ratio of 

 addition to the above, the 

 churches united in State organization appoint by 

 such body one delegate, and one for each ten thousand 

 communicants in "their fellowship, and one for a 

 major fraction thereof; it being recommended that 

 the number of delegates be, in all cases, divided be- 

 tween ministers and laymen, as nearly equally as is 

 practicable. 



^ Such Congregational General Societies for Chris- 

 tian work, and the Faculties of such theological semi- 

 naries, as may be recognized by this Council, may 

 be represented by one delegate each, such represent- 

 atives having the right of discussion only. 



Officers. M, the Beginning of every stated or spe- 

 cial session, there shall be chosen by ballot, from those 

 present as members, a moderator, and one or more 

 assistant moderators, to preside over its delibera- 

 tions. 



At each, triennial session there shall be chosen by 

 ballot a secretary, a registrar, and a treasurer; to 

 serve from the close of such session to the close of 

 the next triennial session. 



The secretary shall receive communications for the 

 Council, conduct correspondence, and collect such 

 facts, and superintend such publications, as may 

 from time to time be ordered. 



The registrar shall make and preserve the records 

 of the proceedings of the Council ; and, for his aid, 

 one or more assistants shall be chosen at each session, 

 to serve during such session. 



The treasurer shall do the work ordinarily belong- 

 ing to such office. 



At each triennial session, there shall be chosen a 

 Provisional Committee, who shall make needful ar- 

 rangements for the next triennial session, and for 

 any session called during the interval. 



Committees shall be appointed, and in such man- 

 ner as may from time to time be ordered. 



Any member of a church in fellowship may be 

 chosen to the office of secretary, registrar, or treas- 



