silence unworthy ministers. They are founded on the general principle already explained,* that there is an endeared relation between Christian churches, and that there ought to be mutual, kind, respectful recognition and intercommunion. The general principles which apply to them, are these:

Individuals may, of course, meet for consultation, at any time; but a council is a body composed of pastors and of delegates, appointed by several churches. Councils derive all their authority from the churches who have delegated their members to act, in a given case, as representatives of their views, each church being regarded as present in the presence of its delegates. Councils have, therefore, no inherent power. They have no authority over any church, no right to interfere with church discipline. They have the power to examine and decide the question which is committed to them, and nothing more.

A council called to ordain, install, or depose a minister, should be composed of ministers and brethren; in other cases, the presence of ministers is not indispensable.

When a council is called to ordain a candidate to the ministry, the question whether he ought to be ordained is submitted to them; they have the right to decide on his fitness or unfitness for the work; and their decision should be respected and adhered to. This being the only question submitted to them, is the only one which they have the power to decide.

So, if a council is regularly called to investigate charges against a minister, they have the power to call for proof, examine witnesses, decide whether the charges are sustained, and, if so, whether he ought to be expelled from the ministry; and their decision should be respected and adhered to by all churches and ministers.

A council should not be called to interpose in the dismissal of a pastor, unless the church and the pastor agree to submit the question to the council, and abide by their decision. A mere advisory council, which leaves all parties

* Part I, Chap. 2, Sect. 8.

to accept or reject the advice given, at pleasure, is a mere farce. Advice comes better from individuals. But a council should never be called, except to decide something.

Difficulties between a pastor and some of the deacons of a church sometimes occur, of so serious and complicated a character that the church finds itself unable to adjust them. In this case, the church may invite pastors, or brethren, from sister churches, distinguished for piety and wisdom, to aid them by their counsel, as individuals; or the parties to the difficulty may, with the consent of the church, submit certain specific questions to the decision of a council, under a mutual agreement to abide by that decision. But the church should reserve to itself all questions relative to the discipline of its members, as members, merely.

The method of calling a council, is this: The church, or churches, which agree to invite one, send letters missive to certain specified churches previously agreed upon, mentioning the object, time, and place of holding the council, and requesting the attendance of the pastor, with one or two brethren from each. Each of the letters missive should also mention what churches are to be invited to form the council. If the churches see fit to comply, they so decide by vote, and choose delegates accordingly. The delegates meet at the time and place appointed, elect a chairman and clerk, and, after prayer, proceed to examine the credentials of the members. Being thus organized, the council proceeds to consider the business for which it was called together, and when that is finished, the council is dissolved. If the subject be one of general interest, the council may, by vote, order its proceedings to be made public. This is usually necessary when an unworthy minister is deposed, in order to warn the churches against an artful and designing man. In most cases, it is proper that the members of the council should report to the churches to which they severally belong, at their next church meeting, the doings of the council.

Such, it is believed, are, substantially, the doctrines of Baptists respecting councils. Some believe that councils

should never be called, unless to assist in ordaining a minister; and it is certain that councils for other purposes are quite unfrequent among them. They all agree in maintaining that each church should perform all needful acts of discipline on its own members..

SECT. 5. Associations, and Ministers' Meetings.

An Association consists of pastors, and delegates from several neighboring churches, and meets annually, for purposes specified in its constitution. Each church sends with its pastor one or more delegates, with a letter giving a brief account of its condition and its history during the preceding year, and a statistical account of the members added, dismissed, deceased, and excluded, with such other information and opinions as may be thought of sufficient importance.

After an introductory sermon, by some person appointed at the preceding meeting, the Association is organized, by choosing a moderator and clerk. The letters are then read, and topics of interest to the churches are introduced and discussed. A "circular letter" to the churches, prepared by some one previously appointed, is read before the Association, after having been examined by a committee, and, if approved, is adopted. Delegates from other Associations are usually present, and sometimes a "corresponding letter to other Associations, containing a summary statement of the condition of the churches, is prepared and sent to corresponding bodies. Devotional exercises and preaching occupy a portion of the time. Minutes of the proceedings, with the circular letter, are printed, to be distributed among the churches.

An Association is wholly a voluntary union. No church is bound to join it. It has no authority to make laws for the churches, interfere with their discipline, nor in any manner to control them. If a church becomes disorderly, or corrupt, the Association ought, through a committee or otherwise, to endeavor to restore it to a healthful state;

and, if unsuccessful, to withdraw from it the fellowship of the body. This right and obligation arise from the fact that the church in question has violated the terms of the compact; but the Association has no other power over a disorderly church than to dissolve all connection with it.

The objects of Associations are, to promote the union of the churches by a mutual report of their condition, to increase their piety and knowledge by a season of devotion and preaching, and to look especially to the state of religion within their own borders. The objects of Associations are much more limited now than formerly, but these will always remain, and never diminish in importance. "It should be exclusively a religious meeting, for the special benefit of the associated churches, leaving to the proper organizations the adoption and execution of measures for the general good of Zion."*

When a church wishes to join an Association, it sends its delegates, with a letter; and the Association, after a satisfactory inquiry into its condition, admits it by vote, and the hand of fellowship is presented by the moderator, to its pastor or one of its delegates, acting as the representative of the church. Any church may withdraw from an Association, at any time, if it sees fit, or be dismissed, by vote, to another Association, on presenting a request to that effect.

Ministers' meetings are formed by the ministers within certain limits uniting, and agreeing to meet statedly once in two or three months, for mutual improvement, and the communication of intelligence from their respective churches. Essays, doctrinal and practical, interpretations of difficult passages of Scripture, and plans of sermons, are exhibited, for mutual remark and friendly criticism. Questions of discipline are introduced and discussed, and mutual advice and encouragement imparted. In many places it is usual to have one or more sermons preached during the meeting, which sometimes occupies nearly two days.

* Knowles's manuscript.

SECT. 6. State Conventions.

A General Association, or State Convention, is composed of delegates from each local association within the limits of a State.* Its objects are, to assist feeble churches to procure and support pastors, to maintain domestic missionaries or ministers at large within the State, to encourage the formation of new churches, to circulate the Scriptures, tracts, and useful books, to promote ministerial education; and, in some cases, the cause of foreign missions is included among them. Unlike local Associations, they usually have some method of raising funds, and employ secretaries, agents, and missionaries. Their usual character is that of a domestic missionary society; in some cases confined to the State, in others they act as auxiliaries to the Home Missionary Society.

Each convention usually holds a meeting annually, called its" anniversary," at some place previously appointed; at which a report is presented, officers chosen, including a board of trustees, to transact the business for the ensuing year, sermons and addresses are delivered, and resolutions adopted. Like local Associations, they have no power whatever to interfere with the churches. Their objects are prescribed in a written constitution, in which there is usually a clause disclaiming any form of ecclesiastical power.

SECT. 7. Voluntary Societies.

The church is the only society appointed by the Saviour for the spread of religion throughout the world. It has

*The States in which these bodies exist under the name of Baptist Conventions, are the following: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. They are called General Associations in Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Missouri.