ject may be taken up, and definitely settled. The petitioners would know, if possible, how their ordination shall be declared and determined by this body; whether an ordination into all the functions of the ministry except the authority of ordaining others; or simply an ordination into the first grade of the ministry; or whether valid in no respect whatever.

The decision of your body, determining the question in whatever way, shall be implicitly concurred in by the undersigned, and he doubts not also by Rev. S. Hough.

Your memorialist shall ever pray,

J. P. STUART.

The above memorial having been referred to the Committee on Ecclesiastical Affairs, together with so much of the Report of the Ohio Convention as relates to the ordination of Mr. Elias Yulee, said Committee reported as follows, and their report was adopted:

From documentary evidence published in the Journal of the Western Convention for 1847, pages 34 and 35, it appears that the Rev. S. H. Wills had authority granted him by the terms of his ordination, to ordain others into the ministry at the request of any regularly organized society of the New Church. It also appears, from the same Journal, page 34, that the ordination of Messrs. Hough and Stuart was requested by the New Church Societies at Columbus, Dayton, and Louisville; and Mr. Wills was then acting in connection with the Western New Church Convention. In view of these facts, the Committee are unanimously of the opinion that the ordination of these gentlemen into the ministry of the New Church has been conducted in an orderly manner, and is therefore valid.

The case of Mr. Yulee is one of entirely different character. It appears that his ordination was not performed at the request, nor with the approbation, of any regularly organized society of the New Church. And it also appears, from a private letter of Rev. S. H. Wills, under date of Nov. 14th, 1848, in the hands of your Committee, that the ordination was conducted by him under a false impression that the persons who requested it were the representatives of the Cincinnati Society of the New Church. And Mr. Wills declares that he should not have granted the application of Mr. Yulee, “had he not entirely misunderstood the grounds on which it was made."

Your Committee are therefore of opinion, that, inasmuch as one condition essential to the validity of the ordination of Mr. Yulee, namely, the request or approbation of some regularly organized society of the New Church, was wanting in this instance, therefore the act is to be regarded as invalid. All which is respectfully submitted.

Invitation to the Rev. Mr. De Charms.

The following, offered by Rev. Mr. Barrett, was adopted:

Whereas, it is understood that Rev. Mr. De Charms, of Baltimore, is in the city at this time, therefore,

, Voted, That the same invitation to attend the meeting of this Convention, which was sent to Rev. Mr. Benade yesterday, be extended to Rev. Mr. De Charms; and that a messenger be appointed by the chair, to present this invitation to Mr. De Charms.

The Secretary shortly afterwards read a letter from Mr. De Charms, expressing his regret at being unable, from previous arrangements, to accept the invitation tendered him.

Invitation to the First Society.

On motion of Dr. Small: Resolved, That the First Society of the New Jerusalem in Philadelphia, under the pastoral charge of the Rev, Wm. H. Benade, be invited to partake of the most holy ordinance of the Lord's Supper with the Convention at its meeting for that purpose on next Sabbath afternoon.

Responsibility of the Convention on a particular point.

Resolved, That this Convention does not regard itself, and does not wish to be regarded, as responsible for the views contained in the address prepared by a Committee appointed by the Convention, and published in the New Je rusalem Magazine for September, 1840.

Memorial and Report on the proposed Gift of a Site for a N. C. Seminary. Rev. Mr. Stuart presented to the Convention the following memorial:

To the President of the General Convention of the New Church in the United States:

MY DEAR SIR-I wish to lay before you, and the body over which you preside, as being the most general organized body of the New Jerusalem in this country, the propositions herein mentioned and herewith submitted, in regard to the establishment of a New Church University in Ohio.

During my last missionary visit to Urbana, Colonel James, of that place, presented me with the following, which I now submit to you,

To the Rev. J. P. Stuart,

viz:

DEAR SIR-I will give ten acres of ground for the site of a New Church University, to be selected from lands about the town of Urbana, and so chosen that the selection shall always be regarded as a proper one, both with refer ence to the ground itself, and to its proximity to the town. I regard the land I offer as worth $1000. Í stipulate that the sum of $2000 shall be contributed by others within one year, and that some building suitable for a school be erected within three years. And I express the wish that the buildings shall be substantial, plain, and of handsome proportions, without ambitious display. JOHN H. JAMES.

Urbana, March 26, 1849.

This, then, is the proposition of Colonel James; and it is here submitted, in order that if an attempt is made to meet the stipulations, it may from the first fall under the most general supervision and patronage of the Church. Many of our brethren in Ohio think that the time has come to take the incipient step in the work herein contemplated; and it is believed, that if proper measures are taken, the requisite funds will be forthcoming.

In passing through Dayton, on my way here, I presented this to our brother, M. G. Williams: I submit herewith his testimony on the subject. I submit, whether we may not look to your body for taking the general lead in this Respectfully and truly, yours,

measure.

J. P. STUART.

The Committee to whom the above was referred brought in a report embracing the following resolutions, which were adopted:

Resolved-1. That this Convention learns with much satisfaction the proposition of Colonel John H. James, of Urbana, Ohio, and being deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of the object which is contemplated, would express the sincere hope that the conditions on which that bequest depends may be complied with.

Resolved-2. That in furtherance of this end, it be recommended to the Ohio Association to appoint Trustees to receive such sums as may be contributed for this object, and to take such other steps in regard to it as may seem expedient.

Whether more than one Ordination be necessary.

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Reed and adopted:

Resolved, That the Committee on Ecclesiastical Affairs be requested to consider whether more than one ordination be essential or expedient; and if it be not so regarded, whether a Pastor should be introduced into the second grade

of the ministry by some appropriate religious ceremony; and if it be thought that he should, what this ceremony should be, and how it should be performed, and report to the next Convention.

Report of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence.

The Committee of Foreign Correspondence respectfully report:

That they have not received many letters from abroad during the last year, but those which have reached us concur with the general information derived from other sources, in representing the condition of the Church in England and on the continent of Europe, as calm and prosperous, though not making any apparent rapid progress. We add some extracts from an interesting letter received from our respected brother, Dr. Tafel. We are certain that the whole Church will sympathise with the regrets of Dr. Tafel, if, as he fears, the manuscripts of Swedenborg must be returned to Stockholm, unpublished.

Conference of the New Church in Germany.

The following resolutions, offered by Mr. Sampson Reed, were adopted: Resolved-1. That this Convention views with gratification the formation of a Conference of the New Church in Germany, and that it extends its cordial congratulations to that body.

Resolved-2. That the Secretary do send to Dr. Tafel, for the use of that body, such number of copies of the Journal, as the Committee on the Journal think proper.

Resolution respecting the Ratio of Representation.

Resolved, That Article I. Section IV. of the Rules of Order, be amended, so that all bodies entitled to be represented at Convention shall be entitled to send two delegates; and every body numbering fifty members shall be entitled to three delegates, and one additional delegate for every additional fifty members; provided, however, that no society or other associated body shall be entitled to more than seven delegates; and provided also that whenever the delegates from any three societies request it, the vote on any question affecting the societies as such, shall be taken by societies, and the question determined by a majority of the societies represented.

Respecting the Solemnization of Marriage.

Resolved, That when the laws of a State do not require that the minister performing the marriage ceremony should be a settled minister, a minister of the first grade, as defined in the Rules of Order previous to their amendment at the present Convention, may perform it when requested.

The Mode of giving out the Invitation to the Holy Supper.

Rev. Mr. Barrett presented the following resolution which was adopted.

Whereas we learn from No. 722 of the True Christian Religion by Emanuel Swedenborg, "that they approach the Holy Supper worthily who are under the influence of faith towards the Lord, and of charity towards their neighbor," therefore,

Resolved, That, in giving public notice from the pulpit of the time and place of celebrating the Holy Supper by this Convention, the President be requested to extend the invitation to all those who have received the ordinance of Baptism, and who humbly trust that they belong to the class of persons here designated by our illumined teacher.

The yeas and nays on this question were as follows:

Yeas: Messrs. Gerrish, Rodman, Miller, M'Craith, Carll, Burnham, Ballinger, Lever, Sidebotham, Snyder, Small, Barrett, Silver, Fox, and Worrell.

Nay Mr. Close.

Messrs. Reed, Seddon, and Stuart, declined voting; and Messrs. Lowell, Wilkins, Curtis, Hobart, Hastings, Krewson, Glenn, and Kent were absent.

On the Necessity of Re-Baptism.

Rev. Mr. Barrett offered the following Preamble and Resolution: Whereas the necessity of re-baptism, as it is called, as introductory to the New Church, (i. e. of the baptism of the New Church Minister, of one who may have previously received that holy ordinance at the hands of a minister of the Old Church) is nowhere distinctly taught either in the Word of the Lord, or in the doctrines of the New Jerusalem given to enable us the better to understand the Word: therefore

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, the Ministers and Societies of the New Church ought to be left in perfect freedom to adopt and pursue such a practice in relation to the subject of re-baptism as they may deem most proper and useful.

Pending the discussion of the above Resolution, the following substitute was introduced and adopted:

Resolved, That though this Convention recommends re-baptism, it wishes to leave the Ministers and Societies of the New Church free in regard to the subject.

Resolution respecting one of the leading Objects of the Convention.

Rev. Mr. Barrett offered the following, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the publishing of the doctrines of the New Jerusalem as contained in the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, the founding of New Church Libraries, and supplying other libraries with the writings of the Church, the support of New Church missionaries, and the supplying of such missionaries with suitable books and tracts for sale or distribution, be determined on as among the leading objects of this Convention.

Resolutions respecting the Turner Legacy.

Resolved-1. That the Treasurer be authorised to take all suitable and proper steps to obtain the amount of the legacy left to the Convention by the late O. P. Turner of Vermont; and to execute all proper receipts or discharges for the same.

Resolved-2. That when said legacy shall be received, the Treasurer be authorised to pay to Hon. Josiah Turner, of Michigan, the sum of eight hundred dollars; and to pay Mr. John Allen for twenty-five copies of the Apocalypse Explained, to be distributed by the Book Committee, agreeably to resolutions Nos. 48 & 49 of Journal, 1847; and to invest the remainder in a safe manner, until further order of the Convention.

Whereas occasions may occur when the Treasurer may wish advice in regard to the obtaining and disposing of this money, therefore

Resolved-3. That Sampson Reed and J. G. Davis be a Committee of advice in such cases.

In relation to the amount of the above legacy and its present condition, the Treasurer, in his annual report, states that the will of Mr. Turner has been contested, and a suit at law is the consequence. He has been once to Vermont to attend a Probate Court, before which the case was being tried, and he informs the Convention that after settling the account of the Executors, there remains in their hands a trifle over $7,000, which, by the terms of the will, should come to the General Convention; and the Judge has decreed, after taking a long time for consideration, that it shall be so paid. From this decree the guar dian of Mr. Turner's child has appealed, and the case will come on for trial next December. The Treasurer recommends that authority be granted him by the Convention to take all necessary and proper steps to secure the amount of this bequest.

Respecting Pastoral and other Addresses.

Dr. Small offered the following, which was adopted:

Whereas it has been the custom of this Convention heretofore to appoint persons and Committees to act as the organ thereof in addressing communications to the church at large, and to foreign New Church associations, without requiring an act of approval of such communications before being sent, therefore,

Resolved, That whenever any individual or Committee is charged with the duty of making a pastoral address to societies and receivers in this country, or of addressing any New Church body in this country or any other, in behalf of the Convention, such address as the individual or Committee may prepare to send shall first be submitted to the Convention for its adoption.

Address from the President at the Meetings of the Convention.

Resolved, That the first thing in order at each annual meeting of this Convention be a public Address from the President, (or from some other minister previously appointed by him or by the Convention,) together with such other religious exercises as the speaker may deem proper; and that such annual Address, after receiving the approbation of the Convention, be published with the Journal of Proceedings.

Abolition of the first Grade in the Ministry.

On motion of S. Reed,

Resolved-1. That that which has been regarded as the first grade in the ministry be hereafter abolished, and that for the present there be two grades only; and that those of the first grade (formerly the second) be called Pastors or Missionaries, and those of the second (formerly the third) be called Ordaining Ministers.

Resolved-2. That the above resolution shall not affect the powers conferred by the act of ordination upon any individual now in the ministry.

Voted, That the Secretary, with the aid of the President, alter the Rules, Recommendations, and Resolutions of the Convention, in conformity with the above resolution.

Closing Services on the Sabbath.

The Convention met Sunday afternoon, June 17, for religious services agreeably to adjournment; and the President officiated at public worship, and preached a sermon from Luke xxiv. 27, 30, 31, 32.

The President then ordained Mr. Abiel Silver and Mr. Jabez Fox as Missionaries, agreeably to a foregoing resolution of the Convention.

The President, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Seddon and Worrell, then administered the Holy Supper to about one hundred communicants. This closed the session of the Convention.

We should have been glad had our space allowed the insertion of the Reports of Societies, but as it is we give only that of the New-York City Society, with a view to make some remarks upon it.

Report of the New York City Society.

This Society numbers one hundred and twelve members. Since our report to the Convention in 1848, six persons have been admitted as members, and five members have withdrawn for the purpose of joining other Societies. There has been but one baptism (an adult) during the past year.

Professor Bush has continued to conduct our public worship since our last report. On the 20th of August, 1848, at the request of the Society, Professor Bush was ordained as our pastor, by Rev. Lewis Beers. He was also at the