of fellowship, namely, Noah Murray, Abner Kneeland, Samuel Smith, and Nathaniel Stacy. I have still, in a good state of preservation, my letter of fellowship, written by Geo. Richards, and signed by Zebulon Streeter, Moderator, and Edward Turner, clerk; dated Sept., 1803. Mr. Murray was a convert from the Baptists, with whom he preached a number of years; but, many years before this, he had renounced the doctrine of Partialism, and had been proclaiming the doctrine of Impartial Grace: but never, until this time, had met and united with the Association. But, at this session, he had not only received a letter of fellowship, but ordination was conferred upon him; and he continued faithfully to proclaim the glad tidings of free grace to all mankind, until ne closed his earthly pilgrimage. His residence was in the town of Athens, Tioga Point, Pa. A few years after his death, I visited the surviving members of his family at Athens, among whom was his venerable widow, who, in the full enjoyment of the faith and hope which sustained him in the hour of his departure, was waiting that deliverance which she has long since experienced.

A

"Samuel Smith proved an unprofitable member. He travelled about in many places, among the societies and brethren, attempting to preach, but wounding the cause wherever he went. short time after I visited the State of New York, Smith came into, and was about, that country two or three months. I saw him, I believe, but once, and felt little inclination to encourage his meetings. From thence he went to Connecticut, and soon after made shipwreck of his faith (if he ever had any, which to me was very questionable) at an exciting Methodist meeting; and the last I ever heard of him was through a very singular letter from him, addressed to a friend in New Berlin, Chenango Co., New York, which afforded abundant evidence that he never entertained any correct views of the doctrine of Universalism. The ultimate course of the other two the world has already learned, or will soon be apprised of. Such were the four who received the fellowship of the Association in 1803. Two of them have certainly paid the debt of nature; and it may be safely presumed that only one of them remains a tenant of this earthly ball.

"There was a measure called for, at this time, which, in its adoption by the Council, produced considerable argument in the discussion, and no little sensation among the brethren; which was, the adoption of a written creed, or confession of faith. It became absolutely necessary, to save Universalists in New England, and particularly in New Hampshire, from clerical oppression. In those days, the Presbyterians and Congregationalists were denominated the Standing Order, and they had a legal right to tax every individual in the parish for the support of the clergy; and the only remedy the individual had, to avoid paying such tax to them, was to join some other sect, and bring a certificate from them to the Standing Order that he had joined that society, and actually paid taxes to them. This had been done, in one or more cases, in the State of New Hampshire; but, nevertheless, the Standing Order proceeded to collect the tax. Resistance was made, and the case was finally carried up to the Supreme Court, which decided that there was no such order known as Universalists, for they had no creed or profession of faith to distinguish them from the Standing Order; and they were, consequently, compelled to pay taxes to them. Our brethren felt afraid of creeds. They had read, seen and experienced, as they supposed, the distracting, illiberal, and persecuting effects of human creeds; and they wished to avoid the vortex of that whirlpool into which they had seen so many drawn to inevitable destruction. The Bible was a sufficient creed; it was all the creed they wanted — all they needed; it was sufficiently definite, and each one had an equal right to construe it for himself, while he did not deny its inspiration and authority. They felt no inclination to take upon themselves a 'yoke which neither they nor their fathers had been able to bear.' They had so far lived without a creed; and they had lived in perfect union. Now, they very much feared, should they go to making creeds, they would become divided, and, like others who had gone before them, begin to cherish an exclusive and persecuting spirit. But what should be done? They sympathized deeply with the persecuted brethren in New Hampshire; and wished, if possible, to relieve them. A committee was appointed the previous year to prepare a confession of faith, and

a platform, or constitution, of which Mr. Walter Ferris was a member; and he now presented one so unobjectionable, that it was difficult to find where the most fastidious could object to it, or how it could lead to division. A motion was made to adopt it; and probably the longest and warmest debate ensued that had ever been known in that deliberative body. It was, however, conducted throughout with the kindest feelings, but with much earnestness and considerable sensibility; tears and smiles by the attentive auditors alternately followed the pathetic appeals of the speakers on each side. Among its warmest advocates were George Richards, Hosea Ballou, Walter Ferris, and Zephaniah Laithe; and among its opposers, Edward Turner and Noah Murray. I distinctly recollect a metaphor in one of Mr. Murray's arguments, and Mr. Laithe's reply. Mr. Murray said, in allusion to the confession of faith, 'It is harmless now - it is a calf, and its horns have not yet made their appearance; but it will soon grow older its horns will grow, and then it will begin to hook.' Mr. Laithe arose, and replied, 'All that Br. Murray has said would be correct, had he not made a mistake in the animal. It is not a calf; it is a dove; and who ever heard of a dove having horns, at any age?' But the confession was adopted without alteration, I believe, as reported by the committee, through Mr. Ferris. The opposition yielding, it passed (if my memory well serves me) by the unanimous voice of the council, with a resolution appended to it to this effect,—that no alteration should ever be made, hereafter, to the confession of faith."

The Convention of 1804 met in the town of Sturbridge, Mass., in the vicinity of large bodies of Universalists. Mr. Murray,* of Boston, was present, and was elected

*Rev. N. Stacy says, in his Memoirs, "The General Convention of Universalists in New England held its annual session in the fall of 1804, in the town of Sturbridge, Mass. At this meeting, I for the first,

Moderator, and Messrs. Edward Turner and Hosea Ballou were chosen clerks. Mr. Murray preached on both days of the session, and Mr. Ballou, also, preached on the second day, from the words of Jesus, John 6: 27, “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." Universalism had begun a year or two before this to show itself in the central part of the great State of New York, then almost a wilderness. Up to this time, its growth in that state had been confined to the city of New York. At the session of the Convention in Sturbridge appeared Rev. Miles T. Wooley, who has been before mentioned in these memoirs, and who, in the summer of 1804, had found his way into the wilderness of New York. He sought counsel of the Convention in reference to the propriety of attempting to form Universalist societies among the scattered inhabitants of the then western wilderness. The Convention, we are told, “attended to a request from the brethren at Cooperstown, N. Y., for advice, and voted to advise Br. M. T.

and last, and only time in my life, saw the venerable apostle of Universalism in America, Rev. John Murray, and heard him deliver two discourses; he came in company with a man from the city of New York, by the name of Palmer, who also delivered one discourse. It was interesting, indeed, to me, to see and hear Mr. Murray. I had heard my parents often speak of him after they boldly avowed their faith in Universalism, and describe the manner of his preaching; and I had imbibed a high veneration for the man, and had a strong desire to hear the word of truth from his lips; nor were my anticipations disappointed. His manner, to me, was pleasing, and his eloquence captivating. He appeared to possess a perfect government over his own passions; riveted the attention of his hearers; carried them with him through his whole discourse, and made them feel the sensibilities of his own soul; would bring tears into their eyes, or excite their risibility, with as much ease as the words flowed from his opening lips."-pp. 104, 105.

Wooley to assist them in organizing into society relation; and to do his endeavors, by the help of God, to form societies in those western parts, and make due representation at the next General Session." *

SECTION VI.

OTHER DENOMINATIONAL MATTERS

Thus the affairs of the infant denomination went on. When we look back to the efforts of our fathers in these times, if we see anything to regret, it was a want of due care in the admission of clergymen into the order. There were so few who were ready to profess Universalism, that when any man offered himself as a preacher of the gospel, he was hailed with much satisfaction; and, although the brethren and fathers in the Convention did not mean to act in haste, there can now be no doubt that they did grant their fellowship to some who were unworthy of it, and who did the cause of universal grace much harm. But the truth, as they cherished it, was steadily progressing on every hand. Northward almost to Canada, southward to Philadelphia, eastward to the Androscoggin, and westward to central New York, there were brethren scattered abroad. The contest for their civil rights had been waged, and the victory won, in the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The brethren had agreed on a General Confession of Faith, which, although not so particular as to excite contentions among themselves, was, nevertheless, sufficiently so to answer the purposes of law, and protect them from taxation to support the doctrines of other sects. They felt encouraged, and had a consciousness of increasing strength every day.

*See Manuscript Records of the Convention.