to that effect. But they did not succeed in obtaining his valuable labors. I then suggested to them the probability of their being able to obtain Mr. Dean. They therefore opened a correspondence with Mr. Dean, which eventuated in his settlement in that place."

No one can fail to admire the spirit manifested by Mr. Stacy on that occasion. He had no desire to be the greatest; he was ready to welcome any man into the field of his labor who would work prudently and efficiently for the cause, even though it should make him second in the public esteem.

SECTION XXXI.

CONVENTION OF 1807.

In September of this year Mr. Ballou journeyed into Connecticut, to attend the session of the General Convention, holden at Newtown, in that state, on the 15th, 16th and 17th of September. It was undoubtedly by the influence of Solomon Glover, one of the preachers who resided there, that the meeting was holden in this place,

the first time it had ever held a session in Connecticut. Mr. Ballou, as we have said, made it his invariable custom to attend the Convention. At this session he was elected Moderator. Revs. Edward Turner, Paul Dean, and Abner Kneeland, were all present. Mr. Dean preached from Eph. 2: 19; Mr. Turner from Rom. 8: 23; Mr. Kneeland from Rom. 8: 20, 21; and Mr. Ballou gave the last sermon, from 2 Cor. 4: 5,-"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." He showed the manner in which men preach themselves, by declaring their own

*Memoirs, p. 189.

love for sinners, and desire for their salvation, to be greater than they would allow the love of God to be. They confessed, he said, that, if they had the power, they would save all men; they confessed that God had the power, but denied that he would do it. They therein represented their own love to sinners to be greater than that of the Almighty, and thus preached themselves. Mr. Ballou held, also, that men preach themselves when they preach their own creeds, which were their own invention. He then proceeded to describe the true way to preach Christ. He should be preached as God preached him in his promises, and by his prophets, -as Jesus declared himself, and as the apostles preached him. Such was the general character of the sermon on the occasion. Mr. Ballou was again appointed on a committee in regard to a new hymn-book, with Revs. Edward Turner and Abner Kneeland. He was also appointed, with James Babbitt and Paul Dean, to visit the Western Association, which was to meet at Hartwick in June, 1808. Mr. Stacy's account of this meeting shows that Mr. Ballou was present.

"We obtained the use of the Baptist meeting-house, in the village of Perth, town of Hartwick, for the session of our Association this year (1808); and it was literally filled at every exercise during this session. Mr. Ballou met with us, for the third and last time; but I cannot now recollect who were his colleagues, or whether he had any, on the committee from the General Convention this year. About this time, Mr. James Babbitt removed from Vermont into the town of Duanesburg, in this state, and commenced preaching in that town; and he also attended this Association. Mr. Ferris [namely, Edwin, brother of the deceased Walter], for the first time, took his seat in this council, and delivered one discourse.

no

“This, like the previous meetings of our Association, and all subsequent meetings certainly for many years, was a season of rejoicing, of refreshing and encouragement. There was in those days no competition for precedence or preeminence jealousies nor heart-burnings toward each other; we met in perfect harmony. Our souls were absorbed in the love of the truth; we had no selfish ends to gratify, and no places of preferment to quarrel about; no heavy salaries were offered, nor popular applause rendered, to tempt impostors to intrude upon us; we were glad to give place to those among us who could be the most useful to the great cause, which was the engrossing object of our whole souls. Indeed, we were willing to be led by the most feeble hand to the rich banqueting-house of our conquering Leader, while his banner over us was love.'"*

SECTION XXXII. THE CONVENTION HYMN-BOOK.

We come now to describe the hymn-book which Mr. Ballou was so largely instrumental in preparing. It was usually denominated the Convention hymn-book,† and contained 410 hymns. Dr. Watts' psalms and hymns were in use in this country, among all sects, at this time; but the committee thought that, in almost every instance, he extended the punishment of sin infinitely beyond the design of the inspired authors, and rendered his book unfit for Universalist societies. There were certain hymn-books which had been brought out by brethren of

*Memoirs, pp. 194, 195.

"Hymns composed by different authors, at the request of the General Convention of Universalists of the New England States and others; adapted to public and private devotion. 'As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.'- St. Paul. O praise the Lord, all ye people, for his mercy endureth forever.'-David. Second edition. Charlestown, Mass., printed for the Committee by Samuel T. Armstrong, 1810." The first edition had been printed, we believe, in 1808.

the Universalist denomination; but they had not been greatly used, and were objectionable to this committee for the views taken in many of the hymns of the great subject of atonement.* "The error," said the committee, "that atonement was necessary to reconcile our Heavenly Father to his offspring, in room of reconciling his unreconciled offspring to himself, is found in almost all the authors of divine hymns." It was, in the first place, thought best to bring out a selection from hymns of various authors, especially Watts, to which some original hymns were to have been added; and it was, we think, a just matter of regret that such a plan was not adhered to; but the committee were moved by a consideration which ought not to have influenced them at all, namely, they did not desire those who had purchased certain hymns in other books to be at the expense of purchasing them again in the new hymn-book. The result was, a book of entirely original hymns was brought out, which passed through two editions only. In the course of five years it was laid aside by most of the societies. Those who chose to give it up took Belknap's, some Watts', and some the hymn-book brought out by the Universalist

*The first Universalist hymn-book published in the United States was a reprint of the Messrs. Relly's hymns, preachers of Universalism in London, whom Mr. Murray had known before he came over to this country. The American edition came out at Burlington (supposed Burlington, New Jersey), in 1776, six years after Mr. Murray's landing. The next book came out in 1792, in Philadelphia, where Mr. Winchester had raised up a society. It was published by a committee of the Convention of Universalists, which met in Philadelphia for nearly twenty years, beginning in 1790. The next book was the one published by the Universalist congregation in Boston. - For my historical sketch of Universalist Hymn-books, see Trumpet, vol. xix. pp. 46, 50.

-

society in Boston, under the pastorship of Mr. Murray, which was loaded with hymns in regard to the Trinity, and to that view of the atonement which has always accompanied the Trinitarian theory. Three editions of this book had been published; namely, in 1792, 1802 and 1808.

Of the 410 hymns in the Convention hymn-book, 193 were written by Mr. Ballou, 138 by Mr. Kneeland, 48 by Rev. Sebastian Streeter, 23 by Silas Ballou, and 10 by Mr. Turner. It is not to be denied that Mr. Ballou had some poetic talent; but his mind was more logical than fanciful, and this propensity showed itself in the hymns. See hymn 8, verse 1:

"If Christ for sinners feels no love,

What brought him from the realms above,
To die for sinful men?

If Jesus felt no love for me,

Till I his gracious love did see,

How did that love begin?

But there are hymns which are worthy a place in any hymn-book. We offer only two or three. The following is a description of the glories which are to attend the establishment of the New Jerusalem upon earth. It is the tenth hymn.