tham; W. Scott Davis, of Contoocook; and Horace P. Chandler, of Boston Highlands.

For Missionary and Colportage Committee. — Rev. Thomas Worcester, Rev. Joseph Pettee, Rev. Warren Goddard, Messrs. Sampson Reed, Benjamin Worcester, and George B. Davis.

For Committee on Religious Education. - Rev. John P. Perry, Rev. James Reed, Rev. John Worcester, Rev. L. G. Jordan, and Mr. Francis Phelps.

The Report of the Union was taken up, and the following resolutions, offered by Mr. Jordan, were adopted:

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Resolved, That the Association receives with great pleasure the Report of the Massachusetts New Church Union for the past six months; and hereby orders it to be printed with the Journal.

Resolved, That the Societies and isolated members and receivers of the Association be earnestly recommended to aid the Union in its operations, both by calling upon it for such help as they may need, and by contributing, to the extent of their ability, to its funds.

On motion of Mr. Wright, it was

Resolved, That the Joint Committee be requested to consider the expediency of holding the meetings of this Association annually, so that the Massachusetts New Church Union may hold its annual meeting on one of the days now occupied by this Association.

The Rev. James Reed, by request, gave an account of his visit to our New Church brethren in England.

Mr. Warren offered the following resolutions, and they were adopted: Resolved, That the Association congratulates the Yarmouth Society upon the possession of the convenient and beautiful church in which the meeting of the Association has been held.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Association are hereby presented to the Yarmouth Society and the several members thereof, for their kind and generous hospitality.

Remarks having been made by Messrs. Webster, Cutler, and others, in reference to the recent terrible conflagration in Chicago, by which our brethren in that place have lost their church and almost all their consumable property, it was

Resolved, That the Presiding Officer be requested to express to our brethren in Chicago our heartfelt sympathy with them in their sorrow, and our purpose to assist them, so far as is in our power; and that it be recommended to the several societies composing this body, to take such action in furtherance of this purpose as will insure substantial evidence of our sympathy.

Voted, That the next meeting be held in Boston, on the day of the Annual Fast.

After singing the 158th selection, the Association adjourned.

THEODORE F. WRIGHT, Secretary.

REPORTS.

Report of the Joint Committee of Ministers and Laymen.

The Joint Committee respectfully report, that the subjects referred to them at the last meeting of the Association have been taken up, and will probably be reported upon at the next meeting of the Association.

They further report, that at the meeting held yesterday a letter was received from the Presiding Minister, enclosing an application from Mr. John S. Saul, of the Waltham Theological School, for a license to preach the Doctrines of the New Church. After hearing two discourses, and a further examination of the candidate, the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That this Committee unanimously and cordially recommend to the Presiding Minister to issue a license to Mr. Saul.

Communication from the Presiding Minister.

To the Massachusetts Association of the New Church:

DEAR BRETHREN,

It would be very pleasant to me to meet with you in Yarmouth, but I must beg you to excuse me, as I do not feel able to attend. I write to inform you that I have requested our brother Pettee to deliver a discourse at your meeting to-day.

Oct. 10, 1871.

With much love, I am yours,

THOMAS WORCESTER.

Report of the Massachusetts New Church Union.

In reviewing the Record of the Missionary and other work performed by the agents of the Association and Union during the six months which have elapsed since our Annual Report was presented to the Association in April last, but little appears which can furnish interesting matter for a Report at the present time.

The first Semi-Annual Report of this kind was presented to the Association at its Fall meeting in 1868, just three years ago. During the three and one-half years since the present relation of the Union and Association was established, earnest efforts have been made, through the agency of our various Missionaries, and by frequent consultations of the members of the Missionary Board, and of the Standing Committee, to ascertain how we might best apply the pecuniary means committed to our hands, to the purpose of increasing in our community such a knowledge of the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem as would lead to their reception into the heart, and development in the life.

It was felt by all, that during the last eight or ten years a great change had taken place in the attitude of the community around us, not only in

regard to the great general truths revealed to men through the writings of Swedenborg, but in their estimate of the man himself, and of those who, by accepting the truth revealed through him, have come to be regarded as his followers.

How great was this change, or how far it had opened the way for any more general application, by ourselves, of the spirit of our Lord's command, "Freely ye have received, freely give," was a question which could only be answered through the means of such experimental work as might give us some better insight into the states, and actual knowledge of the attitude, of those in the community who appear to be the leaders and directors of religious thought and opinion.

It has been made known to you, from time to time, through our reports, just what means we were taking to prosecute this work. First in importance, we well know, is the work of opening our own hearts to the knowledge and reception of the Lord's goodness and truth, if we would be the mediums of their transmission to others. It was therefore needful that every effort should be made to strengthen the life of our own societies and isolated members, in order that the strongest possible sphere of co-operation and mutual love might prevail, and our influence be that of a united band of brethren, earnest in the truth for the truth's own sake. The actual needs of our feeble societies, so far as they desired to co-operate, have been our first care. Such time as could be spared from this necessary work by our Missionaries, has been devoted by them to seeking out persons who might be favorably disposed towards the Doctrines; visiting members of all denominations, distributing books and tracts, and delivering lectures wherever it seemed likely to be useful. This work has been prosecuted throughout the limits of the Association, until the information thus obtained has furnished us with a tolerably correct view of the religious condition of the community, and its attitude towards the New Church. Most of this work has hitherto been performed by Mr. Hardon and Mr. Mayhew, our former Missionaries.

During the last six months, Mr. Dunham has been engaged in this field of labor, and his Report, which is here annexed, not only furnishes an account of what he has done, but, in a few words, lays before us the result of all which has been done in this direction during the past three years:

General Report of Missionary Work performed by C. A. Dunham, for the Six Months Ending with Oct. 1, 1871.

Since April last, sixty-four towns and villages have been visited, in which ministerial and missionary work has been done. Thirty-four discourses have been delivered, besides several which have been read in private circles.

One adult and two infants have been baptized, and one person confirmed. The sacrament of the Holy Supper has been administered seven times. Four funeral services have been performed, and one marriage service.

Most of the towns in Massachusetts known to contain isolated receivers of the Doctrines have been visited, unless they were known to have been visited by Mr. Hardon, or some other minister of the New Church, during the season.

Eight years having elapsed since, as a Missionary, the same portions of the State were visited by me which have been this year, it has afforded an opportunity to contrast, with some degree of accuracy, the state of the public mind in regard to the New Church eight years ago, and what it is at the present time. A decided change in favor of the New Church is very manifest. Repeated instances have occurred among the clergy of the evangelical denominations (so-called), where sympathy, and even agreement, with some of the fundamental Doctrines of the New Church has been expressed.

A good opportunity also has been had to judge in regard to the increase of receivers of the Doctrines in the towns visited during the last eight years. As a general thing, there does not appear to have been any increase, but, on the contrary, quite a noticeable decrease; which is accounted for by removals to the other life and to other parts of the country. The state of the public mind now appears to be such, that in almost every town and village in the State, the Doctrines of the New Church, if presented in its spirit, would be listened to with interest and respect by a large portion of the community.

Respectfully presented,

C. A. DUNHAM.

Mr. Dunham has also, from time to time, presented to the Missionary Board details in relation to his labors, which were full of interest, and which led them to feel that his efforts in this direction were productive of results highly satisfactory both to those whom he visited, and to the Association which employed him.

Soon after the April meeting, it became evident that the expected absence of Rev. Mr. Reed, in Europe, as well as that of a number of our Ministers at Convention in Chicago, together with other unexpected calls from various quarters, would make it necessary to retain Mr. Hardon in our employ, and he was therefore re-engaged for six months; during this time he has preached eleven times in Contoocook, four times in Pawtucket, three times in Mansfield, twice each at Boston and Boston Highlands, and once each at Newtonville, East Woburn, and Springfield. He has now left us, and made his home at Contoocook, where there seems every reason to believe he will find useful and satisfactory work in the care of that Society. The Society in Contoocook appearing to stand in urgent need of the services of a Minister or Reader continuously, the Union has kept them constantly supplied during the past six months; Rev. S. S. Seward and Rev. W. H. Mayhew, who spent a portion of their vacation there, relieving us to the extent of six or seven Sabbath services. We

have every reason to believe that in no way could we have performed a more substantial use, but that such new life and encouragement have been afforded them as may enable them, with the Lord's help, to maintain their position unaided for the future.

Since the dedication of the New Church at Mansfield, it has seemed particularly desirable that they should have regular services every Sabbath, the closing of churches of other denominations for the summer affording an unusual indication of the importance of the opportunity. We have therefore sent them, every week, either a minister or one of the students from Waltham; and the results appear to be eminently satisfactory, at least in helping them to establish their position as a Society, among the other religious societies of the place. It was hoped that arrangements might be made to afford them the constant care of a resident minister, who might also act as our missionary; but circumstances proved unfavorable, and they must, for the present, depend upon such other aid as we can give them.

At the Rooms, in Boston, no marked change has taken place. Mr. Richard Ward has filled the position of Librarian and General Agent to the satisfaction of all, and will still retain the position. He reports as follows:

"The Circulating Library remains about the same as last April; very few additions have been made to it. About two hundred different persons have taken out books; these have taken one hundred of Swedenborg's, and five hundred and eighteen other books. Sixty-nine new names have been entered on the list of persons taking out books.

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There have been, and are now, a few very earnest readers. Some of these come often to ask questions, and talk of the Heavenly Doctrines. A few say they have no opportunity to even mention the subject except when they visit these Rooms.

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There have been no idlers, and I think very few who come from curiosity merely.

"I have been disappointed in the number who come to the Reference Library to read there; but perhaps this may seem different during the winter months. There have been very valuable additions to this Library since April, and it now contains quite a complete list of the most useful books to the Bible student, Sabbath-school teacher, or student of Swedenborg.

"I have acted as Agent for publishing the New Jerusalam Magazine,' for which the Union is paid.

"I have also acted as the Boston Agent for the New Jerusalem Messenger,' Children's Magazine,' and Children's Paper.'

"The Union has purchased, in New York, Swedenborg's works for the Rice Fund, and distributed them to the following libraries: