the blessed God, for the instruction and edification of our churches," in March, 1884, submitted to the churches the following:

STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE.-I. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things, visible and invisible;

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who is of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made:

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who is sent from the Father and Son, and who, to gether with the Father and Son, is worshiped and glorified.

II. We believe that the providence of God, by which he executes his eternal purposes in the government of the world, is in and over all events; yet so that the freedom and responsibility of man are not impaired, and sin is the act of the creature alone.

III. We believe that man was made in the image of God, that he might know, love, and obey God, and enjoy him forever; that our first parents, by disobedience, fell under the righteous condemnation of God; and that all men are so alienated from God that there is no salvation from the guilt and power of sin, except through God's redeeming grace.

IV. We believe that God would have all men return to him; and to this end he has made himself known, not only through the works of Nature, the course of his providence, and the consciences of men, but also through supernatural revelations made especially to a chosen people, and above all, when the fullness of time was come, through Jesus Christ his Son.

V. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the record of God's revelation of himself in the work of redemption; that they were written by men under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit; that they are able to make wise unto salvation; and that they constitute the authoritative standard by which religious teaching and human conduct are to be regulated and judged."

VI. We believe that the love of God to sinful men has found its highest expression in the redemptive work of his Son; who became man, uniting his divine nature with our human nature in one person; who was tempted like other men, yet without sin; who, by his humiliation, his holy obedience, his sufferings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection, became a perfect Redeemer; whose sacrifice of himself for the sins of the world declares the righteousness of God, and is the sole and sufficient ground of forgiveness and of reconciliation with him.

VII. We believe that Jesus Christ, after he had risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, as the one mediator between God and man, he carries forward his work of saving men; that he sends the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin, and to lead them to repentance and faith; and that those who, through renewing grace, turn to righteousness, and trust in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer, receive for his sake the forgiveness of their sins, and are made the chil

dren of God.

VIII. We believe that those who are thus regenerated and justified, grow in sanctified character through fellowship with Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the truth; that a holy life is the fruit and evidence of saving faith; and that the believer's hope of continuance in such a life is in the preserving grace of God.

IX. We believe that Jesus Christ came to establish among men the kingdom of God, the reign of truth and love, righteousness and peace; that to Jesus Christ, the Head of this kingdom, Christians are directly responsible in faith and conduct; and that to him all have immediate access, without mediatorial or priestly intervention.

X. We believe that the Church of Christ, invisible and spiritual, comprises all true believers, whose duty it is to associate themselves in churches, for the main

XI. We believe in the observance of the Lord's

day, as a day of holy rest and worship; in the ministry of the Word; and in the two sacraments, which Christ has appointed for his church: Baptism, to be administered to believers and their children, as the sign of cleansing from sin, of union to Christ, and of the impartation of the Holy Spirit; and the Lord's Supper, as a symbol of his atoning death, a seal of his efficacy, and a means whereby he confirms and strengthens the spiritual union and communion of

believers with himself.

XII. We believe in the ultimate prevalence of the kingdom of Christ over all the earth; in the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; in the resurrection of the dead; and in a final judgment, the issues of which are everlasting punishment and everlasting life.

The commission also submitted for the use of the churches in the admission of members, the following:

CONFESSION OF FAITH.-"What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people."

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father, which is in heaven."

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Dearly beloved, called of God to be his children, through Jesus Christ our Lord, you are here, that, in the presence of God and his people, you may enter into the fellowship and communion of his Church. You do truly repent of your sins; you heartily receive Jesus Christ as your crucified Saviour and risen Lord; you consecrate yourselves unto God, and your life to his service; you accept his Word as your law, and his Spirit as your Comforter and Guide; and trusting in his grace to confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, you promise to do God's holy will, and to walk with this church in the truth and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accepting, according to the measure of your understanding of it, the system of Christian truth held by the churches of our faith and order, and by this church into whose fellowship you now enter, you join with ancient saints, with the Church throughout the world, and with us, your fellow-believers, in humbly and heartily confessing your faith in the gospel, saying:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

(Then should baptism be administered to those who have not been baptized. Then should those rise who would unite with the church by letter. To them the minister should say :)

nant.

Confessing the Lord whom we unitedly worship, you do now renew your self-consecration, and join with us cordially in this, our Christian faith and cove(The members of the church present should rise.) We welcome you into our fellowship. We promise to watch over you with Christian love. God grant that, loving and being loved, serving and being served, blessing and being blessed, we may be prepared, while we dwell together on earth, for the per

fect communion of the saints in heaven.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

(Jude 24, 25 is proposed as an alternative benediction.)

Congregationalists in Great Britain.-The English "Congregational Year-Book" for 1884 reports 4,015 Congregational churches in England and Wales, of which 998 were in the principality; 101 churches in Scotland; 29 in Ireland; and 13 in the islands in the British seas; besides a large number of evangelistic stations in Scotland and Ireland; making a total of 4,158 churches in the British Islands. The colonies returned 683 churches and preaching-stations. Nineteen new churches were formed during 1883, and 68 new chapels built, or old ones enlarged; 4 mission-halls and 31 new schoolrooms were erected, and 21 chapels and 10 schools begun. The colleges of the denomination returned 451 students in training for the ministry, and ten missionary institutions in heathen lands returned about 300 native theological students.

London Missionary Society.-The annual meeting of the London Missionary Society was held May 15th. The receipts of the society for the year had been £91,414 for general purposes, and £11,148 of special contributions; the expenditures had been £113,402. A large number of deputation visits had been made by the society's agents to the various foreign fields. The foreign secretary had thus visited India, China, and South Africa.

Congregational Union of England and Wales.-The fifty-second annual spring meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales was held in London, May 12th. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Rees, of Swansea, was elected President of the Union for the year. The Executive Committee reported that the subscriptions to the Jubilee fund, to March, 1884, had amounted to £305,673. The churches in the Australian colonies had also resolved on the institution of a Jubilee fund, and had obtained £100,000 to be applied to the freeing of chapels from debt and to other objects. The report described a scheme for the education of the young in Bible knowledge which it was proposed to bring before the churches. The subject of lay agency, to which some attention had been paid, was dismissed with the remark that it was outside the sphere of the Union to erect a quasi-ecclesiastical authority in the matter, which had bet

ter be left to the unfettered action of the churchlectures in university towns, under the joint es. The project for delivering non-conformist auspices of the Baptist and Congregational Unions, had not, so far, fulfilled the hopes of its originators. The committee, however, were much encouraged to learn that a few men of eminence at the universities, though not themselves non-conformists, and looking not to the interests of non-conformity, but to the interests of the universities as seats of learning, and to the present condition of religious faith in England, were prepared to welcome the lecturers. The Union had, in conference with the London Missionary Society, resolved upon certain grants to the West Indian churches, and it was prepared, whenever possible, to advocate the claims of that society to support, by reason of its general work. A resolution was adopted in favor of the motions pending in Parliament for the disestablishment of the churches in Wales and Scotland. The Rev. Joseph Parker, D. D., retiring President of the Union, was authorized to convey to Mr. Gladstone, as prime minister, a formal expression of its unabated confidence in him.

The autumnal assembly of the Union met in London, October 7th. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Parker presided. The committee of the Jubilee fund reported that the amount paid in on its account exceeded £350,000. This was £70,000 more than the amount reported in the previous year. Resolutions were adopted recommending the commemoration of the quincentenary of Wycliffe, which would occur in 1884, by sermons on the second Sunday in December, by lectures and public meetings, and by such other means as might be considered most effective. A determination reported by the Colonial Missionary Society to attempt Congregational work among English residents and travelers on the Continent of Europe, was approved. The president delivered an address on the subject of "The Larger Ministry," the aim of which was to show that many men were in the ministry who were not in the pulpit, including in this class Christian legislators, journalists, schoolmasters, lecturers, and philanthropists. Specially appointed papers were read by the Rev. George Sale Reaney and the Rev. Thomas Green, on "The Relation of the Churches to Recent Movements of Thought in regard to the Social and Moral Condition of the Poor." Other papers were read on "What the Churches owe to the Colleges," by Prof. F. E. Anthony; and on "What the Churches expect from the Colleges," by the Rev. R. Craig. The report of the Congregational Total Abstinence Association showed that 1,385 out of 2,589 ministers of the denomination, and 309 out of 354 students in the 12 Congregational colleges, had taken the pledge.

Congregationalists in New South Wales.-The anniversary of the institution of the Congregational jubilee fund, in New South Wales, was celebrated in Sydney by a public demonstra

tion, when the committee reported that $92,015 of the subscriptions had been paid in during the year, and that the debts of six churches had been extinguished. The denominational debts, including expenditures, amounted to £50,290, while the total promises to the jubilee fund, up to the date of the report, were returned at £37,828.

CONGRESS, UNITED STATES. The first session of the Forty-eighth Congress began on Monday, Dec. 3, 1883. The following is a list of members. The dates prefixed indicate the expiration of their terms; the letters D. and R. indicate their politics:

Georgia.

5, Nathaniel J. Hammond, D. 6, James H. Blount, D. 7, Judson C. Clements, D. 8, Seaborn Reese, D. 9, Allen D. Candler, D.

Illinois.

R.

11, William H. Neece, D. 12, James M. Riggs, D. 13, William M. Springer, D. 14, Jonathan H. Rowell, R. 15, Joseph G. Cannon, R. 16, Aaron Shaw, D. R. 17, Samuel W. Moulton, D.

18, William R. Morrison, D. 19, R. W. Townshend, D. 20, John R. Thomas, P.

Henry W. Slocum, D. 1. Perry Belmont, D. 2. William E. Robinson, D. 8. Darwin R. James, R.

4. Felix Campbell, D.

5. Nicholas Muller, D.

6, Samuel S. Cox, D.

7. William Dorsheimer, D. 8. John J. Adams, D. 9. John Hardy, D. 10, Abram S. Hewitt, D. 11, Orlando B. Potter. D. 12, Waldo Hutchins, D. 13, John H. Ketcham, R. 14, Lewis Beach, D.

17, Henry G. Burleigh, R.
18, Frederick A. Johnson, R.
19, Abraham X. Parker, R.
20, Edward Wemple, D.
21, George W. Ray, R.
22, Charles R. Skinner, R.
23, J. Thomas Spriggs, D.
24, Newton W. Nutting, R.
25, Frank Hiscock. R.
26, Sereno E. Payne, R.
27, James W. Wadsworth, R.
28, Stephen C. Millard, R.
29, John Arnot, D.

30, Halbert S. Greenleaf, D. 81, Robert S. Stevens, D. 15. John H. Bagley, Jr., D. 32, William F. Rogers, D. 16, Thomas J. Van Alstyne, D. 83, Francis B. Brewer, R.

Mortimer F. Elliott, D. 1, Henry H. Bingham, R. 2, Charles O'Neill, R. 3, Samuel J. Randall, D. 4, William D. Kelley, R. 5, Alfred C. Hariner, R. 6, James B. Everhart, R. 7, Isaac Newton Evans, R. 8, Daniel Ermentrout, D. 9. A. Herr Smith, R. 10, William Mutchler, D. 11, John B. Storm, D. 12, Daniel W. Connolly, D. 18, Charles N. Brumm, Gr. R.

14, Samuel F. Barr, R. 15, George A. Post, D. 16, William W. Brown, R. 17, Jacob M. Campbell, R. 18, Louis E. Atkinson, R. 19, William A. Duncan. D. 20, Andrew G. Curtin, D. 21, Charles E. Boyle, D. 22, James H. Hopkins, D. 28, Thomas M. Bayne, R. 24, George V. Lawrence, R. 25, John D. Patton, D. 26, Samuel H. Miller, R. 27, Samuel M. Brainerd, R. Rhode Island.

Organization. The Senate was called to order by the president pro tempore, George F. Edmunds. Dec. 13, 1883, that gentleman, Senator Ingalls being in the chair, offered a resolution that the Senate proceed to elect a president pro tempore; Jan. 14, 1884, the resolution was carried, and Henry B. Anthony was chosen. This action was taken out of compliment to Mr. Anthony, who seemed entitled to the honor by length of service, but was known to be unfit for the position on account of the precarious condition of his health. When elected, he immediately declined to accept the position tend. ered, and Mr. Edmunds was once more chosen president pro tempore, the Democrats voting for George H. Pendleton. There was some discussion as to whether any vacancy existed after the declination of Mr. Anthony. It was the opinion of Messrs. Sherman, Hoar, and Dawes, that no vacancy had been made by the election of Mr. Anthony, though as a measure of precaution they were willing to re-elect Mr. Edmunds. They did not deny the right of the Senate to change its presiding officer at any time. Messrs. Ingalls and Bayard maintained that the election of Mr. Anthony and his declination left the position vacant ipso facto. Mr. Jones, of Florida, argued that no vacancy existed when Mr. Anthony was chosen, and that none could exist except through the resignation of Mr. Edmunds. He said: "The Senator from Kansas a while ago stated that it had been the custom for this body to exercise its power of removing its presiding officer. I think that that rule has been one of very recent date. I think, sir, that the history of this body will show that the best minds that ever occupied seats in it were, until a few years ago, clearly of the opinion that when the Senate elected a Senator to the position of president pro tempore of this body in the absence of the Vice-President of the United States, or when he entered the presidential office, he should hold until the office became again constitutionally vacant. That was the deliberate opinion of no less a man than William H. Seward, expressed on this floor."

Dec. 18, 1883, the following officers of the Senate were chosen: Anson G. McCook, of New York, Secretary: Charles W. Johnson, of Minnesota, Chief Clerk; James R. Young, of Pennsylvania, principal Executive Clerk; the Rev. Elias De Witt Huntley, of the District of Columbia, Chaplain; William P. Canaday, of North Carolina, Sergeant-at-Arms. These officers were appointed by resolution, and selected by a strict party vote; some of the Democratic Senators opposed any change

28, 1883 August 31, 1888 November 27, 1882 August 25, 1883 November 30, 1882 September 5, 1883 March 4, 1683

+ Resigned.

Successor.

James T. Jones. John C. Cook. Edward T. Lewis.

Joseph D. Taylor. C. T. O'Ferraйl. Charles P. Snyder.

of Senate officers as inconsistent with the civilservice reform legislation of the previous Congress.

The House of Representatives organized by choosing John G. Carlisle, of Kentucky, Speaker, Dec. 3, 1883. He received 190 votes against 113 votes for J. Warren Keifer, of Ohio. George D. Robinson received two votes, and Messrs. Lacey, Wadsworth, and Wise, one each. Thirteen members failed to vote. The following subordinate officers were chosen December 4: John B. Clark, Jr., of Missouri, Clerk; John P. Leedom, of Ohio, Sergeant-at-Arms; J. G. Wintersmith, of Texas, Door-keeper; Lycurgus Dalton, of Indiana, Postmaster; Rev. J. S. Lindsay, of the District of Columbia, Chaplain.

As the election of Mr. Carlisle to the speakership was the result of a sharp contest within the lines of the Democratic party, which seemed to involve the issue of tariff legislation, much political significance was attached to the following paragraph of Mr. Carlisle's speech on taking the chair:

"I am sure, gentlemen, that all matters of legislation presented during this Congress will receive from you such careful consideration as the magnitude and character of the interests involved require, and that your action upon them will be wise, conservative, and patriotic. Sudden and radical changes in the laws and regulations affecting the commercial and industrial interests of the people ought never to be made unless imperatively demanded by some great public emergency, and in my opinion, under existing circumstances, such changes would not be favorably received by any considerable number of those who have given serious attention to the subject. Many reforms are undoubtedly necessary, and it will be your duty, after a careful examination of the whole subject in all its bearings, to decide how far they shall extend, and when and in what manner they shall be made. If there are any who fear that your action upon this or any other subject will be actually injurious to any interest, or even afford reasonable cause for alarm, I am quite sure that they will be agreeably disappointed."

The President's Message.-The third annual message of President Arthur was submitted to Congress, Dec. 4, 1883, as follows: To the Congress of the United States:

At the threshold of your deliberations 1 congratu late you upon the favorable aspect of the domestic and foreign affairs of this Government.

Our relations with other countries continue to be