likely to be most competent to judge, to be tried by a jury of his peers.

In these matters Congregationalism still lacks something of complete consistency; but it is only fair to remember that the inconsistency is not wholly of our own making. We are making it less, instead of greater.

Problems in Process of Solution. There are some problems to which our changing system has not yet adjusted itself in an entirely logical and satisfactory manner. Some of these relate to ministerial standing; and one of the most difficult is that of a minister's place, as a minister, in an association.

In early New England there were Conferences of churches, and Associations of ministers, covering the same territory, and quite independent of each other and of the churches. In Connecticut there were Consociations of ministers and churches, but these met with little favor outside of that state. If our present status is not wholly consistent, it is at least a comfort to know that it is as nearly so as it ever has been. Dr. Dexter thus records the status of the Association and the Conference as it was thirty years ago:

"A ministerial association is a voluntary club of the ministers of a neighborhood. They usually meet in turn at each others' houses, twice, thrice, or four times a year, spending a day or more together in fellowship and in seeking each others' better acquaintance and mental, moral, spiritual and professional improvement.

"It is probably always laid down in their fundamental law, that in no case shall they undertake any authority over the churches. Yet in two respects, for convenience's sake, they have gradually come to be the depositaries of a quasi power, which when suitably managed is of most beneficial character and influence. From the early days of New England the churches,

distrusting their own qualifications to test fairly and fully the capacity and promise of young men presenting themselves as candidates for their pulpits, have tacitly agreed that it is wise for such candidates to pass under the judgment of those who are to be presumed to be experts, so that it has long been the regular Congrega. tional practice for students intending to enter our ministry to present themselves for examination as to culture and character to some association of ministers, whose certificate of approval becomes thereafter their sufficient commendation to the churches. Of late years there has been also a disposition through these associations to make ministers to an important degree the custodians of each others' professional character. Although an association is a purely voluntary club, it has yet the right to limit rigidly its membership to pastors, acting pastors, and ex-pastors of orthodox and unblemished reputation; and should one of its members lapse into irregularity of belief or looseness of life, while it cannot try or depose him, it can say that it no longer esteems his professional character regular, his presence desirable, or his membership agreeable, and can turn him out. And by including in the annual officially published lists of Congregational ministers, only those whose names are returned from each State as being in good and regular standing in the Congregational associations of that State, some approximation at least is made toward a list weeded of pretenders and reprobates; inasmuch as each man stands substantially upon the indorsement of his ministerial neighbors, as one regarded by them as worthy to be, and to abide, in their fellowship.

"The several district associations are in most of the States affiliated in State associations, meeting once a year.

"As neighboring pastors are joined in district associ

ations, so their churches are joined in district conferences; usually meeting twice a year for mutual acquaintance, discussion, advice, prayer, and praise. It is always a first principle of such a conference, that there shall be no interference in the way of attempted control with the churches."-Congregational Handbook, pp. 123-124.

An Early Association. In searching for the earliest preserved constitution of an association of ministers, Dr. Dexter found one in manuscript in the Congregational Library, dating from 1761, and thought it sufficiently modern for 1880, and for the future:

"Rules for an Association of Ministers, adopted in 1761 in the Old Colony in Massachusetts, and very good for the uses of the present day. [From Orig. MSS. in Cong. Lib., Boston.]

"We do now solemnly form ourselves into a Religious Association-after ye laudable practice formerly used by ye Body of ye Ministers in this county-and severally agree and determine by ye will of God to associate ourselves together four times in ye compass of a year, viz: The 1 Wednesday in Feby.; ye 1 Wednesday in May; ye 1 Wednesday in August, and ye 1 Wednesday in November, with a view to promote Religion in ourselves & among our People; & we agree that ye Association shall be under ye following regulations, in general:

"1. We will endeavor to order ye Business of our families & of our particular callings in such a manner before hand as that we may attend ye Association at ye time & place appointed, with as little Inconveniency as may be.

2. At each meeting we will choose a Moderator & also a Scribe to keep the minutes of ye Transactions of ye Association.

"3. In as much as ye revival of Religion depends

upon ye outpourings & gracious Influence of ye Spirit of God, for which He hath said yt He will be enquir'd of by ye house of Israel, therefore we will (if other nessary Buisness dont prevent) spend a very Considerable part of our time in prayer therefor.

4. We will have at least one publick Sermon preach'd for ye Benefit of ye people in ye Town where we shall meet, by such of our Number as we shall nominate.

5. We will consult from time to time what measures we Judge will most Conduce to revive Religion in our selves & among our people, & also assist one another in difficult Cases.

"6. If any Candidate for the Ministry shall apply to us for approbation, we will take pains to know & to satisfie ourselves as to his qualifications for ye Sacred Work.

7. We will hear & consider any regular Complaints or Petitions that shall be preferred to us, & give our best advice thereon; not assuming any authoritie, but with a view to promote Christian Purity and Peace.

"8. We will endeavour to strengthen the hands, preserve the Reputation & promote ye Usefulness of each other upon all proper occasions; & also use that plainness & faithfulness with one another, which will best tend to keep us watchful & attentive to our Duty; that so we may recommend CHRIST and His holy and benevolent Religion by our Lives as well as Doctrine.

"Finally. We commend ourselves to God & to ye word of His Grace which is able to build us up & to give us an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified. [Signed.]-Congregational Handbook, pp. 174-5.

This is a very interesting historical document, and deserves permanent preservation. But it is no longer suitable as a constitution for a Congregational associ

ation. Indeed, it never can have been wholly satisfactory. An association of ministers, licensing candidates for the ministry, and holding in increasing measure the standing of ministers, is, and always was, something more than a voluntary club. That theory, which our fathers insisted upon, was not true of their own day, and is still farther from the truth today.

Ministers still have voluntary clubs, and are at liberty to have as many as they like; but these voluntary clubs have no right to license ministers, and no right of ministerial standing. Present-day Congregationalism involves an association, inclusive both of ministers and churches, and having some rights to guard, on behalf of the churches, both doors to the ministry.

The National Council On Ministerial Standing. At the meeting of the National Council at Oberlin, in 1871, it was voted "That all ministers in our denomination ought to be in orderly connection with some ministerial or ecclesiastical organization which shall be able to certify to their regular standing in the ministry." It was further voted that churches ought not to employ unsettled ministers without evidence of their standing. In 1886 the National Council made this recognition more emphatic and mandatory, voting at Chicago,— "That standing in the Congregational ministry is acquired by the fulfillment of these three conditions, namely: (1) membership in a Congregational church; (2) ordination to the Christian ministry; and (3) reception as an ordained minister into the fellowship of the Congregational churches in accordance with the usage of the state or territorial organization of churches in which the applicant may reside; and such standing is to be continued in accordance with these usages, it being understood that a pro re nata council is the resort in all cases in question.