they may be ashamed, that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity covereth a multitude of sins.

HYMN.

PRAYER I.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father! wilt thou enable us to come before thee in humility of spirit, feeling our weakness, acknowledging our frailty and dependence, and praying for the pardon of all our sins. We beseech thee, O Lord, have regard unto the prayer of thy servants here assembled. Assist us in every endeavor to conform our lives more perfectly to the spirit of the blessed Saviour. May we strive more and more to imitate his example; and may it be our meat and drink to do thy holy will. We implore thy wisdom to direct, and thy blessing to attend us, in all our labors for the promotion of the Redeemer's

cause and kingdom, and in the discharge of all the duties of our Christian profession-especially, in all our efforts for the relief of the sufferings and sorrows of our brethren. May we remember continually, that we are but stewards in thy household, and that we may not waste in idleness and luxury those blessings wherewith we might gladden the hearts of the poor, the sick, or the afflicted.

Most Merciful Father! we give thee humble thanks, that the light of thy truth nas hitherto shone upon us, strengthening us for the duties and labors to which thou hast appointed us; defending us in the hour of temptation, and sustaining us in all the trials through which we have been called to pass. O Lord, may that blessed light still be with us, for our guidance and support; and if, in the dispensation of thy providence, we should be called to pass through the furnace of affliction, may we ever pray, saying, "Father, thy will be done." Bless us in the business of this meeting. May har

mony and love prevail in all our deliberations, and may all that shall be done meet thy Divine approbation. Be very gracious, O Lord, to this Church. May it grow and flourish as a vine planted by thy right hand; and may all its members be dutiful and faithful to all that is good and true. Lord, hear our prayer, and grant us answers of mercy; and to thy name be all the glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN.

[If children are to be dedicated, let it be done here.]

PASTOR.My Brethren: we have assembled, in obedience to the precepts of our Holy Religion, for mutual improvement in the Divine life, and for the transaction of any business that pertains to the welfare of our beloved Church. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty: yet that liberty is to be used, and not abused; and experience has proved that it can be truly enjoyed only when

there is a sacred regard to salutary rules of law and order. In all your deliberations you will bear steadfastly in mind the apostolic injunction, to "Love as brethren, be pitiful and courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing." Thus will your fellowship with one another be sweet, and you will realize how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

We are now prepared to proceed in order, to any business that may properly come before this Church, according to its rules and regulations. *

* [The following are rules very generally adopted, substantially, by deliberative assemblies, and quite necessary to insure order and harmony.]

1. No motion is subject to debate until it is seconded, and stated by the presiding officer, nor is debate in order at any time, when there is no question thus pending.

2. Members speaking should rise and address the presiding officer, and should not be interrupted, unless by a call to order for words spoken.

3. A member called to order should be silent until the question of order is decided.

4. When two members rise at once to speak, the presiding officer decides which shall speak first.

5. The decisions of the presiding officer on points of order may be appealed from, and in such cases,

1. The first business in order, is reading the records of the last meeting. The Clerk will please perform that duty.

[The records having been read, it is usual for the presiding officer to say, You have heard the records of the last meeting. If there are no objections, they will stand approved. After a pause, proceed thus: There being no objections to the records as read, they are approved. Or, if objections should be offered, they should be presented in the form of a motion to strike out, insert, or amend. That mo

the question should be stated thus: Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Church?

5. Before taking a vote upon any question, the presiding officer should ask, Is the Church ready for the question?

6. When blanks are to be filled, and several propositions are made, the question should be first put upon the highest sum or number, and the longest or latest time.

7. Any member is entitled to call for a division of the question, when the sense will admit.

8. Committees are appointed by the presiding officer, unless otherwise ordered.

9. When a question is pending, no motion can be made, except, 1. To adjourn; 2. To refer or recommit; 3. The previous question; 4. To lay on the table; 5. To postpone; 6. To amend; and these motions take precedence in the above order. The first four are not debatable.

10. The previous question is, Shall the main question be now put? and if carried, the main