"Art. 1. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the cliariicter of God, and of the duty, interest, and fluul destination of mankind.
" Art. 2. We believe that there is one God, whose nature is love, leveuled in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy S|)irit of Grace, who will linally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.
"Art. 3 We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected, and that believers ousrht to be careful to maintain order and practice good works; for these thinj;s are good and prolitable unto men."
This has remained unchanged to the present time. The Philadelphia convention ceased to exist in 1809; but the New England convention, though with changes both in form of government and in name, has continued to the present, and is now " the Universalist General Convention." It is composed of clerical and lay dele- gates from the state conventions, and from the parishes and churches in states and territories where no state organization exists. Every parish, to be counted in the basis of representation, must maintain its legal existence ami support public worship; and every minister must be actually engaged in the work of tlie ministry unless disabled by age or sickness. Preachers and parishes must asseut to the Professioii of Belief; and no parish
can settle a minister not in fellowship, nor can a minis- ter settle over a parish not in fellowshij). The conven- tion establishes uniform rules for fellowship, ordination, and discipline, and is the final court of appeal in all cases of ditHciilty between conventions, or between con- ventions and parishes, or ministers, not otherwise set- tled by subordinate bodies; but it has no power to in- terfere with the affairs of a parish in the settlement or dismissal of a minister in fellowship; nor can it, under any circumstances, do more than to withdraw fellow- ship from those who are convicted of offences. State conventions are composed of ministers in fellowship, and of delegates from parishes and churches. They can make any regulations and adopt any |)olicv not in conflict with the constitution and laws of the (Jeneral Convention; provide for the enforcement of the rules on fellowship, ordination, and discipline; and raise and disburse funds for local missionary work. In several states associations still exist composed of counties or of neigliboring parishes extending over larger territor}' ; but, under the present laws, these have no ecclesiastical autbority, and are only a medium of local conference and encouragement in religious growth. Parishes are local legal organizations for the purpose of holding prop- erty and conducting the business necessary to the main- tenance of religious worship. Aside from a required as- sent to the Profession of Faith, and their obtaining the fellowship of the State Convention, or, in localities where no such organization exists, the direct fellowship of the (ieneral Convention, all parishes are Congregational in the management of their affairs, and are subject only to the civil laws of the state or territory where they are located. Churches, with the excejition of those in Penn- sylvania, as before noted, are the religious organizations created within the legal parish. In them the ordi- nances of the Gospel are administered ; and the purpose of their existence is the union of believers and the (luickening and increase of their religious life, obedient to the cominand of the Lord and his apostles. Sunday- schools are also established in the parishes, and are, while independent in the management of their affairs, chiefly watched over and directed by the Church.
III. Doctrints. — The Winchester Profession (given above) is regarded as a sufficiently full and explicit statement of the belief required in order to fellowship in the Universalist Church, and as afl'ording the great- est latitude in differences on all minor points. But a more particular statement of the general belief of Uui- versalists of the present day maj' be briefly set forth as embracing the following particulars :
1. Of Hod. — That he is infinite in all his perfections, the Creator and Preserver of all worlds, and of all the beings that inhabit thein ; revealed to man in all that nature teaches of wisdom and design ; in conscience, which discriminates between right and wrong; and in the Holy Scriptures, and especially in his fidl iierfectioii in Jesus Christ. That it is fundamental in the revela- tion through Christ that God is the Father of the spirits of all flesh, who brought men into being with a fixed and loving pur|)ose that their existence should jirove a final and emlless blessing to them; and that while he is strictly just in his dealings with all, he never loses sight of his great jiurpose in their creation; and that, with- out violation of their moral freedom, he will, through the gracious influences of the Gospel, subdue and win all .souls to holiness. That his government, laws, arid purpose are the same in all worlds, death in no way af- fecting his attitude towards men; but that he is to be found wherever sought, and will always accept and for- give all who call upon him in sincerity and truth.
2. Of Christ. — That he is not God, but God's highest and only perfect representative, .sent by the Father not for the purpose of affecting (iod's attitude to man. but of reconciling man to God; that he lived, taught, wrought miracles, suffered, died, and was raised frotn the dead and ascended into heaven, according to the Scriptures; that he alone can lead men to the Father, and is the