A BOOK OF PRAYER FOR THE CHURCHES
Universalist Publishing House:  Boston, 1941.

A GREAT TRADITION

The original Book of Prayer for the Church and the home was prepared by Dr. Charles Hall Leonard, onetime dean of Tufts Divinity School. This book was adopted for use in the First Universalist Church of Providence in the pastorate of Dr. Elmer Hewitt Capen, whose ministry to the First Church began in 1870. Dr Capen left in 1875 to become president of Tufts College and was succeeded in the pastorate by Dr. Henry Irving Cushman, who ministered to the First Church for thirty-five years. Dean Leonard was an authority on liturgy and ritual, and both Dr. Capen and Dr. Cushman were careful students of these subjects. It is highly probable that all three men worked together on the original look. In any event, all three used it, and for more than seventy years these correct and dignified services have expressed the aspirations of succeeding generations of worshipers.

To carry on this excellent practice the First Universalist Church of Providence and the Universalist Publishing House now present a new edition of the book. The present volume is abridged but in no sense impoverished. Only those parts which are not necessary to the regular services of worship have been omitted.  Some slight changes have been made to conform with present practice. The declaration of faith adopted at Washington in 1935 has replaced the Boston declaration of 1899 since it is now the official form for use in our churches. The services, litany and prayers remain as they came from the pens of the original compilers, not slavish imitations of the past but decent form grounded in Christian tradition and motivated by sound pedagogy.

Emerson Hugh Lalone
Boston, Massachusetts April 1, 1941

CONTENTS

The Order for Morning Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
The Order for Evening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Order for Vespers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Litany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
The Divine Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Baptism of Infants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Baptism of Such As Are of Riper Years  . . . . . . . . . . 49
The Order of Confirmation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Hymns and Psalms . . . . . .  . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . 57
Universalist Profession of Belief and Bond of Fellowship . 60

THE ORDER FOR MORNING PRAYER

¶ The Minister shall begin the Morning Prayer by reading one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture; all standing.

THE Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.

The Lord is nigh unto all who call upon him; unto all who call upon him in truth.

Give ear to my words, O God, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry. my King and my God; for unto thee
will I pray.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; Call ye upon him while he is near.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls

¶ Then the Minister shall say:

Beloved in the Lord, we have again assembled together as the disciples of Jesus Christ, to render thanks to God for all his mercies; to confess our manifold transgressions; to renew our good resolutions; and to recommend ourselves and all our concerns to the care of our heavenly Father. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Put your trust in him, and you shall not be disappointed. With humble and contrite hearts let us approach the throne of heavenly grace.

¶ The Minister shall then say the following Prayer; all reverently bowing down or kneeling, and the People responding with AMEN.

O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all men, trusting in thy loving-kindness and tender mercy, we come into thy Holy-Presence, and bring to thee our devout offerings. Purify us, we beseech thee, from all guile; unite us to one another in the bonds of love and peace; pour down upon us thy spiritual gifts and grant us every blessing in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then the Lord's Prayer, to be said by Minister and People.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver its from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall say:

O Lord, open thou our lips;
People. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

¶ Here, all standing, the Minister shall say:

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible. the only Wise God;
People. Be honor and glory through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
People. The Lord's name be praised.
¶ Then shall be sung the following or some other Anthem; all standing.
   Venite Psalms rev revi

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice, in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods.
In his hands are the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands prepared the dry land.
O come, let us worship and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: and with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with his truth.

GLORIA PATRI.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

¶ On days when the Lord's Supper is celebrated the following hymn called Benedictus shall be sung instead of Venite; all standing.

BENEDICTUS. St. Luke i. 68.

BLESSED be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy
Prophets, which have been since the world began;
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.

¶ Then shall be read responsively one or more of the Psalms, taken from the SELECTIONS; and at the end of every Psalm shall be sung the Gloria Patri.
¶ Then shall be recited the Profession of Faith.
¶ On days of Holy Communion here shall be read The Divine Law with Kyrie Eleison (page 32).
¶ Then shall be read the Lesson out of Holy Scripture.
¶ NOTE that before the Lesson the Minister shall say, Here beginneth such a Chapter, or Verse of such a Chapter, of such a Book; and after the Lesson, Here endeth the First, or the Second Lesson.
¶ Then shall be sung an Anthem, or some Hymn of Praise. On days when the Lord's Supper is celebrated, the following Hymn, called GLORIA IN EXCELSIS, may be sung.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord Gog, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have Mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of, the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only are, the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister may say:

The Lord be with you;
People. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.
Minister. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;
People. And grant us thy salvation.
Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us;
People. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

¶ Here the Minister may offer prayer in his own words, or read the Litany; or the Service may proceed as follows:

The Collect for Peace.

O GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Grant us, thy servants, we humbly beseech thee, that peace which the world can neither give nor take away; that we who in all our dangers rely on thy goodness, may under thy fatherly protection be defended against all adversities, and evermore rejoice in thy blessed service, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Collect for Grace.

O LORD, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that which is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

¶ Then the following Prayers and Intercessions.
For the President and Civil Authorities.

O LORD, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the Universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favor to behold and bless thy servant, the President of the United States, and all others in authority; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts: grant them in health and prosperity long to live; and after this life to attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Christian Church.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon all Ministers of the gospel, and upon all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O God, for thy great love in Jesus Christ. Amen.

For all Conditions of Men.

O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of the Church Universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold
the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for thy mercy's sake in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A General Thanksgiving, to be said by Minister and People.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

¶  The offering may now be received and taken to the altar to be consecrated by minister and people all standing and singing the Doxology as follows:

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow:
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN.

¶  Then shall be sung a hymn and the sermon shall follow.
¶  Then a Hymn shall be sung by Choir and Congregation; and after that, the Minister may say the following:

Concluding Prayer and Benediction.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee, and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their request. Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

THE DIVINE LAW

The Minister, at such times as he may elect, shall read the Ten Commandments; and the People, reverently bowing the head or devoutly kneeling, shall, after each Commandment, ask God's mercy for their transgressions for the time past, and grace to keep the law for the time to come, as followeth:

GOD spake these words, and said, I am the Lord thy God: Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and show mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my commandments.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all that troll hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work; thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt do no murder.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not steal.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts we beseech thee.

¶ Then the Minister may say:

Hear also what our Lord Jesus Christ saith.

THOU shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

¶ On Whit-Sunday the Minister shall also read the Law of the Holy Spirit, as follows:

IF ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.

SPECIAL SERVICES
THE ORDER OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, OR HOLY COMMUNION

¶ The celebration may be preceded by the reading of the Ten Commandments; or, especially on Sundays after Easter, the Beatitudes and the Creed. Then may follow the Offertory and Sermon. After which, the Minister, standing at the Altar, shall say one or more of the following sentences:

BLESSED are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. St. Matt. v. 6

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. St. John vi. 32, 33, 35.

And the Spirit and the Church say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17.

By one Spirit are we baptized into one body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Being many we are one, being partakers of one bread. 1 Cor. xii. 13; x. 17.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev. iii. 20.

Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7, 8.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. St. John xv. 4, 5.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the, servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:  but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. St. John xv. 13-15.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. St. Matt. xi. 28.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. St. John iii. 16.

¶ Then the Minister shall say:

DEARLY beloved brethren, we come to this table to testify, not that we are righteous, but that we sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ, and wish to become his true disciples. Ye, therefore, who do truly and earnestly desire to learn of the Saviour, and to co-operate in the study and practice of his religion; who would live in love and charity with your neighbors, and would grow in the Christian Life, draw near with faith, and take this holy ordinance to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God.

¶  Then shall this general Confession be made by Minister and People; all humbly bowing down or devoutly kneeling.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father; We humbly acknowledge our weakness, and the sins which we from time to time have most grievously committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy great goodness, against our Master, Jesus Christ, against our own souls, and against our brethren. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. Comfort and help us. Raise our hearts up to thee in heaven, and suffer us no more to wander upon earth. In the name of thy beloved Son, we beseech thee to forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee, in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister say this Prayer:
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto thee, have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness; and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶  Then shall the Minister say:

Hear what words of comfort our Saviour saith unto all who desire his help.

COME unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hear, also, what St. Paul saith.

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Hear, also, what St. John saith.

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins.
Lift up your hearts.
Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.
Minister. Let us give thanks unto our God.
Answer. It is meet and right so to do.
Minister. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.

¶ Here may follow the proper Preface, if there be any specially appointed; or else immediately may follow (Minister and People together):

THEREFORE with angels, and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord, most high.

Proper Prefaces

Upon Christmas Day.

BECAUSE thou didst send thy Son into the world, that the world through him might be saved. Therefore with angels, etc.

Upon Easter Day.

BUT chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he was offered for us, and is the Lanib of God that taketh away the sins of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with angels, etc.

Upon Ascension Day.

THROUGH thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who, after his most glorious resurrection, manifestly appeared to all his apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. Therefore with angels, etc.

Upon Whit-Sunday.

THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, thy Holy Spirit was poured forth upon the apostles, to teach them, and to lead them to all truth; giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness, with fervent zeal, constantly to preach the gospel unto all nations, whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Therefore with angels, etc.

¶ Then shall the Minister read the following words:

I HAVE received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. xi. 23-26.

¶ The Minister may then offer prayer in his own words; all humbly bowing down or devoutly kneeling.

Minister. The Lord be with you.
People. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.

¶ Then shall the Minister, having first received the Communion in both kinds himself, proceed to deliver the same to the People. And when he delivereth the bread, he shall say:

Take and eat this in remembrance of Jesus Christ: and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

¶ And the Minister who delivereth the Cup, shall say:

Drink this in remembrance of Jesus Christ, and be thankful.

¶ When all have received the Communion, the Lord's Prayer shall be said by Minister and People; all humbly bowing down or reverently kneeling.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall say this Prayer:

ALMIGHTY and ever-living God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us with spiritual food; and (lost assure us thereby of thy favor and goodness towards us; and that we are heirs, through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom. And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom to thee be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

¶ Then may be said or sung, all standing, some proper Hymn.

¶ Then the Minister shall let the People depart with this Blessing:

THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God Almighty be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

UNIVERSALIST PROFESSION OF BELIEF AND CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP.
Adopted as an amendment to Article III. of the Constitution of the General Convention, at its session in Boston, October 23, 1899.

I. The Profession of Belief adopted at the session at Winchester, N. H., A.D. 1803, is as follows:

ARTICLE 1. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the character of God and of the duty, interest and final destination of mankind.
ARTICLE II. We believe there is one God, whose nature is Love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.
ARTICLE III. We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected, and that believers ought to be careful to maintain order and practise good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men.

BOND OF FELLOWSHIP AND STATEMENT OF FAITH
Adopted at Washington in 1935

The bond of fellowship in this Convention shall be a common purpose to do the will of God as Jesus revealed it and to co-operate in establishing the Kingdom for which he lived and died.

To that end we avow our faith in God as Eternal and All-conquering Love, in the spiritual leadership of Jesus, in the supreme worth of every human personality, in the authority of truth known or to be known, and in the power of men of good will and sacrificial spirit to overcome all evil and progressively establish the kingdom of God. Neither this nor any other statement shall be imposed as a creedal test, provided that the faith thus indicated be professed.

___

A Creed embodying the Conditions of Fellowship affirmed at the session of the General Convention held in Chicago and in Boston.

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty and Universal; and In Jesus Christ his Son, the true teacher, example, and Savior of the world. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the quickener and comforter of men. I believe in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as a revelation of righteousness, truth and love. I believe in the Holy Church Universal; in the communion of saints; in the certainty of punishment for transgression; In the forgiveness of sins; in the life immortal; in the final triumph of goodness and mercy; and in the union and harmony, at last, of all souls with God."