adequately provide for them the highest order of literature adapted to all ages, a ministry that can command the respect of the broadest culture, and greatly enlarged endowments, broader curriculums, and riper scholarship for her educational institutions. And with this must she keep at warm heart for the humblest of God's offspring, without distinction of race or condition.

Finally, she must formulate and enforce the Gospel with intelligent regard to the advancing thought of the age. Her ministry have been thus far noted for their independent thought. They commenced by preaching their burning convictions with their eyes on what the age was thinking about, and not on any five or fifty-five points of systematic theologies, drawn out with hand-screws by cloistered ecclesiastics somewhere in the dim past. She now has a Scylla and Charybdis through which to steer-effete conservatism, and a reckless latitudinarianism.

She must have the courage to accept the transitional period through which she is passing, and dare to bid the truth come forth from the cerements of obsolete assumptions, and stand in resurrection power, though creeds be shattered, and traditions be given to the winds. On the other hand, she must possess a robust spirituality, and loyalty to high convictions which will scorn the false liberalism that prates about being not sharp-cornered, not sectarian, with no regard for one denomination more than another; having no convictions of its own, and hence not concerned about the convictions of others, and rollicking with a boneless, nerveless, pulpy piety which might serve well as protoplasm, but which hardly answers the conditions of Christian manhood.

To facilitate the study of Methodist history for such ends as the foregoing, is the object of the New England Historical Society. It is gathering material for the future historian, philosopher and orator; it is both collecting and making history, and is thus projecting itself along the lines of denominational life indefinitely into the future. It is no mere relic-hunter or dealer in literary junk; but is instinct with progressive aims, and as such is entitled to the support and patronage of lovers of the denomination which it represents.

PROCEEDINGS.

The Fifth Annual Meeting of the New England Methodist Historical Society was held in Wesleyan Hall, 36 Bromfield Street, Boston, Mass., Jan. 19, 1885, at 10.30 A. M.

Vice-President Rev. Lorenzo R. Thayer, D.D., took the Chair.

Prayer was offered by Rev. Edward A. Manning, of Newton.

The Recording Secretary, Rev. George Whitaker, read the records of the December Meeting, and they were approved.

The Annual Report of the Board of Directors was presented by Rev. George Whitaker.

Reports of the Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Ralph W. Allen; of the Treasurer, Mr. Willard S. Allen; of the Historiographer, Rev. Daniel Dorchester, D.D.; of the Librarian, Mr. Willard S. Allen; and of the Committee on Papers and Essays, Rev. George Whitaker, Chairman, were severally read, accepted and placed on file.

The Annual Address was delivered by Rev. William R. Clark, D.D., upon "Three Reasons why we should Recount the History of Methodism." A vote of thanks was tendered for this excellent and timely address.

Two gentlemen were elected to resident Membership.

The Committee on the Nomination of Officers reported the list which appears on the third and fourth pages of this report, and they were elected by ballot.

The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee to secure Life Memberships: Rev. V. A. Cooper, Rev. L. R. Thayer, D.D., Hon. Jacob Sleeper, Hon. E. H. Dunn, Rev. J. W. Hamilton, D.D., Rev. S. L. Gracey, Rev. E. Horr, A.D., Rev. G. S. Chadbourne, D.D.

The following were appointed a Committee to prepare and print one thousand copies of the Annual Proceedings: Hon. Jacob Sleeper, Rev. George Whitaker, and Mr. Willard S. Allen.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.

The celebration of the centennial of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church has given a great impetus to the work of our Society. The great Baltimore Convention, those held in every great centre of Methodist population, and the sermons, addresses, and papers at each local celebration, are teeming, not only with rich details of the rise and progress of our cause, but as well with those of our relation to other Christian bodies, the growth of our national domain, the cause of Christian civilization, of reform, of literature, of government, of education, of social science, of philosophy, of faith.

We grow impatient to lay our hands upon the best of these new contributions of Christian literature, as of older ones, and hold them in useful and permanent form.

PROGRESS.

The work of the past year has been one of progress. In all respects we have advanced. In some respects the advance has marked an epoch in our history. Our cause has grown much in the recognition and sympathies of the wisest men of our church. Strong words and noble deeds, honorable and appropriate, to meet the emergency which our prosperity has created, are worthy of special notice.

DIRECTORS' meetings.

In nearly all their monthly meetings careful attention has been given to important interests of the Society. The policy has been to provide all resources for work undertaken, and thus far we have kept from debt.

The

The Directors caused a circular to be sent to the large number elected to membership, but not yet accepting, requesting them to do so. results have justified the effort, which should be frequently repeated.

While congratulating the Society upon its three hundred and fifty members, we ought to increase in a more rapid ratio. We urge our friends everywhere to join this goodly fellowship, and would specially request all our pastors to invite their leading members to do so.

SOCIETY MEETINGS.

The attendance has always been respectable. Valuable papers have been read at each meeting, prepared for the occasion, and some of them of fine character and exceptional interest. Prior to the General Conference an able Committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. Drs. Clark, Warren and Sherman, and Messrs. J. Sleeper, E. H. Dunn and W. S. Allen, to memorialize that body upon procuring an album, in which shall be recorded all members of our Zion and their centennial contributions.

Your Committee were able to secure an order for the book agents to donate of our publications to Methodist historical societies. The Librarian has since given the matter personal attention.

At the February meeting the Constitution was amended, enlarging the Board of Directors to twenty.

CONFERENCE ANNIVERSARIES.

Rev. D. Dorchester, D.D., received a warm welcome at the New Hampshire and the two Maine Conferences., where royal hearings were accorded him. Rev. Joseph H. Mansfield, at the Vermont Conference, secured several new members; and Rev. S. L. Gracey was our efficient representative at the New England Southern Conference.

SOCIETY QUARTERS.

Early in the year it became apparent that soon the Society must secure larger quarters for its rapidly growing library.

The Committee to whom the duty was assigned, have hired a front room on the same floor in Wesleyan Building. This acquisition is every way delightful. The room is spacious and very pleasant. And the Society is warmly congratulated upon the prospect now so auspiciously opening. Undoubtedly by this new departure, every department of our work will be stimulated. We shall certainly require enlarged service and expenditures. The Society is under much indebtedness to Hons. Jacob Sleeper, E. H. Dunn, and the Librarian, for these improvements; particularly to Hon. Jacob Sleeper for his active sympathy, personal labor in securing individual subscriptions to meet this expense, and his generous contribution. Our warmest thanks are tendered to all the generous subscribers to this fund, now amounting to $421 per annum for five years. The new outlay will increase our rent $300 per annum, besides the expense of furnishing. The Committee hope to raise the subscription to at least $600 per annum.

NEEDS.

1. Subscriptions for this rent fund. All the income from membership fees being greatly needed for other purposes of the Society.

2.

Funds to pay the furnishing of our room with carpet, bookcases, tables, desks, and chairs. Who will help us?

3. Provision will soon be needful for a suitable person for assistant librarian, who will keep open our room and be employed in cataloguing, repairing and arranging books, pamphlets, and letters. Such a helper is now much needed.

4. We also need twenty large scrap books, for the careful filing of autograph letters from deceased and other worthies of our Zion.

5. The time rapidly hastens when a considerable fund will be

necessary to meet current calls, the salary of an assistant librarian, the printing, publishing, binding, and purchasing important periodicals and works.

The annual membership fee of $1, now due, will be received with especial gratitude this year. Will not a number of our noble brethren become life members by the payment of $50 each?

CONCLUSION.

With such organization, life, resources and hopes, we turn our faces towards the coming century. The colossal proportions to which our church has grown, her wonderful facilities, her harmonious and devoted spirit, give promise, as they create commensurate responsibilities, of a field of Christain usefulness and power whose work must be only the more carefully cherished in history, as with the sisterhood of believers she marches on to the conquest of the world.

REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

From a somewhat extensive correspondence, your Secretary is satisfied that the Society is growing in favor with the people, not only in New England, but also in other parts of the country. It has awakened new interest in the study of the history of Methodism. There never has been a time when so much interest was manifested on the subject as at present.

Historical Societies are organized in many of the Conferences. The members of our Society have great reason for encouragement in the success which has attended their labors, and we doubt not, the Society will steadily and successfully advance in accomplishing its great mission. We ask all friends of our church to give it their active sympathy and co-operation.