a zealous member of the society under James and Jane Wardley, and readily embraced the increasing light through Mother Ann, and was a faithful believer. He was a man of very meek deportment, and was greatly gifted in visions and prophecies, and was well known among the believers of his day to possess the gift of healing. He was a great help to Mother Ann and her little family, in a temporal view, and was very zealous in the support of the gospel. It was through his instrumentality that they were enabled to cross the ocean, and establish themselves in this land. Indeed the temporal assistance which his zeal and liberality afforded the society, in its infant state, was its principal dependence. He was a very honest, conscientious and upright man, and continued faithful and zealous during life, and lived to see the church established in gospel order, and with great joy, saw its growing prosperity, in things temporal and spiritual. He departed this life February 27th, 1799, aged 76 years.

THE ESTABLISHED ORDER AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OF THE UNITED SOCIETY.

CHAPTER 1.

Formation of the Society into a united Body, possessing a conser crated Interest.

As the manner of God's work, both in the natural and spiritual creation, has always been progressive, increasing from one degree of order to another until it arrives to perfection; so the order which has been established in the church of Christ on earth, was necessarily progressive, being effected by the progressive operations of his Divine Spirit in the hearts of the faithful. While the believers, as a people, remained in their respective natural families, scattered about in different places, possessing respectively the temporal interest inherited by natural heirship, or acquired by their own labors in their respective callings, there could not be much order among them, excepting the common order of nature. But all who had honestly confessed and forsaken their sins, and faithfully continued to take up their crosses, according to the manifestation of the gift of God which they had received, who had paid all their just debts, and freed themselves from all outward embarrassments, and by their faithfulness and obedience, had gained a sufficient degree of mortification to the fallen nature of the flesh, were thereby prepared for a further increase of gospel order. To gain this increase, it was necessary that they should be brought into a nearer connection together, and thereby be enabled to serve God in a more united capacity, as members of the body of Christ in a church relation.

To constitute a true church of Christ, there must necessarily be a union of faith, of motives and of interest, in all the members who compose it. There must be "one body and one bread:”* and nothing short of this union in all things, both spiritual and temporal, can constitute a true church, which is the body of Christ. And wherever that united body exists, it will bring into operation every individual talent for the general good of the whole body. And herein is the prayer of Jesus answered; "That they may be one, 66 even as we are one." In this united capacity, the strength of the whole body becomes the strength of each member; and being united in the one Spirit of Christ, they have a greater privilege to serve God than they possibly could have in a separate capacity, and are better able to be mutual helps to each other; and they also find a greater degree of protection from the snares of a selfish and worldly nature.

* 1 Cor. x, 17,

† John xvii. 22.

The way having been gradually prepared for the attainment of this important object, particularly by the ministration of Father James, it now began to take place under the ministration of Father Joseph and Mother Lucy. The first step was to gather the believers into a body, where they could enjoy all things in common, both of a spiritual and temporal kind, and in which their temporal interest could be united together, and be consecrated to religious purposes. This proceeding, being dictated by Divine Wisdom, was a matter of free choice to every individual: for no one was compelled to give up his interest contrary to his own faith and inward feelings. But all who had faithfully kept pace with the work of God, in its increase thus far, and had been able to settle their temporal concerns, were prepared for it, and esteemed it a special privilege to be admitted into that united body, and be numbered with the most faithful. But the permanent establishment of order was necessarily a progressive work, and could not be suddenly accomplished.

The gathering of the society began at New-Lebanon, in the month of September, 1787, and continued to progress as fast as circumstances and the nature of the work would admit. Elders and deacons were appointed to lead and direct in matters of spiri tual and temporal concern; suitable buildings were erected for the accommodation of the members; and order and regularity were, by degrees, established in the society: so that by the year 1792, the Church was considered as established in the principles of her present order and spirit of government. Those who were thus gathered into a united body, were denominated The Church; being a collective body of christians separated from the world, and enjoying, in their united capacity, one common interest. In this situation, they were enabled to gain a greater degree of victory over the nature of selfishness, and thus to subdue, more effectually, the evil propensities of a carnal nature. By this means they found a greater degree of mortification and death to the nature of sin, and experienced a gradual growth in love and union, peace and harmony, and all those heavenly graces which adorn the man of God, and render him perfect in every good word and work.

But there were many whose circumstances did not, at that time, admit of so complete a separation from the world, being still under more or less embarrassments, or entanglements with those without. These were progressively gathered into families, in a separate capacity, having a subordinate privilege; but at the same time, they were at full liberty to follow the example of the church, to walk in their steps, and to maintain the like united interest, in that capacity, as fast as their situation and circumstances would admit. Many of these, having unbelieving children and heirs, or being otherwise entangled in their temporal circumstances, could not, consistent

with the principles of justice to those without, immediately devote and consecrate their interest in the manner the church had done.

But in order that they might enjoy the benefits of a united inheritance, as far as their circumstances would admit, and be able to prove their faith in that capacity, they were allowed to unite and gather in their interest by agreement, and after taking an inventory of whatever they brought in, they devoted the use of it for the mutual benefit of the family thus gathered; but agreed to make no demands upon the family for the use of the property so devoted, or for any services which they might perform in that united capacity. But if they chose afterwards to withdraw from the family, or from the society, they were at liberty to withdraw the property which they had brought in: it being expressly understood that no property was to be brought in, except by the mutual agreement of the parties concerned.

This mode of proceeding is still practiced in the Society, and is considered to be just and equitable; because it secures to legal heirs their just portion of the inheritance, whether they belong to the society or not. Nor can it be considered as any injustice to the proprietors, who have voluntarily devoted the use of it, together with their services, with a full understanding of the conditions thereof. Besides, it has been found by experience, that families. gathered in that capacity, are seldom able to do more than maintain themselves, and discharge those necessary calls of duty and benevolence which occasionally fall in their way; because such families are generally encumbered with children, and often with those who are aged and infirm, besides more or less poor persons ̧ who bring in nothing with them; and all who are held in union, must have their equal share of support, whether they are able to

earn it or not.

But families formed under these circumstances, have an equal right with the church, whenever their situation and circumstances will admit of it, voluntarily to consecrate their interest, and enter into the same covenant relation, in their family capacity, as the members of the church enjoy. It is however necessary that families, as well as individuals, on their first coming out from the world, and gathering near the society, should prove themselves in that situation, for a suitable length of time, in order to confirm their faith by experimental obedience, before they can be admitted as members of the society in a united capacity.

But in that separate situation, tho they have the entire control of their own temporal concerns, they may, at any time, apply for counsel and instruction, either spiritual or temporal, whenever they feel the need of it. They have also the privilege of attending and uniting in the public meetings of the society, and of visiting their elders for the benefit of spiritual instruction, and of being

visited by them, so long as they continue faithfully to take up their crosses, and walk worthy of their profession. For altho every honest and. faithful. believer considers it a very desirable privilege to become one with the united body, in all things, and to devote and consecrate himself, soul and body, time and talents, with all his earthly inheritance, to the service of God forever; yet,, to arrive at that order, and obtain so desirable a privilege, is as necessarily a progressive work, at this day, as it was in the first commencement of the work in America, and requires a preparatory work now, as really as it did then.

In this situation, they are required to prove their faith by their works. This they will generally do in the course of a few years, and sometimes in a few months; and will either gain an increase of faith and strength, and spiritual understanding, so as to be prepared for a further privilege; or they will fall back, in consequence of their unfaithfulness, and return again from whence they came. But while they remain in that situation, they are required to manage their own temporal concerns, according to the best of their understanding and abilities, to pay all their just debts, and settle all their concerns abroad, according to the principles of justice and equity; to provide for themselves and their families, to bring up their children in the fear of God, and instil into their minds the principles of virtue, and to be just, upright and conscientious in all their dealings. By these means, they will gradually prepare themselves for a further privilege in a united capacity.

Such families, provided their circumstances admit of it, are often enlarged by the addition of individual members, who have recently embraced the faith of the Society, and who are admitted to the privilege of proving their faith along with the family. All that is required of such individuals is, to live conscientiously according to the principles of continence, purity and holiness which they have professedly received, agreeable to the precepts and example of Jesus Christ; and in conforming to these principles, their local situation does not prevent their union with the society.

But as the work of God is an increasing work, neither families nor individuals, if they continue faithful, can feel satisfied to remain in any situation short of the more perfect order of the gospel. Because, if they gain an increase of faith and understanding, they will soon feel the want of a nearer relation to the society, and a greater separation from the world. But if they do not gain this, they will, of course, fall back to the world: for all who are faithful and honest-hearted, will find an increasing gain; but those who are unfaithful, instead of an increase of faith and understanding, or any spiritual light, they will necessarily fall into a state of spiritual darkness; and then will be verified in them, the words