sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke xxii. 35-38.) But where this reason does not exist, the former rule must hold good.

Paul may have had reasons for his independent con. duct toward the Corinthians, that will not apply gene. rally in the present state of the church; and there may be some peculiar cases even now, in which a man may think it his duty to sink with the church with whom he is connected; but can it be his duty to sink by it?

It was intended to have introduced into this letter something of what might be called the writer's religious experience; but there is not room. He may at some fu. ture period do this, if God is pleased to continue his life and health; but all that belongs to the future of this life is uncertain. When the hand that now writes to you is mouldering in the dust, and the heart that now beats for your best interest feels no more, may the Lord, in his great goodness, raise up for you an evangelist, who will be faithful to God and you, with whom you will be pleased, and who will have reason to be pleased with you; this is the ardent prayer of him who thinks he may, with some good degree of propriety, subscribe himself,

Your long-tried Friend,

and faithful Servant,

EDWARD MITCHELL.

New-York, July 1st, 1833.

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS

OF THE

SOCIETY OF UNITED CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,

IN

THE CITY OF NEW-YORK,

INSTITUTED MAY 1, 1796.

THE Society of United Christian Friends originated in the following manner :

Late in March, or on the afternoon of Friday, the first of April, 1796, George Roberts, who, we believe, was then the presiding Elder of the Methodist Society, of the city of New-York, called on Abraham E. Brouwer, at his house, and informed him that he did not come to controvert the subject of universal salvation with him, but to inform him that, as he held that doctrine, it was not proper that he should at the same time hold an office in the church. The reply of Mr. Brouwer was, I have frequently offered my class paper to Mr. Dickens, and he has as often refused to take it; but now, sir, you are welcome to it; and accordingly handed it to him. When Mr. Roberts was at the door, about to go away, Robert Snow, who had long been the intimate friend of Mr. Brower, presented himself from the street, and the

Mr.

term brother was reciprocated between them. Roberts went away, and Mr. Snow went in. He was soon informed of what had taken place, and, after some conversation, Mr. Snow came to the house of the writer, and asked him to go with him to brother Brouwer's. Here the writer was soon informed of what had taken place. After a long consultation, we thought it probable that the intention of Mr. Roberts was to follow up his act of discipline by expulsion; but, to put the matter beyond doubt, we determined to wait on him the next morning ; which we did. Mr. Snow was our spokesman, and informed him that our visit to him was in consequence of his visit of the preceding evening, to our brother Brouwer, and that we thought, that as he had taken from Mr. Brouwer his class paper, perhaps he intended to excommunicate. His reply was, "that was my intention !" He was then told that on the subject of religion, we were all of one mind; that what he intended to do with one, we supposed he would do with all; and that as it was not common to exclude from a religious society for a mere difference of opinion, and as we were all men in business, our characters were dear to us; and we requested that he would be so good as give us a certificate, stating that it was not for any immorality of conduct, but for this difference, that we were thus excluded. He answered, that there would be a meeting of the leaders that evening, and that he would lay the mat. ter before them.

In the course of the day, we waited on Mr. Daniel Smith, who had formerly been a settled preacher in the city, but who was then a local preacher; and with whom we were on very good terms of intimacy; and of

whom we requested, that as he would be at the meeting that evening, he would not advocate our cause, but urge a decision of it. The meeting was held, and the subject of the morning stated. Mr. Smith asked Mr. Robertsbrother Roberts, do you ask our opinion that you may know what we think, or that you may be governed by it? The answer was: I cannot say that I will be governed by your opinion, unless it agrees with my own. The meeting broke up without coming to any decision.

Thinking ourselves aggrieved by the situation in which Mr. Roberts' conduct had placed us, we wrote him a note on the subject, urging him to a decision of our case; that if upon fair inquiry we should be deemed worthy of expulsion, he would proceed to that without delay; that if the contrary, he would then publicly acknowledge us as acceptable members of the Methodist Church in the city of New-York. The answer was, that he was yet of the same mind as he was when he conversed with us; and that he would act accordingly, unless we would previously withdraw. After waiting two weeks, another note was written to him, still urging him to a decision; and if it was not agreeable to him to do this publicly, then proposing a more private one, by a note from him, and furnishing a form of private exclusion, and one of continuance, notwithstanding our being Universalists. This was answered by a note, stating that he had found that it was his duty not to be hasty in his conclusions, and that neither authority nor resolution were wanting in him to carry this business into ef fect. To us this appeared very much like saying, I will exclude you, but I will choose my own time to do it. We also thought that he might hope, by delaying the ex

ercise of the authority which he supposed he had, to find something else, that would serve as an excuse independent of our religious opinions; and after waiting another week, we took leave of him, and the church to which he belonged, by a note, saying:

Sir, as you cannot, or will not, do us the justice to which we are entitled, we do not choose any longer to continue in this condition. Therefore, from the date hereof, we shall no longer consider ourselves as members of the Methodist Society, nor subject to its precarious discipline. Signed,

New-York 28th April, 1796.

ABM. E. BROUWER.
ROBT. SNOW.
'EDWD. MITCHELL.

Some time after, we were read out of the Methodist Society, as withdrawn.

The circumstances in the above statement are correct; for though it is now more than thirty-seven years since they took place, they were of such interest in their nature, and of so much importance in their results-they have been so often the subject of conversation, both with friends and enemies, that they could not be easily forgotten; and they are now fresh in the memory of the writer; and the more so, as a difference of opinion has ever existed between him and Mr. Brouwer relative to their separation from the Methodist Church: the latter insisting that they had only withdrawn, while the former maintained, that they had been as literally turned out as that man had been who, having been invited into a house, was afterwards told, that unless he took his