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 before me. And although the prayer of the petitioners is not granted, and a large part of the Report is occupied with matter quite irrelevant, and presented (unintentionally, no doubt) in a manner almost certain to mislead the reader in regard to the character and intent of the Memorial, it is on the whole quite as favorable as there was reason to expect; and its general tone and spirit indicate some progress latterly on the part of the Convention in the direction aimed at by the Memorial.

The Memorialists are therefore to be congratulated on the measure of success that has thus far attended their effort. It is hard for an individual to relinquish a false position which he has once assumed and long maintained, and sought to confirm by various arguments; but it is ten times harder, as every one knows, for an ecclesiastical body to do this. Therefore we should exercise great patience with the Convention, and be thankful for every indication of progress away from old errors, and toward higher truth and a better spirit.

First, let me say a word as to what the Memorial does not teach, nor ask the Convention to look upon with favor. It does not teach nor intimate that the professed doctrines of the other religious bodies in Christendom "are true and equally efficacious in the attainment of spiritual life with