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ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OF THE

AMERICAN

UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

BOSTON,

ISAAC R. BUTTS AND CO.

PRINTERS TO THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

AMERICAN

UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING.

THE American Unitarian Association celebrated their First Anniversary on the evening of June 30th, 1826, in the Pantheon Hall in Boston. The Meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr Bancroft, the President of the Association. The Treasurer read an abstract of his Report, which is here printed with more detail.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

Dr.

American Unitarian Association, in account with Lewis Tappan,

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Treasurer.

To the following sums expended by order of
the Executive Committee, viz.
Travelling expenses of Mr W. Burton, obtain-
ing subscribers and collecting subscriptions
To sum allowed Mr Burton, as compensation for
his services

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Counterfeit bill, taken by Mr Burton

"Trunk for Treasurer, Account Books, Blank
receipts, &c.

"Book for Secretary's Records

"Printing"Faith once delivered to the Saints"

104 45

1266

300

3134

350

5125

100/00

54522

$851 42

Appropriation to Rev. James Kay, Northum

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berland, Penn.

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"Balance

By a vote of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer's accounts are balanced at the close of each calendar year, and subscriptions, whenever made, are considered as standing for the current year. This will explain the appearance of two parts to the above Report. It should also be noticed that no returns had been received from the Worcester County Auxiliary Association, and that peculiar circumstances had occasioned a delay of the application for subscriptions in Boston. A great part of the payments for life membership were made by ladies of religious societies in behalf of their clergymen. The Treasurer's Report was accepted.

The Report of the Executive Committee was read by the Secretary, and is here published in compliance with a vote of the Meeting.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 1826.

THE Executive Committee of the American Unitarian Association in offering their first annual report, cannot but express their gratification at the circumstances under which it is presented. They behold in the numbers and character of those who compose this meeting, not only a proof of interest in the Association, but evidence of its stability, and the promise of its future usefulness. In reviewing the past year, the Committee find much to encourage, and nothing to dishearten them; and this anniversary is welcomed by them with feelings of satisfaction, which a few months since they did not dare to anticipate. This Association was organized under some disadvantages. Its plan was suggested by a few gentle

men on the evening preceding the last election, at too late an hour to secure the advice and cooperation of many of those whose judgment would be useful in forming, and whose influence would be important in strengthening such a society. The time for a more general and effective concert seemed, however, to have arrived; and the presence of many Unitarians from distant towns, who annually assemble in this city, showed the necessity of an immediate effort for the accomplishment of this object. It would have been impossible to ascertain in a few hours the sentiments of the great body of Unitarian Christians, in relation to the measures, which they should adopt for the diffusion of pure religion. The friends of more united efforts than had hitherto been employed, trusted to their own convictions of duty, and to their belief that an occasion only was needed to call forth zeal and energy among us. From the circumstances, to which allusion has been made, the meeting at which the project of this Association. was discussed, and its constitution adopted, was necessarily small. Notice could only be given at the close of the Berry Street Conference on Wednesday morning, that such a meeting would be held in the afternoon. At that meeting, it was unanimously voted, that it is expedient to form a society to be called the American Unitarian Association. At an adjourned meeting, heid the next morning, a constitution, reported by a committee appointed for the purpose, was accepted, and the officers required by the constitution were elected. This brief statement will explain the fact, that the existence of this society was unknown to most Unitarians

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