Man is eminently a social being. No one perceives, perhaps no one apprehends, how much society contributes to strengthen and perfect the noblest virtues and highest attainments. The affections are particularly under the control and guidance of social influences. The interchange of the forms of hospitality and courtesy powerfully promotes the growth of friendship and kindliness of feeling. Consequently, social worship is of the highest importance to every Christian fraternity; and nothing is more productive of congeniality of sentiment and unity of design between churches of the same faith and order than frequent convocations for mutual encouragement and edification. The Seventh-day Baptists were aware of this, and, accordingly, when the church in Newport, R. I., organized a part of its members into a separate and distinct body, now known as the First Hopkinton Church, it was stipulated that an annual interview should take place, which was subsequently known as the yearly meeting. Thus was formed a little confederacy, whose bounds gradually enlarged as new churches were instituted, until it included the parent churches of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. These meetings were held alternately at different places, and were usually attended by the ministers and other leading members of the respective churches, who generally travelled at their own expense, and spent some time in this social and religious visit. The consequences of this interchange of Christian sympathies and feelings were every way delightful. The bonds of union were cemented, many pleasing acquaintances were formed, and a warm and growing attachment to the Sabbath, and the cause of truth, increased in the minds of all. So early as 1800, the churches composing this denomination began to consider the expediency of establishing some formal ecclesiastical organization. This was considered the more necessary in consequence of certain differences in some doctrinal sentiments that prevailed to a considerable extent. The question was, under consideration until 1805, when, at a meeting convened at Hopkinton, certain articles of union were agreed upon, and subscribed by delegates from eight sister churches; and thus an ecclesiastical body for the transaction of business was formed, which was denominated the General Conference. The second session of this venerable body was held at Berlin, the third at Cohansey, now Shiloh, and the fourth again at Hopkinton. In 1808, the Lost Creek and New Salem churches, in Virginia, united with the Conference, which subsequently received continual and almost annual additions.