The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-11-21

rRoA THE R,onnosD rsauIRsa.


the meeting ot the Association oil the Baps
tists.--The number of strangers who focked
hither, the responsibility OF the sect, tha
simplicity of their principles, and the en.s
thusiasm with which their ministers p; ops
gate their tenets, gave alccrtuin scias To their
exer,ions and new air to the occupations of
the City. The Association met on Friday
night, the 18th, and dissolved ON Monday
night o'clock. Abou, 500 men are este
mated TO have been presen,--,he ordained
and liccned' Preachers between so and 40, of
whom or came from the other Associa-g
ton districts. U ,i h4 NsGt gtNfs 10
There were no proceedings ofa general
nature conducted under the auspices OF this
meeting. On Sunday forenoon the Preacla-
ing was carried on at the Capitol, wh,,hcr
flowed a tide of population, which the Halt
ct the House of Delegates could not contain
--ahd al the Baptist and Methodist Meeting.
Houses--by different Ministers, who intcr-
changed in the afternoon. a singular de-
gree OF harmony is said to have prevailed a.
mongst all the lovers o! pic,y, Baptists Ind
Methodis,s Ii was pleasing TO see this spec
tacic oi CONCORD among them. !" The Ale,ho-
dists, (says distinguished Baptist) acted on
ihis occasion liberal aud friendly part, mot
only with furnishing their Meeting -housc
from first to last, but in attending to tho
meetings at'thc diAcren, places, and IN join.
ing with apparent cordiaii,y in the religious
exercises--ior which the Associa,isn express
sed their thanks. sespso caw
This Association is called the Dover As~
sociation--there are in this district 37 Chuy<
chcs ana 9,628 members, as may be seen by
reference to Sempie's I" History of the Vir.
ginia Baptists," p go, 9l--a work lately pubs
lishcd, and containing mine Of Baptistical
information, couChcd in the clearcst and sima
plcst style. "a ssses F. ~
The government Of the Baptist Church 10
extre mely simple and equal. There are rs
whole Associations in the Suite, besides
others which extend into other States, cach
one has constitution Independent, OF the
rest. The government both OF the Associa!
tion, the Churches, and, indeed Of the whole
society in Virginia and throughout the world,
is en.inently Republican for the decisions
are always made by the majority They ara
all in perfect equality, except SO far as
they may be distinguished by their talents,
their enthusiasm, and their services. There
are no dgpi,aries among their Ministers.
The purpose Of the Association is 10 ada
wise the churches in all intricate cases OF dis.
cipline to preserve a uniformity Of scDti.
mcnts and principles; to cultivate an acquain.
btsnce between the churches and their mem.
crs and to supply vacant churches by tho
appointment of neighbourng Pastors to at.
tend them al certain periods. According to
the Dover Constitution each church can send
Delegates, and may send less. They are
generally selected by the votes of the MEM
bers of the church, and receive no pecuniary
compensation for their services. il
Besides these Associations, there is more
general convention, or general meeting Of
correspondence, which has been on foo, Tor
few years, and intended to knit the several
Associations together. 1t has not, however.
yet received the sanction OF all these bodies
in Virginia.
The whole number Of Bsptists in this state
is computed by Mr.. Semplc at 3l,o52.
There was period In .his State, when the
Baptsts and other Dissenicrs were pcrsecl-
ted, and particular church was favoured
and established by law. But the Revolution
Of America overthrow the dcspotism OF the
church as well as that of the statc--as our
government is independent of Great Britain,
SO religion is independent Of our government
Universal federation is established by our
constitution and laws, as we'll as by the feel
ings of the people. We have arrived at that
happy summit, which had bean viewed by
the sagcs Of Europe as theoretical elysium,
rather to be desired than enjoyed where
every man is free to follow the dictates of
| his own conscitn nee. We have solved the
problem, which had been so long agi,a,ed
| in the world--we have shewDhow much hap
pincss and harmony spring from religious
iolcrs,ion When will the Irish Catholiok or
the English Dissentcr be able to realize
bcaii6ck visions
Even since the American Revolution, q
| partial attempt has been made to fctter the
| conscience by legal restrictions. A bill for
l a general assessment was referred 10 the
people by one session Of the General Assem-
| bIy but the Bap,ists came forward en- masse'
the voice Of the people was against it,