Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-02-20

REPORT.
| THE Central Committee avail then,selges of The
present occasion to offer to the Convention report
of their doings; and to submit few observations on
engaged. Hta8 MFS ~ So
The Committee held their first meeting carly in
December; and deeming it Of great Importance to
procure the appointment OF town committees, d
greeably to resolve of the Convention and 70 es-
tablish correspondence with them, with view TO
general cooperation, they caused communication
to be addressed to influential persons in the several
towns, requesting that large and respectable COM
mittces should be immediately chosen, and that
when chosen, they should give information oil the
fact to the chairman Of this Committee.
/ No official return has as yet been received from
any towns except Freeport; but intelligence has
been obtained, by other Means of the appointment
of Committees in several towns, who appear 70 en-
| ter with spirit into the views Of the Convention.
| The tythingmen, also, iii various parts OF The
county, stimulated, no doubt by the measures OF
the Convention, have, we are happy to learn, pro-
ceedcd to the discharge OF their important duties
with increased fidelity, yigonr, and confidence, and
have thus given assurances Of their determination
to persevere.
The combined effect OF all these efforts is already
considerable throughout the county, aud, in some
parts OF it, great. Unnecessary travelling and O.
| Their yoiationsof the sabbath have become much
less frequent than heretofore and il is propitious
omen, that the pnbcx sentiment end the publick
voice are, 50 extensively, il nnsion with our own
The Convention, therefore, We decidedly believe,
are authorized 10 take encouragement from behold
ing the fruits OF their exertions, as we'll as from
firm reliance on the blessing Of sied wh.e engaged
honour, than to the public prosperity and virtue,
end 10 thc best good Of individuals.
Your Committee, however, are and have been
fully persuaded, that in order to accomplish the
great object before us,much resolution and patience
will be requisite. Such is the state Of society and
of publick morals in almost every country, that no
extensive effort for any object of publick utility,
can be commenced or pursued, without encounters
look these, without being appalled,, !, would be
neither prudent nor useful to attempt to suppress
or leiard an evil, so nveterate and extensive, as
the violation of the Christian Sabbath. Had din
culties been considered as sufficient TO discourage
exertion, some OF those benevolent add noble lnsi-
tntions, which distinguish The present era from all
those which are, either by memory or history,
presented to our view, would rot have existed -
some of the tairest traits in the human character
would have remained nndcyeloped. Who would
expected, that, by society originally consisting
Of a few individuals OF no high distinction, the
light of religious truth could, in the space Of about
twenty years, have been nude to penetrate the do
mains OF pagan darkness, in the four quarters Of the
globep Who would have supposed, that during a
season of war, of public anxiety and national con-
wilson's, among people but moderately numerous,
an institution could be formed, resting on other
support than Individual benclaetions, expending
nearly four hundred thousand dollars annually for
the circaton OF the sacred Scriptures Or, not
10 go beyond the country inhahit, if our atten-
ton is carried back only for the short space allot-
ted to single generation, who would have antici
pated that large amount Of expenditure and effort
for moral aud charitable purposes, which it is our
felicity to witness All this has been effected by
the blessing of heaven On perseycring and well di-
rectcd enterprise.
The nature OF that object, fer which the meeting
is convened orgt, in the opinion of your Commits
tee, TO nc deliberately considered. Tie Christian
Sabbath is by our statute laws, recognised as So
cred appointment sautary not less 10 our civil IL
tercsts, than to our moral habits and feelings. BY
a report Of Committee accepted BY tho Leglsia-
ture OF this Commonwealth, at late session.
faithful execution of the laws relating to the sab
bath is strongly recommended. And that heveia-
ton, which ii has pleased benevolent God 10 be-
STOW on The human race, requires them to come
crate o lis peculiar ferv;ce seventh lars OF the
tine--slch, then, il the nature Of Cur object; an
object to which our attention is required both BY
our lasss and our regon. Feeling the solid ground,
on Which we tread, we would walk, indeed, with
caution, bet with unwavering confidence. We cen
ceiye, that, as Society, we may ie allowed to
hope for the same blessing, which has been % a.
bnndantly bestowed On other enterprises Of asnn-
lar tendency
Your Committee are not liklc confirmed IN