The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-07-18
3se1telouo.
From the Boston Recorder and Telegraph.
GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF MASSA-
CIJITSETTS

ACoONlA lON OE Uh-ANN-N
CHUSETTS.
This body assembled at Worcester, IN
the FIRST Church, on Tuesday, the goth ut, /
at o'clock, p. NJ, and was organized by
choosing Rev. Samuel Osgood, OF Spring
field, Moderator, Rev. Enoch Pond, OF
Ward, Scribe, and Rev. Josiah Bent, OF
WEYMOUTH. Assistant Scribe. All the As
sociations previously connected with the
body were represented, and two additional
Associations recently formed, viz. the Mid
dlesex Union. Association, and the Associ-
ton of Taunton and vicinity, were receiv-
ed into the connexion in the manner pre-
scribed by the rules of the General Asso-
citation. Delegates were also present from
most of the foreign bodies connected with
this Association.
Among the articles of business transact
ed by the Association. the following are
worthy of particular notice -
A request was complied with from the
General Conference of Maine to become
connected with this Association on the
same terms rs HAer foreign bodies. The
question, Has the Committee appointed
by the General Association to certify the
regular standing of Ministers travelling
4 out of the State, a right to recommend one
who has been deposed by an Association
connected with this BODY" was, unani-
mouSiy answered in the negatire. In ref
erence to the subject of the ordination OF
/ Evangelists referred to this meeting by
I the last General Association, the following
/ vote was passed =" That an Association
of Congregational Ministers, acting in
their associated capacity, are authorized to
ordain Evangelists." To request from the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church TO consent to such an alteration i'll
the terms of Union between that body and
this Association, that the Delegates from
each to the other respectively shall not
hereafter, as has been the case heretofore,
have the right to vote, it was answered,
that 'the principles of the compact be-
tween that body and the General Associa-
ton of Massachusetts have been, in their
operation, productive Of much good, and
that there is nothing in them inconsistent
with the general design of this body
therefore, resolved that this body cordially
invite continuance of the friendly inter
course hitherto sustained on the principles
already established" In relation to n
proposal i:om the General Association of
Connecticut, to this and other general &C.
clesiastlcal bodies in wEngland, to ap-
point Joint Committee to "preparc a com
mon summary of Christian doctrine, to be
reported to each of those bodies for their
adoption" it was voted, shat although
there may seem to be some advantages at
tending the experiment, the difficulties
which would attend it are such as render
it inexpedient for this body to unite in the
appointment of such Committee" Res
oluuons were passed approving the recent
measures adopted at Philadelphia prepaf-
atory to the organization of a national in
stitution to promote the formation and pros
perity of Bible Glasses, also "the object
and operations of the American Sunday
/ School Union, and, as its treasury is much
embarrassed, earnestly recommending to
the churches to make their Ministers mem
bers for life by the payment of thirty dol
lars, and otherwise to aid the funds of the
Society and recommending our schools to
connect themselves with that Soaiety, eth
or directly, or through the medium of its
Auxiliary Unions" On thexsubiect of
Temperance the following resolutions were
passed.
81. That we cordially approve the OBJ
| ject, and operations of the American So
eiety for the Promotion of Temperance,
and we earnestly hope that the practice OF
entire abstinence from the use of distilled
/ liquors will become universal.
2. That we will abstain from the use of
distilled liquors ourselves: that we will not
have them used, except as medicine in
case of bodily infrmity, in our families /;
that we will not provide them as arti-
cles of entertainment for our friends; and
that we will, in all suitable WAYS, dis
countenance the use of them in the com
mnnity."
TIE religious exercises during the meet
ing of the Association were the following,
I all OF them well attended =
On "Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
there were prayer meetings at o'clock,
and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
/ day evenings, sermons preached by the
Rev Mr.. Armstrong one of the Delegates
from the General Assembly, the Rev. Mr..
Edwards, of Andover, and the Rev. Presi-
dent Humphrey. On Wednesday after
noon, at 3 o'clock, the Associationai sermon
was preached by the Rev. Samuel Sewall
of the Andover Association. Immediately
after this service the narratives of the
state of religion in the several Associa-
tons were given in presence of the con-
gregation. These narratives were unus-
ually Interesting. In two of the Associa
tons, the Berkshire and the Suffolk. nearly
every church was reported to be now en-
Joylng the blessing of a revival. In most
OF the other Associations revivals now ex-
lst, and IN all there are appearances which
greater blessings. Never since l740, per- Ter.
haps since the settlement of the country.
have there been so many REVEALS at one
time in the State of Massachusetts. The
reports from the foreign bodies represented
at the Association were also unnsualIv in
teresting. On Thursday morning, the an
nual report of the Executive Committee oil
the Domestic Missionary Society was read
Ia most interesting and animating docu-
ment; and the Society, by a unanimous
Vote, united with the Massachusetts Mis-
slonary Society, which is now connected
with the American Home Missionary So
ciety In the afternoon, at 9 o'clock. the
annual sermon before the Domestic Mis-