The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-23

The minutes Of The Conference az New Lebanon,
NJ " tho result Of which was briefly msnloned 70 our
YER We leave out the pariicnar forms ol daily re-
cord preserving, however, every aEcc Of business
Rsv Lebanon J,,iy 10, 1897.
Alta Convention &c Ministers Of the Gospel assem-
bed at the house Of Dir. Belts By letters Of invitation
from Mr. Benan and DR.. Beecher, Rev. Heman Hum
phrcy, ID. ID. was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Will
lam r. Weeks and Rev. Henry Smith, ScTibes.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the Mode
or the brethren who were considered as duly invi-
ted there were present. Rev. Asahel IL. Norton, DID,
of Clinton, N. Y. Lyman Beecher, u. ID. Of Boston,
Mass Moses Gillet, Rome, N. Y. Nathan s. $. Be-
man, Troy N. Y. Dirck G. Lansing, ID. ID. Auburn,
N. Y. Heman Humphrey, d. ID. Amherst College,
Mass. John Frost, WhitesbOrough N. Y. Asahel Net
Teton, Connecticut, William r. Weeks, Paris, N. Y.
Justin Edwards, AndOver Mass. Henry Smith, Cam
den, N. Y. and Charles G. Finney, Oneida Co. N. Y
To these were afterwards added, Rev. s. c. Aiken,
of Utica, N. Y. who came the 18th Rev. Henry
r. Weed, Albany, ~ Y. on the afternoon Of the both;
and Rev. J. 7. Benedict, of Chatham, N. T., on the
25th.s
Gentleman duly invited, but absent during the whole
time Rev. David Porter, D. ID. Catskill, N. Y, Al
van Hyde, d. ID. Lee, Mass Samuel Tomb, Salem,
N Y Eliphalet Mott, ID. ID. Union College, N. Y.
Thomas McAuley d. d. New York, Gardiner Spring,
D. d. New-I ork, James Patterson, Philadelphia,
Thomas H. Skinner, D. ID. Philadelphia, and Edwin
Dwight, Richmond Mass.
TRe Rev Caleb J. Tenney, of Wethersfeld, and the
Rev Joel Hawesyof Hartford, Conn. being present
by invitation from DR.. Beecher,-the Rev. George w
Gale of the Oneida Academy, N. Y. being present by
the invitation of Mr.. Frost and the Rev. Silas Chur-
chill Minister of the place, 1T voted that they be
invited to take seats members of this Convention
The Convention united in season of prayer, inter-
sspersed with singing.
Voted that those Of our brethren who are in the place
be requested to spend much of their time as may be
convenient in special prayer for the divine blessing on
the deliberations OF this meeting. #
tho had called the Yraofinr had
made exposition of its origin, was moved and Sc
conded that proceed to see in what respects there
is an agreement between brethren from different Sec
tons of the country in regard to principles and meas
res in conducting and promoting revvas Of religion.
Thursday, July l.
The motion under discussion yesterday was taken
ur, and after further discussion It was carried, four
teen voting in the affirmative, in the negative, and
Messrs Norton, Beecher, Churchill, Gillet, Tenney,
Lansing, Humphrey, Nettleton, Halves, Weeks, Gale,
Edwards, Smith, and Finney. For the negative, Mr..
Beman. Declined voting Messsrs Frost and Aiken.
clining to vote -" That he understood the object of
the meeting to be, to correct misapprehensons, and
restore peace among brethren" a.
The Convention then proceeded to attend to the
subject proposed and on motion of MIR. Edwards, the
following propositions were agreed to:
That REVEALS oftrue religion are the work of Gods
Spirit, by which, in comparatively short period 0f
time, many persons are convinced of SIM and brought
in Lord Jesus Christ" Voted in the affirmative u
unanimously.
"That the preservation and extension Of true reli-
gion ia our land have been much promoted by tn ese
REVEALS" Voted unanimously.
That according to the Bible and the indications of
Providence greater and glorious revvals are to
be expected than have everyet existed" Voted usan
imoasly.
"That, though revivals Of religion are the work of
Gods Spirit, they are produced by means Of divine
truth and human instrumentality and are liable to be
advanced or hindered by measures which are adopted
in conducting them. The idea that God acts indepen-
IDENTITY of human instrumentay, without any refer
to the adaptation of means to ends, is unscrptu
rail-" Voted unanimously.
There may be some variety in the mode Of con-
Quoting revvas, according to local CUSTOMS and there
may be relative mperfections attending them, which
60 not destroy the purity of the work and its perma
ienr ana general good influence upon the church and
the world; and in SUCH cases, good men, while they
lament these mpcrfeetions' may rejoice IN the revival
"There may be SO much human infrmity, and in-
discretion and wckedness Of man, in conducting re-
vival of religion to render the general evils winch
Aow from this infir1nty indscreton, and wckedness
ofman, greater than the local and temporary advan-
tages of the revival; that is, this in1nty, indscre
ton, and wickedness of man, may be the means of
preventing the conversion of more souls than may have
been converted during the revival" Voted anani-
mousiy.
"In view of these considerations, we regard it as
eminently important, that there should be general
understanding among ministers and churches, in re-
spect to those things which of dangerous enden
cy, and are not to be countenanced." Voted "nant-
asosssly.
Mr.. Edwards then introduced the following propo-
sition:
''In social meetings of men and women, for reli-
gion worship, females are not to pray"
Friday, Jaly 90.
The discussion of the last proposition offered, which
commenced last evening, was continued through the
greater part Of this day; during which, united in two
seasons of prayer.-Mcssrs Aiken and Finney moved,
that its further consideration be postponed, till they
should have gone into inquiry into of fact
but afterwards withdrew the motion. Atlength the
question taken, and nine voted in favor, and
declined voting follows: For the proposition, Messrs
Halves. Weeks, Weed, and Edwards. Declined DO
ting, Messrs. Churchill, Giet Benan, Lansing, Frost,
Gale, Aiken, Smith and Finaey. |
1t was moved by Mr. Frost, and seconded by Mr.. |
Finney, that the following question be answered. to
wit: r
sis it right for woman in any case to pray in the
presence Of a mani"
After some discussion, MIR. Edwards moved its in-
definite posponement; but, after discussion, withdrew
his motion. On motion of Mr.. Lansing, Mr.. Frosts |
question postponed, that he might introduce |
substitute, wit "There may be circumstances in
which it may be proper for female to pray in the
presence Of men," After discussion the question was
taken, and eight voted in favor of the proposition, and
ten declined voting as follows: For the proposition
Messrs Churchill Gillet, Beman, Lansing, Frost Gale
Aiken, and Finney. Declined coting, Messrs. Norton
Beecher Tenney, Humphrey, Nettleton, Halves,
Weeks, Weed, Edwards, and Smith.
Saturday, July 81.
Mp. Edwards introduced the following proposition
1t is improper for any person to appoint meetings
in the congregations of acknowledged ministers Of
Christ or to introduce any to promote and
conduct reVvas of religion, without having first obta