Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-21
RHODE ISLAND.

cdly be very interesting to many Of our
readers.
RHODE ISLAND.
! .Vsppori, March, IL, 1912.
II Dear Breihren.-The r. ]. missionary
Convocs,ion Held its monthly session in Zion
Church, Newport, this week, and the follow
ing of the occ asion is at your disposal.
larger number OF the clergy attended than
was expected during the season OF Lent
\ There were present the Rev. Mr.. Cole OF
Woonsocket, Rev. Mr.. Waterman of Provi
Jence. Rev Mr.. Crane ct East Green wich,
Rev. Mr.. Ealnes Of Wakefield, Rev. Mr.
Fules of Bristol, Rev. Mr.. Ward o! Ports
mouth. Rev. Mr.. Vin,on Of Newport, und the
Rector of tho Church. The Board oi Mis-.
,ions held their meetings for business on the
mornings of "Wednesday and Thursday be
side which there were public services on
4 Tuesday evening, and on the morning, alter.
! noon aud evening of "Wednesday and Thurs
H lay. The congregations were unusally large
| aud the services ot the whole occasion iril
| on their minds n deep imp oSslon OF ihe'i ad
nirab!c sdaptedness to cherish warm at
| liaclinent 10 The cause of MISSIONS, to com
| mnnd respect for the intelligent, practical
aud chssiened pic,y of the Episcopal Chuach:
II IF sraternpl affection.
II In the place Of II more general notice OF
! The session on the several DAYS, ! will con
line myself 10 more particular account Of
| those held on Tuesday. On the morning OF
this day, afier a clerical prayer meeting,
II Morning Prayer was read ~ church by the
mise onary of ST. Paul's Church, Portsmouth,
and was followed by addresses from the
/ Rector Of ST. Stephens. Providence, aud the
Assistant Minister at ST. MichaeIs Bristol
II These addresses, founded on the question:
l"What do ye more than others 2" enforced
/ high standard Of active and benevolent pie.
| ", from what the rord justly trpecfs OF the
followers OF Christ, from villa, they may er
pect of Divine assistance aud blessing IN do.
| ing good aud from the motives OF love and
\ gratitude Ia Christ Tor what lie has done for
us. ln the afternoon, service was read by
the missionary Of ST. Lukc's, East Greenwich,
and sermon preached by the assistant min
ster oi ST. Michael's, Bristol, from the text,
why eateth yonr Master with pubicuns
and sinners:" The preacher vlndicated
Christ's holy character aud religion from
this Pharssical reproach, aud encouraged the
despondlng sinner 10 come unto Him, by up.
folding the design Of his mission To "seek
aud save the lost" 10 the evening the usual
missionary service was held. Evening Pray.
cr was read by the Rector Of Trinity Church,
Newport, after which statements and ad.
dresses were made by several Of the mission.
aries and others Of the clergy. From these.
my limits will admit Of only selection. The
-ublect OF the missionary work IN Rhode
Island was first presented by the Rector OF
Zion Church, IN brief review of the origin
and history OF the Missionary ConvocOtlon.
This association originated with an union of
the clergy aud parishes OF st. Mchac's,
Bristol--St. Marks Warren-and ST. Thom
as, Taunton, Mass, under the advice and
sanction Of the Bishop Of the Eastern Dio.
cese, for the purpose Of aiding feeble parish
! es, establishing new ones, aud promoting
1nIon and pleiy among the clergy and Ialiy
OF the Episcopal Church. To these parishes
were soon added those of Sh Johns aud
Grace Churches, Providence. aud ST. Paul's,
Pawtncket. Their first missionary effort was
TO assist the missionary parish of BrIdgewu.
ter. Mass, to support minister by an appro.
prlu,Ion oI $50. From this small beginning |
the interest awakened Ia their pafishes cna.
blrd ihou, ~ nh'r one year, 10 increase their /
contributions tentoH, and To begin their work |
IN the desolate region OF X. Island. One
held was dwell upon ~ this statement as an
example. The speaker stated that he viol !
ted, as an agent ot the ConvocntioD, about |
IL years age, a region of country where
within diameter Of about 3 miles, there
were 1000 people without any minister or
church of any denomination and preached
~ u Factory within sight of spot where, on
the Sunday before, Abner Knerland had
preached to a thousand people that there ,oas
no God. There are now three flourlshing
aud independent Churches within few miles
# that spot-besldes several of other de.
nominations and the whole state Of morals |
and pIety is elevated in an eminent dogrce. |
Within these l2 years, nearly 500 900 have
been expet ded by the lany in the erection OF
churches, and S25, 600 contributed by the
Ladies Sewing Societies, Tor the support OF
missionaries while at least 1000 hopeful /
conversions to Christ have been the fruit Of 1
Gods blessings upon their labors. During |
this period nearly 40 clergymen have been
connected with the Convoca;ion IN their ml s.
slonary labors, Of whom five out Of six OF the
original members remain the others, with
he exception Of those more recent members
who are still IN connection with it, having |
been called to other fields Of labor IN the
church, and many OF them TO stations OF high |
responsibility. During this entire period,
no embarrassment has for a single year pre-.
vented their full and prompt payment OF the
missionary pledges. and no dsunlon has ever
marred the harmony Of their actions as mem
bers Of the Missionary Board. For this as
ISOLATION the speaker expressed the warmcst
attachment, aud paid a parting tribute in the
painful prospect Of lis expected separation
from it's high privileges and cnjoymen,s.
The Assistant Minister Of st. Michael's Il
Bristol. gave a deeply interesting statement
of the revival' Of religion now ~ progress
IN that parish. Tie general interest III re-.
ligion which now pervades that parish, fol.
lowed Immediately after the meeting Of the
Convocatlon ~ nJanuary,-prcvIOus To which II
the Rector and his Assistant expressed much
anxiety and encouragement respecting the
little success which had, for some time, fol II
lowed their united labors. The first Indica.
ton OF seriousness appeared IN the Sunday Il
School, where the whole body o. lis numerous
teachers aud scholars simultaneously exhibI. II
ted an affecting interest on the subject and
very large number OF the older scholars
have since given pleasing proofs Of pieiy.
But, since that time, the anxiety TO secure the
salvation OF the soul has become the en-
crossing topic among persons OF every age
aud class and of them. 45 have already re.
have been pnined to see nm article in
"The Church Record, taken from tho "Ijoston
Notion and containing an indiscrimlnate con-
demnation Of "Revivals." This subject de-.
serves attention. II III becomes us, as Church.
men, To be misled by name, and to join The II
clamor Of the skeptc against "Tcvivals," ;" be.
cause some men have seen III TO classify under
this appullaiion the eAcitcments produced by II
the popular fanatic, The term "revival' was II