Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-21
Worcester County Central Association.

WOrcester County Central Association.
The third, (evening,) session of the Confer
ence was held on Wednesday, P. NJ, in the
Union, Grew. DIR. Smalleys,) church. The
audience was large, and seemingly deeply in
terested in the proceedings. After the usual
devotional services, Rev. George Trask, of
Fitchburg, addressed the Conference, on the
use of narcotic poisons. His remarks were
particularly directed towards the use of tobac-
CO, which he characterized as foe to health,
comfort, cleanliness, self-respect, temperance,
sanity, and religion. His address was very
eloquent and effective.
Rev, Mr.. Upsher, of Uxbridge, introduced
to the attention and kind consideration of the
meeting, the Rev. Mr.. Holmes, Secretary Of
the American Tract Society. Mr.. Holmes
gave an encouraging account of the operations
of the Society. Its agent had visited, within
short period, thirteen of the towns included
in the Central Association, and had distrib-
uted about 5000 publications. Last year, the
Society had disseminated, in this county, near
ly 100000 books, and about 100000
tracts The churches united in this Confer
ence had, last year, contributed $25OO to-
wards the the objects of the Society.
Rev. DR.. Clark, Secretary of the Massachu-
sets Home Missionary Society, said that, Is
years ago. when he became officially connect
ed with the Home Missionary Society, there
were so chuches dependent upon missionary
support; now there were only 40, five less
than there were last year. The progress of
this Society was indicated inversely from the
usual demonstrations of progress, As the
churches became self-sustaining, they ceased
to Do aided by the Society. The rapid extern
sion of the country, and the urgent call for
help from Christians, on, on the borders of
civilization, still afford wide scope and ample
field for the Societys exertions.
Rev. Ma. Sweetser earnestly commended
the cause of Home Missions to the prayers
and charities of the Conference. Nine church
es, represented in the Conference, have
contributed $l1,30 for this cause within
year.
journment, in the Salem Street Church, on
Thursday, Goth. The forenoon session was
wholly occupied in the presentation of reports,
on the state of piety in their several churches,
by the pastors and delegates present. Reports
were made from Leicester, Northboro', Rut-
land, Oxford, Princeton, Shrewsbury, Fitch
burg, Sterling, West Boylston, and from the
four Congregational churches in this city,
The reports were generally indicative of the
Sabbath Schools, connected with the churches,
being in high state of efficiency and useful
ness; but all concurred in the declaration that
the state of piety in the churches is not such
as to satisfy the longing desires for spiritual
religion, that no doubt fills the world. The
Church, in order to Lift the world up to God,
must stand upon higher point above the
the world than she now does. She must be-
come more spiritual.
A number of the delegates and pastors, then
spoke of the state of temperance in their sew
eral towns.
Rev. Mr.. Bardwell Of Oxford, then delivered
an address, when the Conference adjourned.
AFTERNOON SEssIoN.-The Rev. Mr. Cross
of West Boylston, preached an able sermon
the elements of the Lold's Supper were dis
pensed, and the Conference then adjourned.