Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-06-25


M1N1srERs.-Th The Association of Congrega.
tional Ministers Orthodoxy met on Tuesday,
at o'clock, in Rev. Mr.. Means church.
Dorchester. 4 large delegation was present.
Rev. Mr.. Woodbury. of Milford was chosen
Moderator. Rev. Mr.. Buckley of Groton.
Scribe and Rev. Mr.. Allen of Salem, Assist
ant Scribe. The following clergymen were
present as delegates fromcor responding bodies
New Hampshire-Rev. VIM. I. Savage; Con-
necticut--D. S. Brainard Vermont-S. p.
Giddings; Rhode Island A. H. Clapp
Maine-Joseph Lowering Iowa.. C. Hol.
brook Illinois-G. S. f. Savage; Ohio-C.
W. Torney; Wisconsin Mr.. Darling; Mich
igan-S. S. N. Greedy.
At IL o'clock a sermon was preached
upon Home Missions, by Rev. ]. ]. Dana of
South Adams, from Genesis 10, 10: 1t was
listened to with attention.
Wednesday forenoon, at o'clock the as.
sociaton came to order. Delegates from
other bodies were then introduced Rev. Mr..
Savage of New Hampshire spoke feelingly of
the late revival, or rather of the revival which
was still in progress. He said that the New
Hampshire churches had suffered in years
past from emigration. but that the tide had
stopped, and that in some degree it was flow
ing back.
Rev. Mr.. Brainard, of Connecticut, spoke
of the great work the past winter, in that
State, where according to returns made to the
State Association, the converts number about
eight thousand.
Rev. Mr.. Giddings, of Vermont, said that
not far from seven hundred converts had been
added to the churches during the year ending
| May LIST, which included but a small number
of the recent converts.
Rev. Mr.. Savage, of illinois, gave an inter
=. -
first Congregational Church in the State was
organized at Mardon, in 1888, consisting of
| eighteen members; now there are l6O church
es and one hundred and twenty Congrega-
tional Ministers. These are mainly North of
the centre of the State but the opening of
tho Illinois Central Railroad is letting lieht
into Egypt. The New England element was
| getting fast hold in the Southern part of
the State and wonderful change was going
on there
At the recent meeting of the Association
| held at Princeton, resolutions were passed
condemning the recent action of the Ameri-
can Tract Society resolutions which were
drawn up by conservative men, who had gone
out from the East. They were passed unan-
imously.
Rev. Mr.. Halbsck of Iowa said that he
came from the youngest State Association in
the Union, but still they numbered about one
hundred and thirty Congregational churches.
He went to Iowa nineteen years ago, when
the population was about fifty thousand.
but which now was estimated at six hundred
andiffty thousand. In 1860 they would have
million people. This thought was enough
to stir the soul of every one who had trne
Christian heroism in him.
The Association at a late meeting emphati.
cally and unanimously condemned the late
action of the American Tract Society al :
| though the District Secretary of the Society
was present and spoke an hour to obtain YER
dict in favor of the Society. The Association
endorsed the action of the Boston Society. and
the churches of Iowa would the coming year
contribute to that Society. He was clad To
know that Massachusetts was true to her old
instincts in this matter.
Rev. Mr.. Clapp of Rhode Island. said that
he came from a small body-numberino hnt
twenty-one churches containing about TWEEN
ty-one hundred members. About three hun
dred members had been added during the
year, although the results of the late REVEALS
were not known.
Rev. Mr.. Torrey of Ohio gave an interest /.
ing account OF the progress of Congregation
alism in that State.
On the matter of slavery the association of
as a sin in the sight of God.
Rev. Mr.. Loring of Maine said that there
were not more than one half of the Churches
in Maine which were elf-sustaining; MANY
Of them barely existed. Emigration was the
great obstacle to their increase. A few were
fast becoming able to sustain themselves: but
the Home Missionary Society had great
work to do in Maine.
The number of conversions in Portland.
during the year, is estimated at about 1000
Large numbers had been converted in other
places.
Rev. Mr.. Darling of Wisconsin said that 80
much had been said in regard to the North
west, that there was but little for him to saw.
The Wisconsin body took strong ground
against slavery.
Rev. Mr.. Greeley of Michigan said it did
him good to come back to old Massachusetts.
his old field OF labor, and look once more upon
the mountains, Gods ramparts of liberty.
Michigan was making great advances. Com
gregationalsm is on the increase. The min
utes last year gave 100 churches, but this wear
1t will show much larger number, Michl-
gan was the fret to speak against the action
OF the American Tract Society.
Rev. Dr.. MeLane OF Williamsburg, N. Y,
delegate from the New York General Assem-.
bly,, expressed the fraternal love Of that BODY.
The Assembly was in prosperous condition.
The Assembly was anything but friendly 10
slavery. As for himself, he hated t. But
the Assembly might differ from this body as 10
the best means OF getting rid Of il.
Letters were then read from other bodes.
One Of great interest from the General Asso.
citation Of Nebraska. which was Organized In
August last, and contains six churches. The
Association here adjourned for dinner.
afternoon, At two o'clock the Association
re.essembled, and reports from the District
! Associations were read IL would appear that