The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-07-09
From the Hartford (Conn.) Times.

From the Hartford Conn Times.
We find the second days proceedings
June 18th. 1868 OF the annual conveu-
:ion of The general association of the
Congl egstionl churches of Connecticut,
held in Hartford, the folio wing proceed
ings
The report of tho Csmmitte on the
question. "Why are there SO few additions
to our churches?' was presented by DR..
Cleveland. of New Haven. The sub
stance Of the report was that there had
not been since 1858 an sutpourinG of the
Holy Ghost equal to the wants of the
chsrches. II the churches had been viii.
ling to take in any persons who had been
baptized. and who had general religious
knowledge and fair moral character,
they would have been full to an unprece.
dentsd extent; but they have properly
refused to receive any save those who
show true regeneration. The committee
also deplored the codnesS that followed
the periods OF great revivals. and the
lack Of a warm cooperation on the par, Of
the lay members Of the church. The
ministers of the gospel were also blamed
for the great laxity of the present interest
in the churches. The report was accep
ted.
The report of the committee on more
general observance of infant bapt Sun, was
read by Dr.. R. S. Vermilye, of East
Windsor Seminary. There are 283
churches in the State. In 1862, there
were 76 churches in which there were no
infant baptism. and it has been less in
comparison with the Episcopal Church, in
the ratio Of one to five. Out of 2S3
churches in the State, there were only
eleven who baptized ten and upwards in
1862, and more who baptized over twenty
There is one church in inch there has
not been baptism in five Years. There
seems to be a lesning towards the Bspti,,
theory. as opposed to the sacrament Of
infant baptism. 1t would seem that five
infants should occur to every hundred
communicsnts. At present there are not
tao to hundred Ministers and aymen
are both TO blame for the falling away in
the practice Of this ordnance. The report
of the com mite very strongly urged the
importance and necessity of infant bap
tism. The report was accepted.
"The great lsxisy Of the present Interest
in the churches" on the part Of ministers
is readily accounted for. A good share
of them are on the stump. spouting on
politics, and make their churches mere
caucus rooms or places for political dis
cussion. There are, Of course, "few ad
ditions'' to such churches. People prefer
to join a regularly organized political party
than to connect themselves with a churcl
protesting to teach the principles and pre-
cepts of the Prince Of Pesce, Wills. they
are preaching politics the most of the time
j The Episcopal Church, it appears, bap
tizes many mors infants--5 to l-tha,
the Congregational. The Episcopa
r Chui ch rarely NEEDLES with politics.
The result, quite reasonable too, is Guuc
in this report of the Congregational Com
:nittee. These facts are worthy of tn,
consideration of the Christian community
But we do not doubt that they will be los
upon the churches. Indeed, anothe
committee of this same General Associ
aion reports that 1.-THE churches Of Il,
Association have shown themselves mos
> truly loyal supporters of the government
and of the armies now fighting the bat
ties OF liberty in the field which is ratt
sr boastful of their political fidelity i
church org nizstion. and by inferenc
assumes that other churches may nc
> "be loyal to the government and the al
T.; miles," which is not remarkable instance
10 of Christian charity. Is it strange tbs
= thinking parents do not get their infan,
baptized in such political institutions?