Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-11
CITY AND COUNTY.
congregational Conference.
THIRD DAY.

of Randolph. Thereport of the committee OF
conference upon the question OF union be-
tween the general association of Congregations
al ministers and the general conference of
Congregational churches was discussed. The
report was favorable to that plan, bit recon-
mended the conference to await the action of
the association upon 1t. The resolutions OF
Dea. Thurston Of Lancaster, that the confer
ence decline the proposition for a union upon
the terms proposed were taken up, and Rev.
Mr.. Pike offered substitute, referring the
whole matter to the local conferences, and
awaiting their action, and made some brief re-
marks in support of his resolution, Rev.
Mr.. Wellman agreed with the last speaker
that the proposition deserved candid consider
ton, but he believed the new body must be
either one thing or the other, as had been the
experience in New Hampshire.
DIR. Alden offered another set of resolutions
| that the conference duly appreciate the mo-
tives which prompted the proposition, and will
| cordially unite in any measures necessary to
| the consummation OF such union, whenever
the association will so modify their PROPOSE
ton as not to involve any fundamental change
IN the constitution of the conference.
Rev Prof. Bamows of Andover supported
the last resolutions, deemng them ii step in
the right direction, as he felt the two bodies
were sure to unite.
Dea. Thurston defended his resolutions,
disclaiming any such feeling against the clergy
as had been attributed to them.
Rev. Mr.. Marvin saw no necessity for the
union. Rev. Mr.. Means of Roxbury thought
union was practicable, and would be beneficial
He favored DIR. Aden'S resolutions. Rev.
Mr.. Clark Of Chelsea favored Dea. Thurs
tons resolutions Rev. Mr.. Clark Of Win
chendon expressed his preference for Deacon
Thurston's resolutions but would take Dr.
Alden's his second choice.
The vote was then taken on DR.. Alden's
resolutions, and they were substituted for Mr..
| Pixies by the casting vote Of the moderator
They were then substituted for Dea. Thurs
toms by vote of 20 to IA, and were finally
adopted.
Devotional exercises were then opened by
remarks from Prof. Barrows. Rev. Dr.
| Sweetser made appropriate alusion to the de-
lightful memories lingering around those
meetings, after which, at about ten o'clock,
Rev Mr.. Thatcher, chairman OF the commit
tee on the state of religion, read his report.
They were represented to be all in flourishing
conditions
Reports from corresponding bodies were
then in order, and Rev. DIR. Holbrook, of the
general association of Iowa, made an inter-
estlng statement of the increase of Congreg a.
tonalism in that state. He expressed the
hope that the rival organizations in this state
would unite.
Rev. Mr.. Wallace, of the general associa-
ton of New Hampshire, said that organization
was composed of clergy and laymen, and they
worked harmoniously together. He alluded
to the GOODNESS between the churches and the
college, but hoped there wonld be a better
fssng t HIS IF thf Y tRaf e
perance did not flourish there, but patriotism
did, there being general feeling of devotion
to the Union there.
The moderator esponded to the delegates
from abroad in some eloquent remarks. Rev.
Mr.. Barrows, who had been delegate to the
union association, gave favorable account of
his reception by them, and of their dolngs
At half past 10 was commenced the discus
sion on The reliance of the church upon the
established means Of grace for the promotion
of religion" opened with essay by Hon.
| John Aiken OF Andover. He maintained that
the established means of grace" included the
ordinances and ministry, the conferences, sab
| bath schools, and prayer meetings, city mis-
sions, and all other agencies for the spread of
religion, they being ordained agencies of
| heavenly truth. The pulpit was the most
powerful agent, but all the others were inpor-
tant, and efficient and necessary instrument
alites. Preachers, to be efficient should be
thoroughly infused with the spirit OF the Cos
pei.
Rev. Mr. Wright of South Hadley approved
the tone and argument Of the essay, and was
against the innovation recently proposed.
Rev. DIR. Taylor Of Andover wished it to
be borne in mind that the conference was dis
cussing what was the means of grace, not
what is grace; means are human instrument
talities, but grace itself is obtainable only of
God. Prayer was the greatest means of
grace, but most of all was need the power
that comes from using all the means of grace.
The discussion was continued by Hon. Jos.
White, Rev. d. Metcalf, Rev. DIR. Gurley of
Washington, Rev Mr.. Clark of Auburndale
and Rey. w. II. Beecher.
The moderator then presented the claims of
the Christian commission. A resolution of
thanks to the moderator, and for hospitality
received, was adopted. A committee was APP
pointed on the subject of union with the gem
| eral association; and it was voted to print tie
reports and essays that had been read
AT = P. NJ. a sermon was preached by Rev.
| n. H. EgglestOn Of Sturbrdge, after which
the sacrament OF the Lords Supper was adj
minstered This closed the sessions of the
| conference.
Police COURT. Yesterday, Bridget Lally
and George Wilson were each fined 81 and
costs for drunkenness, and committed for nom
payment.
Bernard Lancton, for the larceny of a gold
watch and chain, and sundry ornaments at
tached thereto-the whole being OF the value
ut S60-trom Leo Miller was sentenced to the
house OF correction for three months. The
circumstances of the larceny were, that Mr..
Miller, being about moving oat Ct some rooms
occupied by him in the Lincoln House, en-
gagged Lancton, boy twelve years OF age, and