Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-11
Conrention % Chris1,nn a ssocinlions.


voted call to Rev. Mr.. BatcheIder, late OF
Hinsdale, N. II.
Convention of Christian Associations.
The sixth quarterly meeting of the Worcester
county conventions of Christian associations, was
held in the Second Congregational church in Mill
bury, Yesterday. 1t was The annual session.
After devotional exercises from balfpast niue
to halfpast ten O'Clock A. NJ, the convention
was called to order by Hon VIM. Upham, of
Spencer, prayer was offered by Rev. A. j. Bates of
Saundersvlc, and the annual report of the Sec
rotary, Charles A. Denny, of Leicester, was read
and accepted The committee chosen to nomi-
nate officers for the year ensuing, then reported
the following list, which was adopted
For President, l.. P. Goddard, of Worces-
ter; Vice President, C. p. Whitaker,
of Clinton; Secretary, Joseph A. Dodge, of Graf
ton; Treasurer, Z. D Batchelder of North
Bro0kield In the absence of the president and
vice president, Mr.. Upham was chosen president
pro tenn. The thanks Of the meeting were
voted TO the officers of last year.
The remainder of the forenoon session was
devoted to hearing reports from the associations
and churches in the county. The towns heard
from were: Clinton, Douglas, Holden, Leicester,
Millbury, Northbridge, North Brookfeld, Oak
ham, Oxford, Paxton, Spencer, Sutton, Saun-
dersviIle, Warren, West Bovlston, and Worccs-
ter, in all Of which a favorable representation
was made of the state of the cause, especially
in Millbury and Paxton.
At noon there was a most generous collation.,
provided in the vestry by the ladies of the
church..
After half hours devotional exercises, con-
Quoted by Brother T. NJ. Stowell of Holden, the
afternoon session was opened with prayer by
Rev. W. T. Mallalieu of Worcester. Rev.
A. II. Coolidge of Leicester then de-
livercd very able essay upon "The
relation of the young mems Christian
association to the church, (which was followed
by general discussion. Mr.. Coolidge began by
stating the object of the associations, the first of
which was formed in Boston ten years ago, to
save young men from ruin and bring them under
the care Of the churches. He said there were
now nearly eight hundred young mems Chris
tian associations in the various cities and towns
in the United States and the provinces, doing a
appointed agents and efficient boards of officers.
Mr.. Coolidge spoke of the divergent opinions
entertained as to the proper sphere of these as
socatious in their relations to the churches He
commended they should be subordinate to the
church, as the grand centre of Christian faith
and purity, and in no way a rival thereof but
a branch of it, entirely dependant on the pietv
of the church, and tributary thereto They
should be allowed to take away no part of the
duties of the church, but be supplementary
thereto in all their operations for the gathering
in of the wanderers outside of the church into
its fold.
The discussion upon the essay, in which its
main positions were very highly commended
and endorsed rs Just what we wanted, was par
ticipatcd III by Chas D. Tucker and Chas. b.
Knight of Worcester, Rev. j. H. Windsor of
Grafton, Rev. Al Bates and Joseph A. Dodge
OF Saundcrsville, w. R. Thayer of Douglas,
Rev. II. A. Tracy of Sutton, Rev. w. T. Null
lalieu of Worcester, and Others The latter
spoke with special reference 10 the duty of these
associations 10 do missionary work IN every
place where there is need of gospel light. A
unanimous vote OF thanks was extended to Rev.
Mr.. Coolidge for his essay.
Rev. Stacy Fowler of Milbury, then opened
an interesting discussion on "fhc work of the
Christian on earth, the work of saving souls"
lie considered first, "What relation does perso-
nal plety sustain to the work, " and secondly,
"How may Christians co operate with the Holy
Ghost in the salvation of souls" He said the
genius of the Gospel was the salvation OF the
world-notby educational or selfcultuIe, not by
the breath OF the odorous south wind, hut by
spiritual regeneration. More active piety and
earnest belief in spiritual things, and more
thorough experience of the impressions of the
Holy Spirit in our hearts was needed. Remarks
in similar strain followed, by Rev. T. S. Norton
of Northbridge, +. NJ. Stowel of Holden, I. X,
Earle of Worcester, Messrs. Smith of Paxton,
Blanchard of Spencer, Woodbury. of Worcester
Bachelder of North Brookield, Rev. Mr.. Malta
lieu and others.
It was voted to hold the next quarterly meet
ing at Trinity church in Worcester, in February.
After a vote of thanks to the ladies of the
S J. johnson of Millbury, the convention adj
iourned.