Litchfield enquirer., 1876-11-23
NEW HAVEN. November 18th.

NEW HAVEN, November 18th.
 Having waited almost week to ascer- tain who was the incoming President, we left home on Monday. taking the over land route to this place as the headquar- ters of intelligence in regard to all such matters. Here. however, we found no more reliable information than before. The banners of both parties are yet float ing in the breeze, as though the election had not taken place. The excitement is fast passing away, and both parties seem willing to bide their time. December or February will determine the question.
 The State Conference of Congregational churches met in this city on tLe 14th inst, and organized by the appointment of Hon. O. H. Platt, of Meriden, as moder- ator, and the Rev. G. W. Banks, of Guil- ford, as scribe. The tall and manly fig ure, gentlemanly bearing, knowledge of parliamentary rules, and aptness to dis charge his duties, admirably fitted the moderator for his position which he flied to the satisfaction not only of that body, but of the large audience assembled. The morning session was occupied by reports of committees and general business. In the afternoon session the following sub- jects carae up:
 1st.-Narrative of the State of Religion, by Rev. Edwin Johnson, of Bridgeport, calculated to cheer the hearts of all who love the interests of Christ's kingdom.
 2d.-Administration of the Lords Sup per. by Rev. Drs. Bacon and Ames of Norwich, two venerable servants of God. The clements were distributed by four agcd dcuUons, on whose heat1s the almond tree had fourished for years. As this is the centennial year most of the topics chosen had reference to it. ..
 3d.-Historical sketch of the American Homo Missionary Society, by Rev. H. M. Storrs. who stated that society originated in the house of the Rev. Noah Williston, the first pastor of the church in West Haven, Conn. He then reviewed it's his- tory down to the present time.
 In the evening a historical discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, commencing with the colonies of Massa- chusetts, Connecticut and New Haven. He traced the connection of the civil govern ment with'th church, asserting that the first churches in these colonies laid the foundation of our republican institutions. He then traced their relation to our strug- gle for independence. our institutions of learning, and the moral reforms which have blessed our commonwealth for the last two hundred years.
 On Wednesday there were discussions on the questions, ''Should the property of Ecclesiastical and Benevolent societies be taxed ?" and ''The business obligation of Ecclesiastical societies." Historical sketches were given of the work of the Congregational Union, Publishing Soci- ety, American Missionary Association, and of Foreign Mission, by one of the secre- taries of each. It may interest some of your readers to know that the American Board was formed in the parlor of the Rev. Dr. Porter. of Pennington, Conn In the evening an historical discourse was delivered by Rev. Myron N. Morris of West Hartford.
 On Thursday were discussed the ''Re- port on Fellowship and Work in the Churches ;" Relation of the Sunday School work to the Churches,'' by Rev. Burdett Hart, of Fair Haven. The most important discussions were on the Tenn perance question, and the .dlscontinuance of the Bible in the common schools, of which I may speak in futu-e number. In the evening there was Praise to God tor the blessings of the finished century," by the Rev. D. W. Ravens, East Haven; and the following addresses were delivered : Growth of Christian Literature, by Rev. Dr. Anderson, of Waterbury; Progress to- ward Christian Unity, by Rev. H. L. Grif- fin, of New Britain; Influence of New En- gland ideas on our National History and life. by Prof. Cyrus Northrop, of New Haven; Revivals and their relation to the Progress of Christ's Kingdom, by Rev. O.. E. Daggett, of New London; The Chris tian outlook, by President Porter, of Yale College. The exercises were 1nterspersed with singing, and the Benediction was deliver ed by Rev. Dr. Bacon. It was a very in- teresting occasion, not 8 glorifcation of our polity but review of our history for the past century that we may set up our waYmarks for the generations to come. The conference was composed of the most able and devoted pastors and laymen of our order ln the state. There was mutual harmony and good will, though they do not see things in the same light as yet. 1 We believe they aim at the best welfare of the church and nation: at the same time it is our opinion that, as a body, the clergy of Connecticut are the most posi- tive in their views of any class in our commonwealth.
 New Haven never looked more beauti. full at this season of the year than it does at present. s.