, 1877-10-21
CHURCH AFFAIRS.
Proceedings in the State Baptist
Association at Springfield.
Several Important Reports Made
and Acted Upon.
Closing Business Of the Congregational
Council at Detroit.
The Episcopal General 00nvention~-loWa
Presbyterians.


I1a Ep1ec0pal HtutId4 ooAsoA1t"A"A"
Presbyterians.
THE BAPT1STS.
STATE ASSOCIATION IN SESSION AT SPRINGFIELD.
.sprcial Dispatch TO The chfcaoo Tribune:
srR1sGr1ELD, ILL.,, Oct. 20.-Thc session OF
the Baptist General Association commenced tn's
morning by devotional exercises lasting nall IN
hour, the Moderator, the Kew. DR.. bulkle5' rea-
ing passages from the 103d Psaln
After singing All hail tue power Of Jesus
nan,c,' the Rev. Dr.. Simpson, representing thc
American Baptist Missionary Union, addressed
the Association in thai behalf. q.
The report Of the Board and appointment OF
committees followed.
The Rev, Dr. Cutting, OF New York. Secre-
t,ry Of the Home Missionary Society, By invita-
tion addressed the Association at considerable
ienrth, giving history Of the Society," ITS
earliest effort was intended to be in the south
and Southwest, but the keDell1on lafce's iu.el
ruotcd the work in that field: and the attent'on
of the Society was then directed wholly to Tue
West. The first effort in this new fleld VI was
an,onr the Germans, then with the Frenca,
aud last with the scandlnavlans;; ai;s 1t WAS was
% That mass Of the population was yet in ignor,
once and largely without religious training, anu
the effort OF the Society was then turneu
tfwar{! supplying the spiritual wants 0. Tue
frarIrnpN, anu LIS uEtl lIAA tiCFCA 4ttoSe f'"
ductiyc. When the capabilities Of this great
E,unirc State ot the West was cons"erco' lts
maternal prospcrit aud the advantages anu
privileges OF its ucoplc, the obligations oi Inc
Bap;ists Of Illinois in behalf OF Honlc MISSIONS
mnst an,uar The Society was greatly IN
drbtcl Tor generous contributions aua supporI
from the Fast in the early history Ut the oe-
iii. rcport Of the Sunday-School Committee
was submitted and comes up 1or 1ufther eo''s1o-
Grafton. < c,A,,o.h .o,o ,,-
nnnnccd Cuion services will be held Ut the
Second Presbyterian, the largest church IN the
city, and the other city uplts Will bc suppliel.
The reuort OF the Committee on Sunday
Scbuols was adopted, together with tue many
Recommendations, Of which the following was
the most important: First, taat the lohIiilt-
tce for the ensuing year take ltnmedlate stepS
to secure fund Of 1t least S-ooV LOT luz eta.e
sahiutE-sct,ool work. Second, that they secure
n missionary, and set him to work at once with
tIc special object ot visiting all dlstrlcts tnae
l1ayg not un organized Sunday-school assocla-
tiun. Third, that so1Ae one or more nle'noefs
nj the Committee Immediately visit every as
soriaton that has not held Sunday-school meet
ings, and urge the importance u oiIauAA'os
them at once.
Tht Rev W. e. Van Meter, OF Rome, gave an
rnrnurariua report OF the mission cause anu
rya,,relization in Italy, and asked prayers Tor
continued SUCCESS
Devotional exercises followed.
The Committee on Foreign MISSIONS reported
that while there were some ura"Oackss Us =
whole the outlook is encouraging,
The cancellation last spring OF tue deot ol
st7 GE) of the Society is cause for much reolc"
iuy and gratitude. The efficiency ol Tue onl-
n,,,s MISSIONARY society us hclpileet, Is fulIy
| recognized as stimulating the missionary zeal.
The Committee indurse the plan Of annual COT
lrrtiun to be taken i'll all churches Tor mlssion-
| AIRY purposes: uo,.e saore-