Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-10
CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
Proceedings of the Annual Meeting which
Closed Yesterday at Berkeley.

afternoon. Inc attendance has been large,
the church being well filled at all the
meetings. and considerable interest has at
tended the various sessions. There were
some fifty-four ministers, and over one
hundred lay delegates present. the remain
der of the audience being composed of cor
responding members from other denomi-
nations, families of delegates and large
attendance of people from the vicinity.
At the opening of the Convention j. NJ.
Ravens, OF Alameda, a lay delegate from
the First Church at Oakland, was elected
Moderator; Rev. NJ. Willet, of Santa Cruz,
Assistant; Rev. w. III. Cross, of Saratoga,
Scribe, and Rev. d. D. Bowman, of Eureka,
Assistant. A committee, consisting of
Reys. George Mooar, l. Z. Dwinell, J. H.
Warren, j. A. Benton, j. X. Mclean and
S. f. Bufford, was appointed 10 prepare the
fifth edition of the Handbook OF the Asso-
citation.
The Nominating Committee-Revs.E E. G.
Beckwith, W. C. Pond and Mr.. l. P. Ran
kin-submitted the following nominations,
which were approved: Devotional Meet
ings-J. Fl. Strong, l. NJ Marty and David
Booth. On Roll. T. Ford, H. f. Jewett
and l. L. Fogg. Publication of Minutes
II. f. Jewett, w. II. Cross and ]. II.
Warren. On Correspondence = S. H.
Wiley, l. H. Morse and P. Coombe. Bills
and Overtures j. A. Benton, H. II.
Wikoff and Z. D. Haven. Statistics and
Narratives-H. E. Jewett, C. A Savage and
w. NJ. Searby.
The Committee upon Publication OF
Minutes of last year reported that only
about two-thirds of the churches RESPONDED
to assisting in defraying of expenses.
The reports from the churches. which
were mostly given verbal, and limited to
three minutes, were very interesting. and
showed the majority of churches to be in
a prosperous condition. Quite large ac-
cessions have taken place in many during
the past year, and nearly all have at least
sustained their former membership, and
regard the outlook as very hopeful. One
of the most interesting reports was that
from the Church of Armenians at Fresno.
These people are from the vicinity of
Mount Ararat and the Black Sea. They
came here to get rid of the rapacious Turks,
and have proved themselves most excellent
citizens Theirs is entirely a temper
ance colony, and it has thus far
withStood various efforts to introduce
liquor selling and use in their midst
There are about 100 persons in the colony
They were brought into acceptance of
Christianity under Congregational mission
efforts in their native country, and are
faithful to the belief.
Rev. Joseph Rowell. from the Committee
on Temperance, made report setting forth
the great evils resulting from the use and
traffic in Intoxicating liquors. giving ex-
tended statistics. The report, after discus
sion, was adopted, and includes the follow
ing recommendations
In every church where practicable there
should be a well organized temperance society
ically toward unanimity of sentiment on this
matter in the church itself for the cure of evils
caused by intoxicating drinks and for the sup
preston of the traffic.
That there be Band of Hope connected with
every Sunday school.
Also, that all pastors, regardless of pew rents,
etc, make it their business to inform their peo-
pie on this subject in the pulpit and in the
prayer meeting. and lastly, let every Christian
voter vote and pray for the exclusion of all ven
doris and lovers of strong drink from every office
of trust or profit, and for the enactment and en-
forcing of such laws US will tend to suppress the
liquor traffic.
The evils and curse entailed upon society
by our easy divorce laws were considered,
and the following resolution adopted with
a warm and vigorous approval
ReSOlred, That we look with alarm at the
growing frequency of divorce in this State for
reasons that do not imply the previous absolute
severance of the moral bond of marriage.
Secondhand we regard this social tendency
as, in many cases, not only injurious to the par
ties themselves, who are thus improperly sepa-
rated, but great wrong to their children.
Third-That in our Judgment the evil does not
stop with the blighted families, but has far
wider and more dangerous social influence by
lowering the idea OF the soundness and stability
OF the family and the home. an institution
which is at the basis of the social and civil life
of the State, and the maintenance of which is
essential to the progress of true religion.
Fourth-That we invite all citizens who are
ETY. to unite with us in efforts to secure more
stringent and sautary divorce legislation in this
State.
Among the subjects by the Association
was the Pacific Theological Seminary and
Hopkins Academy, which were highly
commended and Endorsed for the excellent
work done by their Professors. Rev. DIR.
Holbrook read an able paper upon % Liber-
atty in the Use of Property for Benevolent
Purposes" In connection with the same
subject, at subsequent meeting, Dr. Hol-
brook led off with 800 in subscription for
a s., 500 scholarship in the Pacific Theo-
logical Seminary. BY successfully directed
effort upon the part of the Moderator
Mr.. Havens-the $500 was soon SUBJ
scribed by the audience, the result to be
known as the HOlbrook scholarship.
The Congregational paper of the coast
The PGcifc-waS unanimously commended
and Endorsed for its ability and generally
as religious newspaper. Pledges were
made, by a rising vote, to endeavor to
secure increased subscriptions for it.
The annual meetings of the various mis-
sionary societies were held, and highly in
teresting reports and remarks made. The
ladies held a separate missionary meeting
in the Episcopal Church on Thursday fore
noon, at which the edifice was we'll filed.
The work of all the missionary societies
was shown to be prosperous. and that salts
factory results had been attained.
The brief form OF church creed for use
upon admission of members, submitted one
year ago by the committee previously APP
pointed, was resubmitted by Dr. e. G.
Beckwith, with brief remarks of entire an
proval. 1t is as follows:
We believe in one God, infinite and perfect,
revealed in His word as the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the atonement of Christ. who
being God, became man, and suffered to take
away the sin of the world.
We believe in the renewal of the Holy Spirit.
and in the forgiveness of sins, on condition of
repentance toward God and faith toward our
Lord, Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Scriptures, given by
inspiration of God, and able TO make US wise
unto salvation.
We believe in the holy Christian Church: the
baptism of water; the supper of the Lord the
sacredness of the Lords day; the immortality
of the soul; the resurrection of the dead and
the just recompenses of the world to come.
After some discussion, which became
quite spirited it was voted that the report
be printed in the Pacific, in the minutes of
the Association, and in the Handbook.
An effort to adopt the recommendation of
the committee was strenuously opposed by
some members, who were vigorously
against any curtailing of present forms OF
Confession of Faith, even if such form had
to be frequently suspended to admit per-
sons, who objected so certain portions.
DR.. McLain, of Oakland, member of the
committee, thought, when published, the
new form should have an Introductory re-
mark showing its object, but as compro-
mise with those who wish to hold fast to
old forms, the matter was finally slid
through upon the simple adoption of the
motion to publish in the Pacific, minutes
and Handbook.
The following churches were regularly
organized during the past year, and are
now entered upon the list of the Associa-
ton Bidwell and Cedarville. Nevada
county Third Church and Vernon Church,
Los Angeles Olivet Church. San Francis
co ; at Upton, Tulare county: Vacaville,
Solano county; Ontario, San Bernardino
county.
The church at Dutch Flat has become
extinct, and was dropped from the roll
The following ministers were also added
to the roll of the Association w. H.