Voted, That the Rev. Samuel Wor. cester, the Rev. Enoch Hale, and the Rev. Dr. Morse be a Committee to revise the Rules of this Association, and to consult on the expediency of suggesting any alteration in the Constitution, to the consideration of the particular Associations connected in this General Association:

The following Gentlemen were chosen, by ballot, to constitute the Board of Commissioners for foreign Missions, the present year, viz. William Bartlett, Esq. the Rev. Dr. Jo. seph Lyman, the Rev. Dr Samuel Spring, the Rev. Dr. Jedidiah Morse, and the Rev. Samuel Worcester.

Voted, To adjourn to 8 o'clock to morrow morning, to meet at this place.

Thursday, June 27. At 8 o'clock, A.M. the Moderator opened the meeting by prayer, after which, were heard, in part, narratives from the Associations represented in this body.

At 1 o'clock, P. M., adjourned to half past two.

Met according to adjournment, and proceeded to hear narratives from the delegates on the state of the churches, and of religion, in the particular Associations represented in this body: And also, from the delegates of the General Assembly of the Presby. terian Church; the General Association of Connecticut; the General Association of New Hampshire; and the General Convention of Congrega. tional, and Presbyterian Ministers, in the state of Vermont. Heard, also, a communication from the Rev. John Sergeant, Missionary to the Stockbridge Indians.

Copies of the Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States; of the General Association of Connecticut; and of the General Association of

New Hampshire, were presented and distributed.

The Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D. and the Rev. John Codman, were chosen Delegates to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, to meet in the city of Philadelphia, on the third Thursday of May next. The Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D. and the Rev. Elijah Parish, were chosen to be their sub. stitutes.

The Rev. Jonathan L. Pomeroy, and the Rev. Zephaniah S. Moore, were chosen Delegates to the Gener al Association of Connecticut, to meet on the third Tuesday in June next. The Rev. Rufus Anderson, and the Rev. Joseph Goffe, were chosen to be their substitutes.

A Committee of eight persons; viz. the Rev. Samuel Worcester, the Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D.D. the Rev. Abiel Abbot, the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, Dr. Reuben D. Mussey, William Thurston, Esq. Dr. Joseph Torrey, and Jeremiah Evarts, Esq; was chosen to co-operate with committees of the General Assembly, and of the General Association of Connecticut, in devising measures which may have an influence in preventing some of the numerous and threatening mischiefs, that are experienced throughout our country from the excessive and intemperate use of spirituous liquors.

Voted, To adjourn to 8 o'clock to morrow morning.

June 28, Friday morning, 8 o'clock, Met according to adjournment; and the Moderator opened the meeting by prayer.

The Rev. Reuben Emerson, and the Rev. Vinson Gould were chosen Delegates to the General Association of New Hampshire, to meet the third Tuesday in September 1811, at Dunbarton. The Rev. Isaac Tomkins, and the Rev. Samuel Shepard, were chosen to be their substitutes.

The Rev. Jonathan Allen, and the Rev. Elijah Brainerd, were chosen Delegates to the General Convention of Congregational, and Presbyterian Ministers in Vermont, to meet on the second Tuesday in September next, at Vergennes. The Rev. Samuel

Worcester, and the Rev. Jonathan Grout, were chosen to be their substitutes.

Voted, That the next meeting of this General Association be on the fourth Tuesday of June next, at 6 o'clock, P. M. in Westfield, at the house of the Rev. Isaac Knapp.

Voted, That the Haverhill Associ ation be requested to appoint the Preacher for the next meeting.

The Committee, for taking Min. utes of the narratives, made their Report; which was accepted, to be submitted to the verbal corrections of a Committee to be appointed for the publication of it with the Minutes of this General Association.

The Rev. Samuel Worcester, the Rev. Dr. Morse, and the Rev. Ru. fus Anderson, were chosen a Committee for this purpose.

Voted, That three hundred copies of Extracts from the Minutes be printed, at the expense of the Associa

tion.

The Committee, appointed to revise the rules of this Association, reported the following, which were adopted and are to be considered in future as the rules, by which their future meetings are to be governed.

1. The minister of the place, where the Association may convene, 'shall, when the time of meeting has arriv. ed, call the Association to the choice of a Moderator, by ballot.

2. It shall be the duty of the Moderator, next to call the Association to the choice of a Scribe; and, if nec. essary, of an assistant Scribe, by ballot.

3. The Certificates of the Delegates shall be then laid upon the table, and read by the Secretary, or Scribe. The rules of the Association shall also be read: After which, the Moderator shall open the business by prayer. 4. In each subsequent sitting, the Moderator shall take the chair at the hour, to which the Association stands adjourned; shall immediately call the members to order; direct the roll to be called; and, on the appearance of quorum, shall open the meeting with prayer, and cause the minutes of the preceding sitting to be read; and, on every adjournment, shall

se with prayer.

5. At each meeting of the Associ ation, a Committee of arrangements, consisting of three, shall be appointed, by nomination, to prepare the busi. ness of the session: And no business shall be introduced, during the session, but through the hands, and with the approbation, of the Commit

tee.

6. Every motion, on being seconded, shall, if requested by the Moderator, or any two members, be reduced to writing: and no motion shall be spoken to, until it be seconded

7. The Moderator may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the house by any two members. But he may not speak to the merits of the question, without leaving the chair, and placing some other member in it, to moderate, while he speaks.

8. On questions of order, adjourn. ment, postponement, commitment, or the previous question; no member shall speak more than once. Nor, on any question, shall a member speak more than twice, without express leave of the Association.

9. When a question is under debate no motion shall be received except for amendment, commitment, or the previous question; viz. Shall the main question be now put?

10. If a question, under debate, contain several parts, any member may have it divided, and a question taken on each part.

11. Every member when speaking, shall address himself to the chair, and shall be subject to no needless interruption; if he act disorderly, it shall be the duty of the Moderator, and the privilege of other members, to call him to order.

12. No member shall leave the Association before the close of the meeting, except with the consent of the body; nor shall any one leave the house, during a sitting without the

consent of the Moderator.

13. The discussions in the Associa tion, and the whole deportment of the members shall be conducted with decorum; with due respect to the clair and courtesy to each other.

14. Each annual meeting shall be

Most of the churches are supplied with pastors, who appear to unite, with one heart, in defence of those leading truths of the Gospel, which are most justly denominated the doctrines of grace.

And though there is occasion to notice, with deep regret, that Christian discipline is by far too much neglected, there is yet reason to believe, that both Ministers, and private Christians, are unceasingly impressed with the importance of this subject; and to hope, that a spirit of discipline is reviving, and gaining strength, in ma. ny of the churches.

The precious fruits of former revivals of religion still appear, in a conversation, such as becometh the Gospel of Christ, in many who have been hopefully called out of darkness into marvellous light. Praying societies have been formed, in many places, and seasons for prayer, and for instruction in the things of the kingdom of God, are, in general, well attended. There is, evidently, an increasing attention to the religious instruction of the rising generation.

Many of the churches appear to be waking to a just sense of the duty and importance of attending especial. ly to the instruction of their children, who have been solemnly dedicated to God, in baptism. It is, also, worthy of very grateful notice, that though, in most places, the special influences of the Holy Spirit have been withholden; yet, in some instances, a season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord has been experienced; and that, on the whole, considerable accessions have been made to the churches.

Nor should we pass, in silence, the disposition, which God has been graciously pleased to put into the hearts of his people, to contribute of their substance to promote the benevolent object of Missionary, Bible, and other Societies, which have been formed, for the purpose of diffusing the knowl edge of the way of salvation, and for relieving and instructing the poor, and the ignorant. Not only must this be esteemed a token for good, in regard to those, for whose immediate benefit these institutions are designVOL. IV. New Series.

ed; but there is reason to hope, that those, who devise and encourage lib. eral things, will be rewarded with Divine blessings, upon themselves, and upon their children, since we are assured, that he who watereth, shall ́ be watered also himself.

From the accounts received from several other bodies, between which, and this General Association, a con nexion has been formed, which promises to endear the fellowship, and to unite the exertions of the friends of Zion, in our country; it appears that the state of the churches in their connexions, is not very dissimilar from that of those churches, belong. ing to this Commonwealth, which are represented in this body. Within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church; in Con. necticut, in Newhampshire, and in Vermont; though less of special Divine influence has been witnessed, the year past, than in former years, and though there is complaint of more coldness and stupidity, in some places, yet God has not left himself without witness. Ministers and churches are united in the great truths of the Gospel; efforts for diffus. ing Divine knowledge, are made; in some places there have been very pleasing revivals of religion, and the cause of Christ appears to be steadily, though not rapidly advancing.

One thing which your committee consider consider as especially worthy of thankful notice, is the very promising religious state of the College at Middlebury, Vermont. In that flourishing Institution, which is blessed with able and religious Instructors, about half the present students are profes sors of the religion of the Gospel. From this fountain, therefore, we may hope that many streams will shortly issue, which shall make glad the city of our God.

On the whole, while, on the one hand, many things are presented, which call for deep humiliation, which are calculated to wound the hearts of the people of God; and to excite their compassion for perishing immortals; and which, in themselves, appear discouraging; there is, on the other hand, much to strengthen their

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faith in the precious promises of God, respecting the perpetuity and enlargement of his kingdom, to encourage their hopes, to enliven their zeal, and to animate their exertions. Well, therefore, may Ministers, and private Christians be earnestly exhorted to be watchful, and to strengthen the things which remain; and to be of one heart, and of one mind, striving together for the furtherance of the Gospel. Let them all awake from their slumbers. Let them contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, and set their faces as flints against the innovations of error, and all the devices of the enemies of the cross of Christ. Let them engage heartily, and unitedly, in reviving the discipline of the Gospel, and maintaining the purity of Christian faith and practice. Let them give more diligence to communicate religious

instruction to the dear children and youth, whom they have religiously dedicated to God, and on whom the future prosperity of Zion so essentially depends. Let them be deeply im. pressed with a sense of the importance of the Christian Sabbath; know. ing that where this sacred institution is disregarded, the religion of Jesus, in its purity, cannot be maintained, nor the salvation of sinners promoted. Let them offer prayers continually, for the outpouring of the Spirit of God, for the advancement of the kingdom of the Redeemer, and for the salvation of souls redeemed by his precious blood; and let their faith, their hope, and their joy, be in the Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength, and who will assuredly appear in glory, build up Zion, and bless his people with everlasting salvation.

in the Panoplist for August of that year.