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No. IV.

Report of the Committee of Union.

At a meeting of the Committee of Union, in Springfield, October 18, 1820. Present,

Rev. Messrs. Samuel Nott and Daniel Smith, from the General Association of Connecticut.

Rev. Messrs. Alvan Hyde, D. D. and Thomas Snell, from the General Association of Massachusetts.

Rev. Mr. Nott was chosen Chairman.

The standing Secretary being absent, the Rev. Thomas Snell was chosen Scribe.

The meeting was opened with prayer by the Chairman.

After hearing the doings of the Committee of Union at their former meetings, and attending to some communications, verbal and written, which served to convince those present, that the public Ecclesiastical bodies in New-Hampshire and Vermont, contemplated in the original plan, have declined uniting with those in Connecticut and Massachusetts, in the object of the Committee,

Voted, To make the question of the discontinuance of the Committee of Union a subject of discussion.

Adjourned to 2 o'clock, P. M.

Met according to adjournment, and entered on the proposed discussion.

This discussion presented before the Committee the following facts and train of thought.

When the joint Committee from the General Associations of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New-Hampshire, and from the General Convention of Vermont, in October, 1818, recommended to those bodies respectively, to appoint annually a delegation to meet, in a joint Committee, to be called The Committee of Union," it was on the ground, that all those Ecclesiastical bodies would adopt the measure, and that this would be necessary to secure the contemplated object.

When the delegation from the General Associations of Connecticut and Massachusetts met in Hartford, in October, 1819, it was ascertained, that the Convention of Vermont had declined sending delegates to the Committee of Union, and that the General Association of New-Hampshire had postponed the subject for further consideration. The delegates then present, still indulging the hope, that these bodies might be induced to unite in a measure, which might be subservient to the interests of the Church, voted to recommend the continuance of the Committee, and presented the reasons for such a recommendation: and, also, that some suitable measures be adopted to secure their co-operation.

But now, ascertaining, to a good degree of certainty, that Vermont and New-Hampshire will wholly dissent from the measure; it is thought advise

Rhode-Island Consociation....State of Religion.

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able, however useful and important such a Committee might be, in case the public Ecclesiastical bodies in New-England could be persuaded cordially to unite in the measure, that the Committee of Union be discontinued.Therefore,

Resolved, unanimously, To recommend to the General Associations of Connecticut and Massachusetts to discontinue said Committee.

Votod, That the Scribe transmit these minutes, as the doings of the Board, to the standing Secretary, to be by him communicated to the General Associations of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The meeting was closed with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Smith.

A true copy, certified by

Attest, THOMAS SNELL, Scribe.

ABEL FLINT, Secretary.

No. V.

Rhode-Island Consociation.

THE Committee, to whom was referred a communication from the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode-Island, beg leave to report :

1. That the above named Consociation consists of seven Ministers and six Churches.

2. That it is expedient for the General Association of Connecticut to form a connexion with the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode-Island upon the same principles upon which a connexion has been formed between said Association and other Ecclesiastical Bodies.

3. That at each meeting of the General Association, two delegates shall be received from the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode-Island to seats in this body; and that two delegates shall be annually appointed and commissioned by the General Association to hold seats in the said Consocia

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THERE are in this state about two hundred Congregational churches and societies; a very large proportion of which are, at present, supplied with regular pastors. Upon eighty-four of these, God has, during the past year, poured out his Spirit, and hopefully translated about five thousand souls out of darkness into his marvellous light. This abundant shower of Divine grace began to descend nearly a year ago. Some of its first drops fell upon the

favored city of New-Haven. The cloud, which was at first no bigger than a man's hand, shading and refreshing the souls of a few christians mourning their own barrenness, and the wide spread waste around them, soon expanded over the whole town, reached the neighboring villages, overshadowed counties, and is now making its progress to the utmost borders, resting over us in majesty and mercy.

In attempting to discover the immediate causes of this remarkable awakening, in the special efforts of ministers and christians, we are stopped and baffled. The members of the last General Association returned to their respective charges disheartened and fearful. Whilst we were pondering on the forsaken and drooping state of Zion, and at a loss what should be done to regain the presence of our grieved and injured Lord, suddenly he was in the midst of us. We are therefore to recount, with adoring gratitude, the fruits of his sovereign and gracious presence, rather than to boast the efforts of human action.

Among the characteristics of this revival we deem it important to notice, 1. Its unity. It is the same in the country as in the city—in the district school as in the college, and among the aged and the young, the moral and amiable, the vicious and violent, the speculative believer, the formal professor, and the infidel. A description of one conversion, or of one parish, is, with a few unimportant variations, a description of all. So entire are the unity and sameness of the operations of the Spirit in this awakening, that ministers from distant towns entered immediately into the work in places where they were strangers, without embarrassment to themselves, or detriment to the awakened. There is therefore a remarkable oneness among the new converts. Their hearts answer each to the other, as in water face answereth to face. Such perfect sympathy produces strong confidence and love, and has led to that harmony and facility of planning and executing which have given stability and continuance to the revivals where they have begun, and are spreading them where they are not.

2. Its power and rapidity. So powerful and overawing is the presence of God in this work, that no combined, and but little individual opposition has appeared. Those who have not been directly influenced have looked. on with astonishment and awe. Many have beheld their nearest and dearest relations, their neighbors and companions, pass from death to life with a peculiarly touching expression of sadness in their countenances because they were passed by. Among the most remarkable cases of conversion, were a very small number who, at the first, with singular hardihood and impiety, either furiously opposed, or scornfully ridiculed the awakening. Their conviction was sharp, and their distress terrible. In a great majority of the converts conviction speedily ensued awakening, and their conviction of sin rapidly increased in intenseness. The most of them continued but a short time under that awful distress which accompanies complete conviction. So powerful and rapid were the operations of the Spirit, that in very many instances the naked statement of divine truth, without argu

ment to enforce, or illustration to explain it, took immediate effect. The doctrines of the gospel came to them in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power.

3. Its purity. We have not heard of disorder or violence. Notwithstanding the great diversity of age, natural temperament and education of the awakened, and the frequent and crowded meetings, no tumult or outcry has occurred. Though the streets and highways were lined with the multitudes going to the house of prayer, or to the rooms of the anxious meeting, the convicted were silent, and the converted serene. They have been universally docile to their ministers, and submitted to their guidance as sheep to their shepherd. Intelligence has given wisdom to zeal, and temperance to strong emotion. The awakened and convicted have been exempted from groundless terrors, and the converted from fanciful joys. God was terrible to the former because he is holy, not because he is vengeful; and God was lovely to the latter, because he is holy, not merely because he was conceived to be reconciled to them. The more deeply their hearts have been affected either by distress or joy, the more vigorously they have searched the scriptures; and the acquisitions of divine knowledge rather preceded than followed the movements of their affections.

4. Its continuance. The subjects of the work do not as yet appear to decline from that warmth of gracious affection and energy of desire, for larger measures of knowledge and grace, which they exhibited at the time of their hopeful conversion. Although new conversions are by no means so frequent as formerly, in those places where the awakening is of some months duration, yet in most of them, if not all, new instances of conviction continue to occur. Almost every day is also bringing to us joyful tidings that one after another of our parishes is beginning to partake of this copious effusion of the Holy Spirit.

5. Its influence in elevating the christian character both of ministers and churches. Ministers have preached plainly and boldly. Their faithfulness, however, has been without asperity, and their courage has been joined with meekness. They have spoken the truth in love. Anxions sinners have repaired to their pastors with a freedom, and opened to them their hearts with a confidence, hitherto unknown amongst us. We feel ourselves authorized to declare, not for the purpose of exalting our brethren, but to honor the power and grace of our Lord and Master, that never have we beheld such an unction from the Holy One in the prayers, sermons, temper, and deportment of our ministers. They have labored abundantly, and have been uncommonly strengthened and supported to endure extraordinary exertions. The ministers of the State, at the present time, are united in sentiment, and their hearts are knit together in love.

Private christians also have been excited to more openness and decision. They have promptly and heartily seconded the efforts of their pastors. They have possessed a remarkable spirit of prayer. Feeling the absolute dependence of both saints and sinners, on the sovereign agency of God

the Spirit, they implored his presence with the simplicity of little children. A sense of the efficacy of prayer has existed in a special degree, and it is still increasing. Christians are investigating this subject with an ardor which we have never hitherto known. Churches have also felt a solicitude for their sister churches. Not content with barren wishes for their welfare, they have visited each other, to go together to pray before the Lord, and to talk of the things of his kingdom. They have spoken often to one another, and the Lord has hearkened and heard.

This awakening has given a new impulse to all the operations of christian benevolence in our State. New hopes are prompting new underta kings, and expectation is awake.

Yale College has also partaken of the special presence and mercy of the great Redeemer. Of the youth there, about 40 have recently been hopefully converted, and 20 of these have been received into the church: making the whole number of the members of the church between 90 and 100.

This institution may be regarded as in a highly flourishing state; its numbers exceed those of any former period; and the patrons of the Education Society must be gratified to learn, that while they are preparing the means of diffusing the gospel, they are also, through their beneficiaries, exerting a most benign influence on the state of religion, in so important a seat of learning.

The Foreign Mission School at Cornwall continues to flourish, and several of the heathen youth there have recently given evidence of their hopeful conversion.

Finally, Brethren, the days of 1740 have returned with brighter lustre. There remain amongst us here and there, a Simeon and an Anna of that glorious day, who have waited from that time to this for the consolation of Israel. The hour has come. They are giving a rapid and exulting glance at the flying clouds, and hastening away to carry the glad tidings to the upper world. Brethren! where are your harps? Shout, O inhabitant of Zion. Sing a new song. The Lord hath triumphed gloriously.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, after mentioning, as sources of lamentation, errors in doctrine and morals, the neglect of family and social prayer, coldness and indifference on the part of some professing christians, and the want of laborers in the gospel vineyard, proceed to say, "While on these accounts the Assembly have causes for lamentation, and call upon their churches to sympathise with, and pray for those among whom the abovementioned evils exist; they also call upon their churches to unite with them in sentiments and expressions of gratitude and praise to God for his great, his unmerited, and his continued goodness. We have probably," say they, "never heard so much, nor had so much to tell of the wonderful works of God amidst the churches under our care."

They state that "additions have been made during the last year to their churches, from which reports have been received, of 7186 souls."

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