Voted, That the thanks of this Association be returned to the General Assembly, for their favor by the hand of Rev. Mr. Church.

Rev. Messrs. Asa M'Farland, D. D. William F. Rowland, John H. Church, Eli Smith, Walter Harris, Zedekiah S. Barstow, Joseph Rowell, Roswell Shurtleff, Israel W. Putnam, Moses Bradford, and Joseph Willard were chosen to certify the regular standing of ministers and candidates, who wish to travel into other parts of the United States.

A document, presented by Rev. Mr. Alexander, concerning John Stoddard, was committed to Messrs. Church, Ainsworth, and Wheelock.

Rev. Jonathan Ward preached before the Association from Daniel 2, 35.

Messrs. Woods, Wheelock, and M'Keen were appointed to investigate the causes of the present low state of religion in the churches of this State.

Rev. David L. Morril communicated information of his services in the agency, to which he was appointed, at the last meeting of the Association, in behalf of the widows' charitable fund.

Wednesday Morning, September 19, 1821.

Messrs. Church, W. Harris, and M'Farland were appointed a Committee to inquire into the platform of the congregational churches of this State, and report at the next meeting of the Association.

The Committee, appointed for the purpose, reported Pembroke, as the place; and Haverhill Association, to designate a preacher, for the next meeting of the General Association. Report accepted.

The following Delegates Rev. Edward L. Parker,

David Sutherland,

his substitute,

Broughton White,
Roger C. Hatch,

were appointed :

General Assembly of the Presby terian Church; Philadelphia, 3d Thursday of May, 1822.

John Sabin.

Substi

tutes.

General Association of Connecticut; Tolland, third Tuesday of June,1822.

General Association of Massachusetts; Springfield, 4th Tuesday of June, 1822.

General Convention of Vermont; Norwich, 2d Tuesday of September, 1822.

EXTR

The Association then attended to the religious narratives. Messrs. Curtis, Wheeler, and Carpenter were appointed to prepare a Pastoral Letter to the churches, for the next year.

Thursday Morning, September 20. Rev. Abraham Burnham was chosen Treasurer, and Rev. Dr. M'Farland, Auditor, for the ensuing year.

Messrs. Abbot, Miles, and Merrill, who had been appointed to devise and report measures for promoting the fellowship of the churches, requested, that a new Committee might be chosen for this purpose, to report at the next meeting of the Association.

Messrs. E. P. Bradford, N. Lord, and E. Cheever were accordingly appointed.

The Committee for investigating the causes of the present low state of religion, submitted a Report, which was ordered to be printed, and distributed among the churches, within the limits of the General Association.

The Committee, to whom was referred the extract from the minutes of the General Convention of Vermont, respecting Mr. John Stoddard, reported;

That it appears the said Stoddard obtained letters from the Rev. Eli. Smith, and the Rev. Joseph Rowell, members of the Committee, appointed by this General Association to certify the regular standing of Ministers who wish to travel; but these letters, as the above named Brethren declare, were unfairly obtained, and merely referred to other certificates in Mr. Stoddard's hands, and were not intended as any explicit recommendation of him as a preacher. Nor does it appear to your Committee, that the said Stoddard ought to be recommended as a minister, in regular standing, by any member of the certifying Committee of this General Associ ation. Therefore voted, as the opinion of this Association, that the said letters of Mr. Smith, and Mr. Rowell, ought to be considered (with the concurrence of the signers, which has been expressed to your Committee,) as null and void, and not to be used by the said Stoddard, in imposing himself on any of the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accepted.

Voted, That the thanks of this General Association be presented to the Rev. Mr. Hall; and, through him, to the members of his Society, for their respect and hospitality to the members of this body, and their friends; and to the

choir of singers, for their kind and highly interesting services, on this occasion.

Voted, That the meetings of the New-Hampshire General Association be holden, hereafter, on the first Tuesday of September.

JONATHAN WARD, Moderator.

N. LORD, Scribe.

S. S. ARNOLD, Assistant Scribe.

APPENDIX.

NO. I.

NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION.

Through the good hand of our God, we have been favored with another anniversary. The year has rolled round, and many ten thousands are now sleeping in dust, who, one year ago, were acting their parts, on this busy stage. On occasions, like the present, we have sometimes had the pleasing satisfaction to enrich our report, by rehearsing the mercy of our God, in causing wonderful accessions to be made to our churches. Many who have listened to such joyful intelligence, have been abundantly refreshed, and have almost concluded that the days of darkness were ended. It will not be in our power so abundantly to refresh the hearts of God's people, at this time. We have many things to lament, we have many things to deplore. When we cast our eyes upon the map of New-Hampshire, and see how large a portion of the same is destitute of regular, religious instruction; when we look upon the many feeble churches, and hear their cries for help, and see no way that help can be obtained; in a word, when we look into our own hearts, and see how little of the fire of divine love glows therein; and how many poor sinners round about us are wrapped in carnal security, going the downward road, we are almost ready to exclaim, that the mercy of God is clean gone. But stop; this "gloomy despondency" is wrong; it argues infidelity. "The Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations." We may humbly speak of the goodness of God towards us, the year past. Individual churches appear

to be awake; the Concert of Prayer is generally attended; charitable Societies and charitable individuals are multiplying; Sabbath Schools are common, and in some places, attended with wonderful effects. It never was known, in this country, until within a short time, that certain portions of our farms could be devoted to charitable purposes; but the time has arrived, for the fact to be realized. Christian farmers have their missionary fields, the proceeds of which are to bless the pagan world. Some of our churches have been blessed with seasons of refreshing; God has vouchsafed his gracious presence unto them; and the hearts of his children have been made glad. While we forbear to mention a number of places, where a few mercy drops have been experienced, we would promptly name the following towns, which have been peculiarly distinguished for the effusions of divine grace; Hampstead, Temple, Bradford, Keene, Sullivan, Lyme, Hanover, Bath, Claremont, and Hillsborough. In these places, many souls, we trust, have been born into the kingdom, the last year; and we are sure that the Lord will count, when he writeth up the people, that this and that man were born there. In Lyme, the work has progressed, without noise or confusion. The spirit has descended like rain upon the mown grass, and as showers that water the earth. More than one hundred converts have been the result, seventy of whom have already made a public profession of their faith in Christ.

At Hanover, in the parish of the Rev. Mr. Towne, there have been wonderful displays of divine mercy. At the season of the year, when the time of the singing of birds arrives and the voice of the turtle is heard, a new song of praise issued from the lips of many, in that place. The work spread, with such rapidity, that it was thought, that five and six were the hopeful subjects of it, in one day. Surely God was there. It is computed, that as many as one hundred souls have been converted unto God, during this revival. It is said, that those in the morning of life, have been the principal subjects of it. Ye, aged sinners, hear this, and tremble, lest it should prove true, that the eleventh hour is passed with you!! Dartmouth College, that seat of science, which rose into existence, at an early period of the settlement of that part of the State, where it is located, has again been visited. The salt of divine grace has once more been cast into it. We have reason therefore to believe, that the streams, which shall issue therefrom, will make glad the city of our God. Seventeen of the students have already made a public profession of religion; others entertain a hope; and numbers of the inhabitants, belonging

to Professor Shurtleff's congregation, are rejoicing in the hope that their sins are pardoned.

In the town of Bath too, there have been many trophies of victorious grace. One hundred and four have publicly united themselves with the church; and others give evidence, that they have been born of God. On the whole; viewing the moral situation of New-Hampshire, we have no reason to despond, but rather to thank God and take courage.

Passing from our own territories, we would traverse, a little, those places, which are connected with us in bonds of christian fellowship. Within the bounds of the General Assembly, there are flattering prospects. Many thousands of souls, within the limits of this extensive body, have been brought to a knowledge of the truth, the past year. Ninety congregations, in eighteen Presbyteries, are said to have been visited with copious showers. New churches and congregations have been organized; and there has been an increased attention to the outward means of grace.

The Theological Seminary at Princeton appears still to enjoy the smiles of an indulgent God.

We did expect to enrich our Report with soul reviving news from the General Association of Connecticut; but the delegation has failed. We can therefore only add a few words. This portion of our country has long been considered as an highly favored spot. Here Zion has prospered; here Jerusalem's walls have frequently been repaired. The last year has witnessed to this truth. More than one third of the congregations have been visited with divine influences, and five thousand converts are numbered as the pleasing result.

From the General Association of Massachusetts we hear favorable things. In the metropolis of that State, religion is gaining ground. Numbers manifest a deep concern for their precious and immortal souls; but no extensive revival is named. The Theological Seminary at Andover prospers; Sabbath schools are multiplied; and charitable societies are

numerous.

With hearts filled with gratitude, we should mention the state of religion, within the bounds of the General Convention of Vermont. Copious showers of divine mercy have recently fallen on that section of America. The lame have been led to leap like the hart, and the tongue of the dumb has been made to sing. Thirty-seven towns have been named, which have experienced refreshing seasons; and one thousand five hundred converts the result. Stout hearted sinners have been made to feel, and bold blasphemers forced to blush, Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.