Calvin G. Carpenter, Samuel F. Phoenix, Amasa Sessions, Oren Sage, Eleazer Savage, Albert G. Smith, Ebenezer Wakeley, David Bellamy, Pharcellus Church, Richard Clark, James Nickerson, William Arthur, Philander Kelsey, Di

rectors.

STATE OF RELIGION

IN THE TERRITORY EMBRACED BY THE CONVENTION.

The following summary, drawn up from the minutes of associations which have been received, will exhibit the state of each at their last session.

"The Berkshire Association says, We have not enjoyed, to any great extent, the outpourings of God's Spirit; yet he has continued with us in mercy, and preserved us from dissensions and schisms.' The number baptized is fifty-seven, of which the church of Tioga received thirty-four.

6

"The Black River Association have received but thirteen by baptism during the year. They say, 'Our changes are not indicative of a revival spirit in our churches;' and yet they add, Some of them have been refreshed, and some souls have been, as we trust, born into Christ's visible kingdom.' They have come up, with a commendable liberality, to bear their proportion of labor in the moral conquest of the world; and hope that ere long the songs of salvation will be echoed from one extremity to the other of the territory they occupy. "The Canisteo River Association was formed in July, and held their first session in September. At this meeting they resolved themselves into a Missionary Society, auxiliary to the Convention. They say, 'The whole territory embraced within the limits of the Association is missionary ground.' In communicating their request to be recognized as an auxiliary, they express their determination to cultivate the field, and hope to be aided by their brethren with their prayers and alms.

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Cataraugus. This Association was formed from churches connected with the Holland Purchase Association, in Feb., 1836, and held their first session in June following.

As

many of the churches are the fruit of recent missionary labor, they appear to have felt the importance of direct action on the subject; hence, they resolved themselves, as soon as organized into an Association, into a Missionary Society, and resolved to attempt to raise at least twenty-five cents for every member in the Association. Immediately, the delegates of a number of churches pledged the amount of the sum which would be due from them. At their meeting in June, we are informed by the Agent, they presented $200 as the first fruits of their distinct organization, and resolved to attempt to raise $300 the coming year.

"The Cayuga Association report that several of the churches have been much refreshed by the showers of grace which they have enjoyed. As the result, one hundred and five have been baptized and added to the churches. They are determined to share with their brethren in the labors necessary to fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord. Hence, while their contributions for the foreign mission, and other benevolent institutions, were more than usual, they succeeded in making up $400 for the Convention, and resolved to attempt to raise, for the same object, $500 the current year.

"Chautauque Association. This body has not been favored with enlargement as in former years, yet one hundred and six are reported as being added by baptism to the churches of which it is composed. At the last session a resolution was passed to raise $500 for domestic missions, nearly all of which it is supposed will be needed in the territory over which the Association extends.

"The Chenango Association were permitted to sit together in an heavenly place at their last anniversary. Many of our churches,' they say, 'have been visited with the reviving influences of the Spirit during the year, while peace and harmony generally pervade our borders.' Although they had large additions the preceding year, yet they report at this session the pleasing fact that two hundred and fifty-six joyful souls had been baptized into Christ and put on Christ. They appear to be determined to show their faith by their works; hence, while they believe the gospel must be preached, that men may hear, and, hearing, believe and be baptized, they paid the Agent nearly $700 for the Convention, their pledge being but $500; and realizing how much blessedness

there is in serving the Lord with their substance, they resolv. ed to raise at least $700 the current year for the Convention. "Cortland Association. This body, which ever since its organization has not been behind the most liberal in benefi cence, has not retrograded the past year: nor has the Lord left the churches without the visits of his grace. Although all have not been alike favored, yet two hundred and twenty-one precious souls, who, having received the word gladly, were baptized and added to the churches, are so many pledges of his faithfulness to Zion. Although the pledge to the Convention, $600, was not quite redeemed at the time of their session, yet such is their ardor in the home mission enterprise, that they resolved to raise at least $700, and furnish the balance of the past, the current, year.

"Dutchess Association. This division of the sacramental host of God's elect, though few in numbers, yet they possess much of the spirit of the Master. They resolved to raise at least $400 the current year for the cause of domestic missions; and as they look upon the whitening fields around them, they desire to sustain a laborer who may be constantly occupied in thrusting in the gospel sickle, and in securing the precious fruits of immortality. They report an addition of sixty-one to the seven churches of which the Association is composed.

"The Essex and Champlain Associations were united the past year, and now compose but one band. They represent their last session as one of great interest. Their sympathy is aroused in behalf of the sheep of Christ who are sparsely scattered over the two counties embraced in their limits, and they raised $100 to aid the Convention in its labors of love. Several of the churches have been much increased in numbers and strength. The whole number baptized is one hundred and fifty-nine.

ness.

"Franklin. This Association, for a number of years past, have mourned at their anniversaries, because the epistles from the churches have so generally been in the language of sadBut at the last session a different aspect appeared upon the face of many of the communications, announcing the pleasing fact that the Lord had made the place of his feet glorious in the midst of them, causing their fellow-men to bow at his throne, and to find mercy. They fondly hope they

may see greater victories achieved, by Zion's King, than have yet appeared. The Association reports an addition of seventy-seven by baptism. They have ever been a most efficient auxiliary of the Convention, and are determined not to relax their efforts until the triumphs of the cross have become universal.

"The Genesee Association. This body, though less favored with revivals the past than during some former years, were not left entirely without witness. They report an addition by baptism of forty-three. They enter into the work of benevolence with a good degree of zeal, and, in view of the expanding fields before them, have resolved to increase the amount of their contributions.

"The Genesee River Association report an addition of one hundred and thirty who have believed in the Lord Jesus with all their hearts, and have been baptized. They are unwilling to be deprived of the privilege of mingling their labors and sacrifices for the salvation of their fellow-men; hence they say, with reference to the Convention, We will cheerfully co-operate with our brethren thus devotedly engaged; and will, by the blessing of God, raise this year the sum of $300 for the accomplishment of those most desirable objects they have in view.'

"The Holland Purchase Association has been somewhat diminished in the number of its churches, by the formation of the Cataraugus Association. The event was effected with much harmony, and the kindest of feeling, the better to accommodate the churches and promote the general interests of the cause. The last session of this body was one of most thrilling interest, and the exhibitions of a spirit of enlarged benevolence were most delightfully apparent. Although the pledges given by the churches were not all made out at the time, yet it is hoped the residue is forthcoming. It was, however, in favor of the American & Foreign Bible Society that the most thrilling interest was excited; for, after a ser mon upon the subject, more than $1000 was subscribed on the spot by the delegates, as a kind of nucleus, around which the donations of the churches will be gathered, and in due time be forwarded to the proper treasury. They report an addition of two hundred and eight by baptism, and resolved to raise at least $500 for the Convention the current year.

"Hudson River Association. The Lord has made his arm bare in the view of several of the churches of this Associa. tion. The First church in Troy, and the Broome street (New York) church, each received one hundred by baptism; several other churches in the city were much refreshed and enlarged, while the churches on the majestic river, whose name they bear, have not been left without a witness. These pledges of God's faithfulness have enabled the Asso. ciation to report the delightful fact that six hundred and sixty-four praying souls have been brought into their fellow. ship as workers together with God. They are determined still to hold that prominence among the auxiliaries of the Convention to which they have attained; and as a token of their unbroken confidence in the plans of that body, they have resolved to raise at least $1500 the current year to replenish the treasury.

"The Livingston Association say, 'We are a feeble body, numbering only eight churches and four hundred and eightyeight communicants.' During the past year they have em. ployed and paid a missionary, who has labored under their direction for three months: besides which they have aided the funds of the Convention and of foreign missions. According to their numbers, they appear to be fully determined to assume their share in the toils and sacrifices necessary to the moral conquest of the world. They report nine baptized, and say, Our prospects are encouraging; our present session has been very pleasant.'

"The Madison Association enjoyed a most lovely season at their last session; the exercise of the kindest fraternal feeling pervaded all their deliberations and decisions, and the liberality of the churches furnished more than the amount pledged to the Convention. They report an addition of two hundred and seventeen joyful believers, among whom was one nearly ninty-two years old. In their corresponding letter they say, 'Several of our churches have been favored with precious revivals, while nearly all have received the tokens of Divine favor.' Notwithstanding the large number baptized, yet, in consequence of the multitude who have emigrated to the west, the total number has been reduced nearly one hundred. Hence, in fixing the amount of their pledge, they have named a like sum to that raised the past year$800.