127; excluded, 22; died, 15; added, 452; total, 1,659. The churches received this year were Brothertown, 2d Hamilton, (now Madison,) 3d Norwich, Sangersfield, Schuyler, Shortlots, and Worcester. The following churches were organized subsequent to this session: West Brookfield, 20 members, Nov. 9, 1799; Warren, 16 members, July 9, 1800; De Ruyter, 23 members, Dec. 26, 1799. Having now mentioned all the churches and ministers found in this country at the close of the last century, except some few beyond the Cayuga lake, we shall proceed to notice briefly some important miscellaneous matter. And first, the revivals enjoyed in the new settlement.

LITCHFIELD. In 1796 God was pleased to pour out his Spirit in this place. A few of the inhabitants were professors of the Congregational order, and some were Methodists. Elds. Butler, Hosmer, and Roots, visited them and preached, and baptized a number. The work continued through the summer and winter; in which time the Congregational brethren embraced the Baptist sentiments, and being immersed, with others, formed the 2d church in Litchfield, now Winfield. In 1796 a partial revival took place in Norwich, now New Berlin. Eld. Hosmer visited them, and baptized several converts.

EXETER. In May, 1797, the Lord began to pour out of his Spirit in this town. A revival took place, in which time twenty-six were added to the church. In 1799 a most remarkable thunder-storm occurred in this part of the country, which, by the blessing of God, was the means of awakening some to a concern for their souls. Soon after ten were added to the church.

ОTEо. In August, 1798, at a meeting on Lord's day, two young persons appeared in great distress of mind. They went to their parents, and with much humility confessed their faults, and implored forgiveness. On the Thursday following they met in conference. The Lord was present by his Holy Spirit; saints rejoiced, and many appeared to have a deep sense of their lost condition. The work was carried on by a Divine power. Several ministering brethren visited them in its progress, and were instrumental in promoting it. During this awakening the church received an addition of forty-six.

BUTTERNUTTS. In January, 1798, Br. John Lawton, from Adams, Mass., moved into this place, and began to labor in the gospel. The Lord's day of Sept. 26, 1798, was one of much solemnity. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to be present: a number of youth, and others, were greatly alarmed, while the people of God were much encouraged. A young woman gave a relation of her experience, and was received for baptism. Several others appeared in great distress. On the 10th Oct., Eld. Hosmer preached, and baptized four persons; one of which was an aged Presbyterian professor. On the 25th of the same month, Br. Lawton was ordained, and Lord's day following he baptized eleven persons. The work continued through the winter, during which, and in the spring and summer following, sixty persons were added to the church. One of the number was a woman in her eighty-fourth year, and had been a member of a Presbyterian church sixty years.

1ST HAMILTON. In the latter part of 1798 a young man, who had been a leader in the merry circles of the youth, was suddenly brought into the deepest concern for his soul. The pungent and searching preaching of those times, and the heart-broken expressions of this young man, produced such an impression upon several of the youth, that they left their school, and went to see him. They found him in deep distress. The night following there was a conference at the house of Br. Samuel Payne. It was a season never to be forgotten. The tongues of the saints were loosed, and their prayers and exhortations were fervent and searching. Sinners cried, "What shall we do to be saved?" During the revival one man, an open Deist, who delighted much in Paine's "Age of Reason," despised the Bible, and spake evil of religion, was awakened to a sense of his danger, and, through the goodness of God, was brought into liberty, and, with many others, united with the church. This individual was our late lamented Br. Daniel Hatch, of Eaton, who, notwithstanding his opposition to the Bible then, was afterward made to delight in its truths. The doctrine of grace became his theme, and the interests of the church of Christ lay near his heart. His house was a home for the weary pilgrim, and all the benevolent institutions of the day were cherished by him, and shared in his prayers and liberal

contributions. He died Sept. 1, 1836, in the 64th year of his age, and we believe that he sleeps in Jesus.

2D NORWICH, Now NORTH NORWICH. Oct. 1799. An awakening began here, occasioned by the sudden death of two eminent persons in this church, in the course of which they had the assistance of Eld. Hosmer, Taylor, and Roots. About the first of Dec. there appeared a general concern on the minds of the people. The first Lord's day in Dec. Eld. Roots baptized twenty-two; on the second Lord's day fourteen; and on the third twelve more; fifty-four, in all, were added to the church during this revival. Of the twenty-two first baptized, were Eld. Nathan Peck, and the wife of Eld. John Peck. Her husband had been baptized about one year previous, by the same administrator, being the second person who thus publicly put on Christ in all that newly settled region. Also of this twenty-two was our late beloved Br. Samuel Pike, of Norwich village, who has recently, and very suddenly, been called to give an account of his stewardship, and to receive, we hope and believe, the approbation of his Lord. He died Jan. 27, 1837. His father was one of those eminent persons before named.

ORDINATIONS.-June 23, 1796, Br. John Bostwick was set apart to the work of the ministry in the 2d church of Otsego, now Hartwick. Eld. Henry Green, from the Vermont Association, preached the sermon; Eld. Butler offered the ordaining prayer; Elds. Bacon, Roots, and Lake, laid on hands; Eld. Cornell gave the charge; Eld. Hosmer the right hand of fellowship; and Eld. Furman offered the concluding prayer. This was the first ordination in this Association. The services were in the woods.

Oct. 25, 1797, Br. Stephen Taylor, of the 3d church Burlington, now Edmeston, was set apart to the work of the ministry. Eld. Butler preached the sermon; Eld. Bacon prayed, and laid on hands with Elds. Furman and Hammond; Eld. Hosmer gave the charge; Eld. Bostwick the right hand of fellowship; and Eld. Hammond concluded with prayer. The exercises were attended in a barn.

Oct. 25, 1798, Br. John Lawton, of Butternut church, was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry. Eld. Butler preached a sermon from 1 Timothy iii. 1; Eld. Lesure offered the ordaining prayer, and laid on hands with

Elds. Bostwick and Smith; Eld. Bacon gave the charge; Eld. Hosmer the right hand of fellowship; and Eld. Taylor offered the concluding prayer. The solemn ceremony was performed on a stage in the open air.

Thus have we given an imperfect sketch of the history of the Baptist churches in western New York, until the close of the last century; containing a view of the rise and increase of the Otsego Association for five years. And, truly, we may say, "What hath God wrought!" At the close of 1799 there were, within the bounds of this Association, thirtyseven churches, fifteen ministers, and 1718 members.

The ministers who officiated during this time were Elds. William Furman, Ashbel Hosmer, Joel Butler, Elijah Herrick, John Hammond, John Bostwick, Stephen Taylor, John Lawton, Peter P. Roots, Warner Lake, James Bacon, David Irish, Hezekiah Eastman, Stephen Parsons, and Simeon Smith. The first five of these were laboring here previously to the forming of the Association; no two of them lived nearer to each other than twenty-five miles; and the residence of one was sixty or seventy from the body of the Association. His services were confined to the church to which he belonged, and to the destitute region around him. Another, seldom appeared abroad; so that the weight of the labor lay on the first three, together with a few young men whom the Lord was raising up, and some elders from other associations. Eld. James Bacon, who ministered to the church in Franklin, belonging to Shaftsbury Association, occasionally assisted them.

In 1793 Eld. Joel Butler came to the Royal Grants, and began to preach to a few scattered inhabitants. A considerable opposition was made against him by an ambitious intriguer, which retarded his progress for a short time. But the character of this adversary soon came to light; and the Lord showed himself with his servant, and greatly blessed his labors. His calls were numerous; and as a zealous, active minister, he was greatly instrumental in the growth of the northwestern part of this Association. But he has ceased from his toils, and has gone to enjoy his rest.

In June, 1795, Eld. Ashbel Hosmer removed his family into Burlington, and commenced labor with Elds. Furman and Butler. He was zealous and active, and, in the cause

of his blessed Master, was ready to encounter all opposition. He strenuously advocated right principles, and, in union with the two former, laid a permanent foundation for the future growth and prosperity of the Baptist interest in this extensive district.

Among their most prominent measures was a rule proposed by them, and adopted by the Association, that, when a church desires admission into their body, it should be examined as to its faith and practice, when constituted, and what church and ministers gave it fellowship. If a minister was presented, he was examined in the following manner: Where did you begin to preach? What church gave you license? Where were you ordained? What church and ministers assisted in your ordination? Where have you labored since? The adoption of these rules excited the wonder of friends and the malice of enemies; but the necessity and wisdom of the measure were soon seen, and are felt to the present day; for, had not those energetic measures been adopted, our country would have been overrun with men of loose principles and corrupt practices. For the country being new, and the settlements small, many men who had lost their characters in the eastern and southern parts, supposing the wilderness to be favorable to their designs, were purposing to come into this country. Some had already come; while others, hearing of the adoption of those rules, thought it wise to keep away. In consequence of the almost entire desecration of the Lord's day, it was necessary to enjoin upon the church at their formation, and make it an article in their covenant, that they should religiously observe the day; and also that all heads of families should maintain the worship of God in their houses, by reading the scriptures and vocal prayer. For the establishment of these measures Eld. Hosmer was very zealous. To promote a salutary discipline, and diffuse pure and undefiled religion among the churches, he labored night and day, and endured many privations. But the Lord supported him amid all his trials, and has long since taken him from his labors, to the rest prepared for the children of God.

December, 1795, Eld. Peter P. Roots came, and united with the others in this Association, and was eminently useful in carrying forward the work of God in these new settlements.