The Congregationalist

GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF MASS.

The following are the leading sentences of some statements and remarks by the editor of the Boston Recorder respecting the meeting of this Body at Plymouth.

1. There was an excellent spirit of kindness and good will one toward another, throughout the meeting. The various discussions were carried on without anything like asperity or want of courtesy.

2. The narratives of the state of religion excited a deep interest. Though revivals have not been as numerous and powerful as in some previous years, there have been several of the most interesting character. A characteristic of these revivals has been, that an unusual number of the converts were males.

3. By accounts from different parts of the state, it appears that the License Law is well sustained: the great body of intelligent and pious citizens are its strong and devoted advocates. It was pleasant to hear testimony in its favor so decided, coming from every region, from the green hills of Berkshire, to the sand hills of the Cape. The law will be sustained, because the friends of humanity will not see the miseries perpetuated which the unrestrained sale of alcohol occasions. The statements made by Mr. Crosby, Agent of the Massachusetts Temperance Society, respecting the state of things in Boston in relation to the law, were deeply interesting to the audience. The determined course pursued there by the friends of the law, will greatly encourage its friends throughout the Commonwealth. We believe the passage and operation of the law will constitute a new era in the history of temperance. Legislative action in many other states will receive a powerful impulse by what has been done here. And we do hope the time is not distant when the states of this Union will by law, as unitedly defend themselves from injury by alcohol, as they now do from robbery and murder.

4. Various accounts given at this meeting, confirm us in the belief that the subject of Public Worship is occupying more and more the attention of the friends of Zion. Many towns report an increase of attendance on the Sabbath, in some cases amounting to double that of former years.

Rev. Mr. Nott's sermon on the sanctuary and its privileges, was full of deeply interesting thought on the subject we have now in hand. It was an able exposition of the value of God's own institutions above those of mere human appointment. The sermon was rich in apposite Scriptural illustrations. It was a wide and deep stream of valuable thought—awakening thought, and securing we think from all the intelligent and reflecting present, an entire concurrence in its general sentiments.

"We are happy to publish the action of the General Association in reference to the violation of the Sabbath, as it is a subject to which the attention of the public should at this time be called. The minute was prepared and adopted in consequence of a Resolution presented from the Brookfield Association.

This Association have learned with satisfaction, that our fellow citizens in some parts of the state are petitioning the Directors and other managers of our Rail Roads, entreating them to exclude all travel from said Roads on the Sabbath. In our opinion, the great question whether these facilities of communication shall be a curse or a blessing, depends very much on their being used or not used on the Sabbath day. If the sin of Sabbath-breaking which lies already so heavily on our nation, shall thus be increased, we fear the judgments of heaven will not long be withheld, and that our temporal prosperity will destroy us. We do therefore desire to unite with our brethren and fellow citizens of every denomination, in petitioning those entrusted with this great interest, that these popular enterprises be so conducted, as to leave us our Sabbaths in sacred stillness; that we may worship God without interruption; and may also, at these seasons, have confidence in praying for his blessing on our six days of lawful labor.'

"A deeply interesting account of the American Colony at Liberia was given by Rev. Mr. Pinney, its former Governor. The perfect familiarity of the speaker with his topic—the ardent interest manifested by him for the colored race—his deep devotion to the cause he has espoused, together with the various interesting facts concerning the prosperity of the Colony at Liberia, kept the large audience assembled in the Town Hall in fixed attention. Amid all the agitation of these latter days, the Colony has not been forgotten by the body of Congregational Ministers of this state. They do not regard Colonization, we suppose, as the only agent for removing Slavery; but we believe that most of them esteem it as having a favorable bearing in removing that evil, and as proposing vast good to the colored race and Africa. We ardently hope the time is near when the belligerents on both sides of the slavery question, will beat their spears into pruning hooks, and not lose sight of the poor slave, in the keenness of the contention which has the best plan for doing him good."