MINUTES.

The General Association of New-Hampshire held its fiftyninth annual meeting in the house of the First Church in Concord, commencing Tuesday, August 25, 1868, and was opened with a sermon by Rev. George Dustan, from John 15: 4.

After the sermon the preacher took the chair.

The following delegates presented their credentials and were enrolled as MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

DELEGATES FROM DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS.

Belknap-Rev. Charles Burnham, Meredith; Rev. Liba Conant, Hebron.

Derry and Manchester-Rev. James Holmes, Auburn; Rev. L. G. Parker, Derry.

Harmony

Hollis-Rev. E. W. Hooker, D. D., Nashua; Rev. P. B. Day, D. D., Hollis.

Hopkinton-Rev. Edward Buxton, Webster; Rev. Corban Curtice, Sanbornton; Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, Henniker; Rev. A. W. Fiske, Fisherville.

Lancaster-Rev. H. V. Emmons, Lancaster.

Monadnock-Rev. T. W. Duncan, Nelson; Rev. T. E. Roberts, Swanzey; Rev. H. Wood, Gilsum.

Orange-Rev. E. A. Lawrence, D. D., Orford; Rev. B. Smith, Hanover Center.

Sullivan-Rev. J. L. Merrill, Acworth.

Suncook-Rev. Jacob Chapman, Deerfield.

Union-Rev. E. B. Claggett, Lyndeborough; Rev. Rufus Case, Jaffrey.

White River

Piscataqua- Rev. T. V. Haines, North-Hampton; Rev. Isaac C. White, Newmarket; Rev. J. H. Stearns, Epping.

DELEGATES FROM CONFERENCES.

Cheshire-Bro. L. D. Osborne, Keene.

Coos

Grafton-Dea. William G. Brown, Campton; Dea. D. C. Churchill, Lyme.

Hillsborough-Dea. A. A. Farnsworth, Peterborough; Dr. Edward Aiken, Amherst; Bro. G. W. Pinkerton, Manchester. Merrimack-Dr. A. P. Tenney, West Concord; G. N. Shepard, West Epping.

Rockingham-David Currier, Derry; John Stevens, Portsmouth; G. P. Judkins, Kingston.

Strafford J. S. Sanborn, Sanbornton.

Sullivan

From Dartmouth College-Rev. Prof. D. J. Noyes.

MEMBERS EX-OFFICIIS.

Rev. J. G. Davis, D. D., Amherst, Secretary.

Rev. Wm. R. Jewett, Fisherville, Statistical Secretary. Rev. F. D. Ayer, Pastor of the North Church, Concord. Rev. J. H. Edwards, West Lebanon, Rev. Joseph Blake, Gilmanton, Rev. Henry A. Hazen, Lyme, members of reporting committees.

DELEGATES FROM CORRESPONDING BODIES.

Rev. J. M. Brewster, of Dover, from Free Will Baptist Yearly Meeting.

Rev. L. D. Barrows, D. D., from the Methodist Episcopal Conference in New-Hampshire.

Rev. George B. Safford, from the General Convention of Vermont.

Rev. John Colby, from the General Association of Massachusetts.

Rev. Edwin Hall, from the General Association of Connecticut.

Rev. C. P. Osborne, from the General Association of RhodeIsland.

Rev. George Darling, from the General Conference of Ohio. Rev. Charles Caverno, from the Congregational and Presbyterian Convention of Wisconsin.

Rev. J. W. Strong, from the General Association of Minne

sota.

Rev. Prof. S. C. Bartlett, D. D., from the General Association of Illinois.

Rev. Joseph T. Duryea, D. D., from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.

The Association was organized by choice of Rev. Edward A. Lawrence, D. D., of Orford, Moderator; Rev. E. B. Claggett, of Lyndeborough, Scribe; and Rev. H. A. Hazen, of Lyme, Assistant Scribe.

Rev. F. D. Ayer, Rev. L. S. Parker, and Bro. George W. Pinkerton, were appointed a Committee of Arrangements. Rev. Rufus Case, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, Rev. H. A. Hazen, Committee of Nominations.

Rev. E. H. Greely, Rev. Quincy Blakely, and Dea. Wm. W. Russell, Committee of Inquiry.

Rev. E. G. Parsons, and Rev. Wm. J. Tucker, Committee on Narrative.

Adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M.

TUESDAY, 2 o'clock P. M.

After a season of devotion, the Narrative of the State of Religion and Obituary Notices were read by Rev. Joseph Blake, followed by addresses from Rev. R. M. Sargent, and Rev. Dr. Wallace.

Letters of salutation from the General Association of Michigan, the General Conference of Rhode-Island, and the General Association of Iowa, were read by the Secretary.

Rev. Geo. Darling presented the salutations of the General Association of Ohio; Rev. J. M. Brewster, of the Free Will Baptist Conference; Rev. Edwin Hall, of the General Association of Connecticut; Rev. Dr. Bartlett of the General Association of Illinois; Rev. John Colby, of the General Association of Massachusetts; Rev. Geo. B. Safford, of the General Convention of Vermont.'

To these salutations the Moderator happily responded. The Pastoral Letter, prepared by Rev. S. P. Leeds, was read by Rev. J. H. Edwards.

Voted to adjourn until 7 o'clock.

TUESDAY EVENING.

Met agreeably to adjournment, but as public services were about to commence, at which Dr. S. C. Bartlett was to preach, voted to adjourn until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A prayer meeting was held at the First Church at 8 o'clock. Association came together at 9 o'clock.

Prayer was offered by Rev. L. B. Rockwood.

The Minutes were read and approved.

A letter was read presenting salutations of the General Conference of Maine.

Rev. John Wood spoke in behalf of the American and Foreign Christian Union; Rev. L. B. Rockwood, in behalf of the American Tract Society; Rev. Asa Bullard, in behalf of the Congregational Sabbath School and Publication Society; Rev. C. L. Woodworth, in behalf of the American Missionary Association; and Rev. S. W. Hanks, in behalf of the Seaman's Friend Society.

Rev. Joseph T. Duryea presented the salutations of the Presbyterian Church; Rev. L. D. Barrows, of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Rev. Charles Caverno, of the General Association of Wisconsin; and Rev. C. P. Osborn, of the General Conference of Rhode-Island. To each delegate the Moderator responded.

Voted, That the questions which were to be discussed in the evening of to-day be taken up at three o'clock this afternoon, and that the evening be appropriated to religious services, and preaching by Rev. Dr. Duryea.

The Report of the Treasurer was read. Voted to accept it. Voted, also, to raise two hundred dollars for the ensuing year, and voted to print 500 copies of the Minutes of the Association, with the Report of the N. H. Missionary Society, and 100 copies without it.

Voted, That Dr. Bouton's Report of the Trustees of the Widows' Charitable Fund, made to the General Association at Newport, be published with the Minutes.

Voted, That the Statistical Secretary make such recommendations to the District Associations and County Conferences,

as he shall deem adapted to secure greater accuracy in the keeping of church records, and making the annual returns of membership.

Voted, To commit the archives of the Association to the care of Rev. Drs. Young, Bouton, and Stone, with the request that they recommend, at the next annual meeting, what disposition should be made of them.

The Business Committee reported an overture from the Belknap Association, asking for a change in the Constitution, enlarging the basis of representation, and making members of local associations corresponding members.

The committee recommended that these papers, and the general subject of improvements in the Constitution and exercises of this Association, be referred to a committee of three, to report at the next annual meeting. Adopted.

Chose Revs. J. W. Chickering, E. G. Parsons, and P. B. Day, as such committee.

The Nominating Committee recommended Keene 1st Church, as the place for the next annual meeting. Preacher of Communion Sermon, Rev. L. Z. Ferris, of Pittsfield, Primary; Rev. Hiram Mead, of Nashua, Substitute. Adopted.

Adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock P. M.

Met according to adjournment.

Gave place to the Anniversary of the New-Hampshire Education Society,

Prayer was offered by Rev. Asa Mann, of Bath.

The report of the directors was read, and, on motion of Rev. Dr. Tobey, of Durham, voted that it be accepted and printed with the Minutes. He supported his motion with an address.

Rev. Dr. Day, of Hollis, a trustee, spoke of the religious condition of Dartmouth College.

Association resumed business, and Rev. Mr. Parsons, of Derry, submitted resolutions suggested by the approaching Centennial of Dartmouth College, which, after considerable discussion, were adopted, as follows:

Resolved, That the General Association of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches of New-Hampshire, congratulates the Trustees and Alumni of Dartmouth College, and all the friends of sound and elegant learning, upon the