rotation shall be: 1st year, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Congregational Publishing Society, Congregational Union. 2nd year, American Missionary Association, Tract Society, Seamen's Friend Society.

Wednesday, 10 A. M.

Strike out the present order, and insert,

"Ministers' and Widows' Charitable Fund."

Thursday, 10 A. M. changed to 9 A. M.

Voted: To accept the report and adopt amendments proposed. Rev. F. D. Ayer, from Committee on printing extra copies of Narrative, reported, recommending Association to print 3,000 copies of Narrative of the State of Religion, with Secretary's Report on Home Missions, next year. Adopted.

Voted: That the Secretary be requested to furnish credentials, as delegates, to the pastors nearest the place of meeting, each year, of the Methodist Conference, the Baptist and the Free Will Baptist Conventions, that they may represent this body in those meetings.

Rev. C. E. Milliken, of Littleton, reported the following recommendation: That a union Sabbath School Convention be held at Manchester, October 21 and 22 ; that Rev. Geo. Dustan, of Peterboro', John G. Lane, of Manchester, Rev. S. L. Gerould, of Goffstown, be a Committee, on the part of this Association, to correspond with Rev. Geo. M. Park, of Farmington, of the Free Will Baptist denomination, Rev. T. L. Flood, of Concord, Presiding Elder of the Methodist Church, and such persons as they may select from the Baptist denomination, and with them make such arrangements as are necessary to carry out the recommendation.

Prayer, by Rev. W. J. Tucker.

Singing by the choir.

After remarks by Rev. Dr. Bouton, Concord, the collection for the Ministers' and Widows' Charitable Fund was taken, amounting to $72.00.

Discussion: What is the proper work of women in the Cause of Christ?

Opened by Rev. Wm. Carlos Martyn, and Rev. H. M. Stone; followed by Prof. Perkins, Exeter.

Adjourned to 9 o'clock a. M.

THURSDAY MORNING.

Prayer-meeting from 8 to 9 o'clock. Conducted by Rev. E. E. P. Abbott.

9 o'clock. Business Meeting. Prayer by Rev. Wm. R. Jewett. Committee on Nominations reported as follows:

Place of Meeting next year-Claremont.

Committee of Arrangements-Rev. L. Rodgers, Rev. E. E. P. Abbott, Hon. E. L. Goddard.

Preacher before Communion-Rev. Carlos Martyn, Portsmouth; Substitute-Rev. C. Richardson, Keene.

DELEGATES.

To Andover Theological Seminary-Rev. E. Robie, Greenland; Substitute-Rev. S. L. Blake, Concord.

To National Council-Rev. E. H. Greeley, Concord; Hon. A. W. Sawyer, Nashua; Rev. I. C. White, Newmarket. Substitutes-Rev. John Colby, Fitzwilliam; Hon. Samuel Upton, Manchester; Rev. L. Rodgers, Claremont.

Report was accepted and adopted.

Committee of Arrangements reported as follows:

QUESTIONS FOR NEXT ASSOCIATION.

Discussion: What is the Christian duty regarding demitting the Ministry?

Opened by Rev. Asa D. Smith, D. D., Hanover; Substitute -Rev. Geo. E. Street, Exeter.

Discussion: How shall more loyalty be secured among our church members in sustaining and extending the principles of our denomination?

Opened by Rev. Joseph Bartlett, South Newmarket; Substitute-Rev. W. F. Bacon, Laconia,

Discussion: What are the best methods for securing the conversion and Christian training of children?

Opened by A. B. Palmer, Esq., Orfordville; Substitute--Rev. S. W. Webb, Great Falls.

Essay: What is the duty of our church in view of the corruptions prevalent in public life?

Primary-Rev. A. B. Peabody; Substitute-Rev. J. W. Lees,

Lee.

Treasurer's report was read by Rev. F. D. Ayer.

Voted: That the thanks of this Association be extended to the U. S. and Canada Express, through their agent, N. White, Esq., Concord; and that the Secretary of this Association be instructed to communicate this vote to Mr. White.

Voted: That the same amount of money be raised to defray the expense of printing the Minutes as last year, viz., $300.00. Rev. S. L. Blake, Concord, introduced the following resolution :

Resolved, That the thanks of this body be, and are, hereby extended to the people of Exeter for their kind and generous hospitality; to Rev. Swift Byington, Geo. E. West and Dea. Thos. Folsom, for their careful provision for the meetings of the Association; and to the several Railroad Companies, which have reduced their fares.

Adopted unanimously.

Rev. C. E. Milliken, Littleton, was elected as a member of the Committee of Nominations.

10 o'clock. Anniversary of the New-Hampshire Missionary Society.

Voted that at the close of the Communion Service, the Association adjourn to meet in Claremont, the Tuesday after the second Sabbath in September, 1875.

Adjourned to 2 o'clock.

THURSDAY AFternoon, at 2ND CHURCH.

2 o'clock. The sermon before Communion was by Rev. Geo. B. Spalding, Dover. Text, John XIX: 5. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

Subject: The personality of Christ the Christian's best argu

ment.

Rev. Dr. Bouton and Bro. Smith officiated at the table.
Adjourned.

J. E. SARGENT, Moderator.

WM. CARLOS MARTYN, Scribe.

JOHN BRAGDON, Assistant Scribe.

NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION.

Very litttle of the real history and experience of any life is ever written. The statistics of most churches are among the least things they have. The narrative that covers the state of religion in our Commonwealth for a year, can bear to you but too little of the real life and worth of the piety it seeks to measure. Yet we cannot well do without these reports, for they hint to us a great many things which they can never tell, and they tell us things about each other which we need to know. Let us review the churches by their Conferences :

Cheshire Conference embraces twenty-six churches; nine having pastors; ten acting pastors, and seven vacant.

The report of the state of religion from this county is very encouraging, while the statistics gathered are complete. From the schedule I find that fourteen churches have had accessions amounting to two hundred and twelve.

The church in Harrisville reports evidence of the presence of the Spirit, and that some souls have been led to Christ. Each week new cases of conversion are found, among the old and the young. Eleven have united with the church, and others will do so soon. The society is struggling nobly to support its minister, though to do so it has been obliged to increase its subscriptions largely.

There is great pleasure in reporting of a revival, as the church in Hinsdale can do. At the close of the old year all looked dark. The last week of it one sinner sought the Savior. Others were soon convicted, and this so inspired the church that, as the Week of Prayer opened, there was more faith, more prayer,

more work. The burden was for the Holy Spirit to come. The desire was met; and day by day souls came to Christ, till nearly an hundred felt his power. The old, hardened in sin, and the children came together; the men of business and the mothers gave themselves, and in some cases whole families were one in coming to Christ. The first Sabbath in April thirty-eight united with the church. The work was thorough, free from excitement, and nearly seven-eights of those awakened have already professed Christ and are adorning that profession. Forty-one have joined the church. The influence upon the community is salutary; upon the church it is glorious. The meetings were union meetings; they were wrestling prayer-meetings; while the faithful preaching and conversation were not forgotten. The chapel and the church have been repaired.

Says the pastor at Jaffrey: "We have cause of hope and thankfulness for continued prosperity, and that some have come to Christ." The work here is slow, but the Gospel does its work when proclaimed, and, though at times indifference and delay may suggest that all is useless, yet the fruit comes at length. The taking root by the truth is like that process in the vegetable world, unseen, but this must precede the coming of fruit.

More than usual blessing has marked the year in Marlborough. At the union meetings during the Week of Prayer there was a growing solemnity, and on Sabbath evening between twenty and thirty rose for prayers. For eight weeks extra meetings were continued and the interest was unabated. Neighboring pastors also aided. The results are seen in renewed devotion and labor by Christians; reclaiming the indifferent; deciding those halting between two opinions, and awakening the careless. Probably forty have found Christ. Twenty-six have united with the church by profession, and ten by letter.

The sum of $5,000 has been raised by the people in Rindge to pay off the church debt. A quiet work of grace has been enjoyed, and twenty-five express hope. Meetings held in the out-districts in the afternoon, instead of a sermon, are doing great goood; and the taking the collection every Sabbath increases the contributions.