USA > Connecticut > The records of the General association of ye colony of Connecticut. Begun June 20th, 1738. Ending June 19th, 1799 > Part 9
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The Association after conversing largely upon it, laid it over till tomorrow morning for further consideration.
The Association then resumed the Discussion of the first Question referred to them from the last General Association, viz: In what case a Dissolution of the marriage Relation, by what is called a Divorce may properly and allowably take place according to the Scripture ?
The Association adjourned till five o'clock tomorrow morning.
Met according to Adjournment.
The Committee appointed yesterday made their report, which was voted and directed to be printed under the direc- tion of Mr Perkins, under the Signature of the Moderator and Scribe of this Association.
The Association resumed the discussion of the Question under consideration the last Evening relative to Divorces.
The Association gave it as their opinion That Incontinency is the only justifiable reason for a divorce.
Voted, that Doct.rs Goodrich, Edwards and Wales be a Committee to prepare a Draught of an Address and Petition to the General Assembly on the Subject of Divorces, and lay it before this Association on their adjournment hereafter determined.
On motion made by the Association in the western Dis- , triet of New Haven County, the Association Voted that the Slave Trade be unjust, and that every justifiable measure ought to be taken to suppress it.
Voted, also, that Doctrs Goodrich, Edwards and Wales be a Committee to draw up an address and petition to the Gen-
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
eral Assembly, that some effectual Laws may be made for the total abolition of the Slave Trade, to be laid before this body at their adjournment hereafter determined :
Voted that the Address of Windham County be laid over to a future day.
A Scheme of an Union of the Presbyterians in America was presented to this Association, for their consideration, by the Association in the County of Fairfield. After deliberat- ing upon it, Voted that it be recommended to the Considera- tion and Approbation of each of the particular Associations in this State.
At the request of the North Association in Hartford Coun- ty, representing the great, general, and increasing neglect there is in attending to the public Worship of God -the Association Voted Messieurs Timothy Dwight & Benoni Upson be a Committee to make a draught of an Exhortation on the subject, to be publicly read, in the various Congrega- tions, through the State.
The List of Candidates from the Several Counties, brought in to the Association is as followeth.
Litchfield Association == Edmund Mills.
Hartford North =
( Ebenezer Kingsbury John Ellsworth
Hartford South
Windham Association
Wait Cornwell, Ethiel Orsborn William F. Miller, Calvin White Elijah Gridley, Sylvester Sage. Stephen Williams, John Taylor, Jonathan Ellis, Hendric Dow.
New Haven Association
John Robinson, Lemuel Tyler, Payson Williston, Thomas Holt, Samuel Perkins, David Hale, Aaron Cook Collins, Levi Lankton, William Stone, Reuben Hitchcock, Ebenezer Fitch.
New London Eastern Association -
John Wilder, Christopher Page, Hezekiah Nath' Woodruff, A sahel Huntington.
Fairfield Eastern - None.
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RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
Fairfield Western - None.
Middlesex Association = John Ely.
Voted that the next General Association be at the House of the Rev. Thomas Brockway in Lebanon.
The Committee to draw up an Address to the various Congregations on the Importance of a religious Attendance on the Duties of the Sabbath made their report which was accepted ; and Doctrs Edwards and Dwight were appointed to prepare the same for and forward it to the press with the signature of the moderator and Seribe of this Association.
The following questions were read and Voted to be offered to each particular Association for discussion viz :
1st Is it an Institution of the Gospel that baptized Children, as soon as they are capable of eating and behaving with decency, should partake of the Lord's Supper ?
2d. Are there any absolute Promises of either temporal or spiritual good, made in Scripture to the Children of Believers?
Voted that this Association be adjourned to the Day previous to Commencement, to meet in the Chapel at New Haven at 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon.
The above passed and Voted by the Association -
Test CYPRIAN STRONG, Scribe.
At a meeting of the General Association of the State of Connecticut, held by adjournment at the College Chapel in New Haven, Sept. 9th A. D. 1788
Nathaniel Taylor John Willard Elizur Goodrich Cyprian Strong Thomas W. Bray Jonathan Edwards
Present Rev.d Mess.rs
Jonathan Murdock Benoni Upson Zebulon Ely William Lyman
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
The Association was opened with prayer offered by the moderator.
The minutes of the last Association were read. Two Draughts of an Address to the General Assembly were read to the Association - one by Dr. Goodrich -the other by Dr. Edwards, to both of which objections were offered. After much conversation relative to the mode of addressing or framing a memorial to the General Assembly, relative to Divorces it was voted -That said Memorial should be predicated in part on the opinion of the association as manifested in their June Session relative to Divorces, And Doctor Edwards, Mr. Bray and Doctor Dwight were chosen a Committee to prepare a Draught of such a Memorial to be laid before the Association for their Approbation.
The Association was then adjourned till tomorrow imme- diately after the public Exercises of Commencement are fin- ished, to meet at the Room of M.r Fitch.
The Association met according to adjournment. Mr. Ross joined the Body.
The committee appointed yesterday made a draught of a petition, &c., which was accepted, and one for the Total Abolition of the Slave Trade, connected with it.
Doctors Edwards and Wales were appointed a committee to forward said Petition to the General Assembly at their Session in October next.
Whereas in the minutes of the Doings of this Association in June last it is entered, that a Request was made from Windham Association, that some suitable Testimony might be borne &c., it now appears that it was not made by said Association ; Voted that said Application be dismissed.
The above-voted by Association,
Test CYPRIAN STRONG, Scribe.
NOTES.
1. Benoni Upson Pastor in Kensington from 1779 to 1816.
:. Roswell Cook
" Montville 1784 to 1798.
3 . Zebulon Ely 66
" Lebanon 66 1782 to 1824.
. William Lyman 17
" Millington 66 1787 to 1823.
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RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
1789.
At a Meeting of the General Association of the State of Connecticut at the house of the Reyd Thomas Brockway in Lebanon June 16th 1789
Present
Samuel Lockwood
Elijah Lathrop
Robert Ross
Nathan Williams
Benjamin Trumbull
Timothy Stone
Aaron Kinne
Peter Starr
Thomas Brockway
The Revd Messrs
Elijah Parsons
Charles Backus ('.)
William Seward
Noah Merwin
Wm Lockwood (2.)
Joseph Vaill (3.)
John Noyes (".)
Samuel Nott Jason Atwater (5.)
The Rev.ª Samuel Lockwood was chosen Moderator, d Wm Lockwood Scribe.
The Association was opened by prayer & a Sermon from 1st Corans ix. 27th preached by the Revd Mr. Stone.
The Questions proposed by the General Association for the discussion of the particular Associations were by a majority of the particular Associations determined in the negative.
The Association took into consideration and discussed those questions.
The Association adjourned till half after five o'clock tomor- row Morning.
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
Met according to adjournment. The Association resumed the discussion of the Questions under consideration the last evening. They were largely debated by the members of the General Association. A large majority gave their Opinion in favor of the negative; but in consideration that a few par- ticular Associations had not discussed the Questions they were referred to further Examination in the particular asso- ciations and the result of their enquiries to be laid before this Body for their opinion at their next meeting.
The following Questions were read and Voted to be offerred to each particular Association for discussion, and return be made to the General Association at their next meeting, viz :
I.st Did the human Soul of Christ, exist before the Con- ception of his Body by the Virgin ?
II.d What is the evidence from the Scriptures that there are three persons in the Deity eternally distinct from each other ?
Voted that Copies of all Addresses, Draughts, &c made by the General Association be left with the Register of General Association.
Voted that this Question be offered to the particular asso- ciations for consideration, and that returns be made to the General Association at their next meeting viz: Whether it be expedient that a minister be appointed by the General Association yearly to preach in the first Church in Hartford on the afternoon of the Gen' Election day a Sermon in sup- port of some essential Point of Christianity, and that such sermon, written out in fair hand be lodged from year to year with the associational Register, for the purpose of Selection, for future Publication : That the preacher be not appointed by rotation from the several Associations, but from the State at large.
Voted that the Revd Timothy Stone be appointed to preach the Sermon the day after the next Commencement.
Voted that the next General Association be at the House of the Revd Timothy Dwight D.D.
Test W. LOCKWOOD, Scribe.
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RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
NOTES.
1. Charles Backus Pastor in Somers from 1774 to 1803.
2. William Lockwood "
Milford 1784 " 1796.
1. Joseph Vaill
Hadlyme .. 1780 " 1832.
. John Noyes .. Weston 1786 " 1807.
6. Jason Atwater 66 Branford 1784 " 1794.
1 790.
At a meeting of the General Association of Connecticut, at the House of the Rev.ª Timothy Dwight D.D. June 15th 1790-
Present
( Samuel Lockwood D.D. Nathaniel Taylor Nathaniel Bartlett Robert Ross Judah Champion
Elizur Goodrich D.D.
The Rev.ª Mess.rs
Ebenezer Kellogg Benjamin Trumbull John Foot Aaron Church ('.)
Rufus Hawley (2.) William Seward Timothy Dwight D.D. (3.) Nathan Fenn
Henry Ely Zebulon Ely
The Rev.d Nathaniel Taylor was chosen Moderator, and Mr Benjamin Trumbull was chosen Scribe.
The meeting was opened with prayer offered and a Sermon preached, by the Rev.d William Seward from Dan. ii : 44.
Voted, That the two questions proposed to the particular Associations by the last General Association, for the present be dismissed.
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
A motion made by the delegates of the western Association of Fairfield county respecting a general union of the Congre- gational and Presbyterian churches throughout the United States of America, was taken into serious consideration and largely debated: On which the following question was pro- posed, Whether in the opinion of this Association, any fur- ther degree of union between the churches of this State and their brethren of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches throughout the United States of America would be expedient and desirable ? Passed in the affirmative.
Voted also, That in the opinion of this Association, this purpose might be effected in some good measure, by letters of correspondence respecting the state of the churches and of religion in the several States, and the different prevailing sects and the impostors that shall arise from time to time with authentic information of their characters, and such other matters as may be thought conducive to the general promotion of the gospel and the prosperity of the churches.
The following gentlemen, Dr. Goodrich, Mr. Huntington of Middletown, Dr. Dwight and Mr. Eliot were accordingly appointed a committee, to correspond with our brethren of the congregational and presbyterian churches in the United States, to communicate to them this resolve, and to desire their opinion on the best method of accomplishing the valua- ble ends.
Voted also that it is the opinion of this Association, that if the several Associations shall approve of this correspon- dence, that it be continued from year to year in such manner as shall hereafter be thought best.
Voted that in future meetings of this Association, imme- diately after opening a docket shall be made out of whatever matters are to be considered by them.
Whereas this Association sometime since desired Mr. Ben- jamin Trumbull to write a religious history of the late Ameri- can revolution, and as he hath expressed his wishes that the Association would appoint a committee to inspect said history and report their opinion concerning it to this body at the
134
RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
next general Association, Voted the Rev.d Drs Goodrich and Dwight, and John Trumbull Esq.r of Hartford be a commit- tee for that purpose; and they are desired to inspect the papers which Mr Trumbull shall lay before them, and report as aforesaid.
Voted That the Reverend Isaac Lewis preach the conscio at the next Commencement.
Voted That the next General Association be at the House of the Reverend Noah Merwin of Washington.
The following persons were returned as candidates in the several Counties viz :
Hartford County
North Association = Mr Ebenezer Kingsbury.
Hartford South Association Messrs
Weight Cornwall Calvin White Sylvester Sage
Gad Newel
Joseph Camp
Asahel Hooker
Silas Churchil
Isaac Porter
New Haven County
Ebenezer Fitch Daniel Crocker
Western District Messrs - David H. Williston Aaron Woodward
Aaron Cook Collins
William Stone
Caleb Johnson
Messrs.
Isaac Maltby
Oliver Dudley Cook Hezekiah Goodrich
Eastern District
Reuben Morse
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
Fairfield County Eastern District - None.
Western District William Brintnal Ripley
Messrs Samuel Sturgis
New London County. No returns from either district
Windham County
Messrs
Stephen Williams Hendric Dow Dyar Throop Hinkley Woodworth
Litchfield County M.r Chauncy Lee
County of Middlesex
None returned.
Tolland County
Azel Backus
Messrs Freegrace Reynolds Hyde
True minutes of the General Association Test BENJAMIN TRUMBULL Scribe.
NOTES.
1. Aaron Church Pastor in E. Hartland from 1773 to 1815.
2. Rufus Hawley W. Avon 66 1769 to 1820.
3. Timothy Dwight " Greenfield 1783 to 1795.
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RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
1791.
At a meeting of the General Association of the State of Connectient at the house of the Revd M.' Merwin in Wash- ington June 21 : 1791, were
Present
Nathaniel Bartlett Cotton Mather Smith John Smalley
David Brownson ('.) Samuel Camp
John Foot Jonathan Edwards D. D.
Rev.ª Mess.rs
Rufus Hawley
Elijah Parsons
Timothy Dwight D. D.
Noah Merwin
Samuel Stebbins (2.)
Jason Atwater
Timothy Langdon (3.) William Lyman
Mr. Bartlett was chosen Moderator, and Doct. Edwards, Scribe.
The Association was opened with prayer and a Sermon preached by the Revd Cotton Mather Smith from John vii : 17.
An application was made to this Association from the first Church in Litchfield for advice respecting the case of Jededialı Strong Esq., who hath been divorced from his wife and the association gave their advice in a letter, a copy of which is on file.
On the request of the Rev.d Mr. Trumbull of North Haven the committee appointed by the last General Association to inspect his history was reappointed to the same business.
Voted that henceforward the General Association shall sit circularly in the several associations in the State, in the fol-
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
lowing rotation; 1. The Western Association in New Haven County. 2. The Eastern Association in Do. 3. The South- ern Association in Hartford county. 4. Middlesex Associa- tion. 5. New London Association. 6. Windham Associa- tion. 7. Tolland Association. 8. The Northern Association in Hartford county. 9. Litchfield Association. 10. The Western Association in Fairfield county. 11. The Eastern Association in Do. And that the preacher before the Gen- eral Association, be annually appointed, by the particular association, within the limits of which, the last preceding session of the General Association, save one, shall have been holden.
The Revd Jeremiah Day was appointed to preach the Con- cio ad Clerum at the next Commencement.
Voted that it be referred to the particular Associations, whether there shall be an alteration of the time of the session of the General Association, leaving it to the General Associ- ation to fix the time of the session, in case an alteration shall be made.
Upon motion Voted That it be recommended to the several congregational ministers, in this State, and it is hereby recommended to them, to obtain an accurate account of the whole number of persons in their respective. parishes; and to note the number belonging to each religious denomination, and to make a written return thereof, to the next General Association. And it is further recommended to the several associations in this State, to carry this vote into effect, as well with respect to vacant parishes as to others.
Resolved, That Doctr Edwards, Doctr Dwight, Mr. Trum- bull, Doctr Goodrich, Doctr Stiles, Mr Hinsdale and Mr Hart, or any three of them, be a committee of this association, to meet, at New Haven on the second Wednesday in September next, to confer with a committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, concerning some proper mode of future correspondence between the churches of this State, and the said General Assembly, and to report to this association at the next session.
18
138
RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
Resolved that there be preached annually in the Brick meeting-house, at New Haven, on the day preceding the com- mencement, at 4 oclock P. M. a sermon on the Evidences of the Christian Religion, and that the preacher leave a fair copy of his Sermon with the Register of this Association, to be disposed of by the direction of the Association; and that the preacher be appointed by this Association annually out of the State at large.
The Revd Mr Smalley was appointed to preach, agreeably to the above resolve, at the next commencement.
The next General Association was appointed to be holden at the house of the Reverend Mr Leavenworth at Waterbury.
Voted that it is hereby recommended to the several Asso- ciations to express their views concerning the most proper and feasible mode of sending missionaries to the new settle- ments, and to communicate them to the next General Asso- ciation.
Voted also that the subject of the examination of candi- dates for the ministry in the learned languages, arts and Sciences, and ecclesiastical history, as well as theology, be referred to the consideration of the next General Association.
The following is the list of Candidates returned to this Association.
New Haven County
Western Association
Eastern Association.
Ebenezer Fitch
William Stone
Reuben Moss
Caleb Johnson
David H. Williston
Oliver D. Cook
Aaron Woodward
Hezekiah Goodrich
Dan Bradley
Giles H. Cowles Joel Bradley
139
OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
Hartford County.
Southern Association
Wait Cornwell
Northern Association Ebenezer Kingsbury.
Gad Newell
Joseph Camp
William Fowler Miller
Asael Hooker Isaac Porter
James Cassen Guernsey
Israel Bard Woodward
Stephen Fenn
Fairfield County
Western Association
Eastern Association
William Brintnal Ripley
None.
Samuel Sturges
New London Association No return.
Windham Association No return.
Litchfield Association
None.
Tolland Association
No return.
Middlesex Association John Eliot.
Voted to be true minutes of the proceedings of the General Association.
Test JONATHAN EDWARDS Scribe
NOTES.
1. David Brownson Pastor in Oxford 1764-1806.
2. Samuel Stebbins Simsbury 1777-1806.
8. Timothy Langdon Danbury 1786-1801.
140
RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
1 792.
At meeting of the General Association of the State of Con- nectient, at the house of the Rev.d Mark Leavenworth in Waterbury on the third Tuesday of Jume A. D. 1792. Pres- ent Revd Messrs
Judah Champion 1
Simon Waterman
Elijah Lothrop 1
Nathan Williams ١
Amos Fowler ('.)
James Noyes (2.)
New Haven County.
Mark Leavenworth 1 Western District
Jonathan Edwards Theodore Hinsdale S New Haven County Hartford North Association.
Nathaniel Gaylord (3.)
Cyprian Strong
William Robinson (4. )
Elijah Parsons
Middlesex County.
Aaron Kinne
New London County
David Hale (5.)
Zebulon Ely 1
Windham County
Elijah Gridley (6.)
Isaac Lewis
Western District
Matthias Burnet (1.)
Fairfield County
David Ely
Eastern Association
Timothy Langdon
Fairfield County
The Reys Mr Leavenworth was chosen Moderator, and Mr Strong Scribe.
The Association was opened by prayer, offered by the Rev." Mr Lathrop. Returns were made from several partien lar Associations, relative to several things referred to them, by the last General association. Minutes of the proceedings of the Convention of the committees of the Assembly of the
Hartford South Association.
Achilles Mansfield
Litchfield County.
Tolland County. Eastern District
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
Presbyterian churches in the United States and of the gen- eral Association of this State. A Letter from the Revd Ben- jamin Trumbull was received and read. Reports from the several particular Associations as to the expediency of alter- ing the time for holding the General association were made. Whereupon the Association Voted, That they would do nothing relative to making an alteration as to the time of holding the General Association.
Attended public worship, When a Sermon was preached by the Revd Mr Lewis from John VII : 17.
The Association entered upon the consideration of the recommendation of the last General Association relative to an enumeration of the inhabitants of parishes &c. From the returns made by the particular Associations it was Voted - Not to prosecute the measure any further.
The most feasible and proper mode of sending mission- aries to the new settlements nextly came under consideration : and was referred to a committee to report tomorrow morning.
Mr Williams and Doct. Edwards were appointed the Committee.
Adjourned till half after five o'clock tomorrow morning. Met according to adjournment. The association of the County of Middlesex having informed the general associa- tion that they had appointed the Rev.ª Mr. Vaille as a mis- sionary to the new settlements ; although the proper season is passed for the other associations to adopt similar measures, yet the General association approved the laudable zeal of the association in Middlesex and recommended M. Vaille to the notice and attention of the inhabitants of the new settlements, as a regular and worthy minister of the gospel.
The committee appointed Yesterday reported a petition to be presented to the General Assembly of this State, praying for a Brief &c. as appears from a copy of sd petition on file. The Revd Messrs Jonathan Edwards D.D., Ezra Stiles D.D. and Mr Nathan Williams were appointed a Committee to pre- fer the above said petition to the General Assembly ; and also a Committee to join a Committee from the Assembly,
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RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION
in case said petition be granted, to receive and pay out such monies as may be collected.
On the Question respecting the examination of Candidates for the Ministry in the Languages, Arts and Sciences as well as Theology, the Association finding, that several of the As- sociations are already in the practice, consider it as a com- mendable practice, and wish for uniformity in it - But agree that any diversity of sentiment or practice, on this point, shall not at all interrupt the harmony of our proceedings.
On the request of the Revd Mr Trumbull of North Haven, the committee appointed by the last General Association, to inspect his history was reappointed to the same business.
The following questions from New London Association, were proposed to the General Association Viz:
1. Is it the duty of the Churches to require a Confession from Candidates for admission into Church fellowship, for scandalous sins previously committed ?
Answered in the affirmative.
2. Is it expedient that all confessions for publie crimes should be made before the Congregation, or is it sufficient that they be made before the Church only ?
Answer - Before the Congregation.
The Association then proceeded to consider, and did approve of the doings of the Committees from the Assembly of the Presbyterian churches in the United States, and the General Association of this State :- And Voted That a Committee of three be appointed to attend the next General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churches. - Revd Messrs Matthias Burnet, Jonathan Edwards D. D. and Timothy Dwight D. D. were chosen said committees.
Voted That the former Committee of correspondence be continued for the present year. That the Revd Messrs Nathaniel Taylor, Nathan Williams, Thomas W. Bray, Ben- jamin Trumbull, Eliphalet Williams D.D., William Robin- son, John Devotion, Levi Hart, Timothy Stone, Isaac Lewis and David Ely be a standing committee to certify the good qualifications of such preachers as travel from the limits of
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OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT.
the churches in this association into the limits of the presby- terian Churches.
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