Article X. was made Article XII., and with the substitution of the words "three months" for the words "one month," in Section 2, and other minor changes, was approved. Voted, To approve the report as a whole with the changes approved. Voted, That the committee be given authority to make such verbal changes as may be found necessary, and that, when the new rules are adopted, the old rules shall become null and void. After prayer by Rev. G. P. Eastman, of Millbury, at 11.15 o'clock, the Association took a recess until 8.30 A.M., Thursday. THURSDAY MORNING SESSION. At 8.30 o'clock the devotional services were led by Rev. Charles F. Weeden, of Lynn. At 9 o'clock the Association was called to order by the moderator. MINUTES READ AND APPROVED. The minutes of Wednesday's session were read and approved, as corrected. LETTER FROM REV. S. H. EMERY. The business committee presented the following letter from Rev. Samuel Hopkins Emery, of Taunton : TAUNTON, MASS., May 20th, 1901. Dear Brethren of the General Association of Massachusetts convened at Andover : The Taunton Association, of which I was first a member in 1837, very kindly appointed me its delegate to your meeting in Andover, and it was my purpose to attend, but a sudden death in the circle, where I am much needed, keeps me at home. I regret this the more, as the Association meets with the Seminary church, of which, in 1831, with an elder brother, afterward in the ministry, I became a member. This was in the time when Professors Porter, Woods, Stuart and Emerson, of blessed memory, were in their prime. Deacons John Adams and Samuel Farrar most worthily represented the lay element in the church. May the dear Seminary of our early love live and grow and prosper, as never before, and have a warm place in all our hearts, and may your present meeting, on that sacred hill, consecrated by the prayers and tears and devout lives of thousands of the elect of the earth, who have finished their work, fulfilled their mission, and been crowned as faithful servants of the Master, contribute largely toward this happy end. Very sincerely yours, in Christian love, SAMUEL HOPKINS EMERY. Voted, That a committee of two be appointed to respond to this communication. Rev. T. Clayton Welles, of Taunton, and Rev. G. R. W. Scott, of Newton, were appointed. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TEMPERANCE ORdered. On report of the business committee, with reference to a resolution on temperance legislation previously presented by Rev. P. S. Moxom, of Springfield, it was Voted, That a special committee be appointed to consider the resolu tion, with Judge W. T. Forbes, of Worcester, as chairman.' REPORT OF PUBLISHING COMMITTEE. The report of the Publishing Committee3 was presented by its chairman, Rev. Francis J. Marsh, of Boston, and it was Voted, That the report be accepted, and its recommendations adopted. NUMBER OF DELEGATES PRESENT. The report of the committee on credentials was then presented, as follows: Voted, That delegates to the next annual meeting of the Association, who bring defective credentials, be permitted to sit as voting members of that meeting only by vote of the Association, upon recommendation of the committee on credentials. REPORT ON TREASURER'S REPORT. The report of the special committee on the treasurer's report was presented by Rev. Lyman S. Rowland, of Lee, and its recommendation adopted as follows: : Your committee, to whom was referred the report of the treasurer, beg leave to report : They have been unable, at this session of the Association, to find the cause for the non-payment of the apportionments by the several conferences named. They would recommend that a committee be appointed who shall investigate the whole matter of apportionments, and non-payments thereof, and report at the next annual meeting. 1 See page 13. 2 See page 27. See page 74. COMMITTEES ORDERED. Voted, That a committee be elected for the ensuing year to report nominees for corporate membership of the A. B. C. F. M. Voted, That a committee on Sunday Observance be chosen. ADDRESSES. Rev. Ozora S. Davis, of Newtonville, delivered an address on "The Organization of the Church." 1 'The Care of the Church for its Young People" was discussed in an address by Rev. Newton M. Hall, of Springfield.2 An address on "The Modern Church Prayer-Meeting," was given by Rev. George F. Kenngott, of Lowell. COMMITTEE ON LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ORDERED. On motion of Rev. William Knight, of Fall River, it was Voted, That the subject of appointing a committee on Labor Organizations be taken from the table. Voted, To appoint such a committee. The following committees were then elected: — On labor organizations. Rev. Daniel A. Evans, of Cambridge; Rev. William H. Allbright, of Roxbury; Rev. Parris T. Farwell, of Wellesley Hills; Rev. Frank W. Merrick, of West Roxbury; J. G. Buttrick, of Lowell; Charles A. Williamson, of Brockton. On nominees for corporate membership of the A. B. C. F. M.- Rev. Willard Scott, of Worcester; Rev. John H. Lockwood, of Westfield; Rev. Bartlett H. Weston, of Centreville; George N. Webber, of Northampton; Daniel W. Willcox, of Medford. On temperance.- Rev. Eugene C. Webster, of Jamaica Plain; Rev. Burke F. Leavitt, of Melrose Highlands; P. B. Southwick, of Peabody; Rev. Albert P. Davis, of Wakefield; Francis M. Bundy, M.D., of Boston. On gambling.— Rev. Charles H. Hamlin, of Easthampton; Rev. Charles M. Southgate, of Auburndale; S. H. Woodbridge, of Boston; Rev. Edward M. Noyes, of Newton Centre; Rev. Isaac Pierson, of West Medford; Arthur H. Wellman, of Malden; Rev. Payson W. Lyman, of Fall River. On Sunday obserrance.— George D. Chamberlain, of Springfield; John J. Pew, of Gloucester; Rev. Addison P. Foster, of Auburndale; Rev. Charles L. Noyes, of Somerville; Rev. Ellsworth W. Phillips, of Worcester. Special committee to propose temperance legislation, according to resolution presented by Rev. P. S. Moxom, of Springfield: W. T. Forbes, of Worcester; Samuel B. Capen, of Boston; Rev. Philip S. Moxom, of Springfield; Rev. W. R. Campbell, of Roxbury; M. F. Dickinson, of Brookline. MINISTERIAL STANDING. The subject of ministerial standing being brought up by the business committee, it was Voted, To amend the recommendation of the Committee on Minis 1 See page 107. 2 See page 112. 3 See page 119. See page 13. terial Standing, by striking out certain words, and adding others, so that the paragraph will read as follows: "Your committee recommends, therefore, that, before the first of September, 1901, this Association, through its secretary, address the several Ministerial Associations of Massachusetts through their scribes, the following letter: The General Association of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts to the Ministerial Association, Greeting: In accordance with the advice of the National Council, it is recommended by the General Association of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts at Andover assembled, that the · Ministerial Association, at its next meeting, consider the subject of ministerial standing, in view of asking the Conference of Churches that it hereafter assume this responsibility. It is further desired by the General Association that the action which may result from this consideration be reported to the secretary of this body by all the Associations and Conferences through the State, before the meeting of the General Association to be held in May, 1903.'"' Voted, That the recommendation as amended be adopted. FORM OF STATISTICAL BLANK. The business committee reported the following form of Statistical Blank in response to recommendation of the committee on Missionary Work, and it was referred to a special committee, consisting of the secretary, the registrar and Rev. Doremus Scudder, of Woburn, with power to act: BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS: How many dollars, OMITTING FRACTIONS, were given since your last report by your congregation, and by all its auxiliary organizations, including such donations of individuals as have come to your notice, to each of the following societies, through their treasuries, in no case including legacies or home expenses :— (1) The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and its Woman's Auxiliaries? (2) The Congregational Home Missionary Society, including the State Society and Woman's Auxiliary? (3) The American Missionary Association and Woman's Auxiliary? (4) The Congregational Church Building Society, and Woman's Auxiliary? (5) The Congregational Education Society and Woman's Auxiliary? (6) The Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society and Woman's Auxiliary? Also for (7) Relief of aged or disabled ministers and their families? (8) ALL OTHER charities, including money expended in furnishing missionary goods and boxes, and all gifts to objects not Congregational, but in no case church expenses? AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. A memorial from the American Bible Society, asking that a page in the annual "Minutes" of the General Association of Massachusetts be granted to it for its receipts, was received and referred to the special committee on statistics. APPORTIONMENT FOR BOARD OF PASTORAL SUPPLY. The recommendation of the Board of Pastoral Supply that an apportionment of two cents a member be made upon the churches on its account was adopted. APPORTIONMENT FOR 1901-2. Voted, That the apportionment to the churches for the expenses of the Association be the same as last year. COMMITTEE ON CHURCH EXTENSION CONTINUED. Voted, That the special committee on Church Extension be continued. MEMORIALS. The report of the committee on Memorials to our deceased brethren was presented, and adopted by a standing vote as follows: Memorial to Rev. Henry A. Hazen. In the death of the Rev. Henry A. Hazen, the secretary of the Massachusetts General Association of Congregational Churches, that body desires to express its profound sense of loss, and to record its loving tribute of esteem. For many years Dr. Hazen served both this body and the National Council in the office of secretary, with rare fidelity and devotion. In his pastorates of earlier years, and in every relation to our churches, his tactful judgment, genial nature and spiritual fervor, were conspicuous. To his patient zeal and unwearying fidelity our Year Book chiefly owes its value, and not a few of our National Councils their effective work. Faithful in the preaching of the Word, ardent in every good work, loyal to every interest of our churches, keenly jealous of Congregational integrity, a useful citizen, and a humble disciple of the Master, the memory of our lamented brother will long be honored by the churches of our Commonwealth and nation, as well as by many of our faith and order beyond the seas. Voted, That a copy of this memorial be sent to Mrs. Hazen. Memorial to Rev. Ezra Hoyt Byington. The sudden death of Rev. Ezra Hoyt Byington, D. D., on the 16th instant, impels the General Association of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts to place on record its high appreciation of his useful services in the important pastorates he has held, and also by his various labors in the field of authorship, and in the general work of the Christian ministry. Always ready to serve, and unsparing in careful and painstaking endeavors for the promotion of righteousness, he was widely recognized as a generous and efficient friend of every good cause. His writings upon the history of the fathers have formed a permanent contribution to our literature, and for this, as well as for his consistent and devoted life as a Christian minister, he merits the grateful remembrance of the large numbers who have enjoyed his friendship, and been profited by his influential career. Voted, To send a copy of this memorial to Mrs. Byington. Memorial to Rev. Edwin B. Webb. The General Association of the Congregational Churches in Massachusetts, at its annual meeting at Andover, May 22, 1901, desires to express its gratitude to God for the life and labors for many years among us of the late Rev. Edwin B. Webb. It bears, in tender memory, |