REPORTS. I. REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE EVEREST FUND. To the General Association of Connecticut, to be convened at Bridgeport, on the third Tuesday in June, A.D. 1861, the Trustees of the Everest Fund present their anual report: Interest Account. 1860, June 1. By balance of interest in the treasury, 1861, June 1. By interest and dividends received within the past year, Cr. $ 67.14 440.87 Total Cr., $508.01 Dr. 46 66 1860, June 19. To payment of appropriation for Domestic Missions, Aug. 16. To payment of appropriation to Boston Tract Society, Sept. 22. To payment of taxes, 50.00 50.00 47 Oct. 8. To payment of appropriation to Bible Society, 50.00 66 50.00 100.00 22. To payment of appropriation to a student in Ÿale College Nov. 23. To payment of appropriation for Domestic Missions, 1861, Jan. 18. To payment of appropriation for Domestic Missions, 24. To payment of appropriations of $25 each to two Theological students at East Windsor, April 29. To payment of appropriation for Domestic Missions, To payment for postage and other incidental expenses, 1861, June 1. To balance of interest in the treasury, Total Dr., $508.01 Items of the Everest Fund, June 1, 1861, with income from each during I have examined the within and foregoing account with the vouchers, and find all correct, and that the balance in the hands of the Treasurer, on the first day of June, was fifty and 4-100 dollars, as therein stated. SETH P. NORTON, Auditor. II. REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION. The General Association of Connecticut in account with William H. Moore, Treasurer, from June 19, 1860, to June 18, 1861. To cash paid E. Hayes for 950 copies of Minutes of 1860, 154.34 To expense of Statistical Secretary and Treasurer in attending General By cash in payment of tax from Associations as follows: III-NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION. The General Association has received communications from all the district Associations, and your committee give the following summary of their tidings. There is a marked similarity in these reports, showing in all parts of the State substantial prosperity in the externals of religion, the stated ministrations of the word in almost every parish, a good attendance upon the sanctuary, flourishing Sabbath schools, new church edifices, and liberal contributions for charitable enterprises, with a general lamentation for the dearth of revival influences, and the decline of the cause of temperance. Among the evidences of this outward prosperity are, new parsonages in Darien and Southport; a mission Sabbath school chapel in Geeenwich at a cost of a thousand dollars, and chapels in other places; a new church edifice in Westbrook, and one at Mystic Bridge; the meeting house in Guilford reconstructed and improved at an expense of 3,500 dollars, and liberal expenditures in other places for parish purposes. The efforts for home evangelization are not so extensive as we had anticipated; yet something has been done. Where persistent efforts have been made to bring the neglecters of public worship to the sanctuary, good results have followed; and the Holy Spirit has been as ready to bless extraordinary means of grace as those in ordinary use. In some cases the foreign population has been reached, and many of them have come to the house of prayer. The facts laid before the churches by the committee on home evangelization are calculated to humble us in view of the religious destitution that prevails in the midst of this favored commonwealth, and to stimulate us to uuwearied endeavors to take away our reproach. Several reports allude to the extraordinary spirit of prayer called forth by the present perils of our country. Our congregations and churches throughout the State have responded heartily to the call that has been made upon the people for aid. Church members, and clergymen and their sons, to an extent never before witnessed, have entered the army, consecrating life and fortune to the country's cause. Prayer has ascended without ceasing in their behalf, in the pulpit and conference room, as well as around the family altar and in the secret place, that they may be successful in their work, that the government may be sustained, and peace be restored to the land. Notwithstanding the general dearth of revivals, there have been indications of the presence of the converting power of the Spirit in several of the churches. Hartford Central Association reports fifteen hopeful conversions in one church and encouraging indications in others. The church at Mt. Carmel has enjoyed a pleasant season of religious quickening, resulting in the addition of a goodly number to the church by profession, and others hope to follow soon. Two of them are intending to prepare for the ministry. The second church in Bridgeport reports forty-four additions for the year 1860, of which thirty-one were on profession of faith. The church in Stanwich has been visited and Christians revived, and about thirty hopefully converted, of whom nineteen have united with the Congregational church, and several with the Methodist church. A marked feature of this revival is the fact that most of its subjects were children and youth from the Sabbath school. The church at Long Ridge, hitherto a feeble one, has been strengthened by the addition of eleven members, and by the doubling of the attendance upon the sanctuary. In Pomfret, there was a work of grace during the winter, and seven have since united with the church. In Torringford, there have been several conversions among the children of the Sabbath school. In New Hartford North, there was a season of refreshing which was attended with this remarkable circumstance, that nearly all its subjects were heads of families. In Montville, there has been an interesting work of grace after a long period of spiritual dearth. Many have been hopefully converted, and a great change has been wrought in the religious condition of the parish. A revival is also mentioned in the first church in East Windsor. The church in Barkhamsted, after years of depression and confusion, has been greatly strengthened, and has taken measures to settle a pastor. In several other churches, a few conversions are reported. For these exceptions to the general apathy upon the subject of personal religion we are thankful to the great Head of the church. Some trace the cause of this apathy to the great political excitement of the last year and to the prevailing war. Whatever the cause, these cases of revival in the midst of these excitements show us that the Lord's arm is not shortened that it can not save. He is ever ready to hear prayer and to bless the efforts of His people; and may we not hope that the spirit of prayer which prevails in behalf of our country, in its present perils, will bring all His people nearer to God, and prepare the way for abundant spiritual blessings when these calamities are past? This The Sabbath school cause seems to be the most gratifying feature of our religious efforts. Almost without exception, these schools are represented as flourishing; new schools are instituted in neglected neighborhoods, and old ones are greatly increased in numbers and interest. increased prosperity is attributed, in part, to the labors of Rev. R. K. Diossy, the Sabbath school Secretary of the county of Fairfield, whose explorations have revealed an unexpected and appalling amount of religious destitution,-and of H. C. Trumbull, missionary of the Am. S. S. Union, who has devoted himself to this work for several years with great zeal and eminent success. The mouthly Sabbath school concert is attended in many of the churches, and is reckoned by young and old as the most interesting meeting in the whole circle of the month. Some of the pastors are laying out much of their strength upon the young, preparing sermons and lectures especially for them. In some cases, nearly the whole congregation belong to the Sabbath school, and the afternoon service is a Bible class. Singing is very generally introduced and adds much to the interest and profit of these labors. Almost the only exceptions to the decline of the temperance cause are in Windham and New London counties-where it is mentioned that the Maine law is enforced in some cases with good results; and the opinion is expressed that intemperance is not on the whole increasing. This is probably meant to apply to the rural parishes, and to the places where the law is enforced. In the cities there is marked progress in the open sale of intoxicating drinks and in tippling among our young men. In looking at the reports made to this body at its last two meetings, we find the same view given in regard to the decline of temperance, with no suggestions as to the particular remedy. Your committee venture to suggest that, if similar efforts were made for the temperance cause as for Sabbath schools, we should soon have reports of a more cheering character. We are to reap according as we sow, in this cause, as in all others. We have a call to preach with more frequency and fidelity against the sin of intemperance, and to employ agents who shall labor for this cause, and to use the press to scatter light upon it. If the pulpit and press are silent, if lectures upon this subject have become obsolete, it is not strange that the law is violated, and that multitudes are becoming drunkards. The year has been particularly marked by death among the members of this body, especially of the aged. Rev. Allen McLean of Simsbury, Rev. Royal Robbins of Kensington, Rev. Joab Brace, D.D., of Newington, Rev. Jonathan Curtiss of South Woodstock, Rev. Roswell Whitmore of West Killingly, Rev. Joseph Knight of East Stafford and Rev. Dr. McEwen of New London have died within the year in a good old age. The loss of Dr. McEwen is deeply felt, particularly in his own Association, though he had passed his four score years. For more than half a century he had taken a prominent part in all the religious movements of the churches. Rev. Orson Cowles, District Secretary of the American Board of C. F. M., has ceased from his labors. Rev. William B. Weed, pastor of the church in Norwalk, died after a protracted illness. We deplore the death of Brother Weed, as a loss of no ordinary kind. He was a most zealous and faithful laborer in the ministry of Christ, and a most able and valiant champion for the truth. Rev. William Belden from the same Association, whose health failed some years since, has also entered into rest. The church in Plymouth are in deep affliction at the loss of their pastor, Rev. J. Erskine Hawes, by a very sudden and untimely death. He was taken away in the beginning of his ministry, which was already blessed, and promised to be one of great usefulness. Living and dying, he had "this testimony that he pleased God." He left a deep impression of his earnest piety upon all his brethren in the ministry with whom he was associated, and upon his bereaved flock, who retain him embalmed in their affections. We would heed the admonitions of God's providence in this great breach which has been made in our ranks. Only four deaths were noticed in each of the last two reports. Now eleven are taken in a single year. Not only have the aged gone home ripe for their immortality, but those who had just begun to bear the burden and heat of the day. Does not the Master say to each one of us, "The time is short; work while the day lasts?" The Association has been permitted to receive the salutations of our brethren in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois, and of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the |