Agreeably to notice given, the Annual Meeting of the Trustees of the WIDOWS' CHARITABLE FUND, was held at the office of the NewHampshire Savings Bank, in Concord, June 2, 1859. Present,-Rev. Dr. Bouton, Rev. Henry E. Parker, Rev. Mr. Goodrich, Hon. Francis N. Fisk, and James Moulton, Jr. Elected Rev. Dr. BOUTON, President. JAMES MOULTON, JR., Secretary. FRANCIS N. FISK, Treasurer. Elected Rev. Ambrose Smith, of Boscawen, a Trustee in place of Rev. L. Whiting, removed from the State; and Dea. Asa McFarland in place of Dea. Samuel Morril, deceased. Chose Rev. Dr. Bouton, Hon. Francis N. Fisk, and James Moulton, Jr., Executive Committee. Chose Asa McFarland, Auditor. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Trustees of the Widows' Charitable Fund, June 2, 1859, Voted, To appropriate to the following persons the sum of twenty-five dollars each, to wit: Mrs. Betsey Hull, Mrs. F. P. M. Stearns, Mrs. Mary Pillsbury, Mrs. Abby Lawton, and Mrs. Rebecca French. At a meeting of the same committee, August 2, 1859, Voted, To appropriate twenty-five dollars to Mrs. Emily Richards, widow of the late John Richards, D. D., of Hanover. JAMES MOULTON, JR., Secretary. 1. This General Association shall meet on the 4th Tuesday of August annually; and shall be opened at 10 o'clock A. M., with a Concio ad Clerum, by a minister appointed by one of the District Associations in rotation. 2. At the close of the religious exercises, the preacher shall take the chair, and preside till a Moderator is chosen by ballot. 3. A Scribe and Assistant Scribe shall also be chosen by ballot. 4. The Association shall be composed of the Secretary,* the Treasurer, the Minister of the place of the meeting, and Delegates from District Associations, according to the following ratio of representation: viz., One from every Association; two from every Association of seven members; three from every Association of thirteen members; and four from every Association of twenty members. No minister shall be counted or represented in two Associations, and no preacher shall be eligible to appointment as a Delegate, who has not received ordination. 5. The Secretary shall receive the certificates of the Delegates, and report the names of those duly appointed, before the choice of a Mod erator. 6. The meeting shall be daily opened and closed with prayer. 7. The Secretary shall previously prepare a docket of business, which may afterward be enlarged by the Committee of Overtures, as occasion shall require. 8. A committee of three shall be early chosen by ballot, who shall nominate Delegates to Foreign Bodies, and all Committees to whom business or subjects shall be referred for them to report thereon, and who shall also be a Committee of Overtures. The acceptance of their nominations shall confirm them as appointments. 9. No motion shall be discussed unless seconded. No member shall speak more than twice to the same motion, without liberty from the Association; nor shall the Moderator, while in the chair, speak to the merits of a question. Any motion or resolution shall, at the request of the Moderator, or any two members, be reduced to writing. 10. Seven members shall be a quorum. No member shall retire without leave of the Moderator, nor have leave of absence without a vote of the Association. *The Statistical Secretary is ex officio a member. See Minutes of 1858, 11. It shall be the duty of the Moderator to prevent desultory remarks. 12. At the opening of the morning session, the Minutes of the preceding day shall be read; and the Minutes of the last day at the close of the meeting. 13. The appointment of Delegates to Corresponding Bodies shall be certified by the printed Minutes, or by a certificate from the Secretary. 14. The Narratives of the State of Religion in our Churches and Corresponding Bodies shall be written, and brief, so that they can be given, in ordinary cases, on Tuesday afternoon. 15. The District Associations shall annually present the schedules of their churches, ministers, settled and unsettled, the number of their churches, &c. See Minutes of 1858, p. 6. 16. A condensed Narrative of the State of Religion in each Association shall be prepared and reported by a Committee. 17. The Schedules and Narratives of Religion shall be lodged with the Secretary, to be kept on file. 18. The Publishing Committee shall see that the Minutes, as soon as printed, are sent to Delegates to other bodies, and a copy sent by mail to every member of the District Associations. 19. This Association shall, so far as practicable, meet alternately in the eastern and western sections of the State. 20. These Rules shall be read at the opening of every annual mecting. THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATION OF THE EXERCISES OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION WAS ADOPTED AT THEIR MEETING AT NASHUA, IN 1843. In order that the General Association may most effectually accomplish the design of its original institution, it is recommended that more time be appropriated to devotional exercises than has been usual for several years past; and with a view to this, that in addition to morning prayer meetings, public religious services, under the direction of the pastor of the place, be held every evening during the session; that the Narratives of the State of Religion be given in on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied. so far as time will allow, with brief exhortations and prayers; that Wednesday forenoon be occupied with hearing reports and addresses on leading benevolent objects, commencing with the New-Hampshire Sunday School Union, to which the first half hour may be devoted; next, the anniversary of the New-Hampshire Branch Education Society, to which one hour may be appropriated; and then, such other objects as the Association shall direct and time will allow; and, finally, that a Sermon, adapted to the occasion, and not to exceed thirty minutes, be preached before the Communion service on Thursday afternoon, by some person who shall be appointed the year previous, by the General Association. |