being) of the auxiliary. In numerous instances, the time and place of the annual meeting, are the same with those of the ecclesiastical body. The auxiliary, in such cases, holds its anniversary meeting under the eye of the ecclesiastical body, which adjourns, for a few hours, to attend the meeting. The auxiliary and the ecclesiastical body are perfectly distinct from each other. The former is an association for a specific charitable purpose, and may include all the members of the latter, or may not. Its members are brought together by a community of views and feelings, in respect to the claims of foreign missions and the best mode of conducting them. Its officers, agents, &c. are chosen with a sole reference to the great object of missions among the heathen. This singleness of object, and homogeneousness of views and feelings, have usually ensured unanimity in counsels and operations. In the Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch churches, the boundaries of Presbyteries, or of Classes, wherever it is desirable, may be the boundaries of auxiliaries; or if it shall be found preferable, these bodies themselves may constitute the auxiliaries; or may in any other way that shall be found most expedient, direct or manage the business of raising funds for this object within their limits. VI. Previous to the union of the United Foreign Missionary Society with the Board in 1826, "an address on the subject of the proposed union" was issued, "to the Christian public, especially to the ministers and members of the Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, and Congregational churches, throughout the United States;" signed by William Reed, Leonard Woods, Jeremiah Evarts, Samuel Hubbard, and Warren Fay, Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. M., and William McMurray, Joseph McElroy, William W. Phillips, Ebenezer Mason, Zechariah Lewis, Moses Allen, and Sidney E. Morse, Executive Committee of the U. F. M. S. In this address the following reasons were given for but one institution for foreign missions for the Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, and Congregational denominations in the United States. "1. It will save time and labor. This assertion is so obvious as to require little illustration. Two societies must have two executive committees, two secretaries, at least as many assistant secretaries, two treasurers, and two sets of agents. Much of this labor may be saved by merging two institutions into one. To every person acquainted with the real state of things, this is a very weighty consideration. The man, who attends an auxiliary missionary meeting once a year, at the expense of half a day's time, may regard it as a small matter to conduct missionary operations. But in point of fact, it is a very arduous and difficult matter; and this should be well known and understood by the Christian public. It is not easy to find, in any city of the American union, a sufficient number of suitable men to form active and laborious committees for existing societies;—men, who shall, amidst all their private. and professional engagements, hold themselves ready to attend weekly meetings, or to be called together on any emergency. What then shall be said respecting those functionaries whose whole time is demanded for their respec tive offices How are men to be obtained, as a permanent thing, for these agencies in two institutions? Without saying anything respecting the competency, or in.co.nje.ency, of the present incumbents, it may be said boldly, that the American churches should see to it, that the best talents and attainments which the country can furnish, during all future years, have the charge of this momentous business. Let it be remembered that, as a people, we are in great want of able men for the management of public spirited measures; not because our country is destitute of such men, but because the stations which require them are very numerous, and are multiplying every day. Is one of our colleges in want of a President? or one of our theological seminaries in want of a Professor ? A suitable man may perhaps be found, by searching the land from one end to the other; but the difficulty lies in the fact, that, in all probability he cannot be spared from the station which he now occupies; and if he could, he would be called to half a dozen other important stations, if there were any hope of obtaining him. This state of things requires economy in the employment of competent men, to be regarded as a public and imperious duty. "There are those, who, for want of knowledge on the subject, think that any man of good character for integrity, may be taken and coerced into these services. If such a course of proceeding were proper and just, who has this power of coercion? We may indeed find men in most of our cities each of whom will say, "I am willing to give my five hundred dollars a year, or my thousand dollars a year, for religious charities;" and there are those each of whom might add, "I am willing to rise early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, that I may have the ability of doing this;" and yet, each of these liberal men would feel compelled to add, "I cannot give my whole time, nor half my time, to any of these charitable objects, nor to all of them conjoined." "2. It will also save expense. This is apparent from what has already been said. But when it is considered, that if two institutions, having the same object in view, continue their separate operations, there will be a necessity of sending agents from both to the same parts of the country; that, in many instances, two journies to the western wilderness will be required, where one would otherwise answer every purpose; and that the contingent expenses of two separate establishments must be defrayed; it will appear, that this is a subject of no trifling consequence. "3. There is no necessity for two institutions. The members of the three denominations agree essentially in their views of Christian doctrine. They employ the same sort of men for missionaries; men who were educated in the same schools, preach the same great truths in the same manner, are personally acquainted with each other, and are closely bound together by ties of friendship and of Christian affection. They rely upon the efficacy of a Savior's blood for the pardon of their own sins; and they present to perishing men of all classes the atonement of an almighty Redeemer, applied by the new-creating Spirit, as the only ground of hope, the only way to holiness and to God. "In short, there is as perfect a union on this subject, among those who believe in experimental religion, as perhaps ever existed among so many individuals on any subject of common interest; a union, which will enable them to act together with the greatest cheerfulness and energy. If we can suppose, that the missionaries should hereafter cease to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified; and if they should preach any other gospel than that which Paul preached;-the support now derived from the Christian community would immediately fail. "4. It will remove the danger of collision. If there be two institutions, there will be constant danger of interference;-a danger, which no human wisdom, prudence, or piety can entirely obviate. Agents will proceed from each society to the same places, they will often arrive at the same time, or one immediately after another; the plans and measures of one will seem to thwart the designs and calculations of the other; and each will meet with many a severe repulse, both from ministers and people, as a consequence of the dread of this apprehended collision, or the dislike of repeated applications for the same object. It is to be presumed, that the conductors of both societies will always be on harmonious terms; but can it be supposed, that all the agents to be hereafter employed will have such a share of the meekness of wisdom, as to give no offence, in these difficult and constantly varying circumstances? And if the agents should be perfect, will not partizans arise for one society, who will plead with zeal for a particular mission, or a particular class of operations, to the disparagement of missions under the care of the other society? Will not extravagant encomiums of one provoke disadvantageous comparisons? And will not the efforts of both be thus weakened, and many individuals prevented from giving an efficient and systematic patronage to either? If the missionary exertions of the country should be increased, and the need of greater and still greater resources be felt, the evils here adverted to will be greatly augmented; and agents, instead of pleading the cause of a suffering world with boldness, will be timid and hesitating, lest they should seem to encroach upon the claims of a sister institution." 5. A single institution will greatly promote Christian affection. "Union of effort in behalf of the heathen world, tends powerfully to increase brotherly love among those who are thus united. It brings them to be acquainted with the same individuals, acting as their agents and almoners. It fixes their minds on the same objects, and those of the highest interest. It multiplies the subjects of common concern. So far as benevolent feelings are called into action, the amiableness of the Christian character is apparent; and those who behold in each other the lineaments of their heavenly origin, will be the more closely drawn together, the more they are called to act in the same connection, and for the accomplishment of the same purposes. This tendency of united counsels and efforts assumes a vast importance, when the rapidly increasing population of our country, and our extensive territory, and our capability of exerting a moral influence, are considered." The union thus recommended was consummated. And an experience of five years has amply confirmed the justness of the views contained in the above quotation; and the committees of conference are persuaded that they are equally applicable to the present circumstances of the three denominations. To these views may be added, 6. The great saving by one institution of toil, expense, and rigor of life, in the necessary research and explorations which are indispensable to an intelligent and successful prosecution of the work of foreign missions. This is indeed adverted to in the extract just given, where reference is made to "journies to the western wilderness." How much the force of this consideration is augmented, when missions are to be conducted in the four quarters of the globe, is evinced by the sketch, given in the Report of the American Board for the present year, of the counties traversed, and the perils encountered, and the lives lost, in the explorations already made under the direction of that institution. In no other way could the indispensable knowledge thus acquired have been obtained. And who could think it expedient to double this toil, and expense, and risk of valuable lives? 7. In conducting foreign missions, as in managing every other important concern, experience is the safest guide, and often leads to essential modifications in the methods of proceeding, greatly augmenting the efficiency and success of the enterprise. The time and labor and expense requisite for acquiring this experience would be greatly augmented, if not doubled, by having two institutions, while the result would be to each far less efficacious. 8. To all which is to be added, that constitution of human nature, by which interest and motive and effort and reward correspond with the magnitude and sublimity of the object presented; creating a moral momentum which declines with every division, and augments steadily up to the highest point of practicable combination. From the preceding statements it clearly appears, in the judgment of the conferring committees, that the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions is a national institution belonging as much to one section of the country as to another; that it fairly represents, and sustains the same relation to the Presbyterians, Reformed Dutch, and Congregational churches; that the proceedings of the Board hitherto have been in strict accordance with this relation to the several denominations; that the Board, its Prudential Committee, and its missionaries, are under very high responsibilities to the three denominations just named, and to the Christian public; a responsibility peculiarly adapted to ensure the purity and efficiency of the whole system; that in raising funds, and in other proceedings in this country, the various ecclesiastical habits of the people have been, and there is every reason to feel assured will be, regarded; and that it is, on many accounts, decidedly best that there should be but one society in this country for the management of foreign missions in behalf of those who agree in doctrine and ecclesiastical order as do the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Reformed Dutch denominations, until the concern shall become too extensive and complicated, if that shall ever be, to be managed by one institution. The committees of conference, in view of these facts, are fully satisfied that it is wholly inexpedient to attempt the formation of any other distinct organization within the three denominations for conducting foreign missions; and that it is of the highest importance to their own spiritual prosperity, and to the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom in the earth, that the ecclesiastical bodies, and the individual churches in these connections, should give to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions their cordial, united and vigorous support. In reference to the particular topic named in the resolution of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church appointing their committee, viz. 66 'measures to be adopted for enlisting the energies of the Presbyterian church more extensively in the cause of missions to the heathen," the committees of conference are of opinion that but two things are wanting to secure the desired result,-that the Prudential Committee of the American Board should take prompt and efficient measures, by agencies and in other ways, to bring the subject of foreign missions, in its various relations, before the individual congregations and members of the Presbyterian body,-and that the General Assembly and subordinate judicatories of that church, give their distinct and efficient sanction and aid to the measures that shall be adopted for this purpose. All which is respectfully submitted. (Signed) T. Mc AULEY, JEREMIAH DAY, Committee from the Gen. Assembly. the A. B. C. F. M. PREACHERS Before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. no sermon. no sermon. *Timothy Dwight. Calvin Chapin. Jeremiah Day. John 10: 16. Neh. 6: 3. Gal. 1: 15, 16. |