MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. THE American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions commenced its Eighty-ninth Annual Meeting in the Park Congregational Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., October 4, 1898, at three o'clock in the afternoon. CORPORATE MEMBERS PRESENT. Maine. Rev. William P. Fisher, Brunswick. Jonathan L. Jenkins, D.D., Portland. Hon. Egerton R. Burpee, Bangor. James G. Merrill, D.D., Portland. Massachusetts. Daniel L. Furber, D.D., Newton Centre. Charles A. Dickinson, D.D., Boston. Charles E. Swett, Winchester. Edward Whitin, Whitinsville. Rhode Island. Herbert J. Wells, Kingston. Connecticut. Frank Russell, D.D., Bridgeport. Chester D. Hartranft, D.D., Hartford. Russell T. Hall, D.D., Greenwich. Charles M. Lamson, D.D., Hartford. James B. Williams, Glastonbury. Rev. James W. Bixler, New London. New York. D. Willis James, New York City. Lucien C. Warner, M.D., New York City. New Jersey. William Hayes Ward, D.D., Newark. Rev. Harlan P. Beach, Montclair. Ohio. Charles F. Thwing, D.D., Cleveland. Illinois. Eliphalet W. Blatchford, Chicago. Rev. A. N. Hitchcock, PH.D., Chicago. H. T. Lay, Kewanee. Jean F. Loba, D.D., Evanston. David Fales, Lake Forest. Rev. Joseph H. Selden, Elgin. Michigan. James B. Angell, LL.D., Ann Arbor. Dan F. Bradley, D.D., Grand Rapids. Wisconsin. Edward D. Eaton, D.D., Beloit. George H. Ide, D.D., Milwaukee. John M. Whitehead, Janesville. Eugene G. Updyke, D.D., Madison. Minnesota. James W. Strong, D.D., Northfield. David N. Beach, D.D., Minneapolis. George R. Merrill, D.D., Minneapolis. Rev. William H. Laird, Winona. Prof. Arthur H. Pearson, Northfield. Iowa. Motier A. Bullock, D.D., Iowa City. Alvah L. Frisbie, D.D., Des Moines. S. F. Smith, Davenport. Rev. Frank N. White, Burlington. E. S. Miller, Des Moines. Missouri. Michael Burnham, D.D., St. Louis. Henry Hopkins, D.D., Kansas City. Pres. Homer T. Fuller, Springfield. North Dakota. Rev. George B. Barnes, Wahpeton. Idaho. Augustus G. Upton, D.D., Weiser. California. Leavitt H. Hallock, D.D., Mills College. George C. Adams, D.D., San Francisco. MALE HONORARY MEMBERS RE PORTED AS PRESENT. Massachusetts. Rev. C. A. White, Princeton. Rev. A. P. Davis, Wakefield. Joseph W. White, Wakefield. Connecticut. Rev. G. F. Waters, Glastonbury. Tennessee. Rev. A. A. Myers, Cumberland Gap. Ohio. A. H. Currier, D.D., Oberlin. Indiana. Rev. F. E. Bigelow, East Chicago. Rev. F. E. Knopf, Elkhart. Illinois. Rev. J. T. Blanchard, Aurora. Michigan. Rev. A. L. Reynolds, Adrian, Rev. H. S. Mills, Benzonia. H. P. DeForest, D. D., Detroit. Rev. E. W. Miller, Douglas. Rev. W. R. Yonker, Eaton Rapids. Rev. D. A. Richardson, Grand Haven. S. M. Wright, Grand Haven. Rev. Richard Lewis, Grand Haven. Rev. W. A. Elliott, Grand Ledge. Rev. F. E. York, Grand Rapids. Rev. G. A. Pollard, Grand Rapids. Rev. Edwin More, Jr., Hancock. Rev. F. W. Bush, Hopkins Station. C. B. Stowell, Hudson. Rev. George R. Foster, Jackson. Rev. W. E. Strong, Jackson. Rev. C. W. Burt, Joppa. Rev. C. F. Swift, Lansing. Rev. E. B. Allen, Lansing. Rev. A. D. Whaley, Moline. Rev. G. M. Manarian, Newnica. Rev. J. C. Cromer, Owosso. Wisconsin. Rev. C. C. Cambell, Hartford. Iowa. Rev. J. M. Hulbert, Clinton. Kansas. Rev. W. H. Walker, Emporia. Rev. Julius Stevens, Bryant. Colorado. Rev. Henry H. Walker, Boulder. MISSIONARIES PRESENT. Rev. S. C. Pixley, Zulu Mission. Rev. T. W. Woodside and wife, West Cen- Rev. H. C. Haskell, D.D., European Turkey. Miss Elizabeth Torrey, Japan. President Rev. C. M. Lamson, D.D., took the chair, read the Scriptures and offered prayer. The Minutes of the last meeting were read. Gen. B. M. Cutcheon extended a welcome on behalf of the churches of Grand Rapids, to which the President responded. The President appointed the following: Committee on Nominations. - Rev. F. S. Fitch, D.D., Gen. B. M. Cutcheon, Rev. George C. Adams, D.D., Edwin Whitin, Esq., Rev. Charles H. Dickinson. The President also nominated the following Committee and it was constituted: Business Committee.- Rev. George H. Ide, D.D., H. J. Wells, Esq., Rev. J. W. Bixler, Rev. W. E. Strong, Rev. J. W. Sutherland. Committee of Arrangements. — Rev. Dan F. Bradley, D.D., Rev. R. M. Higgins, H. J. Hollister, Esq., Gen. B. M. Cutcheon, Dr. James Gallup. Secretary Daniels read the report of the Prudential Committee on the Home Department. Treasurer Wiggin presented the report of the financial affairs of the Board, with certificates of the auditors. Remarks were made by Vice-President James. The Committee on the Treasurer's Report presented its report through its chairman, Col. T. J. Borden, and it was accepted. Secretary Smith read that part of the Annual Survey relating to the missions in the Pacific Islands, China, Africa, Western and Central Turkey. Prayer was offered by Rev. George C. Adams, D.D., and adjournment was taken to half-past seven o'clock. TUESDAY EVENING. A hymn was sung. A message The President took the chair at 7.30 o'clock. to Ex-President R. S. Storrs, proposed by the President, seconded by Mr. Blatchford, was ordered to be sent. Scripture was read by Rev. Otis Cary of Japan, and prayer was offered by E. W. Blatchford, Esq. The sermon was preached by Rev. R. R. Meredith, D.D., of Brooklyn, N. Y., from the text, Luke 4: 18: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." Prayer was offered by the President, and adjournment was taken until 9 A.M. WEDNESDAY MORNING. The President took the chair at 9 o'clock. A hymn was sung, and prayer was offered by the Hon. George Parsons. The Minutes of yesterday's sessions were read. The Coöperating Committee of the District of the Interior reported through Rev. J. F. Loba, D.D. The Nominating Committee reported through Dr. F. S. Fitch the following committees, and they were appointed : Committee on Home Department.- President C. F. Thwing, D.D., Hon. George Parsons, Rev. J. R. Thurston, S. W. Pollard, Esq., Rev. George E. White. Committee on Missions in Secretary Smith's Department.— Rev. C. A. Dickinson, D.D., Rev. F. S. Fitch, D.D., Rev. L. O. Lee, John J. McWilliams, Esq., J. C. Noyes, Esq. Committee on Missions in Secretary Barton's Department.— President C. D. Hartranft, D.D., Rev. C. S. Mills, President J. B. Angell, LL.D., Rev. James H. Pettee, D.D., John M. Whitehead, Esq. Committee on the Treasurer's Department.— Dr. L. C. Warner, Edwin Whitin, Esq., E. W. Blatchford, Esq., S. B. Shapleigh, Esq., Herbert J. Wells, Esq. Secretary Barton read that part of the Annual Survey relating to the missions in Japan, Ceylon, India, Eastern and European Turkey, and Papal Lands. Addresses were made by Mrs. Alice Gordon Gulick and Rev. H. A. Stimson, D.D., and prayer was offered by Rev. George E. White. Rev. C. C. Creegan, D.D., for Dr. L. C. Warner, of New York, presented the report of the Coöperating Committee of the Middle District. Secretary Daniels presented a special paper upon “Young Manhood and Womanhood in the Missionary Work." Addresses were made by Rev. M. Burnham, D.D., and Rev. H. P. Beach, and adjournment was taken to 2 P.M. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. The President took the chair at two o'clock, and prayer was offered by Rev. E. W. Miller. The Nominating Committee reported the following committees, and they were appointed : Committee on Place and Preacher.- Rev. E. F. Williams, D.D., Rev. C. W. Hiatt, D.D., Rev. L. H. Hallock, D.D., Rev. James L. Fowle, J. B. Williams, Esq. Committee on Nomination of Officers.- Rev. James G. Merrill, D.D., E. W. Blatchford, Esq., Rev. H. P. DeForest, D.D., Prof. A. H. Pearson, Guilford Dudley, Esq. Mr. E. W. Blatchford reported for the committee appointed last year on the paper from the Prudential Committee on the Business Features of the Board's work. Remarks were made by Mr. D. Willis James, Dr. L. C. Warner, Gen. B. M. Cutcheon, Rev. L. H. Hallock, D.D., Rev. J. H. Ross, E. H. Pitkin, Esq., Rev. J. H. Selden, D.D., and Rev. D. N. Beach, D.D. A telegram of respect and sympathy was received from the General Association of California. A telegram was read from Ex-President Storrs, D.D. The report of the Deputation to China was presented in print, and a paper was read by Secretary Smith on the "Missionary Outlook in China.” An address was made by Mrs. W. S. Ament, of Peking, and Rev. H. P. Beach. Adjournment was taken to 7.30 P.M. WEDNESDAY EVENING. Vice-President James took the chair at 7.30 o'clock. The Scripture was read by Rev. T. B. Hyde, of Toronto, President of the Congregational Foreign Missionary Society of Canada, who also led in prayer. The Business Committee reported, recommending the setting apart of the first half-hour of Thursday morning's session for general discussion, the speakers to be limited to five minutes each. Addresses were made by Rev. E. G. Tewksbury, of North China, Dr. H. T. Whitney, of Foochow, President E. D. Eaton, D.D., and Rev. F. A. Noble, D.D. Adjournment was taken to 9 o'clock A.M. THURSDAY MORNING. The President took the chair at nine o'clock. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. P. Barrett. The Minutes of the sessions of yesterday were read. Remarks were made by Rev. W. H. Walker, Rev. M. A. Bullock, D.D., Rev. D. A. Richardson, Rev. D. F. Bradley, D.D., E. H. Pitkin, Esq., Rev. A. R. Thain, D.D., E. F. Grabill, Esq., President Homer T. Fuller, and Rev. J. F. Loba, D.D. Subscriptions were made, pledging $3,500 for the salary and expenses of a special agent of the Board to conduct a Forward Movement, and the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That a Forward Movement be inaugurated under the conduct of an Advisory Committee to be appointed by the chairmen of the several Coöperating Committees, to consist of at least two members from each of the Coöperating Committees, and to have power to enlarge its number and fill vacancies. This committee shall employ a special agent, with such assistants as may be necessary, to develop interest in Foreign Missions among the churches, and especially to secure the adoption of missionaries by particular churches, individuals, and families. This Advisory Committee will coöperate with the Prudential Committee. Pending the organization of the Advisory Committee Messrs. E. H. Pitkin, E. P. Burpee, and Dr. L. C. Warner are appointed a Provisional Committee, to exercise the functions of the Advisory Committee, their special service to cease when the Advisory Committee is constituted. The Committee on New Members was increased by the addition of Rev. W. H. Ward, D.D., Rev. F. A. Noble, D.D., W. H. Rice, Esq., Rev. J. G. Merrill, D.D., and Rev. J. R. Thurston, on the nomination of the chair. The report of the Committee on the Home Department was presented by President C. F. Thwing D.D. Remarks were made by Rev. J. L. Thurston. |