The Watchman

From the N. Y. Christian Intelligencer.

AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, held a public meeting in the Tabernacle, on Friday, the 13th of May, at 10 o'clock. The President being absent, the Vice President, Gen. Van Rensselaer, took the Chair. The meeting was opened with prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Hillyer of Orange. Rev. Mr. Armstrong, one of the Secretaries of the Board, read a letter from the Hon. John Cotton Smith, President of the Society, apologizing for absence, owing to domestic affliction. The Choir then sung, under the direction of Thos. Hastings, Esq. "Watchman! tell us of the night"--

Mr. Armstrong presented a full statement of the affairs of the Board, since the last annual meeting at Baltimore, in September last: a period of about nine months. The following is a corrected copy of the abstract referred to:

Compendious view of the operations of A. B. C. F. M.

The friends of the A. B. C. F. M., are permitted this morning, to review a portion of its history, marked by peculiar mercy. When they were convened here, for a similar purpose, twelve months ago, they were called to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, while they mingled their tears over the recent graves of the lamented Wisner, and of fourteen faithful laborers, who had finished their works and gone from different and distant portions of the Heathen world to their heavenly rest.

Now we are permitted to say, that of 109 ordained missionaries in the service of the Board, during the year, not one has fallen; and of 372 laborers: at 32 Missions and 78 Stations, but one male and three females as distant missionaries have, so far as we have heard, been removed by death.

The same kind providence has watched over the Executive Department of the Board, and the several agencies at home.

Since our last meeting in this place, missionaries have gone forth to Constantinople, to Asia Minor, to the Syrian Mission, to the Nestorians of Persia, to the Mahrattas, to the Tamul people of Southern India, to Singapore, to the Indian Archipelago, and to various stations among the Aborigines of our country. The number sent out, is 44, viz: 15 Ministers, 2 Printers, 3 Physicians, 3 Teachers, and 21 Female Assistant Missionaries.

Missionaries of the Board, have explored the Island of Cyprus, and extensive regions near, and beyond the Rocky Mountains.

New Missions, previously contemplated, have been actually commenced among the Nestorians, and Mahommedans of Persia, and new stations at Trebizond, on the Island of Cyprus, and at various points on the Sandwich Islands, and in connection with the Indian Mission.

Rev. Heman Humphrey, D.D., President of Amherst College, then arose, and presented the following resolution:--

Resolved, That the divine blessing which has attended the Missions of the A. B. C. F. M., and the wide fields white to harvest, which are spread out before it, call for thanksgiving to God, and should animate the friends of the cause to more vigorous effort, more fervent prayers, and more entire self-consecration to their great work.

Dr. H. had been attending the various meetings of the benevolent societies during the week, and had been led to consider their relative value. They all formed a beautiful system of operations--not one could be spared--all were needed. The rainbow was only perfect and beautiful, when all its seven colors were present; take away one, and the splendor departs. So of the various Associations. Each one had its sphere--each one contributed to the perfection, the beauty, and the grandeur of the whole. He therefore would not distinguish any, for this could not be done, without detriment to all.

It is 26 years ago, next month, since four young men applied to the Association of Massachusetts, for aid, to attempt a mission to the heathen. The members of that body felt the importance of the enterprise, and the necessity of sustaining them, but where could the funds be obtained? The Churches were groaning under the tax to support the gospel among themselves, and no money could be raised for foreign objects. The Association, however, would not give these young and devoted men, a positive negative, but advised them to make application to the London Missionary Society. I rejoice, said Mr. H. that on further deliberation, the Association resolved to trust to God for the money, and send them out--it would have been a lasting disgrace to have gone to England for assistance. From this small beginning arose the American Board. But what a contrast! During the last nine months, nearly $130,000 have been received, and nearly 400 men are now in the field, with all the apparatus necessary for their vigorous and efficient action. Does not this call for thanksgiving to God?

Dr. H. next related an affecting incident concerning the widowed mother of the unfortunate Lyman. She had just lost her husband, when the news of the melancholy and cruel death of her son arrived. She was a new made widow, and a near neighbor of his own. To him was committed the unwelcome task of giving her the information. With faltering steps, and a throbbing heart he approached her dwelling, entered, and found her yet smarting under her recent affliction. As soon as he dared he communicated the painful intelligence--she received it with a heavenly complacency which seemed to say "Thy will be done," still it was a thunder stroke. At length she recovered, and as soon as she could give utterance to her feelings exclaimed. "Oh that my other children were good enough to be missionaries, I would dedicate them all to God." The manner of relating the occurrence and its thrilling tendency, produced a deep emotion throughout the vast assembly.

The Dr. dwelt a few moments on that part of the resolution which spoke of fervent prayer. There is not enough of this. The band of disciples after the ascension of their Savior, were found engaged in prayer till the day of Pentecost, and the spirit of God answered their supplication, and blessed their meeting by the conversion of three thousand souls. We can get money and men but how shall the blessing be secured? This is only to be obtained--in answer to prayer. How much more could be done, and how much more might we reasonably expect if the church were alive to the duty of offering fervent prayer for the conversion of a fallen, miserable, and wretched world?

Rev. Mr. Brown of St. Petersburgh, seconded the resolution. No one is thankful except for a blessing. If thanksgiving does not arise after what has been said, it is because we do not feel benefitted and blessed. And why do we not get the blessing in our own souls? God is not slack concerning his promises. These are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus to his glory.

Mr. B. spoke of the wide fields, mentioned in the resolution. In some of these, the most pleasing success had followed humble labors. Such was the case, in a small measure, at St. Petersburg. He mentioned many cases of deep anxiety, and of much promise, to show that the harvest was plenteous, but the laborers few. A most touching appeal was read, from some converts in Siberia, pleading and praying and beseeching, for some one to come and break unto them the bread of life. Many in the assembly seemed to respond to the appeal, and to say--"here are we, send us."

Mr. B. called on the assembly, to send aid. There are some present, who cannot go, but they must furnish an equivalent. They must trade for Christ, by which the speaker meant, that they must carry out their daily occupations for the glory of God. Every action must bear on the conversion of the world.--In the close of his remarks, which were pointed, and powerful, he presented another letter, in which, a mother had contributed the birthday gifts of her beloved son, who had died while young, to the cause of Christ. Will not every christian mother here, learn a lesson and consecrate her sons and daughters to the service of the Lord Almighty?

Rev. Hollis Read, Missionary from Bombay, then addressed the meeting in some pithy remarks. There exists, said he, great mistakes about missions, in this country, and the best way for these to be corrected, was for the brethren to come over and learn the truth of the matter. There will be error and misconception, till people are corrected and taught better by experience. 20 millions of heathen had gone to the bar of God, since this Board met here last year, and how many laborers had gone to teach these millions the way of life?

Allusion had been made, to the progress of this Board. He rejoiced in the contrast. He thanked God most heartily, for what had been done. The state of feeling was now a little above zero, but yet what was done? The sum of $160,000 was raised last year. This seemed a large amount--but it costs as much as this, to support the gospel, and to build two churches, in this city. This sum would not be more than $500 for each laborer in the field. Besides this, the press must be sustained, school-houses must be built,--and where would this money appear, when all these expenses were taken into account?

The Brahmins, said he, are adepts in Metaphysics and Philosophy--and when they have asked me how long it was, since the Savior of whom I spoke, had come to save mankind, I have been constrained to hang my head and say, 1800 years. How is it, they enquire, that we have never heard of him before? It cannot be that eighteen centuries have passed away, since Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Ah my friends, cried Mr. R., what have we been doing these 1800 years? Where has been our zeal? The priests of India, cry out against our indolence and inaction, and cause a blush to rise on any christian's face. Why, even the monthly concert is neglected. I have travelled in nearly all the States of the Union, and find that no more than 10, or at farthest, 20 in every hundred come up to this holy convocation. Sir, there is a want of feeling and energy in the churches; they are not half awake. Why is this? It cannot be for the want of information. Every one who has not this, is wilfully ignorant. Light shines, in every region; it cannot be the fault of your Board. No; you are enlisted to, and have the confidence of the churches. The state of piety sir, is low; the pastors themselves are wanting: they are spending their time and energies in controversy, and when any thing is done, it is by impulse. There is no steady, decided principle of action.

Why, Mr. President, do we want agents at all in the church? If every minister would do his duty how much money and precious time might be spared and how many more might go to the heathen? At this very day we want four times the present number of men. Why will they not go? I have lately heard ministers, (and they were young men) to say that seven-eighths of the whole number now in America ought to go forth. This sounded noble, and why do not these young brethren go? Others again in the heat and fervor and excitement of Missionary speeches say they will go, and give themselves and their families up to the Board. Why, I ask, do they not put their good resolution to the test, and give us the reality as well as the promise? Hundreds of precious lives might be spared, if we had more laborers to bear a part of the burden and heat of the day. Many have to my knowledge sunk into a premature grave under the accumulated cares and burdens of a station, who might in human probability have been alive to this day if others had come to their assistance. Among these the speaker mentioned Babajee, of whom he has written a biography, to which we refer our readers.

Mr. R. then appealed to mothers and fathers. He gave affecting instances of deep devotion, on the part of heathen parents to their idols. One deluded mother was married to her God, and another a father made a beloved son bow down before an idol and consecrate himself for ever to his service. To these things he himself had been an eye witness. Would not Christian parents imitate this zeal? Much more was said by Mr. R. which we omit.

In closing his remarks he called on those disposed to controversy to engage in self-devotion to the cause. It is the policy of civil governments when the state of things in a country appear dark, or to turn away public attention to engage in a foreign,--so now in the threatening aspect of affairs foreign missions was the only redeeming spirit. We must sir engage in a foreign war; and I call on all the pugnacious and belligerent to enroll. The whole General Assembly ought to go. Every minister would then find that there is natural depravity in the world, whether he could find its source or not. And if he wished to split hairs and discover moral relations the Brahmins of India would do it to his heart's content.

The Rev. George W. Bethune, of the Reformed Dutch Church, Philadelphia, moved the following:

Resolved, That in the opinion of this assembly, the spirit of missions, is the spirit of Christ, and that the church has never such reason to expect the blessing of God, upon her, as when she most zealously endeavors in devout dependence upon the Holy Ghost to preach the gospel to every creature.

Mr. B. came from a small denomination of Christians which wished to wheel right into the centre of the noble phalanx, who were marching on to victory. Sir, I have listened with pleasure to the reference made to those four devoted young men who began the missionary enterprise in this country. He felt proud in saying that they were aroused to the work through a missionary sermon, preached he believed in this city, by our own beloved Livingston. After a few more prefatory remarks, the speaker dwelt on the resolution, showing that the spirit of missions was the spirit of Christ.

There was one circumstance, he remarked, which had always struck his mind. The Savior in his mission to our earth, had brought all the dignities of his nature with him. The spirit of Christ was, that all his powers both human and divine were given up to the work, to which he freely consecrated all his life. And what also was the spirit of the primitive church? The stream is always the purest at the fountain head. Here we see unity of purpose and trust. There was one mind, one heart among all the first Christians. They
loved one another. They dedicated every thing to God; some brother, he said, had spoken of giving one tenth to the service of Christ, but this was entirely a miscalculation. Did that brother remember that this was the rule of the darker dispensation of the Old Testament? The measure of the gospel was not one tenth, but "inasmuch as ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." The command was not to love our neighbor one tenth part as we love ourselves, but entirely as ourselves.

Mr. B. then spoke of a plan (which has been adopted in his own church,) of having two ministers-one at home and one abroad- every church almost in this land had a beloved pastor, whom she would not part with under any consideration. Why not have another? The influence would be most happy-a union between home and distant heathens would then be formed, which could be formed in no other way. And every heart would be yearning over the salvation of degraded man in far distant regions.

Our limits compel us, to pass over the remainder of Mr. B's effective speech. We will give it hereafter.

His Excellency, Peter D. Vroom, of New Jersey, seconded the resolution--I appear before you Mr. President, as an humble representative from a little church too feeble to do much heretofore--and now beginning to come up to the work. The spirit of missions is arousing, and by God's blessing we hope to be co-workers with you in the noble enterprise of converting a fallen world. But, sir, I come, not with any denominational will. We meet on this platform and this house as Christians. Here is a point where we can harmonize, and co-operate. None is of Paul or Apolos here, but all is of Christ.

I love the resolution because it asserts the truth. 'The spirit of Missions is emphatically that of Jesus Christ. The cause is that of Christ,-he has blessed it, and our hearts have been rejoiced by cheering intelligence just in proportion to the means used. Let me now ask, where is the Spirit of Christ among our fifteen millions of inhabitants? Only one-fourth part of the 200 required laborers for this year,are yet obtained. Christ's spirit was one of self devotion. There was no substitution. He went himself into the field and labored for souls. Can we go and do likewise? It has been well said that every church ought to have two ministers. Is this asking too much? No,-If parents will come up to the work, and make a sacrifice of their beloved offspring-this quota can be obtained.

Mothers! remember the widow and the widow's mite. Jesus commended her, because she did what she could. Heard you that instance of noble resignation and consecration to God, which has been noticed in your hearing to day? Have you the faith and trust-the piety and devotion of Lyman's mother? She possessed the spirit of missions, and of Jesus Christ, or she could never have borne up under the afflictive dispensation.— We may appeal in vain to fathers-they look for worldly honor and renown for their sons. But a fond mother's heart will hear and respond, "here are my daughters, here are my sons, take them Lord, and use them as thou seest fit." It has been my privilege to know an aged mother, who has given up an only daughter, who was her comfort and support; yet she rejoices in the honor. Another widow has sent out three daughters. And I will mention one instance which has recently come to my knowledge, of a widowed saint now on the borders of the grave. She has consecrated three daughters to the service, and is now preparing a fourth who is shortly to sail, and one of these has been buried on heathen ground.* Surely Christ is the husband of these mothers. Come, then, Christian mothers, we appeal to you. Give up all and you shall have all.

Eloquent and exciting addresses were also made by the Rev. Mr. Plumer, of Virginia, and Rev. Mr. Kirk, of Albany, who spoke on the following resolution:—

Resolved, That the power of the Gospel to bless and save men, is a reason for severe vigorous efforts to publish it as speedily as possible to every creature.

The deepest interest was manifested for more than four hours, by a large assembly which was often bathed in tears. The closing appeals and remarks were pointed and solemn, and we hope a spirit has been excited. which will never languish till this benighted earth shall " learn Messiah's name.'

The whole congregation now rose, and united in singing the Missionary hymn,-

" From Greenland's icy mountains."

After which, the apostolic benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Dr. Proudfit, of this city.

*The speaker was supposed to refer to Mrs. Lathrop, the widowed mother of the late Mrs. Winslow, of Ceylon.