&auttat fjtertgtefiw
—AN'R— ‘4
eiNESEI EYANGEIIST.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1861.
JOHN W, MEABS,
Our J^pee.—We are daily receiving acces
sions to our subscription list; the increase is far
greater than at any time since our connection
With the paper. Among the additions is an
Order, from the session of one of our Pennsylvania
churches for twenty copies for distribution in the
army. There are many other sessions who could
imitate this excellent example, and many friends
of the paper who, at this season, might in various
ways promote its oiroulation. We think they
will find our new and really handsome dress of
great assistance to them in these efforts.
Subscriptions now due, are also coming in,
but hardly with such rapidity and promptness as
our circumstances require. We ask the prompt
attention of our friends to their accounts, whe
ther presented by mail or .through our city col
lector, Mr, E. Schreiner. . .
The delay in issuing the current number of
our paper, ,is caused entirely by the new arrange
ments we hare been making to improve the ap
pearance of our ptfper, and otherwise facilitate
the business of publishing. After this week, it
will be served with the usual regularity.
Correspondents. —We have a number of
interesting communications on hand, including
letters from chaplains in the West and at Fort
ress Monroe. Having relinquished a large
amount of space to the proceedings of the Ame
rican Hoard, these and other favors of corres
pondents are necessarily deferred.
OUR NEW DRESS.
Many of our readers—new subscribers—will
see us in our present attire for the first time;
others will be struck with the change in our ex
ternal appearance. New fonts of type, from the
well known foundry of L. Johnson & Co., of
this city, have furnished us with the apparatus
for this improvement, and we are of opinion that
few newspaper readers have a handsomer sheet
spread before them, or will find the process of
obtaining the religious intelligence and other
news of the day a greater luxury, than will the
reader of the American The
work of improvement we do not consider as en
tirely effected with the first issue under our new
auspices, and our readers will overlook some minor
defects which they may observe, in the hope that
they will he remedied in future issues. As many
pastors are now engaged in extending the circu
lation of our paper, we have provided them with
a sheet whose appearance itself will he a.recom
mendation; and we ask all of onr friends to take
the opportunity thus presented of engaging in
the work. This will be a fit occasion for a fresh
start on the part of all who desire to see onr
paper sustained, and who would provide their
congregations and friends with suitable religious
reading. We have placed the paper on a finan
cial footing which makes its continuance morally
certain. Our friends need hut to carry out the
good purposes they have expressed to us and be
gun to put in execution, and the American
Presbyterian will take its place as a permanent
institution among the religious journals of /the
country.
THE AMERICAN BOARD,
A very fair indication of the state of religion
in our churches is the condition of the American
Board. As our people are liberally-minded and
prayerful, its resources are sustained and its wort
prospers. When its treasury runs low and its
missions languish, we may be sure there is a lack
of self-denial and of spirituality among the
churches by which it is sustained. When the
necessary supplies are raised with difficulty, even
in prosperous times, and under the pressure of
an effort to relieve the Board of great embarrass
ments, when regular contributions must be sup
plemented with special and extraordinary, ones to
bring up balances and to save credit, and yet it
is done, the result shows a radical defect in the
method of our beneficence. But when a year of
commercial vicissitude and disaster, unparalleled
in this generation, passes over the Board, and at
the close shows its financial condition substan
tially unaffected, its credit unimpaired, and its
operations carried forward without a single seri
ous reduction, we think the result may fairly be
claimed as evidence that the grace of God has
been abiding,Jin no small measure, in the churches.
This cheering result is seen in the proceedings of
the Board at its annual meeting in Cleveland, re
ported in another column of our paper.
We cheerfully yield a large space to the re-1
cord of its proceedings. In them the church
may see reflected, to a considerable degree, its
character as an aggressive body in the world, and
its duty foreshadowed for the future. We are
very far short of that duty at the best. Both in
our beneficence and in the manner of it, as well
as in our spirituality, we are largely deficient, or
that annual meeting would have shown even a
greater amount of work accomplished in the con
version of the world. While we cannot but draw
great encouragement from these proceedings, and
ought to see in them abundant reason for grati
tude to the Head of the Church who has so sig
nally interfered for the support of this eause at
this time, we ought to make them the oecasion
for revising our plans of beneficence, for renew
ing our vows of Belf-oonsedration, for enlarging
our views, and for bringing ourselves, our fami
lies, and our congregations into more thorough
sympathy with the great work of winning back
a lost world to Chrjst.
Rev. B. G. Wilder and Family. —Private
letters inform us of the safe arrival of this mis
sionary family at Liverpool and London, en route
to Bombay and Kolapoor; a part of their baggage
had already been shipped to India, but they had
not beeii able to procure passage for themselves,
as yet
In the true missionary spirit, Mr. W. says:—
“ Muoh as we would love to visit many points of
interest, both here and on the continent, we feel
a stronger motive impelling us forward, and shall |
lose as little time as possible in reaching our dear
mission at Kolapoor.”
He also adds: —“ The success of Gen. Butler’s
Expedition to Hatteras, and Gen. Fremont's pro
clamation in Missouri, tell very happily on the
minds of the British public.”
Van Biper and Camp’s Bread.— This bread, |
advertised in another column, may be depended
upon not only as an entire novelty in the mode of
preparing the staff of life, but as a real acquisi
tion, to the table; cheap, nutritious, cleanly, and
beautiful, in appearance.
BLANKETS |OR f THE SOLDIERS-
Wc understand that several pastors of our
churches, at the suggestion of Major Grossman,
Quartermaster, requested their people to make
donations of blankets for the soldiers. The sup
ply in the country is exhausted, and the govern
ment are unable to purchase, and must therefore
rely on the patriotism of the people to protect
thousands of our brave soldiers from suffering the
present autumn. We are certain this appeal will
not he in vain.
Editor.
Our Readers may have seen some statements
in different newspapers in relation to an occur
rence on the National Fast Day in the First Pres
byterian Church, at Harrisburg. They may have
received the impression that there was some dif
ference of opinion between the respected pastors.
We are happy to learn, from the best authority,
that there is nothing in what.has occurred to im
pair mutual, fraternal confidence and good feel
ing. Of course, we need not say that we have
entire confidence in both these brethren in all
respects, not excepting their loyalty to the eoun
rty, and devoted attachment to the Union.
Reached Home. —Our readers will not be
surprised to hear that the Rev. Amasa Converse,
D. D., has reached Richmond, Virginia, and re
issued there his Christian -Observer. How he
crossed the line would he a mystery, if we did
not know that the Doctor always had the power
to worm himself through very narrow places.
He is now surrounded by a congenial atmosphere,
where he will not feel obliged to hang out the
“ Stars and Stripes," and profess loyalty to the
Union, while he writes treason. Our only regret
is that he delayed his emigration so long.
TER ANNUAL MEETING OP THE AMERI
CAN BOARD.
This meeting took place in the First Church,
Cleveland, commencing Tuesday, October the
Ist, Hon. Mr. Strong, of this city, in the chair.
It appears to have been of the usual elevated and
cheering character which seems to attach to
these meetings. Many who came despondingly,
went away rejoicing. The Treasurer was in the
good providence of God privileged to report an
income of 8341,988.76, which, in view of all the
circumstances of the case, may he regarded as
unprecedented. And the entire indebtedness,
August 31st, was but $27,895.54; very much
less—in fact about one-third—of what at one
time was confidently expected. Consequently no
material changes or reductions in missionary ex
penditure have been made, or are contemplated.
We give below such an account of the proceed
ings as our columns will allow.—Ed.
The First Day was mdinly occupied in reading
the abstract, which will be found on our first
page, and in hearing the discourse of Rev. Dr.
R. S. Storrs, Jr., of Brooklyn. The Herald
says:
• The First Presbyterian Church was crowded to
excess to hear the address of the Rev. Dr. Storrs,
of Brooklyn, New York. The discourse was elo
quent, and attracted much attention.
The Prudential Committee advises the stop
page of the publication of the Missionary Herald
after the December number, and the more gene
ral use of the columns of the religious and secu
lar press. ■ .
On tbe Second Day Bev. John M'Leod was
appointed Assistant Becording Secretary. After
the conclusion of the report on Missions, Dr. A.
D. Smith, of New York ciiy, said he hadbeen
requested by the Prudential Committee to offer
a resolution which had been unanimously agreed
to by the iCommittee, and he thought would be
adopted cordially by the Board. Dr. Smith ad
vocated the passage of the resolution in an ad
dress, congratulating the Board on the prospe
rous state of affairs in spite of the many obstacles
to its progress. He recapitulated the history of
the Board during the past year, recalling the
gloomy prospects that were before them down as
late as July, when a meeting of the Prudential,
Committee was held in Boston to decide as to
what should be done under the depressing cir
cumstances, and it was then determined not to
cease in any instance from the missionary labor,
but to appeal to the churches for their support.
The result has been most gratifying. From a
close calculation it has been found that the
donations from the churches for the past thirteen
months have exceeded any similar period during
the last eighteen years, excepting the Jubilee
year, when extraordinary efforts were made.
These calculations did not include legacies. He
did not think so much of money given by people
after all hope of use of it for themselves had
passed away, hut he spoke only of the contribu
tions of the churches—the streams that had
gushed from the rock at the voice of the minis
ters of the Gospel.
He thought that the prospect for the coming
year was hopeful, even though the national, so
cial and personal troubles would he great.
The resolution was read as follows:
Resolved, That we humbly and thankfully re
cognize the goodness of God, during a year of
unexampled trial for our country, in that He has
inclined so many pastors to urge upon their peo
ple, with increased earnestness, the claims of the
heathen, and has also inclined so many congre
gations, for the honor of his Son, to transcend
their former liberality;-so that, instead - of being
called to lament an embarrassing indebtedness,
we are permitted to rejoiee in an unexpected and
most grateful deliverance.
It was unanimously adopted.
The following resolution was reported by the
Prudential Committee:
Resolved, That we regard it as a sign of pro
mise and hope, that so many of our mission
churches, “ to their power, yes, and beyond their
power," are “ fellow-workers nnto the kingdom
of God;” and we would speak of the liveliest
gratitude of the “grace of God bestowed” upon
the Nestorian Christians, so that “in a great trial
of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality.”
Dr. Wright, of the Nestorian Mission, said
that it had been a perplexing problem with the
Nestorian Mission, how to get the Nestorian peo
ple to contribute to the mission. The Nestorians
are a poor, depressed, down-trodden people, who
: are always suffering from “hard times,” owing
to the. exactions of their Mohammedan rulers.
But during the past year they had struggled
earnestly, and had succeeded in raising a consi
derable amount. In one very poor and oppressed
village, they succeeded in raising at one meeting
over one hundred dollars. The men who thus
gave, were in debt, suffering under grinding op
pression and enormous taxation, yet when they
came out of the church after their giving this
> hberal contribution, they were exceedingly joy
|?tcalrutftiatt and Stneset #»attpliat.
ful, more so than at any other period of their
lives. Within a few days after, the large sum,
for them, of one thousand dollars was contributed
and pledged.
Dr. Perkins, of the Nestorian Mission, made a
brief address, confirming the statements of the
previous speaker as to the* recent developments
of a benevolent spirit, in the Nestorians, who by
nature are extremely indisposed to giving away
any of the little money that comes into their
possession. He instanced the great improvement
in the character of the Nestorians, and the influ
ence on the Mahommedans that followed
developments of a benevolent spirit, and suggest
ed that Americans should try the effect of the
same experiment on themselves. The contribu
tions of these poor Nestorians were far greater,
in proportion, than the amount given by the
most liberal people of this country who usually
assemble at these annual meetings.
A special report of the Prudential Committee
was read, stating that it was evident that the best
way of continuing the Foreign Missions was to
employ native teachers.
Some persons have thought that the Board
should economize by reducing the number of
Missions. This the Committee thought was very
bad policy, as the influence of such a step would
greatly lessen the efficiency of the Missions that
are continued, #nd also probably react injuriously
on the influence and welfare'of our home churches.
If it should be considered necessary to curtail
the expenses, it must be done within the Missions
themselves, and this could not be done without
destructive effects. It is believed that if the ap
propriations to the missions be reduced 820,000,
the effect would be disastrous to the usefulness
of the Missions, not only by the lessening the
numbers of workers, but also by the Bad effect on,
the minds of the natives.
After prayer by the Rev. Dr. Taylor, the
meeting adjourned until half past 2 P. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Cox,
of New York. The church was again densely
crowded with people. *
The above resolution was taken up and adopted.
The report of Dr. Anderson on Retrenchment
in Foreign Missions, read at the morning session,
was referred to a special committee as, follows.
Hon. William Strong, Wm. E. Dodge, John
Kingsbury, Rev. J; W. M‘Lean, D. D., Addison
Kingsbury, D. D., Ray Palmer, D. D., S. B.
Chittenden. „
The following resolutions were read:
Resolved, That we discover no valid reason for
discouragement'in the present condition of our
country, being fully persuaded, from the ability
which the ehurehes still possess, viewed in con
nection with the free and generous spirit with
which all classes are responding to the appeals of
patriotism, that we may hope for a cheerful ac
knowledgment of the claims of Him who is the
Prince of the kings of the earth, and whose do
minion embraces, sustains and controls all others.-
Resolved, That in order to this, our churches
need to he more deeply impressed with the mag
nitude and saeredness of the enterprise, and the
exceeding desirableness of a thorough and efficient
organization, inasmuch as, without the former,
the best machineiy, and without the latter, the
best intentions, will fail of their legimate results.
Resolved , That the pastors co-operating with
the Board, be requested to present to their con
gregations, on all proper occasions, the claims of
the missionary work; (1) because of its unspeak
able importance to the heathen, for the life that
now is, and for that which is to come; (2) be
cause of its inestimable value to our churches,
in preserving their doctrinal soundness, in deve
loping their benevolence, in giving them strength
for home duties and home conflicts, in heighten
ing their estimate of the unsearchable riches of
Christ, in elevating their conceptions of that
kingdom which must stand forever; (8) because
of the honor and love which it secures for our
Emmanuel, at the same time that it enables him
to see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied.
Resolved, That the pastors he als6 requested to
introduce the best system (if not already done)
for collecting the offerings of their people, which
their circumstances allow, making it their special
endeavor to carry the claims of a perishing world,
and of Him who died for it, at least once a yeaT,
to every man, woman and ehild in their congre
gations.
Resolved, That the, importance of fervent prayer
he urged upon all the friends of the Board, in
order that the God of missions may bestow a
more abundant blessing upon his servants abroad,
and incline his people to devise liberal things at
home; and to this end the monthly concert is
warmly recommended to the affections and sup
port of all our churches.
The Rev. Selah B. Treat, of Boston, addressed
the meeting. He said:
We need a better organization for the support
of the missionary cause. The pastor of each
church should make the cause his own, and see
to it himself that every member of the church
should have his or her attention called to the sub
ject. The Prudential Committee have come to
the conclusion that a more perfect organization is
necessary. They do not wish to trench one iota
on the rights of the pastors of churches, biit a
further effort must be made, and there seems to
be no way of properly reaching the mass of the
congregation except through’ the’ medium of the
pastors. In conclusion he urged the cause of the
missions to the support of the Christian people.
Walter S. Griffiths, of Brooklyn, New York,said
that every person was personally responsible for
the success of this great work, and each should
personally contribute by every means in his
power to that success. He had considered with
himself, and was satisfied that of the 300,000
members of Christian churches in this country
there were at least 50,000 who could contribute
ten cents a week, 50,000 five cents a week,
150,000 three cents a week, and 50,000 one cent
a week. This will give, in round .numbers,
$625,000 a year; a sum which would be adequate
to support an extensive missionary system, and
this sum could be raised with but very little
trouble, were a proper system of collections or
ganized.
Judge Williams, of Norwich, Conn., suggested
that the missionary cause should be identified in
timately with the Sabbath schools, and that one
day in the month should be devoted in these
schools to matters connected with these missions,
and to taking up contributions for the support of
the schools in heathen countries, which are now
in danger of being closed through want ofrfunds.
Our missionaries should be supported. What
are our sacrifices in their behalf to their own sa
crifices, giving up as they do their country, their
homes, and frequently their health and lives.
We have no better representatives of our country
and our civilization, than these same missionaries.
In common sense, in. intelligence and in piety
these men and women do ns honor. , Shall we let
them fail for lack of effort on our part? It must
not be done.
Mr. Wm. E. Dodge of New York, said he had
been one of those who) had urged the Board to
go forward and trust the churches. He confessed
that he had' been vbfyjdsmbtful aB to toe result,
and he felt exceedingly grateful for the good suc
cess that has unexpectelly attended their efforts.
But now he regretted'=ihat they had not made a
still greater effort and r used the contributions to
8400,000.
It is a consoling thought that this Board owed
little or none of its support to the South, and the
secession of that section has in no way impaired
the efficiency of the Boi rd.
[The address was fiequently interrupted by
applause that could not be restrained.]
Rev. Mr. Marsh, Mis ionary to Mosul, said the
question is, shall we reti sat? We have retreated.
He had been compelled to come back from Mo
sul and take charge of a church in Massachusetts,
because he could not besustained in his mission.
But Mosul is sanctified in the sight of God, be
cause it contains the grave of men who had gone
out to preach the Holy Word there, and had
there died and been bfiried, and he intended, if
he were spared so to do,'to go hack to Mosul and
die there. He the missionaries who
had devoted themselves to .the work, should not
be kept from their chosen fields of labor. The
people here have no righj; to keep them from the
fields that God has chosen' for them. The debts
of the missions mustbe paid off, and the mission
aries despatched to their work.
In the course of his address the speaker said
he had given what he ebuld to the cause, and
had nothing now to give'but a watch, which had
formerly belonged to his vfife, who had given her
all to the cause. This, of all he possessed, was
dearest'to his heart, and as such he felt he must
give it to the cause, unless it should be redeemed
by some liberal people, and the avails paid over
to, the Board. He then laid the watch, which
contained a lock of his wife’s hair, on the table.
Dr. Perkins, of the Nestorian Mission, gave a
brief account of his efforts-in England in behalf
of the Turkish Aid .'Society. He had mingled
with six religious denominations, who were in
terested with that Society, and principally with
the Episcopalians, |hpy .the principal sup
porters of the work, ana ihe. was compelled to
confess that, the .English-churches were far in ad
vance of the American chuxehes in the Work of
missions. On inquiring he found that the secret
of the success there is, that the pastors make the
cause their own. All pastors, congregations,
and children, give according to their means-
The Sabbath schools there are closely connected
with the missionary cause,’fall and complete or
ganizations for the carrying out *of the work ex.
isting in all their schools.
Here it is frequently objected that there are
so many applications that 'people cannot give to
the cause. But the applications here are not
half so many as those to which our English
friends are subjected, owing to the great number
of her colonies constantly jlrawing on the mother
country for benevolent purposes... He instanced
a case of an English lady who has contributed to
the American Missions the sum of £5O, in con
sequence of her fears that the troubles here will
diminish the revenues off from Ame
rican sources. He also said that he had received
letters from many of the Christian people of Eng
land, stating that they were praying for the suc
cess of the North. ’■'*
Dr. Worcester, of Salem,'Mass., said that just
before leaving home he' had met an Episcopal
clergyman, who had told him of an interview
with Sir Frederick Williams, the heroic defender
of . Kars, who, in that interview, paid an eloquent
tribute to the character of American missionaries
in the East, and to the importance of the work of
the American Board. , Ths brave man in paying
this tribute, authorized the elergynffen to repeat
it whenever and wherever he thought it would
be of assistance to the cause.
Rev. T. H. Hawks, of Cleveland, then rose and
said that some friends had been talking over the
donation of Mr. Marsh’s watch, and had concluded
that such a treasure must not be lost to him. He
was therefore authorized; to return the watch to
its owner, and to say that it had been redeemed
by a few liberal ftien|d3yjB4S-'s l B money pledged
to the Board. He then ‘handed back the watch
to Rev. Mr. Marsh, amid general applause.
The meeting united in singing the hymn,
's' *
“When I survey the wondrous cross.?’
The resolutions were then put and adopted.
THIRD DAY—MORNING SESSION.
The meeting was opened by prayer by the Rev.
Betfej of Ohio.
The following resolutions in support of the go
vernment, were adopted unanimously.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with our
national government in its struggle with a rebel
lion which threatens its very existence, and im
perils the success of this Missionary Board, and
we fervently implore the God of nations, so to
overrule the conflict tha# the rebellion may be
crushed ; slavery, its prime cause, removedj and
that peace, prosperity and righteousness may be
permanently' established throughout our whole
land. j', ’
Resolved, That pray for de
liverance from our present national distress, but
also that the-nation having been purified in the
furnace of affliction and: made meet for the Mas
ter’s service, shall hereafter render the same de
votedness to the cause of Christ and Christian
missions, which is now put forth for the preser
vation of our beloved country.
Dr. Cox, from Committee on Missions to Syria
and Greece, approved the report relating to those
Missions. The report was accompanied by some
remark's by Dr. Cox in his peculiar and quaint
style, which defies all attempt at report or de
scription. The report was accepted.
Dr. Childs, from the Committee on Place and
Preacher, reported that the Committee had se
lected Springfield, Mass.,‘as the place of the next
meeting; Eev. H., Smith*, of Lane Seminary, as
preacher, and Prof. Shedd, of Andover, Mass., as
alternate. The report was adopted.
The. Resolutions presented by the Business
Committee were then taken up and adopted with
out dissent. f-
Reports approbatory ‘of the conduct of the va
rious missions were presented "and adopted.
Bev. Mr. Chandler, of 1 the Madeira Mission,
spoke as to the'-revivals of religion in his Mis
sion, and the zeal and self-saerifice of the poor
converts. The members of the native eongregar
tions, though so exceedingly poor that the whole
amount of property in some congregations did
not amount in the aggregate to $5O, and some of
the people could not raise more than one meal a
day, yet they had contributed largely in propor-
tion to their means. But it is impossible to keep
up those missions without liberal assistance from
this country. The utmost economy and even
parsimony is practised, so that some of the sehool
houses have been built at an expense of only five
dollars, and some of the best catechists are sup
ported at so low a sum as two and a half dollars
monthly. Shall even this poor pittance be cut
off? The heathen daily make more sacrifices for
their degraded religion than onr Christians do
for theirs. Men who have but one or two meals
a day, give a part of their food for the support of
their debased priesthood. The poor converts to
Christianity are liberal and self-denying in the
same manner, and onr own people should make
an effort in the support of missions that are
having such good effect in India.
Mr. W. E. Dodge, from the Committee on
Home Department, reported a set of Resolutions.
Resolved, 1. That we approve of the proposal
of the Committee to discontinue the publication
of the Journal of Missions at the close of the
current year; believing that an arrangement can
he made by which the same, amount; of mission
ary intelligence can reach a larger circle of read
ers through the daily and weekly newspapers.
Resolved, That we deem it indispensable to the
success of an enterprise which depends on volun
tary contributions, and to which Providence is
constantly giving such enlargement, that the
young be trained up to understand it, and to re
spond to its claims. We, therefore, heartily ap
prove of the suggestion in the report, that “the
Committee will endeavor to communicate with
Sabbath schools, from time to time,” and we
trust that they will avail themselves of whatever
seems to them a judicious and practicable instru
mentality for interesting the young in the wants
of the heathen, and the work of Christian bene
volence among them.
Rev., Mr. M'Leod, of Philadelphia, said this
report was of great importance, as it dealt with
the financial question. He thought that the dif
ficulty in raising money was not in a lack of re
ligion among the people. The people had re
ligion enough for the purpose. It was not from
a lack of funds in the country, for there was a
plenty of money for other purposes.
The trouble is in want of system. . It should
not he left entirely to the pastors. In each
church there should be one man who shonld
look after this missionary enterprise. He should
meet all the members and get them to subscribe
an annual amount to the cause. He was against
the use of collection boxes in the churches. He
wanted personal appeals.
Then the presbyteries, associations, and organ
izations connected with the churches shonld be
used in aid of the work. In each organization
there shonld be one man delegated to look after
the missionary work, and such men should be
called on to give an account of what they have
done from time to time.
The pastors should not be compelled to give
reports of everything that is done in the finan
cial work of the churches. The elders shonld be
made to do this work, and to report what they
have done.
The West has not done enough for the mis
sionary cause. The West is rich, and its cities
show more evidence of wealth than the cities of
the East, but it does not do as much for the mis
sionary cause as the East does. The West has
furnished men. to the cause, but it has not Ikc
nished the funds for their support.
Dr. Andrews spoke a few words in defence of
the West.
Dr. Cleveland, of New Haven, said the princi
ple on which all attempts to raise funds must be
based, is something that will reach and touch the
heart of the mass. He honored the princely
merchants who had given nobly to the cause, but
he thought the strength of the cause lies in the
hearts and the love of the poor. The poor man’s
mite, sanctified with his tears and prayers, is the
greatest wealth the Board can have. We must
have frequent payments. Fifty cents a month
will seem a small amount to a man, when four
dollars a year will seem a large amount, in his
neighborhood these monthly payments had been
adopted and had worked with great success. The
more the collections are subdivided, the larger
the aggregate collection at the end of the year.
Mr. S. B. Chittenden said that rich men can
not be relied on. The men in the East, whom
Christian men of the West look to as rich men
who can always be depended on to furnish money
for the work, are not rich. They have honest
debts to pay, and are not always at liberty to
draw checks for balances in hank, for this cause.
He believed the key-note has been struck to-day.
The plan of small individual subscriptions that
has been suggested is the only practical one, and
will be sure of abundant success. Let the work
go on as suggested, and $500,000 will be the
smallest annual amount that will be received by
the Board.
The proposed plan of endeavoring by the pas
tors, and other means, to .reach the Christian
people generally, met with much favor. Bev.
Dr. A. D. Smith, Hon. L. Child, Dr. Worcester,
Seth Terry, and Dr. Wm. Adams, spoke in ap
proval, and the resolutions were unanimously
adopted. *
Resolved , That the Board would express their
deep and grateful sense of the interest taken in
an important department of their work by the
Turkish Missions Aid Society in Great Britain.
While important aid has thus been afforded us,
at a time of unusual solicitude, we are reminded
afresh of that band of brotherhood, which, in the
great work of the world’s salvation, hinds toge
ther, without respect to denominational or geo
graphical distinctions, all the followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr.
Ward of Pennsylvania.
AH the old officers were re-elected.
A resolution approving of the memorial volume
was passed.
The following resolution was offered by the
Committee and adopted by the Board:
Resolved, That the Prudential Committee be
authorized to employ one additional person to
aid the Executive Officers of the Board, whose
position, salary and duties shall be fixed by the
said Committee.
EVENI&G SESSION
Meeting opened at seven o’clock, P. M., with
prayer, by Prof. Bartlett, of Chicago.
The church was densely crowded in every
part, every available inch of sitting or standing
room being occupied, and numbers were unable
to gain admittance.
The usual vote of thanks was unanimously
adopted. -
The Rev. Selah B. Treat moved that the Vice'
President and eight persons be appointed a Com-
mittee to review the Finances of the Board, and
report at the next annual meeting. The reso u
tion was adopted.
Judge Strong, of Pa., from the Prudential Com
mittee, made a report on the subject of Economy,
giving it as that it would be bad
policy to attempt to economize by reducing the
number or impairing the strength of the missions.
He introduced a set of resolutions to this effect,
recommending all prudent economy, but at the
same time advising that the efforts of the Board
should not be lessened or retracted.
He felt confident that the people of this coun
try will sustain the American Board in every rea
sonable effort to extend the area of its operations.
Judge Jessup said that he had come up to this
meeting desponding, hut here he had received
better news. The clouds have disappeared, and
lie was now confident that now was not a time for
retrenchment in the work of the Board. He had
come here desponding, thinking of the disasters
that had befallen the country* and the consequent
crippling of the Board, and the misery that would
ensue among the missions. But, in traveling
through the country he had seen the blessings of
Grod showered liberally all around. Bountiful
harvests overspread the land, and yet we talk of
withholding the poor pittance acceded for the
support of the. missions. Who, that has contri
buted to the cause of Christ, has become poor in
consequence? Who, in all this land, is now suf
fering because of his liberality in benevolence?
Not one! The land is overflowing with wealth.
The farmers of the West are full of the fatness
of the earth, and to them we look with full con
fidence for support. He knew the hearts of the
farmers of the West, and he knew that they
would not be found wanting at this time of neec.
of the American Board.
He proceeded to speak at length in support of
the system of collections in churches and so
cieties suggested in the discussion at the morn
ing session.
Dr. Anderson introduced Father Keep, of
Oberlin, eighty years of age, and requested him
to address the audience.
Father Keep said that he was a monument be
fore them of God’s mercy and grace in being per
mitted to reach his eightieth year without having
experienced a day’s sickness. And he would say
to his younger friends that he had not seen a day
when his heart was ndt with every work of 're
form that went in the right direction. His ex
perience had been that every work of reform that
reached success, owed that success to being en
grafted in the hearts of the people; and he was
therefore glad to see that this Board proposed to
appeal directly to the hearts of the people them
selves.
He would say, in reference to the present war,
that it was working for good, and through the
assistance of God would result in the increase of
religion. He congratulated the Board for the
attitude it had taken in the support of the gov
ernment in its present righteous straggle. He
invoked the blessings of the Almighty on the ef
forts of the Board, and, in conclusion, hoped that
the present struggle would result in the estab
lishment of a truly Christian Commonwealth.
Rev. Mr. Holbrook, of lowa, defended the
West from any suspicion of lukewarmness on the
subject of missions. He claimed that the whole
work of the ehurches in the West was mission
ary work. They were planting churches, estab
lishing congregations, and building up Christian
communities. Western men have everything to
make for themselves. They have to make roads,
build up their homes, and erect churches —work
which in the East has been done long ago. The
West may he covered with grain, but that grain
cannot be sold, and if sold, there are so many
calls on the Western people that they were poor.
For these reasons the West is unable to do as
the older States for the cause of foreign missions.
The speakers here have been laboring under a
misapprehension as to what is the West. ’ Some
of them said this meeting is held in the West.
It is not so. Ohio is in the. East, He came
from lowa, and even he was hardly in the West.
One cause' why the West has contributed so
little in proportion to the support of the Board
is, that the Board has not taken the right ground
on the question of slavery. The Board has at
length taken the right stand, and the West is
perfectly satisfied'and will rally to its support.
The question of the passage of the resolutions
introduced by Dr. Strong was then put, and the
resolutions adopted;
*The President announced the names of the
Committee to review the Finances of the Board
as follows:—Governor Buckingham, of Conn.,
Hoh. Homer Bartlett, Dr. Bacon, Judge Strong,
F. Starr, Esq., W. E. Dodge, Esq., Dr. J, F.
Stearns, John Kingsbury, Esq.
Dr. Treat announced that the tjme had come
for the closing exercises, but before they took
place, he requested the audience to preserve the
impressions they had received here, and commu
nicate those impressions to those they meet with.
He also requested the pastors to urge the claims
of the cause on their congregations. In speak
ing of the present Annual Meeting, he charac
terized it as the most interesting and important
that occurred for many years.
The meeting then united in singing the 77th
Hymn:
“Hasten, 0 Lord, the glorious time.”
The &T . W. Bindley then delivered the closing
address on behalf of the missionaries, expressing
the gratification of himself tod his brethren at
the action taken hy the Board in relation to the
missionary enterprise.
Tice President Jessup returned the thanks of
the Board for the hospitalities extended to them
by the people of Cleveland. He spoke in eulo
gistic terms of the beauty of the city and of the
character of its citizens. He said that the prayers
of the people of Cleveland have undoubtedly aided
the action of the Board, and he hoped that the
prayers of the people would follow the Board
when it went forth from among them. He closed
hy urging the cause of the missions on the peo
ple, and appealed especially to the mothers of
young men.
Rev. Dr. Aiken, on behalf of the Committee
of Management, replied to the resolutions of
thanks and the remarks of Judge Jessup., He
expressed the delight of the Cleveland churches
at being enabled to entertain the members of the
Board. When he came to this city, twenty-six
years ago, he never dreamed of seeing the Ame
rican Board here. But events had far outrun
his expectations, ; and he thanked God at being
spared to see this event. '
In saying that we have had a good meeting,
he was saying what was the sentiment of every
one here. Owing to the condition of the coun
try he did not expect a large gathering, but it
had exceeded his expectations, and in interest it
could not be surpassed. He reviewed the his
tory of the Board, showing that although it has
frequently been apparently ore the'verge of bank
ruptcy, it has always, in some unexplained man
ner, come up solvent. From this fact he was
encouraged in the belief that Gk>d has it under
' especial protection. He was therefore embold
ened to believe in its future success.
He alluded to the late Elisha Taylor, of this
city, and sketched his connection with the ope
rations of the Board. It was he who initiated
the movement of bringing the Board here, thongh
he had a presentiment that he should not be
alive to meet file members at the meeting.
In conclusion he bid the Board farewell.
The meeting then united in singing two verses
of the 551st hymn,
“Shall we Whose souls are lighted.”
After which was sung the hymn
“Blest be the tie that binds.”
The scene at the closing of the meeting Was
exceedingly impressive, as the immense congre
gation stood and united in singing the beautiful
“ Missionary Hymn." It was a picture that will
not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it
After Benediction by Father Keep, the Board
adjourned to meet in Springfield, Mass., on tie
first Tuesday in October, 1862.
[For the above report, we are mainly indebted
to the Cleveland Herald.']
SYNODICAL MEETINGS AND ACTS.
The Synod of Wisconsin met at Cottage
Grove on the 19th ult. The sessions were marked
by a high degree of spirituality. After one 0 f
the devotional services twelve adults arose to re
quest an interest in our supplications to tie
throne of grace.
the correspondent of the Evangelist says: Tie
Synod is deeply imbued with a spirit of loyalty
and patriotism. Her ministers have given their
sons, and her congregations their members, to
subdue this causeless and wicked rebellion by
force of arms.
It was determined as soon as practicable, to
secure a collection from each of our churches for
our Publication Committee, and then to establish
a Synodical Depository at some suitable point
within our boundary.
Some of our brethren in missionary fields have
now been six or eight months without aid, and
will he compelled to abandon their ehurches un
less relief comes soon.
'Synod of lowa. —This body met recently at
Oskaloosa. It passed a series of well-considered
resolutions on the present state of the country,
and the causes leading thereto. The last one of
these, views with alarm the increase of Sabbath
desecration, and calls upon ministers to put forth
immediate and earnest efforts both in the pulpit
and elsewhere, that the public conscience may
be quickened to duty. Also the following:—
Synod heartily approve the Assembly’s plan of
Home Missions and Education, and urge upon
our Presbyteries immediate action in conformity
therewith, calling attention especially to the pro
vision for the appointment of Presbyterial Com
mittees on Home Missions, and to the require
ment for an annual contribution from the
churches, in behalf of ministerial education.
The special appeal of the Publication Com
mittee for sympathy and aid, deserves the serious
attention of all our churches, inasmuch as" the
circulation of a sound religious literature, at a
cheap rate, is an invaluable agency for good, and
without the prompt and effective aid of the
churches, this important enterprise so happilly
initiated must soon he abandoned.
• Rev. Petes S. Van Nest, late of lowa City,
has accepted an unanimous call from the First
Church of Geneva, Walworth Co,, Wisconsin,
and desires correspondents to address him here
after at that place.
Fast Day in Chicago.— Rev. Mr. Humph
rey, at the First Presbyterian Church, preached
from Psalms Ixvi. -7:—“He ruleth by his power
for ever. His eye beholdeth the nations. Let
not the rebellious exalt themselves.” His prin
cipal theme was the law of revolutions as ap
plied to the present rebellion. In the Second
Presbyterian Church, Dr. Patterson preached
from Hosea xiv. 9: “0, Jerusalem, return unto
the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen hy thine
iniquity.” The preacher proceeded to demon
strate that the cause of the-calamities of the
Jews was their idolatry. He contended that
this too, , was our national sin. Onr idols were
an outward show of Liberty—National Wealth—
National Progress—National Greatness, and a
love of power ; political and individual. These
points were discussed at length.and with much
force of argument. • In the Third Presbyterian
Church, after the usual devotional exercises, ad
dresses were made by the pastor, Rev. Mr.
Ferris, of the Dutch Reformed Church, E. Tan
Buren, Esq., Prof. Haven, and others. The oc
casion was one of deep interest.
Rev. Dr. Thompson, of the Christian Times.
at the Business Men’s Prayer Meeting, in Cin
cinnati, on Fast-day remarked, that there arc
just two points to be looked at in order to form
a judgment as to the procuring cause of oar
present deplorable condition. Ist.- Where d«=
the stroke of Divine judgment fall? and 2d.
Whence does it come ? It strikes most evident!;
and emphatically at the existence of our govern
ment. This has been onr idpl. We have for
gotten God, and trusted to the, power and wis
dom of our unequalled political institutions for
our prosperity. While other nations and govern
ments were liable to fall and perish, we have
imagined that such a calamity was impossible to
ns. But God is about to teach ns that he sits
on the throne, and that no nation or government
can exist without His favor. And whence does
our trouble come? It comes from slavery'
This is most clearly its source. If when onr
fathers erected this government, and established
our civil liberty, they had also stricken the
shackles from the limbs of the slave, do yousnp
pose we would have any rebellion to-day? Cer
tainly not. Repudiating any sympathy with the
extreme views and measures of abolitionists, he
averred that it was utterly dishonorable to God
to suppose that he approved of making merchan
dise of men; or that he would allow it to be done
by any nation with impunity.
The Sabbath in Gen. Bank’s command
is kept with great exactitude. No business,
not absolutely necessary, is transacted, and
in most of the regiments religious services
are held at least once during the day.
only music by the band is that adapted to
the occasion.
Tennyson is expected to write the poem
for the opening of the great World’s !' all
at London, England, during the coming
year. .
OCT. 10,