166 gmtim |wrtgtM»a# —AND— 6ENESEB EVANGELIST. PHILADELPHIA, OCT. 15, 1863. JOHN W. HEARS, Subscribers who are in arrears and liable to 50 cents additional charge on their bills, are notified that this charge will be re mitted to such as pay an additional year, in ad vance of the present. SYNOD Of PENNSYLVANIA, The members of the Synod of Pennsylvania can procure excursion tickets from Philadelphia to Baltimore for $4.12, at the depot, Broad tad Prime Streets. An application has been made for excursion tickets from Baltimore to Wash ington. An answer to this application has not yet been but information can be pro cured at the time of starting for Philadelphia. DR. MARKS’ PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN- We have received a full notice of this stirring and instructive volume from a competent hand | which will appear next Week. MEETING Of THE AMERICAN, BOARD; Editorial not Es. Rochester, October 7th, 1863. With the usual eclat, the pleasurable excite ment, the vast crowds that always accompany this grcat oooasion, the fifty-fourth Anniversary of the American Board is now being celebrated. Places for one thousand persons have been pro vided by the : laborious Committee, and how many thousands more have 'found accommoda tions among their friends, cannot he told. The vast audience-chamber-of 1 the Brick Church, ca pable of accommodating two thousand persons, is crammed at every jpeetings every available place for standing or sitting is occupied, and pro found interest marks the eountenancescf the ®u-i •dicnee. The Brick Church itself is an edifice of ■exceedingly noble proportions—ample, spacious, grand enough to be the senate, chamber for the deliberations of the greatest American organiza tion for promoting the kingdom of C htist. It is large® than the first Church on Washington Square, besides .containing, by far, the finest .set of lecture, .committee, reoaption, and Sabbath' School rooms we ever isaw. Passing through, them in .company witn Henry Hill, Esq., of Bos ton, we inquired whether any church in that! city could dhow any thing to equal the Sab-! bath School room,-as we knew nothing like it in Philadelphia. He answered in the ■negative. Its size, its perfect proportions, its simple neat ness, the admirable accommodations for scholars and teaebera, the .conveniences for the infant scholars—a comfortable low chair being provided for each of the little learners—the business-like arrangements for the library, and the fine large organ, combine to make it a mbdel School room, deserving full description, and, indeed, a visit from all church building committees who have a regard, as they most certainly ought to have, for the comfort of the younger members of the con gregation. Indeed, we think .it must be difficult for the child ion of Dr. Shaw’s .flock to resist the great attraction of that beautiful and airy hall, when opened for them on the Sabbath day. Rochester has more than oue-church of these fine proportions, and visitors generally are im pressed with the large-minded ness and eminent practical wisdom which shine forth in the style and proportion of these Christian temples,' Among the prominent men, first of the Presby terian Church, whom we saw on the platform, were the venerable Dr. Cox, hearty and genial-looking as over; Dr. Beman, still withstanding creditably the advances of age; President fisher, of Ha milton College; 'Professor Gondit, ;of Auburn Seminary; Dr. Parker, of Newark; Dr. Fowler, of Utiea; Dr. Eddy, of Seneca falls; Drs. Wis her, of Lockport and Ithaca. Among laymen we were well reprefen ted by the. very liberal Wm. E. Dodge,of N. f-; by the polished W.S. Griffith, of Brooklyn; by Judge Strong, of our own city, and by W. H. Brown, of Chicago. Of the clergy, in and about Philadelphia, we noticed . only Messrs. Robbins, H. A. Smith, Thomas Johns- ton, and Budge. Of the congregational body there were the President, Dr. Mark'Hopkins, : Dr. Hawes, who feels a father’s interest in the work, Drs, Bacon and Dutton, of New Haven, Dr. Todd, Dr. Marsh, and others. Among the laymen hone attracted greater attention than the venerable Chancellor Walworth, long a devoted friend of the Board, now evidently yielding to the advances of age, his long, white, partly curled and expanded locks giving a peculiar- appearance to a countenance still indicating a Christian kind ness of heart. One 6f his sons is quite eminent as a Romish priest, having been led into thdt fold of error by the intermediate'steps of Pusey ism. He has lately written a volume against Colenso, called “The Gentle Skeptio.” We have said that'the meeting of the Ameri can Board was transpiringwith the usual interest. That is far below the fact. The services have been characterized by a depth of .feeling and a sense of the importance of the matters in hand exceed ing what is frequently experienced. The sermon by Dr. Cleveland, simple in plan and structure, went directly to the root of the matter, and grasped with firm and distinct 1 hand the great motives and means of Christian effort in the field of Missions. The preacher’s account of the false; and the true motives was searching, stirring, af fecting to the heart of the true believer, and the whole exercise was calculated to lead the congre gation to first principles, and make every Chris tian feel that the degree of missionary spirit which he felt was a test of his piety. Dr. Cle veland, at several passages in the sermon, forgot the Scripture injunction: “ Say not thou, What is cause that the former days were better than tiese.” But the glow of thought and frequent chasteness and power of illustration, made the effort acceptable to all classes of his hearers. The great feature of the meeting'to-day, and. doubtless, of the whole occasion, is Dr. Ander son’s report of the state of the churches on the Sandwioh Islands, and the subsequent addresses and action on the subjeet. Dr. Anderson’s tour extended over a period of eight montns, and ein braced a thorough exploration of a large portion of the islands, besides interviews with the foreign and native pastors and. office-bearers in , the churches on various occasions. Dr. A. was ac compacted by bis wife, who, though at her own charges, was a very valuable assistant in acqui ring information upon the moral condition of the natives. The impressions acquired by the Sec retary were, on the whole, of a decidedly favo rable and encouraging character, as will appear from the reports of them in another part of the paper. That was a grand spectacle, when, before that immense and breathless Christian audience, ga thered from every part of the North, the man whose experience and abilities qualified him for the work of observation, and who had long and deservedly enjoyed the confidence of the churches ■ of the land, bore his tfestimony as an eye-witness, and laid down his incontrovertible facts, de monstrating the • reality of the piety and Chris tian civilization of these but recently savage ido-’ laters; and when one of the first party of the mis sionaries who landed upon the island, forty-four years ago, Rev. Hiram Bingbaui, being present, rose and gave the opposite colors of the picture; and when still another ;of the early, missionaries to the island, Rev. C. S Stewart; now chaplain in the navy, described' in graphic language, the repulsive and frightful aspect of the natives upon his arrival, as they thronged around the vessel in tlieir canoes... And the whole marvellous in terest of the scene culminated in the appearance of Rev. L. H. Gulick tipun . the platform, the newly appointed agent of the Hawaiian Native Board of Missions, Education'and Publication,; just organized from the associated churches o£ of these Christianized Islanders. In the native tongue of the islands, Secretary Gulick gave the salutations of the Board to; its parent institution, and, in flowing language, printed the career of usefulness , which; was before the associated churches. Editor. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHARACTER OF- THE MEETING. Without attempting a numerical estimate, we can state our impression of the general character of the attendance. To us it seems deeidedly Pres byterian. We have already named the promi nent personages on the platform, in which > the reader will notice the preponderance of Presby terians among the leading elements.. : -But 'it is more remarkable that there is not a solitary settled clergyman present from Boston, save the Secretaries of the Board, and not a single Con gregationalism clergyman from New York or Brooklyn. As for the latter cities, Rev. Dr. Cox appears to be the only minister of any .denomi nation representing them. * Philadelphia on the contrary is represented by at .least four "if not more of our ministers, and by. Judge Strong among the laymen. The clergy, of Central and Western New York are largely represented and ;they are Presbyterians. From the West, we notice in addition to those already named, Rev. Dr. Thompson of Cincinnati, and Rev. Dr. Atterbury of New Albany. Mr.-W. H. Brown of Chicago, Elder in the First Presbyterian Church is also present. We cannot say what change would he made in this .general estimate by an actual count; we give the impression which we are sure would -strike any observer well enough acquainted with the men. The fact if it be a fact, is due, in part, to the locality, which is more Presbyterian than < any other part of the Home field of the Board. But it is also due, we think, to a growing interest in the enter prise of Foreign Missions among our people, and to an unwillingness to go unrepresented; in, the deliberations of the body which is the agent of its charities among the heathen. It was therefore fairly due to the Presbyterian body that the .place of Rev. A. D. Smith, D.D., recently elected President of Dartmouth College, On the Prudential Committee, should be filled by a member of the same denomination. Henoe, the election of Rev. A. Barnes of this city to that important position! No man in the body to which* Mr. Barnes belongs, can more fairly and acceptably represent it in the Prudential Com mittee. If the body has any peculiar honor or interests to be .guarded there, they would be safe in his hands. If the Prudential Committee wish to retain a strong hold upon the body, they effectually accomplished it by making such a choice. Besides, the high reputation, the devout piety, the singular clearness and wisdom, the faithful and warm attachment of Mr. Barnes to the. Board, fairly entitle him to a place at its council table. To be closely concerned in the management of so great an instrumentality for the conversion of the world, would be a graceful crown to all the other uncoveted and unsought distinctions offered to Mr. Barnes, in which a.new career of usefulness might open upon the later years of his well-spent life. TASTNESS AND POWER OP THE BOARD. One gets a very decided opinion of the great power concentrated in this institution by attend ing its anniversary. There are the great assem blies of interested people, surpassing anything of the kind, except our greatest political and patriotic ,gatherings; the remote parts of the country and world represented by delegates and missionaries; the patriarchal dignity and repu tation in the churche3 of many of the members; the almost bewildering number, Variety and world-' wide dispersion of the fields of labor reported on ; the air of permanence and of steady growth characterizing the history, movements and plans of the Board, proving its deep'hold upon the churches, and the degree of, divine favor it has enjoyed, all combine, to leave a feeling of awe,, upon the mind of tlie beholder. At this meet- • ing, a single item of business brought out the fact in a striking light. The charter of the Board hitherto has restricted it to the holding of an amount of property, the yearly value of which should not exceed four thousand dollars. This amount fixed fifty years ago, ! has been found entirely too small; and application was liecord ingly made to the General Court of Massachusetts for an amendment to the charter. The naming of the sum was left to the wisdom of the legisla ture, who called the members of the Prudential Committee before them and after consultation, fixed the sum, of their own motion, the liberal point of thirty thousand dollars. It wasiremarked by members of the legislature that it was desira- ; ble that the Board should not be under the ! necessity of applying for a change during the ; enduing fifty years.: The permanent possessions of jthe Board all over the world are seen in this light, to be rising steadily, in extent and value, so that our legislators must need observe and act upon the fact. The entertainment furnished the Board by the people of Rochester was generous ail'd large, .in keeping with their well-kno wn’ charac ter; /We can speak for our host, tie;‘District Secretpry of the Board, Rev. Charles P. Bush, Rochester, October 8th,’1863. CONCLUDING WORDS. §mmt#n ftfijskgtjfiwn and fttnm* tangdisst. and his excellent lady, who were indefatigable In their efforts for the comfort of their nume rous guests.. Indeed, there was a really pain ful feature in the assiduity of the ladies espe cially ; we mean the insuperable difficulties which it placed in the way of tbeir own attend ance on the services of the Board. Few, it was said, of the Rochester families had leisure’to enjoy the great occasion transpiring among them. This is certainly a very great evil, and conflicts with one of the chief purposes of the meeting, namely, to act upon the community itself, in which it meets. In fact, the question of entertaining the Board and its numerous friends is becoming environed with the most serious difficulties, which it will be necessary to meet in some practical manner, if these an niversaries are to be continued. ■ The obligation to provide entertainment must be restricted, first, to the corporate and honorary members of the Board and tbe returned missionaries with their wives (not young children); after that, provision might be made for the friends in ge neral, at the option of the people. Either this must, be done, pr a season of the year chosen when a grand out-door festival may be made of the occasion, after the manner of the German missionary festivals. Willing, glad, though the people may be to extend the widest Chris tian, hospitality on these occasions, it disturbs us to see them, Martha-like, cumbered with much serving, unable to sit at’ the feet of the Master, when, in such; a peculiarly interesting manner and -by such favored instrumentalities, he comes into the midst. , The? singing was without any elaborate dis play on the part of the choirs, who simply led the great congregation. And what grand vo lumes of praise, rolled, sea-like, around those. ample walls,, and surged upward from the; lips and hearts of the multitude,! every one! of whom seemed to have *a voice for this de lightful service I It was a great* feature of all the vawous gatherings, and gave the whole; occasion the character of a joyous Chris tian festival. The congregations of Roches ter delight not only in large churches, but also in organs ,of the largest class, and well! did their melodious thunder blend with and sustain the; volume of song poured forth by the, people as the voice of many waters. We heard the overture to Zampa and one or two other overtures, to operas performed as! preludes to the services, but could not fully reconcile our selves to the introduction of such pieces in the house of God. The adornment of the platform and other parts of the house with flowers and evergreens, on a scalp of great profusion and in excellent taste, was much more to our mind. Over a dozen immense bouquets ■ were ranged in front of , the officers’ tables. They were fur nished by the proprietors of the celebrated Mt. Hope nurseries, Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, who are both Roman. Catholics. We cannot conclude these notes without ac knowledging our obligations to the eburtesy of Mr. E. T. Huntington, of the committee of ar rangements, Editor of the Rochester Bomocrat, and to the local editor and reporter of the same excellent journal, who afforded us every facility in the use of their full and accurate reports of the proceedings. Mr. Huntington’s services were indispensable, to the success of the occa sion ; he seemed ito have, the faculty of being present Whenever and wherever he was needed. In fact, the whole Machinery for the proper ac commodation of the guests, for the distribution of letters, and the return tickets, and for ar ranging the meetings, though necessarily com plicated tad burdensome to those who carried it on, worked smoothly and satisfactorily to all observers. We shall certainly endeavor to be on hand if spared to see announced another meeting of the Board at Rochester. FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD., FIRST DAY. The American Board of Commissioners ! for Foreign Missions met Tuesday afternoon at the Brick Church, Rochester’ The church was not very well filled during the afternoon, which it was supposed would be 'devoted to business of less interesting character than would occupy the attention of the Board during its remaining sessions., 'iv. ; \ . ~, ... : ;.... Under the direction'of the local committee; a handsome rostrum had been'erected in front of the pulpit for the accommodation of the officers of the Board, who are as follows:. President.—-Mark'-Hopkins, D. D., LL. D. Yiee-President.—Hon. Wm. Jessup, LL. D. Prudential/ Committee.—Charles Stoddard, Esq., John Tappan, Esq.; Nehemiah Adams, D. D., Augustus C Thompson, D. D., Hon. William T. Eustis, Hon. John Aiken, Henry Hill, Esq., Asa D. Smith, D. D,, Walter S. Griffith Esq.‘, Alpbeus Hardy, Esq/, Hon. Linus Child, William S. Sorithworth, Esq., Corresponding Ander son, D.IX, Rev. Selah B! Treat. / Ooresponding Sedrelay, resident in New York.—George W. Wood, D. D., / / Recording M. Worcester, D. D„ "/ '/,. //: . ' Treasurer.—James M. Gordon, Esq., / Auditors.—Moses L. Hale, Esq., Hon. Sam’l H. Waliey., ‘ All the executive officers were present. Ample provision was made for the reporters of the press. The platform was neatly carpeted and supplied with all desirable conveniences.— The margin fronting the audience was tastefully decorated with mammoth boquets from Messrs- Elwanger & Barry, and others eontrbuted from private sources. ~ The President of the Board, Dr. Mark Hop kins, took the chair at the appointed hour, 4 o’clock P. M., and called upon Rev. Dr. Hooker of Ncwburyport, who led in prayer. / Tbe minutes of the last meeting were then read, and Rev. J P. Fisher was appointed As sitant Recording Secretary. A committee of arangements was appointed, consisting of Drs. Shaw and Dewey, and Rev. Messrs,,jl?. F. Ellenwood, W- Warren' and C. P. Bush. Rev. Selah B. Treat/ Corresponding Secre tary, read an abstract of the annual report of the Prudential Committee. / ' Four corporate members have died since the last Annual• Meeting to wit: Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., Rev. John McDowell, D. D.» Hervey Ely, Esq., Rev. Edward Roberson. Twenty-three persons have entered upon the missionary work for the first time, during the year; and eleven have ;embarked for posts Which they had previously occupied. 1 Rev. Charles P./Bush has been appointed District Secretary for Central and Western New York, and Rev. Elisha Ballantine, District Sec retary for Ohio, Indiana, Southern Illinois and Missouri. . Tbe entire income for the year has been $391,079 71, against an expenditure for the same period of $392,161 04. The year began with a debt of $6,184 95. At the,conclusion -of the report, the Presi dent called upon the congregation to sing the two following verses of the 61st hymn in the collection printed for the use of the Board: Prayer was then offered by Wm. Wisner, D. D., of N. Y. i The committee on M report, of which we m opsis: Abstract of the, annual report. . The Gaboon Mission,.in Western Africa, was never before so greatly avored. Eighteen per son were received to. the communion of the church in 1862, making a total of 33 native members. In the misibn sdhool there are 35 boys and,l4 girls. ; . .. ; In Southern Africa 17 members have been added to'the churches. / Mr. tad Mrs Lindley sailed on their, return] from -America, October 28,’1862. Mr. and M;rs. Lloyd reached Port Natal, December lith, and were soon at the Amanzimtote station, j pleased with the people, the climate and everything about them.” Messrs. McKinney and Ireland, on account of bereavement and ill health, are now on a visit to this'country. Mr. Lewis Grout has asked and received a, release from his' connection with the Board. T In Greece, Dr. King is encouraged with the hope that a bright day, morally,! may be about to dawn upon the-.people. His health , has so far improved, that in April last he resumed preaching in Greek, which he had suspended two years previously., - j In Western Turkey 59 persons have’ been added to the 19 churches, making a total of 411 members: five of the churches have native pas tors ; one is self sustained and others partially so. At Cesarea the Protestants have increased from 309 to 409! ! In Central Turkey the need of workers is much felt, but there have been interesting works of grace. Tbere are now 14 churches in this field seven of which have native pastors.— The average number of hearers, at 26. stated places of preaching on the Sabath, is 3,408 There are 1,893 pupils in 48 common schools, 45 in higher schools, and 16 in- theological classes preparing for the work of the ministry. In Eastern Turkey there are 9 missionaries, who have under their care 7 stations and 41 outstations. Thirteen churches, four of which have pastors, contain. 353 members, and there are besides the pastors, . 9 licensed native preach ers. The total average number of hearers, at 42 stated preaching places, is 3,017. Forty common schools number 1,060 pupils. In Syria the churches number 128 members; 24 schools have 925 scholars; the. translation of the Old Testament has. reached the 40th Psalm; 3,600 volumes of the Scriptures, 11,000 tracts, 6,0Q0 religious and ,school books have been dis tributed. : The Nestorian mission has 476 communi cants; 53 native preachers; 46 theological students ; 40 female seminary pupils, and 517 pupils in village schools. . There has been great suffering among the Nestorians, still eru oiiy oppressed by their Mohammedan- masters, and reduced to the' verge of starvation by the ravages of locusts: and a new firman of the Persian Government, instigated by the Jesuits, threatens to throw very serious obstacles in the way of.the missionary work. The Mahratta mission, in Western India, has now 624 professing Christians who reside in no less than 114 different towns and villages. Thirty-one common schools contain 320'schol ars. The school for catechists, with 36 pupils, is doing a good work, as is' also that for girls, under the care of Mrs. Ballantine. Four of seven students have been licensed to preach. At Madras 9 schools have; 300 pupils; 7 members of the church received by Dr. Win slow. . , The Madura mission is deprived of Rev. D. C. Seudder, accidentally drowned. New labor ers are wanted. There are 29 schools, 1,144 members. The schools are prosperous. In Ceylon 2,000 persons hear the gospel weekly. There are-|<fcehufehes, 449 members; 50-sehools. 1,592 scholars.' The missionaries report steady onward progress. There are three missions in China, viz: at Canton; at Fuh-chau and. North China. At the former more than 1,300,000 pages of tracts, &c., have been distributed. The mission at Fuh- Chau cabs for reinforcements at once. The work progresses favorably in North China. • Betters from the Sandwich Islands represent affairs 1 as less promising. There have ; been only 244 accessions to the churches in the year, while 1,100 have been removed by death and excommunications. The natives of the islands are rapidly decreasing. • = In Micronesia persons have been added to the church in a year. The work of translation has been going forward, and teaching has been very successful. : ' The report closed with a very interesting.ae count of missionary labors among the 'lndians, but want of space precludes its publication here. At the conclusion of the reading of the;report, Dr. Shaw of the Committee of Arrangements, reported that a prayer meeting would be held at the Central Presbyterian Church every morn ing at 8| o’clock. The Board then took a re cess till 7-|- P. M. ■ ■ The evening session was very largely attend ed, the spacious church being filled in every part. The annual sermon was delivered by Dr. G. L. Cleaveland, of New Haven, Ct. October 6th, The morning prayer meeting at the Central Church was well attended; the lower part of the Church being filled. The venerable Dr. Bemah, of Troy, presided. The Assembly was success ively led, at the throne of grace, by Rev. Dr. Wm. 'Wisher of Ithaca,, Dr. Joel Parker of Newark, N. J., formerly of New York, Rey. George Trask of Boston, and others. The Board met at the Brick Church at 9£ o’clock, all the' available space in the Church, both of aisles and galleries being occupied before the exercises began. The .session was opened with devotional exer cises, Rev. Dr. Condit, of Auburn, leading in prayer. - ■r. • ■ The minutes of the* proceeding meeting were read, and a vote of thanks returned to Riv. pr. Cleveland for the annual sermon on, Tuesday evening, and a copy of the same requested for publication. ; The Treasurer, Thmes M. Gordon, Esq., made his Teport, as follows: Receipts and Expenditures of the A. B. O. F. M. for the Year ending Aug. 31, 1863. , expenditures. . {including the extra cost of exchange.) Daughter of Zion ! from the dust Exalt thy fallenliead; Again in thy Redeemer trust; He calls thee from the dead. Awake, awake i pnt on thy strength, Thy beautiful array; The day of freedom dawns at length, The Lord’s appointed day. ssions presented their ike the following syu- SECOND DAY. MORNING SESSION. Balance August 31, 1862, §11,103,62 Oost of Zulu Mission. 21,512,15 Gaboon Mission. 2 669 26 “ Mission to Greece. , 2^64840 “ “ Western Turkey. 54,282’,12 Central “ 18,735,57 • “ - Eastern “ 25,508,05 “ Syria 32,786,84 • Wegtorian Mission. 19,678,19 “ ‘ Mahratta “ g 2 875’72 ;; Madras .« < ; ± m ’ M Madura “ 48.850,71 “ Ceylon “ ' : 28,002,48' Canton “ 10,441,54 “ Fuh-chau “ 11,580,69 . “ North China “ 11,201,67 ' “ Sandwich Island's Mission 21,569,69 “ Micronesia “ 8,015,99 “ Dakota “ 3,286,16 “ Ojibwa • “ 2,680,47 “ Seneca. “ 1*269,89 “ . Agencies 7,859,07 “ Agency in New York 4597,39 “ General Expense 9,734,68 “ Publication 7,453,6fi , Receipts. By Donations received within the yeST, as ac knowledged in the Missionary Herald •. . .§304,905,74 By Legacies, as knowledged in the Herald, 85,040,66 By Interest on General Permanent Fund, (§28,000 being invested in the Missionary _ Mouse,) 2,335,68 By Interest from the; Ashley Fund, 150,00 By Avails of press, and sales of books and pamphlets at the Zulu Mission, • 936,42 By Avails of press and rents at Mahratta Mission • : 1,344,25 By Avails of presSj Book Depository and Land in Ceylon 836,27, By Avails of rent and sale of house at Seneeca Mission 138,10 By Translating for the United States Consul at< Canton : 792,59 Total; .i, §397,079,71 Balance of debt, Aug., 31,1863 6,184,95 db» Anderson’s tour in .the sandwich islands. h.Bev-.Dr. Anderson gave an interesting review of his visit to the Sandwich Islands and what.he saw there. Ten years ago the, Prudential Com mittee, : believing, the Sandwich Islands to be Christianized, in the popular sehse of the: term, thought that the native Churches ought to be self-governing that they might; eventually become Self-sustaining. To this end the speaker visited the Islands by the recommendation of the Com mittee, accompanied by his wife and daughter, the latter • persons at his own expense. They arrived in Honolulu in the month of February, 1863, and were well received. Many of the Honolulu ladies gave evidence of a refinement that would befit onr own circles. March, April and'May were devoted to visiting the four stations in the Islands. This was done on horse back. Their. aggregate riding exceeded 400 miles over lava roads, himself and daughter riding on one day 60 miles. They sailed for home via the Isthmus, and arrived at New York after eight months’absence. The speaker then proceeded to describe the appearance of the country, its prominent objects of interest, &c. He was received by the Hawaii ans as a friend and patron, and was everywhere expected to address the people. He estimated that he had shaken hands with nearly 12,000 of them. He fo.und them.kind-hearted and loveable, qualities which are reflected in their favorite salutation: “ Aloha,” “Love to yon.” He always spoke through an interpreter, but was heard with interest and apparently well under stood. The islanders were delighted to sec one who had visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and all the more celebrated places, of the Holy Land. It was a new evidence to them of the,truth of their religion. The audience varied from 600 to 1200 persons. -On one occasion there were 500 horses fastened at the meeting place. The females are brave horsemen, and .ride like; the men. Boldness is one of the characteristic of the people. The Honolulu Church, built of coral and seating 3000. persons, will stand forages. Here an ordination service was held, arid the speaker was as; much interested as at any ordination elsewhere.-. - The Church was. filled. At his ftfrewell meeting in the same Church there were 2,500 present. The appearance of those audiences was in re markable contrast with such assemblages: thirty years ago. ; Then they were all naked, now well clothed. They had not then risen to a concep tion of the use. of clothing. One hundred meet ing houses, have since been built, at an aggregate cost of more than §150,000. The Stone Chureh at Honolulu is the most prominent object of the place and'will stand for ages. The Churches generally have hells, the natives being very fond of them. About 53,000 persons have been re ceived into the Churches, of whom 28,000 have died. - - • - Concerning the character of the ! Church mem bers, it was far better than he had been led to expect, and comparatively speaking, good; as compared with, our own;in the sight of God, the difference is more circumstantial than real. 'Everywhere, he observed; it is hard to create a sensitive conscience ip relation to favorite sins, and theirs is licentiousness. His opportunities for judging of the characteristics of the people, could not have been improved, and everywhere he had the evidence that he was in a Christian land- Multitudes of those whom he met are to be numbered, .with the people of God. Consider ing that they are not a stable people, their ad herence to the'Christian faith is a deeply inter esting fact. Amid maDy falls and risings, there they stand as monuments of grace. They have a decided taste for newspaper reading. When the mail arrives at midnight, they are there to obtain it, and sit about in squads to read and discuss the news ; eager to hear of the war in America and other intelligence. It seemed to him that their congregational singing was equally as good as it was in the . New England States in his youth. Morning praydr meetings have been regularly sustained since the great revival of 1832, and buildings have been specially erected and dedicated for that purpose. Female prayer meetings have also been regularly sustained. He was struck with the simple views of ihese people with regard to prayer. Two of them,- being in a boat; were attacked by a shark which they in vain tried to. repel; and at length kneeled down, in the boat and prayed for deliver ance. Then, raising the paddles, they awaited his next onset. But he suddenly turned and left them; which circumstance they attributed solely ,to tbe effect of their prayer. Respecting the ■ Missionaries in the Islands, their works praise them. Few are aware of the self denial they are compelled to exercise, and the hardships they constantly undergo, in the prosecution of their labors. Dr. Anderson then proceeded to note the changes that had occurred in the civil condition of the people. In 1820 the Government was a despotism, the King having the power of life and death. The people were slaves. In 1839 the King was induced to sign a bill of rights —a magna cJtbrla, alienating his despotic powers. In 1845 a new constitution and code of laws were given, and the King declared the Word of God to be the corneT-stone of bis Government. There had never been any more remarkable changes by supreme rulers than this. Nowhere is life and property more secure. * The natives are perfectly trustworthy, as a class. A. self-re gulating, self governing principle is permanently established. When the speaker first went out, it was de signed to form self-governing regulations in the' churches, and self-support would naturally fol low, though, perhaps, not in a long period. The project has been carried out, and reports have been received from the nine churches in the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, and will be laid before tlie Board. The speaker proceeded to describe the changes thus resulting in the management of the native churches. The success of the Hawaiian Mission in the Sandwich Islands is now .beyond question. In 1820, when the Pioneer Missionaries, Bingham and Thurston,;went out, the people were naked baribariaus, groping in religious darkness and the lowest social degradation. Mr. Bingham is here to-day, What they had lived to see, the speaker had. but partially described. He exhorted the people of God to remember that infant commu nity, both in prayer and practical aid. Soon the veteran missionaries on the Islands must retire, arid how should their places he filled ? But the future must be left to the all-wise' and gracious Providence, without whose aid there is no hope in organization or any-other measure of man’s devising. ' With grateful hearis the .past we own; The future—all to .us unknown— • • We to Thy guardian care.commit, . And peaceful leave before Thy feet. §403,264,60 §403,264,66 The President then called upon the Rev. Dr. Hawes to lead in prayer. Dr. H. previously made some highly appropriate remarks with reference to the Sandwich Islands Mission, having himsdlf been permitted to witness the inauguration of that important work. There was not .only abund ant cause for thanksgiving and praise, but equal cause for prayer to God for its continuance. Dr. Anderson' introduced Rev. Hiram Bing ham, of the Sandwich Islands Mission, who pro eeeced to give some interesting reminiscences of his experience there. a; . REV- MESSRS. BINGHAM AND STEWART. Forty-four years ago, the speaker and Mr. Thurston sailed for the Sandwich Islands, in company with four natives who had received Christian culture in Connecticut, The party numbered fourteen in all. They took the word of God as the foundation of their work, and it is now acknowledged as the corner-stone of the nation’s prosperity. The Scriptures were trans lated and widely disseminated, till scarcely a fa mily in the islands were, unsupplied with the Bible. About four years after their entry an in surrection occurred. The missionaries were in the rebellious district, and greatly exposed. Af ter every battle the soldiers thronged about the missionary quartern imploring them to return thanks for their deliverance. Twenty .years have elapsed, and it is, now.a Christian nation. Multi tudes of them have passed away, but they had first obtained knowledge of salvation through Christ. Mr. Bingham regarded the success of the work on the Sandwich Islands as attributa ble to the full and: adequate force sent at the ontset, and hoped the same wise policy would prevail in other enterprises. The speaker read some portions of a letter lately received from a native female convert, and which he offered as a specimen of the in telligence and Christian zeal of the people of the land. In penmanship and in style it would'compare favo rably with the work of any cultivated -lady in the land. O’he following isthe conclusion: ’ “We salute you, and we send bur great aloha to all the beloved Christians and all the mission aries in United America. Love and peace to you from God the Father, and from ourselves. “ With admiration,' Dr, Chas. S'.'Stewart, chaplain in the U. S. . Nayy, followed; narrating a few incidents of his personal experience. Forty years ago, after a five months’ voyage, the cry echoed thrdugh the ship, “ Sail, ho 1” Before it subsided; the mis sionaries had assembled at the side of the ship, and involuntarily burst forth with the hymn— “ O’er the gloomy hills of darkness Look, my soul, he still—and gaze.” * It was indeed a land of darkness. The speaker presented.a very graphic picture of the barren volcanic appearance of the. island of the scene on the following morning, when the ship was surrounded by scores of naked, Island ers, in their canoes—-the, exclamations of repug nance from the sailors, the uncouth appearance of their, habitations, the disgusting scenes which -characterized the festival then in progress, the drunkenness and debaucheries of their king and court; but : uo description could adequately por tray the daikness and degradation which were then and there presented. , Drl Anderson remarked, with reference to the. former intemperance of, the Islanders, that now it was an exceptional vice; that the Maine Law was so rigidly enforced it scarcely possible for the natives .to obtain intoxicating, liquors as a beverage. (Applause.) They had a custom, borrowed from the mis sionaries, of celebrating the Fourth of July. On the last Fourth, it was told him that scarcely a man was seen drunk on the islands. The congregation here united in singing— “O’er the gloomy hills of darkness Look, my soul, be still—and gaze.” * Bev. Sir. Kent, of Illinois, paid a worthy tri bute to the venerable Mr. Thurston, one of the Pioneer Missioners to the Sandwich Islands, a college classmate of his, from whom he parted forty-seven years ago. ‘ The President announced the several Commit tees as follows: Business Committee—L. Bacon. D. D., John Kingsbury, Esq., Rev. E. Tenney, J. M. Scbennerhorn, Esq., S. H. Hall.D D Treasurer’s Report.— Wm. JET. Brown, Esq., Gov. Fairbanks, C. T. Hubbard, Esq., S. Ben jamin, Esq.,.Hon. John Fisher. ' Home Department.^—J. B. Condit, D. D., Wm. E. Dodge, Esq., Gfcn. Wm. Williams, S. “ Yours in the Lord.” H. Delano,'Esq., Rev. A. E. P. Perkins, Rev. Daniel Torrey, Rev. A. H. Parmelee. African Mission.—S. W. S. Dutton, D. D., J. C. Holbrook, D. D., 0. H. Gregory, D. D. r Rev. W. H. Goodrich, Rev. S. M. Hodgman, D. H. Little, Esq., Rev. Geo. B. Bacon. Greece and Syria.—R. W. Condit, D. D., Dr. Daggett, A. B. Lambert, J. Taylor, D. D., Rev. Isaac Jennings, Rev. B. T. Northrop, Rev. C. Terry. Western and Central Turkey.—George E. Adams, D. D., John Todd, D. D., Dr. M. S. Goodale, E. S. Wright, D. D., Charles Mills, Esq., Rev. Chas. R. Palmer, Rev. George P. Folsom. . m Nestorians and Eastern Turkey.—P. H. Fowler, D. D., John G. Atterbury, D. D-, Rev. Riebard Dunning, Rev. H. M. Parsons, Rev. T. Tallman, Rev. H. M. Goodwin, I. N. Stickney. Mahratta Mission.—Joel Parker, D- D., A. D. Eddy, D. D., Rev. Calvin Durfee, Rev. T. S. Clarke, Rev. D. Dyer, T. B. Stillman, D. D., Rev. Solomon Clark.. ‘ • Tamil Missions.—Dr. Palmer, Dr. Gale, Rev. L. Whiting, Rev. ¥m. B. Hammond, Rev. C. H. Hubbard, Rev. Henry Seymour, Rev. Sa muel G. Willard. China Mission.—Dr. S. W. Fisher, Eben Al den, D. D., Dr. Shepard, Dr. Marsh, Rev. I. N. Sprague, Rev. D: D. Gregory, Rev. Edward Strong. Sandwich Islands and Micronesia.—L. Ba con, D. D-. Judge Strong, Rev. D. Greene, Dr. Squier, John W. Loud, Esq., Dr. Y. Boardman, Rev. E. K. Alden. ■ North American Indians.—N. Bouton, D. D., Rev. H. G. Ludlow, H. H. Child, D. D., Dr. Albro, Samuel Miller, Esq., T. P. Handy, Esq., Rev. H. -E. Niles. Ne*v Members and Officers—Hon. H. W. Taylor, Dr. Tappan, E. W. Hooker, D. D., Hon. L. Child, W. S. Griffith, Esq., Wm. Hyde, Esq., O. E. Wood, Esq. Place and Preacher.—Chancellor Walworth, Joel Hawes, D. D., Dr. Barstow, Dr! Burgess, Rev. Selden Haines, Rev. A. De Witt, Rev. John Tompkins. ; The Rev. George Trask then arose, and after commending the highly patriotic report of Dr. Bacon, read on Tuesday, as adopted at the last abnual meeting, desired to make a suggestion for the consideration of Dr. Bacon or Dr. Dutton. He had been deeply interested in the reports of the Sandwich Island Missions*, and the Board could not overlook the fact that the Ethiopian was beginning to stretch out his hands to God — not now in chains. SECOND DAY—AFTERNOON. Rev. Dr. Anderson resumed Ms remarks, and referred briefly, first, to the decline of popula tion on the islands. He said it was a compli cated subject—not fully understood. It might be traced, first, to the wars under heathen kings, by which the islands were subject to the rule of Hawaii ; second, to the diseases introduced by vice ; and third, to the epidemics brought in by foreigners. This last cause might be re garded as actually working for the- advantage of the islands—in ridding them of a class of population regarded as incorrigible. The-num ber of natives is about 60,000. Dr. A. expected to see it reduced still further—say to 30,000 be fore the decline was arrested. He then pro ceeded to read his report to the Prudential Committee, with their action upon it. It was embraced in two sections. The first related to the civil changes which have trans pired on tne island, by which the government was changed, by the voluntary consent of the king, from a despotism to a constitutional mo narchy, based upon the Scriptures. This change led the way for the advancement in self-govern ment lately reached by the missionary churches on the islands. The plan, which was thp re sult of deliberations held by the missionaries in connection with the pastors, was adopted last June, and is submitted to the action of the Board at this time. i . > ; ORGANIZATION OP THE PROTESTANT COMMUNITY. It embraces the following particulars: 1. The large churches are to be subdivided, the missionaries retaining the pastorate of the central points and the native pastors to be placed Over the vacancies. 2. Kative pastors and laymen are to be associated in the control of the individual churches, the foreign missiona ries relinquishing their control except by in fluence. 3. Local ecclesiastical bodies will con trol the churches of the islands, who will be al lowed to refer to a central Council for advice. 4, Foreign and native pastors will belong to the same organization. 5. The Hawaiian Evangelical Association will consist of all na tive and foreign congregations and Presbyterian clergymen on the Sandwich, Marquesas,, and Micronesian Islands. . Formerly, only the mis sionaries and other ministers of foreign birth on the Sandwich Islands belonged to this body. Laymen xhay also be elected to it by a two thirds vote. 6. A Hawaiian Board will be • formed; one-third of the members being natives. This Board will perform any agency required of it by the Prudential, Committee in respect to the support of foreign missionaries and the edu cation of their children; also to take charge of Home Missions, Education, Publication, and Foreign Missions, as conducted from the Sand wich Islands. I. They shall write fully and freely to the American Board. 8. The delibe rations of the Association and Board will bo conducted in Hawaiian, and the "records of their proceedings in both English and Hawaiian. 9. The responsibilities of directing the work on the Sandwich and other Islands is delegated to the Hawaiian Board. 10. The American Board.resumes the’support of the old missiona ries. 11. The Board will be open for a time to applications for aid in the various depart ments of labor,. 12. Ko more laborers are to be sent from this country by the American Board. 13. Micronesian Missions Will no lon ger be an organized body, but be worked by the Hawaiian Board——Ponape alone may prove an exception. , .• Sucb, in brief, said Dr. Anderson is the orga nization of the Protestant Christian community at the Sandwich Islands. ■ Four departments of labor, in connection with the Protestant community, have been organized—Home Mis sions, Foreign s Missions, Education and Publi cation, and the’Hawaiian Board has four Com mittees corresponding to these four departments. Rev. L. H. Gulick, M. D., has been elected the Secretary of this Board, and it is expected that he will 1 successfully press the Hawaiian churches—now relieved from the support of their missionary fathers—to an active and vi gorous prosecution of their work in all its branches. . The action of the Prudential Committee on this report of Dr. Anderson’s, recognized the great wisdom and success of his mission to the islands, and especially noted the attempt to bring the native churches to a condition of self government, so that, by means 'of greater acti vity in themselves, they would arrive at a con dition of complete self-support. The attain ment of the former end by the churches is men tioned as matter of devout thanksgiving, and the proposed assumption of- the responsibility of the work of missions on the Sandwich and OCT. 15
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