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NUMBER 232 .
. • _ _
VOLUME LXXXIV.
MISSIONARY.
American Board of
.missioners for For I ign
Missions.
SIXTIETH AI7iIYERSARY.
Second Day's Proceedings.
Horning Session.
The American Board of. Commissioners
for Foreign•Missionsrassembled yester
day morning at the Third. yresbyterian
Church, Sixth avenue, \at half past nine
o'clock, was called to order by the
Chairman, and the exercises opened with
prayer by Rev. Dr. Aiken, of Cleveland,
Ohio.
The*inutes of the preceding session
' were read and approved.
Rev' Dr. Condit offered the following
resoltition: -
Resolved, That the thanks of this Board
be tendered to Rev. Dr. Todd, for his ex
''.cellent annual address, or sermon, deliv
ered in this Church last evening, and that
a copy be requested for publication.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
SPECIAL REPORT.
An elaborate special report of the
; Prudential Committee on "the relations
of foreign missionaries and native
churches and ministers," covering
eleven printed pages, pamphlet form,
was presented by Rev. Geo. W. Wood.
The points considered are:
1. What relations do the missionaries,
and the waive churches, when formed,
atistainward each other?
2. Itmnportant practical questions,
\ which come up under these relations.
, 3. Causes of the want of harmony
• which sometimes arises between
mis
sionaries and native Christians.
.? The report was, on motion of Dr.
y r Wood. referred to a Special Committee
of seven, with instructions to report to
is the Board. The following - !lamed gen
-7t tiemen were appointed the Committee
by the Chair: Dr. R. W. Patterson, D. D.,
.'-; Dr. S. Sweitzer, D. D.. Rev. W. It. Gage,
• Rev. J. W. Dallas, Rev. E. L. Boum,
Samuel M. Lane, Esq. and Benjamin B.
Gaylord, Esq.
The Secretary, Mr: Means, announced
that the Committee on New Members
were requested to meet at the close of
the morning session:
TEE MONTI:MY CRICICERT.
A ' repori on this subject, from the Fru.
dential Committee, was next presented,
by Dr. Clark. A yaluable, paper, in ref
-
. erence thereto, presented at the lastah
,
nnal meeting of the Board, and widely
circulated, during the year, had the effect
• to awaken fresh interestin the Concert.
;Itr order to become acquainted with the
i• actual usage of the time, method, and
results of observing the Concert, circu
lars were sent out soliciting information
and suggestions on the varions topics re
ferred to. The results of these inquiries
, were presented in tabular form. There-
port says:
Of 815 churches, from whom full de
tails have been received, 751, observe the
Concert on the Sabbath, either as a third
service in the evening, or as the second
- service of the day; 98 on a week-day
evening, in most eases at the first regn
lar prayer-meeting of the month. The
recommendations as to' time correspond
very nearly with actual usage. Much
embarrassment is felt, and the concert
has been given up in repeated instances,
in consequence of the increasing prac
tice, particularly in the Middle and
; Western States, of holding the second
service of public worship in the evening.
' A compromise is sometimes effected by
a missionary sermon, or by a collection,
or, better still, by changing the second
service into a Concert. ,The number of
; churches which take ,up a collection at
3 one of the public services •on the San.
bath, instead of doing so at the evening
concert, is rapidly increasing, especially
in the country; till already about ona
fifth of all reported have adopted . this
practice. In the country, also, the sec
= and service on the Sabbath is beginning
to be employed as a Concert, sometimes
alternating on successive months with
the communion service, when that Is
held in the afternoon.
; In a majority of instances the Concert
is not now strictly cenfined to Foreign
Missions, but embraces all forms of
Christian activity, at home as well as
I abroad,—everything. that relates to the
progress of the kingdom of Christ in the
world. The average attendance is about'
the, same as at other meetings held at the
same place, while the aggregate attend
)
ante is increased by making the concert
' • , - take the place of the second service on
the Sabbath, or of the regular ;prayer
• , meeting of the week.
There is the greatest variety, also, in
method of conducting the. Concert, and
in its success as a means of interesting
- the People. -
The returns made to the circulars bring
out clearly two facts; first, that the
Monthly Ooqcert, as new generally ob
- f -L served, not only bills to excite popular
: interest, but does not even enlist the
sympathy of the. great body of the
church; and, secondly, that it can be
3 made a anocessi as is shown in repeated
instances. ,
~ 1. The. butt ie not in the cause. The
1 necessii.les of perishing millions, the
; propitiation for the, sins of • the world;
I .the comMand, the promlie, the marvels
.1
of grace; and. of faith, the triumphs Of
the gospel over every form of error, en
. peratition and philosophy, in every race
and clime, the rapidly developing. Prov
idenclesiti harmony with, and in aid of,
• Chillitien missions, the consecration and
i
the self-denial of noble souls,. the conflict
and the cOMingglory—these are all re
' ' elides that grow not old - to the toying
Christian heart.
IL We are not beyond the neettof pryer.
'Htiinan agencies have their place;
enco, the arts, the material and social re
, -suits of the gospel., may meet add over
come the -lower farms of social life—
make men 'ashamed of the old ways,
but the distinctively spirittiltl work re
•• • 'mains. That,whioh is born of the flesh
.is 'flesh.:: In all titre Christian work, the,
last.word is from above. • The,:new area
• tionis from God., •Our one supreme ob
, ject is to bring men under the regen
erating lbattences of• the Holy
•
Civilization is good, but the new birth is
better; and the highest civilization and
culture follow in the train of the gospeL
What is needed to make it a success?
That question is answered in the replies
received to the circulars.
'I. It must be made a meeting for
prayer. - '.-
2. Missionary Intelligence must be in
termingled-with the devotions of the
hour. This 'cannot be done with interest
and profit, without carefulpeeparation.
General remarks on the subject of mis
sions will not meet the necessity. The
Concert is not a preaching service.
3. It must generally devolve on the
pastor to communicate intelligence. If
there are suitable laymen to take part in,
it, they should be employed; but it can
not be done successfully without a con
tinued study of missionary operations
and their results, from year to year.
A few additional suggestions on other
points may be added, based on replies
received.
I. The Name of the Concert should in
dicate an interest in all Christian enter
prises, at home or abroad, whether it be
called the Monthly Concert of prayer for
the conversion of the world, or the
Monthly Meeting of for the pro
gress of the Kingdom of Christ.
2. Time. Literal unity_ of time, the
world over, is simply impossible, for
geographical reasons, and impracticable
even in any one country, because of the
peculiar circumstances of different local
,ities. The prime object is to secure
united interest and prayer in behalf of
evangelical efforts. This is the idea of
the Concert, and could it be carried out in
unity of form and time, and be made lit
erally a Concert of all who love our Lord
—millions of Christian hearts, in many
lands and languages, raising to God the
same prayer at ttie same hour, and in -
substantially the same form,—it would Po,
be a pleasing thought to many minds. ma
From the returns received, it appears oi
that about seven-eighths oilthe churches anj
observe the Concert on the Sabbath, and cis(
nine-tenths of these on the first Sabbath has
of the month. To secure the greatest i 3.
unity of time, and to follow the usage of the
the great body of the churches, the first Jal
Sabbath evening of the month may be ant
recommended. Ch
.
3. Method. There is no one method wh
sure of success. Very much depends tali
upon the interest, preparation, and tact of I
of the pastor; much upon the missionary wa
intelligence of his people; much too upon - aw
the assistance the pastor can secure from onl
the brethren; and the form must Le 1
adapted to meet these varying conditions. nit
The method which seems to find moat icr
favor, when practicable, is for the pastor l
to preside, and to assign different fields, ity
or different benevolent objects, to differ- co!
ent individuals, on-which to report at the as
Concert; the pastor taking part himself, Sa
or reserving his time to allude to items ph
omitted, or to gather up results, or to
make special application at the close. 1 f
Success here turns largely on the skill ,
and tact of the marten. They will make
or mar the Concert; and sometimes the
only escape is for the pastor to limit the'
time of each, or to present the intelli
gence himself, at Intervals in the meet
ing, with. a stanza or two.-and 'a player
from some one of the brethren, after each
specific report. Some pastors find the
Concert the best means of developing
the speaking powers of their young men,
and regard should be had to the import
ance of training repOrteref,l and of edn
eating them in mission knowledge; but
not to the sacrificing of the Concert. The
exercises may be varied to adnantage by'
an occasional sermon from the-pastor, or
a paper from some member of the
Church, male or female, giving the his
tory of some one mission, with biograph
ical notices of missionaries connected
with it; or an evening may be given to
one mission and then to another, in turn,
in order to secure a more thorough ac
quainjancle with each.
4. Collections. The collection is justly
regarded by many pastors as a means of
grace. Some would despair of the
Concert without it. A few are afraid of
it. The practice of taking up the col
lection at one of the public services op
the Sabbath is specially coaimendetT,
particularly in those congregations where
but few, comparatively.l can attend an
evening meeting. It is but just to give
all an opportunity to attest their sense of
the worth of the gospel and their desire
to extend its blessings to others.
5. Helps. The library of every church
should have works on missionary topics;
as the methods and results of missionary
labor, histories of misshape, biographies
of missionaries, and maps illustrative of
mission fields. The one i great want of
the churches is just and accurate knowl
edge of the Christian work in progress at
home and abroad, and a personal interest
in the missionaries. Lethis be secured,
and we need have no fear of any lack of
general interest, or' of means to carry
forward the Christian enterprise of the
church. Prayer would become specific,
intelligent, earnest; aneach different
corps in the sacramental host would do
its proper work, in eecur ng the final tri
umph of the kingdom of Christ.
On motion of Mr. Clark, the paper was
referred to a Spec : hit Couimittee of seven
to be appointed by the chair, with in
structions to report at th afternoon ses
sion, and the.discussio of the report
was made the, 'special order of ousiness
for the session. The chair appointed the
!ag o
following named gentle en qn the Com
mittee: Rev. S. B. Can eid.*D.D., J. B.
Condit, RD., Hon. 0. N. ids, Rev.A.N.
Clark and Rev, Geo. B. St set.
The congregation then United in sing
ing the thirteenth hymn, tommenoing
“sty foul be on my 'paid,
.
ten thousand toes arise:"
At the conclusion of which Rev. Jona
than F. Stearns, D.D., of Newark, deliv
ered an eloquent and impressive prayer.
JAPAN AS A MISSIONARY F/ELD.
• 'Rev. C. W. Treat, D. D. presented a
report on the proposed occupation,anf Ja
pan as a laisaronarYileld; which alio mill
nated from' the Prudential Committee.
For,seyeral years the Prudential Com.'
inittee have had their thoughts directed'
to the Japanese Wands, and indeed ever
Wane the treaty of Commodore I Perry.
the question of sending missionaries to
that Empire had been befor l e them, but
heretofore the reasons in favor of the
measure have seemed to be inconclusive.
Now, however,,,they seem to call for im
mediate action, and the decision of the
Board is edbmitted :
11 That the imp pie ,Tapan nee d the •
Gospel Opainfulty obvious. As we look s
out upon these millions..we are compel
led to write above 'them all, “Withont
God in the world."• ' , dead in trespasses
and sine.",,. It would -be wrong to say
that•they are without religion. • In fact,
'they have threeQ, religions: Eintoolsm,
their, ancient falth.„Confucianism and,
Boodhism. But we find 'nothing, any.
where,.which ensures morality in this
PITTSBURGH, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1869.
. .
life rr holiness in the life to come. True, constrained, almost every year, to speak
there is much to admire in their man- of a threatened deficit. But why? For
nera, much to respect in their social ar. lack of systematic, well organised giving,
rangements. Their country is one of ex- The cure for this evil es with the
traordinary richness and attractiveness. churches; and it must come from a more
2. Catholicism is eager to become the thorough sympathy with the work of
dominant faith. No sooner had certain missions in - all its vastness and all its
Portuguese adventurers, driven from urgency.
their course by the storms of those 'ln submitting the case to the wisdom
eastern seas, discovered Japan, than the of the Board, the Committee beg leave to
work of conversion began. Francis add, that should the decision be in favor
Xavier went thither at an early day; and of the undertaking herein suggested.
though his Stay was brief, and though a young brother, in whom they have en
his life soon terminated, like a brilliant tire confidence, ready to proceed by
meteor, in loneliness, disappointment, the next steeper from Sart Francisco,
and gloom, the succession of Jesuit and inaugurate the enterprise. The son
Priests continued unbroken, till they of a former Secretary, who was obliged
were driven from the land, with Fran- to resign his post twenty-one years ago,
ciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, and because of injuries received in the die
the work which had seemed so hopeful, charge of his official ditties,and the
was utte iy destroyed. It may not be grandson of Jeremiah Everts, te worthy
easy to account' for 'a persecution, so successor of Worcester, as also the able
ruthless so fatal. But if tho rulers of expounder of Indian treaties, and the
Japan b lieved all that the Jesuits and fearless defender of Indian rights, he will
friars ch rged upon each other, and all take with him the affectionate sympa
that th Spaniards and Portuguese thies of thousands of Christian hearts.
charged upon each other, they had The question is in your hands. Shall we
abunda t reasons for alarm. place Japan upon our list of mission
In the changes which are taking place fields, or shall we not?
among he Japanese there is much to en- The report was referred to the follow
couragiProtestAnt endeavors. Since the ing Special Committee: Professor J.
w
°ain of a few pores to the Western Bartlett, Hon. A. C. Barstow l Rev. Wm.
Power there have been frequent corn- Warren, D. T. Colt, M. D, J• son Sexton,
motto a and conflicts; and the end is not Esq , Rev. C. K. Bliss an. Rev. L. T
yet. t was not to be expected that mid- Chamberlain. -
die.ag feudalism, without a struggle, At the conclusion of the re. I
would urrender its cherished privileges, report, tho congregation s ;
and accept instead western ideas of lib- verse of the 17th Hymn, co' e
erty and progress. It has been a long • I 'Sh 11 we, whose souls are II I
journey from James I. to Queen Victoria. After which a beautiful an
Bat the rulers of Japan have entered the special prayer, relating to t 1
self-same pathway; and tney must have Dr. Treat's report, was • 1
learned by this time that their final halt- Prof. Bartlett, of Chicago.
ing e place lies in the distant future. Alter announcing the nam • !
Soon, we cannot doubt, there will be an committees and the transact
open • oor for the preaching of the Word. routine business, the 15th ,
' , Posse •ly the old edicts of persecution suttee by the congregation, e
ay r main uncancelled. Still the era a . follows:
tol :ration cannot be far away; and -Oyer the realms of Pagan
y st.amer from Niphon to San Fran- Let the eye of pity gar-. ,
co •tav tell us that religious freedom . COMMITTEES APPOI. '
a al eady dawned.
I. iere is additional encouragement in Rev. Dr. Andrews, of M-1
! naaire of the field. Tate religion of Chairman of the Committ: - t
pan it is hoped, will otTer less resist- Committees, reported as fol a
ce • missions than that of India or Committee on the Treasur '
ana Already the missionary societies Mau. W. A. Buckingham, fir
rich were that on the ground, have at. nam, Thaddeus Fairbank •
'Weir. and Richard Edward:,
Me• to the joy of the reaper in the day
her • est. At this• early stage of their Home Department—Rev.
arra e, a few, apparently, have cast D.D., Gen. Hawn Willie .
van Toby aw. D D.
,D. ~ Gen. S. L. •1
ray heir idols, and chosen instead the
ay 1 wing and true God. James Saw.
g. Missions to Syria and Ore ce—Rev. H.
The e are considerations of special si
A. Quint, D D., C. C. Coffin Rev. G. W.
lice ce and force which plead for Amer
.
r• a . lesions in this empire. Phillips, Rev. A. T. Purse • ,Rev. E. 0.
1. ere is the argument from proximo Bartlett.
e. henever we look from our Pacific Mission to Western Turkey.—Rev. A.
B. Ropbins, D. D.. Rev. David Malin, D.
oast . ue West, the eye rests upon Japan
D., Rev. James ILeTaylor, George W.
lou nearest neighbor. 'We embark at
n rancisco, and the first stopping Root, Rev. R. H. Leonard. 1
ice a Yokohama! Mission to Central and Eastern Turkey.
—Rev. T. IL Robinson, D. D., Rev. D.
2 ' e should never forget that our own
Oliphant, Bev. Ansel R. Clark, Rev. EL
Joy ' meet opened Japan-to the Christian
world It was meet twit it should .be so. P. Hildreth, S. R.. Holmes. ,_. ,_ ei
Whe • Marco Palo returned from his .eVestariimeanagtev. C. Bloodgatil.
lone • jonrn in the East, nearly six hrind- D. D., Rev. J. F. Kendall, Hon. John. OF:
red.'s,: are a
he told his countrymen Foote, Rev. E.'W. NOble, Rev. W., W.
of al. rite island lying off the coast of Davenport. • •
'Mahratta Mission.—Rev.Daniel March,
-China ..The nameof this island, he said,
was Zi". angle or Suurlse-Kihgdom. He D D., Rev. I. N. Spangler, D. D., J. B.
produ al.a.map, drawn by himself, and Bittingere D. D., Elias F. Foote, M. D.,
pointe• out on the shore-line of the Yel
hr, M. D.
low Se: these memorable words, "There Madura Mission—Rev. . W.. Well
-is a gre t island to the East." Columbus man, D. D., Hon. Richard -der, D. R.
believe• the tale. And when he sailed Holt, Esq., Rea. B. W. Ch law, Rev. J.
from Sp: in, in 1492, it was for this very F. Tuttle, D. D., Rev. übbard Law
island o Z'pangu. When he landed at ranee.
Cuba, • : fondly dreamed that he had Ceylon Mission—Rev. E. P. Goodwin,
reached it. But instead of the island D. D., Nathan Durfee, M. D., Rev. Lava
which h sought, he was lifting the veil lette Perrin, D. D.. W. D. Walcot, Esq ,
from a c•ntinent ! Rev. W. D. Rosseter.
And nog the millions whom God has China Mission—Hon. John B. Page,
placed ci. this self same continent. and Rev. J. G. Atterbury, D. D., Rev. G. B.
whom h is calling a ) manifestly to the Wilcox, Rev. John 211'Leod, Rev. James
noblest . r all human endeavors; turn A. Bates. ,
their tho ghts to the old Sunrise-King- African Missionse-Rev: James H.
dom. With words of peace and amity Fairchild, D. D. Aaron ,Carter, Esq..
they knock for admiselon: and lo! the Bev. Charles C. Kimball, 'Horace Still
iron gates, closed so rudely and so long, man, Esq., Rev. E. B. Clark.
turn back on their reluctant hinges. To Sandwich Islands and Micronesia. Mis
uplock the doors which have been shut Sion —Rev. Thomas Wilkes; D. D., Rev.
for ages against the civilizsd wo;ld,must Samuel C. Daman, D. D., Hon. Charles
always be reckoned a deed or honor and Noble, Ereorezer Alden, M.D., John W.
praise; still nobler is it, however, to set Danielson, Esq:
them wide open for all comers, through Ali:miens to Jaorth American Indians—
all time. Hon. Samuel Wolcott, D. D. John Scoti
a. European missionary societiea, appa. dard, Esq., Zebulon B. Ely: Esq , Rev.
randy, arc leaving. Japan to our American , George P. Folson.
societies. They are Par away; ana were Committee on the Officers of the Board.—
Hwy to occupy the land, their missiona. Louis Chapin, Hon. Ricnard , Bordon,
ries, It is not unlikely, would cross the Rev. Henry B. Hooker, D. 8., Rev. T. P.
United States to reach their destination Field, Rev. H. L. Hitchcock, D. D.
4. The honor of our American Pro. Mr. Field moved to take a recess until
te.stantism pleads earnest endeavors to half-past ten o'clock, which was adopted
envangelize the p anJapese. It would be a and after tittering the long metre doxol
great mistake to regard them as ignorant the
to e tune e Old Hundred" in which
of the Christian faith. The labors of the the entire r rongregation joined, the meet-
Jesuits and others, though a long series ing adjou ned.
of years, are a part of the national, his.
toffy. The bickeringa and rivalries, the
intrigates and conspiracies of these
emissaries of a foreign ‘potentate—all
have a Place• in the public archives.
The pOints ofagreentent betweenßoman
ism and Boodiam, so obvious as to have
proved a sore perplexity and a sorer
scandel to many spriest and monk, are
welt remembered.
The Committee propose for the con
sideration of the Board the question,
"Shall we resolve to participate, without
delay, in the' work of evangelizing Ja
pan ?" Besides the arguments already,
adduced, there are others which have a
special bearing upon ourselves.
1. Our place among the misaionary aoci
elies of the United States. Being the
oldest and largest organization in our
country, it ill becomes us to say that we
will do nothing for a--nation, so near to
us, and half as populous as our own, but
leave the entire burden for Others to
bear. Our Presbyterian brethren enter
ed upon the work with a promptitude
which did them honor. Thin Dutch Re
formed brethren soon followed. Let us
hasten to strengthen their hands and,
cheer their hearts. , ' .
, 1 1.
,
2. In view of the chimps ocertirringin
our earliest missions, we need a new field
for our efforts. The work at the Sand.
wich Islande...is moving •forward :to' its
completion. Our missions among the
North American Indians,' from causes
beyort4olleoontipl, Itre greatiroglaced.
Within the' last 'Year, the 'death 'o'ow
honored and lamented brother, Dr.
King, bps ended our labors in Greece.
Other nioditleatlOns ere sure , tg, come.
In truth, progress in missions implies.
and necessitates 'change, , neit only. in
plans, but in fields. Let us accept this
law of our, enterprise with qourage and
satisfaction; and let us proceed to fill up
our latest vacancy by substituting for the'
kingdom of Greece the enipire of `Japan.
8; The temstitueney., of 'the, Board is
equal, end mitre than equalte the ander:.
taking. To Omni Indeed, the question
of' abillty would be. Idle and, puerile.
Our Sabbath schools were tiny properly
organized is imilliaries,'Yrithout other
worietetdoconuld support All ottrAtila
alone; 'l. ::e., 1 :..- .... ~ ~ •
it•,. may be said that the '.ooninlittee .18
--
The Mothers' Meeting.
In the orning at half-past nine o'clock
a Mother' Meeting was held in the First
Church, hicti waa largely attended and
was ave interesting occasion. None
but ladie were allowed to participate in
the exer sea, which consisted of reading
reports,i : ddres3es, singing and prayers.
and othe miscellaneous business of a
routlnet .baracter. The meeting con
tinued U. til noon, and was highly en
joyed by • 11 in attendance. .
Afternoon tee
Convened at thee o
opened *lth gaging' t
hymn ,
'"Ob Lord unr Go'
jibe cam o r f tr.t.
'
Rev. Mr. Kendall of t
ri l
led the audience 1 1"ra:,
The Secretary rea an
the Secretary of th t Bali
pany. inviting themem
to visit and inspectlhel
oepted and filed.
MONTHLY CON SYS.
Rev. Dr. Canfield, with a few intro
dubtory remarks upon the-inability of
the Committee to prepare an elaborate
report for want of time s. , presented the
report of the C,otrniftee in ,relation to
monthly concerts as follows: '
Your Committee cordially' commend
the paper on the Monthly . Concerts as
embodying facts and suggestions of vital
importance and as eminently worthy of
of publication and of earnest perusal by
r i
both ministers and yawn.
The following t h ngs brought to view
in that paper, me re 'special attention at
this time: `)
L The great t of our dependence
on the Holy Spirit Wand on the' favoring
_providence Of Him who, as Head of the
.oburch, bath all power in heaven audio '
earth, needs to be: not only.,known , lint
deeply felti so as to lead ns to i fervent
Preyer and to a zealous* ftilflinientef 'all
'the conditiOns of Divine aid'in Ctiristran*
hang the' world. ",. •: " ' ,•
-•-2.- Thegrest interest with which 'our
missionaries look upon the manner
1 .
spirit with which our churches treat the
monthly. Concert of Prayer as au index
of our estimate of the worth of missions
and of the probability or improbability
of their own success—an interest inten
sified by so many obstacles insuperable
to human might, and vividly reminding
them of the need of prayer for the Al
mighty Spirit's help.
3. The tabular statement as to the
usage of the churches in regard to the
time, method and results of observing
the Concerts.
4. The desirableneas of uniformity so
far as may bs practicable in respect to
the time of giving the Concert the place
of the second service on the first Sabbath
in each month.
5. The way to reader the Monthly Con
cert interesting and instructive to the
greatest number whilst retaining its dis
tinctive characters as a Concert of prayer.
The gentlemen followed the reading of
the report with an address on theimPort
ance of trusting in God for success in
their work. It was one thing to have
this in theory. but it must also be a
power in the, heart, quickening and ener
gizing every effort. The history of the
Church in the pasflad shown that at all
times the. Lord had been its helper, and
through difficulties, trusting in His
strength, she, had come off victor. So it
would be in the cause of missions.
There were many and seemingly
unsuperable difficulties to be overcome,
but these will pass away before him.
Take for Instance the languages. In
Cbina it had been thought an almost
insurmouptable barrier to the progress
of the missionary work. But God can
take this difficulty and sweep it away.
The Chinese can be made to understand
the great truths, as Brainard, years ago,
brought the light and knowledge of God
to the benighted, besotted Indian.
Bow was this to be done? By human
agencies working in behalf of God:
Men inspired by love for the work can
bring out the language and-so fit and pre
pare themselves that they may have in
fluence and power over the hearts and
minds of the people, and so it would be
in all the work. It must always be ac
companied by prayer. It then seems
eminently fitting that, as dependence
upon the progress of the work is placed
in prayer, It shows how necessary it is
fora ,concert of prayer, and such the
comtnittee in their report had thought
ahoi4ld receive greater attention from the
Cen ch. As to making the concert in
teresting any who read Dr. Condit's
paper on the subject, and acted in sym
pathy with the ideats there evolved, can
make any concert of prayer 'full of in
terest. .
Hon. Wm. E. Dodge, of New York,
said we needed these monthly concerts.
It seemed when the members of the
church set out into the world, and en
gaged in the secular work of life, we,are
apt to forget the claims of the mission
ary cause npon them, and we need the
cam* brought tip °Reiter to public atteri
tiont Snell is the purpose arch° COsicart.'
from , which all can derive renewed`
strength and inspiration. -
Hon. Mr. Owens, of Ohio, was the next:
speaker, who said he had been request-.
ed - to speak in behalf of the laymen. He
had been much interested in seed
ing the reports of the CommitteeK7-
ing the work in charge daring th 'past
s
two years; and he had been struck th
one or two considerations. The first
was the fact as , stated , that 'as
a general rule the interest in those
meetings was not what it should be.
This might be accounted for on the fact
that even in the churches there was con
siderable skepticism on the power and
influence of prayer. Upon prayer de
pended, as had been said, the success of
the work. Now if God's word be true
at all, then it follows that • God has laid
upon his people the responsibility for
the, result of their work. This is a
solemn thought connected with this
monthly concert of prayer. If the
church of God thoroughly believed -in,
and acted upon the invincible power
and effacacy of prayer, then the month
ly concert would certainly be a success.
How much was the Board indebted to
the power of prayer the reports of
the financial troubles, of the Board 1
during its history showed. - How did we
succeed here? As has been recorded it
was brought about by prayer. This is a 1
standing miracle unless, explained by ,
the fact that God hears prayer and thus
works through human agencies, of that
which otherwise seems marvellous.
There is no parallel in the annals of .the ,
world for the sublime assurance of their
faith than that given in the action of the
Board going; into the work of spending
for the support of the cause, over half a,
Million dollars without a dollar in the
Treasury and no single rt:tsoureelbr the
procurement of the funds necessary, and
yet so has the . Board gone forward in the
work for - years, spending annually
this amount, ant% trusting to faith
in God, and the liberality of the
Church as God's steward, and what has
bSen the result? The Board . has never
been in discredit. Daring the Crimean'
War their drafts were accepted at a -pre-
Mium above those of Baring Bros., the ,
great London bankers. Daring all our
national struggle their drafts, In coati-.
I:mutat- Europe, where the wish, was
ether to the thought, that our national
xistence might be blotted out,' there
hese drafts were accepted as the highest
ecnrity, and always brought a premi
ss. These foreign people had faith 'in
he Atherican -Churches. In this view
hen, how important besot:death* mouth
y concerts. They can be made a success
nd are capable of the highest success, if
he people of God but felt the importance
f the work. If any church will send a
!issionary to . the foreign lands that
torch will never let the missionary
pirit die out. The great want of the
Church is spilt and accurate appreela;
Lion of the nature of the work, and then
a Suissionary at work In the field. Then
that church will always have something
to pray for and her monthly concerts of
prayer will be,a success..
This
. .
Tois aubjeetis vitally important to the
Church. Eirst. we should have faith in
the efficacy of _prayer; second,: ,nulted
effort, and then a missionary in theffleld
With these the monthly Concerts !11l
always be interesting and profitable: A
regniar time should be set apart fOr the
meeting!. , Onee a month on a Sunday
evening. would be sufficient. Then the
People could all be gathered, and spend
ing an hour in the cause,-- could 'not reo
tire without .renewed , interest .in the
htisakmary work. ... , -, t . " I
Th
The pudienceien united in singing ,
•I'levetSiii Eingdom,l,ord.t-- - -.', -,;
The hone of :pilau Abode.! , .
_
iding of tho
ng the first
wencing
MIN
impressive
Le sabiee: of
:livered by
of special
Lion of some
hymn was
nnmencing
mitm
EEO
riett:t, Ohio,
to Nominate
lows:
- .I Report—
muglass Put.
•
James. W.
. F. Stearns,
18, Rev. Al.
Irown,
lock and was
e twentySret
arise,
maintain."
olumbus, Ohio,
er.
nvitation from
Depoat Com
- ra of, the Board
building. AA-
IBM
Iley,O. _P. 4.11en;- o .(iPailtern Turkey,
that what boa. barn said hid been
said; The Montigy Cimeert le vital
at honie in Amen* that It is aleeyital, th
i4he Interest} of , theworkin which we are
interested in other lands. First, because
missionary' concerts will produce -mis
sionaries as he could testify from his own
experience and other missionaries' could
also testify the same. He remembered
well when he was a student at Amherst,
the good old President, Dr. Hitchcock,
held monthly concerts which he attended •
without any special purpose, but his
heart began to be acted upon. At first
he didn't want to become a missionary
but at last he saw his duty entered the
work and found peace and joy therein.
The concert is needed as much for in
creasing the efficiency as well as the
numbers of those in the field. When
they know that earnest, fervent prayer
is going up for them, they feel encour
aged, and can work harder and with
more heartiness. It also exercises a
'vital influence upon the native Chris
tians in foreign lands. He himself had ..
seen the interest felt by the people of
Turkey when they were told that every
month Christians in America met to
gether to pray for them.
But these are only incidental advan
tages which have been mentioned. The
great need of these Monthly Conberts is
because prayer Is a good and necessary
thing. In many passages, in the book of
Hebrews we can see wnatlprayer can do.
We need this Concert chiefly because of -•
the power available througn prayer. ._
A few years ago,. when a few mission
aries were met together in India to think
and consult together concerning their
work, one of them suggested that it
would be a good thing to try and have
concerted prayer throughout the world
to help them, and from that arose not
only these Monthly Concerts, but also the
blessed annual week of prayer, of which
we have all seen the effects.
And thus we must unite in earnest '
prayer for the Etilvatiob of the dying.
Prayer would do anything, for have we
not the promise of our Lord that " when
two or three are gathered together in ray
name I will be in their midst?" I
Dr. Foote thought he was probably the
oldest member of the society present,
and as such would give a little of his ex
perience.
He thought churches would
all do well to adopt the recommendation
of Dr. Condit, but there were two ways ~
of doing this. Once during the peat year
he had visited a monthly concert. iwhere
the pastor " first made a • pralar, a
good one, but not to the point; .
and very long. A deacon, then ,
read a very long extract from the Herald, i
good enough, but neither pointed nor .
brief, Another long prayer was follow-
ed by the collection which closed the
meeting. Another time he was at a
i
Monthly Concert in another town, where
short prayers, short addresses, every
thing short, concise and to the purpose,
and the contrast 'was great. The (MI.
catty often is• that the proceedings are
too long snd difinse, and not enough to
the point. . The pastor and the elders ,
monopolize the work,' and' do' not give
the-peoplo a part of the work and there-
I
fore there is not that feeling of interest
which there should be. Deep feeling Is
necemryesid hearts are as' 'much want
ed as - money: , , , . ~
Mr. Albree said the -great eflpacious
power. for carrying on ' , the work *as the
- , rayer of faith of God's redeemed peo- •
pie:_' For twenty-five years he had been -
a regular - attendant ion these month- '
ly concerts. and had observed every
method used to keep up the interest, and
thought them all failures. What was ,
the use_of these meetings if they had to
be carried on by mechanical rule? What
was required, was an earnest desire for
the\ salvation. of souls, and then the
prayers would be fervent, interesting ".
and profitable, and none would fail to -
take pleasure in attending the meetings.
Rev. Mr. Potter, of New York, said the
one thing necessary was more thought
on the subject of these monthly
prayer meetings. He related an
instance of a member in his church
whom he alway relied upon. He.
was always , thinking of the cause ands
endeavoring to procure funds, and in
crease the interest In the meeting. He
made it sabject in his family circle and '
in his business intercourse with the
world. By this means he always suc
ceeded in making his monthly prayer
meetings interereating and Practicable.
.Rev. Dr.Rendall. of New York, said he
had seen enough of the missionaries to
sag that he thought if the whole of them
were brought here and were asked what,
they desired most to assist them in their
work,they would quickly say,"Brethren, •
pray for us." • This was what they
desired and upon Which they depended
for their success. The question then was
with members of the Church, of conse
cration to God and his service. Then
the prayers made in the interest of this
as' well . as..:other causes, would lie
the outgushings of a fervent, devout
heart and as such will have power with
God. The whole history of the people of
God showed the blessedness 'and power•
of prayer, and was a continuous lesson
of the reverence and faith which His peo
ple should have in this means, Membere
of the ChurCh should endeavor to im- .
bue the Ohufbh and temselveswith the
influence of a personal appeal, and
should be taught to ask. and answer the
question of personal spiritual interest in
the cause, All should ask themselves, are
we willing to eater, into sympath y in
spirit with those means which are Put
forward for the salvation of men? With
i i y
this,spirit they could' go home again and
be assured of great s efficiency in their'
work, - in the coming ear. -
The discussion w here closed and the
report adopted. Several announcements
for the .evening services and meetings
of Conamittees.ivere then made.
The ,Ohairman read a letter from
George 5:
Ss.
of Philadelphia, re
gretting hit inability to be 'present at
the meeting and introducing Rev Banal.
Tower, Of Birkenhead, Sugland.
VheAndienee were dispersed after ti
singing of the Doxology. , -
Hymnist. ' •
A very interesting episode in the exer. •
Olses was a marriage ceremony, which
c?ociirrfid. in the First Church at two
o'clock yesterday-afternoon.
Thrauditorium - was literally packed
'lwith a .brilliani audience. of ladles. and
gentlemen who somehow bad learned
the secret, and -thug manifested their - in
terest te the exercises.
The happy groom was Rev. Andrew P.
Rti)Per,lktissionary to Canton,China, and
th bride Stiles A. L. Elliott, of Mcintours,
Allegheny. coUnty. The service was per.
dbrmed in a lelicitdus manner by the
Rev. C. C. Beatty?, of Steubenville,. Ohio - ,
assisted by .the Rey. J..L Beacom . and
Dr. fti..F. E.cov -
-"noluslort of the ,ceremony the
A the eont...ssiork)._
Ledo recelyed the_congratutitioniots
(Continued l'roin First Page.)