Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-08-25
CIRCULAR

The Baptist Board of Foreign Missions
wish to call the attention of their brethren,
throughout the country, to the wants Of the
treasury. In obedience to the voice OF the
churches, as expressed IN the General Con-
vention, and in other modes, as we'll as in
compliance with their own sense Of duty to
the Savior, the Board have multiplied their
missionary stations, have sent out successive
bands Of laborers. have erected presses, and
have established schools, till they find them
selves charged with the care of very ex-
tensive system of operations, and response
bic tor heavy annual expenditure. They
now have under their direction, twenty-three
missions, thirty-tour missionary stations,
one hundred and tNlrtYtWo missionaries,
besides about thirty ative assistants in the
printing department; tWenty-one churches;
twenty-eight schools, and five presses. The
missionaries are toiling faithfully to promote
the spread of the Gospel, relying confidently
on their brethren in America for support
They have devoted their lives to the service
! Of Christ among the heathen, and they ask
only, that the churches at home will aid
them by their prayers, and will furnish a
moderate provision for their subsistence
! The Board have assumed the responsible
ty Of sustaining them; but they find their ex-
penses far outrunning their income. There
was deficiency, the last year, of more than
ttoenty thousand dollars, and unless there
shall be large augmentation Of the funds
during the current year, the treasury must
soon be burdencd with a heavy debt.
The Board feel that it would be wrong to
diminish their efforts, to discontinue a sin
gle station, to recall one missionary, or 10
stopa single press. They must, on the con
trary, go forward. They have already re-
ceived, and intend to send forth without de-
lay, several additional missionaries. They
have been directed by the General Conven-
ton, to employ every properly qualified mis-
sionary, who may offer his services. The
= Board cannot retreat, and they are confident
: that their brethren wish and expect them tc
prosecute their work with more vigor. They
deem it their duty, therefore, to inform the
I churches, that not less than eighty thousand
: dollars ought to be expended this year, TO-
S general missionary purposes, and that tT en-
:, ty thousand dollars more will be needed
for transiating, printing, and distributing the
= Bible in foreign languages.
t The Board must call earnestly on thu
d denomination for help. Let each individual
n feel, that there must be an increase Of hi
e former contributions; and let those who hav'
e hitherto withheld their aid, now share IL
5 the blessed work. Let them not wait TO
J. agents of the board. Such agents will b
y employed, so far as it may be possible
Y obtain them; but the churches ought not
y need any extraneous agency. A church l:
by its very constitution, society for the &C
n vancement of the SaVior's kingdom; an
n each pastor is, by his Office, an agent With
h his own sphere, for the promotion of ever
le enterprise which claims the attention OF tn
W church. Let, then, all the missionary soc
v cites, churches, pastors, and individu;
a. christians, remember the claims of a wor