Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-01-17
MISSIONARY.
From the Bap. Missionary Magazine.
CIRCULAR.


CIRCULAR.
To Missionary Associations, Churches,
and individuals ofthe Baptist Denom:-
nation, in the United States
Dear Brethren,-The operations ofthe
Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, limit
ed at first to Burmah, have been gradual
ly extended, under the gracious providence
of God, and bear, at the present time, In
various stages of advancement, on more
than twenty nations and tribes. constitu-
ting at least one half the human family.
The fundamentally employ ed, thoughyast-
Iy dispro2ortionate to the ends in view,
has also had considerable enlargement.
| The number of missionary laborers, inclu-
ding native preachers and assistants, now
dependent on the funds of the Board for
their support, and the means of prescott
ing their work, is about two hundred. In
charge these are four printing establish
ments, with fifteen printing presses, and
founts of type for printing in numerous
languages There are also fifty native
schools.
To maintain, with efficiency, this sys-
tenn Of operations, requires an annual ex-
penditure of atleast one hundred thousand
dollars. The printing department alone,
if the supply of Scriptures and tracts be
proportiona:e to the demand, will consume
one half that sum. Ifthe annual receipts
fall short of this estimate, the proper force
of the agency employed is just SO far abat-
ed. Appropriations in every department
of labor already at the lowest rates con-
sistent with safe economy. The ques-
ton pressed on the attention of the Board,
and of which we now solicit your wise
consideration, is, Shall the Missions conf
led to the direction Of the Board, 6u4 de-
riuing their existence and efficiency, ~n-
der Providence, from you, BE sustained p
In proposing this question. the Board
are actuated by no ungenerous distrust.
Their pecuniary wants have for many
successive years. been literally supplied,
and their embarass ments, those of recent
date excepted have been owing chiefly 10
a dearth of laborers. That the appeal ad-
dressed to their brethren year and a half
ago, had only partial effect, they ascribe
to the general decrease of pecuniary
means, together with an impression on
some minds, that the Board were in no ur-
gent need of relief That impression
needs to be corrected. The ordinary ex-
penditures ofthe Board exceed their pres
ent rate of receipts, by many thousand
dollars annually. The disbursements
since the annual meeting in April last,
have been more than double the amount
received, during the same period, from all
our churches and auxiliaries, and have
been betrayed, in part, from resources
provided in former years. But those re-
sources can be relied on no longer. I'm
less there can be immediate and general
advance in contributions to the treasury,
the MISSIONS WILL BE INVOLVED IN DEBT,
or the ordinary SUPPLIES MUST BE WITH
HELD To the former of these alterna-
tives we cannot consent. Shall we adopt
the latter? Christian brethren and friends,
zoe 1ooit for your ansaoer.
What gives to the present crisis addi-
tional urgency, is the bearing which it has
/ on the policy TO be pursued by the Board,
in regard to future candidates for mission
2 airy appointments. Our gracious Lord is
inclining an increased number of his
young disciples to offer themselves for the
: foreign service The question will short
s lly be- Can we receive the blessing Snail
n 1.-The Board send forth these laborets! Will
1.-The churches sanction further extension
/ oftheir responsibilities, and-a heavier de-
mand OH their resources?
u Such inquiry we would gladly defer to
e later period. While so many inviting
IS fields are spread out before US. and the la
IF borers are SO few; while the cry of our
l. brethren for help is so imporunate, from
5, every quarter, and helpers are pressing
n forward to share the, toi! to question
> whether we viii accept their aid, seems
almost like betrayal of our trust. BIZ,
'e the inquiry must b. made. II is made
n asou The response which you give &c
al our appeal for present relief. will be re
erlceiyed as an expression Of your will am
e purpose in reference to future operations