Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-12-02

which cooperation for lis accomplish
ment NAV be proffered and received. Our 7
veneraied fathers who constituted the org |
inaI Convention, contemplating in the Is
new organization the prosecution OF the
Foreign Missionary enterprise alone, and I
Justly approaching the vast extent OF the
work and the demands which it would
make upon the svmpathies and resources
of all benevolent hearts within the bounds
of the community whom the Convention I
was designed 10 represent. were careful
10 Law no obstruction III the way of any |
individual who might be disposed to COM
municate 10 lis funds, nor any restriction |
on the liberty Of counsel or direction ia |
its concerns, further than was Judged in
dispensable to their efficient aud safe adj
ministration. Their purpose, distinctly
avowed in the preamble already alluded
10, was the .eiiciting, combining. and di-
recting the energies OF the qohole denoma-
nation in one sacred effort And il was
with evident reference to this proposed
universally of interest and effort that they
assume the comprehensive designation,
The General Convention Of the Baptist
Denomination in the United States" Get.
In accordance with this design Of secur-
ing the widest possible cooperation, the
provisions for the admission Of members
RI into the Convention were made exceed
EingIy simple and few. By the consttu-
ton as it now stands, and has always
, stood, the right to seat or representation
in the Convention is based only on two
! conditions lst. That the religious body
or the individual be of the Baptist Demon
nation and 81 That the same shat
:, have contributed 10 the treasury Of the
Convention a specified annual sum. For
> appointment to the Board, the individual,
= being member Of one Of the religious
= bodies represented in the Convention,
:. must also sbe a member of some Baptist
). church, Beyond these specifications it
. was deemed ipexpedien! TO go.
Such being the design Of the organiza-
:, ton Of the Convention, and such the prln-
). ciples on which cooperation may be ten
. Rdered and accepted, toe Board are unable
\ to discover any sufficient reason for She
!. withdrawal Of support On the part of any
:. OF their contributors, in view of facts OF
!, considerations wholly exlrinsic and irreIe.
- want. That the influences which at the
2 present time are apparently set toward
4 this result, are wholly irrelevant and
: should be steadfaslly withstood. is evident
y not only in view of the object and princi,
i pies of the Convention above stated, but
;. from just consideration Of the relations
!, anu responsibilities Of the Board. These
- relations and responsibilities have to some
: extent been misapprehended by brethren
ri nj
&c the misapprehension has been to hold the
y Board accountable forthinas done and mol
i done, az relation TO all Of tehieh alike thu
- Board has done nothing, because 1t ha0
. uotbing 10 do. With respect to such
" things the Board has, so to speak, neither
name nor existence. Its vitality an(
power are wholly derived, and can by it
present conslitut on act only 10 one end
As to all other intents and purposes, tn
- Board can have powers and will, onl,
= when first it shall have been endued will
them by the Convention, from whom
rmanates. The Board is the executive o
~ the Convention the Convention alone i
:, Legislative. 1t is the province Of th
. Board simply to carry into effect the vii
. Of the Convention. ...-
i" These principles, the principle o.
V which the Convention and the Board ar
= constituted, and according to which onI,
/ they can rightiuiiy in their separate ca
:; pacities act, are clearly defined in the con
:" stirution and laws which the Convention
= has framed And by provision Of th
i s same constitution, they can be modified O
!. repealed by the will of the Convention
: only, duly expressed. The Board has
for Instance, no discretionary or dispens
ling power as TO the receipt Of contribu
81 tons. Their duty is distinctly prescrib
8, ed, and it simply Is TO receive all money;
81, contributed for Foreign Missions 10 theii
OF funds, from whatever source they come
l. and to dis5urse Them with all fidelity To-
y the ends to which they are designated b,
P the contributors. The same general re
y marks are in point as it respects the qual
10 ;ficatlons for membership either in th,
y Convention or the Board. What the quail.
Is ifcations are, as defined BY the constitd
n ton, we have stated. The Board canno
le change them; nor can it set them a
q nought II has, in TRUTH no capacity Il
q, act in regard TO them. further than TO sup
10 ply its own vacancies. Ii has no power
u OF excison. The Convention appoints il
!. own Board, triennaily, in view of ID,
Of qualifications which itself prescribes~; anl
Q, appoints whom ii pIeases.
a., There IS still another subject to wnc'
OF The attention Of the Board has been cali
~ ed By some of their respected contributors
ae lying yet more widely aside from tht
" sphere of their operations: and if ia al
= indtng TO it they break the silence Of lhei
: neutrality, II is ouly that by denim
:, their position they may relieve the en-