New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-06-21
Fof The Tribune.
Episcopal Bonrd OF Missions No. II.

sy,tcn " has worked we'll" The fact NAV rea.
sonaby be questioned. If the system has worked
well, why il the treasury so often exhausted. and
why arr special appeals 80 often m0ie in behalf
Of the M..onare-l Bu, on this point .ha.
asi enlarge. Ny purpose under tie ALI head j.,
to show that the Board have long since virtually
reorganzed the Society, AID that general conf.
deacc Is in all likelihood to be- roc.,abi.led
except By carrying out the principles of the orig
nal organization. This .ha DO BY quoting he
greater portion Of an article from the Ciurcl-
mn Of Jolly /, 1897, to which the Editor gave
ms impress By saying HAT it "-raTEs soNE PLAIN
TkvrH IS rLAIN LASGUAGg."
Aboii,,on Of T.. Ofice N Generd AgcRt.--
The proceedings Of the Board lin 1881 in rela-
tioa to the Secretaries and General Agents. NAV
be regarded not th- least important. At The
meeting Of the General Convention ia AUG. 1885
these officers, it j, well known. were first cs,ab-
listcd. Mech was expected from thr appoint
mont of the Secretaries and General Agents, a..
they were to be the executive officer. Of their re-
speciyc committees. to collect information, to
conduct their correspondence. to devise and re-
commend plans Of operation. and in general TO
execute all the purposes Of the Board, in their
proper spheres. From the debates which tooh
place at the organization Of the Board. as well a,
from rho actual practice Of the gentlemen who
were appointed 10 th- Office it was evident that
they were 10 Farci in order to collect money. and
10 impsrt Information, ard TO excite it possible.
missionary spirit throughout the Union And a.
Cd Il l. i Il
IN assistant LEGAL and subordinate agents which
were allowed BY the Ssh article Of tie Con.ti,u.
ton, were engaged a at u salary il i. believed, 81
l,OO0 each. Ia process of time, the Domestic
Secretary. who had been called from the dutic, o.
a rslish to sustain the responsibilities of wis,
was regarded a. much more important office.
viz, that of extending all the purposes OF the
Board OF Missions Of the whole Protestant Epis-
ropal Church in the United States, deemed it ex-
pedicn, to resume his psrochial duties in another
situation, and Of course to rclirqush the charge
Of missionary operations. This he did in the cs-
iimation, Mr.. Editor. OF your correspondent, at
very critical period" &c. " In process of time,
moreover, i; was found that the Foreign Secretary
was better qualified for his passive than for hi.
active duties in other words, that while he was
peculiarly fitted for the duties of local executive
,ihce, his habits Of life such render him
es, efficient in the capacity of general agent
gain. the gentleman n no had acted a. an assist
mt in the Office Of the Domestic Committee, and
Who for year had faithfully fulfilled his trust.
vas known like the Secretary OF the Foreign Com
nittcc to be well qualified for the administration
4 a certain department; his services therefore, |
thought desirable TO retain, but without
uilering him 10 be superseded by another. The |
Ian adopted in consequence to elect him to
he office Of Domestic Secretary and General
Agent and at the sarsc time 10y resolution to au-
horne the two committees to appoint local, that
$, diocesan travelling agents, to collect moneys
provided the Bishops of the several dioceses Wis
ted gave their sanction respectively The sala-
les of the two Secretaries to be g., 900 each and
h-se of the real working men, rather Of the
subordinate travelling agents To be regulated OF
curse by the two committees. Here, then, Mr..
Editor i. COMPLETE RESOLUTION. Here is an
actual reorganization by the Board of Missions
,f ftc Missionary Society. The Office Of Gene
-al AGENT is virtually abolished; for how can
hev with any show of proprie;y be said to be
general agents, who are sOt agents at ALL except
hat they may act occasionally in the place of their
re-. idcncc which is local ? 1t is TO the last de-
gree prsposterous to suppose that agents can be
general who, wh.tevcr may be their quail flea
lions for Other departments of duty, are confess
-dly untitled by their modes of lie for agencies,
and therefore are relieved from the burden by
luton But this j. not all At the General Cor
veu,ion of 1886 it distinctly understood that
the Secretaries and General Agents were 10 re-
reivc salaries commensurate with their response
their remuneration was To be proper
Il ..fs l,.,tr tffo-
lions. Bv his movement, however, the salaries
Of the Secretaries, whose present duties (as expc-
ricnce hs. shown may he performed By suborli-
nate ages,s. and chccrfullS too, for $1,000 are
fixed at e. 600 while the local travelling agents
who must go out from their homes n, spiritual
men clothed with the panoply Of God. and spend
their strength in order if possible 70 rouse the
werld to a proper sense Of the duty of Christians
in relation TO the propagation OF the Gospel, are
10 be put of, a. il were, with such stipend as
the committee. may deem suitsble to inferior Off
Ger, appointed simply To collect money
To articles Of this character il will possibly be
replied that the resolution touching the diocesan
travelling agents was To continue IN force but one
wear. The effect of the resolution, however, has
continued to the present time. Its manifest pur-
nosr was 10 relieve the Secretaries OF part ot the
burden imposed upon them BY the Constitution, TO
enable them 10 devote their time a!mos; eNclu-
,iyelv TO the dutie, of clerks, as distinct from
agents. Blu, after the wear had elapsed, did they
resume the powers o, inally conferred ! DID they
undertake continuous course OF ''lourncylnss To
execute all the purposes OF the Board, 10 coieet
information with view to recommend plans o.
operation, and to stir up the minds of disciples
Most certainly not. fhc principles of the Con
.,i,u,,n therefore, which are best interpreted 10y
the practice Of those who acted under it, will rot
be carried out while the Secretaries remain nj
home in their offices. nor will Churchnen be SAT
isGcd til the Constitution is shown to be pre-
sc,v,J ;pviolatr. lMP,Rs.