Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-18
TIL E FREE NJ A N +.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
Canada Mission,

MEssRs. EDIToRs:-In your paper Of Nov. 10th,
you have called our attention to the Canada Mission
and wish to present to the religious public some rea
sons which show the Importance Of supporting that
mission And do hope that the real friends of civil
and religious liberty will not disregard the cry Of the
needy Can they do it in the exercise of supreme love
to Christ?
l. The settlements of the coored people rapidly
increasing, and may, in few years, amount to more
than all the inhabitants Of the Sandwich Isles.
2. They are easily approached, and speak our own
language In many cases the missionary field is far
off and the people speak strange language; that
the missionary must encounter many dangers in going
to them, and much time-even years-must be spent
before he can address them in their tongue Not
SO in Western Canada. A few days ride will carry
the missionary to his field of labor and he preach
to his people the day he meets them.
g. 1t is a region as healthy as New England and
the life of the missionary will not be cut off by strange
and fatal disease. How many valuable lives of men
and women have been prernaturely cut off in distant
missionary fields?
A. The expense of supporting missionaries there will
be much less than in distant fields Anlissionary fam
lily can be supported western Canada cheap the
families of settled ministers in New England whereas
it is believed that to the families of foreign mssiona
ries, sum more than twice as large is allowed Al
lowing $4,000 for the home agencies and expenses of
the American Board, $4,000 for native teachers and
assistants, there were Sl88000 to be divided among
ITO missionaries and their wives equal 70 ST. 10 to
each famy;--more than twice as much as our minis
tiers have to support their families. There may be
some deductions to reduce this sum little but enough
will remain to show that the Board give their mission
aries twice much would be requisite for mission
aries in Western Canada or settled ministers among
us have to support their families
S. 1t is an act of imperious justice and men should
be just before they are generous, We may show our
generosity by sending the gospel to the colored popu-
ation of Asa but justice demands that seek to re
pair the evils have brought upon the Africans, by
sending the gospel to those whom we have robbed and
oppressed.
g. A good number of the colored population are
Christians anxious for schools and instruction. ready to
take hold with the missionary and help carry on the
work. They are our brethren in Christ and have pc
culiar claims upon us. They call upon the churches
to and help them. Can the churches disre-
gard their cry without mourning great guilt?
Z, The great sin of slayeholdng can have no coun-
tenance among the churches formed in Western Can
ada Alas, that such sin should be countenanced in
any missionary church,
8. Our own self interest requires, that carefully
cultivate that field 1t lies our borders and will
have an influence, for good or for evil on the popua-
ton around. If the gospel can be maintained among
them and the great Of the coored people brought
under its influence they will be good citizens and
peaceabe neghbors But leave those accommodating
masses under the influence of ignorance and vice, or
let them fall under the influence of the Catholic priest
hood, and who can calculate the mischief that would
follow?
In the days of Cypran, of the best churches i'll
the world were in Northern Africa. And why may
not churches full of faith and love- be raised up in
Western Canada from those who have fed from the
house of bondage? | doubt whether any other mis-
sionary station so promising can be found on earth
Why should it be neglected? Devout men and wo-
men have entered this field, taken possession of the
land, and began e work: but they need help Why
should they not have it? Why should not few thou.
sand dollars be given to them, well hundred
thousand sent to Asia? How dwelleth the love ofGod
in the hearts of those, who will not cheerfuy assist
in bringing these souls to Christ? Here is a field,
rich in promise, and white unto the harvest Who will
enter in and labor for Christ? Who will give por
ton to those who labor? Can any man be the friend
of the oppressed who refuses, negects, to give
unto them the bread of life when they ready TO
receive it? 1t is poor religion that saith to the nun
cry and the naked, "Be ye warmed, and be ye filled
but giveh not unto them such things as they need,
Reader, is this your religion? Your conduct will de-
eide that question.
KIAH BAILEY