Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1849-06-06

During the recent meeting Of the "American Baptist
Missionary Union at Philadelphia, there were many
scenes of thrilling interest in connection with the var
Gus exercises of the occasion. The associations con
ncccd with the pidcc of most affecting and in
spring character. The days Of the voneracd SroUGH-
TON could hardly fail to pass in review, TO impress the
assembly with the surprising claims of that cause
in which his noble soul, and his unrvOled eloquence,
were fully enlisted Thrtyive years previous, upon
that very spot the first Baptist missionary organization
in this country brought into existence, being COM
posed of twenty-six clergymen and seven laymen.-
The amount of contributions during the first year of
this enterprise was only $4,000 in the whole United
States; which appears somewhat in contrast with the
$105 2G 90 raised within the past year in the free states
alone It was highly gratifying to many 70 greet
this occasion, the beloved Wade whose name is so
closely identified with the Burman, and especially the
Karen mission. lie remarked that when he first joined
the mission there were only eighteen converts among
all the Burmans and Karens where there are now more
than 6,00O DIR Judson had then been laboring there
Ten years, under circumstances which required the
strongest faith TO resist many disheartcnng inuen-
Subsequently, they called to pass through
the most trying scenes in the prosecutions which they
endured through which they reduced TO the most
painful cxtrcmtcs. But at length brighter day began
to dawn, and converts were multiplied His first visit
10 the Karens, with whom he has since labored was
about eighteen years ago. Hardly had lie appeared
among them when several of the chiefs came forward
and demanded 'the word of God Surprised, he en-
quired what they meant by the word of God, of which
lie had not yet spoken. They informed him that
they had ancient tradition that the word of Cod
possessed by their fathers, would be restored
them by white foreigners. They had never seen any
such foreigners till they him. when they at once
concluded that the time of their receiving the lost trca
sure had come wherc, them, they enquired, sis the
word of God;' By of this tradition he had
found the whole people generally prepared to embrace
christianity it was offered thon, aod
heGce the most unparalleled success has from the be-
ginning attended missionary efforts among them. Du-
ring the absence of one of the missionaries for short
time, from single station among this interesting peo-
pie two of the native preachers baptized 1850 converts
and upon the mssionarys return 1900 found
waiting for this ordinance.
A deep interest was also awakened by the presence
of Mr. Bronson of the Assam mission, where he has
aborcd thirteen years with encouraging lie
had found people called the Nagas, far away among
the mountains who in many respects like the Ko-
rens of Burmah. After spending six months with them
he was obliged to descend to his former station much
to the grief of these mountain dwellers who ntrcated
him to remain and instruct them respecting the true
God, venerable chief, with locks frosted with more
than hundred years, approached with his two sons,
and placing their hands in the hand of the missionary
admonished them 10 receive the instructions which he
had given Mr. Bronson has since heard from this peo-
pie that they still assemble to spell the caechsm
which he left them. No missionary has since visited
them. n