The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-19

awaits those who sincerely ana zealousiy laoor
for the conversion of souls and the glory of God.
Mr.. Thompson followed, and gave many facts re-
latipg to Africa, the success of the Gospel at the
Mendi mission, the superiority of the inhabitants
in the interior 10 those living on the coast, and
the openings providentially made for the intro
duction of the Gospel into that wonderful coun-
try. The meeting was concluded by singing
Bishop fIeber's missionary hymn.
Tuesday evening, another meeting was held In
the Plymouth Church, REV AIR. Beechers)
Brooklyn. large and highly respectable audi
ence assembled The Treasurer of the A. M. A,
Lewis Tappan, presided. The I'D Psalm was
read by Mr.. Beecher, who also offered prayer.
The Corresponding Secretary then made state
ment Of the origin and history of the Society. lie
read an extract from its Constitution, by which
it appeared that instead of being close corpo-
ration the persons contributing to the support of
the missions have direct voice in conducting the
affairs of the Society and that membership is
confined to persons Of Christian principles He
stated, as pccuiarities Of this Association over
some other institutions, that it is ant-slavery in
its character, and affords no countenance to the
peculiar sins of the people among whom the mis-
sionaries labor He mentioned particularly that
the Society does not tolerate polygamy in church
members at missionary stations, nor refuse to in
struct its missionaries explicitly on the subject,
and requires them to oppose idolatrous rites and
ceremonies directly, instead practicng what has
been called the "miniug and sapping process y to
tread down the citadels of sin, and build upon
their ruins Christian editices in the belief that
no compromise can exist between the religion of
Jesus and the god of this world, between Christ
and Belial
Mr.. w. stated that the members of missions
and missionary teachers in this and foreign lands,
under the care of the A. M A., exceeded eighty.
Mr.. Thompson followed in highly interesting
address of an hour, in which he gave an account
of his travels in Africa, the state of the people,
the conversions that had taken place at the mis-
sion, the condition of the schools the prospects
and encouragements He also appealed TO the
church to send more laborers, and to expend more
money to sustain the missions. The services
were concluded by singing and the benedictiOn.
The missionaries are to sail in the brig Triton,
Capt. Ozeas Long, and are commended to the
prayers Of the friends Of the missions l.. r.
W u, Deeember 2, 1850.
To the Editor of The National Era:
In reading the communication of your New
York Correspondent, in the 2031 number of the
Era, November 2lst, | was astonshed at an as
seriion made by him, 10 wit that the Confess
sion Of Faith uhblushingly declares that to it's
the churches) officers the keys of Heaven are
committed, by virtue whereof they have power
&c. have not access TO any Confession publish
ed IN Scotland and SO osdfdt spelk positively
respecting it. But suppose your correspondent.
has made mistake in quoting the passage ex-
2za;nHT ,se >o,i,essopns, pr,n,ed aeanereu, 1. MS
and both have it "Kmgdom of Hearean Now,
suppose your correspondent a much better poll
tciap than theologian; and that he supposed
Hedrea' and CHE Kingdom of Hearen" meant pre-
cisey the same thing, and not that he wished pur-
posely TO misquote or misrepresent. The King
dom of Heaven generally means the New Tesla
ment church; in which, according to the LIST sec
of the 3Oth CAPS quoted by your correspondent
it is asserted, "Christ has appointed ofiicers,n
which it also states are distinct from the civil
magistrate
Should any one doubt the correctness of my
definition Of the Kingdom Of Heaven" he is re-
ferred to Math. Kill AZ, and various other pas
sages in the New Testament, where the express
sion occurs The Jews seem TO have obtained
the expression from the Prophet Daniel, in whose
writings believe it first occurs.
So, then, this terrible claim amounts, in the end,
to nothing more than the right of the officers to
judge of the qualifications of those who are to be
members; when they deserve censure or suspen-
sion from the church and when, upon credible
profession Of repentance, they are to be restored
The Presbyterian Church, as body, is in all
conscience, bad enough, without having any thing
80 Popish laid to its charge, as the despotic ad-
mission of men into heaven, or exclusion from it,
by arbitrary church officers. JUSTICE.