The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-19


prevent me from visiting Nova Scotia and New
brunswick- which was most anxious TO
viat-yet, as this proposed meeting was the first Of
the kind that had been held in the States, although
Il win not be the last felt that could not be alb
sent Well then, nearly 800 ministers from all the
evangelical denominations were present. Two
days, viz.:-4th and 5th May, with two sede-
runts each day, were spent in discussing the
subject for which we had convened. / would
to God we could transplant the spirit of that
meeting into all meetings Of Christians. All
met at first in spirit Of trepidation and msgiv-
ing, as nobody expected full harmony. But when
gether, and began to speak Of Christ's work-the
work of the evangezation Of the nations-it was as
tonishing what spirit Of love, which really was
latent all the while sprung forth into vivid mani
man at the close Of the last meeting, said, Il never
expected to see the like of this. To my mind It Is
. dawning Of the millennium. am old, and totter-
ing TO the grave; but If such meeting takes place
next year, as hope will be the case, shall be
there, suppose should be carried" (Applause.)
And SO every one felt. Many Of the questions we
did not undertake, from want Of time. AL! spoke
freely Is Christian ee%sn DeT Sat sbs .. ]aeg
expressed in such tender loving spirit, that many
had their judgments rectiaed, or enlarged, or con-
Armed. Each topic being fully discussed, in the end
there was a deliverance, upon which all the three
hundred unanimously c0ncurred. Here they are:-
!. To what extent are we authorised by the Word Of
God to expect the conversion of the world to Christi
~ to technical meaning of such as conversion
and without entering into any statement the times
or succession Of antecedent events the Convention
oices in testfyng their simple heartfelt undoubtug
kith in the emphatic declaration Of Gods inspired
word that men shall be blessed in him. Jesus ChristD
all nations shall call him blessed;u yea that "the
whole earth shall be filed with his glory"
q What are the vinelyappointed and most efficient
means Of extending tie gospel to all men 7
hs s Of or
evangezaton of the world, are-The faithful teaching
and preaching Of the pure Of SALVATION by duly
qualified ministers and other holy and consistent dis
cpes of the Lord Jesus Christ accompanied with prayer
and savingly applied by the grace Of the Holy Spirit
such means in the providentia application Of them by
human agency embracing merely instruction by the
living voice. but the translation and ucious circulation
Of the whole written word of Godthe preparation and
circulation of evangelical tracts and books well any
other nsrumenalties fitted to bring the saving truths
Of Gods Word home to mems souls together with any
processes which experience may have sanctioned the
most efficient in raising up everywhere native ministers
and teachers Of the living gospel.
Is it best to concentrate laborers in the foreign ae
or to scatter them2 .#s
Resolved That while this convention fully accord in
the propriey and desableness of difusing knowledge
of the gospel far as circumstances admit providence
Of God may indicate, by means of duly qualified and
unrestraned nerancythey yet fully accord In the pro-
prety and disturbances of sezing strong and COM
hereditary concentrated systems Of have long pre-
vailed and there concentrating powerful agency, fitted
% & On IN ae
to constitute the by Gods blessing, emanatve
of evangelzng influence to the surrounding muttudes,
well the most efficient means Of perpetuating the
gospel in purity to succeeding generations.
4. In view Of the great extent of the heather world,
and the degree to which it is opened it expedent for
different missionary boards to plant stations the
Resolved That considsssg the vast extent of the yet
nnevangelized world of heathenism, and the limited
Of evangelization at the disposal of any of the
existing evangelical churches societies. 1t would DO
such the capitals of powerful kingdoms, efficient
preoccupaton of any particular portion Of the heather
~ by left re 81 se
session,-at the time acknowledging, with thank
funess to Cod that heretofore there has been practically
little interference with each others fields Of labor.
g. How may the number Of qualified laborers for the
svangelzaon of the world be multiplied and best pre-
Resolved That in the absence Of sufficient data to give
fun dopyance on the subject, this Convention che
n's aseS. s tSs 9 SSsa the
ministers of the gospel must strive wildly to
he in their souls the paramount grandeur of the
missionary enterprise in its relation to the glory of Cod
manifested in the design and contamination of the
whole redempve economy and the dviney appointed
and divney-cemmanded fundamentally for the regene
ration Of the lost and pershng in every land and then
strive habituay through prayer to the lord Of the har
vest who alone truly raise and send forth labor
ers as also through their public and private minisra
tons to stamp similarly vi, ID impressions the minds
Of Church members, and especially Christian PARENTS
Sabbath school and other Christian teachers who may
have in their power TO train up the young in simple de-
pendence Gods blessing to realize the magnitude and
glory Of the work Of the worlds evangczaton aud be
d 10 consider personal dedication to the work as the
highest of duties and noblest of privileges Moreover,
that the due preparation of candidates for the foreign
held it very desirable that provision made in
theological seminares generally for bringing the
ture history and obligations OF the missionary enterprise
before the minds of the students what may be briefly
designated course of evangelistc theology.
any, ., m,.. c,....,,,, .,,,,,.. ), ~, I'm 49,.
next year, that committee consisting of gentlemen of
New York representing the various evangelical churches
be appointed to make the necessary arrangements and
that chairman appoint that committee.
These were but preliminary topics others were
In store but could not be reached for want of time
The meeting was 30 blessed, that every one said,-
ave must have q meeting Of the same kind next
year-why should we not all be as one in facing
common enemy?" And SO it was resolved that a
similar meeting, with similar object, should be
held at New York, in May next year. One other
snnscs before conclude 3 y was with something
tion allusion was made to the existing state of feel
ing between that country and our own. knew there
had been sores and exasperations on both Sides and
it Is there it is in this country. hold that the
predominant element yonder is noble Christian
element, and is every year becoming more so. And
we know that is the predominant element in Great
Britain too. Surely, should not like draw to
like 7" And by drawing closer the bond in regard
to the great things in which we agree, is the only
way to come to an agreement on the small points
on which we differ, not all standing aloof till some
thread or patch is removed which some one does
not like. Another says, "Ah, but ! like it," and
they get angry with each other. But it Is by meet
ing together on those great things upon which we
are agreed that we shall get rid of these threads
and patches. (Applause) It was when a feeling
of this kind was being experienced that /, feeling
was at home, and among q generous people, ven
tured to say, "Old sores should be old sores, and
past exasperations should be past. The men in
America who fought the battles of independence
have gone to their graves and we in Britain are not
responsible for what our fathers did, unless take
them up and defend them. You are one with US
we arc ready TO forgive and to forget" Expression
also giver to the sentiment that "Grcat Britain
and America are like mother and daughter, and
that substantially they have in their hands, in the
marvellous providence of Cod tho doStinies of tho
nations Of the world and surely this is not time
to fall out by the way at such crisis in the worlds
history as the present" No sentiment was uttered
throughout the States to which more thorough
response was given than TO this sentiment.
And on this eide Of the water the real British heart
will, am sure, reecho the sentiment back again to
the American shore. (Cheers) | found that this
VAS no passing, ephemeral feeling, but that the
really Christianhearted men in the States have long