The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-09

Is it because the Board itself has neutraliled
the instructions of the Prudential Committee
by its declarations at subsequent annual meet.
ings?
Mr.. Secretary Wood visited the Indian mig
sions in 1856. He drew up set of resolutions
embodying, as he believed, the sentiments of
the Prudential Committee on various subjects,
that of Slavery included, and they seemed to
be satisfactory to the missionaries; but it does
not appear that either Mr.. Wood or the missiona-
ries have done anything to carry out the instruc-
tons of the Committee respecting "the exceed
ing desirableness of (their) pursuing such a
course as shall deliver the (missien) churches
from all connection with Slavery" Is it be-
cause these restrictions were merely adrisoryF
The truth is, the Committee expressed only
the exceeding desirobleness" of delivering
the churches from all connection With Slavery,
and left it to the missionaries to do in the
premises just what they chose.
1t does not appear that they have done any.
thing effectively. Shareholders still remain
church members ain good and regular stand
ing" Not one has been disciplined, so far as
the Christian community know. Parents are
separated from their children by purchase and
sale. Slaves are hired of their masters to do
mission work, and their masters receive the
pay Church members buy and sell church
members. No STAKEHOLDER has been refused
admission into the mission church simply for
being STAKEHOLDER. 1t is not considered a
test of piety that q candidate for church mem.
bership should express q determination not to
live and die STAKEHOLDER. In fact, things 90
on much as they did before Mr.. Treat made
his report before the Prudential Committee
gave their instructions Mr.. Wood and
the missionaries agreed upon set of resolu.
tons.
The declarations of the Board against "the
system of Slavery" seems to have been merely
oor ct pr.terca nitil, for in 1857 they saw. in
allusion to the missionaries in the Indian Ma.
tions, without any reference to the Slavery
question, We cannot too highly appreciate
the perseverance,, the faithfulness, and the
cheerful and selfdenying labors of our mis-
sisnaries." The instructions of the Prudential
Committee appear to have been disregarded.
The COMMITTEES themselves weakened their
force, and the Board weakened it still more
by refusing to endorse them. Meantime. the
"poor Indian is allowed to believe that the
Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ tolerates slave
holding, the separation, by sale, of parents and
children, the admission of "men.thieves" into
Christian churches, and the nameless atrocities
connected with the heathenish system and
practice
And this is not all. Efforts are making to
introduce into the Union new State that will
include the Choctaw and Cherokee Nations.
The State will, it is supposed, be slave State.
Will not the responsibility rest, in no small de-.
gree, upon the missionaries and the Board ?
The people in that region have been taught
that slaveholding was allowed by Christ and
the Apostles, and could be tolerated in the
American church. The missionaries have thus
taught and acted, and the Board has permitted
it. How long shall Christianity be thus dis
honored? How long shall such an example
be exhibited before heather nations How
long shall the cry of the slaves at the Indian
missions ascend to heaven, How long, o Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge
our blood ." Ill
In view of these statements, allow me, sir, as
friend of missions, as an American citizen
and Christian, who feels for the character of
his country and its precious institutions, and
the honor of Christianity, to entreat you to sig
nalize your introduction into the distinguished
Office You hold, by cooperating with the men,
bers of the American Board OF Commissioners
for Foreign Missions to wipe away the stigma
that rests upon the Board and the cause of
missions, on account of its completely with
American Slavery, by some explicit and au-
thoritative act, at the approaching meeting at
Detroit, which will show to the world that the
Board will henceforth sustain no mission that
is not on the Lords side against American
Slavery. Respectfully yours,
LEWIS Japan.