The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-16
WASHINGTON. ID. c..
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.

We have already published the resolutions
adopted by the American Missionary Associa-
ton at its late annual meeting in Worcester,
Mass. We now lay before our readers some
portions Of the Annual Report. The Associa-
ton is Union Society, not confined to any
one denomination, bat is understood to be evan
gelieal and Anti-Slavery in its principles. 1t
is both Home and Foreign Missionary Socie-
", and has missionaries in Western Africa,
Siam, Egypt, the Sandwich Islands, Island
OF Jamaica, in Canada, and among the
Ojbwa Indians in the Territories of the United
States, the Western States, and in Kentucky
and North Carolina.
The Report begins as follows:
CHRISTIANITY is a missionary enterprise.
The adorable Redeemer was missionary His
apostles trod in his footsteps. The early Chris
tians, dispersed abroad by the providence of
God, carried with them the good news of saliva
ton They believed that the injunctions Of
their ascended Lord were as obligatory upon
them as they were upon the eleven They in
scrbed upon their banner the memorable in
struetions Go We, therefore, and teach all ma
tons baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever have
commanded you; and 10 am with you Away,
even unto the end of the world. Go
We into all the world, and preach the Gospel
TO every creature.
This command is imperative upon every
one that has named the name of Christ. They
are TO teach and preach the Gospel, as
Pastors, Evangehsts, Home and Foreign Mis-
sionaries, Colporteurs, Conductors of the Rel-
gious Press, Parents, Bible-class and Sab
bath-school Teachers, as Bible and Tract Dis
tributors, in all ways, as God gives them the
ability and opportunity. The Gospel is to be
taught and preached; the WhOte Gospel mot
an emasculated Gospel; not such portions only
of the true Gospel as men are willing to receive
The Gospel is to be mculcated upon all ma
lions the accessible part of every nation I;
not a selected nation, or selecbd portions of
nation merely where it is easy, convenient. and
safe. Not alone in China, in HndOStan, in the
islands of the sea, in. the free States of the
American Union. but in all countries; in the
slave States as well as IN the free States
among the Indian tribes, not emitting the Choc-
taw and Cherokee nations They also are to
have full, unadulterated, free Gospel preached
10 them.
Among the slaves and the shareholders, the
Gospel, as 1t came from its divine founder, is to
be preached without concealment or compro-
preached and preached faithfully, whether hui
man enactments authorize OF forbid it. As
Christians, TO disregard all geographical
lines and distinctions. The field is the world
1t belongs to Christ and his word is not bound
His followers are TO remember that his com
mands constitute the higher law; that they
are to be obeyed at all hazards, and if human
enactmentS come in conflict with the divine
statutes, human enaetments are TO be trampled
under feet. They are not to be resisted by force
of arms, but simply diSObeyed. The Christian
E obedent TO his Lord and Master, but disobe-
dent to those who usurp his prerogative is TO
refuse all obedience to enactments that are in
conflict with the divine code, and accept what
ever punishment may be inflicted; saying, with
the apostles when they were forbidden to teach
as Christ had instructed them: Whether it be
right IN the sight at God to hearken unto you
more than unto God, Judge We; for we cannot
but speak the things which We have seen and
heard. We ought to c3ey God rather
than men,.
Nothing is to be taught As the Gospel
which is not a part Of it, The good tidings.'
they came from the lips of the divine found
ed apostles without addition or subtraction. Is
10 be uttered and circulated 10y the tongue aud
the press. without hesitation. fear connvance,
or mutilation. il is TO pervade the whole land
the sun. For | testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things, God
shall add unto him the plaques that are written
IN tins book; and If any man shall take away
from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book Of
life, and out of the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this book
The Christian teacher, be he a minister.
Sabbath-school teacher, missionary, colporteur.
editor, private Christian, is to go forth in the
name of the Great Captain of his salvation
among his fellow-men. among gain, savers, Cd.
posers enemies of the truth and lower law
men, wherever he has opportunity, as a soldier
OF the cross, faithful To his marehing-orders
Thou shalt say unto them. Thus saith the ord
God BE not afraid of them, neither he afraid
OF their words. though briers and thorns be with
thee and thou dOst dwell among scorpions. he
not afraid of their words, nor be dismaved at
their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
And thou shalt speak my words unto them.
whether they VIII hear, or whether they will for
bear = Speaking the truth in love
" IL was IN view of these truths, and under a
full persuasion that they had been previously
overlooked that the AMERICAN MISSIONARY AS
ISOLATION was organized Its founders deeuly
felt the necessity of new missionary organiza.
tI0n-one that would aim to bring about the
development of the mind and heart of Christ in
the Church, in missionary societies. in the re-
ligious institutions of the country. and would
send forth missionaries, at home and abroad. TO
preach free, an evangelical an Anti-Slayery
Gospel; Gospel that made no compromise
with SIN; that had no completely with caste.
polygamy. or slavehodng: that would fearless
ly aud perseveringly, in the name and in the
spirit of Jesus Christ, proclaim freedom. peace
temperance, holiness, the equality of man be-
lore the law. and the impartial love of God.
Behevlng that they were led bv the Great
Head of the Church, and recognising the nm
mlstakable hand of Providence i'm their earliast
movements. they formed the Association nro-
mulgated their principles. solicited funds. an
pointed missionaries. and embarked in the
great undertaking of publishing. in this and
other lands, what they understood TO be the
true "ospei' and carrying out its holy and
e.angeilcal principles, as God should give them
ability. the means, and the opportunitv Tbox
felt with the Apostle to the Gentiles. that
necessity was laid upon them and could say
M hls emphatic language: Yea. wo is unto me
If we preach not the Gospel the whole Cos
pel--ln person, by substitute. bv necuniarv
offerings, by active cooperation. by PRAYER NJ
all the means in our power.
The Association had to contend with preiu.
dice, misrepresentation, and opposition. not
IRON the ungodly so much as from the friends
of other Missionary Societies Ii was said ,b.t
there was no necessity for new miss;onarv or
ganization, and that the new Association NO.
belhgerent in its character toward older Roards
Defences of Its principles, candid and truthful
statements of the deinquencies of other Soc;e.
ties, that had made 1t necessary 10 form a now
Society, were construed into wanton attacls
upon old Boards, and evidences of q wro,,1-
spirit. The Association has been Obliged ~