The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-14
AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
Worcester, Mass, Sept. 3O.-This Society
has been in session in this city two days. Hon.
Lawrence Brainard, of Vermont, is President;
there are Vice Presidents in different States
and an Executive Committee located in the
city of New York. Messrs. Whipple and Joce.
Ign are the Secretaries, and Lewis Tappan,
Treasurer. The receipts the past year were
forty thousand dollars. The Association has
one hundred and fifty missionaries in this and
iii foreign countries. Mr.. Fee of Kentucky,
Mr.. Worth of North Carolina, and many other
conspicuous gentlemen from different parts of
the country, were present, and took part in the
discussions. The Annual Report was ordered
to be published for general circulation. The
annual sermon was preached by Rev. S. Thurs.
ton, of Maine, from Luke ii, IA" GLORY to God
in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will
toward men," A set of resolutions were re.
ported, fully discussed, and unauimou sly adopt.
ed. They embody the principles of the Society,
and are as follows:
RESOLUTIONS.
Resoloed, That we acknowledge with devout
gratitude the goodness of God in preserving the
lives of the officers of the Association and its
missionaries the past year, and permitting the
Society to meet again in this city under such
favorable circumstances.
Resolped, That we hold in grateful remem.
brance the active and liberal friends of the
cause, whose labors on earth have ceased du.
ring the past year, and would particularly bear
testimony to the efficient aid rendered the As.
ISOLATION by the lamented Hudson, and the
munhcent bequest of the venerable Avery, i'm.
ploring the great Proprietor of all that their
example may be initiated by many who will
consecrate their talents and property to the
cause of truth, righteousness, freedom, and no.
illness.
ReSotred, That we sppre ciate the labors and
sacrifices of the missionaries, teachers. and
colporteurs, connected with the Association
that we sympathizs with them in their trials.
and in their joys and sorrows; thsss we will bear
these servants of Christ and their families on
our hearts before the Thu one of Grace, and
contribute to their support and usefulness. &C.
cording as The Lord shall prosper us.
Resotred, That we would be devoutly thank
full to the great Head of the Church that the
Association was founded and has been main
tanned upon such evangelical and scriptural
principles, and for the good that has been done
through its missionaries and other instrument.
alities for the contributions that have been
made to its treasury; for the prayers that have
been offered in its behalf; and for the prospect
of it's increased usefulness.
Resotced, That we recognise with joy and
gratitude to Almighty God the increased facili-
ties OF international communication, the open.
ings of distant countries to the introduction of
the Gospel and the fulflment of prophecy with
regard to the enlightenment and conversion Of
the world. .
Resolued, That we rejoice in the widespread
awakening of the people to the concerns of
their souls, In the numerous conversions that
have taken place, in the general prevalence of
prayer among the various denominations of
Christians, in the accessions to the churches
and devoutly hope that those who have recently
protested the religion of Christ will show the
reality of their conversion by coming out deci.
dedly on the Lords side with regard to all true
moral reforms, and against all sin, especially
the ain of Slavery, that threatens to involve the
church and nation in irretrievabe ruin.
RESOLVED, That as American Slavery is one
of the greatest distractions to the conversion
OF the world, it behooves the Church of Christ
to bear an unequivocal testimony against it,
and that the silence of the pulpit, ecclesiastical
bodies, Missionary Boards, Bible and Tract So.
cieties, and individual professors of religion.
wherever it exists, with reference to this stu,
pendous wrong, is reproach to the country.
dishonorary to Christianity, and evidence of de.
lection IN religion, in those who thus cruelty
ignore the rights and sufferings OF their fellow.
men in bondage.
hesofred, That we mourn over the obstacles
that are thrown in the way of human salvation,
not alone BY the open enemies of Christ bat by
many OF his professed followers, and would es.
peciaiiy mention, as subjects of humiliation and
grief, the policy of the American Tract Society
and the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, namely, the refusal of the
Tract Society to publish ira cts an the s;nf,Jnass
OF Slavery, and the acquiescence of the Board,
for 80 many years, while their missionaries
among the Choctaws and Cherokees have been
avowing pro-Slavery sentiments, and preaching
q Fro Slavery gospel, until it is seriously pre-
posed to abandon the mission on account of the
dIihculnes that have occurred under such
missionary labor-a policy on the part of the
Tract Society and the American Board that
must, wherever it is understood, sstonish the
trends OF freedom and righteousness through
out the world.
Rssososd, That we lament that the monthly
concerts of prayer for missions and the enslaved
| have In many places fallen into disuse. or are
thiniy attended, owing, as is believed, chiefly to
pastors ana leading persons in the church ia.
| king less interest In them than heretofore and
that 1t be recommended to all the friends of this
Association to exert their influence to have the
monthly concerts well attended, and to COOP.
crate In having the children and youth of their
congregations thoroughly instructed with re-
saru 70 tne importance of Foreign and Home
MISSIONS, as one OF the great instrumentalities
ot 'n1 prevalence OF vital piety in the churches,
as well as for the conversion Of She world
Resotred, That we solicit the co opera.;or of
all Christian missionaries of this country. In
praying for their native land, for the euslsved