New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-04
THE AMERICAN BOARD.
PREsBYTERIsS AND CONGREGATIONAL MISSIONS
IN EARLY TINES THE wILLIansTowN
uAysTACK-THE ORGANIZATION AND FRO

GREss OF THE AMERICAN BOARD.
eSy,cpendenee Of The N. Y. Tribune.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, Oct. 3, 1859.
The Presbyterian family IN this oountTy-1 may
rive his 70 descrbe the Presbyterans proper,
the Corgregatopas.s snd Reformed DGtch a. sdop'-
ipg the Calvinis.ic creed and rympathizpg very
strongly with each otbes-h.ye from the hrs' been
noted for zeal in the OF missions hTy IN lhe
sevepteentb century John Eliot Of Ro1onry had DIS
en.hu,ssm for the conversion of the hdlsns e1cled
ard his world wide fame il not based by great deal
On "bs extreme antipstby to wigs and tobacco. fhs
real selfdera and success in preaching 10 the In
dams constitute fame which is the worthy beginning
Of American Missions. Next to him, aud if possible
ou,sbinirg him, wss David Brainerd, BON in lllS
twenty eight years after EGots death. Tue record OF
this oDdsTfn mans journey ings through the wilder
Iesses Of Massachusetts, New Jefsey, New loIk ara
Pepusylyabia, exceeds anything Of its kind within
NV recollection. Hs lsboTs were attended with
amazing in the conversion OF the lndsns ana
his career has become the model OF mlsslonareS OF
every country e0d paue
In on yespect the Ne England people have always
been missionaries far spreading their own pohiy
an or themselves is Concerned. In making their new
,tttleu epts ~ Maine, New Hampshire, Eastern Mac
sacbusetts and Ohio mas been common ioT tnein %
org anize churches and build meeting houses IS part
Of the enterprise. Thus, the church at Granville,
Ohio wac organized before il left old Granville, Mass,
and good Dr. Cooley, who orr aDlzed II, Sun survives,
necticut Missionary Society started 10 meet the
wants of the settlements Both the Congregation
ss.s and Presbyterians were very energetic 10 nome
missionary works. True, the PresoyterlAn 1enerIi
Assembly frequently sent missionaries on horseback
70 OF TO- W sterp NewYoIk, Western Pennsylvania,
Virginia and North Carolina. In those days churches
permitted pastors 10 make long tours, not 10 EaTope
or the Holy Land but on horseback among destitute
ssttlemeDts The grestest preachers Of tbs churches
were active in this way and their soos were attended
with great successes.
I sIude to these facts as showing that the two
churches which have long coOperated in the Amer
lean Board of Foreign Missions have from the begin
ming been missionary churches
As for the origin Of modern missions IN TINS country
it very interesting The father OF the lac Samuel
a. Mills was an extraordinary character, and his most
extraordinary trait his oevout plety winch over
Swallowed his Dtrcties When bis son wished TO go
as missionary to the heather, hs fathers heart failed
him. and he was unwilling to give his consent. " How
did You get this notion r. he asked his by hear
ing your prayers for the heather, Was the reply This
young the means OF giving sn impulse 10 the
which is represented IN the Society Low Con-
yeDed in this city. In 1906 be became member OF
Williams College. The next year ne, Gordon Hall,
ard James Richards, met at place in the vicinity OF
the College, which spot, az am told, is now marked
BY monument, and the three spent the day ID tasting
and prayer for the heathen and in seeking the DIVINE
direction as to their personal duty in the matter OF
preaching the Gospel to some heather people. In
September 1865 with some other kindred spirit, they
organized a society, the object of which shall be TO
tHeCt Id Do ptIeOue VI hcuDeic mioSioH VI
missions to the heather" The constitution pro-
hibited the admission to membership Of any person
who is under an engagement OF any knd
(which shall be incompatible with going on mission
"to the he atben;" and further that "every member
shall keep himself absolutely free from every engage
ment which, after prayenul attention. and after con-
"sultstOn with his brethren, shall be deemed iocon-
"pstble with the objects OF this Society, and shall
I" hold himself in readiness 10 20 on a mission when
" and where duty may call" This Society published
ard circulated missionary sermons an effective method
of rescbng the Churches. In June 1910 these ycung
men, with Others, met with the Professor OF An-
dover Theological Seminary, DR.. Spring, OF NewbuIy-
port and DR.. Worcester of Salem. The result was
the presenting memorial TO the General Association
Of Massachusetts, setting forth that then minds had
long been impressed with the duty and Importance OIL
"personslly attempting mission 10 the heather.
They asked the ADVICE Of the venerable Association,
who answered the paper by appointing COMMITTEE 10
take the matter under advisemeDt, when Comin,tee
reported recommeI ding that there be instituted by
this Association a Board of Commissioners ior
Foreign Missions, for the purpose OF devlslng ways
and means and adopting and prosecuting me asuies
for promoting the spread Of the Gospel In heatnen
"lands." Early IN January, 1911, AoonTam ,Iudson
was sent 10 England TO confer with the Directors OF
the London Missionary Society az TO the beat pont OF
commencing the new enterprise, and also to get pecu
MARY help so uncertain did they feel OF competent re-
sources this country. In 1912 the American Board
incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts
The fret Missionaries ere ordained in Salem, on the
9Th OF February 1872 and set sail the 18th OF the
same month for the East Indies.
II 10 fact in singular contrast with the present con-
dton of the Society, that when an opportunity wa,
found for Messrs. Judson, Newell, Nott hsI anu
Rice 10 SAIL al the money in the Society treasury
amounted to only 81 200. In three weeks more $oo0o
were collected. Now the income of the Society is
about $325, 900. In 1872, the annual meeting, as !
have often heard the venerable DIR. Lyman Beecher
saw was held in gentlemsns parlor, while row the
largest church edifce is not sufficient to accommodate
the crowds which meet. Many Of the public services
require several churches TO hold the people. few
items concerning the income of this Society will be
interesting The receipts in 1911 were $500; in 1872
1851; In 1920 So, 9i9; in 1884, SO0,93i in 1852
$2ii, l69; in ls4s $2 oOo in 1853, $Sl4 g22 and the
last year. $3.50 500 From 1911 to 1888, the entire in
come had sweled 10 the sum Of So ,OOO; and at
the present time the aggregate cannot be short OF
5000 600.
the able Treasurer of this Society; snd 20 noted had
the Society become for it's promptpess in its pecunary
engagements that lie drafts were honorcd in all parts
of the world The ability of MIR. Treasurer Hill was
of the great forces OF the Society and il is fact
that his pen as Treasurer represented one OF the best
religious constituencies in the world Among the Sec
retaries of the Board, we find also great
DIR. Worcester of Salem, DIR. Wisner OF Boston, DIR.
Armstrong of New-loT dead, but not forgotten.
The present corps OF Secretaries is very able one,
composed Of Dire. Anderson Pomeroy and Treat Of
Boston, and Dr. G. w. Wood Of New -lork.
Among its missionaries have been found large num-
beIs Of distinguished for their piety Learning and
devotion to missions. They will lose nothing by COM
parison with any similar class IN the world.
The founders and early patrons OF the American
Board were among the most excellent people IN this
the circulation OF missionary intelligence and pulpit
presentatiops Some OF the finest specimens Of pulpit
eloquelce have been elected by this cause, and the
volumes Of annual sermons preached before the Board
comprise great variety of the best preaching talent
in this country. The Monthly Concert soon became
powerful auxiliary in the same work. The first Monday
evening of each month was observed as 8 season OF
PRAYER for the conversion Of the world and has been
fnrm mini