Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-04
The American Board.

SiXty-One years ago the society, now univer-
sally known among Christians in this country
as the American board, was organized. Its an
nual meeting is held this year in Salem, one of
the places, which, as the home Of some of the
wisest and most Jealous of its founders, shares
with Williamstown and AndOver the honors of
its origin. Its first meeting, we believe was
held in that city, and it has not met there since
until this year. it was the first missionary So
ciety organized in this country, and for years
was the agent Of all American Christians, OF
whatever denomination, who desired to contrib
ute to the work Of extending the benefits OF
Christianity to the heather in foreign lands.
There were obvious economical advantages in
this union; but as the various denominations
increased in wealth aud numbers, they natural
" preferred to control the disbursement of their
own contributions and to support missionaries
Of their own belief. The Baptists, the Metho-
dsts, the Episcopaians have for many years
had their boards of missions, but as each sect
withdrew IRON lis connection with the board,
the original society, instead of curtaing its
operations, was enabled, by the lberality of its
remaining supporters, TO extend the area of its
field, increase the number of its missionaries,
and the amount Of its yearly expenditure For
a long time past the Congregatonalsts and one
branch Of the Presbyterian church have Joined
in supporting this society; but when last year
the old and new school Presbyterians united
they decided that their contributions and efforts
for foreign missions should be given TO the sup
port of the Presbyterian board previously or
! - a
This diverted from the treasury OF the Ameri-
can board the contributions of many churches.
Its field was somewhat diminished, also, by the
transfer of several missions, but notin the same
ratio. The board at that time was in debt about
$4,000, and its friends felt some apprehensions
for the future. 1t was determined, however, to
make the usual appropriations for the ensuing
year, and the result has justified that confidence
in the liberality of the churches The receipts
for the past year have not only met all the con-
templated expenditures, but have almost extin-
guished the debt, the present deficiency being
only $780,
The great work Of the board, to which all its
labors and expenditures are directly given, is of
course the spread Of Christianity. This only its
founders had in view, and this is the basis of
its claims upon the churches of this country.
As evidence Of its success in this work if points
to the one hundred and seventy.two churches
under the care of its missionaries, with s4s6
church members, of whom 978 were added
during the year. These churches are in addition
TO the fifty-six in the Sandwich Islands founded
and fostered by the labors Of missionaries, but
now self-supporting, and those which have been
successfully relinquished to missionary societies
Of other denominations. The indirect and Incl
dental results of missionary labor are NOT il
significant, and even those who disbelieye til,
Doctrines of Christianity will hardly underrat
these. Civilization accompanies Christiani
~ everywhere, the missionaries estab
Iish schools and printing presses, the,
encourage morality and decency; introduce th
arts, the comforts the wants OfciYilized life anC
thus stimulate the industry that is necessary t.
procure them. The Sandwich islands. fifty wear!
ago the abode Of caunibal savagcs, are now til,
seat of civilization, as genuine, if not so near
ly perfect, as that of Massachusetts and there i.
among the people less oppression. less poverty
and less ignorance, than in most of the nation,
Of Europe. This transformation is largely din,
board, some Of whom have been from the frs
among the wisest aud most trusted counsellor
of the Hawaiian kingdom, Results Of a simila
nature, but less striking, have been accomplish
ed in other qcafters Of the world The benefit
Of missions have not been confined TO the poop
where they were established. Learne
men in Europe and America ba'
frequently testified their indebtedne,
to American missionaries for yauab
contributions to science. Philology, geogr,
ply, history and archaeology have all been az
yanced by their assistance. The board has bee
very successful in the selection Of its Officer
aud missionaries. Its financial management ha
been marked by perfect integrity and admir-.
bic judgment; Of the hundreds of missionari,
in its employment, not one that we remembe
has ever given cause for scandal, and It's affai
generally have been conducted with such wi
dom as to secure the mistaken confidence Of Il