The Portland daily press., 1877-05-24
Baptist yIissionary Society.

PROVIDENCE, May 24.-The second day of
the annual meeting of the American Baptist
Missionary Union opened with devotional ex-
ercises. Telers reported the almost unanimous
election of the officers nominated yesterday, as
already reported.
Rev. DR.. Robinson accepted the office of
President with brief address.
The committee on special missionary paper
submitted report recommending that the
existing debt of $4,000 should be paid, not by
general contraction and retrenchment of
missions or by withholding from Burmah new
mission, but by universal and larger giving.
The executive committee should have the
means of making every necessary expenditure
and to reduce the debt at least one.half the
present missionary year. but the board of mis-
sons are hereby requested to inquire whether
there are not some missions which might we'll
be discontinued for the sake of more largely
reinforcing missions of greater promise. Re-
port was accepted and adopted.
Hon. Robert Fuller of Massachusetts, made
an appeal for more money to be used in mis-
sionary work. He read letter from a young
man who had sent his watch for missionary
gift and offered the watch for SALE 1t was i'm
mediately bought for 800. Mr.. Fuller then
stated that thsy wanted to take off at once the
sly 900 debt incurred last year, saying that
$4,000 had been pledged towards it provided the
remainder of the amount could be raised. Then
there wasla most exciting scene. Sums were
offered by individuals or pledged for churches,
ranging from small amounts to $1,000, and in a
very short time the $17 900 was raised. Then
came proposition to clear the whole debt
which was received with tremendous applause,
and the excitement continued until over $780,
600 were raised wnen the session adjourned till
this afternoon.
At the afternoon session the First Baptist
church at CLEVELAND, O., was chosen as the
place for the next annual meeting, and Rev.
Henry e. Robbins. President of Colby Univer-
sity, Waterville, Me-, to preach the occasional
sermon, with Rev. John Peddie, D. D., OF Phil
adelphia as alternate.
The report of the committee on the advance
of mission work into Northern Burmah was
presented. The report was referred to tie
board of managers.
The reports of the committees on Asiatc
and European missions recommending no
abandonment of the work, were presented and
adopted.
The committee on enrolment reported 3O4
life members and 1913 delegates present.
Rev. Messrs. w. E. Hatcher and A. E.
Dickinson, delegates from the Southern Bap-
fist convention, were invited to the platform,
and President Robinson extended to them true
Christian fellowship from every member of the
Union. They responded briefly.
A resolution was offered and referred to the
board of managers providing for the appoint
ment of committee of three to invite the ap-
pointment of like committees on the part of
the Home Missionary and Publication Soce-
ties, to prepare plan for the consolidation of
the several societies into the convention.
After closing remarks by the president the
meeting adjourned to meet at the call of the
executive committee
During the afternoon $4,000 more were SUBJ
scribed towards the debt, making s SO, 900 in
ALL
At the close of the meeting the Board of
Managers met and organized for the ensuing
year by the choice of Edward Bright, D. D.,
as chairman, and w. FL. Eaton, d. D., record
ing secretary. The following executive officers
of the board were elected
Executive Committee-Rev. tAlvah Hovey,
D. D Rev. A. ]. Gordon, Rev. H. M. King,
81. G. Mabe, Hon. J. W. Merrill, George W,
Chapman, Esq, q. w. Kingsbury, H. A. Pea
yer, Esq, Hon. r. o. Fuller
Corresponding Secretary-Rev J. N. Muir
dock, D. d.
Treasurer-Freeman A. Smith.
Auditing Commlttee-George Brooks, Joseph
G. Shedd.
The American Baptist Educational Commit.
Hovey presiding. Rsv. Dr.. Cutting, Cores.
ponding Secretary, read the annual report
Rev. DR.. j. B. Thomas of Brooklyn, n. Y, de-
livered the annual address upon "The Interests
of Christianity in Education