St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-10-12
The Meeting of the American Board

The annual meeting of the American
Board of missions was held at Provi-
dence, R. l., last week. Where so
much was done, nothing like full re-
port can be given in one small paper.
Below we have grouped some of the
main points of the meetings:
The past year has been an unusually
trying and eventful one in respect of
the deaths of important members and
financial depression at home, and war,
famine and pestilence abroad. But
despite all hindrances, never has there
been such forward movement all along
the line. Revival influences have largely
prevailed, the native churches of the
various missions have increased in num-
bers and in spiritual strength to an I'M
precedented degree, the educational
movements have been greatly enlarged,
woman's education has received mark
ed development, and is bearing good
fruit in the better domestic life, not only
of the educational centers, but of the
scattered villages remote from them.
The higher education of normal and
collegiate schools is becoming more
popular and winning the decided APP
prevail of the authorities and higher
ranks in such countries as Turkey and
Japan. At HaIpoOt, for instance, the
normal school buildings are over crowd
ed, and parents have recently come 20,
30 and so miles with their sons, bring
ing loads of wheat, oil and even boards
to pay their school expenses, but Oblig-
ed to turn back sadly to their homes for
want of room.
The missions are inspiring every where
new life, hope and courage among crush
ed and degraded populations. They
see in the new aspirations kindled bet
ter hopes for their children. 1t is cheer
ing, too, to observe the continual open
ing up of new industries and new fields
of trade and commerce among such
regions as the MicrOnesian islands, and
in interiors remote from the seaports.
1t is now abundantly proved that it is
not commerce that must open the way
for missions, but Uice versa. Kindle up
heathen's soul, and he will want a
shirt, and having once got one on, he
will want other things that commerce
supplies to the end of the chapter. The
n-Turkish war has only devel-
oped and helped missionary success.
The missionaries have nobly stayed by
their stations in the direst straits and
lent hand to everybody in distress,
whether Bulgarian, Turk or CIrcassian,
and they have been protected in turn
by contending parties. In famines, too,
they have been the almoners of large
contributions distributed with such
hearty and impartial kindness as to ex-
tie the wonder and admiration of all
classes. And behind all this, the long
and exemplary lives of such veterans as
Calhoun, Schauffier, Goodell, Schneider,
Riggs, Vandike, and others whose tried
character have made American missions
lustrOus throughout the Turkish empire.
The medical skill, too, of such skilled
surgeons aud physicians as Drs. West,
Nutting and Norris has won widely
extend favor. When DIR. West, who
had won great distinction for his far
famed skill, extending even to this
country and Europe, died at Scivas the
whole city mourned for him with I'M
affected grief.
The Indian policy of the board, which
has been abundantly successful in the
organization of over so churches and
the disbursement of million dollars to
Christianize and civilize the Indian I'M
der the fullest recognition of his man
hood, was very fully and ably discussed,
and a resolution was passed instructing
the executive committee of the board
to present the results of its long ex-
perience in memorial to our govern
ment.
The meetings of the board have been
thrilled by the manly and able addresses
of veterans like Drs. Schauffler, Bissell
and Williams, and Mr.. Farnsworth of