New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-05
PART IT.
OCT. 5, 1891.
loyal TO THE OLD BOARD.
mr.. A. H. PLUMB, OF BOSTON, SPEAKS FOR
THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE.
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN BOARD
At p1TrsuELp CALLS FORTH AN EARNEST
APPEAL - HIGH PRAISE FOR ITS
HoNoRED PRESIDENT, DIR. sToRRs'

eirhy-Second annual meeting. tof iOur OF hNo years
there have been discussions, which have not always
49,, hsrmenious and which at times left hard feelings
that have threatened TO cripple the splendid missionary
work begun in 1870 There have been threats OF form
ing a new Board unless certain changes were mace IN
the officers or in the election of corporate members OF
in the management of the Boston Office. But aiter
repeated conferences the Board last year, at Mime
anois adopsui certain changes which seem to solve
the problem.
In order to see how the Prudential Committee were
p,eassd with the years work. Tribune correspondent
has obtained statement from DR.. A. H. Plumb, OF
Roxbury who has been for ten years member OF this
committee He said: ain the history OF typical
oriental household where the sons when they marry
and sometimes the daughters, too. add their families
10 the panarchal establishment, there may come at
length year when several such additions have been
made or when a number of children have been born to
these Younger households, some of them perhaps nav
ing twins er wien the lads suddenly shoot upward de-
welcoming an appetite and outgrowing all their
clothes at once, and when the focks and herds on
which they all depend have also increased greatly but
have not increased enough, that the year is marked
as an unprecedented one both for greater absolute
riches and greater relative poverty; never before so
large an income, before such pinchng economy
to make it go around.
@such a year the past has been to the American
Board At its recent annual meetings, after listening
to the pathetic cry for help from its overworked mis-
do everything in its power to respond Accordingly, re-
endorsements have been crowded forward for few
years past rapidly than ever before, though not
meeting 1.-THE of the demand Consequently, there
Is now so large force in the heid and their work is
so prosperous and promising that simply to keep the
wheels in motion requires very large outlay, not
larger than the churches readily supply, but
larger than they have been accustomed to give. And
whoever is elected at Pttsfeld the next Prudential
Committee at the very first meeting will have to sit
down and foot up the estimates the missionaries nave
been sending in for their needs the coming year. and
will then to face the question, how to cut so big
a coat from so small supply Of cloth the churches
will probably furnish, especially as one or two rolls OF
cloth which have been on hand given to exc out the
annual production, are about used up. To this COM
mttee as the agents of the Board the heroic men and
women at the front continually appeal. Those noble
missionaries must not be left to sink beneath their
burdens. The responsibilities of that committee are
so trying that often during some ten years of service
upon it, have wanted to resign and would have done
so but for leaving the executive officers In the uIoh
for they say the longer is the committee, the
more he can help them.
~This financial problem would seem to be the only
one necessarily occaSOung anxiety in regard to the
coming anniversary. Happily, so far as known, there
are no disputed questions concerning policy to come
up. Certainly he would be reckless dsturber of the
peace who should bring up there anything to revive
the buried issues of the past There has been full
supply of candidates fos missionary service to whom
none could object The rules of procedure adopt
ed at Minneapolis have been scrupuiousy observed and
without tire least friction An esteemed missionary
of another society has raised the question OF econ
omy in missionary outlay. But this Board cannot
be charged with waseful expenditure through de-
nominadonal rivalry. Its fields are almost eX-
clusively It's own. AT the New-York meeting
In 1859, o prominent committee strongly urged the
establishment of station at Toxic, the political
centre Japan but the Prudential Committee showed
that city already occupied by eighty missionary
workers Of sixteen different societies. and therefore de-
clined TO begin work there though it allowed single
experienced missionary 10 reside there AS Its rep
resentatve and to for adjacent fields. No. the
simple business Of the coming meeting would appear to
be to hear the reports OF the work for the and then
TO ask viii the churches raise their gifts as the blessing
of God on the work in hand requires {!
"Now what is it that has given this cheering pros
pect of simple missionary anniversary useful to the
missions? How have all these painful agitatons Of
previous annual meetings been laidf There can be
but one answer. Under the good hand OF God it is
due, more than TO any other cause, TO the command
ing personal influence the moderate temper, the
broad craftsmanship consummae tact and sagacous
wisdom OF one manthe distinguished president OF the
Board. In him all sections and parties in the con
stituency Of the Board cordially united to degree
which would be possible in the case Of no other man
living Therefore. in order that the approaching annl
versary may be missionary meeting pure and simple
in order that great assembled organization may give
itself hopefully ana wholly to the consideration OF Its
legitimate and benelcent work, there must be no
thought Of the presidents retirement. For him to let
90 tile tillcr now, just smoother are coming
into view, would be the signal for the immediate and
inevitable renewal of fractional strife, and at once the
good ship would begin TO drift toward tie breakers
again.
AS every one knows, DR.. storrs accepted the prcsi
4iuefan md
profound conviction OF his brethren that it call
Of God which il were dlsloyalty to decline. At
each reelection he has repeated his sincere desire
t. be released from the canes Of the Office at
tie earliest moment possible. At Minneapolis
he said. il hoped in tie way of pleasantly, thai
after attaining the hge Of seventy during the current
year, he should feel at liberty TO withdraw. No
doubt lie earnestly wishes to do So and it is now
said this has been his serious intention. The weighy
responsibilities Of the pastorate he has so long and
honOraDly held, the varied and valued services In
behalf Of tine general public which so eminent citizen
is frequently called upon to render, the important
literary labors in which his practised mind and
skJufGi hands have been from time to time wOrthy
engaged, plead for all he has OF time and strength
This Is all high service indeed, but, TO preserve unity
harmony and efficiency OF this great and venerable
missionary organization, lie has done, and as he
alone continue 30 is service still higher. And
who can for moment believe that this high provden-
tal mission to which lie was called in the solemn
crisis OF the Boards history, has been accomplished
and is now at an end Why, his loyal selfsacrhcins
obedience 10 tat divine call-his magnificent and
mastery service under Its the thing which
moro than anything else lends hope TO the hour and
gives assurance Of peace and progress in the true
work OF the Board Not yet can the Pilot say, My
task is done
Let there be one meeting free from contention,
devoid OF recrininaJOns innocent of personalities.
For once again of old let the friends OF missions
meet consider drecy and exclusively the claims and
oon1uests Of the Kingdom Of God in unevangelzed
lands Resides, the very magic and might OF the
nresident,s presence at his post will make its cares
henceorth less onerous iIs functions continually more
agreeable. Dr. Hopkins presided with ease and dig
,fy iii called higher at fhe OF eghtyfve the
English Nation hkey TO range itself again under
fhe Jeadershp OF that Incompatible veteran whose bow
sin abdes an strength after more than fOuIsc0Ie years
OF use DR. StOFro was never more full OF power, he
~ .LLDL Y