Year: 1859

= . r
missions. He also pointed out some of the
reasons why, above all others, the colored
people had great duty to perform in the
great enterprise of missions to their own
immediate brethren. In all parts of the
country there were large numbers of col
ored people destitute of pure Gospel 1t
had become an established rule among
ministers of the various denominations, to
distinguish between the Gospel to white
men and the Gospel to the colored man. 1t
was time, then, for the colored men who
were more favored, to see that their less fa-
vored brethren were provided with pure
and undefled Gospel


Mr.. Nelson, an elder from the Presbyte-
rian Church at Reading, Pa, addressed the
meeting at some length ON the Importance
of the consolidated action of the colored
people in the great missionary work of ell
evating the aspirations of their brethren
of their youth, the present age might at
least be the harbinger of brighter, freer,
happier days, for the race in the future


The Rev. H. NJ. Wilson, of the Seventh
avenue Presbyterian Church, made brief
address upon the magnifcence of the idea
which the Association has set forth as the
object of its efforts, that of sending an
evangelist to the destitute churches.


Mr.. James Cross, deacon from the
Talcott street Congregational Church, Hart
ford, Conn, referred to the difficulties and
affections of weak churches, and the gran
deur of that idea which might soon incor-
porate itself in great and powerful trans
action, with view to the salvation of souls,
and the general elevation of the people.
He urged the people to be faithful in sus-
tanning the ministry.


The Rev. Charles w. Gardner, of the
Presbyterian Church at Harrisburg, Pa,
had come to the conclusion that the people
must answer their own prayers. God was
a consistent being and could not be expect
ed to interfere with the original plan and
designs of His unerring providence.


"Watch and pray" comprehended work
ing to accomplish the end of prayer. The
prayer of faith was always accompanied
with corresponding activity. People were
very fond of praying for the perishing
heather of foreign lands, forgetting the
tremendous amount of heathenism they
ought to pray for at home. He said that
the grand object of the Association was not
one which was placed beyond the means of
the colored people He knew well that in
themselves they had the resources, if they
had the will to apply them in a practical
way. Themost Of their prosperous church.
es were supported by about one-third of
the community. He was glad to say of
.Congregationalism and Presbyterianism,
that before their Indications of examina-
ton there was no respect of persons, SO
that young men of color had every oppor-
tunity to prepare themselves forthe minis
try. 1t was the duty of church men,
bers to pray that the Lord would inspire
young men with desire for the ministerial
work, and when they had found such young
men they ought to aid them in their efforts
onward. By SO doing they would not
simply perpetuate the church with its bless
ed institutions, but would preserve and
promote intelligence in the race, aud make
it blessing both to the church and the
world.


THE CLOSING MEETING.


The closing meeting of the Association
was held in the Seventh avenue Presbyte-
rian Church, on Monday evening. The