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THE

MISSIONARY HERALD.

VOL. XXXI.

JANUARY, 1835.

No. 1.

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. In commencing a new volume of this work, a brief account will be given of the organization of the Board, its executive officers and their duties, and the several departments of business; which will be followed by an abridgment of the ANNUAL REPORT of the Prudential Committee, read at the annual meeting held in the city of Utica, State of New York, in October last. This abridgment will contain all the important facts and statements found in the original REPORT, and for the purpose of reference may be used as a substitute for that document. Such additions or modifications will be made, in respect to each mission, as may be required by the intelligence which has been received since the publication of the Report.

THE BOARD.

The original members of the Board were appointed by the General Association of Massachusetts, convened at Bradford, in June 1810. The Board was organized in Farmington, in the State of Connecticut, in the following September, and was incorporated by the legislature of Massachusetts in June, 1812. In September, 1826, the United Foreign Missionary Society was identified with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The Board now consists of 85 members, elected according to the Act of Incorporation, residing in 17 of the States of the Union; of whom 31 are laymen, 14 are presidents of Colleges, and 11 are professors in Theological Seminaries: 46 are connected with the Presbyterian, 31 with the Congregational, seven with the Reformed Dutch, and one with the Associate Reformed Church.

The number of Corresponding Members is 22, of whom six reside in this country and 16 in foreign parts. There are also 1,262 Honorary Members, constituted such, if laymen, by the payment of $100, and if ministers, of $50 each, at one time.

VOL. XXXI.

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD.

JOHN COTTON SMITH, LL. D., President;
STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, LL. D., Vice
President;

CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D., Recording Secretary.
Prudential Committee.

SAMUEL HUBBARD, LL. D.,
WARREN FAY, D. D.,
BENJAMIN B. WISNER, D. D.,
His Honor SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG,
JOHN TAPPAN, Esq.
CHARLES STODDARD, Esq.,

Secretaries for Correspondence.
Rev. BENJAMIN B. WISNER,
Rev. RUFUS ANDERSON,
Rev. David Greene.

HENRY HILL, Esq., Treasurer;
DANIEL NOYES, Esq.,
WILLIAM J. HUBBARD, Esq.,}

EXECUTIVE BUSINESS.

Auditors.

The executive business of the Board is transacted by a Prudential Committee, consisting of six gentlemen, of whom four are laymen; three Secretaries for Correspondence, a Treasurer, and General Agents.

Duties of the Prudential Committee.-The Prudential Committee meet statedly once a

1

week, and oftener, if circumstances require; ||bution of Missionary Papers and other publi give directions respecting the more important cations, organizing associations and auxiliacorrespondence; appoint missionaries, assistant ries, and attending their annual meetings, and missionaries, and agents; assign them their in various other ways co-operating with the fields of labor; direct as to the investment of pastors of churches, with the agents of other funds; authorize expenditures; examine the societies, with ecclesiastical bodies, with the treasurer's accounts; receive reports from the officers of the Board and of auxiliaries, and secretaries, treasurer, agents. and missiona- with the friends of the cause generally, in efries; and annually make a report to the forts to augment the number of missionaries, Board of their own proceedings, and of the and the amount of pecuniary means for diffusgeneral state and prospects of the missions. ing the knowledge and influence of the gospe} throughout the world. There are now five General Agents.

Duties of the Secretaries.-On the Secretaries devolves the correspondence, foreign and domestic, (except what relates to the pecuniary concerns of the Board;) the editing of the Missionary Herald; the preparation of the Annual Report, Missionary Papers, Instructions to Missionaries, and other public documents; the general superintendence of missions; the obtaining and directing of missionaries and agents; the collecting of information which shall lead to the establishment of new missions and the enlargement of those already established; the preparation of business for the Prudential Committee-together with the constant, necessary personal intercourse with the friends of missions from all parts of the country. The Secretaries are, also, often called from the Missionary Rooms to transact business of the Board in different places, and to visit missionary stations.

Publications. During the past yearthere have been published by the Board, of the Annual Report 1,500 copies; Abridgment of the Annual Report 6,000; First Ten Annual Reports [in one volume], 1,000; Organization of the Board, 5,000; Annual Sermon, 1,000; Missionary Papers, 74,000; Quarterly Papers, 158,000; Missionary Herald Vol. xxx, 18,000, [monthly numbers, 216,000]: making the whole number of copies of publications printed, and most of them put into circulation, during the year, all desigued to diffuse information on missionary subjects and promote a missionary spirit, 264,500; containing 11,788,200 pages.

The receipts of the year ending Sept. 1, 1834, were $152,386 10; which added to $2,616 14, the balance in the treasury at the beginning of the year, gave $155,002 24 the amount of funds at the disposal of the Committee during the year. There were also received from the American Bible Society $15,000, and from the Philadelphia Bible So

Duties of the Treasurer.-On the Treasurer is devolved the correspondence relating to the pecuniary concerns of the Board; keeping the accounts; purchasing, and forwarding all supplies for the several stations; giving directionsciety $500 for printing and circulating Bibles for sending the Missionary Herald and Reports of the Board to societies and donors; sending publications to missionaries and foreign correspondents, the preparation of the monthly lists of donations, with various other duties of a similar nature.

Duties of General Agents.-They will visit as often as practicable the several portions of their respective fields, diffusing information on the subject of missions to the heathen, by preaching and addresses, conversation, distri

ABRIDGMENT

in heathen lands; from the American Tract Society for printing and circulating tracts, $18,800; and from the American Sunday School Union for books for the missions of the Board, $500; in all $34,800: making the whole amount of disposable funds $189,802 24. The expenditures of the Board at home and abroad were 159,779 61; adding the amount expended for the other societies just named, $194,579 61.

OF THE ANNUAL REPORT.

AFTER mentioning the decease of the Hon. Jonas Platt, a member of the Board, one ordained missionary, and one male and one female assistant missionary; to which are now to be added another ordained missionary and two female assistants; the Report proceeds with the

DOMESTIC OPERATIONS.

This Board has been constituted, by the Providence of God and the choice and confidence of his people, the principal agency for conducting the work of Foreign Missions in behalf of several Christian denominations in this country, coinciding in their views of doctrine, and not materially differing in ecclesiastical order and discipline. One important

step towards constituting this Board such an agency was taken when the Board, in 1830, recommended to the Prudential Committee to employ, in different sections of the country, general and permanent agents. A still more important step, of the same bearing, was taken when, in 1831, the plan of co-operation in the work of Foreign Missions, so happily subsisting between this Board and the Reformed Dutch Church, was adopt

ed.

During the year now under review, great and decisive progress has been made in the same course. In October last were formed "The Foreign Missionary Society of the Western Reserve," and "The Foreign Missionary Society of the Valley of the Mississippi," the former designed for the northern part of the State of Ohio and the Territory of Michigan, the latter to combine all who shall choose to be connected with it in the portion of our country west of the Allegany mountains. Also in October last was formed "The Central Board of Foreign Missions," for the States of Virginia and North Carolina; and in December was formed "The Southern Board of Foreign Missions," for the States of South Carolina and Georgia.

Already have very happy results followed the constituting of these helpers in our arduous and benevolent work.

Rev. HARVEY COE, the Secretary of the Society of the Western Reserve, thus writes respecting the results of his agency

The cause of Foreign Missions has certainly received a new impulse the past year, within my field, and is now, to a considerable extent, a very popular object. I have presented the subject, in many places, for the first time; in some instances to churches not one year old, consisting of from ten to twenty members. I have presented it in a log school-house, standing in the woods; and I presume they gave as much, on the gospel scale of estimation, as the city of Boston. I cannot tell definitely, but full $5,000 have been subscribed within my field during the year.

Already has the Society of the Valley of the Mississippi, a State auxiliary in Kentucky, and another in Indiana, which have commenced operations under favorable auspices, and has an agent for each of those States, and another for the States of Illinois and Missouri. In re

ference to the progress of the cause, generally, in this interesting region, the Rev. Mr. BULLARD, its Secretary, and General Agent of the Board in the same region, observes

There has been a great increase of missionary spirit among the students of our literary and theological institutions, during the year. And there are many among the private members of our churches, who are beginning seriously and prayerfully to inquire whether it is not their duty to spend the remainder of their days among the heathen. Settled pastors, too, are beginning to consider, whether it is their duty to remain in America, when so many millions are perishing for lack of knowledge.

With one or two exceptions, every church I have visited twice, has given more the second time than the first. And this has been

done notwithstanding the severe pecuniary pressure, which has been felt more generally in the West than in any other part of the land.

But the interest manifested for the perishing heathen by our children and youth is the brightest spot in my field of labor.

The Central and Southern Boards of Foreign Missions have been formed in sections of the country, distinguished for liberality, where there had previously been no general organization, and comparatively little effort, for the promotion of this great work.

Both the Boards of which we are now speaking have commenced operations with vigor. Owing to particular circumstances, the organization of the Central Board, was not completed until March last. At their first meeting, they_appointed as their Secretary, the Rev. WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, for some time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Va. He has accepted the office, and has entered upon his work, and meets with unanticipated encouragement and success. The Central Board, in the six months since its organization, during the latter half of which time only have any efforts been made in its behalf in the form of agency, has, besides defraying its own expenses, paid into our treasury about $2,000.

The Southern Board has not yet obtained a Secretary. The amount paid into our treasury by this Board, since its formation, after defraying its own expenses, is $3,457 12.

The New England States, which have hitherto constituted one agency field, have been divided into two, and the Rev. R. C. HAND, who has labored with acceptance and success for nearly two New York, has been appointed General years, as assistant agent in the State of Agent for the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont; the Rev. Mr. BARDWELL henceforth to have for his field the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Dutch Church has, since its formation in June, 1832, employed no agents. Meanwhile, the liberality, chiefly spontaneous, of the congregations in the Reformed Dutch connection, has, during the year, furnished our treasury $3,485 34.

In the State of New York, the Rev. Dr. PORTER has devoted a part of his

time, chiefly along the North River, and with his usual acceptableness and success, to obtaining funds for the Board; and the Rev. R. C. HAND, and the Rev. CHAUNCEY EDDY, have devoted their whole time to agency service in behalf, of the Board, in different parts of the State.

Mr. EDDY, General Agent for the State of New York, observes in his report

Every where the feeling is prevalent and decided, that the actual wants of the Board, however rapidly they may be increased by enlargement of operation, can be, and will be, met. In revisiting the churches which I addressed last year, the cordiality with which I am welcomed, and the liberal responses to my solicitations, go far towards making up for the severe labors, sacrifices and trials which belong to the service.

Since the last annual meeting the Committee have discharged from service, and appointed and sent forth, missionaries, as follows:

The have discharged from service, on account of failure of health and for other causes, five ordained missionaries, one physician, one printer, three other male assistants, and five married and unmarried female assistants: total, fifteen.

They have appointed twenty-four ordained missionaries, three of whom are also regularly instructed and licensed physicians; two physicians; one printer; twelve other male assistants, and twenty married and unmarried female assistants: total, fifty-nine.

They have sent forth as additional missionaries the following persons:

Rev. Justin Perkins and
wife,

of Rev. Eli Smith,
Rev. Abel L. Barber and
wife,

The Rev. HORATIO BARDWELL, Gen-| Mrs. S. L. Smith, wife eral Agent for New England, closes his report for the year with the following remarks

The number of pious young men in academies, colleges, and theological seminaries, who are looking forward to the missionary work, is greater than in any preceding year. The novelty of the missionary enterprise has passed away, but the sacred cause of converting the world to Christ is still cherished, and with increasing interest. But while this is the fact, and while there is great occasion to bless God for the growing zeal and activity we are permitted to witness, there is much to be done, even among the most favored churches in our land, or we shall fail in the great object in which we have embarked.

Mr. Lucius Garey and
wife,

Dr. Thomas S. William-
son, and wife,
Mr. Mason Hearsey,
Mr. Joseph Town,
Miss Jane B. Leavitt,
Rev. Jesse Lockwood
and wife,

Dr. Roderick L. Dodge,
Mrs. Jane B. Requa,
Rev. James Read Ec-
kard and wife,
Mr. Eastman S. Miner
and wife,

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Rev. Thomas P. John-
ston and wife,
Rev. Benjamin Schnider
and wife,
Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, Western Africa.
Mr. Steph. R. Wynkoop,
do.
Rev. Samuel Parker, Western Indians.
Rev John Dunbar,

Mr. Samuel Allis, Jr.
Rev. Sendol B. Munger
and wife,

Mr. George W. Hubbard
and wife,

Mr. Amos Abbott and
wife.

In tracing these arrangements, and their influences and results, for carrying forward that important part of the business of Foreign Missions which is to be done at home, the Board, in common with the Committee, must have been impressed with the obligation imposed on Miss Orphar Graves, us of gratitude to God for the extended confidence of his people, given us for prosecuting with vigor the great and benevolent enterprise in which we are engaged, and of strict impartiality and fidelity in executing our high trust.

During the year many thousands of the Missionary and Quarterly Papers of the Board have been distributed in all parts of the country; and the circulation of the Missionary Herald has increased from about thirteen to above fifteen thousand; and the numerous religious periodicals of the country have exerted a more decided and efficient influence than ever before in behalf of Foreign Missions.

do.
do.

Mahrattas.

do.

do.

do.

do.

Siam.
Singapore.

Miss A. H. Kimball,
Rev. Peter Parker, M. D. China.
Dr. Daniel B. Bradley,
Miss Adeline White,
Rev. John B. Adger and
wife,

Rev. Samuel R. Houston
and wife,
Rev. Lorenzo W. Pease
and wife,

Armenians of Asia Minor.
Scio.

Cyprus.

Rev. James L. Merrick, Mohammedans of Persia.

Since the writing of the Report the
Committee have sent forth,
Rev. Alanson C. Hall and wife,
Mr. William Hall and wife,

Rev. William Williams and wife,
Rev. Philander O. Powers and wife,
Rev. Daniel Lindley and wife,
Rev. Aidin Grout and wife.
Rev. Henry Isaac Venable and wife,

Rov. George Champion and wife,

To Ceylon.
N. Y. Indians.
do.
Western Asia,
S. E. Africa.

do.

do.

do.

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