OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, THE Board of the Baptist General Convention for Foreign Missions, commenced its Annual Meeting in the meeting-house of the OliverStreet Baptist Church, New-York. Present, Rev. Wm. Staughton, D. D. President. Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D. Corresponding Sec'ry. Rev. Asa Wilcox, Rev. Wm. T. Brantly, Rev. John L. Dagg, Rev. David Jones, Rev. Elon Galusha, Rev. Spencer H. Cone, At 10, A. M. the President took the chair. Feeling our need of divine assistance, and desirous of realizing still more intensely than we have ever yet done, the important truth, that Paul may plant, and Apollos water in vain, except God give the increase, it was unanimously Resolved, To spend some time in prayer before proceeding to business. Brethren Bolles, Brantly, and Maclay, successively addressed the Throne of Grace. Brother S. H. Cone was appointed Secretary, pro tem. Ministering and other brethren present were invited to a seat with the Board, and to participate in its deliberations. This invitation was accepted by Rev. Archibald Maclay, Noah Davis, Duncan Dunbar, Ebenezer Nelson, Wm. Hague, John C. Murphy, Barnas Sears, and John Booth, together with Wm. Colgate, Thomas Purser, and Mr. Seaver. Rev. Charles G. Sommers was elected a member of the Board, vice our deceased and much lamented brother Gammell. The Journal of the Board since its last annual meeting was then read. The Annual Report was read by the Corresponding Secretary, and referred to brethren Brantly, Dagg, and Bolles. A The President then nominated, and the Board appointed, the following Committees, viz. 1. To audit the Treasurer's account-S. H. Cone, and Charles G. Sommers. 2. On the Burman Mission-John L. Dagg, A. Wilcox, S. H. Cone, D. Jones, and L. Bolles. 3. On the Indian Stations-W. T. Brantly, E. Galusha, and Thomas Stokes. 4. On the African Mission-Asa Wilcox, H. Lincoln, and W. Staughton. 5. On unoccupied fields for labour-E. Galusha, S. H. Cone, and C. G. Sommers. Resolved, To spend the first half hour after coming together to-morrow, in fervent prayer to Almighty God, imploring his holy benediction upon the Board, and the missionaries in their employ. Adjourned to 3 o'clock, P. M. to-morrow. Prayer by brother Wilcox. May 1, 1828, 3 o'clock, P. M. The Board met agreeably to adjourn. ment. Brethren present, W. Staughton, N. Kendrick, L. Bolles, H. Lincoln, W. T. Brantly, J. L. Dagg, D. Jones, E. Galusha, T. Stokes, C. G. Sommers, Lewis Leonard, J. D. Knowles, Asa Wilcox, Levi Farwell, and S. H. Cone. Brethren Dagg, Galusha and Kendrick, severally engaged in prayer. The thanks of the Board were voted to Brother Brantly for his annual sermon, and an abstract requested for publication in the American Baptist Magazine. Brethren Kendrick and Knowles were appointed to prepare an address to the publick, to be printed with the annual report. The Treasurer submitted his account, which was read in detail, and the Committee appointed to audit it, Reported, that they had carefully examined the same, and found it correctly cast and duly vouched. Report was approved. The Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be directed to communicate the thanks of the Board, to the owners and captain of the Brig Smyrna, for the gratuitous transmission to Calcutta of $5000 in specie. The Committee on the Burman Mission presented their report, which was accepted. Resolved, That application be made to the American Bible Society, to aid us in the publication of the Scriptures in the Burman language. Brethren Cone, Sommers, and Stokes were appointed a Committee to carry this resolution into effect. The same Committee was charged with the service of soliciting from the Baptist General Tract Society, and the American Tract Society, aid in the publication and distribution of tracts in Burmah and Africa. The Committee on the Indian Stations made a report, which was accepted. Brethren Cone, Sommers, and Stokes were appointed a Committee to obtain Bibles and Testaments from the American Bible Society, or any similar institution, for the destitute inhabitants of Liberia. Brethren Cone and Knowles were appointed a Committee on the Columbian Star; and brethren Leonard and Farwell on the American Baptist Magazine. The thanks of the Board were voted to Mr. Louis Dwight for 100 copies of the Second Report of the Board of Managers of the Prison Discipline Society; and brethren Cone and Sommers directed to communicate to him the vote. The President having stated the reasons inducing his immediate return to Philadelphia, obtained leave of absence for the remainder of the session. Adjourned to 11 o'clock, A. M. to-morrow. Prayer by the President. May 2, 1828, 11 o'clock, A. M. The Board met pursuant to adjourn ment; Dr. Kendrick in the chair. Half an hour was employed in prayer and praise. Brethren Leonard, Knowles, and Jones, addressed the mercy seat. The Committee on unoccupied fields for labour presented their report, which was accepted. The report of the Committee on the Columbian Star was read and accepted; and the following resolution, appended thereto, unanimously adopted, viz. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board, the Columbian Star has already exerted a beneficial influence upon our churches, and the publick mind; that its extensive circulation is highly desirable; and therefore, we do most earnestly recommend it to the patronage of the publick. The Committee on the American Baptist Magazine made a report, which was accepted, in which they express their full conviction, that this periodical work is one of vital importance to our denomination; well calculated to promote Christian knowledge, virtue, and piety in the churches of the saints. And also recommend to the consideration of the Board, the propriety of appointing an efficient Agent, to obtain subscriptions, and elicit the attention of the Christian publick in favour of its general circulation. The Committee appointed to prepare an Address, were requested to transmit the same to the Corresponding Secretary, for publication with the Annual Report. The Committee on the Annual Report presented the same, which was accepted. Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be requested to continue his exertions to procure materials for a biographical sketch of the late Mrs. Ann H. Judson. Resolved, That Dr. Bolles, Prof. Chase, brethren Sharp, Knowles, and Lincoln be a Committee to prepare and publish the Minutes of the present meeting, the Annual Report, and the Address to the publick. Adjourned to 4 o'clock, P. M. Brother Sommers engaged in prayer. May 2, 4 o'clock, P. M. The Board met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by brother Lincoln. The Minutes were read and approved. The business of the meeting being finished, the members of the Board spent some time in a free and affectionate expression of their sentiments. in relation to the cause of missions. It was a pleasant season; long may it be remembered, and oft may it recur. Oh! how exquisitely delightful and touching the scene, when brethren dwell together in unity! We separated with the pledge, in humble reliance upon the grace of God, that every Lord's-day morning, as near the rising of the sun as circumstances shall permit, we will spend half an hour in private prayer, beseeching the Sun of Righteousness to arise and shine upon our lost and ruined world, with healing in his wings! Amen! even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. The Board adjourned, sine die. Dr. Kendrick prayed. S. H. CONE, Secretary, pro tem. REPORT. A FAITHFUL narration of Missionary life among the Heathen-of personal sacrifices cheerfully made for the good of others of dangers encountered and toils endured, cannot fail to interest us, and call forth our sympathy and admiration. And should the success of such devoted individuals be less apparent for a time than sanguine hope anticipated, we ought not as a consequence to withdraw our confidence from them, or doubt for a moment the ultimate success of their enterprise. When we consider the nature of the field they occupy, that it is A VAST MORAL WASTE―that no former cultivators by a system of enlightened instruction, commencing with childhood and prosecuted to mature age, have prepared their minds for the reception of Christian truth-that, on the contrary, a degrading superstition hallowed by a succession of ages, broods upon and renders them nearly inaccessible to the light of revelation: When, we say, they are viewed under such circumstances, we should not be surprised that the progress of instruction and knowledge is no more rapid. The Report we now have to offer, will show an onward march in what we have undertaken, with prospects of increasing success, furnishing occasion for devout gratitude and thanksgiving to God. We will commence with a view of the EASTERN MISSIONS. At the date of our last annual communication, several of the missionaries were in an unsettled state, not having established themselves after the termination of the war in Burmah. Dr. Judson had indeed removed his family to Amherst, a new town near the mouth of the Martaban river, where Mrs. Judson prepared a bamboo house, and commenced arrangements for a school, but was himself necessarily absent for a few months, with the British embassy to Ava. The other Missionaries, Messrs. Wade and Boardman, had been early consulted relative to Amherst as an eligible station for them, and were resolved to occupy it. When the time for their removal from Calcutta arrived, the state of Mr. and Mrs. Boardman's health would not allow them to embark, and Mr. and Mrs. Wade sailed on the 22d of September, without them. Their passage proved long and hazardous, and they did not arrive at the place of their destination until the 23d of November. During a short stop which they made at Rangoon, they received the melancholly intelligence of the death of Mrs. Judson. This event would have excited in them at any time, pungent emotions of sorrow; but in their peculiar circumstances, it was associated with much anxiety. The station to which they were bound, and which they supposed to be already prepared, and occupied by an individual of rare qualifications, they found was vacant. It was therefore with faltering steps, as strangers imperfectly acquainted with the language of the country, they approached the place. On landing, however, Mr. Wade was met by a native convert, whom he had known before, as a member of the church in Rangoon, of whom he says, "I scarcely ever felt greater pleasure in meeting a friend from whom I had been long separated. With him, I found another of the christians, whom I had not till then seen. They immediately gave me an account of Mrs. Judson's decease, in a manner which showed how much they loved her, and how deeply they mourned her loss." They conducted Mr. Wade to her house, which being vacant he occupied. The following day, two sisters of the church, came to the assistance of Mrs. Wade, when he adds, "While reciting their several histories since they were separated from us, at Rangoon, it was delightful to hear them ascribe their preservation in their wanderings, and their being brought together again, to the overruling providence of God. They said it was their prayer daily that the disciples and teachers might meet again, and God had answered their prayers, and therefore their hearts were glad." Of all those members, Mr. Wade observes, "I think they have made good progress in the knowledge of divine truth, and by their firm attachment to the Christian religion, and perseverance under so many adverse circumstances, proved themselves the real disciples of Jesus." It was not till two months after, on the 24th of January, that Dr. Judson arrived, of which event Mr. Wade thus speaks: "It is impossible to describe the mingled emotions of pleasure and pain, which the meeting produced." In a letter from the Dr. to Mrs. Hazeltine, the mother of Mrs. Judson, dated at Amherst, Feb. 4, he writes, "Amid the desolations that death has made, I take my pen to address the mother of my beloved Ann. On arriving here, Mr. Wade met me at the landing place, and as I passed on to the house, one and another of the native christians came out, and when they saw me, they began to weep. At length we reached the house, and I almost expected to see my love coming out as usual to meet me: but no. I saw only in the arms of Mrs. Wade, a puny child, that could not recognize her weeping father, and from whose infant mind had long been erased all recollection of the mother who loved her so much. She turned away from me in alarm, and I, obliged to seek comfort elsewhere, found my way to the grave. But who ever obtained comfort there? Thence, I went to the house in which I left her, and I looked at the spot where we last knelt in prayer, and where we exchanged the parting salutation. I am now sitting in the room where she expired. But I will not trouble you, my dear mother, with an account of my own private feelings. The bitter, heart-rending anguish, which for some days would admit of no mitigation, and the comfort which the gospel subsequently afforded, that gospel of Jesus Christ which brings life and immortality to light-blessed assurance, let us apply it afresh to our hearts." This dark and afflicting providence, though a source of keen anguish to her bereaved husband, and of grief and disappointment to all concerned in the Mission, we have full confidence will be overruled for good. It will lead to more exclusive dependence upon God, and to more unremitted supplication for labourers to be sent forth; that the places of such as have fallen on the field may be filled, and more abundant blessings vouchsafed to the exertions of them that remain. As soon as circumstances would render it proper, after the arrival of Dr. Judson, rooms were prepared for him adjoining the small house occupied by Mr. Wade, with whose family he took up his residence; and further measures were immediately adopted for attaining in the best manner, the objects of the mission. Regular worship every Sabbath had been previously established, though conducted under disadvantages, as Mr. Wade could not speak the Burman with sufficient readiness to lead the devotions. But, animated by a spirit which should ever characterize our brethren, he assembled the people, and two of the disciples read the scriptures, expounded and prayed, with much satisfaction to the rest. In this practice they continued, until after the arrival of Dr. Judson, from which time, he regularly preached the word. From the first, some of those who attended, tarried for private conversation; and subsequently, the number of inquirers was increased |