Anti-slavery missions : review of the operations of the American Baptist Free Mission Society, for...

ei

GivEN By

Ls

a CCi lug

ANTI-SLAVERY MISSIONS. W

\ ¥
Y

REVIEW OF THH OPERATIONS

OF THE

AMERICAN

BAPTIST FREE MISSION
SOCIETY,

FOR THE PAST YEAR,

“BaSTOL:

PRINTED BY MATHEWS BROTHERS,

BROAD QUAY.
a]

Fd
Ne nerve

TESTIMONIALS, . Lt

To tHe BritisH PuBLICc.—Elder Edward Mathews, I take pleasure
in saying, is a truehearted and self-sacrificing man. .
Elder M. has been in the slaveholding south, and he has felt, as well

as seen, the power of slavery. He was near losing his life, because of

his faithful rebukes of that. power.
I commend him to your hospitality, confidence, and love.
Peterboro, New York, U.S. America, GERRIT SMITH.
May 26, 1851.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.—This is to certify that Elder
Edward Mathews, for some time, a highly esteemed and elf-sacrificing

Missionary of the American Baptist Kree Mission Society, who for his —

devotion to the cause of God and the Slave, was recently lynched and

driven from the state Kentucky, U. S. the field of his labor, is now a

duly appointed agent of said society. He is authorized to represent its
principles and make known its objects of benevolence, among the Baptists

and other Christian Philanthropists of England, Scotland, Wales, and

other European Countries, and solicit their aid and co-operation,
To all such he is most affectionately commended.
By order and in behalf of the Board of Trustees of said society.

American Baptist Free Mission Rooms, ALBERT L. Post,
Utica, N. Y., U. S., A., May 15, 1951, Corres. Secretary,
ee ade rg orf oF @ « dy . Pf de )
Pee pe oie ome ye ms $ 25
ia ce : 5 : 9 2 ‘ « « : t wy « C .
€oG © c¢ cor L
coots 4 ook
ece © « « a »*
= Re ote padre “e gts ses of te ‘ s a8 }
ote toe tQce are dept eh we mies
s* « %e? e e ees Dae c

EXTRACTS FROM THE
MINUTES OF THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

Auericon Baytist Free Mission Sorivty.

a ei lied

THE American Baptist Free Mission Society held its eighth anniver-
sary with the 3rd Baptist Church in Lowell, Mass., June 4&5, 1851.

In the absence of the President, Eld.:E. R. Warren, Vice-President
from Connecticut, called the meeting to order.

Reading the scriptures and prayer by Eld. Archibald, of New Hamp-
shire, after which a hymn was sung by the congregation.

Various Committees were appointed, and in the order of business the
Committee on nominations reported the following officers of the Society
‘for the ensuing year :—

PresipentT: A. L. Post, of Montrose, Pa.

Vic8e-PRESIDENTs:

E. R. Warren, New England, Ct. | George Lyon, Pomfret, Ct.

J. Titton, Limerick, Me. H, Archibald, Dublin, N. H.

S. Howe, Lowell, Massachus. A. Kenyon, Kirtland, Ohio

S. Aaron, Norristown, Pa, S. Pierce, Londonderry, Vermont
M. Bailey, Delavan, Wis. N. Oviatt, Richfield, Ohio
C.P.Grosvenor, McGrawville,N.Y. | L. P. Noble, Fayetteville, N. Y.

G. F. Post, New Berlin, N. Y. H. Hutchins, Charlestown, Mass.
N. Post, Newport, N. Y. W. H. Brisbane, Cincinnati, Ohio
biel aie

J.T. Quaiffe, Pe: IN oY
O. Cole, Utica, N
_F. Prescott, Norway, N. Y.
C. B. Post, New Berlin, N. Y.
Street Dutton, Meredith, N. Y.
J. 1, Whitman, Manheim, N.Y.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: R. Cheney, Wis,
Recorpine SecRETARY: George G. Ritchie, West Exeter, N. Y
TREASURER: George Curtis, Utica, N. Y.
AssISTANT TREASURER: J. N. Barbour, Boston, Mass.

Aupitors: L. Lawrence; J. E. Sterry, Utica, N. Y.

J. H, Sterry, Utica, N. iy

J. Stanton, Cassville, N. Y.

W.. Walker, Utica, N. Y.

Be S, Hayward, Peterboro, N. Y.
S. G. Jones, Peterboro, N. Y.

The report was accepted and adopted.
Eld, A. L. Post presented the following report of the Trustees, which
was read, accepted, and referred to the Board for publication :-—

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS.
“a

THe year which has just closed, has been one of important events,
calculated to test the sincerity and moral courage of Free Missionists ;
and yet to encourage faithful and persevering labor. The principles which,
for a number of years, in a special manner, have been at war with each
other on the moral battle-field, have continued in their antagonistic posi-
tion, apparently more determined upon a day of speedy triumph. The
one class has continued to use its weapons of impartial love, truth and
faith ; and the other, caste, sophistry and the terrors of physical force, —
backed up by the sanction of pretended law.

The distinctive principles of the Society which we have endeavored to
serve, to wit: the sovereignty of God’s law, the brotherhood and equal
rights of all men, non-fellowship with wrong doing, church representation
in the work of missions, and the interdiction of the known avails of wrong
in the promotion of the cause of God and humanity—have met the most
malicious and vindictive attacks. Leading spirits, in Church and Strate,
have been infamous in cunning, arrogant in demands, and desperate in
execution. They have, at least in their own estimation, gained a signal —
victory.

Under the plea of ‘‘ Union,”’ the Congress of the United States has_
passed, and the Executive, to his everlasting dishonor, he being a North-
-ern and a professedly anti-slavery man, has enforced, one of the most
barbarous enactments which ever disgraced a national statute book. The
‘* Fugitive Slave Law,” as the enactment to which we refer is entitled,
equals, if it does not exceed in enormity of wickedness, the most barbar-
ous and tyrannical laws, of the most barbarous ages, and despotic
governments. Under the plea of obedience to magistrates, and no
responsibility for the existence of organic sins, professed ministers of the
gospel, having the high sounding and anti-scriptural title of ‘* Doctor of
Divinity,’’ have been found, all over the land, to advocate, with Satanie
grace and skill, obedience to that enactment. ; .

A fallen statesman, with a misconstrued Constitution, says—‘‘A dis-
agreeable duty must be done;”’ and the fallen minister, with a mutilated
or perverted text from God’s Holy Book, responds, substantially, ‘* It
must be done.”? Backed by such authorities, heartless, mercenary men
have hunted down the poor panting fugitive and dragged him back into
the hopeless bondage of a Southern cotton field or rice swamp ; or driven
him to seek the protection of a government which our Fathers, inspired
with the watchword, ‘‘ Give me liberty or give me death,” rising up,
with strong arm threw off. Shame, shame to our country! If this be a
triumph, it is the triumph of the wicked, and must be short. Y

It affords us great pleasure in submitting to the Society this our An-
nual Report, to announce the fact that so far as our knowledge extends,
Free Missionists have been true to their principles. Trusting in God
they have openly proclaimed their determination, cost what it might, not
to heed the demands of this infamous enactment. Their words have not
been vain words: wherever an opportunity has presented they have given
shelter, food, a cup of cold water, and good cheer to the fugitive.

It affords us further pleasure to add, that the position which Free
Missionists have occupied in this matter, has proved their sincerity, and

4

|

5

won friends to this Society, although the hostility of our enemies has
been increased. Our cause, in the face of all opposition, is onward.
God is for the right, and we have nothing to fear, but supineness and re-
creancy to truth. The results of mission labor have been more visible, if
not more certain, than in-any former year. ‘The lives of the Officers,
Missionaries, and agents of the Society, with a single exception, have
been spared and crowned with blessings. The exception is that of one
of your Trustees [referring to Dna. Joun Prescott, of Litchfield, N.
Y.,—in sympathy with whose family, and in testimony of whose worth,
the Board adopted a Preamble and Resolutions].

HAITIEN MISSION.

The mission in Haiti, or the Mountainous Island, has on the whole been
highly prospered. The labors of the missionaries, pursued amidst many

. trials and discouragements, have been persevering, self-denying, and

withal, through the divine blessing, very successful. The field of useful-
ness has been widening ; and the prospective yield to faithful moral hus-
bandry is now very promising. God is raising up laborers on the field,
—meun who: have, through the devoted efforts of the missionaries, been
led from the darkness of Papal superstions into the light of the gospel ;
and it is by no means a tax upon credulity to believe, that the mission
work, except that at a few prominent stations, may soon be in their hands.
Such appear to be the indications of Providence. If such be the case,

- all difficulties, arising from Haitien jealousy of slavery and slavery pro-

pagandism ia this country, will be obviated. An increase of contributions
is greatly needed, to bring into the field and sustain those native preach-
ers who now have an eye to this Society for support, and also to complete
the projected chapel at Port-au Prince.

On the recommendation of the mission family, we have appointed Br.
Jean Francis Bellevue Faure, now deacon of the Port-au-Prince Baptist

“Church, an assistant missionary. His natural endowments, his acquire-

ments, and christian graces, according to their unanimous testimony,
qualify him for usefulness in the work; and make it quite evident that he
should be ordained to the ministry.

| The importance of the chapel to the interests of the mission is evident.

For want of it, the mission has suffered loss, and our beloved and devoted

‘sister Lake has sacrificed temporarily if not permanently, her health.
| A considerable amount of moneys have been collected for that object, but
‘not enough with which to purchase the needed lot of land and erect upon
it the building. The work has, however, before this'time, probably been

_ / commenced.
| ‘The mission family, besides the brother above named, ecnsists of Eld.

_W. L. Judd and wife, and sisters Elizabeth Lake and Elizabeth Howard.

| They have all the full confidence of the Trustees, and have accomplished
| a good work.

CANADA MISSION.
LABORS AMONG THE FUGITIVE SLAVES.

At the time of the last annual meeting of the Society, our mission in
Canada consisted only of three self-denying female teachers—sisters
Mary Teall, at Queen’s Bush, S. H. Willey, at Hamilton, and R. S. M.
Huntington, at Chatham, C. W.—Their labors have continued during
the year, except when hindered by sickness.—They are worthy sisters,
have been doing a good work, and should be well sustained by the prayers
and contributions of the friends of the mission.

6

Sistir TEALL, in a letter dated March 4, 1851, writes as follows:—
‘¢'Last summer I gave some English missionaries, of the Wesleyan con- .
nexion permission to preach in my School-house. One of them, Mr

Swan, came the day I got home from New York, to fulfil his appoint-
ment, and preached on the afternoon and evening of Feb. 23.

‘¢ Finding the meeting interesting, he and his wife remained. Since
then we have had meetings every evening. ‘Ten have been .converted,

and mavy are asking ‘ What must I do to be saved P? Several of those —
converted are, or have been, scholars in our school. Much seriousnegs is —

manifested among the children, and I trust a great work will be accom-
lished.”

3 Sister HUNTINGTON writes of the date Nov. 5, 1850, ‘‘ I have an in-
teresting school of thirty-four scholars, most of whom at the commence-
ment of the quarter, were in the alphabet, or could only read in words
of two-or three letters. —They are learning quite fast now. The Sabbath
School is large and interesting. Last Sabbath there were perhaps, more
than sixty present, the greater portion adult, and many of them just es-
caped from slavery, and for the first time in school. We arein great need
of a good library. Canada is fast filling up with fugitives. Amongst
those who attended school last Sabbath, was one of Col. Benton’s body
servants, who walked off the boat at Cincinnati, and did not find occa-
sion to stop until he arrived in Canada, Iam glad God has provided a
city of refuge for the crushed slave.”’

She writes again, of the date Feb. 18, 1851, that her week-day school

has increased to fifty scholars, and that her Sabbath-School is large, and ’

weekly increasing in interest.

Sister Willey’s report if sent has not reached us, and we cannot there- —

fore give particulars. _
While it was evident that these sisters were doing a great work, it was

nevertheless evident to your Trustees that the mission should be great]
y greatly

re-enforced. We are happy to say that this has been done. ‘
Exp. W. P. Newman, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who had formerly been

in Canada, and felt a deep interest in the cause there, consented—if ~

he could obtain a release from the pagtoral charge of the church in

Cincinnati—to enter upon the mission work. It was with great reluc-
tance, and very tardily, that the people of bis charge consented to part
with him. He, however, early in the year, entered upon the field, and

soon after moved his family to Chatham, C. W. He has had a general
oversight of the Society’s operations in Canada, and has laboured in the

full confidence of the Trustees, although subjected to many hardships —

and severe trials.
During the first three months. his. wife was very feeble in health, and

required considerable of his attention. He, nevertheless, continued, —
faithfully and successfully, to labor at Chatham, Dawn, and other places, _

as providence would permit. Through the divine blessing his wife’s
health ‘was mainly restored, and yet his toils increased. He saw, as the
result of the passage by our Congress of the Fugitive Slave Bill—that
loathsome excrescence upon the body politic of the States—thousands of
his fellow-countrymen in needy and suffering circumstances all around
him. His sympathies were aroused, and his stirring appeals brought to
his disposal the benefactions of philanthropists. The work of resuscita-
ting the British American Institute at Dawn, which had much to do in

leading him to consent to leave Cincinnati, weighed heavily upon him.

All these cares and toils were too much for his physical endurance. He
was prostrated in sickness, and brought, as was supposed, to the very
gate of death. God, however, after many weeks of suffering, raised him -
up, to bless Canada, and honor the Free Mission cause.

7

{ -In conclusion, upon this topic, we give the following statistics of Br.
\N ewman’s report of labors performed. He has, during the year, preached
eighty-eight sermons, given four temperance lectures, attended twenty-
one prayer meetings, twelve church meetings, two Conventions, one
Association, two meetings of the trustees of the British American Insti-
tute, two funerals, and fifty-nine social religious meetings; visited four-
hundred and seventy-seven families, twelve Sabbath Schools, and five
week schools; aided in the recognition of one church, and ordination of
one minister of the gospel; was instrumental in bringing thirty-eight
persons into the churches under his charge, thirteen of whom he baptized ;
administered the Lord’s Supper nine times; taught school three weeks; |

_ travelled seventeen hundred and sixty-three miles, many of them on foot;
and sought out and supplied, to some extent, with food and clothing, one

_ hundred and fourteen individuals, and three communities. ‘‘ By their
fruits shall ye know them.”

Br. Newman now resides at Dawn Mills, C. W.

_ The increasing demand for labor in Canada induced your eda eee in
November last, to call Eld. Samuel H. Davis of Detroit, Mich., into the
field. He responded to the call, and is with his family, now located at

~ Dawn, C. W., as teacher of the American Institute, and missionary.
He had about sixty scholars, ‘‘all children and youth under twenty-one,
except four or five,”’ as he reports.

He has a good reputation as a teacher and preacher of the gospel, and
gives evidence of being well qualified for the work in which he is engaged.
We cannot leave the subject of the Canada Mission, without expressing
the conviction that laborers should be greatly multiplied, and contribu-
tions should be greatly increased on the part of philanthropists in the
United States. More than twenty thousand of our fellow beings, driven

_by the inhumanity of the laws and prejudices of our country, to seek,
generally in poverty, protection and the blessings of freedom in a climate

- unsuited to their constitutional habits, have peculiar claims upon those

_who have in any respect been instrumental in reducing them to their
present condition. Who can say that he has nothing to do in repairing

“the wrong which has been done? “We add a few particulars concerning
an institution in Canada which is now in charge of your Board of Trus-
_ tees, and which is intimately connected with the interests of the mission. |

We refer to the

BRITISH AND AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

. This Institution—projected some years ago by a few philanthropists,
and located at Dawn, C. W.—for a while bade fair to be a great blessing,
particularly to the refugees in Canada, Getting into bad hands, it how-
ever ran entirely down. Property to the amount of some seven thousand
dollars was lying entirely idle, or used for private benefit.
| Br. W. P. Newman conceived the plan of resuscitating it; and this, as
e have before stated, had much to do in inducing him to ‘leave a large
eal in Cincinnati, where he was much beloved and well sustained, to
enter upon the self-sacrificing labors of a missionary. He finally suc-
ceeded in effecting an arrangement with the trustees of the Institution,
by which the entire future management is to be under the control of your
board of trustees. Eld. Newman, with Elders G. G. Ritchie, of N. Y.,
and A. Kenyon, of Kirtland, Ohio, and now a committee of the trustees,
have charge of the Institution at present. The premises consists of a
farm of some three hundred acres of good land; a steam saw-mill, which
_ is now rented for four years to pay off claims against the Institution ; a
log chapel; and some other small log buildings in a dilapidated’ stata.

8

are

The chapel has been fitted up, and a school commenced under the instruc-
tion of Elder Davis, our missionary. The Trustees are pledged to keep
the school on non-sectarian principles. By proper management there cap
be no doubt as to the great good which may be accomplished by the
resuscitation and enlargement of this Institution. Indirectly, it must be
an important auxiliary to the cause of Free Missions, and directly, in the
moral and intellectual elevation of the many thousands of refugees in.
Canada. It should receive a liberal support from all philanthropists of —
whatever party or sect they be; and there can be no rational doubt but
it will where its claims are clearly made known.
Present number of scholars, sixty-two.

NEW YORK CENTRAL COLLEGE.

This child of the American Baptist Free Mission Society, although
now acting under an independent Charter, and open to a participancy in
the management of its concerns of all true anti-slavery men, still deserves
the countenance and support of Free Missionists. It has been visited
with a malady, which has taken off six students, whose deaths have been
siucerely lamented. It is in many respects prospering, and promises
well to meet the expectations and designs of its projectors. The twenty
thousand dollar pledge has been filled up, which, it is believed, will es-
tablish it upon a permanent footing. Funds, however, are greatly needed
to enlarge its field of usefulness, in training young men and women for
the active duties of life, and to meet the moral, intellectual, and physical —
exigencies of the times. One of the Professors is a colored gentleman—
the only and the first instance in the United States. Several students
are colored. The total number of students is 150.

SOUTHERN MISSIONS.

It is quite probable that no country on the globe presents more personal
hazards to the faithful Christian missionary than the Southern States of
this Union. There is, unqualifiedly, none where the preacher of an uncor-_
rupted and unmutilated gospel is more certain of being persecuted for —
righteousness’ sake. ‘The persecutions of other countries arise more gen-
erally from the fact that the missionaries are foreigners, than that they
preach the gospel. In the Southern States it is not so. There, American
missionaries, claiming the protection of the laws of the country, are not
tolerated if they preach the whole truth. The people will not endure a —
gospel which condemns the darling sin that coils them in its serpentine
folds. Slavery must in ali the public ministrations of God’s word be ad-
vocated, or entirely let alone, to work moral and political death, or the
missionary must be lynched and driven from the State, if heis so
fortunate as to escape from imprisonment and death. Many trials have —
evinced this fact, but none more signally than that by a missionary of
this Society. pe

ELper Epwarp MatHeEws, of the Southern Mission, commenced
laboring in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, on the 27th of Decem-.
ber last. He spent about two months in the State, amidst many hazards, |
and was finally driven from the State. after being lynched, at the peril of
his life. He labored in Lewis, Bracken, Franklin and Madison Counties
—preaching the gospel—giving public lectures upon the great moral —
questions of the day, wherever practicable—holding conversations with
individaals—and distributing peace, temperance, and anti-slavery publi-
cations. He found some few friends, of whom honorable mention may
be made. Among these was Elder John G. Fee, of Cabin Creek, Lewis

23

tp ts 9

Jounty, a missionary of the American Missionary Association—a mag
who has endured much persecution for his anti-slavery sentiments.

On the 16th of Feb. last, Br. M. visited Richmond, Madison County,
and requested of the different denominations, respectively, the privilege
of lecturing ‘‘ on the moral and religious condition of the slave popula-
tion,’ and met with a refusal in each case. In the evening of that day
he attended worship with the congregation of colored people, with the
expressed object merely of witnessing their order. Unexpectedly he was
invited by the preacher, a colored Baptist brother, to preach, and did so,
taking for his text, Phil. 4. 6., and making the subject of prayer the
theme of remark. On leaving the house, at the close of the meeting, he
found himself surrounded by a band of men, who threatened him with a
coat of “‘ tar and feathers,’’ if he did not leave the place in fifteen min-
utes. After insulting him in various ways, they led him out of town,
to a pond, and attempted to throw him into it, but he escaped.

Some two days afterwards he was passing through the same town on
his way to fill an appointment. He was pursued and overtaken by four
men upon horses. The narrative of the barbarous treatment which he
received, a portion of which was his being violently thrown, ten times in
succession, into the wintry pool, will be found in his own language in
the American Baptist, vol. 7. No. 37.

The blood chills at the narration, and we can scarcely make ourselves
‘believe that this was done in a land which boasts of free and Christian
institutions. But so itis. The constitutional rights of citizenship—the

instincts of humanity—and the precepts of Christianity, are all disregar-
ded, and neither the executive of the State nor of the Union, demands
their enforcement. The country is disgraced, and Kentuckians have
proved themselves unworthy of the life freely offered in the Gospel of Christ.

Br. Mathews, however, acted a noble Christian part, cleared his skirts
of the blood of Kentucky slaveholders, and honored the principles he
professed, and the Society. which appointed and sustained him in his

_work. God, who preserved Daniel in the den of lions, and the Hebrew
_worthies in the furnace of fire, also preserved Br. Mathews from death
by the hand of slave-holding violence; and to Him be the praise.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

In former years none of the officers were paid a salary. It was be-
lieved, at the commencement of the year now having closed, that. more
time should be devoted to the duties of Corresponding Secretary, and
that this could not be done witbout compensation. Eld. A. L. Post, the
Corresponding Secretary, has been employe: in behalf of the Society in
the duties of that office eight months during the year. When the duties
_ of the office did not require his direct and immediate attention, he has
‘been employed as an Agent or Missionary, preaching to destitute
churches, attending protracted meetings, presenting the claims of the

Society, and collecting funds.

WESTERN MISSIONS.

The Missionaries in the Western States, who are Free Missionists,
are now, with few exceptions under the patronage of the Western Free
Mission Convention, an‘l the Wisconsin Free Mission Society. A small
amount of the funds of this Society has been placed at the disposal of the
latter. It is only matter of regret that the amount could not have been
much greater.
_. The missionaries who have labored directly under the patronage of
this Society are, Elders J. E. Ambrose, of Elgin; A. W. Anderson, of
Quincy; and D. W. Elmore, of Fayville, Illinois.

10

Exp. AMBROSE has had a general supervision of the Society’s opera-
tions in the West, and has travelled extensively. Considerable of his
labor has had the character of an agency; and yet, with wonted zeal,
uniting energy and faithfulness, he has performed the work of a mission-
ary. His Jabors have been abundant, and very successful. His report
may be found under the head of ‘‘Agencies.”’ ae:

Exp. ANDERSON has been laboring under the patronage of this Society
since the 15th of Dec. last, with good success, so far as we are informed,
amidst many privations. His first quarterly report shows, as the result
of his labors, the revival of the Springfield and Jacksonville churches,
and the baptism -of nine persons. He had travelled four hundred and
eighteen miles; preached, on an average, two sermons each week; given
five lectures on the claims of this Society; aud made many religious
family visits. ;

‘Two months from the 15th of March last, he spent in a missionary
tour in Southern Illinois. In the time, visited St. Louis by the request
of the pastor of the 2nd Baptist church of colored brethren in that place,
with whom he fell in company at a ministerial conference in Brooklyn,
St. Clair County, on the opposite side of the river. There he preached
to some 400 white and colored people. ‘‘ While speaking,” he says, ‘* I
thought of Br. E. Mathews’s treatment in Kentucky, and felt that if
there was any honor in the ministry, it was in suffering for Christ and
his cause, and 1 felt really to crave that honor; consequently I preached
to the extent of my ability the truth as it is in Jesus.””

He found a Baptist church of colored people in Bellville, Illinois, and
preached to it three days, He says~—‘‘ The church heartily receives
‘Free Mission views. Here the pastor took up a collection for the
missionary.’?

He preached to a Baptist church called Salem, seven miles N.E. from
Lower Aiton. Of this place and visit he writes—‘‘ If ever I felt the
Holy Spirit, it was on this occasion. Two came forward and requested
the prayers of Christians, and many saints exclaimed aloud, ‘Glory to
to God.’” ‘This church has for its pastor Eld. James H. Johnson, a
very promising minister.

Eup. Exumore labored, we have not the means of knowing how long,
as missionary, colporteur and agent in Kane County, Lllinois.

We hardly need say that the Western field is very large, and
constantly increasing in importance. ‘The tide of emigration from other
countries gives it the importance of a foreign and domestic field. There
are many good men and true scattered through the West, particularly in
Wisconsin, and, most of the churches are really with us in sentiment.
The leaven of Free Mission principles is widely diffused, and with suit-
able efforts ‘‘the whole lump*’ might be leavened. An imploring hand
is stretched out from these States for a vastly increased amount of aid,
Shall it not be heeded P Heaven grant that the desired number of men,
and amount of means, may be furnished speedily. pues?

AGENCIES.

The Agencics employed by the Trustees have been, as in years before,
mostly missionary. The Agents have preached the gospel in many —
to the destitute; set forth the principles of the Society in lectures; and
Jabored to convert men to the truth ;—feeling that this was more impor-
tant than the collection of funds. Contributions have been greatly
needed, but could not be solicited by a compromise or concealment of truth.

Exp, J. E. AmBxose, of Elgin, Illinois, has labored faithfully during
the year, in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. As a specimen

fi

11

of the character and success of his labors, the following extract is given
from one of his quarterly reports :—
| “J have preached sermons and delivered lectures to the number of
forty. Have visited two associations; attended the semi-annual meet-
‘ing of the Society; obtained and forwarded fifty new subscribers for
‘the American Baptist ; collected over fifty dollars for the paper; raised
for missionary purposes—for the relief of the fugitives from slavery in
‘Canada, 162,45 dollars—in all, 334 dollars. I have written about one
‘hundred letters to individuals on missionary business, and the American
Baptist. Ihave done what I could. ;
«T have forwarded to the care of Br. Newman fifty-five barrels of
‘flour, and about one hundred dollars’ worth of clothing and bedding.”’
Exp. A. J. Jostyn, of Elgin, Illinois, has labored a few weeks, gra-
‘tuitously, under appointemnt from the Trustees in behalf of the refugees
in'Canada. Success crowned his labors. Br. Ambrose says that twen-
'ty+six« barrels ‘of the flour ‘should’be credited to him. He has certainly
set a praiseworthy example, and we hope many pastors of churches will’
follow it.
_ Exp. Sets Ewer’ has been employed as a Missionary Agent in’
“Western N. Y.; and has accomplished a good work, although unlooked
for and unrighteous influences-have been exerted against him. Elder
Smirq has labored a short time in the same region.
| Dr James Merevess has labored in Otsego, Herkimer, and some
otber counties in the northern part of the state of New York.
_ Etp. C. B: Post has spent some months preaching, lecturing, and
collecting funds in Central New York, for fugitives.
| Exp. G. G. Rircure has been employed as as agent in behalf of the
‘refugees generally in Canada, and especially in behalf of the Institnte at

Dawn.

Exp. A. M. Piper, of Troy, N. H., has spent some little time in the
service of the Society. All other Agencies in N.-E. have been in the
employ of the New England Baptist Free Mission Society.

FINANCE.

_ The Financial condition and operations of the Society are exhibited
in the Report of the Treasurer.
_ That shows an increase of receipts and expenditures above those of
any former year.
‘The demands for ‘money in behalf of New York Central College have
been so pressing, that it is doubtless the fact that considerable sums have
been turned to that noble. institution, which otherwise would have come
“into our treasury, At this we do not complain, as that institution is
_ part and parcel of the great enterprise in which we are engaged. We
could. only ask greater sacrifices in behalfof the Society and the College.too.
The crisis relating to fugitives has directed, doubtless, considerable
amounts from. the general purposes of the Society to them.. We have
had, therefore, as Trustees, to direct. our labors in the direction of funds, :,
toa considerable extent... We profess, and practice as we profess, to be
a rational fiscal agent. of the churches and individuals. who have hearts
and moneys; with which. to.do good, upon right principles.
Many obstacles have been in the way of thorought and systematic
efforts in raising funds... More efficient. measures have been in contem-
plation, and it is hoped may be adopted by the Trustees the. ensuing
year. Additional funds.are greatly needed to. carry. on the operations of
the Society, and answer the demands for missionary labor in fields which

(12

are white to harvest,—and from which the Macedonian cry comes with
touching pathos—“* Come over and help us.”’

It is said truly that free missionists are comparatively few. The
greater obligation rests upon the few—the greater amount of sacrifice to.
be made, and labor to be performed.

The Treasurer’s Report shows Receipts to the amount of § ,611 dollars,
64 cents ; Expenditures, 9,355 dollars, 65 cents.

The report of the Editor will show the financial condition of the paper. ,

f
a
s

4
.
;

The debts should be immediately paid, and it should be placed above —
pecuniary embarrassments. It may easily be made a source of revenue
instead of expense.

AUXILIARY BODIES.

Besides churches, there are now a number of missionary organizations, »
auxiliary to this Society j—the Wisconsin Free Mission. Society, the
Western Free Mission Convention, the Amherstburg Association, the |
Vermont Free Mission Conference, and the New England Free Mission |
Society. Each of these organizations is rendering important aid in the
promotion of the principles of this society, and advancing the cause gene-
rally.

The first named has charge of the missions in the State of Wisconsin, :
and has received aid from the parent Society. More has been asked,
and had it been in the power of the Trustees they would freely have ren-
dered it. The field is important; and the churches and ministers more .
generally with us, than perhaps, any other section of our country. There
are noble spirited men in that State—men of sound heads nae philan-

thropic hearts.

'_.The second has charge of the missions in Ohio and Indiana.

The third is made up of churches, the members of which are moatly:
refugees in Canada West. They aid jn the promotion of our principles,
and need the sympathies, and pecuniary aid of this Society.

The fourth, renders direct aid, without desiring exclusive charge! of
the field it occupies.
The last named has charge of the free mission interests in the the New
England States, and it is believed is doing a good work. _ |
It is expected that some, if not all of these organizations, will report
to the Parent Society. .
In concluding this Report the Trustees feel bound: to’ express their
abiding conviction of the correctness of the principles of this Society, the ©
wisdom and benevolence that called it into being, and the magnitude of
the work which, under God, it is called upon, as a missionary and re-
formative agent to perform. They feel still more ‘strongly bound to ae

press the conviction, that however desirable popular favour, numbers,
and large contributions may be, in the general promotion of the interests |
of the cause; uncompromising integrity and spirituality on the part of ~
free missionists, the living energies of the Holy Spirit, and the approv-
ing smiles of a God who “ hates robbery for a burnt-offering,”’? beaming ©
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, are infinitely more desir-
_able. Before the former are purchased at the expense of the latter, may

this Society be scattered to the winds. Heaven grant that such may”
never be the case. ‘‘ Obedience is better than sacrifice,”’ and feitivtalicems
becomes the household of God.

May the blessing of the Lord rest upon the present anniversary, andl :
all the future efforts of the Society, to promote his glory and the good of”
man. By order and in behalf of the Trustees, Tay

A. L. POST, Cor. See.)

NR
ah
PAG |

a
ei x)
aes

ar

,

Pasty
i

Mma ye
A if i) }

ni
ye

tt ee
Bey Why
}

whe My)
a
at

) halt
fA
i

hicks! I AM h ha ( a i 5

oly

tat ‘ats AVA, ’
YU eA de th BS Pea) ORNS

Wraneihe
a

ew FU

Peery
bas lee ty
Amy

hah

ne | he

i

»NE
ny

no

Sh
nh’

PSE, Ol See er
nee: oc tlk eee Seen

ee,

a
;

— a
\
Lee
}
£
\

P Bbsion Public Libs |
- Central Library, fe ke Squ :

Le cae Sg ie ec

<

Division of

¥:
SAE
FRE

:

wh’

Yee

: Piece do. not remove - ee
; ‘Pocket. Sid .

i ig ft tl lnc i lag iin aly, Ta at tty A LOGO Ni cath) ON ec ne