Friends and brethren,

The Executive Committee of the Board of Missions, recently appointed by the supreme judicature of our church, beg leave affectionately to address you, on the unspeakably important concern of Christian missions. Among the many and solemn duties devolved upon the committee, we consider this as one of the greatest importance, and as one that first demands attention. We so consider it, because it really depends on you, under God, whether our appointment shall be useful or useless. Without your countenance and patronage we can do nothing; but if you favour our views and operations, we do hope to be the humble instruments in the hand of our dear and common Lord, to promote his cause and kingdom-may we presume to say extensively.

Brethren,

At the lowest estimate, there cannot be much short of five hundred millions of immortal beings of our fallen race-sin ners like ourselves-who have never so much as heard the name of that Saviour in whom is all the sinner's hope. The three hundred remaining millions, which go to make up the population of our globe, are largely composed of Jews, Mahometans, blind adherents to the Roman and Greek superstitions, hereticks, formalists, and nominal Christians of all descriptions-leaving the true disciples of Christ, the real children of God, emphatically "a little flock." And if our divine Redeemer had not commanded this little flock not "to fear," they might well tremble when they contemplate the situation in which they are placed: and if he

had not assured them that "it is their Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom," and that "the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High," they might at once give up the hope that the mighty host of their enemies, who are also the enemies of God and of his truth, shall eventually be subdued, and become the willing and obe dient subjects of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But having such assurance we faint not; we distrust not; we doubt not. Zion's king is Almighty-"Hath he said, and shall he not do it." When we look to Him, and think of his sure word of prophecy and promise, we see, that let the powers of earth and hell be what they may, still there is, by an infinite disparity, more for us than there is or can be against us; and with unwavering confidence we look forward to the time, when "the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ."

But it must be remembered, brethren, that although in accomplishing this mighty and desirable change, "the excellency of the power will be of God," so that his may be all the glory, yet it is equally true, that in performing his great work, he will make use of human instrumentality, at every step. Yes, and he will make it an awakened, active, energetick instru mentality-an instrumentality that will cry mightily to him in the prayer of faith; and will not rest in prayer without alms-without giving much and doing much; without being devoted unre. servedly, in talents, character, influence, property, and effort, to the attainment of the destined object.

It is a most encouraging fact, that after a sleep of ages, the church militant has, within half a century, begun to awake; and that more has been done, within less than that period, for the conversion of the world, than in the fifteen preceding cen turies. Every denomination of Christians, holding the leading doctrines of the Protestant reformation, is now engaged in missionary enterprises, both foreign and domestick. Yet in none of these churches is the missionary spirit so much awake as it ought to be, and as it must be, before the glorious things foretold in scrip ture prophecy can receive their accom. plishment. As a part or portion of the church universal, the church to which we belong is, we verily believe, chargeable

with great and criminal neglect: nor are we ignorant that much of this neglect has, by some, been imputed to that Board of Missions, to which we have succeeded. But the minutes of that Board are in our possession, and we hesitate not to say, that we are persuaded that no missionary association in our country, has made a better or more efficient use than that Board, of the funds put at its disposal. The truth is, that of late, the greater part of the missionary concerns of our church -from causes which we shall not now investigate-have past into other hands than her own-Into hands, we admit, that have been neither inactive nor unsuccessful in their management; and in whose success we, with others, most sincerely rejoice. But let not the Board of Missions of our church be censured, for not having done what the church has not hitherto enabled it to do. Nor let a fact, well known to us, be kept out of sight-that a laage proportion of the members of our denomination, dissatisfied with existing arrangements, or left in apathy for want of the proper means to stimulate them, have not contributed to any missionary funds, to such extent as we are persuaded they would have done, but for the causes here assigned and as we fully believe they will readily do, when those causes no longer exist.

We

Suspect not, brethren, that we seek to excite or cherish in your minds a bigotted or sectarian spirit. We disclaim it ut terly and that we may not be misunderstood, we beg to make a full and frank avowal of our real wishes and views. say then, that being on conviction and by choice Presbyterians-having given a decided preference to the doctrines and order of the Presbyterian church—we think that, on every principle of consistency, we are bound to support that church. We further say, that it is our wish that this church should send forth missions, both to the heathen and to her own destitute population-believing that the church is bound to this, by the explicit command of her glorified Head "to disciple the nations—and to preach the gospel to every creature;" and that in obeying this command, the universal church cannot conveniently act, nor at present act at all, but as it is divided into those various denominations, to each of which the members that compose it have formed a special and conscientious attachment-believing also, that our church can be stirred up to far greater exertions in the missionary cause, by her own officers and agents, acting by her appointment, than by any individuals, however personally respectable or influential, whom she does not appoint or direct, and

who owe to her no peculiar responsibility. These, brethren, are honestly our views and wishes; and we have none more sectarian than these, in regard to the duty of our church, relative to missionary concerns. If by a wish we could engross the missionary business of our country, that wish should not be formed. We have no desire to hinder, or to interfere with, any evangelical missionary ope. rations by whomsoever conducted, but to promote them. We are cordially willing to concede to others all that we claim for ourselves. We are desirous to treat as brethren all missionary associa tions, which recognise those great principles of the Protestant reformation to which we have alluded. With all such associations we wish to maintain the most friendly intercourse; yea, we repeat it, to afford them all the aid in our power. And we do firmly believe, that by each acting with vigour in its own appropriate sphere, and by all mutually cherishing a spirit of fervent Christian charity, more may be done in evangelizing the world-far more

than if all were amalgamated. For ourselves, we can truly say, there is not an evangelical mission now in being, in whose success we do not unfeignedly rejoice, and for which we do not give thanks to God. And why should interference be the subject of alarm or apprehension, when "the field is the world," and when the harvest is so great, and the labourers so few? There is surely room enough for us all, without any collision, were we even a hundred fold more numerous than we are. Some amicable arrangements among the different missionary corps may be of use; and we are ready to enter into them with all who are prepared to meet

us.

With the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, of which some of this committee are members, and with the Home Missionary Society, to which many of our dear brethren, both of the clergy and laitý, are known to belong, we have already opened, and hope constantly to maintain, a friendly correspond

ence.

We have given the foregoing explanations, brethren, to prevent all misapprehension of our aims and wishes; and we beg that our statement may be kept in remembrance.

Suffer us now to lay before you some of the measures which we respectfully submit, as most likely, in our judgment, to be effectual, for the obtaining of those funds which will be essential to support the missionary operations we contemplate -premising that what we offer is to be regarded only in the light of suggestion or recommendation. We wish that all contributions should be perfectly volun

tary, and that the churches should take such measures to aid our funds, as shall be most pleasing to themselves. But having given much attention to this subject, we will specify a number of methods, in which we hope to obtain contributions; not supposing that all the methods mentioned will be adopted in each congregation, but only such, if any, as shall appear most proper and expedient, to those whose province it may be to

make a selection.

1. The General Assembly have often and earnestly recommended to all the congregations under their care, to take up annually one collection, for the use of the Board of Missions. This recommendation has been repeated by the last Assembly, and we hope it will not be in vain. We take leave to suggest, that in congrega tions visited by our agents, this collection may advantageously be taken up, after a discourse delivered by an agent, with some reference to this subject.

2. We recommend that an effort be made to engage every communicating member of our church, to contribute fifty cents annually, to the missionary funds of the General Assembly. You will perceive that what we here propose, is a contribution of not quite a cent per week: and this we think can be given, without even a sensible privation, by the very poorest communicant in our church. And yet, if all our communicants would punc tually and perseveringly make this contribution, the amount would form a sum twenty times as great as that which the Board of Missions has, for many years past, had at its disposal. But important as this would be to our funds, it is connected with a consideration still more important. We do wish that every one who makes a solemn profession of the religion of Christ, should feel it to be a personal and sacred duty, to do something to send that blessed religion to those who are deprived of its soul saving benefits, If this truth-for an unquestionable truth we take it to be-0 if this truth were felt, as it ought to be felt, by all profess. ing Christians, we should never want funds; and we should have them too accompanied with those earnest prayers, which would draw down a blessing on the missionary labours, to the support of which the funds were destined. also consider it not only as a duty, but as a sweet and precious privilege, for the Lord's poor, who are often "rich in faith," to cast their mites into his treasury-On such donations, who can fail to recollect the high commendation pronounced by our dear Redeemer himself? We could therefore wish that this form of donations should be adopted by all, both

We

rich and poor, and should be made personally by every communicant. The rich can, in other modes of contribution, make their gifts what they choose: and we pray that they may be such as become those who recollect that all they possess bas been given them by God; that they are but the stewards of his bounty; and that he will at last demand a strict account of every talent which he has entrusted to them, and with which he has commanded them "to occupy till he come." For the collection of the annual fifty cent contri. bution, some well digested and easily executed plan must be devised; which we should hope the session, or other leading members of each church, would willingly form and execute.

3. We recommend that mission boxes be kept in the houses of the members of our congregations, into which not only the heads of families, but children, servants, and occasional visitants, may cast their voluntary offerings. Here again, we have in view, not only the pecuniary avails of these boxes, which doubtless would be considerable, but the moral ef fect of the practice recommended. We could wish that the members of every family should have before their eyes daily, something to remind them that it is a duty to contribute to Christian missions; and that every child should imbibe the spirit of missions from the first dawn of intellect, and cherish it through the whole progress of childhood and youth. The contents of the mission boxes might be committed monthly, to some individual appointed to receive them, and to forward the amount to the Treasurer of the General Assembly.

4. We recommend that collections be taken up at every monthly concert for prayer, to be appropriated to missionary purposes. We think it must, without any enlargement from us, strike every one as peculiarly proper, when we pray for the spread of the gospel, to give of our substance for the purpose of extending its blessings-The alms, as well as the prayers, of Cornelius, "came up for a memorial before God;" and the ministry of an angel, and the mission of an apostle, were employed, that the messages of the gospel might be carried to him and to his friends.

5. We suggest that there are wealthy congregations that might each engage to support a missionary-perhaps more than one. Wealthy individuals also, either singly or by the joint agreement of seve ral, might engage to do the same. It gives us pleasure to state, that we already bave the pledge of two individuals, that they will support one missionary to South America, on the allowance of $500 per

annum. And we may also state in this connexion, that those who make donations will always be at liberty to appropriate them to a favourite missionary object, and that such appropriation will be sacredly regarded. At the same time, it may be proper to remark, that as the Board will have the best view of the whole field of missionary operations, it will certainly be desirable that the most of their funds should be left, without embarrassment, to their disposal.

6. We suggest that there are individuals in every part of the extended bounds of the General Assembly, who beside what they give in public or general contributions, may agree to pay annually, so long as they shall find it convenient, a certain specified sum. If subscriptions of this character should be frequently or largely made, it is manifest that a fund would be provided, which might be considered as permanent; and on which calculations, without much risk of failure, might be made, which would warrant missionary engagements that would otherwise be improper; and the importance of having such a reliance is obviously great. It is however by no means to be understood, that the Board or the Committee contemplate the formation of any thing like a permanent fund, of which the interest only, and not the capital, may be expended. On the contrary, it is the full determination of the Board, to hoard nothing; but to spend all that they may have at command, so soon as an opportunity to use it to advantage shall occur. Their reliance must be on Him, whose is the silver and the gold, and on the continued liberality of their Christian brethren, which will best be cherished by an unceasing call for its exercise. Yet money should be improved till an opportunity to use it offers, and rash engage ments must not be made, for the fulfilment of which no reasonable expectation can be formed.

7. We trust it is not unreasonable to expect that the missions of the Presbyterian church will, in common with other charities, be remembered by the pious and benevolent members of our communion, in making their last wills and testaments. The time we hope is past (and may it never return) for men to soothe themselves in a life of avarice, fraud, oppression, or profligacy, by determining to make, and by actually making, large bequests at their death, to pious and charitable uses. Nor do we ever wish to see that given to the church, which ought to go to a poor parent, child, or other near relative, friend, or dependant. But we do hope that the time is near at handand some recent noble examples of pious

liberality animate the hope that it is not far distant-when men of wealth shall not only say, but feel, that God gave them all they possess; and gave it as a loan, for the use and improvement of which they must give an account, when their eternal destiny shall be decided by an omniscient and equitable Judge. Then it will no longer be seen that the savings of avarice and folly are bequeathed to children, to scatter faster than it was gathered, and to ruin their own souls, and injure society, by their profligate squanderings; or-following the example of covetousness which has been set them by their parents-to live only for themselves, and die, without blessing others, or being blessed themselves. O the time will come! when, from truly Christian principles, and without any hope of buying heaven, men, both in life and in death, will give much more to God, and much less to their families, than men of unquestionable piety have hitherto generally done.

Thus, brethren, we have spread before you the resources for missionary funds, which have occurred to us, in reflecting on the subject. It must be for you to communicate from these sources, or from others of your own devising, what you feel it to be your duty to lend to the Lord; and with us we feel will remain the high responsi bility, to use your donations and contributions, in the best and most frugal manner

wasting nothing, squandering nothing, but employing, if possible, every cent bestowed, so as most effectually to promote the sacred missionary cause. It is our determination to give as much publicity as possible to all our proceedings, and especially to publish a statement every month of all sums, large or small, that shall be received, the parties from whom they come, and the objects to which they are to be applied-An annual statement of expenditures will also be made and published. For these purposes, it is plain that a vehicle of missionary information must go abroad; and we contemplate the issuing of a monthly periodical, under the title of "The Missionary Reporter," so soon as we shall obtain evidence that a subscription for it, which will defray the expense of publication, can be obtained. In the mean time, religious periodicals already established, will be employed to convey to the publick, the statements which it will be our duty to make.

It may justly be expected that we should say something of the missionary operations which we contemplate. We can only say, brethren, that our operations will correspond to the means which you may put into our hands, for the execution of the large missionary powers,