programme as printed be adopted. The devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. James L. Hill, of Massachusetts.
The annual sermon was preached by Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of
Illinois; from Isaiah vi: 1-8.
The sermon was followed by the administration of the Lord's Supper. The
following named persons officiated at the service; Ministers:--Rev.
Robert W. Wallace, of Massachusetts, and Rev. George F.S. Savage, D.D.,
of Illinois; Deacons:--McAuslan, Pabodie, Olney, Spicer, Barrows and
Fuller of Rhode Island, Hubbard of Maine, and Fairbanks of Vermont.
At the close of the Communion, adjournment was taken to Wednesday at 9
A.M.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
The prayer-meeting from 8 to 9 o'clock, was led by Rev. Rowland B.
Howard, of Massachusetts. At 9 o'clock the Association was called to
order by the President, who conducted the devotional exercises.
The records of the previous day were read and approved,
A paper, on "American Freedmen and African Evangelization," was read by
Secretary M.E. Strieby, D.D.
A paper, on "The Hopefulness of Indian Missions as Seen in the Light of
History," was read by Secretary A.F. Beard, D.D.
Voted that the papers read by the Secretaries be referred to the
appropriate committees.
The Nominating Committee reported the following special committees who
were appointed:
Committee on the Chinese.--Rev. S. Gilbert, D.D., of Illinois; Rev.
M.M.G. Dana. D.D., of Massachusetts; Rev. Geo. A. Tewksbury, of
Massachusetts; Rev. F.L. Ferguson, of Connecticut; Rev. R.W. Wallace,
of Massachusetts.
Committee on the Indians.--S.B. Capen, Esq., of Massachusetts; Rev.
A.P. Foster, D.D., of Massachusetts; Rev. John L. Ewell, of
Massachusetts, Rev. John E. Tuttle, of Massachusetts.
Committee on Educational Work.--Rev. Llewellyn Pratt, D.D., of
Connecticut; Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant, D.D., of Ohio; Rev. George E.
Hall, of New Hampshire; H.D. Smith, Esq., of Connecticut; Stephen
Ballard, Esq., of New York.
A Memorial Service for Rev. James Powell, D.D., late Secretary of the
Association, was held. Addresses were made by Rev. Simeon Gilbert,
D.D., of Illinois, Rev. Geo. H. Ide, D.D., of Wisconsin; Secretary M.E.
Strieby, D.D., and President Wm. M. Taylor, D.D. Rev. A.P. Foster,
D.D., of Massachusetts, led in prayer.
The report of the Committee on Chinese Work, Rev. Simeon Gilbert, D.D.,
Chairman, was presented, and an address was delivered by Rev. M. McG.
Dana, D.D., of Massachusetts.
An address on "The relations of the A.M.A. to Young People," was
delivered by Rev. J.L. Hill, of Massachusetts.
Recess was taken to 2 P.M.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
The Association was called to order at 2 P.M. by the President. Rev. P.W.
Lyman, of Massachusetts, offered prayer.
A Paper on "Systematic Spending," was read by District Secretary C.J.
Ryder.
A report and address on the Indian Work, were made by S.B. Capen, Esq.,
of Massachusetts. Addresses were also made by Rev. A.P. Foster, D.D., of
Massachusetts, and by Rev. C.W. Shelton, Financial Secretary for Indian
Missions.
The Nominating Committee nominated the following special committees, who
were appointed:
Committee on Mountain Work.--Rev. G.S. Burroughs, D.D., of
Massachusetts; Rev. C.B. Riggs, of Tennessee; J.R. Gilmore, Esq., of
Connecticut; Rev. Morton Dexter, of Massachusetts; Chas. Coffin, Esq.,
of Massachusetts.
Committee on Church Work.--Rev. David Gregg, D.D., of Massachusetts,
Rev, Stephen M. Newman, D.D., of the District of Columbia; Rev. Wm.
Hayes Ward, D.D., of New Jersey; Frank Wood, Esq., of Massachusetts;
R.L. Day, Esq., of Ohio.
The Committee on Educational Work reported, and addresses were
delivered in connection with the report, by the Chairman, Rev.
Llewellyn Pratt, D.D., of Connecticut, and by Rev. Julian M.
Sturtevant, D.D., of Ohio.
An address on "The Church and the Color Line," was delivered by Rev.
James Brand, D.D., of Ohio.
Benediction by the President, and recess taken to 7:30 P.M.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Association was called to order by the President, and Rev. George
A. Tewksbury, D.D., of Massachusetts, offered prayer.
An address was delivered by Mr. Joshua Given, an Indian theological
student, giving the story of his own life; by Rev. Joseph E. Smith, of
Tennessee, on "The Evils of Caste to the Colored Race"; by Rev. B.A.
Imes, of Tennessee, on "The Evils of Secret Societies to the Colored
Race"; by Rev, J.R. McLean of Texas, on "The Evils of Intemperance to
the Colored Race."
Adjourned to Thursday morning, at 9 o'clock.
THURSDAY MORNING.
The Prayer Meeting from 8 to 9 o'clock was led by Rev. James L. Fowle,
Missionary of the American Board.
The Association was called to order at 9 o'clock, and led in prayer by
Rev. Wm. H. Ward, D.D., of New Jersey.
The Rev. J.H. Ross, Assistant Recording Secretary, being called away,
Rev. Frank E. Jenkins was appointed.
The minutes of Wednesday were read and approved.
A paper on "Our Indebtedness to the Negro During the War," was read by
District Secretary J.E. Roy, D.D., of Chicago.
Rev. George S. Burroughs, D.D., of Massachusetts, presented the report
of the Committee on Mountain Work, following it with an address; Rev.
C.B. Riggs of Tennessee, and James R. Gilmore of Connecticut, also
addressed the Association on the same subject.
Committees were appointed--on Secretary Strieby's paper, Wolcott
Calkins, D.D., and Rev. O.S. Dean, of Massachusetts, and Hon. A.C.
Barstow of Rhode Island; and on Secretary Beard's paper, Rev. Morton
Dexter, Frank Wood, Esq., and Rev. John E. Tuttle, all of
Massachusetts.
Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of Illinois, invited the Association to hold
its next Annual Meeting with the New England Church in Chicago. The
invitation was accepted by the President in behalf of the Executive
Committee.
The report of the Committee on Church Work, and an address, were made
by Rev. David Gregg, D.D., of Massachusetts.
Rev. Wm. Hayne Leavell, of Mississippi, made an address on "The Present
Necessities of the Negro."
Recess was taken until 2 P.M.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The Association was called to order by Rev. D.O. Mears, D.D., a
Vice-president, and prayer was offered by Rev. P.B. Davis, of
Massachusetts.
L.C. Warner, M.D., of New York, presented the report of the Finance
Committee.
Secretary Strieby then made the announcement of the gift to the
Association of the largest donation ever made to a benevolent society
by a living donor, $1,000,894.25, from Mr. Daniel Hand, of Guilford,
Ct. Further statements were made by John H. Washburn, Esq., Chairman of
the Executive Committee; and by Rev. D.O. Mears, D.D.
The doxology was sung, and the following resolution was offered by
Samuel Holmes, Esq., Chairman of the Finance Committee, and was adopted
by a rising vote.
_Resolved._--That we recognize the goodness of Almighty God in
putting it into the heart of Mr. Daniel Hand to make the
munificent gift of more than one million dollars for the
education of the colored youth of the South, to be expended under
the direction of the American Missionary Association.
We rejoice in the flood of beneficent influence which will flow
through all the years from this noble source.
We gratefully accept the trust put upon us, promising to use it
as a stimulus for increased activity on the part of the Christian
Church, and we offer our prayer to the Divine Father, that he may
abundantly bless the remaining years of our honored friend with
the grace of His Spirit and the joy that follows the
accomplishment of the desires of a heart burdened with the love
of our suffering and ignorant fellow men.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Thomas A. Emerson, of Clinton, Conn.
The Association then adjourned to the chapel.
The Nominating Committee reported the following list of officers for the
ensuing year, and they were unanimously elected.
President, REV. WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D., LL.D., N.Y.
Vice-Presidents:
REV. A.J.F. BEHRENDS, D.D., N.Y.
REV. ALEX. MCKENZIE, D.D., Mass.
REV. F.A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill.
REV. D.O. MEARS, D.D., Mass.
REV. HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Mo.
Corresponding Secretaries.
REV. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
REV. A.F. BEARD, D.D., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
Recording Secretary:
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
Treasurer:
H.W. HUBBARD, Esq., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
Auditors:
PETER McCARTEE,
CHAS. P. PEIRECE.
Executive Committee.
For Three Years.
J.E. RANKIN,
J.W. COOPER,
EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN,
WM. H. WARD,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
For Two Years.--CHARLES A. HULL.
The report of the Committee on Secretary Strieby's paper was presented
by Rev. W. Calkins, D.D., of Massachusetts, and adopted.
The report of the Committee on Secretary Beard's paper was presented by
Rev. Morton Dexter, of Massachusetts, and adopted.
Recess was then taken to 7.30 P.M.
THURSDAY EVENING.
The Association was called to order at 7:30 P.M., and prayer was
offered by Rev. Thomas Laurie, D.D., of Providence.
The minutes for the day were read and approved, and the Secretary was
authorized to complete them at the close of this service and to publish
them under the direction of the Executive Committee.
Rev. David O. Mears, D.D., of Massachusetts, addressed the Association,
and was followed by Rev. A.J.F. Behrends, D.D., of New York, and the
closing address was made by the President.
The following vote of thanks was unanimously passed after appropriate
remarks by District Secretary C.J. Ryder.
We approach the conclusion of this Annual Convention of the
American Missionary Association with grateful hearts for all
the way by which God has led it from the day when it crossed the
brook with its staff of testimony to this time of extended
influence and usefulness, with humble rejoicing both in the
intellectual and spiritual fellowship of this meeting, and also
with a special sense of responsibility under the burden of
obligation which God has placed upon us by this unprecedented
enlargement of our stewardship. We wish to express our devout
thanksgiving for the grace of hospitality which has been
bestowed in such abounding measure upon the churches of Christ
and the good people of this city of Providence, with whose name
in its divine significance we are to associate this peculiarly
impressive anniversary.
We recall the delightful welcome which greeted us at the
opening of these services, only to be impressed with the
assurance that this Union Congregational Society and the other
churches of the city were not at all forgetful to "entertain
strangers." Their love indeed, made us at once to feel at home
in their households, and in the midst of their delightful
families.
_Resolved_, That to the local committees, especially the
indefatigable Secretary, to the pastors of all the churches,
to the choir and leaders of the services of song in the house
of the Lord, to the local and metropolitan press for its
generous reporting of these meetings to the large congregation
outside by its multiform and winged processes, and to the lines
of transportation which have made us the recipients of their
courtesy, we express our great indebtedness with sincere thanks.
And so, in behalf of the members, officers and missionaries and
friends of this great Association, we say once more: We thank
you for your generous entertainment and crave for you the
recompense for such ministering in the name of our Divine
Master.
Rev. J.H. McIlvaine, D.D., of Providence, pastor of the church,
responded.
The Doxology was then sung, and, after the benediction by the
President, the Association adjourned.
HENRY A. HAZEN, Secretary.
FRANK E. JENKINS, Ass't Secretary.
* * * * *
SUMMARY OF TREASURER'S REPORT.
EXPENDITURES.
THE SOUTH.
For Church and Educational Work, Land,
Buildings, etc. ...$226,345.95
THE CHINESE.
For Superintendent, Teachers, Rent, etc. ...8,920.90
THE INDIANS.
For Church and Educational Work, Buildings, etc.
...48,967.08
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
For Superintendent, Missionaries, etc., for
Mendi Mission, income paid to the Society of
the United Brethren in Christ ...4,746.68
For Support of Aged Missionary, Jamaica, W.I. ...250.00
PUBLICATIONS
For American Missionary, (23,400 monthly),
Annual Reports, Clerk Hire, Postage, etc. ...6,511.21
AGENCIES
NEW YORK.--Corresponding Secretary, Traveling
Expenses, Circulars, etc. ...2,543.93
NEW YORK.--Woman's Bureau, Secretary,
Traveling Expenses, Circulars, etc. ...1,350.75
FOR EASTERN DISTRICT.--District Secretary,
Clerk Hire, Traveling Expenses, Printing,
Rent, Postage, Stationery, etc. ...4,845.68
FOR WESTERN DISTRICT.--District Secretary,
Agent, Clerk Hire, Traveling Expenses, etc. ...5,999.02
ADMINISTRATION.
For Corresponding Secretaries, Treasurer and
Clerk Hire ...11,720.00
MISCELLANEOUS.
For Rent, Care of Rooms, Furniture, Repairs, Fuel
and Light, Books and Stationery, Rent of Safe
Deposit Box, Clerk Hire, Postage, Traveling
Expenses, Expressage, Telegrams, etc. ...4,985.84
Annual Meeting ...770.28
Wills and Estates ...171.82
Annuity Account ...630.94
Amounts refunded, sent to Treasurer by mistake ...28.35
-----------
$328,788.43
===========
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand September 30, 1887 2,193.80
From Churches, Sabbath Schools, Missionary
Societies and Individuals ...$202,266.76
Estates and Legacies ...47,636.20
Income, Sundry Funds ...10,936.46
Tuition and Public Funds ...33,180.86
Rents ...496.40
United States Government for Subsistence for
Indians ...18,186.74
Slater Fund ...8,300.00
-----------
$320,953.42
-----------
323,147.22
Debt Balance September 30, 1888 5,641.21
-----------
328,788.43
===========
ENDOWMENT FUNDS.
Estate of Rev. Benjamin Foltz, late of Rockford,
Ill., in part ...$500.00
Howard Carter, of Baldwinsville, N.Y., for
Education of Students for the Ministry ...500.00
--------- 1,000.00
* * * * *
The receipts of Berea College, Hampton Normal and
Agricultural Institute, and Atlanta University,
are added below, as presenting at one view the
contributions for the general work in which the
Association is engaged:
American Missionary Association ...$320,953.42
Endowment Funds ...1,000.00
------------- $321,953.42
Berea College ...13,908.30
Hampton N. and A. Institute ...70,379.44
Atlanta University, (not acknowledged in
above account) ...7,955.00
-----------
Grand Total, $414,196.16
===========
H.W. HUBBARD, Treasurer,
59 Reade Street, New York.
* * * * *
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
* * * * *
REPORT ON EDUCATIONAL WORK.
BY REV. LEWELLYN PRATT, D.D., CHAIRMAN.
The report of the Educational Work of this Association shows steady
advance, in spite of straitened means. New responsibilities have been
assumed in consequence of gifts of school buildings, and of the
appeals from the people themselves, taxing--beyond the receipts from
the churches--the resources of the Association.
An important feature of the Educational Work is represented in the
twenty Normal Schools, from which have gone out seven thousand young
men and women now engaged in teaching at the South. It is probable
that nearly half a million of scholars have been under their care.
These, together with the Normal Departments in our chartered
institutions, Talladega College, Atlanta University, Straight
University, Tillotson Institute, Tougaloo University and Fisk
University, (with Hampton Institute, Berea College and Howard
University, formerly under the care of the Association) are doing a
great work in training teachers, as well as leaders in industrial
pursuits and in the professions of the law and the ministry.
In all these, the fact, now so generally received in mission work, is
fully recognized, that the leaders and teachers of a people must be
found among themselves. They have abundantly proved their eagerness
for education, their capacity for scholarship and leadership, and
their ability to meet the problems resting upon the future of their
race and of the nation. This is true, also, of the schools among the
Indians and the Chinese.
Still, the work done by the Society and by all other agencies--State
and denominational--has not kept pace with the growth of population,
and official statistics in some portions of the South show that the
percentage of illiteracy is steadily increasing. In Louisiana, for
instance, in the last eight years--_i.e._, from 1880 to 1888--the
number of illiterate voters increased from 102,933 to 126,938,
changing the relative percentage from 52.3 per cent. who could read
and write, and 47.7 per cent. who could not read and write--in
1880--to 49.2 per cent. who can read and write and 50.8 per cent. who
cannot read and write in 1888. During that period, of the new white
voters a majority were illiterate (7.502 : 7.609); of the new negro
voters ten out of eleven were illiterate (1.588 : 16.387). Facts such
as these call for great enlargement in the direction of common school
education, and the number of teachers; make imperative demands upon
State Governments; and lead many to appeal to the National Government
for relief. They certainly justify the efforts of this Association
and necessitate a great increase of the yearly contributions from
churches and individuals. Measures should be taken to supplant the
notion that by moderate annual contributions to ordinary schools for
a few years the great task can be accomplished of lifting up a race
that had been held in bondage for centuries, that started in its
career of freedom in absolute destitution and that pursues its course
here under many disabilities; and preparing liberators, missionaries,
guides and saviours for the Dark Continent.
At the same time, it is the belief of your committee that the
pressing need of the hour is the fuller development of the leading
institutions already established and larger equipment for the arduous
work set before the American people in our Southern States. For this
end, steps should be taken towards securing their permanent
endowment. While in every way the general work of reaching the masses
and saving them from their illiteracy is to be pressed, the time has
come to place these leading schools upon a firmer foundation and to
make them more conspicuous as centres. For this they need to be amply
endowed and maintained with steadily advancing educational courses,
suited to giving those who are to become the leaders of a great
people a broad and comprehensive education, abreast with the best in
the times in which they are to do their work.
It is time to take comprehensive views and to plan for years to come.
Neither this generation nor the next is to see the end of the special
work to be done to fit the freedmen successfully to meet the
conditions of their freedom. It has required centuries to qualify the
Anglo-Saxon people for freedom; and we must expect that generation
after generation will pass, even with the benefits of our
experiments, experience and methods, before this people, upon whom
the duties of free men have been thrust, can successfully discharge
them. There is call for great patience, for far-reaching plans, for
large beneficence. This question of the training of these eight
millions of people is one of the most difficult set before the
American people, and is worthy of the best thought of statesmen,
patriots, philanthropists and Christians.
For our encouragement is the ardor of the people themselves; their
readiness to receive an education; their position in a republic now
far advanced; the progress already made; the growing interest in the
States where they are most numerous to provide for them the means of
a common school education; the army of teachers already in the field.
Believing in a wise Providence over-ruling the present and the
future, we regard the problems before us, though great, not insoluble
to faithful, wise and patient Christian effort along the lines upon
which this Association has wrought.
We commend the wisdom and the foresight of this Association in the
planting of these institutions of learning in favorable positions,
its judicious economy in their management and its great skill in
steadily advancing their scope and capability with insufficient
resources and equipment. Upon these foundations the work should be
carried on, and large and permanent universities should be reared;
and we commend these to the Christian people for increased annual
gifts and larger permanent endowments that the great undertaking fail
not.
* * * * *
REPORT ON CHURCH WORK.
BY REV. DAVID GREGG, D.D., CHAIRMAN.
The report of your Executive Committee on church work submitted for
our review is very brief. There is a statement or two and a few
figures. It puts things in the very best light, and uses figures in
the most telling way. Its very brevity should act as a call to the
churches for more means, and more men, and more prayer, and more
enterprise. If the churches had done more there would have been more
to tabulate.
The report reads: Four new churches organized; 972 added to Christian
fellowship; 2 church edifices built; 1 church edifice enlarged; 2
parsonages built; a one-year-old church the centre of four
Sunday-schools filled with scholars who never before attended
religious instruction, and ten churches blessed with a revival of
religion.
Four new churches organized! Only four? And yet the territory
awaiting churches holds twelve States, and each State is an empire.
Only four? And yet the darkest spot in the republic is crying for the
light of the Gospel. Only four? And yet three-fourths of the
illiteracy of the whole nation must be grappled with. Four new
churches versus ten millions of immortal souls! What are these among
so many? This is the question which the report of the American
Missionary Association for 1888 sends through the length and breadth
of American Congregationalism.
To keep us in cheer the Executive Committee puts these facts by the
side of the four new churches:
First--"In each school" (and there are seventy-six schools) "we have
an incipient church." This predicts a golden future. "Each school is
a torch of Christ in a dark place." This means advancing
illumination.
Second--There are one hundred and thirty-two old churches fully
organized and completely vitalized. All of these are centred at
strategic points.
Third--There is a living army of 8,452 adults, and of 17,114 children
carrying the banner of the Lord. These give themselves, and give
their substance, to the cause of Christ, and to the good of their
fellowmen, in a way worthy of emulation.
Fourth--These churches and this army are under, and are led by
pastors who are for the most part the children of this Association.
This means thorough equipment, and discipline, and effectiveness, and
aggressive work.