ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
The Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association was held in Plymouth Church, Worcester, Mass., on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 1st, 2d and 3d, 1881.
As the bells in the church-tower finished chiming the “Missionary Hymn,” at three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, Secretary Strieby called the meeting to order, and in the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents, Rev. S. R. Dennen, D.D., of New Haven, was chosen to preside. After devotional services, Rev. Marshall M. Cutter, of Medford, was chosen Secretary, and Rev. John L. Ewell and Rev. C. P. Osborne Assistant Secretaries.
A Nominating Committee was appointed consisting of Rev. E. H. Byington, Rev. E. P. Marvin and C. L. Mead, Esq.; also a Business Committee consisting of Rev. Geo. M. Boynton, Rev. G. R. M. Scott, and Geo. P. Davis, Esq.
The Treasurer, H. W. Hubbard, Esq., read his report, which was referred to a Committee on Finance. The Annual Report of the Executive Committee was made through Rev. G. D. Pike, D.D., District Secretary, and was referred seriatim to appropriate Committees. An hour was then spent in prayer and conference, with special reference to the work in the South.
Tuesday evening, after devotional services, led by Rev. E. G. Porter, of Lexington, Rev. C. D. Hartranft, D.D., of Hartford, Conn., preached for the Annual Sermon a discourse appropriate to the Communion, which followed it, from Matthew xxvi, 27, l.c., “Drink ye all of it.” The Lord’s Supper was administered by Rev. Geo. W. Phillips, pastor of Plymouth Church, and Rev. Geo. H. Gould, D.D.
Wednesday morning, a prayer meeting, conducted by Rev. A. P. Foster, of Jersey City, was held at eight o’clock. At nine o’clock the regular session began, the chair being occupied in turn by Rev. L. T. Chamberlain, D.D., of Norwich, Conn., and Gen. O. O. Howard, of West Point, Vice-Presidents. John H. Washburn, Esq., in behalf of the Executive Committee, to whom was referred the matter of amending the Constitution of the Association at the last Annual Meeting, reported certain recommendations, which were referred to a Special Committee, to report Thursday morning. Richard Wright, Esq., of Augusta, Ga., colored, read a paper on “The Colored Man: His Strength, Weakness and Needs.” President E. H. Fairchild, of Berea College, Kentucky, read a paper on “Review of the Anti-Slavery Contest, and estimate of its meaning and value with reference to the Civilization of Africa and the World.” Secretary Strieby made an address on “The duty of America in the Conversion of the World, and especially in the Conversion of Africa.” President E. A. Wane, of Atlanta University, Ga., read a paper on “Higher Education.”
Wednesday afternoon. Prayer was offered by Rev. H. A. Stimson, of Worcester. Gen. O. O. Howard made an address on “Our Social Needs and their Remedy.” Gen. S. C. Armstrong, of Hampton, Va., reported for the Committee on Indian work, and was followed by Capt. R. H. Pratt, of Carlisle, Penn. A report of the Committee on Church work was read by Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, D.D., who also made an address upon the subject. Rev. J. E. Roy, D.D., Field Superintendent of the Association, supported the report by interesting statements illustrating the influence of the work among the colored people. The report of the Committee on Educational work was read by Rev. Charles T. Collins, of Cleveland, Ohio, and supported by Rev. John R. Thurston, of Whitinsville.
Wednesday evening. Hon. E. S. Tobey, of Boston, President of the Association, in the chair. Rev. William M. Gage, D.D., of Hartford, offered prayer. Addresses on “Christian Education at the South” were made by Rev. L. O. Brastow, D.D., of Burlington, Vermont; Prof. Cyrus Northrop, of Yale College, and Hon. Geo. F. Hoar, of the U.S. Senate.
Thursday morning. The prayer meeting at eight o’clock was led by Rev. O. H. White, D.D. The regular session at nine o’clock was opened with prayer by Rev. I. P. Langworthy, D.D., of Boston. Col. Franklin Fairbanks read the report of the Special Committee on the Constitution.
The following amendments were adopted: In Art. vi. the words, “Recording Secretary,” and “of which the Corresponding Secretaries shall be advisory, and the Treasurer ex-officio members,” are omitted; and after “Secretaries” the words, “who shall also keep the records of the Association,” are inserted. In Art. vii. after “dismissing,” the parenthesis is omitted. Article viii. is omitted, and Arts. ix. and x. are respectively numbered viii. and ix. The consideration of Arts. iii. and v. were referred to a special committee of thirteen, Col. Franklin Fairbanks, chairman, to report at next Annual Meeting.
A letter from Hon. E. S. Tobey, President, declining re-election on account of the pressure of other duties, was read, and resolutions of thanks for his faithful services were unanimously adopted by a rising vote. The Nominating Committee recommended Hon. Wm. B. Washburn, of Greenfield, Mass., for President, and presented a list of other officers, who were duly elected.
On motion of Rev. C. T. Collins, it was voted to memorialize Congress for immediate and increased appropriations for education at the South.
The report of the Committee on Chinese Missions was read by Rev. A. E. P. Perkins, D.D., of Ware. A paper on the subject was read by Miss Harriette Carter, of Mt. Vernon Church, Boston, where more than one hundred Chinamen have had Bible instruction, and addresses were made by Rev. Lysander Dickerman, of California, and by Rev. C. H. Pope, of Machias, Me.
Rev. G. W. Harding read the report of the Committee on African work, and addresses were made by himself, by Col. H. G. Prout, late in the service of the Khedive of Egypt, and by Rev. Geo. S. Dickerman, of Lewiston, Me.
Thursday afternoon. On “Woman’s Work for Woman,” papers were read by Miss M. L. Sawyer, of Boxford, and Miss E. B. Emery, of Gorham, Me., and addresses delivered by Mrs. A. K. Spence, of Nashville, Tennessee; by Rev. E. N. Packard, of Dorchester; Rev. A. H. Plumb, of Boston, and Rev. E. S. Atwood, of Salem.
The report of the Finance Committee, in the absence of Hon. J. J. H. Gregory, chairman, was read by Rev. E. S. Atwood, and asked for $300,000 for the ensuing year. Addresses were made by Rev. Geo. F. Stanton, of Weymouth, and Secretary Strieby. District Secretary Woodworth made a statement of Mr. Gregory’s recent gifts, amounting to $15,000. Rev. A. H. Plumb, in a happy little speech, announced $2,000 from an unknown donor, which he passed to the Treasurer in a sealed envelope. Of the amount, $500 was for Berea College and $500 for Hampton Institute.
Thursday evening, after prayer by Rev. Lewis Grout, Rev. O. H. White, D.D., for six years Secretary of the Freedmen’s Missions Aid Society in London, spoke of English co-operation and of the miseries of the slave trade in Africa. Henry D. Hyde, Esq., of Boston, pressed the claims of the Association to more liberal support, and John B. Gough, Esq., in a series of incidents, told in his inimitable style, illustrated the capacity of the colored race to be educated and elevated.
After some parting words from President Tobey, resolutions of thanks to the churches, committees, pastors, choir and railroads, and to the hospitable people of Worcester, and addresses in response by pastors Lamson and Phillips, the meeting closed with the benediction by Dr. O. H. White, to meet next year in Cleveland, Ohio. Near the close of the session a beautiful white dove entered the church and suggestively perched in a high niche over the pulpit platform.
Notwithstanding the prevailing dullness of the weather during our Annual Meeting at Worcester, there was nothing like dullness in the meetings. Daily the capacious church was thronged with deeply interested listeners. The high character of the addresses, the absorbing interest of subjects discussed, the excellent music of the ample choir, the completeness of arrangements by the local committee, and their uniform courtesy and unremitting attentions, and last, but not least, the generous hospitality of the Christian people of the city, all conspired to make the occasion one to be long and delightfully remembered.
The American Missionary Association turns with fresh hope and new inspiration to the work of the coming year.