ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
The thirty-sixth Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association was held in Plymouth Church, Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 24th to 26th, 1882.
Promptly at three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, the meeting of the Association was called to order by the President, Hon. William B. Washburn, of Massachusetts. Devotional services were conducted by Prof. John Morgan, of Oberlin, after which Gov. Washburn, on assuming the chair for the first time, said:
“I appear before you on this occasion with feelings of a mixed character; partly painful, partly pleasing—painful when I reflect that your expectations in regard to the presiding officer whom you have lately selected probably never will be realized; pleasing—doubly pleasing—to remember that I have received the support of so distinguished an organization as has invited me to preside over its deliberations.
“Let me, then, first of all, thank you for the honor conferred, and assure you that no effort of mine shall be wanting to meet the demands of the occasion.
“I know full well the many trials and difficulties which this Society has been called upon to pass through in the past. Your labors have been for the most part among the neglected and despised races of our country. Society rests upon selfish principles. Men respect the honored and the elevated, not the despised and the down-trodden. Hence a great portion of the labors of this organization has been unknown and uncared-for by the great majority of mankind; and yet it is in the midst of such degradation that we get the brightest glimpses of Christianity, the widest and broadest views of humanity. The aspect to-day which we witness of endeavoring to raise even the lowest masses of mankind into intellectual, moral and spiritual dignity, never was broader than at the present hour. Take courage, then, and feel that your labors have not been in vain. The success which has attended your efforts during the past year, the wonderful increase of the means which have been provided this organization by an enlarged constituency, the bright aspect of the future, ought to strengthen the hands and encourage the hearts of all who are interested in this organization to make greater sacrifices, if need be, in the future than have ever been made in the past.
“Every true citizen, every real patriot ought to feel to-day a special interest in the prosperity and the success of this Society.
“It has been well said that essential to the perpetuity of our republican institutions are two conditions: Popular intelligence and popular morality. In other words, in order that free institutions may be preserved, there must be general intelligence and sound morals. Hence, two institutions are essential—schools and Christian churches. Free institutions without intelligence can exist only in name. It is moral, not physical ills which we have to fear. While the people themselves remain pure no human force can prevail against them.
“When four millions of slaves were suddenly set free the great problem to solve was, what shall we do with them? To-day each vote of those individuals counts as much in the ballot-box as the vote of the most distinguished and intelligent citizen in the land. Would we preserve, therefore, and hand down to our children those institutions which were entrusted to our charge by our fathers, and which have been shedding on us blessings to which all other nations are perfect strangers, then we must educate and Christianize these millions of new-born citizens. I honor this organization especially to-day because it has done more than all other instrumentalities, perhaps, combined to bring about this grand result. Let no one, then, be discouraged or falter at the magnitude of the work; for, if we rise to the level of our opportunity, if we are true to ourselves, victory will sooner or later be ours.”
Rev. George R. Merrill, of Ohio, was then elected Secretary, and Rev. S. M. Newman, of Wisconsin, Assistant Secretary.
The Treasurer, H. W. Hubbard, Esq., then read his report, which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
The annual report of the Executive Committee of the Association was presented by Rev. M. E. Strieby, D.D., Corresponding Secretary of the Society, and its several portions were referred to appropriate committees.
After the appointment of the various committees, the remainder of the session was devoted to prayer and conference, led by Rev. C. L. Woodworth, District Secretary of the Association. This season of prayer derived special interest from the fact that the same hour was observed by the workers throughout the field.
Tuesday evening, after devotional services, led by Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of Chicago, the annual sermon was preached by Rev. C. L. Goodell, D.D., of St. Louis, from the text, Matthew 28:18, the theme being “More Power from Christ for the World’s Larger Needs.”
After the sermon, Rev. J. E. Twichell, D.D., presented an address of welcome in behalf of the churches and people of Cleveland. The observance of the Lord’s Supper followed, at which Rev. T. M. Post, D.D., of St. Louis, and President J. H. Fairchild, D.D., of Oberlin, presided.
Wednesday morning the prayer meeting was conducted by Rev. H. L. Hubbell, of New York. At the opening of the regular session at nine o’clock, the report of the Committee on the Revision of the Constitution of the Association was presented by Rev. George M. Boynton, of Massachusetts. A general discussion followed, in which the speakers were limited to ten minutes each, and which was closed promptly at half-past ten o’clock. On motion, the report was made the order for two o’clock in the afternoon. Rev. F. L. Kenyon, of Iowa, read a paper on “The Relation of the A. M. A. to Civilization.” Gen. S. C. Armstrong, of Hampton, Va., read a paper on “The Indian Problem,” which was followed by a few remarks from Father Potter, of Ohio, formerly for about twenty years a missionary among the Cherokee Indians. Rev. W. H. Ward, D.D., of New York, read a paper on “Caste in Education.”
After the opening of the Wednesday afternoon session with prayer, the order of the day was taken up and the report of the Committee on the Constitution was referred to a special committee of thirteen, to reconsider the whole subject, and report at the next Annual Meeting, after having obtained an expression of opinion from each of the State Congregational organizations. An invitation was presented to the Association from Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Eells to visit Oakwood on Friday morning, which was received with an expression of thanks. Rev. F. A. Noble, D.D., of Illinois, read a paper on “God’s way of vindicating Brotherhood.” The report of the Committee on African Missions was presented by Rev. M. McG. Dana, D.D., of Minnesota. Rev. Henry M. Ladd, D.D., of New York, using a large map, gave an account of his recent extended missionary explorations on the Upper Nile. Rev. M. E. Strieby, D.D., Secretary of the Association, read a Paper in regard to the proposed exchange of Missions with the A. B. C. F. M., and a special committee was appointed to which the paper was referred. Rev. James Brand, D.D., of Ohio, presented the report of the Committee on Chinese Missions.
Wednesday evening, after opening with devotional exercises, Rev. A. G. Haygood, D.D., of Georgia, delivered an interesting address, followed by addresses from Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, of New York, and Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, D.D., of Rhode Island.
Thursday morning the prayer-meeting was led by Rev. Moses Smith, of Michigan. The business session was opened with prayer by Prof. A. H. Currier, of Oberlin, after which Rev. W. E. Brooks, President of Tillotson Institute, Texas, presented the claims of the work there. The report on Indian Missions was presented by Rev. A. H. Ross, D.D., of Michigan. Prof. G. F. Wright, of Ohio, next presented the report on the Educational Work at the South, and was followed by Mr. B. F. Ousley, a graduate of Fisk University, who spoke upon the report, and also by Prof. A. Salisbury, the recently appointed superintendent of the educational work of the Association. Rev. E. M. Cravath, President of Fisk University, read a paper on “Higher Education.” Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of Chicago, presented the report of the Committee on Church Work, which was followed by addresses from Rev. C. O. Brown and Mr. Geo. W. Moore, a graduate of Fisk University.
The Woman’s Missionary Meeting was held at nine o’clock Thursday morning in the chapel of the church, when papers were read by Mrs. G. W. Andrews, of Talladega, Ala., Miss Annie Cahill, of Nashville, Tenn., and Miss Hamilton, of Memphis, Tenn.
Thursday afternoon the session was opened with devotional exercises. The Committee on the proposed transfer of missions reported, through Rev. M. McG. Dana, D.D., of Minnesota, favoring the general plan, but making it a condition that the interests of the work already in hand be not sacrificed, and with this condition referring the whole subject to the Executive Committee of the Association, with power. The report was accepted and adopted. A petition was presented by President Ware, of Atlanta University, requesting the appointment of a committee to define the policy of the Association with reference to its work among the different races, which was referred to the Executive Committee. The officers of the Association were re-elected for the ensuing year. Addresses were then made by Rev. J. M. Gregory, D.D., of Washington, D.C., representing the work of the Baptists at the South, and by Rev. R. S. Rust, D.D., of Ohio, representing the Methodists, and by Elkanah Beard, representing the Friends in the same field. These brethren were received in a spirit of cordial fellowship and co-operation. Rev. J. E. Roy, D.D., Field Superintendent of the Association, read a paper on “The New South.” The concluding address of the session was made by Secretary Strieby, representing the work of the Congregational churches at the South. The report of the Finance Committee was presented by J. G. W. Cowles, Esq. Thursday evening a mass meeting was held in the Tabernacle. The music was furnished by a choir of seventy-five voices from Oberlin, under the leadership of Prof. F. B. Rice. After devotional exercises, addresses were made upon “The National Problem of Southern Education,” by ex-President R. B. Hayes, of Ohio: President A. D. White, of Cornell University, and by Hon. J. L. M. Curry, of Virginia. Rev. G. D. Pike, D.D., in behalf of the Association, tendered a resolution of thanks to the churches and people of Cleveland for their hospitality, and to the committees, pastors, choir and railroads for their kindness in contributing to the success of the meetings.
It was the prevailing feeling that the meeting at Cleveland was, on the whole, a great success. Although there were other attractions which drew many away, yet the attendance was large, and at the closing session there were over three thousand present. The weather was fine, the papers presented of a high order, and the interest from beginning to end unabated. Nothing was lacking in the way of preparation, and with the impetus of this meeting resting upon it, the Association takes courage and looks forward to another year of work with renewed faith and hope.