MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. Report, No one appears, therefore, to have died for want of opportunity to return; for the case of liver complaint was in a mission where, since 1821, the members have taken the liberty to return with medical advice and the mere consent of the mission. There have been 53 returns:— Twenty-five from the Sandwich Islands, Six from the Mediterranean mission, Five from missions in the Indian Archipelago, One from South Africa. Of these, eleven returned after receiving permission from the Committee, thirty-three with merely the consent of their missions, and nine without either. No one of the nine came on account of health. Thirty-one of the fifty-three came either on account of their own health, or that of their companions; and nineteen of these took a dismission, and did not go back again. Only five of the remaining twelve have actually gone back. Threefourths of those who have returned, may be regarded as returned finally, and not again to resume their missionary labors. In none of the cases, except at the Sandwich Islands and Bombay, would it have been seriously inconvenient to have waited to hear from the Prudential Committee. In only one of the cases, (except in those missions,) and that a recent one, was a speedy resort to a cool climate necessary; and in that case, the individual had, on other accounts, requested permission to return, and would have received it in two or three months. therefore, the only cases in which it seems to have been desirable that the sick missionary With a single exception, should have been at liberty to return with the consent of his mission merely, and without waiting for permission from the Committee, have been in the Sandwich Islands and Mahratta missions. The rule, construed in its most rigid sense, would have occasioned no serious inconvenience in any of the other missions. And the Mahratta missionaries, in point of fact, would have found it easy to obtain voyages to Singapore, or Cape Town. At Cape Town, if it proved to be expedient to return to the mission, they might have written, by way of England, to the Committee, and received a speedy answer. South Africa has one of the best climates in the world. The General Conference of the Wesleyan Methodists of Great Britain, after having been many years engaged in foreign missions, adopted, in the year 1825, the following resolution: "It is resolved, That every missionary who shall, in future, return home, without the consent of the Missionary Committee, except in cases of extreme danger, through sickness, shall be considered as having thereby excluded himself from our connection.' This rule appears to be still in force. The Church Missionary Society of Great Britain, which has conducted its affairs with great wisdom, revised its laws at its twelfth annual meeting, which was in the year 1812. The following regulation then appears for the first time, and is believed never to have been repealed, viz.: "The missionaries, who go out under the direction of the Society, shall be allowed to visit home, permission having been previously obtained from the General Committee." The last report of the Society to which we have access, is for the year 1831. The regu lation is found in that, and had then been in operation nineteen years, among missionaries in the remotest situations, and in every variety of climate and condition. It would be well, perhaps, for the Board to pass a resolution, authorizing the Prudential Committee to modify the action of the law, in respect to missionaries who are out of health, when such missionaries are connected with missions so situated, geographically, that they cannot have the benefit of a change of climate without coming to the United States. This document, after reading, was referred to Dr. Allen, Hon. S. T. Armstrong, and Rev. Messrs. J. W. Ellingwood, C. Marsh, and D. O. Griswold; who subsequently made a report, which was laid on the table till the next day; and when taken up, was, after some discussion, recommitted to the same Committee. The Report, as modified, was afterwards submitted to the Board and adopted, and is as follows; the lines included in brackets being the by-law of the Board adopted last year, to which the proposed addition is made: The Committee, to whom was re-committed the subject of the return of missionaries, report the following addition to the rule of last year on this subject: ["It shall not be deemed proper for any missionary or assistant missionary to visit the United States, except by invitation or permission first received from the Prudential Committee,] and except when missionaries have lost their health, and are connected with missions so situated geographi cally, that they cannot have the benefit of a change of climate without coming to the United States; and also, except they have the consent of the mission with which they are connected." RESOLUTIONS OF CERTAIN MISSIONARIES. Dr. Anderson also submitted to the Board a statement from the Prudential Committee relative to resolutions adopted by certain missionaries, which was read and referred to a committee consisting of Rev. Drs. Woods, Humphrey, and Tucker, and Rev. Messrs. E. Merrill and J. W. Chickering. The document is subjoined. At the commencement of the year 1837, the increasing expenses of the missions, and the threatening state of the finances of the country, compelled the Committee to put a limit upon the expenses of each mission, making use of such facts as they had in deciding what it should be. They had, early in the year, forescen the necessity of doing something of this kind, and in May had adopted resolutions requesting the missions to forward estimates of their necessary annual expenses, for this purpose. The exigency, however, was such as forbade delay; and the missions were instructed by a circular letter, not to exceed a specified sum in their expenditures. This circular was not the one requiring reductions, though it had that effect in many of the missions; that Circular was dated in June 1837, six months later. The missions, to a very gratifying extent, appreciated the motives which governed the Committee in this proceeding, and conformed their plans and expenses to their instructions with the most commendable readiness and cheerfulness, however much they, in common with the Committee, regretted the necessity. In one mission, however, a portion of the missionaries agreed upon the following resolutions, as containing their views in relation to the power which the Prudential Committee and the Board possess over the expenses of the missions. "1. That we consider the late letter of the Board in no other light than as a strong expression of the wishes of the Prudential Committee in relation to our expenditures, inasmuch as to regard it in the light of a positive law, would be to concede to the Board the right to change the whole manner of our support, and limit us in our family and personal expenses without any consultation with us. 112. That as we cannot, for the reason above named, regard the letter of the Board as possessing the authority of law, but merely as advice strongly expressed, we do not therefore, consider that we are absolutely required by that letter to restrict our annual expenditures to, but we feel ourselves called upon to limit our expenditures as near to that sum as we can without very serious embarrassment to ourselves and our operations. "3. That, in our opinion, it is the bounden duty of the Board fully to sustain these schools, and an abandonment of them would be a dereliction of christian and missionary duty, and fatal to the best interests of the people. "4. That as the Board in their late letter seem to withhold from the schools that aid which we had reason from their own instructions to expect, therefore, we cannot but feel deeply grieved at such a procedure without a full knowledge of our circumstances, and the difficulties in which such a measure might involve us." It should be stated in justice to the missionaries who passed these resolutions and transmitted them to the Committee, that they were adopted under some misapprehension of the facts in the case;-which would have prevented any reference of the resolutions to the Board, were it not that they involve what the Committee have ever regarded as a vital principle in the prosecution of missions; so that were the missionaries generally to take the same view which these brethren do of the power of the Committee and the Board in respect to the expenses of the missions, control in this respect must be greatly impaired, if not destroyed, and the Board would be involved in total uncertainty as to what would be the amount of its expenses in any time to come. The principle needs to be settled, before going farther; and for this purpose the subject is referred to the Board. Should it be placed in the hands of a committee, the necessary explanations can better be made to render the case fully understood, and prepared for the deliberation and action of the Board. On the foregoing document the Committee to whom it was referred reported the following resolutions: 1. That our missionaries in passing the resolutions mentioned in the foregoing communication, evidently acted under a misapprehension as to the facts in the case; and that we have good reason to believe that had they possessed more definite information on the subject, they would not have adopted the resolutions above mentioned. 2. That it is and always will be the duty of the Prudential Committee, under the superintendence of the Board, faithfully to employ all the means furnished by the charities of the community in providing for the comfortable support of the missionaries and for the enlargement and success of their operations. 3. That both as a right and a duty, unquestionably belongs to the Prudential Committee under the supervision of the Board, to regulate the expenses of every mission and of every missionary; that this principle is clearly implied in the standing rules of the Board, and that the uniform practice has been in accordance with it, ever since the commencement of our foreign missions; that the Board deem this principle of vital importance in the prosecution of missions, and that it cannot be overlooked or neglected without opening the door for great irregularities and embarrassments in their pecuniary concerns, and thus forfeiting the confidence of the public. 4. That it is the indispensable duty of all the missionaries of the Board, to govern themselves, in regard to their expenditures, and all their proceedings as missionaries, according to the directions of the Prudential Committee. 5. That, although in ordinary cases, it is altogether proper and a matter of course, that the Prudential Committee should have free consultation with the missionaries in every station before making important changes in relation to expenditures, or other subjects pertaining to the conduct of missions; yet they have a perfect right, and are bound in duty to make any changes at once, without such consultation, whenever the circumstances of the case render it necessary. INTERFERENCE OF DIFFERENT MISSIONARY SOCIETIES WITH EACH OTHERS PROCEEDINGS. A paper on this subject from the Prudential Committee was laid before the Board by Dr. Anderson, which was read, and is as follows: On the 8th of May, the Prudential Committee voted to refer that part of a letter from the London Missionary Society, dated February 7th, which relates to the interference of mis. sionary societies with each other's operations, to the Board at its next meeting. The portion of the letter referred to is as follows: "The principle set forth in the extract from your report is one which must commend itself to all acquainted with the practical working of the apparatus of christian missions. It is one on which, in harmony with kindred societies in this country, we have long acted; and under its influence, as well as from considerations of a higher order, we rejoiced in the arrival of your brethren at Canton, a station which we consider as important, chiefly on account of its being, at present, the only allowed point of contact with China. Under these impressions, also, we rejoice in the commencement of your labors at Madras; and shall be glad to see them extended to the other presidencies of India. There is, in each of these, and other stations of a similar character, ample scope for the operations of all; and, on this ground, no inconvenience can be apprehended in carrying forward the several operations of a regular mission. "We have already adverted to our having acted on the principle of regarding certain stations as common ground; and, in relation to other British societies, we have added another principle, which we should be happy to extend to our co-operation with yourselves; under the assurance that, if practicable, it cannot but prove agreeable and beneficial; viz.. when any section of the missionary field is occupied by one society, it is deemed highly advantageous and suitable, that another society, contemplating operations in the same section, should, in the first instance, communicate with the society already in the field. The extension of the operations of all our missionary institutions, has, of late, required the frequent application of this principle; and the results have been so eminently satisfactory, that we are now engaged in revising regulations for its application to be sent to the brethren abroad, connected with the several societies, among whom we hope the benefits resulting will be equal to those which we have experienced at home." The subject requires but little consideration to see that it is one of much practical importance. 1. As many as six considerable christian denominations are now prosecuting missions among the heathen; viz., the Congregational, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian, and Moravian. Under some of these general classes are several denominational distinctions and divisions, which are carried into the missions. 2. Not less than eighteen missionary societies are actually in the field, and the number is increasing. Eight of these are British, five American, one French, and four are German. But all, in whatever part of Christendom, have about equal facilities of access to every 1838. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. part of the great missionary field. Africa, Western Asia, India, China, and the islands of Oceanica, are about equally accessible to the societies in America, Great Britain and continental Europe. Hence there is little in the relative positions of different parts of the heathen world to draw one society this way, and another that, and keep their operations distinct and apart. 3. In point of fact, many important fields are already each occupied by missionaries from different denominations and missionary societies. We will instance several missions of the Board, and will mention the societies in the order of time in which they commenced their missions at the places named. Cape Palmas in West Africa,-occupied by the American Board, the Methodist Society, and the American Episcopal Board. The Zulus of South Africa,-by the American Board and the Church of England Missionary Society. The Peloponnesus in Greece,-by the American Board and the American Baptist Board. Attica, by the American Board and the American Episcopal Board. Constantinople, by the American Board and the London Jews Society. Bombay, by the American Board, the Church of England Missionary Society, and the Church of Scotland Missionary Society. Jaffna, in Ceylon,-by the American Board, the Church of England Missionary Society, and the Wesleyan Society. Bankok, in Siam,-by the American Board and the American Baptist Board. We do not mention Smyrna, Madras, Singapore and Canton, because such places, owing to their situations and relations, must necessarily be common ground. There are some remarkable cases of non-interference. Interesting as the Burman field has long been, no society has interfered with our Baptist brethren there. None, except the Papal church, has interfered with the mission of the American Board at the Sandwich Islands. The same is true of Syria-for the mission of the London Jews Society is not an interference, we having no mission to the Jews of Syria. It is true also of our mission to the Armenians of Turkey, and of that to the Nestorians, and of that of the Church of England Missionary Society's missions in Egypt and Abyssinia. Another exception we quote from the London Missionary Register of the present year. account of the proSays the editor of that work, who was for many years secretary of the Church Missionary Society,-"We have not received any recent ceedings of the Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius and his associates, except that they have offered themselves under the London Missionary Society, the Directors of which, in the spirit of equity and peace, have declined the offer, unless the missionaries will remove to a distance from Tinnevelly." These missionaries were formerly connected with the Church Missionary Society, but were dismissed in consequence of some irregular proceedings, and refused to yield the ground to the other missionaries of that society. The London Society did not think it proper to employ them. unless they removed to another district than the one they had occupied as agents of the Church Missionary Society. Our Board did, inadvertently, interfere with the London Missionary Society, some years since, when it sent a mission to the Washington Islands; but on learning the fact, and that it was so regarded by the London Society, instructions were sent to the missionaries to withdraw. The London Society has informed us, in the letter just now quoted, that our plans and operations at Singapore have put them to some inconvenience; but only because they had not known our plans in season to modify their own to meet them. That society preceded us at Singapore; and our going there at all is justified only in view of its being one of the great marts of commerce, which, for the present, must be common ground. It now appears that it would have been well if there had been a previous correspondence between the societies on the subject. Excepting these two cases, we are not aware that the Board has ever commenced a mission, which was regarded, or could justly be regarded, as an interference with the operations or published intentions of any missionary society, whether in this country or Europe. Finally. There is no necessity for such an interference. It may be avoided. 1. By each missionary society claiming no more territory, than it has a reasonable prospect of occupying without a long delay; and undertaking no more work, than, with the ordinary blessing of Heaven, it can do thoroughly. 2. By having certain of the great centres of human society and marts of commerce regarded as common ground, where it is understood that missionaries of all societies may reside and labor, set up printing presses, etc., etc., without any one feeling that there is an improper encroachment upon the plans and labors of others. The London Missionary Society suggests, however, that in these places, with a view to the comfort and harmony of the brethren, a geographical division be attempted by the laborers under the different societies, "that we may, if possible, avoid the inconveniences and evils insuperable from [the different] parties seeking their scholars, congregations, etc., from the same families, and furnishing, as the natives in India express it, two bazaars, by which they [i. e. the natives,] are constantly tempted to offer their attention first to one, and then to the other, causing much dissatisfaction and perplexity to the missionaries, without any substantial benefit to themselves." Having made the remarks just quoted, the London Society adds; "the advantages of some sectional division will, we are persuaded, be so evident to yourselves, as to secure your hearty co-operation in effecting it, and with this view you will probably consider it desirable that the buildings of the missions of each society should be in that division in which their agents may respectively labor. These and other minor arrangements will, however, be best adjusted by the brethren on the spot." 3. The great marts of commerce being, for obvious reasons, conceded as common ground, no other ground need be thus conceded, unless under very special eircumstances indeed. It is much to be desired that the different missionary societies would resolutely decide to respect the territorial limits of each other's operations in heathen lands. The temptation is strong, after a particular district has attracted notoriety from the efforts of some one society, and is found, through the blessing of God, to yield an early harvest, to rush into it from every quarter. The different religious denominations do not appear to be by any means aware, that incomparably greater evils result from several of them operating, under the influence of their denominational feelings, maxims and habits, in precisely the same territory and on the same persons in heathen lands, than here at home; or else each is urged recklessly onward by the belief, that the gospel which is to be preached to every creature, is intrusted exclusively to itself. It will no doubt require strong principle to resist the temptation just mentioned; but it will be a great point gained in the work of missions, when the territorial limits of the districts occupied by each evangelical missionary society, are respected by the missionaries and members of all other missionary societies. And surely, among missionary societies this may be done without a controversy, and even without a congress. 4. The only other thing needful, is that suggested by the London Missionary Society, viz., "When any [large] section of the missionary field is occupied by one society, it shall be deemed suitable that another society, contemplating operations in the same section, should, in the first instance, communicate with the society already in the field.” The foregoing document having been referred to a committee consisting of Rev. Dr. Codman, John Tappan, Esq. and Rev. Messrs. C. Eddy, D. Crosby, and D. Abeel, a report was afterwards made by them, recommending the adoption of the following resolutions; which were adopted by the Board. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board the subject of non-interference in the plans and operations of different missionary societies among the heathen, demands a serious consideration by such societies, with a view if possible, to a mutual and satisfactory understanding, and that this Board instruct its Prudential Committee to direct special attention to the subject and to correspond with such other societies as they may think proper, for the purpose of securing so desirable an object. Resolved, That this Board regard the principal centres of business and marts of commerce in the immediate neighborhood of great fields, which are receiving or demanding missionary labor, as common ground, for the missionaries of different societies; and would suggest the importance of mutual agreement, so far as it shall be possible among missionaries residing in such places, with regard to the territorial bounds of their labors. Resolved, That this Board respectfully suggest and recommend, whenever a society has a mission already in a district of country where another society contemplates operations, that it be deemed suitable that the societies whose missionaries are already in the field, be apprized of the fact, and consulted, before such operations are commenced. MISSIONARY HOUSE. Mr. Armstrong presented the following document from the Prudential Committee relating to the Missionary House now erecting in the city of Boston, for the accommodation of the business of the Board; which was read and committed to Hon. Messrs. Marsh and Cutter, Orrin Day, Esq. Rev. S. Holmes, and Henry Hill, Esq. It has been stated in the Report that the Committee have purchased a lot, and commenced the erection of a building for the permanent accommodation of the business of the Board in the city of Boston. This lot is at the corner of Pemberton Place, fronting on Pemberton Square. The house is thirty-one feet by fifty, and three stories in height, exclusive of the basement and |