APPENDIX. A ADDRESS OF THE BAPTIST UNION, Assembled in New Park Street Chapel, London, June 18, 1834, to their brethren composing the Baptist Triennial Convention, meeting at Richmond, Virginia, April 29th, 1835. Beloved Brethren, The Gospel is a source of many mercies to mankind, but one, in particular, demands our grateful remembrance on the present occasion. It awakens, by its spirit and doctrines, a disinterested benevolence, resembling that which distinguished its divine Founder. The hearts of his followers are thus united by a bond of spiritual sympathy; their sorrows are divided; their joys are multiplied; and while under the influence of holy hopes and desires they long for the salvation of their fellow immortals, they are combined in indissoluble bonds with those who are born of the same spirit, and who cherish the expectation of inheriting the same glory. In this imperfect state, therefore, when the servants of our Lord are separated from each other, sometimes by physical, and at other times by moral causes, we embrace, with pleasure, the opportunity of addressing you, afforded by your Triennial Convention. We are separated from you, brethren, by the ocean of mighty waters; but we are united to you by a love which many waters cannot quench. Our descent is one, our faith is the same, and our mutual hope is fixed on the same eternal glory. We rejoice in the same ordinances of our exalted Lord, and feel that our duty and privilege alike impel us to address you, both to express the interest we take in your welfare, and that we may learn from you more fully the grace you now experience. You will permit us, beloved brethren, cordially to congratulate you on the high privileges you possess, beyond so many of the nations of the earth. We revert to the period when the " Pilgrim Fathers," driven by intolerance, took up their residence in your now happy country. With holy delight and gratitude we exult in the formation of your first state on the broad principles of entire civil and religious liberty, by Roger Williams, a member of our own denomination. In your numerous and flourishing churches, in the extension of divine truth, and in those revivals of religion with which you have been so happily favored, we see the blessed fruits of voluntary Christian zeal: we exclaim "What hath God wrought!" and devoutly pray that your distinguished public spirit, your union and brotherly love, and your benevolent efforts for the spread of the Gospel, may be long continued, and greatly multiplied. Much of your success in the use of simple but powerful means of grace, we ascribe, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, to your perfect freedom from the encumbrances of a State Religion. And we devoutly trust, that, unimpaired in their energy and efficiency, your high privileges will be transmitted to the latest generation. Persuaded, brethren, as we are, of your warmest affection towards us, and of the deep interest you take in our welfare, which has been fully shown by the brethren who have visited our shores, and by all your publications, we will briefly state to you our present circumstances and prospects. You must be fully aware, that many things with which you are practically unacquainted, combine, in this part of the world, to retard the advancement of our prosperity. Events, however, transpiring in rapid succession, prove that these impediments are lessening, and that far more correct views of the spirituality of our Lord's kingdom are beginning to be cherished, which will, we trust, ere long be prevalent around us. In addition to the evils without our immediate pale, there have been those within it, which have tended to diminish our success. We have had to deplore the extensive influence of erroneous opinions in reference to the moral government of God, and the obligations of man; the abuse of doctrines which are dear to our hearts as illustrating the sovereign love of Jehovah, which have been unhappily perverted so as apparently to destroy the accountability of human beings; and the encouragement of a ministry with less mental culture and information than the state of society demanded. We bless the Great Head of the Church, that we see these evils rapidly diminishing, and more scriptural views and holier practices becoming prevalent. The results are already encouraging. The number of our churches has increased within the last forty years more than threefold; so that we have now certainly not less than one thousand churches, most of which are supplied with pastors. These churches probably contain from ninety-five to one hundred thousand members. We rejoice that very nearly the whole support flourishing Sunday schools, and aid, in various ways, the extension of the Gospel around them; while Bible classes, which God appears so greatly to have owned among you, are growing up among us. We bless our Heavenly Father for the success with which he has been pleased to honor our public societies. Our Home and Foreign missions, our societies for the diffusion of divine truth in Ireland, and on the continent of Europe, with our colleges for the education of the rising ministry, are all favored with support, with usefulness, and with prospects unenjoyed at any former period of their history. Every year deepens our conviction, that while we honor God by extending his glory, he will honor us by increasing personal enjoyment, and with growing success in the accomplishment of his designs. We cannot, dear brethren, pass from this topic, without expressing our high gratification excited by the kind sympathy you have manifested towards our Irish Society, and the affectionate esteem you showed towards our brother, the Rev. Stephen Davis. We accept these expressions of your Christian benevolence, both as indicating your zeal for the common cause of extending the Gospel, and as showing your regard to us as a denomination. The value of your donations was exceedingly enhanced by being given at a season when they were especially needed, and by the cheerful promptness with which they were afforded. We regret to add, that the Society you thus so materially assisted, is yet burdened with a heavy debt, and has greatly suffered from the death of its revered Secretary, the Rev. Joseph Ivimey. We trust, dear brethren, that you will unite with us, in praise to our Heavenly Father, for the many things which claim our gratitude. Our lot is cast in the most eventful times which have ever passed over our country. We feel more urgently called upon than at any previous period to oppose infidelity and false religion at home, and to join the ranks of the Christian church at large in destroying the heathenism and the superstition which yet govern so large a portion of the earth. We witness efforts, daily increasing in number and in power, to separate in our country the unholy union between the church and the world; and tremblingly alive to our responsibility and our dangers, we implore the millions of our beloved brethren across the Atlantic to "pray for us." Entreat, we beseech you, our Father, and your Father, our God, and your God, that in this great contest we may be preserved from the defilements of the world, and may hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. Implore that on us the Spirit of our God may descend, that we may exemplify the pure and enlightened principles of Christianity, and constrain the enemies of the truth to glorify our Lord. And now, beloved brethren, we repeat the assurance of our warmest affection for you. We sympathize in all your joys and your sorrows: we earnestly pray that you may enjoy the presence of the great Head of the Church in all your assemblies, and that wisdom and power may be bestowed upon you; and finally, we entreat our God, that our mutual piety, zeal and devotion may be sanctified by his Spirit to the advancement of his glory throughout the world. Never may our labors cease, till the earth be filled with his glory. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. We are, beloved brethren, yours, in the faith and service of our blessed Redeemer, F. A. COX, L. L. D. Chairman. W. H. MURCH, Stepney College, Secretaries. WILLIAM NEWMAN, D. D.) JOHN EUST. GILES, CHARLES STOVEL, THOMAS PRICE, Committee. THOMAS THOMAS, Signed by order, and in the presence of the Baptist Union, in New Park Street Chapel, B The Committee to whom was referred the subject of the Delegation and Letter from the Union of English Baptists, offer the following REPORT: The occasion is one which deserves to be contemplated with peculiar interest and satisfaction. The affectionate respect, which our beloved brethren in Britain have shown us, in deputing two of their eminent ministers to visit us, for the purpose of opening a channel of intercourse and Christian communication, is matter for gratitude to God, and for the most lively joy to us. The Baptists of England and America are connected by the most intimate relationship. They look back to one common origin, view with animated sentiments of admiration and delight, the history of common predecessors, claim the same venerated fathers in the Gospel of Christ, are cherishing the same principles of faith, reading and approving the same books and authors, and are engaged in prosecuting the same plans of liberal and Christian benevolence, in order to the evangelization of the world. We are hence, in a strict and endearing sense, BRETHREN-holding the unity of the faith, of the ordinances, and of the hope of our calling in Christ Jesus. With such points of agreement and similitude as these, it is cause for wonder, that the charities of the two bodies in England and America should have been allowed to remain so long in comparative dormancy and inaction. Your Committee, in view of these considerations, beg leave to submit for the adoption of this body, the following resolutions : Resolved, That the visit of the Rev. Dr. Cox and the Rev. Mr. Hoby to this Convention be regarded as a most gratifying event; and that these estimable brethren be received and welcomed with that affection, respect, and cordial feeling due to the Baptist Union of brethren in England, and to their own individual claims upon our best and kindest regards. Resolved, That this Convention, anxious to reciprocate the friendly and fraternal expressions of their brethren in England, will send to them a delegation, consisting of two members, to be the bearers of suitable communications. Resolved, That the Board be instructed to prepare a proper Reply to the Address of our brethren of the Baptist Union in England, to be conveyed to them, either by the return of their delegation, or by the deputation to be sent from this body. Resolved, That the mission of delegates be fixed for the early part of next year; and that the individuals to compose it, with their alternates, be appointed by this Convention. Resolved, That an annual correspondence with our brethren in England be solicited, and that it be conducted by the Board of this Convention. W. T. BRANTLY, Chairman. C The General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States for Foreign Missions. in account with HEMAN LINCOLN, Treasurer, Burman and Siam Missions. Freight, Outfit and expenses of fifteen Missionaries, including their passages, with varions necessary articles, for schools; also, books and medicines for the different stations, and other articles for their use during the last year, Dr. 7011,94 Remittances for the support of the Missions in Burmah and Siam, with the schools, publishing of the Bible, Tracts, &c. 20,895,85 -27,907,79 PRINTING DEPARTMENT. Paper, Ink, Types, Binding materials, Standing Press, Power 6,539,19 -34,446,98 CHEROKEES. Mission at Valley Towns. Drafts for the support of the Mission and the Native Assistants, 1355, Supplies of Clothing, Books, Medicine, &c. 80,75 Outfit and expenses of Mr. and Mrs. Rollin, Miss Rice, and Miss 444,00 Books, School Apparatus, and Medicine, 60,73 1804,73 SHAWANOE, AND OTHER INDIAN MISSIONS AT THE WEST. Cash advanced to W. G. Crocker for Books and preparation for the Mission, 135,00 Post Office Bills, 132,90 Expenses of the Cor. Sec. and Missionaries on a tour to the Southern States, 390,85 Error in former account, as per receipt and certificate, 100,00 Dr. Ezekiel Skinner, as per order, 40,00 Expenses of Candidates for appointment in their visits to the Board, 94,00 86,00 Expenses of Delegates to Associations, 28,51 Cash paid on account of the absence of the Cor. Sec. for preparing the 50,00 Advanced Messrs. Dean and Osgood for freight, &c. 11,62 Fuel, &c. for the Miss. Rooms, 50,38 Books and Stationary for Missions and the Rooms, 100,71 Cash paid John Putnam, 37,50 Printing Annual Report, Sermon, Wayland's Address to Missionaries, with works for distribution, 346,50 Engraving two copper-plate likenesses of the native Karen & Burman, 70,00 |