The General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States, for Foreign Missions, in account with HEMAN LINCOLN, Treasurer,

Cash-Balance on hand, April 23, 1834,

CR.

462,43

Búrman Mission.

Donations from Churches, Societies, and Individuals, as published

during the year in the Am. Bap. Mag.

11,327,78

Donations for the education of Heathen Children,

773,50

To which add the Donations of the Black River, N. Y. Baptist

Miss. Soc., by hand of S. M. Osgood, viz:

For the Burman Mission,

103,49

Education of a Bur. Child, named Jacob Knapp,

33,54

Burman Tracts, by Leyden Baptist Church,

11,00

Burman Bible,

20,00

-12,269,31

Received of the Agent,

Magazine.

Premium and Discount Account.

601,76

Received interest on temporary loans, with dividends on Bank Stock, &c. 3,886,04

Received from Government a balance due Thomas Station,

484,15

Civilization Fund,
for the Chippewas,

2,500,00

1,250,00

4,234,15

The undersigned have examined the foregoing account, and find the same properly vouched and correctly cast, and that there is at this date, in the hands of the Treas arer, a balance of three thousand six hundred and two dollars, and eighty-two cents.

[The Publishing Committee regret to say, that the Report on the Burman Mission has been by some means mislaid, but if found, it will be published hereafter.]

E

Columbian College, D. C. April 25, 1835.

To the President of the Baptist Triennial Convention,

in session in Richmond, Va.

Rev. and dear Sir,

The undersigned, in behalf of the Trustees of this institution, have the honor of submitting to the Convention a request, that a nomination of fifty persons may be furnished, from whom thirty-one are to be elected to constitute its Board of Trustees for the three years following the first Wednesday in May next. As the ordinances of the institution are framed in reference to such nomination, and as the Convention has, at each election, performed this friendly office with great advantage to the college, it is hoped the request of the Board, now respectfully submitted, will be granted, and a nomination furnished.

The Committee are aware that the present is not a proper occasion to make any appeal in behalf of the general interests of the institution. They would only say, that its financial embarrassments have, to a large extent, deprived it of the power of accomplishing the great objects for which it was founded. The reasons which led to its establishinent exist still, and bear, they believe, with augmented force, upon the question of upholding it, and of carrying out its important design. It has been gradually rising from the lowest point of its depression. Great things have been done for it; and it wants now only a judicious and determined effort to throw off the last weight, and to place it among the most important colleges of our land. Its commanding position, and its relations to our denomination, ought,

they think, to draw upon it the eyes of all who wish to see the cause of truth triumph, and the best interests of man advanced.

Since the last Convention, it has received a grant of city lots from Congress, valued at $25,000; the proceeds of which are to constitute a permanent fund for the support of professorships.

The plan, also, of obtaining pledges from responsible individuals, of $2000 or more, to be payable when an amount equal to the debt should be obtained, has been filled up the collection has been authorized by the Committee appointed for that purpose, and about a fourth of these pledges redeemed, by payment into the treasury.

Twenty-one of about fifty students in the college classes, and in its classical school, are professedly pious: seventeen of this number expect to spend their lives in the ministry, some of whom are looking to the work of missionaries in distant Burmah, and others expect to labor in the Great Valley of our own country. A Society for Missionary Inquiry and the support of missions has been formed among the students, and its objects prosecuted with an enlightened spirit and suc

cess.

This Society has sent a delegate to the Convention, to the General Association, the Foreign Missionary Society, and the Education Society of Virginia.

This college has lived on under unexampled depression; and they cannot believe, that an institution which has been an object of the deepest interest to so many of the great and good of our land; which has shared so largely the prayers of the children of God; which has had extended to it a friendly hand, by our brethren beyond the Atlantic; which has already done so much for our denomination, sending from its walls young men who are now holding important stations in our churches and in our public institutions: they cannot believe that an institution, possessing such a history, is not to arise and shine, and become a still mightier engine, to move forward the cause of learning and religion for centuries to come. It has been preserved through dangers, on every side, by the providence of God, and, in his hands we would ever wish its destinies to rest.

The Committee appointed to nominate fifty individuals from among whom the Electors of the Columbian College are to elect its next triennial Board of Trustees, beg leave to report the following names :

Lucius Bolles, Heman Lincoln, Nicholas Brown, Jonathan Going, Spencer H. Cone, William W. Todd, Elon Galusha, Archibald Maclay, James Rathbone, W. T. Brantly, R. W. Cushman, J. L. Dagg, William Crane, Stephen P. Hill, J. G. Binney, Samuel Cornelius, John Withers, Robert Johnson, J. L. Skinner, J. L. Edwards, Michael Nourse, J. P. Van Ness, Nathan Towson, Peter Force, M. St. Clair Clark, J. L. Meehan, John M'Lean, J. W. Hand, John Sessford, Andrew Rothwell, John Coyle, G. F. Adams, Eli Ball, John Kerr, J. B. Taylor," Robert Ryland, Daniel Witt, Henry Keeling, J. B. Jeter, A. B. Smith, William Hooper, Thomas Meredith, Samuel Wait, John Armstrong, W. B. Johnson, Jesse Hartwell, J. F. Marshall, John F. Wilson, Alexander Sparks, I. L. Brookes, Basil Manly, J. C. Furman, Jesse Mercer, Adiel Sherwood, William H. Turpin, Cullen Battle, R. M. Johnson.

F

The Committee to whom was referred that part of the Report, which recommends the appointment of an additional Secretary, ask leave to REPORT:

That they have investigated the subject, as far as their limited time and opportunities permit, and have formed the following decisions.

The constitution of your body under which your charter was received, provides for "a Corresponding Secretary and an Agent," and during your early history an agent was employed, whose duties were similar to those now contemplated by the

proposed Secretary. We conceive, however, that the spirit of the constitution does not forbid the appointment of another Secretary, and proceed, therefore, to inquire into the expediency of the measure.

We fully concur in the sentiment of the Report, that should the operations of the Board be enlarged, as the indications of Providence imperiously require, the duties of the office cannot be faithfully performed by one man. These duties are divisible into two classes. The first embraces correspondence with all the stations under [your patronage; the general supervision of their interests, inquiries for new fields of labor, and such deliberations and counsels in the missionary rooms as experience in past efforts would probably suggest. The second comprehends the incitement of the churches to active co-operation; the collection of funds; the procuring of suitable missionaries; the cultivation of right feelings among them, and the diffusion of intelligence on the wants of the world. The fact that the Magazine might assist in sustaining the additional expense, should more attention be paid to the editorial department, anticipates an objection arising from this source; and the facilities for paying another officer would be multiplied, by the devotion of himself wholly to the work. The Committee, however, are deeply sensible that the propriety of the course recommended, depends more on the qualifications of the person elected, than on any other consideration. Here lies the true merit of the question. He should be a man of popular address, enterprising habits, comprehensive views, and acknowledged piety; a man who should visit our seats of learning, to excite inquiry among our young men ; who should be able to perceive and to bring forth, to the great work of missions, suitable but retiring qualities; who should maintain personal intercourse with all the prominent meetings of Baptists in the United States, and urge them to imbibe and exhibit the spirit of expanded benevolence. The appointment of such a man would not only be sustained by the approbation of our constituents, but would greatly enlarge your sphere of influence, and multiply your means of spreading the Gospel. And we are decidedly persuaded, that no one should be elected, unless such a man as that just described can be obtained.

Respectfully submitted.

R. RYLAND, Chairman.

G

The Committee on Publications, respectfully REPORT,

That they consider the proper direction and skilful management of the press, among the first objects that claim the deliberations of this body. We have a vast mass of mind to operate upon, prejudices to remove, ignorance to enlighten, errors to correct, facts and reasonings to circulate, peculiar views of truth to disseminate and defend, specially an enlarged spirit of missionary enterprise to foster. For accomplishing objects so vast, Providence has furnished to us only two means, the living preacher, and the press. And it is on the latter, that we must chiefly rely for success. A tract, a magazine, a book, can travel anywhere, penetrate to every fire-side, and spread out its contents before every mind, at a small expense either of time or money. Indeed, we hazard nothing in saying, that it is through this channel mainly, that popular opinion is swayed, and directed in the highest stages of civilization. In a country where all read and think, and whose geographical extent is so immense as ours, nothing can be so safely depended on as the press.

In this view, we see the importance of keeping a vigilant eye upon this means of usefulness, of seeking to awaken the intellect and the piety of our denomination; and securing the publication of such works, periodicals and others, as are calculated to enlist the affections of the Baptists throughout these states, on the same side, bend their united energies to the execution of the same designs, and enable them to act harmoniously, in concerting plans for extending the Redeemer's kingdom.

It has appeared to your Committee, that one way of accelerating these happy results, is, such an alteration of the Baptist Magazine, that it may hereafter be

devoted exclusively to missionary intelligence, relating both to our own and other societies. With such information, collected and arranged with care, we are persuaded that many benefits would follow, which will be expected in vain, while that periodical continues in its present form. We do sincerely hope, that this change will not be deferred a moment longer than is necessary to complete the requisite arrangements.

Your Committee avail themselves of this occasion, to urge upon the attention of the denomination the works which have issued from the press, under the sanction of this Convention; namely, the Memoirs of Mrs. Judson, and Mr. Boardman. However extensively these works may have been read, we are anxious to secure for them a wider circulation; since we are convinced, that none will rise from their perusal, without more intelligent views of the missionary enterprise, and glowing with a loftier enthusiasm, in the cause of benevolence.

The solicitude your Committee have felt to confine themselves within the true sphere of their duties, has prevented them from noticing other works of great merit, but disconnected with this Convention. There is, however, one subject, to which we must be allowed to advert, not because we deem it a proper topic of discussion before this body, nor because we desire their definite action thereon, but because we would seize so auspicious an occasion as this, when the representatives from twenty-one States are collected, to suggest what may be hereafter a theme of eflection, and thus prepare the way for future effort. The subject to which we refer is the establishment of a Literary and Theological Review, of a higher grade than has yet been attempted by our denomination; one that may rank with the Christian Spectator, and Biblical Repertory, the organs by which the Presbyterian church speaks to its members throughout these states. On the supposition that now and then such views should be inculcated by these, and other periodicals, as it is desirable to controvert, we have it not in our power to do so. Our denomination have no organ through which they may communicate to the public their sentiments respecting the popular topics of discussion, appertaining to the cause of literature and benevolence. We hope this fact will be borne in mind, by this Convention, and that whenever an arrangement shall be organized for supplying this deficiency, our sympathies, our influence, and our efforts will all be promptly enlisted in its favor, and furnish to it a generous support.

J. WAYLAND, Chairman.

[The Report on Indian Missions was mislaid, and it is unavoidably postponed.]

I

The Executive Committee of the American Baptist Home Missionary Soci ety to their brethren from different parts of the United States, assembled in Convention, at Richmond, Va., April 29, 1835.

Oppressed by the heavy responsibility which the field spread before our society is accumulating upon us, we come to you, brethren, and ask to disburthen our feelings among you, that we may find relief in your awakened sympathy, if we may not hope for your advice, co-operation, and prayers. But we come not as men disappointed and disheartened. On the contrary, we are confident that God hath not brought us to the borders of this mighty enterprise, without providing some means for bearing us safely through. We are strong in our own weakness, for a conviction of its inadequacy compels us to grasp and lean upon the arm of Almighty Wisdom. Our labors for three years have fixed our attention upon the details-the probable results and the difficulties of our undertaking, and have enabled us more thoroughly to examine and appreciate them. We have been up and spied out the land, and return to you with the feelings of Joshua and Caleb, when they brought back word