Images de page
PDF
ePub

wholly granted and transferred to the General Assembly; so that it is now exclusively possessed by that body, and entirely removed from the lower judicatories of the church? I confidently affirm that such is not the fact. The eighteenth chapter of our Form of Government, is the only one that so much as mentions missions. That chapter concludes thus"The General Assembly may, of their own knowledge, send missions to any part, to plant churches, or to supply vacancies: and for this purpose, may direct any presbytery to ordain evangelists, or ministers, without relation to particular churches: provided always, that such missions be made with the consent of the parties appointed; and that the judicatory sending them, make the necessary provision for their support and reward, in the performance of this service." A single sentence in this extract is, it seems, supposed by some, to convey away from presbyteries and synods the power of originating and conducting missions, and to vest it exclusively in the Assembly. Surely it would be reasonable to expect that so important a power as that contemplated, if it was ever really intended to be resigned and transferred, should have been yielded up in a formal and solemn manner, and not disposed of cursorily, and in a single sentence. Moreover, it is confidently believed that the very sentence relied on, to show that the power of exclusively originating and conducting foreign missions, is given to the Assembly is, in its very language, hostile to this construction. The words are "The Assembly may, of their own knowledge, send missions to any part, to plant churches, or to supply vacancies." This language seems clearly to indicate, that it is a participation of power to originate and conduct missions-a participation, and not an exclusive pos

session of this power, which is granted to the Assembly. "The Assembly may, of their own knowledge, send missions;" implies that besides superintending, promoting, encouraging, and regulating the missions which may have been originated, patronized, and supported by presbyteries and synods, it may also originate missions of its own,-missions which, of its own knowledge, it may see to be expedient or important, to supply the defects of the inferior judicatories, or to give a more extended scope to missionary operations, than the inferior judicatories could give: and even in the exercise of this power, the article in question shows that it is to be done through the agency of presbyteries, who are not only to ordain the missionaries, but to make provision for their support and reward, in performing the service assigned them. Accordingly, it may be seen by consulting the records and proceedings of the Assembly, that from first to last, that body has acted on the construction which has now been given to the part of the constitution under consideration-the construction that leaves to presbyteries and synods the right of instituting and conducting missions of every kind and character, and only claims for the Assembly a participation in this right and power, with that of superintending, and so far as it may see to be necessary and proper, regulating the whole. Thus, at a very early period, the synod of Virginia, and the synod of the Carolinas, with the entire approbation of the Assembly, conducted missions by themselves; and one of them was an Indian mission, which was resigned but a few years since to the American Board. The synod of Pittsburg, also-the synod under whose auspices the missionaries are now before you-established the Western Missionary Society,

with a board of trust, and sustained for a series of years, a most promising Indian mission at Sandusky. The Assembly, so far from disapproving of this proceeding of the synod, although not consulted about its origination, gave it great encouragement, and helped its board of trust, by several pecuniary grants. Reports from these synods were always made to the Assembly, of the effects and state of the missions, but they were wholly conducted by the synods themselves, and agreeably to their own views and plans. It was, therefore, in accordance with its own uniform procedure, that the General Assembly, at their very last meeting, on hearing of the establishment, by the synod of Pittsburg, of a Western Foreign Missionary Society, noticed it in the Narrative of the State of Religion, in the following warm and emphatic language " The Assembly would hail with pleasure, the appearance of a deeper interest in the subject of Foreign Missions, recently manifested in the churches of the west, by the establishment of a Western Foreign Missionary Society. We would that all our churches might have a strong sense of their obligation to send the gospel" to every creature," and afford fairer evidence of the sincerity of their daily prayer, "thy kingdom come." You perceive, therefore, that it is with the decisive approbation of the supreme judicature of our church, that the Western Foreign Missionary Society is carrying on its operations, and that the services of this evening have been performed.

Brethren-I have spent so much time in clearing and establishing the point before us, because I wished to remove the apprehensions, which I know have existed in some minds, that our proceedings, in this great concern were not altogether orderly-apprehensions which, if not removed, might materially

prejudice the immeasurably important enterprise in which we have embarked. I wished, also, by adverting to radical principles, to place before you, on their just foundation, the rights and duties of the several judicatories of our church, relative to the great concern of sending the gospel to heathen nations.

Nor can I proceed to the main subject of this address, till I have spent a very few words in removing another apprehension, unfavourable to our cause, and which is known to exist in the minds of some. It is that our operations will interfere unfavourably with those of the A. B. C. F. Missions. No such interference, be assured, is wished, or intended by the Board now organized by the Presbyterian church. Toward the American Board no feelings are cherished but those of the most friendly kind, and no wishes are indulged, hostile to the most extensive usefulness of that Board; in whose past success we do most sincerely rejoice, and for that success offer our sincere thanksgivings to God. We believe that by instituting a Foreign Board of Missions under the special and undivided superintendence of the Presbyterian church, more-much more-missionary work will be performed, than if this church should remain in the character of an auxiliary, merely, to the American Board. We also believe, that it is a duty sacredly incumbent on our church, in its distinctive character, to support heathen missionsAnd yet, till these young brethren shall arrive in Africa, the Presbyterian church, as such, will not have in the field of operation, a heathen mission on the face of the earth. We wish to wipe off this blot which has rested on the character of our beloved church-a blot foul and deep, since it was to the church distinctively, that our glorious Redeemer entrusted the

evangelizing of the world. But the field we have chosen is one to which the American Board has never sent a single missionary, and to which that Board, it is believed, had no design of sending one speedily, at the time this mission was resolved on. There can, therefore, be no interference in the field of operation; and at home it is hoped that the most friendly feelings and courteous intercourse will be cherished and maintained.

In our number for last month, we gave a short account of the ordination, on the 12th of that month, of two missionaries, Messrs. Pinney and Barr, destined to the interior of Africa; on which occasion an address was made of which the foregoing, as already intimated, was intended as a part, On the 19th of the month, being obliged to hasten their departure, in order to reach the vessel at Norfolk, in which they expected to sail for Liberia, they took their farewell of their Christian friends in Philadelphia, at an evening prayer meeting, in the Session room of the church in which they had been ordained; and in fervent prayers, accompanied with tears of devout affection, were commended to the protection and blessing of Almighty God. No solemnity of a long life was to us more interesting, or impressive. Each of the young brethren made a short address, in which they thanked their Christian friends for the kindness they had received, bespoke a constant remembrance for themselves in earnest prayer, and exhorted

* Such was truly the belief of the speak er, after some inquiry, at the time the address was delivered. It appears, however, that the A. B. C. F. Missions, resolved, at their last anniversary, to send a mission to Africa. Still, notwithstanding, there can be no danger of interference. There is a field for much more missionary labour in Africa, without hazard of injurious interference, than could be furnished by all the missionary societies in the world.

Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

their hearers to animated exertion in the missionary cause. A short address was made to them and to the deeply affected audience, by the present writer; and with ardent supplications to God in their behalf, and the singing of appropriate missionary hymns, the final parting took place. They left the city at an early hour the next morning, in the steamboat for Baltimore. Of their subsequent proceedings, although anxious for information, we had heard nothing, till on the 5th inst. we received by mail, "The Southern Religious Telegraph," for which its editor will accept our thanks-containing, under date of "Richmond, Nov. 2, 1832," the following ar

ticle:

"DEATH OF REV. JOSEPH W. BARR.

"Another missionary has fallen. It is our painful duty to state, that Mr. Joseph of Mr. John N. Gordon, in this city, last W. Barr departed this life at the residence Sabbath, (the 28th inst.) about 3 o'clock, P. M. His death was sudden and unexpected. At 9 o'clock on Saturday night, he was apparently in perfect health. (We with a few friends of missions, who felt passed the evening with him in company deeply interested in the enterprise on which he was about to embark.) He was slightly indisposed (as he afterwards stated) when he retired to his chamber for the night. About 1 o'clock, he was taken violently ill of Cholera. Able physicians were immediately called in, and the usual remedies administered; but in

vain. His Lord and Master had called

for him. The progress of his disease was

so rapid as to baffle the efforts of medical skill and at 3 o'clock he was released from his sufferings, and admitted, we trust, into the rest which the Lord has prepared for his people.

friends, and to the young ministers who It will be consolatory to his distant were recently his fellow students, to know that he appeared to be perfectly resigned to this mysterious stroke of Providence. Though his heart, filled with compassion for the perishing, was fixed on the work of missions in Africa, to which he had dedicated his life-yet he was willing to leave it, and to die. He discovered no alarm at the approach and near prospect of death. The summons, though sudden and unexpected, did not find him unprepared. On being asked by the writer, concerning the state of his mind, he ex3 R

pressed with earnestness his confidence in God, and submission to his will, adding "the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin." Here rested his hope, on the Rock of ages-and it sustained him in the hour of trial. He repeatedly expressed the same unshaken trust in the Lord to other Christian brethren, who attended him during his short illness. Death to him was a vanquished enemy. In the near view of eternity, he could pray in the language of the Apostle- Even so, come Lord Jesus,' &c.

The general distress of body produced by his disease, did not cloud or impair the energies of his mind. While looking to his Saviour for support, and to the glories of that world which he was about to enter, he did not forget his distant friends, nor the attentions of those around him. When no longer able to speak aloud, he said to the writer in a low whisper- I wish while I am able to speak, to express my gratitude to my friends here [referring to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, and the brethren who were with him] for their kindness to me;' thus recollecting every thing which Christian courtesy might suggest to one in health.

His funeral was attended on Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, at 11 o'clock. The pastor of the church was absent, having left the city a few days since, to attend the meeting of the Synod of Virginia. The Rev. Mr. Taylor preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion, from Rev. xxii. 20. He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. The words in the last clause of the verse, our departed brother had used in a conversation with Mr. Taylor, on Sabbath morning.

We can say little of the life or character of our young brother who was sent here to die as he was not personally known to us, till the evening before his death. He was the son of the Rev. Thos. Barr, of Monroe, Butler county, Ohio. He pursued his studies preparatory to the ministry, at the Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. On the 12th of October, but 16 days before his removal from us, he and Mr. J. B. Pinney, a native of Georgia, were ordained and set apart for the work of Christ among the heathen, by the 1st Presbytery of Philadelphia. They had recently been students together at the Theological Seminary, and had given themselves unreservedly to the Western Foreign Missionary Society of the Synod of Pittsburg. They had been appointed, agreeably to their own wishes, to explore the interior of Africa, with a design of establishing a missionary station, in such a place as should appear to them, after a survey, most favourable for diffusing the know

ledge of the gospel among the benighted tribes of that land. At their ordination, the Rev. Dr. Green presided; Rev. Dr. Alexander preached on the command of Christ to make disciples of all nations: and the Rev. Dr. Miller delivered a charge to the missionaries. Arrangements had been made for their leaving their country, to enter at once upon their work, and they were expecting to embark for Africa in the vessel that was to sail from Norfolk for Liberia, the present week.

Mr. Barr arrived in this city on Thursday evening. On Friday he went to Petersburgh, and after making arrangements for a public meeting in that place, to be held on Tuesday, he returned to Richmond. This was on Saturday.-The same day a notice was inserted in our daily papers that he would preach on the Sabbath-the day on which he was dismissed from his labours to enter into rest. Though he was a stranger to our churches -his visit was welcomed; and those who became acquainted with him, felt deeply interested both in him and the cause in which he was enlisted. Already new hopes were awakened for Africa-and the friends of missions rejoiced that their brethren of the Western Board had obtained for the arduous enterprise the services of one who appeared to be so well qualified and prepared for the work. How suddenly have these hopes been swept away! In a moment the plans of usefulness which our brother had formed, are destroyed,— and the benevolent work is interrupted. The Lord saw that it was in his heart to accomplish it, and discharged him from the service. The purposes of Jehovah in this affecting dispensation, are shrouded in darkness-but it becomes the church, instead of regarding it as a calamity, or fearing that it may be the occasion of delay in the work of missions in Africa, to trust in the Lord, believing that He, to whom this cause is unspeakably dear, is ordering all things wisely for its accomplishment.

This young missionary, though dead, may yet speak to the churches and plead for injured Africa, in language which shall awaken many from their slumbers, and excite them to call on God to sustain and bless the efforts which his people make for the salvation of her benighted, barbarous tribes. How impressively are the Western Board and the friends of missions, exhorted, to enter on this work in the posture of earnest prayer. Cease ye from man-God only can sustain the cause. The best plans may be formed-the best men may be appointed to execute themall things may be prepared for the enter prise-but if the church be not instant and earnest in prayer to God, taking hold on the divine promises with a vigorous

less?

faith, so that the Lord shall direct and sustain her benevolent efforts can the work be effected? Will not the plans be fruitWhen a missionary falls in a barbarous or unhealthy clime, how prone is unbelief to regard the event as an indication of Providence, reproving the friends of missions for their imprudence in thus rushing into danger! Had our young brother as suddenly fallen in Africa-how many Would have looked at the event as a warn

ing, admonishing them to neglect her perishing millions, because they cannot live in Africa! Has there not been too much fear and false reasoning on this subject?, May not such providences as this correct the views of many Christians? If such men as Cornelius and Barr, men of vigor ous constitutions and perfect health and of much physical strength, are suddenly cut down in places where no fatal disease prevails-shall it be thought strange that men die in like manner, in Africa, or India, or Western Asia? The objections to the cause of missions urged from a consideration of the unhealthy climates to which missionaries must be exposed, might be answered by many facts of this

kind."

For the prompt publication of this well written article, the friends of Mr. Barr, and of the mission in. which he laid down his life, will feel peculiarly grateful to its author-It anticipates many thoughts which we might otherwise suggest. Most deeply do we sympathize with the aged and bereaved parents of Mr. Barr, and with those brothers and sisters for whom, in his farewell address, he requested the prayers of his Christian friends, as much as for himself-Next to them, our sympathy is awakened for Mr. Pinney, who has, by this sudden and unlooked for stroke, been deprived of the cherished friend and companion, with whom he hoped to share the labours and perils of carrying the lamp of gospel light into the thickest gloom of benighted Africa. But his mourning relatives and companions will not need our admonition to remember, that "The Lord reigneth;" that he doth all things well; that

* We do not learn that any case of Cholera existed in this city at the time

Mr. Barr was here.

[ocr errors]

it is his prerogative to bring light out of darkness, and good out of evil; that the language of this affecting providence is, "Be still, and know that I am God;" and that doing so, "what we know not is not ours, who have felt what now, we shall know hereafter." It it is to lose a beloved first-born son, in the bloom of ripened manhood and opening usefulness, to speak lightly of parental sorrowing, on such an occasion. But however we might feel and even sanctified nature may have her tears, for Jesus wept at the grave of a friend-we think we should also thank God and rejoice, that we had had a son, to live and die like Joseph W. Barr. Nor let our young brother Pinney be disheartened, nor turned from his purpose. Our hope is sanguine, that this mournful occurrence is intended by the God of Providence and grace, not to extinguish, but to ingrace, not to extinguish, but to increase the holy zeal and ardour of our young ministerial brethren to publish the tidings of salvation to the perishing millions of the African continent. We recollect that a few years since, when two or three Moravian missionaries were suddenly cut off by disease, in a situation of great peril, so many others immediately offered to go and supply their place, that all the difficulty was to make a selection among the volunteers, of those who were the best fitted for the enterprise. Our disappointment will be great, if a companion for our dear brother Pinney will not soon make a deodand of himself for this service. The mission may suffer a little delay-and it may hereafter appear that its success was promoted by this delaybut it will not be, it cannot be abandoned. On the contrary, we trust that this afflictive dispensation is mercifully intended to wake up the dormant feelings and energies of thousands in our church, by the attention it will attract to

« PrécédentContinuer »