the Board expect a vast amount of native agency will be called into operation. If the society were able to thrust forth but a few scores of such young men of Africa as Simon Peter, who recently visited this country, the Liberia mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church would be rendered a blessing to thousands of the African race has attended this mission, the report exhorted the church to adhere to the motto of the dying and lamented Cox: "Though a thousand fall, Africa must not be given up." certain State laws, are obliged to remove the victories of the cross still farther into them out of the state when so emancipa- the interior. If means can be furnished, ted, with an opportunity of sending them to a country which does afford the prospect of their rising to independence and comfort; thirdly, because the colonization of Africa, in one way or other, presents the sole effectual method of breaking up the slave-trade; and, lastly, because it is the surest way of introducing civilization into Africa, and also furnishes a point d'ap-yet unborn. In view of the success which pui for the prosecution of Christian missions. Such is the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Philip, the distinguished and judicious superintendent of the London Missionary Society's missions in South Africa, as ably maintained in a letter addressed by him, eight or ten years ago, to the students at the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New-Jersey. * The chairman introduced the Rev. John Seys, superintendent of the African mission, who rose and spoke substantially as follows: "Mr. Chairman, I hold in my hand a resThe Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopali-olution given to me for presentation to ans, and Methodists have all, as we have the Society, with a request that I would seen, flourishing missions in these colo-nake some remarks in sustaining it." nies. The numbers of evangelical preach- He then read the following resolution: ers, of all denominations, is no less than "Resolved, That the Liberia mission, incluforty. God has greatly blessed his Word in these communities, which, considering the recent servitude and ignorance of most of the colonists, are said to exhibit an extraordinary prevalence of morality. I know not how any person can read without interest the following statement, contained in the Report of the Methodist Missionary Society, read at the annual meeting in May, 1842: "The Liberia mission includes an Annual Conference of seventeen preachers, all coloured except the superintendent and the two brethren lately sent out. It has a membership of nearly one thousand individuals, of whom 150 are natives, who, until the last two years, were worshipping gods of wood, and stone, and clay. ding as it does a portion of the interior of Western Africa, constitutes one of the most promising fields for missionary enterprise; and that the touching appeals from the halfawakened natives of different tribes which have reached us through our missionaries, while they proclaim the ripeness of the harvest, imperatively call upon the Church for the requisite supply of efficient labourers.' "I presume this resolution was assigned to me on account of my connexion with the Liberia mission. I can say it affords me much pleasure to present such a resolution. Years have now elapsed since I stood among you-since I was sent by you as an almoner of the Gospel to poor, longneglected Africa. The resolution speaks of Africa as one of the most promising fields of missionary enterprise. Is it so? Yes, sir, it is so. And if the missionary sickle be but applied, the field will yield a rich and noble harvest to the Church. Out of 1000 church members, 150 are native converts. But two years ago I found them bowing down to images of wood, and clay, and stone, and leather, and everything which their fancy could make into a god. These idols they placed about their persons, put them in their houses, and carried about with them wherever they went. "There are thirteen day-schools within the bounds of the mission, in which from 550 to 600 children receive daily instruction; fourteen churches, some of which are very neat, and one built of stone, in size forty by sixty feet. There are also eight mission-houses or parsonages, four school-houses, one of which (the academy) is a stone building twenty by forty feet; and a large printing-office, also of stone, with an excellent press. In the schools there are upward of forty native children and youth, who are preparing for future usefulness. Many of them read the Scrip- "Soon after a number of them had been tures, and write well, and are burning with converted, they appointed a day for meetzeal to carry the Gospel to regions yet be-ing, when they were admitted to the Church. yond them. "Tribes at a distance have sent for missionaries, and the board is anxious to push *The Roman Catholics have also commenced a mission at Cape Palmas, and will doubtless do the same, ere long, at Liberia. The Right Rev. Dr. Barron and Patrick Kelly, priests, were sent in the year 12 to Cape Palmas. And what a scene! Bonfires were kindled in the town of Heddington, and the praises of Immanuel ascended with the smoke of the burning idols. At the same time, the hearts of these young converts were burning with desire to carry the Gospel to the tribes beyond them. * Since dead. "Western Africa is a most promising field, because her native converts are eager to carry the Gospel to the country in the interior. The boys at the love-feasts tell the tale of their conversion, pray God to keep them good, to make them grow up men, and be missionaries to the tother people. The natives will prove themselves doubly qualified for the missionary work, as they have less fear of the peculiar diseases of the climate, can be supported with less means, and understand the language of the country." was not a single foreign missionary society in the country, with the exception of that of the Moravian Brethren, and not till long after did the churches do anything worth mention in that field. The last twenty years, or, rather, the last ten years, have witnessed much improvement in this respect, and we pray that it may go on in a far greater ratio until every church shall have come up to the full demands of its duty. It is difficult to present at one view the statistics of all these missionary efforts Nor is the interest which the converted with perfect accuracy, at least if we would colonists and natives feel in missions un-include all the particulars upon which the fruitful, if we may judge from the fact mentioned in the " Africa's Luminary," the valuable and well-conducted journal of the colony, that the sum of 208 dollars has been collected at a meeting of the missionary society of the Conference. CHAPTER XII. THE SUMMARY. reader may think information desirable. On the main points we may obtain pretty accurate results. Including the missions of the evangelical churches alone, and those of the others are hardly of sufficient importance to call for notice, the receipts from all sources for propagating the Gospel in foreign, and chiefly heathen lands, for the year ending August 1st, 1843, may safely be reckoned at $510,424.* This is exclusive, also, of the income of the colonization societies, amounting, say, to $60,000, these not being missionary societies. THUS it will be perceived that almost every evangelical church in the United States The number of distinct missions proseis doing more or less for the propagation cuted by the United States churches is at of the Gospel in foreign, and especially in least sixty-five; that of stations and outheathen lands. I know not, indeed, that stations exceeds 200. These employed in there is a single exception, unless it be 1841-42 at least 375 preaching American among some of the smaller German de- missionaries, who, with few exceptions, nominations, or some branches of the Meth- were ordained ministers, and above sevenodist and Presbyterian churches. Even ty American laymen, chiefly physicians, these, however, seem almost all to con- printers, teachers, and catechists. The tribute towards this great object through American females, chiefly wives of missocieties or boards, either belonging to sionaries and teachers, amounted to 420, other denominations, or common to sev-making a total of 875 persons from the eral. Thus the Reformed Presbyterians or United States connected with these misCovenanters support a missionary in the sions, and all labouring, in one way or anEast Indies, in connexion, I believe, with other, to promote the Gospel among the the Presbyterian Church's Board of Mis-heathen. The natives who assist as minsions; the Associate Reformed churches isters, evangelists, teachers, distributors of so far aid the same board; the Associate tracts, &c., &c., amounted at least to 375. churches have a mission in the island of Trinidad, and one branch of the Covenanters or Reformed Presbyterians are projecting a mission in the same quarter of the world; and some of the German Reformed churches aid the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, as do, also, some of the Cumberland Presby-Foreign Missionary Society of the Lutheran terian churches. This is a gratifying fact, whether we regard it as a sign of life, or an earnest of its still farther increase in the churches. Not that these have done all that their glorious Lord may justly look for at their hands: but that what they have hitherto done is but the promise of much greater things for the future, we may reasonably infer from the comparatively recent period that either domestic or foreign missions began seriously to interest the Christian public of the United States. Previous to 1812, there Missions $244,224 59,534 *The following table gives the details on this point: (about) (about) Church Foreign Missionary Society of the United Brethren Other Societies . Grants from American Bible Society, the American and Foreign Bible Society, and the American Total 3,502 3,000 8,364 15,000 5,000 50,000 $510,424 Nor does this statement include the annual grant of the general government of 10,000 dollars for the support of schools among the Indian tribes, which is laid out through the missionary societies. I have two or three of the societies; but the supposed sums not been able to obtain the exact amount raised by cannot be far from the truth. CONCLUSION. In the foregoing pages I proposed to treat | of Rhode Island, the one by Roman Cathof the origin, history, economy, action, and olics, who enjoyed their religious rights at influence of religion in the United States that epoch in no Protestant country, and of America, and in the execution of this the other by a sect of Protestants, whơ task I have endeavoured to omit nothing could find no toleration either in Massathat seemed requisite to a full elucidation chusetts or Virginia. Nearly fifty years of the subject. The extent of ground ne- later, Pennsylvania was planted as an asycessarily traversed has rendered it indis- lum for persecuted Quakers, who, till then, pensable that I should lay before the read- had no place of assured protection and reer very numerous details; but these, I pose in the whole world. The influence of trust, he has found at once pertinent and these three asylum-colonies, one in the interesting. Here the work properly ends; north, one in the south, and one in the midbut I am desirous of recalling the attention dle of the entire series of plantations, where of the reader to a few of the most impor- perfect religious liberty was established at tant facts which it brings to light, and brief- the very outset, and in two of which its ly to remark upon them, in order, if pos- reign was never interrupted, though silent, sible, to render them more useful to those was powerful. The complete demonstrawho may be led to contemplate them. Ition which they furnished-in the internal wish, also, to make a reply to several tranquillity which prevailed, so far as relicharges against my country, and especial-gious questions were concerned, in the ably against its religious institutions, which sence of all unhappy collisions between I have heard in certain parts of Europe. the Church and the State, and of corroding I. THE PROGRESS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY jealousies and attritions between the variIN AMERICA. On this subject so much has ous sects-not only of the justice, but also been said in the second and third books of of the wisdom of giving to all men the this work, that I need do no more than be- fullest possession of the rights of constow a very brief review upon it. In no science and of worship, could not be lost part of the world, I apprehend, can we upon the other colonies. find any progress, in this respect, which can be compared with what has taken place in the United States. Mohammedan, the Jew, the Deist, has not only all his rights as a citizen, but may have his own form of worship, without the possibility of any interference from any policeman or magistrate, provided he do not interrupt, in so doing, the peace and tranquillity of the surrounding neighbourhood. Even the Atheist may have his meetings in which to preach his doctrines, if he can get anybody to hear them. Its influence concurred with the many long - protracted and severe discussions which took place in them, to bring about In the year 1607, the plantation of the ultimately the triumph of better principles. Southern group of colonies was commen- And what is now the state of things in ced within the settlement of Jamestown. the United States, as regards religious In 1620, that of the Northern was begun in liberty? It is that of the universal enjoythe landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth.ment of this liberty. The Christian-be Though originating in motives as widely he Protestant or Catholic-the infidel, the different, almost, as possible, and having in view the diffusion of forms of Protestantism, so far as ecclesiastical organization is concerned, as completely antipodal as can be conceived, both were founded in that spirit of intolerance which prevailed at that day throughout the Old World, and which, alas! reigns even yet in so large a portion of it. All that the Puritans who settled in Massachusetts and Connecticut expected to accomplish was the planting of colonies in which they and their children might profess and practise the religion which they preferred. The toleration of other doctrines and other forms of worship formed no part of their desire or design. Nor was there a better spirit in Virginia. In both, the narrow bigotry of Europe struck deep its roots, soon attained a vigorous growth, and brought forth itsry to say it, one state, that of North Carolina, where appropriate fruits. In the year 1634, the colony of Maryland was founded, and two years later, that It is a remarkable fact, that the United States and Texas are the only countries * Even as it regards the holding of political offices, while the Constitutions of almost all the states, as we have shown in the third book, are founded on no distinction between Protestants and Roman Cath Christianity, in a certain sense, and at present make olics, the Jew is, with one exception, nowhere debarred from any civil privilege. There is, I am sor the Israelite is still excluded from political privileges; and this, too, under her new Constitution. But it is the only relic of this species of barbarism which remains among us. in all Christendom where perfect religious of a power that ought not to exist, that in liberty exists, and where the government itself is tyranny. It implies that you, an does nothing, by "favour" or otherwise, to earthly authority, an earthly power, say promote the interests of any one religion, to me, so condescendingly, I permit you or of any one sect of religionists, more the exercise of your religion. You perthan another. And I cannot but think mit me? And what authority have you to that the very freedom from a thousand permit me, any more than I to permit you? perplexing and agitating collisions, from God permits me, God commands me, and which one sees the governments of other do you dare to say that you tolerate me? countries in the Christian world to be con- Who is he that shall come in between me tinually suffering, furnishes one of the and God either to say yea or nay? Your most powerful arguments which can be toleration itself is tyranny, for you have conceived in favour of leaving religion to no right to meddle with the matter. But its own resources, under the blessing of whenever Church and State are united, its adorable Author. Whatever diversity then there will be meddling with the matof opinion may exist among Christians in ter; and even in this country, if one parAmerica on other subjects, there is none ticular sect were to get the patronage of on this subject. They would all acknowl- the State, there would be an end to our edge, without a moment's hesitation, the perfect religious freedom. views expressed in the following paragraphs, which were uttered lately by a gifted and elegant writer.* "In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the poet Southwell, who wrote one of the most exquisitely beautiful death-hymns in "Almost every sect in turn, when tempt- our language, and who seems to have been ed by the power, has resorted to the prac- truly a devout man, was put to death viotice of religious persecution; but to the lently and publicly, no other crime being credit of Rome it must be said that the proved against him but what he honestly baptism of fire is almost exclusively her and proudly avowed, that he had come sacrament for heretics. Good men of al- over into England simply and solely to most all persuasions have been confined preach the Catholic religion. And he in prison for conscience' sake. Bunyan ought to have been left at liberty to preach was the first person in the reign of Charles it; for if the Protestant religion cannot II. punished for the crime of nonconformi- stand against Catholic preaching, it ought ty. Southey's own language has the word to go down. No religion is worth having, punished; it should have been persecuted or worth supporting, that needs racks, or for the virtue; for such it was in Bunyan; Inquisitions, or fires and fagots, to susand any palliation which could be resorted tain it; that dare not or cannot meet its adto for the purpose of justifying an English versaries on the open battle-field of Truth; hierarchy for shutting up John Bunyan in no religion is worth supporting that needs prison, would also justify a Romish hie- anything but the truth and Spirit of God to rarchy for burning Latimer and Ridley at support it; and no establishment ought to the stake. Strange that the lesson of be permitted to stand that stands by perreligious toleration should be one of the secuting others, nor any church to exist last and hardest, even for liberal minds, to that exists by simply unchurching others. learn. It cost long time, instruction, and So, if the English Church Establishment discipline even for the disciples of Christ dared not consider herself safe without to learn it; and they never would have shutting up John Bunyan and sixty other learned it had not the infant Church been dissenters (several of whom were also, cut loose from the State, and deprived of like himself, clergymen) with him in prisall possibility of girding the secular arm on, the English Church Establishment was with thunder in its behalf. John had not not worthy to be safe; the English Church learned it when he would have called Establishment was a disgrace and an indown fire from heaven to destroy the Sa- jury to the Gospel, and a disgrace and an maritans; nor John, nor his followers, injury to a free people. No church is when they forbade a faithful saint (some worth saving from destruction, if it has to John Bunyan of those days, belike) from be saved by the destruction of other men's casting out devils, because he followed religious liberties; nay, if that be the case not them. And they never would have with it, it ought to go down, and the soonlearned it had the union of Church ander the better. No church is worthy to State been sanctioned by the Saviour. stand that makes nonconformity to its Whenever one sect in particular is united rites and usages a penal crime; it becomes to the State, the lesson of religious tolera- a persecuting church the moment it does tion will not be perfectly learned; nay, this; for, supposing that every man, womwho does not see that toleration itself, ap-an, and child in the kingdom is kept from plied to religion, implies the assumption nonconformity simply by that threat, and that, through the power of such terror, * Rev. George B. Cheever, of New-York, in a there comes to be never the need to put Lecture on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. such penal laws in execution, and so never a single subject really molested or punish- the churches are open, at least in the foreed, still that church is a persecuting church, noon, and sermons are preached throughand that people a persecuted people, a ter-out the limits of the Commonwealth.* rified people, a people cowed down, a peo- II. THE TRUE CAUSES OF SUCCESS.-But ple in whose souls the sacred fire of liber- our religious liberty, unbounded and prety is fast extinguishing, a people bound to cious as it is, is not the cause of the sucGod's service by the fear of men's racks. cess which has attended the Gospel in Such a people can never be free; their America. It is only the occasion, if I may cowardice will forge their fetters. A peo- so express myself, not the means, by which ple who will sell themselves to a church the Church of Christ has made so great adthrough fear of punishment, will sell them-vances in the United States. It has wonselves to any tyrant through the same derfully opened the way for this blessed fear; nay, a people who will serve God prosperity; it has removed hinderances, althrough fear of punishment, when they would not serve him otherwise, will serve Satan in the same way. layed prejudices, and placed the country in a true position in regard to Christianity. It has created an open field, in which Truth may contend with Error, clad in her own panoply, and relying on her own weapons. Much as I love the perfect liberty of conscience and of worship which we enjoy in America, there are other things which, to my mind, must be regarded as the causes of the success which has attended the efforts of God's people among us to promote his kingdom. Let us notice these for a few moments. 1. There is the grouping of our children, rich and poor, in the Sunday-schools, arranging them in small classes, and bringing their young minds and hearts into contact with the Word of God. 2. There is the continuation of this good work in the Bible-class. What a powerful "If you make nonconformity a crime, you are therefore a persecuting church, whether your name be Rome, or England, or America, even though there be not a single nonconformist found for you to exercise your wrath upon, not one against whom you may draw the sword of your penalty. But it is drawn, and drawn against the liberty of conscience, and every man whom in this way you keep from nonconformity, you make him a deceiver to his God; you make him barter his conscience for an exemption from an earthly penalty; you make him put his conscience, not into God's keeping, but into the keeping of your sword; you dry up the life-blood of liberty in his soul; you make him in his inmost conscience an imprisoned slave, a venal victim of your bribery and terror; and though he may still walk God's earth as others, it is with the iron in his soul, it . is with your chain about his neck, it is as the shuffling fugitive from your penalties, and not as a whole-souled man, who, fearing God religiously, fears nothing else. There may, indeed, be no chain visible, but you have wound its invisible links around the man's spirit; you have bound accordance with the wishes of the people, and will "I feel assured that this act of public duty is in the man within the man; you have fet-meet with universal acquiescence. tered him, and laid him down in a cold, dark dungeon, and until those fetters are taken off, and he stands erect and looks out from his prison to God, it is no man, but a slave that you have in your service; it is no disciple, but a Simon Magus that you have in your church." The European reader of this work may be pleased to see one of the proclamations issued on such occasions; we subjoin that of the Governor of New-York for the year 1843. "In obedience to that high sense of gratitude due the Almighty Ruler of the Universe, I do hereby designate THURSDAY, THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER NEXT, to be observed by the people of this state as a day of Prayer, Praise, aND THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD for the numerous and unmerited blessings of the year. "As a people, we have great reason to be thankful, and to praise the Almighty Dispenser of all Good for the continued smiles of His providence on our state and nation. During the past year we have been permitted to enjoy our religious and political privileges unmolested. We have been exempt from those ravages of malignant disease which sometimes afflict a people. The season has been highly propitious, and But though with us "heresy" is noseldom has the harvest been more abundant. As a where considered to be "treason," and all crowning blessing, the Spirit of the Lord has reenjoy equal religious liberty, neither the vived the hearts of Christians, and brought to a saGeneral Government, nor those of our in-ving knowledge many that knew not God. For the distinguished blessings we have enjoyed, dividual states, are indifferent to religion. we should raise our hearts in humble adoration to One of the most striking proofs of this is our Father in heaven, thereby presenting to the to be found in the fact, that every year-world the imposing spectacle of the entire populaalmost without exception in the autumnthe governors of a large majority of our states recommend and name a day to be observed as a Day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of sup- "Given under my hand, and the privy seal of the plication for their continuance. And such state, at the city of Albany, this tenth day of days are generally observed by Christians [L. S.] November, in the year of our Lord one thou of every name. Business is suspended, tion of a great state abstaining from all secular engagements on the day designated, and devoting themselves to the service of the Almighty. We should always remember that righteousness exalteth a nation." sand eight hundred and forty-three. "W. C. BOUCK." |