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 MINUTES 
 
 OF THB 
 
 SPECIAL MEETING 
 
 OF THE 
 
 / 
 
 Ircot mission, 
 
 HELD 
 
 xzr jvirx:, isss; 
 
 ON OCCASION OF THE VISIT OF A DEPUTATION FROM 
 THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR 
 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 CALCUTTA : 
 
 PRINTED BY SANDERS, CONES AND CO., NO. 65, COSSITOLLAF. 
 
SPECIAL MEETING OE THE AUCOT MISSION/ 
 
 A SPECIAL meeting of the American Arcot Mission was 
 convened at Chittoor, Wednesday, June 27, 1855; to confer 
 with a Deputation from tlie Prudential Committee of the 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 The following persons were present : — 
 
 Rev. Rufus Andehson, D. D., 
 
 Rev. Augustus C. Thompson, / ation. 
 
 Rev. Henry M. Scudder, M. D., 
 
 Rev. William W. Scudder, 
 
 Rev. Joseph Scudder. 
 
 The ladies of the mission were present by special request. 
 
 The meeting was opened by reading a portion of Scripture 
 and prayer by the chairman, the Rev. H. M. Scudder. 
 
 The Instructions of the Prudential Committee to the De- 
 putation were presented by Dr. Anderson, and read by the 
 secretary. Dr. Anderson then read a statement expressive of 
 the views of the Deputation, as at present informed, upon 
 subjects that would come before the meeting for consultation 
 and discussion. The Rev. Mr. Thompson then read a list of 
 subjects for discussion. 
 
 Resolved. — That, as the mission is a small one, they act as a 
 committee of the whole in drawing up a report on these sub- 
 jects, after they have been considered by the meeting. 
 
 The following subjects were then taken up and discussed. 
 
 1. The governing object in missions to the heathen. Is it 
 
 * The proceedings here printed, /or private use, are those of the Mission. The 
 Deputation, though assisting in the deliberations of the meeting, did not vote in any 
 case; and they reserved to themselves and to the Prudential Committee, the adop- 
 tion, or otherwise, of the opinions and recommendations embodied in the proceed- 
 
4 
 
 the conversion of sinners, the gathering of those converts into 
 churches, and the ordaining of native pastors over those 
 churches ? 
 
 2. Preaching. How it should be adapted to the governing 
 object above specified — Christian congregations. 
 
 3. Native churches and pastors. Evidence of piety to be 
 required for church membership — organization and discipline 
 of the native churches — ordination of native pastors — whether 
 native j^reachers should be ordained, except as pastors — eccle- 
 siastical relation of native pastors and churches. 
 
 The meeting then adjourned after prayer by the Rev. Mr. 
 Thompson. 
 
 AFTERNOON SESSION. 
 
 All were present. The following subjects were discussed : — 
 
 4. Schools. Whether to be instituted by the Board as 
 converting institutions — boarding schools of unconverted per- 
 sons, how fiir allowable — education of catechists and pastors — 
 education of children of the church and of nominal Christians 
 — how far education is obligatory upon missionary societies — 
 presents of clothes to school children — partial board at station 
 schools — boarding schools for orphans. Tlie proper relation in 
 missions between preaching and education — whether heathen 
 children should be admitted to any of the schools — boarding 
 school for females — preparandi class. 
 
 Mission adjourned to meet to-morrow at 10 A. m. Closed 
 with prayer by Dr. Anderson. 
 
 THURSDAY, JUNE 28tH. 
 
 The mission met at 1 1 a. m. A portion of Scripture was 
 read, and prayer offered by the Rev. W. W. Scudder. The 
 minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted. The sub- 
 jects taken up for discussion were the following : — 
 
 5. Caste and Polygamy. The opinions of the Rev. Mr. 
 Barnes, Prof. Hodge, and Prof. Goodrich on the subject of 
 polygamy, were read. 
 
 6. Native helpers. Employment — wages — houses — travel- 
 ling expenses. 
 
5 
 
 7. Stations. Principle on which they are to be determined 
 — Arnee — Vellore — Chittoor — village stations. 
 
 8. 3Iission property. Amount — tenure — houses — preaching 
 bungalows and school houses — zayats — when dwelling houses 
 should be owned. 
 
 9. Salaries. 
 
 1 0. Restrictions on correspondence with the Secretaries. 
 
 11. Government grants. 
 
 ] 2. Estimates — Appropriations — Expenditures. 
 
 13. Temporal aid from missionary funds to indigent Native 
 Christians. Ought it ever to be given ? 
 
 Adjourned with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Thompson. 
 
 FRIDAY, JUNE 29tH. 
 
 Mission met at 12 o’clock. All were present. A portion of 
 Scripture was read ; prayer by Dr. Anderson. The minutes 
 of the last meeting were read and adopted. The report of 
 the committee on the subjects discussed by the meeting was 
 read, accepted, amended and adopted. 
 
 Adjourned with prayer by Rev. Joseph Scudder. 
 
 W. W. SCUDDER, 
 Secretary. 
 
 LETTER TO THE DEPUTATION. 
 
 Chittoor, June 30, 1855. 
 
 Dearly Beloved Brethren, — We have regarded your visit to 
 the India Missions as timely and important. We have followed you 
 from mission to mission, with our prayers for those blessings which 
 would secure the best interests of Chirst's kingdom in this land. 
 We have looked forward with longing to the time when we should 
 have the privilege of welcoming you to the midst of us, feeling 
 assured that your visit would strengthen our hands and encourage 
 our hearts. We have meet you. Together we have discussed 
 great topics, reaching to the very foundations of the mission work. 
 We have also the results of similar discussions in other missions. 
 
6 
 
 In view of these results we desire to lift up our hearts in thanks- 
 giving to the great Head of the Church, for having sent you to this 
 land ; and for having so ordered events as to establish the principle, 
 long cherished by us, that the preaching of the Gospel to the adult 
 population is the grand scriptural mode of evangelizing the world. 
 This one result was worth all your efforts, and all the expense of 
 your visit. 
 
 We have especially reason to be thankful that you have visited 
 us. You have done us good. You have pointed out in our operations 
 certain things, which would impede the full carrying out of the 
 fundamental principle of our mission. These we have cheerfully 
 abandoned. We feel under deep obligations to you for calling our 
 attention to them. You have also made many other valuable sug- 
 gestions, for which you will kindly receive our sincere thanks. We 
 are now in circumstances to prosecute our labors with more light 
 and discernment. 
 
 We rejoice that you have seen our work; that you have personal- 
 ly acquainted yourselves with our difficulties and trials ; that you 
 have conversed with our congregations, the flock over whom God 
 has placed us as shepherds. You are thus in circumstances to sym- 
 pathise with us more fully, and to present more clearly our cases 
 in your pleadings before the Father of all mercies. 
 
 We desire to send our salutations through you to the American 
 Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and to the churches of 
 America. Tell them that, though far separated, our hearts beat 
 in unison with theirs ; that we have the same object, the same 
 solicitudes, and the same hopes. Tell them that, when burdened 
 by anxities and depressed by discouragements, we are cheered by 
 the assurance of their sympathies and prayers. Tell them of our 
 weakness, and the vast multitudes unreached by the Gospel message. 
 Urge them, in the name of Jesus and for His love, to send us help, 
 and thus place it in our power to preach the Gospel to every crea- 
 ture. 
 
 We desire to express our sympathy for those dear to you, who 
 have cheerfully consented to so long a separation for the sake of 
 Christ. May the God of all mercies grant them richly of his 
 grace ; watch over all their interests ; comfort them in their separa- 
 tion ; and speedily rejoice their hearts by a happy reunion. 
 
 And now, beloved brethren, what more can we say, than to 
 commend you to the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
7 
 
 May His presence attend you in all your earthly journeyings and 
 labors ; and when the short remnant of our pilgrimage is over, may 
 He permit us to meet where there is fulness of joy, and pleasures 
 for evermore. 
 
 Yours in the bonds and fellowship of the Gospel, 
 
 HENRY M. SCUDDER, 
 WILLIAM W. SCUDDER, 
 JOSEPH SCUDDER. 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 I. — The governing object in missions to the heathen. 
 
 The object of a mission should be the glory of God in the ad- 
 vancement of the Redeemer’s kingdom ; and as the means to this 
 end, it should aim, with singleness of purpose, at the conversion of 
 individual sinners, their incorporation into churches, and the ordain- 
 ing of native pastors over those churches. This is so manifest as 
 to need no support. It should be the grand, fundamental, control- 
 ling principle of every mission. 
 
 II. — How the preaching should be adapted to this govern- 
 ing OBJECT. 
 
 Christ’s command is to preach to every creature. It is therefore 
 our duty to enter in among the masses with the Gospel, pro- 
 claiming it far and wide ; and wherever we see an individual or a 
 community attracted in any degree whatever towards tlie truth, we 
 are to put forth those special and concentrated efforts which are 
 adapted to the case. Thus we are to sow the seed broadly, water it 
 with prayers and tears in Christ Jesus, watch in faith for its ger- 
 mination, and cultivate garden spots amidst the waste territories of 
 heathenism. In this way we shall, by God’s blessing, gather church- 
 es, and while we so do, we shall still continue the proclamation of 
 the message ever onward into the uninvaded regions which lie 
 beyond us. 
 
 While thus the word of life should be promulgated in the streets 
 and in zayats through the length and breadth of the land, the mis- 
 sionai-y should reproduce in the midst of this heathen country, the 
 Christian Sabbath in all its integrity. He should preach twice on 
 
8 
 
 that day in a stated place, allowing no discussion, but uttering God's 
 authoritative truth, as Heaven’s high ambassador. This has ever 
 been the persistent practice of this mission. It is a vital force in 
 tlie centre of all our operations. It not only vivifies and blesses us 
 and ours for the whole week, but also permeates with its constant 
 influences the barren soil around us. 
 
 III. — Native chueches and pastoks. 
 
 1 . Native churches should be constituted just as fast as the 
 elements for their formation are developed. Whenever souls are 
 brought into Christ’s kingdom, whether it be in town, village, or 
 hamlet, there they should be organized into churches. 
 
 2. We believe that, as a general rule, five converted males are a 
 sufficient number to authorize us in founding a Christian church. 
 
 3. As to evidences of piety, we find our ideas so clearly and ably 
 expressed by Mr. Ballantine, in the report to the Mahratta meet- 
 ing on native churches and pastors, we need do nothing more than 
 make this reference to it. * 
 
 * “ Every person who gives evidence of true repentance for sin and faith in the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, should be received into the Christian church. It is often difficult 
 to determine in respect to particular individuals what constitutes sufficient evidence. 
 Any thing which indicates that a man has forsaken his sins, that he loves the Sa- 
 viour and desires to do His will and is willing to suffer for His sake, is important 
 evidence. It should be remarked that we very rarely see such deep contrition for 
 sin and such loathing of self on account of it among the natives of this country, as is 
 often exhibited among those who have known the Bible from their childhood. But 
 when an individual manifests a love for the truth, a constant desire to hear and know 
 it, an evident effort to do what is right, and this effort long continued, and especially 
 when we see resistance to strong temptation or stedfastness under opposition and 
 trial, then we may have confidence that he is a true child of God. Knowledge of the 
 great doctrines of Christianity may be very limited, and yet a man be a true Chris- 
 tian. If he exhibit evidence of a change of heart, his ignorance of these doctrines 
 should not be a bar to his admission to the church. His knowledge or ignorance 
 should be considered only so far as it is an evidence of conversion or otherwise. 
 Distrust of the native character may sometimes prevent us from receiving individuals 
 to the church who ought to be admitted. Distrust should not be allowed to prevail too 
 far. There is danger of this from our general feeling in regard to the deceptive prac- 
 tices of the natives. And yet, on the other hand, there may be too much credulity, 
 and in consequence great rashness in receiving men to the church who are unworthy. 
 It is well for the missionary to put a great deal of the responsibility of receiving 
 members to the church upon the native church members. It will be found almost 
 invariably to work well. The native Christians generally form a very correct opinion 
 as to the character of those with whom they are daily conversant. A native pastor 
 will often judge more correctly with regard to the character of a native candidate for 
 church membership, than the missionary.” 
 
9 
 
 4. Qualifications of native pastors. On this we observe 
 negatively : 
 
 (1.) They do not need an English education. We must say 
 more than this. An English education is a positive injury, 
 and tends to disqualify them in many ways for the pastoral 
 office. 
 
 (2.) In the present state of this country, they do not need to 
 go through the curriculum of occidental science, even though 
 the vernaculars be contemplated as the medium of instruc- 
 tion. 
 
 We observe affirmatively : — 
 
 (1.) They should be actuated by simple love to the Lord Jesus, 
 and the souls of men, and not by the love of filthy lucre. 
 
 (2.) They should have a thorough knowledge of the vernacular 
 Bible. 
 
 (3.) They should have a connected view of the doctrines of 
 grace, so as to be able to state, explain, apply, and defend 
 them. To this end, we have adopted the Heidelbergh Cate- 
 chism, which is not only an excellent compendium of theolo- 
 gy, but affords them, in its fifty-two divisions, an annual 
 series of well constructed skeletons of sermons. 
 
 (4.) They should have a street education. We mean by this, 
 that they should, in their preparatory training, accompany 
 the missionary in his street preaching. Thus they will 
 learn his mode of presenting truth, his arguments, and his 
 illustrations. These will open to them a fund of thought, 
 will shape the working of their minds, and stimulate their 
 natural powers to independant efforts in the same direction. 
 They will acquire confidence and moral courage, so as to 
 fear the face of no man. Their minds will be whetted, and 
 brightened, and practically educated to meet the various 
 exigencies of their office. This is the form of a theological 
 seminary, which appears to us to come very near the one 
 that our Lord instituted. 
 
 5. Ecclesiastical relation of native pastors and churches. We 
 are missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions. We are clergymen of the Reformed Protestant 
 Dutch Church in the United States of America. This defines with 
 precision the ecclesiastical relation of our native pastors and 
 churches. They are associated with us in our ecclesiastical organi- 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 xation, but do not co-operate with us in the working of the mission 
 in any of its aspects as a mission. This appears to us to render 
 the whole thing simple, easy, uncomplicated, and safe in its 
 operation. Our churches are formed in accordance with 
 the doctrines and rules of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church 
 in the United States of Amei-ica, and are subject to its discipline* 
 Native pastor’s will be united with us in a Classis. We deem 
 this to be of vital importance as an admirable means of cultivat- 
 ing and strengthening the native pastor’s character. Bringing 
 them to our side, and giving them a vote with us, will inure them 
 to bear responsibilities, will lead them to think and act as Christian 
 ministers, and will tend to eradicate the servility of the Hindu mind. 
 We shall thus sustain the relation of brethren to them, and be able 
 to uphold them in times of weakness, and teach them to tread the 
 difficult path before them with an equable and cheerful step. At the 
 same time a safe-guard will be secured against the exercise of an 
 undue authority on the part of missionaries. Our organization 
 provides for supposed dangers and difficulties. We have our 
 standards of faith, practice, and discipline, to which conformity is 
 required. Supported by the grace of God, and our ecclesiastical 
 body at home, we shall hope to move on in a steady, well organized, 
 well equipped phalanx in the great work before us. — In the present 
 state of things, we do not think it advisable to ordain natives simply 
 as evangelists. They should be ordained as pastors of churches. 
 
 IV. — Caste and Polygamy. 
 
 1. Caste . — We make an extract from our rules; “ whereas casta 
 is an essential part of heathenism, and forms one of the mightiest of 
 those forces which are arrayed in antagonism to the Gospel ; and 
 whereas its existence within the pale of the church saps the very 
 foundations of Christian unity and rends asunder the members of 
 Christ's body ; and whereas we do not consider that eating together 
 at the Lord’s Supper, and drinking from the same sacramental cup, 
 afford sufficient proofs of the renunciation of caste ; and whereas, 
 while we feel that our Agapai held in connection with the Lord’s 
 Supper, after the manner of the primitive church, are promotive of 
 Christian intercourse, and tend to break down some of the barriers of 
 caste, we do not consider that attendance at these love feasts furnishes 
 sufficient evidence of its abandonment ; therefore. 
 
 Resolved ; 1. That we adopt, as a fundamental law of this 
 
j] 
 
 mission, that the entire renunciation of caste be as indispensable 
 a condition of church-membership, as the abandonment of idolatry, 
 or any other component part of heathenism. 
 
 2. That unrestricted social and fraternal intercommunication 
 among Christians, evinced by friendly visits, by mutual attendance 
 at marriages and funerals, and by eating and drinking in each other’s 
 houses, is the only satisfactory proof of the relinquishment of 
 caste ; and that any individual who does not cheerfully conform there- 
 unto, cannot become or continue a member of any of our churches.” 
 
 These principles and rules have been faithfully carried out in our 
 mission. We do also require in every case the removal of the 
 kudumi', (i. e., the tuft on the crown of the head,) before admission 
 to the church ; inasmuch as this tuft is one of the strongest links in 
 the chain of caste. We need, therefore, add nothing on this 
 subject. 
 
 2. Polygamy . — Polygamy has not existed, and will not be allow- 
 ed to exist, in any of our churches. 
 
 V. — Schools. 
 
 1. Schools considered as converting institutions. We do not 
 find in Scripture any sanction of the practice of establishing schools 
 as converting institutions ; while, on the other hand, the pi’eaching of 
 the Gospel is held up in the New Testament as the one great method 
 of evangelising the world. It is the sword of the Spirit. We there- 
 fore embrace the latter, and reject the former. This has been, and 
 ever must be, the foundation of this mission. The Deputation have 
 led us to see, that we have inadvertently introduced an element into 
 our preparandi class, which is somewhat inconsistent with this 
 fundamental principle. We have accordingly modified that class. 
 It is no longer called preparandi. It stands upon a new basis. It 
 contains twelve persons, all of whom are nominal Christians. It is 
 to admit of no increase. Its simple object is to train scliool-masters 
 for our present urgent necessity. 
 
 2. Education of children of the church and nominal Christians. 
 It is plain that Christians cannot demand of us, as their right, that 
 we should educate their children. They should be made to under- 
 stand and feel this, and should be urged to do what they can towards 
 the education of their children, with the expectation that in time 
 it will wholly devolve upon them. But, while this principle is 
 abstractly true, the necessities arising out of the existing state of 
 
]2 
 
 things in India demand the establishment of schools for the children 
 of the church and nominal Christians. We consider this depart- 
 ment of our labour to be of very great importance. In every 
 community, numbering five families and upwards, and containing 
 eight to ten children, a Christian school should be planted and sup- 
 ported by our mission, and should be so conducted as to exhibit to 
 the heathen, the elevating tendencies of a Christian education. We 
 have four such schools in our mission, and they are full of encour- 
 acement to us. It has been our custom for a short time back to 
 
 o 
 
 give clothes in all our schools, and a simple meal daily to those who 
 were required to attend school on the mission compound. The 
 Deputation have convinced us that this course is a wrong one. We 
 have, therefore, cheerfully abandoned it. We feel thankful that a 
 practice fraught with dangerous results has been separated from our 
 system in the infancy of our mission. These schools have been res- 
 tricted to Christian children. We maintain that this is right : — 
 
 (1.) Schools for hecrthen children have proved a failure. There- 
 fore, so far as this element is admitted, an element of failure 
 is introduced. 
 
 (2 ) We sustain relations to these two classes of children so 
 diverse, as to demand the exclusion of the one, and the edu- 
 cation of the other. 
 
 (3.) The grand object of planting a school in one of these little 
 Christian communities is this : — we wish to educate that 
 community according to the Gospel. We wish to separate 
 that community as far as possible from the contaminating 
 influences of paganism ; to draw clearly the line of demar- 
 cation ; to render it compact in itself ; to instruct, purify, 
 and elevate it ; and in this way to set forth that community 
 in its unity and distinctness, unvitiated by any heathen ele- 
 ment, as a light upon the surrounding darkness. The intro- 
 duction of heathen children mars this unity, obscures this line 
 of demarcation, dims this light, intermingles Belial with 
 Christianity, and interferes with the grand object of the 
 whole institution. 
 
 VI. — Native Helpers. 
 
 1. We want more native helpers. This is one of the great 
 present needs of our mission. Our sole object would be to employ 
 them in the preaching of the Gospel, 
 
13 
 
 2. We divide them into three classes : catechists, licentiates, 
 and ordained ministers. 
 
 3. Salaries. These are not to be adjusted on the ground of 
 passing from one class to another, but on time of service. They are 
 as follows : — 
 
 Unmarried Es. 5 
 
 Married „ 8 
 
 Three years after „ 10 
 
 Two years after Es. 12 
 
 Ditto „ 14 
 
 Ditto „ 16 
 
 These are maximum rates. While the mission cannot exceed them, 
 it does not obligate itself to give them invariably. Each case will be 
 decided upon by the mission. There is no allowance for children. 
 Rent is to be charged where the mission furnislies a residence. 
 Native helpers travelling on mission business are allowed hatta at 
 the rate of one anna and a half per diem. These items embrace all 
 the allowances of native helpers. They should reside in the places 
 where they are called to labor. As a general rule, fifty rupees 
 should be the maximum cost of their houses. There may be special 
 cases requiring a larger expenditure. No case, however, should 
 exceed one hundred rupees. 
 
 VII. — Stations. 
 
 We now occupy Vellore, Chittoor, and Arnee. With our present 
 knowledge, these seem to us the most favorable positions in our 
 district. After much inquiry, and prayer, and watching for provi- 
 dential indications, we decided to occupy them as stations. We, 
 however, hold ourselves in readiness to go to any other part of our 
 field whenever the cloud and pillar of fire move from over our pre- 
 sent abodes. We feel sure that it cannot be determined, a priori, 
 which will prove to be the best points of occupancy. We believe 
 that if the Gospel is faithfully preached through the district of 
 Arcot, God will, in the exercise of His electing grace, unmistake- 
 ably indicate the centres for concentrated labor. 
 
 VIII. — Mission Pkoperty. 
 
 The only property owned in this mission is the Arnee house and 
 premises. They are valued at three thousand rupees. In reference 
 to the tenure of mission property, we approve of the rules laid 
 down in the Report on “ mission property in houses and lands,” at 
 page 71 of the minutes of the special meeting of the Madura 
 mission, on occasion of the visit of the Deputation. 
 
14 
 
 In Vellore, Chittoor, and Arnee we need churches. These should 
 be plain cheap buildings. They ought to be erected on thoroughfares 
 where many people will come in. Building in the Madura district 
 is very much cheaper than in this. Their estimates would, therefore, 
 be impracticable here. VVe approve of the style of building recom- 
 mended by that mission. We shall have to make further inquiries 
 before we can draw up estimates. 
 
 IX. — Restrictions on correspondence. 
 
 At the establishment of this mission the following rule was adopt- 
 ed in reference to this subject : — “ All communications to the offi- 
 cers of the Board from individual missionaries, relative to the 
 interests of the mission, shall be circulated among its different 
 members before they are sent.” Although the mission feel that this 
 is a wise and proper rule, they do, at the earnest request of the 
 Deputation, rescind it. 
 
 X. — Government grants. 
 
 It is the opinion of this mission, that it would not be expedient, 
 in any case, to receive such grants. 
 
 XL — Temporal aid prom mission funds to indigent native 
 
 CHRISTIANS. 
 
 This mission has never appropriated the funds of the Board foir 
 this purpose. Neither does it expect to do so in future. 
 
 HENRY M. SCUDDER, 
 
 WILLIAM W. SCUDDER, 
 
 JOSEPH SCUDDER. 
 
]5 
 
 LETTEE TO THE MISSION. 
 
 Calcutta, July 19, 1855. 
 
 TO THE BRETHREN OF THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 1) liAR Brethren, — In your report you describe yourselves 
 as missionaries of the American Board, and clergymen of the 
 Reformed Dutch Church. You should have added, as it 
 appears to me, in order to complete your ‘ high calling of 
 God,’ that you are missionaries of the Lord Jesus to a foreign 
 heathen people. Without this, your description is not suffi- 
 ciently broad to serve as a basis for the great missionary super- 
 structure you are hoping to erect. Opening a pamphlet, put 
 into my hands to-day, my eye fell on the following remark 
 concerning the first bishop of Calcutta ; — “ That, though clergy- 
 men of the Church of England had begun to engage in mis- 
 sionary labor in the diocese during his episcopate, he never 
 could make up his mind to license, or even to recognise them, 
 because neither the canons nor liturgy of the English Church 
 had specially provided for such cases.” And I remember being- 
 disappointed, many years since, on finding that the Cam- 
 bridge and Saybrook platforms of the Congregational churches, 
 which had their origin in the early period of New England, 
 nowhere recognized distinctly the duty of foreign missions, 
 nor made any express provision for them. My researches did 
 not proceed much farther. But I presume it will be found, 
 that the Presbyterian churches of Geneva and of Scotland, 
 and the Reformed Dutch Church, and the German Reformed 
 Church, and every other sect dating near the time of the great 
 Reformation, are no better off, in this respect, than the churches 
 of Old England and of New England. But few modern mis- 
 sionaries to foreign heathen nations, bent on the sublime enter- 
 prise of adding the whole world to Christ’s domain, will find 
 the ancient standards of their own church distinctly providing 
 for an order of things, which the great and good fathers of 
 those times, though they possessed really, and some of them emi- 
 
16 
 
 nently, tlie missionary spirit, were not in circumstances even to 
 imagine. For this provision we must go to the inspired volume. 
 
 The idea springing from this general view is, that foreign 
 missionary societies and foreign missionaries, connected with 
 the different denominations at home, must needs be allowed 
 a latitude as missionaries, in matters ecclesiastical, which would 
 be unnecessary, and therefore irregular, in home missions. I 
 do not at present see how, for instance, the matter of an appeal 
 by a native church member, or native pastor from a Presby- 
 tery or Classis in India to a Synod at home, or to the General 
 Assembly, or to the General Synod, could be managed. The 
 place of trial would be changed to a distant country. There 
 would need to be a hearing on the other side of the ocean ; and 
 consequent absences, and voyages, and travelling expenses. 
 Looking at the thing as a business-man, as I must do, the 
 scheme seems impracticable to me. And I am sure there is 
 nothing in the relation of the American Board to either of 
 the ecclesiastical bodies of our country, that would require it to 
 make provision for any such interruption of labor, or for any 
 such outlay of finds. 1 see no solution of the difficulty, but for 
 the ecclesiastical bodies of our country tacitly to admit, as I 
 believe they have done hitherto, that all ecclesiastical processes, 
 affecting native converts, shall terminate in the country where 
 they originate. 1 cannot doubt that actual experience will satisfy 
 all, that some such modification in ancient rules and usages 
 — if it be a modification — is required by the exigencies of 
 this missionary age. 
 
 I have only one suggestion to make on your ecclesiastical 
 usages growing out of my observations while among you. 
 We thought you would carry out the grand principle, on which 
 you are so commendably endeavouring to act, were you to 
 orientalize the custom of the Reformed Dutch Church at the 
 Lord’s Supper. It seems a needless expense and labor in the 
 villages, to provide tables and benches for a people, whose cus- 
 tomary table is a green leaf from a tree, and whose seat is a 
 mat spread upon the ground. Let this suggestion go for what 
 it is worth. Your task with this people is great enough, if you 
 seek only to make them good oriental Christians. Since 
 
17 
 
 coming to India, I have become more jealous than ever of 
 the effect of every occidental usage and habit in our mis- 
 sionary work, which is not a necessary part and parcel of 
 the Christian life and character. It is needless to remark, that 
 the memorial of our Lord’s death was originally instituted in 
 strict accordance with oriental ideas and customs. AVe may 
 ocddentalize the manner, as we go westward ; but by all means 
 let us adapt ourselves as far as we may, in this land of the 
 rising sun, to what are innocent usages of the people. 
 
 Mr. Thompson has gone, as you know, to visit some parts of 
 Palestine ; and it was thought best for me to make a short visit 
 to this city, before setting my face homeward. It was impossi- 
 ble to write you before his departure, nor could I do it until 
 the present time. And now, if I would secure the printing of 
 your proceedings and of this letter, I must touch only and 
 with brevity on the necessary points. 
 
 You have our hearty thanks for your kind letter of the 30tli 
 ultimo. Such expressions of confidence and love from our 
 respected brethren of the missions, as we have successively 
 completed our work among them, have done much, through 
 God’s blessing, to sustain our spirits and health in the severe 
 journeyings and labors of the past seven months. Allow me 
 to say, that on one point your language of commendation is 
 certainly too strong ; — though we understand and gratefully 
 appreciate what was your real meaning. The ‘ preaching of 
 the Gospel to the adult population,’ has indeed been a grand 
 theme of discussion in all the missionary meetings we have 
 had the pleasure of attending in India. It has been those 
 discussions among the brethren, and their elaborated and 
 instructive reports, very far more than anything said by 
 ourselves, that has had the effect to encourage and stimulate 
 to direct preaching labors for the conversion of adults, and 
 perhaps to strengthen the belief, that such preaching is ‘ the 
 grand scriptural mode of evangelizing the world.’ 
 
 But the difficulty of access to adults with the preached Gospel 
 is so great in India, and it requires so much practical fami- 
 liarity with the language, so much zeal, patience and faith, and 
 so much adaptation and love for the work of preaching, that 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 I am unable to expect anything like a general and effective 
 assent, as yet, in the India missions, to your proposition, 
 I shall myself be content with the result, when all other means 
 are brought and kept under strict subordination to the 
 preaching of ‘ Christ Jesus and Him crucified’ to the adult 
 population. In the arrangements and working of our own 
 missions, I am happy to believe, this will be found to be, sub- 
 stantially, the fact. I am happy also to add, that the more 
 I have seen of other missions, the more I believe that they are 
 coming, if not already come, to this auspicious result. There 
 are, as you well know, immense special difficulties in the work- 
 ing of India missions, growing out of the monstrous system of 
 caste ; and the most effectual method of obtaining access for 
 the Gospel to the Hindu understanding and heart, has been 
 and is still a matter of various experiment. It is so, more 
 especially, in missions to the great cities. But our way now 
 seems clear amid the vast ])opulation of the rural districts. 
 Our attention has been mainly directed to this department of 
 the work of India missions, and we regard your kind estimate 
 of the good occasioned by our visit, as relating chiefly to 
 the gathering of village congregations and churches, and to 
 village preaching as the grand means to that end. Even here, 
 we must look upon ourselves as but the providential occasion 
 of a more clear and distinct development of this great subject. 
 
 As you already have printed copies of our letters to the 
 Wahratta, Madura, and Ceylon missions, I need not advert 
 to the topics we have there sufficiently discussed for the pur- 
 poses we have in view in this visit to India. Your report is 
 a concise, free, and clear statement of your position and aims 
 as a mission. The views we have been led to entertain on most 
 of the subjects of your report, are so fully stated in the letters 
 above named, that we need not repeat them here. The Pru- 
 dential Committee will be happy to sustain you in carrying 
 out your plans for preaching the Gospel to the masses, and for 
 aiding the native Christians in the education of their children. 
 
 As some have supposed the agreement made by the Board 
 with the Reformed Dutch Church, in the year 1832, to imply 
 more than it does, — though I am not aware that this is true of 
 
19 
 
 yourselves, — I will here quote all the substantial parts of it. 
 The report, which was then adopted by the Board, and subse- 
 quently by the General Synod, was drawn up by myself. 
 
 It gave to members of the Reformed Dutch Church, acting 
 as individuals, or in voluntary or ecclesiastical associations, the 
 right, if they pleased to exercise it, “ of appropriating their 
 contributions to the support of missionaries of their own 
 church, and such others as they approve.” In case Mr. 
 Abeel should find young men in - the Reformed Dutch Church 
 possessing the requisite qualifications and willing to accom- 
 pany liim to the East, it stated, that there would not be 
 any objection to their forming a new and distinct mission, 
 with an ecclesiastical organization and public worship accord- 
 ing to their own views and wishes, as has been invariably 
 the case with the missionaries under the superintendence of 
 the Board. And should the friends of missions in that 
 church prefer appropriating their contributions to this, or 
 any other object within the proper scope of the Board, and 
 should it be practicable to expend those contributions wisely 
 upon that mission or object, there can be no objection to such 
 appropriations, and the wishes of the donors Avill be sacredly 
 regarded. Should it at any time be expedient to increase the 
 number of missionaries in the missions commenced by mis- 
 sionaries from the Reformed Dutch Church, and should suitable 
 men in this church offer their services, and prefer going to 
 those missions, they would have the preference of others.” 
 
 “ These views,” it was added in the report, “ if sanctioned by 
 the Board, place it within the power of the friends of missions 
 in the Reformed Dutch Church to employ the Board and its 
 Committee as their almoners and agents in conducting missions 
 among the heathen, and, at the same time, have the satisfaction 
 of supporting missionaries of their own Church.’^ “ The ec- 
 clesiastical relations and responsibilities of missionaries,” it was 
 still further added, “ are not at all affected by their coming 
 under the direction of the Board.” 
 
 I ought to say, that the Board has never come to such an 
 understanding with any other body of Christians, though I 
 have reason to believe it might have done so ; and my convic- 
 
20 
 
 tion for years has been, that it would have been better for the 
 Reformed Dutch Church and for the Board, did our respected 
 brethren of that church stand related to the work precisely as 
 do their brethren in the Congregational and Presbyterian 
 bodies. 
 
 The Borneo, Amoy and Arcot missions were formed on 
 this basis, that is, with none but missionaries from the Reformed 
 Dutch Church ; but the relation of these missions (or rather 
 of the two which now exist) to the Board, is precisely the 
 same with that of the other missions in China and India. The 
 ecclesiastical liberty of those missions is no greater than that 
 enjoyed by all the other missions. In none of our missions 
 would it be regarded as conducing to order and efficiency, 
 for the members to form two different ecclesiastical bodies 
 within the same mission ; or even one such body, wliich 
 all the members could not in good conscience join. The in- 
 terests of the great cause of missions are paramount to those 
 of any one sect of Christians. It is of more importance to 
 make known the only way of salvation to perishing men, 
 than it is to extend any one denomination. But we cheerfully 
 admit your freedom, as a mission, to govern your churches 
 by means of the general vote of the church, or by means of 
 elders alone ; (neither of which forms of governing particular 
 churches suffices alone to give them a place in either of the 
 sects of Christendom ;) and also to associate them in classis, 
 presbytery, consociation, or association, when the unanimous 
 vote of the mission adjudges that to be expedient. This latter 
 step would of course give them a relation to some one of the 
 existing religious denominations. Our views on this subject, 
 stated merely as opinions, are freely expressed in our letters 
 already in your hands. We shall have the advantage, 
 dear brethren, of seeing in your mission, how the rules and 
 discipline devised for churches in their most advanced state of 
 civilization and progress, will answer for such as are babes in 
 Christ, beyond all power of conception in those who are 
 unaided by the painful experience of these heathen lands. 
 After proving all lawful things, may we be enabled to hold fast 
 that which is found to be good. 
 
21 
 
 We regard your mission •with very great Interest. Born 
 all of you in India, of eminently missionary parents, and 
 judiciously admitted at an early age to the spoken language 
 of the people, you have, as a mission, pre-eminently, the 
 power of using it in preaching the Gospel. And the bias of 
 your minds is strongly in tliat direction. So great are the 
 obstacles in the way of preaching to the masses in this coun- 
 try, and the motive to neglect it, that we have not been sorry 
 to see you magnify your especial calling. Let yours be 
 pre-eminently in fact a ’preaching mission. You may stimulate 
 your native Christians to educate their children by affording 
 them the necessary aid, but give yourselves “ continually 
 to prayer, and to the ministi-y of the word.” Preach 
 daily in streets, in market places, in zayats and bungalows, 
 and, when it is possible, from house to house. It is 
 Christ and His cross you are to preach. Where they will 
 not hear of Him, but only of their own superstitions, 
 
 ‘ striving about words to no profit,’ ‘ profane and vain bab- 
 blings,’ and ‘foolish and unlearned questions,’ from such, 
 when it is clear you can get no hearing for your heavenly 
 massage, ‘ turn away.’ Street-preaching, even when there are 
 not frequent interruptions, pursued as a daily duty, is more than 
 flesh and spirit can long endure. We were glad, therefore, in- 
 dependently of the high and proper views of the Sabbath which 
 influenced you, that you had resolved to abstain from such 
 preaching on the Sabbath, and to devote yourselves to the 
 more formed, ex-cathedrd delivery of the word in some of your 
 stated places of worship. Our deep sense of the importance of 
 this was expressed in our first letter. Even six days of street- 
 preaching are more than you can endure. We therefore 
 suggested your erecting zayats on some one or more of the 
 thoroughfares, and spending there some part of your Mondays 
 and Saturdays, in speaking to such as might be induced to 
 enter ; where you would be entitled to arrange the terms of 
 intercourse; where some new persons might be induced to 
 attend the more formal preaching of the next day ; and 
 where you might easily be bound, on the day following the 
 Sabbath, by such as had been in some measure awakened 
 
22 
 
 by tlie truth. The zayat and street-preaching should 
 be feeders to the central congregations. These also should 
 of course be in the midst of the people. For want of better 
 places, you now preach statedly on the Lord’s day in your own 
 houses. But those houses (until you build, and perhaps not even 
 then) are not within the proper native town, but on one side, 
 and only a few heathen attend. The feeling we all had in com- 
 mon was, that such churches as you have described in your 
 report should be erected at proper centres in the native town ; 
 that tlie Sabbath services should be there; and that the inva- 
 riable tendency of the preaching in the zayats and streets, and 
 the whole influence of the native helpers, should be directed to 
 collecting stated congregations at those centres, including the 
 greatest possible number of heathens. The most difficult thing 
 in this arrangement is to secure the proper sites for the church- 
 es and zayats, and we were happy to afford all the assistance 
 in our power. 
 
 Though the Apostles passed rapidly over the ground, they 
 seem generally to have remained long enough in places to 
 plant churches, and give them native pastors. In Crete, 
 where Paul had not time to make his selection, he left Titus 
 to ‘ set in order the things that were wanting, and ordain elders 
 in every city.’ 
 
 Finally, dear brethren — and this completes our formal official 
 correspondence in India — farewell! “Now the Lord of 
 peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord 
 be with you all.” “ Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both 
 now and ever. Amen.” 
 
 My beloved associate and follow-traveller, Mr. Thompson, 
 desired his affectionate Christian salutations to you and yours; 
 and I am, as ever, respectfully and most truly yours, 
 
 R. ANDERSON, 
 Secretary of the A. JB. C. F. M. 
 
 SANDEE?, CONKS AND CO., TTPS., NO. 65, COSSITOKLAU. 
 

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