Missionary Intelligence. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION. THE Third Annual Report of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, accompa nied by the "PROCEEDINGS of the GENERAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION of the Baptist denomination in the United States of America for Foreign Missions," held in Philadelphia, May 7, 1817, has been received. The following extracts, we presume, will be gratifying to our numerous readers, who may be unable to procure the Report. The Rev. RICHARD FURMAN, D.D. was elected President, and the Rev. DanIEL SHARP, Secretary. Immediately after the Convention was organized, the Board offered the following ADDRESS. THE Baptist Board of Foreign Missions have, for the first time, the pleasure of addressing the GENERAL CONVENTION. They rejoice in the return of another meeting of your beloved and venerable body, and pray that the spirit of wisdom and counsel, the fear of the Lord, and a sacred zeal for his glory, may animate and direct your consultations and endeavours. In the first and second Annual Reports, a summary of the proceedings of the Board, from the period of their appointment, has been given. Any additional information that may be desired, you will have an opportunity of collecting from the whole of the minutes of their body, which are submitted to your perusal. pitality of those eminent servants of God. Mrs. Charlotte H. White, who accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Hongh, had her views, in common with theirs, directed to Burmah. Her expectations, by a controlling Providence, have been disappointed. An important missionary station is. established at Digah, near Patna, between 3 and 400 miles above Se rampore. Mr. Joshua Rowe, of the English Baptist Mission, is there engaged. He solicited, and obtained a union in marriage with Mrs. White. The step appears to have been approved by the brethren of the Serampore Mission House. She has now the care of a large school, a station for which she is excellently qualified, where a directress was greatly needed, and is introduced into a sphere of respectability, usefulness, and comfort. The Board consider it their duty to state to the Convention, that not a cent of expense has arisen to the institution from sending Mrs. White (now Mrs. Rowe) to the East. She supported herself entirely while she continued in America, and from Intelligence has been received her own funds procured her outfit. of the arrival of our dear missionary Two hundred dollars besides she friends in India. By the brethren left in the hands of the Treasurer, at Calcutta, and at the Mission which, as she is now connected with House at Serampore, they were the English mission, the Board is welcomed with the accustomed hos- of opinion ought to be returned her. Vol. I. Since the publication of the last Report, the services which, in the course of Providence, the Board has been called to fulfil, have been comparatively few. They have, however, with pleasure, witnessed the success which has attended measures formerly adopted; and derive from the review fresh motives to gratitude and exertion. 29 May she prove, in her new situation, like Priscilla, a helper in the Lord Jesus. Dr. Carey says, "I consider her marriage as a very providential circumstance. At Digah she cannot fail of being useful." Dr. Hinton, Assistant Secretary of the English Baptist Society, ingeniously observes, that "England and America have plighted hands, at a missionary altar, by their respective representatives, Mr. Rowe and Mrs. White. Every one augurs good from their union." Soon after the arrival of brother Hough in India, he applied for a passage on board a brig from Calcutta for Rangoon. He carried with him, as a present from the Serampore brethren, a printing press, types, paper, and other articles. Some serious difficulties occurred in his descending the Hoogly river, which are detailed at large in a communication, now presented, and constrained his return to Calcutta. The difficulties were such as call for the sympathy of every feeling, and especially of every parental, bosom. Some loss to the mission has been sustained; but it is such as may reasonably be, sometimes, expected, yet such as it is hoped will not frequently occur. He embarked a second time on the 17th of September, 1816, and has arrived, safely, at his destination. Brother Judson appears much pleased with him as a missionary associate. May he prove eminently useful. At Rangoon a church has been formed. This, it is believed, is the first church ever constituted in that empire on the real basis of the gospel; and surely our denomination throughout the United States must feel themselves sacredly pledged for its support. By communications from the brethren at Rangoon, it appears that they are increasingly encouraged in their important work. Brother Judson and wife are truly valuable persons. He has laboured under indisposition for some months past, but is, in a good degree, re covered. He has composed a tract in the Burman language, which brother Hough will be able to print immediately. Of this difficult language he appears to be already master, and is both facilitating its acquisition for associates and successors, and progressing in the translation of the scriptures of truth. May his life be preserved for many More missionaries years to come. in Burmah are anxiously desired. The Board cannot, they wish not to conceal from you, that in the discharge of their internal duties they have experienced much embarrassment and obstruction. Convinced of the integrity of their aims, and of the propriety and importance of the measures they have pursued and accomplished, they respectfully ask of the Convention an attentive investigation of their conduct, and an avowal of the sentiments of your body whether it deserve censure or support. Suggestions which have been offered relative to the propriety of altering, in some points, the Constitution of the Convention, the Board have taken into serious consideration. They apprehend that instruments of this description ought to be held as sacred as possible, so that changes occur only when imperious necessity, or a conviction of solid advantage shall require them. They have reason to believe that bequests have been made to the Convention, which a variation of the title might render precarious. But from the experience of three years, and the best light they have been able to obtain, they are of opinion that the following alterations will be beneficial, and are expedient, viz. That the powers of this Convention be extended so as to embrace home missions and plans for the encouragement of education; and that henceforward the quorum of the Board for the transaction of business be five. A communication from our Agent, Mr. Rice, relative to his late tour, has been laid before the Board, to which we refer you. Until the present time he has been employed in the United States for originating and encouraging mission institutions, and for organizing and es tablishing a system of general intercourse. It is obvious that many important advantages have resulted from this measure. The distinct sense of the Convention, however, upon the propriety of continuing such an agency, it would be proper the Board should possess. The Board are deeply convince ed of the propriety of immediate attention to the state of the Indians of our own country. Habits of civilization among them will necessarily be connected with the reception of the gospel. They are heathen which, from their proximity, have a special claim upon your pious zeal. It is believed that suitable persons can be obtained to go among them. Large fields also are to be found, especially in the western sections of our country, where the truths of the gospel are rarely, if ever, proclaimed. Several very interesting documents have been received from India, which the Board have the pleasure of presenting you. They rejoice that the cause of God is evidently increasing in the earth, and trust the time is not remote when the kingdoms shall become the Lord's. The Board are sensible that the means usually employed by the Supreme Head of the church for the advancement of undefiled religion is the preaching of the Divine Word, and that it is of importance that the preacher be furnished as extensively as possible for his important work. They respectfully call your attention to the general subject of education, and hope your wisdom may contrive means for the advancement of this important object. The labours of the Corresponding Secretary, greatly diversified and extended, must, as the Board are sensible, necessarily occupy a large portion of his time, and require much care and exertion. The Board respectfully submit to the Convention the propriety of an expression of their opinion, as to his receiving a reasonable compensation. With sentiments of Christian esteem, By order of the Board, HORATIO G. JONES, Recording Secretary, pro tem. The following Resolutions, reported by a Committee, were adopted. 1. Resolved, unanimously, That the several documents presented by the Board are highly interesting, and that it be recommended to the Board to publish in their Report such parts of them as they may deem important. 2. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention acknowledge the judicious and affectionate letter from the Serampore brethren, Dr. Carey, Dr. Marshman, and Mr. Ward, and recommend to the Board that an appropriate answer be returned, expressive of the sense this Convention entertains of their fraternal attentions to our missionaries, of lively gratitude for the printing press and other articles, and reciprocating their wishes for the extension of the Redeemer's Empire. 3. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention has derived high satisfaction from the communications of brethren Judson and Hough they are pleased with the information they impart, the missionary ardour they breathe, and the prospects of ultimate success which in their opinion are opening. They approve the form of agreement which they have adopted, and trust the LORD of the harvest will make them faithful unto death. The Board is requested to return appropriate answers. 4. Resolved, unanimously, That the signal successes that have, un der the blessing of Heaven, attended the indefatigable labours of the Rev. Luther Rice, agent of the Board, to originate and foster missionary institutions, and effectuate arrangements for the complete operation of a systematic general intercourse, demonstrate the wisdom of the measure, and suggest the expediency of maintaining such an agency for a period to come. 5. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention entertain a high sense of the truly Christian beneyolence of Edward Thompson, Esq. in furnishing at his own expense a passage for our missionaries, and supplying them with provisions and other conveniences on the passage to India; as also for other facilities he has rendered the institution, and for his liberal offer of affording his kind aid in case of sending out other missionaries; they also concur with the Board in tendering their sincere respect and affectionate gratitude. Resolved, unanimously, That the President of the Convention, the Rev. Drs. Baldwin and Staughton, the Hon. Judge Talimadge, and Mr. John Cauldwell, be requested to wait on Edward Thompson, Esq. with the above resolution. Resolved, unanimously, That a communication relative to the education of pious young men, who appear to be called of God to the work of the ministry, be referred and specially recommended to the attention of the Board. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention unite their sympathies with their brethren in Great Britain and Asia, and share the regret of the Christian world at large on the decease of the Rev. Dr. Fuller, late Secretary of the English Baptist Mission. His amiable character, his exalted virtues, and his successful labours in the missionary cause, will be long and affectionately remembered. May He who ascended on high, and has received gifts for men, abundantly supply the deficiency which the removal of this excellent servant of God has occasioned. The Convention having seen, with pleasure, the proposals of the editors of the American Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, being a new series of a work which has contributed in no inconsiderable degree in exciting the present missionary spirit, particularly in the northern parts of our country, and being deeply impressed with the importance of diffusing, as widely as possible, religious and missionary information, Resolved, unanimously, That this work be recommended to our constituents as deserving of their patronage, and the patronage of the public at large. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention view with peculiar pleasure, the existence and oper ations of the American Bible Society, and that they will be happy, so far as the nature of their institution admits, to co-operate with them in the great object of circulating the Word of God in this or any other country; and that the Corresponding Secretary of the Board be requested to communicate to the said Bible Society this resolution. Resolved, unanimously, That the President of the Convention be requested to address a letter to the President of the British and Foreign Bible Society, expressive of the high sense which this Convention entertain of the important and extensive blessings which have resulted from their unwearied labours of love, in printing and distributing the Holy Scriptures to our fellow beings of different nations and languages; and particularly for the kind aid afforded to our brethren at Serampore, engaged in translating and printing the Scriptures in the languages of the East. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention earnestly recommend to the churches throughout our country, to UNITE IN THE GENERAL 1817.) A letter from the Corresponding Resolved, unanimously, That the said letter be noticed on the minutes of the Convention, and that the Board, if they find it practicable, be advised to institute an African Mission, conformably to the wishes of the said African Mission Society; and that the Corresponding Secretary of the Board be requested to communicate this resolution, together with an encouraging, affectionate letter to that society. The subsequently named persons Horatio G. Jones, A. M. Penn. Thomas Shields, Esq. Penn. 111 umbia. Thomas Roberts, Pensylvania. Robert B. Semple, Л. M. Va. Rec. Jesse Mercer, Georgia. Archibald Maclay, New-York. Rev. Mr. James MLaughlin, N. Jersey. After the choice of officers, Resolved, That the next triennial meeting of this Convention be held in Philadelphia, to commence on the last Wednesday in April, 1820. Concluding prayer, and an affectionate address, by the Rev. Dr. Adjourned. Baldwin. After the rising of the Convention, the newly-appointed Boar! met in Sansom-street Meetinghouse, 15th May, 1817. The Rev. Dr. Baldwin opened the meeting with prayer. Resolved, That committees be appointed by this Board, in different sections of the United States. for the purpose of examining applicants for Missionary employ. Pursuant to this resolution, the Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D. and the Rev. Messrs. Daniel Sharp, Lucius Bolles, Joseph Grafton, and James M. Winchell, were appointed the committee for the Northern section. The Rev. Richard Furman, D. D. the Rev. John M. Roberts, D. D. the Rev. Jesse Mercer. and the General Committee of the Charleston Association, were appointed the committee for the Southern section. The Rev. Jeremiah Vardeman, his Excellency Gabriel Slaughter, Esq. and the Rev. Messrs. Silas M. Noel, Isaar Hodgen and William Warder, were appointed the committee for the Western section. Resolved, That if at any time other members of the Board should be present at their meetings, they shall be entitled to a seat with any of these committees. The committee on the subject of |