The American Baptist Association met here to-day. There is a good attendance of foreign Missionaries and native Christians from all the places where this denomination has established stations in this region. The most distant points represented are probably more than three hundred miles apart. The Rev. Dr. Yates, and other delegates, are present from Shanghai. The Rev. Horace Jenkins, the Chairman at the last meeting, presided; and, after other devotional services, read the xm chap. of I. Corinthians, and in a few plain and earnest remarks on "Love," sounded what we trust will prove the key-note of every session.
After the appointment of several committees, the Rev. J. R. Goddard preached an interesting and practical sermon upon the subject, The Apostle Paul our example." He dwelt upon—1, His constancy; 2, Humility; 3, Compassion; 4, Careful discrimination of the 'I'ruths taught; 5, Employed various methods. The preacher's text was from the xx chapter of Acts, the eighteenth to the twenty-fourth verses. These points were all illustrated and ably enforced, The election of officers followed. The Rev. Mr. Tsin was chosen chairman, and the Rev. Mr. Goddard clerk.
The Association agreed to hold its sessions from 10 to 12 in the forenoon, and from 2.40 to 4.30 in the afternoon; and after the reading of the minutes of the meeting held in Zaohyng last year, adjourned.
This afternoon is to be devoted to the reception of delegates and reports from the various Churches. The Association is likely to continue in session several days.
'20th Oct.
Yesterday afternoon was occupied in hearing letters from the Church The first subject for discussion this morning had reference to Commentaries, their value and importance.
Dr. Loxp's Commentaries on Romans, First Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians and Hebrews, were highly commended by the Rey. Wong Ping-san and others.
Dr. Yates spoke of the usefulness and importance of Commentaries, but cautioned his hearers against taking them for the word of God.
The second theme was "Chinese customs which hinder the progress of the Gospel."
The Rev. Dr. Yates was the first speaker, and he characterized borrowing with no reasonable prospect of paying as a grovious offence, calculated to injure the character of the native Christians among their heathen neighbours, and bring reproach upon the cause. He described the various methods in vogue among the natives for raising money in an emergency, and mentioned the case of a man whom he knew who incurred a debt in connection with his wedding that he could never pay. It remained long after his death a burden to his family, but was after twenty-five or thirty years paid by his sons. It was characterized as "two days of feast and twenty years of famine." Dr. Yates quoted and enforced the texts, "Be not conformed to this world," and Owe no man anything, Dr. Lonw carefully discriminated between those debts which one is able to pay and those incurred with no prospect of paying, allowing that the latter were sinful, and setting forth the duty of all to live within their income.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.