Until within a few years, this body of Christians united with the American board in their operations among the heathen. A distinct society, under the name of the Western Foreign Missionary Society, was formed in 1831, by the synod of Pittsburg, which was merged into the present board in 1837. Three of the missions of the board were begun by this society, namely, the Western Africa, the Hindoostan, and Iowa and Sac missions. This board is intending to reenforce its missions, and to occupy several new stations, as soon as the requisite arrangements can be made. Its main efforts will be directed towards Hindoostan, where it has now two presses in active cooeperation with its missionaries. This denomination of Christians have the following missions: -- Iowa and Sac Indians; Chippewa and Ottawa Indians; Texas; Western Africa, Kroos; Chinese, Singapore; Siam; Northern India, Lodiana, Allahabad, Furrukhabad. Summary. This church has now under her care in the foreign field, fifty-seven laborers sent from her own bosom, twenty-three of whom are ministers of the gospel; besides eight native assistants, some of them men of learning, all of them hopefully pious, and in different stages of preparation and trial for the missionary work among their own benighted people. Through the mission stations occupied by these brethren, the church is brought in direct contact with five different heathen nations, containing two thirds of the whole human race. Annual expenditure about sixty-five thousand dollars. The Presbyterian Domestic Board of Missions employs or aids two hundred and sixty missionaries and agents, who have under their charge about twenty thousand communicants, and twenty thousand Sabbath school scholars. Annual disbursements about thirty-five thousand dollars. |