[This article has never been included in any compilations of Elder Trott's writings. We urge our brethren to see how bureaucracy becomes the enemy of spirituality - ed]
No. 1
Brother Beebe, I did not think, when I sent on my last communication, that I should so soon again with a place in the “Signs” But having been honored with a copy, by mail of the first report of the executive committee of the American Baptist home mission society, I feel constrained to notice it.
When I first examined the report, saw good words and fair speeches, employed sold well circulated to deceive the hearts of the simple; the extensive concentration of power in the hands of a few, this society being designed as the head, and the center of the union of effort, to all the state conventions, general associations and smaller connections formed in the United states, and in the British provinces of America, for the whole mission purposes and intended apparently in the whole arrangement to be to the Baptist, what the Presbyterians, synods and General Assembly of the Presbyterians are to that denomination; the artful attempts to enlist the support of persons of influence in all the states by appointing such as vice president; but above all the object designed to be accomplished, to bring all the Baptist churches in America under the pastoral care of what they call an educated ministry; That is, a set of men who are taught in the theological schools, to preach scientifically a philosophized gospel who will train the churches to the practice of all these self styled benevolent plans of the day; I say, when I saw thus developed a plan artfully contrived to accomplished the entire prostration of playing gospel preaching throughout the whole land, although I have for years believed that such event would air long take place, yet when I saw before me the instrument ready prepared to affect it, I felt a misgiving and an agitation which forcibly reminded me of the words of Habakkuk; “when I heard my belly trembled, my lips quivered.” Although there was not produced in me an excitement to the same extent as that described by the prophet, what I did feel, led me on reflection to discover in his manner of describing a strong excitement, a peculiar correctness which I had not before seen.
I intend to give in this number a sketch of the formation of the society and in future numbers a view of its designed operation as declared on the report, and illustrated in the communications of certain of their missionaries published in the “Baptist repository,” the organ of this society, several numbers of which were sometimes since forwarded to me very opportunely.
In the organization and arrangement of the society, there is a studied attempt to present it to public view, as divested of several of those offensive traits which we find in the constitutions of former mission societies.
First, in the liberal provision as to membership, “any person may become a member of this society by contributing annually to its funds, $30 paid at one time shall constitute a member for life, $100 paid at one time shall constitute a director for life; and any Baptist Church, or association or state convention, or missionary society that contributes annually to the objects of this society, shall be entitled to be represented by one or more delicate, in its annual meetings.” “Constitution Article 3d, the officers of auxiliary societies, shall be ex officio directors of this society, and their members shall be members of this society.”
2nd, in the great proportion of directors, “the officers of this society shall be a president, vice president, a treasurer, an auditor, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, and 50 directors, who shall be annually appointed by the society.” Article 4 of the Constitution. These 50 directors are in addition to the life directors, and officers of auxiliary societies. There are also 32 vice presidents appointed; 1 from each of the British provinces, and from each of the States and territories of the United States, with three or four exceptions. In this liberal number of vice presidents, I find but four reverend gentlemen, the others being Honorables, esquires, gentlemen, or doctors. Quite a distinction has been conferred in the laity; Even the president being of that class. But then they must all be the great ones of the earth.
Among the accepted states, I find Maryland. Poor Maryland Baptists; Even those of them who may be solicitors of preferment, and who possess worldly titles sufficiently honorable to merit a distinction, have to suffer a deprivation in consequence of our “old school meeting,” having been suffered to be held in connection with the Baltimore association. There is a brother of the Salisbury association, and one of the Delaware, who are appointed directors. How far these brethren, will feel flattered with the distinction, is not for me to say. The brother of Delaware whom they have exacted to the dignity of a vice president, if I'm not mistaken in him, was not the happiest choice they might have made for themselves, he will not be as easily cajoled into their measures, as some others who might be found even in the same city.
3rd, the society stipulates with its auxiliary societies, to allow them severally the right to appoint, direct, and pay missionaries within the respective limits, to any amount not exceeding the net income of such auxiliaries. See Stipend 2d, pg. 26. The committee given their stipulations with the auxiliaries, makes the following flattering declarations,
“these stipulations wherever they shall be adopted will put it out of the power of the parent institution to contravene, the wishes of those whose business it is to manage the affairs and guard the purity of the churches in the different sections of our country. Were appropriations beyond the amount contributed by an auxiliary are needed in the district of that auxiliary, the parent society will of course find it alike convenient and necessary to consult the wishes and avail itself of the councils of its own auxiliaries.”
“The general society thus claims but to be the servant of the churches. It pretends no ecclesiastical authority. It interferes not with the discipline of the peculiar views of the doctrine of any of our churches. The society has no charter and no funded property. It has its being only in the confidence of the Christian public; And should it ever through unfaithfulness to its trust, cease to deserve these, its auxiliaries may withdraw their aid and the society ceased to exist,” Rep. Page 28.
These several circumstances in the organization of the society, the general specified object, “home missions,” together with the many smooth things said in the report are well calculated to enlist the feelings of all those Baptists who are not conscientiously grounded in the belief that the scriptures are a sufficient and the only correct rule of gospel order and practice, as well as of doctrine. These the report characterizes, as those who “have no part in Christian feeling and the triumphs of Zion,” and contrasts them with others of Baptist congregations who say they “though they profess less faith show more works.” What a pity to ruffle the smooth surface of such a report! Did it relate to anything but to profess the religion of Christ I would not disturb it, as it is I must sound its depth.
First, we will inquire into the amount of the privilege of membership officers, so liberally bestowed.
First, the privilege of membership, and annual life delegated. We find from the minutes of the annual meeting that the society met on the 8th of May at 4:00 PM; after delegates had presented their credentials, and others were invited to seats with the society, they proceeded to appoint the officers for the ensuing year. Here it will, of course, be supposed the members enjoyed the privilege of free suffrage, in electing their officers. But let the minute speak for itself.
“Agreeable to the report of a committee of nomination the following officers were chosen for the year ensuing.” The privilege in this case enjoyed, was that of saying Yea! To the report of the nominating committee. The late hour appointed for the meeting, by providing precluding all the time for canvassing, shows that no higher privilege was intended for them.
Three or four other transactions of the society are recorded.
The committee of nomination was empowered to fill up any vacancies in the list of officers.
2nd, the executive committee was instructed to procure if possible an act of incorporation for the society.
3rd the time and place of holding the next annual meeting was appointed.
4th, the society adjourned to meet again at 7:30 in the evening Minute pg. 4.
The evening meeting, and distinction from the 4:00 meeting is styled the “public anniversary.” The object of this meeting is thus expressed, “the society met pursuant to adjournment, for the purpose of hearing the reports of the treasurer, and of the executive committee.” But in addition to hearing the reports, the society enjoyed the privilege of hearing these reports and the great objects of the society, eulogized by several speakers, who in conformity to the general custom at the anniversaries of the various societies, were probably selected beforehand, page I have thus been particular to give the amount of the privilege of membership. And surely it may be well worth the expense trouble of traveling, 100 and 500 or 1000 miles, as a life member or the delicate of an auxiliary, to enjoy such a privilege, to those who are fond of mere pageantry.
Second, the vice presidents. According to the constitution, “the officers of the society shall be a president, vice president, a treasurer etcetera”. Consequently but one out of the 32 vice presidents can be recognized as an officer of the society. The others of course were all blanks. This is giving flattering titles, with a witness.
3rd, the officers of the society. I will give entire, the fifth article of the constitution to show the extent of the control these have over the concerns of the society. The article reads thus,
“The officers and life directors shall appoint an executive committee of 13 persons (including the treasurer, the corresponding secretary, and the recording secretary) reciting in the city of New York and its vicinity, five of whom shall be a quorum at any meeting regularly convened. This committee shall have the power to appoint its own meetings, from its own rules of business and fill any vacancies that may occur during the year and convene special meetings of the board and of the society; shall appoint missionaries and instruct them as to the field and manner of their labors; Shall dispose of the funds of the objects of the society, (provided that all monies contributed for any specific purpose shall be faithfully applied only to that particular object) shall create such agency or agencies for the appointment of missionaries and for other purposes, as the interests of the society may require; And shall make an annual report of their proceedings to the society. All the officers, executive committee, agents, and missionaries of the society shall be members of some Baptist Church in general union with the body of the denomination.”
Thus we see the whole control of this vast concern in the hands of these 13 persons!
There is no account given in the report, of minutes of the origin of the committee of nomination; But from every circumstance it is presumed that they are appointed by the executive committee and out of their own body. If so, we here see us as complete and aristocracy organized as ever needs to exist. There is no act or any account that can be performed in this society but what is under the control of the executive committee, accepting that the life directors can give an independent vote in choosing this committee; the only vote which the constitution allows to them or to any of the officers, accepting the secretaries or treasurer. The nominating committee is appointed by and is a part of the executive committee, the 50 directors and other officers being in effect appointed by that committee, a majority of this committee will always have the power of securing their own election. The 50 directors, therefore are about on a par with the 31 vice presidents. That is they are appointed directors but debarred by the constitution from all power to direct the concerns of the society.
Second, the privilege granted to the auxiliaries stipulates with them to allow they to severely to appoint, direct, and pay their own missionaries. To this stipulation, there is however the following proviso, “that the appointment of missionaries by such auxiliary shall be in the manner following, a sufficient number of blank commissioners shall be furnished to the auxiliary signed by the chairman of the executive committee and the corresponding secretary of the society, which shall be filled and countersigned by the proper officers of the auxiliary and issued on their responsibility.” Stip. 2d. pg. 26 These commissions are undoubtedly made out in conformity to the provision of the constitution in that case, the executive committee shall appoint missionaries and instruct them as to the field and manner of their labors. The direction therefore of these missionaries accepting the selecting the persons and their stations, is with the executive committee, whilst the responsibility rests on the officers of the auxiliary. A handsome compliment is paid to the auxiliary.
The executive committee styling the society, as “the servant of churches,” in referring to the liberty of these stipulations, is as fine an imitation of the pope calling himself the servant of servants as I have ever seen.
As to the declaration that the society has no character, we have seen from the minutes that the executive committee was instructed to procure if possible an act of incorporation of the society. And in reference to the societies having no funded property; The fourth general head of the plan of operations (p.25) reads thus, “a large amount of funds is obviously needed along the indispensable means of our enterprise.” Nine several modes are named for trying to obtain these funds. Hence we can plainly see what is intended by the assertion that the society has no charter and no funded property, and to what it amounts; And from such palpable insincerity of expression, we shall learn how to appreciate their future assertions.
Thus such in relation to the peculiar formation of the society.
S. Trott
Fairfax Courthouse, Va., July 31, 1833
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