York the first general meeting of the Congregationalists of the United States since the Cambridge synod of 1648 was held at Albany, beginning October 5, 1852. By that convention the Plan of Union was declared at an end. Congregationalists had discovered that their polity was adapted to the entire country, that they had a divinely appointed mission to give the gospel of Christ to the whole world, and that in order to carry out this mission it was necessary that they should know one another, and should become affiliated as one body in such a manner that they could act intelligently and unitedly in fulfilling their great work.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ORGANIZED CHRISTIAN WORK.

ODERN Congregationalism from its beginning was essentially a missionary movement. Its founders were drawn to the New World, not only that they might plant a commonwealth where they could worship God unmolested, but also in the hope that they might give the gospel to the native inhabitants of the new land. This missionary spirit grew with their growth both in themselves and in their descendants. As the colonies expanded into provinces and these into States united and free, the churches promptly extended their aid to their brethren who were struggling to plant Christian institutions in new settlements, and in due time, with their prayers and gifts, they entered on plans to carry into distant lands the truth which they held most precious.

MODERN from

Congregationalists were in the front rank in founding this Republic, in securing its independence of Great Britain and in framing its political institutions; but their most thrilling history is the record of their missionary enterprises at home and abroad. In these are to be found the secret and evidence of their vitality and their promise for the future. Their missionary societies began as they were called into being by the necessities of particular times. In their earlier history other denominations co-operated with them. These

organizations were voluntary societies established by individuals and not by the churches. They at first overlapped one another, and have gradually come into their present condition and relations with each other through natural experience and mutual understanding. Necessarily the account of them to be given in this volume must be far briefer than they deserve. But their doings have been woven into the entire history; and in this chapter only the outlines of the societies now existing can be described. They have been placed in the order of their organization.

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN
MISSIONS.

The beginnings of American foreign missions may be traced back to a few men and women of large faith and consecrated spirit. One of these women was the mother of Samuel J. Mills. He entered Williams College in 1806. In that year a missionary prayer meeting was held by a few of the students under the shelter of a haystack, and from the date of that meeting the history of American foreign missions practically begins.

Two years later a society was formed in the college for the purpose of beginning "a mission to the heathen." From Williams College Mills, Gordon Hall and James Richards went to Andover Seminary and there associated others with them in the same purpose. In 1810 Mills, Newell, Nott and Judson requested the Massachusetts General Association,. which that year met at Bradford, to further their purpose to preach the gospel to heathen lands. The association welcomed the petition of the young men