CHAPTER XII.

CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. A. B. C. F. M.-American Bible Society.-American Tract Society. American Colonization Society. - American Sunday - school Union.-American Temperance Union.

FROM an early period of his life Mr. Frelinghuysen. was in the habit of advocating on the platform the claims of organized Christian benevolence. This habit was due not to any zeal for notoriety or any love for the excitements of popular speaking, but to his deep interest in philanthropic enterprises, and his earnest desire to do what he could for the welfare of his fellow-men. His name, and position, and character added attractiveness to his speech, and his efforts were received with general acceptance. Being thus brought into contact with those intrusted with the direction of the great benevolent associations of the age, and the benefits of his counsel and influence being perceived, he was gradually introduced into a closer connection with their interior working, and a more responsible position in their management. This extended so far that it may be truly said that no American layman was ever associated with so many great national organizations of religion and charity. He was or had been president of no less than four, while his name is found upon the list of officers of all the rest, with scarcely an exception.

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

The institution over which he presided for the longest term of years, and in which his interest was the most deeply cherished, was the AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, founded at Boston in 1810, well known throughout Christendom for the faith of its founders, the wisdom of its management, the wide extent of its operations, the zeal, ability, and piety of its laborers, and the large success which has attended its efforts. He was chosen one of its corporate members in 1826, and attended its annual meetings as often as circumstances permitted. His farther connection with the Board is well shown in the following extract from a communication made to the author by the Rev. Dr. Treat, one of the secretaries:

"Mr. Frelinghuysen was chosen President of the Board in 1841. No selection could have been more acceptable to our entire constituency. His career as a member of the United States Senate had secured for him a most enviable reputation. As a man of integrity and ability he had the respect of all. As a Christian and philanthropist he stood second to none. Much as Jerseymen loved and honored him, it admits of a serious question whether others were a whit behind them in this regard.

"During the sixteen years of his presidency, nothing occurred to lessen the esteem in which he was held. His deportment in the chair, always dignified and courteous-his annual address, always earnest and effective-made him a universal favorite. It was with the profoundest regret, therefore, that we saw him relinquish his position. We felt that we were

parting from a dear and venerable friend who had long been the central figure in our pleasant convoca

tions.

"The reason of his withdrawal is thus stated in a letter written by him to the nominating committee of the Board, dated Providence, September 10, 1857:

“‘DEAR BRETHREN,-The recent action of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, of which I am an humble member, in deciding hereafter to conduct their foreign missions on their own distinct Church organization, renders it becoming and proper for me to decline, as I hereby do, a nomination and choice to the office of president of your Board. The generous Christian confidence that first elected, and has long continued me in that place of distinguished honor, will be among the precious recollections of my life. With deep personal regret I part with you.

"The committee appointed to express the sense of the Board, in view of its bereavement, reported the following resolutions, which were cordially adopted:

"Resolved, That in addition to the deep regret which this Board has experienced in the separation, not in feeling, but in action, from our brethren of the Reformed Dutch Church, we feel that our trial is rendered more severe, and our regret more deep, by the fact that, in consequence of the sundering of these ties, we have also been compelled to relinquish our beloved presiding officer.

"Resolved, That this Board have received with deep emotion and unaffected grief the communication from our late president in which he declines to be a candidate for renomination or re-election.

"Resolved, That we can not permit him to retire from an office which he has filled to such universal acceptance for a period of sixteen years without an

expression, not simply of regret at parting, but also of our high appreciation of the valuable services which he has rendered during his period of office.

"Resolved, That in THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN we have found combined qualifications which singularly fitted him to preside over the deliberations of such a body; bringing to the discharge of his official duties ripe experience in parliamentary rules and forms, promptness, accuracy, and impartiality in the transaction of business, keen insight into character, tact and judgment in facilitating the dispatch of business, uniform courtesy in his intercourse with all the members of the Board-wisely and happily blending mildness, and even gentleness, with unhesitating firmness and energy; one of whom we can safely say we have not known his superior as a presiding officer; and combining with these peculiar qualifications for his station warm-hearted piety and fervid eloquence.

"Resolved, That we tender to Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen our cordial wishes that he may yet enjoy many years of usefulness and happiness in his new field of honorable duty.'

"These resolutions were prepared by one who has enjoyed a large acquaintance with deliberative assemblies, and who therefore knows whereof he affirms.

"For reasons which were perfectly satisfactory, Mr. Frelinghuysen refused to make a farewell address at Providence; but, a few days later, he sent a letter to 'the secretaries and presidential committee,' which I will transfer to these pages. It is as follows:

“'DEAR BRETHREN,-In our interesting interviews at Providence, I suggested that the matter of a farewell speech I could better arrange by letter; that the separation involved to me so much of feeling that I could not well intrust it to a public occasion. When our several Christian denominations, the Congregational, Old and New School Presbyterian, and the Reform

ed Protestant Dutch, all labored in love together on benighted and heathen fields, it struck me as a beautiful type of our blessed Master's religion in its aspects toward these lands of darkness. The heathen saw that, indeed, the followers of Christ were 'one;' one in profession, in principle, and in action; that they who thought alike could and did work together. But it seems that this good time is yet to wait. I believe that we shall hail this blessed temper in universal prevalence, when the salvation of our fellow-men shall so fill our anxieties and our prayers, so shape our plans and quicken all our endeavors, that Christians will have time only to rejoice that in so many things they agree, and will want time and heart to detect and expose the few unessential things in which they may differ. For this heavenly union let us, dear brethren, pray and labor.

"In parting from you, I feel as a child parting from a venerated and beloved mother. Like a mother you have cherished us, when we were few and feeble. You took us under the wings of your care, and linked our interests together. We thank you for all your kindness. We thank God for the precious seasons of Christian privilege that we have enjoyed together. We have often gone up to the heights of Zion, and looked down upon this dark world, and traced the footsteps of our wonder-working God and Redeemer. And from these "heavenly places" we have together hailed the first streaks of the morning, the sure tokens of that coming glory which the Sun of Righteousness shall shed upon this benighted and sin-stricken world. These hallowed seasons will be for grateful thanksgiv ing in that blessed world where partings never grieve, and the past shall be recalled only to augment the pleasures of a sanctified memory.

"As the American Board was the first Christian association to which, in my youth, I found it a privilege to give, so it shall continue to receive the yearly

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