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in the "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism," in common with them, and, so far, we are recognized as being one in sentiment with the Baptist denomination.

And yet there is a distance between us -- a gulf of social and even religious ostracism -- that will not admit of the sundered ones coming together; and it is not easier for us to bridge the gulf that separates us than it is for the "Ethiopian to change his skin or the leopard to change his spots."

This is the condition in which we are placed; then, is it wise in us to ignore it?

To us it seems the part of wisdom to recognize our real status, and then patiently and resolutely prepare ourselves to work systematically and effectually to improve it. Then, too, shall we be better prepared to advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, so far as it devolves upon us to do so.

Another thing which has impressed us is, that the situation in which we find ourselves placed creates particular interests which look chiefly to us for their advancement and necessitates work that devolves mainly upon us to perform.

Our churches must be built up, strengthened and enlarged in their influence; the spiritual, moral and social elements amongst us must be educated and controlled, so that they may not only be retained with us, but become a power for their own higher improvement and the uplifting of everybody else.

True religion can never prosper where there is no social affinity between the religious elements brought together. It can certainly do no great good towards the improvement of either the minds or bodies of men, when it is divorced from the social elements in our nature.

Pure morals form an essential elements in sound religion; but neither of these can become anything more than a mere semblance of themselves in a community where a cultivated and mutually respected social intercourse is not maintained among its members.

This is strikingly exemplified in the kind of religious notions and the dwarfed and defaced moral sentiments that the state of society, engendered by slavery, entailed upon the millions who grew up under its influence.

To uneducate and expurgate these notions -- to counteract this influence -- is the work that lies before us, calling us to thrust in the sickle. This is our work; for it we have an adaptation above others, since other will not come so thoroughly in contact with it as ourselves -- and we must do it. We must create within ourselves supplies for its demands.

Others can, and should, help us -- some, no doubt, will help us in the future, as they have in the past; but none can do our work for us -- only ourselves can do it effectually. We have briefly considered our situation and the work it involves. Now, to do this work efficiently, we must be more united in our labors.

As the colored Baptist churches now appear, they do not exert an influence commensurate with their numbers: we do not work unitedly and therefore we lack force. We ought to do more for the evangelization of the world than we do. From the manner in which we have hitherto worked, with out forces scattered, it is not easy to ascertain what we really have accomplished towards the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom among men. We have worked, and not unfrequently others have taken to themselves the results of our labors.

We have channels of our own creating through which we should work; and these are well adapted to the accomplishing of much for the glory of our Saviour, and that would at the same time remain to our credit, as his own honored laborers, if we would unite upon them and use them with that degree of efficiency that we are capable of.

The American Baptist Missionary Convention was organized by the colored Baptists of the United States, as a missionary and educational society, over twenty-nine years ago. It maintained its organization through a period of twenty-seven years, and during this time it conducted missionary operations in 

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this country and in Africa, doing much good; and in 1866 it formed a union with the Northwestern and Southern Convention, a society that had operated chiefly in the States bordering on the Mississippi. This union constituted the Consolidated American Baptist Missionary Convention. In this, through a period of three years, the churches -- East, West, North and South -- have to some extent coöperated in their labors.

That more has been accomplished by the united body, and larger results have attended the labors of its workers, must be apparent to every one who has read with care its annual reports, which have been published in pamphlet form and circulated free to all who manifested an interest in our work.

In addition to the missionary work, and as an important auxilliary to it, an educational department was organized at the last annual meeting, held at Paducah, Ky.

Now, ought this convention to have been organized? You say yes, by your participation in its organization. Ought it to continue to exist as a separate organized agency for the prosecution of our work? You admit that it should, but your not making auxilliary, or consolidating it with some one of the other Baptist societies laboring in the same field, or by your not abandoning it altogether. Then, we say, IT SHOULD RECEIVE YOUR UNITED SUPPORT AND HEARTY COÖPERATION.

Newspapers have been found to be a necessity for the intelligent presentation of our claims to the public for contributions to carry on our work, and as channels of communication between us, through which we may speak our own thoughts and make our own feelings about whatever concerns us. These we have in the American Baptist and the Sunbeam, both of them speaking to thousands of readers, monthly and weekly, for us; and through them we can speak to each other, or to the public, at our pleasure. In their editorial management we are ably represented by our Corresponding Secretary, Rev. R. L. Perry.

Now, we summons you to rally to the support of these your own enterprises, instituted by you to meet the wants of your situation, and to minister the gospel to the world, so far as you are capable of doing so. They are the most inexpensive agencies, and at the same time capable of being made the most efficient, for the promotion of religion, morality and general intelligence among the colored people. If you do not liberally support them, you can not reasonably expect others to do so; and, in that case, they will remain inefficient, and a standing evidence of your deplorable inactivity and want of the spirit of general Christian enterprise in spreading the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. This ought not to be the case; it need not; and say, brethren, that it SHALL NOT. Rise in your strength, and in the strength of our great Captain and Bishop, even Jesus; then the prayers you offer will be answered, and the labors you put forth will be crowned with success.

In union, love and fellowship, let us pray and work together. As the lord has prospered us, as churches and individuals, let us all give for the support of the work he has given us to do as a missionary society; and then we will rise together and wield an influence that can not be gained by any other means.

Done by order of the Convention,

RICHARD DEBAPTISTE, PRES.,
RUFUS L. PERRY, COR. SEC.,
R. M. DULING,
G. W. DUPEE,
E. KELLY,
J. T. BOULDEN.

Committee on Address to the Churches.

N. B. -- Address Rev. RUFUS L. PERRY, Corresponding Secretary, Lock-Box 602, Brooklyn, N. Y.