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Other general causes must have a liberal support, and many congregations have important local enterprises, and yet, rejoicing as Methodists do over the destruction of slavery, sympathizing as Methodists do with the emancipated millions in their transition state, wishing as Methodists do to see them enlightened and Christianized, we believe that every congregation will give liberally to this work which patriotism, humanity, and religion alike demand.        J.M. WALDEN, Cor. Sec'y.
CINCINNATI, O., MAY, 1867.

VOICE OF THE BISHOPS.
To the Pastors and Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church:
DEAR BRETHREN,--The emancipation of four millions of slaves has opened at our very door a wide field calling alike for mission and educational work. It has devolved upon the Church a fearful responsibility. Religion and education alone can make freedom a blessing to them. The school must be planted by the side of the Church; the teacher must go along with the missionary. In no other way can our work reach its highest success among the Freedmen of the South. They claim this culture as immortal beings, at out hands. Without it their true position as members of society can never be attained. It is needful, that they may sustain proper domestic relations among themselves, and that their children may be saved from the blighting effects entailed by the system of slavery. It is indispensable to the highest and most permanent success of our mission work among them. And then, too, a consideration of vital importance to the Christian world, is the fact that from among themselves the ministers are to be raise up who shall conserve, carry forward, and make permanent the work of Christianizing and educating the race.
The time may come when the States in the South will make some provision for the education of the colored children now growing up in utter ignorance in their midst. But thus far they have made none, nor perhaps can it soon be expected of them. Christian philanthropy must supply this lack. While other Churches, North and South, are entering this broad field, we have our own work and our own duty to perform. We can not turn away from the appeal that comes home to our consciences and hearts. Nor can we delay. The emergency  is upon us, and we must begin the work now. 
As a suitable channel through which the benefactions of out Church to this object may best reach their design, the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church has been organized. It is designed to co-operate with out missionary work in the South, and, in fact, to supplement that work. There are openings for hundreds of teachers at this moment. Hundreds of teachers are ready to go. The means to send them are only wanting.
In view of the great emergency of the case, and the certainty that the benefactions of our people can better reach their end through our own channels than through any other, we commend to you the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. And especially would we urge upon all pastors and congregations, in view of the present great and pressing wants, to make for this object a collection as soon as practicable.
We also recommend that the Churches in the East contribute with special reference to the establishment of schools in the Southern States bordering upon the Atlantic, and that the Churches in the West direct their efforts especially to the States lying south of them in the great Mississippi Valley. We further recommend to the Executive Committee of the Freedmen's Aid Society,  to distribute the schools established by them in the South, so as to cover the whole territory of the South as far as practicable, so that the fruits of this blessed work may be most widely diffused. 
Done by order of the Board of Bishops, at new York city, November 8, 1866.  
D.W.CLARK, Sec'y of the Board.