[Dedicated at Williamstown, Mass., July 28, 1867.]

In the accomplishment of great moral purposes, a Divine Providence employs human instrumentalities. Of this we have ample evidence, not only in the history of nations, but in the career of individuals.

A little more than eighteen centuries ago, a few obscure fishermen, while casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee, were called to abandon their nets, and become "fishers of men."

A little more than sixty years ago, a few obscure young men, while pursuing their classical studies in Williams College, were called to go into benighted lands beyond the sea, and proclaim the divine doctrine of "peace on earth and good-will to men."

These students, though unknown to fame, were young men of thought and of high moral aspirations. Influenced by a devotional spirit, they felt that God had a great work for them to do, and that it was therefore important for them to comprehend their true relations, both to God and to man.

What was the precise character of the great work assigned them, they did not seem to know; and for this reason they sought for more light, and for guidance from the Mighty Counsellor, whose wisdom is infinite, and who cannot err. In seeking for that knowledge which "cometh from above," they were accustomed, in the milder months of the year, to hold occasional prayer-meetings in the solitudes of Nature, believing that

And doubtless they felt that the Divine Presence dwells more essentially in the silent sanctuaries of Nature than in "temples made with hands."

It was here, within the quiet and cool retreat of the maple-grove in which we are now assembled, that they had convened at the close of a sultry summer day, in the year 1806, to hold the accustomed prayer-meeting, when they were overtaken by a sudden shower of rain, and compelled to seek the friendly shelter afforded them by a neighboring haystack.

The group of young evangelists who were present at the prayer-meeting on this particular occasion consisted of Samuel J. Mills, James Richards, Francis L. Robbins, Harvey Loomis, and Byram Green. Protected from the rain by the haystack, they continued, amid the conflict of the elements, their devotional exercises, and also discussed religious topics of deep interest to themselves and to the world. It was a sublime moment for them and for the world. The heavens were darkened; the lightnings flashed; dread thunders rolled; the rain fell; yet amid this conflict of the elements there came "a still small voice," as if from the storm-cloud. It was a divine whisper, an inspired thought, which stirred the life-currents in the heart of Mills, and diffused upon his brow a celestial radiance. That inspired thought, broad as the earth in its comprehension, Mills announced to his devout companions. They felt its divinity, and regarded it as a divine communication. At the instance of Mills, they knelt in prayer, and besought divine aid and guidance in executing the great work which they now believed had been revealed to them. It was nothing less than a mission to some foreign heathen land, and the ultimate evangelization of the world. In offering up the last prayer at this meeting, so enthusiastic became Mills that he invoked "the red artillery of Heaven to strike down the arm that should be raised against a herald of the cross."

And now, as the storm-cloud passed away, the skies became bright and serene; the air was pure and fragrant as balm. The raindrops, like jewels, glittered on the leaves in the grove, and on the grass and wild-flowers in the meadows. In short, the smile of Heaven was reflected in the face of Nature. And the sublimity of the scene, as it may be supposed, was heightened by the appearance of a rainbow in the east,—that glorious emblem of a divine love, which is so ample in its character as to embrace within its golden circle the great world of mankind, of "every nation, kindred, and tongue."

As these inspired young men of the haystack wended their way back to the college halls, they "pondered these things in their hearts" and communicated their thoughts to such of their fellow-students as they believed would sympathize with them in the desire they felt to consecrate their lives to the great work of foreign missions, and especially a mission to India. Several of their associates became at once inspired with a similar missionary spirit. But as yet the interest felt in this new enterprise was restricted to the circle of the "Society of Brethren," as it was designated. This society was a secret organization, composed of such students as had made a profession of religion, and had for its object the promotion of the spiritual welfare of its members. In pursuance of this object, they held private prayer-meetings in each others' rooms, and discussed questions of special religious interest, and often, in the summer season, retired for the same purpose to the neighboring groves.

In this way was sown the first grain of "mustard seed," which was destined soon to vegetate and grow to a tree of gigantic proportions. The planting of this "smallest of all seeds" constituted a nucleus for more extended effort. Consequently other societies were soon organized to promote the good work. In fact, new life was breathed into the "dry bones" of every valley; and Heaven repeated the command, "Go, teach all nations."

The grand result of this day of "small things" was the organization at Bradford, in 1810, of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,—an organization which under the direction and favor of a Divine Providence has achieved so much for the civilization and evangelization of the benighted races of mankind. Of this we need adduce no other proof than the leading facts of its history.

In its inception, this Board consisted of but few members. At its first meeting there were but five members present, and at its second, but seven. Its receipts for the first year were but a thousand dollars. Now its annual receipts exceed a half-million of dollars, and its annual meetings are attended by thousands of people. In the aggregate, it has collected and disbursed nearly twelve millions of dollars. It has never lost a dollar by the fraud or embezzlement of any of its officers or agents. Since its first meeting of five persons, in 1810, its corporate members have been increased to two hundred, and its honorary members to seventeen thousand.

It has sent into the missionary field thirteen hundred persons, in various capacities, including nearly five hundred ordained missionaries. It has established missions in almost every benighted region of the habitable globe, especially in the Eastern Hemisphere,—in India, in China, in Persia, in Syria, in Greece, in Turkey, in Africa, and also in several isles of the sea, including the Sandwich Islands. It has more than a hundred missionary stations, and nearly two hundred out-stations occupied by native helpers. It has in the native ministry three hundred Christian converts, about seventy of whom are pastors of churches. These native Christian churches have now increased to two hundred, in communion with which more than sixty thousand hopeful converts have been received.

It has printing-presses, which have printed more than a thousand millions of pages of religious and educational matter, which has been distributed in forty-two living languages, as now spoken in pagan and other unevangelized lands. It has invented alphabets, and reduced eighteen native languages to writing. It has put in successful operation more than four hundred native schools, in which more than twelve thousand native children have been taught. All this has been done in less than sixty years, and still the great work progresses with increasing zeal and efficiency.

Thus has the Board proved itself to be, in the providence of God, a great moral power in the nineteenth century. It is the star in the West, which flings its cheering light into the East. The wise men have seen it, and the shepherds have seen it. Like the star of Bethlehem, its errand is divine, for it was born of an inspired thought which has now become an invincible element in the moral world,—a power which must and will do its work; and though opposition and discouragement may come,—

Yes, millions of Christian heroes will come to the rescue, still bearing aloft the banner of the cross, and shouting the battle-cry of civil and religious freedom. And woman, first at the sepulchre, first in deeds of charity, first in every good work, will renew her activities in the great warfare with moral darkness, until the "uttermost parts of the earth" have been illuminated with the light of divine truth.

It is expected, perhaps, that some allusion will be made to the motive which has induced the erection of the monument you see standing before you in its modest yet truthful significance. The motive was simply a desire felt in common with many other persons to see a spot which has become sacred in missionary history commemorated by some permanent expression of Christian gratitude. An expression of this kind seemed due not only to the great and good cause of American Foreign Missions, but to the revered memories of the five young men of prayer, who knelt here, under shelter of the haystack, and received from on high a divine commission. And permit me to add that the filial regard I entertain for my Alma Mater, and for my native State of Massachusetts, has had its influence in disposing me to make this contribution to a heaven-born enterprise, and in remembrance of those truly good, and therefore truly great, men, whose names are inscribed on the monument. The plan of the monument, as well as its erection here, it gives me pleasure to state, has received the cordial approval of the Faculty and Trustees of the college. The grand object for which the monument has been erected, is the commemoration of the "birthplace of American Foreign Missions;" and to this object we now dedicate it, in the name of a Christian philanthropy, whose "field is the world."

In its character the monument is not less unique than emblematical. It stands on the identical spot where the haystack stood. As a specimen of fine material and artistic sculpture, it is strictly a Berkshire production, composed of Berkshire marble quarried at Alford, and wrought in the workshops of The Berkshire Marble Company. Its entire height is twelve feet; its shaft, cap, and base, square; its surface polished; its color a silver-blue. It is surmounted with a globe three feet in diameter, traced in geographical lines. On its eastern face, and immediately below the globe, are inscribed these words, "The Field is the World." Then follows a similitude of the haystack, sculptured in bas-relief, and encircled with these words, "The Birthplace of American Foreign Missions, 1806." And beneath this appear the names of the five young men who held the prayer-meeting under the shelter of the haystack. The maple-grove, amid whose cool shadows we now stand, is the same grove from which the five heavenly minded young men were driven by the impending rain-storm.

This maple-grove, which has now become ever memorable, is included within the boundaries of Mission Park. The park contains ten acres, and was purchased on account of its historical interest, and made part of the domains of Williams College. It is the design of the friends of the college to embellish the park with specimens of the trees and shrubs and flowers of every foreign land to which missionaries have been sent by the American Board, so far, at least, as such specimens can be successfully acclimated in this country.

When its embellishments have been perfected, Mission Park will become a place of delightful resort, full of sacred memories, which will accumulate and grow in interest with the lapse of time. Every year will bring within its inviting precincts hundreds of pilgrims, and every college commencement its missionary jubilee. Then will Mission Park possess, not only an attractive aspect, but a moral power which will awaken a renewed zeal in behalf of missions. And here may this consecrated monument, which is so expressive of a highly interesting fact in the history of missions, ever remain as an educator of coming generations, and as a landmark in the pathway of the citizen, the student, and the stranger! And here let the moral hero of the present, and of the future, stay his steps, and make still higher and holier resolves. Nor let us of the present generation forget that we have a great work still to accomplish in the moral field,—a field which is as broad as the earth, and in which we ought to renew our diligence,—feeling assured that with the final triumph of truth will come universal freedom, universal love, and universal brotherhood.

It is due to Williams College to say that her educational and Christian influences have ever been directed by a benevolent and philanthropic spirit,—a spirit that burned on the prayerful lips of Mills at the haystack, and which has inspired with heroic zeal in the cause of truth thousands of human souls throughout our Western Hemisphere. Humble as the college may have been in its infancy, time and the favor of Heaven have made it a power in the land. In every department of literature and of science it has furnished mental giants who have made their mark in the world. In addition to this, it has sent forth its thousands of faithful workers, who are engaged, far and near, in pulling down the strongholds of error, and in building up in their stead towers of strength, founded on a Christian basis. In its teachings of literature and of science, it teaches those still higher and diviner principles which give to man the graces of a true manhood. In a word, its refining and harmonizing influences are felt, not only by its sons, but by thousands of others, the world over. Few indeed are the men who have wielded a more extensive influence for good, or contributed more to the permanent value of our theological literature, than the learned and venerated President of Williams College, Dr. Hopkins.

Though the world owes much more to the efforts and vigilance of the Faculty and Trustees of Williams College than it has ever acknowledged, yet these patient, earnest, and hopeful men will continue to work on in silence, still inspired with the belief that in casting "an handful of corn in the earth, upon the top of the mountains, the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon."

THE END.

NATURE AND CULTURE

By HARVEY RICE.

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