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Copyright, 1891, by

THE BAKER & TAYLOR Co.

The Carton Press

171, 173 Macdougal Street, New York

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INTRODUCTION.

BY REV. D. D. DEMAREST, D.D., PROFESSOR OF PASTORAL THEOLOGY, NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.

N introducing to the Christian public this volume of Lectures on Missions, deliv

ered before the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America, at New Brunswick, N. J., it is proper that a brief account should be given of the origin of the lectureship.

On the 16th day of April, 1888, Mr. Nathan F. Graves, an Elder in the Reformed Church of Syracuse, N. Y., and an active member of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America, addressed the following letter to the Rev. Prof. Mabon, of the Theological Seminary:

"SYRACUSE, N. Y., April 16th, 1888. "Rev. Prof. W. V. V. Mabon, D.D.

"MY DEAR SIR-I understand that there is no Seminary or Professorship of Missions in the United States. I may be mistaken, but I am quite sure that there is no adequate provision made for a service so important. I have noticed that the missionaries that are instructed at Basle have quite an advantage over those who receive

no special instruction to fit them for their important work.

"I write to enquire if the subject has ever been considered in the Seminary; and if you consider it desirable and practicable to establish such a professorship, I will be greatly obliged for a reply at your convenience.

"Very sincerely yours,

"N. F. GRAVES."

The Faculty having declared that, in their opinion, it was desirable and practicable that some agency for missionary instruction should be established in the Seminary, conferences were held by Mr. Graves with a Committee of the Faculty, with Rev. John Mason Ferris, D.D., for many years Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America; with Rev. Henry N. Cobb, D.D., present Secretary, and with various friends of Foreign Missions. The result was a proposal by Mr. Graves to provide liberally the means for a course of lectures for the year 188889; the lecturer or lecturers to be appointed by the Theological Faculty in connection with the Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America, while further action of a more permanent nature was to be left for more mature consideration.

Accordingly, a course of six lectures was delivered in the S. A. Kirkpatrick Chapel, the use of which was kindly granted for the purpose by the authorities of the College. The lecturers and subjects were as follows:

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