Preamble.— We, Christians of various races residing in British Burmah Mini now assembled in Rangoon, in gratitude to on- Redei m t for hit saving grace, In obedience to his Inst commission to his Church to preach the Gospel to every crea- ture, and with unfeigned love :,ird compassion i i our fellow- men, yet ignorant of tin- (jospcl, do now, in humble r. haicy upon the promised •/'■ace of < hrbt. f nu uur-olvos into a ho, i- etyforthe more effectual advancement of l.i- l,iu.-',,ui in this
land; and fa- this purpose we unite In adopting the following
Art, I. This society shall be called the Burmah Baptist Mis- sionary Convention. ... , . , Art."ll. All missionaries, ordained ministers, and authorized
preachers of the Gospel, who are in the fellowship ..four de- nomination, and who agree tot hi- ( on -t nation, -linll he mem- bers of the Convention, together with such lay del gat
maj i>e a] point. ,1 by the ehun he.-, in the ratio .,t oni delegate to each church, Willi an additional delegate for every titty
members. Art. III. The object of this Convention shall beta
and unite the liapiist chin, lies of lturinah ill mutual love and
the Christian faith, and to extend the work of evangelization
to all regions within our reach which do not receive the Gos- pel from other agencies.
Ait. IV. The attainment of this twofold object shall he.
Bought by the personal Intercourse of Christians representing onr churches; by the collection of reports and Btati
ting forth the state of the Churches ami the results of Chris- tian labor in Burmah; by united representations to Christians
in this and other lands of the religions and educational wants of the various races and Bections of Kurmali J and, la-tly. by calling forth and combining the prayers and efforts ,,f all the native ( hri-tiaus in the common object of saving their breth- ren, the heathen, from sin and everlasting death by the Gos- pel.
Art.V. This Convention shall assume DO ecclesiastical or
disciplinary power.
Art. VI. Moneys which may at any time be confided to the disposal of this Convention shall bs faithfully a], plied in ac- cordance with the objl CtS of the Convention and the , :-.pr,--ed
wishes of the donors.
Art. vii. The officers of this Convention shall bo s presi- dent, four vice-presidents, recording and correspondin taries, and a treasurer, who, together with twelve other mem- bers, shall he a committee of management to conduct the af- fairs of the Convention in the intervals of its regular met lings. Seven members of the Convention present at any me, ting reg- ularly called by the chairman and 01 f th -, , ., taiies shall
be a quorum for the transaction of busini bs.
Art VIII. This Convention shall meet annually, at such time
and place as it shall appoint, for prayer, conference, and
preaching, with special reference to the objects of the I oni I D t i i .ii. and for the transaction of its busine-s. At these meet- ings the committee of management shall present a faithful re- port Of their doings during the previous year, and officers shall
be i feted and all needful arrangi ments made for the year en- suing.
Art. IX. The recording secretaries shall keep a faithful rec- ord of the proceedings at the annual meeting. 'I'll re- sponding secretaries shall record the doings of th ■ committee at. tin ir meetings, conduct, the eorro-poudetiee ol the Commit- tee, and preserve copies of important let! IT -.
Art. X. Thii Constitution may be ame m ed by a vote of two
thirds of the members present at any annual meeting of the ( ', invention, notic ■ of the proposed change having been given at a previous annual meeting.
President, Rev. C. Bennett: Vice-presidents, K \. J. S. Beecher, Syah K» I'Jn, Thrah Quala, Thrah l'<> Kway; Re- cording Secretaries, Ewilisli, Kev. C. II. Carpenter: ,' Ko Yaeoh; Karen, Thrah Tay ; Corrosp , tiding so, -ret a ry. lev.
A. T. I ;ose ; Treasurer, Rev. D. L. Bray ton; Committee, Rev. E. A. Stevens D.D., Rev. D. A. W. smith. Thrah Sah
Mai, Kev. ,1. 1, ll,,ugla-s, llev. 1!. C. Thomas, Thrah Thah <)o, Thrah Tab Poo, Ko Too, Syah Ko Shway A, Ko Aing, Shway Noo, Mining O.
III. Statistics.— In that part of Burmah which is un- der British rule there are now nine different missions: 1. Mission of Toungoo. — The name of Christ was first proclaimed in this province in October, 1853, and it embraces now 2 associations, mi stations, I ■_• churches, 101 village schools, 103 native preachers and teachers, 3 ordained native preachers, 2426 pupils in village schools, and 2640 members. In 1857 a Karen Educa- tion Society was funned, which has in its charge two boarding-schools, a National Female School, and a Young Men's Normal School, open to all the native
tribes of Burmah. Kightv-sK chiefs have pledged themselves and thousands of their people to support permanently the Institute. The Education Society is entirely independent of every missionary association. In August, 1857, il held a convention and chose a
hoard of managers, consisting of one paku, one man- niopgha, one mopgha, one tunic bghai ; Captain Doy- ly, deputy commissioner, Toungoo, agreeing to act .as president. A great confusion was created in this mis- sion by the peculiar teat hinge of one of the American missionaries, Mrs. Mason, which were supported by Iter