Robert Carter: His Life and Work. 1807-1889/Resolutions of Societies
RESOLUTIONS OF SOCIETIES.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.
The Board of Managers of the American Bible Society desire to place on record an expression of the loss they have sustained in the departure from their midst of their honored associate and friend, Mr. Robert Carter.
He was elected a Manager on the nomination of the Rev. Dr. De Witt, in the year 1855, and in 1878 was chosen a Vice-President. From the beginning until the end of his long service he evinced an earnest and unwearied interest in the wide and varied details of the work of the Society. To him the Holy Scriptures were the oracles of God. With a profound and abiding conviction that a personal knowledge of the truths which they contain was as essential to every human being as to himself, he viewed with devout thankfulness every movement that increased the circulation of these Scriptures, alike in Pagan and Christian lands.
For his fidelity to the trusts committed to him by this Society; for his constant and useful labors in the educational and missionary work of the Church of God; for his far-reaching and enduring influence as a publisher of Christian literature; for his lifelong example of simple Christian living and thinking; for his constant witness to a good confession; for the full assurance of a comfortable hope in his death,— we would render thanks to Almighty God, into whose presence he has now entered, to go out no more forever.
The Board of Managers direct that this paper be placed on the minutes, and published in the “Bible Society Record,” and also that a copy be sent to the family of Mr. Carter.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE SABBATH COMMITTEE.
At a special meeting of the New York Sabbath Committee the following minute was adopted.
God having called home to Himself Mr. Robert Carter, one of the founders of the New York Sabbath Committee, and the last survivor but one of its original members, the Committee desires to record the great respect and affection with which Mr. Carter has always been regarded by his associates, our grateful recollection of the wise counsels and generous contributions with which he has unfailingly sustained the Committee’s work, and our heartfelt praise to God for the peaceful end with which the long life of His servant has now been crowned.
To the family of our late associate the members of the Committee express sincere sympathy, commending them to the grace of the Lord Jesus, into whose presence he whose loss they mourn has now entered.
It was further resolved that the Committee attend the funeral of Mr. Carter.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The Board of Foreign Missions having received intelligence of the death of Mr. Robert Carter, one of its members, a special meeting was held at the Mission House, December 31, 1889, at which time the following action was taken.
The Board would express its deep sense of the great loss which the cause of Foreign Missions has sustained in the death of one of its oldest and most faithful members.
Mr. Carter was appointed to this trust by the General Assembly in 1843, and continued in this relation till the time of his death. His work as a publisher gave him rare opportunities for promoting the general interest of Missions, The early publications of the Board were conducted by his firm, involving much gratuitous labor on the part of himself and his family. In his general work as a publisher, also, which for more than fifty years was devoted largely to religious books, many of which bore directly upon the extension of the cause of Christ, he constantly contributed to the growth of a missionary spirit both in his own and in other Christian churches. During all his long connection with the Board he was a faithful attendant upon its sessions, ever ready to assume his full share of labor and responsibility, and never failing as a wise and judicious administrator of the work. Though careful in his judgment, he was ever ready to heed the indications of Providence, and to advocate every wise measure of progress. He was a large contributor to the funds of the Board according to his ability, and continually carried the interest of its great work upon his mind and heart.
Mr. Carter was pre-eminently a man of prayer, His earnest and tender supplications for the outpouring of the Spirit upon missions will long be cherished by his associates as a sacred and inspiring memory. He was peculiarly courteous, genial, and kindly in all our deliberations. He seemed ever to be prompted by the spirit of Christ, and to be filled with love for those about him. Honest differences of opinion were always regarded with forbearance, and he has left only the remembrance of kind words and acts through all his period of service. Even after his health became enfeebled, and he was able to take but little part, his presence continued to be a benediction. The Board would express its gratitude to God for so long continued and eminent a service, and its sorrow that it has been brought to a close. It would also express its deep sympathy with the surviving members of his bereft family.
Engrossed copies of this Minute were ordered sent to the family of Mr. Carter and to the Session of the Scotch Presbyterian Church of this city, in which he had been a Ruling Elder. The Board also resolved to attend the funeral of Mr. Carter in a body.
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