FINANCIAL NOTICE.
Only two months remain of our fiscal year. We regret to say that a debt of nearly $20,000 is impending. This arises from the encouragement which the prosperity of the country at the beginning of our fiscal year gave us to make some additional appropriations to meet the most urgent calls that pressed upon us from the field. A decline in that prosperity has been intensified by the drought in many parts of the country, and our receipts for our regular work have fallen off.
We give the notice thus early that pastors and churches who sympathize with us and in our work, and in our effort to avoid a debt, may take immediate steps to avert the danger. We are confident that if the collections of churches that are behind in their offerings, and those that are set down for August and September, are promptly and generously made, the deficiency will be covered; but, fearing this may not in all cases be done, we venture to ask individuals having our cause at heart to assure the certainty by additional contributions.
The pastors and officers of the churches can be our most efficient helpers by securing collections and making remittances promptly. We earnestly invoke the aid of our friends. A debt at the close of this year (September 30) will compel harmful retrenchment for the next. The field has never been more fruitful in good results. The command of the Master is, “Go forward.” We cannot go into the Red Sea of debt. Will our friends wield the rod of Moses and open the waters for us?