ANOTHER YEAR.
With this issue The American Missionary greets its readers the thirty-seventh time on the threshold of a new year. For more than a generation it has participated in mighty struggles for the welfare of the church and the nation.
There is no more lofty tower of observation than that builded on the foundations of righteousness. From this eminence, the Missionary has cast its eye to the end of the earth and recorded the progress and change in events that have brought about this glad day.
The horrors of the slave trade, now happily passing away, have been unceasingly exposed and deplored. American slavery, so recently abolished, has been opposed with righteous and relentless warfare, and the elevation of the Freedman has been urged by every patriotic and Christian consideration. The rights of the Indians, now so generally recognized, have always been advocated; and the Heaven-given opportunity to evangelize the persecuted Chinaman on the Pacific coast, has been set forth without stint or abatement, while all along the line of the work which this periodical represents, the yoke of prejudice has been lifted from the necks of millions, and the curse threatened by national injustice, beaten back that it blast not the life of our free institutions.
The furrow of time is rapidly burying beneath the sod what is left of “unconquerable will, the study of revenge, immortal hate, and what is else not to be overcome.” The new generation, forgetful of the past, is concerned for its future. The flood of misjudgment and distrust that ingulfed the Southland is rapidly subsiding, and the peaks and hill tops are tipped with the effulgence of the Sun of Righteousness.
Surely those who wait on the Lord have reason to renew their strength and double their diligence for the toil, the sacrifices, and the rewards of another year.
We would respectfully call the special attention of our readers to the statement on the fourth page of cover, relating to our monthly magazine. Subscription price, 50 cents a year.
In common with other benevolent societies, we find many people quite ready to vote and to give sentiment for missions who are not willing to pay a cent for their support.
We are happy to make room in this number of the Missionary for copious extracts from two valuable papers read before the Woman’s Meeting in connection with our annual meeting at Cleveland. The gathering of ladies was so large as to fill the chapel where they assembled to overflowing, and the interest manifested such that the time allotted for the service was extended to occupy nearly all the forenoon. We commend the papers as worthy of the most careful consideration.
In an appeal sent to the churches from our office in Boston, Secretary Woodworth calls attention to the following facts, which are timely and suggestive:
“An average of one dollar each by the members of our churches would amount to more than $350,000. But when it is remembered that a large percentage of our churches are not annual contributors to our treasury, it will be seen that the ratio of giving, on the part of those which do contribute, must be considerably increased.
“That this matter be brought under the eye at a single glance, we tabulate below the number of giving and non-giving churches for the year closing September 30, 1882, for the New England Department:
| GIVING CHURCHES. | NON-GIVING CHURCHES. | ||
| Maine | 62 | Maine | 176 |
| New Hampshire | 87 | New Hampshire | 101 |
| Vermont | 113 | Vermont | 84 |
| Massachusetts | 310 | Massachusetts | 218 |
| Rhode Island | 12 | Rhode Island | 15 |
| —— | —— | ||
| 584 | 594 | ||
“It will be seen, therefore, that less than one-half of these churches are on the giving list for the year. If this shall prove a surprise to the pastors, we are sure they will bear with us if we earnestly ask them to see that their people do not fail to contribute through lack of opportunity to do so. May we not reasonably ask two things? 1. A regular place and time for the American Missionary Association on the benevolent programme. 2. One annual contribution to its treasury. Grant us these two things, and we will have a reliable basis for our income, and an amount sufficient to meet the present and prospective needs of our work.”
Our annual report for 1882 will soon be ready for distribution. We shall be happy to forward it to any of our friends who will send us their name and address, signifying their wish to have it.