American Missionary Association.
The next Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association will be held at Providence, R.I., commencing at three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, October 23d. Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of Chicago, will preach the sermon. On the last page of the cover will be found directions as to membership and other items of interest. Fuller details regarding the reception of delegates and their entertainment, together with rates at hotels, and railroad and steamboat reductions, will be given in the religious press and in the next number of the Missionary.
A meeting of great interest is expected, and we trust our friends will make their preparations in due time to be present.
Our Receipts for the ten months ending July 31st are $235,884.73, an increase of $6,377.40 as compared with the corresponding months of last year. The increase from collections is $12,628.92, and the decrease from legacies is $6,251.52, leaving the net increase as stated. This increase from collections is gratifying; but our expenditures during the last ten months have been $27,079.89 greater than for the same months last year.
This increase has been due not only to the imperative demands for the enlargement of the work, but to the added facilities afforded by the contributions of friends who have realized these needs and have provided the necessary buildings and improvements.
The patrons of the Association have been wont to rally in the month of September to save us from debt. Our average receipts from collections for that month for the past three years have been $38,000, which is nearly double the average of our monthly collections for the past year. We hope our friends have not lost their zeal in our work, and that their hearts are as warm and their hands as liberal as ever.
We ask their attention to the two items that follow:
A Practical, Thoughtful Man.
A gentleman once said to a Secretary of this Association: “I contribute regularly to all our Congregational societies, and in addition to that I lay aside $100 for the society that stands in the greatest need. I notice that one or the other of these societies comes to the close of its fiscal year threatened with debt, and this year I think the American Missionary Association must have the $100.”
Thanks were duly expressed.
A Creed.
We believe that there are many such practical, thoughtful men in our churches who lay by money, some more, some less, for this good purpose.
We believe there are many more Christian people, who, while they do not plan so definitely, yet keep watch of the benevolent societies, and come to the rescue in time of need.
We believe that some give out of their abundance, and others, feeling themselves somewhat straitened yet realizing the difficulties of a benevolent society in like circumstances, decide, in the spirit of Christian self-sacrifice, to aid with their mite the embarrassed society.
We believe there are pastors, devoted and efficient in their parish work, who yet are broad-minded and large-hearted enough to keep a watchful eye on the interests of the great missionary societies, and, at the appropriate time, to urge upon their churches liberal contributions for the hour of need.
We believe that, at this time, the American Missionary Association is the society needing special help at the close of its financial year, and we earnestly exhort practical, thoughtful Christians and churches to make special remembrance of our wants by prompt and liberal contributions during the month of September.
We begin this month the publication of a series of letters received from students or graduates of our various institutions in the South. They will be found very readable. Those of our friends who begin the one we publish in this number will read it through, we are very sure, and will be glad to read the others as they come in successive numbers.
How brief the passage from life to death. This number of The Missionary contains a very interesting sketch of the Commencement exercises at Talladega College, written by Mrs. L. A. Orr; and yet, on another page, will be found the record of her death. Happy are they who are toiling in the Master’s vineyard when the summons comes.
We had the pleasure of an intimate acquaintance with Rev. G. D. Pike, D.D., for nearly twenty years. We knew that his studies ran beyond the range of official work, but we never suspected that he indulged in writing verses. Since his death, several hymns have been found, written by him, and, on another page, we present one of these. It was written during his absence for his health and when he regarded the end of life as not far off, and indicates his faith and hope. The many friends of Dr. Pike will be glad to read this.