5. The Finance Committee reported through its Chairman, Rev. Wm. H. Willcox, D.D., commending the business management of the Association, and making it clear that the $150,000 recently received for buildings in no wise lessened the demands upon the treasury or the dependence of the treasury upon the churches. Secretary Strieby followed, urging the need of the enlargement of the work. Dr. A. F. Beard, of New York, read a most suggestive paper on Giving as an important part of the sacrificial life to which the Christian is called. He was followed by Dr. Chamberlain in an earnest plea for justice and restitution to the races which our race has so deeply wronged, and briefly by President Magoun of Iowa College.
6. The Chinese report was read on Thursday evening by Dr. Lyman Abbott, of New York, and supported by him. In his address he stated fully and frankly the possible dangers arising from Chinese immigration, and the two methods by which they might be averted. Rev. Samuel Scoville, of Stamford, Connecticut, followed in a fervid plea based on the importance of the work, and the encouragements to its prosecution. Rev. R. B. Howard briefly followed.
It would not do to omit the witty and eloquent address of Rev. Dr. Hannay, Secretary of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, in which he spoke of the heroism of modern missionary effort and the statesmanship needed and shown in the discussions of the work of the Association.
The Lord’s Supper was celebrated on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. J. O. Barrows of Turkey, and Rev. Jonathan Edwards of Massachusetts officiating.
At the close, resolutions of thanks to the churches and citizens of Norwich, to the choir, the Committee and the railroads, were adopted, and responded to by Rev. Wm. S. Palmer, D.D., of Norwich, chairman of the Committee of Arrangements. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Chamberlain. Thus ended one of the best attended and best sustained anniversaries of the American Missionary Association. For changes in the list of Vice-Presidents and Executive Committee we refer to the first inside page of the cover.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Second Church was filled below and above with a congregation of nearly a thousand women. Mrs. Dr. John A. Rockwell, of Stamford, Conn., presided, and, after the opening prayer by Mrs. Phipps, read a brief paper on woman’s responsibility in the nineteenth century.
Miss Stevenson, Miss Sawyer, Mrs. Hickok and Miss Emery, all familiar with the condition and needs of the colored women of the South, addressed the meeting, the interest of which was so great and so well sustained that it re-assembled the next morning. At that time Miss Douglass, who had labored in Georgia among the negroes, and Miss Ludlow, of Hampton Institute, Miss Lord and others spoke, keeping up the interest which had attended the previous session.
Resolutions expressing hearty sympathy with the work of the A. M. A., and urging an organization for home mission work in every church in New England, were adopted at the close of this full and earnest woman’s meeting.