THE CHINESE.
The work among the Chinese on the Pacific Coast has been carried on under the able and energetic superintendence of Rev. W. C. Pond with unabated interest and success. Here there has been enlargement. The excess of teachers for the past year over the previous year has been six, that of pupils 76, and of hopeful conversions 13. A comparison of the statistics and work shows an improvement at all points. The total enrollment last year was 1,556; this year, 1,632. The number last year who gave evidence of conversion was 127; this year, 140. All reports that have come to us are exceedingly encouraging, and not the least among them is the repeated expression of the need there is of some well chosen point in Southern China for a mission station from which converted Chinamen returning to their fatherland may go forth to preach to their countrymen. We do not purpose to act hastily upon suggestions of this kind. We seek, however, to learn clearly the will of the Master, and to expand His work whenever and wherever it is evident He is leading the way.
FINANCES.
The financial success reported at our last Annual Meeting, while full of encouragement, cast upon us a shade of anxiety. It was not certain that the additional funds made necessary by the large gifts we had received for new buildings, and the plans we had adopted for enlargement at different points, would be forthcoming. Efforts were made throughout that meeting to impress upon all those present the urgent necessity we were under for at least 25 per cent. of increase in receipts over the previous year for current expenses. The same necessity was also set forth at the National Council at St. Louis, in our publications and in the pulpits, and at conferences and conventions wherever opportunity was afforded. We felt that God had called us to do an enlarged work, and that if we could convey the information to His people, and share with them the burden we felt ourselves, the responses would be sufficiently liberal to meet all demands. In this we were not disappointed. The receipts reported for the fiscal year closing Sept. 30, 1880, were, for current work, $187,480.02; this year, $243,795.23, a gain of $56,315.21. This shows an advance of 30 per cent. mainly in the ordinary subscriptions over last year, and indicates the people’s hearty appreciation and indorsement of our work. For this we return profound gratitude to Almighty God. The fiscal year was closed free from debt, and with a balance in our treasury of $518.80. We are sure that the liberality displayed augurs well for the future. We believe the money received was expended wisely. We do not see how we could have done justice to our work without it. But additional outlay for current expenses is sure to be needful. The Stone Hall just finished at Straight University will afford accommodations for the teachers and sixty girls. The cost, however, for student aid, for insurance and the care of the building, will require additional receipts. What is true at New Orleans is equally true at Talladega College, with its new dormitory for a hundred boarders, and at Tougaloo, Miss., with the facilities of its new Hall. When Livingstone Missionary Hall, at Nashville, is done, and Stone Hall, at Atlanta University, completed, two hundred additional boarding students will make new demands which must be met.
To all we have mentioned must be added the consideration that we are laying foundations for a mission in Africa on the Upper Nile, at a point further remote from the coast than any occupied by other societies, either home or foreign, and that the outlay for this, if carried forward, will be considerable in the near future. We believe, therefore, that it is our duty to ask the friends of this Association to give us during the coming year not less than $300,000 for the support and enlargement of the varied work we have in charge.
DEMANDS OF THE FUTURE.
Some of the demands indicated above may be summarized as follows:
1. The increase of students this year over last year is 1,056. A considerable number of these were boarding students, but with our additional accommodations we shall require the coming year from five to ten thousand dollars more than usual for student aid.