The papers read before the Women’s Meeting by Mrs. Andrews, Miss Cahill and Miss Hamilton are reserved for mention in the January Missionary.
The addresses given by Dr. Gregory, Dr. Rust and Mr. Beard, representing the Baptist, the Methodist and the Society of Friends may be used in compiling a pamphlet relating to the work done among the freedmen. Other addresses or papers may also be given in pamphlet form.
THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK.
That part of the report of the Committee on Finances at our Annual Meeting which says: “More ample facilities for church and educational work bring with them larger demands for funds, so that simply to preserve its efficiency in fields already occupied, the Association requires an annual increase in contributions,” will be readily appreciated by all who are accustomed to study the laws of growth. Every new building either for school or church purposes; every additional scholar, whether among the Negroes, Indians or Chinese; every church and school organized, calls for enlarged expenditures. The recommendation at Cleveland that $50,000 be added to the current income of the Association for general uses during the next fiscal year is based on sound business principles. It is not one dollar more than will be required to give the greatest efficiency to our operations. As in the past, so in the future we must have, if we do what is pressing to be done, money for special purposes.
1. The church work, that has grown so steadily under our care, requires $10,000 for enlargement the coming year.
2. The work contemplated among the Indians, in addition to that carried on by us during the past year, will also require at least $20,000.
3. We have purchased fourteen acres of land at Little Rock, Ark., for a site for the Edward Smith college, and need $25,000 in addition to the amount pledged to provide the buildings needful.
4. We need a new dormitory at Austin, Tex. Allen Hall was crowded to its utmost the day the present school year was opened, and among the first duties of the teachers was the painful one of turning needy students away.
The committee at Cleveland, in urging that $375,000 be raised for the coming year, observes that, “While the receipts for the past two years have been more than $100,000 larger than in the two years next preceding them, the expense of raising and disbursing these funds and managing the affairs of the Association has increased less than $400 per annum, thus showing that the Association is fully equipped for a much larger work without additional cost for the machinery of administration.” We never were in such good condition to do the work we have in hand so economically, wisely and successfully as at present, and there never was a time when the welfare of the nation and the cause of Christ were more fruitful with promise. The voice of the whole people, North, South, East and West, is calling upon us to go forward with renewed strength. Shall we have the means needful?