We are keenly alive to the necessity of keeping the American Missionary abreast with the very best publications of other missionary societies, at home and abroad. We shall seek to make its appearance attractive by pictures and illustrations. The Children’s Page will contain original stories and suggestive incidents. The General Notes on Africa, the Chinese and Indians will be continued. The fullest information will be given about our work in the South, now recognized as so important to the welfare of the nation, and about our labors in Africa—that land whose fate so stirs the heart of Christendom. The journal of our exploring party of missionaries up the Nile will be given monthly. The editorial department will reflect the missionary zeal and work over the whole field, and add its influence to aid every good agency for the world’s redemption.
No Christian family can afford to be without missionary intelligence, and no missionary society can afford to be without readers of its publications; it had better give them to the readers without pay than to have no readers. Missionary zeal will die in the churches without missionary intelligence.
But it would be far better for both the societies and the readers if missionary news were paid for. This would give the magazine attentive perusal and the society relief from the reproach of a large expense for publication. Missionary publications should be put on a paying basis. Aside from a free list to life members, ministers, etc., the cost of publication should be made up by paying subscribers and advertisements.
We are anxious to put the American Missionary on this basis. We intend to make it worth its price, and we ask our patrons to aid us:
1. More of our readers can take pains to send us either the moderate subscription price (50 cents), or $1.00, naming a friend to whom we may send a second copy.
2. A special friend in each church can secure subscribers at club-rates (12 copies for $5 or 25 copies for $10).
3. Business men can benefit themselves by advertising in a periodical that has a circulation of 20,000 copies monthly and that goes to many of the best men and families in the land. Will not our friends aid us to make this plan a success?
Subscriptions and advertisements should be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade st., New York, N.Y.
Atkin & Prout, Printers, 12 Barclay St., N.Y.