FINANCIAL—CLOSING MONTH—PROSPECTS.
This month (September) closes the fiscal year of the American Missionary Association, and will decide whether it is to receive the $300,000 asked for at the annual meeting. The figures show that the receipts for the ten months, ending July 31, were $262,829.31; leaving a balance of $37,170.69 to be made up in August and September. The receipts from legacies in the ten months were $74,152.29, but for the remaining two months none of large amount are anticipated, and as August is usually unfavorable for collections, and as our receipts at the date of going to press (August 14) are small, we must depend ultimately upon the receipts of September to make up the sum needed.
We are anxious to secure the $300,000. It will not only cheer the officers and the constituency of the Association, but the work absolutely demands that amount. The fear of debt alone deters us from making needed repairs, improvements and additions. The details would convince our friends that economy and efficiency would be promoted by the expenditures we have thus far withheld.
Permit us then to ask; (1) that treasurers of churches and executors of estates remit to us at their earliest convenience monies in their hands intended for us; (2) that pastors and church committees take up collections that are on the list for September, or that have been neglected during the year; and (3) that generous friends send us contributions to meet the emergency.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The Committee appointed at the last annual meeting of this Association, to consider and report on Amendments to its Constitution, have held two meetings during the year, and have given very careful thought to the subject. Their report is given in the form of “The Proposed Constitution,” which will be found on another page. We ask for it the deliberate consideration of our constituency, in the hope that a unanimous decision on the subject may be reached at the next annual meeting. The Committee consists of the following persons: Col. Franklin Fairbanks, Pres. E. H. Merrill, Hon. Wm. B. Washburn, Rev. L. W. Bacon, D.D., Rev. L. T. Chamberlain, D.D., Rev. Geo. M. Boynton, Pres. E. H. Fairchild, Hon. C. I. Walker, S. R. Heywood, Esq., Rev. A. E. P. Perkins, D.D., Col. C. G. Hammond, Rev. A. H. Plumb, D.D., J. G. W. Cowles, Esq.
SCHOOL-WORK FOR THE INDIANS.
The regular correspondent of the Tribune, in reporting a conference with Mr. Teller, the Secretary of the Interior, upon his Indian policy, gives this question and answer: