Our annual report for 1882 will soon be ready for distribution. We shall be happy to forward it to any of our friends who will send us their name and address, signifying their wish to have it.
RETIREMENT OF REV. DR. LADD.
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The Executive Committee of the American Missionary Association, in accepting the resignation of the Rev. Henry M. Ladd, D.D., wish to express and place on record their high sense of his worth as a man, his intrepid courage and perseverance as an explorer, and his skill and accuracy in reporting the details of his observations. His success as an explorer gave the strongest assurance that he would have been eminently fitted as Superintendent of Missions, had Providence permitted the Association to enter upon the work in Eastern Africa, and to continue that on the Western coast. But, as it now seems the call of God to the Committee to retire from the foreign field, it commends Dr. Ladd most warmly to the churches for any work in their service to which the Master may call him.
MENDI MISSION.—JOHN BROWN STEAMER.
Pursuant to the instructions given at the Annual Meeting, this Association has made arrangements with the United Brethren to conduct the Mendi Mission, giving them the income of the Avery fund for a term of five years. Mr. Flickinger, the Secretary, and Mr. Billheimer, the Treasurer of the Society, were at one time missionaries of the American Missionary Association in the Mendi country, and thoroughly understand the necessities of the mission.
Mr. Flickinger sailed Dec. 9th for Glasgow, to provide for the construction of the John Brown Steamer. After the contract for the steamer is given out, it is the purpose of Mr. Flickinger to proceed to Shengay, on the West coast of Africa, where the United Brethren have a mission. When the steamer is ready, this point will be within easy distance of the principal stations of the Mendi Mission. During Mr. Flickinger’s visit to the Coast, he will complete arrangements for the continuance of our work under the auspices of his society.
We shall place at the disposal of the United Brethren the money contributed for the steamer. We hope the funds we have on hand, with what has been pledged, will be sufficient to pay for the boat. We request, therefore, that those who have made pledges or collected money through Sabbath-schools or otherwise for this purpose, will forward their gifts to us as early as possible, in order that there may be no uncertainty as to the amount that can be relied upon.