In common with other benevolent societies, we find many people quite ready to vote and to give sentiment for missions who are not willing to pay a cent for their support.

We are happy to make room in this number of the Missionary for copious extracts from two valuable papers read before the Woman’s Meeting in connection with our annual meeting at Cleveland. The gathering of ladies was so large as to fill the chapel where they assembled to overflowing, and the interest manifested such that the time allotted for the service was extended to occupy nearly all the forenoon. We commend the papers as worthy of the most careful consideration.

In an appeal sent to the churches from our office in Boston, Secretary Woodworth calls attention to the following facts, which are timely and suggestive:

“An average of one dollar each by the members of our churches would amount to more than $350,000. But when it is remembered that a large percentage of our churches are not annual contributors to our treasury, it will be seen that the ratio of giving, on the part of those which do contribute, must be considerably increased.

“That this matter be brought under the eye at a single glance, we tabulate below the number of giving and non-giving churches for the year closing September 30, 1882, for the New England Department:

GIVING CHURCHES.NON-GIVING CHURCHES.
Maine62Maine176
New Hampshire87New Hampshire101
Vermont113Vermont84
Massachusetts310Massachusetts218
Rhode Island12Rhode Island15
————
584594

“It will be seen, therefore, that less than one-half of these churches are on the giving list for the year. If this shall prove a surprise to the pastors, we are sure they will bear with us if we earnestly ask them to see that their people do not fail to contribute through lack of opportunity to do so. May we not reasonably ask two things? 1. A regular place and time for the American Missionary Association on the benevolent programme. 2. One annual contribution to its treasury. Grant us these two things, and we will have a reliable basis for our income, and an amount sufficient to meet the present and prospective needs of our work.”