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 over 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 should be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade st., New York, N.Y.
AIM AND WORK.
To preach the Gospel to the poor. It originated in a sympathy with the almost friendless slaves. Since Emancipation it has devoted its main efforts to preparing the Freedmen for their duties as citizens and Christians in America, and as missionaries in Africa. As closely related to this, it seeks to benefit the caste-persecuted Chinese in America, and to co-operate with the Government in its humane and Christian policy toward the Indians.