First—Shall we raise this year $30,000 for our mission work among the Indians?
Second—Will you aid, and how?
Up to date we have received 206 replies. To the first question the answers are nearly all in the affirmative; most of them strong and positive, a few cautious and questioning.
To the second, 33 responded with immediate contributions; 43 promised an increase in the regular church collections, 71 a special contribution from the missionary concert, and 3 the proceeds of a lecture.
The replies are representative. Ministers in charge of the strong churches, and those in charge of the weaker, speak the same language of encouragement. "Go ahead." "Forward! is the word." "We will back you." "It is no more than fair that those who have hitherto sustained these Indian missions through the A. B. C. F. M. should now turn their hand into the A. M. A. to increase its funds for this work." "Thirty thousand dollars will do more and better work than so many muskets." "We love your work and will aid you all we can." Such are the sentiments these letters breathe. From all parts of the country they come. California strikes hands with Massachusetts, Washington Territory and Utah range themselves with Florida, all of them wishing us God-speed, and promising help in our Indian work. We are glad to have received such encouragement as these letters give, and sincerely thank our brethren who took the trouble and time to answer our inquiries. We trust that none of them will fail to see that the promises are fulfilled. There will be in some cases need of special remembrance. Interests crowd in these days. Even what is lawful and regular has to fight for recognition. There are others who have not answered our questions, upon whose co-operation to bring up that $30,000 we also rely. We hope that as they read these lines their eyes will detect the special appeal, implied, though not expressed, that is here made to them. We commend anew the claims of these important missions to our friends, and again remind them that if we are to worthily do this enlarged work they must come up to our help with enlarged contributions.
OUR SPRING ASSOCIATIONS.
REV. J. E. ROY, D.D.
There were four of them, those of Alabama, at Montgomery; of Louisiana, at New Orleans; of Mississippi, at Meridian; and of North Carolina, at Dudley. The first three came the first part of April; the last came the 1st of May. Alabama received two new ministers, Revs. A. J. Headen and C. L. Harris, and two new churches, those of Birmingham and Tecumseh, places of large iron and coal interests. Louisiana received the Church of Chocahula and Rev. Byron Gunner. The meetings of Alabama have come to the dignity of State Anniversaries, those of the Sunday-school Association, of the Association of Churches, and of the Woman's Missionary Association, which this year transferred its auxiliaryship from the Boston W. H. M. A. to the Woman's Bureau of the A. M. A. The Sunday-school body took a day for its reports, addresses and discourses. Among other valuable contributions was that of Mrs. Ash, widow of the late Rev. W. H. Ash, upon the dress and deportment of the teacher. The body representing the churches and the ministers came up to its own high-water mark of intellectual force and spiritual tone. Among the practical subjects discussed was that of the relation of the churches toward secret societies. In the whole discussion not a word was offered in defense of the clandestine orders. It would have done Brother Fee good to have heard the fearless discussion. The church of Montgomery, under the care of Rev. R. C. Bedford, was found in a prosperous condition, ten members being received during the sessions of the body. Prof. G. W. Andrews, an early pastor of the church, had the pleasure of baptizing into the church a lad of thirteen, who had been named after himself, George Whitefield. Prof. Andrews also delivered an address upon the Mission of Congregationalism in the South, which was the feature of the week of services. Upon invitation three of the leading white churches of the city were supplied on the Lord's Day, those of Dr. Petrie, First Presbyterian, Dr. Andrew, First Methodist, and Dr. Woodfin, First Baptist—the service being rendered by Revs. O. W. Fay, G. W. Andrews and J. E. Roy. Four white families extended hospitality and four white pastors came into the meetings. And so recognition is coming along.