The overwhelming majority of the Southern Negroes are still found in the rural districts, where schools are few and far apart. It is expected that the gift of Daniel Hand will take educational privileges to thousands of these in the country and on the plantations, who but for this must have lived as in the blackness of night.
It has been found that with the West ever growing, and Congregational churches multiplying, the field of our Western District Secretary was too large for him possibly to cover it all. Hence this immense district has been divided, and another has been established with its centre at Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. C.W. Hiatt, a graduate of Wheaton College and Oberlin Seminary, has been placed in charge of this district, and has already entered upon the work. We bespeak for him a hearty welcome from the churches.
Prof. Edward S. Hall, a graduate of Amherst College and a teacher of long and successful experience, has been chosen a Field Superintendent for the Southern work, and entered upon his duties at the beginning of our year.
We again make grateful acknowledgment of our indebtedness to the American Bible Society for its grants of Bibles, and to the Congregational Sunday-school and Publishing Society for its grants of books and lesson helps, to our poorer churches and Sunday-schools.
This much we report. But how little can figures and words present the needs of these great fields. How little idea can they convey of the extent of the work done by our earnest, self-sacrificing, faithful and able missionaries.
We turn from the past to the future. The work attempted and done is great, the work unattempted and not done is far greater. Should every church and individual in the land double last year's contribution this year, we would be compelled still to leave greatly needed work undone. In view of boundless opportunities, we can ask no less of the churches than that which the recent National Council at Worcester recommended—five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the work of the coming year. Brethren, with more prayer, more consecration and more self-denial let us take up together this vast work and these difficult problems which God has set before us.