President, Rev. Wm. M. Taylor, D.D., LL.D., N.Y.
Vice-Presidents.
Rev. A.J.F. Behrends, D.D., N.Y.
Rev. Alex. McKenzie, D.D., Mass.
Rev. F.A. Noble, D.D., Ill.
Rev. D.O. Mears, D.D., Mass.
Rev. Henry Hopkins, D.D., Mo.
Corresponding Secretaries.
Rev. M.E. Strieby, D.D., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
Rev. A.F. Beard, D.D., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
Treasurer.
H.W. Hubbard, Esq., 56 Reade Street, N.Y.
Auditors.
Peter McCartee.
Chas. P. Peirce.
Executive Committee.
John H. Washburn, Chairman.
Addison P. Foster, Secretary.
For Three Years.
Lyman Abbott,
Charles A. Hull,
J.R. Danforth,
Clinton B. Fisk,
Addison P. Foster,
For Two Years.
S.B. Halliday,
Samuel Holmes,
Samuel S. Marples,
Charles L. Mead,
Elbert B. Monroe,
For One Year.
J.E. Rankin,
Wm. H. Ward,
J.W. Cooper,
John H. Washburn,
Edmund L. Champlin.
District Secretaries.
Rev. C.J. Ryder, 21 Cong'l House, Boston.
Rev. J.E. Roy, D.D., 151 Washington Street, Chicago.
Financial Secretary for Indian Missions.
Rev. Chas. W. Shelton.
Secretary of Woman's Bureau.
Miss D.E. Emerson, 56 Reade St., N.Y.
Relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the Corresponding Secretaries; letters for "THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY," to the Editor, at the New York Office.
In drafts, checks, registered letters, or post-office orders, may be sent to H.W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street, New York, or, when more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or 151 Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member.
"I BEQUEATH to my executor (or executors) the sum of – dollars, in trust, to pay the same in – days after my decease to the person who, when the same is payable, shall act as Treasurer of the 'American Missionary Association,' of New York City, to be applied, under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Association, to its charitable uses and purposes." The Will should be attested by three witnesses.
NOT QUITE FREE
In the November MISSIONARY of last year, the financial statement bore the simple and joyous heading "FREE." This year we are compelled to prefix two qualifying words. Our books closed September 30, with a balance of $5,641.21 on the wrong side. While we regret that there should be any debt, we rejoice that it is no larger.
The receipts applicable to current expenses fell off somewhat during the year, while the expenditures, owing to general growth and some special demands were greater than last year. The first of September, therefore, found us confronting an impending debt. The appeal which we felt constrained to make for September, and which was made under some special disadvantages as compared with last year, was met with so hearty a response in gifts and in expressions of interest in our work, as to move us to gratitude to God and thankfulness to our friends. A few of the donors gave $1,000 each, but the larger share of the responses contained remittances of less than $100. Many of the sums were quite small, and some of them indicated great self-sacrifice on the part of the donors. A few brief extracts, all that our limited space will allow, from a small portion of the letters received, will be found below.
We thank God and take courage. We believe that our friends who remembered us in the past will not forget us in the future, and that our wants in October, and in all the following months, will not be forgotten because they were so well remembered in September. One thousand dollars a day represents our needs for carrying on the work in its present development.
Encouraging Responses to our Appeal
"I would like to send you more, but I send you the last dollar I have ($71.00,) and must trust the Lord for means to support us until my next month's payment, and for means to go to the meeting of the A.B.C.F.M., in case I attend."
"Twenty-five cents of this money was from a woman 82 years old. She is almost helpless. The family in which she lives is very poor. She has not a penny that she calls her own. She said to me, 'Here is the widow's mite. I prayed that the Lord would send me something to give away. You please take it and send it where it will do the most good.' I send it to you trusting that with her prayers of faith, it may be useful."
The writer of a letter enclosing a donation of $10 adds in a postscript in regard to the donor: "Mrs. A– was born May 5th, 1787, and is an old contributor."
"I have expended all my appropriation for charitable purposes this present year, yet I can, perhaps, curtail in some directions and so remit to you $20 as a small tributary to swell the stream for meeting indebtedness. I hope your appeal will accomplish the results desired.
"Through abounding grace, my wife and I are once more permitted the joyful privilege of sending for the general work of the American Missionary Association, $100 enclosed herewith in draft to your order. (Their third contribution this year. Ed.) Say to the dear brethren in the work of the Master: 'Be of good courage, fear not, for I am with you'; His own words enduring forever."
"Enclosed, please find check for $100. I am always glad to be remembered on special appeals when they are necessary, even if I cannot help. I do not know that I enjoy anything more than what I am able to give to the A.M.A. I trust your appeal will find many generous responses."
"Your kind and thoughtful letter of the 13th, received. It affords me real pleasure to respond to your call for our Association. The good Lord has more or less blessed me with opportunity and ability to acquire money, and may He forbid that I should turn his blessings into curses by hoarding the gifts of his providence, when the cry of the poor and down-trodden is heard. I enclose my check for $100 for the cause."
"It is a small contribution, but it comes from a small church. Certainly it represents a genuine interest in the work of your society and is accompanied with prayers for its success."
An executor, in remitting a legacy of $500 says: "It is not due according to the terms of the will till next spring, but you may find it useful at this time to help out the year."
We have received from Oaks, North Carolina, towards the extinguishment of our debt, a contribution from forty-nine different persons, amounting to $5.66. This represents a degree of sacrifice, not surpassed, perhaps, by any who have contributed. Seventy cents of it were in cash; sixty-six cents were value in fodder; one dollar and thirty-four cents in potatoes and corn; one dollar and one cent in work.
The missionary who is ministering to these very poor people says: "If all who love the A.M.A. would do as well, according to their ability, your treasury would be filled."
THE