Excerpt
OUR INDIAN MISSIONS.
Nine schools, with 356 pupils; five churches, with 271 members; five stations; thirteen missionaries; thirty-seven teachers, are the statistics. The churches are Congregational, and the church and school go hand in hand. A careful survey of the necessities of these missions was made early in the year, and the estimate called for an appropriation of about $30,000. Repairs and improvements in old buildings and construction of new buildings, imperatively demanded for the efficient prosecution of the work, forbade a lower estimate.
In surrendering our African missions, obedient to the voice of the churches that our appeal might be simplified, we gave up the proceeds of invested funds that in large part sustained that work; while in receiving from the American Board its Indian missions, there was placed just so much additional demand upon our treasury. Our inevitable outlook was a trilemma—either enlarged receipts, or retrenchment, or debt.
We therefore sent to about fifteen hundred Congregational ministers in February last a printed circular asking:
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.
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