The American Missionary - Volume 42, No. 10, October, 1888

Excerpt

FINANCIAL—THE DEBT.

Our receipts for the eleven months ending August 31st show an increase from collections of $14,452.76; a decrease in legacies of $5,195.52; with a net increase of $9,257.24 over the corresponding months of last year. On the other hand, the expenditures for these eleven months have been $31,835.70 more than those of last year, and hence a debt of over $22,000 is impending. The explanation is to be found in the fact that an unusually large per cent. of our collections this year is in specified gifts for special objects, and could not, therefore, be used to meet appropriations for current work; and the added expenditures have been absolutely required by the natural and healthful growth in our varied industrial, school and church work in all parts of our extended field.

As our friends have had occasion to know, we are making an earnest appeal for special help to avert this threatened debt. The responses thus far are encouraging, but not such as to leave the question beyond doubt. This magazine will reach most of our readers before the last Sunday of the month. We urgently appeal to our friends to make a grand rally on that day for our relief.

The forty-second Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association will be held at Providence, R.I., Oct. 23-25. The meeting will open promptly at 3 o'clock, Tuesday P.M., Oct. 23. On Tuesday evening, the annual sermon will be preached by Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of Chicago. Those purposing to be present and wishing entertainment are requested to write to Mr. G.E. Luther, Secretary of Committee of Entertainment, Providence, R.I. (See the last page of the cover.)

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VOTING MEMBERS.

By our Constitution it will be observed that the following persons are entitled to vote at the annual meetings of this Association: Members of evangelical churches who have been constituted life members by the payment of $30 into its treasury, with the written declaration at the time or times of payment that the sum is to be applied to constitute a designated person a life member, such membership beginning sixty days after the payment; delegates chosen to attend the annual meeting by evangelical churches which have within a year contributed to the funds of the Association, such churches being entitled to send two delegates each. Each State Conference or Association is also entitled to send two delegates. Such delegates are members of the Association for the year for which they were appointed.

We sincerely urge our patrons to avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded to participate in the management of the trusts of this Association, hoping that by so doing they will share more fully in the responsibility of its work and become more helpful in furthering its development in years to come.

We are happy to announce the return of Rev. Dr. Beard. He attended the London Missionary Conference, as the delegate of the American Missionary Association, and presented a paper on "History of Missions among the North American Indians." He was called by a telegram to Florence to the sick bed of two of his children, one of them very severely ill....