The American Missionary - Volume 43, No. 11, November, 1889

Excerpt

American Missionary Association.

FREE ONCE MORE.

At the close of our fiscal year in 1887, we were enabled to utter the joyful word "Free," no debt darkening our balance sheet. Last year (1888) we were compelled to moderate our tone and say "Not quite free," for a balance of $5,641.21 stood on the wrong side of our ledger. But now, in the good providence of God, we can say "Free once more."

Our receipts from all sources were $376,216.88; payments, including debt of last year, $371,745.21, leaving a credit balance of $4,471.67. For this good result we are in some measure indebted to legacies. But, under all circumstances, we rejoice in the past and look forward with hope to the future. The work we have in hand, with its grand results, as will be seen in the "General Survey" published in this number of the MISSIONARY, will encourage our friends, and the call there made for growth and enlargement, will, we are sure, stimulate them to increased contributions and more earnest prayer. The "Survey" will also contain a statement of the income and expenditure of the Hand Fund.

The gathering of this representative body of the Congregational churches of this country was the largest ever held. It grappled more fully than any of its predecessors had done with great questions touching the missionary and benevolent societies in their relations to the churches and to each other, and the consolidation of the missionary magazines. The most exciting topic discussed was that of the Georgia Congregational Churches, white and colored. The result reached on this point was that the representatives of two District Conferences were enrolled, and that the representative of the United Congregational Conference of Georgia was given a seat as an honorary member.

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THE COLORED DELEGATES.

The Southern Associations were represented by six colored delegates in the National Council. Their bearing and ability won the respect and admiration of the whole Council. They were modest and manly in their deportment, prudent in their counsels and very eloquent in their speech. They showed themselves to be the peers of their white brethren, and demonstrated beyond a question the capacity of the colored man for the highest intellectual and moral training. They were a credit to the American Missionary Association, whose pupils they have been, and were a living and triumphant vindication of its work at the South.

The seventh annual gathering of this Conference, Oct. 2-5, was the largest ever assembled. Among those present for the first time were Ex-President Hayes, Gen. O.O. Howard, Gen. John Eaton, Prof. Wayland and Dr. Wayland. The newspaper press, religious and secular, was very fully represented; Abbott, Buckley, Dunning, Gilbert, Ward and Wayland are perhaps best known. The venerable Judge Strong well represented the law, while the absence of Senator Dawes was sincerely regretted.

A marked feature of the Conference was the presence of Gen. Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs....