Excerpt
Another year. Are we ready for it, ready to work and to win? The harvest is still plenteous and every increase of store is precious. Who can measure such privilege? And what of opportunities? The swift-winged events of our civilization are continually hurrying us into the midst of them. It is a day of speedy rewards. Christ comes quickly in these times. The business of the Church is helped as absolutely as secular business by the development and use of material agencies for advancement. What is wanted is the good seed of the word. It is that—the light which shines forth from that—which gives life and growth and masterly power. We want faith in the promises. It shall be said, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ." The truth of it is not to be doubted or eclipsed. We want power from on high, and that is neither distant nor subject to unseasonable delay. What the year shall be is for us, under God, to determine. Let us labor and pray that the word of promise—the divine imbuement—may make rich and fruitful, and place the great religious interests of our land on the foundation of God which standeth sure.
We devote considerable space in this number of the Missionary to the papers and reports presented at the Woman's Meeting held in connection with our Annual Meeting in Brooklyn. The topics considered related to the wide range of work conducted by this Association. They were treated by persons having much experience in our mission fields, and will be welcomed not only as interesting reading, but as furnishing authoritative data for the encouragement of the friends of our work. The constitution proposed at the meeting, for Women's co-operative societies is given, and is commended to the attention of those ladies who desire to aid mission work in our own country.
The valuable Paper on "Woman's Work in Modern Charity and Missions," read by Rev. A. H. Bradford at our Annual Meeting, not published elsewhere, has been put in pamphlet form, with a view to general distribution. We will be pleased to furnish copies gratuitously, in such numbers as may be desired, to those wishing it for the promotion of woman's work.
We are happy to report that the practice of paying for subscriptions for the American Missionary is becoming more general year by year. This is as it should be. We try to make the Missionary worth the price, which is fifty cents annually. We believe the information it contains is of value to all, and that most of it cannot be found elsewhere. Will not our friends kindly aid us in its circulation, remitting to our treasurer at once what may be gathered for that purpose?
JOINT COMMITTEE.
The Joint Committee appointed by the American Home Missionary Society and the American Missionary Association for the consideration of the relation between the two societies, met by adjournment at Springfield, Mass., Dec. 11. The committee on the part of the A. H. M. S. consisted of Rev. J. E. Twitchell, D.D., Rev. Lyman Abbott, D.D., Rev. Geo. L. Walker, D.D., Rev. C. L. Goodell, D.D., and A. S. Barnes, Esq. The Committee on the part of the A. M. A. consisted of Rev. J. L. Withrow, D.D., Rev. Washington Gladden, D.D., Rev. D. O. Mears, D.D., Prest. S. C. Bartlett, and Rev. W. H. Ward, D.D. All were present except Dr. Goodell, and his place was filled by Mr. S. B. Capen. A letter from Dr. Goodell was read. Dr. Barrows, representing the Home Missionary Society, and Dr. Strieby, representing the American Missionary Association, were also present by invitation.
It was manifest that the members of the Committee were equally friends of both societies and sought only their greatest efficiency. No partisan feeling found utterance. The members of the Committee are men of independent views and judgment, and examined the subject before them from different standpoints, and yet reached in the paper presented below a remarkable degree of unanimity—every item receiving a unanimous vote. The result will command and deserves the attention of the churches. The following is
THE ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE.Consulting the principle of comity between the two societies—the A. H....