The receipts have been, $320,953.42, which with the balance on hand,
September 30th, 1887, of $2,193.80, makes a total of $323,147.22. We
have received in addition to this $1,000 for an Endowment Fund. The
total disbursements for the year have been $328,788.43. The churches
through the National Council have asked us to keep abreast with the
providence of God. "It is our duty," said the Ohio State Association,
"to see that this great work in which we have borne so large and
honorable a part, halt not, nor slacken in its energy because of our
failure to keep its treasury replenished and its faithful laborers
re-enforced and supported by our gifts and our prayers."
Said our good friend, the _Congregationalist_, in an editorial after
our inspiring meeting at Portland in October last: "Never did the
magnitude of the field, and the complex character of its labors,
appear in such startling lines. Either of the four departments of
labor demands the money and the force which is distributed among all.
But, in the providence of God, this society is called upon to
prosecute this fourfold work. It cannot abandon a single field and
must not be asked to. It can do in the next five years a work for
Christianity and for Congregationalism in the South and West which
will tell on the coming century. As Christians, and as Congregational
Christians, we must see to it that it be not obliged to pinch its
workers and to turn away from promising openings in order to keep free
from debt the coming year."
Thus charged, we have yet gone within our instructions. We have made
every dollar do more than its work. We have gathered up the fragments
that nothing be lost; and yet to-day our payments anticipate our
receipts by the sum of $5,641.21. We do not regret the anxiety and
pain which it has cost us to effect what we have. The generous words
of sympathy and confidence that have come to us of late, with noble
gifts, large and small, repay the solicitude and incessant care. We
thank God and his people, and hold firmly our faith in Him who said,
"Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." He opened the door. Our
faith is in Him who also said, "Ask, and ye shall receive."
The year opened with the Association bereft of its honored President.
We come to this new year happy in our choice of the Rev. Wm. M.
Taylor, D.D., of New York, to fill this most important position. In
his acceptance we congratulate the Association.
Since the year began, the churches have missed the stirring appeals of
our beloved Secretary Powell, who had the especial oversight and
burden of the collecting fields. Such a life as that of James Powell
is not common. It was a grand sacrifice of undeviating love for those
whose poverty made him a debtor to them. His consecration will not be
forgotten.
His sudden departure--our great bereavement--made necessary the
transfer of the Rev. C.J. Ryder from the field to the District
Secretaryship of the Eastern District in New England, who has brought
with his energy and zeal such an experience, and personal knowledge of
the entire field, as to insure him the most hearty welcome and
co-operation on the part of our pastors and churches.
The Rev. F.E. Jenkins, a graduate of Williams College and of Hartford
Theological Seminary, for some time earnestly engaged in our Southern
work, has been appointed a field superintendent for personal
examination and supervision of our churches and schools, and has
already entered upon his duties.
The Association, with its Superintendents continually in the field,
who report every fact to the Secretaries at the office, who in turn
submit the entire work to the churches, is thus continually made
better prepared to direct the sacrifices of the benevolent in ways
that shall not be irresponsible or unwise, than those which are
subject to no such scrutiny or supervision, and are held to no
responsibility. Much less money would be diverted from this authorized
and recognized servant of the Congregational Churches, and far greater
efficiency would be secured, if our friends would remember that their
own ordained agency can open as many missions as they will make
possible, which shall have, at least, one advantage over independent
and unsupervised work, in that, through us, they shall be under your
own constant Christian watch and care.
We may not close this review of our year's work and attendant
suggestions without remembrance of our indebtedness to the American
Bible Society, for its grant of Bibles; to the Congregational
Sunday-school and Publishing Society for the help given to our
struggling churches and Sunday-schools in its grant of books and
lesson helps. We rejoice in the unity of our societies, which make all
one in the blending of the parts for the great common purpose of
redeeming the lost and gathering them into the family of Christ.
Student's Letter.