This is the oldest and among the most efficient and successful of all
American missionary societies. Organized in 1812, and for a time aided
by persons of all the evangelical churches who had the missionary
spirit, and whose benevolence thus found a safe and suitable channel,
through which its streams could reach the heathen, the Board, with
prudent management and liberal support, has had a most successful
career. They are now the organ of the Congregationalist church, and
have established their posts or centers for extensive operations in all
quarters of the globe. The year past is spoken of with thanksgiving, as
one of the most satisfactory, and in some departments of the work, as
of remarkable progress. After a full and luminous statement of the work
of the year, the annual report closes, saying: “It is quite impossible
by such a rapid glance to give any just conception of a work so wide
in extent, so varied in character. We may speak of twenty missions and
one hundred and forty-six missionaries at eighty different stations,
and of 724 other towns, and cities, and islands in which the gospel is
preached; we may call attention to 98 high schools and seminaries, in
which 3,624 youth of both sexes are enjoying the advantages of higher
Christian education; we may mention, one by one, the 278 churches
gathered, the 1,737 members added the present year to our roll of
membership, till the whole number received on profession of faith from
the first till now, including missions closed and transferred, amounts
to nearly 90,000; and yet, how can we tell of the moral and spiritual
changes wrought in entire communities by the Word and spirit of our
God, by the new thought and sentiment vivifying the languages and the
literatures, and one day to mould the life and character of tribes and
nations constituting one-third of the human race.” The Board, after
showing that, with the present need and present opportunity, $2,000,000
could be economically administered in prosecuting their missionary
work, reduce the amount to $1,000,000; and, with modest urgency, ask
the churches to regard that as the minimum estimate for 1884. The home
work of the Congregationalists is also well organized and prosecuted
with vigor.