1. The debt _must_ be cleared away. Every interest of the Association demands it. Our friends demand it—do they not? Else, would they have reduced our indebtedness, within eighteen months, from over $90,000 to some $40,000 at this present writing? Why may we not believe that God has His reserves, both of men and of money, at hand, to wipe out the remaining balance against us? We wait to see who will step into the place of honor, and make some great sacrifice in this behalf. This debt was incurred to aid the poorest of the poor, as we thought, at the call of Christ himself. May not they expect His blessing who shall now come to the rescue? “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” 2. We need increased supplies to meet our constant outgo. Our friends have done well by us during this year—such a year, too, as it has been! But they must be faithful to the end of it to ensure us a good record on the 30th of September. They need not be afraid of overdoing it; for if, by any good fortune of ours and good-will of theirs, we should, after paying all our current claims, have a small balance, it will go at once to lessen this still burdensome debt. Remember, too, that the work is ever increasing on our hands, save as we have to keep it down. Millions of these freedmen must in the next ten years, if ever, be brought under the influence of sound learning and true religion. This generation must not pass away till it be possible for every colored child to read the word of God. The Chinaman and the Indian, too, make claims upon us which their cruel treatment by our fellow-citizens only serves to emphasize. Africa, also, as a culmination of our work, is calling for new laborers of her own sons to come and bring back to those sitting in darkness the light which is the life of men. But, in order to this, our teachers and missionaries must be numbered by hundreds and thousands, where now they are numbered by scores and hundreds. This is the true economy and the true wisdom. If we are to realize our ideal, there must be a new interest kindled in the work, and a great advance in the gifts of God’s people. With the closing of the year, therefore, we invite the intelligent and liberal men of the land to consider _once more_ the work of this Association, in its bearing upon this nation, and in its bearing upon the nations, to which these races belong. We do not see how we can vindicate ourselves as righteous men, as men who fear God and love our neighbors, if we neglect this work brought to our doors and laid upon us by sanctions as solemn and pressing as were ever imposed on men. We do, then, in behalf of these races, and in the name of our risen Lord, ask the good and the wise, everywhere, to give us their sympathies, their prayers, and their money, in measure large enough to put these fields under ample culture for a better and brighter future. * * * * * THEN AND NOW.