“The old Ark is a movering, a movering, a movering; The old Ark is movering, a movering along.” Shall we remember our birthright, and enter more fully upon our inheritance? Shall we go up, with the other great missionary societies, to possess this land? Shall we return over the sea, with songs and rejoicing, those sable sons and daughters, whose fathers came with chains and groans to our American shore? Notwithstanding our great work at the South, I verily believe this to be our greatest, and that the mighty Ruler of all events will crown our efforts in this direction with magnificent success. Therefore, Mr. President, I most heartily second this Report. * * * * * THE ANNUAL MEETING. We have given, as usual, in the MISSIONARY next following our Annual Meeting, a large part of our increased space to the Report of the Executive Committee, the minutes of the meeting, and the addresses made on that occasion. Here we need only to add a few general observations on the special features of the three days at Taunton. First of all, the attendance was gratifying both as to numbers and quality. The earlier sessions drew together more people than are ordinarily present at the start; and, despite the two rainy days which followed, the numbers increased to the end. The evening meetings were crowded, and, had the weather been fine, would have doubtless overflowed, so as to have made the opening of a second church necessary. It was a representative gathering, too, of ministers, well known for their active interest in all good works, and of substantial laymen from Massachusetts and the coasts beyond. We should be glad if, more and more, the men who contribute either largely or statedly to our work, would come to these assemblies, and question the methods of our work and of our administration of their gifts. The executive officers of the Association desire to maintain relations of perfect frankness with those whose trustees they are, are glad to answer all inquiries, and to submit to all intelligent criticism, to meet with the special committees when requested, and to give all possible information;--sure that, as in this case, such detailed knowledge of their ways and works will only furnish a better basis for the confidence, so largely given, of the churches and the friends of the lowly. We need not repeat here what is fully set forth in the preceding pages--the reports of the year’s work and of its indorsement by the constituency of the Association. Rather we will confine ourselves to the things which do not there appear. The sermon, on the first evening, by Rev. S. E. Herrick, D. D., was full of grand thoughts, clothed in words of forceful grace, from the text: “But ye _are_ a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”--1. Peter, ii, 9.