I have been asked since I came here how I could explain the fact that the citizens of America seem to meddle so much in politics. I do not think we of England meddle enough with them. The existence of a political church among us forces a certain political contention upon us with which you here have nothing to do. But I take it that it is one of the highest, most urgent vocations of the Church of Christ, in this and in all lands, to see to it, that, so far as her influence shall go, by teaching and by testimony, by debate, by criticism, by all kinds of fair mental conflict to penetrate the political life of the nation with the spirit of Christ. It will not be well with you in America, any more than with us in England, whether with regard to your work for the black man and the Indian and the Chinese, or with regard to your own national stability and progress, until this work has been gone earnestly about. We can afford to rise above party politics, but we are bound to preach that righteousness, that truth, that spirit of self sacrifice, without which neither church nor nation can be made great and stable. * * * * * GENERAL SURVEY. The battle cry of the American Missionary Association now is ENLARGEMENT. We are called to this by recent encouragements, and by the demands of the future. THE ENCOURAGEMENTS OF THE PRESENT. FINANCES. We present our _financial_ situation as one of these encouragements, and first in order, as being special, we mention the receipt of $150,000, the donation of Mrs. Valeria G. Stone, of Malden, Mass. This munificent gift has been so confidently anticipated, that Prof. T. N. Chase has for some time been occupied in maturing plans for the buildings to be erected by it, so that the work at all points will be pushed forward with rapidity and economy. We hope, therefore, at our next Annual Meeting, to announce that buildings have been erected at several points in the South that shall afford much needed facilities to overcrowded schools, and that shall serve as monuments to the liberality and wisdom of the donor, more fitting, because more useful, than the most costly shaft or obelisk. Next in order, but not least in significance, we refer to the _financial exhibit_ of our Treasurer, with its favorable balance sheet. The receipts for the year, aside from Mrs. Stone’s donation, have been $187,480.02, which together with the amount on hand Sept. 30, 1879 ($1,475.90), makes a total of $188,955.92; and the expenditures, $188,172.19; thus giving a credit balance of $783.73.