The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 12, December, 1881Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 12, December, 1881
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
The work among the Chinese on the Pacific Coast has been carried
on under the able and energetic superintendence of Rev. W. C.
Pond with unabated interest and success. Here there has been
enlargement. The excess of teachers for the past year over the
previous year has been six, that of pupils 76, and of hopeful
conversions 13. A comparison of the statistics and work shows an
improvement at all points. The total enrollment last year was
1,556; this year, 1,632. The number last year who gave evidence of
conversion was 127; this year, 140. All reports that have come to
us are exceedingly encouraging, and not the least among them is
the repeated expression of the need there is of some well chosen
point in Southern China for a mission station from which converted
Chinamen returning to their fatherland may go forth to preach to
their countrymen. We do not purpose to act hastily upon suggestions
of this kind. We seek, however, to learn clearly the will of the
Master, and to expand His work whenever and wherever it is evident
He is leading the way.
* * * * *
FINANCES.
The financial success reported at our last Annual Meeting, while
full of encouragement, cast upon us a shade of anxiety. It was
not certain that the additional funds made necessary by the large
gifts we had received for new buildings, and the plans we had
adopted for enlargement at different points, would be forthcoming.
Efforts were made throughout that meeting to impress upon all those
present the urgent necessity we were under for at least 25 per
cent. of increase in receipts over the previous year for current
expenses. The same necessity was also set forth at the National
Council at St. Louis, in our publications and in the pulpits, and
at conferences and conventions wherever opportunity was afforded.
We felt that God had called us to do an enlarged work, and that if
we could convey the information to His people, and share with them
the burden we felt ourselves, the responses would be sufficiently
liberal to meet all demands. In this we were not disappointed. The
receipts reported for the fiscal year closing Sept. 30, 1880, were,
for current work, $187,480.02; this year, $243,795.23, a gain of
$56,315.21. This shows an advance of 30 per cent. mainly in the
ordinary subscriptions over last year, and indicates the people’s
hearty appreciation and indorsement of our work. For this we return
profound gratitude to Almighty God. The fiscal year was closed free
from debt, and with a balance in our treasury of $518.80. We are
sure that the liberality displayed augurs well for the future. We
believe the money received was expended wisely. We do not see how
we could have done justice to our work without it. But additional
outlay for current expenses is sure to be needful. The Stone Hall
just finished at Straight University will afford accommodations
for the teachers and sixty girls. The cost, however, for student
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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