* * * * * THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. * * * * * AIM AND WORK. To preach the Gospel to the poor. It originated in a sympathy with the almost friendless slaves. Since Emancipation it has devoted its main efforts to preparing the FREEDMEN for their duties as citizens and Christians in America, and as missionaries in Africa. As closely related to this, it seeks to benefit the caste-persecuted CHINESE in America, and to co-operate with the Government in its humane and Christian policy toward the INDIANS. It has also a mission in AFRICA. STATISTICS. CHURCHES: _In the South_--In District of Columbia, 1; Virginia, 1; North Carolina, 6; South Carolina, 2; Georgia, 13; Kentucky, 7; Tennessee, 4; Alabama, 14; Kansas, 1; Arkansas, 1; Louisiana, 18; Mississippi, 4; Texas, 6. _Africa_, 3. _Among the Indians_, 1. Total, 82. INSTITUTIONS FOUNDED, FOSTERED OR SUSTAINED IN THE SOUTH.--_Chartered_: Hampton, Va.; Berea, Ky.; Talladega, Ala.; Atlanta, Ga.; Nashville, Tenn.; Tougaloo, Miss.; New Orleans, La., and Austin, Tex.--8. _Graded or Normal Schools_: Wilmington, N.C.; Charleston, Greenwood, S.C.; Savannah, Macon, Atlanta, Ga.; Montgomery, Mobile, Athens, Selma, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.--11. _Other Schools_, 35. Total, 54. TEACHERS, MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTANTS.--Among the Freedmen, 319; among the Chinese, 28; among the Indians, 9; in Africa, 13. Total, 369. STUDENTS.--In theology, 104; law, 20; in college course, 91; in other studies, 8,884. Total, 9,108. Scholars taught by former pupils of our schools, estimated at 150,000. Indians under the care of the Association, 13,000. WANTS. 1. A steady INCREASE of regular income to keep pace with the growing work. This increase can only be reached by _regular_ and _larger_ contributions from the churches, the feeble as well as the strong. 2. ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS for our higher educational institutions, to accommodate the increasing numbers of students; MEETING HOUSES for the new churches we are organizing; MORE MINISTERS, cultured and pious, for these churches. 3. HELP FOR YOUNG MEN, to be educated as ministers here and missionaries to Africa--a pressing want. Before sending boxes, always correspond with the nearest A. M. A. office as directed on second page cover. THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY. We are anxious to put the AMERICAN MISSIONARY on a paying basis. We intend to make it worth its price, and we ask our patrons to aid us: 1. More of our readers can take pains to send us either the moderate subscription price (50 cents), or $1.00, naming a friend to whom we may send a second copy. 2. A special friend in each church can secure subscribers at club-rates (12 copies for $5 or 25 copies for $10). 3. Business men can benefit themselves by advertising in a periodical that has a circulation of 20,000 copies monthly and that goes to many of the best men and families in the land. Will not our friends aid us to make this plan a success?