As our educational work is, and must be, destructive of the religion of the old slave days, it becomes more emphatically our duty to provide a positive and intelligent religion to take the place of that which we destroy. Not to do so is to bring a possible curse along with our good. Moreover, churches must furnish zealous men and woman, whom education may prepare to do the Lord’s work. It is not enough to rely upon the possibility of conversion while the students are in college. The Church has an earlier and a broader opportunity. It forms the homes and the influences that form the children. A vast proportion of the pastors and missionaries of the North have gone to college as Christians, instead of becoming Christians when there. They have come from Christian homes. They were sent by Christian parents whose love for God and man was planted and trained in Christ’s Church. And, brethren, need I remind you that we are sowing for a slowly maturing harvest. The special work for the colored race to do in this country and in Africa is appalling, by reason of its vastness. And when we ask how it shall be done, I affirm that the churches of Christ in the South are to be great instruments. Successful foreign missions require vigorous home missions. Do you smile at the idea of these feeble churches ever furnishing financial support? One of them is reported this year as giving $90 to this Association, $70 to the American Board, $77 to home missions, while it spent $687 for itself. The time of defense and apology for church work is passed. It is no longer an experiment. The night of doubt and preparation has gone. The morning of small things when, waiting for more abundant light, we moved with commendable slowness, has opened and glided on into the broad full day. Now we can do what we never could before. * * * * * EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. Your Committee on Finance beg leave to report that they have carefully examined the books of account and the various annual statements of the Treasurer, and that as statements of the business done by the Association they find them all in the most satisfactory condition. The books are kept by a simple but comprehensive system of double entry, by which a double-system of checks against error is provided, and individual and representative accounts are each kept in proper form. The annual statements of receipts and expenditures, of investments, of permanent funds and of real estate held by the Association are all properly certified to as correct by the Auditors. The committee commend the financial administration of the Association for its economy and faithfulness.