The Committee on Finance at Cleveland estimated that for this year $375,000 would be wanted, against $300,000 for the year then closed, an increase of 25 per cent. If this gain had been realized, we should have received for the first quarter $93,750 instead of $55,015.42, a difference of $38,734.58. The friends of this Association will see from these figures that if the plans suggested at our Annual Meeting are carried out, not only must the smaller sources of contributions be augmented, but the churches having the means to give must contribute more largely. With this in view we take the liberty of making the following suggestions: 1. That in localities where money is raised by solicitation from a few old friends who have already taken a deep interest in the Negroes, efforts for collecting funds be made immediately. 2. In parishes where the benevolent organizations connected with the church give no assistance to the Freedmen, we suggest that special efforts be made in Sabbath-schools, the monthly concert and at the annual collection, so that the amount raised for this Association may be in due proportion to that given to the other missionary societies supported by the Congregational churches. 3. In churches that do not follow a fixed system as to time for taking collections, we suggest that the claims of our work be explained and urged at least once a year, and that contributions be forwarded to us at the earliest date possible. We commend these suggestions to that thoughtful and prayerful consideration which we believe is justified and demanded by the necessities of the great work in which we are engaged. * * * * * THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE AND NATIONAL ILLITERACY. BY PROF. C. C. PAINTER. Broad questions of Statesmen receive tardy attention from the average legislator because they receive but little from his constituents, while such matters as the imposition or removal of a tax upon cigars is to him of pressing interest, because it concerns the “boys” who run the caucases. This is perhaps well, as questions of policy are tentatively settled and affect only passing and limited interests; issues that are fundamental and vital, which are to be settled for all time, come to a full recognition slowly. Statutes are enacted as average intellects may decide, or the balance of selfishness allow, but laws are not made, but discovered as God has enacted, and related them to permanent interests. The making or unmaking of the one is the facile work of charlatans when by some mysterious providence they find their way into our legislative halls; the discovery of the other is work for seers and statesmen which once done is done forever.