The receipts published this month bring us to the end of one-third of our fiscal year. They are $17,712 less than one-third of $350,000, the total amount recommended by the National Council and the Annual Meeting. Our payments have been in excess of receipts $9,130. Add this excess to the $5,000 debt with which we began the year, and you have the condition of our treasury. We have borrowed the money to meet the deficit. Our missionaries are all paid, our work is being pushed and sustained at every point. It is evident that there must be a large increase in contributions from churches and individuals. The contributions are voluntary. As a generous contributor to our treasury says in a letter just received, “Resolutions of annual meetings are not collectable taxes.” Our work is entirely dependent upon the free-will offerings of our supporters. We appeal to them with this understanding. We invite their thoughtful attention to all the facts in the case. The next few months are the best in the year to collect money. People are all at home and about their business. Pastors are all in their pulpits. All the machinery of church and Sunday-school activities are in operation. We earnestly beseech pastors and church officers, and all friends, not to let this harvest-time pass without making special effort to put the finances of the A. M. A. on an assured foundation, before the summer months with their vacations and interruptions of church work come. * * * * * A GOOD IDEA. This little missive shows the way in which one pastor works the cause of benevolence in his parish: “_Dear Friends_: The American Missionary Association is the Hand we have extended toward the seven million of colored people in the South, toward the two hundred and seventy-five thousand Indians in the West, and to the one hundred thousand Chinese on the Pacific Slope, to help lift them to Christian character and citizenship. The accompanying leaflet shows us what the Association is doing, while the envelope is to receive the annual offering which we are to make the coming Sabbath, ----. Shall we send a prayer with our gifts? Faithfully yours.” We have a supply of leaflets, collecting cards and envelopes which we will furnish gratis on order to any who request them for use in taking up contributions. * * * * * The Annual Report for 1885-’86 is now ready, and on application will be mailed to any one who wishes it. * * * * * A precious revival of religion has been enjoyed in the Atlanta University, of which a full report will be given next month. * * * * * EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS SELECTED FROM NUMEROUS LETTERS RECENTLY RECEIVED. “Our contributions, though not large, are larger than they would be were it not for the copies of the magazine read by the people.”