We wish to guard our work and friends from imposition. Not necessarily imposition in the bad sense. It is to shield them from making donations to objects that in themselves may be worthy, under the impression that they are giving to the work of the A. M. A., when they are doing no such thing. There are a great many schools, of one kind and another, that have been started at the South among the colored people by private parties, on a purely independent basis. Complaint comes to us frequently that circulars and letters begging for funds with which to carry on these independent enterprises are being continually received, and that funds are diverted from our treasury on that account. Many contribute in response to these appeals under the impression that they are giving to the A. M. A. These independent ventures differ from our work in one very important respect. All our institutions are under supervision and are held to a strict responsibility and scrutiny. These others to which we refer are irresponsible and not supervised. Many of them are carried on with what we should consider a great lack of economy, and some of them are in the field because those that control them were uncomfortable under supervision. They knew too much to be counseled with and would not be advised. We ask our friends to be careful in the confidence they give to every applicant, who, taking the files of the AMERICAN MISSIONARY, uses the United States post-office as a means of gaining entrance to their homes and charity. We have no right to dictate to our friends where they shall spend their money. That is their own business. But we feel that it is our duty to advise them of the complaints that come to us, and to put them on their guard against imposition from every quarter. * * * * *