In 1832 the number of Baptists reported in each of the Northern States the

and territory now tributary to the American Baptist Home Mission Socicty, was as follows: Maine, 15,000; New Hampshire, 6,505; Vermont, 10,525; Massachusetts, 20,200; Rhode Island, 3,271; Connecticut, 10,039: New York, 60,006; New Jersey, 3,981; Pennsylvania, 11,103; Delaware, 420; District of Columbia, 533; Illinois, 4,622; Indiana, 11,334; Ohio, 10,493; Michigan, 667; total, 168,213.

The number of Northern white Baptists in the territory tributary to the American Baptist Home Mission Society at the present time is reported to be 973,820. A gain of over 800,000.

Extra copies of the Home Mission Monthly "Educational Number," for August, 1899, are needed at the Rooms. As they were sent out in quantity to a

No. 3.

number of the schools, unused copies may still be on hand, and we shall esteem it a favor if any that can be spared are returned to the Corresponding Secretary.

At the first Anniversary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society held in 1833, the following resolution presented by Francis Wayland, President of Brown University, was unanimously adopted: "That the intimate relations existing between the Home Missionary enterprise and other objects of Christian benevolence and the influence it exerts upon them all, render its success essential to their permanent prosperity, and recommend it to general and efficient support."

We print this month some valuable testimonies from men well known in the

denomination regarding the work of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. They represent presidents of universities, colleges and seminaries, editors of denominational papers, pastors of churches, and business men. It will be seen that their testimony is uniform and emphatic as to the valuable work already accomplished by the Society, as well as of the possibility and urgency of enlarged service in the new century. The list could be indefinitely enlarged had we sufficient space to spare. We are very sure that this testimony will carry great weight and produce a profound impression upon the denomination.

Great as has been the work of the Society for nearly forty years among the

If all its work in the West, in Mexico, in Alaska, in the West Indies and among the Negroes in the South were finished, there would still be a loud call for all the Society's resources and energies to be expended in city mission work; perhaps the greatest struggle of the coming century between vital Christianity and its malignant enemies is to take place within the limits of the great American cities. A stupendous conflict upon which vast interests hang suspended.

The condition of things that confronts us in America to-day at the beginning of a new century is an incentive for broad planning, ceaseless effort and liberal giving to the cause of home missions, the cause of God and our native land. If that call shall be heeded no one can doubt the glorious results, while if it passes unheeded our negligence and faithlessness will manifest themselves in the decay of vital godliness, the partial paralysis of denominational power, and the nation which we love will suffer irreparable detriment.

It is believed that occasionally money is left to the American Baptist Home Mission Society in wills of which the Society never hears. If pastors and other friends of the Society would kindly take the pains to send word to the Corresponding Secretary of the probating of any will in which the Society has an interest, it would be regarded as a very special favor. The annual income of the Society from legacies alone is, on the average, $100,000, made up chiefly of comparatively small sums. No friend of the Society should hesitate to leave it

The Sixty-ninth Anniversary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society will be held in Springfield, Mass., Thursday and Friday, May 23d and 24th, 1901. A very interesting program has been provided, and it is hoped and believed that the meetings will be of unusual interest. Springfield is a delightful city; the Baptists there will extend a most cordial welcome, and there ought to be a large attendance. This is the first meeting of the new century, the work of the Society for the year closing has been aggressive and successful, and the demands made upon it for advance work are many and imperative.

The Anniversaries afford the only occasion for the denomination, through its representative men and women, to come together for mutual conference and stimulus. The meetings never fail to accomplish great good. Their influence depends in large measure upon the attendance. We trust that pastors and laymen will feel it worth their while to devote a few days to the great work of promoting denominational interests, stimulating denominational esprit de corps, and giving a new impulse to great denominational enterprises. The meeting of the "American Missionary Association," held in Springfield in October last. was one of the most enthusiastic and profitable ever held by that society. We trust the Baptist Anniversaries will not in any respect fall below the high standard set by our Congregational brethren.

The American Baptist Home Mission Society has borne a most conspicuous and honorable part in the development of the life of the denomination. It has been one of the most forceful factors in multiplying our numbers. Its missionaries have preached more than two millions

structive force. It has organized more than five thousand Baptist churches; thousands of Sunday schools; and aided in the organization and nurturing of Associations and State conventions. It has been a unifying force. It has served in a large measure as an agent for holding together the Americans, Germans, Swedes, Danes-in all, people of more than a score of different nationalitiesso that they feel that they are members of one Christian family, with a common

STEPHEN GREENE, ESQ., MASS., EX-PRESIDENT.

faith and uniform practice. It has promoted education. It has fostered and encouraged Baptist institutions of learning of all grades; has maintained a great system of education for the Negroes of the South; has disseminated information regarding its work in all parts of the continent and in the islands of the sea. It has in a large measure aided in arousing the denomination to self-consciousness, to an appreciation of its privileges and obligations; has been instrumental in the development of a missionary spirit, and of generous sympathies and interest in the unfolding of the life of the nation.

HON. R. O. FULLER, MASS., EX-PRESIDENT.

HON. JAMES L. HOWARD, CONN., EX-PRESIDENT.

dignified office has always been worthily filled. Seven ex-presidents of the Society are still living-Hon. S. A. Crozer, Pennsylvania, 1874-76; Hon. Robert O. Fuller, Massachusetts, 1877-79; Hon. James L. Howard, Connecticut, 1882-84; Hon. C. W. Kingsley, Massachusetts, 1889-91; Hon. E. Nelson Blake, Massachusetts, 1892-94; H. K. Porter, Pennsylvania, 1895-97; Stephen Greene, Massachusetts, 1898-1900. E. M. Thresher, Esq., Ohio, is the present president. Our readers will be interested in the pictures of these brethren beloved which we reproduce.

HON. C. W. KINGSLEY. MASS.; EX-PRESIDENT.

EXPANSION.

We ask the attention of our readers to the strong array of facts, figures and arguments presented by experts whose experience, knowledge and character entitle them to every confidence regarding the need and urgency not only of maintaining the work of the Home Mission Society but of greatly enlarging it. To whatever part of our field we direct our attention we are confronted with the same conditions-the whiteness of the harvest, the scarcity of laborers. There is no part of the work, missionary, educational, or church erection, where there is not a call for expansion. Porto Rico and Eastern Cuba should have twice the number of workers now there, and even then the force would be small compared with the opportunity; the missionary force among the Italians should be at least quadrupled; while the work among the French, Poles, and other nationalities is greatly hindered for lack of workmen. We have difficulty in finding fitting words in which to paint the opportunity for aggressive, prosperous missionary labor in the imperial region of the West and in

H. K. PORTER, ESQ., PA., EX-PRESIDENT

by H. K. Porter, Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pa., a member of the board of trustees of the University, and a former president. of the Home Mission Society. Mr. Porter has recently visited the University and expressed great satisfaction with the president's home, and also with the entire group of magnificent buildings erected for the institution. He says no better use could have been made of the money invested in them. To his former liberal gifts he has just added the sum of $2,300 for the purchase of machinery for the industrial hall.