The time has fully come when the Society must ask the principal churches in all the Western States for distinct offerings for its general work. The burden is too great to be borne longer without their liberal co-operation. It is but right that this Society, as well as others, should now gather fruit from the trees of its own planting and its special care. And the offerings from the churches should be made relatively to other claims, somewhat in proportion to the magnitude of the Society's missionary, church edifice, and educational work. With pleasure we record the fact that prominent churches in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas during the past year have made separate and generous contributions to the general work of the Society. We emphasize the necessity for a continuance and enlargement of these gifts until the churches of the older West shall stand in line with those of the East in this respect. In respect to these numbers two or three things should be noted:-In Vermont Associations there are several churches belonging in Canada, and their contributions go to Canadian institutions. In each of the New England States a large number of the non contributing churches are small and feeble, reporting from six to twenty members. In no part of our country have churches in rural districts suffered from emigration more than in New England. The resident membership will not vary much from 100,000. During the year I have traveled 13,189 miles, delivered seventy sermons and addresses, attended seventy prayer-meetings, written over 1,000 official letters, distributed a large number My of circulars and Home Mission Monthlies. traveling expenses have been $306.48; postage, $44.15; stationery, $9.65. NEW YORK AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY REV. C. P. SHELDON, D.D., DISTRICT SECRETARY. The interest in and support of the work of the Home Mission Society on my field shows no particular change during the past year. About the same number of churches have made contributions as during the preceding three or tributed in the year 1885-6 that did not confour years. In all my field 115 churches contribute the past year, while 102 churches contributed the past year that were non-contributors the previous year. Nearly all, except the smallest and weakest churches, are accustomed with a good degree of regularity to make contributions. Very much, however, depends upon the interest and action of the pastors in regard to such contributions. In nearly every church, however weak and small, there are individuals who would willingly and gladly contribute something for our work, if the opportunity was regularly and properly. afforded them. Some of the churches have given more the last year than in previous years, while others have given less. The decrease has been mostly in some of the larger churches in the cities. More money has been received from my field than in any previous year, but a large portion was for the debt as pledged by individuals and churches; hence the receipts for the current work of the Society were somewhat less than in the preceding year. With the debt paid, there is hope that the income from the field will be more regular, steady, and increasingly large. The whole amount in contributions and legacies received within the year was $125,751.82; from New York, $114,597.38; and from Northern New Jersey, $11, 154.14. In visiting churches, and attending associations and public meetings, I have traveled during the year about 10,000 miles, delivered fifty-two sermons and addresses, attended eighty-one other religious meetings, written 671 official letters, and distributed many thousand circulars and a large number of copies of the Home Mission Monthly. I have done more work through the mails than in any former year. My traveling expenses have been $277.70; postage, $59.49; stationery, $27.32; total, $364.51. I still find that one of the great obstacles to systematic and regular contributions is the frequent changes of pastors. Churches without pastors, or making a change of pastors, are quite apt to omit missionary contributions. PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. REV. E. B. PALMER, D.D., DISTRICT SECRETARY. The apprehension was not unreasonable at the opening of the year that, the great debt having been provided for, there might be a want of urgency felt on the part of our church membership in the work of the Society. When, however, we consider the success of the special movement in behalf of Mexico, and the fact that all the subscriptions for the debt matured in this year, there is ground for hearty thanksgiving that the cause of Home Missions has been sustained so cordially. The total receipts for this department are $27,126.42. This includes $7,743.18 for the debt and $3,950.89 for Mexico. For the year ending March 31st, 1886, there were 355 contributing churches and 78 Sunday schools, making a total of 433; while for this year there are 370 churches and 73 Sunday schools, making a total of 443. The difference is very slight. Individual contributors last year were 103, while this year there are 188. The increase is due to special donors for debt and Mexico. The Secretary has traveled nearly 7,000 miles at a cost of $229.52; has expended for postage $53.80, for stationery, including collection cards and envelopes, $30.44, and for printing $98.00, including circulars for special distribution on the field. We have sent out about 17,000 circulars and written a large number of personal letters. There is still a wide demand for a deeper interest in the welfare of the country as a whole. Many Christians do not look beyond their own immediate surroundings; what religious concern they have is confined to the local community. The larger welfare of the nation is forgotten. What a glorious contrast would be presented if the mass of our church membership felt a practical solicitude in the religious welfare of the great and rapidly growing West, if, too, there was an intelligent and prayerful determination that the freedmen of the South should be lifted out of their ignorance, into the light of truth and virtue, and that our millions of foreigners should not remain without being leavened with the teaching of the New Testament! It will require all the resources of pastors thoroughly imbued with the missionary spirit, combined with the power of the religious press and all existing special agencies, to awaken the great body of Christians to their missionary obligations and privileges. It is gratifying that our religious papers are so thoroughly awake on this subject. The National Baptist has kept the great Mexican field continually before its readers with most happy results, both as to contributions and general interest. It stands among us as the exponent of the most humane principles, with a large and firm grasp upon all that pertains to the universal extension of the kingdom of Christ. LAKE DISTRICT: OHIO, MICHIGAN, AND INDIANA. REV. EDW. ELLIS, DISTRICT SECRETARY. This report covers the current year, from April 1st, 1886, to March 31st, 1887. We are compelled to report a slight falling off in the aggregate receipts for the year. This is doubtless due largely to the loss sustained by the death of the late secretary, Rev. James Cooper, D.D., who died just at the opening of the year's work. During several of the most important months of the year the Society was without any official representative in the District. It is possible, also, that the natural disadvantages attendant upon the introduction of a new man into the secretaryship may have led to this. However, I am very happy to say that I have received at every point a most cordial reception. I am also assured of a hearty co-operation. The three Baptist journals in the district, the Christian Herald, the Journal and Messenger, and the Indiana Baptist, are most cheerful and generous in their support of our cause. The outlook is hopeful. Contributions from churches, Sunday schools, and individuals have been as follows: Ohio, 133 churches, 37 Sunday schools, $7,815.01; Michigan, 92 churches, 18 Sunday schools, $3,197.02; Indiana, 99 churches, 4 Sunday schools, $1,623.67. Total, $12,635.70, from 324 churches and 59 Sunday schools. I have spent eight months in the Society's service, have preached forty-nine sermons, delivered forty-five addresses, attended thirteen associations and three State conventions. I have paid for traveling expenses $246.60; postage, $38.14; printing and stationery, $51.48. Total, $336.22. SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT. REV. S. W. MARSTON, D.D., DISTRICT SECRETARY. the Eastern States, 18; in the Middle and Central States, 32; in the Southern States, 140; in the Western States and Territories, 459; in the Canadian Dominion, 6; in Mexico, 21; and in Alaska, 2. French missionaries have wrought in 6 States; Scandinavian missionaries in 15 States and Territories; German missionaries in 18 States and Territories, Ontario and Manitoba. Among the foreign population there have been 153 laborers; among the colored people, the Indians, and Mexicans, including teachers, 199; and among Americans, 319. The Society aids in the maintenance of 18 established schools for the colored people, the Indians, the Mexicans, also several schools for the Chinese, one in Utah and three in Mexico, the means for whose support come from the New England Woman's Home Mission Society. NOTE. The serious illness of Dr. Marston for a few months past has somewhat interfered with the collections on his field, and has pre-nationalities or peoples, viz.: Americans, The Missionaries have represented ten vented him from making his annual report. There has been a gratifying advance in the number of contributing churches in his district, especially for our mission headquarters in the City of Mexico. West Virginia, through the efficient labors. of Rev. W. E. Powell, who has represented the Society therein, has responded more liberally than ever before. The year's contributions are reported at $1,350.66. Germans, French, Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Indians, Negroes, Chinese, Mexicans. The particular distribution of these laborers is as follows: the past year, particularly in Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, Idaho, Washington. 11,893 416,621 Territory, Oregon, California, and Arizona, 1,038,158 in exploring new fields, organizing churches 569,976 and Sunday-schools, arranging for occasional 2,577,478 services at places where it is impracticable to 103,214 3,545 appoint local missionaries, preaching wherever there is opportunity. Missionaries of the Society have been the first to explore scores of new settlements the past year as they have explored thousands of others in the past. For years yet this kind of service will be required. CLASSIFIED TABLE OF MISSIONARIES, ETC., OF THE SOCIETY. 222343 342242 123 +22 3431 4968 2223 222 2 46 1871. 352 149 25 1872. 424 265 29 1873. 435 289 29 1874. 330 2301 38 *1875 334 219 40 12 1876. 260 128 54 The call for missionaries to serve newlyorganized churches has been far beyond the ability of the Society to answer. Where it is practicable, two or more churches are supplied by one man. The missionary pastors last year preached at 1,385 stations and out-stations. All churches aided are pressed to do first all they can for themselves, and at the earliest possible moment to dispense with aid from the Society. About twenty churches have become self-supporting the past year. In portions of Dakota and Montana the drouth of last season and other adverse circumstances seriously crippled the financial ability of many small churches and retarded their progress toward self-support. Large ingatherings have been enjoyed by some of the churches, and revivals have been general. A few general missionaries, with special evangelistic gifts, would constitute a valuable addition to our forces in the newer States and Territories. The general or State missionaries are Rev. D. E. Halteman, D.D., for Wisconsin, Rev. J. Sunderland for Minnesota, Rev. G. W. Huntley for Northern Dakota, Rev. C. E. Higgins for Iowa, Rev. J. W. Osborn for Nebraska, Rev. D. D. Proper for Kansas, Rev. Dwight Spencer for Utah, Idaho, and Montana, Rev. A. B. Banks for the Puget Sound region, Rev. G. J. Burchett, D.D., for Oregon, Rev. W. H. Latourette for California and western Nevada. Without the constant, watchful care of these large fields by such capable general missionaries, it is next to impossible to maintain and carry on our work efficiently. Rev. Dr. Haigh, of Chicago, has continued, as heretofore, superintendent of missions for his extensive district, including sections which have had no benefit of the services of a general missionary. This work, with the increased attention which is required for the development of benevolence in the churches, has become too vast to be compassed by one man, however capable. It has been deemed wise, therefore, to make a division of the district, leaving for Dr. Haigh Northern Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Northern Dakota, and constituting Southern Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, and Colorado as a separate district. Rev. H. C. Woods, D.D., of St. Paul, Minn., has accepted the appointment as Superintendent of Missions for this territory. This appointment has been received with much favor. It is believed that Dr. Woods, who has been so long and prominently identified with the effective missionary management in Minnesota, has exceptional fitness for this responsible position. THE WESTERN DISTRICT. REV. WILLIAM M. HAIGH, D.D., SUPERINTENDENT OF MISSIONS, AND DISTRICT SECRETARY. The work in this district, in its three-fold character-missionary, constructive, and financial, has been prosecuted through the year on substantially the same principles as heretofore, and with similar results. The missionary work though hampered, especially in the newer regions, by the limitations of the treasury, has been markedly successful. The constructive work of organizing the State forces for missionary supervision and self-support has gone forward with noticeable steps, and the growing power of these organizations is manifest to all. The financial work of training these new regions to take the larger national interests of the Society into their sympathies and efforts has also met with a good degree of success, and it is already seen that a healthier and more vigorous life comes to these States by this system than followed the old plan of expecting from a missionary State no practical interest in the work beyond their own borders. In Minnesota steady and gratifying advance has been made. Forty-one missionaries were employed, serving forty-six churches with fiftyeight outstations. They raised on their fields for all purposes $36,501.34, of which $2,545.82 was for benevolent objects. The total receipts for the year were $8,170.15 against $7,193.04 last year. The number of contributing churches increased from 119 to 136. In addition the contributions for the general work of the Society An are steadily growing, reaching this year about $1,446.83. The year will always remain a marked one for denominational progress in the State. More work on church edifices is being done and projected than for many years. almost general revival of religion has been enjoyed by the churches, and the total additions were 2,218, the net gain being a little more than 11 per cent. The total contributions for all purposes are $193,331.70, a gain of $49,672. 75, or 33 per cent. The missionary contributions for the State average $4.50 per member, and the entire contributions $18.67 per member. In Iowa we had 41 missionaries serving 82 churches and outstations. These churches raised on their fields for all purposes $30,148.76, of which $3,221.42 was for benevolent objects. The receipts were not equal to last year, being $4,049.23. Indeed, the whole year has been one of more than usual difficulty, owing to the constant drain which is being made on the churches by emigration further west, and to the fact that for some months the State was without a financial secretary. The contribution for the general work of the Society, introduced by themselves, continues to grow. Rev. Dwight Spencer has spent five months this winter in the State, and by his forceful presentations has interested the people both in his special work in Utah and the general work of the Society. He reports visiting 86 churches, delivering 98 sermons and lectures, distributing 15,445 pages of literature, travelling 8,360 miles. The receipts for the year were $2,562.95. In Kansas 43 missionaries were under appointment in 47 churches and 45 outstations. These |