Shantung. Three stations and several out stations 1816 9 3 2 6 19 92 36 10 698 96 $579 Five stations and fourteen out stations 1844 14 15 9 17 62 16 1031 114 1540 $24 $2786 $526 §1156 $92 450 $179 $624 $420 $1673 $2077 205 29 101 10 38 38 165 62 27 187 2 38 $3376, 173 691 447 1596 997 3731 3839 16 Chinese and Japanese in United' States 40 348 1055 377 28,494 275, €49,423, 605 2175 1715 16.520 7403 27,813 25,926 160 *Not including Syrian College. Last year's report. ‡ Not reported. § Reports not complete. East Japan not reported. ASSETS. Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Bonds and Mortgages on Real Estate, par value, St. Louis & Terre Haute R. R. Co., Chicago and Northwestern R.R.Co., $151,912 20 Bonds, $1,000 00 66 6,000 00 66 5,000 00 66 2,000 00 66 1,000 00 66 5,000 00 1,000 00 10,000 00 Stock, 400 00 45,400 00 City of Elizabeth Adjustment 4s., Orange and Newark Horse Car R. R. Co. Bonds, City of Newark Sewer Bonds, Bank of America (N. Y.) Stock, 9,500 00 5,000 00 30,000 00 1,500 00 Quassaic National Bank, Newburg, New York, May 1, 1891. 1,200 00 $244.512 20 PERMANENT FUNDS, APRIL 30, 1891. Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Waldensian Fund-Interest used,. SUMMARY OF GENERAL BALANCE SHEETS. WILLIAM DULLES, Jr.. Treasurer, in account with the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. April 30. To Cash, less amount reserved to meet Drafts charged to Missions, and expended for work in year ending April 30, 1891,being daily presented at New York Office, Temporary charges against Mission Rev. GEORGE D. BAKER, D.D., President. Ministers. Samuel A. Mutchmore, D.D., Laymen. James F. Gayley, M.D., Samuel B. Huey, Esq., ABSTRACT OF THE SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. With gratitude to God for the goodly measure of success enjoyed during the past year, the Board of Education presents to the General Assembly its Seventy-second Annual Report. In January last, the Board suffered a severe loss in the death of Samuel Field, one of its most valued friends and benefactors. RECOMMENDATIONS. The number of these has been unprecedently large, in all 955. Of these, not less than 86 were declined, notwithstanding several of them were earnestly pressed for acceptance, leaving the number accepted at 869, an increase of 30 over last year. The injury inflicted by these refusals is one to be deplored. They entail the loss of valuable laborers for fields where the calls for labor are loud and the means for training them are scanty. The question is, Can these calls be met? FINANCIAL CONDITION. The year opened with a debt of $8700. This acted as a constant restraint upon the acceptance of candidates, as the Board was unwilling to run the risk of reporting a heavier deficit at the end of the year. Yet the promises of support were so fair, and the urgency of the Presbyteries was so strong, and the need of ministers was so evident, that the Board ventured on assuming obligations to the utmost extent that a hopeful prudence would allow. Moreover, all was done that could be done to raise the funds required. But, notwithstanding the many efforts put forth, the Board regrets the necessity of reporting an addition to the debt of last year of $7300, caused in part by the reception of an increased number of candidates and in part by a falling off in legacies. The deficiency now amounts to $16,000, which will prove a heavy incubus on the Board next year. Would that the Presbyteries that recommend candidates for aid felt the obligation to contribute towards their support more keenly. A review of the list of contributions received, even after making due allowance for the poverty and feebleness of many of the churches contributing, suggests the thought that in too many instances no collection was taken up, and the single dollar was forwarded to save appearances; or, if it was taken up, that it was preceded by no statement of the nature and demands of the cause. It is hardly credible that any church of respectable size would lightly treat an interest so vital to the welfare and spread of the Church when duly informed of its importance. Misapprehensions, no doubt, may exist in the minds of some individuals, and in certain communities, as to the necessity of aiding young men in their course of study for the ministry, or as to the pressing need of more ministers when so many seem to be unemployed. Prejudices, too, against the management of the Board may have been awakened in some, because of an unworthy candidate that has now and then been taken under its care. But these obstructions to beneficence might easily be removed by fair statements of counter facts that are abundantly on hand. And for presenting these statements the Board must depend on the ministers in charge. If they fail in this particular, it is virtually helpless. THE DEMAND. The number of churches marked Vacant in the "Minutes" of 1890 is 1163, an excess of 15 over that of the previous year. Many of these are of the first importance and find it not easy to obtain the men that suit. Evidently the churches are growing in size and strength more rapidly than capable ministers can be found for them. The consequence is that our strong men are called frequently from place to place as if for equal distribution; and they often leave places where, by reason of the peculiar needs of the region and the great influence they have acquired, their loss is severely felt. In these transfers the West is generally the greatest sufferer. A sad lack of laborers is also reported from our mission fields and smaller churches. During the year ending 1890, not less than 222 new churches were organized, while 65 were dissolved, leaving a net increase of 157, for many of which no adequate provision could be secured. And there is prospect of a large increase in the near future through the labors of Sabbath-school missionaries, who, during the current year, have established over 1200 Sabbath-schools in places where there were no religious privileges whatever. Many of these, we are told, promise soon to become the nuclei of churches requiring pastoral care. The fruits of such noble evangelistic work it becomes the Church to secure by putting them in charge of a settled ministry. Still further, in proportion as the churches at the South among the Freedmen multiply, the candidates from this class are increasing upon us. And these have to be aided from the academic stage up to their graduation in theology. Finally, the General Assembly has urged the importance of a more vigorous prosecution of religious labors among the immigrant populations that are pouring in upon us at such an ominous rate. And men for these fields are being put under the Board's care in increasing numbers. These, too, must be taken into account when considering the question of the need of more ministers. |