special gifts was secured sufficient to lift the debt resting upon the three larger societies. In this sum the Home Missionary Society shared to the extent of nearly $160,000. Its debt was extinguished and a small balance distributed among the constituent states under the percentage system, which is a fundamental feature of the organization. It is an occasion for gratitude that in addition to all the happy results of the campaign there was a tonic effect upon current receipts which has prevented any reaction and has maintained the income of the Home Missionary Society, as of the other societies, at something above the wonted level.

3. By holding the appropriations for the mission field at the conservative figure made compulsory by the years of financial drought, and by effecting a reduction in general expenses of something like fifteen thousand dollars a year (largely due to freedom from interest charges), the society has succeeded in passing through the half-year period - April 1 to October 1, 1910 without making a loan, an experience duplicated but few times in its history. It is hoped that increased contributions in coming months may warrant a greatly needed enlargement of the work.

4. Coöperating with the five other societies doing work in the United States, the Home Missionary Society has merged its magazine in the new joint publication, The American Missionary. This change has much to commend it, and was cordially made by the societies. At the same time it should be borne in mind that it will be a cause of disappointment and loss unless the churches give hearty support by furnishing a substantial subscription list. It is not expected that the magazine can be made self-supporting. But the annual deficit will be greatly reduced if a large number of subscribers are secured at even the nominal rate offered in church clubs.

5. In the spring of 1909 the missions carried on by the society in Cuba were transferred to the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. This step was made necessary by the long-continued financial embarrassment of our society, by the lack of interest among the churches in the maintenance of these missions, and by the heavy cost of conducting them as compared to missionary work in the United States. The necessity of the transfer was much regretted, since Cuba

is morally and religiously a very needy country, and our missions were ministering to a large number of people.

6. Within the triennium two state societies have assumed the support of the missionary work within their bounds, viz., Washington and Minnesota. This step was taken pursuant to the policy of the society to develop self-reliance in all parts of its field, and as a result of a very careful and preparatory effort on the part of the leaders in these states. There is every reason to believe that the work in these regions will not only be maintained at its former level, but enlarged. This will call for a much heavier per capita contribution than is made by the denomination at large. As against the general average of forty-four cents, the Congregationalists of Washington will need to give a minimum of $1.50, and those of Minnesota, $1.00. We believe they will respond to the demand of this emergency.

7. During the early part of the period under review earnest consideration was given by the Board of Directors to the question whether the society may wisely establish one or both of two new departments suggested to them. These departments are Evangelism and Industrial Relations. The conclusion finally and unanimously reached was that it is inexpedient for the society to enlarge the range of its activities. The tasks which fall to it as a church-planting and maintaining agency in city and country, on the frontier and among the immigrants, are so varied, important, and exacting as to tax all the resources of leadership and funds which the society can command. Therefore, while recognizing in full degree the close affinity between the fields covered by the proposed departments and the historic work of the society, it is believed that they can be better cared for by other forms of organization.

8. A beginning has been made on a legacy equalization fund in order to neutralize the well-understood fluctuations of income from that source. The Board has voted to use only a maximum of one hundred thousand dollars of legacy receipts annually, putting the remainder, if any, in a special reserve until it shall equal one hundred thousand dollars, after which it will be used for the purpose above stated.

9. In harmony with past custom, an increasing closeness of relation has been sought with the Church Building, the Sunday

School, and the Education societies, whose field is coterminous with that of the Home Missionary Society and with whose work its activities are closely interwoven. Gratifying results and distinct economies are effected by this coöperation for all concerned. There is thus secured the largest measure of specialization and sharply defined responsibility without overlapping or confusion of effort. The Home Missionary Society is constantly mindful of the debt which it owes to these sister societies.

10. There has been with each passing month a growing consciousness of the importance of home mission work in cities. The publication of the figures of the census just taken has revealed afresh the paramount place which the city is to have in the future history of our country. No diligence in the endeavor to evangelize our cities can be misplaced, and no wisely directed expenditure of effort or money is excessive. This society has in whole or in part the responsibility of fostering Congregational churches in some twenty important cities of the land, ranging in size from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Pittsburg, Pa. In addition, the state societies and the city societies coöperating with them have the care of two score or more great and growing centers of population. Much effort has been put forth during the past year to draw together representatives of all these bodies for conference. Only by the highest degree of coöperative effort can we meet the demand which the growth of our cities is making. This society is about to choose an associate secretary, whose special task will be the care of its city interests. It hopes to make him in some large sense the servant of the denomination.

The average activities of each of the three years under review may be seen from the following figures covering the fiscal year, April 1, 1909, to March 31, 1910.

The society carried on work during the year in 28 states and territories, and the constituent state societies in 16 more. The number of missionaries under commission for the whole or part of the year was 1,677, and they cared for 2,304 churches and preaching stations. Connected with these churches were 2,176 Sunday-schools. Of these churches, 348 held services in foreign tongues. These tongues were German, Bohemian, Italian, Swedish, Danish-Norwegian, Welsh, Finnish, Armenian, Span

ish, French, Syrian, Polish, Albanian, Greek, Portuguese, and Croatian, sixteen in all. The largest foreign work was carried on among the German people, 90 churches using that language in their services.

During the year 118 new churches were organized, 80 new church buildings were erected, and 35 parsonages were built. The number of churches coming to self-support was 96. Twenty-eight churches formerly self-supporting were compelled to ask aid again.

In addition to the figures above given, the society has this year secured from various city societies which aid in the support of pastors, statistics of their work. These show a total of 57 churches aided, of which 48 were English and 9 foreign. There were 58 Sunday-schools in connection with them. Seventyfour ministers were under the commission of these societies for the whole or a part of the year, aggregating 659 months of service. This makes a total of 1,651 ministers serving 2,361 churches and preaching stations, with 2,234 Sunday-schools.

The net receipts of the Congregational Home Missionary Society for the year were as follows:

The constituent state societies received during the year a total of $266,067.29. Adding this to the receipts of the National Society, and deducting the amount sent by the National Society to the State Societies ($36,106.64), we have $662,175.19. Besides this, there was raised by city societies for the support of pastors, $36,363.14, making a grand total for Congregational home missions for the year of $698,538.33.

These city societies raised also considerable sums for endowment, buildings, and sites, which do not technically fall in the home mission column.

STATEMENT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SUNDAYSCHOOL AND PUBLISHING SOCIETY.

In reporting to the National Council upon a period of the past three years, the directors of the Congregational SundaySchool and Publishing Society are glad to state that this period has been characterized throughout by a very earnest and harmonious conduct of all its departments. While there is much to be attained, they have been the best years in the history of the Society. Not only have the profits of the Business Department been gratifying, but a progressive movement has characterized every department. The directors have had the distinct purpose of conducting the Missionary, Editorial, Educational, Congregationalist, and Book Publishing departments of the Society in such a manner as to minister to the whole life of our churches, and for the promotion of the welfare of the entire denomination. Those features which have chiefly characterized the conduct of the different departments of the society are called to the attention of the Council briefly.

THE MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.

Since the last National Council there has been an unprecedented material development in all sections of our country. Thousands of miles of new railway have been extended in the Central, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific coast states, accompanied by shifting of population, the development of rural communities, and the building of villages, towns, and cities. Multitudes from the East have gone West, and incoming tides from all nations have more than taken their places. This has given rise to new conditions in the East as well as the West. The Sunday-School Society has been called upon more urgently than ever before to help meet these new conditions, and to lay religious foundations in places which were destitute.

In the three years 85 regular workers and 54 temporary helpers of the Sunday-School Society have aided in organizing 1,118 new schools, in nearly all cases where there was no Sundayschool or church. They have reorganized 648. Out of schools