The Bohemians, notwithstanding the prejudice that unjustly attaches to their name, are among our most industrious and reliable citizens. Those of them who are Protestants are Calvinists, and cling to the Presbyterian form of government. They belong to the Reformed Church of Bohemia, which has always been represented in the Pan Presbyterian Council. A great responsibility rests upon our Church in view of the wants of this interesting people. There are 30,000 in New York City where we have a church, 10,000 in Baltimore where we have a church, 40,000 in Chicago, 50,000 in Wisconsin, 10,000 in Omaha, 50,000 in Minnesota, several large communities of them in Nebraska and Kansas conveniently situated for economical evangelization. We have fourteen churches among them already in our connection, besides sixteen stations ready to be organized at their own request by our presbyteries.

There are many startling facts connected with the foreign elements of our population, even if we confine our attention to the better classes who have always been most welcome to our shores. One-quarter of the population of New York City is German, onehalf of Wisconsin is German, two-thirds of Wisconsin's population are foreigners. Of the 30,000 population of La Crosse only 8000 or one-quarter speak the English language. One-quarter of Chicago's inhabitants are German. We have no adequate provision for the supply of ministers to these foreign populations. The seminaries at Bloomfield and Dubuque are doing great things for the Germans and Hollanders; but little can be done by them for the Scandinavians and the Bohemians so accessible to us-much less can they do for other nationalities.

IMMIGRATION.

Twenty per cent. of our immigrants are under fifteen years of age. Half are under twenty-five. If we were prepared to take them at this impressible age, and evangelize and Americanize them, one element of danger would become a source of security to our country.

But the changed motives for immigration cannot escape the notice of any observing mind. The earliest immigrants came for freedom to worship God. Later foreigners flocked to our shores

because they admired our civil institutions. Then the material prosperity, produced by a new and undeveloped country, furnished the motives. Farmers and mechanics constituted a large class. Now fifty per cent. of the increase of our population are without occupation. Formerly the nobler nationalities-the Scotch, the Irish and the Germans constituted the bulk of our immigrants. Now the lawless elements of every nation predominate.

In 1850 one in every 3286 of our population was in a penal institution. In 1880 one in every eight hundred and sixty-two. While in England the decrease in convictions from 1868 to 1889 was sixty-two per cent., in Scotland sixty-nine per cent., and in Ireland from 1870 to 1890 about forty per cent. These figures show that from some cause Great Britain has been steadily losing its criminal classes, while in the United States the criminal classes have been increasing twenty-three per cent. faster than the population. A like comparison with other foreign countries would exhibit still more alarming facts. The facts have a serious bearing upon the work committed to the Board of Home Missions.

EXCEPTIONAL POPULATION.

The Indians, the Mexicans, the Mormons, the Alaskans and the Mountain Whites of the South are passing through a period of pupilage which is necessary to prepare them not only for discharging the duties of citizenship but for hearing profitably the preaching of the gospel. The mission school is the chief agency in this work. Prosperity has generally attended the schools. There has been a steady progress toward more perfect organization and equipment. A very much needed and very complete academy building was erected at Logan, Utah, the ladies of New Jersey providing the money, and another at Mt. Pleasant, with money raised by the ladies of New York. Each of these has ten wellconducted mission schools in the populous valleys adjacent from which to draw students. These academies, together with the Collegiate Institute at Salt Lake City and Hungerford Academy at Springville, with all their tributary mission schools, are the realization of a plan matured sixteen years ago at the inception of our Mormon work. Our schools among the Mormons were never in a

more prosperous condition. After careful sowing, faithful tillage and patient waiting the harvest time has come. There have been numerous conversions in our missions in Salt Lake City, Springville, Mt. Pleasant, Manti and Richfield. A church was organized at Richfield, another at Box Elder. Throughout the Mormon realm our work is becoming so firmly entrenched in the affections of the people that the interference of the priests tends to weaken their own power and strengthen the influence of our missionaries.

Our school at Monroe met an irreparable loss in the death of Miss Anna B. Palmer, a most consecrated and successful teacher. But the work goes on and her influence lives. In Southern Idaho our schools have been so prosperous as to create a demand for ministers which the Board is not able to supply.

Our missionaries among the Mexicans are not able to meet the demand for the gospel. They are assisted by native "Helpers," who are appointed by Presbytery to act under the special direction of the ministers whom they assist and by whom they are instructed. This seems to be the only means of supplying the great demand for the gospel among the waking multitudes of ignorant Romanists. The means have been abundantly blessed, as the statistical report shows. During the year new opportunities have come to us. Populous valleys which the missionaries had not been able to enter in safety, have opened invitingly to the minister and the mission school. Seven new communities have urgently petitioned for schools. Pena Blanca, a large and populous valley, is at last accessible. It presents a most promising field. One missionary, a lady of culture and consecration, unable to resist their plea for light, went alone without commission or salary, and is doing a noble work. Several other teachers are needed. Cherry Valley, a very attractive agricultural community in Mora county, sends an earnest petition for the school and the sanctuary. There is not a plaza in all the Mexican regions now closed to us. There remains, therefore, no barrier to the progress of the work among the Mexicans but ignorance and superstition on their part and poverty on ours.

Miss Celia Morgan, a true missionary, died at Corrales, Dec. 20.

INDIANS.

The war with the Indians last winter had no perceptible effect upon our missions. No interruption was experienced and no excitement was observed among those who were under the influence and instruction of the Board's missionaries. The Indians have an ardent religious nature, but have never been idolators. The Christian's God they recognize as the God whom they have always ignorantly worshipped. But a large majority of the Indians have never learned of him, hence the grotesque results of their groping after him which have been called by different names-latterly the "Messiah craze." Any people may be best controlled by proper appeal to their governing passions. The "Indian problem may therefore be most effectually and economically solved by enlightening and christianizing them. Our churches among the Indians have 3000 members, not one of whom was in any way connected with the "Messiah craze," the "Ghost dance" or the troubles of last winter, but they contributed $4000 toward the benevolent causes of our Church. A voluntary society of Indian women at the Yancton Agency supports four native missionaries.

There have been precious revivals in the Indian Territory. At Spencer Academy many students were converted. Among our Pueblo schools in New Mexico there has been a deepening interest but no open professions have been reported. Our church among the Papagoes at Sacaton, Ariz., has twenty-five members and a congregation of 300. The Sabbath school numbers 150. Rev. Charles H. Cook, our faithful and very successful missionary to the Pimas and Papagoes, sends us this most interesting statement: "One half the Pimas abstain from work on the Lord's day, and 370 children are in our school there with a prospect that the attendance will reach 500 next fall." Our two churches, ministered to by Mr. Cook, cost $3000, of which the Indians paid in cash and labor about $2000. Our Indian boarding school at Tucson is thoroughly equipped with buildings and appliances and a splendid force of consecrated teachers. The enrollment has reached 142.

At Albuquerque our school has been most admirably managed by the Superintendent and an efficient corps of assistants. The attendance has been somewhat reduced by the erection of a

government school which provides for many who were formerly with us. The gospel has been faithfully preached in the Indian Territory by our missionaries, aided very efficiently by Indian licentiates and candidates who have had special training for the work. The Muscogee school has sustained a great loss in the death of Miss A. L. Willey.

ALASKANS.

A church of twelve members was organized at Hoonah, March 15th. Nine of the members were young men and women from our school. Our church at Sitka has received thirty-four members during the year, and now has a total of three hundred and eighteen.

Some of the students have married, and begun to establish Christian homes. Others desire to prepare for teaching, and are now ready for normal training. Provision may be made for these without additional expense to the Board. All our work in Alaska is in a satisfactory condition, and the Spirit of God is manifestly with the missionaries.

In this department of our work no advance into new communities has been attempted during the year except at Point Barrow, the northernmost point in Alaska, where Dr. Jackson has established the first school, and provided the first missionary for the Esquimaux. The expense of this enterprise has been borne by special contributions.

MOUNTAIN WHITES.

These peculiar people present a most interesting and promising branch of work. They respond very promptly to the guiding hand and moulding influence of our teachers. There has been a steady and gratifying progress in all our schools among them. There have been some very touching instances of conversion. The demand is still for enlargement of the schools we have, and advance into regions not occupied.

Oakland Institute was sold during the year, so as to enable the Board to erect a building better adapted to the purpose and more capable of economical management-plans for which have been drawn.