The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24

would be very little increased, and, in tha
view of the matter, it might be safe to cha
lenge any missionary association in the worl
to make better showing.
While it is to be regretted that create
reduction has not been made upon the debt
there are nevertheless, a number of very en-
couraging facts in connection with the pre-
sent aspect Of the work. The number o
churches that have contributed during th'
year is 1,121, being an increase over those
Of last year of 224 This shows also tina
nearly two thirds of the whole of the church
es have contributed during the year, and the
aggregate of their contributions is an In
crease of very nearly fifty per cent. on those
of last year. The number of Ladies Mis-
sionary Associations which have contributed
is los to So of last year, being an increase
of SO new ones. The aggregate amount con-
tributed is 81, 81 85. being an increase over
that of last year of So, 1862 SO. Many of
these new associations were not formed until
ehe latter part of.the year, and hence their
full resources, it is supposed, have not yet
been fully developed. The number of con-
tributing Sabbath Schools is 270, and the
amount contributed is $6,605.51, being an
increase of $549,02 over the amount given
last year. If there is a corresponding in
crease the present year in the number of
contributing churches, ladies' missionary as
socistions and Sabbath Schools, the Com
mittee, it is confidently believed, will be able
to report to the next General Assembly that
the debt has not only been fully cancelled,
but that the whole work is going on easily
and efficiently.
HOW THE DEBT OF LAST YEAR WAS CON-
TRACTED, AND WHY IT HAS BEEN ONLY
PARTIALLY LIQUIDATED.
The statement under this head appeared
in our paper recently.
THE PRESENT ATTITUDE OF THE MISSIONARY
WORK.
We have now six principal stations in the
south western Indian Territory; one in
Mexico two in the United States of Colon
bia; two in the Empire of Brazil; one in
Italy; one in Greece proper and one among
the Greeks in European Turkey; and two
in China, with much larger number of out
stations iu all these different parts of the
world. Connected with these various sta
tiOns there are II schools of various grades,
embracing more than 500 pupils in all, many
of whom, it is hoped, will become efficient
laborers in the great harvest field. There
are also Is laborers in the field whose sup
port must not only be provided for, but they
must, if the work is to be carried on efficiently,
be furnished with all the means and appliances
necessary for the execution of that work.
DEBT ON THE CAMPINAs INSTITUTE.
The debt is now about $4,000. The
financial complications of Brazil have pre-.
vented the proceeds from being as large as
they would otherwise have been. The Com
mittee did not authorize the erection of a
building that involved so heavy an outlay /;
nor were they aware that any debt had ac-
cumulated on it until the accounts were ex-
amined during the visit of DR.. Wilson made
last year. Nor were the brethren them
selves fully aware of the extent of the debt
until after this examination of accounts. In
deed, the building cost, as is often the case
in such circumstances, much more than was
when the plan was first projected, |
owing mainly to the high price of both labor
and material. If in laying the plan, or in
carrying out the details, our brethren over
stepped the boundary of sound discretion, it
should be said in extenuation that they acted |
under the impression that it was not only
most important measure, but one that was
absolutely necessary to their influence and |
Off oiancv 90 q Mission
AT the same time an institution has been |
brought under the control of the Church,
which has already not only attained to
high reputation in the country, but which |
promises, with the blessing of God, to become
a powerful instrument in effecting the evan,
gelization of that whole land. The Commit.
tee, in taking steps to have the property se-
cured in the name of the Trustees of the AS
sembly, felt bound to assume the debt, but
with the expectation that the larger part of
it would be paid by the profits arising from
the institution itself. 1t is very desirable
that the debt should be transferred to this
country with the view of diminishing the rate
of interest, and the Committee have the mat
ter under advisement at the present time.
There are several things to be considered
in connection with this matter. 1st. The
debt on this institution is not regular mis-,
sionary debt 1t is based on property
which, in ordinary times, could be sold for
$4,000. The Assembly, if it thought pro-
per to do so, might order it to be sold at any
time. p. One third, if not more, of the
original cost of this property came from
sources outside of the Church, so that the
Church is in actual possession of property
for which it did not pay more than two
thirds of its real value. Sd. This is the only
missionary institution of the kind in the
world, so far as is known, that is self-sup
porting, so far as its current expenses are
concerned If it was necessary to pay as
much towards these current expenses, in pro-
portion to the number of pupils, as is paid by
the Choctaw nation for the support of Spen-
Ger Academy, or as is paid by the Commit
mittee for the two boarding schools at Hang
chow, China, the actual yearly cost would
not be less than $4,500. In an economic
point of view, therefore, the Church is really
a great gamer in having the control of so
valuable an institution even with the incum-
brance of its debt.
PRESENT URGENT WANTS OF THE MISSION.
AIRY WORK.
1t is very desirable, if the means were at
command, that at least ten new laborers
should be sent out during the present year
four for China, four for Brazil, and two for
Mexico. At the same time, funds are need
ed to furnish comfortable and healthful
dwellings for our missionary brethren at
Soochow, China; to aid in the erection of a
chapel at Matamoras; to assist in erecting
| the necessary hnil6inns for the girls school