The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-09
In Retrospect.

homes which were so lately filled with our
genial warm-hearted guests. On every side
are heard expressions of astonishment at the
magnitude of the meeting, and Of satisfac.
ton with its results.
Seldom If ever have so many people been
entertained with so little apparent difficulty,
or with so much mutual enjoyment. Hosts
and guests have We'd with each other in
their expressions of pleasure and apprecia-
ton. The skies have been propitious, and
our city with its clean streets, fine public
buildings, and magnificent views on sea and
land, has never appeared to better advantage.
The meeting has evidently made deep i'm
preston upon those who were not at first
particularly interested in it. II has brought
to our city not only many of the leading pro-
fessional men Of the country, but also large
number of the wealthiest and most infuen-
tial business men, and their presence among
us has awakened new interest III the great
cause which they represent We have been
taken on to the heights during the past week
where we could cast our eyes over the broad
fields of Christian effort, and the vision
which has been opened to rs has been full
of inspiration and announcement, The
meetings from beginning to end have been
sustained on an unusually high spiritual
plane. The words which have been spoken
have all emphasized the necessity of posi-
tive faith in the cross of Christ; and the
facts which have been presented all indicate
that that cross is in no wise losing its power
over the hearts of men.
The programme for the three days was
LIST, a statement of the present condition of
the affairs of the Board; I'd, sermon, the
object Of which was to direct the tn oughts
of the auditors for the next two days; Sd,
papers by the two Secretaries of the Board
for the purpose of leading to stage of pro-
gress hitherto unattained; 4th, such discus
sion and action as should bring about the re-
suits indicated in the papers of the Secreta-
ries. This programme was followed out. On
Tuesday afternoon the reports of the Pru-
dental Committee put the Board into pos
session of the following facts: Out of the
more than two hundred corporate members
of the Board there had been eight deaths
hitherto unreported. These were of Leon
ard Bacon, D. d., Charles Marquard, ESQ.,,
John B. Eldridge, ESQ.,, Charles Benedict,
Esq, Rev. J. II. Coulter, Andrew L.
Grimes, Esq, Alvan Bond, D. D., Enoch
Pond, D. D. During the past year thirteen
missionaries an twenty seven assistant mis-
sionaries were added to the roll of misslona-
ry laborers who had gone to the Dacotah
Indians. to Mexico, Micronesia, Japan, Chi
ma, India, Turkey and Africa. Besides all
these twenty-five missionaries or assistants,
who had been temporarily in this land have
returned to their labors.
The amount expended in regular work
during the last year has been $439, u.s. go. In
addition there was expended $3.50, 705.6 3 for
special purposes. This last sum was from
that "Otis bequest" of which much has been
heard during the past three years. This be-
quest was appropriated for special work and
is nownearly exhausted, hence the committee
made forcible appeal for enlarged contribu-
tions-so large in fact that the special work
begunthrough the "Otis bequest' might be
carried on without diminution. The Treas
urer's report showed that the cost of con-
Quoting the immense business connected
with the Board was only three and one-third
per cent of the whole, and that the total ex-
pense in this country was but five and one
fifth per cent. In other words everybody
who gave one dollar to the American Board
may know that ninety-four and four-ffths
cents was expended in foreign lands upon
missionary operations. The report of free
dom from debt was a gratifying one. The
survey of the work during the past year re-
vealed Substantial growth at almost every
point throughout the entire mission field,
and preparation for larger results in the
near future There have been three deaths
of missionaries, yet net increase of twenty
six. The number of churches is twenty
three more Than last year and the member
ship is seventeen hundred greater, making
nearly twenty thousand members in two
hundred and ninety-one churches. There
are also nine hundred and ten schools of all
grades from common schools to colleges and
theological seminaries in which there are
over thirty-fve thousand pnpils,and all these
churches and schools together with large it.
ineracies are conducted by four hundred and
fifty-six American men and women assisted
by nearly two thousand native helpers. In
addition to the above facts review was Civ
en- of the work conducted by the Board
among the North American Indian during
nearly seventy years. The facts ma aTated are
sufficient to prove the possibilities of good in
the Indian to be neither few nor small. The
report mentioned the possibility of trans
fer of this work to the American Missionary
Association through which the Congrega-
tional order labors for the egro, Chinese
and Indian races in the United States Such
transfer has many eommendable features,
and if it is wise many of the supporters of
both societies will heartily rejoice.
The sermon on Tuesday evening from
the text, Acts 10; III. Gas they ministerei
to the Lord and tasted, the Holy Ghost
said: separate me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have called them.' The
preacher, DR.. E. P. Goodwin of Chicago,
with earnest and forcible argument pressed
home the obligation of all Christians to yield
themselves to the Divine separation and to
Become perfectly obedient to every indica-
ton of the Divine will. The thoughts Of the
speaker quickened and directed many OF the
speeches of the two following days.
On Wednesday morning Secretaries Alden
and Clark presented their papers. The first
from DR.. Alden had for its theme, ''the
missionary heritage of the present genera
tion.' The power Of this paper cannot be
indicated in brief paragraph, it must be
read in full; it was however fitting prepar-
alton for the paper read shortly after by DIR.
Clark on "The growth and need of the For
eign work" Both papers were intended to
lead to great engagements of contributions
and consequent increased effectiveness of
missionary labor. "The aggregate popula-
tion now dependent ON this Board and ac-
cessible to its mssionaries-as much so as
the non-eyangeleal, non-church-going por-
tionof the population of the United States
cannot be reckoned less than 100,G00, 900 or
between 100000 and 700 for each Or