The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-24
Foreign Missions.


Extract from the TiOenty first annual r eport OF
the Erecuttve Committee Of Foreign Missions
of the Presbyterian Church (So,uhern) IN the
United States, for the gear ending april LIST,
1882.
The Entire Missionary Force.
The whole force now engaged in the
missionary work under the direction of
the Church, and supported by her con-
tributions, consists of 90 ordained minis
tiers, missionary physician, and 26 fe-
male missionary iaborers from this coun-
try; l3 native ordained preachers, 8
licentiates, and Al native assistants vari-
ously employed as teachers, colporteurs.
and Bible readers. The whole mis-
sionary force, therefore, consists of 1O4
persons, being an increase of II laborers
during the year.
Missionary Work.
The number of schools connected with
our various missions is 90. Of these, 6
are boarding schools, embracing about
200 pupils, and 9 are day-schools with
300 pupils, the whole number being up
ward of 500. 1t is not possible to state
with any degree of accuracy what is the
actual cost of our educational work.
Speaking approximately, however, it
does not consume more than than one
twelfth of our entire income. Perhaps
there is a deficiency in this particular
department of labor.
Finance
The receipts from all sources amount
to $69,3O942 Of this amount $751;
999.28 are from churches and indi-
viduals, legacies, etc.; STO,984 from
Ladies Missionary Associations, and
Sc, 1854 are from Sabbath Schools.
The increase over the receipts of last
year is $10,783 SO. This increase, how
ever, is largely due to the benefcence of
one single Christian gentleman. The
full amount received from miscellaneous
resources is Sic, 1906, being $8,476.81
more than was received from the same
source last year. The number of church
es that have contributed is ,295, being
an increase over that of last year of 81.
The number of Ladies Missionary AS
sociations is $50, being an increase of Is.
The number of contributing Sunday
Schools is 260, being a decrease of 90. 1t
is somewhat remarkable, however, that
while the number has fallen off the
whole amount contributed is somewhat
larger.
The Proposed African Mission.
The committee are sorry to report that
although they have kept this important
matter constantly before their attention,
they have not yet had either the means
or the agency at command to Justify them
in engaging in the undertaking. The
growing demands of missions already es-
tablished, both as to men and means,
have been so constantly urgent and
pressing that there has been. no posi-
billty of engaging in any new enterprise.
Still the wants of that great continent
are so urgent and the duty and propriety
of our beloved Church taking part in the
work of her redemption so obvious, that
it is earnestly hoped that the time is not
far distant when she will enter earnestly
and heartily into the great work
A New Epoch in the History Of Our
Missionary Work
AS a Church we have closed what may
be regarded as the twentieth year Of our
missionary history. In the review there
IS much for unfeigned thankfulness to
Almighty God and much to stimulate us
to greater efforts in the future. We en-
tered upon the work in the first instance
in the midst Of great difficulties and dis
couragements, and whilst our operations
were necessarily limited for the first six
Sor seven years to the Indians Of our own
country the Church never lost sight of
the full magnitude Of the great work
laid upon her by the blessed Redeemer.
She has kept steadily at work, and al
though she has not gone forward as
rapidly as some other branches Of the
Church which were in more favorable
circumstances, she has nevertheless made
good progress in view Of all the Difficult
ties that lay in her pathway. She can
to-day lift up her eyes over the great