New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-11
THE AMERICAN BOARD.
ITS ANNUAL MEETING OPENS IN MADI-
son, WIS.
AN UNFAvORARLE FINANCIAL SHOWING col
LECTIoNs FALLING oFF-vAsTNEsS OF
THE FOREIGN MISSION WORK.
IBY TELEGRAPH 30 rHE TRIBrxK.t

Madison Wis oct. l0.--The eighty-ffth an
nual meeting Of the American Board opened in
| the CONGREGATIONAL Church Of this beautiful
| capital Of Wisconsin this afternoon. The at
| tendance Of corporate and honorary members is
not as large usual, but for this there are many
reasons. The financial pressure Of the past year
has borne heavily upon all, and many felt un-
! equal TO the expense Of the long trip The slim
illus of the intense discussions OF the past years
! is lacking. and there is a noticeable absence OF
! leaders both sides Of the great controversy
| that closed Worcester last year. The Con-
servatives are more numerous than the Liberals
The venerable president is at his post but DR..
Allen is replaced by Or. Daniels. and instead OF
the patrarchal figure Of Dr. Clark appears the
slight form OF Or. Barton. There is however.
no lack Of interest or of determination 10 meet
boldly the problems which less serious
than any that the board has faced at previous
meetings.
After a graceful welcome by Charles X. Adams.
Of the university to which Or. Storrs responded
very happily. Secretary Daniels read the report
OF the home department. Seven corporate mem
bers have died during he year, including \. {.
Barstow. Of Providence, X. l.; Ebert B. Monroe.
If TarrytOwn. " Y. and President Butterfeld,
of Olivct College. Forty-four new missionaries
have been sent out and twenty-three have re-
turned to their fields after a fur!ough in this
country
The financial statement. however. the
one for which all looked with interest. II was
simple. straightforward and complete. The
board began the year with debt ~ tSS.3lS
the expenditures amounted 10 t733.o5l; the re
Ceipts from all sources were S05l32 leaving
a debt for the new year II $ll6.237. The col
lections for the Ordinary work II the board
amounted 20 s3S5.l50. falling Of OF s3o.526
from the previous year; the woincns boards
gave $l92.N73. falling off Of N2.sos. tho in
come from invested funds fell of sfl7o. To
help bear the burden expenditures were re-
duccd $3.50. Tho amount received from
legacies increased by s37 00a Notwithstanding
every effort the fact simply IL that not only
has the debt not been removed. but II has been
increased. The inference was irresistible that
II the work OF the board is t. go on, even at
its present rate. not only must the debt be
removed hut the ordinary income must b"
increased by $4,000 at least. Unless this IL
done II seems inevitable" that somewhere IN"
work must be cut Of. Already expenses are
cut down almost To- the extent of crushing IN"
missionaries Common sense would say that II
Is better TO recall tho question IN regard 10
sending out now missionaries. Hitherto the
board has acted upon the principle that II VIII
send any that OFFER and are adapted t. the
work according in this respect To the action
of the Church Missionary Society OF England.
Shall il continue to do 50, or shall 1t follow
the decision OF he London Missionary Society
and decide To- send no more missionaries until
there is more money?
Then came the annual survey Of the work In
foreign lands prepared by Secretaries Clark ana
Smith. From every country. without exception.
comes encouragement. New opportunities were
reported: growth in congregations. churches and
schools and in 'reas.ng influence. Obstacles are
being overcome. The only note % discourage
rent was connected with the lack Of funds
needed for the work An idea OF the extent and !
nature II tho work carried On by the board may |
be gained from tho summary az statistics closing
the survey. There are missions one each. in |
Japan. Micronesia Hawaiian Islands, Leutgarii. !
Mexico. Spain and Austria: three In Africa |
CSouth East and Wcstp: three In Turkey; four |
each in China. In India and Ceylon The places !
for stated preaching number 1929. and the aV-
crage attcnlancc at these is 9,l5l. There are !
1SA ordained missionaries and - physicians. |
There are 1S3 unmarried female missionaries. |
including physicians There Is also "A large |
force Of native laborers. Including az
pastors sos preachers and catechists. l.553 !
school teachers and 56s other laborers making |
a total o: 34H American and native agents In
tho employ Of the board. The regularly organ
lied churches number 81. with a member
ship OF iO.lS7 There sixteen theological
seminaros and station classes. with 230 pupils;
sixty-hve colleges and high schools with i.2l7
pupils sixty-three boarding schools for girls
with 1874 pupils. and l.026 common schools with
90. S66 pupils making the total number under in
StructiOn 504O6
When II IS remembered that tho work can only
in meagre way be represented by such figures
it will readily be seen that the question Of It's
support becomes vital one. To cut of any on"
~ these missions means the destruction Of in
fuonccs Of the greatest value. yet II would al
most he easier to cut of entirely some part than
10 cut down al. so that all are hampcred and un-
abb to work 20 full advantage.
The annual sermon before the board de-
livered by Or l.. r. Plat. 81 Manchester. y. n.
After the evening service there was pleasant
rendered 70 tn" members - the board
? nd their friends in the Assembly Hail Governor
Peck Senator Villas. Judge Cassidy. Mayor COR
scott and their wives and The wife II General
received the guests In the most cordial
inanne- The opportunity was also furnished
for general meeting Of friends.
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