The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-09
American Board Of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions.


To THE EDITOR or THE NEWS;
SIR-At the call OF the co.. operating COM
mittee of Boston and vicinity the corporate
membe OF the American Board, resident
in New England met, in Boston, April
"a, 1895, TO consider the present
financial emergency in the affairs
of the board. They found that
the work of the board was never
more prosperous than now, its oppor-
tunities never so great, provided its reve-
nues can be adequately increased; that at
the close of 1898 the board reported debt
OF SSS, 600, at the close OF 1894 debt OF
$4,000, and there is reason TO fear still
further deficit at the end of the current
financial year, on the first of September
next that meanwhile the utmost prudence
and economy have been practiced In the
expenditures authorized by the prudential
committee at home and abroad;
that in the current year only
three new missionaries have been
appointed, and they on the condition
that their support will make no addition
al draft on the present revenues oil the
board; that valuable native agencies have
besn discontinued, and the work of the
board in other ways seriously crippled,
and in some cases the health and even the
lives of missionaries imperiled for lack
of suitable homes; and that, unless in
slant relief be afforded, the administra-
tion will be compelled TO face these three
startling questions: What part of the
work OF the board shall be given up9
Which OF its missions shall be abandoned?
Who of its missionaries shall be recalled?
Are you ready TO assume the responsibility
of such disaster?
In view of these facts the undersigned
are profoundly convinced that this is not
the hour to sound retreat; that the
exigency is one which makes q most
solemn and urgent appearto every pastor
and to each member of every Congrega-
tional church throughout the entire land !;
that every minister, as in his Masters
sight, should strive to make his people
realize the gravity OF the situation and
their responsibility in the matter; that
an extra contribution in addition to the
regular gifts to his cause should at once
III bho iAi thob ~ 40
the will of God that this work, instead Of
being curtailed, should be vigorously
prosecuted and efficiently maintained.
The prudential committee, your servants
and ours, await anxiously, but hopefully,
your response. Let it come within the
next 30 days.
CORPORATE MEMBERS.
| Royal c. Taft, Charles w. osgood,
| T.. b. Webb, Charles c. Burr.
| Albert II. Plumb, George II. Eaton.
| Gilbert NJ. Sykes. Payson w. Lyman,
| c. A. Hopkins, Il. l.. Strong,
| Henry Fairbanks, Edward Hawes,
! Edward r. Morris, Thomas Weston,
| j. ID. Kingsbnry, Smith Baker,
] James III. Lyon. William w. Jordan,
| A. T.. r. Perkins. T. Eaton Clapp,
| +. ID. Aver, George T.. Loveioy,
| Alexander Mckenzie, James l.. Barton,
| Judson smith, q. Henry Whiicomb,
| N. @. CLARK, william p. Fisher,
| Egbert q. Smyth, A. II. Qunt,
| Nehemiah 3oynton, George Leon Walker.
J. L. jenkins, j. q. Nose.
&. II. Daniels, Cyrus Hamlin.
Arthur Little, Francis Il. Clark,
A. s. Covcl, Chas Theo. Russell,
J. 3. Ropes, George A. Tewksbury,
Justin Il. Twitchell, Waterman X. Burnham
Lewellyn Pratt