The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-09

there was received during tho year, for
the use of the board. only lO2oj6.l1
While some states show a handsome IN
crease, the majority report a marked fall
inH or. We have expended for missions
during the year Slo5. .llSN. thus exceed
Inc our income, Notwithstanding the board
has reduced tho expenditures IN the
ioreign fields about 5000 We have
thefeiofe, 10 report an increase IN our
indebteQness We now Owe Wf2.s3 Tor
money borrowed. II Will not be praclc-
able for us 20 borrow much moro. Tho
question VIC submit TO you Is simply TINS:
Nhero shall We get the money for cur
rent expenses OF some 1900 a month dur
ing the summer months when our re-
ctlptS are always smal2 We always be-
fiu 10 get IN debt the first month OF the
year, oven while the convention is IN SEES
sion. Special efforts have always been
made lN~t before the convention, and then
for several months after the cOntribu-
tions are very small. The past year, for
instance, we needed 10 meet current eX-
pcnditurcs from May lst to October 1st
about $4,000. We received in that time
So. 100. thus forcing us 10 borrow nearly
$1,000 in addition 90 our other Indebted
ness. and then pay interest on that sum
I'm eleven months less than $4,000 was
received for the work. and in April the
twelfth month, over $4,000 was received.
Thus onethrd OF all given was received
ln the last month Are We honest with
God In carrying on his work i'm this way;
The result Of the years work brings
Southern Baptists face 10 face with this
momenious question: How can We make
our annual income for Foreign Missions
equal 10 our annual expenditures? After
tho experience OF the past year We are
profoundly convinced that the settlement
OF this question cannot longer be post
poucd, and we ask the convention TO give,
during It's present session, serious ana
pfaYcrful consideration 90 IT, Shall we
detain the missionaries who are now at
home. and, If necessary. recall others;
We ask instructions from the convention.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
The board has had a committee appoint
cd to get up a tabulatCd statement OF all
property held by the southern Convcn-
ton in the different foreign mission fields.
The visit Of Mr. j. G. Irvine. Of Rio.
Brazil. 10 this country during the year
gave us a good opportunity to hear Of the
work nom business-uau's standpoint.
lie is quite active as a Christian man.
though engaged ID secular employment I'm
Brazil Tie reports fine progress In our
work there.
The American Baptist Publication So
cicty has given the board $500 fOr Bible
work I'm foreign lands.
Your board makes an exhibit of maps
and foreign curiOs az the convention. and
hopes each delegate viii examine the
same.
During the spring we held special weel,
or prayer We call on orr brethren and
sisters 10 pray more l0r This work. pray
lII our missionaries liuN INI INl tN
open the hearts OF our people; pray for
your board and its officers.
The Maryland Mission rooms. Q west
Lexington street. Baltimore. Md. Keep
ana excellent supply OF tracts and mission
airy literature. Ns would c9dmend them
10 churches and pastors.
TO may not De known 10 some that the
Board has not given dollar ln several
years for buildings in foreign lands eN-
ccpt what has been given us for that
special purpose.
We give below the report Of the Wo-
mans Missionary Union during the past
year The sisters have been earnest and
Jealous, and while the year has been
"a hard one tO raise funds they have done
WeI as viii be seen by their report They
not only gather funds. but disseminate
Information, and i'm many ways are help
Ing 70 turn and train the minds Of the
people towards the great work OF mis-
sions. The devil grinds down and oDpres-
ses women more than men ln foreign lands
our sisters are doing well in helping 10
send tho gospel. which alone lifts and
eNalts woman TO her true, high position
in every relationship OF lifr
SUNBEAM SOCIETIES.
This department Of The work for the
little children has been we'll and success
fully carried forward 10y Dr. Geo. BraXton
Taylor Jr Under his direction over five
hundred societies have been organized.
These are Ia every STATE from Maryland
20 Texas During the eight aLd huit
years DR.. Taylor had charge of the work
S2J99l - was raised But The good ac-
complished was not simply i'm raising
money. but I'm informing and training the
young I'm the great work of missions. As
DR. Taylor has given up This work, the
board has requested the WOman's Mis-
siCnary Union 90 take charge OF this de-
partmcnt.
The report gives in fun the details OF
the Womans Missionary Union, showing
that they collected last year for Foreign
Missions. So $50 J1
The report has full details Of the work
of the missionaries during the past year
i'm Italy, Brazil. Mexico China, Japan, and
Africa.
RECEIPTS BY STATES.
The Treasurer. John q. Williams. gives
in his report OF receipts and Oisburso-
mcnts the receipts by states as follows:
1896. Less state
May L Gross. Expenses. Net.