The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-14

anu aCtlOn.
 SPECIAL BUSINESS PAPER FROM
 PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE.
 (Presented by Hon. J. M. W, Hall, of Cambridge, Mass)
 The present condition of affairs of the American Board Is in some respects similar to that which has existed sever al times in past years. In other re- spects 1t IS without a parallel; and to those who have had occasion to be brought in close contact with the work or workers it seems as if we were ap- preaching more nearly serious crisis than ever before.
 Two facts are prominent. One, that in several missions of the Board (nota- ply Turkey, China and Africa) the work never before promised such large and satisfactory results. The demand for immediate reinforcement and ex- tension of some of these missions is un- precedented, Through the terrible baptism of fire and blood the martyr spirit in Turkey cries for harvest workers as never before. Several of the missionaries there have broken down in health simply because of over- work, with no prospect of relief.
 The other fact is that over against this pressing demand and unusual op- portunity are the apathy and uncer- tain support of too many of the churches of our denomination in this land whom this Board represents, one result of which is a deficit in the treas ury this year of over $45,OOO ($45, ,13O.50). It was reasonably expected by the prudential committee and officers of the board that with the large debt of two years ago (eanceled a year later) with missionaries salaries reduced generally 10 per cent. and the work in mission fields cut down 30 to 40 per cent, with no funds to send out new missionaries or increase the number of native help ers-the churches would at least re- spond to and maintain the reduced basis of expenditure, until more pros- porous times or greater interest in the work would bring larger gifts to the treasury and the work could be re- newed where it had been dropped. In this we have been greatly disappoint- ed. Not only have the gifts to the board been inadequate to maintain the reduced work, but the continued lessen ing of receipts makes a further reduc- tion of appropriations for 1898 impera- tive if this diminished support is to con- tinue.
 l It Is more question of fact that faith that we meet, for it must be borne in mind that by carefully prepar- | ed statistics, gathered from the differ- ent treasurers of fourteen active mis- sionary denominations in this country. the decade from 1880 to 1890 greatly outstripped it's predecessors in absolute contributions to mission objects" The business depression that followed the Barring failure six years since, with the financial panics of 1893 and 1896, se- riously affected contributions; and yet the gifts to missions in 1895 were $12,- 100000, or only $2,000,00O less than the high water mark of giving which was in 1890, $14,00O,O00, and of these fourteen active missionary denominations that gave this amount the Congregational ists stand at the head of the average missionary contributions for each 5000 of church property, and for each church member for the years 1885 to 1894 4 The per capita contributions for mis- ! sions, which in 1860 was 7.9 cents for each man, woman and child in the United States, had risen to 153 cents in 1880, 222 cents in 1890, and was about 20 cents in 1896. These statistics do not indicate lack of missionary giving, but they do show that the gifts are scatter ed in so many different directions and l for such a multitude of objects that the foreign and home societies, especially entrusted to our denominatonal care times, neglected in the distribution. J and it might be wise to follow the apos- tles' example and appoint seven men full of faith and the Holy Ghost" who should give special attention to this matter. What we need Is more denom- national loyalty to those societies founded, fostered and developed under our care and which we are in Christian honor bound to sustain.
 | It is from this standpoint we must look at the position of affairs and de- eide what is best to be done, not only for 1898, but for the future of our for eign missionary work. We should de- termine the best methods to secure d definite and assured income sufficient to properly maintain the work. To say that the present financial condition is not exceptional, or that nearly all the great missionary societies of our own and other denominations are in equally bad or worse condition, does not re- | lieve the situation or make clearer the path of the future for US. We may gain a feeble increase of comfort by the | knowledge that others are in the same I fog as we are. Ii is not comfort in the fog, but way out of it that we need. Any corporation eighty-seven years old has a devotion to traditions and customs hard to abandon or modify. We venerate or appreciate them for all that has been accomplished through them, but they should not be worship ped or necessarily be the guide board in changed conditions and demands of our work.
 l In Harvard Square, Cambridge. is an old stone on which is inscribed, "To
 Boston, 8 miles-1734.'' That was by
 the old road. It is the same distance
 to-day over that road, but it is only
 three miles to Boston over Harvard
 bridge or West Boston bridge. One
 way is venerable and traditional; the
 other is the modern and far more eXpe-
 ditious way. Both are good roads; you
 would reach Boston either way.
 | May it not be a reasonable interpre-