The record-union., 1897-05-25
brought in S1O5. $50.

the oIIce expenditures In New YORK,
and by like reduction in the amounts
apportioned to the various Presbyteries.
The amount thus given to the Presby-
teries was proportioned by them and
they were free to consolidate work or
cut salaries as they saw fit.
During the year / ,416 ministers had
been in the pay of the board. of whom
l3l We're in New York, 120 in Kansas,
100 in Iowa, 93 in Minnesota, 81 each
in Michigan and Nebraska, 10 in Cali
fornia, IA in South Dakota, &c in
Washington and a smaller number in
the rest of the thirty-nine States and
Territories, in which the board operated.
There had also been 30S teachers in
that work. Additions to the churches
numbered S,522, nearly one-half of
whom were adults who received bap-
tism
In connection with the board are 2, $50
Sunday-schools and ,617 churches.
The total expenditures for
were Sl16,311, of which S650,S11 was
for missionary and school work. S19.-
49, for administration of the Women's
Executive Committee, and $3241S for
the expenses of administration of the
lowing sums as trust funds: 5000, 191
the income from which is for current
expenses: $1S,393 for the Women's s
Committee and $95 800 held in trust
during the life of persons designated
by the donors, but which will become
the property of the board upon the de-
cease of such beneficiaries. Besides
the board owns a half interest in the
Presbyterian building in New York.
The statement of account with the
Presbyterian building showed mort
cages amounting to $6S0,000 an excess
of rental over expenses of S15, ,SO4, a
total investment of the board in the
building of $685., ,672, and payment of
So1 ,9J4. interest charges. The other
half-interest in the building is held by
~the Board of Foreign Missions.
The report closed with recommended
tions that the Board of Home Missions
be directed to reorganize its methods of
administration, the executive work be
placed in charge of one Secretary; that
expenditures be made upon a basis of
estimates made from averages for sew
eral years preceding, and that the policy
of the board be to avoid debt
AT the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion of the assembly, Hon. John Wana
maker proposed that the assembly take
official cognizance of the birthday of
Queen Victoria. Mr. Wanamaker in
troduced the following, which the as
sembly ordered to be sent to the Queen:
This day being the seventy eighth
anniversary of the birth, the sixtieth
anniversary of the coronation of her
most gracious majesty, Queen Victoria,
whose reign has lasted longer than that
of any other monarch in the last thou
sand years, this General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America deems it fitting, and
does hereby send most cordial Christian
greetings to both the illustrious Christ
ian sovereign and the subjects of her
gentle, generous and righteous rule over
the destinies of the empire upon which
the sun never sets
The regular order of the afternoon
was the consideration of the report of
the Board of Education, which in out
line was as follows:
Az the beginning of the year the
board resolved to cut administrative
expenses 10 per centum. In voting ap
preparations it allowed for a possible
decrease of 6 per centum in its gen
eral fund income. Administration ex-
penses We're by careful management
reduced much more than the 10 per
centum contemplated. But near the
close of the year it appeared probable
that the general fund income would be
II per centum less than in 1896,
threatening a considerable deficit
Kind friends. some new, some long
time and generous benefactors, made
up the necessary amount. The year
closes with funds in hand to pay all
appropriations voted Thirty institu-
tions have been aided. Six aided the
previous year were not aided this year
One did not reopen. Indebtedness, prox-
unity TO other institutions, the financial
stTingency and the inability of this
board to give the very large aid re-
quired. made a prosperous year i'm
p~ ssihle. Small attendance and lack
Of local interest seemed to not war
rant further investments of church
funds in another One academy was
not aided because it attempted with
out permission of this board or its
synod, full college work while not
equipped for it. Another academy
was not aided because the trustees
decided the property to private parties
Two colleges in one synod were not
aided because, beirg in close proximi-
ty to rivals, they could not be brought
by their synod to unite.
Most institutions have suffered severe
reductions in income. and have been
able to keep open onlyxby great sacri-
fees made by instructors or by local
friends. The number of students was
2,610 Cfor the same institutions), sixty
nine more than in 1896, and the
number in college classes was also in
creased: but there was a considerable
decrease in the number in classical
courses, and some decrease in church
membership, credible conversions. and
choices of the ministry, with slight in
crease of the number in systematic
Bible study. Unless the board shall
soon be enabled, by more and larger
church offerings to it's general fund
to grant much larger current aid to in
stitutions, and unless i. shall be en-
abled by more and larger legacies and
Individual gifts to its property fund to
secure endowment for institutions
| some institutions which render emf
nent service to the church and are
both needed and desired in the several
regions. are likely to close their doors.
If our ministers. appreciating the criti-
cal condition, will inform their con-
gregations, the loyal people of our
name will no doubt see to it that o,,r
responsibility to our history. to our
claims to possess superior culture and
| loyalty to the Bible, to our country and
| to the great head of the church. shall