The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-21
Sunday School and Pub
fishing Society
Of The Congregational
Church Makes its Report.
Interes ling Inform alton as TO the
Distribution.

Boston, April 2l.-The sixty-ffth annual
report of the board OF directors of the
Congregational Sunday School and Pub
fishing Society was presented az the an
nual meeting held yesterday afternoon in
Pilgrim hall by the secretary. Rev. George
vi. Boynton, ID. ID. 1t was in part as fol-
lows:
We have had thirty five superintendcnts
aud missionaries in our various fields.
They represent twenty y-nine years OF con-
tinuous labor.
Among the necessary changes the only
new departure is the employment of a
lady missionary and primary Instructor
for the district whose headquarters are at
Chicago: To the wives Of two of our
superIntendents who have been ahle ia
travel with their husbands extensively in
their pioneer work we have issued com
missions.
These tolers have secured the organiza.
ton Of 52l new Sunday schools, by far the
larger part Of them i'm places OF utter
spiritual destitution. One hundred and
eleven schools previously planted but
which had been suspended have been
reorganized
In 1893 and 1895 each, about $50, COO
came To our treasury from bcquests. BY
our plan OF extending legacics over three
years our income from this source has
averaged about 5000 annually. There is,
however, only about s265O at present i'm
our legacy account for use during this
coming year, and tho larger part Of this
is due to the generosity Of living donor
who desired that his special gift OF 5000
should be used on this three years plan
Ii will be seen that the contributions
of the year were s552l. 81 more than
during the preceding twelve months
Our funds available for expenditure dur
ing the year were S64 S95 81, or s2939. 81
less than last year
The amount received from bequests
during the year has been extremely small,
only $50 The income from invested
funds money received for supplies grant
ed blythe missionary department, etc. have
all been reduced, while it seemed wise TO
lessen the appropriation of the business
department from 5000 to $1,000.
Our income from the legacy account for
the year we are just enternv will be less
than last year by about $500 This is "a
large item for Us and must enter into our
calculations for the year.
Only about one sixth of our churches
give US church Offering. Nearly one
half of our Sunday schools send us some
thing each year. Individual gifts the
past year have amounted 20 nearly one
half as much as has come from the
churches, while the Sunday schools have
given us nearly 90 per cent. more than
the churches.
We aud those who represent us in tho
field have been greatly interested in the
improvement Lf the Sunday school
methods and in the advancement of Bible
study. In this interest nearly 400 insti-
tutes and conventions have been held in
many Of the states, in which both tho
method and the matter have been consid-
cred. In the methods of study and of
teaching there is constant advance. The
consciousness of defects in the past is
only stage from which progress nay he
made. TOO many people soem to tnink
that IL Indicates progress To be able to
complain. There has been great gain in
the comprehension of the principles of
pedagogy in these later years, and this
has been sitting down gradually among
our younger teachers and is doubtless re-
sulting in better work.
Childron's day has kept its hold on our
churches ard Sunday schools. The offer
ings for 1886 amounted To Sl9 13l. 80 This
is larger than I'm either OF the two preced-
ing years, or than Ia any previous, except
the unusually prosperous years Of 1872 and
1898.
The women have given us nearly 5000
this year, including gifts from eleven
state organizations and many local
auXiliarles Nearly $1,000 has come from
tine Christian knaeavor societies
The expenses for the year were reduced
% s62, o93 l5 or So, Al. IS less than in
1oyj-96. About one half Of this is in the
total of the salaries and expenses Of mis-
slonary service and nearly AN equal
amount In the cost of supplies of ltera-
ture
We have continued little aid 60 the
French and Italian papers published in
Now England, from which section so large
a proportion of our funds is received ANA
SO moderate sum IL cxpendcd A small
"A ttrl an. h.,, -
10y special gifts for the publication of
illustrated lesson helps for tho Protestant
children Of Italy and Bohemia
The American Bible Society has cheer
fully furnished Bibles and Testamcnts
for distribution 10y gift and sale through
our missiCnarioS
Almost all of tie schools prefer the in
ternational lessons, but thore is a small
but persistent percentage that take the
alternative courses
The publishing department reports an
Increased circulation of Sunday school
notwi thstanding tie hard
times and the strenuous competition
Low priced books have Increased, hut in
these times tho moro expensive volumes
have diminished In their sale The
society IN carrying out this policy of
Naluing its material ut tie lowest figure
has determined hcnccforth TO charge all
! lltes and engravings, as we'll as furniture
nnd fixtures, ms manufacturing expense.
IL has ON hand plates and cngravings
which would be- valued by conservative
publishing houses 40 from $4,000 TO
go, 900 The purpose OF these changes is
10 make its net capital as reported "A sum
which could actually bc realized at any
time IN Liquidation. The society reports
q capital after these reductionss over
SiO5, ,OOO
A Burglar Arrested.
New York Anril 0I -Innns lunch