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

AiVHiper that our W0rk IS ConStult anu that We are already six weeks into the new year. We must view the needs not simply from the standpoint of the churches which are our natural sup porters. The times can never be so perplexing here at home that we can rightly afford to act without hearing the voice of the missions. Their re- quests must be before us. In sending the estimates for their work, estimates made with scrupulous care, in great de- tall, and with consideration of the re- trenchments of the past year, they name as the lowest sum with which they can do their work effectively this coming year, $645,000. This sum is larger than the corresponding appro- prlatlons of last year by s65,000. Civ Ing then fair consideration to the ex- penses Of this year, some of which were unusual and not to be repeated, and the debt which rests upon the board, ana recalling again the fact that the Otis and Swett legacies are exhausted, we must have for the ensuing year, , beyond a question, for the most eco- nomlcal and careful conduct of the work, $l30,OOO more than was at the dis posal of the committee last year. With this sum of money no new work can be begun and no new missionaries can be appointed beyond imperative calls for filling vacancies. Can this end be accomplished, or have the churches reached their limit? We be- lleVe 1t can be done. We are not yet touched in the sources of our strength. we nave been on a troubled sea- but the fountains of wealth are not dried Then If there must be retrenehment for the time it must not be in the means by winch the gospel is given to men. Could we reach the pastor and leaders Tn all our churches and persuade them to thorough and systematic plan Tor the collection for foreign mis- slons the needs would be supplied and that with ease. It would be interesting to suggest the "Old South'' plan used py that church in Boston with marked success Tor fifty years. It is practica- ple to every congregation. There is made full canvass of the congrega- ton, personal appeal by letter, an an- ! tlcipatory prayer meeting, a vigorous discourse on the day of the collection and then careful watch for absentees. The whole movement is under the care of wisely chosen committee. who keep the names of nine-tenths of the con tributors and can thus anticipate from year to year the probable amount of the church's gifts. Other churches have tried this method with good success. It is believed that such method will en- large the gifts and deepen the interest. It is a plan worth the trial in our churches.
 | The immediate needs go further than money. Money and Men' has long been the cry of foreign missions. Mon- ey in order to send men is the cry to- day. In Turkey, Africa and China the appeal for endorsements is the cry of a need that cannot be put aside. It comes up to us from the ranks which have been broken i'll hard service, and from the lips of tried men and women who are the Heroes of the Orient" and whose burdens have been made heavier because of the victories of the faith. It may be that withholding these rein- forcennents will give relief to the treas ury, but at fearful expense. It will cost that which wealth cannot buy, the l among the youth, the fruits of the mis- sionary toll and the loss among those who are waiting the messengers of grace.
 SPECIAL SUGGESTIONS.
 There have been whispers in the air that it were better to transfer or aban- don a mission than to let the whole body of missions suffer; that it would be better to cali in the outposts than to imperil the main line These sayings seem plausible. We should, however keep in mind certain facts.
 ! l. Every mission is dear to the board and it's constituency. Around each of these missions have gathered a host of friends. The churches have learned to love them. How widely this is true cannot be tabulated. Suppose we retire from Japan. It will cost us as many thousands of dollars to bring the mis- sionaries home and support them till they can make adjustment of their changed conditions as it does now to maintain them And then the lamenta- tions from the missionaries and the tens of thousands who feel and pray and labor for Japan and her sons and daughters, but one-tenth of one per cent of whom have yet learned of the worlds Redeemer! Suppose we retire from Micronesia. The missionary spirit
 born in the hearts of hundreds of thou sands of the children in our churches in each of the last two generations would receive a hurt which we cannot afford, Abandon any one of our missions! There would be 8 little more money in our purses and little less call for our sons and daughters, but it would stif1e
 many prayer that has lived in the soul for years; 1t would turn back the tide of love, sunder the dearest Chris
 tian ties and blot out many fairest
 hopes. We cannot afford such losses
 It would dwarf the churches and shriv-
 el their life. We cannot afford it. Ii
 would weaken the hold we have upon
 the general cause and influence ad-
 versely it's appeals.
 2. Every church of our order is a nat. ural constituent of the board As was
 said last year, We cannot afford to be forgotten by one single church. We ought to be remembered by every one of its members" It is for our churches
 which are fully committed to missiona. ry work by noble inheritance, to say
 whether this work shall stand still unti
 our over-exhausted treasury is replen. ished, or whether the very crisis shal
 be an inspiration and the appeals of oui missions abroad, coming to us as they