The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-07
MEXICAN BOARDS MEETING
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE
 PRESIDENT,

Delivered by Rev. pr. Lamson of Hart
 ford-Tribute to the Woman's Boards
 A Review of the Work of the Past
 Year-Looking to the Future.
 Grand Rapids, Mich, Oct. 8.-At this mornings meeting of the American Board of Foreign Missions addresses intended to suggest ways and means for filling the treasury were made by Revs. w. H. Walker, M. A., Bullock, D. D., Daniel F. Bradley, D. D., A, R. Thain, D. D., J. F. Loba, E. F. Grabll and President Fuller of Drury college. An immense effort to raise $S50O to put a special agent into the field to arouse interest in churches was successful, the amount being received from pastors and laymen, A committee of two from each of the cooperating committees was authorized to take charge of what was designated as the forward move ment of the American board.
 The annual address of the president, Rev. Dr. Charles M. Lamson of Hart lord, Conn.,, was delivered as follows:
 l address myself to men-or better, to the masculine in human nature, as the best women have in them some- thing manly. The American Board makes it's appeal to the masculine, the logical, thoughtful, virfle, business el- ements of our church life. First of all, for the sake of justice-the deity of justice among the Greeks was a wo- man-we acknowledge, sympathetical- ly and with appreciative honor, the work of the Womans Boards of Mis- sions. They have illustrated the gen. jus of system, a devoted enthusiasm; they have made the continuance of missions possible, and have set up in foreign lands the ideal that in Jesus Christ there is neither male nor fe- male, and that they have equal respon- abilities and honors in His Kingdom. To a woman it was given to be the Bride of the Holy Ghost and Mother of our Lord.
 The Arabs say that at one time in the building of Solomon's Temple, eve ry mechanical applause for the eleva- tion of one of the huge stones for the structure failed. All were in despair until some one suggested that his wives be called upon for assistance. They at once responded, took hold of the mass with their delicate Oriental hands and lifted it into it's place in the structure which a nation dedicated in the glory of God The women of our churches may have relieved the con- sciences of the men (the masculine conscience is often ingenious in obtain ing relief from obligations), but they have certainly accomplished work in the great Missionary Temple, for which the men appeared to be 1ncom- petent. They have kept alive the sym pathies and interests of the churches for the unspeakable needs and sorrows and poverties of our kin in Christ across the seas, and have in some measure preserved us from a narrow piety, and, by their contributions have declared the power of women to evan gelize the world. Our Woman's Boards teach the churches by their woman's wisdom and devotion.
 In this hour the feminine in our reli- gious life joins with me in an appeal to the masculine. The business facul-
 
 charitable organization should illus trate the religious spirit of business and the business spirit of religion. The business habit and law need piety, piety needs business order and honesty. The American Board is a business house. While It's work is personal, spiritual and it's success measured by spiritual values, it asks no considera- tion for business unwisdom, because it is good. Ih it's organization, complex and acting in many countries, it im- poses upon itself business restraints, invites examination and seeks confi- dence by deserving it. It has never failed to meet an obligation when due and it's secure financial standing is rec ognized throughout the world. It in vites the closest scrutiny of it's meth ods, investments, and economy of in- ternal administration. The Barring Brothers give 1t their examination and endorsement, and in foreign lands men ask for the business paper with Book on it. The managers give to it the same serious, patient and anx- ious thought given to their own busi- ness. We cannot afford to do any, thing that shall weaken or make un- steady our sound business habit or rep utation.
 More and more the American board is taking a business view of missions. The test of it's business success is saw ing men, Christianizing communities and races It does not exist to illustrate heroism and sacrifice rewarding. It does not exist to support good men, but to commission men good for mis- sion work and mission success. Its va rious missions are, in one view, busi- ness houses, of which the missionaries are the agents. The Board must ask constantly, Are these houses well To- cated and are they well managed?" It must increase, diminish. experiment, establish or abandon, according as they have achieved or prophecy success, af- ter the missionary standard. The mis- sion fields are not hospitals for crip- ples; they are fields for power, work and harvests. The Board accepts the law of the business man, in applying the force where 1t is the most reward ing, and applies to business men for the capital for the application of this law.
 Most of the missions have in this year made large, some of them marvel ols returns on the favorable side of