Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-08

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required to increase or promote their
efficiency.
Recognizing the relation and i'm
portance of our educational institu-
tions and of the American University,
to our general Methodism, the joint
commission passed resolutions COM
mending these institutions OF Chris
tian learning to the thoughtful con-
sideraton of the churches in their
contributions to the Twentieth Cen
fury Thanks Offering, especially en-
phasizing the claim of the American
University to the confidence aud ben
efactions of both churches
Report of Book Committee.
The report of the book committee
contained the following:
Sales of books at New York for the
four years $3,714 1903 decrease as COM
pared with the last quadrennium of
$1S5,502. The assets including $9,455
cash on hand, are $2,59s,0 and the
liabilities $3OO,711. The net capital
October 81, 1895, was $2,O45,1 1873; Oct
ober 81, 1899, $a,207,36s; increase $162,-
2s5, which within $172,761 dividends and
other disbursements, show totol earn
ings Tor the four years of $334,996.
The totol sales of the Western Book
Concern Cincinnati, Chicago, St.Louis)
for the four years were $4,143,131 an
increase of $93,440. The assets in
Guiding $107,5S4 cash on hand are ST.
1914; and the liabilities $62, 600. The
net capital October 81, 1895, 81, 1885,, 100;
October 81, 1899, $1,42o,364; net in
crease $1S7,634, which with $412,T30
dividends and other disbursements,
show total earnings for the four years
| of $600,364.
There is marked decline in the sale
of books. We are aware that this is
true, not only in UNCONVENTIONAL books,
but in those designed for the general
trade. The. people are substituting
newspapers, magazines, tile public
and circulating libraries for the
family library. During the past quad
rennium the decline in the sale of
books by the eastern house over the
previous four years amounts to $443,-
900, and that of the western houseto
$25s,7s6. These figures alone are sutti-
Gent to arrest attention and stimulate
the minds ofsall responsible parties to
a solution of the problem involved.
| The dividends have been for the four
years $125,OOO, 100000, $4,000, $50, 900,
in all $3S5,0OO for the quadrenniuin.
The amount is $125,00O less than
in the previous auadrenniuln.
The diminution in amount has been in
the interest of the eastern house. The
| last year has witnessed theSfailureI OF
book houses historic and honored, Nut
ours in spite of their heavy drafts
stand uniinpaired in reputation, equip
| ment and service, -
The Episcopal Fnnd.
The Episcopal fund had $23 ,se4 With
4 which to begin the last duadrer,nium
1 1t has but $i,466 with which to begin
the present. The expenditures, from
Jan /, 1s96;sto Jan. 1, 1900, exceeded
the receipts, by $22,357. The receipts
each year have surpassed those of the
preceding one, but the expenses have
increased in greater ratio, Since the
receipts do not equal the disburse-
ments and since the surplus of former
years is exhausted, and since there is
no other source offincome to this fund
| than the collections taken among the
people, such measures ought to be
adopted as will guard against ANY fu-
ture embarrassment.
1 Missionary Committee,
The report of the general missionary
committee continued as follows:
4 The past quadrenniunl was entered
upon with serious .misgiyings, owing
to the industrial and financial dspres-
sion that prevailed, by which all bus
mess interests We're Frustrated 70 an
extent seldom if ever experienced by
the American people. Mnltitudes Of
laborers We're in many eases dependent
upon charity, while the well-to-dU and
Iwealthy We're. sustaining heavy losses
in the shrinkage OF values andsYlimin-
ishing resources. These conditions
|augured diminished contributions and
consequent damage to- our missionary
work both at home and abroad, Tc
add to these gloomy forehodings, De-
casioned by the ''hard times There
was debt upon our treasury OF $780,.
055. We are, glad to report that the
Lord has been better to us as a church
than our fears. Our people have molly
sustained the missionary society in its
work by contributing sum larger
than in any previous quadrennium in
our history, The debt has been: ex-
! tinguished except about $l5,0O0,i |whic cd
is covered by unpaid pledges. III al!
the Departmental of our work thereahas
been steady and encouraging al.
vance.
! The aggregate membership, includ
ling probationers, reported four, years
lago was 149,203. The annual report
for 1899 gives an aggregate Of. tsl95c
Ian increase Of 32,753. The number OF
i Sunday school scholars in 1895 was
134,267; in 1899, 191,907a gain o.
|37640. The sum collected for all!pur.
poses Of sef-support in 1895 was $780,.
| 1855; in 1899, $491, 01O-an increase OF
$174,s22.
| The estimated value of churches and
chapels in the foreign field in 1895 was
$2,5s1, 1908; in 1s99,Ss, 1s4,97s-a gain
of $553,275. In. 1895 there were 90.
missionaries and 224 assistant mission
aries (mostly wives of missionaries
and including few unmarried ladies'
la total of 449. In 1899 there were
234 missioners, POI wives of mission.
ers and 80 unmarried lady missioner.
les, a total of 467, a gain of IS. II
1895 there were 691 native ordained
preachers; in 1899 765-a gain of IA
III 1895 there 1850 native unordaine6