The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-04-11

WoIh. Inc African MISSION, as In previous years,
makes the most gratifying report the number of ad
ditions In that mission being ll02 They also report
that they have under tuition and baptism about 500
catechumens. Space is lacking in this communica-
ton to give in detail the report from other fields but
In every instance the report is encouraging.
The receipts for the past three months have been
especially encouraging We shall not be able to give
the total amount received for the fiscal year until
after the 3lst of March We already assured
however, that total receipts will be the largest
in the history of the work. We they will be
almost if not entirely sufficient to enable us to pay
all outstanding obligations and to begin the new
fiscal year with clean balance sheet. You will APP
precate, we are sure, and approve of the policy of
the Committee, which is to carry on an advancing
and charging work Thirteen missionaries have
been sent out during the present year. This means
an addition of not less than $l3,OOO0O annual in
crease in the expense of the work. In addition to
that it necessarily considerable expenditure
which should be made at the earliest possible day
provide these missionaries with homes and GEN
eral equipment. We enter upon this new year with
this enlarged Obligation encouraged by our past ex-
perience to feel assured that the Church will show
its approval of this progressive work by furnishing
the necessary to sustain it and TO carry it for
ward to still larger things. In the blessings receiv-
ed to which we have referred, we seem to hear and
believe the church will hear the voice of God call
ing her to 90 forward.
Looking to the business side of the work our ex-
perience eonvnces that the method of the For
ward Movement is the that is the simplest and
most practical, and that will yield the most salts
factory results. This plan which our Assembly has
endorsed and commended to all the churches has
commended itself to those churches which have adopt
ed it, is shown by the fact that with very few ex
captions those churches which have once entered the
movement have continued in it. With practical I'M
animity, the Forward Movement Churches on the
expiration of the year for which the pledges were
given have renewed them, and in many instances have
increased them. During the present year 100
churches have more than doubled any previous contr
buttons made by them to cause Our conviction
is that the enlistment of all the churches in this
movement would be effectual and permanent solu-
ton of the financial problem of missionary work
The Secretary having charge of the work in the
Held was assisted In this work during the and
fall by four young men under appointment mis-
sionaries all of whom have since gone to their fields
The result of the work of these young men, the cost
of which about 81 10000 provided largely by in
dividual subscription is annual gain of not less
than SSOOO.OO to our income. Encouraged by this
result, the Executive Committee has authorized the
employment of four additional young men for the
present year. These young are all missionary
volunteers, whose qualifications for the work have
been approved, and they have been assigned to the
work by the Executive Committee with the full en-
dorsement of their Presbyteries.
Great service rendered last year by our Pres
byterial Charmen in the arrangement of the timer
aries of these Forward Movement representatives
Could you any of these young men in your Pres
bytery during this summer and fall? We would be
very glad if you would present the matter at the
spring meeting of your Presbytery and report to us
the number of churches that would receive visit
from one of these young in the interest of the
Forward Movement. If the Secretary could reach
one church every day, it would require eight years
for him to reach all our churches with a personal
visit 1t is with the help of these young men from
year to year that hope to compass the great work
we have before us within something like a reasonable
time. If you arrange to have all these matters
fully and earnestly presented at the popular meeting
held IN the interest of Foreign Missions at the Spring
Meeting OF your Presbytery the help you would there
by render to the cause would be gratefully appre-