The Washington herald., 1911-06-18

fiscal years this past spring in time to
make reports to annual meetings held
this May and June. Their total gain in
money receipts for 1s10-1I over 19O9-1O
amounts to s195.5o0 from individuals and
churches. Somewhat more than this was
received from legacies, but bequests are
not held by societies to indicate larger
or smaller interest in the subject of mis-
sions. Compared with the average gains
in receipts Of the same societies since
1900 the annual increase is smaller. Be
ginning about ten years ago, receipts Of
most Protestant societies increased rap
Idly. some of them getting from their
constituencies during the decade since
19o0 as much as during all the years from
their Organization down to that date.
Responding to demands from fields, but
not counting on larger receipts because
of larger interest in missions on the part
Of laymen, a few societies expanded their
work last year and have fallen into debt
or increased debts already incurred. The
sum of $500 is not, however, involved
In plans Of societies, but represents in
come last year when compared with the
previous year.
Incomes of Certain Mission Boards.
Missionary societies whose increases in
receipts in 1901 over 1909-10 amount to
s1s55O0 are, all of those through which
men and women. organized and unor-
ganized. In all principal bodies give to
missions. Included in the list are Bap-
tist home and foreign North and South,
Presbyterian home and foreign North
and South, Cumberland and United Pres
byterian, Congregational home, Reformed
home and foreign, and United Brethren
home and foreign. OF four large societies
that end their fiscal year this fall, one is
behind at. the en- its first six months
by about $4,000, two others are about
equal TO former years, and the fourth is
$33, 600 ahead of the same date last year.
Baptists North in their foreign work
gained $2S,365 last year, which was a lit
tie under the average gain for the last
ten years. Presbyterians North gained
for foreign work $l91, ,667, of which lega-
cies furnished $4,000 and other sources
additional sums, so that increase from
churches amounted to $s1.27O. Its aver
age increase during the past ten years
has varied from SO, 1000 to 100000 year.
The same body in its home work in
creased $S4,516, but all save S1,S14 was due
to legacies. United Presbyterian Iaymen
have pledged $4,000 for work in Korea,
not included in the above figures because
not to be paid in for three or four years.
Layman's Appeal.
The following expression from a promi-
nent layman identified with efforts to
arouse Christian laymen to the impor-
tance of missions and Increased gifts
from them seems to set forth fairly the
present situation:
There is without doubt larger inter
est in missions on the part of mature
men. Thousands heretofore taking ma
part in missionary meetings and giving
little are now informed about missions
and some are increasing their gifts. In
the churches are records of increases in
local support and home missions as well
as foreign missions. Time is needed to
gather financial gifts. Not a few of the
pledges reported are for sums to be paid
in during a series of years. Other pledges
are for work not under the general mis-
sionary societies. Financial conditions
during the last six months, while they
have not been bad. they have seen a
rather stringent money supply, with a
very great demand for money for busi-
ness expansion the demands OF pleas
ure are not to be overlooked. The lay
mems campaigns are being waged with |
vigor. There is no let up. Methods are |
being improved and results are being |
garnered. Since 1900 there have been |
large increases in receipts 81 all societies |
The increases will continue We are on |
the eve of large advances"
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