Year: 1877

that this infant institution has already pro-
duced important indirect results which entitle
it to the liberal support Of all who love the
Kingdom Of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who
feel an interest in the salvation of the four
millions of people for whose benefit it is in
tended.


INVALID FUND.


The demands on this fund last year, we're
considerably larger than the year previous
and appropriations were little over $1,000
more. Had the receipts from the churches
been as large as in the former year, there
would have been no deficiency on April 1st,
but comfortable balance. 1t was late in
the year before it appeared certain that this
falling off in the contributions would occur,
and after that time the Committee felt COM
PEELED to curtail the amounts applied for in
several cases. This was painful but it seemed
necessary. At the March meeting Of the
Committee, the question had to be squarely
met as to whether the second instalment of
the appropriations made in October, should
be scaled down go as to avoid deficiency in
the treasury, or whether obligations already
incurred and relied on by those who draw
from this fund should be paid in full The
latter alternative was adopted, as it was not
believed to be right to allow the venerable
and beloved men of God and the widows and
orphans of our deceased brethren, who draw
the comforts and in many cases the necessa-
ries of life from this fund, to be disappointed
in their well founded expectation of help
from the Church. Hence no action was
taken looking towards diminution Of pay
ments, but all the outstanding obligations of
the Committee were promptly met. Great
caution, however, is now being used not to
increase the obligations of the fund beyond
the point which it will probably be able to
meet, it being evident that unless the receipts
from the churches are much larger than for
merly, no alternative will be left at the time
of annual appropriation in October, except
to diminish the amount appropriated 80 as to
correspond with the amount received.
All the Presbyteries cooperate in sustain
ing this fund except that of Concord, three
or four of whose churches and some benevo-
lent individuals and one Ladies Society have
however, contributed. Forty.three Presby-
teries have received aid from the fund for
twenty y-eight aged and infrm ministers, and
for the families of sixty eight deceased min
listers. This shows seven Presbyteries re-
quiring aid more than last year, with two
ministers and eight families added to the lists
of those who need to be helped.


RELIEF FUND.


On April 1st there were seventy.fve
names on the Relief lists whose premiums
have been fully paid. O; ;these, twelve have
come in under the scheme adopted by the
last General Assembly, which has been re-
ceived with evident favor by the Church and
which it is hoped, will be found largely use
full in the future. There are also three names
on the lists of persons under the old scheme,
who are entitled to pay their premiums dur
ing this calendar year, There has been only
one death among the subscribers to the fund
since the meeting Of the last General Assem-
bly,, that of the Rev. Jesse Rankin of the
Synod of North Carolina. In January last
the condition of the Relief Fund was thor
oughlyre examined by G. f. Mckay, LID,
member of your Committee, and the result
is the confident statement that it is not only
solvent, but besides being able to meet all its
engagements, had surplus Of $1,706 over
and above its liabilities 1t is cheering to
note that the receipts on account of interest
are this year more than enough to pay all the
annuties which fell due, thus leaving the
whole of the premiums, after deducting the
very small expense account, to be added to
the permanent investment fund. 1t is be-
leved, that as our ministers become better
acquainted with the working of this fund and
it's benefits are more generally distributed,
larger number will avail themselves of its ad.
vantages. To the younger men of the min.
istry especially, it offers peculiar attractions.
Of the new names added last year, all except
one belong to this class. For them the an
nual payment is SO small, that by little
self denial most of them may meet it, and as
it does not increase, but continues the same
throughout life, they gain great advantage
by not delaying to secure its benefits.


By order of the Executive Committee,


RICHARD MCILWAINE,


j. LEIGHTON WILSON,


Secretaries.
Baltimore, Nd, May 1, 1877.