WORK IN SIXTY-TWO YEARS.

ENDING MARCH 31, 1888.

THE Society began its work in 1826, with 169 missionaries, of whom 129 wrought in the Middle States, 33 in the Western, 5 in the Southern, 1 in New England, and 1 in Canada, where the work was transferred, in 1844, to the British Colonial Missionary Society. The gain has been gradual and fairly steady, save for the total cessation of work at the South in the years 1859-1865 and its later rise there so rapid as to employ 123 missionaries in 1885, (now 144).

The first missionaries were sent to Wisconsin and Iowa, in 1835; to Oregon, in 1846; California and Minnesota, in 1849; Kansas, 1854; Nebraska, 1855; Colorado, 1863; Utah, 1865; Dakota, 1867; Washington Territory, 1870; Nevada and Idaho, 1871; Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, 1881.

In these sixty-two years the regular cash outlay has been $12,135,422.07; extra supplies received and appropriated, more than $1,100,000. Years of labor performed, 42,149. Additions to aided churches, 355,985. Churches organized (of which many were, and some are Presbyterian), 4,951; brought to self-support, 2,430.

STATE OF THE TREASURY.

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FOR money borrowed to promptly pay the missionaries for summer and autumn work, there are still due the banks $95,000, of which $30,000 are secured by theSwett Exigency Bonds, which should be kept intact, and increased, as a basis for obtaining loans when needed. Of this sum $10,000 are due January 1st, and $15,000, January 25th. Besides this, there are due the missionaries, for work done and reported, up to this day (Dec. 6th) fully $20,000, the Executive Committee feeling that further borrowing for the present is not wise. Neither these dues to the missionaries nor those notes at the banks can be paid any faster than the friends, whose debt this is, shall send in the money. We regret to say that the remittances of these friends are this year delayed longer than usual. The contributions for the eight months, from April 1st to November 30th, fall nearly $17,000 behind those in the same months of last year. This deficiency, added to a falling off of more than $27,000 in legacies during the same time, is very seriously embarrassing the work. Shall not their knowledge of the exact situation move the friends of the Society to immediate and liberal action? Surely the abler churches and individual supporters of Home Missions do not mean to contract

the work; nor are they willing that their brethren representing them in hard Western fields shall face the winter without the meager salaries they have so nobly earned. Once more we ask, What will you have us do? What will you do? ONE, infinitely just, whose stewards we all are, and who tenderly loves his consecrated home missionary brethren and their work, sits over against the Treasury, waiting for your response.

THE gift by Mr. Daniel Hand to the American Missionary Association, of more than a million of dollars for primary, industrial, and normal educational work among the colored people of the South, is one to fil! every lover of his country with gratitude and joy. The American Home Missionary Society adds its congratulations to the many already expressed. May the noble organization that is so fittingly made, the almoner of this great bounty abound yet more and more in the gifts and prayers of the friends of Christ and of humanity.

GOOD CHEER FROM OBERLIN.-The daily spectacle of an empty treasury is not exhilarating. The responsibility for 1,048 men standing unflinchingly at their posts, is not a light one, but when appeals con tinue to come in for gospel work in dark places not yet reached, the situation becomes heart-sickening

Upon this dark background has been thrown a flash of light through the medium of a message from Rev. Dr. Brand of Oberlin, whose church has just fulfilled its part of the pledge made at Saratoga toward the extra $100,000 for new work. In response to the recent dircular of this Society, his people took up a special collection of nearly $700. This is good, but how it strengthens our faith when he adds, "Our people are thoroughly moved on the subject, and are praying for the long-suffering Missionaries, and for a GENERAL MOVEMENT in behalf of Home Missions." This contribution is not to interfere with the annual pledges through their weekly offerings.

While writing these words a golden ray illumines the cloud: "A thank-offering from The Woman's Home Missionary Society of Missouri," of $311 in GOLD, with a text: 1 Chron. 29; 13, 14.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"

Our hearts are touched by one other message, to-day; this time from a Home Missionary in Kansas. "I deeply regret the condition of your treasury, not so much for my own sake, as for the sake of the work of Christ. I cannot help much-but I can surely help a little. Please take $25 from my salary, as a contribution to your Society at this time."

HOME MISSIONARY CALENDAR.

A HOLIDAY GIFT FOR TWENTY-FIVE CENTS!-Recent visitors to the rooms of the Society at the Bible House have lost no time in presenting the required "quarter," and securing our HOME MISSIONARY CALENDAR for 1889. This artistic gem has been prepared with rare skill and delicacy by Mrs. S. E. Eastman, Canandaigua, N. Y. The design is typical, and consists of a group of worshiping cherubs,-suggested by Sir Joshua Reynolds' painting-at whose right, in elegant architecture, rises the spire of the Giving Church in strong contrast with its beneficiary below, the unadorned little frontier house of worship, with its peculiar environments. A block on one side from which the day's sentiment can be easily read, completes this graceful souvenir. The sentiments consist of short, pithy, helpful selections from our best writers upon Home Missions. As the supply is limited, we suggest an early application for this Calendar to the American Home Missionary Society, 34 Bible House, New York City.

THE Bohemian Bible Readers' Home, No. 1572 Broadway, Cleveland, was illuminated Wednesday evening, when a reception was given to the friends of the institution. The house was rented in September for the purpose of opening a school wherein the Bible could be taught to young Bohemian women, who in turn could visit their countrywomen in different parts of the city as missionaries. The home has been furnished through the kindness of the ladies of the Congregational churches of Cleveland, Case Avenue Presbyterian Church, and the Congregational ladies' societies of Wellington, Elyria, and Hudson. Among the pastors who attended the reception were Rev. H. A. Schauffler, Dr. Leavitt, and Rev. H. M. Tenney,

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IN addition to his regular labors, Superintendent Eversz is getting out a German Church Manual, a combination of that of Rev. James Tompkins, and Rev. T. E. Davies, "turned into German." He is also trying to raise $1,000 to secure the transfer of the German paper " Der Kirchenbote" to Chicago. Dr. G. A. Zimmermann will be editor-in-chief, assisted by Prof. H. M. Scott, Rev. H. Hess, and Superintendent Eversz. This seems to be a move in the right direction.

WITH the exception of the Log Church at Alba, kindly loaned by Rev. Dr. Cobb, we are indebted for the illustrations in this issue to the cordial good nature and magic pencil of Rev. W. G. Puddefoot.

Books for a Sunday-school library are wanted at Longwood, Florida.

HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR A MISSIONARY CAUSE.

THE HOME MISSIONARY for November, page 315, contains an answer by "A Layman" to a Vermont Pastor's question, "How to raise money for the missionary cause."

I also am a layman, and wish to indorse the suggestions of my brother layman as to the necessity of preaching missionary sermons, etc. It is true enough that the masses of church members are not informed as to the work or needs of the seven great benevolences of our churches, and it is also true enough that the pastors might do very much more than they do to cultivate an interest in these various causes. I like the answer

that my brother gives, and aim in this to add to his remarks, and not to criticise him.

We laymen should remember:

That we and our fellows are

1st. That the pocket-books are ours. the ones who are ignorant of, stolid about, and possibly hostile to missionary encroachments. We are the ones who sneer at the minister's missionary presentations, and intimate to him when he preaches missionary sermons, that "a little of that will go a good ways, ""that missions are well enough, of course, but that the great forces of our modern civilization-our schools, books, culture, etc.—are fast spreading over the earth, and removing the necessity for such missionary efforts as our fathers made." We are the men who thus "throw cold water" on the minister's efforts, and then give our money to build monuments, decorate parks, establish chairs of science in colleges, erect memorial halls, etc., etc. Not that these things should not be done, but rather that the higher missionary duty should not be left undone.

We laymen should remember:

2d. That our pastors are human; that they desire to please; like to be popular; do not feel that it is wise to offend their congregations as to matters outside of preaching the Gospel; in short, will not push missionary or other financial schemes beyond the personal interests of the individual church, unless they are sure we are willing to have them pushed.

If the pastor is to preach missionary sermons, urge collections, rustle the benevolences in the ears of the people, he must be assured of backing from the pews, or we laymen might as well take notice that he will not present the causes.

We laymen should remember:

3d. That we are the power behind the throne." That God Himself is behind this mission work. That "one with God is a majority."

That a single consecrated layman in a congregation of 1,000 can begin his efforts in behalf of missions, and with reasonable push and wisdom can very soon so popularize the missionary idea as to ride down all opposition (if there is opposition), or arouse from apathy (if apathy is the

form taken), and make the missionary idea as much a necessity as the gospel idea. He can secure, and distribute the literature of the various benevolences among those who will read.

He can interest his wife and children, his cousins and his aunts. He can talk it up with his neighbors, and pray over it in secret and in prayer meeting. He can weave it into his Sunday-school lesson, and plead for special mission services, such as concerts and special days.

He can greatly aid in the organization of missionary societies in his church, both among adults and children, and create such an atmosphere that the pastor will gladly enter in-such an atmosphere as will stifle coldness and sneers. He can have faith that God is with him and will give the increase.

It is not the intention to lay all the burden upon the laymen. The pastor, if he will, can greatly aid in securing the activity of such a layNeither can be successful alone; each needs the other. It is creditable to a pastor to be able to find such men, and it is creditable to the laymen to put life into this work.

man.

Let us hope the time is not distant when both pastors and laymen will be wiser and more active than now. Another Layman.

PERSONAL SKETCHES OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS.-IV.

REV. LEROY WARREN

SUPERINTENDENT of Home Missions in MICHIGAN, was born in Pittsfield, Ohio, May 14th, 1838, the eldest of the five children of Alanson and Clarissa J. (Baxter) Warren. His father was a native of Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Mass., a descendant of John Warren, who came from England to Watertown, Mass., about 1630. His mother was of Scotch-Irish stock, a native of Sheridan, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. His father died. near Oberlin, Ohio, in 1871. His mother is still living at Lawrence, Kansas. About 1848 his parents removed to a farm in Russia Township, Lorain Co., Ohio, three miles from the college at Oberlin. In 1852 he commenced his preparation for college, walking six miles daily during term time for the next six years to attend recitations. Graduating from college in 1858, he commenced theological study at Oberlin, teaching two hours daily in the preparatory department of the college. He anticipated his graduation in theology a few weeks by enlisting for three years in Company C of the. 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the first company made up in Oberlin. Taken prisoner by the rebels at Cross Lanes, West Virginia, in August, 1861, he spent the next ten months in prisons at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury, N. C. Paroled in June, 1862, he was sent to New York, and there discharged on account of his parole. He returned to Oberlin, and after a few weeks responded to a call from