That some of our church woman in the North are interested, is shown by the twenty-eight thousand dollars of contributions received from them during the past year.  That they are alive to the advantage of reaching this field through the American Missionary Association and thus keeping in sympathy with the work of the churches in their annual contributions, is shown in the formation of State Unions, for direct co-operation with us.  We consider it especially favorable that the purpose of these State organizations is to increase the flow of money and other forms of helpfulness through the regular channels to this part of the home field; that thus the young people and strangers who are gathered into the church auxiliaries are being interested in the history and work of the American Missionary Association and that the children—­the future church members—­also are learning to give to it, for the sake of the people to whom it ministers.

It has been a great help to us, that in the past year the Woman’s Aid of Maine sustained four teachers, that the Woman’s Aid of Vermont contributed so faithfully to their adopted school at McIntosh, Ga., and Connecticut ladies to the Industrial School for colored girls in Thomasville.  We cannot speak too highly of the efficiency of the New York Woman’s Union, which pledges us a definite sum, increasing the amount annually, and keeping its pledge.  The Ohio Union has sustained Miss Collins’ mission in Dakota and a teacher in the South.  The Minnesota Union met nearly two-thirds the cost of our school at Jonesboro’, Tenn., and the Iowa Union more than one-third the expense of Beach Institute, Savannah, Ga.  The ladies of other States have helped in the girls’ department of our school at Tougaloo, Miss., the schools at Athens and Mobile, Ala., Austin, Tex., Williamsburg, Ky. and Santee Agency, Neb.  These friends have been in communication with the schools they have aided, learning of the needs and economical measures of help.  They have been permitted to know for themselves the hopeful results of patient Christian endeavor.  For many of our scholars are beginning quietly and persistently to do noble Christian work in the locality in which they live, relieving the destitute, reading, singing, praying with the sick and infirm and themselves growing stronger and wiser in religious work every day.  There are many who appreciate and long for a better and purer life for their own people, and they are doing much to elevate the tone of society.  They are the leaven.  They can transform the home life—­to some extent the old homes—­but in much larger degree the new, in giving intelligent parentage to the little ones of their own households.