“Said trust fund shall be set apart and at all times known as the ‘Daniel Hand Educational Fund for Colored People.’  And the said Association shall keep separate accounts of the investment of this fund, and of the income derived therefrom, and of the use to which such income is applied, and shall publish monthly statements of the receipts from said fund, specifying its source, object and intention.”

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Suggestions.

Something to Remember.

Our first thought is for the pastors and churches to whom these words may come.  It is this:  Remember that the American Missionary Association has not a million of dollars to expend in its work.

It has the yearly income of this great gift as a Trust Fund to be used, not for the work which our churches have taken on, but to do a specific work which would not otherwise be undertaken.  The American Missionary Association will carry out the wishes of this large giver in their trust, and the Hand Fund will not be used to supplement the other work committed to the Association.

Do not say then, that we have a million and need nothing.  Our execution of a trust to do additional work to the extent of $50,000 a year or more, in no way changes our dependence upon the constituency of the A.M.A.  We have no balance whatever at the bank to supplement any lack from the churches.  The Hand Fund stands out distinctly committed to its appropriate work.  This it will do.

It will, however, make the work to which we are already committed more imperative.  We do not believe that the churches will in any degree defeat the purposes of Mr. Hand by devoting less than before to their own work, but that they will rather encourage larger gifts than ever, by an emulation of a like spirit, to be used for the redemption of a race.  This is not a Trust Fund to relieve the churches.  It is to make their work greater and more effective.

The reports of the several committees at Providence all called for an enlargement of our work.  It was recommended that $375,000 be raised and used in the fiscal year 1888-1889.  This means something more than $30,000 a month.  The receipts for October were $16,416.07, being but a little more than half of that which is needed.  Our dependence must be where it has been; first of all upon God, and then upon those who are his stewards.  We do not believe that God’s stewards will be willing to use this signal illustration of fidelity to stewardship as a reason why they should do less rather than more in their working together with him.  The American Missionary Association begins its year with a debt of $5,000 and needs $30,000 a month to carry on its regular work.

Large Gifts no Substitute for Small Ones.