A Pope of Rome in the midst of his great wealth once said, “I cannot say as Peter did:  ‘Silver and gold have I none!’” To which the reply was made:  “Neither can you say, ’In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk.’” Peter and the Pope are types of two conditions of the church of Christ.  When it is dependent on Christ, it can bless the bodies and souls of men; when it relies on its wealth, it can do neither.  A missionary society that should be so thoroughly endowed as to feel itself to be independent of God and man for funds would soon be thoroughly dead.  Its power is in proportion to the faith it uplifts to God, and to the constant sense of dependence with which it rests down upon the sympathy and support of the churches.  It can never flourish except as it is refreshed by the little rills of benevolence that flow from praying Christians; that treasury is poor, indeed, that does not receive the widow’s two mites.  The American Missionary Association can come with blessings to the neglected races of our land only as it lays hold with one hand upon the arm of the Lord and with the other grasps the hands of the pastors and members of the churches—­as it enables them to feel that it is their society doing God’s work for them.

But does not the magnificent gift of Mr. Hand lift the Association above such dependence on the churches?  Is it not at least so well provided for that the churches need not be so regular and liberal in their contributions?  We answer emphatically that if this should be the result of that gift, we should esteem it no blessing; and in this we are sure Mr. Hand himself would unite with us.  We are told that he was accustomed to read the “Receipts” acknowledged in the American missionary, and was greatly delighted that so many small donations were reported.  He said that one thing that confirmed him in the choice of the Association as the almoner of his bounty was the hold it seemed to have upon the mass of intelligent and praying members of the New England churches, No! the gift of Mr. Hand, generous and large as it is, provides for only a part of our great work.  It does not touch the Church, Mountain, Indian, Chinese or Higher Educational Departments.  It is wisely appropriated; it goes directly and practically to a point where help is much needed.  But it is limited to that and does not cover even all of that.  Let the churches do neither themselves, the Association nor Mr. Hand the great wrong of withholding because he gives; rather let them take this gift as God and the generous donor meant it to be—­a help in lifting the heavy load, to be responded to by heartier co-operation and larger contributions.

A Helping Hand Extended to the South.

How strange are the links that sometimes bind events together, and how obvious are often the compensations that Providence renders to faithful work.