issues of Christianity, and patriotism touched by no other work of our age.  It is estimated by the officers of the Association that through its schools and colleges and the teachers furnished by them, who are instructing the children in the South more or less every year, perhaps 175,000 are being reached and instructed.  Assuming that as many are reached by other missionary and benevolent societies, we see the tremendous need that can not be ignored.  This burden is laid peculiarly and urgently on this society and its contributing friends.  Can we meet this duty with less than $500,000 for the current year?  Your committee say, No.  Perhaps you will be ready to acquiesce.  But let us see what this means.  It means that every living donor who contributed last year must increase his contribution 50 per cent., or the number of donors must be largely increased.  A large amount was received last year from estates and legacies, namely, $114,020.41.  This resource is a variable quantity.  The Association can not depend on any increase from this source.  Its confidence must be in the living, who can give if they will.

Your Committee deem it proper to call more particular attention to the magnificent gift of Daniel Hand to the Association.  It is quite likely that some may suppose, and some may have measured their gifts last year in the belief, that the income of this fund was applicable to pay current expenses of the Association.  But this is not so.  The Daniel Hand Fund is appropriated to special work, which, although connected generally with the work of the Association, is yet not a part of that ordinary work for which this fund we recommend to be raised is to be expended.  Hence all friends of the Association must make and measure their gifts to it understanding that the sum we propose must be raised without any aid from the income from that million dollars constituting one of the grandest gifts of our time.  Shall this $500,000 for the current work of the Association for 1889 be furnished to it?  This is God’s work.  The churches here represented and the friends of the Association have the money.  It can not be put to any nobler Christian use; the needs demand it, and we recommend that $500,000 be raised for the Association for its current work for the year now begun.

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REPORT ON SECRETARY STRIEBY’S PAPER.

BY REV.  G.B.  WILLCOX, D.D., CHAIRMAN.

The paper by Dr. Strieby impresses your committee as an admirably comprehensive and discriminating statement of the policy and work of the Association.  As to the reconstruction of our educational and missionary societies, to the suggestion of which much of the paper calls attention, and from which he dissents, we should do well to make haste slowly.  Some time in the future it may become practicable.  But we discover no finger of Providence pointing toward it at present.