The American Missionary | Page 9

could promise them only this, that we would do for them all that was possible to us. The final result was that our workers--steadfast and faithful--after having given their usual donations, squared accounts in January by extra gifts amounting to $374.90.
And while we are on this matter of the finances, we will give an abstract of the treasurer's final statement respecting current expenses in our general work:
I. RESOURCES:
On hand last Report $49.95 Appropriation American Missionary Association 7,499.90 Receipts at Treasury California Chinese Mission 4,973.80 Transferred from Permanent Prop. Account 24.55 Sale of Tracts and Books 4.40
II. DISBURSEMENTS:
Salaries of Superintendent, Teachers and Helpers $8,480.25 Rents of Mission Houses 3,013.85 Incidental Expenses 1,058.50 -------- -------- $12,552.60 $12,552.60
In addition to this, the work for Chinese mothers and children cost us $557.70, a little less than one-half of what we could have used with rigid economy and good results.
The statistics of the work show twenty-one missions in which schools have been maintained, as follows: Fourteen during the entire year, except as recesses were taken at Chinese and American holidays; four with but one month's vacation; two during the four months that the fruit men have comparative leisure, and one--that at Watsonville--a new mission which commenced work four months before the fiscal year closed.
The total number of months of labor was 431.
The aggregate enrollment of Christian Chinese connected with our missions, so far as reported, is 596. The number concerning whom we may hope that they have been led to Christ during the past year is 60, making the total number of whom this hope has been cherished, and who have given "credible evidence of faith in Christ" from the first more than 1,100. How many of these will appear in the church of the first-born "clothed in white robes" it is not for human judgment to decide. Sometimes the human, the frail, we may almost say the devilish crops out in a way to put hope and courage to a test that is terribly severe, but never anything to compare with that which Paul had to confront in those at Corinth, whom he nevertheless denominates "the sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints." The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, and those thus given to him by the Father shall never perish, neither shall anyone pluck them out of his Father's hands.
The limits of our space forbid that we follow the report into its accounts of the year's work in each one of these missions. Two points deserve special notice. One of these has been referred to in a previous number of THE MISSIONARY. More attention must be given to preaching in the street and in our schoolrooms, which make very comfortable little chapels. The other is that many Chinese children--native-born Americans--are growing up not only in the great centers, but also in interior villages, and we must open the doors of our schools to these; make such arrangements as will secure their attendance, and so bring it about by the grace of God that they grow up not in darkness, but under the healing beams of Him who said, "I am the light of the world."
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OFFERINGS OF OUR BRETHREN.--It is not possible to segregate their gifts to our treasury with perfect accuracy, but we are within the truth when we place them at $1,905.40. In addition to this they have given for the local expenses of their several Associations $1,134.10, for Missionary Work in China $675.65, for their Worldwide Missionary Society (through the American Board) $63.60, and for relief to needy brethren and others $358, making an aggregate of $5,136.75 as their offerings for the year; and this, be it understood when the pressure of the times cannot but be felt by them, on the average, more severely than by any others. The goods a Chinaman has to sell are likely to be those that in hard times we dispense with. If wages are to be reduced, the reduction begins with the Chinaman. It is no great sin in the view of many to steer clear of paying a Chinaman. If anybody is to be dismissed from service when economy begins it is the Chinaman. We cannot but think that under the circumstances the financial showing at this point is highly creditable.

Bureau of Woman's Work.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNIONS.
THANK-OFFERING DAY, APRIL 12.
It is heart cheering that the Women's Unions have planned for thought, prayer and special offerings on Friday, April 12, or Easter Sunday, the 14th, the day which, in the words of the resolution adopted by the State organizations at their annual meeting, "commemorates Christ's gift of Himself to the world."
Surely liberal offerings must follow sober thought and earnest prayer for the redemption of those whom God seems to have given into our special charge here in our own country. Our Lord