of this work. The labor and self-denial involved, the intelligence and enthusiasm, the thought and prayer put into it, the training which is given to the young in a knowledge of missions and love for them, are an inestimable gain to the cause, and do much to keep open and full the very springs from which the work is reinforced. The volume of these gifts is impressive, and its steady maintenance from year to year contributes much to the strength and stability of the enterprise on the field. The sums from these sources for the three years past, respectively, are as follows: $200,110, $214,774, $198,655, making an average of $206,769 per year, about two fifths of the yearly receipts of the Board from donations. The officers of the Board cannot express in too strong terms their appreciation of this noble gift; and of the large share in the work abroad which our Christian women thus assume. Anything which should dampen this zeal, or diminish these contributions, would be a direct and serious blow to the vigor and success of our great missionary work. In the healthful development of the missionary enterprise a large and vital part of the effort is directed toward the education of girls, and the uplifting of the women of the land. Christian homes, presided over by educated Christian women, are indispensable to real and permanent success; and it is this central part of the great problem which the Christian women among us attempt, and to which they especially devote their gifts and labors and prayers. Work for women has developed rapidly during these later years, perhaps more rapidly than most other parts of mission work; but it was slow in appearing, and has not yet grown beyond its proper proportions.

The impression received from this wide survey is that of a broad and expanding work, wisely planned, ably conducted, signally owned of God, and of surpassing significance, in which it must be the supreme privilege, as it is the plainest duty, for every church in our communion, and for every member in every church, to have a personal and enthusiastic share.

CONGREGATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND PUBLISHING SOCIETY.1

REV. GEORGE M. BOYNTON, D.D., SECRETARY AND TREASURER.

This society was organized in 1832, nearly seventy years ago. Thirty years later it absorbed the Doctrinal Tract and Book Society, since which time it has been the only publishing agency of the denomination. From a very early day its publishing was largely for the children and the Sunday schools, which it endeavored to reach mainly through the home missionaries occupying the ground, though it had a few missionary agents in what was then the West, from New York to Iowa.

The modern period of the work of the society began with its second half century, with the policy of employing superintendents and missionaries to visit the churches to stimulate and improve their own Sunday-school work, to encourage them to organize branch schools, and to explore regions without religious influences or organizations and plant Sunday schools among them as the possible beginning of full Christian work; also to supply these new and all needy fields with our own Sunday school and other literature, either gratuitously or at such reduced cost as might be necessary to their successful existence. This has been the distinctive work of the society for the nineteen years which have elapsed since that time, of the success of which those who have known the work best are most assured.

During the last three years the number of new schools reported as organized was 1,337, not quite so many as in the preceding triennium, owing to unfavorable conditions and lessened population in some of the agricultural States. We do by no means claim that all these are permanent or prominent. The changes of population occasioned by crop failure and railroad changes, the incoming of other denominations, and many other causes often make the continuance of the work which we have begun either impossible or unnecessary. We try to occupy what are called strategic places, and those which we hope may strengthen the work of our denomination, but we also try to meet the needs of the people for the

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gospel without regard to the future, and while many of these last efforts fail, from among them come some of our most surprising reinforcements of strength. Not every seed sown in the wilderness, or even in the garden, comes up to maturity and fruitage, but we are told that no word of God shall return unto him void, but it shall accomplish that which he pleases, and shall prosper in the thing whereto he sent it. So, if we have ministered to some of Christ's poor and neglected ones for a time only, and they scatter, or some other organization reaps the harvest, we rejoice that we have had a hand and a heart in the work if only for a while. About one in ten of the 7,500 Sunday schools we have planted has grown into a church of our own order, and four fifths of these, at least, are now in our Congregational Year-Book. To have had a part in this growth of the denomination is a sufficient reward. We plant, the Home Missionary Society waters, and God grants the increase.

Meanwhile we must feed the babes we find. The preparation of our lesson helps for teachers and scholars has absorbed the attention of a considerable corps of editors and assistants. In joint meetings for consultation and for planning the work, by diligent care in all its details, by the most careful proof-reading and mechanical execution, we have tried to provide the aids to the study and understanding of the Scriptures, and, above all, we have tried by devout study to get at the mind of the Spirit. It has been a harder task than it once was to keep in mind the results of modern scholarship, the things on which most careful students are now agreed, and the somewhat changed and changing view of the Book we study, and to keep supreme the great fundamental truths which the Bible was given to teach, and not to say a word to lessen reverence for it as our great spiritual guide. First, we have tried to take the Bible at its own rather than at a traditional valuation. Second, we have tried to find out what each writer meant for the age to which he spoke. Third, we have represented history as history, poetry as poetry, and parable as parable. While there have been some criticisms from without, our own denomination in its enlightened judgment has not fallen in with these strictures, but has apparently approved our word in the main by its continued and increasing patronage and by many good words of commendation.

We are glad to announce that we have, in an advanced stage of preparation, a new hymnal for Sunday schools, which we trust will meet with a careful examination and a wide adoption by our

schools. Especial care has been given to the selection of hymns which are a fitting expression of the religious feelings which are natural and appropriate to the youug, mated with tunes which are of musical merit, while vivacious and easy to be learned. We hope by this book to make a real advance in the character of the service of song in our Sunday schools.

During the year we have also secured to the denomination its oldest denominational paper, "The Congregationalist," which, if we had not purchased it, would probably have been sold to others and lost to Congregationalism. The change has been one of proprietorship and business management. The directors will annually elect the editor-in-chief as one of its heads of departments, and also a committee to advise in regard to the editorial and business management. The editor and his staff are responsible for the general conduct and special contents of the paper. It is, we think, fully understood both by our declarations and by the experience of six months, that our society as a missionary organization has no relation to it different from that of the other five national societies. We claim no inside track or special privilege and desire none. The paper is for the denomination. The effect of this transfer has fulfilled the hopes of those who were most sanguine regarding it; both its circulation and its advertising income have continued to increase since the transfer, and from all that we hear its readers are satisfied as fully as ever with its conduct and contents.

The relation of the general book and publishing business to our missionary work is intimate. Besides furnishing the denomination with appliances for all its work, and putting within its reach the most valuable books of its own and of all publishers, supplying our soldiers in the field with fixed ammunition and with food, it is the largest donor to our missionary work. During the last three years the directors have transferred twenty thousand dollars from the profits of the business to the missionary work. This business of the denomination has not been neglected. The directors have donated much time and thought to its success. The business management has been untiring in energy and enterprise. All connected with this, as with the other departments of the society, have put their best into the work, and unite in asking the good-will and co-operation of the whole body.

It is impossible to discriminate with accuracy the special spheres of those in the missionary work. The administration, the collect

ing, and missionary agents, are all missionary men. Our Field Secretary is in reality superintendent of the Middle States still, though holding an important relation to the larger field. When our superintendents go to ask the churches for their co-operation, they go also to confer with the pastor and superintendent in regard to their local Sunday-school work and as to the possibility of extending it by branch or mission schools. They are interested to advise as to best methods, and to do anything in their power to stimulate this branch of the church work.

Meanwhile, it is the missionary work which is the end and aim of all. The editorial force desire to teach the Word of God, to lead to the love of God and the life of Christ. The business men seek to spread the good seed broadcast that it may bear much fruit to the glory of God, and those connected with the missionary department carry the seed, plant it in faith, and water it with prayer, and thus far have had continual occasion to rejoice in the harvest.

As this brief report has represented the different departments of the society as one in their object and interest, it may be necessary to repeat, what has been often explained, that, as to their income and treasuries and expenditures, the business and missionary departments are absolutely independent. All expenses, editorial and publishing, are borne by the business department and the profits are accredited thereto. All money contributed to the society goes into the missionary treasury and is used only for missionary work. An appropriation is made annually from the profits of the business department to the missionary department, to be used especially in the home expenses, and to relieve the missionary treasury from the percentage otherwise needed for the administrative and clerical work. This appropriation has never been more than ten per cent of the total receipts for this purpose. Two things should especially be noted; first, we are dependent on the annual gifts of the churches and Sunday schools for the support of this pioneer work. Second, there is not the slightest risk that a single dollar given will be used except for missionary work.