hoped, a step of progress toward self-support which will ultimately put the institution upon its own endowment. The president and trustees have inaugurated a movement which they anticipate will be successful for an adequate endowment fund for this most important institution.

In laying out the schedule of appropriations for any given year these unforeseen necessities may arise, rendering it almost impossible to meet even inadequately the needs of the work and at the same time keep within a given amount, especially when the income depended upon from the churches and sympathetic friends does not reach the amount anticipated. It is also to be borne in mind that a considerable falling off in legacies has embarrassed the situation.

In the Western District, with the office at Chicago, important changes have taken place. Rev. George E. Hall, D.D., to the painful regret of your committee, was seriously broken in health by the overwork which came incidental to the Together Campaign. Dr. Hall for a considerable time heroically struggled with threatened conditions of health, but finally found it necessary to tender his resignation. This was accepted with much regret by the executive committee.

Rev. Lucius O. Baird, D.D., was elected district secretary of the Western District, and entered upon his work in the early months of the year. Dr. Baird was pastor in Omaha, Neb., for years. He came into this work holding the entire confidence and esteem of the churches, especially in the Western District, where he was best known. He has brought to the service the rich fruits of wide experience, of thorough training, and large and helpful acquaintance. The succession of strong men in the secretaryship of the Western District, running back to the efficient and saintly man, Dr. J. E. Roy, is still unbroken in the appointment of Secretary Baird.

The American Missionary Association has held its department in the publication of the American Missionary, the joint magazine of the homeland societies. We cannot report very confidently of the success of this union magazine. Every effort has been made to increase its circulation and to add to its interest. The subscription list is small and the expense of the publication has not decreased as we had hoped. In presenting the work of the American Missionary Association before the churches, we

have felt the loss of the special magazine which was formerly issued by the Association.

The testimony of many pastors to the effect that it is difficult to canvass for two publications representing different phases of missionary service is somewhat significant. Doubtless a large body of our missionary constituents desire a single magazine. It would seem comparatively easy to institute methods by which a large subscription might be secured for such a magazine that were not possible when four magazines were in the field. The difficulties, although somewhat less, are still felt by pastors and church committees in canvassing for two missionary publications. The American Missionary has maintained a high standard of literary and missionary value, and, with energetic coöperation on the part of pastors and of church membership to secure a more extended subscription list, we hope the future will bring more adequate results. A reduction of the price for club rates, just provided, it is hoped will greatly multiply the circulation.

The future of the large institutions, planted by the American Missionary Association and still maintained to a considerable degree under its auspices, demands an adequate endowment. The educational work in these institutions has largely outgrown the possibility of support from hat collections. It is too precarious for such a large enterprise, and special gifts from generous contributors are demanded. We bespeak for these institutions the sympathetic attention of those people to meet the peculiar necessities of this condition. The endowment for all the institutions under the American Missionary Association is pitiably small, and the work suffers. Sufficient endowment is needed at once to put them above want and to equip them for the splendid service which they are so well fitted to give.

In leaflet and occasional publications there has been a steady demand upon the Association. There never has been a time. when the problems in the field of this Association were more to the fore than is true now. The negro problem of the South is still the greatest of all problems affecting the future of our nation. In the far West, on our Pacific shore, the increasing exigency of the problem of Oriental immigration is attracting wider attention. The literature published by the Association touching upon these various problems and fields of educational and phil

anthropic effort has a large place in clarifying the thought of the nation.

"A Crusade of Brotherhood," by Dr. A. F. Beard, and "Christian Reconstruction in the South," by Secretary H. Paul Douglass, are gaining wide circulation, and have already proved of great value in creating wholesome sentiment and bringing reliable information to the thoughtful Christian patriots of our land.

"Advance in the Antilles," prepared by Dr. H. B. Grose, and published by the Young People's Missionary Movement, has been circulated through the offices of the Association. A considerable number have been sold, and numerous study classes are using this book. It has not been for gratuitous circulation, but has been sold by the young people through the American Missionary Association.

A pamphlet entitled," Congregational Missionary Work in Porto Rico" prepared by Secretary Douglass, has supplemented the somewhat limited treatment of the work in Porto Rico in the larger book. A large issue of this pamphlet has been sold, and our Congregational young people are becoming familiar with the progress of the work of the American Missionary Association in that interesting island. The completion of Christian Endeavor Hall, at Santurce, Porto Rico, is a permanent evidence of the interest of the young people of our denomination in this field.

With the experience of the past, the greater familiarity of the various state and local apportionment committees with the problems and their development, and with the profound and prayerful interest that the churches have in this great work, we trust that this year may bring to the treasury the full amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from living donors.

THE CONGREGATIONAL HOME MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

REV. HUBERT C. HERRING, D.D., GENERAL SECRETARY.

The triennium just closed has been a significant one for the Home Missionary Society. When it met with the National Council in Cleveland in 1907, it was in the first days of its new form of organization and had not as yet had time to address itself seriously to certain problems which were pressing upon it. The intervening years have been marked by important decisions and a number of definite achievements.

1. Fundamental to the whole activity of the period has been the process of developing the federated organization of the society. Every effort has been put forth to correlate the efforts of the national, state, and city organizations. Emphasis has been placed upon local responsibility, and the leadership of local groups sought and followed. At the same time, in all feasible ways the endeavor has been made to give every part a sense of obligation for the whole nation-wide task. The progress made has been distinct and gratifying. The state societies have loyally supported the national society in its plans; while it in turn has sought to be of service in all possible ways to the state societies. In addition, there has been a growing fellowship of city societies one with another and with the state and national societies. There is good reason to hope that our entire group of home mission agencies will be able along these lines to work out a highly effective form of federated effort.

2. Two years ago the initial steps were taken in what has come to be known as the "Together Campaign." The results of this campaign have been more valuable than its promoters dared hope or than the encouragement which accompanied its progress appeared to suggest. The sense of unity among the societies was greatly strengthened; new consciousness of the importance of missionary effort was created throughout large sections of the denomination; the Apportionment Plan was widely explained and advertised; and the sum of $330,000 in

special gifts was secured sufficient to lift the debt resting upon the three larger societies. In this sum the Home Missionary Society shared to the extent of nearly $160,000. Its debt was extinguished and a small balance distributed among the constituent states under the percentage system, which is a fundamental feature of the organization. It is an occasion for gratitude that in addition to all the happy results of the campaign there was a tonic effect upon current receipts which has prevented any reaction and has maintained the income of the Home Missionary Society, as of the other societies, at something above the wonted level.

3. By holding the appropriations for the mission field at the conservative figure made compulsory by the years of financial drought, and by effecting a reduction in general expenses of something like fifteen thousand dollars a year (largely due to freedom from interest charges), the society has succeeded in passing through the half-year period — April 1 to October 1, 1910 without making a loan, an experience duplicated but few times in its history. It is hoped that increased contributions in coming months may warrant a greatly needed enlargement of the work.

4. Coöperating with the five other societies doing work in the United States, the Home Missionary Society has merged its magazine in the new joint publication, The American Missionary. This change has much to commend it, and was cordially made by the societies. At the same time it should be borne in mind that it will be a cause of disappointment and loss unless the churches give hearty support by furnishing a substantial subscription list. It is not expected that the magazine can be made self-supporting. But the annual deficit will be greatly reduced if a large number of subscribers are secured at even the nominal rate offered in church clubs.

5. In the spring of 1909 the missions carried on by the society in Cuba were transferred to the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. This step was made necessary by the long-continued financial embarrassment of our society, by the lack of interest among the churches in the maintenance of these missions, and by the heavy cost of conducting them as compared to missionary work in the United States. The necessity of the transfer was much regretted, since Cuba