s number will be
welcomed and preserved for use as occasion may offer.

* * * * *

OUR INDIAN MISSIONS.

Nine schools, with 356 pupils; five churches, with 271 members; five
stations; thirteen missionaries; thirty-seven teachers, are the
statistics. The churches are Congregational, and the church and
school go hand in hand. A careful survey of the necessities of these
missions was made early in the year, and the estimate called for an
appropriation of about $30,000. Repairs and improvements in old
buildings and construction of new buildings, imperatively demanded
for the efficient prosecution of the work, forbade a lower estimate.

In surrendering our African missions, obedient to the voice of the
churches that our appeal might be simplified, we gave up the proceeds
of invested funds that in large part sustained that work; while in
receiving from the American Board its Indian missions, there was
placed just so much additional demand upon our treasury. Our
inevitable outlook was a trilemma--either enlarged receipts, or
retrenchment, or debt.

We therefore sent to about fifteen hundred Congregational ministers
in February last a printed circular asking:

First--Shall we raise this year $30,000 for our mission work among
the Indians?

Second--Will you aid, and how?

Up to date we have received 206 replies. To the first question the
answers are nearly all in the affirmative; most of them strong and
positive, a few cautious and questioning.

To the second, 33 responded with immediate contributions; 43 promised
an increase in the regular church collections, 71 a special
contribution from the missionary concert, and 3 the proceeds of a
lecture.

The replies are representative. Ministers in charge of the strong
churches, and those in charge of the weaker, speak the same language
of encouragement. "Go ahead." "Forward! is the word." "We will back
you." "It is no more than fair that those who have hitherto sustained
these Indian missions through the A. B. C. F. M. should now turn
their hand into the A. M. A. to increase its funds for this work."
"Thirty thousand dollars will do more and better work than so many
muskets." "We love your work and will aid you all we can." Such are
the sentiments these letters breathe. From all parts of the country
they come. California strikes hands with Massachusetts, Washington
Territory and Utah range themselves with Florida, all of them wishing
us