years have passed since the Act of
Emancipation, and that ages of training will be needed before the
moral taint of slavery is purified away.

[Illustration: RIDGEMOUNT, JAMAICA.]

The Directors therefore feel that it would be in every way a mistake
to throw these young and imperfect churches at once upon their own
resources. They have also not seriously entertained the suggestion
made to commend them to the care of some other evangelical
denomination seeking the same end as ourselves. Nevertheless the
Board cannot think it right or wise to continue the present system
unchanged. If unable completely to run alone, our churches are too
large, the members too numerous, and their resources too great to
justify any continuance of that complete dependence upon the Society
which has prevailed with them hitherto. The Board desire to see the
churches strong in themselves, managing completely their own affairs,
providing the ministry by which they shall be instructed, and engaged
heartily in missionary efforts for the conversion of their heathen
neighbours. This is the end which, they trust, will henceforth be
distinctly kept in view, and which should be sought by every means
which practical experience finds suitable to promote it.

They have resolved, therefore, to adopt the following
measures:--First, they limit the staff of English missionaries to
the number of men (thirteen) now left in the field. They desire that
steady efforts shall be made to place all the churches under the
pastoral charge of suitable Native ministers. They desire that all
the local and incidental expenses of the mission shall be entirely
defrayed by the Native Churches. Lastly, they will limit their grants
from England to the allowance of the English missionaries.

XIV.--INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.

1.--RECEIPTS.

1. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES--

a. Subscriptions, Donations, and pound. s. d.
Collections 56,685 2 11
b. Dividends 584 4 9
c. Australian Auxiliaries and Foreign
Societies 3,191 6 10
d. Legacies 10,875 13 7
e. Fund for Widows and Orphans and
Retired Missionaries 4,500 15 0
f. Mission Stations, English and Native
Contributions, raised and
appropriated 19,414 16 4
g. Ditto, additional from the South