BY REV.  W.C.  POND, D.D.

The fiscal year of our missions closed Aug. 31.  I desire to set before the readers of the MISSIONARY a statement of the year’s work, made as complete as the space at my command allows: 

1. Seventeen missions have been sustained during a part or the whole of the year.  Ten of these have had no intermission whatever, except for a day or two at the holidays, and in one instance a fortnight’s vacation.  Of the remaining seven, three are new missions, viz:  Los Angeles, San Buenaventura and Tucson.  The work at these points is full of interest and hope, and has indeed already begun to yield what seem to us saving results.

2. Thirty-nine workers have been engaged.  Of these, fourteen are Chinese brethren, converted in connection with our missions, and trained to the work in the work itself.  The aggregate number of months of service is 295.

3.  In comparison with the record of the previous year, but little change can be noted.  The total number enrolled is 1,131, being larger by 87, but on the whole one record is about the equivalent of the other.  Indeed, it seems to me that in both years we reached very near to the outmost limit of what is possible with the means at our command.  The special interest of this year’s history centers in the attempt to do, and to learn better how to do, evangelistic work.  Three of our brethren have been set apart to this, and have been followed from place to place by the prayers of many.  They had much to learn when they started forth and have much yet to learn.  It is by no means clear to me that we have hit upon the wisest methods, and I know that we have not yet entered into the fullness of power, either with God or man.  Yet I can see that these brethren are stronger and braver and more eager in this work than they were a year ago.  And the blessing of God on their labors has been such as enables us to believe that full sixty of their countrymen have been led to Christ.  This carries the whole number concerning whom this hope has been cherished, since the beginning of our work, above 700.

4.  THE FINANCES.  Our expenditures have been:  For salaries of workers, $6,403.00; for rents of mission houses, $2,066.00; for incidental expenses, $1,150.15; total, $9,619.75.  Our resources have been:  From the parent society, $6,100; balance from previous year, $45.50; offerings made through the treasury of this auxiliary, $2,590.80; total, $8,736.30.  This leaves a deficit of $882.85, a part of which can be met from our Permanent Property Account, but fully $500.00 needs yet to be secured if we are to provide things honest in the sight of all men.  Thus far in the history of our mission, the account of no year has closed with the blot of a deficit upon it.  The account of the year just ended is held open for awhile in the hope that the good precedent of the past may be still maintained.  And, oh, if we might be a little less hampered by poverty;—­if we might be set free to enter opened doors, and to make the most possible of our opportunities, how great would be the privilege and joy of showing in blessed experiment that the truest economy is a wise and careful generosity.