You pay your money where you have your interest.  That man who, in building a mission church in a rough, uncouth neighborhood, called on the hoodlums in the vicinity to make a contribution of a brick apiece for the new church, was a wise man.  Every bootblack, every newsboy, every garbage gatherer in it who put a brick in that church had an interest in it.  It was “Our Church,” and at once the interest of the neighborhood was secured for this mission church, as it could have been done in no other way.  So we ask you to withhold not your bricks; with the bricks will come the interest, the heart, the prayers.

Remarks by Dr. Mears.

Rev. Dr. Mears, who occupied the chair temporarily, followed the address of Mr. Washburn, voicing the gratitude of the Association.  He spoke of the feelings almost of depression after the great wants of the work had been so evident from the various reports and addresses of the meeting.  The words of reply to the prophet in the famine stricken city of Samaria had been often repeated as to the possibility of relief for those despised; “Behold if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?” This munificent gift of a million dollars seems like a gift dropped from the pierced hand into the lap of this Association.  It seems a seal of the divine favor upon this organization, whose sole care is for those races that are poor and despised.  The speaker referred to the suggestion of Mr. Washburn, that the gift must be either a blessing or a curse.  It would be a curse if the benefactions of the churches should be withheld because of Mr. Hand’s munificence.  The divineness of the gift, however, precluded such a fear.  There is too much consecration in the hearts of God’s children to keep back a single offering for those for whom Christ died.  The great promise of the Master will prove itself true; “To him that hath shall be given.”  Turning to the members of the Executive Committee, the suggestion was made that the manner in which they should guard this great gift would be a potent factor in urging greater gifts from the churches.  In such hands was left the burden of showing that only a blessing and not a curse was possible.  Be true to your great trust.  His closing words were in recognition of the blessings sure to rest upon the venerable giver whose last days have been so near heaven as to catch the beams of holy light.

* * * * *

Sketch of Mr. Hand’s life.

Daniel Hand was born in Madison, Conn., July 16, 1801, and was therefore in the eighty-eighth year of his age when he made his gift for the education of the colored people at the South.  His ancestors have resided in that town for several generations and were always landholders, industrious, quiet and respectable.  To this ancestry Mr. Hand is probably indebted under God for his physical vigor, long life, strength of character and success in business.  He was the