We turn from the past to the future.  The work attempted and done is great, the work unattempted and not done is far greater.  Should every church and individual in the land double last year’s contribution this year, we would be compelled still to leave greatly needed work undone.  In view of boundless opportunities, we can ask no less of the churches than that which the recent National Council at Worcester recommended—­five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the work of the coming year.  Brethren, with more prayer, more consecration and more self-denial let us take up together this vast work and these difficult problems which God has set before us.

THE CHINESE.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

BY REV.  WM. C. POND, D.D.

Our fiscal year ended August 31st.  To a stranger looking on as I close its accounts, there might be nothing visible but an array of figures “dry as dust.”  But if that on-looker could count the heart-beats, as I draw near to making up the balance, could watch the rising tide of feeling, could hear the out-burst of thanksgiving sounding through the chambers of the soul, and now and again breaking the silence of my study with the cry:—­“What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits,” he would realise that there was something in those figures not so very dry. All bills paid, and even a balance much larger than usual left to help out the too scant resources of the new year!  I find myself saying again and again:  “How can this be?” It looked so dark four months ago; it looks so bright to-day.  God has answered prayer, has been true to his promise, has changed to blessing the stress that we were under by placing thus upon our work the seal of his own and his people’s approbation.

Sixteen missions have been in operation during the year, all but three of them for the entire twelve months.  Thirty-five workers have been employed, ten of whom have been Chinese brethren.  The months of labor aggregate 354.

The total number who have been enrolled as pupils in our schools is 1,380.  This is larger by 249 than the enrollment of the previous year, and by 336 than that of the year before.  The average membership month by month was in the aggregate, 523; the average attendance, 319.  These numbers are also in excess of the corresponding ones in several previous years.  Among these members of our schools there are 211 that profess to have ceased from idolatry, and 150 who are believed to be true disciples of Christ.  I cannot now state the exact number who have professed conversion during the year, but I believe it to be about forty.  If so, the total number who have declared themselves to be Christians and have been accepted as such by our brethren, is more than 750.

The expenditures have been $11,019, of which more than 1,600 came from the Chinese themselves, while their offerings for mission work in China and expenses met in connection with Christian work in California would show a giving on their part of at least $2,500 during the year.