These facts present the double responsibility which the A.M.A. sustains to its constituency in this vast and complex missionary work.  None of these facts are exceptional in character.  The Association must so present its work to the churches as to “constrain” them to give; drag them by the chains of Christian duty to give; those who can of their abundance abundantly; those who must of their penury, with this tremendous self-sacrifice.

An old colored preacher in Georgia, in my hearing, preached on “Pasteboard Christians.”  He said:  “Brethren, did you neber see a pasteboard box?  It’s mighty nice; maybe all covered with gilt paper; looks right stiff and stout, but you just set it out in the rain and see it when it goes ‘pooh,’ and am all omnatiously busted.  It am jest so with some Christians.  They comes to meetin’ with good clothes on; they looks drefful fine!  But you just pass the contribution box ’round, da goes ‘pooh!’ and dar ain’t nothin’ left of ’em.”  It has not been my experience that there are many pasteboard Christians in the district of New England.  Systematic giving, giving constantly, giving because the safety of our country requires it, and the kingdom of Christ demands it; this is the sort of giving which I have found to be the rule.

But there must be systematic spending as truly as systematic giving.  The gifts of the churches must be husbanded, and the churches must be warned from time to time against wasteful and unwise efforts, by which others are seeking to do the work, which is being done systematically through your agent, the American Missionary Association.

My personal experience as Field Superintendent, has pressed upon me the imperative importance of this side of the responsibility which this Association holds to the churches.  One must pass back and forth often, and become personally familiar with this great field, before he can understand the importance of the systematic spending of this Association.  Wrecks of schools and churches are not few in the Southland.  Godly men and women and godless adventurers have experimented in many places.  Money has been and is being wasted, that might be used to great and permanent advantage if contributed through the A.M.A. and disbursed according to the principles which long experience has proved to be sound.

It is the purpose of this paper to emphasize some of the facts concerning this great missionary field, and to point out the advantages of systematic spending, which you secure when you commit your funds to this society rather than to the hap-hazard efforts which you have no power to supervise and no control over.

An organized society controlled and directed by those who contribute is the surest possible way of securing this systematic spending.  This method has both negative and positive advantages: 

I. It prevents waste.