But the crowning mercy of the year came at our Annual Meeting, when we were able to announce the gift of over a million of dollars from that generous friend of the poor Negro, Mr. Daniel Hand.  It is a wonderful gift, and comes in a good way.  The income only can be used, and that will do just so much more for the Negro, and will not be applied to work now in progress.  We are tempted to fear that our patrons will diminish their gifts because Mr. Hand has been so liberal.  But we will have faith in God, who has entrusted us with this great work, and we will enter upon our new year with the full confidence that every friend of the Association who appreciates our responsibilities to Christ and the Nation, will decide that his gifts to us shall be increased and not diminished in this year of grace 1889.

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Financial.

Emphasis is added to the closing words of the preceding article by the report of our Treasurer for the first two months of our fiscal year, October and November.  The receipts for those two months were, from donations, $31,261.99; from estates, $3,961.29; from income, $1,822.72, making a total for current work of $37,046.  The Association needs $62,500 for these two months.  Let us remind our patrons that Mr. Hand’s gift will do its own work and not theirs.  We think they will feel that it is only honorable to let Mr. Hand’s benefaction add so much new work, and that it should not be used simply to relieve others.  The great, pressing, and stupendous work which rests upon this Association as the representative of the churches, must not stand still.  Patriots and statesmen are becoming alarmed at the Southern situation, and while they will do what they can to meet the emergency, we believe that the grand solution of the problem is in the Christian enlightenment and the industrial progress of the Negro.  May God grant that the Christians of this land may not fail to see their special responsibilities and to meet them in the spirit of Christian liberality and self-sacrifice.

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Large Gifts of the Wealthy.

It is refreshing to find in this grasping, selfish and money-making world that there are wealthy men who amass fortunes and use them for noble purposes.  It is said that growing wealth only tightens the grip on the money and hardens the heart against the calls of benevolence.  But the examples are accumulating that give shining evidence that there are noble exceptions.  Mr. Hand has added his name to the number.  He knows the needs of the colored people, and he devotes a vast fortune to their benefit.  But Mr. Hand has not exhausted the opportunities, even in the range of the work of this Association, for blessing needy races of men, or of aiding in the varied forms of effort for the colored people.  The mountain regions of the South present an unique and promising field of effort.  The inhabitants are a noble people,