The only problematical element in this matter is the measure of our faith in God and man and all-prevailing truth.  Wherever the ground has been broken by faithful men there is a crop to show as returns for invested toil.  More than a thousand children are now under Christian instruction in our schools.  Our pupils are in hungry demand as teachers, even to a minimum of years that to us would seem absurd (15 and 16 years).  Over twenty churches are holding up a reasonable religion, as a life rather than merely a profession.  New fields plead for mission work.  Our already planted churches and schools are stimulating other denominations to redoubled diligence in church planting.  Courage is in the tone and look of our frontier workers.  The officers of this Association feel in an aggressive mood.  The question resolves itself into one of faith and contributions.  What, my brethren, shall be our answer?

* * * * *

REPORT ON INDIAN WORK.

BY REV.  ADDISON F. FOSTER, D.D., CHAIRMAN.

The committee on the work of the American Missionary Association among the Indians respectfully report that they gratefully recognize the good hand of God in the work already done.

Since the American Missionary Association took the work, the expenditures have increased from $11,000 to $52,000, the out-stations for direct evangelistic effort from seven to twenty-one, and the churches from two to six.  This last year, the Association has established three new out-stations:  the Moody station among the Mandans, fifty miles north of Fort Berthold; the Moody Station No. 2 among the Gros Ventres, twenty-five miles north of Fort Berthold; the Sankey Station among the Dakotas at Cherry Creek.  It has just put up a mission house, with a room for church worship, at Rosebud Agency.  It has organized anew church at Bazille Creek, some distance out from Santee; a branch church at Cherry Creek, on the Sioux Reservation, and is just forming a church at Standing Rock, for which a building is now completed.

This record is certainly gratifying and shows that the Association appreciates the emergency, and is striving to meet it, so far as the means put in its hands allow.  But your committee feel also that never before was there so great an opportunity as now brought before the Christians of this land, and especially our own denomination, for work among the Indians.

The relations of the Government and of the churches in Indian work are now unusually harmonious and kindly.  The present Administration is thoroughly in sympathy with missionary operations, and will do nothing to impair their efficiency.  We believe it to be sincerely actuated by a desire to promote the best welfare of the Indians, and ready to co-operate with all good people in efforts in this direction.  It aims to educate every Indian child.  We desire to see this done, and believe that when the Government assumes, as it should, the primary education of all Indians of school age, we shall be called on to turn our efforts to a much larger work for direct evangelization.