Benevolence appears to have taken a little will be practicable to erect the wing of a vacation the past summer. If you adopt the weekly offering system of giving, be sure that it includes the work of Home Missions. The gifts of the many who can do but little, and the gifts of the few who can do much, are greatly needed. The Society has sowed liberally in Texas. It is gratifying therefore to get benevolent returns in a gift of $3,000 from a lady in Texas for the Society's work. The prospects were never better for a large attendance at the school for the colored people in the South. Arrangements are progressing for the special meeting of the Society in the South this fall or early in the winter. Particulars will be given in the next issue. building to which additions may be made. hereafter. About $9,000 are required for the completion of the wing and the central portion of the building, which will be three stories in height including the basement, which will be chiefly above the surface except at the front where the grade will be raised. Work on the building will be discontinued when funds for this purpose shall be exhausted. It is hoped that several thousand dollars more may be contributed for the work. Numerous applications from our missionaries, for boxes of supplies for their families, have been received, and already many of these have been sent to the good women of the churches who are desirous of helping in this manner. It is extremely desirable that boxes should be filled and forwarded before December; otherwise it will be necessary for unsupplied families to purchase if they are able to do so, or, if unable, to go without until relief comes. As line upon line seems necessary, we again say: Don't send any The Board has decided to erect a new soiled, patched or ragged goods-for the fambuilding at Spelman Seminary in place of ilies of these good men are not mendicants, Union Hall, recently burned. With the in- but thoroughly self-respecting, and deserving surance of $3,500 and pledges of $2,500 it of the best that can be sent them. The Executive Board of the Society appointed a fraternal delegation of five to attend the meetings of the American National Baptist Convention at Mobile, Ala., in August. Two of the delegation were unable to attend. President Chas. Ayer, of Jackson College, Prof. W. E. Holmes, of the Atlanta Baptist Seminary, and Rev. D. M. Pierce, of Darlington, S. C., attended, represented the Society, and were received, as Brother Pierce says: "with intense interest and cordiality. In fact the work of the American Baptist Home Mission Society was the theme of the Convention." The Convention will meet after this year at the same place with the Foreign Mission Convention, whose meeting this year will be in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is gratifying to observe the heartiness with which our colored brethren of the Southern States, in their Conventions respond to the suggestion to make special contributions to the general work of the Society. In several instances a day has been set when all the churches of the State are to be asked to make their offerings for the Society's work The feeling of many is well expressed by Rev. R. T. Pollard, Secretary of the Alabama Convention, who says: "I think I can safely say that the colored Baptists of Alabama are grateful to the Home Mission Society for what is being done by the Society for their benefit; and they are realizing more and more that the Society's work is their work." This is as it should be. Let all fall into line to take our Continent for Christ. Rev. J. F. Baker, pastor of the Baptist Church at Spokane Falls, W. T., died of typhoid fever, August 9, aged thirty-four years. He was the son of Rev. J. C. Baker, for several years superintendent of missions on the Pacific Coast. After completing his studies at Morgan Park Theological Seminary, he accepted an appointment by the Society to labor at Spokane Falls, where, by his ability and devotion to his work, he built up a good church and congregation and gained the -Rev. J. L. A. Fish has arranged for an early return to Live Oak, Fla., invigorated by his summering at Granville, N. Y. The health of Mrs. Fish has become somewhat impaired, we regret to say, by overwork and climatic influences, but it is hoped that restoration will soon follow a course of treatment at Clifton Springs. -Rev. A. Owen, D.D., who for more than a year has been a resident of Nashville, Tenn., has consented to take the Presidency of Roger Williams University the ensuing year. Dr. Owen was for several years the honored President of Denison University, in Ohio. His ability and wisdom give promise of excellent things for Roger Williams University under his administration. -Rev. E. C. Mitchell, D.D., takes the Presi dency of Leland University, New Orleans, La. Dr. Mitchell's experience in educational matters specially adapts him to this important position in the great city of the South. Dr. Mitchell's connection with Roger Williams University about two years ago, as acting president, has given him not only an acquaintance with the work but a deep sense of its great importance. The institution is self-supporting, having an endowment fund of $95,000, in addition to its resources from tuition fees and incidentals. We hope the day may not be remote when a firstrate medical department shall be added to the institution. -The health of Rev. Dr. Marston, of St. Louis, appears to be somewhat improved. He has gone to Eureka Springs, Ark., to try the efficacy of those medicinal waters. Many will pray for his full recovery to health and usefulness. -Rev. W. J. Simmons, D.D., has planned for eighteen meetings at the most important points in the South, between September 19th and October 8th, in the interests of the Society. DONE. It is done! The $15,000 asked for our Chinese Mission headquarters in San Francisco is secured in good pledges, several thousand dollars already having been paid in. In May, the MONTHLY said: "The Chinese next." In June the hope was expressed that the whole amount required would be secured by October 1st. It was done by September 1st. ENORMOUS IMMIGRATION. For the year ending June 30th, 1887, 483,116 immigrants arrived in this country, exclusive of those from Canada and Mexico. Estimates based on previous returns give 84,000 as the number from these last-named countries, making a total of about 567,000. The great discontent and poverty of the people in many European countries are the causes of this large immigration. The papers recently chronicled the arrival of about 2,000 in one day at Castle Garden alone. Large numbers of Italians are coming. We remember when the Italian with his handorgan and monkey was a novelty; now thousands of this people throng our cities and are engaged on our public works. It is probable that the present year will see the largest immigration since 1883, when the number reached 788,000. Not a few look with concern, if not with A liberal and unexpected contribution alarm, upon this large foreign element infrom a sister in Texas, the latter part of July, creasing so rapidly among us; and already in made up the balance required to meet the political circles the question of imposing reconditions of Mr.Rockefeller's gift for this pur-strictions upon immigration is being agitated. pose by September 1st. Was not this a signifi- So potent is the foreign element in politics. cant indication of Providence that the work that such restrictions are the barest possibilshould be done? Nor do we forget the Sanity, especially after our gates have swung Francisco Baptists, whose contributions for wide open to the world so long. this purpose will probably reach $1,500, one brother alone giving $500. The names of donors will appear in the MONTHLY in due time. We hope in our next issue to announce that the site has been procured. Hearty thanks are tendered to all the generous friends who have responded to this appeal in the midst of the torrid summer months. We thank God that henceforth we shall have suitable and creditable accommodations for our Chinese work in San Francisco. P. S. A telegram from Dr. Hartwell, just as the MONTHLY goes to press, states that a desirable site has been purchased on the corner of Sacramento Street and Waverly Place, at a cost of $10,000. Every cent of the $5,000 additional will be needed for the reconstruction of the building. The moral and religious aspect of the matter is what most concerns us. The urgent necessity of greater efforts for the evangelization of these peoples must be apparent. American Baptists are sending money to evangelize Italy, and it is well. But not a thing is being done by us for the evangelization of these tens of thousands from Italy among us. Not half enough is being done among the Scandinavians; not enough among the Germans, the French, and others. Why is not more done? The simple answer is: Because of lack of means to send the men into this harvest field. Neglect of this field, in which Catholic, infidel, and anarchist influences are busy, will bring its terrible penalties, sooner or later, close to the homes and the business interests of our land. It will be cheaper |