other denomination through the country, one of whom left its people in worse condition than he found them, as he proved faithless to his calling. The people here are desperately wicked and full of infidelity. Now I think if a preacher would come here he could build up quite a church in a few years. This is a healthy climate, though both country and people are rough. If a man could be found to undertake such a field as this, I would be pleased to have him come.

INMAN, NEBRASKA.

NEW CONVERTS AND NEW CHURCHES.

REV. JOHN C. SYLVANUS.

I have been quite busy throughout the past quarter holding protracted meetings at different places, and the Lord has blessed abundantly the efforts put forth in his name.

The results of one series of meetings was the organization of a church of twenty members, called Bethany, which is about nine miles from South Fork church. In another neighborhood, about nine miles from Bethany and the same from South Fork church, I held a three weeks' meeting where there had been no previous preaching of any denomination. The result will be the organization of both a Methodist Episcopal and a Presbyterian church in the near future. Twelve persons have already expressed their desire to have a Presbyterian church organized, and I think several others will come in. Both of these places are important points. I also held three or four days' meetings at a large frame school-house, where the people are very anxious to have regular preaching. There are large congregations always there, and much good might be accomplished.

Several persons have united with our South Fork church since I wrote you last. The work is very encouraging indeed there. They have an excellent Sabbath-school, and are talking of building a church edifice next summer.

I neglected to say I assisted in organizing large Sunday-schools in both places where we organized and will soon organize a church.

Brother Sexton, who was out with me in the South Fork country a short time ago, thinks that field demands my whole time, and probably Presbytery will recommend that I should confine my labors to that part of the country. If so, I will move out there.

BEAVER CITY, NO MAN'S LAND.

ROUGH BUT READY HEARERS.

REV. R. M. OVERSTREET.

I have thought that it would be well to report to you, and through you to the Board of Home Missions, if you so desire to extend the information, that I arrived here last Saturday evening with my family, after a terribly hard week's work, travel and exposure to bad weather; but we all kept well, and stood the racket remarkably well; got fairly set up in our own sod house comfortably before Sabbath.

On Sabbath, the day after our arrival, I preached to a very respectable congregation, improvised on the moment. Many were greatly delighted to have religious service, and still more at the prospect of regular stated meetings. The town and county are rapidly filling up around this place, and so all along the line of the strip. But much is as yet in chaos and disorder. Two outlaws were shot dead a few hours ago, and now lie in one room awaiting interment to-morrow. The lovers of law and order shot them because they persisted in their evil doing. I am to preach at the funeral of these desperadoes to-morrow at ten o'clock. What in the world shall I say to the motley audience? May God help me and direct me what to say and how to say it.

Were I not here as an exponent of the gospel I would regret having my wife and children in such a place. But to be God's witness-bearer and his instrument to mould society in the right way is a great compensation.

SELF-SUPPORTING.

REV. JOSEPH LANMAN.

With this quarter we end another prosperous and happy year: having received a larger number of additions to the church, witnessed a greater increase in church and Sabbath-school attendance, and paid over to our church boards a larger sum total than in any previous year of our brief history as a church. After four years of labor with this church I am now formally called to the pastorate, and, with the new relation as pastor and people, we declare our independence of the Board of Home Missions. I feel profoundly thankful for this double blessing. From the beginning we have been high in the list of churches in our per capita gifts to the boards; but our indebtedness to the Board of Home Missions is greater than to any other, and I

trust that we shall do greater things for it in the future. I wish in the next four years we could pay back into its treasury all that we have received in the past four. This may not be possible; but we will aim high and do all we can, even in these first years of self-support. I am sure that all who have aided us through the Board would rejoice could they see what we have accomplished: the more than 150 received into the church; the 200 in our Sabbath-school; the home and foreign missionary societies; the congregation gathered; the tasteful sanctuary built, and all paid for; and our generous and self-denying offerings to the boards of the church. In behalf of Bethlehem Church, I thank the officers of the Board for their sympathy and kind co-operation in our work. I trust that our example of early self-support and hearty interest in the work of the church, both home and foreign, may be useful.

SHENANDOAH, SCHUYLKILL Co., PA.

REV. D. M. HAZLETT.

I return to you the commission forwarded me. The trustees of the church authorize me to do the same, and to say they had rather make an effort, and be free from obligation to contribute to all the boards.

They think it will be as much to their own honor and the glory of Christ's kingdom to help themselves and not help others, as to ask help from others and then contribute help to others.

JUNEAU, ALASKA.

REV. EUGENE 8. WILLARD.

The work goes on, but to me the progress seems slow, though for the most part our congregations have been large for Juneau.

About the middle of the quarter the Awk people commenced to attend. We had been using the government school-room for our Sunday services, but the school was to occupy another building; whereupon we took our organ and our charts away, and prepared our dining-room, 13 by 20, for our meeting-house, and we pack the people in as we used to in Chilkat. I do not think our prayermeetings are as well attended as they were before we moved, but the day services on Sabbath are. We are very much interested in some of the Awk people, for there are now more of them attending than of the Aakoo.

One old man thanks me nearly every Sunday because, as he puts it, I show him where the rough

places are. He had some trouble in his family. I asked the wife to tell me all about it, and maybe I could help them. The old man spoke up immediately, and said he knew he talked too much, and he was going to try very hard to hold his tongue.

One Saturday I saw the old man coming to tell me that he had to go off to be absent from church two Sabbaths. He was very sorry, but it was necessary. He said he was getting old, and he didn't want to miss any of God's words.

We have a good missionary Indian in our friend Chilkoot Jack. He lives on Douglass Island, and comes over on Sunday, generally bringing several others besides his family. He does a great deal of talking among the people at the quartz mill.

CISCO, TEXAS.

REV. S. G. FISHER.

You

I have been here three months at work. want to know something of the outlook. I have just this to say: I am extensively acquainted with the people here-almost the entire community. I found a Methodist meeting in progress when I arrived. I went immediately and heartily into the meeting with them. It gave me an introduction such as I would not have gained for months, perhaps, under ordinary circumstances.

Our church stands well in the estimation of the people. It is not so large in membership as the other, but has much which makes up for its limited membership. It is weak financially this year. As you know, this country has suffered greatly from drought. Brother Brown has given you full particulars of what we are passing and must pass through. Some of the members have moved away; were not here when I came. But this we find true of any place.

The church is a unit in everything; harmony prevails. Our congregations are good; indeed gratifying. The prayer-meeting not largely attended, but the interest is good, and the Sundayschool is in good condition, taking all things into consideration. We have had one communion service; two united with us; I think others will soon follow.

A church was organized at Roxbury, Mass., a few weeks ago. At the roll call of the names of those who had expressed a desire to become members, one hundred arose. Four elders were elected at the same time.

miles you see the new cabins of the adventurous settler. Many of these settlers are an intelligent class of foreigners, who have purposed to make Florida their home.

b. But not only are there these individual settlements along all these railroads; new towns are being built, which are not designed to be "deserted villages" during the summer months, but places of intense activity and enterprise.

c. The census tells its story of increase. I give you from the census of 1885:

St. Paul Presbytery.

Minneapolis

Mankato

JACKSONVILLE, March 31, 1887. I will now reply to the second topic of your letter of the 23d, drawing upon my own personal knowledge or from such data as I have at hand. Instead of going back six years I will run back only four years, or about the time when I entered upon my present work. Within this time the progress in railroad building has been marvellous.

1. The whole of the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West system has been built-232 miles.

2. Nearly the whole of the Florida Southern system, extending in its main branch to Charlotte harbor from Palatka-195 miles.

3. The South Florida system-206 miles.

4. Florida railway and navigation system-291 miles.

St. Augustine and Palatka-24; making 948 miles; with several small branches, fully 1000 miles, or 250 miles a year.

I may add that there are to-day hundreds of miles of railroads being pushed forward to completion with a tremendous enterprise, and with a determination to complete them for the next season.

II. You ask for evidence that the permanent settlers in the state are on the increase.

a. This is apparent to even the casual observer. Wherever you go you see fresh clearings and signs of development and enterprise. Within every few

Total permanent population in 1880,

Increase for the entire state in five years,

Take the counties of Orange, Marion, Putnam, Polk and Alachua, to which our mission work is chiefly confined, and we find in these, in 1880, a population of 45,568, and in 1885 a population of 77,945, giving an increase of 32,377, or not far from 75 per cent., in five years. Since the census of 1885 was taken the rate of increase has been very largely in advance.

III. Ten large towns are "growing with a people" who are making them their homes, and who have no other home but Florida. It is true we have a large winter population who are merely birds of passage. And we have a large population who, if they have the means, will not remain in Florida during the prolonged summer months, just as you have a large population in the North that will not remain in the cities during the summer months if they can possibly get away. But there is here a large population that will remain.

IV. In this time fully twenty churches have been built, and the money largely raised among the people themselves. This is no time to put on breaks on our general work, if it can be avoided.

MORMONISM AND ADVENTISM RAMPANT IN MICHIGAN. FROM LACK OF PREACHING. WHO WILL LAY IT TO HEART? MORE MEN NEEDED.

REV. J. O. GEORGE.

Everywhere in the country the people are very anxious to have stated services, but it is utterly impossible with only two Presbyterian ministers within a distance of thirty miles. The Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, are making terrible inroads in this section of the country, all because the people are ignorant. They will sooner have that than

no religion at all. Every form of ism takes advantage of the ignorance of these people. We have just six churches in Sand Beach, and shortly another one will be built called Second Advent They mostly have those who have gone the round of all the other churches, and they end up with either Mormonism or Adventism. I am situated here; Brother Craig at Port Austin, thirty miles north; Brother McMaitin at Bad Axe, eighteen miles west and south. I suppose you would have to go to Port Huron before you would come across another Presbyterian minister.

BEAUMONT, PA.

Draft came all right; much obliged. I also wish to thank you for sending my name to the ladies of Short Hills, N. J. They sent us a most generous box of elegant things, largely new, and not an old garment in the lot.

Respectfully,

GEO. G. SMITH.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

L. P. CRAWFORD.

Pasadena is spreading out all over the valley. I should not be at all surprised if I should find myself in harness before the year is out. My old church here, which before my coming drew so heavily on the Board, is growing strong in resources. They have plans for a $20,000 church, and about two-thirds of the amount required to build has been secured. There will be no difficulty experienced in raising the other third.

WESTERN KANSAS.
WHAT A YEAR'S WORK!

We have had occasion, within the last few months, to speak of the growth of population and church work in western Kansas. Rev. J. A. Griffes, of Hoxie, Kansas, writes of his labors the past year:

Total of year's work: Churches of Hoxie and Sheridan organized, with present membership of 44 and 20 respectively; house of worship at Hoxie, built and furnished three Sabbathschools. Outside work, three churches organized in Graham county, and three in Sherman county, besides another completed organization

at Gettysburg, for which I prepared. All this work has required very much travel and exposure and preaching.

Of Presbytery and its work: Eleven churches received at last meeting. Arrangement for organization of about ten or eleven more in Logan, Wallace and Sherman, and yet we cannot keep up with the demands of the westward tide of population. Will the Board sustain us in the necessary enlargement of our work? If so, we will hold solid three fourths of our eighteen counties by rights of pre-emption and due cultiva

tion.

With gratitude for health, strength and success, and now mindful since the death of Dr. Gerrish, falling with his armor on, my co-presbyter twenty-two years ago in Saginaw Presbytery, that I stand next to Brother Batchelder in order of ordination.

JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

REV. E. VANDER HART.

The work is going on quietly but successfully. My time has been largely taken up in looking after the financial matters of the church.

Our present lot costs $4000, and our chapel about $2000. All this money, with the exception of $1000, has been raised. This work has fallen upon

me.

About the 22d of this month we hope to dedicate our building. This will give a new impetus to the work. Our location is the very best in the city, and our chapel is the finest in all the state. You will see an account of it before long.

There is some probability of my leaving here about the middle of April. This church can get along without me now. They are in such a condition that almost any one can take up the work.

The prospects of the church are brightening. With God's blessing it will be a strong organization some day, and repay the Board tenfold for what it is doing for it now.

Letters relating to missionary appointments and other operations of the Board should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretaries, Rev. Henry Kendall, D.D., and Rev. William Irvin, D.D., 280 Broadway, New York, P. O. Box 1938.

Letters relating to the pecuniary affairs of the Board, or containing remittances of money, should be sent to O. D. Eaton, Esq., Treasurer-same address.

MITTEE.

ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN

OMAHA, MAY 24, 1887.

The report was presented by Hon. J. K. Ewing, chairman of the Committee.

The Standing Committee on the Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies respectfully submits the following report:

Your Committee has duly considered the annual report of the Board, has examined its minutes and otherwise informed itself concerning the work. Its scope, extent and importance are interesting and surprising, and broke upon us almost as a revelation. That this, the youngest of your boards, should in so short a time, with limited means, have made such strides, is wonderful and gratifying. Nothing but the blessing of God upon wise, constant and faithful effort could have effected such results. The work has been far-seeing and farreaching, and its influences for good will continuously widen and deepen.

The wisdom of the Assembly in the erection of this Board is amply demonstrated. These institutions are the very foundation stones of of an educated Presbyterian Church and ministry. Next to the home and fireside, and in yet wider spheres, comes the formative power of academies and colleges. If these be godless, we are without hope. Allow the young to seek such and they are possibly lost. But let Christian institutions be established and maintained, and the church will move forward with bright anticipations.

We do not propose to repeat what is so fully and ably set forth in the report of the Board; sincerely hoping and earnestly asking that all read and circulate it. Looking at the map accompanying it, they will see, printed in red, the vantage ground thus early occupied and the strategic points already fortified. The extent of the field will also be seen, and the land yet to be possessed. "Westward the course of empire takes its way," and the church must follow and keep pace with it. Divers considerations must preclude the sending of the youth to distant institutions, and somehow and by somebody academies and colleges will be reared. Shall the church be indifferent to this, her op

not rather grasp all this goodly land for God and for Christ?

As already intimated, your Committee refrains from details, simply stating that the number of institutions aided last year was thirtyfive, whose joint property exceeds $1,000,000 in value, of which about one-half was acquired through the agency of the Board, and the aggregate is growing at the rate of $80,000 per annum. The students number nearly 3000, and are increasing at the rate of thirty per cent. yearly. Three-fourths of them are pursuing systematic Bible study, and more than one-third the classics. We are pleased to state also that the Committee had before it reliable evidence wholly outside of the Board to the following effect. We quote the exact language used, viz.: "It is the testimony of those who are brought in contact with theological students coming to the seminaries from the young and smaller colleges, and in particular from colleges aided by this Board, that these students show a scholarly fitness for theological study in no way inferior to that exhibited by the graduates of older and larger institutions, while they are almost uniformly characterized by a marked faithfulness and a persistent energy in the discharge of their seminary duties which indicate the high estimate they place upon their educational opportunities, make them valuable members of the institutions to which they belong, and afford promise of their great usefulness in the church."

Yet

The contributions of the churches fall very far short of their duty in this great cause. it is gratifying to know that they are steadily increasing. In the first year 480 churches gave less than $14,000; in the second, 1330 gave less than $20,000; in the third, the number of contributing churches rose to 1529, giving $22,711; and in the past year, 1761 churches gave $27,880. And we trust they will rise herein still more rapidly to the measure of their duty and ability. Liberal individual donations have been received in the last as in previous years.

The Board is duly incorporated under the laws of Illinois, its charter being perpetual, and its title "The Presbyterian Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies." It takes steps to secure all moneys donated, through its agency,