REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NON-SECTARIAN EDUCATION, REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RETIRING ALLOWANCES Report of Treasurer of the Church Building Loan Fund, Property of Church Building Loan Fund. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 1901-1902 President Rev. SAMUEL A. ELIOT, D.D., of Cambridge, Mass. Vice-Presidents Hon. JOSEPH W. SYMONDS, LL.D., of Portland, Me. Hon. WILLARD BARTLETT, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Hon. GEORGE E. ADAMS, of Chicago, Ill. Hon. HORACE DAVIS, LL.D., of San Francisco, Cal. Secretary Rev. CHARLES E. ST. JOHN, of Brookline, Mass. Assistant Secretary GEORGE W. Fox, Esq., of Boston, Mass. Treasurer FRANCIS H. LINCOLN, Esq., of Hingham, Mass. FINANCE.-Messrs. Lincoln, Little, Hutchinson, Cruft, and Ware. PACIFIC.- Messrs. Cruft, Irish, Ware, Mrs. Wells, and Mrs. Hackley. EXECUTIVE. Messrs. Lincoln, Hutchinson, Boyden, Clifford, and Mrs. Morton. ADDRESS OF REV. SAMUEL A. ELIOT, D.D. PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION IT is good that we can come to this annual gathering with a record of fruitful work behind us. It is good to know that materially and spiritually our little fellowship is reasonably healthy, that its prophetic impulse is as strong as ever, and that its horizon of expectation broadens with advancing years. We come to enjoy friendship, to vivify will, to inspire courage, and to rejoice together that the way before us still contains difficulties to be overcome and problems to be solved and duties to be done in the cause of pure religion and of public virtue. This Association is the organized, visible, tangible, audible body which chiefly represents the movement in the Christian Church which we inherit and would transmit. It is an institution having an honorable pedigree and prophetic tasks to perform. There can be, there ought to be, no indefiniteness, no uncertainty, about our special mission and its vital importance. Whatever of such indefiniteness there may have been in the life and work of our fellowship in other days, we have all, or almost all, of us come to the conclusion that, if we are to accomplish anything useful and permanent in this world, we must have an organized life, an efficient ministry, a sense of fellowship, and a great variety of means and agencies and instruments with which to accomplish the purposes we have at heart. And, when we come to this annual gathering, we must talk about |