Three months, or one quarter, of our new fiscal year have already passed by. There has been no radical change in the work of the Society other than such retrenchment as it has been thought wise and prudent to make. This is always a hard task, and causes no end of anxiety, perplexity and real "distress to the officers who are charged with carrying it into execution. It is much easier to advance than to retreat, to enlarge than to diminish operations. Retrenchment, however, has its advantages, and periods of financial distress are often periods of real advancement.

Our debt at the end of the quarter for money borrowed to pay teachers and missionaries' salaries and current expenses is a little more than $100,000, which, of course, is burdensome and hinderful. Our faith in God is not diminished, nor our confidence that He will care for His own. believe that the work which this Society is doing is God's work, and He will not allow it to suffer. We believe, too, in the fidelity

We firmly

to is very high, and considering all the circumstances of the case, very remarkable. To say that the Negro pastors have much yet to learn, and that there is an urgent necessity for a constant addition to their numbers of well trained men, goes without saying, for the same is true of any body of pastors anywhere.

We rejoice in the evidences of progress which have met us, and are encouraged to still greater efforts in the future in the promotion of the spiritual and intellectual uplift of our Negro brethren. It is doubtful whether the same amount of money which the Home Mission Society has expended in their behalf during the last thirty years has ever at any time in the history of the Christian Church been productive of better and more satisfactory results.

Baptist world it means the union of forces,

The writer has recently had the privilege and pleasure of meeting with representative Negro Baptist pastors in Richmond, Norfolk, Washington and Boston, and he has been profoundly impressed with the indications that everywhere met him of the progress which these brethren are making; evidences of thoughtfulness, seriousness and earnest. ness were abundant. The considerate attention everywhere given to the discussion of grave problems was very gratifying. There is a growing intelligence in the appreciation of the grave responsibilities of leadership devolving upon the colored pastors and an increasing grasp of the essential conditions of rue pastoral success. An experience of more than thirty years in attending ministerial conferences among Baptists east and west warrants the statement that the average intelligence regarding denominational matters exhibited by the Negro conferences referred

in denominational work. Nothing in recent Baptist history has been more encouraging and significant than the union of Northern and Southern Baptists, white and colored, in the stupendous work of promoting the religious and educational welfare of the 1,600,000 Negro Baptists of the South. The result already achieved in North Carolina, where the plan is in full operation, shows how very fruitful it might become if it could be carried out in all of the Southern States. Simply for the lack of money no effort is being made to put the plan into operation in any except the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Alabama, but we earnestly hope that the time is not far distant when it will be effectively operative in every Southern State.

It is very gratifying, also, to be able to state that a plan for the more perfect co-operation between the New England Woman's American Baptist Home M n Society and our own has been adopted, and at an early day will go into operation. This

is the dawn of a brighter day in home missions; let us thank God and take courage. Further particulars of this great event will be given in a subsequent number of the MONTHLY.

Not least in this great movement of cooperation is the plan now being wrought out by the Commission on Systematic Christian Beneficence for a more complete co-operation of the million Northern white Baptists in behalf of missionary work. We have no doubt that as soon as the plans are practically completed they will be accepted substantially by the 1,600,000 Negro Baptists of the South, and we hope that the day is not far distant when the mighty Baptist host of America, 4,000,000 strong, will be found co-operating in practical lines of Christian effort. The exigencies of the times in which we live call for increased efficiency in religious work. Whatever tends to lessen friction, minimize needless expenses, concentrate forces, and to arouse new missionary zeal and enlarged missionary contributions, is greatly to be welcomed.

From June 3d to the 21st a series of very interesting Home Mission meetings was held in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the District Secretaries of these States making the arrangements as to places, the Field Secretary of the Society, together with Dr. H. C. Woods, of Colorado, Rev. W. H. Sloan, of Mexico, and for a part of the time Rev. C. A. Wooddy, of Oregon, being the speakers. Meetings were held at Altoona and Pittsburg, Pa.; Parkersburg and Fairmont, W. Va.; Cincinnati, Dayton, Zanesville, Granville, Newark, Columbus, Springfield, Washington C. H., Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio. Conferences. Conferences were also held with pastors at Cincinnati and Cleveland. Meetings on week days were held in the afternoon and evening, and were generally well attended by interested audiences.

At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of Shaw University, President Meserve was instructed to submit to the Board at its next annual meeting a full re

port upon the subject of bestowing honorary degrees by the University.

We are very glad to observe that the National Council of Education, comprising some of the most distinguished educators in America, at its recent session in Buffalo, appointed a committee to investigate and report at its next annual meeting upon the subject of the education of the Indians and the Negroes. We shall look with great interest for the conclusions of this committee.

GOOD SENSE.

We clip the following very sensible paragraph from a letter in the Christian Banner, written by Rev. C. S. Brown, of North Carolina. We have very serious doubts whether Christian pastors should ever accept such titles as that of Doctor of Divinity, as they seem out of harmony with that idea of equality in the pastoral office which ought to obtain among Baptists. Certainly all honorary titles of any and every description should be given only for merit. Cheap titles, unworthily bestowed, are like counterfeit money, discreditable alike to maker and

user:

"The careless use of titles, such as 'Prof.,' 'D.D.,' 'Ph. D.,' etc., was severely criticised and condemned. These titles have been very carelessly handed out. There are men called professors' who cannot conjugate intelligently the verb 'to be,' and men called

'doctors' who know no more about the great doctrines of salvation than a kindergarten knows about logic. In fact, it is rather a reflection to be addressed by a title, so abused have these honors been. We have heard of men buying the title of 'D.D."

A SURE INVESTMENT.

"It is a matter of congratulation to myself that I have this sure investment, as all my other investments failed in any returns some years ago."

The above statement from one who has been an annuitant of the Home Mission Society for about fifteen years is worthy of careful consideration. It furnishes strong testimony to both the value and security of this form of investment; and when so many busi

ness institutions are passing into the hands of receivers and failing to meet their obligations, it furnishes a powerful argument to those who are looking for a good and safe place to invest their money during their lifetime, with the assurance that it will be devoted to high and noble purposes when they have ceased to need it. If any of our readers desire to obtain further information regarding annuities and the terms offered annuitants by the Society they should write at once to the Corresponding Secretary.

THESE HARD TIMES.

The hard times still continue. It seems to be generally conceded that no such period of financial stringency has been experienced in America as that since the panic of '93 for a period of at least a half century; almost all branches of business of every kind have suffered. During the first six months of the present year eighteen railroad companies, with an aggregate capital of $190,000,000, have passed into the hands of receivers. This one fact shows the seriousness of the financial crisis through which we are passing. We are all fellow sufferers, and few, if any, escape. The interests of society are now so linked together that whatever seriously affects one class affects all. It is only natural that in a time like this that all missionary operations and all church work, so far as it has a financial basis, must be seriously affected. Stagnation in business necessitates stagnation in benevolence. However ardent may be one's missionary spirit, his giving will be proportioned to his income, and if the latter is seriously diminished the former will correspondingly suffer.

In times like these we are all prone to ask ourselves what can we afford to give to missions. Our income is diminished, we feel the pressure of the times, we must economize and retrench; we cannot give to missions what we would like to give, and we are forced to consider seriously how much we shall reduce our ordinary contributions. Should we not rather say, how much can we afford to withhold from missions? All that we have is the Lord's. Our power to get

wealth, to do business of any kind, is His gift. We are only stewards. His cause has a primary claim upon us and ours. We must recognize, also, that even these hard times. come from Him and have a Divine significance, a moral purpose. God is testing His people, trying them as by fire. How will they meet this test? Will they, first of all, see the cause of Christ suffer loss, or will they by a special effort of self-sacrifice, if need be, maintain His cause by increasing rather than by diminishing their gifts? Times of trial are times of opportunity.

As we survey the operations of the Home Mission Society during the past three years we have reason for special satisfaction in that God has so graciously preserved us from any great disaster and has enabled us to carry on the work with a large degree of efficiency. Indeed it is doubtful whether any three years in the Society's history has been more fruitful in spiritual results than the last three years. It has been a source of special gratification to the officers that the friends of the Society have shown their devotion to it during these hard times and have so strongly rallied to its support. Many of the contributions that come to our treasury now are expressions of genuine selfsacrifice, born of an unquenchable love for Christ's kingdom. Those who have so long contributed to the funds of the Society and have rejoiced with it in the days of prosperity have been unwilling to see its work languish and have been constrained to special exertion in its behalf.

One of the most gratifying features connected with the situation is the heroism of the workers on its vast field. They endure Some of them

hardship as good soldiers. not only do without life's luxuries, but go without what are ordinarily looked upon as its necessities. Missionaries and their families actually suffer for the lack of food and clothing. Some are unable to procure the medicines and medical care necessary to preserve health and prolong life. Yet we hear no complaints but rather expressions of willingness to suffer, if need be, for the sake of the Master and His cause.

Another noteworthy feature is the spirit of self-helpfulness that is springing up in many of the churches. Knowing the stringency of the times and the burden of debt under which the Home Mission Society rests, many feeble churches that in ordinary circumstances would feel entirely at liberty to appeal to us for help are now shouldering their own burdens, and asking either for no aid or for the least possible amount necessary to maintain stated services.

An exceedingly encouraging fact is the increasing spirit of independence manifesting itself among the colored people in carrying forward their educational work. A knowledge of what is being done by these people in behalf of the education of their children would of itself be ample demonstration of the wisdom of what has been done for them by their friends since the war in aiding them to establish and maintain institutions of learning.

One of the sad features of the situation, full of pathos, one that appeals with very eloquent persuasiveness to our sympathies, is the inevitable loss that necessarily results from the inability of the Society to lend a hand in cases where the withholding of aid means the closing of church doors and the withholding from hungry multitudes the Bread of Life.

Since the organization of the Society its work has steadily grown in extent and complexity and usefulness. Year by year it has entered new fields, undertaken new tasks, established new missions, and has rejoiced in this increasing opportunity for effective service. There is the same call to-day that there has ever been for advancement and enlargement. The cry of religious destitution comes to us from many a Macedonian field, to which we can give no encouraging response. The Society is ready to advance, eager to advance, and is only waiting orders.

While we do not expect any immediate change in the situation, none probably until after the Presidential election has determined the financial policy of the Government, we have full confidence in the good

sense of the American people, in the wisdom of our statesmen, in the sagacity of our financial leaders, and we believe that the revival of business for which we have so long waited is certain to come, and that at no distant day; when it comes it will bring with it renewed hopefulness and aggressiveness in religious work as well as in industrial enterprises.

The AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY, like a great sea-going vessel, heavily freighted with cargo and passengers, temporarily stranded on the bar, only waits the incoming tide that shall lift it once again on to the bosom of the ocean, when it will speed on its way to its destined haven.

A DISTINCTION WORTH NOTING.

Will our correspondents please observe that there are in this city two Home Mission Societies with headquarters near together, and that mail intended for one frequently goes to the other for the lack of specific address. The Presbyterian Home Mission Society has its headquarters at 156 Fifth Avenue, corner of 20th Street. The AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY has its headquarters at 111 Fifth Avenue, corner of 18th Street.

The Presbyterian Home Mission Monthly is published by the Presbyterian Society and the BAPTIST HOME MISSION MONTHLY is published by our Society. All remittances, communications, letters and exchanges designed for the Baptist Home Mission work, or the BAPTIST HOME MISSION MONTHLY, should be carefully addressed to The American BAPTIST Home Mission Society, III Fifth Avenue, New York City. By observing this simple direction mistakes and delay and possible loss of communications will be avoided.

FORM OF A BEQUEST TO THE SOCIETY,

"I give and bequeath to the American Baptist Home Mission Society, formed in New York in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-two, the sum of for the general purposes of said Society."