LIGHT AHEAD-A CALL-FACTS AND FIGURES. "A TOUCH of nature makes the whole world kin." Armenia was practically unknown to us till the story of her woes stirred the heart of the whole world and made the dwellers in all her mountains and valleys our brethren. India was but a part of the great British Empire to our general thinking, but when the famine and plague in that far-away land were brought home to us there was no rest till our pent-up feelings had freighted vessels with corn, and the telegraph had carried our compassion and our money. To Christian hearts the appeal of the world in its needs and darkness is a ceaseless cry, and to the church the field is the world. We, therefore, make no apology for showing you how easily, if all will bear a part, we can do the work that in the providence of God has been already allotted to us in the foreign field. Light Ahead. In 1881 Congregationalists had 3,855 churches and 385,685 members; in 1897 these churches had increased to 5,614 and the membership was 625,864-the churches increasing by nearly one-half; the membership by nearly two-thirds. This is light ahead, for we have only to be as interested in foreign missions in 1898 as in 1881, and the contributions would be over one million dollars. That we are profoundly stirred, and that by the Spirit of God, the Woman's Mission work and the Student Volunteer movement plainly show. The Lord of the mission field is ahead. He ever goeth before. Ask of him, ask of the people. The churches and congregations need only to know the field, the work, and the workers, and there will be no lack. The field now beckons to us by the hands of 543 missionaries A Call. as against 430 in 1881. We hear today the call of 2,956 native pastors, teachers, and Christian assistants; in 1881 there were but 1,717 to cry aloud. The native churches numbered then 272, with 18,446 members; in 1897 there were 470, with 44,606 communicants, while the 733 out-stations had increased to 1,126, and the 33,350 pupils in mission schools to 54,615. What hath God wrought? And yet in 1897 we gave for this greatly enlarged work $50,000 less than in 1881. Surely the people do not know, or this would not be, for we are 600,000 strong today. We surely can give more than six times the amount raised on the field itself ich last year was $113,039. We gave out of our abundance $642,781. Can we not now raise at least $100,000 more by Special efforts, and then keep to that level and so save the work now started? And let all the people say Amen. Offers to Pastors and Others. We will mail you any number of copies of this Missionary Herald Extra that can be used in your church, and also any number of booklets, containing news from ers in the fields. er them in your churches this year. ASTOR, LENOX AND Published by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE, I SOMERSET STREET Subscription, $1.00. PRESS OF SAMUEL USHER, BOSTON, MASS. Address CHARLES E. SWETT, No. 1 Somerset Street, Ros [Entered at the Postoffice at Boston, Mass., as second-class matter.] of Commissioners for Foreign House, No. 1 Somerset Street, President.-CHARLES M. LAMSON, D.D. Vice-President.-D. WILLIS JAMES, Esq. Treasurer. - FRANK H. WIGGIN, Esq. Editorial Secretary.-E. E. STRONG, D.D. D.D., CHARLES II. DANIELS, D.D., JAMES L. Publishing and Purchasing Agent.-CHARLES E. SWETT, Esq. Prudential Committee. - The President and Vice-President ex officio. EDWIN B. WEBB, D.D., CHARLES C. BURR, Esq., ALBERT H. PLUMB, D.D., HON. WILLIAM REV. WILLIAM W. JORDAN, ELIJAH HORR, D.D., CHARLES A. HOPKINS, Esq., WILLIAM G. HENRY WHITCOMB, Esq., JAMES G. Vose, D.D., HON. SAMUEL C. DARLING, HON. District Secretary for New York, the Middle and South Atlantic States, Connecticut, and Ohio. — District Secretary for the States of the Interior. — REV. A. N. HITCHCOCK, PH.D., No. 153 La Salle Street, Chicago, Ill. Agent on the Pacific Coast. Rev. Walter FREAR, Y. M. C. A. Building, Room 6, San Francisco, Cal. MRS. ELIZA H. WALKER, Auburndale, Mass., or, MRS. SARAH C. LITTLE, Oberlin, Ohio, may be addressed in reference to the care of Missionary children. Woman's Boards of Missions. W. B. M., Boston. MISS ABBIE B. CHILD, Secretary; MISS S. LOUISE DAY, Treasurer. No, I Congregational House, Beacon Street, Boston. W. B. M. of the Interior.- MISS M. D. WINGATE, No. 59 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Secretary. MRS. J. B. LEAKE, No. 59 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Treasurer. W. B. M. for the Pacific.- MRS. W. J. WILCOX, Secretary, 461 East 14th Street, Oakland, Cal. MISS BESSIE B. MERRIAM, Treasurer, 1418 Franklin Street, Oakland, Cal. Legacies. In making devises and legacies, the entire corporate name of the particular Board which the testator has in mind should be used, as follows: "The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, incorporated in Massachusetts in 1812." "The Woman's Board of Missions, incorporated in Massachusetts in 1869." "The Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior, incorporated in Illinois in 1873." Honorary Members. The payment of $50 at one time constitutes a minister, and the payment of $100 at one time constitutes any other person, an Honorary Member of the Board. Publications. THE MISSIONARY HERALD, published monthly at $1.00 per year. Pamphlet sketches of the several Missions of the Board, 35 cents for the set. "Concert Exercises " and leaflets for free distribution may be obtained at the Mission Rooms. THE MISSION DAYSPRING, for children, published monthly by the American Board and the Woman's Boards of Missions, at $3.00 for 25 copies; $1.50 for ten copies; single copies, 20 cents. THE AMERICAN BOARD ALMANAC, annually. Price, 10 cents; $6.00 per hundred. WALL MAPS, including Map of the World. Set of seven. Price on cloth, $10.00; on paper, $6.00. For Publications, address CHARLES E. SWETT, No. 1 Somerset Street, Boston. A MAGNIFICENT NEW ILLUMINATED BIBLE has just been completed at the famous Riverside Press, Cambridge- a genuine high art production. The text conforms to the authorized Oxford edition, and every proper name is accented and self-pronounced. There are copious marginal references, and a complete Concordance. The type is of a peculiarly clear, round face, quite as legible as that of the large Family Bible. But the crowning glory of this beautiful new edition is its Eight Hundred Superb Scriptural Engravings and its wonderful allegorical plates in brilliant colors which make it the most desirable edition of the HOLY BIBLE ever produced in any country or in any language. These marvelously faithful descriptive illustrations will prove a genuine revelation to Bible readers who have grown accustomed to the convention al and too often misleading Biblical pic tures hitherto in use. Every one of the 800 beautiful pictures is an eloquent sermon on the everlasting truth of Holy Writ. Events that have been imperfectly comprehended become invested with the charm of living reality; and places that have seemed far off are made familiar, as though we ourselves had trod the hills and valleys of Canaan with the prophets and disciples of old. It may be truthfully said that this really superb edition of the Book of Books has an important mission to perform, in illuminating and vivifying the Bible narrative and giving it, as perhaps never before, a present, living, human interest. READ THIS ASTONISHING PROPOSITION ! It is the only really illustrated Bible that has complete Marginal References and a full Concordance. It has larger type than any other Teacher's Bible. The publishers believe that it will be universally accepted as the most desirable edition for all purposes; and, as a means of speedy introduction to the millions of Bible readers, they have concluded an arrangement with us whereby we are able to supply all new subscribers to the MISSIONARY HERALD whose subscriptions reach us before this special offer is withdrawn, with a limited number of the elegant first edition At Less Than One Third Regular Prices. The regular prices of this superb Bible range from $10.00 to $15.00, which prices will prevail Immediately at the close of this preliminary distribution. Instant application will secure one of the magnificent premiums offered below; but the delay of a day may prevent participation in this unparalleled opportunity. Therefore act promptly. SPECIAL CONDITIONS. All orders must be accompanied by cash in full, and complete shipping directions. Transportation charges are to be paid by purchaser. Books are guaranteed to be exactly as represented, or money refunded upon their return. No description can do justice to this superb production, therefore a book of sample pages will be sent absolutely free to all applicants. OFFER No. 1. The Illuminated Bible, Style 1 Bound in fine cloth (regular price $10.00) and the MISSIONARY HERALD, $3.75 one year Or, This Bible Alone, $2.75. OFFER No. 2. The Illuminated Bible, Style 2 one year... $4.25 Or, This Bible Alone, $3.25. $4.75 Or, This Bible Alone, $3.75. SEND FOR SAMPLE PAGES TO-DAY, and address all communications to CHARLES E. SWETT, Publishing Agent Missionary Herald, I SOMERSET STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Almanac for 1898 NOW READY. Illustrated Cyclopædia-in miniature-of Missions. Both an Almanac ... AND... A MISSIONARY HANDBOOK. Attractive Illustrations. Notes regarding each country where the Board has missions. Foreign Missionary Societies in United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland. Stations and Postoffice Addresses of the Missionaries of the American Board. Pronunciation of the Names of Mission Stations. DR. MCLEAN of Cincinnati, Secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society, writes of it: "It is one of the necessaries of life. It is one of the most valuable publications of the year." The Advance says of it: "Every Congregationalist ought to have it at hand. There are many sermons for missions between the covers." The Church at Home and Abroad calls it "An authority recognized by all denominational Boards of Missions." Will you not aid in the wide circulation of this beautiful, helpful, yet cheap missionary handbook? Price only ten cents, postpaid, or $1.00 per dozen. Young people, especially the Missionary Committees of Christian Endeavor Societies, can do a good work for the cause by canvassing for this Almanac. To those who wish to distribute the Almanac, or to canvass a parish having it for sale, it will be sold at the Rooms, No. 1 Somerset Street, Boston, or at the office of the Board in New York, 121 Bible House, and Chicago, 153 La Salle Street, or delivered to any express in packages of not less than fifty, at the rate of $5.00 per hundred. If sent by mail, postage at the rate of $1.00 per hundred copies must be added. Address CHARLES E. SWETT, Congregational House, Boston. |