THE MISSIONARY HERALD. OUR FUNDS. A DEFICIENCY OF SEVEN OR EIGHT THOUSAND POUNDS IS ANTICIPATED IN THE INCOME OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE PRESENT YEAR. At the annual audit, in March, 1863, a balance of £1,176 10s. 5d. was found to be due to the Treasurer. As the year began with a surplus of £3,707 14s. 7d., the excess of expenditure over income had been nearly five thousand pounds. Unless, therefore, some immediate and vigorous measures are taken to increase the income above that of 1863, the present year must close with a very large and oppressive debt. This deficiency may partly be traced to the influence of the late Cotton Famine, which straitened the means of many wonted liberal supporters, and diverted into other channels the contributions that otherwise might have been devoted to missionary extension; but partly, also, to a large diminution of receipts under the heads of Donations and Legacies, amounting last year to £3,252. Christian societies and churches on the Continent also made earnest appeals to the liberality of our friends, owing to the falling off of their usual receipts from America. The present difficulty is further increased by the extension given of late years to the Society's operations. Encouraged by the enlargement of the funds placed at their disposal during the five previous years-the income rising from £22,943 15s. 10d. in 1858, to £33,151 4s. 10d. in 1862-the Committee from year to year added to the number of their missionaries and native agents. In 1858 there were forty-eight missionaries employed; now, there are sixty-three, with a staff of two hundred and eight native preachers and ninety-six schoolmasters. The quelling of the Mutiny in India opened new fields of missionary enterprise, and gave intense urgency to the claims of that land of idols on British Christians. Ceylon, Africa, Hayti, and Brittany, demanded more labourers. The remarkable events which burst through the barriers that for ages had excluded the Gospel from China, gave fresh force to the appeal for help so often made without avail to our churches. These appeals were felt to be irresistible, and a new mission was begun amongst the thirty millions of people in the province of Shantung. Now, unless the income of the Society can be raised to that enjoyed in 1862, many of the missionaries sent forth in answer to these providential openings must be withdrawn. The Committee dare not take upon themselves the responsibility of doing this, without first solemnly appealing to the friends of the Society If this be withheld, there is no alternative. Promising fields of VOL. VII., NEW SERIES. for aid. 60 |