No. 990 M\' COME facts about gifts for Missions during the year 1912-1913 By George Gordon King Treasurer treasurer’s Annual Statement October 10th, 1913. Right Reverend Fathers and Gentlemen of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies: In the middle of September word was sent to the Churches that from all sources of income, including using undesignated legacies, sufficient money had been received to meet the net appropriations of the Board for the year, and that no further increase to the deficit had been made, but on the contrary a slight decrease had been achieved. Only five times in the past sixteen years (including this year) has this been the case. The contributions for the past year applying upon the ap¬ propriations of the Board and classified in the usual man¬ ner are: Parishes.$ 645,635.41 Individuals. 85,296.20 Sunday-schools. 175,734.71 Woman’s Auxiliary. 92,477.33 Junior Auxiliary. 19,943.40 Woman’s Auxiliary United Offering . . 85,454.09 Interest. 82,800.71 Miscellaneous sources. 6,161.49 Total.$1,193,503.34 These show an increase of nearly $11,000 over the contri¬ butions of last year, and an increase of $208,453.54 over similar contributions of three years ago. It is good to realize that this year’s receipts also show an increase of $555,303.97 over those of ten years ago, and $835,256.79 over those of twenty years ago, when the offerings were $638,199.37 and $358,246.55 respectively. Each decade has seen its con¬ tribution nearly doubled. We began the year September 1st, 1912, with a deficit of.$ 197,633.12 The net appropriations for the year were 1,333,377.65 Making the sum needed for the year . $1,531,010.77 The contributions have been.$1,193,503.34 The undesignated leg¬ acies were. 140,213.01 Making total receipts. 1,333,716.35 And leaving a deficit on September 1st, 1913, of.$ 197,294.42 which is $338.70 less than the deficit of a year ago. The increase of the net appropriations of the Board have kept about the same ratio as the receipts. For the year ending September 1st, 1893, they were.$ 431,531.86 For the year ending September 1st, 1903, they were. 678,788.66 And this past year they were .... 1,333,377.65 The members of the Board have labored over the prob¬ lems of the appropriations with the greatest conscientious¬ ness and scrutiny. Church people have responded to the call in perfect love and in the most beautiful spirit. And we know the happy result is owing to the earnest prayers of all, and together all render their grateful thanks to Almighty God for His unbounded goodness. It is a blessed privilege to be allowed to make such a re¬ port as is this one. Fifteen dioceses and eighteen missionary districts have completed their apportionments, making thirty- three in all as against thirty-two last year. 2,746 parishes and missions have completed their appor¬ tionments; an increase of 340 over last year, when the num¬ ber was 2,406. 3,120 parishes and missions have contributed but not com¬ pleted their apportionments. And the total number of con¬ tributing parishes and missions is 5,866 as against 5,742 a year ago, an increase of 124. The number of Parishes and Missions that have made no offerings through the Board of Missions is 1,278. Reserve Deposits The Board began the year with $197,633.12 of these deposits in use. Later it was necessary to withdraw as much as $200,000 in addition, so that at one time $397,633.12 were being used to meet the obligations of the Board. With average monthly payments of nearly $120,000 the Board cannot exist without these deposits to fall back on, for the sums are too large to hope of securing the necessary amount in any other way. It is gratifying to know that all of the $200,000 borrowed during the first five months of the year have been returned. The intention of the founders of these funds is that when used they shall be returned before the close of the fiscal year. The list of the deposits is as follows: Reserve for Domestic Missions, from Legacies, etc. Reserve for Foreign Missions, from Legacies, etc. The Ann Eliza Tweddle Deposit, for Domestic and Foreign Missions . . . The “W. M. B.” Fund for Domestic and Foreign Missions. Gift of a Friend in the Diocese of New York. Gift of Mrs. Eleanor A. Goldsborough, deceased, late of All Saints’ Parish, Talbot County, Diocese of Easton . . $ 19,500.00 20,912.50 68,708.31 125,000.00 7,500.00 106,174.43 From the “Bessie Moorhead Thomas Me¬ morial Fund,” given by George C. Thomas, of Philadelphia, Pa. (being the portion of the fund to be used as a reserve).$ 64,303.37 Gift of George C. Thomas, Philadel¬ phia, Pa. 50,000.00 Legacy of Miss Alice Lacy, Albany, New York. 1,500.00 Legacy of Miss Mary Rhinelander King, Great Neck, L. 1. 211,950.00 The Cleveland Keith Fund, for China only 12,189.48 Total.$687,738.09 Central Expenses The gross receipts have amounted to $1,885,995.19. The percentage of Central Expenses upon these gross receipts has been for administration three and one-tenth per cent. (3-1/10%). And for the cost of making the work known and securing offerings five and six-tenths per cent. (5-6/10%). Last year the percentage was three and three- tenths per cent. (3-3/10%) for the first, and six and six- tenths per cent. (6-6/10%) for the second. In other words, this year administration has cost eight and seven- tenths per cent. (8-7/10%) as against nine and nine-tenths per cent. (9-9/10%) last year. The Woman's Auxiliaries The Woman’s Auxiliary and the Junior Auxiliary have made their usual magnificent offerings, and the Church and the Board of Missions are grateful to them beyond measure. The fact that the offerings of the Woman’s Auxiliary this year are a little behind those of a year ago is not significant. This has happened before, when attention was concentrated on the Triennial United Offering. You have heard the amount of yesterday’s offering. The Board has learned to depend very largely on these great offerings, both Annual and Triennial, in support of its work, and it cannot get on without them. The Sunday-schools Again have they outdone themselves. The loyalty of their members to Jesus Christ and His cause is unbounded. Year by year they grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Sunday by Sunday they offer themselves to His Service, and their prayers for the extension of His Kingdom; and their pleadings are answered a thousandfold. The chil¬ dren now number 450,000, and the teachers 50,000. Thirty- five years ago was their first offering, and it was $7,000. This year it was $175,734.71. We can only say, God bless them all, and we pray that He will guide them through life’s journey, and that at the last He will bring them to the path that leads to His throne. Grateful thanks and appreciation cannot be too strongly worded to those laymen in particular who make it their busi¬ ness to stay in their cities during part of July and the whole of August in order to see to it that at least each Parish in their respective Dioceses sends something to the Board of Missions before September 1st. The Church, thank God, has many faithful servants and they justify her existence. We must not forget the individual who, in addition to seeing to it that the parish apportionment is secured, sends directly to the Board an offering that lifts the burden from our shoulders which at times weighs most heavily. Thanks are inadequate, but they know that we understand. It is good to realize that those dioceses that met with such disaster from flood and tornado last winter have together given more for missions than the year before. Five of the six have given more; and one practically the same. A larger number of parishes contributed and a larger number com¬ pleted their apportionments. It is four years now since I have held the office I repre- sent; and this length of service has given me some knowl¬ edge and much experience. There are just two things I want to say, and if in the saying of them one word should bring a pang to a single soul, please believe that I speak only as the result of my profoundest study of these matters. My only prayer and desire, like yours, is to see, by God’s grace, the work of His Church grow to proportions worthy of His Church. Great achievements have been accomplished in recent years. Thank God for that. But just because they are great, we are impatient to make them greater. We are im¬ patient to arouse those mighty latent forces which we know are waiting. Is it not time, after 1900 years of Christianity, that Christians themselves at least be united on the one single, sole purpose for which they exist? Is it not also time that no Christian should be excluded from his privilege? There are in the neighborhood of 1,300 parishes, represent¬ ing 43,000 members, which have made no offering this past year through the Board of Missions. There are many, many thousands belonging to contributing parishes who, because they do not think their weekly offering of 1 cent or 5 cents or 10 cents worth while, make no offering at all. These latter entirely lose sight of the fact that, as part of the world’s great spiritual machinery, by not doing their part, they hamper its effective operation. But, greater still, they forget that the dear Lord is waiting to possess His own, and that He cannot do so until we, like John the Baptist, have prepared the way. Where lies the fault? Do we need more courage? God will give us that if we ask it of Him. Do we need to pray more earnestly for greater inspiration? Then let us pray, and He will answer our prayer. I have heard many, many sermons on missions and notices given out, that for spirituality, inspiration and beauty of ex¬ pression, could not be excelled. And the hearers have re¬ sponded and do respond with the complete devotion of their lives. I have also heard sermons and especially notices, when I failed to see how they could have touched the heart of the hearers. Let me quote part of a letter a layman sent me less than six weeks ago: “It has been a hard struggle and an anxious one, for us, but now, that we have met and gone so much over the ap¬ portionment—nothing seems hard at all. “We are more than pleased for our Rector, for to him is due all the success of the years it has depended on his ef¬ forts—and I can tell you he has left no stone unturned. And if every Rector would show the same enthusiasm for missions as ours does, why you all could raise untold sums.’’ My second subject refers to Specials. No one is more deeply appreciative of them than I—for they are the special sympathy which uplifts and encourages our bishops and clergy in their most trying times, and bring with them fresh inspiration for their work. Who, if they believe this, as I most earnestly do, could ever be accused of speaking against them? But what I beg to say is this—when special help is asked of a congregation, or of a group of people, or of an in¬ dividual, may each be reminded that their parish apportion¬ ment has their first claim. And after that is met, the Spe¬ cial contribution is requested. Surely this is not too much to ask of our bishops and clergy, with the cold knowledge that, unless the apportionment is met, some workers may pos¬ sibly be recalled, or many salaries—already pitifully small, may be lowered. We of the Board have had a most anxious year concerning the new appropriations and appointments. If this is done, together with the programme of giving information which I have just outlined, I am quite sure, yes, convinced, that presently—very soon, I mean—the re¬ sult will be: An apportionment fully paid and more. Think of that high mountain of criticism that has been raised up on the apportionment. So high is it and so dark is its shadow on one side that our Lord’s work cannot be seen for the blackness. But in meeting the apportionment, as it will be met, this mountain of criticism will be levelled, and God’s light will shine everywhere. This is no vision. It is a fact. And the Reserve Deposits will be completely restored at the end of each year. And they will be ready to assist the Board in the new year; for which very purpose they were created. Undesignated legacies will be freed and will be at the disposal of the missionaries for constructive work. $140,000 of them this year swallowed up in salaries. Mbre than $3,300,000 of them swallow r ed up in salaries since the Board began its work. Think of it! There will be practically no diminution in specials, for in opening all hearts to meet the “blessed” apportionment— I say this in truth—those same hearts will be touched, and will meet the special need also. Can we not enlarge our faith, and look upon our work with perfect hope and cheer? Can we not compel our brothers to look upon it thus, that they too shall be pos¬ sessed with the same perfect hope and cheer? Can we not even imitate that noble poet, who gives this inspiring thought through “Pippa”—the little silk worker—who only had one holiday a year. And this is what she sang: The year’s at the spring , And day’s at the morn; Morning’s at seven, The hillside’s dew-pearled; The lark’s on the wing; The snail’s on the thorn; God’s in His heaven— All’s right with the world. Copies of this pamphlet may be obtained from THE BOARD OF MISSIONS 281 Fourth Avenue - New York by asking for No. 990 All offerings for the Church’s work at home and abroad should be sent to Mr. Geo. Gordon King, Treasurer, at the same address. 1M. 3-14. S.