N OTWITHSTANDING the terrible war and the fact that our own nation has been compelled to enter it during the past year, the year 1917 has been one of great encouragement in the work of our Foreign Mission Society. From all fields have come reports of progress and the encouraging desire on the part of the native population to learn more about Christ and his claims upon the life of humanity. Under the guidance and protection and with the unfailing help of God. the missionaries have been able to achieve heroic tasks, and although surrounded by discouraging conditions, handicapped by inadequate equipment and lack of reenforcements, at times faced with real opposition, they have nevertheless been able to witness great triumphs of the Kingdom in the non-Christian world. A review of the facts given on the inside pages of this pamphlet will indicate the marvelous progress made, not only during the past year but during the entire period in which American Baptists have been conducting their share of the foreign mission enterprise. While we are not unmindful of the dire distress occasioned by the war and while we endeavor to relieve the suffering of our denominational kinsmen in Europe, we are nevertheless profoundly grateful to God for his manifest favor and the success with which he has crowned the labors of the missionaries abroad. 1918 W HAT are the prospects of the future? American Baptists within the next five years will witness the greatest foreign mission triumphs in the history of the denomination. Doors previously closed are being opened widely to the heralds of the Christian message, and missionaries are reporting unprecedented opportunities in Burma, in Japan, in China and other fields. In order to take advantage of these opportunities but two things are necessary — the united intercession of God’s people and the adequate financial support of the work to be done. Two tremendous tasks arc before the Christian church of today, namely, the Christian construction of the non-Christian world and the Christian reconstruction of Europe. Because of the unusual situation created by the war, the Foreign Mission Society, in order to meet the urgent need of this war year finds it necessary to appeal to the denomination for $213,947.00 more than was received from churches and individuals last year. The fiscal year closes March 31, 1918. With the infinite resources of the Kingdom at our command, the possibilities before us are illimitable. Will you do your part? The Foreign Mission Society extends to all friends of missions the greetings of the new year, with the hope that the denomination may prosecute more vigorously, more faithfully, more loyally the mighty missionary undertakings which God has committed to our care. EVANGELISM In our 10 mission fields, located in Burma, Assam, South India, Bengal-Orissa, South China, West China, East China, Belgian Congo, Japan, and the Philippines, there are: — Missionaries. 688 Church Members. 183,505 Native workers. 6,673 Added by baptism in 1916 . . 9,977 Churches. 1,732 Sunday school members .... 89,544 Self-supporting churches .... 1,027 Native contributions for evange- Church buildings. 2,286 listic purposes. $109,233 Christian education is the natural accompaniment to evangelism and our mission schools bring thousands of non-Christians under Christian influence. We have altogether: — Schools. 2,602 Seminary students. 1,019 Self-supporting schools .... 771 College students. 189 Colleges. 6 Total number enrolled .... 85,552 Training schools and seminaries 29 Pupils baptized in 1916 .... 1,693 Native contributions. $68,196 MEDICINE Medical aid wins confidence everywhere and opens many doors that would ordinarily be closed to missionaries. In this phase of the work we have: — Hospitals. 21 Dispensaries. 48 Medical missionaries. 51 Native assistants. 133 Patients treated in 1916 . . . . 83,391 Total number of treatments . . 288,871 Receipts in fees . $29,084 Expenses. $22,469 INDUSTRY leading men and women to Christ exists the need of pro- Hence our industrial schools teach: — Along with the necessity of viding means of self-support. In Africa—brick making, building, tailoring, typewriting. In China and Japan — gardening, lace- making, towel-weaving. In India — book-binding, cane work, car¬ pentry, iron work, tailoring. In the Philippines — building, carpentry, engineering, surveying. pOR additional literature or other information regarding the work of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, write to any of the following: *r- ]. The District Secretary of your district. 2. Department of Missionary Education, 23 East 26th Street, New York City. 3. Literature Department, Box 41, Boston, Mass.