STATISTICAL HISTORY OF BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE PAST SIXTEEN YEARS. FOR THE USE OF THE American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, SEPTEMBER, 1852. PREPARED BY ONE OF THE SECRETARIES. SECOND EDITION, REVISED SEPTEMBER, 1853. BOSTON: PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN, 42 CONGRESS STREET. 1853. STATISTICAL HISTORY OF BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE PAST SIXTEEN YEARS. Are FOREIGN and HOME MISSIONS advancing in this country? Some have supposed, that the receipts of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions have been stationary, the past ten years. Has it been so, on the whole? The Missionary Spirit first put itself forth effectively in Foreign Missions, and the tide of contributions seemed, for a time, to flow chiefly in that direction. Do our Home Missions now receive a fair proportionate support? These, with other kindred inquiries, can be answered only by means of statistical investigations. To furnish the facts for a full and perfect reply to the third of the above inquiries, would require the investigation to be pushed farther than comports with our time, if not with our sources of information. Such an extended inquiry, however' is not needful to the object we have in view, as will appear in the sequel. It is not an easy matter, in respect to all the Societies that are to pass under review, to say precisely what have been their annual receipts during every one of the past sixteen or twenty years; nor is it quite possible to say, in respect to some of them, what portion of 4 their outlay is properly chargeable to foreign objects, and what to home'objects. Where there was no way but to conjecture, we have done the best we could. In stating the receipts of one of the Societies, it has been necessary, for obvious reasons, to deduct the grants of our National Government and of Bible and Tract Societies. In one instance we found, that the table we had compiled from the treasurer's accounts did not, for some reason, correspond exactly with a list of receipts for a course of years we subsequently found in the body of one of the Arnual Reports. It seemed proper to correct our table by the Report. It may perhaps be possible to detect not a few errors -in the tables; though not enough, it is believed, even in the aggregate, to affect the value of the results. There may be errors of judgment, in determining what were the actual receipts to be reckoned in such an investigation; errors in the transfer of numbers to paper; errors in copying; errors in the arithmetical calculations; and some errors in the press. The author of these tables could not give himself exclusively to the business, except in numerous short portions of time. They were a small part of his share in the laborious preparation incumbent on the Secretaries of the Board for the Annual Meeting. Should others be incited to revise these tables, and do the work more effectively, he will still feel that his labor has not been in vain. The object of the investigation-what in fact impelled to it-not only did not require that contributions from Religious Denominations with which the American Board has no immediate connection, should be reckoned, but it required that they should not be reckoned. The object was, to ascertain wherefore the receipts of the Board have increased no faster during the last ten or twelve years, and what is the prospect in future. The careful and reflecting observer will be able to see that, whatever the retarding influences were, they are not such as bear unfavorably on the present prospects of Missions, whether Foreign or Domestic. 5 FOREIGN MISSIONS. AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. I. Receipts of the Board. The receipts of each year are given; the receipts in each period of four years; the increase in those periods respectively; the average annual receipts for each of the periods; and the increase (decrease in one instance) in the average annual receipts of each period. Years. Periods. Receipts. Periods of 4 years. Increase. Av. Ann. Receipts. Increase. 1811, $999 52 1812, 13,611 50 1813, 11,361 18 1814, 12,265 56 1815, 9,493 89 1. - ~ $46,732 13 11,683 10,684 1816, 12,501 03 1817, 29,948 63 1818, 34,727 72 1819, 37,520 63 2. 114,698 01 67,966 28,674 16,991 1820, 39,949 45 1821, 46,354 95 1822, 60,087 87 1823, 55,758 94 3. 202,151 21 87,413 50,537 21,863 1824, 47,483 58 1825, 55,716 18 1826, 61,616 25 1827, 88,341 89 4. - - 253,157 90 51,006 63,289 12,752 1828, 102,009 64 1829, 106,928 26 1830, 83,019 37 1831, 100,934 09 5. - 392,891 36 39,734 98,222 34,933 1832, 130,574 12 1833, 145,847 77 1834, 152,386 10 1835, 163,340 19 6. 592,148 18 199,257 148,037 49,815 1836, 176,232 15 1837, 252,076 55 1838, 236,170 98 1839, 244,169 82 7. - 908,649 50 316,501 227,162 79,125 1840, 241,691 04 1841, 235,189 30 1842, 318,396 53 1843, 244,254 43 8. - 1,039,531 30 130,882 259,882 32,720 1844, 236,394 37 1845, 255,112 96 1846, 262,073 55 1847, 211,402 76 9. - 964,983 64 *74,547 241,245 *18,637 1848, 254,056 46 1849, 291,705 27 - 1850, 251,862 28 1851, 274,902 21 10. - 1,072,526 22 107,543 268,131 26,886 1852, 301,732 70 1853, 314,922 88 * Less than in the preceding period. 6 II. Expenditures of the Board. Year, Periods. Expenditures. Periods. Increase. Av. Ann. Expenditure. Increase. 1811, 1812, $9,699 1813, 8,611 1814, 7,078 1815, 5,027 1. $ 30,415 7,603 1816, 15,934 1817, 20,485 1818, 36,346 1819, 40,337 2. 113,102 82,687 28,275 20,672 1820, 57,621 1821, 46,771 1822, 60,474 1823, 66,380 3. ~- 231,246 118,144 57,811 29,536 1824, 54,157 1825, 41,469 1826, 69,012 1827, 103,430 4. - 258,068 26,822 64,517 6,706 1828, 107,676 1829, 92,533 1830, 84,798 1831, 98,313 5. - 383,320 125,252 95,830 31,313 1832, 120,954 1833, 149,906 1834, 159,779 1835, 163,254 6. - 593,893 210,573 148,473 117,160 1836, 210,407 1837, 254,589 1838, 230,642 1839, 227,491 7. 923,129 329,236 230,782 82,309 1840, 246,601 1841, 268,914 1842, 261,147 1843, 256,687 8. 1,033,349 110,220 258,337 27,555 1844, 244,371 1845, 216,817 1846, 257,605 1847, 264,783 9. -- 983,576 *49,773 245,894 *12,443 1848, 282,330 1849, 263,418 1850, 254,329 1851, 284,830 10. - 1,084,907 101,331 271,256 25,362 1852, 257,727 1853, 310,607 * Less than in the preceding period. 7 III. Comparative View of the Board's Receipts and Expenditures. Periods. Receipts. Expenditures. Excess. 1811, $999'999 1812-15, 46,732 30,415 *16,317 1816-19, 114,698 113,102 *1,596 1820-23, 202,151 231,246 29,095 1824-27, 253,157 258,068 4,911 1828-31, 392,891 383,320 *9,571 1832-35, 592,148 593,893 1,745 1836-39, 908,649 923,129 14,480 1840-43, 1,039,531 1,033,349 *6,182 1844-47, 964,983 983,576 18,593 1848-51, 1,072,526 1,084,907 12,381 Total, $5,588,465 $5,635,005 $81,205 * Excess of Receipts,.. 34,655 Excess of Expenditures in forty years,.. $46,540 IV. Receipts of the Board from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, derivedfrom the supplementary statement to the Treasurer's Accounts. (Only what came through Auxiliaries.) Year. Massachusetts. Connecticut. New York. 1832, $26,007 16,930 18,255 1833, 25,487 17,203 25,844 1834, 28,511 17,398 22,388 1835, 28,685 17,509 24,559 1836, 28,154 19,445 24,983 1837, 37,541 28,119 37,385 1838, 38,213 38,526 30,610 1839, 33,113 31,730 32,969 1840, 53,847 34,724 28,613 1841, 53,838 33,359 32,298 1842, 71,106 42,806 35,812 1843, 59,546 35,076 30,874 1844, 59,854 30,504 28,354 1845, 64,635 33,227 29,555 1846, 52,548 29,379 22,493 1847, 52,421 27,370 27,596 (The whole amount of donations.) 1848, 71,459 39,488 *53,703 1849, 91,874 42,294 70,534 1850, 76,069 39,630 50,569 1851, 77,280 38,534 60,800 SUMMARY. Periods. Massachusetts. Connecticut. New York. 1832-35, $108,690 69,040 91,036 1836-39, 137,021 117,920 125,947 1840-43, 238,347 145,965 127,527 1844-47, 269,458 121,480 107,998 1848-51, 316,682 159,946 *235,606 Total, 1,070,198 614,351 688,114 Increase. Period 2d, $28,331 48,880 34,911 3d, 101,326 28,045 1,580 " 4th, 31,111 f24,485 t19,529 " 5th, 47,224 38,466 *127,608 * A considerable portion of the receipts from New York State do not come through Auxiliaries. t Less than in the preceding period. V. Receipts of the Board from the TWestern States, in each of the last four years. Year. Ohio. Indiana. Illinois. Michigan. Wisconsin. Iowa. Missouri. Ark. Kentucky. Tenn. 1848, 10,562 1,030 3,265 3,290 808 161 1,112 65 259 1,266 1849, 10,718 1,910 3,205 2,632 1,066 375 811 84 884 1850, 11,393 1,404 2,767 2,300 703 217 846 124 1,035 1851, 11,905 1,961 3,591 2,119 927 331 303 127 641 Total, 44,578 6,305 12,828 10,341 3,504 1,084 3,072 65 594 3,826 VI. Increase of the Receipts of the Board from New England and New York, in the last twenty years. Certain Districts are selected, in each of the States, which may serve as the basis of the rate of increase on the whole. Of course it will be only an approximation. Year. [Cumberland Co., Me, Hillsboro' Co., N. H Rutland Co., Vt. Berkshire Co,, Ms. 1832, $943 1,847 936 1,967 1833, 1,226 1,783 743 1,970 1834, 1,232 1,759 828 1,667 1835, ],242 1,856 612 1,612 4,643 7,245 -. —3,119 7,216 1836, 769 1,699 721 1,691 1837, 2,068 1,991 1,519 1,404 1838, 2,289 2,167 1,36 1,833 1839, 2,211 2,129 1,350 2,317.... 7,337 7,986 -- 4,956 - 7,245 1840, 2,715 2,788 1,754 1,009 1841, 2,072 3,038 1,915 4,758 1842, 4,016 3,416 2,781 2,879 1843, 1,813 2,882 1,545 2,220 - 10,616 - -12,124 - -7,995 - -10,866 1844, 2,129 2,971 1,607 3,121 1845, 2,177 2,792 1,650 2,621 1846, 2,013 2,144 1,501 2,072 1847, 1,893 2,195 1,378 2,523 ~ 8,212 - -10,102 - -6,136 -10,337 1848 2,491 2,366 1,697 3,829 1849, 1,935 3,223 1,513 2,275 1850, 2,507 2,644 1,690 2,990 1851, 2,382 2,295 1,346 2,595 - 9,315 - 10,528 -- 6,246 -11,689 9 Year. Brookfield Asso., Ms. Worc'r Central, Ms. Boston, Ms. Hartford Co., Ct. Windham Co., Ct. 1832, $1,298 1,761 7,446 3,807 1,143 1833, 1,382 1,814 8,141 4,649 1,074 1834, 1,578 2,023 9,338 4,175 1,171 1835, 1,461 2,081 8,611 4,293 1,061 -- 5,719 - -7,679 33,536 - 16,924 - 4,449 1836, 1,530 2,055 8,343 3,940 1,357 1837, 2,433 3,192 13,129 6,316 1,471 1838, 2,711 4,275 8,842 11,882 2,208 1839, 2,762 3,576 7,571 8,156 2,562 — 9,436 - 13,098 - 37,885 - 30,294 — 7,598 1840, 2,619 4,816 12,179 7,056 2,393 1841, 2,759 3,927 14,143 8,877 2,737 1842, 2,884 5,588 18,479 9,284 3,449 1843, 2,557 4,480 16,921 9,389 2,622 - 10,819 - 18,811 - -61,722 - 34,606 - 11,201 1844, 3,298 4,148 15,630 5,934 2,464 1845, 4,004 7,599 15,393 7,105 2,533 1846, 3,164 4,155 14,105 6,727 2,264 1847, 2,718 4,120 15,913 5,771 2,166 -13,184 - 20,022 -- 61,041 -25,537 — 9,427 1848, 3,302 4,464 13,795 7,587 2,525 1849, 3,245 5,584 22,122 9,252 2,932 1850, 4,295 5,127 17,537 6,234 2,105 1851, 3,486 4,618 19,127 6,743 2,167 - 14,328 — 19,793 -- 72,581 - 29,816 - -9,729 Year. N.Y. City & Brooklyn. Geneva & Vic. N.Y. Monroe Co. N. Y. Oneida Co. N. Y. Buffalo and Vic. 1832, $9,984 2,025 4,211 1833, 14,044 1,640 5,498 1834, 7,637 2,685 3,710 1835, 13,401 1,876 4,537 - -45,066 - -8,226 - 17,956 1836, 12,164 2,147 3,269 2,724 1837, 17,107 4,911 3,915 4,282 542 1838, 11,234 7,693 3,453 3,123 338 1839, 13,769 8,531 3,301 2,956 690 — 54,274 -23,282 14,938 -13,085 - 1,570 1840, 11,132 6,719 2,978 2,899 501 1841, 12,447 9,337 2,509 2,935 972 1842, 15,301 7,942 2,999 2,226 1,402 1843, 13,390 7,172 3,858 2,042 678 - 52,270 31,170 - 12,344 -10,102 - 3,553 1844, 10,923 6,428 3,608 1,778 1,306 1845, 11,885 6,167 3,373 2,112 787 1846, 7,974 4,977 1,960 1,776 1,063 1847, 13,807 4,251 3,196 1,895 762 - 44,8589 - 21,803 - 12,137 -- 7,561 -- 3,918 1848, 11,598 4,557 3,944 1,818 1,523 1849, 21,252 5,204 4,113 2,376 1,363 1850, 13,241 5,229 1,976 1,457 809 1851, 17,847 6,262 4,873 1,555 1,846 - 63,938 - 21,252 - 14,906 - -7,206 -- 5,541 The following is a Summary View. 1. In New England. First Period. Last Period. Increase. Boston, Ms. $33,536 72,581 39,045 Worcester Central, Ms. 7,679 19,793 12,114 Brookfield Association, Ms. 5,719 14,328 8,609 Berkshire Co., Ms. 7,216 11,689 4,473 Hartford Co., Ct. 16,924 29,816 12,892 Windham Co., Ct. 4,449 9,729 5,280 Rutland, Vt. 3,119 6,246 3,127 2 10 Hillsboro', N. H. 7,245 10,528 3,283 Cumberland, Me. 4,643 9,315 4,672 90,530 184,025 93,495 2. In New York. First. Fifth. Increase. N. Y. City and Brooklyn, $45,066 63,938 18,872 Geneva and Vicinity, 23,282 21,252 *2,030 Monroe Co. 8,226 14,906 6,680 Oneida Co. 17,956 7,206 *10,750 Buffalo and Vicinity, 3,553 5,541 1,988 98,083 112,843 14,760 * Decrease. VII. Donations from States to the Board, in the years 1839, 1844, and 1851. The donations for 1839 and 1844, are taken from tables compiled and printed in pamphlet form several years ago. Those for 1851, are from the table supplementary to the Treasurer's Accounts in the Report for that year. States, 1839. 1844. 1851. Maine, $6,279 7,822 7,122 New Hampshire, 9,151 10,052 10,891 Vermont, 9,142 10,022 8,515 Massachusetts, 48,876 73,369 77,280 Connecticut, 33,975 37,259 38,534 Rhode Island, 1,652 2,957 2,678 New York, 48,554 45,828 60,800 New Jersey, 5,180 6,486 9,716 Pennsylvania, 12,823 10,558 12,466 Delaware, 515 607 540 Maryland, 1,272 768 2,152 District of Columbia, 631 646 642 Virginia, 392 2,444 1,400 North Carolina, 157 22 48 South Carolina, 1,303 1,139 1,239 Georgia, 2,459 1,770 3,395 Florida, 35 20 Alabama, 1,399 843 244 Mississippi, 84 191' 105 Louisiana, 130 281 185 Tennessee, 1,462 1,980 641 Kentucky, 855 482 127 Arkansas, 70 441 Missouri, 1,438 475 303 Iowa, 241 331 Wisconsin, 10 927 Illinois, 2,240 1,948 3,591 Indiana, - 690 928 1,961 Michigan, 318 1,263 2,119 Ohio, 7,628 9,874 11,905 Canada, 914 Foreign Countries, 2,671 2,204 12,384 Co-operating Societies, 12,549 Unknown, 685 Texas, 36 California, 120 Minesota Territory, 104 Oregon Territory, 177 II OTHER SOCIETIES OPERATING IN FOREIGN MISSIONS. VIII. Receipts of the General Assembly's Board of Foreign Missions. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipts. 1838, $44,748 1839, 56,150 100,898 50,449 1840, 54,425 1841, 62,344 1842, 58,924 1843, 54,760 230,453 57,613 1844, 66,674 1845, 72,117 1846, 76,395 1847, 82,739 297,925 74,481 1848, 89,165 1849, 96,294 1850, 104,665 1851, 108,544 ~- --- 398,668 99,667 1852, 117,882 1853, 122,615 The grants of Bible and Tract Societies, and appropriations from the United States Government for Indian missions, have been deducted. * For two years only. IX. Receipts of the American Bible Society as the result of Donations, and the appropriations made of the same. Year. Receipts. Periods. Dona. for For. Dis. App. for For. Uses. Periods. For Home Uses. 1832, $47,564 631 1833, 46,091 15,300 1834, 54,570 17,000 1835, 62,868 35,500 211,093 68,431 142,662 1836, 58,781 13,789 39,070 1837, 35,728 6,589 6,326 1838, 44,365 3,631 20,230 1839, 53,285 5,840 19,465 192,159 85,091 107,068 1840, 48,030 6,418 10,549 1841, 61,840 2,686 30,794 1842, 74,530 3,843 16,619 1843, 65,244 2,419 15,518 249,644 73,480 176,164 1844, 67,606 1,247 23,945 1845, 68,468 1,091 13,792 1846, 104,551 1,526 1,500 1847, 73,946 965 18,000 314,571 -- 57,237 257,334 1848, 94,505 1,938 9,500 1849, 91,804 10,762 11,188 1850, 117,794 1,483 17,900 1851, 120,065 9,100 424,168 47,788 376,380 1852, 1,391,635 332,027 1,059,609 12 X. Receipts of the American Tract Society as the result of Donations, and the appropriations made of the same. Year. Receipts. Periods. App. For. Dis. Periods. Colportage. Periods. Home Uses. Dona. For. Dis. 1832, $24,476 5,044 1833, 31,229 10,000 1834, 35,213 20,000 1835, 60,628-151,546 30,000-65,044 86,502 1836, 56,638 35,000 - 29,949 1837, 72,933 35,000 31,332 1838, 37,175 10,000 11,985 1839, 55,854-222,600 30,000-110,000 112,600 28,099 1840, 41,476 20,000 19,594 1841, 41,752 25,000 23,390 1842, 34,942 15,000 11,845 1843, 46,326-164,496 15,000 —75,000 5,929-5,929 89,506 5,929 1844, 56,680.20,000 15,011 4,382 1845, 66,080 6,000 25,382 1,313 1846, 71,132 15,000 31,043 4,305' 1847, 67,771-261,663 10,000 —51,000 40,191-111,627 210,663 2,308 1848, 105,915 11,000 50,559 1,729 1849, 94,081 14,000 58,106 2,091 1850, 105,894 15,000 66,274 1,812 1851, 109,897-415,787 20,000-60,000 73,278-248,217 355,787 790 1852, 116,406 20,000 79,073 1853, 147,374 1,216,092 361,044 365,773 855,058 XI. Receipts of the American Protestant Society, the Foreign Evangelical Society, and the American and Foreign Christian Union. American Protestant Society. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipts. 1844, $6,746 1845, 9,184 1846, 19,709 1847, 25,028 60,667 15,166 1848, 28,704 1849, 29,137 57,841 28,920 Foreign Evangelical Society. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipts. 1840, $10,210 1841, 14,357 1842, 10,900 1843, 10,766- 46,233 11,558 1844, 13,356 1845, 16,249 1846, 20,146 1847, 14,855 64,606 16,151 1848, 19,439 1849, 24,484 * American and Foreign Christian Union. Year. Receipts. Periods. Av. Ann. Receipts. App. to Home Uses. 1850, $57,223 1851, 56,265 157,411 39,352 t64,000 * Constituted by the union of the Foreign Evangelical Society, the American Protestant Society, and the Christian Alliance. t Conjectural. 13 XII. Receipts of the American Missionary Association. Year. Receipts. Periods. Av. Ann. Rec. App. to Home Missions. 1847, $13,033 1848, 17,095 1849, 21,982 1,581 1850, 25,159 3,186 1851, 34,535 2,632 98,771 24,692 7,399 XIII. Receiptsfor Foreign Missions, in Periods of four years each. Periods. Amer. Board of Com. Pres. Board of Amer. Bible Amer. Tract Am. & For. Ch. Am. Miss. for For. Missions. For. Missions. Society. Society. Union. Asso'n. 1836-39, $908,649 "100,898 f85,091 f110,000 1840-43, 1,039,531 230,453 73,480 75,000 46,233 1844-47, 964,983 297,925 57,237 51,000 64,606 1848-51, 1,072,526 398,668 47,788 60,000 93,411 91,372 3,985,689 1,027,944 263,596 296,000 204,250 91,372 1,027,944 263,596 296,000 204,250 91,372-$5,868,851, total in 16 years for Foreign Missions. * Two years only. t Appropriations by the Society. XIV. Growth o the Foreign Missions. Periods. Society. Receipts in Total of Receipts Average Annual Periods. in the Periods. Receipts. 1836-39, Am. Board Com. For. Miss. $908,649 227,162 [1838, 9] Pres. Board For. Miss. 100,898. 25,224 Amer. Bible Society, 85,091 21,272 Amer. Tract Society, 110,000 27,500 - 1,204,638 301,159 1840-43, Am. Board Cor. For. Miss. 1,039,531 259,882 Pres. Board For. Miss. 230,453 57,613 Amer. BiblesSociety, 73,480 18,370 Amer. Tract Society, 75,000 18,750 For. Evangelical Society, 46,238 11,559 1,464,702 - 366,175 1844-47, Am. Board Corn. For. Miss. 964,983 241,245 Pres. Board For. Miss. 297,925 74,481 Amer. Bible Society, 57,237 14,309 Amer. Tract Society, 51,000 12,750 For. Evangelical Society, 64,606 16,151 - 1,435,751 358,937 1848-51, Am. Board Corn. For. Miss. 1,072,526 268,131 Pres. Board For. Miss. 398,668 99,667 Amer. Bible Society, 47,788 11,947 Amer. Tract Society, 60,000 15,000 Am. and For. Chr. -Union, 93,411 23,352 Am. Miss. Association, 91,372 22,843 1,763,765 - 440,941 14 HOME MISSIONS. XV. Receipts of the American Home Missionary Society. Society's Year. Receipts. Periods of Four Years. Inc. in the Periods. Av. Ann. Receipts. 1-1826-27, $18,140 76 2-1827-28, 20,035 78 3-1828-29, 26,997 31 4-1829-30, 33,929 44 5-1830-31, 48,124 73- 129,087 32,271 6-1831-32, 49,422 12 7-1832-33, 68,627 17 8-1833-34, 78,911 44 9-1834-35, 88,863 22 —-285,823 156,737 71,455 10-1835-36, 101,565 15 11-1836-37, 85,701 59 12-1837-38, 86,522 45 13-1838-39, 82,564 63-356,353 70,530 89,088 14-1839-40, 78,345 20 15-1840-41, 85,413 34 16-1841-42, 92,463 64 17-1842-43, 99,812 24-356,034 *319 89,008 18-1843-44, 101,904 99 19-1844-45, 121,946 28 20-1845-46, 125,124 70 21-1846-47, 116,617 94 —465,593 109,559 116,398 22-1847-48, 140,197 10 23-1848-49, 145,925 91 24-1849-50, 157,160 78 25-1850-51, 150,942 25- 594,226 128,630 148,556 26-1851-52, 160,062 25 27-1852-53, 171,734 24 * Less than in the preceding period. XVI. Receipts of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. Year. Receipts. Periods. Increase. Av. Ann. Receipts. 1832, $23,030 1833, 27,058 1834, 23,451 1835, 22,664 —96,203 24,050 1836, 25,000 1837, 30,961 1838, 22,747 1839, 24,063- 102,771 6,568 25,692 1840, 21,413 1841, 20,636 1842, 16,321 1843, 19,108- 77,478 *25,293 19,369 1844, 23,013 1845, 29,688 1846, 32,322 1847, 30,870-115,893 38,415 28,973 1848, 33,390 1849, 44,432 1850, 79,043 1851, 82,818-239,683 123,790 59,920 * Less than in the preceding period. 15 [NOTE.-The preceding abstract of the receipts of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, was prepared from the Annual Reports of that Board. Subsequently to the publication of this pamphlet, the following official list of receipts in the above years appeared in the " Home Record; " including not only the receipts at Philadelphia, but also those of the local agencies at Louisville, Pittsburg, and the Synod of Ohio. 1832, $20,692 10 1838, 34,238 14 1844, 36,595 38 1850, 67,654 19 1833, 21,471 29 1839, 39,419 63 1845, 45,821 15 1851, 74,974 27 1834, 24,029 05 1840, 39,225 90 1846, 47,631 98 1852, eleven 1835, 22,135 93 1841, 33,522 43 1847, 51,809 77 months, 64,356 29 1836, 30,040 80 1842, 32,082 24 1848, 56,147 80 1837, 29,715 73 1843, 29,934 52 1849, 70,440 37 $871,938 96] 1z For Receipts of American Bible Society; American Tract Society; American Protestant, Foreign Evangelical, and Foreign Christian Union, and American Missionary Association, see ix, x, xi, xii, pp. 11-13; numbered, in first edition, xvii-xx. XXI. Receipts of the Societyfor the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West. Year. Receipts. Periods. Year. Receipts. Periods. 1844, $17,004 1848, $12,339 1845, 10,967 1849, 11,001 1846, 15,686 1850, 17,623 1847, 14,113- 57,770 1851, 16,962- 57,925 A much larger sum than this was actually given for the Colleges in this space of time, though not through this Society. XXII. Receipts of the American Sunday School Union as the result of Donations. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipts. 1832, $34,691 1833, 19,711 1834, 28,611 1835, 26,988-110,001 27,500 1836, 38,321 1837, 34,035 1838, 22,423 1839, 15,384-110,163 27,540 1840, 14,134 1841, 14,259 1842, 14,844 1843, 12,311 —-— 55,548 13,887 1844, 14,343 1845, 25,369 1846, 25,019 1847, 22,777 —~87,508 21,877 1848, 31,092 1849, 31,189 1850, 35,533 1851, 34,807- 132,621 33,155 1852, 50,038 16 XXIII. Receipts of the American Education Society. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipts. 1832, $42,030 1833, 47,836 1834, 57,818 1835, 83,062-230,746 57,686 1836, 63,227 1837, 65,574 1838, 55,660 1839, 55,075-239,536 59,884 1840, 51,963 1841, 63,113 1842, 34,491 1843, 33,789-183,356 45,839 1844, 34,811 1845, 34,842 1846, 39,348 1847, 28,299 —~137,300 34,325 1848, 24,974 1849, 27,301 1850, 28,428 1851, 27,591-108,294 27,073 1852, 29,376 1853, 22,729 XXIV. Presbyterian Board of Education. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipts. 1832, 1833, 1834, $44,585 1835, 37,038- 81,623 20,405 1836, 50,064 1837, 41,850 1838, 33,094 1839, 33,562 158,570 39,642 1840, 23,273 1841, t24,000 1842, 24,538 1843, 29,104-100,915 25,228 1844, 31,057 1845, 31,723 1846, 34,953 1847, f34,000-131,733 32,933 1848, 31,078 1849, 37,754 1850, 32,447 1851, 36,501- 137,780 34,445 * For two years only. t Conjectural. 17 XXV. Receipts for Home Missions, in Periods of four years each. Amer. Home Miss. Pres. Board of Amer. Bible Anmer. Tract Am. Prot. Soc. Periods. Society. Home Missions. Society. Society. & A. &.h.U. 1832-35, $285,823 96.203 142,662 86.502 1836-39, 356 353 102 771 107,068 112 600 1840-4:3, 356,034 77,478 176,164 89,506 1844-47, 465,59:3 115,893 257,334 210.663 60,667 1848-51, 594,226 239,683 376,380 355,787 121,841 $2,058,029 632,028 1,059,608 855,058 182,508 Western Coil. Am. Miss. Am. Sun. Sch. Am. Educa. Pres. Board Society. Assoc. Union. Society. of Educ. 832) —35, 5110,001 230,746 81,623.1 38:3G-3-9, 1 0.163 239,536 158,570 1840-4:3, 55,548 183,356 100,915 1844- 47, 57,770 87,508 137,300 131,733 1848-51, 57,925 7,399 132,621 108,294 137,780 115,695 7,399 495,841 899,232 610,621 899,232 495,841 7,399 115,695 182,508 855,058 1,059,608 632,028 2,058,029 $6,916,019 $285,823 96,203 142,662 Period, 1832-35,.. 86,502 110,001 230,746 - 81,623 1,033,560 In 16 years for Home Missions, $.. 5,882,459 XXVI. Growth of the IHome Missions. d. d Socie ty. Receipts in Totals of Receipts Average Annual RePeriods. Societyodsris in the Periods. ceipts. 1836-39, Amer. Home Miss. Society, $356,353 89,088 Pres. Board Home Missions, 102,771 25,692 American Bible Society, 107,068 26,767 American Tract Society, 112,600 28,150 American Education Society, 239,536 59,884 American Sunday School Union, 110,163 27,540 Presbyterian Board Education, 158,570 39,642 - 1,187,061 - $296,765 3 18 Receipts in Totals of Receipts Average Annual Re, Period", Society. Periuds. in the Periods. ceipta. 1840-43, Amer. Home Miss. Society, $356,034 89.008 Pres. Board Home Mi sions, 77,478 19,369 American Bible Society, 176.164 44,041 American Tract Society, 89,506 22,376 American Education Society, 183,356 45,839 American Sunday School Union, 55,548 13,887 Presbyterian Board Education, 100,915 25,228 1,039,001 259,750 1844-47, Amer. Home Miss. Society, 465,593 116,398 Pres. Board Home Missions, 115,893 28,973 American Bible Society, 257,334 64,333 American Tract Society, 210,663 52,665 American Education Society, 137,300 34,325 American Sunday Schfol Union, 87,508 21,877 Amercican Protestant Society, 60,667 15,166 Western College Society, 57,770 14,442 Presbyterian Board Education, 131,733 32,933 --- -1,524,461 381,115 1848-51, Amer. Home Miss. Society, 594,226 148,556 Pres. Board Home Missions, 239,683 59,920 American Bible Society, 376,380 94,096 American Tract Society, 355,787 88,946 American Education Society, 108,294 27,073 American Sunday School Union, 132,621 33,155 American Protestant Society and Am. and For. Christian Union, 121,841 30,460 Western College Society, 57,925 14,481 American Missionary Association, 7,399 1,849 Presbyterian Board Education, 137,780 34,445 2,131,936 - 532,984 Annual Average Receipts for each Period. American Presbyterian American Arerican American Presbyterian American Western Period. Home Miss. Board of Bille'r.ict Educationl Board ot' mutlay College Society. Home Miss. Scciety. Society. Society. Education. Sch. Union. Society. 1836-39, $89,088 25.692 26,767 28,150 59,884 39,642 27,540 1840-43, 89,008 19,369 44.041 22,376 45,839 25,228 13,887 1844-47, 116,398 28,973 64,333 52,665 34,325 32,933 21,877 14,442 1848-51, 148,556 59,920 94,095 88,946 27,073 34,445 33,155 14,481 XXVII. Growth of Foreign and Home Missions. FOREIGN MISSIONS. HOME MISSIONS. Totals. Average annual. Totals. Average annual. 1836-39, $1,204,638 301,159 1,187,061 296,765 1840-43, 1,464,702 366,175 1,039,001 259,750 1844-47, 1,435,751 358,937 1,524,461 381,112 1848-51, 1,763,765 440,941 2,131,936 532,984 Total, $5,868,856 1,467,212 5,882,456 1,470,611 Average, $1,467,214 366,803 1,470,614 367,652 1848-51, 1,763,765 440,941 2,131,936 532,984 1836-39, 1,204,638 301,159 1,187,061 296,765 Increase, $559,127 139,782 944,875 236,219 19 ENGLISH FOREIGN MISSIONS. The means are at hand for stating the receipts of English Foreign Missionary Societies, to a great extent, but not of those operating in the Home Missionary department. It will be sufficient, however, to give the receipts of two of the larger Missionary Societies, occupying the same ground, as regards the popular mind, with the larger benevolent societies generally in this country. XXVIII. Receipts of the London Mlissionary Society. Year. Receipts. Periods.. Average Annual Receipts. 1836, ~63,714 1837, 71,:35 18:38, 84.821 1839, 80,:321 300,191 ~75,047 1840, 94,954 1841, 96,771 1!42, 91.795 1843, 93,947 377,467 94,366 1844, 89,124 1845, 90.715 1846, 82,,991 1847, 81,183-344,013 86,003 1848, 87,925 1849, 67,563 1850, 64,642 T5 1, 72,292-292,422 73,105 1852, 72,778 1853, 71,821 144,599 72,299 XXIX. Receipts of the Church Missionary Society, England. Year. Receipts. Periods. Average Annual Receipt.. 1836, ~70,465 1837, 74,731 1838, 91,723 1839,. 95,505-332,424 ~83,106 1840, 104,304 1841, 101,576 1842, 113,263 1843, 111,875 -431,018 107,754 1844, 103,661 1845, 102,495 1846, 105,059 1847, 119,410 —~430,625 107,456 1848, 115,012 1849, 101,003 1850, 94401 1851, 101,554-411,970 102,992 1852, 118,674 -1853, 120,932 —-2396660 119,6803 20 Statement concerning a Massachusetts Auxiliary. There is in Massachusetts an Auxiliary Foreign Missionary Society, [the Brookfield,] embracing at present sixteen churches, which for many years has published an Annual Report, embracing, with but- few exceptions, every subscriber's name and the amount of every individual subscription. These Reports furnish statistics of great value. From them, several years ago, tables were constructed, embracing a period of four years, from 1838 to 1841, inclusive; and recently like tables have been made out, embracing four years, from 1847 to 1850, and then also tables comparing the action of the Society for these two periods. The sixteen churches have, in most cases, their own male and female Missionary Associations. They are probably as well organized, as sure to make an annual collection at the proper time, and as sure to do the work well, as any like number of adjoining churches anywhere in the United States. Summeary for the Years 1838-41. The following table presents a classification of subscriptions, in the years 1838-1811, and shows the number of subscribers under several sums, from six cents up to ten dollars.. ~ Amount Years. Dollars. Fractional parts of a dollar. con" tributed. 4_1 ~1838. I)10 50 4 3 2 1 5 60 5(0 4 37 30 S2 2(0 12 101 1 Gentlemen,... 20141 2 39 75 279 7 1 153 1 2 75 19 5 4 725 $1,184 15 Ladies,. 4 11 4 21 64 24.'27 7.4' 6 9 14 441 1414 0.S 1.493 917 39 414 51 66U 1Y 3 4 2 8. 568 888 10 16 516 163 35 55 S $2,051 54 1839. Gentlemen,.. 203 443 77 838 1 176 1 4 121 6 43 5 19 856 1,211 45 Ladies... 3.81.l 58 1.5 86 4512 13 I:1 528,7 140 37 41 1,651 1,019 39 3 958 13 517 63 866 3 4 15 64 33 183 4, 610,511 a,-430 81 18490. Gentlemen,... 37 29 13 16 98 324 11 225 I1 137 7 42 18 24 1,013 1,571 13 Ladies,... i 6') 1 24 5 78 3 II 111535 12 161 37 67 1,767 942 64 137 441 i66 1ti67 5 3S5 1 703 4 1II 71 117 19 23 551 93 i,7c3 $2,513 77 1841. Gentlemen,.. 314411 41 92 267 21 3 1841 1 6 144 28 6 1 90'2 1,526 85 Ladies,.. 27 7 19 85 29i 54 28 424 8 15 23 5516 163 4 74 1,822 1,163 37 34 71 18 60 17 557 715 31 6081 9 16 2.- iOo 191 55.)3',724 $2,6J6 22 GeZneral Summzesary. ~ I Amount Years. Dollars. Fractional parts of a dollar. ~ con-. tributed. 10 5 131 1 15 160 50 40137 30() 2 20ol 12 10 6 1838, 24 51 61 60 139 525 34 81 568 8 10116 516'163 35 55 2,218 $2,091 5-1 1839, 23 44 9 58 135 547 63 8 626 3 14 15 618 33 183 42 60 2,511 2,230 84 1840, 37 44 21 66 167 605 35 5 703 4 12 11 6721 4 203 55 91 2,780 2,513 77 1841, 31 4 1 18 60 177 557 75 31 608 9 16 29 700 1.91 55 93 2,724 2,696 22 118* 210 54 244 618 2,234 207 5d 12505 2s4 52 71 2,536182 740 187 299 10,233 $9,532 37 Aver'e, 29 - 52 13 611 15 5581 51 13 626 6 113 17 631 20 185 46 741 2,558 $2,383 09 * Thi eshould be stated $10 4nd upwards; thirty-five of the subseriptions were over $10. 21 1838, Contributions at the Monthly Concert, >.. 465 31 1839, " " " ". 647 97 1840, " " " ". 58445 1841, "' " ". 509 82 $ 2,207 55 Amount of subscriptions,.... 9,532 37 From other sources,.... 276 14 Whole amount of contributions in money, from 1838 to 1841, inclusive,.......$12,016 06 Summary for the Years 1847-51. Subscriptions. No. of Subscribers. Subscriptions. No. of Subscribers. Under 10 cents,.. 333 1 to 2 dollars,.... 151 10 cents,..... 315 2 dollars.... 484 12~ cents,.... 448 2 to 3 dollars.... 50 12J to 25 cents,.. 173 3 dollars,... 250 25 cents,. 2,343 3 to 5 dollars,'.... 52 25 to 50 cents,... 133 5 dollars,.. 233 50 cents,..2,088 5 to 10 dollars,... 63 50 to 100 cents,. 177 10 dollars,. 113 1 dollar,... 1,624 Over 10 dollars,... 83 Whole amount from subscriptions,...... $10,525 58 From Monthly Concerts and other sources,..... 3,396 40 Total,.... $13,921 98 Whole amount for four years, including Monthly Concert,. $13,921 Average annual amount,...... 3,480 Number of church members in 1850,.... 2,403 Average annual amount to each, $1 36 Amount raised by the Gentlemen's Associations,. $6,027 Average annual amount,.......1,506 Male members of the church in 1850,...... 702 Average number of male subscribers,..... 763 Average annual amount to each,..... $1 96 Average annual amount to each male member of the church,.. $2 14 Amount raised by Ladies' Associations,...... $4,208 Average annual amount,...... $1,052 Female members of the church in 1850,...... 1,701 Average annual number of female subscribers,...1,433 Average annual amount to each female subscriber,.... $0,73 Average annual amount to each member of the church,... $0,62 22 In the "Journal of Missions" for November, 1851, the Rev. Isaac R. Worcester, District Secretary for Massachusetts, remarks as follows, on the statistical tables so usefully printed by the Brookfield Auxiliary. What do the Statistics published by this Society show? They show, unexpectedly, that the number of contributors to the American Board in these.towns is somewhat smaller now, than it was ten years ago, though nearly the whole amount of falling off is accounted for in a single parish. (The number has diminished in several towns, but in others it has increased ) But while the number of subscribers has diminished, the amount subscribed has increased. In the first period the whole amount raised in these towns, including monthly concert contributions, was $11,717 10; in the last period it was $13,921 98, or $3,480 50 annually upon the average. This is about $1 36 to each member of the churches. In the former period the average annual amount was about $1 03 to each church member. One town has increased in its contributions 142 per cent. Another 105 per cent. The increase in the whole Association is about 1]8 per cent; though, according to the number of church members, it is 32 per cent. Several churches have fallen off. The figures show that there are many members of these churches who do nothing for the Board. In fourteen of the churches the number of members in 1850 was 2,403, but the average annual number of subscribers in the last period, in these towns, was but 2,196. Now many subscribe who are not members of the churches. In one parish the number of subscribers is more than twice as great as the number of church members. There must, then, be several hundreds of professing Christians in these churches who do nothing for this Society. How large a part of them contribute to the cause of missions through other channels, we cannot s y. The average annual number of male subscribers, in these 14 towns in the latter period, was 763; 61 more than the number of male members of the churches in 1850. The female members of the same churches in 1850 were 1,701, and the female subscribers in these towns were on the average, only 1,433 annually, for this period; 268 less than the number of female church members. In the former period, the whole average annual number of subscribers in the same 14 towns was 2,353, viz. males, 826; females 1,527; number of church members in 1840, 2,632; males, 815; females, 1,817. In both periods, therefore, the annual number of male subscribers slightly exceeded the number of male members of the church, while the annual number of female subscribers was considerably less than the number of females in the churches. The figures show, also, this pleasing fact: that the number of large contributors is increasing. In the former period of four years, there were but thirty-five subscriptions exceeding $10 in amount, and eighty-four of just $10, In the latter period there were eighty three exceeding $10, and one 23 hundred and thirteen of just ten. The number of subscriptions exceeding $2, in the former period, was six hundred and twenty-six; but in the latter it was eight hundred and forty four, though the whole number of subscriptions, as stated above, had diminished. But though the number of large subscriptions has increased, it will be seen that it is still painfully small. Would it have been supposed that for the last four years, in these sixteen towns, there had been but eighty-three subscriptions, (twenty-one annually, upon an average,) out of more than nine thousand in all, exceeding ten dollars? Again. The figures show that, though some are going forward, a very large part of the subscribers still do but very little. Of 9,113 subscriptions, the whole number in the last period, (omitting some juvenile associations,) 3,612 were in sums not exceeding twenty-five cents each; and 6,010, or 1,502 annually, in sums of less than one dollar each! The figures show, also, quite too conclusively, that the amount subscribed, generally, is by no means regulated by the exact ability of the subscribers, Subscriptions are in inconvenient sunms; in sums which constitute a kind of units in our currency. Thus there are 3 3 subscriptions of ten cents, and 448 of 12A cents, but only 17:3 between 12A and 25 cents, and then 2,313 of 25 cents. There are only 133 between 25 and 50 cents, but 2,088 of.50 cents; 177 all the way between 50 cents and one dollar, and 1,624 of one dollar. From one dollar, the general rule is to go to two, from two to three, from three, not to four, but to five, and from five to ten. Here is a hint for agents and pastors. People need not be urged to double their subscriptions, but only to increase. If they increase, they will at least double in a large majority of cases. Here, too, is a hint for those who sometimes urge a general increase of 12^ per cent., or 25 per cent, upon all subscriptions, to meet the wants of the Board. No such general increase can be secured. The 25 cent subscribers will not go to 28 or 31 cents. nor will the one dollar subscribers often go to 1,12A or 1,25. Every such effort is vain, in the present state of the church. Men do not calculate so closely upon what they can give. Some of those who give by hundreds and by thousands, may make such a proportionate increase, but not the great number of small contributors. Much more might be said in regard to what these figures show, but the reader will now be left to his own reflections, with only this additional remark,-they show that even in the best sections of Massachusetts there is much room for improvement. And if this is true of the best sections of this State, what shall be said of the country at large? Can there not be an advance? R E SULTS. At the meeting of the Board in Troy, N. Y., in 1852, Dr. Anderson, one of the Secretaries, read the following special report, by direction of the Prudential Committee, on the results of the foregoing statistical history of benevolent contributions. It was as follows: One of the printed documents to be submitted to the Board is a " Statistica] History of Benevolent Contributions in the past sixteen years." The immediate occasion of preparing this was, to ascertain why the receipts of the Board have increased no faster during the last ten or twelve years, and what is the prospect in future. This being the object, it was of course necessary to restrict the inquiry to those religious denominations, with which the Board has some immediate connection. The statistical tables are twentynine in number, and, though prepared amid numerous cares and interruptions, are believed to be substantially correct. Copies have been distributed among the members; and those who shall give attention to the series of tables, will probably yield their assent to the following results. 1. We divide the receipts of the American Board from 1812 to 1851 into ten periods, of four years each.* There is then found to have been an advance in every period save one, and that was the ninth. That is to say, there was a decline in the receipts of only one period; and there would not have been in that period had it not been for the extraordinary amount of the receipts in 1842, a year belonging to the eighth period. Comparing the experience of the Board with that of the London Missionary Society and of the Church Missionary Society, two of the leading missionary institutions of Great Britain,t we find, though their receipts were considerably larger than ours, that the experience of the Board was more favorable than theirs. The receipts of the London Missionary Society experienced a decline in both of the last two periods of four years, and those of the Church Missionary Society in the last three periods. What the cause of this decline was, has not been investigated, but such was the fact. It is pleasing to be able to add, that the last two years show a rise in the receipts of both those admirable institutions. 2. It is necessary to take several societies into account in reckoning what have been the proper receipts for foreign missions; not only the American Board and the General Assembly's Board of Foreign Missions, but the American Bible Society, the American Tract Society, the American Protestant Society, the Foreign Evangelical Society, the American and Foreign Christian Union, and the American Missionary Association. The Investigation, in respect to most of these societies, is complete only for the last * Table i. p. 5. t Tables xxviii. and xxix. p. 19. sixteen years, from 1836 to 1851 inclusive; which are divided into four periods of four years each. The grants and payments of the Bible and Tracct societies for foreign missions, are reckoned of course as donations. Now it appears in this view, that the receipts for foreign missions of the first period* were $1.204,000, (omitting fractions;) of the second, $1,464,000; of the third, $1,435,000, (there being a small decrease;) and of the fourth $1,763,000. Here is an advance in sixteen years, of pecuniary contributions for foreign missions of $559,000. f The fact to be especially noted here, is the wonderful stability of the missionary work, and the regularity of its growth. It should also be observed, that the growth has been very gradual, averaging only about $35,000 a year. One reason for this slow growth may appear as we proceed; but this is the true measure of the growth of the instrumentalities in the work of foreign missions, as carried on by Congregationalists and Presbyterians, through all their organizations; including all they do, and more than all they do, for giving the Bible, and religious books and tracts to the papal and heathen world. 3. In four periods out of ten in the Expenditures of the American Board, there was some degree of excess in the expenditure over the receipts; amounting, in forty years, to about $46,000. t That account is happily balanced the present year. It also appears,~ that the average annual increase in the cost and expenditure for the missions, during these forty years, has been about $7,000; in the last sixteen years, it was less than five thousand. Now the tables show, that a uniform increase every year is not to be expected. Every society, every good cause, has and will have its fluctuations. In thirteen of the forty-two years 1j the receipts of the Board were less each year than they were in the year preceding; and the experience of most other societies is similar. It is, therefore, necessary for us to aim at an advance, in the years when an advance is possible, of not less than ten thousand dollars, in order actually to maintain our rate of progress. Yet even such a progress would not admit of our adding as many as ten missionaries, annually, to the number in the field. And should we have that number of missionaries to send, and should we send them, it would be done at the cost of some reduction in our schools, and other auxiliary agencies. Such, at least, is the result of mere theoretical reasoning, which many regard as sufficient to govern the proceedings of missionary societies. But experience has thrown new light on this subject. It is now known that there is no real danger of missionary bankruptcy resulting from sending forth well qualified missionaries, who can show reason in their own personal qualities, providential situa. tions, and religious experience, why they ought to go. The missionary work is eminently the Lord's work, based on a special command, a special promise, and a special providence; and it is safe for all to go, whom he calls by his grace and providence to the work; and of course it is safe to send them. It would be safer, in a financial point of view, to send out a score of such men, than to withhold one from fear of the lack of means. The Board tried the policy of withholding men for that reason in the year 1837,-that memorable *Table xiv. p. 13. f Table xxviiL. 18. Table iii. p. 7. $ Table ii. p. 6.J Table i p. 5. 4 26 year of ruin in the commercial world,-and has not yet recovered from the paralyzing influence of it on the colleges, theological seminaries and churches. In fact, the only sure way to get the money is, in child-like faith on God, to send forth the men who are called of God to this work. It would seem to be something like a law of the missionary enterprise, that every good missionary shall virtually secure his own support, by the reacting influence of his self-consecration and labors upon the Christian community from which he goes forth. Thus it has been. Every missionary has in fact been supported. Certainly no one from the United States has ever yet been compelled to retire from the field for want of a living. But though missionaries may be expected to have the means of living, if judiciously selected and sent forth, still it is true that their number cannot be increased without a corresponding increase of funds for their support. There is equal truth in both propositions; we must send the men, in order to procure the funds; and there must be the funds, to enable the missionaries to keep the field. 4. Besides nearly four millions of dollars contributed to the American Board during the last sixteen years, there was contributed, in that time,~ more than a million of dollars to the General Assembly's Board of Foreign Missions and the American Missionary Association. As this came from churches, most of which, previous to the year 1837, operated through the American Board, a reason is seen why the average annual increase in the receipts of the Board was diminished at the rate of some two thousand dollars. For the actual falling off amounted to no more than a diminution to that extent, in the rate of increase. Supposing this to be one of the principal causes, it ought then to appear that the rate of increase has been better sustained in New England, than it has been elsewhere. And this fact is apparent in the tables.t The increase of donations from New England has been nearly, if not quite, in the ratio of the increased expenditure. 5. Farther light is thrown on the subject, when we look at the progress of the home missionary enterprise, during this period.: It has been already stated, as a result of these investigations, that the foreign missionary enterprise, in its larger view, has had but a slow increase during the past sixteen years, the average annual rate, within the range of our present inquiries, not having exceeded $35,000. But when we embrace home missions in our view, we see that the spirit of missions, the benevolent spirit common to both great branches of the enterprise, has had a somewhat more rapid growth. The general summary view, in the table entitled " Growth of Foreign and Home Missions,"~ shows that in the first period, from 1836 to 1839, the receipts of the foreign and home missions were of almost identically the same amount, the respective sums being $1,204,000, and $1,187,000. But in the last period, from 1848 to 1851, the receipts for home missions exceeded those for foreign missions by $385,000. The sums were $1,763,000, and $2,131,000. The increase of the one had been $559,000, while that of the other was $944,000. An important item of this increase was in the colportage of the Tract Society,l] which has risen rapidly in favor with the com* Table xiii. p 13.. t Table vi. pp. 8-10. J Tables xxv. and xxvi. p. 17. $ Table xxvii. p. 18. I) Table x. p. 12. 27 munity, the Society having been enabled to expend nearly $450,000 upon it during the ten years past. It is a curious fact, that the average receipts of foreign and home missions, for each period of the sixteen past years, is the same within $3,000.* This fact is accounted for by foreign missions having gained considerably on home missions in the second period. It may be interesting to add, that the whole amount of contributions for foreign missions, in sixteen years, was $5,868,000, and for home missions it was $5,882,000. 6. We see in these Tables how unsatisfactory are the usual comparisons made between the receipts of Foreign and Home Missionary Societies. They are compared as if the receipts of each represented the whole action in the case. But foreign missionary societies do not receive all that is contributed by the Christian community for foreign missions; nor do home missionary societies receive all that is contributed for home missions. Both are directly aided through Bible and Tract Societies; and while all the funds of home missionary societies go for the support of preachers, it inevitably happens, for want of more division and subdivision in the work of foreign missions, that about one-third of the funds of foreign missionary societies are required for schools, the education of native preachers, and the printing of works not embraced in the objects of Bible and Tract Societies. In foreign missions, moreover, what is contributed by native churches toward the support of missionaries, is usually included in the published accounts of the foreign missionary societies, and goes to make up their amount. The course pursued by home missionary societies is deemed a proper one, and is necessarily different. Those generally furnish but a part of the support received by home missionary pastors, (whose relations correspond to those of' native pastors' in foreign missions,) and what is paid towards their support by the churches to which they minister, is not reckoned among the receipts of home missionary societies, and has no place in our Tables. Besides all this, not only is the work of supplying Bibles and religious books and tracts detached from home missions, (in their restricted, technical sense,) but also colportage, Sabbath schools, theological schools, and indeed every department of education; not to speak of missions in cities. The only satisfactory comparison, therefore, to be made in the case,-the only one not delusive and injurious to both branches of the great cause,-is a comprehensive one, resembling the one adopted in the construction of these Tables. Such a comprehensive view presents the two in their intimate relations-a vast benevolent association of labors, the glory and blessing of our age. 7. The printed document before us f contains some curious and valuable facts derived from a series of printed annual reports of the Brookfield Auxiliary Foreign Missionary Society in Massachusetts. That Auxiliary contains sixteen churches, each having their own male and female missionary associations, and publishing in their reports, with few exceptions, every subscriber's name and the amount of every individual subscription. From these reports, tables have been made out for two periods of four years each,from 1838 to 1841, and from 1847 to 1850. The most valuable result * Table xxvii. p. 18. t Tables, pp. 20 21, thus obtained is perhaps what may be called the law of increase in the matter of benevolent subscriptions. The results in the second period were as follows: Number of Number of Subscriptions. Sub.cribers. Subscriptions. Subcliibeis. Under 10 cents,....33 1 to 2 dollars,....151 1U cents,..... 315 2 dollars,..481 12' cents,... 448 2 to 3 dollars,. 50 12i to 25 cents,.... 173 3 dollars,... 250 25 cents,.....2,343 3 to 5 dollars,... 25 to 50 cents,.... 133 5 dollars,... 233 50 cents,.. 2,088 5 to 10 dollars,.. 63 50 to 100 cents,.... 177 10 dollars,.. 113 1 dollar,.... Over 10 dollars. 83 The results in the table for the first period, from 1838 to 1841, prepared ten years ago, will be found to correspond remarkably with those just stated as belonging to the second period. The practical rule to be deduced from this is, that when we exhort the friends of missions to increase their subscriptions, we need not ask them to double, nor to add any certain percentage; but simply to give more than they have done. If the exhortation succeeds, and they are left to their own instincts and feelings, they will probably double their subscription, if they have given but twelve and a half, twenty-five or fifty cents, or one dollar, or five dollars. If they have subscribed two dollars, they may subscribe three, or go on to five. If ten, the advance will probably be to fifteen; if fifteen, to twenty or twenty-five; thence on to seventy-five or one hundred. Then the rule goes to two hundred, three hundred, five hundred, a thousand. And when the heart has become so much enlarged, you may expect the advance will be to fifteen hundred, two thousand, five thousand. All of which, as we believe, goes to show, that the great body of contributors do by no means calculate closely as to what they are able to give. A few do, but not the great body. It is chiefly a matter of feeling, convenience, habit, custom,anything but real ability. 8. The facts embodied in this Statistical History, present to our view the MIGHTY CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, advancing slowly it is true, but steadily and surely, from year to year, as if borne forward by invincible laws. Nor can we help seeing that the two great branches of the enterprise, besides being most intimately united, do really stimulate and help each other, and that if either one be urged forward, the other will soon move onward by its side. Obviously it is time to give our foreign missions a vigorous setting forward, since they have now fallen somewhat into the rear. This, with God's blessing, will be easily effected, if the pastors of churches, taking courage from the law of benevolent donations just stated, shall simply urge their people, now while foreign missions, relieved from embarrassment, are moving steadily upon the track, to add somewhat to the little or much they gave the past year in aid of this blessed cause of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. RESPONSE OF THE BOARD TO THE FOREGOING, After the reading of this document, it was referred to Henry White, Esq., Rev. Joseph Steele, Dr. Linsley, Horace Holden, Esq., Rev Isaac R. Worcester, Rev. Ornan Eastman and Rev. Charles H. Reed. This Committee subsequently presented the subjoined report, which was adopted by the Board. In considering this document your committee have looked at its object, the means by which it has been attempted to attain this object, and the results which are spread out before the Board in the report. The object, as defined in the document, is to ascertain why the receipts of the Board have increased no faster during the last ten or twelve years, and what is the prospect in future. This object needs only to be stated to make its importance and practical bearings felt and acknowledged. In prosecuting these inquiries, a statistical history of the benevolent contributions of those religious denominations, with which this Board has some immediate connection, has been prepared. This work your committee regard as timely and important. The contributions of these benevolent societies are sufficiently comprehensive, both in extent of territory and of time, to be made legitimately the basis of the calculations of the science of statistics,-that wonderful science of these latter days, which, out of facts the most uncertain and variable, deduces principles and conclusions the most certain and unchanging. It is important to be in possession of all the light which such investigations afford; and the present position of the Board, as free fiom debt and yet not advancing in its receipts at the rate at which it once did, renders the investigation timely. These inquiries, so important and timely, necessarily involve a comparison of the receipts of different departments of the great missionary work; and, indeed, thinking minds will be unavoidably led by such statistics to such comparisons. The printed document accompanying the report, does not profess to have attained entire accuracy, but offers itself as containing suggestions of some of the principles which should guide in such comparisons. Your committee, in the short time alloted to them, are not prepared to say that improvements may not be made in the arrangement which the printed document makes of the various societies, under the two great heads of the foreign missionary work and home missionary work. That for the purposes of a true comparison, some such comprehensive classification, as is there attempted, should be made, seems to the committee obvious. Neither are the committee, on the other hand, prepared to say that the classification made is not correct. There are some societies, such as the Education Society, in regard to the proper position of which, whether as wholly a home work, or in part a preparation for foreign work, minds may be expected to differ; and in regard to which, if a classification of their receipts is attempted, there would be great difficulty in finding the proper rule for such a division. If the results of this attempt should make a further prosecution of these inquiries desirable, the principles which should guide in such a classification, could be carefully reviewed, and more fully stated. Your committee have been greatly interested in the results of these inquiries, as drawn out at length in the report referred to them. It is delightful and encouraging to find, as a sure conclusion, drawn from unquestionable 30 data, that the mighty cause of the gospel is advancing steadily and surely. Your committee are confident that the two great branches of the gospel work, at home and abroad, are so intimately blended, that the progress of the one is sure in the end to secure also that of the other. Fluctuations in progress have been experienced, and are to be expected; yet these fluctuations should not discourage us. The statistics presented show that the great cause is onward. The contributions to the different American societies, here brought to view, were about $1,500,000 more during the four years ending in 1851, than they were during four years ending in 1839. This is an increase of about sixty-three per cent. upon the receipts of the former period, or in twelve years. At this rate of increase the contributions of our churches to benevolent objects will double in less than twenty years. With reference to the single period of four years in which there was a decline in the receipts of this Board, the statistics make it very obvious, that there was not a decline on the whole in the benevolent efforts of the churches. During that period the receipts of the American Bible Society, of the American Tract Society, and of the American Home Missionary Society, increased greatly; these three societies together having received in that time about $271,000 more than during the previous four years. Benevolent contributions were then increasing; and it is believed that Christians were not coming to love the cause of foreign missions less, but, for many reasons, were coming to feel a deeper interest in various efforts for the good of our own land. But while God permits us, for the strengthening of our faith, to see at intervals, as it were, that the movement of his chariot wheels is onward, yet your committee would not forget that such cheering views, vouchsafed for our refreshment, are not to be made indispensable to our efforts, or the measure of them. We have been led, during this meeting of the Board, to dwell much on the leading rule and motive for our missionary labors. We are to walk in this work by faith, and not by sight. In the language of the report under consideration, it is the Lord's work, based on a special command, a special promise, a special providence. We must labor, therefore, each in his lot, and with the abilities of which he has made us the stewards. And in connection with this thought, your committee would call attention to the result of Christian experience alluded to in the report, as throwing light upon and modifying the results of our theoretical reasoning; namely, that there is no real danger of embarrassment resulting from sending forth well qualified missionaries, who can show reason in their own personal qualities, providential situations, and religious experience, why they ought to go. It is safe for them to go; it is safe to send them. Still it remains true, as the report suggests, that the number of such missionaries cannot be increased without a corresponding increase of funds for their support. The statements of these statistical tables show us that the foreign missionary work is not advancing as rapidly as it should. It is timely then to urge, as the report does, that we should now give to our foreign missions a vigorous setting forward. And while the curious and interesting statistics of the Brookfield auxiliary, so minutely detailed in the report, give us some light 31 as to the manner in which the call upon the churches can best be made, there can be no doubt that it is highly important and necessary, that all the members of our churches should now be urged to add to that which they have heretofore been accustomed to give, that this department of the Lord's work may not suffer. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 3 9011 5 04352 251111111111134 3 9015 04352 2534