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The encouragement to extend is very great, if the means could but be had. But two new churches have been added during the year, and to one of these seventy-two members upon profession have already been given. The field is opening in every direction, and inviting and calling for laborers and toil, and yet, with the means at command, it is difficult at times to manage the work already in operation. Openings bright and encouraging in themselves become, for lack of money, daily more and more a trial to the Board. In this connection, however, greatful mention is made of remarkable providences by which we have been assisted in the past. While the contributions from churches, individuals and Sabbath-schools have not kept pace with the growth of the work, providentially the legacies just now paid in, $14,266.34 in amount, saved the Board on Domestic Missions account, bringing it to April 30, 1877, with a balance in hand above all indebtedness of $4,258.82. But inasmuch as this Board also carries the Church Building Fund, and supplements the latter from its own resources (though the accounts are kept separately), the apparent balance on favor of the Domestic Missions account is swept away, and on the joint account there is, above all income, an indebtedness of about $250. The operations of the Board are conducted with all practicable economy. A reduction of onetenth has been made, at his own suggestion, in the salary of the Corresponding Secretary. Relief and help have been afforded from the Church Building Fund to several feeble churches, in connection with debts and with repairs and building. This Fund is, however, tryingly inadequate to the demands made upon it. With respect to both Funds, earnest appeal is made to the Church at large for greater liberality. We must all see that the calls that press upon us are answers to our own earnest prayers. Nor can we be blind to the fact that our Home Mission work has an influence wider than our own land. As it meets the vast tide of immigration with its evangelic instrumentalities, it acts indirectly on the great outlying world besides. We cannot abate our zeal in our foreign work. The Master's command is our law for that. But every year

deepens our sense of the vast bearing of our home work. Through the material it reaches it deals with every nation and tribe and tongue. But its value to our own land especially

cannot be overrated. While it operates through Churches and Sabbath-schools, and by preaching and other appointed means of grace, it really plays upon and affects our whole social, educational, political and commercial life. It forms the moral character of our people. Money devoted to it tells more upon our protection and safety than do all the revenues compulsorily raised for the maintenance of our courts, our prisons, our institutions of reform, and our police. We ought to see this, and to carry our Home Mission Board on our hearts and our prayers. And we ought to pour into its treasury, without stint, the contributions of our substance on this very account. But a higher motive still to the large, free-hearted giving that is asked is this: That we are not our own. We are bought with a price. What shall we do to testify our gratitude to Him who

gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works?" This is the question for us all. The Holy Spirit press it home upon our consciences and hearts. Then will our liberality be not constrained, but free, and we shall need no urging to increase our offerings to the Lord.

In view of the Report and its suggestions, your Committee recommend the following resolutions :

1. Resolved, That the Divine Blessing upon the work of this Board during the past year, in manifest answer to prayer, calls for our profound gratitude to the Great Head of the Church, and presents to us the greatest encouragent to go forward with what we already have in hand, and to widen, as rapidly as possible, the field of our operations.

2. Resolved, That with increased earnestness we again commend this Board, and the Church Building Fund, for larger offerings in testimony of our thankfulness for the past, and of our willingness and eagerness to enter every opened door, and put forth all our energy for the building up of the kingdom of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

3. Resolved, That a special collection for the Funds of this Board be taken up throughout the Churches on the second Sabbath of October, or as near that time as possible, and also that collections for Missions be taken up on the first Sabbath of each month, when this does not conflict with the order of collections already adopted by any individual Church.

II. THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

The General Synod of 1875 entered into an agreement with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, that actual co-operation should be begun between the two bodies in the work of colored evangelization in the South. (See Minutes of 1875, page 256.) In pursuance of this agreement, Rev. Dr. Plumer, delegate from the Southern General Assembly to the General Synod of last year, and Rev. Henry B. Blake, a Southern Evangelist, addressed the Synod in behalf of the education of preachers among the colored people of the South. The result was the passage of certain preambles and resolutions, printed on pages 450 and 451 of the last Minutes. The General Synod having been advised that the Assembly had resolved to establish a school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the training up of colored preachers, and that the Rev. Henry B. Blake was ready to undertake evangelizing work among the freedmen in North Carolina, and was the right man for this work, resolved that, in its judgment, "the sum of $2,500 should be raised by our Church during the next synodical year, in aid of the foregoing objects," and that the money, when collected, should be forwarded to the Rev. Richard McIlwaine, Treasurer of the Southern Assembly's Committee of Sustentation, at Baltimore. Rev. David Inglis, Rev. William C. Handy, and Elder John Hopkins were appointed "to take this matter in charge, and endeavor by all proper means to accomplish this object." This special Committee report that, owing to unexpected difficulties, they have not been able to secure from Rev. Mr. Blake the service contemplated by the Synod, and have, therefore, not attempted to raise that portion of the $2,500 which was designed to pay his salary and expenses. They hoped Rev. Mr. Blake would be present in this Synod, and that the difficulties in their way might be here stated. In his absence, however, they do not feel at liberty to present a one-sided view of the case. Four hundred dollars were really raised by the Committee, and forwarded to the Tuscaloosa school. The Committee feel that they can do no more, and ask to be discharged. In view of their report, your Committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions :

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1. That the Special Committee of 1876 be discharged.

2. That we commend the school at Tuscaloosa and the support of preachers among the freedmen, to our churches for hearty sympathy and liberal contributions, reminding them of the agreement between General Synod and the General Assembly for co-operation in the work of colored evangelization in the South.

3. That all funds contributed for this object be paid over to the Treasurer of our Board of Domestic Missions, and by him forwarded at once to the Treasurer of the Committee of Sustentation, at Baltimore.

III. THE MEMORIAL OF THE CLASSIS OF HOLLAND.

On pages 54 and 55 of the Minutes of the Particular Synod of Chicago, we find a communication from the Classis of Holland, proposing certain modificatians of our Board of Domestic Missions, for its better adaptation to the needs of our Church at the West. The Synod of Chicago approved the modifications proposed by the Classis, and have sent the plan to this body, with recommendation for its adoption. The points are as follows:

1. Six additional members of the Board of Domestic Missions shall be chosen this year by the General Synod from the Classes of the so-called Western Churches: one-third of these to serve for one, two and three years, respectively; after this year two to be annually chosen by the General Synod in the customary manner from a double number nominated by the Particular Synod of Chicago.

2. These six members, with the Corresponding Secretary of the Board as ex-officio member, shall constitute and be known as Western Executive Committee of the Board. Four members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

3. The officers of this Committee, to be elected annually, shall be a President, who shall also be its Corresponding Seeretary, and a Recording Secretary. They shall serve without pay, but necessary traveling expenses and incidental expenses, as also expenses connected with sessions of the Committee, shall be allowed by the Board as recommended by the Committee.

4. The Committee shall meet quarterly, at such times and places as may be appointed by them upon consultation with the

Board.

5. They shall be charged with the management of the Missions and Church Extension work in the field west of the territory occupied by the Classis of Geneva, under the same regulations which govern the Executive Committee of the Board.

6. The members of this Committee shall not be required to attend the meetings of the Board in New York, but they may at their discretion appoint one of their number to attend the meeting of the Board in April, who shall then be privileged (as proxy) to cast the full number of six (6) votes in all matters upon which he shall have been instructed to vote by the Committee.

7. All the actions of this Executive Committee shall be revised and passed upon by the Board; hut no action taken by the unanimous vote of this Committee shall be annulled by the Board, except by a vote of the majority of all the members of the Board.

In regard to the proposed plan, your Committee have not only thought much, but have consulted the views of many brethren in the Synod. The fact of the proposition itself indicates a felt want in the West, and this we should be very glad to meet if we could. It does not seem to us, however, practicable to carry out the plan proposed, and we find, upon consultation, that our judgment is sustained by men who have had large experience in the operations of this and other Boards. We here recall, too, that the last General Synod recommended to the Board of Domestic Missions to appoint one or more Superintendents of Mission work in the West. And we have learned that the Board has taken a first step under that recommendation, and appointed Rev. Dr. Charles Scott a Superintendent of this work for the State of Michigan. This appointment, we are told, will be followed by other similar appointments as rapidly as means are furnished. In view of all this, your Committee judge that no further action is called for just now, and recommend the passage of the following resolution :

Resolved, That on the ground of the facts stated in this report, we deem it impracticable to adopt the plan proposed in the communication from the Classis of Holland.

DAVID COLE, Chairman.

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