The figures given above mark the close of our fiscal year. While they show a gratifying increase of receipts from living donors over those of the preceding year, the falling off in legacies has been so heavy that our books balance on the wrong side, and we are obliged to report a debt of $15,451.87, which, with the debt of the preceding year, makes a total indebtedness of $29,237.73.

For an analysis of the figures, we refer our readers to the report of the Executive Committee on the finances of the year, published in another part of this number. It was a grand rally our friends made to save us. We fear that some of them sacrificed more than they ought in contributing so generously as they did. We pray that God may abundantly reward them. We thank them, one and all, with a heartiness greater than we can express. We would not sit in judgment upon the churches and professed friends who have contributed nothing to our treasury during the year. We know that some of them were not financially able. But we cannot believe that this was true of a majority of them.

The Congregational Year Book of 1885 reports 4,092 Congregational churches in the United States. We received during the year contributions from 1,677. What can be done to bring the non-contributing churches into line is a question we beg the pastors of contributing churches and the friends of the Association to help us answer. The pastors and members of these non-contributing churches as a general thing do not read our magazine. They are ignorant of our needs, and we do not know how to reach them so as to wake them up. Had we an army of agents to visit and talk to them, we might move them to take our work upon their thought and sympathy. Our appeals by circular, by newspaper, resolutions of State conferences and of the National Council, all fail to move them. They still continue not to hear and not to do. There is only one way that we can think of by which they can be reached, and that is for the local conferences to take the matter in hand, and select a committee of "a persistent ONE," who by letter, and, if need be, by personal visitation, will bring the delinquents up to meet the obligations of fellowship and denominational honor.

But as seen over against this long list of do-nothings what a grand army the 1,677 contributing churches appear! Theirs has been the work and theirs is the glory of "a well done" both from God and man. They form a base of supplies from which the army at the front can be recruited and sustained, and which can be counted on for support till the victory is won. We enter upon the new year with fresh confidence and renewed strength. No such word as "fail" finds place in our vocabulary so long as we have such friends behind us and God above and around us. The work will not be permitted to suffer. We shall throw off the debt. The faithful 1,677 will be reinforced. Our friends will be multiplied, and the work carried triumphantly forward.

WHAT OUR FRIENDS THINK AND SAY.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE TREASURER DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

"If any part of the country is to be put first, the South should be, and helped most. Hence the inclosed, half of it from myself and the other half from the Congregational church here. Your work and that of your compeers is above criticism. All there is of you is put in with a skill and completeness which are not surpassed; and your plans are as large as the field and as complete as its needs. No one could get more out of the money or put it where it would do more good. You and yours are as unmingled beneficence as rum shops are unmitigated maleficence. Were it in my power, I would build a new school-house in the South every year. My heart never thinks of you and your work without blessing you in it; and I have written the above as a sort of relief." (We hardly feel ourselves worthy of such generous praise, but we do very heartily thank our brother for his warm indorsement.—Ed.)

"Inclosed find a small sum to help elevate and Christianize the colored freedmen. Grains of sand make the mountains, and drops of water the ocean, and the invisible workmen rear the coral islands; so may God's people one and all do what they can, and your debt will be wiped out."

"At our meeting last evening, I read your appeal and took up a collection of $6, which I send you. It is a little Home Missionary church of only 10 members, but they are good ones, and in earnest. Hope all other churches will do as well and your society be saved from debt."

"Got your final appeal before last Sunday, but were so happy to think we had not waited for it, having taken our collection and subscription two weeks before. But owing to the general poverty among my people, we had to give time, and the sum is only now made up. I may say that this little amount at this time represents more real giving than any collection I ever secured. May a blessing go with it."

"I feel myself, like Paul, a debtor to all men, especially the classes you represent. Accept, then, my single mite, in the spirit in which I desire to send it, and may the Lord free you from the threatening debt by leading your constituency to feel their indebtedness to these classes and to Himself."

"I inclose $10, and wish I might increase it a hundred-fold. I had already given all that I intended, but could not resist the urgent appeal for the needy."

"The notices of your financial need came and touched a responsive chord in my heart. A week ago I gave a preparatory notice that a collection would be taken yesterday in your behalf. The people responded quite liberally. Inclosed find draft for the amount. You have my earnest prayer for the success of your effort to raise what you lack. May God bless you in your work and labor of love." (It was indeed a generous contribution, yet nearly one-third of it came out of the pastor.—Ed.)

"I had thought I had done all I could afford in these times, but coincident with your appeal came the inclosed, for which I had another place; but here, take it. The Lord will provide."

"In response to your society's importunity, I inclose $2. I took the collection up after a sermon I preached on Foreign Missions. We surprised our people by the amount, as we don't usually get by a collection one dollar. I hope you will realize soon that there is no debt." (We have always believed that one of the best ways to rouse people up to Home Missions is to stir them up on Foreign Missions.—Ed.)

DEATH OF PRESIDENT WARE.

Edmund A. Ware was born in North Wrentham, now Norfolk, Mass., Dec. 22, 1837, and died suddenly of heart disease in Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 25, 1885. He passed the early years of his life under conditions which made him acquainted with hardships, and fitted him to have warm sympathy for those who struggled against obstacles and trials.

He was graduated from Yale College