AMERICAN CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, pp. 171-232.
• "Annual Report" by Geo. B. Ranshaw, pp. 171-173.
• "The Christianity of Christ" by Charles S. Medbury, pp. 173-180.
• "The Contribution of the American Christian Missionary Society to Our Movement" by
  William J. Wright, pp. 180-183.
• "The Contribution of the State Society to Our Movement" by J. W. Yoho, pp. 183-186.
• "The Contribution of State Societies to Our Movement" by George E. Lyon, pp. 187-188.
• "Contribution of State Societies to Our Movement" by A. I. Myhr, pp. 188-190.
• "The Religious Needs of the Northwest" by Joseph L. Garvin, pp. 190-193.
• "Our Neglected Fields" by Henry F. Lutz, pp. 193-195.
• "Our Twofold Mission" by W. E. Ellis, pp. 195-198.
• "Our Twofold Mission" by L. O. Bricker, pp. 198-200.
• "Our Twofold Mission" by H. E. Van Horn, pp. 201-203.
• "Obedience to Missionary Vision" by C. M. Sharpe, pp. 203-206.
• "Our Missionary Vision" by Austin Hunter, pp. 206-209.
• "Obedience to the Missionary Vision" by Richard W. Abberley, pp. 209-212.
• "The Relation of Christianity to the Development of America" by A. W. Fortune, pp.
  212-215.
• "The Relation of Christianity to the Development of America" by Earle Wilfley, pp. 216-218.
• "Christ in America's Life" by N. K. Griggs, pp. 218-220.
• "Canada's Contribution to Our Movement" by John Munro, pp. 220-221.
• "Canada: The Status of Our Work, Our Drawbacks, and Our Hope for the Future" by R. W.
  Stevenson, pp. 221-223.
• "The Outlook in Western Canada and the Union Movement" by J. A. L. Romig, pp. 223-225.
• "Primitive Christianity in Australia" by D. A. Ewers, pp. 225-226.
• "Some of the Business Transactions of the Convention," pp. 226-227.
• "Committee on Recommendations," pp. 227-228.
• "Greetings from Missionaries and Other Workers," pp. 228-232.

      Four decades of sad experience convinced the fathers in this Restoration movement that it was futile to attempt the evangelization of America or the world by the efforts of single individuals or congregations.

      Six decades ago they banded themselves together to prosecute the work of "spreading the gospel in this and

G. B. RANSHAW.

other lands." They chartered the General Christian Missionary Convention, which, with its name changed to the American Christian Missionary Society, herewith presents an account of its stewardship.

      For a quarter century the society made but little progress, because it was compelled to fight daily for existence and to vindicate its right to live. All the arguments against missionary organizations were heard and fully answered during the life of Alexander Campbell, who was president of the society from its organization till he passed away in 1866. Organization has nothing new to fear, and it is hard to beat a success. The society has amply demonstrated its right to exist.

      The American Christian Missionary Society has organized approximately 3,600 congregations. In order that you may comprehend how vital to our movement are the churches which we have established, we present a list of the more important, and ask you in the light of these to consider the total contribution of this organization in establishing congregations: Boston, New York (two churches), East Orange, N. J, Philadelphia (two churches), Baltimore (two churches), Washington, D. C. (two churches), Richmond, Newport

H. A. DENTON.

News, Norfolk, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Columbia Atlanta, Macon, Jacksonville, De Land, Birmingham, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis (Mississippi Avenue), Jackson, Meridian, New Orleans, Shreveport, and most of the churches of Louisiana; Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, Weatherford, San Antonio, El Paso, and most of the important churches of the State; Oklahoma City, Guthrie, El Reno, Lawton, Enid, Ardmore, McAlester, Chickasha, Muskogee, and the four hundred other churches in Oklahoma; Atchison, Topeka, Wichita, Salina, Hutchinson, Pittsburg, Fort Scott, and most of the strong churches of Kansas; Boulder, Denver, Pueblo, La Junta, Colorado City, Canyon City, Colorado Springs, Almeda, Berkeley, Pomona, Stockton, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Eugene, Portland; Pendleton, Salem, Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, Walla Walla, North Yakima, Davenport, Bellingham, Boise, Caldwell, Nampa, Sheridan and Wheatland, Wyo.; Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and all other churches in South Dakota; Sioux City, [171] Davenport, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Oskaloosa, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Lincoln, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Milwaukee, Bay City, Benton Harbor, Belding, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Elmira, Syracuse, Troy, Altoona, Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkesbarre, Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Eureka Springs, Halifax, St. John, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Mobile, Galveston, Pensacola, Tampa, Baton Rouge, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Detroit, Des Moines, Pittsburg.

      The people here assembled in Convention stand at the threshold of their second century. Under His guidance we have become a great host which no man can number. Generous critics among our religious neighbors credit us with having changed the thought and practice of all religious bodies in America. Sects and denominations still remain, but the spirit which creates and maintains them has undergone great change. A host of leaders in all the bodies are of one heart and one soul with us in our plea for Christian union on the New Testament basis. Party walls are fast crumbling, and the sheep will ere long be of but "one flock, one Shepherd." The great historic creeds, works of genius and piety, have lost both their significance and power. Our first century has taught both church and world that to hold fast to Christ is enough. One Christ, One Book, One Church, in order to One Redeemed Humanity, represents the best thought and prayer of our age. For [172] "our plea," "'Tis daybreak everywhere."

      The society here in session stands on the threshold of its seventh decade. To have come through sixty years' warfare and work argues its fitness to survive in order to more work. From weakness which was all but inanition, the society has waxed lusty and boasts a multitude of friends. The churches it planted and cultivated to the point of self-support are the greatest of our brotherhood and are numbered by thousands. But frontiers and foreigners, cities and sects, mountaineers, Mormons, and the millions away from Christ, call more loudly for our aid now than ever. About two-thirds of the American population are unchurched. It is at once our privilege and duty to give them the gospel of the grace of God. The society can do no more without larger means. We beg and bombard, we beseech and besiege individuals and congregations for the money with which to enlarge our work. A thousand importuning and deserving bands of brethren appeal in vain to us annually for aid. We can aid hardly one in ten making application. Hundreds of groups of disciples in cities, towns and on frontiers dissolve annually and are lost in the rush of the world or swallowed up by the vigorous denominations because our people fail to provide an adequate Home Mission fund. In countless places our chance is lost beyond recovery. In others we are only holding on for a better day.

      How long shall these conditions obtain? How long shall this Board say "No," because our appeal has fallen upon leaden ears or hearts? We have done our best to get more money; we are proud of what we have done with small means. When will you enlarge our means? When will you enable us to do our part in American evangelization?

S. M. COOPER, Pres. W. J. SHELBURNE, Rec. Sec. WM. J. WRIGHT, Sec. GEO. B. RANSHAW, Sec.       For the Board of Trustees.

[CCR 171-173]