Eighteen Hundred and Nine and Nineteen Hundred and Nine. Brush Run and Pittsburg. How significant these dates and places! What a boundless wealth of love, labor and blessed reward crowd themselves in between these points in time! How rich has been our Father's blessing! How marvelously has this movement for a return to primitive Christianity grown! This growth has been as natural as the unfolding of some beautiful flower. "First the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear." First, with a diligent, sacrificing search for the essential truth of Christianity, we sought to lay deep and strong the foundations of our plea for the unity of God's people. This done, inspired by a vision of the all-embracing scope of divine love, we took up seriously the task of organizing all our forces for the world's conquest. And now we have come to the flowering, fruit-bearing period of our movement, the period in which the larger, richer, riper fruits of the Spirit shall abound. The evidence of this is seen in our growing interest in world-wide evangelism and in the care of the widow and the orphan in their affliction. Of all the splendid achievements of a century, none testifies more eloquently and convincingly to our spiritual growth and our fidelity to our plea for a return to Christ than the magnificent work of our Benevolent Association.

      Like many another great enterprise, the association was born in weakness and obscurity. Unknown and almost friendless at its birth, it now has a host of deeply devoted friends. Homeless and penniless in the beginning, it now has twelve beautiful institutions, in ten States, and other property aggregating in value $261,887.32. Its income the first year was but $86. Its income the present year was $129,732.86. At first it was largely occupied in maintaining its own existence; now hundreds each year feel the touch of its helping hand and the warmth of its sympathetic heart. While Paul has planted and Apollos watered this beautiful ministry, God has surely given the increase, and to him belongeth all praise.

      No year in the twenty-three in which the association has been at work has

J. W. PERRY.

given greater reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving than the Centennial year.

      It was a year of unparalleled devotion on the part of those who were actively engaged in the work. From the president of the association through the entire line of general and local officers, there was but one great purpose, the glory of Christ and the triumph of his church through the Gospel of the Helping Hand.

      One of the most gratifying features of the year's work was the unmistakable evidence of a rapidly rising tide of interest in this particular phase of the Lord's work. Preachers and churches were never more cordial in [285] their welcome to the representatives of the association. A larger number of individuals and churches and Bible schools gave to the support of the work than in any previous year. A larger number of churches and individuals became life-lines. The amount received from bequests was the largest ever received in a single year. The amount received on the annuity plan, $17,333, was the largest amount ever reported in any one year. The total amount received from all sources was $129,732.86, the largest amount received in any one year. When to this amount $1,300 raised in good pledges for the removal of the Southeastern Home, and $15,000 for a building for a home for the aged in Dallas, Tex., is added, the total for the year is $146,032.86.

      The summary for the year's work shows the following results:

      We rejoice that it is our privilege to make our contributions to the joy of this great Centennial celebration. Early in the preparation for this great

J. H. MOHORTER.

occasion we felt we must come to this great day with a thank-offering that would speak eloquently to the world of our appreciation of the cause we love, and that would adequately and fittingly express our gratitude to God for one hundred years of the richest grace and favor. We thank God that while our missionary societies have been engaged in winning mighty victories at home and abroad for Christ and his church, it has been our privilege to minister to the worn-out soldiers of the cross and to build permanent homes for the tender care of their widows and orphans.

      We are glad to report that the much-needed new building for the Colorado Christian Home in Denver is an assured thing. The work of construction has actually begun. It will be our only open door of mercy in all the great Rocky Mountain country.

      For years the pathetic cry of the orphan has been heard coming over the mountains from the great empire of the Northwest, asking for a home. It has been our prayer that we might have the joy of answering this prayer in our Centennial year. This prayer has been answered. An organization has been formed and property secured for the establishment of a beautiful home for neglected childhood at Walla Walla, Wash.

      The establishment of a home for aged, indigent Disciples on the Pacific slope was one of the first Centennial aims realized. The Northwestern Christian Home opened its doors of mercy and love at Eugene, Ore., Jan. 15, 1908.

      We have for years had two beautiful homes for the aged in the North. The great South has been neglected. We have not a single haven of rest south of the Mason and Dixon line in which the worn-out toiler in the Master's service may tarry until called to his reward. Fifteen thousand dollars in cash and good pledges have been secured to supply this need. The contract for the new building will be let before the holidays. Many worthy brethren are waiting for the comfort and blessing that this home will bring to their cheerless lives.

      A new building adequate to the needs of the great work of the Christian Orphans' Home, St. Louis, has long been an urgent necessity. To secure this building was the Centennial dream of a host of the friends of this worthy institution. This dream was materialized through the gift of $55,000 by Mr. Robert Stockton. A beautiful building, costing $92,000, furnishes home comfort [286] and help for two hundred little waifs.

      It has been the ambition of many hearts that they might complete the joy of the Centennial occasion by reporting all of our institutions out of debt. This is a ministry of love, and love is generous, giving all that is needed and more. We are glad to report our properties all clear. The hands of love have been untied and she has scattered her blessings far and wide.

      Several great needs remain to be met:

      First and most urgent among these

MRS. J. HANSBROUGH.

is a building for the Christian Hospital for St. Louis. This institution is rendering a remarkably fruitful ministry in a building illy adapted to its needs.

      Second, a Tubercular Sanitarium is sorely needed in some part of the semi-arid belt of the West. Demands are coming from all over the country for an institution devoted to the relief of the victims of the "White Plague."

MRS. T. R. AYERS.

      Third, another imperative need is that of a systematic support for all our Homes. The work is often crippled by debt. The children and old people in our Homes are the unfortunate members of our Lord's family. As we cheerfully provide for our own, we should lovingly provide for his. This work must not be left to chance or accident. An assured offering from every church and Bible school every year would enable us to conduct the work with credit and joy to all our hearts.

      Since the organization of the association in 1886, twelve institutions have come into its family of beautiful ministries. Two hospitals--St. Louis, and Valparaiso, Ind.; three Homes for the Aged--East Aurora, N. Y.; Jacksonville, Ill.; Eugene, Ore.; seven homes for orphan and other unfortunate children--Christian Orphans' Home, St. Louis; Mothers' and Babies' Home, St. Louis; Cleveland (O.) Christian Orphanage; Juliette Fowler Home, Grand Prairie, Tex.; Colorado Christian Home, Denver; Southeastern Christian Home, Baldwin, Ga.; Northwestern Benevolent Association, Walla Walla, Wash. Each of these Homes has a beautiful story to tell of sweet and holy service rendered. Some of them have been busy with bandage and cordial, ministering to a few of the world's sufferers. Others have devoted themselves to trying to fill the void in the hearts and lives of little ones bereft of parental love, while still others have devoted themselves to the sweet task of lending a helping hand to some of the wayworn pilgrims making their way to the home not made with hands.

      The following is the record of twenty-three years:

      The treasurer's account balances for the year ending Sept. 39, 1909, are as follows:

      And finally, brethren, we leave this report with you. It completes the record of a year and a century. We are thankful to you for the confidence you have reposed in us, for your patience with our shortcomings, for your generous response to the call of the holy ministry which you have entrusted to our oversight. We enter upon the new year with high hopes for the speedy coming of the kingdom of Christ. The return of the spirit and practice of apostolic benevolence promises to restore the church to her primitive place and power. If at home and abroad we perform well the part of the good Samaritan, the world will take knowledge that we have been with Jesus and learned of him. Seeing our good works, they will glorify our Father in heaven. And when at last we are too weary to longer minister in mercy to our less fortunate brethren, he will say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

[CCR 285-288]