THE
FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL
Vol. XXIII— August, 1891— No. .1.
HEAVY HOME EXPENSES.
It Is not a pleasant tiling to be constantly talking and writing
about the money features of our work, and yet it is very necessary.
This feature presents itself so constantly to our view, here in the Mis¬
sion Rooms, that oftentimes we can see and think of but little else.
And now we have to call the attention of the brethren to the fact
that the home expenses of our work this year will necessarily be very
heavy. The Ccntenar\' Committee appointed by the Convention is at
work, and all its expenses of travel and printing and postage must
be borne by the Boards. One of the features of the movement in¬
augurated by this Committee is the wide distribution of missionary
literature. The cost of this literature and the expenses of mailing it
will amount to no mean sum. We have hardly begun yet, and already
the cost of the literature ordered and the mailing of the same will
amount to between $600 and $1,000. These figures may seem large,
but the mention of a few items will give to brethren who have never
thought the matter over some idea of the expense. To mail to each
Baptist preacher in the South the prayer-card and tract recently sent
out cost, in one cent stamps alone, $86.40, besides the cost of the
cards, the tract, the envelopes and the circular. The directing of the
8,640 envelopes and the folding and preparing of the whole for mail¬
ing, was done as a labor of love by the ladies in Baltimore.
To meet the demand for information which we expect to follow the
sending out of these prayer-cards, we shall need, at a low estimate,
between 75,000 and 100,000 tracts, and these cost from $3.50 to $7
per thousand. Add to this the postage, one cent for every two ounces,
and one will get some idea of the expense of tract distribution.
We hope, before we are through with this Centennial movement, to
send out a million or more of tracts. If we can get our people to read
and inform themselves, interest in the work, prayer for it, and giving
to it will follow in due course. But in the meantime we are going to
be pressed, sorely pressed, for means to carry on the work, and we
beg our brethren everywhere to remember this and generously help us
in this work of their Lord and ours. .
