As to the work abroad, the Report gives particular information concerning the missions among the Chippewa, Iowa, and Omaha Indians, the Chinese in California, in Japan, China, Siam, India, Western Africa, Brazil, New Granada, and some of the Roman Catholic countries of Europe, and to the Jews of New York city. It makes full and satisfactory statements relative to the labors in these widely-extended fields of sixtyseven ministers of the gospel, without including the number aided in Europe, of sixteen male and seventy-one female assistant missionaries from this country, and of ninety-seven native assistant laborers, mostly connected with missions in Africa, India, and China. The churches connected with these missions are not large, but they have nearly all enjoyed encouraging proofs of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The number of scholars under instruction in the mission-schools is about five thousand. The issues of the printing presses in India and China were larger than usual. The translation of the New Testament into Pushto, the language of the Afghans, and the completion of the Chinese translation of the whole Bible, are among the noteworthy events of the year. The latter was the last work of the devoted and lamented Dr. Culbertson.* Besides his removal by death, the church was called to mourn over the death of Dr. Campbell of India, Mr. Gayley of China, and Mr. Clemens of Africa ; all faithful servants in the vineyard of the Lord. Receipts from all sources were $188,458 93; the expenditures, $188,121 95: leaving a balance in the Treasury of $336 98. THE OFFICERS OF THE BOARD ARE AS FOLLOWS: WALTER LOWRIE, Esq., Corresponding Secretary, 23 Centre st., N. Y. JOHN C. LOWRIE, D.D., Corresponding Secretary, 23 Centre st., N. Y. WM. RANKIN, Jr., Esq., Treasurer, 23 Centre street, New York. Board of Publication. THE Twenty-Fifth Annual Report is as follows: During the year five books, three tracts, one package of twenty-one soldiers' tracts, one hospital card, two packages of leaflets, and two German books have been published, as follows: The following Table gives the title, the name or nom de plume" of author, the size, the number of pages, the price, the number of copies, and the number of the volume on the printed catalogue of the Board's publications: * A Memoir of Dr. Culbertson is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1863, pp. 163, 165. + A Memoir of Dr. Campbell is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1863, pp. 380, 381. A Memoir of Mr. Gayley is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1863, pp. 168, 172. A Memoir of Mr. Clemens is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1863, pp. 149, 155. The total number of new publications printed during the year, have been as follows: Reprints of former publications during the year, have been Books........ 226,000 Total number of copies of Books and Tracts published by the Board since its organization 10,790,488.* In addition to the foregoing, there have been printed during the year of The Sabbath School Visitor....... Of the Revised Book of Discipline..... Of the Report on the Disabled Ministers' Fund......................... 676,000 126,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 3,000 The Home and Foreign Record has a circulation of 10,400 copies, and although the receipts are not sufficient to defray the cost of publication, free copies being sent to all our ministers and candidates, yet it is believed that as a mere advertising agency it repays to all the Boards manifold its actual cost. The Sabbath School Visitor has a circulation of 55,000. DISTRIBUTION. The sales at the Depository, No. 821 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, have been 175,019 volumes, sold by colporteurs who have been in commission during the year, 43,947 volumes; total number of volumes sold, 218.966. Given by the Executive Committee (but paid for out of the Distribution Fund) 26,950. Given by Colporteurs, 72,299. Total number of volumes distributed, 318,215. The pages of Tracts distributed have been as follows: Sold at Depository, 570,461; given by Executive Committee, 683,968; given by Colporteurs, 2,399,030. The work of Colportage has been carried on during the year, but owing to various causes the number has been reduced, 102 having been reported as being in commission; but of this number six are reported as being in commission in Alabama, four in Florida, four in Georgia, seven in North Carolina, two in *A History of "The Presbyterian Board of Publication," from its origin, will be found in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1861, pages 57-63. ་ South Carolina, two in Tennessee, two in Texas, nine in Virginia from whom no reports" have been received.* The report says: "When this unhappy civil war began, the Board had a large number of colporteurs scattered throughout the Southern and Southwestern States. What has become of them or their stock of books, it has been impossible to learn. In a few instances, it is known that their books were distributed among the Confederate troops. In other cases, there is reason to believe that they were confiscated. Meanwhile, the Board has ordered that the entire value of their stock, amounting, at catalogue prices, to $17,265 13, be placed to a suspense account, until reliable information can be had respecting it." SUSTENTATION-The Treasurer reports receiving from all sources, $81,670 93; add balance from last year, $6,086 36; total resources for the year, $87,757 29. The expenditures of the year were $71,849 59; leaving a balance in the Treasury of $15,907 70. The receipts were divided as follows from the sale of Books $41,521 12; for Colportage, $25,078 35; from Miscellaneous Sources 15,071 46. The Report of the Board was referred to the Standing Committee on Publication, MILO J. HICKOK, D.D., Chairman. To this Committee was also referred the report of the Special Committee appointed by the General Assembly of 1863 to make a thorough examination of the affairs of the Board of Publication.† Also the Re It might be well enough to mention that the States here enumerated have been overrun with the slaveholders' Rebels since 1861, and one at least of the colporteurs named as being in Commission during the past year (1862-63,) actually aided in forming the First Rebel General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, (c. 8. A.,) which met in Augusta, Georgia, in December, 1861, and he was also a member of the Second Rebel General Assembly, which met in Montgomery, Alabama, in May, 1862. See The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1863, pages 414, 440. This committee consisted of CHARLES C. BEATTY, D.D., Chairman, L. H. Atwater, D.D., Wm. M. Paxton, D.D., John M. Lowrie, D.D., and S. B. McPheeters, D.D., Ministers. II. H. Leavitt, Charles Crosby, James Donaldson, and B. Whitely, Ruling Elders. The report is as follows: "The committee met Sept. 19, 1862, in Philadelphia, Pa. All were present except Messrs. McPheeters, Donaldson, and Whitely; and was in session six successive days. At the outset the committee met with complaints, alleging the inefficient working of the Board, such as have been published in different newspapers of our church, and recounted in the Assemblies for several years past. To hear these, and to investigate their truthfulness, was a chief duty assigned to the committee; the Assembly directing us to hear such allegations from whatever quarter. Of the judicatories of the church, no action was formally presented to us, except a series of resolutions passed by Dane Presbytery, and transmitted to us, by order of the Presbytery, through their Stated Clerk. But letters and documents from various members of the church, both ministers and elders, were put into our hands; and three ministers of high standing and ability came personally before us, and made statements as fully as they desired: to all which the committee gave careful and interested attention. "On the other hand, we received a series of resolutions passed by the Board of Publication, giving us a cordial welcome in our work, and offering us every facility for the prosecution of our inquiries. And it is but due for us to say, touching all persons concerned, that every individual who appeared before us at our request, both of salaried officers, and of members of the Executive Committee, carried fully out the spirit of these resolutions. To which may here be brought to our notice, or sought out by our own I. "The first thing that engaged the attention of your committee was THE CHARACTER OF THE PUBLICATIONS PUT FORTH BY THE BOARD. Except in the resolutions of the Presbytery of Dane, which complain that the efficiency of the Board is impaired by a large accumulation of books of a very ordinary and common-place character,' and which request the Board' to give us the cream, and only the cream of theological and religious literature;' and except complaints against our periodicals, to be hereafter noticed, it is remarkable that no charges have been made before the committee, against the character of the Board's publications. "When the Board of Publication assumed its present form and name, its design, as expressed in its constitution, then amended by the General Assembly, was to publish not only tracts and Sabbath-school books, but also approved works in support of the great principles of the Refor mation, as exhibited in the doctrines and order of the Presbyterian Church, and whatever else the Assembly may direct. We now inquire, Has the Board faithfully done the work which the church should expect of such an agency? "What are the criteria by which to judge of the publications which such a Board should fur nish to a church and a land like ours? We mention a few of the more important of these, in comparison with what the Institution has already accomplished. "The first criterion by which to judge of a religious literature, to wit, soundness of doctrine, belongs to the publications of the Board. "The second criterion respects the adaptation of the publications to the wants of the Presbyterian church, and to the work she should accomplish in the world around, A denominational literature, such a Board must supply. The founders of the Institution unquestionably designed this; the port of the Committee on the Home and Foreign Record, Rev. A. L. LINDSLEY, Chairman. necessities of the church, so long agitated by the doctrinal discusions of that period of our history, imperatively demanded that our particular doctrines and order should be boldly vindicated; and it is right in itself, and especially characteristic of Presbyterians, to make an open and manly advocacy of the distinguishing principles we draw from the sacred Scriptures. Yet we would not stop here. The sentiment of the Presbyterian Church would not sustain the Board in any narrow or exclusive policy. Firmly attached to our own standards, and zealous for our views, no people in the land are less sectarian than Presbyterians, none take a larger field of Christian effort, and none are more ready to cooperate in the diffusion of catholic, evangelical truth. The Catalogue of the Presbyterian Board of Publication must therefore embrace a wide variety of subjects. "A third criterion by which to judge of the Board's issues may be found in the actual sales secured. The circulation of various volumes in the catalogue is far beyond the anticipations any of the committee had formed. Making all due allowance for the special advantages such an institution may possess for giving circulation to its issues, we judge that the sale of a book in an intelligent community is some test of its value. * Attractiveness may be esteemed another criterion of excellence. The books should contain only scriptural truth; should be adapted to the wants of the church; should have an interest for those accustomed to buy books; but we wish also books that will attract the heedless-books that will be read. The Board has certainly made great improvements from its earlier issues, in the exterior style and finish of its publications. Here, of course, we desire every further improvement possible. But we believe that, taking the whole catalogue together, the issues of this Board will compare favorably with those of any other publishing house or society; that, in proportion to its numbers, the Sabbath-school catalogue will furnish as many attractive books as any ever sent forth; and that the Board is improving, as it gathers experience, in the value and attractiveness of its volumes. "Those who have felt dissatisfied with the workings of the Board hitherto, have apparently but little considered several thoughts we may here suggest: "Ist. This institution should publish important works in the interest of the Presbyterian Church, that are not remunerative in their sale, or are even quite unprofitable, pecuniarily. 2d. Without an entire change of the plans thus far pursued, the Board cannot supply all the intelligent reading of the Presbyterian Church. Many valuable volumes cannot receive the approval of the Publishing Committee, and indeed no possible arrangements could induce our people to contine their purchases to any single publishing establishment. The Board inust ever be content to share with other agencies the full supply of the wants of such a Church. 34. For various reasons, we need not specify, many writers in our own Church publish their works under other auspices; and indeed no changes in the officers, or policy, or conduct of the Board, can control the entire freedom of authors, publishers, and purchasers of books, or obviate the difficulties with which every such institution may contend. "While your committee would appreciate these difficulties, they do not affirm that the publications of the Board are above criticism. Yet the cause of religion has nothing to gain from unreasonable censures, and due credit should be given for the well-meant efforts, on the whole successful, that have sought the good of the Church for a quarter of a century. We are the less disposed to minute criticism of the past, because we have evidence that careful efforts are made to improve as experience directs. "II. The second topic that engaged the attention of the Committee, was THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE BOARD. These were arranged under these several heads: "1st. The capital and its increase. "2d. The salaries of the officers and the working expenses of the Board. 3d. The cost of production, and the prices and agencies of the Board, and 4th. The general efficiency of its management. "1st. Our first object was to ascertain what was really the capital of the Board, and what amount of this was available for business purposes? For some reasons it is doubtless judicions that no pub lic exhibit should be made of many matters of this kind; yet as the Church at large has an interest in an institution like this, the demand for a frank and full exposition of its financial affairs may be thought not unreasonable. The balance-sheet at the end of the fiscal year of the Board presents the following items: Personal Credits................606 85 12,580 66 Total present Capital............$237,387 52 "Whether this capital has increased as rapidly as the Church should reasonably expect, or is eniployed with satisfactory efficiency, will be referred to again. We make a few remarks now upon the various items named. The Real Estate of the Board is set down at its actual cost. This entire sum was given to the Board for the express purposes: first, of buying the house and lot formerly occupied, and then of erecting the present buildings upon the same site. When the buildings first purchased were destroyed by fire, they were not fully paid for; but the insurance previously effected, gave the ground into the hands of the Board free of incumbrance. Special contributions afforded the ability to build the house now occupied: the donors were consulted as to the plans, size, and style of the whole; and your committee have ascertained, by special inquiry, that no conditions were imposed respecting the free occupancy of the premises in any part by any of the other Boards. The item Widows' Fund' is the amount of a deposit made some years ago, (and before the election of the present Corresponding Secretary,) with the Institution known as the Presbyterian Annuity Company. The design was to secure to the family of the Secretary of the Board for the time being an annuity, in case of his death, according to the terms usually offered by that society to congregations for their pastors, However well intended was this liberality of the Board, it seems liable to objection, and in a subsequent part of this report the committee recommend the withdrawal of the deposit. "Engravings on wood, steel plates, and stereo The Standing Committee in the Board made the following report, which after considerable discussion was adopted: type plates are mentioned. It is difficult to state the value of such stock. Following the usual custom of business the Board has charged the cost of stereotyping to the various editions of the books stereotyped, so that the plates of the most available books soon make no appearance in the account of stock; and yet most can be used for years to come. Thus the Board actually possesses more property than the balance-sheet calls for; but as each set of plates can be used only for a single book, the amount thus expressed is not active capital. "The Library cost $2,800 since 1845. It was nearly destroyed by fire in 1849. Upon examining the annual reports the commitee thought that it would be well to diminish further expenditures for this object. "The debts now due to the Board being $26,000; the stock on hand, $123,400; cash, $6,086; bills receivable, $2,440, omitting abatement for bad debts and for Southern accounts; the entire capital which foots up $237,000, only about $160,000 can be used directly in its business. "In 1842 the General Assembly directed the Board to manage its funds upon the principle of yielding a net yearly revenue of about six per cent. per annum upon the actual amount of its whole capital.' Objection was made before the committee that this six per cent. must not be 'compounded,' but we are clearly of the opinion that the advance of six per cent. in each year should be, according to the Assembly's apparent meaning, upon the capital of that year, and not merely upon the original investment. Though the balance-sheet of each year was placed in our hands during the sessions of the committee in Philadelphia, yet in preparing this report we use data reaching only as far back as 1849. "The entire capital in 1849 was $84,054 30. This was increased $22,656 15 in that year, and $6000 more in 1851, for building purposes. The total profits in 13 years amount to $153,333 22. The items explaining this in full, will be given in a subsequent table. The average capital for these thirteen years is nearly $172,000; the average annual profits, $11,975. As this is 6 4-5 per cent., the Board has fully obeyed the injunction of the Assembly. 2. The Salaries of the Officers, and the working expenses of the Board, next engaged the attention of the committee. "Before mentioning the objections made in regard to these things, your committee deem it due to a just understanding of the whole case, to express our high esteem of those officers of the Board with whom these investigations have brought us in contact. We need say little respecting the venerable Editor of the Board; the earlier part of this Report has special reference to his labors; and he has spread the evidence before the world for more than twenty years, of an able and judicious discharge of his important duties. But we were strongly impressed with the ability of every officer for his particular place; each seemed specially intelligent touching his own duties; an excellent system appeared to belong to each department; and we are wholly indisposed to suggest any changes founded upon the unfitness of any officer for the place he holds. "And it should not be easily forgotten by the Church, that this Institution shares-a common feature of all our Boards-in the unrewarded labors of many gentlemen of high standing and eminent business capacity. The thanks of the Church are especially due to those, who, for so many years, have given their valuable time to the toils of the Publishing and Executive Committees of this Board; and that no serious embarrassments have ever affected it; that errors, which have elsewhere proved disastrous, have. been avoided; and that the Board now possesses so good prospects for future usefulness, may be justly ascribed, in large measure, to their prudence and care. Your committee would only add here, their deliberate judgment, that it is poor economy to give employment to inferior officers, in a great public institution like this. Business that must be transacted, like that of this Board, with the eyes of the whole Church upon it, should be well done; persons fully competent should fill every position; and the compensation should rather border upon the liberal than tend toward the mean. "Yet we should favor no extravagance, nor leave the impression that the agents of the Church are not to be held to a strict accountability. Various complaints have appeared in our public papers, and have been fully laid before us, that too many officers were employed by the Board; and that their salaries are larger than should be paid for such services. Your committee prefer to bring these matters directly before the Assembly in statistical tables, presenting the whole case. Just here we may simply say, that similar difficulties have attended the operations of all other like institutions with which we have had any acquaintance. Yet men accustomed to commercial affairs will think it strange to see that the amounts paid for salaries have increased so rapidly beyond the growth of the business itself. It is easy to advance in such matters; it is diffi cult to recede. Yet the committee think that the present is a good time to suggest changes in the way of retrenchment. We know that in such an institution a full corps of officers should be retained, even when business is dull; that persons already engaged, will not lightly be thrown out of business by an honorable employer; and that it is undesirable to need to train new officers, should business revive and expand. But the Board has already set the example of dispensing with one office, giving the duties of Publishing Agent into the hands of others already in their employment, after the lamented decease of Mr. Joseph P. Engles. Other similar changes can be made now; and perhaps be made permanent with even a growing business. "The committee propose the following recommendations to the consideration of the General Assembly: "1st. That the salary of the Corresponding Secretary of the Board should remain unchanged, in view of the cost of living in the city of Philadelphia; but that the amount deposited with the Presbyterian Annuity Company be withdrawn, and the Board be directed to withdraw it accordingly. The committee further express their judg ment, that this officer should discharge the du ties of Editor; yet considering the long and faithful services of the present Editor, they respectfully leave it to the General Assembly to decide whether this change should take place at the present time. "2d. That the duties of the Treasurer should be added to the duties of the Superintendent of Colportage, without any increase in his present salary; that the office of Treasurer, as distinct, be dispensed with, and that adequate security be still required for the proper fulfilment of his |