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Remarks by Mr. John H. Washburn.

Mr. President.--The last few years have been remarkable in gifts and
legacies. Some have endowed colleges and universities; some, as in this
case, have been for the benefit of a peculiar race, but no one in his
own lifetime has ever selected a benevolent association as beneficiary,
and endowed it with such a munificent gift as Daniel Hand has bestowed
upon the American Missionary Association. He was, it seems to me, wise
in choosing this course. Others have seen fit to put their funds in the
hands of trustees organized and incorporated to hold the trust. He
might have done that, but what would have been the gain over the
present plan? Those trustees must have availed themselves, as the
trustees of the Peabody Fund and the trustees of the Slater Fund are
compelled to do, of existing organizations for knowing the needs of the
people; where and how the money can be used to the best advantage. Mr.
Hand availed himself of an organization ready to his hand, one whose
agents are better qualified to judge of the needs of the people, the
plans to be pursued, the work to be done, than any other organization
in this country.

Now the first thought of the executive officers and committee in
receiving this magnificent gift is gratitude to God, who put it into
the heart of this man to entrust to us such great means of usefulness
for the people for which we labor. But there is a second thought; is
this gift to be a blessing to us or a curse? That depends upon our
constituents, the men and women personally, and on the churches, not on
the officers of the Association. How do you, the individual givers to
this Association, regard this gift? Every special gift to such
organizations as this, whether it be for special endowment or to
establish special schools, implies more money, an increase of
contribution. Gifts for new buildings, gifts for establishing new plant
are apt to be an embarrassment unless the individuals will respond with
increased donations. Now this fund which is given us, while the terms
are liberal, is limited in its scope,--it is strictly for the education
of the colored youth in the Southern States of America. Not one dollar
of this can be used for general work, not one dollar for the Indian, or
for our Mountain Work; strictly limited in its use, we need in
consequence even more money than before. We are endowed with this great
gift, but we may not be able t