Peter did: 'Silver and gold have I none!'" To which the reply
was made: "Neither can you say, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up
and walk.'" Peter and the Pope are types of two conditions of the
church of Christ. When it is dependent on Christ, it can bless the
bodies and souls of men; when it relies on its wealth, it can do
neither. A missionary society that should be so thoroughly endowed as
to feel itself to be independent of God and man for funds would soon be
thoroughly dead. Its power is in proportion to the faith it uplifts to
God, and to the constant sense of dependence with which it rests down
upon the sympathy and support of the churches. It can never flourish
except as it is refreshed by the little rills of benevolence that flow
from praying Christians; that treasury is poor, indeed, that does not
receive the widow's two mites. The American Missionary Association can
come with blessings to the neglected races of our land only as it lays
hold with one hand upon the arm of the Lord and with the other grasps
the hands of the pastors and members of the churches--as it enables
them to feel that it is their society doing God's work for them.

But does not the magnificent gift of Mr. Hand lift the Association
above such dependence on the churches? Is it not at least so well
provided for that the churches need not be so regular and liberal in
their contributions? We answer emphatically that if this should be the
result of that gift, we should esteem it no blessing; and in this we
are sure Mr. Hand himself would unite with us. We are told that he was
accustomed to read the "Receipts" acknowledged in the AMERICAN
MISSIONARY, and was greatly delighted that so many small donations were
reported. He said that one thing that confirmed him in the choice of
the Association as the almoner of his bounty was the hold it seemed to
have upon the mass of intelligent and praying members of the New
England churches, No! the gift of Mr. Hand, generous and large as it
is, provides for only a part of our great work. It does not touch the
Church, Mountain, Indian, Chinese or Higher Educational Departments. It
is wisely appropriated; it goes directly and practically to a point
where help is much needed. But it is limited to that and does not cover
even all of that. Let the churches do neither themselves, the
Association nor Mr. Hand the great wrong of withholding because he
gives; rather let them take this gift as God and the generous