E two societies which were afterwards merged into the Christian and Missionary Alliance were organised at Old Orchard, Maine, in the summer of 1887, for the purpose of uniting in Christian fellowship and testimony, in a purely fraternal alliance, the large number of consecrated Christians in the various evangelical churches, who believe in the Lord Jesus as Healer and Scaovmioinugr ,L Soardn,c tainfider a, lso of uniting their effort in the special aggressive work of world-wide evan- gelisation. They were known for many years as the Christian Alliance and the International Missionary Alli- ance. In the spring of 1897 they were united as THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE. Within the past quarter of a century especially, God had been calling large numbers of His people into a deeper life, and Christ has been revealing Himself, personally, to them as a complete Saviour and uniting Himself to them through the Holy Ghost as an indwelling presence and an all-sufficient Sanctifier, Healer and Keeper. THE CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE In order to give a more emphatic testimony to those great principles which might well be called at this time present truths, that we might encourage and strengthen each other's hearts by mutual fellowship and prayer and that we might unite in various forms of aggressive work to give wider proclamation to these truths and prepare for the coming of our Lord. With this view the Alliance was formed and founded upon the especial basis of the Fourfold Gospel, as above expressed. In all other respects, and with reference to all other doctrines not expressed in the Fourfold Gospel, its attitude is strictly evangelical, holding most firmly to the verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, the doctrine of the Trinity, the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the necessity of the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost. It is not an ecclesiastical body in any sense, but simply a fraternal union of consecrated believers in connection 3 with the various evangelical churches. It does not organise distinct churches, or require its members to leave their present church connection, but helps them to work together in a broader fellowship of sympa- thy, testimony and service. The seal of God has rested upon it in an extraordinary manner. While comparatively slight efforts have been put forth to extend the organisation as such, yet its membership has increased very rapidly and numbers many thousands in all parts of the land and world. The chief efforts of the promoters have been made in the direction of publishing the truths which form its basis, and promoting a deeper Christian life in all the churches, and in this respect the work that has been accomplished is far beyond the apparent re- sults, as shown by the organisation. There is no antagonism whatever in the Alliance to any of the evangelical churches, but a desire to help them in every proper way, and to promote the interests of Christ's kingdom in connection with ev- ery proper Christian organisation and work. Its chief methods of work are through local conventions and its printed publications, "The Chris- tian and Missionary Alliance," is circulated very widely and read by many thousands throughout the world. The various tracts and publications of the Alliance have been circulated in repeated editions, and several of them have been translated into various foreign languages, especially into German, Swedish, French and Japanese. Conventions have been constantly held in the chief centres of population in almost all parts of the country, and the call for such meetings is very much greater than can be met. During the summer of 1900 the following conventions will be held. Grimsby Park, Ont. Canada, June 20 to July 1; New York State Convention Binghamton, June 29 to July 8; Pennsylvania State Con- vention, probably Harrisburg, July 6 to July 15; Beulah Park, Ohio, July 12 to July 22; Asbury Park, N. J., July 25 to July 29; Old Orchard Beach, Me., August 3 to August 12; Atlanta, Ga., August 16 to August 26. An important work has been done through the Alliance among the neglected classes at home through the formation of Rescue Missions. A number of these have been directly formed and sustained by the Alliance, and a much larger number promoted indirectly through its members. Scores of rescue mis- sions are carried on throughout the country, whose helpers are members of our Alliance although the work is either independent or in connection with other organizations. Many of the mission workers throughout the country are either members of the Alliance or in full sympathy with it. THE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY ALLIANCE The object of this Society was the immediate evangelisation of the whole world by sending out missionaries to unoccupied and neglected fields, conducting the work on evangelistic, economical and spirit- ual lines. The movement went on quietly for the first three years, and missionary centers were establ ished in India, Africa, China and Palestine. As the principles of the Society became better known, God was pleased to awaken a profound and widespread response in the hearts of many of His people, and the work began to receive a liberal and remarkable support from Christians of all denominations. In the past few years it has moved forward with unusual rapidity, and has been sealed with God's peculiar bles- sing, until now there is a large force of about three hundred workers scattered over almost all portions of the world. THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE The union of the two societies consummated in April, 1897, was the natural evolution of the work. The two branches had long been practically identical in their constituency although distinct in their organization and executive government. The Christian Alliance formed the sustaining constituency of the missionary work and the Missionary Alliance was the natural outlet of the faith, love and activity of the Christian Alliance. The new organization has been able to greatly simplify the executive machinery and promote the efficiency of the entire work. The method of government is at once strong and simple. There is a central Board of Managers which meets regularly for the transaction of business and has the over- sight of the entire work. It consists of twenty-four members elected triennially, one third retiring every 7 year. The President of the Society has the general oversight but has no absolute authority apart from the Board of Managers. There is a General Secretary, a Superintendent of the Home Field, a Superintend ent of Missions, a Treasurer, Financial Secretary and various other executive officers. Numbered receipt are sent to all contributors and acknowledged quarterly in an Official Bulletin and a detailed annual re- port with classification of receipts and expenditures and official certification of a professional auditor sut milted to the annual meeting and published annually. In the several states and districts of the United States and Canada there are auxiliaries and branche organised under a strong State Committee with a State or District Superintendent in charge of the &I while in each locality there are local branches under the care of a Committee and Superintendent as fa as possible. The work is promoted chiefly by means of numerous conventions held in all parts of the country. Financial Support The multiplied work of the Alliance is sustained wholly through voluntary contributions from th friends of the work in all parts of the world. In the past eight years since 1892 the following amounts hay been contributed and distributed for the directly missionary departments of the work. 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 China 27,392 24,517 30,625 29,278 21,024 29,278 30,840 33,744 Japan 2,241 2,750 2,786 2,235 3,235 2,695 1,648 2,375 India 19,275 19,678 15,621 15,349 15,546 15,349 22,879 17,743 Africa (Sudan) 10,893 4,308 8,243 8,756 6,842 8,756 7,007 9,228 Africa (Congo) 12,696 12,072 18,681 20,891 12,126 20,891 18,932 12,084 Palestine 520 1,679 1,292 2,364 1,184 2,364 2,620 3,373 So. Amer. & W. Indies 3,785 4,954 4,384 5,234 3,780 5,234 10,772 8,587 Missionary Institute 16,004 15,033 13,166 12,775 9,705 12,775 16,432 22,914 Totals 92,806 84,991 94,798 96,882 73,442 97,342111,130110,048 Thus a total of $761,439 has been contributed and distributed for directly missionary purposes in the past eight years, besides at least as much more for executive administration and home work in the variou departments of the Alliance.