FOR LONDON BIBLE AND DOMESTIC FEMALE MISSIONS.

Money received between Sept. 15th and Oct. 15th, 1872.

Examined and certified by me, as duly entered in the books of the Mission, JAMES WADDELL (of J. WADDELL & CO.), Fellow of the Institute of Accountants,

New Poultry Chambers, 7, Poultry, E.C.

Received for the Mission and Bible-Women Nurses with thanks :-Parcels of clothing, old linen, &c., from Mrs. and the Misses Morgan; Anonymous; Mrs. Chilton; M. W.; Mrs. Lewis; and Baroness Berners; quilt from Miss Richardson; books from M.; hospital letters from Wm. McArthur, Esq., M.P.; Miss Parker; Miss Terry; Miss Barclay; boots from Anonymous; M. W.; Miss Ellen Dodd; Irene; Mrs. Walbanke Childers, and other kind friends, for St. Giles's; grapes from Baroness Berners; and blankets from Mrs. Molyneux Williams.

For Mrs. Ingolls, Burmah :-Fancy and other articles from Mrs. Reade; Anonymous; Miss Lucas; Miss Scott; Miss Wardroper; Mrs. Bevington, and "Irene."

Contributions to the LONDON BIBLE AND DOMESTIC FEMALE MISSIONS can be received by the Honorary Secretary, Mrs. Ranyard, 13, Hunter-street, Brunswick-square, London, W.C., by the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., addressed to the Bank of Messrs. Ransom and Co., No. 1, Pall-mall East; also by Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, and Co., 54, Lombard-street; and by Messrs. Nisbet and Co., Berners-street. Money Orders should be made payable at the Post-office in Burton-crescent, W.C., and cheques crossed Ransom and Co.

OUR COUNCIL OF FRIENDS FOR 1872.

President.

The Right Hon. the EARL OF SHAFTESBURY.

Treasurer.

The Hon. ARTHUR KINNAIRD, M.P.

Members.

The Right Hon. the COUNTESS | The Rev. W. ARTHUR.
DOWAGER OF GAINSBOROUGH.

The Rev. OSWALD DYKES.

The Right Hon. the COUNTESS The Rev. Dr. RALEIGH.

DOWAGER OF EXETER.

The Hon. Mrs. A. KINNAIRD.

The Hon. Miss CANNING.

The Rev. Canon THOROLD.

H. H. WHITE, Esq., Q.C.
J. H. FORDHAM, Esq.

W. COLES, Esq.

G. F. WHITE, Esq.

The Rev. W.and Mrs. PENNEFATHER. G. A. CALDER, Esq.

Hon. Secretary, and General Superintendent of the Bible-women and Biblewomen Nurses.

Mrs. RANYARD.

DECEMBER, THE MONTH OF ACCOUNT.

Or account for what precious continued opportunities, of bending down the branches of the Tree of Life to the poor and lowly, to the hungry and thirsty in soul, who sit by the wayside!—those fruitful branches "whose leaves are for the healing of the nations."

This beautiful figure was applied to our Agency in a pastoral address to us, at one of our monthly meetings, by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, in 1867. For half a dozen years since then have these opportunities been continued, brightening all the intervening days; and while many loved friends who helped us to bend those branches by their prayers, their personal toil, their influence, and their money, have passed away from earth and time, the Master has not left us to serve alone. He still points us to His work, and still provides us the supplies.

We closed the year 1871 with a somewhat unsatisfactory Balance-sheet, showing 5547. on the wrong side, our small Reserve Fund of 5007. being also spent; and although enough always remains tied up and untouched to meet the claims of Depositors for particular districts, we still saw the immediate need of

reducing our number of Bible-women in London, transplanting them to the country as occasion offered, or declining their services altogether till we arrived at the point of adapting our expenditure to our income, and the year 1872 has therefore seen a considerable reduction in the number of London districts. We do not on the whole regret this. It occasioned a fresh review of all efforts most worth continuing. We have now been at work for 16 years, and many of our good women were really too old for the arduous service. In each individual case we have acted considerately, allowing a pension of sixpence a day, and helping them, wherever we could, into other employment less laborious, or into positions of comparative rest. We have not had a single complaint of hard dealing, and are satisfied that it was the right step, though somewhat painful on both sides. Many of them still attend our monthly meetings, and are invited to our summer treat; they often continue to help us as night nurses, and are still one with us in heart. Three are gone home to their heavenly rest, and were cared for affectionately in their last hours.

The number of districts dropped for the present is 24:

Battersea, Waterworks, Barnsley-street, Lock's-fields No. 2, Club-row, Upper Thames-street, Ebury-street, Ball's-pond, Gray's-inn-road, Middlesex Hospital, Holborn, Victoria-park, Pentonville No. 1, Clare Market, Tealstreet, Queen-square, Aldgate, Homerton, Haggerstone, Lisson-grove 2, Kensal 2, Shoreditch, Hatton-garden, and Hampton.

The number of new districts opened during the year has been

Eagle-street, Southwark, Albany-road, Lambeth-road, Waterloo Town, Jubilee-street, Rotherhithe No. 2, Gerrard's Cross, Hackney Wick-lane, and Bethnal Green No. 2.

The number of new Bible-women supplied to old districts and to new ones in London has been 19.

The number of women transferred in London is 10. Twentytwo have left the Mission from various causes, three of them have been declined, one dismissed, eight are disabled, three are dead, seven left of their own accord.

Twenty-nine ladies have resigned their superintendence. One of these died, and many have left London for the country. Ten new Superintendents have joined us.