In addition to these Oriental Missions, the board has also co-operated with other missionary boards in the plan of Indian agencies under the government of the United States. The tribes assigned to it are the Pimas, Maricopas, and Papagoes ; the Mohaves on the Colorado River Reserve; and the Apaches on the White Mountain Reserve, numbering in all about 9000 souls.
The Woman's Board of Foreign Missions, an efficient auxiliary to the Synod's Board, was organized in Feb- ruary, 1875. It has between fifty and sixty auxiliaries; is devoted to the increase and maintenance of woman's work for women in heathen lands; and contributes lib- erally to the general work. Its principal field is Naga- saki, Japan, where it has undertaken to establish a fe- male seminary , and it has also begun to labor for China. It has published in an elegant volume, with maps and many illustrations on wood, a very complete Manual of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Dutch Church in A mi rim (8vo, 326 pp.).
The ordinary appropriations of the Board of For- eign Missions for the year ending June 1, 1879, were $55,600.
5. Home Missions. — The Board of Domestic Missions consists of twenty-four members, half of whom are lay- men, and one third are elected annually by the General Synod. It was reorganized in 1849, with a correspond- ing secretary exclusively devoted to its service. Pre- vious to this, for a number of years, the duties of that office were performed voluntarily by settled pastors. All the Reformed churches were on missionary ground until the independent organization of the denomination was secured in 1771. Soon after this event, ministers and elders were occasionally sent out upon tours of ex- ploration among destitute populations to preach the Gospel, and to establish mission stations and churches. As the result of these labors, a few new churches were organized — one in Virginia, six in Kentucky, six in Lower Canada, and elsewhere in the regions of the Dela- ware and Susquehanna rivers, and Central New York. It was then determined to concentrate efforts nearer home, and the distant churches — some of which yet live in other denominations — were left alone. In 1822 the -Missionary Society of the Reformed Dutch Church" was organized in the city of New York. A Northern Board, located at Albany, was appointed by the Synod in 1828 to act under the society located at New York, and a new impetus was given to the work. In 1831 a new Board of Missions was constituted for the whole Church, all the mission work being confided to its care, of which the present board is the lineal successor. It was incorporated in 1867, and now holds its own funds. The Church Building Fund and the Sabbath-school in- terests of the denomination, excepting publications, are confided to its care. More than half of the churches of the denomination owe their existence to the fostering care of this board. In the West, nearly the whole of the English churches of the Particular Synod of Chicago have grown up under its benign influence. The Hol- land churches have been mostly self-sustaining. During the year ending June, 1878, this board aided 102 church- es, of which fifty-eight were at the East, forty-two in
REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH 100G REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH
the West, ami two in the South. The numher of fami- lies in the Mission churches was 6787 and 8896 Church members, of whom 1040 were received during the year. There were 134 Sabbath-schools, with 1 1,339 scholars. Tin- inn. mi' from .-ill sources for the missionary opera- tionswas $35,130.32. Since 1832 more than three hun- dred churches have been organized— about half of these in the single decade of 1850-60 — and many of these un- der the auspices of this board. Thousands of Holland- ers, most of whom are in this denomination, have settled in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and adjoining states dur- um the last thirty years. These have formed an impor- tant element in the missionary growth and extension of the Church in t lie North-west. Of its nearly 79,000 members, about 11,000 are Hollanders.
6. I he Board of Education, which was organized as a voluntary society in the city ofNew York in 1828, was adopted by the General Synod in 1832. It consists of twenty-lour members, who are elected for three years each, one third of whom are elected annually. It has the immediate care of all the beneficiaries and educa- tional interests of the Reformed Church, including such beneficiaries as receive aid from the Van Benschoten and Knox funds, which are held by the trustees of Kut- gers < lollege. Every beneficiary must be a member in good and regular standing in the Reformed Church, and must also have been a member of some Protestant Church for one year previous to making his application for aid. He must be recommended to the board by the pastor and consistory of the Church, and by the classis to which said Church belongs, after sustaining a satis- factory examination as to his need of assistance, and physical, mental, and spiritual qualifications for study and for the holy ministry. Every precaution is taken against the introduction or continuation of improper candidates. Repayment of all money received from the board is required from those who do not complete their course of ministerial preparation, unless they are, in the judgment of the board, providentially hindered. The board will accept from all beneficiaries after their li- censure two years' service under the care of the Hoard of Domestic .Missions, as a full satisfaction for all aid rendered to them by the Board of Education. This is a wise provision, which has secured many excellent, young laborers in the home missionary field. All the students. -ire considered as under the pastoral care of the corresponding secretary. In 1865 the powers of the board were enlarged to enable it to co-operate with the various classes in the establishment of academies and classical schools within their bounds. The board be- came incorporated in 1870, to enable it to hold legal pos- session of its funds and to secure others that may be devised to it. by will. In addition to the Knox Fund