The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 12, December, 1888

"The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 12, December, 1888" by Various is a record of the American Missionary Association's work in the late 1800s. The book shows the problems of the time and the religious reasons behind the group's actions, mainly to educate and help African Americans and Native Americans after the Civil War. It starts by talking about the Association's yearly meeting, where everyone was excited and dedicated. A big announcement was made about a large donation from Mr. Daniel Hand to help educate poor African Americans in the South. Reports and talks from the meeting are shared, covering how education impacts former slaves, why churches need to keep donating, and how important it is for communities to get involved. These discussions show there was hope, but also the hard truth of the struggles faced by those on the margins. The start emphasizes how much educational help and community support were needed, which sets the stage for what the Association was trying to do.