Bureau, appointments of employees and traders are made by the agents and submitted by them to the Superintendent, by whom, if approved, their names are transmitted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for his approval. By another regulation of the Indian Bureau, we are required to give the preference to Indians in the appointment of employees, when any can be found who are suitable. The Committees of our several Yearly Meetings have not the requisite information to advise us in these cases, and there are other cases when suitable persons for employees are presented, and the exigencies of the services will not permit the delay that would occur by waiting for the sanction of the Committees. On this account I recommend that it shall not be considered imperative, in all cases, to consult the Yearly Meeting Committees, but that the advice and sanction of Friends be asked for when practicable. The arrangement made last year in assigning to each Yearly Meeting the care of one or more of the tribes, in order to supply the Indian women and children with clothing, and the infirm and sick with needful comforts, has worked well. Liberal contributions have been sent by members of all the Yearly Meetings, and thousands of hearts have been gladdened by the well-timed charities of Friends. I suggest that the apportionment be reconsidered, with a view to its adaptation to the ability of the several Yearly Meetings. As now arranged, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has the care of about 737 Indians; New York has 1343, Baltimore has about 2400, Indiana 1000, and Ohio and Genesee 1000.* We shall be glad to see deputations of Friends from the several Yearly Meetings, and desire to be informed when we may expect them at Omaha, so that I may be at home to meet them. Your cordial Friend, SAMUEL M. JANNEY, Superintendent Indian Affairs. To the Yearly Meeting. The Committee appointed to examine the Treasurer's account nearly all met, and comparing it with his vouchers find it correct, showing a balance in his hands in favor of the Yearly Meeting of thirteen hundred and ninety-eight dollars and forty-eight cents ($1398.48). The Committee propose that the sum of fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) shall be raised for the ensuing year. They unite in proposing William P. Sharpless as Treasurer for the ensuing year. This apportionment was reconsidered by the Convention and unanimously confirmed. The amount of aid required being according to their destitute condition, rather than numbers. They also unite in proposing for Correspondents of this Yearly Meeting Dillwyn Parrish and Joseph C. Turnpenny. Signed by direction of the Committee. JOHN SAUNDERS, THOMAS GARRIGUES. PHILADELPHIA, 5th Month, 11th, 1870. The Expenditures of the Committee have been as follows: For Books, &c., forwarded to the Santee Sioux For printing Reports of Committees, Memo- For travelling and other expenses of Commit- Making a total of $38 63 52 33 420 81 20 21 3 00 10 79 $545 77 In closing this report, the Committee desire to say that they have, on various occasions, had the acceptable company of members of Indian Committees of other Yearly Meetings-of the Representative Committee and other concerned Friends, by whose presence and manifestation of interest in their labors, they have been encouraged to press forward in the great work in which they have thus been engaged. The Annual Report, as above, being then considered as a whole, the Clerk was directed to forward a copy to the Yearly Meetings. Extracted from the minutes. JACOB M. ELLIS, Clerk. PHILADELPHIA, 5th Month, 7th, 1870. The Committee appointed to prepare Epistles to the Yearly Meetings with which we correspond, produced an Essay which was read and adopted, and a copy directed to be signed and forwarded to all the Yearly Meetings with which we are in correspondence. The following minute, embracing some of the exercises of the Yearly Meeting, was read and adopted. The reading and answering of the Queries which are annually presented for our consideration, have brought before us various subjects connected with the welfare of our religious Society; and while we have to acknowledge evidences of deficiency, we are encouraged to believe that an increasing interest is felt among us for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. As members of the militant Church, it is of primary importance that our meetings for Divine Worship should be held in the authority of Truth. Discarding as we do the ceremonies and ritual which are considered by many professors of the Christian name as necessary accompaniments to public worship, it requires constant watchfulness lest we become listless and indifferent in the performance of this great duty, and thus bring reproach upon the profession we make of waiting for and acting under the immediate teaching of the Head of the Church, whose promise still remains sure: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." It is not in Creeds or Confessions of Faith, but in seeking for and dwelling in the Spirit of Christ that we can be spiritually benefited ourselves, or advance his cause among men. "I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." While it is cause of grateful acknowledgment that the several bodies of Friends with whom we are in correspondence are preserved in unity and harmony of feeling, desires were raised that we might increasingly cherish that Divine Love which is the badge of discipleship, and which will qualify us not only to strengthen one another, but lead us to extend a hand of help to those of our fellow-men who may require our sympathy and encouragement. The many avenues to temptation by which we are surrounded, call loudly upon parents to exercise a |