The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 9, September, 1887

In this September 1887 issue of a long‑standing missionary magazine, readers are taken straight into the bustling offices of a post‑Civil‑War reform organization. The editors lay out a detailed snapshot of their leadership, regional contacts, and the practical mechanics of gathering support for schools, hospitals, and relief work across the South. A striking feature is the urgent plea for funds as the yearly budget slips dramatically, urging congregations and individuals to act before the fiscal deadline.

Beyond the balance sheet, the publication turns its focus to a heated political controversy: Georgia’s proposed “Teachers’ Chain‑Gang Bill,” a law that would bind educators to compulsory labor. The writers argue that such measures threaten the very mission of free education and upliftment they champion. Listeners will hear the earnest voices of 19th‑century reformers, caught between financial strain and a fierce commitment to social justice.