Part 2

TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY, TOUGALOO, MISS.—Baccalaureate Sermon by Rev. M. E. Strieby, D.D., Sunday, May 29th. Examinations and closing exercises Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS, LA.—Baccalaureate Sermon, Sunday, May 29th. Examinations and closing exercises, May 30th and 31st and June 1st.

TILLOTSON COLLEGIATE AND NORMAL INSTITUTE, AUSTIN, TEXAS.—Examinations and closing exercises, June 8th, 9th and 10th.

BEACH INSTITUTE, SAVANNAH, GA.—Examinations and closing exercises, May 26th and 27th.

SWAYNE SCHOOL, MONTGOMERY, ALA.—Examinations and closing exercises, May 30th and 31st.

EMERSON INSTITUTE, MOBILE, ALA.—Examinations and closing exercises, May 25th, 26th and 27th.

LE MOYNE INSTITUTE, MEMPHIS, TENN.—Annual Sermon, Sunday evening, May 29th. Junior Exhibition, Monday, 30th. Graduating exercises, Wednesday, June 1st.

LEWIS HIGH SCHOOL, MACON, GA.—Examinations and closing exercises, May 31st and June 1st.

AVERY INSTITUTE, CHARLESTON, S.C.—Examinations and closing exercises, June 29th and 30th.

The next meeting of the National Teachers’ Association will be held in Atlanta, Ga., July 19th. This opportunity for interchange of views between Northern and Southern teachers ought to result in great good. Northern teachers need not fear to visit Atlanta at that season of the year, as its altitude, about eleven hundred feet above the sea, gives it a mild and healthful climate. Our teachers often spend their summer there.

* * * * *

BENEFACTIONS.

Cyrus McCormick, of Chicago, has added $75,000 to his former gifts to the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of that place.

Robert L. Stewart has enlarged his gift to the San Francisco Presbyterian Theological Seminary from $20,000 to $50,000.

Mr. Moses Hopkins, brother of the late Mark Hopkins, has just given to a California academy an endowment of $50,000, the largest sum yet bestowed in this way by any one person in that State.

Harvard College has received a gift of $115,000 for the erection of a physical laboratory, provided a fund of $75,000 be raised to defray the running expenses. As in the case of the Law School, the name of the benefactor is not to be made public.

Mr. Thomas A. Scott has endowed the chair of Mathematics in the University of Pennsylvania, now occupied by Prof. Kendall, with $50,000. He has also given $50,000 to Jefferson College, $30,000 to the Orthopedic Hospital, and $20,000 to the children’s department of the Episcopal Hospital.

The list of Mr. Geo. I. Seney’s gifts in the past two years, including his latest donations to Southern Methodist institutions, is as follows: Wesleyan University, $260,000; Long Island Historical Society, $62,000; Brooklyn Industrial Home, $20,000; for Hospital, $270,000; Church at Bernardsville, $15,000; Emory College, Oxford, Ga., $50,000; Wesleyan Female College, Macon, Ga., $50,000; total, $727,000.

* * * * *

ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.

MCINTOSH, GA.—Miss Parmelee, from Memphis, after visiting some of her old pupils at Andersonville, writes: “It is easy to forget any hardship connected with those pioneer days in visiting these Christian homes of former pupils, and the homes that have been blessed through them. One woman was telling me of this and that neighborhood where schools and church meetings had been held, and, with a gratitude that was genuine, exclaimed: ‘There’s many a light been started in this dark place, and it all dates back to Andersonville.’ I could but feel, and afterwards say: ‘No, it all dates back through John Wycliffe to Calvary.’ I have been deeply impressed during these past few days with a sense of the power of grace. I never had great expectations of any of these friends. Their honest, kindly, God-fearing lives are all that I expected, and more than I feared. Remembering their former low estate, I am filled with a sense of relief and gratitude at finding them so trusty and good. Friday morn: just there came a call to go and see a sick woman; returning from the two-mile ride, I found forty women waiting for me. I talked to them for half an hour and then answered questions for nearly an hour. Several come in every day to listen to the school talks.”

CHILDERSBURG, ALA.—“We are going on in the work of the Lord. We have a good lively Sabbath-school every Sabbath, and all seem to enjoy the lesson. All are Christians but six, and I hope to gain those for the Lord. We are going on in peace as pastor and people. We did not pay all we owed on our church farm last year, but we will pay all of it this year, and then we will give $25 or $30 every year to carry other work on. My members want to give as much as any one else to the work. I hope they will. I have put my horse on the church farm to work. Bro. Y. gives his entire attention to the farm, and he rents more land to make out a full two-horse crop. He has planted all his corn, and the most of his cotton land is bedded up, and I think he is doing well. One of my best members last year went to Long View, Ala., and since he has been there he has got up a meeting-house and wants me to come and preach once a month.”

CYPRESS SLASH, LIBERTY CO., GA.—The Cypress Slash church was dedicated the 10th of April. An audience of 150 was comfortably seated in the new church. A brief sketch of the history and formation of the church was given, going back to the time when the first public meeting was held in the public road. The church is now in a growing condition, and the church building is completed except the ceiling.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK.—On the Sabbath, April 24th, by a Council, Rev. B. F. Foster was ordained as pastor of the new church of this city, which has now come on to a membership of 69, and which has purchased a lot for $400, one half of which has already been paid. Supt. Roy, Rev. J. W. Roberts, of Paris, Texas, and Rev. L. A. Roberts, of Memphis, led in the services of the sermon, charge, right hand, and address. It was a great day for the new enterprise. Two other sermons were preached by the young men. On the evening of the 25th, Mr. Foster was married by his two young brethren to Miss Helena Duff, a graduate of Talladega College.

At the annual meeting of the New Orleans Sunday-school Association, held April 4th in the Y. M. C. A. Hall, the lesson of the next Sunday, upon the good Samaritan, was the subject of the three addresses made. George W. Cable, the author, a member of Dr. Palmer’s church, spoke from manuscript upon the point: “Who is my neighbor?” After giving the question the old antislavery interpretation he found the wounded man as an amalgam of Chinese, Indian and Negro, and a Roman Catholic; and his suggestion was that we should not put that man up in the gallery of the church, nor make him wait for the communion till after we had been served. The hits made a few persons wince, as was apparent in the assembly; but they were honestly delivered and will do good. They are a finger indication of the working of the Southern Christian mind. I noticed that Prof. McPherron, of the Straight University, had been selected to act as precentor to lead the singing of the occasion, being a prominent and greatly respected member of the Philharmonic Society of the city. Dr. Alexander, who is an officer of the city S. S. Association, was called upon to offer prayer. Nor is it an evidence that these men have fallen from grace that by their patient waiting they are thus winning honorable recognition among the best people of the city.

L. E. R.

* * * * *

GENERAL NOTES.

The Freedmen.

—The census reports show that in three States, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana, the colored people exceed the whites in number. In the first named there are 154,458 blacks to every 100,000 whites; in Mississippi 135,664 blacks to 100,000 whites; and in Louisiana the proportion is 106,372 to 100,000. In Alabama the blacks are 91 per cent. of the whites; in Georgia 89 per cent.; in Florida, 88 per cent.; in Virginia, 72 per cent.; in North Carolina, 61 per cent.; in the District of Columbia, 50 per cent. The colored element in the Northern States is the largest in Kansas, where it is 4½ per cent. The colored population has increased in twenty-seven States and Territories in the last decade. In the United States as a whole there has been an increase of 625 to the 100,000. This state of things means work for all who have the interest of the country at heart, that the increased suffrage shall be intelligent and the new lives a help rather than a burden to the land.—_Congregationalist._

* * * * *

Africa.

—The French Government is placing a second telegraphic line between Algeria and Tunis. It was to have been finished by the last of March.

—Work on the railroad from Sétif to Algeria has been commenced. The greatest activity prevails, and the whole line may be finished in 14 months.

—The Belgian Society has charged Mr. Stanley with engaging anew at Zanzibar, for several years, native workmen, who will be employed upon the Congo.

—The sultan of Zanzibar has offered to the celebrated traveler Thomson the mission of exploring the basin of the Rovuma from a geological point of view.

—Mgr. Taurin Cahagua, apostolic vicar of the Gallas, has gone to Berber to install there three missionaries. From thence he will go with the others to Havar.

—M. Irgens Bergh, a Danish archæologist, has arrived at Cairo to devote himself to his favorite studies. M. Insenger, a Hollander, also an archæologist, accompanies him. The field of his scientific exploration will be essentially Nubia and Upper Egypt.

—After a journey in Europe M. de Hesse Wartegg, who has already turned his studies in Fayoum and in Nubia to the Coptic race, has returned to Alexandria to continue them. He is accompanied by Dr. Hociner, a noted botanist. These gentlemen are awaiting the arrival of two other students attached to the expedition, after which they will set out in a caravan for Upper Egypt.

—A French expedition composed of mining engineers and chemists, has started from Marseilles, on the side of the Oxus, to explore the region north of the Zambeze.

—The missionary Hore, of Ujiji, traveled in 62 days the distance from Tanganyika to Zanzibar. He is reported to have observed earthquakes in the months of September and October, 1879 and 1880. The last made various crevasses a metre long.

—A new military and maritime expedition is preparing, with a view to the occupation of the Upper Niger. It will probably set out towards the month of October.

—A new company, the Akankoo Gold Coast Company, Limited, has been added to the preceding societies for the exploration of the mines of the Gold Coast. The mine which they have acquired is situated upon the borders of the River Ancobra.

* * * * *

The Indians.

—Fifteen Indian youth from Capt. Pratt’s school, Carlisle, Pa., were recently received into the Second Presbyterian church at that place.

—Rev. Mr. Hayworth being detained by swollen streams while journeying in the Indian Territory among the Kaws, interpreted the circumstance as a providential indication that he should labor for the conversion of the tribe. He at once instituted religious services. A revival followed, which resulted in the organization of a Presbyterian church of 15 members.

—At the McAllister Mines (Indian Territory), a house for church and school purposes is being fitted up for the use of the Indians. A Sunday-school of 40 scholars will be organized at once. The American Home Missionary Society are about to build a church edifice in the immediate vicinity, the money being nearly all secured.

—Revs. Geo. W. Wood and A. L. Riggs, missionaries among the Dakotas, have, during the past year, put through the press a new edition of Dakota hymns. Mrs. Wood has also prepared a new Dakota dictionary, which is soon to be published. There are now 190 communicants in three churches, under the supervision of the Presbyterians among these Indians, seven new members being admitted the past year.

* * * * *

The Chinese.

—The Chinese University at Pekin, under the presidency of Dr. W. A. P. Martin, numbers 100 students.

—A Chinese mandarin, on reading a translation of Matthew’s Gospel, says: “Its style is perfect. It is quite as good as that of Confucius himself. And as to these New Testament ideas, there is nothing so beautiful in all Chinese literature. The humanity of the Sermon on the Mount I am perfectly fascinated with. Our sages became gods after they had written our reverend classics; but divinity must have come before the writing of these matchless thoughts, these exquisite sentiments!”

—During 1879 there were imported into China from India, under monopoly of the British Government, 11,073,333 pounds of opium, of the market value of $50,700,000. Allowing for the amount consumed in Hong Kong, or re-exported thence to the Chinese in California, Australia and elsewhere, the total importation was not less than 13,995,000 pounds. No other article of importation or exportation equaled this in magnitude or value. The value of imported cotton goods was only $31,400,000; of woolen goods, $7,000,000; metals, $5,700,000; and all other articles together less than $20,000,000. Even the tea exports amounted to less, not exceeding $46,000,000. Silk exports were valued at $40,000,000, and all other articles combined at $11,200,000.—_Foreign Missionary._

—The following words from Kobe and Okayama, Japan, are very cheering. They have all the added force that always accompanies letters bearing liberal gifts:

"May God abundantly bless your work, whether among the Freedmen or among their kin in their native Africa, as well as among the Indians and the Chinese. Your Society has a grand field before it, and I hope it will be able ere long to lay a mighty hand for healing upon Africa and another upon China.

"Ever truly in fellowship, R. HENRY DAVIS, “Miss. Am. Board.”

"I want to give the grand work of your Society a little push this year, so send you a draft. May your work be prospered in increasing fold as the years go by. The work is one the world over, and the same God is in it all.

“Yours heartily, JAMES N. PETTEE.”

* * * * *

THE FREEDMEN.

REV. JOS. E. ROY, D.D.,

FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

* * * * *

ALABAMA.

Conference at Mobile.

We received too late for publication in our May issue, a full and well written report of the Sunday-school Convention and Conference of Congregational Churches held at Mobile, Ala., the last of March.

The opening sermon was preached by Rev. A. W. Curtis, of Marion, Friday evening, March 25th. Saturday was devoted mainly to reports from the Sabbath-schools, which brought out a valuable discussion on the question of the establishment of mission schools and the benefits of the visitations necessitated thereby. An address on “The teachers’ meeting” by Rev. O. W. Fay, was mentioned as a paper of choice thought. A general discussion followed the reading of the paper.

The sessions of the conference were opened Saturday evening by a sermon from Prof. G. W. Andrews, of Talladega, who chose for his theme, “The Harmony between the Divinity and Humanity of Christ.”

On Sunday, ministerial fellowship and courtesy were shown by a number of the pastors of the city, both white and colored, by sending in requests that their pulpits might be supplied by representatives from the Conference. Monday was occupied chiefly by papers and discussions, which appear to have been of unusual interest. Monday evening Dr. Roy gave a full and most instructive account of the origin and progress of the A. M. A., and was followed by Pres. DeForest, of Talladega, and several others, who urged the need of education for the 600,000 who, in Alabama, are sitting well nigh in midnight darkness. The Conference is reported to have given great satisfaction to those in attendance, and to have elicited much sympathy among the white pastors and several of their families, who opened their doors for the entertainment of some of the delegates.—ED.

* * * * *

Woman’s Missionary Meeting at Mobile.

MISS EMMA E. CAUGHEY.

Mrs. O. D. Crawford, as acting President, opened the meeting, and in a very happy manner addressed a few words of welcome to representatives of sister societies with us and also to the ladies of the city, who by their presence showed their sympathy with our work; and expressed the hope that the meeting would inspire all with new zeal, and refresh us with a new baptism of the Holy Spirit. Mrs. Cheeny then sang a solo, “What shall the harvest be?” which very appropriately appealed to the gleaners in the field and opened the way for bringing in the sheaves of the year’s work.

Reports from local societies at Selma, Montgomery, Talladega and Mobile were given. Selma sent in a very interesting report. Many good results seem to be growing out of their missionary meetings. In the woman’s meeting $80.45 has been raised during the past year, and among the “Mission Workers,” who are under the care of Miss Lunt, $27.85. The Montgomery society reported a discouraging state of affairs at the beginning of the last, its third year, having but twenty-five names on the roll, some of these permanently out of the city, more who did not again connect themselves with the society, and of the small remnant left death had claimed four; while the resignation of both President and Secretary took off two wheels of the chariot at once; but the “royal remnant” rallied to the front and succeeded in creating a good degree of interest, by various ingenious plans, until now the roll of membership numbers forty, and the outlook for the coming year is hopeful. The expressed aim of the societies is to promote intelligence, industry and piety among the women and girls, believing that the missionary spirit will as naturally follow as that flowers in good soil will bloom in the warm sunlight and soft showers.

The report from Talladega was encouraging. In connection with this society are three committees, one for visiting the sick, one on visiting in general, and the third, called the “Highway and Hedge Committee,” consisting of young men, who report any destitution which they may find. The society acts upon these reports and grants any aid which is within its power. A mothers’ meeting is held, and also a girls’ mission band, before whom mission work is held up in such a way that the hope is expressed that some may be led to consecrate themselves to the work of carrying the Gospel to Africa. From Mobile the report from the mothers’ meeting showed an enrolment of thirty-two, nine of whom have been added this year, while the average attendance has been eight; the great disparity between the enrolment and the average attendance being mainly due to the great disadvantages under which the mothers labor, many of them widows obliged to toil hard for the support of their families. It is only owing to a faithful and earnest desire that some are enabled to gather at the weekly meeting for prayer. By much self-denial this year the mothers have contributed $3.50 for the Mendi Mission. The Emersonian Mission Band, formed from the girls of Emerson Institute, was reported in a state of progress; thirty-nine members enrolled. The girls have been working every Saturday afternoon since November 13, preparing salable articles for a fair, the proceeds to be devoted to mission work, both at home and in foreign fields. The character of the meetings is social, industrial and religious combined, hoping to elevate the standard of virtue and piety among our girls and give them correct ideas of pure womanhood. Rev. Dr. Roy addressed the association, expressing in very hearty and encouraging words his views of woman’s position and importance in the world at large, but more especially in this particular branch of God’s work, “Woman’s Work for Woman,” in the missionary field. We were next favored by a solo from Mrs. DeForest, of Talladega, “Not a sparrow falleth,” which was very beautifully rendered. Miss Strode, a former student from Emerson Institute, being called upon, arose and gave some of her personal experiences. Miss Stevenson, the visiting missionary at Mobile, in a few words, gave expression to the gratitude she felt toward the kind people of the North, who, during the past winter, had sent her fifteen barrels of clothing and over $100 in money to assist, in relieving destitution and want among the people for whom she is laboring, thus making her the dispenser of their generosity. Miss Lunt, visiting missionary at Selma, read a paper on “The True Success of Missionary Work—What is it?” in which she compared the condition of heathen nations in past ages with their condition since the missionaries had planted the banner of the cross on their coast; how woman had been elevated from her menial life of servitude and oppression to be a help-meet capable of the highest mental improvement, fitting her for the noblest enjoyments of life, spiritually, mentally and socially. Mrs. Cheeny read a paper prepared by Mrs. A. W. Curtis, of Marion, on “How to Reach Mothers in their Homes.” Since Mrs. Curtis is an invalid and a great sufferer, being unable to visit among the homes, it seemed at first an unfortunate topic for her consideration; but when we listened to her paper and saw how she had been directed of the Lord to reach the mothers and help them by bringing them to her own home, and there giving them the perfect illustration of what a true Christian home may be, and of counseling and instructing them, we were led to say, “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. Man deviseth his ways, but God directeth his steps.” This paper was an inspiration, must have been, to every mother present. To this contact with the mother at her own home, Mrs. Curtis points as the first seed dropped which led to the revival at Marion, where such a harvest was reaped for the Lord. Mrs. Deforest, of Talladega, read a paper on “How shall we Increase the Interest in our Work?”

These brief mentions are only crumbs which fell from our bountifully loaded table, the fragments, hastily and poorly gathered together, but we hope that you may gain some faint idea of the good which came to us by our mutual exchange of thought and sympathy, and the encouragement we received to persevere in our good work.

* * * * *

THE SOUTH-WESTERN CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Annual Meeting at Terrebonne, April 6–8.

REV. W. S. ALEXANDER, D.D., NEW ORLEANS.

The Association met with a most cordial welcome by Brother Clay and his church at Terrebonne, the place of our last annual meeting. The good pastor has been sadly afflicted during the year by the loss of his devoted wife and daughter, but he has met his troubles with the faith and fortitude of a true Christian. Terrebonne—worthy of its name, “good-land”—is situated in one of the most beautiful and productive sections of Louisiana. The chief staple is sugar, and it requires only capital and enterprise to cause the entire country to bloom like a garden of roses.

To those who believe that it is a prime necessity to the Freedman to own his homestead and to become a part of the “_realty_” of this Southern country, it is especially gratifying to see the modest homes and fruitful gardens and cultivated acres of our newly made citizens, and to hear them say: “This is mine; no man holds a mortgage on my home.”

Our annual meeting was regarded as in some respects the best we have ever held. The brethren feel that they are climbing a little higher each year. Every church but the smallest mission church was represented, and several delegates came 100 miles to the meeting.