Part 2

—Dr. Lenz affirms that the soil of the Sahara is not as sterile as is commonly believed. In Iguidi, in particular, they found many foraging places for the camels, and they often saw troops of antelopes and gazelles fleeing at the approach of the caravan. Dr. Lenz did not follow the example of Barth, but went rather to pay his addresses to the Kahia, who made his stay in Timbuctoo the most agreeable possible. He gave him a fine house, and served him each day an abundant and delicious repast—wheaten bread, butter and honey, mutton and beef, chickens and game.

—Stanley has fixed the site of his second station at Isangila, about 50 kilometers from Vivi. To reach this point, he traversed a very dangerous country, where the population is scattered and which offered no resources. The difficulties were increased by the amount of baggage to transport, provisions, boats, &c., the whole weighing 42 tons—an enormous weight, considering the nature of the country and the means of transportation. He was obliged to throw bridges across the rivers, fill up the ravines, open, hatchet in hand, a route across dense forests, blow up rocks, or drag the wagons by force of arm along the sides of steep mountains. And still it was not possible to advance with all his baggage at once. He had to open the way with a group of pioneers, and after advancing a little to make a halt, pitch a camp, then go back to bring by instalments the rest of the convoy, till all were united.

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THE INDIANS.

—Gen. C. H. Howard has been appointed Indian Inspector to succeed Dr. I. H. Mahan, who resigned his position on account of failing health.

—Rev. S. Hall Young, of Fort Wrangel, Alaska, writes: “With a live missionary, a saw-mill and a Christian trader in the N. W. T. Co.’s store, we can make that the model mission of Alaska.”

—Indians are employed on the California Southern R. R. with satisfactory results, and it is predicted with a reasonable degree of assurance that the experiment will prove to be a favorable means of civilizing the Indians.

—The Santees had 2,344 acres under cultivation last year. They raised 7,000 bushels of wheat, 2,000 of oats, 3,000 of corn, and made 1,000 tons of hay for their stock. They also manufactured 120,000 bricks. It is the opinion of Mr. Lightner, their agent, that as soon as the Nation is willing to recognize the Indian as a citizen, holding him amenable to the laws governing the white man, we may expect his civilization to advance with double rapidity.

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THE CHINESE.

—There are 585 Chinese children in the public schools of San Francisco.

—There are two Chinese papers in San Francisco. One man performs the functions of editor, publisher, compositor, press-man, book-keeper and office boy of the _Wah Kee_. This wonderful and versatile man is fifty years old. The paper has 1,000 subscribers, and costs ten cents per copy, or $5 per year.

—Candidates for missionary work in China have opportunity to study the language at Oxford, Eng., in the department under charge of Prof. Legge. The English Presbyterian Foreign Mission Committee, believing that more can be accomplished by three months’ study at Oxford than by a year spent in the unhealthy regions of China, have adopted the plan of sending their missionaries to the former place, to avail themselves of the instruction of Prof. Legge.

—Upwards of 2,000 Chinese have recently landed in two weeks’ time in Australia. They come for the most part from Hong Kong, where there is great depression in business and much suffering among the people. The tide of emigration, which formerly set so strongly towards the Pacific coast, seems recently to have been somewhat diverted to Australia and the Sandwich Islands.

—The Government of China has decided to erect telegraphs from Shanghai to Tientsin and other cities. Already hundreds of telephones are in use. Questions in relation to railway systems are being agitated, and a committee has been appointed for the purpose of thoroughly canvassing the matter, submitting plans, etc. Unquestionably a number of railways will be constructed within the next five years, and perhaps sooner.

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THE FREEDMEN.

REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

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OUR CHURCH WORK BROADSIDE.

LINCOLN MISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C.

REV. S. P. SMITH.

I am glad to say that the religious state of the Lincoln Memorial Church at present is good. It was organized the 10th of last January with eleven members. In April the Lord poured out a special blessing upon us, the result of which was eight converts. The church has doubled its membership since its organization. In this revival there was a little girl converted about nine years old, and an aged mother about seventy-five. We have had only one admitted to the church by letter; ten on confession of faith. There is quite a large temperance work here carried on by Mrs. Babcock. This temperance society is known as the Lincoln Mission Band of Hope.

Our Sunday-school is very large in the winter, but it thins out in the summer. The largest attendance during any time through the winter was 530.

The Lincoln Mission building in which our church worships has been greatly improved. The large hall has been re-plastered and painted inside and out.

We have sent two from the Lincoln Mission to Howard University. This church also sent $4.06 to the American Missionary Association.

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HAMPTON, VA.

REV. H. B. FRISSELL.

There have been admitted to church membership in Bethesda Chapel during the year 31 persons—28 on profession of their faith and three by letter. Of these, 15 were Indians, one white, and the remainder colored students. With the growth of the school the congregation at the chapel has so increased as to make it necessary to add another wing to the building. Two prayer meetings have been kept up by the colored students, one on the Sabbath and one on a week day evening, the attendance and interest being well sustained. The Indians have their own prayer meetings, where they take part in their own tongue. They manifest a most earnest desire to know the Bible, and spend much time in reading and studying it.

Most of the students of the school have been enrolled as members of the temperance society during the past year. Considerable work has been done in the country about. One of the students organized a temperance society in the village of Hampton, and several interesting meetings have been held. The subject of local option is likely to come up in the fall, and the society hopes to make itself felt on the right side.

There has been an average attendance of 300 in Sunday-school. Forty students have been engaged in the Sunday-schools in the vicinity, three as superintendents and the remainder as teachers. One of the schools where the students have become interested has increased in numbers from 40 to over 200.

Thirty Bible students go out from the school on Sunday afternoons to read to the old people. They are everywhere received with a hearty welcome by those who have been deprived of the privileges which their children enjoy.

The Missionary Society of the school has raised $229. As the last winter was of unusual severity, the most of this amount was spent in the relief of the misery at our very doors. During the winter the students went out every week to mend the huts of the poor, to carry them bedding, clothes and food.

A Christian association has been formed in the school, so that those who come here from denominations that do not allow their joining our church may feel that they have duties here as Christian workers. So far as possible, the thought of their individual responsibility for the souls of those around them is impressed upon them.

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WILMINGTON, N.C.

REV. D. D. DODGE.

We record a steady interest and growth in grace; one added by profession, one by letter, one adult and six children baptized; Sunday-school in good condition; large classes and good attention. The improvement of property has been great, as already described in the MISSIONARY.

One of the most encouraging facts is this, which has come to our knowledge in several different ways, that when any one wishes to get a trustworthy servant, the fact of membership in our church is considered a most excellent recommendation. Experience has taught employers its value.

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BEAUFORT, N.C.

REV. MICHAEL JERKINS.

Our church is steadily increasing in numbers, and we are more encouraged than ever. Four were added to our number last month. The cause of temperance is prospering. We have a prohibitory law, and no licenses are granted in the county and parish. The Sunday-school work is hopeful, the number in attendance averaging about 120.

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PLYMOUTH CHURCH., CHARLESTON, S.C.

REV. TEMPLE CUTLER.

The most encouraging feature of our work is the Sunday-school. We have 120 in attendance, with an average of 82. Some difficulty is found in procuring teachers. We manage, however, to keep up a good degree of interest among the children. We have a Band of Hope that numbers 120, mostly children, growing up to take part in the future conflict over alcohol in this state.

During the winter we had a series of meetings that seemed to quicken some of the old backsliders, who, we trust, will prove of great help to the church, and a few conversions which resulted in the bracing up of our spiritual energies considerably.

The people have raised about $500 for various purposes, about $200 of which went to repair the church, $100 to pay the debt, and the rest for current expenses.

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ORANGEBURG, S.C.

REV. T. T. BENSON.

We have been highly blessed by the Lord this year in our church work, both temporal and spiritual. In April we enjoyed a revival season, during which seven persons were converted to Christ, five of whom have united with our church. Our Sabbath-school numbers 45, and is doing well. New hymn books have been purchased, the church has been repaired, painted and plastered, and a chandelier secured. Three members of our church are absent teaching. One young man is engaged in missionary work.

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FIRST CONG. CHURCH, ATLANTA, GA.

REV. C. W. HAWLEY.

Last February and March were months of revival and ingathering. The work commenced in the Storrs School, and the teachers there and in the Sunday-school had precious answers to prayer and precious rewards of labor. Never was it more plain that church and school are strongly wedded and mutually helpful. Almost daily meetings were held for several weeks, all quiet, orderly, solemn; short sermons, many prayers and much individual testimony for the Lord. Rev. Henry E. Brown and wife and Brother J. E. Lathrop, of Macon, rendered good help to the pastor.

March 13th was a memorable Sabbath, 28 uniting by profession and two by letter. In April, seven joined by profession, and in May, four more by profession and three by letter, making an addition of 44 in the three months.

A new temperance society has been organized; new members, almost without exception, take total abstinence pledge, and but few old members are known to have the drinking habit.

The Sunday-school is prospering; over 50 in the infant class; sometimes over 300 are present in all.

With the aid of the American Missionary Association and Northern friends we have a fine new bell. Church property is valuable and in good order. We have paid up our church debt, and have now a fine church costing $5,000, with a seating capacity for 500, and a basement under the whole for Sunday-school rooms. During the year ending January 1, 1881, the church raised for debt and current expenses about $800.

Many of our young people are in Storrs School or Atlanta University. One has just graduated from the theological department in Howard University; six or more, now or formerly members of our church, are at work in the Gospel ministry, and two score or more are, or have been, engaged in teaching among their people.

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ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CHURCH.

REV. C. W. FRANCIS.

The church of Christ in Atlanta University is made up entirely of teachers and pupils in that school, and so has a somewhat different sphere from many of our sister churches. It now numbers 88 members, having received larger accessions during the past year than in any other year of its history, 22 having joined, all save two upon profession of faith.

A very gracious revival prevailed for the last five months of the school year, during which time more than 50 persons were converted, several more of whom will unite with this church after longer experience, and the rest with churches at their homes. It was a delightful and precious work, affecting nearly every member of the school, quickening the religious life of former members, and gathering in a harvest week by week up to the close of the year.

The temperance work is made a special care, as the need for it is so great, and all who go away to teach during their summer vacation, as all do save six or eight of the younger members, have furnished them a package of selected temperance literature, and are instructed in methods for its use, after careful instruction upon the general subject, so that all are engaged in mission work of that character in the schools which they teach and the families which they visit.

About $75 was raised during the year at the monthly missionary meetings, which was given to promote the temperance work.

About 75 members of the church are now engaged in teaching their summer schools, most of them taking the lead in Sunday-schools, and so exercising a genuine missionary influence over a great number of people.

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SAVANNAH, GA.

REV. B. D. CONKLING.

There has been a good deal of sickness among our people and the missionaries. We have had additions to the church at each communion. The Sunday-school work is prospering finely, the pennies outnumbering the attendance every Sunday but two from January 1st to June 1st. The average attendance at the Sunday-school for January was 112, which gradually increased until, in May, the average was 162⅘. The average collections of the Sunday-school for May were $2.12⅘ for each Sunday.

From January 1st to May 31st the congregation raised for church and missionary purposes $83.71; and the Sunday-school, during the same time, $36.73. This does not include some $25 raised to provide an excursion for the Sunday-school and its friends. Several members during the year, who are either ministers or ministers’ wives, took letters of dismission; others still are in some of the institutions of the American Missionary Association for higher learning. More or less missionary work is being done constantly by resident members of this church.

While it is not a large church, it has had, and does have, a large influence for good throughout the whole city; especially has it been the means of revolutionizing in the way of improvement the Sunday-school work here and here-abouts.

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WOODVILLE, GA.

REV. J. H. H. SENGSTACKE.

This church was organized in the year 1871. In the year 1875 Mr. J. H. H. Sengstacke, teacher of the public school at Woodville, was elected pastor. At that time the membership consisted of 12 persons. They worshiped in an old building about one-third of a mile from the present edifice. The church was at first known as the Woodville Congregational church; but at the beginning of Mr. Sengstacke’s ministry the name was changed to Pilgrim church. The American Missionary Association built a new house of worship, and Mr. S. was set apart for the Gospel ministry. The church has been growing rapidly ever since, the congregation at present averaging 200. The Sabbath-school is flourishing. In the year 1877, Sengstacke Band of Hope was organized. Rev. J. M. Smith’s people, of Grand Rapids, Mich., have done much towards building up this work. In 1877 the church purchased a bell and an organ.

In 1878 the American Missionary Association built a neat little parsonage.

In 1879 the church was ceiled and painted inside.

In 1880 the people, with aid from the American Missionary Association, raised the meeting house on a brick basement, also the church was repainted and new seats were added.

In 1881 a new fence was put around the lot, and the meeting house was improved on the outside, trees were set out, and a lot was purchased at the Five Mile for mission work. Pilgrim church has had revivals every year.

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MARIETTA, GA.

REV. EDGAR J. PENNEY.

On my arrival a year ago, only seven persons (four men and three women) responded as members of the church. Since my ordination last December, 13 have been admitted, six by letter and seven by profession. This encourages us in great measure to labor on. The Sunday-school has shown a steady increase for some months and is making real progress. We are better able than ever to hold those who came at first out of mere curiosity. The following quotation respecting temperance forms a part of the constitution of the church: “Any member convicted of using intoxicating liquor other than as a medicine shall be liable to discipline.” Three of our members spent the past six months in Atlanta University.

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CYPRESS SLASH, LIBERTY CO., GA.

REV. ANDREW J. HEADEN.

We have a church of 60 members, and our work is growing in favor both with white and colored; five have recently been added by profession. Our Sunday-school is increasing in numbers and interest. One young man has gone to the Hampton Institute to fit himself for a teacher. Our church property has been improved, and a parsonage erected at a cost of about $230, in connection with which there are ten acres of land. The field here is a promising one, and considering that the church has been organized only two years and a half, the progress of the work seems to us very encouraging.

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BELMONT AND LOUISVILLE, GA.

REV. WILSON CALLEN.

The work of ingathering in these churches has been slow and steady. Some who had been negligent have returned and manifested an interest in the church. At Belmont 11 new members have been added during the past four years.

There is a good attendance at Louisville, although but two have united with the church during my ministry. There is great need of temperance work among the people. The Sabbath-schools are in tolerable good condition. We have very little church property, and we are not able to keep what we have in good repair.

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TALLADEGA COLLEGE CHURCH, ALA.

PRES. H. S. DE FOREST, D.D.

Preaching, Sunday-school, church and neighborhood prayer meetings, with class of Bible readers, monthly concert, and meeting of the Woman’s Missionary Society, have been kept up in usual order and with a good degree of interest during the year. For three weeks, meetings were held each evening. Several, chiefly students boarding in the college family, found Christ, and the church was revived.

The preaching was first and mainly to Christians rather than to the impenitent. Besides the mission churches which have grown out of the College church, the students and teachers have sustained five Sunday-schools in needy districts. The College church has rare facilities for distributing illustrated Sunday-school and temperance papers. The parish missionary has faithfully pursued her work, discovering and relieving much of want, and speaking to the neglected.

A temperance society has been organized, embracing in its membership those not connected with the College church, with a pledge of abstinence from the use of tobacco in all its forms, as well as from the use and sale of intoxicating liquors.

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MOBILE, ALA.

REV. O. D. CRAWFORD.

A revival followed the State Conference in March; 15 persons between the ages of 13 and 18 manifested a deep interest, and received so much light on the supreme question, as carried them beyond the reach of the ordinary instruction of the colored churches and revival seasons. The church was much blessed.

We received to fellowship one young man, a pupil in the Institute, of rare promise. Several temperance sermons were preached, and 30 names secured to the pledge.

The church building was moved through the street to its more eligible location on the Institute grounds, and improved by a large front door and steps and cornice.

Out of their deep poverty the people raised about one dollar at each monthly concert of prayer for missions. Two lady members are engaged in teaching in public schools acceptably.

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MARION, ALA.

REV. A. W. CURTIS.

Marion is an old town, quite an educational centre, but in all other respects left high and dry on a side switch. Hence our church and work is a good deal like that of New England—a good place to emigrate from. There is not business enough to give work at home, and the young people have to go away; we are trying to make it a good home and training-school, and look for the results elsewhere. This summer nearly all our men are abroad for work—many at Tougaloo, working on the new building—some renting land in the district around. Most of the young women as they marry find homes abroad for the same reason.

The children and young people who were converted last spring hold out well, and form the principal part of our number at prayer meeting. We see occasionally also those who united with other churches. Ten united on confession at our first communion, four at the second. So far as I can learn, all our church are strictly temperance folks. Our Sunday-school is small. We have had three Sunday-schools kept up in the country by members of our church who had day schools in those districts.

Most of our members have homes which they are making more valuable by improvement, while property in town has greatly depreciated. Our church have undertaken to raise $100 and to build a school-house this summer. It may be a question whether they will succeed in the latter as soon as they have planned.

Ten of the young people of our church have been at Talladega during the past year, two at Fisk, and one in Tougaloo. Four of our members have been teaching school with good success and one is preaching.

A young man who graduated with honor at the Normal here last week was converted with us. He wishes to go to Africa, but will probably go under Methodist auspices, according to his friends’ wish. I have found a large field and a very needy one.

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MONTGOMERY, ALA.

REV. O. W. FAY.