ADDRESS AT ANNUAL MEETING.

PREACHING THE MAIN FACTOR IN MISSIONARY WORK.

It is a fact of history that the preaching of the Word has been the great missionary agency. The Bible is a missionary book. The great figure in the Old Testament history was the preacher of righteousness—Enoch, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, the great line of prophets—they were missionary preachers. In the beginning of Christianity, the great figure was the preacher—John the Baptist, the Apostles, our blessed Lord Himself. The salient feature in the New Testament may be said to be a succession of great missionary sermons which are expositions of the Gospel. In the history of the Christian Church the great figure has been the preacher. The Church of God is the body of Jesus Christ. As such she is the eye and ear, she is the hands and feet of the Lord, but especially she is the voice of the Lord. Doth not wisdom cry in all time? Did not the Spirit when sent forth lift the voice declaring the great Gospel message? And when the Church has had that possession of the Spirit, has it not been especially her inspiration to cry out with the Gospel message? The great figure in this Association work in the past has been the teacher. We have had a gifted line of men and women in this work, and to them all honor be given. It would be impossible for us to give them the honor which is their due; but in the future the great figure is to be the missionary preacher, the man who can reach masses of men with the Gospel message. We are lifting this race, and what has been true in the past will be true in the future.

Perhaps I can not better exhibit this subject in the little space allowed me than in noticing some of the traits which should characterize the missionary preacher, and while the truth is general and applicable to all parties, I trust that we may be under the direction of the Spirit and take to heart these great traits we shall be looking for in the preacher of the future in the South.

The missionary preacher is a man who, to be effective, should be a man of spiritual morality, a man of irreproachable character. I presume the colored man has been maligned in the South, as his character has so often been brought out among us. One of our enthusiastic teachers was asked, "How many Uncle Toms do you find in the South?" And she replied, "About as many as there are in the North." A truth was there that we ourselves may very well take.

There are three ways in which the Gospel is published. One is in the book, one is by the voice, and the third by the life. The voice lies between the book and the life, and the life is the great publication of the message, and unless we have a voice of a man who is spiritually qualified by a holy life, we have not a competent Gospel preacher. In speaking of this matter of morality, we should have something more in view than natural morals—there is a spiritual morality. We want the higher. A man who has in himself the Spirit of God, produces this type of morality. We can not canvass this subject by the motives of worldliness. It takes two crosses to save the world—the cross of Christ and the cross of the believer. A ministerial brother said, in speaking of certain ones, that they had undergone a deplorable religious transformation, that at one time they held the Gospel of regeneration, but they had come to love the Gospel of recreation. Ah, what a transformation has come over too many of our churches and the community in loving this form of worldliness!

It is a matter of great satisfaction that our schools in the South are doing such efficient work in this direction, as reports indicate, and as private information shows. I quite lately had information from General Armstrong touching this point of high morality that is developed in the school. The young men and young women, he said, compare well with the young men and young women in our Northern schools. This is a matter of great satisfaction, because the preacher of the future is to come out of these schools.

The second essential in the missionary preacher, if he is to be successful, is a mind which is spiritually illuminated, a man who is intelligent in the truth. I presume the great characteristic of the old-time preacher in the South is his ignorance, and if we should select one point at which a change needs to take place, it is at this point of instruction. He needs to be intelligent.

Now, to these things ought to be added training in all branches of knowledge, just as widely as possible, but we must fix our attention especially upon one source of knowledge, namely, the Word of God. The missionary preacher needs to be a man established in the Scriptures. John the Baptist grew in grace. Our blessed Lord Himself grew in grace. The man who is to be effective as a preacher in elevating the world is a man who grows in grace. What is grace? It is the undeserved favor of God exhibited in the plan of salvation for the redemption of man. And the first truths of that grace say simply, but how grandly, "grow in grace;" we are to be "ministers of grace;" to be "masters of grace." The minister in the South is to be a master of grace. Do you know how far it is away? It seems but a step, but oh, what a work when we begin to comprehend the great things of God! Do you know the height, depth and length of the great salvation of the love of God? Ezekiel tells us of the depth of the stream when he first came to it, that to his apprehension the water came up to his foot, but, as he advanced, it came to the ankle, and the knee and the loin, and then it was water to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. Oh, my brethren, we need to understand these great things of God, so that we may become masters of grace, for if we do not, the missionary preacher that comes up under our influence will not be thoroughly qualified for his duties.

Then there is another quality; the missionary preacher, to be effective as a missionary, must be, not only a "shining," but like John also a "burning light." Then nothing shall be concealed. What does the Scripture say in that psalm? "There is nothing hid from the light?" No; "There is nothing hid from the heat thereof." We want a Gospel preacher among those people who has a Gospel heat from which nothing can be hid. How many things we can say of this fuel! We have spoken of the Word of God. The Word of God is the light, and it is the fuel for a fire. Our blessed Saviour when He was on the way to Emmaus with the Disciples enkindled their hearts, not by his personal presence; but when he opened the Scriptures, then they testified, "Did not our hearts burn within us?" That was what took place at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit did not bring the fuel that day, but they had been gathering it as they spoke of Christ, and as they came together to offer prayers, the Holy Spirit came, and the Word was a fire in their bones; then fire came and kindled them, and then came that wonderful effect.

Sir James Herschel tells us in a little story, in fragments of his biography, how after his telescopes became famous they were distributed quite widely through Europe, and when he published his great discovery, he began to receive complaints. Men said to him, in angry letters, "We do not see what you see." In his response to them he said: "Perhaps you do not take the care in your observations that I do," and he spoke of one particular thing that is carefully noted. "Do you take care," he said, "of the matter of temperature? The instrument with which I examine the stars must be of the temperature of the stars as nearly as may be, and when I observe on a winter night I place my glass on the lawn at Greenwich, and let it stand there until the instrument comes to be of the temperature of the air. But beyond that," he said, "not only must my instrument be of the right temperature, but I must be. Oftentimes," he said, "I have been out in the winter air for two hours before I would open my glass, because I must come to be of the same temperature as the instrument itself." What a spiritual truth there is here! God's Word the instrument, and the temperature that of the heavens. But we must be of the temperature of that Bible and that heavens! Oh, for the heat of the Gospel to be in the minister of Christ wherever he stands, and then there will be nothing hid from its searching power.

I think this subject is often presented in a way to confuse it. We speak of heat in a way not to comprehend precisely what we want; and let me touch upon the point which shows what I mean. When the Saviour was at the well with the woman, it was the love in His heart from which she could not be hid. What a lesson Peter learned that day when our Saviour, in His great interview by the sea, asked him: "Lovest thou me?" and said, "Feed my sheep and my lambs." There was a lesson burned into his heart of the personal love of Christ.

I heard Mr. Sankey sing last week "The Ninety and Nine," and he prefaced it by saying that the old hymn was worn out. I was sorry to hear him say that, but there was one accent he gave in singing which was very affecting. When one expostulates with the shepherd that he has ninety and nine with him, he cries out: "It is my sheep." I fancy when Peter came to Pentecost and saw those great crowds before him there was one element of preparation he needed, and the Saviour had taught him how to feed his sheep and feed his lambs, and it lived so in his heart that nothing could be hid from it.

I am speaking too long on this matter. But it is a great subject. This Association has a glorious opportunity. There is no cause that comes to us that touches our inspiration and consecration like this society, and the opportunity is such as, in my judgment, the Christian Church never had.

Now, we say this, we cannot do this work by any other form of service but by preaching the Gospel, with at least these elements in it I have mentioned. We speak of the hand work for Christ, but we want the net work for Christ. When I was in Japan, I saw all over the bay, in the night, little boats of fishermen. The men were in the boats two and two, one holding a torch. They were busily engaged the night through. I asked one, "Is this your mode of fishing?" and I was shown a great seine net that lay upon the shore, and I was told, "This is here especially for day fishing." When I stood before the young men in the school at Kioto I referred to this. I said "It seems to me in Japan you are doing the night fishing now; it is fishing in the night with a torch, but, young men, there is a morning coming when the great net is to be cast, your hands are to be upon it, and you are to have the privilege of a great cast for God." It has come this year, and those young men went out preachers of righteousness, clothed with power to reach the masses of men, and they have drawn in hundreds, and there is hope of the thousands, and that is what we want in this work, men who can go to those Southern fields, to those five millions of whom we have heard, and cast the great seine net of the Gospel; and they are coming.

THE SOUTH.

ITINERARY FROM AUSTIN TO CORPUS CHRISTI.

Jan. 4, Sunday.—Assisted in organizing at the Tillotson Institute a church of twenty-one members. Lord's Supper. Prof. W. L. Gordon's two children baptized.

Jan. 5, Monday.—At Austin depot. Waited for train five hours to 8 p. m.

Jan. 6, Tuesday.—Arrived in San Antonio at 1 a. m. Departed for Flatonia at 8 a. m., arriving at noon. Looked up the folks. Preached at night for Pastor T. E. Hillson, whose second child was baptized, as the first had been by the same hand at the dedication in Luling, his alternate church.

Jan. 7, Wednesday.—Up at 4 and off to Luling, arriving by daylight. Off then, by livery rig, 45 miles to Riddleville.

Jan. 8, Thursday.—On to Helena, 15 miles. Ride out with freedman, 3 miles, to our Colony Church. Lecture at night for Pastor Thompson.

Jan. 9, Friday.—Half a day of writing. Visited at another freedman's home, taking supper. Preached at night.

Jan. 10, Saturday.—Brother Thompson, with another colored man and myself, start for Corpus, 80 miles, reaching Goliad, 35 miles, at night. We are entertained at Pastor T. Benson's.

Jan. 11, Sunday.—In the morning, Sunday-school, preaching and communion. At night, preaching. Conferring all day, at the intervals, with "parties," being called upon even after retiring at night.

Jan. 12, Monday.—Up and off before daylight, without breakfast. But Mrs. Benson has provided for us a grand lunch box that lasts us three for the two days through to Corpus. No place on the way, to put up; no chance to buy eatables. Our boss has planned to reach the half-way spot on the Popolota for camping. The day wears away, and it is 10 o'clock before we come to the halting-place. For the last three hours Brother Thompson had led the way lantern in hand, splashing through the mud and water. We turn under a live oak, take out and feed the jaded horses, and eat our snack, and commit ourselves to the Heavenly Father, and at 11 o'clock turn in for the night, Brother Thompson on the ground, under the hack, and Brother Eding and I in the hack, doubled like a couple of jackknives into our four feet square of space, being all of a color. By our side the ponies through the night crunch their corn; and, by turn, we jump up to drive off the cows from stealing their hay. But we sleep, and snore, and rest some.

Tuesday, Jan 13.—Up and off by daybreak. We camp for breakfast lunch. We camp for dinner lunch. As we consume the fragments, how we do bless Mrs. Benson. When, at her own table, we had praised her baking and cooking, she responded: "Oh, I learned that at Talladega College." Then I had to tell Dr. Strieby's story of the native preacher, who thanked him for the good wife who had been trained in one of the American Missionary Association schools, saying that he had gotten more than he had anticipated—a good cook and housekeeper. On, on we trudge through the heavy mud. Night has come, and we are yet seven miles from Corpus, and the cold, "wet norther" that has been drizzling upon us all day, as we had been fearing, has at last broken upon us. Again Brother Thompson is on the lead, with lantern in hand, through the slush, and he has walked more than half the way through the day. The black-waxy is heavy for the wheels, and slippery for the poor old freedman ponies that have no shoes. Pastor J. W. Strong, who for four years has manfully held this extreme southwestern outpost of Congregationalism, having learned of our approach from a dashing country rider, comes along in the dark, one mile out to meet us, in Oriental style. After our salaams, he gallops back to town to make the final arrangement for our entertainment. It is now 8.30 p. m., too late for the preaching; and, for once, the preacher is glad that the storm has kept the people away from the appointment. But the next night they make it up, and the preacher tries to make it up, too. When Mr. Thompson brought me down, six years ago, we came straight through by fording, belly-deep to the horses, across the reef, three miles long, that forms the nexus between the Nueces Bay and the Corpus Christi Bay. On either side was deep water or miring sand. Once, since that, he has had to tote his passengers out on his back. The reef has been washed out in spots. Lo! this time we go up around the head of the bay, ten miles farther. Brother Thompson claims that he can endure such jaunts without wear or much weariness, because he is so abstemious as not to drink tea or coffee nor to eat meat. And everybody knows him to be a true, pure and high-minded Christian minister who, though he has had but little schooling, has been so taught of God in the Word, that after these eleven years in the same parish, that at Helena, he is yet confided in there as an able pulpit teacher. In old times, his people were Presbyterians. Blood will tell; and doctrine, too.

WEEK OF PRAYER.

Nashville, Tenn.—The week of prayer was observed here this year as usual, a meeting being held each day. Notwithstanding the bad weather, the attendance was fair and the interest good, although not of a revival kind. Before that time special efforts had been made in connection with the labors of Rev. Mr. Field, the evangelist, and twenty-five professed conversions took place. A pleasant state of feeling in religion has existed since then. In the circumstances the order of subjects for prayer was closely observed, except that the subject of missions was postponed until Sunday evening, that being the regular time for our monthly missionary meeting. The occasion was one of unusual interest. The special subjects considered were the Congo territory, the Congo conference, the mission to Bihé and that to Umzila's kingdom. In the last mentioned mission we here have a peculiar interest, as two of our former students, Mr. and Mrs. Ousley, have been sent there as missionaries by the American Board. Both are graduates of our college course and Mr. Ousley has since studied theology at Oberlin. A letter from him, written at Cape Town, Africa, was read at our meeting. Since then one has been received from Mrs. Ousley, dated at Durban, Natal, which they had reached in safety and good health and spirits. They were about to sail the next day for Inhambane, their final destination. So as to locate them better we had at the meeting, on our board, a map of that station. Our society writes them once a month. They are very dear to us and we hope they will do much good in Africa. Mr. Ousley dedicated himself one Sunday in the summer of 1878 to that field of labor and has never swerved from his purpose. The last part of the meeting was devoted to a season of prayer for Secretary Pike in consideration of his serious illness.

Memphis, Tenn.—Our church, as formerly, observed the week of prayer, with, however, nothing of special note in the way of outward results. The stormy weather from the first until the middle of the week greatly hindered the attendance. There was, notwithstanding, for those who came, a blessed realization of spiritual benefit.

There were no special meetings at the Le Moyne School, the teachers attending the night meetings at the church.

We were quickened by the thought that even a few souls gathered in each of many places, make up a great company in supplication before God. The topics presented for each evening came to our minds with more than ordinary freshness and force, and the weight of all accumulated to the last. I trust that we were duly impressed with a sense of the obligation incurred by thus confessing to the truth and importance of those themes, and by coming with them to the Lord. Those members of church who, unhindered by other things, come to meeting in stormy weather are more clear in their testimony that it pays, in direct returns of spiritual strength and joy in the fellowship of Christ.

The spirit of our meetings at the close was just such as warrants a continuance of effort, but the winter has been unusually cold and, unlike the custom North, it would be an extraordinary excitement which would secure a general interest and attendance now.

Savannah, Ga.—The week of prayer was a spiritual feast to those who attended the meetings, held each night in the Congregational Church, and the results still continue to appear. Topics assigned by the Alliance followed.

To our church the week of prayer was largely a season of review, the whole cycle of blessings, needs and hopes passing in prayerful review. The meeting for thanksgiving, on Monday night, was a goodly remembrance of special blessings during the past year, and the exercises were chiefly supplications, experiences and rejoicings of those who one year ago had no Christian hope. By count, more than one-half of the persons present were, as one said, only "yearlings." The ready use of Bible promises at this meeting measured well the value of our special missionary's Bible work. Two mothers, each with her family about her, testified in word and deed that the one year of Christian life had created home forces and blessings of infinite worth. The time of confession and consecration lasted the whole week, and proofs of genuineness are not wanting. Said one: "The new year shall not be so dull as the old one." Another: "The new year I give all to my Master, Jesus." And kindred promises were frequent and fervent.

Results of week of prayer: Church much encouraged and quickened, new consecration to work, one convert, a number of interested souls, but chiefly the quickened desire for growth of individuals in all that makes Christian character; and, more than all, the growth of missionary spirit shown in the earnest prayers for the conversion of the world to Christ.

At the close of the "Missionary night" meeting, one of the oldest members of the Church called at the pastor's study and asked for the Missionary magazines, saying: "I am just beginning to hear God's call to missionary work, and I want to know more of what the A. M. A. is doing for our people, and to have my part in it." Seed will grow.

Santee Agency, Neb.—We remembered the week of prayer by services in the chapel every evening, except on Thursday and Saturday, when we held the meetings in the afternoon for the convenience of our Indians who live at a distance from the Mission. The spirit of prayer rested upon all of our several school boarding halls, and we felt that the mercy seat had come near.

The line of instruction in these meetings was concerning the Holy Spirit as enlightening the mind, convicting of sin, revealing Christ to the soul, and abiding with the believer.

Our young men very generally took part in prayer. And their prayers showed a clear understanding of the truths spoken, and deep feeling with regard to their own needs and the wonderful revelation of the mercy of Christ. And they seemed to open their hearts to the ministry of the Spirit.

The same spirit of tender prayerfulness and devotion to the Master was manifest among the girls, a number of them coming out as candidates for church membership and eagerly forming a class for the study of the Catechism.

In the middle of these days of prayer, we were startled by the word that came from a brother missionary's family, the Rev. J. P. Williamson, at Yankton Agency, Dakota, that his children were all sick with scarlet fever, that one was dead and another dying. We took their burden on our hearts in prayer. And the merciful Father spared the one on the borders of death.

By this I was called away from Santee for two days to attend the burial of the dear missionary child that was taken. But I found no interruption of interest when I returned. Thus, all in all, the experiences of this week have been very precious, and we believe that larger fruits of it are yet to appear.

LETTER FROM A STUDENT.

Dear Professor: As I only wrote you a few days ago, you will no doubt be surprised somewhat to receive this letter so soon after. But it is on a matter of great importance that I write you. I think I told you in my letter previous to this that I found no Sabbath-school here, and that I had formed a little class among my day pupils.

This is my second Sabbath here, and we met this morning in our little schoolroom for the first time. How happy it made me feel to meet with such a pleasant little band of children, all eager to talk and learn of Jesus. But I was greatly pained to find that the teachers who recently taught here failed to have Sabbath-school. I inquired of those present this morning how long since they had Sabbath school here, and was informed, "three years." I then asked what the teachers did who previously taught free school here; the answer which came from many was, "They visited on Sundays." I don't see how they could content themselves at doing nothing in a place like this, when there is so much work to do. I have not in all my experience of school teaching found a place so pitifully neglected and needful as this. What I want to say, Professor, is this: We have no Sabbath-school literature of any kind.

Have you anything that you could send me, Professor, for my little Sabbath-school? If so, please send it at my expense. I shall be glad to get anything that I could interest them with; I mean to have them come to my room Sunday afternoons, that I may read to them and talk with those who are not Christians, and perhaps you can find something that would be good for that purpose. We shall be glad of anything. There is so much work here, and I shall be so glad if I can do any good. Now, Professor, if you can find anything to send us, do send it at once. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your pupil and friend,

THE CHINESE.

LOU QUONG AT HIS HOME IN CHINA.

Our brother Lou Quong, for several years the Chinese Helper in our West School in this city, has recently returned from a visit to his native land. I was so greatly interested in his account of his experience as a Christian, thrown back into the heathen associations of his childhood, that I asked him to write it out for me, and I give it to the readers of The Missionary with only a few corrections of his English,—respecting which, during his absence, he has lost some ground:

"I came to California in 1876, and lived in the city of San Francisco. In the day-time I worked in a family, but in the evenings I attended the Mission school. In 1877, I became a poor Christian among our countrymen here. The schools were cared for by all the good Christian friends that are in this free country, and even by some from England and other nations. They were looked after by Rev. W. C. Pond, pastor of Bethany Church—the same church that all our Chinese brethren go to, to take the Lord's Supper, once in two months.

Last September I paid a visit to my home—the home that I had left for so long a time. But before I go I make up my mind to stand up for Jesus, who has kindly given His life for my soul. At first my heart was some troubled about going back to my heathen country, but I pray, and kept praying that Jesus would go with me. So He heard my humble prayers. He was going before me, and made everything smooth for me. I got home Oct. 9th, at noon. In a few moments there came all the people of my village, both young and old, women and men, asking me about California. I answered them the best I could. Some of them try to get a look on my head at first, to see if my hair is all right, for they believed Christian Chinese have their queue cut off, and belong to California. He is no more Chinaman. For this cause they trouble me many days.

I met Rev. C. R. Hager at Hong Kong, when first I got there. We fell to talking of the Mission work among our people.

When I was at home, as soon as my father worshiped the ancestors or the idols, he sent one of my little sisters to call me to join the worship; but my mother, who has a better spirit, told my father that I would not worship them any more, "for (as she said) he have told me that he did thank God in his heart, and that he love us the same." Thus, my mother stopped the calling for the worshiping of the ancestors ever since. I thank God for this first.

During the time I was at home there were seven or eight brethren called at my house and did shake hands with me. Some of them I knew in California, but the rest I knew not and never saw them before; yet they could find their fellow-brethren in Christ, and came from far to do so. Some of them are Bible-sellers; some are preachers. They show their brotherly love and Christian faith by bringing candy and oranges for my sisters. And my father was also glad to see them, each time they call. Some of them did take dinner with us in our family. Rev. Mr. Jones also call, and he preached to the people in my village. He can use the chop-sticks, and did eat our food. In the evening, with the moon shining, and in the day-time he asked me to take him to the market-place, to tell the people the same thing in Chinese as we preached here in California. He was astonished that the people treated him so well, and did not say a bad word to him about it.

Now comes the hardest thing for a Chinese Christian to bear; that is, the marriage day. I was married on March 28, 1884. I had been engaged by my parents when I was fourteen years old to a girl who was only nine, and lived four miles away. When she come to our house to live with us, then she begin to ask me why I did not worship the ancestors with her on the marriage day; and I begin with my lesson to her in simple things, telling her why I don't worship those things any more. When I make a prayer to God before I go to bed she laugh at me because I pray to nothing—no God that I can see. But I told her that she must bow her head too when I pray, and must keep still. So, after this, she pay more attention to what I tell her about this great God that I have found in California.

Once she ask me why I don't take Mr. Ying's example, and do just like he do to please all men. For Mr. Ying was living in the same house with us, and had come back from California at the same time with me; and though he had been in our Mission schools for two or three years, yet he will not take Jesus as his Lord. So when he got back to China, he do things just as free as any heathen. So I ask her: "Well, suppose a man who served his ancestors, and all the dead and all the idols with all his heart; yet he would not take care of himself and go about smoking opium, gambling, throwing away his money in foolishness, and leaving his whole family uncared for. Now, how do you like that?" Then she said, without delay, "I will not like such a man. I rather take a man that is called a Christian, and have him do good, than to have him serve ancestors and gods and do bad things." Though she was a heathen, yet I think she see a little light now. I left home to come here again, Oct. 29, but I still pray God to keep her on the right way; and may she become a Christian woman by the Lord's power alone! Thus the Lord blessed me. May He bless all the workers in His vineyard."

I have exceedingly interesting accounts from the new fields: Alturas, Modoc Co.; Tulare, Tulare Co., and San Diego. In Sacramento where Rev. Mr. Jones is engaged in special services, we hear of crowds gathering about him in the street when he speaks there, and following him into the mission house till it is completely packed. We hear also that some hearts seem to have been touched; and that the hope is cherished that some who were far off have been brought nigh. Space fails me to go into details; but I bespeak the earnest prayers of all who love this cause and love our Lord, that this evangelistic work may yield us the glad harvests for which we have been wrestling with God.

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

We are glad to notice that the ladies of Connecticut have recently organized a State Missionary Society to co-operate with the leading benevolent societies for work in our own country. Nothing in these days can be accomplished without organization. What is everybody's business is nobody's business, and causes whose support is left to those who merely happen to have an interest in them are very likely to be neglected. We wish that in every State of the Union, ladies' domestic missionary societies might be organized. The great work which our Association is called upon to perform among women needs to be specially brought to the attention of the Christian ladies in our churches. This information can only be effectually disseminated through organized and systematic effort. We are prepared to furnish interesting missionary material to all who will ask for it. We invite correspondence with missionary societies, promising to give careful attention to any inquiries they may make. With gratitude do we record the fact that the interest in the woman's department of the American Missionary Association's work is steadily enlarging.

LETTER FROM A LADY MISSIONARY.

Dear Friends: As I take my pen to write my mind goes back to the general letter that I wrote. Can I tell you of any improvement among those with whom we have to do, since that time? Watching the progress of our school from day to day the upward tendency seems slow, but looking back a year a marked improvement can be seen. While they learn readily they remember well, and the homes of those who come in contact with our church and school are different. Last Saturday was the coldest day of the winter, but Miss Robertson and I, according to a previous appointment went to the Dunwoody settlement to hold a woman's meeting. I think I wrote you about a similar meeting one year ago; this is the third one that I have held, and the meetings have gained in interest. In that settlement, before they commence planting, the people have a fast day; they neither eat, wash their faces nor perform any ordinary duties from one sunset to the next. They pray in their homes and unitedly for God's blessing upon the labor of their hands. It reminds me of the way fast days used to be kept in the early history of New England. I am inclined to think they caught the idea from the people who came from New England here. I do not know that such a custom is observed except in this settlement. I asked the women if a blessing followed their prayers? They answered decidedly, "Yes," and said that while the people all about them had suffered for the necessities of life, in that settlement they had never since freedom bought corn, rice or potatoes, but had raised sufficient for their needs. In their simplicity they take God at His word, "Ask and ye shall receive."

Last Sabbath another couple entered upon the "matrimonial sea," this time young people. The gorgeous attire of the wedding party can be better imagined than described. We see few tokens of love and affection among this people. In the Sunday-school lesson of last Sabbath the questions and remarks of our pupils led us to think that it was almost a missing link in their lives; it seemed impossible for them to understand why the people should fall on Paul's neck and kiss him; it is a rare sight to see a kiss exchanged among them.

Yesterday, after school, the parson went with me over the swamps to the homes of some of our scholars. We passed through several ditches, where the water was up to the hubs of the buggy wheels; there was a log for a foot-path over these places. It was very muddy all along the way, and yet these children are seldom absent from school. To-day, the clouds are heavy and dark, and the rain has come down in torrents, yet many have come into school from these long distances, to our surprise, one boy having the promise of being promoted into the second reader came at least six miles, bringing a chicken and six eggs to pay for his book; when he arrived he was wet to his skin. Two-thirds of our school were present to-day. I realize as never before the effort these children are making for themselves. Oh! I remember how freely money was given and the young men from our homes that freedom might be obtained for this people; then the women must wait and pray at home, but now the way is open for women to teach the young of this vast race that the future may not disclose a nation within a nation, hostile to the good and true of a Christian people. Shall there not be volunteers among our New England girls, who shall say: "Here am I. Send me" to the work?

Some of our hard-worked sisters at the North may wish to enter the service of the A. M. A., that they may get a little rest and find time for literary culture. We commend to such a careful perusal of the following report.

Days taught during the month, 25; Hours taught, 150; Scholars classified, 73; Tuition collected, $54.75; School books sold, 111; Book money, $24.00; School programmes, 10; Slates corrected, 1,250; Arithmetical examples (oral), 325; Words written on the blackboard, 225; Spelling words (oral), 450; Reading lessons, 50; Golden Texts, 4; New song taught, 1; Five-minute talks, 10; Conducted chapel exercises, 4; Conducted home devotions, 5; Tuesday evening public talk, 1; Interviewed mothers of refractory scholars, 5; Notes to parents, 10; Postal cards (absent scholars), 20; Written examination, 1; Choir meetings, 4; Whipped scholar, 1; Attended woman's prayer meeting, 4; Church services, 20.

CHILDREN'S PAGE.

VIC'S LILIES.

School was dismissed, and the boys and girls came rushing out with merry shouts and laughter. The voices had a musical ring and the intonation peculiar to uncultivated colored lads and lassies. They were a comely, thrifty-looking set, and the instinctive hopefulness of their race looked from the bright eyes and shone in the cheery faces. Life had gone hard with some, but had failed to quench their faith in the good time yet to come.

As they neared the corner of the street and came in sight of a large, handsome white house, a girl's voice called, "Hush! hush!"

"Lor', now, Vic!" her brother Phil remonstrated, "what nonsense!" But in spite of the remonstrance every voice took a lower tone, and the house was passed almost in silence. The blinds of the house were closed, and from the door-knob hung the black-and-white token of mourning. Vic was saying, "Yes, sick jest two days; taken Sunday and died this morning. When I tol' teacher, she said, 'Death loves a shining mark.'"

"I'm awful sorry," said Nan; "he was a mighty peart little 'un, and he al'ays looked up and smiled when we passed. But if I'd knowed he was really goin', I'd sent a message to sister Fan. Don't you think she'd like to know about the Christmas tree, Vic?"

"You're a green un," said Phil. "You don't s'pose that little pink and white chap has gone to our heaven, do you? He'll see Fan a heap sight! She's off in a little cubby-hole with all the rest of the darkies. All the first-class 'commodations b'longs to the white peoples, ye know."

"Hush, Phil," said Vic; "you shan't stuff Nan so. Everything will be all right, honey, when we gets up dere. Shouldn't be s'prised if Fan knew all 'bout the tree. And p'rhaps the good Lord will let her help take care of the little fellow till his po' mother comes. Ole Dinah says she's awfully cut up—his mother, you know. You see they're strangers here, came for the mammy's health; and Frankie, he was the only chile. 'Pears like I want to comfort the po' mammy. My lily has three blossoms. I mean to take them all to her."

"'Pears like you'd better min' your own business. She may be a dog-on white lady, if she do come from the Norf. Like as not she'd turn up her nose at your lilies. I'll 'low the little un was a brick, but you'd better let his mother 'lone." This was Phil's advice.

But although Victoria Porter had a black skin, she had a tender, loving heart, and she had pored over the Christ-life until she had unconsciously imbibed its spirit. She was always yearning to comfort some one. Later in the day she stood at the door of the white mansion, holding her precious lilies. "They're for his mother," she said to Dinah. "Tell her we chil'ens loved Frankie, and we're all mighty sorry."

It was a simple message and a simple offering, and the giver was a poor little black girl; but behind the gift was sincerity and love, and the heart of the poor, sorrowing mother was touched and comforted.

And Vic's lilies had a mission of which she knew not. They preached a lovely sermon on the high privilege and duty of comforting others. We may be poor, and very humble may be our station in life; but if we try, we may make life brighter and sweeter to someone. What a glad surprise it will be to Vic when the Saviour honors her many kind acts by the words—"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me."