Various

“ But how are we able to love one another? Shall we love them when they love us? That is a very easy way, but this not the way of love at all. Or shall we say, we will love them, but the heart is not willing to do so? Is this the way to love? Or, shall we say by mouth, yes, we will love him truly, but still try to listen to him when he talks, or preaching, or studying, to find fault with him, and go right off and tell some one else instead of telling his fault before him by yourself alone ”

“ When President Garfield was shot, the people of the South rose up with as much indignation and sympathy as those of the North. It was a benediction for the Nation to be lifted by such a ground-swell of emotion, and that the impulse of Christian patriotism. We feel confident that President Garfield, restored to soundness, will by this dreadful dispensation be all the more disposed to temper his administration with fairness and righteousness, such as will carry on the process of healing in the body politic. ”

“ After years of toil and waiting we are made to rejoice in a revival of religion; not the old, with its fanaticism and immoralities. It is no easy task to educate an unlettered people to reject the past and adopt a new and higher form of Christian life; to change a prayerless and violent home into one of song and praise. This is our work.
After a meeting of fifteen days we received five persons into the church on profession of faith, all from the Sunday-school, two of whom are teachers. After a few days’ rest we opened a meeting with the church in Helena, that continued eleven days. ”

“ On the other hand, if the pulpit be weak and the outcoming moral influences be feeble, though the schools be ever so well equipped and endowed, the people around will lack high purpose, and scholarship itself will be frivolous and effeminate, destitute of the rugged strength which comes to natures fed from the deep roots of moral earnestness and conviction.
It need hardly be said that the great need of the South, especially among the colored people, is a strong church and a pure church; for slavery damaged the colored man morally vastly more that it did intellectually. ”

“ The church, therefore, should be emphasized at all points and at all times. It should command for its preachers the best and the ablest men. Both races need this. Only this can destroy the conditions which made it possible that white blood should now be running in the veins of three-fourths of the colored people. The Southern pulpit has failed to sufficiently enforce either good morals or practical righteousness. For lack of this, slavery was possible, and dueling and violence covered the land with blood. The remedy for this is a new and right system of moral teaching. ”

“ We be one people, with one English inheritance of language and history, of character and civilization, with a common possession of Revolutionary glory and of pride in our national development. We must let the dead bury their dead. ”

“ The scientific method, so called, has no place for moral agents or moral causes, and so its account of the world is forever rendered on a physical rather than on a metaphysical basis. With such a tendency in education, this Association can have no sympathy. It is the friend of all good learning, and will do its utmost to advance education; but it does not believe that a man can be well or symmetrically educated until his moral faculties are disciplined in advance of, and equally with, his intellectual. For this reason it would put the church at the center and foundation of all its work. ”

“ We have had no special revival since last summer. Four, however, have been added to the church during the year, two by letter and two by profession. Without any formal organization, I am happy to say that my people are abstainers from intoxicating liquors. There is a temperance society in the city, but I do not espouse its cause, because it is a secret society. Our Sabbath-school is crowded every Lord’s day. We are endeavoring to introduce the catechism, and thus far have been quite successful. Our great need is a house of worship. ”

“ The blessing of God has seemed to rest upon our work from the beginning, in opening the way before us and in giving us favor with the people for whom we labor.
Kind friends have sent us generous aid, whereby we have been able to meet our charity work, which although only a small part of the great whole, is nevertheless a very important part, not only because we are thus enabled to relieve want and suffering, but because of the opportunity thereby given to gain a personal influence over individuals. We often have thirty visitors in a day. ”

“ The year has not passed without giving us tokens of God’s special favor. The hopeful conversion of four persons, who are standing firm in the faith and doing good service in the church, and the renewed quickening of the whole church, are some of the happy results of the Holy Spirit’s special presence. The Sunday-school is full of interest; average attendance about 90 scholars, with eight earnest teachers who were once our scholars. The Sunday-school has a library of about 70 volumes of good books, which are quite generally read by the school. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The first men sent to that dark land should hold the ideas and principles out of which may be evolved churches, schools, homes and Christian states, from the mouths of the Nile and the Congo clear down to the golden Cape. If we cannot inoculate the colored race with those moral sensibilities and forces which will render them charitable, humane and just, then we look to them in vain for help in the salvation of our own land, as well as in the founding of Christian institutions and Christian states for the continent of Africa. ”

“ Senator Hoar, in his recent oration before the law school of Yale College, asserted and proved that the best lawyers of the last generation were indebted to the strong pulpits of New England more than to anything else for their intellectual clearness, and for their judicial discrimination and force.
Let there be a strong pulpit in any community, and there will be strong men around it, mentally and morally, though the schools are of the simplest. ”

“ Because we are all made of one blood. At the beginning, did not God make a man and a woman, and told them to love one another, and keep His commandments? But at last they broke His commands, so God turned them out of Paradise. ”

“ Or, to wait, find out all his mistakes and all his faults, and then go find some one who you think best,—who you think love you very much, and who you think can help you any way, and who do always to please you with talk, and who [280] can scold them better than you, for perhaps they are better person than you, and perhaps they have more respect of men; and your heart is full of envying, and always try to knock him down: is this the way to love one another? ”

“ It is a rare thing for any of our students to hold themselves outside of the temperance work. They not only become temperance men and women here, but temperance workers when they leave. From 1,000 to 1,500 signers of the pledge are secured by them each summer vacation. They sometimes commence Sunday-school work previous to the opening of their day schools, and during vacation it is estimated that they instruct about 4,000 Sunday-school scholars. Fifty-eight of our church members have been engaged in teaching during the year. ”

“ 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 [271] 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. ”

“ The American Missionary Association. AIM AND WORK.
To preach the Gospel to the poor. It originated in a sympathy with the almost friendless slaves. Since Emancipation it has devoted its main efforts to preparing the Freedmen for their duties as citizens and Christians in America and as missionaries in Africa. As closely related to this, it seeks to benefit the caste-persecuted Chinese in America, and to co-operate with the Government in its humane and Christian policy toward the Indians. It has also a mission in Africa. ”

“ 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. ”

“ When it is taken into account that these young churches are reformed churches, and that their church life is a new experience among the colored people, where they shine as lights in the world, it will be readily seen, we think, that this branch of our work augurs most hopefully a day of better things for the new South, and that the hearts and hands of these brethren, whose letters will be found elsewhere, should be strengthened, and their numbers largely increased. ”

“ Four other Sabbath-schools are under the supervision of members of the church; in these there is a total average attendance of 208.
During the past year we erected here a neat plain building as a church house and college chapel. It will seat some 500 people.
We have here, conducted and managed chiefly by members of the church, the most vigorous temperance association in the state, including over 1,600 pledges. Our relations to the churches and people around us are eminently friendly and pleasant. There is to us an open door that no man can shut. To God be the glory. ”

“ A church without a shelter is a church in the wilderness indeed; and in this part of the world is no church, but a scattered flock seeking a fold.
Lake Peigneur (Rev. C. E. Smith, Pastor) .—This church enjoys stated preaching. When the pastor is absent, some layman who has the “gift” of exhorting calls the people together. The homes of the people are often far apart. It is a rich prairie section, and all or nearly all come on horse-back. There is very little abject poverty. The labor of the men and women is sought, and commands a living price. ”

“ The hope of our church is in the boys and girls at school. Already two ministers have gone forth from us, one of whom is doing good work for four Baptist churches which he has in charge. The other one also is a great power for good. Our church has been more anxious for the souls of men than for their names upon its list. The attendance at the Sabbath-school is good, made up in part of a large Bible class of elderly people.
THE CHINESE. “CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.” Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association. ”

“ Spiritual growth is manifest. Special meetings were held during the week of prayer and three weeks following; result, several hopeful conversions; 12 have united with the church, six by letter and six by profession. A healthful sentiment in favor of temperance prevails throughout the church and congregation, cherished by special services and efforts through the year. Not one person to my knowledge is addicted to the use of drink. Sunday-school is vigorous with enthusiasm, numbering 175 pupils. Decided improvement both in attendance and contributions have been made during the year. ”

“ 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. ”

“ No greater mistake could be made than to attempt to graft on to a low moral character a high degree of intellectual culture. Should we send forth a generation of students, with sharp wits and dull moral perceptions, we might contribute to the roll of more adroit villains, but we should add little to the list of good men. ”

“ The ministers and church members have a clearer understanding of the proprieties of church order and discipline.
The public services of the Lord’s day have grown quiet and devotional, a deeper tone of reverence pervades the preaching, and mere emotion has been succeeded by intelligent conviction and a reasonable faith.
3d. There is a more direct aim for the best spiritual results. The conversion of the heart and the saving of the lost is more and more the end and the aim of preaching. ”

“ 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 few minutes are given to one; often hours of precious time must be given to others, for thus only are their hearts kept with ours. We encourage, aid, advise as circumstances demand. We are with our people in sickness, death and also at their funerals. We have a woman’s school four or five times a week; but our Bible school is our corner-stone. We have a large attendance in the adult’s room and also in the children’s department. ”

“ The Sabbath-schools have everywhere received due attention, and much of the progress in the different churches has been made possible by the earnest, prayerful and unremitting labors of our missionaries in this department of religious work. Missionary meetings and societies have been greatly encouraged and the cause of temperance widely promoted. Many of the young converts have found their way to institutions of learning, and many have engaged in teaching and missionary service. ”

“ A partial substitute may be found in other professions and other institutions, but nothing can take the place of the church as the authoritative teacher of moral and spiritual truth.
It is well to remember, also, that that which best develops and educates the moral powers is the best possible discipline for the mind itself. No subjects require clearer perception, sharper analysis and more discriminating reason than moral subjects, and no men show keener minds than those who have been trained to reason on moral questions. ”