ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
N. C., Lassiter’s Mills.—“The church is greatly revived; six converts this week, and many more seeking the Lord.”
N. C., Raleigh.—“The revival still goes on. There have been over 200 conversions since Mr. Brown left us, and many are still anxious. There are revival meetings in every colored church in the city every night without the least rivalry. We have twenty-two converts in our church already.”
S. C., Charleston.—“Miss Wells has organized a Band of Hope with forty members, and there seems to be a good deal of enthusiasm. The church has fixed on the 3d Sunday in April as the day for a renewal of the covenant. The officers are now visiting every member, urging them to come forward to renew their church pledge.”
Ga., McIntosh, Liberty Co.—Mr. Snelson writes: “Our communion season held yesterday was highly enjoyed by all. Six persons united with the church. Four were promising young men. Two of the candidates came out from Baptist families and were baptized by immersion.”
Ga., Woodville.—Mr. Sengstacke writes: “I have been preaching every night for six weeks. Our Sunday night meetings are crowded, and the unconverted people are becoming alarmed. I am now reaching the very class I have been longing after for some time—the young people. In February I baptized two young people, in March three, and last night one young woman professed conversion. Our Sunday night contributions are increasing. We are having the church repainted on the inside, and are trying to raise money for additional seats. We cannot seat the people. Last Sunday night many turned away, because we had no room.”
Ala., Florence.—Easter-Sunday was observed in an impressive manner. The new church was full.
Ky., Berea.—Some persons have here recently professed faith in Christ, and others are inquiring.
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Lincoln Mission.
REV. SIMON P. SMITH, WASHINGTON.
A great deal has been said recently about the Lincoln Mission in the District of Columbia, and probably many would like to hear how the work is progressing.
There is a very large Sunday-school at this mission, and has been for several years. The teachers come from Dr. Rankin’s church, more than fifty of them, and manifest great enthusiasm. The school averages about three hundred scholars, and on some occasions, during the cold weather, we had more than four hundred.
The majority of these children come from the poorest and most illiterate colored families in the city. They have good training in the day-schools, but bad home influences. Their parents do not bring them up as they should, hence they are very rude. There is much need of a lady missionary here to teach the mothers of these children how to make homes happy.
It is said that there are about sixty thousand colored people in the city, and from the appearance of loiterers standing on the streets, there must be twenty thousand out of employment. Idleness is the mother of mischief, and what an opportunity such people have to enter into temptation! Some of the parents of the children who come to the Lincoln Mission are among these idlers.
These children are very poorly dressed; they scarcely have sufficient clothing to keep them warm. We hold prayer-meeting with them every Wednesday evening, and we find it very difficult to keep them away from the stove. This seems to indicate that they have but little fire at home. We are always glad to have it cold on Wednesday evenings, for, then, we are sure of a good audience; and we can tell them about the words of eternal life. Many desire to be prayed for, and we believe that some of them love the Lord Jesus.
General O. O. Howard was with us recently, and addressed the children. While he was speaking, his words were so full of sympathy and love that he held the attention of the rudest class of boys in the city for more than an hour. The sheep know the shepherd’s voice—even the lambs. We know that he loves our nation, because he built us this synagogue, and we love him because he loves us. He is, indeed, a true philanthropist.