ALABAMA.
Two Ordinations at Talladega—How Churches Begin and Grow.
REV. GEO. E. HILL, MARION.
I have just had the pleasure of attending two ordinations of colored men, the first of the kind I ever witnessed. These young men were recent graduates of Talladega College, and, having only last week attended the examinations in the Theological Department of this institution, in charge of Prof. Andrews, I was prepared for at least a respectable appearance on their part.
But the event exceeded expectation. In the first instance the examination of the candidate continued through two hours and was very searching and thorough, the council consisting in part of three college professors.
The young brother maintained his self-possession, and appeared almost as much at home in theology as if he had been a professor himself. Indeed, I may say of both these brethren, in all my remembrance of ordinations at the North, I have seldom seen a candidate for the sacred office appear better on the whole.
It is truly inspiring to behold the work which such a college as this is doing for the colored race, not only in providing good schools and teachers, but in raising up an intelligent ministry, and in planting the right kind of Christian churches.
Here, for example, at A., where we were the other day, there is the old established Episcopal Church, for white folks, and, perhaps, a colored church or two, where “faith” is more insisted on than “works.” A new order now comes in, which is at first looked upon with distrust as an innovation. A church is organized with eight or ten members. Preaching is statedly kept up by students from the college. The congregation steadily increases; and, in three years, partly through the exertions of the members, and partly by the kindly aid of the “Iron Company,” a neat little chapel is built, with a miniature parsonage alongside. A pastor is called, and an ordination takes place, conducted with as much solemnity and decorum as if it were in the suburbs of New York or Boston. The people outside look on. Strangers are attracted in. Distrust gives place to respect. The influence is contagious. Shiftlessness and immorality have been exchanged for industry and thrift. Society is reconstructed. “The tree is known by its fruits.”
May the good work go on, and such trees and such fruit be multiplied a thousand fold!
I was grieved to learn that, in the case of one of these young pastors, with a wife and child, all the pay he expects to receive is fifteen dollars a month from the A. M. A.
Closing Days of Emerson Institute—Algebra—“Lower ’Strumties” and the Ledger.
MISS S. J. IRWIN, MOBILE.
The school at Mobile closed satisfactorily. Public examinations were held on the last two days. The interest manifested by the attendance of the people was highly gratifying, and as some of the examinations were beyond the understanding of the majority of the audience, it was noticeable that they should have remained during the day at the expense of their dinners, and a number of the working men at the expense of a day’s income, in order to show their appreciation of what was being done for their children.
There were examinations in all studies pursued during the year; and the commendable degree of faithfulness and zeal which has been the marked characteristic of the scholars, was evinced at the close.
The advanced grammar-class ended its lesson with the correction, on the black-board, of a letter by a colored candidate for office, recently published; the class gave rules for its criticisms and explanations.
An algebra-class was reported by a Southern lady of high intelligence, who had taught that branch for a number of years, as the best she ever heard, doing credit to any class or grade of scholars.
The exercises of the primary room, also, elicited much comment on the careful drill that had been bestowed in the endeavor to convey the spirit of study, and not alone the “letter” thereof, although the “Busy Bees” were not far in advance of that fundamental branch of education. They could readily grasp the fact, in the physiological lecture, of the different parts of the body, although their undeveloped articulation could only pronounce the arms and limbs as the “upper” and “lower ’strumties.”
A white gentleman of much educational experience, who has charge of an academy for young men, left his own duties to be present during the last day; and his final address to the pupils was pleasingly commendatory of their progress and attainments.
In his original and epigrammatic manner he told them to go ahead, and get beyond these lazy white boys, who liked to have so much done for them—for you can do it! He had tried to shame his boys before, by telling what the Emerson Institute scholars could do, and he surely could now. He concluded, urging them not to forget to bring, and the parents to send, the little tuition money which came due once in a while, and was so small a recompense for what they received.
A paper was read by two of the oldest scholars, entitled “Emerson Institute Ledger,” for which the subscription price was readily paid, which was announced to be “undivided attention, payable in advance.” Some members of the audience offered to pay for the paper if it could be regularly issued.
Addresses by ministers and others followed the examinations; the school sang “Gathering Home”; the circulars announcing the next year’s school-work were distributed; the hope was expressed of seeing the familiar faces again after these intervening months of vacation; the Lord’s Prayer chanted; the benediction; warm and tearful words of farewell between pupils and teachers, and the doors closed upon another year’s work.