ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
Marietta, Ga.—On the Sabbath, June 6th, the new church, which is also to be used as a school building, at Marietta, Ga., was dedicated. The sermon, by Superintendent Roy, was upon the rebuilding of the Temple by the ex-captives. A Presbyterian minister from Pennsylvania being present, offered the prayer of dedication. The house is 24×40 feet, well finished and painted, and furnished with desks that answer the double purpose of church and school use. The people raised $200 toward the building. Prof. T. N. Chase gave the people a Sunday supply, reporting his visit to Africa. Two young business men in Illinois put each $25 into this Christian investment.
Talladega, Ala.—The students are doing good service during vacation, teaching in day and Sabbath Schools, and keeping up with their studies so as not to fall behind if unable to return at the beginning of the term. One who is teaching for the third season at Hackneyville, Ala., has his sister, also a pupil from this college, associated with him. At a recent picnic on the school grounds, held for the purpose of creating an interest in education, leading citizens, both white and black, made addresses.
Swayne Hall, of which we have seen a fine photograph, is too good a building to be allowed to rot down, as it is doing, for want of $3,000 needed to save it and put it in proper shape for the most efficient service. Will not some one save $15,000 to Talladega College by sending his checque for $3,000?
Athens, Ala.—The Trinity School at this place is going forward with its new building. Last summer the colored people by volunteer labor made and burned a kiln of 120,000 bricks, and have made another this summer. If time is money, it takes a great deal of it to do a work for which there is no money, but under the inspiration of Miss M. F. Wells, who for a dozen years has been principal of the school, and is the good angel of this enterprise, the people are slowly but steadily moving forward to its accomplishment.
Lawson, Ala.—Rev. Spencer Snell rejoices in some eighteen hopeful conversions as the fruit of a series of meetings held in August.
Fisk University, Tenn.—The Jubilee Singers at Chautauqua have been attracting attention to this Institution, and to themselves as cultivated persons, almost, it may be said, irrespective of color. Their singing was one of the most fortunate and popular features of the wonderful gathering at that famous place.
Paris, Texas.—The Rev. J. W. Roberts, who is located at Paris, Texas, an enterprising and growing city on the Texas and Pacific Railroad, writes of a pleasant series of meetings resulting in some ten additions to the two churches under his charge. He has since been delivering a series of Biblical lectures which attracted in members and pastors from other colored churches and a sprinkling of white people. He is soon to be reinforced by Mr. S. B. White, a graduate of the Normal Department in Talladega, who is to teach the parish school. This church was organized in 1868 by a man who at another place had his life sacrificed to the turbulence of those times. He makes an appeal for a much needed communion service. If some one of our churches has supplied itself with a new service, its old one would be thankfully received; or if some one will contribute a new one, it would be at once a graceful and grateful thing to do.
Helena, Texas.—Rev. M. Thompson, on the first Sabbath of August, had the joy of receiving to his church six persons who had recently found the Saviour. The school in this place is now to be taught by Miss Henderson, a graduate of the Normal Department of Straight University.
Austin, Texas.—The Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute at Austin, Texas, has been built during the year. Including the basement above ground and the mansard roof, it has five stories and is a commodious and comely structure, crowning one of the finest sites about that beautiful city in the valley of the Colorado.