AT TALLADEGA.

At the Faculty Meeting.—Three men and four women present. Prayer. The circle is passed around for matters of business. Besides minor things these results are reached; Will observe the day of prayer for colleges, with an address at morning worship, with a prayer-meeting in the afternoon for the male students, one for the females and one for the faculty, and with a general meeting at night; will hold a Normal Institute on the last two days of the present term, inviting the colored teachers in the region round about to come, and asking Mr. A. W. Farnham, Normal Professor at the Atlanta University, to be present and help; will have a series of familiar lectures, alternating on Friday night with the young people’s sociable. Surely all this looks like business.

At the Library.—The donation of books to the value of more than four hundred dollars, from Rev. W. H. Willcox, of Malden, Mass., attracts the eye, and feasts it, too. The books are new, of standard and current interest.

At the Prayer Meeting.—One of the colored young preachers reports the fine large old Bible which, as the gift of some Eastern friend, he had taken into his little church at the Cove on the preceding Sabbath. The people had requested him to express their thanks. Then President DeForest followed. There is a story connected with that book. It came with a box of things from the Congregational Church at Columbus, N.J., Rev. E. B. Turner’s. It came from Harriet Storrs, who is a cousin of my mother. Every page of the book has been prayed over. Out of the Sabbath-school of that old hill-town church, six ministers of the Gospel have been raised up, among whom, I suppose, they count myself, for that was my father’s home; and two wives of foreign missionaries have come from the same source. Surely that old nest must be kept warm for more of such productiveness.

At Evening Prayers.—It is in the dining-hall, where the students of both sexes and the teachers meet. The repast over, the President, as is his wont, gives a resumé of the current news, the discovery of the intro-Mercurial star, the day’s phase of the Maine affairs, and other such. Then the students at two of the tables recite each a verse upon a particular topic, temptation; then the sweetness of a religious song; then prayer; then a quiet and orderly retiring. It is alone the religion of Jesus that can present such a scene.

At the Farm.—You enter its enclosure, passing under a graceful arch that bears in large letters the emblazonment, “Winsted Farm.” So everybody knows what town it was in Connecticut that did a good deal toward the providing of that industrial department. The wheat and the rye and the oats are covering the fields with green, even at this mid-winter time. You can see that there is good farming in that locality. You can see it, too, by contrast.

Co-operative Farming.—During the last season the colored people about our church at Lawson’s, in Alabama, Rev. J. W. Strong, pastor, rented a half-dozen acres of land, and cultivated the most of it in cotton, for the purpose of adding to the fund for supporting their school. They had a board of managers. They worked when called upon. They plowed and hoed. They at last picked out the cotton and found that they had two bales, worth $120. One bale they sent to the colored folks’ Industrial Fair, on the grounds of Talladega College. This church is now also engaged in building a house of worship, having the frame erected, intending, with the aid of $100 from the A.M.A., to go on this season with the finishing, and hoping that a revival will be its process of dedication.

NORTH CAROLINA.
Our School.

REV. ALFRED CONNET, MCLEANSVILLE.

Our school is put down as a common school. That is correct. Yet we are laboring to make it more than a common school. To this end we have graded it as follows:

A. Normal; B. Normal. A. Intermediate; B. Intermediate. A. Primary; B. Primary.

Through the kindness of friends in the North the school had been supplied with a good many books, and unfortunately, there was a great variety of text-books. We have ordered new, standard books, and have secured uniformity. As we had new books it was easy to require all to begin at the bottom and work up, and to do thorough work.

In a very few instances we have found pupils who can go into two classes in the same branch. In this way they bring up from the first, and at the same time go on with a more advanced class.

The grading, the new books, and the uniformity of books, have each and all had a stimulating effect. They see there is a ladder to climb. They see they cannot start at the top, or the middle, but must begin at the bottom. They study harder. The school has improved in numbers and in regularity of attendance. The number enrolled is 84.

Our pupils are from four counties, including this (Guilford) county. Thirteen are here paying board, or boarding themselves. Of the thirteen all are professors of religion but three: one is a minister, two are preparing for the ministry; one professed religion since he came here a year ago, one of those preparing for the ministry united with the church at the last communion, and one is a teacher. Of those enrolled last year, seven are teachers, six of whom are now teaching, and one attending school. One pupil who is a minister reports over forty hopeful conversions in connection with his labors during the summer vacation.

A year ago we greatly felt the need of dormitories, and accommodations for students to “batch.” For this the Association could make no appropriation. One of the neighbors has put up a building for this purpose, another is building, and a third has converted an old store-room into dormitories, and four families have taken boarders. Last year our school was confined to one room; now we have added a recitation room.

On the whole, the outlook is hopeful. By the close of the present school year twelve to fifteen of our pupils will be able to obtain teacher’s license from the County School-Examiner.

SOUTH CAROLINA.
Church and School Work—The Cause of the Exodus.

REV. TEMPLE CUTLER, CHARLESTON.

The work goes quietly on here in Charleston—in all its departments. The school is flourishing. It never had so many pupils as now, and was never more popular than under the direction of Mr. Gaylord. We are not ashamed to have visitors from North, South, East, or West, visit Avery. If any of your readers doubt the capacity of these colored boys and girls, let them come and see for themselves.

Miss Wells, our missionary, is doing good work—visiting the homes and teaching the mothers and daughters how to make the home what it should be.

The church work goes on slowly. The feeling of unity and harmony is increasing, and, so far as I can see, may be said to be universal in the church. We have had stormy weather in Plymouth for some time; it has been a sort of Cape Hatteras, around which the winds have revelled, but now the sky is clear and the sea smooth. We have a large growth of tares in the church that does neither us nor anybody else any good. If we should undertake to root it out, I do not know how much wheat might come up with it, nor how much wheat we would trample down in getting to it. Oh, how wise we need to be in dealing with these people; what a broad mantle of charity we have to throw over them. Those of us who glean after the reapers in this field, where the “patriarchal institution” once flourished, find that either the type of piety that prevailed in the “Abrahamic household” was very defective, or the “Abrahamic duty” was woefully neglected. Certainly, the idea of religion that prevails among the former dependents of these modern patriarchs, is not that of either the Old or New Testament. But why throw stones at the old defunct institution? What did I say? Defunct? I wish to God it was defunct, and that these freemen had a fair chance and a free fight for their rights and liberties. But that day is a long way off; and I fear the shimmer of the morn is not yet seen. I want to be just as hopeful as possible. I never was a croaker. I generally see the bright side of a thing. But sometimes, when I come in from some tale of oppression and misery, the clouds just shut right down—it is midnight. When I am made to know that there are 20,000 poor wretches here in this city that are the carcass on which rich cormorants are fattening, my soul is sick within me. Congress may investigate the cause of the emigration of the colored people to all eternity, and come to what conclusion they may, it won’t stop. I pray God it may not stop until enough laborers get away from the South to give room for those who remain to grow. God knows the truth, and He will open some way for His people to go out. I assure you His new Israel has not yet come to the land flowing with milk and honey. What think you of a man supporting a family of four on 25 cents a day, and paying five dollars a month for house rent? What think you of a family of five living on the wages of the daughter who gets six dollars a month working out, and paying five dollars a month for house rent? Hungry mouths will stifle conscience. Or, how long could the good people of the North live on hasty-pudding without molasses or milk, morning, noon and night, and nothing else, day after day and week after week?

Do you say, why not go back into the country and work the land? So I said to one who had brought his family of five or six down here to starve with the rest: “Why didn’t you stay up in the country?” “Couldn’t lib up dar no how. Starve up dar shuah. Rent so high couldn’t lib. Had free acres of land and a po, misable shantie, and had to work fo days ob de week fur de rent, and but two days to tend my own crop. Hab to buy ebreting ob de commisary. Hab to pay twenty cents a pound fur meat (bacon), and forty cents a peck fur grits (corn meal). Starve to deff up dar shuah.” Four days’ work every week for the rent of three acres of land! The best land in that section is worth four dollars per acre. Call the man’s work worth twenty-five cents a day. His rent was one dollar a week—fifty-two dollars a year. No wonder the landlords are not anxious to sell land to the colored people, when they can get four times the value of the land every year in work at twenty-five cents a day. Defunct institution! Yes, on the statute book. “But, my man, why didn’t you buy the land at four dollars an acre?” “Well, sah, some ob ’em did buy de land. I dunno how much dey pays; but I knows when dey’s paid two or tree stalments dey can’t pay no mo, and gibs em up.” Do you wonder the people listen to glowing pictures of better opportunities somewhere else? If these people had a decent chance at home, they would not listen to invitations away. The fact is, they are perfectly helpless, and there is nothing for the mass of them but to sit down and wait, wait, wait, through the long, long years till the morning comes. I do not wonder they emigrate. I pray God they may continue to go, until those who remain shall have their hands full to supply the demands for labor. It may not be better for those that go, but it will be better for those that remain. The more you thin out your woodland, the taller and stouter will be your timber. The only hope for this people is a scarcity of laborers. There are so many who must have work, or die, that every vacancy has a dozen ready applicants. Twenty-five cents a day, I am told, is all that some of these planters will give to man or woman; and they can get enough at that price. In such circumstances, you cannot expect people to haggle long about the price of labor. The cry is simply, “Give me my hire.” And then, if you remember that two hundred years of slavery in a man’s blood is not a very good preparation for independency, you may get a pretty good idea of the situation of the people.

But my letter is too long. Tell the churches to pray for the freeman of the South. I do not say freedmen, because there are thousands here who were never slaves and are no better off. Ask the churches to help us to give them the only consolation they can at present have—a sure and intelligent hope of a better world than this on the other side—and not expect them, out of their deep poverty, to pay for their own schooling or preaching just yet.

GEORGIA.
Report of the Committee of the Board of
Commissioners to the Atlanta University, June, 1879.

A large majority of the entire Board attended the examination of the colored University at Atlanta, which receives an annual donation of $8,000 from the State. The report of the special committee appointed to make a suitable minute of the exercises and the condition of the Institution was unanimously adopted. It is as follows:

To the Board of Visitors:

Gentlemen—The undersigned, your appointees, herewith submit the following report upon the final examinations of the Atlanta University, for the school year just closed.

The Board attended these examinations in an almost entire body. They were promptly and courteously met by President Ware and his associates, and the examinations proceeded with systematic regularity. The exercises were designated by neatly printed programmes, with the time and place of recitation distinctly set forth.

The examinations were fairly conducted and disclosed the fact that the most advanced methods of teaching were employed. These methods were mainly topical, supplemented by appropriate questions, which evinced that the students had an intelligent comprehension of the subjects under consideration. We were especially impressed by the evidences of patient, systematic, untiring training on the part of the teachers, so well adapted to the colored, or any race, and by the progressive manner in which a subject was developed. All branches taught, passed in review before us, and whether the immediate subject was reading, grammar, history, mathematics, the classics, or other branches, the means employed and the results attained were entirely satisfactory. The examinations were entirely oral and the decorum and order maintained were of a high character.

The cleanliness of the recitation rooms, the preservation of school property and the gradual improvement of the grounds were marked.

The final exercises at Friendship Church were very creditable to the institution. The subjects of the speeches and essays were appropriate, without political bearing, and they were delivered and read in a becoming manner.

Comparing the examinations with preceding ones, we are satisfied that the University is steadily on the up-grade, and that it is becoming a centre of great interest among the colored people.

The religious training of the pupils appeared to be excellent.

The Normal feature of the institution we regard with especial interest. In no way can education be so rapidly extended, or its improved methods so effectually multiplied, as by the special training of teachers. This we believe to be the great educational want of our State.

We have one suggestion to make, viz: as the oral recitation has been now so satisfactorily developed, would it not be beneficial to introduce some written examination work in the higher classes, as affording a better comparative test, and as advancing the examinations fully up to the modern standard?

It is your committee’s opinion, based upon the foregoing, that the State has acted wisely in her appropriation to the Atlanta University, and that a continuance of it is to her best interests.

Respectfully submitted,

H. C. Mitchell,

Chairman Special Committee.

T. G. Pond, C. M. Neal.

On motion the above report was ordered to be submitted to the Governor.

H. H. Jones,

Chairman of General Board.

J. T. White, C. M. Neal.

ALABAMA.
Why He Likes It.

REV. H. S. DEFORREST, TALLADEGA.

A minister recently called to one of our schools in the South, gives these reasons for liking his place.

1st. I am needed. This is a great work and the workmen are few. It is not at all here as it used to be, and perhaps now is, in Boston on a Saturday morning, scores of men standing with carpet-bag in hand, waiting for a chance to preach, and many waiting in vain. We have here more of field than we can occupy. On all sides comes up the Macedonian-African cry, “come over and help us.” I am often weary on Saturday and poorly enough prepared for Sunday, but am spared the anguish of not knowing where to go or what to do. Besides, there is so much of self-denial in the work that there are probably not a great many thinking that, if I should die or leave, there would be a vacancy, and if there should be a vacancy they would like to fill it. Not many are interested in my will; few would care for my shoes,—I hope to wear them myself and wear them here. For,

2nd. There is here a grand, perhaps unsurpassed opportunity for influencing men. I am not only a Home Missionary, but also a Foreign Missionary to Africa, and that last with special facilities. I am master of the language, and do not work at the disadvantage of a half-learned and half-murdered tongue. Neither is there any prejudice against me as a Foreigner because of my brogue, or my dress or my habits. Without the honors of a Foreign Missionary, I am also without many of his disadvantages, and my national and Yankee peculiarities, which might hinder across the sea, help on this side of the Atlantic. This is indeed a missionary field, but operated with special facilities. It is a double missionary field. For,

3d. The most pressing work in our own country is here. As surely as in 1861 our national peril is largely in the South. Ignorance is dense; immorality is rampant: lawlessness is wide-spread, while intelligence, morality and obedience to law form the only basis for such a government as ours. To save our country, we must save the South; to save the South, we must save the Southerners, and there are no Southerners more hopeful and more deserving than the late slaves. They are down but their faces are upward. Give them a hand and they will take it, especially if it be a “Yankee hand,” and a little lifting develops a good deal of spring in themselves. Thus it is that Patriotism as well as Humanity and Christianity keep me here, and no campaigning in our recent war seemed more a duty of loyalty than that in which I am now engaged. I am glad to be in the ranks and to still wear the blue. But,

4th. Looking beyond our broad land, I hope, standing here, to reach some portion of the “Dark Continent.” I regard this as a good pou sto for moving Africa. Our students, more than those who have been life-long readers, use their memories. They are more impressible than the young of some other stock. They have a strong desire, as they are helped, to help others. Apparently the great missionary movement of the next few years is to be in Africa. The call is already heard for men. Some of these men are here, and the impressions now made, the very words we now speak, may yet be felt and heard in lands whence the fathers of these men were stolen, and in the jungles which the white man may well fear to tread.

5th. Besides, there are some special rewards in this work. If we have the white man’s contumely, we have the black man’s love. A more grateful and appreciative people than some of these, fresh from the prison-house of bondage but now rejoicing in a double freedom, I have never seen. Seldom is a pastor more fervently and affectionately prayed for than are some of us here. And I suspect as the Lord judges souls—He seeth not as man seeth—we have our companionship chiefly with the foremost of this part of the Land. These and similar considerations have led me to think that this College stands somewhere on Mt. Pisgah. Certainly just now I would rather be here than in any other part of the Universe of God. Tell our friends at the North that we do not need their sympathy but we do need their help. With more of means we could greatly multiply our labors and their results. Let those at the rear at least send on supplies, and more abundantly.