ALABAMA.
Temperance—First Impression—First Fruits.
REV. A. W CURTIS, MARION.
The temperance agitation here has not been without fruit. A monster petition was sent to the Legislature, praying for prohibition, and a law was passed prohibiting all traffic in intoxicating drinks within five miles’ radius of the court house. The word Bar, printed prominently over several places of common resort, has found at last its legitimate meaning—to bar out all drinkers. Everything is very quiet, and it seems probable that a great crowd of loafers will have to go five miles for their liquor or reform. One man died from over-drinking the last night of open traffic. Yet another loud lecture on temperance was given us a few weeks ago. An old colored man, going home late Saturday night, intoxicated, fell about eight feet into a gully and broke his neck. The effect of the new law upon the colored people has proved very salutary.
Knowing that this people have little opportunity for finding out the news, I have adopted the plan of giving a brief resumé, such as will afford them some idea of the world’s progress in all the great reforms of the day, at the opening of our Sabbath evening service. It works well, if intense eagerness in listening is a fair indication.
My first impression of this people,—Sabbath, January 2d—was that a very large infusion of white blood and brains was represented in my audience, and it was very hard to think that most of them had been slaves. The next was one of respect for my predecessors, as I noted their readiness and precision in responsive reading; though I afterwards saw that many of the older ones did not read—could not, as it proved. You may imagine with what delight some of these listened to President Garfield’s inaugural address as I read it, when it came, to such as happened to be within easy reach. Our work here has been full of encouragement. The attendance is never large, as compared with the other churches, but good interest has been manifest from the very first. We moved here January 17th, and at once revived the meetings at “The Home” for the ladies, the children and young people, Mrs. C. taking charge, with the one aim from the first of winning their hearts to Christ. As many as forty young people have been present at some of her Sunday evening and 3 P.M. meetings, and at the close frequently several of these would ask leave to stay and talk personally about becoming Christians. Of course, we were soon obliged to have special meetings, and have just closed a session of 17 nights’ consecutive preaching. The Holy Spirit has been working in many hearts. The church has been greatly revived. All the Sunday-school children—not already members—have been forward for prayer, and many others in the community, quite a number converted, and more awakened who will probably go to the Baptists, who started a “revival” the second week of our meeting and are still continuing with great excitement, and I hope real good results. Not a small part of our work is to stir up the other churches, for which let us thank God and take courage. Last Sabbath we received ten of the first fruits on profession of their faith in Jesus. Nearly every one of our Sabbath-school now think they are Christians. Oh, for more to come into our Sabbath-school! Pray that the good work may go on.