ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
Paris, Texas.—A church has recently been dedicated here. Dr. Reed preached the sermon, and all the white pastors took part in the services. The house could not begin to hold the people. $313 was subscribed towards paying the debt.
Cedar Cliff, N.C.—At this place Rev. A. Connet organized a Congregational church of a dozen members, using the Confession, Covenant and Constitution of Roy’s Manual, inserting a temperance clause. A white citizen gives half an acre of land for the church. A dozen white people attended service. Rev. J. N. Ray will become the pastor of the church.
Chattanooga, Tenn.—In the wake of a revival, which had already added forty or fifty persons to our church in this city, Mrs. Steele, the missionary, writes: “We are still wonderfully blessed. I have been in the Howard school some as a substitute for the principal, when he was sick. Pastor Smith thought in that way I was prosecuting my special work, as I was getting close to the children’s hearts. After teaching in one of the rooms for a week my scholars asked if we might not have a prayer meeting at the close of school on Friday afternoon. I said ‘Yes, if you will go over to our church,’ as that was the hour for our sociable. And so the crowd went over there, and twenty-three professed conversion. I never before witnessed such a sight.”
Memphis, Tenn.—“The little ones are quite enthusiastic over the temperance concerts, and of course are interesting their elders. We find the charts a great help. I have been using for supplementary reading the ‘Gospel Temperance Book,’ and have been surprised at the interest manifested. Yesterday I asked how many enjoyed it, and nearly every hand went up. One young man said: ‘A while ago I tried to talk with a young fellow about drinking, and couldn’t meet his arguments, but since we have taken up this book I have a great deal more to say.’”
Topeka, Kansas.—The relief work proves quite a tax on our time and strength. Six mornings out of the seven are devoted to the people for their instruction and improvement. Monday evening we hold prayer meeting; Tuesday evening is devoted to Bible study for the young people. A good number attend. Friday evening I have a class in singing. The Sabbath is a busy day for each of us. We have a full Sunday-school and need twice as much room, and Sabbath evening the Chapel is well filled. With not a few worthy exceptions the people are ignorant and wicked, but this does not discourage us. Already we can perceive a change for the better. In all our exercises the people are more orderly and attentive.
Washington, D.C.—“I have organized a Doing Good Society in the girl’s school, which is doing effective work and interesting all. We appoint a committee of two to visit the sick every week. I give them something to carry in food and clothing, playthings and picture-books, for the sick, and taking the Bible and song-book they read and sing, often gathering a whole family in to hear them. Each Saturday a report of their visits is read, and once a month the school brings pennies to buy food. My prayer meetings among the mothers and girls are often very full of tenderness. And yet, among this people it is so easy to have good prayer meetings that I don’t think as much of it as I used to at the North. More and more I feel the importance of teaching them that temperance, purity and a desire to do something for others is true religion.”