Returning with my friend from our winter’s stay in Florida, we embraced the opportunity to stop in Wilmington, and visit Mr. and Mrs. Dodge, and see their work among the colored people. We arrived the day previous to the exhibition which was to close the winter’s term of school. Friday evening, March 26, at 8 o’clock, we repaired to the pleasant hall of the building, where were gathered over a hundred bright, interesting-looking boys and girls between the ages of five and eighteen, well and neatly clad, and a fine looking audience of expectant parents and friends, who filled the room to its utmost capacity. The exercises were opened with singing by the school, one of the ladies presiding most creditably at the organ.
Then followed responsive reading from the Bible, led by Miss Warner, and a prayer of thankfulness, by Mr. Dodge, for the possibilities now opened to this once oppressed race. After devotions came recitations, declamations, and dialogues, interspersed with music, in which all participated, and the exercises from beginning to end were conducted with a correctness and order that would have done credit to any white school in the North. One of the pleasantest features of the evening was the representation of the re-united States, in which each scholar appeared wearing upon his or her shoulder the name of one of the States, and repeating some appropriate motto or watch-word. When all were gathered on the platform the Goddess of Liberty took her place in the center, waving the stars and stripes as they sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
I only wish more friends in the North could have seen in their faces, and heard from their lips, the pride and gratitude which these parents are already finding in the education of their children. Sunday morning we attended service in the same hall, where Mr. Dodge conducted the exercises much as he would those of a church at home, with singing, responsive reading, and an exposition of the Scripture appropriate to Easter. At two o’clock Miss Farrington, who has this year joined the Home in the capacity of a missionary, gathered in one of the lower rooms for instruction, what she calls her mission school, made up of those outside the church. At three, a large Sunday-school came together in the hall, and after devotions were assigned to their respective teachers for work.
Again, in the evening Mr. Dodge presented Paul and his strivings to a company of attentive listeners. No one can realize, who has not been on the ground, the sacrifice and labors of this little band of workers, who are so completely isolated by prejudice from their own people, and are giving up everything to the elevation of this unfortunate people. One of the saddest things about the work is the lack of means to accommodate those who would be glad to avail themselves of the advantages of this school. If we at the North could only see how small would be our largest gifts compared with those of these teachers, should we not do much more?
Raleigh.
Reverend George E. Smith sends an account of the refreshing, and in every way helpful labors of Reverend Henry E. Brown, during a few weeks’ visit to the churches of Raleigh. It will be remembered that Rev. Mr. Brown was connected with our work at Talladega, where, by his devoted and earnest labors, not only as Pastor and Professor of Theology, but as a missionary to the regions about, he established a number of churches and did much to ensure their success. He is now in the employ of the colored Y. M. C. Association of Raleigh, and is visiting the churches of the South under its auspices.
He reached Raleigh at noon on the 9th of February, and with characteristic zeal had visited every colored pastor of the city before night, and arranged for a meeting held that evening in the Congregational Church, which was crowded to overflowing. Three delegates of the Y. M. C. A., white, were present, and after hearing Bro. Brown’s plan of operations, cordially endorsed them, and proffered their assistance in carrying them out. Meetings for workers were held in the afternoon of each day; from this those who co-operated in the work went out to prayer-meetings in different parts of the city, and in the evening general meetings were held in the various churches.
Bro. Smith adds: There is now a revival going on in every colored church in the city, and we really feel that it is a revival of religion, not mere excitement.
Since Brother Brown came in our midst, over one hundred souls have been born into the kingdom of Christ. Many of the Sunday-school scholars have been led to reflect, and to accept the Saviour as their great head and teacher. Brother Brown’s labors among us have been a blessing to all. One minister said the other day, “My people have more religion than they used to have.” When asked why he thought so, he replied, “Because they are living better.”
It may be gratifying to the many friends of our little church to know that we have shared in this great blessing. At our next communion season, which is the first Sabbath in April, we expect a glorious time, as ten persons have already made application to unite with us at that time. There may be more, as there are many anxious ones who meet with us every night inquiring the way of salvation. Since Brother Brown left, we have still carried on the meetings.