Bro. Taylor gave the Conference an interesting description of his former mission field on the Gilbert Islands, pointing out their peculiar coral formation, the customs and character of the inhabitants, and the success of Christian missions among them.
Prof. Bennett gave encouraging statements concerning Fisk University. Prof. Spence is in Scotland; Prof. Cravath at his post, and the machinery is running smoothly. The number of students is about as large as usual; the religious interest not quite so decided as in former years.
It was voted to invite the Congregational churches of the South to meet in convention at Atlanta in November, 1880.
GEORGIA.
Atlanta University, Alumni and Students.
PROF. J. F. FULLER, ATLANTA.
This is the tenth year since the organization of this school. The first class graduated from the higher normal course in 1873, and the first from the college in 1876. Classes have graduated regularly from both departments each year since. The alumni number 52, of whom, at graduation, 50 were professing Christians. With the exception of three who are now pursuing a higher course of study, and one who has died since graduation, these are all doing active work for the Master among their own people, and, with others who have left school before completing the regular course of study, are selecting and sending to the University the more promising of their pupils.
The present year shows a larger number of students in attendance and of a better class. Besides those already established in different parts of the State, over a hundred of the students teach during the long summer vacation in the public schools, and also engage in Sabbath school work. It is estimated that during the year 1878 over ten thousand pupils in the State of Georgia were taught by those educated at this University. The influence of the school is commensurate with the number of its workers, and that influence, now very marked, is constantly increasing. The last catalogue shows 30 in the college classes, 37 in the preparatory, 72 in the higher normal, and 104 in the normal. The buildings are of brick, plain, substantial and convenient, but inadequate to the present and prospective needs. The grounds are ample—nearly sixty acres—and beautifully located in the outskirts of the city.