LOUISIANA.
Straight University and the Central Church— A Week of Prayer and Work of Grace—Revival Incidents.
REV. WALTER S. ALEXANDER, NEW ORLEANS.
New Orleans, La., Feb. 1st, 1879.
The terrible epidemic which held this city in its relentless grasp for five months and created general gloom and depression, delayed the opening of the University till December 1st. When we closed the last term and planned for another year—our first year in the new University building—our hopes were strong and enthusiastic, and we said, “With the attraction and novelty of a fresh, beautiful building in a central position, and the tide of public sentiment strongly in our favor, the new year will be a marked period in the educational interests of our State.” These brilliant expectations were changed to grave uncertainty and anxiety. But God is with us, and our fears are already dissipated. In the first place, the colored people were wonderfully exempt from the ravages of the fever. There were instances of the fever, but the mortality was slight. The only disadvantage was the uncertainty regarding the time of opening the term, which induced a large number to enter into other school arrangements. At this writing we have in the Academic Department 175, and in the Law Department 25. New students are enrolled every week, and we have great occasion for satisfaction and gratitude. Our friends will be glad to know that the new University building suits our needs to perfection. We could hardly suggest a change in the arrangement of rooms. In many respects it is a model house. If our friends could understand how earnestly we desire to furnish our beautiful chapel and two additional recitation rooms, into which we are almost ready to “swarm,” and how we long to see a neat fence surrounding the lot, isolating and protecting us, situated as we are on the grand boulevard of the city, I am sure that some good heart would suggest the means of accomplishing these things. But this is God’s work, and He will send relief if we can only wait.
We shall graduate a class of six, of whom five are young men. They all have bright minds and are first-class scholars. It is a real pleasure to teach them. I hear them every morning in Upham’s Mental Philosophy, and the most exacting teacher would ask no better recitations than are uniformly given. The inducements for young men and women to qualify themselves for teachers of the highest grade are all that could be desired. It is impossible now to answer the demands for competent teachers for the colored schools of Louisiana. I have received an application for a principal of a large parish school, with a salary of $1,200, and two are now in hand for lady teachers, with salaries of $30 per month, in a town where good board can be obtained for $7 per month. This demand will constantly increase both in Louisiana and Texas. Two of our last senior class are teaching in Texas, and receiving $50 per month.
When I returned to the church, after an absence of more than five months, the people greeted me with enthusiasm, and said to me, “You find us a united people. God has kept us together during this sad summer. We are ready for work. When will the revival begin?” I told them we should begin special meetings with the “Week of Prayer;” but the time for earnest labor was already at hand to prepare the people for the work of grace, which I felt sure God had in store for us. Our prayer meetings were largely attended, and I could see that the Church were longing and praying for a glorious revival. What a joyful duty it is to preach to such a people! The “Week of Prayer” came, and with a deep feeling of dependence upon God we gathered for our first special meeting. Night after night the attendance increased. Christians yielded themselves to the spirit of the meetings; the flame of religious fervor burned more brightly; and when, in sympathy with the Christian world, we had considered the topics assigned by the Evangelical Alliance, we felt ready to enter upon the holy work of winning souls, and of directing all our thoughts and energies to this object. For four weeks we gathered every night, with an attendance ranging from 80 to 150, seldom falling below 100. Members of other churches flocked in; unconverted men and women heard the good news and joined the waiting throng. The result has been joyful—blessed—glorious. In some respects I have never witnessed a revival of greater spiritual power. The work has been quiet as the under-current of a river, but deep, heart-searching and vital. The number of converts has been less than in some previous revivals; but when the position and influence of those who have been reached, one-half of them heads of families, is considered, the general result is highly important. A few instances will illustrate the nature of the good work. During a previous revival a fair young girl was one of the joyful converts. She has been a steadfast Christian, honoring by a consistent, holy life her vows as a church member. One year ago she was married to a young man of many attractive qualities, and the centre of influence in a wide circle of friends. During this revival not only the husband, but the mother have found Christ, and to-day there is great joy in that household. On the night when the mother uttered the exultant cry, “Christ has set me free; I am redeemed!” the child, who had prayed for her husband’s and her mother’s conversion, fainted from excess of joy and emotion. Another mother is made happy by the conversion of her son, and expresses her joy with fast-falling tears. Now a student from one of the country parishes yields to conviction and takes his stand as a Christian. Another, a painter by trade, who says he knew nothing of Christianity before, seeks earnestly till he finds the Saviour. We shall never forget his impassioned eloquence when he announced his conversion. It was the utterance of a deep, overwhelming joy. A young man, whose home teaching has been all wrong, walks for days beneath the dark shadow of doubt and fear. On one night he rose in meeting, and weeping freely said, “Why do I not find peace? Why will not God have mercy? Oh, pray for me and help me!” Such agony of soul cannot continue long. It was the profound darkness before the dawn. To-day his faith is strong and joyful.
There came into our meeting a wife, in whose conversion peculiar interest was manifested. Listening with eager interest from the first, she soon became intensely engaged in her own salvation. Near the close of one of our services she exclaimed, so soon as her emotion would permit her to speak, “God, have mercy! Everybody pray for me!” Earnestly she inquired the way of life, and after a brief but bitter struggle the light came beaming in upon her soul, and she goes from house to house, spreading the glad tidings and telling what great things the Lord has done for her. Last year a married woman—a public school-teacher—experienced this blessed change of heart, and the religion of Christ has been the absorbing theme of her life since. Now her daughter, an interesting girl of sixteen, shares the faith of the mother, who says, “Have I not reason for loving God as I do?” One who became a Christian years ago, but who, through indifference, had lapsed from the enjoyment of the Christian life, has been recovered. When she sought my counsel, I said, “Don’t expect to be converted over again. Take your place as a Christian woman, and live as a Christian should live.” The change with her has been like a new conversion. The cloud has been dispelled, and she rejoices in the restored favor of God.
On the last night of our special services fully 150 people were present. I think we shall begin another special campaign the 1st of March. Pray for us that a great light may be kindled here, which God will never suffer to go out. Oh, the progress of this dear church these last three years! Their self-respect, their pure lives, their faith in. God, give cause for Christian confidence, affection and recognition. The true church of God will not withhold them.
TENNESSEE.
Fisk University—The Day of Prayer, etc.
PRES. E. M. CRAVATH, NASHVILLE.
The meeting for prayer for the Association and its work was held on Monday afternoon, January 6, at three o’clock, in the chapel. The number in attendance was very large, and there was an unusual freedom in prayer and a deep and tender interest in all the exercises. Prof. Bennett spoke of the falling off in receipts, of which you had made mention in a recent letter to him, and this called forth very earnest supplication that God would move men’s hearts to liberal giving, so that the good work among their people might not suffer. The occasion was one of unusual interest.
There have been two very clear and interesting cases of conversion since Christmas, and some among us are anxious. There has not yet been so large an increase in the number of students since New Years as we had expected. The weather has been intensely cold and money seems to be very scarce.