“I came to this place in 1872, and organized a Normal school, and am still at its head. I met with much opposition, but I put my trust in God, and went on doing what I thought was right, and soon saw a change coming over the people. Students began to come in from neighboring counties, and those who had talked most against me now came to visit me. I organized the first temperance society for the colored people in this part of the State, and thus got quite a hold on the people. The organization is still continued, and is doing much good. Several of our students, who are out teaching, have organized similar societies, and I hear good reports from them.
“Early last fall, a couple of young men from another county, asked me if they could not stay in a vacant room in the building and do their own cooking. I, of course, gave them permission, and did what I could to assist them in preparing the room. I had some old lumber in the wood-shed, and from it we made a bedstead and table; had boxes for chairs and newspapers for window shades. It was soon reported that we had good accommodations for boarders, and, before winter had fairly set in, there were nineteen men living in the room, which measured 30 x 22. We had only enough lumber for four bedsteads, and on these the nineteen men slept for four months. A part of them would retire at 8 o’clock, and sleep till after midnight; then arise and let the others take their places. They all did their own cooking, and, as we had but one cooking vessel, they were all night doing their cooking for the next day. Those who sat up the fore-part of the night spent the time in cooking, and while they were asleep the others were cooking in the same room.
“Twenty-three of our students are teaching in three counties, and over 700 pupils are under their care. One of these closed his school for a week, and walked sixty miles, in order to be present at our closing exercises in June.
“We have a weekly prayer-meeting, which is well attended, and is very interesting. We also spend an hour and a half each Sabbath afternoon in reading and explaining the word of God.”
GEN. O. O. HOWARD.
We wish to add our congratulations, to the many which have already been given, to Gen. Howard, upon his final release from the legal difficulties that have so long perplexed him. It is not easy to understand the reasons for the persecutions heaped upon Gen. Howard’s head. His Christian life, so kind in its spirit, and so efficient in its activities, should not, in this day, provoke enmity. His record as a soldier, making one among the bright pages in the history of our Civil War, and his recent campaign among the Indians, in which he was conspicuous for his active energy, as well as for his courtesy to a brother officer, do not find critical censors. It is in his connection with the Freedmen’s Bureau that the rock of offence is found. We claim to know something about that Bureau, and, therefore, speak the more freely. We believe that no appropriation made necessary by the results of the rebellion was more wise, nor has any trust under the Government been more conscientiously executed than that of Gen. Howard in its administration. So far as any part of the sum was used to relieve physical suffering, it was divided impartially; and, in the appropriation of the larger part of it to the education of the colored people, there was the clearest comprehension of their highest wants. The money was appropriated with just reference to the claims of the different religious bodies co-operating with the Government, and the educational institutions founded by it will be perennial sources of blessing to this people, and will bear their testimony more and more distinctly, as the years roll on, to the wisdom of the Government in its bestowment, and of Gen. Howard in its disbursement.
NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES.
Raleigh, N. C.—“About twenty united with the church April 6th. Seven were members of the choir.”