The Sunday-school Convention opened Monday night, with an address on “The Object of Sunday-school Effort, Winning Souls,” by Rev. George E. Hill, of Marion; followed by a lecture on the “Geography of the kingdom of Judah,” by Rev. G. W. Andrews. Tuesday, Mr. Clark, of Selma, gave a Bible Reading on Faith; Prof. Lord taught the lesson for the following Sunday; Mr. Hickok opened the question box, and gave a variety of helpful answers; and the delegates from the different Sunday-schools made their reports. These showed that the work of our churches rests on a good foundation, in numerous live, growing Sabbath-schools; and that, in trying to save as many as possible of the present generation, the men and women of the next thirty years are not being forgotten.
Tuesday night, the Theological Institute began with a very elaborate paper on the “Relation of Mental Philosophy to Theology,” by Rev. D. W. Hickok. Wednesday, we were treated with examinations in Smith’s O. T. History, and the Psalms, conducted by Prof. Andrews and Mr. Hickok, and a paper on “Future Punishment,” by Rev. Mr. Hill. Thursday, there were plans of sermons offered for criticism by Mr. Clark and Mr. Hickok; a paper on “Joseph Cook,” by Mr. Noble; and an examination on the “Patriarchal Period,” by Mr. Andrews; closing with a free conference of workers in the evening.
Even more interesting to many of us than the proceedings of Conference, was our observation of the work of Talladega College. The Conference met Prof. Lord, for formal consultation in regard to the College work by a committee; and that committee’s report will be published. We met the students and faculty constantly at table, and in the meetings; had a very pleasant picnic gathering in the woods of the College Farm, and listened to a very entertaining concert by the “Musical Union.” I cannot forbear expressing, what I feel sure was the universal feeling, interest and admiration for the good work Prof. Lord and his co-laborers are doing. Many of us were specially interested in the “Industrial Department,” and wish the brethren of the College the greatest success in that effort to build up manly, womanly, self-reliant characters in the pupils.
My visit at Talladega, and my intercourse with the workers there, have made me feel more deeply interested in the work than ever. I could not ask a happier lot than to be permitted to give my life to this field. It seems to me so unmistakably the work of Christ.
ALABAMA.
Science and Religion.
REV. G. W. ANDREWS, TALLADEGA.
The Theological Department of Talladega College has just been favored with a special course of lectures on the “Relation of Science to Religion,” by the Rev. D. L. Hickok, recently of Kingsville, Ohio. The lectures were full of instruction, and awakened a great deal of interest among our pupils. Mr. Hickok is an able thinker, and an inspiring and enthusiastic speaker.
Skepticism has little footing here, and will have still less now that we have such a flood of light thrown upon what was before mysterious, and supposed to be known only to the scientist. Let the scientist give us the “living” from the “not living” if he can, and let him bridge the frightful chasm between different species of the animal kingdom, before our faith in his new theories is much strengthened. We believe in Mr. Cook, and wish we could see him face to face to thank him a thousand times for his three published volumes. We hail with joy these lectures by Mr. Cook, and mean to do our part to reflect the light he is shedding, until it finds its way, as it is sure to do, into the hearts of the masses, to bless them with the “rest of faith.” His powerful arguments are taking strong hold of us all.
Rev. Mr. Hickok is an original thinker, and has done us a good service by his lectures. It is such men, of commanding influence and power, that we need in this work of peculiar difficulties among the freedmen. We wish other and similar institutions might be favored as we have been.