Berea opens her arms to the poor about her, with a welcome for all. Those who come here rarely go away without benefit, and many outward signs of improvement. The old people gaze with delight on their children. Weary mothers who have toiled over the wash tubs, fathers who have worked alone in the field while their children studied, are more than rewarded for their toil. Through these hard times, when expenses are great and money comes in slowly, we have had to learn anew the lesson of waiting on the Lord; but we know in whom we trust, and that for the sake of His poor He will supply all our needs.
L. R.
GEORGIA.
Religious Life in Atlanta University.
MRS. T. N. CHASE, ATLANTA.
The other day, when one of our young men handed me a letter to read from a dear old lady “up North,” in which was the sentence, “I’m so disappointed when the Missionary comes, not to read of a revival in your school,” I felt like saying to her: “Dear, praying mother, if you could be here one week, you would go home rejoicing, even though there were no revival.” As the years go by, there is less inclination here to come in flocks to the Lord’s side, or to be led into the kingdom by impulse or excitement. Our students act more and more upon the spirit of the motto that hangs in each of our buildings—“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” They look upon religion less as a Sunday garment, and more as a robe of righteousness, that transforms our selfish natures into earnest, self-denying lives of obedience.
Let me give a week’s religious duties. Sunday, two of our young men preach in an adjoining town. Quite a number go out to neighboring Sunday-schools, and return about eleven o’clock, when our preaching service begins. Our pastor, a graduate of Yale College and Theological Seminary, came South at the close of the war, to build the first Congregational church in Atlanta. For years he did foundation-work there that placed it in the front rank of A. M. A. churches. The past four years he has been our college pastor. With such a knowledge of the needs of this people as his experience gives, you may have an idea of the kind of sermons we enjoy. Simple truth, such as young people, with such a history and such a future, need, is presented so forcibly, that often the meal, which immediately follows, is almost a silent one, owing to the serious thoughtfulness produced.
In the afternoon, all meet for Sunday-school, which is superintended by the President, who is also a graduate of Yale. As his rich tones come to us in the hymns and Bible readings, both in Sunday-school and at morning devotions through the week, we are thankful for the rare gift—a good reader. In a large school-building, of course each class can have a separate room, and so secure a delightful hour of quiet, uninterrupted Sunday-school work.
In the evening, all assemble in a general prayer-meeting. I do not think it would be possible to give an adequate idea of this meeting, or of similar ones in other A. M. A. schools. It is simply an inspiration to one who realizes what a part these pioneers have in shaping the destiny of their people. In all the meetings I have attended here during these years, I do not recall ever hearing the remark, “Improve the time, brethren,” or any other expression of like import.