REV. F. MARKHAM, SAVANNAH.
The religious work of the A. M. A. in Savannah and the vicinity has never been in as prosperous a condition since I have been here as at the present. The increase in the congregations and the membership has been greater than any previous year.
At Savannah, twenty-four have united with the church; fourteen children have been baptized. The Sabbath-school has more than doubled in numbers. Over two hundred scholars are enrolled; the average attendance is about one hundred and sixty.
Ogeechee Church, which is ten miles from Savannah, has received nineteen members. Brother McLean has the confidence and support of his people. He is doing a good work in the Sabbath-school. His wife is a good worker, and a great help, especially in the Sabbath-school. There are about fifty scholars in the school. They also teach a day-school and a night-school.
Plymouth Church, at Woodville, three miles west of Savannah, Rev. J. H. H. Sengstacke, pastor, has had an interesting work of grace in the Sabbath-school. Twenty-eight united with the church, mostly from the Sabbath-school, which has about seventy-five scholars. The day-school numbers now about fifty; in the winter it had a hundred; now the children have to work.
East Savannah is two-and-a-half miles from the city—a little village of colored people. A few whites are there, who live by selling liquor to the colored people. There are nearly three hundred children in that vicinity. The A. M. A., by the assistance of a Boston friend, built a little church there. J. H. Stephens, a student in my theological class, started a Sabbath-school, and preaches to the people. The children are very wild, though some have bright intellects, and can make useful men and women; but they are as uncultivated as the children in the centre of Africa. It is very hard to keep the attention of such children, and secure a regular attendance at school. Mrs. Markham and Hattie B. Markham and Mr. Floyd have been going out regularly every Sabbath to work in the East Savannah Sabbath-school. Sometimes they have had eighty or ninety scholars, then only forty or fifty; the average has been about sixty.
I can see a decided improvement in the conduct of the scholars. They come in and go out orderly, pay better attention, and begin to understand what a Sabbath-school is for; when they leave for home, they do not make such hideous noises, but go along the street more quietly. They have to be taught everything. There are thousands upon thousands of children in Georgia in the same condition. We hope soon to be able to organize a church at East Savannah, of twelve or fifteen members.
Belmont is four miles south-west from Savannah. The church here is supplied by Wilson Callen, a very faithful man of God. The church suffered here by a bad man, who preached for them, but was last year expelled from church. He claims to be a preacher still, and is doing what he can to draw the people away. The work is gradually improving, both in the church and Sabbath-school.
Louisville, two miles south-west of Savannah, has a church of about twenty-five, and a Sabbath-school of about the same number. Brother Callen supplies this work also, and is growing in the confidence of the people, and his school and congregation are increasing. We hope for a revival here.
Midway Church, in Liberty Co., is about thirty miles from Savannah; Rev. J. E. Smith, a graduate of Atlanta University, is pastor. This church is in a healthy and prosperous state. Since Rev. Floyd Snelson left here, to go to Africa, there have been added nine members. I hear many encouraging things about Brother Smith’s work there. There are now about two hundred and forty members. Here is a fine opportunity to do good. The most of the people are securing permanent homes. The colored people need to be taught to act and think for themselves, and feel responsibility.