The history of our school work for the past few months is repeated in our Sabbath-school and church work. We began with scarcely more than five loaves and two fishes. At the first religious meeting which I attended there were just seven present—five colored and two white people. What were they among so many? But God has graciously given us the increase here also. Our Sabbath-school now numbers 60, with 10 teachers, and is increasing every Sabbath. It is yet a small school, indeed, but it is in good working order. The machinery is complete in all its parts. Its lack is inward rather than outward. It needs only the animating power of the Holy Spirit to make it a living body. We have got the dust together and have formed it, and we are praying that God would breathe into its nostrils that it may become a living soul. To this end the teachers have just resolved to hold a half-hour prayer-meeting at the close of the school each Sabbath.
Our church is quite small. Congregationalism makes but little show in this typical Southern city. It will be a good many years before we have New England on the Gulf; yet I believe the leaven is here that is to leaven the lump. Our church contains a few earnest, faithful workers. There are those who have watched with Christ in the dark hour. Their days of vigilance will soon be over, when they may sleep in Jesus and take their rest. May God bless them!
A Revival of Education—A Useful Church.
REV. GEORGE E. HILL, MARION.
I cannot say that we are enjoying a revival of religion, but we are in the midst of a revival of education, which is here at the South, emphatically, the handmaid of the Gospel. The Lincoln Normal Institute, for colored pupils of both sexes, was founded in 1869 by the A. M. A. Six years ago it passed into the hands of the State, which makes an annual appropriation of $4,000 for the teachers’ salaries.
This year the school has taken a fresh start, having enrolled 217 pupils, and a new building is about to be erected for their accommodation. In the Normal Department for the training of teachers, there are classes in Latin, Greek and French, as well as the higher English branches. The order and discipline are equal to the average of our high schools at the North. Its pupils sustain a literary society, for weekly essays and discussions, and also publish a monthly paper. One young man walks ten miles every day to attend the school.
The influence of such an institution is felt in the very atmosphere. The fever for learning is contagious. Men who work hard all day in the field or at their trade are so eager for knowledge that, to meet the demand, classes have just been organized for a night school.
Meanwhile our little church is keeping on the even tenor of its way. There have been several hopeful conversions, and four are about to unite by profession. No falling off in attendance on Sabbath or evening meetings. Four of our young people are this year at Talladega College, and two promising young men have the ministry in view. Nineteen were present at our teachers’ meeting last week.