Rev. W. H. Willcox, of Reading, Mass., and his brother, Rev. G. B. Willcox, D.D., of Stamford, Conn., have returned from a tour among our institutions of the South, in which they have been accompanied by District Secretary Pike. It is with no small degree of pleasure that we record their great satisfaction in what they saw and their hearty approval of the work, and the proof they have given of their sincerity in it. It is well known that Mr. Willcox has been acting in behalf of Mrs. Daniel P. Stone, of Malden, Mass., in the distribution of a large fund among the educational institutions of our land. As a result of his observation of the work done at Atlanta and Fisk Universities, he has appropriated one hundred thousand dollars to be divided equally between these two institutions. This affords aid, which is greatly needed, for the enlargement of the work at these most important places. It will go into buildings and other permanent equipment. We devoutly wish that men and women who have money to give would go and do likewise,—visit our institutions for the education of the Freedmen, see the work which is being done, and the work which needs to be done, and then act in the light they have gained from actual observation.
Rev. B. C. Church, of Goliad, Texas, who has been long and faithfully occupied in our service, needs a buggy, not for pleasure-driving, we assure our readers, but that he may be able to visit not only his immediate field, but the new station at Flatonia, as often as may be needed for the supervision of that new and promising work. He says “the running part will do, and a second-hand one at that.” Surely that is a modest request. Is there not some one of our readers who has such a vehicle to spare for the Lord’s work, top and all?
Two months ago, among our Items from the Field was a plea, condensed into less than two lines, for an organ for the church at Orangeburg, S. C. A few days after, Mr. S. T. Gordon generously offered to give us the needed instrument, and it is now helping “the service of song in the house of the Lord” in that place. The pastor writes: “We have received that invaluable gift, the cabinet organ donated by Mr. S. T. Gordon in aid of the day and Sunday-school and church work in this field. For this goodness the children, the congregation and ourselves unite in sending Mr. Gordon and the A. M. A. ten thousand grateful thanks. And we beseech the Lord to abundantly reward this labor of love. It will afford us very great aid indeed.” It is encouraging to receive such prompt responses to wants thus simply made known. We are emboldened to call attention to a similar petition for an organ, in the letter from Corpus Christi, Texas. What other generous and prompt friend will be moved to answer, “Here it is?”
THE LAND—ITS WEALTH AND ITS WANT.
Among the explorers of the eastern part of Equatorial Africa no other has given us so full descriptions of the land, its wants and woes, and its brilliant possibilities, as Sir Samuel Baker. And he, too, in his “Ismailia,” traverses largely the territory suggested for our occupation by Mr. Arthington. The following paragraphs are from his description of the natural scenery, and of the beauty and fertility of the land on the east side of the Nile above and below Fatiko. Is this not a pleasing picture of a portion of our proposed field?