The new principal is a man of a great deal of promise—the principal of the intermediate department, a young man Who is an earnest student and who has already had some experience in teaching. Other teachers were equally well chosen.
The lower schools came up as usual, marching to the music of the piano. After appropriate devotional exercises, the pupils re-passed to their school-rooms below, and the other classes to their respective duties. The work in the classes was as usual, and the order and attention were remarkable. The teachers deported themselves with much dignity, and seemed anxious to avoid an assuming, overbearing manner, which might have been expected from the newness of the positions.
Many visitors were in and out during the day, and remarked upon the order and good feeling manifested. The influence of these days upon the school is most excellent. We can but feel that being thrown upon their own resources in this way, their executive ability and devotion to work is tested to the utmost; and it requires no small moral culture to avoid temptations to disorder that might come to those whose hearts are not thoroughly in the work.
Our year has been greatly broken by the time lost at the beginning of the year by the epidemic, yet the school never seemed to be in a more prosperous condition. Both the normal and intermediate departments are filled to overflowing. Our horizon seems brightening more and more, and we hope at the close of the year not only to have gained in popularity, but to have extended the influence of the school for good.
GEORGIA.
Perils of Young Converts—An Open House—Temperance.
MISS E. W. DOUGLASS, NO. 1, MILLER STATION.
Since I wrote last we have had a series of meetings during the evenings of one week. Every Friday evening there is a meeting for prayer and religious instruction, attended by all the scholars. This has been greatly blessed. Twenty of the scholars profess to have been converted. As soon as their parents knew that they were interested about their souls’ welfare, many of them were put under the instruction of ignorant godfathers or godmothers, to be “brought through” by a course of dreams and other superstitions. How far this has turned them away from simple trust in Jesus we cannot tell. We can only teach them the right way, and leave them with the Master. One thing I have learned—that these teachers are never satisfied with their pupils till they obtain a promise to join their church. Four joined us at our communion season in March. One, an old white-headed man; three, children. These children are exposed to persecution because they did not “come through” the right way. They are told that they are no Christians, for they “hav’n’t dun prayed yet.” One little boy, who has been a member of the church a year, and of whose life all speak well, could not partake with us. He sat and looked on sadly as long as he could endure it, and then went out and wept bitterly. He did not go to his godfather for guidance, and he has now persuaded the boy’s mother to forbid his communing. I found him weeping after meeting, but still trusting in Jesus. He said, “I know I love Him, and try every day to do what He wants me to.”
This course of “travel” in dreams is what they call “praying.” Though most of those converted will join other churches, yet they will continue in our Sunday-school, being absent only when there is preaching in their churches. Thus we hope to lead them to take the Bible for their guide.