We cannot conclude this annual narrative without recording our gratitude to the American Missionary Association, which, under God, has been the occasion within a short period of all this school and church development as now represented by the Conference of Georgia. We remind ourselves, also, that this is only one of seven of these Conferences which have been the outgrowth of the same general Christianizing process at the South. We magnify the grace of God bestowed upon the churches and friends who have furnished that Association with the funds, the prayers and the sympathies, that were essential to this great work. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
| J. E. Roy. |
| John McIntosh. |
| P. W. Young. |
EDUCATIONAL REPORT.
At the Georgia Conference the Committee on Education make the following report:
That “Education is the handmaid of Religion” has become an accepted maxim. To be remembered everywhere, it is of especial importance in this field. Religion has here been corrupted by ignorance, and has often degenerated into superstition. A devout and imaginative spirit has been betrayed into serious errors and gross excesses in the name of truth and godliness. More knowledge, more culture of mind, is necessary in many cases to prepare the way for the perception of the truth. The one great object of the Church of Christ in its labor among men is to save the souls of men by holding forth the word of Life; but to attain this, the Church must help to teach them what that word is, and how to read and study it for themselves. The Gospel seeks to prepare men, not only for the next life, but for this life also. It is fitted to bless the whole man, physical and mental, as well as spiritual. Education and Gospel piety must go together. The Committee would, therefore, recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:
1. Resolved, That this Conference desires to emphasize the fact that the past year’s experience gives new occasion for gratitude that from the beginning of the American Missionary Association’s work in this field, the school and the church have been closely united.
2. Resolved, That it is the deliberate judgment of this Conference that this field still requires the enlargement and vigorous prosecution of the school work, as a necessary aid to the upbuilding of our churches.
3. Resolved, That the churches must not cease to pray fervently for those who are teaching in our elementary and higher schools, and for their pupils, that the instruction given and the mental culture gained may bear the stamp of Christian consecration.
4. Resolved, That we desire to express our warm sympathy with our young people, who, in the face of many obstacles, are bravely pressing forward in their studies, to fit themselves for teachers or preachers, and would urge them to get as thorough and complete an education as possible.