“I believe the time has come when we should make every necessary preparation to carry out the original purpose of the Congo Mission to place a steamer on the Congo River, where we can sail north-eastward into the heart of Africa for many hundred miles uninterruptedly, and bring the glad tidings of the everlasting Gospel to thousands of human beings who are ignorant of the way of life and immortality.
“I have, therefore, now to offer your Society a thousand pounds toward the purchase chase of a steamer, of the best make and capacity, every way suitable for the purpose, and its conveyance and launch on the river at Stanley Pool, and three thousand pounds to be carefully invested, the interest only to be used for the perpetual maintenance of such steamer on the Congo and its affluents, until Christ and his salvation shall be known all along the Congo from Stanley Pool to the first cataract of the equatorial cataracts of the Congo—beyond the mouths of the Armvimi and Mbura Rivers.”
—The Uganda envoys from King Mtesa’s court sailed on the 22d of June for Aden, whence they will take the British-Indian steamer to Zanzibar; the closing of the Nile route making it necessary for them to return by way of the East coast. Mr. Felkin, whose health will not admit of his going back to Uganda, accompanies them to Zanzibar and will return to England. They will be conducted to their home by Mr. Stokes, who is on the coast making the necessary preparations for the journey. They carry back valuable gifts, have seen much of England’s civilization and the fruits of her religion, and it is not unreasonable to expect that the future of their country will be greatly influenced by this visit of her intelligent chiefs.
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
Fisk University.—The following statistics relating to the religious condition of the University were read at a meeting, held on the day of prayer for colleges: In Model School—Number of Christians, 35; not Christians, 56; total, 91; percentage, 38.4. Normal School—Number of Christians, 61; not Christians, 55; total, 116; percentage, 52.5. Collegiate Department—Number of Christians, 77; not Christians, 9; total, 86; percentage 89.5. Total number in school, 293; number of Christians, 194; percentage, 59. This meeting occurred in the midst of, and was followed by, great religious interest, which greatly reduced the percentage of non-religious students.
Tougaloo, Miss.—A young woman, who has been teaching, writes to Mr. Miner, of Tougaloo, a letter which, although intended for no eye but his, we think ought to be seen by others. She is explaining why she has not returned to school: “I have had bad luck again in collecting what is due me from the people. They all promised to pay me by the first Saturday of the month, but they did not; so I am left with but little money for going to school.
“Mr. M. I am very sorry! Sorry and hurt to my very heart, to think how I have longed to go to school and learn something, and now I am not able to do so and pay for my own board. Probably I could do so, but I have a poor afflicted mother to help, and six younger brothers and sisters and an orphan cousin; all of them I must help. I am 23 years old to-day, and I have craved to go to school ever since I was seven years old, which is sixteen years I have craved for it; and all the time I have gone, after all, is not more than one year and five or eight months. And now I am almost discouraged of ever going to school like I want to go, that is, to bear my own expense.”