“I spent most of the time in the temperance examination. They use Dr. Richardson’s text-book, and the students showed that they had been thoroughly drilled in it. Isn’t it a very admirable thing for this book to be used in that place? There are nearly three hundred students, and they all study it at some time; and with scarcely an exception these students go out into the by-ways and hedges of this and other States to teach the colored children. They teach through the vacations to earn money for the next term. Think what a leaven this is to work among the poor, ignorant creatures. They estimate that the University students reach ten thousand children during the year. I attended the graduating exercises and thoroughly enjoyed them. The essays and orations were excellent. The speaking was really eloquent. One blind-folded would never have guessed that he was listening to black students, all of whose parents were slaves only seventeen years ago. Mayor Calhoun and one of the ex-Governors were present.”
The National Temperance Society has just received the sum of seventy dollars from this Institution, money collected by its students for temperance work, and we have forwarded a large case of books, tracts and pamphlets for distribution throughout the South during the summer vacation.—From National Temperance Advocate.
ALABAMA.
Good Vacation Work.
REV. J. D. SMITH, SHELBY IRON WORKS.
We have just had a refreshing time here in our church from the good Lord. Shortly after that class of eight young men graduated from the Theological Department of Talladega College, Bros. Cantry, Strong and Y. B. Sims, all members of my church, came down to spend a few days at their homes with their relatives and friends before going to their fields of labor. Each of them did some faithful preaching for several evenings. It seemed at first as though we were not going to have any success, but I continued the meetings after the brethren left us, and the Lord gave us some nine or ten conversions as the result of our labors. We received ten new members into the church last night. It was one of the most interesting occasions we have ever had here. The meetings were very quiet indeed; no excitement. They were all converted through the simple preaching of the Gospel and the quiet persuasion of the spirit of Christ. There was not as much fervor among the brethren as I like to see; the Lord did the work, nevertheless, and we give all the glory to Him.
Most of the members who united with us last night were heads of families, and all of them were adults. Our church is gathering in the best material in the place. The members of the other churches say their ministers do not feed them, and they must seek for better pastures. Our church has a brighter outlook than ever before.
The Sunday-school is in a flourishing condition. The Lord is building up His Zion here. Pray for us, that we may still be refreshed from Heaven.