Paris, Texas.—On the 23d of Nov., an Ecclesiastical Council, at this place, after an eminently satisfactory examination, ordained two young men, graduates of the theological department of Talladega College, licentiates of Alabama Conference,—Mr. J. W. Roberts as pastor of the “African Congregational Church” of Paris, and Mr. J. W. Strong to go to Corpus Christi, to take the church work, while Rev. S. M. Coles, who has been doing double service there, will retain the charge of the school. Rev. W. C. McCune, of Dallas, preached the sermon, Rev. R. H. Read of the other Congregational Church, of Paris, delivered the charge. Rev. Albert Gray, who has had charge of the Church for several years, having been an old-time African preacher, extended the right hand of fellowship, and Supt. Roy, the moderator, offered the prayer of ordination, having spent five days in confirming and preaching for the cluster of churches in the country about, that have branched off from this one. These are Pattonville, New Hope, Paradise and Shiloh. The mother church, which, in 1868, paid $112 in gold for an acre and a half lot in the suburbs, has now bought a more central lot and will work toward a new “church house.”
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
THE “CENTRAL SOUTH.”
PRES. G. F. MAGOUN, D. D.
My Dear Dr. Warren:—Across the street from where I write is a Freedmen’s church, of modest pretensions, in which the Central South Conference of churches (Congregational) is sitting. It comprises the churches and pastors of Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Just within the door a low pillar in the centre supports an “offertory,” to use an English, but hardly an American word, with the legend “Help us.” It is from great poverty and hardships, as well as great wrong, that this scion of ecclesiastical New England has grown, and the people are still needy. Behind the pulpit is the motto, “Take my yoke upon you;” they have accepted that of Christ as they have rejected that of man. Very happily, the earnest and intelligent young pastor elect, in welcoming the members of this Conference this morning, reminded them that they come to a Memphis unlike that of antiquity, from which the task-master has forever passed away.