Thus ended a scene in which Christian feeling and fellowship seemed to have conquered prejudices and differences on all sides, and the workers from the North and from the South clasped hands in fraternal regard, and pledged each other hearty good will.
As growing out of this, and, perhaps, a happy finale, it may be of interest to say that Dr. Taylor very cordially invited Mr. Woodworth to preach in his pulpit the next Sabbath morning. The offer was accepted, and the occasion proved one of great pleasure to the speaker, and, if judged by the greetings at the close, not less so to the large audience which listened.
At the proper time we shall take occasion to state the further good which Mr. Gregory intends for the “Christ Church Mission” at Wilmington.
On the 27th ult., Secretary Strieby presented the cause of this Association in Dr. R. S. Storrs’ church, Brooklyn, N.Y., and after a full and earnest endorsement by the pastor, a collection was taken, amounting to $3,200, one gentleman giving $2,500 of the amount. On the same Sabbath, Dr. Wm. M. Taylor, of the Broadway Tabernacle, New York, presented our cause with his usual marked ability, and his appeal was followed by a contribution of $1,500, an increase of about fifty per cent, over last year’s donations to the same object. In connection with the many good words that have been recently uttered in behalf of Christian education at the South, it is exceedingly cheering to record such reports of increased interest and liberality. Shall we not have many more to follow?
We have alluded repeatedly to the unanimity now prevalent as to the remedy for the radical troubles in the South—the education of the Freedmen. President Garfield’s message sets it forth again in forcible terms. But ever since Gen. Grant’s military policy became intolerable to the South and a weariness to the North, and was abandoned by President Hayes, the conviction that moral and not military forces are needed has deepened, and has found distinct utterance by representative men in all sections of the country. President Hayes, in his address to his comrades in arms at Canton, O., and Senator Brown of Georgia, in his speech in the Senate, may stand as the exponents of the two sections of the country and the two political parties on that subject, while Dr. Ruffner, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Virginia and Rev. Dr. Haygood of the M. E. Church South, may represent two influential States in the South, and two great religious denominations. The popularity of Judge Tourgee’s book at the North, in which the same thought is fully and eloquently set forth, may be taken as another evidence of the views held here.
The thing that remains, as Paul says, is to “perform the doing of it.” President Garfield refers not only to the duty of the national and State governments, but also to “volunteer forces” in the great work. To these with churches in the South must be committed the essential Christian efforts—which neither the general nor State authorities can do.
It is all-important that the nation should not content itself with the simple utterances of these noble declarations. Good people, patriotic people should act, and act promptly and liberally. We exhort our patrons earnestly to step forth, not spasmodically, but to inaugurate regular and enlarged measures of assistance. To this end we venture to suggest regular and steadily increasing collections in the churches with favorable seasons in the year for taking them, and that individuals feel more their personal responsibility in the case and that by liberal gifts in life, and by remembering the cause in their wills they provide for the pressing work of the age, and for its progress after they have passed away.