We are glad to bring before our friends this month the work among the colored people in Washington, D.C., as it has been carried on there by Mrs. C. B. Babcock. In her field, as in that of our other Southern missionaries, the industrial work occupies a prominent position. Here the women and children learn lessons of practical value to them, as they are taught to cut and make their own garments and repair old ones, while at the same time they are instructed in truths of the highest importance. In a letter recently received, Mrs. Babcock writes of this work: “The ladies of the Congregational church have given 180 yards material for the industrial work, and a few of them gave a supper to the women’s class, numbering fifty. The women have made 102 new garments besides mending 100 old ones during these three months. This has been of untold help to them and their families.” Her girl’s sewing-school numbers 135. The natural outgrowth of these schools has been prayer-meetings for the women and young girls respectively. “The mother’s prayer-meetings have been deeply interesting of late,” she tells us.
There is much need of temperance work all through the South, and it is encouraging to read of the new Band of Hope in Washington. “It has succeeded beyond my expectations,” Mrs. Babcock writes, “not only interesting the colored churches about us, but also bringing in, as officers and helpers, some of the colored public school teachers and students from Howard University. There has been a good deal of enthusiasm about our meetings. Of course, our exercises must be made interesting, and I work hard for it, but it pays, when I see such audiences as we’ve had. And then I know that our Scripture readings and lessons from the Temperance Catechism must do good.”
Mrs. Babcock has worked in Washington in connection with the Lincoln Memorial church, which was organized January 10th, and Rev. S. P. Smith installed as pastor. Of this church she writes, under date of June 3d: “Our little church is prospering, having now twenty-one members, some being added as fruits of our revival. * * Rev. Mr. Smith is greatly encouraged. I have made over an old carpet for the platform, helped to buy chairs, Bible and communion table, so that when our pulpit comes we shall be nicely fixed. Our hall is very large and rather dreary without any pulpit furniture. Nobody knows but those who have worked in the field, how great are the obstacles in the way of forming a colored Congregational church. We have the same jealousy and bitter feeling from the churches around us that there is farther South.”
Speaking of the sickness and suffering among the colored people, Mrs. Babcock says: “I feel that I’ve been greatly blessed in having friends at the North respond so nobly to my appeals for help. I have sold a great deal of clothing, and the money received for it has done much good.”
In connection with this allusion to the generosity of Northern friends, it may be well to mention that in the last six months boxes and barrels of clothing, sewing materials, etc., have been sent through this Association to the amount of $1,674.00, and, in addition, books and papers valued at $93.88.
Since the annual meeting in October, six of the auxiliaries alone have contributed $1,228.70, the largest contribution being from the Second church in Dorchester, of $445.70.
We would gratefully acknowledge, too, the hearty response to the appeal for Sunday-school papers for the colored schools in the South. We have on hand still a long list of Sunday-schools waiting for supply.
Receipts of the Association from April 25th to May 31st, 1881:
| From | Auxiliaries | $349.45 |
| ” | Donations | 174.50 |
| ” | Life Members | 60.00 |
| ” | Annual Members | 12.00 |
| ————— | ||
| $595.95 |