Then a meeting every night is agreed upon, with a sermon from the pastor; and every night souls are hopefully born again. The series continues two weeks. For the last few days Pastor Penney and Superintendent Roy drop in to help glean a little. Over two-score souls are numbered among the believers. Forty are examined and approved by vote for membership in the church.
But there was some preliminary work after all. The lady missionary, Mrs. Almira S. Steele, of Revere, Mass., who is sustained by the ladies of the Congregational churches of Chelsea, besides her general service, has had a Friday afternoon sociable for the women, which not only worked as a preparation but was used all through the revival with marked spiritual results. So her service in the Sunday-school, with the handling of the review intrusted to her, had borne upon the happy issue, and all the people, who are delighted with their lady assistant, trace the work back in part to her influence. The pastor, who had become almost discouraged, becomes a new man. The church is confirmed. This fruitage encourages the patient culturing of the Sabbath-school. It rewards proper teaching. There was no noise, no confusion. None of the inquirers were looking for visions and dreams, for long-drawn agonies, for “the power.” They were just marched up to the question of immediate submission and trust. This work shows how our little churches that are striving for purity and order and character may be spiritually empowered and built up.
REFRESHING AT MACON.
It will gratify our friends to know that our A. M. A. mission in Macon has been spiritually refreshed. There was a growing religious interest among the children of our day-school and Sunday-school, and early in February we were enabled to secure the aid of Rev. E. E. Rogers, of Orange, Conn. The neighborhood prayer-meetings and house-to-house visitation by day were followed by powerfully impressive meetings at night. The work spread remarkably among the children, many of whom have started out in the new life. For more than three weeks the scholars of our Lewis High School would voluntarily leave their play and spend the whole half-hour of noon recess in prayer and religious instruction at the parlor of the Mission Home to the number of sixty and upward. At one memorable pray-meeting in the school-house there were twelve or fifteen of the students who gave their hearts to God. It was a Pentecostal season, a time of great rejoicing to the faithful teachers who had so long prayed for their pupils. The clear, decided testimony of one bright little Sunday-school boy, eight years of age, who was converted in one of the Sunday-school prayer-meetings, would put to shame the half-way, timid professions of some older people. “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.” Sixteen members of our Sunday-school have joined our (Congregational) church. Twenty-two in all have united, of whom eight are heads of families, while eight or ten of the students have joined other churches, where their families are connected. The daily meetings continued for six weeks, with the efficient help of Rev. D. Sherrell, of Savannah, for a few days, after Brother Rogers’ departure.
GOOD HARVEST.
The religious interest in Atlanta University, which was reported to you some time since, has continued for five weeks without any abatement, and a good harvest has already been gathered. The meetings have been well attended, in spite of some sickness and bad weather, and have been marked by an earnest attention to the truth and a fervent spirit of prayer. We have good reason to believe that many more than a score of souls have chosen the service of Christ, and they show a tenderness of devotion and a carefulness of demeanor which promise well for their stability.
Scarcely one is left among those who made their home here who has not been deeply affected, and who has not taken some steps in advance. We do not expect any reaction or falling away from the uplift which the whole school seems to have experienced.
INCREASE IN PRAYER MEETINGS.
The prayer meetings at Hampton are well sustained, and the religious feeling in the school is good. There has been a marked increase in our prayer meetings this year. We often have 200 in our Sunday morning meeting conducted by the students, where last year there were only thirty or forty. We have kept up two Indian meetings during the week, in which a verse of the Bible is read in English by one of the students, then by all who can read English in concert, then by one in Dakota. Then it is explained. After trying several ways, this seemed to be the most satisfactory. Prayers are offered in Dakota, in Arizona and in English by the students.
A meeting is kept up by the English-speaking students among themselves in order to fit them to take part when they go back to their homes.