Dr. Pike was eminently social and was blessed with unusual conversational powers, and gave to others and won from them to himself strong personal friendships. As a public speaker he was earnest, animated and eloquent, and was gladly welcomed in the pulpit and in the meetings of Associations and Conferences. His leading characteristic was that of an organizer. He was perpetually devising plans for active work and was diligent and untiring in his efforts to carry them out. He was a man of prayer and of faith in God, which sustained him in his constant labors, in his days of trial and in his sickness and death. At his own request his mortal remains rest in Nashua, the scene of his first pastorate, and his long sleep will be with those whom he loved. By the generosity of Mrs. O. A. Woodbury a portion of a cemetery lot was given for his burial, on which an expensive monument is erected, and on one face of which will be inscribed his name.
Since writing the above we have learned that a special memorial service was held Sunday evening, February 1st, in the Chapel of Fisk University. This was in every way appropriate, in consequence of the intimate relations of Dr. Pike's life to the upbuilding of that institution. With considerable feeling, President Cravath referred to the fact that twenty years ago E. P. Smith, Dr. Pike and himself entered upon the work of the American Missionary Association, and that he was now left alone, adding that in the death of Brother Pike, Fisk University had lost one of its warmest friends.
We notice the death of Mrs. Dr. L. B. Lane, of St. Charles, Ill. She died on the 14th of January last, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Lane and her husband were ordained missionaries of the Am. Miss. Assoc. to Siam in 1848. They returned in 1855, since which time they have resided in this country. She was a good and true servant of Christ when in the foreign field and no less so in her own land. Her death came suddenly, but found her thoroughly prepared to go.
Few men in this country have had more experience in addressing children, or greater success in winning them to Christ, than Rev. E. P. Hammond. The result of this experience he has condensed in an interesting and instructive little volume, entitled "Conversion of Children." It will prove helpful and encouraging to parents and interesting to children. We thank Mr. Hammond for the gift of fifty copies of his book, which we have distributed among our missionaries in the South, by whom they are appreciated and found useful in their work.
Some time ago a Southern paper, in speaking of Dr. Roy, referred to him as a colored man. At the time we thought the writer was mistaken, but since looking over his itinerary, which our readers will find in another part of the magazine, we have been led to feel that we shall have to modify somewhat our opinion. The doctor himself explicitly declares that at one point in their journey he and his companions were all of the same color. At any rate he is not ashamed to call them brethren, and we may also add that they are not ashamed of him.