The three theological students from Fisk University who were ordained at the State Association in Nashville, in November, find ready opportunity to prove “their calling” by preaching in the church at Goodlettsville. This church was organized last year, and has not yet secured a settled pastor.
Rev. John Kershaw, who was recently appointed General Missionary of the A. M. A. in the Cumberland Mountains, reports twenty-one hopeful conversions as the result of a series of meetings held by himself and Bro. Barton, of Robbins. So the work goes forward encouragingly in Scott County. The large army of men who poured into this region during the construction of the Cincinnati Southern R. R., have moved on. The vast number of drinking places this unsettled multitude created a demand for has been greatly reduced. Society has settled to its normal condition. Now is our opportunity. Let us plant churches, strengthen and multiply Sunday-schools, establish Christian schools, and thus keep out saloons and places of evil resort. It is always easier to keep the devil out than to get him out.
Many of our A. M. A. Sunday-schools are rejoicing in new libraries, the gifts of the “Congregational S. S. and Publishing Society,” and the “Western Tract and Book Society.” The thoughtful Secretaries of these societies have the hearty thanks of the field workers.
CHRISTMAS AT McINTOSH, GA.
Christmas came at the end of a series of revival services which have been held here with encouraging results, some forty young people professing to find Christ precious to their souls, a number of whom will be after due care and examination received into church membership. The members, too, have been cheered and helped in their Christian life, and have resolved to be more fully consecrated to God’s service. We commenced the day with a short service at 6:30 a.m., when we had a little talk on the topic, “The Birth of Christ.” At 9 o’clock the schoolchildren assembled with parents and friends to the number of four-hundred or more, to undertake their exercises, which were very satisfactory, doing great credit to the teachers. Hymns appropriate for the occasion were gone through admirably in the church, which had been gaily decorated with evergreens, palmetto grass, redberries and moss, the Christmas tree being a most conspicuous object, heavily laden with all kinds of good things. The distribution of the various articles followed, and all, both young and old, received a gift. They then turned out, en masse, after singing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” into the school grounds, where their happiness reached its height, the people witnessing some good old fashioned English games undertaken by the boys, including flat-race, three-legged race and sack-racing, (which caused no end of merriment) running high leap and pole-leaping. The girls, too, were delightfully entertained by the teachers’ partaking in corresponding games, which were enhanced by the strains from the brass band in attendance. Later in the afternoon fourteen persons, including Rev. Floyd Snelson, the teachers, and others, started upon an eight-mile drive. A halt was made at McIntosh proper, where holiday festivities were being indulged in by a large number, I am sorry to say, to the detriment of all present. Whilst waiting to give the horses rest, it was plain to be seen that whiskey had been freely partaken of both by male and female, and a disturbance arose in which we could see from the distance the excited people fighting, the women taking the most prominent part. At another settlement on the other side of us, we heard there had been disturbances mainly caused by the “fire-water” drinkers. As I stood looking on, I could not but thank God for the contrast, so plainly set before me in the day’s proceedings, and to bless God for the work and workers, whose influence is at least felt for miles around, both among old and young, whom they have under their training. I cannot speak too highly of the teachers here, although my acquaintance with them has only been of three weeks’ duration; yet travelling about as I do both in England and America I have learned to form some idea of work in my Master’s cause, and say that the work here is worthy of the sympathy and prayers of all God’s children, on both sides of the water, on behalf of these once downtrodden sons of Africa.
Miss Plimpton has in her class-room 72 scholars, Miss Robertson 74 and Miss Dox 84, Miss Cutler taking the responsibility in a great measure of the household duties. They are taxed to the very utmost of their strength and have turned away between fifty and sixty children, who would gladly walk many miles each day, if they could be accommodated. The Bible readings at some of the sisters’ houses, held twice a week, and also the Bible instruction and society meetings which are held at the teachers’ home, are all undertaken after school hours, so that an idea can be formed as to the exceedingly heavy task bearing upon them, but the promise is still as certain to-day as of old, “As thy day so shall thy strength be.” Towards sun-down the young folks began to scatter to their respective homes, everybody seeming to be delighted with the day’s proceedings, and wishing in their hearts that Christmas day came once a month.
James Wharton, Evangelist.