We regret to say that Rev. J. L. Withrow, D.D., has, in consequence of his call to Chicago, sent in his resignation as a member of our Executive Committee, a position that he has held since 1883. Our churches ought to know Dr. Withrow’s fidelity. Once a month he made the journey from Boston to New York in order to attend the meetings. It was very rarely that he was absent. Our good wishes and prayers accompany him into his new field in the West.
The vacancy thus made has been filled by the Executive Committee in the unanimous election of Rev. Jas. W. Cooper, D.D., New Britain, Conn. Dr. Cooper has kindly consented to serve. He is not a man willing to accept a position as a mere figure-head, and the churches may be assured that the interests of the Association will be faithfully served by him. He is a man of business and executive ability in a marked degree, and we shall welcome his counsel and wisdom in the administration of the Association’s affairs.
The Thomasville (Ga.) Times speaks very commendatorially of the American Missionary Association’s work in Thomasville. It refers with evident pleasure to the erection of our building for the Connecticut Industrial School, and speaks of our missionaries who are now carrying on the school in temporary quarters until the new building is completed, as follows: “These ladies are engaged in a work which commends itself to all classes of our citizens. They will receive, as they should, every encouragement and courtesy at the hands of the people of Thomasville.”
They had a good time at Fisk University, Thanksgiving Day. Sermon by Prof. Bennett in the forenoon, athletic sports on the campus in the afternoon, and a praise meeting in charge of Pres. Cravath in the evening. Dr. Cravath spoke of the university as a family in connection with the thought that family reunions were the characteristic form of observing the Thanksgiving anniversary. Testimony of personal reasons for thankfulness were given both by teachers and students. One was thankful that after having been twelve years in the university he had at length been led to give himself to the Lord; another, a newcomer, that the way had been opened for him to come to Fisk, where he had been received as a child into the family; some for hardships and trials endured, others for what Fisk University had been to them and had done for them. A very fitting and enjoyable observance of the day this was, certainly.
There are 8,000 liquor saloons in the city of New York. Last year they paid for licenses $600,000. This money, strange to say, is divided up among charitable and reform institutions in the city. Saloon keepers pay $600,000 for protection by law, while they carry shame, sorrow and ruin to tens of thousands of their fellow-beings. Surely the American Missionary Association ought to receive the $350,000 asked from the churches, as it tries to carry the Gospel to twelve millions of the most neglected and ignorant of our American population.