In nothing, perhaps, has there been so great a gain as in the habit of reading. The progress in this is simply astonishing, and cannot be described in a few words. Seven years ago, there was hardly a reader in the school. Now, many of our young people come to my library and, looking over my books, talk of them and their authors as intelligently as young people of the same age in Massachusetts would.
I conclude by saying that, in this far-away corner, God has greatly blessed the efforts made by faithful teachers, and there is every cause for encouragement and hope.
OBITUARY.
Another of our educated, consecrated and useful colored pastors has passed away. Rev. Welborn Wright, pastor of the Second Congregational Church of Lawrence, Kansas, died at his home, August 14th, of consumption. He was born in South Carolina, and had been pastor of the church in Lawrence over six years. He was a man of thought, earnest in his convictions, and had acquired a large influence over his own people. His church had prospered greatly under his care.
He won the esteem of the white people. Two years ago he was elected a member of the Board of Education of the city, and proved himself to be a man of good judgment in practical affairs. His funeral was attended by Rev. Dr. Cordley, Rev. R.B. Parker and Rev. A.N. Richards. He was Secretary of the Minister's Meeting of Lawrence, and resolutions of warm commendation and sympathy for his family were passed by that body, and also by the Board of Education of Lawrence.
We have just learned that Mr. A.J. Berger, formerly industrial teacher at Macon, Georgia, died at Claremont, Virginia, September 2d, at the age of sixty-six years.