occasion. Superintendent Roy and Rev. Jeremiah Porter, spending his second winter in Austin, were present to assist the pastor, Rev. J. H. Parr, who, with his wife, united in the organization. It consisted of twenty members, half of them teachers and half students. Principal W. L. Gordon and wife presented their two little children, born in the Institute, for baptism. Mr. Gordon and Mr. R. F. Ferrell, a student, were ordained as deacons by prayer and the laying on of hands. Mr. Porter offered the prayer of institution, and broke the bread at the communion table. This venerable servant of God had just passed his 80th birthday. His golden wedding will come next June. His multitude of friends will be glad to know that the United States Government, having put him upon the retired list as chaplain, is continuing his salary. Mrs. Porter is assisting the special missionary, Miss M. J. Adams, Professor Dean, and other teachers and scholars, in supporting two mission schools contiguous to the Institute. Miss Rose M. Kinney, a veteran in the service, is matron and preceptress. The Tillotson is moving on this year smoothly and successfully. A church in connection with these main chartered institutions is essential to their best Christian result.

Just a word with our ministerial readers. The heavy mail that daily comes to this office brings us occasionally a letter with some such words as these: "I preached to my people last Sunday an A. M. A. sermon, and as a result I send you a contribution which is larger than the church ever gave this cause before." Exactly, brother; let the people know what is wanted and why it is wanted, and then let them have a chance to give and they will meet the responsibility every time. Another letter brings us this: "A few weeks ago I preached a sermon on the work of the A. M. A. My congregation were so deeply interested in what I said they requested my manuscript for publication. Thinking you might be interested I send you a copy of the published sermon." Exactly, again. We were interested, and long before we had finished reading the discourse we understood full well why the people were interested. Another letter: "The Missions of the A. M. A. occupied our attention last monthly concert. I gave a bird's eye view of the whole field and then selections were read from the papers and addresses given at Salem. By this time the brethren were quite ready to turn on the streams of their own thought. We found it difficult to bring the meeting to an end. It was a great success. I propose to follow it up." Again, exactly. Missionary information when properly brought forward will make a meeting that for interest cannot be surpassed. It is one of the strangest things in the world that so many people have gotten the impression that a missionary meeting must be dull, and that a missionary discourse must be uninteresting. It is an impression that ought not to exist. Let sermons be preached. Let the thrilling, soul-inspiring facts that go to make up the history of missions be made known and the impression will soon be driven out of existence.

Brethren, we invite you to glean in the great field of the American Missionary Association. There will be rich returns for you and your people and golden returns for us.

THE TEST APPLIED.

When Berea College was started, in 1858, its students were all white. The following year the question was raised, "What if colored students should apply?" One teacher voiced the sentiment of all when he said, "If any one made in God's image comes to get knowledge which will enable him to understand the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, he cannot be rejected." The simple declaration of that sentiment had the effect to make most of the students leave at the end of the term, never to return. The John Brown raid, happening soon after, rendered the school still more unpopular, and the war following a little later, the school had to suspend altogether. But when the war ended and, in 1865, the college opened its doors again, there being no longer slavery, the question of color soon came up for consideration.

In one of the by-laws to the constitution of the college was this statement: "The object of this college shall be to furnish the facilities for a thorough education to all persons of good moral character." Three colored youths applied for admission. On examination they were found to be "persons of good moral character." There was only one thing to do. They were promptly admitted. What followed? There were at the time seventy-five students in the college, and we are told, "the morning that those three harmless youths walked in, half the school walked out."

But some one will say: "That was at the close of the war, when the feelings of our white brethren at the South were naturally very sensitive; that time, however, has passed away. We can now plant schools and churches on an anti-caste basis, with open doors and welcome hands for colored people, if they choose to come. No such exhibition of race prejudice would now be made." Well, let us see.

For several years past we have had our attention turned to the terrible destitution of the people in the mountain region of Kentucky and places adjacent. Two years ago we sent a special missionary to labor among these people. He made his headquarters at Williamsburg, the county seat of Whitley County, Kentucky. The town was sixty-seven years old, yet it never had a church edifice; nor had the county, with a population of fourteen thousand, ever had a church edifice finished and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. There were very few schools, and what few there were could not be considered schools by intelligent people. Our missionary went to work. The people heard him gladly. A new life came into their famished souls. They rallied round him. They built a beautiful church edifice. An academy, too, was erected; able and skilled teachers were put in charge. The missionary did not confine himself to the town merely. For miles up and down the valley he traveled, preaching as he went. Wherever he came the people were roused and steps taken to have churches and schools planted.

But the church and the academy above referred to must be dedicated. At the dedication this Association was represented by Assistant Corresponding Secretary Powell, by Field Superintendent Roy and by Rev. Dr. Wm. H. Ward, of the Executive Committee. And dedicated they were to the glory of God for the maintenance and spread of a free gospel and Christian learning. Special emphasis was placed upon the fact that over the entrance to these temples was written, Whosoever will may come. Does some one ask why that was specially emphasized? Because we were in a country where popular sentiment said, Into white churches and white schools there was a certain class who, on account of the color of their skin, would not be admitted. When you are in a community that publicly indorses a wrong, silence regarding that wrong is complicity. Under such circumstances, to say nothing about it is the same thing as to sign your name to a document affirming the thing to be right. To dedicate a Christian church in New York City and say nothing about the evils of Mormonism would be nothing strange, but to dedicate a Christian church in Salt Lake City and be silent as to what the teaching and the practice of that church was to be in regard to polygamy would be treason to the Gospel. We therefore made specially prominent at the dedication the broad principles on which our mission rested. Some said they were sorry to hear such things proclaimed; others said nothing, but feared; while a few said, That is right. It is just as it ought to be.

The school started off with bright skies above and a broad distant view around. The bell rung out its pealing calls, and bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked children and youth clambered up the hill side to enjoy such educational