a field of missionary work, which for opportunity and need has perhaps no equal in our country. Amidst all this change, a people, startled from their long separation, find themselves suddenly called to face, to compete with, to become a part of, our life, our intellectual advancement; to move with our energy, and work with our skill. Realizing their weakness, suddenly roused by their necessity, they are sending across their valleys and over their mountains the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us!" Our duty to this people, whether we look at it from the standpoint of the Christian or the citizen, is beyond the measure of words.

Here, as everywhere in the South, I found that the American Missionary Association, as representative of our Northern Christian sympathy, was at work. Its normal schools, fitting teachers to go out and displace the bare-footed, ignorant, snuff-stick-chewing school mistresses; its churches, fitting mothers and fathers to enter upon their duties conscious of their responsibility; and its missionaries, bringing in an intelligent Christian life, and driving the curse of the country— intemperance—out of the home, community and the county, are thus meeting the need, and answering the cry, and fulfilling the obligations. Below is a cut of one of the buildings of the Academy at Williamsburg, Ky., recently erected among these people.

WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY, KY.

I found one worker where the field called for a dozen; one school where we should have twenty; one church where we should have a hundred; one scholar received into an over-crowded school house, when its doors should open to scores. I found one missionary with nine organized churches on his hands, and he the only pastor; the extremes of his parish being seventy-five miles apart.

And lastly, on returning to New York, I found an empty, a worse than empty, a debt-burdened treasury, forbidding all advancement in this field.

Anniversary Exercises.

FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.

BY DISTRICT SECRETARY C.J. RYDER.

Fisk University fills a large place in the educational institutions of the South, and commencement week occupies an important place in the college year at Fisk.

When the inhuman caste prejudice passes away, the Congregationalists of the North will discover the encouraging fact that the American Missionary Association has planted Congregationalism in the South to stay. Fisk University and other such institutions, filled as they will be by young men of every class and color, will be strongholds of our New Testament faith and polity. Such a Commencement as was observed at Fisk this year does much to bring about that blessed day. This Commencement week, beginning Thursday, June sixth, and closing the evening of June twelfth, was crowded with literary and musical exercises of high order. President E.M. Cravath, D.D., delivered the baccalaureate sermon, taking for his subject, "Building on the Rock." It was a sermon of great power. Rev. Dr. Gray, a Southern Episcopal clergyman, preached the missionary sermon. On Thursday evening, came "The Senior Preparatory Exhibition." On June seventh, tenth and eleventh, the various class examinations were held, and in the evening of Friday the seventh, the anniversary exercises of the Literary Societies were given. There are three healthy and vigorous societies at Fisk, and it was difficult to tell which of the three gave the best evidence of the superior quality of its drill, in the exercises presented.

The Normal Department graduated a class of four, each presenting an essay. Rev. C.W. Hiatt, of Cleveland, Ohio, delivered the address at the close of the exercises of the normal department, taking for his subject "Earnest Living," and the address was spoken of with high appreciation by those who heard it.

The graduating exercises of the Collegiate Department were of unusual interest. There was not a poor oration or essay presented. The breadth of training given to the students at Fisk was especially noticeable in the wide range of subjects selected.

The anniversary of the Alumni Association gave evidence that the graduates of Fisk are true to the instruction of that institution, when they take up their work in the world. Sixty-seven have graduated from this institution; forty-two are teachers; eight, ministers; three, doctors; two, editors; two, foreign missionaries; eight, lawyers; one is a student; and one a real estate agent. Pretty good showing for Fisk!

The annual oration was delivered by the writer, subject, "The Student's Workshop, Tools and Work."

The rendering of the Hallelujah Chorus by the full choir of trained singers was especially fine, and reflected great credit upon the director.

TALLADEGA COLLEGE, TALLADEGA, ALA.

BY MRS. H.S. DEFOREST.

Talladega College observed its nineteenth anniversary June 9th to 13th. The large gathering of students, alumni and friends, the enthusiasm and interest manifested, and the report of what has been accomplished during the past decade, showed the hold it has obtained on the hearts of the people.

The exhibitions of Cassady School, which is the feeder for the higher grades, were held the week previous. Large and delighted audiences listened to the creditable performances of the young people, who showed in their parts the faithful work of teachers.

On Sabbath morning, the baccalaureate sermon was preached by Secretary C.J. Ryder, of Boston. Many valuable and practical lessons for the graduating class were drawn from his somewhat unique text, "And falling into a place where two seas met," Acts 27:41. Various currents in life will bear us hither and thither unless we are founded upon the rock and there abide. The closing words telling of the inscription upon an ancient cross, teneo et tenior, will long abide as an inspiration and help with those who heard.

At 4 P.M. the Sabbath-school prayer meeting gathered together students and teachers in a tender farewell, and at night the missionary sermon was preached by Rev. E.J. Penney, of Selma.

The examinations of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday gave evidence of thorough work and of painstaking study.

On Wednesday night, four young men, graduates of the Theological Department, were ordained. The sermon was preached by Rev. A.F. Beard, D.D., the ordaining prayer offered by the President, a most appropriate charge given by Pastor Snell of Birmingham, and the right hand by the Moderator, Rev. J.R. Sims, of Shelby Iron Works.

The graduating exercises were held on Thursday morning. Six students received diplomas from the Normal Course, and five were graduated from the Theological Department. Essays and orations showed thought and originality, and were well delivered. If all the noble sentiments expressed are carried out in the lives of the speakers, a class has gone out from our walls who will make a stand for truth and righteousness, manly men and faithful womanly women.

After the conferring of diplomas and the awarding of prizes, President DeForest gave a resumé of the growth of the college during the ten years of his connection with it. The number of students has increased from 203 to 427, instructors from 9 to 18. In this time, theological graduates have passed from 7 to 28, and normal from 18 to 64.

The alumni dinner was partaken of with relish by graduates and invited