Convention before them as experienced by the colored people, from one who, as the Southern lady said, belongs "to their side."

SOUTHERN FIELD NOTES.

There were fifteen graduates from the Normal and ten from College and four from the Musical departments of Fisk University at its last Commencement. Rev. H. H. Proctor, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Atlanta, gave the Alumni address, and Prof. W. E. Dubois, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology in Atlanta University, delivered the Commencement address.

Mr. Proctor and Dr. Dubois are both graduates of Fisk University. Both of them are men of liberal culture and at the same time earnest toilers in the work of uplifting in the South.

The sixth anniversary of the dedication of the chapel of Plymouth Church, Louisville, Ky., was an interesting occasion. Rev. E. G. Harris, the pastor, has faithful workers in his church; some of them are physicians, teachers and artisans. The church is growing in numbers and influence. A neat lecture room, built by the people, is free from debt. They have added a cabinet organ to the Church and a piano to the Sunday School, to enhance the service of song.

A conference of Christian workers was held at Asheville, N. C., during the summer for Bible study and the consideration of the best methods of Christian work, and of the forces that affect the moral and religious life of the colored people. This was the first conference of the kind held in the South in the interest of the colored people. The prominent promoters of this conference were representatives of the American Missionary Association.

Prof. W. A. Waterman, of Fisk University, came on from Northfield to conduct a course of Methods in Bible Study and Missionary Training Service.

Mr. John Gaudy, a graduate of Fisk, and Mr. M. H. Neal, a senior of Fisk, were both present and assisted in the Conferences. Both of these young men propose to enter the ministry.

The Field Missionary spoke on "The Need of Systematic Study in our Schools of the Needs and Condition of our People," "City Missions" and "Normal Bible Study."

The Young Men's Institute, where the Conference was held, is the largest and best appointed building of the kind in the country for city mission work among the colored people. It is the gift of Mr. George Vanderbilt, and cost $30,000.

The American Missionary Association was represented in Christian Work among the colored soldiers by its field missionary, Rev. G. W. Moore, who held a ten-days' evangelistic service at Camp Russell, Fort Macon, N. C. The pastor of our church at Beaufort, N. C., Rev. W. D. Newkirk, also assisted in the Christian work at Camp Russell.

The Third North Carolina Regiment of eleven hundred and eight colored soldiers are in camp at Fort Macon, an island opposite Beaufort, N. C. All the commissioned officers are colored men. Col. James H. Young, of Raleigh, is in command of the regiment. The order of the place is exceptional. No liquor is allowed, and profanity is forbidden. The regiment presents a fine appearance on parades, and the men are making rapid progress in military training and discipline. Evangelistic services were held in a large gospel tent, and were largely attended, and many of the men enlisted as soldiers of the cross. More than three hundred men expressed their desire to become Christians at one of the services. Over one hundred and fifty men avowed their faith in Christ during these special services. The interest continues and the men are seeking the way of life.

An interesting patriotic service was held during this visit, at which Col. Young presided. The whole regiment was in formation. Rev. Geo. W. Moore spoke on the meaning of the war and the patriotism of negro soldiers. He said the revolutionary war stood for liberty, the civil war for unity, and the present war for humanity.

Colonel Young, Adjutant Smith and Captain Hargrave made patriotic speeches, the band played the "Star Spangled Banner," "Dixie" and "America," and the soldiers, both officers and privates, cheered and were filled with patriotic feelings. The Colonel and all the men of the Third North Carolina Regiment thanked the American Missionary Association for its interest in their welfare, as expressed by the visit of its field missionary.

A MISSIONARY GOSPEL.

"The first message at the birth of Christ was a missionary message (Luke ii. 10).
"The first prayer Christ taught men was a missionary prayer (Matt vi. 10).
"The first disciple, St. Andrew, was the first missionary (John i. 41).
"The first message of the risen Lord was a missionary message (John xx. 17).
"The first command of the risen Lord to His disciples was a missionary command (John xx. 21).
"The first apostolic sermon was a missionary sermon (Acts ii. 17-39).
"Christ's great reason for Christian love was a missionary reason (John xiii. 35).
"Christ's great reason for unity was a missionary reason (John xvii. 21).
"The first coming of Christ was a missionary work (Luke iv. 18-21).
"The second coming of Christ is to be hastened by missionary work (Matt. xxiv. 14).
"Our Saviour's last wish on earth was a missionary wish (Matt. xxviii. 19).

CHRISTIANITY AND CIVILIZATION IN LIBERTY COUNTY, GEORGIA.

Liberty County, Ga., is the county south of Savannah, on the sea. Visitors from the North en route to Florida pass directly through it after leaving Savannah. Our American Missionary Association school at McIntosh is in this county, and there are several Congregational churches also under the auspices of the American Missionary Association. Among these is one at Hagan, presided over by the Rev. J. B. Fletcher.

The religious condition of the colored people in this county of Liberty may be better understood in the light of the following incident. On Saturday morning, August 6th, Rev. J. B. Fletcher, accompanied by his wife, left Hagan for a place called Smiley, by urgent invitation, to organize a Congregational church. The work of organization was duly perfected on Sunday morning, the 7th, after which the officers and members persuaded him to stop over that evening and preach, which he readily consented to do. While in the pulpit a gun was discharged through a window of the church, the contents entering into the right side of Rev. Mr. Fletcher and wounding five others. As medical treatment could not be obtained there, he was hastily carried twenty miles to his home, where a physician was immediately summoned. His wounds proved to be very severe, but were not such as to prevent his recovery. The thigh was literally riddled with buckshot, one hundred and thirteen having already been extracted from his body. He writes us, "I am glad to have your sympathy and prayers; they are of great strength to me. It will be quite a while before I can walk as before, if ever. I feel happy to know that I am counted worthy to suffer thus for Christ's sake. I am not discouraged, and will be on the field again as soon as I can hobble around on crutches."

A letter from a neighboring pastor adds, "The detective will have all of the intended assassins arrested by the middle of the week. It is found that they are all colored people, and officers of a so-called Methodist Church, who as members of the Church Militant, took this means to prevent the introduction of a Congregational church in that vicinity."

A church whose officers propagate their faith with shotguns assuredly has no right to the Methodist name, which it dishonors, nor to any name, but it