the churches toward secret societies. In the whole discussion not a word was offered in defense of the clandestine orders. It would have done Brother Fee good to have heard the fearless discussion. The church of Montgomery, under the care of Rev. R. C. Bedford, was found in a prosperous condition, ten members being received during the sessions of the body. Prof. G. W. Andrews, an early pastor of the church, had the pleasure of baptizing into the church a lad of thirteen, who had been named after himself, George Whitefield. Prof. Andrews also delivered an address upon the Mission of Congregationalism in the South, which was the feature of the week of services. Upon invitation three of the leading white churches of the city were supplied on the Lord's Day, those of Dr. Petrie, First Presbyterian, Dr. Andrew, First Methodist, and Dr. Woodfin, First Baptist—the service being rendered by Revs. O. W. Fay, G. W. Andrews and J. E. Roy. Four white families extended hospitality and four white pastors came into the meetings. And so recognition is coming along.

The Louisiana Association met with Rev. Isaac Hall's church, which with paint and fresco had put its house of worship into beautiful condition. Dr. W. S. Alexander was elected Moderator for the eighth year. A member of his church, a converted Catholic, was licensed that he might preach among the French-speaking colored people in the city of New Orleans. The account of his conversion was extremely interesting, showing how, by the word of God, he had worked out of Romish superstitions and had "found out what it was to be born again." During the sessions, by a proper Council, Mr. Byron Gunner, of the Theological Department of Talladega College, was examined and ordained to serve as pastor at New Iberia, the place where the Acadians settled and Whittier's "Evangeline" drifted in search of her lover. Dr. Alexander preached the sermon and Rev. R. C. Bedford, of Montgomery, gave the charge. The venerable brother, Rev. Daniel Clay, preached the opening sermon on the text, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The whole body was at the Boarding Hall of the Straight University for a lunch, when the President made the members a fine present of books from a Northern society.

The meeting of the Mississippi body was the second, and it revealed a maturing process. President Pope and Professor Hatch represented Tougaloo University—the president preaching a sermon on Christian Industry, and the professor reading a capital paper on Revivals. Rev. C. L. Harris, of Jackson, preached the opening sermon. He is finding a wide and effectual door at the Capital of the State. Pastor Grice, at Meridian, is encouraged by the assistance of Miss M. E. Green, a lady missionary. Miss A. D. Gerrish serves in the same capacity at New Orleans. At the meeting in the last named city, Miss E. B. Emery, from Maine, gave an impressive talk upon Woman's Mission Work. Misses Sperry and Wilcox, teachers, followed with words of confirmation. In Mississippi three or four promising fields are opening for the School and Church process, and these will be entered and occupied as soon as may be.

The Old North State held its fifth annual meeting on the first four days of May, at Dudley. This was a place at which the colored people, during the Ku-Klux terror, "refugeed," making there a stand for life—the hunted creatures at bay. Early the A. M. A. opened here its Mission School and Church. Difficulties, peculiar to the heterogeneous material thus gathered, have gradually been overcome, until now the gospel is in the ascendant as an assimilating force. The church and school under Rev. J. E. B. Jewett and his wife, of Pepperell, Mass., are in a high degree of prosperity. The New England Academy Principal seems especially adapted to these children of toil. The Association had the round of discussions, essays, devotional meetings. The National Council and the annual meeting of the A. M. A. were duly reported. The new Confession of Faith was heartily approved. A memorial service for the late Rev. Islay Walden, a native of North Carolina, was a marked feature of the occasion. The great work he had accomplished for his people in so short a time was instructive and encouraging to the other young ministers, and to the young people of the Assembly. Mrs. Elenora Walden continues the school work of her husband, greatly confided in by the people. Rev. Zachariah Simmons takes up the pastoral work. Three delegates from Strieby and Troy had walked 130 miles for want of money to pay the railroad fare. Three new school-house churches were reported—those of Pekin, Oaks and Hillsboro, the last two having been dedicated by the Field Superintendent on the Saturday and Sunday previous. Sermons were preached by Revs. D. D. Dodge, G. S. Smith (Moderator), J. E. Roy and Z. Simmons. Deacon Henry Clay Jones, of Raleigh, made a flaming temperance speech, claiming that 60,000 Prohibition voters held the balance of power, which, as a third party, could and should overmaster the 100,000 majority that went against home protection.

REMEMBER THE POOR.

When Paul and Barnabas were about to set forth to labor among the heathen, Cephas, James and John gave them the right hand of fellowship with a charge included in these words: "Only that they would remember the poor." How they should do it had been indicated by Him who said of his own labors "the poor have the gospel preached to them."

The expression "the poor" is comprehensive. All human wants relate to it. The poverty of some, however, is more complete than that of others, and the poorest have early, if not the first, claim to attention. The Pauls and Barnabases of our times may justly listen to appeals which arise from the following conditions:

1. Ignorance. In this country it may be said ignorance is the mother of poverty. Indeed, ignorance is one of the worst forms of poverty. Intelligence among the masses, coupled with true religion, would soon abolish it. Whatever is lacking of knowledge of God, of what He has promised, of what He has made for us, of what we can do for ourselves, must be supplied. It was an observation of Dean Stanley that we ought to teach the heathen how to count three before attempting to instruct them as to the doctrine of the Trinity. The great Preacher was the great Teacher also. If there be the greatest ignorance South, the appeal from the South to us to remember the poor is urgent and imperative.

2. Poverty. Where a large proportion of the people can neither read nor write, there nothing but a fractional supply for human wants is to be expected. Inadequate buildings meagerly furnished, insufficient clothing for the young, lack of medical care and neglect of the aged and infirm—these are evil conditions only too common all over the South, rendering much that ministers to a thrifty and manly character impossible, as things are now. Where there is the greatest sickness, privation and want, there apostles to the poor have legitimate field for labor. Is there any such field in our country as that presented at the South?

3. Vice. It is admitted that ignorance and poverty beget vice. According to recent statistics, gathered from the whole country, it is shown that the illiterate classes commit more than ten times their pro rata of crime. The missionary must stay the progress of vice, drying up its sources as best he may, and uncapping the fountains of life. To do this he must impart knowledge and preach the gospel.

If, in consequence of the ignorance and poverty of the people South, there is vice and crime unparalleled in the annals of our country; if these things combined constitute a poverty unknown elsewhere in the land when estimated by its extent, then those who seek the poorest will not neglect the millions in the Southern