converted, loads the problem down with difficulties such as might well drive us to despair.

But, no; nothing shall drive us to despair. This problem must be solved. This mountain mass of heathenism must be—not removed and cast into the sea, but transformed into the mountain of the Lord's house, and made an element—an element of untold value and efficiency—in our American Zion. Let us have faith as the grain of mustard seed. Let us hear the voice which adds to our great commission the promise: "Lo, I am with you alway." Let us take courage at the remembrance of mercies past. With all these difficulties upon us it still remains true that no other non-Protestant foreigners are as accessible to us as the Chinese; and that in proportion to the resources of men and money used, scarcely any evangelistic work yields equal visible returns. There is only one thing to do—for Christ's sake, for our country's sake, for the sake of the uncounted millions beyond the sea—we must, and we will, claim and conquer these precious souls for their Redeemer and our Lord.

THE SOUTH.

FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.

Anniversary week at Fisk University is closed. Its alternate shower and sunshine have fairly represented the rejoicing and the sadness that always come with this harvest time of the year. The week began on the evening of Friday, May 22, with the exhibition of the Senior Preparatory Class, and was followed by the Baccalaureate and Missionary sermons on Sunday, the anniversaries of the literary societies and the alumni association, and the graduating exercises of the Normal Department on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and the final great day of the feast, the College Commencement, on Thursday, May 28.

This programme has become so fixed that to go over it in detail would be monotonous; let us rather note a few of the significant and interesting facts that belong particularly to this anniversary week. The comparatively large size of the classes entering and leaving college has been one marked feature and a source of great encouragement. Thirteen young men and three young women were received into the Freshman class, and a few days later thirteen young men and two young women, having completed four years of college work, took the degree of B. A. This is more than double the largest class ever before graduated from Fisk, and while the increase in numbers cannot yet be sustained with regularity from year to year, it does show a growth in our work and a strengthening of purpose on the part of our young people. In 1874, a class of six young men entered college, but only two ever got beyond the threshold: the others lost heart and purpose; of the present class three have fallen by the hand of death within the four years and only three have dropped out for other causes.

Commencement day revealed in the tone of the graduating orations a moral earnestness and uprightness of principle that called forth the commendation of our stranger guests. The best record of the class, however, is in the influence its members have exerted in the school during the whole of their Senior year.

It may be remembered that a year ago the Alumni Association adopted a plan by which, beginning three years after graduation, at least one per cent. of the earnings of each member is to be appropriated to an endowment fund for Fisk University. Whenever the sum reaches $1,000, it is to be devoted to some chair in the University. This year the Treasurer reported $140 on hand. The beginning seems small, but who can tell to what the stream may grow? Part of the Alumni anniversary was given up to a memorial service for one who, after six years of faithful work among her people, has died within the year.

On the evening devoted to the Normal Department, Prof. Salisbury was expected to address us on some educational topic. In his absence, Prof. Smith, of the chair of Greek in Vanderbilt University, kindly filled the place and gave us an excellent address on Thomas Carlyle. Prof. Smith is of Southern birth, but has manifested a cordial friendliness and an interest that has led him to really investigate the work of Fisk University.

On Commencement Day, Rev. R. G. Hutchins, D. D., of Minneapolis, Minn., honored us with his presence and with an address, both wise and eloquent, on "Sublime Motives," holding up three as especially worthy to prompt to action: responsibility for the architecture of our own character, responsibility for the development of latent moral power, and the conservation of moral forces.

Few who heard it will forget the solemn charge given to the graduating class by President Cravath, illustrated by an incident, as told by the Rev. Sam. Jones, of the battle of Nashville. General Hood saw a Federal battery making dreadful havoc in his army, and sent to a subordinate general a messenger, saying, "Give him my compliments, and tell him I ask at his hands the battery in the Locust Grove." The general was in the thick of the battle and could not be found. The same message was sent to another with the same result. Finally to a third he sent the messenger, saying, "Give him my love, and tell him I ask at his hands the battery in the Locust Grove." The battery was speedily taken and the message of affection returned to General Hood. So are these young people sent out with the love of teachers and friends, to capture the batteries that are dealing moral death to this people.

After the degree of B. A. had been conferred on the fifteen graduates, that of M. A. was given to fourteen former graduates, who for three years or more have been engaged in scholarly employments.

To add to the interest of Commencement, Gen. Fisk arrived the evening before, and closed the public exercises of Thursday with an address, whose pleasantry made every one forget the fatigue of five consecutive hours of speech-making. Several members of the Legislature, now in extra session in the Capitol, were present both at the Commencement exercises and at the collation which followed.

A new and interesting feature of this anniversary was the part taken by the Girls' Industrial Department. A basket of cake made by members of the cooking class graced each table at the Commencement dinner and was by general consent pronounced excellent. In the Assembly Room of Jubilee Hall were displayed various garments and household articles neatly made by the sewing classes.

Nothing has been said about examinations; they are like the bread of our daily meals, always expected and very important. A more thorough examination than usual was given the classes in drawing and in vocal music. One exercise in the latter examination was the singing at sight of a tune, in four parts, composed by a member of the class.

Our halls are already deserted; nothing holds our students after Commencement: they scatter at once for work, and within a few weeks, in at least half a dozen States, miniature Fisk Universities will be in operation.

ANNIVERSARY AT HAMPTON INSTITUTE, VIRGINIA.

In beauty, interest and enthusiasm Hampton anniversary days abate nothing as years go on. The seventeenth anniversary exercises were held on May 21, with a graduating class of forty-two, of whom five were Indians. Visitors were present from North and South, East and West, and such expressions as "The half was not told me!" and "Why didn't I bring my wife?" were frequent, as usual.

Of the morning examinations, one of the most interesting was a general exercise conducted by the