comrades. A little girl, eight years old, was the first of a family to accept Christ. Her mother followed. The father, a drunkard, through the persuasion of friends, visited the church for the first time. When opportunity was given those desiring salvation to express their desire, the little child crossed over to where her father was, and begged him to come. He did not that evening, but a few nights later he yielded and gave his heart to the Saviour. It is a custom among the colored people to give the hand of welcome to those who have made up their minds to become Christians; and we can well believe, as an eye-witness describes, "it was a beautiful as well as a touching scene when this little girl stepped forward to welcome father and mother on the Lord's side."

At Talladega College there were 116 conversions, including every inmate of the ladies' hall, and, with a single exception, every boy in the Stone Hall. The meetings, as distinctively revival, had to come to a close for lack of material upon which to work, and take the form of praise and thanksgiving unto God for the marvelous display of His grace. It was a literal fulfillment of the Divine promise to "pour out a blessing that there should not be room enough to receive it."

At Selma there were 300 who confessed their Saviour. Gray-haired men, grandmothers, men and women in the prime of life, youth and children, were among the converts. "The most glorious work of grace," writes Pastor Curtis, "it has ever been my privilege to see."

Revivals have also been enjoyed in the Central Church and Straight University, New Orleans; in the Tougaloo University, where nearly all the students were led to Christ; at New Iberia, La., where, under the labors of the pastor, fifty-nine were brought into church fellowship; in the First and University churches, Atlanta, and at several other places. It has been a year of marked religious interest and progress nearly all over the field.

EDUCATIONAL WORK SOUTH.

STATISTICS.

The resignation during the year of Professor Salisbury, Superintendent of our school work, and the transfer to Chicago of Dr. Roy, Superintendent of our church work at the South, raised the question whether, in view of the system to which these brethren had reduced the work of their respective fields, the two departments might not be consolidated and their care assigned to one man. With much hesitation it was decided to try the experiment. Rev. C. J. Ryder, of Medina, O., has been selected to take the new position, and has entered upon its duties. His headquarters will be at Cincinnati, from which point, by reason of its central location and excellent railroad facilities, the whole field will be easily accessible. We regretfully part with Professor Salisbury. The three years of his service have been very valuable to our work, and it is largely because of this service we are permitted to report that our schools were never before so well organized nor so efficient as now.

The exhibit of our schools in the World's Exposition at New Orleans attracted much attention from visitors. The New Orleans papers spoke of it in very complimentary terms. Descriptions of it were written and widely published in the newspapers all over the country. President Hitchcock, of Straight University, Rev. S. E. Lathrop and several of our colored students, took charge successively of the exhibit, and were on hand to answer questions regarding the American Missionary Association, its schools and its work. A large number of pamphlets and tracts were distributed. Representatives from every State in the Union, and from nearly every nation on the face of the earth, dropped in to learn the object-lesson the exhibit taught of what Christian education had done for the Indian and the Negro.

At Midway, Ga., an additional building has been erected for the Dorchester Academy. The Storrs School, Atlanta, by the sale of bullets dug from the battlefields around the city, realized enough to secure a much-needed kindergarten building. Mrs. F. L. Allen, of Waterbury, Conn., has donated us a property in Quitman, Ga., containing three acres of land, on which stands a hotel building, nearly new and thoroughly furnished, to be used as a school for girls. The ladies of the First and Second Congregational churches of Waterbury promptly seconded Mrs. Allen's gift by raising $1,000 to make the necessary alterations to put the building in order for the school, and the ladies of the Congregational churches of the State have so far responded to an appeal for them to assume the support of the school, that it starts out with an assurance of success from the beginning. Rev. J. H. Parr, formerly of the Tillotson Institute, is to have the school in charge.

We have not been able to spend much money this year in brick and mortar. We have been obliged to put our funds almost exclusively into the more practical work of mind and character building.

Fisk University celebrated its twentieth anniversary this year by graduating from its college course fifteen, two of the number being young ladies. This makes 52 who have been graduated from Fisk. The Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Tennessee, several State officials, many Senators and Representatives attended the Commencement exercises and alumni dinner. A series of speeches in commendation of the good work done at the institution were made by these gentlemen, who bore testimony to the high standing of the Fisk students as teachers and citizens throughout the State. Of the 37 graduates previous to the class of this year, the record shows that 24 of them are principals and teachers in different schools; 5 are pastors of churches; 1 is a missionary in Africa under the American Board; 2 are practicing lawyers; 2 are studying for the professions—1 in a theological, the other in a medical school; 1 is a member of the Tennessee Legislature; and 2, who were teachers, have died. Its roll numbers 427, including representatives of 21 States and 1 Territory.

Talladega College has had 365 students. This was more than it could comfortably care for. The girls' hall was crowded. Some applicants had to be refused for lack of room. The new Cassidy School building, having been used by over 200 pupils, continues to justify its right to be. Prosperity has marked the life of this college in all its departments.

Atlanta University maintains its well-earned reputation for school work of the highest order; 297 students have shared its privileges. Colonel L. W. Avery, Chairman of the State Board of Visitors, in his report last year, was so emphatic and strong in his praise of what he had seen and heard at the University, that the other members of the Board would not believe him, and he was compelled to modify his praises before they would accept his report. This year the whole Board was present at the examinations, and the result is that they have every one been converted, and are now ready to go even farther than the Colonel in testifying that "the proficiency attained in the scholastic results has been simply astonishing." The University continues to receive the annual appropriation of $8,000 from the State—a fact that is all significant respecting the undeniable worth of the school.

Tougaloo