debris. The girls had been working in the laundry, and intended to return after supper, and had left a fire; and, had it not been for the timely efforts of James Meade, it would have been in ashes, for the wind blew the door open and scattered the fire in every direction, and while James was trying to extinguish the fire inside the building, he became thoroughly drenched with the rain outside the building. Suffice it to say that, with all our family of 38 persons, none were injured; for which we are thankful. Our school is doing well, with 32 boarding pupils.

NEBRASKA,

REV. THOMAS L. SEXTON, D. D, Sup't:-The leaflets have come, and I can use them to advantage. We have much to encourage us in our work this year. We have had an immense crop, and the poor people are trying to pay their debts. The spirit of God is at work in our State. Fifty new members were recently received into the Beatrice Church, giving a membership of 433. The second church of that city will be organized Jan. 3d. Beatrice is now the third city in the State, ranking next to Lincoln in size.

The Knox Church, Omaha, received fifty new members last Sabbath, and more are expected. The Second Church of Lincoln, not yet three years old, has a membership of 300, and is all the time growing. You will remember that the Board paid the entire salary of Rev. C. E. Brandt, their pastor, for the first six months, and that the church became self-supporting in eighteen months from the time it was organized. That church has under its care a flourishing mission Sabbath school, which may develop into a church.

We are about to lose two of our good workers. Rev. R. M. L. Braden, of Edgar, goes to Golden, Colorado. Rev. John C. Sloan, of Rushville, has been selected as the financial agent of our Omaha Theological Seminary, and will have to give up his pastorate, in order to give his whole time to the work. We expect to push forward this Seminary enterprise with all possible vigor, and make it a Home Missionary seminary.

A short time since one of the McCormick boys called to see me here, and he assured me that the

61

Foreign Mission students seem to think that the young men who are anxious to work at home are lacking in consecration. I wish we could have some young man in our seminaries start a movement among our students in behalf of Home Missions. If such a movement could be started, it would tell on our work.

The last three months have sped their way very rapidly, and left their mark on our State. While no great deeds have been performed, each man in his own field has been pushing forward the work. During these three months the several Presbyteries have held their meetings and the Synod has met in annual consultation. these gatherings much time, thought and discussion have been given to the question of raising funds and a more economical grouping of our fields so as to save both men and means.

At

Our ministers are in hearty accord with the action of the last General Assembly regarding the funds needed for mission work, and at the Synod decided to make an apportionment among tho Presbyteries, such as will secure an advance of not less than 20 per cent. in our benevolent contributions.

These several amounts are again

to be re-apportioned among the churches so that each one may know what is expected in order to meet the present urgent demand. We have rea son to be grateful for the early and latter rains which have caused the earth to yield an abun dant harvest. We are doing what can be done to secure supplies for our own vacant churches, and since my last report was made, we have welcomed several recruits to our noble band of workers.

The Rev. J. C. Gilkerson, of Calliope, Iowa, has been located at Seward, Rev. J. D. Walkinshaw, of Aledo, Illinois, at Fairbury, Rev. W. V. Chapin, of Griswold, Iowa, at Ansley and Litchfield, and Rev. W. M. Porter, of Blackhawk, Colorado, at Nelson. Rev. R. H. Fulton, of Homer City, Pa., has accepted a call to Gordon and Clinton, and will very soon enter upon his work, provided the debt does not hinder the Home Board from aiding in his support.

Several changes have taken place in removals from one field to another, Rev. N. Chesnut has

62

moved from Seward to Fremont, and has been installed as pastor. Rev. L. D. Wells has accepted a call to Holdrege and has moved from Waterloo to that place, where his formal installation took place Oct. 28. Rev. Chas. H. Brouillette has moved from Alexandria to Beatrice where he is at work in gathering together the Second church. Licentiate C. N. Armstrong has moved from Long City to Ravenna, where he is supplying the churches of Berg and Cherry Creek. Rev. J. D. Howey has closed his labors at Fairmount and Sawyer, and is on the outlook for another field. Rev. W. A. Pollock has concluded his work at Axtell and Ragan, and will soon be re-located. Rev. F. P. Baker has removed to Michigan and left our church vacant at Wayne. Rev. R. M. L. Braden, of Edgar, has received and accepted a call to Golden, Colorado, and will leave us at the beginning of the New Year. Rev. W. D. Patton has taken Tamora with Staplehurst, and is also supplying Raymond and Little Salt. This gives him four churches, and requires him to preach three times every Sabbath.

On the first of November I organized the Winnebago Indian church with ten members. It is in Niobrara Presbytery. I have dedicated two church buildings: Bethany in Holt county and Sumner in Dawson county. The first cost $800 and the second $1,660. We are needing, and must have some more good men in order to carry on our work with more vigor and success. Our ministers are now conducting special services in many places and are confidently expecting showers of blessings from above. This is our greatest need at the present time, and for this we all labor and pray.

KANSAS.

REV. W. R. VINCENT:-The last quarter has been one that was marked with very bad weather and roads for Kansas. One Sabbath I was not able to fulfill my appointment owing to extreme inclemency of the day-nor did many of the people reach the church. Notwithstanding the removal of two of our important families the church of B. is hopeful.

[July,

For the past winter there has been a quickened spirit of prayer and giving and two weeks ago to-day we commenced a series of meetings-first we had two meetings in private houses away from the church. At the first we had 20 persons present, one said when he came in "I won't go to-morrow night it's too stormy." When we closed that service, he spoke out to some from -the village. "If you will get me a load I'll go by town with my wagon and take a load if it does rain. He got a load and we had 40 the next night. There were near 40 hands went up in these two meetings saying we will pray for some one by name. We continued our meeting in the church up to last night and expect to continue it further this week. We received six on profession yesterday and expect more in the near future. Two or three whole families will come soon we think. The constant rain and bad roads have kept some away that will [strengthen us. Then we hope to see the spirit of self-support begin to grow. In the fact that we have lost so by removals the men seem discouraged about increasing the sum raised in the field. Our young men of small incomes are beginning to talk self support and I think they will do good in that line.

Our Sunday-school is quite a healthy institution and from it came five of the six additions of yesterday. It is not just a place to go on Sabbath morn but it is a place for work for the Master. Besides the Sunday school and the Young People's Society Christian Endeavor, our younger class of teachers and scholars have organized a class to train workers. The idea is to try to get the use of the sword of the spirit.

WISCONSIN.

REV. RICHARD A. CLARK:-Everything in our churches here and at Fancy Creek seems to be moving on harmoniously and I think with increasing interest. The prayer-meetings are well attended, and our congregation and Sunday school at Richland Centre are both increasing so that we are pressed for room in our little church, which is only 24x36 feet. It was the first church built here. (1857). No other church

1892.]

edifice for ten years. Now we have six all larger than ours-one built this last fall (Free Methodist). The Roman Catholics have the foundation completed for a very large structure to be finished the first of August next. The Baptists and Methodist Episcopal both have churches that will seat twice the number of ours. The Cambellites have one still larger-will seat about 500. They have no minister and they have invited us to occupy their church on extra occasions-it is only about one block from ours and makes it very convenient. We are to use it two evenings next week. We are on very friendly terms, and when their minister resigned last fall I invited them while without a minister to worship with us.

now.

There has been a great deal of sickness both here and at Fancy Creek this winter and many deaths-several of my church members have not been able to attend church for months. Last week we laid to rest the oldest member of the church (a charter member and the last but two now living.) And those are now living in California so that we had none of the original members to attend the funeral.

MOUNTAIN WHITES.

REV. JOHN ROBERTS:-" Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it," is the advice of Solomon, and here at Wartburg are sixty children asking the Presbyterian Church for that training. Shall the Church undertake to train them? To answer that question the Church should know all the facts in the case, and in this letter I shall try to put the facts before it briefly.

The first question is do they need training? Everybody says "yes." Their parents says "yes." Their friends say "yes." The fact that out of sixty-three that have attended the school, only seven profess to love their Lord, says "yes." The fact that they have been raised in a new country where society is not well organized and where there has been no general interest in their training, says "yes." The fact that they have been raised in a town where Sabbath break

63

ing is popular, where swearing is not noticed, where social purity is rather lightly esteemed, says "yes."

The next question is, Can they be trained?, and for brevity I will say in answer that I have had the children of lawyers, editors, preachers, and merchants under my care in one of the large Southern cities, and find that the children of the mountains are brighter than they. They have more to learn, but they learn faster.

And now comes the question, Are they willing to be trained? Perhaps no better answer could be given to that than the fact that so many have expressed their willingness by their actions as well as their words. Boys twelve years old walk three miles to school. They show everywhere that they want to learn. They are eager to take part in the reading of the Scriptures in the morning. They listen attentively to any explanations of the meaning that I may think proper to give. At the beginning very few of them knew the Lord's Prayer, but all have learned it. They attend Sunday-school either at our school or at the Baptist church, and a great many at both. At Sunday-school they show by their attention and interest that their business is to learn. They are very willing to be trained. Since the school began two of the girls have signified their intention of joining the church.

The next question is, What facilities have we for training them? Here we have nothing but our needs. The Masonic Lodge offers to let us use the two school rooms in the first story of their hall as if they were our own. The citizens of the town say that they will do what they can to help us get the public school support; but as the board that will have charge of this is yet to be elected, we can have no definite promise. We cannot get along without desks for the rooms, we need another teacher, we need books, we need more school furniture of every kind. Most of all we need the strength from the Lord to carry on our warfare against sin and Satan. Will the children of the Almighty appear before Him and plead that strength be given us? and that wisdom be given us?

THE MISSION AT ABBEVILLE, S. C. Rev. H. N. Payne, Field Secretary, writes: Soon after his graduation from Howard University, in 1881, Rev. E. W. Williams came to this place and established a Presbyterian mission. It was an extremely dark region, in which the repressive and degrading influence of slavery had been felt in an unusual degree. Many of the white people were opposed to any effort to elevate the negroes. Mr. Williams met with a cold reception. Prominent and influential people looked on him and his work with strong disapproval.

But by the colored people he was welcomed. They did not comprehend the wide reach of the new movement, but, even in their ignorance, realized that it heralded a brighter day.

Soon a colored Presbyterian Church was organized, and in January, 1883, a parochial school was gathered by Mrs. Williams in the unfinished church building.

As time went on it became increasingly evident that there was need and opportunity for a large work in Abbeville. Situated in the western part of the state in the midst of a dense colored population, it was unreached by any of the great enlightening and elevating agencies that had done so much good elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Williams seemed well fitted for the work. They had been educated in the best schools. Mrs. Williams had been a successful teacher in Washington, D. C. Their ideals of Christian life and character were high. They had faith in their race. They were young, strong, and full of hope and enthusiasm.

Their plans were approved by friends at the North to whom they made them known. The church work was pressed steadily forward. A school of high grade was projected and a Board of Trustees incorporated. was purchased, and ground broken for Fergason Academy in 1886. It was named for one of its most devoted and self-sacrificing

Land

friends, Rev. James A. Ferguson, of Hanover, N. J. Dr. Craighead, of Washington, was another friend of the school who stood faithfully by it in many a trying hour, and helped it through many an emergency.

The Academy was occupied in an unfinished state in the fall of 1888. This move was hastened by the fact that public feeling was in such an excited state as to make it unpleasant, and, as some thought, unsafe for Mr. and Mrs. Williams to pass across the town every day, as they had been doing, from their home to their work. The main building is of brick, four stories in height. On the lower floor (half basement) are the dining room, kitchen, store room, etc. The second floor is occupied by the office, recitation rooms, and Mr. Williams' family rooms. On the third floor is the chapel which is also the general study room. The fourth floor is the dormitory for the female boarders and teachers. The boys' dormitory is a separate wooden building with four rooms. By the desire of its Board of Trustees the entire property passed to the Freedmen's Board in the spring of 1891, upon the payment of its debts. In the fall of that year, for the first time, the school was opened in buildings finished, furnished, and equipped for work. No further buildings are needed at present, except a laundry. The washing and ironing are now done either in the kitchen or out of doors. A low valuation of the present property is $10,000.

The school was fuller this year than ever before. It has had 150 scholars, 34 of whom were boarders. It is desired to extend its influence. This is gradually being done as its value becomes known. It is a Christian home, especially to the boarding students. Regular and systematic Bible study, and wide awake missionary and temperance societies conducted by the students, are characteristic features of the school. The students dress very plainly, but the neatness of their persons and rooms, as well as their quiet, modest