torn from her breast during two of the darkest centuries that have passed over her; but as in the case of the patriarch Jacob, Joseph was carried away that he might be the means of saving his father and brethren from famine, so has God wonderfully brought it to pass in our case. The event we commemorate to-day points to this fact. It is the anniversary of the return of Afric's sons to their fatherland! On this day fiftyfive years ago, a meeting between brothers of the same race-the same blood, kith and kin-the one civilized and the other savage, notwithstanding, took place, after a long period of separation! The great epiphany or manifestation of the light of civilization and Christianity began at that time. The standard of the religion of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, was then erected, in token that he would possess this land, which had been long, long ago given to him as his heritage forever. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession." . .

Here are we, the descendants of those brave pioneers who dared to face all the odds that were against them in founding this home, and also the descendants of those noble men-lords of the soil-who opened their arms and received their brethren from

cxile, and gave them a share in the inher

itance from their common Father. This land of great possibilities will be just what we are pleased to make it a delightsome habitation, the garden of the Lord-or still numbered among the dark places of the earth; the worse for having had the evils of civilization added to its savagery. .

God be praised! The prospect is bright and encouraging!-if in no other direction, surely in that which has occasioned our present gathering. Here, at this central point (Epiphany Hall), may be gathered young men and boys from heathen tribes far and near, who will unite with their brothers returned from exile across the ocean, and together qualify themselves mentally, morally and physically for the great work of Africa's redemption.

And here you will perceive how peculiarly

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significant is the coincidence of the laying of this corner-stone on the anniversary of the founding of the colony. Here is the promise of the perpetuation and extension of that light which was then brought to these shores. When the sons of the AmericoAfricans and those of the aboriginal Africans shall have qualified themselves, and joined heads and hearts and hands in a common cause, striving together for the salvation and upbuilding of this downtrodden race, then shall the prophecy of Isaiah be fulfilled: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

The name chosen for this edifice, with the idea associated with it as a church festival, will ever remind the pupils, from whatever source they may come, that they are to fit themselves to help forward the work of manifesting Christ to the Gentiles. This they must learn to do.

Near the end of that wonderful book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," its far-sighted, deepthinking author puts into the mouth of one of her characters, who had been a slave and had become an educated freeman, the following impressive words:

I want a country, a nation, of my own. I think that the African race has peculiarities, yet to be unfolded in the light of civilization and Christianity, which, if not the same with those of the Anglo-Saxon, may prove to be, morally, of even a higher type.

To the Anglo-Saxon race have been intrusted the destinies of the world during its pioneer period of struggle and conflict. To that mission its stern inflexible, energetic elements were well adapted; but, as a Christian, I look for another era to arise. On its borders, I trust, we stand; and the throes that now convulse the nations are, to my hope, but the birth-pangs of an hour of universal peace and brotherhood.

I trust that the development of Africa is to be essentially a Christian one. If not a dominant and commanding race, they are,

at least, an affectionate, magnanimous and forgiving one. Having been called in the furnace of injustice and oppression, they have need to bind closer to their hearts that sublime doctrine of love and forgiveness, through which alone they are to conquer, which it is to be their mission to spread over the continent of Africa.

GLANCES AND INCIDENTS.

Under this title a colored missionary, Rev. C. O. H. Thomas, writes to the secretary, D. Allen, from the Mary Allen Seminary, in Crockett, Texas:

Since my arrival I have been a close observer of men and things generally, in order that I might be better enabled to adapt myself to the wants of those to whom I have been sent, and thereby better their condition under Presbyterian influences and bring about those results under God that are expected. I shall not in this letter enter into a critical examination of the field, pointing out the necessary remedies bearing upon the educational fitness for the Negro's training under Presbyterian control and care; nor shall I touch upon the great work that is being done and the immense amount that remains, the social status of the Negro notwithstanding, but only to give a faint picture incidentally sketched.

[December.

This seminary is a glory to the Presbyterian women and friends in the North, a lasting honor to its foundress, Mrs. Mary E. Allen, and a tribute of no little worth to the Negro women of the Southwest, whose regeneration from vice and crime can only be wrought out, earnestly sought for and expected through this medium. It is only by such a process that the race has any gleam of hope or spark of glimmering day. A superstructure of civilization, I care not however beautifully contrived, cannot be lasting unless founded upon the regenevitably crumble, totter and fall. eration of women. If otherwise, it must in

Beautiful for situation is Mary Allen Seminary. Its grounds are well laid off, with curved and extended walks, deer park, peach and pear orchards, industrial and agricultural departments, music halls, a preparatory and classical cloister, spacious dining-halls, an improved steam brick furnace,-all of which have important relations to industry, economy and society.

The memorial building is plain, but of marked beauty, massive in structure and masterly in design. It will favorably rank with Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., Drew's Ladies' Seminary, Carmel, N. J., or Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Pa.

A left-wing addition of four stories in brick is now under contemplation, and that, once reared, will give us another step onward and upward.

Othon [a native helper] went for a needed holiday to one of the group of islands which gives the name to the Sea of Marmora. The day after arriving he went out to see what he could do for his Master, and soon he had an interested audience and disposed of all the Testaments and Gospels he had brought out with him, the people receiving them with much eagerness and interest. The following day, sallying forth on a similar errand, he was set upon by several of the young men and roughs of the village, and was being dragged violently down to the shore, in order to put him into a boat and expel him from the island, for, as they said, "distributing bad books."

The Turkish authorities, however, hearing the uproar, interfered and took him before the governor, to whom he showed one of the "bad books," translated a portion to him, and ex

plained the way of salvation before the assembled crowd, to all of which the governor courteously listened. The Lord stood by his servant as with Paul of old, and inclined him to favor his cause by declaring the book a “good” one. But, cautioning him as to discretion in giving it to such a turbulent set of people, he ordered him to be released, and the people to molest him no more. After this every one was eager

to show their friendliness, pressing him to come and stay in their houses and explain to them more the doctrines of these books. So the remainder of his time was spent visiting one family after another, and telling them of the things concerning Christ and their souls. A few days also were spent in the monastery, where two of the monks were specially interested in the freeness of salvation.-Star in the East.

NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA.

A missionary writes to Dr. Kendall of wide wastes in these southwestern territories. He speaks of "Sabbath desecration, atheism, infidelity, indifference of many professing Christians and sectarianism" as "obstacles in the way of missionary effort." He is "the first missionary appointed to that region," although it has had visits of missionaries before. He says:

Christians, with tears in their eyes, have told me that they have been deprived of the ordinances of the Church for many years,some for five, others seven, others ten years. One man told me last Sabbath that the only religious services he attended for sixteen years have been those conducted by your missionary.

A few words of encouragement from God's people and the desire of the children for Sabbath-school privileges encourage one more than words can tell. I wish the Lord would open

the hearts of some of the rich men in the Church and lead them to pay the expenses of a tried evangelist for three or six months in this region. A man of scholarship, eloquence and zeal would help to silence atheism and infidelity, and would "build up" weak Christians and prepare the way for church organization.

In his spirited article, "Jewhillicsville," Dr. Hays makes a just exhibit of one important phase of our home-mission work. In a speech to the synods of Kansas and Missouri, along with this city view, he exhibited with equal force and vividness the analogous difficulty of sustaining, as they ought to be sustained, the churches in small villages or rural districts, whose relations to railroads and larger towns forbid their growth, while the youth they rear are continually going to the larger towns and promoting the growth and prosperity of their churches. A diligent and vigilant synodical superintendent writes sadly on this

topic (1) of the unwillingness of too many ministers to devote themselves to the nurture of such churches, and (2) of the too great eagerness of larger churches to get away from the weak ones every minister whose work in one of them reveals noticeable power. He says:

Occasionally there is a minister with the true missionary spirit who takes hold of one of these small churches with an energy and spirit that always insures success. But the large churches will not let him remain there in any peace. I know of one young man in such a field who has refused three calls during the past year where he might have received double the salary he is now receiving. How long he will be able to hold out against such pressure is a question. Could he stay there ten years, he would bring that church. he leaves at the end of three years, they will up to its full strength and capacity; but if in some respects be worse off than when he came. They cannot for the six hundred dollars they pay get another pastor that will be his equal. The next man may be one that will be all the time looking for another place. The interest will decrease and the church degenerate. Oh for men and women with the true missionary spirit to work these fields for the Master!

Doubtless the time may come to a minister who has spent several of his early years in such a field as our brother thus pleads for, when "the Lord hath need" of him in some larger congregation and some wider work.

When this is made clear to his own prayerfully-seeking spirit, let him not fear to obey. And if this makes him more conspicuous, let it not be assumed that he is moved by an ambitious motive. God is his judge, not we. Yet let him beware and be sure that he has not sought his own fame or Such clear calls come unsought. Our

ease.

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